OCTOBER CURRENT AFFAIRS

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS:
India on 1 November won a crucial election to the UN Board of Auditors with its
nominee Shashi Kant Sharma, the Comptroller and Auditor General, garnering the
largest number of votes. Sharma won 124 votesout of the total 186 cast in the General
Assemblys Fifth Committee on Administrative and Budgetary questions. India won by a
comfortable margin against its closest contender the Philippines, which got 62
votes.With this, Sharma will be appointed to the UN Board of Auditors for a six year
term beginning July 1, 2014.The General Assembly had established the UN Board of
Auditors to audit of the accounts of the United Nations organization and its funds and
programmes and to report its findings and recommendations to the Assembly through
the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions. The Auditors-
Generals of UN member states are elected to the Board. India had last sat on the board
in 1993 for six years.
China on 31 October 2013 opened a new highway that links Medog to Zhamog-located
near the border with Arunachal Pradesh. The highway linking Medog, the last roadless
county in China, with neighboring Bome County in Tibet formally opened to traffic,
ending the countys isolation from the outside world. The 117-km highway, which cost
950 million yuan (155 million U.S. dollars), links Zhamog Township, the county seat of
Bome, and Medog in Nyingchi Prefecture in southeastern Tibet. The road will be
accessible for 8 to 9 months per year, barring major natural disasters. The Zhamog-
Medog starts along the Number 318 National Road in Zhamog Township in Bomi
County. It goes through the 4400-meter high Galung La Mountain and cross 6 rivers, to
reach Medog.
The opening of the Medog road will greatly lower transportation costs and will also
improve medical care and educational facilities. With this new highway, every county in
Tibet is now linked through the highway network, underlining the widening infrastructure
gulf across the disputed border, even as India belatedly pushes forward an upgrading of
border roads in more difficult terrain. China first started attempting to build the highway
to Medog a landlocked county in Tibets Nyingchi prefecture in the 1960s, in the
aftermath of the 1962 war with India.
Turkey opened the worlds first underwater rail link between two continents on 29
October, connecting Asia and Europe and allowing Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to
realize a project dreamt up by Ottoman sultans more than a century ago.The
engineering feat spans 13 km (8 miles) to link Europe with Asia some 60 meters below
the Bosphorus Strait. Called the Marmaray, it will carry subway commuters in Europes
biggest city and eventually serve high-speed and freight trains. The 5.5 billion lira ($2.8
billion) tunnel is one of Erdogans mega projects, an unprecedented building spree
designed to change the face of Turkey. They include a 50-km canal to rival the Suez
that would render half of Istanbul an island, an airport that will be the worlds busiest and
a giant mosque atop on Istanbul hill.
Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana, a pension and life insurance fund scheme
for blue-collar Indian workers in UAE was launched by the Union Minister of Overseas
Indian Affairs, Vyalar Ravi in Dubai on 28 October 2013.The scheme will cover 5 million
overseas blue collar Indian workers who have the Emigration Clearance Required
(ECR) category passports in 17 countries. ECR passports are issued to those workers
who have not passed Grade 10. Around 65 per cent of more than two million Indians in
the UAE are blue collar workers and most of them are in the ECR category.
Blue collar jobs are pertaining to wage-earning workers who wear work clothes or other
specialized clothing on the job, as mechanics, longshoremen and miners. Mahatma
Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana (MGPSY), a special social security scheme for
overseas Indian workers on temporary work permits in 17 Emigration Check Required
(ECR) countries. The MGPSY is aimed at helping the workers to save money for their
retirement, their return to India and resettlement and provides life insurance cover
against natural death during the period of coverage. It provides home and a life
insurance cover for Rs. 1 lakh during their work abroad.
Syria has destroyed all of its declared chemical weapons production and mixing
facilities, meeting a key deadline in an ambitious disarmament programme, the
international chemical weapons watchdog saidon 31 October. The Organization for the
Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said its teams had inspected 21 out of 23 chemical
weapons sites across the country. The other two were too dangerous to inspect but the
chemical equipment had already been moved to other sites which experts had visited, it
said.
"The OPCW is satisfied it has verified, and seen destroyed, all declared critical
production/mixing/filling equipment from all 23 sites," the document said. Under a
Russian-American-brokered deal, Damascus agreed to destroy all its chemical
weapons after Washington threatened to use force in response to the killing of hundreds
of people in a sarin attack on the outskirts of Damascus on 21 August. It was the worlds
deadliest chemical weapons incident since Saddam Husseins forces used poison gas
against the Kurdish town of Halabja 25 years ago.
The United States and its allies blamed Syrian president Bashar al-Assads forces for
the attack and several earlier incidents. Assad has rejected the charge, blaming rebel
brigades. Under the disarmament timetable, Syria was due to render unusable all
production and chemical weapons filling facilities by 1 November a target it has now
met. By mid-2014 it is to have destroyed its entire stockpile of chemical weapons. The
next deadline is 15 November, by when the OPCW and Syria must agree to a detailed
plan of destruction, including how and where to destroy more than 1,000 metric tones of
toxic agents and munitions.
The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development ( USAID),
has announced a US $ 250,000 grant to the organization UN Women, which is a part of
the United Nations Womens Global Safe Cities Initiative. In a press statement on 30
October, the US embassy said that the grant is for the ongoing program "Delhi Safe City
- Free of Violence against Women and Girls," that will be implemented in partnership
with Indian civil society organizations.This announcement comes in the same month as
the International Day of the Girl Child and on the eve of the international communitys 16
Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence beginning late November. U.S.
Ambassador to India Nancy J. Powell said, "The United States recognizes gender-
based violence as one of the most debilitating factors impeding a womans active
participation in any economy in the world and her ability to access resources and
services. We are pleased to partner with UN Women to help promote safe cities and
reduce gender-based violence, which plagues every country in the world."
Australia on 29 October 2013 announced the winding down of its military mission in
Afghanistan with the withdrawal of most of its troops by the end of 2014.Approximately,
1000Australian troops are posted at the International Force base in Tarin Kot, the
capital of southern Afghan province Uruzgan. In 2001, the US-led war in Afghanistan
started and 40 Australian soldiers killed and 260 were injured since that time. USA and
other foreign combat troops from Afghanistan chalked out a plan to transfer security
responsibilities to local forces by the end of 2014 and will go back to their countries. As
of early June 2013 there were about 1,00,000 Nato troops serving in Afghanistan from
50 contributing nations. Australia is one among the leading nations who have
contributed units of 550 or more.
The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad chaired the session
for launching of the Global Commission on Ageing in Developing Countries at Beijing,
China. Azad said that the goal of the Commission is to enable gender, equity and rights
based policies and programming that will improve the quality of life of the ageing
population in developing countries including the 25 member countries of Partners in
Population and Development (PPD). India is presently the Chair of PPD. Azad said that
currently for most countries of the world the population aged 60 or over is growing at a
rate faster than any other age group. United Nations has made projections that by 2050
there will be more people in the age group of 60 plus worldwide than children aged
under14 years. What is also known is that about 80 per cent of these elderly citizens will
be living in developing countries, he said. The Minister highlighted that 25 member
countries of PPD constitute 48.6 per cent of the world population aged 60 and above,
and this is projected to increase to 57.1 per cent by 2050. Moreover, in 2012, nine Asian
member countries of PPD constituted over 76.4 per cent of over 60 years population in
Asia, which is estimated to increase to 78.1 per cent by 2050. Azad expressed his
concern that growing numbers of the ageing populations are posing challenges for
existing health systems, social security and, in some cases, employment especially for
developing countries as they are not fully equipped - either in terms of policy
instruments or programmatic interventions to successfully meet the growing
requirements of an aging population. But the Health Minister also expressed happiness
that ageing populations present not just challenges but also opportunities. The
contributions of an ageing population can be enhanced to create a second
Demographic Dividend by adopting enabling polices for productive ageing and
creating opportunities for extended economic life. For this investment in the ageing
human capital and creating infrastructure and social support services is an imperative,
he emphasized. The Minister urged PPD member countries and other developing
nations to support the Commission in fulfilling its roles of guiding the countries to
address gender, rights and equity based social protection, health care and income
security of the growing ageing populations. Present at the occasion were H.E. Dr. Li
Bin, Vice-Chair, PPD Board, Dr. John Beard, Director, Department of Ageing and Life
Course, World Health Organization, Dr. Joe Thomas, Executive Director, PPD and
various other dignitaries.
The Second High Level Meeting (HLM) on South-South Cooperation for Child Rights in
Asia and the Pacific concluded in New Delhi on October 25th, 2013.The meeting has
brought together delegates from 33 countries of the region to discuss and share the
progress, experience, problems and challenges in the survival, protection, development
and participation of the nearly 1.2 billion children in the region. The New Delhi
Declaration on South-South Cooperation for Child Rights in Asia and Pacific, has been
adopted on October 25th.Speaking at the occasion Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister of
State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Women and Child Development said that such
high level meetings provide an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment towards child
rights and recognizing that child rights are fundamental to all cultures and societies and
are crucial to childrens growth and upbringing. It is also a reaffirmation of our belief that
child survival, development, protection and participation are vital for the growth of the
country. Smt. Tirath said that although this Meeting has focused on three crucial themes
of adolescence, early child hood care and development and urban settings, we
recognise that the rights of children are interrelated and interdependent and each one of
them is equally important and fundamental to the well-being and dignity of the child. The
application of child rights requires a multi-dimensional, integrated and inclusive
approach for the overall and harmonious development and protection of children, she
noted. Present at the occasion were Mr Sharudin S. Kashim, Deputy Director General
Planning, Government of Malaysia , delegates from 33 countries, officials from UNICEF
and various other dignitaries.
The first nuclear power station in the UK in the last 20 years, the Hinkley Point C
nuclear power station, is to be built in Somerset, in southwest England.After the March
2011 Fukushima, this is one of the first major nuclear power plants to be built in
Western Europe. According to a release from the UK governments Department of
Energy and Climate Change, Hinkley Point C will begin the process of replacing the
existing fleet of nuclear most of which are due to close in the 2020s. The UK
government and the French EDF Group have reached agreement on the key terms of
the contract for the construction of the power station, which is expected to generate
clean power that from 2023 will power nearly six million homes or an area twice the
size as London. EDF and the investors it has rounded up, which includes the China
National Nuclear Corporation and China General Nuclear Power Corporation (that will
invest in the project as minority shareholders), will together put in a total investment of
£ 16 billion into the construction of the plant. Construction will be undertaken by
the French state-controlled company Areva. At a time when Germany is in the process
of decommissioning its nuclear plants to a 2022 target, and France too is cutting back
on the share of nuclear power in its overall energy package, the UKs decision to
actually enhance its nuclear energy capability comes as a contrast.
Ethiopias government on 24th October 2013 temporarily banned its citizens from
travelling abroad to look for work.The government took this decision because many
Ethiopians had lost their lives or undergone untold physical and psychological trauma
due to illegal human trafficking. The Ethiopian government had taken various steps to
limit the suffering of its citizens, including setting up a national council and a taskforce to
educate them. The scarcity of work opportunities contributes mainly fuelling emigration
from Ethiopia, which has Africas second largest population. According to the official
figures, Youth unemployment was estimated at more than 50 percent. Many Ethiopians
migrate to Saudi Arabia, travelling via Yemen by sea and entering the country illegally.
Thousands of others go to Israel, South Africa and Europe. Most of the migrants end up
being smuggled, trafficked or subjected to mental and physical torture.
Bruneis on 22nd October sultan announced that a new Islamic criminal law that could
include penalties like amputation for theft and stoning for adultery will be enforced in six
months.Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said the Shariah Penal Code, which would be applied
to Muslims only, should be regarded as a form of special guidance from God and
would be part of the great history of the tiny, oil-rich monarchy on Borneo Island. In
Brunei, Muslims comprise about two-thirds of the population of nearly 420,000 people.
The minorities are mainly Buddhist, Christians and people of local indigenous beliefs.
Iran and P5+1 (Group of six major world powers comprising the US, France, Britain,
Russia, China and Germany) have agreed for the first time on 16th October to hold talks
on Irans nuclear programme. TheP5+1 group was held two days intense, substantive
and forward looking talks with Iran over its controversial nuclear program on 15 and 16
October 2013 in Geneva.
According to the agreed plan between Iran and P5+1 Group, Iran ensured to the P5+1
group that it will use nuclear programme for peaceful purpose. According to the agreed
plan all nuclear activities in Iran will supervised by the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA). The P5+1 Group, a group of six world countries (United States, Russia,
China, United Kingdom, and France plus Germany).
It was formed in 2006 to resolve the nuclear programme in Iran. Iran and the P5+1
group were previously held talks in Almaty, Kazakhstan April 5-6 2012. The two sides
had resumed negotiations in Almaty in February 2013 after a nine-month interval. Each
side brought a proposal to the April talks, but failed to reach consensus on a way
forward and no further meetings were scheduled. But Iran and P5+1 group were agreed
first time to hold talks on Irans nuclear programme.
Syria officially joined the United Nations convention banning chemical weapons, the
spokesman of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said
on 14th October. Around 60 members from the UN-backed OPCW is overseeing the
destruction of Syrias stockpile as well as some of its chemical weapons production
equipment. The Norwegian Nobel Committee last week awarded the OPCW the Nobel
Peace Prize for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons. In September,
Syria said it would sign the Chemical Weapons Convention, following Russias proposal
that it hand over its chemical weapons to international supervisors. The Syrian regime in
August was accused by Western powers and the Syrian opposition of using sarin gas in
areas near the capital Damascus. The United States said the attack killed 1,400 people.
Created in 1997, OPCWs job is to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention, a
treaty that requires all countries that join to eliminate their chemical weapons stocks and
related facilities. Syria is the 190th country to join the convention.
Pakistani teenage activist Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban
for campaigning for girls education, will be granted honorary Canadian citizenship, the
Canadian government announced on 16th October.She will join an elite group of foreign
honorees who include South Africas Nelson Mandela and Myanmars Aung San Suu
Kyi. After receiving death threats from the Taliban for defying the Islamist militant group
with her outspoken views on the right to education, Yousafzai was shot a year ago while
on a school bus near her village in Swat in northwestern Pakistan.
Switzerland, the country which became notorious for its anonymous numbered bank
accounts and tight banking secrecy became the worlds 58th nation on 15th October, to
sign the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters.
The agreement prepared by taxation experts from the Paris-based Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD),which has led the war against tax
havens in recent years, was signed by Switzerlands ambassador to the OECD and the
Organizations Secretary-General Angel Gurria in Paris. This marks the end of banking
secrecy in Switzerland, the head of tax issues at the OECD, Pascal Saint-Amans, said
adding that the Convention prepares the way for the automatic exchange of tax
information. The Swiss Federal Council gave its approval to the treaty on October
9.This is a momentous step for Switzerland because it means it will be breaking its own
time-honoured and time-tested laws on banking secrecy.
More than 90 per cent of people living in European cities breathe air that the U.N.s
World Health Organization (WHO) says leads to respiratory problems, heart disease
and shortened lives, according to a study published on 15th October.But because EU
legal limits or targets for some pollutants still lag well behind U.N. recommendations,
most countries have been able to downplay the hazards of dirty air despite evidence
that it leads to 430,000 shortened lives in Europe every year and costs governments
tens of billions of pounds in hospital admissions.
According to the European Environment Agency (EEA) study, the past 10 years have
seen a steady decline in the emissions of most air pollutants, leading to acceptable
levels across the continent for carbon monoxide and lead.Nevertheless, road transport,
industry, power plants and farming continue to emit significant amounts of pollutants
which leads to acid rain, loss of biodiversity, reduction of visibility and damage to
materials and buildings, says the report. EU environment commissioner Janez Potocnik
suggested he was ready to take countries to the European courts and fine them for
consistently failing to meet targets.
The WHO suggests 85-98 per cent of Europes urban population is exposed to
dangerous levels of both but the EU says only 14-31 per cent of people are exposed.
Countries, including Britain, have consistently argued that Europe should not raise air
pollution standards and have actively tried to delay implementing EU legal limits to
avoid having to remove cars from roads or force industry to invest in better technology.
The study found that emissions had not reduced as much as expected in the past 10
years. There have been several success stories in cutting emissions of air pollutants
for example, sulphur dioxide emissions from power plants, industry and transport have
been reduced over the last decade, reducing exposure.
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty was observed on 17th October to
promote peoples awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution worldwide,
particularly in developing countries. Theme for the year 2013 is: Working together
towards a world without discrimination: Building on the experience and knowledge of
people in extreme poverty.United Nations General Assembly in 1993 by resolution
47/196 designated International Day for the Eradication of Poverty to promote
awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries.
Fighting poverty remains at the core of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and
the post-2015 development agenda. The observance of the International Day for the
Eradication of Poverty can be traced back to 17th October 1987. On that date, more
than 1,00,000 people gathered in Paris, France, to honor the victims of extreme poverty,
violence and hunger. Since that moment, individuals and organizations worldwide
observed October 17 as a day to renew their commitment in collaborating towards
eradicating poverty.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Dutch Mideast expert Sigrid Kaag on 16th
October, to lead the team charged with destroying Syrias chemical weapons and
announced stepped up efforts to hold a peace conference on Syria in mid-November.
The UN chief appeared with Kaag shortly after UN spokesman Martin Nesirky
announced her appointment and the official establishment of the joint mission of the
U.N. and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons that she will lead.
Its goal is to destroy Syrias chemical weapons stockpile, all chemical precursors, and
the equipment to produce the deadly weapons by mid-2014.The Organization for the
Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said that inspectors have so far visited 11 of more
than 20 sites linked to Syrias chemical weapons program. The team destroyed "critical
equipment" at six sites as well as unloaded chemical weapons munitions, said the
OPCW. The secretary-general said the U.N., the U.S. and Russia are "intensifying
efforts" to hold a new conference in Geneva in mid-November to try to agree on a
transitional government in Syria based on a plan adopted in that city in June 2012.
The World Health Organization on 18th October, warned against devastating health
consequences of lead poisoning, particularly for children, and called upon countries to
strengthen national action to eliminate lead paint. Lead exposure is estimated to
contribute to 6, 00,000 new cases of children with intellectual disabilities every year, it
says. Overall, 99 per cent of the affected children live in low and middle income
countries, the WHO said in a statement on the occasion of International Lead Poisoning
Prevention Week of Action. Lead paint may be found in home, on toys, furniture and on
other objects.
Decaying lead paint on walls, furniture and other interior surfaces creates contaminated
dust that young children easily ingest. Mouthing lead-painted toys and other objects
also exposes them to lead. The sweet taste of the paint means some children even pick
off and swallow small chips of it. It is estimated that 1, 43,000 deaths every year result
from lead poisoning and lead paint is a major contributor. Its use creates a health
problem for many years into the future. Even in countries that have banned leaded paint
decades ago, it will continue to be a source of exposure until it is finally stripped and
replaced.
The cost of replacing lead paint means people living in older, poorly maintained housing
are particularly at risk, and this disproportionately affects economically-deprived
communities. Worldwide, 30 countries have already phased out lead paint use. The
Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint, co-led by the WHO and the United Nations
Environment Programme, has set a target of 70 countries by 2015.At high levels of
exposure, lead damages the brain and central nervous system to cause coma,
convulsions and even death.Children who survive poisoning are often left with
intellectual impairment and behavioral disorders. The WHO has identified lead as one of
the 10 chemicals causing major public health concern,and lead requires action by
member-states in order to protect the health of workers, children and women of
reproductive age. It includes adopting regulations and procedures to eliminate the use
of lead decorative paints and providing information to the public on renovation of homes
where lead paint may have already been applied.
Saudi Arabia has rejected a rotating seat at the Security Council, as a mark of protest
against the perceived inaction by the world body against Syria.On 17th October, the
kingdom had for the first time been elected by the General Assembly to become a non-
permanent member. The Saudi monarchy, a staunch supporter of military action to
topple President Bashar al-Assad said the Security Council is incapable of tackling
international conflicts. Riyadh said the UNSC had also failed to settle the Israel-
Palestinian issue. It also drew attention to the Councils inability to turn West Asia into a
zone free of weapons of mass destruction an apparent reference to Israels alleged
stockpile of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
Ireland will become the first Euro zone country to exit its bailout in December, Prime
Minister Enda Kenny said on 13th October, warning however there was still some way
to go to full recovery. Ireland was forced to turn to the European Union and the
International Monetary Fund for an 85-billion-euro ($115 billion) bailout in 2010 after its
banks collapsed and its overheated property market went into meltdown. Kenny told a
conference of his Fine Gael party on 12th October, there were "fragile times" ahead and
a budget due would be tough, but that Ireland was ready to leave the bailout.
Ireland enjoyed double-digit economic growth for a decade from the mid-1990s, earning
it the nickname of the "Celtic Tiger", but it was hammered by the 2008 global financial
crisis. In return for the bailout, the government was forced to introduce stringent
austerity measures. But it has been described as a "poster boy" for bailed-out EU
economies, exiting recession in the second quarter of this year with growth of 0.4
percent thanks to solid expansion of its construction and export sectors. If Ireland does
leave the scheme in December, it will be the first of the four bailed-out euro zone
countries to do so. Financial packages have also been given to Cyprus, Greece and
Portugal.
International Finance Corporation (IFC) on 10th October launched a $1 billion offshore
rupee bond in Washington, marking an important step forward in Indias efforts to
internationalize the currency.IFC has already raised local currency bonds in Chinese
renminbi, Russia ruble and Brazilian real.IFC, the private finance arm of the World
Bank, will use these funds to finance private sector investment in the country. "Vibrant
domestic capital markets ensure access to long-term, local-currency finance for the
private sectorthe key engine of job creation in emerging markets," said Jin-Yong Cai,
IFCs chief executive officer (CEO) announcing the bond offering.
Under the programme, the IFC will issue rupee-linked bonds to global investors,
providing another method of funding Indian corporate. "IFCs offshore bond programme
will help bring depth and diversity to the offshore rupee market and pave the way for an
alternative source of funding for Indian companies," International Finance Corporation
said in a statement. In an offshore local currency bond, the foreign investor will first
convert his currency into rupees and then invest in the bonds. His maturity proceeds
would also be in rupees. The benefit to the issuer is that the currency risk is borne by
the investor, unlike a hard currency like dollar denominated bond where the currency
risk is with the issuer as he has to pay interest and principal in dollars. Investors in
these bonds get the benefit of asset diversification and high yields, particularly in
situations when the underlying currency is expected to appreciate.
The bigger benefit of these bonds for India is that it internationalizes the currency.
Indian government has been keen to internationalize the rupee as part of its plan to
make the currency more acceptable. On the first day of taking over as the Reserve
Bank of India governor, Raghuram Rajan had talked of the need to internationalize the
rupee. The announcement coincides with finance minister P Chidambarams US visit
that also includes a meeting with the investor community here besides the annual
International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings. Chidambaram is expected to
tell the investor community about how the India story remains intact and an attractive
investment destination.
US President Barack Obama on 9th October 2013 nominated Janet L. Yellen as the
new head of the Federal Reserve Board. Janet Yellen replaced Ben Bernanke as Chair
of the Federal Reserve Board.Janet Yellen was previously vice Chairman of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Janet Yellen is the first woman to lead the
Federal Reserve Board and also the first Democrat to head the Board since 1979. Janet
Louise Yellen (born on 13 August 1946) is an American economist and professor who is
the Vice Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Janet Louise
Yellen took office as Vice Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System on 4 October 2010, for a four-year term. The Federal Reserve Board of
Governors is the main governing body of the Federal Reserve System. It is charged
with overseeing the Federal Reserve Banks and with helping implement monetary
policy of the United States.
Wilfred Martens, nine-time Prime Minister of Belgium and who led the European Unions
Christian Democrat group, diedon 9th October 2013 at Lokeren, in East Flanders. He
was 77 years old. He served as the Prime Minister of Belgium from 3rd April 1979 to 6th
April 1981 and 17 December 1981 to 7 March 1992. He served as the PM in nine
coalition governments during these tenures. He was the Chairman of Belgian Christian
Peoples Party, which is now renamed as Christian Democratic and Flemish party from
197279. He was the co-founder of the European Peoples Party (EPP) in 1976 and
remained its President since 1992. He was preceded by Jacques Santer. He was
honored with Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon, Grand Cross of the Order
of Merit of the Italian Republic, Grand Cross of the Order of Christ and Grand Cross of
the Order of Prince Henry.
Ethiopias parliament on 7th October 2013 elected Mulatu Teshome as the countrys
new president for a six-year term. Mulatu Teshome will replace Girma Wolde Giorgis,
who first took the post in 2001 and was re-elected in 2007.Mulatu Teshome was elected
at a joint session of the House of Peoples Representatives (HPR) and the House of
Federation (HoF). Mulatu Teshome is the Fourth president of Ethiopia. Before being
elected president, Mulatu also held government positions including that of speaker of
the House of Federation, state minister of finance and economic development and
minister of agriculture. In Ethiopia, the office of presidency is a largely symbolic and
ceremonial post and real power rests in the hands of the prime minister. The present
Prime Minister of Ethiopia is Hailemariam Desalegn.
China on 10th October 2013 signed a 350 Billion Yuan (45 billion Euros) currency swap
agreement with the European Union,marking a major step in internationalizing its
currency. The agreement signed between the Peoples Bank of China (PBOC) and the
European Central Bank (ECB). The pact aimed to support bilateral trade and protect
financial stability. The agreement lasts three years and can be extended if both parties
agree. The new arrangement will provide more liquidity to the Renminbi market in the
Euro area, promote overseas use of the Yuan, and help facilitate trade and investment.
The U.N. Security Council on 11th October formally approved a first joint mission with
the Nobel Peace Prize winning global chemical arms watchdog to destroy Syrias
weapons.The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the U.N.
already have a team of 60 experts and support staff in Syria destroying Syrias
production facilities while the countrys civil war rages on. The 15-member Security
Council sent a letter to Ban on 11th October, backing his plan on carrying out the full
eradication of Syrias banned chemical arms.The Security Council authorizes the
establishment of the OPCW-UN join mission as proposed, said the sources. The formal
backing was given as it was announced that the OPCW had been awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize. A chemical weapons attack in Damascus on August 21, which left
hundreds dead, sparked an international crisis that led to threats of a US military strike
against Syrian government targets. However the Security Council passed a resolution
on September 27 backing a Russia-U.S. plan to destroy President Bashar al-Assads
chemical weapons. The team has been doubled to about 60 people in recent days, the
UN said on 11th October.
India on 10th October, signed agreements with seven countries, who pledged their
commitment to the ambitious Nalanda University project being built near the ruins of the
ancient academic institution. The Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed
with Australia, Cambodia, Singapore, Brunei, New Zealand, Lao PDR and Myanmar in
Brunai. These agreements are key to Indias plans to establish Nalanda University in
Bihar as an institution of international repute. Addressing the East Asia Summit in
Brunai, where these MoUs were signed, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also
expressed his gratitude to the countries supporting the project."I would like to thank the
East Asia Summit participating countries for their support for the establishment of
Nalanda University as an international institution of excellence.
Prime Minister had arrived Brunai to participate in the ASEAN-India Summit and the
East Asia Summit (EAS), which is a forum for cooperation between various countries of
this region with ASEAN and includes Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea,
New Zealand, Russia and the US, in addition to the ten ASEAN (Association of South
East Asian Nations) countries. The 10 ASEAN nations are Brunei, Cambodia,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The idea to revive Nalanda University was first mooted in 2005 by then President A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam. The University is being built near the ruins of the historic academic place
by the same name in Bihar and those involved with this project include Nobel laureate
Amartya Sen. According to sources, China has already committed US $ one million for
the project, Singapore has pledged US $ 5-6 million, Australia about US $ one million
Australia dollar and all these funds have been committed on voluntary basis.
India was re-elected in the new Council of International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) as one of the states making the largest contribution to the provision of facilities
for international civil air navigation.The 38th session of the Assembly of ICAO
completed the election of the Council in Montreal on 1October 2013. The 36- member
Council is the governing body of the Organization and is elected for a three-year term. A
specialized agency of the United Nations, ICAO was created in 1944 to promote the
safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world. It sets
standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency, capacity
and environmental protection, amongst many other priorities. The Organization serves
as the forum for cooperation in all fields of civil aviation among its 191 Member States.
The Gambia on 2nd October 2013 announced that it is pulling out of the Commonwealth
with immediate effect. Gambia, a West African country joined the Commonwealth of
Nations in 1965. The Gambia also stated that it will never be a member of any neo-
colonial institution and will never be a party to any institution that represents an
extension of colonialism. The decision came after the Government rejected a proposal
by the Commonwealth in 2012 to create commissions in Banjul (capital of Gambia) to
protect human rights, media rights and fight against corruption. The last country to be
withdrawn from the Commonwealth group was Zimbabwe in 2003. The Commonwealth
of Nations is a voluntary association of 54 countries, many of them former territories of
the British Empire. It was established in 1949.
The Maldivian government on 4th October has decided to sell of part of its gateway
airport, the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, in capital Male, to its citizens.The airport
was developed by Indian infrastructure major, GMR. A government source confirmed
the development, and added that the process will be set in motion sometime next
week. Asked if the people will hold majority stake, the official said that the modalities
had to be worked out, but the government will hold most of the shares of the airport.
The Waheed government, which was formed in controversial circumstances after former
President Mohamed Nasheed resigned on February 7, 2012, cancelled the contract in
December 2012.GMR handed over the airport to the Maldives Airports Company
Limited on December 7, 2012, and launched arbitration proceedings in Singapore to the
tune of $ 1.5 billion. Last month, Mr. Nasheed had declared that if elected President, he
would invite back GMR, subject to conditions.
The United Nations food agencies (Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme
(WFP)) released a report on The State of Food Insecurity in the World on 1st October
2013. It highlighted that about 842 million people or roughly one in eight suffered from
chronic hunger in 2011-13 not getting enough food to lead active and healthy lives. It
states that-atotal of 842 million people in 201113 or around one in eight people in the
world were estimated to be suffering from chronic hunger, regularly not getting enough
food to conduct an active life. The total number of undernourished has fallen by 17
percent since 199092.
The vast majority of hungry people 827 million live in developing regionswhere the
prevalence of undernourishment is now estimated at 14.3 percent where as 15.7 million
people live in developed countries. While the estimated number of undernourished
people has continued to decrease, the rate of progress appears insufficient to reach
international goals for hunger reduction in developing regions the 1996 World Food
Summit (WFS) target, which is to halve the number of hungry people by 2015, and the
2001 Millennium Development Goal (MDG) hunger target, which is to halve the
proportion of hungry people in the total population by 2015.
While at the global level there has been an overall reduction in the number of
undernourished between 199092 and 201113,different rates of progress across
regions have led to changes in the distribution of undernourished people in the world.
Most of the worlds undernourished people are still to be found in Southern Asia, closely
followed by sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Asia. The regional share has declined most
in Eastern Asia and South-Eastern Asia. Meanwhile, the share has increased in
Southern Asia, in sub-Saharan Africa and in Western Asia and Northern Africa. Africa
remains the region with the highest prevalence of undernourishment with more than one
live in people estimated to be undernourished.Both the number and proportion of people
undernourished have decreased significantly in most countries in Asia, particularly in
South-Eastern Asia, but progress in Southern Asia has been slower, especially in terms
of the number of people undernourished.
The International Day of Non-Violence was observed on 2nd October across the world
on the occasion of birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.The International Day of Non-
Violence is also known as Gandhi Jayanti in India. In the year 2004, Shirin Ebadi, the
Iranian Nobel laureate took the proposal of International Day of Non-Violence to the
World Social Forum in Bombay. On 15th June 2007 the United Nations General
Assembly established 2nd October as the International Day of Non-Violence. The
resolution of the UN General Assembly asked the members of UN system to
commemorate 2 October as the International Day of Non-Violence and disseminate the
message of non-violence through public awareness and education. People, NGOs as
well as the Governments across the world observe this day through different activities
as well as events. These activities and events include:
India and United States of America (USA) signed a joint declaration on 27th September
2013 in defense cooperation in research in defense, defense technology transfer, co-
development and co-production of defense articles and services and protecting each
others sensitive technology and information. Highlights of the Joint declaration in
defense cooperation -
1) The United States and India share common security interests and
place each other at the same level as their closest partners. This principle will apply with
respect to defense technology transfer, trade, research, co-development and co-
production for defense articles and services, including the most advanced and
sophisticated technology.
2) Both countries will work to improve licensing processes, and, where
applicable, follow expedited license approval processes to facilitate this cooperation.
3) The U.S and India are also committed to protecting each others
sensitive technology and information.
4) The two sides will continue their efforts to strengthen mutual
understanding of their respective procurement systems and approval processes, and to
address process-related difficulties in defense trade, technology transfer and
collaboration.
5) The two sides look forward to the identification of specific
opportunities for cooperative and collaborative projects in advanced defense
technologies and systems, within one year. Such opportunities will be pursued by both
sides in accordance with their national policies and procedures, in a manner that would
reflect the full potential of the relationship.
6) The U.S. continues to fully support India s full membership in the
four international export control regimes, which would further facilitate technology
sharing.
The US government on 1st October has begun a partial shutdown after the two houses
of Congress failed to agree a new budget. The Republican-led House of
Representatives insisted on delaying President Barack Obamas healthcare reform -
dubbed Obamacare - as a condition for passing a bill. More than 700,000 federal
employees face unpaid leave with no guarantee of back pay once the deadlock is over.
It is the first shutdown in 17 years.Goldman Sachs estimates a three-week shutdown
could shave as much as 0.9% from US GDP this quarter. On 1 October, Mr Obama
blamed the House of Representatives for the stalemate and said he would "keep
working to get Congress to reopen the government [and] restart vital services".
The World Bank report entitledMigration and Remittance Flows: Recent Trends and
Outlook-2013-16 released on 2nd October 2013 revealed that India emerged as the
largest recipient of foreign remittances among developing economies in 2013.In 2013
Non-Resident Indians (NRI) sent a record US $ 71 billion home compared to US $ 70
billion in 2012. According to a Word Bank report NRIs are estimated to remit up to US $
85 billion a year by 2015.World Bank in its report stated India and China will represent
nearly a third of total remittances to the developing world in 2013. The surge in
remittances continues despite the recent decline in Rupees against the Dollar. The gulf
countries account for nearly 40 per cent of remittances in India while it was 48 percent
to South Asian countries. The top recipients of officially recorded remittances for 2013
areIndia (with an estimated US $ 71 billion), China (US $ 60 billion), the Philippines (US
$ 26 billion), Mexico (US $ 22 billion), Nigeria (US $ 21 billion), and Egypt (US $ 20
billion). Other large recipients include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Ukraine.
In Tunisia, rival political groups arrived at an agreement to end the political crisis in the
country on 5 October 2013.The ruling Islamist Ennahda-led Government will step down
to allow the formation of a Government of independents in three weeks. It will be
followed by the adoption of a new constitution and of holding elections in the country.
Under the deal, an independent Prime Minister will be in place in Tunisia by the end of
next week.He will have two weeks to form a new cabinet. The National Dialogue which
began on 4 October 2013 will cover groups and parties across the political spectrum
over the next four weeks. The new constitution will be adopted in this time and time
table for elections will be decided. The political roadmap was prepared by four
mediators led by Tunisias powerful trade unions confederation, UGTT. The deal is
expected to put an end to the simmering tension among the rival groups in the country
which was sparked off by the assassination of a secular opposition leader Mohamed
Brahimi in July 2013.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS:
The Supreme Court on 31 October 2013 directed the Government of India and the
States to pass order within three months on giving the fixed tenure to civil servants. The
Supreme Court has also directed to constitute a Civil Services Board at nation and state
levels for management of the transfers, posting, reward, inquiries and process of
promotion, punishment and disciplinary matters of bureaucracy.The decisions were
taken to bring bureaucracy out from political interference and to give end to regular
transfers of the civil servants from political executive. The Supreme Court bench
headed by Justice K S Radhakrishnan said that the fixed tenure of the bureaucrats
would help to promote the professionalism, efficiency and good governance. The
Parliament has been also directed by the Supreme Court to enact a law to regulate
transfer, posting and disciplinary action on the IAS officers and to immunize them from
political interference. The Court directed on a petition submitted by 83 former civil
servants, like former cabinet secretary T. S. R. Subramanian, former Indian
ambassador to the US Abid Hussain, former chief election commissioner, N.
Gopalaswami and others, demanding reforms to ensure bureaucracy to get them out
from the political influences.
Railways Minister Mallikarjun Kharge launched the High Speed Rail Corporation of India
Ltd (HSRC), a subsidiary of Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. (RVNL), on 29 October 2013.The
main objective of the HSRC is to develop High Speed Rail (HSR) Corridors in India to
run passenger trains at speeds up to 350 Kilo Meter per hour. While inaugurating the
HSRC, Railways Minister told that most countries consider high speed capability to be
in the range of 250 to 300 kmph which requires a dedicated track with fencing and can
be prohibitively costly.
For a country like ours track fencing also has its own set of associated issues. Thus,
leveraging Rolling stock technologies may provide a lower cost solution to meet the
immediate needs of achieving speeds of 160 to 200 kmph and that too on the existing
track. For speeds above 200 kmph the costlier and time consuming solution of providing
a separate dedicated track with fencing becomes inescapable. He launched the HSRC
while inaugurating a two-day international technical conference on High Speed Rail
Travel: Low Cost Solution, in New Delhi on 29 October.
The direction in the judgment dated 27 September, 2013 of the Supreme Court is to
provide aNone of the Above (NOTA) optionon the EVM and ballot papers so that the
electors who do not want to vote for any of the candidates can exercise their option in
secrecy. The Supreme Court held that the provisions of Rule 49-O under which an
elector not wishing to vote for any candidate had to inform the Presiding Officer about
his decision, are ultra vires Article 19 of the Constitution and Section 128 of the
Representation of the People Act, 1951. As per the provisions of clause (a) of Rule 64
of Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, read with Section 65 of the Representation of the
People Act, 1951, the candidate who has polled the largest number of valid votes is to
be declared elected by the Returning Officer.
Therefore, even if the number of electors opting for NOTA option is more than the
number of votes polled by any of the candidates, the candidate who secures the largest
number of votes has to be declared elected. Under the provisions of Section 53(2) of
RP Act, 51, if the number of contesting candidates is equal to the number of seats to be
filled, the Returning Officer has to declare all the contesting candidates to be duly
elected. In the case of elections to the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies, in cases
where there is only one contesting candidate in the fray, the Returning Officer has to, in
accordance with the provisions of the said Section 53(2), declare the sole contesting
candidates as elected. The provision of NOTA option which is an expression of decision
not to vote for the contesting candidates is not relevant in such cases.
The Union Cabinet on 30 October gave its approval for declaring the Bhubaneswar and
Imphal airports as international airports to fulfill the long pending demand of people as
well as the State Governments of Odisha and Manipur.Declaration of these airports as
international airports will offer improved connectivity, wider choice of services at
competitive cost to the air travelers resulting in boosting international tourism and
economic development of the region and the country.
Biju Patnaik Airport or Bhubaneswar Airport belongs to Airport Authority of India and is
suitable for operation of Code D aircraft of type B-767-400. The airport is also
equipped with facilities for night operations, runway 14/32 of dimension 2743m X 45m,
apron to park six aircrafts and navigational aids. A new domestic terminal building with
all modern amenities for handling 400 arriving and 400 departing passengers has been
constructed and inaugurated in March 2013. Imphal Airport belongs to Airports Authority
of India and is suitable for C type (A-320/321) of aircrafts operations in all weather
conditions. Major facilities including night operations, runway of dimension 2746m X
45m, Apron to park 3 nos. A-320 and 1 No. ATR-72 at a time, terminal building having
an area of 6592 sqm.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on 31 October 2013 laid the foundation stone of
the Statute of Unity-a 182-metre tall statue (Worlds largest statue) of iron man Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel on his 138th birth anniversary at Sardar Sarovar Dam site in Bharuch
district in Gujarat.The Statue of Unity will be double of the height of the Statue of Liberty
(93 metres) in the USA. Sardar Vallabhai Patel was an Indian freedom fighter and one
of the great social leaders of India. He is one of the leaders of the Indian National
Congress and one of the founding fathers of the Republic of India. After Indias
independence, he became the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India.
He was the man behind the consolidation of 565 semi-autonomous princely states to
form a united India.
IRCON International Limited, a Public Sector Undertaking in construction sector under
the Ministry of Railways, was selected as the Top Infrastructure Company under the
category Construction Infrastructure Development Mid at the Dun and Bradstreet
Infra Awards 2013 for delivering exemplary performance by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B),
the worlds leading provider of global business information, knowledge and insight,
announced and presented the third edition of Infra awards.Mohan Tiwari, Chairman and
Managing Director, IRCON, received the award at a grand ceremony held at the ITC
Maratha Mumbai on 29thOctober, 2013. Dun & Bradstreet also released the sixth
edition of its premier publication Indias Leading Infrastructure Companies 2013 at the
award ceremony.
During the last five years, IRCON has achieved spectacular and enviable growth.
Turnover of the Company has increased at a CAGR of about 17 per cent. Profit (PBT)
of the company has reached to a record level of Rs. 1014 crore in 2012-13 with a
CAGR of 44.61 per cent. Growth of the company in terms of Profit is unmatched by any
Public Sector or Private construction company. In addition, QuazigundBanihal section
of J&K Rail link project executed by Ircon International Limited was selected as the best
project under the category Railways at the Dun and Bradstreet Infra Awards
2013.Award was given at a grand ceremony held at the ITC Maratha Mumbai on 29th
October. IRCON completed the Banihal- Quazigund section of 18 km length involving
11.2 km long transportation tunnel with modern Ventilation & SCADA system, thus
fulfilling the dream of connecting Jammu area to Valley across Pir Panjal range with all-
weather transportation system.
Prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on 29 October 2013 inaugurated the Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel National Museum at Ahmedabad, Gujarat.Sarda Vallabhbhai Patel
National Museum was established in the memory of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was
an Indian freedom fighter. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Museum has been
developed at the cost of Rs. 28.54 crore in 36,000 sq meter area. Eight feet tall statue
of Sardar Patel along with Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru is the main attraction
of this National museum. Museum has rich and rare collection of personal belongings of
Sardar Patel apart from valuable gifts received by him. Miniature of Sardar Patels
residence, school, jail and other places associated with his life are also created in this
museum. Visitors can also see the special 3D film on role of Sardar Patel in Indias
freedom struggle apart from 14 multimedia interactive displays.
Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh declared Kannur in Kerala as the
first zero-landless district in the country on 1 November 2013.Kannur District Authorities
provided land to as many as 11,118 beneficiaries, including 85 families belonging to the
Scheduled Tribes category. The prestigious Zero Landless programme of the United
Democratic Front was flagged off by Congress president Sonia Gandhi in October 2013.
The Zero Landless programme envisages distribution of three cents of land each to
243928 families identified across the State. Kannur District is one of the 14 districts in
the state of Kerala, India.
The Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) Dr. Rameshwar
Oraon and Member, B.L. Meena, on 25th October, presented the Sixth Report on
working of safeguard for Scheduled Tribes for 2010-11 to the President of India.The
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes was constituted w.e.f. 19th February, 2004
consequent to the amendment of Article 338 of the Constitution of India and insertion of
a new Article 338A vide the Constitution (Eighty-ninth Amendment) Act, 2003 which,
inter-alia, enjoins upon the Commission to oversee the implementation of various
safeguards provided to Scheduled Tribes under the Constitution or under any other law
for the time being in force or under any other order of the Government and to evaluate
the working of such safeguards. Article 338A of the Constitution, also, mandates the
NCST to present to the President annually and at such other times as the Commission
may deem fit, reports on the working of the safeguards extended to the members of
Scheduled Tribes and to make in such reports recommendations as to the measures
that should be taken by the Union or any State for effective implementation of those
safeguards and other measures for protection, welfare and socio-economic
development of the Scheduled Tribes. The Report is comprised of seven chapters.
Adherence to Clause 9 of Article 338A of the Constitution which mandates the Union
and every State Government to consult the Commission on all major policy matters
affecting Scheduled Tribes is presented in Chapter 6 on Consultation on Policy Related
Issues. As per the constitutional provisions, the report of the Commission has to be laid
in both houses of the Parliament along with a Memorandum explaining the action taken
or proposed to be taken on the recommendations relating to the Union. Similar action
has to be taken by the State Governments while laying the Report in the Legislative
Assembly of the State concerned, in relation to the recommendations concerning the
State.
Harald Sandberg, the Swedish Ambassador on 25th October 2013 inaugurated the
Nobel Memorial Wall in Kolkata. The Nobel Memorial Wall has been set up at the
Esplanade Metro Station in Kolkata. Seven of the Nobel Laureates from India are
portrayed in the metro station along with the Rabindranath Tagore. The Memorial Wall
was inaugurated marking the centenary of Tagore reception of the Nobel Prize for
Literature. The portraits on the Memorial Wall also carry the information related to the
life and achievements in the respective field of the Nobel Laureates with the year when
they were awarded the Nobel in three languages, namely English, Hindi and Bangla.
Two more memorial walls would be established at metro stations of Gitanjali and
Jorasanko. The work on the Nobel Memorial Wall was done as the part of the seventh
edition of the Sweden-India Nobel Memorial wee.
India was on 25th October, ranked 101 out of 136 countries on a global gender gap
index.The index, compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum, ranked the
countries on the division of resources and opportunities between men and women in the
areas of economy, education, politics, education and health.
The Union Cabinet on 17th October, gave its approval for constitution of the 3-Member
Supervisory Committee on the Babhali Barrage to implement the directions of the
Supreme Courtin its order dated 28.02.2013. The Committee will comprise one
representative from the Central Water Commission who will be the Chairman of the
Supervisory Committee and one representative each from the State Governments of
Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, respectively.
The Centre is set to give the green signal to a vital road-link project in Kashmir that will
connect the strategically important region of Kargil and Leh to the rest of India through a
14-km-long all-weather tunnel.Currently, these two regions remain cut off from Srinagar
and the rest of the country for about six months during the winter season on account of
heavy snowfall and inclement weather. The Union cabinet is likely to approve the
proposed Rs. 9,000-crore tunnel project passing through Zojila one of the highest
mountain passes in India on 15 October. Located at an altitude of about 12,000 feet
on National Highway-1, the Zojila tunnel along with another 6.5 km long tunnel at Z-
Morh in Sonmarg cleared for construction last year will provide road connectivity
to these areas round the year.The twin tunnels once complete will not only usher in
much-needed economic development in the region but also bring respite to people living
here who get stranded during the treacherous winter months, a senior road ministry
official said. Located at an altitude of about 12,000 feet on National Highway-1, the
Zojila tunnel along with another 6.5 km long tunnel at Z-Morh in Sonmarg cleared for
construction last year will provide road connectivity to these areas round the year.
Seventeen persons were killed as the very severe cyclonic storm, Phailin, hit the Odisha
coastnear Gopalpur in Ganjam district late on 12th October evening; Special Relief
Commissioner P.K. Mohapatra said the press. More than 1.26 crore people were hit by
the cyclone that damaged lakhs of thatched and kutcha houses in the coastal districts.
Ganjam district was the worst hit.Electricity supply was badly affected in most of the
affected areas. Power supply was likely to resume in a day or two. The cyclone, which
made its landfall near Gopalpur at 8.30 p.m. on 12th October with a wind speed
reaching up to 220 km per hour, moved into the interior parts of Odisha. Train services
remained cancelled on the Howrah-Visakhapatnam route. However, services between
Howrah and Bhadrak were resumed partially to help passengers stranded at various
stations.
Co-operative societies do not fall within the ambit of Right to Information Act, the
Supreme Court has said while quashing a Kerala government circular to bring all such
societies within the scope of the transparency law. A bench of justices K. S.
Radhakrishnan and A. K. Sikri said mere supervision or regulation of a body by
government would not make that body a public authority and quashed the Kerala High
Courts order holding the circular valid."Societies are, of course, subject to the control of
the statutory authorities like Registrar, Joint Registrar, the Government, etc. but cannot
be said that the State exercises any direct or indirect control over the affairs of the
society which is deep and all pervasive."Supervisory or general regulation under the
statute over the co-operative societies, which are body corporate does not render
activities of the body so regulated as subject to such control of the State so as to bring it
within the meaning of the State or instrumentality of the State," the bench said.
The largest Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower of India was inaugurated outside the
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbaion 18 October 2013. The tallest ATC
tower stands at the length of 84 meters or around 30 storey building. The tower was
inaugurated by the Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh and Maharashtra Chief Minister
Prithviraj Chavan. Because of its height, the ATC tower will enable all the controllers in
having easy and nonstop view of complete operational area. It will also help in
optimizing the separation of the air traffic, while enhancing the traffic handling capacity
at the same time. The ATC tower is spread over an area of 2800 square meter area and
is also equipped with state-of-the-art technology such as electronic flight strips that can
reduce the workload of controllers and enhance safety and capacity of the airport. It is
important to note that India is the 9th largest aviation market of the world and has the
traffic increasing at 10 percent annually. The designing of the ATC was done by Hong
Kong-based architectural firm HOK as well as the international engineering designer
ARUP. These were chosen after the global competition.
The Supreme Court has ruled that Courts cannot impose a fine of more than twice the
amount in bounced cheques on 16 October 2013. A bench of Justice T.S. Thakur and
Justice Vikramajit Sen while ruling this direction explained that even in a case where the
court may be taking a lenient view in favor of the accused by not sending him to prison,
it cannot impose a fine more than twice the cheque amount. That statutory limit is
inviolable and must be respected. The Supreme Court of India ruled this direction in the
backdrop of the case where a person was asked by the Trial Court as well as the High
Court of Calcutta to pay more than twice the amount of the cheque bounced, which is
against the statutory provisions.
The HRD Ministry will soon launch 50 DTH educational channels. This was stated by
the Secretary (HE) Ashok Thakur in New Delhi on 8th October. He said these channels
will be different from the existing programmes on air including Gyan Darshan as new
one will be more interactive. He said these channels will air programmes which will be
live and not pre recorded. Saying thatthe new initiatives will be one of the largest
anywhere in the world of its kind, Sh. Thakur said later on the number of the channels
will be increased to one thousand. He said that the Ministry has spent more than one
billion dollars for ICT. Over 400 universities and twenty thousand colleges have been
linked with bandwidth. He said there is a great potential to increase its usage.
Highlighting the potential of the National Programme on National Mission on Education
through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT), the Secretary said that
the entire country can be made into a big classroom which will help improve quality of
instructions in engineering colleges particularly belonging to the remote areas. He said
that the Ministry may approach AICTE to make on-line education mandatory and
integral part of education system. Asking to promote virtual lab, Sh. Thakur said it
should be possible to share classes from IITs to other engineering colleges by making
the system more user friendly.
The Supreme Court of India on 8th October 2013 directed the Union and all state
governments to provide 3 percent job reservation to disabled persons in all their
departments, companies and institutions.The bench headed by Chief Justice of India P.
Sathasivam clarified that the principle of not exceeding more than 50 percent
reservation would not be applicable while granting quota for disabled persons. Supreme
Court of India also directed the authorities to compile the number of vacancies in all
their departments to give jobs to disabled persons under 3 percent reserved quota
within 3 months. While giving this direction the bench also said that Government has
categorical obligation to protect the right of disabled persons and passed a slew of
directions for providing jobs to the Disabled Persons.
With the Supreme Court on 8th October, declining to modify its order that the Aadhaar
scheme was not compulsory for availing benefits of government schemes, the Union
Cabinet has cleared a bill granting statutory status to UIDAI and providing legal backing
to the Unique Identity numbers to Indian residents. Sources said the Union Cabinet
approved the National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2010, with some
amendments, which will now be placed before the Rajya Sabha for discussion and
passing in the Winter Session.In a setback to the Centre, the Supreme Court on 8th
October, Tuesday stuck to its stand on the Aadhar card saying it is not mandatory. The
Centre had moved the Supreme Court seeking modification of an earlier order which
said Aadhar card is not mandatory and no person should be deprived of any
government schemes for want it. Earlier, the Supreme Court had said that the Aadhar
card, being issued by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), was not
mandatory for availing any government services and nobody should be deprived of any
such facilities for the want of the card.
This years World Egg Day falls on 11th October. The second Friday of October has
been declared as World Egg Day by the International Egg Commission to help raise
awareness about nutritional benefits of egg. India is the third highest producer of egg in
the worldbut the per capita availability of eggs in India is only around 55 per person per
year as against the National Institute of Nutrition recommendation of 180 eggs per
capita per year. The egg is a wholesome, nutritious food with high nutrient density
because, in proportion to its calorie count, it provides 12% of the daily value of protein
and a wide variety of other nutrients such as vitamins, essential amino acids and
minerals. While protein itself is an important constituent of healthy diet, the egg has
been found to have two newly-recognized nutrients - lutein and zeaxanthin - that has
put the egg in the "functional food" category. A functional food is one that provides
health benefits beyond its basic nutrient content. Recent studies have shown that
consuming lutein and zeaxanthin can significantly lower risk of age-related macular
degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness affecting people over the age of 65.
In addition, these reduce the likelihood of cataracts.
Approximately, 60 people were feared killed and over 100 injured in a stampede on 13th
October 2013 near a temple at Ratangarh in Madhya Pradeshs Datia district. The
stampede was caused by rumors that a bridge they were crossing was about to
collapse. The unfortunate incident occurred when a large number of devotees arrived
from Datia and neighboring Uttar Pradesh at the Durga temple at Ratangarh, about 60
kms from the district headquarters. Nearly 100 people have been injured in the mishap
and they have been admitted in close by hospitals.
The Union Cabinet on 8th October 2013 approved a notification for issuing Presidential
order to establish a separate development board for Hyderabad-Karnataka region in
Karnataka.Article 371-J of the Constitution grants special status to six backward districts
in Hyderabad- Karnataka region, with provision for reservation in education and jobs for
locals. Under the Article 371-J, the President is empowered to entrust the state
Governor to establish a separate board to ensure equitable allocation of funds in the
states budget to meet the development needs of the region. Six backward districts of
North Karnataka - Gulbarga, Yadgir, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal and Bellary - fall in the
region. The Development Board will ensure1) Equitable allocation of funds to meet the
development needs of the region from the State Budget. 2) Promote employment from
the region by providing for local cadres in service. 3) Provide for reservation in
educational and vocational training institutions. Hyderabad-Karnataka region was given
a special status under Article 371 J of the Constitution by the parliament on 20
December 2012. A new Article 371 J was inserted in the Constitution through the
Constitution (Ninety-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2012.
The Supreme Court of India proposed a three-member panel on 7th October 2013
headed by former Punjab and Haryana Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal to examine the IPL
spot-fixing scandal.The other members of the panel are senior advocate and Additional
Solicitor General N. Nagehswar Rao and Assam Cricket Association member Nilay
Dutta. The panel would conduct an independent inquiry into the allegations and
examine the IPL spot-fixing scandal. It will submit its report to the Supreme Court.
The Union Government on 8th October 2013 reconstituted the Group of Ministers
(GoM) on Telangana, reducing the number of ministers from ten to six.Union Home
Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram have been
retained. The new entrants are Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Union Health
Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M. Veerappa Moily
and Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh.V. Narayanasamy, Minister of
State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of
State in the Prime Ministers Office, who was part of the GoM, will now be a special
invitee to the new GoM. The Union Ministers dropped from the GoM are Human
Resource Development Minister M. Pallam Raju, Law Minister Kapil Sibal, Water
Resources Minister Harish Rawat, Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath, Road
Transport Minister Oscar Fernandes, Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Planning
Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.The Union Cabinet on 3rd
October 2013 approved the creation of a new State of Telangana by bifurcating the
existing State of Andhra Pradesh.The Union Cabinet also approved the setting up of a
Group of Ministers (GoM) to work out the various legal and administrative measures to
ensure the safety and security of the residents of all the regions of the State including
the guarantee of the Fundamental Rights.
Forced by Rahul Gandhis open trashing of the government, the Union Cabinet on 2nd
October, decided to withdraw the controversial ordinance on convicted lawmakers as
well as a related bill in the face of mounting public opinion against the measure.In a 20-
minute meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Cabinet
overturned its earlier decision of September 24 to provide immunity to convicted
lawmakers from immediate disqualification. The reversal by the Cabinet is seen as a
rare instance of the government being forced to take back a measure that was cleared
after many deliberations in the ruling party and the Council of Ministers after resistance
from within. The decision came on a day of hectic consultations at the highest levels in
the Congress party, allies and the government on how to bring a closure to the raging
controversy after Rahuls denunciation of the ordinance as "complete nonsense" that
deserved to be "torn and thrown away". Sources said the Cabinet also decided to
withdraw Representation of the People (Second Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2013
as the proposed legislation has no relevance after the withdrawal of the ordinance. After
the decision to withdraw the bill and the ordinance, the July 10 Supreme court ruling on
immediate disqualification of convicted MPs, MLAs and MLCs is the law of the land. A
request now will be placed before the President to allow the government to withdraw the
Representation of the People Act, 1951 (Amendment) Ordinance (Second), 2013. As
regards to the bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, government will move a resolution in the
upper house during the Winter session. Meanwhile, Chairman Rajya Sabha and
Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee before which the measure is pending will be
informed about the decision of the Cabinet.
The Union Cabinet on 3rd October approved the proposal to establish a Central Armed
Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFILMS), along with a 500-bed General
Hospital, a 300-bed Super Specialty Hospital, a Nursing College and a School of
Paramedics.The Institute shall be registered as a Society under the Societies
Registration Act, 1860 and shall have a Governing Body and a Governing Council,
under the Ministry of Home Affairs The creation of the Institute will facilitate attraction of
talented professionals in the Central Armed Police Forces and their retention, besides
providing in-house training/ specialization/Post Graduate /Super Specialty Post
Graduate courses to in-service health care professionals. This will not only boost the
morale of the force personnel, but also provide required trained technical hands in the
medical set up of CAPFs for the benefit of their personnel and families. The total project
cost is Rs. 1366.53 crore and is expected to be completed over a period of five to six
years. About 48 acres has already been purchased at Maiden Garhi, New Delhi through
the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).
The Union Cabinet on 3rd October approved the National Policy on Universal Electronic
Accessibility that recognizes the need to eliminate discrimination on the basis of
disabilities as well as to facilitate equal access to electronics and Information and
Communication Technologies (ICTs).This policy has been prepared after incorporating
comments and suggestions from various stakeholders. The policy will facilitate equal
and unhindered access to electronics and ICTs products and services by differently-
abled persons (both physically and mentally challenged) and to facilitate local language
support for the same. This shall be achieved through universal access to electronics
and ICT products and services to synchronize with barrier free environment and
preferably usable without adaptation. Differently-abled persons all over the country will
benefit from this policy. The following strategies are envisaged for the implementation of
the policy:
Creating awareness on universal electronics accessibility and universal design.
Capacity building and infrastructure development.
Setting up of model electronics and ICTs centres for providing training and
demonstration to special educators and physically as well as mentally challenged
persons.
Conducting research and development, use of innovation, ideas, technology etc.
whether indigenous or outsourced from abroad.
Developing programme and schemes with greater emphasis for differently-abled
women/children.
Developing procurement guidelines for electronics and ICTs for accessibility and
assistive needs.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 3rd October, has approved the
Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)
for reforming the state higher education system.During the 12th Plan period, 80 new
universities would be created by converting autonomous colleges/colleges in a cluster
to State universities. 100 new colleges, including professional/technical colleges would
be set up and 54 existing colleges would be converted into model degree colleges.
Infrastructure grants would be given to 150 universities and 3,500 colleges to upgrade
and fill critical gaps in infrastructure especially libraries, laboratories etc. RUSA would
also support 5,000 faculty positions. In the 12th Plan period, RUSA would have a
financial outlay of Rs. 22,855 crore, of which Rs.16, 227 crore will be the Central share.
In addition, allocation of Rs. 1,800 crore in the 12th Plan for the existing scheme Sub-
Mission polytechnics would also be subsumed in RUSA. Thus the total central share,
including the existing scheme of polytechnics will be Rs. 18,027 crore during the 12th
Plan. Centre-State funding would be in the ratio of 90:10 for North-Eastern States,
Sikkim, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and 65:35 for other
States and Union Territories. RUSA will be a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme spread
over two plan periods, for improving access, equity and quality in the state higher
education system.With over 96 percent of students enrolled in the state higher
education system, there is a need for State colleges and universities to be strengthened
through strategic Central funding and implementing certain much needed reforms.
RUSA also aims to incentivize States to step up plan investments in higher education.
The National Development Council (NDC) approved RUSA as part of the 12th Plan. It
was subsequently included in the list of 66 schemes approved by the Cabinet on 20th
June 2013, as part of the restructured CSSs for implementation in the 12th Plan.
The Ministry of Human Resource Development has taken the initiative to constitute a
Council of National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR) to
facilitate better coordination and synergy between the four NITTTRs located at
Chandigarh, Bhopal, Calcutta and Chennai.The Council shall be chaired by the Minister
of Human Resource Development (ex-officio) with Chairman and Directors of the four
NITTTRs and other academicians as members. The Council has been envisaged as an
advisory body to the Central Government on matters relating to Central policies,
administration, development of plans and rules, curriculum and institutional resources
for the NITTTRs. The Council shall meet at least two times a year. The four NITTTRs
were established as resource institutes in the year 1964 with the mandate to train
technical teachers, develop curriculum and institutional resources, assist Central and
State Governments and technical institutes towards improving related process and
products.
The Union Cabinet on 3rd October approved the creation of a new State of Telangana
by bifurcating the existing State of Andhra Pradesh.
The city of Hyderabad will function as the common capital for both the States for a
period of ten years. The Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of a Group of
Ministers (GoM) to work out the various legal and administrative measures to ensure
the safety and security of the residents of all the regions of the State including the
guarantee of the Fundamental Rights.
The Union Cabinet further approved that the GoM will go into the various issues which
concern both the States and suggest appropriate measures to address them.
The GoM will also work out the modalities for the provision of special financial
disbursements required for the setting up of a new capital for the residuary State of
Andhra Pradesh and to meet the special needs of the backward regions and districts of
the two States.
Bilateral affairs:
The Vice President M. Hamid Ansari officially launched the Indian Chambers of
Commerce (INCHAM) during his visit to Peru at special function jointly organized by the
Embassy of India, Peru and INCHAM in Lima, Peru on 28 October. Ambassador of
India to Peru Mr. Manpreet Vohra and President of INCHAM, Mr. Ravi Krishna, senior
officials and business leaders from both India and Peru were present on the occasion.
INCHAM aims to facilitate Indian Trade & Industry to do business in Peru and other
countries of Latin America. Addressing the gathering on the launch, the Vice President
said that the new organization promises to fill what has so far been a vacuum in India-
Peru commercial and economic relations. The official website of INCHAM was also
launched during the occasion.
INCHAM will seek to increase awareness of either countrys business opportunities in
the other, it will offer information and advisory services, and it will provide the important
bridge between businesses and governments that is vital when economic relations
reach a take-off stage, as they have between India and Peru. India-Peru bilateral trade
is increasing very quickly and has gone up by 7 times in the last 5 years. The growth
rate last year was 35%. In the first six months of this year, it rose by over 44%. Peru is
rapidly becoming one of the more important trade partners for India in this region.
Looking at the potential, the Governments of India and Peru are hoping to start
negotiations soon for a Free Trade Agreement. Indian investments in Peru are also
rising. The number of Indian companies with offices here is increasing steadily, as also
the number of Indian professionals working here. Another document that we hope to
finalise with Peru soon is the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement.
In the framework of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations between Peru and India, the Vice President of India, Mohammad
Hamid Ansari, accompanied by a high level delegation, paid an official visit to Peru from
26th to 28th October, 2013. During his visit, the Vice President of India had a special
meeting with the President of the Republic of Peru, Ollanta Humala Tasso. The Vice
President held detailed discussions with the First Vice President of Peru, Marisol
Espinoza and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru, Eda Rivas Franchini.
He also had a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism,
H.E. Ms. Magali Silva. In addition, he visited the National Congress of Peru where he
met the President of the Congress, Mr. Fredy Otarola and members of the Peru-India
Parliamentary Friendship League. The Vice President inaugurated the Festival of India
in Peru. He also launched INCHAM; the new Indian Chamber of Commerce in Peru.
The two sides agreed to establish a Joint Commission,chaired jointly by their Ministers
of Foreign Affairs, with the objective of strengthening political, security, judicial, human
resource development, economic, technical, scientific, social and cultural cooperation,
and signed a Memorandum of Understanding to this effect.It was further agreed that
their senior officials will meet in Lima in the second half of 2014 to decide on detailed
modalities for beginning the work of the Joint Commission and prepare for its first
meeting. The two sides noted with satisfaction the impressive increase in bilateral trade
which was over US$ 1.1 billion in the year 2012.
The two sides underlined that India and Peru are cradles of great civilizations. In this
context they both underscored the importance of further deepening bilateral cultural
relations through cultural exchanges and cooperation in diverse art forms such as
painting, dance, theatre, literature, craft, etc. as well as holding of cultural festivals in
each others countries from time to time.
With this objective, the Cultural Ministers of the two sides signed a Letter of Intent for
enhancing cooperation in the fields of museology, conservation of movable cultural
properties and dissemination and promotion of cultural heritage of each others
countries. The two sides concluded their negotiations and signed a Defense
Cooperation Agreement.This will enable the enhancement of cooperation between Peru
and India in the fields of defense and defense technology through establishment of
appropriate mechanisms. The two Governments expressed their satisfaction with the
celebration this year of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Peru - India
diplomatic relations,and the organization of various activities to commemorate this.
This occasion, has provided a further opportunity for strengthening the ties of friendship
and cooperation between them. They particularly appreciated the visit to India in April
2013 of a parliamentary delegation from Peru, the first ever between the two countries,
and agreed to encourage more such exchanges. The Government of Peru thanked the
Government of India for organizing the Festival of India in Lima on the occasion of the
official visit of Vice President Ansari.
The Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Minister of Public Security of
Vietnam Mr. Tran Dai Quang signed in New Delhi a treaty on transfer of sentenced
prisoners on 1 November.The Treaty will help the Indian prisoners imprisoned in
Vietnam or vice-versa to be near their families for serving remaining part of their
sentence. This would facilitate the process of their social rehabilitation. The Government
of India has so far signed such Agreements with the Governments of U.K., Mauritius,
Bulgaria, Cambodia, Egypt, France, Bangladesh, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sri Lanka,
UAE, Maldives, Thailand, Turkey, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel and
Russia.Negotiations have also been concluded with the Government of Canada, Hong
Kong, Brazil, and Spain. These treaties have helped in repatriation of 43 Indian
prisoners from Sri Lanka, Mauritius and UK.
Similarly 7 prisoners of UK and France where repatriated to their respective countries.
The Seventh United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of
Offenders adopted the Model Agreement on the Transfer of Foreign Prisoners in 1985
and since then many countries have arrived at bilateral and multilateral treaties. The
Repatriation of Prisoners Act, 2003 was enacted for achieving the above purpose. For
achieving the objectives of the Act, a treaty is required to be signed with countries
having mutual interest on this matter. In addition to the above, the two Ministers also
held bilateral talks on security matters, issues of training, capacity building, cyber
security, cyber crime, trans-national crime, terrorism and disaster management. They
reiterated the resolve of both the countries of working together on different issues of
mutual interest.
India and Cuba on 30 October 2013 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for
cooperation in broadcasting between Prasar Bharati and Cuban Radio and Television
Institute (ICRT). The MoU was signed by Indias ambassador to Cuba Chinthapalli
Rajasekhar and vice-president of the ICRT Emillio Moises Garcia Borroto. Under the
agreement both countries will explore co-production opportunities on matters of mutual
interest. The pact would facilitate exchange programmes in fields of cultural
entertainment, education, science, sports and news. It also opens up avenues for co-
production of broadcast content for creative ventures including films and coverage of
events. The MoU was signed during the official visit of Indias vice President Hamid
Ansari to Cuba.
India and China signed 9 MoUs/ agreements including the Border Defence Cooperation
Agreement (BDCA) to maintain peace and tranquillity on the Line of Actual Control, on
23 October 2013 during the official visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to
China.India and China signed nine agreements/ Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
including the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) on 23rd October 2013.
The main objective of the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement is to avoid border
tensions and army face-offs along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) by deciding that
neither side will use military capability to attack the other side nor tail patrols along the
border.
The nine agreements/Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
were as follows-
S. No.
Name of Agreement / MoU
Gist of the MOU
1.
Agreement on Border Defence Cooperation
An additional confidence building measure to ensure peace and tranquility on the
border.
2.
MoU on Nalanda University
Cooperation on Nalanda as part of East Asia Summit process.
3.
MOU to Strengthen Cooperation on Trans-Border Rivers
Provides for expanded cooperation on trans-border rivers.
4.
Cultural Exchange Programme 2013-15
A listing of cultural exchanges till 2015.
5.
MoU on Cooperation in Road Transport and Highways
Enabling agreement for cooperation in the roads sector.
6.
MoU on Power Equipment Service Centres in India
Provides for establishment in India of Chinese power equipment service centres.
7.
Agreement between Delhi-Beijing on Establishment of Sister City Relationship
Establishes sister city relations between Delhi and Beijing.
8.
Agreement between Bengaluru Chengdu on Establishment of Sister City Relationship
Establishes sister city relations between Bengaluru and Chengdu.
9.
Agreement between Kolkata Kunming on Establishment of Sister City Relationship
Establishes sister city relations between Kolkata and Kunming.
The 14th India-Russia Annual Summit was held at Moscow on 21st October 2013. The
summit was co-chaired by the Prime Minister of the India Dr. Manmohan Singh and the
President of the Russia Vladimir V. Putin.During the meeting they discussed priority
areas of bilateral cooperation and noted common positions on current international and
regional issues. Both sides stressed their continued commitment to promote and
strengthen in every possible way their special and privileged strategic partnership.
During the 14th India-Russia Annual Summit, India and Russia have signed bilateral
Documents on transfer of Sentenced Persons, in the Field of Energy Efficiency, in the
field of Standardization and Conformity Assessment between Bureau of Indian
Standards (BIS) and Federal Agency on Technical Regulation and Metrology, and in the
Fields of Science and in the area of Biotechnology.
List of Bilateral Documents signed during 14th India-Russia Annual Summit
<table border="1">
S.No
Name of the Document
Details of the agreement
1.
on Transfer of Sentenced Persons
The Treaty shall facilitate the process of social rehabilitation of persons sentenced in
the other country by providing them the opportunity to serve out their remaining
sentences (under certain conditions) in their country of nationality. It is expected to
boost consular cooperation between the two countries.
2.
MoU in the Field of Energy Efficiency
The MoU shall enhance cooperation in the field of energy saving and energy efficiency,
including through joint implementation of activities and projects by
organisations/companies of both the countries. The forms of cooperation envisaged
include exchange of best practices in smart grids, energy audits, energy efficient
building designs, industrially efficient technologies, etc.
3.
MoU in the field of Standardization and Conformity Assessment
The objective of this MoU is to facilitate closer technical cooperation in the field of
standardization through exchange of information, practices and expertise. It is expected
to have beneficial effects for trade and commerce where standards/conformity
assessments form an integral basis for transactions.
4.
Programme of Cooperation in the Fields of Science, Technology and Innovation
The Programme aims to deepen cooperation in the field of innovation and S&T through
implementation of Joint Programs and projects/exchanges involving educational, R&D
and industrial institutions. The joint projects may also facilitate transfer of technology.
The broad areas of cooperation include sunrise sectors such as IT, nano-technology,
environmental sciences and alternate energy. This Programme shall also reinforce the
existing robust exchanges between the scientific institutions of the two sides.
5.
Programme of Cooperation in the Area of Biotechnology for the period 2014-2017
The Programme aims to broaden cooperation in the field of biotechnology and
encourage industrial R&D & related investment flows. This is intended to be achieved
through implementation of Joint Programs and projects/exchanges, etc.
India and Peru jointly celebrated the 50th year of establishment of diplomatic ties
between the two countries on 27th October 2013 in Lima. The occasion was celebrated
during the three day visit of Indian Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari to Peru.He
was on a three-day visit to Peru. His visit assumes significance as India seeks to further
strengthen India-Peru ties. Indian music and classical dance performance at the mini
India cultural festival was showcased for Peruvians. India established diplomatic
relations with Peru in March 1963. India-Peru relations have traditionally been cordial
and friendly. Since the 1990s, there has been an increasing economic and business
content to the relationship. On the Peruvian side, an enhanced interest in the Asian
region due to APEC membership, coupled with Indias image as a technologically
advanced democratic developing country, as well as increased bilateral trade in recent
years, has enhanced Indias importance. Peru is also a member of NAM and G-77.
India and Peru cooperate closely on multilateral matters.
India, on 21st October, agreed to initiate an exercise for a free trade agreement with the
customs union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, to enhance economic ties. Both
sides agreed to work towards the creation of a Joint Study Group for studying the
possibility of signing a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA)
between India and the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, a joint
statement said. The joint statement was issued after the 14th India-Russia annual
summit meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President
Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The Customs Union between Russia, Kazakhstan and
Belarus had formally come into existence few years ago. The three countries took their
economic integration to a new level with the implementation of the common economic
space, which provides for free movement of goods, services and people. Under the
CECA, two sides aim to significantly reduce duties on the maximum number of tradable
goods besides liberalising norms for service and investments. It also aims at facilitating
movement of professionals. The statement also said that both sides welcomed the
increasing business interactions Further, India and Russia underlined the significant
potential for cooperation in sectors such as oil and gas, pharmaceutical, infrastructure,
mining, automobiles, fertilizers, aviation, as well as in modernisation of industrial
facilities located in the two countries. The bilateral trade between India and Russia
stood at US US $6.52 billion in 2012-13.
The extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India came into effect on 23rd October,
with the handing over of the instruments of ratification of the much-awaited pact. The
two countries will now be able to exchange convicts or under trials as and when
required.Bangladesh Home Secretary C.Q.K. Mostak Ahmed and Indian High
Commissioner to Bangladesh Pankaj Saran signed the documents in Dhaka. The treaty
will allow exchange of convicts sentenced for more than a year in prison but will not be
applicable to political prisoners and asylum seekers. Both sides have the option to
cancel the treaty in six-month notice. India can now take back ULFA leader Anup
Chetia, who has been lodged in a Bangladeshs prison for many years. Dhaka too can
bring back fugitive crime lords such a Subrata Bain and Sazzad Hossain and put them
on trial. Dhaka and New Delhi have decided to leave two important land ports open
seven days a week from January to support greater trade. The land customs stations at
Benapole-Petrapole and Akhaura-Agartala will remain operational seven days a week
from 1st January. The ninth Joint Group of Customs (JGC) also identified 16 stations as
high bilateral trade importance and agreed to take measures for synchronisation of
working hours and days. It agreed on extending the car pass system to those stations to
allow movement of trucks of the importing country for unloading cargo. Both sides also
agreed to consult relevant stakeholders to simplify the travel in Maitree Express, the
lone direct train service between Dhaka and Kolkata.
In an important initiative taken byIndia and Hungary, which have signed a bilateral
agreement for promotion and development of traditional systems of medicine. The
Memorandum of Understanding was signed on behalf of India by Santosh Chowdhary,
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and Mr. Zolton Banog, Minister of
National Resources of Hungary in the presence of Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister
of India and Mr. Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary, at Hyderabad House, in New
Delhi on 17th October.
The Republic of Hungary has considerable interest in Indian traditional systems of
medicine especially Ayurveda. The main objective of this MoU is to strengthen, promote
and develop cooperation in the field of traditional systems of medicine between the two
countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefits. The MoU encourages and
promotes cooperation to enhance the use of traditional systems of medicine, exchange
of regulatory information on operational licensing to practice traditional medicine and on
marketing authorization of medicines in both countries, promote the exchange of
experts for training of practitioners, para-medics, scientists, teaching professionals and
students in traditional systems of medicine. The signing of MoU will give boost to
bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of traditional medicines
which will open new vistas for exploring the potential of economic, commercial and
tourism development in both the countries.
India, on 15th October, signed an agreement with Finland to produce indigenous
ethanol to promote use of clean technologies and cut down the oil import bill.Oil and
Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Finnish clean technology firm Chempolis will set
up a pilot project to produce ethanol, bio-chemicals and bio-coal from biomass residual
matters. The agreement was inked by Finnish Minister for European Affairs Alexander
Stubb and Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Panabaka Lakshmi in New
Delhi. ONGC Chairman Sudhir Vasudeva told reporters at an event here. Since 75 per
cent of Indias ethanol requirements are met through imports, there is a large
requirement which is not being met by indigenous production, he added. A feasibility
study will soon be carried out to assess the quantity of feedstock that is required.
India and Japan have signed MoU to undertake a joint feasibility study of High Speed
Railway system on the Mumbai-Ahmadabad route. This is in pursuance of the Joint
Statement between the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and the Prime
Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe, dated May 29, 2013, which provided that the two
sides will co-finance a joint feasibility study of this High Speed route. The MOU was
signed by Katsuo MATSUMOTO, Director South Asia Division JICA from the Japanese
side and Mr Girish Pillai, Adviser Infrastructure, Ministry of Railways from the Indian
side on 7th October, 2013. The objective of the Joint study is to prepare a feasibility
report of High Speed Railway system on the Mumbai-Ahmadabad route with speed of
300-350kmph. The cost of the study will be shared 50:50 between India and Japan. The
study shall be completedwithin18 months from its commencement. The study will do
traffic forecasting, alignment surveys and undertake comparative Study of High Speed
Railway Technology and System.
To address the issue of volatility in food prices, India and Asean countries will share
their expertise to boost their food security planning activities. The issue was discussed
at the 11th India-ASEAN Summit held in Brunei on 10th October.Sultan of Brunei Haji
Hassanal Bolkiah, who chaired the Summit, in a statement said Asean leaders
welcomed Indias Look East Policy within the framework of their strategic partnership.
Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh at the8th East Asian Summit, at Brunei
Darussalamon 10 October 2013. We took note of the enhancement and strengthening
of co-operation on food security through the widening of food production base and
exchange of expertise between Asean and India to enhance resilience in food security
planning to address price volatility of food commodities, he said. Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh addressed the summit and said that over two decades, India and
Asean have established a comprehensive agenda of cooperation and a wide-ranging
framework to pursue it. Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations) is a grouping
of ten nations Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam.Leaders from the region also encouraged India to support the implementation
of the roadmap for an Asean Community (2009-15). Besides, they asked India to
contribute to Asean Community Post-2015 Vision, among others.
The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, paid a state visit to Belgium from 2nd
October 2013 to 5th October 2013, at the invitation of the King of the Belgium.It was the
first visit by an Indian President to Belgium. The President inaugurated Europalia-India
2013-14jointly with King Philippe. After his State Visit to Belgium, the President paid a
state visit to Turkey from 5 October 2013 to 7 October 2013, at the invitation of the
President of Turkey. It was the third visit by an Indian President to Turkey, after the
visits by the President of India in 1993 and 1998.
India and Indonesia on 11th October, strengthened bilateral cooperation by inking six
pacts in diverse areas, ranging from health and disaster management to combating illicit
trafficking of drugs.The Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed during the
first bilateral visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Indonesia, where he arrived on
10th October. A MoU has been inked to promote and develop co-operation in the field
of health and medicine. This would cover areas of maternal and child health, nursing,
traditional medicine, communicable and non-communicable diseases, health technology
information, research and development, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and IT-
based medical equipment. Another pact is to facilitate and enhance cooperation in
combating illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their
precursors through exchange of information, collaboration, assistance in investigations
including in money laundering. The two nations also signed a MoU to cooperate in the
area of disaster managementthrough exchange of information, training and capacity
building. India and Indonesiasigned pacts for co-operation in the area of training of
public officials and capacity building, also strengthening collaboration by way of sharing
and exchange of studies.The two countries inked a MoU for collaborative institutional
relationsthrough facilitation of dialogue involving eminent persons from various fields
including culture, economy, trade, education, social sciences, communications and the
media.
The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Anand Sharma visited Mozambique on
a two-day visit from September 27-28, 2013. On September 27, Sharma met the Prime
Minister of Mozambique, Mr. Alberto Vaquina and discussed the bilateral and historical
relations between the two countries. Later, Sharma met Mr. Armando Inroga, Minister of
Industry and Trade of Mozambique, where they discussed bilateral cooperation and
agreed on the need for further diversifying trade and investments. Sharma said that
owing to the impressive growth in trade between the two countries, the bilateral trade
could reach US $ 3 billion by 2016 from the current level of US $ 1.28 billion. India has
been assisting Mozambique in its developmental efforts and has provided Lines of
Credit of US $ 640 million for various projects, apart from providing other assistance,
grants and technical training, university scholarships, etc. Large quantities of coal and
natural gas have recently been discovered in Mozambique. There are various Indian
companies which have acquired stakes in these coal and gas fields, particularly the
recent acquisition by ONGC Videsh and Oil India Limited in the Rovuma Basin in the
North of Mozambique at cost of approximately US $ 5 billion for the natural gas
consortium led by Anadarko of the United States and planned investment of US $ 4
billion for setting up of integrated fertilizer plans in Mozambique. Mr. Sharma also
invited Mr. Inroga to visit India for participating in the Partnership Summit scheduled to
be held in Bengaluru in January, 2014.
India Signs Credit Agreement with the International Fund for Agricultural Development
(IFAD) for Jharkhand Tribal Empowerment Livelihood Project to Benefit Small Rural
Producers, Women, Scheduled Caste Households and Youth in the Hill Districts of
Jharkhand.An agreement for credit of US $ 51 million from IFAD for the Jharkhand
Tribal Empowerment Livelihood Project (JTLEP) was signed in New Delhi on 4 October.
The agreement was signed by Nilaya Mitash, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic
Affairs, Ministry of Finance on behalf of the Government of India and Mr.Nigel Brett,
Country Prorgamme Director, IFAD, India on behalf of IFAD. JTELP would continue till
September 2021. Similarly a project agreement was signed by L. Khiangte, Principal
Secretary, Jharkhand on behalf of the Government of Jharkhand with IFAD. The
Objective of the project is to enable rural households to take-up sustainable livelihood
opportunities. The project shall benefit small rural producers, women, scheduled caste
households and youth in the hill districts of the State of the Jharkhand. The goal of the
project is to reduce poverty in the hill districts of the State of Jharkhand. The new
project has four main components: (i) Community Empowerment (ii) Integrated Natural
Resource Management (iii) Livelihood Project (iv) Project Management.
Economic affairs:
India ranked to the 134th spot in the ease of doing business list according to the annual
Doing Business report released on 29 October 2013 by World Bank and International
Finance Corporation (IFC).The top ten nations in the Ease of Doing Business ranking
are Singapore (1), Hong Kong (2), New Zealand (3), United States (4), Denmark (5),
Malaysia (6), Korea (7), Georgia (8), Norway (9) and United Kingdom (10). Among
BRICS countries, Russia is placed at 92nd spot, Brazil is ranked 116, South Africa is
ranked the 41st rank and China ranked at 96th position. India is also ranked lowest
among the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). Other
neighboring nations of India Nepal (105), Pakistan (110) and Bangladesh (130) are also
ranked above India.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 29 October 2013 released the Second Quarter
Review of Monetary Policy 2013-14.According the released statement by the RBI, the
Repo rate increased by 25 basis points from 7.5 percent to 7.75 percent.
The highlights of the Second Quarter Review of Monetary Policy 2013-14 are -
1) RBI reduced the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate by 25
basis points from 9.0 percent to 8.75 percent with immediate effect. 2) RBI also
increased the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) by 25 basis
points from 7.5 percent to 7.75 percent with immediate effect. 3) The liquidity provided
through term repos of 7-day and 14-day tenor has been increased from 0.25 percent of
net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) of the banking system to 0.5 percent with
immediate effect. 4) Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) unchanged at 4 Percent 5) Repo rate
hiked due to upturn of inflation and other factors. 6) RBI downward FY14 GDP growth to
5 percent from 5.7 percent.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the launching of a
new Integrated Processing Development Scheme (IPDS) with a total cost of Rs. 500
crore during the 12th Five Year Plan on 30 October. The CCEA also granted permission
to establish four to six brown field projects and three to five green field projects
addressing the environmental issues faced by Textile Processing Units. The eligible
projects under the scheme would cover the following:
(i) Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), (ii) Captive power
generation on technology preferably renewable/green technology, (iii) Infrastructure
such as storm water management, necessary roads and pipelines for water &
wastewater and (iv) Facility for testing and R&D centres.
The Scheme will facilitate the textiles industry become globally competitive using
environmentally friendly processing standards and technology and create new
processing parks. This scheme will support the up gradation of existing processing
clusters/centres specifically in the area of water and waste water management and also
encourage research and development work in the textiles processing sector.
Total wireless subscriber base increased from 874.88 million in July 2013 to 876.72
million at the end of August 2013, registering a monthly growth of 0.21%.The share of
urban wireless subscribers has declined from 60.10% to 59.98% whereas share of rural
wireless subscribers has increased from 39.90% to 40.02%. As per the latest data
released by TRAI on telecom subscribers, the overall wireless Teledensity in India has
reached 71.21 from 71.13 of previous month.
Wireless subscription in urban areas increased from 525.78 million in July 2013 to
525.84 million at the end of August 2013. The wireless subscription in rural areas
increased from 349.09 million to 350.88 million during the same period. The urban
wireless Teledensity has decreased from 139.87 to 139.65 whereas rural Teledensity
has increased from 40.88 to 41.05. Private operators hold 88.38% of the wireless
market share (based on subscriber base) where as BSNL and MTNL, the two PSU
operators hold only 11.62% market share. On the other hand, the wire line subscriber
base declined from 29.58 million at the end of July 2013 to 29.46 Million at the end of
August 2013.
Net reduction in wire line subscriber base was 0.12million at the rate of 0.41%. The
share of urban subscribers has increased from 78.22% to 78.31% whereas share of
rural subscribers has decreased from 21.78% to 21.69%. The overall wire line
Teledensity has decreased from 2.40 in July 2013 to 2.39 in August 2013, with urban
and rural Teledensity being 6.13 and 0.75 respectively. BSNL and MTNL, the two PSU
operators hold 78.48% of the wire line market share.
Mahindra Aerospace, a venture of the Mahindra Group, inaugurated its aero-structures
facility at Narsapura, about 50 km from Bangaluruon 21st October. The facility is aimed
at positioning the Indian footprint in the global aero-structures supply chain, said Anand
Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group. Mr. Mahindra also announced that Mahindra
Aerospace had entered into a strategic technology partnership with the Spanish Tier-I
aero-structures supplier, the Aernnova Group. Mr. Mahindra said the company had
invested about Rs.150 crore in the facility, which could generate an initial turnover of
Rs.200 crore per annum. The facility, spread over 25,000 sq. metres, will employ about
400 personnel. Mr. Mahindra said the Groups acquisition in 2010 of two Australian
companies Gippsland Aeronautics, a manufacturer of small aircraft, and Aerostaff, an
aircraft component manufacturer had given it a toehold in the global aircraft
component supply chain. He said smaller turboprop aircraft had a bright future,
especially in connecting smaller towns and inaccessible locations in the country. He
said the company had developed capabilities in three segments aerospace
engineering, aero-structural and in the development of utility aircraft.
The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), an autonomous institute functioning
under the aegis of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, on 24th October, signed 5
memoranda of understanding with countrys five leading research, academic and
business institutions,namely: Indian School of Business (ISB); Institute of Public
Enterprise (IPE); Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS); The Energy and Research
Institute (TERI) and YES Bank Limited. Sachin Pilot, Minister of Corporate Affairs, was
present on the occasion. IICA provides opportunities for research, education, and
advocacy and also serves as a knowledge-centre for policy makers, regulators and
other stakeholders related to the domain of corporate affairs. The Institute supports the
growth of the corporate sector in India through an integrated and multi-disciplinary
approach. IICA is also an academy for the Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS)
officers. The Minister had an intense interaction with the probationers of the ICLS,
discussing their training needs and how IICAs course modules could be enhanced to
cater to everyday practical requirements. Mr. Pilot emphasized the importance of
gauging and assessing the specific needs of industry and business and stressed on the
fact that all the courses should add value to the participants potential and ability thereby
creating a demand in the Corporate Sector for employees to undergo
training/development at IICA.
The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) on 24th October, signed a
memorandum of understanding to undertake project management consultancy for
construction of a permanent campus of IIM Tiruchirappalli. The MoU was signed here in
the presence of CPWD DG V K Gupta and IIM TiruchirappalliDirector Dr Prafulla
Agnihotri, a statement issued by the Urban Development Ministry said. The campus will
come up in 68 hectares of land allotted by the Tamil Nadu government. It will
accommodate 1500 students, besides 300 faculty and staff members and comprise of
academic facilities, world-class hostels, accommodation for faculty and staff,
recreational facilities and a well-equipped management development centre. The
master planning and designing of the campus has been entrusted to a firm of leading
architects. The construction of the Rs 450 crore-project (aprox.) will begin in March-April
next year, and is expected to be completed by March 2016. IIM Tiruchirappalli aims to
have a green campus, and will be self-sufficient in terms of its water requirements in five
to seven years of its coming up. IIM Tiruchirappalli is countrys 11th IIM, where the
session began in 2011.
A significant oil discovery has been made in an ultra-deep water block off Brazil where
Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd. (BPCL) and Videocon Industries together hold 40 per cent
interest.Brazilian oil giant Petrobras, which is the operator of the block, has confirmed
the Farfan-1 oil discovery in the ultra-deep waters of the Segipe-Alagoas basin, off
Brazil, Videocon said in a statement on 21st October. The state-owned firm has
confirmed excellent productivity of good quality crude following a drilling test. Petr
Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) has completed a test in well 3-BRSA-1178D-SES (3-SES-
176D), informally known as Farfan 1, to test the production capacity of the accumulation
in the BM-SEAL-11 concession area of Block SEAL-M-426.Farfan-1 is located 104 km
north of Aracaju, the capital of the northeastern Brazilian state of Sergipe. It lies in a
water depth of 2476 metres, about 5 km from the Farfan discovery well. Petrobras is the
operator of the block with a 60 per cent interest while IBV Brasil (a 50:50 joint venture of
BPCL and Videocon) holds the remaining 40 per cent stake. A 51-metre reservoir was
discovered at Farfan-1 well. The discovery has been estimated to hold more than 1
billion barrels of oil.
Chinas biggest power companies have, for the first time, agreed to set up a permanent
presence in India by opening power equipment service centres to address concerns of
their increasingly large customer base, according to an agreement signed by the two
governments in Beijing on 23rd October.Under the XI Plan (2007-12), 18 GW of thermal
power projects were commissioned, using Chinese-manufactured equipment. Besides,
40 GW of power projects are now being built using equipment from China more than
from any other country. The 23rd Octobers pact, whichwas signed by Wu Xinxiong,
Administrator of ChinasNational Energy Administration, and Indias Ministry of Power,
was one of nine agreements signed between both countries, following talks in Beijing ,
between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his counterpart, Chinese Premier Li
Keqiang.A move, earlier this year, to impose a 20 per cent import duty on power
equipment from China on account of concerns expressed by the domestic industry
has prompted Chinese companies to revise their plans for the Indian market. The import
duty has also concerned Indian industry, particularly as there is a growing shortfall in
capacity. Chinese power companies had, so far, limited their business to selling
equipment, despite the growing import demand from India and needs for servicing.Other
agreements signed on Wednesday included an MoU between the two Ministries of
Transport to co-operate in the roads sector, and exchange ideas on transport policy and
transport technology, as well as sister cities agreements between New Delhi and
Beijing, Kunming and Kolkata, and Chengdu and Bengaluru aimed at boosting
tourism.The two countries also discussed ways to bridge the increasingly widening
trade imbalance, which, this year, is on track to exceed even last years record US $28
billion. After nine months of this year, the deficit reached US $24.7 billion, with Indias
exports down by 22.5 per cent. Bilateral trade last year reached US $66 billion. Both
countries were, however, unable to reach an agreement on industrial parks, officials
said, with the Chinese side yet to decide on a location with around five sites under
consideration. A joint statement issued after talks said both countries would also explore
the feasibility of taking forward a Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) economic
corridor an initiative that the Chinese side has been pushing since Mr. Lis May visit
to India.
The Tax Administration Reform Commission (TARC), set up by the Finance Ministry to
suggest measures to prevent economic offences among other things, is expected to
submit its report in six months, TARC Chairman and Advisor to Finance Minister
Parthasarathi Shome saidin New Delhi on 21st October. The Commission held its first
meeting in New Delhi on 21st October. The term of the 7 member TARC is 18 months,
and it will work as an advisory body to the Ministry of Finance.The terms of reference of
the Commission include a review of the existing mechanism of dispute resolution and
methods to widen tax base.The TARC will also recommend measures to strengthen
inter-agency information sharing between Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the
Central Board of Excise and Custom (CBEC), the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the
Enforcement Directorate, and also with banking as well as financial sectors. It will
review the existing mechanism and recommend measures to enhance predictive
analysis to detect and prevent tax and economic offences, said an official statement.
Besides, it will recommend a system to enforce better tax mechanism by size,
segment and nature of taxes and taxpayers that should cover methods to encourage
voluntary tax compliance. The members of the Commission are: Y. G. Parande, Sunita
Kaila, M. K. Zutshi, S. S. N. Moorthy, M. R. Diwakar and S. Mahalingam.
The Finance Ministry, on 23rd October, announced that it would infuse Rs.14,000 crore
capital in various banks this fiscal, including Rs.2,000 crore in State Bank of India and
Rs.1,800 crore each in IDBI Bank and Central Bank of India.Apart from the capital
support from the government, public sector banks have the headroom to raise
Rs.10,000 crore from the market though rights issue, qualified institutional placement
(QIP) or follow-on public offer (FPO) without diluting the existing government stake.
Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Takru said the money had been given to enhance
equity capital. For the moment, this was good enough to see them through; he added.
The capital infusion had been done with the twin objective of adequately meeting the
credit requirement of the productive sectors as well as to maintain regulatory capital
adequacy ratios in public sector banks (PSBs). The government, as the majority
shareholder, was committed to keep all PSBs adequately capitalised, a statement said
in New Delhi on 23rd October. Infusion of capital by government in PSBs is in addition
to their internally generated capital to enable them maintain a comfortable level of Tier-I
capital. Towards this end, the government had been infusing need-based capital in
PSBs, the statement said. An amount of Rs.12, 517 crore was infused in 13 PSBs
during 2012-13.
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Videsh Ltd. (OVL), on 14th October, announced that it
had bought an additional 12 per cent stake in a Brazilian oilfield for US $ 529
million.OVL, which had a 15 per cent stake in block BC-10 along with Royal Dutch
Shell, exercised a pre-emption right to block Chinas Sinochem group from buying a 35
per cent interest in the oilfield from Petrobras of Brazil. While the Indian firm will pick up
a 12.08 per cent stake, Shell will acquire the remaining 23 per cent. In August,
Petrobras entered into a sales transaction with Sinochem for disposal of their 35 per
cent interest in BC-10 for $1.543 billion. This agreement was subject to pre-emption
rights of the partners, Shell and OVL, OVL says in a statement. The acquisition of
additional participating interest in the block is subject to approval of the Brazilian anti-
trust and regulatory authorities. Shell and OVL served the pre-emption notice to jointly
acquire 35 per cent on September 17. On closing, OVLs stake in the block would
increase to 27 per cent, the statement says. Block BC-10, also known as Parque das
Conchas, is in the Campos Basin of Brazil, and includes four offshore deep-water fields
- Ostra, Abalone, Argonauta and Nautilus, and a few identified exploration prospects. It
is located about 120 km from Vitoria town.
After the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank, the World
Bank on 16th October cut Indias economic growth forecast for the current financial year
to 4.7%, from 6.1% earlier."Although output growth in the first quarter of the current
fiscal year fell to 4.4%, growth is expected to rebound strongly in the second half of
2013-14 with core inflation trending down, a bumper crop expected in agriculture (where
a 5% increase in area sown is expected to raise agricultural growth to 3.4% from 1.9% a
year ago), and exports likely to benefit substantially from the rupees depreciation," the
multilateral agency said in its latest India Development Update.
Last week, IMF lowered the growth outlook to 4.25%, drawing strong protests from the
government, which believes that the economy will expand by 5-5.5% this year.Several
private economists have also predicted sub-5% growth. In Washington, RBI governor
Raghuram Rajan on 16th October said economic activity will gain momentum towards
the end of the year. "The effects of that (project) clearance will show up towards the end
of the year. So, growth will start picking up because these large projects will start
coming back on-stream," he said, adding that the monsoon will help create demand.
The Indian economy grew 5% last year, the slowest pace in a decade as industry put up
a poor show and farm sector grew under 2%.The World Bank also warned that India
may have to dip into its foreign exchange reserves to finance the current account deficit
(CAD) in 2013-14. "International reserves could decline somewhat in 2013-14 but would
still amount to a comfortable import cover of approximately five months." Indias foreign
exchange reserves are sufficient to cover the import bill for around seven months at
present and the government is hoping to contain the current account deficit at $70
billion and avoid dipping into reserves.
As per the latest telecom subscription data released by the Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India on 31st July 2013, total Broadband subscriber base in India increased
from 15.19 million at the end of June 2013 to 15.24 million at the end of July 2013.This
is a monthly growth of 0.33 percent. Yearly growth in broadband subscribers is 3.79
percent during the last one year (July 2012 to July 2013). At present, there are 161
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) which are providing broadband services in the
country. Out of these, 121 ISPs (having 98.48 percent market share) have provided
broadband subscription data for the month of July 2013, for the rest of the ISPs data
from previous month has been retained. Top five ISPs in terms of market share (based
on subscriber base) are: BSNL (9.97 million), Bharti Airtel (1.43 million), MTNL (1.10
million), Hathway (0.37 million) and You Broadband (0.32 million).
Anand Sharma, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry on 7th October in New Delhi,
met the Director General of the World Trade Organization, Mr. Roberto Carvalho de
Azevdo. This was Mr. Azevdos first visit to India after he assumed charge as the
sixth Director General of the WTO on 1 September 2013. Sharma commended Mr.
Azevdo on his efforts to inject a new momentum into the discussions which has led to
some progress and an intensification of discussions in recent weeks. With less than 10
weeks remaining before the Ninth Ministerial Conference of the WTO in December
2013, Sharma and Mr. Azevdo had a detailed discussion on the issues being
negotiated for an outcome in the Bali Conference. Sharma stressed that the centrality of
multilateral processes must be retained. All Members need to work together to
strengthen the WTO as an institution. Though Bali is not the end of the road, it is to be
seen as a stepping stone to conclusion of the Doha Round. The success of this round is
critical for multilateralism. Sharma urged Mr. Azevdo to persuade all parties to discuss
the food security proposal constructively.
He observed that developing countries are finding themselves hamstrung by the
existing rules in running their food stockholding and domestic food aid programmes.
The developed world too had market price support programmes and was able to move
away from market price support - though not fully even now - because of their deep
pockets. This is not possible for developing countries. It is important for developing
countries to be able to guarantee some minimum returns to their poor farmers so that
they are able to produce enough for themselves and for domestic food security. Sharma
and Mr. Azevdo agreed that a lopsided outcome of the Doha Round is not in anyones
interest. It is up to all of us to participate actively in the negotiations in order to arrive at
that balance. Sharma assured the DG of Indias cooperation in striving to achieve a
balanced outcome at Bali and an early resolution of remaining issues in the DDA post-
Bali.
India Post (Department of Posts) has signed an agreement with Wall Street Exchange,
a company of the Emirates Post Group of UAE for launch of an International Electronic
Money Transfer service through Instant Cash product of the Emirates Post Group.The
service was launched in New Delhi on 11th October, by P. Gopinath, Secretary,
Department of Posts, by receiving the first payment from United Arab Emirates at a
function organized by her Department for signing the tie-up between the Department of
Posts and the Emirates Post Group. The service will be rolled out nationally in a phased
manner and will be made available at approximately 17,500 post offices across India by
next month. The service will be provided through the International Financial System
(IFS) of Universal Postal Union.This tie-up offers the Indian diaspora worldwide -
especially in the gulf region - a safe, secure and reliable money transfer service for their
families back home.This new service has its own significance going by the fact that
globally, India is the largest recipient of remittances with over US $ 70 billion annually,
half of which come from the Gulf. Instant Cash is a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Emirates Post Group, and its services are available in 59 countries through more than
60,000 locations. They provide instant money transfer service so that the money is
available to the customers within minutes of completing the transaction.India Post is the
largest postal network in the world and has completed 158 years of existence.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India released the latest telecom subscription data on
31 July 2013. As per this data, the total number of subscribers has increased to 904.46
million with a net addition of 1.37 million subscribers during the month showing a
monthly growth of 0.15 percent. Out of the total subscriber base, 548.85 million are from
the urban areas and the remaining 355.60 million are the rural subscribers. The total
Teledensity at the end of July 2013 was 73.54 out of which the share of urban
subscribers was 60.68 percent and that of rural subscribers was 39.32 percent. Mobile
Number Portability (MNP) requests increased from 95.59 million subscribers at the end
of June 2013 to 97.82 million at the end of July 2013. In the month of July 2013 alone,
2.23 million requests have been made for MNP.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 3rd October has approved the
implementation of the National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) during the
12th Plan Period with financial allocation of Rs. 3507 crore.This would help in
enhancing production of oilseeds by 6.58 million tones. This would also bring additional
area of 1.25 lakh hectares under Oil Palm cultivation with increase in productivity of
fresh fruit bunches from 4927 kg/ha to 15,000 kg/ha and increase in collection of tree
borne oilseeds to 14 lakh tone. Implementation of the proposed Mission would enhance
production of vegetable oil sources by 2.48 million tones from oilseeds (1.70 million
tones), oil palm (0.60 million tones) and tree borne oilseeds (0.18 million tones) by the
end of the 12th Plan Period. NMOOP is built upon the achievements of the existing
schemes of Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds. Oil Palm and Maize (ISOPOM), Tree Borne
Oilseeds Scheme and Oil Palm Area Expansion (OPAE) programme during the 11th
Plan period. Implementation of these schemes have shown increase in production and
productivity of oilseeds, area expansion with increased production of FFBs under oil
palm and augmented availability of quality planting materials, pre-processing
technologies and awareness about TBOs.
The Union Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch on 3rd October, launched a
unique project to take Indias Heritage online in New Delhi.Under the project,
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has agreed with Google to create 360-degree
online imagery of 100 of Indias most important heritage sites, including the Taj Mahal,
Khajuraho and the Ajanta and Ellora caves. Speaking on the occasion the Minister said
these details images will be placed for public viewing over the Internet. The aim of this
collaboration is to generate interest and consciousness among the Indian population in
general and the youth in particular towards safeguarding the national cultural heritage of
India. She said, this information, which will be readily available over the Internet for
public viewing, will help in bringing our monuments closer to the public. The Minister
expressed the hope that under this project the experience of visiting heritage sites
across a vibrant nation would be more accessible and enjoyable and also to bring it to
the notice of billions of people connected globally via the Internet. Once published, this
new imagery of Indian heritage sites will be available on Google Maps and on the World
Wonders site within the Google Cultural Institute so that people across India and around
the world can virtually view and explore these areas, and in the process, learn more
about thousand years of Indian history.
The Central Government has decided in principle to enhance the amount of capital to
be infused into Public Sector Banks (PSBs), on 3rd October.It may be recalled that in
the Budget for 2013-14, a sum of Rs. 14,000 crore was provided for capital infusion.
This amount will be enhanced sufficiently. The additional amount of capital will be
provided to banks to enable them to lend to borrowers in selected sectors such as two
wheelers, consumer durables etc, at lower rates n order to stimulate demand. While this
will bring relief to the consumers, especially the middle class, it is also expected to give
a boost to capacity addition, employment and production. This decision is based on the
discussions between Dr. Raghuram Rajan, Governor, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and
the Union Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram when Dr Rajan called on the Finance
Minister on 3rd October. The issue of credit growth in different sectors was discussed.
At the end of September 2013, growth of Gross Bank Credit stood at about 18 per cent,
year-on-year. However, credit growth is sluggish in some sectors leading to the
conclusion that demand in these sectors remains subdued. Based on the discussions,
the Government has decided in principle to enhance the amount of capital to be infused
into Public Sector Banks.
SEBI approved major reforms to attract overseas investors. It has announced new
Foreign Portfolio Investor regulations for easier registration process and operating
framework for investors from abroad.The new class of investors - FPIs - will encompass
all Foreign Institutional Investors, their sub-accounts and Qualified Foreign Investors.
They will be divided in three categories as per their risk profile. The Know Your Client -
KYC requirements and other registration procedures will be much simpler for FPIs
compared to current practices. The SEBI has also decided to grant them a permanent
registration. SEBI also approved setting up Designated Depository Participants which
will register FPIs on behalf of the market regulator subject to compliance with KYC
norms.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 3rd October, gave its approval to the
proposal of M/s. Etihad Airways PJSC, United Arab Emirates for subscribing
2,72,63,372 equity shares of Rs.10 each of M/s. Jet Airways (India) Limited amounting
to 24 percent of the post issue paid up equity share capital for an amount not exceeding
Rs.2057.66 crore.The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) has recommended
the proposal. The approval would result in foreign investment amounting to Rs.2057.66
crore in the country.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 3rd October, has approved the
proposal of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to authorize ONGC Videsh
Limited (OVL) and Oil India Limited (OIL) to acquire 20 percent Participating Interest
(PI) in Rovuma Area 1 Offshore Block in Mozambique (Area 1). The transaction
comprises acquisition of:- (a) 100 percent of shares in Videocon Mozambique Rovuma
1 Limited, the company holding a 10 percent PI in Area 1, from Videocon Mauritius
Energy Limited, a subsidiary of Videocon Industries Limited, jointly by OVL and OIL for
US$ 2,475 million. Closing is expected before 31st December 2013; and (b) another 10
percent PI in Area 1 from Anadarko Mozambique Area 1 Limitada, a subsidiary of
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation solely by OVL for US$ 2,640 million, with closing in
February, 2014.
An agreement to set up the Indias largest Forged Wheel Plant at Lalganj, Raebareli, in
Uttar Pradesh was signed in the presence of the Minister of Steel, Beni Prasad Verma
and the Rail Minister, Mallikarjun Kharge on 3rd October. The Railway Minister
Mallikarjun Kharge said that the forged wheels are essentially required in the rolling
stock for running longer trains at higher speed.He said imports substitution, indigenous
development and inclusive growth is the driving force for setting up this project through
mutual coordination between Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Steel.
Science & Tech:
The first unit of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) was synchronized on
22nd October, and is now generating 160 MW electricity.On this occasion Narayansami,
Minister of State in the Prime Ministers Office said the power will be further raised to
500 MWe, 750 MWe and 1000 MWe in stages. For this at every stage various tests
have been conducted and the technical parameters have also been verified. Based on
the results of the tests at each of the stages and with the Atomic Energy Regulatory
Board (AERB) clearences, subsequent stages are reached. With the addition of KKNPP
Unit-1 of 1000 MWe capacity, the Nuclear Power contribution in the country will
increase from 4780 MWe to 5780 MWe.KKNPP Unit-1 is the 20th Nuclear Power
Station of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), connected to power grid
in the country.
The India-France Technology Summit, organized by Department of Science and
Technology, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and French Embassy on 23rd
October, witnessed 11 Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) between India and
France in the field of Science and Technology and Education.
The MOUs were signed in the presence of Mr S Jaipal Reddy, Minister of Science and
Technology and Earth Sciences.
Signature of MOU between Department of Science and Technology and Institut
National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (INRIA), on Joint Targeted
Program in Information and Communication Science and Technology.
Signature MOU between Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and CNRSfor establishing
an International Associated Laboratory in the area of Systems Immunology and
Genetics of Infectious Diseases, LIA SIGID.
MOU between SGRI and CEFIPRA for Habitat in hot and humid climate.
Signature Letter of Intent to launch The EADS-CEFIPRA Aerospace Program between
European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS) and The Indo French
Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research.
Signature of MOU to set up an International Associated Laboratory on Transcriptomics
and Metabolomics for Liver Diseases between the French National Institute for Health
and Medical Research, INSERM and the Institute of Liver and Bilary Sciences, ILBS.
Signature of MOU for International Joint Laboratory on Neuosciences, LIA PROTECT
between IISc and INSERM.
Statement of intent between Safran-Morpho (SMPL) and Gujarat Forensic Sciences
University for Training, Research and Development (GFSU), to explore the possibility of
establishing cooperation through the program.
MOU ASTech-Systematic India Hub between ASTech Cluster, Systematic Cluster,
Paris Region CCI, India Desk and IFCCI.
MOU for an institutional partnership between Sciences Po Paris and Ashoka University,
covering undergraduate and postgraduate student exchange program and faculty
exchange.
MOU for a partnership awarding a double Masters Degree between DTU, India and N+I
Engineering Network, France.
MOU for a partnership for Last Semester of Bachelor or Master as an international
experience in France/India between BITS Pilani and N+I Engineering Network, France.
Union Minister for Mines, Dinsha Patel dedicated a deep sea exploration ship RV
Samudra Ratnakar to the nation at Kandla Port on 12th October.RV Samudra
Ratnakar, the research vessel is a state-of-the-art acquisition of GSI, designed to meet
the fast-growing challenges of the modern geo-scientific oceanographic researches.
The ship is equipped with high-end technologically advanced instruments needed for
geological, geophysical and geochemical explorations in the offshore areas. The vessel
is a unique multitasking and multi-disciplinary ship with modern on-board laboratories,
designed to carry out sea-bed mapping, mineral exploration etc. in the deep waters and
also research activities. The Ship has been built by M/s. Hyundai Heavy Industries
(HHI), Ulsan, South Korea, one of the largest ship building yards in the world.
RV Samudra Ratnakar is an all-weather ship fitted with Differential Global Positioning
System (DGPS), Heading and Motion sensors and Dynamic Positioning System to keep
it stationary during coring operations. With the induction of this multi-disciplinary
research vessel, Marine and Coastal Survey Division of GSI is poised to --explore the
deep ocean and unravel the hitherto- unknown complexities besides searching for
deep-sea mineral resources both within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India
and International Waters. Its endurance capacity and on-board facilities will enable GSI
to carryout Multichannel Seismic Survey, Gravity Survey, Magnetic Survey, Deep Sea
Imaging, Sub-bottom Profiling, Deep Coring and Dredging in any part of the world. R.V.
Samudra Ratnakar has the capability to explore and identify the favorable zone of
accumulation of Gas Hydrates, which are known to be the future source of hydro-carbon
energy.
The Indian Navy on 15 October 2013 inducted into service its largest offshore patrol
vessel (OPV), INS Sunayna, at the Southern Naval Command.The ship was designed
and built by the public sector Goa Shipyard. The ship is equipped with the most
advanced communication, navigation and electronic warfare equipment besides a 76-
mm SRGM (Super Rapid Gun Mount), and close-in weapon system (CIWS). INS
Sunayna will strengthen the Indian Navy capability to safeguard the maritime interests.
The vessel is expected to fill the vital gap in the Southern Naval Commands patrol
capability. The vessel also has the ability to embark an advanced light helicopter (ALH)
or a Chetak search and rescue helicopter. Two more vessels of this class will be
delivered to the Navy between this year-end and mid-2014.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 3rd October, has approved the
implementation of a scheme for setting up of 750 MW of Grid-connected Solar PV
Power Projects under Batch-1 of Phase-11 (2013-17) of the Jawaharlal Nehru National
Solar Mission (JNNSM) with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support from the National
Clean Energy Fund (NCEF).The total VGF requirement for implementation of the
scheme is estimated as Rs. 1,875 crore at the rate of Rs.2.5 crore/ MW The actual
requirement will, however, depend on the bid prices. This VGF support is estimated to
leverage private investment to the tune of Rs. 5000 crore in setting up of the projects.
The VGF scheme will facilitate setting up of the 750 MW grid connected solar power
projects, in mainly the private sector on Build, Own and Operate (BOO) basis at various
locations,which will help supplement grid power generation in the country. These
projects will also lead to an associated development of their surrounding areas with
positive impact on the socio-economic conditions of the local population. The JNNSM
was launched by the Government in January 2010.The main objective of this Mission is
to create a policy and regulatory environment for large scale diffusion of solar energy
technologies across the country as quickly as possible. It has laid down, a long-term
goal of adding 20,000 MW of grid-connected solar power by 2022, to be achieved in
three phases (Phase-l up to 2012-13, Phase-ll from 2013 to 2017 and Phase-Ill from
2017 to 2022).
The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad launched the
indigenously produced Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine JENVAC, in New Delhi on
4th October. The vaccine has been jointly developed by scientists of NIV, ICMR and
Bharat Biotech Ltd.Azad said that JENVAC is a completely indigenous vaccine and an
outstanding example of public private partnership (PPP), and a remarkable milestone in
the emergence of our country as an innovative and self-sufficient technology hub.
Speaking at the occasion, the Health Minister termed the Acute Encephalitis Syndrome
(AES) as a serious public health challenge for India.
Of the more than 100 viruses and other agents that can cause this
syndrome, about a dozen odd are reported from India. Beginning with first report in
1955 from Vellore in Tamil Nadu JE virus has spread to over 171 districts in 19 states.
The Health Minister stated that so far a vaccine imported from China was being used.
But its availability was an issue for comprehensive and quick augmentation of the
national programme, he stated. The launch of JENVAC, manufactured by Bharat
Biotech is a welcome much needed and historic occasion, he mentioned. He said that it
is not only the first fully indigenous vaccine, but it is also based on an Indian strain.
Therefore, it is expected to improve the efficacy besides availability and affordability.
Awards:
Former Indian Tennis player-turned film producer Ashok Amritraj was presented with
the Soul of India Award for his outstanding achievements in the film industry on 29
October 2013.NRI industrialist Dr. Rami Ranger presented the award to the Ashok
Amritraj at the Indian Journalists Associations meet held at the Bombay Palace in
London. Mrs. Paul, wife of Dr. Virendra Paul, formally launched Amritrajs
bookAdvantage Hollywood onthe occasion. Ashok Amritraj is a former tennis player
and has represented India on an international level. He played in all major tennis
tournaments during his nine-year career including Wimbledon and the US Open. His
brothers, Vijay Amritraj and Anand Amritraj, are also accomplished tennis players.
Amritraj has produced 109 Hollywood films. His hits, starting with Double Impact in
1991, have included Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Bandits, Machete and
Premonition.
Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor was honoured in the House of Commons, London
for her contribution to the global entertainment industry, on 29 October 2013.The 33-
year old actress was presented with a framed golden coloured plaque by NRI MP Keith
Vaz, Chairman of Britains Home Affairs Committee. Kareena was also honoured by the
Asian Sunday Newspaper. Besides Kareena, singer Kimberley Walsh and magician
Dynamo (Aka Steven Frayne) was honoured by the Asian Sunday Newspaper for their
contributions to the global entertainment-industry. Kareena is the only Bollywood artist
to be honoured at British Parliament after Amitabh Bachchan and she is the first
Bollywood actress to be honoured by UK Parliament.
Renowned Bharatnatyam exponent Geeta Chandran was honoured with the prestigious
Guru Debaprasad Award for outstanding contribution in the field of dance on 29 October
2013. The award was presented to Geeta Chandran and three others by Odisha
Governor S. C. Jamir at in Bhubaneswar. Guru Debaprasad Award is an annual award
instituted in memory of eminent Odissi exponent Guru Debaprasad Das. The award was
constituted by Tridhara Dance Institute in the year 2007. Geetha chandran is Indias
renowned Bharatanatyam dancer. She was recipient of Padmashri and a celebrated
artist, Geetha Chandran is almost synonymous with the Indian classical dance form of
Bharatanatyam.
Former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen on 27 October 2013 conferred with the Mother
Teresa Memorial International Award by NGO the Harmony Foundation for her efforts
towards achieving social justice in Mumbai.Bollywood actress Sushmita Sen, who is
associated with different charitable projects and NGOs, received the award for her
efforts towards achieving social justice and her contribution to society. Along with
Sushmitha Sen, seven individuals and an association, India Rescue Mission, were also
awarded the Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for Social Justice 2013 for
their contributions in the field of human rights and community development. The Mother
Teresa International Award is an annual award, constituted by Harmony Foundation,
which was founded in October 2005 by Dr. Abraham Mathai to establish communal
harmony between various communities, castes and work towards the benefit of all the
communities without any discrimination as to religion, caste, creed, gender or region.
Anjali Gopalan on 25th October 2013 was awarded with French highest civilian award
Chevalier de la Legion dHonneur. She was awarded for her work on transgenders and
HIV positive patients.She was awarded at a function, by Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, the
French Cabinet Minister for Womens Right. Gopalan is an Indian Human Rights and
Animals Rights Activist. She started the Naz Foundation (India) Trust as its executive
director, which further changed the lives of the HIV Positive, transgenders and
homosexuals in New York. She started her career as a social worker working for the
migrants of the south East Asian who lacked valid documents.
Aung Suu Kyi, on 23rd October 2013, has received the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of
Thought at Strasbourg, France. She was chosen by the European Parliament in
1990.The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought announced by the European
Parliament in 1990 when she was under house arrest. The Sakharov Prize for Freedom
of Thought is awarded each year by the European Parliament. The prize was set up in
1988 to honour individuals or organisations for their efforts on behalf of human rights
and fundamental freedoms. The Sakharov Prize for free speech is awarded annually in
memory of Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on 14 October 2013 decided to award The
Sveriges Riksbank Prize inEconomic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel for 2013 to
Eugene F. Fama, Lars Peter Hansen and Robert J. Shiller for their empirical analysis of
asset prices. 1. Eugene F. Fama of University of Chicago, IL, USA 2.Lars Peter Hansen
of University of Chicago, IL, USA 3.Robert J. Shillerof Yale University, New Haven, CT,
USA The three American Economists awarded for their work on creating a deeper
knowledge of how market prices move. The prize is worth 8m Swedish krona (775,000
Pounds; 1.2m Dollars), which will be shared equally among the three winners. The
Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences is not one of the original Nobel prizes. It was created
in 1968 by the Swedish Central Bank in memory of Alfred Nobel, who established the
prizes for Chemistry, Medicine, Physics, Literature and Peace in 1895. The first
Economics prize was awarded in 1969.The Nobel Foundation does not officially
recognize it as a Nobel Prize, but as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences
in Memory of Alfred Nobel. The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in
Memory of Alfred Nobel has been awarded 45 times to 74 Laureates between 1969 and
2013.
Eleanor Catton, the New Zealand author, at the age of just 28 years, became the
youngest ever winner of the Man Booker Prize for her novel The Luminarieson 15th
October 2013 at the Londons Guildhall. Her novel The Luminaries is the story of 19th-
century goldfields, which won 50000 Pound Man Booker Prize 2013 along with a trophy,
and Emmanuel Roman. It is important to note that The Luminaries is also the longest
work to win this prize in the history of 45 years of Man Booker Prize. She is the second
New Zealander to win the Man Booker Prize, after Keri Hulme for The Bone People in
1985.The last Prize was won by Hilary Mantel for Bring Up the Bodies, which was the
sequel of the Wolf Hall. It is important to note that in the year 2014, the Man Booker
Prize will open its doors for the authors writing in English from all over the world. At
present, it is awarded to the English-language authors only from the Commonwealth
nations, including the Zimbabwe, Ireland and the United Kingdom. At present, the Man
Booker Prize is one of the richest literary prizes of the world.
In a tribute to the legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra on the eve of his first death
anniversary, melody queen Lata Mangeshkar was conferred the first Yash Chopra
Memorial Awardat a glittering function in Mumbai on 19th October. Union Minister for
Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari presented the award. Dedicated to the
memory of the late producer-director; the Yash Chopra Memorial Award has been
instituted by the TSR Foundation of T Subbarami Reddy. Chopra was a victim of
dengue in Mumbai Oct 21 last year, spelling the end of a romantic and passionate era
of filmmaking. Carrying a cheque of Rs1 million and a citation, the memorial award will
be given annually to people in recognition of their outstanding contribution in the field of
art and culture. Lata has been conferred several national and international honours,
including Bharat Ratna, Indias highest civilian award, three national film awards and
and the One Time Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2008 to commemorate the 60th
anniversary of Indias Independence.
The Nobel Prize in Physics 2013 was awarded jointly to Franois Englert and Peter W.
Higgs "for the theoretical discovery of a mechanism that contributes to our
understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles, and which recently was
confirmed through the discovery of the predicted fundamental particle, by the ATLAS
and CMS experiments at CERNs Large Hadron Collider" .Franois Englert was born on
6th November 1932, Etterbeek, Belgium. He is the professor in Universit&eacute; Libre
de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.Peter W. Higgs was born on 29 May 1929, Newcastle
upon Tyne, United Kingdom.He is the professor in University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh,
United Kingdom.
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2013 was awarded jointly to Martin Karplus, Michael
Levitt and Arieh Warshel "for the development of multiscale models for complex
chemical systems". Martin Karpluswas born on 15 March 1930, Vienna, Austria. He
works in the Universit&eacute; de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France, Harvard University,
and Cambridge, MA, USA. Michael Levittwas born on 9 May 1947, Pretoria, South
Africa. He works in the Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Arieh Warshelwas born on 20 November 1940, Kibbutz Sde-Nahum, Israel. He works in
the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2013 was awarded jointly to James E.
Rothman, Randy W. Schekman and Thomas C. Sdhof "for their discoveries of
machinery regulating vesicle traffic, a major transport system in our cells". James E.
Rothmanwas born on 3 November 1950, Haverhill, MA, USA. He works in the Yale
University, New Haven, CT, USA. Randy W. Schekmanwas born on 30 December
1948, St. Paul, MN, USA. He works in the University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA,
Howard Hughes Medical Institute.Thomas C. Sdhofhad born on 22nd December 1955
Goettingen, Germany. He works in the Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA, Howard
Hughes Medical Institute.
Canadian author Alice Munro has won the 2013 Nobel Prize for Literature.Making the
announcement, Peter Englund, permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, called
her a "master of the contemporary short story". The 82-year-old, whose books include
Dear Life and Dance of the Happy Shades, is only the 13th woman to win the prize
since its inception in 1901. Presented by the Nobel Foundation, the award - which is
presented to a living writer - is worth eight million kronor (&pound;770,000).Munro, who
began writing in her teenage years, published her first story, The Dimensions of a
Shadow, in 1950.In 2009, she won the Man Booker International Prize for her entire
body of work - but she downplayed her achievements. Often compared to Anton
Chekhov, she is known for writing about the human spirit and a regular theme of her
work is the dilemma faced by young girls growing up and coming to terms with living in
a small town. The Nobel academy praised her "finely tuned storytelling, which is
characterized by clarity and psychological realism". Her writing has brought her several
awards. She won The Commonwealth Writers Prize, the National Book Critics Circle
prize for Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage, and is a three-time
winner of the Governor Generals prize. Other notable books include Lives of Girls and
Women, Who Do You Think You Are, The Progress of Love and Runaway.
The Nobel Peace Prize 2013 was awarded to Organization for the Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons (OPCW) "for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical
weapons".The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has
become the surprise choice for this years Nobel peace prize, a decision the Oslo
committee said recognized both its current, hazardous mission to destroy Syrias
chemical weapons stocks and 16 years of wider global efforts. The international
chemical weapons watchdog, a relatively new global body, set up in1997 in The
Hague,with a relatively tiny annual budget of about &pound;60m, trumped the
established bookmakers favorites of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl turned
advocate for female education, and Denis Mukwege, the Congolese gynecologist who
has helped huge numbers of rape victims. The OPCW, which has 500 staff, is the 25th
institution among the 94 winners in the prizes history, and the second in succession,
after the controversial choice of the EU in 2012.However, the Nobel committees citation
said the prize was a more general one, to mark "its extensive efforts to eliminate
chemical weapons" and nudge the few remaining nations that had not yet signed up to
the organization. The work of the OPCW, which has 189 member states, had "defined
the use of chemical weapons as a taboo under international law", the committee said,
adding that events in Syria had "underlined the need to enhance the efforts to do away
with such weapons". The OPCW was set up to implement the 1992 global chemical
weapons convention. It says it has managed to oversee the destruction of more than
80% of the worlds declared stocks of chemical weapons, excluding those now declared
in Syria.
A young man from India is among 10 people from around the world selected for a
prestigious United Nations award on 11th October, in recognition of their work as
entrepreneurs and use of technology to change the world. The winner from India is
Varun Arora who created Open Curriculum, an online educational material for
standard, primary and secondary schooling.The recipients of the 10 Young Innovators
Competition organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)Telecom
come from a wide range of countries including India, Uganda and Vietnam and have
worked on diverse issues such as marine protection, reduction of food waste and
immigration."These are bright young minds with creative technological solutions to
developmental challenges both in their communities and in the wider world," said ITU
secretary-general Hamadoun Toure. The UN competition is open to young social
entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 26 and seeks innovative digital solutions in
the form of start-ups or initial concepts meeting global developmental challenges.The
winners would heading to the ITU Telecom World 2013 in Bangkok in November.
Eminent agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan on 10th October 2013 selected for the
Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for the year 2012.MS Swaminathan is an
Indian geneticist and former member of Rajya Sabha. M.S. Swaminathan contributed to
the agricultural renaissance in the country and led the nation to achieve green
revolution. The Indian national congress (i), in its centenary year 1985, instituted an
Indira Gandhi award for national integration to give recognition to outstanding
contribution to this cause by distinguished individuals or institutions. The award carries
a citation and cash award of 5 lakh rupees.
Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teen shot by the Taliban for championing girls
education won the European Unions (EU) Sakharov human rights prize 2013on 10th
October 2013. Past winners of the Sakharov Prize include South African anti apartheid
hero Nelson Mandela and former UN secretary general Kofi Annan. The Sakharov Prize
for Freedom of Thought is awarded each year by the European Parliament. The prize
was set up in 1988 to honour individuals or organizations for their efforts on behalf of
human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Sakharov Prize for free speech is
awarded annually in memory of Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov.
Karan Thapar, television journalist chosen for the International Press Institute (IPI)
India award for excellence in journalism 2013on 8th October 2013 for his interviews on
the Devils Advocate programme on CNN IBN. He was selected by a distinguished jury
of editors and publishers headed by the former Chief Justice of India, A. S. Anand.
Previous winners of the International Press Institute award include The Indian Express,
NDTV, Outlook, Tehelka, Tribune and The Week. Karan Thapar is an Indian television
commentator and interviewer. He is conducting programmes like Devils Advocate, The
Last Word on CNN-IBN and India Tonight on CNBC TV 18. The International Press
Institute is a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists.
The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee presented the Lal Bahadur Shastri National
Award for Excellence in Public Administration, Academics and Management 2013 to
Dr. Rajendra Achyut Badwe, Director, Tata Memorial Centre, Professor and Head,
Department of Surgical Oncology Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbaiat a function at
Rashtrapati Bhavan on October 01, 2013. The award carries a cash prize of Rs.5 lakhs,
a citation and a plaque. He is an international opinion leader in oncology, developing
breast cancer care strategies, innovative research, integrating delivery systems,
improving quality and cancer management programs and capacity building of staff on
cancer care delivery strategy and practice issues.
His original research "On Timing of Surgery during The Menstrual Cycle for Operable
Breast Cancer" has led to a paradigm shift in understanding of cancer biology and
evolved cost- effective life-saving treatment globally. A Dorab Tata Scholar (1974-
1978), Dr Badwe has been a recipient of several prestigious international and national
awards including Padmashree. His significant accomplishments in leadership in cancer
care are a testimony to his role as a mentor in developing the cancer care strategy for
Government of India and WHO. He leads the Innovation Council for Cancer Research
and the team that is planning the national cancer centre for Government of India.
A senior Indian journalist, Ravi Shankar Narsimhan, on 29th September 2013 was
presented with Friendship award by China-the highest honor given to foreigners.
Narsimhan is the executive editor in the overseas edition of the Beijing based China
Daily. Ravi Shankar hails from Andhra Pradesh.He has worked with China Daily for 11
years. He was given the award for helping China better tell its stories to the outside
world. He is one among the 50 foreign experts from 20 countries and diverse fields, who
have been rewarded. The Friendship Award is an annual award given by the Chinese
government to honour outstanding foreign experts in China.
Rafiq Kathwari, an Indian-American poet on 29 September 2013 selected for 2013
Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award for the collection of his debut poems. Rafiq Kathwari is
the first non-Irish person to win the Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award. Rafiq Kathwaris
collection of 20 unpublished poems In another Country was selected for the coveted
award amidst 112 contestants from across the world. Rafiq Kathwari, a Kashmiri by
descent has become the first non-Irish to have won the award and will recieve 1000
Euros as the prize money. He has translated selected Urdu poems of Alama Iqbal,
creating his own version. His poems are mostly inspired by loss of innocence in
Kashmir and from his mothers long time illness. The award was founded by the Patrick
Kavanagh Society in 1971 to commemorate the Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh.
SPORTS:
Indias ace Squash player Dipika Pallikal, on 20th October 2013, won the Macau Open
title at Macau, China.In the title clash Dipika defeated former World Number One
Rachel Grinham of Australia, 12-10, 5-11, 11-7, 11-9. This was Dipika Pallikals seventh
Womens Squash Association title. The Macau Open 2013 is a squash tournament held
in Macau, China on 15 to 20 October 2013. It is part of the PSA World Tour and the
WSA World Tour. The prize money for the Macau Open is 35000 Dollars.
North Zone and South Zone were declared joint winners of the Duleep Trophy 2013-14
after the fifth days play of the final match was called off due to bad weather in Kochi on
21st October 2013.It was the fourth instance in the history of Duleep Trophy when the
title has been shared. Previous instances were West Zone/South Zone in 1963-64),
North Zone/West Zone in 1988-89 and Central Zone/West Zone in 1997-98.East Zone
won the Duleep Trophy in 2012-13 on the basis of their first innings lead against Central
Zone at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
The BCCI on 26th October 2013 terminated Pune Warriors from the IPL after the
Sahara-owned franchise failed to pay its payments and refused to furnish the bank
guarantee for the next season.The decision was taken at the Cricket Boards all-
powerful working committee meeting. BCCI wanted the team to furnish a bank
guarantee of 170.2 crore rupees to remain a part of the league next year. Sahara has
been demanding the completion of the arbitration proceedings on the issue of franchise
fee, which, it feels, should be lowered since the BCCI did not deliver on its promised
number of IPL matches for the team.Pune Warriors were purchased by Sahara for 370
million US dollars (1702 crore rupees) in 2010 and it was the most expensive franchise
on the IPL roster.
The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) on 21st October 2013 unanimously elected Kanwar
Deep Singh as the president of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) for a four-year
term.He was succeeded by Dinesh Reddy, Andhra Pradeshs Director General of Police
(DGP).He is the Chairman emirate of the Alchamist Group of Companies. He is the
member of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) of the Indian Parliament. He belonged to
Trinamool Congress Party. He received the jewel of India award from International
Solidarity in New York.
Simona Halep of Romania defeated Samantha Stosur of Australia 7-6 (1), 6-2 to win the
Kremlin Cup on 20th October 2013 at Moscow, Russia.It was the fifth WTA singles
championship for Simona Halep. With the victory, Halep raised to a career high 15th in
the WTA Tour rankings on 21st October 2013. In mens singles, top-seeded Richard
Gasquet of France defeated Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the final
of the Kremlin Cup. It was the 10th WTA singles championship for Richard Gasquet.
A.S.S. Siril Verma of India won the boysunder-15 singles crown defeating Gatja Putra
21-11, 21-17 in the final of the Bibli.com Flypower Asia youth badminton
championshipin Kudus, Indonesia, on 13th October.In the boys under-17 doubles final,
the top-seeded Indian pair of M.R. Arjun and Chirag Shetty clinched the title with a 21-
16, 21-15 victory over the pair of Wangcharoen Kantaphon and Narongrit Mek.
World number two Novak Djokovic retained his Shanghai Masters title with a thrilling 6-1
3-6 7-6 (7-3) win over Juan Martin Del Potro of the Argentina.The Shanghai crown is
Djokovics fifth ATP Tour title of the year. The victory also caps a good two weeks in the
country for the six-time major winner, who came into the tournament having beaten
world number one Rafael Nadal to land his fourth China Open title.
Top English club Liverpool launched a residential football academy in Pune on 16
October 2013 in partnership with city-based DSK Shivajians FC. The academy was
named as LFC International Football Academy DSK.It will have a world class residential
complex, full size pitches, practice areas, classrooms, residential, medical facilities,
lecture theatre and canteen. The academy will support young footballers up to the age
of 18. It will provide the players with the opportunity to develop their game in a
professional academy environment. Coaches from Liverpool FC will work on the project
in India and will provide technical expertise to the players and coaches involved in the
Academy. Over time, more full time coaches will come from Liverpool FC to oversee
each age group players at the Academy. This is the first time an English football club
has partnered with an Indian team to help them bring through local talent.
Indias tennis player Rohan Bopanna with French partner Edouard Roger-Vasselin won
the Rakuten Japan Open tennis championship (Mens Doubles) on 6th October 2013 in
Tokyo.They won the cash prize of the US $ 12,97,000. The fourth seeded Indo-French
pair emerged victorious with a 7-6 (5) 6-4 scoreline against the Briton-Australian pair of
Jemie Murray and John Peers in one hour and 17 minutes. Bopanna had won his first
title of the 2013 season in February 2013 when he triumphed at ATP 250 event in
Marseille, France paired with Colin Fleming of Britain.
Afghanistan Cricket team on 4 October 2013 qualified for its maiden ICC World Cup
after defeating Kenya by seven wickets at World Cricket League Championship in
Sharjah. With this win Afghanistan also became the 20th team to gain entry into the
tournament overall.Afghanistan will play its opening match in the ICC Cricket World Cup
2015 against Bangladesh at Manuka Oval, Canberra, on 18 February 2013.In 2010,
Afghanistan qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 West Indies 2010 by winning the ICC
World Twenty20 Qualifier UAE 2010. It then finished second to Ireland in the ICC World
Twenty20 Qualifier UAE 2012, to qualify for the ICC World Twenty20 Sri Lanka
2012.Afghanistan also played in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2010 in New Zealand
and the 2012 edition in Australia.
Sania Mirza of India and Cara Black of Zimbabwe won the Toray Pan Pacific Open
tennis championship womens doubles title by defeating Hao-Ching Chan (Chinese
Taipei) and Liezel Huber (USA) 4-6, 6-0, 11-9 in final at Tokyo on 28 September
2013.The Pan Pacific Open is a WTA Tour affiliated professional tennis tournament for
women, held every year since 1984 in Tokyo, Japan. It is classified on the WTA Tour as
a Tier I tournament since 1993.
Sania Mirza won the China Open tennis championship trophy (womens Doubles) with
Cara Black of Zimbabwe on 5 October 2013 in Beijing.They defeated Vera Dushevina of
Russia and Arantxa Parra Santonja of Spain in straight sets 6-2, 6-2. The Indo-
Zimbabwean pair was eighth seeded. Sania and Cara had won Pan Pacific Open in
Tokyo last week.It is fifth title of the season for Sania Mirza and 19th overall. Sania had
won the New Haven event with Chinese Zheng before she teamed up with Cara.Early in
the season, Sania Mirza won titles in Dubai and Brisbane with American partner
Bethanie-Mattek Sands.
N. Srinivasan was on 29th September 2013 re-elected as the President of the Board of
Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for a third term at its 84th annual general meeting
(AGM) held at Chennai. He was unanimously re-elected as the president of BCCI for
the term of 2013-14. Other office bearers were also elected on the same day. Others
who were elected at the 84th annual general meeting (AGM) included Sanjay Patel
(honorary secretary), Anurag Thakur (Joint Secretary), Anirudh Chaudhry (Hon
Treasurer), S. P. Bansal (Vice-President - North Zone): Rajeev Shukla (Vice-President -
Central Zone) Shivlal Yadav (Vice-President - South Zone), Ravi Savant (Vice-
President - West Zone) and Chitrak Mitra (Vice-President - East Zone).However, N.
Srinivasan will not assume charge of the office immediately because of the directive of
the Supreme Court of India. Other office bearers will assume the charge of the office
with an immediate effect.
Kalapana Devi on 5th October 2013 won bronze medal at the Judo tournament in
Tashkent, Uzbekistan. It was Indias first IJF Grand Prix medal.Competing in 52kg
weight category, Kalpana defeated Zarifa Sultonova of Uzbekistan but lost to Gili Cohen
of Israel. Kalpana, who is with Indo-Tibetan Border Police, had also won a bronze
medal in the Womens World Cup Judo Championships held in September 2010 in
Uzbekistan. India has sent an eight-member team in the IJF Grand Prix Judo
Championships, which will conclude on 7 October 2013.
PERSONS:
Air Marshal Arup Raha --- The Government of India on 29 October 2013 decided to
appoint Air Marshal Arup Raha as the next Chief of the Air Staff.He will take the charge
after the retirement of present Chief of the Air Staff N.A.K. Browne on 31 December
2013. Air Marshal Arup Raha is presently the Vice Chief of Air Staff. Arup Raha was
commissioned into the IAF on 14 December 1974 in the Fighter Stream of the Flying
Branch. During a career spanning over nearly 39 years, he has held various command,
staff and instructional appointments. He has commanded Central Air Command and
Western Air Command. He is one of the Honorary ADCs to the Supreme Commander.
Subhash Goswami-----The director of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police
Academy appointed as the Director General (DG) of Indo-Tibetan Border Police
(ITBP)on 30 October 2013. He will succeed Ajay Chadha, IPS. Subhas Goswami is an
Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre. He served as IGP of
CRPF between February 2001 and February 2008. He was decorated with the Indian
Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2001 and the Presidents Police Medal for
Distinguished Services in 2007.The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is an Indian force
conceived on 24 October 1962 for security along the Indias border with the Tibet
Autonomous Region of China.ITBP is a specialized mountain force.
Srishti Rana---- Srishti Rana of India was crowned Miss Asia Pacific World 2013 in
Busan, South Korea, on 30 October 2013. Srishti Rana, 21, is the second Indian in a
row to win the oldest Miss Asia Pacific World 2013. Earlier, Zeenat Aman (1970), Tara
Anne Fonseca (1973), Dia Mirza (2000) and Himangini Singh Yadu(2012) won Miss
Asia Pacific World titles. She was Finalist of Femina Miss India 2013 on 24 March 2013.
She was also crowned Femina Miss Fashion Icon.
G.K. Pillai --- The former Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai was appointed as the
Chairman of the MCX-SX on 1 November 2013.Thomas Mathew .T, the former acting
chairman of the Life Insurance Corporation has been appointed as the Vice President of
the bourse. The appointments were cleared by the board of directors on 24 October
2013 and have been also cleared by the Securities and Exchange Board of India
(SEBI). In October 2013, SEBI had also renewed the license of the exchange after
extensively exam the same. MCX-SX (MCX Stock Exchange Limited) is a new stock
exchange of India. It is recognized by the Securities and Exchange Board of India under
Section 4 of Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956.MCX-SX became the
recognized stock exchange by the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs on 21 December
2012, under Section 2(39) of the Companies Act, 1956
P.S. Raghvan ---- P.S. Raghvan was appointed as the next Ambassador of India to
Russiaon 28 October 2013. At present, Raghvan, the IFS of 1979 batch is serving as
the current Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). He will succeed Ajai
Malhotra, who will retire on 30 November 2013. Raghvan is expected to join the
assignment shortly.
Vijay Soni (76) ---- Noted painter and theatre personality Vijay Soni passed awayon 27
October 2013 in New Delhi. Vijay Soni travelled for studying the innovative methods of
theatre to America and Europe in 1960s and beginning of 1970s. He came as the face
in the theatre scene during 1970s. He polished his skill as a theatre director while he
was at the Bread and Puppet Theatre, Odin Theatre in Stockholm and the Theatre
Laboratory of Jerzy Grotowski at Wroclaw He was popular with the name Viko.
Manna Dey (94), the legendary singer diedon 23rd October 2013 in Bangalore hospital.
He was treated for respiratory illness died of cardiac arrest. He sang many songs in
different languages like Malayalam, Kannada, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Hindi,
Assamese, Punjabi and Bhojpuri. In 2005 he also received the Padmabhusan Award by
the Government of India. In 2007 he was given the Dadasaheb Phalke Award from
Government of India
Shah Rukh Khan, the star actor of Bollywood, was on 23rd October 2013, appointed as
the goodwill ambassador for South Korea. He was appointed as the public diplomat as
well as an ambassador of Indias soft power. Shah Rukh Khan will visit South Korea
before the maiden visit to the President of South Korea- Park Geun-hye. Shah Rukh
Khan was also invited by the Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on his first visit to
India at the formal dinner with the prime minister. In the year 2008, Shah Rukh Khan
was given the title of Datuk,which is equivalent to the British Knighthood. This title was
given to him by the Governor of Malaysias southern Malacca state, Mohamad Khalil
Yaacob.
Arunendra Kumar -----Arunendra Kumar has been appointed as Chairman, Railway
Board (Ministry of Railways) and ex-officio Principal Secretary to Government of
India.Kumar took charge as Chairman Railway Board on 16th October. Prior to this
Arunendra Kumar had been holding additional charge of Chairman, Railway Board
since 1st July 2013 besides his regular posting as Member (Mechanical) Railway Board
and ex officio Secretary to the Government of India.
Kumar Mangalam Birla---- The Central Bureau of Investigation on 15th October, filed an
FIR naming Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birlaand former Coal
Secretary P.C. Parekh for having allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy to
facilitate the partial allocation of an Odisha coal block to the groups subsidiary Hindalco
Industries about eight years ago. The FIR said the Coal Ministry Screening Committees
recommendation that the block be allocated to public sector units (PSUs) was, in a way,
circumvented to accommodate aluminum major Hindalco. According to the CBI, Mr.
Birla would soon be examined along with the other accused.
Gireesh B. Pradhan---- Union Government of India appointedon 17th October 2013
Gireesh B. Pradhan, former Secretary of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, as the
Chairperson of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC).Gireesh B.
Pradhan , a Maharashtra Cadre IAS officer of the 1977 batch. He retired from the post
of Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in June 2013.Central Electricity
Regulatory Commission is a statutory body functioning under section 76 of the
Electricity Act 2003.It was initially constituted under the Electricity Regulatory
Commissions Act, 1998 on 24 July 1998.
Dr. Ravuri Bharadwaja---- Eminent Telugu writer and Gyanpeeth award recipient, Dr.
Ravuri Bharadwaja passed away in Hyderabadon 18th October 2013. He was 86.
Ravuri Bharadwaja won Gyanpeeth award for the year 2012 for his well known Telugu
novel, Paakudu Raallu, which depicted the real life behind the silver screen of the film
industry. Bharadvaja was born in 1927 and is a Telugu novelist, short-story writer, poet
and critic. He studied only till Class VIII, but his works and write-ups turned up to be a
basis for many research works and are prescribed as text books in universities. He has
written six short novels for children namely Kadambari, Pakudurallu, Jeevana
Samaram, Inupu Tera Venuka and Koumudi these novels have been translated into
several Indian languages as well as English. Earlier he has been awarded with awards
like Sahitya Akademi Award, Soviet Land Nehru Award, Balsahitya Parishad Award,
and Telugu Akademi Award. He was also awarded with an honorary doctorate from
Nagarjuna University.
Syed Ibne Abbas----Government of Pakistan decided on 9th October 2013 to appoint
Pakistani veteran diplomat Syed Ibne Abbas as the new Pakistani envoy to India. He
will succeeded by Salman Bashir. He served as Counsellor (Political) at the Pakistan
High Commission in New Delhi. His appointment comes at a time when tensions along
the LoC have increased. He also served as the Director of Kashmir Affairs at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Arundhati Bhattacharya(57) ---- Arundhati Bhattacharya on 7th October 2013 took over
as the Chairperson of the State Bank of India (SBI).She is the first woman to take
charge as the Chairperson of SBI, the largest bank of India. She succeeded Pratip
Chaudhuri who retired on 30 September 2013.Before being elevated to the post of
Chairperson of SBI, she was the Managing Director and the Chief Financial Officer of
SBI. She is the first woman Chairperson of the State Bank of India, which has the long
history of 206 years. Apart from this, she is the only woman banker on the list of Fortune
500 company giants anywhere in the world.
Justice D. K. Jain---- The President of India has accepted the resignation of Justice D.
K. Jain from the post of Chairperson, Law Commission of India,with effect from the
afternoon of 5th October 2013.Justice D. K. Jain has taken over as the President,
National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission,on the afternoon of 5th October
2013.
Sitaram Sharma---- Sitaram Sharma has been nominated by Govt. of India as Chairman
of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIAS), Kolkata, an
autonomous body under Union Ministry of Culture,for a term of two years. Late Prof. S.
Nurul Hasan, the then Governor of West Bengal was the first Chairman of the Institute,
founded in January 4, 1993. Mr. M.K. Narayanan, Governor of West Bengal is the
President of the MAKAIAS, Society. The Institute is a centre for research on the life,
times and work of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, and the study of social, cultural, political
and economic developments in Asia from the middle of the 19th century. The Maulana
Azad Museum is located in one of the earlier residences of Maulana Azad (at 5 Ashraf
Mistry Lane), where it maintains a museum of memorabilia, photographs and
documentary film.
Lalu Prasad Yadav----Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad was sentenced to five-
year rigorous imprisonment in a corruption caseon 1 October. The sentence
immediately disqualifies him from Parliament and bars him from elections for 11 years,
raising questions over the leadership of his party ahead of Lok Sabha elections due
next year. Special CBI Judge Pravas Kumar Singh sentenced the two-time former Chief
Minister, another former Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra, Jagdish Sharma, JD(U) MP
from Jahanabad, and other convicts, lodged in the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi,
through videoconferencing. Mr. Prasad, 65, who was convicted on September 30 in a
fodder scam case, was also fined Rs. 25 lakh. Like other politicians, he was convicted
under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He claimed he was innocent. Mr. Mishra, 76,
was sentenced to four-year rigorous imprisonment and was asked to pay a fine of Rs. 2
lakh. Mr. Sharma also faces disqualification in the light of a Supreme Court judgment
that an MP or MLA would lose his seat immediately after he was convicted by a court
for crimes with a punishment of two years or more.
Ranjan Mathai--- Former Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai on 20 September 2013 was
appointed as Indias High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. He will succeed noted
economist and veteran diplomat Dr. Jaimini Bhagwati. However, he will take up the
charge of the office later. Ranjan Mathai joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1974 and
has served in Indian embassies in Vienna, Colombo, Washington, Tehran and Brussels.
He played a critical role in the Indo-Bangla Ganges Water Sharing accord during Sheikh
Hasinas first stint as the Prime Minister. Ranjan Mathai served as Foreign Secretary for
a period of two years and handed over the charge to his successor Sujatha Singh in
July 2013.
Ranjib Biswal---- NCA Chairman Ranjib Biswal was on 29 September 2013 appointed
as chairman of the IPL during the Annual General Meeting of the Board of Control for
Cricket in India (BCCI) at Chennai. Prior to this appointment Ranjib Biswal was
manager of the Indian Cricket team during the ICC World Cup 2011 and the ICC
Champions Trophy 2013. He is also the head of Orissa Cricket Association. Ranjib
Biswal was replaced Rajeev Shukla as chairman of Indian Premier League (IPL).Rajiv
Shukla, who resigned at the end of his tenure.Ranjib Biswal was currently National
Cricket Academy (NCA) chairman.
Rahul Dravid---The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 5th September 2013
announced former Indian cricket team captain Rahul Dravid as Brand Ambassador for
its National Tobacco Control Campaign.The national anti-tobacco control campaign has
to continue till it achieves desired results. It shows that India is committed towards
tobacco control. World Health Assembly aims a target of 30 per cent relative reduction
in tobacco use by 2025.