Current Affairs Weekly Updates for week
Ending 10 MAR 2013
01. Charges against Irom Sharmila for Attempting Suicide
Updated on 05 MAR 2013
Social activist Irom Sharmila, who has been on fast for about 12
years demanding the repeal of the controversial Armed Forces Special
Powers Act (AFSPA), refused to plead guilty of attempting suicide, and a
Delhi court framed charges against her.
Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain on 4 March 2013 framed
charges against her for attempt to commit suicide and issued show cause
notice to Sharmila after she refused to plead guilty.
She told the court that she "loves life and does not want to take her life".
Sharmila, who was present in the court, refused that she attempted to
commit suicide here at Jantar Matnar in 2006.
The court hearing the case told Sharmila: "We respect you but the
law of land does not permit you to take your life."
When asked if she tried to commit suicide she replied "No".
The court earlier told her counsel to explain to her that maximum
punishment in the case was a few months to a year and that she has
been in custody for more than 6 years, so if she pleads guilty, the case
would be settled Monday.
Meanwhile, her supporters protesting outside gate no. 2 of Patiala House
Court, raised slogans for justice and against AFSPA.
2. Mukesh Ambani 6th Time Richest Person of India in a row.
Updated on 05 MAR 2013
With networth of US $21.5 billion, Mukesh Ambani has retained his
title as India’s richest person for sixth year in a row, while Mexican
business tycoon Carlos Slim has emerged as wealthiest in the world for
the fourth consecutive year.
In the overall rich list of world’s billionaires, as per an annual
ranking published on 4 March 2013 by business magazine Forbes,
Mukesh Ambani is ranked 22nd, while the second-richest Indian Lakshmi
Mittal is at 41st position with a networth of $ 16.5 billion.
Slim has topped the rankings with a networth of $ 73 billion,
followed by Bill Gates ($ 67 billion), Spain’s Amancio Ortega ($ 57
billion), Warren Buffett ($ 53.5 billion) and Larry Ellison ($ 43 billion) in
top five. There are a total 55 billionaires from India on the list of 1,426
persons from across the world having a minimum networth of $ 1 billion.
Among the Indians, Mukesh Ambani and Lakshmi Mittal are followed by
Azim Premji, Dilip Shanghvi, Shashi & Ravi Ruia, Kumar Mangalam Birla,
Savitri Jindal, Sunil Mittal, Shiv Nadar, K P Singh and Anil Ambani.
Globally, Anil Ambani is ranked 233rd ($ 5.2 billion), while the
global top-100 list has only three Indians — Mukesh Ambani, Lakshmi
Mittal and Azim Premji (91st position).
Mukesh Ambani’s fortune has dropped by USD one billion over the
past one year, but he remains India’s richest person and his Reliance
Industries remains country’s most valuable company.
On the other hand, his younger brother Anil Ambani saw his
networth drop by USD 2.6 billion in the past one year,“continuing a
three-year decline in his fortune.”
03. US to give ‘Women of Courage Award’ to Delhi Gangrape
Victim
Updated on 05 MAR 2013
United States has selected the 23-year-old Delhi braveheart for the
International Women of Courage Award. The award to Delhi gang rape
victim would be presented posthumously by the first lady Michelle Obama
and the secretary of state John Kerry, on March 8, an official
announcement said on 4 March 2013.
For millions of Indian women, her personal ordeal, perseverance to
fight for justice, and her family's continued bravery is helping to lift the
stigma and vulnerability that drive violence against women, the State
Department said about her as it announced the awards to be given to 10
women from across the world.
She bravely recorded two police statements while in the hospital,
repeatedly called for justice against the six attackers, and stated her will
to survive to see justice done, the State Department said.
Like many Indians inspired by her struggle, she was born into a
working class family that invested their hopes and life savings into her
dream to pursue medicine.
She had just graduated from a physiotherapy program when her
life was cut short,according to the statement of the State Department.
In the wake of her death just two weeks after the attack, India's
civil society began advocating heavily for legislation and social programs
to stem gender-based violence in all its forms and to ensure higher rape
conviction rates and gender-sensitive law enforcement and justice
systems.
The paramedical student was gangraped, beaten and thrown out of
a moving bus along with a male friend in Delhi in December 2012 which
generated widespread protests and was condemned by various women
groups, both in India and abroad.
The secretary of state's International Women of Courage Award
annually recognises women around the globe who have shown
exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women's rights and
empowerment, often at great personal risk.
Since inception of the award in 2007, the Department of State has
honoured 67 women from 45 different countries.
The other awardees for this year are Malalai Bahaduri, First
Sergeant Afghan National Interdiction Unit (Afghanistan); Samira
Ibrahim, Coordinator Know Your Rights (Egypt); Julieta Castellanos,
Rector National Autonomous University of Honduras (Honduras); Dr
Josephine Obiajulu Odumakin, President Campaign for Democracy
(Nigeria); Elena Milashina journalist, human rights activist (Russia) and
Fartuun Adan, executive director, Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre
(Somalia).
Three of the awardees – Tsering Woeser (Wei Se), Tibetan author,
poet, blogger (China), Razan Zeitunah, human rights lawyer and
Founder, Local Coordination Committees (Syria) and Ta Phong Tan,
blogger (Vietnam) would be given the award in absentia.
After the award ceremony, the honourees will travel separately to
cities across the United States to engage with the American people
through an International Visitor Leadership Program. They will visit
Indianapolis, Jackson Hole, Portland, San Francisco, and Tampa.
The women will reconvene in San Diego to reflect on their visit and
discuss ways to work together to improve the lives of women and girls
around the world, the State Department added.
04. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died at 58 due to Cancer
Updated on 06 MAR 2013
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died on 5 March 2013 at a
military hospital in Caracas at the age of 58. He was suffering from
Cancer and died after battling the disease 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 will
assume the charge of President of the Country.
05. Okhla Compost Plant Became First In India to Receive
Carbon Credits Worth 25 Lakh Rupees
Updated on 06 MAR 2013
South Delhi Municipal Corporation's composting plant in Okhla has
become the first to get carbon credits from United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change in the country. The civic agency has been
given an advance of Rs 25 lakh against net Carbon Emission Reduction
(CER) earning from the plant.
The plant was made operational in 2008 and since then close to
two lakh tonnes of waste has been processed. Officials say in the near
future the quantity of waste processed per day will be increased. The
corporation has outsourced the operation to IL&FS. IL&FS is preparing a
programme to upgrade the plant.
06. Pranab Mukherjee and Sheikh Hasina Inaugurated Freight
Train to Bangladesh
Updated on 06 MAR 2013
President of India Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister of
Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina on 5 March 2013 jointly inaugurated
locomotives and wagons supplied under a $800 million line of credit
extended by India, reflecting growing bilateral ties in infrastructure
sector.
The freight train flagged off at the Dhaka cantonment railway
station comprised two locomotives, 20 broad gauge tank wagons and one
brake van.
After the inaugural programme, President Mukherjee left for Narail
on a private visit to the ancestral home of his in-laws.
This is the first foreign trip since his becoming Preisident of India.
07. President of India Conferred With the Liberation War
Honour Award by Bangladesh
Updated on 06 MAR 2013
The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee was conferred with
the Liberation War Honour Award by the President of Bangladesh,
Zillur Rahman on 4 March, 2013. The award was conferred upon him for
his contribution to 1971 war.
The award was given away to Pranab Mukherjee for contributions
to the Liberation War. Earlier, the top most honour of Bangladesh, the
Bangladesh Freedom Honour was conferred upon former Indian Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi posthumously in 2011 for contributing towards
creation of Bangladesh.
Liberation War Honour Awards is the second highest honour of
Bangladesh.
08. Mukul Manda Sangma Sworn-In As the Chief Minister of
Meghalaya
Updated on 06 MAR 2013
Mukul Manda Sangma was on 5 March 2013 sworn-in as the
Meghalaya Chief Minister for the second time in a row.
Governor R.S. Mooshahary administered the oath of office to the
47-year-old leader who was seen as the architect of the Congress's
victory in the assembly elections in this mountainous northeastern state,
on the lawns of the Raj Bhavan
The Congress emerged the single largest party with 29 seats - two
short of a majority in the 60-member house. The Nationalist Congress
Party (NCP), which secured two seats, and 11 independent legislators
have extended "unconditional support" to the Congress.
Mukul Sangma took oath as the state's 26th chief minister in the
presence of hundreds of Congress legislators, leaders of other political
groupings and senior government officials.
He first assumed office April 20, 2010, replacing veteran Congress leader
D.D. Lapang.
Mukul Sangma, a medical practitioner, gave up his government job
as medical and health officer in Tura health centre and plunged into the
electoral fray in 1993.
He contested and won the Ampatigiri assembly constituency in
West Garo Hills as an independent candidate. There was no looking back
for him since then.
At the age of 33, Mukul Sangma bagged a cabinet berth and held
various posts as minister of taxation, information and public relations and
others.
In 2005, he was appointed deputy chief minister in-charge of home
and education departments. But he was forced to quit after the Garo Hills
police firing, in which nine people lost their lives, over the Meghalaya
Board of School Education issue.
09. UPSC Changed the Scheme of Civil Services MAIN
Examination 2013
Updated on 07 MAR 2013
Union Public Service Commission in its latest notification released
on 6 March 2013 changed the Scheme of Civil Services {MAIN
(Written+Interview/Personality Test)} Examination, 2013. The
commission had also made some changes in the choice of language
medium in the Civil Services (Main) Examination.
For the first time in the history of Civil Services the candidates
planning to apply for the Civil Services Examination or Indian Forest
Service Examination or both will have to fill in this common Application
Form.
New topics added to the syllabus include:-
• In Paper I Section 2 – English Précis of Matriculation or 10th
standard level had been added.
• In Paper II General Studies – I part the History and Geography of
the World and Society had been added.
• In Paper IV General Studies – III Disaster Management had been
added along with Technology, Economic Development, Bio-
diversity, Environment and Security.
• In Paper-V General Studies –IV Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude has
been added.
Analysis:-
The weightage of marks of the interview have been kept at the
same standard of 13, i.e.
• Previously the Interview Carried: 300/2300*100=13% approx At
Present 275/2075*100=13% approx.
Similarly the weightage of the Optional Paper had been reduced
from 52% to 24, i.e.
• Previously it was 1200/2300*100=52% approx
• And now it is 500/2075*100=24% approx.
In case of the General Studies Paper the Weightage of Marks have
gone up to 48% from 26%, i.e.
• Previously it was 600/2300*100=26%;
• And now it is 1000/2075*100=48%.
Comparison of changes implemented in the syllabus of the
examination
Previous Present
Essay – 200 Marks Essay – 200 Marks
English – 100 marks
General Studies
Paper I and II
General Studies
Paper I, II, III and
IV
Marks carried by
General Studies was
2*300=600
Marks carried by
General Studies was
4*250=1000
Optional A Paper I -
300 Marks, Paper II
- 300 Marks
Optional A Paper I -
250 Marks, Paper II
- 250 Marks
Optional B Paper I -
300 Marks, Paper II
- 300 Marks
Optional B (No more
in existence)
Interview/Personality
Test - 300
Interview/Personality
Test – 275 marks
10. Neiphiu Rio Cabinet takes oath in Nagaland
Updated on 06 MAR 2013
Neiphiu Rio 63, of Naga People’s Front (NPF) party was sworn in as
Chief Minister of Nagaland for the third straight term on 5 March 2013
along with 11 ministers by the Governor Nikhil Kumar at the Raj Bhavan
in Kohima.
The other eleven ministers who had taken oath for the office were
from his own party, the Naga People’s Front (NPF), which had won 38
seats in the 60-member house.
The Naga People’s Front (NPF), is supported by two alliance
partners, BJP and JD(U) with one MLA each, also with an unconditional
support of 7 Independents.
The other 11 ministers who took oath are, Noke Konyak, T. R.
Zeliang, G. Kaito Aye, Imkong L. Imchen, Kuzholuzo Nienu, Kiyaneilie
Peseyie, Yanthungo Patton, C M Chang, E E Pangteang, S Pangyuh Phom
and R Merentoshi Jamir.
11. Arun Jaitley, Karan Singh and Sharad Yadav Are Best
Parliamentarian
Updated on 07 MAR 2013
Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley, Congress veteran Karan Singh and
JD(U) Chief Sharad Yadav have been selected for the 'Outstanding
Parliamentarian Award.
Jaitley, who is Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, gets the
award for the year 2010, Karan Singh for 2011 and Sharad Yadav for
2012.
Jaitley and Singh are members of the Upper House from Gujarat
and Delhi, respectively, while Yadav is a Lok Sabha member from
Madhepura, Bihar. Yadav is also party President of JD (U).
The Indian Parliamentary Group had instituted the award in 1994
which is conferred every year.
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar had constituted an Award
Committee to select the member for the award for the three years.
The Executive Committee of the Indian Parliamentary Group
unanimously accepted the recommendation of the Award Committee at
its meeting held on 6 March 2013. The awards will be conferred at a
function later.
The Award is conferred every year on an Outstanding
Parliamentarian recommended by the Committee and approved by the
Executive Committee of the Indian
12. Nagpur Is the Most Liveable Indian City; Nashik Best
Tourist-Friendly City: Survey
Updated on 07 MAR 2013
Top healthcare facilities, greenery and public transport won Nagpur
the award for the most liveable Indian city at the ABP News-IPSOS Best
City Survey and Awards 2013 event here 6 March 2013. Delhi was
adjudged the best for primary education and roads.
The awards, given for the first time, were based on surveys that
scientifically evaluated and identified the cities with a population above
10 lakh on 13 parameters including affordable housing, roads, public
transport, cleanliness and sanitation and women safety.
While Nagpur got the award for the best public transport, health
care services and green cover, Rajkot was adjudged the city with the
best law and order.
Rajkot also ranked the highest when it came to women safety and
cleanliness and sanitation.
The city with the most efficient traffic management was Pune.
Madurai was awarded for the most affordable housing.
For frequent travellers, Nashik emerged as the best tourist-friendly
city and Delhi got the best city award for primary education and roads.
Mumbai was awarded for being the city with the best power
availability.
The objective of the survey and award is to reward cities that
provide a role model to inspire other cities to adopt a more integrated
approach to urban management.
13. AirAsia to be first foreign carrier to Enter India’s Aviation
Sector
Updated on 07 MAR 2013
The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) on Wednesday the
6 March 2013 cleared the investment proposal of Malaysian budget
carrier AirAsia to launch a new airline in partnership with the Tata Group
and Arun Bhatia's Telestra Tradeplace.
AirAsia, through its investment arm, AirAsia Investment Ltd (AAIL),
intends to own 49% in the new airline with the remaining stake held by
the other two Indian firms.
AirAsia will be the first foreign carrier to enter India's aviation
sector since the government changed its rules in September last year to
allow foreign carriers pick up to 49% stake in domestic airlines.
Tata Sons, the holding company of the $100 billion salt-to-software
conglomerate, would hold 30% in the joint venture but will not have any
operating role in the airline, while the Telestra Tradeplace would hold
21% stake. This will mark the return of Tatas to aviation sector.
AirAsia has announced it would set up a 49:30:21 JV with the Tata
Sons and Telestra Tradeplace of Indian investor Arun Bhatia to launch
the new airline.
The three companies would infuse $9 million within a fortnight of
the FIPB clearance to set up the venture.
The initial investment by the AirAsia led joint venture would be
around Rs 80 crore.
AirAsia is looking to start flying operations from June this year
(2013) with 3-4 planes and would be headquartered in Chennai. It would
focus on providing domestic connectivity to Tier-II and Tier-III cities. The
proposed airline would not fly on international routes any time soon as
the current rules allow only those airlines to operate on international
routes which have completed five years of domestic operations and have
a minimum fleet of five aircraft.
14. Rajeev Shahare Appointed As the New High Commissioner of
India to Maldives
Updated on 10 MAR 2013
Rajeev Shahare was appointed as the new High Commissioner to
Maldives on 28 February 2013, replacing D M Mulay.
At present, Shahare is a Joint Secretary in the West Asia North
Africa division of Ministry of External Affairs. D M Mulay, on the other
hand, has now been appointed as the India’s Consul General in New
York. He would take up office in March 2013.
The appointment of Rajeev Shahare came at a time when bilateral
relations between India and Maldives are suffering because of
termination of contract to GMR for Male International Airport
modernisation.
15. India’s First All Women Post Office Comes up in Delhi
Updated on 09 MAR 2013
Union Communications and Information Technology Minister Kapil
Sibal inaugurated India’s First all Women Employees Post Office at the
Shastri Bhawan here on 8 March 2013 on the occasion of International
Women’s Day.
This office is a Project Arrow Office and has three counters. Two
counters offer Multi Purpose services like booking of Speed Post,
Registration, Sale of IPO’s, Booking of Money Orders etc. and an
exclusive counter for Sale of Stamps. Women employees will now man all
these counters of the Post Office. The working hours of this Post Office
will be from 9.30 a.m. till 5.30 p.m.
There are 1003 women employees at the operative level in the
Delhi circle, and their percentage in total work force is about 14%. In the
administrative cadres, the percentage is 22%.
The Junior Engineer [Civil] is In-charge of maintenance of this Post
Office building, the Assistant Superintendent of Post Offices of the Postal
Sub Division as well as Senior Superintendent of Post Offices of Delhi
Central division who are controlling officers of this Post Office are also
woman.
16. Indian Financial Regulators signed MoU to Monitor
Conglomerates
Updated on 09 MAR 2013
Financial sector regulators on Friday the 8 March 2013 signed an
agreement to monitor conglomerates - large banks and other key players
- in view of their rising importance to the real economy, apart from
approving a national strategy for financial education.
The decisions were taken at a sub-committee meeting of the
Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) held in New Delhi, in
the Reserve Bank.
The four financial sector regulators are the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Insurance
Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) and Pension Fund
Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
The MoU is aimed at better cooperation in the field of joint
supervision and monitoring of the large groups identified as financial
conglomerates.
The FSDC meeting, chaired by RBI Governor D Subbarao, also
approved formulating a national strategy for financial education by
incorporating the feedback received from public consultations and from a
global peer review.
Apart from Dr. Subbarao, the meeting was attended by Finance
Secretary R S Gujral, Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram,
Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Takru, Chief Economic Adviser to the
Finance Minister Raghuram Rajan, SEBI Chairman U K Sinha, IRDA chief
T S Vijayan and PFRDA Chairman Yogesh Agarwal.
All the four RBI Deputy Governors - K C Chakrabarty, Anand Sinha,
H R Khan and Urjit Patel - and RBI Executive Director G Gopalakrishna
were also present.
The meeting also discussed the continuing uncertainty in the eurozone
and the US and their impact on capital flows to India and other emerging
markets.
Other key topics deliberated upon were potential risks to the stability of
Indian financial system due to the slowing growth, rising current account
deficit and concerns on asset quality of banks.
RBI had on 22 February 2013 released rules on allowing companies
to start banks in India and such coordination among regulators is needed
for effective supervision.
17. International Women's Day 2013 Celebrated Across the
World
Updated on 09 MAR 2013
8 March 2013: International Women's Day:
International Women's Day was celebrated across the world on 8
March 2013. The theme for 2013 International Women's Day is- A
promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women.
On this day, the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee laid
emphasis on the monumental role of women in designing the country.
Nirbhaya to be honoured posthumously:
It was decided by the Women and Child Development Ministry that
fighting spirit of Nirbhaya should be honoured with Stree Shakti awards
which are conferred upon outstanding women of India. Pranab Mukherjee
will give away the award to Nirbhaya’s family.
Background:
Much progress has been made to protect and promote women’s
rights in recent times. However, nowhere in the world can women claim
to have all the same rights and opportunities as men, according to the
UN. The majority of the world's 1.3 billion absolute poor are women. On
average, women receive between 30 and 40 percent less pay than men
earn for the same work. Women also continue to be victims of violence,
with rape and domestic violence listed as significant causes of disability
and death among women worldwide.
The first International Women’s Day occurred on March 19 in 1911.
The inaugural event, which included rallies and organized meetings, was
a big success in countries such as Austria, Denmark, Germany and
Switzerland. The March 19 date was chosen because it commemorated
the day that the Prussian king promised to introduce votes for women in
1848. The promise gave hope for equality but it was a promise that he
failed to keep. The International Women’s Day date was moved to March
8 in 1913.
The UN drew global attention to women's concerns in 1975 by
calling for an International Women's Year. It also convened the first
conference on women in Mexico City that year. The UN General Assembly
then invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for
Women's Rights and International Peace in 1977. The day aimed to help
nations worldwide eliminate discrimination against women. It also
focused on helping women gain full and equal participation in global
development.
International Men’s Day: is also celebrated on November 19 each
year.
Symbols:
The International Women’s Day logo is in purple and white and
features the symbol of Venus, which is also the symbol of being female.
The faces of women of all backgrounds, ages, and nations are also seen
in various promotions, such as posters, postcards and information
booklets, on International Women’s Day. Various messages and slogans
that promote the day are also publicized during this time of the year.
18. President of India Released the Commemorative Postage
Stamp on Sahir Ludhianvi
Updated on 08 MAR 2013
The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee on Friday the 8 March
2013 released the Commemorative Postage Stamp on Sahir Ludhianvi on
occasion of his birth anniversary at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
During the release of the stamp, various dignitaries were present
and these included Union Minister for Communications and Information
Technology as well as Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting.
Sahir Ludhianvi died on 25 October 1980 and was a renowned Urdu
poet. He was known among the young for his poetry on beauty and love.
Sahir Ludhianvi had converged Urdu poetry into the film songs as well.
Also, he fought for recognition of lyric writers through the Film Writers
Association.
19. World Bank Bars Larsen & Turbo for six Months over Forgery
Updated on 10 MAR 2013
World Bank has barred Larsen & Toubro (L&T) from doing any
business with it or the projects funded by it for six months, after finding
that a senior executive of the Indian conglomerate has indulged in fraud.
This would make L&T ineligible for being awarded contracts for any
World Bank funded projects, from receiving any loan proceeds made by
the Bank or participating in any Bank-financed project till 6 September
2013.
The sanction order, dated 7 March 2013, said that L&T's ineligibility
would continue across the entire World Bank group and has been
imposed on L&T "for fraudulent practices" as per the bank's Procurement
Guidelines against Fraud and Corruption.
During the debarment period, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) as well as any
of the entities controlled directly or indirectly by it can't be nominated
even subcontractor, consultant, manufacturer, supplier or even service
provider to an otherwise eligible firm being awarded a World Bank
financed project.
The matter pertains to a bid submitted by L&T through the regional
business head of its Medical Equipment and Systems unit to a World
Bank-financed project in Tamil Nadu.
In January 2005, the World Bank Group had entered into a
Development Credit Agreement with the Indian government to provide
$110.83 million of International Development Association credit for the
Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project.
It was set up to improve the effectiveness of health systems in the
state by increasing access to critical health services for poor,
disadvantaged and tribal groups.
In July 2008, bidding documents were issued by the Tamil Nadu Medical
Service Corporation for a contract to supply 130 ultrasound scanners
under the project, following which L&T submitted a bid on 3 September
2008 through the regional business head.
Upon technical and financial evaluation, L&T's bid was found to be
the lowest-priced, but a complaint was received later that some of the
certificates submitted with the bid might have been forged.
The bid contained a total 115 performance certificates purportedly
issued by medical facilities stating that the ultrasound scanners supplied
by L&T were working well.
After the company was asked to explain, the regional business
head said that some medical facilities may have mistakenly denied
issuing the certificates and requested that L&T not be viewed as (having)
indulged in fraudulent practice.
In December 2008, L&T was informed that the tender has been
cancelled and the contract was awarded to another firm through a new
bidding process.
After looking into the matter, the World Bank's Integrity Vice
Presidency (INT) alleged that L&T "engaged in fraudulent practices by
submitting forged performance certificates with its bid".
20. Cabinet Committee on Security approved Flexible Use of
Airspace
Updated on 09 MAR 2013
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Friday the 8 March
2013 cleared Flexible Use of Airspace (FUA) by civil and military users,
which was unsettled for last few years.
There was a necessity to fulfil the demand of national security,
where the requirement of airspace by the military was to be fulfilled in
the fast changing environment of air warfare. Therefore, sharing of
airspace on a need basis, by civil and military users was an urgent
national requisite.
Ajit Singh with taking over the charge as Union Civil Aviation
Minister implemented the Flexible Use of Airspace, which will result in
fuel saving of 202380 kg per annum and reduction of carbon dioxide
emission by 6393600 kg per annum by direct routing between seven city
pairs of Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Kolkata, Delhi–Chennai, Delhi-Hyderabad,
Delhi- Begaluru, Kolkata-Chennai and Chennai-Mumbai for which the
information is available.
Objective of Flexible use of Airspace (FUA):-
• The primary objective of FUA is to enhance airspace Capacity,
minimize delays, fuel conservation, emission reduction and ultimate
benefits to travelling public.
• Implementation of FUA through efficient civilian military co-
ordination is an essential requirement to foster the traffic growth
with ultimate benefit to the nation’s economy.
• FUA permits both military and civil user to efficiently and effectively
utilize the available airspace on sharing basis to gain optimum
usage, thereby enhancing its capacity, which results into efficient
operations.
• In this model a coordinated procedure between the civil and the
military and vice versa, as per need and on a real time basis if it is
not being used by the user assigned with the responsibility for its
control.
Working mechanism of Flexible use of Airspace (FUA):-
• As a first step for implementation of the FUA in India, a National
High Level Airspace Policy Body (NHLAPB) for airspace use, be set
up, to take up the job of strategic planning and assess/reassess the
national airspace requirements of various stakeholders.
• It will establish flexible airspace use structure/committee’s and
introduce procedures for allocation of these airspace structures.
• The NHLAPB will be chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation
with representation from Ministry of Defence, Indian Air force,
Indian Navy, Indian Space Research Organization, Airport Authority
of India and Directorate General of Civil Aviation. It can co-opt new
members in future depending upon requirement.
The Ministry of Defence has agreed with the proposal for
implementation of FUA, subject to ensuring adequate safeguards in the
system to prevent inadvertent leak of Military information and
dissemination of any information on Military Aviation activities strictly on
need to know basis.
22. Former CBI Director Ashwani Kumar appointed Nagaland
Governor
Suggested Readings: Person Appointed, March 2013 Current Affairs, News Capsule, 2013 Current Affairs
Published on: 10-MAR-2013
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62 year old Former CBI Director, Ashwani Kumar on 9 March 2013 appointed as Governor of
Nagaland.
Ashwani Kumar was the Director of the agency from August 2008 to November 2010. He will be
the first head of the agency to be appointed as a Governor.
With the appointment of Ashwani Kumar Former Delhi Police Commissioner Nikhil Kumar, who
was serving as Governor of Nagaland, has been transferred and appointed as Governor of
Kerala for the remainder of his tenure. 72-year-old Nikhil Kumar is a 1963-batch IPS officer,
who was appointed as Governor of Nagaland on 15 October 2009.
A brief insight into Aswani Kumar life
• He has worked in various positions in CBI and elite SPG(Special Protection Group)
• He completed his doctorate from Himachal Pradesh University.
Other appointments
• With the appointment of Ashwani Kumar as governor of Nagaland, President Pranab
Mukherjee also transferred Governor of Tripura D Y Patil to Bihar and shifted Bihar Governor
Devanand Konwar to Tripura for the remainder of their five-year terms,
• Four time Chief Minister of Nagaland and former Governor of Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat,
81-year-old SC Jamir was appointed as Governor of Odhisa.
• SC Jamir succeds 84-year-old M C Bhandare who had been appointed as Governor in August
2007 and was continuing even after his term had expired last year.