“Water, Peace and War – Confronting the Global Water Crisis” Mr. Brahma Chellaney’s book launchedFebruary 27, 2014

The Vice President of India, Mr. M. Hamid Ansari launched a book titled “Water, Peace and War – Confronting the Global Water Crisis” authored by Mr. Brahma Chellaney.

About the “Water, Peace and War – Confronting the Global Water Crisis” bookFocus: On a wide range of research from scientific and policy fields to examine the global linkages between water and peace.

Author: Mr. Brahma Chellaney.

Founds a way on how we can secure humankind’s water future and promised to become the recognized authority on the most precious natural resources of this century.

The author sketched a bleak picture of water scarcity in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East regions that are not only struggling with unstable governments, but also rapidly growing populations.

Water stressed conditions are also appearing in developed countries, viz.

Australia, Spain, and South Korea. Even the deep-water aquifers that support modern agriculture in North America are dwindling.

Euthanasia Plea issue: Apex Court refers matter to constitution bench

February 27, 2014

The Supreme Court of India referred the issue of legalizing euthanasia in the country to a five-judge Constitution bench. Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering. Due to conflicted opinions on euthanasia, the apex court stated that the Constitution bench will go into all aspects of the issue and take a final decision on framing guidelines.

The PIL filed by NGO “Common Cause” had contended that a person whose life was ebbing out should be allowed to die, as the continuance of the life with the support system was an unnatural extension of the natural life span. The Centre had vociferously opposed the plea terming it as “suicide” which could not be allowed in the country.

Note: Jurisdictions where euthanasia or assisted suicide is legal –the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Estonia, Albania, and the US states of Washington, Oregon and Montana.

Indian- American Scientist Sangeeta Bhatia developed cheap paper diagnostic for cancerFebruary 27, 2014

The Indian-American scientist, Ms. Sangeeta Bhatia developed a simple, cheap, paper test that could improve cancer diagnosis rates and help people to get treated earlier. Ms. Bhatia is professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

About the paper diagnostic test for cancerThe diagnostic, which works much like a pregnancy test, could reveal within minutes, based on a urine sample, whether a person has cancer. The synthetic biomarker technology relies on nano-particles that interact with tumour proteins called proteases, each of which can trigger release of hundreds of biomarkers that are then easily detectable in a patient’s urine.

Concept of synthetic biomarker technology: To amplify signals from tumor proteins (that would be hard to detect on their own) by injecting special nanoparticles into the body.

These proteins are known as Matrix Metallo Proteinase (MMP) that help cancer cells to escape from their original locations by cutting through proteins of the extra cellular matrix, which normally holds cells in place.

These nanoparticles, coated with peptides (short protein fragments), can interact with tumour proteins called proteases. In a patient’s body, these particles congregate at tumour sites, where cancer proteases cleave the peptides, which then accumulate in the kidneys and are excreted in the patient’s urine.

These biomarkers are easily detectable using an approach known as a lateral flow assay, the same technology used in pregnancy tests. In tests in mice, the researchers were able to accurately identify colon tumours, as well as blood clots.

Note: As per the current version of the technology, patients would first receive an injection of the nanoparticles, and then urinate onto the paper test strip. To make the process more convenient, the researchers are now working on a nanoparticle formulation that could be implanted under the skin for longer-term monitoring.

“1322”- security helpline number launched by Northern Railway for passengers

February 27, 2014

Northern Railway launched 24 x 7 security helpline No.1322 to provide speedy assistance to passengers in the event of thefts, harassment and other criminal incidents on rail premises.

The call can be made from a landline or mobile number.Once a passenger calls the helpline, a unique complaint number will be generated and provided to the complainant to be followed for necessary action.The security helpline service will be managed by Railway Protection Force (RPF).

At present, the facility will be operational in 731 stations of the Northern zone covering Ambala, Ferozpur, Moradabad, Delhi and Lucknow divisions.

Future Plan: To launch “1322” as an all India helpline number for Railway passengers.

India and Canada inked 3 pacts to enhance business and cultural tiesFebruary 27, 2014

India and Canada signed 3 pacts for cooperation inhealth sector, audio-visual co-production and skill development. Currently, the Governor General of Canada, Mr. David Johnston is on a 9 day visit to India.

MoUs signed between India and Canada:

The Grand Challenges Canada and Department of Biotechnology will work together to address the global health challenges especially for women and child healthcare.

The secretary of information and broadcasting, Mr. Bimal Julka and Mr. Stewart Beck (High Commissioner of Canada to India) signed an agreement on the audio visual cooperation. This MoU will enable Indian and Canadian film producers to utilize a platform for collaboration on various facets of film making. The agreement is expected to deepen the engagement between the critical sectors of the film industries of both countries there by, providing a new chapter of collaboration.

National Skill Development Corporation from India and Association of Canadian Community College from Canada will work in skill development segment and to cooperate and share the information and learning on this aspect.

Target Accelerator Programme (TAP) launched first accelerator programme for Indian start-upsFebruary 27, 2014

The Indian arm of US retailer Target, Target India launched its Target Accelerator Programme in Bangalore to incubate and provide mentoring to its first batch of five technology start-ups. Target will provide funding of up to $30,000 in cash and operational expenses to each of its incubated ventures.

About Target Accelerator Programme (TAP)

Objective: Target’s program is designed to help early-stage startups to develop ideas that could improve the retail giant’s business and the broader retail industry.

Focus: on incubating startups operating in the areas of mobile, content, social, search, data and analytics.

Runs for four-months in Target India’s Bangalore office and will annually incubate four to five startups in the mobile, social media and big data analytics segment.The selected startups will also be mentored and provided with business tools and operational support.

“e-wallet Scheme” launched by IRCTCFebruary 27, 2014The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) launched e-Wallet Scheme to make payment process fast and to reduce transaction failures due to bank payment related problems. (IRCTC is a public sector undertaking of theMinistry of Railways). At present, one has to make the payment for the fare of the ticket, while booking e-ticket, through Credit card, Debit card or Net banking.

“e-Wallet Scheme“A rolling deposit scheme wherein the customers will have an account with the IRCTC and deposit money to be used in future for booking e-tickets from its website (www.irctc.co.in).

Names of all passengers booked on a fully wait-listed e-ticket are dropped at the time of preparation of reservation charts and fare is refunded automatically.In case of ticket cancellation, the due refund will be credited to the e-Wallet account next day.

Available for PAN verified users only.

There is no difference between e-tickets booked through e-wallet scheme or those booked through other payment options available on the website.Click here for e-Wallet User Guide: eWALLET User Guide

Whistleblowers Protection Bill 2014: Passed by Parliament to encourage those disclosing information on corrupt public servants

February 27, 2014

The Parliament of India approved the Whistleblowers Protection Bill 2014 to set up a mechanism to encourage persons for disclosure of information on corruption or willful misuse of power by public servants. The bill also seeks to provide punishment for false or frivolous complaints. Recently, the Rajya Sabha gave its nod to the bill without any amendment after keeping it pending for more than two years. The Lok Sabha had passed the bill in 2011.

About Whistle-blowers Protection Bill 2014

Objective: To provide and protect mechanism, methodologies to encourage the person for reporting any such corruption activities or any misuse of power by a bureaucrats or government officer.

Will provide an adequate protection to persons reporting corruption or wilful misuse of discretion which causes demonstrable loss to the government or commission of a criminal offence by a public servant.

Sets the procedure to inquire into the disclosures and provides adequate safeguards against victimisation of the whistleblower. It will also seek to provide punishment for false or frivolous complaints.

Note: The bill would create a legal framework to investigate and prosecute cases of corruption involving government officials.

M.P.Bezbaruah Committee: For protection of rights of North Eastern peopleFebruary 27, 2014The Union Government expanded Bezbaruah panel to look into the various kinds of concerns of the persons hailing from the North Eastern States, who are living in different parts of the country, especially the Metropolitan areas, and to suggest suitable remedial measures which could be taken by the Government.

Four new members drafted in the committee: Ms. Marina Nido (Mother of the Student Nido Tania who died after being allegedly beaten by some shopkeepers in south Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar), former IPS officerS T Sangliana and student’s leaders J Mavio and J T Tagam fromNagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

Earlier, a six-member panel led by Former IAS officer M P Bezbaruah, was formed to propose remedial measures to address concerns of people from the Northeast following outrage over the death in Delhi of a 19-year-old student from Arunachal Pradesh.

Members: Retired IAS officers H W T Syeim, Allen Temshi Jamir, Tape Bagra and P Bharat Singh and the Deputy Secretary in Ministry of Home Affairs S Saha as Member Secretary.Terms of Reference of the Bezbaruah Committee:-

To examine the various kinds of concerns, including the concerns regarding security, of the persons hailing from the North Eastern States.

To examine the causes behind the attacks/violence and discrimination against the people from the North-Eastern States.

To suggest measures to be taken by the Government to address these concerns.

To suggest legal remedies to address all the concerns.

The Bezbaruah panel will interact with the students/professionals, NGOs, students’ organizations and other persons from the North Eastern States living in Delhi to seek their suggestions.

Note: Suggestions can also be sent by e-mail at mpbcomm.Northeast@gmail.com and also by post to S Saha, Member Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Room No. 172-C, North Block, New Delhi.

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SOMAH Solution- to preserve donated organs”; developed by Indian origin doctor Dr. Hemant ThatteFebruary 27, 2014An Indian origin doctor, Dr. Hemant Thatte developed a 21-chemical solution known as SOMAH Solution that could preserve a donated organ for up to a week before a transplant.

Dr. Hemant Thatte is a senior cardiovascular surgeon at Harvard University.

What is SOMAH Solution?

SOMAH Solution in Sanskrit means elixir of immortality.

The new preservative that is a mixture of 21 chemicals, has the potential to store the heart (and other organs) for up to 7 days.

A research paper published in the medical journal Circulation in October 2009 showed cells of organs preserved in SOMAH had a lower rate of death than in another preservation solution.

The biggest advantage of SOMAH is that it can be used at room temperatures. Presently, hearts and lungs need to be transplanted within 4-6 hours of being recovered from a brain-dead donor, the liver within 8 hours and kidneys within a bit more than 24 hours. In addition, the available organs cannot be transported long-distance for transplant and have to be made available locally.

Sochi 2014: Russia topped medal table as Winter Olympics came to an end

February 27, 2014

The 2014 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXII Olympic Winter Games, held in Sochi, Russia. Host nation Russia finished on top of the medal table by winning 33 medals in the tournament.

Top five Countries who topped the list:

RankCountryGoldSilverBronze1Russia

(RUS)*131192 Norway (NOR)115103 Canada (CAN)101054United States (USA)97125Netherlands (NED)879

Ashok Kumar Mathur-7th Pay Commission: Cabinet approved merger of 50% DA with Pay and 7th Pay Commission Terms of ReferenceFebruary 27, 2014

In order to benefit over 50 lakh employees and over 30 lakh pensioners, the Union Cabinet approved terms of reference for seventh pay commission. This includes merging dearness allowance above 50% with basic pay.

At present, Dearness Allowance (DA) is around 90% of basic pay and another hike of 10% is expected soon. DA is calculated on the basis of change in retail inflation.

As per practice, the government uses CPI-IW data of the past 12 months to arrive at a quantum for the purpose of any DA hike. Thus, the retail inflation for industrial workers between January 1 to December 31, 2013 would be used to take a final call on the matter.

Note: To revise the salary structure of Union government employees from both civil and military services, the Union Government constituted the 7th Central Pay Commission under the chairmanship of Mr. Ashok Kumar Mathur, a retired Supreme Court judge and retired chairman of Armed Forces Tribunal.

Sri Lanka makes graphic warning on cigarette packs mandatoryFebruary 27, 2014

The Sri Lankan parliament passed a law that makes it mandatory for putting graphic warning on cigarette packs. Under the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act, the three regulations passed to discourage smoking in the country.

As per the regulation

Pictorial warnings should be printed on the surface of both front and back portions of every cigarette packet, package or carton containing cigarettes covering 80% of the pack, package or cartoon.

Also made it mandatory to specify health warnings on the packs and includes Smoking makes children ill, Smoking causes heart diseases, Smoking causes cancer and Smoking causes sexual impotence mandatory.

Note: In Srilanka, the numbers of cancer patients are on increase and annual death toll due to smoking amounts to about 20,000 persons.

Online shopping portal for authentic tribal products launchedFebruary 27, 2014

The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched an online shopping portal for sale of authentic tribal products that will seek to create a ‘niche’ market for indigenous artisans.

About the e-commerce portal

This online portal is initially open for only Indian shoppers and for international buyers later.

Features 69 tribal products viz. textiles, metal artifacts and jewellery, etc.Launched by Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Raj V Kishore Chandra Deo.Objective: To provide branding, source certification and developing standards for products.

Shawls, stoles and mufflers will be in available in Angora, sheep wool and Pashmina material from states viz. Orissa, Assam, etc.Paintings from four states and dokra metal artifacts and jewelleryfrom states viz. Nagaland and Himachal Pradesh will also be available.

Detailed write- ups of the products will also be available.

The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) is making special efforts to promote the sales of handicrafts.

Future Plans: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has plans to launch a new website for the minor forest produce viz. honey and tamarind.

IMF projected India’s FY’15 growth at 5.4%February 27, 2014

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected 5.4% economic growth for India in 2014-15 and proposed to strengthen the inflation management polices and doing away with supply bottlenecks for better GDP.

The IMF forecast:Consumer prices based inflation is expected to remain near double-digits in 2014-15, driven by high food inflation that feeds into wages and core inflation.

The tight monetary policy would slow the growth recovery.

For the fiscal year 2013-14, India’s growth will be 4.6% and will pick up to 5.4% in 2014-15 at factor cost. (These projections of India were a conclusion of its annual discussions with India).

As per India’s official estimates, the economy is probably to expand at 4.9% in 2013-14 as against 4.5% in the previous fiscal. The government expects to growth to pick up in the 2014-15 fiscal.

“Patna” – World’s Longest Free Wi-Fi Zone in IndiaFebruary 27, 2014

The Chief Minister of Bihar, Mr. Nitish Kumar unveiled the world’s longest free Wi-Fi zone at the e-Bihar summit in Patna. The free Wi-Fi zone stretched nearly 20 km between the National Institute of Technology (NIT) at the eastern end of the Ashok Rajpath and Danapur at the western end of the state capital, Patna.

This new free Wi-Fi zone beats the current world’s longest zone of 3.5 km in China.

In a bid to make Patna crime-free, Mr. Kumar also inaugurated the ‘city surveillance and dial 100’ project, wherein 100s’ of CCTV cameras would be installed all over the city for better safety and security.

A state data centre has also been opened for storing of the ‘data’ collected by these cameras.

This project will enable CCTVs to capture vehicle numbers and person’s identity instantly, which would be shared all over the network to nab any criminal. Every vehicle entering or exiting the city would be monitored this way.

Positive Outcome of Free Wi-Fi zone: Still, internet connectivity in India is poor and Wi-Fi hubs are rare. Also, free WiFi zones are next to negligible in the country. Such a step has put not just India on the global map but even made Bihar an example to follow for other states.

Sikkim: Best State in implementation of rural tourism projects.

February 26, 2014

The Union Ministry of Tourism declared Sikkim as the best State in the implementation of rural tourism projects. The Union Minister for Human Resource Development Dr. Shashi Tharoor presented the National Tourism Award 2012-13 to Sikkim’s Tourism Minister Bhim Dhungel in New Delhi.

As per the Union Tourism Ministry, Sikkim is the perfect destination to experience warm hospitality, rich culture and scenic natural beauty.

The tourism department of Sikkim had tied up with states viz. Kerala, Gujarat, Karnataka and Goa for tourist flow from these states to Sikkim.

To ensure international tourism flow in the state, the department is also negotiating with countries viz. Bhutan and Nepal.

To boost tourism in Sikkim

The Chief Minister Mr. Pawan Chamling, launched an ambitious Rs.140 crore project for developing various tourism convenience facilities, view points, halting points, conferences, retiring units and other infrastructural facilities project in the state.

Sanctioned Rs.50 crores for setting up facilitation centres in Gangtok and various other important tourist destinations of the state.

A total 20 facilitation centres will be set up in the state for strengthening tourism facilities, and added that capacity building, training, marketing, manpower and human resources will be strengthened under these facilitation centres.

The main facilitation centre will be set up in Gangtok at a total cost of Rs.40 crores, while the other facilitation centres in small towns and major tourist destinations will be constructed at a cost of Rs.50 lakh each. All facilitation centres will start to function by the year 2015.

“Odia”- 6th Indian classical language

February 25, 2014

The Union Cabinet gave its nod for classifying Odia as a classical language to give impetus to scholarships in the language. It is the sixth Indian language to get such prestigious tag after Sanskrit, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam.

There has been a long-standing demand that Odia, which is one of the oldest languages and has no resemblance to Hindi, Sanskrit, Bengali, Telugu, etc, be declared as a classical language.

What is a ‘Classical Language’ ?

A classical language is a language with a literature (art of written work) that is classical. U.C.Berkeley linguist George L. Hart defined Classical Language as follows:

“It should be ancient, it should be an independent tradition that arose mostly on its own, not as an offshoot of another tradition, and it must have a large and extremely rich body of ancient literature.”

Classical languages are those which are ancient, of an independent nature and not a derivative of any other tradition. And based on above, Chinese, Sanskrit, Tamil, Hebrew, Greek and Latin are considered as the Classical Languages of the World. Of these only Chinese and Tamil are used by masses now.

In India, Tamil was the first to gain the Classical Language status, followed by Sanskrit in 2005. These two languages (Tamil and Sanskrit) are undoubtedly parental sources for many languages belonging to the Indo-European family and the Dravidian family of linguistic groups.

In 2006, the Union Minister for Tourism and Culture announced in the Rajya Sabha the creation of a new category of languages as classical languages based on 4 norms:

(i) High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years;

(ii) A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers;

(iii) The literary tradition should be original and not borrowed from another speech community;

(iv) The classical language and literature being distinct from the modern, there may also be discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or offshoots.

A committee of linguistic experts followed it up, and based on its recommendation classical status was conferred on Telugu and Kannada in 2008. Thus, the definition of classical languages has undergone several changes over the years and the latest criterion too is susceptible to changes.

Benefits of declaring Odia as classical languageTwo major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in Odia language.

A ‘Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Languages’ can be set up.The University Grants Commission can be requested to create, to start with at least in Central Universities, a certain number of professional chairs for classical languages, for scholars of eminence in Odia language.

Which are the Classical Languages of India?

Languages thus far declared to be Classical are:

Tamil (2004)sSanskrit (2005)Kannada (2008)Telugu (2008)Malayalam (2013)Odia (2014)

ASI & Google jointly launched the 360 Degree Online View of Indian Heritage SitesFebruary 25, 2014

The Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI) and Google jointly launched 360-degree panoramic imagery of 30 out of 100 “nationally-important monuments”.

Objective: To create a dynamic, immersive online experience by which people within India and around the world can understand and engage more of India’s diverse cultural heritage.

In pursuance of the signed agreement with ASI and Union Culture Ministry, Google created a virtual walkthrough application using its Street View Trekker technology for the first time in India.

The images of sites that can be accessed on Google Maps through Street View are the Taj Mahal, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, Red Fort, Jantar Mantar, Fatehpuri Sikri, Itimad-ud-Daula, Agra Fort, Krishnagiri Fort, Rajagiri Fort, Chandragiri Fort, Agha Khan Palace, Fort St George, Nagarjuna Hill, Raigad Fort, etc.

Note: Street View Trekker Technology is a Street View camera platform, with 15 cameras on board that capture a 360-degree view of the area around. It is mounted on a wearable backpack and the total unit weighs around 20 kg. The operator walks through pedestrian routes and is designed to reach places that can be accessed by foot.

India and Bahrain signed three pacts to boost bilateral ties, during the State Visit of King of Kingdom of Bahrain to IndiaFebruary 23, 2014

India and oil-rich Gulf nation Bahrain signed three pacts to boost bilateral ties. The pacts were signed in the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Bahrain King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in New Delhi.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Bahrain:

In the fields of youth and sports: To strengthen bilateral cooperation through institutional exchanges particularly through exchange of youth and sports teams in various disciplines.

On the establishment of a “High-level joint commission” for bilateral cooperation to replace the Joint Committee for Technical and Economic Cooperation established in 1981. The ‘High Joint Commission’, to be chaired by the Foreign Ministers, will serve as an umbrella framework for all cooperation between the two countries.

Another MoU signed between the Foreign Service Institute and the Diplomatic Institute of Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote cooperation between the two organizations.

India’s First Minority Cyber Village inaugurated in Rajasthan

February 23, 2014

The Minister for Minority Affairs Mr. K Rehman Khan inaugurated India’s first Minority Cyber Village in Chandoli in Alwar district of Rajasthan. Ministry of Minority Affairs has targeted villages with substantial population of minorities for this project. Minority people will be benefited more from this cyber village concept.

About India’s First Minority Cyber VillageObjective: To provide computer education to the people of 15 to 59 age group.

Chandoli has been selected as the first village for the pilot project as it holds more than 80% of minority population and also because the minorities of the Mewat region is still backward in education.

Under this project, experts will provide training of commuter skills to the people of chandoli.

Future plan: Government pondering to open special schools on the pattern of Kendriya Vidyalayas for minority community and planning to come up with 200 new colleges in minority dominated areas and the areas viz. Laxmangarh, Tijara, Kishengarhbas and Ramgarh.

Parliament nod to bill to protect rights of street vendorsFebruary 23, 2014

Parliament passed “Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) bill-2014” to regulate street vending activities and protect the rights of urban street vendors besides ensuring steps against harassment by police and civic authorities. The Rajya Sabha adopted the bill by a voice vote and without discussion. (the bill was already passed by Lok Sabha).Excerpts of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) bill-2014

Objective: To protect the rights of urban street vendors and regulating street vending activities and to create conducive atmosphere where street vendors will be eligible to carry out their business in a fair and transparent manner, without fear of eviction and harassment.

Legalizes street vending activities to ensure urban street vendors’ safety from police harassment.

Propose: To set up Town Vending Committees (TVC), which will be responsible for deciding vending zones and the number of vendors that each zone should have.

Provides protection of livelihoods rights, social security of street vendors, regulation of urban street vending in the country and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.Provides time-bound release of seized goods, for both perishable and non-perishable goods

There is a provision for establishment of an independent dispute redressal mechanism under the chairmanship of retired judicial officers to maintain impartiality towards grievance redressal of street vendors.

In order to avoid uncertainty of authorities, the Bill provides for a survey of all existing street vendors, and subsequent survey at-least once in every five years, and issue of certificate of vending to all the street vendors identified in the survey, with preference to SC, ST, OBC, women, persons with disabilities, minorities etc.

As per Section 29 of the Bill street vendors will be protected from harassment by police and other authorities and there is a prime clause to ensure they carry on their business without the fear of harassment by the authorities under any other law.

To prevent delay in implementation, the bill provides that the Rules under the Bill have to be notified within one year of its commencement, and Scheme has to be notified within six months of its commencement.

Note: The Parliament also passed two other bills: Governors Emoluments, (Allowances and Privileges) Amendment and National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Amendment). These two bills were also approved by the Rajya Sabha without discussion after these were adopted by the Lok Sabha.

MSME Ministry to launch virtual network to link clusters

February 23, 2014The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is set to launch a virtual network wherein different clusters of micro, small and medium enterprises can connect on a common platform and share information to help them expand their business.

About Virtual Cluster ApproachAn initiative of the Ministry of MSME.

Purpose: To overcome the limitations of the Physical Approach requiring the location of the units in one geographical area besides substantial resources for creation of infrastructure.

Will enable small businesses across different sectors to co-exist with their peers on a web-portal.

Around 2,000 industrial clusters have been identified for undertaking soft and hard interventions with a view to increase the competitiveness of the enterprises.Till now, the Ministry of MSME helped around 850 clusters through its MSE — Cluster Development Programme.

Dua’s layer: Dr. Harminder Singh Dua, Indian origin UK doctor discovered new layer of cornea

February 21, 2014To cure blindness of eye due to glaucoma, Professor Harminder Singh Dua from the Nottingham University discovered an ultra-thin layer hidden deep in the human cornea that can help treat glaucoma. (He is an Indian origin UK doctor).

About the new layer discovered by Mr. DuaThis 15 microns thick new layer also known as Dua’s layer.Located at the back of the cornea between the corneal stroma and Descemet’s membrane.

Plays a vital role in the structure of the tissue that controls the flow of fluid from the eye.Makes an important contribution to the sieve-like trabecular meshwork called theTrabecular Meshwork (TM) in the periphery of the cornea.Benefit of this discovery: It will offer new clues on why the drainage system malfunctions in the eyes of some people, leading to high pressure.

The study was published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. Previously, Scientists believed that the cornea consists of five layers- from front to back— the corneal epithelium, Bowman’s layer, the corneal stroma, Descemet’s membrane and the corneal endothelium.

What is Trabecular Meshwork (TM)?TM is a wedge-shaped band of tissue that extends along the circumference of the angle of the anterior chamber of the eye. It is made of beams of collagen wrapped in a basement membrane to which trabecular cells and endothelial cells attach. The beams branch out randomly to form a ‘meshwork’.

Pressure within the eye is maintained by the balance of aqueous fluid production by eye tissue called the ciliary body and drainage principally through the TM to the canal of Schlemm, a circular channel in the angle of the eye.

Defective drainage through the TM is an important cause of glaucoma, a condition that leads to raised pressure in the eye that can permanently affect sight.

Note: Glaucoma is a devastating disease caused by defective drainage of fluid from the eye and is the world’s second leading cause of blindness.

Vizag Zoo: Soon, India’s first breeding centre for wild dogs (Dhole)

February 21, 2014The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) or Vizag Zoo will be the first zoo in India to have a conservation breeding centre for the endangered wild dog or ‘Dhole.’ The Central Zoo Authority selected IGZP to have a breeding centre for Dholes.Project: will be completed in two to three months.Cost: Rs. 50 lakh.

In India, the Dholes are protected under Schedule 2 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. (As per the schedule 2 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, permission is required to kill any individual unless in self-defense or if an individual is a man killer. About Dhole Also called the Asiatic wild dog or Indian wild dog.Scientific Name: Cuon alpinus. Order: Carnivora.Highly social and cooperative animal lives in large clans which occasionally split up into small packs to hunt.

Highest number of wild dogs in captivity in India: 22.Classified as an endangered species by the IUCN: Due to ongoing habitat loss, depletion of its prey base, competition from other predators, persecution and possibly diseases from domestic and feral dogs.

P.C. Chacko committee: To recommend punitive measures for the pepper spray incident in the Parliament

February 21, 2014The Lok Sabha Speaker, Ms. Meira Kumar referred the pepper spray incident in the Parliament to the Committee of Privileges, which has powers to recommend punitive measures. The senior Congress leader Mr. PC Chacko is the head of the privilege committee.

About the P.C. Chacko committeeConsists of 15 membersChairman of the Committee of Privileges of Lok Sabha: Mr. P C ChackoFunction: To examine every question involving breach of privilege or contempt of the House or of the members of any Committee thereof referred to it by the House or by the Speaker.

Enjoys power to take punitive measures which include recommending imprisonment and even expulsion among others.

Would also consider whether Members of Parliament should be frisked for security purposes before entering the two Houses.

What is the issue behind the forming of the privilege committee?On the issue of the introduction of Telangana Bill in the Parliament, a pepper spray was used by some MPs in the Parliament, which resulted in the hospitalization of three MPs (Member of Parliamentarians) and plunged the House into extreme confusion and disorder.

Later congress member Mr. L Rajagopal was expelled and 16 Seemandhra MPs were suspended.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat stated that the decision to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee has been done under Rule 227 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, where a question of privilege is referred to the Committee by the Speaker.

About Committee of PrivilegesExamines the cases of breach of privileges of the House and its members and recommends appropriate action.

Function: Semi judicial in nature.The Lok Sabha committee has 15 members while the Rajya Sabhacommittee has 10 members.

Purushottam Express will get first Braille signage coach in India

February 21, 2014

Purushottam Express (Train Number 12801/12802) will become the first train in India to be attached with a Braille-embedded AC coach for visually challenged passengersby the end of February 2014. Purushottam Express is a super-fast train running between Delhi and Puri.Purushottam Express (Train Number 12801 UP/12802 DOWN)is a daily train which runs between Puri in Odisha and New Delhi

About the first Braille signage coach in IndiaManufactured at Integrated Coach Factory in Chennai with the inputs received from Research Designs and Standards Organization (RDSO), Lucknow and in consultation with blind associations.

Costs about Rs. 40,000 to make a coach visually-challenged friendly as Braille printing are superimposed on the stickers which can be used by both a person with normal vision as well as a visually impaired person.The AC coach is equipped with Braille-embedded signages on berths, toilets, wash basins and doors as well.

Presently, coaches are provided with signages, instructions, seat numbers, etc that are mostly in the form of vinyl stickers or metallic plates and have no Braille characters and cannot be read by visually-impaired passengers.

Note: It was declared in the Rail Budget of 2013-14 that Braille stickers will be introduced for visually-challenged passengers.

Highlights of interim Union Budget 2014-2015 Tax proposal

February 21, 2014The Union Finance Minister Mr. P Chidambaram presented an Interim Budgetfor 2014-15. For the period up to June 30, 2014, Mr. Chidambaram reduced excise duty on:

(a) Capital goods and consumer non-durables (falling under Chapter 84 and 85 of the Schedule to the Central Excise Tariff Act): from 12 to 10 %.(b) Small cars, motors cycles, scooters and commercial vehicles: from12% to 8%.(c) Sports Utility Vehicles, SUVs: from 12% to 8%(d) Large & Mid-segment Cars: from 27/24% to 24/20%.

Other Key highlights of Budget 2014-2015 Tax proposalNo change in income tax rates.

Proposed to make appropriate reductions in the excise duty on chassis and trailers.Excise duty on mobile hand set to be 6% on CENVAT credit to encourage domestic production.

The custom duty structure on non-edible grade industrial oils and its fractions, fatty acids and fatty alcohols is reduce to 7.5% to encouragedomestic production of soaps and oleo chemicals.

To encourage domestic production of specified road construction machinery, the exemption from Counter Vailing Duty (CVD) on similar imported machinery is withdrawn.

A concessional custom duty 5 % on capital goods imported by the Bank Note Paper Mill India Private Limited is provided to encourage domestic production of security paper for printing currency notes.

The loading and un-loading, packing, storage and warehousing of rice are exempted from Service Tax.

Interim Union Budget 2014-15

February 21, 2014The Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram presented the Interim Budget 2014-15 in the Lok Sabha with an estimated plan expenditure of Rs. 5,55,322 crore and non-plan expenditure of Rs. 12,07,892 crore. Excise duty on cars, two-wheelers, SUVs and capital goods and consumer durables has been slashed to boost the manufacturing and growth. There is no change in income tax rates.

Important points of the Union Budget 2014-15Focus: On manufacturing and manufacturing exports.Fiscal deficit for FY14 to be contained at 4.6% of GDP; FY15 target at 4.1 %FY14 Current Account Deficit seen at $45 bn.FY14 Q3 & Q4 GDP growth to be at least 5.2%.

Agriculture credit will cross $ 45 billion against $41 billion in 2012-13.Food grain production estimated at 263 million tons in 2013-14Proposed a venture capital fund with an initial capital of Rs. 200 crore to promote entrepreneurship among scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.No change has been introduced under the tax laws but a change has been introduced for the indirect taxes.

Budgetary support to railways increased from Rs 26,000 crore to Rs 29,000 crore 2014-15.Ministry-wise allocations for flagship schemes:

Rs.82, 200 crore rural development, Rs.67, 398 crore for human resource development, Rs.33, 725 crore for health and family welfare, Rs.21, 000 crore for women and child development, Rs.15, 260 crore drinking water and sanitation.

Food subsidy will be Rs 1, 15,000 crore for implementation of National Food Security Act.One -rank-one-pension scheme for defense personnel from 2015.Defense allocation increased by 10% to Rs 2.24 lakh crore.

To strengthen the capacity of Central Armed Police Forces by modernization and providing state-of-the-art equipment and technology, the government has allocated Rs. 11009 crore.

To formulate and promote the scheme of community radio station, the government sanctioned a fund of Rs.100 crore.

For the Social Justice Ministry, Rs. 6730 crore has been sanctioned.For the Panchayati Raj Ministry, Rs.7000 crore has been sanctioned.For food, fertilizer and fuel subsidy, Rs. 246397 crore has been allocated.To stimulate growth, the government has slashed excise duty to 10% from 12%.

Foreign exchange reserves up by $15 billion.

Rs 2,600 crore for education loan moratorium, to benefit 9 lakh borrowers for loans taken before March 31, 2009.

A ten point agenda has been created by Mr. Chidambaram to makeIndia the third largest economy after US and China.

Two projects sanctioned under Nirbhaya Fund of which the original was of Rs.1000 crore that was non-lapsable and another Rs. 1000 crore has been granted.3 more industrial corridors – Chennai-Bangalore, Bangalore-Mumbai, Amritsar-Kolkata – under various stages of implementation.

Govt. committed to Aadhaar-based LPG transfer but scheme on hold temporarily.

Ms. Hillary R Clinton launched a new global review of data on women empowerment

February 20, 2014

Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton launched a new global review of data to analyze the advancement of women and girls around the world since the mid-1990s.Objective: To promote female participation in education, politics and the economy around the world.

Ms. Clinton publicized the new partnership at New YorkUniversity between the Clinton Foundation and the Gates Foundation. The project is part of her “No Ceilings” initiative that aims to empower women in the 21st century and will collect and review data on the progress of women since the 1995 United Nations Beijing conference.

“Tropex 2014”: Indian Navy started largest combat exercise with dedicated satellite G-SAT 7

February 20, 2014

Indian Navy started largest combat exercise called “Tropex 2014”, with both the western and eastern fleets amassing in the Bay of Bengal for intensive combat manoeuvres.This month long exercise is being held under the gaze of India’s first dedicated Military Satellite G-SAT 7 or “Rukmini”.

This geostationary naval communication and surveillance satellite is beaming signals from its UHF, S, Ku and C-band transponders to network all Indian warships, submarines and aircraft with operational centres ashore through high-speed encrypted data-links.Over 50 Indian warships viz. aircraft carrier INS Viraat, nuclear submarine INS Chakra, fighters, helicopters, drones, etc. would participate in the exercise.

Note: Rukmini is capable of surveying and communicate with the network of all Indian warships, submarines and aircrafts and have a 2000 nautical mile footprint over the critical Indian Ocean region (IOR)).

Union Government okayed two plants to manufacture Semiconductor chips

February 19, 2014

In a bid to give boost to local production of electronics, the Union Government approved the setting up of two plants to manufacture semiconductor chips inIndia.The two electronic chip manufacturing units will be set up by:India’s Jaiprakash Associates, IBM and Tower Jazz at a cost of Rs 34,399 crore near the Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh.

France-based ST Microelectronics, HSMC Technologies (Hindustan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation) and Malaysia’s Silterra at Prantij, Gujarat at a cost of Rs 29,013 crore.

Benefits given by Government of India to electronic chip manufacturing unitsOffered 25% subsidy on capital expenditure, tax breaks and Rs. 5124 crore to each plant as interest-free loans in a bid to attract chip makers.

The companies in the consortia will get all benefits listed under theNational Policy on Electronics viz. Modified Special Incentive Package, which allows up to Rs 10,000 crore in benefits under the 12th Five Year Plan ending 2017.

They will benefit under section 35 AD of I-T Act and will also be allowed to deduct 100% expenditure made on research and development for development of electronic chips.

Note: Semiconductors are neither a good conductor of electricity (like copper) nor a good insulator (like rubber). These are usually very small and complex devices, and can be found in thousands of electronic devices viz. transistors, mobile phones, computers, hi-tech defense equipment, etc. The most common semiconductor materials are Silicon (Si) and Germanium(Ge).

CSO: India’s Economy to grow by 4.9% in 2013-14

February 16, 2014

As per the advanced estimates released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during 2013-14 is estimated at 4.9% as compared to the growth rate of 4.5% in 2012-13.

The advance estimates of national income at constant (2004-05) and current prices, for the financial year 2013-14

Based on expected level of agricultural production from the Ministry ofAgriculture, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation(DAC), Index of Industrial Production (IIP), monthly accounts of Union Government Expenditure maintained by Controller General of Accounts (CGA) and of State Government expenditure maintained by Comptroller and Auditor general of India (CAG).

Per capita income in real terms (at 2004-05 prices) during 2013-14 is probably to attain a level of Rs 39,961 as compared to the first revised estimate for the year 2012-13 of Rs 38,856. The growth rate in per capita income is estimated at 2.8% as against the previous year’s estimate of 2.1%.

Per capita income at current prices during 2013-14 is estimated to Rs 74,920 as compared to Rs 67,839 during 2012-13, shows a rise of 10.4%.

The rates of Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) at current and constant (2004-05) prices during 2013-14 are estimated at 28.5% and 32.5%. (GFCF is an indicator of investment)The rate of expenditure on valuables at current prices has gone down from 2.6% in 2012-13 to 2.1% in 2013-14.

Key sectors that have taken into account while estimating the of national income at constant (2004-05) and current prices, for the financial year 2013-14 are:

Agriculture, forestry and fishing: Will probably show a growth of 4.6% in its GDP during 2013-14, as against the previous year’s growth rate of 1.4%.

Manufacturing: Expected to contract 0.2% in this financial year compared with growth of 1.1% in the previous year.

Services sector (finance, insurance, real estate and businessservices sectors): Expected to grow 11.2% this year compared with 10.9% in 2012-13.Mining and quarrying: Probably to contract 1.9% as compared to 2.2% decline in production 2012-13.

Construction: Will probably improve to 1.7% from 1.1% in 2012-13.Trade, hotels, transport and communication: Probably improve to 3.5% in this financial year.

Electricity, gas and water production: The growth in these sectors is likely to improve to 6% in 2013-14 from 2.3 per cent in 2012-13.Community social and personal services growth would be better at 7.4% as compared to 5.3% previously.

Note: The Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, Mr. C. Rangarajan described the latest estimate of 4.9% for 2013-14 as an encouraging indication that economic slowdown is over.

Assam became the First State to legally ban smokeless tobaccoFebruary 16, 2014

Assam became the first state to legally ban consumption of all forms of smokeless tobacco, including pan masala containing tobacco and nicotine. Thus sale, consumption, manufacturing, trading, storage and advertisement of all forms of smokeless tobacco including pan masala have been banned in Assam. Provisions of (Ban on Smokeless Tobacco ) ActBan on all kind of advertisement, distribution, promotion, production, sale, trade and business. Any thing which promotes tobacco consumption is come under this act.

Any forms which contain tobacco are prohibited in the state viz. pan masala, gutkha, khaini, etc.

For violating the law, one shall be punished with imprisonment up to 7 years and fine between Rs.1 lakh and Rs. 5 lakh.Consumption or possession of zarda, gutka and pan masala containing tobacco shall be punished with a fine of Rs. 1000 for the first offence and Rs. 2000 for each subsequent offence.

Though many states have imposed similar bans under the food safety regulation, Assam would be the first to impose the ban through legislature.Note: Smokeless tobacco accounts for 90% of oral cancers.

OECD issued new standard to combat black money; India to follow new standard for tracking black moneyFebruary 16, 2014

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)revealed a new “game-changing” mechanism to combat the menace of offshore tax evasion. Till now, 42 countries including India adopted a new global standard for automatic exchange of information on offshore tax evasion and committed to share tax details.

Plan: for automatic exchange of information on bank accounts holding more than $250,000 as a “real game changer” that would deter evasion and help tax authorities identify citizens hiding money offshore.

Objective: To smooth the automatic exchange procedures those are used to crack cases of offshore tax evasion and illegal stashing of money.

Highlights of the new tax standards set by the Global economic body O.E.C.D.

Governments would automatically share information on taxpayers’ offshore bank and brokerage accounts with foreign tax authorities.

Banks, brokers and some insurers and investment funds would have to report residents’ account balances as well as interest, dividends and other investment income to their government. The government would then make that information available automatically to any other government that had signed the information-exchanging agreement.

Financial companies would also be required to identify the ultimate beneficiaries of shell companies, trusts and similar legal arrangements that now can be used to evade taxes.OECD will formally present the standard for the endorsement of G20 finance ministers during a February 22-23, 2014 meeting in Sydney,Australia.

In other words, this new standard on automatic exchange of information will build up international tax co-operation and place governments back on a more even footing as they seek to protect the integrity of their tax systems and fight tax evasion.

Central Government: All public transport vehicles must have GPS by Feb 20, 2014February 16, 2014

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways set a deadline for public transport vehicles running in major cities with a population of over 10 lakh to install GPS devices by February 20, 2014. The Union government has directed all state governments to follow the guidelines.

All the owners of public service vehicles are required to get Global Positioning System (GPS) installed in their vehicles by February 20. Those who fail to install, then the necessary action shall be taken against the defaulters.

Under the Nirbhaya Fund for women safety, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved Rs 1,405-crore project to track and monitor public transport and provide alarm buttons for alerting authorities.The project:

Involves setting up of closed circuit television (CCTVs) and using GPS to ensure safety and security of women and girls in distress.

Will be implemented within two years after allocation of funds to set up a National Level Vehicle Security and Tracking System and City Command and Control Centre with installation of GPS, CCTV in public road transport.

Note: Earlier, the Road Ministry set the deadline for passenger vehicle owners to install these devices by September 30, 2013.

Sikkim: India’s first state to achieve 100% sanitation coverageFebruary 16, 2014

As per the report released by the Union Ministry of Drinking water and Sanitation,Sikkim became the only state in India to achieve 100% sanitation in rural and urban households, schools, sanitary complexes and Aanganwadi centres.

Under the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan scheme, the Himalayan state, Sikkim has constructed 98,043 individual household latrines against the target of 87,014 till January, and achieved 112.67% of its target. The scheme was implemented by the Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

The state has also sensitized people to adopt a holistic approach to improve sanitation and hygiene in a clean environment while accelerating its overall development.

Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling launched a community-led total sanitation campaign in 1999 for achieving full sanitation in the 7,096 sq km area of the state.

And, to encourage sanitation activities, the state government has instituted a “Nirmal Gram Puraskar” (Clean Village Award).

Sikkim also topped the list among all states of the country in net performance indicators.

Google doodle celebrated Sarojini Naidu’s 135th birthday or National Women’s Day of IndiaFebruary 13, 2014

The search giant, Google marked the 135th birth anniversary of freedom fighter and poet Sarojini Naidu with a doodle. The doodle on the search giant’s homepage displayed a portrait of Ms. Naidu in the place of the second ‘O’ in the company’s logo. There was also a pen in place of the letter ‘L’ in logo, which seemingly depicted Naidu’s writing capabilities.

In India, ‘National Women’s Day’ observed on February 13 every year, in memory of date of birth of India’s first women governor Sarojini Naidu.

Ms. Naidu was also known as the ‘Nightingale of India’ and the first Indian woman to become the president of the Indian National Congress.

The British government awarded the Naidu ‘Kaiser-i-Hind medal’ for her work during the plague epidemic in India in 1928.

Her birthday observed as a National Woman Day in recognition of the works done by her for upliftment and development of women in India.

Note: The International Women’s Day is observed and celebrated on March 8 every year.

National Green Tribunal (NGT) bans on burning tyres in Public PlacesFebruary 12, 2014The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned the burning of tyres at public places viz. roads, areas surrounded by residential buildings and also during protests by political and religious groups, as this leads to health hazards.

As per the Western Zone Bench of NGT-Pune ruling:The local police shall take prompt check on burning of tyres and any negligence in the instructions given by NGT-Pune may entail penal aftermaths as specified in section 26 of the National Green tribunal Act, 2010. Any violation of the order may result in a penalty of up to Rs 10 crore, extendible to up to Rs 25 crores and/or imprisonment of 3 years.

The decision came on a petition filed by the Sahyog Trust and other advocates against the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and the state of Maharashtra.Why burning of tyres is harmful for environment?

Burning tyres emit toxic soup of pollutants that contains harmful gases and chemicals viz. carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, chromium, arsenic, zinc, barium, cobalt, copper, iron, aluminum, manganese and vanadium, etc. which are hazardous to the human beings as well as to the environment. Minuscule particles released during the burning can settle deep in the lungs. Tyres contain 25 % extender oils derived from benzene, 25% styrene, a derivative of benzene, and 25% 1,3 butadiene. – both benzene and 1,3 butadiene are suspected human carcinogens. (A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide or radiation, that is an agent directly involved in causing cancer).

About National Green TribunalA special fast-track court to handle the expeditious disposal of the cases pertaining to environmental issues.

Established on October, 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010.

Objective: For effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Shall not be bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.

New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting of the Tribunal and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai shall be the other four place of sitting of the Tribunal.

World Children’s Prize (Children’s Nobel Prize) Nominees 2014: Malala, John Wood and Indira RanamagarFebruary 9, 2014

For the 2014 World’s Children’s Prize, Pakistani teenage rights activist Malala Yousafzai, John Wood from the USA and Nepalese child rights worker Indira Ranamagar are nominated for an award also known as the “Children’s NobelPrize”.

Ms. Malala Yousafzai nominated for her courageous and dangerous fight for girls’ right to education. She started to speak out for girls’ rights at the age of 11, when the Taliban banned girls from going to school in the SwatValley in Pakistan.

Mr. John Wood nominated for his 15-year fight for children’s right to education. John quit his job as a manager at the Microsoft company to fulfil his dream: to fight poverty by giving children all over the world the chance to go to school.

Ms. Indira Ramanagar nominated for her 20-year struggle for prisoners’ children in Nepal. She has built up an organisation calledPrisoners Assistance Nepal (PA), which has rescued over a thousand children from cramped, dirty prisons.

Indira Ramanagar and Prisoners Assistance:Run three children‘s homes, two schools, and youth programs on organic agriculture, arts and crafts, and more.

Support girls in villages to enable them to go to school. They are also given bikes, since they often have a long journey to get to school.

Search for relatives and support them to take care of the children.Make sure that children get a chance to visit their parents in prison.

Run programs allowing children to go to school during the day and stay with their mothers in prison at night. They also educate mothers in prison up to Year 5 level and give them vocational training.

Support prisoners who have been released, so that they can be reunited with their children.Speak out for the weakest in society and fight for prisoners – especially women and their children – to be treated in a fair and humane way.

About World’s Children’s Prize (WCP)Also known as the Children’s Nobel PrizeThe world’s largest annual educational program teaching young people about the rights of the child, democracy and global friendship.Vision: A world where the rights of the child are universally respected and where every new generation grows up as humane global citizens.

Mission: To catalyze the growth and development of a more humane global community through an integrated global educational program, engaging a growing number of children throughout the world.

The award programme, launched in 2000, is supported by 60,000 schools with 29.3 million students in 109 countries and over 600 organisations.

Every year, three Child Rights Heroes are selected by the WCP Child Jury to be candidates for the World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child.

The annual program concludes with a “Global Vote”, where children work together to choose their Child Rights Hero. “Global Vote Days” are held in schools around the world like a democratic election.

The WCP Foundation is regulated by the Svensk Insamlingskontroll (Swedish Fundraising Control), which protects the interests of donors and ensures that the funds raised are used appropriately.

DRDO developing UAVs to track down MaoistsFebruary 15, 2014

The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is developing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to track down maoists in naxal hit states viz. Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, etc. And would demonstrate the operational capability of the first such vehicle, Nishant in Jagdalpur.

The UAVs being developed for CRPF would be able to help the forces trace and track down the ultra Left operatives in even thick forests.

The Nishant, a multi-mission UAV developed by India’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a branch of DRDO, had already been inducted by the army. (Nishant consists of an air vehicle supported by ground control station equipment mounted on Tatra vehicles and it can be moved to any location for launching whenever required making it very versatile).

About Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

Means: Aerial vehicles which operate without a human pilot. Eaves are commonly used in both the military and police forces in situations where the risk of sending a human piloted aircraft is unacceptable, or the situation makes using a manned aircraft Impractical.

Uses: To get aerial video of a remote location, especially where there would be unacceptable risk to the pilot of a manned aircraft and can be equipped with high resolution still, video, and even infrared cameras.

The information obtained by the UAV can be streamed back to the control centre in real time.

Used to carry and deliver a variety of payloads. Helicopter type UAVs are well suited to this purpose, because payloads can be suspended from the bottom of the airframe, with little aerodynamic penalty.

Google doodle celebrated Sarojini Naidu’s 135th birthday or National Women’s Day of India

February 13, 2014

The search giant, Google marked the 135th birth anniversary of freedom fighter and poet Sarojini Naidu with a doodle. The doodle on the search giant’s homepage displayed a portrait of Ms. Naidu in the place of the second ‘O’ in the company’s logo. There was also a pen in place of the letter ‘L’ in logo, which seemingly depicted Naidu’s writing capabilities.

In India, ‘National Women’s Day’ observed on February 13 every year, in memory of date of birth of India’s first women governor Sarojini Naidu.

Ms. Naidu was also known as the ‘Nightingale of India’ and the first Indian woman to become the president of the Indian National Congress.The British government awarded the Naidu ‘Kaiser-i-Hind medal’ for her work during the plague epidemic in India in 1928.

Her birthday observed as a National Woman Day in recognition of the works done by her for upliftment and development of women in India.Note: The International Women’s Day is observed and celebrated on March 8 every year.

National Green Tribunal (NGT) bans on burning tyres in Public Places

February 12, 2014

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned the burning of tyres at public places viz. roads, areas surrounded by residential buildings and also during protests by political and religious groups, as this leads to health hazards.

As per the Western Zone Bench of NGT-Pune ruling:

The local police shall take prompt check on burning of tyres and any negligence in the instructions given by NGT-Pune may entail penal aftermaths as specified in section 26 of the National Green tribunal Act, 2010. Any violation of the order may result in a penalty of up to Rs 10 crore, extendible to up to Rs 25 crores and/or imprisonment of 3 years.

The decision came on a petition filed by the Sahyog Trust and other advocates against the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and the state of Maharashtra.

Why burning of tyres is harmful for environment?

Burning tyres emit toxic soup of pollutants that contains harmful gases and chemicals viz. carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, chromium, arsenic, zinc, barium, cobalt, copper, iron, aluminum, manganese and vanadium, etc. which are hazardous to the human beings as well as to the environment. Minuscule particles released during the burning can settle deep in the lungs. Tyres contain 25 % extender oils derived from benzene, 25% styrene, a derivative of benzene, and 25% 1,3 butadiene. – both benzene and 1,3 butadiene are suspected human carcinogens. (A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide or radiation, that is an agent directly involved in causing cancer).

About National Green TribunalA special fast-track court to handle the expeditious disposal of the cases pertaining to environmental issues.

Established on October, 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010.

Objective: For effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Shall not be bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.

New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting of the Tribunal and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai shall be the other four place of sitting of the Tribunal.

World Children’s Prize (Children’s Nobel Prize) Nominees 2014: Malala, John Wood and Indira Ranamagar

February 9, 2014

For the 2014 World’s Children’s Prize, Pakistani teenage rights activist Malala Yousafzai, John Wood from the USA and Nepalese child rights worker Indira Ranamagar are nominated for an award also known as the “Children’s NobelPrize”.

Ms. Malala Yousafzai nominated for her courageous and dangerous fight for girls’ right to education. She started to speak out for girls’ rights at the age of 11, when the Taliban banned girls from going to school in the SwatValley in Pakistan.

Mr. John Wood nominated for his 15-year fight for children’s right to education. John quit his job as a manager at the Microsoft company to fulfil his dream: to fight poverty by giving children all over the world the chance to go to school.

Ms. Indira Ramanagar nominated for her 20-year struggle for prisoners’ children in Nepal. She has built up an organisation called Prisoners Assistance Nepal (PA), which has rescued over a thousand children from cramped, dirty prisons.

Indira Ramanagar and Prisoners Assistance:

Run three children‘s homes, two schools, and youth programs on organic agriculture, arts and crafts, and more.

Support girls in villages to enable them to go to school. They are also given bikes, since they often have a long journey to get to school.

Search for relatives and support them to take care of the children.Make sure that children get a chance to visit their parents in prison.

Run programs allowing children to go to school during the day and stay with their mothers in prison at night. They also educate mothers in prison up to Year 5 level and give them vocational training.

Support prisoners who have been released, so that they can be reunited with their children.

Speak out for the weakest in society and fight for prisoners – especially women and their children – to be treated in a fair and humane way.

About World’s Children’s Prize (WCP)

Also known as the Children’s Nobel Prize

The world’s largest annual educational program teaching young people about the rights of the child, democracy and global friendship.

Vision: A world where the rights of the child are universally respected and where every new generation grows up as humane global citizens.

Mission: To catalyze the growth and development of a more humane global community through an integrated global educational program, engaging a growing number of children throughout the world.

The award programme, launched in 2000, is supported by 60,000 schools with 29.3 million students in 109 countries and over 600 organisations.Every year, three Child Rights Heroes are selected by the WCP Child Jury to be candidates for the World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child.The annual program concludes with a “Global Vote”, where children work together to choose their Child Rights Hero. “Global Vote Days” are held in schools around the world like a democratic election.

The WCP Foundation is regulated by the Svensk Insamlingskontroll (Swedish Fundraising Control), which protects the interests of donors and ensures that the funds raised are used appropriately.

World Children’s Prize (Children’s Nobel Prize) Nominees 2014: Malala, John Wood and Indira Ranamagar

February 9, 2014

For the 2014 World’s Children’s Prize, Pakistani teenage rights activist Malala Yousafzai, John Wood from the USA and Nepalese child rights worker Indira Ranamagar are nominated for an award also known as the “Children’s Nobel Prize”.

Ms. Malala Yousafzai nominated for her courageous and dangerous fight for girls’ right to education. She started to speak out for girls’ rights at the age of 11, when the Taliban banned girls from going to school in the SwatValley in Pakistan.

Mr. John Wood nominated for his 15-year fight for children’s right to education. John quit his job as a manager at the Microsoft company to fulfil his dream: to fight poverty by giving children all over the world the chance to go to school.

Ms. Indira Ramanagar nominated for her 20-year struggle for prisoners’ children in Nepal. She has built up an organisation calledPrisoners Assistance Nepal (PA), which has rescued over a thousand children from cramped, dirty prisons.

Indira Ramanagar and Prisoners Assistance:

Run three children‘s homes, two schools, and youth programs on organic agriculture, arts and crafts, and more.

Support girls in villages to enable them to go to school. They are also given bikes, since they often have a long journey to get to school.

Search for relatives and support them to take care of the children.

Make sure that children get a chance to visit their parents in prison.

Run programs allowing children to go to school during the day and stay with their mothers in prison at night. They also educate mothers in prison up to Year 5 level and give them vocational training.

Support prisoners who have been released, so that they can be reunited with their children.

Speak out for the weakest in society and fight for prisoners – especially women and their children – to be treated in a fair and humane way.

About World’s Children’s Prize (WCP)

Also known as the Children’s Nobel Prize

The world’s largest annual educational program teaching young people about the rights of the child, democracy and global friendship.

Vision: A world where the rights of the child are universally respected and where every new generation grows up as humane global citizens.

Mission: To catalyze the growth and development of a more humane global community through an integrated global educational program, engaging a growing number of children throughout the world.

The award programme, launched in 2000, is supported by 60,000 schools with 29.3 million students in 109 countries and over 600 organisations.

Every year, three Child Rights Heroes are selected by the WCP Child Jury to be candidates for the World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child.

The annual program concludes with a “Global Vote”, where children work together to choose their Child Rights Hero. “Global Vote Days” are held in schools around the world like a democratic election.

The WCP Foundation is regulated by the Svensk Insamlings kontroll (Swedish Fundraising Control), which protects the interests of donors and ensures that the funds raised are used appropriately.

Bezbaruah Committee: To address concerns of Northeastern peopleFebruary 9, 2014

The Union Government set up a Bezbaruah panel to propose remedial measures to address concerns of people from the Northeast following outrage over the death in Delhi of a 19-year-old student from Arunachal Pradesh.

The Bezbaruah Committee:

A six-member panel led by Former IAS officer M P Bezbaruah, who is also a member of North-Eastern Council.

Members: Retired IAS officers H W T Syeim, Allen Temshi Jamir, Tape Bagra and P Bharat Singh and the Deputy Secretary in Ministry of Home Affairs S Saha as Member Secretary.

The Chairman of the committee shall co-opt members, one each from the other Northeastern states like Tripura, Mizoram and Sikkim.

Objective: The Panel will examine the causes behind attacks/violence and discrimination against people from the Northeast, suggest measures to be taken by the government to address these concerns besides suggesting legal remedies for the same. It will deliberate and find ways to stop such attacks on the people from Northeast.

The panel will submit a report within two months after examining the causes behind the attacks of discrimination against the people from Northeast.

K.V. Thomas Committee: Ad monitoring committee to draft guidelines to safeguard consumer interest from false advertisementsFebruary 9, 2014

The Central Consumer Protection Council (CCPC) under the chairmanship of minister K V Thomas set up a sub-committee to draft guidelines to safeguard consumer interest from false advertisements in the country.

Objective: To issue guidelines to monitor the advertisements. At present, there is no any legal protection cover available for consumers against false advertisements.Formed to see how to regulate false statements made in the advertisements in the name of scientific claims. (Maximum false claims are made in health-related fields).

Will have the powers to (take) corrective actions and (impose) compensation.Proposal: To hold everyone engaged in the production of advertisement responsible for its contents. This will include the manufacturer, advertising agency, artists, actors and the media platform, be it print or electronic.

The committee will submit its recommendations by the end of February 2014. For instance, if the claims made by whitening creams proved unphenomenal as advertised, Consumer should have right to claim compensation not only from the advertisers but also from the celebrities endorsing the product.

Note: The immediate push for regulation has come from the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The court ordered the consumer affairs ministry to set up an ad-monitoring panel as recommended by the Vibha Bhargava Commission. The commission had submitted its report in 2005 and it underlined the urgent need to regulate false claims by advertisers of different products.

About Central Consumer Protection CouncilThe apex body is appointed by the Central Government in accordance with provisions of the Act.

Objective: To protect and promote the interest of consumers viz. the right to be protected against the marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to life and property; the right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods or services, as the case may be so as to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices, etc.

Lies under the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs.The CCPC consists of the minister in charge of the consumer Affairs as chairperson, minister in charge of States, members of parliaments, representative of the government departments, consumer organization, women members, representatives of trade, industries and consumers.

Muthoot Finance launched its first White-Label ATMFebruary 9, 2014

Indian gold loan company, Muthoot Finance Ltd became the first and only Non-Banking Finance Company(NBFC) to have obtained license for setting-up WLAs in India. The Muthoot Group launched its first White-Label ATM at its corporate office in New Delhi and has plans to invest Rs 300 crore in the next three years. The rollout will be mainly in tier-3 and tier-4 cities.

Goal: To set-up 9,000 WLAs over three years – 1,000 in the first year, 2,000 in the second year and 6,000 in the third.

Partner of Muthoot Finance to set up WLAs: FIS Payment Solutions Services.Sponsor Bank for WLAs venture: Federal Bank.

The ATMs will be user-friendly, even to the differently-abled – equipped with Bio-metric thumb & voice-recognition.

The other entities that are offering White label ATMs:

Prizm Payment Services, a unit of Hitachi of Japan set up its first White Label ATM “Money Spot ATM” at Chendre village in Alibaug Taluk, Raigad district of Maharashtra on January, 2014;

Tata Communications Payment Solutions launched the India’s first ever network of white label ATMs called “Indicash” in June 2013 at Chandrapada in Thane district of Maharashtra.

What are White label ATMs?

ATMs set up and run by non-banking entities are called White Label ATMs (WLAs). Customers from any bank can deposit or withdraw money from such ATMs. They will provide ATM services to customers of all banks. In June 2012, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has permitted non-banking companies to set up ATMs, referred to as WLAs, to increase the penetration of the facility across the country.

Objective of permitting non-banks to operate WLAs: To enhance the penetration of the machines in semi-urban and rural areas, where bank-run ATMs are a few or none. The move is in line to the governments objective of achieving financial inclusion.

Excerpts of the RBI’s policy to set up & operate White label ATMs:

Non-bank entities would be permitted to set up WLAs in India, after obtaining authorisation from RBI under the Payment and Settlement Systems (PSS) Act 2007.

As per the Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007, the non bank entities should have a minimum net worth of Rs 100 crore & have to apply to RBI for seeking approval.

Every WLA operator is required to tie up with a sponsor bank, which takes care of cash operations, dispute resolution and regulatory reporting aspects.

Being non-bank owned ATMs, the guidelines on five free transactions in a month for using other bank ATMs would not be applicable for transactions affected on the WLAs.

WLA operators can also earn extra revenue through advertisements and value-added services. Further, it allows autonomy of operators on deciding locations and creating their own brand with fixed annual targets mandated by RBI.

White-label ATMs accepts only cards issued by banks and does not accept cash deposits.

New Criteria for National Sports Awards (Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Dronacharya and Dhyan Chand awards)February 9, 2014

In order to bring more transparency and objectivity in the process for conferring the National Sports Awards, the Union Sports Ministry has approved a set of rules to select candidates for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Dronacharya and Dhyan Chand awards.

As per the new criteria for National sports awards:

90% weightage to medal winners of various internationalchampionships and sports events of disciplines covered in Olympics ( Summer, Winter and Paralympics), Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.

10% weightage will be given to the marks awarded by the selectioncommittee for assessment of the eligible sportspersons keeping in view factors like profile and standard of the sports events in which he or she has won medals and qualities viz. leadership, sportsmanship, team spirit, fair play, sense of discipline, etc.

Except for lifetime achievement awards, points for winning medals will be given to each eligible sportsperson for his/her performance during the last four years.

Medal winners in the Olympics and Paralympics will automatically be considered for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna or Arjuna awards (depending on the type of medal won).

Reserved the right for not recommending the name of any deserving sportsperson as per the given criteria for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna or Dhyan chand Award. In these particular cases, the committee will have to justify its stance in writing.

For cricket and indigenous games (not included in Olympic/Asian Games/Commonwealth Games disciplines), the selection committee will recommend the number of awards (not exceeding two).

Names of not more than 2 Sportspersons ( 1 male and 1 female) and names of not more than 2 coaches in case of Dronacharya award with highest marks will be considered.

Sports journalists, experts and commentators are included in the selection committees.

RGGVY: Evaluation Studies Show a Positive Impact on Women and Education in Rural India

February 9, 2014

Evaluation studies of RGGVY (Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana) commissioned by Rural Electrification Corporation have revealed that the programme has empowered the rural women.

Affect of electrification under RGGVY scheme on some states:

Rajasthan: 75% of women are able to work in the fields after electricity reached their homes.

Madhya Pradesh: 85% of the villagers, in particular, women and children feel more secure and protected against wild animals, venomous reptiles and robbers due to electrified households and street lights.

Uttar Pradesh: 43% people are surveyed and reported that they have started using mobile phones after electrification since it became possible to charge the mobile sets.

Bihar: As detected by the beneficiary households, the most important use of electricity is for illumination (94.9%), security (89.9%), and communication through cellular phones (42.1%), accessing information and entertainment (52.1%) and comforts by running fans (18.4%).

J&K: Most people feel that security & standard of life has increased. Villagers are able to get the treatment in the night. In some of the villages, it was found that the villagers use electrical appliances for crop processing.

Positive impact of Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana(RGGVY) programme96% of un-electrified villages have been electrified across the country.

Intensive electrification of 80% villages has been completed while free electricity connections have been provided to 77% BPL households under the flagship programme.People are able to establish small scale activities in homes viz. weaving, tailoring, grocery shops, etc.

Students in all the states are able to study for longer hours and also save money & time which they had to spend on kerosene lamp. They also feel more comfortable during summer days due to the fans in the class.

Beneficiaries reported positive impact of education on various states viz. UP (66%), Andhra Pradesh (88%), MP(46%), Bihar (48%).

Govt. launched ‘National Cloud’ Under ‘MeghRaj’

February 9, 2014

Govt. launched the National Cloud under ‘MeghRaj’ initiative. National Information Centre (NIC) is providing Cloud services under the umbrella of ‘MeghRaj’.

About MeghRaj

In order to utilize and harness the benefits of Cloud Computing, the Central Government has embarked upon an ambitious initiative – ‘GI Cloud’ which has been named as ‘MeghRaj’.

Focus: To accelerate delivery of e-services in the country while optimizing ICT spending of the Government. This will ensure optimum utilization of the infrastructure and speed up the development and deployment of eGov applications.

Architectural vision of GI Cloud: As per the set of common protocols, guidelines and standards issued by the Government of India, GI cloud will cover a set of discrete cloud computing environments spread across multiple locations, built on existing or new (augmented) infrastructure.

Benefit of GI Cloud: Helpful for the departments to procure ICT services on demand in the OPEX model rather than investing upfront on the CAPEX.

Characteristics of National Cloud: Self service portal, Multiple Cloud solutions, Secured VPN access and Multi location Cloud.

Existing Cloud services: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS) and Storage as a Service (STaaS).

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing and storage capacity. In cloud computing, end users are not required to buy software or Devices as they are provided by service providers on a rental basis. It’s an Internet based technology which enables its user to share technological resources, software and digital information from anywhere using a browser.

Note: The Department of Electronics & Information Technology (DeitY) prepared the two Policy reports viz., ‘GI Cloud Strategic Direction Paper’ and ‘GI Cloud Adoption and Implementation Roadmap’.

President Pranab Mukherjee conferred Bharat Ratna on Prof. C N R Rao and Sachin Tendulkar

February 8, 2014

President Pranab Mukherjee conferred the country’s highest civilian honor Bharat Ratna on eminent scientist Prof C.N.R. Rao and cricketmaestro Sachin Tendulkar at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

Prof C.N.R.Rao is the third scientist after C V Raman and former President A P J Abdul Kalam, to be awarded with the honor.

Sachin Tendulkar, who retired from international cricket last year, is the first sports-person to be bestowed with the honor. He is also the first active sportsperson to become a Rajya Sabha member last year.

Union Home Ministry’s guidelines about Bharat Ratna:

Under the Constitution, the award cannot be used as a prefix or suffix to the recipient`s name. Though the award winner can use mention as ‘Awarded Bharat Ratna by the President’ or ‘Recipient of Bharat Ratna Award’ in their bio-data, letter head or visiting cards. The recipient receives a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion. It does not carry any monetary grant.

Note: The Bharat Ratna has been conferred after a long gap with classical vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi being the last recipient in 2008.

Chinese warships hold rare exercises in Indian OceanFebruary 5, 2014

The Chinese warships conducted rare exercises in the Indian Ocean, and then a three- ship flotilla of Chinese warships entered the West Pacific Ocean to start a drill there. The warships from the Nanhai Fleet are destroyers Wuhan and Haikou and China’s largest amphibious landing craft Changbaishan.

The ships conducted 10 exercises viz. anti-pirate, joint search and rescue, and damage control drills in the Indian Ocean.

Exercises based on defense and settlement of emergencies: conducted to test the command system’s response and soldiers’ combat skills.

The three-ship flotilla consists of an amphibious landing craft and destroyer. Changbaishan:China’s largest landing ship by gross tonnage and is equipped with an advanced weapons system. The flotilla passed along the Lombok Strait, Makassar Strait and the Sulawesi Sea to enter the West Pacific Ocean.

FATF released report on Money Laundering & Terrorist FinancingFebruary 5, 2014

The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) released an international report on money laundering and terrorist financing.

Objective: To identify the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (ML/TF) vulnerabilities and risks of the “diamond pipeline” that covers all sectors in the diamond trade: production, rough diamond sales, cutting and polishing, jewelry manufacturing and jewelry retailers.

Excerpts of the Paris-based FATF report China and India are major markets where diamond trade is done on a large scale.

India, Israel, Belgium, Canada and the USA has reported instances where diamond prices were overvalued for purposes of laundering and suspected financing. In these countries trade accounts of diamond business are being used to launder illegal funds to the tune of millions of dollars.

The closed and opaque nature of the diamond markets and the high value of diamonds combined with a lack of expertise in this area on the part of the authorities have left this industry susceptible to abuse by criminals.

In cases of suspicious money laundering instances of diamond trade, the funds transfer occurred from India, Israel and Switzerland to the UAE.

India reported a relatively large number of sanitized cases (12) in which suspicious transaction reports were received (in connection with diamond trade). In these specific cases, Hong Kong, China is a destination for illicit cash flows related to the diamond trade.

Diamond trade, as an international phenomenon, needed a complete and global analysis to understand and determine money laundering and terrorist financing threats and vulnerabilities related to this unique trade. The risks and vulnerabilities of the diamonds trade, identified in this report areGlobal nature of trade – The trade in diamonds is transnational and complex, thus convenient for ML/TF transactions that are, in most cases, of international and multi-jurisdictional nature.

Use of diamonds as currency - Diamonds are difficult to trace and can provide anonymity in transactions.

Trade Based Money Laundering (TBML) – the specific characteristics of diamonds as a commodity and the significant proportion of transactions related to international trade make the diamonds trade vulnerable to the different laundering techniques of TBML in general and over/under valuation in particular.

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High amounts – the trade in diamonds can reach tens of millions to billions of dollars. This has bearing on the potential to launder large amounts of money through the diamond trade and also on the level of risks of the diamonds trade.

Level of awareness – law enforcement and AML / CFT authorities, including Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), have limited awareness of potential ML/TF schemes through the trade in diamonds.

Note: FATF is a Paris-based multi-disciplinary and inter-governmental body whose purpose is the development and promotion of national and international policies to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. It was founded at the 1989 OECD Economic Summit as a response by the heads of state of the G-7 nations to the growing problem of money laundering

Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction (SAVE)

February 5, 2014

The Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction (SAVE) programme declared that it has plans to release up to 25 birds into a 30,000-sq-km drug-free “safe zone”. A project hopes to start releasing captive-bred birds into the wild by 2016, after experiencing the devastation wrought by a drug on Asian vulture populations.

In order to ensure that the species affected do not disappear completely from the wild, SAVE identified a number of priorities viz.

To establish a number of vast “safe zones” for the captive-bred birds to be released within. The areas have a radius of 100km and the consortium has identified six such areas – some of which cross national borders into Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Establishment of a captive-breeding programme that would provide the birds to be released back into the wider environment, once it was safe to do so.

Why Asian vulture population is declining?

Diclofenac, a painkilling drug administered to cattle, is the main cause of mass extinction of vultures.

Vultures, which have a digestive system robust enough to even digest disease-causing pathogens found in rotting meat of dead, do not have a critical enzyme that breaks down diclofenac and die of renal failure after eating carcasses of cattle administered the drug.

Vultures feeding on cattle either die from acute kidney failure within a few days or lose their ability to reproduce.

In 2006, India banned the use of veterinary drug “Diclofenac”, which is toxic to any vulture that feeds on the carcass of recently treated cattle, but SAVE in its study, stated that the drug continues to be sold and used illegally today.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has put vultures on its list of ‘critically endangered’ species.

The most common species of vultures in South Asia:

Long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus), also known as the Indian vulture.

White-backed vulture (Gyps africanus).

Slender-billed vulture (Gyps tenuirostris).

Red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvushave).

Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus).

About SAVE (Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction)

The consortium of like-minded, regional and international organizations, created to oversee and co-ordinate conservation, campaigning and fundraising activities to help the plight of south Asia’s vultures.

Objective: To save three critically important species from extinction through a single programme.

SAVE partners:Bombay Natural History Society, Bird Conservation Nepal, RSPB (UK), National Trust for Nature Conservation (Nepal), International Centre for Birds of Prey (UK) and Zoological Society of London.

US warned China against move to declare new ADIZ over South China Sea

February 5, 2014

The United States of America (USA) warned China against any move to declare a new Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the South China Sea including disputed islands. The comments were made after the reports of Japanese media that stated that China is preparing to announce another defense zone in the area, which are driven by territorial disputes with the neighboring countries.

China claims the South China Sea in its entirety, while other countries surrounding the sea also have claims to the area and are in dispute with China.

At present, China’s new air defense zone over the East China Sea is creating tensions in the world’s most geo-politically sensitive areas that includes the disputed Diaoyu or Senkaku islands in the East China Sea, which are controlled by Japan and but claimed by China, and the submerged Leodo reef, which is under South Korea’s control.

India’s first monorail inaugurated in MumbaiFebruary 5, 2014

India’s first monorail service started in Mumbai. The monorail service that would link the city to major stations began its first phase of 8.93 km between Wadala and Chembur in the eastern fringes of the Commercial Capital.

The first phase of the monorail covered seven stations: Wadala depot, Mysore Colony, BhaktiPark, Bharat Petroleum, V.N. Purav Marg, Fertiliser Colony, and Chembur.

Will be able to carry about 2,500 passengers (each car will accommodate 568 commuters). The fares will be between Rs. 5 and Rs. 11.

Average speed: 65 km/hr; Maximum speed: 80 km/hr.

Expected to reduce the travel time between Wadala and Chembur by almost half. It takes 40 minutes at present but the monorail will take only about 21 minutes.

Second phase – connecting Wadala with Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk in South Mumbai will be completed by mid-2015.

It will cover a distance of 11.2 km and include the following 11 stations: Chinchpokli, Chembur Naka, Wadala Bridge, Mint Colony, Acharya Atra Nagar, Antop Hill, Wadala, GTB Nagar, Fertilizer Company and Bharat Petroleum.

Mumbai monorail will display three colours — pink, green and blue.

The project executed by a consortium of engineering major Larsen and Toubro Ltd (L&T) and Malaysian firm Scomi Engineering and owned and operated by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

The overall monorail project covers a 19.17 km stretch in the Chembur-Wadala-Jacob Circle corridor, which will be the second longest corridor with 17 stations. (The longest one is Japan’s Osaka Monorail).

What is Monorail?

A monorail is a rail-based transportation system based on a single rail, which acts as its sole support and its guideway. The term is also used variously to describe the beam of the system, or the vehicles travelling on such a beam or track. The beam in a monorail system is narrower than the vehicle.

Note: After the launch of Mumbai monorail, India joined the elite group of countries viz. the U.S., Germany, China, Japan, Australia and Malaysia that run monorails.

India became world’s No.3 crude importer

February 3, 2014

With 3.86 million barrels per day of crude oil imports, India has overtaken Japan as the world’s third-biggest crude oil importer in 2013.

World’s Top Five Oil-Importing Countries:

China:China imports 6.30 million barrels per day

U.S.A:USA imports 6.24 million barrels per day

India: India imports 3.86 million barrels per day

Japan:Japan imports 3.64 million barrels per day

Germany:Germany imports 2.67 million barrels per day

India’s imports were nearly 6% higher than Japan’s customs-cleared imports of 3.64 million bpd (211,716,710 kilolitres).

Officers of IAS, IPS & IFS to spend minimum of 2 Years at each posting

February 2, 2014

In a bid to check political interference, officers of the three premier services – IAS, IPS and IFS – will now spend a minimum of two years at each posting. Under the new rules circulated by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), transfers and postings before two years can be done by a Civil Services Board to be constituted by states.

Excerpts from the amended rules for IAS/IPS/IFoS cadre:-

The Centre or the state government may transfer a cadre officer before the minimum specified period on the recommendation of the Civil Services Board

Though, the competent authority may reject the recommendation of the board by recording the reasons for the same.

Every state will now have to make appointments of cadre officers on the recommendation of a Civil Services Board constituted by it under chairmanship of the chief secretary.

A cadre officer, appointed to any cadre post, shall hold the office for at least two years unless he or she is promoted, retired or sent on deputation outside the state or for training exceeding two months.

The DoPT stated that any exception in the form of transfers or new appointments will only be done upon the recommendation of a civil services board. The new rules aimed at checking political interference.

The Civil Services Board could seek justification from the administrative department of the concerned state for premature transfers, obtain comments or views of the officer proposed to be transferred, and not recommend premature transfer unless satisfied with the reasons.

The board shall also submit a quarterly report to the Centre giving details of officers recommended to be transferred before the minimum tenure and the reasons thereof.Now, States have to constitute a civil services board, which is to be headed by the chief secretary, to consider questions of transfer of the said civil services officers.

Chinese scientists invented ‘Water-jet’ printerFebruary 1, 2014

Scientists of the Jilin University, China have invented a printer that uses water to print, instead of ink. After about 22 hours, the paper fades back to a plain sheet of white paper, allowing it to be re-used.

The “water-jet” technology is capable of reprinting numerous times, spares people their money and saves trees. As per the statistics, many papers (40% of office Prints) are throwing into the dustbin after the single reading.

What technology applies in the water-jet printer?

In the water-jet printer, the technology work is the paper, which is treated with an invisible dye that colours upon exposure to water and later disappears. It uses a dye compound called oxazolidine that gives a clear, blue print in less than one second upon application of water.

Within a day, the used paper fades back to white which makes it reusable.

At temperature lesser than 35 degree Celsius, the print would fade away in 22 hours, while at higher temperature, it would fade faster. The technology is ideal for documents that are printed to be read once and then discarded.

At 70 degree Celsius , the colour disappears within about 30 seconds.

At present, there are four water-printed colours - blue, magenta, gold and purple. Though, they can only print in one hue at a time.

The technology does not require changing a printer but only replacing the ink in the cartridge with H20, using a syringe.

A chemistry professor, Mr. Sean Xiao-An Zhang, supervised the work.

The scientists are also working on a machine that will heat pre-printed sheets of paper as they are fed into the machine, fading the pages instantaneously for re-printing. Their next step is to improve both the resolution and the duration of the print.