Current Affairs Related Writeups

--------------------------------------------------------------------------Contents
1. International Relations
2. Science and technology
3. economics
4.Admin-all the polity, Admin, Development related items
--------------------------------------------------------------------------International relations
Bali Negotiations
In Bali, Ministers put the world back into the WTO

World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministers in Bali finally adopted the historic five-draft

decision declaration and the 10-document full Bali Package that addresses the Doha
Development Agenda.

Declaration takes care of Indias concerns on food security and trade facilitation
What Doha Development Agenda?
The Doha Development Round or Doha Development Agenda (DDA) is the current
trade-negotiation round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) which commenced in
November 2001.
Its objective is to lower trade barriers around the world, which will help facilitate the increase of
global trade. As of 2008, talks have stalled over a divide on major issues, such as agriculture,
industrial tariffs and non-tariff barriers, services, and trade remedies.

Its a happy coincidence that the Doha Round, the only development agenda, has been
revived and re-energised in Bali and India could play a major role

it will benefit Indias exports and shift the focus away from preferential trade
arrangements.(PTA-A trade pact between countries that reduces tariffs for certain products
to the countries who sign the agreement- Mrunals article it's given in economy section)

Bali outcome showed that the WTO could still deliver and the Doha development round
could move forward.

During the Bali negotiations, Indian industry had backed the Centre, and the
Confederation of Indian Industry termed the pact on food security critical to the success
of the Ministerial.
The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry felt the agreement on food security

would ensure a fair deal to vulnerable sections in developing countries.

The Bali agreement will benefit exporters, said the Engineering Export Promotion

Council.
Farmers Voice:
A farmers organisation, however, said the only possible gain was the peace clause.
All India KisanSabha apprehended a freeze on expansion of food security or price

support to farmers in developing countries and exclusion of pulses, cooking oil and crops
other than those described as traditional staples by the WTO.
Support subsidies for poor farmers across all developing countries get safeguards against
WTO rules after the Bali Ministerial decision.

Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) Signed Between India
and Government of UAE to Boost Investment Flows Between the two Countries

A Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) between the

Government of India and the Government of UAE was formally signed. The Agreement
was signed by Shri NamoNarainMeena, Minister of State (E&FS), on behalf of Government
of India and H.E. Mr. ObaidHumaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs of
UAE on behalf of Government of UAE.
The text of the Agreement, which seeks to promote and protect investments from either
country in the territory of the other country with the ultimate objective of increasing
bilateral investment flow
It is hoped that the Agreement would serve as a catalyst in boosting investment flows
between the two countries.
The trade agreement reached in Bali has provided much-needed oxygen to a moribund
World Trade Organisation.
International Chamber of Commerce has estimated that the Bali deal will cut trade costs
by 10-15 per cent even as it adds an estimated $1 trillion to global trade.
mainly emerging economies such as India, Brazil, South Africa and Russia, realised the
WTO was critical to their interests.

The unyielding stance of India on protecting its farm subsidies which are set to increase
following the enactment of the Food Security Act did cause some disquiet amongst the
member-countries and at one stage seemed set to hold up an eventual agreement.

Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea

What is an ADIZ?

Its a section of international airspace over which a country declares its right to identify
aircraft, ostensibly to protect itself from foreign threat. Its a product of customary
international law but its not jurisdictional.

What happens once an ADIZ is established?

radar to detect
Using radio, it would query those it was concerned about.
If the country was still not sure, it would launch an aircraft to intercept and observe.
The country would not have the authority to do anything else unless it thought the aircraft

was a direct threat to the country.

The country would not have the authority to do anything else unless it thought the aircraft
was a direct threat to the country.

Whats the problem with China declaring an ADIZ?

Well, the problem is that Chinas ADIZ overlaps with the ADIZ that was created by the

U.S. after World War-II and transferred to Japan in 1969.

first time an overlapping ADIZ.
China thinks the ADIZ will strengthen its claim over the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands.
increased risk of either a deliberate or accidental incident involving military aircraft.
The Chinese call the islands Diaoyudao. The Japanese call them Senkaku.
The Diaoyudao islands were considered lost during this period when Japan formally
annexed them in 1895.

So why did China suddenly declare the ADIZ? Is it just about controlling Diaoyu/Senkaku?

Chinese foreign policy decision-making is highly opaque, so all anyone can do is to

speculate and there have been a number of speculative theories.
What does this mean for India?

China is more aggressive in its foreign policy, which does not bode well for its relations
with India. Certainly, Chinas announcement of the ADIZ was unexpected. It was done
without any consultation with Japan and has thus been seen as very disrespectful.
China is engaging in lawfare using international institutions to achieve strategic

goals.
India, currently at least, simply does not factor into Chinas strategic priorities.

Chinas ADIZ: A Case of an Overreach?

When China announced on 23 November 2013 the establishment of an Air Defence

Identification Zone [ADIZ] in the East China Sea area and included the disputed
Diaoyu/Senkaku islands in the zone; it was clear that the main target of this exercise was
Japan.
Since this zone has been established in the air space adjacent to Chinese territorial air

space what is its legitimacy in international law?

Normally under international law, a countrys sovereign airspace extends to the outer

limits of its territorial waters; that is 12 nautical miles from its coastline.
Most countries require all foreign military aircraft to obtain permission to enter their

airspace and reserve the right to take military action

As both China and Japan claim the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea as part

of their territory they also claim sovereign airspace above the islands and over waters
extending 12 nautical miles around them.
According to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea [UNCLOS], each signatory state
can claim an EEZ that gives it special rights to exploit marine resources up to 200
nautical miles from its coastline.
An exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is a seazone prescribed by the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea over which a state has special rights over the
exploration and use of marine resources, including energy production from water and
wind.
When EEZs overlap, states are supposed to negotiate an agreed boundary.
However, some states disagree on whether non-aggressive foreign military operations
such as reconnaissance patrols should be allowed in their EEZ.
Japan has decided to approach the International Civil Aviation Organization [ICAO] will
perhaps be a test case.
The US has taken no position on the merits of the case involving the Sino-Japanese
dispute over the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands;
The US even dispatched unarmed B-52 bombers to fly into the Chinese ADIZ, without
informing the Chinese authorities, to demonstrate its position as a faithful ally in

Japanese eyes. And yet on the other hand keeping in mind the visit of Vice-President
Biden to China, where it needs Chinese help to free a US citizen held by the North
Koreans and to keep in check North Korean nuclear ambitions,
US is no more a reliable security provider.
If this perception persists it would be to the immense strategic advantage of China who
would then emerge as the strongest economic and military power in the region.
The Chinese President, Xi Jinping has been advocating a new relationship with the US
by underlining 3 basic principles. These are
[a] No conflict and no confrontation
[b] Mutual respect and
[c]Win-win co-operation which means that each side abandon a zero sum mentality and
accommodate each-others interests as also deepen shared interests
The last thing that the US wants is a military confrontation between China and Japan over
the insignificant Diaoyu/Senkaku islands.
A militarily rejuvenated Japan is likely to cause immense strategic problems for China;
for which its audacious move in setting up an ADIZ would be largely responsible.

Iran Issue

Iran Nuclear Deal: The Fine Print

The November 24, 2013 Joint Plan of Action between Iran and its P5+1 interlocutors is
the first agreement since November 2004 that contains Irans acceptance of certain shortterm limitations on its nuclear programme.
The first-step agreement is renewable by mutual consent indicating that there is scope
for an extension of the time frame within which elements involved in this agreement
could be accomplished.
Iran has committed to implement over the course of the agreement the following:
1. dilute half of its currently available stockpile of 20 per cent enriched UF6 (196 kgs
according to the November 14, 2013 IAEA report) to no more than 5 per cent while
the remaining half would be retained as stock for fabrication of fuel for the 5MW
Tehran Research Reactor (TRR)
2. not enrich uranium above 5 per cent for the duration of the six months
3. not make further advances of its activities at the Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP)
4. Fordow or the Arak reactor
5. convert to UO2 newly enriched UF6 up to 5 per cent, beginning when the line for
conversion of UF6 enriched up to 5 per cent to UO2 is ready
6. no new locations for enrichment;
7. no reprocessing or construction of facility capable of reprocessing

Iran to continue its safeguarded R&D activities; and enhanced monitoring of its nuclear
activities.
it has committed to provide information on its nuclear plans to the IAEA within three
months of the adoption of these measures
submit an updated Design Information Questionnaire (DIQ) for the Arak reactor,
daily inspector access at Natanz and Fordow for the purpose of access to offline

surveillance records
and managed access to centrifuge assembly workshops and storage facilities.
P5+1 Commitments
In return for Irans actions, the P5+1 have agreed to pause efforts to further reduce Irans

crude oil sales

enabling Irans customers to purchase their current average amounts of crude oil
enable the repatriation of an agreed amount of revenue held abroad
suspend EU and US sanctions on Irans petro-chemical exports and on gold and precious

metals
spare parts for civil aviation
establish a financial channel to facilitate humanitarian trade for Irans domestic needs
using Iranian oil revenues held abroad;
and increase the EU authorisation thresholds for transactions for non-sanctioned trade to
an agreed amount
Comprehensive Solution
Both sides envisage a comprehensive solution to involve the lifting of all UNSC, multi-

lateral, and national nuclear-related sanctions,

involve a mutually-defined enrichment programme with mutually agreed parameters

consistent with practical needs, with agreed limits on scope and level of enrichment
activities;
implement transparency measures including ratify and implement the IAEA Additional
Protocol;
and keeps open the prospect of international civil nuclear cooperation, including
providing modern light water reactors.
The JPOA affirms that following the successful implementation of this comprehensive
solution for its full duration, the Iranian nuclear programme will be treated in the same
manner as that of any non-nuclear weapon state party to the NPT.
Key Negotiating Principle
the point that no single element can be viewed in isolation and that further progress on
the more essential comprehensive solution is contingent on the implementation of

commitments on the varied elements agreed upon in this agreement to mutual

satisfaction.
Prior to the second round of talks at Geneva that began on November 7, Iranian leaders
were insisting that the two red lines for them included no stopping of uranium
enrichment and no transfer of enriched uranium outside the country.
Iran agreeing to halt enrichment above 5 per cent and dilute its current stock of 20 per
cent enriched UF6 is therefore a significant half way compromise.

The Asia Rebalance in disarray

western allies (recollect recent sactions of UN on iran lifted) appeared to revert to a

triumphalist rhetoric that suggested that the crippling sanctions that they imposed were
solely responsible for the turnaround

thanks at all to Tehrans new regime for taking a courageous step towards the negotiating
table.

The States should adopt the Committees formula, which is not only transparent but has
been arrived at after a study of the cost structures of sugarcane farming and sugar mills.

A gesture of good faith towards Tehrans forward-looking re-engagement with the West
on the nuclear crisis, despite Israels sustained, warmongering bluster, might have been for
Mr. Obama to ease up on the oil sanctions, perhaps permit friends of Iran such as India, who
depended significantly on crude imports, to resume limited trading.

White House had determined that there is a sufficient supply of petroleum from
countries other than Iran to permit a significant reduction in the volume purchased from
Iran by or through foreign financial institutions.
What signal does this send to nations such as North Korea, whose resolve the U.S.

and its friends are similarly seeking to neutralise?

Regional powers such as India, who are discomfited by the emerging power vacuum in
Kabul and fear that it may again become a breeding ground for extremism, are resigned to
the reality that America has prioritised rolling back its wars and reviving its economy.
Troubling though the conundrums of Afghanistan and Iran may be, it is the failure of the
Asia Rebalance to prevent the U.S. second-largest trading partner from embarking on
campaigns of expansionist adventurism that truly casts doubt upon the strategy.
the inability of Washington to decisively marshal like-minded regional powers into a
string of partners, if not pearls has already conceded victory in this early round to Asias
hegemon.

Dtente between Tehran and Washington

United States imperialist war against Iran has been averted by the Joint Plan of Action,
agreed to in Geneva on 24 November by the P-5 + 1 (the US, the United Kingdom,
France, Russia and China, plus Germany) and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The two sides, the Islamic Republic and the US establishment, are getting all the
attention, but what about the people of Iran? Should we not look at the situation from
their point of view?
What was agreed upon in Geneva last month is an interim deal, covering the next six
months, leading to a long-term comprehensive agreement,
only after which the remaining (the bulk of) sanctions on Tehran are to be lifted.
But from what has already been agreed, Irans nuclear programme has been frozen for
now, and the International Atomic Energy Agency has been allowed to conduct its
intrusive inspections.
The bulk of the sanctions, however, remain in place, sanctions that have led to a drastic
fall in Irans oil imports and deprived the country of access to the international financial
system,
nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. Iran now cannot enrich uranium beyond
the 5% limit required to fuel its nuclear power reactors; so enrichment to weapons grade
uranium is out of the question.
Western imperialist, especially US, confrontation with the Islamic Republic of Iran has
been on ever since the Iranian Revolution of 1979.
So, to reduce the current conflict to just two sides Western, mainly US, imperialism and
the Islamic Republic is erroneous.
There is a third side the people of Iran, and one needs to look at the situation from their
point of view too, and also from the side of the people of west Asia.
The dtente between Washington and Tehran, if it comes through in the form of the
long-term comprehensive agreement,
Of course, it will also, de facto, guarantee that there will be no regime change, imposed
by the Western imperialist powers, in Iran.
Indeed, if rapprochement with Washington does come about, then, the Islamic Republic
will get imperialist recognition as a regional power in west Asia
it will likelyplay a key role in the Geneva-II talks to resolve the Syrian crisis, and, the
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani may be asked to rein in Hezbollah in Lebanon and
Hamas in Palestine, even help broker a settlement with the Taliban in Afghanistan, and
with the Shia political parties in Iraq.
Will the world be witnessing a return to a neocolonialism in Iran?

For the people of Iran, with the grim prospect of imperialist military intervention having
receded, the opportunity to emulate the previous generation in the fight to establish a
democratic system, win a whole set of rights and freedoms, opens up a lot wider.

Iran backs deep-sea gas pipeline to India

Indias South Asia Gas Enterprise Pvt. Ltd. (SAGE) had conducted feasibility studies for
the multi-billion-dollar undersea pipeline, which could carry gas from Irans giant South
Pars gas field to Indias west coast.
Irans interest in the India-centric project coincides with the cancellation of its $500million loan to Pakistan to build part of a pipeline to funnel natural gas.
Iran is focusing on exporting natural gas to India along a deep-sea route
the move coinciding with the cancellation of a loan to Islamabad to build the Pakistani
section of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and the signing of the Geneva nuclear accord that
could help relax sanctions against Tehran.

Foreign Labourers nightmares

Woes of migrant labour

Qatar right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Qatars labour laws by private contractors. Migrant workers from Nepal, India,
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are at the mercy of their Qatari employers,
Qatars sponsorship law designates private contractors as the custodians of their
employees travel documents until they are issued a valid residence permit.
Many migrant labourers are yet to receive their passports back.
access to justice for foreign labourers remains elusive.
economic growth does not ride on the inhuman treatment of migrants.
India should consider its migrant workforce in West Asia as an asset rather than as a
vulnerable constituency.

Afghanistan Issue
The Kabul test

Karzai's reluctance to sign the bilateral security agreement that defines the terms and
conditions for the residual military presence in Afghanistan after 2014.

Karzai is putting greater weight on military cooperation with India, not as an alternative
to that with the US, but as an important part of his strategy to diversify Kabul's defence
relationships after 2014.
India is committed, under the strategic partnership agreement signed with Afghanistan in

2011, to extend military assistance to Kabul.

That commitment is now under test as Karzai seeks expansive defence engagement with

India,including the supply of heavy equipment.

Delhi can't ignore the dangers that will flow from the Pakistan army's likely advances in

Afghanistan after 2014.

The answer for Delhi lies in extending strong military support for Kabul and

complementing it with an expanded political engagement with Pakistan's civilian leaders.

India's Af-Pak strategy must walk on two legs, but walk it must.

Indias Afghan muddle

If New Delhi is serious about its concerns over rapid western withdrawal from

Afghanistan, it should along with other governments form a multinational joint working
group to assess the points of vulnerability for Afghan forces
Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) are being left ill-equipped to fight insurgent
and terrorist threats that remain entrenched in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border areas.
Today, India is in a strong position to shape each of these factors to its advantage, but its
policies are marked by indecision and confusion.
western forces do not intend to withdraw from Afghanistan next year. Kabul and
Washington have agreed on the text of a Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA), which would
allow a force of 8,000 to 10,000 troops to remain in Afghanistan beyond 2014 for training
purposes and limited counterterrorism missions, albeit under strict conditions.
This would also put at risk the many billions of dollars of American aid that will flow to
Kabul for several years after 2014. Without this money, the survival of Afghan security
forces and the Afghan state itself is in question.
India first indicated that it wanted the BSA to reflect the concerns of India as well as

Iran.
consider the question of Indias military support to Afghanistan. India certainly hasnt

been entirely passive here.

It is intensifying its valuable efforts to train Afghan army officers in Indian

establishments, and will soon be training over 1,000 annually.

Indian officials privately criticise western powers for failing to arm the Afghans more

heavily,
but India vacillates over doing so itself.

India publicly insists that it has confidence in Afghan security forces, but then intimates
that their potential dissolution is a reason to avoid shoring them up.
the provision of heavy weaponry might provoke Pakistan into intensifying support for
anti-Indian groups in Afghanistan.
These concerns are legitimate, but India cannot hope to free ride on western efforts
while complaining incessantly about how western policy is leaving threats to India
unaddressed.
If India is serious about its concerns over rapid western withdrawal and Afghan

weakness, it should get serious itself.

New Delhi, Kabul, Washington, London and other governments with an important role in

the security sector of post-2014 Afghanistan should form a multinational joint working
group to assess the points of vulnerability for Afghan forces.
In turn, trainers from NATO countries, with over a decade of combat experience in
Afghanistan, could also be placed in Indian institutions that host Afghan officers.
India wants western troops to stay, but wont expend the diplomatic capital required to
push Mr. Karzai to sign the BSA.
India wants Afghan forces to be better armed, but shies away from taking on the talks
itself.
India opposes the speed and scope of the nascent American talks with the Taliban, but is
bereft of ways to shape this process.
If India doesnt like the way its going, it must decide whether to step up to the plate, with
all the attendant risks, or keep shouting from the sidelines.

US Rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific: Implications for West Asia

During the Cold War, the United States was completely focussed on the Soviet Union and
constantly striving to contain and if possible, to roll back - the Soviet presence from the
Third World.
The best and the brightest in the American academia studied the Soviet Union and the
Kremlinologists occupied the best births among policy wonks.
emergence of independent states in Central Asia and the Caucasus received its share of
international attention.
The US interest in the large quantities of oil and gas and US concerns over nuclear
proliferation and re-emergence of Islam dominated its foreign policy calculus.
West Asia acquired the status of the most crucial region.
After the nine-eleven, the Global War on Terrorism led the US into long-drawn-out
wars on Afghanistan and Iraq.

In 2011, the Obama administration made a series of pronouncements on a pivot to AsiaPacific, identifying it as a priority region.

The US would deploy greater naval assets, create new military capabilities and prepare to
engage in a newly formulated Air Sea Battle in the region.

A Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP) between the US and some twelve states in the region
would create a free trade area.

Consequently, the attitude to China has moved from tacit confrontation to cautious
accommodation.

The twenty-first century is widely expected to be the Asian Century.

The economic growth in Asia is expected to outpace the West by a wide margin.

The legal and political status of Taiwan is fraught with the potential of conflict. A defiant
North Korea has acquired nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

South China Sea has become a jumble of contesting territorial claims by China, Taiwan,
Vietnam, Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The islands in the East China Sea are disputed among China, Japan, South Korea and
Taiwan.

The recent Chinese announcement of an Air Defence Identification Zone over the East
China Sea and the unhindered exploratory flights of two American B-52 bombers right
through it may yet lead to an ugly situation in future.
a number of urgent challenges remain, including the Syrian civil war, the ongoing

struggle with the Taliban and al-Qaeda, and Irans nuclear programme would
undermine the US interests and needlessly antagonise China.
The US forces have withdrawn from Iraq and are in the process of withdrawing from
Afghanistan.
The US chose to lead from behind on the Libyan Spring.
It refused to accept the French-Turkish proposal to set up a No Fly Zone in Syria and

opted to work through the Friends of Syria instead.

There are two factors that have facilitated the direction of perceptible US retreat from

West Asia.
a. One, the production of shale oil and gas has largely diminished US dependence
on the imported energy from West Asia.
b. Two, the US economic turndown has put severe limitations on its power
projection worldwide.
The US federal government shutdown for over two weeks over budget allocations has

rung alarm bells worldwide

The fact that President Obama had to call off his week-long visit to Asia to attend the
APEC and ASEAN summits has raised serious questions regarding the US security
assurances and economic contribution to Asia-Pacific as also to West Asia.
Asia-Pacific is bound to remain at the top of the US foreign policy agenda till the

international situation warrants a relook.

In coming years, the US global posture may set less ambitious goals and allocate fewer
resources to pursue them.

Indian Issue
Is It Time to Withdraw the Army from Kashmir

A study of insurgencies reveals that security forces tend to lose the support of
intelligentsia and media, as the movement tends to prolong.
It is often a result of either low levels of violence or casualties, beginning of an electoral
process and the re-establishment of local administration machinery
army vetoing government proposals on Siachen troops withdrawal and dilution of Armed
Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
if Hizb or Lashkar thugs again surface some place, you can easily confront them with
overwhelming force within minutes.
need to build upon the peace dividend
The assertion that the army can veto a government proposal on issues like Siachen or
AFSPA, is either a case of misunderstanding of constitutional powers and privileges, or an
under estimation of parliamentary democracy.
Therefore, while the advice of the army on both issues is in public domain to deduce that
this advice functions as a veto, is a gross overestimation of the powers and influence of the
men in uniform.
2013 witnessed the highest ceasefire violations in eight years.
sharp increase in security force casualties
This was also accompanied by higher numbers of successful infiltration,
the Af-Pak region suggest that the de-induction of US led forces from Afghanistan in
2014, is likely to become a tipping point for Pakistan to re-establish its control by proxy in
that country.
the end of war in Afghanistan is definitely likely to result in release of Pakistani forces
deployed in the region and their re-deployment along traditional areas of the border with
India

Both these factors will strengthen Pakistans ability to heighten tensions along the Line of
Control (LoC),
The final assertion deals with the ability to redeploy in case of an adverse situation in a
matter of minutes.
It needs to be understood that the mere deployment of a force is not a guarantee for its
immediate effectiveness.
Unlike flag marches in aid to civil authorities, deployment in terrorist infected areas
requires the buildup of operational and intelligence network by units, which takes months if
not years of diligent effort along with the conditions both on the LoC and inside the state,
before a decision on the issue is taken.

India in a tough neighbourhood

Indias approach in crafting a good neighbour policy with its South Asian sisters comes

from the strategic calculation that our security does not exist in a vacuum
For India, the perils of proximity have only grown.
This does not mean we turn our back on the world or our neighbours.
Rather, we must grow our comprehensive national strength in the economic, scientific,

technological, military and communication fields, in order to craft astute responses to the
challenges.
By virtue of geography, territorial size, economic heft, extent of development, military
capability and, the size of our population, India has a preponderant and central presence in
South Asia.
None of our neighbours (except Afghanistan vis-a-vis Pakistan and vice versa) can

interact with the other without traversing Indian territory, land, sea or airspace.
India and its neighbours in South Asia are integrally bound by ties of ethnicity, language,

culture, kinship and common historical experience.

The Himalayas and the Indian Ocean are the physical boundaries for India, and equally

for South Asia, as a region. India exists as the hub for South Asia.
There is merit in the reasoning that India should concern itself with the nature of any

external influence or presence within the confines of South Asia since threats to its national
security can emanate from the working of such influences.
Our neighbourhood will remain tough as long as our neighbours harbour tendencies and
foster elements that see the targeting of India as adding incrementally to their (false) sense
of security and well-being.
This is a calculus that is self-destructive as the growing tide of domestic terrorism and
insurgency in Pakistan created out of a sustained fostering of terror groups by some sections
of the establishment would indicate.

. The incursions and military provocations from across the Line of Control are another
manifestation of this calculus.
We are yet to see any realisation in Pakistan that pointing the gun at India in Afghanistan
through terror groups and their affiliates who wage a proxy war can never bring peace to the
Afghan people.
Neither will treating Afghanistan as an instrument to build strategic depth against India

help Pakistan.
India has always stated its intention to continue to invest and to endure in Afghanistan

because the Afghans need us and we will not abandon them.

The rising tide of democracy in Pakistan, we hope, can alter the trajectory of mayhem

and violence that emanates from its soil

It makes sense for India to substantively develop its partnership with the U.S. and

demonstrate strategic foresight to plan and provide for this relationship.

As 2014 approaches, and the U.S. and its allied forces prepare to draw down (and

possibly withdraw totally) from Afghanistan, strategic planners have to assess the options
available to India.
India must not hesitate to work to strengthen the international and regional coalition for
Afghanistan, and ensure that a democratically elected government is not left to fight the
forces of medieval extremism and radicalism on its own.

Balance of interests

Indias northeastern States would be benefited by smoother access through Bangladesh to

the rest of India.

In the case of Bangladesh we need to develop a whole of government approach that

enables a concerted approach of consultation involving all the States that border that
country so that a critical balance of interests is evolved without sacrificing national interest.

The welfare of Nepalis should be at the core of Indias relationship with Nepal and the

strengthening of mutual trust and strategic reassurance that Nepal can always count on
Indian support and friendship is essential.
Any use of Nepali territory by alien, adversarial forces to threaten and weaken Indias
security concerns us.
we can well afford to be more generous with meeting the needs of neighbours like Nepal
and Bangladesh in order to cement trust and confidence and also to safeguard our national
security.
Myanmar is our land gateway to Southeast Asia. Its northern part defines the landscape of
the India-China-Myanmar triangle.

Security cooperation with Myanmar to counter insurgencies in our northeast is vital as

also the fast-tracking of road and multimodal transportation projects to build connectivity
Anti Rohingya violence in Myanmar has had its reverberations in India, and bears close
monitoring.
For Sri Lanka, India is the only near neighbour.
The unfolding scenario of ethnic conflict and civil war spelt disaster for all communities

in Sri Lanka, with nobody more affected than the Tamil population of the North and East.
The repercussions for India in terms of the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi were tragic.
The end of the civil war is a historic opportunity for reconciliation and the healing of
wounds of a bitter divide that pitted one Sri Lankan against another.
it is in the interest of both of us neighbours, that the pride and self-esteem, the selfrespect of the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka is not eroded,
they are treated with magnanimity and that they are able to contribute their talents, their
knowledge, and their effort for the progress of Sri Lanka.
India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives have institutionalised their cooperation on maritime
security issues.
This is a constructive development that creates a progressive template for security in our
region.
China is our largest neighbour. The challenge is to manage our relationship with China
despite inherent complexities and embed it in the matrix of dialogue and diplomacy.
The China factor has understandably influenced our security calculus. It subsumes
bilateral issues and Chinas regional profile and military capabilities.
The dispute over territory, in our language the boundary question, has existed for over 50
years.
to promote and sustain mechanisms to maintain peace and tranquillity.
West Asia is vital for India, from the point of view of fighting terrorism, the welfare of

the 6.5 million Indians who live there, energy security and fighting piracy.
We have been active in supporting dialogue processes in the region, whether it is on the

Palestinian question, or seeking a way out of the nuclear conundrum surrounding Iran.
New contours
Differing challenges require a mix of approaches to address them
a firm and clear strategic calculation that ensures the uncompromising defence of our

security interests,
the pursuit of foreign policy goals that stress dialogue and negotiation to achieve

solutions to long-standing problems, and do not forego the people-centred dimension that is
an essential ingredient of all viable diplomatic relationships.

The future has promise, but to embrace it, we must ensure an objective, clear headed
understanding of the present and its possibilities.

Cabinet nod for FTA in trade and services with Asean

approved a free trade agreement (FTA) in trade and services with the Association of

Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

The Agreement on Trade in Services and Agreement is to be signed under the

Comprehensive Economic Cooperation (CECA) between India and the Asean.

The CECA between India and Asean was signed in 2003. The Cabinet approved the

Agreement on Trade Goods under the CECA with the Asean in July 2009.
aimed at boosting the movement of Indian professionals in the 10-nation Asean. Member

countries include countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

protect, promote and increase foreign investment flows into the country and also removes
and barriers, said the sources.

International Laws related

International law only for weaker states?

November 23 this year of an air defence identification zone (ADIZ) extending to

territories it does not control and Americas arrest,
Americas arrest, strip search and handcuffing of a New York-based Indian woman
diplomat on December 12 for allegedly underpaying a domestic help she had brought with
her from India
In truth, these actions epitomise the unilateralist approach of these powers.
A just, rules-based international order has long been touted by powerful states as essential
for international peace and security.
reinterpreting or making new multilateral rules to further their geopolitical and economic
interests.
The League of Nations failed because it could not punish or deter some powers from
flouting international law
Today, the United States and China serve as prime examples of a unilateralist approach to
international relations,
Disregarding global treaties
Take the U.S. Its refusal to join a host of critical international treaties from the 1982
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1997 U.N.

Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses, to the

1998 International Criminal Court Statute has set a bad precedent.
Add to this its international invasions in various forms, including cyber warfare and
mass surveillance, drone attacks and regime change.
Unilateralism has remained the leitmotif of U.S. foreign policy
U.S. militarily intervened in Libya and effected a regime change in 2011 an action that

has boomeranged, sowing chaos and turning that country into a breeding ground for alQaeda-linked, transnational militants, some of whom assassinated the American ambassador
there.
Carrying out foreign military interventions by cobbling coalitions together under the

watchword youre either with us or against us has exacted as Iraq and Afghanistan
show a staggering cost in blood and treasure without advancing U.S. interests in a
tangible or sustainable manner.
Chinas growing geopolitical heft has emboldened its muscle-flexing and territorial

nibbling in Asia in disregard of international norms.

China rejects some of the very treaties that the U.S. has declined to join, including
the International Criminal Court Statute and the Convention on the Law of the NonNavigational Uses of International Watercourses the first ever law that lays down rules
on the shared resources of transnational rivers, lakes and aquifers.
Yet, the worlds most powerful democracy and autocracy have much in common on how

they approach international law.

The only major country that has still not ratified UNCLOS is the U.S., preferring to

reserve the right to act unilaterally.

Nonetheless, it seeks to draw benefits from this convention, including freedom of

navigation of the seas.

China still appears to hew to Mao Zedongs belief that power grows out of the barrel of

a gun. So, it will not consider international adjudication to resolve its territorial claims in,
say, the South China Sea, more than 80 per cent of which it now claims arbitrarily.
Indeed, it ratified UNCLOS only to reinterpret its provisions and unveil a nine-dashed
claim line in the South China Sea and draw enclosing baselines around the Japanesecontrolled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
Worse still, China has refused to accept the UNCLOS dispute-settlement mechanism so

as to remain unfettered in altering facts on the ground.

The Philippines, which has since 2012 lost effective control to a creeping China, of first

the Scarborough Shoal and then the Second Thomas Shoal, has filed a complaint against
Beijing with the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

Beijing, however, has simply refused to participate in the proceedings, as if it were above
international law.
Beijings new air defence zone, while aimed at solidifying its claims to territories held by
Japan and South Korea, is provocative because it extends to areas China does not control,
setting a dangerous precedent in international relations.
China and Japan, and China and South Korea, now have duelling ADIZs, increasing the
risks of armed conflict, especially between Japan and China, in an atmosphere of nationalist
grandstanding over conflicting claims.
Before every country asserts the right to establish an ADIZ with its own standards,
binding multilateral rules must be created to ensure the safety of commercial air traffic. But
who will take the lead the two countries that have pursued a unilateralist approach on
this issue, the U.S. and China?
Despite a widely held belief that the present international system is pivoted on rules, the
fact is that major powers as in history are rule makers and rule imposers, not rule
takers.
They have a propensity to violate or manipulate international law when it is in their
interest to do so.

BCIM corridor key to development of border regions

India's development initiatives in the Mekong region and China's growing presence in
South Asia are now converging in the BCIM (Bangla, china India Myanmar) region.
The ideas driving the BCIM economic corridor project are a combination of domestic and
external interests of both New Delhi and Beijing, notwithstanding the security reservations
in some quarters of the Indian establishment.
The past decades have witnessed phenomenal economic growth in both India and China.
A major challenge has been to address the economic imbalance between the coastal
developed regions and the underdeveloped frontier regions.
Since the launching of the "Gateway Strategy" in 2009, Yunnan has been made the
gateway to Southeast and South Asia with several networks of road, rail, and air
connectivity being planned to connect Yunnan with the neighboring countries.
An important part of the strategy is to revive the ancient "Southern Silk Road," believed

to have connected China with India

Within the renewed China's "Going Out" policy, Yunnan's geographical location that

shares common borders with Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam is seen as the gateway.
Similarly, India's landlocked Northeast region has lagged behind compared to other parts

of the country.

the Northeast region shares common borders with Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and
China, making it the bridge between India and its eastern neighbors.
The border regions of the BCIM countries have a complex development-security nexus.
The BCIM region has a geographical advantage of connecting South, Southeast and East
Asia. This subregion is viewed as having the potential to promote the economic integration
of Asia.
China's rethink of its "Going Out" policy in the region, particularly, after its experiences
in Myanmar, is critical for the BCIM project.
An engagement policy that is guided by respect and sensitivity to culture and the
environmental concerns of local people is key for the success of "win-win cooperation" in
these border regions of BCIM countries, which are rich in biodiversity and ethnically
diverse people.
he BCIM economic corridor has the potential of transforming a conflict zone into a
cooperation zone.

BCIM corridor gets push after first official-level talks in China

Four nations have for the first time drawn up a specific timetable on taking forward plan
emphasising the need to quickly improve physical connectivity in the region, over two
days of talks in the south-western Chinese city of Kunming the provincial capital of
Yunnan, which borders Myanmar
The corridor, it was agreed, will run from Kunming to Kolkata, linking Mandalay in

Myanmar as well as Dhaka and Chittagong in Bangladesh.

The plan would advance multi-modal connectivity,

complementarities, promote investment and trade and facilitate people-to-people contacts,

Officials acknowledged that security concerns in parts of Myanmar were one likely

harness

the

economic

obstacle, although representatives from the country also expressed optimism that this issue
would, in time, be overcome.

Science and technology

India to push for freeing Internet from U.S. control

India has decided to challenge the U.S. governments control over the Internet
India will also push for storing all Internet data within the country, besides ensuring
control and management of servers.
In view of its growing cyber security concerns

Similarly, all traffic originating/landing in India should be stored in India,

Notably, the key function of domain name system (DNS) management today is in the

hands of the U.S. National Telecommunication and Information Administration and the
Department of Commerce.
India managed to get root servers installed in the country,

MERS-CoV virus has been identified in Qatari farm camels

Camels are catching a virus that has been sickening people in the Middle East, according
to research just published.
But the study has been unable to establish whether such animals could be a source of
human infections.
The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first reported just
over a year back.
Since then, the World Health Organisation has been informed about 165 laboratoryconfirmed cases of people infected by the virus, over 40 per cent of whom died.
Although antibodies to MERS-CoV had not been found in animals other than camels,
they should not be ruled out as potential hosts for the virus at this stage
The receptor molecule that the virus used to infect cells was found in goats and sheep,
among other animals, she noted in an email.

Potential malaria vaccine discovered

Researchers have discovered a key process during the invasion of the blood cell by the
Malaria parasite, and have found a way to block this invasion.

With this new knowledge, the scientists from Singapores Nanyang Technological
University (NTU) are looking to collaborate with the industry on a vaccine against malaria
which can be developed within the next five years if accelerated by vaccine development
companies.
Mass spectrometry: the most important analytical tool of modern times

With it, it is possible to measure the mass spectrum of complex proteins, extremely

fragile molecular assemblies and even intact cells

Mass spectrometry (MS), arguably the most important analytical spectroscopic tool of
modern times, is in its centenary year in 2013 along with two other celebrated discoveries of

science, the Bohr atom model and the chemical bond of G. N. Lewis; both have profound
connections to the first.
The technique is used to explore the chemical constitution of molecules from this planet
and beyond, e.g. the hydrocarbon seas of Saturns moon Titan.
It is used to understand the fundamental atomic and molecular processes and at the same
time those of immediate relevance to events within cells. As a technique, it helps to control
processes in chemical and biological industries, diagnose diseases, discover new drugs,
protect the environment and explore mysteries of nature.
In 100 years, it has been used to separate much of the uranium 235 used to make the
Little Boy (the bomb that was dropped onto Hiroshima in 1945), led to understanding of
thousands of chemical reactions, to the discovery of new molecules, to the resolution of
protein structures, to solve crimes and to provide answers to complex questions of nature.
In each of these areas (forming ions, analysing their mass, detecting them) innovations
have led to multiple mass spectrometric techniques.
The most important developments have happened in ion formation. Years ago, it was
necessary to evaporate a sample to generate vapours and bombard these with a stream of
electrons in order to make ions, a process which required vacuum.
It is possible to understand the spectrum of molecules from the surface of a rose while the

plant is alive. Mass spectra of molecules metabolites or drugs or cancer markers can
be measured on a patients skin or in his/her blood.
Mass spectrometers may soon arrive in physicians consulting rooms.
It has been demonstrated that they can help in diagnosis during complex surgeries within

the operating theatre.

it is surprising that mass spectrometry is being removed gradually from our science

curriculum. Mass spectrometry concerns ion chemistry and physics with an emphasis on
scientific instrumentation.
The Nobel committee over many years has demonstrated its appreciation for scientific
instrumentation; this is a lesson we in India cannot afford to discard.

The green network

Environment Monitoring Forum (EMF)

TARGET: To address social issues that concern the environment at the regional level and
to learn to live in harmony with nature
ACTIVITIES: The Environment Monitoring Forum has always articulated that
development should be streamlined with a steady focus on sustainability.

IMPACT: Through several of its initiatives, the Environment Monitoring Forum could
bring about better awareness on ecology related issues at the regional level.
Greenhouse gas emissions will dry up water resources, warns UN panel
A leaked final draft of the UN scientific panel on climate change report has warned of the

risks that the world faces from climate change impacts if the greenhouse gas emissions are
not curtailed and countries do not adapt quickly enough.
The lack of adaptation efforts in developing countries has lead to significant vulnerability
and exposure from extreme climatic events, such as heat waves, droughts, floods and
wildfires, the report notes.
For agriculture dependent countries such as India, the report warns of ominous changes in

crop yields.
With or without adaptation, climate change will reduce median yields by 0-0.2% per

decade for the rest of the century, as compared to baseline without climate change.
This would happen against a surging 14% increase in demand of food crops every decade

till 2050.
These are extracted from the Chapter on Asia in the main report. The summary says the

key risk to Asia arises from increased flooding leading to widespread damage to
infrastructure and settlements,
heat-related mortality and increased risk of drought-related water and food shortages
causing malnutrition.
The scientific panel also draws from another future report on mitigation to warn that
emissions are rising so fast and unchecked that scenarios, which are more likely than not,
to limit temperature increase to 2 C are becoming increasingly challenging,
and most of these include a temporary overshoot of this concentration goal.
This emission growth was not met by significant greenhouse gas emission cuts in the
industrialized country group, which continued to dominate historical long-term
contributions to global carbon dioxide emissions.
In 2010, median per capita greenhouse gas emissions in high income countries were

roughly ten times higher than in low-income countries.

In 2010, median per capita greenhouse gas emissions in high income countries were

roughly ten times higher than in low-income countries.

Economics
Bitcoin puzzle might prompt advisory from Indian regulators

As regulatory glare increases on Bitcoin globally and its exchange rates become
extremely volatile,
Indian authorities may soon issue a public advisory to warn against potential risks
associated with this new digital currency concept.
While US has declared that all prevailing money laundering laws would apply to bitcoins,
China has asked its banks and other financial institutions not to deal in bitcoins and the

public has been asked to do so at their own risk.

Besides, France last week warned its banks about risks related to bitcoins.
At the same time, the experts are also raising concerns about cyber security issues,
"The concept of a digital currency, unregulated by any monetary authority, is a recipe for

disaster. The RBI must step in and regulate this immediately.

So, Bitcoin can very well be used to finance terror."

Are Indian NBFCs Shadow Banks? Do They Pose Systemic Risks?

What Is Shadow Banking?

shadow banks as the whole alphabet soup of levered up non-bank investment conduits,
vehicles, and structures.
According to Acharya et al (2013), some of the key points that have emerged are:
(a) A shadow banking system conducts maturity, credit and liquidity transformation outside the
traditional banking system (Pozsar et al 2010):
Thus, not only is shadow banking usually (but not always) less regulated than the traditional
banking system (Acharya and nc 2010), there is also no explicit access to central bank
liquidity or public sector credit guarantees
(b) A shadow banking system decomposes the process of credit intermediation into a sequence of
discrete operations
Therefore, it can be a collection not only of single financial entities acting independently, but
also of (and usually is) networks of multiple financial entities acting together: banks, formal and
informal non-bank financial institutions, and even credit rating agencies, regulators and
governments

The shadow banking system can broadly be described as credit intermediation

involving entities and activities (fully or partially) outside the regular banking system.

In this broad definition, not only almost anything outside the regular banking system
qualifies as shadow banking,

but the regular banking system is also excluded, which is a problem because even regular
banks can get involved in shadow banking activities

In this broad definition, not only almost anything outside the regular banking system
qualifies as shadow banking, but the regular banking system is also excluded,
which is a problem because even regular banks can get involved in shadow banking
activities
In this broad definition, not only almost anything outside the regular banking system
qualifies as shadow banking, but the regular banking system is also excluded, which is a
problem because even regular banks can get involved in shadow banking activities
above definitions are based on the experiences in the US and EU.

Indian NBFCs

Adopting the FSBs broad definition, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) the regulator of

the Indian NBFCs

considers the NBFCs as quintessentially epitomising the shadow banking system as

they perform bank like credit intermediation outside the purview of banking regulation in
India
To sum up, there is no definite answer to the question of whether the Indian NBFCs are
shadow banks or not, because if we adopt the FSBs (2011) broad definition,
A better question can be whether or not Indian NBFCs can create systemic risks.
Put differently, it may be better if we are concerned with the systemic risks the Indian
NBFCs might create. (This does not mean that other Indian financial institutions such as
commercial banks cannot create systemic risks.)
An ongoing debate in India is whether or not Indian non-banking fi nancial companies
(NBFCs) are shadow banks.

RBI RELATED
A course correction?

The new understanding is that to spur growth, private investment has to be supported
The Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) decision to hold the policy rates in its mid-quarter
policy review
current inflation is too high how it will move in the short term is uncertain.
So the call is to act when the inflation trend is better understood.
Latest available official data shows food inflation was growing at 19.93 per cent in
wholesale prices and 14.72 per cent in retail prices in November.

RBI data shows vegetable prices are climbing down.

As the economy is weak, said Dr. Rajan, the RBI resisted monetary policy overreaction

at this stage
Indias economic growth mid-90s onwards was led by private investment and not

government spending-led pump priming.

The best way to support or boost growth in the Indian economy is going to be facilitation

and incentivisation of private investment.

the government has said it is pressing in spending cuts, including in the social sector, to

keep its fiscal deficit within the committed target.

These cuts will reduce inflation more effectively as social sector spending puts money in

the hands of people who are completely out of the transmission channels of the monetary
authority.
The RBIs interest rate hikes so far have been blunt on food inflation though
manufacturing inflation is down drastically.
In fact, RBIs inflation fight has reduced demand for manufacturing products, pushing the
factory output growth into negative territory.
Inflation, Dr. Rajan is expecting, will get contained by factors such as the negative output
gap, the services growth slowdown, the lagged effect of the RBIs June policy action, the
disinflationary impact of the exchange rate stability and, in some measure, the governments
spending cuts.
The RBI has long maintained that monetary policy is blunt on food inflation.

Admin-all the polity, Admin, Development related items

North-East (NE) India represents a mosaic of diverse geographical features inhabited by
different peoples with distinct ethnic markers.

1894.1 It was considered as merely a peripheral space perceived as inhabited by poorly

administered and unadministeredtribals with distinct ethnic and cultural markers.

The terminology NE got a boost in post-Independence India when Prime Minister

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru created the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA)
Koms success catapulted the NE story into the spotlight of the country. Her achievement
not only generated solidarity and pride among the people of the region, it also awakened
many Indians to the region.
A conflict between the Bodo community and the perceived illegal immigrants took a

different turn with the problem snowballing into an issue between the NE people and other
Indians
serious administrative mishandling and totally misconceived notions about the
complexities of the region by the Indian state
It is a region where the people repeatedly challenge the Indian nation-building process
based on the one nation theory.
some consider the NE as a coinage that explains the relation of unequal power and
politics between the centre and the perceived periphery.
New Delhi deals with the local regimes of corruption and repression.
New Delhi tolerates and even supports localised autocracy as a means to manage security

threats (Lacina 2009). E

The assertion of ethnic identities and movements is not confined to the larger

communities or nationalities;
many of the smaller communities in the region are also asserting and articulating their

rights, interests and identities

voices that hardly reach the corridors of Delhi.

silently bear the ill-treatment or indifferent attitude meted out to them

The politics of tussle between the peripheral voices and the locally dominant centre

Indigenous tribal elites in the hills of Manipur were sensitive to their relatively vulnerable
status

The media too played a crucial role in shaping the image of the region,
Notes
1 The region acquired the name the North-East Frontier Tract (NEFT) in 1914, after the Assam
province became a separate unit directly administered by a governor general. The NEFT later
became a part of Assam, after Indias Independence in 1947.
2 NEFA, created during the interim period was a centrally-controlled administrative unit under
the then governor of Assam. On 21 January 1972, NEFA became the Union Territory of
Arunachal Pradesh, and ultimately a state (present-day Arunachal Pradesh) of the Indian Union.
3 North-Eastern Hill University, a central university was set up for the whole region with the
primary objectives of benefiting the indigenous tribals of the region.

Poverty Related

Tendulkar committee based its definition on purchasing power parity.

A survey among the Indian or global poor on what poverty is would lead to a definition

widely divergent from that of governments and economists.

A poorly-created poverty measurement index easily misrepresents and often reduces the

poverty in a society. In doing so, it decreases the responsibility of the privileged and the
powerful to improve the condition of the less privileged.
In the long-term, such discourses fracture societies, eventually leading to unrest,
inequality, internalised dissatisfaction and eventual conflict.
The point to consider, then, is who should define poverty and why the poor should not

lead this process?

Poverty, as defined by the poor, must converge at some point with the states definition.
Why?
Because if our definitions of what poverty is can be so vastly divergent, how can any
programmes designed for poverty alleviation ever truly succeed?

There is a need to recognise that poverty is multi-dimensional.

After all, despite rising above the poverty line, millions of Indians continue to lack access to safe
water, sanitation, housing, nutrition, health and education.
Unless we take into account what poverty means to the poor, measuring or reducing it will
continue to remain a game of deliberate obfuscation.
The sugar imbroglio

A little over a year after the Rangarajan Committee, which went into the regulatory and
business aspects of the industry submitted its report,
only a part of its sensible recommendations have been implemented.
crucial recommendation on revenue-sharing between sugarcane farmers and sugar mills

has been ignored.

especially Uttar Pradesh which accounts for the bulk of the sugarcane output had

implemented the recommendation and not gone ahead and announced their own prices for
procurement by mills.
mills are in poor financial shape
consequent slump in prices.
bailout package for them.

The package includes interest-free loans adding up to Rs.7,500 crore with favourable
repayment terms, restructuring of existing loans, incentives for the production of 4 million
tonnes of raw sugar for exports, and doubling of ethanol blending in petrol to 10 per cent.
5 per cent blending is not happening due to disagreements over pricing.
The Rangarajan Committee recommended a 70:30 revenue-sharing mechanism between
farmers and mills,
The States should adopt the Committees formula, which is not only transparent but has
been arrived at after a study of the cost structures of sugarcane farming and sugar mills.

Continuation of ongoing State Plan scheme of RashtriyaKrishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

during 12th Five Year Plan
1. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the continuation of the ongoing
state Plan Scheme of RashtriyaKrishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) in the 12th Plan
2. One of the basic objectives of RKVY is to incentivize investments in agriculture and allied
sectors by linking state wise allocation of RKVY funds to the increased share of State plan
expenditure in agriculture and allied sectors.
Background:
1. The RashtriyaKrishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) is a continuing scheme under implementation
from the 11th Five Year Plan period.
2. RKVY is a State plan scheme that provides considerable flexibility' and autonomy to States in
planning and executing programmes for incentivizing investment in agriculture and allied
sectors.
Approval of Integrated Mission for Development of Horticulture during 12th Plan
1. Economic Affairs has approved a Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
for implementation during the 12th Plan with an outlay of Rs. 16,840 crore, a centrally sponsored
scheme.
2. Implementation of MIDH is expected to achieve a growth rate of 7.2 percent in the
horticulture sector during the 12th Plan,
3. besides generating skilled and unskilled employment opportunities in rural and urban areas.
4. The scheme will cover all States and Union Territories (UTs) of India.
5. While the NHM scheme will be focusing on 18 States and UTs, the Horticulture Mission for
North East and Himalayan States (HMNEH) scheme will cover all States in the North East and
Himalayan region of the country.
6.National Horticulture Board (NHB) scheme will address developmental issues on commercial
horticulture through entrepreneurs involving institutional financing.

7. The National Bamboo Mission (NBM) will address developmental issues on bamboo, whereas
the Coconut Development Board (CDB) schemes will focus on development of the coconut
sector.
Background:
1. India has a wide and varied horticulture base, which includes fruits, vegetables, tuber crops,
mushrooms, spices, medicinal and aromatic plants, flowers and foliage and plantation crops like
coconut, areacanut, cashewnut, cocoa and bamboo.
2. The horticulture sector has been an engine of growth for the rural economy while providing
food and nutritional security to the people.
3. The horticulture sector has been an engine of growth for the rural economy while providing
food and nutritional security to the people.
4. Implementation of the Centrally sponsored and Central sector schemes has provided necessary
stimulus to the horticulture sector
5. Implementation of Centrally Sponsored Scheme Livestock Health and Disease Control
Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying
and Fisheries for implementation of the on-going Centrally Sponsored Scheme "Livestock
Health & Disease Control" (LH & DC) in the 12th Plan with certain modifications and expansion
of existing components.
6.modifications and expansion of the national control programmes including addition of one new
component on control of classical swine fever
enable effective tackling the issue of livestock health and strengthing the existing efforts to
7.manage the animal diseases,
Accordingly, besides modification of existing components, the scope of Foot and Mouth Disease
and Peste des petits Ruminants (PPR) Control Programmes will be expanded to cover all the
districts during 12lh Plan.
8. A new component, viz., Classical Swine Fever Control Programme has also been included in
the scheme.
Continuation of central sector Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Census, Economics and
Statistics during 12th Plan
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved continuation of the Central Sector
Scheme "Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Census, Economics & Statistics" with some
modifications.
The total plan outlay will be Rs.1091 crore during 12th Plan.
The following modifications are approved:

i. Restructuring of studies in Agriculture Economic Policy and Development scheme by

dividing it into three independent components namely,
(a) comprehensive scheme of Cost of Cultivation of Principal Crops in India,
(b) Agro Economic Research Centers (AERC) and
(c) Scheme of Planning, Management & Policy Formulation, and discontinuing the component
of Drought Management with effect from 2014-15.
ii. Enhancement of rate of honorarium to the staff from the existing rate of Rs. 700/- per village
to Rs.1000/- per village each for phase-I and II of the Agriculture Census.
iii. 2nd Inter-Ministerial Committee for Cost of Cultivation Scheme will be set up to address the
implementation and administrative issues.
The existing pattern of funding to Agro-Economic Research Centres (AERC) will continue till
the terminal year of the 12th Five-Year Plan.
Approval for modification and continuation of Dairy Entrepreneurship Development
Scheme during the remaining period of 12th Plan
1. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved modification and continuation of
the Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme (DEDS) during the 12th Plan with an outlay of
Rs.1400 crore to generate self employment opportunities in the dairy sector,
2. covering activities such as enhancement of milk production, procurement, preservation,
transportation, processing and marketing of milk.
3. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved modification and continuation of
the Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme (DEDS) during the 12th Plan with an outlay of
Rs.1400 crore to generate self employment opportunities in the dairy sector, covering activities
such as enhancement of milk production, procurement, preservation, transportation, processing
and marketing of milk.
4. The funding Pattern will be as follows:
a) Entrepreneur contribution (Margin) -10% of project cost (Minimum)
b) Back ended capital subsidy @ 25% of the project cost for general category and @ 33.33 % for
SC/ST farmers. The component-wise subsidy ceiling will be subject to indicative cost arrived at
by NABARD from time to time.
c) Bank Loan - Balance portion.
5. The objectives of "DEDS" are to generate self-employment and provide infrastructure for
dairy sector,
6. set up modem dairy farms and infrastructure for production of clean milk, encourage heifer
calf rearing for conservation and development of good breeding stock,

7.bring structural changes in the unorganized sector (so that initial processing of milk can be
taken up at the village level), upgrade traditional technology to handle milk on commercial scale,
and provide value addition to milk through processing and production of milk products.
8.The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) will be the nodal
agency for implementation of the scheme.
9. NABARD will implement the scheme through all Scheduled Commercial Banks, Regional
Rural and Urban Banks, State Cooperative Banks, State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural
Development Banks and such other institutions, which are eligible for refinance from
NABARD.
10. The proposals will be sanctioned by the banks as per guidelines of RBI, NABARD and
Government of India.
11.The eligible beneficiaries of the scheme will be agricultural farmers, individual entrepreneurs,
self-help groups, dairy cooperative societies, milk unions, milk federation, panchyati raj
institutions (PRls) etc.
12. The scheme will be implemented throughout the country and cover all sections of society
including women, the landless and small and marginal farmers in rural and urban areas.
.
Approval to set up an Alternative Investment Fund Category I and for receiving
contributions from international investors
1.The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of M/s IDFC Trustee
Company Limited to set up the India Infrastructure Fund II, to be registered as the Alternative
Investment Fund (AIF) Category I with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) as
recommended by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).
2.The Indian Infrastructure Fund II is aimed at making investment primarily in the sectors of
energy utilities, transportation, aviation, telecom infrastructure, other urban infrastructure and
public utilities. The fund is targeted to receive contribution from international investors up to
Rs.5500 crore.
India-China agree to exchange information on Brahmaputra basin
1. India and China have agreed to share information on the hydro power projects activity being
undertaken in the Brahmaputra river basin
2. China has agreed to share only hydro information.
3. In Brahmaputra, nearly 85 per cent of the water emanates from India.
4. We are able to tap only 5 per cent of it. We are also working on inter-basin water transfer in
India,
5. Hydro power tariff becomes significantly lesser than coal based tariff over time; hydel plants

have a much longer life as compared to coal fired plants; there is no strain on transport
infrastructure for regular movement of fuel and saves precious foreign exchange.
Rare Earth in the Country
1. Indian Rare Earths Ltd. (IREL) a Public Sector Undertaking of the Department of Atomic
Energy (DAE) produces monazite which is a prescribed substance under Atomic Energy Act
1962 and processes the same to produce mixed Rare Earth compounds.
2. IREL has set up a 10,000 tpa monazite processing plant at Odisha to produce mixed rare earth
chloride and at Aluva, Kerala to produce separated high pure rare earth products.
3. AnMoU has been signed between IREL, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Defence
Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) & International Advanced Research Centre for
Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI) for production of value added products of Rare
Earths.
Science Centre
The Department of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Russian Ministry of
Education and Science has jointly established the Indo-Russian Science and Technology Centre
(IRSTC)
with
offices
at
New
Delhi
NCR
region
and
in
Moscow.
The following terms and references have been mutually agreed upon:
(i) Both sides (India and Russia) are to financially support the Centre in their respective country;
(ii) IRSTC is mandated to facilitate transfer of proven technology (at laboratory scale or pilot
scale) to industry, both from India and Russia;
(iii) IRSTC is also mandated to explore for all possible technologies including nanotechnology;
(iv) IRSTC would provide services for information search; organize meetings, seminars and
conferences, presentation, exhibitions and advertising of various available technologies;
(v) IRSTC would facilitate preparation and conclusion of technology transfer agreement between
technology
supplier
and
acquirer.
The following terms and references have been mutually agreed upon:
(i) Both sides (India and Russia) are to financially support the Centre in their respective country;
(ii) IRSTC is mandated to facilitate transfer of proven technology (at laboratory scale or pilot
scale) to industry, both from India and Russia;

(iii) IRSTC is also mandated to explore for all possible technologies including nanotechnology;
(iv) IRSTC would provide services for information search; organize meetings, seminars and
conferences, presentation, exhibitions and advertising of various available technologies;
(v) IRSTC would facilitate preparation and conclusion of technology transfer agreement between
technology
supplier
and
acquirer.
Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) Signed Between India and
Government of UAE to Boost Investment Flows Between the two Countries

Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) Signed Between India
and Government of UAE to Boost Investment Flows Between the two Countries
1. A Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) between the
2.Government of India and the Government of UAE was formally signed here today. The
3.Agreement was signed by Shri NamoNarainMeena, Minister of State (E&FS), on behalf of
Government of India and H.E. Mr. ObaidHumaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial
Affairs of UAE on behalf of Government of UAE.
4. The text of the Agreement, which seeks to promote and protect investments from either
country in the territory of the other country with the ultimate objective of increasing bilateral
investment flow
5. It is hoped that the Agreement would serve as a catalyst in boosting investment flows between
the two countries.
Health Ministry worried SC verdict will affect AIDS control

ruling will prevent vulnerable communities from accessing health facilities for fear of

discrimination and stigma.

concerned that this will discourage people from seeking health care, and consulting with

doctors, counsellors and health workers,

The LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) is defined as a high-risk group by the

National AIDS Control Organisation

The Department of AIDS Control provides inclusive healthcare service for gay men and

transgenders primarily for checking HIV infections

the service was being accessed by a large number of the LGBT community following the
2009 Delhi High Court judgement that had struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal
Code which criminalised unnatural sex.

The HIV Estimation of 2012 suggests an overall reduction of 57 per cent in the annual
new HIV infections (among adult population) from 2.74 lakh in 2000 to 1.16 lakh in 2011,
While HIV prevalence shows declining trends among female sex workers, MSM,
injecting drug users and single male migrants are emerging as important risk groups.

Greenhouse gas emissions will dry up water resources, warns U.N. panel

final draft of the U.N. scientific panel on climate change has warned of the risks that the
world will face if greenhouse gas emissions are not curtailed and countries do not adapt
quickly enough.
The final draft has been sent to all governments for review and comment before the

report is finalised.
The lack of adaptation efforts in developing countries has led to significant vulnerability

and exposure from extreme climatic events, such as heat waves, droughts, floods and
wildfires, the report says
For agriculture-dependent countries such as India, the report warns of ominous changes
in crop yields. With or without adaptation, climate change will reduce median yields by 00.2% per decade for the rest of the century
This would happen against a surging 14% increase in demand for food crops every
decade till 2050.

Food Security Uncertainties after Bali

The Government of India claims "victory" at the WTO; it has only bought time.
The WTO claimed the worlds poor would benefit from Bali, when in actual fact it
oversaw a set of trade agreements that had imbalance written all over them with the
developed countries walking away with the biggest gains.
For India, the most important item on the agenda was to ensure that its current public

distribution system (PDS) as well as the new food security programme under the National
Food Security Act (NFSA) would not have to be curtailed if the food subsidy breached the
ceilings decreed by the WTOs 1994 Agreement on Agriculture (AoA).
While the AoA does permit governments to operate public stockholding programmes and

provide foodstuffs to the poor at subsidised rates, the provisions of that agreement were
sufficiently ambivalent to cause concern.
Indias refusal at Bali to accept the peace clause option allowed it to extract some
measure of protection.

What has been agreed is that no developing countrys food security programme can be
questioned at the WTO, pending negotiation of a permanent solution before the WTOs 11th
ministerial meeting four years
it leaves India with the Herculean task of negotiating an agreement which would either

keep food security programmes altogether outside WTO disciplines, or substantially raise
the permissible food subsidy, or revise the methodology for measuring the subsidy. Even if
such a deal were to be negotiated, what price would India and other developing countries
have to pay and where?
The text of the agreement makes it clear that subsidies provided under public food
stockholding programmes will not, for now, be questioned for any violation of the AoA,
it is yet possible for India to find its expanded PDS under challenge at the WTO for
violating the 1994 Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.
When compared to the 2001 Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health, an
agreement that made explicit the freedom that developing countries had under the WTO, the
Bali text does indeed look weak.
At Bali, India, along with all the other members of the trade body also had to sign up for

a comprehensive agreement on trade facilitation.

This WTO deal calls on countries to, broadly speaking, simplify customs procedures to

permit the smoother flow of goods across borders.

the developed countries will have to make minimal changes to their laws and only modest

investments, the opposite will be the case for all developing country members, including
India.
The trade facilitation is a concrete achievement, of benefit to the developed world. But
on the other side, the least developed countries and other developing countries were only
given what are called best endeavour texts, i e, promises to address their concerns in
subsidies, import tariffs and market access. This is the larger imbalance at Bali, an
imbalance which has always marked the working of the WTO.
The trade facilitation is a concrete achievement, of benefit to the developed world. But
on the other side, the least developed countries and other developing countries were only
given what are called best endeavour texts, i e, promises to address their concerns in
subsidies, import tariffs and market access. This is the larger imbalance at Bali, an
imbalance which has always marked the working of the WTO.
New Delhi signalled that this was an area where it was willing to accommodate US
interests, only to wake up at the last minute to the political costs that such a decision would
entail?

Ending VIP culture in public governance

The political executive and the permanent executive should realise they are public
servants first and work in harmony to achieve the constitutional objectives
the option to exercise the voting right to reject all contesting candidates by what is known
as the none of the above option (NOTA)
effecting the transfer of senior civil servants through a Civil Services Board
civil servants necessarily obtaining written orders from their political masters before

implementation
A view has often been expressed that such intervention by the Supreme Court to improve

the quality of public governance and democracy would amount to judicial overreach, not
warranted by the spirit of the constitutional provisions
the Union governments counsel to the effect that a draft Bill titled Civil Services
Performance Standards And Accountability Bill, 2010 was under the governments
consideration.
the reluctance, indifference and insensitivity on the part of governments cannot be

overlooked.
The main reason for such an attitude seems to be the fear of erosion of political authority

in governance
Supreme Court judgments on such matters relating to public administration should not be

seen as an issue between the political class and the permanent executive.
On the other hand, it has to be seen as an attempt to promote good governance and

quality democracy in order to achieve the rule of law and equality of opportunities.
Let it be clearly understood that public governance in a democracy is not the private

business of any one section. I

It is the collective responsibility of the government as a whole.
One of the issues highlighted in the discussions at the drafting stage was the anxiety to
avoid concentration of power in a few individuals as naked greed for power will destroy
democratic principles.
We have to realise that there is an urgent need to change the countrys administrative

culture if we have to survive as a nation

We need to get away from the leisure culture where public holidays and delays contribute

to deficiencies in the delivery of public service

National Crop Insurance Programme being Implemented from Current Rabi Season
A new central sector scheme, National Crop Insurance Programme (NCIP) has been introduced
by merging Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS), Weather Based Crop
Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) and Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme (CPIS) throughout the
country from Rabi 2013-14.

Administrative Approval for implementing NCIP from Rabi 2013-14 has been issued on
1st November, 2013.
NCIP has been introduced to provide financial support to the farmers for losses in their crop
yield, to help in maintaining flow of agricultural credit,
1. to encourage farmers to adopt progressive farming practices and higher technology
in Agriculture and thereby,
2. to help in maintaining production, employment & economic growth. Besides, farmers are
also benefitted due to:

coverage of indemnity for prevented sowing/planting risk and post harvest losses (due to
cyclone in coastal areas),

higher level of indemnity and more proficient basis for calculation of threshold yield,

faster settlement of claims due to provision for making 50% advance of likely claims
under MNAIS component for immediate relief to the farmers, etc.

To encourage the State Governments to implement the scheme at village/ village

panchayat level, a provision to reimburse 50% of incremental expenses on Crop Cutting
Experiments has been made in the scheme.

Unit area of insurance has been reduced to the village/village panchayat level in the restructured
scheme of National Crop Insurance Programme (NCIP).

All you want to know about Lokpal Bill

1. Lokayuktas: The new bill mandates states to set up Lokayuktas within 365 days. States have
the freedom to determine the nature and type of Lokayukta.
The old bill said the law shall be applicable to states only if they give consent to its application.
The old bill gave power to the central government to appoint state Lokayuktas while the new
draft gives this power to the states.
2. Constitution of Lokpal: The Lokpal will consist of a chairperson and a maximum of eight
members, of which fifty percent shall be judicial members. Fifty percent members of Lokpal
shall be from among SC, ST, OBCs, minorities and women.

The older version said the chairperson shall be the Chief Justice of India or a present or former
judge of the Supreme Court or a non-judicial member with specified qualifications (chief justice
or a judge of a high court).
3. Selection of Lokpal: The selection committee will have Prime Minister, LokSabha Speaker,
leader of the opposition in LokSabha and the Chief Justice of India. A fifth member of the
selection committee for selection of Lokpal under the category of "eminent jurist" may be
nominated by the President on the basis of recommendation of the first four members of the
selection committee.
In the old bill, selection of the fifth person was left entirely to the President.
4. Religious bodies and trust: The new bill includes societies and trusts that collect public money,
receive funding from foreign sources, and have an income level above a certain threshold, it
excludes bodies creating endowments for or performing religious or charitable functions.
The old bill expanded definition of public servant by bringing societies and trusts which receive
donations from the public (over a specified annual income) and, organisations which receive
foreign donations (over Rs 10 lakh a year) within the purview of the Lokpal.
5. Prosecution: In the new version, before taking a decision on filing a chargesheet in a case upon
consideration of the investigation report, the Lokpal may authorise its own prosecution wing or
the concerned investigating agency to initiate prosecution in special courts.
Under the old bill, prosecution of the case could be done only by the prosecution wing of the
Lokpal.
6. Central Bureau of Investigation: For independence of the CBI, in the new bill a directorate of
prosecution will be formed. Appointment of the director of prosecution will be on the
recommendation of the Central Vigilance Commissioner.
Transfer of officers of CBI investigating cases referred by Lokpal will be only with the approval
of Lokpal who will also have superintendence over CBI in relation to Lokpal referred cases.
7. Hearing: The new bill says a government servant will get a hearing before a decision is taken
by the Lokpal.
8. Prime Minister: The Prime Minister will be under the purview of the Lokpal with subject
matter exclusions and specific process for handling complaints against the Prime Minister.
9. Investigation: Inquiry has to be completed within 60 days and investigation to be completed
within six months. Lokpal shall order an investigation only after hearing the public servant.

Inquiry against the prime minister has to be held in-camera and approved by two-thirds of the
full bench of the Lokpal.
10. Penalty: False and frivolous complaints - imprisonment up to one year and a fine of up to
Rs.1 lakh. Public servants - imprisonment up to seven years. Criminal misconduct and habitually
abetting corruption - jail term up to 10 years.
Lokpal's journey to transparency
1966
Morarji Desai led First Administrative Reforms Commission recommends setting up of Lokpal at
Centre and Lokayukta in states to look into complaints against public functionaries, including
MPs
1968-2001
Successive governments introduce Lokpal bill eight times
2002
Justice MN Venkatachaliah led Constitution Review Commission stresses the need for Lokpal
and Lokayuktas
2004
UPA-I's national common minimum programme promises that Lokpal bill would be enacted
2005
VeerappaMoily led Second Administrative Reforms Commission reiterates that Lokpal be
established without delay
2011
Jan: UPA-II's GoM headed by Pranab Mukherjee suggests a range of anti-corruption measures,
including the Lokpal bill
Apr 5: Anna Hazare begins his fi rst fast at JantarMantar demanding enactment of Jan Lokpal
bill drafted by his team
Apr 9: Anna ends fast as the government forms a joint drafting committee consisting of
ministers and civil society members
Jun 21: The last meeting of the drafting committee ends with the two sides coming up with
separate drafts
Aug 4: Govt introduces a Lokpal bill, widely attacked as fl awed
Aug 8: Bill referred to standing committee
Aug 16: Anna launches second fast for Jan Lokpal bill
Dec 22: Govt re-introduces Lokpal and Lokayuktas bill
Dec 27: LokSabha passes bill
Dec 29: Introduced in RajyaSabha

2012
Re-introduced in RajyaSabha. Referred to select committee
2013
Dec 10: Anna Hazare begins fast in his village in Maharashtra, demanding urgent introduction of
a new anti-corruption law
Dec 13: Amended bill tabled in RajyaSabha
The Lokpal shall consist of

(a) a Chairperson, who is or has been a Chief Justice of India or is or has been a Judge of
the Supreme Court or an eminent person who fulfils the eligibility specified
such number of Members, not exceeding eight out of whom fifty per cent. shall be

Judicial Members:
Provided that not less than fifty per cent. of the Members of the Lokpal shall be from
amongst the persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, Other
Backward Classes, Minorities and women.
A person shall be eligible to be appointed, (a) as a Judicial Member if he is or has been

a Judge of the Supreme Court or is or has been a Chief Justice of a High Court;
(b) as a Member other than a Judicial Member, if he is a person of impeccable integrity

and outstanding ability having special knowledge and expertise of not less than twenty-five
years in the matters relating to anti-corruption policy, public administration, vigilance,
finance including insurance and banking, law and management.
The Chairperson or a Member shall not be (i) a member of Parliament or a member of

the Legislature of any State or Union territory; (ii) a person convicted of any offence
involving moral turptitude; (iii) a person of less than forty-five years of age, on the date of
assuming office as the Chairperson or Member, as the case may be; (iv) a member of any
Panchayat or Municipality; (v) a person who has been removed or dismissed from the
service of the Union or a State,
and shall not hold any office of trust or profit (other than his office as the Chairperson or

a Member) or be connected with any political party or carry on any business or practise any
profession and, accordingly, before he enters upon his office,
a person appointed as the Chairperson or a Member, as the case may be, shall, if (a) he
holds any office of trust or profit, resign from such office; or (b) he is carrying on any
business, sever his connection with the conduct and management of such business; or (c) he
is practising any profession, cease to practise such profession.
4.(1) The Chairperson and Members shall be appointed by the President after obtaining
the recommendations of a Selection Committee consisting of (a) the Prime Minister

chairperson; (b) the Speaker of the House of the Peoplemember; (c) the Leader of
Opposition in the House of the Peoplemember;
(d) the Chief Justice of India or a Judge of the Supreme Court nominated by him
member; (e) one eminent jurist nominated by the Presidentmember.
(2) No appointment of a Chairperson or a Member shall be invalid merely by reason of
any vacancy in the Selection Committee.
(3) The Selection Committee shall for the purposes of selecting the Chairperson and
Members of the Lokpal and for preparing a panel of persons to be considered for
appointment as such, constitute a Search Committee consisting of at least seven persons of
standing and having special knowledge and expertise in the matters relating to anticorruption policy, public administration, vigilance, policy making, finance including
insurance and banking, law and management or in any other matter which, in the opinion of
the Selection Committee, may be useful in making the selection of the Chairperson and
Members of the Lokpal
The President shall take or cause to be taken all necessary steps for the appointment of a
new Chairperson and Members at least three months before the expiry of the term of the
Chairperson or Member, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedure laid down in
this Act.
The Chairperson and every Member shall, on the recommendations of the Selection
Committee, be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal and hold
office as such for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office or
until he attains the age of seventy years,
Provided that he may
(a) by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office;
or (b) be removed from his office in the manner provided in section 37.
The salary, allowances and other conditions of service of
(i) the Chairperson shall be the same as those of the Chief Justice of India;
(ii) other Members shall be the same as those of a Judge of the Supreme Court

A cure worse than the malady?

Not much will change under the new Lokpal for the Central Bureau of Investigation
except that it will have one more master
It took an eternity because of an obvious lack of political will and a fear of the unknown.
There is a need to educate the common man on what he can and cannot expect from this
new experiment.
Lokpals members. This stipulation is because of the apprehension of frivolous
complaints being made mainly to unsettle a government in position.

It will have jurisdiction over all public servants under the Union government, including
the Prime Minister.
While it will have its own investigative wing, which will conduct a preliminary inquiry
into a complaint received by it, the Lokpal can entrust such an inquiry to the Central Bureau
of Investigation (CBI) or to any other agency. Significantly, the Lokpal can initiate
prosecution through its own team.
Such action will not have to wait until the prosecution successfully establishes the charge
in a court of law..
Strict exercise of this authority will certainly be lauded by the honest citizen, currently
dismayed by the sight of corrupt public servants continuing to enjoy the fruits of their
misdeeds even after being taken to task.
But the Lokpal Bill comes as a disappointment to many of us who have been asking for

greater CBI autonomy.

Under the new dispensation, not much will change for the highest investigative agency,

except that, with the arrival of the Lokpal

There are far too many grey areas in the new law for us to be able to predict whether the

Lokpal will play an effective role.

For instance, what will the relationship between the CVC and the Lokpal be like?
There is scope for conflict between the two authorities when a CVC and the Lokpal refer
the same matter to the CBI for inquiry.
On the whole, the Lokpal cannot be viewed as anything but a cosmetic imposition on a
CBI that is craving for autonomy without any great success.
The commendable support to its cause by the Supreme Court is still in the realm of
theory, with the Union government uninhibitedly rejecting all suggestions that the CBI be
allowed to function unhampered by the executive.

Poorna Shakti Kendras to empower rural women

They will help women get pensions, voter identity and Aadhaar cards
To ensure the socio-economic development of women in rural areas, the National Mission
for Empowerment of Women is promoting a model intervention project.
At the heart of the project launched in 21 districts nationwide, including Pali in
Rajasthan is the womens centre, Poorna Shakti Kendra, established in villages, for
offering services to women at the grassroots.

The NRLM proposes to ensure universal financial inclusion by facilitating opening of

savings accounts by all SHGs, while encouraging their thrift and credit activities and other
financial services,
Under the NRLM, there shall be one rural self-employment training institute in each
district. Each will train at least 750 candidates of the below poverty level category.

Ensuring Environmental Sustainability Included in the List of Activities for CSR Policies

Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 deals with Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR).
Under this Section every company having net worth of Rs. 500 crore or more or turnover
of Rs. 1000 crore or more or net profit of rupees five crores or more during any financial
year, shall constitute a CSR Committee to recommend its activities for discharging CSR in
such a manner that the company would spend at least 2 percent of its average net profits of
the company made during the three immediately preceding financial years, in pursuance of
its CSR policies.
Section 135 of the Act has not yet come into force and as such this Ministry has no
information on the expenditure incurred on CSR activities.

India and the Government of Republic of Macedonia Signed an Agreement for The
Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect
to Taxes on Income
Republic of India and Republic of Macedonia signed the new Agreement for the avoidance Of
Double Taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion (DTAA) with respect to taxes on income .
Once the DTAA enters into force, it will provide relief to taxpayers from double taxation and
thereby, stimulate the flow of capital, technology and personnel between both the countries and
will further strengthen the economic relationship between the two countries.
The Salient features of this agreement are as under:

The agreement provides relief from double taxation to residents of India earning income

in Macedonia and residents of Macedonia earning income in India.

The agreement provides that taxation of dividend, interest and royalty in the source

country will not exceed 10 %.

The agreement provides for taxation of business income in the source country if the

taxpayer has a permanent establishment there

The agreement provides for taxation of capital gains from securities in the source country.

The agreement has a limitation of benefit article which provides that the benefit of this
agreement will not be available to entity which has formed mainly to obtain benefits under
this agreement.
The agreement is based on international standard of transparency and exchange of

information and provides for exchange of information (including banking

information)concerning taxes.
The agreement has a specific provision that the requested Party shall use its informationgathering measures to obtain the requested information even though that Party may not need
such information for its own tax purposes.
The agreement provides for the representatives of the competent authority of the

requesting Party to enter the territory of the requested Party to interview individuals and
examine records.
The Agreement provides for mutual assistance in collection of taxes due in other country.
This agreement is expected to boost economic relationship between India and Macedonia.

The Public Procurement Bill, 2012

Highlights of the Bill

The Bill seeks to regulate and ensure transparency in procurement by the central
government and its entities.

It exempts procurements for disaster management, for security or strategic

purposes, and those below Rs 50 lakh.

The government can also exempt, in public interest, any procurements or procuring
entities from any of the provisions of the Bill.
The government can prescribe a code of integrity for the officials of procuring entities and
the bidders. The Bill empowers the government and procuring entity to debar a bidder under
certain circumstances

The Bill mandates publication of all procurement-related information on a Central

Public Procurement Portal.
The Bill sets Open Competitive Bidding as the preferred procurement method; an
entity must provide reasons for using any other method. It also specifies the conditions
and procedure for the use of other methods
The Bill provides for setting up Procurement Redressal Committees. An aggrieved

bidder may approach the concerned Committee for redressal.

The Bill penalises both the acceptance of a bribe by a public servant as well as the

offering of a bribe or undue influencing of the procurement process by the bidder with

imprisonment and a fine.

Key Issues and Analysis

The Bill exempts certain procurements from the specified process, besides allowing
the government to limit competition in certain cases. It is unclear why the government
has been given further powers to exempt any procurement or procuring entity from the
applicability of the Bill.

The Bill specifies Open Competitive Bidding as the preferred method of

procurement, without defining the term. The UN Model Law and an earlier draft
procurement Bill describe equivalent terms in detail

In cases where procurement from a particular supplier is necessary to ensure

standardisation or compatibility with existing systems, the Bill does not require
certification from a competent technical expert. Such a certification is required by
existing regulations and model laws.
In a departure from existing regulations, the Bill does not restrict use of cost-plus
contracts, which provide no incentive for efficiency.

The National Food Security Bill, 2011

Highlights of the Bill

The Bill proposes foodgrain entitlements for up to 75 percent of the rural and up to
50 percent of the urban population.

Of these, at least 46 percent of the rural and 28 percent of the urban population will
be designated as priority households.

The rest will be designated as general households.

Priority households will be entitled to 7 kg of subsidised foodgrains per person per

month. General households will be entitled to at least 3 kg.

The central government will determine the percentage of people in each state that
will belong to the priority and general groups. State governments will identify
households that belong to these groups.

The Bill proposes meal entitlements to specific groups. These include: pregnant

women and lactating mothers, children between the ages of six months and 14 years,
malnourished children, disaster affected persons, and destitute, homeless and starving
persons.
Grievance redressal mechanisms will be set up at the district, state, and central
levels of government.


The Bill proposes reforms to the Targeted Public Distribution System.
Key Issues and Analysis

The Bill classifies beneficiaries into three groups. The process of identifying
beneficiaries and placing them into these groups may lead to large inclusion and
exclusion errors.

Several entitlements and the grievance redressal structure would require state

legislatures to make adequate budgetary allocations. Implementation of the Bill may

be affected if states do not pass requisite allocations in their budgets or do not possess
adequate funds.
The Bill does not provide a rationale for the cut-off numbers prescribed for

entitlements to priority and general households.

The grievance redressal framework may overlap with that provided in the Citizens

Charter Bill that is pending in Parliament.

Schedule III of the Bill specifies goals which may not be directly related to food

security. It is unclear why these have been included in the Bill.

The Bill provides similar definitions for starving and destitute persons. However,
entitlements to the two groups differ.

The Micro Finance Institutions (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2012

Highlights of the Bill

The Bill seeks to provide a statutory framework to regulate and develop the micro
finance industry.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) shall regulate the micro finance sector; it may set
an upper limit on the lending rate and margins of Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs).

MFIs are defined as organisations providing micro credit facilities up to Rs 5 lakh,

thrift collection services, pension or insurance services, or remittance services.

The Bill provides for the creation of councils and committees at central, state and
district level to monitor the sector.

The Bill provides for a Micro Finance Development Fund managed by RBI;
proceeds from this fund can be used for loans, refinance or investment to MFIs.

The Bill requires the RBI to create a grievance redressal mechanism.

Key Issues and Analysis

The Bill provides safeguards against misuse of market dominance by MFIs to charge
excessive rates. It allows RBI to set upper limits on lending rates and margins.
However, there is no provision for consultation with the Competition Commission of

India.
The Bill allows MFIs to accept deposits. Unlike banks, there is no facility for
insuring customer deposits against default by MFIs. The minimum capital requirement
is also lower, though RBI may prescribe higher requirements.
The Development Fund for MFIs is to be managed by the RBI. The Bill also
enables regulatory powers to be delegated to NABARD. Both these provisions could
lead to conflict of interest.
The Bill provides for the creation of micro finance committees at central, state and
district levels to oversee the sector. However, the formations of these committees are
not mandatory.
The Bill allows MFIs to provide pension and insurance services. However, it does
not provide for regulation by or coordination of RBI with the respective sector
regulators.

The Right of Citizens for Time Bound Delivery of Goods and Services and
Redressal of their Grievances Bill, 2011
Highlights of the Bill

The Bill seeks to create a mechanism to ensure timely delivery of goods

and services to citizens.

Every public authority is required to publish a citizens charter within six

months of the commencement of the Act. The Charter will detail the goods
and services to be provided and their timelines for delivery.

A citizen may file a complaint regarding any grievance related to:

(a) citizens charter;
(b) functioning of a public authority;
or (c) violation of a law, policy or scheme.

The Bill requires all public authorities to appoint officers to redress

grievances. Grievances are to be redressed within 30 working days.

The Bill also provides for the appointment of Central and State Public
Grievance Redressal Commissions.

A penalty of up to Rs 50,000 may be levied upon the responsible officer or

the Grievance Redressal Officer for failure to render services.

Key Issues and Analysis

Parliament may not have the jurisdiction to regulate the functioning of

state public officials as state public services fall within the purview of state
legislatures.
This Bill may create a parallel grievance redressal mechanism as many
central and state laws have established similar mechanisms.
Companies that render services under a statutory obligation or a licence
may be required to publish citizens charters and provide a grievance
redressal mechanism.
The Commissioners may be removed without a judicial inquiry on an
allegation of misbehaviour or incapacity. This differs from the procedure
under other legislations.
Appeals from the Commissions decisions on matters of corruption will lie
before the Lokpal or Lokayuktas. The Lokpal and some Lokayuktas have
not been established.
Only citizens can seek redressal of grievances under the Bill. The Bill
does not enable foreign nationals who also use services such as driving
licenses, electricity, etc., to file complaints.

Protecting women at workplaces

Sexual harassment cases usually have a marked power imbalance between

the victim and the accused; this may well affect the negotiation scenario,
with the victim being unable to hold her own
Given that many victims will shy away from the publicity, the procedures,
the delay and the harshness in the criminal justice system, the alternative
structure and process is welcome, but needs much alteration.
Helping victims to make informed choices about the different resolution
avenues, providing trained conciliators, a monetary compensation settlement
option, an inquisitorial approach by the Committee when indicated, naming
and shaming in grave cases, and in-camera trials are some areas of
improvement.
We need something else which legislation cannot provide the mindset
to understand the fears, compulsions, and pressures on women victims.
The legal concept and test of the reasonable man should give right of

gender way to that of the reasonable woman.

INDIA TEST-FIRES NUCLEAR-CAPABLE AGNI-III MISSILE

India on Monday test-fired its nuclear-capable Agni-III ballistic missile with a strike range of
more than 3,000 km as part of a user trial by the Army from Wheeler Island off Odisha coast,
Indigenous device detecting early cervical cancer launched
1. Magnivisualizer is a user-friendly device costing about Rs. 10,000
2. The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Monday launched indigenous equipment
that can detect early cervical cancer and be used even by healthcare workers with basic training.
3. The device AV Magnivisualizer which was developed by the Institute of Cytology and
Preventive Oncology under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has 95 per cent
accuracy for detecting pre-cancerous lesions.
4. it would be available in the market within the next 8-9 months
5. At present, cytology screening or Pap Smear is available only in advanced cytology centres,
Regional Cancer Centres and some medical colleges.
6. Cervical cancer takes about a decade to fully develop and is often detected when it has spread
substantially.
7. It starts from a pre-cancer stage called dysplasias and early detection and appropriate
treatment at this stage can halt its progression, resulting in decreased incidence or mortality.

ByB BABLOO,
REFERENCES: NEWSPAPER-HINDU, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL WEEKLY, IDSA,
MRUNAL SITE, ORF SITE.
JUNE AND JULY PIB CONSOLIDATION
Sorry friends, this article doesnt contain full month consolidation. Im working on it.

NHFDC and Punjab National bank:

Signed memoranda of understanding to facilitate concessional credit to persons

with disabilities on all India.
As per MOU, NHFDC will refinance to the Punjab National bank in respect of
disbursement of loan to PWD for self-employment for those activities which are covered under
Credit Guarantee scheme of CGTMSE of the government. In addition, NHFDC will also
refinance the education loan for higher education to PWDs. The arrangement will be of great
help to the students with disabilities who wish to pursue higher education after taking education
loan.
NHFDC has so far tied up with three public sector banks (Andhra bank, Bank of
Baroda and IDBI) and 24 Regional Rural banks in Uttar Pradesh, Koran, Haryana, Gujarat,
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Assam.NHFDC has also tied up with north-eastern the
Finance Corporation for extending financial assistance to the PWDs in entire north-eastern
region. Both these tie ups are under Credit Guarantee scheme of CGTMSE.
National handicapped Finance and development Corporation, Department of
disability affairs has been set by the Ministry of social Justice and empowerment, government of
India in 19 97.It is a non-profit company, wholly owned by the government of India. It functions
as an apex institution for channelizing the funds to persons with disabilities through the state
channelizing agencies nominated by the state government.
CGTMSE-An availability of bank credit without the hassles of collaterals and third-party
candidates would be a major source of support to the first-generation entrepreneur to realize their
dream of setting up a new unit of their own micro and small enterprises (MSE). Keeping this
objective in view, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium enterprises (MSME), Government of
India launched the Credit Guarantee scheme (CGS) so as to strengthen credit delivery system
and facilitate flow of credit to the Micro and Small enterprises sector. To operationalize the
scheme, government of India and setup the credit guarantee fund trust for micro and small
enterprises. The credit facility will be available to both new and existing one.
Arms Trade Treaty:
The UN Gen assembly adopted the landmark Arms trade Treaty, regulating the
international trade in conventional arms, from small arms to battle tanks, combat aircraft and
warships. The treaty will foster peace and security by putting a stop to destabilizing arms flow to
conflict regions. It will provide human rights abusers and violators of the law of war from being
supplied with arms. And it will keep warlord, pirates and gangs from acquiring these deadly
tools.
Articles:
1. Establish the highest possible common international standards for regulating
international trade in conventional arms and prevent illicit trade in conventional arms and
prevent the diversion.
For the purpose of contributing to international and regional peace, security and stability;
reducing human suffering.

2. Conventional arms including:

battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, larger caliber- artillery system,
compact character, attack helicopters, warships, missiles and missile launchers, small arms and
light weapons.
3 and 4. Maintain your national control system to regulate the export of ammunition and
munitions fired, parts and components.
5. Each State party shall establish and maintain your national control system including
national control lists, in order to implement the provisions of this treaty publicly.
6. A State party shall not authorize any transfer of conventional arms, if the transfer
violates the measures adopted by the United Nations Security Council, international agreements,
used in the crimes against humanity, genocide, breaches of the Geneva Convention of 1949.
7. An exporting state party should consider and verify that the arms would not be used to
undermine peace and security, violation of international humanitarian law and human rights law
in importing nations.
8. Each importing state party should provide relevant information to an exporting party
and regulate the import.
9. Each State party shall take appropriate measures to regulate the transit trans-shipment
under its jurisdiction of conventional arms.
10. Each State party shall take measures to regulate brokering take place under its
jurisdiction for conventional arms.
11. Each State party involved in the transfer of conventional arms shall take measures to
prevent the diversion.
Bangladesh Hindu Charitable Endowments Law:
Sheikh Hasina Cabinet gave approval to your draft law to ensure proper
development and management of the Hindu charitable endowments and make the transfer of
those properties, donated to Hindu places of worship, completely legal.
In Bangladesh, there is a law meant for protection as well as management of the
Muslim endowments. But no such laws have been designed for the Hindu endowments. Due to
increasing demands of the Hindus for curtailing the incidents of an encroachment of Devottar
property.
In India, the religious endowments act, 1863-was enacted to protect and support
of mosque, Hindu temples and churches and their properties.
Department Of Industrial Policy and Promotion:
Gave new definition of Group Company-two or more enterprises, directly or
indirectly are in a position to exercise 26% or more voting rights in the other enterprise and can
appoint more than 50% of members of the board of directors in the other enterprise.

US sanctions target Irans currency:

US sanctions on Iran and its nuclear program, targeting the countrys currency and
auto industry and seeking to render Iranian money useless outside the country. The sanctions
apply to financial institutions that buy or sell significant amounts of the riyal, as well as to those
who hold significant amounts of the currency in accounts outside Iran.
The hope is that banks and businesses holding Iranian currency will dump the
funds, making the riyal weaker. The penalties will be imposed on anyone who provides material
support to Iranians and others who have been blacklisted under previous US sanctions. An
exception will be made for some activities related to a pipeline project to move natural gas from
Azerbaijan to Europe and Turkey.
V.G.Sekaran:
Chief designer of long-range missile Agni-V and Director of the Advanced System
Laboratory has been appointed as Chief controller R&D (missile and strategy system), DRDO
and Program Director, Agni. He is one of the core members of the ballistic missile programmer.
His pioneering contribution and research in solid propellant rocket motor is now the main thrust
and backbone of the long-range missile system.
Bindeshwar Pathak:
Indian philanthropists, Bindeshwar Pathak, received the legend of planet award from VP
of the French Senate at the Palais Du Luxembourg in Paris. He is one of Indias most notable
activists, founded Sulabh International in 1973 and campaigned for the use of simple indoor
toilets and also fought for causes of Dalits.
Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission:
The Ministry of Finance, government of India, constituted the commission on 24
March 2011. The commission has been tasked with examining and reviewing the legislative and
regulatory systems; the interplay of jurisdiction of various regulators; the manner of drafting and
implementation of subordinate legislation. The commission is chaired by former judge of the
Supreme Court of India, Justice B.N.Srikrishna, and nine members and secretary.
The Ministry of Finance, Government of India, constituted the Commission on
dated the 24thMarch, 2011, with a view to rewriting and cleaning up the financial sector laws to
bring them in tune with the current requirements.

Sutent:
It is used for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and gastrointestinal
stromal tumor (GIST).In 2007, Pfizer got the patent for Sutent in India and in the following
year Cipla opposed it, contending that the invention was publicly known or publicly used.
Birds:

The population of 4 bird species-Pheasnt tailed Jacana,Bronze winged Jacana, Weaver

Bird and Bee-eater is dwindling in Kanyakumari.
India-Australia Defense Ties:
Indian Minister of Defence A. K. Antony and the Australian Minister for Defence
Stephen Smith met in Perth on 4 June and Canberra on 5 June 2013 to discuss shared strategic
and security interests, including maritime security and bilateral defence cooperation. The
Ministers exchanged ideas concerning regional and international security as well as defence
cooperation and exchanges between Australia and India. They agreed to continue to contribute to
the peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region and to promote cooperation in the
Indian Ocean region.Both sides acknowledged that maritime security and freedom of navigation
in accordance with principles of international law is critical for the growth and prosperity of the
Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.
Ministers agreed to continue consultations and cooperation on issues concerning the
Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions both bilaterally and multilaterally, including through the
East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defence Ministers MeetingPlus (ADMM-Plus), Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) and the Indian Ocean Rim
Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC). Ministers noted both countries are already
cooperating through the IONS, which Australia will Chair next year, along with hosting the
IONS Conclave of Chiefs in Perth in March 2014, and the IOR-ARC of which India is currently
Chair and Australia the next Chair.
Ministers agreed that efforts to promote cooperation between the defence
establishments should continue. In this regard, both Ministers agreed to the following activities:
i. to continue to have regular bilateral Defence Ministers Meetings;
ii. to promote exchanges between the defence establishments and the Armed Forces of both
sides, including through the regular conduct of the Defence Policy Dialogue, Armed Forces Staff
Talks and professional military exchanges;
iii. to continue ongoing bilateral naval exchanges to build confidence and familiarity between our
Navies and work towards a bilateral maritime exercise in 2015;
iv. to continue to cooperate in the Asia-Pacific region bilaterally and through various multilateral
fora including the EAS, ARF and ADMM-Plus;
v. to enhance Indian Ocean cooperation, including through the framework and priorities of the
IONS and the IOR-ARC; and
vi. to promote the sharing and exchange of professional knowledge and experiences through
participation in training courses in each others military training institutions.

Both Ministers look forward to implementing these defence cooperation initiatives to further
strengthen the strategic partnership between Australia and India.
Competition Commission Of India:
Competition Commission of India is a body of the Government of India
responsible for enforcing The Competition Act, 2002 throughout India and to prevent
activities that have an adverse effect on competition in India.
The objectives are:to prevent practices having adverse effect on competition, to
promote and sustain competition in markets, to protect the interests of consumers and to ensure
freedom of trade carried on by other participants in markets, in India, and for matters connected
therewith or incidental thereto.
In news,the commission found evidence of sugar mills deciding to fix price of
ethanol tfor the supply to the oil marketing companies(OMC).The CCEA approved mandatory
5% blending of ethanol with etrol and also decided that procurement price would be decided
between the buyer and the supplier.
Bio-Energy and Bio-Plastics:
In the quest for alternative, renewable and eco-friendly fuels, scientists have
developed a novel method to produce bio-energy and value-added products through wastewater
treatment because combustion of fossil fuels was adding about six gigatons of carbon per year in
the form of CO. Several factors have led scientists to look for renewable and carbon-neutral
forms of energy.
Senior scientist, Dr. S. Venkata Mohan and his group at IICT, Hyderabad have
adopted a bio-refinery approach and produced futuristic green fuels, bio-hydrogen and bioelectricity. In the process a value added product that came out bio-plastics.
With the aim of developing processes that could be adopted by Effluent Treatment
Plants (ETPs) and to achieve objectives of treating water, producing energy as well as valueadded products, the scientists have been operating a 50-litre capacity reactor to produce biohydrogen and bio-plastics under a project funded by the Ministry of Non-Renewable Energy.
Once that was achieved, he said the ETPs could replace anaerobic reactors to produce the
environmentally sustainable bio-hydrogen instead of methane. Currently, bio-methane was being
produced by treatment plants of most distilleries and other industries. The sludge that gets
generated in the process was being used as fertiliser. The volatile fatty acids produced along with
hydrogen were used as a substrate for bio-plastics synthesis. These bio-plastics could replace to
some extent synthetic plastics in future.
He said bio-electricity was being produced from anaerobic bacterial metabolism
using microbial fuel cell. The organic form of pollutants in waste water was a good substrate for
bacterial growth. I am trying to improve performance by using various electrode materials. If we
catalyse the electrodes, the yields will improve, Dr. Mohan added.

Significantly, besides generating bio-electricity, the waste treatment efficiency

improved vastly through this method, especially with respect to toxicity, carbon and salts
removal. We have named it Bio-electric Chemical Treatment System.

Next Generation Batteries from rice husk:

Nano-size silicon particles for the next-generation Lithium-ion batteries could be
produced from rice husk, an abundant agricultural waste, according to research recently
published in Scientific Reports.
Nano silicon had attracted considerable attention as a promising anode material
for such high-performance batteries, which would power future electric vehicles and portable
devices, observed Yi Cui, an associate professor of materials science and engineering at Stanford
University in the U.S., and his colleagues in their paper.
Although nano silicon anodes were superior to graphite ones in terms of
performance, methods to produce the silicon anodes at a cost and with scalability comparable to
graphite were needed. Current processes to form silicon nanomaterials were usually complex,
costly and energy-intensive, they pointed out. In rice husk, silica existed naturally in the form of
nanoparticles and accounted for as much as 20 per cent of its dry weight. Using a simple, energyefficient and easily scalable method ,nano silicon could be produced. The silicon that was
recovered maintained the unique nanostructure of silica as it existed in the husk, which made for
excellent battery performance.
Apart from its use in Lithium-ion batteries, there were many potential large-scale
applications for such nanostructured silicon, they added.
UK To Pay 20 Million Pounds To Mau Mau Victims:
The British government has agreed to pay an amount of 20m as compensation to
those tortured and treated with brutality by British Forces in the Mau Mau uprising in colonial
era in Kenya.
Thousands of Kenyans were killed during the Mau Mau revolt against British rule
in Kenya in the 1950s; many too were subjected to all kinds of inhuman treatment including
rape, mass imprisonment in appalling condition among others.
The surviving victims have been battling the UK government for years in a legal
suite in the UK. The victims wanted the UK government to be held legally liable for the
atrocities committed against them during colonial era by British Forces

The British government recognizes that Kenyans were subject to torture and other
forms of ill-treatment at the hands of the colonial administration.The British government
sincerely regrets that these abuses took place and that they marred Kenyas progress towards
independence, Mr. Hague,Foreign Secretary told the House of Commons.
Mau Mau Uprising:
The Mau Mau Uprising (also known as the Mau Mau Revolt, Mau Mau
Rebellion and Kenya Emergency) was a military conflict that took place in Kenya between
1952 and 1960. It involved Kikuyu-dominated anti-colonial groups summarily called Mau Mau
and elements of the British Army, the local Kenya Regiment mostly consisting of white
Kenyans, auxiliaries and anti-Mau Mau Kikuyu. The capture of rebel leader DedanKimathi on 21
October 1956 signalled the ultimate defeat of Mau Mau, and essentially ended the British
military campaign.
Mau Mau failed to capture widespread public support, partly due to the British
policy of divide and rule, and the movement remained internally divided, despite attempts to
unify its various strands.
The primary British interest in Kenya was land, which, observed the British East
Africa Commission of 1925, constituted "some of the richest agricultural soils in the world,
mostly in districts where the elevation and climate make it possible for Europeans to reside
permanently.
Greyhounds:
Stunned by the massacre of senior Chhattisgarh Congress leaders by Maoists last
month, the Centre has decided to help all Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected States to raise
Greyhounds, after the Andhra Pradesh model of an elite police commando force.
It also planned to take a uniform approach under a national policy to deal with
this growing menace. However, it was decided that the Army and the Air Force would not be
used in anti-Maoist operations.
The LWE-hit States will adopt the Andhra Pradesh model, which, besides
Greyhounds, includes strengthening the intelligence-gathering mechanism, enhancing the role of
local police stations in operations, and making efforts to infiltrate the Maoist hierarchy.
The States that would raise the Greyhounds are Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal,
Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
The Chief Ministers also discussed the issue of the Army and the Air Force
assisting operations in view of the growing lethality and surprise element in the Maoist attacks. It

was decided that the State forces, along with the paramilitary personnel, were enough to deal
with the Maoists. The State governments would evolve a mechanism to carry out trade of tendu
leaves(used for making bidis), which is a major source of revenue in most of these States. At
present, the tendu leaves business is being run by contractors who face extortion by Naxals.
(used for making bidis), which is a major source of revenue in most of these States. At present,
the tendu leaves business is being run by contractors who face extortion by Naxals.
DIPP Clarification On Franchisee Route:
On FDI policy for multi-brand retail trading (MBRT), the Department of
Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) said the front-end stores set up by MBRT entity will
have to be company-owned and company operated only. Foreign retailers entering Indias
multi-brand segment will not be allowed to franchise their stores, and will have to put 50 per cent
of their investments in back-end infrastructure specifically for the chain they are setting up.
The DIPP also said the mandatory 30 per cent sourcing from small industries will
be counted only for sales through the front-end stores. Giving clarity on the sourcing part, it said:
The sourcing condition pertains only to manufactured and processed products. Procurement of
fresh produce is not covered by this condition.
On the contentious issue of investment in the back-end, the DIPP said investments
in multiple infrastructure companies would not be counted towards fulfilment of condition of
mandatorily investing 50 per cent in the back-end infrastructure. Fifty per cent of the
investments brought in, must be invested in back-end infrastructure, and any amount spent in
acquiring front-end retail stores would not be counted towards back-end infrastructure, the
DIPP said.
It clarified that as per the conditions for wholesale cash & carry trading, such an
entity is not permitted to undertake retailing of any form. As regards supplies by MBRT
company to franchisees run by its partners, it is clarified that the policy envisages multi-brand
trading in retail and the MBRT entity is not envisaged to undertake wholesale activity, that is,
B2B. It said the cash & carry trading cannot be considered to be providing back-end
infrastructure to the multi-brand retail store.
Department Of Industrial Policy And Promotion (DIPP):
The Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion was established in 1995 and
has been reconstituted in the year 2000 with the merger of the Department of Industrial
Development. The Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion was established in the wake of
the economic liberalization of India with an intention of regulation and administration of the
industrial sector. The Departments role and functions have grown steadily ever. Today, the DIPP
not only regulates the industrial sector but also a facilitator of technology and investment flows
in an ever growing and liberalized Indian economy.
Following the Department's key focus areas:

Formulation and Implementation of India's Industrial Policy

The Department is responsible for formulation and implementation of promotional and
developmental measures for growth of the industrial sector, keeping in view the national
priorities and socio-economic objectives. It is responsible for the overall Industrial Policy. It also
monitors the growth and development in certain key industrial areas and makes appropriate
policy amendments to address the emerging concerns.
Formulation and Amendment of the FDI policy
The DIPP is responsible for formulation of the FDI policy and facilitation of FDI inflows
into the country. The department provides direct assistance in the resolution of problems faced by
foreign investors. It also disseminates information about the positive investment climate that
exists in the Indian economy to promote investments. The Department also encourages and
facilitates foreign technology collaborations among Indian companies and bilateral Economic
cooperation agreements in the region.
Industrial Promotion
The Department is involved in promotion of industry throughout the country. As a part of
this responsibility, the Department monitors and stimulates industrial growth, promotes industrial
activity in remote and underdeveloped areas of the country and undertakes programmes for
improving productivity and quality. Through its Infrastructure Up gradation Scheme (IIUS) the
department works towards enhancing competitiveness of the domestic industry.
Formulation and Implementation of Intellectual property Rights Policy
The DIPP recognize the importance of Intellectual Property in the day to days' global
business environment. The Department formulates and implements a comprehensive Intellectual
Property Rights policy covering Patents, Designs, Trade Marks and Geographical Indications of
Goods. Apart from this the Department works towards creating awareness regarding IPRs by
working closely with organizations such as the World Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO).
Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB):
IPAB has been constituted by a Gazette notification of the Central Government in
the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on 15th September 2003 to hear appeals against the
decisions of the Registrar under the Trade Marks Act, 1999 and the Geographical Indications of
Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. IPAB has its headquarters at Chennai and shall
have sittings at Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi,Kolkata and Ahmedabad. By the Ministry of Commerce
& Industry, the provisions of the Patent Amendment Act, 2002 and the Patents Amendment Act,

2005, relating to the Intellectual Property Appellate Board have been brought into force. Thus, all
the Appeals pending before the various High Courts , will stand transferred to the IPAB.
Likewise, fresh Rectification Applications under the Patents Act, 1970, will have to be filed
before the IPAB.
Jurisdiction:
The object of setting up the Appellate Board is to hear and decide appeals from the order
or decision of the Registrar of Trade Marks which were under the jurisdiction of the High Courts.
The Appellate Board can also entertain original applications for rectifications of the
register of trademarks under sections 47 and 57 of the above Act. It can also entertain
applications for rectifications of the register under section 125 of the above Act.
Appeals from an order or decision of the Registrar under rule 162 of The Trade
Marks Rules, 2002 shall also be heard by the IPAB.
It is provided that similar matters arising under the Geographical Indications of
Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 shall also be heard and decided by IPAB.
The Trade Marks Act, 1999 and the corresponding Trade Mark Rules, 2002 as well
as the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection ) Act, 1999 and the
Geographical Indications of Goods ( Registration and Protection ) Rules, 2002 have all come
into force with effect from 15th September, 2003.
NEW GOVERNOR APPOINTMENTS:
The President of India has been pleased to make the following appointments:1. Dr. K.K. Paul, as Governor of Meghalaya vice Shri RanjitShekharMooshahary.
2.Lt.General A.K. Singh (Retd.), PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, to be the Lt. Governor of
Andaman & Nicobar Islands vice Lt. General Bhopinder Singh (Retd.).
3. Shri Najeeb Jung, to be the Lt. Governor of National Capital Territory of Delhi vice
Shri Tejendra Khanna.
4. Shri VirendraKataria, to be the Lt. Governor of Puducherryvice Shri Iqbal Singh.

Late Shri Vasantrao Naik:

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee attended the concluding ceremony of the
Birth Centenary Celebrations of Late Shri Vasantrao Naik, former Chief Minister.

The President said Shri Naik launched the revolutionary Rural Employment Guarantee
Scheme which proved to be a boon for millions of farmers ravaged by two ferocious famines
afflicting the state. The Planning Commission later approved the scheme and the same was
adopted on national scale. This is the programme known today as MNREGA.
National e-Governance Plan (NeGP):
E-Governance in India has steadily evolved from computerization of Government
Departments to initiatives that encapsulate the finer points of Governance, such as citizen
centricity, service orientation and transparency. Lessons from previous e-Governance initiatives
have played an important role in shaping the progressive e-Governance strategy of the country.
Due cognizance has been taken of the notion that to speed up e-Governance implementation
across the various arms of Government at National, State, and Local levels, a programme
approach needs to be adopted, guided by common vision and strategy. This approach has the
potential of enabling huge savings in costs through sharing of core and support infrastructure,
enabling interoperability through standards, and of presenting a seamless view of Government to
citizens.
The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), takes a holistic view of e-Governance
initiatives across the country, integrating them into a collective vision, a shared cause. Around
this idea, a massive countrywide infrastructure reaching down to the remotest of villages is
evolving, and large-scale digitization of records is taking place to enable easy, reliable access
over the internet. The ultimate objective is to bring public services closer home to citizens.
VISION OF NeGP-Make all Government services accessible to the common man in his
locality, through common service delivery outlets and ensure efficiency, transparency &
reliability of such services at affordable costs to realize the basic needs of the common man.
A mission mode project (MMP) is an individual project within the National eGovernance Plan (NeGP) that focuses on one aspect of electronic governance, such as banking,
land records or commercial taxes etc. Within NeGP, "mission mode" implies that projects have
clearly defined objectives, scopes, and implementation timelines and milestones, as well as
measurable outcomes and service levels. NeGP comprises 31 mission mode projects (MMPs),
which are further classified as state (13), central (11) or integrated projects (7). Each state
government can also define five MMPs specific to its individual needs.

Two Expert Groups, viz., an Expert Committee for preparation of an HR

policy for e-Governance headed by ShriNandanNilekani and an Expert Group
on NeGP chaired by Dr Sam Pitroda were constituted. The recommendations
of both the committees will be of immense benefit for fast tracking the

implementation of all e-Governance initiatives in the country. During the

meeting today, the implementation of the recommendations of these
committees was reviewed.
The Committee also deliberated upon the following issues:
Status of implementation of Mission Mode Projects (MMPs): The
Committee noted that out of the 31 MMPs, 14 MMPs are delivering the
full range of services while 9 have started delivering some services to
the citizens.

Focus on Outcome Orientation e-TAAL: In order to develop an

outcome orientation amongst the e-Governance initiatives in the country,
the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) has
developed a web portal e-TAAL (e-Transactions Aggregation and
Analysis Layer). The portal aggregates and analyses the transaction
statistics of central and state level e-governance projects including
Mission Mode Projects, on a real time basis. E-TAAL is expected to
enhance the outcome focus of e-Governance programs in the country.
The portal is available at etaal.gov.in.

DeitY has launched Mobile Seva, a unique countrywide initiative on

mobile governance to provide public services to the citizens through
mobile phones and handheld devices. The portal is available at
mgov.gov.in. As on date, 444 departments across the country have been
integrated with MSDG. They are offering over 200 unique services to the
citizens. Using this platform, over 15 crore transactional messages for
various government services have been sent to the citizens.
Recently, DeitY has implemented a pilot project covering 59 panchayats
in three blocks in three states on using the hi-speed connectivity of
National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) for delivery of public services like
tele-medicine, tele-education, skill development courses and banking
services. The lessons from this pilot will be useful in utilising the NoFN
infrastructure being planned to connect 2,50,000 gram panchayats.
DeitY has developed an e-GovAppStore to host successful e-governance
applications. These applications can be replicated by all government
departments intending to implement e-Gov initiatives, thereby saving
immense time and costs in application development and hosting.
In order to make public procurement more transparent and efficient, the
Committee directed that e-Procurement shall be adopted both for
publication and processing of tenders by all Government
Ministries/Departments.
To harness the benefits of cloud technology, DeitY has launched a new
initiative named as MeghRaj for creating a Government of India cloud
(GI Cloud) computing environment at the national level. This initiative will

not only optimiseutilisation of IT infrastructure, but also enable rapid

deployment/replication of e-Gov services.
Considering the requirement for an apex institution in the domain of
capacity building, training and R&D for e-Governance, the Committee
desired that a National e-Governance Academy be established as a
national institution.
The Committee also discussed how the emergence of new
technologies, concepts and platforms such as cloud computing, mobile
platform and the advent of Aadhaar can be leveraged to make the NeGP
more effective and speed up its implementation. Incorporating the latest
technological advancements and new service delivery mechanisms in NeGP
would usher the country into a new era of e-governance. It will be possible to
provide ICT infrastructure on demand for implementation of these projects.
Integration of the Aadhaar platform in e-governance projects would help in
interoperability, electronic authentication and faster delivery of services to
the intended recipients. Further, the integration of the mobile platform for
service delivery would enable the government to reach out to citizens in the
remotest corners of the country. To achieve this vision, the Committee
directed DeitY to formulate the next version of the National e-Governance
Plan (NeGP 2.0) to tap the potential of significant technological
advancements and emergence of new implementation models & delivery
mechanisms.

Indian IPv6 Lab

Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) Lab setup by Telecommunication Engineering Centre
(TEC), technical arm of Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications & IT,
has earned a unique distinction of being approved by the IPv6 Ready Logo Committee under
IPv6 Forum, an International body. This achievement is significant for TEC and the country as
only five other labs in the world have achieved this milestone. India has thus joined Europe and a
select group of countries which include USA, Japan, China and Taiwan having IPv6 Ready Logo
test lab facilities. The announcement to this effect was made on 25th June.
TEC has setup the IPv6 Ready Logo test lab as per standards prescribed by IPv6 Ready
Logo Committee and addresses Conformance as well as Interoperability testing for various
equipments with IPv6 implementation. The approval process additionally involved the evaluation
of the competence of TEC team to not only test the equipment but also the ability to correctly
examine the test results from other international labs.
The internet and the internet facing devices are moving to new addressing scheme IPv6
since IPv4 addresses are no longer available. The Government has taken several policy initiatives
so that the service providers, content providers and the customer premises equipment vendors are
encouraged to move to IPv6 address implementation. Setting up testing infrastructure is one of
the objectives of NTP-2012. Establishment and designation of TEC lab as IPv6 Ready Logo lab

is one such step which shall enable indigenous vendors/developers to avail the facility of
internationally recognized test lab in India. Availability of approved TEST BED shall promote
end-user confidence in using IPv6 Ready Logo approved products.
TEC will play an instrumental role in the Interoperability and testing of IPv6 products as a
major piece of the India IPv6 Strategy roadmap announced by the India Government in building
the New Internet infrastructure as interoperability creates genuine end-user confidence in new
technologies said LatifLadid, IPv6 ForumPresident.
The establishment of IPv6 Ready Logo Lab in India, expecting a huge growth in the
deployment of IPv6 in the world, is very welcome, and we expect their contribution to the worldwide IPv6 deployment. We really appreciate the great efforts of Indian team for their success,
including the future success. said Hiroshi Esaki, Chairman of the IPv6 Logo Committee,
Executive Director of IPv6 Promotion Council Japan and Board member of WIDE Project.

Aakash IV:
Aakash is a series of Android-based tablet computers produced by an initiative of
the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development. It is a low-cost tablet computer
with a 7-inch touch screen. The device was developed as part of the country`s aim to link
25,000 colleges and 400 universities in an e-learning program. The cost of basic version for a
student was only Rs.1500, which was around USD35. In July 2010, the Minister of Human
Resource Development, Sri KapilSibal unveiled a prototype of Aakash, which was later given
out to 500 college students to collect feedback. The tablet was officially launched as Aakash in
New Delhi on 5 October 2011. The Ministry of Human Resource Development,
Government of India announced an upgraded second-generation model called Aakash 2 in April
2012. In this series, the new version of Aakash has been named Aakash IV.

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India(ICSI):

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India(ICSI) is constituted under an Act of Parliament i.e. th
taking up the Company Secretaryship course grew, the Government promoted on 4th October, 1968, Institute of C
Government the conduct of Company Secretaryship examination. The Institute of
Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has since been converted into a statutory body w.e.f.
1.1.1981 under the Company Secretaries Act, 1980. The Institute of Company Secretaries of
India(ICSI) has on its rolls 32,580 members including 5,467 members holding certificate of the
practice. The number of current students is over 3,60,000.
The Institute of company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has its headquarters at New Delhi
and four regional offices at New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai.

Lieutenant General Anil Chait:

Lieutenant General Anil Chait, has taken over as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the
Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC).He has been associated with the Special Action
Group (The Black Cats) of the National Security Guards and was awarded the VishishtSeva
Medal. He has served with an infantry division, as Colonel General Staff on the Line of Control
during Operation Parakram. The General Officer has tenanted staff assignment in the Military
Secretarys Branch in the Colonels rank and the Perspective Planning Directorate in the
Brigadiers rank dealing with formulation of National and Military Security Strategy & Policy.
OPERATION PARAKRAM-The 20012002 IndiaPakistan standoff was a military
standoff between India and Pakistan that resulted in the massing of troops on either side of the
International Border (IB) and along the Line of Control (LoC) in the region of Kashmir.
The military build up was initiated by India responding to a terrorist attack on the Indian
Parliament on 13 December 2001 (during which twelve people, including the five men who
attacked the building, were killed) and Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on 1
October 2001. India claimed that the attacks were carried out by two Pakistan based Terrorist
groups fighting Indian rule in Kashmir, LeT and JeM, both of whom India has said are backed
by Pakistan's ISI. Tensions de-escalated following international diplomatic mediation which
resulted in the October 2002 withdrawal of Indian and Pakistani troops from the international
border. The Indian Codename for the mobilization was Operation Parakram.

C-17 Globemaster-III:
Having touched down on Indian soil on 18 Jun 2013, the IAFs latest acquisition C-17
Globemaster-III made its maiden flight to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands on 30 Jun 2013.
Climbing an altitude of 28,000 feet with an unrefueled range of 2400 nautical miles, the aircraft
landed at Port Blair to induct the rotational Infantry Battalion into the Andaman & Nicobar
Islands.
Manufactured by Messrs Boeing of the United States, the C-17 Globemaster-III is a
heavy-lift transport military aircraft, developed for the United States Air Force (USAF). India
has become the largest customer, of this sophisticated aircraft, after the United States. C-17
Globemaster-III is 174 feet in length, with a wing span of 170 feet. The maximum all up weight
is 2,65,350 kg, with an ultra modernized palletized cargo handling capability.
eKuber:
Reserve Bank of India, has christened its Core Banking Solution as eKuber. The
quest by RBI to have its own CBS begun in June 2007, when in RBIs Financial Sector
Technology Vision, the Department of Information Technology, broached the concept of CBS in
RBI.
Core banking solution:
Core banking is services provided by a group of networked bank branches. Bank
customers may access their funds and other simple transactions from any of the member branch

offices. CORE Banking stands for "centralized online real-time electronic banking". This
basically means that all the bank's branches access applications from centralized datacenters.
This means that the deposits made are reflected immediately on the bank's servers and the
customer can withdraw the deposited money from any of the bank's branches throughout the
world. These applications now also have the capability to address the needs of corporate
customers, providing a comprehensive banking solution.
The platform where communication technology and information technology are merged
to suit core needs of banking is known as core banking solutions. Here, computer software is
developed to perform core operations of banking like recording of transactions, passbook
maintenance, interest calculations on loans and deposits, customer records, balance of
payments and withdrawal. This software is installed at different branches of bank and then
interconnected by means of communication lines like telephones, satellite, internet etc. It
allows the user (customers) to operate accounts from any branch if it has installed core banking
solutions. This new platform has changed the way banks are working.
Competitive Bid:
A step in the initial public offering process whereby an underwriter submits a sealed bid
to a company that is making its first issue of stock. After collecting competitive bids from several
underwriters, the issuer awards the contract to the underwriter (investor) with the best price and
contract terms. Competitive bidding is considerably less common than negotiated bidding, the
other main method by which issuing companies contract with underwriters. Competitive bidding
is more common with municipal bonds issued by utility companies.
Non-Competitive Bid:
One of the two bid processes for buying debt issuances. Non-competitive tender is for
small investors, while competitive tender is for large institutional investors. The price that a noncompetitive bidder receives is the average bid price of all competitive bids.
When Issued (WI):
Securities trade on a when issued basis when they have been announced, but not yet
issued. The transaction is settled only after the security has been issued. A when-issued market
exists where when issued instruments are traded. When issued markets can provide an indication
regarding the level of interest that a new issue will attract. When issued transactions are
dependent upon the actual security being issued and the exchange or National Association of
Securities Dealers ruling that the transactions will be settled.

Action taken by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for relief operations in
Uttarakhand:
A three member high level team from the Ministry is stationed in Dehradun to assess the
public health situation and coordinate with the State Health Authorities to provide whatever
assistance is needed. It consists of the Director, Emergency Medical Response, Director, National
Centre for Disease Control and Joint Director, National Vector Borne Diseases Control

Programme (NVBDCP).
40 chloroscopes and a large quantity of reagents, sufficient to test upto 5000 water
samples have been sent, to ensure safe drinking water supplies. More Chloroscopes are being
procured for delivery.Chlorine tablets has been provided.
A 3-member team from NIMHANS, Bangalore for Psycho-social support.
District units of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), NRHM is
conducting health surveillance in all affected districts.
IRCS (Indian Red Cross Society) has provided relief materials that include tents, family
packs, kitchen sets, blankets, lanterns etc.
IDSP:
Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) was launched with World Bank assistance
in November 2004 to detect and respond to disease outbreaks quickly. The project was extended
for 2 years in March 2010. From April 2010 to March 2012, World Bank funds were available
for Central Surveillance Unit (CSU) at NCDC & 9 identified states (Uttarakhand, Rajasthan,
Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal) and the
rest 26 states/UTs were funded from domestic budget. The Programme will continue during 12th
Plan under NRHM with outlay of Rs. 640.40 Crore from domestic budget only.

Surveillance units have been established in all states/districts (SSU/DSU). Central

Surveillance Unit (CSU) established and integrated in the National Centre for Disease
Control, Delhi.

Training of State/District Surveillance Teams and Rapid Response Teams (RRT) has been
completed for all 35 States/UTs.

IT network connecting 776 sites in States/District HQ and premier institutes has been
established with the help of National Informatics Centre (NIC) and Indian Space
Research Organization (ISRO) for data entry, training, video conferencing and outbreak
discussion.

Under the project weekly disease surveillance data on epidemic prone disease are being
collected from reporting units such as sub centres, primary health centres, community
health centres, hospitals including government and private sector hospitals and medical
colleges
States/districts have been asked to notify the outbreaks immediately to the system.
Media scanning and verification cell was established under IDSP in July 2008. It detects
and shares media alerts with the concerned states/districts for verification and response.

A 24X7 call center was established in February 2008 to receive disease alerts on a Toll
Free telephone number (1075).
Considering the non-availability of health professionals in the field of Epidemiology,
microbiology and Entomology at district and state levels, MOHFW approved the
recruitment of trained professionals under NRHM in order to strengthen the disease
surveillance and response system by placing one Epidemiologist each at state/district
headquarters, one Microbiologist and Entomologist each at the state headquarters.
Recruitment of 354 Epidemiologists, 60 Microbiologists and 17 Entomologists has been
completed so far.
Codex Alimentarius Commission:
The Codex Commission is shouldering the responsibility of laying down the global
parameters of quality and safety of food products for human consumption. This ensures the
health of the consumers and fair practices in the export and import of food products.
Shrinking of the world due to faster means of travel and communications has led to
globalization and commercialization of all sectors including food production, processing and
consumption. Whatever is produced in one part of the world is available in other parts due to
improved means for import and export today. It is a matter of satisfaction that the Codex
Alimentarius has achieved several milestones since its inception in meeting the challenges of
health of consumers and fair practices in the trade of food products. The membership of the
Commission has grown from 30 countries to 150 countries over the last 50 years. This is on
account of the keen interest and trust evinced by the developing countries in the Codex process,
making Codex a truly international food standards-setting organization of the United Nations.
Another achievement is that Codex has expanded its role into a variety of products and subject
matters to address quality, safety and nutrition issues. The science-based framework adopted by
Codex gives this institution a pre-eminent position in the area of safety of human health and fair
trade practices.
The C O D E X A L I M E N T A R I U S international food standards, guidelines and
codes of practice contribute to the safety, quality and fairness of this international food trade.
Consumers can trust the safety and quality of the food products they buy and importers can trust
that the food they ordered will be in accordance with their specifications.

Ethanol Blended Petrol:

Ethanol is a non-fossil fuel that is produced from a variety of agricultural crops such as
sugar cane and grains. Petrol is blended with the ethanol produced from the renewable products.
Maternity Benefit Act 1961:

Maternity protection is an essential pre-requisite for womens rights to gender equality

with regard to their work and profession. The right to maternity protection is enshrined in the
Constitution of India, along with international instruments such as the International Human
Rights Instruments and the International Labour Conventions. It is implemented through the
Maternity Benefits Act, 1961.
An Act to regulate the employment of women in certain establishment for certain period
before and after child-birth and to provide for maternity benefit and certain other benefits.
It applies in the first instance, to every establishment being a factory, mine or plantation
[including any such establishment belonging to Government and to every establishment wherein
persons are employed for the exhibition of equestrian, acrobatic and other performances].In the
official on In the official Gazette, declare that all or any of the provisions of this Act shall apply
also to any other establishment or class of establishments, industrial, commercial, agricultural or
otherwise.

IRNSS:
ISROs Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C22, has successfully launched IRNSS-1A,
the first satellite in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) from SatishDhawan
Space Centre, Sriharikota. This is the twenty third consecutively successful mission of PSLV.
The XL configuration of PSLV was used for the mission. Previously, the same configuration of
the vehicle was used thrice to launch Chandrayaan-1, GSAT-12 and RISAT-1 satellites.
IRNSS-1A is the first of the seven satellites constituting the space segment of the Indian
Regional Navigation Satellite System. IRNSS is an independent regional navigation satellite
system designed to provide position information in the Indian region and 1500 km around the
Indian mainland. IRNSS would provide two types of services, namely, Standard Positioning
Services (SPS) provided to all users and Restricted Services (RS) provided only to authorised
users.
A number of ground stations responsible for the generation and transmission of navigation
parameters, satellite control, satellite ranging and monitoring, etc., have been established in as
many as 15 locations across the country.
NFSM:
The General Council of NFSM is the apex policy making body of NFSM. It is chaired by
Agriculture Minister and has representatives from various Departments and research
organizations.
In the 11th Plan, NFSM exceeded its target of adding 20 million tonnefoodgrain
production per year in 2011-12, a year before the target date. In the first year of the current Plan,
i.e. 2012-13, as against the target of producing additional 2 MT rice, 1 MT wheat and 1.25 MT
pulses, NFSM has achieved significantly higher production - 7 MT rice, 9 MT wheat and 2.5 MT
pulses.
Since the Mission seeks to improve productivity of crops in districts with low

productivity, an exercise is being undertaken to include new districts in which productivity has
remained lower than the national and states averages. Simultaneously, districts that have attained
higher than average productivity will be taken out of the purview of NFSM.
As the strategies adopted by NFSM proved successful in the 11th Plan, coarse cereals and fodder
crops have been brought under it in the 12th Plan (besides rice, wheat and pulses which were the
crops under NFSM in the 11th Plan).
National Cyber Security Policy:
National Cyber Security Policy aims to provide protection for information, such
as personal information, financial/banking information, sovereign data etc. In order to empower
people with information, we need to secure the information/data.
This policy aims at facilitating creation of secure computing environment and enabling
adequate trust and confidence in electronic transactions and also guiding stakeholders actions for
protection of cyber space.
The National Cyber Security Policy document outlines a road-map to create a framework
for comprehensive, collaborative and collective response to deal with the issue of cyber security
at all levels within the country.
The policy recognises the need for objectives and strategies that need to be adopted both
at the national level as well as international level.
The objectives and strategies outlined in the National Cyber Security Policy together serve
as a means to:
Articulate our concerns, understanding, priorities for action as well as directed efforts.
Provide confidence and reasonable assurance to all stakeholders in the country
(Government, business, industry and general public) and global community, about the safety,
resiliency and security of cyber space.
Adopt a suitable posturing that can signal our determined efforts to effectively monitor,
deter & deal with cyber-crime and cyber-attacks.
Salient features of the policy:
A vision and mission statement aimed at building a secure and resilience cyber space for
citizens, businesses and Government.
Enabling goals aimed at reducing national vulnerability to cyber-attacks, preventing cyberattacks & cybercrimes, minimizing response & recover time and effective cybercrime
investigation and prosecution.
Focused actions at the level of Govt., public-private partnership arrangements, cyber security
related technology actions, protection of critical information infrastructure and national alerts

and advice mechanism, awareness & capacity building and promoting information sharing and
cooperation.
Enhancing cooperation and coordination between all the stakeholder entities within the country.
Objectives and strategies in support of the National cyber security vision and mission.
Framework and initiatives that can be pursued at the Govt. level, sectoral levels as well as in
public private partnership mode.
Facilitating monitoring key trends at the national level such as trends in cyber security
compliance, cyber-attacks, cybercrime and cyber infrastructure growth.

Institute of Chartered Accountants of India:

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established
under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 (Act No. XXXVIII of 1949) for the regulation of the
profession of Chartered Accountants in India. During its 64 years of existence, ICAI has
achieved recognition as a premier accounting body not only in the country but also globally, for
its contribution in the fields of education, professional development, maintenance of high
accounting, auditing and ethical standards.ICAI now is the second largest accounting body in the
whole world.
bySiva Ramakrishnan
List of References:
1. PIB English Release
2. Respective Official Websites and Wikipedia
PIB: - WINTER SEASON OF PARLIAMENT 2013
5 December to 20 December (I am trying to cover maximum news but coverage will not be
descriptive otherwise it will go long so you have to take this initiative by yourself)

Drinking Water and Sanitation Facilities

Uniform drinking water quality monitoring protocol have been made available to the
States to improve performance of rural drinking water supply schemes.

Provision of incentives for the construction of Individual household latrines (IHHL)

extended to identify Above Poverty Line (APL) households (all SCs /STs, small and
marginal farmers, landless labourers with homestead, physically handicapped and
women-headed households.
Recasting the component of Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) under NBA
(BHARAT NIRMAN ABHIYAN) to a project mode approach in convergence with
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
Promoting Organic Farming in the Country
The Government is promoting organic farming through various schemes like National
Project on Organic Farming (NPOF), National Horticulture Mission (NHM), and
Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan States (HMNEH), National Project on
Management of Soil Health and Fertility (NPMSH&F) RashtriyaKrishi Vikas Yojana
(RKVY) and also Network Project on Organic Farming of Indian Council of Agricultural
Research (ICAR).
Under National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) scheme, assistance up to 25% and
33% of financial outlay is provided as back ended subsidy through NABARD for
establishment of bio pesticides/bio-fertilizers production units and agro waste compost
production units respectively.
Steps to Control Leaf Spot Disease in Banana
Sigatoka Leaf Spot disease of banana has affected the banana plantations in Maharashtra,
Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West
Bengal, Gujarat, Bihar and Assam.
The National Research Centre for Banana, Tiruchirapalli has developed effective
management technology for the control of leaf spot disease in banana by integrated
management practices. The disease can be controlled effectively by application of
fungicides and petroleum oil coupled with field sanitation and removal of affected leaves.
Rural Wireline Broadband Scheme
Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) has launched Rural Wireline Broadband
Scheme for providing broadband connectivity to rural and remote areas, USOF has
signed an Agreement with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) on January 20, 2009
under the Rural Wireline Broadband Scheme to provide wireline broadband connectivity
to rural and broadband by leveraging the existing rural exchanges infrastructure and
copper wireline network.
Flow of Foreign Capital
The US Fed Indications in late May 2013 about the possible tapering of the quantitative
easing programme led to substantial outflow of FIIs from Emerging Market Economies

(EMEs) including India. Further, EMEs currencies, particularly those with high CAD,
also witnessed sharp exchange rate depreciation.
In order to augment capital inflows, various measures have been taken in the recent
period, including liberalized FDI norms through review of limits and (or) routes for select
sectors viz., telecom, asset reconstruction companies, credit information companies,
petroleum and natural gas, courier services, commodity exchanges, infrastructure
companies in the securities market and power exchanges, offering a window for the
banks to swap the fresh FCNR(B) dollar funds with the Reserve Bank increase in the
overseas borrowing limit from 50 to 100 per cent of the unimpaired Tier I capital of
banks (with the option of swap with the Reserve Bank)permission to avail of ECB under
the approval route from their foreign equity holder company for general corporate
purposes.
Drugs Prohibited / Suspended in the Country
The Government has suspended the manufacture for sale, sale and distribution of
following drugs in 2013 as the use of these drugs was likely to involve risk to the human
health:
Dextropropoxyphene and formulations containing Dextropropoxyphene for human use.
Analgin and all formulations containing analgin for human use.
Fixed Dose Combination of Flupenthixol+Melitracen for human use.
Pioglitazone and all formulations containing Pioglitazone for human use.
Measles Special Immunization Activity
World Health Organization (WHO) on 24th February, 2012 removed India from the list of
countries with active endemic wild poliovirus transmission.
The Government is also working to eliminate measles and control Rubella and
Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) by 2020 in association with South-East Asia
Region.
Drugs & Cosmetics (Amendment) Bill, 2013
The Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 has been amended on several occasions since its
enactment.
on the basis of the recommendations of the Mashelkar Committee, the Act was amended
by the Drugs & Cosmetics (Amendment) Act, 2008 to provide stringent penalties for
manufacture of spurious and adulterated drugs.
Certain offences were made cognizable and non-bailable.
It also enabled setting up of special designated courts for speedy disposal of cases to deal
with the cases of offences under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. 16 States/UTs have
already set up these special Courts.

South-South Cooperation on Child Rights

The Government of India recently hosted the Second High Level Meeting (HLM) on
South-South Cooperation for Child Rights in Asia and the Pacific in New Delhi from
23rd to 25th October 2013.
The meeting provided a forum to the development of networks for knowledge exchange,
promotion of peer learning, and coordination for cooperation on child rights in the
countries of Asia and the Pacific.
The deliberations during the HLM focused on three themes:
Urban setting as an opportunity for realizing all child rights; Adolescents: current rights
for future opportunities and Fulfilling Child Rights through Early Childhood
Development.
The Meeting also assessed the progress made in the area of child rights since the first
HLM held in Beijing in 2010.
The HLM concluded with the adoption of a New Delhi Declaration on South-South
Cooperation for Child Rights in Asia and the Pacific.
The New Delhi Declaration provided an overview on status of children in Asia and the
Pacific.
It provided overall and specific recommendations on the three themes of Adolescents,
Early Childhood Development and Urban Settings.
The overall recommendations included improving data collection methodologies and use
data for the purpose of advancing child rights; enhancing inter-country learning and
exchange of best practices; and encouraging multi-country research studies on childrens
issues.
The specific recommendations included improving access and quality of lower secondary
education and vocational training for children and adolescents; reviewing and enhancing
national and regional coordination of early childhood development policies, programmes
and service components and; enhancing services to children living in urban areas,
particularly the most marginalized and excluded children.
National Institute for Women Affairs
There is a proposal to set up a National Institute for Women Affairs (NIWA) under the
Ministry of Women and Child Development.
However, at present the National Resource Centre for Women (NRCW) under the
National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW) is working towards ensuring
the operationalization of the Mission at National, State and District levels.
Discussions with Bangladesh Regarding Hydro-Electric Projects in
Manipur/Meghalaya
Discussions are being held between India and Bangladesh regarding the construction of
Hydro Power Projects in Meghalaya and Manipur. Bangladesh had raised its concern

regarding the Tipaimukh Hydro-Electric (Multipurpose) Project (1500 MW) in Manipur

and Mawphu (85MW) and Myntdu (84 MW) dam in Meghalaya.

Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) Signed Between

India and Government of UAE to Boost Investment Flows Between the two
Countries.
Weather Forecast
Government has launched the National Monsoon Mission to build state-of-the-art
coupled ocean-atmospheric climate model framework for a) improved prediction of
monsoon rainfall on extended range to seasonal time scale (16 days to one season) and b)
improved prediction of temperature, rainfall and extreme weather events on short to
medium range time scale (up to 15 days).
Most Recommendations of the Damodaran Committee Taken Into Account inthe
Companies Act, 2013
Entry of Foreign Universities to set up their Campuses in India
The Government has prepared the University Grants Commission (UGC) (Establishment
and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Educational Institutions) Rules, 2013.
Under the proposed Rules, Foreign Educational Institutions (FEIs) can set up campuses
in India once the FEIs have been notified as Foreign Education Provider (FEPs) by the
UGC, subject to fulfillment of certain eligibility conditions.
New National Textile Policy
Government has constituted an Expert Committee to review the National Textile Policy
2000 and formulate the National Textile Policy 2013.
The existing National Textile Policy 2000 was framed about 13 years ago and since
then the industry has undergone various changes on the domestic and international fronts.
The domestic textile industry has seen large scale modernization and technological upgradation in the last decade and faces new challenges.
In the international trade scenario, while the export quota regime has been removed in
2004, recent trends in the global textile industry offer an enormous opportunity to Indian
industry to enhance its share in world trade with a supportive policy framework.
Hence, the Government aims to formulate a new improved Textile Policy to address
concerns of adequate skilled work force, labour reforms, attracting investments in the
Textile Sector, as well as providing a future road map for the textile and clothing
industry.

Setting up of Heavy Water Reactors in the Country

The Government propose to build heavy water reactors in the country;
Start of work on eight new Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) each of 700 MW
capacity is envisaged in the XII Five Year Plan, in the states of Haryana, Madhya
Pradesh, Rajasthan& Karnataka.
Promoting Organic Farming in the Country
The Government is promoting organic farming in the country through schemes like
National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF), National Horticulture Mission (NHM),
Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States (HMNEH), RashtriyaKrishi
Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and also Network Project on Organic Farming of Indian Council
of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
Schemes for Farmers Skill Development and Training
A number of ongoing schemes have an inbuilt component of skill development and
training in agriculture sector.
Continuous efforts are being made to improve the coverage and quality of these
programmes through regular reviews, monitoring and formulation of new strategies.

The details of Schemes providing skill development and training for the farmers are
given below:
Department of Agriculture & Cooperation
i

Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms: a new

institutional arrangement for technology dissemination in the form of
Agricultural technology management Agency(ATMA) at district level. The
activities taken up under the scheme includes capacity building of extension
functionaries and farmers, front line demonstration, exposure visits,
kisanmelas, farmers group mobilization, farm schools and farmers-scientist
interaction. Through these activities, latest agriculture technologies are
disseminated to farmers of the country.

ii

National Food Security Mission (NFSM): Amongst different interventions,

under NFSM, Farmer Field Schools (FFS) are being implemented on a large
scale to provide first-hand information to the farmers in their fields and equip
them with necessary skills to enable them to adopt the improved crop
production technologies for higher productivity Plant Protection Scheme &
also under Cotton/Jute Technology Missions.

iii

National Horticulture Mission (NHM): Human Resource Development

through training and demonstration is an integral component of the NHM.
Under this Mission, training programmes for the farmers are conducted at
district level, State level and outside the State on emerging issues of
Horticulture.

iv

Horticulture Mission for North Eastern and Himalayan States

(HMNEH): The HMNEH scheme, being run in North Eastern and
Himalayan States, has also got component of transfer of technology through
training/exposure visit of farmers.

Development and Strengthening of Infrastructure Facilities for

Production and Distribution of Quality Seeds: Skill development through
training and demonstration is provided for farmers and seed growers on
techniques to be adopted for hybrid rice seed production.

vi

Promotion and strengthening of Agriculture Mechanization through

Training, Testing and Demonstration: Information & latest technologies in
the field of Agriculture Mechanization are being disseminated to farmers and
rural unemployed youth through training programmes and demonstrations.

vii

Post-Harvest Technology and Management: Assistant is provided to the

State governments and other implementing agencies in organising
demonstration & trainings on post-harvest technology.

viii

Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oilpalm and Maize (ISOPOM):

Trainings are conducted for farmers for skill development in the area of
adopting new technologies related to new varieties, pest management/control
and adoption of new package of practices including new implements.

Department of Agricultural Research and Education

ix

KrishiVigyanKendras: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

has created a network of 634 KrishiVigyanKendras (KVKs) in the country
aiming at assessment, refinement and demonstration of technology/products.
As part of this process, the KVKs also organize a number of training
programmes to update the knowledge and skills of farmers.

Technologies Evolved for Preparation of Enriched Manures From Organic Wastes

The Government through National Project on Management of Soil Health and Fertility
(NPMSHF) and National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) is promoting use of
composts/manures in the country. Farmers are being educated on this aspect through
training and demonstrations.
Relaxation of Norms for Sezs
The amendments to the SEZs Rules, 2006 include reduced minimum area requirements
for establishing SEZs, reforms in vacancy norms for land for SEZs, sectoral broadbanding and graded scale for minimum land criteria in order to allow greater flexibility
and to facilitate optimal utilization of SEZ land, clarification of norms for transfer of
assets by SEZ Units upon their exit etc.
The amendments also provide that while there will be no minimum land area requirement
for setting up IT/ITES SEZs such IT/ITES SEZs will have to conform with a minimum

built up area requirement which is graded as per category of cities based on their IT
density.

Tsunami Warning System

The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) was established and made fully
functional since 2007 and is now rendering operational services as a Regional Tsunami
Watch Provider (RTWP) for whole of the Indian Ocean Region by the Earth System
Science Organization - Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Sciences (ESSOINCOIS) of the Ministry of Earth Sciences located in Hyderabad.
National Resource Centre for Women
The Government of India has set up a National Resource Centre for Women (NRCW)
under National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW).
The NRCW comprises of gender experts from various thematic domains like health and
nutrition, gender budgeting and gender mainstreaming, gender rights and gender based
violence, economic empowerment and poverty alleviation, communication and advocacy
etc.
'Earn While you Learn' Programme
The Ministry of Tourism is implementing a Scheme titled Earn While You Learn with a
view to inculcate appropriate tourism travel traits and knowledge amongst trainees to
enable them to work as student volunteers.
The salient features of the Scheme are:
College-going students pursuing graduation courses or graduates in the age group of 18
to 25 years will be eligible for the training programme.
The candidates are selected by following a transparent procedure.
The duration of each programme is 21 working days.
The course content is finalized by the Ministry of Tourism/implementing Institutes in
consultation with stakeholders.
Setting up of Equal Opportunity Commission

A High Level Committee under the chairpersonship of Justice (Retd.) Rajindar Sachar
had, inter alia, made recommendation for setting up of an Equal Opportunity Commission
(EOC) to address the grievances of deprived groups.
Government had set up an Expert Group to examine and determine, inter alia, the
structure and functions of an EOC.
Based on the Expert Group Report, recommendations of Group of Ministers constituted
for this purpose and comments/ inputs received from various stakeholders, a draft Equal
Opportunity Commission Bill for setting up of EOC is under consideration of the
Government.

4th Korea - India Finance Ministerial Working Level Meeting Held; Both Sides Recognize
the Necessity for Strengthening Economic Cooperation Between the two Countries to
Overcome Global Crisis.
In his opening remarks Dr Mayaram, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs said
that India and Korea have strong bilateral relations in field of Finance, Science and
Technology and Cultural exchange among others.
National rural drinking water programme
Under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) Ministry of Drinking Water &
Sanitation provides technical and financial assistance to the States to provide safe and adequate
drinking water to the rural population.

The Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation has prepared a Strategic Plan for coverage
of rural households with Piped Water. Under the Plan the following timelines have been
laid out:
By 2017,

Ensure that at least 50% of rural households are provided with piped water supply; at
least 35% of rural households have piped water supply with a household connection; less
than 20% use public taps and less than 45% use handpumps or other safe and adequate
private water sources. All services meet set standards in terms of quality and number of
hours of supply every day.
By 2022,
Ensure that at least 90% of rural households are provided with piped water supply; at
least 80% of rural households have piped water supply with a household connection; less
than 10% use public taps and less than 10% use handpumps or other safe and adequate
private water sources.

National Project on Biogas

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has formulated the following Schemes
for exploring the potential of bio-energy

Biomass Power and Biomass Cogeneration in Sugar Mills

Biogas Power Generation Programme (BPGP)
Biomass Gasifier Programme
Waste to Energy Programme
National Biogas and Manure Management Programme (NBMMP)
Biomass Cogeneration Non-bagasse

MNRE provides Central Financial Assistance for setting up bioenergy plants, training and
awareness raising. Besides, fiscal incentives such as custom and excise duties

concession, accelerated depreciation, income tax holiday and preferential tariff are also
provided for grid connected bioenergy power generation projects.
PMs address at the release of postage stamp in honour of SardarBeant Singh
SardarBeantSinghji is best remembered for providing strong and determined leadership to
the State of Punjab in very troubled times.
North East Rural Livelihood Project
North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP) is being implemented in four North
Eastern States of Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
As the objective of NERLP is to improve livelihoods of the poor, especially that of
women and the disadvantaged people in the project area, identification of Districts for the
project was done by the State Governments based on social and economic backwardness.
There is no plan to extend NERLP to other Districts except to the newly carved districts
out of the existing 8 districts. As the project has commenced its work recently, it is too
early to assess the impact of the project in increasing the per capita income of the Self
Help Groups.
National Crop Insurance Programme being Implemented from Current Rabi Season

A new central sector scheme, National Crop Insurance Programme (NCIP) has
been introduced by merging Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme
(MNAIS), Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) and Coconut Palm
Insurance Scheme (CPIS) throughout the country from Rabi 2013-14.
NCIP has been introduced to provide financial support to the farmers for losses in
their crop yield, to help in maintaining flow of agricultural credit, to encourage
farmers to adopt progressive farming practices and higher technology in
Agriculture and thereby, to help in maintaining production, employment &
economic growth.

Plastic Parks
Odisa,aasam,m.p. tamilnadu
New Greenfield Airports Approved
Maharashtra, Karanataka, Kerala, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim,
Pudducherry,Uttar Pradesh.
Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata and Chennai International
Airports have been identified for development as international hubs.

Government Contemplates to Make Raipur Airport International

Ensuring Environmental Sustainability Included in the List of Activities for

CSR Policies

First Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) in Indian Waters From 19-22

Dec

India and the Government of Republic of Macedonia Signed an Agreement

for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion
with Respect to Taxes on Income

Steps By Government To Reduce Infant Mortality Rate

NavjaatShishuSurakshaKaryakram (NSSK), a programme for training health care
providers on essential newborn care and resuscitation.
JananiShishuSurakshaKaryakaram (JSSK) has been launched on 1st June, 2011,
which entitles all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions to
absolutely free and no expense delivery including Caesarean section. The
initiative stipulates free drugs, diagnostics, blood and diet, besides free transport
from home to institution, between facilities in case of a referral and drop back
home. Similar entitlements have been put in place for all sick infants accessing
public health institutions for treatment.
RashtriyaBalSwasthyaKaryakram (RBSK), an introduction of child health
screening for 4Ds i.e. defects at birth, deficiencies, diseases, development delays
and their management among the children 0-18 years of age.
National Programme For Health Care of the Elderly
Following facilities are being provided under the Programme:
Geriatric OPD, 30 bedded Geriatric ward for in-patient care, etc at Regional
Geriatric Centres. The Regional Geriatric Centres will also undertake PG Courses
in Geriatric for developing Human Resource.
Geriatric OPD and 10 bed Geriatric Ward at District Hospitals.
Bi-weekly Geriatric Clinic at Community Health Centres (CHCs)
Weekly Geriatric Clinic at Primary Health Centre (PHCs).
Provision of Aids and Appliances at Sub-centres.

Shri GhulamNabi Azad Launches Reverse Dot Blot Hybridization (RDB) Thalassemia
Diagnostic Kit

Reverse Dot Blot Hybridization (RDB) Kit for thalassemia is developed by scientists of
National Institute of Immunohaematolgoy (NIIH) and the Indian Council for Medical
research (ICMR) and is now being domestically manufactured by IMGENEX Ltd.
The role of the molecular kit is to meet the need for affordable and sensitive tests for
diagnosis of affected children and for prenatal diagnosis in the first trimester itself.
The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011

Some of the important features in the Bill are as below:Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta at the level of the States.
The Lokpal will consist of a Chairperson and a maximum of eight Members, of which
fifty percent shall be judicial members.
Fifty per cent of members of Lokpal shall be from amongst SC/ST/OBCs, Minorities and
Women.
The selection of Chairperson and Members of Lokpal shall be through a Selection
Committee consisting of: Prime Minister;
Speaker of LokSabha;
Leader of Opposition in the LokSabha;
Chief Justice of India or a sitting Supreme Court judge nominated by CJI;
Eminent jurist to be nominated by the President of India on the basis of
recommendations of the first four members of the Selection Committee.
Prime Minister has been brought under the purview of the Lokpal.
Lokpals jurisdiction will cover all categories of public servants.
All entities receiving donations from foreign source in the context of the Foreign
Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) in excess of Rs. 10 lakhs per year are brought under
the jurisdiction of Lokpal.
Provides adequate protection for honest and upright Public Servants.
Lokpal will have power of superintendence and direction over any investigation agency
including CBI for cases referred to them by Lokpal.
A high powered Committee chaired by the Prime Minister will recommend selection of
the Director,CBI.
Directorate of Prosecution headed by a Director of Prosecution under the overall control
of Director;
The appointment of the Director of Prosecution, CBI on the recommendation of the
Central Vigilance Commission;
Transfer of officers of CBI investigating cases referred by Lokpal with the approval of
Lokpal;
The Bill also incorporates provisions for attachment and confiscation of property
acquired by corrupt means, even while prosecution is pending.

The Bill lays down clear time lines for Preliminary enquiry & investigation and trial and
towards this end, the Bill provides for setting up of Special Courts.
A mandate for setting up of the institution of Lokayukta through enactment of a law by
the State Legislature within a period of 365 days from the date of commencement of the
Act.

Statement of Finance Minister on Bilateral Currency Swap

Arrangement Between the Reserve Bank of India and
Bank of Japan to Enhance Facility of Currency Swap From
US $15 Billion To US $ 50 Billion
Smt Sushma Singh takes over as Chief Information
Commissioner
Sub-Committee on Promotion of Urdu Language and
Enhancement of Compatibility Amongst Minorities
Through Knowledge of English
recommended the setting up of a monitoring committee of experts to ensure
the implementation of programmes related to promotion of Urdu in the light
of the recommendations of the Sub-Committee and other proposals that
might come up as an offshoot of these recommendations.

Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) Signed

Between India And San Marino.

India and Venezuela Sign Programme on Cultural

Exchange.

CCEA approves Exploration and Exploitation of Coal Bed

Methane areas under Coal Mining Lease allotted to Coal
India Limited.

Inclusion of Jat community in the Central List of OBCs for

the States of Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh,
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan Uttar Pradesh, Delhi,
Uttarakhand and Bihar.
Programme for bovine breeding and dairy development

The Scheme will have two components (a) National Programme for Bovine
Breeding (NPBB) and (b) National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD).
NPBB will focus amongst other things on extension of the Field Artificial
Insemination (Al) Net work, monitoring of Al programme, development and
conservation of indigenous breeds and establishment of breeders'
associations and societies to encourage conservation and development of
recognized indigenous breeds.

Election Commission Heads and Representatives From Eight Countries (Iraq,

Lebanon, Nigeria and Senegal, south Sudan) Witness Assembly Elections in Madhya
Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi Countries Seek ECI Support in Capacity Building and
Election Technology

Policy for Corporate Governance

On account of increasing importance of businesses to the economics and
complexities of operating in an inter-dependent world necessitated this Ministry to
constitute a Committee to formulate a Policy document on Corporate Governance
under the Chairmanship of Shri Adi Godrej on 07.03.2012. The Committee has
since submitted its report to the Central Government.
i) Faster incorporation / registration of companies through fully
electronic MCA-21 Registry provided;
ii) Companies allowed to maintain records and hold meetings through egovernance mode;
iii) Companies empowered to function in a manner which is selfregulated with disclosures/transparency rather than Government/regulatory
approval based regime;
iv) Concepts of One Person Company and Small Company
recognized to allow new entrepreneurs to take advantage of corporate form of
business;
v) Faster mergers and acquisitions including short form of merger and
cross border mergers allowed;
vi) Time bound approvals through National Company Law Tribunal
(NCLT);
vii) Summary liquidation process for a class of companies provided.
New National Competition Policy
The Bill seeks to regulate public procurement by all Ministries/Departments of the
Central Government, Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), autonomous and
statutory bodies controlled by the Central Government and other procuring entities
with the objectives of ensuring transparency, accountability and probity in the
procurement process, fair and equitable treatment of bidders, promoting
competition, enhancing efficiency and economy, maintaining integrity and public
confidence in the public procurement process.
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture Being Launched in Twelfth Plan

The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture is being launched during the
Twelfth Five Year Plan.
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) seeks to transform Indian
agriculture into a climate resilient production system through suitable adaptation
and mitigation measures in domains of both crops and animal husbandry. NMSA as
a programmatic intervention focuses on promotion of location specific
integrated/composite farming systems; resource conservation technologies;
comprehensive soil health management; efficient on-farm water management and
mainstreaming rainfed technologies.
Neha Shrivastava