(Jagaran Josh) CA Part A

Current Affairs Part A
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CURRENT AFFAIRS PART A

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CONTENTS
Chapter 1: National ............................................................................................................. 36
BCCC Sought Reviewing Rules for Tv Licensing ......................................................................... 36
Pranab Mukherjee Imposed Presidents Rule on Jharkhand .................................................... 36
India for the Second Consecutive Year Reported No Fresh Polio Cases ................................... 36
Cochin Shipyard Launched Aadesh, The First Fast Patrol Vessel For Coast Guard ................... 37
Railway Fares to Be Hiked From 21 January 2013: Railway Minister........................................ 37
Aadhaar Card to Be Accepted As Proof to Get Passport: Ministry Of External Affairs ............. 38
News Broadcasting Standards Association Issued Guidelines For Reporting Of Sexual Crimes 38
Indias First Successful Intestinal Transplant Performed on A Software Engineer ................... 38
Foreign Tourists Not Allowed to Work as Journalists On Tourist Visa: Mha ............................ 39
Union Government Withdrew Z-Plus Security Cover For Ex-Army Chief, Gen V K Singh ......... 39
Union Government Decided Setting Up 5-Year Project For Cyber Security Of Critical Sectors 39
New Cases of HIV Decreased By 57 Percent in India: Union Health Minister ........................... 40
Govt. of India to set up Real Time Water Quality Monitoring Stations along River Ganga ...... 40
India Developed Indigenous Japanese Encephalitis (Je) Vaccine .............................................. 40
Union Government of India Extended Ban On Ulfa And Ndfb .................................................. 41
Union Government Introduced Bill to Amend Competition Act ............................................... 41
Union Government of India Cleared Decks For Ambedkar Memorial ...................................... 41
Global Terrorism Index Revealed: India Ranked Among Top Five Terror-Hit Nations .............. 42
Supreme Court Issued Guidelines to Curb Eve Teasing At The Public Places ........................... 42
Nuclear Waste would not be Dumped at Kolar Gold Mine: Govt. to Sc ................................... 42
Union Cabinet Cleared Setting Up Of 21 Textile Parks .............................................................. 43
Trai Issued A Cap Of 100 Smss On Concession Rates ................................................................ 43
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Government Nod to Grant Ex-Serviceman Status to The Retired Paramilitary Staffs .............. 43
Union Government Constituted A National Committee On Direct Cash Transfers .................. 44
Union Cabinet Approved Setting Up Of National Automotive Board ....................................... 44
Union Cabinet Cleared 4000 Crore Rupees Plan To Tackle Japanese Encephalitis ................... 45
Sc: All States and Uts To Conduct Fresh Surveys To Identify Bonded Labour Problems .......... 45
Supreme Court Worried About the Status Of Growing Pollution In Yamuna ........................... 45
SC: Refused to restrain Center from providing training to Sri Lankan armed Forces ............... 46
Supreme Court Directed Government To Provide Basic Infrastructure In School .................... 46
India and World Bank Signed 500 Million Dollar Deal for Shiksha Abhyan .............................. 47
Ministry of Rural Development Launched Nirmal Bharat Yatra ................................................ 47
Supreme Court Of India Ordered Better Healthcare For Bhopal Gas Tragedy Victims ............ 48
Bccc Asked Tv Channels to Be Extra-Cautious While Showing Violence Against Women ........ 48
Delhi High Court Approved The Guidelines For Media Reporting On Children ........................ 48
Bimal Gurung Sworn In As The Head Of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration ...................... 49
Special Tribunal Approved Mha Move To Declare Simi As An Unlawful Organisation ............. 49
Power Tripped In Northern, Eastern And North Eastern Grids: Indias Biggest Power Blackout
................................................................................................................................................... 50
UK Lifted Travel Advisory on Jammu and Kashmir .................................................................... 50
Nasscom signed Pact with NIIT to Train One Lakh Students in next Three years ..................... 50
Indira Gandhi International Airport got International Certification ......................................... 51
BHEL Deployed Solar Panel on GSAT 10 Satellite ...................................................................... 51
DGCA Suspended the License of Kingfisher Airlines ................................................................. 52
NDTV filed Lawsuit against Audience Measurement Company TAM India .............................. 52
GAIL and RSPCL signed an Agreement of Joint Venture on Gas Supply Pipeline Project ......... 53
CVC instructed CBI to expand the scope of investigation on Coalgate ..................................... 53
Jal Satyagraha came to an end after 17 days demonstration on a victory note ....................... 53
Number of Supreme Court Judges increased to 28 after 3 Judges Sworn In ............................ 54
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Cyber Security get Revamped with Government Five Year Plan .............................................. 55
Broadcasting Content Complaint Council told Channels to Abstain From Vulgar Comedy ...... 56
SM Krishna resigned from the Post of External Affairs Minister .............................................. 56
Union Cabinet approved Proposals to procure Brahmos and Invar Missiles ............................ 56
Justice Altamas Kabir appointed as the New Chief Justice of India .......................................... 56
DCGI directed Drug Companies to submit Safety Reports of New Drugs to It ......................... 57
No Mobile Connection to any Foreign Tourist for more than Three Months ........................... 57
The CII held the Eleventh Energy Efficiency Summit in Hyderabad .......................................... 57
Parthasarathi Shome Appointed As the Adviser to Finance Minister of India ......................... 58
The 2nd Meeting on India-China Border Affairs held in New Delhi .......................................... 58
Halimah Yacob Became First Woman Speaker of the Singapore Parliament ........................... 58
Chapter 2: International ...................................................................................................... 60
India and USA inaugurated the First Triangular India-US-Africa Partnership at Hyderabad .... 60
India and Bangladesh signed Agreements on Extradition and Visa Regime ............................. 60
Milos Zeman won the Czech Republic Presidential Election 2013 ............................................ 61
China Successfully Carried Out Interceptor Missile Test ........................................................... 61
IMF: World Economic Growth Rate would be 3.5 percent in 2013 .......................................... 61
War Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh pronounced its First Verdict of Death Sentence ............. 62
Barack Obama Sworn In As the US President for Second Term ................................................ 63
Chinas Economy Grew 7.8 Percent In 2012, Hits 13-Year Low ................................................ 63
Obama Proposed Stricter Gun Control Laws: 23 Executive Actions Announced ...................... 63
India, Vietnam signed MoU to Strengthen Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises ..................... 64
South Korea Became First Country in Asia to Order Chemical Castration of Child Rapist ........ 65
The United States evacuated its Embassy in the Central African Republic .............................. 65
President Mohamed Morsi signed Egypt's Controversial Constitution .................................... 65
Pakistan Government Recognised Republic of Kosovo as an Independent State .................... 66
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United Nation Approved New Debate on Arm Treaty opposed by U.S. Gun Lobby ................. 66
India and Russia signed pacts on Economic Ties for 2 billion dollar Investment Fund ............. 67
Moscow Authorities Announced Demolishing Only Hindu Temple by January 2013 ............... 68
European Union imposed Stiff Sanctions on Trade with Iran ................................................... 68
US House of Representatives passed the Defence Bill 2013 ..................................................... 68
David Cameroon announced that Britain would Pull Half of its Troops from Afghanistan ...... 69
Park Geun-Hye Elected As the First Woman President of South Korea .................................... 69
Ireland to legalise Abortions when the Mothers Life is at Risk ................................................ 69
WHO approved Vaccine Manufacturing Practices adopted by Indian Pharmaceutical
Companies ................................................................................................................................. 70
UK Planned to Replace Paper Money with Plastic Banknotes .................................................. 70
Global Telecom Treaty without Net Control Signed by Eighty Nine Nations ............................ 71
Vinod Rai Re-Elected As Chairman of UN Panel of External Auditors ....................................... 72
Maldives took over Charge of Male Airport scrapping Agreement with GMR ......................... 72
China Held largest Air Force Drill involving 100 Fighter planes ................................................ 72
Iran Declared Extracting Complete Data from the Captured US Drone .................................... 73
UN (United Nations) Panel passed N Korea Resolution by Consensus ..................................... 73
Eurozone, International Monetary Fund Agreed to New Greek Debt Deal .............................. 73
India Voted Against UN General Assemblys Resolution to Ban Death Penalties ..................... 74
Death of Savita Halappanavar Ignited Strong Reactions for Change in Irish Abortion Law ..... 74
US Lifted the Ban Imposed on Imports from Myanmar, before President Obamas Visit to the
Nati ............................................................................................................................................ 75
IEA: US would become worlds largest oil producer by 2017 ................................................... 75
Nepal Elected as a Board Member of the ECOSOC ................................................................... 75
The Review Meeting of the E-9 Countries concluded in New Delhi ......................................... 75
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director David Petraeus Resigned ....................................... 76
Australian Schools would Teach Hindi ...................................................................................... 76
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Japan Lifted Travel Advisory on Jammu and Kashmir ............................................................... 76
Colombian Government and FARC Launched Peace Talk ......................................................... 77
Israeli Authorities released Red Line Report for Gaza Strip ...................................................... 77
Five New Non-Permanent Member Countries Elected to UN Security Council ........................ 78
South Asian University made Introduction to South Asia a Compulsory Subject ..................... 78
UK and Scotland signed an Agreement to hold a Referendum on Scottish Independence...... 78
UN warned of price hike in food products and a decline in global cereal production ............. 79
Arabic made its debut as official language at Vatican .............................................................. 79
Maldivian Court issued an arrest warrant against ex-President Mohamed Nasheed .............. 80
New Nuclear Safety Agency launched in Japan ......................................................................... 80
India Topped the Chart of Registered Largest Number of Under Five Deaths in 2011 ............ 80
US Diplomat to Libya killed in Benghazi Attack ......................................................................... 81
India, Myanmar and Thailand decided to implement Trilateral Connectivity Project by 2016 81
US uplifted terrorist designation from Nepali Maoists ........................................................... 82
Sixth MekongGanga Cooperation meeting held in New Delhi ................................................ 82
The 16th NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) Summit was held in Tehran .................................... 83
US imposed Fresh Sanctions on Belligerent Iran ....................................................................... 83
US Senate passed Bill to label Haqqani Network as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation ............. 84
Spice Jet to Launch Flights to Guangzhou in South China ......................................................... 84
South African Government Rolled Out Nelson Mandela Bank Notes ....................................... 85
China inaugurated Worlds Longest High-Speed Rail Route linking Beijing with Guangzhou .. 85
President of Russia Vladmir Putin Visited India to attend 13th India-Russia Annual Summit .. 86
Shinzo Abe Elected As Prime Minister of Japan by Lower House of the Parliament ................ 86
Somalia got its new President in form of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud ........................................ 87
Tensions grew over Senkaku Islands in between Japan and China ........................................... 87
Vice president of India M. Hamid Ansari released a book ........................................................ 87
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India ranked to be 59th in the report released by World Economic Forum ............................. 88
Tehran hosted the 16th NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) Summit ............................................ 88
Prime Minister of Fiji, Laisenia Qarase was punished for One year Prison............................... 88
The Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Didier Reynders visited India ........................................... 89
Rogelio Sierra Diaz, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba visited India ............................... 89
Chapter 3: Bilateral Relations .............................................................................................. 90
Two Pakistani Diplomats Denied Permission to Attend Jaipur Literature Festival 2013 .......... 90
India and Asean Finalised Fta In Investments And Services ...................................................... 90
India to Sign Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty In Criminal Matters With Four Other Nations ... 91
India and China agreed to boost the Defence Ties ................................................................... 91
India and Austria Signed An Mou To Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation On Rail And Road ...... 91
Sc: There Are Alternative Ways For Allocation Of Natural Resources ...................................... 92
Farmers Moved To Supreme Court Challenging the Release of Water .................................... 92
India Pledged Humanitarian Assistance of 2.5 Million US Dollars to Syria ............................... 93
India and Australia agreed to Concentrate on Energy and Food Security ................................ 93
India and Pakistan agreed not to allow Tension along LoC to Escalate .................................... 94
China appointed Wei Wei, a Career Diplomat as Ambasador to India ..................................... 94
India and Bangladesh Decided Increasing Rail Link Projects ..................................................... 94
India and Pakistan Exchanged Nuclear Units List as a Part of the Agreement ......................... 95
India and Pakistan Jointly operaionalized New Visa Agreement .............................................. 95
North Korea Launched Long Range Unha-3 Rocket amid International Opposition ................ 96
Eleventh Meeting of India-Canada JWG on Counter Terrorism held in New Delhi .................. 96
India and Pakistan Discussed Methods for Solving Sir Creek Issue ........................................... 96
India and Japan Signed Two Agreements in Tokyo ................................................................... 97
India and Sweden Signed Social Security Agreement in New Delhi .......................................... 97
The 8th Meeting of the India-UK JWG on Counter Terrorism held in New Delhi ..................... 98
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The 2nd India-China Strategic economic Dialogue held in New Delhi ...................................... 99
Tenth ASEAN-India Summit Concluded at Peace Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia ................ 101
Twenty first ASEAN Summit concluded in Phnom Penh, Cambodia ....................................... 101
The Seventh East Asia Summit concluded in Phnom Penh, Cambodia ................................... 102
India Added 22 New Items to promote Indo-Myanmar Border Trade ................................... 102
India and Afghanistan Signed Four Cooperation Pacts ........................................................... 103
India, Britain decided to enhance Cooperation in Cyber Security .......................................... 103
India-Canada finalised a Mechanism for Shipping of Canadian Uranium to India ................. 104
India-Japan-US Trilateral Dialogue held in New Delhi ............................................................. 104
Pakistan Cabinet Ratified the Landmark Visa Pact with India ................................................. 104
India and UK Amended pact on Avoidance of Double Taxation ............................................. 105
India, US and Japan held Trilateral meet and Talked on Cooperation .................................... 105
India, Spain Signed Agreement on Defence Cooperation ....................................................... 106
The 2nd India-Japan 2+2 Dialogue held in Tokyo .................................................................... 106
India-Australia Announced Nuclear Deal Negotiation ............................................................ 107
India and New Zealand signed Five MoUs to cooperate in Education .................................... 107
India and Pakistan Discussed TAPI Gas Project ....................................................................... 107
Japan and India Launched Research Project to Study LNG Pricing ......................................... 108
India and France signed an Agreement in the Field of Urban Development .......................... 108
India and Austria tied up for development of Smart Cities in India ........................................ 109
US, India and Afghanistan held its First Trilateral Discussion ................................................. 109
India Malaysia to Achieve a Target Trade of USD 15 Billion ................................................... 110
India and Nepal signed MoU for Constructing School Building .............................................. 110
India and Burundi signed 3 Major Agreements and Issued a Joint Statement ....................... 110
India signed a memorandum of understanding with Egypt .................................................... 111
India Offered Telecom Support to Turkmenistan ................................................................... 111
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Differences grew in between China and Japan over the disputed Diayo Islands ................... 112
India and Saudi Arabia held their first talk on defence ties .................................................... 112
India extended a credit of $10 Million aid to Palestine in a gesture of support ..................... 113
India and Pakistan issued a joint statement at the end of the SM Krishna's Visit .................. 114
India and Tajikistan went ahead on strategic partnership and signed six agreements .......... 114
India established Diplomatic Relations with Niue ................................................................... 115
India, China discussed Border security and Bilateral Defence Ties ......................................... 115
India and Iran decided to Expand Trade and Economic Cooperation ..................................... 116
India China agreed to set up Joint Working Group on Trade and Investments ...................... 116
India to cut Import Duties on 234 Items from Pakistan .......................................................... 116
Joint Statement on the First India-CELAC Troika Foreign Ministers Meeting Held in New Delhi
................................................................................................................................................. 117
India and Belgium signed Agreement for the Modernisation of Indian Railways .................. 118
India and Israel signed Collaborative Academic Research Programme Agreement ............... 118
India allowed FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) from Pakistan ................................................ 118
Election Commissions of India and South Korea signed MoU to Strengthen Democracy ...... 119
India signed Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) with Monaco............................... 119
China signed Economic Agreements with North Korea which includes the Development of
SEZs .......................................................................................................................................... 120
U.S. Treasury Secretary Discussed Economy and Trade Barriers with India ........................... 120
India-Maldives Joint Military Training Exercise EKUVERIN 2012 held in Belgaum ................. 120
President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai Visited India and discussed on various Issues .......... 121
The President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon visited India .................................................... 121
Chapter 4: Science and Technology .................................................................................... 122
First Space Weather Reading Centre of India Scheduled To Be Opened By Mid 2013 ........... 122
Costal Chain of Static Sensors Positioned Along the Coast Of Andhra Pradesh ..................... 122
Controversy over Clean Chit Given To Rajasthan Atomic Power Plant by Iaea ...................... 122
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President Pranab Mukherjee Launched Low Cost Aakash Tablet 2 ........................................ 123
Union Cabinet approved the Launch of Satellite to study Mars ............................................. 124
Researchers Found Mechanism behind Origin of Life on Early Earth ..................................... 124
Huge Dust Storm Observed On Mars by NASA Rover ............................................................. 125
New Drug discovered that can Halt Cancer from Multiplying ................................................ 125
Makemake, the Massive Dwarf Planet of Solar System Has No Atmosphere ........................ 125
Scientists decoded how flu viruses replicate within Infected Cells ........................................ 126
Researchers Developed New Tool for Keeping Your Email Spam-Free .................................. 126
Algorithm Developed for Controlling Computer Cursors with the Thoughts ......................... 127
Gene Discovered That Identifies Your Time of Death ............................................................. 127
Bionetwork of Bacteria Live in Belly Button ............................................................................ 128
Scientist Decoded a Gene that Gives Humans an Edge over Apes ......................................... 128
Researchers Created a Paper-Thin Fabric to Stop Bullets ....................................................... 129
Scientists discovered Bacteria that can Line up to Create Live Wire ...................................... 129
NASA launched Space Station Alert Service to Make People Aware about the ISS ................ 129
A Humanoid Robot called Baxter designed in USA ................................................................. 130
New Earth Sized Planet Discovered in Neighboring Solar System .......................................... 130
Scientist Developed a Superhero Mice that sniff out Explosives ............................................ 131
Scientist Discovered Source of Water on Moon ..................................................................... 131
Australian Scientists unveiled the Colossal Radio Telescope .................................................. 131
Sunita Williams became the Second Woman in History to take Command of ISS ................. 132
Researchers discovered Two Proteins that can Protect against Diabetes .............................. 132
Indias first multi-lateral Social Science research collaboration with four European Nations 133
Scientists developed a Gene Therapy which can restore the Sense of Smell ......................... 133
A New Strain of Rice developed by the Scientists that could boost Crop Yields .................... 134
Scientists developed a New Technique to reduce the Side Effects of Chemotherapy ........... 134
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Ring-Planet Saturn and Red Planet Mars paired in the Sky .................................................... 134
NASAs New Robot Rover Curiosity touched the Surface of Mars .......................................... 135
Google Launched Dead Sea Scrolls Online Library in Partnership with Israel Antiquities
Authority .................................................................................................................................. 135
Tata Steel Developed a New Kind of Anti-Ballistic Steel Super Bainite .................................. 136
Apple Launched i pad mini and fourth-generation iPad in India ............................................ 136
Iran Announced Sending a Monkey Successfully Into Space .................................................. 136
154 Sonnets of Shakespeare encoded and stored in strands of DNA ..................................... 137
Scientists Discovered Gene That Restricts Tumours ............................................................... 137
Black Holes Growing At Faster Pace Than Expected: Astronomers ........................................ 138
Sensors to Detect Plants Distress Worked Upon By the Researchers .................................... 138
Researchers Developed New Technology That Helps Surgeon Detect Cancer Spread ........... 138
Astronomers discovered Largest Cosmic Structure in the Universe ....................................... 139
Scientists Developed a Drug to Reverse Permanent Deafness ............................................... 139
Scientists Developed a Drug That Help Paralysed Walk Again ................................................ 139
Mars Curiosity Rover captured a Flower like formation on Martian Rocks ............................ 140
2 Billion Year Old Martian Rock Is a Meteorite with 10 Times More Water than Normal:
Scientists .................................................................................................................................. 140
Researchers Discovered Protein behind Scaly and Dry Skin in Eczema .................................. 141
Two New-Born Giant Planets Observed Around the Star ....................................................... 141
Astronomers Claimed Rare Supercomet Would Outshine Moon in 2013 .............................. 141
Spaceplane Successfully Completed Flight Test; Moved a Step Closer to Space Tourism ...... 142
Life supporting Planet Found Orbiting Star near Earth ........................................................... 142
NASAs Twin Probes Crashed Successfully onto Lunar Mountain ........................................... 142
Researchers created natural heart pacemaker from single gene ........................................... 143
Permian Mass Extinction Was Led By a Microbe: Research ................................................... 143
Brain-Removal Tool Discovered in 2400-Year Old Mummy .................................................... 144
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Scientists Developed a Headset That Give Humans 360 Degree Vision ................................. 144
Scientist Decoded genetic code of Honey Bees revealing its sensitivity to Environmental
Change ..................................................................................................................................... 144
Research Indicated That Anti-Ageing Gene Might Suppress Tumours ................................... 145
First 100 Percent Ultrasound Toothbrush of the World Developed ....................................... 145
NASA Announced to send New Rover to Mars in 2020 .......................................................... 145
Anti Collision Device for Railways developed by Hyderabad Based Firm ............................... 146
Mystery that Surrounded the Missing Sandy Island Solved .................................................... 147
CHAMP Missile Could Shut Down the Electronics of the Country Permanently: Boeing ....... 147
Scientists created most complex and realistic artificial brain which can pass IQ as well ....... 147
NASAs Mercury-orbiting probe discovered ice on the planet ............................................... 148
New Kind of Matter Might Be Produced In Large Hadron Collider ......................................... 148
India Successfully Test Fired Air to Air Interceptor Astra Missile............................................ 149
Prithvi II, the Nuclear-capable surface to surface Missile Successfully test-fired ................... 149
Ramanujans Cryptic Death Bed Theory proved by American Scientist.................................. 149
Super-Jupiter, the Largest Planet of Our Solar System Discovered ........................................ 150
Microsoft Corp Organised Wowzapp 2012 for Students Interested in App Development .... 150
Nuclear Capable Prithvi II Missile Sucessfully Test Fired ......................................................... 151
India successfully launched its Heaviest Satellite GSAT-10 ..................................................... 151
CSIR announced Fellowship program for Scientists aged above 70 ....................................... 152
Air Force Version of Pilot-less Target Aircraft Lakshya-1 was successfully Test-flown ........... 152
NASAs Curiosity Rover took its First Drive on the Surface of Mars ........................................ 152
India successfully test-fired Medium Range Ballistic Missile Agni II .................................... 153
India Successfully test-fired manoeuvrable version of BrahMos Supersonic Missile ............. 153
Astronomers measured the Process how Universe cooled on lines of Big Bang Theory ....... 154
CHAPTER 5: Polity and Governance .................................................................................... 156
India Celebrated Its 64th Republic Day; Showcased Military Prowess and Cultural Heritage 156
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Supreme Court Of India Banned Construction of Religious Structures and Statues on Public
Land ......................................................................................................................................... 156
The Union Cabinet Sanctioned Appointment Of 2000 Judges For The Fast-Track Courts ...... 156
Election Commission Announced Date Of Election And By-Elections In 10 States ................. 156
Money Laundering and Banking Bills 2012 Turned Into Law with Presidents Assent ............ 157
Cji Altamas Kabir Constituted Special Bench To Hear Crimes Against Women ...................... 157
Supreme Court Judges Number Increased To 28 Against The Sanctioned Strength Of 31 .... 157
Delhi High Court Dismissed The Pil That Challenged Tendulkars Nomination To Rajya Sabha
................................................................................................................................................. 158
Sc Dismissed Purno Sangma Petition That Challenged Pranab Mukherjee's Election As
President .................................................................................................................................. 158
Lok Sabha Passed The Companies Bill 2011 Aimed At Improving Corporate Governance ..... 159
Supreme Court Asked Judge Of Sc And Hc To Inform Government About Details Of Foreign
Visits ......................................................................................................................................... 160
Union Cabinet of India Approved the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy ....................... 160
The Protection Of Children From Sexual Offences Act, 2012 Came Into Force ...................... 160
Sc: Criminal Case Cant Be Dismissed Because Of Delay ......................................................... 161
Union Cabinet Approved Amendment Of Indecent Representation Of Women Act ............. 162
Commission Issued Stricter Guidelines To Curb The Practice Of Paid News .......................... 162
Rail Radar, Website launched by the Railways to track the position of train ......................... 163
Mos Was Signed To Provide Autonomy For The Hills Council In Assam ................................. 163
Supreme Court Lifted The Gag Order On Media Reporting Of Troop Movement .................. 163
Supreme Court: Media Can Be Restrained From Pressing Trials During Proceedings ............ 163
Constitution Amendment Bill passed by Huge Majority in Rajya Sabha ................................. 164
Chapter 6: Social Issues ..................................................................................................... 165
Justice Js Verma Panel Report Submitted To the Government: Recommendations on the
Sexual Crimes ........................................................................................................................... 165
India and Sri Lanka Signed Two Agreements on Terrorism And Drug Trafficking .................. 166
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Supreme Court Banned Tourists Entry In Jarawa Tribe Habitat Of Andamans ...................... 167
Government of India Declared Use Of Mgnrega Linked Post Office Accounts For Direct Cash
Transfer .................................................................................................................................... 167
Supreme Court Asked Union Government to Set Up A Special Court To Try Italian Marines 168
Union Home Ministry Issued Strict Guidelines for Regulating Surrogacy In India .................. 168
Parliamentary Standing Committee Recommended Entitlement Of Food For 67 Percent
Population................................................................................................................................ 169
Supreme Court: Khap Panchayats Diktat On Dress Code For Women Unlawful ................... 170
Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde Launched Pilot Project of Crime And Criminal
Tracking System ....................................................................................................................... 170
Union Government Launched Government Calendar Featuring Flagship Schemes ............... 171
Union Government Approved An Anti-Piracy Scheme In Audio-Visual Sector ....................... 171
Igmri and Cwc Signed Mou for Post Harvest Management of Foodgrains ............................. 171
Prime Minister Launched Aadhar Based Transfer System ...................................................... 172
Passive Euthanasia Supported By the Law Panel .................................................................... 172
Sc: Land Belonging To Scheduled Castes Or Tribes Cannot Be Bought By Non-Dalits ............ 173
New Measures Announced For the Welfare of Overseas Indians .......................................... 173
Jal Satyagraha Came To an End after 17 Days Demonstration on A Victory Note .................. 174
The Government Approved A Complete Ban On Employment Of Children ........................... 174
The Union Government Issued An Ultimatum To Social Networking Site Twitter ................. 175
Government of India Enacted Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006 .................................. 175
Chapter 7: Economy .......................................................................................................... 176
Union Government Approved 14 Fdi Proposals Worth Over 1300 Cr Rupees ....................... 176
Union Cabinet Approved Higher Funds For Indira Awaas Yojana ........................................... 176
National Data Centre For Uidai To Come Up In Gurgaon ........................................................ 177
Empowered Group of Ministers Decided To Auction Four Telecom Circles In 1800 Mhz Band
................................................................................................................................................. 177
Union Government Doubled 12th Plan Outlay For Science And Technology Ministry ........... 177
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Union Government Constituted the 14th Finance Commission under Former Rbi Governor Yv
Reddy ....................................................................................................................................... 178
Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram Unveiled Cash Transfer Rollout Plan ...................... 179
Bihar Became the Fastest Growing Indian State between 2006 And 2010 ............................ 179
Union Government Approved Selling 12.5 Percent Stake In Rashtriya Chemicals And Fertilizers
................................................................................................................................................. 179
Bhatinda Srinagar Gas Pipeline Project To Be Completed By July 2014 ................................. 180
Union Government Exempted Service Tax for Janashree and Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana ....... 180
India to Sign Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty In Criminal Matters With Four Other Nations . 181
Union Minister Of Finance P Chidambaram Finalised Gaar Amendment ............................... 181
Union Government Body Ccea Lifted Export Ban on Some Milk Products ............................. 182
Indian Sovereign Rating is Stable-Moody ................................................................................ 182
Service Tax on High-End Class Travel, Freight and Auxiliary Service Rail Fares ...................... 182
Government Reduced Interest Rates On Rescheduled Crop Loans From 12 To 7 Percent .... 183
Supreme Court Refused To Lift Ban On Mining Activities In Karnataka ................................. 183
The Government Extended the Ban On Import Of Milk And Milk Products From China ....... 183
FDI Inflow in China Decreased 3.7 Percent, First Time in 3 Years ........................................... 183
RBI and the State Bank of Vietnam signed a Memorandum of Understanding ..................... 184
Deutsche Bank Appointed As the Depository Bank for GDR of IIPL ........................................ 184
Spice Global Entered Healthcare Sector in India; Announced Investing Over 1400 Crore
Rupees ..................................................................................................................................... 184
Reliance Industries Shut 8th Well in KG-D6; Gas Output Fell to All-Time Low ....................... 185
Hindalco finalized Arrangements to acquire Bauxite Mines and Alumina Refirnery from
Novelis ..................................................................................................................................... 185
Union Government approved the Partial De-notification of RIL SEZ ...................................... 186
GAIL India Commissioned Dabhol Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal ........................................ 186
PR Fonroche inaugurated First Solar Plant under National Solar Mission Batch II ................. 187
Supreme Court rejected Sahara Petition on Refund of 24000 crore Rupees ......................... 187
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Allahabad Bank Signed MoU with Chamber of Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
................................................................................................................................................. 188
Union Government Decided to disinvest Stakes in Oil India, NTPC ........................................ 188
National Aluminium Co Ltd (Nalco) Commissioned its First Wind Power Project .................. 189
KG-D6, Gas Producing Fields Reached Lowest Gas Output Level since Inception .................. 189
ICICI Bank Opened 101 Gramin Branches across Villages in Six States ................................... 189
Infosys Shares started Trading on New York Stock Exchange ................................................. 190
Telecom Commission approved 1500 crore Rupees subsidy for BSNL ................................... 190
Lobby Bill of Wal-Mart Hit Around 125 Crore Rupees to Seek Entry into India ...................... 190
Sahara Companies Got Two Months Time to Repay Investors Money .................................. 190
SBI Announced Expectation of 4000 crore Rupees Equity from the Government ................. 191
Tea Board of India Joined Hand with European Tea Committee to Protect Darjeeling Tea ... 191
SEBI Asked Government to set up Special Court for Speedy Trial .......................................... 191
Petroleum Ministrys Non Approval to RILs Investment Plans .............................................. 192
ICICI Bank Signed an Agreement with Eco Bank of Africa ....................................................... 192
HDFC Bank and Indian Oil came together to Provide Banking Services in Rural Areas .......... 193
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation won work in Jakarta Metro Rail Project .................................. 193
Indigo Airlines emerged to be the top ranked carrier for consecutive second month ........... 193
Supreme Court asked Essar Oil to pay the sales tax dues in phases ....................................... 194
Sales percentage of car declined in India ................................................................................ 194
GAIL signed pact with French Energy Giant GDF Suez to import LNG .................................... 194
Geojit BNP launched Android OS Flip Me; first mobile trading solution on NSE & BSE ......... 195
SBI reduced the interest rate on the deposits of more than 5 years ...................................... 195
SBI reduced Interest Rate on Home and Car Loans by Up to 0.5 Percent .............................. 195
Union Ministry for Commerce launched e Biz Portal to Provide one Stop Shop for all
Investment ............................................................................................................................... 196
Reserve Bank of India slashed Repo Rate to 7.75 Percent and CRR to 4 Percent................... 197
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Securities and Exchange Board of India revised the Mechanism of Offer for Sale ................. 197
Union Commerce Ministry claimed that India has crossed One Billion Mark in Tea Production
................................................................................................................................................. 198
FDI Inflow Decreased to Two-Year Low in November 2012.................................................... 198
IMF forecasted Indian Economic Growth Rate to be 5.9 percent in 2013 .............................. 198
Union Cabinet Approved 50 Percent Reduction in the Reserve Prices for CDMA Spectrum . 199
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the Continuation of JNNURM ................ 199
CCEA approved Defreeze in the Tariff Value of Edible Oils as per International Market ....... 199
Union Government of India raised the cap on Subsidized LPG Cylinders from 6 to 9 ............ 200
Union Government Imposed 2.5 Percent Import Duty on Crude Edible Oil ........................... 200
World Bank slashed the Global Growth Forecast to 2.4 Percent ............................................ 200
The Implementation of GAAR deferred by 2 Years, to Come into Force from 1April 2016 .... 201
Sensex Crossed Crucial 20000 Mark after Two Years ............................................................. 201
Union Government approved Ten Percent Stake Sale in Engineers India Ltd (EIL) ................ 201
Union Government Announced More Incentives to Exporters Hit By Global Meltdown ....... 202
Union Government of India lowered the Growth Projection for Current Fiscal to 5.7 Percent
................................................................................................................................................. 203
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the Setting up of CCI .............................. 203
Retail Inflation Increased to 9.90 Percent in November 2012 ................................................ 203
Indian Economy Would Dominate the Economy of the World by 2030: US Intelligence
Community Report .................................................................................................................. 203
Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) allowed 12 more Alternative Investment Funds
................................................................................................................................................. 204
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) signed Currency Swap Agreement with Bank of Japan .............. 205
National Cancer Institute and a National Cardio Care Centre to be developed at Jhajjar ..... 205
India signed 70 million US Dollar loan agreement with World Bank ...................................... 206
Reserve Bank of India asked Banks not to Provide Loans for Purchase of Gold ..................... 206
Income Ceiling for LIG raised by Union Government of India ................................................. 207
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Union Cabinet of India cleared Proposal for Spectrum Sharing .............................................. 207
Civil Aviation Ministry approved New Traffic Rights to Indian Carriers .................................. 208
Government decided to digitize Cable TV Network in Thirty Eight Cities ............................... 208
Government of India announced Minimum Support Price for Cotton ................................... 208
Northern Railways introduced Pink Coloured Tatkal Forms ................................................... 209
RBI Expanded the Lending Norms on Priority Sectors ............................................................ 209
Civil Aviation Ministry announced omission of Airport Development Fee from January 2013
................................................................................................................................................. 210
Pilot Projects for development of People Friendly Roads approved ...................................... 210
Website for SMS alerts and Rail passenger enquiry launched by Railways ............................ 211
CCEA approved 1.90 crore lakh package on debt restructuring for the SEBs ......................... 211
Foreign Investment cap hiked to 74 percent for Broadcasting Services ................................. 211
GAAR Report submitted by the Shome Committee to the Finance Ministry ......................... 212
Cash Reserve Ratio Slashed to Inject Rs 17000 crore, Repo Rates remained Unchanged ..... 213
Shimla Municipal Corporation introduced Green Tax on vehicles entering Shimla ............... 213
IRCTC introduced Interbank Mobile Payment System ............................................................ 214
Proposal for 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retail and 49 percent in Aviation passed ........... 214
Report: Indian external debts are within manageable limits .................................................. 215
Government approved 14000 Crore Rupees Fund to spur Production of Hybrid and Electrical
Vehicle ..................................................................................................................................... 215
SEBI allowed Partial Flexibility in IDRs for Investors ............................................................... 216
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) transferred a Surplus of Rs 16010 crore to the Union Government
................................................................................................................................................. 216
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) called for Deterrent Penal Provisions against Units in SEZs
................................................................................................................................................. 217
India eased External Overseas Borrowing Rules to enable Easier Access to Cheap Dollar Funds
................................................................................................................................................. 217
Union Finance Ministry approved 49 Percent FDI in Insurance and Pension Sector .............. 218
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Air India losses pegged at 28046 Crore Rupees ...................................................................... 219
RBI stipulated the Norms for Securitisation of Loans by NBFCs ............................................. 219
India's Marine Exports to grow by over 28% to USD 4.5 billion in 2012-13 Fiscal .................. 219
Regulator SEBI permitted seven Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) to start Operation in
India ......................................................................................................................................... 220
CAG pegged Public Exchequers Loss at 1.86 Lakh Crore in Coal Blocks Allocation Scam ...... 221
Inter-ministerial group recommended Linking Patented Drug Prices to Per-capita Income.. 221
Indias NSE became the Worlds Largest Bourse in Equity Segment as per WFEs Global
Ranking .................................................................................................................................... 222
Union Cabinet sets Base Price for Auction of 2G Spectrum at 14000 Crore Rupees .............. 222
RBI directed NBFCs to maintain Net-owned Funds (NOF) at Rs 3 crore by 31 March 2013 ... 223
RBI signed MOU with Financial Regulators of 9 Countries to promote Sharing of Information
................................................................................................................................................. 223
Chapter 8: Personalities ..................................................................................................... 225
Chief Justice of India S.H. Kapadia retired ............................................................................... 225
Jaideep Sarkar appointed as the new envoy to Israel ............................................................. 225
Former Navy Chief Nirmal Verma Appointed As Indian Envoy to Canada .............................. 225
Queen Elizabeth Became First Peacetime British Ruler to Attend Cabinet Meeting.............. 225
Menon First Top Ranking Indian Official to Visit China after Changes in Communist Party of
China ........................................................................................................................................ 226
Board Members of Tata Sons conferred the Title of Chairman Emeritus on Ratan Tata ....... 226
Cyrus Pallonji Mistry Appointed as Chairman of Tata Sons .................................................... 227
Industry Leader Deepak Parekh Nominated to Competition Commission of India ................ 227
Keshub Mahindra stepped down as the Chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra ........................ 227
US President Barack Obama named Person of the year 2012 by TIME Magazine ................. 228
Leslie Claudius the Legendary Hockey Player from India Died ............................................... 228
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti resigned ahead of Elections ........................................... 229
Virbhadra Singh took oath as Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh for the Sixth time ........... 230
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Narendra Modi was Sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Gujarat .............................................. 230
Delhi Gangrape Victim Passed Away at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore .................... 230
Tony Greig, Former Captain of England Cricket Team and Commentator Died ..................... 230
Patrick Suckling appointed as Australia's Next High Commissioner to India .......................... 230
IK Gujral, Former Prime Minister of India Died At 92 ............................................................. 231
BS Yeddyyurappa resigned from BJP and Karnataka Legislative Assembly ............................ 231
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar visited India .................................................................... 231
Dr. Joseph Edward Murray, the Man behind First Kidney Transplant Died At 93 .................. 232
Oriya Novelist and Academician Pratibha Ray selected for 2011 Jnanpith Award ................. 232
Alok Joshi to be RAW Head, Asif Ibrahim to Head IB .............................................................. 232
Arvind Kejriwal named his Political Party as Aam Admi Party ................................................ 232
Ernest Bai Koroma re-elected as the President of Sierra Leone ............................................. 233
Joaquim Barbosa sworn-in as Brazils Supreme Courts First non-White President ............... 233
Senior IPS Officer Ranjit Sinha Appointed as CBI Director for Two Years ............................... 233
Anil Dev Singh became the new Chairperson of IOA Election Panel ...................................... 233
Shiv Sena Chief Balasaheb Thackeray died in Mumbai ........................................................... 234
Ami Bera became 3rd Indian-American to win US Congressional Election ............................ 234
Former Union Minister of India and ex-Defence Minister K.C. Pant Died .............................. 234
Xi Jinping elected as the New General Secretary of the Communist Party of China .............. 235
BBC Director General George Entwistle Resigned Over covering Sexual Abuse ..................... 235
President Barack Obama Re-elected President of United States of America ......................... 235
Irom Sharmila, the Iron Lady of Manipur completed 12 Years of Fast ................................... 236
Chinese-British Writer Han Suyin died at the age of 95 in Lausanne ...................................... 236
Veteran BJP Leader Kailashpati Misra Died at the age of 90 in Bihar ..................................... 236
Pioneer of Pocket Cartoons in India Cartoonist, T. Samuel Died ............................................ 237
Anand Kumar of Super 30 Fame Declared Peoples Hero ....................................................... 237
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The King of Romance and the Famous Filmmaker, Yash Chopra Died ................................... 237
Former King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihanouk Died in China ................................................ 237
Libyas National Congress elected Ali Zidan as the New Prime Minister ................................ 238
Felix Baumgartner became the First Skydiver to go Faster than the Speed of Sound ............ 238
S.Vishwanathan Elected as New Managing Director of State bank of India ........................... 238
Huge Chavez Re-elected as President of Venezuela ............................................................... 238
Ajit Saran Appointed as Secretary in National Commission for Women ................................ 239
India's first National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra died .................................................... 239
Professor Banwarilal Sharma, the Mathematician and a Gandhian Activist Died .................. 239
R Lakshmipathy elected as chairman of the Press Trust of India ............................................ 239
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Resigned ........................................................................ 240
Ramesh Abhishek appointed as FMC chairman ...................................................................... 240
Aishwarya Rai appointed as International Goodwill Ambassador .......................................... 240
C.P. Joshi appointed as the new Railway Minister .................................................................. 240
Bill Gates still the richest person in America ........................................................................... 240
Aung San Suu Kyi received US Congress Highest Honour ....................................................... 241
Supreme Court refused to Review the petitions challenging Right to Education Act, 2009 .. 241
Salman Rushdie released his Book Joseph Anton ................................................................... 241
World Bank appointed Onno Ruhl as the country director for India ...................................... 241
Rajiv Mehta appointed as Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau .............................. 242
Former Sarsanghchalak of RSS KS Sudarshan died at Nagpur................................................. 242
Former Chief Justice of India Ranganath Misra Died .............................................................. 242
Cartoonist Assem Trivedi granted bail by Mumbai High Court ............................................... 242
Verghese Kurien the White Revolutionary and the Milkman of India Died ............................ 242
Dr. KC Abraham awarded with Business Excellence Award .................................................... 243
Gaurav Shumsher Rana became Nepals Army Chief .............................................................. 243
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Smita Shah turned up to be the First Indian American at DNC parliamentarian .................... 243
Sachin Pilot commissioned as a Lieutenant in Territorial Army .............................................. 243
Kaushik Basu appointed as World Bank Chief Economist ....................................................... 243
Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi took over as the new Indian Navy Chief ............................... 244
Raghuram Rajan took over as the Chief Economic Advisor of in Union Finance Ministry ...... 244
Indian American Karl Mehta was selected to Work on Five High-Impact Projects................. 244
Veteran Actor AK Hangal passed away in Mumbai ................................................................. 244
PM Nair appointed the Director General of National Disaster Response Force & Civil Defence
................................................................................................................................................. 244
G Ashok Kumar took over as the Southern Naval Command Chief ........................................ 245
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenavi passed away ............................................................. 245
PJ Kurien elected the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha ......................................................... 245
Lakhdar Brahimi was appointed the New UN Arab League Envoy for Syria ........................... 245
Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange would be Granted Political Asylum by Ecuador ............... 245
Pakistan Government honoured Gopi Chand Narang with Sitara-i-Imtiaz ............................. 246
Union Minister for Science and Technology Vilasrao Deshmukh passed away ...................... 246
Raghuram Rajan appointed the New Chief Economic Advisor in the Finance Ministry ......... 246
Syed Nasim Ahmed Zaidi appointed New Election Commissioner ......................................... 246
Kofi Annan quit as the UN special envoy to Syria ................................................................... 246
Kaushik Basu Ended Tenure as the Chief Economic Advisor in New Delhi ............................. 246
Dave Brubeck, the Renowned Jazz Pianist and Composer Died At 91 .................................... 247
Oldest Person of the World, Besse Cooper Died At 116 ......................................................... 247
S. Ramakrishnan took over as Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre ............................. 247
Syed Asif Ibrahim Took Over as the Director of Intelligence Bureau ...................................... 247
Urjit Patel Was Appointed As the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India ................ 248
Mukesh Ambani Declared 18th Richest Man in the World; Retains Position as Richest Indian
................................................................................................................................................. 248
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Freedom fighter Pandit Ram Sanehi Shukla died .................................................................... 248
Violin Maestro M.S. Gopalakrishnan died at the age of 82 .................................................... 248
PM Manmohan Singh Became the 19th Most Followed Leader on Twitter ........................... 248
Gerda Lerner, the Womens History Pioneer Died at 92 ......................................................... 248
US President Barack Obama re nominated Indian American Srikanth Srinivasan as Federal
Judge ........................................................................................................................................ 249
Former South African Bowler Neil Adcock died at the age of 81 ............................................ 249
Ravindra Dholkia to Head five-member committee of Air India ............................................. 249
Justice D.K. Jain appointed as the Chairman of Law Commission ........................................... 249
Chief Minister of Jharkhand Arjun Munda Resigned .............................................................. 250
Akbaruddin Owaisi Arrested For Delivering Hate Speech; Faces Several Other Charges ....... 250
Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi inaugurated 6th Vibrant Gujarat summit ............. 250
Air Marshal Kulwant Singh Gill took over as the Commandant of NDA .................................. 250
Rajiv Takru appointed Secretary of Financial Services in the Finance Ministry ...................... 251
Brij Bihari Lal Butail Elected As the Speaker of Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly ....... 251
Internet Activist and Co-founder of Reditt, Aaron Swarth committed Suicide ...................... 251
Rusi Framroze Surti, Former Test Cricketer Died At 76 ........................................................... 251
Kamal Nath Elected As the Leader of Indian Delegation for World Economic Forum 2013 ... 251
Tahawwur Rana sentenced 14 years in Jail by the Federal Court ........................................... 252
SSPI to honour Prof. U R Rao by inducting him as a Member to the Satellite Hall of Fame ... 252
Rahul Gandhi appointed as the Vice-President of Indian National Congress ......................... 253
Bhutan King to be the Chief Guest at Indias Republic Day for the Year 2013 ....................... 254
JBT Teachers Recruitment Scam: Chautala and Son sentenced 10 years in Prison ............... 254
Rajnath Singh elected as the new National President of Bhartiya Janata Party ..................... 254
Uddhav Thackeray appointed as the Party President of Shiv Sena ........................................ 254
U.S. Federal Court sentenced 35 years in Prison for David Coleman Headley ....................... 254
US Astronaut Neil Alden Armstrong passed away .................................................................. 255
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Chapter 9: INSTITUTION and Agencies ............................................................................... 256
Special Consultative Status With Uno Accorded To Six Indian Ngos ...................................... 256
Broadband Network Pact Signed With 16 States and Ut Government ................................... 256
Union Government Approved 492 Crore Rupees To Set Up Central Academy For Police
Training In Bhopal .................................................................................................................... 257
Union Government decided to launch Saksham to Educate Adolescent Boys ....................... 257
Women and Child Development Ministry launched a Web Portal named Track Child .......... 257
Chapter 10: Awards/Honours ............................................................................................ 259
The Bhilai Steel Plant won the Prime Ministers Trophy for the 10th Time ........................... 259
Jammu and Kashmir Bank was Awarded Best Banker Prize .................................................... 259
Krishi Karman Awards for the year 2011-2012 presented by the President of India ............. 259
Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Akademi Awards for the Year 2012 Announced ... 260
Lula da Silva awarded Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development ........ 261
Autar Kaw, a professor of Indian Origin won US Professor of the Year Award-2012 ............. 261
Three Indian Writers Shortlisted for DSC South Asian Literature Prize 2013 ......................... 262
Gavaskar conferred with Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award ................................ 262
Malala Yousafzai awarded with Bravery Award by World Peace and Prosperity Foundation 262
President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf chosen for Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 2012 .......... 263
Chinese Film, 11 Flowers won NETPAC Award at Kolkata Film Festival .................................. 263
Urdu Scholar Gopi Chand Narang Awarded Moortidevi Award for 2010 ............................... 264
Katherine Boo won US National Book Award for Mumbai Book ............................................ 264
Madhav Chavan Awarded the Education Nobel Prize............................................................. 264
Literary Critic and Educator Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak Got Kyoto Prize .............................. 264
Sunita Williams Ventured on 7th Space Walk: Set New Record ............................................. 265
Mathura Refinery Bagged 13th Annual Greentech Environment Award ............................... 265
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Conferred with French Award the Knight of the Order of Arts and
Letter ....................................................................................................................................... 265
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Lyricist Gulzar Conferred with Indira Gandhi National Award ................................................ 266
Amitabh Bachchan Got Best TV Host Award for KBC .............................................................. 266
Strategic Thinker and Analyst Brahma Chellaney won Bernard Schwartz Award .................. 266
Edinburgh Napier University honoured Sharmila Tagore with Honorary Doctorate of Arts .. 267
Gov. of Bangladesh Awarded Babu Jagjivan Ram with Friends of Liberation War Honour .... 267
V Narayan Murthy honoured with 2012 Hoover Medal in Washington ................................. 267
Books that won 11th Economist Crossword Book Award Declared ....................................... 268
First Ever India Biodiversity Award Presented in Hyderabad .................................................. 268
British Writer Hilary Mantel won Booker Prize for Second Time ............................................ 268
Reliance Industry Limited's Jamnagar refinery bagged British Safety Council Award ............ 268
Lloyd Shapley and Alvin Roth of America won Nobel Prize in Economics .............................. 269
Nobel Peace Prize 2012 awarded to European Union ............................................................ 269
Mo Yan a Chinese writer won the 2012 Nobel Prize for literature ......................................... 270
Robert Lefkowitz and Brian Kobilka Won Nobel Prize 2012 for Chemistry ............................ 270
Serge Haroche and David Wineland won Nobel Prize 2012 for Physics ................................. 271
John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka won Nobel Prize-2012 for Medicine .............................. 271
Fortis Escorts won FICCI Healthcare Excellence Award 2012 ................................................. 271
Sheryl Kumar was Crowned as Miss India Fiji 2012 ................................................................ 271
Jeet Thayil shortlisted for the Man Booker for his debut novel Narcopolis ........................... 272
Pieta the South Korean Film won Golden Lion Venice Top Prize ............................................ 272
Aditi Mukherjee won the prestigious Norman Borlaug Award ............................................... 272
Delhi Government presented Lifetime Achievement Awards ................................................ 272
Six Top Sporting Coaches to receive Dronacharya Award for 2012 ........................................ 272
Charles L Bennett received the Gruber Cosmology Prize 2012............................................... 273
Prime Minister Shram Awards for year 2011 announced ....................................................... 273
Indian Scientist Ashoke Sen was honoured with Fundamental Physics Prize ......................... 273
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9 physicists worldwide received the Fundamental Physics Prize............................................ 273
Muthunayagam and Saraswat to be awarded with Aryabhatta Award by the ASI ................ 274
Scientist Venkatesh Mannar honoured with Order of Canada Award .................................... 274
Irelands prestigious Tipperary International Peace Prize for 2012 awarded to Malala ........ 275
Sunmeet Kaur became the first woman to win 5 Crore Rupees on Kaun Banega Crorepati
Game Show .............................................................................................................................. 275
Life of Pi Nominated For BAFTA 2013 with Nine Nominations, Lincoln Leads Way with 10 Nods
................................................................................................................................................. 275
Renault Duster Awarded Car of the Year Award 2013 ............................................................ 276
Malala Yousafzai Honoured with France's Simone de Beauvoir Prize for Women's Freedom276
19th Colors Screen Awards: Ranbir Kapoor and Irfan Khan declared Best Actors ................. 276
Golden Globe Awards 2013: Argo Won Best Picture and Best Director Awards .................... 276
President Pranab Mukherjee honoured 18 States with Krishi Karman Awards ..................... 276
58th Idea Filmfare Awards: Barfi! Bags Seven Awards, Kahaani Scripts Five ......................... 277
Thirty-Seven Officers of Customs & Central Excise and ED Selected for Presidential Awards 278
Major Abup J Manjali Selected For Second- Highest Peacetime Gallantry Award Kirti Chakra
................................................................................................................................................. 278
Indian writer shortlisted for the prestigious International Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2013
................................................................................................................................................. 278
President of India approved the conferment of 108 Padma Awards ..................................... 279
Taiwanese Business Magnate Launches Asias Nobel-Type Prizes ......................................... 279
Chapter 11: Reports and Committees ................................................................................ 281
RTE Report revealed the Low Percentage of Enrolment of SC and ST Students in Schools ... 281
Cigarette Package Health Warnings: International Status Report Released .......................... 281
Agewell Foundation Report on Condition of Elderly People in Delhi-NCR Released .............. 282
The World Development Report 2013-Jobs Released by World Bank .................................... 283
Children in India 2012 - A Statistical Appraisal Report released ............................................. 284
Naresh Chandra Committee submitted its Report on National Security ................................ 285
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Chapter 12: Programs and Policy ....................................................................................... 286
Union Government Approved Relaxation In Policies Related To Transfer Of Government Land
................................................................................................................................................. 286
Health Ministers of BRICS decided to set up Technical Working Group (TWG) ..................... 286
World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT-12) Held in Dubai .............. 286
National Girl Child Day Celebrated In India on 24 January ..................................................... 287
Chapter 13: Sports ............................................................................................................. 289
Union Hrd Minister Kapil Sibal Launched Hockey and Cricket League ................................... 289
Scott Flemming Became the New Indian Basketball Team Coach .......................................... 289
Six Top Sporting Coaches to receive Dronacharya Award for 2012 ........................................ 289
Roelant Oltmans is the High Performance Director for Indian Hockey Team ........................ 290
Former Cricketer Anil Kumble Appointed Chairman of ICC Cricket Committee ..................... 290
Monisha Kaltenborn Became the First Woman Team Principal in Formula one .................... 290
Indian Golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar won Macau Open ................................................................ 290
Novak Djokovic won Shanghai Masters by Defeating Andy Murray ....................................... 291
Deccan Chargers now out of Indian Premium League ............................................................ 291
Martin Guptill won New Zealand Top Cricket Award .............................................................. 291
Olympic Shooter Vijay Kumar Named Services Best Sportsman ............................................. 291
Saina Nehwal won Denmark Open Badminton Title ............................................................... 291
Lance Armstrong Stripped of from Seven Tour de France Titles ............................................ 291
Sun TV Network Acquired Hyderabad IPL Franchise ............................................................... 292
Sebastian Vettel won F1 Second Indian Grand Prix ................................................................ 292
Pankaj Advani won World Billiards Championship Title ......................................................... 292
Lionel Messi won Golden Boot Award as Europes top Scorer ............................................... 292
Union Government of India Approved Indo-Pak Cricket Series .............................................. 293
Virat Kohli Selected for BCCI Polly Umrigar Award ................................................................. 293
Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna won First ATP Tour Masters Title ............................. 293
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Sachin Tendulkar received the Honorary Membership of the Order of Australia .................. 293
Mahendra Singh Dhoni Renamed his Super Bike Team and Signed Two New Members ...... 294
Gaganjeet Bhullar Declared Youngest Indian on Golfer List ................................................... 294
DGP of Andhra Pradesh V. Dinesh Reddy appointed as the President of IHF ......................... 294
Life Ban on Mohammad Azharuddin Lifted by Andhra Pradesh High Court ........................... 294
Marcel Granollers & Marc Lopez won the ATP World Tour Final 2012 .................................. 295
Daimler Purchased full control of Mercedes One Motor Racing Team .................................. 295
Davis Cup 2012: Czech Republic defeated Spain in the Finals ................................................ 295
Usain Bolt and Allyson Felix named IAAF World Athletes of the Year 2012 ........................... 296
Sebastian Vettel became Youngest Triple Champion in Formula One History ....................... 296
Former Australian Cricketer Glenn McGrath to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame
................................................................................................................................................. 296
Novak Djokovic won World Tennis Championships in Abu Dhabi .......................................... 296
Australian Cricketer Michael Hussey Announced Retirement from Test Cricket ................... 297
Sachin Tendulkar announced Retirement from One Day Cricket ........................................... 297
Roger Federer Named Swiss Male Athlete of the Year 2012 .................................................. 297
Sardar Singh Commanded the Best Price in Hockey India League Auction ............................ 297
India Lost the Test Series by 1-2 after Nagpur Test ended as a Draw ..................................... 298
Junior World TT Championship: China Claimed All Titles ....................................................... 298
India won the World Cup Kabaddi Tournament 2012 ............................................................ 298
India Beat Pakistan to Lift Inaugural SBI T20 World Cup for the Blind 2012 .......................... 299
BB Nimbalkar, Indias Highest Scorer in First class cricket Passed away ................................ 300
Lionel Messi set the Record for most Goals in a Calendar Year .............................................. 300
Hockey Champions Trophy: Australia Won for the Fifth Consecutive Year, India Lost Bronze to
Pakistan .................................................................................................................................... 300
Athens Olympics Athletes Lose Medals over Doping After 8 Years ........................................ 301
England Cricket Captain Alastair Cook became the youngest Batsman to score 7000 Runs .. 301
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Air India won Lal Bahadur Shastri hockey tournament against Bharat Petroleum ................ 301
IOC suspended IOA; India facing ban from Olympics .............................................................. 302
Ricky Ponting announced his Retirement from International Test Cricket ............................. 302
Ravindra Jadeja Became Only Indian to Score Three Triple Tons in First-Class Cricket .......... 302
Anna Ushenina of Ukraine won the Womens World Championship Crown of Chess ........... 303
Tiger Woods won his 75th PGA Tour Title in the Farmers Insurance Open ............................ 303
India won the ODI series against England 3-2; England won the Fifth ODI ............................ 303
Mumbai won its 40th Ranji Trophy after defeating Saurashtra in Final ................................. 304
Novak Djokovic won Australian Open 2013, defeated Andy Murray in Final ......................... 304
Victoria Azarenka of Belarus won Australian Open 2013 in the Womens Category ............. 304
Fauja Singh, the Oldest Marathon Runner of the World Announced Retirement ................. 304
Kohli became the Quickest Indian and Second at World Level to complete 4000 ODI Runs . 305
IOC asked Armstrong to return back the Sydney Olympic Bronze Medal .............................. 305
Saina Nehwal clinched Second Position in the Badminton World Federation Rankings ........ 305
International Paralympic Committee Decided to Launch International GP Circuit for Disabled
................................................................................................................................................. 306
Simon Taufel to be the First Umpire to deliver the MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture 2013
................................................................................................................................................. 306
Usain Bolt and Fraser-Pryce Won Athlete of the Year Award At JAAA Golden Cleats Awards
Ceremony ................................................................................................................................ 306
Lionel Messi won the FIFA Ballon dOr Award for fourth time ............................................... 307
Andy Murray defeated Grigor Dimitrov to retain his Brisbane International Tennis Title ..... 307
India Lost the Series against Pakistan by 2-1 after it won the last match by 10 runs ............. 308
Virat Kohli named CEAT International Cricketer of the Year .................................................. 308
Sania Mirza and Bethanie Mattek-Sands claimed Ladies Doubles final at the Brisbane
International ............................................................................................................................ 309
Chapter 14: State News ..................................................................................................... 310
Madras High Court Upheld Ban on Vishwaroopam in Tamil Nadu ......................................... 310
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Karnataka To Provide Tamil Nadu With 12 Tmc Feet Of Cauvery Water: Cmc ....................... 310
Union Government Ruled Out the Decision Of Cauvery River Authority ............................... 311
Rashtriya Aarogya Nidhi Scheme Was Launched In Arunachal Pradesh ................................. 311
Supreme Courts Notice to Tamil Nadu On The Petition That Challenged 69% Quota In The
State ......................................................................................................................................... 311
Rajasthan HC stayed States Decision for Giving 4% Additional Reservation to Gurjar .......... 312
Leprosy Eliminated from Delhi as Per WHO Guidelines: Delhi Health Minister ..................... 312
Madras High Court ordered that Police Permission is not required to stage Plays in the State
................................................................................................................................................. 312
Ghat Ki Guni Tunnel, Jaipur inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ..................... 313
Delhi witnessed the Highest Number of Rape Cases in a Decades Time ............................... 314
Patiala House Became First District Court to Use Complete E-Stamping Facility ................... 314
Om Prakash Chautala and his Son held guilty in Teachers Recruitment Scam ....................... 314
Punjabs First Shariat Panchayat to be inaugurated in March 2013 ....................................... 315
Supreme Court of India gave its nod to conduct Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu .............................. 315
37 Year Old Woman Became First Complete Body Donor of AIIMS ....................................... 315
Arunachal Pradesh Collaborated with NSDL for Adoption of National Pension Scheme ....... 316
JMM withdrew support from BJP in Jharkhand and Reduced It to Minority .......................... 317
Mantra Airlines to start Civil Airlines Services from Jammu to Kargil ..................................... 317
Rape Victims Free to Choose Lawyers at the Expense of State: Maharashtra Government .. 317
Haryana Government announced Kanyadan Scheme for Bride participants of Mass Marriages
................................................................................................................................................. 318
Chief Justice of India Inaugurated First Fast-Track Court in Delhi for Hearing Rape Cases .... 318
Maharashtra Government to set up 25 Fast track Courts to Deal with Crime against Women
................................................................................................................................................. 319
Maharashtra Government decided to Implement National Commission on Food Processing
................................................................................................................................................. 319
Delhi Government Decided Drafting New Bill for Amendments in Law on Rape, Sexual Assault
................................................................................................................................................. 319
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Congress won the State Assembly Elections 2012 in Himachal Pradesh, claimed 36 Seats ... 320
BJP won in Gujarat State Assembly Elections 2012, Claimed 115 Seats ................................. 320
Government of Maharashtra ordered SIT Probe into Multi-Crore Irrigation Scam ................ 321
Bihar State Government approved the New Jail Manual ........................................................ 321
Bihar received the Silver Icon Web Ratna Award 2012 ........................................................... 322
AP HC stayed ED Order attaching 822cr Rupees deposit in Money Laundering Scam ........... 322
BS Yeddyurappa, former Chief Minister of Karnataka launched KJP ...................................... 322
Haryana to buy 2000 MW Hydel Power from Bhutan ............................................................ 322
Uttar Pradesh Government decided to issue Golden Cards to Industrialists ......................... 323
Andhra Pradesh SC, ST Sub-Plans Bill 2012 was passed by State Assembly ........................... 323
Delhi High Court Launched e-court Fee System making Justice Delivery System Paperless .. 324
NTPC to impart Skill Development Programme for Jammu and Kashmir Youth .................... 324
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Inaugurated New Helpline Service for Women ................... 325
Delhi and Moscow Government Signed MoU to Facilitate Cooperation ................................ 325
DMRC would Execute the Kochi Metro Rail Project in Association with E. Sreedharan ......... 326
High Court of Madhya Pradesh dismissed the Plea of Dow Chemicals .................................. 326
Delhi HC: Child Witness cannot be Rejected Out rightly ......................................................... 326
Union Power Ministry gave its Nod to Implement Islanding Scheme in Delhi ....................... 327
Chhattisgarh Government set up a Livelihood College in Dantewada ................................... 327
Five Tamil Nadu Places Included in UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List .......................... 328
Tamil Nadu Government filed a contempt of court plea against Karnataka Government in SC
................................................................................................................................................. 328
Social Activist Arvind Kejriwal Launched Bijli Paani Satyagrah ............................................... 329
Construction of Tunnel across Jojila Pass on Srinagar-Leh highway Started .......................... 329
Haryana Government Signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ................................. 329
UP Government launched the Samajwadi Swasthya Seva in the State .................................. 329
Punjab Government amended Canal and Drainage Act .......................................................... 329
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Delhi Government decided to impose a Blanket Ban on Plastic Bags .................................... 330
Goa Government ordered Temporary Suspension of Mining Operations .............................. 330
West Bengal signed an agreement with TCS to monitor MGNREGA Fund ............................. 330
Sikkim Lokayukta Bill received Presidential Assent ................................................................. 331
The Rural Electrification Corporation signed MoU with Genco .............................................. 331
EGoM decided to invest Rs. 425 crore for Gujarat Drought Relief ......................................... 331
Orissa is the first state to commence e-payment facility for government employees ........... 332
Welspun finds the lenders for its 50 MW solar Project in Rajasthan ..................................... 332
The NCR Planning Board approved the Controversial Greater Noida Master Plan 2021 ....... 332
Chapter 15: History ............................................................................................................ 333
Noor Inayat Khans Bust to be Unveiled at London by Princess Anne .................................... 333
France officially recognised the killings of 1961 Paris Massacre ............................................ 333
Maharaj Loonkaran Singhs Era Gunpowder Found in Sonar Fort .......................................... 334
750 Year Old Explicit Stone Tablet Discovered in Vasai .......................................................... 334
Tipu Sultans Era Cannon Discovered at Bangalore Metro Site .............................................. 334
Commemorative Postage Stamp on Silk Letter Movement released by President ................ 335
Study: Indians Migrated to Australia 4000 Years ago ............................................................. 335
Chapter 16: Environment ................................................................................................... 336
Supreme Court Directed Centre to Present Fresh Guidelines on Tiger Reserves Within A Week
................................................................................................................................................. 336
Election Commission Prohibited Use Of Animals In Election Campaigns ............................... 336
Environment Clearance of 99 Mines In Goa Suspended ......................................................... 336
Day campaign observed in Uttar Pradesh to Save Gangetic Dolphins .................................... 337
5 October observed as Dolphin Day in Bihar ........................................................................... 337
The House Sparrow was declared as State Bird of Delhi ........................................................ 337
India and Japan Signed Earths Pact on Rare Earth Minerals ................................................... 337
US Drillers Reached Lake Whillans Hidden Beneath Antarctic Ice .......................................... 338
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Vulture Population Estimation-2013 Conducted in Panna Tiger Reserve ............................... 338
Gas That Causes Ozone Destruction Discovered By the Researchers ..................................... 339
Beijing Air Pollution Crossed Toxic Levels: Yellow Alert Issued By Meteorological Authority 339
Internet Emit 830 Million Tonnes of CO2 in Environment Annually: Researchers ................. 339
Researchers: Siachen Glacier Shrinking Due to Increasing Temperatures .............................. 340
Environmental Changes led to Encouragement of Human Evolution ..................................... 340
Typhoon Bopha: Death Toll Rises in Philippines ..................................................................... 341
Scientists Studying Himalayan Geologic Features Warned Against Major Earthquakes in the
Region ...................................................................................................................................... 341
Newly Discovered Colourful Species of Fish Named After US President Obama ................... 342
Ocean Acidification Dissolving Shells of Sea Creatures Causing Disaster in Food Chain ........ 342
Report Suggested That Developed Nations Deprived Poor Countries of 30 Billion US Dollar
Climate Fund ............................................................................................................................ 343
Tongariro Volcano erupted in the North Island region of New Zealand ................................. 344
Greenhouse Gases Level Reached Record High in 2011: WMO Survey Revealed .................. 344
Greenland Continuously Lost 200 Million Tonnes Ice Every Year Since 2003 ........................ 344
Bombay Natural History Society released a Report indicating Growth in Vulture Population
................................................................................................................................................. 345
World Rarest Whale Species found in Pacific Ocean .............................................................. 345
Supreme Court of India Expressed its Concern over the Growing Smog Cover on New Delhi346
Uttarakhand Named best Performing States in terms of Environmental standards .............. 346
Forty Whales Died in Mass Stranding on Andaman and Nicobar Islands ............................... 347
COP 11 held in Hyderabad: Emphasised on the Well Being of Biodiversities ......................... 347
Frightening Level of Mercury Content in the Environment of Sonbhdra District: CSE ........... 349
TEC recommended a 10-Year Moratorium on all Field Trials of GM Food Crops ................... 349
Centre of Science and Environment and HSBC Bank came together to Impart Environment
Training .................................................................................................................................... 350
Supreme Court Lifted Ban on Tourism in Core tiger Reserve Areas ....................................... 350
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The Government notified Fresh Guidelines on Tiger Conservation ........................................ 351
India to get Warmer by 2 Degree Celsius by 2030: Scientist of IISc and IIT ............................ 351
Supreme Court directed Government to notify Fresh Guidelines on Tiger Conservation ...... 351
Dolphin Day observed in Bihar to create awareness about Gangetic Dolphins ..................... 352
Save Ganga, Save Dolphin campaign initiated in Uttar Pradesh ............................................. 352
Navys Proposal to set up Missile Testing Site in Andaman & Nicobar Islands Rejected ....... 353
Supreme Court of India Banned Mining Activities in Goa ....................................................... 353
100 elite forces assigned the task of saving Rhinos from Poachers ........................................ 353
Minister of Water Resources Released Atlas named Aquifer System of India ....................... 354
SC: If Safety measures are not met, commissioning of the Kundakulam Plant can be stopped
................................................................................................................................................. 354
Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican got Shonkaliya region to breed ............................. 355
18th International Day for preservation of the Ozone Layer celebrated worldwide ............. 356
Supreme Court asked the Centre to prepare revised Guidelines for Tourist Activities .......... 356
Ministry of Environment and Forest issued Advisory to reduce the Impact of Communication
Towers ..................................................................................................................................... 356
Parliamentary Panel on Agriculture recommended ban of GM Food Crops .......................... 357
NASAs Scientists warned Earth might face More Heat Waves .............................................. 357
Hurricane Sandy a Category 2 Cyclone Struck US, Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba ........................... 358
Chapter 17: Miscellaneous ................................................................................................. 359
Google India Partnered With E-Commerce Sites to Bring Cyber Monday to India ................. 359
Nokia India Introduced Rebranded Map Service named HERE ............................................... 359
Airtel Completed Largest Network Transformation in Africa ................................................. 360
Bharti Airtel Became Worlds Fourth Largest Mobile Operator.............................................. 360
Gangnam Style Named among Collins Dictionarys Word of the Year 2012 .......................... 361
NAK Browne released a book Victory India-A Key to Quality Military Leadership ................. 361
Yuvi - Book on Cricketer Yuvraj Singh authored by Makarand Waingankar Released ........... 361
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President of India released a Commemorative Postage Stamp on late Ramgopal Maheshwari
................................................................................................................................................. 362
Omnishambles selected as the UK Word of the Year by Oxford English Dictionary ............... 362
India International Trade Fair started in Delhi with its theme Skilling India ........................... 362
United Nation Declared November 10 as Malala day ............................................................. 363
Newsweek Decided to Stop its Print Run and Go All-Digital ................................................... 363
Indian Navy Successfully Test Fired BrahMos Missile ............................................................. 363
Former UP Governor and Freedom Fighter Satyanarayan Reddy Passed Away ..................... 364
Global James Bond Day was celebrated on 5 October 2012 ................................................... 364
Niryat Shree and Niryat Bandhu Awards Presented By President of India ............................. 364
ISRO Scientist Tessy Thomas Conferred with Lal Bahadur Shastri Award .............................. 365
The Book Challenged Official Story of Osama bin Laden Killing .............................................. 365
Adolf Hitler Based Novel Titled Er Ist Wieder Da Became Germanys Bestseller ................... 365
The Election Commission of India celebrated the 3rd National voters Day .......................... 366

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CHAPTER 1: NATIONAL
BCCC SOUGHT REVIEWING
RULES FOR TV LICENSING
The Broadcasting Content Complaints
Council (BCCC), the television body sought
assessment of the guidelines issued by the
Information and Broadcasting (I&B)
Ministry for renewing television licenses.
BCCC termed the present rules of I&B as
violation of freedom of speech.
BCCC cited certain shortcomings of the
provision of I&B, in which the Ministry
demanded that renewal of licenses for the
television channels should be denied in case
they are found breaching the advertising
and program on 5 different occasions or
more than that.
BCCC, which is led by Justice (retired) A P
Shah, instead sought that the violations by
the television channels should in turn be
handled with the financial penalties. BCCC
argued that the provisions had questions of
constitutionality. The body described that
the clauses 10.2 and 8.2 (which ban
renewing broadcasting licenses) of the
guidelines which were issued by the
Ministry in order to handle the renewal of
licenses of broadcasters were not in
alignment with the Article 19(1) of the
Constitution of India.
PRANAB MUKHERJEE
IMPOSED PRESIDENTS RULE
ON JHARKHAND
Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India
on 18 January 2013 imposed Presidents
Rule in Jharkhand. The decision came as a
follow up of the recommendation made by
the Union Cabinet of India on 17 January
2013 and fall of the state machinery in form
of Government on 8 January 2013 after the
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha the supporting
party to BJP led Coalition Government
withdrew its support from it. The President
imposed the Rule on the state following the
provisions of imposition of Presidents Rule
on a state mentioned under Article 356 (1)
of the Constitution of India.
INDIA FOR THE SECOND
CONSECUTIVE YEAR
REPORTED NO FRESH POLIO
CASES
India for the continuous second year
reported no fresh cases of Polio. One more
year of success with zero fresh cases of
polio, would win India a status of polio free
nation, in 2014.
In 2009, India shared about a half of the
polio cases witnessed by the world. But the
success achieved since then, can be termed
as the biggest public health success story of
the century. Continuous three years
absence of Polio that is caused due to the
Wild Polio Virus (WPV) coupled with the
intense surveillance would help India in
being declared the Polio-free Nation in
2014.

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COCHIN SHIPYARD LAUNCHED
AADESH, THE FIRST FAST
PATROL VESSEL FOR COAST
GUARD
Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) on 8 January 2013
launched the first fast patrol vessel (FPV),
built for the Indian Coast Guard.
The vessel which is named Aadesh was
launched by Jayasree Muralidharan, in the
presence of M.P. Muralidharan, Director
General of Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and K.
Subramaniam, Chairman and Managing
Director of the Coast Guard.
The vessel is the first in a series of 20
numbers fast patrol vessel (FPVs)
contracted by CSL for the Indian Coast
Guard. The contract was signed in year
2010 with of which the delivery the last
vessel scheduled for 2017.
The ship was designed by the Kochi-based
SEDS and this is the first association
between CSL and a local design house. The
yard also launched two other platform
supply vessels for PSV Holdings Inc, Cyprus.
Specification of Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV)
It has a designed speed of 33 knots
with propelled water jets to attain
the speed.
Its primary role includes fisheries
protection and monitoring, patrol
within exclusive economic zone
(EEZ) and coastal patrol, anti
smuggling, search and rescue
operations and for anti piracy
operations.
The secondary role of vessel is to
provide communication link and
escort convoys during hostilities and
war time.
Although it is small in size and
complex but is technologically very
challenging.
RAILWAY FARES TO BE HIKED
FROM 21 JANUARY 2013:
RAILWAY MINISTER
Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal on 9
January 2013 announced that the rail fares
would be hiked for all passengers from 21
January 2013 including the AC-1 and AC-2
tier passengers, who were affected in early
2012.
The hike announced will be of 2 paise per
km to 10 paise per km across classes. All
fares are supposed to be rounded off to 5
rupees and there will be no fare hike in the
Railway Budget. The fare hikes are higher
than what was proposed in the Rail Budget
2012.
Surveillance Program and System
In 1995, a Pulse Polio Immunization (PPI)
Program was initiated in India with the aim
of eradicating it completely from the
country. The program started under the
World Health Organization's (WHO) Global
Polio Eradication Initiative. Under this
program, every child below five years in age
is given two doses of Oral Polio Vaccine
(OPV), in the month of January and
December every year and it needs to be
continued till Polio is eradicated completely.
To achieve 100 percent success and meet
the requirements of unreached children
programs like social mobilization and
planned mop-up operations, were
undertaken.

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Fares of Ordinary Second Class
(suburban) trains will go up by 2
paise per km while for non-
suburban travel it will be 3 paise.
Travel by Second Class Mail and
Express trains will be costlier by 4
paise per km, while it will be 6
paise in Sleeper Class.
Travellers by AC Chair Car and AC
Three Tier will have to shell out 10
paise more per km, First Class by 3
paise, AC Two Tier by 6 paise and
AC First Class by 10 paise.
The fares for First Class, AC Two
Tier and AC First/ Executive Class
were already raised by 10 paise per
km, 15 and 30 paise respectively in
the current year's budget.
As per the railway minister the slowdown
has further impacted railways' earnings,
adding that the fare hike will help raise an
additional 1200-1300 crore rupees in the
remaining period of current fiscal.
AADHAAR CARD TO BE
ACCEPTED AS PROOF TO GET
PASSPORT: MINISTRY OF
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
The Ministry of External Affairs on 8 January
2013 decided and consequently advised all
Passport Issuing Authorities to accept
Aadhaar letter as Proof of Address and
Photo identity in conjunction with any other
prescribed documents for proof of
address/identity for the purpose of
passport application.
Presently, it is being seen that the
authorities accept passport applications
based on about 14 documents such as
voter ID card or electoral photo identity
card (EPIC), ration card, PAN, driving
license, birth certificates among others.
NEWS BROADCASTING
STANDARDS ASSOCIATION
ISSUED GUIDELINES FOR
REPORTING OF SEXUAL
CRIMES
The News Broadcasting Standards
Association (NBSA) on 7 January 2013
issued certain guidelines for the television
channels to exercise discretion and
sensitivity, while reporting the sexual
assault cases. Keeping in view, the Section
228A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), NBSA
directed television channels to keep the
identity of the victims involved in sexual
assault, hideous.
The guidelines were a result of the Zee
News television interview of the friend of
Delhi gang rape victim. The name of victim
was also disclosed in one international
publication.
INDIAS FIRST SUCCESSFUL
INTESTINAL TRANSPLANT
PERFORMED ON A SOFTWARE
ENGINEER
The first successful and healthy intestinal
transplant surgery in India was given to a
software engineer on 24 November 2012 at
Medanta Medicity, Gurgaon. Because
around 60 percent intestinal transplants are
not successful due to jettison and higher
degree of infection of transplanted organ,
therefore the hospital authorities waited for
announcing the results till patient
recovered completely. The earlier attempts
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of intestinal transplant in India have always
failed.
FOREIGN TOURISTS NOT
ALLOWED TO WORK AS
JOURNALISTS ON TOURIST
VISA: MHA
Ministry of Home Affairs on 2 January 2013
ordered foreign tourists not to indulge in
the journalistic activities on their tourist
visas. The order was issued by the Ministry
after observing that a lot of foreigners
visiting India on their tourist visa are also
involved in covering the events as well as
journalistic activities in India.
UNION GOVERNMENT
WITHDREW Z-PLUS SECURITY
COVER FOR EX-ARMY CHIEF,
GEN V K SINGH
The union government of India withdrew Z-
plus security provided to ex-army chief
General V K Singh. The Ex-Army chief had
remained in limelight over the issue of his
age, and currently for sharing stages with
critics of the central government such as
Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev.
The decision to withdraw Z-plus security
cover from 1 December 2012 was taken
after home ministry reviewed that there
wasnt any threat against the ex-Army chief.
Usually, all the retiring Army chiefs are
given Z-plus security for a period of six
months. The security is continued only in
case there is a high threat perception to
the chief.
What is Z-Plus Security?
In India, depending upon the threat
perception, high-risk people are provided
securities by local government and the
police. There are mainly four categories of
security and these are Z-Plus, Z, Y and X. Z-
Plus security cover is the highest level of
security. Anyone provided with the Z-Plus
security, gets a security cover of 36
personnel.
Individuals in India who are provided with
various categories of securities include
cabinet ministers, chief ministers, Supreme
Court and High Court judges, senior
bureaucrats as well as leading politicians.
NSG or National Security guards are usually
used for providing security to individuals
under Z-Plus security cover.
UNION GOVERNMENT
DECIDED SETTING UP 5-YEAR
PROJECT FOR CYBER
SECURITY OF CRITICAL
SECTORS
The union government decided to set up
five-year project for restoring the overall
cyber security structure of critical sectors of
India. This was decided in light of increasing
number of cyber attacks as well as security
threats that the Internet offers. In 2011,
India suffered 13000 cyber incidents.
National Critical Information Infrastructure
Protection Centre (NCIIPC) is responsible
for the project. It is the nodal agency which
is responsible for coordinating the cyber
security operations related to critical
infrastructures in India. NCIIPC prepared its
5-year plan for refurbishing as well as
integrating the structure of cyber security in
all critical structures like defence,
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telecommunication, transportation, power
and water.
NCIIPC will be notified for plans in order to
set up sectoral Computer Emergency
Response Teams (CERTs) which will be
associated to it. Sensors will be installed on
critical systems for giving real-time
information to the command as well as
control centre regarding cyber attack of any
kind for formulating quick response.
While NCIIPC would be responsible for
checking the very critical sectors which have
higher threat along with higher dependence
on computer and information technology
(CIT), CERT-IN on the other hand would
undertake other sectors. Sectors falling
under NCIIPC are energy (natural gas, coal,
oil and power), finance and banking,
transportation (civil aviation and railways),
space, law enforcement, security, telecom
and defence.
NEW CASES OF HIV
DECREASED BY 57 PERCENT
IN INDIA: UNION HEALTH
MINISTER
Addressing the India Health Summit which
was organised by CII in New Delhi, the
Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on
18 December 2012 declared that India was
witnessing a steep decline in fresh cases of
HIV. The health minister announced that
the fresh cases of HIV have dropped down
to 57 percent.
GOVT. OF INDIA TO SET UP
REAL TIME WATER QUALITY
MONITORING STATIONS
ALONG RIVER GANGA
The Government of India on 17 December
decided to set up 113 Real Time Water
Quality Monitoring Stations along the river
Ganga.
The Environment and Forests Minister
Jayanti Natarajan in a written reply in the
Lok Sabha on 17 December 2012 asserted
that the Real Time Water Quality
Monitoring Stations stations is going to be
set up in the next five years which includes
eight in Uttarakhand, 57 in Uttar Pradesh,
13 in Bihar and 35 in West Bengal to
monitor the water quality in the river.
INDIA DEVELOPED
INDIGENOUS JAPANESE
ENCEPHALITIS (JE) VACCINE
First vaccine of the world was developed
against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) using the
Indian strain of virus. National Institute of
Virology (NIV), Pune offered the strain of JE
virus to Bharat Biotech. This JE virus was
gathered from Kolar in Karnataka. Bharat
Biotech had submitted results from final
human trials to Drug Controller General of
India (DCGI) so that it could have marketing
clearance. The vaccine is an injectable one
and offers protection rate of more than 90
percent. It can be used for age group of 1-
15 years. Currently, India imports the stock
of JE vaccine from National Biotech Group
of China.
What is Japanese Encephalitis (JE)?
JE is the mosquito-borne virus which mainly
affects the CNS or Central Nervous System. It
can be transmitted to human beings if
infected mosquito bites. Mosquitoes in turn
are affected when they feed on domestic pigs
that carry this virus. JE usually affects children
who are below 15 years of age.
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UNION GOVERNMENT OF
INDIA EXTENDED BAN ON
ULFA AND NDFB
The Union home ministry in Month of
December extended the ban on United
Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and
National Democratic Front of Bodoland
(NDFB) under the Unlawful Prevention Act.

In December 2003, the government of
Bhutan and the Indian Army launched joint
operations to destroy the terrorist camps
operated in Bhutanese territory by ULFA
and NDFB.
UNION GOVERNMENT
INTRODUCED BILL TO AMEND
COMPETITION ACT
The Union Government of India on 10
December 2012 introduced a bill in
Parliament to amend the Competition Act
which, among other things, will require the
Competition Commission to decide on
corporate mergers within 180 days.
The bill is named Competition
(Amendment) Bill, 2012 bill and was
introduced by Corporate Affairs Minister
Sachin Pilot in the Lok Sabha to amend the
Competition Act 2002.

The bill would also confer powers on fair
trade regulator Competition Commission
of India (CCI) to vet all M&A deals and also
authorise its Director General to carry out
search and seizure activities.
UNION GOVERNMENT OF
INDIA CLEARED DECKS FOR
AMBEDKAR MEMORIAL
Union Government of India on 5 December
2012 cleared the decks for transferring the
prime India 12.5 acre United Mill land in
Mumbai to the Maharashtra government
for building a state-of-the-art memorial to
B.R. Ambedkar.

The Maharashtra State government is going
to bear the entire cost of the memorial
project and will henceforth take care of the
land. The Union Cabinet will take further
decisions on the process. A Bill will have to
be passed in Parliament for transfer of the
land for the memorial project.

About United Liberation Front of Assam
United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) is a
separatist group from Assam along with
many other such groups in North-East India.
The motto of the group is to establish a
sovereign Assam through an armed struggle
in the Assam conflict. The government of
India banned the organisation in 1990 citing
it as a terrorist organisation, while the United
States Department of State lists it under
other groups of concern.

The memorial is to be modeled on the basis
of Mahatma Gandhis SAMADHI at Rajghat.

About National Democratic Front of
Bodoland
The National Democratic Front of Bodoland
(NDFB) is an extremist outfit whose motto is
to obtain a sovereign Bodoland for the Bodo
people in Assam, India. NDFB fights to get a
sovereign Bodoland north of the
Brahmaputra River. It was very active during
the 1990s. The NDFB is allied with the
National Socialist Council of Nagalim (IM) and
illegally occupies terrorist training camps in
the South of Bhutan.

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GLOBAL TERRORISM INDEX
REVEALED: INDIA RANKED
AMONG TOP FIVE TERROR-
HIT NATIONS
New index called Global Terrorism Index
(GTI) prepared by Australian think tank
released by Australia-based Institute for
Economics & Peace ranked various
countries based on the data collected from
Global Terrorism Database, which in turn is
operated by a group at University of
Maryland.
GTI revealed that India, Afghanistan and
Pakistan accounted for 11 percent, 10
percent and 12 percent of global terrorist
events respectively from time period 2002
to 2009.
The major points of the report are as
follows:
The figures revealed that there
were 529 terrorist incidents in
2011 and they had tolled lives of
402 people, injuring 687 people.
The numbers were higher in
2006 to 2010 time period when
the number of casulties
averaged greater than 600
people per year, rising to 735
people in 2009 and 772 in 2010.
In the year 2011, India, Pakistan,
Russia as well as Middle East
were most affected by terrorism.
Out of 159 countries that were
surveyed, India ranked number
4. Iraq was at the first position
followed by Pakistan,
Afghanistan, India and Yemen
respectively.
The GTI showed that terrorism in
the world started escalating
after an increase in Iraq war.
Consequently, it was followed by
increasing terrorism in
Afghanistan and later in Pakistan
after 18 months.
The index also revealed that
merely 31 countries out of
surveyed 159 did not
experience a single terrorist
attack since 2001.
SUPREME COURT ISSUED
GUIDELINES TO CURB EVE
TEASING AT THE PUBLIC
PLACES
Supreme Court on 30 November 2012
issued certain guidelines in order to put a
halt to eve-teasing. SC termed eve-teasing
consequences disastrous and also directed
the government that women cops in plain
clothes should be deputed at the public
places. The state governments as well as
the union territories are ordered by the
Supreme Court to depute female police
officers in plain clothes at the public places
such as metro stations, bus stands, railway
stations, shopping malls, beaches, parks,
worship places, cinemas as well as public
service vehicles. This has been done to
monitor as well as supervise the incidents
of eve-teasing.
NUCLEAR WASTE WOULD
NOT BE DUMPED AT KOLAR
GOLD MINE: GOVT. TO SC
November 2012 cleared its intention in
front of the Supreme Court about dumping
the Uranium waste in useless gold mines at
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the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) in Karnataka
from Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd
(NPCIL) in its supplementary affidavit made
clear before the court that there was
nothing mentioned in earlier affidavit which
indicated that the union government
identified Kolar Gold Mine as the storage
for nuclear waste.
UNION CABINET CLEARED
SETTING UP OF 21 TEXTILE
PARKS
The Union Government on 8 November
2012 approved the release of funds for the
establishment of 21 integrated textile parks
which was sanctioned in the 11th Five Year
Plan.
The cabinet committee on economic affairs
(CCEA), in a meeting held in New Delhi also
had committed the government to provide
for liability beyond 200 crore Rupees.
It was in October 2010 that the CCEA had
approved a proposal for setting up
additional 21 integrated textile parks
utilising the Rs.200 crore left in the 11th
plan.
The parks were to be implemented during
the 11th Five Year plan (2007-2012).
Scheme of Integrated Textile Parks (SITP)
aims at providing private sector
investment, generating employment and
create a need-based and product-based
world class infrastructure for the industry.
Now the establishment will extend up to
12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) and envisages
a total investment of 819 crore rupees.
TRAI ISSUED A CAP OF 100
SMSS ON CONCESSION RATES
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
(TRAI) on 5 November 2012 issued a cap of
100 SMSs per day at concession rate. It also
fixed a rate of 50 paise per SMS beyond the
decided cap. TRAI also ordered the service
providers and operators to place a
technology to make sure that the
unregistered telemarketers are not able to
send more than 200 SMSs per hour, from
their phone or computer.

GOVERNMENT NOD TO
GRANT EX-SERVICEMAN
STATUS TO THE RETIRED
PARAMILITARY STAFFS
The Union Cabinet of India on 1 November
2012 gave its nod to grant retired personnel
About TRAI
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
(TRAI) is an independent regulator of the
telecommunications business in India. It
came into existence by the Act of the
Parliament on 20 February 1997 and the act
was named as Telecom Regulatory Authority
of India Act 1997. Its constitution came into
effect in 1994, when the Government
constituted the National Telecom Policy
(NTP) to attract domestic and Foreign Direct
Investment in the telecommunication sector.
The flooding of investors from domestic
market and the international market players
resulted in the development of the
regulatory body. As a result of this demand,
the formation of the Telecom Regulatory
Body came up.

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of central police and paramilitary forces the
status of ex-Servicemen. The Home
Minister of India Sushil Kumar Shinde at an
event of paramilitary CISF in Delhi made this
announcement making it clear that the
hounour was given to the paramilitary
forces as they put their life at risk in the line
of duty.
This announcement would enable more
than four lakh retired personnel to avail the
welfare benefits available for the ex-
servicemen till date. Retired personnel from
CRPF, CISF, BSF, ITBP and SSB would be
counted among the ex-central police
personnel equivalent to the ex-servicemen
recognition of the retirees of the defence
forces. The retired personnel of these
forces would be reckoned as ex-central
police personnel.
The ex-servicemen status to the retired
personnel of these forces would bring
them the benefits in form of canteens and
hospital facilities that is run by
Government. These personnel would also
be recognised while applying for the jobs
in Private Sectors as trained and suitable
talent.
UNION GOVERNMENT
CONSTITUTED A NATIONAL
COMMITTEE ON DIRECT CASH
TRANSFERS
The Union Government on 25 October 2012
constituted a National Committee on
Direct Cash Transfers. The committee
would be responsible to coordinate in
development of the process for making the
transfer of the cash directly to the
individuals, being provided under different
types of government schemes and
programs.
The Prime Minister of India, Manmohan
Singh would be the Chairperson of the
committee and the group of members
would include eleven Cabinet Ministers,
two Ministers of State with independent
charge, the Deputy Chairman Planning
Commission, the Chairman UIDAI, the
Cabinet Secretary with the Principal
Secretary to the PM as the convenor. The
Prime Minister can invite some more
officers, minister or any expert for the
committees meet.
An Executive Committee for Direct Cash
Transfer under the chairmanship of Prime
Ministers' Principal Secretary is constituted
along with the Secretaries of the concerned
Ministries and the DG UIDAI. Convenor for
this committee would be the Secretary of
the Planning Commission.
UNION CABINET APPROVED
SETTING UP OF NATIONAL
AUTOMOTIVE BOARD
The Union Cabinet on 18 October 2012 gave
its nod for setting up of the National
Automotive Board (NAB). The body will be
responsible for promoting the research and
development activities of the industry and
act as a facilitator in between the industry
and the government.
NAB would also be responsible as a
specialized body to promote sustainable
development of the Nations Auto Sector
along with skill development for the
automobile sector.
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UNION CABINET CLEARED
4000 CRORE RUPEES PLAN TO
TACKLE JAPANESE
ENCEPHALITIS
The Union Cabinet of India on 18 October
2012 approved a 4038-crore Rupees
comprehensive multi-pronged plan for
prevention and control of Japanese
Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis
Syndrome (AES) in the country.
The plan will implemented in Uttar Pradesh,
West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Assam
within five years from 2012-13 to 2016-17.
The Plan is going to be jointly implemented
by the Ministries of Health and Family
Welfare, Drinking Water and Sanitation,
Social Justice and Empowerment, Housing
and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Women
and Child Development.
The proposal for Prevention and Control of
Japanese Encephalitis came after the
recommendation of Group of ministers
(GoM) to Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare.
SC: ALL STATES AND UTS TO
CONDUCT FRESH SURVEYS TO
IDENTIFY BONDED LABOUR
PROBLEMS
The Supreme Court of India on 15 October
2012 directed all states and Union
Territories to conduct fresh surveys to
identify bonded labour problems in the
country and regretted that a large number
of children continue to work as domestic
help even after the enactment of the Right
to Education Act (RTE act).
A bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and
Dipak Misra ruled in a judgment that it
shall be the duty of the local bodies and
panchayats to identify such children and
ensure that they get proper education.
Referring to bonded labour practice, the
apex court noted that after the perusal of
the NHRC (National Human Rights
Commission) and other reports it is clear
that the practice is rampant. The court
passed the directions while dealing with a
1985 PIL filed by Public Union for Civil
Liberties, highlighting bonded labour
practice in the country.
SUPREME COURT WORRIED
ABOUT THE STATUS OF
GROWING POLLUTION IN
YAMUNA
Supreme Court on 10 October 2012
expressed its serious concerns over Yamuna
and the growing rate of pollution in its
water although a huge sum of about 1800
crore rupees had been spent on containing
pollution in the river.
The Supreme Court of India on issues of
pollution in River Yamuna criticized to the
Centre and Governments of Haryana, Uttar
Pradesh and Delhi. The Bench of Justices
Swatanter Kumar and Madan B. Lokur in its
statement said it an unfortunate event that
without showing any improvement in the
quality of water such a huge public fund has
been invested.
The bench considering the report issued by
the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB),
which points out the growing concentration
of pollutants along the stretch of river,
directed the Secretary of Union Urban
Development Minister and chief secretaries
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of the three state along with civic bodies
and concerned ministries to file a report in
detail, about the works undertaken by them
from Hathnikund to Agra, so far. The report
measured coli content to be 17 billion per
100 ml in Delhi, since March 2012.
President of India Approved New Protocol
for Addressing the Dignitaries
Pranab Mukherjee, the Honble President of
India approved new set of Protocols for
addressing, the dignitaries inside and
outside the country. Mukherjee also asked
the authorities to organise government
functions within the premises of Rastrapati
Bhawan, this came out of his concern to the
inconvenience caused to the public and
police during his movement.
Words of colonial era like his Excellency will
be replaced by Shree or Smt. before the
name of the President or the Governor, in
the functions being organised within the
country and between the Indian dignitaries.
His Excellency can only be used to greet the
President during his interaction with foreign
dignitaries.
The Hindi word, Mahamahin would be
replaced by Rastrapati Mahoday. In official
notings in President Secretariat,
Mahamahim will be replaced with the word
Rastrapati ji. Honble word would be used
before the names of the President and the
Governor.
For further action to be taken on the
protocol, the changed Protocol was
conveyed to the Home Ministry. The
protocol will be implemented and brought
in practice with immediate effect.
SC: REFUSED TO RESTRAIN
CENTER FROM PROVIDING
TRAINING TO SRI LANKAN
ARMED FORCES
The Supreme Court on 8 October 2012
denied from restraining the centre from
offering training the armed forces of Sri
Lanka. Supreme Court Bench headed by
Justice Aftab Alam including Ms. Ranjana
Desai stated that it was the government
policy and the court cannot interfere in the
government policy decisions.
The court in its verdict declared the petition
as misconceived, dismissed the petition.
The decision came in response to the
petition filed by N Raja Raman against nine
Lankan defence personnels, who are being
trained in the Indian Air Force base at
Karnataka.
SUPREME COURT DIRECTED
GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE
BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE IN
SCHOOL
2012 directed the Union government of
India and state governments to provide
basic infrastructure, including drinking
water and toilets, in all schools within six
months. A bench headed by justice K S
Radhakrishnan fixed the time limit and
directed the governments to take steps to
provide the basic facilities in schools across
the country.
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INDIA AND WORLD BANK
SIGNED 500 MILLION DOLLAR
DEAL FOR SHIKSHA ABHYAN
World Bank and the Government of India
on 5 October 2012 signed a loan agreement
of 500 Million US Dollar for Secondary
Education Project named Rashtriya
Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).
The project is going to help in achieving
increased and good quality secondary
education as directed in the framework of
Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, the
flagship government of India program for
gradual Universalisation of secondary
education.

MINISTRY OF RURAL
DEVELOPMENT LAUNCHED
NIRMAL BHARAT YATRA
Ministry of rural development on3 October
2012 started a campaign named Nirmal
Bharat Yatra which focuses on making the
country free from open defecation.
The Yatra will begin from Wardha District of
Maharashtra from 3 October 2012 and will
go through Indore, Kota, Gwalior, and
Gorakhpur and end up in Bettiah district of
Bihar on November 17, covering about 2000
km of distance.
The Indian Bollywood actress Vidya Balan is
the brand ambassador of the campaign.
The campaign is being promoted by several
NGOs and private companies and it is going
to be completed at a cost of over Rs 12
crore and is going to target over 9 crore
people to spread awareness about
sanitation.
The well known NGOs that are participating
in the programme are Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation and Water Supply and
Sanitation Collaborative Council.
UNION CABINET OF INDIA APPROVED THE
DEMANDS OF EX-SERVICEMEN FOR ONE
RANK ONE PENSION
The Union Cabinet of India, under the
Chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh on 24 September 2012 approved the
long awaited demand for One Rank One
Pension (OROP) and other benefits of ex-
servicemen. The cabinet also gave a nod for
enhancement of pension for family and
dual family pension. The approved demand
will cost the government about Rs 2300
crore per year. The cabinet also approved
family pension grants for mentally or
physically challenged children of personnel
from armed forces.

What is Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha
Abhiyan?
Like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the
Department of School Education and Literacy
of the Ministry of Human Resource
Development (MHRD) under Government of
India is launching Rastriya Madhyamic
Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) with an aim to
achieve Universal Access and Quality
Secondary Education.
Under Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan,
the responsibility to develop Secondary-
Education Management Information system
(SE-MIS) is given to the Department of
Educational Planning, National University of
Educational Planning and Administration
(NUEPA), New Delhi.

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SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
ORDERED BETTER
HEALTHCARE FOR BHOPAL
GAS TRAGEDY VICTIMS
In an order passed on 9 August 2012, the
Supreme Court of India directed the
government to make all the medical
records of Bhopal Gas victims
computerised and issue health booklets
and smart cards to each victim. The courts
directive came as it seek to ensure better
healthcare and proper implementation of
relief and rehabilitation programme for
thousands of victims of worlds worst
industrial disaster.
The Apex Court Bench of Chief Justice SH
Kapadia and Justices AK Patnaik and
Swatanter Kumar passed the order on a
petition filed by the Bhopal Gas Peedith
Mahila Udyog Sanghathan.
An Empowered Monitoring Committee will
be set up to carry out the courts order. The
committee will undertake the tasks such as
making medical surveillance operational,
computerisation of medical information,
publication of health booklets, etc. It will
also ensure that health booklets and
smart cards are provided to each victim
irrespective of where such victim is being
treated.
BCCC ASKED TV CHANNELS TO
BE EXTRA-CAUTIOUS WHILE
SHOWING VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN
The Broadcasting Content Complaints
Council (BCCC) in its report submitted to
the Information and Broadcasting Ministry,
asked TV channels to be extra-cautious
while showing violence against women.
BCCC received almost half of the complaints
related to obscene scenes during its first
year of functioning.
The BCCC directed some channels that since
these programmes were not suitable for
telecast during general viewing hours; they
should suitably modify the content and air
such programmes during restricted viewing
hours. The main concern was use of vulgar
language by participants and the alleged
obscene acts performed by them during the
shows.

DELHI HIGH COURT
APPROVED THE GUIDELINES
FOR MEDIA REPORTING ON
CHILDREN
The Delhi High Court approved the
guidelines for media reporting on children,
Panel report
The approval of the Union Cabinet came on the
OROP after the six member committee formed
by the Prime Minister submitted its report. Ajit
Seth was the head of this committee
Issue
The ex-servicemen association and defence
forces demanded payment of uniform pension
to the defence personnel retiring at same rank
with same length of service period irrespective
of their date of retirement. The OROP also
demanded passing of future enhancements to
the past pensioners.

BCCC is the non-news television industrys
self-regulatory body. It was formed in July
2011.

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which stipulates various curbs including
that the identity of kids should not be
revealed under any circumstances while
covering stories of sexual offences,
elopement and drug abuse.
A committee, appointed by the court in
February 2012, had submitted the
guidelines before a bench of Acting Chief
Justice A K Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai
Endlaw. The Committee set the guidelines
that the media shall ensure that a child's
identity is not revealed in any manner,
including but not limited to, disclosure of
personal information, photographs, school
or locality and information of the family
including their residential or official
address.
BIMAL GURUNG SWORN IN
AS THE HEAD OF
GORKHALAND TERRITORIAL
ADMINISTRATION
The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration
(GTA), a semi-autonomous body for
trouble-torn Darjeeling hills in West Bengal,
sworn in on 4 August 2012. The 50-member
body was administered oath by West
Bengal Governor MK Narayanan in presence
of Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde,
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata
Banerjee and Railway Minister Mukul Roy.
Bimal Gurung, President of Gorkha
Janmukti Morcha (GJM), will head the first
elected body of the GTA. The 50-member
body will consists of 45 elected candidates
and 5 nominated candidates. Gorkhaland
Territorial Administration is the successor
of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council which
came into existence in 1988. Gorkhaland
Territorial Administration was the result of
three-year long agitation by Bimal Gurung
led Gorkha Janmukti Morcha for separate
Gorkhaland state. The agitation which
kicked off in 2007 culminated with the
formation of GTA in 2011. In 2011, when
Mamta Banerjee led Trinmool Congress
stormed to power in West Bengal, three
sides viz. Union Government, West Bengal
Government and GJM inked a tripartite
agreement with respect to the formation of
GTA.
SPECIAL TRIBUNAL APPROVED
MHA MOVE TO DECLARE SIMI
AS AN UNLAWFUL
ORGANISATION
A Special Tribunal in its decision
pronounced on 1 August 2012 approved the
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) move to
declare Students Islamic Movement of
India (SIMI) as an unlawful association. The
tribunal headed by sitting Delhi High Court
Judge Justice VK Shali submitted its report
to the Union Home Ministry. The tribunal
was constituted to decide whether there
was sufficient cause for declaring the
association unlawful.

SIMI was founded by Mohammad
Ahmadullah Siddiqi on 25 April 1977, in
Aligadh, Uttar Pradesh. The organization was
banned under the provisions of the Unlawful
Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. SIMI
appealed against the ban in various courts
including Special Unlawful Activities
(Prevention) Act tribunals, but it was not
given any respite. Though a special tribunal in
August 2008 had lifted the ban on SIMI, but
the ban was soon restored by the then Chief
Justice of India KG Balakrishnan, on 6 August,
2008.

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POWER TRIPPED IN
NORTHERN, EASTERN AND
NORTH EASTERN GRIDS:
INDIAS BIGGEST POWER
BLACKOUT
India witnessed its biggest ever power
blackout on 31 July 2012. Post the collapse
of the northern power grid twenty states in
India were left with no electricity till late
evening. This is the second time that the
country saw a power failure of a huge
margin; interestingly both the failures
happened in a time frame of over twenty
four hours.
The collapse happened at around one o
clock in the noon, when the northern grid
tripped, which then immediately led to a
similar effect on the eastern and north-
eastern grids, as the two are connected as a
common grid.

UK LIFTED TRAVEL ADVISORY
ON JAMMU AND KASHMIR
The United Kingdom on 6 November 2012
lifted its around twenty years old travel
advisory for its nationals against travel to
Srinagar, Jammu and Ladakh, referring
improvements of the security situation in
the State.
The lifting of Travel Advisory came just
before British foreign secretary William
Hagues visit to India.
The lifting of Advisory is going to encourage
more UK tourists to visit and provide a
platform for businesses, which in turn
would benefit the local economy of Jammu
and Kashmir.
UK is the third country to lift its ban on
travel to these places in the state after
Germany and Japan. Earlier, Japan on 19
October 2012 lifted the advisory while
Germany in July 2011 had relaxed travel
restriction to Jammu and Kashmir for its
National.
The travel Advisories were imposed as a
result of the outbreak of militancy in the
state of Jammu and Kashmir after 1989
and with the abduction of some foreign
tourists.
NASSCOM SIGNED PACT WITH
NIIT TO TRAIN ONE LAKH
STUDENTS IN NEXT THREE
YEARS
The Nasscom Sector Skills Council (SSC) on
4 January 2013 signed a memorandum of
understanding with NIIT to train one lakh
students over the next three years for
business/ knowledge process outsourcing
and legal process outsourcing jobs.
Both the organization had jointly
introduced two new courses Foundation
Skills in IT (FSIT) for engineering graduates
and Global Business Foundation Skills
(GBFS) for graduates of all streams which
directly aims to train 30000 students in the
first year.
POWER GRID
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
(POWERGRID) is the Central Transmission
Utility (CTU) of the country. It is under
Ministry of Power and is one of the largest
Power Transmission utilities in the world.

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The courses had been specifically designed
and developed by the IT-ITeS SSC of
Nasscom and the achievement levels are
certified through the Nasscom Assessment
of Competence -Technology.
Major Indian multinational information
technology (IT) services, business solutions
company like those of Tata Consultancy
Services, Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies,
Accenture, Genpact, IBM, Dell, Cognizant,
Convergys and Microsoft are all part of the
Nasscom Skills Council.
NIITs training expertise together with
Nasscoms industry insights will empower
college students across India.
INDIRA GANDHI
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
GOT INTERNATIONAL
CERTIFICATION
The Indira Gandhi International Airport
operator, Delhi International Airport (P)
Limited (DIAL) on 22 October 2012 got an
ISO 20000 international certification for
eliminating and controlling information
technology-related threats.
With receiving of this ISO certification, Delhi
International Airport (P) Limited (DIAL)
became the sixth airport operator to
receive the ISO 20000 certification in IT
Service Management System (ITSMS) after
Dubai, Munich, Abu Dhabi, Incheon and
Hyderabad.
ISO 20000-1:2011 is a service management
system (SMS) standard which specifies
requirements for the service provider to
plan, establish, implement, operate,
monitor, review, maintain and improve an
SMS.
IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) of Delhi
International Airport (P) Limited consists of
13 processes, which are used in ITSMS to
ensure cost effectiveness, availability, zero
tolerance and customer satisfaction.
Also in June 2012, DIAL had attained ISO
27001 Continuity, which was an IT
information security framework that
certifies the company demonstrating and
following best of the world IT information
security principles, processes and
procedures.
The continuity of the ISO 27001
certification was assessed and adjudged by
British Standards Institution (BSI) during
their annual audit.
BHEL DEPLOYED SOLAR
PANEL ON GSAT 10 SATELLITE
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) in
the Month of October had successfully
deployed space grade solar panels on the
GSAT-10 Satellite of the Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO).
BHEL had supplied four solar panels for
GSAT-10, that have an area of 5.36 square
metre each and comprise multi-junction
solar cells in series and parallel
combinations, with a total power capacity
of 4000 watts.
The GSAT-10 satellite was launched from
the Kourou launch base in French Guyana,
and it is the heaviest Indian satellite built
by ISRO and caters to the countrys
telecommunications and television
broadcasting requirements.
Prior to its supply, the space grade solar
panels and batteries were manufactured
and tested to strict space quality standards
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at the BHEL facility by highly skilled
manpower.
BHEL, in collaboration with ISRO, also had
established state-of-the-art 10,000 class
clean room facilities at its Electronics
Systems Division in Bangalore for the
assembly and testing of Space Grade Solar
Panels using high efficiency solar cells.
Till date, BHEL had supplied 55 solar panels
totaling to 250 square metres of area and
40 batteries for various satellites of ISRO.
DGCA SUSPENDED THE
LICENSE OF KINGFISHER
AIRLINES
Directorate General of Civil Aviation
(DGCA) on 20 October 2012 suspended the
license of the debt-ridden aircraft carrier
Kingfisher Airlines. The decision came up
after the airlines failed to address the
concerns of the regulatory body about its
operation that came up after the airlines
was directed to stop-bookings till further
notifications.
The notification issued by the Directorate
General of Civil Aviation on 20 October
asked Kingfisher to submit a concrete and
reliable revival plan. The Airlines is suffering
from a loss of 8000 crore rupees and a debt
burden of 7524 crore rupees and right now
out of 66 aircraft that was operational last
year by the company have only 10 aircraft
operational.
Losses Suffered by the Airlines
2008-2009:1609 crore rupees
2009-2010:1647 crore rupees
2010-2011: 1027 crore rupees
2011-2012: 734 crore rupees
The Civil Aviation Ministry cleared that the
cancellation of license and permit to fly was
done under Civil Aviation Rules and
Provisions of the Aircraft Act.
NDTV FILED LAWSUIT
AGAINST AUDIENCE
MEASUREMENT COMPANY
TAM INDIA
India's national news broadcasting channel
NDTV sued the countrys only television
audience measurement company TAM
India and its global parent firms Nielsen
and Kantar on 31 July 2012. The channel
accused officials at TAM of being indulged
in fraudulent and manipulating TV ratings.
NDTV, which filed the lawsuit in Supreme
Court of New York, demanded damages of
at least 810 million dollar for its losses over
the last eight years. Besides, it also claimed
the 580 million dollar compensation for
losses due to negligence over the last three
years.
What is TAM?
TAM (Television Audience Measurement)
the media research company installs People
Meters in over 8000 sample homes to
monitor viewership patterns. The findings
of TAM are instrumental in making the
corporate decisions. In its lawsuit, NDTV
accused TAM of fraudulent and claimed
that the small sample size gave rise to the
rampant corruption in Media industry.
NDTV
NDTV is one of the Indias top broadcasters
which has its presence in both English and
Hindi media. The company also runs a
business channel with name NDTV Profit. It
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was founded by Prannoy Roy, an eminent
journalist and current chairman and
director of NDTV Group in 1988.
GAIL AND RSPCL SIGNED AN
AGREEMENT OF JOINT
VENTURE ON GAS SUPPLY
PIPELINE PROJECT
The GAIL Gas Limited and the Rajasthan
State Petroleum Corporation Limited
(RSPCL) signed an agreement of Joint
Venture on 5 November 2012 to lay down
the natural gas supply pipeline in the state.
Both the bodies will together formulate a
long-term plan on commercial, domestic as
well as industrial consumption of the gas.
The joint venture would help in supply of
pollution free LPG, CNG and LNG to
consumers of different categories and
would also be responsible for development
of the CNG stations on the road sides of the
state and national highways. The project
would also supply the gas required by the
industrial units that is coming up on the
Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor.
The transport, supply and distribution of
gas would be carried after getting
approvals from the Petroleum & Natural
Gas Regulatory Board.
CVC INSTRUCTED CBI TO
EXPAND THE SCOPE OF
INVESTIGATION ON
COALGATE
The Central Vigilance Commission on 24
September 2012 instructed the Central
Bureau of Investigation to expand its
investigation scope on Coal Block Allocation
to private firms in between 1993 to 2004.
The decision was made after CVC received a
letter from the Coal Minister, Shriprakash
Jaiswal seeking a probe from CBI on
allocations made, since 1993.
Widening of the scope of investigation will
bring into scanner the allocation done to
private companies during the reign of P.V.
Narasimha Rao led congress government
after 1993, including United Front
Government from 1996 to 1998 and BJP-led
NDA government from 1996 to 1998.
Report of Comptroller and Auditor General
of India (CAG) - Vinod Rai on coal block
allocations tabled in the parliament states

JAL SATYAGRAHA CAME TO
AN END AFTER 17 DAYS
DEMONSTRATION ON A
VICTORY NOTE
1. Due to arbitrary allotment of the
coal blocks the Indian exchequer
suffered a loss of Rs 1.86 lakh crore
equivalents to $ 37 billion
2. Up to 31 March 2011 total 194 coal
blocks were allotted to different
private and government parties
with an aggregate quantity of
44,440 million tonnes of coal
3. The beneficiary of these allotments
as per CAG report were 25 major
companies of India including Essar
Power, Jindal Steel and Power,
Hindalco and Tata Power
4. To bring out transparency in the
process, the CAG suggested
competitive bidding as a better
solution

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The most outstanding demonstrations of its
own kind in Khandawa district of Madhya
Pradesh named Jal Satyagraha continued
for 17 days at Omkareshwar Dam Project
came to an end on 10 September 2012.
Across 1000 acres of cultivatable land has
been submerged into water with at least 60
odd villages that will not be visible in the
map of India any more. The Satygrahis
demanded land for the land compensation
following the ruling of Supreme Court.
The oustees in the satyagraha remained
standing in the neck deep water with
demands like lowering down the level of
water stored in the dam to 189 meters and
to provide land for land compensation,
ended the battle on the victory note.

A high level committee was constituted to
hear the grievances of the dam effected
people.

Jal Satyagraha

Jal Satyagraha was a type of Satyagraha, in
which 51 farmers from Khandwa district of
Madhya Pradesh stood in the neck dip
water of Omkareshwar Dam for 17 days
continuously asking for their
rehabilitation.
The Satyagrahis demanded for the
compensation as per the ruling of the
Supreme Court. The agitators termed as Jal
Satyagrahis made a decision to stand in
neck deep water of the dam, all wet and
damp.
Omkareshwar Dam Project
Omkareshwar Dam Project is a 520 MW
project constructed by the Narmada
Hydroelectric Development Corporation in
joint venture with Madhya Pradesh
Government and NHPC is among the
biggest dam on Narmada River. The
Omkareshwar project area, lies in between
the banks of the two important rivers of
India, Narmada and Kaveri (its a tributary
to Narmada). It was conceived as an
irrigation and power dam to be built in the
state of Madhya Pradesh in the year 1965.
The project is one of the fasted completed
hydroelectric projects of the country in
between 2004 and 2006. The project has
benefitted about 529 villages with irrigation
facilities and has helped in raising the yield
to .725 million tons of grains along with
.835 million ton of other crops in the region.
NUMBER OF SUPREME COURT
JUDGES INCREASED TO 28
AFTER 3 JUDGES SWORN IN
M.Y. Eqbal-Chief Justice of Madras High
Court, V. Gopala Gowda-Chief Justice of
Orissa High Court and Vikramajit Sen-Chief
Justice of Karnataka High Court sworn in as
the Judges of Supreme Court of India on 24
December 2012 by the Chief Justice of India
Altamas Kabir. With this, the number of
judges in Supreme Court of India rose to
twenty-seven, with four more vacancies
remaining.
The three judges were appointed by the
President of India Pranab Mukherhjee for
the post on 21 December 2012.
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of India was
established by Part V, Chapter IV of the
Constitution of India and is the highest
judicial forum and the final court of
appeal. Establishment of the Supreme
Court of India, its Composition and
Jurisdiction has been laid down in Articles
124 to 147 of the Indian Constitution.
Initially during 1950s the Supreme Court
consisted of a Chief Justice and seven low
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ranked judges and a full bench of the court
sat together to hear the cases and pass on
the judgments. In 1956 the number rose to
eleven and it kept rising to fourteen,
eighteen, twenty six and thirty one
including the Chief Justice in 1960, 1978,
1986 and 2008 respectively.
Appointment
The Constitution of India under Article 124
(2) provides powers to the President of
India to appoint the judges of the Supreme
Court with consultation with the Chief
Justice of India and such judges of Supreme
Court and High Court if necessary.
With the three appointments, the number
of Judges including the Chief Justice of India
increased to 28 including Chief Justice of
India against 31 provided by the
constitution.
CYBER SECURITY GET
REVAMPED WITH
GOVERNMENT FIVE YEAR
PLAN
Union government of India in its bid to
meet the challenge of cyber attacks and
security in the virtual world in month of
December set in motion a five-year project
to revamp the entire cyber security
apparatus of critical sectors in the country.
In the past one year, India has suffered
13,000 cyber incidents.
National Critical Information Infrastructure
Protection Centre (NCIIPC) had taken the
responsibility to coordinate cyber security
operations for critical infrastructures across
the country.
It is part of the step to first create
awareness and ensure setting up of a
robust security system in all critical
government agencies at their own level.
Once agencies set up their security
infrastructure, it will be connected to
NCIIPC.
NCIIPC had prepared a five-year plan to
completely revamp and integrate the cyber
security apparatus of all critical
infrastructures such as power,
transportation, water, telecommunication
and defence.
The government has also defined clear
mandates for NCIIPC and CERT-IN, which is
also engaged in cyber security of national
infrastructure.
Tasks that NCCIIPC is going to Perform
NCIIPC will only look after absolutely
critical sectors that have high threat
perception coupled with greater
dependence on computer and
information technology (CIT), while
other sectors will be with CERTIN.
These sectors (with NCIIPC) have
been identified as energy (power,
coal, oil and natural gas),
transportation (railways and civil
aviation), banking and finance,
telecom, defence, space, law
enforcement and security.
NCIIPC also plans to set up a sectoral
Computer Emergency Response
Team (CERTs) that would be
connected to it, and will install
censors on all critical systems to
provide real-time information to its
command and control (C&C) center
about any cyber attack to formulate
a quick response.
Under a newly defined mandate,
NCIIPC will look after critical sectors
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with high dependency on computer
and information technology (IT),
while other sectors will be under
India's CERT, CERT-IN.
India's critical infrastructure agencies are no
stranger to cyber attacks. Just in month of
December a hacker group leaked Indian
telco BSNL's passwords and database,
calling for the withdrawal of a controversial
legislation which allegedly suppresses
freedom of speech and expression.
In April 2012 Chinese hackers allegedly
planted a bug via flash drives on India's
navy computers, which relayed sensitive
data to China IP addresses.
BROADCASTING CONTENT
COMPLAINT COUNCIL TOLD
CHANNELS TO ABSTAIN FROM
VULGAR COMEDY
The Broadcasting Content Complaint
Council (BCCC) on 28 December 2012 asked
all the entertainment channels not to
televise abusive, crass, vulgar as well as
double-meaning language that has sexual
overtones in comedys name.
The BCCC issued an advisory in which it
mentioned that channels need not cross
their limits in the name of comedy. The
council also declared that a lot of
complaints were received by it against
dialogues which had double-meaning sense
of humour.
SM KRISHNA RESIGNED FROM
THE POST OF EXTERNAL
AFFAIRS MINISTER
SM Krishna on 26 October 2012 resigned
from his post of External Affairs Minister.
He submitted his resignation to the Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh, who accepted it
and forwarded to the President of India. SM
Krishna, before being inducted as the
External Affairs Minister in 2009, served
Maharasthtra as its nineteenth Governor
from 2004 to 2008. He served as a Member
of Parliament from the Mandya district of
Karnataka in its 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th Lok
Sabha starting from 1968.
PROPOSALS TO PROCURE
BRAHMOS AND INVAR
MISSILES
The Cabinet Committee on security on 18
October 2012 approved proposals worth
over 8000 crore rupees for procuring
around 10000 Invar missiles from Russia
for the Army's T-90 tanks and over 200 air-
launched versions of the BrahMos
supersonic cruise missiles for the Indian Air
Force. Also, the Union Cabinet approved
the waiver of the outstanding loan along
with interest for the 370 tsunami affected
fishermen and to reimburse the same to
concerned banks.
The Union Cabinet also approved setting up
of a National Automotive Board, NAB a
body which would act as a facilitator
between the government and the industry
and promote Research and Development
activities in the sector.
JUSTICE ALTAMAS KABIR
APPOINTED AS THE NEW
CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA
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Justice Altamas Kabir was appointed as the
new Chief Justice of India on 13 September
2012. He will take oath as 39th Chief Justice
of India and assume his office on 29
September 2012 as a Successor of Chief
Justice S.H. Kapadia. S.H. Kapadia will
relinquish from his office on 28 September
2012. Altamas Kabir at present is the senior-
most Judge of the Supreme Court.
DCGI DIRECTED DRUG
COMPANIES TO SUBMIT
SAFETY REPORTS OF NEW
DRUGS TO IT
The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI)
on 3 September 2012 directed drug
companies to submit mandatory safety
reports of new drugs to it every six months.
The country's drug regulator, in its order,
threatened to cancel drug licenses in case
they fail to do so.
The Directive came after DCGI found that
some companies are not submitting the
required mandatory safety reports every six
months during the first two years.
NO MOBILE CONNECTION TO
ANY FOREIGN TOURIST FOR
MORE THAN THREE MONTHS
The Government in the first week of
September 2012 asked telecom service
providers not to give mobile connection for
more than three months to any foreign
tourist visiting India. New guidelines issued
by Department of Telecom, DoT, recently
stated that the proof for a mobile
connection to any foreigner will be a
passport with a valid visa. DoT ruled that
any mobile connection issued to a foreigner
should not have validity beyond the validity
of the visa.
The move comes in the wake of instances
where mobile connections used by
foreigners were misused by some people
even after the departure of the foreign
nationals from the country
THE CII HELD THE ELEVENTH
ENERGY EFFICIENCY SUMMIT
IN HYDERABAD
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
held the eleventh Energy Efficient Summit
in HICC, Novotel Hyderabad. The summit
was held from 22 August 2012 to 25 August
2012.
The objective of the summit was to
facilitate the Indian industry to improve
energy efficiency on a continuous basis and
help them in achieving the target set as part
of Perform Achieve and Trade under the
National Mission on Enhanced Energy
Efficiency.
Securities and Exchange Board of India
inaugurated their local office in Jaipur
Jaipur: Securities and Exchange Board of
India (SEBI) inaugurated their local office
here. Jaipur is known as the Pink City. It is
the largest city in Rajasthan State.
Securities and Exchange Board of India
(SEBI) inaugurated their local office in
Jaipur on 4 August 2012. It was inaugurated
by Rajeev Kumar Agarwal, the member of
SEBI. The office will be responsible to look
after all the regulatory aspects of investor
protection, investor education and all the
other responsibilities within Rajasthan
state.
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PARTHASARATHI SHOME
APPOINTED AS THE ADVISER
TO FINANCE MINISTER OF
INDIA
The Union government of India appointed
Parthasarathi Shome, the tax expert, as the
adviser to finance minister P Chidambaram.
Shome was appointed with a rank of
minister of state and this also indicated his
comeback to the Secretariat building after
almost 5 years.
THE 2ND MEETING ON INDIA-
CHINA BORDER AFFAIRS HELD
IN NEW DELHI
New Delhi: The 2nd meeting of the
Working Mechanism for Consultation and
Coordination on India-China Border Affairs
was held here
The 2nd meeting of the Working
Mechanism for Consultation and
Coordination on India-China Border Affairs
was held in New Delhi on 29-30 November,
2012. The discussions took place in a
cordial, constructive and cooperative
atmosphere. The two delegations reviewed
developments in the India-China border
areas since the 1st meeting of the
Mechanism and acknowledged with
satisfaction that peace and tranquility
continued to be maintained due to the
efforts of both sides. The two delegations
also exchanged ideas on additional
measures for maintaining peace and
tranquility as well as further steps to build
greater trust and confidence between the
two sides.
India Pakistan Flag Meeting was held at
Chakan-Da- Bagh in Jammu and Kashmir
Chakan-Da-Bagh: India and Pakistan held
flag meeting here on 14 January 2013
The Indian and Pakistani armies held
Brigade Commander-level flag meeting at
Chakan-Da-Bagh in Poonch district in
Jammu and Kashmir on 14 January 2013.
The objective of the meeting was to de-
escalate tension along the Line of Control
and border. Beheading of Indian soldier at
the LoC was taken up strongly by India in
the meeting apart from repeated cease fire
violations.
The Indian Army reportedly voiced its
concern over the violation of the ceasefire
by Pakistani Army and the mutilation of the
bodies of two Indian soldiers killed in
Pakistani firing on 8 December 2012.

HALIMAH YACOB BECAME
FIRST WOMAN SPEAKER OF
THE SINGAPORE PARLIAMENT
Halimah Yacob (58) became the first
woman and the 9th Speaker of the
Singapore Parliament on 14 January 2013.
She replaced Michael Palmer, the former
People's Action Party MP. Palmer got down
from the post of Speaker of the Parliament
and as an MP on 12 December 2012. Prime
Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong
nominated her for the designation of
speaker.
Halimah Yacob came down from her post of
Minister of State (Social and Family
Development) and was elected as the
Speaker by Members of Parliament. In her
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role, she is expected to play an independent
role during all the parliamentary debates,
but she stressed the fact that she would
remain ahead for the Singaporeans'
concerns and would also share the views on
various policies.
Various MPs stood up in favour of the
appointment of Halimah Yacob in the
Parliament, which also highlighted the
importance to women as well as the Malay-
Muslim community.

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CHAPTER 2:
INTERNATIONAL
INDIA AND USA
INAUGURATED THE FIRST
TRIANGULAR INDIA-US-
AFRICA PARTNERSHIP AT
HYDERABAD
India and the United States inaugurated
the first triangular India-US-Africa
partnership in agricultural training at the
National Institute of Agricultural Extension
Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad in
January 2013 for 30 trainees from three
African countries Kenya, Liberia and
Malawi.
The three-year triangular partnership
program aims to improve agricultural
productivity, strengthen agricultural value
chains, and support market institutions in
Kenya, Liberia, and Malawi. Supported by
the U.S. Government through the United
States Agency for International
Development (USAID), by the Ministry of
External Affairs and the Ministry of
Agriculture of India, and implemented by
two of Indias leading agricultural training
institutes - National Institute of Agricultural
Extension Management (MANAGE),
Hyderabad, and the Chaudhary Charan
Singh National Institute of Agricultural
Marketing (NIAM), Jaipur, the program will
train 180 mid-level African Government and
private sector agriculture professionals
from Kenya, Malawi, and Liberia in
agricultural extension practices, agri-
business, and agricultural marketing.
The training includes classroom sessions,
group work, field trips, and interaction with
industry experts. After the training, these
professionals will go home with new
knowledge, skills and potential innovations
to address their domestic challenges in food
and nutrition security.
INDIA AND BANGLADESH
SIGNED AGREEMENTS ON
EXTRADITION AND VISA
REGIME
India and Bangladesh in January 2013
signed two landmark agreements on
Extradition of Criminals and Terrorists and
Liberalising the Visa Regime. However,
refusal provisions were incorporated into
the Extradition Treaty. If extradition of
someone poses a threat to national
security, a nation has the right to refuse the
deportation request. Moreover, no political
detainee will be brought under the purview
of the extradition treaty. In case of a
controversy during an extradition process,
the matter will be resolved according to the
laws of the country concerned.
The other agreement has provision for a
friendlier visa regime for citizens of
Bangladesh. Businessmen will be provided a
five-year, multiple-entry visa. Those
travelling on medical grounds will be
eligible for a two-year, multiple-entry visa,
which could be extended for one more
year. Three attendants of a patient will also
be given visa. Until now, India was granting
Bangladeshi tourists visas for up to six
months and had allowed one person to
accompany a patient.
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MILOS ZEMAN WON THE
CZECH REPUBLIC
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2013
As per the Czech Republic Presidential
election results declared on 25 January
2013, Milos Zeman won and thus became
the countrys first elected President
through direct elections. Zeman succeeds
Vaclav Klaus.
CHINA SUCCESSFULLY
CARRIED OUT INTERCEPTOR
MISSILE TEST
China on 27 January 2013 successfully
performed the second Interceptor Missile
Test. The test was said to be of the
defensive nature without targeting any
other country.
This is for the second time that China
announced test of such a missile. Likewise,
the anti-missile interception test was
conducted successfully on 11 January 2010
earlier. No detailed information was
revealed.
IMF: WORLD ECONOMIC
GROWTH RATE WOULD BE 3.5
PERCENT IN 2013
International Monetary Fund (IMF) in an
update to World Economic Outlook (WEO)
on 23 January 2013, projected that the
global economic growth rate would be 3.5
percent in 2013. The update mentioned
that the global economic growth would
strengthen gradually as the limitations of
the economic activities have seen a positive
note with the start of the year.

The report also described that if the risks of
crisis doesnt materialize, then the expected
targets of growth may be crossed and can
be stronger then that is projected.
Situations that hinted towards
improvement in economic conditions
The economic conditions of the world had
shown a positive movement in the third
Major projections of IMF
Global growth would reach 3.5
percent in 2013, from 3.2
percent in 2012
Crisis risks would narrow down
but the downside risks will
remain crucial
Main sources of growth would
be the emerging markets,
developing countries and the
United States

Reasons that may be beneficial in
betterment of the economic growth
The actions taken in policy making
have been responsible in
reducing the risk of the acute
crisis situation faced in the area
and the United States.
Actions in terms of plans taken by
Japan would also be beneficial in
pulling it out from a short-lived
recession kind of condition.
The policies made by the
emerging economies of the world
in terms of policy making is has
also shown positive outcomes
with a good start in the year

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quarter of the 2012 and this was change
brought by the performance displayed on
the economic front by the emerging
economies of the world as well as United
States. The borrowing cost of the countries
in Euro Zone was marginally better than
expected but it also identified some of the
weaknesses in the core Euro area. Japan
was under the effect of recession in the
second half of 2012, which had shown
positive signs of improvement in the
running year.
Forecasts and the Expected Changes
In terms of Euro Zone, IMF managed
to downgrade its forecast as this
economic situation of the region may
contract a bit n 2013.
The report also observed slight
improvement in the financial
conditions of the banks and
governments of the Periphery
economies, occurred due to the
policy actions undertaken by them
but these economies has yet not
improved in terms of the borrowing
conditions in private sector.
In terms of United States, the forecast
remained broadly unchanged to that
of the of October 2012 WEO to 2
percent, but predicted that the
support offered to the financial
market would support the growth in
consumption in the country
In terms of Japan, the near-term
outlook has also remained unchanged
regardless of the recession witnessed
by the country in recent past and its
expected that the monetary easing
and incentive package would boost
the growth in the country
The report projected that the
developing economies and the
emerging market of the world would
grow by 5.5 percent in 2013 and it
will remain almost same as it was
predicted in October 2012 WEO.
In case of China, the IMF has
forecasted a growth rate of 7.8
percent, 8.2 percent and 8.5 percent
in 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively.
In 2011, it witnessed a growth rate of
9.3

WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL OF
BANGLADESH PRONOUNCED
ITS FIRST VERDICT OF DEATH
SENTENCE
The War Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh
constituted for conducting trials against
those, who committed atrocities during the
Bangladesh Liberation War 1971 on 21
January 2013 pronounced its first verdict
and ordered death sentence against
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the Jamaat-e-
Islami leader.
Bangladesh Liberation War 1971
Bangladesh, the then East Pakistan entered
into an armed conflict against the West
Pakistan on 26 March 1971, the war that
lasted for about nine months.
Background of the War
Things that can show an impact, the growth
or result into the downfall
Fiscal tightening, if crosses an
excessive limit in United States it may
have an adverse impact on the
economic growth
Long-term stagnation of the euro-
area would also have an adverse
impact

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On 7 December 1970 the Awami League
under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman won 160 seats out of the 162 in
East Pakistan and became the leader of the
majority party of the Pakistan National
Assembly. Awami League was refused from
forming the Government by the military
rules of Pakistan. On behalf of Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman, Major General Ziaur
Rahman, declared independence of the
state and started a full-scale non-
cooperation to the Military Government on
26 March 1971, this day is observed as the
Independence Day every year. Following
this declaration, Bangladesh got itself
indulged into a civil war that ended on 16
December 1971 after India intervened into
it on 3 December 1971.
BARACK OBAMA SWORN IN
AS THE US PRESIDENT FOR
SECOND TERM
Barack Obama, the first mixed race
President of the United States, was sworn in
as the President of the country for the
second term on 20 January 2013. The oath-
taking ceremony was quiet as well as brief
in the White House East Room by Justice
John Roberts.
The brief oath-taking ceremony was held to
meet the constitutional deadline, i.e., 20
January, under which term of both
President as well as the Vice-President
finishes at the noon. The formality of
repeating this ceremony publically took
place on 21 January 2013 because public
institutions and the courts, which record as
well as endorse swearing-in officially were
closed on 20 January 2013 as it was Sunday.
Therefore, in the brief ceremony, only
President, his family along with a closed
group that viewed Justice Roberts swear-in
Barack Obama in private ceremony.
Obama took oath as the President of the
country on the family Bible. On 21 January
2013, Obama repeated oath-taking process
on those Bibles which were used by Martin
Luther King and Abraham Lincoln because
20 January 2013 was an official holiday in
the US.
Apart from Obama, in yet another
ceremony, Vice-president Joseph Biden
administered this oath-taking by associate
Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
CHINAS ECONOMY GREW 7.8
PERCENT IN 2012, HITS 13-
YEAR LOW
According to the National Bureau of
Statistics (NBS), Chinas economy which is
said to be the second largest economy of
the world grew just 7.8 percent in 2012,
which is the 13-year low. In the year 2010,
the economy of China increased 10.4
percent.
NBS announced that there was not any
crucial improvement in the economy of
China. The figures by NBS came when Xi
Jinping will soon be taking over as the new
President of the country. Initially the
economy was in a slow pace when the GDP
grew 7.6 percent in 1999. The NBS however
announced that the economy of the
country was expected to grow at a stable
pace in 2013.
OBAMA PROPOSED STRICTER
GUN CONTROL LAWS: 23
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EXECUTIVE ACTIONS
ANNOUNCED
Barrack Obama, the US President on 16
January 2013 proposed Extensive Gun
Control Laws, making them stricter. Obama
announced a total of 23 executive
measures, which would come into effect
immediately after his signatures.
One of these measures include requiring
the target shooters to keep their guns
locked and also within the range once they
are done, instead of carrying it home, since
it can fall into the wrong hands. The US
President also additionally asked the
lawmakers to ban military-style assault
weapons, high capacity magazine as well as
to make the background check mandatory.
Obamas Proposal
According to the White House, as an
immediate action, Obama signed 23
Executive Actions that would keep
children safe from violence arising
from gun.
Apart from this, Obama called the
lawmakers for eliminating the
loopholes as well as conducting the
background check on anyone who
would buy the gun.
Additionally, Obama wanted the
legislators to restore ban on the
military-style assault weapons, apart
from creating the tougher penalties
for people who buy guns for selling
them to the criminals.
The proposals on stringent gun control laws
came in light of the Sandy Hook School
shootings that took place on 14 December
2012 in Newtown, Conn.
INDIA, VIETNAM SIGNED
MOU TO STRENGTHEN
MICRO, SMALL & MEDIUM
ENTERPRISES
India and Vietnam on 15 January 2013
signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU), which is directly meant for building
capacity and developing institutional
framework, and identifying thrust areas and
opportunities for micro, small and medium
enterprises in Vietnam.
The MoU is part of Indias efforts to further
strengthen economic ties with Vietnam. The
two countries have set a trade and
investment target of 7 billion dollars by
2015.
Significance of the MoU
The MoU signed would be focusing on
building capacity for developing policy
and institutional framework through
exchange of experts for the
development of MSMEs, and
conducting industrial surveys and
feasibility studies to identify thrust
areas and opportunities for
development of MSMEs in Vietnam.
It ideates the promotion of
partnership projects and institutional
cooperation between the two
countries, organising exhibitions and
trade fairs for marketing the products
of MSMEs, exchange of business
missions to initiate transfer of
technology and business alliance, and
providing training for improvement of
managerial and technical skills for
MSMEs.
A Joint Committee comprising
representatives from the Ministry of
Planning and Investment (Vietnam) and
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Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (India) is going to monitor the
implementation of the MoU.
SOUTH KOREA BECAME FIRST
COUNTRY IN ASIA TO ORDER
CHEMICAL CASTRATION OF
CHILD RAPIST
South Korean court in landmark ruling on 3
January 2013 ordered the first-ever
chemical castration of the country. The
sentence of chemical castration was given
to 31-year old pedophile (a person who is
sexually-attracted to children) along with 15
years of jail term.
The order was the first-ever since South
Korea passed the law in 2011 allowing
chemical castration or hormonal treatment
for offenders who are at the risk of
repeating crimes.
THE UNITED STATES
EVACUATED ITS EMBASSY IN
THE CENTRAL AFRICAN
REPUBLIC
The United States of America evacuated its
embassy in the Central African Republic,
reflecting growing fears that the capital,
Bangui, may fall to rebel forces called
Saleka. The country's President Francois
Bozize sought French and American help
against the insurgents, who have been
making rapid territorial gains. France,
however, rejected any intervention.
Seleka consists of breakaway factions from
three former armed groups. It accuses
Bozize of failing to honour a 2007 peace
deal, under which fighters were meant to
be paid who laid down their arms. The
rebels want to depose Bozize in case he fails
to negotiate with them.
The rebels started their campaign in
November 2012 and have captured several
towns in their advance towards the capital.
PRESIDENT MOHAMED MORSI
SIGNED EGYPT'S
CONTROVERSIAL
CONSTITUTION
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi on 25
December 2012 signed into law a new
Islamist-drafted constitution, which will
help end political disorder and allow him to
focus on fixing the weak economy.
Mohamed Morsi signed a declaration
enforcing the charter late after the official
announcement of the result of a
referendum approving the basic law,
Egypt's first constitution since Hosni
Mubarak's overthrow.
The passing of the constitution meant Egypt
could now move to a new stage that should
bring security and stability for the people.
The body, known as the Shura council, will
temporarily be able to pass laws until a new
parliament has been elected within the next
few months, after the adoption of an
election law.
Two-thirds of the members of the 270-seat
council were elected earlier this year in a
vote in which only 12 per cent of registered
voters participated. The remaining 90 were
appointed by Mohamed Morsi, the Islamist
president.
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It was expected to draft a law for legislative
elections for the dissolved lower house that
have to be held by the end of February
2013.
The National Salvation Front opposition
coalition said it would vie for seats in the
parliament, which has powers under the
new charter that could hamper Morsis
ability to govern.
PAKISTAN GOVERNMENT
RECOGNISED REPUBLIC OF
KOSOVO AS AN INDEPENDENT
STATE
Government of Pakistan on 24 December
2012 officially recognised Kosovo as an
independent state, almost five years after it
declared independence from Serbia on 17
February 2008.
The decision was made in accordance with
the aspirations of the people of Kosovo.
With this Pakistan became the 98th
sovereign state among 193 UN-member
states recognising Kosovo.
The government of Pakistan has also
decided to at the same time to accredit its
ambassador to the Republic of Turkey in
Ankara as ambassador of the Islamic
Republic of Pakistan to the Republic of
Kosovo.
Kosovo declared full independence in
September 2012 after the western powers
overseeing Kosovo announced the end of
their supervision of this Balkan nation.
In more modern times, Kosovo ended up as
the least developed part of Yugoslavia,
slowly moving towards high unemployment
and unequal opportunities for Kosovar
Albanians. This, coupled with nationalistic
policies that broke up Yugoslavia,
culminated in the Kosovo - Serbia war of
1997-1999.

UNITED NATION APPROVED
NEW DEBATE ON ARM
TREATY OPPOSED BY U.S.
GUN LOBBY
The U.N. General Assembly on 24
December 2012 voted overpoweringly to
restart negotiations on a draft international
treaty to regulate the 70 billion dollar
global trade in conventional arms, a pact
About Republic of Kosovo
Kosovo is a small south east European
state lies between Albania,
Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro.
The capital of the Republic is
Prishtina, a city of around 500000
people. The population of Kosovo
exceeds 2 million.
Kosovo is a democratic, multi-ethnic
and secular Republic that
incorporates into its Constitution the
UN Special Envoy, Martti Ahtisaari,
Comprehensive Proposal for Kosovo
Status Settlement. This plan ensures
that the Constitution of the Republic
protects and guarantees rights for all
of Kosovo citizens. The support of this
proposal by Kosovar people shows
readiness to move on, forgive and
build.
Kosovo has historically, culturally and
socially been part of Europe. The
ancient kingdoms that stood there
were at the center of European
history well over 3,000 years ago.
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the powerful U.S. National Rifle
Association has been lobbying hard against.
U.N. delegates and gun control activists
have complained that earlier in July 2012
talks collapsed largely because U.S.
President Barack Obama feared attacks
from Republican rival Mitt Romney before
the 6 November 2012 election if his
administration was seen as supporting the
pact, charge U.S. officials have denied.
But after Obama's re-election in November
2012, his administration joined other
members of a U.N. committee in supporting
the resumption of negotiations on the
treaty.
There were 133 votes in favour, none
against and 17 abstentions. A number of
countries did not attend, which U.N.
diplomats said was due to the Christmas
Eve holiday.
Among the top six arms-exporting nations,
Russia cast the only abstention in last
month's vote. Britain, France and Germany
joined China and the United States in the
disarmament committee in support of the
same resolution approved by the General
Assembly.
The main reason the arms trade talks are
taking place at all is that the United States -
the world's biggest arms trader, which
accounts for more than 40 percent of global
transfers in conventional arms - reversed
U.S. policy on the issue after Obama was
first elected and decided in 2009 to support
a treaty.
Obama administration officials have tried to
explain to U.S. opponents of the arms trade
pact that the treaty under discussion would
have no effect on gun sales and ownership
inside the United States because it would
apply only to exports.

INDIA AND RUSSIA SIGNED
PACTS ON ECONOMIC TIES
FOR 2 BILLION DOLLAR
INVESTMENT FUND
India and Russia on 24 December 2012
signed a pact for strengthening their
economic ties with a Kremlin-backed 2
billion dollar investment fund. Both the
parties also agreed to talk about a
Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Agreement involving Kazakhastan and
Belarus. During the twelfth straight annual
summit, the leaders of both the nations
Vladimir Putin - President of Russia and
Manmohan Singh - Prime Minister of India
finalised 10 agreements including two
About Arms Trade Treaty
The Arms Trade Treaty is the name of a
potential multilateral treaty that would
regulate the international trade in
conventional weapons. The treaty was
negotiated at a global conference under the
support of the United Nations from 2 July 27
July 2012 in New York.
Arms Trade Treaty is part of a larger universal
effort that began in 2001 with the adoption
of a non-legally binding program of action at
the United Nations Conference on the Illicit
Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All
Its Aspects in 2001. This program was
formally called the Programme of Action to
Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit
Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in
All Its Aspects (PoA).

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military contracts of 20000 crore rupees,
which was under process for past some
time.
The two nations were not successful in
making a substantial progress on issues
related to delay in commissioning of
Gorshkov-the aircraft carrier, applicability
of the Nuclear Limited Liability Act at
Kudankulams six new reactors developed
by Russia. Plans of Sistema and Severstal-
the two Russian companies investment
plans in India and the tax imposed on the
Indian company operating in Russia named
Imperial Energy.
Sistema, whose 2G licenses were cancelled
by the Supreme Court of India signed two
agreements in the satellite segment with
India through its sister concern company
named Glonass. India has signed military
side contracts with Glonass - the
constellation of 34 satellites in 2011 for
receiving precision signals.
Both the nations would be extending their
partnership in energy sector moving beyond
the investments made in Sakhalin-I and
direct trade of Gazprom-Gail and are
planning to boost joint investment in
upstream and downstream sectors. India
also managed to discuss on its areas of
interest for equity participation via ONGC-
OVL in the projects of Siberia, Arctic Shelf
and Far East of Russia either in the existing
ones or the new ones. India also put on
table the interests of acquiring equity
stakes in the proposed liquefied natural gas
(LNG) projects in Russia.
MOSCOW AUTHORITIES
ANNOUNCED DEMOLISHING
ONLY HINDU TEMPLE BY
JANUARY 2013
The only Hindu temple in Russia, ISKCON
was scheduled to be demolished by
Moscow authorities by 15 January 2013.
The ISKCON monks announced that the
Hindu temple was facing closure by Russian
government, a year after the country had
sought ban of Bhagvad Gita.
As Vladimir Putin, the Russian President
arrives in India on 24 December 2012 for
negotiations with the Government of India;
there are hardly any chances that the issue
of ISKCON would be discussed because it
was followed already by foreign ministry.
EUROPEAN UNION IMPOSED
STIFF SANCTIONS ON TRADE
WITH IRAN
European Union (EU) imposed stiff
sanctions on trade with Iran in a move
aimed at further isolating it over the
controversial nuclear program. The fresh
sanctions directed against Iran's banking,
shipping and industrial sectors came into
effect from 22 December 2012.
These are considered to be the toughest EU
measures and include bans on financial
transactions, sales to Iran of shipping
equipment and steel, and imports of Iranian
natural gas in addition to the existing ban
on import of Iranian crude oil.
US HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES PASSED
THE DEFENCE BILL 2013
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US (United States) House of
Representatives on 20 December 2012
passed the Defence Authorization Act of
2013. The bill was passed with a 315-107
vote amid chaos over the fiscal cliff
negotiations and the threat of drastic
defense spending cuts.
The Defence Authorization Act of
2013 covers the cost of ships,
aircraft, weapons and military
personnel as well as the war effort
in Afghanistan.
It consists of 528 billion dollars for
the Defense Department's base
budget, 17 billion dollars for defense
and nuclear programmes in the
Energy Department and 88 billion
dollars for the war in Afghanistan.
The bill tightens sanctions on Iran
and increases security for U.S.
diplomatic missions after the attack
on U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
It also requests the Pentagon to
report to Congress regarding the
conflict in Syria on possible military
options.
DAVID CAMEROON
ANNOUNCED THAT BRITAIN
WOULD PULL HALF OF ITS
TROOPS FROM AFGHANISTAN
The Prime Minister of Britain, David
Cameroon on 19 December 2012
announced that Britain has planned to
withdraw more than half of its troops back
from Afghanistan by 2013 and all-foreign
forces of the country would be pulled out
by 2014. The Prime Minister informed to
the commons that 3800 troops, who were
deployed at Helmand Province would be
back by end of the year 2013 leaving 5200
troops behind.
PARK GEUN-HYE ELECTED AS
THE FIRST WOMAN
PRESIDENT OF SOUTH KOREA
Park Geun-hye was elected as the
President of South Korea on 19 December
2012, the first woman who acquired this
post. Park Geun-hye is the daughter of
longest ruling dictator of South Korea.
Election of Park Geun-hye, 60, is said to be
the milestone for South Korean society,
which has remained mainly male-
dominated. Dictator Park Chung-hee, the
father of Park Geun-hye ruled the country
from 1961 to 1979 and left behind political
repression, something that is still dividing
the country.
IRELAND TO LEGALISE
ABORTIONS WHEN THE
MOTHERS LIFE IS AT RISK
Ireland on 18 December 2012 announced
that it will legalise abortions when the
mother's life is at risk, weeks after the
death of Indian dentist Savita
Halappanavar who died after being refused
an abortion in the European country. The
decision comes after a huge public outcry
over the death of 31-year-old Savita, who
died on 28 October 2012 at Galway
University Hospital. She had been 17-week
pregnant and was found to be miscarrying.
Savita Halappanavar asked repeatedly for a
termination of pregnancy but was refused
and was told the foetal heartbeat was still
present and this is a Catholic country.
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WHO APPROVED VACCINE
MANUFACTURING PRACTICES
ADOPTED BY INDIAN
PHARMACEUTICAL
COMPANIES
The World Health Organisation (WHO) in
December 2012 approved the
manufacturing practices being adopted by
the private vaccine manufacturing
pharmaceutical companies of India. This
approval was given to Indian
Pharmaceutical companies after an
intensive four days audit of the vaccine
manufacturing facilities across the country
was concluded by a 16-member multi-
nation team that was headed by WHO
officials. The team comprised officials from
China, EU, the US FDA, Thailand, Sweden
and France.
WHO gave its clearance to the
procedures adopted by the Indian
National Regulatory Authority
(NRA) or the Drug Controller
Generals Office (DCGO).
The audit team also cleared that the
procedures adopted by the Central
Drugs Standard Control
Organisation (CDSCO) and
institutions affiliated to it meet the
prescribed international standards
and the procedures inculcated in
production were stringent enough
to ensure that the vaccines
produced by Indian companies were
safe, high in quality and efficacious.
With this approval India became the first
country in 2012 to pass the stringent levels
of seven indicators that is put forward by
the WHO that is made much more stringent
every time conducted by a team of 12
international experts headed by a member
of WHO.
India at present is a major vaccine
producing country with 12 major vaccine
manufacturing facilities and the vaccines
formulated and manufactured in India are
used in national and international markets
of nearly 150 countries of the world.
In case of measles every second
child of the world is vaccinated using
the vaccine produced in India.
At present India manufactures 30
different types of vaccines that
include Hepatitis, measles and polio.
This approval from WHO had made
the 12 manufacturing units of India
eligible for supplying the vaccines to
international bodies like UNICEF,
WHO, World Bank, Gates
Foundation, Clinton Foundation, and
GAVI.
UK PLANNED TO REPLACE
PAPER MONEY WITH PLASTIC
BANKNOTES
Britain planned to replace the paper money
with plastic banknotes, which are said to be
more durable as well as waterproof.
Another advantage of these plastic
banknotes is that they are difficult to be
forged. Paper money has been used in
Britain for over 300 years. The radical
renovation in Britain might see polymer
sterling currency in circulation in just three
years time.

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However, the cost of producing these notes
is a bit higher than the paper currency. Also,
the initial cost needs to be invested so that
the vending machines as well as ATMs can
adapt to them.
GLOBAL TELECOM TREATY
WITHOUT NET CONTROL
SIGNED BY EIGHTY NINE
NATIONS
A controversial New Global Treaty on
Telecom Regulations was signed on 14
December 2012 by 89 International
Telecommunication Union member states
out of a possible 144 Countries regardless
of US objections to prospective regulation
of the Internet.
Over 150 nations met in Dubai, under the
support of the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) to update
a set of telecom rules of 1988, before the
Internet and mobile phones transformed
communications. But they failed to draw a
conclusion which will lead to a new fight
over cyberspace.
Fifty-five countries did not sign the treaty
that enters into effect in January 2015. A
US-led bloc advocated a tolerant approach
to the Internet, while Russia, China and
much of Africa and the Middle East wanted
greater governmental oversight of
cyberspace.
The treaty that is the first update to the
International Telecommunication
Regulations (ITRs) agreed in 1988,
stimulated controversy as Internet
operators, activists and countries led by the
United States objected to reference to the
Internet deemed to be paving the way for
government control.
The United States on 13 December 2012
opposed the treaty saying that the
proposed text opened the door to
government regulation of the Internet.
As per the treaty, the non-binding
resolution on the Internet recognises,
among other things, that all governments
should have an equal role and responsibility
for international Internet governance and
for ensuring the stability, security and
continuity of the existing Internet and its
future development and of the future
Internet.
As in a previous version, the International
Telecom Regulations spell out guidelines on
technical issues such as how carriers charge
each other for incoming international
Why plastic notes can be beneficial than
Paper Currency?
Plastic notes are more durable than
the paper notes.
Also, these polymer notes prove to be
more hygienic because they attract
fewer bacteria and do not form
crease or tear.
Apart from being waterproof, the
plastic notes are also easier to be
used for vending machines.
The primary feature of plastic notes is
that they offer clear window which
also contains optical variable device
through which light can be split easily
into the component colours. This
makes it very difficult for anyone to
counterfeit the currency.
These notes are eco-friendly as well
as recyclable.

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phone calls, as well as taxation and
accounting.
Countries that sign the treaty are supposed
to be guided by its principles, although
these have no force of law.
VINOD RAI RE-ELECTED AS
CHAIRMAN OF UN PANEL OF
EXTERNAL AUDITORS
United Nations gave Vinod Rai, the
Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of
India a second term as the designation of
chairman of UN Panel of External Auditors
for 2013. CAG of the UK, Amyas Morse was
re-elected as the vice-chairman.
Panel of the United Nations is the deciding
body of the course as well as subject of
audit of the different UN organisations
which also include International Atomic
Energy Agency.
The UN Panel of External Auditors for 2013
includes apex auditors of various countries
such as Switzerland, Tanzaniam, Canada,
China, India, Italy, Philippines, UK, France
and Pakistan as the members.
Composition of UN Panel of External
Auditors
UN Panel of External Auditors comprises of
Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs), which
are always engaged in auditing the United
Nations as well as the specialised agencies
and International Atomic Energy Agency.
Role of UN Panel of External Auditors
The UN Panel of External Auditors has a
crucial role to play in promotion of
accountability as well as strengthening of
the governance mechanisms in various
organisations of UN. The Secretary General
of UN, Ban-ki-Moon appreciated this panel
of the auditors which was headed by Vinod
Rai.
In the meeting held on 11 December 2012,
the panel of auditors at UN headquarters in
New York held discussions about the
business transformations, which were at
present underway in United Nations with
secretary general.
MALDIVES TOOK OVER
CHARGE OF MALE AIRPORT
SCRAPPING AGREEMENT
WITH GMR
Maldives took charge of Male airport from
GMR. Maldives government had scrapped
the agreement with GMR on first December
2012, saying that the agreement was not in
the interest of the country. Singapore
Supreme Court had upheld the right of
Maldives to terminate the 25 year contract.
CHINA HELD LARGEST AIR
FORCE DRILL INVOLVING 100
FIGHTER PLANES
China held one of its largest- ever Air Force
drill involving about 100 multi-types fighter
planes, amid heightened tensions with
Japan over territorial dispute in the East
China Sea.
The air combat exercises were held under
information conditions at an airport in
Southwest China for 11 days in the month
of November 2012, which involved over 100
fighters of over 10 different types and
support staff.
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Aircrafts, which took part in the drill came
from 14 separate units and included Chinas
most modern jet fighters, the J-10 and J-11,
along with older models and two-seater
Sukhoi Su-30s which was purchased from
Russia.
Chinas navy also for the first time launched
and recovered aircraft from the countrys
first aircraft carrier, a refurbished Ukrainian
craft that will be armed with J-15 fighter-
bombers, a Chinese adaptation of the
Russian Sukhoi Su-33.
IRAN DECLARED EXTRACTING
COMPLETE DATA FROM THE
CAPTURED US DRONE
Iran declared on 5 December 2012 that it
had extracted data from the US intelligence
drone, which was caught spying on its
Military Sites as well as Oil Terminals. Iran
had declared on 4 December 2012 that the
US Spying Drone was captured.
Iran had announced that it had captured
the US ScanEagle drone, which was found
flying over the Gulf waters. The Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared
that they had extracted the information
from the drone completely. IRGC further
also mentioned that this drone was spying
and gathering the military information on
transfer of oil from the petroleum terminals
of Iran. The primary expert terminal of Iran
is located at Kharg Island.
UN (UNITED NATIONS) PANEL
PASSED N KOREA
RESOLUTION BY CONSENSUS
The Social, Humanitarian Cultural Affairs
Committee (Commonly referred as third
committee of the UN General assembly) of
United Nations on 27 November 2012,
overseeing human rights issues,
unanimously passed a resolution on North
Korea. The committee asked North Korea to
solve the abduction issue and address
human rights abuses. The resolution came
before the Third Committee of the General
Assembly for the eighth year in a row, but
the first time no vote was taken.
EUROZONE, INTERNATIONAL
MONETARY FUND AGREED TO
NEW GREEK DEBT DEAL
Eurozone Finance Ministers signed a deal
on 27 November 2012 with International
Monetary Fund (IMF) to reduce over 40
billion Euros or 52 billion US Dollar massive
debt burden of Greece by 2020, thus
freeing long-blocked loans. The decision
would help in reducing the lack of
confidence in Europe as well as Greece,
thus strengthening buoyancy in the
economy.

Eurozone Nations
Eurozone is also known as the Euro Area. It is
the EMU or Economic and Monetary Union of
total 17 European Union (EU) states which
have mutually agreed to espouse Euro as the
common currency as well as legal tender. The
nations which come under Eurozone include
Greece, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, France,
Germany, Cyprus, Estonia, Luxembourg, Malta,
Slovenia, Finland, the Netherlands, Portugal,
Slovakia, Spain and Italy.

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INDIA VOTED AGAINST UN
GENERAL ASSEMBLYS
RESOLUTION TO BAN DEATH
PENALTIES
India was one among the 39 countries that
voted in November 2012 against the non-
binding draft resolution of UN General
Assembly that proposed for putting an end
to death penalty. India voted on the
grounds that each and every nation has its
own sovereign right in order to determine
the legal system. 110 nations voted in the
favour, while 36 members withdrew.
The non-binding UN resolution called for
suspension on the capital punishment with
a view to put an end to the death penalty.
This was adopted at Third Committee of
the General Assembly on 20 November
2012 along with the deals with
humanitarian as well as social issues.
The resolution called the nations to
gradually hamper the use of death penalty
and not to impose them for offences, which
are committed by pregnant women or
people below 18 years of age. The nations
were also called to decrease the offences
for which capital punishment is imposed.
In the explanation of the non-agreeing vote,
India said that every state has its
autonomous right for determination of the
legal system. Apart from India, other
nations that voted against the resolution
include China, Korea, Bangladesh, Japan,
Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Libya, Kuwait and US.
Over 2/3rd countries of the world have
completely abolished death penalty. 97
countries of the world have abolished
death penalty for all the crimes.
DEATH OF SAVITA
HALAPPANAVAR IGNITED
STRONG REACTIONS FOR
CHANGE IN IRISH ABORTION
LAW
Indian origin dentist Savita Halappanavar
died in Ireland on 28 October 2012 at the
University College Hospital Galway after the
doctors refused her abortion despite hers
body being sick and weak due to 17 weeks
of pregnancy. The doctors had refused her
abortion on the basis of catholic tenets.
Eventually it led to septicemia or blood
poisoning that led to her death.Savita
suffered miscarriage, when she went to
University College Hospital Galway; and was
refused abortion saying that there was still
the fetal heartbeat.

Abortion laws in India
As per the laws in India, abortion can only
be performed by the qualified physician
under stipulated conditions. These laws are
categorized under Medical Termination of
Pregnancy (MTP) Act that was enacted in
1971 by Indian Parliament. MTP was
effective from 1972 and was amended once
in 1975. The act clearly states conditions
under which termination of pregnancy is
The Irish Law on Abortion
Under the Offences against the Person Act
1861, abortion in Ireland has been made as a
criminal offense. The laws that govern
abortion are under section 58 and 59 of
Offences against the Person Act 1861.
However a person is free to travel to another
state to abort the unborn child in case there
is harm to the life of a mother. Abortions
abroad are also subject to stern conditions.

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possible and this includes performing
abortion on women if life is endangered
due to pregnancy. Sex-selective abortions
where males are favoured is illegal.
US LIFTED THE BAN IMPOSED
ON IMPORTS FROM
MYANMAR, BEFORE
PRESIDENT OBAMAS VISIT TO
THE NATI
The decade old ban on most of the imports
from Myanmar in the third week of
November was scrapped by the United
States. The step of scrapping the ban on
import of most of the products from
Myanmar came ahead of the landmark visit
of the U.S. President Barack Obama
scheduled on 20 November 2012 to the
long isolated nation. With this visit to
Myanmar, Obama would turn-up to be the
first sitting President of U.S. to visit the
country.
The ban would still be in existence, on the
import of Gems from the country as gems
remained a cause for the long race of
violence and corruption in Myanmar.
Before this step of U.S. nations like Canada,
Australia and the European Union had
already suspended virtually all types of
sanctions from Myanmar. Japan has
forgiven a 3.8 billion dollar debt waiver on
the country.
IEA: US WOULD BECOME
WORLDS LARGEST OIL
PRODUCER BY 2017
The International Energy Agency (IEA) in
the second week of November 2012
announced that United States would
takeover Saudi Arabia as worlds biggest oil
producing nation by 2017. The forecast
came up by the Paris based energy agency
because U.S. has been drilling more crude
oil by using the technology based on
hydraulic fracturing of underground shale
formations.
This drilling activity would make U.S. in
times to come as an economy that is self-
sufficient in terms of energy within next five
years, but down the line by 2023. North
America would become a net oil exporter in
the world. This forecast from the
International Energy Agency is a change on
its previous prediction in which the agency
stated that Saudis would be the worlds
leader in oil production up to 2035. At
present U.S. imports about 20 percent of
oil to meet its energy needs.
NEPAL ELECTED AS A BOARD
MEMBER OF THE ECOSOC
Nepal was elected on 8 November 2012 as
a board member of the United Nations
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for
a three year term starting from January
2013. Nepal along with seventeen other
countries was elected as board members.
Nepal was elected with 131 votes out of the
total 194 in the UN General Assembly.
The fifty-four member ESOSOC is one of the
principal organs of the UN which
coordinates the economic, social and
related work of the UN and its specialized
agencies and institutions.
THE REVIEW MEETING OF THE
E-9 COUNTRIES CONCLUDED
IN NEW DELHI
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The three-day review meeting of Ministers
of Education and heads of delegation of the
E-9 countries comprising India, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, China, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia,
Nigeria and Mexico ended in New Delhi on
10 November 2012 with the adoption of the
New Delhi Commitment.
The E-9 nations decided to expand
their cooperation in Inclusive,
Relevant Quality Education for All.
It took stock of the progress towards
the Education for All goals and to
renew cooperation in consolidating
the gains and addressing remaining
challenges.
The member-states re-affirmed the
central role of education in all
development endeavours and in
promoting peace and social
cohesion.
They recognised relevance and
equity as key dimensions of quality
in their future efforts and resolved
to address the same by making their
education systems more flexible and
responsive.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
AGENCY (CIA) DIRECTOR
DAVID PETRAEUS RESIGNED
CIA Director David Petraeus on 9
November 2012 resigned as head of the
leading US Spy Agency, shocking the
intelligence community.
His resignation came on his personal choice
after he had engaged in an extramarital
affair and acknowledged that he showed
extremely poor judgment.
AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS
WOULD TEACH HINDI
Australia on 28 October 2012 revealed that
the country was planning to include Hindi
and Mandarin as languages to be taught in
its schools. This was a step forward to be
taken by the county to establish deeper and
strengthened links with India and other
nations with booming economies, of the
world.
Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard
announced the plans of the nation at the
release ceremony of the sweeping policy
blueprint with its title Asian Century White
Paper. The white paper was released with
an aim of link maximisation with Asia; this
would help Australia to be among the top
10 most powerful economies of the world
by 2025.
JAPAN LIFTED TRAVEL
ADVISORY ON JAMMU AND
KASHMIR
Japan in October 2012 in a step to
testimony the fact that security situation in
Jammu and Kashmir is improved; relaxed
the travel restriction to the state for its
nationals. The move to ease restrictions is
valid for Srinagar and adjoining areas like
Gulmarg.
With lifting of Travel Advisory Japan
became the second country among
G8 nations to take this step.
Earlier Germany in July 2011 had
relaxed travel restriction to Jammu
and Kashmir for its National.
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The decision of lifting travel advisory came
after the Japanese embassy officials met
the Jammu and Kashmir Government.
COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT
AND FARC LAUNCHED PEACE
TALK
Government of Colombia and Leftist FARC
Rebels formally launched peace talks in
Norway on 17 October 2012 which aimed at
ending nearly five decades of conflict that
has claimed an estimated 600000 lives.
The peace talk was officially launched by
Government and the rebels in a hotel in
Hurdal, a small town in North of Oslo.
The core area of discussion focused on five
main areas
Land reforms
The rebels' future role in political
life,
A definitive end of hostilities
Fighting the illegal drug trade and
The situation of the victims
FARC is Latin America's largest rebel group,
founded in 1964 with 9,200 armed fighters
is known by Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia. In the past several years FARC
suffered the capture and killings of some of
its top leaders, and its rank had been
depleted to half of Militants what they were
at their peak in the 1990s.
It was also earlier found that Colombias
leftist FARC rebels smuggle U.S.-bound
cocaine via Venezuela, Panama and the
Pacific. The FARC is on both the U.S. and EU
lists of terrorist groups. Drug trafficking,
extortion and kidnapping-for-ransom are
the FARCs main means of financing its
operations.
ISRAELI AUTHORITIES
RELEASED RED LINE REPORT
FOR GAZA STRIP
The Israeli Authority on 18 October 2012
released documents describing the red line
for minimum food needs of people at Gaza
Strip to avoid, the issue of Malnutrition.
Referring to the Defence Ministry
documents dated 2008 obtained under
Freedom of Information, an Israeli NGO,
Gisha that campaigns for the cause of
Palestinian Freedom of Movement and
Trade stated that 2279 calorie per person
per day was sufficient to avoid malnutrition
on the Gaza strip.
A blockade was imposed by Israel in June
2006 after a militant snatched one of its
soldiers and tightened it in September 2007
after seizure of the Islamists Hamas
Movement and the soldiers of the Western
Backed President Mahmud Abbas were sent
on exile.
Gisha report also cleared that this was an
official goal of this barrier lied behind the
economic warfare policy of creating a
paralysis in Gazas economy to create
pressure on the Hamas Government. It was
officially cleared by the COGAT Defence
Ministry Department spokesperson that the
report entitling - Food Consumption in the
Gaza Strip - Red Lines was never
implemented to set the levels of food that
was allowed to people in Gaza as it was just
a draft.
By 2010 restrictions in Gaza was eased
followed by the international outcry of
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killing of nine Turkish nationals by Israel
during a navy raid on a ship in a trial to
break the blockage.
The Red Lines File was made available to
Gisha after fighting and three-and-a-half
year legal battle and the documents of the
file mentioned in its recommendations that
a minimum of 106 food trucks per working
day was to be sent in the Gaza strip,
whereas sending of 67 trucks on an average
remained in practice.
FIVE NEW NON-PERMANENT
MEMBER COUNTRIES
ELECTED TO UN SECURITY
COUNCIL
The UN General Assembly on 18 October
2012 elected five new non-permanent
members to the Security Council. The New
Members are South Korea, Luxembourg,
Argentina, Australia and Rwanda.
The newly elected member countries are
going to serve a two-year term in the
powerful UN body that will begin on 1
January 2013.
The country of Republic of Korea and
Luxembourg were elected to a two-year
term in the UN Security Council in the
second round of voting. Argentina, Australia
and Rwanda were elected earlier to serve as
new non-permanent members of the
powerful UN body.
The five new members are going to replace
Colombia, Germany, India, Portugal and
South Africa, whose term ends on 31
December 2012.
Under the UN Charter, the 15-member
Security Council has the primary
responsibility for the maintenance of
international peace and security.
To be elected to the UN Security Council, a
country must win support from two thirds
of the General Assembly members, or 129
votes.
SOUTH ASIAN UNIVERSITY
MADE INTRODUCTION TO
SOUTH ASIA A COMPULSORY
SUBJECT
South Asian University (SAU) made
Introduction to South Asia a compulsory
course for every student in the University.
The University made it mandatory to pass
this non-credit course for gaining a degree
from the University. The decision came
during the second meet of the Universitys
Academic Council in October 2012.
The taken step will help the students taking
admissions in the University from different
South Asian Nations to know some facts
and relevant importance of the region. A
PhD program will also be launched by the
University in the next academic year. The
University also declared that it would also
institute Gold Medal by the name of the
University for all the eight different Post-
Graduate Programmes that it offers at
present. These medals will be awarded to
one student from each section at the end of
the program after reviewing their academic
record and achievement.
UK AND SCOTLAND SIGNED
AN AGREEMENT TO HOLD A
REFERENDUM ON SCOTTISH
INDEPENDENCE
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UK and Scotland signed an agreement on 15
October 2012 to hold a referendum in 2014
on Scottish Independence.
The referendum agreement has
been signed following talks in
Edinburgh between David
Cameron, UK Prime Minister and
Alex Salmond, who leads the pro-
independence Scottish National
Party.
The referendum could lead to the
United Kingdom breaking up after
300 years, leaving only England,
Wales and Northern Ireland in the
Union.
The British Government wants Scotland to
stay in its political union with England. The
Scottish Government led by Alex Salmond
favours independence. After months of
negotiations, the deal is expected to give
Scotland's Administration, the power to
hold a vote in the final quarter of 2014,
which will offer Scotland a choice on leaving
the United Kingdom.
UN WARNED OF PRICE HIKE
IN FOOD PRODUCTS AND A
DECLINE IN GLOBAL CEREAL
PRODUCTION
United Nations on 4 October 2012 issued a
warning of price rise for meat and dairy
products in response to the extreme
weather conditions suffered by Europe and
associated centers of food production. Food
and Agricultural Organization (FAO) with
its headquarters in Rome indicated that the
global wheat production saw an expected
fall of 5.2 percent and other crops meant
for feeding the animals could drop down by
10 percent in the year 2012 to that on the
available data of year 2011.
With rise in density of population there has
been a fall in the production to manage the
demand of consumption and this is a reason
that products like wheat have seen 25
percent growth in the price in the year
2012. Whereas, Maize and dairy products
have witnessed a price hike of 13 and 7
percent within a months time, respectively.
The world at present is facing tight
conditions in food supply because of
decreased cereal production and decline in
world reserves. This has turned up to be a
reason for hike in prices across the world.
This price hike is the reason for decline in
demand of these products.
Maplecroft, the Risk Analysis Company has
brought forward the data of identified
countries that are the suspects of societal
unrest and famine, which may steam up the
food storage and price fluctuations. These
countries have been divided into two
categories of Extreme Risk and High Risk
Zones.
Countries listed in the group of High Risk
include Congo, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, South
Sudan and Somalia. The countries named in
the list of High Risk include India, Pakistan,
Yemen, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. US that is
the worlds largest grower and exporter of
grain (includes Wheat, Maize and Barley) is
also expected to be effected by the harsh
weather conditions.
ARABIC MADE ITS DEBUT AS
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE AT
VATICAN
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Arabic on 10 October 2012 made its official
debut among one of the Languages at Pope
Benedicts weekly general audiences. This is
an exercise and attempt of Vatican to
expand its reach to Christians and Muslims
in Middle East.
This came out of the growing concerns of
the Vatican in relation to the mass
departure of the Christians from Middle
East fearing to their safety over there. The
community that comprised about 20
percent of the total population a century
ago has fallen down to a percentage level of
five. Some of the estimates also states that
the 12 million of Christians leaving in
Middle East may drop down to its half by
2020.
The Priest, while addressing thousands of
people at St. Peter's Square, read the
summary of popes Italian language weekly
address in Arabic for the very first time in
the history along with other briefs in
different languages including English,
Polish, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Slovak,
German, Czech, Russian and Hungarian.
On occasion of the 50th anniversary of the
second Vatican Council, Pope for the first
time addressed people in Arabic.
MALDIVIAN COURT ISSUED
AN ARREST WARRANT
AGAINST EX-PRESIDENT
MOHAMED NASHEED
An arrest warrant was issued by the
Maldivian Court on 7 October 2012 against
Mohamed Nasheed countrys first
democratically elected President. The
warrant was issued in reference to
Nasheeds questioning the authority of the
special court for initiating a trail against him
for the alleged charges of power abuse,
when he was in the office.
Ordering the police to produce the former
President in the court, the Magistrate Court
of Hulhumale also asked the police to keep
Nasheed in Custody to face the charges of
arresting and detaining Abdulla Mohamed,
the Chief Criminal Judge. This is a case that
is related to his order of dispatching the
military for arresting the senior judge. This
action led to his resignation after viewing
protests.
NEW NUCLEAR SAFETY
AGENCY LAUNCHED IN JAPAN
Japan launched a new Nuclear Safety
Agency on 18 September 2012. The
formation of this five-member Nuclear
Regulation Authority was done after the
country was hit by Tsunami in the year 2011
resulting in major breakdown and leakage
of the Nuclear Power Plants in the tsunami-
stricken-area of Fukushima Dai-Ichi Plant.
Headed by the nuclear Physicist, Shunichi
Tanaka, this agency is responsible for
reviewing of the nuclear policies of the
country.
Before the incident, Japan relied on nuclear
power for at least one-third of its energy
requirements but now its planning to
increase it to a level of 50 percent of its
total energy requirements. The framed
policies framed aims to phase out the issues
related to nuclear power of the country for
next three decades.
INDIA TOPPED THE CHART OF
REGISTERED LARGEST
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NUMBER OF UNDER FIVE
DEATHS IN 2011
In the Child Mortality Estimates Report
2012 published on 12 September 2012, by
United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF),
India was placed at the top position in the
chart of 10 countries that topped on the
chart. The other countries with their names
on the chart are Nigeria, the Democratic
Republic of Congo, China, Pakistan,
Indonesia, Ethiopia, Bangladesh and
Afghanistan.
As per the report, Nigeria, the Democratic
Republic of Congo, China, Pakistan along
with India are the countries with more
than fifty percent of the total deaths. The
countries with worlds lowest mortality rate
are Singapore, the Nordic Countries, Japan
and some of the European Countries. But
the good news of the report is the decrease
in the number of the under five mortality to
6.9 million from that if the 12 million in
1990. This fall measures to 51 per thousand
in 2011 from that of 87 per thousand in
1990.

The report also cleared that approx 40
percent of the total deaths were reported
within 28 days (neonatal period) of birth
which counts to be three million deaths in
total.
US DIPLOMAT TO LIBYA
KILLED IN BENGHAZI ATTACK
United States Ambassador to Libya, Chris
Stevens with three other embassy staff
were killed on 9 September 2012 after
some fundamentalist mobs fumed and
protesting over a film mocking Prophet
Mohammed, attacked Consulate building in
Benghazi city of Libya.
The said event happened on the day which
is also marked as the 11th anniversary of
9/11.
The US ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens
was the man who had helped Libyan
opposition to overthrow the Gaddafi
regime.
The protest came after 14 minute trailer of
the film posted on You Tube. The film
named as Innocence of Muslims, was
directed and produced by an Israeli-
American real estate developer. It depicts
the Prophet in poor light.
In response to the incident, US President
Barack Obama ordered increased security
for US diplomatic posts across the world
and in his White House appearance he
declared that the U.S. would "work with the
Libyan government to bring to justice those
who killed Ambassador Chris Stevens.
Chris Stevens is the second U.S. ambassador
who had been killed during an outstation
posting since the death of Adolph Dubs in
1979 during his tenure in Afghanistan.
INDIA, MYANMAR AND
THAILAND DECIDED TO
IMPLEMENT TRILATERAL
Identified cause for the Mortality Are
14 percent due to pre-term birth
complications
18 percent due to Pneumonia
11 percent due to Diarrhea
9 percent due to Intrapartum
related complications
7 percent of the total deaths happen

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CONNECTIVITY PROJECT BY
2016
India, Myanmar and Thailand on 10
September 2012 reviewed the eagerly
awaited trilateral connectivity project and
decided to make all efforts to implement
this by 2016. This was done at the meeting
of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Joint Task
Force, which met in New Delhi.
It was also agreed during the meeting that
steps be initiated to address issues related
to harmonisation of customs and
immigration procedures at border check-
posts to enable seamless movement of
goods and people to realise the full
potential of the trilateral highway.
US UPLIFTED TERRORI ST
DESIGNATION FROM NEPALI
MAOISTS
The title of terrorists assigned to
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) by
United States has been uplifted on 6
September 2012. Maoist part was Specially
Designated with the title of Terrorist Entity
under Executive Order 13224. US also
withdrew its status as terrorist organisation
from the Terrorist Exclusion List (TEL) under
the Immigration and Nationality Act. This
decision came in favor of the party after six
years long wait, since the time it signed
peace treaty to make its entry to open
politics.

US declared its decision on the day, when
final phase of rehabilitation and integration
process of former Maoists combatants
started. The state department stated that
the party is no longer involved in the
activities that threaten the security of U.S.
Foreign Policy and its nationals and now
they are directly involved in governance of
the Nation.
SIXTH MEKONGGANGA
COOPERATION MEETING
HELD IN NEW DELHI
MekongGanga sixth Cooperation meet
was held in New Delhi on 3-4 September
2012. Senior officials meeting were held on
September 3 whereas the Foreign Ministers
meet was held on September 4 2012.
The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC)
was established on November 10, 2000 in
Vientiane, Lao Peoples Democratic
Republic with a purpose of cooperation
amongst India and the five Mekong region
countries - Cambodia, Lao Peoples
Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Vietnam
and Thailand.
It was basically established to emphasize on
four areas of cooperation, tourism, culture,
education, and transportation linkage, in
order to build strong foundation for future
trade and investment cooperation among
the region.
This is the first time that the Mekong
Ganga Cooperation meeting was hosted by
India. India had earlier chaired the 5th MGC
Ministerial Meeting on the sidelines of the
ASEAN-India Meetings.
Five Mekong Ganga Cooperation
ministerial meetings has held so far
In Vientiane, Lao Peoples
Democratic Republic on November
10, 2000
In Hanoi, Vietnam on July 28, 2001
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In Phnom Penh, Cambodia June 20,
2003
In Cebu, Philippines on January 12,
2007
In Manila, Philippines on August 1,
2007
THE 16TH NAM (NON-
ALIGNED MOVEMENT)
SUMMIT WAS HELD IN
TEHRAN
The 16th NAM (Non-Aligned Movement)
summit was held at Tehran, Iran on 30-31
August 2012. The theme of the summit was
Lasting Peace through Joint Global
Governance.
At the Tehran Summit, the
Chairmanship of NAM was passed
on from Egypt to Iran in accordance
with the NAMs practice of regional
rotation.
The NAM meeting in Tehran was held in
three phases: Preparatory Senior Officials
Meeting on 26-27 August, Ministerial Level
Meeting on 28-29 August and the Summit
on 30-31 August.
At the end of the summit, the outcome
documents were adopted which put
emphasis on peace. Participants called for
fundamental changes in global governance
and collective management of the world as
the precondition of establishing peace, and
all of them expressed the call for avoiding
conflicts in the world.
Venezuela was selected the host for
the 17th NAM Summit in 2015
Two nations, namely Azerbaijan
Republic and Fiji, were accepted as
the new members of the
organization.
The NAM was founded in the former
Yugoslavia in 1961. It represents almost
two-thirds of the UN members and about
55 percent of the world population.

US IMPOSED FRESH
SANCTIONS ON BELLIGERENT
IRAN
In pursuit of its goal to debilitate Irans oil
exporting economy, the US Government on
2 August 2012 announced to impose some
fresh sanctions on Iran. Sanctions, imposed
under Comprehensive Iran Sanctions,
Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010
(CISADA), put punitive regulation on those
who continued to maintain ties with Iran.
Under the sanction Bank of Kunlun in China
and Elaf Islamic Bank in Iraq faced cut off
from transactions with US Institutions. The
two banks were punished for facilitating
transactions worth millions of dollars on
behalf of sanctioned Iranian banks. The new
sanctions categorically target the Iranian
energy and petrochemical sectors.
The sanctions are aimed at preventing Iran
from establishing payment mechanisms for
the purchase of Iranian oil to circumvent
existing sanctions, and utilises the existing
structure of our sanctions law, including
India's stance at Tehran Summit
India expressed support for popular
aspirations for a democratic order in Syria
while cautioning against external
intervention. India urged NAM to take a clear
stand on Syria.

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exceptions for significant reductions in the
purchase of Iranian oil.
Earlier this year India, China and a host of
other nations had opposed US dictate to
cut down their oil imports from Iran. US and
European Union have come down heavily
on Irans nuclear programme seeking all
possible diplomatic methods to stop the
belligerent nation to carry on its nuclear
programme. Though the heavy sanctions
imposed by the US and EU over Iran have
not yielded them the desired result as Iran
has thus far not gave up its plan to build
nuclear armaments.
US SENATE PASSED BILL TO
LABEL HAQQANI NETWORK
AS A FOREIGN TERRORI ST
ORGANISATION
The US Senate on 27 July 2012 unanimously
passed a resolution to label the Haqqani
Network as a foreign terrorist group. The
resolution came following the US House of
Representatives passed Haqqani Network
Terrorist Designation Act of 2012 early July
2012.
The bill was already passed in 2011 but had
to be passed by the Senate again given the
changes made in it by the House. As the
final step to become legislation, the bill now
moves to the White House for the approval
of President Barack Obama.
What is Haqqani Network?
The Haqqani Network is a group of Islamic
fanatics which have been fighting against
US-led NATO forces and the government of
Afghanistan to reacquire control over the
trouble-torn nation. The insurgent group,
which came into existence in mid 1970s,
was largely used by the US as a tool against
Soviet Russia during the cold war days.
Haqqani Network is widely believed to have
the support of Pakistani administration as
well as the ISI, Pakistan's top spy agency.
The Network is led by Maulvi Jalaluddin
Haqqani and his son Sirajuddin Haqqani.
The group, which believed to have its base
in Pakistan, operates across the
Afghanistan- Pakistan border. The dreaded
terror group consistently remains one of
the most formidable threats to the US led
NATO forces and the Afghan Government
given its striking capabilities and the
influence it enjoys among the conservative
Islamic groups existing across the border.
The network has drawn extreme reactions
from the leaders in US and western
countries, which consider it as the most
resilient enemy network.
Haqqani Networks alleged link with Taliban
militants has added to the anxiety of US
administration which wants the group to be
banned immediately. To fund its terror
operations the group relies on the
extortion, kidnapping and smuggling.
SPICE JET TO LAUNCH
FLIGHTS TO GUANGZHOU IN
SOUTH CHINA
SpiceJet decided to launch its flights to
Guangzhou in the first week of February
2013. With this launch, the low-cost carrier,
SpiceJet will become the only Indian private
airline to fly China. It has decided to launch
the four weekly flights starting from New
Delhi to Guangzhou.
The duration of the flight will be 4 hours
and 35 minutes with the Boeing 737
aircraft.
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As of now, Shanghai remains the only
southern mainland city which is connected
to India via airlines such as Air China and Air
India.
With the launch of this flight, SpiceJet looks
towards targeting the business community.
It will also direct its attention towards the
southern part of the country. Furthermore,
SpiceJet has plans to launch its flights to
other Chinese cities such as Macau, Zhuhai
and Hong Kong.
First Indian carrier flying to China
Jet Airways was the first Indian carrier that
flew to China. It launched flight from
Mumbai to Shanghai and thereafter
towards San Francisco in 2008. However,
the flight was later discontinued.
SOUTH AFRICAN
GOVERNMENT ROLLED OUT
NELSON MANDELA BANK
NOTES
The South African Reserve Bank on 6
November 2012 rolled out new bank notes
bearing the face of the countrys first black
President Nelson Mandela marking it as a
tribute to him.
The Note issued by the South African
Reserve Bank, displayed the 94-year-old
anti-apartheid icons smiling face.
Also, the earlier images of one of the five
big animals featured on the old bank notes
lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant
will be retained on the reverse of the
note.
Nelson Mandela is currently living out his
retirement in his childhood rural village of
Qunu in the Eastern Cape Province.
Nelson Mandela held office between 1994
and 1999 and he is the first black face to
appear on South African Currency.
CHINA INAUGURATED
WORLDS LONGEST HIGH-
SPEED RAIL ROUTE LINKING
BEIJING WITH GUANGZHOU
China on 26 December 2012 inaugurated
world's longest high-speed rail route linking
its capital Beijing with the southern
metropolis of Guangzhou, covering a
distance of 2298 kms. It runs at an average
speed of 300 km per hour and it will save
nearly 12 hours by bringing down the travel
time between Beijing and Guangzhou from
more than 20 hours to around eight. The
route connects five provinces and has 35
stops in major cities, including Shijiazhuang,
Zhengzhou, Wuhan and Changsha.
With the opening of the Beijing-Guangzhou
high-speed railroad, China now has a
network of more than 9300 km of operating
high-speed railways. This is the longest high
speed network China launched after the
Beijing-Shanghai Bullet train in 2010, which
brought down travel time to around five
hours, covering over 1300 km distance
between two of China's largest cities.
The new train covers Beijing with China's
most industrialised province Guangdong
where most developed cities like
Guangzhou close to Hong Kong and Maccau
are located. The line is expected to be
extended to Hong Kong by 2015.
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PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA
VLADMIR PUTIN VISITED
INDIA TO ATTEND 13TH
INDIA-RUSSIA ANNUAL
SUMMIT
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, the President
of Russia visited India on 24 December
2012 at the Invitation of Manmohan Singh,
the Prime Minister of India to attend 13th
India-Russia Annual Summit. During the
visit the Russian President met the Prime
Minister of India - Manmohan Singh and the
President of India Pranab Mukherjee.
During this visit of President Vladimir Putin
and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
reviewed the progress made in all the
important areas of mutual cooperation,
comprising sectors like energy, trade, high
technology and military-technical
cooperation. Both these leaders discussed
on extending the special and privileged
strategic partnership between the two
countries.
Some of the issues of discussion were
Promoting Trade and Investment
Deepening Energy Partnership
Science and Technology Cooperation
Education
Cultural and Humanitarian
Exchanges
Promoting Ties in Space
Stepping Up Military-Technical
Cooperation
Coordination on International and
Regional Issues
Combating Terrorism
Supporting Disarmament and Non-
Proliferation Efforts
Promoting Cooperation among
Emerging Economies
Situation in Syria
Stabilizing the Afghan Situation
Iran's Nuclear Programme
Recovery and Strengthening of
Global Economy, Reforming the
International Financial Architecture
Environment/Sustainable
Development
SHINZO ABE ELECTED AS
PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN
BY LOWER HOUSE OF THE
PARLIAMENT
Shinzo Abe, the conservative leader of
Japan was elected as the prime minister of
the country by lower house of the
Parliament called the House of
Representatives, on 26 December 2012.
Shinzo Abe took oath to rebuild Japanese
economy as well as mend the coalition with
US.
The lower house of the parliament in Japan,
which is said to be very powerful, picked
58-year old Shinzo Abe as the new leader of
the country. All this came after the loud
victory of Liberal Democratic Party which is
headed by Abe, in national election earlier
in December 2012. The Liberal Democratic
Party had won over Democratic Party of
Japan (DPJ).
The lawmakers in Japan voted in favour of
Abe by 328 votes. Opponent Banri Kaieda,
the newly chosen leader of DPJ received
merely 57 votes.
As the seventh prime minister of Japan in
not even 7 years, Abe replaced Yoshihiko
Noda, who belonged to DPJ and whose
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party suffered deep defeat at the elections.
DPJ had come into power in 2009 and it lost
on grounds of failing policies as well as
mishandling of atomic disaster at
Fukushima in 2011.
The cabinet of Yoshihiko Noda resigned as
a whole before LDP-powered lower house
of the Parliament named Abe as the next
Prime Minister.
Abe had initially served as the Prime
Minister of Japan from 2006 to 2007. He
would form the new cabinet in order to
rush the extra budget for encouraging
flagging economy of the country. Most
probably, Abe would choose close
associates as well as senior members of the
party for crucial posts in the cabinet.
It is expected that Taro Aso, the former
prime minister of Japan would be chosen as
the deputy of Abe as well as the finance
minister. Fumio Kishida would be the
foreign minister. He was the state minister
of Okinawan affairs in previous tenure of
Abe.
Defence ministry might go to Itsunori
Onodera. He served as the deputy foreign
minister during Abes tenure in Japan.
Justice Minister of Japan might be Sadakazu
Tanigaki.
SOMALIA GOT ITS NEW
PRESIDENT IN FORM OF
HASSAN SHEIKH MOHAMUD
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud won the
presidential elections of Somalia on 10
September 2012. He won the election by
gaining 190 votes to 79 in the second round
of competition. Alliances were formed
between the Prime Minister Abdiweli Ali
and Hassan Sheikh.
TENSIONS GREW OVER
SENKAKU ISLANDS IN
BETWEEN JAPAN AND CHINA
The uninhabited group of Islands Senkaku
or Diaoyu turned up to be the cause for
mounting tensions in between China and
Japan. Japan on 11 September 2012
announced that they have purchased three
islands of this group of islands from its
identified Tokyo based Kurihara family
(owner of the island) at $25b million. In
response to this declaration, china sent two
Marine Surveillance Ships for patrol and
resettling Chinese claim on the islands.
Chinese foreign ministry also warned Japan
that necessary steps will be taken to protect
Chinese interests to the issue.
Following the study conducted by experts in
1968, the Island group that has been under
the control of Japan, since 1895 holds oil
reserves under the sea. China claims that
the islands were discovered and controlled
by them ever since fourteenth century and
considers it to be a part of Taiwan (Republic
of China).
VICE PRESIDENT OF INDIA M.
HAMID ANSARI RELEASED A
BOOK
Vice president of India Hamid Ansari
released the book Muslim in Indian cities
on 10 September 2012. The book is edited
by Laurent Gayer and Christopher Jafferlot.
On the occasion of book release, Vice-
President denoted Indian Muslim as Sui
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generic that means unique in
characteristics.
The book speaks about Muslim life in India.
Numbering more than 150 million, Muslims
constitute the largest minority in India, yet
they suffer the most politically and
socioeconomically.
INDIA RANKED TO BE 59TH IN
THE REPORT RELEASED BY
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
India slipped down with 3 ranks to 59th
position from its previous year ranking in
the Global Competitiveness Report 2012-
2013 released on 5 September 2012 by the
World Economic Forum. The identified
reason for this downfall is Indias
disappointing performance in satisfying
competitiveness for the basic factors.
Previously, India was far ahead to the
nations like South Africa and Brazil has
trailed down by 10 ranks and is 30 ranks
behind the China. As per the details
released by the forum, India still is strong in
term of competitiveness on many other
sections of comparison.
Switzerland managed to be on top of the
list for consecutive four years followed by
Singapore that ranked second and Finland
was placed at third position. Among the
members of BRICKS Nations, Russia was
placed at 67th Position, South Africa got
52nd position and Brazil remained to be the
48th Nation.
TEHRAN HOSTED THE 16TH
NAM (NON-ALIGNED
MOVEMENT) SUMMIT
The 16th NAM (Non-Aligned Movement)
summit was held at Tehran, Iran on 30-31
August 2012.The theme of the summit was
Lasting Peace through Joint Global
Governance. At the Tehran Summit, the
Chairmanship of NAM was passed on from
Egypt to Iran in accordance with the NAMs
practice of regional rotation.The NAM
meeting in Tehran was held in three phases:
preparatory senior officials meeting on 26-
27 August, ministerial level meeting on 28-
29 August, and the summit on 30-31
August. Heads of the government from over
100 countries participated in the Tehran
Summit to discuss the new global
challenges.
Venezuela was selected the host for the
17th NAM Summit in 2015. India expressed
support for popular aspirations for a
democratic order in Syria while cautioning
against external intervention. India urged
NAM to take a clear stand on Syria.
PRIME MINISTER OF FI JI,
LAISENIA QARASE WAS
PUNISHED FOR ONE YEAR
PRISON
Prime Minister of Fiji, Laisenia Qarase was
punished for One year Prison on 3 August
2012 by the Supreme Court of Fiji. He found
guilty on corruption charges. He was unable
to answer the Government about his
private investment in three companies to
whom he was helping financially from past
20 years. He is not allowed to take part in
the Prime Ministers elections of Fiji in the
year 2014.
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THE BELGIAN DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER DIDIER REYNDERS
VISITED INDIA
The Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and
minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade
and European Affairs Didier Reynders
visited India from 1-5 August and 8-12
August 2012. During his visit, he discussed
bilateral, regional and international issues
of mutual interest.
Besides that, A MoU was signed between
Ministry of Railways, Government of India
and the Ministry of Mobility of Kingdom of
Belgium on 2 August 2012.
ROGELIO SIERRA DIAZ, VICE
MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS OF CUBA VISITED
INDIA
Rogelio Sierra Diaz, vice foreign minister of
Cuba visited India on 7 August 2012 to
participate in the First India-CELAC foreign
ministers Troika meeting in New Delhi. On
the sidelines of the meeting, he met SM
Krishna, Minister of External Affairs of India.
During this meeting, both nations discussed
ways to improve bilateral relations
encompassing the areas dealing with
political, commercial and economic; energy;
sports; science and technology; education
and culture. India and Cuba agreed on the
need for the reform of the United Nations
Organisation.
The Indian side appreciated Cubas
expression of support to Indias candidature
for permanent membership of the United
Nations Security Council.

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CHAPTER 3: BILATERAL
RELATIONS
TWO PAKISTANI DIPLOMATS
DENIED PERMISSION TO
ATTEND JAIPUR LITERATURE
FESTIVAL 2013
The Government of India banned two
Pakistani diplomats from participating in
the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) 2013,
which began on 24 January 2013. Two
Pakistani diplomats Naeem Anwar and
Manzoor Memon were prevented from
visiting Jaipur on 24 January 2013 because
Ministry of External Affairs did not provide
them with the approval. One of the
Pakistani diplomats asked for the
permission to visit Ajmer Sharif, while the
other wanted to visit Agra from Jaipur in
order to attend his business meeting.
INDIA AND ASEAN FINALISED
FTA IN INVESTMENTS AND
SERVICES
The awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in
investments and services was finalised
between India and Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on 20
December 2012. The actions would be
beneficial in enhancing the trade to around
100 billion dollar by 2015. Also, it will help
in enhancing the economic ties.
FTA in the goods was operationalised in
2011 and since then both the sides were
busy in widening the pact by also including
investments and services. Trade between
the two sides is at present 80 billion dollar.
Indias Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
declared that after implementation of FTA
in the goods, the trade between the two
sides increased by 41 percent in the year
2011-2012. Manmohan Singh announced at
the summit that two-way flows in terms of
investment grew rapidly and reached the
mark of 43 billion dollar over last 10 years.
Because the investments through ASEAN in
India grew, therefore the ASEAN countries
also emerged as lucrative destination for
the Indian companies.
India was demanding from ASEAN to open
the services sector even more, which would
also include the steps to cover contractual
service suppliers along with independent
professional services at all its levels. But
following difficult rounds of talks and
discussions on 19 December 2012, India
decided to drop the demand of
independent professional services. As
trade-off, ASEAN on the other hand
dropped the demand for prudential
measures in context with financial services.

Impact of the agreement
The agreement would create new pathways
for greater economic integration. Post, FTA
in investments and services, India was also
planning to hold market opening
negotiations like these with other members
of the group. FTA was already implemented
with Malaysia and Singapore. Negotiations
with Thailand and Indonesia were still on its
way.
This FTA would also create pathways for
discussions on the Regional Comprehensive
Economic Partnership (RCEP) which ASEAN
planned sealing with its six crucial trade
partners, including India. ASEAN along with
the six partners, India, China, Australia,
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New Zealand, Japan and South Korea
would begin first negotiation rounds on
RCEP in 2013. This would form the
economic alliance of the world in 2015.
Final legal paper work on investment and
services pact would be given a concrete
shape by February 2013. Signing of the
agreement would take place in August
2013.
INDIA TO SIGN MUTUAL
LEGAL ASSISTANCE TREATY IN
CRIMINAL MATTERS WITH
FOUR OTHER NATIONS
India would sign Mutual Legal Assistance
Treaty in the criminal matters with four
other countries in 2013. The treaty in
general helps in mutual assistance
between two nations for preventing,
investigating as well as prosecuting crime.
Discussions on treaty were initiated already
with four countries namely Azerbaijan,
Israel, Nepal and Oman.
As of now, India has signed the treaty with
32 countries which include Russia, Egypt,
US, South Africa, France, Switzerland, UK,
Canada, UAE and Iran.
The agreement is important because
it helps in fighting back the trans-
national organised crimes such as
money laundering, terrorism,
counterfeit currency, smuggling of
explosives and arms, drug trafficking
and much more.
INDIA AND CHINA AGREED TO
BOOST THE DEFENCE TIES
India and China on 4 September 2012
agreed to boost defence ties. The
agreement was made during the visit of
Chinese Defense Minister Gen Liang
Guanglie to India and his meet with his
Indian Counterpart, AK Antony. Last time
the defence minister of China visited India
in the year 2004.
The two nations have agreed on
improving the friendly, strategic and
co-operative partnership and
exchange of young officers and high
level visits.
An inter-collegiate exchange that
includes non-traditional security
fields is also a part of the
agreement.
During the joint Naval Practice in Shanghai,
the two nations agreed on increasing the
process of military exchange that includes
maritime operations and navy.
Last joint exercise that took place
between the two nations was at
Kunming in the year 2007 and at
Belgaum in the year 2008.
The third joint exercise scheduled for 2010
was cancelled because China disagreed to
provide VISA to Lieutenant General BS
Jaiswal of the Northern Command and since
then India cancelled all collateral ties
related to defence activities with China.
INDIA AND AUSTRIA SIGNED
AN MOU TO STRENGTHEN
BILATERAL COOPERATION ON
RAIL AND ROAD
A memorandum of understanding (MoU)
was signed on 1 October 2012 between
Indian and Austria to strengthen the long-
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term bilateral cooperation and relationship
on rail and road infrastructure. The MoU
was signed in between C.P. Joshi- the
Minister of Railways and Road Transport of
India and Highways and the Doris Burse-the
Federal Minister of Transport, Innovation
and Technology of Austria during her visit to
India.
The identified areas of cooperation as
declared are
Tunneling technology enhancement,
training and skill up gradation like
locomotive drivers psychological
qualification test, track monitoring
as well as maintenance.
Provisions of mechanised track
laying, traction and rolling stock and
telecom and signaling.
Establishing and encouraging
relationship for communication and
cooperation that is effective and
continues for a long term.
Exchange of information related to
infrastructural development for
roads, their management,
administration, road safety and
different areas of mutual interests
that includes intelligent Transport
Systems related to road transport
technologies.
SC: THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE
WAYS FOR ALLOCATION OF
NATURAL RESOURCES
The Supreme Court in its verdict for routing
of the allocation of Natural Resources on 27
September 2012 directed that the Auction
being a preferable method for allotment of
the natural resources cant be turned up to
be a Constitutional Limitation or
requirement. The Supreme Court passed
the statement in relation to the 2 G
Presidential Reference in form of its
advisory opinion.
FARMERS MOVED TO
SUPREME COURT
CHALLENGING THE RELEASE
OF WATER
Farmers of Karnataka moved to the
Supreme Court on 25 September 2012
challenging the direction given to the state
by the Union Prime Minister, Manmohan
Singh, who is the head of Cauvery River
Authority (CRA) to release 9000 cusecs of
water to Tamil Nadu from September 20-
October 15.
The reason was drastically failure of
monsoon in the last year which has affected
the agriculture of Karnataka severely.
The farmers gave a writ petition mentioning
that due to failure of monsoon to the
extent of 40 percent, drought had severely
affected almost half of the agricultural
activities in the Cauvery basin of Karnataka.
The petitioner mentioned that the demand
of Tamil Nadu seeking water from
Karnataka was uncalled for because
Farmers in Tamil Nadu are going to get
enough water during the North-East
monsoon beginning in October and ending
in December.
They had also mentioned that the crops can
be grown with the help of rain received
during the North-East monsoon. As also the
storage in Mettur Dam was 45 tmcft, Tamil
Nadu farmers are not in need of water as it
is going to be sufficient for them till
November.
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INDIA PLEDGED
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
OF 2.5 MILLION US DOLLARS
TO SYRIA
India announced an assistance of 2.5 million
US dollars to Syria on 30 January 2013 at
the High-level International Humanitarian
Pledging Conference for Syria held in
Kuwait. Syria continues to face acute crisis
as the impasse has become explosive and
could engulf the region. India has strongly
expressed its concern on the steep
escalation of violence and has called upon
all sides in Syria particularly; the Syrian
leadership to abjure violence and resolve all
issues peacefully through discussions taking
into accounts the aspirations of the people
of Syria.
INDIA AND AUSTRALIA
AGREED TO CONCENTRATE
ON ENERGY AND FOOD
SECURITY
India and Australia on 28 January 2013
agreed to concentrate on priority areas like
energy and food security for mutual benefit
of the two countries. At the 14th Session of
the India - Australia Joint Ministerial
Commission held in New Delhi, the two
sides underlined the importance of a solid
institutional framework to facilitate future
growth in bilateral trade and investment.
India and Australia welcomed the positive
momentum in the India-Australia
relationship, based on shared values,
converging interests and growth in
economic links. The successful state visit to
India by Australian Prime Minister Julia
Gillard in October 2012 underlined both
countries deep commitment to advance the
Strategic Partnership agreed in November
2009. The Minister for External Affairs,
Salman Khurshid, and the Minister for
Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr, held the
8th Foreign Ministers Framework Dialogue
on the 21 January 2013, to review the
bilateral relations and build on the
momentum achieved by Prime Minister
Gillards visit.
The two countries also met at
Ministerial level to advance
Agriculture, Energy, Education and
Science & Technology links.
India and Australia emphasised the
importance of closer trade and
investment relations as a critical
component of the strategic
partnership.
Both nations underlined the importance
of a solid institutional framework to
facilitate future growth in bilateral trade
and investment. In this context, they
highlighted the priority they placed on
the conclusion of a mutually beneficial
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation
Agreement (CECA). The countries
welcomed progress through four rounds
of negotiations to date, including the
exchange of goods offers. They looked
forward to a future exchange offers on
services. Ministers reiterated that a
comprehensive, high quality equitable
agreement would broaden the base of
merchandise trade, remove non-tariff
barriers that impede trade in services,
and facilitate and encourage
investment.
India and Australia recognized the critical
role played by industry in driving trade and
investment between the two countries. In
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this regard, they expressed their strong
support for the initiatives of the India
Australia CEO Forum. Both nations
welcomed the outcomes from the second
forum meeting on 16 October 2012 held in
New Delhi including agreement to promote
skills training, increased mutual cooperation
on infrastructure development, promotion
of services trade, and the creation of
investment champions to identify
opportunities and navigate government
processes. The nations commended the
important work under way in the Forum.
The nations welcomed the third meeting of
the Forum to be held in Australia in March
2013.
Other areas of mutual interests are as
following
The nations discussed Australia and India`s
mutual interests in the effectiveness of
global and regional economic institutions.
The nations welcomed the launch of the
Regional Comprehensive Economic
Partnership (RCEP) negotiations towards a
modern, comprehensive, high quality, and
mutually beneficial regional Economic
Partnership Agreement. They discussed
their mutual commitment to strengthening
the East Asia Summit (EAS) as a forum that
incorporated all the major economies in the
India-Pacific region.
INDIA AND PAKISTAN AGREED
NOT TO ALLOW TENSION
ALONG LOC TO ESCALATE
DGMOs (Director Generals of Military
Operations) of India and Pakistan on 16
January 2013 agreed not to allow escalation
of tensions along the Line of Control (LoC)
with the Pakistan Army asking its troops to
observe ceasefire strictly and exercise
restraint.
The ways to defuse the tension on the LoC
in Jammu and Kashmir, which was triggered
by the brutal killing of two Indian soldiers
by the Pakistan Army, were discussed
during a telephonic conversation between
the Director Generals of Military Operations
(DGMOs) of the two sides. The Pakistan
Army DGMO conveyed that orders have
been passed to troops to strictly observe
the ceasefire and exercise restraint.
CHINA APPOINTED WEI WEI,
A CAREER DIPLOMAT AS
AMBASADOR TO INDIA
Chinese President Hu Jintao on 16 January
2013 appointed the career diplomat and its
current envoy to Singapore Wei Wei as its
new Ambassador to India. Wei Wei would
be the successor of Zhang Yan in India.
Wei Wei appointment as the Ambassador
to India was confirmed by the President
following the decision made by the
Standing Committee of the Chinese Top
Legislature, the National People's Congress
(NPC). He has served as a diplomat of China
in countries like, Ethopia, Brunei, Zimbabwe
and Kenya.
INDIA AND BANGLADESH
DECIDED INCREASING RAIL
LINK PROJECTS
India and Bangladesh decided in the third
week of January 2013, to speed up its rail
link projects in order to increase the contact
among the people of two neighbouring
nations. As of now, there are four ongoing
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rail link projects and these are Chilahati
(Bangladesh)-Haldibari (India), Birol
(Bangladesh)-Radhikapur (India), Akhaura
(Bangladesh)-Agartala (India) and
Shahbazpur (Bangladesh)- Mahishashan
(India).
The senior railway officials from the two
countries decided in the joint meeting to
also examine feasibility of establishment of
rail link between Feni (Bangladesh) and
Belonia (India). Railway delegations from
India and Bangladesh discussed about the
operational, technical as well as financial
matters as well. Discussions on reforming
inter-country freight train operations,
improving functioning of Maitree Express,
upgrading the infrastructure as well as
establishment of even more rail
connectivity points, were held.
Delegations from India and Bangladesh also
agreed in the meanwhile to increase
frequency of the Maitree Express as well as
introduction of the system of return tickets.
INDIA AND PAKISTAN
EXCHANGED NUCLEAR UNITS
LIST AS A PART OF THE
AGREEMENT
India and Pakistan exchanged their nuclear
units lists on 1 January 2013, as it is
customary since 20 years. The list which
contains the names of nuclear units of two
countries, are exchanged between India
and Pakistan as a custom and part of an
agreement which prevents them from
aiming the nuclear installations of each
others nations.
The exchange of the list of nuclear units
has been going on, on 1 January every year
since 1992. This is a customary action as a
part of Agreement on Prohibition of
Attacks against Nuclear Installations and
Facilities which was signed in December
1988.
Apart from this list, the two nations, as a
part of another bilateral agreement signed
back in 2008, share the list of each others
prisoners in the jails of two countries. The
bilateral agreement was signed between
India and Pakistan in May 2008, according
to which a complete list of the citizens of
both the countries living in the jails of other
country should be exchanged two times
every year on 1 January and in July.
INDIA AND PAKISTAN JOINTLY
OPERAIONALIZED NEW VISA
AGREEMENT
India and Pakistan jointly operationalized
the new Visa Agreement on 14 December
2012 in New Delhi during the visit of
Pakistan interior minister A. Rehman Malik
to India. However, the Visa-on-Arrival will
come into effect from 15 January 2013 and
the Group Tourist Visa from 15 March
2013.
Government of the Republic of India and
the Government of the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan signed on 8 September 2012, a
new Visa Agreement to facilitate travel for
the citizens of both countries desirous of
travelling to the other country and to
promote people to people contact.
Main features of the India-Pakistan new
Visa Agreement are as following
Visitor Visa
Places of visit allowable increased
from three to five places
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In exceptional cases visitor visa for
one year could be issued in the past.
Now provision made for issue of visa
up to two years in following cases:
a) Persons above 65 years of age
b) National of one country married to
national of the other country.
c) Children below 12 years
accompanying parents in (b) above
Visa on Arrival can be granted at
Attari/Wagah check-post to persons more
than 65 years of age for 45 days with single
entry (effective from 15 January 2013).
Business Visa
Exemption from Police Reporting for
Business visa granted to businessmen with
an annual income above Pak Rs. 5 million or
equivalent or annual turnover above Pak 30
million rupees or equivalent.
Group Tourist Visa
Group Tourist Visa for 30 days may
be issued for travel in groups, with
not less than 10 members and not
more than 50 members in each
group, organized by approved tour
operators/travel agents (effective
from 15 March 2013).
Entry and Exit
Now entry and exit from different
designated Immigration Check Posts
can be allowed, if indicated in
application.
However, exit from Wagha/Attari on
foot cannot be accepted unless the
entry was also on foot via
Attari/Wagah.

Later after the incident of beheading of the
Indian solder on the LoC, the visa-of-arrival
policy for the senior citizens of Pakistan was
put on hold citing technical reasons from
the Indian officials.
NORTH KOREA LAUNCHED
LONG RANGE UNHA-3
ROCKET AMID
INTERNATIONAL OPPOSITION
North Korea launched a long-range rocket
Unha-3 on 12 December 2012 despite
international opposition and growing
tensions in the region successfully
delivering a scientific satellite
Kwangmyongsong-3 into orbit.
Unha-3 is the second version of satellite
Kwangmyongsong-3 was successfully lifted
off from the Sohae Space Center by carrier
rocket.
ELEVENTH MEETING OF
INDIA-CANADA JWG ON
COUNTER TERRORISM HELD
IN NEW DELHI
The 11th meeting of the India-Canada Joint
Working Group (JWG) on Counter
Terrorism was held in New Delhi on 29
November 2012. The meeting took place
within the framework of the enhanced
interaction in bilateral relations between
India and Canada, and in keeping with the
desire of the governments of India and
Canada towards greater cooperation in
counter terrorism matters.
INDIA AND PAKISTAN
DISCUSSED METHODS FOR
SOLVING SIR CREEK ISSUE
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A meeting of the India and Pakistan former
diplomats, peace activists, army and navy
officers concluded on 3 December 2012
with an agenda that Sir Creek dispute will
be resolved. Apart from this, Siachen and
Kashmir are other territorial troubles that
sit amidst the India-Pakistan relationship.
The strategic seminar called Aman Ki Asha
concluded with the fact that even after a lot
of deadlock after the bilateral meetings, the
issue of Sir Creek was not difficult to
handle.
There were certain proposals on which both
India as well as Pakistan agreed and this
included
De-linking maritime boundaries
from land.
It was agreed that there would be
marking from seaward to the point,
where both these sides agree.
Additionally, it was agreed that the
non-defined area (Sir Creek and the
approaches) would be declared as
free zone or the maritime sensitive
zone, or, it was agreed upon that
such an area be turned into a jointly
administered maritime park.
The experts in the meanwhile also
highlighted that in case the shore points are
accepted by both the sides mutually, the
boundary line marked using angular
bisection would only undergo a few
changes when final baseline would be
established.
What is Sir Creek?
Sir Creek is the 96 km narrow piece of
water that is a subject of dispute between
India and Pakistan. Sir Creek sits in the
Rann of Kutch marshlands. Creek opens
into the Arabian Sea and divides the region
of Kutch of Indias Gujarat with Sindh of
Pakistan.
The major dispute over Sir Creek is about
understanding of the maritime boundary
between the Kutch and the Sindh. Before
Indias independence, the region remained
a part of the British India. After the partition
of 1947, Sindh entered Pakistan and Kutch
remained with India.
INDIA AND JAPAN SIGNED
TWO AGREEMENTS IN TOKYO
The Governments of India and Japan signed
the two agreements on 16 November 2012
in Tokyo.
The agreements are as following
1) Agreement between India and Japan on
Social Security
2) Memorandum between the Department
of Atomic Energy of India and the Ministry
of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan on
Cooperation in the Rare Earths Industry in
India.
The conclusion and signing of these
agreements will further enhance and
strengthen the India-Japan Strategic and
Global Partnership.
INDIA AND SWEDEN SIGNED
SOCIAL SECURITY
AGREEMENT IN NEW DELHI
India and Sweden signed a Social Security
Agreement in New Delhi on 26 November
2012. This agreement will help both the
countries in more investment and work
opportunities for nationals of India and
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Sweden. It will also encourage more and
more Indians to go to Sweden for
employment opportunities and vice versa.
Approximately, 156 Swedish companies are
operating in India and expressed the hope
that this agreement will encourage Swedish
people to come in large numbers to India.
In fact, India is the first Asian country with
which Sweden has signed this type of
agreement.
The Social Security Agreement will enhance
cooperation on social security between the
two countries.

There are about 18000 Overseas Indians in
Sweden, most of who are working as
professional and self-employed. However,
there is a huge potential for Indian workers
to take employment in Sweden owing to
the huge labour supply gap in the market.
As such, a bilateral Social Security
Agreement with Sweden is a significant
requirement from the futuristic point of
view to take advantage of the emerging
employment opportunities and to
strengthen the trade and investment
between the two countries. India has singed
similar agreements with Belgium, Germany,
France, Switzerland, Netherlands,
Luxembourg, Hungary, Denmark, Czech
Republic, the Republic of Korea, Norway,
Finland, Canada and Japan.
THE 8TH MEETING OF THE
INDIA-UK JWG ON COUNTER
TERRORISM HELD IN NEW
DELHI
The 8th meeting of the India-UK Joint
Working Group (JWG) on Counter
Terrorism was held on November 20, 2012
in New Delhi. The discussions of the JWG
were held in an atmosphere of trust and
mutual understanding. The two countries
shared their respective threat assessments
and informed each other of the measures
taken by their governments to strengthen
counter terrorism policies and structures.
They also discussed the follow up on the
Mumbai terror attacks of 26/11. The two
countries also exchanged views on
international developments, coordination in
international forum and their bilateral
cooperation in the area.
The first meeting of the India-UK Joint
Working Group (JWG) took place in 2004.
The Agreement will provide following
benefits to Indian nationals working in
Sweden
a) For short term contract up to two years,
no social contribution would need to be paid
under the Swedish law by the detached
workers provided they continue to make
social security payment in India.
b) The above benefits shall be available even
when the Indian company sends its
employees to Sweden from a third country.
c) Indian workers shall be entitled to the
export of the social security benefit if they
relocate to India after the completion of their
service in Sweden.
d) The self-employed Indians in Sweden
would also be entitled to export of social
security benefit of their relocation to India.
e) The period of contribution in one
contracting state will be added to the period
of contribution in the second contracting
state for determining the eligibility of social
security benefits.

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The next and the 9th meeting of the JWG
will be held in the UK in 2013 on mutually
convenient dates.
THE 2ND INDIA-CHINA
STRATEGIC ECONOMIC
DIALOGUE HELD IN NEW
DELHI
The 2nd India-China Strategic Economic
Dialogue was held in New Delhi on 26
November, 2012. During the 2nd meeting of
the Dialogue, India and China discussed a
wide range of topics including greater
cooperation at the global level,
strengthening communication on macro-
economic policies, deepening and
expanding trade and investment and
promoting bilateral cooperation in the
financial and infrastructure sectors. The
proposals and recommendations made by
the five Working Groups were considered
during the 2nd Dialogue and directions
were given for their future activities.
India and China agreed that in the current
global economic situation it was important
to raise the level of economic engagement
between India and China.
The agreements are as following
(i) Cooperation at the Global Level: The
reform of international monetary and
financial systems, stabilizing the volatility in
global commodity markets, working
towards sustainable development and
climate change goals, and ensuring food
and energy security.
(ii) Strengthening Communication on
Macroeconomic Policies: Both sides seek to
maintain continued economic growth while
adjusting manufacturing and services,
upgrading levels of technologies and skills,
while developing the hard and soft
infrastructure for encouraging economic
growth. The two countries agreed that they
would regularly conduct joint studies on
issues of mutual interest, focusing on
benefits of best practices and information
exchanges.
(iii) Deepening and Expanding Trade and
Investment: With a view to promoting
greater economic and commercial
engagement, both sides recognized the
need to explore potential synergies in areas
where the two sides have mutual
complementarities, improve trade and
investment environments, work towards
removing market barriers, enhance
cooperation in project contracting, deepen
business to business exchanges, improve
transportation links, encourage greater
bilateral investment and work towards
achieving a more balanced and sustainable
bilateral trade.
(iv) Expanding Cooperation in the Financial
and Infrastructure Sectors: Both sides have
agreed to intensify the cooperation in the
financial sector by encouraging financial
institutions of the two countries to set up
operations in either country to support
enterprises of the two countries to establish
/ expand commercial operations. The two
sides also agreed to undertake studies in
related areas including innovative financial
methods to support the requirements of
priority sectors particularly the
infrastructure sector having significant
scope for furthering economic
development.
The main outcomes of the five Working
Groups are as follows
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(a) In the Policy Coordination Working
Group, both countries discussed plan
priorities and ways and means of achieving
plan targets recently unveiled in their 12th
Five Year Plans. They exchanged views on
skills development and industrial park
development. The two nations also
submitted assessment reports on the
investment environments in each others
country based on the experiences of the
enterprises of the two countries and
discussed possible solutions to improve the
investment environment. India and China
also agreed to carry out joint studies on
planning cooperation and skills
development for employability, and
entered into related MoUs.
(b) In the Infrastructure Working Group,
with its focus on enhancing railway
cooperation, both countries exchanged
views on the broad policies and plans for
railway development in each others
country. The two countries also discussed
high-speed rail development programme,
heavy haul and station development and
entered into a MoU to exchange views and
other related information in these areas.
(c) In the Energy Working Group, India and
China briefed each other on the
development of the power sector in the
two countries, the ongoing cooperation in
the power equipment sector, opportunities
and challenges in the wind energy sector,
the possibility of Chinese power equipment
manufacturers setting up service centres in
India and relevant policy environment to
support the ongoing cooperation, and
reviewed the small hydro power workshop
that was successfully held in Beijing in
October 2012.
(d) In the Environmental Protection
Working Group, the two nations agreed to
enhance cooperation in the implementation
of energy efficiency projects through
Energy Service Companies (ESCOs),
encouraging visits to industrial and
manufacturing centres excelling in energy
efficient initiatives cooperate and jointly
develop testing protocols and standards
and have entered into a related MoU. The
two sides also exchanged views on
enhancing cooperation in water-saving
technologies covering the areas of waste
water recycling and water-efficient
irrigation systems.
(e) In the Hi-Technology Working Group,
the two countries agreed to enhance
cooperation in the Information Technology
and Information Technology Enabled
Services (IT/ITES). Both sides also agreed to
carry out / support joint studies to better
understand the IT/ITES markets of each
country and have entered into a related
MoU in this area. The two sides also
reached a consensus to explore the
possibility of working together for
developing common standards for digital
TV, audio and video codec standards and
mobile communication technology.
What is India-China Strategic Economic
Dialogue?
Established during the visit to India of Wen
Jiabao, Premier of the State Council of the
Peoples Republic of China in December
2010, the India-China Strategic Economic
Dialogue is aimed at improving macro-
economic policy coordination, promoting
exchanges on economic issues and
enhancing India-China economic
cooperation. The 1st Dialogue had been
successfully held at Beijing in September
2011 where the two countries agreed to
constitute five Working Groups on policy
coordination, infrastructure, energy,
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environment protection and high-
technology. A working level delegation from
China visited New Delhi in March 2012
following which the five Working Groups
met in Beijing in the months of August and
September 2012. This preparatory work has
contributed immensely to the successful
deliberations in and outcomes of the 2nd
Dialogue.
TENTH ASEAN-INDIA SUMMIT
CONCLUDED AT PEACE
PALACE, PHNOM PENH,
CAMBODIA
The tenth ASEAN-India Summit that was
held at Peace Palace, Phnom Penh,
Cambodia concluded on 19 November
2012. The summit was chaired by the Prime
Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia-
Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN
Sen and attended by the leaders of the ten
Member states of ASEAN and the Indian
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
During the summit the discussions were
held on identifying the future course of
action on the ASEAN-India relations.
Success was achieved in deciding the
convening of the ASEAN-India
Commemorative Summit scheduled to be
held on 20 December to 21 December 2012
at New Delhi, India, the summit will be held
to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of
the ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations.
During the 10th Anniversary of the ASEAN-
India summit, 20th Anniversary of ASEAN-
India Dialogue Relations was also observed
at the same venue of Peach Place, Phnom
Penh. The ASEAN-India Summit for the first
time was observed in the year 2002 at
Phnom Penh.
Some other commemorative activities on
which discussions were held included 2nd
ASEAN-India Business Fair and Business
Conclave, and the ASEAN-India Car Rally,
these would be held during the ASEAN-
India Commemorative Summit.
Decisions were also made on implementing
the Plan of Action and the ASEAN-India
Partnership for Progress, Peace and shared
Prosperity (2010-2015). These
implementations would be followed by the
ministers of the ASEAN members and India
to contribute in deepening the dialogue
relations between the two sides.

TWENTY FIRST ASEAN
SUMMIT CONCLUDED IN
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
The 21st ASEAN Summit Phnom Penh was
held on 18 November 2012 at Peace Palace,
Phnom Penh in Cambodia. Prime Minister
of the Kingdom of Cambodia- Samdech
Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen was
the Chairperson for the 21st ASEAN Summit
Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The head of states
of the ASEAN members and the Secretary-
General of ASEAN participated in the 21st
ASEAN Summit and discussed about things
Marked Commemorative Activities
1. The meeting between Heads of Space
Agencies
2. Ministerial level meetings in tourism,
environment, agriculture, new and
renewable energy,
3. The sending of the Sail Training Ship
Sudarshini on an expedition to
ASEAN countries

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like progress of the Implementation of
ASEAN Charter and Roadmap for an ASEAN
community.
New Secretary General for ASEAN
Le Luong Minh- the candidate from the
Socialist Republic of Viet Nam was
appointed as the upcoming Secretary
General for ASEAN for the next five year
term by the ASEAN Head of States. The
nomination was done on the basis of
alphabetical rotation plan for next five year
that would start from January 2013 and end
in December 2018.

THE SEVENTH EAST ASIA
SUMMIT CONCLUDED IN
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
The seventh East Asia Summit (EAS) was
held at Peace Palace, Phnom Penh,
Cambodia, on 19 November 2012. Prime
Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia,
Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun
Sen chaired the meeting. The Leaders of
East Asia Summit adopted a joint
declaration for the 7th East Asia Summit
following the regional responses to control
Malaria and address the resistance to anti-
malarial medicines.
The Phnom Penh Declaration of the East
Asia Summit Development Initiative was
also taken on this occasion. Discussions and
exchange of views on different regional and
international issues was also done between
the leaders of the member-nations.
Apart from the 10 members of the ASEAN
representatives from eight different
countries namely Australia, China, India,
Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea,
Russia and United States of America also
participated in the summit.
INDIA ADDED 22 NEW ITEMS
TO PROMOTE INDO-
MYANMAR BORDER TRADE
Indian Government in the month of
November added 22 commodities such as
agricultural tools, bicycle, coal and
garments in the list of items for border
trade with Myanmar to boost the two-way
commerce.
The new items added and revised in the list
of 40 tradable items was confirmed in a
public notice by Director General of Foreign
Trade which now make the list of 62
Consolidated items.
ASEAN
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian
Nations) was created on 8 August 1967 at
Bangkok, Thailand after ASEAN Declaration
(also called Bangkok Declaration) was
signed between the Founding Fathers of
ASEAN, namely Malaysia, Indonesia,
Singapore, Philippines and Thailand. With
time 5 more South Asian countries joined
the group namely Brunei Darussalam
joined on 7 January 1984, Viet Nam on 28
July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23
July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999.
Today, ASEAN is a 10-member group by
now. The group was formed with a basic
idea of promoting social progress,
economic growth and cultural
development between the member nations
and talk on the differences in a peaceful
manner.

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The other new items included are edible oil,
electrical appliances, steel products,
medicines, tea, beverages, motor cycles
and spare parts, semi precious stone,
sewing machines and three wheelers/cars
below 100 cc.
INDIA AND AFGHANISTAN
SIGNED FOUR COOPERATION
PACTS
India and Afghanistan on 12 November
2012 signed four agreements to cooperate
in areas of social welfare, fertilizer, coal
mining and youth affairs.
President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai was
in India on a four day visit from 9 November
2012 to12 November 2012.
During his visit a Memorandum of
Understanding was signed by External Affair
Minister Salman Khurshid and Afghanistan
Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul under
which India will provide grants to
Afghanistan to implement small
development projects through local bodies,
community organisations, charitable trusts
and educational institutions.
The three other Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) signed can be listed
as
The second MoU relates to fertilizer
sector and was signed by Salman
Khurshid and Afghanistans Minister
of Mines Wahidullah Shahrani.
The third MoU aims at cooperation
in youth affairs which was signed by
India's external affairs minister and
Afghanistans Minister of
Information and Culture Sayed
Makhdoom Raheenis.
The fourth MoU was on the
development of coal resources and
was signed by India's Coal Minister
Prakash Jaiswal and Afghanistans
Minister of Mines Wahidullah
Shahrani.
Both the countries also decided to intensify
the cooperation with a special focus by
deepening their economic engagement in
areas ranging from agriculture and small
businesses to mining and infrastructure.
INDIA, BRITAIN DECIDED TO
ENHANCE COOPERATION IN
CYBER SECURITY
India and Britain on 8 November 2012
decided to step-up cooperation in Cyber
Security during the Foreign Minister level
talks of both the nations. Before, this during
the Foreign Secretary level talks, the issues
discussed was nuclear energy and counter-
terrorism.
The representatives of both the nations,
William Hague the British Foreign Secretary
and Salman Khurshid India's External Affairs
Minister after agreeing on the issues of
cooperation on cyber crimes, which
included cooperation in defining the ways
of tackling the cyber crime, bilaterally
issued a joint statement on the issues
discussed.
William Hague, during the bilateral
discussions, also supported Indian bid to
the membership in four export control
regimes looking forward to the time, when
India would turn-up to be a permanent seat
in the UN Security Council. The Foreign
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Minister and the Foreign Secretary also
discussed Syria Issue.
The London Conference on Cyberspace of
2011 was attended at Ministerial level from
the Indian side and following the results of
the conference, both the countries started
its first dialogue on cooperation in October
2012.
India & Britain upgraded the relationship of
strategic partnership in the year 2004 and
since then the foreign ministers of both the
nations have been working on the areas of
common interest in the cyber domain.
Britain also allowed its citizens to visit
Srinagar and Jammu by lifting the ban
because of the changed ground realities of
the Himalayan State.
Core principles based on Transparency,
Freedom and Liberty
The officials from both the nations tried to
create and define the core principles
through interactions to carry on the
cooperation on the principles of liberty,
freedom of expression, transparency and
the rule of law that is applied to the cyber
space. To tackle cybercrimes of all types
and to boost the confidence of cooperation,
the dialogue tried to find the facts of
reducing risk of threats from cyberspace to
international security.
INDIA-CANADA FINALISED A
MECHANISM FOR SHIPPING
OF CANADIAN URANIUM TO
INDIA
India and Canada on 6 November 2012
succeeded in creating a mechanism for
shipping Canadian Uranium to India
clearing the mistrust generated on the
Canadian side after the nuclear explosion
from India in 1974.
Both the sides were successful in inking the
agreement on the mechanism of shipment
of the Canadian Uranium to India for the
first time after 1974. The nuclear trade
relations between the two nations were
affected, when India used the plutonium
that was allegedly abstracted from the
Canadian test reactor to carry on a nuclear
explosion in the year 1974.
INDIA-JAPAN-US TRILATERAL
DIALOGUE HELD IN NEW
DELHI
Senior officials of the India, Japan and USA
held their third trilateral dialogue in New
Delhi on 29 October 2012 to enhance
cooperation on combating maritime
security, combating piracy and leveraging
their strengths to shape the Asia-Pacific
architecture. The trilateral meeting was the
third of its kind.
The first round of talks was held in
Washington in 2011 and the second round
was held in Tokyo.
PAKISTAN CABINET RATIFIED
THE LANDMARK VISA PACT
WITH INDIA
Pakistans Cabinet on 31 October 2012
ratified four recent agreements with India.
The major of which is landmark visa pact
aimed at facilitating restrictions on several
categories of travelers, including senior
citizens and businessmen. The meeting was
chaired by Prime Minister of Pakistan M
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Raja Pervez Ashraf, who also ratified three
other agreements that is going to promote
trade between the Pakistan and India.
The agreement introduced new categories
for group tourist visas and pilgrim visas and
relaxes restrictions on travel by senior
citizens, businessmen and persons of one
country married to a citizen of the other.
The two countries are also discussing other
measures aimed at boosting bilateral trade
and cooperation in new areas like opening
of bank branches and cross-border
investments.
Both the countries asserted they intend to
increase bilateral trade to six billion dollars
by 2014.
INDIA AND UK AMENDED
PACT ON AVOIDANCE OF
DOUBLE TAXATION
India and the United Kingdom on 30
October 2012 signed a protocol amending
the 1993 bilateral convention on avoidance
of double taxation and prevention of fiscal
evasion related to taxes on income and
capital gains.
The Protocol amends the pact or
Convention that was originally assigned on
25 January 1993 in New Delhi
The protocol was signed by Indias High
Commissioner Jaimini Bhagwati and
Exchequer Secretary to the U.K. Treasury,
David Gauke.
The amended protocol is going to provide
tax stability to the residents of both the
countries and also facilitate mutual
economic cooperation with stimulating flow
of investment, technology and services.
Also, the withholding taxes on the dividends
would be 10 per cent or 15 per cent and is
equally applicable in the UK and in India.
The Protocol integrates provisions for
effective exchange of information between
tax authorities of the two countries in line
with latest international standards including
exchange of banking information and
supplying of information irrespective of
domestic interest.
With the amendment, now there will be a
new article in the Convention on
assistance in collection of taxes. It includes
provision for taking measures of
conservancy.
The Protocol also constitutes the
Convention anti- abuse (limitation of
benefits) provisions, which ensure that the
benefits of the Convention are not misused.
INDIA, US AND JAPAN HELD
TRILATERAL MEET AND
TALKED ON COOPERATION
India, U.S. and Japan on its third trilateral
meet on 29 October 2012 discussed
trilateral cooperation in maritime security
and a route through middle or north of
Myanmar leading up to Hanoi.
The other major area of discussion was on
exchanging of proposals for doing projects
together in Africa as well as cooperating on
the economic side in Afghanistan.
The three countries were on cycle of talk
which they completed following this meet.
The talk began with their first meeting in
Washington in December 2011 which was
followed by next meeting in Tokyo in April
2012.
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Talking of maritime security the three
countries discussed some specific areas of
cooperation which will be productive in the
next cycle of talks that is going to begin
after the U.S. Presidential elections and
with the settling down of next US
administration.
Each side gave a strategic overview of the
Asia Pacific. While Japans Briefing was
primarily focused on dispute with China
over the Senkaku islands.
India with discussing issues on Myanmar
had taken up a trilateral connectivity
initiative with Myanmar and Thailand that
touched on a route through upper
Myanmar that would lead into Vietnam.
Also, US briefing was about its much-talked
about policy of 'Pivot to Asia', which is a
move driven by the allure of emerging Asian
economies, especially China and India.
INDIA, SPAIN SIGNED
AGREEMENT ON DEFENCE
COOPERATION
India and Spain on 26 October 2012 signed
a memorandum of understanding under
which they are going to encourage
collaboration between their defence
industries and exchange of personnel.
Both the Countries agreed to exchange
defence-related experience and
information, and will encourage visits of
personnel and collaboration in the defence
industry and similar areas of cooperation.
Also in another gesture of Cooperation
Spanish firm Navantia is planning to offer its
S-80 diesel electric submarine for the
Indian Navy's Project 75-India, under which
it plans to procure six large conventional
submarines at a cost of more than 50000
crore of Rupees.
The MoU on defence was among the five
pacts signed after comprehensive talks
between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
and the visiting King Juan Carlos I on
bilateral, regional and international issues.

THE 2ND INDIA-JAPAN 2+2
DIALOGUE HELD IN TOKYO
The 2nd India-Japan 2+2 Dialogue was held
in Tokyo on 22 October, 2012. These 2+2
consultations at Senior Official level are
mandated by the Action Plan to Advance
Security Cooperation concluded between
India and Japan in December 2009. The first
India - Japan 2+2 Dialogue was held at New
Delhi in June 2010. The two countries
briefed the other on their respective
defence and security policies in the
background of each countrys security
environment.
In this context, both nations reviewed
bilateral security and defence cooperation
and discussed ways of further expansion of
Other pacts signed are included as under
A protocol for amending the over 19-
year-old double taxation avoidance
pact to check tax evasion,
A MoU in the roads and road
transport sector, aimed at promoting
efficient and environmentally
sustainable transport systems.
A pact to promote and facilitate co-
production of films which includes
feature films, documentary and
animation films.

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such ties. The two sides also exchanged
views on maritime, cyber and outer space
security. They agreed to an early meeting of
the new India Japan Cyber Security
Dialogue. They also discussed the regional
and international security situation.
The next and the 3rd round of the India
Japan 2+2 Dialogue will be held at New
Delhi at a mutually convenient date.
INDIA-AUSTRALIA
ANNOUNCED NUCLEAR DEAL
NEGOTIATION
India and Australia on 17 October 2012
announced the launch of nuclear
negotiations for a civil nuclear deal that
will enable the sale of uranium from
Australian Capital city Canberra to New
Delhi.
The deal was announced by Australian
Prime Minister Julia Gillard on her visit to
India. The deal is going to provide stretch in
India's civilian nuclear ambitions and will
also strengthen bilateral ties between both
the Countries.
Earlier in 2011, the Australian Prime
Minister Julia Gillard, Australian Labour
Party refused to sell uranium to India by
specifying that India had not signed the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Both the Countries also signed four
memorandum, the most important of which
is agreement on Student mobility and
welfare in which they agreed to hold annual
meetings at the summit level either
bilaterally or during multilateral events.
India and Australia also agreed to launch a
Ministerial-level Dialogue on Energy
Security, establish a Water Technology
Partnership and start negotiations for an
Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced
Persons.

INDIA AND NEW ZEALAND
SIGNED FIVE MOUS TO
COOPERATE IN EDUCATION
India and New Zealand on 19 October 2012
signed five Memorandums of
Understandings (MoUs) in different fields
of education. The MoUs were signed in
New Delhi during the first meeting of India-
New Zealand Education Council.
The education institutions of New Zealand
especially higher education maintain global
standards. India and New Zealand share
strong people to people links through
increasing migration, tourism, education
and sporting ties. The education can play a
vital role in strengthening links between the
two countries.
INDIA AND PAKISTAN
DISCUSSED TAPI GAS PROJECT
Pakistans Minister of Petroleum and
Natural Resources Asim Hussain met
Cabinet Minister of Petroleum and Natural
gas of India, Jaipal Reddy in New Delhi on
17 October 2012 in an event PETROTECH
2012 and discussed avenues for energy
Other Memorandums Are
Memorandum on Military and
Security Initiative committed to
enhance maritime cooperation
Memorandum to develop a
comprehensive economic cooperation
agreement

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cooperation, including the trans-regional
project TAPI.

JAPAN AND INDIA LAUNCHED
RESEARCH PROJECT TO STUDY
LNG PRICING
Japan and India on 10 October 2012
launched a joint research project into
pricing structures in LNG markets.
Resource-poor Japan is on the hunt for
cheaper energy, with the situation further
worsened by the shuttering of all but two of
its nuclear reactors amid public distrust
following tsunami-sparked meltdowns at
Fukushima.
Japan is the worlds top importer of
liquefied natural gas. Asian buyers pay far
more than those in North America because
the price is index-linked to oil on the
continent. Under the present pricing
structures in LNG markets, the price in
North America is determined on the basis of
supply and demand.
India's expanding economy also demand
more and more energy keeping this in view
both the countries agreed for a research
project to study price structure.
About LNG
LNG is gas that is temporarily liquefied for
easier storage and transportation. Liquefied
natural gas or LNG is natural gas
predominantly in the form of methane, CH4
that has been converted to liquid form for
ease of storage or transport.
Liquefied natural gas takes up about
1/600th the volume of natural gas in the
gaseous state. It is odorless, colorless, non-
toxic and non- corrosive. Hazards include
flammability, freezing and asphyxia.
INDIA AND FRANCE SIGNED
AN AGREEMENT IN THE FIELD
OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT
India and France on 7 October 2012 signed
an agreement in the field of sustainable
Urban Development.
Both India and France would benefit from
the agreement as it would provide an
enabling platform for the officials,
professionals, business leaders and local
self-governing bodies to meet and share
knowledge and best practices in the urban
sector. It would also lead to enhanced
cooperation and deepen the engagement
between the two countries. India and
France also discussed ways to enhance
economic and commercial relations
between the countries.
About TAPI Gas Project
The TAPI is the Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline
project which is also known as
TurkmenistanAfghanistanPakistanIndia
Pipeline, TAP or TAPI. It is basically a
proposed natural gas pipeline that is
developed by the Asian Development Bank.
The project was started on 15 March 1995 by
signing a memorandum of understanding
between the governments of Turkmenistan
and Pakistan for a pipeline project. Under the
Proposed plan, the pipeline will transport
Caspian Sea natural gas from Turkmenistan
through Afghanistan into Pakistan and finally
to India.

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INDIA AND AUSTRIA TIED UP
FOR DEVELOPMENT OF
SMART CITIES IN INDIA
India and Austria on 2 October 2012 tied up
to develop smart cities that would include
fine planning of the city including the
transport system and services of internet.
The plans of developing the new cities will
be implemented under the second phase of
Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal
Mission (JNNURM II). As per the plans
initially two model smart cities will be
developed in every state of the country that
will include the mid-sized cities with a
minimum population of half a million to one
million.

Organizations involved in project
implementation
Austrian Institute of Technology and the
National Institute of Urban Affairs that is a
research, information and training wing
under the Urban Development Ministry,
would be the partners in the project.
US, INDIA AND AFGHANISTAN
HELD ITS FIRST TRILATERAL
DISCUSSION
US, India and Afghanistan held its first ever
trilateral meeting on 25 September 2012.
The major point of discussion was on the
situation in Afghanistan along with the issue
of terrorism.
The discussion marks the strengthening of
Afghanistan relation with India and US who
are totally behind the vision of a secure,
peaceful, democratic and prosperous
Afghanistan living in peace, security,
friendship and cooperation with its region
and the wider world.
The meeting was held at the Afghan
Mission in New York and was attended by
Joint Secretary (Pakistan/Afghanistan/Iran)
Y K Sinha and Joint Secretary (America)
Jawed Ashraf from the Indian side, Afghan
Deputy Foreign Minister Jawed Ludin, US
Special Representative for Afghanistan and
Pakistan Ambassador Marc Grossman and
Assistant Secretary for South and Central
Asian Affairs Robert Blake.
The discussions also mark the beginning of
a series of consultations among the three
governments, who share common interests
across South and Central Asia and who have
pledged to work together on common
challenges and opportunities including
combating terrorism and violent extremism,
reviewing cultural exchanges and increasing
Every State to have two smart-cities
Austrian Institute of Technology will assist
the country in planning and development of
the smart cities that will include things that it
needs to cover, broadband facilities to its
maintenance to carbon levels. As per the
plans of the Central Government under
JNNURM II every state will have two model
towns initially.
70 cities with over a million population
graph are in plan
Plans are on the paper to convert at least 70
cities with million plus population in India
into smart cities. Austria that has been into
different types of trade-relations for a long
time with India will be offering the potential
technical support.

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regional trade, investment and economic
integration.
INDIA MALAYSIA TO ACHIEVE
A TARGET TRADE OF USD 15
BILLION
India is going to expand bilateral trade with
Malaysia to $15 billion by 2013 from $13
billion in 2011-12 as per the discussion in
India- Malaysia CEO Forum.
It was informed by Union Minister of
Commerce, Industry and Textiles, Anand
Shrama that Indias bilateral trade with
Malaysia stood at nearly $13 billion in 2011-
12 registering a growth of 34% over the
previous year.
In his visit to Malaysia in July 2010 and
February 2011 Anand Sharma analysed that
it was required an investment from
Khazanah Nasional Berhad (Government of
Malaysia`s strategic investment fund) into
Indian infrastructure sector through a
collaborative venture with IDFC.
The Union minister, Anand Sharma has
identified priority sectors of engagement
including Roads & highways, Railways,
Airports, IT &ITES, Biotechnology, Tourism,
Health Services and JV projects in third
countries. Subsequently, the two countries
have entered into a Comprehensive
Economic Cooperation Agreement which
was signed in February 2011. The signing of
this Agreement has provided considerable
momentum to trade and investment on
both sides.
INDIA AND NEPAL SIGNED
MOU FOR CONSTRUCTING
SCHOOL BUILDING
Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and Nepalese
authorities signed a MoU on 19 September
2012 for granting the amount to Shri
Mahendra Higher Secondary School in
Achham district under Indian-Nepal
Economic Cooperation Programme.
The proposed building will provide better
educational opportunity to over 1300
students, about half of whom are girls.
Besides, India has gifted two ambulances to
health care facilities in the district.
INDIA AND BURUNDI SIGNED
3 MAJOR AGREEMENTS AND
ISSUED A JOINT STATEMENT
President of the Republic of Burundi visited
India from 17 to 19 September 2012. During
this visit, India and Burundi signed three
agreements
(i) Exchange Programme for Cooperation in
the field of Education
(ii) Memorandum of Understanding on
Cooperation in the field of Rural
Development and
(iii) Memorandum of Understanding on
Cooperation in the field of Health and
Medicine. Besides, India also announced a
Line of Credit of 42.38 million US dollars for
Farm Mechanisation and Integrated Food
Processing Complex in Burundi.
India and Burundi issued a joint statement
on that occasion.
The major highlights of the joint statement
are as following
India and Burundi agreed to further
enhance the bilateral cooperation in
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view of the considerable untapped
potential.
Burundi thanked India for approval
of a concessional line of credit of 80
million US dollars for the Kabu 16
Hydro-electric projects.
Both nations agreed to continue
strengthening cooperation in the
areas of economy, trade and
investment, finance, human
resource development, culture, etc.
while striving to expand cooperation
into other potential areas such as
agriculture, food processing, ICT,
science & technology, health, mining
etc.
Burundi conveyed its support for
Indias candidature for Permanent
Membership in an expanded United
Nations Security Council.
INDIA SIGNED A
MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING WITH
EGYPT
India and Egypt on 18 September 2012
signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) in New Delhi to establish an
institutional framework for their ongoing
cooperation in the field of election
management and administration.
The MOU was signed by the Chief Election
Commissioner of India, V.S. Sampath and
the Secretary General of the Supreme
Presidential Election Committee of Egypt,
Justice Hatem Bagato.
MoU was made to facilitate sharing of best
practices, skills and experiences between
the two institutions for mutual benefit.

MoU is an extremely suitable mechanism
for strengthening and carrying forward
mutual collaboration in electoral
management and administration.
Election Commission of India has so far
signed thirteen MOUs with Election
Management Bodies and international
organizations across the world.
India and Egypt are already collaborating in
the areas of Electronic Voting, Voters
Education and Election Tracking
Technology.
INDIA OFFERED TELECOM
SUPPORT TO TURKMENISTAN
India has assured Turkmenistan of all
cooperation in Information and
Communication technology (ICT) for the
mutual benefit of both the countries.
It was decided in the inaugural session of
TurkmenTEL 2012 at the Turkmenistan
capital Ashgabat on 17 September 2012 by
Major aims of Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU)
a. Promotion of exchanges of knowledge
and experience in the field of
organizational and technical
development, with a view to
strengthening the administration of
electoral processes.
b. Exchange of information, material,
expertise and technical knowhow
relating to electoral processes and
systems; training of personnel and
development of human resources.
c. Organizational development and
capacity building.

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the Minister for Communications & IT and
HRD, Kapil Sibal.
Recalling the historical ties between India
and Turkmenistan, it was emphasized that
the need for regional cooperation to uplift
the social and economic status of the
people in the region is uttermost important.
Kapil Sibal shared the success story of
Indian Telecom Sector and gave an
overview of the spectrum of policy
initiatives in Indias National Telecom
Policy 2012.
India could extend cooperation to
Turkmenistan in the fields of e-health, e-
education and e-governance services.
Turkmenistan can be connected to Indian
Universities through National Knowledge
Network and students sitting in
Turkmenistan can directly be part of
academic sessions in various disciplines in
India.
Turkmenistan Minister and his delegation
was invited to participate in India Telecom
2012 in Delhi, from 13 to 15 December
2012, as the event could be an excellent
platform for further strengthening mutual
cooperation and for promoting ICT and its
eco system in the region.
DIFFERENCES GREW IN
BETWEEN CHINA AND JAPAN
OVER THE DISPUTED DIAYO
ISLANDS
Japan on 11 September 2012, announced
that it has purchased the three uninhabited
islands in the Diayo Islands from its owner
family based in Tokyo. Amidst, the growing
tensions in relation to the disputed East
China Sea, China issued a warning to Japan
on that it will take care of its interests by
taking necessary steps in relation to the
three islands purchased by Japan in the
Diaoyo Islands.
Two Marine Surveillance Ships were sent on
patrol by China to the inhabited islands for
enforcement of Chinese control that
heightened the possibilities of
confrontation with Japanese coastguards.
What is the Dispute all about?
Senkaku or Diaoyu Islands are the
uninhabited group of Islands in the East
China Sea controlled by Japan since 1895.
These Islands lie in between the mainland
of China, West of Okinawa Island,
Northeastern Taiwan and north of the
South-western end of Ryukyu Islands. As
per a study conducted by the experts in the
year 1968, it was discovered that these
islands may have oil reserves. After Japans
surrender in the World War II, the control
of the Islands went in the hands of USA and
controlled by them from 1945 to 1971. US
returned these islands to Japan after the
Okinawa Reversion Treaty inked in between
US and Japan in 1972. Whereas after the
reversal treaty, Peoples Republic of China
(PRC) and the Republic of China, Taiwan
(ROC) claims the discovery of the islands
and their control over these from 14th
Century. Amidst the complexity, ROC and
PRC consider these Islands as the part of
Taiwan as part of Yilan Countries, Toucheng
Township. Japan does not consider Taiwan
as a sovereign state and hence does not
regard the claims of Taiwan over the group
of Islands.
INDIA AND SAUDI ARABIA
HELD THEIR FIRST TALK ON
DEFENCE TIES
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The Joint Committee on defence
cooperation from Saudi Arabia and India
met for creation of defence ties on 11
September 2012. Decisions for this
establishment of joint committees was
decided during the visit of Indian defence
minister A.K. Antony to Saudi Arabia and his
meet with the Crown Prince and defence
minister of Saudi Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al
Saud in February 2012.
The 11 member team from Saudi Arabia
was headed by the Chief of the Armed
Forces Operations of Saudi Arabia Maj Gen
Suleiman Saleh Al-Khalifa. The Indian side
was headed by the Joint Secretary, Ministry
of Defence. Both the sides met for
formulation of the program that can
enhance the areas of cooperation between
the defence establishments of two nations.
This upswing in the relationship between
India and Saudi Arabia has been in
existence ever since the visit of King
Abdullah to New Delhi in the year 2006. The
two nations inked several agreements on
certain factors like narcotics, energy, money
laundering, counter terrorism and
extradition in the 2010.
INDIA EXTENDED A CREDIT OF
$10 MILLION AID TO
PALESTINE IN A GESTURE OF
SUPPORT
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
announced a support of 10 Million $ to
Palestine during a meet with Palestines
National Authority President Mahmoud
Abbas on 11 September 2012. Palestinian
President was here in Indian on a three day
visit from 10 to 12 September 2012. Mr.
Singh also promised his Palestinian
counterpart about Indias backing for their
full and equal membership of the U.N. the
one that is threatened by US for veto.
During the meet, both the sides inked three
different agreements comprising
information and communication
technology, education and vocational
training.
A MoU (Memorandum of Understanding)
has been signed up to set up two schools at
two districts of Palestine namely Abu Dees
and Asera Al Shamalyeh, which will be
named on the name of Pt. Jawaharlal
Nehru, Indias first Prime Minister. Cost
estimated for the construction of the two
schools is US$ 1.8 million and will help
about eight hundred students of these
districts to fetch quality education. The
schools at Abu Dees and Asera Al
Shamalyeh will be constructed in an area of
1700 and 1900 square meter with 10 and 12
classes respectively.
In the second agreement, India will set a
state-of-the-art information and
communication technology center in
Palestine to create IT experts and generate
opportunities of employment. To make the
center of Palestine self reliable, some of the
IT professionals from Palestine will be
trained here in India to a higher level.
As per the third agreement, India will
participate in providing vocational training
to the women and youth of Palestine. The
training will include technical and
machinery know-how to.
Prime Minister Singh stated that he
supported the Palestinian cause to achieve
independent, sovereign and united state of
Palestine and East Jerusalem as a capital to
the state.
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INDIA AND PAKISTAN ISSUED
A JOINT STATEMENT AT THE
END OF THE SM KRISHNA'S
VISIT
External Affairs of India, SM Krishna visited
Pakistan from 7 to 9 September 2012 to
review progress in the Dialogue process.
During his visit, India and Pakistan issued a
joint statement.
The Highlights of the Statement are as
Following
Cross-LoC travel would be expanded
on both sides of LoC to include visits
for tourism and religious pilgrimage.
Tourist and Pilgrimage sites will be
designated on both sides of the LoC
and information will be available
with the designated authorities.
Both sides will extend necessary
assistance to valid entry permit
holders to cross the LoC in
emergency situation on crossing as
well as non-crossing days. This will
be facilitated by designated
authorities.
Improvement of roads and bridges
for Cross-LoC trade will be
facilitated.
Transportation links on operational
crossing points will be upgraded.
Both sides agreed to facilitate the
exchange of business delegations.
Besides, List of 21 products of
permissible items for Cross-LoC
trade will be respected by both
sides. It was agreed that the JWG
(Joint Working Group) on Cross-LoC
CBMs will meet on a bi-annual basis
to review existing arrangements and
suggest additional CBMs and
measures for Cross-LoC travel and
trade.
India and Pakistan reviewed the
status of bilateral relations and
expressed satisfaction on the
holding of meetings on the issues of
Counter-Terrorism (including
progress on Mumbai trial) and
Narcotics Control; Humantarian
issues; Commercial & Economic
cooperation; Wullar Barrage / Tulbul
Navigation Project; Sir Creek;
Siachen; Peace & Security including
CBMs; Jammu & Kashmir; and
promotion of Friendly Exchanges.
INDIA AND TAJIKISTAN WENT
AHEAD ON STRATEGIC
PARTNERSHIP AND SIGNED
SIX AGREEMENTS
India and Tajikistan on 3 September 2012
signed six agreements in the field of sports,
health, culture, education, labour, textiles
and energy.
India and the central Asian country of
Tajikistan agreed to advance their ties to a
strategic partnership in order to impart
greater strength to the relationship through
all-round co-operation and engagement.
The President of the Republic of Tajikistan,
Mr. Emomali Rahmon, was on a State Visit
to India from 1 to 4 September 2012 at the
invitation of the President of the Republic
of India. This was the fifth visit to India by
President Mr. Emomali Rahmon.
The visiting dignitary also attended a
business meeting organized jointly by
ASSOCHAM, CII and FICCI.
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Both the countries identified information
technology, bio-technology, mining,
tourism, pharmaceuticals among other
sectors as high potential area.
After the agreements it was decided that
India will increase training slots for
Tajikistan from 100 to 150 under India
Technology and Eco Training Programme.
INDIA ESTABLISHED
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
WITH NIUE
Minister of State for External Affairs of India
E Ahamed and Prime Minister of Niue H. E.
Toke Talagi signed a Joint Communiqu on
the establishment of Diplomatic Relations
between India and Niue, at Cook Islands,
on 30 August 2012.
Niue is a Pacific island country, which is a
member of regional bodies such as the
Pacific Island Forum and the Pacific
Community and also of UNESCO, WTO and
FAO. It is an island of 1400 inhabitants,
which is also known as the worlds first Wi-
Fi nation, in which free wireless Internet
access is provided throughout the country.
Niue is also known as the Rock of
Polynesia, and is situated 2400 km
northeast of New Zealand in a triangle
between Tonga to the southwest, the
Samoas to the northwest and the Cook
Islands to the southeast.
Since 2002, India has intensified its
cooperative relations with all countries in
pacific island region.
India always actively participated as a
'Dialogue Partner' of the Pacific Island
Forum, a regional group of Pacific Island
countries. The country has always been
engaged in assisting in the development of
the island countries of the Pacific.
INDIA, CHINA DISCUSSED
BORDER SECURITY AND
BILATERAL DEFENCE TIES
For expanding defence cooperation, India
and China on September 4 2012, agreed to
resume Joint Military Exercises that were
postponed since 2010 due the denial of visa
to the then Northern Army Commander Lt
Gen BS Jaswal by China in 2010, resulting to
which New Delhi had suspended all bilateral
defence exchanges with Beijing.
Chinese Defence Minister General Liang
Guanglie and his delegation, including high-
ranking members of the defence and
military establishment met Indian Defence
Minister A. K. Antony on 4 September 2012
to discuss measures to help avoid flares
along the border between the nuclear-
armed Asian giants. Both the two sides
reached on an agreement on a wide range
of issues relating to defence and military.
This is the first visit after eight years by a
Chinese defence minister to India. The last
time a Chinese defence minister visited
India was in 2004. A growing competition
between the two emerging powers was
highlighted as they are pushing up for
influence and resources across Asia.
Both the two sides went ahead on a wide
range of issues relating to defence and
military. The result of the meeting
happened so that the both sides agreed to
strengthen border security cooperation
between the troops in order to maintain
peace in the border areas.
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The Chinese delegation has also invited
Antony to visit China, which he accepted
and he will be visiting China next year.
INDIA AND IRAN DECIDED TO
EXPAND TRADE AND
ECONOMIC COOPERATION
India and Iran 28 August 2012 decided to
expand Trade and Economic Cooperation
through the Chahbahar port. The port will
act as an important trade and transit point
for Afghanistan and Central Asia. On the
nuclear issue, India expressed hope that
progress will be on the P5 plus one
dialogue in the interest of peace and
stability in the region. Both the nations
agreed to set up an Indian cultural centre in
Tehran.
India also discussed the issue of global
governance confronting the developing
world.
INDIA CHINA AGREED TO SET
UP JOINT WORKING GROUP
ON TRADE AND INVESTMENTS
India and China agreed to set up a Joint
Working Group (JWG) to look into issues
related to trade and investments. The
decision to set up the JWG was taken at the
meeting of India-China Joint Group on
Economic Relations, Trade, Science and
Technology in New Delhi on 27 August
2012. Besides, the two nations also agreed
to adopt a five-year plan on economic
cooperation.
The working group will submit its report
within three months. The working group is
set up even as India has expressed serious
concerns over the widening trade deficit
with its neighbour and sought a correction.
On its part, China expressed serious
concern over the imposition of duty on
import of power equipment by New Delhi.
The total bilateral trade between India and
China for 2011-12, stood at 75457.42
million dollar as compared with 59000.36
million dollar in 2010-11. During 2011-12,
the exports were 17902.98 million dollar
while the imports stood at 57554.44 million
dollar. The provisional trade deficit for
2011-12 was 39651.46 million dollar.
The Joint Group on Economic Relations,
Trade, Science & Technology was formed in
1988, when then Prime Minister Rajiv
Gandhi visited Beijing.
INDIA TO CUT IMPORT
DUTIES ON 234 ITEMS FROM
PAKISTAN
The Union Cabinet on 17 August 2012
approved the Commerce Ministrys
proposal to cut down the list of sensitive
items under South Asian Free Trade
Agreement (SAFTA) for Pakistan by 30
percent. Besides, India will also cut import
duties on about 234 items from Pakistan
under the bilateral trade normalisation
programme. The cabinet, however, made it
clear that the India will follow these
measures only when Pakistan reciprocates
with the same gesture and allows goods to
be traded through the land routes
Pakistan permits only 137 items to be
imported through the Attari land route,
while the rest goods are imported through
sea route, making exports largely unviable
for Indian traders. Indian authorities have
been consistently demanding Pakistan to
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allow all goods to be traded through land,
but the demand has not received any
positive response as yet.
India and Pakistan initiated the trade
normalisation programme in early 2011
which subsequently paved the way for fast
paced liberalisation of trade and
investments.
JOINT STATEMENT ON THE
FIRST INDIA-CELAC TROIKA
FOREIGN MINISTERS
MEETING HELD IN NEW DELHI
The first meeting of the India-CELAC Troika
Foreign Ministers was held on 7 August
2012 in New Delhi. The Indian delegation
was led by the External Affairs Minister of
India, Shri S.M Krishna, whilst the CELAC
Troika was led by the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Chile Mr. Alfredo Moreno
Charme, the pro-tempore President of
CELAC. Apart from both the nations, the
Foreign Minister of Venezuela Mr. Nicolas
Maduro and the Vice Foreign Minister of
Cuba, Mr. Rogelio Sierra participated in the
meeting as members of the Troika.
The Foreign Ministers of India and the
CELAC Troika ended the First Meeting of the
India-CELAC Troika Foreign Ministerial
Dialogue at a good note after the
commencement of CELAC in December
2011.
Collective Discussions
The two nations expressed
satisfaction over the growth of
commercial, economic and
investment relations between
India and CELAC that has crossed
US$ 25 billion in 2012.
The nations agreed to set up an
Energy Forum to discuss energy
security issues.
Both the countries agreed to work
towards providing value addition
in the exchange of commodities
through direct trading and by
setting up of manufacturing units.
Both sides agreed to work towards
providing for food security for
their people
Both the countries agreed to initiate
various projects related to tele-
education, e-governance and tele-
medicine that would cover the
entire Latin America and
Caribbean region.

Objective of the Meet
To discuss the regional and
multilateral issues of mutual
interest, to strengthen the
multifaceted bilateral cooperation
between India and CELAC.
To co ordinate responses to regional
issues and address international
challenges including the UN reform,
the international financial crisis,
climate change and international
terrorism.
To enhance the exchange of visits at
all levels including at the Summit
level leading towards a 'Strategic
Partnership' between India and
CELAC.
To expand relation between India and
countries in the Latin America and
the Caribbean region and make it
possible for them to work together
bearing in mind each sides'
respective development priorities
based on the common shared
values of democracy, freedom,
equality and justice.

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INDIA AND BELGIUM SIGNED
AGREEMENT FOR THE
MODERNISATION OF INDIAN
RAILWAYS
India on 1 August 2012 signed an
agreement with Belgium for the
modernisation of the Indian Railways and
make some of the major railway stations in
the country of global standard. Under the
agreement, the two countries would share
design and current practices in railway
infrastructure and deputation of experts in
areas of mutual interest. The countries will
also explore the new avenues of co-
operation in the Railway sector.
Belgian state run companies such as Euro
Station and Euro Immostar have vast
experience in developing stations. The
companies have extensive expertise in
transforming historical railway stations into
the modern international terminals.
Numerous Belgium or Belgium-based
companies are already operating in India
and have been involved in activities such as
fastening and coating of rails to delivery of
parts for train construction and software for
safety and network management.
INDIA AND ISRAEL SIGNED
COLLABORATIVE ACADEMIC
RESEARCH PROGRAMME
AGREEMENT
India and Israel signed a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) on 2 August 2012 for
starting a collaborative academic research
programme. Under the Research
programme both the countries will together
work in areas such as medical, information
technology, social sciences, humanities
and arts.
The MoU was signed by Professor Benjamin
Geiger, Chairman of the Israel Science
Foundation and Ved Prakash, Chairman of
University Grants Commission. The
agreement will exist for next five years,
providing support up to 100000 dollar a
research project for three years
The idea of collaborative academic research
programme came into being during a recent
visit of Minister for Human Resource
Development Kapil Sibal to Israel. Sibal
during the course of her visit had conducted
dialogue with Israels Finance Minister Yuval
Steinitz, Education Minister Gideon Saar
and Chairman of Planning and Budgeting
Committee Manuel Trajtenberg.
INDIA ALLOWED FDI
(FOREIGN DIRECT
INVESTMENT) FROM
PAKISTAN
Indian government on 1 August 2012
decided to allow investment from Pakistan
with the objective of boosting bilateral
economic relations. However, India kept
out strategic sectors of defence, space and
atomic energy from Pakistan. Pakistan can
explore sectors like cement, textiles and
sports for investments in India. Besides, the
FDI proposals from Pakistan need to be
cleared from the Foreign Investment
Promotion Board (FIPB).
It is important to note that India had
granted the MFN status to Pakistan in
1996. Although Pakistan had notified
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granting the MFN status to India in March
2012, it is yet to implement it fully.
However, Pakistan had partially liberalised
its trade regime with India in March 2012 by
shifting from positive list rules to negative.
It means that barring 1209 items Pakistan
will allow import of all other Indian goods
can explore sectors like cement, textiles and
sports for investments in the country.
ELECTION COMMISSIONS OF
INDIA AND SOUTH KOREA
SIGNED MOU TO
STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY
The Election Commission of India and
South Korean Election Commission on 1
August 2012 signed a MoU (Memorandum
of Understanding) to strengthen
institutions and processes for democracy.
This was 13th MoU that India signed with
Electoral Bodies. It will also strengthen
India-South Korea bilateral cooperation.
Both the nations will work together for the
cause of the Asian electoral community and
the larger global electoral fraternity.
INDIA SIGNED TAX
INFORMATION EXCHANGE
AGREEMENT (TIEA) WITH
MONACO
India signed Tax Information Exchange
Agreement (TIEA) with Monaco on 31 July
2012 in New Delhi. It will allow the two
countries to check tax evasion and money
laundering. This was the ninth TIEA signed
by India.
Key features of this agreement are
It is based on international standard
of transparency and exchange of
information.
Information must be foreseeably
relevant to the administration and
enforcement of the domestic laws of
the Contracting Parties concerning
taxes and tax matters covered by
the agreement.
The requesting State has to provide
some minimum details about the
information requested in order to
justify the foreseeably relevance
criteria.
Information is to be treated as
secret and can be disclosed to only
specified person or authorities, who
are tax authorities or the authorities
concerned with the determination
of tax appeal.
It also provides for disclosure of
information to any other person or
entity or authority or any other
jurisdiction (including foreign
Governments) with the written
consent of the competent authority
of the requested Party.
There is a specific provision that the
requested Party shall provide upon
request the information even
though that Party may not need
such information for its own tax
purposes.
There is a specific provision for
providing banking and ownership
information.
There is a specific provision for Tax
Examination Abroad where
authorities of one State can present
in the tax examination of taxpayer in
the other State.
Upon entry into force, the
Agreement allows exchange of
information forthwith.
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CHINA SIGNED ECONOMIC
AGREEMENTS WITH NORTH
KOREA WHICH INCLUDES THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SEZS
China in the second week of August 2012
signed agreements with North Korea to
increase the bilateral economic co-
operation. The agreements were signed
during a visit of senior North Korean official.
The agreements included the development
of two special economic zones in North
Korea. One is in Rason, on North Koreas
east coast and the other is in
Hwanggumphyong on the border with
China. Moreover, China and North Korea
also signed agreements on agricultural co-
operation and electricity supply.
U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY
DISCUSSED ECONOMY AND
TRADE BARRIERS WITH INDIA
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner
and Indian Finance Minister P.
Chidambaram for the third annual meeting
of the India-U.S. Economic and Financial
Partnership on 9 October 2012 discussed
lowering trade barriers and extending ways
to expand capital markets.
Both the countries agreed to deepen
cooperation at various multilateral forums,
including the G20 and discussed ways to
remove trade and investment barriers.
Timothy F. Geithner welcomed the
economic reform measures announced by
the Indian government recently by saying
that it would help in boosting private
investment.
He also asserted that India and US have
agreed on the importance improving
coordination on bilateral tax matters
including with respect to the tax treaty and
Implementation of the Foreign Account tax
Compliance Act (FATCA) to address
offshore tax evasion.
Both the countries US and India recognize
the great potential benefit from working
together to meet the challenges of a shared
future to generate jobs, sustain growth, and
help ensure macroeconomic stability. The
growing trade and investment between two
countries across a wide range of products,
services, and technology is a sign of
commitment to build relationship on a solid
foundation that utilizes mutual strengths
INDIA-MALDIVES JOINT
MILITARY TRAINING EXERCISE
EKUVERIN 2012 HELD IN
BELGAUM
EKUVERIN 2012- The fourth joint military
training exercise between India and
Maldives held in Belgaum.
The fourth Joint Military Training Exercises
between the Indian Army and the Maldives
National Defence Force (MNDF) -
EKUVERIN 2012 - was held in Belgaum,
India from 12 to 25 November 2012. A total
of 45 personnel from the MNDF are taking
part in the exercises along with the
personnel from the Indian Army. The
bilateral annual exercises, which
commenced in 2009 in Belgaum, are
alternately held in India and Maldives. The
aim of the exercises is to enhance the close
military cooperation between the two
countries.
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In April 2012, both countries, along with Sri
Lanka, held joint Coast Guard/Naval
exercises DOSTI XI - off the coast of Male
(Maldives) to strengthen the bonds of
friendship and enhance mutual operational
capability and cooperation in the region.
PRESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN
HAMID KARZAI VISITED INDIA
AND DISCUSSED ON VARIOUS
ISSUES
Hamid Karzai, the President of Afghanistan
paid a state visit to India from 9 November
to 13 November 2012 following the
invitation of the President of the Republic
of India Pranab Mukherjee. On his visit to
India he was accompanied by a high-level
delegation to India. The Afghani President
held delegate level bilateral discussions on
various regional and international issues
that are relevant for both the nations with
the Prime Minister of India.
During his India Visit the Afghanistans
President attended a business meet at
Mumbai on 10 November 2012 participated
by the business leaders of India. On 12
November 2012, he delivered a Maulana
Abul Kalam Azad Memorial lecture that was
organised by the Indian Council of Cultural
Relations (ICCR) in New Delhi.
The geographical conditions of both the
countries make them natural strategic
partners of each other to create a common
platform for the virtue of peace and
cooperation in all fields. The good relations
started between the two nations after the
two signed a Strategic Partnership
Agreement in October 2011 for creation of
strong ties between both the nations.
About President Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai was elected as the 12th
President of the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan on 7 December 2004 after
playing a dominant role as a political figure
after Taliban regime came to an end in the
year 2001 in the nation. He was re-elected
to the chair of the President in the elections
of 2009. Karzai as a dominant political
figure from Afghanistan was elected as a
chairperson of the Interim Administration
for a term of six months, during
International Conference on Afghanistan in
Germany in December 2012.
THE PRESIDENT OF
TAJIKISTAN EMOMALI
RAHMON VISITED INDIA
The President of Tajikistan, Emomali
Rahmon visited India from 1 to 4
September 2012.This was the fifth visit to
India by President Emomali Rahmon.
During this visit, India and Tajikistan signed
six agreements in the field of sports,
health, culture, education, labour, textiles
and energy. It was also decided that India
would increase training slots for Tajikistan
from 100 to 150 under India Technology
and Eco Training Programme.
In the course of his visit, President of
Tajikistan also addressed a business
meeting jointly organised by ASSOCHAM,
CII and FICCI.

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CHAPTER 4: SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY
FIRST SPACE WEATHER
READING CENTRE OF INDIA
SCHEDULED TO BE OPENED
BY MID 2013
The centre of excellence which specialises
in reading the weather conditions of the
space and helps the air traffic on their polar
routes is scheduled to come up in Kolkata
by the middle of 2013. The space weather
reading centre in Kolkata will be first of its
kind and is approved by Union HRD
Ministry. This centre would be coming up at
Indian Institute of Science, Education and
Research (IISER) campus. The Union HRD
Ministry sanctioned 4 crore Rupees for the
centre.
The coordinator of the centre explained
that the centre of excellence in space
sciences shall focus on areas of the space
weather, primarily the weather conditions
in the solar system as well as the
gravitational physics.
The coordinator also explained that solar
flares and the coronal mass ejections (CME)
were the kinds of storms that originated
from the Sun and exposed various flights to
huge amount of radiations on the Polar
Regions. Various commercial flights from
North America, Europe and South Asia fly
from the Polar Regions to shorten the
distance as well as save time.
With the help of this centre, there will be an
availability of the prior information about
these storms which originate in the space or
the solar system. This information can
eventually be passed on to the civil aviation
department, which in turn can inform the
airlines regarding the adverse effects of
flying in Polar Regions or high altitudes.
COSTAL CHAIN OF STATIC
SENSORS POSITIONED ALONG
THE COAST OF ANDHRA
PRADESH
A coastal chain of static sensors positioned
along the coast of Andhra Pradesh was
inaugurated by Ministry of Defence in a
ceremony held at Coast Guard District
Headquarters in Visakhapatnam on 23
November 2012. The event signified the
operationalisation of the network on the
East coast.
A complete surveillance mechanism along
the coast was needed post 26/11 incident.
A chain of static sensors were planned to
monitor the high sensitive traffic density
areas along the coast of India. The coastal
surveillance network will provide an
integrated picture of all the vessels
traversing along the coast. As part of this
project, a chain of radar stations along the
coast line of Andhra Pradesh were installed
by the Ministry of Defence. The Chain of
Static Sensors project being steered by the
Indian Coast Guard, envisages fitment of
high end surveillance gadgets on
lighthouses and masts at various locations.
CONTROVERSY OVER CLEAN
CHIT GIVEN TO RAJASTHAN
ATOMIC POWER PLANT BY
IAEA
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The International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) gave clean chit to Rajasthan Atomic
Power Plant (RAPP) in Rawatbhata. IAEA
reviewed the RAPP and gave conclusion of
the review on 14 November 2012 after
visiting unit 3 and unit 4, leaving the
controversial unit 6 of RAPP, Rawatbhata.
Over 40 people working at this
controversial unit 6 of RAPP were exposed
to hazardous tritium on 23 June 2012. 4
maintenance workers exposed themselves
to the risks of tritium radiations when they
were repairing the faulty pipe in pressurised
heavy water reactor (PHWR) of unit 4 on 19
July 2012. It was the same unit that IAEA
members paid visit to during their in-depth
safety review which took place from 29
October 2012 to 14 November 2012.
The Operational Safety Review Team,
assembled by IAEA which was alleged by
antinuclear activists, ignored the fact that
heavy tritium leak took place in unit 6 of
RAPP plant in 2012. An Operational Safety
Review Team (OSART) was led by Division
of Nuclear Installation Safety of IAEA. This
team included experts from various
countries such as Belgium, Finland, Canada,
Slovakia, Sweden, Germany, Romania and
Slovenia.
Antinuclear activists expressed their doubts
about safety review of IAEA. These activists
also included general secretary of People's
Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). The issues
of risks of nuclear safety as well as absence
of autonomous regulation of atomic power
production in India were raised.
The activists also said that this jeopardized
workers to risks of cancer, leukaemia as
well as certain other health issues.
PRESIDENT PRANAB
MUKHERJEE LAUNCHED LOW
COST AAKASH TABLET 2
The Indian President Pranab Mukherjee on
11 November 2012 in New Delhi launched
the new tablet Aakash -2 which is an
improved version of India's super- cheap
tablet computer on the occasion of the
National Education Day which is observed
on 11 November 2012 ever year.
The new version Aakash 2 come at a price
of 1130 Rupees for students, and the first
one lakh devices is going to be made
available to students of engineering
colleges and universities.
Preceding its previous version it is now
powered by a processor running at 1 GHz,
512 MB Ram, 7 Inch capacitative Touch
Screen and battery which have atleast three
hour of working operation.
The new Aakash-2 Tablet was developed
under the expertise guidance of IIT Bombay
with the active support of C-DAC.
The company that is rolling out the new
Aakash 2 is Datawind and is selling it to
government at a price of 2263 Rupees and
In turn, the government is subsidizing it by
50 per cent and is going to distribute to
students at a price of mere 1130 rupees.
The Union Government is also extending its
effort to encourage the state governments
to chip in by subsidising it further so that
the device can eventually be available to
students free of cost.
It is expected that around 22 crore students
are going to get the device across the
country in the next five to six years.
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Some of the new technology-enabled
educational applications that can run on
Aakash Version 2.0 tablet include
Ten Thousand Teachers Training
Programme - a live video interaction
with participants,
Clicker applications for real time
feedback in country-wide classroom,
Daisy Books for differently-abled
students,
NCERT content , GNU Khata- an
accounting package for barefoot
accountants in rural areas
Scholarship Portal integrated with
Aadhar.

THE LAUNCH OF SATELLITE
TO STUDY MARS
The Union Cabinet on 3 August 2012 gave
its consent to the launch of satellite to the
Mars proposed in 2013. The Cabinet
decision came following a meeting chaired
by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Department of Space had sent a
proposal to the Union Cabinet, in which it
had sought governments permission to
launch a satellite to study Mars, also called
Red Planet. The Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) is expected to launch a
Mars Orbiter in November 2013 with a 25kg
scientific payload.
The Mars mission will be launched by ISROs
advanced Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
(PSLV). The objective of the mission is to
study the climate, geology, origin, evolution
and sustainability of life on the planet. If
the ISRO fails to launch the Mars Mission
next year, other opportunities are available
in 2016 and 2018.
India has undertaken the massive space
project with the help of United States,
Russia, Europe, Japan and China. The
mission is estimated to cost the
government exchequer about 450 crore
rupees. An initial allocation of 125 crore
rupees was already made in the budget
2012-13.
RESEARCHERS FOUND
MECHANISM BEHIND ORI GIN
OF LIFE ON EARLY EARTH
Researchers in the fourth week of
November 2012 discovered a molecular
network with a capability of self
perpetuation that could have triggered
mechanism through which life developed
on early Earth. The mathessmatical
research shows the possible mechanism
through which it was possible for life to get
a foothold in chemical soup which existed
on early Earth.
The researchers suggested about various
competing theories regarding the starting
of life on earth much before first genes or
the living cells developed. There are certain
differences in these suggested scenarios but
one thing that is common is the network of
molecules. These molecules have a
capability of working together as well as
pacing their replication. These are the two
important things for starting life.
Researchers from the University Of
Canterbury, New Zealand made use of the
mathematical model for easy chemical
reactions in order to demonstrate that
these networks could be formed easily than
what other researchers thought.
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On looking at the structure of these
networks of molecules it was found that
they are actually composed of the smaller
subsets of these molecules. When
combined, split or recombined using their
own sub-units, these subsets of the
molecules could possibly lead to large as
well as complex chemical reactions or
maybe even life.
The result of the research could have a
huge impact on how people thought life
originated from the pure chemistry.
HUGE DUST STORM
OBSERVED ON MARS BY NASA
ROVER
NASA spacecraft tracked huge dust storm
on the Red Planet- Mars and this storm in
turn has led to changes in Martian
atmosphere. This was observed by Curiosity
rover on surface of the planet. First this
dust storm was spotted by the Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) of NASA on
10 November 2012 and since then it is
being tracked.
With the help of Mars Colour Imager of the
orbiter, Malin Space Science Systems
started observing this dust storm and also
reported it to the Mars Exploration Rover-
Opportunity of NASA.
The storm did not come closer than around
1347 kilometres from the Opportunity
which resulted in meager dip in the clarity
of atmosphere over the rover that lacks
weather station. Halfway from the planet
from the Opportunity, the weather station
of Mars rover of NASA- Curiosity detected
certain atmospheric changes which were
linked to the storm.
Sensors on Rover Environmental
Monitoring Station (REMS), provided by
Spain for the Curiosity measured a dip in
the air pressure and also an increase in the
temperature overnight.
The Mars Climate Sounder instrument
found on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
detected a bit rise in temperature at around
25 kilometres above this storm. Since that
time, there has been an increase in the
atmospheric temperature by around 25
degrees Celsius. This has happened because
the dust is absorbing all the sunlight at the
height. This also indicated that the dust is
striking above surface and winds are
creating dust haze over wider region.
NEW DRUG DISCOVERED
THAT CAN HALT CANCER
FROM MULTIPLYING
Scientists in the last week of November
2012 developed a new drug called
Aflibercept for stopping the cancerous cells
from multiplying. The new drug compels
the cancerous cells to sleep which in turn
stops them in multiplying. The drug is said
to trick the tumours for becoming inactive
by swapping the molecular switches in
cancer structure so that there is no
multiplication of the cancerous cells.
MAKEMAKE, THE MASSIVE
DWARF PLANET OF SOLAR
SYSTEM HAS NO
ATMOSPHERE
Astronomers from Instituto de Astrofisica
de Andalucia, CSIC, Spain in the third week
of November 2012 discovered that the
distant drawf planet called Makemake,
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which is 2/3rd that of Pluto in size does not
have atmosphere. Planet makemake
revolves around sun in its distant route
which lies away from Pluto. This distance is
closer to sun than Eris, the massive dwarf
planet in entire solar system.
In the previous observations it was found
that Makemake was quite like the fellow
dwarf planets which compelled some
astronomers to believe that it had
atmosphere, maybe like that of Pluto. But in
the new study it was discovered that
Makemake does not have significant
atmosphere.
SCIENTISTS DECODED HOW
FLU VIRUSES REPLICATE
WITHIN INFECTED CELLS
Scientists in the fourth week of November
2012 decoded how flu viruses replicate
within infected cells, which could be used
in the development of potent vaccines. The
study done by the scientists explained the
flu virus replication machinery.
Scientists used advance molecular biology
and electron-microscopy techniques to see
one of influenza's essential protein
complexes in detail. They focused on
influenzas ribonucleoprotein (RNP). RNPs
contained the genetic material of virus and
the special enzyme that is required by the
virus to replicate itself.
Any influenza virus contains eight RNPs in
its core. RNPs are important to the viruss
ability to survive and spread in its hosts.
Each RNP contains a single protein which is
the coding gene of the RNA-based viral
genome. The viral RNA segment is coated
with protective viral nucleoproteins and its
structure resembles a twisted loop of chain.
The free ends of this twisted loop are held
by a flu-virus polymerase enzyme, which is
entrusted with two important tasks of viral
reproduction-1) making new viral genomic
RNA 2)making the RNA gene-transcripts
that will develop into new viral proteins. It
would be interesting to know how the flu
polymerase and the rest of the RNP
interact.
The only flu RNPs reproduced in the
laboratory, were shortened versions whose
structures didnt match those of native flu
RNPs. Still, Scientists developed a test-cell
expression system which produced all of
the protein and RNA components required
to make full-length flu RNPs. The discovery
enabled Scientists to analyse molecular
samples more easily.
RESEARCHERS DEVELOPED
NEW TOOL FOR KEEPING
YOUR EMAIL SPAM-FREE
Researchers from the Concordia University
in the third week of November 2012
proposed statistical structure for filtering
the spam, which can efficiently and swiftly
block the unnecessary messages in the
inbox of your email account. Researchers
had conducted a full-fledged study for
various spam filters while preparing the
efficient and new one.
According to researcher Ola Amayri, the
new approaches of the spam filtering can
adapt to active nature of the spams. It can
also handle the tricks of spammers
accurately by knowing the informative
patterns which are extracted automatically
from content, both images as well as text of
spams. As of now, the only focus of email
spam filteration was that on the text
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content and not on the images.

When the tricks are being used in combined
format, spam filters become helpless to
curtail these messages since they focus on
one of the content- either images or text
but hardly on both of them.
Majority of the previous researches had
their focus on textual content associated
with the spams. According to Amayri, by
keeping into consideration the patterns
from the images as well as text, a new
filtering method for spams was discovered.
ALGORITHM DEVELOPED FOR
CONTROLLING COMPUTER
CURSORS WITH THE
THOUGHTS
Researchers from Stanford who were led by
the scientists of Indian origin, in the third
week of November 2012 claimed the
development of fastest as well as most
reliable mathematical algorithm which can
help the disabled trick the computer cursors
with the thoughts.
The speed, accuracy as well as natural
movements of the algorithm are those like
the real arm. Researchers have developed
the system for ReFIT, the algorithm for the
brain-implantable prosthetic systems. This
can help in greatly improving the accuracy
as well as speed of the neural prosthetics
which can control cursors of the computers.

The findings will help in improving the
prosthetic system performance as well as
robustness in the paralysed. The system
works by relying on the sensor which is
actually implanted in the brain. This sensor
is responsible for recording the action
potentials in the neural activity from the
range of electrode sensors. It then sends
the data to the computer.
GENE DISCOVERED THAT
IDENTIFIES YOUR TIME OF
DEATH
Researchers at the Division of Neurology,
University of Toronto in third week of
November discovered the common gene
alternate which can influence the time you
wake up every morning as well as the time
of the day when you are most likely to die.
In the research, the scientists identified that
variant of the gene which can virtually
affect the whole population. The discovery
identifies the variant which can determine
when a person will die.
The research is said to be surprising and is
going to help in planning the medical
treatments. This research will also help in
analyzing the medical condition of the weak
patients.
According to the researchers, there is a
biological clock within us which can help in
regulating various aspects of the human
biology as well as behavioral patterns and
these include times when a person can
perform brilliantly, their preferred sleeping
patterns as well as timing of the
psychological processes. This biological
clock can also influence timings of the
medical events such as heart attack and
stroke.
It has been found that earliness or lateness
of the biological clock within the body can
be inherited. Experiments on animals
suggest that this earliness or lateness can
also be influenced by certain kinds of genes.
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In the research, wake-sleep patterns of
people were compared along with their
genotypes. The researchers found out
single nucleotide (nucleotides are
responsible for making the basic units of
RNA and DNA molecules) near the gene
known as Period 1. At this site, around 60
percent people have nucleotide base A or
Adenine and 40 percent have G or Guanine.
There are two pairs of chromosomes in the
individuals, which is why there are around
36 percent chances of two As, 16 percent
having two Gs and 48 percent having both
As and Gs at the site. It is this genotype
which affects the pattern of each person.
For example, people with A-A genotype
usually wake up one hour earlier than the
people with genotype G-G. Those with A-Gs
genotypes wake up in middle.
Expression of Period 1 gene remained lower
in brains as well as white blood cells of
individuals with G-G genotype than with A-
A genotype, but only in day.
Virtually, all the physiological processes
include a circadian rhythm which means
that these occur in the certain parts of a
day. There is a circadian rhythm of the
death as well and it has been found that
people will most likely die in morning hours,
especially around 11 am on an average.
BIONETWORK OF BACTERIA
LIVE IN BELLY BUTTON
US researchers from North Carolina State
University in the second week of November
found that the navel, also known as belly
button can harbour the bionetwork of
bacteria which is quite similar in
biodiversity to the rainforests of the world.
2368 such species of the bacteria were
found out of which 1458 are absolutely new
for science.
Among the 60 individuals who were
studied, merely eight of the species were
frequent in around 70 percent people.
These eight species are called oligarchs.
Nevertheless what remains doubtful is what
factors determine about the kind of species
found in the people. Researchers have
looked at various factors such as ethnicity,
age and sex and none of these can predict
as to which species of bacteria will live in a
person.
The project was launched by the
researchers in part in order to investigate
claims made over recent years about
collection of the organisms on human skin
which makes the first line of protection
against the pathogens. Researchers are
aware of the fact that the immune system
will not function properly in the absence of
these microorganisms.
SCIENTIST DECODED A GENE
THAT GIVES HUMANS AN
EDGE OVER APES
Researchers of University of Edinburgh
discovered a new gene known as miR-941,
which explains the evolution of humans
from the chimpanzees. The gene is found
only in human beings. It appeared in
humans after they evolved from apes. This
gene played a very important role in the
development of a human brain. The gene
could be used for knowing how humans
learnt the usage of languages as well as
tools.
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RESEARCHERS CREATED A
PAPER-THIN FABRIC TO STOP
BULLETS
Researchers in the second week of
November fabricated an all-new paperthin
bullet-proof super material, which has the
capability to self-assemble into alternating
rubbery as well as glassy layers. The nano-
material has the ability to translate into the
safety beyond the vests. These
technological advancements could be used
for protective coating for the jet engine
turbine blades as well as the satellites.
Scientists from Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) as well as Rice University
created the special textures which had the
ability to stop bullets from lab. This special
texture known as structured polymer
composite can reassemble into rubbery
layers and alternating glassy layers.
According to the Rice University, while the
ballistic tests were performed, on this
material at MIT's Institute for Soldier
Nanotechnologies, a 9 millimetre bullet
could be stopped by the 20 -nanometre-
thick layers. Nevertheless, the most
challenging task was to test the material
effectively in lab.
An innovative testing methodology was also
introduced by the MIT-Rice, where tiny
glass beads were shot at this material.
Despite being too small in size (millionth of
a meter), they projected the bullet impacts.
If the layers of materials are looked under
the scanning electron microscope, they
appear like the corduroy. The researchers
also assumed that projectile hit the target
at least 2000 times more rapidly than the
falling of an apple from one metre, but with
much less force.
SCIENTISTS DISCOVERED
BACTERIA THAT CAN LINE UP
TO CREATE LIVE WIRE
Scientists on 8 November 2012 revealed
about the discovery of a special type of
bacteria in the Ocean with abilities of
combining together for the formation of the
long conducting nano wire cable for
transportation of electrons and capturing
the oxygen available at the surface for
carrying out the metabolic activities.
The live wire is made of the living biological
cells, not from any type of metal or alloy
that is generally used in making of the wire.
A group of scientists along with Christain
Pfeiffer reported about the discovery of this
special type of bacteria with abilities of
cooperate and multiply at times of threats
to overcome the problems.
NASA LAUNCHED SPACE
STATION ALERT SERVICE TO
MAKE PEOPLE AWARE ABOUT
THE ISS
The US Space Agency, NASA on 2 November
2012 launched a new service in which
people can receive text messages on their
phones, whenever the International Space
Station would come over their house. The
service was launched during the celebration
of 12th anniversary of astronauts living and
working on the orbiting lab.
The message would make people aware in
finding out the International Space Station
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(ISS) as people yet are unaware about the
location of ISS in the sky also about the fact
that after sun and moon, it is the third
brightest object present in the sky. The Spot
the Station facility would be available across
the world as the trajectory of the station
carries more than 90 percent population on
earth.
The Spot the Station Service would provide
people information about the location of
the ISS in the sky.

A HUMANOID ROBOT CALLED
BAXTER DESIGNED IN USA
A humanoid robot with common sense,
designed to work safely alongside its human
co-workers on factory production lines, was
unveiled in the US.
Baxter could apply common sense, adapt to
its environment and be trained in less than
30 minutes to complete specific tasks. It is
capable of superhuman speed and
precision.
To teach Baxter a new job, a human guides
its arms to simulate the desired task, and
presses a button to program in the pattern,
the report said. The robot responds with a
confused expression, if it does not
understand.
NEW EARTH SIZED PLANET
DISCOVERED IN
NEIGHBORING SOLAR SYSTEM
Astronomers have discovered a new earth
sized planet in October 2012 which is
closest to but outside our solar system. The
planet is said to be astronomical stones
throw away at four light years.
The discovery of planet was announced in
Science Journal, Nature by Stephane Urdy
and Xavier Dumusque at Geneva
Observatory.
The planet is very close to its sun that it is
difficult to support life there. The planet is
of very low mass and have a surface
temperature of about 1200 degree Celsius
(2192 Farenheit).The Planet orbits one of
the suns in Alpha Centauri, roughly 25
trillion miles away.
Also according to the previous study by
different scientist if one planet is discovered
About International Space Station (ISS)
International Space Station (ISS) that looks
similar to Venus is mainly visible in the sky
during dusk and dawn at the time, when only
moon is visible in the sky. It is a habitable
satellite made and placed on the lower earth
orbit by the Scientists, and can be seen in the
sky with naked eyes without using telescope
or any other device. The International Space
Station Acts as a platform and environment
for scientists to conduct research in the
space, which cannot be performed by any
other means.
The ISS provides a platform to conduct
scientific research that cannot be performed
in any other way. While small unmanned
spacecraft can provide platforms for zero
gravity and exposure to space, space stations
offer a long term environment where studies
can be performed potentially for decades,
combined with ready access by human
researchers over periods that exceed the
capabilities of manned spacecraft.

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orbiting a sun there is usually other planet
in the same solar system.
Almost 800 exoplanets are discovered in
the recent past that is outside our solar
system since early 1990s. But this Planet is
very close to earth.
It was also asserted that getting to the
planet is nearly impossible because it would
take about 40000 years to travel to new
planet even with current Propulsion
Technology
SCIENTIST DEVELOPED A
SUPERHERO MICE THAT SNIFF
OUT EXPLOSIVES
Scientists of the City University of New York
in month of October had genetically
engineered mice that have up to 500 times
more of nose cells to detect explosives and
TNT-like chemicals, using the Genetically
Modified technology.
The mice are named as 'super-hero' sniffer
mice and have the ability to smell out land-
mines and explosives. The mice can be used
by armed forces and can be deployed in
future, to countries affected by war for
rapidly sniffing out of landmines.
The project was funded by the US
government's health research arm.
Using of rats and mice is not common
phenomenon as it is evident from the fact
that a Belgian charity already uses giant
African rats to sniff out TNT and has
deployed them in Mozambique and
Tanzania and on the Thai-Burmese border.
In this research project mice was used
because they are cheaper to manage and
house and easier to breed.
SCIENTIST DISCOVERED
SOURCE OF WATER ON
MOON
Scientists in third week of October have
discovered that the most likely source of
water on Moon is the constant stream of
charged particles from the Sun known as
the solar wind.
The findings came by researchers from the
University of Michigan who imply that ice
inside permanently shadowed polar craters
on the Moon, sometimes called cold traps,
could contain hydrogen atoms ultimately
derived from the solar wind.
Also, The Theoretical models of lunar water
stability dating to the late 1970s suggest
that hydrogen ions (protons) from the solar
wind can combine with oxygen on the
Moons surface to form water and related
compounds called hydroxyls, which consist
of one atom of hydrogen and one of oxygen
and are known as OH.
The researchers have found that the 'water'
component, the hydroxyl, in the lunar
regolith is mostly from solar wind
implantation of protons, which locally
combined with oxygen to form hydroxyls
that moved into the interior of glasses by
impact melting. With this research it is also
clear that water likely exists on Mercury
and on asteroids such as Vesta or Eros
further within our solar system.
The study findings are published in the
journal 'Nature Geoscience'.
AUSTRALIAN SCIENTISTS
UNVEILED THE COLOSSAL
RADIO TELESCOPE
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Australian Scientists on 5 October 2012
unveiled a colossal radio telescope with
abilities of exploring the depths of
universe with unparalleled precision. The
telescope will increase the abilities of
astronomers in mapping black holes, survey
the universe, and cracking the new light
across the galaxies to an exponential level.
At present the Australian SKA Pathfinder
telescope having 36 antennas with
diameter of 12 meters each is placed at the
remote Murchison Radio-Astronomy
observatory in the deserts of West
Australia. Designed and developed by
making investments of Australian $ 140
million has facilities of surveying the sky at a
much faster speed than any other telescope
available in the world. The sensitive
antennas of the telescope are quite
sensitive to the faint radiations of Milky
Way hence is able to detect the galaxies far
away. The radio waves generated from this
telescope can provide details of the cosmos
far away and the gases that resulted in the
formation of any particular star.
Pulsars and quasars can also be identified
by the telescope with an ease pushing
forward the boundaries of knowledge of
the mankind ahead of the physical laws of
nature. The principle of radio-astronomy
can provide the details of the beginning of
the universe. Basically the antennas of the
telescope spread across the rocky terrain
would be used for collection of the radio
signals of the cosmic phenomenon. Being
50 times more powerful, when compared to
other radio devices, it can easily detect the
exploding stars. Hence can be of a great use
in establishing the facts related to the
formation of the universe that happened
about 14 billion years ago.
SUNITA WILLIAMS BECAME
THE SECOND WOMAN IN
HISTORY TO TAKE COMMAND
OF ISS
Sunita Williams, the astronaut of Indian
American origin, took over the command
of International Space Station on 15
September 2012. As per the reports
released by NASA, in the traditional
ceremony of change-of-command,
Expedition 33 Sunita Williams took over the
command from Expedition 32 Commander
Gennady Padalka in the Destiny Laboratory.
Before this on 6 September 2012, Sunita
Williams booked a record for total
cumulative spacewalk time of 44 hours and
2 minutes by a woman astronaut with her
sixth walk in the space for repairing a faulty
unit of power distribution. In the spacewalk
of 6 hours and 28 minutes, she used a wire
brush made using a spare cable and a
toothbrush for repairing the unit.
Sunita Williams is accompanied with Japans
Akihiko Hoshide and Russias Yury
Malenchenko on the International Space
Station.
RESEARCHERS DISCOVERED
TWO PROTEINS THAT CAN
PROTECT AGAINST DIABETES
Researchers discovered that two proteins
that work together to kill self-reactive
immune cells can protect against diseases
such as type1 diabetes and rheumatoid
arthritis.
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Researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall
Institute in Australia discovered that
absence of proteins called Puma and Bim
can result in to self-reactive immune cells
accumulating and attacking many different
body organs, causing illness. The proteins
are called BH3-only. They make the self-
reactive cells die by a process called
apoptosis. Defects in apoptosis proteins
were linked to many human diseases,
including cancer and neurodegenerative
disorders and autoimmune diseases.
Autoimmune diseases, such as type 1
diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis,
inflammatory bowel disease and multiple
sclerosis, develop when immune cells
launch an attack on the body's own cells,
destroying important body organs or
structures.
INDIAS FIRST MULTI-LATERAL
SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH
COLLABORATION WITH FOUR
EUROPEAN NATIONS
India has managed to enter into its first
multi-lateral Social Science research
collaboration with four European Nations
by the approval of projects for networking
and social science research cooperation in
between the researchers of these nations
on 5 September 2012.
The French Agence Nationale de la
Recherche (ANR), the Deutsche
Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German
Research Foundation), the UK Economic
and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the
Netherlands Organisation for Scientific
Research (NWO) are the four bodies with
which India has been successful in created
tie-ups.
The social scientists will get national funds
for creating collaborations with European
Partners via a scheme. This is help in
eradication of bureaucratic restrictions and
obstacles. Its expected to economise and
rationalize the efforts of Europe towards
production of high impact and quality
research on social science that can address
to the challenges forwarded by the global
arena in terms of growth, economy,
development, climate change, well being
and health. As per the scheme the proposal
can be made on any hemisphere of social
science that can be of a help in
understanding the social and individual
behavior of a person and influence the
policies beyond the boundaries.
The targeted six proposals that have been
awarded with the funds after being mapped
in the month of May 2011, will deal in the
aspects of wellbeing, ageing, bullying,
mapping the cultural authority of science,
globally accessible medicine, climate
governance and pupil-safety.

SCIENTISTS DEVELOPED A
GENE THERAPY WHICH CAN
RESTORE THE SENSE OF
SMELL
Scientists of the University of Michigan
developed a gene therapy which they
claimed could restore the sense of smell in
human beings who lost the ability to sniff
odours from birth. The scientists used gene
therapy to regrow cilia, cell structures that
are important for olfactory function.
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These results could result in to one of the
first therapeutic options for treating people
with congenital anosmia. They also set the
stage for therapeutic approaches to
treating diseases which involve cilia
dysfunction in other organ systems. Many
of these diseases can be dangerous if left
untreated.
Olfactory dysfunction can be a symptom of
a class of genetic disorders, known as
ciliopathies. It includes diseases as diverse
as polycystic kidney disease and retinitis
pigmentosa--an inherited, degenerative eye
disease- that causes severe vision
impairment and blindness.
A NEW STRAIN OF RICE
DEVELOPED BY THE
SCIENTISTS THAT COULD
BOOST CROP YIELDS
Scientists developed a new strain of rice
that could increase crop yields by a fifth for
small farmers. It grows well in soils lacking
the nutrient phosphorus. The gene will be
now transferred to modern varieties of rice
using classic methods of cross-breeding, not
genetic engineering.
Many soil types bond tightly to phosphorus,
allowing only a small quantity of the
precious mineral to plant roots.To solve this
problems, farmers seek help of phosphorus
fertilisers. But in poor countries, this option
costs too much, which means the plant is
left undernourished. Ultimately, this
meagre growth affects yields.
In October 2011, the UN Population Fund
(UNFPA) said the global population of seven
billion could rise to at least 10 billion by
2100. Therefore, we need more yields.
Phosphate fertilisers are typically extracted
from layers of rock which were ocean
sediments millions of years ago.
NEW TECHNIQUE TO REDUCE
THE SIDE EFFECTS OF
CHEMOTHERAPY
Scientists developed a new technique to
reduce the harmful side effects of
chemotherapy. The new technique blocks
an oxygen-sensitive enzyme and
streamlines the blood flow by combining
the specific PHD2 inhibitors with the
chemotherapy. Inhibiting PHD2 results in
the production of anti-oxidant enzymes
were able to neutralise the harmful side
effects of chemotherapy. The better formed
blood vessels ensure that the anticancer
drugs are distributed throughout the
tumour, which increases their impact.
In Chemotherapy, anticancer drugs are not
easily delivered to the actual tumour
because leaking blood vessels prevent anti-
cancer drugs from reaching tumourb cells
while promoting metastasis. Moreover,
chemotherapy can adversely affect healthy
organs, resulting into heart and kidney
failure.
RING-PLANET SATURN AND
RED PLANET MARS PAIRED IN
THE SKY
The Ring-planet Saturn and Red planet Mars
came together in Western Sky after sunset
on 15 August 2012. While the two planets
appeared to be pairing in the sky, they were
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in actual quite far apart and different from
each other.
Saturn, the sixth planet from sun, is the
second-largest planet in the solar system.
The planet is composed almost entirely of
gas, mostly hydrogen, with smaller amounts
of other gases. It has no solid surface in our
sense of the word, but it may have a small
rocky core that is surrounded by thousands
of miles of highly compressed gas due to
the enormous gravitational effects of
Saturn's large mass, which is 95 times that
of the Earth.
Mars, which is also called the Red Planet, is
fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar
System. The planet is made of Iron-oxide
gas that gives the planet reddish
appearance.
NASAS NEW ROBOT ROVER
CURIOSITY TOUCHED THE
SURFACE OF MARS
The US space agency NASA landed Curiosity,
a huge new robot rover on Mars on 5
August 2012. The one-tonne vehicle
touched the surface of Mars after a 345-
million-mile expedition. The robot rover will
now conduct a study to find out whether
the planet was ever hospitable to life. The
robot rover, which epitomizes the
technological wizardry of mankind, is set to
spend nearly two years for the mission.
NASA undertook the mission with an
objective to determine whether Mars has
ever had the conditions to support life. The
ambitious project cost the US government
about 2.5 billion dollar.
Specific Technological Features of Curiosity
The 900 kg rover has the top speed
of about 4cm/s
Plutonium generators installed on
the rover will deliver heat and
electricity for at least 14 years
75kg science payload more than 10
times as massive as those of earlier
US Mars rovers
Equipped with tools to brush and
drill into rocks, to scoop up, sort and
sieve samples
Variety of analytical techniques to
discern chemistry in rocks, soil and
atmosphere
Even carries a laser to zap rocks;
beam will identify atomic elements
in rocks
Equipped with 17 cameras, which
will identify particular targets, and a
laser will zap those rocks to probe
their chemistry
Findings of the mission will be
delivered to Earth through antennas
on the rover deck
GOOGLE LAUNCHED DEAD
SEA SCROLLS ONLINE LIBRARY
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ISRAEL
ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY
Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), in
partnership with Google on 18 December
2012 put 5000 images of the ancient biblical
artifacts online in form of Digital library.
The online availability of Dead Sea scrolls
came after more than six decades since the
discovery of it and thousands of years after
they were written.
The digital library comprises Book of
Deuteronomy, which basically includes the
second listing of the Ten Commandments,
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and a portion of the first chapter of the
Book of Genesis, dated to the first century
B.C.

TATA STEEL DEVELOPED A
NEW KIND OF ANTI-BALLISTIC
STEEL SUPER BAINITE
Corporate/Bussiness Current Affairs
2012.Tata Steel's Port Talbot plant in the UK
developed a new kind of anti-ballistic steel
in the second week of December which
could transform safety of soldiers and
security forces fighting terrorists and
extremists.
The steel named as Super Bainite is very
lightweight, super-strength anti-ballistic
steel with a lattice form. It can be used to
armour-plate troop carriers and tanks.
APPLE LAUNCHED I PAD MINI
AND FOURTH-GENERATION
IPAD IN INDIA
Apple, on 7 December 2012 launched iPad
mini and fourth-generation iPad in India.
This comes less than a week after the
company rolled out iTunes Store in the
country.
The i Pad mini with its 7.9-inch touchscreen,
display, FaceTime HD, and iSight cameras
came to India at starting price of 21900
rupees for the 16GB Wi-Fi-only version. The
32 and 64GB Wi-Fi-only versions of the
device cost 27900 and 33900 rupees
respectively in Indian market.
The 16, 32 and 64GB Wi-Fi +4G iterations of
Apple's mini-tablet have been priced at
29900, 35500 and 41900 rupees
respectively.
IRAN ANNOUNCED SENDING
A MONKEY SUCCESSFULLY
INTO SPACE
Iran on 28 January 2013 announced that it
had successfully sent into space a monkey.
While declaring the sending of a monkey
into space, Iran also declared that it was yet
another step towards the space flight goal
of Tehran.
The rocket called Pishgam (meaning
Pioneer) reached at a height of 120 km.
Though the details about timing or the
location were not disclosed, but Iran
declared that the monkey had come back to
the Earth successfully.
Since a long time, Iran wanted to send an
astronaut in space as its aerospace
What is Dead Sea Scrolls?
The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collected works of
972 texts discovered between 1946 and 1956
that mainly comprises biblical manuscripts
known as the Hebrew Bible and also the
extra-biblical documents which was found on
the northwest shore of the Dead Sea, from
which they obtained the name Dead Sea
Scrolls.
The texts had great historical and religious
importance and include the earliest known
surviving copies of biblical and extra-biblical
documents, as well as preserving evidence of
great diversity in late Second Temple
Judaism. They are written in Hebrew,
Aramaic, Greek, and Nabataean, mostly on
parchment and also on papyrus and bronze.

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programme in 2012. In 2010, Iran declared
that it had launched the Explorer rocket
into space which carried worms, turtle and
mouse. Irans effort to launch a monkey
into the space had earlier failed in 2011.

154 SONNETS OF
SHAKESPEARE ENCODED AND
STORED IN STRANDS OF DNA
The researchers from EMBL- European
Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) in
January 2013 developed a new method that
allows storage of 100 million hours of high
definition video in a cup of DNA.
Researchers claim that into a speck of DNA
a huge amount of information can be
written for being stored for tens of
thousands of years.
The scientists in Cambridge downloaded all
the 154 sonnets of Shakespeare on the
strands of the synthetic DNA, a genetic
storage device have been used. A part of
Martin Luther Kings 1963 speech I have a
dream, in its audio format have also been
stored by the scientists on strands of DNA
and this describes the double helical nature
of DNA.
This is a breakthrough, carrying possibilities
of solve the problems to store the ever-
growing mountain of Data. Scientists were
successful in decoding the information and
reproduction of the Brads words with
complete accuracy.
One sonnet from Shakespeare weighs 0.3
millionths of a millionth of a gram when
written on the DNA and thus a gram of the
DNA can easily store information that more
than one million of compact disks (CDs) can
store.
Scientists claimed that the DNA can be used
as the robust way to store information as
the information once stored in it can be
extracted from the mammoth bones, even
after tens of thousands of years.
SCIENTISTS DISCOVERED
GENE THAT RESTRICTS
TUMOURS
Scientists at the Jawaharlal Nehru
University's School of Biotechnology
claimed in the third week of January 2013
Early Monkeys sent into Space
The first country to launch the primate
into space was US. It sent a rhesus
monkey known as Albert into a sub-
space altitude of 39 miles in the V2
rocket in 1948. However, Albert died
because of suffocation in the flight.
Another monkey called Albert II was
sent into space achieving the altitude of
83 miles in the V2 rocket in 1949.
Though Albert II survived but it died
because of parachute failure.
In late 1949, other two monkeys called
Albert III and Albert IV were sent but
again did not survive.
In 1951, Albert V died because of
parachute failure.
In 1951, Albert VI, also called Yorick
survived the flight but only reached the
height of 45 miles. The boundary of
outer space is considered beyond 62
miles.
The landmark was achieved by the US
in 1959 when two primates were
recovered alive after their spaceflight.
These primates were a rhesus monkey
called Able and a squirrel monkey
called Baker. These primates were
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that they found the SCO2 gene which has
potential qualities of restricting tumours.
Scientists claimed that this SCO2 gene can
therefore be used for the treatment of
various kinds of cancers.
As of now, p53 gene was considered as the
protein that holds back tumours and
therefore prevents occurrence of cancer.
But as per the combined research studies
which were conducted by the scientists of
JNU School of Biotechnology and Ohio State
University Medical Centre as well as other
universities, p53 gene employs SCO2 gene
to imbibe this tumour-suppressing quality
to it.
BLACK HOLES GROWING AT
FASTER PACE THAN
EXPECTED: ASTRONOMERS
Astronomers had already discovered that
the super-massive black holes which sit in
the centres of various galaxies were
growing faster. But as per the new
observations conducted by Swinburne
University of Technology, astronomers
revealed that these black holes were
growing at much faster pace than expected.
Professor Alister Graham from Swinburne's
Technology's Centre for Astrophysics and
Supercomputing explained that different
galaxies competed with each other for
available gases, for either creating new
stars or for the purpose of feeding central
black hole. For over 10 years, the leading
theories as well as the models facilitated
fixed fraction of gas to each of this process,
thereby safeguarding the ratio of black hole
mass to galaxy mass.
Professor Graham explained that every time
there is a ten times increase in the stellar
mass of the galaxy, it leads to around 100
times increase in the mass of black hole.
SENSORS TO DETECT PLANTS
DISTRESS WORKED UPON BY
THE RESEARCHERS
Researchers from the University of Georgia
revealed in the third week of January 2013
that they were creating the technology
which helps in identifying the plants that
are in pain. The technology or the sensors
were being worked upon.
These sensors detect the compounds called
green leaf volatiles, which are emitted by
the diseased plants into the devices which
would be field-ready.
This technology will be useful for the
farmers because it could lower the use of
the pesticides and save a lot of money.
Green leaf volatiles are actually invisible to
the human eyes. These compounds are also
odourless and they are released by the
plants much before the signs of any harm.
The use of this technology could help in
detecting the problems of the plants early,
thereby reducing the disease transmission
or crop loss.
This technology can be used in the grid
pattern to the quarantine pathogens in a
sector of the field, eventually reducing and
localising the use of crop treatment. The
technology will also be useful for catching
the unhealthy vegetables and fruits. The
research will soon enter the testing phase.
RESEARCHERS DEVELOPED
NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT
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HELPS SURGEON DETECT
CANCER SPREAD
Researchers at the University of California,
San Diego, in the third week of January
2013 developed a fresh technique that
enables surgeons to find out about the
reach of tumours and helps them to decide
which tissues should be removed for saving
the healthy cells in cancer patients.
In the new technique known as molecular-
targeted imaging, surgeons are able to get
rid of unnecessarily removing the healthy
lymph nodes, which are required for
patients in the long term. The technique
allows enhancing the range of visual field of
the surgeons through molecular tool, which
allows them to achieve accurate surgical
margins as well as detection of the
metastases so that there are no tumours
left.
ASTRONOMERS DISCOVERED
LARGEST COSMIC STRUCTURE
IN THE UNIVERSE
Astronomers in the first week of January
2013 discovered the largest known
structure in the Universe called Large
Quasar Group (LQG) that is powered by
super massive black holes clump together.
This cluster of galaxies spans across four
billion light years.
Quasars are considered to be the nuclei of
galaxies of the universe, which undergoes
brief period of extremely high brightness
making them visible in the sky from
extreme distant positions.
The LQG was identified by a research team
from the University of Central Lancashire
(UCLan) that is led by Dr. Roger Clowes and
the significant size of the same is
challenging the Albert Einsteins Principle of
Cosmology. The principle states the
Universe when viewed at a large scale, it
seems to be the same; it doesnt matters
that from where it is being observed from.
The Einsteins principle is just an
assumption but was never demonstrated
after observations so its beyond
reasonable doubts.
The newly, discovered LQG carries a
dimension of 500 megaparsecs (Mpc). The
elongated structure makes its longest
dimension to a size of 1200 Mpc or 4 billion
light years, which is 1600 times larger than
the distance between the Milky Way Galaxy
and the Andromeda Galaxy.
DRUG TO REVERSE
PERMANENT DEAFNESS
Scientists in the second week of January
2013, at the Harvard Medical School, US
developed a drug codenamed LY411575,
which is claimed to be a cure of the
permanent deafness. The drug works by
exciting the inner ear. It actually triggers the
restoration of sensory hair cells.
As of now, it was not possible to refurbish
the cells which were lost because of various
factors such as toxic drugs, infection and
loud exposure of noise. This kind of
deafness, which usually occurred to DJs and
rock musicians, was assumed as irrevocable.
DRUG THAT HELP PARALYSED
WALK AGAIN
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Scientists at the Stanford University in the
second week of January 2013, California
developed an experimental drug called
LM11A-31 which is claimed to help
paralysed people reclaim their movements.
The new drug enabled the mice which had
no movements in lower limbs, to walk again
with the coordinated steps. The mice were
even able to imitate the swimming motions.
In a 42-days long experiment, the scientists
gave three doses of the drug to different
groups of the mice starting at four hours
post injury and later twice every day. In the
tests, it was also observed that the
medication did not cause any pain in mice.
Also, there were no toxic effects on them.
Blood brain barrier, which is responsible for
protecting the Central Nervous System
(CNS) from harmful chemicals carried in the
bloodstream, was also crossed efficiently.
This is for the very first time that the oral
drug was observed to provide effective
therapy like this. This is therefore said to be
the first drug that if taken orally, produced
functional improvement leading to no
toxicity in rodent model.
Apart from this, the scientists tested the
small molecule for the ability to avoid death
of cells known as oligodendrocytes.
Oligodendrocytes actually are the cells
which surround as well as provide
protection to the axons, which are long
projections of the nerve cells. Protection is
provided to axons by wrapping them in
myelin sheath which provides protection to
the fibres.
MARS CURIOSITY ROVER
CAPTURED A FLOWER LIKE
FORMATION ON MARTIAN
ROCKS
NASA in the first week of January 2013
unveiled that Mars Curiosity Rover has
captured an image of a flower like object
embedded on the rocks of Mars. It has also
photographed a snake-like rock formation
on the Martian Rocks. The picture of flower
was captured by the microscope Mars Hand
Lens Imager held by the robotic arm of
Rover on 19 December 2012.
The 2.5 billion dollar Curiosity Rover landed
on Mars on 5 August 2012 with a mission to
identify that was the planet in its past was
habitable or had primitive microbial life.
The mission would end after 2 years from
the day it landed on the Glenelg, the
Martian Peak base named MountSharp by
the Scientists.
2 BILLION YEAR OLD
MARTIAN ROCK IS A
METEORITE WITH 10 TIMES
MORE WATER THAN
NORMAL: SCIENTISTS
Scientists claimed that the 2-billion year old
dark black rock, called Northwest Africa
(NWA) 7034 or Black Beauty, which landed
into Sahara desert in 2011 is actually new
kind of Martian meteorite which contains
10 times excess water than the normal.
Black Beauty weighs around 320 g. After
studying it intensively for over a year, the
team of US scientists finally determined
that the meteorite was formed 2.1 billion
years ago and that too during the starting of
most recent geologic period called
Amazonian, on Mars.
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Programme scientist for the Mars
Exploration Programme at NASA
headquarters, Washington explained that
the age of Black Beauty was important
because it is majorly older than the other
Martian meteorites.
RESEARCHERS DISCOVERED
PROTEIN BEHIND SCALY AND
DRY SKIN IN ECZEMA
A team of researchers including that of an
Indian-origin, at Oregon State University
discovered in the first week of January
2013, one malfunctioning protein which
leads to itchy, dry as well as inflamed skin
wounds in a kind of eczema. The protein is
called Ctip2 and it actually causes certain
skin conditions by controlling body fat
which keeps the skin hydrated and healthy.
Eczema actually causes major loss of certain
fluids through the skin which in turn leads
to penetration of certain allergens. In the
study conducted by the researchers, it was
found that insufficient Ctip2 leads to
reduction in the lipids in skin which are
required for staying healthy and performing
its function. Additionally, this leads to
unwanted creation of proteins which can
cause inflammation.
TWO NEW-BORN GIANT
PLANETS OBSERVED AROUND
THE STAR
Astronomers studying about the newborn
star called HD 142527, observed glimpses of
the planets which were forming around it,
depicting the stage of planetary evolution
which was never seen before. The new-
born planets were observed using the
largest radio telescope on Earth, Atacama
Large Millimetre /submillimeter Array in
the Atacama Desert of Chile.
It was observed that streams of gases were
flowing through the gap found in the disc of
the material that was surrounding the
young star supported theories, about how
these planets grew. The European Southern
Observatory (ESO) described the vast
stream of gases was flowing through the
gap in disc.
ASTRONOMERS CLAIMED
RARE SUPERCOMET WOULD
OUTSHINE MOON IN 2013
Astronomers claimed that a rare
supercomet called C/2012 S1 (ISON) was
moving towards the Sun from outer solar
system. This supercomet would outshine
Moon in November 2013. C/2012 S1 (ISON)
was first noticed in September 2012.
The comet would be closest to the Sun in
November 2013. The comet would be as
good as Hale-Bopp, a comet which
appeared in 1997. Hale-Bopp is the most
widely noticed comet of 20th century. It is
also the brightest comet observed in
various decades.
ISON on the other hand would be making its
first voyage in the solar system.
Astronomers believe that this comet might
also contain certain volatile gases which are
not found in other comets. Astronomers
also hope that this would help them get a
peep into the materials of the outer solar
system.
Additionally, the year would also witness
celestial fireworks having various flavours
because of the gas cloud which has three
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times the mass of Earth, heading in the
direction of calm supermassive black hole
which sits in the heart of our galaxy. This
collision would not be visible with naked
eyes. However, the X-ray telescopes will be
able to catch the radiations from shock
wave which would be created as the cloud
hits into aura of hot gases which surround
the hole.
Because this black hole called Sagittarius A
is just 25000 light years far from Earth,
therefore the crash would offer a unique
view of various materials getting into the
black hole. This might also provide a hint
about what had happened 300 years back
when this black hole was brighter than
present.
SPACEPLANE SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETED FLIGHT TEST;
MOVED A STEP CLOSER TO
SPACE TOURISM
The spaceplane constructed by Richard
Branson's spaceflight company called Virgin
Galactic successfully completed the
important flight test which would be able to
carry the people to space.
SpaceShipTwo, the spaceplane was piloted
to soft runway touchdown after high-
altitude release from WhiteKnightTwo
mothership, which eventually enabled it to
score successful test drop. It additionally
also checked off various milestones at
Mojave Air and Space Port in California.
LIFE SUPPORTING PLANET
FOUND ORBITING STAR NEAR
EARTH
Scientist in the month of December
revealed a planet that could support life,
orbits a Sun-like star near the Earth.
There are five planets found to be circling
Tau Ceti - a star just 12 light years away -
which is almost identical to the sun, a
journal set to appear in Astronomy &
Astrophysics says.
Out of the five planets found one of the
planets, which is five times the mass of
earth support life and lies in the "habitable"
zone where liquid water and life could
potentially exist.
As per the Astronomers estimate the Tau
Ceti planets is two to six times bigger than
Earth.
Most planets detected in the Universe so
far had high masses due to the difficulties in
finding extra-solar planets.
The Tau Ceti planetary family is thought to
be the lowest mass solar system yet
detected. More than 800 planets have been
discovered so far orbiting stars beyond the
sun since the 1990s.
NASAS TWIN PROBES
CRASHED SUCCESSFULLY
ONTO LUNAR MOUNTAIN
Ebb and Flow, the gravity mapping
satellites of NASA ended the successful
mission to Moon by crashing on the rim of
crater. Lunar surface on which Ebb and
Flow crashed will be given a name after
Sally Ride, the first woman of America in
the space who died earlier in 2012.
Ebb and Flow, two spacecrafts of NASA that
comprised Gravity Recovery and Interior
Laboratory (GRAIL) Mission, on 14
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December 2012 were commanded for
landing in lower orbit of Moon which would
create an impact on the mountain near its
North Pole. Ebb and Flow were launched in
September 2011 and were orbiting Moon
since 1 January 2012. After a year of their
arrival on Moon, the twin spacecrafts of
NASA hit the lunar surface as it was planned
at 5:28:51 pm EST and 5:29:21 pm EST
respectively. The speed of the two was 1.7
kilometres per second.
The location of site is on southern face of
around 2.5 kilometre tall Lunar Mountain
near the crater called Goldschmidt. The
principal investigator of GRAIL, Maria Zuber
of the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, Cambridge declared that the
lunar mission was complete and that they
were proud to honour the contributions of
Sally Ride after naming that corner of
Moons surface after her.
The impact indicated that the GRAIL mission
was complete. This was the first planetary
mission of NASA which carried cameras that
were completely dedicated to public
outreach as well as education. Apart from
the basic science instrument, the
spacecrafts carried MoonKAM, the camera
which captured over 115000 images of
Moons surface.
RESEARCHERS CREATED
NATURAL HEART PACEMAKER
FROM SINGLE GENE
Researchers of Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute
developed pacemaker cells through
injection of gene called Tbx18, which could
greatly help in repairing the heart. This
research would help treating the heart
patients with the simple injection of so-
called natural pacemaker. The researchers
programmed ordinary cells of heart for
becoming the exact imitations of specialised
biological pacemakers through injection of
single gene.

PERMIAN MASS EXTINCTION
WAS LED BY A MICROBE:
RESEARCH
A microbe led to extinction of more than 90
species on Earths surface around 251
million years ago, the researchers found out
in the second week of December 2012. The
mass extinction did not take place due to
catastrophic volcano or meteorite, but
because of a microbe.
According to the current theory, mass
extinction by end of Permian period was
started because of volcanic eruptions on a
large area, now called Siberia. This in turn
led to a dramatic increase in the emission of
greenhouse gases. But a researcher from
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
believes that the scenario doesnt align with
the facts. An analysis of the end-Permian
sediment sample from China was
The heartbeat begins in sino-atrial node
(SAN) of right upper chamber of heart where
there are accumulated pacemaker cells. Out
of the 10 billion cells of heart, less than
10000 are the pacemaker cells which are also
referred as SAN cells. Once these new
pacemaker cells are programmed by Tbx18
gene, they had all the important features of
the native pacemakers. These pacemaker
cells once programmed, also maintained the
SAN-like characteristics despite the fact that
effects of Tbx18 gene faded away.

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conducted and it was found that carbon
levels had rushed too fast for geological
processes to begin. Microbes could
generate equally fast carbon compounds.
When the group of researchers analysed
genome of Methanosarcina - a
methanogen which is accountable for most
of the biogenic methane on Earth today, it
was discovered that microbe acquired this
ability some 231 million years ago. This date
matched closer to the time when mass
extinction took place. However, the link
could still not be suggested.
Methanosarcina needs huge amount of
nickel for producing methane fast. On going
back to sediment cores, the researchers
discovered that the level of nickel prickled
exactly 251 million years. This might have
happened because the Siberian lavas had
nickel in large quantities. This in turn
reinforced the fact that Methanosarcina
triggered mass extinction.
It is important to note that the mass
extinction of biodiversity of todays time is
quite identical since it is mainly determined
by our species.
BRAIN-REMOVAL TOOL
DISCOVERED IN 2400-YEAR
OLD MUMMY
Brain-removal tool, which was used by the
ancient Egyptian embalmers, was
discovered by the researchers of Zagreb
Croatia in the third week of December
2012. This brain-removal tool was lodged in
skull of the female mummy which dated
back to approximately 2400 years. This was
the 3-inch object which was found in body
of the 40-year old woman. The researchers
who discovered this tool were surprised by
the breakthrough.
Brain removal was the Egyptian
mummification procedure which was quite
popular around 3500 years ago. It was also
used extensively in later periods. It is
important to note here that identification of
the ancient tools which were used by the
embalmers for brain removal was very
difficult. Researchers also noted that this
was the 2nd time when this kind of a tool
was found in the skull of a mummy.
HEADSET THAT GIVE HUMANS
360 DEGREE VISION
French scientists claimed that they
developed a new system called FlyVIZ
which enables humans to get 360 degree
vision. The headset in the system is said to
capture the images from different
directions and thereafter transform these
into the matter which is possible for the
human vision system to comprehend.
The device basically makes use of a video
camera which is mounted on the top of the
helmet with special mirrors that can be
used for capturing scenes all around a user.
It then displays the results in real-time on
modified 3D Viewer headset. The entire
system takes around 15 minutes for a user
to get used to.
SCIENTIST DECODED GENETIC
CODE OF HONEY BEES
REVEALING ITS SENSITIVITY
TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
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Scientists unlocked the genetic secrets
behind honey bees' high sensitivity to
environmental change which will help show
links between nutrition, environment and
the insects' development.
The decoded gene could offer an insight
into problems like Colony Collapse Disorder,
a mysterious cause of mass bee deaths
globally. Honey bees live in complex
societies comprising tens of thousands of
individuals.
Most of these are female 'worker'
honeybees that are unable to reproduce
and instead devote their short lives to
finding food in flowers and other tasks such
as nursing larvae inside the hive. However,
the hive has a queen as well - the much
longer-lived, reproductive head of the hive.
As per the Researchers the change occurs
as a result of a histone code - a process that
sees genetic changes made to proteins
called histones within cells' nuclei. Rather
than "genetic" changes that are locked into
DNA, these are known as "epigenetic"
changes.
The study findings appeared in Insect
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
RESEARCH INDICATED THAT
ANTI-AGEING GENE MIGHT
SUPPRESS TUMOURS
Researchers of the University of Michigan
Health System and Harvard Medical School
in the second week of December 2012
showed that anti-ageing genes might be
helpful in curtailing the multiplication of
cancer. It was shown that the loss of anti-
ageing gene can promote the occurrence of
tumours in the human beings.
The researchers had shown that the
decrease in SIRT6 protein in rats increased
the size, aggressiveness as well as number
of tumours apart from promotion of
tumour growth in the human colon as well
as pancreatic cancers.
FIRST 100 PERCENT
ULTRASOUND TOOTHBRUSH
OF THE WORLD DEVELOPED
British scientists in the first week of
December 2012 claimed that they
developed, the first toothbrush of the world
called Emmident toothbrush which makes
use of the ultrasound waves for cleaning
teeth, which means that there is no need
of abrasive brushing.
Even though the manual toothbrushes have
been replaced long back with whizzyelectric
versions of the brushes which have super-
fast vibrations along with costly whitening
heads, but the high-tech toothbrushes
launched in UK in first week of December
2012 is the first 100 percent ultrasound
toothbrush of the world.
Ultrasound technology was also included in
electric designs earlier but this time it is the
first of its kind toothbrush which has
independent ultrasound technology and it
does not require movement of brush.
NASA ANNOUNCED TO SEND
NEW ROVER TO MARS IN
2020
The US space agency NASA, on 4 December
2012 announced plans to send a new
robotic explorer to the Red Planet, Mars in
2020.
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The announcement came a day after NASA
released the results of the first soil tested
by the Curiosity rover, which found traces
of compounds like water and oxygen that
are necessary for life.
Some basic guidelines for the mission are
already planned. The 2020 rover is going to
help NASA in preparing for its eventual goal
of bringing samples from Mars back to
Earth an effort most scientists regard as
the best way to look for signs of life on the
Red Planet.
The unmanned rover's chassis and landing
system will be based heavily on NASA's 2.5
billion dollar Curiosity rover, which was
send on Mars in August 2012. The Curiosity
Rover landed on Mars 5 August 2012 and
dropped onto the surface by a rocket-
powered sky crane.
It's now four months into a two-year prime
mission to determine if the Red Planet can,
or ever could, support microbial life. The 1-
ton rover carries 10 different science
instruments to aid this quest.
The 2020 Curiosity Rover launch would
allow NASA to keep contributing to two
European-led Mars missions the Trace
Gas Orbiter and the ExoMars rover, which
is scheduled to lift off in 2016 and 2018,
respectively.
NASA also plans to send a craft dubbed
InSight to dig the planet's depths in 2016 to
determine whether the planet's core is solid
or liquid like Earth's. The 2020 mission is
just another step toward being responsive
to high-priority science goals and challenge
of sending humans to Mars orbit in the
2030s.
ANTI COLLISION DEVICE FOR
RAILWAYS DEVELOPED BY
HYDERABAD BASED FIRM
Hyderabad Based Company, Hyderabad
Batteries Limited (HBL) developed a new
anti collision safety device which is path
breaking technology in ensuring safe
travelling and fewer accidents.
The device is based on a combination of
railway signaling data with radio
communications, global position, radio
frequency identification devices, software
and logic.
It was HBL Power Systems which reacted
first to the expression of interest floated by
the Research, Design and Standards
Organization of the Indian Railways to
develop an anti-collision device in August
2008.
The system is designed to automatically
bring trains to a halt when collision-like
situations arise or when the red signal is
violated, for whatever reason.
In the Month of September 2012, a train
collision avoidance system (TCAS), tested
in real time on a track near Tandur, in the
South Central Railway demonstrated the
viability of the system. During the trials, the
effectiveness was demonstrated for
prevention of head-on collisions; rear-end
collisions, over-speeding of trains and
disregard for red signal.
The new anti collision device had essential
features of both automatic train protection
and collision prevention in one solution.
HBL Power Systems had also developed
electronic interlocking system, audio
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frequency track circuits and train
management systems.
MYSTERY THAT SURROUNDED
THE MISSING SANDY ISLAND
SOLVED
A researcher from New Zealand claimed
that he had solved the mystery of the
missing South Pacific Island which was
shown on the world maps as well as Google
Earth but did not actually exist. The blame
of the missing island went to the whaling
ship from the year 1876.
The landmass in Coral Sea which is shown
as the Sandy Island on Google maps as well
as Google Earth is apparently somewhere
between Australia and New Caledonia.
Times Atlas of the World, on the other
hand identifies it as the Sable Island, but
the Australian scientists who went on a
research in November 2012 could not
locate it exactly, which is why they claimed
that the island did not exist actually. A
researcher at Auckland Museum after his
investigations claimed that the island had
never existed.
Google in the meanwhile welcomed this
feedback and explained that suggestions
from the users on maps enabled integration
of new information into Google Maps.
Apparently, now the Sandy Island has been
removed from the maps.
CHAMP MISSILE COULD SHUT
DOWN THE ELECTRONICS OF
THE COUNTRY
PERMANENTLY: BOEING
Boeing, the US aircraft manufacturer
claimed that a new missile codenamed
CHAMP has been tested successfully which
makes use of the electromagnetic pulses in
order to target the buildings can
permanently blackout the electronics of the
country without causing any harm to
people.
Boeing claimed that it has successfully
tested this weapon on their one-hour flight.
During the flight, the missile made all the
computers of the military in Utah dead. It is
also thought that this missile could possibly
break through the caves as well as bunkers
which allegedly are hiding the nuclear
facilities of Iran. However, it was also
warned that in case the missile is acquired
by the wrong people, it would knock down
the Western cities as well.
In the experiment of Boeing, the missile
went flying over Utah Test and Training
Range, and it discharged electromagnetic
pulses on seven targets. Eventually, it shut
down all the electronics of the area
permanently. Boeing claimed that this test
remained highly successful; so much that it
also disabled the camera recording.
CHAMP or Counter-Electronics High Power
Microwave Advanced Missile Project is the
first of its kind missile test with the
capability of electromagnetic pulse. Boeing
Report mentioned that the stealth aircraft
deployed the missile which emitted radio
waves from the undercarriage and knocked
down the computers in the building below
the missile.
SCIENTISTS CREATED MOST
COMPLEX AND REALISTIC
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ARTIFICIAL BRAIN WHICH CAN
PASS IQ AS WELL
Software engineers as well as
neuroscientists at University of Waterloo,
Canada claimed that they have developed a
closest model of the functioning human
brain, known as Spaun which is advanced
enough for passing the basic IQ tests. This
is the virtual brain which functions on the
supercomputer and comprises of a digital
eye, which can be used for visual input. It
also has the robotic arm which can be used
for drawing the response.
The engineers as well as neuroscientists
claimed that this was the most complex
model of the world of human brain. Spaun
or Semantic Pointer Architecture Unified
Network comprises of 2.5 million simulated
neurons which enables this brain to
perform multiple tasks.
The tasks which this artificial brain can
perform range from answering the
questions to copy drawing as well as fluid
reasoning. The tests were conducted in
which the engineers and neuroscientists
showed various letters as well as numbers,
which were read in the memory by Spaun.
Later, the other symbol or letter behaved
like the command which tells Spaun what
needs to be done with the memory.
NASAS MERCURY-ORBITING
PROBE DISCOVERED ICE ON
THE PLANET
Scientists of NASA have discovered a huge
mass of ice at Mercurys North Pole on 29
November 2012. Mercury is the planet
closest to the Sun. These findings come
from the Mercury-orbiting probe of NASA,
Messenger.
Frozen water is found in the North Pole
regions of Mercury which are always found
in shadows and mainly affects the craters. It
is supposed that the south pole of mercury
also has ice but there is no hard and fast
data which supports this. Messenger orbits
closer to the North Pole than South Pole.

NEW KIND OF MATTER MIGHT
BE PRODUCED IN LARGE
HADRON COLLIDER
Scientists at Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) believed that collisions
taking place in Large Hadron Collider (LHC)
might have formed new matters which are
known as colour-glass condensate.
Collisions taking place between the lead
ions and protons at LHC near Geneva,
Switzerland have caused a different kind of
behaviour in certain particles which were
created due to collisions.

About Messenger
Messenger was launched back in 2004. It is a
NASA spacecraft orbiting around Mercury.
The observations through NASAs Messenger
will continue in the next year as well.
What is Large Hadron Collider?
Large Hadron Collider is the huge scientific
instrument which is found near Geneva. It is
basically the particle accelerator which is
used by the physicists for observing and
studying about the smallest particles which
form the basis of all the things in the world.
The instrument apparently helps the
physicists understand everything ranging
from minute world within the atoms to the
gigantic universe.

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INDIA SUCCESSFULLY TEST
FIRED AIR TO AIR
INTERCEPTOR ASTRA MISSILE
India on 21 December 2012 test launched
its indigenously developed beyond visual
range (BVR) air-to-air interceptor missile
Astra at the interim test range (ITR) at
Chandipur in Odisha.
Missile Specification
Astra has the capability to intercept
and destroy enemy aircraft at a
supersonic speed and can be fitted
into any fighter aircraft.
3.8 metre long, it is considered as
one of the best of its kind in the
world as it weighs about 160 kg and
can carry explosive loaded
conventional warheads up to 15 kg.
It is designed to intercept and
destroy enemy aircraft at supersonic
speeds (1.2 to 1.4 Mach) in head-on
and tail-chase modes.
The missile uses solid propellant and
can carry a conventional warhead
weighing 15 kg.
It can be launched from different
altitudes and cover 110 km when
fired from an altitude of 15 km,
reach 44 km when launched from an
altitude of eight km, and 21 km
when launched from the sea-level.
PRITHVI II, THE NUCLEAR-
CAPABLE SURFACE TO
SURFACE MISSILE
SUCCESSFULLY TEST-FIRED
India on 20 December 2012 successfully
test-fired its indigenously developed
nuclear capable surface-to-surface Prithvi-II
missile with a strike range of 350 km from a
test range at Chandipur near Balasore.
The missile was test fired from a mobile
launcher in salvo mode from launch
complex-3 of Integrated Test Range at
about 9:20 am.
Missile Specification
Prithvi is India's first indigenously
built ballistic missile and one of the
five missile developed under Indias
prestigious Integrated Guided
Missile Development Programme
(IGMDP).
It is capable of carrying 500 kg to
1000 kg of warheads and thrusted
by liquid propulsion twine engines,
uses advanced inertial guidance
system with manoeuvring trajectory.
The Prithvi-II missile is equipped
with advanced high accuracy
navigation system and guided by an
innovative guidance scheme.
The improved Circular Error
Probability (CEP) achieved by the
missile is a testimony to specify the
efficacy of this missile system.
Prithvi uses an advanced inertial
guidance system with manoeuvring
capabilities and comes within
metres of its target.
RAMANUJANS CRYPTIC
DEATH BED THEORY PROVED
BY AMERICAN SCIENTIST
Indian maths genius Srinivasa Ramanujans
Cryptic Deathbed Theory, which he claimed
was conceived in his dreams, was finally
proved by American scientist in the month
of November.
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It was in year 1920, when while on his
death-bed, Ramanujan wrote a letter to his
mentor, English mathematician G.H. Hardy,
demarcating several new mathematical
functions never before heard of, along with
an instinct about how they worked.
As per the Researchers study the theory is
now proved to be right and that the
formula derived from the theory is capable
of explaining the behaviour of black holes.
Researcher proved that Ramanujan was
right and found the formula explaining one
of the visions that he believed came from
his goddess Researchers were also stunned
to find the function could be used even
today.
The problem was solved from the last
mysterious letters of the theory. The
problem has been open for 90 years for
people who work in this area of math.
Ramanujan was a self-taught
mathematician who was in born in a rural
village in South India and had spent so
much time thinking about mathematics that
he flunked out of college twice.
The maths geniuss letter described several
new functions that behaved differently
from known theta functions, or modular
forms, and yet closely mimicked them.
Functions are equations that can be drawn
as graphs on an axis, like a sine wave, and
produce an output when computed for any
chosen input or value.
The findings were presented in November
at a Ramanujan conference held at the
University of Florida, ahead of the 125th
anniversary of the Ramanujans birth on 22
December.
SUPER-JUPITER, THE LARGEST
PLANET OF OUR SOLAR
SYSTEM DISCOVERED
Astrophysicists at the University of
Toronto in the third week of November
2012 discovered a new planet called Super-
Jupiter, which is thirteen times enormous
than Jupiter. This is the largest planet
discovered in the solar system.
Super-Jupiter orbits around the star known
as Kappa Andromedae which is 2.5 times
greater than the Suns mass and is situated
at 170 light years farther than the Earth.
The star is quite young, 30 million years old,
while the sun is 5 billion years old.
The planet is called Super-Jupiter because it
is larger than the Jupiter planet. According
to the astrophysicists, Super-Jupiter could
represent first newly discovered exo-planet
system in the time duration of 4 years and it
has mass which is at least thirteen times
more than Jupiter. The orbit of the planet is
a bit larger than that of Neptune.
Kappa Andromedae, which is said to be the
host star of this newly discovered planet, is
the highest mass star to host a planet which
was directly observed.
MICROSOFT CORP
ORGANISED WOWZAPP 2012
FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED
IN APP DEVELOPMENT
Thousands of youths from the world came
together from 9 November 2012 to 11
November 2012 to exhibit their technical
and creative skills at Microsoft Corp-
organised Wowzapp 2012 (Worldwide
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Hackathon for Windows). Wowzapp 2012
was organized for students who are
interested in development of applications
for mobiles, PCs as well as tablets in more
than 100 places in the world.
In Wowzapp 2012, around 16500 students
from the world, including 3500 from 14
cities of India registered themselves.
Wowzapp 2012 was organised in over 100
locations in the world. Participants made
use of languages like JavaScript, C++ and C
for development of applications on
Windows 8. The applications approved will
also be available on Windows Store apps.
In the event, Microsoft facilitated the
participants with the free software for
application creation, Windows Store
registration code as well as trainer and
expert assistance at hackathon location.
NUCLEAR CAPABLE PRITHVI II
MISSILE SUCESSFULLY TEST
FIRED
India on 4 October 2012 successfully test
fired its indigenously developed, nuclear-
capable ballistic missile Prithvi-II from a
test range in Odisha.
The missile was test fired by the Strategic
Forces Command (SFC) from the Integrated
Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha.
All the radars and electro-optical systems
along the coast have monitored the missile
throughout its flight path.
The Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) have developed
Prithvi-II for the Indian Air Force for deep
interdiction and the missile can be armed
with a nuclear warhead weighing 500 kg. In
this flight, it carried conventional
explosives.
Prithvi-II is a user-friendly missile which has
a completely guided trajectory. The SFC had
earlier launched it on August 25, 2012 and
the flight was successful. The Indian Army is
already armed with the single-stage Prithvi-
II, which uses liquid propellants.
From July 2012 onwards the Strategic
Forces Command had launched a series of
strategic missiles including Agni-I, Agni-II
and Agni-III.
It is one of the five missiles that were
developed under the country's Integrated
Guided Missile Development Programme.
INDIA SUCCESSFULLY
LAUNCHED ITS HEAVIEST
SATELLITE GSAT-10
The advanced communication satellite
GSAT-10 of India was successfully launched
on 28 September 2012 on board Ariane-5
rocket from European spaceport in French
Guiana. The rocket placed GSAT-10 in the
elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit
(GTO) within 30 minutes and 45 seconds of
its launch from the French station just after
injecting the European co-passenger ASTRA-
2F in the orbit.
IGSAT-10 is the 101st space mission for
ISRO is a Rs 750 crore project that includes
development of the satellite along with its
launch from the European launching
station. The 3400 kg lift-off is the heaviest
satellite built by the Indian Space Research
Organization headquartered at Bangalore.
Designed with a life span of 15 years the
satellite will expand Indian radio-navigation,
direct-to-home broadcasting and
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telecommunication services to the next
level.
Soon after successful injection of the
satellite in the space, the command of
control was taken by the ISRO's Master
Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in
Karnataka. K Radhakrishnan, chairman of
ISRO declared that the satellite will come
into operation from November 2012 for
being used by the general community.
CSIR ANNOUNCED
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FOR
SCIENTISTS AGED ABOVE 70
Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR) on its 70th Foundation Day
celebration on 26 September 2012 greeted
the scientists aged above 70 years with
research fellowships.
The fellowship will offer a sum of Rs 20 lakh
per year for continuous 5 years to scientists
who will guide students and publish
research papers. A scientist who has won
the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award is
eligible for the fellowship program.
Samir Brahmachari the Director-General of
CSIR said that advantage of the services of
scientists, who remain active even after the
age of 70 years, should be taken. At present
there are about 10 scientists who are
eligible for the fellowship program.
AIR FORCE VERSION OF
PILOT-LESS TARGET AIRCRAFT
LAKSHYA-1 WAS
SUCCESSFULLY TEST-FLOWN
The Air Force version of micro-light pilot-
less target aircraft Lakshya-1 was
successfully test-flown from the launch
complex-2 of the Integrated Test Range
(ITR) at Chandipur, Orissa on 23 August
2012. The test was carried out with an
objective to test the validity of its engine
and duration enhancement. Lakshya has
been inducted into the Indian Air Force
since 2000.
The aircraft is remote-controlled from the
ground and designed to provide training to
both airborne and air defence pilots.
Lakshya-1 fitted with an advanced digitally
controlled engine and is a sub-sonic, re-
usable aerial target system. It is launched by
a solid propellant rocket motor, and
sustained by a turbojet engine in flight. The
flight duration of the six-foot-long aircraft is
30 to 35 minutes.
NASAS CURIOSITY ROVER
TOOK ITS FIRST DRIVE ON THE
SURFACE OF MARS
NASAs Curiosity rover took its first drive on
the surface of Mars on 23 August 2012. The
rover in its first drive moved around six
metres from its original landing site. After
more tests on its systems, NASA intends to
move the Curiosity rover some 400 metres
to the southeast to continue its exploration
of the red planet.
NASA also released images of the tracks left
by the rover, to show the success of the
mission. The space agency also announced
that the original landing site of the Curiosity
rover would be named after the late science
fiction author Ray Bradbury who died on 5
June 2012. The site will be known as the
Bradbury Landing.
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INDIA SUCCESSFULLY TEST-
FIRED MEDIUM RANGE
BALLISTIC MISSILE AGNI II
India on 9 August 2012 successfully test-
fired domestically built surface-to-surface
two stage Agni-II ballistic missile. The
missile was launched from a test range at
Wheeler Island off Odisha coast. The
nuclear capable missile with a strike range
of 2000 km was first test fired on 11 April
1999. The missile was inducted in the Army
on 17 May 2010.
The missile was launched by the strategic
force command of Indian Army as a routine
users trial. The objective of the launch was
to train the user team to launch the missile.
Agni-II is 20 metres long and capable of
carrying a nuclear warhead weighing one
ton.
Agni-II was developed under the joint work
of advanced systems laboratory, the missile
development laboratory of the DRDO,
Defence Research Development Laboratory
and Research Centre Imarat, while it was
integrated by Bharat Dynamics Limited,
Hyderabad.
The Agni-II missile belongs to the genre of
medium range ballistic missiles developed
by India under the Integrated Guided
Missile Development Program. The missile
was made operational by the Indian Army in
March 2010.
INDIA SUCCESSFULLY TEST-
FIRED MANOEUVRABLE
VERSION OF BRAHMOS
SUPERSONIC MISSILE
India on 9 January 2013 successfully test-
fired a highly manoeuvrable version of the
290-km range supersonic cruise missile
BrahMos from a naval warship off the coast
of Vishakhapatnam in Bay of Bengal.
The missile blasted off in a pre-designated
war scenario taking a double manoeuvre
in S-form hitting the designated target ship
just one meter above water line. The sheer
velocity and power of hit made the missile
rip through the ships hull.
The present test firing is considered to be
the 34th launch of BrahMos after the
successful October 2012 launch from INS
Teg in the Arabian Sea.
About BrahMos Missile
BRAHMOS is a two-stage missile with a
solid propellant booster engine as its first
stage which brings it to supersonic speed
and then gets separated. The liquid ramjet
or the second stage then takes the missile
closer to 3 Mach speed in cruise phase.
Stealth technology and guidance system
with advanced embedded software
provides the missile with special features.
The BrahMos missile system was
inducted into the Indian Navy in
2005 when it began arming the
Rajput-class guided missile
destroyers and inducted
subsequently in many warships.
BrahMos is capable of acquiring data
not only from the American GPS but
also from Russian GLONASS satellite
systems also, which ensures double
redundancy.
The missile has identical
configuration for land, sea and sub-
sea platforms and uses a Transport
Launch Canister (TLC) for
transportation, storage and launch.
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ASTRONOMERS MEASURED
THE PROCESS HOW UNIVERSE
COOLED ON LINES OF BIG
BANG THEORY
Astronomers in the fourth week of January
2013 revealed that they have made the
most precise measurement of the fact that
how the Universe has cooled down in a
period of 13.77 billion years history
following the prediction made in the Big
Bang Theory.
To find out the fact and to carry on the
study, the astronomers studied molecules
in the gas cloud at a distance of 7.2 billion
light years from us somewhere in the
universe a distance so far that the light
emitted from it took half the age of the
Universe to reach us. A team of
Astronomers from France, Germany,
Sweden and Australia used the Australian
Telescope Compact Array to measure the
heat of Universe at the time when it was
half of its current age.
A statement released from the CSIRO
Astronomy and Space Science described
that the study has been able to find out the
most precise measurement to identify the
fact that how the Universe has cooled over
a time of 13.77 billion years.
The scientists looked back halfway across
the Universe to look back halfway into the
Universe history and the basic reason to do
so is to identify the time, when the light left
the galaxies. Astronomers studied gas at a
distance of 7.2 billion light years away in an
unnamed galaxy and identified that the
cosmic background radiation was the only
thing that kept it warm left over by the big
bang. Behind this unnamed galaxy PKS
1830-211 quasar is also in existence.

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CHAPTER 5: POLITY
AND GOVERNANCE
INDIA CELEBRATED ITS 64TH
REPUBLIC DAY; SHOWCASED
MILITARY PROWESS AND
CULTURAL HERITAGE
India celebrated its 64th Republic Day on 26
January 2013. President Pranab Mukherjee,
the Supreme Commander of Armed Forces,
took salute for the first time after assuming
office in July 2012. The impressive march-
past was watched by Chief Guest, King of
Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk.
BANNED CONSTRUCTION OF
RELIGIOUS STRUCTURES AND
STATUES ON PUBLIC LAND
The Supreme Court of India on 15 January
2013 passed an order that constructing
religious structures such as the temples and
shrines on the public land was banned. The
bench of Justices R M Lodha and S J
Mukhopadhaya, in its order declared that
henceforth no state should grant
permission for installation of any statue or
erection of structures on the public utility
places, pavements, public roads as well as
the sideways.
The order passed by the Supreme Court will
now grant power to the government bodies
and the municipal bodies from preventing
unauthorised constructions.
Apart from the religious structures, the
Apex Courts order was also applicable on
the installation of statues.
THE UNION CABINET
SANCTIONED APPOINTMENT
OF 2000 JUDGES FOR THE
FAST-TRACK COURTS
The Union Cabinet, in its letter sent on 9
January 2013, to the High Court as well as
the State Governments asked them to
enhance strength of the subordinate
judiciary from 18000 at present to 20000.
The Law Ministry approved 80 crore Rupees
for recruiting these 2000 additional judges
in the country for the fast track courts.
The government additionally was also
working upon the proposals to enable
states for using the funds which were
available for morning as well as evening
courts, in order to increase the number of
fast track courts even more.
The morning as well as evening courts were
set up by the law ministry in 2010.
However, the scheme was not successful
because only a few states availed it, which
resulted in unused funds. The government
now proposed to divert these funds for
setting up the fast track courts.
In spite of all such efforts, there are over
3.20 crore cases pending in the various
courts of the country. Out of these, a total
of 2.76 crore cases were pending in the
subordinate courts and 44 lakh were
pending in the high courts, as per the Law
Ministry.
ELECTION COMMISSION
ANNOUNCED DATE OF
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ELECTION AND BY-ELECTIONS
IN 10 STATES
The Election Commission of India on 11
January 2012 announced the dates for
elections and by-elections in the Legislative
Assemblies of 10 states. The elections/by-
elections would be held in Meghalaya,
Nagaland, Tripura, Assam, Bihar,
Maharashtra, Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh,
West Bengal and Punjab.
The states of Tripura, Meghalaya and
Nagaland would go for the regular polls for
60 members in each state. The by-polls in
Tripura are scheduled for 14 February 2013
and for Meghalaya and Nagaland the
decided date of 23 February 2013 and the
results would be announced on 28 February
2013.
MONEY LAUNDERING AND
BANKING BILLS 2012 TURNED
INTO LAW WITH PRESIDENTS
ASSENT
The President of India Pranab Mukherjee in
second week of January gave his assent to
the Prevention of Money Laundering
(Amendment) Bill, the Enforcement of
Security Interest and Recovery of Debts
Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2012 and Banking
Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2012 to make it a
law of the land.
The Parliament in its winter session
approved the Prevention of Money
Laundering (Amendment) Bill 2012 that
1. Needed to enlarge its definition of
money laundering offences so that it
can curb the practice of funding the
terrorists operations.
2. The Bill sought removal of 5 lakh
rupees as fine in existence under the
act and proposed a provision of
taking away of the profits of the
crime even under situation, where
the conviction was not proved but
the offence of money laundering
happened and the property in
question that is involved in the
offence.
The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha during
the winter session on 29 November 2012.
CJI ALTAMAS KABIR
CONSTITUTED SPECIAL BENCH
TO HEAR CRIMES AGAINST
WOMEN
Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir on 10
January 2013 set up a Special Bench of
Justices of A.K. Patnaik and Gyan Sudha
Misra to hear cases of crime against
women.
The Bench is going to start its hearing from
14 January2013 onwards and already a total
of 526 cases relating to rape, dowry and
other sexual offences from year 2002 had
been listed before the Bench which is
anticipated to take up the matters on day-
to-day basis.
SUPREME COURT JUDGES
NUMBER INCREASED TO 28
AGAINST THE SANCTIONED
STRENGTH OF 31
Chief Justices of three High Courts were on
22 December 2012 elevated as judges of
the Supreme Court of India, increasing the
strength of the apex court to 28.Chief
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Justice of Madras High Court, Justice M
Yusuf Eqbal, Chief Justice of Orissa High
Court Justice Venkategowda and Chief
Justice of Karnataka High Court Justice
Vikramjit Sen were appointed as judges of
the Supreme Court, in that order of
seniority.
The appointment of judges will come into
effect from the date they assume charge of
their respective office. At present, including
the Chief Justice of India, the Supreme
Court has 25 judges against the sanctioned
strength of 31.
DELHI HIGH COURT
DISMISSED THE PIL THAT
CHALLENGED TENDULKARS
NOMINATION TO RAJYA
SABHA
The High Court of Delhi on 19 December
2012 dismissed the PIL (Public Interest
Litigation) that challenged Indian Cricketer
Sachin Tendulkars nomination to the
Rajya Sabha under the category of person
with special knowledge or practical
experience in any form of science, art,
literature and social service.
The High Courts Division Bench comprising
Chief Justice Darmar Murugesan and Justice
Rajiv Sahai Endlaw admitted sports as a
form of art and it justified the argument of
Union Government that Sachin Tendulkar as
a person with special knowledge and
practical experience in art. The Court also
stated that Art holds no satisfactory
definition for itself in Indian Constitution.
The decision to define sports as a form of
art was reached by the Court after referring
to experts, dictionaries, jurists and other
sources.
The division bench also spotted Article 80
(3) of the words that in context of the
matter of such type literature, science, art
and social service has remained illustrative
and not exhaustive.
The Petition and Petitioner
Ram Gopal Singh Sisodia, the former MLA
from Delhi filed a petition that seeking
nullification of the cricketers appointment
to Upper House as the cricketer didnt
possess the qualifications mentioned in
Article 80(3) of the Indian Constitution,
which allows him to be nominated to the
Upper House of the nation.

SC DISMISSED PURNO
SANGMA PETITION THAT
CHALLENGED PRANAB
MUKHERJEE'S ELECTION AS
PRESIDENT
The Supreme Court of India on 5 December
2012 dismissed the petition of Purno
Sangma that challenged Pranab
Mukherjees election to the office of the
President.
The Constitution bench of Supreme Court
comprising five-judges namely Chief Justice
Article 80 (3)
The Article 80 (3) of the Constitution of India
states that the person - The members to be
nominated by the President under sub-clause
(a) of clause (1) shall consist of persons
having special knowledge or practical
experience in respect of such matters as the
following, namely:- Literature, science, art
and social service.

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Altamas Kabir and Justices P. Sathasivam, J.
Chelameswar, S.S. Nijjar and Ranjan Gogoi
decided by a 3:2 majority announced the
decision that the petition didnt deserved
any short of detailed trail and the court was
convinced that Pranab Mukherjee was not
holding any office of Profit.

Sangmas Claim
Purno Sangma challenged the appointment
of Pranab Mukherjee as the President of
India in the Supreme Court of India on the
ground that Mukherjee was holding the
office of Council of Indian Statistical
Institute an office of profit as its chairman
and thus was ineligible for being elected as
the President of India.
LOK SABHA PASSED THE
COMPANIES BILL 2011 AIMED
AT IMPROVING CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
Lok Sabha on 18 December 2012 passed the
COMPANIES BILL 2011. The Bill is aimed at
improving corporate governance.

In the year 1956, there were only 30000
registered companies in India. In 2012 there
are more than 850000 companies.
Therefore a modern company bill was
needed to check the corporate fraud.
Article 58 of the Constitution of India
The Article states that no person is eligible
to be the President of India until and
unless:
He/She is the citizen of India and
must have attended 35 years of age
and qualifies for election as the
member of the House of the
people.
The person would not be eligible for
being a President of India if he/she
holds any office of profit managed
by Government of India or any state
or a local authority or any other
body may be a subject of control to
any of the government. Holding any
office of profit disqualifies a person
from being President of India.
To hold an Office of Profit in context of the
constitution means - the office should hold
or yield various financial benefits like
chauffeur driven car with an official
accommodation.

1. It contains provisions to strengthen
regulations for corporate as well as
auditing firms. Once enacted as law, it
will replace THE COMPANIES ACT
1956.
2. The Companies Bill makes it
mandatory for profit-making
companies to spend two percent of
their profit for community welfare as
part of their Corporate Social
Responsibility.
3. In case, a company fails to meet its
social obligations, it will have to
explain the reasons for the shortfall.
4. The Bill will protect small investors
from corporate frauds.
5. Under the proposed legislation, more
powers will be conferred upon
Serious Fraud Investigation Office
(SFIO) to deal with corporate frauds.
6. There will be better co-ordination
now between the investigation
agencies at the centre and the states.

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SUPREME COURT ASKED
JUDGE OF SC AND HC TO
INFORM GOVERNMENT
ABOUT DETAILS OF FOREIGN
VISITS
On 10 December 2012, the Supreme Court
partially stayed the order of Delhi high
court in which it had cancelled three paras
of Centre's 2010 circular which made it
compulsory for the judges to take foreign
visits only with approval of chief justice of
the high court concerned or Chief Justice of
India (CJI).
The judges of Supreme Court as well as high
court needed to inform the Government of
India about the foreign visits which include
the purpose of their visit, duration as well
as the funding source.
Foreign visits could be taken after traveling
details were submitted to the Government
of India. The high court had called these
conditions offending for autonomy of
higher judiciary, which is why it cancelled
them on 25 May 2012. The high court had
cancelled the paragraph which mentioned
that travel details need to be submitted,
but it clarified that the judged still needed
to give information regarding their duration
of the trip as well as city in which they
intended to stay. These details need to be
submitted to the chief justice of the HC
concerned or CJI.
UNION CABINET OF INDIA
APPROVED THE NATIONAL
PHARMACEUTICAL PRICING
POLICY
2012 passed the National Pharmaceutical
Pricing Policy (NPPA). As per the new
pricing policy declared by the Union
Government, 348 essential drugs would
come under price control policy of the
nation, which would lead to price reduction
of the same.
The policy was approved by the Union
Cabinet with an objective to bring in a
regulatory framework to make sure that the
pricing of essential drugs remains under
control and are made available in the
market at reasonable prices.
The approval came in as a response to the
deadline of 27 November 2012 set by the
Supreme Court of India for finalization of a
policy that to without altering or hampering
the mechanism for cost-based drug pricing
policy in existence. The move would bring
down the cost of the drugs to an average of
30 percent as the pricing now would be
fixed following the simple average of the
rates of all the brands that have more than
one percent of market share in the
pharmaceutical industry. Following the
rules of the policy, the companies will have
to take a clearance by NPPA to increase the
prices beyond 10 percent on all the 348
drugs enlisted in the new National
Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy.
THE PROTECTION OF
CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL
OFFENCES ACT, 2012 CAME
INTO FORCE
The PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM
SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT, 2012 came into
force on 14 November 2012. The Act was
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passed in the Indian Parliament in May
2012.
1. The Act under its ambit defines child
as a person below the age-group of
18 and is gender neutral and have a
clear definition for all types of sexual
abuses like sexual harassment,
penetrative or non-penetrative
sexual abuse, and pornography.
2. The Protection of Children from
Sexual Offences Act, 2012 has
defined the ways to provide a child
friendly process of offence reporting
to evidence recording, trial and
investigations.
3. Section 45 of the Act allows the
Union Government to make the
necessary changes in the Act,
whenever and wherever applicable.
4. The Act has also defined the facts
like qualification and experience of
the translators, interpreters, special
educators, experts, arrangement for
protection and care at times of
emergencies and emergency
treatment of child.
5. The Compensation amount that is
payable to any victim of sexual
abuse.
6. This Act has also cleared that the
provisions of this Act would be
monitored by the National
Commission for Protection of Child
Rights and the State Commission for
Protection of Child Rights,
periodically.
7. All the rules have been structured
and framed relying upon the
Juvenile Act, 2000 for making
arrangements in regards to the care
and protection of the child, the
devised rules of the act also would
pay attention to the fact that the
child is not re-victimised at time of
investigation as well as trial.
8. The Act has also made it clear that
under situations in which the child
who is being taken for the medical
facility on an emergency factor no
documentation or magisterial
requisition would be demanded
before the treatment.
SC: CRIMINAL CASE CANT BE
DISMISSED BECAUSE OF
DELAY
The Supreme Court of India on 2nd
November 2012 ruled that a criminal case
cannot be dismissed merely because of
delay in lodging a complaint if the delay has
been reasonably explained. A bench of
Justices P Sathasivam and Ranjan Gogoi
noted, the prosecution case cannot be
rejected merely on the ground of delay
since the complainant has reasonably
explained the reasons for the delay.
The Supreme Court bench made the
observation while upholding the conviction
and the life sentence given to two male and
two female members of a Tamil Nadu-
based Ashram (hermitage) for beating a
woman member to death. The murder had
taken place on April 8, 2000 when the
accused members of the Ashram had
gathered together and had beaten the
victim to death and later cremated her
body.
Prosecution had said the woman was
murdered as she had threatened to disclose
the alleged love affair between two senior
members of the Ashram, affiliated to Sri
Devi Maha Sannathi Temple at Govardhan
Garden in Trichy. The complainant who had
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witnessed the beating and had also heard
the victim's cries for help had lodged a
complaint with the police nine days after
the crime had taken place. The complainant
had submitted that there was a delay on his
part in reporting the incident as he himself
had not seen the murder taking place and
had to verify whether such an incident had
taken place.
AMENDMENT OF INDECENT
REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN
ACT
The Union Cabinet on 11 October 2012
approved the introduction of Amendments
to the Indecent Representation of Women
(Prohibition) Act, 1986 in Parliament under
the chairmanship of Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh.
The amendments proposed are
(a) Broaden the scope of the law to cover
the audio-visual media and material in
electronic form which includes Internet,
satellite-based communication, multi-media
messaging and cable television, among
others.
(b) Penalties to be enhanced to a maximum
of three years of imprisonment and fine of
between 50000 to 100000 Rupees for first
conviction, and imprisonment of not less
than two years, but which may extend to
seven years, and a fine between 100000
Rupees to 500000 Rupees for second
conviction.
(c) Police officers not below the rank of
Inspectors authorized to carry out search
and seizure, in addition to State and Central
Government officers authorized by the
State or Central Government.
The Act was enacted in 1986 to prohibit the
indecent representation of women through
advertisement, publication, writing, and
painting or in any other manner. With the
increased use of advanced technology and
communication devices in everyday life, the
Government felt the scope of the Act
should be amended. The amendments were
introduced after consultations with
stakeholders, including lawyers and civil
society organisations, on the draft Bill.
COMMISSION ISSUED
STRICTER GUIDELINES TO
CURB THE PRACTICE OF PAID
NEWS
The Election Commission of India on 9
October 2012 issued stricter guidelines to
curb the practice of Paid News. It asked
candidates to reply within 48 hours to
notices sent to them regarding Paid News.
The Commission also asked the Media
Certification and Monitoring Committees,
MCMC at the districts and state levels to
decide such cases within the 48 hours of
getting the reply from a candidate.
Election Commission Issued fresh
instructions to Chief Electoral Officers of all
states, including the poll-bound states of
Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. In case the
candidate did not reply within the specified
time, the MCMC decision will be considered
final. Returning officers were till now
required to send notices within 96 hours of
the publication or telecast of the paid news
on references from the MCMC.
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The guidelines issued by the Election
Commission will cover cinema halls, besides
TV channels, cable networks and radio
including private FM channels
RAIL RADAR, WEBSITE
LAUNCHED BY THE RAILWAYS
TO TRACK THE POSITION OF
TRAIN
Rail Radar, the new online application was
launched by the Indian Railways on 10
October 2012, to find out the location of
6500 trains on real-time basis on Google
Map. It can be accessed from the website
trainenquiry.com.
To identify the train running status that
whether the train is running on-time or late
from its schedule, color codes have been
created. Blue color is a code for trains
running on time and red markers are the
symbol of trains running behind schedule.
On clicking upon the name of the train, the
map will show the route along with
stoppages and running status of the train
on real time-basis.
MOS WAS SIGNED TO
PROVIDE AUTONOMY FOR
THE HILLS COUNCIL IN ASSAM
Tripartite Memorandum of Settlement
(MoS) was signed on 9 October 2012 for
providing autonomy for the North Cachar
Hills Autonomous Council in Assam and a
special package for speedier socio-
economic development of the area. It was
signed between Centre, Assam government
and both factions of Dima Halam Daogah
(DHD). DHD used to be a group with violent
activities in the state but gave up violence
and resorted to peace for getting into the
mainstream of development.
Under the MoS, a committee will be
constituted to deal with the matters
relating to the 6th schedule councils. Under
the agreement, the DHD will dissolve as an
organization within a reasonable timeframe
as a precursor to the government initiating
further process to implement the agreed
decisions.
SUPREME COURT LIFTED THE
GAG ORDER ON MEDIA
REPORTING OF TROOP
MOVEMENT
The Supreme Court of India on 14
September 2012 lifted the gag order on
media reporting of troop movement
ordered by the Allahabad High Court. The
SC pronounced the order while hearing the
petition filed through PCI Chairman and
former Apex Court judge Markandeya
Katju's office which submitted that the HC
order was in violation of the fundamental
right under Article 19(1) (a) of the
Constitution, granted to the media and
every citizen of the country.
SUPREME COURT: MEDIA CAN
BE RESTRAINED FROM
PRESSING TRIALS DURING
PROCEEDINGS
Supreme Court refused to frame any
guideline for pressing up of the court
proceedings of the sub-judicial matters, on
11 September 2012. It just put forward a
constitutional provision for postponement
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of the publications of the report or court
hearing if the involved parties want so.
CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT
BILL PASSED BY HUGE
MAJORITY IN RAJYA SABHA
The Constitution Amendment Bill that
provides quotas for SCs and STs in
Government Job Promotions was approved
in Rajya Sabha on 17 December 2012 by an
overwhelming majority.
The new amendment demands retaining of
Article 335 and deletes the words or in the
article to make sure that condition of
efficiency as mentioned in the Article
continues to be the part of Indian
Constitution and not wiped out. The bill
would also ensure that the provision of the
Article 335 and its effects are retained and
allows related standards for promotion
against reserved vacancies to candidates
belonging to Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
The reservation in Promotion had been in
existence for Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes since 1955 but has
suffered attacks in different cases by the
decisions of Supreme Court of India in cases
like Indra Sawhney, Veer Pal Singh Chauhan
and S. Vinod Kumar. The Indian
Government has passed several
amendments namely 77th, 81st, 82nd and
85th amendments to overcome these
effects.
The Judgment of the Supreme Court in case
of M Nagaraj mentioned few of the pre-
requisite conditions to provide reservation
in promotion and the laid condition was
assessing the quantum of representation of
SCs, STs and their backwardness along with
the effect on the efficiency. The bill would
be forwarded to the Lok Sabha for further
consideration and passing on 19 December
2012.
Article 335
It claims of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes to services and posts.
Part XVI of the article states Special
Provisions Relating to Certain Classes
The article claims that the members of the
Scheduled Castes and Tribes should be
taken into consideration, consistently with
the maintenance of efficiency of the
administration while making appointments
to services and posts in connection with the
affairs of the union or the state. The 289B
segment provided in the article prevents
making on any provision to favour the
members of Scheduled Castes and Tribes by
relaxing the qualifying marks in the
examination, or the standards of evaluation
for reservation in promotion matters of any
class of services and classes and posts
connected to the affairs of state or of the
union.

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CHAPTER 6: SOCIAL
ISSUES
JUSTICE JS VERMA PANEL
REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE
GOVERNMENT:
RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE
SEXUAL CRIMES
The Justice Verma panel, which is a 3-
member commission created to review the
laws for sexual crimes submitted the report
to the Government of India on 23 January
2013. Justice Verma panel was created after
the brutal gang rape of the Para-medical
student on 16 December 2012. Former
Chief Justice of India, Justice JS Verma
headed the commission and reviewed the
laws on sexual crimes which exist already.
The report was prepared by the panel in its
30-day deadline. The former CJI described
that there were more than 80000
suggestions from the length and breadth of
India as well as abroad after 5 January 2013
was declared as the deadline for receiving
comments from common man in order to
refurbish the present legislation that deals
with the sex offenders.
The Justice Verma panel recognised failure
of governance as primary cause of sexual
crimes. The panel additionally criticised the
police, government and also the public for
the lack of interest and also recommended
changes in the entire society.
Some of the changes described by the
Justice Verma panel as follows:
There is a need for overall wide
spectrum of law for violence against
the women.
It is important to address even the
placid sexual harassment and that
each and every complaint of sexual
harassment should be registered.
Anyone committing rape shall be
given rigorous imprisonment which
may range from seven years to life
term.
Punishment for rape that leads to
death or vegetative state should be
given rigorous imprisonment
ranging from not less than 20 years
to the remaining life of a convict.
The crimes such as voyeurism and
stalking, even-teasing as well as
insensitivity of the police for dealing
with the rape cases shall also be
punished.
Voyeurism will lead to a punishment
of up to 7 years.
Stalking or attempting to contact a
woman repeatedly via any means
shall land the person in jail for up to
3 years.
The panel also suggested that there
was a need of provisions for
addressing the sexual assault on the
homosexuals.
The panel also mentioned in its
report the Khap Panchayat
mentioning that Khaps were
unconstitutional and they had no
right to declare the marriage invalid.
In order to preserve the rules of law,
there is a need for police reforms as
well.
There was a need to bring sexual
violence by the personnel on duty
under one common law.
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The panel suggested the need to
take into consideration, the
continuance of Armed Forces
Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the
areas at the earliest.
No delay should be there in
imparting the necessary medical aid
to the victims, even in case of the
private practitioners.
All the marriages should be
registered, while making sure that
there was no demand for dowry.
There was a need for amendment of
Criminal law amendment bill 2012.
Trafficking should be made
punishable with imprisonment
ranging from not less than 7 years to
10 years.
In case, a police officer or a public
servant is involved in child
trafficking, it should be dealt with in
a stricter manner than usual.
INDIA AND SRI LANKA SIGNED
TWO AGREEMENTS ON
TERRORISM AND DRUG
TRAFFICKING
India and Sri Lanka after the 8th round
meet of the Joint India-Sri Lanka
Commission on 22 January 2013 at New
Delhi inked two agreements.
The signed agreements are:
I. Agreement on Combating International
Terrorism and Illicit Drug Trafficking; and
II. Revised Double Taxation Avoidance
Agreement.
The External Affairs Ministers of India,
Salman Khurshid and Sri Lanka, G L Peiris
signed the following Agreements. The Joint
Commission Meeting (JCM) was preceded
by the Senior Officials Meeting at the level
of the Foreign Secretaries of the two
countries on 21 January 2013.
During the Joint Commission meet both the
sides discussed bilateral relations that
included development cooperation, trade,
investment, power, science and technology,
health, agriculture, connectivity, people to
people contacts, culture and education.
Major discussions decisions made during
India-Sri Lanka 8th Joint Commission Meet
Both the nations recognized the
need of creating a special economic
partnership framework to achieve
the shared goals of poverty
alleviation, job creation and
economic development for the
people of the two countries, the
two sides decided to take several
steps to further deepen trade,
tourism and investment relations.
In relation to the same, an
agreement was reached to
encourage closer economic and
trade linkages between all
stakeholders with a view to double
the bilateral trade to 10 billion US
dollar, in next three years.
Both sides noted the impressive
growth of tourism traffic between
the two countries both ways. India
currently contributed the largest
number of tourist arrivals in Sri
Lanka and over 250,000 Sri Lankans
visited India in 2011-2012.
Sri Lanka and India made decisions
to enhance bilateral cooperation in
the areas of New and Renewable
energy, and in this context agreed
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to conclude a MoU on Cooperation
in New and Renewable Energy.
The Joint Commission noted that
both sides are committed to
decrease incidents pertaining to
fishing on the International
Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
Both countries agreed that the use
of force could not be justified under
any circumstances and reiterated in
this regard the importance of
continuing to extend humane
treatment to all fishermen.
Both sides agreed to enhance
cooperation in the energy sector
and to promote dialogue on
security and defence issues of
relevance to the bilateral
relationship.
Both the sides, Sri Lanka and India also
expressed satisfaction at the substantive
developments in bilateral relations between
the two countries in existence after the 7th
session of the Joint Commission held at
Colombo on 26 November 2010.
SUPREME COURT BANNED
TOURISTS ENTRY IN JARAWA
TRIBE HABITAT OF
ANDAMANS
2013 banned the tourists to pass from
Andaman Nicobar Trunk Road which
passes through an area which is Jarawas
habitat. The Andaman Nicobar Trunk Road
leads to the Limestone Cave. A bench of
Justices G.S. Singhvi and H.L. Gokhale
ordered that the directives of the court
which were issued in 2012 should be
followed strictly.
Earlier, the Apex court had banned the
tourism or commercial activities in 5-km
radius of Jarawa Tribal Reserve which lies
in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The
Supreme Court in its 2007 notification had
declared the area up to 5-km radius of
Jarawa Tribal Reserve as the Buffer Zone
and had prohibited any person from
entering into this Zone unless and until that
person is a member of aboriginal tribe.
Who are the Jarawas?
The Jarawas are basically the indigenous
tribes or adivasis of Andaman Islands, India.
The present population of Jarawas is merely
250-400 people. It is said that the Jarawas
have remained the inhabitants of the
Andamans for thousands of years. Jarawa
ancestors were thought to be the first
successful migration of humans from Africa.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
DECLARED USE OF MGNREGA
LINKED POST OFFICE
ACCOUNTS FOR DIRECT CASH
TRANSFER
The Union Government of India in the third
week of January 2013 amended the August
2008 notification to allow MGNREGA
beneficiaries to receive other Government
benefits and deposits in their post office
saving account.
With this order of the Union Finance
Ministry more than 3.5 crore post office
accounts in existence has turned up to be
ready for the Aadhaar-linked Cash Transfer
Scheme of Government of India. Earlier,
the accounts linked with the MGNREGA
workers of the country were used for
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receiving the wages under the rural
employment guarantee scheme.
The Aadhaar number would be used for
authentication of the identities of the
beneficiaries under the new Direct Cash
Transfer initiative.
SUPREME COURT ASKED
UNION GOVERNMENT TO SET
UP A SPECIAL COURT TO TRY
ITALIAN MARINES
2013 decided that Kerala had no jurisdiction
to investigate into the matter of Italian
Marines shooting incident in which two
fishermen were killed on 15 February 2012.
The Union Government was directed by the
Supreme Court bench of two Judges
comprising Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and
J. Chelameswar for setting up of a special
court for proceeding ahead with the trials
of the two Italian Marines namely
Massimilano Latorre and Salvatore Girone,
accused of shooting the two fishermen.
The highest judiciary body of India
described that the Union Government of
India had the jurisdiction to move ahead
with the process of investigation and trial
on the two Italian Marines.
Reasons for which Kerala has no rights to
carry on the Jurisdiction
Kerala Police has no Jurisdiction to carry on
the investigation because it is one of the
Federal Units of the Union of India and
hence has no authority for continuing the
trial on the two accused marines. They are
outside the Jurisdiction limit of the State
Unit.
As per the Seventh Schedule of the (Article
246) List I - Union List the centre has the
rights to exercise the defence related issues
in India.
Italys Stand on the Issue
The Republic of Italy is also carrying
proceedings as per the penal
provisions of available in the
country against the two accused
marines. The available panel
provisions of Italy can result into
the sentence of 21 years of
imprisonment to the marines.
Italy has also been declaring its right
in carrying out the prosecution of
the two marines, since very
beginning.
UNION HOME MINISTRY
ISSUED STRICT GUIDELINES
FOR REGULATING
SURROGACY IN INDIA
The Union Home Ministry in India issued
stricter guidelines for those visas which are
used by the foreign nationals interested in
surrogacy. This is said to be the archetypical
step by the Home Ministry to regulate
surrogacy in India. The new guidelines
indicated that single foreigners as well as
the gay couples would not be eligible for
having the Indian surrogate. Only those
foreign man and woman, who are married
for at least two years, would be granted the
visas.
The Union Home Ministry stated that they
had noticed a few foreign nationals visiting
India for the purpose of surrogacy on their
tourist visa, which is not appropriate. Back
in July 2012, the Union Ministry of Home
Affairs had decided in the circular sent to
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foreign embassies that the foreigners were
entitled to enter India for surrogacy only on
their medical visas and no other kind of
visas. Also, it was mandatory for the foreign
nationals to fulfill a few criterions. The
circular was notified on 17 December 2012
by the Foreign Regional Registration Office
in Mumbai and was also sent to the fertility
clinics.
The guidelines are issued when the
legislation for regulating the fertility clinics
is waiting for tabling in the Parliament. This
legislation is called the Assisted
Reproductive Technology (ART) Regulation
Bill 2010.
Conditions laid down by home ministry
1. Foreign couples who intended to
have an Indian surrogate should
provide a letter from the Foreign
Ministry of their country or the
embassy in India, certifying that the
home country recognises surrogacy.
This is important because a lot of
countries such as Norway, Italy,
France and Germany do not
recognise surrogacy.
2. The letter which would be certified
also needs to have an assurance that
children or a child born from Indian
surrogate would have the rights to
enter the home country as a
biological child. This was mainly
essential because in the recent past,
a lot of babies born from cross-
border surrogacy were refused to be
accepted as the biological child.
Norms of Home Ministry compatible with
ICMR guidelines
3. The norms laid down by the Home
Ministry are also compatible with
the guidelines of Indian Council of
Medical Research (ICMR).
4. ICMR only recognised man-woman
marriages and not gay marriages.
Additionally, the ICMR had
encouraged various fertility clinics to
get registered.
5. The guidelines of Home Ministry
made it obligatory for the foreign
nationals to undertake the
treatment from registered ART
clinics which are recognised by
ICMR.
PARLIAMENTARY STANDING
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
ENTITLEMENT OF FOOD FOR
67 PERCENT POPULATION
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on
Food and Consumer Affairs in January 2013
suggested the entitlement of the food
under the National Food Security Act to the
67 percent population leaving behind the
33 percent people who are tax-payers and
have pucca houses of their own.
The Priority (BPL-below poverty line) and
general (APL-above poverty line) are to be
replaced with the exclusion and inclusion
categories. The beneficiaries would be
identified by the state government for the
public distribution system of the subsidized
rice and wheat.
As per the plans of the standing committee
the Union Government would be
distributing the subsidized food grains to
the 67 percent population that includes 75
percent rural and 50 percent urban
population. This act was sent to the
Parliamentary Panel for its reference in
December 2011 after it was tabled in the
Lok Sabha and was followed by the
demands of the Food Security Bill.
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SUPREME COURT: KHAP
PANCHAYATS DIKTAT ON
DRESS CODE FOR WOMEN
UNLAWFUL
2013 ruled that Khap Panchayats' diktat on
dress code for women and asking them not
to carry mobile is unlawful. A bench of
justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Prakash
Desai ruled that such diktats are against the
fundamental right to life and asked Khap
Panchayats, which are caste-based councils,
to file their replies on the issue. Right to life
is guaranteed to all the citizens of India
under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
Article 21 in the Constitution of India 1949
Protection of life and personal liberty No
person shall be deprived of his life or
personal liberty except according to
procedure established by law.
UNION HOME MINISTER
SUSHIL KUMAR SHINDE
LAUNCHED PILOT PROJECT OF
CRIME AND CRIMINAL
TRACKING SYSTEM
Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde
on 4 January 2013 launched Pilot Project of
Crime and Criminal Tracking Systems.
The Government launched the project to
make use of technology in bringing greater
transparency and accountability into
government functioning, as Crime and
Criminal Tracking Network and Systems
(CCTNS) is supposed to be an important
step forward in this direction which
requires a significant change management
effort.
The pilot launch of the Crime and Criminal
Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS)
Project would create a nation-wide
environment for the real-time sharing of
crime and criminal information and connect
approximately 14000 police stations
throughout the country apart from higher
offices in police hierarchy.

Parliamentary Committees
The Parliamentary committees are
constituted to take care of the legislative
businesses of the Parliament and it comprises
of several committees.
Among these the two main committees are:
The Ad hoc Committee
The Standing Committee
Ad hoc Committee these are appointed for
specific purpose and they are dissolved after
the task assigned to them is completed and
the final report is submitted. These
committees are the joint and select
committees over the Bills and are appointed
for specific purposes like Committees on the
Draft Five Year Plans, Railway Convention
Committee, Hindi Equivalents Committee
and more.
The Standing Committee Each house of the
Indian Parliament are supported by standing
committees, which includes the Committee
on Petitions, the Business Advisory
Committee, the Rules Committee, the
Committee of Privileges and more.
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UNION GOVERNMENT
LAUNCHED GOVERNMENT
CALENDAR FEATURING
FLAGSHIP SCHEMES
The Government of Indias Wall Calendar
for 2013 was launched on 14 December
2012 featuring various flagship programmes
of the Government, which includes Aadhaar
based Direct Cash Transfer Scheme to be
implemented in 51 districts from January
2013 among others.
UNION GOVERNMENT
APPROVED AN ANTI-PIRACY
SCHEME IN AUDIO-VISUAL
SECTOR
November 2012 approved a scheme under
the 12th Five Year Plan for carrying out an
anti-piracy initiative in the audio-visual
sector with an allocation of two crore
rupees. The new scheme of Information and
Broadcasting Ministry aims to put special
focus on piracy on the internet. Under the
scheme, the campaign on piracy through
audio-visual, internet and print media will
be launched.
The piracy continues to be a key challenge
for the Indian film sector and has been a
prime reason for the decline of the home
video market in the country. The emerging
threat to legitimate exhibition of films is
illegal download of films available on
websites.
IGMRI AND CWC SIGNED
MOU FOR POST HARVEST
MANAGEMENT OF
FOODGRAINS
Department of Food & Public Distribution
under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, and
Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) on
25 October 2012 signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) for creating a Centre
of Excellence focusing on capacity building
About Crime and Criminal Tracking Network
and Systems (CCTNS)
The CCTNS is a mission mode project
under the National e-Governance
Plan of Government of India.
It aims at creating a comprehensive
and integrated system for enhancing
the efficiency and effectiveness of
policing through adopting the
principle of e-Governance.
The project also includes the creation
of a nationwide networking
infrastructure for evolution of IT-
enabled-state-of-the-art tracking
system around Investigation of crime
and detection of criminals.
The credit for the pilot launch goes to the
State police forces and the relentless support
and guidance provided by MHA (Ministry of
Home Affairs) and National Crime Records
Bureau (NCRB) officials.
CCTNS is 2000 rupees crore project,
approved in 2009 and spans across all the 35
states and Union Territories. It will be
connected to a total of more than 21,000
locations. At present, 2000 police stations
and other higher offices (mainly immigration
check posts) in the country have been
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in the areas of post harvest management
of food grain by providing training on
latest developments to the aspirants
internationally.
The MOU was signed by S. Gupta, Director
of Indian Grain Storage Management and
Research Institute (IGMRI), Hapur on behalf
of Department of Food & Public Distribution
and G. Mathialagan, Director of CWC.
As per the Memorandum of Understanding,
CWC is going to take over the management
of training functions and related facilities of
IGMRI, and develop it as a centre of
excellence for the purpose of training in
post harvest management of food grains
and other agricultural commodities.
The MOU was signed for a period of five
years which is effective from 25th October,
2012. The MOU ideates that CWC will
develop IGMRI, Hapur as an institution of
excellence to attract overseas participants
from SAARC nations, neighbouring
countries for training on post harvest
management of food grain.
PRIME MINISTER LAUNCHED
AADHAR BASED TRANSFER
SYSTEM
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 20
October 2012 launched Aadhaar Enabled
Service Delivery in Dudu district of
Rajasthan to mark the 2nd anniversary of
Aadhaar.
Also marking the second anniversary, the
21st crore Aadhaar number was given to a
local resident of Kurawar, district of
Udaipur.
With this launch of delivery system the
government is going to start out Aadhaar
Enabled Service Delivery initiatives in 51
districts across the country
Now, the services will be linked to various
government schemes such as MNREGA
wage payments, PDS distribution, payment
of social security benefits such as old-age
payments, distribution of LPG cylinders, etc.
A number of state governments are coming
ahead to roll out for these initiatives.
Currently 23 crore residents have enrolled
for an Aadhaar number, of which 21 crore
Aadhaar numbers have already issued.
Aadhaar, is a 12-digit number, which serves
as a proof of identity and address anywhere
in the country. It is an online identity
platform that can be accessed in real-time
for authenticating beneficiaries and can be
adapted by various user agencies.
PASSIVE EUTHANASIA
SUPPORTED BY THE LAW
PANEL
The Law Commission which advice
government on legal issues made a
recommendation to the government to
initiate measures to enact a
comprehensive law on passive euthanasia,
subject to certain safeguards.
According to the Commission, Passive
Euthanasia is not objectionable from a legal
and constitutional point of view.
It was in April 2011 that the UPA
government had asked the law commission
to study the feasibility of framing a law for
euthanasia after the legalization of Passive
Euthanasia in Aruna Shanbaug case after
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the Supreme Court verdict. The verdict was
just law of the land till it will enacted by
Parliament.
In its report on PASSIVE EUTHANASIA the
law commission recommended that a
competent adult patient, who can take an
informed decision, has the right to insist
that there should be no invasive medical
treatment by way of artificial life sustaining
measures.
It was also suggested by the commission
that if patients cannot take a decision on
their own, then the decision of the doctors
or relatives to withhold or withdraw the
medical treatment will not be final.
Also, the same rule will apply to a minor
above 16 years of age who has expressed
his or her wish not to have such treatment
provided the consent has been given by the
major spouse and one of the parents of
such patient.
Active euthanasia still remain a crime
under Section 302(murder) or 304
(culpable homicide not amounting to
murder) of the IPC, along with the
physician assisted suicide under section
306 IPC (abetment of suicide).

SC: LAND BELONGING TO
SCHEDULED CASTES OR
TRIBES CANNOT BE BOUGHT
BY NON-DALITS
September 2012 ruled that the land
belonging to scheduled castes or tribes
cannot be bought by non-dalits, including
companies as such transactions are
unconstitutional. A bench of justices KS
Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra gave the
verdict on an appeal by the Rajasthan
government against the state High Court's
order holding such a sale to be valid in law.
The Rajasthan High Court had passed its
order on an appeal by a private firm against
the refusal by the state authorities to
recognise or grant mutation to the purchase
of a plot by the company from a person
belonging to scheduled caste.
NEW MEASURES ANNOUNCED
FOR THE WELFARE OF
OVERSEAS INDIANS
Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian
Affairs inaugurated the 7th Heads of Indian
Missions (HoMs) conference on 17
September 2012.
He announced revised Indian Community
Welfare Fund (ICWF) scheme, which
includes:
a) Assistance towards boarding
expenses per head by HOMs is
enhanced from 15 to 30 days.
b) Payment of penalties in respect of
Indian nationals for illegal stay in the
host country where prima facie the
worker is not at fault.
What is Euthanasia?
Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally
ending a life in order to relieve pain and
suffering.
Passive euthanasia entails the withholding of
common treatments, such as antibiotics,
necessary for the continuance of life.
Active euthanasia entails the use of lethal
substances or forces, such as administering a
lethal injection, to kill and is the most
controversial means.

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c) Payment of small fines/penalties for
the release of Indian nationals in
jail/detention centre.
d) Providing support to local Overseas
Indian Associations to establish
Overseas Indian Community Centres
in countries that have populations of
Overseas Indians exceeding
1,00,000.
e) Providing support to start and run
Overseas Indian Community-based
student welfare centres in Countries
that have more than 20,000 Indian
students presence.
The Minister also mentioned that
Government has given the voting rights to
NRIs. The Government is also getting the
PIO and OCI Card Scheme merged into one
Scheme.
The conference was attended by Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as well
as Jordan, Yemen, Malaysia, Maldives,
Angola, Thailand, Nigeria, Iraq and Libya.
The conference is organized by the Minister
of Overseas Indian Affairs every year to
discuss the issues related to protection and
welfare of Overseas Indian workers.
There are approximately 7.5 million semi-
skilled and unskilled overseas Indian
workers in the GCC countries and Malaysia
on temporary employment/ contract visas,
predominantly in the construction,
healthcare and household services sectors.
The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs
(MOIA) is the nodal Ministry for protection
and welfare of Overseas Indian workers.
JAL SATYAGRAHA CAME TO
AN END AFTER 17 DAYS
DEMONSTRATION ON A
VICTORY NOTE
The most outstanding demonstrations of its
own kind in Khandawa district of Madhya
Pradesh named Jal Satyagraha continued
for 17 days at Omkareshwar Dam Project
came to an end on 10 September 2012.
Across 1000 acres of cultivatable land has
been submerged into water with at least 60
odd villages that will not be visible in the
map of India any more. The Satygrahis
demanded land for the land compensation
following the ruling of Supreme Court.
The oustees in the Satyagraha remained
standing in the neck deep water with
demands like lowering down the level of
water stored in the dam to 189 meters and
to provide land for land compensation
ended the battle on the victory note.
A high level committee has been
constituted to hear the grievances of the
dam effected people. The constituted
committee will comprise of Minister of
State for Narmada Valley Development K.L.
Agrawal, SC-ST Welfare Minister Kunwar
Vijay Shah, Commerce and Industries
Minister Kailash Vijaywargiya, Principal
Secretary, Narmada Valley Development
Rajneesh Vaish and the Indore Divisional
Commissioner.
THE GOVERNMENT
APPROVED A COMPLETE BAN
ON EMPLOYMENT OF
CHILDREN
The Union Government on 28 August 2012
cleared a proposal to put a complete ban
on employment of children up to the age
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of 14 both in hazardous and non-
hazardous work by amending an anti-child
labour Act. The Union Cabinet approved
bringing amendment to the Child Labour
(Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986,
which has also penal provisions for non
compliance.
As per the existing Act, children below 14
years of age are allowed to work in
industries not considered to be hazardous.
Children between 14-18 years will also be
defined as adolescents in the amended Act.
The amendment will also fulfill the mandate
of Right to Education to free and
compulsory education for children in the
age group of 6-15 years. It will also bring
labour laws in the country in line with
International Labour Organisation norms.
THE UNION GOVERNMENT
ISSUED AN ULTIMATUM TO
SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE
TWITTER
The DEIT (Department of Electronics and
Information Technology) on 21 August
2012 issued an ultimatum to social
networking site Twitter to block nearly 30
of its WebPages, which continue to host
morphed and inflammatory content or face
punitive action. The government served the
ultimatum on Twitter as it failed to comply
with the government order to block 28
web-pages on its site.
Government had already ordered blocking
of 310 web pages, which showed morphed
and inflammatory contents which allegedly
incited Muslims in India against people of
the Northeastern region resulting in to the
mass exodus of the latter from places in
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Karnataka and
Maharashtra.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
ENACTED PROHIBITION OF
CHILD MARRIAGE ACT 2006
The Government of India enacted the
Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA)
2006, which will have under its ambit all the
States and Union Territories of India except
the State of Jammu & Kashmir. The Act also
applies to all citizens of India without and
beyond India.
Under the PCMA 2006, every child marriage
is voidable at the option of the contracting
party who was a child at the time of the
marriage, within two years of the child
attaining majority.
PCMA 2006 replaced Child Marriage
Restraint Act (CMRA) of 1929. PCMA was
notified in the Gazette of India on 11
January, 2007 and has been enforced 1
November, 2007.
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CHAPTER 7: ECONOMY
UNION GOVERNMENT
APPROVED 14 FDI PROPOSALS
WORTH OVER 1300 CR
RUPEES
The Government of India on 11 January
2013 approved 14 FDI proposals which is
said to be about 1311 crore rupees
including that of Hindustan Port Ltd.
The approval of proposals was based on the
recommendations of Foreign Investment
Promotion Board (FIPB) in its meeting held
on 21 December 2012.
The proposal of Mumbai-based Hindustan
Port Ltd to induct foreign funds worth 440
crore rupees for investment in downstream
companies was also included among those
cleared by FIPB.
Foreign Investment Promotion Board
The Foreign Investment Promotion Board
(FIPB) is a government body that is
constituted for providing a single window
clearance to proposals on Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) in India which are not
allowed access through the automatic
route. It comprises of Secretaries who are
drawn from different ministries with
Secretary of Department of Economic
Affairs, MoF in the chair. As an inter-
ministerial body it examines the proposals
of foreign investments in the country
insectors with caps, sources and
instruments that require approval under
the extant FDI Policy (prescribed vide
Circular 1 of 2012) on a regular basis.
The Foreign Investment Promotion Board,
headed by Economic Affairs Secretary
Arvind Mayaram.
HIGHER FUNDS FOR INDIRA
AWAAS YOJANA
The Union Cabinet on 10 January 2013
approved the Ministry of Rural
Developments proposal to increase the
unit cost under Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY),
keeping under consideration the sharp
increase in the cost of materials.
As per the approved cost, unit assistance
under the scheme in plain areas had been
increased from 45000 to 70000 rupees and
for the hilly and difficult areas it had been
increase from 48500 to 75000 rupees.
The enhancement of unit assistance
provided for homestead site to rural below
poverty line (BPL) had been increased from
10000 rupees to 20000 rupees. The unit
assistance is provided to those households
who have neither agricultural land nor a
house site.

Indira Awas Yojana is a major scheme of the
Ministry of Rural Development which directly
aims at addressing rural housing issues by
providing grant for construction and up
gradation of dwelling units of BPL families.
The priority is especially given to Scheduled
Castes/Scheduled Tribes, freed bonded
labourers and physically challenged persons
with financial assistance.

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NATIONAL DATA CENTRE FOR
UIDAI TO COME UP IN
GURGAON
The Chief Minister of Haryana, Bhupinder
Singh Hooda on 7 January 2013 laid the
foundation stone of the state-of-the-art
National Data Centre of Unique
Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) at
Maneshar, Gurgaon in Haryana.
The centre that will spread in an area of
five-acres would serve as the respiratory
system for the UIDAI and would store all
the basic biometric and demographic
information of the residents, before the 12-
digit Aadhaar Number is issued. The
development work of the UIDAI center
would be completed by mid 2014 and is
being developed as a green data centre and
abides to all the global standards and
guidelines.
EMPOWERED GROUP OF
MINISTERS DECIDED TO
AUCTION FOUR TELECOM
CIRCLES IN 1800 MHZ BAND
The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM)
on 7 January 2013 decided to auction the
four telecom circles in 1800 MHz band,
which failed to win bidders in the
November 2012 auction. The EGoM also
decided to reduce the reserve price fixed in
November by 30 percent. The auction is
planned in March 2013.
Of the 1800 MHz Band the quantum of
spectrum that would be put forward for
auction in different states and cities are 15
MHz in Mumbai and Delhi and 10 MHz in
Rajasthan and Karnataka. There also are
provisions of getting an extra topping of
3.75 MHz as was in November 2012.
UNION GOVERNMENT
DOUBLED 12TH PLAN OUTLAY
FOR SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY MINISTRY
Union Science and Technology Minister S.
Jaipal Reddy on 4 January 2013 declared
that the Centres allocation for the science
and technology and earth sciences ministry
had been doubled for the 12th Plan period.
The declaration came in the inauguration
ceremony of Children Science Congress as
part of the 100th Indian Science Congress
where Jaipal Reddy announced that in the
12th Five-Year Plan, the combined planned
allocation for science and technology and
earth sciences had been nearly doubled
from 33000 crore rupees in the previous
Plan period to around 60000 crore rupees in
the present 12th plan period.
The Minister S. Jaipal Reddy also stressed
on the newly announced Science,
Technology and Innovation Policy, and
recommended that the policy would
emphasise on the importance of greater
innovation and suggested that there is a
need for integrating science, research and
innovation to develop valuable
technologies.
A PM Doctoral Research Fellowship in
partnership with industry had also been
initiated where already 30 (such)
fellowships have been awarded to doctoral
students. The Minister invited the students
of the country to avail such opportunities
like the Prime Minister's Research
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Fellowship scheme being offered by the
Government of India.
UNION GOVERNMENT
CONSTITUTED THE 14TH
FINANCE COMMISSION
UNDER FORMER RBI
GOVERNOR YV REDDY
Union Government on 2 January 2013
constituted the 14th Finance Commission
under former Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
governor Yaga Venugopal Reddy.
The commission under YV Reddy is going to
primarily review finances of the
governments keeping in mind the fiscal
consolidation road map that was laid out by
his predecessor Vijay Kelkar, the head of
13th finance Commission.
The Commission would have three full-time
members-
Sushma Nath, Former Finance
Secretary
M. Govind Rao, Director, NIPFP and
Sudipto Mundle, Former Acting
Chairman of National Statistical
The Commission would also have Abhijit
Sen, the Member of Planning Commission
as its part-time member. Also, Ajay Narayan
Jha had been appointed Secretary to the
Commission.s
The commission has to give its report by
October next year and the
recommendations will come into effect
from April, 2015 for a five-year period.
Functions 14th Finance Commission will
perform
Among the new areas of
recommendations on public sector
units (PSUs), the commission will
suggest how to list these units on
the bourses and will also give its
prescriptions on the disinvestment
process.
The commission has also been asked
to recommend how non-priority
PSUs be relinquished.
The commission will recommend
measures for segregating the pricing
of public utility services such as
drinking water, irrigation, power and
public transport from policy
fluctuations through statutory
provisions.
It will also suggest measures for
maintaining a stable and sustainable
fiscal environment consistent with
equitable growth including
suggestions to amend the Fiscal
Responsibility Budget Management
Act.

About Finance Commission
The Finance commission is set up every five
years. Article 280 of the Constitution
provides for setting up of a finance
commission to recommend how net earnings
of taxes are to be divided between the Union
and states and subsequently among the
states.
The Finance Commission Act of 1951 states
the terms of qualification, appointment and
disqualification, the term, eligibility and
powers of the Finance Commission.
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UNION FINANCE MINISTER P
CHIDAMBARAM UNVEILED
CASH TRANSFER ROLLOUT
PLAN
The government is going to roll out its
ambitious scheme of transferring cash to
beneficiaries of select schemes in 20
districts on 1 January 2013, but food,
fertiliser and fuel subsidies will not be
covered in the initial phase.
As per the roll-out plan, more and more
districts and schemes would be covered
under the scheme during the course of
2013.
All 26 schemes are ready for rollout. On 1
January 2013 the seven schemes in which
payout is due in the (20 selected) districts,
the money will be transferred through the
direct benefit transfer system using the
UIDAI platform.
BIHAR BECAME THE FASTEST
GROWING INDIAN STATE
BETWEEN 2006 AND 2010
As per the data released by the Planning
Commission of India, Bihar became the
fastest growing state in India at 10.9 per
cent between 2006 and 2010 while
Gujarats growth rate declined to 9.3 per
cent and it lagged behind Bihar and other
four states- Orissa, Maharashtra, Haryana,
Chhattisgarh in terms of growth rate. Bihar
was the slowest growing state during 2001-
05 periods with GDP figure of 2.9 percent
whereas Gujarat was the fastest growing
state between 2001 and 2005 with figure of
11 percent.
Chhattisgarh grew from 7.7 per cent in
2001-05 to 10 per cent growth between
2006 and 2010 while Haryana grew from
8.4 per cent to 9.7 per cent, Maharashtra
from 8.2 per cent to 9.6 per cent and Orissa
from 7.8 per cent to 9.4 per cent between
2006 and 2010.
UNION GOVERNMENT
APPROVED SELLING 12. 5
PERCENT STAKE IN
RASHTRIYA CHEMICALS AND
FERTILIZERS
The union government of India approved
selling 12.5 percent stake in Rashtriya
Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF) on 26
December 2012. This is said to be the 11th
public sector undertaking which is approved
for the action.
Finance minister P. Chidambaram
announced that the Cabinet Committee on
Economic Affairs (CCEA) agreed to disinvest
12.5 per cent paid-up equity capital of RCF.
The government would make an effort to
wind up the entire process in 2012-2013
financial year, which would end on 31
March 2013.
As of now, government held 92.5 percent
stake in RCF. The paid-up capital of RCF was
551.7 crore Rupees. Considering the
present market price of 57.8 Rupees per
share, the stake of 12.5 percent would bring
in 360 crore Rupees to exchequer.
The finance minister also announced that it
was decided to make use of the offer for
sale via the auction or stock exchanges, but
it might be altered to follow-on public offer.
Disinvestment would help RCF meet its
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minimum public shareholding of 10
percent, which was prescribed to it by SEBI.
BHATINDA SRINAGAR GAS
PIPELINE PROJECT TO BE
COMPLETED BY JULY 2014
The Jammu and Kashmir Government on 10
December 2012 informed that the 328-km-
long Bhatinda-Jammu-Srinagar gas pipeline
project is scheduled to be completed by July
2014 to draw gas from Gujarat to the State.
UNION GOVERNMENT
EXEMPTED SERVICE TAX FOR
JANASHREE AND AAM AADMI
BIMA YOJANA
Union Government of India in the month of
December granted service tax exemption
on the services of life insurance business
provided under the Aam Aadmi Bima
Yojana (AABY) and Janashree Bima Yojana
(JBY).
Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana (AABY) was
launched in August 2007 and it basically
covers death and disability insurance for the
benefit of rural landless households.
The Granting of Tax Exemption is going to
save some money of the government as the
central contribution towards premium in
the two schemes is 50% and the rest is
contributed by state governments.
The Centre has created a fund that is being
operated by LIC for meeting the liability of
the Central Government towards premium
payment.
AABY also provides for educational
assistance to the beneficiaries children
studying from 9 to 12 Standard as an
extended benefit. A separate fund has been
created for providing scholarship to the
children of beneficiaries.

About Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana (AABY)
AABY provides for insurance of the
head of the family or earning member
of the family of rural landless
households between the age of 18
and 59 years against natural death or
accidental death and
partial/permanent disability.
The annual premium payable is 200
rupees of which 50 per cent shall be
payable by the Union Government
and the remaining 50 per cent by the
State Government.

About Janashree Bima Yojana (JBY)
Janashree Bima Yojana (JBY) was
launched in August 2000 and it
provides life insurance protection to
people who are below poverty line or
marginally above poverty line.
Persons aged between 18 years and
59 years and who are members of the
identified 45 occupational groups are
eligible to be covered under the
scheme.
The premium for the JBY is 200
rupees per member. While 50 per
cent premium under the scheme is
met out of Social Security Fund
maintained by LIC, the balance 50 per
cent premium is borne by the
member and/or nodal agency.

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INDIA TO SIGN MUTUAL
LEGAL ASSISTANCE TREATY IN
CRIMINAL MATTERS WITH
FOUR OTHER NATIONS
India would sign Mutual Legal Assistance
Treaty in the criminal matters with four
other countries in 2013. The treaty in
general helps in mutual assistance between
two nations for preventing, investigating as
well as prosecuting crime.
Discussions on treaty were initiated already
with four countries namely Azerbaijan,
Israel, Nepal and Oman. Ministry of Home
Affairs announced that formal signing of
this treaty will take place in 2013.
As of now, India has signed the treaty with
32 countries which include Russia, Egypt,
US, South Africa, France, Switzerland, UK,
Canada, UAE and Iran. The agreement is
important because it helps in fighting back
the trans-national organised crimes such as
money laundering, terrorism, counterfeit
currency, smuggling of explosives and arms,
drug trafficking and much more.

UNION MINISTER OF FINANCE
P CHIDAMBARAM FINALISED
GAAR AMENDMENT
Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on
18 November 2012 disclosed that the
Amendments to GAAR, the controversial
law against tax avoidance through foreign
investments, had been finalised.
Supporting the fact P. Chidambaram
asserted that the amendments to the
Chapter 10A of the Income Tax Act which
deals with taxation of investments were
finalized and it will be sent to the Prime
Ministers Office (PMO).
GAAR (General Anti-Avoidance Rules),
which was proposed in 2012-13 budgets
with a view to preventing tax evasion,
generated sharp reactions from foreign as
well as domestic investors who feared that
ungoverned powers to taxmen is going to
result in harassment of investors.
To look into the concerns a committee was
appointed then by the government which
was headed by tax expert Parthasarthi
Shome.
Issue relating to retrospective tax
amendment on which the Shome
Committee had submitted its report, is also
under consideration with the drafting going
on and it will go to the PMO and then to the
Cabinet.
The government is keen to get the
investment engine ongoing and measures
were being taken by the government to
create a better climate.
CST, a tax imposed on the inter-state
movement of goods, was reduced from 4
per cent to 3 per cent in 2007-08 and
further to 2 per cent in 2008-09 after the
introduction of Value-Added Tax (VAT).
The committee set up by Finance Minister
P Chidambaram to resolve the CST issue
had suggested that the payment of 34000
crore rupees be made to the states
towards losses on account of phasing out
of CST.
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UNION GOVERNMENT BODY
CCEA LIFTED EXPORT BAN ON
SOME MILK PRODUCTS
The Union Government body, Cabinet
Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 1
November 2012 lifted the export ban on
milk products, especially on whole milk
powder (WMP), dairy whitener, infant milk
foods and other milk products till March
2013.
In February 2011 to meet the domestic
supply of Milk Products the Union
government had imposed ban on export of
all kinds of milk products that is skimmed
milk powder (SMP), whole milk powder
(WMP), dairy whitener, infant milk foods,
casein and casein products.
However the ban was withdrawn in for
Casein in April 2012 and for Skimmed Milk
Powder (SMP) in June 2012.
As per the Government Statistics, there is a
stock of 1.12 lakh tonnes of milk powder in
the country. As much as 300 lakh kilos of
milk per day were procured in the country
in September 2012 while sales were to the
tune of only 260 lakh kilos per day.
INDIAN SOVEREIGN RATING IS
STABLE-MOODY
The rating agency, Moody's Investors
Services on 26 September 2012 in its
Outlook for India expected stability due to
the newly announced reforms (FDI & hike in
petrol rates). It believed that these reforms
will help India in pairing up of the fiscal
deficits. Indian sovereign credit rating
outlook was kept by the agency at Baa3 for
the medium term.
Whereas, the outlook to India by the rating
agencies Fitch and Standard & Poors was
negative, where the two agencies showed
concerns towards the pace of reforms going
on in India along with the economic
downfall.
SERVICE TAX ON HIGH-END
CLASS TRAVEL, FREIGHT AND
AUXILIARY SERVICE RAIL
FARES
The new Railway Minister C.P. Joshi and the
Finance Minister P. Chidambaram in their
meeting held on 26 September 2012 came
up with the decision to regulate service
taxes on high-end passenger classes like AC
along with freight and auxiliary services
provided by the railways. The taxation will
be in effect from 1 October 2012.
Implementation of the taxes will help the
exchequer in generating estimated revenue
of Rs 3100 Crore annually.
Percentage increase in the fair chart for
different segments is as follows:
First Class - 7 percent
Air-conditioned - 3.708 percent
Freight charges - 3.708 per cent
Auxiliary services at stations 12.36
percent
The fair for high-end passengers
have been increased by 30 percent
Busy route surcharge during busy season of
maximum 10 percent varying from
commodity to commodity on freight will
also come on effect from 1 October 2012.
This step will help in winning an additional
sum of Rs 826 crore in upcoming six months
for the railways.
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GOVERNMENT REDUCED
INTEREST RATES ON
RESCHEDULED CROP LOANS
FROM 12 TO 7 PERCENT
Government on 11 September 2012
reduced interest rates on rescheduled crop
loans from 12 to 7 per cent in drought-
affected areas for this fiscal. It also
increased the number of guaranteed work
days under the MGNREGA to 150 days
from 100 days. Four Indian states namely
Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra and
Rajasthan have declared drought in more
than 390 taluks.
During agrarian crisis, crop loans get
converted into term loans for a longer
period of three years but at a higher
interest rate of 12 per cent.
The Empowered Group of Ministers also
approved 846 crore rupees to Karnataka,
Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana under
the National Rural Drinking Water
Programme, and relaxed some norms.
SUPREME COURT REFUSED
TO LIFT BAN ON MINING
ACTIVITIES IN KARNATAKA
The Supreme Court of India on 17 August
2012 ruled that it would not allow
resumption of mining activities of iron ore
in Karnataka unless there is a statutory
compliance and full implementation of
reclamation and rehabilitation measures.
The Supreme Court was hearing to a
petition filed by an NGO Samaj Parivartana
Samudaya, against the illegal mining and
encroachment of forest areas in the state.
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan
appeared for NGO.
An alleged 35 lakh metric tons of iron ore
have been illegally exported by private
firms in Karnataka. Accepting the
recommendations of CEC, the Supreme
Court on 13 April 2012 had suspended new
mining leases in Bellary, Tumkur and
Chitradurga districts of Karnataka unless
rehabilitation plans for the existing leases
were executed.
THE GOVERNMENT EXTENDED
THE BAN ON IMPORT OF MILK
AND MILK PRODUCTS FROM
CHINA
The Food Safety and Standards Authority
of India (FSSAI) recommended the
extension of the ban till 23 June 2012 or
until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The notification for ban was issued on 4 July
2012 by the Directorate General of Foreign
Trade. The banned milk products include
chocolate, chocolate products, candies,
confectionery, food preparations with milk
or milk solids as ingredient.
The prohibition on import of milk and its
products from China was imposed on 24
September, 2008 because the milk products
imported from China contained melamine.
Melamine is a banned substance injurious
to health.
FDI INFLOW IN CHINA
DECREASED 3.7 PERCENT,
FIRST TIME IN 3 YEARS
The FDI inflow of China dipped in for the
first time in 3 years. There was a decline of
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3.7 percent in the FDI inflow of China over
2012, as per the data revealed by the
Ministry of Commerce in Beijing.
However, China still holds its position as the
most lucrative FDI destination in the world.
It drew 111.7 billion dollar FDI in 2012 in
comparison to 116 billion dollar in 2011. FDI
flows nevertheless sink in for 7th month in
a row in December 2012 with a fall of 4.5
percent in comparison to November 2012.
Analysts are of the view that the foreign
players were restricting their investments
keeping in mind the taking over of new
President of China, Xi Jinping in March
2013, who is expected to liberalise the
Chinese economy more. This might lead to
relaxation of capital account controls.
RBI AND THE STATE BANK OF
VIETNAM SIGNED A
MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 16
November 2012 signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the State Bank
of Vietnam (SBV) for promoting greater co-
operation and sharing supervisory
information, between the two supervisors.
The MoU between the two banks was
signed at Hanoi, Vietnam in the
Headquarters of State Bank of Vietnam and
by the Chief General Manager-In-Charge,
Department of Banking Supervision, RBI- G.
Jaganmohan Rao and Chief Inspector,
Banking Supervision Agency, SBV- Nguyen
Huu Nghia. The Deputy Governor, SBV-
Dang Thanh Binh, and Indian Ambassador
to Hanoi- Ranjit Rae graced this occasion of
signing the MoU.
DEUTSCHE BANK APPOINTED
AS THE DEPOSITORY BANK
FOR GDR OF IIPL
Deutsche Bank was appointed as the
depository bank for Global Depository
Receipt (GDR) of Indiabulls Infrastructure
and Power Limited (IIPL). Global Depository
Receipt (GDR) of Indiabulls Infrastructure
and Power Limited (IIPL) is listed in the
Luxemborg Stock Exchange.
Indiabulls Infrastructure and Power Limited
is the part of Indiabulls Group. It facilitates
various companies that venture in power
generation, distribution and transmission,
with the consultancy services.
Indiabulls Infrastructure and Power Limited
were also involved in the power generation,
distribution and transmission business
through its partner Indiabulls Power
Limited. IIPL holds 44.48 percent interest in
the Indiabulls Power Limited.
SPICE GLOBAL ENTERED
HEALTHCARE SECTOR IN
INDIA; ANNOUNCED
INVESTING OVER 1400 CRORE
RUPEES
Spice Global, the diversified company on 22
January 2013 entered into the healthcare
sector and also announced its plans to
invest more than 1400 crore Rupees by
2016 in order to establish its 1st hospital.
The hospital called Saket City Hospital
would have 1000 beds at first.
Global Founder and Chairman B K Modi
announced that the company had already
committed 400 crore Rupees for first phase
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of its hospital project in which there will be
230 beds by June 2013.
Spice Global is a Singapore-based company
that has left its presence in various sectors
such as finance, entertainment and
mobility. The Chairman of the company
additionally also announced that 150 crore
Rupees were invested already in the project
and remaining investment was in process.
The investment would be funded through
the internal accruals.
The Saket City Hospital by Spice Global was
inaugurated on 22 January 2013 and it
would be expanded to the capacity of 1000
beds by mid 2016.
Spice Global is a 2 billion US dollar firm with
its mark in various locations of the world. It
employs more than 9000 employees across
its different locations.
RELIANCE INDUSTRIES SHUT
8TH WELL IN KG-D6; GAS
OUTPUT FELL TO ALL-TIME
LOW
Reliance Industries shut down its eighth
well on the main gas-producing field in KG-
D6 block, which compelled the output to
drop down to an all-time low at 20.88
million metric standard cubic metre per day
(mmscmd).
As per the status report of Directorate
General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), RIL shut
down the well B6 on 9 January 2013 on the
Dhiburbhai-1 and 3 (D1&D3) in Krishna
Godavari basin KG-D6 block because of
water loading. Earlier on 29 November
2012, RIL had shut B4, which was the
seventh well on D1&D3 field.
However, shutting of B6 well dropped down
the output from D1&D3 to 16.98 million
standard cubic meters per day during the
week which ended on 13 January 2013.
With the 4.37 mmsmcd sourcing from the
MA oilfield in the same block, overall
output equaled 21.35 mmscmd in the week.
However, production fell down even more
to 20.88 mmscmd in the fourth week of
January 2013, which is the lowest since
April 2009.
So far, Reliance Industries drilled 22 wells in
all on the D1&D3 fields. However, only 18
out of these are on production till now.
D1&D3 started production of gas in April
2009 and had mounted to 55 mmscmd in
August 2010. Later, there was an ingression
of water as well as sand in the wells.
HINDALCO FINALIZED
ARRANGEMENTS TO ACQUIRE
BAUXITE MINES AND
ALUMINA REFIRNERY FROM
NOVELIS
The metals flagship of Aditya Birla Group,
Hindalco Industries on 18 January 2013
announced that as a part of its corporate
reorganization plan, it has finalized
arrangements with Novelis Do Brasil, its
wholly owned subsidiary Novelis for
acquiring the bauxite mines and alumina
refinery in Brazil.
Execution of the agreement was done
between Novelis Do Brasil, Novelis and AV
Minerals the wholly owned subsidiaries of
Hindalco Industries.
The 145 KTPA, alumina refinery is located
in Ouro Preto, State of Minas Gerias, Brazil
and have a right of carrying on mining
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activities over 50 million tonnes of bauxite
reserves. The alumina assets of the Novelis
Do Brasil would be transferred to the new
company being developed in Brazil and the
shares of the company would be acquired
by the MV Minerals.
UNION GOVERNMENT
APPROVED THE PARTIAL DE-
NOTIFICATION OF RIL SEZ
The Union Government in the month of
January 2013 had given its approval to
Reliance Industries plans of de-notifying
more than 40 per cent of its multi-product
Special Economic Zone in Jamnagar subject
to refund of all tax benefits it received for
developing the area.
The company has also been asked to obtain
a no-objection-certificate from the State
Government of Gujarat.
It was in the second week of January that
Reliance Industries (RIL) had applied for de-
notification of over 40 per cent of its Special
Economic Zone in Gujarat as it plans an
investment of 45000 crore rupees in that
area to cater to the domestic market.
RILs multi product SEZ is spread over
1764.14 hectares. The company wanted
partial de-notification of an area of 728.43
hectares, leaving 1035.72 hectares of plan
for the multi-product special economic
zone.
Now, the clearance is subject to the
company getting an NOC from the State
Government and refunding all tax benefits
it received for developing the de-notified
area.
The developer has applied for partial de-
notification so as to implement a number of
new projects in the domestic tariff area in
Jamnagar near the SEZ. The proposed
projects will mainly cater to the significant
existing domestic demand.
SEZ is going to retain its multi-product
status as the total area would remain higher
than the minimum required area of 1000
hectares. Even though the SEZ mainly
comprises refineries, retaining the multi-
product status will allow the company to
invest in value-added products later, if it
wants to.
It had been seen in the past that a number
of SEZs have sought de-notification and
cancellation of approval following the
Governments decision to impose the
minimum alternate tax and dividend
distribution tax on SEZ investors.
GAIL INDIA COMMISSIONED
DABHOL LIQUEFIED NATURAL
GAS TERMINAL
GAIL India announced successful
commissioning of 5 million tonne capacity
Dabhol liquefied natural gas (LNG)
terminal on 10 January 2013 at Ratnagiri in
Maharashtra. This is the third LNG terminal.
The remaining two are set up at Dahej and
Hazira in Gujarat.
With the commissioning of 5 million tonnes
(MT) capacity Dabhol LNG terminal, the
overall capacity of India to manage the
imported LNG reached approximately 20
MT per annum. The Dabhol LNG terminal
was set up at a cost of 4000 crore Rupees.
This terminal would play a crucial role in
meeting the demands of the industries in
Maharashtra.
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State-owned GAIL India planned to expand
its terminal to 7.5 MT by 2015 and
thereafter increasing its capacity to 10 MT
by 2017. The Dabhol LNG terminal would
act as entry for natural gas to western as
well as southern parts of India including
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa and
Maharashtra.
Ratnagiri Gas and Power Private limited
(RGPPL) operates the Dabhol LNG terminal.
RGPPL is the joint venture of NTPC and GAIL
India as the prime shareholders along with
the rest of the equity held by Maharashtra
State Electricity Board and financial
institutions. GAIL however is the
commercial operator of this terminal and
had started commissioning cargo for it back
in December 2012.
At present, the LNG demand of India is
satisfied only by Dahej and Hazira. In light of
the decrease in home gas production, the
present gas capabilities operate at their
maximum rates. Commissioning of Dabhol
LNG terminal will help in facilitating the
higher volumes of LNG imports.
PR FONROCHE INAUGURATED
FIRST SOLAR PLANT UNDER
NATIONAL SOLAR MISSION
BATCH II
PR Fonroche on 10 January 2013
inaugurated a 5 MW Solar Plant at Gajner
near Bikaner in Rajasthan. The project is a
part of the 20 MW project of PR Fonroche
that was won by the company through the
process of independent bidding in the
National Solar Mission, Phase I Batch II. The
next 15 MW plant would be commissioned
officially on 15 January 2013 but the
electricity production at the site at present
is in process.
The project is the first of the 340 MW
projects, which are being developed under
the Phase I Batch II of the Mission.
PR Fonroche
It is a Joint Venture of the French company
Fonroche and the Indian company PR Clean
Energy. The two companies are working as
partners for setting up a 200 MW of Solar-
Voltaic Plants in India. PR Fonroche was
successful in winning the project with the
bidding tariff of 9.1 rupees per kWhr. The
company expects a total production of 38
million units of electricity per year or 1.9
million units in total per year and it uses
Film Modules developed by a US Company,
First Solar.
SUPREME COURT REJECTED
SAHARA PETITION ON
REFUND OF 24000 CRORE
RUPEES
The Supreme Court on 9 January 2013
dismissed Sahara group's petition for
review of its verdict directing its two firms
Sahara India Real Estate Corporation (SIREC)
and Sahara Housing Investment
Corporation (SHIC) to refund around 24000
crore rupees to their investors with 15
percent interest per annum.
A bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and J
S Khehar, declaring an order stated that all
the records placed before them were
meticulously examined and dealt with.
Review petitions are, therefore, not
entertained and accordingly stand
dismissed.
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The bench asserted that all the contentions
raised by the companies were considered
by it while passing its August 2012 verdict
and there is no need to review the same.
The verdict on the review plea assumes
significant as the firms have again filed a
fresh application for extension of time for
paying back to their investors.
Although the 31 August 2012 verdict was
passed by a bench of justices
Radhakrishnan and Khehar but another
bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas
Kabir on 5 December 2012 had modified
the judgment granting the group nine more
weeks to pay back 24000 crore rupees with
interest to over three crore investors.
ALLAHABAD BANK SIGNED
MOU WITH CHAMBER OF
INDIAN MICRO, SMALL AND
MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Allahabad bank signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Chamber of
Indian Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (CIMSME) in Kolkata on 4
January 2013. The MoU was signed to
support the priority sector lending.
CIMSME is basically a body that represents
interest of the companies in the Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)
sector, with the financial institutions, banks,
concerned ministries as well as other
organisations.
According to the agreement, CIMSME
would help in activating the proposals from
the members for the due consideration of
the bank. Once the bank sanctions the loan,
CIMSME would help the bank in following-
up as well as recovering the dues. CIMSME
would also help in providing the early signs
of warning, if they exist.
MoU signed between the two will basically
help in accelerating the process of faster
clearance of loan proposals which lie under
MSME. It would additionally, also enable
the bank in acquiring quality proposals as
well as boosting up the credit flow to this
sector.
MoU signed between CIMSME and
Allahabad Bank was executed by General
Manager (SME & Retail Credit) as well as
the President of CIMSME in the presence of
CMD of Allahabad Bank.
UNION GOVERNMENT
DECIDED TO DISINVEST
STAKES IN OIL INDIA, NTPC
The Union government in month of January
2013 decided to divest 10 percent stake in
Oil India in the second fortnight of January
and follow this up by disposing of 9.5
percent holding in NTPC in February 2013.
As per the Disinvestment Secretary D.K.
Mittal the 10 percent stake in Oil India
could fetch around 2700 crore rupees at
current market prices also the 9.5 percent
stake sale in National Thermal Power
Corporation (NTPC) could yield over 12000
crore rupees for the exchequer.
The government proposes to divest in NTPC
through the Offer for Sale (auction) route.
Post-disinvestment, the government stake
would come down to 75 percent. NTPC
went public with an initial public offer (IPO)
in 2004.
The government has set a 30000 crore
rupees disinvestment target for the current
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fiscal. So far, it has managed to raise
over.6900 crore rupees through minority
stake sales in PSUs. The National Mineral
Development Corporation (NMDC) issue
had fetched 6000 crore rupees. Hindustan
Copper divestment brought in 808 crore
rupees for the government.
The government had identified 10
companies, including Oil India, SAIL and
Hindustan Aeronautics, and plans to sell 10
percent stake each in Rashtriya Ispat Nigam
Ltd. and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
Also in the pipeline are 12.15 percent stake
sale in aluminium producer Nalco, 10.82
percent in steel giant SAIL and 9.33 percent
in Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation.
NATIONAL ALUMINIUM CO
LTD (NALCO) COMMISSI ONED
ITS FIRST WIND POWER
PROJECT
National Aluminium Co Ltd (Nalco) in the
Month of January 2013 commissioned its
first wind power project at Gandikota in
Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh.
Nalco which is the Government-owned
manufacturer and distributor of aluminum
products had invested around 275 crore
rupees for the 50-MW Suzlon-erected
project.
Nalco signed a power purchase agreement
with the States power transmission utility
Transco and has begun inoculation of
power to the State grid. The windmill
project had received clearance from the
Ministry of Forests and Environment.
Also, setting up of the second wind power is
on the line which is supposed to be of 50
MW, and will be situated in Jaisalmer
district of Rajasthan. The cost of this project
is estimated to be around 190 crore rupees.
Nalco, a large thermal power consumer for
its aluminium smelting in Odisha, is
appreciative to generate renewable energy
under electricity regulations.
As per the Ministry of New and Renewable
Energy, the Indian Wind Turbine
Manufactures Association (WTMA) had
reported that public sector units have so far
established around 1135 MW of wind
power projects in the country, besides solar
power projects of 27 MW.

KG-D6, GAS PRODUCING
FIELDS REACHED LOWEST GAS
OUTPUT LEVEL SINCE
INCEPTION
The biggest gas producing fields of India in
Krishna Godavari basin (KG-D6), which are
controlled by Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) as
well as UKs BP, reached the lowest level of
output ever since it was incepted. After the
production level of gas producing fields
touched peak levels of 60 million standard
cubic metres of gas per day (mmscmd), the
output remained 22.77 mmscmd in second
week of December 2012.
ICICI BANK OPENED 101
GRAMIN BRANCHES ACROSS
VILLAGES IN SIX STATES
ICICI Bank, the largest private sector bank of
India on 13 December 2012 opened 101
distinct Gramin branches or rural branches
as the part of its financial enclosure plan.
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These branches were opened in villages
which lack the banking facilities, across six
states of India.
All these Gramin Branches of the ICICI Bank
would remain open for 4 hours per day and
6 days per week. These branches would
offer banking services like fixed and
recurring deposits, saving bank accounts,
remittances, tractor loans as well as Kisan
credit cards. Just like their current rural
branches, ICICI will have at least 3
employees at the bank. Depending upon
the business of the bank, ICICI might also
make an addition of ATMs to a few of these
rural branches.
INFOSYS SHARES STARTED
TRADING ON NEW YORK
STOCK EXCHANGE
Infosys Ltd, Indias second-largest IT
services provider on 12 December 2012
announced that its American Depositary
Shares (ADS) have started trading on the
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the
ticker symbol INFY.
The company is also in the process of listing
its ADS on the Paris and London exchanges
of NYSE Euronext.
Earlier in the month of December the
company had announced transfer of its
NASDAQ-listed ADS to NYSE, which basically
aimed to give its European investors better
access to its stock.
At the end of September quarter, Infosys
had 6.67 crore ADS representing 11.62 per
cent of its total number of shares, according
to BSE data.
An American Depositary Shares (ADS) is a
US dollar-denominated equity share of a
foreign-based company available for
purchase on an American stock exchange.
TELECOM COMMISSION
APPROVED 1500 CRORE
RUPEES SUBSIDY FOR BSNL
The Inter Ministerial body Telecom
Commission of India on 12 December 2012
gave its nod to a 1500 crore Rupees subsidy
to state owned BSNL for supporting its
landline operations in rural areas.
The approval came in line with the TRAI
recommendation which had suggested that
2700 crore rupees should be given to BSNL
as operations in rural areas dont generate
enough revenues.
LOBBY BILL OF WAL-MART
HIT AROUND 125 CRORE
RUPEES TO SEEK ENTRY INTO
INDIA
Wal-Mart had filed the lobbying disclosure
report with US Senate and it was found
that the retail giant had incurred around 25
million dollar or approximately 125 crore
Rupees in the lobbying activities. These
lobbying activities also included issues
which were associated with increased
access to the Indian markets for
investments.
SAHARA COMPANIES GOT
TWO MONTHS TIME TO
REPAY INVESTORS MONEY
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The Supreme Court of India on 5 December
2012 provided a relief to two Sahara
companies when it gave them the time of
two months till first week of February 2012.
The two Sahara companies- Sahara India
Real Estate Corporation (SIRECL) and
Sahara Housing Investment Corporation
(SHICL) are required to deposit 24000 crore
Rupees to the investors. The Apex Court
provided breather to the Sahara Companies
when it declared that the companies can
deposit 24000 crore Rupees, which was
collected from the investors, in two
installments with SEBI.
SBI ANNOUNCED
EXPECTATION OF 4000 CRORE
RUPEES EQUITY FROM THE
GOVERNMENT
State Bank of India (SBI), the largest lender
of India on 5 December 2012 announced
about its expectation of infusion of
approximately 4000 crore Rupees from the
government in 2012-2013 fiscal year. SBI
declared that this move would help it in
ramping up the capital to more than 13
percent.
The Managing Director and Chief Financial
Officer of SBI declared that they were
expecting the government to infuse a
capital of around 4000 crore Rupees. What
will be the mode of infusion was still under
discussion. It was declared that various
options for mode of infusion were given to
the government but the final decision
would be that of the government itself.
TEA BOARD OF INDIA JOINED
HAND WITH EUROPEAN TEA
COMMITTEE TO PROTECT
DARJEELING TEA
Tea Board of India signed a joint
Communiqu with European tea
Committee on 17 October 2012.
It was agreed with signing of communiqu
that both the oraganisation will cooperate
and work together in distributing
information about the Protected
Geographical Indication (PGI) registration
and its implications in Germany and other
tea consuming countries within the
European Union.
Now with the implementation of PGI, tea
produced only in Darjeeling can be labelled
and sold as Darjeeling Tea within the
territory of European Union.
SEBI ASKED GOVERNMENT TO
SET UP SPECIAL COURT FOR
SPEEDY TRIAL
Security Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on
22 October 2012 asked the government to
set up special courts to fast-track the
process of bringing the guilty to book.
The grievances came into light with SEBI
Worried over delays in prosecution of those
found to be involved in frauds and other
offences with some cases pended for
several years.
Keeping it into light SEBI Chairman U K
Sinha, made grievances to government for
special courts to expedite the process and
had also asked the government to facilitate
the same with immediate effect.
In India, there is a provision for setting up
special courts to deal with certain class of
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offences under the Special Courts Act of
1979. There are special courts for
corruption and other cases, including some
that are handled by CBI.
The Supreme Court earlier had also
asserted that the government should
constitute more designated courts to
dispense with the cases expeditiously. The
government in 1992 had enacted the
Special Court (Trial of Offences relating to
Transactions in Securities) Act after the
Harshad Mehta scam.
PETROLEUM MINISTRYS NON
APPROVAL TO RILS
INVESTMENT PLANS
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry on
17 October 2012 escalating the troubles of
Reliance India Limited informed the Prime
Minister office that it would not approve
the investments of the company on its KG-
D6 fields. The ministry came to its decision
after the company refused to allow the CAG
(Comptroller and Auditor General of India)
the federal body that would scrutinize
spending made by the company during
2008-09 and 2011-2012 in the block.
The Petroleum Secretary, G.C. Chaturvedi at
a meeting in the Prime Ministers Office
informed Pulok Chatterjee, the Principal
Secretary to the Prime Minister about the
issues related to KG-D6 fields and the
production fall in the KG-DWN-98/3 Block
by 26 mcmd (million cubic metres per day),
which was less than half of the target
investments approved by the Government.
ICICI BANK SIGNED AN
AGREEMENT WITH ECO BANK
OF AFRICA
ICICI Bank on 15 October 2012 signed a
memorandum of understanding (MoU) with
Ecobank Transnational Incorporated of
Africa in order to extend their banking
services across their combined footprint in
India and Africa.
The MoU was signed in Tokyo by Vijay
Chandok, President - International Banking
Group of ICICI Bank Ltd and Arnold Ekpe,
Group CEO of Ecobank.
Indias trade with Africa has doubled in the
past four years. Stronger investment ties
are complementing this steady growth in
trade with Indian investments in Africa
across a range of sectors including oil & gas,
pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, fertilizers,
IT and infrastructure.
About Eco Bank
Eco Bank is a pan-African banking
conglomerate, with banking operations in
35 African countries. It is the leading
independent regional banking group in
West Africa and Central Africa, serving
wholesale and retail customers. Ecobank
was incorporated in Lome, Togo. Ecobank
Transnational Incorporated is the parent
company of the leading independent pan-
African banking group.
About ICICI Bank
ICICI Bank Limited is India's largest private
sector bank and the second largest bank in
India, with consolidated total assets of US $
111 billion as on June 30, 2012.
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It is the second largest bank in India by
assets and third largest by market
capitalization.
HDFC BANK AND INDIAN OIL
CAME TOGETHER TO PROVIDE
BANKING SERVICES IN RURAL
AREAS
HDFC Bank on 4 October 2012 tied up with
Indian Oil Corporation where rural Petrol
Pump Outlets of Indian Oil will act as HDFC
Bank Business Correspondent (BCs).
It is unique and first kind of tie-up, where
an oil distribution company is coming up
with the bank to make available modern
banking services to the people of remote
areas.
The Indian oil is going to make it possible
through Kisan Seva Kendra which is an retail
outlet model pioneered by Indian Oil to
cater to the needs of customers in the rural
segment.
HDFC Bank planned to cover 1000 Kisan
Seva Kendras in a phased manner and each
of these outlets will be able to serve around
1,500 customers. The Kisan Seva Kendra
outlets will offer banking services such as
preliminary processing of loan applications,
disbursal and collection of small value
deposits, sale of micro-insurance, mutual
funds and other investment instruments.
HDFC plan is to bring 10 million families into
its banking Fold.
DELHI METRO RAIL
CORPORATION WON WORK
IN JAKARTA METRO RAIL
PROJECT
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on 23
September 2012 was awarded with the
work of Management Consulting Services
by Jakarta Metro Rail Project. Before this,
DMRC assisted them in preparation of SAPI
(Special Assistance on Project
Implementation). The work in its first phase
will be done in a distance of 15.7 kilometer.
DMRC will be working in a joint-venture
with eight international companies.
As per the contract, DMRC is responsible for
creation and finalisation of the
organisational structure along with
development of training facilities,
recruitment of personnel and their training
in different segments that will be required
for starting the operations of the project.
DMRC is also acting as a consultant to other
metro projects of the nation that includes
Chennai, Bangaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata and
Jaipur (here DMRC is also looking after the
construction work).
INDIGO AIRLINES EMERGED
TO BE THE TOP RANKED
CARRIER FOR CONSECUTIVE
SECOND MONTH
The data presented by the Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on 18
September 2012 claimed that the low cost
airlines Indigo emerged as the leading
carrier in the month of August by carrying
12.05 lakh domestic passengers out of
43.69 lakh passengers. Indigo shared a total
of 27.6 percent of the market share.
Share of other airlines are as follows
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1. Jet Airways-18.7 percent
2. Spice Jet- 18.5 Percent
3. Air India- 18.2 percent
The report also reported that there was a
fall of 8.6 percent passengers in total as
compared to the previous year record for
the month.
SUPREME COURT ASKED
ESSAR OIL TO PAY THE SALES
TAX DUES IN PHASES
Supreme Court passed a judgment on 13
September 2012 for Gujarat Sales Tax case
allowing Essar Oil to pay back the sales tax
dues in phases. The dues amount of Rs
5,165 crore can be paid back in eight
different installments of two years
beginning from 17 January 2012. Supreme
Court also dismissed the demand of Rs 1800
crore interest made by the Government of
Gujarat.
The court also directed the oil company to
make the payment at the interest rate of 10
percent on the payment due of 17 January
2012 instead of 18 percent demanded by
the state Government. In its statement, the
oil company cleared that it has already
cleared a due payment of Rs 1004 crore of
the total dues amount of Rs 6169 crore.
SALES PERCENTAGE OF CAR
DECLINED IN INDIA
The sales of cars in India declined in the
month of August 2012 by an overall 19
percent. It is counted among the biggest
drop in one year timeline, resulting to
which Society of Indian automobile
Manufacturer (SIAM) asked the
government to cut the excise duty.
The next disappointing part is that the
export of cars is also declined to a figure of
26.83 percent in the August month which
has affected overall production of
companies in India. It is the highest decline
in 11 years of time. The automobile industry
has entered into a desperate situation.
The excise duty on automobiles, which was
increased in this years Budget, needs to be
reduced, particularly for the commercial
vehicles segment to regain the sale in
momentum.
In contrary to that, Chinese market saw a
robust sale of car in the month of august.
GAIL SIGNED PACT WITH
FRENCH ENERGY GIANT GDF
SUEZ TO IMPORT LNG
State-owned gas utility GAIL India on 26
August 2012 signed a contract with French
energy giant GDF Suez to import 0.8
million tonnes of liquefied natural gas
(LNG) from 2013 to 2014. GDF would supply
six cargoes of LNG in 2013 beginning
January and an equal number in 2014. It will
supply one cargo once in two months, most
probably from its Yemen portfolio.
As per the agreement, GDF will supply six
cargoes of LNG in 2013 and an equal
number in 2014. The LNG could be
imported at Dahej terminal of Petronet LNG
Ltd in Gujarat or Kochi import facility in
Kerala. The gas in its liquid form could be
shipped to the Dabhol terminal in
Maharashtra.
GDF holds a 10-per cent stake in Petronet
LNG Ltd. It had in November 2011 agreed to
supply 9 cargoes of LNG to Petronet LNG
Ltd. GAIL owns and operates over 9,500-km
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of natural gas pipeline network in India and
can manage 175 mmscmd of gas.
GEOJIT BNP LAUNCHED
ANDROID OS FLIP ME; FIRST
MOBILE TRADING SOLUTION
ON NSE & BSE
Geojit BNP Paribas on 3 August 2012
launched its new version for Android
Operating System (OS) Flip Me. It is the
first mobile trading solution which offered
customers the facility to place orders on
National Stoke Exchange (NSE) as well as on
Bombay Stoke Exchange (BSE). The mobile
trading was created by Geonit BNP Paribas
in the year 2010.
The customers with an Android OS in
mobiles or tablets can download Flip Me
Android application for multiple market
watch views, real time updates, active real
time charts, arrange and place orders for all
cash and copied segments of the stock
exchanges and view the order and trade
book in a security environment. It also has
the facility to place orders beyond market
hours.
It has also added many new features to the
previous application that use the improved
capabilities of the phone hardware and the
Android OS like customers can take calls to
the tele-trading centre of Geojit BNP
Paribas while watching the market. Flip Me
also providing views and themes, trading
ideas to make good trading decisions and
multi-view market watch like graph, MBP
and security info in single screen.
Flip Me Android OS is available free of cost
in all registered customers of Geojit BNP
Paribas. Also, the application can be
downloaded for free from Google Play.
SBI REDUCED THE INTEREST
RATE ON THE DEPOSITS OF
MORE THAN 5 YEARS
Indias leading bank State Bank of India (SBI)
on 2 August 2012 reduced the interest rate
on the deposits of five year and above to
8.5 percents. The new interest rate will be
effective from 7 August 2012.
Currently, SBI is providing 8.75 percent
interest on the deposits of 15 lakh or below
and 9 percent on the deposits from 15 lakh
to 1 crore. Recently, SBI on 1 August 2012
announced 0.50 percent reduced interest
rate on home and car loans.
However, Indias third largest bank Punjab
National Bank (PNB) raised the interest rate
on single deposit by 0.25 percent against
8.75 percent for the maturity of less than 1
crore rupees for one year
SBI REDUCED INTEREST RATE
ON HOME AND CAR LOANS BY
UP TO 0.5 PERCENT
Indias leading bank State Bank of India (SBI)
on 1 August 2012 reduced its interest rate
on home and car loans by up to 0.5 percent.
The new interest rate will be effective from
7 August 2012.
It has reduced the interest rate on home
loans of up to 30 lakh rupees from 10.50
percent to 10.25 percent. The loan more
than 30 lakh to 75 lakh, the interest rate is
10.40 percent against 10.75 percent.
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SBI new car loans are likely to be available
at an interest rate of 10.75 percent against
previous rate of 11.25 percent for 7 years.
It makes customers to pay 1699 rupees EMI
for every 1 lakh rupees against 1725 rupees
EMI per month earlier. The reduction is
likely to save 312 rupees per year on every
one lakh.
UNION MINISTRY FOR
COMMERCE LAUNCHED E BIZ
PORTAL TO PROVIDE ONE
STOP SHOP FOR ALL
INVESTMENT
The Union Minister for Commerce on 28
January 2013 launched an eBiz portal at the
CII Partnership Summit in Agra. The portal
is Indias Government-to-Business (G2B)
portal developed by Infosys in a Public
Private Partnership (PPP) Model. This
Mission Mode Project will mark a paradigm
shift in the Governments approach to
providing Government-to-Business (G2B)
services for Indias investor and business
communities.
In order to enable businesses and investors
to save time and costs and in order to
improve the business environment in the
country, an online single window was
conceptualised in the form of the eBiz
Mission Mode Project under the National e-
Governance Plan. The project aims to
create a business and investor friendly
ecosystem in India by making all business
and investment related regulatory services
across Central, State and local governments
available on a single portal, thereby
obviating the need for an investor or a
business to visit multiple offices or a
plethora of websites.
The core value of the transformational
project lies in a shift in the Governments
service delivery approach from being
department-centric to customer-centric. E-
Biz will create a 24x7 facility for information
and services and will also offer joined-up
services where a single application
submitted by a customer, for a number of
permissions, clearances, approvals and
registrations will be routed automatically
across multiple governmental agencies in a
logical manner. An inbuilt payment gateway
will also add value by allowing all payments
to be collected at one point and then
apportioned, split and routed to the
respective heads of account of Central and
State agencies along with generation of
challans and MIS reports. This payment
gateway is the first of its kind designed in
India and can become a universal payment
gateway for all e-Governance applications.
The Department of Industrial Promotion &
Policy, Ministry of Commerce & Industry,
Government of India, is the Nodal
Government Agency responsible for the
implementation of the eBiz Project. Infosys
Technologies Ltd. has been selected as the
Concessionaire/ Project Implementation
Partner and is responsible for the design,
development, implementation and
maintenance of the eBiz Solution. The
Indian government is firmly committed to
wide-ranging initiatives aimed at fostering
the business environment in the country in
a holistic manner. Its approach includes
leveraging technology to bring
transparency, improve efficiency and
promote convenience.

eBiz is an important step in this direction and
working in partnership with Infosys on this
project will become a benchmark for
successful Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)
in the country.

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The eBiz Project is the first of its kind ever
implemented in the country. It marks the
highest level of maturity in web-based
eGovernance applications as it strives to
achieve horizontal integration across
various verticals of Central government,
State governments and Para-statal
agencies.
The first phase of the project, which was
being launched, provides an interactive tool
that helps investors assess the Licenses and
Permits requirements while setting up and
operating a business in India. The License &
Permit Information wizard will provide
authentic information 24X7 to investors and
businesses by providing answers to
questions in an interview style format.
RESERVE BANK OF INDI A
SLASHED REPO RATE TO 7.75
PERCENT AND CRR TO 4
PERCENT
The Reserve Bank of India on 29 January
2013 slashed its key interest rates by 0.25
per cent and released 18000 crore rupees
additional liquidity into the system to perk
up growth through reduced cost of
borrowing. RBI in its third quarter monetary
policy review surprised the market by
cutting short-term lending rate called repo,
by 0.25 per cent to 7.75 per cent and Cash
Reserve Ratio (CRR) by similar margin to 4
per cent.
The repo rate cut will reduce the cost of
borrowing for individuals and corporate,
whereas the reduction in CRR, which is the
portion of deposits that banks have to park
with RBI, would improve the availability of
funds. Unveiling the policy review in
Mumbai, RBI stated that the stance of
monetary policy in this review is intended
to provide an appropriate interest rate
environment to support growth as inflation
risks moderate. CRR cut will have impact on
long term interest rates.
The RBI, however, has reduced the growth
projections for the current financial year to
5.5 per cent from its earlier estimate of 5.8
per cent.
On inflation, it moderated the rate to 6.8
per cent for March-end from earlier
projection of 7.5 per cent. The repo rate,
which was cut last in April 2012, stands
revised at 7.75 per cent with immediate
effect, while the liquidity infusing CRR
stands at 4 per cent effective 9 February
2013.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
BOARD OF INDIA REVISED
THE MECHANISM OF OFFER
FOR SALE
The Securities and Exchange Board of India
(SEBI) on 25 January 2013 revised the
mechanism of the Offer for Sale (OFS). The
board took the decision of revising the
norms because the deadline for the
promoters of the listed companies to
offload their stake for meeting the
minimum public shareholding norm of 25
percent by June 2013 is approaching.
These revisions would make the norms
much more efficient, transparent and
economical. The quantity for cumulative
bidding would be made available online for
the market across the trading session at
different intervals to take care of the orders
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that carries 100 percent upfront margin and
also of the orders which have been placed
without the upfront margin. The indicative
price of the market would be disclosed for
the market across the trading session and is
calculated on the basis of bids and orders.
UNION COMMERCE MINISTRY
CLAIMED THAT INDIA HAS
CROSSED ONE BILLION MARK
IN TEA PRODUCTION
The Union Commerce Ministry of India in
the third week of January 2013 released
figures and it mentioned that tea-industry
in India had passed the one billion kilogram
mark production. This target has been
crossed by the participation of the small
tea-growers.
FDI INFLOW DECREASED TO
TWO-YEAR LOW IN
NOVEMBER 2012
The inflow of foreign direct investment
(FDI) in India decreased to around 2-year
low at 1.05 billion US dollar in November
2012 because of uncertainties of the global
economies. Back in November 2011, the FDI
was worth 2.53 billion US dollar.
The Department of Industrial Policy and
Promotion (DIPP) announced that from
April-November period 2012-13, inflows of
FDI decreased by around 31 percent to
15.84 billion US dollar from 22.83 billion US
dollar in 2011-12.
The reason why inflow of FDI decreased
was because of the issues arising in the
global economic scenario. Economic
slowdown as well as absence of political
consensus on FDI-associated issues is the
main causes of decline in FDI inflow.
During 2012-2013, the sectors which
remained on the positive side of the FDI
inflows included services, hotel and
tourism, metallurgical, construction and
automobile.
In India, maximum FDI inflow came from
Mauritius (USD 7.2 billion), Japan (USD 1.56
billion), Singapore (USD 1.5 billion) the
Netherlands (USD 1.09 billion) and the UK
(USD 615 million).
IMF FORECASTED INDIAN
ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE TO
BE 5.9 PERCENT IN 2013
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on
23 January 2013 projected that the
economic growth rate of India in 2013
would be 5.9 percent. The IMF also
projected an increased growth rate of 6.4
percent for 2014 looking forward towards
the gradual strengthening of the global
expansion in Indias context.
In its update at the World Economic Forum
(WEO), the IMF also forecasted that the
global economic growth rate would be 3.5
percent, little higher than the 3.2 percent
estimated earlier. As per the report of IMF,
uncertainty in policy making and supply
bottlenecks were one of the most visible
causes that hampered the growth aspects
of the economies like India and Brazil. It
also stated that the scopes of easing the
policy to any further extent have also gone
down in these countries.

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50 PERCENT REDUCTION IN
THE RESERVE PRICES FOR
CDMA SPECTRUM
The Union Government on 17 January 2013
approved a 50 per cent reduction in the
reserve price of spectrum used by CDMA
mobile operators.
Spectrum auction, for both GSM and CDMA,
is supposed to be completed by 31 March
2013 and thereafter the markets will decide
how much revenue the government will
get.
With the reduction of reserve price to 50
percent pan-India 5MHz of 800 MHz
spectrum (CDMA radio waves) will now cost
9100 crore rupees.
CABINET COMMITTEE ON
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
APPROVED THE
CONTINUATION OF JNNURM
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
on 17 January 2013 approved the
continuation of the Jawaharlal Nehru
National Urban Renewal Mission
(JNNURM) to sanction new projects and
capacity building activities till 31st March,
2014 under Urban Infrastructure and
Governance (UIG) and Urban Infrastructure
Development Scheme for Small and
Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) components of
JNNURM.
New Urban infrastructure projects in
States/UTs would be approved till 31st
March, 2014, and taking up new capacity
building activities in Urban Local Bodies
(ULBs) and States has also been approved.
The proposal would enable provisioning of
creation of urban infrastructure, particularly
in small and medium towns, in all States
and UTs. These projects would be
subsumed in the next phase of the JNNURM
for the 12th Five Year Plan.
CCEA APPROVED DEFREEZE IN
THE TARIFF VALUE OF EDIBLE
OILS AS PER INTERNATIONAL
MARKET
The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs
on 17 January 2013 approved the de-
freezing of the tariff values of the all types
of edible oils and notified that the tariffs of
these oils would be decided on the basis of
the existing international prices in the
market.
Oils that would suffer the effect of this
decision are Soyabean Oil Crude Palm Oil -
RBD (Refined Bleached Deoderized), Palm
Oil Crude, Palmolein Crude, Palm Oil
others and Palmolein others.
About International Monetary Fund (IMF)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an
organization of 188 countries that works for
fostering the global monetary cooperation,
promote high employment and sustainable
economic growth, facilitate international
trade, secure financial stability and reduce
poverty around the world. Since the end of
World War II, the IMF had been playing a
major role in shaping the global economy.
The IMF has played a part in shaping the
global economy.

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The decision would bring an advantage to
the domestic refining industry because of
the impact that the imports of the edible
oils will do on the collected duty.

UNION GOVERNMENT OF
INDIA RAISED THE CAP ON
SUBSIDIZED LPG CYLINDERS
FROM 6 TO 9
January 2013 hiked a cap on the subsidized
LPG Cylinders from 6 to 9 and offered a
partial relief to the consumers of LPG
cylinders. This move of the Union
Government would come into effect from
April 2013.
As per the orders of the Government and
the decisions made by the Cabinet
Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) the
rate of the kerosene and LPG would remain
unchanged and the quota on the five
subsidized cylinders from September 2012
to March 2013 would be given to the
consumers. Further, from 1 April 2013
onwards people would be entitled for nine
cylinders per annum.
Subsidized rates of LPG for 14.2 kg cylinder
in the market is 410.50 rupees and further
requirement of any household beyond the
cap of 6 cylinders costs 895.50 rupees per
cylinder. As per the reports from Oil
Ministry, it suffered a total subsidy loss of
about 37411 crore rupees on cooking gas in
2012-2013 at 520.50 rupees per cylinder.
UNION GOVERNMENT
IMPOSED 2.5 PERCENT
IMPORT DUTY ON CRUDE
EDIBLE OIL
Union government on 17 January 2013
imposed a 2.5 per cent import duty on
crude edible oil with keeping the duties
unchanged on refined cooking oil fearing a
hike in retail prices.
The decision was taken at the meeting of
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
(CCEA) in New Delhi with a view to protect
domestic farmers. The Agriculture Ministry
had proposed an increase in the duty on
crude edible oil to protect the interest of
palm growers, particularly from Andhra
Pradesh.
WORLD BANK SLASHED THE
GLOBAL GROWTH FORECAST
TO 2.4 PERCENT
The World Bank on 15 January 2013
projected that the world economy would
expand 2.4 percent in 2013, little higher
than the 2.3 percent achieved in 2012. In
June 2012, the Bank forecasted the growth
up to 3 percent, but due to the slow growth
The tariff value of the edible oils
Under Section 14 (2) of the Customs Act
1962 the tariff value is fixed on the edible
oils mentioned would be notified fortnightly.
The tariff value of the edible oils remained
unchanged since 31 July 2006 as a result of
fiscal measures to control inflation. This halt
in increase in the tariff value have created a
great difference between the notified tariff
and the computed landed prices following
the price of edible oils in the international
market. This halt had an adverse impact on
the domestic refining industry as well as the
revenue collection.

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rate, high unemployment rate and less
confidence in businesses across the
developing nations it managed to revise the
forecast earlier made.
The World Bank has reduced the projected
growth rate of different countries. It has
slashed the growth rate of Japan to its half
from the one projected earlier and in case
of US the growth rate has been slashed by
0.5 percent points. The bank also projected
narrowing in the growth rate of the Euro
Region. For emerging markets of Mexico,
Brazil and India also the projection was
lowered.
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
GAAR DEFERRED BY 2 YEARS,
TO COME INTO FORCE FROM
1APRIL 2016
The implementation of General Anti
Avoidance Rules (GAAR) was deferred by
two years by the government of India. It will
now come into force from 1 April 2016.
Earlier, the provisions of GAAR were to be
implemented from 1 April 2014. GAAR will
not apply to those Foreign Institutions
Investors, FIIs who are not taking any
benefit under an agreement under the
Income Tax Act. Besides, it will also not
apply to non-resident investors in FIIs.
The Parthasarathi Shome Committee in its
final report submitted to Finance ministry
on 30 September 2012 had suggested that
GAAR should be deferred by three years.
The report was made public on 14 January
2013. Union Government accepted major
recommendations of the Shome Committee
with some modifications.
Shome Committee was set up by Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh in July 2012 to
address the issue of GAAR.
SENSEX CROSSED CRUCIAL
20000 MARK AFTER TWO
YEARS
The Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex for
second time in a row on 15 January 2013
touched 2-years high. The shares remained
supported inspite of governments delayed
implementation of the controversial rules
related to tax avoidance.
However, till the time the RBI reviews the
policy on 29 January 2013, analysts are
expecting that the earnings would remain
crucial catalysts for the Indian shares, as the
investors would look for the signs of profit
improvement in 2013. Analysts predicted
that in the fiscal year 2013-14, the Sensex
EPS would grow by 13-14 percent.
The BSE Sensex closed at 0.4 percent or
80.41 points at 19986.82 on 15 January
2013, which is the highest since 6 January
2011. Earlier it had touched the crucial
20000 level as well.
The Nifty, on the other hand, increased to
0.54 percent or 32.55 points, ending at
6056.60, closing more than 6000 for the
second consecutive day.
Shares of the important companies such as
ITC, Axis Bank, TCS and Bharti Airtel also
increased.
UNION GOVERNMENT
APPROVED TEN PERCENT
STAKE SALE IN ENGINEERS
INDIA LTD (EIL)
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The Union Government on 10 January 2013
approved 10 per cent stake sale in
Engineers India Ltd (EIL), which is supposed
to bring back a sum of around 800 crore
Rupees to the government.
The stake is going to take place this fiscal,
April 2012 to March 2013 and is approved
by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
(CCEA).
At present 80.40 Percent of Stake in EIL is
held by the Government. Earlier in 2010
Government divested 10 per cent stake
through an FPO in EIL, a leader in
engineering consultancy.

UNION GOVERNMENT
ANNOUNCED MORE
INCENTIVES TO EXPORTERS
HIT BY GLOBAL MELTDOWN
The union government on 26 December
2012 announced more incentives for the
exporters who were hit hard because of
global meltdown. An extension of 2 percent
interest subsidiary would be provided for
another year till March 2014.
Additionally, the Commerce and Industry
Minister Anand Sharma decided an
introduction of pilot scheme of 2 percent
interest subsidiary for those project exports
that took place through Exim Bank.
Any incremental export which would be
done in the time duration of January to
March 2013 would also be granted
incentive. The ministry announced that the
incentives would enable to push the exports
in last quarter of 2012-2013 fiscal year.
The objective of these incentives was
stabilisation of the situation as well as shift
from the negative territory to the positive
one. Another objective of the incentives
was keeping trade deficit under the control.
Exports during the period of April-
November 2012, shrunk by 5.95 percent to
189.2 billion. If the situation continues, it
would be very difficult for India to achieve
export target of 360 billion dollar in 2012-
2013 fiscal year.
What are P-Notes or PNs?
P-Notes or PNs or Participatory Notes are
used by the HNIs or High Networth
Individuals, foreign institutions as well as
hedge funds. P-Notes allow them to invest
their money in Indian markets via registered
FIIs or Foreign Institutional Investors. This
saves them cost as well as time related to
direct registrations.
So basically, PNs are the tools or
instruments which are issued by the
About Foreign Institutional Investors
Foreign Institutional investors are those
organizations which sum up huge amount of
money and invest that amount in securities,
real property and other investment assets.
Some Foreign Institutional investors are also
operating companies that decide to invest
their profits to some degree in these types of
assets.
The most common types of typical investors
includes banks, insurance companies,
retirement or pension funds, hedge funds,
investment advisors and mutual funds. They
act as highly specialized investors on behalf
of others which are considered as their
economic role.

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registered FIIs to the overseas investors
who are willing to invest in stock market of
India without registering with market
regulator SEBI.
UNION GOVERNMENT OF
INDIA LOWERED THE
GROWTH PROJECTION FOR
CURRENT FISCAL TO 5.7
PERCENT
December 2012 lowered down the growth
projection for the current financial year
2012-13 from 7.6 percent that was
estimated earlier to 5.7-5.9 percent. It also
pitched for the supportive monetary and
fiscal policies for improving the confidence
of the investors. The projection was
showcased in the Mid-Year Economic
Analysis tabled in Indian Parliament.
CABINET COMMITTEE ON
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
APPROVED THE SETTING UP
OF CCI
The Union government of India on 13
December 2012 approved the setting up of
a Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI),
to fast track investment clearances for
mega projects. The decision was taken in
the Union Cabinet meeting held under the
chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh. Prime Minister will head the CCI and
he will also nominate the members of the
committee. The CCI will expedite projects
offering single window clearance for
projects costing 1000 crore rupees or more
by setting timelines for the concerned
ministries.
The Union Cabinet also cleared the Land
Acquisition Bill. Under the new bill consent
of 80 percent land owners is mandatory for
private acquisition of land where as for
Public-Private-Partnership 70 per cent
consent is required. The award of
compensation will also be as per the new
bill. The Cabinet also approved cutting the
1800-MHz band 2G spectrum auction
reserve base price by 30 per cent for four
circles that did not attract bidders in
November. The circles are Delhi, Mumbai,
Karnataka and Rajasthan. The Cabinet
Committee on Economic Affairs also cleared
a new urea investment policy.
RETAIL INFLATION INCREASED
TO 9.90 PERCENT IN
NOVEMBER 2012
Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released
on 12 December 2012 showed that the
retail inflation increased for the second
successive month to 9.90 percent in
November 2012 mainly because of the
increase in price of food products like edible
oil, sugar, vegetables as well as clothing. In
October 2012, the retail inflation was 9.75
percent and in September 2012, it was 9.73
percent.
Maximum increase in the price in the
month of November 2012 was in oil as well
as fats segment, amounting to the annual
inflation of 17.67 percent. Apart from oil,
the price of sugar also increased by 16.97
percent and pulses on the other hand
because costlier by 14.19 percent on yearly
basis.
INDIAN ECONOMY WOULD
DOMINATE THE ECONOMY OF
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THE WORLD BY 2030: US
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY
REPORT
US intelligence community in its report
called Global Trends 2030: Alternative
Worlds which was released on 10
December 2012 declared that India would
straddle international commerce and will
also dominate the economy of the whole
world by 2030. This would happen with
decelerating Chinese economy as well as
declining West.
Key Points of the Report
Indias chance of powering would
begin only after 2015 as Chinas
fortunes would start diminishing.
By the year 2030, Asia (mainly India)
would return back to its position of
being the powerhouse of the world,
like it was before 1500.
Pakistan might not exist at all.
India will rush forward after 2020 as
China would begin decelerating,
primarily on certain demographic
trends.
China is indeed ahead of India, but
the gap between India and China
would start zeroing in by 2030. The
economic growth rate of India will
surge while that of China will slow
down.
In 2030, India might be rising as the
economic powerhouse just like
China is today. The current
economic growth rate of China, 8-10
percent would become just a
memory for the country.
Overall size of the working-age
population in China would increase
in 2016 and decrease from 994
million to 961 million in 2030.
Contrarily, working age population
of India would most probably rise
until around 2050.
The demographic opportunities of
India will rise from 2015 to 2050.
Chinas opportunities window is
from 1990 to 2025. Contrarily, USs
opportunity was best from 1970 to
2015.
Median age of India which is at
present 26 will increase to 32 by
2030, which would still be the least
among top 10 economies of world.
The report also mentioned that
anytime after 2030, India instead of
China would be having the largest
middle-class consumption, which
would be even larger than US and
Europe combined. However, India
might face trapping in the status of
middle-income group in case the
resources constraint, especially
food, water and energy are not
resolved. More investment would be
required in science and technology
sector in order to keep the pace of
economy in the value chain.
It was however made clear that the journey
of economic development of both India as
well as China will not be smooth. But if the
difficulties were handled well, India as well
as China would be dominating the world in
2030.
SECURITY AND EXCHANGE
BOARD OF INDIA (SEBI)
ALLOWED 12 MORE
ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT
FUNDS
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Indian Market regulator Security and
Exchange Board of India (SEBI) allowed 12
entities to set up Alternative Investment
Funds (AIFs), a newly created class of
pooled-in investment vehicles for real
estate, private equity and hedge funds, in
the last two months of October and
November 2012.
The 12 Alternative Investment Funds AIFs
that were registered with SEBI since
October 2010 included India Realty Fund,
Dar Mentorcap Film Fund, Capaleph Indian
Millennium Small & Medium Enterprises
Fund and Capaleph Indian Millennium
Private Equity Fund.
SEBI in last few years had already allowed
nine AIFs to set up shops in the country. As
on 31 August 2012, a total of 20
applications were pending with SEBI for
registration as AIFs.
As per the new SEBI guidelines, AIFs can
operate broadly in three categories. The
SEBI rules is applicable to all AIFs which also
includes those operating as private equity
funds, real estate funds and hedge funds.

RESERVE BANK OF INDI A (RBI)
SIGNED CURRENCY SWAP
AGREEMENT WITH BANK OF
JAPAN
The Reserve Bank of India on 4 December
2012 signed a three year Bilateral Swap
Arrangement (BSA) with the Bank of Japan
for swapping of the local currencies to
address short-term liquidity problems. The
BSA will be effective from 5 December
2012.
The main idea behind the arrangement is to
address short-term liquidity difficulties and
supplement the existing international
financial arrangements, as one of the
efforts in strengthening mutual cooperation
between Japan and India.
The Bilateral Swap Agreement (BSA) is
going to enable both the countries to swap
their local currencies either Japanese yen or
Indian rupee against US dollar for an
amount up to 15 billion dollars.
Earlier for a period of three years from June
2008 to June 2011 both the countries
signed a similar agreement for an amount
of 3 billion dollar.
The enhancement of the BSA is going to
strengthen economic and financial
cooperation between the two countries and
accordingly to financial market stability. The
BSA is activated when an IMF-support
programme already exists or is expected to
be established in the near future.
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
AND A NATIONAL CARDIO
The Category-I AIFs are those funds that
get incentives from the government,
SEBI or other regulators. It includes
Social Venture Funds, Infrastructure
Funds, Venture Capital Funds and SME
Funds.
The Category-II AIFs are those funds
which can invest anywhere in any
combination but are prohibited from
raising debt, except for meeting their
day-to-day operational requirements.
These AIFs include PE funds, debt funds
or fund of funds.
The Category-III AIFs are those trading
with a view to make short-term returns
and include hedge funds, among
others.

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CARE CENTRE TO BE
DEVELOPED AT JHAJJAR
November 2012 announced to set up a
National Cancer Institute (NCI) and a
National Cardio Care Centre (NCCC) at the
second campus of All-India Institute of
Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Badhsa village
of Jhajjar, Haryana during the inauguration
of the Outreach OPD of the AIIMS-II campus
spread over 300 acres. This outreach OPD is
well equipped with all the facilities and has
a capacity of 1000 beds and the first OPD in
the nation to provide free medicines to the
patients.
On this occasion, the Union Health Minister
Ghulam Nabi Azad also declared that the
AIIMS-II, with a total capacity of 2,100 beds,
would be developed as a world-class
institute. International bids in form of the
Expression of Interest for drafting the
master plan was already called on by the
ministry. The Proposed National Cancer
Institute would be the countrys largest
cancer institute with a capacity of 600 beds
and facilities of treating almost every form
of cancer.
INDIA SIGNED 70 MILLION US
DOLLAR LOAN AGREEMENT
WITH WORLD BANK
Government of India on 22 November 2012
signed a 70-million US Dollar loan
agreement with World Bank for financing
the Karnataka Health Systems Development
as well as Reform Project.
Primary objective of this project is
improvisation of public-private
collaboration, health services delivery and
financial aid for vulnerable groups and
underserved in Karnataka. The agreement
was signed by the Joint Secretary,
Department of Economic Affairs and India
Operations Advisor of World Bank in New
Delhi.

Additional financing of this project is
scheduled to be implemented till 31 March
2016.
RESERVE BANK OF INDI A
ASKED BANKS NOT TO
PROVIDE LOANS FOR
PURCHASE OF GOLD
The Reserve Bank of India, in its notification
released on 19 November 2012 directed
banks not to provide loans to its customers
for purchase of all types of gold, which
includes primary gold, jewellery, bullion,
gold coins, units of Gold Exchange Traded
Funds (ETF) and units of gold mutual funds.
The order was directed for discouraging
people from getting involved in speculative
activities.
The notification from the Reserve Bank of
India also directed the banks not to grant
advances against gold bullion to traders or
dealers, as such advances would be utilised
with the purpose of offering finance for
gold purchase at auctions and speculative
The components of the project include
Strengthening present health
programs of the Government of India
Innovations in the health financing as
well as service delivery
Project management, evaluation as
well as monitoring

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holding of stocks and bullion. This
notification allowed the banks to provide
finances to the jewelers for their general
working capital requirements.
The decision of RBI came up in response to
the suggestion of the working Group
constituted after the announcement if the
Monetary Policy Statement of April 2012.
The working group suggested that the
banks are not permitted to finance
purchase of any type of gold other than the
working capital.
This decision of RBI came up in response to
the significant growth in the imports of the
gold in past few years that has created
pressure on the current account deficit. The
Gold imports of India in 2011-12 stood up at
60 billion dollar.
INCOME CEILING FOR LIG
RAISED BY UNION
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
November 2012 decided to raise cap on the
annual income which is required for
qualification for the benefits under the
present housing schemes for the Low
Income Groups (LIG) as well as
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). This
step on the part of the government will
provide benefit to 20 lakh people.
The Ministry for Housing and Urban Poverty
Alleviation (HUPA) raised the income
criterion for EWS housings from 60000
Rupees per year initially to 1 Lakh Rupees
now. This clearly indicates that people with
household income below 1 Lakh Rupees will
be able to avail benefits of EWS housing
scheme. Likewise, the income bar for LIG
category has been raised to 2 lakh Rupees
now.
This decision will be implemented during
the 12th Five Year Plan. Instructions have
been given to the state governments as well
as the banks so that the decision could be
implemented effectively.
People will now be able to get benefits
under the Rajiv Awas Yogna (RAY) and EWS
Housing Schemes. Additionally, the Union
Minister added that they have the target of
including 20 lakh people under this plan. It
is the big step because more people would
qualify for the home loans now.

UNION CABINET OF INDIA
CLEARED PROPOSAL FOR
SPECTRUM SHARING
2012 approved levy of about 31000 crore
rupees as one-time spectrum charge to be
implemented on all incumbent telecom
operators like Bharati Airtel, Vodafone, Idea
and others. The proposed charges had been
implemented to create a level ground
Definition of Economically Weaker Sections
(EWS)
People falling within the income limit set by
the Ministry of Urban Development fall
under the category of Economically Weaker
Sections (EWS). Ministry of Urban
Development revised this income ceiling
from Rs. 3,300 to Rs. 5,000. This income
ceiling has been made applicable to loans for
Interest Subsidy for Housing the Urban Poor
Scheme (ISHUP) as well as Housing and
Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO).

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between the old players and the new
players of the telecom sector.
The Finance Minister of India P
Chidambaram declared that the
recommendations of the EGoM
(Empowered Group of Ministers) was
cleared and the GSM operators would have
to pay for the airwaves that they hold
beyond the 4.4 Mega-Hertz, the price
determined at the auction and the
operators holding more than 6.2 mega
hertz airwaves would have to pay a
retroactive fee from July 2008 onwards. The
CDMA operators would have to pay for the
airwaves that they hold beyond 2.5 Mega-
Hertz as per the validity of the permits
offered to them.
CIVIL AVIATION MINISTRY
APPROVED NEW TRAFFIC
RIGHTS TO INDIAN CARRIERS
The Civil Aviation Ministry in the first week
of November 2012 approved new traffic
rights to Indian carriers for the next three
seasons to expand international air travel
out of the country. The new cities include
Rome, Madrid, Barcelona, Sydney,
Melbourne, Nairobi, Al Najaf in Iraq,
Moscow, Zurich, Macau, Tashkent and Ho
Chi Minh City.
Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express
got their number of weekly flights
enhanced. Air India has also got the rights
for the first time to fly on sectors like Delhi-
Rome-Madrid/Barcelona, Delhi-Moscow,
Delhi-Sydney/Melbourne, Mumbai-Nairobi
and Mumbai-Al Najaf.
The allocation of flight traffic rights is
expected to give a major boost to Indian
carriers and spur growth in the civil aviation
sector. The move will also enhance
connectivity from various Indian cities to
international destinations. It will also
enhance competitiveness among airlines
and is expected to bring down fares.
Opening of several new international
sectors and progressive increase in number
of flights will also give a fillip to the
domestic tourism sector which will result in
overall economic growth of the country.
GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO
DIGITIZE CABLE TV NETWORK
IN THIRTY EIGHT CITIES
November 2012 decided to digitise Cable TV
network in thirty eight cities, spread over 15
States, by 31 March 2013 in the second
phase of digitisation.
Earlier, the digitization was completed in
Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata on the
31October 2012, while in Chennai the
deadline was extended till the 9 November
2012 by the Madras High Court.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
ANNOUNCED MINIMUM
SUPPORT PRICE FOR COTTON
The Union Government on 2 October 2012
announced a revised Minimum Support
Price (MSP) for cotton and this would help
in inducing stabilisation in cotton price.
Cotton has witnessed a sharp decline in the
past and remained operational round about
its minimum support price.
After the review meet conducted on 2
October 2012, by the Union Textiles
Minister, Anand Sharma the revisions were
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done. The decided minimum support price
of medium staple cotton has gone up to
3600 rupees per quintal from initial rate of
2800 rupees. Similarly, the MSP for long
staple cotton has gone up to 3900 per
quintal from 3300 rupees. This rate is fixed
for the fiscal year 2012-13.
NORTHERN RAILWAYS
INTRODUCED PINK
COLOURED TATKAL FORMS
The Northern Railways on 18 October 2012
introduced Pink coloured forms for Tatkal
reservation. These forms would be made
available with a printed warning column at
the booking counters itself and would have
enough space to fill in the details like
names, contact number, address and
others.
This step of Railways would help in getting
away from the menace created by touts and
unauthorized ticket agents. If the passenger
is caught for buying the tickets from any of
these touts or unauthorized agents, he will
be responsible for the consequences that
may be a fine in form of penalty or
imprisonment following the provisions
available in the Railway Act 1989. In case
address or phone number provided in the
ticket is found false, the passenger would
be de-boarded from the train on the very
next station.
Tatkal being a special service offered by the
Railways requires special documents to be
presented and hence the form would serve
to the requirements.
RBI EXPANDED THE LENDING
NORMS ON PRIORITY
SECTORS
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 18
October 2012 extended the lendings on the
Priority sectors like housing, agriculture,
small and medium enterprises, and
expanded the scope of bank loans for these
sectors up to 2 crore Rupees. These
amendments would be in effect from 20
July 2012.
The decision came after discussions were
held with the CMDs/CEOs of selected banks
as well as the heads of Priority Sectors of
selected banks and based on the same the
new guidelines and amendments were
made.
The banks were permitted by the central
bank to offer loans up to an aggregate limit
of 2 crore Rupees, to corporate that
includes farmers producer companies, co-
operatives and partnership firms of famers
indulged in agricultural and allied activities
including animal husbandry, bee-keeping,
dairy, fishery and sericulture. The Priority
loan would also be made available for pre-
harvest and post-harvest activities like
weeding, spraying, grading, harvesting and
sorting. Export Credit loans for exporting
ones own farm produce would also be
made available. The lending scheme fulfills
the criterion mentioned under the MSMED
Act-2006.
Bank loans to Micro and Small Enterprises
(MSEs) those are engaged in providing
services would be eligible for the direct
finance of up to 2 crore Rupees per
borrower per unit under priority sector. In
case the loan amount per borrower
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increases the limit of 2 crore rupees, than it
can be considered as the indirect finance
for agriculture.
Loans under priority sector would also
include loans provided to Government
agencies for development of dwelling units
or slum clearance and rehabilitation up to
10 lakh rupees. This provision also spreads
for low income group and the economically
weaker sections of the society in form of
housing finance, construction and re-
construction, purchase and more up to
ceiling.
The Central Bank also guided the banks to
keep a check on the loans, which are
offered for the approved purposes. Thus
the banks engaged in issuing loans would
have to put forward a fine and channeled
internal system and control in this regard.
The apex court decision came to ensure
that credit needs of people who dont have
access to institutional finance.
CIVIL AVIATION MINISTRY
ANNOUNCED OMISSION OF
AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT FEE
FROM JANUARY 2013
The Civil Aviation Ministry on 16 October
2012 announced to abolish the airport
development fee on Delhi and Mumbai
Airports, from 1 January 2013. The ministry
directed the operators of the two airports
to stop levying the charges for Airport
Development Fee from the travellers from
next year and also asked the Airport
Authority of India to infuse equity in form of
joint venture firms that operates the two
largest airports of the nation.
The Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh asked
the DIAL (Dial International Airport Ltd)
and MIAL (Mumbai International Airport
Ltd) to submit proposals for stopping the
Airport Development Fee, to the Airports
Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA).
Charges paid by domestic fliers in Delhi and
Mumbai are 200 rupees and 100 rupees and
for international fliers it is 1300 rupees and
600 rupees respectively.
PILOT PROJECTS FOR
DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLE
FRIENDLY ROADS APPROVED
C.P. Joshi, the Union Minister of Road
Transport and Highways on 11 October
2012, approved two pilot projects for
development of People Friendly Roads.
This project will involve construction of
National highways on corridor
redevelopment and spot improvement
concepts. This will help in reducing the
financial burden from the government
making it public friendly.
The pilot projects in this regard will be
experimented at the Hero Honda chowk on
the Delhi Gurgaon Expressway for its spot
improvement concept and Delhi-Dasna
Section of NH-24 will be used for
implementation of corridor redevelopment
concept. Additional features like premium
cluster, higher education cluster, business
cluster, Social Economic Zone (SEZ) and
specialty cluster will be provided in the
corridor redevelopment concept at Delhi-
Dasna section of NH-24.
The concept just not focus upon,
development of the Highways but also have
a prime objective of developing livelihood
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spaces and residential complexes, for
people whose lands will be acquired.
WEBSITE FOR SMS ALERTS
AND RAIL PASSENGER
ENQUIRY LAUNCHED BY
RAILWAYS
Indian Railways on 4 October 2012
introduced a brand new website and SMS
service to provide real-time details of
running trains. To avail the facilities of the
website one can log in to
www.trainenquiry.com or send an sms via
phone by typing SPOT <Space><Train
Number> and sending it to 139. The facility
in form of website and SMS service is
created for providing the passengers
information related to the running time and
location of different trains.
The railways have obtained permission
from ISRO in relation to the project and its
operation thorough satellite and allocated a
sum of Rs 121 crore in making of this
project.
The website has replaced the previous one
named www.simran.in from where the
details of running trains location were
made available and the mobile number
used before for SMS generation was
9415139139. The service of the SIMRAN
(satellite imaging for rail navigation) was
closed because it was confined to 36 pairs
of selected train.
CCEA APPROVED 1.90 CRORE
LAKH PACKAGE ON DEBT
RESTRUCTURING FOR THE
SEBS
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
(CCEA) on 24 September 2012 approved a
1.90 lakh crore package on debt
restructuring for the state-electricity
boards. The taken step will allow the state-
distribution companies (DISCOMS) to
facilitate their turnaround. The committee
met under the leadership of Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh and gave its nod to the
package forcing the red marked distribution
companies to start the fresh round of tariff
increase.
The note of the cabinet states that all this
has been done to maintain a balance in
between the average cost of supply to that
of the average of the revenue released. To
avail the package the discoms and the state
government will have to keep revising the
tariffs on a regular basis.
FOREIGN INVESTMENT CAP
HIKED TO 74 PERCENT FOR
BROADCASTING SERVICES
The Government of India on 20 September
2012 hiked the foreign investment cap for
the broadcasting service providers to 74
percent. The registered hike in foreign
investment cap is for service providers of
Direct to Home (DTH), modernized cable
network and mobile television. This move
of the government will allow the global
players in acquiring major stakes in the
broadcasting companies. Before his
decision was passed, the eligibility of DTH
and multi-system cable operators to make
foreign investment was limited to 49
percent only.
In its decision last week, the Cabinet
Committee on Economic Affairs cleared its
stand on the companies of broadcast
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content that the TV news Channels and FM
radio channels can have a foreign
investment cap of 26 percent. This decision
was made to make sure that majority of
control remains back in the hands of Indian
Partner.
GAAR REPORT SUBMITTED BY
THE SHOME COMMITTEE TO
THE FINANCE MINISTRY
The GAAR report was submitted on 1
September 2012 to the finance minister of
India by the Shome Committee constituted
by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, after
the approval of Prime Minister of India. The
committee in its report has tried to create a
balance in between the investors being
invited to the country and protection of the
tax base from tax avoidance and evasion,
using aggressive tax planning.
The committee in its findings has stated
that the GAAR guidelines should be
introduced in the country at the time of
economic stability. Hence, it has
recommended the postponement of its
implementation by 3 years. Committees
recommendation also states about the
implementation of the findings with
complete spirit and has laid emphasis on
transition period of the taxpayers and
preparedness of the administrators.
To provide clarity on GAARs applicability
provisions in different situations 27
illustrations were made and are mentioned
under different conditions like

The major findings of the GAARs
committee to create a balance in between
the investors and chances of tax avoidance
and evasion includes
Tax Evasion, Tax Mitigation and Tax
Avoidance
Overcharging Principle Applicability
of GAAR
Monetary Threshold
Arms Length Test
Test to Misuse or Abuse the
Provisions of Act
Factors for determination of
Commercial Substance
Grandfathering of existing
Investments
GAAR will not override the CBDT
circular 789 of 2000 with respect to
the tax-treaty in between India and
Mauritius
GAAR will not be applicable at
places where so ever anti-avoidance
provisions are in existence in the
treaty of tax and any type of anti-
avoidance rule exists in the Act
Impermissible Avoidance
arrangements
Tax abolition in cases of gains that
rises out by the transfer of listed
securities
Foreign Institutional Investors
Tax Mitigation- GAAR cant be
invoked
Tax Avoidance- SAAR is applicable
hence GAAR is not invoked
Court Approved Amalgamations or
demergers
Tax Avoidance- GAAR invoked
Tax Evasion can directly be dealt of
law without invoking the GAAR

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Corresponding adjustments
Implementation of the Onus on the
revenue authority
Tax Withholding
Definition of the term Connected
Person
Constitution of approval panel
Time limit for GAAR provisions
AAR to pass ruling within 6 months
Prescription of Statutory forms
Implementation issue
Reporting requirements
CASH RESERVE RATIO
SLASHED TO INJECT RS 17000
CRORE, REPO RATES
REMAINED UNCHANGED
Reserve Bank of India on 18 September
2012 injected a liquidity of around Rs 17000
crore by slashing down the Cash Reserve
Ratio (CRR) by 25 basis points to 4.50
percent from 4.75 percent. The indicative
policy rates were remained at its original
level. The repo rate, state-term policy rate
and reverse repo rate remained unchanged
with 8 and 7 percent respectively.
The RBI stated following its mid-term
review of the monetary policy that with
increased risks of growth and inflation. In
the situation, where there is a persistent
inflammatory pressure of fiscal and current
deficits constraints, there exists a need of a
stronger policy targeting growth risks. The
monetary policies are of great use in
reviving the growth rate as per the
expectations of the market.
The Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) will come into
effect from 22 September 2012. So far in
2012, RBI has slashed the CRR by 150 basis
points. Cash Reserve Ratio, basically is a
portion of deposits that the banks are
supposed to keep with the central bank
(RBI), these deposits doesnt earn any
interest the depositing bank. Repo Rate is a
rate at which the central bank offer funds to
the borrowing banks, whereas the reverse
repo rate is the rate of parking the funds
available by the banks with the central
bank.

SHIMLA MUNICIPAL
CORPORATION INTRODUCED
GREEN TAX ON VEHICLES
ENTERING SHIMLA
Shimla Municipal Corporation on 15
September 2012 introduced Green Tax on
Shimla entry of vehicles not registered in
Himachal Pradesh. The Corporation
Commissioner M.P. Sood stated that the
vehicles crossing the entry points of the
town will have to pay the imposed tax. The
tax will be imposed on automobiles on both
commercial and non-commercial category.
The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) have been
moving around 7.5 percent across the
financial year, without much changes and so
is the condition of Consumer Price Index (CPI)
that has been rotating around 10 percent in
spite of price hike in food items.
Wholesale Price Index (WPI) means the price
fixed as a representative for a wholesale
grain. In India, WPI is used for monitoring
inflation. Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a
statistical estimate that helps in
measurement of price change of services and
consumer goods purchased by the
households.

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By imposing the tax, the corporation will
increase its revenue by Rs 6 crore per year.
The taxes will be charged on the four entry
points of the city namely, Totu, Tara Devi,
Dhalli and Mahali.

IRCTC INTRODUCED
INTERBANK MOBILE
PAYMENT SYSTEM
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism
Corporation Limited introduced the
Interbank Mobile Payment System (IMPS)
for making the payment of the bookings
via mobile phones. On use of IMPS system,
the user will be charged with Rs 5 for
transactions of up to Rs 5000 and Rs 10 for
transactions more than that.
The facility of booking via IMPS will be
available to those with their phone number
registered in the respective bank accounts
as the M-Pin and the MMID (Mobile money
identifier) will be required for furnishing the
details required. This facility will ensure
smooth and functioning of the booking
criteria via SMSs.
PROPOSAL FOR 51 PERCENT
FDI IN MULTI-BRAND RETAIL
AND 49 PERCENT IN
AVIATION PASSED
The Union Cabinet on 14 September 2012
cleared the proposal of foreign direct
investment (FDI) for 51 percent in the
multi-brand retail chains and 49 percent in
Aviation power exchanges industry.
Passing of the proposal have cleared the
floor for welcoming the multi-brand retail
chains like Wall mart and Tesco and
Carrefour in the country for setting up of
their shops and retail outlets. Similarly, the
49 percent of FDI allowed in aviation and
Power exchanges will bring in funds for the
domestic carriers on a verge of death and
will help in enhancement of power
availability and distribution management,
respectively.
Conditions put forward for investors in the
proposal for the multi-brand retails
1. The proposal makes a clear stand
that investors looking ahead for
investments will have to take the
permission in form of approvals
from the Foreign Investment
Promotion Board
2. Investment of minimum $100
million is a must for any foreign
investor planning to invest in India,
out of which 50% of the investment
should be made in creation of back-
end infrastructure. Back-end
investment means investments that
is made in quality control,
warehouse creation, cold storage,
design improvement,
manufacturing, processing and
packaging
3. The investors will have to get 30% of
the production of their total
products by the small-scale
industries
4. The proposal also clears that the
agricultural produce like pulses,
Tax imposed as per the category of vehicles
1. Twowheelers-Rs100perentry
2. Car-Rs200perentry
3. UtilityVehicles-Rs300perentry
4. Bus/truck- Rs 500 per entry

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flowers, fruits, vegetables, poultry
item, fishery, meat and others can
be unbranded
5. Investors can invest in the 51 cities
with a minimum population of 10
lakh people as per the census
presented in the year 2011

REPORT: INDIAN EXTERNAL
DEBTS ARE WITHIN
MANAGEABLE LIMITS
The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA)
published its annual publication- Indias
external debt: a status report 2011-12. As
per the published report, Indias external
debt in the end of March 2012 was $345.8
billion, which is 13% high than the previous
years debt or $ 39.9 billion from where
India stood at the end of March 2011. The
publication points out about the upward
movement of the stress that is put on the
current account deficit (CAD) of the nation
because of the risks thrown on it, from the
external sectors that comprises Fall in the
reserve cover for imports and external debt,
depreciation in the exchange rate of rupee,
rise in the level of external debts and the
increased share of the short term
commercial borrowing in the complete
external debt quantum.

GOVERNMENT APPROVED
14000 CRORE RUPEES FUND
TO SPUR PRODUCTION OF
HYBRID AND ELECTRICAL
VEHICLE
The government of India on 29 August 2012
approved a 14000 crore rupees fund to spur
the production of hybrid and electrical
vehicles in the country. According to a new
policy approved, Automobile companies
and the government plan to put six million
electric vehicles on road by 2020. The
What does it mean for different economic
sections of India
1. Economy: Help in reversal of the
economic slowdown, attract the
investment of billions of dollars from
foreign market and spin jobs to a
greater extent
2. Kirana Stores: Will lower down the
selling price, because they will
purchase the supplies from deep
down retailers
3. Retailers: Can sell their equity up to
51% to the global leaders
4. Farmers: They can sell their produce
directly at higher prices and the
presence of middle man will end
5. States: Decision to allow the retail
giants or prohibit lies in the hands of
states
6. Common Man: A chance to gain big
discount with many options to shop
7. UPA government: Got a chance to
wash away the blames of policy
paralysis

Know about Cauvery River Water Dispute
The dispute is related to the sharing of water
of Cauvery River in between the two states
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and the place of
origin to this dispute goes back to the two
controversial agreements signed in 1892 and
1924 between the two states, and that two
at the time when the two were the parts of
the Princely State of Mysore and erstwhile
Madras Presidency.

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government under the new policy will fund
research and development, infrastructure
and subsidies.
With an aim at reducing the burden on
fossil fuels, the Union government in
national budget 2011 had proposed a plan
to develop electric and hybrid vehicles.
Later, the government set up a National
Council for Electric Mobility led by heavy
industries minister Praful Patel, and a
National Board for Electric Mobility to
ensure uniform rules in all the states.
According to an estimate about 130000
electric vehicles were sold in India in 2011-
12. Electric scooters cost between 26000
rupees and 43000 rupees in Indian market,
while countrys only indigenously built
electric car Reva starts at 3.5 lakh rupees.
Japan-based Nissan Motor Co. Ltds electric
car, Leaf, is the largest-selling car in the
world that runs on battery. It costs 33000
dollar (around 18 lakh rupees) in the US and
its battery cost is at least half the cars
price.
The government has long been
contemplating a policy to reduce its
dependence on oil which makes up a
substantial part of Indias huge import
basket. The hybrid and electric vehicles
have emerged as a better alternative of
traditional oil-based vehicles over the years.
SEBI ALLOWED PARTIAL
FLEXIBILITY IN IDRS FOR
INVESTORS
Indias market regulator Security and
Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on 28 August
2012 allowed partial flexibility in the
conversion of Indian Depository Receipts
(IDRs) into equity shares by investors. The
SEBI move is aimed at retaining domestic
liquidity besides; it is also expected to
attract foreign entities to enroll their IDRs
on India stock exchanges.
In another circular released by the RBI, the
central bank put an overall cap of 5 billion
dollar for raising of capital through IDRs by
foreign companies in Indian markets. The
RBI measure will help Indian investors to
convert their depository receipts into equity
shares of the issuer company and vice
versa.
RESERVE BANK OF INDI A (RBI)
TRANSFERRED A SURPLUS OF
RS 16010 CRORE TO THE
UNION GOVERNMENT
The Reserve Bank of India in its annual
report released on 23 August 2012
mentioned that it transferred a surplus of
Rs 16010 crore to the union government
during 2011-12 which is 6.7% more than Rs
15,009 crore transferred in 2010-11.The
central banks gross income increased by
43.4% to Rs 53176 crore in 2011-12. Its
expenditure however rose by 17.1% to Rs
10137 core. After transfers to the
contingency reserve, the asset development
reserve and the four statutory funds, Rs
16010 crore was allocated for transfer to
the centre.
The Reserve Bank recorded a sharp rise in
its income from domestic resources as it
aggressively bought bonds through its open
market operations. However, the lower
interest rates in the advanced markets led
to a dip in income from foreign currency
assets for the third consecutive year.
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PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
COMMITTEE (PAC) CALLED
FOR DETERRENT PENAL
PROVISIONS AGAINST UNITS
IN SEZS
Parliament's Public Accounts Committee
on 23 August 2012 decided to bring the
three latest CAG reports on coal
allocations, GMR-run Delhi airport and
Reliance Power, onto its agenda for the
year 2012.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in its
meeting on 23 August 2012 called for
deterrent penal provisions against units in
Special Economic Zones which default duty
payments to the exchequer. PAC in a report
adopted in the meeting recommended an
oversight mechanism which would ensure
no misuse of the SEZ policy.
The PAC panel based its findings on a
sample of 22 SEZ units. The panel found
that out of an overall export of 7149.23
crore rupees made by 22 SEZ units, the
actual export content was only 1999.27
crore rupees (28%) and the remaining
5149.96 crores rupees (72%) related to
Domestic Tariff Area earnings.
Panel Findings & Recommendations
The report stated that low figures of actual
physical export of goods were typical of
most SEZ units. The aim of SEZ Act was to
boost exports and earning of foreign
exchange by giving these units certain duty
waivers and incentives. PAC however
observed that there is no mandatory
requirement of undertaking exports in the
SEZ legislation. Since the units located in
SEZs enjoy tax benefits and are expected to
fuel economic growth, PAC recommended
revisiting the scheme.
The committee recommended that all SEZs
undertake physical export of at least 51% of
their product, and even import tax waivers
raw material for goods falling under the
Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) is to be
considered on the credit account of the SEZ
firms.
It was noted that SEZ units could sell their
goods, including by products, and services
in DTA on payment of applicable duty
including at nil rate with no requirement to
payback the duty foregone on inputs used
in the clearance of products. This policy will
put SEZ units at a distinctly advantageous
position compared to similar units in the
DTA.
INDIA EASED EXTERNAL
OVERSEAS BORROWING
RULES TO ENABLE EASIER
ACCESS TO CHEAP DOLLAR
FUNDS
The high-level committee on external
commercial borrowings (ECB),chaired by
secretary, department of economic affairs
Arvind Mayaram on 22 August 2012
decided to further liberalise the foreign
borrowing norms.
India eased overseas borrowing rules to
enable easier access to cheap dollar funds
to housing finance companies such as
HDFC, small industry financier SIDBI. It was
decided to permit non-resident entities to
provide rating enhancement facility to
Indian borrower. Indias measure to ease
overseas borrowing is expected to boost
capital inflows by permitting lower rated
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companies to raise dollar funds. Even a
company with low credit rating will be able
to raise foreign funds using credit
enhancement facility that states that third
party is to assure the lender that he will be
compensated if the borrower defaulted.
The government permitted foreign entities
to provide credit enhancement to rupee
bonds of Indian companies which will
improve their appeal to investors. The
minimum maturity period of such rupee
bonds was reduced from seven years to
three years.
Manufacturing sector too now will enjoy
access to cheap dollar funds and they will
be thus able to revive investments plans
stuck on account of high costs. Earlier, only
infrastructure and infrastructure finance
companies could issue rupee-denominated
bonds with guarantees from multilateral or
regional financial institutions.

Advantages for Lower-rated Companies
The guarantee for domestic companies
from offshore entities effectively lifts the
credit ratings of the bonds thereby
benefitting lower-rated borrowers. Indian
companies have always been constrained in
their funding options due to high domestic
interest rates and difficulties in tapping
markets overseas.
The actions targeting credit guarantees will
benefit sectors such as telecoms and
energy, where foreign companies often
operate via Indian units, but whose
domestic borrowing get constrained, if they
had lower ratings than their parent
companies.
Infrastructure and manufacturing
companies can re-finance a higher
proportion of their rupee borrowings via
cheaper overseas debt. These infrastructure
and manufacturing companies can now tap
overseas loans up to 75% of their average
forex earnings over the previous three
financial years from 50% previously.
UNION FINANCE MINISTRY
APPROVED 49 PERCENT FDI
IN INSURANCE AND PENSION
SECTOR
In a move aimed at encouraging investment
sentiment in the country, the Union Finance
Ministry on 22 August 2012 approved 49
percent foreign direct investment in
insurance and pension sector. Earlier the
permitted level of FDI in the insurance and
pension sector was 26 percent.
The proposal for 49 percent FDI in
insurance and pension sector was made
during Pranab Mukherjees tenure at the
The decision taken by the high-level
committee on 22 August 2012 includes
Foreign institutional investors were
permitted to invest in these bonds
upto US$5 billion within the overall
corporate bond limit of US$45 billion.
The minimum maturity period for
rupee bonds was reduced to three
years
Credit enhancement to provide an
enabling mechanism for Indian
companies to raise foreign debt
Costly credit observed to be one of
the key issue impeding investments.
The panel also decided to increase the
maturity of such buyers credit to
maximum five years thereby allowing
companies flexibility in payment.
Extending refinance facility to SPVs
will ease debt financing for infra
projects.

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finance minister office. However, the
decision on the same was delayed because
of resistance from the cronies.
AIR INDIA LOSSES PEGGED AT
28046 CRORE RUPEES
Despite all the efforts made by the
government to revive ailing Air India, the
losses of the company have been constantly
mounting. Since the five-year-old merger of
Air India with Indian Airlines the collective
losses of the company from 2007-08 to
2011-12 pegged at 28046 crore rupees. The
data holds great significance as it was
revealed by none other than the Union
Aviation Ministry itself in the Parliament.
The company had registered 2226 crore
rupees loss in 2007-08. In year 2008-09 the
figure shot up to 5548 crore rupees. The
loss figure kept rising as in 2009-10, 2010-
11 and 2011-12 it stood at 5552 crore
rupees, 6865 crore rupees and 7854 crore
rupees.
Air India and Indian Airlines were merged in
2007 and subsequently a new entity
National Aviation Company was formed.
The merger which was aimed at reducing
the financial losses and improve the quality
of service of both the carriers did not work
out rather it created more trouble for the
already ailing companies. With the merger
several new administrative and managerial
issues surface which were not taken into
account while government was
contemplating merger. Instead of the loss
figure coming down it climbed up
significantly over the past five years making
all the government attempts to revive the
airline futile.
RBI STIPULATED THE NORMS
FOR SECURITISATION OF
LOANS BY NBFCS
Extending the guidelines of securitisation of
loan from banks to non-banking finance
companies (NBFC), Indias Central Bank
Reserve Bank of India on 21 August 2012
tightened the securitisation norms for
NBFCs. The RBI instructed that a non-
banking finance company will have to retain
at least 5 per cent of the loan being sold to
another entity.
The RBI in its revised guidelines also
stipulated that NBFC cannot sell or
securitise a loan unless three monthly
installments have been paid by the
borrower. The latest directives from the RBI
are aimed at checking unhealthy practices
and distributing risk to a wide spectrum of
investors.
These guidelines are to be implemented by
NBFCs in two phases by the end of October
2012. Earlier, the RBI had issued similar
guidelines with regards to securitisation of
loans by banks.
INDIA'S MARINE EXPORTS TO
GROW BY OVER 28% TO USD
4.5 BILLION IN 2012-13
FISCAL
According to the data provided by the
Marine Products Export Development
Authority (MPEDA) in August 2012, India's
marine exports are likely to grow by over 28
per cent year-on-year to USD 4.5 billion in
2012-13 fiscal. The growth is expected to
rise as a result of the increase in demand in
western markets like the US and Europe.
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During 2011-12, seafood exports had stood
at USD 3.5 billion. The US and the Europe
together account for over 45 per cent of the
country's total seafood exports.
The increase in demand, mainly for
Litopenaeus Vannamei shrimp and Black
Tiger shrimp, in the US and European
markets are likely to raise the Indias
marine exports by over 28 per cent.
Litopenaeus Vannamei shrimp and Black
Tiger shrimp are favourite seafood items in
countries like Europe, American, Japan and
China.
REGULATOR SEBI PERMITTED
SEVEN ALTERNATIVE
INVESTMENT FUNDS (AIFS)
TO START OPERATION IN
INDIA
Market regulator Securities and Exchange
Board of India (SEBI) in August 2012
permitted seven Alternative Investment
Funds (AIFs) to start operation in India
under a newly formulated route that enable
pooling of funds for investments in areas
such as real estate, private equity and
hedge funds. Six AIFs registered with the
regulator in August 2012, while one was
granted registration back on 23 July 2012.
SEBI had published its guidelines with
regard to AIF in May 2012.
The seven AIFs that registered with SEBI
include IFCI Syncamore India Infrastructure
Fund, Utthishta Yekum Fund, Indiaquotient
Investment Trust, Forefront Alternate
Investment Trust, Excedo Realty Fund,
Sabre Partners Trust and KKR India
Alternate Credit Opportunities Fund.
Funds established or incorporated in India
for the purpose of pooling in of capital from
Indian and foreign investors for investing
would have to follow a pre-decided policy.
SEBI decided to allow promoters of listed
companies can offload 10 per cent of equity
to AIFs such as such as SME Funds,
Infrastructure Funds, PE funds and Venture
Capital Funds registered with the market
regulator to attain minimum 25 per cent
public holding.
AIFs, as per SEBI guidelines can operate
broadly in three categories and it is
mandatory for them to get registered with
the regulator. The SEBI rules apply to all
AIFs, including those operating as private
equity funds, real estate funds and hedge
funds, among others.

AIF Categories
The Category I AIFs are those where funds
stand a chance of getting certain incentives
or concessions from the government, SEBI or
other regulators in India and include Social
Venture Funds, Infrastructure Funds, Venture
Capital Funds and SME Funds.
The Category II AIFs are those funds which
can invest anywhere in any combination but
are prohibited from raising debt, except for
meeting their day-to-day operational
requirements. These AIFs include PE funds,
debt funds or fund of funds, as also all others
falling outside the ambit of Category I and
Category III.
The Category III AIFs are those trading with
an objective to make short term returns and
include hedge funds, among others.

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CAG PEGGED PUBLIC
EXCHEQUERS LOSS AT 1.86
LAKH CRORE IN COAL BLOCKS
ALLOCATION SCAM
The Comptroller and Auditor General
(CAG) of India in its incisive audit report
noted that Indias exchequer suffered a
massive loss of 1.86 lakh crore due to the
distribution of coal blocks without bidding.
The CAG report was tabled in the
parliament on 17 August 2012.
The CAG in its report stated that 57 coal
blocks that were allocated to private
companies during 2004-2009, extended
them a windfall gain of 1.86 lakh crore
rupees. The CAG report has also brought
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh under
scrutiny as he was holding the charge of
Coal Ministry from 2006 to 2009. Besides,
the CAG report also raised serious
allegations against the PMO which delayed
the fair bidding process for coal blocks
despite the clearance from Law and Justice
Ministry.
Tata Group, Reliance Power, Jindal Power
and Steel, Abhijit Group, Bhushan Group,
Electro Steel, OP Jindal Group were some of
the major beneficiaries of the coal blocks
distribution.
The government has distributed about 150
coal blocks over the past eight years. During
this period Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh, Shibu Soren and Prakash Jaiswal has
been at the helm of the Coal Ministry. The
1.86 lakh rupees scam is the biggest in the
history of India as it surpassed the 1.7 lakh
crore 2G spectrum scam.
INTER-MINISTERIAL GROUP
RECOMMENDED LINKING
PATENTED DRUG PRICES TO
PER-CAPITA INCOME
An inter-ministerial group formed in 2007
and entrusted with the responsibility of
regulating prices of patented medicines
recommended using a per capita income-
linked reference pricing mechanism. The
proposal by the group is expected to reduce
prices of several patented dugs by up to
one-third. However it will hit the
profitability of foreign companies.
The committee suggested fixing the price of
patented drugs by comparing the price at
which these drugs are procured by
governments in the UK, Canada, France,
Australia and New Zealand. The committee
recommended that the retail price is to be
fixed by adjusting it to the per capita
income of the country. The new mechanism
is to be applicable for patented drugs that
dont have any therapeutic equivalents in
the market.
For patented drugs that have similar
alternatives in the market, the price is to be
fixed in such a manner that it should not
lead to an overall increase in the treatment
cost. If the global launch of the patented
drug takes place in India, the retail price will
have to be based on the cost of developing
the drugs and other factors. Prices of
patented drugs are currently unregulated.
Patented drugs account for 1% of the $13-
billion domestic market. This share is
expected to grow to 5% of the estimated
$50-60 billion drug market by 2020.
The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, the
representative body of big Indian drug
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makers, supported the reference-based
system. The Organisation of Pharmaceutical
Producers of India (OPPI), the lobby body of
multinationals however stated that the
cross-country per capita income-linked
proposal is fundamentally flawed.
The Indian government is of the opinion
that if patented drugs are not regulated,
these would remain unaffordable for most
Indians. A WHO study stated that as many
as 79% of Indian patients pay for their
healthcare expenditure from their own
pockets. However it must also be noted that
if the government fixes the prices of these
drugs at excessively low levels, companies
may stop selling drugs in the market.
Historical Backdrop
India had adopted a new product patent
regime in 2005 after it became a signatory
to TRIPS, an international intellectual
property protection agreement, providing
20 years of marketing exclusivity to the
patent holder. Global innovator companies
such as GSK, Bayer AG, Novartis, Merck &
Co and Bristol Myers Squibb who started
launching their drugs in India continue to
remain jittery about the governments
policies aimed at reducing healthcare costs.
They complain that Indias implementation
of intellectual property rights has been
unsatisfactory.
INDIAS NSE BECAME THE
WORLDS LARGEST BOURSE
IN EQUITY SEGMENT AS PER
WFES GLOBAL RANKING
As per the latest global ranking compiled
and published by the World Federation of
Exchanges (WFE) in August 2012, the
National Stock Exchange of India (NSE)
become the worlds largest bourse in
terms of the number of trades in equity
segment for the first six months of 2012. A
total of 735474 trades took place in the
equity segment of NSE in the January-June
period of 2012, making it the worlds largest
exchange on this parameter. NSE was
followed by NYSE Euronext and Nasdaq
OMX at the second and the third positions.
Industry experts attributed the recent
position of NSE acquired by the bourse to
growing investor base, use of latest
technology and new products. NSE's
platform is connected to two lakh trading
terminals in more than 2000 towns and
cities across the country.
NSE is the second largest exchange globally
after Korea Exchange for index options.
Eurex was the third largest exchange
worldwide in terms of total number of
index options traded during the first six
months of 2012.
BSE recorded a total of 187824 trades
during this period in its equity segment. The
total number of listed companies is much
larger in case of the BSE, the exchange
however lags behind NSE significantly in
terms of volume and value of trades.
The latest data published by WFE indicated
that investors from tier-three cities
contributed more than 45 per cent of total
cash market retail turnover in the financial
year 2011- 12. The tier-three cities account
for more than half of the total retail
investor base on NSE platform.
UNION CABINET SETS BASE
PRICE FOR AUCTION OF 2G
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SPECTRUM AT 14000 CRORE
RUPEES
The Union Cabinet on 4 August 2012
approved the reserve price for auction of
2G spectrum as well as spectrum usage
charges (SUC). The Cabinet set the reserve
price of 14000 crore rupees for the 5
megahertz pan-India spectrum in the 1800
megahertz band. The price is 22 percent
lower than the telecom regulator's
suggestion. An auctioneer will be soon
appointed to conduct a fresh auction.
The Cabinet also endorsed the EGoM's
recommendation that the reserve price for
the 800 megahertz band, which is used by
CDMA operators, be fixed at 1.3 times the
price for 1800 megahertz band.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
(TRAI) had recommended the base price at
18000 crore rupees, which drew a heavy
criticism from telecom companies, who
argued that the base price suggested by
TRAI is irrational.
The fresh auction of 2G spectrum was
necessitated after the Supreme Court
scrapped 122 telecom licenses on 2
February 2012 as it found the process of
spectrum allocation cramped with flaws.
RBI DIRECTED NBFCS TO
MAINTAIN NET-OWNED
FUNDS (NOF) AT RS 3 CRORE
BY 31 MARCH 2013
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in a
notification issued on 3 August 2012 stated
that all registered non-banking financial
companies (NBFCs) which who intend to
convert themselves into non-banking
financial company-micro finance
institutions (NBFC-MFIs) would have to seek
registration with immediate effect, not later
than 31 October 2012.
The central bank also mentioned that the
NBFCs have to maintain net-owned funds
(NOF) at Rs 3 crore by 31 March 2013, and
at Rs.5 crore by 31 March 31 2014. If the
NBFCs fail maintain the NOF they will have
to ensure that lending to the micro finance
sector, that is, individuals, SHGs or JLGs,
which qualify for loans from MFIs to be
restricted to 10 per cent of the total assets.
RBI SIGNED MOU WITH
FINANCIAL REGULATORS OF 9
COUNTRIES TO PROMOTE
SHARING OF INFORMATION
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) signed three
memoranda of understanding with Jersey
Financial Services Commission (JFSC),
Financial Services Authority of UK and
Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
was signed with regulators of other
countries to promote greater co-operation
and sharing of supervisory information
between the regulators. RBI signed nine
MoUs thus far with financial regulators of
different countries.
The MoU with the Jersey Financial Services
authority was signed on 16 July 2012.
Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC)
is an independent statutory body. The
main function of JFC is the regulation,
licensing and supervision of financial
services providers for compliance with
prudential norms and conduct of business
requirements in Jersey.
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The MOU with the Financial Services
Authority (FSA), UK was signed on 17 July
2012 at FSA, UK Headquarters, London. The
FSA is the United Kingdoms principal
national financial services and markets
regulator and administers the Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000(FSMA) that
provides for the supervision of firms,
financial services and financial products as
well the financial markets.
The MoU with the Financial Supervisory
Authority of Norway (Finanstilsynet) was
signed on 19 July 2012 at FSA, Norway
headquarters. Finanstilsynet as the
supervisory authority is entrusted with
supervision of banks (insurance companies
and investment firms, etc.) in Norway as
per the Financial Supervision Act of 1956.
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CHAPTER 8:
PERSONALITIES
CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA S.H.
KAPADIA RETIRED
The Chief Justice of India Sarosh Homi
Kapadia, retired on 28 September 2012
from the post after serving the Supreme
Court for two and a half years. Justice
Kapadia, who turned up to be 65 years in
age sworn in as the thirty-eighth CJI and
served the Supreme Court from 12 May
2010 and retired, on 28 September 2012.
While holding the office as a judge for a
period of 22 years, Justice Kapadia never
took a leave.
After his retirement, Justice Altamas Kabir
took over the job as the Chief Justice of
India from 29 September 2012. The Chief
Justice of India sworn-in to the post by the
name of God by the president of India. His
appointment to the position is mentioned
in article 124 of the Indian Constitution.
The chief Justice of India also acts as the
acting President of the nation in case the
office of the President falls vacant due to
any reason like his death, resignation or
removal via impeachment and the Vice-
President is not available to take on the
charge of the acting president.
JAIDEEP SARKAR APPOINTED
AS THE NEW ENVOY TO
ISRAEL
Jaideep Sarkar on 27 September 2012 was
appointed as the new Indian Ambassador to
Israel. The IITian and diplomat, is a private
secretary to Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh and a joint secretary of external
affairs ministry, has replaced Navtej Sarna,
the former ministry spokesperson.
FORMER NAVY CHIEF NIRMAL
VERMA APPOINTED AS
INDIAN ENVOY TO CANADA
Nirmal Verma, the former navy chief on 27
September 2012 was appointed as Indias
high commissioner to Canada. His
appointment to the post happened on the
recommendation of the PMO to the
president, who cleared his name for the
vacancy.
Admiral Verma, will soon leave for Ottawa
to join the office because Canadian Prime
Minister Stephen Harpers visit is scheduled
to India in the near future.
QUEEN ELIZABETH BECAME
FIRST PEACETIME BRITISH
RULER TO ATTEND CABINET
MEETING
On 18 December 2012, Queen Elizabeth
became first peacetime British ruler ever
since 1781, who attended the cabinet
meeting. Though she did not take part in
any deliberations, but she participated in
the cabinet meeting as an observer and a
listener. Queen Elizabeth remained seated
on the chair which is usually occupied by
the prime minister.
Historians believed that Queen Elizabeth
became the first monarch in the history to
attend any cabinet meeting, after George III
did that. Factually, George I had abandoned
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joining the cabinet in 1717. Nevertheless,
Queen Elizabeths father George VI had
attended the cabinet meeting during World
War II.
The first agenda of the meeting was about
law amendment on the succession to royal
chair. The agenda was basically allowing the
first born girl to be head of the state, even if
she had younger brother.
Though Queen Elizabeth had attended the
cabinet meeting, but academics were of
different viewpoints on whether Queen
should have attended the meeting or not.
At present, Britain has a tradition of
monarch allowing a weekly audience to PM
in order to receive private as well as
confidential briefing. But actually, the
Queen just rubber stamps the ministerial
decisions, maybe sometimes in presence of
the Privy Council.
MENON FIRST TOP RANKING
INDIAN OFFICIAL TO VISIT
CHINA AFTER CHANGES IN
COMMUNIST PARTY OF
CHINA
Shiv Shankar Menon, the national security
advisor as well as negotiator in the border
talks with China paid the visit here on 2
December 2012. This was the first visit by
any top ranking Indian official post changes
announcement in Communist Party of
China. Menon would meet the next premier
of China- Li Keqiang.
China might look for diplomatic indicator
from the Indian official suggesting that India
would not join its forces with Philippines
and Vietnam in the passport row which is
started by China. Three countries protested
against China when it embossed Chinas
map on those areas which are controlled as
well as claimed by them on the passports.
China as well as India were working over to
explore the positive signal in order to rise
above the criticism that both these nations
have already had 15 rounds of negotiations
over border but all in vain without any
significant improvements. In the
meanwhile, the passport row by China has
vitiated this situation.
The visit by Menon is very important,
especially because China is preparing itself
for change of guard with the premier as
well as president being replaced in March
2013.
BOARD MEMBERS OF TATA
SONS CONFERRED THE TITLE
OF CHAIRMAN EMERITUS ON
RATAN TATA
Ratan Tata, the outgoing Chairman of Tata
Group was conferred with the honorary
title of Chairman Emeritus- by the board of
Tata Sons, the holding company of the 100
billion dollar Tata Group on 18 December
2012. Ratan Tata will retire from his office
on 28 December 2012 and Cyrus Mistry
would be taking over the chair of the group
after him on the same day.
Ratan Tata as an honorary chairman will not
attend any of the board meetings of Tata
Group and would also not have any
responsibility towards the company. JRD
Tata was conferred with this title honour
before Ratan Tata by the Tata Sons. Ratan
Tata would continue to be the Chairman of
Tata group trusts, Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and
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Sir Ratan Tata Trust, which together have
66 per cent stake in Tata Sons.
CYRUS PALLONJI MISTRY
APPOINTED AS CHAIRMAN OF
TATA SONS
Cyrus Pallonji Mistry was appointed as the
chairman of Tata Sons, the firm that holds
more than 100 billion dollar Tata Group, on
18 December 2012. Cyrus Pallonji Mistry
would take on the role of chairman of Tata
Sons with effect from 28 December 2012,
after Rata Tata retires as the current
Chairman of the company.
Ratan Tata who will also celebrate his 75th
birthday on 28 December 2012 was
conferred the honorary title of chairman
emeritus. Tata Sons Board gave the title to
Ratan Tata.

In November 2012, Ratan Tata also bowed
out from Tata Global Beverages as the
chairman, which paved way for Mistry.
INDUSTRY LEADER DEEPAK
PAREKH NOMINATED TO
COMPETITION COMMISSION
OF INDIA
The Union government of India on 31
August 2012 nominated industry leader
Deepak Parekh to Competition
Commissions Eminent Persons Advisory
Group (EPAG). The group advises the anti-
trust regulator on good global practices and
other issues. The group was constituted in a
way that CCI could avail from the advice of
eminent persons representing a wide arena
from the Corporate Sector.
Along with HDFC Chairman Deepak Parekh,
eminent authors Gurcharan Das and Rama
Bijapurkar were also nominated as
members of the EPAG of the Commission.
Others on the ten-member panel comprises
former, Biocon CMD Kiran Mazumdar Shaw,
CAG V N Kaul, NGO activist Rohini Nilekani
and former RBI Deputy Governor Rakesh
Mohan.
KESHUB MAHINDRA STEPPED
DOWN AS THE CHAIRMAN OF
MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA
Keshub Mahindra stepped down as the
Chairman of 15.4 billion dollar business
conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra on 8
August 2012. His nephew and Vice-
Chairman and Managing Director of the
company Anand Mahindra elevated to the
position of Chairman, the position Keshub
held for nearly 48 years. He would,
About Cyrus Pallonji Mistry
Cyrus Pallonji Mistry, 43, is billionaire Pallonji
Shapoorji Mistrys son. Cyrus Mistry has
already remained the director of Tata Sons
since 2006.
He was appointed as the deputy chairman of
Tata Sons in November 2011.
Pallonji Mistry, along with the sons, Cyrus
Mistry and Shapoor Mistry are the owners of
18.5 percent stake in the company. This
makes the Mistrys the largest shareholders
on individual basis of this company.
Earlier in December 2012, Cyrus Mistry was
also appointed as chairman of Tata Motors.
He would commence playing his role from 28
December 2012. He was also appointed as
chairman of two other Tata companies- Tata
Chemicals and Tata Steel.

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however, continue to be Chairman Emeritus
of the group.
During the 48 years of his chairmanship, the
Mahindra Group made its presence felt in
various sectors including automobile, IT,
real estate, financial services and
hospitality.
He was instrumental in establishing
business ties with global business giants like
Willys Corporation, Mitsubishi,
International Harvester, United
Technologies, British Telecom and many
others.
The founder Chairman of HUDCO, he served
on many corporate boards, including SAIL,
Tata Steel, Tata Chemicals, Indian Hotels,
IFC, ICICI and HDFC. He also held the
position of President of Employers'
Federation of India and the Bombay
Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He
was a member of the Sachar Commission
on Company Law and Reforms.
US PRESIDENT BARACK
OBAMA NAMED PERSON OF
THE YEAR 2012 BY TIME
MAGAZINE
US President Barack Obama was named
TIME's Person of the Year for 2012,
because of his historic win over the re-
election in November 2012, which is being
considered as symbol of the nation's
changing demographics amid the backdrop
of high unemployment and other
challenges.
His name was announced by TIME editor
Rick Stengel on NBC's Today program on 19
December 2012.
It is the second time Barack Obama is being
accorded with this honour. He had also
received the honour in 2008, when he was
first elected as president.
Obama had won re-election despite a
higher unemployment rate than anybody's
had to face in basically in 70 years. He's the
first Democrat to actually win two
consecutive terms with over 50 percent of
the vote.
LESLIE CLAUDIUS THE
LEGENDARY HOCKEY PLAYER
FROM INDIA DIED
The legendary hockey player Leslie
Claudius, Indias triple Olympic Gold
Medallist died after a prolonged illness on
20 December 2012. Cirrhosis of the liver
became the region of his death and is now
survived by a wife and three sons.
Leslie Claudius
Claudius was a legendary Hockey player
from the Indian side, who won three
Olympic Gold Medals in the year 1948
London Olympics, 1952 Helsinki Olympics
and 1956 Melbourne Olympics. He also won
a silver medal at 1960 Rome Olympics.
Udham Singh along with him is the only two
Indians who share a tally of 4 Olympic
Medals in the history of Hockey. The 85
year old was a part of legendary trio of the
Indian Hockey team and shared the berth
with Dhyan Chand and Roop Singh. During
the Bangkok Asian Games of 1978, Claudius
was appointed as the manager for the
Indian Team.
Claudius was the First Indian Hockey Player
to play more than 100 games for the
country.
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Jeet Thayil along with 23 Others Chosen as
Sahitya Akademi Award Winners
Jeet Thayil - nominated to Booker Prize
2012, Subrata Mukhopadhyay - the Bengali
novelist, K Satchidanandan - the Malayalam
poet and HS Shivaprakash - the noted
Kannada writer are among the 24 authors,
who were chosen for the Prestigious
Sahitya Akademi Awards 2012 on 20
December 2012 by the Sahitya Akademi -
Indias National Academy for Letters.
Six short stories, twelve books of poetry,
four novels along with an autobiography
and criticism have been chosen for being
awarded. The works were chosen after the
recommendation of the Jury members who
represented from 24 Indian languages and
then the Executive Board of the Akademi
approved the selected candidates for the
award to be presented this year. The
nominations were done in the chairmanship
of Dr. Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari, who also is
the acting President of the Sahitya
Akademi.
Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award the literary honour
in India is annually conferred to the writers
for their outstanding works in the field of
literature by Sahitya Akademi, the National
Academy of Letters in India. The award is
conferred for the works done in 24 major
languages of India including English as
quoted in Sahitya Akademi.
The Sahitya Akademi Award had been into
existence since the year of its inception in
1954 and was conferred for the first time
for meritorious literature published in India
in the year 1955. Since day of inception the
prize amount of the Sahitya Akademi has
been changed constantly and it followed
like 5000 rupees since inception which was
enhanced to 10000 rupees from 1983,
25000 rupees from 1988, 40000 from 2001
rupees, 50000 rupees from 2003 and is now
100000 rupees from 2009
Languages included in Indian Constitution
As per the eighth schedule of Indian
Constitution 22 languages are recognized
by the Indian Constitution and they are
Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi,
Kannada, Kashmiri, Manipuri, Malayalam,
Konkani, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi,
Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu,
Santhali, Bodo, Maithili and Dogri. Sindhi
was added in 1967 by 21 Amendment.
Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were added
in 1992 by 71 Amendment Santhali,
Maithili, Bodo and Dogri were added in
2003 by 92 Amendment.
ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER
MARIO MONTI RESIGNED
AHEAD OF ELECTIONS
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti on 21
December 2012 resigned after 13 months in
office with handing over his resignation to
President Giorgio Napolitano after
parliament gave final approval to the 2013
budget law.
With the resignation of Mario Monti the
President is expected to call early national
elections within 70 days of the parliament
dissolution, possibly on 24 February 2013.
69-year-old Mario Monti is an economist
and former European commissioner and
was appointed by the President Napolitano
to fill former premier Silvio Berlusconi's
place after he resigned in 2011 under
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pressure for failing to control Italy's debt
and a series of scandals.
Monti's term was originally set to expire in
mid-2013, but his earlier departure is
expected to bring elections forward. Former
Prime Minister Berlusconi had announced
that he intends to run for re-election in the
New Year.
VIRBHADRA SINGH TOOK
OATH AS CHIEF MINISTER OF
HIMACHAL PRADESH FOR THE
SIXTH TIME
Former Union Minister of India and Veteran
Congress leader Virbhadra Singh on 25
December 2012 was sworn-in as Chief
Minister of Himachal for a record sixth term
in Shimla.
78 years old Virbhadra Singh was
administered the oath of office by Governor
of Himachal Pradesh Urmila Singh. Oath of
office and secrecy to the chief
parliamentary secretaries was administered
by the Chief Minister. Besides Virbhadra
Singh, nine Cabinet members and three
chief Parliamentary secretaries were also
sworn-in.
NARENDRA MODI WAS
SWORN-IN AS THE CHIEF
MINISTER OF GUJARAT
Narendra Modi on 26 December 2012 was
sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for
the fourth consecutive term. Governor
Kamla Beniwal administered the oath of
office and secrecy to him at Sardar Patel
Stadium at Ahmedabad. Seven cabinet
Ministers and nine Ministers of State also
took oath.
DELHI GANGRAPE VICTIM
PASSED AWAY AT MOUNT
ELIZABETH HOSPITAL IN
SINGAPORE
Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore: The
23-year old para-medical student who was
gangraped in New Delhi on 16 December
2012 passed away in Mount Elizabeth
Hospital in Singapore on 29 December
2012.
The 23-year old Delhi gangrape victim
passed away on 29 December 2012 at
Mount Elizabeth hospital in Singapore at
2:15am (IST). The victim died due to
multiple organ failure and severe injuries to
her brain and body.
TONY GREIG, FORMER
CAPTAIN OF ENGLAND
CRICKET TEAM AND
COMMENTATOR DIED
Tony Greig, 66, the former captain of
England cricket team and renowned
commentator passed away in Sydney on 29
December 2012 following lung cancer. Greig
was diagnosed with the ailment in October
2012.
PATRICK SUCKLING
APPOINTED AS AUSTRALIA'S
NEXT HIGH COMMISSIONER
TO INDIA
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Career diplomat Patrick Suckling on 30
December 2012 had been appointed as
Australias next High Commissioner to India.
Patrick Suckling who is a career diplomat
and had been previously posted to New
Delhi and Washington is going to take up
the position in New Delhi in January 2013.
Suckling is replacing Peter Varghese, who is
returning to Australia to head the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
IK GUJRAL, FORMER PRIME
MINISTER OF INDIA DIED AT
92
Inder Kumar Gujral, who served as the
Prime Minister in United Front government
in 1990s, died at the age of 92 on 30
November 2012. Following the resignation
of HD Deve Gowda, he became the 13th
Prime Minister of India on 21 April 1997 and
held that post till 19 March 1998 in United
Front government.

Five Principles of Gujrals Doctrine
With neighbors like Bangladesh,
Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri
Lanka, India does not ask for
reciprocity, but gives and
accommodates what it can in good
faith and trust.
No South Asian country should allow
its territory to be used against the
interest of another country of the
region.
No country should interfere in the
internal affairs of another.
All South Asian countries must
respect each other's territorial
integrity and sovereignty.
They should settle all their disputes
through peaceful bilateral
negotiations.
BS YEDDYYURAPPA RESI GNED
FROM BJP AND KARNATAKA
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
B.S. Yeddyurappa former Chief Minister of
Karnataka on 30 November 2012
announced his resignation from Legislative
Assembly and from primary membership of
BJP party. Yeddyurappa submitted his
resignation to the Speaker of the Assembly,
KG Bopaiah. Yeddyurappa represented
Shikaripura in his home district Shimoga,
which is about 280 km north of Bangalore.
DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI OF
MYANMAR VISITED INDIA
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairperson of the
National League of Democracy of
Myanmar visited India from 13 November
2012 to 18 November 2012. Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi spent several years in India during
her early days when her mother Daw Khin
Yi was Ambassador to India. She also spent
IK Gujral's Major Contribution to Indian
Politics
During his tenure as the Prime
Minister, IK Gujral resisted
signing CTBT (Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty) paving the way
for next government
conducting the Pokhran nuclear
tests.
He provided a five-point roadmap
to build trust between India
and its neighbouring countries
known as Gujral Doctrine.

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some time as a Fellow at the Institute of
Advanced Study in Shimla in 1987.
Besides her engagements in Delhi, travelled
to Bangalore where she visited the Indian
Institute of Science and the Infosys Campus.
She also toured rural areas in Andhra
Pradesh to gain a firsthand impression of
the rural development and womens
empowerment programmes being
undertaken in India.
DR. JOSEPH EDWARD
MURRAY, THE MAN BEHIND
FIRST KIDNEY TRANSPLANT
DIED AT 93
Dr. Joseph Edward Murray, the first doctor
to perform kidney transplant successfully
died on 26 November 2012. The 93 year old
doctor had received a Nobel Prize for the
work. Murray had stroke at the suburban
home in Boston on 22 November 2012 and
eventually he died at Brigham and Women's
Hospital.
After he performed the first kidney
transplant on the identical twins, various
other transplants on different organs of the
body were performed. Murray also shared
Nobel Prize in Physiology in 1990 along with
Dr. E. Donnall Thomas, who performed
various bone marrow transplants.
ORIYA NOVELIST AND
ACADEMICIAN PRATIBHA RAY
SELECTED FOR 2011
JNANPITH AWARD
Renowned Oriya novelist, Pratibha Ray on
27 December 2012 selected for the
prestigious Jnanpith award for the year
2011 for her contribution to the field of
Indian literature.
Pratibha Ray is the first Oriya woman and
fourth Oriya writer to get the coveted
award. Earlier Gopinath Mohanty (1973),
Sachidananda Routray (1986) and Sitakant
Mohapatra (1993) were conferred the
honour.
The award carries a cash prize of 7 lakh
rupees, a citation and a bronze statuette of
Godess Saraswati.
ALOK JOSHI TO BE RAW
HEAD, ASIF IBRAHIM TO
HEAD IB
Alok Joshi, senior IPS officer of 1976 batch
from Haryana cadre is scheduled to be
appointed as the new Research and
Analysis Wing (RAW) chief and Syed Asif
Ibrahim is cleared to be the next
Intelligence Bureau director. Appointments
Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) cleared
Alok Joshis name as the RAW chief to
succeed Sajeev Tripathi, the 1973-batch UP
cadre IPS officer.
ARVIND KEJRIWAL NAMED
HIS POLITICAL PARTY AS AAM
ADMI PARTY
Arvind Kejriwal on 24 November 2012
announced the name of his newly formed
Political Party as Aam Admi Party after two
months of its split from Anna Hazare and his
movement of India Against Corruption at
the Constitution Club, New Delhi. The Party
on the same day also adopted its
Constitution that foresee establishment of
Swaraj in the country. All this happened in
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presence of about 320 people. The name
would be publicly accepted on 26
November at Jantar Mantar.
ERNEST BAI KOROMA RE-
ELECTED AS THE PRESIDENT
OF SIERRA LEONE
Sierra Leone, the incumbent President
Ernest Bai Koroma, leader of the All
People's Congress was re-elected as the
President of the nation on 23 November
2012 after the electoral body declared
results of the elections that took place in
the country in third week of November. He
had sworn in as the President of Sierra
Leone on the same day, when the results
were declared. He won the Presidential
elections by securing 58.7 percent votes in
his favour.

JOAQUIM BARBOSA SWORN-
IN AS BRAZILS SUPREME
COURTS FIRST NON-WHITE
PRESIDENT
Joaquim Barbosa was sworn-in as Brazil's
Supreme Court's first non-White President
on 23 November 2012 at a packed
ceremony in the capital Brazilia. Barbosa
became famous in Brazil after overseeing
one of the country's biggest corruption
trials involving key members of the former
President Lula Da Silva's government.
Barbosa is famous for his tough stand
against political corruption. Brazil has the
second largest non-White population in the
world after Nigeria, but few of them
achieve high office.
SENIOR IPS OFFICER RANJIT
SINHA APPOINTED AS CBI
DIRECTOR FOR TWO YEARS
Ranjit Sinha, the Bihar Cadre Senior IPS
Officer of 1974 batch was appointed as next
director of Central Bureau of Investigation
on 22 November 2012 for two years. In the
official order, it was declared that Sinha
would serve as the CBI director for two
years starting from the date when he joins
the office. Sinha will be taking over the
office from AP Singh, the IPS of 1974
Jharkhand Cadre, who is retiring on 30
November 2012.
ANIL DEV SINGH BECAME THE
NEW CHAIRPERSON OF IOA
ELECTION PANEL
Anil Dev Singh, the former Chief Justice of
Rajasthan High Court on 19 November 2012
was appointed as the new Chairperson of
the Election Commission of The Indian
Olympic Association (IOA) after S.Y.
Quraishi resigned from his post on 17
November 2012. This appointment was
done by Vijay Kumar Malhotra, the Acting
President of IOA at present.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is a mineral resource rich West
African Nation, with massive iron ore
deposits. The estimates of International
Monetary Fund had predicted that use of the
mineral resources available in the nation
would increase the 2.2-billion dollar Gross
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SHIV SENA CHIEF BALASAHEB
THACKERAY DIED IN MUMBAI
The Shiv Sena Supremo Balasaheb Keshav
Thackeray died on 17 November 2012 at
the age of 86. He died of the cardio-
respiratory arrest after suffering a long
illness at his residence Matoshree, in
Mumbai.
About Balasaheb Keshav Thackeray
Balasaheb Keshav Thackeray was an Indian
Politician, who founded Shiv Sena a Political
Party based in Mumbai, Maharashtra in the
year 19 June 1966. Before turning up to
politics, he was a cartoonist by profession
with an English daily newspaper in Mumbai,
named the Free Press Journal. His cartoons
were also published in the Times of India.
He resigned from the Free Press Journal in
1960 and founded his own political weekly,
named Marmik. He also founded Samana,
the Marathi language newspaper and the
Dophar ka Samna a Hindi newspaper.
His house at Bandra, Mumbai is famous
with the name Matoshree.
Balasaheb was a leading face in the fight
named Samyukta Maharashtra movement
(United Maharashtra movement); to make
Mumbai a place for Maharastrians that was
witnessing the influence of South Indians,
Gujaratis and Marwaris.
Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena is a Political Party that strongly
supports the thought of Maharashtra for
Maharashtrians. Shiv Sena has been a
member in different Governments of the
State in Maharashtra and was a member in
the national cabinet as a coalition partner in
the National Democratic Alliance
government from 1998 to 2004. The party
came up as a political force after it won a
Mumbai Civic Body Elections in the year
1973. In late 1980s and early 1990s, Shiv
Sena adopted the hard-line Hindu Ideology
and joined hands with Bhartiya Janata Party
(BJP), the coalition won the assembly
elections of 1995 and came to power in
Maharashtra. In 1999 the coalition failed to
win the majority.
AMI BERA BECAME 3RD
INDIAN-AMERICAN TO WIN
US CONGRESSIONAL
ELECTION
Ami Bera, 47, California-based, Indian-
American has become the only 3rd of the
community to win Congressional election,
making it to US House of Representatives
on 6 November, 2012 by defeating
Republican Dan Lungren.
On 6 November 2012, Bera had neck to
neck competition with the opponent
Lungren with just 184 votes lead. The lead
increased to 3800 votes on 13 November
2012. Later, on 15 November 2012, it was
announced by The Sacramento County
Registrar of Voters that the lead of Bera had
increased by 5696 votes or 2.2 percent.
Gradually the lead widened and Bera won
the seat to the House of Representatives.
FORMER UNION MINISTER OF
INDIA AND EX-DEFENCE
MINISTER K.C. PANT DIED
K.C. Pant, the ex-Defence Minister of India
and former Planning Commission Deputy
Chairman died on 15 November 2012. The
81 years old is now survived by his wife Ila
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Pant, who was a former Member of
Parliament and two sons.
XI JINPING ELECTED AS THE
NEW GENERAL SECRETARY OF
THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF
CHINA
The Communist Party of China (CPC) on 15
November 2012 declared Xi Jinping as the
new General Secretary of the Partys
seven-member Politburo standing
committee. The 59 years old, Xi Jinping is
the son of the former politburo and vice
premier. Xis selection as the new leader,
the Communist Party of China has marked
the end of Hu Jintaos ten year term as the
General Secretary of the Party, but he will
continue as the President till March 2013,
the month when the Chinese Parliament
would meet.
Li Keqiang, the second-ranked member of
the Politburo standing committee would
take over as Premier in March 2013 after
Wen Jiabao will step down from his
position.
The size of the inner circle of elites has been
reduced from nine to seven by the
Communist Party of China. This step of
reducing the members in the elite circle was
done to ensure efficiency in policy and
decision making by the top body of the
nation. The other five members of the elite
circle are Zhang Dejiang as the Chongqing
Party Secretary, Yu Zhengsheng as the
Shanghai Party Secretary, Liu Yunshan as a
senior propaganda official, Wang Qishan as
the Vice Premier in charge of economic
affairs and Zhang Gaoli as the Party
Secretary in Tianjin.
The once in a five year meet of the partys
National Congress concluded at the Great
Hall of the People on 14th November 2012.
A total of 2300 delegates casted there
secret ballots to choose the members of the
18th Central Committee, the 376 member
policy making body.
A new PBSC has also been created that
include four princelings out of the seven
leaders. Princeling means the family of any
of the former leaders. The newly framed
PBSC would be functional for the next five
years till 2017 and after this Xi and Li would
only continue in the office and rest of the
PBSC members would step down from their
posts.
BBC DIRECTOR GENERAL
GEORGE ENTWISTLE
RESIGNED OVER COVERING
SEXUAL ABUSE
BBC Director General George Entwistle on
10 November 2012 resigned from the job
after the broadcaster put out a program
which was denounced by the corporation's
chairman as shoddy journalism as a British
politician was depicted in child sex abuse.
George Entwistle in a statement asserted
that he had decided that the honourable
thing to do is to step down as director
general after just eight weeks in the job. He
also asserted the fact that the director-
general is also the editor-in-chief and
ultimately responsible for all content.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT OF
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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President Barack Obama won re-election on
6 November 2012 overthrowing a severe
challenge from Republican Mitt Romney
resisting concerns over his handling of
economy and anxiety over the future.
The President Barack Obama had secured
over 270 votes in the Electoral College
which was needed to win the race.
He was re-elected for a second term in the
White House securing another four years in
which he will try to fulfil the promise that
greeted his election in 2008.
IROM SHARMILA, THE I RON
LADY OF MANIPUR
COMPLETED 12 YEARS OF
FAST
Iron Lady from Manipur, Irom Sharmila on
5 November 2012 completed 12 years of
her fast demanding cancellation of the
Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958
(AFSPA). She blames AFPSA as the main
cause for violence in the state of Manipur
and other parts of Northeastern India.
Irom Sharmila started her fast till death on
5 November 2000, after 10 people that
included a boy who received National
Bravery Award was shot dead by the Assam
Rifles personnel at Malom near Imphal
Airport on 2 November 2012 in an alleged
encounter.
Sharmila began her fast till death after ten
persons, including a boy who received the
National Bravery Award, were shot dead in
an alleged encounter with Assam Rifles
personnel at Malom near Imphal Airport on
November 2, 2000. She has been force-fed
through the nose to keep her alive since
then. On the second day of her fast she was
arrested and charged with attempt of
committing suicide. To keep her alive, she is
fed forcefully at a Government hospital at
Porompat and the ward where she is
admitted is converted into a jail.
About Irom Sharmila
Irom Sharmila nicknamed as the Iron Lady
of Manipur is a civil rights activist, political
activist, and poet and holds the record of
longest hunger strike of the world after
refusing food and water for more than 500
weeks.
CHINESE-BRITISH WRITER
HAN SUYIN DIED AT THE AGE
OF 95 IN LAUSANNE
Chinese-British writer and physician
Elizabeth Comber, who was known by her
pen name Han Suyin, died at the age of 95
on 2 November 2012 at her home in
Lausanne, Switzerland.
Han Suyin was a Chinese-Belgian British
writer. She emerged as among the most
powerful voices that served as a bridge
between China and the West in the 20th
century. She later became an ambassador
for China-India relations after her marriage
to an Indian colonel, Vincent Ratnaswamy.
VETERAN BJP LEADER
KAILASHPATI MISRA DIED AT
THE AGE OF 90 IN BIHAR
Veteran BJP leader, former governor of
Gujarat and Rajasthan and former finance
minister of Bihar, Kailashpati Mishra,
passed away in Bihar on 3 November 2012.
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Kailashpati Misra was of 90 years of age and
was suffering from prolonged illness.
Kailashpati Misra who was born at
Dudharchak village in Buxar district in 1923
served as governor of Gujarat from 7 May
2003 to 7 July 2004 and for a brief period of
Rajasthan too during the same duration.
He was a bachelor and popularly known as
the "Bhishmapitamah" of State BJP.
PIONEER OF POCKET
CARTOONS IN INDIA
CARTOONIST, T. SAMUEL
DIED
Veteran Cartoonist and the pioneer of
pocket cartoons in India, T Samuel died on
2 October 2012 at the age of 86. Samuel is
now survived by his wife, two daughters
and a son.
About T. Samuel
Samuel started his journey as a professional
cartoonist before Independence from
Lahore with a Military Gazette. After
partition he came to Delhi as a refugee and
joined Shankars weekly, where he
contributed the Kalu and Meena, the silent
strip cartoon and some more related to
social life. As a staff cartoonist, he served
Delhi edition of Times of India, where he
became famous as the creator of the pocket
cartoon named Babuji.
ANAND KUMAR OF SUPER 30
FAME DECLARED PEOPLES
HERO
Anand Kumar, teacher and founder of
Super 30 institute, which provides free
residential coaching to students from
economically backward families for IIT-JEE
exams, named 'People's Hero' by People
magazine of American Time Magazine
Group.
It is itself an uncommon occasion where the
people magazine which usually profiles
celebrities from films and other fields onto
their magazine had chosen a person who is
a teacher by profession.
THE KING OF ROMANCE AND
THE FAMOUS FILMMAKER,
YASH CHOPRA DIED
The Indian Filmmaker Yash Chopra died on
21 October 2012, nine days after being
diagnosed with Dengue. He passed away at
the age of 80 at Lilavati Hospital at Bandra
due to dengue and multiple organ failure.
Also termed as the King of Romance, Yash
Chopra had by his name Six National Film
Awards, Eleven Filmfare Awards out of
which four was Filmfare Award for Best
Director.
FORMER KING OF CAMBODIA,
NORODOM SIHANOUK DIED
IN CHINA
Former Cambodian king Norodom
Sihanouk died on 15 October 2012 in
Beijing. He was 89 Years old. Norodom
Sihanouk was receiving medical treatment
for many years in Beijing for cancer and
other ailments.
Norodom had dominated politics in
Cambodia for nearly 60 years. He was the
King of Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and
again from 1993 until 2004. He was the
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effective ruler of Cambodia from 1953 until
1970. After his second abdication in 2004,
he was known as The King-Father of
Cambodia a position in which he retained
many of his former responsibilities as
Constitutional monarch.
Sihanouk held so many positions since 1941
that the he was identifies as the politician
who has served the world's greatest variety
of political offices. These included two
terms as king, two as sovereign prince, one
as president, two as prime minister, as well
as numerous positions as leader of various
governments-in-exile.
He was succeeded in 2004 by his son, King
Norodom Sihamon
LIBYAS NATIONAL CONGRESS
ELECTED ALI ZIDAN AS THE
NEW PRIME MINISTER
Libya's 200-member General National
Congress on 14 October 2012 elected Ali
Zidan as the new Prime Minister. Ali Zidan,
an independent, won 93 votes, a majority
among those present. He beat a candidate
favoured by the Justice and Construction
party which is linked to the Muslim
Brotherhood. Announcing his victory,
President of the National Assembly asked
Mr Zidan to propose a cabinet within two
weeks. Ali Zidan is a human rights lawyer.
The previous Prime Minister, Mustafa Abu
Shagur, was dismissed a week ago after
failing to form a government.
FELIX BAUMGARTNER
BECAME THE FIRST SKYDIVER
TO GO FASTER THAN THE
SPEED OF SOUND
Austrian Felix Baumgartner became the
first skydiver on 14 October 2012 to go
faster than the speed of sound, reaching a
maximum velocity of 1,342 kilometers per
hour. In jumping out of a balloon 39
kilometers above New Mexico, the 43-year-
old also smashed the record for the highest
ever freefall. It took just under 10 minutes
for him to descend. Only the last few
thousand feet were negotiated by
parachute.
The previous highest, farthest, and longest
freefall was made by Kittinger, who leapt
from a helium envelope in 1960. His
altitude was 31 kilometers.
S.VISHWANATHAN ELECTED
AS NEW MANAGING
DIRECTOR OF STATE BANK OF
INDIA
S. Viswanathan on 8 October 2012 was
appointed as a managing director of State
Bank of India. His appointed came by the
Central Government of India.
Following the appointment, SBI has now
four managing directors, including Diwakar
Gupta, who the chief financial officer,
Hemant Contractor, who is in charge of
international operations and A. Krishna
Kumar, who looks after national banking.
HUGE CHAVEZ RE-ELECTED AS
PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA
Huge Chavez re-elected as President of
Venezuela on 9 October 2012 Venezuela. It
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his third election victory in 14 years of
Office. With this he will be spending 6 more
years in Office.
Huge Chavez had won with 54% of the vote
defeating his challenger Henrique Capriles
who managed to get only 45% of vote in
presidential election held on 7 October
2012.
Among the 19 million registered voters the
turnout was a record of 80.4% voters.
Later, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
died on 5 March 2013 at a military hospital
in Caracas at the age of 58 due to Cancer.
He died after battling from cancer for two
years during which he underwent several
surgeries and chemotherapy in Cuba.
With his death his 14 year rule of Venezuela
came to an end and bringing a challenge of
electing a new President for the country
within 30 days as per Constitution of
Venezuela. Till then the Presidency will be
assumed by the Vice-President of the
country, Nicolas Maduro.
AJIT SARAN APPOINTED AS
SECRETARY IN NATIONAL
COMMISSION FOR WOMEN
Senior IAS officer Ajit M Sharan was
appointed as Member Secretary in National
Commission for Women (NCW) on 3
October 2012.
Ajit Sharan is a 1979 batch officer of
Haryana cadre. He is going to be in the rank
and pay of Additional Secretary.
INDIA'S FIRST NATIONAL
SECURITY ADVISOR BRAJESH
MISHRA DIED
The first National Security Advisor of India,
Brajesh Mishra died on 28 September 2012
at New Delhi after suffering from a heart
ailment. Mishra (84) played a pivotal role in
making of the foreign policies during the
NDA regime of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and was
a trouble shooter to him.
PROFESSOR BANWARILAL
SHARMA, THE
MATHEMATICIAN AND A
GANDHIAN ACTIVIST DIED
Professor Banwarilal Sharma, the
mathematician and a Gandhian activist died
on 26 September 2012 at Chandigarh. He
served Allahabad University as former HOD
of Mathematics department. Prof.
Banwarilal Sharma also served International
Council of Mathematicians in developing
countries for 6 years in between 1986 to
1992, as its chairman. He was trained under
Prof Henri Cartan to obtain DSc degree at
University of Paris.
Banwari Lal Sharma was a convenor of the
movement named Azadi Bachao Andolan
that was led as peoples movement in
different part of the nation against nuclear
energy.
R LAKSHMIPATHY ELECTED AS
CHAIRMAN OF THE PRESS
TRUST OF INDIA
R Lakshmipathy, the publisher of Tamil daily
Dinamalar, was elected as the Chairman of
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the Board of Directors of Press Trust of
India (PTI) on 24 September 2012 after the
company's Annual General Meeting (AGM).
MAHARASHTRA DEPUTY
CHIEF MINISTER RESIGNED
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit
Pawar resigned on 25 September 2012 after
the alleged corruption charges on him in
awarding irrigation projects when he was
state's water resource minister. It was
alleged that there were discrepancy
committed in granting administrative
approvals to projects involving several crore
of rupees during his tenure as an Irrigation
Minister between 1999 and 2009.
RAMESH ABHISHEK
APPOINTED AS FMC
CHAIRMAN
An IAS Officer of 1982 Batch Bihar Cadre,
Ramesh Abhishek on 24 September 2012
was appointed to be the Chairman of
Forward Markets Commission (FMC). His
pay-scale and rank has been elevated to
that of the additional secretary and FMC
Chief respectively.
Forward Markets Commission (FMC)
With its headquarters at Mumbai, Forward
Markets Commission (FMC) is a regulatory
authority established under the Forward
Contracts (Regulation) Act 1952. The body
is responsible for taking care of forward and
future markets of India and is a part of
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and
Public Distribution.
AISHWARYA RAI APPOINTED
AS INTERNATIONAL
GOODWILL AMBASSADOR
The United Nations Programme on
HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has appointed
Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
as its International Goodwill Ambassador.
Her job will be now is to raise global
awareness on protecting children from HIV
infection and to increase access to
antiretroviral treatment.
C.P. JOSHI APPOINTED AS THE
NEW RAILWAY MINISTER
C.P. Joshi, the Union Road Transport and
Highways Minister on 24 September 2012
took an additional charge of the Railway
Ministry after the exit of Mukul Roy.
With this responsibility in the hands of C.P.
joshi, the railway ministry has landed down
in the hands of Congress after 17 years. The
last railway minister from congress was C.K.
Jaffer Sharief (1991-95).
BILL GATES STILL THE
RICHEST PERSON IN AMERICA
Microsoft Co-Founder, Bill Gates remained
at the top position in the list of 400 richest
Americans released by Forbes Annual
Ranking on 19 September 2012. Gates,
succeeded in winning the top position for
19th time in a row with his net worth of $
66 billion.
Bill Gates at present is the chairman of
Microsoft and co-chair for Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation.
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AUNG SAN SUU KYI RECEIVED
US CONGRESS HIGHEST
HONOUR
The Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi
received, the US Congress highest Civilian
Honour at a ceremony organized in the
Capitol Rotunda on 19 September 2012,
before her meet with the US president
Barack Obama. Before her, the recipient of
this award includes George Washington,
Pope John Paul II and Dalai Lama-the
Tibetan Buddhist Leader. During her 15 year
long house arrest against the military rule in
Myanmar, she received the Congressional
Gold Medal in 2008.
SUPREME COURT REFUSED
TO REVIEW THE PETITIONS
CHALLENGING RIGHT TO
EDUCATION ACT, 2009
September 2012 refused to review the
petitions challenging the constitutional
validity of the Right to Education to Free
and Compulsory Education Act 2009. The
Independent Schools Federation of India,
the Society for Unaided Private Schools of
Rajasthan, the Catholic Bishops Conference
of India with two other institutions filed PIL
(Public-interest litigation) against the Act,
for a review.
Right of Children to Free and Compulsory
Education Act, 2009
The Right of Children to Free and
Compulsory Education Act makes it
mandatory for the government, aided and
non-minority unaided schools to reserve a
minimum of 25 percent seats to provide
free and compulsory education to children
in the age group of 6 to 14 years. The right
to education is included to the right to life
in Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and
in case any child is derived from his right of
education is also deprived from his right to
live with dignity, exercise freedom of
expression and speech included in Article
19(1) (a).
SALMAN RUSHDIE RELEASED
HIS BOOK JOSEPH ANTON
Joseph Anton the 633 page book depicts a
memoir of Salman Rushdie during his 10
years long run to protect himself from the
Fatwa issued by his name was released on
18 September 2012.
Salman Rushdies new book reveals his life,
at the time when he was issued an Iranian
fatwa that ordered his death for the
publication of The Satanic Verses in 1988. In
the book, Salman Rushdie has characterized
himself as Joseph Anton and the name is
the combination of the first names of his
favourite writers Joseph Conrad and Anton
Chekhov.
WORLD BANK APPOINTED
ONNO RUHL AS THE
COUNTRY DIRECTOR FOR
INDIA
World Bank appointed Onno Ruhl a Dutch
National to be the country director for India
on 10 September 2012. He will replace the
retiring N Roberto Zagha in October 2012.
His appointment at this post will help the
bank to formulate and implement
developmental programs and steps in the
nation.
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RAJIV MEHTA APPOINTED AS
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF
NARCOTICS CONTROL
BUREAU
Rajiv Mehta was appointed as a Director
General of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
on 18 September 2012. His appointment
will be on deputation basis for a period of
five years from the date of assumption of
charge of the post or till the date of his
superannuation or until further orders.
FORMER SARSANGHCHALAK
OF RSS KS SUDARSHAN DIED
AT NAGPUR
KS Sudarshan, the former RSS
Sarsanghchalak died on 15 September
2012. He suffered a heart attack at the
Nagpur headquarters of RSS. He was in
Nagpur for release of a book written by
Gopal Vyas a Rajya Sabha MP from
Chhattisgarh that was held on 14
September 2012.
FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE OF
INDIA RANGANATH MISRA
DIED
Ranganath Misra, the former Chief Justice
of India died on 13 September 2012. He
died at the age of 86 and is survived by his
wife Sumitra Misra. Ranganath Misra was
appointed to be the 21st Chief Justice of
India from 25 September 1990 to 24
November 1991 during the reign of former
Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar and former
President of India, R. Venkataraman.
CARTOONIST ASSEM TRI VEDI
GRANTED BAIL BY MUMBAI
HIGH COURT
The cartoonist Aseem Trivedi was released
from the Arthur Road Jail on 12 September
2012. Aseem Trivedi, who was arrested on
the charges of sedition and insulting the
national symbol and emblem, was released
from jail after Bombay High Court granted
him bail on the personal bond of Rs 5000.
This supporter of Anna Hazares Anti
Corruption campaign was arrested for
depiction of wolves in place of lions and
providing a quote Bhrastameva Jayate as a
replacement of Satyameva Jayate on the
National Emblem.
Aseem Trivedi the cartoonist is renowned
for portraying politics in India and
appreciated for his campaign Cartoons
against Corruption. He is the winner of
Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award for
2012 that is conducted by Cartoonists
Rights Network International. The
cartoonist has been a founding member of
a body named movement against internet
censorship in India, Save Your Voice.
VERGHESE KURIEN THE
WHITE REVOLUTIONARY AND
THE MILKMAN OF INDIA DIED
The man responsible for bringing white
revolution in India and founder of worlds
largest dairy company Amul, Verghese
Kurien (90) took his last breath in a hospital
at Nadiad, on 9 September 2012. The body
of Kurien was cremated in the ultramodern
crematorium at Kailash Bhumi in the milk
capital of India- Anand, Gujarat in presence
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of his admirers and staff members of milk
cooperatives.
DR. KC ABRAHAM AWARDED
WITH BUSINESS EXCELLENCE
AWARD
Managing Director of Kunnath
Pharmaceuticals and the producer of world
famous Musli Power X-tra won Switzerland
Business Excellence Award 2012 on 8
September 2012 at Zurich, Switzerland. He
got shortlisted for the award because of his
visionary leadership skill, hard working
nature and dedication. The award has
helped Kunnath Pharmaceutical to become
a name of rapport across the nation.
GAURAV SHUMSHER RANA
BECAME NEPALS ARMY
CHIEF
Gaurav Shumsher Rana an India-educated
lieutenant general took over the position of
Nepals Army Chief, on 6 September 2012.
He has served Nepals army for 39 years
ever since his recruitment in 1970. Ranas
appointment is a result of cabinet decision
following a proposal made by the ex-army
chief Gen Chhatra Man Singh Gurung to the
President Ram Baran Yadav, as a successor
to him.
SMITA SHAH TURNED UP TO
BE THE FIRST INDIAN
AMERICAN AT DNC
PARLIAMENTARIAN
Smita Shah a close supporter of US
President Barack Obama became the first
person from Indian-American origin to
serve as a parliamentarian for Democratic
National Convention on 6 September 2012.
As per the publically available documents,
Smita has been an applauded donor to the
campaign of the Democratic Party and
Obama.
SACHIN PILOT
COMMISSIONED AS A
LIEUTENANT IN TERRITORIAL
ARMY
Indian Union Minister of state for
Telecommunication and Information
Technology is commissioned to be a
Lieutenant in Territorial Army on 6
September 2012. He was pipped by the
Army Chief Bikram Singh at the
commissioning ceremony organized in
South Block, at the Integrated Headquarters
of the Ministry of Defence (Army). With this
he has turned up to be a part of 124 TA
(Sikh) Battalion the one also known by the
name of Urban Concept battalion. Along
with commissioning, he will have to attend
"14 camp and 22 parade days'' in a year.
KAUSHIK BASU APPOINTED AS
WORLD BANK CHIEF
ECONOMIST
On 5 September 2012, The World Bank
appointed Kaushik Basu, as its chief
economist and senior vice president. Basu,
an Indian national and a Cornell University
professor most recently served as chief
economic adviser of the India's Union
Ministry of Finance.
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ADMIRAL DEVENDRA KUMAR
JOSHI TOOK OVER AS THE
NEW INDIAN NAVY CHIEF
Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi (DK Joshi)
took over as the new Indian Navy chief on
31 August 2012. He is the 21st Chief of
Naval Staff of Independent India and the
19th Indian to command the Indian Navy.
He succeeded Admiral Nirmal Verma.
DK Joshi has commanded several naval
ships which includes aircraft carrier INS
Virat. He was also the chief of Eastern Fleet.
He specializes in anti-submarine warfare.
During his tenure, the Navy will start 13000
crore rupees phase II expansion of Project
Seabird, the naval harbour under
construction near Goa.
RAGHURAM RAJAN TOOK
OVER AS THE CHIEF
ECONOMIC ADVISOR OF IN
UNION FINANCE MINISTRY
Raghuram Rajan, former chief economist
of International Monetary Fund (IMF) took
over as the Chief Economic Advisor in the
Finance Ministry on 29 August 2012. The
Appointments Committee of Cabinet had
cleared the appointment of Rajan as the
new CEA on 10 August 2012. The position
was lying vacant since Kaushik Basu
demitted the office on 31 July 2012.
Raghuram Rajan has already been serving
as the Honorary Economic Advisor to the
Prime Minister, the position he was given
in November 2008. He also headed High
Level Committee on Financial Sector
Reforms in 2007.
INDIAN AMERICAN KARL
MEHTA WAS SELECTED TO
WORK ON FIVE HIGH-IMPACT
PROJECTS
Indian-American entrepreneur Karl Mehta
was selected among the 18Presidential
Innovation Fellows who would work on five
high-impact projects in the US capital
Washington DC.
Selected from an applicant pool of nearly
700 innovators from across the country, the
Fellows would spend six months in
Washington DC to work on five high-impact
projects aimed at supporting
entrepreneurs, small businesses and the
economy, while significantly improving how
the Federal Government serves the
American people.
VETERAN ACTOR AK HANGAL
PASSED AWAY IN MUMBAI
Veteran actor Avatar Krishan Hangal,
popularly called AK Hangal, passed away in
Mumbai on 26 August 2012 after prolonged
illness. He was 97. In a career spanning
nearly 40 years Hangal worked in around
225 films. A devoted artist, he also worked
in numerous theatre plays and TV Series.
PM NAIR APPOINTED THE
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF
NATIONAL DISASTER
RESPONSE FORCE & CIVIL
DEFENCE
The Ministry of Home Affairs on 27 August
2012 appointed P M Nair as the Director
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General, National Disaster Response Force
& Civil Defence (NDRF & CD). The
appointment will be effective from the date
of his taking over the charge of the post and
until his superannuation on 31 May 2013 or
until further orders, whichever is earlier.
G ASHOK KUMAR TOOK OVER
AS THE SOUTHERN NAVAL
COMMAND CHIEF
Rear Admiral G Ashok Kumar assumed the
charge as the Southern Naval Command
Chief, Kochi on 28 August 2012. Prior to this
this, Kumar was serving as the Flag Officer
at Sea Training, Kochi, where he was
responsible for preparing all major warships
for combat readiness. A specialist in
navigation and direction, he commanded
INS Kulish and INS Ranvir.
ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINI STER
MELES ZENAVI PASSED AWAY
Meles Zenavi, the Ethiopian Prime Minister,
passed away on 20 August 2012 following
prolonged illness. He was 57. Deputy Prime
Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who is also
Ethiopia's foreign minister, will assume the
charge as the acting Prime Minister of the
country.
PJ KURIEN ELECTED THE
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF RAJYA
SABHA
Congress leader PJ Kurien was unanimously
elected the Deputy Chairman of Rajya
Sabha. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
moved the motion for the election of
Kurien.
Kurien has been the member of national
parliament for the last three decades
representing Idukki, and Mavelikkara Lok
Sabha constituencies. Since 2005 he is a
member of the Rajya Sabha.
LAKHDAR BRAHIMI WAS
APPOINTED THE NEW UN
ARAB LEAGUE ENVOY FOR
SYRIA
Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi was
appointed the new UN-Arab League envoy
for Syria on 17 August 2012. He will succeed
Kofi Annan, who resigned earlier this month
after his six-point peace plan failed to
achieve a meaningful cease-fire. Lakhdar
Brahimi will be known as the Joint Special
Representative for Syria.
WIKILEAKS FOUNDER JULIAN
ASSANGE WOULD BE
GRANTED POLITICAL ASYLUM
BY ECUADOR
The foreign ministry of Ecuador announced
that Ecuador would be granting Wikileaks
co-founder Julian Assange a political asylum
on 16 August 2012.
Assange shot to fame in the year 2010 after
he leaked a number of US diplomatic cables
and videos regarding the war in Iraq and
Afghanistan through Wikileaks. Following
the incident, USA and other countries
whose secrets were divulged jumped into
considerable action. Assange and his team
argue that the alleged sex crimes
allegations and these accusations are
untrue and falsely built up.
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PAKISTAN GOVERNMENT
HONOURED GOPI CHAND
NARANG WITH SITARA-I-
IMTIAZ
Pakistan government on 14 August 2012
honoured Urdu author, Gopi Chand Narang
with sitara-i-Imtiaz, the third highest civilian
honour given by the nation. In the past,
former Prime Minister Morarji Desai and
matinee idol Dilip Kumar were bestowed
Pakistan's highest civilian honour, Nishan-i-
Imtiaz. The award will be given to Gopi
Chand Narang in Pakistan on 23 March,
2013, Pakistan's Republic Day.
UNION MINISTER FOR
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
VILASRAO DESHMUKH
PASSED AWAY
Vilasrao Dagadojirao Deshmukh, the Union
Minister for Science and Technology and
Earth Sciences died of multiple organ failure
at the Global Health City Hospital in
Chennai on 14 August 2012. He was 67. He
was admitted to hospital on 6 August after
his kidney and lever stopped to work.
RAGHURAM RAJAN
APPOINTED THE NEW CHIEF
ECONOMIC ADVISOR IN THE
FINANCE MINISTRY
Raghuram Rajan, former chief economist of
International Monetary Fund (IMF) was
appointed as the Chief Economic Advisor in
the Finance Ministry. The Appointments
Committee of Cabinet cleared the
appointment of Rajan as the new CEA on 10
August 2012. The position was lying vacant
since Kaushik Basu demitted the office on
31 July 2012.
SYED NASIM AHMED ZAI DI
APPOINTED NEW ELECTION
COMMISSIONER
Syed Nasim Ahmad Zaidi, a 1976 batch IAS
officer of UP cadre, was appointed as an
Election Commissioner on 7 August 2012.
His appointment was approved by President
Pranab Mukherjee. Zaidi had retired as Civil
Aviation Secretary on 31 July 2012.
KOFI ANNAN QUIT AS THE UN
SPECIAL ENVOY TO SYRIA
Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
on 2 August 2012 stepped down as the UN
special envoy to Syria. Annan formally
informed UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-
moon and the Secretary-General of the
League of Arab States, Nabil El Araby about
his decision. His appointment for the high-
profile as the UN peace interlocutor was set
to expire on 31 August 2012.
KAUSHIK BASU ENDED
TENURE AS THE CHIEF
ECONOMIC ADVISOR IN NEW
DELHI
Kaushik Basu ended his tenure as Indias
Chief Economic Advisor on 31 July 2012. A
professor from Cornell University, he held
the position for two and a half years at the
North-Block, New Delhi.
Prior to his stint as the economic advisor,
Basu was the Chairman of the Department
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of Economics in the year 2009 and between
2006-09. He was the Director of the Center
for Analytic Economics at Cornell. He at
present is the fourth President of the
Human Development and Capabilities
Association, which was founded by Amartya
Sen.
DAVE BRUBECK, THE
RENOWNED JAZZ PIANIST
AND COMPOSER DIED AT 91
Dave Brubeck, the renowned Jazz pianist
died on 5 December 2012 due to heart
failure. He was 91 when he died and just a
day away from the 92nd birthday.
His experiments in style as well as rhythm
won him a million jazz fans. Dave Brubeck
died at a hospital in Norwalk, Connecticut
while visiting cardiologist. He had also won
various awards during his career which
spanned over six decades.
The Library of Congress designated him as
the Living Legend. The 1959 album called
Time Out was the first million-selling Jazz
album of the modern times.
OLDEST PERSON OF THE
WORLD, BESSE COOPER DIED
AT 116
Besse Cooper, the woman listed as the
oldest person of the world died on 4
December 2012 in Georgia nursing home at
116 years of age. Besse Cooper had died
peacefully in Monroe. Besse was recently
taken ill with the stomach virus.
Besse Cooper was declared as the oldest
person of the world in January 2011 by the
Guinness World Records.
She was also the first Georgian who had
world record with her. The birth place of
Besse was Tennessee and she had moved
during the First World War to Georgia.
Guinness World Records declared that as of
now, merely 8 people have reached the age
of 116. Besse Cooper held this title of oldest
person of the world since 2011. She
explained her secret of living for such a long
time, to Guinness World Records. She
explained that she didnt eat junk food.
Who is the worlds oldest person now?
After the death of Besse Cooper, the title of
oldest person of the world now goes to
Dina Manfredini of Johnston who is aged
115 years of age.
S. RAMAKRISHNAN TOOK
OVER AS DIRECTOR OF
VIKRAM SARABHAI SPACE
CENTRE
A senior Scientist from ISRO, S.
Ramakrishnan took over as the Director of
the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC),
Thiruvananthapuram in the first week of
January 2013. Ramakrishnan carries a four
decades of experience in rocketry and
headed the Liquid Propulsion Systems
Centre (LPSC) at ISRO. He replaced P S
Veeraraghavan.
SYED ASIF IBRAHIM TOOK
OVER AS THE DIRECTOR OF
INTELLIGENCE BUREAU
Syed Asif Ibrahim, the 1977 Madhya
Pradesh cadre IPS officer took over the
office of Intelligence Bureau as a director on
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1 January 2013 from Nehchal Sandhu. Alok
Joshi, the Haryana cadre IPS officer on the
other hand took over the office of RAW as
the director on 31 December 2012.
URJIT PATEL WAS APPOINTED
AS THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR
OF THE RESERVE BANK OF
INDIA
Urjit Patel was appointed as the Deputy
Governor of the Reserve Bank of India on 3
January 2013. Urjit Patel succeeds Subir
Gokarn, who handled Monetary Policy in
RBI. The three-year term of Subir Gokarn
terminated in November 2012 but he was
given an extension which ended finally on
31 December 2012.
MUKESH AMBANI DECLARED
18TH RICHEST MAN IN THE
WORLD; RETAINS POSITION
AS RICHEST INDIAN
Mukesh Ambani, the Indian business tycoon
is the 18th richest person of the world
having personal wealth of 24.7 billion dollar
in 2012, as per the Bloomberg Billionaires
Index, which is the daily ranking that
describes 100 wealthiest individuals of the
world.
FREEDOM FIGHTER PANDIT
RAM SANEHI SHUKLA DIED
Pandit Ram Sanehi Shukla, the veteran
freedom fighter died at the age of 98 at
Sahebpur Village under Madiyahon tehsil
on 3 January 2013. Shukla, who was a
disciple of Mahatma Gandhi, died after
surviving a long illness. The last rites of the
freedom fighter were performed at the
Manikarnika Ghat of Varanashi with full
state honour.
VIOLIN MAESTRO M.S.
GOPALAKRISHNAN DIED AT
THE AGE OF 82
Padma Bhushan M.S. Gopalakrishnan, the
Violin maestro died on 3 January 2012 at
the age of 82. He died with the complaints
of breathlessness and a brief illness. The
violinist was an expert in Hindustani and
Carnatic systems of classical music. He is
now survived by his wife and a violinist son
and daughter M Narmada and Suresh
Respectively and another daughter Latha.

PM MANMOHAN SINGH
BECAME THE 19TH MOST
FOLLOWED LEADER ON
TWITTER
As per Digital Policy Council (DPC), PM
Manmohan Singh became the 19th most
followed leader of the world on Twitter. PM
Manmohan Singh is ahead of David
Cameron and Julia Gillard, both of who
were left behind in less than 12 months
time.
GERDA LERNER, THE
WOMENS HISTORY PIONEER
DIED AT 92
Gerda Lerner, the leader in womens history
as well as the founding member of National
Organization for Woman died on 2 January
2013 at Wisconsin. She was aged 92 years.
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Lerner died in peace at the assisted-living
facility in the city of Madison. She founded
the doctoral programme in the womens
history in Madison at the University of
Wisconsin.
US PRESIDENT BARACK
OBAMA RE NOMINATED
INDIAN AMERICAN SRIKANTH
SRINIVASAN AS FEDERAL
JUDGE
Indian-American Srikanth Srinivasan on 4th
January 2013 re-nominated by US President
Barack Obama as Federal Judge for the
District of Columbia Circuit.
Srikanth Srinivasan is among the 33 federal
judges re-nominated by the President
Barack Obama for the US Court of Appeals
and the only Indian American re-nominated
by Obama for the District of Columbia
Circuit.
FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN
BOWLER NEIL ADCOCK DIED
AT THE AGE OF 81
Former South Africa fast bowler, Neil
Adcock died on 6 January 2013 at the age of
81 in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal province of
South Africa. He had pneumonia and was
also suffering from cancer for a long period
of time.
RAVINDRA DHOLKIA TO HEAD
FIVE-MEMBER COMMITTEE
OF AIR INDIA
The Ministry of Civil Aviation on 3 January
2013 constituted a five-member committee
to look into and suggest the measures that
can be taken for cost cutting as well as
optimal utilization of resources in Air India.
The committee would be headed by
Ravindra Dholkia of IIM, Ahmedabad.
The Ministry has provided a two months
time to Dholkia and the committee to
submit its report along with interim
recommendations, for immediate
implementation.
JUSTICE D.K. JAIN APPOINTED
AS THE CHAIRMAN OF LAW
COMMISSION
Union Government of India on 7 January
2012 appointed Justice D.K. Jain as
Chairman of the 20th Law Commission of
India. Justice Jain would take on the chair of
the Chairman of the Law Commission on 24
January 2012 after he retires of a Judge of
Supreme Court on the same day. The Law
Commission is responsible for offering
advices on complex issues to the
Government. He would be heading the
commission as its chief for a period of
three-years from the date of being in the
office.
20th Law Commission of India
The 20th Law Commission of India was
constituted with the Order of the
Government of India with effect from 1
September 2012. The functioning of the
commission would end on 31 August 2012.
The commission would be responsible for
identification of obsolete laws and suggest
measures suitable for quick grievance
handling and redressal of the citizens. It
would also be examining the laws that
effects poor and suggest measures which
would help in harnessing the law and the
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legal process for the economically weaker
and poor section of the society.
CHIEF MINISTER OF
JHARKHAND ARJUN MUNDA
RESIGNED
The Arjun Munda Ministry in Jharkhand on
8 January 2013 resigned and recommended
dissolution of the two-year-old Assembly to
the governor in Ranchi.
The decision of his resignation came after
his coalition partner, the Jharkhand Mukti
Morcha (JMM), decided to withdraw its
support from the 28-month-long BJP-led
coalition government.
AKBARUDDIN OWAISI
ARRESTED FOR DELIVERING
HATE SPEECH; FACES
SEVERAL OTHER CHARGES
Akbaruddin Owaisi, the Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen (MIM) MLA who was indicted of
making hate speech was arrested on 8
January 2013 after going through the
medical tests in government hospital in
Hyderabad. The MLA on 7 January 2013
sought time of four days for appearing in
front of the police on certain medical
grounds.
The MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi is facing
charges which range from sedition to
waging a war against the state. He was
booked on 3 January 2013 under two
different sections of the Indian Penal Code
(IPC) by the police in Nirmal Town, 200 km
away from Hyderabad.
CHIEF MINISTER OF GUJARAT
NARENDRA MODI
INAUGURATED 6TH VIBRANT
GUJARAT SUMMIT
Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi on
8 January 2013 inaugurated the biennial
(held every second year) Vibrant Gujarat
Global Investors meet by throwing open a
mega trade exhibition that has over one
thousand firms from as many as 16
countries displaying their products.

AIR MARSHAL KULWANT
SINGH GILL TOOK OVER AS
THE COMMANDANT OF NDA
Air Marshal Kulwant Singh Gill on 8 January
2013 took over the charge of National
Defence Academy, Khadakwasla as its new
Commandant. Kulwant Singh replaced
outgoing Lt. Gen Ashok Singh to take over
this post.
About Vibrant Gujarat summit
Vibrant Gujarat is the name given to a
biennial investors' summit held by the
government of Gujarat. The Global Trade
Show is an integral component of Vibrant
Gujarat Summit. This platform offers a
unique opportunity to corporate houses,
institutions and industrial giants to
showcase their innovations, products and
services to a large gathering of Indian and
global summit delegates and also allows
having meaningful business-to-business
interactions resulting in serious business
and trade opportunities.

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RAJIV TAKRU APPOINTED
SECRETARY OF FINANCI AL
SERVICES IN THE FINANCE
MINISTRY
Rajiv Takru, the Senior IAS officer on 9
January 2013 promoted and appointed as
Secretary of Financial Services in the
Finance Ministry.
Rajiv Takru was promoted from his present
post of Additional Secretary and Financial
Adviser in the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare. The job of Rajiv Takru is that of
looking after the functioning of banks,
insurance companies and other financial
institutions.
BRIJ BIHARI LAL BUTAIL
ELECTED AS THE SPEAKER OF
HIMACHAL PRADESH
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
Brij Bihari Lal Butail was unanimously
elected as the new speaker of Himachal
Pradesh Legislative Assembly on 9 January
2013. Brij Bihari Lal Butail is the five-time
MLA as well as Senior Congress leader.
Butail was elected as the speaker
unananimously after the BJP decided that
none of its candidate should field for this
designation, leaving him as the only choice.
INTERNET ACTIVIST AND CO-
FOUNDER OF REDITT, AARON
SWARTH COMMITTED
SUICIDE
Aaron Swarth, the internet activist and co-
founder of Reditt committed suicide by
hanging himself on 11 January 2013. The 26
years old computer genius was the
developer of the early version of the RSS
(Rich Site Summary) web feed system was
facing federal criminal charges in cases of a
controversial fraud and hacking allegations.
He was largely credited as the co-author of
the specifications of the RSS 1.0 web feed
format at the age of 14. RSS feed generally
is a format that supports the users to find
out content from the sites, where updates
keeps on changing regularly like a news
website or a blog.
RUSI FRAMROZE SURTI,
FORMER TEST CRICKETER
DIED AT 76
Rusi Framroze Surti, the former all-rounder
of India from Surat died on 13 January 2013
in Mumbai. Surti was aged 76 years. Surti
was often also called poor man's Garry
Sobers and played 26 Test matches for India
from the time period of 1960 to 1969. He
played for Rajasthan as well as Gujarat in
Ranji Trophy. In Sheffield Shield, he
represented Queensland 35 times.
KAMAL NATH ELECTED AS
THE LEADER OF INDIAN
DELEGATION FOR WORLD
ECONOMIC FORUM 2013
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh elected
Kamal Nath, the Union Minister for Urban
Development and Parliamentary Affairs, as
a leader of Indian delegation for annual
meetings for World Economic Forum which
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will be held in Davos from 23 to 27 January
2013.
There will be other three members in the
delegation and these involve Power
Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Heavy
Industry Minister Praful Patel and
Commerce & Industry Minister Anand
Sharma.
TAHAWWUR RANA
SENTENCED 14 YEARS I N JAIL
BY THE FEDERAL COURT
Tahawwur Rana, the Chicago based
businessman and immigration consultant
was sentenced for 14 years in Jail by the
Federal Judge of US. He was sentenced by
the court for his alleged involvement in
supporting the terrorist group from
Pakistan, which worked with the
intelligence service of Pakistan and carried
out the 26/11 Mumbai Attacks in 2008. He
was also a convict for a Denmark strike in a
Jyllands-Posten a Danish newspaper that
published cartoons of the Prophet
Mohammed.
The court described Rana as a partner in
crime of Mumbai Attacks, when 166 people
were killed and among them six were
Americans. The trails undertaken in the
year 2011 identified string evidences
against the Spy Agency of Pakistan the
Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI)
of playing a direct role in the operations
that was planned and designed to kill
people from west and the US.
The sentence was pronounced by U.S.
District Judge Harry Leinenweber and he
chose a punishment that was higher than
the minimum 11 years in prison under the
guidelines of federal sentencing. The Judge
claimed that the crime in the newspaper
building at Copenhagen and the act of
beheading the hostages and throwing the
heads out of the windows to create a
situation of panic was very serious. Rana
being aware about Headleys involvement
in the Mumbai Attack was the proof of the
murderous potential of him. The Federal
Court Judge also added post-prison
supervision for five years of Rana in his
sentence.
Tahawwur Rana
He is a Pakistani Canadian resident in
Chicago and a business man who dealt in
immigration services. He was arrested in
October 2009 on the issue of his alleged
involvement in Mumbai Attack in 2008 and
in 2011 was convicted for providing support
to the militant organization Lashkar-e-Taiba
in its plot against the Danish News Paper
Jyllands-Posten.
SSPI TO HONOUR PROF. U R
RAO BY INDUCTING HIM AS A
MEMBER TO THE SATELLITE
HALL OF FAME
The Society of Satellite Professionals
International (SSPI) would honour, the
Former Chairman of ISRO and Secretary
Department of Space, Professor U R Rao by
inducting him as the member of the
prestigious Satellite Hall of Fame,
Washington.
His induction to the Satellite Hall of Fame is
scheduled for 19 March 2013 in a gala
function that is to be organised at
Washington, D.C. USA. After being inducted
into the hall of fame, Prof. Rao would be
joining the list of illustrious space scientists
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like Dr. James A. Van Allen, Dr. William
Pritchard, Dr. Harold Rosen, Dr. Joseph V.
Charyk, Arthur C Clarke, Santiago Astrain
and others.
SSPI Hall of Fame
The Society of Satellite Professionals
International (SSPI), since 1987 has been in
the process of recognizing the invaluable
contributions of the people involved in
transforming the life on earth and upgraded
it via satellite technology. The pioneers of
communication as well as satellite based
aerospace scientific research and
development for delivery of business
related applications for government and
institutions via satellite are selected as
members of the Satellite Hall of Fame.
RAHUL GANDHI APPOINTED
AS THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF
INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
Rahul Gandhi on 19 January 2013 was
formally elevated and was appointed at the
position of party Vice-President of Congress
at the Chintan Shivir organised at Jaipur in
January 2013. With this appointment, Rahul
Gandhi took over the second highest chair
of the oldest political party of the nation,
just after the party-president and her
mother Sonia Gandhi. His appointment to
the post came up following the decision
made by the Congress Working Committee,
the party's highest decision making body.
Congress Vice Presidents in the Post
Independent India
Arjun Singh in 1986 was designated
as the first Vice-President of the
party
Jitendra Prasada was appointed as
the party Vice-President in 1997
Kalyan Singh merged his Jan Kranti Party
with BJP, restrained himself from Joining
Kalyan Singh, the former Chief Minister of
Uttar Pradesh on 21 January 2013 merged
his Jan Kranti Party with Bhartiya Janta
Party. Singh merged his party with BJP
during the Atal Shankhnaad Rally of BJP in
Lucknows Jhelum Park.
His resignation from the Parliament would
have created a space for by-elections for
the Etah Seat. Kalyan Singh left BJP before
the Lok Sabha Elections of 2009 due to the
differences with the senior leaders of BJP.
Anti-Defection Law
The Constitution (Fifty-Second
Amendment) Act, 1985 Tenth Schedule, of
the Defection Laws Articles 102(2) and
191(2)].
The provisions as to disqualification on
ground of defection includes
Disqualification on ground of defection -
(1) Subject to the provisions of
paragraphs 3, 4 and 5, a member of a House
belonging to any political party shall be
disqualified for being a member of the
House-
(a) If he has voluntarily given up his
membership of such political party; or
(b) If he votes or abstains from voting in
such House contrary to any direction issued
by the political party to which he belongs or
by any person or authority authorised by
it in this behalf, without obtaining, in
either case, the prior permission of such
political party, person or authority and
such voting or abstention has not been
condoned by such political party, person or
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authority within fifteen days from the date
of such voting or abstention.
BHUTAN KING TO BE THE
CHIEF GUEST AT INDIAS
REPUBLIC DAY FOR THE YEAR
2013
Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel
Wangchuck is to be the chief guest at the
Republic Day parade for the year 2013. The
Bhutan King is also to be the chief guest at
the Confederation of Indian Industry
Partnership Summit-2013 to be held at Agra
from 27th to 29 January 2013.
JBT TEACHERS RECRUITMENT
SCAM: CHAUTALA AND SON
SENTENCED 10 YEARS I N
PRISON
The Delhi Court on 22 January 2013
sentenced 10 years in prison for the former
Chief Minister of Haryana and the leader of
the National Lok Dal (INLD) Om Prakash
Chautala and his Son Ajay Singh Chautala,
who is an MLA from Dabwali constituency.
The two along with 53 others have been
sentenced for their alleged involvement in
the Junior Basic Trained (JBT) teachers
recruitment scam in which 3,206 JBT
teachers were recruited illegally in the state
in the year 2000.
RAJNATH SINGH ELECTED AS
THE NEW NATIONAL
PRESIDENT OF BHARTIYA
JANATA PARTY
Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on 23 January
2013 elected Rajnath Singh as its new
President. His appointment to the post was
announced by Thawar Chand Gehlot, the
Central Election Officer at the headquarters
of the party, at New Delhi.
Rajnath Singh replaced Nitin Gadkari, who
served the party as its President for a
period of three years from December 2009
to January 2013.
UDDHAV THACKERAY
APPOINTED AS THE PARTY
PRESIDENT OF SHIV SENA
Uddhav Thackeray on 23 January 2013 was
elected as the Party President for Shiv Sena
during the National Executive Meet of the
party held at Sena Bhawan, partys
headquarters at Dadar in Central Mumbai.
He was elected to the post of the President
of the Party on the day of birth anniversary
of the party supremo and his father, Bal
Thackeray.
U.S. FEDERAL COURT
SENTENCED 35 YEARS I N
PRISON FOR DAVID COLEMAN
HEADLEY
David Coleman Headley, the Pakistani-
American and the mastermind of the 26/11
Mumbai Terror Attack 2008 was sentenced
to 35 years in Prison on 24 January 2013 by
a U.S. Court. The Court sentence would be
followed by a five years of supervised
release.
The sentence was pronounced by the U.S.
Federal District Court Judge Harry
Leinenweber, who said that Headley was a
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terrorist and numerous crimes were
committed by Headley but his confessions
turned up to be the reason that lenient
sentences were issued for him.
It was admitted by the U.S. Government
that the nature of role played by Headley in
26/11 attacks were deplorable and the
prosecution pressed for a sentence of 30 to
35 years for him. The death penalty and
extradition options were dropped because
of the cooperation shown by him. Headley,
under a deal with U.S. Government supplied
major information about the terror
suspects, which was really helpful in
carrying on the investigation and bring
defendants like Ilyas Kashmiri, Tahawwur
Rana and other Pakistan-based operatives
under criminal charges.
David Coleman Headley
David Coleman Headley is a Chicago based
Pakistani-American, who was involved as a
mastermind in Mumbai Terror Attack and
many other terrorist activities. He is
accused of carrying on the spying mission
during the terror attacks of Mumbai in
which 166 people died. In 2009 he was the
mastermind to plan the attack on the
Danish Newspaper, Jyllands-Posten.
US ASTRONAUT NEIL ALDEN
ARMSTRONG PASSED AWAY
Neil Alden Armstrong, the US Astronaut,
who got his name written in the history of
mankind after he became the first person
on the Earth to walk on the surface of
moon, passed away on 25 August 2012. He
was 82.
At the age of 38, Armstrong, as the
commander of the Apollo 11 mission,
became the first human to land on the
moon on 20 July 1969. Right after he
stepped on the surface of moon, Armstrong
uttered that famous sentence "That's one
small step for man, one giant leap for
mankind."

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CHAPTER 9:
INSTITUTION AND
AGENCIES
SPECIAL CONSULTATIVE
STATUS WITH UNO
ACCORDED TO SIX INDIAN
NGOS
Six Indian NGOs or non-governmental
organisations working towards upliftment of
poor, Dalits as well as women were approved
by the Committee on Non-Governmental
Organizations for consultative status with the
UN. The committee is a part of Economic and
Social Council of the United Nations. The
consultative status was given during the annual
ongoing session of the world body panel in the
week dated 21 January 2013 to 27 January
2013.
NGO THAT ENJOY SPECIAL CONSULTATIVE
STATUS
Action of Human Movement (AHM) that
works towards improving the living
conditions of the poor in rural Tamil
Nadu.
Centre for Community Economics &
Development Consultants Society that
works towards empowering the partner
communities, small and marginal
farmers, Dalits, landless people, castes
and tribes and the deprived children
and women.
Chaithanya Samskarika Vedi
Chennayangaloor P.O. that helps in
promotion of development through
financial as well as other aid to poor.
Ekta Welfare Society which is a national
organisation for socio-economic
development, world unity and peace
was also accorded with this status.
Social & Healthy Action for Rural
Empowerment is the national
organisation working towards
betterment of disadvantaged and
underprivileged sections of remote hilly
areas of India was given the status with
UN as well.
India and International Services
Association, whose main concern is the
development of vulnerable
communities as well as the sustainable
health.

BROADBAND NETWORK PACT
SIGNED WITH 16 STATES AND
UT GOVERNMENT
ABOUT THE COMMITTEE ON NON-
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
The Committee on Non-Governmental
Organizations, has as of now, accorded this
special status to ove3500 NGOs from the
world. This committee includes 19
members, all of which are chosen on the
grounds of equitable geographical
representation. The committee is chaired
by Bulgaria and at present, its members for
the time period of 2011-2014 include
Venezuela, US, Turkey, Sudan, Russia,
Senegal, Morocco, Mozambique, Belgium,
Burundi, India, Israel, China, Cuba,
Pakistan, Peru, Kyrgyzstan and Nicaragua.
The committee has two-week session
which began on 21 January 2013 and will
conclude on 8 February 2013. In 2013, the
committee received application for the
special status from 600 NGOs which is a
record in itself.

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The central government on 26 October
2012 signed a tripartite pact with 16 state
and UT governments for laying digital
highway and also formed a special purpose
vehicle BBNL for facilitating connection to
every gram Panchayat with broadband
network.
The states which signed the pact include
Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh,
Arunachal Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand,
Karnataka, Kerela, Madhya Pradesh,
Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. Also, the
three union territories Dadar and Nagar
Haveli, Daman and Diu and Puducherry also
signed the agreement.
The Memorandum of Understanding was
signed for around 140000 gram panchayats.
It is Rs 20000 crore projects and entire fund
is going to be provided by central
government. State Governments will have
to provide approvals for laying of the optic
fibre network and facilitate other measures
for expeditious rollout of the network.
By December 2013, broadband network
across the country will be completed. The
states which signed the pact constitute 60
per cent gram panchayats in the country.
Bharat Broadband Network Ltd will be
unveiling the project, which will be
executed by BSNL, RailTel and Power Grid.
UNION GOVERNMENT
APPROVED 492 CRORE
RUPEES TO SET UP CENTRAL
ACADEMY FOR POLICE
TRAINING IN BHOPAL
The Union Government on 3 August 2012
approved the setting up of Central
Academy for Police Training (CAPT) in
Bhopal at a cost of 492 crore rupees. The
government also approved the creation of
one post of Director, CAPT in the rank of
Inspector General of Police.
The Madhya Pradesh government will
provide about 400 acres of land in Bhopal
for setting up the academy.
UNION GOVERNMENT
DECIDED TO LAUNCH
SAKSHAM TO EDUCATE
ADOLESCENT BOYS
The Union Ministry of Women and Child
Development on 18 September 2012
decided to launch a scheme called Saksham
to empower adolescent boys by educating
them on gender sensitivity and moral
behaviour. Saksham aims to target young
boys in the age group 10-18 years for their
holistic development by giving lessons in
gender sensitivity and inculcating in them
respect for women.
WOMEN AND CHILD
DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY
LAUNCHED A WEB PORTAL
NAMED TRACK CHILD
Track Child: The Union Women and Child
Development Ministry launched the portal
to serve as a central database of all those
children who have gone missing in
different parts of the country.
The Union Women and Child Development
Ministry on 18 September 2012 decided to
launch a web portal named Track Child,
which will serve as a central database of all
those children who have gone missing in
different parts of the country. The portal
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will act as a coordination mechanism
between child homes, police departments
and state governments.
As soon as a child is enlisted in a home, or
whenever a missing FIR is registered in a
police station, the details will be put on the
portal. The ministry will coordinate with
police heads, social welfare departments of
various states and other agencies to create
this mechanism. The ministry is also
considering a proposal to create a National
Institute of Women Affairs, which will serve
as a think tank for women-related matters.

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CHAPTER 10:
AWARDS/HONOURS
THE BHILAI STEEL PLANT
WON THE PRIME MINISTERS
TROPHY FOR THE 10TH TIME
The Bhilai Steel Plant, on 24 August 2012
won the prestigious Prime Minister's
Trophy for the 10th time. Bhilai Steel plant
is the flagship unit of Indias largest public
sector steel maker, Steel Authority of India
Ltd (SAIL). It has an annual production
capacity of over 5 million tonnes.
The award includes a cash element of Rs.2
crore, is given to integrated steel plants
(ISPs) on the basis of an evaluation by a
panel of judges appointed every year. The
Prime Minister's Trophy is awarded to an
ISP based on customer satisfaction index, its
overall performance, and observations by
the panel of judges based on plant visits.
JAMMU AND KASHMIR BANK
WAS AWARDED BEST BANKER
PRIZE
Jammu and Kashmir Bank on 20 August
2012 won four national awards-The Sunday
Standard FINWIZ-2012 Best Bankers
Awards. The Bank was awarded Best Banker
in Financial Inclusion and Customer
Friendliness and declared runner up for
Best Banker in Priority Sector Growth and
Agricultural Credit.
The Sunday Standard is a part of the New
Indian Express Group which is based in
Chennai. It had engaged Indicus Analytics-
Indias premier economic research agency-
to conduct a survey and find out Indias
best bankers.
The surveyors highlighted the J&K Banks
contribution in facilitating the workings of
the economy and contributing to its growth
by promoting entrepreneurs and
innovation.
KRISHI KARMAN AWARDS
FOR THE YEAR 2011-2012
PRESENTED BY THE
PRESIDENT OF INDIA
The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee
on 15 January 2013 presented the Krishi
Karman Awards for the year 2011-2012 at
an award ceremony at the Rashtrapati
Bhavan. The awards were presented to the
State Governments for their excellent
performance in increasing the production of
food grains in their respective states.
Awards in different segments
Awards Sates
The Awards for
Special Contribution
to Total Food Grains
Production
Madhya Pradesh,
Tamil Nadu,
Manipur and
Nagaland
Award for
Contribution to
Production and
Productivity of Rice
Bihar
Award for
Contribution to
Production and
Haryana
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Productivity of
Wheat
Award for
Contribution to
Production and
Productivity of
Pulses
Jharkhand
Award for
Contribution to
Production and
Productivity of
Coarse Cereals
Uttar Pradesh
Krishi Karman Awards
The award was instituted in the year 2010-
11 for recognizing the meritorious efforts
made by the states in production of food
grains. The Awards include a trophy, a
citation and a cash reward of 2 crore rupees
for total food grain production and 1 crore
rupees for each of the four individual crops.
For commendation award winner the cash
prize declared is of 25 lakh rupees and for
individual farmers the prize amount is 1
lakh rupees, with a citation and a trophy.
The awards are presented in two different
sets and they are one for the total food
grain production and second for the
production of individual food grains that
includes rice, wheat, pulses and coarse
cereals.
The awards were finalized and the states
were selected by a selection committee
that was headed by the secretary of
agriculture and cooperation that accessed
the performance of states following certain
fixed criteria, which took into account the
outcomes of production, implementation of
programmes for crop production as well as
the innovative approach adopted for
delivery of effective services.
SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI
FELLOWSHIPS AND AKADEMI
AWARDS FOR THE YEAR 2012
ANNOUNCED
The General Council of Sangeet Natak
Akademi, the National Academy of Music,
Dance and Drama, New Delhi on 21
December 2012 in a meet elected and
declared N. Rajam, T.H. Vinayakram and
Ratan Thiyam as the three eminent
personalities in the field of Arts, as Sangeet
Natak Akademi Fellows (Akademi Ratna).
This fellowship is the rare and most
prestigious honour, restricted to a limited
number of people at a given pint of time. At
present, there exist only 40 fellows of the
Sangeet Natak Akademi.
Thirty Six persons from field of Music,
Theater, Puppetry and Dance were also
elected by the General Council of the
Akademi for the Sangeet Natak Akademi
Awards (Akademi Puraskar) 2012. Nine
eminent artists are from the field of Music
and they are Mysore M. Nagaraja, (Violin)
and K.V. Prasad (Mridangam) for Carnatic
Instrumental Music, Sabir Khan (Tabla) and
Bahauddin Dagar (Rudra Veena) for
Hindustani Instrumental Music, O.S.
Thyagarajan for Carnatic Vocal Music,
Rajashekhar Mansur and Ajay Pohankar for
Hindustani Vocal Music, Illayaraja for
Creative and Experimental Music and Bhai
Balbir Singh Ragi (Gurbani) for other major
traditions of music.
The Akademi Award has been conferred on
people since 1952 and the Akademi Fellow
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honour has been conferred since 1954. The
honour and the award is the symbol of
highest standards of excellence and
achievements on national level and also
recognises sustained work of the individual
and his/her contribution to the practice and
appreciation of arts via scholarship,
teaching and performance. Akademi
Fellowship carries a prize amount of three
lakh rupees and the Akademi Awards carry
a prize amount of one lakh rupees, besides
Tamrapatra and Angavastram.
LULA DA SILVA AWARDED
INDIRA GANDHI PRIZE FOR
PEACE, DISARMAMENT AND
DEVELOPMENT
The former President of the Federative
Republic of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
was awarded with Indira Gandhi Prize for
Peace, Disarmament and Development on
22 November 2012 at Rashtrapati Bhavan
by President of India, Pranab Mukherjee.
Lula was awarded for
Lula was conferred with the award for his
contribution towards elimination of hunger.
He has also brought inclusive growth in his
country. He was awarded for advocating
stronger ties among the developing
economies as well as for the signal
contribution for India-Brazil partnership.

AUTAR KAW, A PROFESSOR
OF INDIAN ORIGIN WON US
PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR
AWARD-2012
Indian Born Academic, Autar Kaw, a
mechanical engineering professor at
University of South Florida (USF) on 15
November 2012 was declared winner of the
prestigious 2012 US Professor of the Year
award. Autar Kaw was conferred with the
award in the category of Outstanding
Doctoral and Research Universities
Professor of the Year- for his abilities of
providing solutions of complex
mathematical equations to students making
it simple by providing logical solutions to it
beyond the classroom through his website,
twitter account and lectures available on
You Tube Video.
He is also known as Methods Guy. He was
conferred with the award in the National
Press Club and the Folger Shakespeare
Library in Washington, DC along with other
three lecturers nominated from the list of
300 nominees.

About the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace,
Disarmament and Development
Every year, Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace,
Disarmament and Development is awarded
to person or an organisation that works
towards enlargement of scope of freedom
as well as enrichment of human spirit. The
award is conferred upon the person or an
organisation irrespective of race, religion,
nationality or other aspects. It consists of
award worth 2.5 million Rupees as well as
trophy along with citation.

About the Award
The award is given by the Carnegie
Foundation for the Advancement of
Teaching and the Council for Advancement
and Support of Education and is conferred
on the academicians with abilities of
engaging and influencing students in an
exceptional manner. This award is
considered to be the nations highest
honor for undergraduate teaching.
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THREE INDIAN WRITERS
SHORTLISTED FOR DSC SOUTH
ASIAN LITERATURE PRI ZE
2013
Three Indian writers- Uday Prakash, Amitav
Ghosh and Jeet Thayil were shortlisted for
the US Dollar 50,000 DSC South Asian
Literature Prize 2013. The names of
shortlisted candidates were announced on
21 November 2012 in London. Others who
were shortlisted for the prize include
Pakistani novelists Jamil Ahmad and
Mohammed Hanif as well as Tahmina Anam
of Bangladesh. Only contender from beyond
the boundaries of Indian Subcontinent is
Jason Grunebaum who is the American
Writer, academic and translator.
Amitav Ghosh has been chosen for River of
Smoke, Jeet Thayil for the debut novel
Narcopolis and Uday Prakash for The Walls
of Delhi.

GAVASKAR CONFERRED WITH
COL. CK NAYUDU LIFETIME
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Sunil Gavaskar, the Former Captain and
legendary opener of Indian Cricket Team on
21 November 2012 was conferred with
BCCIs prestigious Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime
Achievement Award at the BCCI Annual
Awards Function 2011-12. Sachin
Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and V.V.S. Laxman
were also felicitated at the award
ceremony.
The Lifetime Achievement Award given to
Gavaskar carried a citation, trophy and a
cheque for 25 lakh Rupees and he received
this award from the BCCI president N.
Srinivasan.
Sachin Tendulkar was honoured at the
occasion with a gold-plated bat for scoring
the century of centuries in international
cricket. Kohli was chosen as the Best Indian
International Player of the year at the
award ceremony.
MALALA YOUSAFZAI
AWARDED WITH BRAVERY
AWARD BY WORLD PEACE
AND PROSPERITY
FOUNDATION
Malala Yousafzai, on 19 November 2012
awarded by World Peace and Prosperity
Foundation for her bravery and
commitment to education for girls in
adverse conditions in Swat, Pakistan.
She was shot in the head by Taliban, and
had become the face of Pakistans struggle
against the Taliban. She is now being
treated and on the road to recovery at a
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, England.

About DSC Prize for South Asian Literature
The prize was introduced in 2010 and was
described by sponsors as the first of its kind
initiative for promotion of best works in
English language fiction on South Asian
theme.

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PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA ELLEN
JOHNSON SIRLEAF CHOSEN
FOR INDIRA GANDHI PEACE
PRIZE 2012
Liberian President and Nobel laureate Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf on 19 November 2012 was
chosen for 2012 Indira Gandhi Prize for
Peace, Disarmament and Development for
being an inspiration to women and ensuring
return of peace and democracy in her
country.
The award is set up by Indira Gandhi
Memorial Trust with an international jury
chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh.
The Indira Gandhi Prize is being awarded to
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for serving as an
example and inspiration to women in Africa
and beyond and for ensuring the return of
peace, democracy, development, security
and order in Liberia.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who is the 24th
President of Liberia was commended by the
jury for her strong interest in consolidation
and improvement of Liberia's relations with
India. She was raised to the Presidency
becoming the first elected female head of
state of the African continent.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took over office as the
President of Liberia in 2006 acquiring a
legacy of distrust, disharmony and
mismanagement. She had successfully
restored financial health her country which
was on the verge of fiscal breakdown.
CHINESE FILM, 11 FLOWERS
WON NETPAC AWARD AT
KOLKATA FILM FESTIVAL
The Chinese film, 11 Flowers on 17
November 2012 won the Network for the
Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC)
Award at 18th Kolkata International Film
Festival. The film won the best film award in
Asian Select category-the only competitive
category in Kolkata International Film
Festival. A total of 13 films from 12 12 Asian
Countries were selected to compete for the
award of this category.
The film directed by the acclaimed
filmmaker Wang Xiaoshuai describes the
backdrop of the Cultural Revolution in form
of a semi-autobiographical story of the rural
Guizhou Province. Wang Jinchun and
Wenqing Liu are the lead stars of the film.
The NETPAC award is now a part of 44 film
festivals of 28 different countries across five
continents.
About Col. CK Nayudu and the Lifetime
Achievement Award
Col. CK Nayudu or Cottari Kanakaiya
Nayudu was the first captain of Indian
Cricket Team in Test Matches, and he
played the first class cricket for India till
1958. The ruler of Holkar in 1923 conferred
him with the honour of Colonel in Holkars
Army at Indore. Nayudu was appointed as
the first captain of Indian team for its first
test tour of England in 1932 after the
previously appointed captain and vice-
captain of the team, Maharaja of
Porbandar and Ghanshyamsinhji of Limbdi
respectively were out of the series due to
health problems.

Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement
Award is the highest-revered award for
captaincy and lifetime achievement in
Indian Cricket.

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URDU SCHOLAR GOPI CHAND
NARANG AWARDED
MOORTIDEVI AWARD FOR
2010
The Vice President of India M. Hamid Ansari
on 16 November 2012 presented the
Moortidevi Award for 2010 to eminent
Urdu scholar Gopi Chand Narang for his
outstanding work on Urdu Ghazal aur
Hindustani Zehan wa Tehzeeb at a function
organized by Bhartiya Jnanpith.
Gopi Chand Narang revived Urdu language
in India through his writings and he is one
of the foremost theorist, literary critic and
Urdu scholar of our country. His perceptive
writings have helped Urdu criticism
becoming more contemporary.
It is befitting that his long academic life of
excellence has been felicitated by
conferring the Moortidevi award on him.
KATHERINE BOO WON US
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR
MUMBAI BOOK
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and writer
Katherine Boo on 14 November 2012won
the national book award for nonfiction for
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death,
and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity, which
sheds light on the lives of India's poor as
well as government corruption.
Behind the beautiful forever is a story of an
ambitious woman who has set her sights on
being slumlord in Annawadi, a large slum
close to Sahar International Airport in
Mumbai the story also revolves around a
boy and the harsh and illuminating after
effects of crime or perceived crime. More
broadly, the book explores themes of
inequality and the perseverance of families
striving for something better.
The National Book Foundation, which
administers the awards, nominated five
writers in each of four categories: fiction,
nonfiction, poetry and young people's
literature.
MADHAV CHAVAN AWARDED
THE EDUCATION NOBEL PRIZE
Dr Madhav Chavan was awarded the WISE
prize, which is known as the Nobel prize for
Education. He was felicitated on 13
November 2012 at the WISE summit in
Doha, the capital of Qatar.
The international award not only felicitated
the person himself, but also recognized his
efforts to provide lessons in literacy and
numeracy for less fortunate and
disadvantaged children and adults in India.
LITERARY CRITIC AND
EDUCATOR GAYATRI
CHAKRAVORTY SPIVAK GOT
KYOTO PRIZE
Renowned literary critic and educator
Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak on 10 November
2012 was awarded the prestigious Kyoto
Prize in Kyoto.
Kyoto Prize was instituted by the Inamori
Foundation. It honours those personalities
who had significantly contributed to the
scientific, cultural and spiritual betterment
of mankind.
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Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, is professor at
Columbia University in the U.S. She won the
award in the Arts and Philosophy category
for her deep thinking on humanities
against intellectual colonialism in relation
to globalisation.
Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak shifted the
critical theory of deconstruction into
political and social dimensions, and had
applied a sharp scalpel to intellectual
colonialism which is being reproduced in
our heavily globalised modern world, said
the Foundation.
Also, U.S. computer scientist Ivan
Sutherland, regarded as a father of
computer graphics, won the Advanced
Technology Prize while Japanese molecular
biologist Yoshinori Ohsumi was awarded
the Basic Sciences Prize.
Each laureate received a diploma, a 20K
gold Kyoto Prize medal and a cash gift of
50 million ($630,000).
SUNITA WILLIAMS VENTURED
ON 7TH SPACE WALK: SET
NEW RECORD
Indian American astronaut Sunita Williams
along with a fellow astronaut moved out of
the International Space Station on 1
November 2012.
The Expedition Commander Williams and
Aki Hoshide, Flight Engineer switched their
space suits to batter power showing the
start of the planned 6.5 hours excursion
outside the Space Station.
The NASA statement mentioned that while
the astronauts took their walk they
ventured out to the port side of the
station's truss to configure the 2B solar
array power channel's Photovoltaic
Thermal Control System (PVTCS) to support
ground-based troubleshooting of an
ammonia leak.
Over the period of time, flight controllers at
Mission Control Houston will check
periodically if the leak continues.
This was the seventh spacewalk for Indian
astronaut Sunita Williams who holds the
record for spacewalking time with over
forty four hours during six previous
excursions.
This was the third spacewalk for Hoshide,
who holds the equivalent record for
Japanese astronauts. This is the 166th
spacewalk in support of International Space
Station assembly and maintenance and also
the 138th spacewalk from the station.
MATHURA REFINERY BAGGED
13TH ANNUAL GREENTECH
ENVIRONMENT AWARD
Indian Oil's Mathura Refinery was awarded
the Platinum Award in the 13th Annual
Greentech Environment Awards. The award
was felicitated on 31 October 2012.
Mathura Refinery was awarded in regard to
the company's outstanding achievements
and contribution to apt implementation of
environmental friendly technologies and
methodologies.
Greentech Awards is a key component that
values the need of environmental
management in business sustainability.
AISHWARYA RAI BACHCHAN
CONFERRED WITH FRENCH
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AWARD THE KNIGHT OF THE
ORDER OF ARTS AND LETTER
The Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on 1
November 2012 was conferred with the
Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters
(Chevalier dans lOrdre des Arts et des
Lettres) by the French Ambassador to India
Franois Richier. She was awarded on
behalf of the French Authorities.
She was conferred with the award for the
contributions made by her to Indian and
World Cinema and the developments in
Indo-French cooperation in art, culture and
the most important one, Cinema.
Late Habib Tanvir, Nandita Das, Raghu Rai,
Shahrukh Khan, and Upamanyu Chatterjee
are few more Indians who had been
conferred with this prestigious French
award.
LYRICIST GULZAR CONFERRED
WITH INDIRA GANDHI
NATIONAL AWARD
Lyricist and well known poet Gulzar on 31
October 2012 awarded with Indira Gandhi
National Integration Award by congress
President Sonia Gandhi.
The award was given on the eve of 28th
death anniversary of the late Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi who was assassinated on 31
October 1984.
Marking the event, Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh congratulated the poet
for the award and asserted the fact that
Gulzar Sahab is real talent and a great
personality who is spreading the message of
peace and brotherhood in the country.
AMITABH BACHCHAN GOT
BEST TV HOST AWARD FOR
KBC
Amitabh Bachchan was rewarded as the
Best Television Host for the popular game
show Kaun Banega Crorepati by Peoples
Choice Award of Colour Television channel.
Amitabh is presently hosting Season 6 of
Kaun Banega Crorepati, which is being aired
on Sony channel. He had earlier hosted 5
seasons of KBC except for the third one,
which was hosted by Bollywood actor
Shahrukh Khan.
The first appearance of Amitabh Bachchan
on Indian television is marked with Kaun
Banega Crorepati, (KBC) which first aired in
the year 2000.
STRATEGIC THINKER AND
ANALYST BRAHMA
CHELLANEY WON BERNARD
SCHWARTZ AWARD
India's leading strategic thinker and analyst,
Brahma Chellaney on 25 October 2012 won
the 2012 Asia Society Bernard Schwartz
Book Award for his recently published book
Water: Asia's New Battleground.
Brahma Chellaney is going to be honoured
with $20,000 prize money at a special event
to be held at Asia Society's headquarters in
New York City on 23 January 2012.
The book Water: Asia's New Battleground"
by Brahma Chellaney was selected from
nearly 90 nominations submitted by US and
Asia-based publishers for books published
in 2011.
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Asia Society Bernard Schwartz Book Award
was established in 2009 and is the only
award that recognizes non-fiction books for
their outstanding contributions to the
understanding of contemporary Asia or US-
Asia relations.
EDINBURGH NAPIER
UNIVERSITY HONOURED
SHARMILA TAGORE WITH
HONORARY DOCTORATE OF
ARTS
Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore on 25
October 2012 was awarded with
anHonorary Doctorate of Arts for her
outstanding contribution to Indian cinema
by the Edinburgh Napier University. The
Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the
University Dame Joan Stringer called her as
an excellent ambassador for the Indian
Culture.
Sharmila Tagore whose films are
appreciated and enjoyed all over the world
is also a strong advocate of educational
rights of Indian children. At present, she is a
Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF that is
working for literacy, maternal health and
AIDS-related issues and is also an active
spokesperson for Indian Children Child
Rights and YOU (CRY).
GOV. OF BANGLADESH
AWARDED BABU JAGJIVAN
RAM WITH FRIENDS OF
LIBERATION WAR HONOUR
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Defence
Minister of India, Babu Jagjivan Ram was
posthumously awarded with the Friends of
Liberation War Honourby the Government
of Bangladesh for his contribution in the
1971 War.
The award was received by Babuji's
grandson, Anshul Avijit at the Bangabandhu
International Conference Centre in Dhaka.
Anshul Avijit is a journalist and academician
and also the son of Speaker of the Lok
Sabha, Meira Kumar.
Babu Jagjivan Ram as the Defence Minister
of India in 1971, helped in liberation of
Bangladesh. He assured that the war for
liberation of Bangladesh ended in the
remarkably short time of 13 days.
V NARAYAN MURTHY
HONOURED WITH 2012
HOOVER MEDAL IN
WASHINGTON
V. Narayan Murthy was honoured with
2012 Hoover Medal at the Global
Humanitarian Technology Conference in
Seattle in Washington on 22 October 2012.
Murthy, who is the 70th recipient since the
medal's inception, was recognized for
establishing a foundation that forges
outstanding improvements in healthcare,
social rehabilitation, rural uplift and
education. Previous awardees include
former US presidents Herbert Hoover,
Dwight D. Eisenhower and James Earl
Carter.
Narayan Murthy co-founded Infosys limited
in 1981. He contributed significantly in
India's success in information technology
outsourcing.
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BOOKS THAT WON 11TH
ECONOMIST CROSSWORD
BOOK AWARD DECLARED
The Folded Earth written by Anuradha Roy
and A Free Man by Aman Sethi won the
11th Economist Crossword Book Award
that was declared on 18 October 2012 at
Mumbai.
The Folded Earth was successful in securing
its position in the English Indian Fiction
Category, whereas, A Free Man by Aman
Sethi was successful in the category of
Indian Non-Fiction books.
A Bengali short-story collection Bengali
written by Anita Agnihotri named 17 and
translated in English by Arunava Sinha and a
Malyalam Novel, The Araya Woman that
was written by Narayan and translated in
English by Catherine Thankamma were
declared as the winners of the award for
Indian Language Translation jointly. Ravi
Subramanians creation The Incredible
Banker fetched the Popular Award by its
name.
FIRST EVER INDIA
BIODIVERSITY AWARD
PRESENTED IN HYDERABAD
The Government of India in collaboration
with United Nation Development
Programme (UNDP) announced
Biodiversity award 2012 in Hyderabad on
17 October 2012.
The winners of the awards were: Pir Jahania
Jungle Suraksha Samiti from Odisha in the
community stewardship category,
Shankarpur Village Gram Panchayat from
Maharashtra in the category of
decentralised management, Van Utthan
Sansthan from Rajasthan in the category of
co-management and Periyar Tiger Reserve
in the protected areas category.
BRITISH WRITER HILARY
MANTEL WON BOOKER PRIZE
FOR SECOND TIME
British Writer Hilary Mantel on 16 October
2012 won the prestigious literary prize, the
Booker Prize for her novel Bring up the
Bodies, the second in a historical trilogy set
during the reign of King Henry VIII.
Hilary Mantel had earlier won the Booker
prize in 2009 for "Wolf Hall," the first novel
in the trilogy.
Hilary Mantel is the third author to win the
prize twice, alongside South-African-born
J.M. Coetzee and Australian Peter Carey.
With this she also became the first British
author, and the first woman, to achieve a
double Booker Prize.
RELIANCE INDUSTRY
LIMITED'S JAMNAGAR
REFINERY BAGGED BRITISH
SAFETY COUNCIL AWARD
Reliance Industries Ltds (RIL) Jamnagar
Refinery on 15 October 2012 won the
British Safety Council's Globe of Honor
Award for excellence in Environmental
management. The award would be
presented on 23 November 2012 at
Mansion House in London.
RIL's Jamnagar SEZ Refinery is the only
Indian organisation which had made it to
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the list and it is for the first time that a
Reliance Industries' manufacturing site has
grabbed this very well known award.
LLOYD SHAPLEY AND ALVIN
ROTH OF AMERICA WON
NOBEL PRIZE IN ECONOMICS
Alvin Roth and Lloyd Shapley of America
were awarded the Nobel economics prize
on 15 October 2012 for their work in
market design and matching theory.
The research work helps in explaining the
market processes at work, say, when
doctors are assigned to hospitals, students
to schools and human organs for transplant
to recipients.
The award was cited to the economist by
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for
the theory of stable allocations and the
practice of market design. The Royal
Swedish Academy of Sciences, which
awards the 8 million crown ($1.2 million)
prize, called their work an outstanding
example of economic engineering.
The two economists were working
independently on the same research
project. Lloyd Shapley used game theory to
study matching models, and Alvin Roth built
on them to make real-world changes to
existing markets, including school choice
and organ transplants,
Alvin Roth is a professor at Harvard and
Lloyd Shapley teaches at the University of
California in Los Angeles
The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic
Sciences was the last of the 2012 Nobel
awards to be announced.
The economics award is not among the
original prizes created in 1895 by Swedish
industrialist Alfred Nobel to honor work in
physics, medicine, chemistry, literature and
peace. It was added as a category in 1969
by the Swedish central bank in memory of
the industrialist.
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 2012
AWARDED TO EUROPEAN
UNION
The European Union (EU) won Nobel Peace
Prize 2012 on 12 October 2012 for its effort
to promote peace and democracy in
Europe. The award was announced by
Norwegian Nobel Committee.
The award was given to European Union
even though the Union is struggling with its
biggest crisis since it was created in the
1950s.
Practically, the EU was being honored for
six decades of contributions to the
advancement of peace and reconciliation,
democracy and human rights in Europe.
Different Social media exploded with strong
reactions both for and against, awarding
the prize to European Union worth 8
million Swedish kronor ($1.2 million)
The EU grew out of the tremendous
devastation created by World War II,
fuelled by the conviction that ever-closer
economic ties would make sure that
century-old enemies never turned on each
other again. The European Union is now
made up of 500 million people in 27
nations, with other nations lined up, waiting
to join.
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The first Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in
1901 to Frdric Passy and Henry Dunant.
The 2011 Nobel peace Prize was awarded
to Leymah Gbowee of Liberia for their non-
violent struggle for the safety of women
and for women's rights to full participation
in peace-building work.

And, the 2010 Nobel peace Prize was
awarded to Liu Xiaobo of China for his his
long and non-violent struggle for
fundamental human rights in China.
MO YAN A CHINESE WRITER
WON THE 2012 NOBEL PRIZE
FOR LITERATURE
Mo Yan, the Chinese writer won 2012
Nobel Prize for Literature on 11 October
2012. The Swedish Academy of Stockholm
praised the Chinese writer for the writer
called his hallucinatory realism. The writer
combines the folk stories, modern events
and the history in his works. He is the first
Chinese writer in the 111 years of Nobel
history to become a Nobel Prize winner.
Before him, Gao Xingjiana a French citizen
born in China won a Nobel in literature in
2000.
The Swedish Academy compared him with
two writers of twentieth century namely
William Faulkner from America and Gabriel
Garcia Marquez from Colombia. Mo Yan will
receive the prize medal and the prize
amount of more than 1 million $ on 10
December 2012, the death anniversary of
the prize founder, Alfred Nobel.
Mo Yan means Dont Speak. The original
name of Mo is Guan Moye. The writer
changed his name to be Mo Yan, to remind
himself of talking less to avoid the trouble
that follows. Nobel Prize for Peace 2012
would be declared on 12 October 2012.
ROBERT LEFKOWITZ AND
BRIAN KOBILKA WON NOBEL
PRIZE 2012 FOR CHEMI STRY
Robert Lefkowitz (69) and Brian Kobilka
(57), the two Americans won the Nobel
Prize 2012 for Chemistry on 10 October
2012. They won the award for their study
and research on Protein Receptors, which
allows the body to respond the signals from
outside world. The study is a key and would
pave the path for developing better drugs
to different ailments.
Lefkowitz and Kobilka from Duke University
Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina
and Stanford University School of Medicine
in Palo Alto, California respectively will be
sharing the prize amount of 8 million-krona
($1.2 million).
About Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded annually
by the Norwegian Nobel Committee to the
person who shall have done the most or
the best work for fraternity between
nations, for the abolition or reduction of
standing armies and for the holding and
promotion of peace congresses. It is one of
the five Nobel Prizes established by the
1895 will of Alfred Nobel (who died in
1896), awarded for outstanding
contributions in chemistry, physics,
literature, peace, and physiology or
medicine. The recipient of Nobel Peace
Prize receives a medal, a diploma, and a
monetary award prize that has varied
throughout the years.

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SERGE HAROCHE AND DAVID
WINELAND WON NOBEL
PRIZE 2012 FOR PHYSICS
Serge Haroche and David Wineland of
France and US respectively, won the Nobel
Physics Prize on 9 October 2012. They
received Nobel for their work on quantum
physics, which would open a gate for
supercomputers in future. The two physics
have developed the technology for
examining the intimate relationship
between matter and light.
This research by the duo would help in
development of precise clocks, which will
be hundred-times precise than the caesium
clocks of present-time.
The eight million Swedish Krona (1.2
millions $) would be divided in between the
two and the award was received by them
on 10 December 2012 on the death
ceremony of the Prize Founder, Alfred
Nobel.
JOHN GURDON AND SHINYA
YAMANAKA WON NOBEL
PRIZE-2012 FOR MEDICINE
John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka, the
British and Japanese researchers
respectively on 8 October 2012 won the
Nobel Prize-2012 in Medicine. They were
awarded with the prize for the discovery of
reprogramming the specialised and
matured cells of the body into blank slate
and this may one day this can start
repairing the damaged organs. The Prize
committee based in Karnolinska Institute at
Stockholm stated that this discovery has
helped in understanding the theory of cell
and organism development.
The discovery has turned up to be a tool for
the scientists round the world allowing
them to make remarkable progress in
different areas of medicine and can help in
tissue transplantation for treatment of
diseases like Diabetes and Parkinson.
The Nobel Prize in Medicine sector is the
first announcement made for the year. The
declared prize was handed out to their
respective winners on the death
anniversary of prize founder Alfred Nobel
on 10 December 2012.
FORTIS ESCORTS WON FICCI
HEALTHCARE EXCELLENCE
AWARD 2012
FICCI Healthcare Excellence Award-2012
went to the Jaipur based Fortis Escorts
hospital for its operational excellence in the
category of private hospital with multi-
specialty hundred beds. The Federation of
Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry
has instituted this award for felicitation of
the individuals and institutions for their
contribution in increasing the efficiency of
health care by imparting innovative steps.
The laid norms were specified by the
Quality Council of India.
SHERYL KUMAR WAS
CROWNED AS MISS INDIA FIJI
2012
Sheryl Kumar was crowned Miss India Fiji
2012 at a glittering ceremony in Suva on 8
September 2012. Sheryl beat nine other
contestants to win the title. She is now
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preparing for the Miss India Worldwide
pageant to be held in Kuala Lumpur in
March 2013.
Sheryl also won the Pure Fiji Beautiful Skin
award at the event.
JEET THAYIL SHORTLISTED
FOR THE MAN BOOKER FOR
HIS DEBUT NOVEL
NARCOPOLIS
Jeet Thayil, 53 years has been shortlisted
for 50,000 the Man Booker Prize for the
year 2012 on 11 September 2012. The
Kerela born novelist and poet was chosen
for the prize for his debut novel Narcopolis.
Before this in the year 2008, Arvind Adiga
won the booker prize for his debut novel
The White Tiger.
PIETA THE SOUTH KOREAN
FILM WON GOLDEN LION
VENICE TOP PRIZE
The Golden Lion Prize for best movie was
given to the South Korean Movie, Pieta
directed by Kim Ki-duk at the 69th Venice
Film Festival on 8 September 2012. The
Master by Paul Thomas Anderson walked
off with two major awards namely, Special
Jury Award and Best Actor for Joaquin
Phoenix.
ADITI MUKHERJEE WON THE
PRESTIGIOUS NORMAN
BORLAUG AWARD
Aditi Mukherjee, a Delhi based scientist,
won the prestigious Norman Borlaug Award
in Field Research and Application.
Mukherjee was picked for the award for her
work in transforming access to water for
thousands of farmers in West Bengal. The
award will be formally presented to
Mukherji on 17 October 2012 in Des
Moines, Iowa, US.
DELHI GOVERNMENT
PRESENTED LIFETIME
ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Celebrated Sarod exponent Amjad Ali
Khan, vocalist Girija Devi and famous
writer Ruskin Bond were conferred the
Delhi government's Lifetime Achievement
Awards on 24 August 2012. Delhi Chief
Minister Sheila Dikshit presented the award
acknowledging the outstanding
contribution of the awardees to their
respective fields at the national and
international level. The award was
consisted of a cash prize of 11 lakh rupees
and a citation.
The award was instituted by the Delhi
government's Sahitya Kala Parishad in 2004
to felicitate on eminent personalities for
their outstanding contributions to the fields
of music, dance, theatre, visual arts, sports
and literature.
Bhimsen Joshi, MS Subbulakshmi, Zohra
Sehgal, Kapila Vatsayan, Rahim Fahimuddin
Dagar, Ebrahim Alkazi, Habib Tanvir,
Vishwanathan Anand and Ram Kumar are
some of the noted recipients of the award.
SIX TOP SPORTING COACHES
TO RECEIVE DRONACHARYA
AWARD FOR 2012
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The names of six sporting coaches were
recommended for the Dronacharya Awards
for the year 2012. Wrestling Coach Yashvir
Singh, Boxing Coach BI Fernandez, Athletics
Coach Virender Poonia, Kabaddi Coach Sunil
Davas, Parathletics Coach Dr. Satyapaul and
Hockey Coach Harinder Singh are the six
coaches who have been selected for the
coveted award, given to the coach of
different sports, for their excellent
contribution to the sports.
CHARLES L BENNETT
RECEIVED THE GRUBER
COSMOLOGY PRIZE 2012
Charles L Bennett, a professor of physics
and astronomy at Johns Hopkins University,
US, was awarded with the Gruber
Cosmology Prize 2012 in Beijing at the
opening ceremony of the 28th Conference
of the International Astronomical Union on
22 August 2012. The 500000 dollar award
was given to him acknowledging his
immense contribution to the world of
physics.
Bennett, a prominent physicist, led a 26-
member team that worked on NASA's
Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe.
The findings of the study helped
astronomers refine their understanding of
the age, shape and makeup of the universe.
The Gruber Prize is the second for Bennett,
who also was a member of a NASA team
that won the prize in 2006. As the member
of the COBE Team he conducted a ground-
breaking studies confirming that our
universe was born in a hot Big Bang.
PRIME MINISTER SHRAM
AWARDS FOR YEAR 2011
ANNOUNCED
Union Ministry of Labour and Employment
announced the Prime Minister Shram
Awards for year 2011 on 15 August 2012.
This year, no nomination was found suitable
for the presitigious Shram Ratna Award. Six
nominations for the Shram Bhushan Award,
Thirty Three nominations for Shram
Vir/Shram Veerangana and twenty nine
nominations for Shram Shree/Shram Devi
Awards have been selected.
INDIAN SCIENTIST ASHOKE
SEN WAS HONOURED WITH
FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICS
PRIZE
Indian Scientist Ashoke Sen was honoured
with Fundamental Physics Prize (FPP) 2012
on 31 July 2012. He is 56 years old. Ashoke
will get the cash prize of three million dollar
which is double the cash prize of Nobel
Prize. He is the only Indian who was
honored with this award.
He was the Professor of Physics in Harish
Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad. In
the year 1988, he had joined Tata Institute
of Fundamental Research in Mumbai.
9 PHYSICISTS WORLDWIDE
RECEIVED THE
FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICS
PRIZE
9 physicists worldwide were given the
Fundamental Physics Prize on 31 July 2012.
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The prizes were given to the physicists for
their remarkable contribution to the field of
fundamental physics. Fundamental Physics
Prize has been established by Russian
Businessman Yuri Milner and the most
money-spinning academic prize in the
world.
Winners of the award include, Ashoke Sen,
N J Nima, Arkani-Hamed, Juan Maldacena,
Nathan Seiberg, Edward Witten, Andrei
Linde, Alexei Kitaev, Maxim Kontsevich,
Ashoke Sen
The winners will receive 3 million dollar as
the prize amount. The Nobel Prize currently
comes with an award of 1.2 million dollar,
which is generally divided between two or
three people.
MUTHUNAYAGAM AND
SARASWAT TO BE AWARDED
WITH ARYABHATTA AWARD
BY THE ASI
The Astronautical Society of India (ASI) in
the last week of December 2012 announced
names of former secretary of the
Department of Ocean Development, Dr.
A.E. Muthunayagam and Dr. V.K. Saraswat,
Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister
for prestigious Aryabhatta Award for the
year 2010 and 2011 respectively. The two
have been selected for the achievement in
rocketry.
SCIENTIST VENKATESH
MANNAR HONOURED WITH
ORDER OF CANADA AWARD
Venkatesh Mannar a Channai-born Scientist
of Indian Origin and President,
Micronutrient Initiative, Canada was
awarded with Canadas Highest Civilian
Award the Order of Canada in the last
week of December 2012. Mannar, a
Graduate from Indian Institute of
Technology, Madras and a post graduate in
chemical engineering from Northwestern
University, US, was honoured with the
award for his forty years long contribution
working towards reduction of debilitating
micronutrient deficiencies among the
worlds most vulnerable.
Micronutrient Initiative
The not-for-profit organization,
Micronutrient Initiative is dedicated
towards ensuring the worlds most
vulnerable, the children and the women
mainly in the developing countries get a
proper amount of minerals and vitamins
(supplements) that they require for survival
and it tries to thrive the same through food
fortification programme. The organization
works for identifying, development,
implementation and monitoring the cost
effective solutions for hidden hunger. The
Support offered by Canada to the
organization allows it to improve lives of
more than 500 million people in 70
different countries, annually. All this is
being done through different programs of
the organization and they are child health,
child survival, growth and development,
and womens and newborn survival and
health programs.
Order of Canada Award
The Order of Canada instituted by Queen
Elizabeth II in the year 1967 is a Canadian
National Order and is the second highest
honour of merit in the Country. It is placed
next to Order of Merit. The order is given to
people with lifetime outstanding
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achievements and their dedication towards
the community and service to the nation
and people in Canadian Society in all the
sectors.
IRELANDS PRESTIGIOUS
TIPPERARY INTERNATIONAL
PEACE PRIZE FOR 2012
AWARDED TO MALALA
Irelands prestigious Tipperary
International Peace Prize for 2012 was
awarded on 3 January 2013 to Malala
Yousafzai the teenage schoolgirl from
Pakistan, who was shot by Talibans
Gunman in October 2012.
Malala would be conferred with the award
for her bravery, courage and determination
to speak and support the cause of access to
equal education for every child. With this
award, Malala became the second Pakistani
National to win the award. Before this, Lt.
Benazir Bhutto was awarded with the same
award in 2007.
SUNMEET KAUR BECAME THE
FIRST WOMAN TO WIN 5
CRORE RUPEES ON KAUN
BANEGA CROREPATI GAME
SHOW
Sunmeet Kaur Sawhney, a housewife from
the state of Punjab in January 2013
emerged as the first woman to win 5 crore
rupees on the TV game show Kaun Banega
Crorepati 6 (KBC).
Sawhney who had studied till class XII only
is a home tutor and she presently resides in
the city of Mumbai. She used to give
tuitions to young children in suburban
Mumbai to add to the family income.
LIFE OF PI NOMINATED FOR
BAFTA 2013 WITH NINE
NOMINATIONS, LINCOLN
LEADS WAY WITH 10 NODS
Life of Pi and The Best Exotic Marigold
Hotel, the Hollywood films which had their
shooting in India were chosen for the major
BAFTA Awards 2013. The political drama of
Steven Spielberg, Lincoln is leading its way
with ten nominations.
Suraj Sharma, the Indian actor was already
nominated for the BAFTA Awards 2013 for
the category of Rising Star. He acted as the
Pi in Life of Pi directed by Ang Lee.
Life of Pi and Les Miserables earned nine
nominations respectively. These movies are
competing with Lincoln, Zero Dark Thirty
and Argo in the category of Best Film.
Daniel Day-Lewis was nominated for the
category of Best Actor for his portrayal as
US President in the movie Lincoln. Others
who are nominated in this category include
Ben Affleck for Argo, Joaquin Phoenix for
The Master, Bradley Cooper for Silver
Linings Playbook and Hugh Jackman for Les
Miserables.
Ang Lee was nominated for Best Director
category in BAFTA for Life of Pi along with
Ben Affleck (Argo), Kathryn Bigelow (Zero
Dark Thirty), Michael Haneke (Amour) and
Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained).
Life of Pi is running for the categories
original music, cinematography; best
adapted screenplay, production design,
special visual effects, Sound and editing.
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Argo is running for categories best adapted
screenplay, editing, sound and original
music.
Lincoln is running for best cinematography,
costume design, makeup and hair, original
music and production design.
The British Academy Film Awards 2013 was
held at Royal Opera House on 10 February
2013.
RENAULT DUSTER AWARDED
CAR OF THE YEAR AWARD
2013
Renault Duster was awarded the Car of the
Year Award 2013 by the automotive
magazine Autocar India at the annual
awards night on 9 January 2013 in Mumbai.
In the gala event, there was a strong
competition for the award among some of
the most renowned and reputed names in
auto industry. Autocar India gave away 22
awards in all, in the two-wheeler as well as
four-wheeler segment.
MALALA YOUSAFZAI
HONOURED WITH FRANCE'S
SIMONE DE BEAUVOIR PRIZE
FOR WOMEN'S FREEDOM
Malala Yousafzai, 15, the schoolgirl from
Pakistan shot by Taliban for campaigning
girls education, on 9 January 2013 received
France's Simone de Beauvoir Prize for
Women's Freedom in Paris. Malalas father
Ziaudin Yousafzai received the honour on
her behalf. The award is accompanied with
2.5 million Rupees honorarium.
19TH COLORS SCREEN
AWARDS: RANBIR KAPOOR
AND IRFAN KHAN DECLARED
BEST ACTORS
The 19th Colors Screen Awards were
announced on 12 January 2013 in a function
at Mumbais Bandra Kurla Complex. From
the list of 119 films released in 2012, 27
films were green signaled in the Screen
Academy Selection singled for consideration
by the Jury. The screen jury comprised the
eminent members of the Indian Film
Industry. These panelists after several
rounds of discussions and debates were
able to finalise the nominations.
GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS
2013: ARGO WON BEST
PICTURE AND BEST DIRECTOR
AWARDS
In the prestigious Golden Globe Awards
2013, the hostage-crisis movie Argo
thrashed Lincoln to bag best picture as well
as best director awards on 13 January 2013.
Les Miserables, on the other hand won the
awards in best musical or comedy category
with the actors Anne Hathaway and Hugh
Jackman winning one trophy each.
The award-winning movie Argo is actually
inspired by 1979 crisis US diplomats in Iran.
In the category of Best Drama, other
nominees were Django Unchained, Zero
Dark Thirty as well as Life of Pi.
PRESIDENT PRANAB
MUKHERJEE HONOURED 18
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STATES WITH KRISHI KARMAN
AWARDS
President Pranab Mukherjee on 15 January
2013 presented Krishi Karman awards for
2011-12 to eight states, which includes the
state of UP and Bihar for improving the
food grain production and commendation
awards to 10 other states.
Highlights of the Awards
The states of Madhya Pradesh, Tamil
Nadu, Manipur and Nagaland were
awarded with amount of 2 crore
rupees each, for their special
contribution in increasing foodgrain
production.
In an individual crop category Bihar,
Haryana, Jharkhand and Uttar
Pradesh were awarded 1 crore
rupees each, for increasing output.
Punjab, Assam, Uttarakhand, West
Bengal, Tripura, Rajasthan, Gujarat,
Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and
Himachal Pradesh were presented
with Commendation awards.
For the first time one female farmer
and one male farmer from the eight
awards winning states were
awarded for their outstanding
performance in enhancing foodgrain
production.
Awards were received by Chief
Ministers on behalf of their states,
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister
Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Haryana
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh
Hooda received awards on behalf of
their states.
The awarded were based on their record
production and productivity levels in total
foodgrains or in any of the individual crops
but scored relatively lesser marks on other
criteria compared to the top awardees.
As per President Pranab Mukherjee, India
can achieve the targeted 4 per cent growth
in farm sector during the 12th Plan period
with help of better seeds, improved water
management and balanced use of fertilisers
and pesticides, among others.
President also gave award to Shanti Devi of
Naran village in Nokha block of Rohtas
district for creating a record in production
of a certain variety of paddy named MPU-
7029. As per deputy director of agriculture
department A C Jain, scientists had
predicted production of 55 quintal per
hectare of MTU-7029. But astonishingly
Shanti Devi had grown 95 quintal per
hectare paddy of this variety through SRI
method in financial year 2011-12.
About Krishi Karman Award
Krishi Karman awards were instituted in
2010-11. It recognise the effort made by
states in foodgrain production. The awards
are given to best performing states in two
broad categories, one for the total
foodgrain production and the other for the
individual foodgrain crops of rice, wheat,
pulses and coarse cereals.
States in foodgrains category are divided
into three categories based on total
foodgrain production capacity of the state.
58TH IDEA FILMFARE
AWARDS: BARFI! BAGS SEVEN
AWARDS, KAHAANI SCRIPTS
FIVE
58th Idea Filmfare Awards were given away
on 20 January 2013 at YRF Studio, Andheri.
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At the 58th Idea Filmfare Awards, Barfi!, the
much-acclaimed film grabbed seven Black
Lady awards while, Kahaani bagged five
awards. The award for the Best Actor was
given to Ranbir Kapoor for his deaf-mute
performance in Barfi!
Vidya Balan, on the other hand was
adjudged as the Best Actress for Kahaani.
Barfi! was awarded with the Best Film
award, while Kahaanis director Sujoy
Ghosh won the Black Lady for the Best
Director. The lifetime achievement award
was given away to Yash Chopra
posthumously. Yash Chopras wife Pamela
collected this award on his behalf.
THIRTY-SEVEN OFFICERS OF
CUSTOMS & CENTRAL EXCISE
AND ED SELECTED FOR
PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS
37 officials of the Customs & Central Excise
and Enforcement Directorate were
selected for Presidential Award of
Appreciation Certificate for especially
distinguished record of service for 2013.
Every year, certain officers from Customs &
Central Excise and Enforcement Directorate
departments are kept into consideration to
be granted the Presidential Award of
Appreciation Certificate which is announced
on 26 January, i.e., Republic Day every year.
The award is given away for the especially
distinguished record of service to the
officials for maintaining their excellence in
discharging their duties. 37 officials from
the departments were selected on the
grounds of exemplary and perfect
performances in their services.
The officials selected for the Presidential
Award of Appreciation Certificate in 2013
represent different cadres such as
Commissioner , Directors, Superintendents,
Inspectors and Drivers working in different
fields like seizing the smuggled goods,
prevention of smuggling of goods and
Narcotics Drugs, detection of Foreign
Exchange Violations, detecting tax evasion
and money laundering cases by booking /
arresting the offenders.
MAJOR ABUP J MANJALI
SELECTED FOR SECOND-
HIGHEST PEACETIME
GALLANTRY AWARD KIRTI
CHAKRA
Major Abup J Manjali of the Rashtriya Rifles
was selected for the award of Kirti Chakra
for his extraordinary bravery efforts in
counter- terrorist operations in Jammu and
Kashmir. Major Manjali will be awarded on
26 January 2013.
Major Manjali is the only soldier to receive
this second- highest peacetime gallantry
award Kirti Chakra on the Republic Day.
Apart from him, eight other jawans as well
as officers were selected to be awarded
with the Shaurya Chakra.
INDIAN WRITER SHORTLISTED
FOR THE PRESTIGIOUS
INTERNATIONAL MAN
BOOKER PRIZE FOR FICTION
2013
UR Ananthamurthy, the Kannada author
was shortlisted among other ten authors for
prestigious International Man Booker Prize
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for Fiction 2013. UR Ananthamurthy, 80, is
an only Indian who was shortlisted in the
final list of this prestigious award. The list of
the awardees was announced at the Jaipur
Literature Festival on 24 January 2013.
PRESIDENT OF INDIA
APPROVED THE CONFERMENT
OF 108 PADMA AWARDS
Pranab Mukherjee, the President of Union
of India on 25 January 2013 approved
conferment of 108 Padma Awards. Four
people have been conferred with Padma
Vibhusan, twenty four are conferred with
Padma Bhusha n and 80 people would be
receiving Padma Shree Awards. Out of all
the awardees twenty-four are ladies and 11
people belong to categories like NRIs, PIOs,
Foreigners and Posthumous awardees.
Padma Awards
Padma Awards are the highest Civilian
Awards and are conferred to people in
three different categories namely, Padma
Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma
Shri. These Awards are conferred on people
for the work done by them in different
categories including art, social work, public
affairs, science and engineering, trade and
industry, medicine, literature and
education, sports, civil service, and many
more.
Padma Vibhusan is conferred on the
people for the exceptional and
distinguished services done by
them
Padma Bhushan for distinguished
service of high order
Padma Shri is given to a person for
his/her distinguished service in any
field
These awards are announced on the eve of
Republic Day celebration and are conferred
by the President of India at a function
organised at Rastrapati Bhawan.
TAIWANESE BUSINESS
MAGNATE LAUNCHES ASIAS
NOBEL-TYPE PRIZES
A business tycoon from Taiwan with
interests mainly in China declared on 28
January 2013 that he was funding the Asia's
Nobel Prizes for outstanding achievements
in natural and social sciences. Samuel Yin,
the head of Ruentex Group announced that
he would establish Tang Prize Foundation
which would have an initial donation of 103
million dollar.
Tang Prize Foundation, which uses the
name of Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), is
valued by the Chinese for cultural as well as
scientific achievements. It was decided that
the prizes under the Tang Prize Foundation
will be awarded every alternate year to the
international leaders in sustainable
development, biopharmaceutical science,
the rule of law as well as the study of China.
Samuel Yin declared that these categories
were kept in the new awards because the
Nobels, which are 118 years old, did not
include these fields. He also opined that
these categories had high importance for
the humanity.
About the Tang Prize Foundation
The prizes under the Tang Prize Foundation
will commence from 2014. The winners of
the prize would be entitled to receive 1.7
million US dollar. Nobel prizes award 1.2
million US dollar to the awardees.
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The winners of the Tang Prize will be
nominated as well as screened by the
special committees which in turn would be
established by the Academia Sinica, the
highly prestigious research organisation of
Taiwan.

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CHAPTER 11: REPORTS
AND COMMITTEES
RTE REPORT REVEALED THE
LOW PERCENTAGE OF
ENROLMENT OF SC AND ST
STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS
A Report on Right to Education (RTE) by the
Union Ministry of Human Development
Resource revealed that the percentage
enrolment of the Castes (SCs) and
Scheduled Tribes (STs) as students in
primary and upper primary is low to an
unacceptable level in India.
The report also threw light on the fact that
about 20 percent of the teachers teaching
in different schools of the nation are not
professionally qualified for teaching,
following the revised guidelines issued by
the National Council of Teacher Education
(NCTC).
As per the report the percentage enrolment
of SC and ST students in primary schools of
West Bengal in past two years, was
recorded as 27 and 7 percent respectively.
The figure at all-India level was worse even
to the status of West Bengal in terms of
percentage enrollment for SC students,
which stood at 19 percent in the year 2010-
11. Citing example of the government-run
schools of West Bengal the report also
stated that 75 percent of the schools in the
state had more than 35 students in one
classroom. Apart from this 66 percent
schools running were without playground
and 67 percent were without boundaries in
the state.
The report also indicates inconsistency in
admissions at primary school level that is
turning up to be a concern for the gender
disparity index as in the past two years it
accounts to 0.94; this means 94 girls for
every 100 boys.
This is a complete failure of the three-year
timeframe of the road-map drafted for
achieving the status Education to All, which
would be ending on 31 March 2013.
CIGARETTE PACKAGE HEALTH
WARNINGS: INTERNATIONAL
STATUS REPORT RELEASED
Cigarette Package Health Warnings:
International Status Report released in the
second week of November ranked India at
123rd Position in the list of 198 countries
surveyed on fulfillment of picture based
health warnings and warning size issued on
the Cigarette Packets.
The released report has ranked the
countries on the success that they achieved
in issuing pictorial health warnings on
tobacco packets. Pictorial Health Warnings
is considered to be the proven strategy to
discourage people from chewing or smoking
tobacco.
India signed and ratified an International
Treaty under the Framework Convention
on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and as per the
treaty the signing party is responsible for
carrying health warnings on the packets of
all type of tobacco product with a
description of its harmful effect on human.
The issued warning should include a
pictorial warning and cover about 50
percent of the principle display area but at
no instance less than 30 percent of the
display area.
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The situation of India as per a NGO that
works on tobacco control Voluntary Health
Association of India is regretful because of
its position at 123rd place in the ranking. At
the time of negotiations for issue of picture-
based health warnings on the packets of
tobacco products, in the year 2003, India
was at forefront, but its positioning in the
released report was a situation of regret.
India in the year 2004 approved the WHO-
FCTC that makes the Government
committed towards implementation of
pictorial warnings related to health on
tobacco products of all types. As per Article
11 of FCTC the pictorial health warnings are
treated as an effective and proven strategy
of reducing the demand of tobacco.
A survey report published in the year 2006
by the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS)
about 14.1 percent children, who are in the
age group of 13 to 15 years are tobacco
users in one or the other form and out of
this recorded population 11.9 percent use
tobacco products and the rest 4.2 percent
smoke cigarettes.
Another report published in 2009-10 by the
Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) India
described that about 34.6 percent of the
adults, who are 15 plus years in age use
tobacco in India. A total population of about
206 million people that accounts to 25.9
percent use smokeless tobacco in the
nation and of these 15 percent users are
from urban society and 30.7 percent belong
to rural India. Among the women tobacco
users that constitutes to 20.3 percent, 18.4
percent use smokeless tobacco.
World Report
Australia was ranked at first position in the
list of countries in the issued report as it
recorded the largest warnings in the world.
About 63 countries and territories of the
world that covers about 40 percent of the
worlds population have been successful in
issuing picture warning messages. The
Picture Warning have been into stress by
the FCTC because of its belief in the fact
that a picture says thousand words and can
easily convey the message to tobacco users
in the low and middle income countries and
high illiteracy rates. It also considers the
picture warnings as the cost effective
measure to curb the use of tobacco even in
countries with fewer resources to spread
awareness.
Guidelines
The guideline issued by FCTC recommends
that the pictorial warnings should be in a
representation of the graphical picture in a
rotating series on both the front and back
side of the packages and it should be as
large as it can be.
AGEWELL FOUNDATION
REPORT ON CONDITION OF
ELDERLY PEOPLE IN DELHI-
NCR RELEASED
Agewell Foundation released its report on
the status of older persons in and around
Delhi in the month of November 2012. The
report in its finding based on the interviews
conducted with 15000 senior citizens
reached to a conclusion that, isolation of
the elderly people has emerged as a red
flag, in this changing world with fast
changing demographic as well as socio-
economic status along with the change in
traditional values of the modern man.
As per the report and its finding in form of
conclusion, more than 80 percent of the
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olds in Delhi experience loneliness in their
present lives and carried a feeling of
isolation. This isolation and loneliness is a
cause of zero interaction with family as well
as the other members of the society.
Agewell Foundation, while conducting this
study dealt with variety of issues connected
with the old age people to identify their
status and condition in a around the Delhi
and the National Capital Region (NCR).
The total population of old aged people
(people above 60 years) in Delhi-NCR region
is more than 12 lakhs, which is about 8
percent of its total population of more than
2 crore people and they faced different kind
of critical situations in their life.
Identified problems of the old-aged people
Feel of marginalization
Little or no access to medicines and
healthcare
No work opportunities
Concerns related to safety and
security of their property and life
Financial problems
Restricted mobility
Psychological problems that
occurred due to loneliness
The study also cited the bitter truth of
emotional and social isolation of people in
different areas of Delhi-NCR region. A total
of 36 percent old persons in the villages of
Delhi, were reported to be isolated
emotionally as well as socially, whereas in
the rural areas a total of 20.8 percent of
these people were found to be socially
isolated and 19 percent accounted to
emotional isolation. A total of 44 percent
old persons in the urban areas of Delhi-NCR
were isolated on both social and emotional
ends. Emotional isolation, which accounted
to be 26 percent as a whole was, identified
the greater phenomenon of isolation than
that of the social isolation that accounts to
25 percent.
Impacts of the Isolation
Adverse health effects: 43 percent
of the surveyed people claimed to
be depressed
Less or zero interaction of people
lead them to the stage of poor
health conditions: 36 percent of the
surveyed people claimed
deterioration of the health
conditions, ever since they left their
homes
Feel of insecurity in their lives:
isolation created a feel of insecurity
to the lives of around 16.2 percent
of the total population interviewed
THE WORLD DEVELOPMENT
REPORT 2013-JOBS RELEASED
BY WORLD BANK
The World Development Report 2013: Jobs
released by the World Bank stressed upon
the role of strong private sector in creation
of jobs, outlining the facts that how can the
jobs encourage development and incite an
honest cycle. The report in its finding also
indicated that when people work, there is
an intense fall in poverty as people work
out from their hardship and empowerment
of women through jobs ensures better
investments in children. The non-productive
mass turns up to be productive and
increase in jobs helps in making of
flourished societies proving better
alternatives of conflict by fostering
diversities.
Part-time work has seen a rise in India
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The World Development Report also
emphasised on the fact that the medium-
size businesses whereas the share of part-
time work has seen a rise in India. The
report also stated that the share of informal
workers in organised sectors and firms have
also witnessed a steep rise from 32 percent
in 2000 to 68 percent by 2010.
Skilled Labour Shortage in India
The report targeted firm dynamics
associated lacks accounted for the growth
of such trends. The World Bank surveyed
54000 firms across 102 developing nations
and went to a conclusion that large firms
with over a hundred workers were
innovative and engaged mainly in export
and had higher productivity combined with
good wages, whereas the small firms with
an employee base of about 20 people were
less innovative.
The report also cleared that majority of the
firm across the world starts up as a small
unit but in case of India these firms remains
to be small by doubling the profits after
being productive for a period of about 35
years and slashing down the headcount by
one-fourth. The report also forecasted for
India the missing middle of the medium
sized firms.
Emphasis on Strong Urbanization Policy
In context of India the published report also
emphasised on strong urbanization policy in
India to create better jobs and betterment
of the labour policies, which were too
stringent in India. To arrive at findings the
authors of the report also surveyed over
800 households and processed censuses to
arrive at their findings.
The published report was created by a team
led by Martin Rama along with Kathleene
Neegle and Jesko Hentschel with five more
members in the core team and eight
members in the Research team.
CHILDREN IN INDIA 2012 - A
STATISTICAL APPRAISAL
REPORT RELEASED
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation released on 9 October
2012 a report named Children in India 2012
- A Statistical Appraisal, showcased the
griming status of children in India. The
report in its finding pointed out a growth of
population by 181 million people, between
1991 to 2011 and at the same time also a
huge reduction of 5.05 million of child in
the age group of 0 to 6 years. And among
this the decline in female population
reportedly was 2.99 million and of male
population was 2.06 million.
The report indicates a huge dip in the sex
ratios of child, increased crime and troubles
against the girl child and continued child
labour that is constitutionally believed to be
a social crime.
As per the report there was a 24 percent
increase in reported crime against children
in the year 2011. In this list of crime against
children Uttar Pradesh took the first
position with 16.6 percent share followed
by states like Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. 47
percent kidnapping cases were reported in
Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, where as 44.5
percent of child rape cases were reported in
the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra
and Uttar Pradesh.
The report also presented a dip of child sex
ratio from 945 to 914 in a period of two
decades in between 1991 to 2011, when
the graph of over-all sex ratio showcasing
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improvement climbed from 927 to 940. In
this report the identified states with lowest
sex ratio were Haryana (830), Punjab (846),
Jammu and Kashmir (859), Delhi (866) and
Chandigarh (867) in a chronological order.
North-eastern states, like Meghalaya and
Mizoram remained at top position with
maximum (970).
This report is prepared by making the
comparisons on different standards like
rural vs urban, north vs south and northeast
vs rest of India. The findings of the report
presents a shocking data of no Northern
state except Himachal Pradesh had its
presence in the sex-ration chart above 900.
It also presents an indicator of the birth-
ration of a girl child as compared to that of
the male births per 1000 to be 832 in
Punjab and 848 in Haryana due to the
impacts of female foeticide prevalent in the
region.
Uttar Pradesh with 15.22 percent share in
the chart of child labour stood at top
position and is followed by Andhra Pradesh.
Youthful crimes of children have also been
raised as the issue of serious concern in the
report, and Tamil Nadu with 672 cases per
1000, took the lead in the chart with its
share of 23.7 percent as a whole.
NARESH CHANDRA
COMMITTEE SUBMITTED ITS
REPORT ON NATIONAL
SECURITY
Naresh Chandra Committee, a 14-member
task force on national security, submitted
its report to the government on 8 August
2012. The committee was set up by the
Union government on 21 June 2012 to
suggest ways to revamp of defence
management in the country.
Naresh Chandra, a former bureaucrat,
headed the committee which members
included former military officers,
intelligence chiefs, diplomats and strategic
analysts. Air Chief Marshal (retired) S.
Krishnaswamy, General (retired) VR
Raghavan, the former Department of
Atomic Energy chief Anil Kakodkar, Admiral
(retired) Arun Prakash, the former R&AW
head KC Verma, the former Union Home
Secretary V.K. Duggal, G Parthasarathy,
former diplomat, and senior journalist
Manoj Joshi were the other members in the
committee.
The main objective behind the constitution
of the committee was to contemporarise
the Kargil Review Committees
recommendations, which was tabled in the
Parliament on 23 February 2000. Besides,
the task force was also asked to examine
the state of country's border management
and restructuring system.
Kargil Review Committee
The Kargil Review Committee (KRC),
headed by the late K. Subrahmanyam, had
submitted its report a decade back. The
recommendations made by the committee
had paved the way for the setting up of a
Group of Ministers which had suggested
massive reforms in the country's security
management system. The KRC is considered
to be the first major attempt at revamping
the country's security after Independence.

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CHAPTER 12:
PROGRAMS AND
POLICY
UNION GOVERNMENT
APPROVED RELAXATION IN
POLICIES RELATED TO
TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT
LAND
The Union Government of India on 2 August
2012 approved relaxation in policies
relating to transfer of government land.
The objective of the policy is to speed up
private-public partnership in the country
and to fast-track pending infrastructure
projects. The decision will ensure that
infrastructure projects are not held up for
procedural delays.
A ban was imposed in 2011 on transfer of
government-owned land to any entity
except in cases where land was to be
transferred from one government
department to another. This ban however
excluded the cases where the land was to
be transferred from one government
department to another. The policy has also
been relaxed for all land transfers from
ministries to statutory authorities or PSUs
(Public Sector Units).
Besides, the government allowed use and
development of railway land by Rail Land
Development Authority (RLDA), as per the
provisions of Railways Amendment Act,
2005.
HEALTH MINISTERS OF BRICS
DECIDED TO SET UP
TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP
(TWG)
TWG (Technical Working Group): The
group set up by the BRICS nation to
exchange information regarding the
prevailing systems and institutional
mechanisms through meetings.
The Health Ministers of Brazil, Russia,
India, China and South Africa (BRICS) in the
second week of January 2013 decided to set
up a Technical Working Group (TWG). As
per the Agreed Action Plan released by the
Health and Family Welfare Ministry,
member countries will nominate their
respective Nodal Officers to work jointly for
the Working Group.
The group will exchange information
regarding the prevailing systems and
institutional mechanisms through meetings.
WORLD CONFERENCE ON
INTERNATIONAL
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
(WCIT-12) HELD IN DUBAI
International telecommunication Union
(ITU) summoned the World Conference on
International Telecommunications (WCIT)
in Dubai, United Arab Emirates which was
held from 3 to14 December 2012. In the
landmark conference, it was decided that
the current International
Telecommunications Regulations (ITRs)
shall be reviewed.
After negotiating for two weeks, the
delegates from the length and breadth of
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the world agreed to a fresh international
treaty called New Global Telecoms Treaty,
which will welcome the power of
information and communication
technologies (ICTs) to everyone in the
world. More than 2000 delegates from
across the world were registered for this
conference.
The main points of the treaty were as
follows
The treaty basically embarks general
principles for making sure that there
is free flow of the information across
the world.
New provisions ensured that there
was special emphasis on the future
efforts for helping the developing
countries, on promotion of
accessibility to the disabled as well
as on emphasising the right to
freedom of expression of people
over all the ICT networks.
In another provision, there was an
inclusion of a Resolution for creating
one, globally-harmonised number
for access to various emergency
services, improving the energy
efficiency of the ICT networks, new
text making it mandatory for the
prices set for mobile roaming as well
as fighting against the e-waste.
Issues that provoked debate at the World
Conference on International
Telecommunications
There were certain tough issues which led
to debate at this conference.
These issues were
Network security
Unwanted bulk content like spam e-
mails
Definition of the entities which
provided services under terms of the
treaty,
Whether the language on freedom
of expression in the Preamble text of
the treaty should be included or not
The principle of non-discriminatory
access of the networks of each
others countries
ITUs Gold Medal:
In WCIT-12, the ITUs Gold Medal, which is
the highest honour of the organisation, was
awarded by ITU Secretary-General Dr
Hamadoun Tour to Chairmanship of Al
Ghanim.
About WCIT-12
WCIT-12 was among the most open treaty-
making conferences of the world which had
live as well as archived webcasting. There
was English-language captioning of the
meetings of substantive working committee
(Committee 5 Review) as well as the
conference plenary sessions.
There were in all, 1275 proposals to this
conference from the member States. WCIT-
12 included around 1600 delegates onsite
from 151 Member States. This also included
around 70 Ministers, Ambassadors and
Deputy Ministers.
NATIONAL GIRL CHILD DAY
CELEBRATED IN INDIA ON 24
JANUARY
24 January, National Girl Child Day: This
day is celebrated as the National Girl Child
Day every year by the Government of India
with an objective to raise consciousness of
Indian society towards the girl children.
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The Women and Child Development
Ministry observed National Girl Child Day
on 24 January 2013. 24 January is
celebrated as the National Girl Child Day
every year since 2008 by the Government
of India.
Objective of the National Girl Child Day
The primary objective of the National Girl
Child Day is raising awareness and
consciousness of the society towards the
girl child. The primary aim is to ensure that
every girl is respected and valued in Indian
society.
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CHAPTER 13: SPORTS
UNION HRD MINISTER KAPIL
SIBAL LAUNCHED HOCKEY
AND CRICKET LEAGUE
In order to give encouragement to the
talented sportsmen of the University
system and promote sports in Universities,
the Union Minister of Human Resource
Development Kapil Sibal on 5 October 2012
launched hockey and cricket league under
the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
Association of Indian Universities has been
organising the Rohinton Baria Cricket
Trophy, the Inter University Hockey
Tournament and other events for
promotion of sports in the Universities
throughout the country.
It was after an offer made by the NDTV
Group for assisting in sponsoring sports
events, it was decided to organise every
year, a National Level University Cricket
League (UCL) and University Hockey
League (UHL).
So For this purpose an Organising
Committee chaired by the Minister of
Human Resource Development,
Communication and IT has been
constituted, composed of senior
representatives of University Grants
Commission (UGC), AIU, NDTV, Vice
Chancellors of several Universities, NDMC,
DDCA Hockey India and eminent persons in
the field of sports.
The University Cricket League would be
played among 8 top University teams in the
T 20 format, from amongst those who
qualify through a zonal competition.
Similarly the University Hockey League
would be played among the top 8 teams
selected through the zonal competitions.

SCOTT FLEMMING BECAME
THE NEW INDIAN
BASKETBALL TEAM COACH
Scott Flemming was appointed as the head
coach of the mens National Basketball
Team in the third week of November 2012
by the Basketball Federation of India (BFI).
Flemming has served as the assistant coach
in NBA Development League of Texas
Legends, often working as the head coach
for present as well as future NBA players.
He was also designated as coach and
athletic director at Mount Vernon Nazarene
University in Ohio. Flemming has a total
record of 397226 with the Cougars.
SIX TOP SPORTING COACHES
TO RECEIVE DRONACHARYA
AWARD FOR 2012
The names of six sporting coaches were
recommended for the Dronacharya Awards
for the year 2012. Wrestling Coach Yashvir
Singh, Boxing Coach BI Fernandez, Athletics
Coach Virender Poonia, Kabaddi Coach Sunil
Davas, Parathletics Coach Dr. Satyapaul and
Hockey Coach Harinder Singh are the six
coaches who have been selected for the
coveted award, given to the coach of
different sports, for their excellent
contribution to the sports.
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ROELANT OLTMANS IS THE
HIGH PERFORMANCE
DIRECTOR FOR INDIAN
HOCKEY TEAM
Hockey India on 17 January announced that
Roelant Oltmans, the Dutch Coach would
serve the Indian Hockey Team as Director -
High Performance and would look forward
towards the sports in India till 2016 Rio
Olympics.
Oltmans would be responsible for the
planning the training program as well as
calendar for both the junior and the senior
Players in Men and Women sections.
FORMER CRICKETER ANI L
KUMBLE APPOINTED
CHAIRMAN OF ICC CRICKET
COMMITTEE
Former India cricketer and captain Anil
Kumble on 11 October 2012 was named the
new head of the International Cricket
Council's (ICC) cricket committee, replacing
former West Indies skipper Clive Lloyd.
The International Cricket Council's (ICC)
cricket committee is a 16-member
committee which meets twice a year to
consult on playing matters and offer
recommendations to the ICC on technical
aspects and rules of the sport.
MONISHA KALTENBORN
BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN
TEAM PRINCIPAL IN
FORMULA ONE
India-born, Monisha Kaltenborn became
the First Woman Team Principal in Formula
one on 11 October 2012 after taking the
control of team Sauber, a Swiss Formula
one team with the stepping down of team
founder Peter Sauber from day to day
management.
The news of Monisha Kaltenborn
appointment came after Peter Sauber made
it clear that he did not wish to run the
team, which he built more than forty years
ago.
INDIAN GOLFER GAGANJEET
BHULLAR WON MACAU OPEN
Indian Golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar on 14
October 2012 fired a three-under 68 to
complete a start to-finish win in the
Venetian Macau Open Golf.
Gaganjeet Bhullar finished with 16-under
268 for a two-shot win and bag his second
title on Asian Tour within a month. With
this he took over his fourth title of his
career, keeping aside the inaugural Gujarat
Challenge Tour win in 2011.
American Jonathan Moore finished two
shots back in second place after a 65 and
Thai youngster Thitiphun Chuayprakong
closed with a 70 to share third place with
Bangladeshi Siddikur (66).

About Macau Open
The Macau Open is a men's professional
golf tournament on the Asian Tour which
take place in Macau ever year. It was
founded in 1998. The venue is the Macau
Golf & Country Club at Coloane. The best
known golfer who won the tournament is
eight-time European Tour Order of Merit
champion Colin Montgomerie.

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NOVAK DJOKOVIC WON
SHANGHAI MASTERS BY
DEFEATING ANDY MURRAY
Novak Djokovic beated British Tennis
Player Andy Murray on 14 October 2012
and saved five match points to seal a
stunning 5- 7, 7- 6 (13/ 11), 6- 3 victory in
the Shanghai Rolex Masters final.
With the winning of match Novak Djokovic
became the first player to win seven of the
nine ATP World Tour 1000 Masters events.
Also in the Doubles Category, Leander Paes
and Radek Stepanek won the Shanghai
Rolex Double title by defeating Mahesh
Bhupati and Rohan Bopanna.

DECCAN CHARGERS NOW
OUT OF INDIAN PREMIUM
LEAGUE
2012 rejected the plea of Deccan Chargers
to put a stay order on the decision of
Mumbai High Court that supported the
decision of BCCI to terminate the franchise
from being in Indian Premier League (IPL).
MARTIN GUPTILL WON NEW
ZEALAND TOP CRICKET
AWARD
Opening batsman of New Zealand Cricket
team Martin Guptill on 18 October 2012
claimed the top honour at the New Zealand
Cricket Awards in Auckland, winning the Sir
Richard Hadlee Medal for 2011-12.
OLYMPIC SHOOTER VIJAY
KUMAR NAMED SERVICES
BEST SPORTSMAN
London Olympic Shooter and silver medalist
Vijay Kumar on 19 October 2012 was
honoured with the Services Best Sportsman
award for 2012 at the Army Headquarters
in New Delhi
The award which include trophy and cash
award of one lakh rupees is generally given
to the best sportsman from the three
defence forces of Army, Air Force and Navy.
SAINA NEHWAL WON
DENMARK OPEN BADMINTON
TITLE
The World No. 4 badminton player Saina
Nehwal on 21 October 2012 won the
Denmark Open Super Series Premier
tournament by defeating the German
badminton player Juliane Schenk by 21-17
21-8.
She was competing in the women's single
final category badminton match in Odense,
Denmark and was Playing without the chief
national coach and her mentor Pullela Gopi
Chand,
This title is counted to be her sixth Super
Series title and the first title outside Asia.
Her previous titles came in Indonesia (2009,
2010, 2012), Singapore (2010) and Hong
Kong (2010).
LANCE ARMSTRONG
STRIPPED OF FROM SEVEN
TOUR DE FRANCE TITLES
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Lance Armstrong on 22 October 2012 was
stripped of from his seven Tour de France
Titles and banned for life from cycling. This
event occurred as a follow up of the 202
page report from the U.S. Anti-Doping
Agency (USADA) that accused Armstrong of
leading a doping programme on his team.
President of International Cycling Union
(UCI) Pat McQuaid cleared on 22 October
2012 that the report from the anti-doping
agency, USADA was accepted and no
appeals would be made in the Court of
Arbitration for Sports.
Organisers of Tour de France would now
officially remove the name of Armstrong
from all its record books that will include
omission of his consecutive victories from
1999 to 2005. Christian Prudhomme the
Tour Director announced that no official
winners of these years would be declared
and the race would follow the decisions
made by the UCI.
SUN TV NETWORK ACQUI RED
HYDERABAD IPL FRANCHISE
Chennai based SUN TV Network acquired
the Indian Premier League (IPL) Hyderabad
franchise on 25 October 2012 for an
enormous amount of 85.05 crore Rupees
per year.
The Hyderabad franchise of the Indian
Premier League was fell vacant after the
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
dropped Deccan Chargers in October 2012
for its failure to give a bank guarantee and
other issues.
The deal was made by Sun TV Network,
who bought the (IPL) Hyderabad franchise
for 425 crore Rupees (approx $80m) which
is payable in the next five years at 85.5
crore Rupees per year. The bid made by
SUN TV Network was substantially higher
than the second bid of 69.03 crore Rupees
made by PVP Ventures of Hyderabad.
SEBASTIAN VETTEL WON F1
SECOND INDIAN GRAND PRIX
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel won the
Indian Grand Prix 2012 on 28 October 2012
at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) for
the second time in a row extending his
Formula One championship lead.
The rival Fernando Alonso of Ferrari kept
the pressure on with finishing up for a
second-place. The win put Vettel (240
points) 13 points clear of his rolling Ferrari
rival Fernando Alonso.
PANKAJ ADVANI WON WORLD
BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP
TITLE
Indian Billiards Player Pankaj Advani on 29
October 2012 won seventh World Billiards
Championship title after comprehensively
beating defending champion and seasoned
Englishman Mike Russell in the finals of
World Billiards Championship 2012.
The event was scheduled at the Northern
Snooker Centre in Leeds, England where
Pankaj scored 1895 points and Russell
managed to score only 1216 points losing to
Pankaj Advani.
LIONEL MESSI WON GOLDEN
BOOT AWARD AS EUROPES
TOP SCORER
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Lionel Messi, the Barcelonean forward
footballer on 29 October 2012 won Golden
Boot Award. Messi won the award in
recognition to his record 50 goals scored in
the Europes domestic football league in the
last session. To win the award he scored 4
more goals than Cristiano Ronaldo, the
Spanish league star.
This is the second Golden Boot award for
Messi, as he won his first Golden Boot
Award in the year 2010 after scoring 34
goals during Argentina International to help
Barcelona win the league title. He is also in
the list of the favorites to win the 2012
Ballon dOr for the Worlds best player.
UNION GOVERNMENT OF
INDIA APPROVED INDO-PAK
CRICKET SERIES
The Union Home Ministry on 30 October
2012 mentioned that it had cleared the
Pakistan cricket teams India visit later this
year after detailed discussions with the
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
officials on issues related to security and
visas for fans who will be visiting for the
limited-over series.
VIRAT KOHLI SELECTED FOR
BCCI POLLY UMRIGAR AWARD
Indian Cricketer Virat Kohli was chosen for
the Board of Control for Cricket in India's
(BCCI) Polly Umrigar award for being India's
top international cricketer in 2011-12.
With this Virat Kohli is going to be honoured
with a trophy and cheque of 5 lakh Rupees
at the Annual BCCI Awards Ceremony in
Mumbai on 21 November 2012.ss
The other previous winners of this
prestigious award are Sachin Tendulkar in
year 2006-07 and 2009-10, Virender
Sehwag in year 2007-08, with Gautam
Gambhir and Rahul Dravid in year 2008-09
and 2010-11 respectively.
MAHESH BHUPATHI AND
ROHAN BOPANNA WON FI RST
ATP TOUR MASTERS TITLE
Indian Tennis Player Mahesh Bhupathi and
Rohan Bopanna on 4 November 2012 won
their first ATP World Tour Masters 1000
title together defeating Pakistan's Aisam-
Ul- Haq Qureshi and Netherlands' Jean-
Julien Rojer by 7-6(6), 6-3 in the final of the
BNP Paribas Masters in Paris.
The pair Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan
Bopanna won 142500 in prize money and
had also claimed 1000 ATP Doubles Team
Rankings points, while their opponent and
Barclays ATP World Tour Finals qualifiers
Aisam-Ul- Qureshi and Jean- Julien Rojer
claimed 69780 prize money and 600.
SACHIN TENDULKAR
RECEIVED THE HONORARY
MEMBERSHIP OF THE ORDER
OF AUSTRALIA
Sachin Tendulkar the Indian Cricketer on 6
November 2012 received the honorary
membership of the Order of Australia by
Simon Crean, Minister for Regional
Australia, Regional Development and Local
Government and Minister for the Arts at a
function organised at Taj Lands End at
Mumbai, India. On this occasion Sachin
received a medal and a stump painted by an
Australian. Tendulkar was honoured with
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AM award, one of the six different grades of
the Order of Australia honour.
With this honour Sachin has now joined the
list of non-Australian cricketers to be
honoured with the membership of Order of
Australia along with Brian Lara, Clive Lloyd
and Gary Sobers.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on
her visit to India on 16 October 2012
announced that Sachin Tendulkar would be
conferred with the membership of the
Order of Australia. This is the honor that is
rarely bestowed on any non-Australian. The
Prime Minister announced the special
honour for Sachin said that he deserves the
award because he was a special cricketer.

MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI
RENAMED HIS SUPER BI KE
TEAM AND SIGNED TWO NEW
MEMBERS
Indian cricket team Captain M.S. Dhonis
Superbike championship team on 7
November 2012 changed its name from
MSD R-N Racing Team India to Mahi
Racing Team India and had signed two new
members.
The two new members that had been
signed up are world champion Kenan
Sofouglu and former world champion
Fabien Foret.
GAGANJEET BHULLAR
DECLARED YOUNGEST INDIAN
ON GOLFER LIST
Indian Golf Player Gaganjeet Bhullar
became the First Indian who made it to the
elite group of the worlds top-100 players
in the latest ranking.
The title was previously held by Jeev Milkha
Singh, who broke the record in 2006 at the
age of 34 with Jyoti Randhawa following
him in the same year when he was also
aged 34.
As per the latest Official World Golf
Ranking (OWGR), Bhullar had jumped 10
ranks on the back of a tied-18 finish in the
$7 million WGC-HSBC Champions in China
to take the 98th position in the world. Only
Jeev Milkha Singh is ahead of Bhullar
currently, and is placed at 95 in the OWGR.
The next best placed Indian is Anirban Lahiri
ranking 234 on the list.
DGP OF ANDHRA PRADESH V.
DINESH REDDY APPOINTED AS
THE PRESIDENT OF IHF
V. Dinesh Reddy, the Director-General of
Police for Andhra Pradesh has been
appointed as the New President of the
Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) on 7
November 2012. Dinesh Reddy replaced
R.K. Shetty after he resigned from the post.
LIFE BAN ON MOHAMMAD
AZHARUDDIN LIFTED BY
ANDHRA PRADESH HIGH
COURT
Sachin is the Second Indian after Soli
Sorabjee, the former Attorney General of
India to be conferred with this award.
Before Sachin Tendulkar, Brain Lara the
cricketer from West Indies was conferred
with this honour in the year 2009.

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The Andhra Pradesh High Court on 8
November 2012 lifted the life ban from
playing Cricket on Mohammad Azharuddin
which was imposed by Board of Control for
Cricket in India (BCCI) in Year 2000.
The life ban on Mohammad Azharuddin
came after he was found involved in the
betting scandal and the match-fixing
episode as per the BCCI three-member
committee, comprising its erstwhile
president A C Muthaiah and two vice-
presidents Kamal Morarka and K M Ram
Prasad.

MARCEL GRANOLLERS &
MARC LOPEZ WON THE ATP
WORLD TOUR FINAL 2012
The Spanish pair of Marcel Granollers and
Marc Lopez on 12 November 2012 defeated
the Indian duo of Mahesh Bhupathi and
Rohan Bopanna in the Men's Doubles title
clash of the ATP World Tour Finals in
London. In the final match, the fifth seeded
Indian duo went down fighting in a tight
three-set game, 5-7, 6-3, 3-10.
Meanwhile, Serbia's World Number One
Novak Djokovic has bagged the Men's
Singles trophy. Djokovic defeated World
Number Two Roger Federer of Switzerland
in straight sets, 7-6, 7-5, in the final match
played early this morning.
DAIMLER PURCHASED FULL
CONTROL OF MERCEDES ONE
MOTOR RACING TEAM
Daimler, the German Luxury Carmaker
purchased 40 percent stakes of the
Mercedes Formula One Motor Racing
Team owned by the Abu Dhabi sovereign
wealth fund Aabar Investments in the third
week of November 2012. With this
purchase the teams full control went into
the hands of Daimler. The amount of
purchase of the 40 percent stake remained
undisclosed.
The deal of selling out the stakes of the
formula 1 team now awaits regulatory
approval.
DAVIS CUP 2012: CZECH
REPUBLIC DEFEATED SPAIN IN
THE FINALS
The Czech Republic on 18 November 2012
won the 100th Davis Cup 2012 finals, after
defeating Spain by 3-2 in the finals. Radek
Stepanek of Czech Republic outclassed
Nicolas Almagro of Spain with 6-4, 7-6 (0),
3-6, 6-3 in the 3 hours and 52 minutes
game, on the hard court of Pragues O2
Arena, during the final fifth rubber of the
Davis Cup.
Radek Stepanek has created a history by his
name after winning the Davis Cup final as
he became the first man ever aged 30 or
above to win the decisive rubber in 100
years.
With this win, the Czech Republic lifted the
Davis Cup for the first time after winning
independence in 1993. Before this in the
year 1980 it lifted the trophy under
Czechoslovakia flag by the team led by Ivan
Lendl. With this win the Czech Republic
turned-up to be the first nation that won
the Hopman Cup, Fed Cup and Davis Cup in
one year.
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USAIN BOLT AND ALLYSON
FELIX NAMED IAAF WORLD
ATHLETES OF THE YEAR 2012
Usain Bolt won the IAAF World Athlete of
the Year Award 2012 for the fourth time
and United States sprinter Allyson Felix won
women's World Athlete of the Year Award
2012 on 24 November 2012 during the
IAAF's 100th Anniversary Celebration. The
Jamaican sprinter Bolt had won for
defending his gold medals in the 100 and
200 meter races of the summers Olympic
Games, he also won the same award
previously in 2008, 2009 and 2011. Bolt
managed to be ahead of United States
hurdler Aries Merritt and Kenyan runner
David Rudisha to win the award.
SEBASTIAN VETTEL BECAME
YOUNGEST TRIPLE CHAMPION
IN FORMULA ONE HISTORY
Sebastian Vettel of Germany, the Red Bull
driver became youngest triple champion in
the history of Formula One on 25
November 2012 by finishing 6th behind
Jenson Button in the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Vettel, 25 got himself involved in opening
lap collision and made very little damage to
his Red Bull car in the run in rain-swept
conditions at Interlagos circuit. The only
title rival of Vettel was two-time champion
Spaniard Fernnando Alonso who finished in
the second position in his Ferrari. However
he had pre-race 13 points deficit while
Vettel won the title by merely three points.
Vettel was the third driver in the history of
Formula One to win three consecutive
titles. Others who have done this before are
Michael Schumacher and Argentine Juan
Manuel Fangio. The Red Bull team of Vettel
took the third constructors' championship
in the sequence on 18 November 2012 in
Texas and finished with 281 points while
Alonso with 278 points.
FORMER AUSTRALIAN
CRICKETER GLENN MCGRATH
TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE
ICC CRICKET HALL OF FAME
Australian pace legend Glenn McGrath was
inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame
during the third Test between Australia and
Sri Lanka starting from 4 January2013 in
Sydney.
McGrath became the third inductee of the
year 2012-13 to the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame
and will join Enid Bakewell and Brian Lara to
the list and also became the 68th male
member of the Hall of Fame.
Lara and Bakewell were inducted in
September 2012 at the ICC Awards;
McGrath was inducted at his home ground
of the SCG. A fourth and final inductee of
2012-13 would be announced next summer.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC WON
WORLD TENNIS
CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ABU
DHABI
Novak Djokovic on 29 December 2012 won
World Tennis Championship final against
Spanish tennis player Nicolas Almagro.
Novak Djokovic beat Nicolas Almagro to
clinch the Mubadala World Tennis
Championship exhibition tournament held
in Dubai.
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Novak Djokovic, the world number one
from Serbia beat Nicolas Almagro the
Spaniard by 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-4 to get his
season off to the perfect start.
AUSTRALIAN CRICKETER
MICHAEL HUSSEY
ANNOUNCED RETIREMENT
FROM TEST CRICKET
Australian veteran Michael Hussey on 29
December 2012 announced that he would
retire from Test cricket after playing the
final match of the series against Sri Lanka at
Sydney starting on 3 January 2013.
Sydney Test match is going to be the 79th
and final Test in 37-year-old Husseys career
having made his debut at 30.
However Hussey will continue playing the
ODI tri-series involving Australia, West
Indies and Sri Lanka which will be his last
international assignment.
SACHIN TENDULKAR
ANNOUNCED RETIREMENT
FROM ONE DAY CRICKET
Sachin Tendulkar on 23 December 2012
announced retirement form one day cricket
which put an end to his 23- year old
glorious career.
ROGER FEDERER NAMED
SWISS MALE ATHLETE OF THE
YEAR 2012
Roger Federer, 31, the No. 2 of the world
and 17 times Grand Slam champion, was
named Swiss Male Athlete of the Year on
16 December 2012. Federer received the
honour for the fifth time.
Earlier in 2012, Federer had grabbed the
17th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon
Championships, London, while also
reclaiming his No. 1 ranking in the month of
July 2012. He also acquired top most
position by the end of the season.
SARDAR SINGH COMMANDED
THE BEST PRICE IN HOCKEY
INDIA LEAGUE AUCTION
In the Hockey India League Auction held at
New Delhi on 16 December 2012 the Indian
Skipper Sardar Singh became the highest
marquee player after commanding for the
best price of 78000 dollar. Sardar Singh was
bought by the Delhi Franchisee.
The five marquee players for the league
were drawn by Delhi Wave Riders, Jaypee
Punjab Warriors, Mumbai Magicians,
Ranchi Rhinos and Uttar Pradesh Wizards.
The marquee players would be offered with
15 percent more price than the
commanded best price by the player by
their respective teams. The price quoted for
the players would be same for next three
years and the teams are allowed to buy the
players from other teams.
Few more players who commanded best
prices were V. Raghunath bought by Uttar
Pradesh Wizards for 76,000 dollar, Moritz
Fuertse bought by Ranchi Rhinos for 75500
dollar, Teun de Nooijer brought by Uttar
Pradesh Wizards for 66000 dollar and Jamie
Dwyer bought by Jaypee Punjab Warriors
for 60000 dollar and Sandeep Singh moved
to Mumbai Magicians with a base price of
27800 dollar. The Hockey League will
comprise of 33 matches in all and would be
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played in India from 16 January 2013
onwards.
INDIA LOST THE TEST SERIES
BY 1-2 AFTER NAGPUR TEST
ENDED AS A DRAW
The last test match between India and
England of the Tournament England Tour to
India ended up as a draw and with this India
lost the four-test match cricket series
against England by 1-2 on 17 December
2012. With this win England succeeded in
ending a 28 year long wait of winning a test
series on Indian Soil. Before this the English
side under the captaincy of David Gower
won the test series in India 1984-85.
The Series
The first Test was played at
Ahmedabad from 15 November
to 19 November 2012 in which
India won the match by 9
wickets.
The second was played at Mumbai
from 23 November to 26
November 2012 in which
England won the match by 10
wickets
In the third test match played at
Kolkata from 5 December to 9
December 2012 England won
the match by 7 wickets
The last test resulted in a draw and
was played at Nagpur from 13
December to 17 December 2012
JUNIOR WORLD TT
CHAMPIONSHIP: CHINA
CLAIMED ALL TITLES
China got the clean sweep of titles at
Volkswagen 2012 World Junior Table
Tennis Championship after it won girls as
well as boys trophies on 16 December 2012.
In the second week of December 2012,
China had won girls and boys team titles.
Petrissa Solja of Germany who was the only
non-Chinese, lost in the semifinal to
Chinese top seed Zhu Yuling who finished
by turning over Gu Yuting 4-0 for the title of
girls. Her top speed, superior technique as
well as great attitude helped her win the
title.
Thereafter, Fan Zhendong also overcame to
beat Lin Gaoyuan 4-2 and thus claimed
boys singles title. Initially, he was also the
winner of mixed doubles title.
Second-seeded team of Liu Gaoyang and
Fan Zhendong recovered fast to beat top-
seeded competitors Gu Ruochen and Lin
Gaoyuan 4-3 to claim their gold in boys
doubles.
Gu Yuting and Zhu Yuling defeated Gu
Ruochen and Liu Gaoyang with a score of 4-
3 to claim girls double gold. The mixed
doubles gold was claimed by Fan Zhendong
and Liu Gaoyang who defeated Lin Gaoyuan
and Gu Ruochen combine 4-3.
INDIA WON THE WORLD CUP
KABADDI TOURNAMENT 2012
India on 15 December 2012 won the 3rd
World Cup Kabaddi Tournament for the
third consecutive time in the Mens
category and second consecutive time in
the Womens category. Indian men
defeated arch rival Pakistan with a decisive
margin of 37 points whereas, Indian women
thrashed Malaysia 72-12. Both the finals
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were played at the Guru Nanak Dev
Stadium in Ludhiana. The Kabaddi world
cup was a 15-day tournament. In men's
category, third prize went to Canada and in
women's category, it was given to Denmark.
Indian men registered a hat trick by
outclassing Pakistan in every aspect of
game. At the end of the first half, Indian
men squad was leading with a point
difference of 34-9. Indias raider and
stoppers showed an extraordinary sport in
collecting points for their country. Womens
final was virtually a one sided show as
Malaysian team was no match against
Indian eves.
INDIA BEAT PAKISTAN TO LIFT
INAUGURAL SBI T20 WORLD
CUP FOR THE BLIND 2012
India won the inaugural SBI T20 World Cup
for the Blind on 13 December 2012 after
beating Pakistan in the finals at Central
College grounds in Bangalore.
A total of 5000 crowd cheered as India
shattered Pakistan from 29 runs and the
Indian captain Shekhar Naik lifted the
trophy. India decided to bat first and scored
119 for 4 in 10 overs. India put up a
competitive score of 258 runs in 20 overs.
Rescuer of the team India was middle-order
batsman Ketan Patel who scored 98 runs off
43 balls and is completely blind.
Pakistan entered into finals unbeaten.
Pakistan is the only team that entered the
finals of all the four international blind
cricket tournaments till now. At the break
of the innings, Pakistan might have thought
of winning the match on the grounds of
excellent batting skills of the team
throughout this tournament. The opener
Mohammad Akram who had the highest
score in the history of international blind
cricket (264 against West Indies) was sent
back to the pavilion for 32 runs only.
Eventually, India won the T20 World Cup for
the Blind and the team was later crowned
as the world champions. It is also worth
noticing that Men-of-the-Series were all
Indians. These were Ketan Patel, Fully blind
category (B1); Prakash Jayaramaiah,
Partially blind category (B2) and Ajay Kumar
Reddy, Partially sighted category (B3).
About T20 World Cup for the Blind 2012
T20 World Cup for the Blind was a 12-day
tournament which comprised of nine
teams. The T20 World Cup for the Blind
2012 was hosted by India. The tournament
ran from 1 December 2012 to 13 December
2012 in Bangalore. The competing teams
included Bangladesh, Australia, India,
Nepal, England, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West
Indies and South Africa. The tournament
was played on league-cum-knockout basis.
Cricketer Saurav Ganguly is the Brand
Ambassador of T20 World Cup for the Blind.
The Cricket Association for the Blind (CABI)
is main body which organises as well as
conducts cricket for visually impaired in
India. CABI is registered NPO which is
affiliated to World Blind Cricket Council
(WBCC).
About World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC)
World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) laid its
foundation in 1996. The founding chairman
of WBCC was George Abraham of India.
The primary purpose of WBCC is promotion
as well as administration of the game of
blind cricket in the world.
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About Cricket Association for the Blind
(CABI)
CABI is a non-profit organisation affiliated
to World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC).
Pakistan, South Africa and England Blind
Cricket bodies receive sponsorship from
their mainstream cricket bodies but CABI
does not receive any such sponsorship from
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
CABI survives with the support from
corporate houses as well as a few public
sector organisations.
Other Blind Cricket Tournaments
First two Blind Cricket Tournaments were
World Cup held in 1998 as well as 2002 in
New Delhi and Chennai respectively. Third
Blind World Cup was held at Islamabad,
Pakistan in 2006. Apart from this, local,
state, zonal as well as national tournaments
for the blind are organised from past 15
years in India.
BB NIMBALKAR, INDIAS
HIGHEST SCORER IN FIRST
CLASS CRICKET PASSED AWAY
Bhausaheb Babasaheb Nimbalkar, a giant
of Indian domestic cricket who came close
to breaking Sir Don Bradman's first-class
score in the Ranji Trophy, passed away due
to age related ailments in his residence in
Kolhapur on11 December 2012 just one day
shy of his 93rd birthday.
Nimbalkar holds the record for the highest
individual first-class score by an Indian - 443
not out for Maharashtra against Kathiawar
at Poona Club in December 1948.
LIONEL MESSI SET THE
RECORD FOR MOST GOALS IN
A CALENDAR YEAR
Lionel Messi, the soccer player on 9
December 2012 set the record for most
goals in a calendar year by scoring his 86th
goal of 2012. He set the record while
scoring the winning goal against Real Betis.
Messi's record included 12 for Argentina
and 74 goals for Barcelona in 66 games. The
earlier record was made by Gerd Mueller,
who had scored 85 goals in 1972 which
included 72 goals for his club Bayern
Munich and 13 for his country West
Germany.
The record breaking performance has made
Messi favourite to claim his fourth FIFA
World Player of the Year award. Lionel
Andrs Leo Messi is a footballer who plays
for La Liga club FC Barcelona and as the
captain of the Argentina national team.
HOCKEY CHAMPIONS
TROPHY: AUSTRALIA WON
FOR THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE
YEAR, INDIA LOST BRONZE TO
PAKISTAN
At the Champions Trophy 2012, Australia
won once again, adding to fifth victory
consecutively after it earned a 2-1 win in a
match against Netherlands in Melbourne.
The fifth consecutive victory of Australia at
this event re-established it as the hockey
team (mens) to beat, after Australia had
missed on gold at Olympics.
For the Netherlands, it was silver medal
with the silver lining. Netherlands upgraded
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itself from bronze which they acquired last
two years.
The bronze was claimed by Pakistan after
they beat India 3-2 on a match on 9
December 2012. India missed the chance to
win bronze, which would have been its
second Champions trophy medal as well as
the first since 1982.
For the fifth place, Belgium won the match
against Germany, the Olympic champion.
New Zealand, in the meanwhile stood at
seventh position over England.
ATHENS OLYMPICS ATHLETES
LOSE MEDALS OVER DOPING
AFTER 8 YEARS
International Olympic Committee (IOC)
announced on 5 December 2012 that four
2004 Athens Olympic medalists had their
medals taken away because the re-tested
samples, which were stored for 8 years,
proved positive. The four medalists
included shot put champion of Ukraine
Yuriy Bilonog, women's shot putter of
Russia Svetlana Krivelyova, discus thrower
Irina Yatchenko of Belarus and Belarussian
hammer thrower Ivan Tsikhan.
3-times world champion Tsikhan also had to
give away his bronze medal from the 2008
Beijing Games. However, this decision was
reversed at Court of Arbitration for Sport
(CAS) on the grounds that there were errors
in laboratory procedures.
IOC declared that the case which involved
fifth athlete from Athens Games was
pending. The four athletes who had to give
their medals had tested positive for the
anabolic steroids. Around 100 samples from
Athens Games were target tested eight
years ago by IOC with the help of modern
methods.
IOC has a procedure of storing the samples
for eight years in order to enable re-testing
of newly found substances or those
substances for which no tests were
available at that time.
Athens Olympics doping cases tally now
stands at 31 after 26 positive tests as of
now. This is the maximum in any game. IOC
declared that it would like the extension of
law of limitation from current 8 years. It
was added by IOC that World Anti-Doping
Agency (WADA) was considering this law of
limitation to extend to 10 years.
ENGLAND CRICKET CAPTAIN
ALASTAIR COOK BECAME THE
YOUNGEST BATSMAN TO
SCORE 7000 RUNS
England Cricket team captain Alastair Cook
on 6 December 2012 claimed his place
among the cricketing greats, when he set an
England record for the most Test centuries
and became the youngest player in the
long history of the game to pass 7000 runs.
The 27 years old Alastair Cook scored his
23rd Test hundred to leave England closing
in on a rare series win in India.
AIR INDIA WON LAL
BAHADUR SHASTRI HOCKEY
TOURNAMENT AGAINST
BHARAT PETROLEUM
Air India emerged champion against Bharat
Petroleum in the 23rd Lal Bahadur Shastri
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hockey tournament at the Shivaji Stadium
on 4 December 2012.
This was second title of this season for Air
India. Air India had already shared the MCC-
Murugappa Cup with Indian Oil. Air India
had an edge over Bharat Petroleum
because the team was full of experienced
players. Besides, there was also an
advantage because Bharat Petroleum did
not give its 100 percent which was evident
when it wasted a lot of opportunities. For
Bharat Petroleum this was another runner-
up in the second event consecutively.
IOC SUSPENDED IOA; INDIA
FACING BAN FROM OLYMPICS
The International Olympic Committee
(IOC) suspended the India Olympic
Association (IOA) on 4 December 2012 and
eventually this might also lead to IOA ban
from Olympic movement.

IOA ban from Olympic would result in
consequences such as
No funding from IOC
No officials from India would be
invited by IOC to any events such
as Paralympics and Olympics
No India athlete would be allowed
competing under Indias flag; but
could be permitted competing
under IOC flag
Commonwealth Games Federation
as well as The Olympic Council of
Asia might also go with the trend
which would lead to similar
sanctions in case of
Commonwealth Games as well
as the Asian games
IOC suspended IOA because India was
following the Sports Code of government in
the IOA elections, which is against the
Olympic Charter. IOC declared that
following of Sports Code of government is
actually the interference of the government
in the Olympic Movement.
RICKY PONTING ANNOUNCED
HIS RETIREMENT FROM
INTERNATIONAL TEST
CRICKET
The Cricketer and Former Captain of the
Australian Cricket team, Ricky Ponting on 3
December 2012 announced his retirement
from International Test Cricket. The
decision of retirement came after Australia
lost the third test match against South
Africa by 309 runs on 3 December 2012 at
Perth. The first and second test matches at
Brisbane and Adelaide resulted in a draw
during the South Africa Tour to Australia
2012.
Ponting will continue playing for Tasmania
and in the Australian Domestic T20
Tournament the Big Bash League, where he
would represent the Hobart Hurricanes this
season.
RAVINDRA JADEJA BECAME
ONLY INDIAN TO SCORE
THREE TRIPLE TONS IN FIRST-
CLASS CRICKET
Ravindra Jadeja became first Indian and
only eighth batsman in the first-class
cricket history of world to score three
triple-centuries in the unbeaten 320 runs
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against Railways in the Ranji Trophy Group
A match on 2 December 2012 in Rajkot.
With the help of Jadejas innings,
Saurashtra reached the giant score of 534
for six in their first innings on second day of
4-day combat.
Jadeja had scored 303 against Gujarat in his
first match of this season and eventually the
second triple century and third as well to
become the only Indian batsman to reach
this podium.
ANNA USHENINA OF UKRAINE
WON THE WOMENS WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP CROWN OF
CHESS
Anna Ushenina of Ukraine on 1 December
2012 won the Womens World
Championship Crown of Chess at Khanty-
Mansiysk, Russia after defeating Antoaneta
Stefanova of Bulgaria in first set of tie-
break game. Anna won the title along with
60000 US dollar for the efforts made by her
to win the Chess championship.
In 2013 Anna would be playing the next
world championship against Chinese Yifan
Hou, which is a part of new cycle in
Womens World Championship.
TIGER WOODS WON HIS 75TH
PGA TOUR TITLE IN THE
FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN
Tiger Woods on 29 January 2013 won his
75th PGA Tour title in the Farmers
Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. Woods
entered into the fifth day of play with a six-
shot lead over his closest competitors,
Brandt Snedeker and Nick Watney.
Although, he was far from his fluent best
and he dropped four strokes in three holes
from the 15th, it did not stop his progress
to victory and he finished on 14 under par
.He parred his first five holes without any
problem before birdying the 13th after two
putting from 52 feet.
Woods dropped another shot on the 17th
and missed a 15ft birdie putt on the last;
however, his level-par 72 was enough to
secure him victory.
INDIA WON THE ODI SERIES
AGAINST ENGLAND 3-2;
ENGLAND WON THE FIFTH
ODI
England defeated India by seven wickets in
the fifth and the last ODI played at
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association
Stadium, Dharamshala on 27 January 2013.
Despite Englands win in this match, India
won the series against England by 3-2. India
batted first in the match and scored 226 in
49.4 overs. In reply, England easily reached
the target with seven wickets remaining.
The details of the remaining matches are as
following:
First ODI-Played at Saurashtra Cricket
Association Stadium, Rajkot on 11 January
2013. England won by 9 runs.
Second ODI-Played at Nehru Stadium, Kochi
on 15 Jan 2013. India won by 127 runs.
Third ODI-Played at JSCA International
Stadium Complex, Ranchi on 19 January
2013. India won by 7 wickets.
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Fourth ODI-Played at Punjab Cricket
Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh on
23 Jan 2013. India won by 5 wickets.
Suresh Kumar Raina of India was declared
player of the series. Alastair Cook was the
skipper of England ODI team while Indian
ODI team was led by Mahender Singh
Dhoni.
MUMBAI WON ITS 40TH
RANJI TROPHY AFTER
DEFEATING SAURASHTRA IN
FINAL
Mumbai won its 40th Ranji trophy at
Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on 28 Jan
2013. Mumbai won the final match against
Saurashtra by an inning and 125 runs on the
third day of Ranji Trophy final. The Mumbai
team so far has played in 44 finals of Ranji
Trophy.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC WON
AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2013,
DEFEATED ANDY MURRAY IN
FINAL
Novak Djokovic of Serbia defeated Andy
Murray of UK in four sets to win Australian
Open 2013 final. The tournament was held
in Melbourne. It was Djokoviks third
consecutive Australian Open title and
fourth overall. Nine other tennis players
had won consecutive Australian open
tournament, but none three straight years.
Djokovic had five break-point chances in the
opening set, including four after having
Murray at 0-40 in the seventh game, but
couldnt convert any of them. In 2012,
Djokovic had started with an epic 5-hour,
53-minute five-set win over Rafael Nadal at
the Australian Open, the longest Grand
Slam final.
Djokovic won his first major title in 2008
Australian Open. He now has six Grand Slam
titles altogether. Federer has won four of
his 17 majors at Melbourne, and Agassi is
the only other player to have won that
many in Australia since 1968.
VICTORIA AZARENKA OF
BELARUS WON AUSTRALIAN
OPEN 2013 IN THE WOMENS
CATEGORY
Victoria Azarenka of Belarus on 26 January
2013 won the Womens Singles title of the
Australian Open Tennis tournament at
Melbourne. The World Number One
defeated Li Na of China, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the
final to win the title for the second
successive time.
The match lasted for 2-hour and 40-minutes
which featured 16 service breaks, with Li
losing her service nine times.
Top seeded American brothers Bob and
Mike Bryan won the men's doubles title.
Americans Mike and Bob Bryan won their
record 13th Grand Slam doubles title,
defeating the Dutch team of Robin Haase
and Igor Sijsling 6-3, 6-4.
FAUJA SINGH, THE OLDEST
MARATHON RUNNER OF THE
WORLD ANNOUNCED
RETIREMENT
Fauja Singh, 101, the oldest marathon
runner of the world decided to stop
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running in the competitions after Hong
Kong marathon which will be held in
February 2013. However, before the Hong
Kong marathon, Singh will be running in the
Australia marathon as well.
Fauja Singh is also popularly known as the
Turbaned Tornado in all the international
events. Though Fauja Singh announced his
retirement from marathon, but he admitted
that he would keep running for inspiring the
masses.
Fauja Singh was born on 1 April 1911. Fauja
was also felicitated at the Buckingham
Palace by the queen in London on
December 7, 2005.
KOHLI BECAME THE QUICKEST
INDIAN AND SECOND AT
WORLD LEVEL TO COMPLETE
4000 ODI RUNS
The Indian Cricketer and the right handed
batsman Virat Kohli on 19 January 2013
completed his 4000 runs in One day
International cricket tournament.
He is the 12th Indian batsman and 84th at
world level to reach this milestone. By
scoring these runs in just 93 innings, he
became the first quickest from India and
second at world level to accomplish this
milestone. Viv Richards, the West Indies
player reached this milestone in 88 innings
in the year 1985 and is placed at the 1st
position in the list of crickets to touch the
mark of 4000 runs in less number of
innings. Both Richards and Kohli played in
96 matches to reach the score. Before Kohli,
the former Indian Captain Sourav Ganguly
had this record of scoring the fastest 4000
runs in ODI in 110 matches and 105 innings.
IOC ASKED ARMSTRONG TO
RETURN BACK THE SYDNEY
OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDAL
The International Olympics Committee
(IOC) on 17 January 2013 asked the all time
popular Cyclist Lance Armstrong facing the
charges of doping to return the Olympic
Bronze Medal and Certificate of 2000
Sydney Games.
The IOC wrote a letter to the defamed
Cyclist and the winner of seven times Tour
de France and asked him to return back the
bronze medal and the certificate that
accompanied it for the mens time trial
event.
The dominoes continue to fall for Lance
Armstrong, with the International Olympic
Committee formally requesting that the
disgraced cyclist return his Olympic bauble
from the 2000 Sydney Games.
Lance Armstrong
He was stripped off from the seven
Tour de France titles that he won
from 1999 to 2005 on 22 October
2012 and was banned from cycling
for life.
U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA)
accused Armstrong of leading a
doping programme with his team
and submitted a 202 page report
Lance Armstrong is a cyclist, who
used performance enhancing drugs
and banned substances.
SAINA NEHWAL CLINCHED
SECOND POSITION IN THE
BADMINTON WORLD
FEDERATION RANKINGS
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Saina Nehwal, the Olympics bronze
medalist on 17 January 2013 clinched her
career best second rank in the latest
rankings released by the Badminton World
Federation (BWF). To clinch the second
position in the latest rankings released,
Saina scored 80091.7444 points and is
leaded by the Chinese Li Xuerui, who has
94626.7153 points by her name.
INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC
COMMITTEE DECIDED TO
LAUNCH INTERNATIONAL GP
CIRCUIT FOR DISABLED
International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
decided to launch the international grand
prix circuit especially for the elite athletes
who are disabled. This international grand
prix circuit is scheduled to be launched in
April 2013.
The version of IPC of the strong Diamond
League shall comprise of eight meetings in
all, at various venues across the world. Two
of these venues which also include the final
one shall be held in Britain.
SIMON TAUFEL TO BE THE
FIRST UMPIRE TO DELI VER
THE MCC SPIRIT OF CRICKET
COWDREY LECTURE 2013
Simon Taufel, the umpire who has been the
five-time ICC Umpire of the Year from 2004
to 2008 would be the first umpire to deliver
the prestigious MCC Spirit of Cricket
Cowdrey Lecture that would take place on
24 July 2013. This announcement was made
by the England and Wales Cricket Board
(ECB) on 11 January 2013.
The lecture of 2013 would be the 13th
lecture, ever since its inception and Taufel
would be the third Australian after Adam
Gilchrist (2009) and Richie Benaud (2001
the first lecture) to deliver this lecture.

USAIN BOLT AND FRASER-
PRYCE WON ATHLETE OF THE
YEAR AWARD AT JAAA
GOLDEN CLEATS AWARDS
CEREMONY
Usain Bolt, the fastest man of the world
and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the women's
100m Olympic champion won the male and
female Athlete of the Year awards
respectively on 8 January 2013 at Jamaica
Athletics Administrative Association
(JAAA) Golden Cleats Awards ceremony
which took place at Terra Nova Hotel in St
Andrew.
Glen Mills, the Racers Track Club head
coach won the Coach of the Year Award for
the second time in a row, bringing his total
of winnings to 3. It was Mills who
conditioned Bolt and Yohan Blake, which in
turn helped them in grabbing gold and
silver respectively in 100m and 200m at the
London Olympics.
MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture
MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture first
began in the year 2001 in the memory of
the former Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)
president Colin Cowdrey. He played an
important role in enshrinement of the
Spirit of Cricket in the preamble of the
Code of the Laws of Cricket in the year
2000.

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In the meanwhile, the Howard Aris Award
was won by Fedrick Dacres, the 2012 World
Junior discus champion and Jeneive Russell,
the 2012 World Junior 400m hurdles
champion. Howard Aris Award was
established in 2012 to commemorate late
former JAAA president. The award
recognises the athletes who represent their
county with the distinction in non-
traditional events. The athletes additionally,
also won the scholarships worth 250000
dollar, acceptable at the University of
Technology, the University of the West
Indies or GC Foster College.
Usain Bolt acclaimed the renowned status
by defending three gold medals, which are
100m, 200m and 4x100m at 2012 Olympic
Games in London.
LIONEL MESSI WON THE FIFA
BALLON DOR AWARD FOR
FOURTH TIME
Lionel Messi, the Argentine footballer won
FIFA BallondOr Award on 7 January 2013
as a reward to his 91-goal in a year for
Barcelona and Argentina, in the year 2012.
Messi voted to be the best player for the
fourth year in a row managed to beat his
close competitors, Cristiano Ronaldo of
Spanish champion Real Madrid and
Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta.
To win this award, Messi won 41.60 percent
votes and was followed by Ronaldo, who
won 23.68 percent votes and Andres
Iniesta, who won 10.91 percent votes of all
the votes casted. The votes were casted by
National Team Coaches and Captains as
well as journalists invited. All these people,
helped in selecting the top three from a
huge list of 23 nominated players. With this
win for the fourth time, Messi has left
behind the three time FIFA winners namely
Zinedine Zidane of France and Ronaldo of
Brazil.

ANDY MURRAY DEFEATED
GRIGOR DIMITROV TO RETAIN
HIS BRISBANE
INTERNATIONAL TENNIS TITLE
Andy Murray, the third seeded Scottish
tennis player retained his Brisbane
International Tennis Title after defeating
the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov on 6 January
2013. Murray defeated Dimitrov by 7-6 and
6-4 in straight sets. This is the first title won
by Murray in the year 2013 and twenty-fifth
title of his career.
With this win, Murray was successful in
winning 78800 dollar and 250 Emirates ATP
Ranking Point and Dimitrov ended up with
150 Emirates ATP Ranking Point and 41540
dollar.

FIFA Ballon dOr Award
FIFA Ballon dOr Award was started in the
year 2010 after merging the two, France
Football's Ballon d'Or and the men's FIFA
World Player of the Year Award. It is the
associations football award that is
awarded to the years best performer. The
player is selected via voting process and
the votes are casted by the captains and
coaches of the International Teams as well
as the journalists from across the world.

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INDIA LOST THE SERIES
AGAINST PAKISTAN BY 2-1
AFTER IT WON THE LAST
MATCH BY 10 RUNS
India won the last match of the Pakistan in
India ODI Series on 6 January 2013 against
Pakistan by 10 Runs. With this win over
Pakistan, India lost the three matches one
day series by 1-2.
At the end of the series, Nasir Jamshed of
Paksitan was declared as the Player of the
tournament.
Series Report
1st Match Report: The first match was
played at MA Chidambaram Stadium,
Chepauk, at Chennai on 30 December 2012.
India scored 228 runs at a loss of 6 wickets
and Pakistan managed to achieve the target
to win the match by 6 wickets (with 11 balls
remaining). At the end of the match Dhoni
was chosen as the player of the match.
2nd Match Report: In the second match
played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on 3
January 2013 (day/night format) Pakistan
gave a target of 251 runs for India to win
but India was able to score 165 in 48 over
with no wicket remaining in hand. Nasir
Jamshed was elected as the Player of the
match.
3rd Match Report: India playing first at
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi on 6 January 2013
(day/night format) scored 167 runs in 43.4
over and Pakistan was all out at 157 runs in
48.5 over. India won the match by 10 runs
and MS Dhoni was once again chosen as the
Player of the match.
VIRAT KOHLI NAMED CEAT
INTERNATIONAL CRICKETER
OF THE YEAR
Vice-captain of Indian Cricket team Virat
Kohli on 4 January 2013 was named the
International Cricketer of the Year, while
Pakistan cricket team bagged the top
honours for the best team at the CEAT
Cricket Awards 2011-12 in New Delhi.
Virat Kohli had deafeated Hashim Amla,
Kumar Sangakkara and Michael Clarke to
bag the prestigious award.
Kohli was the top run-getter for India in
both Tests and ODIs in 2012 with his career-
best 183 which came against Pakistan in the
Asia Cup in March 2012 only.
The Former Pakistan cricket captain Zaheer
Abbas was honoured with the lifetime
award while Saeed Anwar got the best
audience choice awards.
Brisbane International Tennis Title
Brisbane International Tennis Title is an
internationally acclaimed Tennis
Tournament that is organised every year in
the month of January at Queensland Tennis
Centre in Brisbane, Queensland in
Australia. The tournament is played on the
outdoor hard courts and is a part of ATP
World Tour 250 series of the World Tour of
the Association of Tennis Professionals
(ATP) as well as the WTA Premier
tournaments of the Women's Tennis
Association (WTA) Tour. The tournament is
held before the Australian Open, the first
Grand Slam tournament of the season.

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SANIA MIRZA AND BETHANIE
MATTEK-SANDS CLAIMED
LADIES DOUBLES FINAL AT
THE BRISBANE
INTERNATIONAL
Indian Tennis player Sania Mirza and her
American partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands
on 5 January 2013 lifted the WTA Brisbane
International Trophy with a win against
Kveta Peschke and Anna-Lena Groenefeld.
The second seeded Indo-American pair
Sania Mirza and Bethanie Mattek-Sands
defeated fourth seed Anna-Lena Grnefeld
of Germany and Czech Keveta Peschke with
4-6 6-4 10-7 in the summit face-off of the
1000000 US dollar event.
The win is supposed to be Sania's first
doubles title of the season and 15th of her
career.
Sania and Mattek earned 470 ranking points
each and shared 51022 US Dollar as prize
money.
On the other hand, In the same tournament
World no. 3 Serena Williams claimed her
first ever single Brisbane International Title
with 6-2, 6-1 victory over Russian tennis
player Anastasia Sergeyevna
Pavlyuchenkova.

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CHAPTER 14: STATE
NEWS
MADRAS HIGH COURT
UPHELD BAN ON
VISHWAROOPAM IN TAMIL
NADU
Madras High Court on 30 January 2013, in the
evening upheld the ban on Kamal Haasans
Vishwaroopam in Tamil Nadu till 6 February
2013. An order passed on by Justice K.
Venkataraman to lift the ban was later nullified
by the two-member bench comprising of Acting
chief justice Elipe Dharma Rao and Aruna
Jagadeesan.
CAUSE FOR THE BAN ON VISHWAROOPAM
Certain Islamic organisations
demanded that film should be
screened to them before the release
on the grounds that the Muslim
community was depicted in a
negative light in the movie.
Kamaal Hassan had also organised
special screening for them.
However, the film screening was
curtailed for 15 days by Tamil Nadu
government under Section 144 of
the Indian Criminal Procedure Code
because of allegations by certain
Islamic organisations.
Eventually the matter was brought
to the Madras High Court seeking
rollback of the ban on the grounds
that Vishwaroopam was approved
by the Central Board of Film
Certification.
The ban was rolled back by the
Madras High Court on 29 January
2013.
On 30 January 2013, however, the
ban was upheld by the High Court
once again.
KARNATAKA TO PROVIDE
TAMIL NADU WITH 12 TMC
FEET OF CAUVERY WATER:
CMC
The Cauvery Monitoring Committee (CMC)
on 7 December 2012 asked Karnataka to
provide Tamil Nadu with 12 TMC feet of
Cauvery water during December even as it
asked both the states to be more efficient
in using available water. The meeting of the
CMC came after the Supreme Court of India
on 5 December 2012 asked the multi-state
panel to meet within the next two days to
decide on water requirement of Tamil Nadu
and Karnataka. The states sharing the
disputed Cauvery River waters were
informed that the final award of the
Cauvery Waters Dispute Tribunal will be
notified by the end of December 2012.
In 1997, the Union Government of India had
proposed the setting up of a Cauvery River
Authority. Under this new proposal, the
Government set up two new bodies-
Cauvery River Authority and Cauvery
Monitoring Committee. The Cauvery River
Authority consisted of the Prime Minister
and the Chief Ministers of all four
states(Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Pondicherry,
Kerala) and its headquarter is in New Delhi.
The Cauvery Monitoring Committee is an
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expert body which consists of engineers,
technocrats and other officers. This body
takes stock of the ground realities and
report to the government.
UNION GOVERNMENT RULED
OUT THE DECISION OF
CAUVERY RIVER AUTHORITY
Decision of the Cauvery River Authority was
ruled out by the Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh on 8 October 2012. The Prime
Minister ordered Karnataka to release 9000
cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu every day, till
20 October 2012.
The Cauvery River Authority (CRA)
comprises of the Chief Ministers of basin
states namely Puducherry, Kerela, Tamil
Nadu and Karnataka and is chaired by the
Prime Minister itself.
The Prime Minister in response to his meet
with the Congress Union Ministers namely
S.M. Krishna, M. Mallikarjun Kharge and
K.H. Muniyappa along with 16 members of
Parliament from BJP came to a conclusion
that the decision will be made following the
findings of the ground reality from the
Cauvery Monitoring Committee. The
committee is going to meet in the third
week of October. As the decision making
lies in the hands of the CRA, so the Prime
Minister due to lack of mechanism cannot
make any changes in the award.
RASHTRIYA AAROGYA NIDHI
SCHEME WAS LAUNCHED IN
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
The State Health Ministry of Arunachal
Pradesh launched Rashtriya Aarogya Nidhi
scheme in Itanagar on 14 September 2012.
The scheme which is under the Union
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
provides financial assistance upto 1.5 lakh
rupees to BPL patients suffering from life
threatening diseases in the form of a
onetime grant. In the event of the
treatment cost exceeding 1.5 lakh rupees,
the patients can avail the assistance from
the Central Rashtriya Aarogya Nidhi
scheme. The Central governments
contribution to the scheme for Arunachal
Pradesh, will be two crore rupees.
SUPREME COURTS NOTICE TO
TAMIL NADU ON THE
PETITION THAT CHALLENGED
69% QUOTA IN THE STATE
In a petition filed against 69 per cent quota
in educational and employment institutions
of Tamil Nadu by ten meritorious students,
Supreme Court of India issued a notice on
10 September 2012 as the granted quota
exceeds the limits decided by the
judgement issued by Mandal Commission.
After hearing from the senior council
Rakesh Diwedi, the notice was issued by the
bench of Justices K.S. Radhakrishnan and
Dipak Misra seeking clarification and
response from the state for directing the
ways to provide admission to the
petitioners in the running session of the
Medical Colleges, by increasing the number
of seats as it has been doing for past sixteen
years.
As per the petitioners, the Supreme Court
directed the backward class commission in
2010 to measure the justifiability of the 69
percent quota with the objective criteria
report. The body filed a report to the state
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government on 8 July 2011, without any
objective criteria just by confirming the 69
percent reservation on basis of Amba
Shankar Commission Report made in 1985,
without taking any objective criteria related
to the terms of Nagaraja case that does not
permits the power to exceed the restriction
beyond 50 percent reservation.
RAJASTHAN HC STAYED
STATES DECISION FOR
GIVING 4% ADDITIONAL
RESERVATION TO GURJAR
The Rajasthan High Court on 29 January
2013 stayed the state government's
decision for giving 4 per cent additional
reservation to Gurjar, Raika-Rebari, Gadia
Luhar and Banjara communities. The
division bench of the Rajasthan High Court
presided by Justice N.K. Jain stayed this
order. Final hearing of this case will be on
19 February 2013. Earlier on 28 November
2012, the Rajasthan Government
announced to provide 4% more reservation
in government jobs to Gurjar and 4 other
communities under Special Backward
Category.
This decision was taken on the basis of the
report of Rajasthan OBC Commission. This
commission studied and examined
quantifiable data with regard to Gurjar and
other communities representation in the
state services and made its opinion
accordingly. This decision was challenged by
a petitioner Manoj Solanki that it will
provide 54 per cent reservation which is
violation of Supreme Courts order.
LEPROSY ELIMINATED FROM
DELHI AS PER WHO
GUIDELINES: DELHI HEALTH
MINISTER
Delhi Health Minister A.K. Walia announced
on 24 January 2013 that leprosy was
eliminated from the state as public health
problem, as per the World Health
Organisation (WHO) guidelines. There was a
huge decline in the rate of this disease. The
rate declined from 4.5 cases per 10000
population in 2001 to 0.8 cases per 10000
population in 2013.

MADRAS HIGH COURT
ORDERED THAT POLICE
PERMISSION IS NOT
REQUIRED TO STAGE PLAYS
IN THE STATE
The High Court of Madras on 23 January
2013 ordered that staging plays in Tamil
Nadu doesnt require any sort of Police
Permission and it also explained that some
provisions of the Tamil Nadu Dramatic
Performances Act, 1954 were
unconstitutional.
According to the World Health Organisation
(WHO) guidelines, leprosy is said to be
eliminated as the public health problem
when its number of patients drop down
below 1 case per 10000 population.

Leprosy is caused because of the bacteria
mycobacterium leprae. It affects primarily
skin and the nerves. The symptoms of leprosy
appear gradually and may also take 2-5 years
of time to be evident.
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The bench of Madras High Court led by
Justice K. Chandru in its verdict stated that
the definition to the objectionable
performance mentioned in the law was
quite unclear and thus it cant be brought
within the restrictions allowed in the Article
19 (2) of Constitution of India. The Bench
also found that Under Section 3 and Section
4 of the Constitution of India, the power
conferred on the State government and the
Police Commissioner/District Collectors
respectively are wide and discretionary and
thus it violates the provisions mentioned
under Article 14 of the Constitution of India.
The decision of the High Court came in
context of the petition filed by a Journalist,
N. V. Sankaran alias Gnani, who runs a
theater group Pareeksha. Dramatic
Performance Act 1876 was passed to
regulate theatre during colonial rule.
Different Articles of Constitution of India
and provisions mentioned under it
Part iii, Fundamental Rights: Right to
Equality Right to Freedom
Article 14 - Equality before law - The State
shall not deny to any person equality before
the law or the equal protection of the laws
within the territory of India.
Part iii, Fundamental Rights: Right to
Freedom
Article 19 - Protection of certain rights
regarding freedom of speech, etc. (1) All
citizens shall have the right- (a) to freedom
of speech and expression
Article 19 (2) of Constitution of India -
Nothing in sub clause (a) of clause ( 1 ) shall
affect the operation of any existing law, or
prevent the State from making any law, in
so far as such law imposes reasonable
restrictions on the exercise of the right
conferred by the said sub clause in the
interests of the sovereignty and integrity of
India, the security of the State, friendly
relations with foreign States, public order,
decency or morality or in relation to
contempt of court, defamation or
incitement to an offence.
GHAT KI GUNI TUNNEL,
JAIPUR INAUGURATED BY
PRIME MINISTER
MANMOHAN SINGH
The Ghat Ki Guni Tunnel that links the
Jaipur with the National Highway No. 11 to
Agra was inaugurated by the Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh and Chairperson
of United Progressive Alliance Sonia Gandhi.
This 150 crore rupees twin-tube tunnel was
created by grilling out the Aravalli hills on
the eastern side of the Pink City. The
combined length of the tunnel is 2.80
kilometer and would provide a safe
alternative to the narrow passage at Ghat Ki
Guni, which connects Jaipur to Bharatpur
and Agra.
With a combined length of 2.80 km, the
tunnel will provide a safe alternative to the
narrow passage at Ghat Ki Guni connecting
Jaipur to Bharatpur and Agra. The walls of
the tunnel have been washed with pink
colour to present the craftsmanship of
Jaipur and it also have sensors to control air
pollution, cameras for speed control of the
vehicles, display boards, fans for ventilation,
fine illumination, pedestrian footpath, fire-
extinguishing facilities and many more.
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DELHI WITNESSED THE
HIGHEST NUMBER OF RAPE
CASES IN A DECADES TIME
The Delhi Police Annual Report released on
19 January 2013 reported that Delhi
witnessed the record number of highest
rape cases, attempts to murder, robbery,
rioting in the complete decade. The report
claimed that the year 2012 witnessed 706
registered rape cases out of which 40
occurred at midnight including the brutal
gang rape in the bus.
PATIALA HOUSE BECAME
FIRST DISTRICT COURT TO
USE COMPLETE E-STAMPING
FACILITY
Patiala House court complex in New Delhi
on 16 January 2013 completely switched
over to the e-stamping facility. Patiala
House court complex is one of the six
district courts in New Delhi.
E-stamping arrangement in Patiala House
court complex was inaugurated by the
district judge of Patiala House court, I S
Mehta. With the complete e-stamping
facility at the Patiala House, it became the
first ever district court to make use of this
facility completely, while doing away with
the stamp papers. This action will help in
making sure hassle-free transactions as well
as keeping fraudulent practices under
check.
E-stamping was first introduced in April
2008 and is now also accessible in all the
denominations. The city government, on an
average collects 200 crore Rupees revenue
in a month through this facility.
OM PRAKASH CHAUTALA AND
HIS SON HELD GUILTY IN
TEACHERS RECRUITMENT
SCAM
The Special CBI Court on 16 January 2013
convicted former Chief Minister of Haryana
and President of Indian National Lok Dal Om
Prakash Chautala and his son Ajay Chautala
along with 53 others for illegal selection of
3000 junior basic trained teachers.
The process of recruitment started in 1999
to deal with the issue of acute shortage of
teachers in the state. 3206 vacancies were
advertised for recruitment of the junior
basic trained teachers from 18 districts of
Haryana. All the accused of the case were
arrested and sent to Tihar Central Jail and
the orders on the quantum of sentence is
awaited to be pronounced on 22 January
2013. The arrested includes 16 women.
The Special CBI Judge termed Om Prakash
Chautala to be the main conspirator and
convicted the others involved in the case of
charges related to criminal misconduct of a
public servant, criminal conspiracy, forgery,
abuse of official position, cheating with a
knowledge that the illegal loss that would
result to person whose interest all the
convicted were supposed to protect.

How the Scam Surfaced
The scam surfaced after the Director of
Primary Education (DPE), Sanjiv Kumar in the
year 2003 approached the Supreme Court
and submitted a writ petition and claimed
that Om Prakash Chautala created a pressure
to replace the original lists with the fake
ones.

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PUNJABS FIRST SHARIAT
PANCHAYAT TO BE
INAUGURATED IN MARCH
2013
The first Shariat panchayat of Punjab
scheduled to be inaugurated on 3 March
2013 will be first of its kind in the state. This
will allow the Muslim community to deal
with the cases. The first Shariat panchayat
of the state would be inaugurated in
Malerkotla, which is the Muslim town in
Sangrur district.
The panchayat would deal with three main
types of the disputes and these are
inheritance, marriage and divorce.
GAVE ITS NOD TO CONDUCT
JALLIKATTU IN TAMIL NADU
2013 gave its nod to the Tamil Nadu
Government to conduct Jallikattu from 15
January 2013. The Court gave its permission
and asked the state to conduct it in
accordance to the law passed by it and
follow the rules and regulations of the
event, framed.
The Supreme Court bench of Justices K.S.
Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra permitting
the state also passed orders making it clear
that the event should be conducted, with
strict adherence to the orders passed by it.
The provisions of the 2009 Act passed by
the State states that to organize the
Jallikattu event, a written permission from
the District Collector needs to be taken and
the permission should be availed at least a
month before from the date fixed for the
event to start. The Act has also mentioned
180 locations in the state that has been
identified and notified in the gazette, where
the events can be organised. The locations
of the event are subject to be added and
deleted at the discretion of the state. Its
the responsibility of the District Collector to
make sure that every animal participating in
the event is registered and the event
organizers and the owners of the animals
registered need to follow the conditions
imposed for the exhibition.
The collector is also responsible for
notifying the Chennai Chapter of the
Animal Welfare Board of India about the
event, so that they can depute the
volunteers/representatives/animal
inspectors at the locations of event, as
observers. The rules mentioned also make it
mandatory that the barricades that prohibit
the spectators to enter the area where the
bulls are tamed by the bull tamers should
be eight feet high. The spectators are also
not allowed to enter the same area.
The state Government would appoint a
complete veterinary team at the venue to
test and certify the bulls for participation in
the event. The team would also be
responsible for treating the bulls which get
injured during the event.
37 YEAR OLD WOMAN
BECAME FIRST COMPLETE
BODY DONOR OF AIIMS
Chandrakanta Rawat, the 37-year-old
Uttrakhand woman became the first
complete body donor in January 2013 at the
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New
Delhi. Chandrakanta Rawat was admitted to
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the hospital on 2 January 2013 and was
declared brain-dead. Rawats husband
permitted the doctors to retrieve her
organs.
Heart, two kidneys as well as liver of the
woman were used for the patients in need
while other organs such as bones and
cornea were kept to be used in the future.
While the heart of the woman was used for
the purpose of transplant at AIIMS, her
kidneys were transported to Sir Ganga Ram
Hospital and liver was utilised at the
Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences,
Vasant Kunj for the purpose of transplant.
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
COLLABORATED WITH NSDL
FOR ADOPTION OF NATI ONAL
PENSION SCHEME
The state of Arunachal Pradesh on 9
January 2013 entered into an agreement
with signing of MoU with National
Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL),
permitting it to work as a Central Record
Keeping Agency (CRA) for adoption of the
National Pension System (NPS).
National Pension Scheme NPS is an
initiative of the Union Government of India
and Arunachal Pradesh is the 26th State to
adopt it. Around 44 lakh subscribers across
the Central Government, State
Government, central and State autonomous
bodies, a few corporates and other citizens
are associated with NPS.
The NPS scheme will be benefitting more
than 6160 employees who had joined the
services of the State Government on or
after1 January 2008.
About National Pension System
NPS is a system wherein eligible
Government subscribers contribute
a fixed portion of their salaries and
an equivalent contribution is made
by the respective State
Governments every month.
These amounts are transferred to
empanel Pension Fund Managers
(PFMs) for subsequent contribution
in instruments such as Government
securities, corporate and equities.
The National Pension Scheme is
under effect from 1 January 2004.
As on date 11.043 crore rupees has
been deposited in the State
Government exchequer.
The complete NPS activity is
regulated by the Pension Fund
Regulatory Development Authority
which has been created especially
for this purpose by the Centre.

About National Securities Depository Ltd
(NSDL)
NSDL is the first and largest depository in
India which was established in August 1996.
It is promoted by institutions of national
stature responsible for economic
development of the country. It had
established a national infrastructure of
international standards that handles most of
the securities held and settled in
dematerialised form in the Indian capital
market.
NSDL is promoted by Industrial Development
Bank of India (IDBI) - the largest development
bank of India, Unit Trust of India (UTI) - the
largest mutual fund in India and National
Stock Exchange (NSE) - the largest stock
exchange in India. Some of the prominent
banks in the country have taken a stake in
NSDL.

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JMM WITHDREW SUPPORT
FROM BJP IN JHARKHAND
AND REDUCED IT TO
MINORITY
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on 7
January 2013 announced withdrawal of
support from the existing Bhartiya Janta
Party (BJP) led coalition Government in
Jharkhand. The support withdraw by JMM
has reduced BJP to a minority party in the
State Assembly.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha gave two
reasons for the withdrawal of its support
from the BJP and they were, Chief Minister
Arjun Mundas refusal from recognizing the
JMMs claim on the agreement to hold the
Chief Ministers office for 28 months each
party and also because of the derogatory
remarks against Shibu Soren by Nishikant
Dubey, MP from Godda.

Since its formation in the year 2000, there
have been eight Chief Ministers in the
Jharkhand and the state had seen President
Rule twice.
MANTRA AIRLINES TO START
CIVIL AIRLINES SERVICES
FROM JAMMU TO KARGIL
The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir,
Omar Abdullah on 7 January 2013 launched
the first civil aviation service from Kargil to
Jammu. Mantra Airlines would be the
company that will be operating the civil
airline services, from Jammu to Kargil.
The landing of the 17-seater aircraft at
Kargil marked a history in itself, as before
this there has been no occasion, when a
civil passenger aircraft has been spotted or
landed at Kargil. Mantra Airlines conducted
a trial run between Jammu and Kargil on 3
November 2012.
Before this, AN-32 aircraft an Indian Air
Force aircraft had been offering the services
between Jammu-Kargil Sector and Srinagar-
Kargil Sector thrice and once a week
respectively. AN-32 aircraft takes 40 to 45
passengers at a time. It charges 1450
rupees for Jammu-Kargil route and 1100
rupees for Srinagar-Jammu route.
RAPE VICTIMS FREE TO
CHOOSE LAWYERS AT THE
EXPENSE OF STATE:
MAHARASHTRA
GOVERNMENT
The Maharashtra Government decided
facilitating each sexual assault victim with
the lawyer of their choice at its own
Status of Seats of different Political Parties
in 81-member Assembly
JMM 18 seats
BJP 18 seats
All Jharkhand Students Union 6
seats
Janta Dal United 2 seats
Congress 13 seats
Jharkhand Vikas Morcha 11 seats

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expense. The government declared that this
would ensure putting behind the bars, each
and every rapist who walked free because
of prosecution inexpertness.
Home Minister of Maharashtra, R R Patil
declared on 7 January 2013 that the choice
of lawyers would not be limited to just the
government attorneys but also the private
lawyers. The Home Minister declared that
this decision would help in securing higher
rate of conviction in the rape cases.
Ineffectual prosecution is a cause of poor
rate of conviction in sexual assault cases
against the women. As per the National
Crime Records Bureau, in 2011, 20576 men
went through the trial in Maharashtra but
merely 268 out of these were convicted by
the end of 2011. This decision of the
government could alter these figures.
However, it was believed that this decision
would demand the best attorney from the
system, thereby putting a lot of pressure on
state treasury.
HARYANA GOVERNMENT
ANNOUNCED KANYADAN
SCHEME FOR BRIDE
PARTICIPANTS OF MASS
MARRIAGES
The Government of Haryana on 3 January
2012 announced its plan of launching a
Kanyadan Scheme in the state for brides
participating in the mass marriage
ceremony, which would be organised by
any of the registered NGO or the Red Cross
Society. The scheme would carry an
incentive amount of 11000 rupees and
would come into effect from 1 April 2012.
Launch of the scheme was planned to check
the social evils like dowry in the state and
the mass marriages would bring down the
expenditure done on any of the wedding
eves. The incentive amount of 11000
rupees would be given to brides from all
castes, creeds, race, religion and the income
category to which the girl belongs.
CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA
INAUGURATED FIRST FAST-
TRACK COURT IN DELHI FOR
HEARING RAPE CASES
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Altamas Kabir
inaugurated the first fast-track court in
Delhi on 2 January 2013 for dealing with the
crimes against females. The first fast-track
court is one among other four fast-track
courts which would deal with the cases of
crime against the women. This court is set
up in the Saket Court Complex and the first
case to be heard here is that of the Delhi
gang rape, which took place on 16
December 2012.

Other fast track courts would function from
3 January 2013 at Rohini, Tis Hazari and
Dwarka in New Delhi. In the first rape case
which would be heard in the fast-track
court, the Delhi Police decided to submit a
1000-page charge sheet in the magistrate
court in Saket on 3 January 2013 after
which it would move to fast-track court
where hearing will take place on daily trial
basis.
In December 2012, the Chief Justice of the
Delhi High Court announced that all the
cases of crime against women in Delhi
would be dealt in the fast-track courts.
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MAHARASHTRA
GOVERNMENT TO SET UP 25
FAST TRACK COURTS TO DEAL
WITH CRIME AGAINST
WOMEN
Maharashtra government on 27 December
2012 announced setting up s
The principle consent to the proposal was
given by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan
and with this government will approach the
Bombay High Court to seek its nod.
The shift by the government to set up such
courts comes in the wake of a rise in
incidents of rape and harassment of girls in
various parts of the state.
In Maharashtra, there are 100 fast track
courts for speedy disposal of criminal cases
and the government is going to approach
the Bombay High Court to allocate 25 of
these courts completely for serious crimes
against women.
MAHARASHTRA
IMPLEMENT NATIONAL
COMMISSION ON FOOD
PROCESSING
The Maharashtra Government in the month
of December decided to implement the
National Mission on Food Processing which
is directed to enhance the standard of small
food processing units in the State.
The mission is a Centrally-sponsored
programme and it is going to provide micro
credit, facilitate technology transfer and
handhold the units in building capacity. It
will also undertake skill upgradation
through institutional training, which is
meant to ensure sustainable employment
opportunities to the people.
The basic purpose of the programme is
decentralisation of implementation of
schemes through participation by State
governments which also aims to reduce the
gap in requirement and availability of skilled
manpower in the food processing sector.
The State Cabinet on 27 December 2012
approved the programme and appointed
Maharashtra Agro Industries Development
Corporation as the nodal body for
implementing it.
Under the scheme, the Centre provides 75
per cent while state's share is 25 per cent.
For the current fiscal, the State Government
made a provision of 5.5 crore rupees for the
mission, while the Centre would be
providing 16.5 crore Rupees.
Sectors in food processing such as fruits and
vegetables, milk products, meat, poultry,
fishery, oilseeds products, rice milling, pulse
processing and other agri-horticultural
sectors such as food flavours and colours,
oleoresins (plant extracts) and spices would
be covered under the programme.
The chief secretary of Maharashtra is going
to oversee the programme implantation in
the state.
DELHI GOVERNMENT
DECIDED DRAFTING NEW BILL
FOR AMENDMENTS IN LAW
ON RAPE, SEXUAL ASSAULT
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In context with the Vasant Vihar gang rape
which took place on 16 December 2012,
Delhi Government decided drafting new bill
for making amendments in the law against
rape and sexual assault. It was decided that
amendments would be made so that the
law against rape and sexual assault were
more stringent. The new bill would be
prepared by Additional Solicitor General
Indira Jaising and it would later be moved
to Home Ministry via Delhi CM Sheila
Dikshit.
The new bill would aim at filling gaps in
present law on rape and sexual assault. At
present, the laws on rape and sexual assault
have various gaps in justice delivery system.
Decision to draft new bill was taken by CM
Sheila Dikshit after negotiations with social
workers, professors and experts.
Additionally, the Delhi government also
decided setting up full-time control room
for women who needed help by end of
December 2012. The control room would
become functional at Delhi Secretariat in
CMs office with committed phone
numbers.
Before the draft bill is finalised, there would
be a consultation with the stakeholders.
Also, the Delhi Commission for Women was
asked to use all possible modes of media for
inculcating awareness among different
sections of society. GRCs, RWAs, Mahila
Panchayats, corporate houses as well as
Citizen Groups would be involved as well.
CONGRESS WON THE STATE
ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS 2012
IN HIMACHAL PRADESH,
CLAIMED 36 SEATS
As per the election results declared by the
Election Commission of India on 20
December 2012, Indian National Congress
was declared winner in the Vidhan Sabha
elections of Himachal Pradesh under the
leadership of its veteran leader Virbhadra
Singh. Congress was successful in securing
36 out of 68 seats in the state elections. BJP
that won 41 seats in the 2007 Vidhan Sabha
Elections dropped down and was able to
win just 26 seats. Six independents
including the rebels of BJP also won in the
state elections in Himachal Pradesh.
The Congress Leader Virbhadra Singh won
from Shimla (Rural) constituency and
defeated the rival from BJP Ishwar Rohal by
19033 Votes. The BJP Leader, Prem Kumar
Dhumal won from Hamirpur defeating his
congress rival Narinder Thakur by 9500
votes.
BJP WON IN GUJARAT STATE
ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS 2012,
CLAIMED 115 SEATS
s per the election results declared by the
Election Commission of India on 20
December 2012, Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP)
under the leadership of Chief Minister
Narendra Modi on 20 December 2012 won
the Vidhan Sabha Elections in Gujarat
leaving behind the opposition Congress and
Gujarat Parivartan Party. BJP was successful
in capturing 115 seats out of the 182
member assembly in the state, with this win
BJP is back to power in the state for the
fifth time and for the third time under the
leadership of Narendra Modi.
The 115 seats secured by BJP in the State
Elections was two less than the seats that it
won in the 2007 state elections, where as
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Congress was successful in winning 61 seats
which marked a growth by 2 seats on its
part as compared to the 2007 results. The
newly formed political party of Keshubhai
Patel, the Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP)
was successful in winning 3 seats.
BJP was successful in winning 35 seats out
of 54 seats in the Saurastra-Kutch region
where it secured 38 votes in the 2007
elections. In Southern Gujarat the party
won 28 seats out of 25 and 20 out of 40 in
the central Gujarat region. Narendra Modi
was successful in beating her closet rival
Seweta Bhatt by a margin of 86000 votes in
Maninagar and is the wife of the suspended
IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt. Sanjeev Bhatt was
suspended for accusing Narendra Modi for
orchestrating the 2002 Gujarat Riots as a
Chief Minister of the state.
GOVERNMENT OF
MAHARASHTRA ORDERED SIT
PROBE INTO MULTI-CRORE
IRRIGATION SCAM
Government of Maharashtra on 17
December 2012 ordered a Special
Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the
matter of multi-crore irrigation scam. The
announcement was made in both the
legislative houses of the state.
The SIT would be headed by the Dr.
Madhavrao Chitale and comprise experts
from law and judiciary and finance
departments. Its deadline would be
finalized by 31 December 2012. Dr. Chitale
is a water expert and has worked for
different commissions and at different
capacities and served the Union Water
Resource Ministry as its Secretary.
BIHAR STATE GOVERNMENT
APPROVED THE NEW JAIL
MANUAL
The Bihar government on 11 December
2012 approved new jail manual that has
provision for elaborate computer generated
record of inmates including their voice
samples, replacing the existing 88-year-old
prison guidelines formulated in 1924.
The new guidelines are as following
The new guideline has provisions for
computerization of records including
the works done by inmates.
Under the new manual, visitors to
the jails would be registered
through computer.
Visitors complex would be
established in all the jails where
visitors' photographs would be
taken on computer along with their
fingerprints.
The jails would have elaborate
computer generated details of
inmates including their voice
recordings.
Separate wards would be created in
jails for inmates aged between 18 to
21 years to keep them away from
hardcore criminals.
Close circuit cameras would be set
up in jails to keep a tab over affairs
inside including standard of food
served to the inmates.
Bihar has 56 jails at present that includes 8
central jails, 31 district jails and 17 sub-jails.
These jails have capacity to house 33119
prisoners.
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BIHAR RECEIVED THE SILVER
ICON WEB RATNA AWARD
2012
Bihar's public grievance redressal website
received the Silver Icon Web Ratna Award
2012 on 10 December 2012.
The public grievance redressal website --
http://bpgrs.in has been developed by the
State Government as an e-governance
initiative and has various features for quick
and transparent disposal of complaints. The
complainant is also intimated on his/her e-
mail about the action taken.
AP HC STAYED ED ORDER
ATTACHING 822CR RUPEES
DEPOSIT IN MONEY
LAUNDERING SCAM
Andhra Pradesh High Court on 11
December 2012 stayed a provisional order
of Enforcement Directorate(ED) attaching
822 crore rupee deposits belonging to
Mahindra Satyam in a moneylaundering
case involving former Satyam Chairman B
Ramalinga Raju and others.
Justice P V Sanjay Kumar also stayed the
notice issued by the adjudicating authority
to Mahindra Satyam, Satyam Computer
Services Ltd, asking company officials to
appear before it with regard to the case.
The Enforcement Directorate had on 18
October 2012 issued a provisional
attachment order of the company's fixed
deposits of 822 crore rupee in the money
laundering case related to the previous
management.
BS YEDDYURAPPA, FORMER
CHIEF MINISTER OF
KARNATAKA LAUNCHED KJP
Former Chief Minister of Karnataka, B S
Yeddyurappa formally launched Karnataka
Janatha Party (KJP) on 9 December 2012.
KJP was launched in Haveri, 350 kms from
Bangalore.
Besides Yeddyurappa, Ramkrishna Hegde,
HD Deve Gowda, SR Bommai, D Devaraj Urs,
S Bangarappa and S Nijalingappa had
formed their own parties after serving as
the Chief Minister of Karnataka.
HARYANA TO BUY 2000 MW
HYDEL POWER FROM
BHUTAN
The Government of Haryana approached
Bhutan to provide hydel-powerto resolve
the power crisis in the state.
The Haryana Government is supposed to
purchase 2000 MW power from the country
for which they have alreday finalised
modalities regarding the purchase at the
administrative level.
The Chief Minister of Haryana Bhupinder
Singh Hooda is going to lead a high-level
delegation to Bhutan from 14 December
2012 to 16 December 2012 calling for a
significant step to make the state free of
any power shortage in the coming
days.Senior officers of power utilities
department would be part of this high-level
delegation to Bhutan.
Hydel-power is available at cheaper rates as
compared to coal-based power plants.
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However, Haryana has already started
working in this direction as senior officers of
power utilities department had visited
Bhutan and interacted with their officials
.The rates of the power would be as per the
MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) that
would be signed between the two
countries.
Four coal-based thermal power stations are
already operating at full capacity in the
state of Haryana. Also, a nuclear power
plant of 2800 MW was being set up at
Gorakhpur village in Fatehabad district. The
government is also planning to start a new
scheme, under which, 22-hour power
supply will be given to consumers who pay
their bills on time.
If the MoU is successfully signed then it
would help to ensure uninterrupted power
supply of 14 to 20 hours to the rural
consumers in the state.
Besides, Haryana government is also
exploring the possibilities of purchasing
hydel-power from Arunachal Pradesh in the
future.
UTTAR PRADESH
ISSUE GOLDEN CARDS TO
INDUSTRIALISTS
The Uttar Pradesh government on 4
December 2012 decided to issue Golden
Cards to industrialists and industrial
associations for easy access to its offices.
The Golden Card facility is part of the larger
effort of creating an industry-friendly
environment in Uttar Pradesh.
A Golden Card will be like an identity (ID)
card with the holder's photo. It will allow
entry of industrialists to the state
secretariat and government departments
on priority basis without hurdles. The right
to visit card will be treated at par with ID
cards issued by the secretariat.
ANDHRA PRADESH SC, ST
SUB-PLANS BILL 2012 WAS
PASSED BY STATE ASSEMBLY
The Andhra Pradesh Assembly on 2
December 2012 passed Andhra Pradesh SC,
ST Sub-Plans Bill 2012 providing statutory
status for implementation of the sub-plans
for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The legislation will ensure fund allocation
proportionate to the SC and ST population
and is expected to prevent diversion of sub-
plan funds for other activities and not
allowing them unspent. There is also a
mandatory provision for allocation of
almost a fourth of the States annual plan of
the budget for SC, ST. The bill was
introduced on the recommendations of the
Cabinet Sub-Committee.
The demand for according legal status to
the Sub-Plans was made on states for a long
time by the Planning Commission of India
and National Development Council (NDC).
With this, Andhra Pradesh has become the
first state in India to enact such legislation.
The Opposition endorsed the legislation
except the Telugu Desam. The party sought
an amendment by inserting a provision in
the legislation to provide proportionate
allocations to ABCD groups within the SCs
based on their populations and socio-
economic conditions. The proposal was
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defeated by 22 votes when it was subjected
to voting.
Since the state assembly had the power to
adopt annual budget only for one year,
there was no constitutional provision to
prevent lapsing of SC/ST funds.
DELHI HIGH COURT
LAUNCHED E-COURT FEE
SYSTEM MAKING JUSTICE
DELIVERY SYSTEM PAPERLESS
The Delhi High Court on 20 November 2012
launched the e-court feesystem at its
premises to cut off the difficulty and delay
in filing cases and to make the justice
delivery system paperless and hassle-free.
The new system launched is a joint initiative
of Delhi Government and the Computer
Committee of the High Court which is
headed by Justice B. D. Ahmed and it is
going to allow litigants to buy stamp
papers--used to file court cases online
instead of having to physically stand in
queue to do so. Also, the new system is fully
secure as it could not be tampered with or
counterfeited.
Further, litigants or lawyers can make
payment for court fees in cash or through
cheque or pay order or draft. They could
also use RTGS facility to make payment
once the system goes online.
The litigants and lawyers would get a great
relief as earlier at times they had to wait for
several days or pay extra money to get
court fee stamps of the required
denominations due to their unavailability.
The court fee stamps would be available
24x7 so that filing of cases becomes easy.
This is a historic step which is going to bring
transparency in the administration of
justice.
NTPC TO IMPART SKILL
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
FOR JAMMU AND KASHMIR
YOUTH
NTPC, the State-run power producer is
going to start a skill development
programme for 144 youngsters from Jammu
& Kashmir, under the central government's
UDAAN initiative in last week of November.
The programme named UDAAN is an
initiative of central government and it is
intended at imparting skills to youth from
Jammu & Kashmir to help them in
establishing their careers.
As per the Programme module NTPC is
going to train 200 youths from J&K every
year for a period of five years and the
company would also help the student in
getting placed. The programme is meant for
both graduates and post-graduates from
the J&K region.
The Programme is 36-week training
programme in thermal power plant
engineering. Giving an equal opportunity to
students of both the region of state the
company had chosen half of the 144 from
Jammu and rest half are from Srinagar. The
trainees would also be getting a monthly
stipend of 2500 Rupees.
The power producer would be the first
public sector undertaking to implement
UDAAN.
As per NTPC, after the induction
programme, the participants will be sent to
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four locations Rihand, Singrauli,
Vindhyachal and Talcher NTPC, the
country's largest power generator, has an
installed capacity of 39674 MW.

CHIEF MINISTER OF UTTAR
PRADESH INAUGURATED NEW
HELPLINE SERVICE FOR
WOMEN
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh
Yadav on 15 November 2012 at his official
residence in Lucknow inaugurated the New
Helpline service 1090 for women.
The much-hyped Women's Power phone
helpline '1090' is basically a pilot project of
Uttar Pradesh Police as it was stewarded by
Navneet Sikera, the Lucknow deputy
inspector general of police (DIG). The
helpline is largely aimed at counseling first-
time offenders and if the offences
continued, police would initiate legal
measures against repeat offenders.
Keeping in touch with the latest Technology
trend a digital cage is also built for the
offenders; once helpline officials confirm
that the offender was not paying attention
to counseling, police would act to ensure
that the person is not able to get a
character certificate, passport or driving
licence.
The New helpline Service is going to
operate from the administrative block 2 of
Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Pariwartan
Sthal, the sprawling park built by Bahujan
Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati near
Jiamau crossing on Lohia Path in Lucknow.
DELHI AND MOSCOW
GOVERNMENT SIGNED MOU
TO FACILITATE COOPERATION
Delhi and Russian capital Moscow on 26
October 2012 signed a memorandum of
understanding to strengthen cooperation
in 11 key areas including culture,
healthcare, education, transport
management, trade and housing.
The MoU was signed by Sergey Cheremin,
Minister in charge of the International
Economic Relations of Moscow
government, and Urban Development
Minister of Delhi Government Arvinder
Singh Lovely.
The signing of the MoU between the two
capital cities also commemorated the
beginning of a three-day cultural
celebration Days of Moscow in Delhi
under which a series of cultural, academic
and business events took place in the city.
The MoU signed is going to facilitate
cooperation between the Delhi government
and Government of Moscow for next three
About UDAAN
UDAAN aims to help the youth of Jammu and
Kashmir, who are seeking to enhance and
grow their careers. Udaan will provide skills
and consequently employment to 8000 youth
from Jammu and Kashmir per annum over a 5
year period in key high growth sectors. The
programme is targeted at providing well-
paying jobs to the trained manpower. It calls
for organizations from across the country to
select deserving candidates from the state,
provide for training and place them either
within their organization or outside or enable
them to become entrepreneurs.

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years. The delegation from both cities will
visit each other with aim to establish direct
contact between the two cities in various
areas.
The collaboration is also going to help in
addressing major issues related to urban
development such as sewage management,
transport management and most
importantly in the area of affordable
housing for urban poor in which Moscow
has extensive experience and expertise.
DMRC WOULD EXECUTE THE
KOCHI METRO RAIL PROJECT
IN ASSOCIATION WITH E.
SREEDHARAN
The Chief Minister of Kerela, Oommen
Chandy on 24 October 2012 declared that
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)
would execute the Kochi Metro Rail Project
in association with E. Sreedharan in next
three years.
Oommedn Chandy also declared that for
timely completion of the rail project,
Sreedharan and DMRC were the best bet
for the state and to avoid complications
created during the meet of the Director
Board of Kochi Metro Rail Project, he would
be writing a letter to Sheila Dixit, the Chief
Minister of Delhi or would meet him
personally (if required). The Chief Minister
also promised extension of all sorts of
facilities to Sreedharan for easy and timely
completion of work.
HIGH COURT OF MADHYA
PRADESH DISMISSED THE
PLEA OF DOW CHEMICALS
The High Court of Madhya Pradesh on 19
October 2012 dismissed the petition filed
by Dow Chemicals that challenged the
orders of the trial court pronounced in 2005
in form of a show-cause notice against the
1984 Bhopal Gas Leak Tragedy.
The show-cause notice was issued to the
Dow Chemical International Private Limited
by a Court of Bhopal in relation to the
petition filed by an NGO that has been
fighting for the rights of the Gas Victims
that moved in the year 2005. The petition
of the Dow Chemicals was dismissed by the
Bench of Justice G.S. Solanki.
DELHI HC: CHILD WITNESS
CANNOT BE REJECTED OUT
RIGHTLY
Delhi High Court in the month of October
ruled that the evidence of a child witness
cannot be rejected outright while upholding
a case in which life sentence awarded to a
man for kidnapping and then raping a minor
girl in 2009.
A bench of justices comprising Sanjiv
Khanna and S P Garg gave the ruling
dismissing Delhi resident Amrit Sharma
appeal against his conviction and sentence
of life imprisonment that was awarded by
the trial court on 27 September 2010 on
basis of the testimonies of the victim and
her friend.
As per the judge, the law on the issue is that
the evidence of a child witness cannot be
rejected outright. It must be evaluated
more carefully and with greater
circumspection because a child is
susceptible to be swayed by others and can
be tutored.
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The judge also asserted that Small children
can make false identification not because
they want to depose and state false facts
but because they may not be guided and be
fully aware and conscious of the adverse
consequence and the effect of making false
positive identification.
The bench accepted the statements of
victim, a 4-year-old girl at the time of
incident in April 2009, and also of her
friend, who is also of same age group that
the accused had offered them biscuit and
Rs 10 to go with him.
UNION POWER MINISTRY
GAVE ITS NOD TO
IMPLEMENT ISLANDING
SCHEME IN DELHI
The Union Power Minister Veerapa Moily
on 17 October 2012 announced the
implementation of Islanding Scheme for
Delhi by January 2013 to protect it from
massive disruptions caused due to grid
failures in power supply. The scheme of
Delhi is different to that of the existing ones
in cities like Mumbai and Kolkata because
the transmission lines of different states is
routed through Delhi.
This scheme is being implemented as a
solution against the problems like the
massive blackout that occurred in July 2012
after the failure of Northern Grid, affecting
the power supplies of different states
including Delhi. Implementation of this
scheme would help in assuring an
unaffected flow of electricity to the VVIP
areas, Indian Railways, airport, hospitals,
Metro Rail, water treatment plants and
other essential places during the issues of
Northern Grid failure. These facilities overall
requires 930 MW of power for being
operational.
To control the power supplies, the Delhi
Government would implement the islanding
facilities within next three months. The
move aims towards prevention of electric
supply disruptions under situations of grid
disturbances or failures.
This project is being developed at an
investment of 25 Crore Rupees and will
have a capacity of 3400 mega watt. Four
islands have been shortlisted for providing
electricity for this scheme and they include
Bawana CCGT (600 MW), BTPS-Pragati (500
MW), Dadri-Jajjhar-Pragati (2315 MW) and
Rithala CCGT (20 MW) and Delhi State Load
Dispatch Center (SLDC) would be
responsible for the operations of the island
system being developed.

CHHATTISGARH
GOVERNMENT SET UP A
LIVELIHOOD COLLEGE IN
DANTEWADA
The Chhattisgarh government in the first
week of October 2012 established a
Livelihood College in Dantewada to fight
Working Process of the Project
To make the installation operational the
mechanism to be followed includes
disconnecting Delhi from the national grid at
times of disturbances to secure the state
against power failures. After disconnecting,
the power generated within the state will be
supplied for meeting the demand of
electricity within the state.

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unemployment in the Naxal affected areas
of the state. Dantewada district has always
been ridden with Maoist violence but
nowadays this district is in news for its
innovative initiative to fight unemployment.
District administration recently started a
unique livelihood college where educated
and even illiterate youth are being given
skill enhancement training so that they
could earn livelihood.
Livelihood College runs a course in repair
and maintenance of solar energy
equipment, hand pumps, carpentry,
plumbing, office management, hospitality,
sales and marketing. More than 1000 local
youth have been trained from this college
and were successfully employed in different
places.
FIVE TAMIL NADU PLACES
INCLUDED IN UNESCO WORLD
HERITAGE TENTATIVE LIST
Union Culture Minister Kumari Selja
declared on 14 October 2012 that the five
sites in Tamil Nadu, including famous Lord
Sri Ranganathar temple in Srirangam, have
been included in the tentative list by the
Union Culture ministry for UNESCO's world
heritage status
The 17th century Fort St George in Chennai,
Chettinad, Kazhugumalai rock sculptures
and Pulikat Lake were the other sites in the
list.
About UNESCO World Heritage Site
UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place such
as a forest, mountain, lake, desert,
monument, building, complex, or city that is
listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural
or physical significance. The list is
maintained by the international World
Heritage Programme administered by the
UNESCO World Heritage Committee,
composed of 21 states parties which are
elected by their General Assembly
As of 2012, 962 sites are listed: 745 cultural,
188 natural, and 29 mixed properties, in
157 states parties. By sites ranked by
country Italy is home to the greatest
number of World Heritage Sites with 47
sites, followed by Spain with 44 and China
with 43.
TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT
FILED A CONTEMPT OF
COURT PLEA AGAINST
KARNATAKA GOVERNMENT IN
SC
The Government of Tamil Nadu on 10
October 2012 moved to the Supreme Court
(SC) against the Chief Minister of Karnataka,
Jagadish Shivappa Shettar and six others for
initiation of content of court for disobeying
the courts order, given on 28 September
2012 for releasing 9000 cusecs of water
from the Cauvery to Tamil Nadu till 15
October 2012.
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J
Jayalalithaa after chairing a meet with the
senior members of the cabinet and
identifying the situation, directed them to
file a plea in form of courts contempt
against the Counterpart at Karnataka, as an
immediate action plan. This came up after
Karnataka stopped the release of water
from Krishna Raja Sagar Dam citing
depletion of stored water.
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SOCIAL ACTIVIST ARVI ND
KEJRIWAL LAUNCHED BIJLI
PAANI SATYAGRAH
Indian Social activist Arvind Kejriwal on 6
October 2012 launched a Bijli-Paani
Satyagraha in New Delhi to protest against
inflated power and water bills and hike in
tariffs by restoring electricity connection to
the household of a labourer which was
disconnected for non-payment of bills.
CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNEL
ACROSS JOJILA PASS ON
SRINAGAR-LEH HIGHWAY
STARTED
In Jammu and Kashmir, an ambitious
project of constructing 6.5 kilometre long
tunnel across Jojila Pass on Srinagar- Leh
highway started on 4 October 2012. The
project on its completion will make Srinagar
- Leh road an all weather road and fulfill the
long pending demand of the people of
Laddakh region.
The tunnel project fulfills the long term
demand of people in Laddakh region.
HARYANA GOVERNMENT
SIGNED MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING (MOU)
Haryana government had signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with four
independent power producers for setting
five bio-mass power projects.
The capacity of power projects is of 51 MW
and required an investment of 230 crore.
Out of four, two projects is going to
commissioned soon.
Haryana is among the leading states in
implementing energy conservation
programmes.
The memorandum was basically signed to
tackle with the prevailing power crisis in the
state.
UP GOVERNMENT LAUNCHED
THE SAMAJWADI SWASTHYA
SEVA IN THE STATE
Uttar Pradesh state government on 14
September 2012 launched the Samajwadi
Swasthya Seva, the biggest emergency
medical transport service in the country.
The ambitious service was launched in 13
districts - Mainpuri, Etawah, Lucknow,
Kannauj, Saharanpur, Meerut, Rampur,
Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Sambhal,
Shamli, Baghpat and Ambedkarnagar - in
the first phase.The facility can be availed
free of cost by dialling 108. The ambulance
service was launched with the help of a
private service provider.
The government aims to reach people in
need within 20 minutes of the SOS call. A
call centre that will be manned by 100
people has been set up here to support the
emergency service. It will be functional
24x7.
PUNJAB GOVERNMENT
AMENDED CANAL AND
DRAINAGE ACT
Punjab state government on 11 September
2012 amended the section 70 of Canal and
Drainage Act, 1873 to punish the offence of
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canal water theft. As per the amendment,
those who puncture a canal to irrigate their
fields will face a fine of 5000 rupees,
imprisonment or both. For the second
offence of canal water theft, water supply
would be ceased for full term during the
crop season.
In case any person still continues to use
water in an unauthorised manner, they
would be excluded from the command area
of the canal for a period of two years.
Before this amendment, there was a
provision of Rs 1,000 fine or 1 month
imprisonment or both.
DELHI GOVERNMENT
DECIDED TO IMPOSE A
BLANKET BAN ON PLASTIC
BAGS
The Delhi government on 10 September
2012 decided to impose a blanket ban on
the manufacture, sale, storage and use of
plastic bags in the national capital. The use
of plastic cover pouches to pack magazines
and invitation and greeting cards will also
be prohibited. Following a Delhi High Court
order, the government had in January 2009
imposed a ban on the use of plastic bags in
various markets, shopping malls, hotels and
hospitals but it has not produced any
desired result.
The government now decided to impose
the ban as per provision of the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 under which the
violators could face imprisonment up to five
years and fine of up to 1 lakh rupees or
both.
GOA GOVERNMENT ORDERED
TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF
MINING OPERATIONS
The Goa Government on 10 September
2012 ordered temporary suspension of all
mining operations in the state. An order to
this effect was issued by the Principal
Secretary, Department of Mines and
Geology. The suspension came into effect
from 11 September 2012.
The decision comes in view of the serious
illegalities and irregularities mentioned in
the report of the Justice M.B. Shah
commission of inquiry constituted by the
Union Government of India to look into the
aspect of illegal mining in various states
including Goa.
However, the suspension of mining
operations will have no effect on trade and
transportation of ore already mined and
existing in the lease-hold area, in transit or
stored or stocked on the jetties.
WEST BENGAL SIGNED AN
AGREEMENT WITH TCS TO
MONITOR MGNREGA FUND
The West Bengal government on 8
September 2012 signed an agreement with
a leading IT firm TCS (Tata Consultancy
Services) to monitor management of the
MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National
Rural Employment Guarantee Act) fund.
The agreement will facilitate in plugging
wastage and leakage of funds under the
scheme in the state. The 100-day
employment programme will also get a
boost with modernization and
transparency. The pilot project of
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technology enabled monitoring of
MGNREGA will start from south 24 Pragana
district and gradually will be extended to all
other 18 districts of the state.
TCS will provide a 5-year support to the
system after implementation. TCS said it
would offer extensive experience in e-
governance.
SIKKIM LOKAYUKTA BILL
RECEIVED PRESIDENTIAL
ASSENT
The Sikkim Lokayukta Bill, an act seeking to
check corruption in the state, got the
approval of the President of India on 28
August 2012. The bill was passed by the
Sikkim Assembly on 29 December 2010,
subsequently it was sent to the state
governor who forwarded it for presidential
nod on 13 January 2011.
The Sikkim Lokayukta Act sets
accountability on government authorities
and aims at checking corruption in the
state. The principal objective of the Act is
citizens grievances redressal, especially
those related to corruption in the
functioning of public bodies or authorities
including that of favouritism.
As per the Act the Lokayukta is to be
appointed by the Governor and be given
the responsibility to conduct enquiry and
investigations after consultations with the
Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court, the
Speaker of the Assembly and the Leader of
Opposition. It also provides that the
Lokayukta initiate enquiry on the receipt of
complaints and after the approval of a
Minister, Chief Secretary or Secretary.
THE RURAL ELECTRIFICATION
CORPORATION SIGNED MOU
WITH GENCO
The Rural Electrification Corporation (REC)
on 23 August 2012 signed MoU with Genco
under which the former will provide the
latter a loan of 10873 crore rupees to set up
three power projects with a combined
capacity of 2560 MW in Andhra Pradesh.
These are Vijayawada and Kothagudem
thermal power stations expansion
projections of 800 MW each, and the hydro-
electric project of Polavaram dam (960
MW).
The expansion projects of the Vijayawada
and Kothagudem thermal stations will
require 5286 crore rupees and 5291 crore
rupees respectively and that of Polavaram
will require 3014 crore rupees. The REC
loan will cover a major part of the cost of
these projects while the remaining
expenditure will be carried out by Genco.
EGOM DECIDED TO INVEST
RS. 425 CRORE FOR GUJARAT
DROUGHT RELIEF
The Union Government decided to invest
Rs. 425 crore for Gujarat Drought Relief on
3 August 2012. The decision took in the
meeting with the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
It was headed by the Union Agriculture
Minister and Rural Development Minister.
The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM)
was also agreed to consider the demand of
the state to extend the employment
opportunities for the state under Mahatma
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Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (MNREGA), 2005.
The Chief Minister of Gujarat decided to
leave 30 percent draught relief funds spent
by State government.
ORISSA IS THE FIRST STATE
TO COMMENCE E-PAYMENT
FACILITY FOR GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES
Orissa became the First Indian state to
commence e-payment facility for
government employees from 1 August
2012.
Now, the government employees in the
state will receive their salaries and pensions
through the online Portal of Reserve Bank
of India. Employees received their salaries
and pensions directly to their bank account.
Reserve Bank of India took an initiative for
e-payment facilities.
WELSPUN FINDS THE
LENDERS FOR ITS 50 MW
SOLAR PROJECT IN
RAJASTHAN
Welspun Energy declared that it was
successful in finding the funds of Rs 355
crore for its 50 MW Solar Power Project in
Rajasthan on 10 September 2012. Three
public sector banks along with an
infrastructure finance company came
together to issue the loan for this long term
project to the company. The project is
expected to be commissioned by the first
quarter of 2013.
Welspun Energy is a sister concern of the
US $ 3.5 billion Welspun Group. The
company mainly deals with creation of
environment-friendly power plants and is
aimed to establish its plants across India.
THE NCR PLANNING BOARD
APPROVED THE
CONTROVERSIAL GREATER
NOIDA MASTER PLAN 2021
The NCR (National Capital Region) Planning
Board on 24 August 2012 approved the
controversial Greater Noida Master Plan
2021. This will allow builders to restart
construction of around 200000 apartments
in various projects in the Noida Extension
area of Greater Noida.
NCR planning board comes under the
ministry of urban development,
Government of India. The board was
constituted in 1985.

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CHAPTER 15: HISTORY
NOOR INAYAT KHANS BUST
TO BE UNVEILED AT LONDON
BY PRINCESS ANNE
Britain's Princess Anne unveiled the Bronze
Bust of Noor Inayat Khan in London,
reckoned to be a heroine of the World War
II on 8 November 2012 for the role that she
played as a secret agent in the secret
mission against the Nazis. The Bronze Bust
was unveiled at Gordon Square the place,
where Noor Inayat lived at the time.
Noor Inayat Khan was worlds first lady
radio operator, who was infiltrated in the
then occupied France and pass on the
information of the allies. She was caught at
Dachau Concentration Camp and killed. The
decision came up giving an end to the
several years of campaign that was run by
the Noor Inayat Memorial Trust and also by
Shrabani Basu, her biographer, for reviving
the memory of the War heroine, who by
now was almost forgotten.
This campaign of winning recognition to the
forgotten heroine of the World War II was
also supported by several Parliamentarians,
the British Prime Minister David Cameron
and John Bercow, the Speaker of the House
of Commons. The rights activist Shami
Chakrabarti and filmmaker Gurinder
Chadha also supported this campaign.
Karen Newman, a London based Artist has
sculptured the bust. The Noor Inayat
Memorial Trust was successful in raising
60,000 as funds from the Public.
FRANCE OFFICIALLY
RECOGNISED THE KILLINGS
OF 1961 PARIS MASSACRE
France on 17 October 2012 for the first time
officially acknowledged the killings of
hundreds of unarmed Algerians in the 1961
Paris Massacre. In a communiqu
(communication) that was published by the
Elysee Palace, a statement by the President
Francois Hollande stated about the killing of
the Algerians protestors, protesting for
their Independence on 17 October 2012 in a
bloody repression. He also paid homage to
the victims after 51 years of the incident.
Algeria, the North African Country, won its
independence in 1962, after fighting 8 years
long brutal war in which about a million
people died. The official declaration in
relation to the acknowledgement of the
killings came a week before Mr. Hollandes
visit to Algeria.

About the Incident
Maurice Papon, the French Nazi sympathizer
and the then Prefect of Paris imposed a
curfew on Algerians living in France. The
Leaders of Algeria tried to challenge the
curfew with a protest that was to be done in
a peaceful manner. The Protestors on 17
October 1961 were rounded up in Paris on
the order of Papon and tortured and beaten
up brutally. Many of them were thrown alive
in River Seine with their hands tied at their
back.
The 1961 Massacre of Paris can be compared
to Jalianwala Bagh Masscare in which
General Dyer ordered killing of unarmed
civilians protesting against colonial presence
in the India.

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MAHARAJ LOONKARAN
SINGHS ERA GUNPOWDER
FOUND IN SONAR FORT
More than 1500 kg of 500-year old
gunpowder was found on 20 December
2012 in five leather bags near Jain Temple
in Sonar Fort, Jaisalmer. District
administration decided to seek help from
Army for destroying the gunpowder.
The secretary of Jaisalmer Vikas Samiti
explained that gunpowder was lying in
closed burj (tower) and was discovered by
the labourers who were engrossed in
repairing work. This burj had remained
closed for several years, possibly centuries.
Historian Nand Kishore Sharma believed
that gunpowder could possibly be from
Maharaj Loonkaran Singhs time when the
cannon use was just started in 1550.
Till today, five huge cannons were kept in
Sonar Fort, Jaisalmer. Usually the explosives
were kept in proximity to the cannons. It
was possible that explosives were kept in
burj near cannons which were placed near
Jain temple.
750 YEAR OLD EXPLICIT
STONE TABLET DISCOVERED
IN VASAI
Early in December 2012, a team of the
historians in Vasai recovered the 750 year
old stone tablet which has sexually explicit
inscription. The historians explained that
the bygone king of that area (identity of
whom is yet to be discovered) might have
had custom-made the carvings as warning
symbol for keeping the trespassers at a
distance or to make sure that the tax
collectors regularly deposited the revenue.
The stone tablet bears the inscription of a
donkey copulating with the female, which
might be an indication that women of
trespassers would face a similar fate. In the
olden times, the property owners in Vasai
area used to place the carved stones at
entrances of their properties. This practice
is followed even today in Vasai. Trespassers
were given a warning using the abusive
words but historians believe that such a
pictorial abuse was not common.
The stone tablet dates back to 1268 AD and
was recovered from the Kiravali village. The
measurements of the stone are 126 cm, 56
cm and 22 cm in length, width and breadth
respectively. The stone is from the era of
Shilahara kings who were the rulers of Vasai
around 1000 years back. Shilahara kings had
ruled over the Vasai region before
Portuguese in 1536.
It is important to note that this stone tablet
was, at some point of the time, acclaimed
artifact in village. It was kept in Chankai
Devi Mandir and villagers broke coconuts
on it on new moon day. Later, this stone
was kept near the pond. The historians
eventually removed this stone tablet and
were surprised at the historical value.
TIPU SULTANS ERA CANNON
DISCOVERED AT BANGALORE
METRO SITE
Workers digging the underground section of
the Bangalore Metro rail were surprised to
discover a 12 feet 18th century cannon as
well as a 10 kg cannonball which is believed
to be from the era of Tipu Sultan. The site
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of construction in Bangalore lies between
the summer palace of Tipu Sultan and
Bangalore Fort. This is the rarest discovery
in the capital of Karnataka linked to that
time period.
COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE
STAMP ON SILK LETTER
MOVEMENT RELEASED BY
PRESIDENT
The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee
on 11 January 2013 released a
Commemorative Postage Stamp on Silk
Letter Movement at Vigyan Bhawan, New
Delhi.
The Silk Letter Movement
The Silk Letter Movement refers to the
golden history of Indias freedom struggle in
which, the Deobandi leaders tried to
generate a pan-Islamic revolt in British-India
against the British Empire by gaining
support of Afghanistan and Turkey
Governments. Obaidullah Sindhui and
Maulana Mahmood Hasan were the two
main leaders of the movement. In 1916 few
letters, which were written on Silk, were
caught by the British.
STUDY: INDIANS MIGRATED
TO AUSTRALIA 4000 YEARS
AGO
The new study from the scientists and
researchers of the Max Planck Institute for
Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany
published on 15 January 2013 revealed the
fact that the Ancient Indians migrated to
Australia and mixed itself with the
aborigines about 4000 years back from
now. It was a time, when the Island
Continent was not even in contact with the
Europeans. The study also described that
there are evidence of Indian gene flow from
India to Australia at the time of the
Holocene that happened about 4230 years
ago.

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CHAPTER 16:
ENVIRONMENT
CENTRE TO PRESENT FRESH
GUIDELINES ON TIGER
RESERVES WITHIN A WEEK
Supreme Court of India on 9 October 2012
asked the center to present fresh guidelines
on tiger conservation within a week. The
court in its verdict also said that the
guidelines issued by the court on banning
all types of tourists activities in Tiger
reserves given on 24 July, may be modified.
The Supreme Court bench of Justices A K
Patnaik and Swatanter Kumar in its
statement also stated that the court will not
allow the given directives on tiger-reserves
to be open ended and in case the state
government is not happy with the issued
guidelines, they can challenge the decision
in the court. The bench also cleared that
ultra vires will not be declared in case the
states challenged the guidelines issued by
the apex court.
ELECTION COMMISSION
PROHIBITED USE OF ANIMALS
IN ELECTION CAMPAIGNS
The Election commission on 27 September
2012 directed the Political Parties and
candidates not to use birds and animals in
the campaigns. The commission also
directed that in case the use of animal is
unavoidable then the party or candidate
will have to ensure that no harm is caused
to the animal including violation of any law
as well as cruelty towards the creature.
To justify the decision the commission
pointed towards Article 51(g) of the Indian
Constitution that states compassion for all
living creature as well as Prevention of
Cruelty of Animals Act, 1960. The
commission also pointed towards the
Wildlife Protection Act 1972 that prohibits
overloading and torturing of the animals.
The Election Commission has also sent
letters to the political parties as well as the
Chief Electoral Officers of every state and
union territories.
The decision was made following the
representations received by the election
commission by some organization and
individual stating the cruelty that animals
suffered during the election campaign of
the political parties.
ENVIRONMENT CLEARANCE
OF 99 MINES IN GOA
SUSPENDED
The environment clearance of 99 Mines of
Goa was suspended with respect to the
report presented by the Justice M B Shah
Commission on 12 September 2012. Report
claims that the organizations involved in the
mining work taunted with the forest laws
and environment norms & guidelines. This
report also suggests the involvement of
state directorate of mines, the union
ministry for environment and forests
(MoEF), Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), the
state forest department and the Goa State
Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) in this act
of illegal mining.
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DAY CAMPAIGN OBSERVED IN
UTTAR PRADESH TO SAVE
GANGETIC DOLPHINS
A three day campaign named Save Ganga,
Save Dolphin started on 5 October 2012 in
Uttar Pradesh. 18 boats were flagged off by
the Transport Minister of the State Raja
Mahendra Aridaman Singh on this day to
have a check on the population of the
dolphins in the Gangetic River System in the
state.
The World Wild Life Fund (WWF) in
association with the Uttar Pradesh Forest
Department and some of the local
volunteers including 16 NGOs started the
campaign in the 2800 kilometer long Ganga
and its tributaries. Save Ganga Save Dolhpin
was initiated with an aim of spreading
awareness about the Riverine species the
Gangetic Dolphins and its protection. This
campaign was called off on 7 October 2012
by the Chief Minister of the state Akhilesh
Yadav.
5 OCTOBER OBSERVED AS
DOLPHIN DAY IN BIHAR
Bihar on 5 October 2012 observed Dolphin
Day. This day was observed in wake of
spreading awareness for conservation of
the Gangetic Dolphins the rare and
endangered species that is found only in the
Gangetic River System and its Tributaries.
Bihar that observed the World Wildlife
Week from 2 to 8 October 2012, decided to
observe 5 October as Dolphin Day every
year. Sushil Kumar Modi, the Deputy Chief
Minister of the state on this occasion
declared that the state will come up with a
Dolphin Watch Center at places where
these rare aquatic species are seen.
THE HOUSE SPARROW WAS
DECLARED AS STATE BI RD OF
DELHI
The House Sparrow was on 14 August 2012
declared as state bird of Delhi by the state
government. The new status of the bird is
likely to help in its conservation. State
government announced the decision after
launching a campaign Rise for the
Sparrows. The campaign is aimed at
conserving the species. The campaign will
try to reach out to people across the Indian
subcontinent.
INDIA AND JAPAN SIGNED
EARTHS PACT ON RARE
EARTH MINERALS
India and Japan signed an Earths Pact on 16
November 2012 that will enable the latter
to import the rare Earth minerals from
India. These rare minerals are very
important for the Tech-savvy industries of
Japan. The pact came as a conclusion
despite postponement of India-Japan
annual summit.
As per the signed pact, Japan will be able to
import 4000 tonnes rare Earth minerals for
a year from India. By signing the pact, Japan
has branched out its supply from China for
metals which are used in their industries.
Japan now hopes that the pact will reduce
its dependency on China for these rare
minerals. It is important to note here that
Japan is in tiff on the issue of Senkaku
islands with China.
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Apart from this, India-Japan also signed a
social security pact. These two pacts which
were destined to come into force on the
now-cancelled Indian PMs trip were
reinforced in Japan.
US DRILLERS REACHED LAKE
WHILLANS HIDDEN BENEATH
ANTARCTIC ICE
Scientists from the US in the last week of
January 2013 successfully drilled into the
lake called Lake Whillans, which was buried
around 1 kilometre beneath the Antarctic
Ice. Scientists described that the sensors
which were there on the drill system
detected a change in the pressure, which
hinted towards the fact that it had made
some contact with the undiscovered lake.
After detecting a change in the pressure,
the scientists sent down the camera in
order to verify this breakthrough. The
Whillans project is one among various
projects started by the scientists to
investigate about the buried lakes of
Antarctica. The Whillans project researchers
now want to comprehend the water flow
beneath the glaciers into the Southern
Ocean as well as the rate at which the
Antarctic ice is melting.
Back in December 2012, a team of British
scientists had abandoned their efforts to
explore the Lake Ellsworth after they faced
certain technical difficulties. The Russian
scientists too took note of the water
samples from the Lake Vostok, but they do
not have any big discovery about it yet.
About Lake Whillans
Lake Whillans lies towards the west of
Antarctica. It is situated on the
southeastern edge of the Ross Sea. As a
matter of fact, it is not exactly a lake, but a
dense system of the streams, which in turn
look like a delta which spreads over around
60 square kilometers. The liquid in the lake
is a bit shallow, merely a few metres in
terms of depth.
As of now, over 300 large water bodies
have been discovered under the Antarctic.
VULTURE POPULATION
ESTIMATION-2013
CONDUCTED IN PANNA TIGER
RESERVE
Vulture Population Estimation-2013 was
conducted in Panna Tiger Reserve in
Madhya Pradesh by the State Government.
The Vulture Population Estimation-2013
started from 16 January 2013. It was found
that there are 867 vultures in the Panna
Tiger Reserve which include 160 migratory
birds as well as 48 unidentified birds. The
Technical report of Vulture Population
Estimation-2013 would be submitted by
February end 2013. Around 102 live nests
were present in this tiger reserve.

Reasons for Decline in Vulture Population
Over the past few years, there has been a
sudden decline in the vulture population.
Post mortem as well as the diagnostic tests of
the vultures revealed that there was a
decrease in their population because of
consumption of veterinary drug Diclofenac.
Diclofenac was consumed by the vultures
who fed on the carcasses of livestock.
Diclofenac led to deposition of uric acid in
the visceral organs of vultures which caused
their sudden death.

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GAS THAT CAUSES OZONE
DESTRUCTION DISCOVERED
BY THE RESEARCHERS
Researchers at the Universities of York and
Leeds in the third week of January 2013
identified a gas from the earlier unknown
marine source which led to destruction of
ozone over the oceans.
The researchers discovered that most of the
ozone-depleting iodine oxide which is
observed on the oceans came from earlier
unknown marine source. The researchers
found out that the source of iodine oxide
could be explained by emissions of
hypoiodous acid (HOI) together with
molecular iodine (I2).
Since 1970s, when the gas called methyl
iodide (CH3I) was discovered to be present
everywhere in the ocean, it was understood
that the presence of the iodine in
atmosphere used to crop up primarily from
the emissions of organic compounds from
the microscopic marine plants called
phytoplankton.
BEIJING AIR POLLUTION
CROSSED TOXIC LEVELS:
YELLOW ALERT ISSUED BY
METEOROLOGICAL
AUTHORITY
The meteorological authority of China
issued yellow alert in various cities. Yellow
alert indicated the presence of fog that
shows dangerous smog levels in the
northern as well as western regions of
China. The cities which were under the
blanket of yellow alert included major ones
such as Chengdu and Beijing. The alert
mentioned that China was reeling under the
effects of worst ever pollution record.
INTERNET EMIT 830 MILLION
TONNES OF CO2 IN
ENVIRONMENT ANNUALLY:
RESEARCHERS
The researchers from the Centre for Energy-
Efficient Telecommunications (CEET) and
Bell Labs in the first week of January 2013
claimed that internet video and associated
cloud services including Information
Communication and Technology, discharge
more than 830 million tonnes of Carbon
Dioxide per year. This emission of the CO2
(one of the major green house gas) from
the information and communication
industry includes about 2 percent of the
global CO2 emission annually and its
expected to double nearly by 2020. Same is
the amount shared by the aviation industry
in form of emissions.
To control this emission, the researchers
have suggested measures like development
of accurate and feasible model taking into
account the energy use, data traffic and
CO2 production in the networks as well as
use of other elements in the ICT industry.
The researchers from the CEET and Bell
Labs following their new models of
emissions and energy consumption have
suggested three key factors that would help
in reduction of the CO2 emissions from the
ICT industry and these are efficient usage of
facilities, use of energy efficient equipment
and use of renewable energy sources.
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Centre for Energy-Efficient
Telecommunications (CEET): Partnership
between the Victorian State Government
and Alcatel-Lucent, the University of
Melbourne is responsible for the formation
of CEET.
Bell Laboratories: It is a R&D subsidiary of
Alcatel-Lucent in Berkeley Heights, United
State and is owned by France. Initially, it
was a division of American Telephone &
Telegraph Company (AT&T Corporation)
and was half-owned by its Western Electric
manufacturing subsidiary.
RESEARCHERS: SIACHEN
GLACIER SHRINKING DUE TO
INCREASING TEMPERATURES
The researchers claimed that the Siachen
Glacier reduced to 5.9 km in its longitudinal
extent from the time period of 1989 to
2009. This happened because of increasing
temperatures. The researchers additionally
also believed that presence of humans on
Siachen would affect other neighbouring
glaciers such as Milan, Janapa, Miyar and
Gangotri which are a source to Chenab,
Sutlej and Ganges river.
Hindukush, Karakoram and Himalaya
actually form the largest mountain chain on
this planet. They are also keepers of the
third-largest ice reserves only after Polar
Regions. The glaciers found in these
mountains feed a population of 1.7 billion
via seven huge Asian river systems which
also include Brahmaputra, Mekong,
Yangtze, Ganges and Indus.
Siachen is largest mountain glacier of the
world, which is 70 km in length and 5-10 km
in width. The satellite pictures revealed that
the glacier was shrinking. It is even worse
that the satellite images displayed
increasing numbers as well as sizes of blue
lakes in glacier.
The main cause of Siachen shrinking is
construction of the helipads as well as
frequent flights of helicopters which loosen
packed snows leading to avalanches. Snow
scooters also cause the same. Most of the
experts believe the fact that saving these
glaciers is actually the scientific challenge
which needs attention immediately.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES
LED TO ENCOURAGEMENT OF
HUMAN EVOLUTION
Researchers from the Penn State University
in the last week of December declared that
the cause of encouragement of human
evolution might have been the swift
environmental changes in areas like East
Africa around two million years ago. The
landscape, in which early humans lived,
changed speedily between the closed
woodland and open grassland around 5-6
times during time duration of 200000 years.
The researchers declared that the changes
took place abruptly. The co-researcher of
the study found that the present leading
hypothesis suggested that evolutionary
transitions which took place among the
human beings during that period were
linked with long as well as fixed
environmental changes, or maybe a single
climate change. A lot of researchers as well
as anthropologists believed that
unpredictability of the experience could
lead to cognitive development.
American Scientist Suggested That
Refreezing Arctic Could Help Deal With
Climate Crisis
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An American scientist David Keith, who is
the professor of applied physics at Harvard
University offered solution to global
warming when he suggested that refreezing
Arctic using certain modified jets could help
in dealing with the climate crisis.
The scientist used climate models for
suggesting that by injecting the reflective
particles in atmosphere, there could be a
reduced amount of sunlight which reached
the Earth. This in turn could help in tricking
the regional effect which might bring back
ice to Arctic.
He claimed that penetration of sunlight
could be reduced by merely 0.5 percent for
restoring the sea-ice surrounding North
Pole. The research conducted by the
scientist suggested that this entire
operation was possible to accomplish with
certain modified Gulfstream jets which
could cost approximately 8 billion dollar
annually.
It is important to note that overall amount
of the ice in Arctic Ocean had reached all-
time lowest in September 2012. However,
while this scientist believed that action
should definitely be taken for dealing with
the pollution that was discharged in the
atmosphere, he still doesnt advocate
action which his study suggested.
TYPHOON BOPHA: DEATH
TOLL RISES IN PHILIPPINES
Typhoon Bopha is the strongest ever
tropical cyclone which hit Philippines. With
the central winds at a speed of 120 kmph
and gusts of around 150 kmph Typhoon
Bopha swept away the dive spots as well as
beach resorts on Palawan Island on 5
December 2012.
SCIENTISTS STUDYING
HIMALAYAN GEOLOGIC
FEATURES WARNED AGAINST
MAJOR EARTHQUAKES IN THE
REGION
Scientists who study the Himalayan geologic
features and activities warned that the
mountain range which separates Indian
subcontinent plains from Tibetan Plateau is
prime focus of the major earthquakes.
Stanford geophysicists announced that the
range of Himalayas was formed and it
remained active currently because of the
collision activities in Indian and Asian
continental plates.
For quite some time, it has been known to
the scientists that subduction is going on in
India under Asia. Subduction is a geological
process during which an edge of the crustal
plate forces below the edge of the other
plate. Scientists had recently started
studying difficulties involved in the volatile
collision zone like this in detail, especially
the fault which is separating the two plates,
Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT) declared.
In the previous observations it was found
that comparatively uniform fault plane had
sunk a few degrees towards North. In order
the get a clear picture about this fault, the
geophysics researchers at Stanford analysed
data from 20 seismometers which were
deployed for around 2 years across
Himalayas.

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NEWLY DISCOVERED
COLOURFUL SPECIES OF FISH
NAMED AFTER US PRESIDENT
OBAMA
A recently discovered colourful, freshwater
species of fish known as Darters, was
named after the re-elected US President
Barack Obama in the first week of
December 2012. The species of fish was
named so because of Obamas global vision
towards environment conservation as well
as protection.
Five new colourful, freshwater fish species
was discovered in the eastern North
America in river drainages and they were
named after 4 US presidents and vice-
president. This species of fish has bright
blue and orange colours. Darters are known
as the tiniest members belonging to the
family of perch. They have the ability to
move under, into or around the rocks as
well as sediments on beds of fast-moving
and clean waterways.
Around 200 species of Darter have been
discovered as of now and most of these live
in rivers as well as creeks of eastern
Tennessee and northern Alabama. They are
known as the most assorted species of
native fishes of North America.
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
DISSOLVING SHELLS OF SEA
CREATURES CAUSING
DISASTER IN FOOD CHAIN
A new research in the fourth week of
November 2012 found that the sea snails
shells are dissolved due to global warming,
which is leaving them defenceless against
their predators. The research found that the
waters around Antarctica have become
acidic because of the rising carbon dioxide
levels. The rising carbon dioxide levels were
corroding protective layer or shells of the
swimming snails.
This situation was even worse in Polar
Regions since the gas becomes soluble in
the cold water. Scientists predicted that
average acidity of these oceans will be triple
all over the world and this will be the first
time in around 20 million years.
In the research, scientists checked the shells
which were collected from molluscs from
Southern Ocean surface, with the help of
microscope. They found that the ones from
acidic regions had their shells dissolved
across the whole length. What caused this
was the fact that deep water which was
already rich in carbon dioxide was mixed
with the surface that was affected by the
greenhouse gas.
British Antarctic Survey revealed that the
effect of ocean acidification was happening
in the oceanic populace already. Decline in
the pteropod populations might occur much
sooner than the projected date in Southern
Ocean surface waters. Destruction of this
crucial group of mollusks called pteropods
could lead to disaster in the food chain.
Even if pteropods are smaller in size but
they are still important sources of food for
the predators at various tiers of food chain
which include herring, salmon, zooplankton,
sea birds as well as whales. Without their
shells, pteropods will become defenceless
against predation leading to decrease in
their population.
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Lab tests suggested that the shell molluscs
also include conchs, whelks and clams
which are also at higher risk level. Ocean
acidification would impair the ability of
clams, urchins, corals as well as calcareous
algae for building their protective shells.

REPORT SUGGESTED THAT
DEVELOPED NATIONS
DEPRIVED POOR COUNTRIES
OF 30 BILLION US DOLLAR
CLIMATE FUND
Oxfam Report released in the fourth week
of November 2012 ahead of negotiations in
Doha, Qatar suggested that the developing
nations were deprived of 30 billion US
Dollar funds by the rich countries which
they had committed to transfer between
2010 and 2012.
Developed nations committed funding for
climate change
In 2009 at the Copenhagan talks, developed
world had promised to fasttrack funding of
30 billion US dollar between 2010 and 2012
and had also promised annual transfer of
100 billion US Dollar starting from 2020.
The money, known as climate funding, was
not to be offered as financial assistance or
loan, but was a compensation for
contribution to climate change.
These funds were supposed to be given to
the poorest nations so that they could
adapt to climate change. These funds
should have been new as well as addition to
already-existing overseas development aid
(ODA) money. The funds were supposed to
be used for adaptation as well as flexibility
for poor countries according to their own
priorities.
What did the Oxfam report find?
It was found that merely 1/3rd of total
amount till now is the new money and just
24 percent of this amount was in addition
to the existing commitments of aid. The
developed nations spent just 21 percent of
this amount on adaptation to the change in
climate. Developed nations need to make
the solid financial commitments for 2013-
2020 time period.
The Doha talks- what to expect?
The Doha talks which will commence on 26
November 2012 will expect developing
nations to demand accountability as well as
clarity on the promised funds by the
developed nations.
The rich countries would find private
investments as the solution but the
developing countries, on the other hand
want public funds as their central source for
clean energy as well as adaptation.
However, developed countries use ill health
of their economy as an excuse to escape
the obligations.
What is Oxfam?
Oxfam is the international confederation
comprising of 17 organisations which
What is ocean acidification?
Ocean acidification is one of the biggest
carbon dioxide challenges. It means that the
pH level of the oceans on earths surface has
decreased because of an increase in the
carbon dioxide level in atmosphere. Ocean
acidification is taking place rapidly, posing a
serious threat to marine life as well as
biodiversity.

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network together in over 90 countries.
Oxfam works with the communities directly
and functions towards elimination of
poverty. The primary aim of Oxfam is to put
an end to the injustice and poverty
prevailing in various countries.

TONGARIRO VOLCANO
ERUPTED IN THE NORTH
ISLAND REGION OF NEW
ZEALAND
The Tongariro Volcano in Mount Tongariro
at Tongariro National Park, New Zealand
erupted on 21 November 2012. This
volcano left behind massive plume of ash
billows up to 3 kilometers in the skies of
Tongariro National Park in the North Island
of New Zealand.
The volcano erupted with a grumble at 1:25
pm about 300 kilometers away from
Wellington City of New Zealand. The
volcano was used as the backdrop in many
scenes and sequences of the Hollywood
movie, Lord of the Rings film Trilogy.
GREENHOUSE GASES LEVEL
REACHED RECORD HIGH IN
2011: WMO SURVEY
REVEALED
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
on 20 November 2012 in the annual
Greenhouse Gas Bulletin revealed that the
atmospheric volume of the greenhouse
gases, which are often blamed for the
change in atmosphere, had hit the record in
2011.
The volume of the main greenhouse gas-
carbon dioxide grew at almost identical rate
in previous 10 years and it touched 390.9
parts per million (ppm) or 40 percent above
the pre-industrial level, as per the survey.
There had been an increase on an average
by 2 ppm for last decade. Since the
beginning of the industrial era from 1750,
the fossil fuels had remained the main
source of around 375 billion tonnes carbon
which was released in atmosphere.
GREENLAND CONTINUOUSLY
LOST 200 MILLION TONNES
ICE EVERY YEAR SINCE 2003
Scientists at the University of California
(UCI) in the third week of November 2012
confirmed that Greenland was losing 200
million tonnes ice every year ever since
2003 and this in turn will have a huge
impact on the sea levels.
According to the latest analysis, scientists
who study the changing mass of this island
with the help of satellite data, support the
trends which were reported initially without
including the record-breaking melting of ice
of previous two summers.
According to the researcher Isabella
Velicogna of UCI, Greenland is one place
where ice melting is taking place rapidly and
this in turn is contributing to the rising sea
levels. Velicogna analyses the data which is
being used in the recent studies from the
GRACE or Gravity Recovery and Climate
Experiment that detects major changes on
Earths surface. This is done by GRACE by
checking the increase of decrease in gravity
level, something which is directly associated
with the mass below two GRACE satellites.
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Approximately, 200 million tonnes ice is
required for filling the railroad coal cars in
order to encircle Earth. Princeton
University, on the other hand applied
another approach for analysing GRACE
data. It was established that during 2003 as
well as 2004, this low mass remained
centred along Eastern coast of Greenland.
In the year 2005 till 2006, the mass loss
became less in northeast but increased in
southeast. Also, there was more mass loss
along northwest coast from 2007-2010.
The scientists were aware of this but the
recent study has confirmed what they
knew.

BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY
SOCIETY RELEASED A REPORT
INDICATING GROWTH IN
VULTURE POPULATION
The research paper published by the
scientists of the Bombay Natural History
Society (BNHS) presents a positive report
about the change in the number of vultures,
which resulted in a catastrophic decline in
its number by more than 99 percent in past
two decades. The study reveals that there
has been a marginal rise in the population
of Vultures between 2011 and 2012.
The population of vulture during early
nineties saw a dramatic fall and by 2003, its
population saw a record fall of 95 percent,
which by 2008 reached to an alarming mark
of more 99 percent. In 1980s there
population ranged to about 4 crore but by
2011 there was a dramatic fall recorded in
its population and it reached to a mark of
about 1 lakh. The Study also issued a
warning that the stabilization on the
number of this bird is encouraged but this
increase in number and stabilization is yet a
weak figure.
Sudden fall in the number of vultures that
flies in the high sky, was the use of
diclofenac, the painkiller drug that is used
for administering cattle. Actually, the
digestive system of vultures is capable
enough to digest disease causing pathogens
that is found in the rotten meat, but it also
lacks the critical enzyme, that can easily
break-down the diclofenac. This diclofenac
causes a sudden renal failure in vultures
just after eating the remains of cattles,
treated with diclofenac as drug.
In the year 2006, a ban was created on the
use of diclofenac in the South-Asian region
and this ban resulted in the fall in the
number of deaths reported in case of these
vultures.
WORLD RAREST WHALE
SPECIES FOUND IN PACIFIC
OCEAN
The world's rarest whale species - the
spade-toothed beaked whale was spotted
for the first time by scientists of New
Zealand in the Pacific Ocean.
The Spade-toothed beaked whales were
first discovered in 1872 when bone
fragments of rarest whale species were
found on a remote Pacific island.
Till date the rarest species had remained
entirely hidden from human view. This is
the first time that the species was ever seen
as a complete specimen.
The discovered species was found on 31
December 2010 in a form of a female whale
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(5.3 metres) and male calf (3.5 metres)
which were stranded and later died on
Opape Beach in the Bay of Plenty, New
Zealand.
It was after their death that they were
measured, photographed and tissue
samples were taken by the Department of
Conservation. A DNA typing was done on
them and with further investigation a
report on 6 November 2012 was published
in the journal Current Biology.
EXPRESSED ITS CONCERN
OVER THE GROWING SMOG
COVER ON NEW DELHI
2012 expressed its concerns on the growing
smog cover over the National Capital, which
is caused due to the pollution created due
to the increase in the number of vehicles in
the Capital. The Apex Court made a decision
to take a call on examining the problems
and then further suggest and identify the
remedial measures.
Smog and its harmful effects
Smog in itself is the mixture of smoke and
fog, which is the combination of pollutants
created from industries and vehicles. At
present, it is generally visible over the big
cities in form of yellow cloud covering the
horizon during sunrise and sun-set. One can
see the smog cover in the sky even during
the hot summer days when the wind
density is low and weak. Because of its
toxicity, the smog umbrella in the sky is also
harmful for human health because of the
toxicity level present in its atmosphere. The
smog also forms ground level ozone that
can be termed as bad-ozone, but is harmful
for old age people, children, and people
suffering from asthma, bronchitis,
emphysema and other diseases related to
heart and lungs.

UTTARAKHAND NAMED BEST
PERFORMING STATES IN
TERMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL
STANDARDS
The state of Uttarakhand on 29 October
2012 tops the Environmental Performance
Index (EPI) list of being best-performing
States and Union territories in terms of
environmental well-being released by
Planning Commission.
Uttarakhand is followed by Himachal
Pradesh, Chandigarh, Sikkim, and Andhra
Pradesh on the Planning Commissions
Environmental Performance Index (EPI) list.
Environmental well-being is one of the
considerations for decentralization of funds
to the States under the Gadgil formula.
The State of Uttarakhand was given a
cumulative score point of 0.8123 which is
followed by Himachal Pradesh with score
point of 0.7316, Chandigarh with 0.7270,
Photochemical Smog
Photochemical Smog is basically formed by
the chemical reaction of nitrogen oxides and
volatile organic compounds in presence of
sunlight and the term was first time used and
described during 1950s. The mixture of air
pollutants may include aldehydes, peroxyacyl
nitrates, nitrogen oxides, like nitrogen
dioxide, troposphere ozone and other
volatile organic compounds.

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Sikkim (0.7149), and Andhra Pradesh with
0.7147 of Score point.
Mizoram, Kerala, Goa, Sikkim, Tripura,
Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar,
with an average score of 1, were ranked as
the best States in terms of air quality.
Amazingly, except for Uttarakhand, all the
States met the prescribed national ambient
air quality standard in respect of the
sulphur dioxide which is of 20 micrograms
per cubic metre.
In terms of Nitrogen oxide, the national
standard set of 30 microgram per cubic
metre was not met by more than 10 states.
Also, in term of suspended particles no
states met the 60 microgram per cubic
metre national standard except state of
Goa, Kerala, and Mizoram.
Water quality standards, of all the states
indicated a very pathetic standard except
for Himachal Pradesh, which has set up 100
per cent treatment capacity for sewage, the
treatment capacity in the remaining States
ranges from 0 (13 States) to less than 20 per
cent (8 States) and more than 50 per cent in
four States.
Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Daman and Diu,
and Puducherry extract more water than
they recharge, but Himachal Pradesh, Goa,
Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and
Puducherry are the only States which show
a semblance of adherence to river water
quality. Talking about forest conservation,
Chandigarh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh,
Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh are
among the five best-performing States that
have preserved forests as well as increased
cover.
FORTY WHALES DIED IN MASS
STRANDING ON ANDAMAN
AND NICOBAR ISLANDS
Approximately 40 whales died in a mass
stranding on 25 October 2012 on the west
coast of remote North Andaman Island in
the Bay of Bengal.

COP 11 HELD IN HYDERABAD:
EMPHASISED ON THE WELL
BEING OF BIODIVERSITIES
The XIth Conference of the Parties (COP 11)
- Convention on Biological Diversity was
organised by the Ministry of Environment &
Forests, Government of India from 8
October to 19 October 2012. Eleventh
meeting of the COP 11 was held at
Hyderabad International Convention
Centre, and the conference included a high-
About Whale Stranding
A Stranded whale is a whale that has
stranded itself on land, usually on a beach.
The reason of their death is dehydration,
collapsing of body under their own weight or
drowning when high tide covers the
blowhole. The stranded whale is also referred
as beached whale.
There are also many other reasons for whale
stranding the major of which are natural and
environmental factors, such as rough
weather, weakness due to old age or
infection, difficulty giving birth, hunting too
close to shore and navigation errors. Some
stranding is also caused by larger cetaceans
following dolphins and porpoises into shallow
coastal waters.

The other reason for stranding is SONAR
(Sound, Navigation and Resonance) there is
evidence that active sonar leads to beaching.
On some occasions whales have stranded
shortly after military sonar was active in the
area.

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level ministerial segment meet that was
organised by India in consultation with the
Bureau and Secretariat and it took place
from 17 October to 19 October 2012.
Mobilisation of financial resources was the
theme for the COP 11 summit. The next
round of the conference is scheduled to
take place in Korea after 2 years. Finding
out the commendable solution by
discussions over the issues of the Earths
bio-diversity is the main agenda of the
conference. The conference was attended
by more than 5000 delegates from 180
countries. Enrollment of about 14,400
participants in the convention made it the
largest biodiversity gathering of its time.
Demands of Developing and Developed
Countries
African countries like Namibia
demanded developed nations to
stand by their promise fund
allocation for saving the bio-
diversity, made in the 2010 protocol
The developed nations stood by
their demand of creating a baseline
of the investments made by now
and how much more was needed
Discussions on Identified Targets of
Nagoya Protocol
Discussion over the 20 identified
targets at 2010 Nagoya Protocol
was also done to find out the
problems that it faced for
implementation.
Indias Stand
India also demanded steps to be taken for
ecosystem restoration and establishment of
a relationship between biodiversity and
climate change, identification of
ecologically and biologically significant
areas in marine ecosystems.
India to Chair the Conference for Next Two
Years as its President: India will be Chairing
the Conference as its President for next two
years. The Union Environment and Forests
Minister Jayanthi Natarajan took over the
charge of COP-11 as its President for next
two years.
The Union Environment and Forests
Minister Jayanthi Natarajan, who
took over the charge of COP-11 as
its President for next two years
emphasised on the issue of
resource mobilization that
remained an unfinished agenda of
COP-10 at Nagoya in Japan
Manmohan Singh the Prime Minister
of India announced a grant of $50
million for strengthening the
institutional mechanism of
biodiversity conservation in India
and other developing countries by
the name of Hyderabad Pledge
The Prime Minister also launched
the high level segment of the 11th
conference of parties during the UN
Convention on Biodiversity meeting
at Hyderabad. This conference was
the first conference after the launch
of Decade of Biodiversity by United
Nations in 2011.
The high level meet took place during the
United Nations Decade on Biodiversity
(UNBD) that was declared by the United
Nations General Assembly following its
resolution 65/161. This plan was designed
to find out the solutions for the objectives
like Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and the
Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Across the UNBD,
a trial to encourage government and
representatives of different countries to
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develop, implement and communicate the
results established by their national
strategies designed for fine implementation
of the strategic plan over biodiversity.
Plan and Programmes Launched during
COP11 Conference
BirdLife International on 16 October
2012 launched an e-Atlas of
Marine-Important Bird Areas
during COP11. The e-Atlas would
act as an inventory and carry data
of around 3000 important bird
areas from across the world and
can play a major role in conserving
the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD) target for
protection of 10 percent coastal
and marine Areas by 2020
The NTCA (National Tiger
Conservation Authority) also
declared its plan to create a
national database for tigers, the
flagship species of India proving a
unique identification code and
number to each one of these big
cats in India. This was declared by
the member secretary of NTCA,
Rajesh Gopal during an event
organized with a theme Have We
Turned the Corner in Tiger
Conservation

FRIGHTENING LEVEL OF
MERCURY CONTENT IN THE
ENVIRONMENT OF
SONBHDRA DISTRICT: CSE
Director-General of Centre for Science &
Environment (CSE) Sunita Narain on 19
October 2012 released the report of the
study that was conducted in Sonbhadra
District in the year 2011-12 and revealed
the fact that the Sonbhadra that is a part of
resource-rich Singrauli Area that acts as a
industrial powerhouse for the country
presents a tale of sorrow in relation to
pollution, non-compliance of environmental
norms, poverty, disease and official
indifference.
The report released by a Delhi-based Centre
for Science & Environment (CSE) declared
Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh as the
critically-polluted area that is also an
environmental disaster, due to the
presence of high levels of Mercury in the
bodies of the local residents and the
environment of the region. Mercury acts as
a neurotoxin in the body and affects the
central nervous system leading to damages
in the renal system.
TEC RECOMMENDED A 10-
YEAR MORATORIUM ON ALL
FIELD TRIALS OF GM FOOD
CROPS
TEC (Technical Expert Committee), in its
interim report recommended a 10-year
moratorium on all field trials of Genetically
Modified (GM) food crops, including Bt
Cotton. In its interim report, it suggested
that the present regulatory system and
protocol for conducting the field trials were
unsatisfactory and inadequate, requiring
major changes, restructuring and
strengthening.

TEC Committees recommendation is based
on the current overall status of food safety
evaluation of Bt transgenic including the
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data on Bt Cotton and Bt Brinjal examined
by the TEC and in accordance with the
precautionary principle.
TECs suggestion for a moratorium on field
trial was welcomed by environmentalists. In
fact, the moratorium is necessitated by the
potential harm of GM crops to human
health, that of livestock and biodiversity
and the possibility of field trials to
contaminate regular crops and food supply.
Five-member TEC was appointed by the
Supreme Court of India.
CENTRE OF SCIENCE AND
ENVIRONMENT AND HSBC
BANK CAME TOGETHER TO
IMPART ENVIRONMENT
TRAINING
Centre of Science and Environment (CSE) on
17 October 2012 announced Partnership
with Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corpoartion Ltd (HSBC) to set up modern
Environment Training Institute in Alwar
district of Rajasthan.
The Institute that will set up will be offering
short and long term courses on
Environmental governance for regulators
and decision makers.
Both the organization will be improving
environmental governance in India by
building capacity of environment
regulators, non-government organizations
and industry.
The institute will cover the multiple
research disciplines such as air pollution,
water and waste water management,
climate change, sustainable industrialisation
and urbanisation, renewable energy, public
transport and mobility and environment
impact assessment.
The Institute is going to be developed as an
incubation, development and
demonstration centre for green
technologies.

SUPREME COURT LIFTED BAN
ON TOURISM IN CORE TIGER
RESERVE AREAS
The Supreme Court on 16 October 2012 had
lifted its interim ban on tourism in core
areas of tiger reserves across the country.
The ban came into consideration a day after
the National Tiger Conservation Authority
(NTCA) notified fresh guidelines.
As per the new Guidelines, a maximum of
20 per cent of the core area is going to be
outlined for regulated tourism. Also, the
About Centre of Science and Environment
(CSE)
The Centre for Science and Environment
(CSE) is a public interest research and
advocacy organisation based in New Delhi. It
was founded in 1980. CSE researches into,
lobbies for and communicates the urgency of
development that is both sustainable and
equitable.
Centre of Science and Environment uses
knowledge-based activism to create
awareness about environment related
problems and helps in proposing sustainable
solution.

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state governments will put in place site-
specific frameworks for each tiger reserve.
It was in 24 July 2012 that the Supreme
Court had imposed an absolute ban on
tourism in core areas of 41 tiger reserves
across the country.
The Supreme Court Citing the National Tiger
Conservation Authority (NTCA) guideline
directed that the state governments are
required to prepare their own tiger
conservation plans under the Wildlife
Protection Act. It directed them to prepare
the plans within six months and submit it to
the NTCA for approval.
THE GOVERNMENT NOTIFIED
FRESH GUIDELINES ON TIGER
CONSERVATION
The Union Ministry of Environment and
Forests on 15 October 2012 notified fresh
guidelines on tiger conservation allowing
regulated low impact tourism in the core
and critical tiger habitat. Since, tourism has
been happening in core and critical tiger
habitats, regulated low impact tourism
visitation would be allowed in such areas
subject to site-specific carrying capacity.
The guidelines, however, say no new
tourism infrastructure should be permitted
in such core and critical tiger habitats.
Recently, the Supreme Court of India had
allowed the government to notify within a
week its fresh guidelines on tiger
conservation and indicated that it may
modify its 24July 2012 order staying all
tourism activities in the reserved areas
across the country.
INDIA TO GET WARMER BY 2
DEGREE CELSIUS BY 2030:
SCIENTIST OF IISC AND IIT
Scientist of Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore and Indian Institute of
Technology, Mumbai together made a
Projection that India may warm up by 1.7
to 2 C by 2030s and up to 4.8 degree
Celsius by 2080s.
The Scientist had pointed out more
warming over the northern areas, especially
the Himalayas and Kashmir.
The projections were made for the period
of 1860 to 2099 which is based on new
climate data, models and new emission
scenarios termed as Representative
concentration pathways.
Also as per the scientist Rainfall is predicted
to increase from four per cent to five per
cent by 2030s and from six per cent to 14
per cent towards the end of the century in
2080s compared to the 1961- 1990
baseline.
All these new projections should be used in
future assessment of impact of climate
change and adaptation planning.
However, also contradicting analysis was
presented which has indicated that limiting
warming to roughly 2 C by the end of this
century is unlikely since it requires an
immediate ramp down of emissions.
GOVERNMENT TO NOTIFY
FRESH GUIDELINES ON TIGER
CONSERVATION
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2012 asked the Union government to notify
within a week its fresh guidelines on tiger
conservation. A division bench of the apex
court indicated it may modify its July order
issued on 24 July 2012 which stayed all
tourism activities in the reserved areas
across the country. The bench, however,
made it clear that the states, if aggrieved by
the guidelines, are free to challenge it
before the court.
The apex court on 24 July 2012 had banned
all tourist activities in the core areas of tiger
reserves and had extended the ban till 27
September 2012.
Delhi Government tied up with INTACH for
Conservation of Monuments
The Delhi Cabinet on 9 October 2012
agreed for an agreement with INTACH for
conservation and refurbishment work of 16
monuments in New Delhi.

DOLPHIN DAY OBSERVED IN
BIHAR TO CREATE
AWARENESS ABOUT
GANGETIC DOLPHINS
Dolphin Day was observed on 5 October
2012 in Bihar. The state government
declared to observe 5 October as the
Dolphin Day in the state every year. This
came as a part of world wild life week that
was being observed by the state from
second to eight October.
This was an act to increase awareness
about conservation of one of the rarest and
critically endangered Gangetic Species. The
Gangetic Dolphin that is scientifically known
as Platanista Gangetica is also the National
Aquatic animal of India. To conserve the
aquatic species the Deputy Chief Minister of
the State Sushil Kumar Modi declared that a
Dolphin watch center would be developed
at places where these Dolphins are still
visible. To raise the awareness this center
will also be used as a site for tourists
attraction. During the day long observation
of Dolphin Day, films and documentaries
related to dolphins were screened in the
state.
SAVE GANGA, SAVE DOLPHIN
CAMPAIGN INITIATED IN
UTTAR PRADESH
Save Ganga, Save Dolphin, the three day
campaign was initiated on 5 October 2012
by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department in
association with the World Wildlife Fund
(WWF). The team also included local
volunteers and 14 NGOs. The campaign was
a state-initiative to create awareness to
conserve the Gangetic Dolphins one of the
About INTACH
The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural
Heritage (INTACH) is an autonomous non-
governmental Indian NGO which was
founded in 1984 by Rajiv Gandhi that seeks
to preserve Indian Art and Cultural heritage.
In 2007, the United Nations awarded INTACH
a special consultative status with United
Nations Economic and Social Council
Its headquarters are in New Delhi and today
it has chapters in 117 Indian cities, as well as
chapters in Belgium, the UK and the United
States. INTACH is the only non-governmental
Indian non-profit society working for the
awareness and conservation of Indian culture
and heritage.

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critically endangered species of the
Gangetic River System. These dolphins are
scientifically named as Platanista
Gangetica.
NAVYS PROPOSAL TO SET UP
MISSILE TESTING SITE IN
ANDAMAN & NICOBAR
ISLANDS REJECTED
The Union Ministry of Environment and
Ecology on 4 October 2012 rejected the
Navy's proposal to set up a missile-testing
site in Andaman and Nicobar islands, on the
basis that the firing range would destroy
the habitat of endangered birds in Nicobar
Megapode, unique to the isles.
The megapode actually does not exist
anywhere and it is a very unique species. It
is too sensitive to withstand any such
installation over there.
BANNED MINING ACTIVITIES
IN GOA
The Supreme Court on 5 October 2012
banned until further orders on all mining
operations, in all 90 mines which also
includes transportation of mined iron ore
and manganese in leases, in Goa.
The Forest Bench comprising Justices Aftab
Alam, K.S. Radhakrishnan and Swatanter
Kumar granted the stay on a writ petition
filed by the Goa Foundation, an
environmental action group, and asked the
Central Empowered Committee to give its
response in four weeks. The court made it
clear that no mineral, whether lying at a
mine head or stockyard, would be
transported until further orders.
The failure of the State government of Goa
to control illegal mining has led to large-
scale destruction of both forest land and
non-forest land and had adversely affected
the livelihood of local people, especially the
rural poor.
The Goa Foundation pointed out that the
Justice M.B. Shah commission, appointed in
November 2010, said illegal activities in
mining had been going on in the State since
2000. All 90 mines were functioning
without the mandatory permission from the
National Board for Wildlife and 33 of them
were located within 1.5 km of wildlife
sanctuaries.
100 ELITE FORCES ASSIGNED
THE TASK OF SAVING RHINOS
FROM POACHERS
The Assam Government has deployed a
100-member team of Elite Forest Protection
Force at the Kaziranga National Park on 2
October 2012. The decision came in
concern to the recent killings of the one
horned Rhinos in the flood-affected areas of
Karbi Anglong Hills, the area outside the
protected region of the Park. The park is
also a UNESCO Heritage Site. The forest
department of the state dispatched a team
of armed forces to the park for offering
protection to the one-horned animal
against the Poachers.
As per the available data the park has lost
39 Rhinos within 10 months bringing down
the population to a total of 2,251. Out of
these 28 died after being drowned in the
floods of the state and the remaining 11 felt
a pray to the poachers. In a hunt to stop the
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poachers from being successful, the forest
guards till date have been successful in
arresting 14 poachers and killed 3 of them.
MINISTER OF WATER
RESOURCES RELEASED ATLAS
NAMED AQUIFER SYSTEM OF
INDIA
Minister of water resources and
parliamentary affairs Pawan Kumar Bansal
on 28 September 2012 in New Delhi had
released Atlas for six states namely- Kerala,
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Chattisgarh,
Himachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.
The atlas comprises data on various aspect
of ground water since its inception that was
compiled and integrated by the Central
Ground Water Board. The atlas was named
as Aquifer System of India.
The atlas provides a country wide overview
and summary of the most important
information available for each principal and
major aquifer systems and depicts aquifer
wise ground water scenario. It also deals
with major issues and challenges which
need immediate attention for sustainable
management of ground water resources.
In this process, a baseline data on GIS
platform was created for initiating National
Aquifer Mapping Programme and
demarcating priority areas for aquifer wise
management of ground water resources on
scientific and sustainable basis. Attempt
was also made to represent the correlations
of various thematic layers such as climate,
topographic settings on the occurrence,
movement, and chemical quality of ground
water in map forms.
The Atlas is going to be of immense use for
Regional and National ground water
resources planning by the policy makers
and anyone who needs to understand
ground water scenario in the country.
SC: IF SAFETY MEASURES ARE
NOT MET, COMMISSIONING
OF THE KUNDAKULAM PLANT
CAN BE STOPPED
The Supreme Court on 27 September 2012
directed to the center that if the safety
measures are not found satisfactory than it
would not hesitate from stopping the
commissioning of the Kudankulam project
in spite of the huge investments made on
its installation.
The bench of Justices K. S. Radhakrishnan
and Deepak Misra stated that safety of the
people residing around the plant is a serious
concern and in case any of the safety
measures have not been followed during
the execution of the plant.
Earlier the central Government formed a
special task force that recommended 17
measures in relation to the safety concerns
of the power plant but they have not been
taken care of nor fully implemented. The
installation of the plant also suffered
several changes ever since 1989, when the
environment clearance was offered to the
plant.
Concerns and Issues related to
Kundakulam Nuclear Power Plant
The petition submitted by G Sundarrajan
declares that the environment clearances
made during the 1989 Environment Impact
Assessment was not done because the site
for installation was not decided by then.
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Government even failed to conduct the
public hearing, which is a mandatory thing
to be done under law.
The critical changes done in the plant are
1. The previous plan was to store the
spent fuel in Russia, but now it will
be stored within the plant
2. The water for being used in the
nuclear plant was to be taken from
the local dam, but now the decisions
have been made to take the fuel
from the sea
3. Then the Ministry of Environment
and Forests stated that the sea
temperature will suffer a change of
5 degrees but now it has been raised
to 7 degrees
Affidavit submitted by The Nuclear Power
Corporation of India Ltd.
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd
submitted an affidavit to the Madras High
Court on 18 August 2012 and 22 August
2012 in relation to the safety measures
followed by the plant and its abilities to
withstand the natural events like
earthquake, cyclones and all. The same
affidavit was submitted to the Supreme
Court on 26 September 2012.
The provided Affidavit States
1. The plant has been designed to be
safe at times with the washing away
of the safety units which may be
caused due to floods, Fukushima
incident of washing away has been
cited for an example.
2. The nuclear plant is a generation 3+
power plant and is designed taking
care of the ultra-modern safety
measures like auto-prevention
against the general causes of failure
of the safety system and is reliable
and complies to the standards of
redundancy available at present
3. The power plant can survive against
the natural events such as tsunami,
earthquakes of high reactor scale,
shock waves, fire, cyclones and
others. The main building of the
plant is also safe against the air-craft
impact. Security arrangements
against the terrorists attack and
sabotages have also been
implemented.
4. The structural design can prevent
the release of the radioactive
material in the public even in cases
of physical attacks
5. The affidavit also cleared that the 17
recommendations of the AERB
(Atomic Energy Regulatory Board)
will be taken care at times to come.
This affidavit also made clear that 7
out of 17 recommendations were
compiled but the power plant was
safe even without the use of the 17
recommendations made by AERB.
GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD AND
LESSER FLORICAN GOT
SHONKALIYA REGION TO
BREED
The endangered birds, Great Indian Bustard
and Lesser Florican have got a dedicated
land for breeding in the Shonkaliya Region
of Ajmer District, Rajasthan. The villagers of
Ajmer District have agreed to conserve 30
hectares of land for the breeding activity of
these endangered birds.
Population of the Great Indian Bustard (the
state bird of Rajasthan) is reportedly not
sizeable with six males, present in the area.
The Great Indian Bustard needs to lure at
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least three to four females in number for
making of the family. Nests of the Great
Indian Bustard have been noticed in the
crop fields of the area.
The Lesser Floricans are available in a large
number as compared to the Great Indian
Bustards in the region. Nest of lesser
Floricans have also seen around the crop
lands of the area. Floricans make a visit to
this north-western region of the country
during their breeding season of advancing
monsoons.
This move of conservation of the Lesser
Floricans and the Great Indian Bustard is an
initiative to use MNREGA, the job guarantee
scheme of the central government as a
conservative tool. At the time of Manju
Rajpal, the former collector of Ajmer
district, the villagers of Shonkaliya agreed to
earmark a dedicated zone in 30 hectare of
land for breeding of the birds from their
total of 100 hectares. From 1st May to 30th
September entry of cattle as well as people
will be restricted in the protected land.
18TH INTERNATIONAL DAY
FOR PRESERVATION OF THE
OZONE LAYER CELEBRATED
WORLDWIDE
On 16 September every year, from 1995
onwards the International Day for the
Preservation of the Ozone Layer is
celebrated. This date was designated by the
United Nations General Assembly in its
resolution 49/114, to memorialize the
signing of the Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
With this, The Montreal Protocol is
celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
The theme for this years celebration was
Protecting our Atmosphere for Generations
to come.
SUPREME COURT ASKED THE
CENTRE TO PREPARE REVISED
GUIDELINES FOR TOURIST
ACTIVITIES
The Supreme Court of India on 29 August
2012 directed the Centre to prepare revised
guidelines for tourist activities in core areas
of tiger reserves. A bench including justices
AK Patnaik and Swatanter Kumar ruled that
the fresh guidelines should be evolved
within four weeks after consultations with
States, all stake-holders, hotel associations
affected by the ban, guides and tour
operators. The apex court's decision came
after the Attorney General GE Vahanvati
sought permission to revise the existing
guidelines to ensure that tigers are
protected even while tourism is promoted.
The Supreme Court once again extended
the ban imposed by the court on tourist
activities in the core areas of tiger reserves
till the 27th of September 2012. On 24 July
2012, the apex court had banned all
tourism activities in the core areas of tiger
reserves.
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT
AND FOREST ISSUED
ADVISORY TO REDUCE THE
IMPACT OF COMMUNICATION
TOWERS
The Ministry of Environment and Forest
(MoEF) on 14 August 2012 issued an
advisory to reduce the negative impact of
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Electro Magnetic Radiations emanating
from the communication towers. Acting on
the recommendations made by an expert
panel, constituted to Study the possible
Impacts of Communication Towers on
Wildlife including Birds and Bees, the
ministry issued numerous guidelines.
Some of the major directives issued by the
MoEF are as follows:
1. Regular Electro Magnetic Radiation
(EMR) to be conducted in urban
localities and ecologically sensitive
regions.
2. New mobile towers not to be set up
within the 1 km radius of existing
towers.
3. Any study conducted on impact of
EMR radiation on wildlife needs to
be shared with Forest Department
andDepartment of
Telecommunications to facilitate
appropriate policy formulations.
4. The location and frequencies of cell
phone towers and other towers
emitting EMR, should be
madeavailable in public domain.
5. State governments are urged to
spread awareness among the
people about the negative impacts
of EMR using different media.
PARLIAMENTARY PANEL ON
AGRICULTURE
RECOMMENDED BAN OF GM
FOOD CROPS
In a major setback to the production of
genetically modified (GM) foods in the
country, a parliamentary panel on
agriculture asked the government to ban all
field trials of GM crops until it develops
until it develops a better system of
monitoring and oversight.
In the 389-page report submitted in the
parliament on 9 August 2012, the panel also
demanded a complete probe into how
permission was granted in 2009 for the
commercialisation of Bt brinjal (also known
as aubergine, or eggplant). Bt Brinjal was
developed by Pune-based Mahyco
(Maharashtra Hybrid Company) in a joint
venture with US seed giant Monsanto.
The Genetic Engeneering Appraisal
Committee had cleared the
commercialization of Bt Brinjal on 14
October 2009, though soon after its
clearance it was caught amidst bitter
controversies ranging from its
environmental impacts to ethical concerns
such as corporate control of the food supply
and intellectual property rights. Bt cotton
was the only GM crop before Bt Brinjal
which had got clearance for
commercialization.
NASAS SCIENTISTS WARNED
EARTH MIGHT FACE MORE
HEAT WAVES
Scientists at NASA's Goddard Institute for
Space Studies (GISS) warned that most of
Earth's land areas might face an extreme
summer heat wave than they did from 1951
to 1980. Scientists revealed that over the
past 30 years the northern hemisphere has
witnessed more "hot" (orange), "very hot"
(red) and "extremely hot" (brown)
summers.
Scientists noted that Earth's northern
hemisphere, which comprises of 90 percent
of the planet's land, has become much
more likely to experience an extreme
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summer heat wave compared to a base
period from 1951 to 1980.
The researchers described how "extremely
hot" summers has become a routine over
the past 30 years. Since 2006, about 10
percent of land area across the Northern
Hemisphere has experienced these
temperatures each summer. Study show
how heat waves in Texas, Oklahoma and
Mexico in 2011 and in the Middle East,
Western Asia and Eastern Europe in 2010
fall into the new "extremely hot" category.
HURRICANE SANDY A
CATEGORY 2 CYCLONE
STRUCK US, JAMAICA, HAITI
AND CUBA
Sandy: is the name given to the category 2
Cyclone that struck US, Jamaica, Haiti and
Cuba, and was formed in the late Hurricane
season of 2012. Sandy was created from the
elongated tropical wave that occurred in
the Western Caribbean Sea on 22 October
2012.
Hurricane Sandy is one of the fiercest
storms to hit the East Coast of
Massachusetts on 29 October 2012 and it
gave a devastating look to the city leaving
behind the torrential rains, with widespread
flood and howling winds. The dangerous
high rise in the sea along with the flooded
coastal areas saw a huge power cut in
385000 homes.
The name Sandy has been provided to the
hurricane following the nomenclature set in
an alphabetical order by the US authority
National Hurricane Center for naming the
hurricanes that arises in the North Atlantic
Ocean. World Meteorological Organization
maintains a list of names for naming the
Hurricanes that occurs round the year. This
list keeps on rotating on the yearly basis.

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CHAPTER 17:
MISCELLANEOUS
GOOGLE INDIA PARTNERED
WITH E-COMMERCE SITES TO
BRING CYBER MONDAY TO
INDIA
In order to develop the concept of online
shopping in India, Google India decided on 4
December 2012 to partner with leading e-
commerce websites to introduce the
concept of Cyber Monday in the country.
Titled as the Great Online Shopping Festival,
it is slated for 12 December 2012. Some of
the e-commerce websites that would
partner with Google India include Snapdeal,
Flipkart, Homeshop 18 as well as
Makemytrip.
India has more than 137 million Internet
users. Significant growth is being observed
in online activity. It is the first time that
there will be an industry-wide program of
such a scale. It would enable the entire
country to benefit from the unbeatable
deals which would be offered on the
Internet.
It is expected that The Great Online
Shopping Festival would have participants
from more than 50 partners, which include
e-commerce, classified as well as local,
online traveling sites as well as banking,
financial services and insurance companies.
All such companies will offer some of the
best deals to Indian customers for 24 hours.
This is an initiative for encouraging the
shoppers to go for online shopping. The
primary focus of the festival is reaching out
to the first-time buyers. The festival would
allow people to shop for travel packages,
jewellery, kids wear, gadgets, books,
computer accessories, home decoration
products, watches and also on real estate
deals.
Google India declared that the industry of
online shopping is already more than 1.5
billion US dollar and this initiative would
help in further promotion of the online
shopping.

NOKIA INDIA INTRODUCED
REBRANDED MAP SERVICE
NAMED HERE
Nokia India on 20 November 2012 launched
its re-branded mobile map services in the
Indian market.
The new cloud computing-based map
service is called as HERE and offers maps
and location-based services across multiple
devices and operating systems. The main
aim of the service is to inspire a new
What is Cyber Monday?
Cyber Monday is actually the marketing term
for Monday after the Black Friday. Cyber
Monday was the term which was created by
certain marketing companies in order to
attract people towards the concept of online
shopping. The term was first debuted on 28
November 2005. In the year 2010, it was
declared by comScore that the consumers
spent a total of 1.028 billion US dollar on this
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generation of location services and devices
that make the mobile experience more
personally significant for people
everywhere.
AIRTEL COMPLETED LARGEST
NETWORK TRANSFORMATI ON
IN AFRICA
Bharti Airtel, a leading telecommunications
services provider with operations in 20
countries across Asia and Africa, in the
month of November completed a network
transformation programme across its
mobile operations in 16 African countries in
partnership with Ericsson.
The programme involved upgradation and
expansion of network elements on all of
Airtel's African operations, including
switching, radio, network management,
data, charging, and consumer-services
platforms and systems, the company said in
a statement.
Ericsson had deployed wireless
technologies under the programme, and it
is going enhance Airtel's network capacity
and robustness and would also help deliver
services to customers at affordable rates.
It makes Airtel's networks fully ready for
next generation services that include high
speed data and value added services.
The company had implemented a full
upgrade of the charging platforms across all
operations using Ericsson's Charging
System, which will enable it to offer services
like mobile wallets to the subscribers.
The project will result in Airtels 60+ million
customers having a better experience on
their networks.
The project was backed by 12000 consulting
and systems integration professionals
across the world, over one hundred
resources worked onsite to ensure
successful delivery of this complex project
which is the largest network modernization
program in Africas telecom history.
The transformation programme follows the
2011 announcement of an ongoing five year
multi-country managed services agreement,
wherein Ericsson would manage and
optimise Airtel's mobile networks across
Africa.
BHARTI AIRTEL BECAME
WORLDS FOURTH LARGEST
MOBILE OPERATOR
Indian Telecom Service Company Bharti
Airtel became the fourth largest telecom
operator in the world in terms of
subscribers, according to the Wireless
Intelligence Scoreboard report.
At the end of the quarter ended June 2012,
the Company had over 250 million mobile
subscribers across its operations,
representing 13 percent Year-over-Year
growth.
China Mobile is on the top position with
683.08 million connections, which is
followed by Vodafone Group with 386.88
million Connections and American Movil
Group with 251.83 million connections.
The other Indian telecom operators in the
report are Reliance Communications at
eighth position, Idea Cellular at fourteenth
position and BSNL at twentieth position.
Reliance Communications had maintained
its global ranking, Idea Cellular has moved
up to three places and State-owned and run
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telecommunication giant BSNL's ranking
dropped by two places.
GANGNAM STYLE NAMED
AMONG COLLINS
DICTIONARYS WORD OF THE
YEAR 2012
Gangnam Style, the most-watched video
ever on Youtube now booked a place in
popular culture with becoming Collins
dictionarys word for November 2012.
Gangnam Style is pop sensation with a
horse dance video by his South Korean
singer Psy. It became the first video in the
history of the Internet to be viewed more
than a billion times.
Gangnam Style was named among the
Collins dictionarys words of the year along
with mummy porn, fiscal cliff and
Romneyshambles.
Mummy Porn became Aprils word of the
year as the erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey
was published during that month and
became an instant bestseller.
Defeated presidential candidate Mitt
Romney became word of the year for July
after critics recognized his visit to London a
Romneyshambles.
Jubilympics was Junes word, while Games
Makers was Augusts due to the volunteers
who made the Olympic event in UK a
success.
NAK BROWNE RELEASED A
BOOK VICTORY INDIA-A KEY
TO QUALITY MILITARY
LEADERSHIP
The Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne on 20
November 2012 released a book titled
Victory India - A Key to Quality Military
Leadership authored by Colonel Vinay B
Dalvi (Retd) at the Air Headquarters. The
book has tried to present the process of
identification, selection and training of the
youths for moulding them into effective and
inspiring military leaders of the nation.
The book is a compilation of well written
contributory articles by military experts that
includes Admiral Arun Prakash, Lieutenant
General Arun Chopra, Lieutenant General
Gautam Banerjee, Air Marshal TS Randhawa
and different technologists, professors,
sports medicine specialists and
psychologists.
Colonel Vinay B Dalvi (Retd)
In the 37 years of his distinguished service
of the Indian Army, Colonel Vinay B Dalvi
has served almost every sector and
commands of the Indian Army which also
includes National Defence Academy,
Instructional Training at Indian Military
Academy and Officers Training Academy.
YUVI - BOOK ON CRICKETER
YUVRAJ SINGH AUTHORED BY
MAKARAND WAINGANKAR
RELEASED
The book on Indian Cricketer Yuvraj Singh
named Yuvi was released in third week of
November 2012. Kapil Dev and Dilip
Vengsarkar, the former cricketing legends
were invited at the launch ceremony to
offer insight on the cricketing star.
Yuvi, the book on Yuvraj Singh is published
by Harper Sport and written by Makarand
Waingankar. The book illustrates the
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brilliance of cricket shown by Yuvraj Singh
in his career as a cricketer and the way he
recovered from Cancer.
PRESIDENT OF INDIA
RELEASED A
COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE
STAMP ON LATE RAMGOPAL
MAHESHWARI
The President of India Pranab Mukherjee on
20 November 2012 released a
Commemorative Postage Stamp on late
Ramgopal Maheshwari. The stamp was
released in the Rastrapati Bhavan on the
occasion of Maheshwaris birth centenary
year celebration.
Ramgopal Maheshwari
Ramgopal Maheshwari was a freedom
fighter and a social worker is also regarded
as a doyen of Journalism in India. He was a
person who worked for promotion of Hindi
Language.
OMNISHAMBLES SELECTED AS
THE UK WORD OF THE YEAR
BY OXFORD ENGLISH
DICTIONARY
The Oxford English Dictionary has chosen
Omnishambles as the UK Word of the Year
2012. The neologism was first time used in
the BBC TVs political satire The Thick of It-
to describe the badly mismanaged situation
and gaffes.
The word exactly is defined as the situation
that has been mismanaged
comprehensively and is characterized by a
string of blunders and miscalculations. The
word was compounded using the Latin
prefix omni- that means the entire/all and a
word shambles that mean a situation of
complete disorder.
INDIA INTERNATIONAL TRADE
FAIR STARTED IN DELHI WITH
ITS THEME SKILLING INDIA
The 32nd season of Indian International
Trade Fair started on 14 November 2012 at
Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The annual
fair that would conclude after 14 days on 27
November 2012 was inaugurated by the
President of India Pranab Mukherjee.
Mikhail V Myasnikovich, the Prime Minister
of Belarus was the Guest of Honour to the
inauguration ceremony and he also
inaugurated the Belarusian pavilion at the
fair.
Belarus has been selected as the partner
country to the event, whereas South Africa
is selected as the Focus Country for the
32nd edition of the International Trade Fair.
In the state category, Uttarakhand has been
opted as the Partner State and Andaman
and Nicobar Islands was opted as the Focus
State for the event.
Theme
The theme selected for the 32nd edition of
the India International Trade Fair is Skilling
India and the event would focus on the
initiatives undertaken by different agencies,
government departments and other private
participants for development of skills
among the youths. To make the event
successful and pass on the idea behind the
theme, several seminars and workshops
were also organized.
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UNITED NATION DECLARED
NOVEMBER 10 AS MALALA
DAY
The United Nations declared November 10
as Malala Day in honour of Pakistani
teeenage rights activist Malala Yousafzai,
who was shot in the head by the Taliban in
October 2012 for advocating girls
education.
The day 10 November marks the 30-day
anniversary of the Taliban attack on the 15-
year-old Malala Yousafzai, the education
campaigner from Pakistan.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-
Moon asserted that Malala Yousafzai is an
inspiration for girls education the world
over.
As per the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-
Moon, observing Malala day is going to
build on the momentum of UN's Education
First initiative and show that education is a
right of everyone, and not a privilege for a
few.
NEWSWEEK DECIDED TO
STOP ITS PRINT RUN AND GO
ALL-DIGITAL
Newsweek, the eighty year old print
magazine on 18 October 2012 announced
that it would shut down its print operations
completely and go all-digital.
The Editor-in-Chief of the Magazine and
founder of the online Newsweek Daily
Beast Company, Tina Brown posted a
statement on the website that being
affected by the harsh media environment,
the magazine had planned to stop its print
publication and move on the online
platform completely.
The Digital Publication of the magazine will
be a single issue worldwide and a
compilation of world events in a
sophisticated context targeting on the
opinion leading audience.
INDIAN NAVY SUCCESSFULLY
TEST FIRED BRAHMOS
MISSILE
The Indian Navy on 7 October 2012
successfully test-fired the 290-km range
BrahMos supersonic cruise missile which is
capable of carrying a conventional warhead
of 300 kg, from a warship off the Goa coast.
The cruise missile was test-fired from
guided missile frigate INS Teg--the Indian
Navy's latest induction from Russia off the
coast of Goa.
The INS Teg, which has been built at the
Yantar shipyard in Russia, had fired the
missile successfully during pre-induction
trials in Russiain 2011.
ABOUT BrahMoS MISSILE
BrahMos is a stealth supersonic cruise
missile that can be launched from
submarines, ships, aircraft or land. It is a
joint venture between Republic of India's
Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) and Russian
Federation's NPO Mashinostroeyenia who
have together formed BrahMos Aerospace
Private Limited
It is the world's fastest cruise missile in
operation. The missile travels at speeds of
Mach 2.8 to 3.0. and have the capability of
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attacking surface targets by flying as low as
10 metres in altitude
FORMER UP GOVERNOR AND
FREEDOM FIGHTER
SATYANARAYAN REDDY
PASSED AWAY
Former Governor of UP and Odisha and a
renowned freedom fighter B Satyanarayan
Reddy died on 7 October 2012 folowing
age-related illness in a private Hospital in
Hyderabad.
86 years old Satyanarayan Reddy, was a
bachelor who had dedicated his life for
public service. He was a strong follower of
JayPrakash Narayan and Ram Manohar
Lohiya.
Satyanarayan Reddy was a patriot and
freedom Fighter who during quit India
movement in 1942 also faced arrest for
leading a procession of protest against the
arrest of Mahatma Gandhi.
GLOBAL JAMES BOND DAY
WAS CELEBRATED ON 5
OCTOBER 2012
Global James Bond Day was celebrated on 5
October 2012 to mark 50 years since the
world premiere of Dr. No which introduced
author Ian Fleming's sophisticated secret
agent to the people.
The franchise went on to produce best
selling Agent 007 films. It is making legends
out of actors over the last 50 years and the
James Bond movie franchise has made
heart-stopping thrillers.
NIRYAT SHREE AND NIRYAT
BANDHU AWARDS
PRESENTED BY PRESIDENT OF
INDIA
President of India Pranab Mukherjee with
Union Minister for Commerce, Industry and
Textiles Anand Sharma on 5 October 2012
presented awards to exporters on the
occasion of the presentation of Federation
of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Niryat
Shree and Niryat Bandhu awards at Vigyan
Bhavan in New Delhi.
The President gave away 52 awards 46
Niryat Shree Awards was given to exporters
for their performance in 12 different
categories, which includes agriculture,
plantation products; chemicals, drugs,
pharmacy and allied products; engineering;
gems and jewellery, handicrafts, carpets;
textiles, leather, service providers; and 6
Niryat Bandhu Awards were given to Export
Promotion Councils and Banks for their
support to the exporting community.
Among the Niryat Shree awardees that
were presented a gold trophy was MIOT
Hospitals Limited for being the highest
foreign exchange earner in the country
among all service providers.
The award was received by company
chairperson Mallika Mohandas. Reliance
Industries was also awarded a gold trophy
for earning the highest foreign exchange.
PC Jewellers was awarded a silver trophy in
the Gems and Jewellery category. In the
Niryat Bandhu category for banks, the
winners were Canara Bank which got gold
trophy followed by Bank of India and
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Punjab National Bank getting silver and
Bronze trophy respectively.
ISRO SCIENTIST TESSY
THOMAS CONFERRED WITH
LAL BAHADUR SHASTRI
AWARD
President Pranab Mukherjee on 1 October
2012 conferred the prestigious Lal Bahadur
Shastri National Award 2012 to ISRO
scientist Tessy Thomas at an award function
in Rashtrapati Bhawan. The award was
given on the eve of Birth anniversary of
Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur
Shashtri.
Tessy Thomas 48 years old is the Key
Scientist for Agni-V in Defence Research and
Development Organisation Hyderabad. She
is the first woman scientist to head a missile
project in India.
Tessy Thomas was an associate Project
director (mission) for Agni-I, II and III
systems. She was associated with the Agni
Programme since their developmental
stages.
THE BOOK CHALLENGED
OFFICIAL STORY OF OSAMA
BIN LADEN KILLING
The book No Easy Day: The Firsthand
Account of the Mission That Killed Osama
bin Laden written by a former Navy SEAL
claimed that Osama bin Laden was shot in
the head by a SEAL bullet when he looked
out of his bedroom door into the hallway
and not killed inside the room. The book
was written under the pseudonym Mark
Owen.
The US government after the raid in May,
2011 claimed that the SEALs shot Osama
bin Laden only after they entered his
bedroom.
ADOLF HITLER BASED NOVEL
TITLED ER IST WIEDER DA
BECAME GERMANYS
BESTSELLER
New novel about Adolf Hitler, called Er Ist
Wieder Da (Hes Back) authored by Timur
Vermes became the bestseller in Germany,
replacing Winter Of The World by Ken
Follet. Er Ist Wieder Da is the novel that
makes use of the proactive approach with a
tinge of comedy and satire. The book was
released in September 2012.
The book has a different plot in which
Hitler, instead of dying by the end of
Second World War, goes to sleep in 1945
and wakes up in modern Berlin in 2011. The
novel with a different approach climbed up
to the Germanys bestseller list with over
250000 copies sold. 75000 audio books
have also been sold.
The German press plans to publish the book
in English as well. There have been mix
reviews about the book, where some
literary critics applauded the book, while
some called it a marketing machine in the
name of Hitler to earn money.
About the author
Timur Vermes who authored the book is a
former journalist. He described his book as
something that makes use of the comic
theme to put forward the authenticity of
Hitler.
Page 366

www.jagranjosh.com
Page
366
Current Affairs PDF

THE ELECTION COMMISSION
OF INDIA CELEBRATED THE
3RD NATIONAL VOTERS DAY
25 January: National voters' day celebrated
by Election Commission of India
The Election Commission of India
celebrated the 3rd National Voters Day
across the country on 25 January 2013. The
theme for the 3rd NVD is Inclusion. NVD
functions were held at more than 6.5 lakh
locations across the country covering nearly
all 8.5 lakh Polling Stations. Around 46000
Educational Institutions also celebrated
National Voters Day. Around 4867 Youth
Voter Festivals have been held across the
states to engage youth in the registration
process. The National Function to mark the
3rd National Voters Day was held at
Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
25th January is also the foundation day of
the Commission, which came into being on
this day in 1950. The Commissions
objective through NVD is to increase
enrolment of voters, especially of the newly
eligible ones, to make universal adult
suffrage a complete reality. The National
Voters Day is also utilized to spread
awareness among voters regarding
effective participation in the electoral
process.

(Jagaran Josh) CA Part A

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(Jagaran Josh) CA Part A

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Current Affairs Part A

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