Medvedev replaces Putin as ruling party chief

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev succeeded President Vladimir Putin as head of the ruling party, United Russia, in a follow up to their job swap in the Kremlin.

Mr. Putin stepped down as the party’s chairman following his return to the presidency earlier this month. He argued that President in Russia by tradition is not affiliated with any party.

United Russia, which has dominated the Russian Parliament since its establishment in 2003, has recently been losing support. It lost a quarter of its seats in Parliament in December elections, which were marred with massive falsifications and sparked the biggest anti-Kremlin protests in 20 years.

Mr. Medvedev called for democratisation of the ruling party to enable it to deal with the growing competition from other political forces.

“The party must be more open, it must be seen by people as their own, not as a party imposed from high up… but as a party representing the interests of the broad masses,” Mr. Medvedev told a party congress on May 26.

He said all party functionaries must henceforth be elected by contested secret ballot and be replaced after five years. Mr. Medvedev himself was elected unopposed by a show of hands.

Falling sex ratio impinges on women's rights, says NAC

The declining sex ratio is not a problem restricted narrowly to the issue of decreasing birth of girl children but is central to women's rights, gender equity and gender justice, the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council believes.

A day after the United Progressive Alliance's eighth anniversary celebrations, the NAC met here to consider a draft policy that can address the serious implications of gender imbalance in society, revealed in the provisional 2011 Census report.

Topping its recommendations are strengthening the legal regime to prevent misuse of medical technology for sex selection and developing a legislative framework to take into account newer technologies. In this context, the NAC wants the government to consider the implications of fresh legislation such as the Draft Assisted Reproductive Technologies (Regulation) Bill, 2010 from the perspective of sex selection as well as to ensure effective implementation of the Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (prohibition of sex selection) Act, 1994 (PC&PNDT Act).

Impact of incentives

The government needs to review the existing conditional cash and other incentive schemes for girl children to see whether they have made any dent, says the NAC draft policy. The sources pointed out that there was a growing realisation that the crime of sex selection was not confined to the poor who might be dissuaded by such schemes from killing girl babies. This scourge has spread to the middle class for which government schemes hold no significance. There is need, therefore, to plan interventions for the more affluent sections as well.

The draft policy also suggests a national communication and advocacy strategy targeted at behaviour change with a shared core message content, identified target audiences and multiple platforms so that women are projected as useful members of society, rather than as liabilities. It calls for a review of gender-related laws and policies including the dowry prohibition law, amendments to laws related to rape and connected provisions (currently under review by the government), in order to propose amendments or ways for strengthening their implementation. Students and professionals (particularly those pursuing law and medicine), public officials, elected representatives, frontline health and other workers all need to be sensitised through the introduction and development of appropriate course curricula and providing training in gender-sensitive counselling.

The provisional 2011 Census report has revealed that the child sex ratio in India (0-6 years) has dropped to 914 females against 1,000 males, the lowest since Independence. The NAC Working Group headed by Farah Naqvi and A.K. Shivakumar has identified that the child sex ratio, while “influenced by a number of factors such as under-registration of girls, differential infant and child mortality and age misreporting, is in large measure determined by the sex ratio at birth. It is, therefore, directly linked to the practice of prenatal sex selection, which, according to available evidence, has spread all over India”.

Women's empowerment

The policy, the NAC feels, should affirm that this horrifying situation “reflects the much larger issue of the status of women in our society, economy, and polity” and it should be “addressed within a broad framework of women's empowerment.” The policy must acknowledge that “dealing with declining sex ratios cannot be the responsibility of any one or two departments and Ministries” but that it will require “multiple initiatives, cutting across sectors, aimed at achieving gender equity, enhancing the status of women, and creating a social and economic environment against sex selection”.

But in doing so, the policy must take care that while entering “the private domain of pregnancy, abortion and the right to choose,” it ensures that any “intervention or communication message” does not inadvertently “stigmatise abortion per se, compromise women's reproductive rights, their right to choose, or jeopardise access to safe and legal abortion as articulated within the framework of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971.”

E-Governance for Panchayat Raj Institutions

The Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) is designed to redress regional imbalances in development. The BRGF covers 250 identified districts to Bridge critical gaps in local infrastructure and other development requirements that are not being adequately met through existing inflows. Rs.3917 crore was released during 2011-12 under BRGF, which being implemented through panchayats and urban local bodies.

E-Panchayat

E-panchayat is one of the Mission Mode Projects (MMPs) under National e-Governance Programme (NeGP) aimed at making Panchayats more efficient, transparent and symbols of modernity by leveraging ICT to become modern institutions of self governance at the cutting edge level by ensuring greater openness through transparency, disclosure of information, social audit, efficient delivery of services, improving internal management of Panchayats, procurement etc. During 2011-12, 40 crores was allocated for the project. 1.5 crores allocated for incentivizing the adoption of PRIASoft; and 38.5 crores for setting up of Programme Management Units at State and District levels for rollout of e-Panchayat MMP.

Under the e-Panchayat MMP, 11 Core Common Software applications are planned. Four of these applications namely PRIASoft, PlanPlus, National Panchayat Portal and Local Governance Directory have been rolled out. Six more applications except Geographic Information System (GIS) namely Area Profiler, ServicePlus, Asset Directory, ActionSoft, Social Audit and Trainings Management have also been launched in April, 2012 on the occasion of National Panchayat Day. Over 65,000 Panchayats are using PRIASoft and over 75,000 plans of different urban local bodies, rural local bodies and line departments are available online on PlanPlus application.

Empowerment of Panchayats

Panchayat Empowerment and  Accountability Incentive Scheme  was  implemented by the Ministry to recognize and incentivize the efforts of Panchayats with respect to transparency, accountability and efficiency and of States with respect to devolution of funds, functions and functionaries to Panchayats. Awards are given to best performing States/UTs based on their rank on DI annually.  The scheme aims at encouraging the States for empowering the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and putting in place mechanism for transparency and accountability of the PRIs. 16 best performing Gram Panchayats were given “Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Purskar and 170 Panchayats representatives were felicitated of with “Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar” under the Panchayat Empowerment Accountability Incentive Scheme (PEAIS).

Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana

The Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme being implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj with the objective of assisting efforts of the State Governments for training and capacity building of elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions.  Funding of the scheme is applicable only for the non-BRGF districts.  The scheme focuses primarily on providing financial assistance to the States/UTs for Training & Capacity Building of elected representatives (ERs) and functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Assistance is provided for Distance Learning infrastructure for the ERs and Functionaries of the PRIs including Satellite based training infrastructure. During 2011-12 160493 participants trained and 719 Gram Panchayat Ghars sanctioned.

Roadmap for Panchayati Raj

The national level plan for improving the functioning of PRIs is chalked out in the Roadmap for Panchayati Raj (2011-2017). The Roadmap logically delineates the issues and specific action plans within the larger governance framework for creating an effective Panchayati Raj structure. It highlights key aspects for empowerment, enablement and accountability of the PRIs for better governance and faster development including devolution of functions, funds and functionaries as envisaged in the Constitution, Capacity Building of the Panchayats and Functionaries, decentralized planning, effective implementation of PESA, empowered elected village councils in the Sixth Scheduled Areas and changes in the constitutional and legal framework.

This national Roadmap is enabled and assisted by the Government by the provision of funds under several schemes. The Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) provides untied grants to the Panchayats in the backward regions in order to reduce development deficits of the country, with the requirement that the District Plans for utilization of the grant be prepared by the involvement of the Gram Sabhas.  The Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana (RGSY) which aims at Capacity Building and Training of the Elected Representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions as well as the Functionaries.

Rural Business Hubs (RBHs)

The Ministry has been implementing a Central Sector Scheme of Rural Business Hubs (RBHs) for promoting businesses using raw materials/skills available in the rural areas. The scheme works on a Public-Private-Panchayat-Partnership model and is applicable in all the BRGF districts and all the districts in the North-Eastern Region. Assistance under RBH Scheme is available for professional support services, training/skill development and for purchase of minor equipment. The proposals under the scheme are prepared and sent by the willing and interested Implementing Agencies and are required to be sent through the State Government or District level officials. RBH is a demand driven scheme and no targets are fixed for it. The guideline for RBH Scheme was revised in October, 2011. The revisions made in the guidelines are to the effect:

 (i) Earlier the proposals needed to be recommended by the Panchayati Raj Department of the concerned States/UTs Government. This condition has been relaxed and recommendation of District Collectors or Chief Executive Officers of the Zilla Parishad of the concerned District is considered adequate.

 (ii) Earlier the proposals of RBH were to be considered and approved by an Empowerment Committee headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj. This has been discontinued. Now the proposals of RBH are initially examined by the RBH Division of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in consultation with the Integrated Finance Division and the final approval is obtained from the Divisional Head of RBH.

Serbian Progressive Party Leader Tomislav Nikolic won the Serbia’s Presidential Election

The Serbian Progressive Party leader Tomislav Nikolic won the Serbia’s presidential election on 20 May 2012. Nikolic beat his centrist opponent, the incumbent Boris Tadic in a closely contested election. Nikolic accounted for 50.21% of the total vote, against 46.77% for Tadic, with 40% of votes counted.
Nikolic, during his previous stints in power worked as a deputy prime minister under the former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, who was put on trial for genocide at The Hague. He was also the part of the government when Nato forces attacked Serbia in 1999. Nikolic, an ultra-nationalist, has widely been considered as anti-European Union given his vocal opposition of the bloc. He, however, in a bid to recapture the power toned down his antipathy towards the European Union and vowed to not deviate from its European path, after winning the elections.

Serbia, located at the intersections between Central and Southern Europe, became a separate sovereign republic in summer 2006 after Montenegro voted in a referendum for independence from the Union of Serbia and Montenegro. The country has its unemployment rate spiraling high at 24%. The total foreign debt of the country is also piling up as the current figure stands at 24 billion euro.

73-Year-Old Tamae Watanabe became World’s Oldest Women to climb the Mount Everest

73-year-old Tamae Watanabe bettered her own record of being the world’s oldest women to climb the Mount Everest the world's highest mountain peak. The Japanese woman scaled Everest's 8850-meter-high (29035-foot-high) peak from the northern side of the mountain in Tibet on 19 May 2012 with four other team members.
Watanabe was 63 when she had created the record of being the world’s oldest woman to have climbed Everest. She had retained the title until she topped herself a decade later.

India surpassed China as the largest Arms Importer in the World

According to a report published in March 2012 by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India topped China as the largest importer of arms during 2007-11 and accounted for 10 per cent of global arms import as compared to Chinese share of five per cent.
The report mentioned China, which was the largest importer of arms during 2002-2006, slipping to fourth spot in 2007-11 given the significant advancement in China’s arms industry and increased arms exports.
India has taken numerous measures to modernise its armed forces in the past ten years. The country has signed several deals to procure military hardware such as 10 C-17 strategic lift aircraft, six C-130 Super Hercules Special Operations aircraft, additional Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets along with several warships.
The report revealed the countries from Asia and Oceania as the leading arms importers as they accounted for 44 per cent of arms imports followed by Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Africa which accounted for 19 per cent, 17 per cent, 11 per cent and 9 per cent of total arms imports respectively.
In the budget presented in the parliament for the fiscal year 2012-13, the Finance Minister announced to increse India's defence budget by 17 per cent and doled out 1.93 trillion Indian rupees for the defence purpose. Of this outlay, 41 percent has to be spent on procuring modern weapons systems and military hardware.

Small Industries Development Bank of India (Amendment) Bill, 2012 tabled in the Lok Sabha

The Union government on 22 May 2012 tabled the Small Industries Development Bank of India (Amendment) Bill, 2012 in the Lok Sabha, allowing sectors including floriculture, tourism, restaurants, and the entertainment industry to access loans from the bank.

The SIDBI (Amendment) Bill tabled by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee
•    empowers SIDBI to confiscate the mortgaged property or right to transfer by way of lease or sale in case enterprise makes a default in repayment of any loan or advances.
•    The bill envisages the widening of the scope of industrial concerns as well as aims at conferring more powers upon the board of directors of bank to decide investment limit for these industrial concerns.

It was believed that an amendment would replace definition and expression of industrial concern in small sector with industrial concern or micro enterprise or small enterprise or medium enterprise in the SIDBI Act 1989. The board of directors would be empowered to unanimously resolve to decide the investment limit for the purpose of industrial concern.

The change in definition as stated in the bill will thus help businesses such as convention centres, travel and transport, tourist service agencies, guidance and counselling services to tourists, financial assistance by way of venture capital, risk capital factoring and discounting , construction and development of roads to take loans and advances from the bank.

National Ganga River Basin Authority

The Minister of State (I/C) for Environment and Forests Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan today stated in Rajya Sabha that Ganga Basin is the largest river basin of the country with catchment lying in 11 States covering about 26% of the Indian landmass and 43% of the irrigable area with a population of nearly 500 million.

She further stated that the Central Government has constituted the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) in February 2009 as an empowered body to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a holistic river basin approach. So far three meetings of Authority have been convened on 9th October 2009, 1st November 2010 and 17th April, 2012 respectively.

The Minister said that the Authority in its first meeting decided that under Mission Clean Ganga it will be ensured that by 2020 no untreated municipal sewage and industrial effluents flow into Ganga. Projects amounting to nearly Rs. 2600 crore have been sanctioned so far under the NGRBA for development of sewer networks, sewage treatment plants, electric crematoria, community toilets, development of river fronts, etc in the States of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. Out of 55 sanctioned projects, 7 projects have been completed and remaining projects are in various stages of implementation. Further, based on the decisions of NGRBA in the first meeting, the Central Government has set up a Standing Committee under NGRBA to monitor implementation and an Empowered Steering Committee to approve pollution abatement projects on fast track basis; declared Gangetic Dolphin as the national aquatic animal.

Based on the decision in the second meeting, it has been decided to share costs towards operation and maintenance of the assets created under NGRBA between Centre and the States in the ratio of 70:30 and discontinued three hydro-electric power projects of Lohari Nagpala, Bhaironghati and Pala Maneri on Bhagirathi River.

In the third meeting it was decided that with respect to the proposed hydro-electric projects in the upper reaches of river Ganga, a multi-disciplinary group including the concerned State Governments would examine the reports prepared by the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee and Wild Life Institute of India for drawing up a roadmap for further action.

Development of Inland Waterways

The development and regulation of the waterways which are declared as National Waterways are under the purview of Central Government, while the other waterways remain under the purview of the respective State Governments. The Government has been taking various steps to develop Inland Water Transport (IWT) which, inter-alia, includes ensuring targeted depth and width in the navigational channels, aids for day and night navigation, fixed/floating terminals at specified locations for berthing and loading/unloading of vessels and intermodal connectivity at select locations. Besides these, Central Government also provides 100 per cent Grants-in-aid to the States in the North-Eastern Region for development of IWT.

As per the Report prepared by RITES Ltd. in the year 2009 titled “Total Transport System study on Traffic Flows & Modal Costs”, the share of Inland Water Transport (IWT) in the total domestic transport during 2007-08 was 0.24 % compared to 50.12 % for the road and 36.06 per cent for the rail sector in terms of tonne km.

Geonkhali-Charbatia stretch of East Coast Canal (217 km), Charbatia- Dhamra stretch of Matai River (39 km) , Talcher- Dhamra stretch of Brahmani- Kharsua- Dhamra River system (265 km) along with Mangalgadi- Paradeep stretch of Mahanadi delta Rivers ( 67 km) having a total length of 588 km. in the States of West Bengal and Odisha have been declared as National Waterway (NW-5) w.e.f. 25th November, 2008. Out of total length of 588 km., about 497 km. of NW-5 is in the State of Odisha. The efforts to develop more commercially viable stretches of NW-5 under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) under India Infrastructure Project Development Fund (IIPDF) and PPP Pilot Project Initiative under the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Technical Assistance are in process. Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) has appointed a Transaction Advisor in this regard. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has its Head Office at Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

White Paper on Black Money

Placed below is a link for White Paper on Black Money:

Click here to see details

Performance of Janani Suraksha Yojana

Impressive gains have been registered under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) since its inception. The number of beneficiaries under JSY has gone up from 7.39 lakhs beneficiaries in 2005-06 to 108.69 lakhs beneficiaries in 2011-12. The scheme has led to an increase in institutional deliveries which have gone up from 47% (District Level Household Survey-III, 2007-08) to 72.9% (Coverage Evaluation Survey, 2009) and to the resultant decline in maternal mortality and neo-natal mortality. Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) has declined from 254 maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births in 2004-06 to 212 maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births during 2007-09. Similarly, the Neo-Natal Mortality Rate (NMR) has declined from 37 per 1000 live births in 2006 to 33 per 1000 live births in 2010.

 For proper implementation of the scheme, the Ministry has issued the following instructions to State Governments:

• To ensure fast and seamless flow of funds under JSY from State headquarters to District and further to Block PHCs and Sub-centre levels and payment of cash assistance before discharge of pregnant women after delivery;

• Setting up of grievance redressal cells for prompt redressal of all grievances;

• Public display of names of all JSY beneficiaries in health facilities on a monthly basis so as to ensure transparency and check fraudulent payments;

• Payment of cash assistance under JSY to all beneficiaries only through cheques;

• Physical verification of beneficiaries by State and District officials in a random manner in order to check fictitious payments;

Further periodic verification of beneficiaries and assessment of the scheme is being done by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare through the Regional Evaluation Teams (RETs) of the Regional Directorates.

 The Ministry has also decided to get the annual transaction audit of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) done through the Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) in all the States from the Financial Year 2011-12 in order to facilitate independent monitoring and to take corrective measures to control financial irregularities.

Recovery of Loans Sanctioned under Rashtriya Mahila Kosh

The following are the details of mechanism for recovery of loans sanctioned under the Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) of the Ministry of Women and Child Development:

The RMK loans are recoverable from Intermediary microfinance organisations (IMOs) over a repayment period of 3 years (including the grace period of 6 months) in quarterly installments along with interest @ 8 per cent per annum on reducing balance. RMK follows the following procedure for recovery of loans:

(i) The repayment schedule is defined in advance, envisaging quarterly payment of principal and interest amount. The requisite Post Dated Cheques (PDCs) are collected as a risk mitigation measure.

(ii) Demand letters are issued before due dates to all IMOs at pre-defined due dates.

(iii) Quarterly list of defaults is reviewed regularly. Each defaulting NGO is contacted, either telephonically or through letters, to enquire about the reasons for default and the likely time for clearing of default.

(iv) The default loans accounts are handled as under:

(a) In the first instance reminders are sent to the defaulting IMOs asking them to pay the overdue amount, urgently.

(b) The defaulting IMO is sent first reminder, followed by another reminder and if required final warning (after 30 days from second reminder) to clear the overdues. If overdues still persist blacklisting is resorted to in case, an NGO commits default of 4 quarters of interest and / or 4 quarters of principal, or both. This has been an effective measure of recovery. Black- listing of the defaulting IMOs is undertaken mainly to pressurize for urgent clearance of overdue. In case the IMO clears the loan overdue, it is removed from RMK black list.

(c) Post-dated cheques given by NGOs are deposited in the concerned banks; if returned unpaid, case(s) under section 138 of Negotiable Instrument Act (NIA) are filed in the Court.

(d) In case of chronic default, a ‘recall-notice’ is also issued calling the defaulting IMO to pay upfront the entire outstanding amount of the loan dues, in a month’s time. If the recall-notice is not complied with, a PDC is lodged for the entire outstanding dues (loan instalments plus interest).

(e) Suits are filed or wherever applicable, Arbitration Process is followed, to recover the dues from the NGO where the loan repayment period has completed, as per the loan agreement.

India- UK Conference on Innovation and Skill Development

The India-UK Round Table Conference on Innovation and Skill Development was held on 20th April 2012 at New Delhi.

The Innovation round table discussions were focused on roadmap of India and UK on Innovation in education, framework for India-UK Partnerships, University Innovation clusters, Business University linkages, Centres of excellence and multi-partner collaborations, University incubation programmes and sandwich degrees/post doctoral research. The focused areas of discussion in the skills sector included strategy and roadmap on skills in India and UK; Qualification Framework, Leadership and Professional development and vocationalisation of secondary education. Both countries agreed for cooperation in all the above discussed areas.

Both countries agreed to collaborate in institutionalizing the process for improving the interface between institutions of higher learning and business in both the Innovation and Skill sectors by knowledge sharing, capacity building and developing pathways for commercialization and engaging the skilled manpower.

Lower Subansiri Hydro-Electric Project

The Government does not propose to review all the proposals of big dams in the country. However, as desired by Government of Assam (GoA), NHPC constituted an Expert Group consisting of experts from IIT, Guwahati, Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University to study the downstream impact of Lower Subansiri HEP (2000 MW). The Expert Group has submitted its final report on 3.3.2011. Meanwhile, on the concerns expressed by GoA regarding structural safety of the dam, Planning Commission has appointed a two Member Technical Experts Committee to study the technical reports of the Expert Group.

Central Water Commission has informed that the seismic data/past history of earthquakes in the country is maintained by Indian Meteorological Department which includes the earthquake of 1950 referred herein. All such information has been taken into account for carrying out the seismic studies during submission of proposal of Lower Subansiri Hydro-electric Project. NHPC has informed that the occurrence of 1950 earthquake was considered during the site specific earthquake design parameters study for this Project by Department of Earthquake Engineering, IIT Roorkee.

The concerns of local people on the safety of the dam has been referred to the Two Member Technical Experts Committee as mentioned in the foregoing replies. In addition, on the concerns of downstream impact, a Joint Steering Committee has been constituted by NHPC on 19.4.2011 to suggest feasible and practicable remedial measures in the downstream areas with reference to Expert Group’s recommendations on downstream impact of Subansiri Lower Dam (Part-II) alongwith issues related to flood, bank erosion and sediment control. Also, as recommended by Inter-Ministerial Group headed by Secretary (Water Resources), a Cumulative Environment Impact Assessment Study of Lohit Sub-basin has recently been completed by WAPCOS and studies for Subansiri and Siang sub-basins have been commissioned by Central Water Commission.

Bhatinda oil refinery dedicated to the nation

On April 28, 2012, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh dedicated the Bathinda refinery to the nation.

The state-of-the-art refinery has used structural steel that would have been enough to build 15 buildings of the size of Eiffel Tower, each 320 metres in height. The amount of cement and concrete used in the refinery would have built the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, twice with each structure measuring 829.84 metres. The Chimneys of the refinery compete with Qutub Minar, the tallest minaret in India. The height of the chimneys is 141.7 metres, double the height of Qutub Minar.

Over 2,800-km-long pipelines have been used over 2,000 acres of land. The pipelines are long enough to cover distance from Bathinda to Mumbai and even more. The Crude Oil Terminal at Mundra and crude pipeline are sufficient to hold three days of India’s total crude oil requirement.

Apart from being an engineering marvel, the refinery is also self-sustainable in terms of power generation. Located in fuel and power deficient North India, the plant uses its poisonous gases for producing 153-MW of power, thereby, managing the emission that could have harmed the environment.

The present capacity of the refinery is 9 million metric tonnes per annum, which, steel tycoon Laxmi N. Mittal said, would be doubled to 18 million metric tonnes in the years to come.

INS Teg: New Stealth frigate for Indian Navy

The 3,970-tonne INS Teg frigate, armed with the 290-km BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles among other weapon systems, was commissioned into the Indian Navy at Yantar shipyard at Kaliningrad in Russia on April 27, 2012.

Taking its name from the short, single-edged curved swords traditionally used by the Sikhs, INS Teg will sail with a crew of 24 officers and 229 sailors.

Two other stealth frigates, INS Tarkash and INS Trikand, ordered from Russia under a $1.15-billion contract inked in 2006, will follow in September 2012, and July 2013.

With an operating range of 4,500 nautical miles, these frigates can handle many threats in all the three dimensions—air, surface and underwater. These warships pack more power than the earlier three Talwar-class frigates bought from Russia in 2003-04, equipped as they are with BrahMos land-attack missiles, surface-to-air missiles, AK-630 close-in weapon systems, torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets and an upgraded multi-role combat suite.

The 125-metre-long INS Teg, which can operate an anti-submarine or early-warning helicopter from its deck, has innovative design features to ensure reduction in its radar cross-section, infra-red, magnetic and acoustic signatures, as well as radiated underwater noise to enhance its stealth nature.

The warship is also equipped with complex automated systems for NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) defence and damage control.

Anti-malarial drug

Synriam is India’s first indigenously developed anti-malarial drug. It beats all currently available options on the counts of affordability, compliance and relief. The drug is the result of first successful public-private partnership on pharmaceutical research and development in India. Ranbaxy and the Ministry of Science paid Rs 5 crore each for the development of the drug.

Mamata Banerjee has been named among the 100 most influential persons in the world

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been named among the 100 most influential persons in the world by the prestigious Time magazine, in its 2012 list that also includes US President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and billionaire investor Warren Buffet.
Apart from Banerjee, advocate Anjali Gopalan, who works for the rights of gays and transgendered in India, is the only other Indian in the list. The 2012 list is topped by American basketball sensation Jeremy Lin.

20 th ASEAN Summit

The ASEAN Heads of Government/State and the Secretary-General of ASEAN gathered at the Peace Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on April 3, 2012, for the 20th ASEAN Summit. Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia and the Chairman of the 20th ASEAN Summit, presided over the Plenary Session.

The ASEAN leaders discussed the progress of the implementation of the ASEAN Charter and Roadmap for an ASEAN Community, the progress of the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC), the Phnom Penh Agenda on ASEAN Community Building, the Phnom Penh Declaration on “ASEAN: One Community, One Destiny,” the Declaration on Drug-Free ASEAN 2015, the Global Movement of Moderates (GMM), G-20, Exchange of Views on Regional and International Issues, Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and the ASEAN Global Dialogue.

RTE Act applies to all schools, rules SC

On April 12, 2012, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act (2009) and ruled that the law would apply uniformly across India to all private and minority schools which get grants from the government. All unaided private schools are also covered under the Act, with the exception of unaided private minority schools.

All schools covered by the law will now have to compulsorily reserve in Class I (or nursery at entry level) at least 25 per cent seats of the total strength of that class for children belonging to weaker sections and disadvantaged group in the neighbourhood.

The SC’s order came on a bunch of petitions filed by private unaided institutions which argued that the law violated their rights under Article 19(1) (g) of the Constitution which provided them the autonomy to run institutions without government interference.

The apex court said the law should be viewed as child-centric and not institution-centric. The court also ruled that the law will apply prospectively.

Schools reserving 25 pc seats will be reimbursed expenditure to the extent of per-child-expenditure incurred by the State as a whole or the actual amount charged from the child, whichever is less.

Anand Marriage Act gets Cabinet nod

Sikh couples will soon be able to get their marriages registered under the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, instead of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. Accepting the long-standing demand of Sikhs, the Union Cabinet, on April 12, 2012, approved amendments to the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, to provide for registration of Sikh marriages.

The Cabinet has also approved the introduction of a Bill to amend the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, to include registration of marriages as well. The move aims at utilising the existing administrative mechanism to maintain marriage records on the lines of records of births and deaths. The amendment would allow couples to get their marriages registered independent of their religion, though the option of getting marriages registered under the Hindu Marriage Act and the Special Marriages Act would continue.

So far, marriages amongst Sikhs, Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and other communities, except Muslims, Christians, Parsis and Jews, were covered under the Hindu Marriage Act.

Illiteracy costs India $53 billion every year

A report titled, “The Economic and Social Cost of Illiteracy: A Snapshot of Illiteracy in A Global Context”, published by the World Literacy Foundation and released to coincide with the World Literacy Summit, has revealed that illiteracy is costing the world economy a massive $1.19 trillion each year. Of this, the Indian economy alone is losing $53.56 billion annually, lesser only to China, which is losing $ 135.60 billion.

The report assesses functional illiterates which UNESCO defines as “people who can read and write simple words but can’t apply these skills to tasks such as reading a medicine label, balancing a cheque book or filling a job application”.

The research highlights the social and economic impact of a person’s inability to read and write. It reveals that more than 796 million people globally cannot read and write. About 67 million children don’t have access to primary school education and another 72 million miss out on secondary education.

It calculates the cost of illiteracy to a developed nation at 2 per cent of its GDP, while the loss to an emerging economy like India and China would be around 1.2 per cent of the GDP, and to a developing country 0.5 per cent of the GDP.

Calling for ways to bring children to schools and retain them, the Report says that illiterates earn 30 to 42 per cent less than their literate counterparts as they don’t have the literacy skills required to undertake further vocational education training to improve their earning capacity.

The report also establishes a link between illiteracy and crime saying majority of prison inmates across the world have poor literacy skills. Also amongst juvenile delinquents, up to 85 per cent are functionally illiterate.

Visit of President Zardari of Pakistan

Dubbed as ‘Dargah Diplomacy’, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s day-long private visit to India on April 8, 2012, to offer prayers at the Ajmer Sharif, did help the two South Asian neighbours reduce mutual tension and consider practical ways to speedily settle some of the less contentious issues such as Sir Creek and Siachen.

At his one-on-one meeting with Zardari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, however, made it a point to highlight the issue of terrorism upfront and unequivocally told the Pakistani leader that action must be initiated against JuD chief Hafiz Saeed and other perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attack.

Reflecting the view of Islamabad, the Pakistan President said the issue of Hafiz Saeed, on whose head the US recently declared a bounty of $10 million, needed to be discussed between the Home/Interior secretaries of the two countries, who would meet shortly in Islamabad. He also stated that there were legal processes in Pakistan without going through which the civilian government could not move against the masterminds of the Mumbai attack.

But for the first time perhaps, Islamabad indicated that it was seriously looking at the India-China model of bilateral relations, wherein the two countries have put contentious issue on the backburner and made significant gains in their trade and commercial ties.

There was also a mention of the liberalised visa regime that the two countries desire to usher in. The two leaders observed that an accord could be signed when the Home/ Interior secretaries meet.

After the talks, the Prime Minister hosted lunch in honour of his guest and his delegation. Zardari and his entourage later left for Jaipur on way to Ajmer, where President Zarsari offered prayers at the historic 13th century Dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, after which a $1 million donation for the shrine was announced.

Visit of President Pratibha Patil to Seychelles

Seeking to take its relations with Seychelles to new heights, India, on April 30, 2012, during the visit of President Pratibha Patil to the country, announced a USD 75 million financial package for the country and agreed to train police personnel in the strategically located Indian Ocean archipelago, affected by piracy.

After her “very fruitful” talks with her Seychelles counterpart, James Michel, President Pratibha Patil said that India would extend USD 50 million Line of Credit and a grant of USD 25 million to this island republic.

Hailing the visit of Patil, the second Presidential visit from India after 22 years, as “historic”, President Michel said that “Seychelles has positioned itself as a rock of dependability for India in the Indian Ocean region. India can always count on Seychelles and I know that we can always count on India. We share a strategic partnership and also a natural partnership.”

A major feature of the visit was President Patil’s address to the National Assembly of Seychelles. She became the first President of any country to address the Assembly.

Celebrating 60 years of Indian Parliament

India has long history and there are many historic events to remember.   13^th May 2012, is another day, a day on which the  Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha,  are holding special sittings celebrating the 60^th anniversary of the first session of Indian Parliament.   After becoming a Republic, the first general elections were held in 1951-52 ; Lok Sabha was constituted on April 17, 1952 and the Lok Sabha held its first session, a month later, on May 13^th  statistically, the first Lok Sabha’s tenure was 17^th April 1952 to 4^th April 1957. Can you recall the names of the first Speak and Deputy Sepaker of the Lok Sabha. 

Commemorating 60 years, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will initiate the debate in the Rajya Sabha while Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will do it in the Lok Sabha. Besides prominent members from all sides, independents are also being accomodated in the over five-hour discussion. A few living members of the first Lok Sabha, including Reishang Keishing and Resham Lal Jangde, will be honoured on the occasion.  91-year-old Reishang Keishing, now a member of the Rajya Sabha, was member of the first and third Lok Sabhas. Jangde was member of first, second and ninth Lok Sabhas. Both the Houses of Parliament will meet at 11.00 am and will conclude the discussions at 4.30 pm.   In the evening, President Pratibha Patil will address a joint sitting of both Houses in the Central Hall. Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari, the Prime Minister and Kumar will also address the joint sitting. 

Coins of Rs 5 and Rs 10 denomination to mark the occasion along with a special stamp are being released as also  three books published by the Lok Sabha Secretariat — Members’ Introduction: First Lok Sabha; Speakers of Lok Sabha and ’60 years of the Lok Sabha.  There is also to be a cultural programme featuring Santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Sitarist Debu Chaudhuri, Carnatic vocalist Maharajapuram Ramachandran, versatile singer Shubha Mudgal and Iqbal Khan.

The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body in India. Founded in 1919, the Parliament alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all political bodies in India. Just as the House of Lords and House of commons in UK, Indian parliament  is bicameral with its two Houses, Lok Sabha (House of the People) and Rajya Sabha (Council of States).   The two Houses meet in separate chambers in the Sansad Bhavan (located on the Sansad Marg), in New Delhi. The Members of either house are commonly referred to as Members of Parliament or MP. The MPs of Lok Sabha are elected by direct election and the MPs of Rajya Sabha are elected by the members of the State Legislative Assemblies and Union territories of Delhi and Pondicherry only in accordance with proportional voting. The Parliament is composed of 790 MPs, who serve the largest democratic electorate in the world. 

Every Indian can have a justifiable sense of pride on the completion of six significant decades of Parliamentary democracy.  Our PM Manmohan Singh called Rajya Sabha as the house of elders  - an  institution whose deliberations over the years have enriched our parliamentary democracy, nurtured the strength of our federal polity and served as a bulwark against the transient impulses of the moment.

Parliament is not only a legtistlative but a deliberative body. The bodies have been repository  of wisdom and have passed landmark legislations from land reforms to nationalisation of banks.  The resilience of our pluralistic democracy is the proudest achievement of the Indian state and Indian people. The people of India have repeatedly and regularly reposed their faith in the institutions of parliamentary democracy.    When India gained independence, some were critical of its success questioning its size, variety and vastness – the Institutions have  weathered many storms and have successfully stood up winning the test of time, which augurs well the for the Nation

History has it that the Parliament house had various plans from triangular to a Roman colosseum like structure but eventually settled to be its present circular designed colonnaded verandah, with 144 pillars and 560 feet diameter. The foundation stone of the council House was laid on February 12, 1921 by the Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, third son of Queen Victoria.  The building spread over nearly six acres was inaugurated on January 18, 1927 by then Governor-General of India, Lord Irwin. It is now commonly known as Sansad Bhavan.

The First Speaker of the First Lok Sabha was Shri G.V. Mavalankar  (15.5.1952 - 27.2.1956), succeeded by Shri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar  (8.3.1956 - 10.5.1957 and 11.5.1957 - 16.4.1962).  Sardar Hukam Singh succeeded the first Deputy Speaker Shri M Ananthasayanam Iyengar in 1956.  The First secretary was Mr MN Kaul.    Read that the first thing that the Parliament did was an act to give  land to the landless through Land reforms Act.   It was a place of high moral rectitude -  Lal Bahadur Shashtri quit as Railways Minister from Jawaharlal Nehru's Cabinet after an accident.

Implementation of Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) in CSM Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved the proposal for implementation of Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) in whole Chhatrapati Sahuji Maharaj (CSM) Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh comprising five tehsils and also includes this as an additional district to already approved list of 52 districts.

The expenditure for three tehsils of CSM Nagar (Musafirkhana, Amethi and Gauriganj) is already included in the proposal approved by the CCEA. Addition of two remaining tehsils of Tiloi and Salon to cover full CSM Nagar which would require additional funding of Rs. 11 crore for 32000 more beneficiaries. This will be met within the approved allocation of Rs. 520 under BE 2012-13.

Background:

The Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY), a centrally sponsored conditional maternity benefit schemes was approved by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in its meeting on 20.10.2010. The scheme is operational in 52 districts of all States/ UTs across the country, on pilot basis, to improve the health and nutrition status of pregnant and lactating women and their young infants. The scheme also includes Sultanpur and Mahoba districts of Uttar Pradesh.

On 01.07.2010 a new district, namely, Chhatrapati Sahuji Maharaj (CSM) Nagar was carved out by the Government of UP by merging three tehsils from erstwhile Sultanpur district (Musafirkhana, Amethi and Gauriganj) and two tehsils of Raibareli district (Salon and Tiloi). In the changed situation, new Sultanpur district comprises of three tehsils i.e., Sadar, Kadipur and Lambhua. The remaining three tehsils (Musafirkhana, Amethi and Gauriganj) of erstwhile Sultanpur district now form part of CSM Nagar. As the CCEA approved the proposal of the Ministry for erstwhile Sultanpur district having six tehsils. In the changed scenario, implementation of IGMSY is limited to Sultanpur district comprising only three tehsils. The remaining three tehsils, namely Musafirkhana, Amethi and Gauriganj of erstwhile Sultanpur is left out of the purview of IGMSY. The Government of UP has requested inclusion of the remaining two tehsils of Chhatrapati Sahuji Maharaj Nagar, namely Salon and Tiloi, transferred from Rae Bareily district under IGMSY in addition to the three tehsils transferred from erstwhile Sultanpur so that the entire CSM Nagar district is covered under the Scheme.

Record number of Indian Americans in race for US Congress

A record number of Indian Americans -- at least 12 -- are in the fray for the November 2012 polls vying for a place in the House of Representative, reflecting the serious effort of this fastest growing ethnic community in the US to politically empower itself.

Cutting across party lines, these Indian-American candidates are spread all over the country with two each from California and Michigan.
Congressman Hansen Clare, who is half Indian, is seeking re-election from Michigan, while another candidate Tulsi Gabbard, a Hindu, is receiving massive support from Indian- Americans.
The motivation and inspiration for these Indian-American candidates numbering at least a dozen comes from the phenomenal success of two rising stars of the Republican party, Nikki Haley (Governor of South Carolina) and Bobby Jindal (Governor of Louisiana).
However, majority of the Indian-American candidates are running for the Congress on a Democratic Party ticket.
Indian-Americans have been traditional supporter of the Democratic party, an indication of which comes from a recent survey according to which as many as 85 per cent of the Indian Americans favour re-election of President Barack Obama.
Among the Indian-American candidates seeking election for the US House of Representatives on a Democratic Party ticket are Upendra Chivukula from New Jersey, Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois, K P George from Texas, Ami Bera from California, Manan Trivedi from Pennsylvania, Syed Taj from Michigan and Vipin Verma from Florida.
Darshan Rauniyar from Washington, though from Nepal, is considered Indian-American by many.
Hansen Clarke and Tulsi Gabbard are also from the Democratic Party.
Young and dynamic Ranjit "Ricky" Gill from California and Ron Bhalla from Tenesse are the two Indian-American candidates in the fray from the Republican Party.
The 2012 election cycle has beaten the record of 2010 Congressional elections when for the first time eight Indian- Americans were in the fray, of which only Clarke tasted electoral victory.
Though the elections are still six months away, if news reports are any indication chances are that Clarke could have more Indian American colleagues in US House of Representatives.
Besides Clarke, only two other Indian-Americans have been elected to the Congress so far -- Bobby Jindal and Dalip Singh Saund.

Establishment of Nyaya Panchayats

Ministry of Panchayati Raj had prepared a Draft Nyaya Panchayat (NP) Bill to provide for the establishment of Nyaya Panchayats at the level of each Village Panchayat or a cluster of Village Panchayats in consultation with Ministry of Law & Justice. The objective of the proposed Nyaya Panchayat Bill is to provide a sound institutionalized, alternative forum at the grassroots level with community involvement for dispute resolution through mediation, conciliation and compromise. After taking into consideration the comments received from the concerned Central Ministries/ Departments, the Draft Nyaya Panchayat Bill was sent to Ministry of Law & Justice. The Bill could not be finalized due to various objections raised by Ministry of Law and Justice which included, inter alia, the issues of its Constitutional validity and overlapping provisions of Gram Nyalaya Act 2008 already enacted by that Ministry. The Ministry of Law & Justice provided a copy of the revised Draft NP Bill 2010 in November 2010 for views/comments of the Ministry. Our detailed comments have been forwarded to Ministry of Law & Justice on 22nd June 2011.

Indian Community Welfare Fund

The Government of India provides budgetary support for the setting up of the fund in Indian Missions with allocations ranging from Rs.5-15 lakh So far as the corpus of such fund is concerned. The Ministry’s contribution is initially for a period of 3 years or till the period the fund becomes self sustaining whichever is earlier. The amount is released annually and is limited to meet the deficit in the financial resources of the Missions, with due regard to the utilization of the amount released during previous years. Funds raised by the Indian Missions by levying a service charge on Consular Services and voluntary contributions by the Indian community.

Hindi as Official Language of UN

The Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs E. Ahamed informed the Rajya Sabha on May 10 that the Government has been actively taking necessary measures for the introduction of Hindi as one of the Official Languages of the UN. A high level Committee under the Chairmanship of the External Affairs Minister was constituted on 26 February, 2003 followed by a sub-Committee under the chairmanship of the Minister of State for External Affairs in August, 2003 to look into this matter and take necessary measures. Keeping in view this objective, the 8th World Hindi Conference was organized in New York on 13 July 2007 and its inaugural session was held at the UN Headquarters, which was attended by the UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon. In addition, a World Hindi Secretariat has been set up in Mauritius since 11 February 2008 to promote Hindi as an international language. On several occasions, Indian leaders have delivered statements at the UN in Hindi. Necessary arrangements were made for simultaneous interpretation of these statements in English by the Permanent Mission of India in New York. The Government of India`s sustained efforts have also ensured that the United Nations offers its programmes on the UN Radio Website in Hindi also.

The introduction of Hindi as one of the official languages of the United Nations has several financial and procedural implications which require to be met before a formal proposal can be tabled at the UN. India, as the proposing country, would need to provide sufficient financial resources to the UN to cover the additional expenditure on interpretation, translation, printing and duplication of documents and related infrastructural costs. Procedurally, the UN General Assembly (the legislative body of the UN) would also need to adopt a resolution supported by a majority of the 193 UN Member States. Apart from the additional cost to India, the addition of another official language at the UN entails a significant increase in the budget of the UN (personnel, equipment, and other recurring costs). Member States have been generally reluctant to support proposals entailing any additional financial burden.

Naval Commanders Conference - 2012

The Naval Commander’s Conference was conducted at New Delhi from 08-10 May 12. The Hon’ble Raksha Mantri inaugurated the conference and complimented the Indian Navy on its all round performance.

The Naval Commander’s discussed several important issues during the conference, including Operational Readiness, Coastal Security, Infrastructure Development, Information & Cyber Security as also Foreign Cooperation initiatives.

The necessity for the Indian Navy to incorporate quantum enhancement in technology, ranging from nuclear propulsion to advanced weapon platforms and networked systems, was highlighted by the CNS, especially in view of the recent induction of INS Chakra, the impending arrival of INS Vikramaditya and the P8-I Long Range Maritime Surveillance aircraft.

The CNS expressed satisfaction at the modernisation and capability enhancement of the Indian Navy, which was proceeding as per the Maritime Capability Perspective Plan. The CNS highlighted the fact, that 4-5 major warships and submarines were likely to be commissioned every year over the next five years and that Naval Aviation was poised for major growth in the years ahead.

Considering the ongoing expansion programme of the Indian Navy, a new ‘Safety Organisation’ to enhance safe operations of ships, submarines and aircraft was also discussed.

As 2012 is being observed as the ‘Year of the Ex-Serviceman’, several measures for enhancing the welfare of naval veterans and their widows were discussed for implementation. These include ‘Pension Adalats’ across the country, especially in rural areas and strengthening the delivery of the Ex-servicemen’s Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).

The CNS concluded the conference by complimenting all personnel of the Indian Navy for their professionalism and patriotism, and exhorted them to continue to meet the maritime security challenges being faced by the nation.

Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) drafted Policy on Exploitation of Shale Gas

The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) drafted a safe as well as encouraging policy on exploitation of shale gas that is seen as the new hope for fuelling India’s burgeoning appetite for hydrocarbons. DGF drafted the policy in the wake of the CAG’s strictures against the DGH and the Petroleum Ministry on violations in the KG-D6 contract.

The draft policy does not permit cost recovery and hence profit sharing — the two features that came under criticism by the CAG in its audit report. However it banks on production-linked payment (PLP) as the Centre’s share from the discovery.

The draft stated that the PLP would be a fixed percentage of revenue receipts from the shale gas or shale oil sold from the contract area, net of royalty on a monthly basis. Royalty would be in line with what is prescribed in the Oilfields (Regulation & Development) act. The PLP quoted at the time of the bidding for blocks assumes significance as it would carry the maximum 60 per cent weight for deciding the award of the block. The total investment quoted for completing the promised minimum work programme would get 40 per cent weightage. As a fiscal incentive, the contractor will be exempt from PLP payment for the first five years from the start of commercial production or from the date of entering the development and production phase, whichever is earlier.

The maximum period of PLP exemption would be 10 years from the date of signing of the contract and will not be extended under any circumstance since it is an incentive for faster development.

As per the policy, the explorer will be given the freedom to market shale gas within India on an arm’s length basis, with shale oil marketing following the prevailing norms of the New Exploration Licensing Policy. The other incentive proposed in the draft is customs duty exemption on the import of goods and materials for exploration and exploitation of shale gas or oil.

The blocks are to be awarded through open international competitive bidding with up to 100 per cent equity participation by foreign companies. The operating firm in a consortium would be the one which has minimum 25 per cent equity. The contract would be for 30 years with the first five years kept for exploration, appraisal and evaluation of the prospect and its feasibility.

Deepika Kumari wins first World Cup title

India's Olympic prospect Deepika Kumari won her first World Cup individual recurve gold medal at Antalya, Turkey.

She beat Korea's Lee Sung Jin by six set points to four in the final of the Stage 2 of the championship.

According to information received here, teenager Deepika won the second set (29-27), third (27-26) and the fifth (28-27) while losing the first (27-30) and the fourth (27-29).

Deepika, who has already qualified for London Olympics, is the current junior world champion and a gold medallist at the Delhi Commonwealth Games. She had also won the Cadet World Title in 2009.

Archery Association of India chief and Indian Olympic Association acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra congratulated Deepika on her win on May 5.

Chelsea lifts FA Cup

Chelsea's remarkable turnaround since Roberto Di Matteo took over as interim coach has taken them to the brink of a cup double after they beat a disappointing Liverpool side 2-1 with goals from Ramires and Didier Drogba on May 5.
 

Their victory at Wembley Stadium in a match they dominated for the first hour keeps the London side's momentum going for what could be an even greater triumph in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in two weeks' time.

A season that seemed destined to end in failure under coach Andre Villas-Boas could now finish as the most successful in the club's history if they become European champions.

Andy Carroll's 64th minute strike for Liverpool brought the game to life for the last half-an-hour after Chelsea appeared to be coasting to a seventh FA Cup success and their fourth in six seasons but Di Matteo's side hung on to claim the spoils.

The club's campaign has been transformed under Di Matteo - who never lost at Wembley as a player - with just two defeats in 18 matches although he is still only their caretaker boss.

Tamil writer Ashokamitran declared Recipient of the 6 NTR National Literary Award

Noted Tamil writer Ashokamitran, known for his novel Thanneer and other works was declared the recipient of the 6 NTR National Literary Award on 4 May 2012. The award is scheduled to be presented on 28 May 2012. The writer was born in Secunderabad and was closest to Telugu culture, language and people.

The announcement was made by chairperson of NTR Vignan Trust Nandamuri Lakshmi Parvati who recalled how the award was established and began with Kannada writer S.L. Bhyrappa, A. Somasundaram (Telugu), Sachidanandan (Malayalam), Mahasweta Devi and Gnanpith awardee C. Narayana Reddy.

The jury comprised writer Volga, Professor N. Krupanandam of the University of Hyderabad and litterateur Ketu Vishwanatha Reddy. Ashokamitran's name was finalised unanimously, considering the number of his works that were translated in other languages and their relevance to Telugu.

Vice President Hamid Ansari conferred the 59th National Film Awards

Vice President of India Hamid Ansari conferred the 59th National Film Awards across various categories upon the winners at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on 4 May 2012. Ansari also presented the Dadasaheb Phalke award, highest honour in Indian cinema to Veteran Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee.
The best feature film award was shared by Marathi film Deool and Kannada movie Byari, while the best direction award went to Gurvinder Singh for his Punjabi film Anhe Ghorey Da Daan, which also won the best cinematography title. Hindi film I Am was named the best Hindi film of the year. Chillar Party was adjudged the best children's film, and it also received the honour for best original screenplay writer.
Marathi actor Girish Kulkarni claimed the best actor trophy for his role as a good-hearted simpleton in Deool. Bollywood actress Vidya Balan got the best female actor award for her role in Dirty Picture.The best supporting actor and actress awards were given to Appu Kutty for Tamil film Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai and Leishangthem Tonthoingambi Devi for Manipuri film Phijigee Mani, respectively.
Anand Bhate, won the best playback singer (male) title for Balgandharva, and Roopa Ganguly, won the same award in the female category for the Bengali film Abosheyshey. Bollywood lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya received the best lyricist trophy. For the song Agar Zindgi from the movie I Am. Composer Neel Dutt won the best songs award for Bengali rock musical Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbo Na. Mayookh Bhaumik bagged the background score honor for Bengali film Laptop.
RA.One bagged the award for best special effects and the best choreography was given to Bosco-Caeser for Senorita from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. The best costume designer award was shared by Niharika Khan for The Dirty Picture and Neeta Lulla for Marathi film Balgandharva.  The best child artist was received jointly by Partho Gupte for Stanley Ka Dabba and by the gang of 10 kids for Chillar Party.
Vikram Gaekwad won the best make-up artist for his work in The Dirty Picture as well as in Bal Gandharva.All three awards in the best audiography category were picked by Hindi films. The best location sound recordist title went to Beylon Fonseca for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Game was given the honours in the sound designer and re-recordist of the final mixed track categories.
Kumararaja Thiagarajan won the Indira Gandhi Award for best debut film of a director for Aaranyakandam while the award for the best popular film providing wholesome entertainment went to Tamil film Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai.Acclaimed filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli picked his 12th National Film Award at the event for Kurmavatara, adjudged the best Kannada film.
Traditionally, the national awards are given out by the President. But in the absence of president the vice president presented the awards.

60% of rural India lives on less than Rs 35 a day

About 60 per cent of India's rural population lives on less than Rs 35 a day and nearly as many in cities live on Rs 66 a day, reveals a government survey on income and expenditure.

"In terms of average per capita daily expenditure, it comes out to be about Rs 35 in rural and Rs 66 in urban India. About 60 per cent of the population live with these expenditures or less in rural and urban areas," said Director General of National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) J Dash in his preface to the report.

According to the 66th round of National Sample Survey (NSS) carried out between July 2009 and June 2010, all India average monthly per capita consumer expenditure (MPCE) in rural areas was Rs 1,054 and urban areas Rs 1,984.

The survey also pointed out that 10 per cent of the population at the lowest rung in rural areas lives on Rs 15 a day, while in urban areas the figure is only a shade better at Rs 20 day.

"The poorest 10 per cent of India's rural population had an average MPCE of Rs 453. The poorest 10 per cent of the urban population had an average MPCE of Rs 599", it said.

The NSSO survey also revealed that average MPCE in rural areas was lowest in Bihar and Chhattisgarh at around Rs 780 followed by Orissa and Jharkhand at Rs 820.

Among other states, Kerala has the highest rural MPCE at 1,835 followed by Punjab and Haryana at Rs 1,649 and Rs 1,510 respectively.

The the highest urban MCPE was in Maharashtra at Rs 2,437 followed by Kerala at Rs 2,413 and Haryana at Rs 2,321. It was lowest in Bihar at Rs 1,238.

The median level of MCPE was Rs 895 in rural and Rs 1,502 in urban India, indicating consumption level of majority of population.

According to the study, food was estimated to account about 57 per cent of the value of the average rural Indian household consumption during 2009-10 whereas it was 44 per cent in cities.

The study reveals that the average monthly per capita consumption of cereals was 11.3 kg in rural areas and 9.4 kg in cities.

Based on NSSO estimates, the Planning Commission had pegged that poverty line at Rs 28.65 and Rs 22.42 daily consumption in urban and rural areas respectively in 2009-10.

As per the Commission's estimates the number of persons living below poverty line was 35.46 crore in 2009-10, as compared to 40.72 crore in 2004-05.

Vidya Balan appointed Brand Ambassador for promoting Sanitation in India

Noted Bollywood actor Vidya Balan was roped in by the Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation as brand ambassador to spread awareness about sanitation and cleanliness in the country. Talking to the media after meeting Balan here, Union Rural Development Minister Shri Jairam Ramesh said she will appear in ad campaigns to propagate construction and use of toilets. The Minister informed that Balan is the first brand ambassador of the Ministry. According to UNICEF-WHO Joint Monitoring Programme Report 2010, nearly 60 per cent of India's 1.1 billion people still practice open defecation and close to 58% of all open defecations in the World is in India. Shri Ramesh said that Vidya’s involvement will make the campaign to end open defecation a national obsession. The key areas of intervention on sanitation that may be focused upon are- propogating construction and use of toilets by all, habits of hand washing, personal hygiene and managing waste.

Talking to reporters, Vidya Balan said that this role will work a lot because they are working on a national movement. She said that it is a matter of great honour for her to become the brand ambassador of sanitation campaign and added that it needs to become a national obsession. She has agreed to give her time for the campaign for two years and will be fully involved in the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan--the restructured version of the Total Sanitation Campaign. It may be recalled that India loses 54 billion US dollars that is about 24,000 crore rupees a year due to poor sanitation and hygiene.

Partial solar eclipse on May 21

The trio of sun, earth and moon will depict an interesting view of partial solar eclipse on May 21, which will be seen in the eastern part of the country.

The partial solar eclipse will begin at 15:39 hours and would end at 19:06 hours, Jiwaji laboratory Ujjain director Rajendra Prakash Gupta said.

At the height of the eclipse, the moon would cover 94.5 per cent of the sun, he said.

This is the first eclipse this year which is visible in India.

The partial solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and earth in such a way that from the earth, a portion of the sun is seen hidden behind the moon.

Mr. Gupta said a partial lunar eclipse would occur on June 4 but it would not be visible in India.

State-of-the-art ground station to come up at Antarctica soon

A state-of-the-art ground station for earth observation satellites which will function in sub-zero temperatures and withstand high wind speeds will be established at Bharati Station, the third research facility being set up by India on the icy continent of Antarctica.

The installation and commissioning of the ground station will be taken up in summer season at Antarctica, starting from December 2012 to March 2013.

The prestigious project for setting up the ground station as also a communication facility has been bagged by the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) for a contract value of Rs.50 crore in the face of stiff global competition, according to Y.S. Mayya, Chairman and Managing Director, ECIL.

High-speed satellite raw data would be beamed in real time from Bharati Station to NRSC at Shadnagar, near here, for processing the images once the project starts functioning. 

Communication facility

As part of it, a data reception station and another data communication facility linking Bharati Station and NRSC would be established.

ECIL would install two large antennae of 7.5 diameters each-one for remote sensing and the other for communication. The antennae would be enclosed in a radome to protect them from heavy winds. While one antenna was already fabricated, the second one was expected to be ready shortly.

The antennae would be installed on a platform weighing 50 tonnes and developed with special steel structure.

The entire equipment would be taken to Cape Town, South Africa, by the end of September 2012 and transported from there to Bharati Station with logistic support from National Centre for Antarctica and Ocean Research (NCAOR), Goa.

In 2007, ECIL also established the communication link between Maitri, the second Indian research station in Antarctica and NCAOR. Among others, research on tectonics and geological structures would be undertaken at Bharati Station by Indian scientists.

Employment Exchange Mission Mode Project

The Union Labour & Employment Minister Shri Mallikarjun Kharge has informed that Employment Exchanges Mission Mode Project (EEMMP) is under consideration to interlink all the Employment Exchanges across the country. The Project is yet to be approved by the competent authority. Under the Project, a National Web Portal will be developed which will contain information both on availability of manpower and requirement of the industry and will serve as a virtual job market.

Programme on National Monsoon Mission

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the implementation of the programme of the National Monsoon Mission at the Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO) for a period of five years.
The main objectives of the National Monsoon Mission are:
(i) To build a working partnership between the academic and R&D organisations both national and international and the operational agencies to improve the operational monsoon forecast skill over the country.
(ii) To set up a state of the art dynamic modeling framework for improving the prediction skill of:
        a. Seasonal and extended range prediction system (16 days to one season)
        b. Short to medium range prediction system (up to 15 days).
The Mission has a budget of Rs.400 crore for five years to support the research work related to the mission.
The National Monsoon Mission after its implementation will help to implement a dynamic prediction system for the prediction of monsoon in all time scales, short range to seasonal time scale at appropriate spatial scales with improved prediction skill. The forecasts based on this prediction system will cater to the needs of various sectors like agriculture, water resources management, power generation, disaster management, tourism and transport.

Country's first electronic toll plaza

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will roll out the country's first Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system at Haryana, replacing the current cash payment method. Road Transport and Highways Minister C P Joshi will inaugurate the radio frequency identification (RFID) technology-based toll collection plaza at Chandimandir near Punchkula in Haryana on Delhi-Chandigarh highway on pilot basis, which will be replicated pan-India."The system will not only plug leakages under the present toll collection system but would ensure uninterrupted travel on highways across the country," a Road Transport Ministry official said.

The technology will help users to make payment without stopping at toll plazas and will reduce traffic congestion and commuting time, the official said adding that toll statements can be made available online to the road users and they don't need to stop for collecting receipt.