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NEWS OF THE MONTH:INTERNATIONAL: RUSSIANS DENY ELECTION MANDATE The ruling party of Vladimir Putin won Russias Parliamentary elections but with a sharply reduced majority. Opposition Parties have alleged large scale vote fixing, including ballot box stuffing. KIM JONG-UN TO HEAD N.KOREA North Korea will shift to collective rule from a strongman dictatorship after the death of Kim Jong-il, although his untested young son will be at the head of the ruling coterie. -North Koreas collective leadership will includ Kim Jong-un, his uncle and the military. TYPHOON HITS PHILIPPINES Tropical storm washi raked across the southern Philippines unleashing mammoth floods across vast areas that left over 650 peoples dead and nearly 200 more missing NATIONAL: LOK SABHA PASSES NEW LOKPAL BILL The Lokpal and Lokayukta bill,2011 was passed by the Lok Sabha by voice vote. The new bill includes minority quota in the proposed nine-member anti-graft body, which provide for not less than 50 pc reservation for SCs, STs, OBCs and women. The bill extends Lokpals jurisdiction over the Prime Minister except in the case of foreign relations, internal, external security, public order, atomic energy and space. The PM enjoys some liberties-he cant face inquiry unless three-fourth members of the lokpal bench approve, inquiry must be in camera and its records cant be shared with anyone if the complaint is dismissed. -Other Highlights of Lokpal and Lokayuktas bill 2011: -Lokpal will comprise a chairperson and a maximum of eight members, half of them judicial members. -Lokpal shall have powers of superintendence and direction for holding preliminary inquiry, causing investigation to be made and prosecution in respect of complaints under any law for prevention of corruption. -Chairperson and members to be chosen by selection committee consisting of Prime Minister, Speaker and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India or a sitting Supreme Court Judge nominated by CJI, and eminent jurist to be nominated by president. -A, B, C, and D categories of government officers will include Lokpals jurisdiction, and in the case of group A and B officers, Lokpal will refer complaints to CVC. -CBI remains under administrative control of government. -Lokpal will not be able to initiate inquiry suo motu.

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(February 2012) CABINET CLEARS FOOD SECURITY BILL Which has largely been drafted on recommendations of the National Advisory Council, headed by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. This Food bill covers 75% of the population in rural and 50% in urban areas. -For Priority Group(below poverty line) 7kg grain per month per person. Rice at Rs 3/kg, wheat at Rs 2/kg and coarse gain at Rs 1/kg. -For General Group 3kg/person per month at half of minimum support price to be given to farmers. -Beneficiaries Under Priority Group Minimum 46% of rural and26% of urban population -Meals for Vulnerable Communities Mid-day meal scheme and ICDS brought under bill. -Total Fiscal Bill Rs 1.5 lakh crore roughly (including states share) -Grains Needed 61 million tones. INDIA RANKS 95th IN TRANSPARENCY REPORT India rank slipping to a low 95 among 183 countries in Transparency Internationals Corruption Perception Index (CPI).
-TOP 5 LEAST CORRUPT NATIONS - TOP 5 MOST CORRUPT NATIONS

1. New Zealand 2. Denmark 3. Finland 4. Sweden 5. Singapore

9.5 9.4 9.4 9.3 9.2

1. North Korea 2. Somalia 3. Afghanistan 4. Myanmar 5. Uzbekistan

1.0 1.0 1.5 1.5 1.6

BHARAT RATNA NOW OPEN FOR ALL The prestigious Bharat Ratna can now be bestowed in any field, other than art, literature, science and public service, the government announced. According to the new ruling sportspersons will now also be eligible for the highest civilian award. 3.25 CR COURT CASES PENDING According to government sources, around 3.2 cr cases had been pending in high courts and subordinate courts across the country while 56,383 cases were pending in the apex court. JANA GANA MANA COMPLETES 100 YEARS On December 27, 2011. The song was first sung on the second day of the annual conference of the INC in Calcutta on December 27, 1911. STATE:100 YEARS OF NATIONAL CAPITAL The Delhi was proclaimed as the capital of British Raj on December 12, 1911, shifting from Kolkata, by the Emperor of India George V, thereby returning to the historic city its lost glory.

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(February 2012) -Lutyens laid out the central administrative area. At the heart of the city, he built the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Four Bungalows inside the Presidents Estate, India Gate and the Hyderabad and Baroda Palaces at India Gate. -Sir Robert Tor Russell built Connaught Palace, the Eastern and Western Courts, Teen Murti House, Safdarjung Airport, National Stadium and over 4,000 government houses. AFSPA EXTENDED IN ASSAM The Central Government has extended the enforcement of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, in Assam by another one year notwithstanding the marked improvement of security scenario in the stare with the number of insurgent outfits coming over the dialogue with the government during the last couple of years. -AFSPA, whose continued enforcement in Northeast and J-K become a matter of debate in the country, was first imposed in Assam in 1990 and since then it has been in the force in the state through yearly extension. NAGAS END MANIPUR BLOCKADE In a major relief to the long suffering people of the Manipur, the United Naga Council (UNC), suspended its economic blockade that had plunged the northeastern state into a humanitarian crisis by choking off food, medical and fuel supplies. RESTORED GHALIB HAVELI OPENED in Ballimaran area, New Delhi. An exhibition was also organized displaying only replicas of Ghalibs personal belongings. ECONOMIC:ALL SECTOR: 26 PER CENT STAKE IN DOMESTIC AIRLINES The Civil Aviation Ministry had initially raised concerns regarding security and predatory pricing by foreign airlines, affecting domestic market. -At present, foreign investment of up to 49 per cent is permitted in the aviation services like cargo handling but foreign carriers are not allowed. TAX: INDIAN COS STILL PARKING FUNDS IN TAX HAVENS The top 10 investment destinations for Indian companies in the last three years are all tax havens, if the US and UK which figure at number 4 and number 8, respectively, are discounted. -Around 40% of the total investments in this three years have been in real estate, insurance and financial instruments.

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(February 2012) BANK: NPAs CROSS ` 150,000 CR The gross non-performing assets (NPAs) of the banking sector are set to cross the Rs 150,000 crore mark during the fiscal ended march 2012. -The priority sector, including SMEs and agriculture, apart from retail, real estate and infrastructure sectors, are contributing the maximum to the stressed assets. -Out standings:- Power sector Rs 3,00,752 crore -Commercial Real Estate - Rs 1,14,459 crore -Roads Rs 1,03,545 crore -Textile Sector Rs 1 lakh crore -Telecom Sector Rs 89,964 crore -Aviation Rs 64,000 crore ANDIAS FOREX RESERVES DIP BY $4.67 BILLION A dip in Indias foreign currency assets resulted in a $4.67 billion declined in the Countrys forex reserves to #302.1 billion for the week ended December 16.

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: DURBAN MEET ON CLIMATE ISSUES Two weeks of United Nations talks over climate change concluded in Durban, with an agreement by more than 190 Nations to work toward a future, legally forceful to all major carbon emitters to cut green-house gas emissions, ending days of wrangling between India and the EU over the fate of the Kyoto protocol. -Other highlights of the meet:-Second phase of Kyoto protocol secured. -Green Climate Fund launched, though empty as yet. -Green tech development mechanism put in place. -Equity finds place back in future climate talks. -Adaptation mechanism. -Transparency mechanism. -India regains leadership of developing world. -EU gains half at cost of US but also generates bad relations with developing countries. -Basic grouping looks more fragile than before with India and China remaining close but Brazil and South Africa drifting. * While US had already opted out of the Kyoto protocol, two days later, Canada argued that they have chosen to formally withdraw from Kyoto because they are no longer willing to submit themselves to legally binding commitments. Canadas decision is expected to have a cascading effect with Japan, Russia Australia likely to follow suit.

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(February 2012) FIRST EARTH-SIZED PLANETS DISCOVERED BEYOND SOLAR SYSTEM NASAs astronomers have found a pair of Earth-sized planets called kepler-20e and 20f orbiting a star similar to the sun. -A super Earth-sized planet, called kepler-22b, which circles the right distance from its partner star for liquid water to exist on its surface. -Kepler-20f has a diameter that is 3% larger than the Earths, while kepler-20e has a diameter that is 15% smaller than Earths. -They are the smallest exo-planets ever confirmed around a star like the Sun. WONDER PILL TO KEEP YOU SLIM A new wonder diet pill OAP189, which switches off appetite without any side-effects could be on sale within three years. 4. DEFENCE:PRESIDENTIAL FLEET REVIEW The Mumbai Coast showcased its growing maritime might, in all its three-dimensional power with potent warships, lethal submarines and maritime strike supersonic fighters, underlining its intent to safeguard its geo-political interests stretching from Hormuz Strait till Malacca Strait in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond. NSG HUB NEAR CHENNAI As part of efforts to enhance the Countrys capability to fight terrorism, the ` 54 crore permanent infrastructure of the National Security Guard regional hub built over an extent of around 69 acres in Nedunkundram, about 30 Km south of Chennai. SUDARSHAN SHAKTI President Pratibha Patil, Supreme Commander of the armed forces, in Barmer (Rajasthan) witnessed one of the largest military exercises in recent times Sudarshan Shakti aimed at starting the transformation of the forces in to a modern, lean, and agile fighting combination capable of leveraging new-age technologies. TOP BUYERS OF US ARMS India had become the third biggest arms purchaser from US logging contracts wroth over $4.5 billion. -US rams sales to India include Naval Reconnaissance, planes, giant transporters, sea-skimming missiles and other weapon systems. EDUCATION: 1ST CMAT IN 2012 All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has announced the first national-level Common Management Admission Test (CMAT)-2012. -The test scores will be applicable to 4,000 business schools excluding Indian Institutes of Management. The Common Admission Test (CAT) will continue to be the criterion for entry to IIMs.

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(February 2012) -CMAT scores will help students get admissions in four lakh sanctioned seats of AICTE approved management institutions. 6. SPORTS:VIRU MAKES ODI RECOED Sehwag hit 219 againts West Indies at Indore, during the 4th ODI, becoming only the second batsman to score an ODI double tone. -Sehwag now holds the world record for highest ODI score, beating sachin Tendulkars 200 not out against South Africa in Gwalior. BARCELONA WINS CLUB WORLD CUP Lionel Messi grabbed a brace as a rampant Barcelona out classed the Brazilians Santos 4-0 to lift the Club World Cup and confirm their status as the best team on the planet. AWARDS:INTERNATIONAL: THE PORNSTAR TIME PERSON OF THE YEAR William McRaven, commander of the US mission to kill Al Qaeda Chief Osama bin Laden. SUPER 30 FOUNDER IN WORLDS 20 TOP TEACHERS Math Wizard Anand Kumar, Who has won accolades for his initiative train- poor students for IIT-JEE, has figured in an international list of 20 pioneering teachers of the world published by Monocle, a magazine published from England. NATIONAL: FILM: 42nd IFFI AWARDS International Film Festival of India awards were presented in Panaji, Goa. The awardees are : -Golden Peacock Award: Colombian film Porfirio, directed by Alejandro Landes and produced by Francisco Aljure. -Silver Peacock Award: Asghar Farhadi for the Irani film Jodaeiye. -Best Male Actor: Sasson Gabay of Israel for Restoration film. -Best Female Actor: Russian actor Nadezda Markina for Elena by Andrei Zvyagintsev. PERSONS IN NEWS:DEMISE: DHARAM DEV PISHORIMAL ANAND (DEV ANAND) (88) Indias youngest and evergreen Bollywood star, died after a heart attack in London.

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(February 2012) -He made his acting debut in Hum Ek Hain (1946), and for a generation of women in 1950s and 60s India. KIM JONG-IL (69) Was the North Korean Leader, Who realized his familys dream of turning his starving country in to a minor nuclear weapons power even as the isolated nation sank further in to despotism, died of a heart attack. -His dearth ended 17 years of rule over the isolated, paranoid country that his father, kim il-sung, founded. SATYADEV DUBEY Renowned director, actor and screenplay writer of India passed away in Mumbai after a prolonged illness. INDIRA GOSWAMI (69) Eminent literature, author of several bestseller Assamese novels and short story collection, won the Sahitya Akademi Award for her powerful novel Mamare Dhara Tarowal Aru Dukhan Upanyasa. -Peacemaker between the insurgent United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the centre and Indias first principal prince claus laureate popularly known as Mamoni Raisom Goswami, passed away, after a prolonged illness. AMOTA WINS FIFTH GOLD Commonwealth games heavyweight champion Paramjeet samota clinched his fifth consecutive gold at the 58th senior mens national boxing championship. BOOKS AND AUTHORS: Oru Malaprankadha Habeeb Arakkal Virtuous Sin - Shadan Ahned 5000 Years of Indian Art Sushma k bahl Upworldly Mobile Ranjini Manian The Romance of Indian Coffee P.T. Boponna The world at His Feat Pullela Gopichand Non-Stop India Mark Tully The Taj at Apollo Bunder Charles Allen & Sharada Dwivwdi The Dancing Girl : A History of Early India Balaji Sadasivan His Monsoon Bride Astha Atray

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