CURRENT AFFAIRS-MARCH 2011

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Civil Aviation Economic Advisory Council

To meet the requirement for sustainable and inclusive growth, passenger facilitation and to elicit the view of stakeholders on issues that are predominantly economic, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has set up the Civil Aviation Economic Advisory Council (CAEAC) under the Chairmanship of the Secretary, Civil Aviation.

Extended Producer Responsibility System

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has notified the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 on 4th February, 2011. As per these Rules, in line with the principle of Extended Producer’s Responsibility (EPR), the municipal authority may ask the manufacturers, either collectively or individually to provide the required finance to establish the plastic waste collection centers. The Ministry has published the draft e-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2010. The concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) has been incorporated in the draft rules. Accordingly, the producers are required to finance, and organize a system for environmentally sound management of e-waste generated from their products. 

Level of Emission

The Government has taken a number of measures for reducing emissions from vehicular sector which are as follows: 

1) Bharat Stage (BS) –IV emission norms have been implemented in 13 cities of the country from 2010, while BS-III emission norms have been implemented in the entire country from 2010. 
2) Future BS-IV compliant diesel vehicles are expected to have particulate traps for the reduction in particulates emissions and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system for NOx reduction in these vehicles. 
3) The content of sulphur in BS-IV diesel has been reduced to 50 parts per million (ppm) from 350 ppm in  BS-III diesel.

4) Improving the public transport system in terms of buses & rail to reduce the number of private vehicle. 
5) Public transportation systems in various cities/towns are now running on clean fuels like Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), electric vehicles etc. 
6) Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms for diesel vehicles have been revised and made stringent from the year 2010. 

Establishment of Environment Court

The National Green Tribunal has been established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith. The Chairperson of the Tribunal has been appointed. Consequent on coming into effect of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, the National Environment Tribunal Act stands repealed. 

Tiger Conservation Policy

The Government of India has launched ‘Project Tiger’ since 1973 (ongoing as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme), under which central assistance is provided to tiger range States for protection and conservation of tigers in tiger reserves. Further, with the amendment of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in 2006, a separate chapter has been included for strengthening tiger conservation, vis-à-vis the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force. 

Study Regarding the Recent Changes Occurred in the Pattern of Weather

Under the Global and Regional Climate Change (GRCC) programme of the Ministry of Earth Sciences during the XI plan, the Government has established a dedicated Centre for Climate Change Research (CCCR) under the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune. The primary focus and goal of the CCCR is to build a high resolution Earth System Model (ESM), which is a fully coupled atmosphere-ocean-land-biosphere-cryosphere dynamical model, required to address issues on attribution and projection of regional climate change; and provide reliable inputs for various multi-sector impact assessments studies. CCCR addresses the critical issues of science of regional climate change with particular emphasis on the variability of the South Asian monsoon system in the global warming environment. 

PROGRESS Under PMEYSA

Panchayat Mahila Evam Yuva Shakti Abhiyan (PMEYSA) was launched in the year 2007. The Scheme has two components namely, Panchayat Mahila Shakti Abhiyan and Panchayat Yuva Shakti Abhiyan. Aims of PMEYSA are to organize the Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) in a network and through group action to empower themselves, so that both their participation and representation on local governance issues improves. The EWRs are expected to enable themselves to articulate their problems as women Panchayat leaders and discuss issues regarding the institutional mechanisms for their empowerment, to build the confidence and capacity of EWRs, so that they get over the institutional, societal and political constraints that prevent them from active participation in rural local self governments and to enable them to come up with a charter of issues to be mainstreamed into policy and advocacy support so that their concerns are addressed by the process of development adopted by the State and the three-tier PRI System. 

Installed Power Generation Capacity goes up to 170228 MW

The All India installed power generation capacity by the end of Jan 2011 has gone up to 170228 MW. This comprises of 111294 MW thermal, 37367 MW hydro, 4780 MW nuclear and 16787 MW R.E.S.  Sector-wise break up of the installed power generation capacity is as follows:

Central	:	52712 MW
State	:	82236 MW
Private	:	35280 MW
Total	:	170228 MW

Membership to International Association of Classification Societies

the Indian tonnage for the first time has crossed 10 million GT mark and as on 31.01.2011 the Indian fleet stands at 10.38 million GT. Indian Registrar of Shipping (IRS) has achieved the status of full membership of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) on 22.06.2010. IRS is the 11th Ship Classification Society in the World to become a member of IACS and has joined the ranks of LLoyd’s Register, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Bureau Veritas (BV). This development is considered a step forward for India in becoming a leading country in ship classification. 

 "Targeted Intervention Programme" 

National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) implements the "Targeted Intervention Programme" under National AIDS Control Programme. This Programme focuses on primary prevention of HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) with high risk groups namely female sex workers (FSW), Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) and Men who have sex with Men (MSM), and high risk men, namely migrants and truckers. 

Present Status of Interlinking of Rivers

The Government has said that the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) under the Ministry of Water Resources (MOWR) has identified 30 inter-state River links (16 under Peninsular Component & 14 under Himalayan Component) for preparation of Feasibility Reports (FRs). Out of these, FRs of 14 links under Peninsular Component and 2 links (Indian Portion) under Himalayan Component have been completed. The present status of interlinking of rivers in the country, is that the Five inter-state River links under Peninsular Component namely (i) Ken-Betwa, (ii) Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal, (iii) Damanganga-Pinjal, (iv) Par-Tapi-Narmada & (v) Godavari (Polavaram)-Krishna (Vijayawada) were identified as priority links for building consensus among the concerned states for taking up their Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).

Malnourishment among Children and Women

As per the last National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3), in 2005-06, 42.5% children under 5 years are underweight, and 69.5% (children 6-59 months) are anemic. 35.6% of women in the age group of 15-49 years are underweight (measured as low body mass index) and 55.3% are anemic.  There are complementary approaches to reduce under-nutrition through direct nutrition specific interventions and multi sectoral approach. The Government has accorded priority to the issue of malnutrition, and, particularly, in respect of children, adolescent girls and women. Besides the ongoing efforts under different schemes/programmes of the Government, it is proposed to (a) strengthen and restructure the ICDS scheme, (b) bring a focused multi-sectoral approach to address the maternal and child malnutrition in selected 200 high burdened districts, (c) bring a strong convergence and nutrition focus in various programmes of Ministries that deal with Health, Drinking Water Supply & Sanitation, School Education, Agriculture, Food and Public Distribution and (d) a nation-wide improved Information Education and Communication (I E C). 

Public Distribution System

Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is operated under the joint responsibility of Central Government and State/Union Territory (UT) Governments. The Central Government is responsible for procurement, allocation and transportation of foodgrains upto the designated depots of the Food Corporation of India. The operational responsibilities for lifting and distributing the allocated foodgrains within the States/UTs, identification of eligible Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, issuance of ration cards to them and supervision over distribution of allocated foodgrains to eligible card holders through the Fair Price Shops (FPSs) are of the State/UT Governments. 
Public Distribution System (Control) Order 2001, mandates the State/UT Governments to carry out all required action to ensure smooth functioning of TPDS. 

Protection of Elephants

Financial and technical assistance is provided by the Ministry to the State Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes “Project Elephant” and “Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats” for better protection and management of elephant populations and their habitats, and mitigation of man-elephant conflicts. The Central Government has also set up Wildlife Crime Control Bureau to improve coordination and intelligence sharing among different agencies and State Governments against organized wildlife crime.

Vision 2015 to Enhance Post-Harvest Facilities

The Government has adopted Vision 2015 which has suggested strategy to ensure faster growth of the food processing sector. The Vision 2015 provideS for enhancing the level of processing of perishable to 20%, enhancing value addition to 35%.  Due to fragmented supply chain and lack of adequate processing infrastructure along the value chain, the processing levels in the country are quite low resulting in considerable amount of wastage of agri and horticulture produce. 

Urban Transport Sector

The transport sector emission is reported from road transport, aviation, railways and shipping. In 2007, road transport sector alone emitted about 142 million tones of CO2 equivalent.  Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is empowered to lay down under Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 and Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989, Emission norms (for new vehicles) and Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms (for in-use vehicles) in respect of various categories of Motor Vehicles plying on different fuel such as Gasoline, Diesel, CNG, LPG etc. It gradually tightens the Mass emission norms for new motor vehicles as per the road map recommended by Auto Fuel Policy and the PUC norms for in-use vehicles to check vehicular pollution. At present, Bharat Stage-IV Emission norms, in respect of 4-wheeled vehicles, have been implemented in National Capital Region (NCR), Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad including Secunderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, Kanpur and Agra w.e.f. 1st April, 2010 and in Sholapur and Lucknow w.e.f. 1st June, 2010. Moreover, Bharat Stage III emission norms, in respect of 2,3 & 4-wheeled vehicles, have been implemented in rest of the country w.e.f. 1st October, 2010.

Further, National Action Plan on Climate change (NAPCC) was released on 30th June, 2008. The National Action Plan outlines eight Missions. National Mission on Sustainable Habitat is amongst the 8 Missions that addresses policy and technological measures for emission saving in the transport sector.

UIDAI Commences ‘Aadhaar Governance Award’ 

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has instituted an ‘Aadhaar Governance Award’. The award is instituted to acknowledge, recognise and reward the extraordinary and innovative work done by District Collectors/Deputy Commissioners in using the Aadhaar number to improve the service delivery in their respective districts for more transparent, efficient and effective governance. The Unique Identification Implementation Committee (UIDIC), which is headed by the Chief Secretary in each State will nominate District Collectors/Deputy Commissioners from across the country to UIDAI. UIDAI will set up an Expert Evaluation Committee (EEC) to evaluate the project reports and give its recommendations to the Authority. The EEC will comprise of eminent people in the field of public administration, academics and technology. [R S Sharma, Director General and Mission Director of the UIDAI].

Trafficking of Women and Children

The Government is taking measures to combat trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation in the country. The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 supplemented by the Indian Penal Code prohibits trafficking in human beings, including children and lays down penalties for trafficking. A Comprehensive Advisory on Preventing and Combating Human Trafficking in India has been issued on 09.09.2009 by the Government of India to all States/Union Territories. Further, the Ministry has been implementing the “Ujjawala” Scheme, under which financial assistance is being provided for prevention of trafficking and for rescue, rehabilitation and re-integration of victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation. Trainings are organized for civil society organizations as well for sensitization of law enforcement agencies. 

Spectrum Policy

National Frequency Allocation Plan (NFAP-2008), a policy document, developed in consultation with all stake holders i.e Govt. Departments/PSUs/Equipment manufacturers/Private Operators keeping in view their spectrum requirement within frame work of Radio Regulation of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is in force and catering the needs of all wireless users. The existing NFAP is under Review/ Revision. The National Frequency Allocation Plan 2000 (NFAP-2000) was evolved in pursuance of National Telecom Policy, 1999 which became a public document. It is reviewed and revised generally in every two years in line with the decisions taken in the World Radiocommunications Conferences (WRCs) of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and also taking in to consideration the requirements of various stakeholders. 

Increase in Allocation under MPLAD Scheme 

The Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee announced an increase in the allocation under the MPLAD Scheme from Rs.2 crore to Rs.5 crore per Member. This will result in additional allocation of Rs.2,370 crore per year. Members cutting across party lines from both Houses have been demanding increase in the allocation under the MPLAD Scheme.

Age of Marriage

The Law Commission of India in its 205th Report had made recommendation for a uniform age of marriage of 18 years for both boys and girls. However, the Government is of the view that the difference in the age of marriage (21 years for boys and 18 years for girls) was deliberately inserted in the statutes in view of the social realities.

Per Capita Availability of Water in The Country

The total water resources availability in the country remains constant, the per capita availability of water has been steadily declining since 1951 due to population growth. The twin indicators of water scarcity are, per capita availability and storage. A ‘per capita availability’ of less than 1,700 cubic metres is termed a water stressed condition, while if it falls below 1,000 cubic meters, it is termed as water scarcity condition. while on average the country may be nearing the water stressed condition, on an individual river basin wise situation, 9 out of our 20 river basins with 200 milllion populations are already facing a water scarcity condition. However, the per capita availability of water works out to be 1,625 cubic metres as per the current population of the country in 2010.

Armed Forces Tribunal

Armed Forces Tribunal has been established with its Principal Bench at Delhi and regional Benches at seven locations, namely, Jaipur,Chandigarh, Lucknow, Guwahati, Kolkata, Chennai and Kochi. It has also been decided to set up another Bench at Mumbai. The provision for Circuit Benches in the scheme of AFT is expected to take care of any problems relating to accessibility of the Tribunals to the Servicemen and Ex-servicemen.

Delimitation of Areas

The Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) and the Ministry of Coal (MoC) had jointly undertaken an exercise to overlay the forest cover map on the coal blocks boundaries in respect of 9 coalfields in the country and identified various coal blocks as category ‘A’ (No-Go areas) and Category ‘B’ (Go areas). As per the exercise, 449 coal blocks covering about 3,80,000 ha have been categorised as category ‘B’ out of total number of 602 coal blocks covering about 6,48,750 ha. The criteria used for characterizing ‘A’ and ‘B’ has been based on following parameters:

(i) Gross Forest Cover (GFC) – under this category, the forest is defined as crop having density more than 10%. Anything below this is scrub, which is not included in the forest cover. Any proposed coal block having 30% or more area under forest cover is placed under non-available category, i.e., category ‘A’ or ‘No-Go’. 

(ii) Weighted Forest Cover (WFC) – to give appropriate weightage to different qualities of forest, a weightage of 0.85 was given to very dense forests, 0.55 to moderately dense forests and 0.25 to open forests in a coal block for calculating forest cover percentage over the whole block. The cut off for this parameter has been kept as 10%, i.e., if a block has WFC of more 10%, it is in category ‘A’ or ‘No-Go’. 

The Member (Energy), Planning Commission, while reviewing the Policy Guidelines for allotment of alternative coal block to captive allottees, suggested that the issues of ‘Go - No Go’ areas need to be settled quickly. The entire issue of ‘Go - No Go’ is before a Group of Ministers (GoM), constituted by the Cabinet Secretariat, to consider the environmental and developmental issues relating to coal mining and other developmental projects. 

Impact of Climate Change

As a part of India’s Initial National Communication to the United Nations Framework for Climate Change Convention, impact of climate change on water resources is assessed at national level. Indian Network of Climate Change Assessment which was launched in October 2009 has analyzed the impact of climate change on water resources of Western Ghats region that includes Karnataka. However, specific study on water resources of Karnataka has not been done.  The National Action Plan on Climate Change launched in June, 2008 includes the National Water Mission which has the aim of ensuring promotion of basin level integrated water resources management. The objective of the mission is to conserve water, minimize wastage and ensure more equitable distribution both across and within states. The Mission has been prepared keeping in view the provisions of National Water Policy, and the objective of optimizing water use and increasing water use efficiency by 20% through regulatory mechanism and differential entitlements and pricing. Studies have been undertaken to assess the water resources, under climatic scenario, of the river basin scales. Pilot studies on Godavari and Brahmani-Baitarni rivers have also been conducted. 

Setting up of Coastal Zone Management

The Ministry of environment and forests has established the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) under the World Bank assisted Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project. A consortium of eleven research institutions covering all the coastal States and Union Territories, has been constituted to work along with NCSCM in the area of coastal zone management . On 24th December, 2010, a Memorandum of Association between the Ministry and Anna University, Chennai was signed to set up NCSCM.

Workers in Unorganised Sector

The National Social Security Board constituted in the Ministry of Labour & Employment made recommendations for providing basic minimum social security cover in the form of life and disability insurance, health and maternity benefit and old age pension to all unorganised workers/occupational groups in a phased manner.  As a follow up, the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) has been extended to building & other construction workers, licensed railway porters, vendors and hawkers, who are from the unorganised sector and are socially challenged and street vendors.

The Government is planning to extend the scheme to such Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme (MNREGS) workers who have completed 15 days or more during previous financial year, beedi workers and also to unorganized sector workers in hazardous mining and associated industries like slate and slate pencil, dolomite, mica and asbestos etc. The Government has constituted Task Force for suggesting social security schemes for (i) domestic workers (ii) street vendors, rickshaw pullers, auto rickshaw/taxi drivers & rag pickers and (iii) sanitation workers and leather workers. The Task Force for Domestic workers in its first report has recommended extension of health insurance scheme, namely, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to domestic workers in first phase. The proposal is under consideration of the Government.

Promotion of Energy Efficient Appliances

The Government of India under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 has established the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) as a nodal central agency for promoting energy efficiency and its conservation. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency is implementing the “Standards and Labeling” programme for promoting energy efficient equipment in the country. This scheme targets high energy end use equipment and appliances to lay down minimum energy performance standards. Labeling of air conditioners, refrigerators, tabular fluorescent lamps and distribution transformers were made mandatory with effect from 07.01.2010. Other appliances covered under the voluntary labeling programme include geysers, motors, pump sets, colour TVs, LPG stoves and ceiling fans. The Standards and labeling (S&L) scheme has been identified as one of the key activities for energy efficiency improvements and has resulted in an avoided capacity of 3039 MW during the period 2006-2010.

Bridging Demand and Supply Gap

The power shortages continue to be witnessed in the country, primarily due to the fact that the growth in demand for power has outstripped the growth in availability of power. Nevertheless, the energy and peak shortages in the country during the current year (April, 2010 – February, 2011) have come down to 8.6% and 10.3% from the respective figures of 9.9% and 12.6% during April, 2009 to February, 2010. Government has taken a number of policy initiatives and measures to reduce the gap between demand and supply of power. As a result, a capacity of 32,762 MW has been added in the 11th Plan (upto end of February, 2011), which is highest ever in any Five Year Plan and is more than 150% of the total capacity addition in the 10th Plan. The time frame for bridging the gap between demand and supply of power would depend on growth in capacity addition and generation vis-à-vis growth in demand for electricity. With the capacity addition of 62,374 MW during 11th Plan and the actual energy requirement and peak demand in March, 2012, turning out to be in line with the forecast in the 17th Electric Power Survey, the energy as well as peaking shortage is expected to come down substantially from the prevailing level (April, 2010 to February, 2011) of 8.6% and 10.3% respectively. 

Emission Norms

Mass emission norms such as Bharat Stage-III, Bharat Stage-IV etc. are applicable for new vehicles and not for old in-use vehicles. These norms are made applicable in different parts of the country in respect of various categories of motor vehicles, manufactured from a date notified by the Government.

At present, Bharat Stage-IV Emission norms, in respect of four-wheeled vehicles, have been implemented in National Capital Region (NCR), Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad including Secunderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, Kanpur, Agra w.e.f. 1st April, 2010, and in Sholapur and Lucknow w.e.f. 1st June, 2010 . Moreover, Bharat Stage III Emission norms, in respect of all categories of motor vehicles, have been implemented in the rest part of the country w.e.f. 1st October, 2010.

Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana

A new scheme called Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) was launched in March, 2010 on a pilot basis, for the integrated development of 1000 villages each with more than 50% SC population. Presently the scheme is being implemented in five States of the Country viz Assam (100-villages), Bihar (225-villages), Himachal Pradesh (225-villages), Rajasthan (225-villages) and Tamil Nadu (225-villages). The expected time-frame for implementation of the pilot phase is 3 years. Expansion of the scheme would depend upon successful implementation of the pilot phase.

Mahatma Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP)

The Union Cabinet approved to establish the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) as a Category I Institute of UNESCO at New Delhi which was recommended by the UNESCO Executive Board. It will put India into the category of select countries with a Category I Institute of UNESCO. Currently there are eleven Category I Institutes of UNESCO in the world, out of which 9 are located in the developed countries while the remaining two are located in developing countries namely, Ethiopia and Venezuela. Further it will serve as a platform for India to emerge as a global leader from the Asia-Pacific region in the areas of education for Peace and Sustainable Development. 

AERB Reviews Safety in Indian Nuclear Power Plants 

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) of India is constantly monitoring the situation at Japan’s Nuclear Sites in the aftermath of unprecedented earthquake and tsunami. In India, out of 20 reactors (19 are in operation), only two units namely Tarapur 1&2 are Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) similar to ones at Fukushima, Japan.

India Free from Wheat Rust Disease Ug99

There are occurrences of stem rust fungal disease in wheat in different parts of the world including Africa. Wheat varieties grown in India are resistant to most of the Indian races of stem rust. Several varieties are also resistant to the new race (Ug99) of stem rust as per testing carried out in Kenya and Ethiopia. UG99 stem rust has not yet been spotted in India as per the survey and crop health monitoring reports. 

Constitution of a National Data Bank

The Government has said that one of its decisions on the follow-up action on the recommendations of the Sachar Committee was to set up a National Data Bank (NDB). This has been set up in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. NDB containing reports and tables based on the data on social groups and religion collected in the Population Census and National Sample Surveys. 

Voting Rights to NRIs

The Representation of People Act, 1951 has already been amended vide the Representation of People (Amendment) Act, 2010 (36 of 2010) so as to enable the citizens of India, who are away from their ordinary place of residence in India and residing abroad owing to their employment, education or otherwise, who have not acquired the citizenship of any other country and who are eligible to be registered as voters in the electoral rolls of the Assembly/Parliamentary Constituency in India to get themselves registered in the electoral roll as Overseas Electors.

Inspire Scheme to Promote Scientific Attitude Among Children

The Department of Science and Technology has initiated two inter-related schemes namely `Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE)’ and the `Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE)’ which aim to promote scientific attitude among children, attract students to study science and pursue careers in research. The `Scholarship for Higher Education’ provides scholarship for pursuing science at under-graduate level based on the performance (top 1%) at the Class XII Board examinations. 

Declaration as Mega Cities

Matters relating to Local Government fall under the list of State subjects and Government of India has not fixed any general criteria for conferring mega city status to any city. Cities are classified differently under different schemes. Under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), which is the major scheme currently under the implementation in the urban sector, cities are classified into four categories :- 

1. Cities/Urban agglomerations with 4 million plus population (as per 2001 census);

2. Cities/Urban agglomerations with million plus but less than 4 million population (as per 2001 census); 

3. Cities/towns/ Urban agglomerations in North Eastern States and Jammu & Kashmir; and 

4. Cities/ Urban agglomerations other than those mentioned above. 

New Categories for Census 2011

A number of changes have been incorporated in Cenus 2011 for the better capturing and analysis of data. The details of the changes incorporated are given hereunder:

1. Gender: New category “Other” introduced in addition to Male and Female. 

2. Date of Birth question introduced along with Age. 

3. Current Marital Status: Separate codes Assigned for Separated and Divorced. 

4. New filter Question on SC/ST Introduced – “Is this person SC/ST?” 

5. Disability: The question on disability canvassed at the Census 2001 has been modified.

Household Schedule attempts to collect information on eight types of disabilities as against five included in the Household Schedule of Census of India 2001. The information is being collected on disabilities namely, disability ‘In Seeing’, ‘In Hearing’, ‘In Speech’, ‘In Movement’, ‘Mental retardation’, ‘Mental Illness’, ‘Any Other’ and ‘Multiple Disability’. 

6. Literacy Status for “Other” sex added in addition to existing Male and Female. 

7. New Codes under Status of Attendance in Educational Institutions introduced for Not Attending viz., (i) Attended before and (ii) Never attended. 

8. Work: In the previous censuses, workers were categorized as ‘Main workers’ and ‘Marginal workers’. Those who worked for more than 6 months during last year were categorized as ‘Main workers’ whereas those who worked less than 6 months were categorized as ‘Marginal Workers’. At the Census 2011, for better capturing and analysis of Census data, ‘Marginal workers have been classified into two categories viz., (i) worked for 3 months or more but less than 6 months (ii) worked for less than 3 months. The definition of ‘Main worker’ remains the same. 

9. A separate code-5 has been included under Non-economic activity for rentiers. 

10. Migration – Provision to specify the present name of the Village/Town of the Birth Place as well as the Place of Last Residence introduced. 

11. Name of the Institutional Household is also being recorded. 

Potential of Renewable Energy

As per various studies undertaken in past, a potential of about 89,000 MW for power generation from different renewable energy sources is estimated excluding solar energy which has been estimated for most parts of the country at around 20 MW per square kilometer of open, shadow free area covered with solar collectors. A total grid interactive renewable power generation capacity of around 18842 MW has been set up as on 31.01.2011, which is over 11% of the total power generation installed capacity from all sources in the country. 

Indian Army Chief Honoured 

General VK Singh becomes the first Indian Officer to be inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ of US Army War College, Carlisle, USA, on 11 Mar 2011. This distinction is extended by the US Army, to all officers from friendly foreign countries, who rise to the post of ‘Chief’ of their respective Armies, after attending the coveted Course at US Army War College. 

SSC (NR) Becomes ISO Certified Recruiting Agency

The Northern Regional office of the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has become the first ever ISO-9001:2008 certified recruiting agency in the Government sector in the country. The certification was conferred on SSC by the British Certification Inc in New Delhi.

ISO-9001:2008 is a prestigious, international certification which means that the organisation is implementing Quality Management System, which has been audited, and certified by an independent, international certification body.

Setting up of National Mission for Electric Mobility

The Union Cabinet today approved a proposal to set up a National Mission for Electric Mobility (NCEM) to promote electric mobility and manufacturing of electric vehicles in India. The Cabinet also approved the setting up of a National Board for Electric Mobility (NBEM) by the Department of Heavy Industry. The NCEM will be the apex body in the Government of India for making recommendations in these matters.  The National Automotive Board (NAB), after its formation will be the technical advisor and secretariat for both the NCEM and NBEM. 

Country’s Population Reaches 1210 Million as Per Census 2011 

The population of the country as per the provisional figures of Census 2011 is 1210.19 million of which 623.72 million (51.54%) are males and 586.46 million (48.46%) are females. The provisional figures of Census 2011 were released in New Delhi by Union Home Secretary Shri G.K.Pillai and RGI Shri C. Chandramouli.

The major highlights of the Census 2011 (Provisional figures) are as under ;-

·         The population of India has increased by more than 181 million during the decade 2001-2011.

·         Percentage growth in 2001-2011 is 17.64; males 17.19 and females 18.12.

·         2001-2011 is the first decade (with the exception of 1911-1921) which has actually added lesser population compared to the previous decade.

·         Uttar Pradesh (199.5 million) is the most populous State in the country followed by Maharashtra with 112 million.

·         The percentage decadal growth rates of the six most populous States have declined during 2001-2011 compared to 1991-2001:

-                      Uttar Pradesh (25.85% to 20.09%)

-                      Maharashtra (22.73% to 15.99%)

-                      Bihar (28.62% to 25.07%)

-                      West Bengal (17.77 % to 13.93%)

-                      Andhra Pradesh (14.59% to 11.10%)

-                      Madhya Pradesh (24.26% to 20.30%)

         During 2001-2011, as many as 25 States/UTs with a share of  about 85%  of the country’s population registered an annual growth rate of less than 2% as compared to, 15 States/UTs with a share of about 42% during the period 1991-2001.

·         15 States/UTs have grown by less than 1.5 per cent per annum during 2001-2011, while the number of such States/UTs was only 4 during the previous decade.

·         The total number of children in the age-group 0-6 is 158.8 million (-5 million since 2001)

·         Twenty States and Union Territories now have over one million children in the age group 0-6 years. On the other extreme, there are five States and Union Territories in the country that are yet to reach the one hundred thousand mark.

·         Uttar Pradesh (29.7 million), Bihar (18.6 million), Maharashtra (12.8 million), Madhya Pradesh (10.5 million) and Rajasthan (10.5 million) constitute 52% children in the age group of 0-6 years.

·         Population (0-6 years) 2001-2011 registered  minus (-)3.08 percent growth with  minus (-)2.42 for males and –3.80 for females.

·         The proportion of Child Population in the age group of 0-6 years to total population is 13.1 percent while the corresponding figure in 2001 was 15.9 percent. The decline has been to the extent of 2.8 points.

·         Overall sex ratio at the national level has increased by 7 points to reach 940 at Census 2011 as against 933 in Census 2001. This is the highest sex ratio recorded since Census 1971 and a shade lower than 1961. Increase in sex ratio is observed in 29 States/UTs.

·         Three major States (J&K, Bihar & Gujarat) have shown decline in sex ratio as compared to Census 2001.

·         Kerala with 1084 has the highest sex ratio followed by Puducherry with 1038, Daman & Diu has the lowest sex ratio of 618.

·         Child sex ratio (0-6 years) is 914. Increasing trend in the child sex ratio (0-6) seen in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Mizoram and A&N Islands. In all remaining 27 States/UTs, the child sex ratio show decline over Census 2001.

·         Mizoram has the highest child sex ratio (0-6 years) of 971 followed by Meghalaya with 970. Haryana is at the bottom with ratio of 830 followed by Punjab with 846.

·         Literacy rate has gone up from 64.83 per cent in 2001 to 74.04 per cent in 2011 showing an increase of 9.21 percentage points.

·         Percentage growth in literacy during 2001-2011 is 38.82; males : 31.98% & females : 49.10%.

·         Literates constitute 74 per cent of the total population aged seven and above and illiterates form 26 per cent.

Interceptor missile test-fired successfully

India fired an interceptor missile, which intercepted an incoming ‘enemy' ballistic missile at an altitude of 16 km and pulverised it in “a direct kill.”. This is the DRDO's sixth interceptor mission, and five have been successful including a hat-trick in the first three. India is next only to the U.S., Russia, France and Israel, which have the BMD capability.

Dhanush, Prithvi-II fired successfully

The Strategic Forces Command (SFC), which handles India's missiles with nuclear warheads, fired the Dhanush and the Prithvi-II missiles, establishing the readiness of the country's nuclear deterrence systems. The Dhanush and the Prithvi-II, both surface-to-surface missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, are products of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The twin-success, coming as it did after the DRDO test-fired an interceptor recently to bring down an “enemy” ballistic missile mid-flight, has boosted the morale of the DRDO missile technologists. The Dhanush and the Prithvi-II were launched in a similar salvo mode on March 27, 2010. Both the Dhanush, the Naval version, and the Prithvi-II can carry nuclear warheads weighing 500 kg each.

Odisha

Orissa will hereafter be called ‘Odisha,' and the Oriya language will be known as ‘Odia,' with Parliament ratifying a constitutional amendment and passing the Orissa (the Alteration of Name) Bill. The Rajya Sabha passed the bill and adopted the Constitution (113th) Amendment Bill after a brief debate. The Lok Sabha has already given its approval.

The tiger census

The tiger census counts 1,706 as India's wild tiger population has grown 12 per cent in the last four years. According to the 2010 tiger census, whose results were declared recently, there are approximately 1,706 of the big cats in the country, which includes about 70 in the marshes of the Sunderbans, which have never been scientifically surveyed before. The 2006 census had estimated that there were 1,411 tigers, without including any from the Sunderbans. Thirty per cent of the tiger population lives in areas outside the government's reserves, giving conservationists a new challenge in the effort to protect them. The largest number of tigers lives in Karnataka – about 280 – and conservation efforts have been successful in the entire Western Ghats area, with Tamil Nadu and Kerala also seeing good results. The Terai belt of grasslands at the Himalayan foothills in Uttarakhand have also done surprisingly well in nurturing their tiger populations.

While Kaziranga in Assam has 100 tigers, the largest in a single reserve, there are worrying signs from the North Eastern area. These forested hills are capable of supporting far more than the number of tigers that were found in the area, but poaching and the pressure of developmental activities have kept the numbers low.

WORLD AFFAIRS

The King's Speech takes top Oscar crowns

The King's Speech  was awarded the Oscar not only for the Best Motion Picture award but also those for Best Actor (Colin Firth) and Best Director (Tom Hooper).

Russia's highest honour for Gorbachev

The last Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, was awarded Russia's top medal and almost reluctant recognition of his services. The Order of St. Andrew conferred on Mr. Gorbachev is the first and only award he has received in the past 20 years since his resignation in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Egypt's interim Premier

Essam Sharaf was picked by Egypt's military rulers to replace Ahmed Shafiq as Prime Minister. Mr. Shafiq was the last Premier to be named by Hosni Mubarak. 

Illinois abolishes death penalty

Illinois became the 16th State of the United States to abolish the death penalty when its Governor, Pat Quinn, announced the decision. Mr. Quinn's action comes even as numerous U.S. states are experimenting with the cocktail of lethal drugs delivered to execute inmates. In particular the Oklahoma State Penitentiary used a veterinary anaesthetic drug called pentobarbital. This method of execution, which has fuelled debates on the death penalty constituting “cruel and unusual punishment,” followed after the sole manufacturer of barbiturate sodium thiopental in the United States, a company called Hospira, ran out of stock earlier last year and said that it did not expect to resume production until 2011.

Full-scale attacks launched in Libya

Pro-Qadhafi forces have launched a full-scale offensive against Opposition forces, as the latter appeared to retreat from several locations which had previously been held by them in Libya's oil-rich east. Opposition forces are grimly battling the troops loyal to the Libyan strongman, Muammar Qadhafi, for control over Zawiyah — a strategic oil town 50 km from the Capital Tripoli.  The setback on the battlefield came amid a solid diplomatic success for the Opposition. France became the first country to recognise the Opposition's Provisional National Transitional Council (PNTC) as the legitimate Libyan government. The pro-Qadhafi forces appeared to have expanded the ambit of combat by attacking from the air, land and sea. In the oil town of Ajdabiya, regime forces attacked by land from the west and the south, as well as from the northern sea. The regime also deployed its naval forces to target the major oil hub of Brega, apart from targeting the city with air strikes. With violence escalating in Libya, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Jakob Kellenberger, sought greater access for aid workers in the country, warning that Libya was now experiencing a “civil war.” The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the European Union (EU) began  fresh talks on a no-fly zone over Libya.

Quake, tsunami ravage japan

A ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japan's eastern coast . Hours later, the tsunami hit Hawaii and warnings blanketed the Pacific, putting areas on alert as far away as South America, Canada, Alaska and the entire U.S. West Coast. The 8.9 offshore quake unleashed a 23-ft. tsunami and was followed by more than 50 aftershocks for hours, many of them of more than magnitude 6.0. Dozens of cities and villages along a 2,100 km. stretch of coastline were shaken by violent tremors that reached as far away as Tokyo, hundreds of kilometres from the epicentre. The area around a nuclear power plant in northeast Japan was evacuated after the reactor's cooling system failed.

Mauritian honour for Maldives' Nasheed

Mauritius has conferred one of its highest honours, Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and the Key of the Indian Ocean (GCSK), on Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed. President of Mauritius Anerood Jugnauth presented the award to Mr. Nasheed . Among the few foreign dignitaries who had been conferred the award are the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, and the former President of Guyana, Cheddi Jagan.

French air strike kicks off attacks on Qadhafi

France launched an air strike on a target in Libya on Saturday, kicking off an international campaign to prevent Muammar Qadhafi's forces from crushing a month-old uprising against his rule. French officials indicated that French Mirage and Rafale fighters were already overflying Libyan airspace. The British, the French, the Italians, the Spaniards and the Norweigians are among those fully on board. The British are expected to deploy Typhoon and Tornado aircraft. Mr. Sarkozy also insisted on the international nature of the meeting, emphasising that the Arab League was fully represented. Five Arab nations — Iraq, Qatar, Jordan, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates — were present, as was Arab League General Secretary Amre Mussa. Saudi Arabia, which initially proposed the use of its air force, did not attend.

Twenty-two heads of state and government as well as leaders of the United Nations and the European Union attended the meeting. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper were present.

Dalai Lama relieved

The ‘Tibetan parliament-in-exile' has accepted the Dalai Lama's desire to be relieved of his political duties, but it has proposed that he remain the ‘ symbolic head' of the ‘Tibetan government.'

NATO to take immediate command of Libya campaign

The 28-member NATO has announced to take over all the international operations in Libya, including military operations to enforce no-fly-zone, enforcement of arms embargo and the civilian protections. At its meeting in Brussels, NATO changed and amended the existing no-fly zone plan to include the mission for civilian protection. [ NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.]

Israel deploys Iron Dome

Israel deployed a cutting-edge rocket defence system on Monday, rolling out the latest tool in its arsenal to stop a recent spike in attacks from the neighbouring Gaza Strip. Israel hopes the home-grown Iron Dome system will provide increased security to its citizens, but officials warned it cannot do the job alone. The Iron Dome system has raised hopes that Israel has finally found a solution to the years of rocket fire from Gaza. The primitive rockets have evaded Israel's high-tech weaponry, in part because their short flight path, just a few seconds, makes them hard to track. Iron Dome uses sophisticated cameras and radar to track incoming rockets, determine where they will land, and intercept and destroy them far from their targets. If the system determines the rocket is headed to an area where casualties are unlikely, it can allow the weapon to explode on the ground.

China suspends approval for nuclear projects

The Chinese government suspended the approval process for all new nuclear power plants until safety standards were “revised”, amid concerns triggered by safety fears in Japan's nuclear facilities. The announcement from the State Council, or Cabinet, after officials expressed strong support for China's nuclear programme, and had ruled out any rethink in carrying forward the sector's recent rapid expansion. The State Council also ordered safety checks at all 13 operating plants. The State Council called on the National Nuclear Safety Administration, an environmental regulatory body, to “step up monitoring of radioactive substances” and issue timely alerts.

INDIA AND WORLD

Extension of Indian Development and Economic Assistance (IDEA) Scheme

The CCEA has approved the operating and extending Indian Development and Economic Assistance (IDEA) Scheme during the period 2010-11 to 2014-15 for both African and non-African countries. Under the IDEA scheme, Government supported Export and Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) Lines of Credit (LoCs) are made available to developing countries for support of developmental and other projects as recommended by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The IDEA Scheme will promote India's political, economic and strategic interests besides building a positive image of India abroad. The IDEA Scheme initially known as the India Development Initiative had its genesis in the announcement made by Finance Minister in the Union Budget for 2003-04, as an initiative for providing grants or project assistance to developing countries in the Africa, South Asia and other parts of the developing world and with a view to also leverage and promote our strategic economic interests abroad. It has been approved to continue operating and extending Indian Development and Economic Assistance (IDEA) Scheme during the period 2010-11 to 2014-15 for both African and non-African countries.

Indo-Russian Defence Agreement

The Government of India entered into an agreement with the Russian Government on 18th October, 2007 for the development and production of a Fifth Generation 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. On 21st December, 2010, a Preliminary Design (PD) contract was signed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) with M/s Rosoboronexport of Russia inter-alia, to finalize the road map for the Research and Design (R&D) phase of the Project, during which detailed design specifications and their costs will be determined.

India and Brazil Sign Air Services Agreement

Bilateral Air Services Agreement(ASA) between India and Brazil was signed by the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs and Civil Aviation Shri Vayalar Ravi and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil Shri Antonio de Aguiar Patriota. The new ASA has the potential to spur greater trade investment, tourism and strengthening the cultural exchange between the two countries besides bringing it in tune with the developments in the international civil aviation scenario.  The Agreement is based on the liberal ICAO template and paves the way for increased air connectivity between both countries. It supersedes the Agreement signed between the two countries on 12th September, 2006 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. 

Roll Back on Emission Resolution

India is committed to ensure that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is implemented on the basis of the principle of equity and in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibility and respective capability of countries. In the international negotiations held at Cancun Climate Change Conference in December, 2010, developing countries including India have agreed to take Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) in the context of sustainable development supported and enabled by technology, financing and capacity building.

NAMAs of developing countries are voluntary in nature and will be reported for international consultations and analysis in a manner which is non-intrusive, non-punitive and respectful of national sovereignty. India’s actions in this regard are fully in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibility and respective capability. 

Assistance for Cyclone Relief

The World Bank has agreed to Finance Phase-I of the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project to be implemented in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh at a cost of Rs. 1496.71 crore. 

The Project has following 4 principal components: 

(i) Component A - Last Mile Connectivity 
(ii) Component B - Structural and Non- Structural Measures
(iii) Component C - Technical Assistance for Cyclone Hazard Risk Mitigation, Capacity Building and knowledge Creation
(iv) Component D – Project Management and Implementation Support. 

Components A, C, D will be fully financed by the World Bank. The financial assistance from the World Bank in respect of component B is restricted to 75% of the cost. 

Singapore and Indian Navies Conduct Maritime Exercise

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Indian Navy (IN) are conducting the annual Singapore Indian Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) from 18 to 25 Mar 2011. Hosted by Singapore, this year's exercise is the 18th in the series of bilateral exercise held since 1994. The exercise comprises a shore phase, already held at the Changi Naval Base and a sea phase currently being carried out in the South China Sea. SIMBEX 2011 which sees the RSN and IN conducting advanced naval warfare training involving air, surface and sub-surface dimensions, aims to enhance the interoperability and mutual understanding between the two navies.

India, ASEAN set $70 b trade target

India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are committed to achieving a trade target of $70 billion by 2012, up 40 per cent from $50 billion in 2010. India and the 10-nation bloc also broadly agreed that the free trade agreement (FTA) to cover services and investment sectors would be in place by 2011-end. Interestingly, there has been a rough ride for India and the bloc in this issue as negotiations have been going slow due to differences over various issues. The FTA in goods is already operational since January last year. ASEAN (made up of Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam).

India opposed to ‘no-fly zone,'

In the first articulation of official thinking on Western plans to deal with the emerging situation in Libya, India has said it will oppose any move to enforce a no-fly-zone or use force to end the civil war in the North African nation.

India's stand was echoed by many developing countries as well as the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) nations. However, India had not decided whether to abstain or vote against such a resolution in case the issue came up before the United Nations Security Council. India as well as its like-minded friends on the UNSC was opposed to referring Libya to the International Criminal Court, a key aspect of the resolution passed unanimously recently. The imposition of sanctions would have been accompanied by use of force as per the original draft moved by the Western countries. But India, along with Russia, China and others, opposed the move and this resulted in a consensus forming around Article 41, which authorises partial sanctions but not use of force.

India, Brazil working to achieve $10 b bilateral trade

India and Brazil decided to forge stronger trade and economic ties and decided to work towards achieving a bilateral trade target of $10 billion in the next few years against $7.73 billion in 2010. The economic complementarities between the two countries would cement the trade and economic relations further and help in the inclusive growth of both nations. Both sides agreed for setting up of CEOs Forum and identified the priority sectors such as energy, oil, tourism, pharmaceuticals, value-added manufacturing, mining and agro-processing. Both countries also signed an Air Service Agreement. Total foreign direct investment (FDI) received from Brazil during April 2000 to December 2010 was to the tune of $4.55 million. The main sectors of investment from Brazil are: plastic products, manufacture of leather products, allopathic pharmaceutical preparations, data processing, software development and computer consultancy services.

Tri-nation group formed to free sailors

A tri-nation monitoring group of diplomats from India, Yemen and Phillipines has been established in Dubai to brainstorm ways of rescuing sailors on board ships that Somali pirates have hijacked.

India seeks more oil, LNG from Nigeria

India sought enhanced supplies of crude oil and agreement for supply of LNG from Nigeria even as the bilateral trade between the two countries is expected to touch $12 billion during 2010-11. In 2009-10, trade between the two countries stood at $8 billion. In the last fiscal, India exported goods worth $1.4 billion to Nigeria, while imported products worth $7.2 billion. Major export items to Nigeria comprise machinery and instruments, pharmaceuticals, transport equipment and electronic goods, while imports include petroleum, crude and products, non-ferrous metals, wood and cashew nuts.

India was interested in tying up LNG imports from Nigeria immediately as the country's requirement for LNG is projected to go up by 12-15 million tonnes a year in the foreseeable future. GAIL is also pursuing participation in the Nigerian Gas Master Plan Project and has submitted a proposal along with other international consortium members. It has also expressed interest in participation in petrochemical projects and city gas distribution projects in Nigeria.

India abstains from U.N. vote on Libya

India abstained from voting on a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution approving “all necessary measures,” including imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya. The resolution was passed with 10 members, including the U.S., France, the U.K. and Lebanon, voting in favour and five — Russia, China (both permanent members with veto rights), Brazil and Germany, besides India — abstaining. The Western alliance of the U.S., France and the U.K. lobbied energetically in New York for a consensus on the issue. It widened the earlier scope of sanctions passed unanimously by the UNSC by proposing the freezing of assets of seven more persons close to Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi and five other entities, including state-owned companies. The earlier sanctions include an arms embargo, assets freeze and travel ban on Colonel Qadhafi and his loyalists and a referral to the Hague-based International Criminal Court. India contested the reasoning behind all these measures in its ‘Explanation of Vote.' It felt that the UNSC should have focussed on ceasefire and bringing violence under control instead of choosing the option of “force based on relatively little credible information on the situation” from Libya.

India-ASEAN CEPA by year-end

With the Philippines all set to ratify the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the trade regime between the 10-member ASEAN block and India is all set to get consolidated paving way for inking of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by year-end. Philippines, apart from Cambodia, was the only country that had not ratified the agreement till date. Other members of the trade bloc are: Brunei, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos.

India regrets military action against Libya

India regretted the U.N.-sanctioned air strikes launched by the U.S.-led forces in Libya and urged all parties to resolve their differences through peaceful means, abjuring the use of force. India views with grave concern the continuing violence, strife and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Libya. It regrets the air strikes that are taking place. The measures adopted should mitigate — and not exacerbate — an already difficult situation for the people of the country. The U.S.-led coalition started pounding Libyan defence targets, as Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi vowed to open his arms depots to his people to retaliate against the western aggression.

India to send team of 50 rescue workers to Japan

A team of almost 50 trained rescue workers from India will arrive in Japan to help with the earthquake recovery effort. The group of paramilitary and police officers from India's National Disaster Management Authority will travel from Tokyo to Sendai in northern Japan, near the epicentre of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake that hit the country on March 11. The group will clear rubble and debris in the devastated areas around Sendai. They will also assist the Japanese with re-construction work and set up basic infrastructure in areas wiped away by the tsunami. The team — known as the National Disaster Rescue Force — has assisted in the aftermath of major natural disasters in India and abroad.

Free trade pact with four European nations this year

India and the Europe Free Trade Association (EFTA) are likely to conclude a free trade agreement (FTA) entailing a comprehensive bilateral trade and investment agreement by this year after fast-tracking of the negotiations between the two groups. The EFTA comprising Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein are likely to firm up an FTA this year. These four countries are not part of the 27-nation European Union, with which India is already negotiating an FTA. Recognising the need for enhancing trade ties, a joint study group between India and EFTA was established in 2006 to explore the possibility of such an agreement.

India, Africa set $70 b trade target

India and Africa, seeking to further strengthen the economic engagement, have set a target of $70 billion by 2015. India also reaffirmed its commitment to provide cheap medicines for the poor despite strong legal and diplomatic offensive launched by Western pharmaceutical companies. 

India to make determined bid for NSG membership

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao will lead India's bid for full membership in the four international export control regimes — the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Group. The fact that the Foreign Secretary will be leading India's bid is indicative of the importance that India attaches to the process of gaining full membership of the NSG. Observers, however, felt that obtaining NSG membership may be the most difficult for India given its close association with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. India is already an adherent to the NSG and MTCR guidelines but does not, as it is not a full member, have a direct say in deciding on changes in norms.

ECONOMY AND BUSINESS

100% FDI in Cold Storage 

100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is allowed under automatic route in storage and warehousing including warehousing of agriculture products with refrigeration (cold storage). Also, the existing policy allows for 51 % Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), in only single brand retail trade, subject to specified conditions. Government has received suggestions from associations, trade bodies for allowing FDI in multi brand retail. The objective is to enhance the operational efficiency of back-¬end infrastructure in the retail sector, reduce wastage in the agricultural sector, enhance benefit to producers, integrate the retailer in the value chain and benefit consumers through greater competition.

Share of India’s Agri Exports Up 

Government has entered into bilateral/regional trade agreements with various trading partners to obtain better market access for India’s products. Besides, Government is implementing a number of export promotion schemes, including Scheme for Market Development, Scheme for Infrastructure Development, Scheme for Quality Development, Scheme for Research & Development and Scheme for Transport Assistance. Exports of specific agricultural products are also promoted under Vishesh Krishi and Gram Udyog Yojana.  Share of India’ agricultural exports in global agricultural exports which was 0.85% in 1990 has increased to 1.43% in 2009. 

UNCTAD Report on Investment

India is projected to become the second most attractive destination for FDI in 2010-12, as per UNCTAD’s World Investment Report, 2010. The projection made in the report is based on the survey conducted among Trans National Corporations (TNCs). Government has put in place an investor-friendly policy on FDI, under which FDI, up to 100%, is permitted on the automatic route, in most sectors/activities. This policy is reviewed, on an ongoing basis, through a consultative process and significant changes have been made in the policy regime, in recent times, to ensure that India remains increasingly attractive and investor-friendly. 

India’s External Debt Stood at US$ 297.5 Billion at End-December 2010

At end-December 2010, India’s external debt stock stood at US$ 297.5 billion reflecting an increase of US$ 36.3 billion (13.9 per cent) over the level of US$ 261.2 billion at end-March 2010. The long-term debt increased by US$ 26.0 billion to US$ 234.9 billion i.e. an increase of 12.5 per cent. The short-term debt showed an increase of US$ 10.3 billion to US$ 62.6 billions i.e. an increase of 19.7 per cent.  Of the total increase of US$ 36.3 billion in India’s external debt at end-December, the valuation effect arising from depreciation of the US dollar against major international currencies accounted for US$ 5.3 billion (14.6 per cent). Excluding the valuation effect, the increase in external debt would have been US$ 31.0 billion.  Short-term debt (original maturity) accounted for 21.0 per cent of India’s total external debt while the remaining 79.0 per cent was long-term debt. Component-wise, the share of commercial borrowings stood highest at 28.5 per cent, followed by NRI deposits (17.0 per cent) and multilateral debt (16.0 per cent).  Government (Sovereign) external debt stood at US$ 74.5 billion, (25.0 per cent of total external debt) at end-December 2010 as against US$ 67.1 billion (25.7 per cent) at end-March 2010. 
The share of US dollar denominated debt was the highest in external debt stock at 53.7 per cent at end-December 2010, followed by the Indian rupee (19.0 per cent), Japanese Yen (12.0 per cent), SDR (9.7 per cent) and Euro (3.5 per cent).  India’s external debt to GDP ratio and debt service ratios stood at 16.9 per cent and 3.9 per cent respectively, at end-December 2010. The ratio of short-term external debt to foreign exchange reserves was 21.1 per cent at end-December 2010 as compared to 18.8 per cent at end-March 2010. 

SEZs come under MAT purview

Seeking to equalise the corporate liability and what could be termed as a setback to the key players, the Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, proposed the levy of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) of 18.5 per cent on the book profits of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) developers and units. MAT was introduced in 1987 to bring under the tax net companies that paid no or very little tax after taking advantage of the exemptions provided by the Income-tax Act. The Government has also proposed to impose dividend distribution tax on SEZ developers, which would take effect from June this year.

GST implementation may be delayed beyond April 2012

With a consensus nowhere in sight, the Central Government admitted that it might not be possible to roll out the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from April 2012, as implementation of the new indirect tax regime would require the nod from all the States. the government would have liked to usher in the GST along with the roll-out of the Direct Taxes Code (DTC) from April 1, 2012. The current position is that while the Centre has been engaged in discussions with the states for the last four years over the modalities of implementation of the GST, the necessary Constitution Amendment Bill is slated for tabling in Parliament during the current session. Even if the constitutional amendment goes in now, practically it would be referred to the Standing Committee for examination. Following that, if the Standing Committee gives its suggestion towards the end of the winter session, the government can then present it for voting in Parliament, earliest in the next budget Session. Once it is voted in Parliament, it has to go for ratification of 50 per cent states.

India among top 10 global manufacturers

India has emerged as one of the top ten manufacturers of the world in 2010, driven mainly by its strong economic growth, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has said. According to UNIDO's publication, ‘International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics 2011,' released in Vienna, India, together with other leading developing economies such as Brazil and China, showed strong performance in economic growth in 2010. The manufacturing value added (MVA) of these three countries grew by over 10 per cent in 2010 (at constant U.S. dollars of 2,000). India tops developing countries (China excluded) in production of textiles, chemical products, basic metals, general machinery and equipment, and electrical machinery. “India has overtaken Brazil in the production of motor vehicles and now ranks second among developing countries after Mexico,” the statement said. However, India's Asian competitors — Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines — are ahead in the production of electronic goods such as computers and office equipment, radio, television and other communication equipment, it said.

RBI raises repo, reverse repo rates

In its pursuit to contain price rise in the economy the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) hiked the short-term indicative rates by 25 basis points. The central bank has increased the repo rate by 25 basis points from 6.5 per cent to 6.75 per cent and the reverse repo rate by 25 basis points from 5.5 per cent to 5.75 per cent with immediate effect. Repo rate is the rate at which banks borrow money from the central bank and reverse repo is the rate at which banks park their funds with the central bank. Inflationary pressures in emerging market economies (EMEs) are already high as output gaps have narrowed, while headline inflation has risen noticeably in a number of advanced economies, especially in the euro area and the U.K. Consequently, an increasing number of EMEs have begun monetary tightening, while the debate on exit from the accommodative monetary stance has come to the fore in advanced economies.

Norms relaxed for Maharatna 

The Centre announced relaxation in norms for according the Maharatna status to Central public sector enterprises, a step that help many CPSEs acquire this tag, which gives a company more financial autonomy. At present, four CPSEs (ONGC, Indian Oil Corp, SAIL and NTPC) have been given the Maharatna status. As per the new guidelines issued by the Department of Public Enterprises, a company qualifying for the Maharatna status should have an average annual turnover of Rs.20,000 crore in the last three years, as against Rs.25,000 crore prescribed earlier. The criteria for grant of the Maharatna status to CPSEs have been re-examined in the context of representations received from various administrative ministries/departments and the need to suitably empower mega Navratna CPSEs so that they can effectively face the challenges of competition, both domestic and foreign and further expand their operations. Similarly, a CPSE with an average annual net worth of Rs.10,000 crore and net profit of Rs.2,500 crore for three years in a row will qualify for the status. Earlier, companies with required average annual net worth of Rs.15,000 crore and net profit of Rs.5,000 crore for three consecutive years were eligible for the tag.

Effort to give big push to manufacturing growth

The National Manufacturing policy, which aims to create massive employment opportunities and make India a manufacturing hub, is being discussed with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and it would help catalyse manufacturing growth and sustainable development. The policy is being shaped to woo foreign investment and increase the share of manufacturing in the gross domestic product (GDP). India's manufacturing growth is slow as compared to G-7 countries such as Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S. India will soon change its growth strategy and increase manufacturing exports in near future.

GST Bill tabled in Lok Sabha

The Centre introduced a Constitution Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha to facilitate implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), a tax regime that would subsume levies such as excise, service tax and sales tax. The Bill, introduced by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, seeks to amend the Constitution with a view to conferring simultaneous powers on the Centre and the States to levy taxes on goods and services. It will also subsume State VAT/sales tax, entertainment tax (unless levied by the local bodies), luxury tax, taxes on lottery, betting and gambling as also tax on advertisements, cesses and surcharges levied by States. However, crude petroleum, diesel, petrol, aviation turbine fuel, natural gas and alcohol for human consumption have been kept out of the GST ambit. The Bill provides for creation of a GST Council to be headed by Union Finance Minister. The council will be empowered to recommend tax rates and exemption and threshold limits for goods and services. Besides, the Bill proposes a GST Dispute Settlement Authority to deal with grievances of the Centre and the States with regard to GST.

The chairperson of the authority will be a retired judge of the Supreme Court or the Chief Justice of a High Court, who would be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of India. The GST, considered to be a major tax reform, has been pending for the last four years due to disagreement between the Centre and some States over the structure of the new tax regime.

POLITY AND COMMITTEES

Upgradation of Slums

The Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja has said, as per estimates of the Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. Pranob Sen, Principal Adviser, Planning Commission, the slum population in the country is expected to touch 93.06 million by 2011. The Committee estimated slum population in 2001 at 75.26 million.

Constitution of Central Employment Guarantee Council

Central Employment Guarantee Council (CEGC) has been constituted under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. Section 10(3) (d) of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA has been followed wherever CEGC has been constituted. The relevant provision is as follows;  “not more than fifteen non-official members representing Panchayati Raj Institutions, organizations of workers and disadvantaged groups: Provided that such non-official members shall include two chairpersons of District Panchayats nominated by the Central Government by rotation for a period of one year at a time: Provided further that not less than one third of the non-official members nominated under this clause shall be women: Provided also that not less than one third of the non-official members shall be belonging to the Scheduled Casters, the Scheduled Tribes, other backward classes and minorities.” 

Report on Urban Infrastructure and Services Submitted

The High Powered Expert Committee on Urban Infrastructure submitted its report to the Minister of Urban Development Shri Kamal Nath and the Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja. The Committee was chaired by Dr Isher Ahluwalia. Noting that the urban population is expected to increase from about 350 million in 2010 to 600 million in 2031, the Committee has estimated that urban infrastructure will require a total investment of Rs 39.2 lakh crore over the next 20 years, with Rs 17.3 lakh crore for urban roads, Rs 8 lakh crore for sectors delivering urban services such as water supply, sewerage, solid waste management, and storm water drains, Rs 4 lakh crore for renewal and redevelopment including slums, etc. The Committee has emphasised the importance of maintaining these assets if the investments are to make a durable impact on service delivery. 

Transfer of Subjects to Panchayats

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has issued advisories to the States on 9.4.2009, 23.10.2009 and 1.12.2009 on Panchayat finance, manpower & effective devolution of Funds, Functions and Functionaries (3Fs) respectively. In addition, under Panchayat Empowerment and Accountability Incentive Scheme (PEAIS), the Ministry commissions every year a study on the Devolution Index (DI) that ranks States for undertaking measures for devolution of funds, functions and functionaries (3Fs) to the Panchayats. The DI study for the year 2009-10 found the performance of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Maharashtra and among the North East States, Sikkim to be the best in devolution of 3Fs. Under Article 243G of the Constitution, States are to endow the Panchayats with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as institutions of self-government and to plan and implement schemes for economic development and social justice, including those in relation to matters listed in the Eleventh Schedule. ‘Panchayats’ is a State subject and the States devolve powers to the Panchayats in their own context. 

Committee on the Devas deal submits report

The Government had constituted a High Powered Review Committee comprising of Shri B.K.Chaturvedi and Prof. R. Narasimha to, inter-alia, review aspects of the agreement between Antrix and M/s Devas Multimedia Pvt. Limited and suggest correctives and responsibility for lapses if any; and suggest improvements and changes in processes and procedures followed by Antrix, ISRO and Department of Space. The Committee has submitted its report to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has referred the report to the Cabinet Secretary for examination and to make recommendations on follow up actions. 

Constitution of Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC) 

The Resolution notifying the constitution of Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC) was issued by the Government of India. This is in pursuance to the announcement made by the Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee in his budget  speech of 2010-11 to rewrite and harmonise financial sector legislations, rules and regulations. This had become necessary as the institutional framework governing India’s financial sector was built over a century.

Justice (Retd.) B. N. Srikrishna       -

Chairman

Panel to examine regulation of NBFCs

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) constituted a working group under the Chairmanship of Usha Thorat, Director, Centre for Advanced Financial Research and Learning (CAFRAL), to examine a range of emerging issues pertaining to regulation of the NBFCs (non-banking financial companies) sector. The NBFCs sector has undergone a significant transformation in the past few years and has come to be recognised as a systemically important element of the financial system. The recent global financial crisis has also highlighted the regulatory imperatives concerning the non-banking financial sector and the risks arising from regulatory gaps, arbitrage and systemic inter-connectedness. While examining a range of emerging issues pertaining to the regulation of the sector, the working group will focus on the definition and classification of NBFCs, addressing regulatory gaps and regulatory arbitrage, maintaining standards of governance in the sector and appropriate approach to NBFC supervision. The scope of examination will, however, be within the current legislative framework.

Article 21 will apply to foreigners too

Observing that Article 21 of the Constitution (right to life and liberty) would apply even to a foreign national staying in India, the Supreme Court stayed the deportation until further orders of a Libyan researcher whose visa is due to expire.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

First Scientific Expedition to Arctic

India launched its first scientific expedition to Ny-Alesund on the Spitsbergen island of Norway in August, 2007 to mark the beginning of long-term scientific research by Indian scientists through global scientific endeavor in the Arctic region.  The five member inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional team of scientists of the first Arctic Expedition were drawn from National Center for Antarctic & Ocean Research (NCAOR), Goa; Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad; Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune; and LucknowUniversity.

An MoU has been signed on 1^st July 2008 between National Centre of Antarctic & Ocean Research (NCAOR), an autonomous agency of the Ministry and Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) on Cooperation in Polar Research. A research station at Arctic namely ‘Himadri’ was launched at Ny-Alesund in Svalbard region on 1^st July 2008.  Research in various disciplines i.e. glaciology, Palaeoclimate, microbiology, atmospheric science, etc. during different seasons in a year have since been undertaken in the region around the Ny-Alesund.  The nature of research, which is in phases, does not necessitate all-year-round-presence presently. Since 2007, four expeditions (inter-disciplinary and comprising of multi-institutional team of scientists) to Arctic have been undertaken.

Difference between 2G and 3G

2G refers to second generation wireless telecommunication technology developed mainly for voice services and slow data services with data rates upto 9.6Kbps whereas, the 3G (3rd generation) mobile telecommunications is the generic name for the next generation of mobile networks that combines wireless mobile technology with high data rate transmission capabilities. The 3G network is capable of providing higher data rates upto 2 Mbps and supporting a variety of services such as high-resolution video and multi media services in addition to voice, fax and conventional data services.

National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network Launched 

Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment and Forests launched the Real time Ambient Noise Monitoring Network. Real Time Ambient Noise Monitoring Network will cover seven metros in phase-I viz. Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai have been selected and in each Metro five Remote Monitoring Terminals have been installed in different noise zones for continuous monitoring.

 In Phase-II, another 35 Noise Monitoring Stations will be installed in the same seven cities and in Phase III, Real Time Noise Network will be expanded by 90 stations to cover 18 other major cities by 2012. Phase-III cities include Kanpur, Pune, Surat, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Jaipur, Indore, Bhopal, Ludhiana, Guwahati, Dehradun, Thiruvananthpuram, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Gandhinagar, Ranchi, Amritsar and Raipur. The network in the majopr Metros will also be augmented by establishing more noise monitoring stations. 

INCCA Launch Black Carbon Research Initiative NCAP

The science plan of the Black Carbon Research Initiative National carbonaceous Aerosols Programme (NCAP) under the aegis of the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment, INCCA will be launched. During launch of INCCA, it was announced to take an in depth scientific study on Black Carbon in recognition of the recent emergence of interest among scientists, experts and governments regarding the role of Black Carbon in the context of global Climate Change, as well as the role of black carbon in global warming including melting of glaciers. Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) was launched in October 2009. It is a network of over 125 R&D institutions countrywide. Under the aegis of INCCA, two national level assessments have already been published, one in May 2010 on Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2007 and the other, a 4x4 Climate Change Impact Assessment in November 2010, for 4 climate sensitive regions of India for 4 sectors – Agriculture, Water, Forests and Health. 

GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN)

In view of the limitations of the ground based navigation systems, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 1993 endorsed a global satellitebased navigation system as the future of air navigation system. In furtherance of this international commitment, AAI and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) entered into a MoU on 25.8.2001 for implementation of GAGAN Project for seamless navigation over Indian air space. Presently, similar systems are in operation in USA, European countries etc. It is being ensured that GAGAN system is interoperable with other similar systems operational in the world andif.; fit to provide CAT-I precision approach in the land mass of the India's Flight Information Region (FIR).

India applies for CERN associate membership

India has applied to the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) at Geneva in Switzerland for associate membership. if India was granted associate membership, Indian researchers would be eligible for jobs at the CERN. Currently, researchers of institutes that collaborate with the CERN can only be deputed there for short periods of time. It will also open the gates for the private sector to the international research organisation. The CERN was established in 1954 by 12 European countries. At present, it has 20 member-States.

Turtles know east-west, north-south

Migrating sea turtles pick up on magnetic signatures that vary across Earth's surface in order to determine their position in space — both east-west and north-south — and steer in the right direction, to cross vast stretches of ocean.

‘Efficacy of Indian Early Tsunami Warning System proved'

The Hyderabad based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), which ruled out a tsunami threat for the Indian Ocean, reconfirmed that the sea levels in the Indian Ocean were not different from what had been anticipated.

INCOIS issued the first bulletin just seven minutes after the massive undersea quake near the east coast of Honshu in Japan.  The Indian Early Tsunami Warning System based on the data it received from seismic stations, sea level gauges, bottom pressure recorders (tsunami buoys) and the numerical model to predict the water level changes expected at various locations along the Indian coast worked well. INCOIS has 22 sea-level gauges at Aerial Bay, Chennai, Ennore, Garden Reach, Haldia, Kandla, Karwar, Krishnapatnam, Marmagao, Machilipatnam, Nagapattinam, Paradeep, Port Blair, Vadinar, Visakhapatnam, among others, and three bottom pressure recorders. Two such recorders in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal got triggered to tsunami mode due to the arrival of seismic waves. In addition to the Indian systems, INCOIS also accessed the data in real-time, near real-time from similar observing systems maintained by other countries in the Indian and Pacific Ocean to follow the progress of the tsunami wave.

Majuli Island for Unesco World Heritage list

The Government of India has proposed to nominate the name of Assam's river-island, Majuli, for inclusion in the ‘cultural landscape' category of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) World Heritage list. Considered the largest freshwater river-island in the world, Majuli is located in the middle of the mighty Brahmaputra. Conservation architect G.S.V. Suryanarayana Murthy has been selected by the Archaeological Survey of India as the man to prepare the nomination dossier. Majuli was shortlisted in the World Heritage Site (WHS) ‘Tentative List' at the World Heritage Committee session at Suzhou in China. Subsequently, a comprehensive nomination dossier was submitted in 2006, followed by additional information in 2008. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos) mission is expected to come in October to evaluate the Majuli cultural landscape. The island situated in Jorhat district of northern Assam is about 80 km wide and about 10-15 km long, with a total area of 875 sq.km in midstream of the delta system. A mixed community of various ethno-cultural groups, the Majulians have migrated to the island over centuries, bringing along their traditions and skills. These communities are united by the social institution of Sattra, which was introduced by the Vaishnava revivalist, saint Sankardeva, in the 16th century.

Day shortened, says NASA

The massive earthquake that struck Japan was so powerful that it accelerated the Earth's rotation speed, shortening the length of the day by 1.8 microseconds, according to a new analysis by NASA. According to scientists at the U.S. space agency, the 8.9-magnitude quake shifted the way the Earth's mass is distributed, which made the planet spin a little faster, cutting the 24-hour day by an estimated 1.8 microseconds. That is less than two-millionths of one second. Initial data suggested the quake moved Japan's main island about eight feet and shifted the Earth's figure axis, around which the Earth's mass is balanced, by about 17 cm.

Indian scientists to lead global study on quakes at Koyna

Indian scientists will spearhead a major international project which is expected to provide fresh insights into the processes that cause earthquakes. The project, costing anywhere between Rs.200 crore and Rs.400 crore, will be the first of its kind in the world and is being taken up at the Koyna region in Maharashtra.

As part of the project, a 7-km deep borehole drilling has been planned. Koyna is the best known example of reservoir-triggered earthquakes. The project will be funded mainly by the Ministry of Earth Sciences and supported by other national and international organisations. 70 experts, including 26 from abroad, have gathered at the CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) to attend a five-day workshop on ‘Deep Scientific Drilling to Study Reservoir Triggered Earthquakes at Koyna India,' which began recently. The project will study the physical, geological and chemical processes and properties of the earthquake zone in real time. [Koyna a “classical site' of Reservoir Triggered Seismicity (RTS). Earthquakes have been occurring since the impoundment of the reservoir in 1962, including the largest RTS event of M 6.3 on December 10, 1967. ]

EPR

The EPR is a third generation pressurized water reactor (PWR) design. It has been designed and developed mainly by Framatome(now Areva NP),Electricité de France(EDF) in France, andSiemens AG in Germany. This reactor design was called in EuropeEuropean Pressurized Reactor, and the internationalized name of this reactor isEvolutionary Power Reactor, but is now simply named EPR by Areva. As of 2010, four EPR units are under construction. The first two, in Finland and France, are both facing costly construction delays. Construction commenced on two additional Chinese units in 2009 and 2010.  In July 2008 the French President announced a second EPR would be built in France due to high oil and gas prices. Penly was chosen as the site in 2009, and construction should start in 2012. In February 2009, NPCIL Signed MOU with Areva to setup two 1650 MWe reactors at Jaitapur in Maharashtra.

Sievert 

The sievert (symbol: Sv) is the International System of Units (SI) SI derived unit of dose equivalent radiation. It attempts to quantitatively evaluate the biological effects of ionizing radiation as opposed to the physical aspects, which are characterised by the absorbed dose, measured in gray. It is named after Rolf Maximilian Sievert, a Swedishmedical physicist renowned for work on radiation dosage measurement and research into the biological effects of radiation.

SI multiples and conversions:

Frequently used SI multiples are the millisievert (1 mSv = 0.001 Sv) and microsievert (1 μSv = 0.000001 Sv).

An older unit for the equivalent dose, is the rem, still often used in the United States. One sievert is equal to 100 rem:

§  1 rem = 0.01 Sv = 10 mSv

§  1 mrem = 0.01 mSv = 10 μSv

§  1 Sv = 100 rem

§  1 mSv = 100 mrem = 0.1 rem

§  1 μSv = 0.1 mrem

The conventional units for its time derivative is mSv/h.

In search of a second earth

The discovery of six exoplanets or extra-solar planets (planets outside the Solar System) orbiting a single sun-like star, dubbed Kepler-11, at a distance of about 2,000 light-years from Earth makes it the largest collection to be ever found. Those found earlier using ground-based detection methods were single exoplanets orbiting a star. The discovery by the Kepler spacecraft launched in March 2009 and reported recently online in Nature (“A closely packed system of low-mass, low-density planets transiting Kepler-11” by Jack J. Lissauer et al.,) became possible as the Kepler telescope continuously looks out for exoplanets transiting the more than 150,000 stars in a specific region of the sky in the Cygnus and Lyra constellations. The main objective of the Kepler mission is to find Earth-sized planets orbiting Sun-like stars and capable of supporting life. All the six exoplanets are bigger than Earth, with the largest ones comparable with Uranus and Neptune. Like Mercury and Venus, they are too close to the star to support life. According to the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), finding an Earth-sized planet in the habitable zone that is neither too close nor too far from the star may take at least three years; one transit would take nearly a year and three such transits are needed for planet confirmation. With Kepler only halfway into its mission, we cannot possibly expect discovery of an Earth-like planet before 2013.

Massive uranium deposits found

Huge deposits of natural uranium, which promise to be one of the top 20 of the world's reserves, have been found in the Tummalapalle belt in the southern part of the Kadapa basin in Andhra Pradesh. The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), which explores uranium in the country, has so far discovered 44,000 tonnes of natural uranium (U3O8) in just 15 line km of the 160-km long belt. The uranium deposits will occur over the entire length of 160 km of the Tummalapalle belt with a “depth consistency” of about 400 metres. The uranium resources found so far can sustain a generation of 5,000 MWe of nuclear power. The AMD earlier found uranium deposits in Nalgonda district and it was confident that it could locate reserves in the adjoining Guntur district, where its men were working now.

About 4,000 tonnes of U3O8 deposits were discovered in the Bhima basin at Gogi in Karnataka. Gradewise, the Gogi ore was richer than the Tummalapalle ore but it did not continue over a long distance. In Meghalaya, about 10,000 tonnes (at Domiasiat) and 8,000 tonnes (Wakhyn) of deposits were discovered several years ago. But the UCIL was unable to mine them because of socio-economic problems. India has 19 operating Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) that use natural uranium as fuel. It is building more PHWRs of 700 MWe capacity each.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

First Scientific Expedition to Arctic

India launched its first scientific expedition to Ny-Alesund on the Spitsbergen island of Norway in August, 2007 to mark the beginning of long-term scientific research by Indian scientists through global scientific endeavor in the Arctic region.  The five member inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional team of scientists of the first Arctic Expedition were drawn from National Center for Antarctic & Ocean Research (NCAOR), Goa; Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad; Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune; and LucknowUniversity.

An MoU has been signed on 1^st July 2008 between National Centre of Antarctic & Ocean Research (NCAOR), an autonomous agency of the Ministry and Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) on Cooperation in Polar Research. A research station at Arctic namely ‘Himadri’ was launched at Ny-Alesund in Svalbard region on 1^st July 2008.  Research in various disciplines i.e. glaciology, Palaeoclimate, microbiology, atmospheric science, etc. during different seasons in a year have since been undertaken in the region around the Ny-Alesund.  The nature of research, which is in phases, does not necessitate all-year-round-presence presently. Since 2007, four expeditions (inter-disciplinary and comprising of multi-institutional team of scientists) to Arctic have been undertaken.

Difference between 2G and 3G

2G refers to second generation wireless telecommunication technology developed mainly for voice services and slow data services with data rates upto 9.6Kbps whereas, the 3G (3rd generation) mobile telecommunications is the generic name for the next generation of mobile networks that combines wireless mobile technology with high data rate transmission capabilities. The 3G network is capable of providing higher data rates upto 2 Mbps and supporting a variety of services such as high-resolution video and multi media services in addition to voice, fax and conventional data services.

National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network Launched 

Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment and Forests launched the Real time Ambient Noise Monitoring Network. Real Time Ambient Noise Monitoring Network will cover seven metros in phase-I viz. Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai have been selected and in each Metro five Remote Monitoring Terminals have been installed in different noise zones for continuous monitoring.

 In Phase-II, another 35 Noise Monitoring Stations will be installed in the same seven cities and in Phase III, Real Time Noise Network will be expanded by 90 stations to cover 18 other major cities by 2012. Phase-III cities include Kanpur, Pune, Surat, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Jaipur, Indore, Bhopal, Ludhiana, Guwahati, Dehradun, Thiruvananthpuram, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Gandhinagar, Ranchi, Amritsar and Raipur. The network in the majopr Metros will also be augmented by establishing more noise monitoring stations. 

INCCA Launch Black Carbon Research Initiative NCAP

The science plan of the Black Carbon Research Initiative National carbonaceous Aerosols Programme (NCAP) under the aegis of the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment, INCCA will be launched. During launch of INCCA, it was announced to take an in depth scientific study on Black Carbon in recognition of the recent emergence of interest among scientists, experts and governments regarding the role of Black Carbon in the context of global Climate Change, as well as the role of black carbon in global warming including melting of glaciers. Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) was launched in October 2009. It is a network of over 125 R&D institutions countrywide. Under the aegis of INCCA, two national level assessments have already been published, one in May 2010 on Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2007 and the other, a 4x4 Climate Change Impact Assessment in November 2010, for 4 climate sensitive regions of India for 4 sectors – Agriculture, Water, Forests and Health. 

GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN)

In view of the limitations of the ground based navigation systems, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 1993 endorsed a global satellitebased navigation system as the future of air navigation system. In furtherance of this international commitment, AAI and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) entered into a MoU on 25.8.2001 for implementation of GAGAN Project for seamless navigation over Indian air space. Presently, similar systems are in operation in USA, European countries etc. It is being ensured that GAGAN system is interoperable with other similar systems operational in the world andif.; fit to provide CAT-I precision approach in the land mass of the India's Flight Information Region (FIR).

India applies for CERN associate membership

India has applied to the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) at Geneva in Switzerland for associate membership. if India was granted associate membership, Indian researchers would be eligible for jobs at the CERN. Currently, researchers of institutes that collaborate with the CERN can only be deputed there for short periods of time. It will also open the gates for the private sector to the international research organisation. The CERN was established in 1954 by 12 European countries. At present, it has 20 member-States.

Turtles know east-west, north-south

Migrating sea turtles pick up on magnetic signatures that vary across Earth's surface in order to determine their position in space — both east-west and north-south — and steer in the right direction, to cross vast stretches of ocean.

‘Efficacy of Indian Early Tsunami Warning System proved'

The Hyderabad based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), which ruled out a tsunami threat for the Indian Ocean, reconfirmed that the sea levels in the Indian Ocean were not different from what had been anticipated.

INCOIS issued the first bulletin just seven minutes after the massive undersea quake near the east coast of Honshu in Japan.  The Indian Early Tsunami Warning System based on the data it received from seismic stations, sea level gauges, bottom pressure recorders (tsunami buoys) and the numerical model to predict the water level changes expected at various locations along the Indian coast worked well. INCOIS has 22 sea-level gauges at Aerial Bay, Chennai, Ennore, Garden Reach, Haldia, Kandla, Karwar, Krishnapatnam, Marmagao, Machilipatnam, Nagapattinam, Paradeep, Port Blair, Vadinar, Visakhapatnam, among others, and three bottom pressure recorders. Two such recorders in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal got triggered to tsunami mode due to the arrival of seismic waves. In addition to the Indian systems, INCOIS also accessed the data in real-time, near real-time from similar observing systems maintained by other countries in the Indian and Pacific Ocean to follow the progress of the tsunami wave.

Majuli Island for Unesco World Heritage list

The Government of India has proposed to nominate the name of Assam's river-island, Majuli, for inclusion in the ‘cultural landscape' category of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) World Heritage list. Considered the largest freshwater river-island in the world, Majuli is located in the middle of the mighty Brahmaputra. Conservation architect G.S.V. Suryanarayana Murthy has been selected by the Archaeological Survey of India as the man to prepare the nomination dossier. Majuli was shortlisted in the World Heritage Site (WHS) ‘Tentative List' at the World Heritage Committee session at Suzhou in China. Subsequently, a comprehensive nomination dossier was submitted in 2006, followed by additional information in 2008. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos) mission is expected to come in October to evaluate the Majuli cultural landscape. The island situated in Jorhat district of northern Assam is about 80 km wide and about 10-15 km long, with a total area of 875 sq.km in midstream of the delta system. A mixed community of various ethno-cultural groups, the Majulians have migrated to the island over centuries, bringing along their traditions and skills. These communities are united by the social institution of Sattra, which was introduced by the Vaishnava revivalist, saint Sankardeva, in the 16th century.

Day shortened, says NASA

The massive earthquake that struck Japan was so powerful that it accelerated the Earth's rotation speed, shortening the length of the day by 1.8 microseconds, according to a new analysis by NASA. According to scientists at the U.S. space agency, the 8.9-magnitude quake shifted the way the Earth's mass is distributed, which made the planet spin a little faster, cutting the 24-hour day by an estimated 1.8 microseconds. That is less than two-millionths of one second. Initial data suggested the quake moved Japan's main island about eight feet and shifted the Earth's figure axis, around which the Earth's mass is balanced, by about 17 cm.

Indian scientists to lead global study on quakes at Koyna

Indian scientists will spearhead a major international project which is expected to provide fresh insights into the processes that cause earthquakes. The project, costing anywhere between Rs.200 crore and Rs.400 crore, will be the first of its kind in the world and is being taken up at the Koyna region in Maharashtra.

As part of the project, a 7-km deep borehole drilling has been planned. Koyna is the best known example of reservoir-triggered earthquakes. The project will be funded mainly by the Ministry of Earth Sciences and supported by other national and international organisations. 70 experts, including 26 from abroad, have gathered at the CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) to attend a five-day workshop on ‘Deep Scientific Drilling to Study Reservoir Triggered Earthquakes at Koyna India,' which began recently. The project will study the physical, geological and chemical processes and properties of the earthquake zone in real time. [Koyna a “classical site' of Reservoir Triggered Seismicity (RTS). Earthquakes have been occurring since the impoundment of the reservoir in 1962, including the largest RTS event of M 6.3 on December 10, 1967. ]

EPR

The EPR is a third generation pressurized water reactor (PWR) design. It has been designed and developed mainly by Framatome(now Areva NP),Electricité de France(EDF) in France, andSiemens AG in Germany. This reactor design was called in EuropeEuropean Pressurized Reactor, and the internationalized name of this reactor isEvolutionary Power Reactor, but is now simply named EPR by Areva. As of 2010, four EPR units are under construction. The first two, in Finland and France, are both facing costly construction delays. Construction commenced on two additional Chinese units in 2009 and 2010.  In July 2008 the French President announced a second EPR would be built in France due to high oil and gas prices. Penly was chosen as the site in 2009, and construction should start in 2012. In February 2009, NPCIL Signed MOU with Areva to setup two 1650 MWe reactors at Jaitapur in Maharashtra.

Sievert 

The sievert (symbol: Sv) is the International System of Units (SI) SI derived unit of dose equivalent radiation. It attempts to quantitatively evaluate the biological effects of ionizing radiation as opposed to the physical aspects, which are characterised by the absorbed dose, measured in gray. It is named after Rolf Maximilian Sievert, a Swedishmedical physicist renowned for work on radiation dosage measurement and research into the biological effects of radiation.

SI multiples and conversions:

Frequently used SI multiples are the millisievert (1 mSv = 0.001 Sv) and microsievert (1 μSv = 0.000001 Sv).

An older unit for the equivalent dose, is the rem, still often used in the United States. One sievert is equal to 100 rem:

§  1 rem = 0.01 Sv = 10 mSv

§  1 mrem = 0.01 mSv = 10 μSv

§  1 Sv = 100 rem

§  1 mSv = 100 mrem = 0.1 rem

§  1 μSv = 0.1 mrem

The conventional units for its time derivative is mSv/h.

In search of a second earth

The discovery of six exoplanets or extra-solar planets (planets outside the Solar System) orbiting a single sun-like star, dubbed Kepler-11, at a distance of about 2,000 light-years from Earth makes it the largest collection to be ever found. Those found earlier using ground-based detection methods were single exoplanets orbiting a star. The discovery by the Kepler spacecraft launched in March 2009 and reported recently online in Nature (“A closely packed system of low-mass, low-density planets transiting Kepler-11” by Jack J. Lissauer et al.,) became possible as the Kepler telescope continuously looks out for exoplanets transiting the more than 150,000 stars in a specific region of the sky in the Cygnus and Lyra constellations. The main objective of the Kepler mission is to find Earth-sized planets orbiting Sun-like stars and capable of supporting life. All the six exoplanets are bigger than Earth, with the largest ones comparable with Uranus and Neptune. Like Mercury and Venus, they are too close to the star to support life. According to the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), finding an Earth-sized planet in the habitable zone that is neither too close nor too far from the star may take at least three years; one transit would take nearly a year and three such transits are needed for planet confirmation. With Kepler only halfway into its mission, we cannot possibly expect discovery of an Earth-like planet before 2013.

Massive uranium deposits found

Huge deposits of natural uranium, which promise to be one of the top 20 of the world's reserves, have been found in the Tummalapalle belt in the southern part of the Kadapa basin in Andhra Pradesh. The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), which explores uranium in the country, has so far discovered 44,000 tonnes of natural uranium (U3O8) in just 15 line km of the 160-km long belt. The uranium deposits will occur over the entire length of 160 km of the Tummalapalle belt with a “depth consistency” of about 400 metres. The uranium resources found so far can sustain a generation of 5,000 MWe of nuclear power. The AMD earlier found uranium deposits in Nalgonda district and it was confident that it could locate reserves in the adjoining Guntur district, where its men were working now.

About 4,000 tonnes of U3O8 deposits were discovered in the Bhima basin at Gogi in Karnataka. Gradewise, the Gogi ore was richer than the Tummalapalle ore but it did not continue over a long distance. In Meghalaya, about 10,000 tonnes (at Domiasiat) and 8,000 tonnes (Wakhyn) of deposits were discovered several years ago. But the UCIL was unable to mine them because of socio-economic problems. India has 19 operating Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) that use natural uranium as fuel. It is building more PHWRs of 700 MWe capacity each.

APPOINTMENTS AND DESIGNATIONS

Chairperson of Central Board of Film Certification 

Ms. Leela Samson, a noted Bharatnatyam dancer, choreographer, instructor and writer has been appointed as Chairperson of Central Board of Film Certification in an honorary capacity from 1st April 2011 for a period of three years.  As a soloist Ms. Samson has been known for her technical virtuosity, and taught Bharatnatyam at Shriram Bhartiya Kala Kendra in Delhi for many years. Presently she is the Director of Kalakshetra, the institute for the classical arts founded by the Late Rukmini Devi Arundale. She is also the Chairperson of Sangeet Natak Akademi, India’s National Academy for Music Dance and Drama. She has been awarded the Padma Shree for her contribution in the field of arts. 

Chairperson, Film Certification Appellate Tribunal

Shri Lalit Bhasin, a renowned lawyer has been appointed as Chairperson of the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal. The appointment is for a period of three years. Shri Bhasin is also the Vice-President of the Bar Association of India. He is also Chairman of the Services Export Promotion Council, established by the Ministry of Commerce and a Member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration apart from being a Member of the Task Force on Arbitration set up by ICC. He has several awards to his credit which include Gandhi National Unity Award, 1991, the Plaque of Honour given by the Prime Minister for his outstanding contribution to the Rule of Law in 2002 and the National Law Day Award given by the President of India in 2007. 

IOC Chairman

R. S. Butola has taken over as Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). He succeeds B. M. Bansal . Before joining IOC, Mr. Butola was the Managing Director of ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL). Under his stewardship, OVL built a formidable portfolio comprising both discovered and producing assets in over 15 countries. Similarly, the Government appointed Joeman Thomas as acting MD of OVL. Mr. Thomas is Director (Exploration) in OVL and will hold the additional charge of the company after Mr. Butola moved to IOC.

CIL Chairman

Nirmal Chandra Jha took over as Chairman of Coal India Limited (CIL) on Tuesday. He would continue to hold his present charge as Director-Technical. He took over from P. S. Bhattacharyya. However, Mr. Jha, has had to relinquish the additional charge of Chairman-cum-Managing Director of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL). A. K. Singh, CMD, Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL took over additional charge as CMD of SECL.

P.C. Chacko to be JPC Chairman

Senior Congress leader from Kerala and four-time Lok Sabha member P.C. Chacko has been named Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the alleged scam in the grant of 2G spectrum and telecom licences from 1998 to 2009. Speaker Meira Kumar is believed to have approved the government recommendation to nominate Mr. Chacko to head the multiparty committee.

Meanwhile, the Public Accounts Committee headed by BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, which is separately enquiring into the award of 2G telecom licences.

Thomas' appointment cancelled

President Pratibha Patil cancelled the appointment of P.J. Thomas as Central Vigilance Commissioner, 11 days after the Supreme Court quashed his selection by a high-power committee headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The court, in the March 3 judgment, said the recommendation made by the committee did not consider the charge sheet in a corruption case pending against Mr. Thomas. The Department of Personnel and Training sent a note to the President after obtaining a copy of the court order. With the cancellation of Mr. Thomas' appointment, the government can now proceed with the selection of a new CVC.

SPORTS

Ireland shocks England

Kevin O'Brien (113, 63b, 13x4, 6x6) scored the fastest World Cup century to help minnows Ireland defeat England by three wickets in a Group ‘B' contest. O'Brien brought up his century in just 50 balls, bettering Matthew Hayden's effort of a hundred in 66 balls against South Africa at St. Kitts, West Indies in 2007.

Umpire Decision Review System

The Hawk-eye, Snick-o-meter and Hot Spot are the critical elements that a third umpire relies upon before making up his mind. How do the decision-enhancing systems work? “The Hawk-eye is basically a ball tracking system. The technology uses four to eight high speed cameras. These cameras capture the ball frame to frame from the point of release to the point of impact,”. “The Hawk Eye uses the principles of triangulation. This is a process of determining the location of a point by measuring angles to it from known points. The data is processed and visualised in the 3-D format. The margin of error is only 3.4 mm or less than half a centimetre.” Snick-o-meter that helps in determining the edges. “It is a technology where the audio waves are tracked. But then, the Snicko has to be seen along with a video, synchronised with a particular frame. On its own, it is not of great value.” “Hot Spot uses infrared technology. There are two infrared cameras on opposite ends of the ground. It's like an x-ray filter, shows the point of impact in a very decisive manner. And the point of impact becomes bright because of the friction caused by a collision, such as the ball hitting the bat, pad or the glove,”.

Indian Volley League 

An ambitious programme, but to be launched on a modest note. That is the way the Volleyball Federation of India has planned its much debated new venture — Indian Volley League (IVL) — to be held in various cities. Prize money of Rs. 22 lakh, appearance money of Rs. 12 lakh and another Rs. 65 lakh towards kitting, travel and stay of the six teams that have been formed form the key areas of expenses. The teams: Karnataka Bulls, Chennai Spikers, Maratha Warriors, Yanam Tigers, Hyderabad and Kerala .

Egypt dominates England to win the title

Egypt's 2-0 victory over defending champion and second seed England in the final of the JSW-SDAT-WSF mixed team Squash World Cup at Chennai. Third place play-off: Australia beat Malaysia 2-1.

Saina wins first title of the year

India's Saina Nehwal won her first title of the year with a commanding 21-13, 21-14 victory over South Korean Sung Ji Hyun in the Wilson Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold badminton in Basel, Switzeland. It was Saina's second victory against the unseeded Korean in as many meetings, having defeated her in the Indonesia Open Super Series last year. It is Saina's ninth career title on the international circuit. She has won four Super Series titles, of whoch three came last year, three Grand Prix Gold titles and two Grand Prix tournaments.

India beats Australia in the World Cup Cricket semi finals

India held its nerve to overcome defending champion Australia in the quarterfinals of the Cricket World Cup at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad. Chasing Australia's 260 for six, a score made possible by a magnificent captain's knock from Ricky Ponting (104), India achieved the target with 14 balls to spare and set up a semifinal clash with Pakistan.

New Zealand stuns South Africa

New Zealand upset South Africa to make it to the semifinal of the ICC World Cup, after a 49-run win over the pre-tournament favourite in the third quarterfinal at Mirpur.

Federer equals Sampras's record

Two-time Miami champion Federer, seeded third, beat Radek Stepanek in the Miami Masters tennis tournament.6-4, 6-3 to join former great Pete Sampras with 762 wins, good for seventh overall in the ATP records.

Dinner diplomacy at Mohali

The much-anticipated summit meeting between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan will take place over an early dinner. After watching the India-Pakistan Cricket World Cup semi-final match for a brief while in the evening, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will invite his visiting Pakistani counterpart, Yousuf Raza Gilani, for dinner, during which both sides are expected to touch on the future of bilateral ties and the steps required to give them an impetus after the Foreign Secretary-level meeting in Thimphu .

India beat Pakistan in semi final

India beat Pakistan by 29 runs in the second semi final of world cup 2011 to reach the finals. A professional performance by team India in the second semi final insured their place in the finals of world cup 2011, to be played in Mumbai  against Srilanka .

SPECIAL ARTICLES

Skill Development Programmes for Farmers 

The Government is implementing various Schemes with training and capacity building of farmers as one of the components. ‘Support to State Extension Programme for Extension Reforms (ATMA)’ Scheme provides support for organizing trainings to farmers at National, State and District level. The scheme also provides for setting up of Farm Schools where progressive farmers with the help of subject matter experts provide trainings to other farmers at six critical stages of the crop cycle. At least, 50% beneficiaries under ATMA Scheme have to be small and marginal farmers.

Besides this, skill development of farmers (including small and marginal farmers) under Schemes as follows:- 

• National Food Security Mission (NFSM): Trainings of farmers are organized through Farmer Field Schools (FFS). 

• National Project on Management of Soil Health and Fertility: Trainings on balanced use of fertilizers are being provided. 

• Watershed Development Programmes: Under National Watershed Development Project for Rain-fed Areas (NWDPRA), Soil Conservation in the Catchments of River Valley Project and Flood Prone Rivers (RVP & FPR) and Water-shed Development Project in Shifting Cultivation Areas (WDPSCA), trainings on agricultural production, in-situ moisture conservation, on farm water management, water use efficiency etc. are provided to the farmers.

• Farm Mechanization Training and Testing Institutes (FMTTI): Training is imparted on operation, maintenance and repair of small tools/ equipments. 

• Integrated Development of Tree Borne Oilseeds Scheme: Farmers’ training is organized for quality seed collection, nursery raising, plantation and production of Tree Borne Oilseeds (TBOs). 

• Strengthening of Infrastructure Facilitates for Production and Distribution of Quality Seed: Training programmes are organized for farmers on fields to upgrade the quality of farmer-saved seeds in association with Seed Village Programme. 

• National Horticulture Mission (NHM) and Horticulture Mission for North Eastern Hills (HMNEs): Need based trainings are provided to small and marginal farmers.

Availability of pure water in rural areas

As per the latest information available from the NSSO 65th Round 2008-09 Survey more than 90% of the rural households have access to drinking water from protected sources. About 30% of rural households have access to piped drinking water from taps. Full coverage of rural habitations is about 75%, which is because of slippage of habitations which were fully covered earlier due to sources drying, sources getting contaminated, poor maintenance etc.

In the Eleventh Plan, the focus is on sustainability in water availability, poor water quality, decentralized management of Operation & Maintenance by Panchayati Raj Institutions. At the same time the need to address equity in regard to gender, socially and economically weaker sections of the society and school children has been given due importance.

 Schemes for Physically Challenged Persons

The following schemes are being implemented by the Government for the welfare of persons with disabilities:- 

(i) Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS):- Under the scheme, funds for the welfare of persons with disabilities are provided to the non-governmental organizations for projects like special schools for disabled, Vocational Training Centres, Half Way Homes, Community Based Rehabilitation Centres, Early Intervention Centres for Disabled and Rehabilitation of Leprosy Cured Persons etc. 

(ii) Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP):- Under the scheme, aids/appliances are distributed to the needy persons with disabilities.

(iii) National Institutions (NIs):- The Ministry supports seven autonomous National Institutes which provide rehabilitation services and with the overall objective of providing rehabilitation services for different types of disabilities. 

(iv) The National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) provides concessional credit to persons with disabilities for setting up income generating activities for self employment. 

(v) Scheme for Implementation of Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (SIPDA):-Under this scheme, assistance is provided to the State Governments, Institutions, Organizations under Central or State Governments for various activities relating to implementation of Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 particularly for creating barrier free environment, supporting District Disability Rehabilitation Centres, Composite Regional Centres etc. 

(vi) Scheme of Incentives to Employers in the Private Sector for providing employment to persons with disabilities:- Under this Scheme, launched in April, 2008, the Government of India reimburse the employers’ contribution for Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees State Insurance (ESI) for initial three years in respect of persons with disabilities employed in the private sectors on or after 1.4.2008, with a monthly salary upto Rs.25,000/-.

Salient Features of The National Water Policy

The National Water Policy – 2002 was adopted by the National Water Resources Council under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister of India in its 5th meeting held on 1st April, 2002. The Salient features of National Water Policy – 2002 are as follows: 

• Water is a prime natural resource, a basic human need and a precious national asset. Planning, development and management of water resources need to be governed by national perspectives. 

• A well developed information system for water related data at national/state level should be established with a net-work of data banks and data bases integrating and strengthening the existing central and state level agencies.

• Water resources available to the country should be brought within the category of utilizable resources to the maximum possible extent. 

• Non-conventional methods for utilization of water such as through inter-basin transfers, artificial recharge of ground water and desalination of brackish or sea water as well as traditional water conservation practices like rainwater harvesting, including roof-top rainwater harvesting, need to be practiced to further increase the utilizable water resources. Promotion of frontier research and development, in a focused manner, for these techniques is necessary. 

• Water resources development and management will have to be planned for a hydrological unit. Appropriate river basin organizations should be established for the planned development and management of the river basins. 

• Water should be made available to water short areas by transfer from other areas including transfer from one river basin to another, after taking into account the requirements of the areas/basins. 

• Planning of water resources development projects should, as far as possible, be for multi-purpose with an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach having regard to human and ecological aspects including those of disadvantaged sections of the society.

• In the allocation of water, first priority should be given for drinking water, followed by irrigation, hydro-power, ecology, agro-industries and non-agricultural industries, navigation and other uses, in that order. 

• The exploitation of groundwater should be regulated with reference to recharge possibilities and consideration of social equity. The detrimental environmental consequences of over-exploitation of ground water need to be effectively prevented. 

• Adequate emphasis needs to be given to the physical and financial sustainability of existing water resources facilities. There is need to ensure that the water charges for various uses should be fixed such as to cover at least the operation and maintenance charges initially and a part of the capital costs subsequently. 

• Management of the water resources for diverse uses should incorporate a participatory approach by involving users and other stakeholders alongwith various governmental agencies, in an effective and decisive manner. 

• Private sector participation should be encouraged in planning, development and management of water resources projects for diverse uses, wherever feasible.

• Both surface water and ground water should be regularly monitored for quality. Effluents should be treated to acceptable levels and standards before discharging them into natural streams. Minimum flow should be ensured in the perennial streams for maintaining ecology.

• Efficiency of utilization should be improved in all the diverse uses of water and conservation consciousness promoted through education, regulation, incentives and disincentives. 

• Land erosion by sea or river should be minimized by suitable cost-effective measures. Indiscriminate occupation of, and economic activity in coastal areas and flood plain zones should be regulated. 

• Needs of drought-prone areas should be given priority in the planning of project for development of water resources. These areas should be made less vulnerable through various measures. 

• The water sharing / distribution amongst the states should be guided by a national perspective with due regard to water resources availability and needs within the river basin. 

• Training and research efforts should be intensified as an integral part of water resources development. 

Steps for Protection, Regulation and Management of Water Resources

The Government has said that though water is a State subject, all activities related to protection, regulation and management of water resources are undertaken by the respective States, however, with a view to encouraging and assisting the State Governments in this effort, Government of India has undertaken the following protection and regulatory measures:

(i)                 A “Water Quality Assessment Authority (WQAA)” has been established under Environmental Protection Act. 

(ii)               Government of India has constituted National Ganga River Basin Authority for addressing the problems of pollution of river Ganga

(iii)             A draft Model Bill to regulate and control the development and management of ground water has been circulated to the States and Union Territories. 11 States / Union Territories namely, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal have enacted the legislation in this regard. 

(iv)             The Central Ground Water Authority has been constituted under Environmental Protection Act 2005. CGWA has directed the Chief Secretaries of the concerned States to take all measures to adopt artificial recharge to ground water/promote rain water harvesting in all the over-exploited areas falling under their jurisdiction and ensure inclusion of roof top rain water harvesting in the building bye-laws. 

(v)               A model Bill for Participatory Irrigation Management has also been drafted and circulated to all States. 15 States, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh have either enacted exclusive legislation or amended their Irrigation Acts for involvement of farmers in irrigation management.

(vi)             Government of India is implementing the National Lake Conservation Plan for conservation and management of polluted and degraded lakes in urban and semi-urban areas located in various States. National River Conservation Programme is also being implemented by Government of India for conservation and management of polluted rivers. 

Welfare of Domestic Workers

The Government set-up a Task Force to evolve a policy frame work for domestic workers in the context of regulatory mechanism and providing social security. The Task Force has submitted its first report which makes the following recommendations:

i)                    Extension of the welfare schemes to the domestic workers including Health and Maternity benefit, Death and Disability benefit and old age benefits. 

ii)                  Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) should be the first welfare scheme to be extended to the domestic workers. The smart cards used under RSBY can later be used to load other welfare schemes rolled out for domestic workers. 

iii)                Domestic workers should be identified and registered by the State Labour Department. 

iv)                The domestic work should be included in the Central List of scheduled employment vide a notification under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 for fixation and enforcement of minimum wages in respect of domestic workers. The State Governments which have not fixed minimum wages for domestic work should fix minimum rates of wages for domestic workers. 

v)                  Mandatory registration of all placement agencies and individuals providing placement, sourcing and recruitment service relating to domestic work under Shops and Establishment Act. 

vi)                Formulation of National Policy for the Domestic Workers. 

vii)              Scaling up of the skill and re-skill training programme initiated by International Labour Organisation. 

The proposal to extend health insurance scheme viz. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to domestic workers is under consideration of the Government.  The State Governments have been asked to take necessary steps for registration of placement agencies providing domestic workers. 

Schemes for Welfare of Women Including Widows

As per 2001 Census for which information is available, there were 3.43 crore widows in the country. The Government has been implementing several schemes/ programmes for the welfare of women including widows, such as:

(i) Swadhar and Short Stay Homes for relief and rehabilitation of women in difficult circumstances. 

(ii) Support for Training & Employment Programme (STEP) under which skill upgradation training is provided to assetless and below poverty line women. 

(iii) Scheme of Working Women Hostel under which assistance is provided for the construction/expansion/ renting of hostel building with the objective of providing safe accommodation to single working women who are unmarried, widowed, divorced or separated as well as to the married women whose husband or immediate family does not reside in the same area. 

(iv) Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) under which pension is provided to the widow in the age group of 40-64 years who is living below poverty line. 

(v) Integrated Programme for Older Persons under which financial assistance is given to voluntary organizations for running and maintenance of old age homes, mobile medical units etc. for the destitute senior citizens and for setting up of Multi Facility Care Centre for Older Widow Women to provide full time shelter, care, training in income generating activities, conduct of religious programmes, yoga etc. to older widows.

The Government has been implementing a number of schemes for the welfare and protection of children viz Integrated Child Development Services Scheme, Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme for Children of Working Mothers, Integrated Child Protection Scheme, Scheme for Welfare of Working Children in Need of Care and Protection and the Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (SABLA).  A Scheme for construction/ expansion of hostel buildings for working women has been under implementation since 1972-73, for providing safe accommodation to single working women who are unmarried, widowed, divorced or separated as well as to the married women whose husband or immediate family does not reside in the same area.

The Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008 enables provision of social security measures for unorganised workers including domestic workers. The Central Government has requested the State Governments for inclusion of ‘domestic worker’ as a scheduled employment under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and to fix minimum rates of wages for them in their respective States. Further, eligible women domestic workers can avail benefits under various welfare schemes being implemented by the Government. 

Protection of Child Rights

Section 17 of the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 provides for the constitution of a State Commission for Protection of Child Right (SCPCR) in each State. The SCPCR has been constituted in eleven States, namely, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan and Sikkim.

Section 13 (1) (j) requires the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and SCPCR to inquire into complaints of violation of child rights. NCPCR has received 767 complaints of child abuse since its inception in 2007. These have been referred to the concerned authority for remedial action.
NCPCR has inquired into complaints of violation of child rights in the reality show, titled ‘Pati, Patni aur Woh’ and has made recommendations to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under Section 15 of the CPCR Act to establish, inter alia, an effective mechanism for introduction of a ‘pre-clearance system’ for the reality show; Electronic Media Monitoring Centre and the Inter-Ministerial Committee of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to make proactive interventions in taking cognizance of the reality shows affecting child rights and taking prompt measures to prevent their telecast;

make special drives through electronic media to educate parents and the public about violation of child’s right to health, psyche, safety, education, recreation, leisure, etc. and to formulate detailed guidelines for safeguarding the rights of children in the entertainment industry.

Recommendations made by NCPCR to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting:

(i) Programs, like, ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh’ should not be aired in future on the following grounds: 

a. The program violates the relevant rules of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994. Such Rules are:- Rule 6 (1) (a) and Rule 6 (1) (l): Rule 6 (1) (a) Programme Code — Programme that offends against good taste or decency; and Rule 6 (1) (l): Programme Code — Programme that adversely impacts children and is in derogation to their rights to dignity.

b. The anxiety and stress, to which the infant children were exposed to, in the serial is unacceptable. 

c. The focus of the programme was entertainment at the cost of the dignity of the children. 

d. There were no exit provisions in the Contract so as to allow the parents of the children to take them out of the show at any time during production. The Contract was one sided with most of the obligations on the parents. The responsibilities and obligations placed on the production house and surrogate mothers, were comparatively less.

e. The psychologists, engaged by the Production house for assessing the children involved in the show, only made physical and mental assessment (as against psychological, emotional assessment) of the child. The long-term effects of separation on infant children from the parents and participation in such shows were not addressed and/or communicated to the parents.

f. On occasion, especially in the context of infant and/or very small children, even a parental consent is not a justification for a child`s participation in a reality show. They must be protected from all forms of physical, physiological or mental trauma, anxiety, violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, mal treatment, or exploitation, including sexual abuse while in the care of parents, legal guardians , or any other person who have the care of them, (as required under Article 19 (1) of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989 which has been acceded to by India on 11December, 1992) and the Juvenile Justice Act.As mentioned earlier the separation of infants and young children involved in the programme from their patents ( natural care givers) even for a few minutes, causes anxiety and impacts upon their emotional well being and psyche.

(ii) The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting should establish an effective mechanism in terms of legal provisions and administrative structure for introduction of a ‘pre-clearance system’ for the reality show. This pre-clearance system may involve a multidisciplinary expert panel which would assess any reality shows using children, and also, issue guidelines on the cut off age limit for the participation of children in such shows. This would entail screening participation of children even before the production of a program is done. These guidelines should also detail the procedures and processes that would need to be adhered in order to protect the best interests of any child. 

(iii) The Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC) and the Inter-Ministerial Committee of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting should make proactive interventions in taking cognizance of the reality shows affecting child rights and taking prompt measures to prevent their telecast, instead of waiting for the public to lodge complaints.

(iv) The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting should make special drives through electronic media (Door Darshan & All India Radio) and other available means for educating the parents and the public that the involvement/participation of children in reality shows to the extent it is violating their right to health and psyche, safety, education, recreation, leisure, etc. must be discouraged.

(v) A detailed guidelines need to be in place for safeguarding the rights of children in the entertainment industry after having broad-based consultations with prominent psychiatrists, psychologists, family therapists, child rights groups, legal experts, child development experts, etc. 

(vi) The shooting sites / sets should be inspected by the multidisciplinary inspection panels constituted for the purpose by the Government and the producers and TV channels associations (for self-regulation). There should be a regulator to which the producers must provide prior information about the shooting of their programmes, especially, the place(s), schedules and particulars of the programme, the particulars of the persons (e.g., name, address, age, sex, qualification) proposed to be involved in the shootings and the safety measures / safeguards proposed to be taken. 

(vii) There is need for consultation with child psychologists and experts about the minimum age of participation of children in reality shows and like to protect children’s rights even with a policy before production of the show. 

MISCELLANEOUS

Astrophysicist Radhakrishnan passes away

Eminent astrophysicist Venkatraman Radhakrishnan, who is known for his work on pulsars, passed away. He scrupulously avoided riding on his father Sir C.V. Raman's fame. He will be most remembered by the scientific community for his work on pulsars [neutron stars] and the structure of interstellar medium [the matter that makes up the space between stars].

Important Days in the month of March

                            March 8           :International Women's Day.
                              March 15         :World Disabled Day.
                              March 21         :World Forestry Day.
                            March 22        :World Day for Water
                              March 21         :International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
                              March 23         :World Meteorological Day
                           March 24          :World TB Day