Heritage Conservation

UNESO has proposed to create Indian Heritage Cities Network (IHCN), a programme to recover the heritage value of cities.

Manual Scavenging
There was a report recently about existence of manual scavenging in Vidisha. Scavenging is not just about money or some short-term relief measures. It is a deep-rooted problem with social and attitudinal aspects. It can be effectively addressed only by a comprehensive package plan, which includes education, job training, rehabilitation and social mainstreaming.

Stalling of the Parliament

The winter (2010) session of the Parliament was stalled over a demand of JPC to probe the 2G spectrum scam. The LS worked for only 7 hrs 37 mins and RS for 2 hrs 44 mins. Only 13 bills were tabled (of the 36 planned) and only 4 were passed (of the 35 planned) Issues this has raised Denigration of the Parliament Important issues could not be discussed

Important Points Of Tourism In India

1. Except for a very brief lull last year, the arrival of foreign tourists has maintained a steady upward trend, and foreign exchange earnings from the sector were an impressive 11.7 billion US dollars in 2008. A sector that is perhaps the fastest growing tourism sector in the world sector that accounts for 5.92 % of India's GDP, provides employment to 49.8 million of her people and has the potential to bring prosperity to rural and backward areas. 2. India has over 150000 medical tourists each year and this figure is rising at a high pace. Currently, the medical tourism market in India is estimated to be worth over US$ 300 million with approximately. 170,000 foreign patients coming in every year. The reports estimating that medical tourist to India are growing by 30 per cent a year. This industry is enjoy such a massive vacation with elective or plastic growth that it is moving into a new area of "medical outsourcing. 3. In a developing country like India, alternative medications like Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy have an important role to play in alleviating diseases both chronic and acute

Tourism in India
17.9 million tourist arrivals in India in 2010 o 14.4 mn in 2009 10 states account for more than 90 pc of total foreign tourists o Maharashtra, TN, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, WB, Kerala, Bihar, HP and Goa Foreign exchange earnings was USD 14 bn (Rs 63000 cr) during 2010-11 o USD 10 bn in 2007-08 Challenges o Hotel infrastructure in small tourist locations o Connectivity o Harrassment of tourists Some steps o Visa on arrival facility has been extended to Singapore, Finland, New Zealand, Luxembourg, Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia

Parliamentary Privileges Article 105 of the Constitution required the Parliament to codify its privileges, but the Parliament has not done so in the past 61 years Prashant Bhushan said o Parliamentary privileges were not grounds on which restrictions could be imposed on the fundamental right to free speech o MPs should reflect on why the public perception about them had come to be what it was and explore ways and means to improve the functioning of our democracy

Indian Diaspora
Pravasi Bhartiya Divas o Annual gathering of people of Indian origin