1. NATIONAL AFFAIRS

National South Pole Expedition Launched

Shri Prithviraj Chavan, Union Minister of State for Earth Science launched the National South Pole Expedition from New Delhi via video conference and it was flagged off by Governor of Goa, Dr. Shivinder Singh Sidhu at Goa. With this, the 8 member team will leave for Capet Town, South Africa. From Cape Town, the members will leave for Antarctica and will reach the Flying Station on Antarctica next day which is 7 km away from our station, Maitri. Considering the importance of Antarctic as a pedestal for front ranking scientific research, India launched its first Indian Antarctic Expedition in 1981.

Our first Indian station ‘Dakshin Gangotri’ served from1983 to 1988. Currently, ‘Maitri’ which was built in 1989 still serves the Indian scientific community to conduct research in diverse scientific disciplines which include Atmospheric sciences and Meterology, Earth Sciences and Glaciology, Biology and Environmental Sciences, Human Biology and Medicine and Engineering and Communications. The 30th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica -2010–11 marks a landmark year as India marches ahead with the construction activity of its new station in the Larsemann Hills in East Antarctica.

It is very important expedition as this would start international celebration of centenary of man’s reaching South Pole in 1911.The first expedition to the South Pole started in 1902 and completed in 1911.This expedition is scientific in nature and will be carried out with ice trucks, ice vehicles which travel 80 to 90 km/hour against the first expedition which was an adventure expedition where dogs and sledges were used.

Owls Highly Endangered Species in Country

Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment and Forests appealed for massive public awareness campaign to protect and save birds. Releasing a TRAFFIC India’s report entitled “Imperilled Custodians of the Night”, a Study on Illegal Trade, Trapping and Use of Owl in India, said that owl is highly endangered species now. He told that maximum killings of owls take place during Diwali in the name of black magic and sorcery driven by superstition, totems and taboos. India is natural habitat for about 30 species.

There is a great threat to many bird species. Large number of communities in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh are involved in illegal trade of owls which is used for Tantric practices. This report will sensitize masses on an important issue. The ministry will closely examine the recommendations to take strict actions under Wildlife Protection Act. The investigations into the owl trade were conducted during nationwide studies of the bird trade undertaken between1992-2000 with additional information gathered between 2001 and2008. The prime investigator and author of the report is ornithologist Mr Abrar Ahmed. TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network is a joint programme of WWF, the global conservation organization and IUCN, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Agreement Signed with World Bank for Maharashtra Agricultural Competitiveness Project

Agreement relating to the ‘Maharashtra Agricultural Competitiveness Project’ was signed, today, between the World Bank, Government of India and the State Government of Maharashtra for an International Development Association (IDA) credit amounting to Special Drawing Rights (SDR) 65.9 million or about US$ 100 million. The project development objective is to increase the productivity, profitability and market access of the farming community in Maharashtra.

The components of the project include: (i) Intensification and Diversification of Market-Led Production (US$ 32.4 million), (ii) Improving Farmers Access to Markets (US$ 106.5 million), and (iii) Project Management, Learning and Adjusting (US$ 14.1 million).

India and CIB to Collaborate on Innovative Building Technologies for Mass Housing

An International Conference on the theme of “Innovative Building Technologies for Affordable Mass Housing” held recently in New Delhi concluded with a resolve of collaboration between CIB and India on Innovative Building Technologies for Mass Housing and Research into the existing construction and materials management chain with a view to move towards greater standardization of construction processes and materials management in order to reduce time and cost over runs and capture better the greater efficiencies that go with mass housing.

The conference drew heavily from participation of the members of the board of the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB). The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Government of India is represented in CIB Board through National Buildings Organisation. CIB is a world wide network of over 5000 researchers and experts from about 500 organisations in the building & construction sector, and includes almost all the major national building research institutes from over 25 countries in the world. CIB was established in 1953 with the support of the United Nations to help rebuild Europe following the ravages of the Second World War.

Improved Anti Collision Device (ACD) to be Tried on Southern Railway

Continuing efforts to reduce human error and enhance safety, Indian Railways will conduct the second set of equipment proving trials with the modified Anti Collision Device (ACD) on the electrified, multiple-line automatic signaling section in southern Railway from 10th November 2010, on the Chennai-Arrakonam section. The first set of trials was done in the same section in September-October 2010.

The trials are aimed at providing a fair opportunity for success of the indigenous technology. Anti Collision Device is an indigenous concept evolved by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) and is based on GPS. The devices which aim at preventing train collisions are to be installed on locomotives of trains and at stations as non-signaling system with no manual interventions to activate braking if collision like situations are detected; at the same time, the devices are also to be dependable so as not to act on spurious signals..

Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill, 2010

The Union Cabinet approved the introduction of the Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill, 2010 in the Parliament to ensure a safe environment for women at work places, both in public and private sectors whether organised or unorganized. The measure will help in achieving gender empowerment and equality. The proposed Bill, if enacted, will ensure that women are protected against sexual harassment at all the work places, be it in public or private. This will contribute to realisation of their right to gender equality, life and liberty and equality in working conditions everywhere. The sense of security at the workplace will improve women's participation in work, resulting in their economic empowerment and inclusive growth.

Establishment of a National Centre for Molecular Materials at Thiruvananthapuram

The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of a National Centre for Molecular Materials (NCMM) at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala as an autonomous institute of the Government of India (GOI) under the Department of Science & Technology (DST). The Centre will be the first of its kind in the country and will pursue high-end science and develop technology in niche areas like sensors for biomedical devices, materials for solar energy harvesting and space electronics. Through the Centre, the Government attempts to create a national innovation infrastructure that channels knowledge systems to wealth creation in the long run.

DRDO Conducts Successful Maiden Flight Test of Kaveri Engine

The indigenously designed and developed Kaveri Engine was successfully flight tested by DRDO yesterday during the Flying Test Bed (FTB) Trials at Gromov Flight Research Institute (GFRI), Moscow, Russia. The engine was tested from take-off to landing and flew for a period of over one hour up to at an altitude of 6000m at a speed of 0.6 mach in its maiden flight. The engine control, engine performance and engine health during the flight were found to be excellent. With this test, Kaveri Engine has completed a major milestone of the development program. During the coming months further 50-60 test flights will be carried out to mature the engine in terms of reliability, safety and airworthiness. These trials would pave the way for further flight trials of Kaveri Engine with a fighter aircraft. Kaveri engine is being developed for fighter aircraft, at Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a DRDO laboratory based in Bangalore with the active support of several other DRDO labs, academic institutions and industry partners. During the development phase, Kaveri engine has successfully completed various stages of development including component testing, safety tests, ground based engine tests, endurance tests etc, both at GTRE as well as test facilities abroad.

Skill Development in MSMEs

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises is implementing a number of schemes/programmes for entrepreneurship & skill development through its various organizations.

These include long term and short term training programmes in vocational skills, Entrepreneurship Skill Development Programmes (ESDP), Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (EDP), Management Development Programmes (MDP) etc. In addition, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) and Coir Board provide grass root training to the artisans and rural entrepreneurs in Basic Skills.

Lean Manufacturing Scheme

The objective of the pilot scheme is to increase the competitiveness of the MSME sector through the adoption of Lean Manufacturing Techniques with the objective of reducing waste, increasing productivity, introducing innovative practices for improving overall competitiveness, inculcating good management systems and imbibing a culture of continuous improvement. The scheme provides for building awareness of lean manufacturing practices in MSME clusters as well as cost sharing of consultant’s fee with MSME units who opt for such interventions. For effective implementation and monitoring of the scheme, the National Productivity Council (NPC) has been designated as the Nodal Agency.

Indian Navy's Request to Take Over Certain Islands in Goa

Indian Navy has made a request for handing over Grandi Island (large) owned by private party having an area of 5,28,575 sqm and Pikene Island comprising an area of 2,78,525 sqm owned by Government of Goa. These islands are located at a distance of less than 4 Kms in the landing funnel of Dabolim Airport. This proposal has been made in order to address the security concerns related to aircraft operations from Naval Air Station Dabolim and the case being processed as per existing regulations. Government of Goa has not granted NOC so far nor any report from the Government of Goa has been received by the Ministry.

IA&AD Institution of C&AG Completes 150 Years

Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) of India Shri Vinod Rai released the new logo of the Indian Audit & Accounts Department (IA&AD). Releasing the logo Shri Rai said that IA&AD is known for its credibility, high standard of professionalism, independence and core competence and we continue updating our techniques for improving governance. The C&AG informed that Sir Edmund Drummond was appointed as the first Auditor General on 16th November, 1860 and Shri V. Narahari Rao was appointed as the first Comptroller and Auditor General of independent India in 1948. The late Dr. B. R. Ambedkar called the C&AG, “ as the most important officer in the Constitution of India. He is the one man who is going to see that the expenses voted by the Parliament are not exceeded or varies from what has been laid down by the Parliament”. And this duty entrusted to the C&AG by the Constitution is still being carried out with the same dedication and sincerity, if not more, since the last 150 years, Shri Rai added.

Skill Development Initiative for school dropout and existing workers

The Ministry of labour & Employment has undertaken the development of a new strategic framework for skill development for early school leavers and existing workers, especially working in unorganized sector. Skill Development Initiative (SDI) Scheme has been launched to provide vocational training on employable modules in the registered Vocational Training Providers (VTPs) to the school dropouts.

After the completion of the training, the skill of the candidates is assessed by the registered Assessing Bodies. Successful candidates are provided with the National Council of Vocational Training NCVT certificate. The training cost as well as the assessing fee is reimbursed for the successful candidates. The skill of the existing worker is also certified under the scheme on the basis of the employable modules.

Main features of the scheme are:-

I. Short term training courses based on Modular Employable Skills (MES) identified and decided in consultation with Industry for gainful employment or self employment in the world of work.

II. Central government facilitates and promotes training while industry, private sector and state governments provide training to the persons.

III. Flexible delivery mechanism (part time, weekends, full time, and onsite) to suit needs of various target groups.

IV. Courses are available for persons having completed 5th standard and onwards.

V. Testing of skills of an individual acquired informally in competency and issue of NCVT certification on qualifying it successfully.

NRCP Covers 38 Rivers for Conservation

The Centrally sponsored scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) covers polluted stretches of 38 rivers in 178 towns spread over 20 States. The pollution abatement works taken up under the Plan include interception and diversion of raw sewage, setting up of sewage treatment plants, creation of low cost sanitation facilities, setting up of electric/improved wood crematoria and river front development. Sewage treatment capacity of 4064 mld (million litres per day) has been created so far in the country under the Plan. A statement indicating the State-wise details of funds released during the last five years under the Plan is annexed. The Central Government has set up the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) in February, 2009 as an empowered authority for conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a holistic approach with the river basin as the unit of planning. Schemes worth about Rs.1450 crores have been sanctioned under NGRBA so far.

United Nations Millennium Development Goals

The Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja has said, in connection with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, especially Goal-1 relating to eradication of extreme hunger and poverty, the Government has implemented the National Strategy for Urban Poor (NSUP) project, assisted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This project, which commenced in 2003, has come to an end on 30.9.2010. The NSUP project contained the following key components:

(a) Urban Poverty Alleviation and Livelihoods Cells in select cities,

(b) Integrated Urban Poverty Monitoring System,

(d) Research and Capacity building programmes for poverty reduction.

Welfare Scheme for Unemployed Persons under The Ministry of Labour & Employment

Presently, Government of India is implementing various employment generation and poverty alleviation programmes in both rural and urban areas to increase employment opportunities, such

as, Swarnjayanti GramSwarozgar Yojana (SGSY); Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY); Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) & Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

SGSY has been restructured as the National Rural Livelihood Mission to make it universal in application, focused in approach and time bound for poverty eradication by 2014-2015.

Swavalamban Yojana Scheme

The Union Finance Minister has announced Swavalamban Scheme in the Union Budget 2010-11 to address the longevity risk of poorer sections of the country. Under the Swavalamban, the Government of India shall contribute a sum of Rs. 1,000 to each subscriber account of the New Pension System (NPS) during the current year and the next three years provided the subscriber contributes any amount between Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 12,000 per annum. The Government has targeted to cover ten lakh subscribers each in the four years beginning 2010-11, bringing the total number of subscribers to 40 lakhs by March, 2014. The Operational Guidelines on Swavalamban Scheme have been approved and released which, inter-alia, provide the applicability, benefits, definitions of the un-organized sector, eligibility, funding, operation etc. of the Scheme. The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has placed these Guidelines in public domain on its website http://www.pfrda.org.in . The Government has launched the Scheme on 26.09.2010 and the same will be implemented by the PFRDA. PFRDA has appointed various agencies all over the country, such as, Financial Sector entities, Government entities, Civil Society organizations, etc. for enrolment of subscribers and contribution collection under the Swavalamban Scheme. A higher level of enrolments under the Scheme will ensure old age income security for such subscribers in their post-retirement phase.

Green Rating Norms of New Buildings

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is promoting construction of green buildings through GRIHA, a green rating system in the Country. So far, 50 projects from various Government Departments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSU), Educational Institutions including All India Institutes of Medical Sciences, with a total 2.58 million square meter built up area have been registered for the construction based on green rating norms for acquiring GRIHA Ratings. In addition, eleven Evaluators & Trainers Workshops for providing trainings to the Architects, Engineers and Officials from Central & State Governments and PSUs including Central Public Works Department, National Buildings Construction Corporation, National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. etc. have been organized in the country. About 115 Trainers and 92 Evaluators have been trained through these training workshops who are further promoting green buildings in the country.

The GRIHA Rating System is applicable for the construction of new buildings. However, under various programmes of the Ministry, installation of renewable energy systems and devices is being promoted in the country including in the Government Buildings.

Panchayats Empowerment and Accountability Scheme

Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Dr.C.P.Joshi informed the Lok Sabha that under the Panchayat Empowerment and Accountability Incentive Scheme (PEAIS), State Governments are incentivized to devolve functions, funds and functionaries (3Fs) upon Panchayats to fulfil the Constitutional stipulation under Article 243G read with its Eleventh Schedule. Awards are given based on ranking of the States in devolution of 3Fs through a study conducted every year by an independent organization.

Rural Electrification Target

Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) – a Scheme for rural Electricity Infrastructure & Household Electrification was launched in 2005. Against the sanctioned coverage of electrification of 1.18 lakh un/de-electrified villages and release of free electricity connections to 2.46 crore rural Below Poverty Line (BPL) households, the electrification works in 86,270 of un/de-electrified villages have been completed and free electricity connections to 1,31,82,992 eligible BPL households have been released under RGGVY as on 31.10.2010. The revised Bharat Nirman target is to electrify 1 lakh un/de-electrified villages and release of electricity connections to 1.75 crore BPL households by March, 2012. There is no provision in the scheme to provide free electricity to families living below poverty line.

Schemes for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities

The following are amongst the schemes being implemented for the welfare and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.

(i) Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/ Fitting of Aid and Appliances (ADIP) Scheme:- Under the scheme, aid and appliances are distributed to all types of disabilities that includes for mentally retarded persons also.

(ii) Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS):- Under the Scheme, funds for the Welfare of Persons with Disability are provided to the NGOs for projects like Special Schools, Vocational Training Centres, Project for Cerebral Palsied Children, Pre- School and Early Intervention and Training, half way homes for psycho-social rehabilitation of treated and controlled mentally ill persons etc.

(iii) Scheme of Incentives to the Private Sector for Employment of Physically Challenged Persons: The scheme has been launched, w.e.f. 01.04.2008. Under this Scheme, the Government of India provides the employer’s contribution for Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees State Insurance (ESI) for 3 years, for physically challenged employees employed in the private sector on or after 01.04.2008, with a monthly salary upto Rs.25,000.

(iv) National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation provides financial assistance for self-employment, training and skilled development of persons with disabilities (PwDs) including mentally retarded persons. This Ministry does not set up homes for mentally challenged children. However, under the Central Sector DDRS scheme, financial assistance is provided to Non- Government Organizations for providing various services to mentally retarded persons.

Medical Tourism Included under the Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme

The Union Ministry of Tourism has included Medical Tourism under the Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme. Financial support under the MDA is provided to approved Medical Tourism Service Providers, i.e. Representatives of Hospitals accredited by Joint Commission for International Accredited Hospitals (JCI) and National Accreditation Board of Hospitals (NABH) and Medical Tourism facilitators (Travel Agents/Tour Operators) approved by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and engaged in Medical Tourism subject to adherence to scheme guidelines and availability of funds. The Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned Rs.12,47,966.00 as MDA to 10 Medical Tourism Service Providers during current year.

Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahayog Yojana he Government has on 20.10.2010 approved implementation of “Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY)” – a Conditional Maternity Benefit (CMB) scheme in 52 selected districts on a pilot basis, to begin with. The Scheme is meant to improve the health and nutrition status of pregnant & lactating women. It envisages providing cash to P&L women during pregnancy and lactation period in response to their fulfilling specific conditions linked to maternal and child care behavior. Each of the beneficiaries will be paid Rs. 4000/- in three instalments between the second trimester till the child attains the age of 6 months on fulfilling specific conditions related to maternal and child health.

India Releases first Climate Change Assessment for 2030

Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Science and Technology and Earth Sciences said, “The impact of global warming in one part of the country is different from the other part of the country. We need micro study and micro assessment which will make difference in lives of people.” Releasing a new major study on climate change science, ‘4X4 Assessment of the Impact of Climate Change’ on key sectors and regions of India he further said, “At the release of IPCC report, I suggested to have internal report of India at national and local level. The Ministry undertook a very important study. Let us understand issues of climate and its impact on lives of people.”Responding to the Environment and Forests minister’s suggestion Shri Sibal promised to extend support to organize international conferences and start world class journal.

Giving details about Indian Network of Climate Change Assessment (INCCA ) under the Ministry of Environment & Forests who prepared this report, he said, “This comprehensive network is of 125 research institutions spread across the country with about 250 scientists from various Ministries. The second report in this series, which was released today, looks at the impact of climate change on four sectors of the economy, namely Agriculture, Water, Natural Ecosystems & Biodiversity and Health in four climate sensitive regions of India, namely the Himalayan region, the Western Ghats, the Coastal Area and the North-East Region.”Shri Ramesh suggested to organize international climate change conferences to start a top class international journal of climate science and to develop our own models to study climate and sought help from the Ministry of Science and Technology to expose our younger generation of scientists.

Rice Procurement Crosses 100 Lakh Tonne Mark

Procurement of rice by government agencies has crossed 100 lakh tonne mark in kharif marketing season 2011. Rice procurement as on today stands at 100,83,026 tonnes. The contribution of major States is as follows:

Punjab	82.80 lakh tonne
Haryana	15.82 lakh tonne
Tamil Nadu	77.5 thousand tonne
Andhra Pradesh	63.4 thousand tonne
Kerala	42.3 thousand tonne
Uttar Pradesh	23.6 thousand tonne

Schemes for Creating Health Awareness in the Country

Health is a State subject. However, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare creates mass awareness on various disease control programmes by way of advertisements through television, radio, newspapers, magazines and newsletters. Funds are also earmarked in every state for information, education and communication (IEC) activities under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). In addition, the expenditure incurred on IEC activities under National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) and campaign against H1N1 Influenza was Rs. 29.72 Crores, Rs.21.58 Crores and Rs.79.21 Crores approximately during 2007-2008, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 respectively.

Ban on Diabetes Drug

Use of Rosiglitazone has been found to be associated with risk of cardiovascular events i.e. Congestive Heart Failure and Myocardial Infarction. European Medicines Agency on 23 September, 2010, recommended the suspension of the marketing authorisations for the rosiglitazone-containing anti-diabetes medicines. These medicines will stop being available in Europe within the next few months. USFDA have significantly restricted the use of diabetes drug rosiglitazone to patients with Type 2 diabetes who cannot control their diabetes on other medications. UAE agency is yet to take a final decision on the withdrawal of rosiglitazone.

Establishment of an Independent Evaluation Office to assess impact of Government’s Flagship Programmes

The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of an Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) to undertake impartial and objective assessment of the various public programmes and improve the effectiveness of public interventions. This is in pursuance of the Presidential address to the Joint Session of both Houses of Parliament in June, 2009 to establish an Independent Evaluation Office at an arms' distance from the Government to assess the outcomes and impact of the major flagship programmes of the Government of India.

The IEO will be an independent office attached to the Planning Commission under a Governing Board chaired by the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission. It will be funded by the Planning Commission and will have, as its head, a full-time Director General (DG) in the rank and status of Member, Planning Commission. It will have full functional autonomy to discharge its functions. The IEO will also advise the Planning Commission and the implementing agencies in developing appropriate management systems consistent with the evaluation objectives. The IEO will strengthen the existing evaluation process by drawing the best resources available from leading research organizations. The findings of the independent evaluation will be reported to the Government of India and also be placed in the public domain.

Winding up of National Fund for Rural Development (NFRD)

The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to wind up the National Fund for Rural Development (NFRD) and transfer the residual funds to Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Rural Development. The National Fund for Rural Development (NFRD) was set up in 1984 to mobilise funds from individuals, corporate and non-corporate bodies for undertaking rural development activities. The accruals to the Fund were to be utilized for implementing projects in the field of rural development. All categories of tax-payers and non-tax payers willing to join the effort in bringing about improvements to rural life were made eligible to make contribution in the name of NFRD. No contribution to the Fund was received beyond April, 2004. In the meanwhile, a scheme namely Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) under the framework of public private partnership was approved enabling a role for the private sector to participate in the process of rural development. Since the contribution to the NFRD was too small to get tangible results, the Government has approved the winding up of NFRD. The funds available under NFRD will be transferred to CAPART for taking up well-identified projects fitting into the basic objectives of NFRD over a period of 2 years.

Qaumi Ekta Week

Qaumi Ekta Week is observed from November 19-25 every year with a view to fostering and re-inforcing the spirit of communal harmony, national integration and pride in our vibrant composite culture and nationhood. The Minister of Home Affairs, Shri P. Chidambaram has written to different Ministries under Government of India for organising programmes/events befitting the occasion. The National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH), an autonomous organisation with Ministry of Home Affairs also organises Communal Harmony Campaign during the week. This occasion provides us an opportunity to reaffirm our age old traditions and faith in the values of tolerance, co-existence and brotherhood in a multi-cultural and multi-religious society. The observation of the “Qaumi Ekta Week” will also help to highlight the inherent strength and resilience of our nation to withstand actual, and potential threats to the eclectic and secular fabric of our country, and nurture a spirit of communal harmony in its widest sense. Qaumi Ekta Week (National Integration Week) will be observed all over the country.

Green Energy gets Boost with Launching of Renewable Energy Certificate Mechanism

Shri Sushilkumar Shinde, Union Minister of Power, has launched the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) mechanism. “Renewable Energy Certificate is a market based instrument which enables the obligated entities to meet their Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO). Pertinently, the renewable purchase obligation is the obligation mandated by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) under the Electricity Act, to purchase a minimum level of renewable energy out of the total consumption in the area of a distribution licensee. The REC mechanism also aims at encouraging competition and eventually mainstreaming renewable energy sources”, the Minister said.

Salient features of the REC mechanism are as follows:

• The RE generators will have two options – either to sell the renewable energy at preferential tariff fixed by the concerned Electricity Regulatory Commission or to sell the electricity component and environmental attributes separately.

• On choosing the second option, the generator can sell the ‘electricity component’ to either the local distribution company at its average power purchase cost, the traders, open consumers or to the power exchanges at a mutually agreed/market determined price. In addition, the ‘environmental attributes’ can be exchanged in the form of the REC.

• The Central Agency (the National Load Despatch Centre has been designated as Central Agency) will issue the REC to RE generators.

• One REC will be equivalent to 1 MWh of electricity injected into the grid.

• The REC will be exchanged only in the Power Exchanges approved by CERC within the band of a minimum and a maximum price to be determined by CERC. CERC has already notified the price band.

• The distribution companies, Open Access consumer, Captive Power Plants (CPPs) will have the option of purchasing the REC to meet their Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO).

• There will also be compliance auditors to ensure compliance of the requirements of REC by the participants of the scheme.

• Voluntary Purchasers like NGOs, the Corporate Sector, Individual Purchasers etc. may also purchase REC in order to meet their Corporate Social Responsibility or to support the environment.

Centre for Biodiversity Policy and Law –Cebpol at Chennai

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has decided to establish a Centre for Biodiversity Policy and Law (CEBPOL) in the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), Chennai, which is a statutory autonomous body of the Ministry responsible for implementing the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The Government of Norway has offered to provide technical and institutional collaboration for the CEBPOL.Norway is the first developed country to have recently enacted a national legislation on ABS. India and Norway can thus learn from each other’s experiences relating to ABS and traditional knowledge.

The Norwegian partners for cooperation with NBA would be the Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management and Fridtj of Nansen Institute. This collaboration is an outcome of the close Indo-Norwegian dialogue under the Joint Working Group on Environment. The objectives of CEBPOL are to develop professional expertise in the complex and still-evolving policy and legal issues relating to biodiversity, including on access and benefit sharing, inter alia through research, development and training; and to provide advice and expertise to the Government on these matters. The Centre is also expected to contribute to strengthening the implementation of the Biological Diversity Act. The setting up of this Centre is a very timely initiative taken by the Government, considering that the recently concluded Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan, has adopted a Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing. The Protocol adopted after intense negotiations sets out rules and procedures for prior informed consent for access to genetic resources for ensuring fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from these resources and associated traditional knowledge. As a mega-diverse country, and as a victim of bio-piracy, India has played an important role in ABS negotiations.

Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme

Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalya (KGBV) scheme was launched in July 2004, for setting up residential schools at appear primary level for girls belonging predominantly to the SC, ST,OBC and minority communities. The scheme is being implemented in Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs) of the country where the female rural literacy is below the national average and gender gap in literacy is above the national average. The scheme provides minimum reservation of 75 per cent of the seats for girls belonging to SC, ST communities and priority for the remaining 25 per cent, is accorded to girls from families below poverty line. The Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidylaya scheme was merged with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in the XIth Plan with effect from 1st April, 2008.

The scheme is not being implemented in the States and UTs of Andaman & Nicobar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Daman & Diu, Goa, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry and Sikkim as no blocks in these states and UTs fall under the category of EBB. The criteria of eligible blocks had been revised with effect from 1st April, 2008 to include an additional 304 educationally backward blocks with rural female literacy below 30 per cent and 94 Towns/cities having minority concentration with female literacy rate below the national average (53.67%: Census 2001).

Home Minister P. Chidambaram Launches Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) – SABLA

Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) – SABLA was launched by Shri P. Chidambaram, Home Minister in the presence of Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister of State, Women and Child Development (Independent Charge) on 19th November, 2010 in New Delhi. Shri P. Chidambaram in his address said that UPA government wants to empower Women and Adolescent Girls, to see every girl become ‘SABLA’ like the leader Late Smt. Indira Gandhi whose birthday falls today. He said that women should come forward to bring the desired change in the condition of Adolescent Girls and Mothers.

The two new schemes of the Women and Child Development ministry namely Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) and Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) are very important measures to bring about change in the lives of Women and Adolescent Girls. Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister of State, Women and Child Development (Independent Charge) asked the states to implement the schemes through Anganwadi Centres with devotion and earnestness. She said that Adolescent girls are one of the vulnerable groups who have not received the concerted attention that they deserve. Nutrition, education, skill development levels of AGs along with awareness of their rights and social issues are at suboptimal level.

AGs face an inter-generational cycle of under-nutrition compounded by multiple deprivations - gender discrimination, poverty and exclusion. This vicious cycle needs to be tackled through multi-sectoral interventions. An integrated approach taking care of life skill education, family life education, nutrition and health of adolescent girls would pave the way for improvement in the quality of human resources in the country. Shri P. Chidambaram released a Scheme Booklet on SABLA in the presence of Smt. Krishna Tirath, (Minister of Women and Child Development (Independent Charge). ‘SABLA’ a Centrally-sponsored scheme would be implemented in 200 selected districts across the country on a pilot basis initially.

‘SABLA’ aims at empowering adolescent girls of 11-18 years by improvement in their nutritional and health status and upgrading various skills like home skills, life skills and vocational skills.

It also aims at equipping the girls on family welfare, health hygiene etc. and information and guidance on existing public services along with aiming to mainstream out of school girls into formal or non-formal education. An integrated package of services would be provided to adolescent girls which will be:- Nutrition provision of 600 calories and 18-20 grams of protein and micronutrients, at a rate of Rs. 5 per beneficiary per day for 300 days in a year; Iron Folic Acid IFA supplementation; Health check-up and Referral services; Nutrition & Health Education; Counselling/Guidance on family welfare, ARSH, child care practices and home management; Life Skill Education and accessing public services; Vocational training for girls aged 16 and above under National Skill Development Program (NSDP). The scheme would be implemented in convergence with various schemes/ programmes of other Ministries/Departments viz. health, education, Youth Affairs, Labour, and PRIs etc.

E-Post Corporate Scheme

Department of Posts has introduced a ‘pilot project’ on e-Post Corporate service at Kerala Circle. The e-Post Corporate is being used by the Government of Kerala for sending acknowledgement of the petitions received at the office of Chief Minister of Kerala. E-Post corporate has also been introduced as a ‘pilot project’ at Tamil Nadu Circle. Here LIC Housing Finance Limited, Chennai, is sending the loan renewal notices through e-POST corporate service. All corporate customers will be in a position to use e-Post service once it is launched at the national level.

Standard for noise pollution

The Government has chalked out standard for noise pollution The ambient noise standards have been notified for different categories like, industrial, commercial and residential areas and silence zones.

It is 55 dB (A) Leq during ‘day time’ and 45 dB (A) Leq during ‘night time’ for residential areas. ‘Day time’ and ‘night time’ mean 6.00 am to 10.00 pm and 10.00 pm to 6.00 am, respectively. dB (A) Leq denotes the time weighted average of the level of sound in decibels on scale A which is relatable to human hearing. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/ Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) have been carrying out sporadic noise monitoring in urban areas, mainly during festivals such as Deepawali. A few SPCBs and PCCs have initiated regular noise monitoring since 2008-2009. As per available data, the prescribed noise norms for various areas are exceeded at many locations. However, a definite trend can not be ascertained since limited data is available. The CPCB has undertaken the task to establish a National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network.

Green India Programme

Under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) announced by the Government of India, a "National Mission for a Green India" has been mooted as one of the eight missions. The mission document is under formulation. As on 30.09.2010, about 12.86 lakh hectare of land including 7.22 lakh hectare of degraded forest land and 5.64 lakh hectare of non-forest land has been identified for raising Compensatory Afforestation in lieu of diversion of 11.10 lakh hectare of forest land for non-forest purposes. So far, Compensatory Afforestation has been achieved over 4.22 lakh hectare area only. During the period from January 2005 to December 2008, about 2.42 lakh hectare of forest land was identified for Compensatory Afforestation in lieu of diversion of 1.12 lakh hectare of forest land for non forest purpose. Only 1,177 hectare Compensatory Afforestation has been undertaken during this period and no Compensatory Afforestation could be carried out from April, 2007 to March, 2009 due to non-release of money earmarked for the purpose. To resume the Compensatory Afforestation in the States and Union Territories, comprehensive guidelines have been framed and communicated and funds for undertaking Compensatory Afforestation is being released with effect from 10th July,2009.

E-Governance Project for Panchayats

Connectivity to Gram Panchayats through broadband network, is included as a component in the Bharat Nirman II Programme. As on September 2010, a total of 97,392 Village Panchayats have been broadband enabled. Under Bharat Nirman II Programme, the Government has envisaged to provide broadband connectivity to all Village Panchayats. Some States are using computers in functioning of Panchayats including for digitising records and files.

For implementation of e-governance in Panchayats, Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has formulated “e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project (MMP)”. Under this MMP, reports on (1) Information and Service Needs Assessment (2) Business Process Re-engineering and (3) Detailed Project Reports for each State/UT (except Delhi) have been prepared and sent to respective States/UTs for operationalising. For this MMP, MoPR has been allocated Rs.5.5 cr. in 2008-09, Rs.22.07 cr. In 2009-10 and Rs.24 cr. In 2010-11. From this amount, development of software applications to automate core functions of Panchayats has also been taken up. PRIASoft, an accounting software and PLANPlus, software for decentralized planning have already been launched.

PESA Act

1. Guidelines of PESA: An advisory, ‘Effective implementation of PESA particularly in the context of prevailing extremism’, dated 21st May, 2010 from the Union Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj have been issued to all PESA States. It is available on website of Ministry of Panchayati Raj, www.panchayat.nic.in

2. PESA Model Rules: Draft Model Rules for PESA were prepared by the Ministry and circulated to all PESA States for framing of rules for effective implementation of PESA.

3. Visits and meetings in PESA States: Field visits have been made to PESA States. Meetings were held with officials of State Departments concerned with PESA implementation.

4. Three Sub-Committees: MoPR constituted three sub-committees, namely the B D Sharma sub-committee on ‘Model Guidelines to vest Gram Sabhas with Powers as envisaged in PESA; the Raghav Chandra sub-committee on ‘Land Alienation, Displacement, Rehabilitation & Resettlement’ and Shri A.K. Sharma on Minor Forest Produce’. Report and recommendations of all the sub-committees have been forwarded to the PESA States. PESA promotes people-centric governance and provides a central role to the Gram Sabha. Empowerment of people is critical in the Schedule V Areas. It is expected that increased decentralized governance will reduce the grievances of the people.

Changes in Rural Development Programmes

Ministry of Rural Development is implementing various rural development programmes through State Governments and UT Administrations. The programmes of the Ministry are modified/revised as and when required with a view to ensuring better implementation of the programmes. For instance, the Sampoorna Gramin Rojgar Yajana (SGRY) was replaced with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to statutorily provide 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every registered rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work on demand.

Similarly, the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) is now being restructured as National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) with a view to implement it in a mission mode and time bound delivery of results. The Area Development programmes have been redesigned and combined in a programme called Integrated Watershed Management Programmes (IWMP). Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) is now changed into National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP).

Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS)

The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1963 enacted by Parliament inter-alia prohibits manual scavenging. As per the Act, no person shall (a) engage in or employ for or permit to be engaged in or employed for any other person for manually carrying human excreta; or (b) construct or maintain a dry latrine. Contravention of these provisions is a criminal offence. So far, the Act has been adopted by 23 States and all Union Territories. Two States, viz. Manipur and Mizoram have reported that they have no dry latrines, or they are scavenger free. Two States, viz. Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan have their own Acts. State of Jammu & Kashmir is yet to adopt the Act. Sanitation is a State subject. Enforcement of the Act lies with State Governments.

As per the available information, dry latrines exist in three States, namely Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation is implementing the Integrated Low Cost Sanitation Schemes, which aims at conversion of dry latrines into pour flush latrines. Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) has the following main components:-

(i) Skill training for a period upto one year, with payment of stipend @ Rs. 1,000 per month.

(ii) Loan at concessional rate of interest for self employment projects costing upto Rs. 5 lakh.

(iii) Capital subsidy @ 50% of the project cost, for projects upto Rs. 25,000, and @ 25% for projects above Rs. 25,000, with a minimum of Rs. 12,500 and maximum of Rs. 20,000.

The National Advisory Council (NAC) has recommended to amend the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993, to ensure sharper definition of manual scavenging, and accountability of public officials. The matter is under consideration of the Government.

Special Programmes for Enhancing Foodgrains and Oilseeds Production

For increasing productivity and production of foodgrain crops in the country, various Crop Development schemes and Programmes like National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Integrated Scheme of Oilseed, Pulses, Maize and Oilpalm (ISOPOM), Integrated Cereals Development Programme for Rice/Wheat/Coarse Cereals under Macro Management of Agriculture and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) are being implemented by the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation through State Governments.

In 2010-11, in addition to above mentioned schemes, two new programmes relating to bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India and integrated development of 60000 Pulses and Oil seeds Villages in rainfed areas have been initiated under RKVY. National Food Security Mission has been strengthened from 1.4.2010 with the merger of pulses component of ISOPOM and inclusion of two new potential States for Pulses production in Assam and Jharkhand. A new programme Accelerated Pulses Production programme (A3P) in the form of block demonstrations has been started to cover 1000 unit of 1000 hectare each of five pulses crops in 16 pulses growing States of the country.

Review and Strengthening of PRIs

Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) implements the schemes of Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) – Capacity Building (CB) component and Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana (RGSY) for supporting and strengthening the Panchayati Raj Institutions.
BRGF (CB) component is under implementation in all States except Goa whereas the RGSY scheme is under implementation in all States that are covered under Part IX of the Constitution.

All eligible States have availed grants under the BRGF (CB) component. RGSY is demand driven scheme and grants under the scheme have been availed by all eligible States. State Governments have evolved different mechanisms to review the working of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). MoPR carries out a review of the working of PRIs on annual basis and publishes the findings as State of Panchayat Report.

Access to Safe Drinking Water to All

As on 1.4.2010, under Bharat Nirman there were 376 uncovered and 1,44,064 quality affected habitations totaling 1,44,440 habitations left to be covered. As per data reported by the States, as on 15.11.2010, on the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS), 147 uncovered and 6,533 habitations totaling 6,680 habitations have been covered. The remaining 1,37,760 habitations are targeted to be covered with access to safe drinking water by the end of Bharat Nirman Phase II. As per National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) policy, State Governments can adopt dual water supply by providing 10 lpcd of safe drinking water for drinking and cooking purposes in water quality affected habitations which inter-alia include providing community based water purifying systems and supply the remaining requirement from other nearby sources. The country has achieved the UN Millennium Development Goal with regard to providing access to safe drinking water in rural areas.

Implementation of Development Scheme in Rural Areas

Ministry of Rural Development is implementing a number of schemes namely Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act(MGNREGA), Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)/National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) and Total Sanitation Campaign(TSC) in rural areas of the country, through State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. An amount of Rs. 39957.48 crore, Rs. 60509.13 and Rs. 82187.26 crore respectively was spent during 2207-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 under MGNREGA, SGSY/NRLM, IAY, PMGSY, NRDWP and TSC. The cumulative expenditure under the Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP), Desert Development Programme (DDP) and Integrated Watershed Development Programme (IWDP) is Rs. 1648.94 crore, Rs. 1332.87 crores and Rs. 1726.54 crore during the last three years (i.e. 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10). DPAP, DDP and IWDP have been merged into IWMP now.

The Ministry of Rural Development has put in place a comprehensive system of monitoring the implementation of the programmes including utilization of funds through Periodical Progress Reports, Performance Review Committee, Area Officer’s Scheme, Vigilance and Monitoring Committees at the State and District Levels and National Level Monitors.

The State Governments and Union Territory Administrations have been advised to adopt a five-pronged strategy to improve the implementation of the rural development schemes consisting of (i) creation of awareness about the schemes, (ii) transparency, (iii) people’s participation, (iv) accountability, social audit and (v) vigilance and monitoring of rural development programmes at all levels to achieve maximum success rate.

Hi-Tech Ship Building Yards

There are 27 major shipyards in the country, of which six are under the administrative control of the Union Government viz. Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi; Hooghly Dock and Port Engineers Limited, Kolkata; Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam; Mazagaon Dock Limited, Mumbai; Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, Kolkata and Goa Shipyard Limited, Goa; two under State Governments viz. M/s Alcock Ashdown & Co. Ltd., Bhavnagar; M/s Shalimar Works Ltd., Kolkata and 19 in the private sector. None of the Government shipyards has built large container ships and tankers over the past three years

Government has given in principle approval for setting up a new shipyard of international standard on a Public-Private Partnership mode as a joint venture under the Ministry of Shipping. Shipping Corporation of India has been asked to prepare a Project Report for the new shipyard. Project cost and other details shall be known only after the Detailed Project Report is received.

Nationwide 38 Sites Identified for Plantation and Conservation of Mangroves

The Ministry has a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Conservation and Management of Mangroves in the country. On a nation-wide basis, 38 sites have been identified as appropriate for planting of mangroves and their conservation and management. The State-wise list is given in Annexure-I. As per the State of Forest Report 2009, published by Forest Survey of India, the mangrove cover in the country stands at 4639 km² out of which 353 km² is in Andhra Pradesh. Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Conservation and Management of Mangroves, 100% central assistance is extended to Coastal States/Union Territories, who so request, for implementation of their approved Management Action Plans which comprise components such as Survey and Demarcation, Afforestation and Restoration of Mangroves, Alternate and Supplementary Livelihoods, Protection Measures, Education and Awareness etc.

Cyber Networking of Police Stations

A Common Integrated Police Application (CIPA) programme had been initiated in the year 2004-05 as a component of the “Modernisation of State Police Forces (MPF)” scheme of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The aim of the CIPA was to bring about computerization and automation in the functioning at the police station. So far, 2,760 police stations, out of a total of around 14,000 police stations across the country, have been covered under the Scheme. No police station was connected on any network under any previous central scheme. Networking of Police Stations was envisaged in CIPA but before it could be implemented, the planned project CCTNS came into existence and CIPA programme was subsumed under CCTNS.

The development of nation-wide networking environment has been envisaged under CCTNS project to be implemented before the end of XI five year plan (2012). However, certain police stations within the country have been networked alongwith higher offices in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Chandigarh and Tamil Nadu in varying degrees. The networking of police stations as envisaged under the CCTNS project is yet to begin. The Core Application Software (CAS) being developed under CCTNS shall have bilingual (English/Hindi) User Interfaces and Data Entry capabilities. The CAS will also have capabilities built-in for enabling customization in all official languages as laid down in Constitution of India. IT trained personnel are available with the National Crime Records Bureau. NCRB have recently recruited 8 technical personnel on contract basis to assist in CCTNS project activities. Training is being conducted for NCRB and State Police personnel as part of CCTNS capacity building initiative.

Comprehensive Review of Transport Sector

Transport sector encompasses all modes of transport i.e. Railways, Shipping, Civil Aviation and Road Transport. The Government has set up a National Transport Development Policy Committee under the chairmanship of Shri Rakesh Mohan to comprehensively review the transport sector. So far as this Ministry is concerned no recommendation of the Transport Policy Development Committee is pending for implementation. Keeping in view the need of the road transport sector, the Government has already initiated necessary process to finalise a National Road Transport Policy. Comments of the States/UTs on the National Road Transport Policy recommended by a Committee constituted under the chairmanship of Shri D. Thangaraj, the then Principal Secretary, Govt. of Karnataka have been invited and also received from some of the States/UTs. Comments/views of the concerned line Ministries/Departments have also been received.

Measures to Prevent Floods and to Utilise Flood Water

Floods are a recurring feature, particularly in Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna basins. Inter Basin Water Transfer (IBWT) was envisaged as one of the most effective way to mitigate floods and drought, increases irrigation potential and reduce regional imbalance in the availability of water. National Water Development Agency (NWDA) was assigned to undertake the study and prepare the requisite proposals in this regard. It has completed Feasibility Reports of 14 inter-basin links under Peninsular Component and the 2 links under Himalyan Component.

After signing of a tripartite agreement between the Government of India and the concerned States of Madhya Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh on 25.08.2005, NWDA has completed Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Ken-Betwa link on 31.12.2008. Further, NWDA has taken up the preparation of DPRs of two more links namely, Par-Tapi-Narmada and Damanganga-Pinjal under Peninsular Component.

AGNI – I Missile test Fired Successfully

The medium Range missile AGNI-1(A1) was successfully test fired from Launch Complex – IV (LC-IV), Wheelers Island off the coast of Bay of Bengal today. The launch took place at 10:20 hrs and the missile followed the trajectory in a copy book style and reached the designated target in Bay of Bengal. Radars, telemetry and electro-optical systems along the coast tracked and monitored all the health parameters. Ships located near the target area witnessed the terminal event.

The launch of the A1 missile was carried out by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) as part of the user exercise. The launch operations were overseen by Shri J Chattopadhyay, the Project Director and DRDO Scientists. The Launch was witnessed by Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri Dr VK Saraswat, Programme Director Shri Avinash Chander, Director ITR, Shri SP Dash and other top DRDO Scientists. SA to RM Dr Saraswat congratulated all the DRDO Scientists and Armed Forces for the successful flight of A1.

E-Governance in Water Resources

The Ministry of Water Resources has implemented the e-Governance in the Ministry and all the organizations under its administrative control. At present the activities relating to Administration; Finance and Accounts and other sections are being discharged through the use of Information Technology. The Ministry as well as almost all its organizations have their websites disseminating various information to the general public. The information about various schemes under central and state sector, information about various tender notices, important audio / visuals etc. are being uploaded in the website. The officers and staff have been trained with NIC for the use of various e-tools that are available. The Ministry’s intranet (i.e. ‘mowr.nic.in’) is having modules like File Tracking System (FTS) which are being used.This Ministry has implemented various software modules for the development of water resources under the central scheme i.e. Hydrology Project. Those are:

(i) Ground Water Estimation and Management System(GEMS)
(ii) Ground Water Information System(GWIS)
(iii) Surface Water Data Entry Software(SWDES)
(iv) Ground Water Data Entry Software (GWDES)
(v) Hydrological Modeling System(HYMOS)
(vi) Water Information System Data Online Management (WISDOM)
The above software modules are also being used by the states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu. The Ministry is also in the process of developing a comprehensive Water Resources Transformation System (WRIS).

National Sports Policy

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has a National Sports Policy which was last modified in 2001. There is no proposal to replace the existing National Sports Policy of 2001. However, Government has taken a series of initiatives within the existing policy framework to promote mass participation and excellence in sports. These include guidelines for good governance of National Sports Federations; introduction of a national sports programme called ‘Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan’ (PYKKA), which aims at providing all village, block and district panchayats and their equivalent with basic sports infrastructure in a phased manner. Emphasis has also been laid on the integration of sports and physical education in school curriculum through the Right to Education Act, which recognizes the role of sports in school education. With regard to the promotion of sporting excellence, liberal assistance is being extended for the training and preparation of elite athletes.

Centre for Innovations in Public System

A Centre for Innovations in Public Systems (CIPS) has been set up in May 2010 at the Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad. The vision of CIPS is to help create a climate and nurture a culture for accelerating and diffusing innovations in public systems. Its objectives are to identify, recognize and promote innovations in public systems, catalyze and trigger lateral learning for initiating action research projects, macro level changes and innovations in the policies and practices across states, provide a range of learning opportunities and services to various stakeholders, facilitate sharing of international experiences and exposure to best practices in governance of public systems etc. An amount of Rs. 20 crore, recommended by the Thirteenth Finance Commission, has been released to the Government of Andhra Pradesh for onward transfer to the Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad, in this regard.

Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS)

Evaluation of the child protection schemes of the Ministry of Women & Child Development, including the scheme ‘An Integrated Programme for Street Children’, in 2007 revealed shortcomings and gaps in these schemes and their implementation.To bridge these gaps and to provide safe and secure environment for overall development of children in difficult circumstances, the Government of India in the Ministry of Women and Child Development, has introduced a new comprehensive Centrally Sponsored Scheme, namely, Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) w.e.f. 2009-10 by merging three erstwhile schemes, including the scheme ‘An Integrated Programme for Street Children’ with additional components. This Scheme is being implemented through State Governments/ UT Administrations

Under this Scheme, there is provision for setting up of ‘Open Shelters’ for children in need of care and protection, including the street children, in urban and semi-urban areas. The programmes and activities of these Open Shelters inter alia include age-appropriate education, access to vocational training, recreation, bridge education, linkages to the National Open School Programme (NOSP), health care, counseling etc

Nutrition Programme

The main centrally sponsored / centrally assisted schemes having direct nutrition component for women and children under implementation are Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS), Mid Day Meal. There are certain interventions under National Rural Health Mission to prevent and combat Micronutrient deficiency including Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation, Vitamin- A supplementation and the National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Programme (NIDDCP). Under NRHM, Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres are also being set up for inpatient management of severely malnourished children. So far 1898 NRCs have been set up. The recently introduced Rajiv Gandhi Schemes for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG), namely SABLA would provide a package of services including health and nutrition to adolescent girl in the age group of 11-14 years for out of school girls and 15-18 years for all girls for nutrition in 200 districts as a pilot. There is no proposal to provide foodgrains to malnourished girls and pregnant women free of cost. However, Pregnant women are provided Take Home Rations under ICDS Scheme.

Beside Under the Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls (NPAG), 6 kgs of free foodgrains, per month, per beneficiary were being provided to undernourished Adolescent Girls (11-19 years) in 51 selected districts across the Country until 2009-10. The number of undernourished girls benefited under NPAG in last three years in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 was 23.26 lakh, 30.61 lakh and 20.53 lakhrespectively. NPAG has now been subsumed in Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) from 2010-11 and under which Hot Cooked Meal/Take Home Ration would be given to the beneficiaries.

The States/UTs, were requested in July, 2009, for suggestions on mechanisms for betterdelivery of services and efficiency in the implementation of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme. Suggestions have been received from 22 States/UTs, including Rajasthan. The suggestions received inter-alia, include the following: ensuring economic security of the family; PanchayatiRaj Institutions be actively involved in monitoring and evaluation of the services of Anganwadis and assess comparative performances with other Anganwadi Centres(AWCs); Improving the infrastructure facilities at AWCs; creating a mechanism for accountability ; increasing the cost norms of supplementary nutrition programme and compensate the local community and SHGs for distribution of supplementary nutrition and promoting effective convergence with line Departments.

Broadband Connections in Gram Panchayats

The Government, under Bharat Nirman II Programme, has envisaged to provide broadband coverage to all 2,50,000 Gram Panchayats by 2012. For the aforesaid broadband provisioning, the funds from USOF are being provided wherever required. For rural and remote areas, the following “Rural Broadband Schemes (on-going as well as planned)” have been undertaken by USOF which would progressively provide broadband coverage to all villages including GramPanchayats. For implementation of these schemes, USOF provides financial assistance by way of subsidy to the Universal Service Provider, implementing the scheme.

The Indian Telegraph Rules have been amended, and stream IV has been added under the title “Provision of broadband connectivity to villages in a phased manner” to bring provisioning of broadband connectivity to the rural areas under the purview of the USOF.

Rural broadband Schemes undertaken/planned by USOF:

Ongoing Scheme: “Rural Wireline Broadband Scheme”

For providing broadband connectivity to rural & remote areas, USOF has signed an Agreement with BSNL on January 20, 2009 under the Rural WirelineBroadband Scheme to provide wire-line broadband connectivity to rural & remote areas by leveraging the existing rural exchanges infrastructure and copper wire-line network. The speed of each of the broadband connections shall be at least 512 kbps always on. As of October 2010, a total of 97,476 Gram Panchayats have been broadband enabled. In Karnataka 3423 Gram Panchayats have been broadband enabled as of September 2010.

Advanced Jet Trainer

The Hawk MK-132 Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) was inducted into the IAF in 2008 as a fighter trainer with the aim to replace the Kiran MK-II/MiG-21 route of training. Keeping in view the delay in delivery of Hawk by HAL due to receipt of defective components, jigs and fixtures from the foreign manufacturer on whom liquidated damages were levied, the original training plan by Hawk for 2010-2011 has been modified and pilots of the Indian Air Force (IAF) are being trained on the MiG-21 aircraft. Induction of aircraft for training in the Indian Air Force is a continuous process.

Increase in Mangrove Forest Cover

There has generally been a net increase in mangrove forest cover on the east coast of India. As per the State of Forest Report 2009, published by Forest Survey of India, the mangrove cover which was 4581 km² in 2005, has increased to 4639 km²in 2007, i.e. there has been a net increase of 58 km² in mangrove cover of the country. The increase in mangrove cover is mainly because of plantations and regeneration measures under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry. The concerned State Governments and their forest departments in the eastern coast region are taking necessary precautions to avoid encroachments and destruction of the mangrove forests. Also, according to Forest Survey of India, the mangrove area of the Eastern Coast States during the previous three cycles of assessments as published in the State of Forest Report (2009) is reproduced below:

(Area in km²)

Sl. No.	States/UTs	Assessment years
Sl. No.	States/UTs	2003	2005	2007
1.	Andhra Pradesh	329	354	353
2.	Orissa	203	217	221
3.	Tamil Nadu	35	36	39
4.	West Bengal	2120	2136	2152

Scientists from Wildlife Institute of India have visited the Coringa areas and the mangroves at the Godavari estuary a number of times for their research work. The National Committee on Mangroves and Coral Reefs also visited the CoringaMangroves on 30^th September 2009.

Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Conservation and Management of Mangroves, 100% central assistance is extended to Coastal States/Union Territories, who so request, for implementation of their approved Management Action Plans which comprise components such as Survey and Demarcation, Afforestation & Restoration of Mangroves, Alternate and Supplementary Livelihoods, Protection Measures, and Education & Awareness etc. An amount of Rs. 18.00 croresapproximately was provided to coastal States for regeneration and management of mangroves during last three years. In all, 38 mangrove sites have been identified by the Government on a nation-wide basis for intensive conservation and management. Of these, Andhra Pradesh has three sites namely Coringa, East Godavari and Krishna.

Constitution of Environment Clubs

The Ministry of Environment & Forests conducts a nationwide campaign known as National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC) every year for creating awareness about environment. Eco-clubs are formed in the schools all over the country with financial assistance of Rs. 2,500/- per school per annum by the Ministry under National Green Corps programme.

Special Programmes for Enhancing Foodgrains and Oilseeds Production

In 2010-11, in addition to above mentioned schemes, two new programmes relating to bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India and integrated development of 60000 Pulses and Oil seeds Villages in rainfed areas have been initiated under RKVY. National Food Security Mission has been strengthened from 1.4.2010 with the merger of pulses component of ISOPOM and inclusion of two new potential States for Pulses production in Assam and Jharkhand. A new programme Accelerated Pulses Production programme (A3P) in the form of block demonstrations has been started to cover 1000 unit of 1000 hectare each of five pulses crops in 16 pulses growing States of the country.

Food Security Programme

The Government is committed to enact a National Food Security Act (NFSA) which, inter alia, envisages entitling every family below poverty line to a certain quantity of food grains each month at subsidized prices. The National Advisory Council (NAC) has since made certain recommendations on 23.10.2010 on the proposed National Food Security legislation. For further advancing food and nutritional security, the NAC has, inter alia, recommended consideration of measures for revitalizing agriculture, ensuring universal access to safe water, etc. The recommendations of NAC and other stakeholders will be considered by the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) constituted to consider various issues regarding the proposed law on food security. Based on directions of EGoM, the draft bill would be prepared and further action taken

Pune Based DRDO Lab Makes Most Powerful Conventional Explosive

Move over RDX! That’s passé for the needs of the Indian Armed Forces. The DRDO is developing a powerful explosive, - the CL-20, that can substantially reduce the weight and size of the warhead while packing much more punch. In fact, the RDX is not the standard explosive in use with the Indian Armed Forces; the warheads are mostly packed with HMX, FOX-7 or amorphous Boron. Scientists at the Pune-based High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) have already synthesized adequate quantity of CL-20 in the laboratory. “It is the most powerful non-nuclear explosive yet known to man,” says Dr. AK Sikder, Joint Director, HEMRL, who heads the High Energy Materials Division. The compound, ‘Indian CL-20’ or ICL-20, was indigenously synthesized in the HEMRL laboratory using inverse technology, he added.

“The HEMRL has taken India to an elite club of countries with advanced capabilities in the field of Energetic Materials,” said Shri Manish Bhardwaj, a senior Scientist with the HEMRL. In fact, the CL-20 is such a fascination for the HEMRL that a larger-than-life size model of the compound occupies the pride of place as one enters the portals of the main building of the DRDO's premier lab in Pune. CL-20, so named after the China Lake facility of the Naval Air Weapons Station in California, US, was first synthesized by Dr. Arnold Nielson in 1987. CL-20, or Octa-Nitro-Cubane, is a Nitramine class of explosive 15 times as powerful as HMX, His/Her Majesty Explosive or High Melting Explosive or Octogen. The HMX itself is more than four times as potent as the Research Developed Explosive or Royal Demolition Explosive or Cyclonite or Hexogen, commonly known as RDX. “CL-20 offers the only option within the next 10-15 years to meet the requirements of the Indian Armed Forces for Futuristic Weapons,” said Dr. Sikder. “CL-20 -based Shaped Charges significantly improve the penetration over armours,” he said, adding that it could be used in the bomb for the 120-mm main gun mounted on the MBT-Arjun. “But the costs of mass production of ICL-20 are still prohibitive,” said Dr. Sikder. Compared to Rs.750 per kilogram it takes to produce RDX in the factory today, the HMX is worth about Rs.6,000 per kg while a kilogram of CL-20 costs a whopping Rs.70,000 per kg.

2010 to be Observed as Forensic Year

The Government is observing ‘year 2010’ as “Forensic Year”. With a view to revamping and modernizing the organizational structure/set of various Forensic Laboratories, personnel policies, training needs etc., the Ministry of Home Affairs engaged to distinguished Scientists as Consultants for preparation of “Prospective Plan for Indian Forensic”. They have submitted their report and has recommended various measures to strengthen the forensic set up in the country which are at various stages of implementation. Besides above, it has been decided to set up three new hi-tech Central Forensic Science Laboratories at Pune, Bhopal and Guwahati to cater to the needs of the investigating agencies. Expansion and upgradation of existing Central Forensic Science Laboratory at Kolkata and Chandigarh is also under way to meet the new technical requirements. A Plan scheme to set up six new Regional Forensic Science Laboratories (RFSLs) and 52 district Mobile Forensic Units (DMFUs) in various States/Union Territories has also been approved already.

Ethanol Blended Petrol

To give fillip to the Ethanol Blanded Petrol (EBP) programme, the Government has decided on 16.8.2010 to implement the EBP programme to the extent of the ethanol made available by the domestic ethanol producers at the ex-factory declared price decided by the Government. He also said that as per the Government decision, after ascertaining the actual availability of ethanol in the country, percentage of blend from 0-10% would be recommended area wise by the working group of officers constituted for the purpose.

Further, BIS specification of ethanol to be blended with petrol is limited to 10%.Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas launched the 5% Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme subject to commercial viability with effect from 1st November, 2006 in the entire country except for North Eastern States, J & K & Island Territories.

Indigenous AWACS to be flight-tested by 2011

Even as the Indian Air Force (IAF) is likely to acquire the third Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) from Israel by December, India is in the process of developing nine home-grown, state-of-the-art versions and the first of them is expected to be flight-tested by the end of next year. Five frontline laboratories of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) are working to develop the system which would be 85 per cent indigenous, Prahlada, Chief Controller, R & D (Aerospace and Services Interaction), DRDO, told The Hindu here. The Centre for Airborne Systems, Defence Avionics Research Establishment, Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, Defence Electronics Application Laboratory and Electronics and Radar Development Establishment are involved in the prestigious project.

While three of the systems would be integrated on board the Brazilian Embraer EMB 145 jet and delivered by 2014, the aircraft on which the remaining six AWACS would be mounted was yet to be decided. The DRDO received the sanction for developing the six AWACS costing Rs.10,000 crore, he added. The delivery of these AWACS to the IAF would begin from 2015. They would be used for air defence, surveillance and network-centric operations.

1,500-horsepower FMBT to replace T-72 tanks beyond 2020

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is working on India's future main battle tank (FMBT) with a 1,500-horsepower (HP) indigenous engine. This tank will replace beyond 2020 the imported T-72 tanks, renamed Ajeya, with the Army. Various specifications for the FMBT have been finalised. The first prototype of the indigenous engine would be ready in four to five years. The DRDO is launching a project to develop the transmission for the tank; the indigenous engine and transmission will together be called Bharat Power Pack and it will meet the FMBT's mobility requirements. The FMBT will weigh only 50 tonnes compared to Arjun-Mark II's 62 tonnes. The DRDO is simultaneously working on Arjun-Mark II. The volume occupied by the electronics package in the FMBT will be less. The FMBT's engine will be two-thirds the size of Arjun-Mark I's, but will generate 1,500 HP compared to Arjun-Mark I's 1,400 HP. The Arjun-Mk II tank will have a number of upgrades compared with Arjun-Mk I. Missiles can be fired from the former to destroy long-range targets and bring down attack helicopters. The tank's commander will have a panoramic sight with night vision. The fourth upgrade is that Arjun Mk-II will have an automatic target tracking system which will add to the accuracy when firing on a moving target.

8 Indian States have 421 million multidimensionally poor people

Eight Indian States are home to 421 million multidimensionally poor people, more than the figure of 410 million in 26 poorest African countries. The Multidimensional Poverty Index — which identifies serious simultaneous deprivations in health, education and income at the household level in 104 countries — brought out in the latest United Nations Human Development Report has calculated that South Asia is home to half of the world's multi-dimensionally poor population, or 844 million people.

The rates of multidimensional poverty are, however, relatively low in most of East Asia and the Pacific including China and Thailand. In Delhi, the rate is close to Iraq and Vietnam's (about 14 per cent), while that of Bihar is similar to Sierra Leon and Guinea's (about 81 per cent), according to the report released on Thursday. The Indian States include Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, often referred to as the BIMARU States.

The report's new Inequality-adjusted HDI, measuring the effect of inequality in 139 countries, shows South Asia with an average 33 per cent loss due to inequality in health, education and income — the second largest for a development region after sub-Saharan Africa. India loses 30 per cent overall on the Inequality-adjusted HDI, including 41 per cent in education and 31 per cent in health. India ranks 122 out of the138 countries on the Global Instability Index based on 2008 data – with nine per cent of the parliamentary seats held by women, and 27 per cent of adult women having secondary or higher levels of education compared to 50 per cent among men. The Multidimensional Poverty Index, the Inequality-adjusted Index and the Gender Inequality Index have been added as new indicators in this year's report, which runs into its 20th year. It spotlights countries that made the greatest progress in recent decades as measured by the HDI, with China, Nepal, Indonesia, Lao PDR and South Korea making it to the “Top 10 Movers” list. Among the South Asian countries, Nepal is second among the top movers on non-income HDI, while India is among the top 10 movers in GDP growth.

Cyclone Jal in Bay of Bengal

The 5th named cyclone of the North Indian Ocean (After Laila, Bandu, Phet, and Giri) has formed over Bay of Bengal. The cyclone is expected to make landfall over eastern coast of India as a category 1 or 2 cyclone, bringing heavy flooding rain, damaging winds, and high waves. Jal could intensify even further before landfall due to high energy over the warm waters of Bay of Bengal. Jal could re-emerge later in the Arabian Sea.

Tribunal upholds extension of ban on LTTE

Observing that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) still remains a threat to the country's security, Justice Vikramajit Sen of the Delhi High Court, constituting the one-man Tribunal, upheld the May 14, 2010 notification of the Centre extending the ban on the outfit for two years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The Tribunal said there was sufficient evidence that pro-LTTE elements and remnant LTTE cadres, with the help of local smugglers, were actively participating in unlawful activities in the country.

Three Indian art forms on UNESCO's heritage list

The UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) inscribes three Indian performing-art forms, the Mudiyettu, a ritual theatre of Kerala; the Chhau dance, a tradition from eastern India; and the Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This annual list, unlike the World Heritage list that focuses on monuments and natural sites, spotlights performing art forms of outstanding value and are vulnerable due to lack of support. This inscription, the UNESCO expects, would provide better visibility for such intangible heritage, help improve the awareness of their significance and offer international assistance to promote and preserve them.

The Mudiyettu, the ritual dance drama annually performed after the harvest of summer crops in Kerala, is more than 250 years old. This art form involves elaborate drawings on floors, masks made of areca nut fronds and playing of drums. What was once well patronised, now has only three traditional families of regular performers.

The Chhau dance, known for its crafted masks and mock combat movements, is prevalent in the tribal parts of Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The economic backwardness of the area, an extensive survey by the Sangeet Natak Akademi reveals, has had a negative impact on the artists of the Chhau and their art. Similarly, the Kalbeli community of snake charmers from Rajasthan are also impacted. As a result, their songs and dances, which are characterised by movements and music that evoke serpents, are affected and are in need of support.

The Fifth Session of the UNESCO Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, that is under way in Nairobi, accepted this recommendation. So far, about eight Indian heritage elements, including these three, have been inscribed in the representative list.

Plans for Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft

India has embarked upon an ambitious project to indigenously design and develop a fifth generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) by 2017. The government released Rs. 100 crore last month to the Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which will spearhead the project, to prepare feasibility studies in 18 months. The ADA is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Defence.

Kaiga-4 achieves criticality

The fourth unit of the Kaiga Generating Station (KGS) — the country's 20th nuclear power reactor — achieved criticality. With this unit becoming operational, India now ranks sixth in terms of production of nuclear energy, behind the United States, France, Japan, Russia and South Korea.

2. INDIA AND WORLD

India Signs A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Govt. of Syria for Long Term Cooperation in Phosphate Sector

India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Syria for long term cooperation and setting up of joint venture plants in Syria in phosphate sector. The MOU signed by the Secretary (Fertilizers) Shri Sutanu Behuria and the Syrian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources envisages a broad framework of long term cooperation between the two countries through their respective fertilizer and mining entities for setting up of phosphatic plants and projects in Syria. Syria is one of the countries, which has proven reserves of rock phosphate; estimated to 1700 million MT. Syrian mining and fertilizer company, General Company for Phosphates and Mines (GECOPHAM), which is responsible for mining operations in Syria, is presently able to exploit only about 4 million MT of rock phosphate annually. GECOPHAM is planning to up scale its productions to 10 million MT.

Accession to the Nairobi International Convention

The Union Cabinet approved the proposal to accede to the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007 and to proceed with the amendments to the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 which will become necessary, consequent to the accession of the said Convention. The proposed amendments will enable a more purposeful approach towards removal of wrecks and salvage. These amendments will contain the problems being faced due to increasing number of wrecks, remove discrepancies of existing rules and regulations and bring them in line with developments in international shipping.

Aide Memoire Signed Between GTF and GTI for Cause of Wild Tigers World Wide

an Aide Memoire signed between The Global Tiger Forum (GTF) and Global Tiger Initiative (GTI) signals for new collaboration to support the cause of wild tigers world wide. India is a founding member and the Global Tiger Initiative (GTI).Tthe President of the World Bank Mr Zoellick, GTI, have signed agreeing to start work together for the cause of world wide tiger conservation as partners. The GTF now seeks to play a more critical role in monitoring the progress of implementation of the Global Tiger Recovery Program that is proposed to be endorsed by leaders of tiger range countries at International Tiger Forum in St Petersburg in Russia. The Global Tiger Forum is the only existing intergovernmental institution specifically charged with conserving the wild tiger. The Global Tiger Initiative, supported by the World Bank, is an alliance of governments, international agencies, civil society, and the private sector united to save wild tigers from extinction.

Agreement to Study Seasonal Prediction of Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall Between India and US

India and the United States of America entered into an Agreement on ‘Technical Cooperation for Study of Dynamical Seasonal Prediction of Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall’. It will deliver a useful coupled ocean-atmospheric general circulation model to predict Indian summer monsoon rainfall. The cooperation will enhance current understanding of coupled ocean-atmosphere monsoon system over India and will be useful for future studies and model improvements.

The main objective of the Agreement is to develop through dynamical weather prediction models a fuller understanding of the Indian monsoon and associated precipitation characteristics. The nodal agencies for implementation are Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US Department.

India-US MOU on Shale Gas

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Shale Gas Resources between India and USA was signed recently during the visit of President of America, Mr. Barack Obama in New Delhi. As per the MOU, the Nodal GOI Department/Ministry for implementation of MOU is Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas through Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) and the Nodal US Department for implementation is the Department of State Government of United States of America. Main elements/objectives of MOU for cooperation in the field of Shale Gas include Shale Gas Resource assessment in India, technical studies to commence on Shale Gas exploration in India and training of Indian personnel in the area of Shale Gas.

The MOU will benefit in cooperative activities in characterization, assessment of Shale Gas resources in the Indian basins having Shale Gas potential. It will also result in cooperative activities in technical studies and training of Indian personnel in the area of resource assessment of Shale Gas. The US Geological Survey (USGS) will carry out studies on Shale Gas resources and will provide report to India.

India-US Agreement for Setting up Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Centre

An agreement for setting up Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Centre was signed between Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India and U.S. Department of Energy during the US President’s visit to New Delhi. Dr. M.K.Bhan, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology and Mr. Timothy Roemer, US Ambassador to India signed the agreement. The agreement would facilitate establishment of India-U.S. Clean Energy Research and Development Centre to facilitate joint research and development and deployment for clean energy technologies.

Initial priority areas to be addressed will be solar energy, second generation biofuels and building efficiency. The Centre will involve active participation of academic and private sectors of both countries working in a consortia mode. The consortium will be self-selecting teams with entities or individuals from national labs, academic institutions, private sector, NGOs etc. Awards will be made to consortia which have knowledge and experience to undertake first-rate collaborative research programmes. The consortia will leverage existing resources and physical infrastructure and bring together talent from both countries.

Agreement with Russia for Multirole Transport Aircraft

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Russian Companies UAC Transport Aircraft and Rosonboronexport signed a Shareholders Agreement on 9.9.2010 to incorporate a Joint Venture Company for design, development and production of Multi Role Transport Aircraft.

This agreement was in pursuance to the Inter-Governmental Agreement between Government of India and Russian Federation which was signed on 12th November, 2007 for Design, Development and Production of a Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA). The Joint Venture company will have shareholding of 50 each from both sides. The investment for the programme has been worked out to be 600.70- MUSD at 2006 Price Level – which will be shared equally by the two sides. Development and certification of the MTA will take 6 years from 'Go-ahead' of the project. It is planned to start the project in January, 2011 after incorporation of the Joint Venture programme.

Agreements to deal with Terrorism

The matter of terrorism and international cooperation to counter it is consistently taken up by the Government of India at various levels, including the highest, with governments of friendly countries, including the United States of America. This is done both bilaterally and in multilateral fora. In the last three years [2007-2009], bilateral meetings have been coordinated by Ministry of External Affairs with 18 countries/groupings. Bilaterally, Government of India cooperates in counter-terrorism through the mechanism of Counter-Terrorism Joint Working Groups (CT-JWGs). Ministry of External Affairs currently coordinates CT-JWGs with 25 countries and 2 regional groupings (list attached). Ministry of Home Affairs does the same with some of our immediate neighbours. These meetings have proved very helpful in enabling exchange of views and experience regarding terror threats and groups, sharing of information, cooperation in training and capacity building, countering terror financing, sharing best practices, strengthening of multilateral efforts in countering terrorism and in facilitating agency to agency cooperation.

Labour Mobility Partnership Agreement

The purpose of entering into Labour Mobility Partnership Agreements with European countries is to have a bilateral instrument which would facilitate legal migration; enhance integration of migrants; combat and prevent all forms of irregular migration. The Agreement also aims at facilitating return of irregular migrants; enhancing protection and welfare of migrants and enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas of skill development to address specific skill shortages, capacity building and developing good practices to better manage bilateral flows. A Labour Mobility Partnership Agreement has been signed with Denmark. The Ministry is in the process of negotiating Labour Mobility Partnerships with other European countries in like Netherlands, France, etc.

Welfare Fund for NRIs

Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has set up the ‘Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF)’ in the Indian Missions in 42 countries to provide on-site welfare for the Overseas Indian Citizens (NRIs and PIOs) who are in distress. The welfare services provided by the ICWF include boarding and lodging for distressed household / domestic workers and unskilled labourers, emergency medical care to the overseas Indians in need, providing air passage to stranded overseas Indians in distress, initial legal assistance to the overseas Indians in deserving cases and incurring expenditure on incidentals and for airlifting the mortal remains to India or local cremation/burial of the deceased overseas Indians in cases where a sponsor is unable or unwilling to do so as per the contract and the family is unable to meet the cost.

The ICWF is funded through service charges levied by the Indian Missions on consular services, voluntary contributions from the Indian community and budgetary support from the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.

Water Treaty with Foreign Countries

The names of the rivers on which treaties/ agreements have been signed with neighbouring countries and the nature of the treaty / agreement are as under:

River for which treaty/ agreement has been signed	Neighbouring country with which signed	Nature of the Treaty / Agreement
Sharda (Mahakali)	Nepal	Mahakali Treaty of 1996 which includes PancheshwarMulti-purpose project
Kosi	Nepal	Agreement of 1954 (revised in 1966) regarding construction ofKosi Barrage in Nepal.
Gandak	Nepal	Agreement of 1959 regarding construction of Gandak Barrage in Nepal
Ganga	Bangladesh	Indo-Bangladesh Treaty of 1996 regarding sharing of Gangawater at Farakka
Indus system of rivers comprising the rivers Indus, Jhelum,Chenab, Ravi, Beas,Sutlej and their tributaries	Pakistan	Indus Waters Treaty 1960 for the most complete and satisfactory utilization of the waters of the Indus system of rivers

Pakistan has raised dispute on the construction of KishengangaHE Project on river Kishenganga, a tributary of river Jhelum, in Gurez valley inBandipora District of Jammu & Kashmir. India has taken action as per the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960. After Pakistan intimated the appointment of its two arbitrators initiating the proceedings for a Court of Arbitration, India has also appointed two arbitrators. Both the countries have also requested the persons concerned as specified in the Treaty to select three umpires for the Court of Arbitration. One of the persons requested namely the Secretary General of the United Nations has appointed one of the umpires namely the Chairman of the Court of Arbitration. The Mahakali Treaty of 1996 is valid for 75 years. It shall be reviewed by both the parties at 10 year interval or earlier as required by either party and make amendments, thereto, if necessary. The Indo-Bangladesh Treaty of 1996 is valid for 30 years. There is a provision to review the Treaty after five years. The provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 can be modified or terminated by another duly ratified treaty concluded for the purpose between the two Governments.

India Unanimously Elected as Vice President at the UNCTAD Conference

India has been unanimously elected as Vice President at the UNCTAD Conference (Nov. 8 - 12, 2010) held at Geneva at the Sixth UN Conference to review Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices. The United Nations ‘Set’ of Principles and Rules on Competition is the only multilateral instrument on competition policy. It provides a set of equitable rules for the control of anti-competitive practices, recognises the development dimension of competition law and policy, provides a framework for international cooperation and exchange of best practices in this area, including the provision of technical assistance and capacity building for member countries. In his address, Chairman of the Competition Commission of India, Shri Dhanendra Kumar emphasized that Competition is the essential characteristic of market economy, and is regarded as the fourth corner-stone of government economic framework, along with monetary, fiscal and trade policies. However, he stressed that during these times, it is the common man who is affected the most, and therefore, the competition policies have to be reviewed and re-oriented to ensure the interest of the common man in view. Taking note of his views, the focus on common man has been included in the draft resolution circulated in the Conference.

DBT Signs MoU With UK’s Bio-Technology Council

The Department of Biotechnology, Government of India and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have entered into a MoU with Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC), U.K. and Deptt. for International Development (DFID). The letter of intent to launch a new initiative on “Food security: Sustainable crop production research for international development” also agreed to establish a joint funding initiative with the aim of underpinning scientific knowledge that will increase food security and alleviate poverty.

The initiative is expected to forge productive global partnerships between scientists in the U.K, India and other developing countries to leverage high quality biological and biotechnological research for sustainable crop production in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The total value of the initiative is estimated to be Pound 20 million over a period of five years. This fund will be used to support the development of scientific knowledge and the building of sustainable research capacity that will benefit emerging economies and the developing world.

The letter of intent will subsequently be followed up by a joint call for proposals on sustainable crop production which will be open for research proposals from international teams of scientists from India, U.K, South-Asia and Sub-Sahara Africa.

Indo-German Project for Cooperation in the Area of Environment and Sustainable Development

India and Germany jointly formulated a project for bilateral cooperation in the area of environment and sustainable development here today. One of the components of this cooperation is in the area of consumer protection. The first phase of the scheme covered the period 2007-08 and the second phase will cover the period 2009-12. The second phase has started from April, 2009. Workshops were held with stakeholders and the German experts also visited India to provide assistance in the areas like comparative testing, alternative disputes redressal mechanism and strengthening of the Voluntary Consumer Organizations. Training was also provided in the area of legal metrology. Equipment is also being supplied to upgrade and modernize 4 selected model legal metrology laboratories at Indore and Delhi.

The Federal Republic of Germany and the Government of India already have a joint Working Group on Agriculture, in which discussions are held on areas of mutual interest. The scope of this joint Working Group has now been extended to include the subject of consumer protection also. Thus, issues of mutual interest on consumer protection would be discussed in the joint Working Group meetings and this would further strengthen the already existing cooperation between the two countries in the area of consumer protection.

India –Norway to Cooperate in Biodiversity

India and Norway will initiate a joint project on technical and institutional cooperation in connection with the establishment of a Centre for Biodiversity Policy and Law. A Letter of Intent will be signed for this here tomorrow. The centre will be co-funded by the Indian and Norwegian Governments. Both the countries are of the view that dialogue and interaction on Multilateral Environmental Agreements, in particular the Convention on Biological Diversity and its implementation is important. Both the countries established a Joint Commission of Cooperation in 2004 and an Indo-Norwegian Joint Working Group on Environment (JWG-E). The Norwegian Ministry has held a series of discussions on the bilateral cooperation in the area of environment, including biodiversity during last five years.

Promoting women’s political leadership and governance in India and South Asia

India, Norway and the United Nations Development Fund for Women UN (UNIFEM) have joined hands together to launch an ambitious Program to promote women’s political leadership and governance in India and South Asia . The objective is to ensure that women can play an effective role as leaders without facing discrimination or violence and their concerns of economic, social and physical security are addressed in the village councils and municipal bodies . The three program will be launched by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj , Government of India and the Ministry for International Development and Environment, Royal Government of Norway in collaboration with the UNIFEM in.

The program outcomes are as follows:

1. To reduce by 2015 the violence against women in politics reduced in select districts and Panchayats of 6 states of India

2. To strengthen by 2015 the laws and policies on decentralized governance and devolution of powers to local bodies strengthened in line with national commitments to gender equality in South Asia.

To develop by 2015 the knowledge and capacity of the Elected women representatives in local government to transform and implement policies, programmes and resource allocation for gender sensitive governance in 6 states in India The Program would be guided by a National Steering Committee co-chaired by the Ministry of Panchayati Ra (MoPR) and UNIFEM with the participation from Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD) and Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).

Promotion of Indian Systems of Medicines Abroad

An International Cooperation (IC) Scheme has been implemented since the IX Plan for the promotion of AYUSH across the globe. The scheme has seven components as under:

(i) International exchange of experts & Officers.

(ii) Incentive to drug manufacturers, entrepreneurs, AYUSH institutions etc. for international propagation of AYUSH and registration of their products by USFDA/EMEA/UK-MHRA for exports.

(iii) Support for international market development and AYUSH promotion-related activities.

(iv) Promotion of Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Unani and Yoga abroad through young Post Graduates.

(v) Translation and publication of AYUSH books in foreign languages.

(vi) Establishment of AYUSH information Cells/Health Centers in Indian Embasies/Missions and in the Cultural Centers set up by ICCR in foreign countries and deputation of experts.

(vii) International Fellowship Programme for foreign nationals for undertaking AYUSH courses in premier institutions in India.

Some of the major activities undertaken by the Department under the aforesaid scheme are as follows:-

A Centre for Research in Indian System of Medicine (CRISM) has been set up at the University of Mississippi, USA. The Deparment had organized/supported conferences on Indian System of Medicine in Hungary, Germany, Slovenia, Malaysia, Korea, South Africa and Australia. Ayurveda experts have been deputed to give lectures in US Medical schools and Bulgaria. An AYUSH information cell has been set up in Malaysia. The Government of India has signed an MoU with the Government of Malaysia on 27.10.2010. The salient features of the MoU alongwith the areas of cooperation identified are as follows:-

(i) Cooperation in the promotion of development Traditional medicines in the two countries’ health care systems.

(ii) Promotion of cooperation in teaching, practice, drugs and drugless therapies of traditional medicine, mutual recognition of Atyurveda, Siddha, Unani and Malaysian Herbal Pharmacopoeia.

First ever Conference of Public Service Commissions of SAARC Countries in New Delhi.

Smt. Meira Kumar, Speaker of the Lok Sabha has said that the people have very high expectations of the nature and potential of the democratic system in this era of information technology and globalization and they demand proactive governance. People are now looking for enhanced performance and decisive action to address their justified concerns, she said.

Smt. Meira Kumar was addressing the Inaugural Session of the first ever Conference of Chiefs of Public Service Commissions of Member States of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), organized by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) of India. Delegates from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are attending the 3-day conference.

Ban on Software Companies

In United States of America (USA) as per the recent Executive Order by Governor of Ohio, no public funds should be spent on services provided off-shore (outside the United States).

The move against off-shoring is a concern to India, however, as per National Association of Software Services Company (NASSCOM) Indian IT industry do not foresee any significant impact as a result of this order since Federally funded projects represent a small fraction in the overall demand for off-shored services. As per the inputs made available by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Department of Commerce, India’s concerns have been taken up with the US side in the India-US Trade Policy Forum as well as in other Bi-lateral engagements with the US side.

Indo-Nepal Border Vulnerable to Infiltration of FICN

As per available information Indo-Nepal border has also proved vulnerable to infiltration of fake Indian currency notes (FICN), with border districts being used as transit and storage points.

As per available information, cases having inter-State and international linkages behind printing and circulation of FICNs have come to notice. Available inputs also indicate that the international dimension of FICN circulation has increased in the last few years. To address the multi-dimensional aspects of the FICN menace, several agencies such as the RBI, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the security and Intelligence Agencies of the Centre the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), etc. are working in tandem to thwart the nefarious activity related to FICNs.

The activities of these agencies are also periodically reviewed by a nodal group set up for this purpose. In this context, at the functional level, the CBI has been declared as the nodal agency for coordination with the States, the Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence has been nominated as the Lead Intelligence Agency for this purpose. Apart from the above, the State Governments have been asked to set up dedicated and well-equipped Cell under senior level supervision to comprehensively monitor and deal with organized crimes including FICN, and also specifically designate a nodal officer to coordinate activities relating to FICNs.

The States have also been asked to set up a Committee headed by the DGP of the State with GM/ DGM of RBI, Senior Officers of SIB, Intelligence Branch of State Police, CID of State Police, etc. as members. Further, the offences under IPC, relating to counterfeit currency have been included in the schedule to the National Investigation Agency Act, thereby empowering the National Investigation Agency to investigate and prosecute such offences.

CEPA talks with Japan

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is to be signed at Ministerial level on completion of necessary formalities by both side. The Conclusion of negotiations for a CEPA was declared during the Prime Minister’s visit to Japan on 25th October.

Japan has put 87% of its tariff lines under zero-duty category for India. Most of the items are of India’s export interest. Under this agreement, the Japanese side will grant a treatment to the Indian applications for registration and release of generic drugs in the Japanese market, no less favorable than what it grants to such applications from its own nationals. The agreement also contains chapters on Investment and Services. Japan has opened up services market for Indian professionals considerably. Most of these commitments are without any restrictions. Japanese investment will bring to India not only financial resources but also high technology and quality management practices.

Business Partnership with Germany

Germany is an important trading partner of India (rank 5 in 2009-10). India is keen to enhance bilateral trade with all countries including Germany. The India-Germany Joint Commission for industrial and economic cooperation which last met on September 23, 2010 in Delhi is the available institutional mechanism for furthering economic engagement. No separate agreement with Germany is under consideration. However, negotiations are underway with the European Union (of which Germany is a part) for a Broad based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA). It can be reasonably expected that the BTIA will improve market access in goods and services mutually and expand trade opportunities in India and the EU. Some of the areas of Indo-German cooperation including energy, agro-business, manufacturing, renewable energy, skill training and information technology.

Dispute Over Kishenganga Hydel Project

The setting up of the Court of Arbitration on the issues of the 330 MW Kishenganga Hydel project is as per the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 on the request of Pakistan. There was no agreement between India and Pakistan on the names of the Umpires to be appointed for the Court of Arbitration. In the absence of agreement on the names of Chairman, Technical Umpire and Legal Umpire (collectively called as Umpires in the Treaty), a draw of lot was held in New Delhi on 29 July, 2010, to determine the persons listed in the Treaty who will be requested to select the three Umpires. As determined by the draw, the request letters were sent to Secretary General of the United Nations, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales and Rector, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London for the appointment of the three Umpires. Recently, Secretary General, United Nations has nominated the Chairman Umpire.

Exchange of Enclaves

As per agreed list, there are 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 Bangladesh enclaves in India. The 1974 Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh states that the enclaves should be exchanged between the two sides.

To address the land boundary issue including the exchange of enclaves, the two sides have set up a Joint Boundary Working Group (JBWG) in 2001 which has held four meetings so far. During the visit of PM Sheikh Hasina to India in January 2010, both sides agreed to address outstanding land boundary and agreed to convene the next meeting of the JBWG. Accordingly the JBWG met in November 2010 to discuss, inter alia, the issue of exchange of enclaves.

Russian Policy Towards India

India-Russia relations are time-tested and enduring. They are characterized by continuity, trust and mutual understanding, and are based on shared perceptions and mutuality of interests. There is a national consensus in both countries on the need to further intensify and strengthen these ties. The "Declaration on Strategic Partnership between India and the Russian Federation" was signed by the Prime Minister of India and the President of the Russian Federation in New Delhi on 5 October 2000, with the objective of elevating our multi-faceted and comprehensive ties to an even higher and qualitatively new level. Regular Annual Summit meetings between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Russian Federation serve as the principal mechanism to advance the India-Russia Strategic Partnership. The last Annual Summit meeting took place in Moscow on 7 December 2009; the next Summit meeting is scheduled to take place in New Delhi in December, 2010.

Initiatives for Protection and Welfare of Overseas Indian Workers

Indian missions in the Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries, except Qatar have not reported any incidents of atrocities particularly targeting Indian workers. However, cases of complaints from Indian Workers related to fraudulent offers for overseas employment, contractual violations and cheating on the part of foreign employers/ recruiting agents are received in the Missions in ECR countries from time to time. Embassy of India, Qatar has reported that 20 complaints of human rights violations were received during the last two years. Whenever, a complaint is received, action is initiated by the Ministry for suspension or cancellation of the Registration Certificate of the Recruiting Agent. If required, he is also prosecuted through the State Police. Complaints filed against illegal agents are referred to the State Governments for filing criminal cases against them. Whenever there is a complaint against a foreign employer, proceedings for black listing such an employer are initiated. Indian missions also take up these issues with the foreign employers/local governments to protect the interest of the workers.

The Government has taken several initiatives for the protection and welfare of Overseas Indian Workers which include:

(i) A Nation wide Awareness-cum-Publicity Campaign through media has been launched to educate the intending emigrants about legal emigration procedures, risks of illegal migration and precautions to be taken during emigration.

(ii) The Ministry has set up the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) in 42 Countries for providing onsite support and financial assistance to Indian workers in distress.

(iii) The Government has established an Overseas Workers Resource Centre (OWRC) which is a 24x7 hour telephone helpline which provides information to intending emigrants as well as emigrants on all aspects of emigration. Complaints can also be lodged through this helpline.

(iv) India had signed Labour Agreements with Jordan and Qatar in 1980s to protect the interests of the Indian Workers. Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) were signed with United Arab Emirates (UAE) in December, 2006, with Kuwait in April, 2007, with Oman in November 2008, with Malaysia in January 2009, and with Bahrain in June 2009. An Additional Protocol to the existing Labour Agreement between India and Qatar was signed in November, 2007.

(V) Under these MOUs Joint Working Groups (JWGs) have been constituted that meet regularly in order to resolve bilateral labour issues including the cases of atrocities which come to notice from time to time. These MOUs enhance bilateral co-operation in management of migration and protection of labour welfare.

Floods Due to Rivers from Nepal

22 out of 38 districts in Bihar suffer from floods almost every year due to rivers coming from Nepal. All the districts of North Bihar suffer from floods almost every year due to rivers coming from Nepal. Therefore, Government of India is having continuous dialogue with Government of Nepal to construct high dams on rivers, namely, Mahakali, Karnali, Saptakosi, Kamala and Bagmati flowing from Nepal.

There exists an India-Nepal Joint Committee on Water Resources headed by Secretaries from both sides to hold talks on bilateral water resources projects of mutual interest. In order to prevent spilling of flood waters in rivers namely, Bagmati, Kamla, Lalbakeya and Khando rivers, the Government of India is providing financial assistance to Government of Nepal for raising, strengthening and extension of flood embankments on these rivers to tie them with high grounds in Nepal. In addition, flood protection works of Kosi and Gandak Projects in Nepal territory are maintained by the State Governments of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh respectively. These works are being supervised by Joint Committees having technical experts from both countries.

Recently, the Government of India has also agreed to provide financial assistance for construction of 19.86 km length of embankment along Gagan river in Nepal to close the breach and revive the original course of the Gagan river to prevent inundation in Nepal and neighbouring areas of Bihar. Further, a Joint Project Office (JPO) was set up in Nepal in August, 2004 in order to undertake the field survey and investigation of Sapta Kosi High Dam Multipurpose Project and Sun Kosi Storage cum Diversion Scheme on river Sapta Kosi. The project, if implemented could mitigate the flood problems of North Bihar.

MoU on Co-Operation on MSME between India and Mozambique

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Republic of India and Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Republic of Mozambique on 30.09.2010 for cooperation in the field of MSME sector.

The objective of the MoU is to provide a platform for the two Governments to discuss issues concerning MSMEs and explore possibilities of cooperation for mutual benefit of MSME sector in the two countries including policies, business delegation, exploring the markets, transfer of technologies, participation in trade fairs/exhibitions etc. To facilitate international cooperation in MSME sector, Ministry of MSME has so far entered into long term agreements (Memorandum of Understanding/ Agreements/Joint Action Plan) with 14 countries viz., Sudan, Algeria, Sri Lanka, Lesotho, Uzbekistan, Mexico, Rwanda, Romania, Cote D’Ivoire, Tunisia, Egypt, Botswana, South Korea and Mozambique.

The International cooperation in MSME sector, apart from generating goodwill for the country and strengthening friendly relations with the partner countries, also benefits the Indian MSMEs and opens up new opportunities for them by way of new markets, joint ventures sharing of best practices and technology collaboration. The Indian MSMEs have improved their business by participating in the trade fairs in these countries and by business delegation exchange.

Trade with Commonwealth Nations

India has entered into Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) / Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) with the objective of promoting trade with many countries and regional groupings of which Commonwealth countries are a member.

Following is a list of FTAs/PTAs that India has signed or is negotiating with commonwealth countries:

A-FTAs / PTAs already concluded

S. No.	FTA/PTA	Partner Commonwealthcountries
1.	South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA)	Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistanand Sri Lanka
2.	South Asia Preferential Trade Agreement (SAPTA)	Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistanand Sri Lanka

3.	India-ASEAN FTA	Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore
4.	Global System of Trade Preferences (GSTP)	Bangladesh, Cameroon, Ghana, Guyana, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago
5.	India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA)	Singapore
6.	India – Sri Lanka FTA	Sri Lanka
7.	Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA)	Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
8.	India-Afghanistan PTA	Afghanistan

B-FTAs / PTAs under negotiation

S. No.	FTA/PTA	Partner Commonwealthcountries
1.	India-EU Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA)	Cyprus, Malta and UK
2.	Bay of Bengal Initiative forMultisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation(BIMSTEC)	Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
3.	Southern African Customs Union (SACU)	Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia andSouth Africa
4.	India – Malaysia	Malaysia
5.	India – Mauritius	Mauritius
6.	India – Canada	Canada
7.	India-New Zealand	New Zealand

During 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10, India’s trade with Commonwealth Nations was US D 79.45 billion, US D 89.60 billion and US D 81.96 billion respectively. During the same period India’s trade with SAARC countries was US D 11.76 billion, US D 10.39 billion and US D 10.05 billion respectively.

Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft

The Government of India entered into an agreement with the Russian Government for the development and production of a Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft on October 18, 2007 for cooperation in the Joint Development and Certification of Prospective Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft. The agreement envisages joint production, joint marketing to third countries, sales, after sale support and disposal of aircraft after completion of their life-cycle. Subsequent to this Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a Confidentiality agreement on July 11, 2008, a General Contract on December 22, 2008 and a Memorandum on March 10, 2010. The estimated expenditure which is likely to be incurred for the programme is yet to be finalized. The aircraft in service would have maintenance/repair and overhaul facilities in India. The Spares for Indian Air Force will be manufactured by HAL in India. Aircraft System Line Replaceable Units procured from other sources are proposed to be manufactured under Transfer of Technology. The exact details in this regard have not yet been finalized.

India Sweden Reaffirm Commitment on Health Issues

India and Sweden have decided to further their collaboration in the fields of maternal and child health, adolescent health, public health and alcohol policy, medical and pharmaceutical products, public health research and infectious disease control and anti-microbial resistance. The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Sri Ghulam Nabi Azad held discussions with Ms. Karin Johansson, State Secretary of Ministry of Health & Social Affairs and her delegation in New Delhi today.

India has been supporting Swedish initiatives in the areas of anti-microbial resistance and alcohol abuse in various international fora including WHO. Sh. Azad informed the Swedish Minister of the National Task Force on Anti-Microbial Resistance set up by the Ministry which will help in formulating policies to check the spread of anti-microbial resistance. The two countries also decided to collaborate in the field of alcohol abuse. The Health &Family Welfare minister Sh. Ghulam Nabi Azad also flagged the issue of smokeless form of tobacco consumption, peculiar to India in the form of chewing tobacco and sought collaboration from Sweden in this area.

A MoU between the two countries was signed in February 2009. In the last one year and a half, since the MoU came into existence, three Joint Working Group meetings- two in India and one in Geneva have been held. A very successful Indo-Swedish Health Week in the month of February 2010 was also celebrated.

Indian Navy Deploys Multi Ship Anti-Piracy Force

A multi ship force of the Indian Navy has been tasked to undertake a comprehensive search in the Eastern parts of the Arabian Sea to locate and disable probable pirate (mother) vessels and skiffs. Between 24th and 29th Nov 10 a sudden spurt of piracy attempts were reported in the Eastern Part of Arabian Sea at distances of 350-700 nautical miles from the West Coast of India. Reports were also received about MT Polar, a Panama Flagged Tanker hijacked on 30 Oct 10, being in the area and acting as a possible mother ship. In a swift step of affirmative action the Indian Navy despatched its force to the area to search and locate pirate mother vessels/dhows/skiffs and carry out a thorough anti piracy sanitization of the area. The Indian Naval Force consists of ships, armed helicopters, MARCOS team and Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

The efforts of Indian Navy yielded immediate results as MT Polar has cleared the area in Eastern Arabian Sea on 30 Nov 10 and was heading back towards Somalia at best speed. Even as the movement of MT Polar is being monitored, Indian Naval Ships are combing the area for other possible mother vessels/skiffs.

It is appreciated that the threat of piracy in the area which has witnessed recent attacks has considerably decreased due to this development. The Indian Navy and Director General Shipping of India are continuing to monitor the situation and issue advisories for all ships regarding piracy prone areas and implement Best Management Practices in these areas. Protection of the Sea Lanes of Communication remains a priority of the Govt of India and the Indian Navy.

India- Brazil-South Africa Web Portal on Public Administration Launched

The India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) web portal on public administration was launched here today by Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances, Shri R. C. Misra under IBSA Co-operation Programme in the field of public administration and governance. The web portal which is a virtual centre of excellence in public administration is a wide ranging web-based resource and an interactive platform for the IBSA partners to facilitate among them an exchange of ideas and knowledge on public administration.

The purpose of the web portal is to create a knowledge base for sharing IBSA experiences and best practices in the field of public administration and development related issues. It was a tripartite launch with Brazil and South Africa onboard. Ms. Helena Kerr, do Amaral, President, ENAP, Brazil hailed the launch of the web-portal and stated that it is a strong forum for sharing best practices of all the three countries.

Ivanov to head India-Russia panel

Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov has been appointed to head the Russian part of the Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission (IRIGC) for trade, economic, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation. As Russia's Defence Minister in 2001-2007, he co-chaired the IRIGC for military-technical cooperation and helped formulate Russia's arms export strategy, which calls for the supply of the most cutting-edge defence technologies to India, while exercising extreme discretion in selling weapons to China.

Kaveri engine flight-tested in Moscow

Indigenously designed and developed Kaveri engine that will power fighter aircraft, especially Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, was successfully flight-tested. The flight-test took place at the Gromov Flight Research Institute (GFRI) in Moscow., The engine is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). An Ilyushin-76 cargo aircraft was modified as a flying-test bed for the trial, with the Kaveri engine replacing one of its four engines. The engine ran right from the take-off to the landing of the aircraft. It flew for about an hour up to an altitude of 6,000 metres at a speed of 0.6 Mach.

U.S., India ‘constructing paradigm beyond Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty'

In committing itself to supporting India's full membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group and other multilateral export control regimes, the Obama administration has finally opened a door for the country to transcend the legal confines of a treaty that has defined global attitudes towards nuclear weapons for over four decades: the NPT. The American decision to support India's membership in the NSG, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australian Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement was made public on Saturday by Deputy National Security Adviser Mike Froman and is conditional on these clubs deciding, by consensus, to change their rules on who can join. The current membership rules of the NSG, though not formally stated, require adherence to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or a regional nuclear weapons free zone (which in turn requires NPT membership). And the same treaty requirement applies in the case of the MTCR and the Wassenaar Arrangement — a cartel of 40 states which governs the export of conventional weapons and dual-use goods and technologies.

India elected to key UN committee

India has been elected to a key committee that controls the purse strings of the United Nations.

2010 G-20 Seoul summit

The 2010 G-20 Seoul Summit was the fifth meeting of the G-20 heads of government, to discuss the global financial system and the world economy,^[1] which took place in Seoul, South Korea on November 11–12, 2010. Korea was the first non-G8 nation to host a G-20 Leaders Summit. The theme of the summit was "G-20's Role in the Post-Crisis World." In the midst of a raging war over currency exchange rate between the U.S. and China at the G20 Summit in Seoul, India cautioned against competitive devaluation and resist any resurgence of protectionism. India also spoke against talk of putting a cap on current account balance, proposed by the U.S. at 4 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), saying it is not easy to reach agreement on what are sustainable current account balances for individual countries given the structural differences across the countries. India’s forthright views on these and major issues troubling the fifth G20 Summit in Seoul were put forward by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who spoke at the Plenary Session of the Summit under South Korean Presidency chaired by President Lee Myung-bak.

U.S. President Barack Obama, Chinese President Hu Jintao, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are among a host of world leaders attending the Summit.

India on U.N. women panel

India has been elected to the board of a new U.N. agency to promote equality for women.U.N. Women is the amalgamation of different United Nations bodies focused on women. It was created this year to look exclusively at gender equality and empowerment of women.The 41-member executive board also includes the U.S. and Britain, which won seats in the donor nations category.

Jammu and Kashmir out of U.N. list of disputes

Jammu and Kashmir has been removed from the United Nations list of unresolved disputes, in a setback to Pakistan which has been asking the world body to intervene on the issue. The omission of Jammu and Kashmir from the list of disputes under the observation of the Security Council was noticed by Pakistan, whose envoy has filed a protest.

China begins damming Brahmaputra river for hydropower project

China has started damming the middle reaches of the Brahmaputra river, or the Yarlung Tsangpo as it is known in Tibet, to begin construction on a 510 MW hydropower project that has raised concerns in India. The government for the first time revealed that it has, since November 8, begun damming the Tsangpo's flow to allow work to begin on the hydropower project at Zangmu. This is the first major dam on the Brahmaputra and has been billed by the Chinese government as a landmark hydropower generation project for Tibet's development. The Indian government has raised concerns about the possible downstream impact of this project during talks with China earlier this year. Chinese officials have assured their Indian counterparts that the project would be “run of the river,” having little impact downstream.

Fulbright Programme: fostering Indo-U.S. ties

The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) was one of the first bi-national commissions established to run the Fulbright Programme. On February 2, 1950, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and U.S. Ambassador to India Loy Henderson signed the agreement to implement and administer a country Fulbright Programme on behalf of the partner governments. Since its inception 60 years ago, USIEF has given out over 17,000 Fulbright awards in a wide range of academic disciplines.

On July 4, 2008, the U.S. and India signed a historic new Fulbright agreement making India a full partner with the United States in the governance and funding of the Fulbright Programme. To reflect this new partnership, USIEF now awards Fulbright-Nehru scholarships. The new agreement also permits private sector support for the programme, which offers great potential for future growth. With an eye on the needs of the 21st century, USIEF is developing innovative new programmes such as the Fulbright-Nehru English Language Teaching Assistant Programme for recent American college graduates, the Fulbright-Nehru International Education Administrators Programme for Indian and American higher education professionals, and the Fulbright-Nehru Distinguished Chair for full professors with a prominent record of scholarly accomplishment and substantial teaching experience. USIEF is also working closely with U.S. study abroad programme providers and Indian colleges and universities to attract more American students to India. USIEF looks to support long-term (at least a semester) programmes which have foreign language components and opportunities to engage in field based research, service learning projects and other meaningful ways to interact with the Indian host community.

NRIs can now vote in India

The longstanding wish of millions of non-resident Indians (NRIs) to be able to exercise their franchise in India has come true, with the Centre issuing a notification to this effect. In the monsoon session, Parliament had passed the Representation of People (Amendment) Bill, 2010, to allow NRIs to vote in Indian elections. Assisted dying is very different from euthanasia. In the case of euthanasia, the life ending medication is administered to the patient by a third party, usually a doctor. On the other hand, assisted dying refers to providing assistance to someone to die.

India for a meaningful devolution package in Sri Lanka

Since the end of the war between the Sri Lankan security forces and the LTTE in May last year, India has been engaged in a major way in initially helping Colombo in relief operations and later in re-settling the internally displaced civilians. India also embarked on a number of projects for rebuilding the infrastructure in the war-ravaged northern and eastern provinces. These include reconstruction of roads, railway lines and ports and upgrading the Palali Airport in Jaffna peninsula. A pilot project for construction of 1,000 houses for the internally displaced persons in northern Sri Lanka has also begun.The project is part of India's commitment made during Mr. Rajapaksa's visit to build 50,000 houses for the displaced people.

India for ‘structured dialogue mechanism' in Sri Lanka

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, on a four-day visit to Sri Lanka, said India hoped for the creation of a ‘structured dialogue mechanism' to work out a political solution to the ethnic conflict in the island nation. It is for the first time that India has publicly articulated its desire for a planned mechanism to carry forward the dialogue in the quest for resolution of the ethnic conflict.

India, Syria to upgrade economic ties

India and Syria should take their historic ties to a new level, leveraging their growing importance in the world to each other's advantage, particularly in the economic sphere: this was the message that President Pratibha Patil and her Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, emphasised at a joint press conference at the impressive Kasra Sha'ab, the People's Palace, in the historic city of Damascus.

3. WORLD AFFAIRS

Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff

In a major leap to the top job, she has become the first woman to be elected Brazil's president.But if many Brazilians, and the wider world, have to date known little about her, she is very familiar with Brazil's corridors of power. Ms Rousseff, 63, joined President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government in 2003 as energy minister. In 2005, after a corruption scandal brought down key government figures, Mr Lula made her his chief of staff, a post she held until March 2010, when she launched her campaign for the presidency as the Workers Party (PT) candidate.

Nikki Haley elected Governor

Having gone from state legislature to Governor of South Carolina in a span of just six years, Nikki Randhawa Haley is being hailed as a rising star on the American political horizon. Daughter of Punjabi Sikh immigrants from Amritsar, Nimrata Nikki Randhawa Haley (38) has become the first Indian-origin woman, and second Indian-American after Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, to become the Governor of a U.S. state. Another Indian-American Kamala Harris won the election for Attorney-General of California.

Five other Indian-Americans, all Democrats, bit the dust in the face of an anti-establishment vote. In 2004, Ms. Haley was the first Republican Indian-American to win a State House seat. In 2008, Representative Ms. Haley was sent back to the State House with 83 per cent of the vote. She is recognised as a pro-business leader and an outspoken advocate for added accountability in the legislature.

Kamala Harris wins California poll

Indian-American Kamala Harris on Wednesday won the election for Attorney-General of California. Ms. Harris will be the first woman to hold the office. Ms. Harris, who was the only Indian-American candidate publicly endorsed by President Barack Obama, defeated Steve Cooley of the Republican Party in a tough fight. California's largest legal newspaper, The Daily Journal, designated Ms. Harris as one of the top 75 women litigators in California — the only elected official to receive that honour — as well as one of the top 100 lawyers in the state. She was recognised as a ‘Woman of Power' by the National Urban League and received the Thurgood Marshall Award from the National Black Prosecutors Association.

She has been featured on the Oprah show and in Newsweek as one of “America's 20 Most Powerful Women.” She was selected as one of 24 elected leaders from throughout the country to serve as a Rodel Fellow with the Aspen Institute.

Historic agreement on the High North

On September 15 in Murmansk, the Russian Federation and Norway signed a bilateral treaty concerning Maritime Delimitation and Cooperation in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean. The stakes are high in the High North. This makes the historic agreement all the more important. The High North is attracting increased international attention. India too is seizing this opportunity. In June 2010 Norway had the pleasure of hosting Indian Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Prithviraj Chavan on a visit to the Barents archipelago of Svalbard, situated close to the 80th parallel. India has a long and important history in international research cooperation, including polar research. In 2008, the Himadri research station in Svalbard was inaugurated by Minister Kapil Sibal. Since then, activity at the station has been increasing, and new Indian research scientists arrive regularly. The recent treaty between Norway and Russia establishes a maritime delimitation line that divides a previously disputed area of about 1,75,000 sq.km, potentially rich in natural resources. Additionally, Norway and Russia will adopt detailed treaty provisions regarding cooperation on exploitation of hydrocarbon deposits and on fisheries management.

The High North is one of the world's most resourceful, yet most vulnerable regions. It is a strategic priority in Norwegian foreign and security policy. Norway sincerely appreciates the Indian contributions to polar research and arctic issues. Without international cooperation we cannot solve the vast environmental challenges brought on by climate change and melting polar ice. After over 40 years of negotiations, the agreement exhibits the way peace and collective interests can be served through the implementation of the international rule of law. It also demonstrates the constructive relationship between Norway and Russia.

G20 meet agrees to curb trade imbalances

Leaders of the world's biggest economies agreed to curb “persistently large imbalances” in saving and spending but deferred until next year tough decisions on how to identify and fix them.The agreement, the culmination of a two-day summit meeting of leaders of the Group of 20 industrialised and emerging powers, fell short of initial U.S. demands for numerical targets on trade surpluses and deficits. But it reflected a consensus that longstanding economic patterns in particular, the United States consuming too much, and China too little were no longer sustainable. U.S. President Barack Obama called the agreement significant, even if not as dramatic or far-reaching as the one that emerged from the first G20 leaders' meeting in 2008, when nations came together quickly amid fears of a global meltdown.

Aung San Suu Kyi walks free

Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's celebrated pro-democracy leader and a political prisoner of global stature, was set free from house arrest in Yangon. World leaders hailed her in comments on the release, which was ordered before the junta could transfer power to an ostensibly “civilian” government following the November 7 general election. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations expressed relief over member-state Myanmar's action of setting Ms. Suu Kyi free at least now, upon the completion of her latest term of house arrest.

Myanmar's military establishments have subjected Ms. Suu Kyi to four terms of house arrest and at least two spells in prison, for about 15 years in all, since 1989. She led the NLD to a landslide victory in the country's free elections in 1990 but was not allowed to lead a civilian government.

North Korea shells South Korean island

North Korea and South Korea exchanged several rounds of artillery fire across the disputed Yellow Sea, leaving at least two South Korean marines killed and 16 others injured in shelling by the North on a populated island. The South Korean government blamed the North for starting the exchange, saying dozens of rounds of artillery shells were fired at its Yeonpyeong Island, which lies along the disputed maritime border off the western coast of the Korean Peninsula. It is inhabited by around 1,600 people. The South accused the North of violating the 1953 Armistice Agreement and responded by putting its military on the highest level of non-wartime alert, even readying F-16 fighter jets.

England takes the first step to legalise assisted dying

England and Wales are taking the first step to consider passing a law on assisted dying. According to a recent online news report in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), a 12-member commission will consider if such a law is required, and submit a report in October next year. Assisted dying involves a doctor prescribing a life-ending dose of medication to a mentally competent, terminally ill adult at his request. It is the patient who administers the medication to himself.

4. POLITY AND COMMITTEES

Conversion of Rajiv Gandhi National Institute for Youth Development: Committee Constituted

A proposal was received from the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports to convert Rajiv Gandhi National Institute for Youth Development, an institution deemed to be university, at Sriperumbudur into Rajiv Gandhi Central University/National Institute of Youth and Sports. In order to examine the proposal and to make suitable recommendations, the Government has constituted a Committee consisting of the following persons: i) Prof. Ved Prakash, Vice Chairman, University Grants Commission, Chairman; ii) Prof. D.T. Khathing, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Jharkhand, Member; iii) Shri L.S. Ranawat, Director, Netraji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala, Member ex-officio; iv) Joint Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Member ex-officio; v) Dr. Boria Majumdar, Adjunct Professor, University of South Australia, Member; vii) Dr. Jaspal S. Sandhu, Dean Faculty of Sports Medicine, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Member; viii) Ms. Ashwini Nachappa, Distinguished sportsperson & Arjun Awardee, Member.

Uncle Judge Syndrome

The Law Commission of India in their 230th Report has mentioned the matter of appointment of Uncle Judges in the High Courts, wherein it is said that the Judges, whose kith and kin are practising in a High Court, should not be appointed in the same High Court.

The procedure for appointment of Judges, which is based on the judgement of the Supreme Court, has been debated in various fora and there have been demands to change the same. However, there is, at present, no specific proposal to bring about any change in the present system of appointment of judges in the Supreme Court and the High Courts.

High Level Committee on Financing of Infrastructure

Government has assigned a high priority to creation of physical infrastructure for sustaining the growth momentum and for achieving inclusive growth. During the 11^th Five Year Plan, the investment target is Rs. 20,50,000 crore. For the 12^thPlan, the likely target will be Rs. 41,00,000 crore (at constant 2006-07 prices), of which investment, about one half is expected from the private sector and a significant proportion of the balance half will be funded by public sector undertakings through market borrowings. It would be necessary to evolve policy responses to enable the flow of large capital resources of this order into infrastructure projects. In order to review the existing framework and to make recommendations, it has been decided to constitute a High Level Committee on Financing of Infrastructure under the chairmanship of Shri Rakesh Mohan, former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank and former Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, who will have the status of a Minister of State in an honorary capacity.

Madhava Menon to Chair Committee on Legislative Measures on Statistical Matters

The National Statistical Commission (NSC) has constituted a committee on 8^thNovember, 2010 under the Chairmanship of Prof.N.R. Madhava Menon, an eminent legal educator in the country to look into legislative measures on statistical matters including a bill to provide statutory status to the NSC.

Vaidyanathan Committee Recommends Remote Sensing, National Centre for Improving Agricultural Statistics

The expert committee set up under the chairmanship of Prof A Vaidyanathan to suggest ways to improve agricultural statistics has called for using remote sensing and restructuring the data collection machinery. In its interim report, the Expert Committee has also recommended setting up of National Crop Statistics Centre (NCSC) to deal with all aspects of crop area and yield estimation.

Details about the Expert Committee and its recommendations are as follows:

In pursuance to recommendations of Steering Committee on Agriculture & Allied Sector for formulation of 11th Five Year Plan set up by Planning Commission for thorough review of Schemes for collection of Agricultural Statistics for bringing about lasting improvements in basic system of agricultural statistics and as per decisions taken in the meeting with National Statistical Commission (NSC), the Government constituted a Committee of Experts to (a) look into the problems relating to the methodology and procedures followed for the collection/ estimation of data on land use, cropping and yields and suggest measures for improvement and (b) assess the potential of remote sensing techniques to collect these data and to indicate how to utilize this potential and (c) suggest institutional framework for improvement of agricultural statistics.

The Committee has recommended the creation of (a) National Crop Statistics Centre (NCSC) as an autonomous professionally run organization fully funded by the Centre to design,organise and supervise the generation of crop area and yield estimates at the State and National level. Fieldwork would be done by the trained staff in the state bureaus appointed and dedicated exclusively to carry out the programme decided by NCSC and their cost being borne entirely out of the Central Budget.

Tendulkar Committee on Rural Poverty

The Expert Group under the chairmanship of Prof. Suresh D. Tendulkar constituted by the Planning Commission in 2005 to review the methodology of estimation of poverty has submitted its recommendations in December 2009. The report of the Expert Group has been accepted by the Planning Commission. The Ministry of Rural Development is implementing several schemes of Rural Development and poverty alleviation through the State Governments and Union Territory (UT) Administrations.

These include Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY)/ National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) for poverty alleviation and employment generation in rural areas, Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) for providing basic amenities and area development in rural areas. Further, Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) is a welfare scheme under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) under which Additional Central Assistance (ACA) is provided to States/UTs. These schemes help reduce poverty level in rural part of the country.

Saxena Committee

An Expert Group, which could advise the Ministry on the methodology for conducting the BPL Census for identification of rural households. The Expert Group under the chairmanship of Dr. N.C. Saxena submitted its report on 21st August 2009. The recommendations of the Expert Group include automatic exclusion of rural households from the BPL list, automatic inclusion in the BPL list and grading of remaining households. For automatic exclusion of rural households from the BPL list, the Expert Group recommended indicators such as ownership of land, ownership of motorized vehicles, ownership of mechanized farm equipment, regular employment and Income tax payers.

The Expert Group recommended automatic inclusion of rural households from certain groups in the BPL list such as designated “Primitive Tribal Groups”, designated “Maha Dalit Groups”, single women headed households, households with disabled person as bread-earner, households headed by a minor, households dependent on alms for survival, homeless households and households with bonded labourers. The Expert Group recommended that remaining households may be ranked on a scale of ten based on caste, community, religion, occupation, educational status and age of head of Household.

The National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector (NCEUS) under the chairmanship Dr. Arjun Sengupta was constituted by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to examine the problems confronting enterprises in the Unorganized Sector and make appropriate recommendation to provide technical, marketing and credit support to the enterprises. According to the report on “Conditions of Work and Promotion of Livelihoods in the Unorganized Sector” submitted by the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector (NCEUS) at the end of 2004-05, about 836 million or 77 percent of the population were living below Rs. 20 per day.

Poverty is a multi-dimensional issue and various experts/committees and institutions estimate poverty based on different perceptions/definitions. However, Planning Commission is the nodal agency in the Government of India to estimate poverty in the country. The latest poverty estimates released by the Planning Commission for 2004-05, based on 61st Round of NSS consumer expenditure data as recommended by the Expert Group under the chairmanship of Prof. Suresh D. Tendulkar, percent of the population living below the poverty line in the country was 37.2% in 2004-05.

Interlocutors submit report

The interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir submitted their report to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday, after their maiden visit to the State. Dileep Padgaonkar, who leads the three-member team, said he was “hopeful” of a solution, but did not have a “magic formula.” The interlocutors briefed Mr. Chidambaram about their visit from October 23 and presented their report, which included recommendations.

Report on Justice Sen tabled and Parliamentary panel holds Justice Sen guilty of misconduct

The Centre will table in the Lok Sabha the report of Justice B. Sudershan Reddy Committee, which probed “misappropriation” charges against Calcutta High Court judge Soumitra Sen in the removal proceedings initiated by Parliament. Justice Sudershan Reddy presented the report to Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari. The committee, which included Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and jurist Fali Nariman, was constituted by the Chairman under Section 3 (2) of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 on March 20, 2009 “for the purpose of making an investigation into the grounds on which the removal of Justice Sen is prayed for, through a motion by Shri Sitaram Yechury and 56 other members of the Rajya Sabha. As per the provisions of the Act, the report of the Committee will have to be laid before each House of Parliament.”

The charge against Justice Sen was that when he was lawyer, he collected Rs.33,22,800 from a purchaser of goods and kept it in a savings bank account and misrepresented facts to the High Court. The case is the second in the history of the country in which Parliament has initiated proceedings for removal of a judge (the first one involved Justice V. Ramaswami). Though the charges did not pertain to Justice Sen's judicial conduct, the question before the committee, headed by Justice Sudershan Reddy of the Supreme Court, was whether such a person, who could not continue even as lawyer as argued by counsel for the panel, was entitled to hold the high office of judge. The report said that Justice Sen did not submit any account, either when he was an advocate or after he became a judge, thus violating the order appointing him a Receiver

A Parliamentary Inquiry Committee has held Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta High Court guilty of ‘misconduct' tantamount to ‘misbehaviour,' warranting his removal as a judge. The report, tabled in the Rajya Sabha, said the two charges — misappropriation of Rs.33,22,800 which Justice Sen had received in his capacity as Receiver appointed by the High Court and misrepresentation of the facts with regard to the misappropriation to the High Court — stood proved.

CAG completes 150 years

The institution of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) celebrates 150 years of service . The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has a long history that dates back to 1860, but up to the 1980s the only source of its recorded history is a publication by the Indian Institute of Public Administration. With a mandate from parliament and the constitution, the institution conducts official audits under various heads and levels - receipt and use of finances by the federal and state governments, state-run enterprises, as also local bodies.

Accordingly, the institutions covered include the Indian Railways, some 1,500 state-run units, around 400 non-commercial autonomous bodies and authorities and more than 4,400 authorities and bodies substantially financed by federal or state revenues. Appointed by the president under the constitutional provision of Article 148, the Comptroller and Auditor General also heads the Indian Audits and Accounts Service, which has some 58,000 employees across the country.

5. ECONOMY AND BUSINESS

100% FDI for Cold Storage Facilities on Automatic Route

In view of growth in production of perishable agricultural products, there is a need for creation of additional cold storage facilities in the country. Assistance is provided to entrepreneurs in setting up of new cold storage facilities in the country through the schemes of National Horticulture Mission (NHM), National Horticulture Board (NHB), Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture in North Eastern States, Sikkim, J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand (TMNE), National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MFPI).

As per extant FDI Policy, 100% FDI is permitted on automatic route in cold storage.

The Government has decided to establish the National Centre for Cold Chain Development (NCCD) as an autonomous centre of excellence in association with the industry and other Stakeholders for development of cold chain in India, for which funding through National Horticulture Board (NHB) to the extent of Rs.25.00 crore has been proposed.

Joint Venture by IOC with NPCIL

The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has informed that its Board has accorded approval in September 2010 for equity participation through Joint Venture (JV) in Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP) of Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL). This was stated by the Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Murli Deora in the Rajya Sabha in a written reply today. Initially, IOC would contribute 26% equity. IOC would have an option to increase its equity contribution upto 49%. The Minister also said that ‘the estimated cost of the project is Rs. 12,321 crore and the equity contribution for IOC is estimated at Rs. 961 crore at this stage. The financial resource in terms of equity participation is in line with IOC’s planned Capital Expenditure (CAPEX).’ He also informed that the equity requirement will be spread over a period of five to six years thereby indicating a small percentage compared to IOC’s investment in core projects, which is Rs. 52995 crore for the XI Plan.

Pricing of Shares and Use of IPO Proceeds

The Minister for Corporate Affairs has said that as per the information provided by the SEBI, Initial Public Offerings (IPO) price is fixed by the issue based on an analysis of the quantitative and qualitative factors of the issue company, market sentiments, demand for the scrip as assessed during road shows etc. Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha the Minister for Corporate Affairs, Shri Salman Khurshid said that the freedom to fix the price band rests with the issuer, who generally does so in consultation with the merchant banker. He informed the House that as per the data received from Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), on an analyses of IPOs listed during the period April 1, 2009 till November 4, 2010, as many as 48 out of the 75 IPOs listed during the period have closed above the issue price on the date of listing. Further 42 IPOs out of the said 75 IPOs are quoting above their issue price as on November 08, 2010.

Shri Khurshid also informed that an Expert Group had been appointed to study and suggest measures to monitor the targeted utilisation of the fund raised through IPOs and the report of the Expert Group is under examination of the Ministry.

Steps Being Taken to Control Price-Rise

The retail prices of gram dal, tur dal, moong dal, masoor dal, sugar, tea, salt and potato are largely showing a steady to declining trend while the prices of rice, wheat, atta, urad dal, groundnut oil, mustard oil, vanaspati, milk and onion have shown some increase as observed in the 4 metros viz. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, over a period of 10 months.

Steps taken by the Government to contain price rise in essential commodities are briefly stated below:

(A) Short term Measures:

1. Fiscal Measures

(i) Reduced import duties to zero – for rice, wheat, pulses, edible oils (crude); butter and ghee and to 7.5% for refined & hydrogenated oils & vegetable oils;

(ii) Allowed import of raw sugar at zero duty under O.G.L.

(iii) Allowed import of white/refined sugar. The facility has been extendedupto 31.12.2010 without any quantitative cap.

II. Administrative Measures

(i) Removed levy obligation in respect of imported raw sugar and white/refined sugar.

(ii) Banned export of non-basmati rice, edible oils and pulses (except coconut oil and forest based oil) and pulses (except Kabuli chana).

(iii) Using Minimum Export Price (MEP) to regulate exports of onion (at $375 per tonne for November 2010) and basmati rice ($900 PMT);

(iv) Maintaining the Central Issue Price (CIP) for rice (at Rs 5.65 per kg for BPL and Rs 3 per kg for AAY) and wheat (at Rs 4.15 per kg for BPL and Rs 2 per kg for AAY) since 2002.

(v) Suspension of Futures trading in Rice, urad and Tur by the Forward Market Commission in the year 2007-08 continues during 2010-11. Futures trading in sugar were suspended wef 27.5.2009 up to 30.9.2010).

(vi) Permitted sugar factories to sell processed raw sugar in the domestic market and fulfill export obligation on ton to ton basis.

(vii) Proportion of sugar production requisitioned as levy sugar was increased from 10 to 20% for 2009-10 sugar season. However, for 2010-11 sugarseason, the levy obligation has been reduced to 10%.

(viii) For the month of September, 2010, 16.72 lac tons of non levy sugar have been made available. Besides, levy sugar quota of 2.28 lac tons also been released.

(ix) An additional allocation of wheat/rice @10 kg/family/month of January and February 2010 was made to the accepted number of AAY, BPL and APL ration cards. This is in addition to existing allocation while wheat was allocated at MSP price of Rs.10800 per tonnes; rice was allotted at MSP derived price of Rs.15373.10 per tonne for Grade.A.

(x) Specific adhoc additional allocation of 30.66 lakh tonnes of foodgrainshas been made for all cardholders on 19.5.2010 with validity for lifting up to 20.11.2010@ of Rs.8.45 per kg for wheat and Rs.11.85 per kg for rice.

(xi) An additional allocation of 4.57 lakh tonnes of foodgrains per month for APL families at the prevailing APL CIP made on 2.8.2010. This is applicable initially for a period of six months to those States where APL allocations were below 15 kg per family per month.

(xii) 25 lakh tonnes of food grains have also been allocated in September 2010 to all States/UTs for distribution to BPL families at BPL issue price during six months period from September 2010.

(xiii) Extended stock limit orders in the case of pulses, paddy and rice for a period upto 30^th September, 2011, edible oil and edible oilseeds upto31st March, 2011, sugar up to 31^st December 2010.

(xiv) Under OMSS interventions Allocation to State Governments under OMSS (Domestic) for release of 20.00 lakh tonnes of wheat and 10 lakhtonnes of Rice was made to check inflationary trends in food economy from October 2009 to March 2010.

(b) In addition to above, a quantity of 10 lakh MTs wheat was also allocated for sale to bulk consumers through open tenders by FCI from October,09 – March,10. Another 10.81 lakh tonnes of wheat from the expected savings from retail allocations was allocated for bulk consumers through tender sale.

(c) On 18.1.2010, NAFED was allotted 37400 tonnes of wheat and 17000 tonnes of rice from the un-lifted quantity of OMSS allocations to state Governments. Similarly, NCCF was allocated 32684.21tonnes wheat and 11000 tonnes rice for sale to retail consumers.

(d) On 16.2.2010, another allocation of 5 lakh tonnes of wheat was made for tender sale to small processors by FCI.High Level Committee of FCI has formulated guidelines for tender sale to small processors. The reserve price fixed for tender sale of wheat to bulk consumers undertaken by FCI.

(xv) The Government is also contemplating bringing legislation on Food
Security.

      (xvi)  Experimented with popularization of Yellow Peas through sale in the
  Retail Outlets of NAFED, Kendriya Bhandar, NCCF and Mother Dairy
  in Delhi.

(B) Medium Term Measures:

In the medium term, Government has taken initiatives such as the National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana(RKVY) to improve production and productivity in agriculture. New initiative of “Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India” in 6 eastern states is also focused towards enhancing agriculture production. Similarly, new initiative of “organizing 60,000 pulses and Oilseed village” is being implemented in major pulses growing states to supplement the efforts of other schemes in enhancing the pulses production. Maize production is promoted through Integrated Scheme on Oilseed, Pulses, Oil Palm and Maize (ISOPOM).

Policy on FDI in Retail Trade

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is not permitted in retail trade except in single Brand product retailing where Foreign Investment upto 51% is permitted with prior Government approval and subject to the following conditions:

(i) Products to be sold should be of ‘Single Brand’ only

(ii) Products should be sold under the same brand internationally and

(iii) ‘Single brand product-retailing would cover only products which are branded during manufacturing.

National Pension Scheme for Poor Persons

The Interim Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has authorized 40 institutions including public sector banks, private banks and the Department of Posts as Points of Presence (POPs) for selling the New Pension system (NPS) to the citizens of India. Further, PFRDA has introduced a low cost version of NPS known as NPS-Lite for economically disadvantaged citizens under which institutions known as Aggregators would be responsible for enrollment under the NPS and collection and transmission of funds to the NPS fund managers. Under the NPS-Lite, all PoPs are automatically eligible to be registered as Aggregators. Since its introduction on 1st May, 2009, the enrollments under NPS have shown a slow but steady progress.

Government and PFRDA have taken various steps to increase the coverage under the NPS, which inter-alia, include enrollment of a wide range of financial institutions and the Department of Posts as PoPs, providing direct monetary incentive for promoting the NPS, identifying different beneficiary groups for targeted campaigns, and wide publicity to the NPS through media coverage and other means of publicity. In addition, PFRDA has also planned a multi-pronged strategy for promotion of the NPS which includes development of easy to understand publicity material, and a calibrated media campaign to increase awareness about NPS. Further, to address the longevity risk of poorer sections of the country and to encourage the workers from the unorganized sectors to voluntarily save for their retirement, the Government of India has announced Swavalamban Scheme in the Union Budget 2010-11.

This is a voluntary defined contribution scheme, which any citizen of India in the unorganized sector can join. Under the Swavalamban, the Government of India shall contribute Rs. 1000 per NPS account each year during the current year and the next three years. The benefit will be available to persons who join the NPS with a minimum contribution of R.1000 and maximum contribution of Rs.12,000 per annum in accordance with the provisions of the Operational Guidelines of Swavalamban Scheme.

Formation of FSDC

The Financial Stability Development Council (FSDC) is expected to come into force in the month of December, 2010. The Ministry of Finance has consulted all the financial sector regulators on the formation of the Council.

The objectives of FSDC would be to deal with issues relating to:

• Financial stability
• Financial sector development
• Inter-regulatory coordination
• Financial literacy
• Financial inclusion
• Macro prudential supervision of the economy including the functioning of large financial conglomerates.
• Coordinating India’s international interface with financial sector bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Financial Stability Board (FSB).

Policy Regarding Determining Prices of Petrol and Diesel

The Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Jitin Prasada stated that petrol is now a deregulated product, the oil companies/refineries are free to decide the pricing mechanism at the refinery gate depending upon market conditions and commercial considerations. Presently, the refinery gate pricing of diesel is based on he trade parity principle. He also informed that the Government had constituted an expert group, under the chairmanship of Dr. Kirit S. Parikh, to advise on a Viable and Sustainable System of Pricing of Petroleum Products. In the light of the expert group’s recommendations, the Government made the price of petrol, both at the refinery gate and at the retail level, market-determined with effect from 26th June, 2010. the Government has also taken an ‘in principle’ decision that the price of diesel will be made market determined, both at refinery gate and retail level. However, Government has initially increased the retail selling price of diesel by only Rs. 2/- per litre with effect from 26th June 2010 (at Delhi), with corresponding increases in the rest of the country.

NTPC Signs JV Agreement for Renewable Energy

NTPC Limited (NTPC), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Kyuden International Corporation (Kyushu) signed a Joint Venture Agreement today to form a JV Company (JVC) in NCT of Delhi, to develop projects and establish over a period of three years, a portfolio of about 500 MW of Renewable Power Generation in India.

JVC shall presently develop wind power and small hydroelectric power projects and in future may also develop other renewable power generation resources. The JVC may develop projects outside India in Developing Member Countries only as well. NTPC, ADB and Kyushu shall contribute in the ratio of 50:25:25 in the equity share capital of the Company. The initial authorised share capital of the Company would be Rs. 6.5 crore and the paid-up share capital would be Rs. 1 crore. NTPC, presently has an installed capacity of over 32694 MW. Company operates 28 power stations across the country., with over 16000 MW capacity under construction. NTPC plans to become a 75 GW by 2017. Greater share of renewables will help NTPC in achieving better balance between the growth in electricity generation while preserving natural habitat. NTPC has a target of developing at least 1,000 MW capacity based on renewable sources namely solar, wind, geothermal and small hydro. The Company Board has also approved plans for setting up 301 MW solar capacity. Company’s thrust on non-fossil sources will eventually culminate in as much as 28 per cent of its generation capacity of the total of 1,28,000 MW to be based on non-fossil sources by 2032.

Government Proposes to Set up Consumer Protection Authority

A proposal to set up a National Consumer Protection Regulatory Authority is under consideration in consultation with all the stake holders. The same has so far not been finalized.

The important steps being taken by the Central Government for speedy justice are as under:

(i) Financial assistance is being provided to the States/UTs for strengthening their infrastructure. ‘CONFONET’ scheme for computerization and networking of Consumer Fora across the country is also being implemented which is expected to bring about systematization of Consumer Fora and improve their efficiency.

(ii) With an objective to facilitate the Fora in quicker disposal of cases, several provisions were made through Consumer Protection (Amendment) Act, 2002 which included enabling the Senior Most Member to preside over the Consumer Fora if the President is absent for any reasons, establishment of Circuit Benches of National Commission/State Commissions and providing for reappointment of President/Members of Consumer Fora.

(iii) The Central Government has been requesting State Governments to take advance action for filling up expected vacancies of President and Members. They have also been advised that wherever required, adjacent Fora can be clubbed together. Benches can also be established in Consumer Fora, as required.

(iv) The State Govts have been advised that the Consumer Fora should also resort to Lok Adalat method for disposing off long pending complaints.

In addition the National Commission also takes the following steps for speedy disposal of cases in the Consumer Forum.

(a) The National Commission holds annual conferences of the Presidents of the State Commissions and Secretaries In-charge, Consumer Affairs of the State Governments/UTs to evaluate the functioning of the Consumer Forums in the country and effective implementation of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986;

(b) The Hon’ble President of the National Commission regularly writes letters to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of States to meet the short-comings in the Consumer Fora, particularly with regard to appointment of President / Members in the State Commissions, providing sufficient staff and infrastructure etc. as well as interacts with the Presidents of the State Commissions to get the first hand information regarding functioning of the State Commissions & District Forums, pendency of the cases and the difficulties faced by them.

(c) The National Commission also advises the State Commissions and District Forums to adopt the process of holding Lok Adalats for speedy disposal of the cases. The National Commission also holds Circuit Bench sittings as per the provisions of Section 22 C of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, for rendering speedy justice at the doorsteps of the consumers of that particular State. So far, the National Commission has held Circuit Bench sittings at Hyderabad,Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, and Kolkata.

(d) In addition to the existing five Benches of the National Commission, the Central Government has recently sanctioned one additional bench for the National Commission for a period of five years for disposing off backlog of pending cases.

24 Hours Payment System By NPCI

National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) is providing Interbank Mobile Payment Service (IMPS) with seven banks viz, State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Union Bank of India, Bank of India, Yes Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank. The service allows a customer in one bank to remit funds to an account holder in another bank. Mobile phone is used as a service delivery channel of the member banks. For providing this offer, the bank needs to have authorization from Reserve Bank of India and has to be admitted as a member of IMPS. Till 31st March 2011, NPCI will be providing the service to the member banks free of charges. Thereafter switching fee of Rs. 0.25 per transaction will be levied by NPCI to member banks. Member banks may levy a fee on the customers as per the policy formulated by them. However for the present, they have also been providing this service free of charges.

Forex reserves cross $300 billion

The country's foreign exchange reserves breached the $300-billion mark for the first time since 2008 with an addition of $2.2 billion last week (November 5) on the back of a healthy rise in foreign currency. The rise to $300.21 billion puts India, which has attracted $35 billion of foreign fund flows in capital markets alone this fiscal, in a select group of countries such as China, Japan and Taiwan that have forex reserves exceeding $300 billion. India's foreign exchange reserves had earlier touched $300 billion in March 2008, before the setting-in of the global slowdown in September that year. The country's total forex reserves had stood at $297.96 billion the week before. Foreign currency assets expressed in U.S. dollar terms include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-U.S. currencies, such as the euro, the pound and the yen, held in the reserves.

Maharatna status for IOC, ONGC and NTPC

The Centre formally conferred the coveted Maharatna status on Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and NTPC. Minister for Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises Vilasrao Deshmukh gave away certificate conferring the Maharatna status to the heads of ONGC, IOC and NTPC. The Maharatna status to select PSEs ensures more empowerment in decision making and encourages becoming globally competitive. Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd., the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, joined the exclusive club of Navratna companies. Mr. Deshmukh presented the certificate of recognition as a Navratna company to RINL Chairman-cum-Managing Director P.K. Bishnoi

6. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Anti-Biotics in Honey

The Centre for Science and Environment in its report on antibiotics in honey in September, 2010 as reported in the media has stated that out of 12 samples of honey analyzed by them 11 samples contain antibiotics out of which 2 samples are of imported honey. The standards of honey have been prescribed under PFA Rules, 1955, wherein antibiotics are not permitted to be added in honey. The implementation of the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act, 1954 & Rules, 1955 is carried out by the State/UT Governments which take action in case of any violation of the PFA Rules, 1955. Accordingly advisory has been issued to the State Governments drawing their attention to the standards of honey under PFA Rules, 1955.

Video Conferencing Facility

The University Grants Commission has been helping universities and colleges thorough several general as well as specific schemes to keep pace with the developments in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Under the programme of the UGC-INFONET Internet Connectivity, as many as 157 Universities have so far been provided Internet of bandwidth ranging from 256 Kbps to 2 Mbps. The task of establishing and maintaining the entire network is being done by the ERNET India on turn-key basis. Under National Mission on Education through ICT (NMEICT) there is a proposal to connect all universities with National Knowledge Network (NKN), wherein they would be on a Virtual Private Network. The connectivity could be used in various ways for communication among universities and with outside world. The connectivity could also enable video conferencing if video conferencing equipments are installed by universities from various sources, including private sources, based on transparent selection processes at their level. The connected computers of the universities can also be used for software based audio visual communication.

EDUSAT-Teacher Student Connectivity through audio visual mode

EDUSAT (Education Satellite) network is completely an audio-visual medium using multimedia technology wherein teacher-student connectivity is facilitated in distance mode by creating a Teaching End and Classroom End. The teacher teaches in a studio in audio/visual format which is transmitted and received by students at multiple classrooms throughout the country. The interaction between teacher and students takes place through video to video mode, through audio and through online chat mode.

EDUSAT, a project of Indian space Research Organisation (ISRO), is in operation since 2005 wherein an Internet Protocol (IP) based network is provided to all States, Union Territories and major national educational institutions EDUSAT provides both Ku-band and C-band transponders to cover the entire country with two-way audio-video connectivity.

The two types of terminals, namely Satellite Interactive Terminals (SITs) and Receive Only Terminals (ROTs) are deployed under EDUSAT programme. The ROTs are used for providing primary and secondary education and the SITs are used for providing higher and professional education. The live classes conducted the expert teachers are transmitted from the studios to these schools and colleges. Using SITs the students can have live interaction with the expert teacher. Most of these terminals are deployed in rural areas.

Mars' volcanic deposit tells of life

American scientists claim to have found evidence that suggests Mars had a warm and wet climate which could have supported life some 3.5 billion years ago.

A team, led by planetary geologists at Brown University, found mounds of a mineral deposited on a volcanic cone less than 3.5 billion years ago that speak of a warm and wet past, and may preserve evidence of one of the most recent habitable microenvironments on the red planet. Observations by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter enabled the researchers to identify the mineral as hydrated silica which can be dissolved, transported and concentrated by hot water or steam - a dead ringer that water was present at some time. The mineral and the mounds' location on the flanks of a volcanic cone provide the best evidence yet on Mars for an intact deposit from a hydrothermal environment - a steam fumarole or a hot spring, said the researchers.

Such environments might have provided habitats for some of Earth's earliest life forms, they hoped. Concentrations of hydrated silica have been identified on Mars previously, including a nearly pure patch found by NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit in 2007. However, this is the first found in an intact setting that clearly signals the mineral's origin. Observations by cameras on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter revealed patches of bright deposits near the summit of the cone, fanning down its flank, and on flatter ground in the vicinity. The Brown researchers partnered with Scott Murchie, of Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, to analyse the bright exposures with the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) instrument on the orbiter. Hydrated silica identified by the spectrometer in uphill locations, confirmed by stereo imaging, indicates that hot springs or fumaroles fed by underground heating created these deposits. Silica deposits around hydrothermal vents in Iceland are among the best parallels on Earth.

Ice Age ecosystem ‘uncovered' in Colorado

Scientists claim to have uncovered an entire Ice Age ecosystem after unearthing wealth of bones from an excavation site in western Colorado in the U.S. A team from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science discovered two additional Ice Age mammal species at the fossil dig site at the Ziegler Reservoir near Snowmass Village, Colorado. The second discovery was a small deer-like animal. Partial remains of five mastodons, three Ice Age bison and a juvenile Columbian mammoth as well as plant matter and insects have also been found.Mammoths and mastodons are both elephant-like creatures with long tusks that both faded into extinction on this continent more than 12,800 years ago.

Mobile banking set to get a boost from IMPS

Customers will now be able to transfer money from their accounts to any other account in the country using their cellphones, through the National Payment Corporation of India's Inter-bank Mobile Payment Service (IMPS). The facility allows transactions without the need for a computer or an Internet-enabled phone.

Experts say the service introduces a new form of customer-friendliness that a developing ICT nation like India requires. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India records more than 670 million registered mobile subscribers; with the penetration of Internet technologies through mobile phones being higher than the spread of the Internet through broadband connections, the service, they reckon, is expected to boost banking transactions better than Internet banking.

Citing South Africa and the Philippines where the IMPS has been successfully launched, experts say the banking and telecom sectors are equipped with the latest security measures for launching the service. With most banks now using a Java-based robust system which works on some kinds of phones and is supported by a limited number of Operating Systems, the system is said to have tried-and-tested security features with double layers of encryption. Hence, the responsibility of caution is more on the side of the user than on technology, experts say, citing cases of sharing of passwords, leaving phones unlocked and sharing of sensitive information with strangers as causes for financial crimes online. Seven banks have already been offering the IMPS. Seven more are linking up through this network. Gradually, all 50 banks licensed by the RBI are expected to offer the service, which will be free of cost till March 31, 2011.

7. AWARDS AND PERSONALITIES

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award to Saina Nehwal

Dr M.S. Gill, Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports gave away Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for the year 2010 to Ms. Saina Nehwal . Recognising Ms. Saina Nehwal’s outstanding performance in the badminton sport and the glory she brought to the country, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for the year 2010 is conferred upon Ms. Nehwal. As she was in Paris taking part in World Championship when the National Sports Awards were conferred by the President of India on 29th August, 2010, she could not receive the Award on that occasion. In view of this, the Award was conferred on her today. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award . The award carries a medal, citation and cash prize of Rs 7.5 lakh .

Saina Nehwal’s Achievements

Ms. Saina Nehwal is among the outstanding Badminton players ranking 2nd in the World. She has won the Indonesia Super Series ,2010, Singapore Open super Series,2010 , Indian Open Grand Prix,2010 , Indonesia Super Series,2009, and Indian Open Grand Prix,2009 . She was Semi finalist in 2009 BWF World Championship and Semi finalist in ALL England Super Series ,2010 . She won gold medal in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games,2010 . She was awarded Arjuna Award in 2009.

‘Dayawati Modi Award 2010’ for Art, Culture and Education’

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Hamid Ansari has said that he is particularly happy that this year’s award has been presented to Dr. Karan Singh. Doctor Saheb is one of the few men in public life who is at ease in the world of philosophy, culture and education. Addressing after presenting the “Dayawati Modi Award 2010 for Art, Culture and Education” to Dr. Karan Singh at a function here today, he has said that Dr. Singh entered political life six decades ago and continues with his mission – of intellectual and philosophical pursuit, of public service, of furthering the cause of inter-faith understanding and harmony, of promoting the essence of our cultural heritage, and advocating environmental sustainability.

Manu Joseph bags The Hindu Best Fiction Award 2010

Manu Joseph has bagged TheHindu Best Fiction Award 2010 for his debut novel Serious Men. Writer and historian Nayantara Sahgal presented the award, which carries a cash prize of Rs.5 lakh and a plaque, to Mr. Joseph, who is the Deputy Editor of the Open magazine. The award was instituted by TheHindu Literary Review as a prelude to celebrating its 20th year in 2011. The winner was chosen from the 11 works shortlisted from 75 entries of Indian fiction writing in English.

Award for Super30 founder

Super30 founder and mathematician Anand Kumar has been selected for the Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad Shiksha Puraskar, one of the top awards in Bihar, in recognition of his contribution to education.

Super 30 is an Indian educational program that started in Patna, Bihar, India under the banner of 'Ramanujan School of Mathematics', by Anand Kumar. Established in 2002, the program selects 30 meritorious and talented candidates each year from economically backward sections of society and trains them for the IIT-JEE, the entrance examination for Indian Institute of Technology.

Environment award for Indian

Rajesh Shah of Bangalore has been honored with the prestigious 2010 Intel Environment Award for his efforts to solve global safe drinking water and sanitation crises.

Salem Steel Plant bags National Sustainability Award

The Salem Steel Plant has won the prestigious National Sustainability Award for the year 2010 from Indian Institute of Metals. The plant has also won the first prize among the Secondary Steel Plants/ Alloys Steel Plants category for the year 2010. The Salem Steel Plant has bagged the award consecutively for the seventh time and 14th since the inception of the award in 1991.

Indira Gandhi peace prize for Lula

Outgoing Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been selected for the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2010. Mr. Lula was selected for the award by an international jury, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, mainly for promoting strong ties among the developing countries, promoting inclusive growth and for his contribution to the cause of India-Brazil partnership. A galaxy of international personalities, including Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina; the former International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General, Mohamed ElBaradei; and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have received the award.

8. SPORTS

The 2010 Asian Games, also known as the XVI Asiad, was a multi-sport event in Guangzhou,China that began on 12 November and finished on 27 November 2010. Guangzhou was the second Chinese city to host the Games, after Beijing in 1990. A total of 476 events in 42 sports was contested by athletes, making it the largest event in the history of the Games. It was also the last iteration of the Games to have featured such big events, as the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) have enforced new hosting rules for future games, beginning with the 2014 Games. Guangzhou was awarded the right to host the Games on July 1, 2004, as the sole bidding city. This came after the withdrawal of several cities, Amman, Kuala Lumpur and Seoul. The games were co-hosted by Dongguan, Foshan and Shanwei, the three neighbouring cities.

The opening and closing ceremonies were held along the Pearl River in Haixinsha Island, and was the first time in history that the opening ceremony for a major sports event was not held inside a stadium. The final medal tally was led by traditional powerhouse China, followed bySouth Korea and third place Japan. China set a new Games record with 199 gold medals.^[1]Some three World and 103 Asian records were broken.^[2] In addition, the Badminton men's singles gold medalist Lin Dan was voted as Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	China (CHN)*	199	119	98	416
2	South Korea (KOR)	76	65	91	232
3	Japan (JPN)	48	74	94	216
4	Iran (IRI)	20	14	25	59
5	Kazakhstan (KAZ)	18	23	38	79
6	India (IND)	14	17	33	64
7	Chinese Taipei (TPE)	13	16	38	67
8	Uzbekistan (UZB)	11	22	23	56
9	Thailand (THA)	11	9	32	52
10	Malaysia (MAS)	9	18	14	41
Total		477	479	621	1577

Historic first

Somdev Devvarman claims India's first gold medal in Asian Games tennis singles after upsetting top-seeded Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-1, 6-2 in the men's final. This is the first time since Japan's Toshiro Sakai in the 1974 Tehran Asiad that a player has swept both singles and doubles golds at the same Games.

Medals won by India in Asian Games 2010

Gold Medals

Billiard Sports ADVANI Pankaj Men’s English Billiards Singles Gold medal
Rowing TAKHAR Bajrang Lal Men’s Single Sculls Gold medal
Athletics SINGH Sudha Women’s 3000m Steeplechase Gold medal
Athletics SREEDHARAN Preeja Women’s 10,000m Gold medal
Tennis Somdev Devvarman / SINGH Men’s Doubles Gold Medal
Shooting SODHI Ronjan Men’s Double Trap Gold medal
Somdev Devvarman won Gold medal in Tennis Men’s Singles for India
Ashwini Chidananda won Gold medal in women’s 400m hurdles event
Joseph Abraham won Gold medal in men’s 400m hurdles event
Krishan Vikas won Gold medal in Men’s 60kg Boxing
India Kabaddi India won the Men’s Gold medal
India Kabaddi India won the Women’s Gold medal
India Athletics India won the Women’s 4 x 400m Relay Gold medal
Vijender Singh Men’s 75kg Boxing Gold medal

Silver Medals

Billiard Sports India Men’s Snooker Team Silver medal
Shooting Shooting Gagan Narang Silver medal
Shooting Women’s 10m Air Pistol Team Silver medal
Shooting Men’s 10m Air Rifle Team Silver medal
India achieved Silver medal in the Rowing Men’s Four
India achieved Silver medal in the Rowing Lightweight Men’s Four
India Sandhyarani Wangkhem achieved Silver medal in the Wushu Women’s Sanshou 60kg
Golf – Men’s Team – Silver Medal
Indian Team won Silver medal in Rowing Men’s Eight
Sailing – Open Match Racing – Silver Medal
Kavita Raut – Athletics Women’s 10,000m – Silver Medal
Tennis Sania Mirza / VARDHAN Mixed Doubles Silver Medal
Tarundeep Rai won Silver medal in Archery Men’s Individual
Dinesh Kumar won Silver medal in Men’s 81kg Boxing
India Boxing VIROTHU Santhosh Kumar won the Men’s 64kg Silver medal
India Athletics SREEDHARAN Preeja won the Women’s 5000m Silver medal
India Boxing SINGH Manpreet won the Men’s 91kg Silver medal

Bronze Medals

Shooting KUMAR Vijay Men’s 10m Air Pistol Bronze medal
Billiard Sports KUMAR Alok Men’s 8-Ball Pool Singles Bronze medal
Artistic Gymnastics Ashish Kumar Men’s Floor event Bronze medal
Chess Dronavalli Harika Women’s Individual Bronze medal
Swimming Virdhawal Vikram Men’s 50m Butterfly event Bronze medal
Wushu Men’s Sanshou 60kg event Bimoljit Singh Mayanglambam Bronze medal
India KUMAR Vijay achieved Bronze medal in the Shooting Men’s 25m Center Fire Pistol
India KHADE Virdhawal Vk achieved Bronze medal in the Swimming Men’s 50m Butterfly
India Bimoljit Singh Mayanglambam achieved Bronze medal in the Wushu Men’s Sanshou 60kg
Billiard Sports – Aditya Snehal Mehta – Men’s Snooker Singles – Bronze Medal
Rowing Women’s Pair - Pratima Puhana , Pramila Prava Minz won Bronze medal
Shooting Men’s Trap Team – Bronze medal
Shooting Men’s Double Trap Team – Bronze medal
Squash Saurav Ghosal – Men’s Individual
Sania Mirza won Bronze Medal in Tennis Women’s Singles
Ravinder Singh won Bronze Medal in Wrestling Men’s Greco-Roman 60 kg
Sunilkumar Rana won Bronze Medal in Wrestling Men’s Greco-Roman 66 kg
Krishna Poonia won Bronze in Athletics Women’s Discus Throw
Pramila Ganapathy Gudandda won Bronze in Athletics Women’s Heptathlon
In Boxing Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte Women’s 48-51kg won the Bronze medal
In Boxing Suranjoy Singh Mayengbam Men’s 52kg Bronze medal
In Boxing Kavita Goyat Women’s 69-75kg Bronze medal
In Boxing Paramjeet Samota Men’s +91kg Bronze medal
In Squash Men’s Team won Bronze medal
In Squash Women’s Team won Bronze medal
In Women’s 800m event of Track and Field Tintu Luka won Bronze medal
Mausam Khatri won Bronze medal in Wrestling Men’s Freestyle 96 kg
India won Bronze medal in Men’s Hockey match
India Roller Sports PANCHAL Avani Bhar.. won the Pairs Skating Bronze medal
India Athletics RAUT Kavita won the Women’s 5000m Bronze medal
India Boxing GOYAT Kavita won the Women’s 69-75kg Bronze medal
India Chess India won the Men’s Team Bronze medal

India Roller Sports YAMA Anup Kumar won the Men’s Single Free Skating Bronze medal.

9. MISCELLANEOUS

Vice President’s Releases the Book “India-Pakistan – Coming to Terms”

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Hamid Ansari released a book entitled “ In the National Interest : A Strategic Policy for India” authored by Shri Rajiv Kumar, Secretary General, FICCI and Shri Santosh Kumar, Senior Consultant to ICRIER. The book is based on the report submitted by ICRIER to M/o External Affairs on the ‘National Interest Project’. The path-breaking thematic treatment of India’s external policies in relation to its national interests brings out new perspectives and benchmarks.

Book “Wisdom for Happy Life”

The President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil received a copy of the book, “Wisdom for Happy Life”, from the author of the book, Dr. D.S. Rathore at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Dr. Rathore, is currently the Chairman of the Biotechnology Promotion Council and was formerly the Vice-Chancellor of the Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University, Palampur. Dr. Rathore has written his book as a valuable guide for learning and practicing of wisdom. Wisdom is an important element of life as its application can lead to one of the most important objectives of human life – happiness. Happiness is much desired by individuals. However, not all are able to achieve it. The differentiating factor is wisdom. Those who practice it are happy people and those who do not have enough wisdom are destined to suffer from failure and misery in life.

National Education Day,2010

“National Education Day, 2010” function organized to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on 11^th of November.

Foundation Stone of Advanced Plastic Processing Technology Centre (APPTC) Laid at Balasore

The foundation stone for establishment of Advanced Plastic Processing Technology Centre (APPTC) at Balasore. With the support of Govt. of India and Govt. of Orissa, Advanced Plastics Processing, Technology Centre (APPTC) is being established by Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET) at Balasore, at a total project cost of Rs.15.00 crore which is being shared equally by both Central and State Govt. While land and infrastructure facilities are being provided by the Govt. of Orissa and Plant & Machinery and 50% cost towards recurring expenditure is met through the funds of Govt. of India. As a first step, prior to establishment full-fledged centre (APPTC) at Balasore, a computer aided plastics processing simulation centre has been established at Industrial Estate, Balasore.

The APPTC , Balasore will be equipped with the state of the art of plastic Processing machinery to cater to the Technology Support Services of not only the existing Plastics Industries situated in the around Balasore but also the upcoming industries.

1st Indian Organ Donation Day Observed

The Minister of Health & Family Welfare Sh. Ghulam Nabi Azad has urged people all of communities to come forth and generously donate organs to help the noble cause of saving precious lives. The Minister was speaking at the inaugural of the 6th World and first ever Organ Donation Day and Organ Donation Congress 2010 in New Delhi today. He pointed out that hosting of this day in India has a dual significance - It re-affirms our commitment that altruism should be the sole motivator for organ donation and it also helps focus attention on the untapped potential of organ donation in the country. In the past World Organ Donation Days have been organised in Geneva (14 October 2005), Argentina (26 October 2006), Kuwait (28 October 2007), Osaka (20 September 2008) and Berlin (4 October 2009). Stakeholders/Experts in the field of organ transplant from ten countries and premier institutions within India are participating in this two day professional Congress taking place in New Delhi organized by the Directorate of Health Services, Ministry of Health and family Welfare.

Coal Resources in the Country

As per the latest National Inventory on Indian Coal Resources by GSI, as on 1.4.2010, the total coal resources assessed are about 276.81041 billion tones of which about 110 billion tones or 40% are proved reserves. The extractable reserves are estimated to be around 55 billion tones. At the current level of production of about 550 million tones per annum, the extractable reserves of coal in the country would last for about 100 years. However, the extractable reserves will increase as more coal reserves come into proved category. Besides this coal is also imported, the import of coal in 2009-10 increased from 59.003 mts. In 2008-09 to 73.255 mts. i.e. an increase of 14.252 mts. The extent of increase in import of coal during 2008-09 over the previous year was 9.209 mts.

Gandhian L.C. Jain passes away

Well-known Gandhian and Magsaysay Award winner L.C. Jain passed away. An economist, organiser, commentator and activist, Mr. Jain spent more than six decades of his life as an impassioned crusader for what Mahatma Gandhi called India's second freedom struggle — the fight against socio-economic oppression. Known as a fierce opponent of overwhelming state control and an ardent advocate for social action, his efforts to keep alive the legacy of the freedom struggle through the intervention of civil society led to him being awarded the Magsaysay Award in 1988. Much of the first phase of his entry into public life was spent working on cherished Nehruvian projects, but it was Gandhi who remained a beacon throughout his career, guiding and illuminating his responses. It was this association that led him to accept one of his few forays into official life, as High Commissioner to South Africa, where he was plunged into that country's own struggles to build an inclusive society. Mr. Jain subsequently became a member of the Planning Commission, where he served from 1989 to 1990.

The last years of his life were spent in documenting some of the struggles he had been associated with in a book called Civil Disobedience, which will be released on December 13.

New Rubber Board Chairman

V.J. Kurian took charge as Chairman of the Rubber Board . Mr. Kurian, an IAS officer of the 1983 batch, currently works as Chairman of the Spices Board. He had served as Collector of Alappuzha and Ernakulam and as Managing Director of Cochin International Airport Ltd.

Important Days celebrated in the month of November

November 9	Legal Services Day
November 14	Children's Day; Diabetes Day
November 17	National Epilepsy Day
November 20	Africa Industrialization Day
November 29	International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People

10. SPECIAL ARTICLES

Joint Statement of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama

Reaffirming their nations’ shared values and increasing convergence of interests, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama resolved in New Delhi to expand and strengthen the India-U.S. global strategic partnership. The two leaders welcomed the deepening relationship between the world’s two largest democracies. They commended the growing cooperation between their governments, citizens, businesses, universities and scientific institutions, which have thrived on a shared culture of pluralism, education, enterprise, and innovation, and have benefited the people of both countries.

Building on the transformation in India-U.S. relations over the past decade, the two leaders resolved to intensify cooperation between their nations to promote a secure and stable world; advance technology and innovation; expand mutual prosperity and global economic growth; support sustainable development; and exercise global leadership in support of economic development, open government and democratic values.

The two leaders reaffirmed that India-U.S. strategic partnership is indispensable not only for their two countries but also for global stability and prosperity in the 21st century. To that end, President Obama welcomed India’s emergence as a major regional and global power and affirmed his country’s interest in India’s rise, its economic prosperity, and its security.

A GLOBAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP FOR THE 21st CENTURY

Prime Minister Singh and President Obama called for an efficient, effective, credible and legitimate United Nations to ensure a just and sustainable international order. Prime Minister Singh welcomed President Obama’s affirmation that, in the years ahead, the United States looks forward to a reformed UN Security Council that includes India as a permanent member. The two leaders reaffirmed that all nations, especially those that seek to lead in the 21st century, bear responsibility to ensure that the United Nations fulfills its founding ideals of preserving peace and security, promoting global cooperation, and advancing human rights.

Prime Minister Singh and President Obama reiterated that India and the United States, as global leaders, will partner for global security, especially as India serves on the Security Council over the next two years. The leaders agreed that their delegations in New York will intensify their engagement and work together to ensure that the Council continues to effectively play the role envisioned for it in the United Nations Charter. Both leaders underscored that all states have an obligation to comply with and implement UN Security Council Resolutions, including UN sanctions regimes. They also agreed to hold regular consultations on UN matters, including on the long-term sustainability of UN peacekeeping operations. As the two largest democracies, both countries also reaffirmed their strong commitment to the UN Democracy Fund.

The two leaders have a shared vision for peace, stability and prosperity in Asia, the Indian Ocean region and the Pacific region and committed to work together, and with others in the region, for the evolution of an open, balanced and inclusive architecture in the region. In this context, the leaders reaffirmed their support for the East Asia Summit and committed to regular consultations in this regard. The United States welcomes, in particular, India’s leadership in expanding prosperity and security across the region. The two leaders agreed to deepen existing regular strategic consultations on developments in East Asia, and decided to expand and intensify their strategic consultations to cover regional and global issues of mutual interest, including Central and West Asia.

The two sides committed to intensify consultation, cooperation and coordination to promote a stable, democratic, prosperous, and independent Afghanistan. President Obama appreciated India’s enormous contribution to Afghanistan’s development and welcomed enhanced Indian assistance that will help Afghanistan achieve self-sufficiency. In addition to their own independent assistance programs in Afghanistan, the two sides resolved to pursue joint development projects with the Afghan Government in capacity building, agriculture and women’s empowerment. They reiterated that success in Afghanistan and regional and global security require elimination of safe havens and infrastructure for terrorism and violent extremism in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Condemning terrorism in all its forms, the two sides agreed that all terrorist networks, including Lashkar e-Taiba, must be defeated and called for Pakistan to bring to justice the perpetrators of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks. Building upon the Counter Terrorism Initiative signed in July 2010, the two leaders announced a new Homeland Security Dialogue between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Homeland Security and agreed to further deepen operational cooperation, counter-terrorism technology transfers and capacity building. The two leaders also emphasized the importance of close cooperation in combating terrorist financing and in protecting the international financial system. In an increasingly inter-dependent world, the stability of, and access to, the air, sea, space, and cyberspace domains is vital for the security and economic prosperity of nations. Acknowledging their commitment to openness and responsible international conduct, and on the basis of their shared values, India and the United States have launched a dialogue to explore ways to work together, as well as with other countries, to develop a shared vision for these critical domains to promote peace, security and development. The leaders reaffirmed the importance of maritime security, unimpeded commerce, and freedom of navigation, in accordance with relevant universally agreed principles of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and peaceful settlement of maritime disputes.

The transformation in India-U.S. defense cooperation in recent years has strengthened mutual understanding on regional peace and stability, enhanced both countries’ respective capacities to meet humanitarian and other challenges such as terrorism and piracy, and contributed to the development of the strategic partnership between India and the United States. The two Governments resolved to further strengthen defense cooperation, including through security dialogue, exercises, and promoting trade and collaboration in defense equipment and technology. President Obama welcomed India's decision to purchase U.S. high-technology defense items, which reflects our strengthening bilateral defence relations and will contribute to creating jobs in the United States.

The two leaders affirmed that their countries’ common ideals, complementary strengths and a shared commitment to a world without nuclear weapons give them a responsibility to forge a strong partnership to lead global efforts for non-proliferation and universal and non-discriminatory global nuclear disarmament in the 21st century. They affirmed the need for a meaningful dialogue among all states possessing nuclear weapons to build trust and confidence and for reducing the salience of nuclear weapons in international affairs and security doctrines. They support strengthening the six decade-old international norm of non-use of nuclear weapons. They expressed a commitment to strengthen international cooperative activities that will reduce the risk of terrorists acquiring nuclear weapons or material without reducing the rights of nations that play by the rules to harness the power of nuclear energy to advance their energy security. The leaders reaffirmed their shared dedication to work together to realize the commitments outlined at the April 2010 Nuclear Security Summit to achieve the goal of securing vulnerable nuclear materials in the next four years. Both sides expressed deep concern regarding illicit nuclear trafficking and smuggling and resolved to strengthen international cooperative efforts to address these threats through the IAEA, Interpol and in the context of the Nuclear Security Summit Communiqué and Action Plan.

The two sides welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership being established by India. Both sides expressed deep concern about the threat of biological terrorism and pledged to promote international efforts to ensure the safety and security of biological agents and toxins. They stressed the need to achieve full implementation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention and expressed the hope for a successful BWC Review Conference in 2011. The United States welcomed India’s destruction of its chemical weapons stockpile in accordance with the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Both countries affirmed their shared commitment to promoting the full and effective implementation of the CWC. The two leaders expressed regret at the delay in starting negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament for a multilateral, non-discriminatory and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the future production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. India reaffirmed its unilateral and voluntary moratorium on nuclear explosive testing. The United States reaffirmed its testing moratorium and its commitment to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and bring it into force at an early date.

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to diplomacy to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, and discussed the need for Iran to take constructive and immediate steps to meet its obligations to the IAEA and the UN Security Council.

TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, AND ENERGY

Recognizing that India and the United States should play a leadership role in promoting global nonproliferation objectives and their desire to expand high technology cooperation and trade, Prime Minister Singh and President Obama committed to work together to strengthen the global export control framework and further transform bilateral export control regulations and policies to realize the full potential of the strategic partnership between the two countries. Accordingly, the two leaders decided to take mutual steps to expand U.S.-India cooperation in civil space, defense, and other high-technology sectors. Commensurate with India’s nonproliferation record and commitment to abide by multilateral export control standards, these steps include the United States removing Indian entities from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s “Entity List” and realignment of India in U.S. export control regulations.

In addition, the United States intends to support India’s full membership in the four multilateral export control regimes (Nuclear Suppliers Group, Missile Technology Control Regime, Australia Group, and Wassenaar Arrangement) in a phased manner, and to consult with regime members to encourage the evolution of regime membership criteria, consistent with maintaining the core principles of these regimes, as the Government of India takes steps towards the full adoption of the regimes’ export control requirements to reflect its prospective membership, with both processes moving forward together. In the view of the United States, India should qualify for membership in the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement according to existing requirements once it imposes export controls over all items on these regimes’ control lists. Both leaders reaffirmed the assurances provided in the letters exchanged in September 2004 and the End-Use Visit Arrangement, and determined that the two governments had reached an understanding to implement these initiatives consistent with their respective national export control laws and policies. The Prime Minister and President committed to a strengthened and expanded dialogue on export control issues, through for a such as the U.S.-India High Technology Cooperation Group, on aspects of capacity building, sharing of best practices, and outreach with industry.

The possibility of cooperation between the two nations in space, to advance scientific knowledge and human welfare, are without boundaries and limits. They commended their space scientists for launching new initiatives in climate and weather forecasting for agriculture, navigation, resource mapping, research and development, and capacity building. They agreed to continuing discussions on and seek ways to collaborate on future lunar missions, international space station, human space flight and data sharing, and to reconvene the Civil Space Joint Working Group in early 2011.

They highlighted the just concluded Implementing Arrangement for enhanced monsoon forecasting that will begin to transmit detailed forecasts to farmers beginning with the 2011 monsoon rainy season as an important example of bilateral scientific cooperation advancing economic development, agriculture and food security. The two leaders welcomed the completion of steps by the two governments for implementation of the India-U.S. civil nuclear agreement. They reiterated their commitment to build strong India-U.S. civil nuclear energy cooperation through the participation of the U.S. nuclear energy firms in India on the basis of mutually acceptable technical and commercial terms and conditions that enable a viable tariff regime for electricity generated. They noted that both countries had enacted domestic legislations and were also signatories to the Convention on Supplementary Compensation. They further noted that India intends to ratify the Convention on Supplementary Compensation within the coming year and is committed to ensuring a level playing field for U.S. companies seeking to enter the Indian nuclear energy sector, consistent with India’s national and international legal obligations.

India will continue to work with the companies. In this context, they welcomed the commencement of negotiations and dialogue between the Indian operator and U.S. nuclear energy companies, and expressed hope for early commencement of commercial cooperation in the civil nuclear energy sector in India, which will stimulate economic growth and sustainable development and generate employment in both countries.

Just as they have helped develop the knowledge economy, India and the United States resolved to strengthen their partnership in creating the green economy of the future. To this end, both countries have undertaken joint research and deployment of clean energy resources, such as solar, advanced biofuels, shale gas, and smart grids. The two leaders also welcomed the promotion of clean and energy efficient technologies through the bilateral Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE) and expanded cooperation with the private sector. They welcomed the conclusion of a new MoU on assessment and exploration of shale gas and an agreement to establish a Joint Clean Energy Research Center in India as important milestones in their rapidly growing clean energy cooperation. The leaders discussed the importance of working bilaterally, through the Major Economies Forum (MEF), and in the context of the international climate change negotiations within the framework of the UNFCCC to meet the challenge of climate change. Prime Minister Singh and President Obama reiterated the importance of a positive result for the current climate change negotiations at the forthcoming conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Mexico and affirmed their support for the Copenhagen Accord, which should contribute positively to a successful outcome in Cancun. To that end, the leaders welcomed enhanced cooperation in the area of climate adaptation and sustainable land use, and welcomed the new partnership between the United States and India on forestry programs and in weather forecasting.

INCLUSIVE GROWTH, MUTUAL PROSPERITY, AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION

The two leaders stressed that India and the United States, anchored in democracy and diversity, blessed with enormous enterprise and skill, and endowed with synergies drawn from India’s rapid growth and U.S. global economic leadership, have a natural partnership for enhancing mutual prosperity and stimulating global economic recovery and growth. They emphasize innovation not only as a tool for economic growth and global competitiveness, but also for social transformation and empowerment of people.

Prime Minister Singh and President Obama celebrated the recent growth in bilateral trade and investment, characterized by balanced and rapidly growing trade in goods and services. They noted positively that the United States is India’s largest trading partner in goods and services, and India is now among the fastest growing sources of foreign direct investment entering the United States.

The two leaders agreed on steps to reduce trade barriers and protectionist measures and encourage research and innovation to create jobs and improve livelihoods in their countries. They also welcomed expanding investment flow in both directions. They noted growing ties between U.S. and Indian firms and called for enhanced investment flows, including in India’s infrastructure sector, clean energy, energy efficiency, aviation and transportation, healthcare, food processing sector and education. They welcomed the work of the U.S.-India CEO Forum to expand cooperation between the two countries, including in the areas of clean energy and infrastructure development. They also encouraged enhanced engagement by Indian and American small and medium-sized enterprises as a critical driver of our economic relationship. They looked forward to building on these developments to realize fully the enormous potential for trade and investment between the two countries. Recognizing the people-to-people dynamic behind trade and investment growth, they called for intensified consultations on social security issues at an appropriate time. The two leaders agreed to facilitate greater movement of professionals, investors and business travelers, students, and exchange visitors between their countries to enhance their economic and technological partnership.

To enhance growth globally, the Prime Minster and President highlighted both nations’ interests in an ambitious and balanced conclusion to the WTO’s Doha Development Agenda negotiations, and in having their negotiators accelerate and expand the scope of their substantive negotiations bilaterally and with other WTO members to accomplish this as soon as possible. They agreed to work together in the G-20 to make progress on the broad range of issues on its agenda, including by encouraging actions consistent with achieving strong, balanced, and sustainable growth, strengthening financial system regulation, reforming the international financial institutions, enhancing energy security, resisting protectionism in all its forms, reducing barriers to trade and investment, and implementing the development action plans.

Building on the historic legacy of cooperation between the India and the United States during the Green Revolution, the leaders also decided to work together to develop, test, and replicate transformative technologies to extend food security as part of an Evergreen Revolution. Efforts will focus on providing farmers the means to improve agricultural productivity. Collaboration also will enhance agricultural value chain and strengthen market institutions to reduce post-harvest crop losses. Affirming the importance of India-U.S. health cooperation, Prime Minister and the President celebrated the signing of an MOU creating a new Global Disease Detection Regional Center in New Delhi, which will facilitate preparedness against threats to health such as pandemic influenza and other dangerous diseases.

Embracing the principles of democracy and opportunity, the leaders recognized that the full future potential of the partnership lies in the hands of the next generation in both countries. To help ensure that all members of that generation enjoy the benefits of higher education, the Prime Minister and the President agreed to convene an India-U.S. Higher Education Summit, chaired by senior officials from both countries in 2011, as part of a continued effort to strengthen educational opportunities. They welcomed the progress made in implementing the Singh-Obama 21st Century Knowledge Initiative that is expanding links between faculties and institutions of the two countries and the expansion in the Nehru-Fulbright Programme for Scholars. Noting that the ties of kinship and culture are an increasingly important dimension of India-U.S. relations, President Obama welcomed India’s decision to hold a Festival of India in Washington DC in 2011. Recognizing the importance of preserving cultural heritage, both governments resolved to initiate discussions on how India and the United States could partner to prevent the illicit trafficking of both countries’ rich and unique cultural heritage.

A SHARED INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT

Consistent with their commitments to open and responsive government, and harnessing the expertise and experience that the two countries have developed, the leaders launched a U.S.-India Open Government Dialogue that will, through public-private partnerships and use of new technologies and innovations, promote their shared goal of democratizing access to information and energizing civic engagement, support global initiatives in this area and share their expertise with other interested countries. This will build on India’s impressive achievements in this area in recent years and the commitments that the President made to advance an open government agenda at the United Nations General Assembly. The President and Prime Minister also pledged to explore cooperation in support of efforts to strengthen elections organization and management in other interested countries, including through sharing their expertise in this area.

Taking advantage of the global nature of their relationship, and recognizing India’s vast development experience and historical research strengths, the two leaders pledged to work together, in addition to their independent programmes, to adapt shared innovations and technologies and use their expertise in capacity building to extend food security to interested countries, including in Africa, in consultation with host governments.

Prime Minister Singh and President Obama concluded that their meeting is a historic milestone as they seek to elevate the India-U.S. strategic partnership to a new level for the benefit of their nations and the entire mankind. President Obama thanked President Patil, Prime Minister Singh, and the people of India for their extraordinary warmth and hospitality during his visit. The two leaders looked forward to the next session of the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue in 2011.

Government Efforts to Tackle Problem of Hunger and Starvation

For tackling the problem of hunger and starvation in the country and to ensure that people living below poverty line get adequate food grains, the Government has been implementing the following schemes providing food grains at highly subsidized prices to the targeted population through the State/UT Governments: -

1. Government is allocating food grains at subsidized rates for 6.52 crore Below Poverty Line (BPL), and Antyodaya Anna Yojna (AAY) ration card holder families under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). Under this scheme, foodgrains are allocated to the States/UTs @ 35 kg per BPL/AAY family per month. Depending upon availability of food grains in the Central Pool, food grains are allocated for Above Poverty Line (APL) families also. Presently, allocations of food grains to APL category range from 15 to 35 Kg per family per month. During 2010-11, a quantity of 470.65 lakh tons of food grains have been allocated to States/U.Ts under TPDS .

2. Under Annapurna Scheme, indigent senior citizens of 65 years of age or above who are not getting old age pension, are provided 10 Kg of food grains per person per month free of cost. 57,760 tons of food grains have been allocated to States/UTs under the scheme during 2010-11.

3. Under the Emergency Feeding Programme (EFP) implemented in eight KBK Districts of Orissa, rice at BPL rates are allocated to the State Government for approximately 2 lakh beneficiaries in these districts. 18,000 tons of rice have been allocated under this scheme during 2010-11.

4. To provide safeguard against starvation during natural calamity and lean season, under the Village Grain Bank Scheme, foodgrains are allocated free of cost by Government of India to States. So far 20,148 Village Grains Banks have been sanctioned in 20 States and 80,592 tons of foodgrains have been allocated.

5. The Government also makes allocation of foodgrains to States/UTs under Mid Day Meal Scheme for providing food to school children studying in primary and upper primary levels. 29.85 lakh tons of foodgrains have been allocated under the scheme during 2010-11.

6. Under the Wheat Based Nutrition Programme aimed at improving the nutritional status of children below 6 years of age and expectant/lactating women, 15.00 lakh tons of foodgrains have been allocated during 2010-11.

7. Under the Scheme for Welfare Institutions, Government makes allocation of foodgrains to States/UTs for Welfare Institutions run by NGOs, charitable institutions, etc. 1.38 lakh tons of foodgrains have been allocated to various States/UTs during 2010-11.

8. Under the Scheme for SC/ST/OBC Hostels, Government makes allocation of foodgrains to States/UTs for meeting requirements of foodgrains of SC/ST/OBC Hostels. 0.50 lakh tons of foodgrains have been allocated to various States/UTs, during 2010-11.

Highlights of the Employment-Unemployment Survey 2009-10 conducted by Labour Bureau

Labour Bureau has been conducting quick quarterly employment surveys in the selected sectors of the economy at the enterprise level to assess the impact of economic slowdown on employment in India. With a view to study the overall employment-unemployment situation in the country, Labour Bureau has now conducted its first national level household survey in 28 States/UT Except five North Eastern States and the Islands of Lakshadweep and the Andaman & Nicobar. These States/UTs represent 99 per cent of the country’s total population based on 2001 census results.

A brief on the coverage of survey and its results are as follows:

Coverage

 Survey has been conducted in 300 districts across 28 States/UTs of the country.

 A total of 45,859 household schedules have been canvassed during the survey, out of which 24,653 are in rural areas and 21,206 are in urban areas.

 The survey has been conducted during the period 01-04-2010 to 15-08-2010.

 The survey results are based on the data collected for the fixed reference period 2009-10 (April, 2009 to March, 2010).

Employment and Unemployment Situation

 The labour force participation rate is estimated to be 359 persons per 1000 in the population.

 The worker population ratio (WPR) is estimated at 325 persons per 1000 persons.

 As per the usual principal status, the unemployment rate in the labour force is estimated to be 9.4 per cent.

 The survey results reveal that out of 1000 employed persons, 455 persons are employed in agriculture, forestry and fisheries group.

 Within the employed population, self employment is the dominant category. Out of 1000 persons employed, 439 persons are self employed.

 Among the self employed, 572 persons out of 1000 persons are employed in agriculture, forestry & fisheries group.

Derivatives:

Some of the characteristics of the population have also been derived on the basis the statistical information collected under the survey as stated below:

 In the 28 States/UTs surveyed, there are 238 million households, of which 172 million are rural and 66 million are urban.

 Based on the survey, the total population in the 28 States/UTs is estimated at 1182 million in 2009-10. The Rural and Urban break up of estimated population on the basis of survey conducted by Labour Bureau is estimated to be 872 million (73.8%) and 310 million (26.2%) respectively.

 The household size is estimated at 5.0, while it is 5.1 in the rural sector and 4.7 in the urban sector.

 The sex ratio (no. of females per 1000 males) is estimated at 917 for the rural and urban sectors combined, with 915 in the rural areas and 924 in the urban areas.

 The literacy rate for the population of age group 7 years & above is estimated to be 77.7 per cent at the overall level, with 74.6 per cent in rural areas and 86.0 per cent in urban areas.

Jairam Ramesh Suggests three task Approach for GHG emission Reduction

Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Environment and Forests (I/C) suggest three task approaches to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emission. In his inaugural speech at a workshop on ‘Promoting Low-carbon Transport in India’ here today, he said, “We should carry three tasks namely mandatory fuel economic standard, improvement in quality of fuel and fiscal policy regime. The immediate task ahead at us is to have Mandatory Fuel Economic Standards. We have now finalised and will be notified under the Energy conservation Act and not under Motor Vehicle Act. The standards are all ready with technical work and by end of this year we should have voluntary mandatory standard. This will be KMPL standard route which will depend on weight of the car, size of the engine etc.

Referring to improvement in quality of fuel the Minister said substantial work has been done. Critically linked to mandatory standard is quality of fuel. Large improvements are required in fuel quality. Almost Rs. 40,000 crore Rs invested in our refineries. “We are moving into Bharat stage III for two wheelers & Bharat Stage IV for four wheelers. No longer can vehicle manufacturers argue of poor fuel not to move into mandatory standard regime,” he added. Shri Jairam said the luxurious growth of large size vehicles and SUVs is a cause for great concern. The subsidies which are given for fossil fuels should be for farmers, LPG etc which is used by big vehicles. He suggested implementing fiscal policy regime that discourage the use of heavy cars and SUVs particularly and put penalty use of these vehicles.

Giving details of GHG emission of various sectors the Minister said the transportation sector accounts for 7½ % of our GHG emissions. 38% is electricity, 23% is industry, 17% is agriculture and 7½ % Emission is from residential sector. He said the growth of cars will not allow curbing emission and it will be doubled by 2025 as the transport sector is growing at alarming rate.

It adds to mobility to individual but in term of GHG emissions at very heavy social cost. Referring to the transport sector of Brazil, Shri Jairam said use of ethanol as a fuel is not possible in India as this is a land deficit country. We do not have flexibility for land use as food security is most important objective in India. Regarding GHG Inventory brought out by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, he said this is the most important GHG inventory we have produced. The inventory reveals that about 38% of our emissions come from the electricity sector. This is a single major source of our GHG emissions.

Opportunities exist to make India’s transport growth more sustainable by aligning development and climate agenda. India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) recognizes that GHG emissions from transport can be reduced by adopting sustainability approach through a combination of measures like increased use of public transport, higher penetration of bio fuels, enhanced energy efficiency of transport vehicles, etc. This project aims to contribute to the efforts of the Government of India in realizing a low-carbon transport system and is endorsed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The project has a cities component where in the work shall be carried in close coordination and guidance from the Ministry of Urban Development.

Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) to Release Second Assessment

The second Climate Change Assessment Report will be released here on coming Tuesday. Detailed presentations will be made by the scientists highlighting the salient findings of the study. This will be released under the aegis of the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) which was launched by the Ministry of Environment and Forests on October 14, 2009 at a National workshop. This second assessment ‘Climate Change and India:A 4X4 Assessment’ addresses the concerns of the enormous implications of climate change to the natural resources and livelihoods of the people in the four climate sensitive regions of Himalayan region, North-East region, the Western Ghats and the Coastal plains for the 4 key sectors of Agriculture, Water, Health and Natural Ecosystems and Biodiversity. The 4 region, 4 sectors Assessment in short has been referred to as a 4x4 Assessment. The 4x4 assessment has been prepared by 43 experts and scientists belonging to 19 INCCA institutions. The second Assessment is on impacts of climate change in 2030s in four climate sensitive regions of India and four sectors of economic development.

An assessment on the Greenhouse Gases for the year 2007 in the aforesaid sectors was prepared engaging 17 institutions and 83 scientists drawn form INCCA institutions. The assessment examines the implications of the climate change scenario in 2030s using a regional climate model (PRECIS). It will provide the context, approach, climate change scenario for 2030s, sea level rise, impacts of climate change in the aforesaid 4 sectors. The assessment also brings out the future areas of work to enhance the knowledge and areas of further improvement in the future assessments. The INCCA has been conceptualized as a Network based Scientific Programme designed to address and assess the drivers and implications of climate change through scientific research; climate change assessments on various aspects of climate change, associated vulnerabilities and adaptation; devise decision support systems; and build capacity towards management of climate change related risks and opportunities. INCCA has been visualized as a mechanism to evolve institutions as well as engage other agencies already working in the area of Climate Change.

The first Assessment of the Green House Gas emissions was released on May 11, 2010 at a National Workshop in New Delhi. It covers the sectors of Energy, Industry, Agriculture, Land Use Land Use Change and Forest and Waste by sources and removal by sinks presented in this document.

Climate change has emerged as a significant man made global environmental challenge and a threat. There are growing scientific evidence that there is a discernible impact of human activities on climate system. There are several aspects of warming and climate change on which there is a wide agreement among the scientists. The scientific evidence of global warming is evident at the continental level whereas the understanding of the implications of climate change at the regional and sub regional level is rather inadequate. Thus there is a need for more comprehensive studies and information at the regional and national level.

Malnourished Children

As per the last National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3), in 2005-06, 42.5% children under 5 years are underweight, 48.0% are stunted and 69.5% (children 6-59 months) are anemic.

The problem of malnutrition is multi-dimensional and inter-generational in nature, the determinants of which include household food insecurity, illiteracy and lack of awareness especially in women, access to health services, availability of safe drinking water, sanitation and proper environmental conditions and adequate purchasing power etc. Besides, early age at marriage of girls, teenage pregnancies resulting in low birth weight of the newborns, poor breastfeeding practices, poor complementary feeding practices, ignorance about nutritional needs of infants and young children and repeated infections, also aggravate the malnutrition amongst children. The Government accords high priority to the overall issue of malnutrition, particularly, in respect of children, adolescent girls and women and has been implementing several schemes/ programmes of different Ministries/Departments through State Governments/UTs. The interventions to address nutrition challenges in India mainly stem from the National Nutrition Policy and the National Plan of Action on Nutrition which envisage direct and indirect interventions. Some of the programmes/schemes which impact the nutritional status are :

(i) The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme provides a package of six services namely supplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, nutrition & health education, immunization, health check-up and referral services for women and children. Three of the services namely immunization, health check-up and referral services are delivered through the public health system of Ministry of Health & family welfare.

(ii) National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has interventions such as the Reproductive & Child Health Programme which include Janani SurakshaYojana (JSY) to promote institutional deliveries, immunization, specificprogrammes to prevent and combat micronutrient deficiencies including Iron & Folic Acid supplementation etc. the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control programme focuses on consumption of iodized salt to prevent iodine deficiency.

(iii) The recently introduced Rajiv Gandhi Schemes for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG), namely SABLA would provide a package of services including health and nutrition to adolescent girls in the age group of 11-14 years for out of school girls and 15-18 years for all girls for nutrition in 200 districts as a pilot.

(iv) A new scheme, the Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) – The CMB Scheme would provide a better enabling environment for improved health and nutrition to pregnant and lactating mothers and support for providing early & exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life on pilot basis in 52 districts initially.

(v) The Mid Day Meal in School by Department of School Education and Literacy has a provision for providing meals to children studying in class I to VIII in Government, Government aided, local body school etc.

(vi) Availability of essential food items at subsidized cost through Targeted Public Distribution System, Antodaya Anna Yojana.

(vii) Provision for safe drinking water supply and sanitation under the Total Sanitation Campaign.

(viii) Employment and income generation schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS), National Rural Livelihood Mission.

(ix) Other schemes such as the National Agriculture DevelopmentProgramme, National Horticulture Mission etc.

Several of the schemes namely, ICDS, NRHM, Mid Day meal (MDM), National Rural Livelihood Mission have been expanded to provide for increased coverage and improved services to the people which would further improve the nutrition situation.

Curbing Population Growth

Population stabilization is one of the key objectives of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) launched in April, 2005. It aims at giving a major thrust to population stabilization. The following specific initiatives have also been taken to stabilize population:-

· National Family Planning Insurance Scheme started since November, 2005 to compensate sterilization acceptors for failures, complications and deaths and which provides indemnity insurance cover to doctors.

· Compensation Package for Sterilization increased in September,2007 in family planning i.e. in Vasectomy from Rs.800/- to Rs.1500/- and tubectomy from Rs.800/- to Rs.1000/- in public facilities and to a uniform amount of Rs.1500/- in accredited private health facilities for all categories in all States for vasectomy.

· Promotion of No Scalpel Vasectomy to ensure male participation.

· Promotion of IUD 380A intensively as a spacing method because of its longevity of 10 years and advantages over other IUDs.

· Fixed day Fixed Place Family Planning Services round the year encouraged through growing number of 24x7 PHCs and better functioning CHCs and other health facilities under NRHM.

· Increasing basket of choice by systematically and carefully introducing new and effective contraceptives in the programme.

· The Prerna strategy (Responsible Parenthood Practices) of Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh(JSK) which aims at promotion of delayed marriage (after the legal age) among girls, by rewarding and publically honouring the women who marry after the legal age and ensure proper spacing in the birth of their children.

· The Santushti strategy which provides private sector gynecologists and vasectomy surgeons an opportunity to conduct sterilization operations in Public Private Partnership (PPP).

· The JSK Call Centre on Reproductive, Family Planning and Child Health which provides authentic information on issues related to reproductive and child health.

Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award2010

The Ministry of Environment and Forests will give away Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Awards (IPVM)- 2010 tomorrow. IPVM Awards were instituted in 1986 to recognize the pioneering and innovative contribution made by the individuals and institutions in the field of afforestation/wasteland development every year. Till the year 2005, the IPVM Awards were given in 12 different categories having two awardees each. Since 2006, awards are given in four categories namely Individuals including Government Servants, Institutions/ Organizations under Government Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) and Non-Governmental Institutions/Organizations. Only one award carrying a Cash Prize of Rs.2.5 lakhs along with medallion and citation are given for each category.

IPVM Award for States/UTs was introduced in the year 2008 in three categories and cash award along with medallion and citation is given in each of following categories. Big State having geographical area of 80,000 Sq. Km. and above will get Rs 8.00 lakh, Small State having geographical area below 80,000 Sq. Km and Union Territoroes ,both will get Rs 5.00 lakh each. IPVM Awards are given in the field of afforestation and wasteland development and assessed on the basis of criteria like replicability, innovativeness/creativity, setting up of grassroot level organizations, soil and moisture conservation work and other related activities, target groups like women/weaker sections of society, people in inaccessible/remote areas, work being done over and above the call of duty/involving personal courage, tangible impact in relation to resources mobilized, educative and awareness creating values, etc.

IPVM awards for the States/ UTs are presented on the basis of percentage increase in the forest and tree cover to the geographical area of the state on the basis of India State of Forest Report published by Forest Survey of India, Dehradun. As the State Forest Report is published every two years, these awards are also presented once in two years. The first IPVM Awards for States/UT for the year 2008 were given away on 19.11.2009. In the I - Individual including Govt. Servants, Shri A.T. Mishra, an Indian Forest Officer , DFO Dhalbhum Forest Division, Jamshedpur has been selected. He was instrumental in undertaking excellent afforestation and eco-restoration works in inaccessible and difficult areas, and under challenging circumstances posed by the Left Wing Extremism in Dhalbum Forest Division. He managed to win the confidence of the local people in the greening effort by linking livelihood enhancement activities with afforestation programme. This strategy helped the Forest Department in afforestation/ eco-restoration of about 3440 hectares of degraded forests during the past three years. In addition 76.4 hectares private lands have also been rehabilitated by planting a variety of local tree species.

Under his leadership, degraded forest areas susceptible to soil and water erosion have been improved through convergence of activities of various schemes. Involving local people, a highly degraded patch of forest land (70 ha) used as a dumping site by industries, was rehabilitated and developed into a Nature Park. In order to enhance the livelihood opportunities of the rural community bamboo working unit was developed

In the second category of Institutions/organizations under the Governmrnt, Forestry Extension Wing,Tamilnadu Forest Department, Chennai has been selected. It showed excellent commitment in popularizing and mainstreaming tree growing culture amongst the farmers and in transferring improved tree cultivation technology to the farmers. 30 Forestry Extension Centers have been established by the Extension Wing which acted as the nodal points for the farmers. Besides imparting training on different forestry activities, extension centers were involved in developing and supplying Quality Planting Material to the farmers for planting in agricultural fields. The organization has carried out extensive tree planting programme in private lands and planted more than 49 lakh plants in an area of 13,551 ha. during the past three years. To sustain the plantation drive and encourage agro-forestry, 28 Tree Growers Societies have been formed and registered in 28 districts of the State.

In the third category of Joint Forest management Committee (JFMC), village Forest Protection and Management Committee, Dani Talai, Range, Bansi, District Pratapgarh, Rajasthan has been awarded. This JFMC has been functional since 1997. They have conserved the local natural resources which helped in sustainable development of the resources as well as the enhancing the livelihoods of the community. More than 500 ha of degraded area have been rehabilitated by planting multipurpose species during the last few years. Due to the active participation and commitment shown by the committee the plantations/regeneration areas have become successful examples in the field. Afforestation, Soil and Moisture Conservation works, sustainable harvesting of Non-Timber Forest Products and wildlife conservation formed the thrust areas of the committee. A variety of interventions aiming the development local people were undertaken like adoption of advanced agricultural implements, constitution of Self-Help-Groups and income generation activities.

In the category of States and Union Territories, three Awards have been declared. Jammu and Kashmir, Mizorram and Chandigarh have been selected for ‘Big State having geographical area of 80,000 Sq. Km. and above’, ‘Small State having geographical area below 80,000 Sq. Km.’ and ‘Union Territories respectively’.

Development of inland Waterways in the Country

The following five waterways have so far been declared as National Waterways (NWs) in the country:

(i) National Waterway-1: Allahabad-Haldia stretch of the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river (1620 Km) declared as NW in 1986 in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

(ii) National Waterway-2: Sadiya-Dhubri stretch of the Brahmaputra river (891 Km) declared as NationalWaterway in 1988 in the state of Assam.

(iii) National Waterway-3: Kollam-Kottapuram stretch of West Coast Canal and Champakara and Udyogmandal canals (205 Km) declared as National Waterway in 1993 in the state of Kerala
(iv) National Waterway-4: Kakinada-Pudducherry stretch of canals and Kaluvelly tank, Bhadrachalam-Rajahmundry stretch of river Godavari and Wazirabad-Vijayawada stretch of river Krishna (1078 Km) declared as National Waterway in 2008 in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Union Territory of Puducherry.

(v) National Waterway-5: Talcher-Dhamra stretch of Rivers, Geonkhali-Charbatia stretch of East Coast Canal, Charbatia-Dhamra stretch of Matai river and Mahanadi Delta Rivers (588 Km) declared as National Waterway in 2008 in the states of West Bengal and Orissa.

Out of these National Waterways development works are being carried out by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) on NW-1, 2 and 3 only. The developmental works include providing a navigational channel with targeted depth and width for most part of the year, aids for day and night navigation and terminals at selected locations for berthing and loading/unloading of vessels. Developmental works for NW-4 and 5 have not yet commenced. Steps have been initiated to examine the feasibility of developing commercially viable stretches of National Waterways 4 & 5 under the public private partnership mode. A proposal for declaration of Lakhipur to Bhanga stretch of river Barak (121 km) in the State of Assam is under consideration of the Government.
As per the National Transport Policy Committee (NTPC) report, 1980, the total length of navigable inland waterways in the country is about 14,500 Km.

Various projects for development and maintenance of IWT related infrastructure namely navigational channel, navigational aids and terminals have been undertaken/proposed to be undertaken on National Waterways 1, 2 & 3 during the current plan period. In NW-1 a low level RCC Jetty has been constructed at Patna and construction of high level Jetty is in progress. Construction of fixed terminals are underway at Kolkata and Varanasi. Besides floating terminals are available at 16 places. A fairway with 3m/2.5m/2m depth is being developed and maintained for NW-1 for a period of about 330 days in a year. 24 hours navigation aids provided in Tribeni – Varanasi reach (1187 km) in NW-1. DGPS Station is already commissioned at Bhagalpur and work is in progress at Katwa, Patna and Varanasi.

In NW-2 a low level RCC Jetty has been constructed at Pandu and construction of high level Jetty is in progress. Besides, floating terminals are available at 7 places. A fairway with 2.5 m/2 m depth is being developed and maintained for NW-2 for a period of about 330 days in a year. 24 hours navigation aids provided in Dhubri – Dibrugarh reach (768 km) in NW-2. DGPS Station is already commissioned at Jogighopa and work is in progress at Tezpur and Dibrugarh. In NW-3 fixed RCC terminals constructed at 7 places and work is in progress at one more location. Besides, Ro-Ro terminals constructed at Bolghatty and Willingdon Island for connectivity with Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal. A fairway with 2 m depth is being developed and maintained in Kottapuram – Alappuzha stretch of NW-3 and capital dredging is underway in balance portion. 24 hour. navigation aids provided for the entire stretch of NW-3.

Impact of Global Warming on Antarctica

Till date more than 150 lakes have been identified beneath the thick Antarctic ice sheet (Data from Studinger, lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, 2006). Most of these lakes (called “sub-glacical lakes”) are covered under 3-4 kilometers of ice and are several kilometers long. Lake Vostok (location: 107.50E, 88.50S) which is the largest among these lakes, occupies an area of the about 14,000 km2 and lies beneath about 4 km of ice. The water depth of the lake is over 900 m.
Global Change Research forms an important component of the scientific studies being carried out by Indian scientists in Antarctica. Considering the importance of greenhouse gases in modulating global climate change, since the XXI season (2001-02) Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica, scientists from the National Physical Research Laboratory, New Delhi have carried out online measurements of CO2 and CH4 by Gas Chromotagraph, CO by IR CO-analyser and remote measurement of columnar water vapour using MICROTOPS, at the Indian station Maitri.

Carbon monoxide: Diurnal variation has been observed with higher CO concentration in daytime sunlight period. Increasing concentrations of CO has been observed with decreasing duration of sunlight period.
In addition, scientists from Geological Survey of India have been carrying out systematic monitoring of the fluctuations of the continental ice margin in the Western Schirmacher ranges since 1983. The observations indicate a glacial recession of about 7 m per decade. Considering the implications of variations in Greenhouses gases over Antarctica due to global warming, a larger spatial and temporal database needs to be established. The Indian scientific community and scientists from other countries have been analyzing and synthesizing a variety of data collected from geographically distinct localities in the quest to arrive at conclusions.

10. SPECIAL ARTICLES

Joint Statement of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama

A GLOBAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP FOR THE 21st CENTURY

TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, AND ENERGY

INCLUSIVE GROWTH, MUTUAL PROSPERITY, AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION

A SHARED INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT

Government Efforts to Tackle Problem of Hunger and Starvation

Highlights of the Employment-Unemployment Survey 2009-10 conducted by Labour Bureau

A brief on the coverage of survey and its results are as follows:

Coverage

 Survey has been conducted in 300 districts across 28 States/UTs of the country.

 A total of 45,859 household schedules have been canvassed during the survey, out of which 24,653 are in rural areas and 21,206 are in urban areas.

 The survey has been conducted during the period 01-04-2010 to 15-08-2010.

 The survey results are based on the data collected for the fixed reference period 2009-10 (April, 2009 to March, 2010).

Employment and Unemployment Situation

 The labour force participation rate is estimated to be 359 persons per 1000 in the population.

 The worker population ratio (WPR) is estimated at 325 persons per 1000 persons.

 As per the usual principal status, the unemployment rate in the labour force is estimated to be 9.4 per cent.

 The survey results reveal that out of 1000 employed persons, 455 persons are employed in agriculture, forestry and fisheries group.

 Within the employed population, self employment is the dominant category. Out of 1000 persons employed, 439 persons are self employed.

 Among the self employed, 572 persons out of 1000 persons are employed in agriculture, forestry & fisheries group.

Derivatives:

Some of the characteristics of the population have also been derived on the basis the statistical information collected under the survey as stated below:

 In the 28 States/UTs surveyed, there are 238 million households, of which 172 million are rural and 66 million are urban.

 The household size is estimated at 5.0, while it is 5.1 in the rural sector and 4.7 in the urban sector.

 The sex ratio (no. of females per 1000 males) is estimated at 917 for the rural and urban sectors combined, with 915 in the rural areas and 924 in the urban areas.

 The literacy rate for the population of age group 7 years & above is estimated to be 77.7 per cent at the overall level, with 74.6 per cent in rural areas and 86.0 per cent in urban areas.

Jairam Ramesh Suggests three task Approach for GHG emission Reduction

Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) to Release Second Assessment

Malnourished Children

As per the last National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3), in 2005-06, 42.5% children under 5 years are underweight, 48.0% are stunted and 69.5% (children 6-59 months) are anemic.

(vi) Availability of essential food items at subsidized cost through Targeted Public Distribution System, Antodaya Anna Yojana.

(vii) Provision for safe drinking water supply and sanitation under the Total Sanitation Campaign.

(viii) Employment and income generation schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS), National Rural Livelihood Mission.

(ix) Other schemes such as the National Agriculture DevelopmentProgramme, National Horticulture Mission etc.

Curbing Population Growth

· Promotion of No Scalpel Vasectomy to ensure male participation.

· Promotion of IUD 380A intensively as a spacing method because of its longevity of 10 years and advantages over other IUDs.

· Fixed day Fixed Place Family Planning Services round the year encouraged through growing number of 24x7 PHCs and better functioning CHCs and other health facilities under NRHM.

· Increasing basket of choice by systematically and carefully introducing new and effective contraceptives in the programme.

· The Santushti strategy which provides private sector gynecologists and vasectomy surgeons an opportunity to conduct sterilization operations in Public Private Partnership (PPP).

· The JSK Call Centre on Reproductive, Family Planning and Child Health which provides authentic information on issues related to reproductive and child health.

Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award2010

Development of inland Waterways in the Country

The following five waterways have so far been declared as National Waterways (NWs) in the country:

(i) National Waterway-1: Allahabad-Haldia stretch of the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river (1620 Km) declared as NW in 1986 in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

(ii) National Waterway-2: Sadiya-Dhubri stretch of the Brahmaputra river (891 Km) declared as NationalWaterway in 1988 in the state of Assam.

During the 11th Plan, development/ maintenance of Inland Water Transport (IWT) infrastructure namely navigational channel, navigation aids and terminals have been undertaken in 2716 Km of National Waterways 1, 2 & 3. Out of the total plan outlay of Rs. 615 cr for IWT sector during the current plan, total yearly budgets allocated for the first four years of 11th Plan are Rs. 563 cr which was reduced to Rs. 477.45 cr at RE stage. Up to 15-11-2010, the expenditure of Rs. 369.85 cr has been made.

Various projects for development and maintenance of IWT related infrastructure namely navigational channel, navigational aids and terminals have been undertaken/proposed to be undertaken on National Waterways 1, 2 & 3 during the current plan period. In NW-1 a low level RCC Jetty has been constructed at Patna and construction of high level Jetty is in progress. Construction of fixed terminals are underway at Kolkata and Varanasi. Besides floating terminals are available at 16 places. A fairway with 3m/2.5m/2m depth is being developed and maintained for NW-1 for a period of about 330 days in a year. 24 hours navigation aids provided in Tribeni – Varanasi reach (1187 km) in NW-1. DGPS Station is already commissioned at Bhagalpur and work is in progress at Katwa, Patna and Varanasi.

In NW-2 a low level RCC Jetty has been constructed at Pandu and construction of high level Jetty is in progress. Besides, floating terminals are available at 7 places. A fairway with 2.5 m/2 m depth is being developed and maintained for NW-2 for a period of about 330 days in a year. 24 hours navigation aids provided in Dhubri – Dibrugarh reach (768 km) in NW-2. DGPS Station is already commissioned at Jogighopa and work is in progress at Tezpur and Dibrugarh. In NW-3 fixed RCC terminals constructed at 7 places and work is in progress at one more location. Besides, Ro-Ro terminals constructed at Bolghatty and Willingdon Island for connectivity with Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal. A fairway with 2 m depth is being developed and maintained in Kottapuram – Alappuzha stretch of NW-3 and capital dredging is underway in balance portion. 24 hour. navigation aids provided for the entire stretch of NW-3.

Impact of Global Warming on Antarctica

TARGET IAS

Pages

Monday, April 25, 2011

CURRENT AFFAIRS-NOVEMBER 2010

India on U.N. women panel

Historic agreement on the High North

Maharatna status for IOC, ONGC and NTPC

Medals won by India in Asian Games 2010

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