Civil Services Mentor February 2013

Index Index
Index Index Index

Chief Editor:
Sachchida Nand Jha
Editor:
Yagya Nand Jha
Designed by:
Chandan Kumar Raja
Editorial Office:
A 13/A 3rd Floor,
Gali No-1, Hardev Nagar
Jharoda Majra
New Delhi84
CURRENT AFFAIRS
National Issues 15
International Issues 27
India & the World 37
Economy 42
Science and Technology 50
Sports 66
Awards & Prizes 78
In the News 86
PAGE NO. 4
PAGE NO. 11
PAGE NO. 123
AUGUST, 2012
For Advertisement Contact at :
8826659121
Join us at Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/upscportal.original
Follow us at Twitter:
http://twitter.com/upscportal
PAGE NO. 126
PAGE NO. 8
Disclaimer:
Editor and Publisher are not responsible
for any view, data, figure etc. expressed
in the articles by the author(s). Maps are
notational .
All Disputes are subject to the exclusive
jurisdiction of competent courts and
fourms in Delhi/New Delhi only.
Selected Articles from Selected Articles from Selected Articles from Selected Articles from Selected Articles from
Various Newspapers & Journals Various Newspapers & Journals Various Newspapers & Journals Various Newspapers & Journals Various Newspapers & Journals 103
THE MISINTERPRETATION AND THE MISINTERPRETATION AND THE MISINTERPRETATION AND THE MISINTERPRETATION AND THE MISINTERPRETATION AND
MISUSE OF FREEDOM IN INDIA MISUSE OF FREEDOM IN INDIA MISUSE OF FREEDOM IN INDIA MISUSE OF FREEDOM IN INDIA MISUSE OF FREEDOM IN INDIA
CHILD LABOUR-A CHILD LABOUR-A CHILD LABOUR-A CHILD LABOUR-A CHILD LABOUR-A

BLOT ON BLOT ON BLOT ON BLOT ON BLOT ON
THE FACE OF DEMOCRACY THE FACE OF DEMOCRACY THE FACE OF DEMOCRACY THE FACE OF DEMOCRACY THE FACE OF DEMOCRACY
FEBRUARY, 2013
INDIA IS ASHAMED INDIA IS ASHAMED INDIA IS ASHAMED INDIA IS ASHAMED INDIA IS ASHAMED
HYBRID DESALINATION PLANT HYBRID DESALINATION PLANT HYBRID DESALINATION PLANT HYBRID DESALINATION PLANT HYBRID DESALINATION PLANT
AT KALPAKKAM AT KALPAKKAM AT KALPAKKAM AT KALPAKKAM AT KALPAKKAM
INDIAS ROLE IN PROMOTING INDIAS ROLE IN PROMOTING INDIAS ROLE IN PROMOTING INDIAS ROLE IN PROMOTING INDIAS ROLE IN PROMOTING
ASEAN CO-OPERATION ASEAN CO-OPERATION ASEAN CO-OPERATION ASEAN CO-OPERATION ASEAN CO-OPERATION
JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS IN JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS IN JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS IN JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS IN JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS IN
I NDI A I NDI A I NDI A I NDI A I NDI A
UPSCPORTAL Current Affairs : http://upscportal.com/civilservices/current-affairs
http://www.civilservicesmentor.com http://upscportal.com
4 44 44
Click Here to Subscribe PRI NT COPY of Civil Services Mentor Magazine
http://civilservicesmentor.com/mag/subscribe
The Indian Moving Bus Gang
Rape Case in Delhi is much talked
about and is being followed issue
in Indian society these days. What
had happened on the night of 16th
of December had shaken the
whole nations soul and has also
raised the question on the level of
inhumanity and brutality one can
ever think of. The incident was a
slap slap on the face of the na-
tion, the police forces, the govern-
ment, the judiciary, but above all
it was a tight slap on the face of
the humanity. India is
ashamed
After they were thrown out
of the bus they were there lying
naked on the road. Shouting and
screaming for help. There were
many people surrounding them;
looking at them; auto rickshaws
and car drivers came and went.
None of them thought of taking
them to the hospital, or even to
cover their nude bodies. The
whole Delhi (India) turned out to
be a rapist the rapists of human-
ity, as no one helped them. In case
they had had been helped on time
the reality today with have been
different. Three PCR Vans passed
by, but none helped them
(claimed by misfortunate girls
friend in interview). Then after one
of the passerbies called the police
and at last when they came after
two and a half hours not even a
single police personal had a
thought of covering the naked
bodies of the two victims in such
a shivering cold.
The gang rape in the capital
of a paramedical student, who
died in hospital, should more than
just outrage us. Rape is not simply
about law and order, or about de-
ranged individuals. Nor is the
problem going to be solved by
more laws, more police on our
streets, more CCTV cameras on
our buses or stiffer sentences for
rapists. The gang rapes that are
occurring with alarming regularity
must compel us to reflect upon
who we are as a society.
Just like the killing of young
innocents is forcing Americans to
address the societal reasons for
such violence and not just blame
one individual, Indians need to
understand that gang rape is not
just an aberration committed by
inhuman men. We need to address
how we as a society are implicated
in producing such appalling lev-
els of violence against women,
which is increasingly being toler-
ated and even normalised. As
women enter the work place and
the public arena, their boldness
and confidence seem to trigger a
sense of insecurity in a society
where men are used to being in
charge. While it is impossible to
reduce the issue of violence to one
sole cause, that is men, the fact
remains that young men are the
ones committing these crimes.
These include the 2003 gang rape
of a 17-year-old Delhi University
student in Buddha Jayanti Park; the
Dhaula Kuan gang rape in 2005 in
a moving car of a student from
Mizoram; and the 2010 gang rape
of a young BPO employee from the
north-east.
INDIA IS ASHAMED INDIA IS ASHAMED
INDIA IS ASHAMED INDIA IS ASHAMED INDIA IS ASHAMED
http://upscportal.com http://www.civilservicesmentor.com
5 55 55
Click Her e to Subscribe PRI NT COPY of Civil Services Mentor Magazine
Caught as they were between
the stony silence of an impassive
government and the cynically sim-
plistic demands of Opposition
politicians for instant justice, it is
hardly surprising that the leader-
less crowds which spontaneously
gathered at India Gate on Saturday
and Sunday to protest the recent
incident of rape in the Capital
should have ended up in a violent
skirmish with the police. Yes,
lumpens looking for a scrap
jumped in to take advantage and
yes, the police did respond with
mindless brutality against every-
one present. But the primary re-
sponsibility for the turmoil surely
lies with our national political
leaders who simply lack the abil-
ity to understand and engage with
a democratic upsurge from below,
especially one that is not stratified
by language, religion or caste.
Confronted with the possibility of
mass protest, the government on
Saturday should have acted politi-
cally to assure the women of In-
dia that a serious national review
of all legal issues surrounding
rape, sexual assault and gender
rights would be undertaken on a
war-footing. Instead, its first and
only instinct was to shut down the
public transport system in Central
Delhi and prepare for battle. When
thousands of young women and
men arrived at India Gate on Sun-
day having successfully evaded
official attempts to restrict their
movement, they found themselves
face to face with a state appara-
tus that was not interested in a
conversation.
Although arrests have been
made after the gang rape incident
and the government has promised
a speedy trial, women in New
Delhi and the rest of India do not
feel any safer when stepping out
of their homes. This is because
they know that the official mindset
has not changed. Instead of push-
ing the national debate in the di-
rection of serious systemic reform,
especially of law enforcement and
justice delivery, a number of Op-
position politicians have started an
irresponsible debate on the need
for the death penalty, or castration
of rapists. These demands, which
have had a populist echo amongst
the protesters at India Gate, ignore
the fact that shoddy investigation,
poor forensics and misogynist at-
titudes among the police and even
lower judiciary are the main rea-
sons why rape victims in India do
not get justice. The editorial page
article by Anup Surendranath to-
day explains why castration is not
a solution. As for the death pen-
alty, making it mandatory for rape
will make it more likely that a rap-
ist kills his victim. A committee
headed by Justice J.S. Verma has
now been tasked with reviewing
the legal position on aggravated
sexual assault. What the govern-
ment must do is to commit itself
to implementing all its recommen-
dations, including any on police
and judicial reform, and not sim-
ply cherry pick those that are po-
litically the most convenient.
Whats happening in worlds
biggest democratic Nation. After
this incidence Government and all
other authorities are taking some
actions for the security of women
but as per other laws, rules and
regulations in India these laws will
also be on papers. If we talk about
Government or any other authori-
ties they will not make it happen
or may be these laws will be
implemented for 1-2 years or till
General Elections in India. The
worst thing about this gang rape
incidence is that in all culprits
there is an accused who is juve-
nile.
Like the gang rape in Delhi,
these stories lead many to believe
that rape is a psychopathology; the
work of a handful of evil men. It
isnt: data from across the world
shows rape is extraordinarily com-
monplace. Every year in the U.S.,
the highly-regarded Rape, Abuse
and Incest National Network
(RAINN) estimates, over 200,000
women suffer sexual assault
one approximately every two min-
utes. In 2000, the United Kingdom
survey concluded that 4.9 per cent
of all women had experienced at
least one rape or sexual assault; a
more recent survey put the figure
at above 10 per cent. Ireland, Swe-
den and Germany have survey es-
timates that range from 25 per cent
to 34 per cent. Likelier than not,
the 24,206 cases reported to po-
lice in 2011 are almost certainly the
tip of the iceberg. Fifty-three per
cent of 12,000 children polled in
a 2007 government survey said
they had encountered one or
more forms of sexual abuse. More
than a fifth, over half of them boys,
reported severe sexual abuse. It is
almost certain that even more en-
countered sexual violence.
The hideous gang-rape in
Delhi is part of the continuum of
violence millions of Indian women
face every single day; a continuum
that stretches from sexual harass-
ment in public spaces and the
workplace to physical abuse that
plays itself out in the privacy of our
homes far more often than on the
street. Nor is it true, secondly, that
Delhi is Indias rape capital.
There are plenty of other places
in India with a higher incidence of
reported rape, in population ad-
justed terms and Delhis record
on convicting perpetrators is far
higher than the national average.
Third, this is not a problem of po-
licing alone. Finally, Indias soci-
6 66 66
ety rails against rape, in the main,
not out of concern for victims but
because of the despicable notion
that a womans body is the reposi-
tory of family honour. It is this
honour our society seeks to pro-
tect, not individual women. It is
time for us as a people to feel the
searing shame our society has un-
til now only imposed on its female
victims.
Castration is not the right legal Castration is not the right legal Castration is not the right legal Castration is not the right legal Castration is not the right legal
response response response response response
Much before the current de-
mand for chemical castration as a
legal response to rape, Additional
Sessions Judge Kamini Lau, while
sentencing Dinesh Yadav in May
2011 for raping his 15-year old
step-daughter for four years,
called for a debate on castration
as an alternative to incarceration
in rape cases. Sentencing Dinesh
Yadav to the minimum possible
punishment of 10 years for such a
crime under Section 375(2) of the
Indian Penal Code, Judge Lau in-
dicated that castration, surgical or
chemical, would perhaps be a far
more effective method to prevent
rape. While contemplating the le-
gal and ethical aspects of such a
measure, it is important that we
understand the precise terms of
the suggestion, its potential to re-
duce the incidence of rape and its
potential for abuse.
Clarity on the meaning of
some of the terms might be useful
at this juncture. Surgical castration
does not mean removal of the pe-
nis, but is instead the irreversible
surgical removal of the testoster-
one producing testes. Chemical
castration involves injecting anti-
androgen drugs that suppress the
production of testosterone as long
as the drugs are administered.
Once we get past the histori-
cal baggage of the term castra-
tion, the strongest argument in
favour of chemical castration is
that it is a non-invasive, reversible
method of nullifying the produc-
tion of testosterone and thereby
controlling extreme sexual urge.
The use of Depo-Provera in many
American States subsequent to
chemical castration legislation
does indicate that it reduces the
risk of recidivism. However, such
an approach limits the under-
standing of rape to the framework
of sex. Irrespective of the differ-
ences in their positions on rape,
influential feminists like Susan
Brownmiller, Catharine
MacKinnon, Andrea Dworkin, Ann
Cahill, etc., agree that rape is not
about the manifestation of ex-
treme sexual urge. Violence,
power, aggression and humiliation
are central to understanding rape,
and sex is only a mechanism used
to achieve those aims. Addressing
the sexual element of rape does
not address the violence and hu-
miliation that rape is intended to
inflict. Responding to a question
on whether chemical castration for
child molesters works, Catharine
MacKinnon in an interview with
Diane Rosenfeld (March 2000)
captured the issue at hand by say-
ing that they just use bottles.
Castration as a response to rape
furthers the myth that rape is about
the uncontrollable sexual urge of
men.
Lets ask how we contribute to Lets ask how we contribute to Lets ask how we contribute to Lets ask how we contribute to Lets ask how we contribute to
rape rape rape rape rape
Lawyers and judges too have
joined the protests and this is
all to the good for the more diverse
the protests, the more impact they
will have. But its lawyers who use
every ruse in the book to allow
rapists to get away, judges who
make concessions because the
rapists are young men who have
their whole lives in front of them
and so on. Do womens lives not
have a value then?
Hatred for women Hatred for women Hatred for women Hatred for women Hatred for women
It is important to raise our
collective voice against rape. But
rape is not something that occurs
by itself. It is part of the continu-
ing and embedded violence in
society that targets women on a
daily basis. Lets raise our voices
against such violence and lets ask
ourselves how we, in our daily
actions, in our thoughts, contrib-
ute to this, rather than assume that
the solution lies with someone
else. Lets ask ourselves how we,
our society, we as people, create
and sustain the mindset that leads
to rape, how we make our men so
violent, how we insult our women
so regularly, lets ask ourselves
how privilege creates violence.
It is important we raise our
collective voice for women, but
lets raise it for all women, lets
raise it so that no woman, no mat-
ter that she be poor, rich, urban,
rural, Dalit, Muslim, Hindu, or
whatever, ever, in the future, has
to face sexual violence, and no
man assumes that because of the
system and peoples mindsets, he
can simply get away with it. And
lets raise it also for men, for
transgenders, for the poor all
those who become targets of vio-
lence. Lets not forget that the
young rape survivor in Delhi was
accompanied by a friend who too
was subjected to violence and
nearly killed. Lets talk about him
too.
None of this ought to surprise
us: though we might condemn
rape, our culture shares the rapists
values. Indias mass culture is re-
plete with misogyny. Few films
even seek to escape romantic
memes which involve men pursu-
7 77 77
ing, and eventually conquering,
women who say no; it is no coin-
cidence that pop singer Honey
Singh, whose lyrics valorise the
taming of liberated women, has
become a youth icon.
Conviction rate Conviction rate Conviction rate Conviction rate Conviction rate
The point here isnt that
Indias less-than-luminous convic-
tion rates 26.5 per cent nation-
ally, similar to the U.S. average; 41
per cent in Delhi are less grim
than they seem. Rather, it is that
policing isnt a panacea. The utter
failure of highly-resourced U.S.
campaigns to stamp out narcotics
use is a case in point. None of this
is to say improved policing cant
mitigate the problem. More offic-
ers, particularly women officers,
on the streets, will deter street
sexual harassment and stalking.
Capacity building for investigation
and prosecution will lead to a
more effective punishment of per-
petrators. Even better lighting in
public spaces has been shown to
yield results. Harsher police action
on street crime, elsewhere in the
world, has often correlated with
declines in rape rates.
Yet, we ought not to delude
ourselves about what can be
achieved. There is no reason, for
example, to believe more police
checkpoints will deter rapists,
when they have done next to noth-
ing to apprehend terrorists or rob-
bers. Forensics will also help
but, outside of crime-fiction
shows, DNA isnt a magic anti-
criminal bullet. Leaving aside the
fact that forensic evidence can be
matched to perpetrators only in a
tiny percentage of cases, criminals
have become increasingly adroit
at covering their trail. Even a
Mumbai suspect recently forced
his victim to bathe after raping her,
demonstrating a robust grasp of
evidence destruction. Lapsing into
pseudoscience fantasies that the
screening of possible perpetrators
will help detect rapists, as judges
of the Delhi High Court recently
did, helps not at all. Let us begin
the process of destigmatisation
and demystification of rape by
pledging not to use associative
words such as honour, viola-
tion, defilement and disgrace.
Perhaps the real tragedy we
must contemplate, as we consider
the story of the young woman who
died in Singapore hospital after
being brutally beaten and gang-
raped, is this: in six months or less,
she will have been forgotten.
There will, by then, have been the
next victim, and the one after
and absolutely nothing will have
changed. Ever since Sundays sav-
age crime, Indias political leader-
ship has been loudly engaged in
what it appears to believe is ad-
vocacy of womens rights in the
main, dramatic but meaningless
calls for summary trials, castration
and mandatory death penalties.
The same leaders will, if past
record proves a guide, do abso-
lutely nothing to actually address
the problem. For all the noise that
each gang-rape has provoked, Par-
liament has made no worthwhile
progress towards desperately-
needed legal reforms. Even nuts-
and-bolts measures, like enhanced
funding for forensic investigations,
upgrading training of police to
deal with sexual crimes, and mak-
ing expert post-trauma support
available to victims, are conspicu-
ous by their absence.
Pankaj Kumar Pankaj Kumar Pankaj Kumar Pankaj Kumar Pankaj Kumar
Buy Online at: http://upscportal.com/civilservices/order-books
Help Line No. 011- 45151781
Also Available at: http://www.flipkart.com
8 88 88
THE nuclear power complex
at Kalpakkam, about 50 km from
Chennai, will soon have a nuclear
desalination plant, which will be
the worlds largest sea water hy-
brid desalination plant to be
coupled to a nuclear power sta-
tion. It will produce 63 lakh litres
of potable water a day using a
thermal method and a reverse os-
mosis (RO) system. While the ther-
mal method will produce 45 lakh
litres of drinking water a day, the
reverse osmosis system will pro-
duce 18 lakh litres. The Rs.40-crore
Nuclear Desalination Demonstra-
tion Project (NDDP) is being built
by the Desalination Division,
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
(BARC), Trombay. Dr. Anil
Kakodkar, Chairman, Atomic En-
ergy Commission; Dr. B.
Bhattacharjee, Director, BARC;
and Dr. B.M. Misra, Head, Desali-
nation Division, BARC, visited the
desalination project at Kalpakkam
on November 17 and saw the work
under way.
The Nuclear Desalination
Demonstration Plant (NDDP) lo-
cated at Kalpakkam [off Chennai],
Tamil Nadu, is the worlds largest
hybrid seawater desalination plant
coupled to an existing nuclear
power plant, says Dr. P.K Tewari,
Head, Desalination Division,
BARC, Mumbai. This desalination
facility is coupled to the Madras
Atomic Power Station (MAPS),
and deploys both multi-stage flash
(MSF) evaporation and reverse
osmosis (RO) membrane separa-
tion technologies. The total capac-
ity of NDDP is 6.3 million litres per
day (MLD). Multi-Stage Flash
(MSF) evaporation plant produces
4.5 million litres per day of distilled
quality water and Reverse Osmo-
sis (RO) plant produces 1.8 million
litres per day of potable-quality
water. The desalination plant
meets the entire pure water re-
quirement of Madras Atomic
Power Station (MAPS). The multi-
stage flash technology works on
the principle of flash evaporation
wherein the temperature of water
is increased under pressure and
then flash evaporated by reducing
the pressure gradually in multiple
stages, said Shri. M.M. Rajput,
Plant Superintendent, NDDP,
BARC Facilities, Kalpakkam.
According to Dr. B.M. Misra,
the desalination project aims to
demonstrate safe and economical
production of good quality water
by nuclear desalination of sea wa-
ter; establish indigenous capabil-
ity in the design, manufacture, in-
stallation and operation of such
plants; generate necessary design
inputs for large-scale nuclear de-
salination plants; and serve as a
demonstration project to the Inter-
national Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA), welcoming participation
from interested member-states.
Dr. B.M. Misra said that desalina-
tion would become inevitable by
2025 since the demand for quality
drinking water would exceed
availability. That is why the De-
salination Division of the BARC has
been concentrating its research on
this hybrid technology, that is,
both thermal/MSF, and RO desali-
HYBRID DESALINATION PLANT AT KALPAKKAM HYBRID DESALINATION PLANT AT KALPAKKAM HYBRID DESALINATION PLANT AT KALPAKKAM HYBRID DESALINATION PLANT AT KALPAKKAM HYBRID DESALINATION PLANT AT KALPAKKAM
9 99 99
nation, he said. BARC was a pio-
neer in research in desalination
and has been engaged in research
and development activities in de-
salination since early 1970s.
In MSF plant, by increasing
the pressure of water by 2 bar, the
boiling point temperature of wa-
ter is raised up to 121 degree C.
The superheated water is then al-
lowed to cool in steps of 2 degree
C at each of 39 stages, and the
water is allowed to flash evapo-
rate and condense as pure water
by reducing the pressure. Small
part of the low pressure steam (at
130 degree C) that goes from
MAPS high pressure turbine to
low pressure turbine is used for
heating the sea water. The pres-
sure drop across the flashing
stages will be more at the initial
stages and reduces gradually with
decreasing temperature, said
Shri. C. Balasubramaniyan, Deputy
Plant Superintendent, NDDP,
BARC Facilities, Kalpakkam. Tem-
perature drop from 119 degree C
to 117 degree C is achieved by
reducing the pressure by 1,300
mm water column. But at the low-
est temperatures, say 42 degree C
to 40 degree C, the pressure drop
will be only 100 mm water col-
umn. In short, when the pressure
drops, the boiling point of seawa-
ter also drops. The excess heat, in
turn, causes seawater to flash
evaporate into pure water vapour.
The water vapour is then con-
densed to produce distilled wa-
ter.
The challenge The challenge The challenge The challenge The challenge
But the challenge in MSF
plant comes from making the wa-
ter flash in 39 stages through a
small and controlled temperature
drop of just 2 degrees per stage.
So much so, that water continues
to flash even when the tempera-
ture reaches as low as 40 degrees
C at 39
th
stage the last and final
stage! But how does water con-
tinue to flash evaporate even when
the temperature is as low as 40
degree C? If initially, increasing the
pressure helped in increasing the
boiling temperature, reducing the
pressure at later stages helps in
reducing the boiling temperature.
From the 10{+t}{+h}stage on-
wards, flashing is achieved under
progressively increasing vacuum,
explained Shri. Balasubramaniyan.
By reducing the pressure, the
water continues to flash evaporate
at lower temperature. Hence at
the last stage, vacuum is in the or-
der of -0.95 bar(g), and this helps
in evaporating the seawater at 40
degree C. If the entire quantity of
superheated water is allowed to
flash and produce steam at one
instant, the amount of water pro-
duced will be several times less
than multi-stage flashing, Shri.
Rajput explained. In the MSF plant,
the scientists have achieved pro-
duction of more than 9 kg of wa-
ter from every kilogram of steam
produced.
This has become possible as
the system is designed to recover
most of the heat internally. As the
superheated seawater continues
to lose temperature at every stage
of flashing, the incoming sea wa-
ter used for condensing the steam,
in turn, gains heat. The sea water
used for condensing the steam
gets heated to 113 degree C by the
time it leaves the heat recovery
stages, said Shri Rajput. The tem-
perature of the seawater has to be
raised by a mere 8 degree C (from
113 degree C to 121 degree C)
before it is flashed multi times to
produce distilled water. The cost
of producing distilled water using
MSF technology is 10 paisa per li-
tre, and 6 paisa per litre in the case
of reverse osmosis, noted Shri
Amitava Roy Facility Director,
BARC Facilities at Kalpakkam. This
is after factoring in the cost of
power, steam, chemicals, mainte-
nance and depreciation. We can
set-up a similar plant in three to
four years, said Dr. Tewari. and
whatever be the temperature of
steam the plant can be designed
to produce distilled water.
THE thermal process is also
called multi stage flash (MSF)
technology. The RO is called mem-
brane technology as well because
it uses a membrane to filter sea
water. A nuclear desalination plant
is called so because it is erected
in a nuclear power station to use
sea water, steam and electrical
power from the latter. In the MSF
process, evaporated sea water at
above atmospheric pressure is led
to a lower pressure unit, resulting
in the release of vapour which is
condensed to get potable water.
Reverse osmosis is a membrane
process where saline water or ef-
fluent water is forced through a
semi-permeable membrane at
pressure in excess of osmotic
pressure and permeate water
(passing through the membrane)
of potable quality is produced.
The semi-permeable membrane is
made of polyamide which will re-
ject salt and permeate water. The
membrane also rejects micro-or-
ganisms.
Since the thermal method
requires steam, it is advantageous
to erect a desalination plant at a
power generating station. Misra
said: Although most of the desali-
nation plants are erected in a
power station, they can be con-
structed at nuclear power stations
from which we get sea water,
steam and electrical power. It was
more economical to site them at
nuclear power stations than ther-
mal power stations because the
10 10 10 10 10
former produces more waste
steam that can be used.
Since 1975 the BARC has set
desalination plants all over the
country, including one on the
BARC premises at Trombay. There
are four operational plants at the
BARC now. While the first plant
produces one lakh litres of water
a day using the RO method, the
second one produces four lakh
litres of water a day using the MSF
method. The third plant uses the
low evaporation technology (LET)
method to desalinate water and
produces about 30,000 litres of
water a day. The fourth plant uses
the multiple effect distillation
(MED).
According to M.S. Hanra,
Coordinator, NDDP (Kalpakkam),
BARC, the RO plant at the BARC
converted sea water with 35,000
parts per million (ppm) of salt into
drinking water with less than 500
ppm of salt. The water was treated
further to match the standards pre-
scribed by the Bureau of Indian
Standards (BIS). The BARC had
earlier erected desalination plants
using RO that produced 5,000
litres and 40,000 litres of water a
day. The capacity was gradually
stepped up. Using the same de-
sign, we are now building an RO
plant at Kalpakkam that can pro-
duce 18 lakh litres of drinkable
water a day, Hanra said. The
BARC was doing research to re-
duce the energy consumption in
desalination plants and get more
output through membranes.
The BARC also erected de-
salination plants in Andhra
Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil
Nadu, the Andaman and Nicobar
islands (Port Blair) and
Lakshadweep. (All of them used
the RO technology.) The aim was
to demonstrate the technology in
a rural setting. The first plants
came up at a village about 40 km
from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh,
and at Maliga village, Surendra
Nagar district, Gujarat. Both pro-
duced 30,000 litres of drinking
water a day from brackish water.
But the plants could not be sus-
tained owing to infrastructural
problems, especially because of
lack of assured power supply. In
Gujarat, while public acceptabil-
ity of desalination plants was lim-
ited, they were well accepted in
the industrial sector.
In Tamil Nadu, 12 desalina-
tion plants were operated by
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
(BHEL) in the coastal
Ramanathapuram district. Thus
membrane distillation using RO
technology has already been es-
tablished in the country as one of
the most reliable processes for the
production of potable water from
brackish and sea water.
R Prasad R Prasad R Prasad R Prasad R Prasad
I AS PCS
N1XMMZ DO
by
583#Sur edohv#d#er r n#r q#J 1V1#DydIodeoh
H0p dIo#=#Iqi r C xmmz doIdv1Iq
Z hevIwh#=#z z z 1xmmz doIdv1Iq
11 11 11 11 11
ASEAN is a regional inter-
governmental organization formed
by the governments of Indonesia,
Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore and Thailand through
the Bangkok Declaration which
was signed by their foreign minis-
ters on 8th August, 1967. Brunei
joined in 1984, Vietnam in 1995.
Laos and Myanmar in 1997 and
Cambodia in 1999. Papua New
Guinea also has observer status. Its
main objectives are to accelerate
economic growth, Social progress
and cultural development to en-
sure the political and economic
stability of the South East Asian
region.
In the beginning India did not
have cordial relations with ASEAN
due to certain doubts and suspi-
cions on both sides. While India
was suspicious of underlying
American diplomacy, ASEAN was
wary of India due to its closeness
to Russia. For example, in 1982
India supported Hague Samarin
government in Combodia which
had the support of Vietnam,
whereas ASEAN recognized the
Democratic Kampuchean coali-
tion-the opponent of Hague
Samarin. Though India always
wanted to join the ASEAN in view
of its steady economic progress,
Indonesia. Philippines and Thai-
land were not in favour of India
joining ASEAN, because it feared
Indias hegemony due to its sheer
size and population.
India-ASEAN relations, as
they exist today, are in some ways,
a, reconfiguration of age-old ties
that date back 2,000 years. Only
the modes of trade have changed.
Instead of the silk route, countries
now use tech-oriented routes to
link up. ASEAN, the latest version
of what was the Asian trade net-
work ages ago, is an effort to es-
tablish cooperation in the eco-
nomic, social, cultural, technical,
educational and other fields
among its member countries,
namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Phil-
ippines, Singapore, Thailand,
Brunei, Darussalam, Vietnam,
Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. For
a relationship that began warming
up only about a decade ago, the
India-ASEAN partnership has
been trotting at quite a fast pace.
India became a sectoral dialogue
partner of ASEAN in 1992. The
sectors were trade, investment,
tourism and science and technol-
ogy.
Mutual interest led ASEAN to
invite India to become a full dia-
logue partner of ASEAN during the
fifth ASEAN summit in Bangkok in
1995 and a member of the ASEAN
Regional Forum (AREF) in 1996.
India signed an agreement in Oc-
tober 2003 for a free trade area
(FTA) with Thailand. Under the
agreement, 84 items can be im-
ported from Thailand from April
2004 at 50 percent of the normal
rate of duty prevailing in India. The
pact with Thailand is to be fol-
lowed by a similar agreement with
Singapore and, ultimately, the en-
tire ASEAN region and India is
committed to aligning its peak tar-
iff to East Asian levels by 2005.
India has also been engaged
in negotiations to form a Compre-
hensive Economic Cooperation
Agreement (CECA) with
INDIAS ROLE IN PROMOTING ASEAN CO-OPERATION INDIAS ROLE IN PROMOTING ASEAN CO-OPERATION INDIAS ROLE IN PROMOTING ASEAN CO-OPERATION INDIAS ROLE IN PROMOTING ASEAN CO-OPERATION INDIAS ROLE IN PROMOTING ASEAN CO-OPERATION
12 12 12 12 12
Singapore. Sub-regional coopera-
tion has accelerated too. The
Mekong Ganga Cooperation
(MGC) and the BIMST-EC
(Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri
Lanka, Thailand, and Economic
Cooperation) are indicators to this
effect. In 2003, India acceded to
the Treaty of Amity and Coopera-
tion (TAC) in South-East Asia,
signed a declaration to combat
international terrorism and agreed
on comprehensive economic co-
operation to step up their current
trade turnover of S 12 billion.
Among ASEAN members,
Singapore and Malaysia have been
Indias most prominent trading
partners and Indias trade with
Laos has been the least in valve
terms.
Trade Cooperation Trade Cooperation Trade Cooperation Trade Cooperation Trade Cooperation
The deepening of ties is be-
ginning to show in the intra-coun-
try trade figures. India-ASEAN
trade in 2010-11 was about $51.10
billion, over six times the 2003-04-
trade figure of $9.78 billion. India-
ASEAN trade during the calendar
year 2009 was - exports $ 17.3 bil-
lion and imports $ 23.8 billion and
during 2010 - exports $ 22.3 bil-
lion and imports $ 27.8 billion.
Indias trade with ASEAN had in-
creased by 30 per cent in 2010-
2011, crossing the $50-billion
mark, and with such a rate of
growth, the target of $70 billion by
2012 would be feasible. Indias
trade with ASEAN has increased
by 30 per cent in 2010-2011 and
has crossed the $50 billion mark.
According to the prime minister,
With such a rate of growth we
should be able to achieve our
trade target of $billion by 2012.
Pushing for greater physical con-
nectivity between India and
ASEAN, remains the strategic ob-
jective70. There are several pro-
posals under consideration with
regard to land and sea connectiv-
ity, which include the India-
Myanmar-Thailand Highway, its
extension to Laos and Cambodia
and the development of a new
highway also linking Vietnam.
Growth in Indias exports to
ASEAN in recent years has been
much higher in comparison to
other destinations. As expected,
trade relations have led to a spurt
in people-to-people links, giving a
boost to tourism. It will only grow
further when India and the ASEAN
countries establish the planned
road and rail links between them
To take this step further, a motor
car rally has been organised by
Indias Ministry of External Affairs
(MEA), Government of India and
the Confederation of Indian Indus-
try (CID in close cooperation with
the member-states of the ASEAN
and the ASEAN Secretariat. At this
point, India is poised at a strate-
gic moment from where it can
pitch for better cooperation with
the ASEAN countries.
Links with ASEAN countries Links with ASEAN countries Links with ASEAN countries Links with ASEAN countries Links with ASEAN countries
The ninth India-Association
of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) Summit was held in Bali,
Indonesia on November 19, 2011.
Addressing the summit, Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh has said
that greater physical connectivity
between India and the 10-member
grouping remains New Delhis
strategic objective. The prime
minister listed proposals, among
others, for an India-Myanmar-Thai-
land highway and its extension to
Laos and Cambodia, and the de-
velopment of a new highway also
linking Vietnam. He also referred
to a study on a Mekong-India eco-
nomic corridor, which proposes
to link corridors in the peninsular,
and possibly the north-eastern,
regions of India with the East
Asian region.
The prime minister further
urged ASEAN to take considered
decisions to link the peninsular
region with the North-east. He
added: I would suggest that all
these different proposals should
be studied in an integrated man-
ner by our officials, so that we take
considered decisions to optimize
our resources and efforts.
Implementation of ASEAN- Implementation of ASEAN- Implementation of ASEAN- Implementation of ASEAN- Implementation of ASEAN-
India Plan India Plan India Plan India Plan India Plan
The successful implementa-
tion of the ASEAN-India Plan of
Action for 2004-10 listing specific
items of cooperation was fol-
lowed by an 82-point Plan of Ac-
tion for the period 2010-2015,
about the ambitious document
adopted at the Hanoi Summit in
2010. India has forwarded a num-
ber of cooperative projects as part
of this plan as well as part of the
$50 million ASEAN-India Coopera-
tion Fund to the ASEAN Secre-
tariat.
Other Developments Other Developments Other Developments Other Developments Other Developments
In addition to the expansion
of India-ASEAN cooperation in the
fields of science and technology,
space and information technology,
several projects were under imple-
mentation under the ASEAN-India
Science and Technology Fund.
Based on the feedback from the
ASEAN, Indias Department of
Space has revised its proposal for
a five-year project for establishing
a tracking and reception station
and data processing facility for the
ASEAN countries and training of
ASEAN personnel. India will con-
vene a meeting of heads of space
agencies of India and ASEAN in
early 2012.
The summit also discussed
the security-related issue includ-
ing maritime security, counter-ter-
rorism, training, exercises and di-
saster management. The prime
13 13 13 13 13
minister has proposed to hold the
ASEAN-India Commemorative
Summit on December 20-21, 2012
in New Delhi.
India is now looking to the IT
and energy sectors to up the
tempo of investments. ONGC has
put in $200 million in an upstream
gas project in southern Vietnam.
The oil and gas major has already
started getting revenue from its
investment, and is generating cash.
flows of around $6 million flow-
ing in from the sale of gas to the
downstream industries in Viet-
nam. So, overall India-ASEAN re-
lations are on the right track and
its future prospects appear to be
bright in view of the bilateral trade
links.
Shri Anand Sharma, Union
Minister of Commerce & Industry,
signed the ASEAN-India Free
Trade Agreement in Goods follow-
ing the meeting of the ASEAN-In-
dia Economic Ministers, held in
Bangkok. The meeting was hosted
by Thailand, the then Chair of the
10-member Association of South-
east Asian Nations (ASEAN)
grouping that completed four de-
cades of its existence in 2007. As
part of the Comprehensive Eco-
nomic Cooperation Agreement,
the Trade in Goods Agreement
will integrate the two globally im-
portant economic blocks for mu-
tually beneficial economic gains.
ASEAN is a major trading partner
for India and accounts for about
10% of its global trade. In the last
financial year, bilateral trade be-
tween India and ASEAN was more
than US $ 40 billion. India and
ASEAN have set an ambitious tar-
get of achieving bilateral trade of
US $ 50 billion by 2010, which is
already achieved. The current
Agreement which comes into
force from 1
st
January 2010 would
help achieve this target.
The Trade in Goods agree-
ment focuses on tariff liberaliza-
tion on mutually agreed tariff lines
from both the sides and is targeted
to eliminate tariffs on 80% of the
tariff lines accounting for 75% of
the trade in a gradual manner start-
ing from 1st January, 2010. The
Agreement has provided
flexibilities to India and ASEAN
countries to exclude some of the
products from the tariff conces-
sions or eliminations to address
their respective domestic sensitiv-
ity. India on its part has excluded
489 items from the list of tariff con-
cessions and 590 items from the
list of tariff elimination to address
sensitivities in agriculture, textiles,
auto, chemicals, crude and refined
palm oil, coffee, tea, pepper etc.
ASEAN countries have also main-
tained similar exclusion list from
the proposed tariff concessions or
eliminations.
The exchange of tariff con-
cessions between India and the
ASEAN Member Countries would
lead to growth in bilateral trade
and investment resulting in eco-
nomic benefits to India and the
ASEAN Member Countries. Indian
exporters of Machinery and ma-
chine parts, Steel and steel prod-
ucts, agriculture products such as
Oilcake, Wheat and Buffalo Meat,
Auto Components, Chemicals and
Synthetic Textiles would gain ad-
ditional market access as a result
of tariff liberalisation by ASEAN.
Indian manufacturers would also
be able to source products at
competitive prices from the
ASEAN countries.
The Agreement also provides
for bilateral safeguard mecha-
nisms to address sudden surge in
imports after the Agreement
comes into force. In such an even-
tuality if it hurts a domestic indus-
try, safeguard measures including
imposition of safeguard duties
may be put in place for a period
up to 4 years. The flexibility to in-
voke the safeguard measures will
remain available for both the sides
for a period of 7 years to 15 years
from the date, the Agreement
comes into force. The signing of
the Agreement signals Indias firm
commitment to its Look East
policy of building upon its histori-
cal links with the countries of the
Southeast Asian region and further
deepening and widening this part-
nership.
India-ASEAN Future CRUCIAL India-ASEAN Future CRUCIAL India-ASEAN Future CRUCIAL India-ASEAN Future CRUCIAL India-ASEAN Future CRUCIAL
FOR ASIA GROWTH FOR ASIA GROWTH FOR ASIA GROWTH FOR ASIA GROWTH FOR ASIA GROWTH
India-ASEAN (Association
of South-East Asian Nations) rela-
tions are a reflection of the
complementariness of interests
between the two entities. As In-
dia chooses to embark on a benign
projection of its rising power, it
has become imperative to chart a
foreign policy commensurate with
its ambitions in Asia and the
world.
For Indias power to be ac-
cepted in the Asian Continent, it
needs to look beyond its immedi-
ate neighbours in the sub-Conti-
nent, and diversify and cement its
relations mainly with the South-
East Asian nations, the very es-
sence of its Look East Policy and
its continuing effort to sustain and
improve ties with a regional body
like ASEAN.
Indias strengthening rela-
tions with the individual countries
of the ASEAN and the regional
body at large is mutually reinforc-
ing. The foreign policy vision of a
rising India should reflect an en-
largement of vision and a continu-
ous effort towards cultivation of
resources to increase its zone of
influence, albeit in a more diplo-
matic and friendly manner without
evoking sentiments that could
14 14 14 14 14
brand India as a meddling power.
Undoubtedly, this is basically
where India could chart out a more
benign space for itself in the
South-East Asian region despite
the overwhelming presence of the
Chinese power. As Krishna said,
We feel that the principles of
State sovereignty and non-interfer-
ence in internal affairs of others
must be the bedrock of our coop-
erative endeavours.
Indias strategic and diplo-
matic maneouvers in South-East
Asia are signs of its intent to play
a more substantial role in Asia.
This ambition is a result of New
Delhis rise as one of the major
players in the world and a healthy
competitor to rising China. Since
the liberalization of the Indian
economy and the proposition of
Indias Look East Policy in the
early 90s, policy-makers in New
Delhi have increasingly tried to
tighten and expand relations with
the South-East Asian countries.
India-ASEAN relations have
gradually evolved and matured
over the years, corresponding with
the changed nature of interna-
tional politics in the post Cold-War
era along-with New Delhis delib-
erate attention towards the East
and South-East Asian countries.
Over the years, Indias relations
with the ASEAN have reached a
full dialogue partnership from a
sectoral one. Moreover, regular In-
dia-ASEAN summits since 2002
have substantially added to the se-
riousness of the ties and provided
a platform for regular, sustained
negotiations and deliberations.
The trajectory of the relationship
has been essentially encouraging
with relations having diversified,
covering political and security di-
mensions. India has been an ac-
tive participant of the ASEAN Re-
gional Forum (ARF) and many
other efforts towards regional in-
tegration.
The multitude of regional or-
ganization that have been on the
advent since the end of the Cold
War are symptomatic of the inter-
connectedness of economies and
other forms of interest among dif-
ferent countries, specifically
within the same geographical re-
gion. The complex inter-depen-
dence among many countries is
the nature of international politics
in the 21st century and it is very
normal that countries within the
same region and also beyond
would build bridges and try to
amplify the convergences among
them. In an era when shocks in a
country can have viral-like reper-
cussions in many others around
the world, countries need to come
together more than ever before,
looking for uncharted territories
and moving beyond the conven-
tional zone of interest. New Delhis
continuing success with the
ASEAN countries is germane to
both to the growth and sustenance
of India as a major economy in the
world and also salient from the
view of keeping alive some healthy
competition in the Asia given the
fact that China is being projected
as the next great power in the in-
ternational system.
The shifting nature of power
is something constant in interna-
tional politics, and the 21st cen-
tury is being already labelled an
Asian century, in which the two
rising giants, India and China will
definitely play a big role. As the
saying goes: With great powers,
comes great responsibilities, India
is at a great juncture in its history,
travelling an upward journey to
major power status.
Clearly, Indian policy-makers
should create such a scenario
where Indias arrival as a major
power in the international system
should not be seen as a liability but
as an asset by the ASEAN coun-
tries. In recognizing Indias stature
in regional Asian and international
politics, these countries should
see a reflection of their rising op-
portunities for their own countries
in an inclusive, healthy and peace-
ful Asian order. To make them re-
alize their own success in the suc-
cess of India would indeed be the
litmus test for present and future
Indian policy-makers.
Md. Israr Md. Israr Md. Israr Md. Israr Md. Israr
15 15 15 15 15
Janashree and Aam Aadmi Bima Janashree and Aam Aadmi Bima Janashree and Aam Aadmi Bima Janashree and Aam Aadmi Bima Janashree and Aam Aadmi Bima
Yojana Exempted from Service Yojana Exempted from Service Yojana Exempted from Service Yojana Exempted from Service Yojana Exempted from Service
Tax Tax Tax Tax Tax
Union Government of India in
the month of December granted
service tax exemption on the ser-
vices of life insurance business
provided under the Aam Aadmi
Bima Yojana (AABY) and
Janashree Bima Yojana (JBY). Aam
Aadmi Bima Yojana (AABY) was
launched in August 2007and it
basically covers death and disabil-
ity insurance for the benefit of ru-
ral landless households.
Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana
(AABY) (AABY) (AABY) (AABY) (AABY)
AABY provides for insurance
of the head of the family or
earning member of the family
of rural landless households
between the age of 18 and 59
years against natural death or
accidental death and partial/
permanent disability.
The annual premium payable
is 200 rupees of which 50 per
cent shall be payable by the
Union Government and the re-
maining 50 per cent by the
State Government.
The Centre has created a
fund that is being operated by LIC
for meeting the liability of the Cen-
tral Government towards premium
payment. AABY also provides for
educational assistance to the ben-
eficiaries children studying from
9 to 12 Standard as an extended
benefit. A separate fund has been
created for providing scholarship
to the children of beneficiaries.
Janashree Bima Yojana (JBY) Janashree Bima Yojana (JBY) Janashree Bima Yojana (JBY) Janashree Bima Yojana (JBY) Janashree Bima Yojana (JBY)
Janashree Bima Yojana (JBY)
was launched in August 2000
and it provides life insurance
protection to people who are
below poverty line or margin-
ally above poverty line.
Persons aged between 18
years and 59 years and who
are members of the identified
45 occupational groups are
eligible to be covered under
the scheme.
The premium for the JBY is 200
rupees per member. While 50
per cent premium under the
scheme is met out of Social
Security Fund maintained by
LIC, the balance 50 per cent
premium is borne by the mem-
ber and/or nodal agency.
The Granting of Tax Exemp-
tion is going to save some money
of the government as the central
contribution towards premium in
the two schemes is 50% and the
rest is contributed by state govern-
ments.
Bihar became the Fastest Bihar became the Fastest Bihar became the Fastest Bihar became the Fastest Bihar became the Fastest
Growing Indian State Growing Indian State Growing Indian State Growing Indian State Growing Indian State
As per the data released by
the Planning Commission of India,
NATIONAL NATIONAL
NATIONAL NATIONAL NATIONAL
16 16 16 16 16
Bihar became the fastest growing
state in India at 10.9 per cent be-
tween 2006 and 2010 while
Gujarats growth rate declined to
9.3 per cent and it lagged behind
Bihar and other four states- Orissa,
Maharashtra, Haryana,
Chhattisgarh in terms of growth
rate.
Bihar was the slowest grow-
ing state during 2001-05 period
with GDP figure of 2.9 percent
whereas Gujarat was the fastest
growing state between 2001 and
2005 with figure of 11 percent.
Chhattisgarh grew from 7.7 per
cent in 2001-05 to 10 per cent
growth between 2006 and 2010
while Haryana grew from 8.4 per
cent to 9.7 per cent, Maharashtra
from 8.2 per cent to 9.6 per cent
and Orissa from 7.8 per cent to 9.4
per cent between 2006 and
2010. The period between 2004-
05 and 2011-12 registered an av-
erage increase of 300 per cent in
consumption in rural areas, mini-
mizing the gap between rural and
urban area thus highlighting the
inclusive growth.
LARR Bill, 2011 Cleared By the LARR Bill, 2011 Cleared By the LARR Bill, 2011 Cleared By the LARR Bill, 2011 Cleared By the LARR Bill, 2011 Cleared By the
Union Cabinet Union Cabinet Union Cabinet Union Cabinet Union Cabinet
Land Acquisition and Reha-
bilitation and Resettlement (LARR)
Bill, 2011 was cleared by the
Union Cabinet on 13 December
2012, making it compulsory to get
consent of 80 percent land own-
ers. However in case of the Pub-
lic-Private Projects (PPP), it was
made mandatory that the consent
of 70 percent people should be
taken. The bill was passed at the
Cabinet which was presided by
the Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh. The Land Acquisition Bill
was made final by the Rural De-
velopment Ministry which also in-
cluded suggestion of UPA Chair-
person Sonia Gandhi. Sonia
Gandhi had suggested the govern-
ment to take consent of 80 percent
land owners for purchasing the
land in order to set up PPP projects
and industries. Sonia Gandhi was
against the proposal of Group of
Ministers that consent of 2/3rd
land owners was sufficient to ac-
quire the land for setting up indus-
tries and PPP projects.
Group of Ministers suggested
that consent clause should be kept
at 67 percent for private projects
and PPP projects. The Group of
Ministers was constituted by the
Union Government after ministers
voiced out their reservations
against a few provisions of bill at
Cabinet meeting. The government
wanted introduction of official re-
vision to Land Acquisition and Re-
habilitation and Resettlement Bill,
2011 in the Lok Sabha. In the Land
Acquisition Act, 1894, there was
no provision of returning the land
which was not used. But as per the
clause in new Bill, in case the ac-
quired land was not utilised for 5
years, it would lapse.
Constitution Amendment Bill Constitution Amendment Bill Constitution Amendment Bill Constitution Amendment Bill Constitution Amendment Bill
passed passed passed passed passed
The Constitution Amend-
ment Bill that provides quotas for
SCs and STs in Government Job
Promotions was approved in Rajya
Sabha on 17 December 2012 by an
overwhelming majority. The new
amendment demands retaining of
Article 335 and deletes the words
or in the article to make sure that
condition of efficiency as men-
tioned in the Article continues to
be the part of Indian Constitution
and not wiped out. The bill would
also ensure that the provision of
the Article 335 and its effects are
retained and allows related stan-
dards for promotion against re-
served vacancies to candidates
belonging to Scheduled Castes
and Tribes.
The reservation in Promotion
had been in existence for Sched-
uled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
since 1955 but has suffered attacks
in different cases by the decisions
of Supreme Court of India in cases
like Indra Sawhney, Veer Pal Singh
Chauhan and S. Vinod Kumar. The
Indian Government has passed
several amendments namely 77th,
81st, 82nd and 85th amendments
to overcome these effects. The
Judgment of the Supreme Court in
case of M Nagaraj mentioned few
of the pre-requisite conditions to
provide reservation in promotion
and the laid condition was assess-
ing the quantum of representation
of SCs, STs and their backward-
ness along with the effect on the
efficiency. The bill would be for-
warded to the Lok Sabha for fur-
ther consideration and passing on
19 December 2012.
Article 335 Article 335 Article 335 Article 335 Article 335
It claims of Scheduled Castes
and Scheduled Tribes to services
and posts. Part XVI of the article
states Special Provisions Relating
to Certain Classes. The article
claims that the members of the
Scheduled Castes and Tribes
should be taken into consider-
ation, consistently with the main-
tenance of efficiency of the admin-
istration while making appoint-
17 17 17 17 17
ments to services and posts in con-
nection with the affairs of the
union or the state. The 289B seg-
ment provided in the article pre-
vents making on any provision to
favour the members of Scheduled
Castes and Tribes by relaxing the
qualifying marks in the examina-
tion, or the standards of evaluation
for reservation in promotion mat-
ters of any class of services and
classes and posts connected to
the affairs of state or of the union.
Union Government Introduced Union Government Introduced Union Government Introduced Union Government Introduced Union Government Introduced
Bill to Amend Competition Act Bill to Amend Competition Act Bill to Amend Competition Act Bill to Amend Competition Act Bill to Amend Competition Act
The Union Government of In-
dia on 10 December 2012 intro-
duced a bill in Parliament to
amend the Competi ti on
Act which, among other things,
will require the Competition Com-
mission to decide on corporate
mergers within 180 days. The bill
is named Competition (Amend-
ment) Bill, 2012 bill and was in-
troduced by Corporate Affairs
Minister Sachin Pilot in the Lok
Sabha to amend the Competition
Act 2002. The bill would also con-
fer powers on fair trade
regulator Competition Commis-
sion of India (CCI) to vet all M&A
deals and also authorise its Direc-
tor General to carry out search and
seizure activities. Presently, CCIs
Director General, upon
authorisation by the Chief Metro-
politan Magistrate, Delhi, has the
powers to carry out search and
seizure in any investigation. This
is under Section 41(3) of the Com-
petition Act, 2002. The Bill also
seeks to amend the existing pro-
vision on abuse of dominant posi-
tion to provide that no enterprise
or group either jointly or singly
shall abuse its dominant position.
A new Section 5A is also going to
be inserted into the Act. As per
this section, notwithstanding any-
thing in Section 5, the Central Gov-
ernment may, in consultation with
the Commission, by notification,
specify different values of assets
and turnover for any class or
classes of enterprise for the pur-
pose of Section 5.
Decks cleared for Ambedkar Decks cleared for Ambedkar Decks cleared for Ambedkar Decks cleared for Ambedkar Decks cleared for Ambedkar
Memorial Memorial Memorial Memorial Memorial
Union Government of India
on 5 December 2012 cleared the
decks for transferring the prime
India 12.5 acre United Mill land in
Mumbai to the Maharashtra gov-
ernment for building a state-of-
the-art memorial to B.R.
Ambedkar. The Maharashtra State
government is going to bear the
entire cost of the memorial project
and will henceforth take care of
the land. The Union Cabinet will
take further decisions on the pro-
cess. A Bill will have to be passed
in Parliament for transfer of the
land for the memorial project.
Also, a separate authority is going
to be set up for the purpose and
an architect will be appointed as
a consultant to prepare the blue-
print for the memorial. The author-
ity is said to comprise seven mem-
bers, including three from the
State government, while the rest
will be from the Centre. The me-
morial is to be modeled on the
basis of Mahatma Gandhis
Samadhi at Rajghat. The Urban
Development department of
Maharashtra had earlier on 1 De-
cember 2012 amended reserva-
tion of the mill land from a special
industrial zone to Grand Memorial
of Bharat Ratna Babasaheb
Ambedkar by issuing a notification
inviting suggestions and objec-
tions.
P Chidambaram Unveiled Cash P Chidambaram Unveiled Cash P Chidambaram Unveiled Cash P Chidambaram Unveiled Cash P Chidambaram Unveiled Cash
Transfer Rollout Plan Transfer Rollout Plan Transfer Rollout Plan Transfer Rollout Plan Transfer Rollout Plan
The government is going to
roll out its ambitious scheme of
transferring cash to beneficiaries
of select schemes in 20 districts
on 1 January 2013, but food,
fertiliser and fuel subsidies will not
be covered in the initial phase. As
per the roll-out plan, more and
more districts and schemes would
be covered under the scheme dur-
ing the course of 2013.
All 26 schemes are ready for
rollout. On 1 January 2013 the
seven schemes in which payout is
due in the (20 selected) districts,
the money will be transferred
through the direct benefit transfer
system using the UIDAI platform.
However, Government clarified
that subsidies relating to cooking
gas (LPG), kerosene, diesel, food
and fertilizers will not be included
in the first phase of the roll-out.
The scheme is going to be
rolled out in 43 districts by 1
March 2013 20 districts from
January 1, 11 districts from Feb-
ruary 1 and 12 districts from March
1. By end of 2013, the direct cash
benefit transfer will be rolled out
in all the districts of the country.
18 18 18 18 18
The subsidies would be trans-
ferred to the beneficiaries bank
accounts if they do not have an
Aadhaar number.
Commission Constituted to Commission Constituted to Commission Constituted to Commission Constituted to Commission Constituted to
suggest measures for Safety of suggest measures for Safety of suggest measures for Safety of suggest measures for Safety of suggest measures for Safety of
Women Women Women Women Women
dia on 23 December 2012 consti-
tuted a three-member Commis-
sion to be headed by the Former
Chief Justice of India J.S. Verma
for reviewing the laws in existence
and the lapses of the police to sug-
gest measures for ensuring safety
of women in Delhi as well as
across the nation. It would also
look into the matter of the gang
rape incident. Former Solicitor
General of India Gopal
Subramaniam and Justice Lalitha
Seth are the two other members
of the constituted inquiry commis-
sion. The commission would sub-
mit its report and findings within
30 days to the Government. Senior
High Court lawyer Dyan Krishnan
was appointed as the Special Pros-
ecutor to ensure speedy trial and
enhancement of the punishment in
cases of aggravated sexual assault.
New cases of HIV decreased by New cases of HIV decreased by New cases of HIV decreased by New cases of HIV decreased by New cases of HIV decreased by
57 percent in India 57 percent in India 57 percent in India 57 percent in India 57 percent in India
Addressing the India Health
Summit which was organised by
CII in New Delhi, the Union health
minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on 18
December 2012 declared that In-
dia was witnessing a steep decline
in fresh cases of HIV. The health
minister announced that the fresh
cases of HIV have dropped down
to 57 percent. Addressing the
Summit, the heath minister also
announced that there was a steep
decrease in measles, mumps and
rubella, infant mortality rate as well
as new HIV cases by 57 percent.
Also, it was declared that 2012
would be the second successive
year to witness polio-free
nation. The credit for putting an
end to H1N1 was given to Indian
manufacturers as well as Indian
Council of Medical research
(ICMR) for developing the vac-
cines as well as testing the regents.
Apart from this, it was declared
that ICMR was working on 75 leads
of public health importance in or-
der to develop as well as evaluate
affordable diagnostics which in-
clude test for diabetes, cancer and
TB.
2012 Corruption Perception 2012 Corruption Perception 2012 Corruption Perception 2012 Corruption Perception 2012 Corruption Perception
Index Index Index Index Index
India was ranked 94th out of
176 countries in Transparency
Internationals 2012 Corruption
Perception Index (CPI) released
on 5 December 2012. In 2011, In-
dia was ranked 95 out of 183 coun-
tries. Denmark, Switzerland and
Finland topped the index with a
score of 90 followed by Sweden
which scored 88 points. North
Korea, Afghanistan and Somalia
scored a lowly 8, ranking at the
bottom of the index. In fact, two-
thirds of the 176 nations scored
below than 50 points.
India scored a low score of
36 on a scale from 0 to 100 where
o means most corrupt and 100 sig-
nifies least corrupt. Indias low
score was attributed to the scams
and incidents of corruption in the
public sector which involved gov-
ernment officials, private officials
and private companies.
The Methodology used by The Methodology used by The Methodology used by The Methodology used by The Methodology used by
Transparency International Transparency International Transparency International Transparency International Transparency International
Transparency International
does so by aggregating different
sources of corruption-related data
that are produced by a variety of
independent and well known in-
stitutions, such as the World Bank,
the World Justice Project, the Af-
rican Development Bank, the
Economist Intelligence Unit and
other. The measurement of the
perceived level of corruption by
Transparency International is an
evolving project since 1995. Every
year, such measurement builds
upon previous editions while re-
fined with newly available data.
The CPI 2012 is calculated using a
simple average of standardized
scores.
Transparency International Transparency International Transparency International Transparency International Transparency International
Transparency International is
a non-profit, non-governmental
organisation dedicated to fighting
corruption. It is best known for
its Corruption Perceptions Index.
Its secretariat is located in Berlin,
Germany. The organization is
present in more than 100 coun-
tries. It came into existence in
1993. To get a Detail insight of
country wise Ranking of Corrup-
tion Perception Index (CPI) follow
the below given table -
19 19 19 19 19
RANK RANK RANK RANK RANK COUNTRY COUNTRY COUNTRY COUNTRY COUNTRY SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE SURVEYS SURVEYS SURVEYS SURVEYS SURVEYS CI: CI: CI: CI: CI: CI: CI: CI: CI: CI:
USED USED USED USED USED LOWER LOWER LOWER LOWER LOWER UPPER UPPER UPPER UPPER UPPER
1 Denmark 90 7 87 93
1 Finland 90 7 85 95
1 New Zealand 90 7 87 94
4 Sweden 88 7 85 91
5 Singapore 87 9 83 90
6 Switzerland 86 6 81 90
7 Australia 85 8 83 86
7 Norway 85 7 82 87
9 Canada 84 7 80 87
9 Netherlands 84 7 81 88
13 Germany 79 8 75 83
14 Hong Kong 77 8 74 80
15 Barbados 76 3 65 87
17 Japan 74 9 70 78
17 United Kingdom 74 8 72 77
19 United States 73 9 66 79
22 France 71 8 67 75
27 United Arab Emirates 68 7 61 75
33 Bhutan 63 3 57 69
54 Malaysia 49 9 44 55
69 Brazil 43 8 38 49
69 South Africa 43 9 39 48
72 Italy 42 7 38 46
79 Sri Lanka 40 7 38 42
80 China 39 9 34 43
88 Thailand 37 8 34 40
94 Greece 36 7 30 42
94 India 36 10 33 40
118 Egypt 32 7 27 37
118 Indonesia 32 9 27 37
133 Russia 28 9 25 32
139 Nepal 27 5 23 31
139 Pakistan 27 8 23 31
144 Bangladesh 26 7 20 33
169 Iraq 18 4 14 22
172 Myanmar 15 4 9 21
174 Afghanistan 8 3 2 13
174 Korea (North) 8 3 2 13
174 Somalia 8 4 4 12
Bhatinda Srinagar Gas Pipeline Bhatinda Srinagar Gas Pipeline Bhatinda Srinagar Gas Pipeline Bhatinda Srinagar Gas Pipeline Bhatinda Srinagar Gas Pipeline
Project to be completed by July Project to be completed by July Project to be completed by July Project to be completed by July Project to be completed by July
2014 2014 2014 2014 2014
The Jammu and Kashmir
Government on 10 December
2012 informed that the 328-km-
l ong Bhatinda-Jammu-Srinagar Bhatinda-Jammu-Srinagar Bhatinda-Jammu-Srinagar Bhatinda-Jammu-Srinagar Bhatinda-Jammu-Srinagar
gas pipeline project gas pipeline project gas pipeline project gas pipeline project gas pipeline project is scheduled
to be completed by July 2014 to
draw gas from Gujarat to the
State. The progress on the pro-
posed project was reviewed by
Chief Minister of Jammu and Kash-
mir Omar Abdullah at a meeting
of high-level officers in Jammu and
an early start of work was empha-
sized by him. He stressed upon the
need for fast tracking the project
to ensure its timely
completion. The availability of gas
in abundance has been a great
challenge for the Government of
Jammu so this step towards sup-
ply of gas to the consumers in the
State through gas pipeline is go-
ing to be a revolutionary step as it
will relieve the pressure on avail-
ability of domestic gas and will
also help generate employment.
The gas pipeline will consist of
328-km-long main gas trunk from
Bhatinda to Srinagar passing
through Kathua, Samba, Jammu,
Udhampur, Ramban, Anantnag,
Pulwama and Srinagar and there
will be hundreds of sub-lines
which will supply gas to the con-
sumers at their houses.
The proposed gas pipeline
project was already approved by
Omar Abdullah during a meeting
of State officers and the team
of Petroleum and Natural Gas Petroleum and Natural Gas Petroleum and Natural Gas Petroleum and Natural Gas Petroleum and Natural Gas
Regulatory Board (PNGRB) Regulatory Board (PNGRB) Regulatory Board (PNGRB) Regulatory Board (PNGRB) Regulatory Board (PNGRB) l ed
by its Chairman Lalit Mansingh at
Srinagar. The Chief Minister had
directed PNGRB to start laying
pipeline from both Srinagar and
Bhatinda simultaneously so that
gas is supplied to both the cities
of Jammu and Srinagar at the same
time. The project possessed
greater importance to the State in
providing adequate domestic and
commercial supply of gas to the
consumers on cheaper rates be-
sides creating huge employment
for youth of the State. The rev-
enue and law department had al-
ready been directed by the Chief
Minister Omar Abdullah to finalise
the Draft Bill for Right of Use of
land for laying of gas pipelines by
the gas company in the State leg-
islature for enactment as per the
Constitution of Jammu and Kash-
mir.
Global Terrorism Index Global Terrorism Index Global Terrorism Index Global Terrorism Index Global Terrorism Index
Revealed Revealed Revealed Revealed Revealed
New index called Global Global Global Global Global
20 20 20 20 20
Terrorism Index Terrorism Index Terrorism Index Terrorism Index Terrorism Index (GTI) prepared
by Australian think tank revealed
on 4 December 2012 that India, Af-
ghanistan and Pakistan were the
most terrorism-hit nations in 2011.
GTI was released by Austra-
lia-based Institute for Economics
& Peace and it ranked various
countries based on the data col-
lected from Global Terrorism Da-
tabase, which in turn is operated
by a group at University of Mary-
land. GTI revealed that India, Af-
ghanistan and Pakistan accounted
for 11 percent, 10 percent and 12
percent of global terrorist events
respectively from time period
2002 to 2009. The major points of
the report are as follows:
The figures revealed that there
were 529 terrorist incidents in
2011 and they had tolled lives
of 402 people, injuring 687
people.
The numbers were higher in
2006 to 2010 time period
when the number of casulties
averaged greater than 600
people per year, rising to 735
people in 2009 and 772 in
2010.
In the year 2011, India, Paki-
stan, Russia as well as Middle
East were most affected by
terrorism.
Out of 159 countries that were
surveyed, India ranked num-
ber 4. Iraq was at the first po-
sition followed by Pakistan,
Afghanistan, India and Yemen
respectively.
The GTI showed that terrorism
in the world started escalating
after an increase in Iraq war.
Consequently, it was followed
by increasing terrorism in Af-
ghanistan and later in Pakistan
after 18 months.
The index also revealed that
merely 31 countries out of sur-
veyed 159 did not expereince
a single terrorist attack since
2001.
Z-Plus Security Cover Z-Plus Security Cover Z-Plus Security Cover Z-Plus Security Cover Z-Plus Security Cover
Withdrawn from Gen V K Singh Withdrawn from Gen V K Singh Withdrawn from Gen V K Singh Withdrawn from Gen V K Singh Withdrawn from Gen V K Singh
The union government of In-
dia withdrew Z-plus security pro-
vided to ex-army chief General V
K Singh. The Ex-Army chief had
remained in limelight over the is-
sue of his age, and currently for
sharing stages with critics of the
central government such as Anna
Hazare and Baba Ramdev. The
decision to withdraw Z-plus secu-
rity cover from 1 December 2012
was taken after home ministry re-
viewed that there wasnt any threat
against the ex-Army chief. How-
ever, Gen V K Singh will stay in the
government accommodation in
the Delhi Cantonment area for an-
other six months because he had
obtained that permission from de-
fence minister A K Antony. Usu-
ally, all the retiring Army chiefs are
given Z-plus security for a period
of six months. The security is con-
tinued only in case there is a high
threat perception to the chief. As
Z-plus security beneficiary, the ex-
army chief had around 30-35 Army
personnel offering 24*7 proximate
security in shifts. Six to seven ve-
hicles which include the primary
bullet-proof vehicle was also pro-
vided to the ex-army chief. While
the government withdrew the se-
curity to Gen V K Singh, he would
still get secretariat staff as well as
certain sahayaks.
What is Z-Plus Security? What is Z-Plus Security? What is Z-Plus Security? What is Z-Plus Security? What is Z-Plus Security?
In India, depending upon the
threat perception, high-risk
people are provided securities by
local government and the police.
There are mainly four categories
of security and these are Z-Plus,
Z, Y and X. Z-Plus security cover is
the highest level of security. Any-
one provided with the Z-Plus se-
curity, gets a security cover of 36
personnel. Individuals in India
who are provided with various cat-
egories of securities include cabi-
net ministers, chief ministers, Su-
preme Court and High Court
judges, senior bureaucrats as well
as leading politicians. NSG or Na-
tional Security guards are usually
used for providing security to in-
dividuals under Z-Plus security
cover.
Companies Bill 2011 passed by Companies Bill 2011 passed by Companies Bill 2011 passed by Companies Bill 2011 passed by Companies Bill 2011 passed by
Lok Sabha Lok Sabha Lok Sabha Lok Sabha Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha on 18 December
2012 passed the Companies Bill
21 21 21 21 21
2011. The Bill is aimed at improv-
ing corporate governance. It con-
tains provisions to strengthen
regulations for corporate as well
as auditing firms. Once enacted as
law, it will replace the Companies
Act 1956. The Companies Bill
makes it mandatory for profit-mak-
ing companies to spend two per-
cent of their profit for community
welfare as part of their Corporate
Social Responsibility. In case, a
company fails to meet its social
obligations, it will have to explain
the reasons for the shortfall. The
Bill will protect small investors
from corporate frauds. Under the
proposed legislation, more pow-
ers will be conferred upon Serious
Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO)
to deal with corporate frauds.
There will be better co-ordination
now between the investigation
agencies at the centre and the
states. In the year 1956, there were
only 30000 registered companies
in India. In 2012 there are more
than 850000 companies. Therefore
a modern company bill was
needed to check the corporate
fraud.
Karnataka to Provide Tamil Karnataka to Provide Tamil Karnataka to Provide Tamil Karnataka to Provide Tamil Karnataka to Provide Tamil
Nadu with 12 TMC feet of Nadu with 12 TMC feet of Nadu with 12 TMC feet of Nadu with 12 TMC feet of Nadu with 12 TMC feet of
Cauvery water Cauvery water Cauvery water Cauvery water Cauvery water
The Cauvery Monitoring
Committee (CMC) on 7 December
2012 asked Karnataka to provide
Tamil Nadu with 12 TMC feet of
Cauvery water during December
even as it asked both the states to
be more efficient in using available
water. The meeting of the CMC
came after the Supreme Court of
India on 5 December 2012 asked
the multi-state panel to meet
within the next two days to decide
on water requirement of Tamil
Nadu and Karnataka.The states
sharing the disputed Cauvery River
waters were informed that the fi-
nal award of the Cauvery Waters
Dispute Tribunal will be notified
by the end of December 2012.
In 1997, the Union Govern-
ment of India had proposed the
setting up of a Cauvery River Au-
thority. Under this new proposal,
the Government set up two new
bodies- Cauvery River Authority
and Cauvery Monitoring Commit-
tee. The Cauvery River Authority
consisted of the Prime Minister
and the Chief Ministers of all four
states(Tamil Nadu, Karnataka,
Pondicherry, Kerala) and its head-
quarter is in New Delhi. The
Cauvery Monitoring Committee is
an expert body which consists of
engineers, technocrats and other
officers. This body takes stock of
the ground realities and report to
the government.
Mismatch of signatures on the Mismatch of signatures on the Mismatch of signatures on the Mismatch of signatures on the Mismatch of signatures on the
cheque would amount to cheque would amount to cheque would amount to cheque would amount to cheque would amount to
criminal proceedings criminal proceedings criminal proceedings criminal proceedings criminal proceedings
Supreme Court set aside the
verdict of Gujarat High Court in
which it said that the criminal pro-
ceedings for dishonouring cheque
would start off only in case the
cheque is dishonoured because of
insufficient amount in the
account. The Supreme Court said
that the criminal proceedings
would also be initiated in case the
cheque issued by a person gets
dishonoured on the basis that sig-
nature is not matching with the
specimen signature that bank
has. The Gujarat High Court had
said that there would be cheque
dishonouring only in case of lack
of sufficient balance in the ac-
count and not when the signature
mismatches. The bench of the
Apex Court said that there would
be dishonour of cheque in case
the signatures do not match, refer-
ring to the meaning of Section 138
of the Negotiable Instrument
Act. However, the Supreme Court
said in cases like these, the per-
son would be provided with a
chance for arrangement of the
payment before the criminal pro-
ceedings start.
12.5 % Stake in Rashtriya 12.5 % Stake in Rashtriya 12.5 % Stake in Rashtriya 12.5 % Stake in Rashtriya 12.5 % Stake in Rashtriya
Chemicals and Fertilizers to be Chemicals and Fertilizers to be Chemicals and Fertilizers to be Chemicals and Fertilizers to be Chemicals and Fertilizers to be
sold sold sold sold sold
yyyyyyyyy
The union government of In-
dia approved selling 12.5 percent
stake in Rashtriya Chemicals and
Fertilizers (RCF) on 26 December
2012. This is said to be the 11th
public sector undertaking which
is approved for the action. Finance
minister P. Chidambaram an-
nounced that the Cabinet Commit-
tee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
agreed to disinvest 12.5 per cent
paid-up equity capital of RCF. The
government would make an effort
to wind up the entire process in
2012-2013 financial year which
would end on 31 March 2013. As
of now, government held 92.5 per-
cent stake in RCF. The paid-up
capital of RCF was 551.7 crore
Rupees. Considering the present
22 22 22 22 22
market price of 57.8 Rupees per
share, the stake of 12.5 percent
would bring in 360 crore Rupees
to exchequer. The finance minis-
ter also announced that it was de-
cided to make use of the offer for
sale via the auction or stock ex-
changes, but it might be altered to
follow-on public offer. Disinvest-
ment would help RCF meet its
minimum public shareholding of
10 percent, which was prescribed
to it by SEBI.
About Rashtriya Chemicals and About Rashtriya Chemicals and About Rashtriya Chemicals and About Rashtriya Chemicals and About Rashtriya Chemicals and
Fertilizers (RCF) Fertilizers (RCF) Fertilizers (RCF) Fertilizers (RCF) Fertilizers (RCF)
Rashtriya Chemicals and Fer-
tilizers (RCF) is the mini-ratna un-
der Ministry of Chemicals & Fertil-
izers administrative control. It
manufactures as well as markets
fertilisers as well as industrial
chemicals like ammonium nitrate,
ammonium bicarbonate, methanol
and methylamines. The operating
units of RCF are located at Thal
and Trombay in Maharashtra. The
revenue of RCF by end of 30 Sep-
tember 2012 was 1668.57 crore
Rupees. The net profit of the com-
pany increased to 82.88 crore Ru-
pees.
SC Judges Number increased to SC Judges Number increased to SC Judges Number increased to SC Judges Number increased to SC Judges Number increased to
28 28 28 28 28
Chief Justices of three High
Courts were on 22 December 2012
elevated as judges of the Supreme
Court of India, increasing the
strength of the apex court to
28.Chief Justice of Madras High
Court, Justice M Yusuf Eqbal,
Chief Justice of Orissa High Court
Justice Venkategowda and Chief
Justice of Karnataka High Court
Justice Vikramjit Sen were ap-
pointed as judges of the Supreme
Court, in that order of seniority.
The appointment of judges will
come into effect from the date
they assume charge of their re-
spective office. At present, includ-
ing the Chief Justice of India, the
Supreme Court has 25 judges
against the sanctioned strength of
31.
Govt. of India to set up Real Govt. of India to set up Real Govt. of India to set up Real Govt. of India to set up Real Govt. of India to set up Real
Time Water Quality Monitoring Time Water Quality Monitoring Time Water Quality Monitoring Time Water Quality Monitoring Time Water Quality Monitoring
stations along River Ganga stations along River Ganga stations along River Ganga stations along River Ganga stations along River Ganga
The Government of India on
17 December decided to set up
113 Real Time Water Quality Moni-
toring Stations along the river
Ganga. The Environment and For-
ests Minister Jayanti Natarajn in a
written reply in the Lok Sabha on
17 December 2012 asserted that
the Real Time Water Quality Moni-
toring Stations stations is going to
be set up in the next five years
which includes eight in
Uttarakhand, 57 in Uttar Pradesh,
13 in Bihar and 35 in West Bengal
to monitor the water quality in the
river. The Minister also mentioned
that the funds to a tune of 100
crore rupees had already been ear-
marked by the National Ganga
River Basin Authority for the
project.
5-Year Project for Cyber 5-Year Project for Cyber 5-Year Project for Cyber 5-Year Project for Cyber 5-Year Project for Cyber
Security of Critical Sectors to Security of Critical Sectors to Security of Critical Sectors to Security of Critical Sectors to Security of Critical Sectors to
be Set-up be Set-up be Set-up be Set-up be Set-up
The union government de-
cided to set up five-year project
for restoring the overall cyber se-
curity structure of critical sectors
of India. This was decided in light
of increasing number of cyber at-
tacks as well as security threats
that the Internet offers. In 2011,
India suffered 13000 cyber
incidents. National Critical Infor-
mation Infrastructure Protection
Centre (NCIIPC) is responsible for
the project. It is the nodal agency
which is responsible for coordi-
nating the cyber security opera-
tions related to critical infrastruc-
tures in India. NCIIPC prepared its
5-year plan for refurbishing as well
as integrating the structure of
cyber security in all critical struc-
tures like defence, telecommuni-
cation, transportation, power and
water. NCIIPC will be notified for
plans in order to set up sectoral
23 23 23 23 23
Computer Emergency Response
Teams (CERTs) which will be as-
sociated to it. Sensors will be in-
stalled on critical systems for giv-
ing real-time information to the
command as well as control cen-
tre regarding cyber attack of any
kind for formulating quick
response. While NCIIPC would be
responsible for checking the very
critical sectors which have higher
threat along with higher depen-
dence on computer and informa-
tion technology (CIT), CERT-IN on
the other hand would undertake
other sectors. Sectors falling un-
der NCIIPC are energy (natural gas,
coal, oil and power), finance and
banking, transportation (civil avia-
tion and railways), space, law en-
forcement, security, telecom and
defence.
NCIIPC functions under guid-
ance of National Technical Re-
search Organization (NTRO).
NCIIPC had organised first national
conference of Chief Information
Security Officers (CISO) associ-
ated with the critical sectors of
government in the third week of
December 2012. This was an ac-
tion for creating awareness as well
as setting up security systems in
critical agencies of the
government. NCIIPC director also
announced that there were plans
for starting the Cyber Security
Operation Centre, 24*7 control
room for getting information as
well as response along with Na-
tional Institute of Critical Informa-
tion Infrastructure Protection that
would provide training to CISOs.
Daily cyber alerts would also be
issued. The new structure would
make sure that NCIIPC gets exact
information as and when the cyber
attack takes place on any network.
This would allow them to analyse
groups of concern.
About National Democratic About National Democratic About National Democratic About National Democratic About National Democratic
Front of Bodoland (NDFB) Front of Bodoland (NDFB) Front of Bodoland (NDFB) Front of Bodoland (NDFB) Front of Bodoland (NDFB)
The National Democratic
Front of Bodoland (NDFB) is an
extremist outfit whose motto is to
obtain a sovereign Bodoland for
the Bodo people in Assam, India.
NDFB fights to get a sovereign
Bodoland north of the
Brahmaputra River. It was very ac-
tive during the 1990s. The NDFB
is allied with the National Social-
ist Council of Nagalim (IM) and il-
legally occupies terrorist training
camps in the South of Bhutan. In
December 2003, the government
of Bhutan and the Indian Army
launched joint operations to de-
stroy the terrorist camps operated
in Bhutanese territory by ULFA and
NDFB.
PIL dismissed against PIL dismissed against PIL dismissed against PIL dismissed against PIL dismissed against
Tendulkars Nomination to Tendulkars Nomination to Tendulkars Nomination to Tendulkars Nomination to Tendulkars Nomination to
Rajya Sabha Rajya Sabha Rajya Sabha Rajya Sabha Rajya Sabha
The High Court of Delhi on
19 December 2012 dismissed
the PIL (Public Interest
Litigation) that challenged Indian
Cricketer Sachin Tendulkars
nomination to the Rajya Sabha
under the category of person with
special knowledge or practical
experience in any form of science,
art, literature and social
service. The High Courts Division
Bench comprising Chief Justice
Darmar Murugesan and Justice
different kinds of attacks as well
as offer immediate response.
National security advisor
Shivshankar Menon also stressed
that there should be participation
of private sectors as well.
Union Government of India Union Government of India Union Government of India Union Government of India Union Government of India
Extended ban on ULFA and Extended ban on ULFA and Extended ban on ULFA and Extended ban on ULFA and Extended ban on ULFA and
NDFB NDFB NDFB NDFB NDFB
The Union home ministry in
Month of December extended the
ban on United Liberation Front of United Liberation Front of United Liberation Front of United Liberation Front of United Liberation Front of
Assam (ULFA) Assam (ULFA) Assam (ULFA) Assam (ULFA) Assam (ULFA) a nd National National National National National
Democratic Front of Bodoland Democratic Front of Bodoland Democratic Front of Bodoland Democratic Front of Bodoland Democratic Front of Bodoland
(NDFB) (NDFB) (NDFB) (NDFB) (NDFB) under the Unlawful Pre-
vention Act. The home ministry in
a gazette notification announced
that all the factions of the ULFA
and the NDFB are banned under
Section three of the Unlawful Pre-
vention Act. As per the Press re-
lease of Assam government the
ban extended on Unlawful
organisation would stay until fur-
ther notification by the govern-
ment.
About United Liberation Front About United Liberation Front About United Liberation Front About United Liberation Front About United Liberation Front
of Assam (ULFA) of Assam (ULFA) of Assam (ULFA) of Assam (ULFA) of Assam (ULFA)
United Liberation Front of
Assam is a separatist group from
Assam along with many other such
groups in North-East India. The
motto of the group is to establish
a sovereign Assam through an
armed struggle in the Assam con-
flict. The government of India
banned the organisation in 1990
citing it as a terrorist organisation,
while the United States Depart-
ment of State lists it under other
24 24 24 24 24
Rajiv Sahai Endlaw admitted
sports as a form of art and it justi-
fied the argument of Union Gov-
ernment that Sachin Tendulkar as
a person with special knowledge
and practical experience in art.
The Court also stated that Art
holds no satisfactory definition for
itself in Indian Constitution. The
decision to define sports as a form
of art was reached by the Court
after referring to experts, dictio-
naries, jurists and other
sources. The court also took into
consideration that time has de-
fined art in different form and so
different authors of such time in
their creations. Art for a common
man means a specific skill that can
even be an occupation or a pro-
fession and therefore sports can
be included into the category of
Art and sports is a skill that has
its masters too. The division
bench also spotted Article 80
(3) of the words that in context
of the matter of such type litera-
ture, science, art and social service
has remained illustrative and not
exhaustive.
The Petition and Petitioner The Petition and Petitioner The Petition and Petitioner The Petition and Petitioner The Petition and Petitioner
Ram Gopal Singh Sisodia, the
former MLA from Delhi filed a pe-
tition that seeking nullification of
the cricketers appointment to
Upper House as the cricketer
didnt possess the qualifications
mentioned in Article 80(3) of the
Indian Constitution, which allows
him to be nominated to the Up-
per House of the nation. The peti-
tioner mentioned that a person
with knowledge or experience in
literature, science, art, social ser-
vice and cooperative movement
can only be nominated to the up-
per house of the Indian Parliament,
whereas there exist no such clause
for nomination of a sportsperson.
Article 80 (3) Article 80 (3) Article 80 (3) Article 80 (3) Article 80 (3)
The Article 80 (3) of the
Constitution of India states that the
person - The members to be nomi-
nated by the President under sub-
clause (a) of clause (1) shall con-
sist of persons having special
knowledge or practical experi-
ence in respect of such matters as
the following, namely:- Literature,
science, art and social service.
Government Calendar Featuring Government Calendar Featuring Government Calendar Featuring Government Calendar Featuring Government Calendar Featuring
Flagship Schemes launched Flagship Schemes launched Flagship Schemes launched Flagship Schemes launched Flagship Schemes launched
The Government of Indias
Wall Calendar for 2013 was
launched on 14 December 2012
featuring various flagship
programmes of the Government,
which includes Aadhaar based
Direct Cash Transfer Scheme to be
implemented in 51 districts from
January 2013 among others. The
calendar is printed and designed
by Directorate of Advertising and
Visual Publicity (DAVP) of the Min-
istry of Information and Broadcast-
ing, which has over the years
worked on developing social ad-
vertising brand Bharat Nirman.The
theme of the calendar is Bharat
Nirman- Sabka hit, Sabka Haq.
Month Month Month Month Month Schemes Schemes Schemes Schemes Schemes
January Aadhar based Direct Cash
Transfer Scheme
February PMs 15-point programme
for welfare of minorities
March Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
April Mid Day Meal Scheme
May Mahatama Gandhi National
Rural Employment Guaran-
tee Scheme (MNREGA)
June Immunisation
July Saakshar Bharat Abhiyan
August Janani Shishu Suraksha
Karyakaram
September Empowerment of sched-
uled castes
October Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak
Yojana
November Rajiv Gandhi Grameen
Vidyutikaran Yojana
December The Indira Awas Yojana
Calendar as a tool of commu-
nication played an important role
in disseminating information re-
garding the policies of the Govern-
ment despite the fact that media
platforms were enhancing their
reach through digital means of
communication. The Calendar is
dedicated to aam aadmi.
The SC asked Judge of SC and The SC asked Judge of SC and The SC asked Judge of SC and The SC asked Judge of SC and The SC asked Judge of SC and
HC to Inform Government HC to Inform Government HC to Inform Government HC to Inform Government HC to Inform Government
About Details of Foreign Visits About Details of Foreign Visits About Details of Foreign Visits About Details of Foreign Visits About Details of Foreign Visits
On 10 December 2012, the
Supreme Court partially stayed the
order of Delhi high court in which
it had cancelled three paras of
Centres 2010 circular which made
it compulsory for the judges to
take foreign visits only with ap-
proval of chief justice of the high
court concerned or Chief Justice
of India (CJI). The judges of Su-
preme Court as well as high court
needed to inform the Government
of India about the foreign visits
which include the purpose of their
visit, duration as well as the fund-
ing source.
Foreign visits could be taken
after traveling details were submit-
ted to the Government of India.
The high court had called these
conditions offending for au-
tonomy of higher judiciary, which
is why it cancelled them on 25 May
2012.
The high court had cancelled
the paragraph which mentioned
that travel details need to be sub-
mitted, but it clarified that the
judged still needed to give infor-
mation regarding their duration of
the trip as well as city in which
they intended to stay. These de-
tails need to be submitted to the
chief justice of the HC concerned
or CJI.
In argument to the challenge
of government to HC order, the
25 25 25 25 25
solicitor general R F Nariman clari-
fied that this circular was impor-
tant in order to provide security
for judges while they were in the
foreign land.
He declared that the judges
went abroad on diplomatic pass-
ports which are issued to the
judges by the Central Government.
Bench of Chief Justice
Altamas Kabir and Justices S S
Nijjar and J Chelameswar however
declared that they also knew
judges which took foreign trips on
personal passpors instead of dip-
lomatic ones. Getting the informa-
tion about foreign visit was made
necessary so that the concerned
ministry could help these judges
if they needed some. The Su-
preme Court on 10 December
2012 stayed the order of Delhi high
court in which it had cancelled the
paragraph 10 of Centres 2010 cir-
cular.
SC Issued Guidelines to Curb SC Issued Guidelines to Curb SC Issued Guidelines to Curb SC Issued Guidelines to Curb SC Issued Guidelines to Curb
Eve Teasing At the Public Eve Teasing At the Public Eve Teasing At the Public Eve Teasing At the Public Eve Teasing At the Public
Places Places Places Places Places
Supreme Court on 30 No-
vember 2012 issued certain guide-
lines in order to put a halt to eve-
teasing. SC termed eve-teasing
consequences disastrous and also
directed the government that
women cops in plain clothes
should be deputed at the public
places. The state governments as
well as the union territories are
ordered by the Supreme Court to
depute female police officers in
plain clothes at the public places
such as metro stations, bus stands,
railway stations, shopping malls,
beaches, parks, worship places,
cinemas as well as public service
vehicles. This has been done to
monitor as well as supervise the
incidents of eve-teasing. This was
important because there is no uni-
form law in order to deal with eve-
teasing. The court passed 26-page
judgement in which it was men-
tioned that eve teasing could be
curbed with little efforts and the
consequences could be disastrous
in case it is left unchecked. Also,
the court concluded that eve teas-
ing could lead to violation of the
fundamental rights which are guar-
anteed under constitution. The SC
laid down these guidelines in its
judgement, setting aside verdict of
Madras High Court. Madras High
Court had reserved the judgement
of Central Administrative Tribunal
in which it upheld the dismissal of
a police cop who misbehaved
with a married woman on 9 July
1999. Apart from deputing female
police officers in plain clothes, the
Union Territories and state govern-
ments will also have to install the
CCTV in the strategic positions.
Also, the sign boards with caution
would be exhibited at the public
places.

Click Here to Join Premium Membership:
http://upscportal.com/civilservices/premium/member
27 27 27 27 27
INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL
US House of Representatives US House of Representatives US House of Representatives US House of Representatives US House of Representatives
passed the Defence Bill 2013 passed the Defence Bill 2013 passed the Defence Bill 2013 passed the Defence Bill 2013 passed the Defence Bill 2013
US (United States) House of
Representatives on 20 December
2012 passed the Defence Autho-
rization Act of 2013. The bill was
passed with a 315-107 vote amid
chaos over the fiscal cliff negotia-
tions and the threat of drastic de-
fense spending cuts. The Defence
Authorization Act of 2013 covers
the cost of ships, aircraft, weap-
ons and military personnel as well
as the war effort in Afghanistan. It
consists of 528 billion dollars for
the Defense Departments base
budget, 17 billion dollars for de-
fense and nuclear programmes in
the Energy Department and 88 bil-
lion dollars for the war in Afghani-
stan. The bill tightens sanctions on
Iran and increases security for U.S.
diplomatic missions after the at-
tack on U.S. Consulate in
Benghazi, Libya. It also requests
the Pentagon to report to Congress
regarding the conflict in Syria on
possible military options.
US (United States) House of
Representatives on 20 December
2012 passed the Defence Autho-
rization Act of 2013. The bill was
passed with a 315-107 vote amid
chaos over the fiscal cliff negotia-
tions and the threat of drastic de-
fense spending cuts. The Defence
Authorization Act of 2013 covers
the cost of ships, aircraft, weap-
ons and military personnel as well
as the war effort in Afghanistan. It
consists of 528 billion dollars for
the Defense Departments base
budget, 17 billion dollars for de-
fense and nuclear programmes in
the Energy Department and 88 bil-
lion dollars for the war in Afghani-
stan. The bill tightens sanctions on
Iran and increases security for U.S.
diplomatic missions after the at-
tack on U.S. Consulate in
Benghazi, Libya. It also requests
the Pentagon to report to Congress
regarding the conflict in Syria on
possible military options.
Parliament in Italy dissolved Parliament in Italy dissolved Parliament in Italy dissolved Parliament in Italy dissolved Parliament in Italy dissolved
President Giorgio Napolitano
on 22 December 2012 dissolved
Italys Parliament following the res-
ignation of Prime Minister Mario
Monti on 21 December 2012. The
Parliamentary elections are sched-
uled to be held on 24-25 February
2013. Since taking office in No-
vember 2011, the Prime Minister
and his non-party team of minis-
28 28 28 28 28
ters implemented economic aus-
terity measures in the form of cuts
in spending and tax hikes. The
election was triggered after Silvio
Berlusconis party center-right
People of Freedom party (PdL)
withdrew support from Montis
government. Italian government
under the leadership of Mario
Monti brought forward a series of
austerity reforms backed by EU
and business leaders. Italys pub-
lic debt is increasing and economy
is in a kind of turmoil. But majority
of Italians, frustrated by benefit
cuts, tax hikes and unemployment,
do not appear convinced.
WHO approved Vaccine WHO approved Vaccine WHO approved Vaccine WHO approved Vaccine WHO approved Vaccine
Manufacturing Practices Manufacturing Practices Manufacturing Practices Manufacturing Practices Manufacturing Practices
The World Health
Organisation (WHO) in the third
week of December 2012 approved
the manufacturing practices being
adopted by the private vaccine
manufacturing pharmaceutical
companies of India. This approval
was given to Indian Pharmaceuti-
cal companies after an intensive
four days audit of the vaccine
manufacturing facilities across the
country was concluded by a 16-
member multi-nation team that
was headed by WHO officials. The
team comprised officials from
China, EU, the US FDA, Thailand,
Sweden and France. WHO gave
its clearance to the procedures
adopted by the Indian National
Regulatory Authority (NRA) or the
Drug Controller Generals Office
(DCGO). The audit team also
cleared that the procedures
adopted by the Central Drugs
Standard Control Organisation
(CDSCO) and institutions affiliated
to it meet the prescribed interna-
tional standards and the proce-
dures inculcated in production
were stringent enough to ensure
that the vaccines produced by In-
dian companies were safe, high in
quality and efficacious.
With this approval India be-
came the first country in 2012 to
pass the stringent levels of seven
indicators that is put forward by
the WHO that is made much more
stringent every time conducted by
a team of 12 international experts
headed by a member of
WHO. India at present is a major
vaccine producing country with 12
major vaccine manufacturing fa-
cilities and the vaccines formu-
lated and manufactured in India
are used in national and interna-
tional markets of nearly 150 coun-
tries of the world. In case of
measles every second child of the
world is vaccinated using the vac-
cine produced in India. At present
India manufactures 30 different
types of vaccines that include
Hepatitis, measles and polio. This
approval from WHO had made the
12 manufacturing units of India
eligible for supplying the vaccines
to international bodies like
UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, Gates
Foundation, Clinton Foundation,
and GAVI.
Iran Declared Extracting Iran Declared Extracting Iran Declared Extracting Iran Declared Extracting Iran Declared Extracting
Complete Data from the Complete Data from the Complete Data from the Complete Data from the Complete Data from the
Captured US Drone Captured US Drone Captured US Drone Captured US Drone Captured US Drone
Iran declared on 5 December
2012 that it had extracted data
from the US intelligence drone
which was caught spying on its
military sites as well as oil termi-
nals. Iran had declared on 4 De-
cember 2012 that the US spying
drone was captured. US however
put down the claim on the
grounds that there were no evi-
dences to support this
assertion. Iran had announced
that it had captured the US
ScanEagle drone which was found
flying over the Gulf waters. The
incident further highlighted the
tensions in Gulf while Iran and US
are attracting attention to the mili-
tary capabilities in oil exporting
regions in an argument over the
disputed nuclear programme of
Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that
they had extracted the information
from the drone completely. IRGC
further also mentioned that this
drone was spying and gathering
the military information on trans-
fer of oil from the petroleum ter-
minals of Iran. The primary expert
terminal of Iran is located at Kharg
Island.
UN Approved New Debate on UN Approved New Debate on UN Approved New Debate on UN Approved New Debate on UN Approved New Debate on
Arm Treaty opposed by U.S. Arm Treaty opposed by U.S. Arm Treaty opposed by U.S. Arm Treaty opposed by U.S. Arm Treaty opposed by U.S.
Gun Lobby Gun Lobby Gun Lobby Gun Lobby Gun Lobby
The U.N. General Assembly
on 24 December 2012 voted over-
poweringly to restart negotiations
on a draft international treaty to
regulate the 70 billion dollar glo-
bal trade in conventional arms, a
pact the powerful U.S. National
Rifle Association has been lobby-
ing hard against. U.N. delegates
and gun control activists have
complained that earlier in July
2012 talks collapsed largely be-
cause U.S. President Barack
Obama feared attacks from Re-
publican rival Mitt Romney before
the 6 November 2012 election if
his administration was seen as
supporting the pact, charge U.S.
29 29 29 29 29
officials have denied. But after
Obamas re-election in November
2012, his administration joined
other members of a U.N. commit-
tee in supporting the resumption
of negotiations on the treaty. On
24 December 2012 the 193-nation
U.N. General Assembly voted to
hold a final round of negotiations
on March 18-28 in New York. The
foreign ministers of Argentina,
Australia, Costa Rica, Finland, Ja-
pan, Kenya and the United King-
dom - the countries that drafted
the resolution - issued a joint state-
ment welcoming the decision to
resume negotiations on the pact.
There were 133 votes in
favour, none against and 17 ab-
stentions. A number of countries
did not attend, which U.N. diplo-
mats said was due to the Christ-
mas Eve holiday. Among the top
six arms-exporting nations, Russia
cast the only abstention in last
months vote. Britain, France and
Germany joined China and the
United States in the disarmament
committee in support of the same
resolution approved by the Gen-
eral Assembly. The main reason
the arms trade talks are taking
place at all is that the United States
- the worlds biggest arms trader,
which accounts for more than 40
percent of global transfers in con-
ventional arms - reversed U.S.
policy on the issue after Obama
was first elected and decided in
2009 to support a treaty. Obama
administration officials have tried
to explain to U.S. opponents of the
arms trade pact that the treaty un-
der discussion would have no ef-
fect on gun sales and ownership
inside the United States because
it would apply only to exports.
About Arms Trade Treaty About Arms Trade Treaty About Arms Trade Treaty About Arms Trade Treaty About Arms Trade Treaty
The Arms Trade Treaty is the
name of a potential multilateral
treaty that would regulate the in-
ternational trade in conventional
weapons. The treaty was negoti-
ated at a global conference under
the support of the United Nations
from 2 July 27 July 2012 in New
York. Arms Trade Treaty is part
of a larger universal effort that be-
gan in 2001 with the adoption of a
non-legally binding program of
action at the United Nations Con-
ference on the Illicit Trade in Small
Arms and Light Weapons in All Its
Aspects in 2001. This program was
formally called the Programme of
Action to Prevent, Combat and
Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small
Arms and Light Weapons in All Its
Aspects (PoA).
Queen Elizabeth Became First Queen Elizabeth Became First Queen Elizabeth Became First Queen Elizabeth Became First Queen Elizabeth Became First
Peacetime British Ruler to Peacetime British Ruler to Peacetime British Ruler to Peacetime British Ruler to Peacetime British Ruler to
Attend Cabinet Meeting Attend Cabinet Meeting Attend Cabinet Meeting Attend Cabinet Meeting Attend Cabinet Meeting
On 18 December 2012,
Queen Elizabeth became first
peacetime British ruler ever since
1781, who attended the cabinet
meeting. Though she did not take
part in any deliberations, but she
participated in the cabinet meet-
ing as an observer and a listener.
Queen Elizabeth remained seated
on the chair which is usually oc-
cupied by the prime
minister. Historians believed that
Queen Elizabeth became the first
monarch in the history to attend
any cabinet meeting, after George
III did that. Factually, George I had
abandoned joining the cabinet in
1717. Nevertheless, Queen
Elizabeths father George VI had
attended the cabinet meeting dur-
ing World War II.
UK Prime Minister David
Cameron seated towards the right
side of Elizabeth and foreign sec-
retary William Hague seated to-
wards her left. George Osborne,
Chancellor of the Exchequer was
seated just opposite to her. In the
cabinet meeting, the PM first wel-
comed the Queen formally before
spelling out objectives of the cabi-
net meeting. The first agenda of
the meeting was about law
amendment on the succession to
royal chair. The agenda was basi-
cally allowing the first born girl to
be head of the state, even if she
had younger brother. Though
Queen Elizabeth had attended the
cabinet meeting, but academics
were of different viewpoints on
whether Queen should have at-
tended the meeting or not. At
present, Britain has a tradition of
monarch allowing a weekly audi-
ence to PM in order to receive pri-
vate as well as confidential brief-
ing. But actually, the Queen just
rubber stamps the ministerial de-
cisions, maybe sometimes in pres-
ence of the Privy Council.
China Held largest Air Force China Held largest Air Force China Held largest Air Force China Held largest Air Force China Held largest Air Force
Drill involving 100 Fighter Drill involving 100 Fighter Drill involving 100 Fighter Drill involving 100 Fighter Drill involving 100 Fighter
planes planes planes planes planes
China held one of its largest-
ever airforce drill involving about
100 multi-types fighter planes,
amid heightened tensions with
Japan over territorial dispute in
the East China Sea. East China Sea. East China Sea. East China Sea. East China Sea. The air com-
bat exercises were held under in-
formation conditions at an airport
30 30 30 30 30
in southwest China for 11 days in
the month of November 2012
which involved over 100 fighters
of over 10 different types and sup-
port staff.
In recent days, China is hold-
ing multi-military exercises involv-
ing land, air and naval forces on
variety of locations practicing cap-
turing islands and holding on to
them. Aircraft which took part in
the drill came from 14 separate
units and included Chinas most
modern jet fighters, the J-10 and
J-11, along with older models and
two-seater Sukhoi Su-30s Sukhoi Su-30s Sukhoi Su-30s Sukhoi Su-30s Sukhoi Su-30s which
was purchased from Russia. The
exercises are a clear demonstra-
tion of Chinas vastly improved
military capabilities that have
frightened other Asian nations and
are encouraging a changed US fo-
cus on the region. Chinas navy
also for the first time launched and
recovered aircraft from the
countrys first aircraft carrier, a re-
furbished Ukrainian craft that will
be armed wi th J-15 fighter- J-15 fighter- J-15 fighter- J-15 fighter- J-15 fighter-
bombers, bombers, bombers, bombers, bombers, a Chinese adaptation of
the Russian Sukhoi Su-33.
President Mohamed Morsi President Mohamed Morsi President Mohamed Morsi President Mohamed Morsi President Mohamed Morsi
signed Egypts Controversial signed Egypts Controversial signed Egypts Controversial signed Egypts Controversial signed Egypts Controversial
Constitution Constitution Constitution Constitution Constitution
Egyptian President
Mohamed Morsi on 25 December
registered voters participated. The
remaining 90 were appointed by
Mohamed Morsi, the Islamist
president. It was expected to draft
a law for legislative elections for
the dissolved lower house that
have to be held by the end of Feb-
ruary 2013. The National Salvation
Front opposition coalition said it
would vie for seats in the parlia-
ment, which has powers under the
new charter that could hamper
Morsis ability to govern.
European Union imposed Stiff European Union imposed Stiff European Union imposed Stiff European Union imposed Stiff European Union imposed Stiff
Sanctions on Trade with Iran Sanctions on Trade with Iran Sanctions on Trade with Iran Sanctions on Trade with Iran Sanctions on Trade with Iran
European Union (EU) im-
posed stiff sanctions on trade with
Iran in a move aimed at further iso-
lating it over the controversial
nuclear program. The fresh sanc-
tions directed against Irans bank-
ing, shipping and industrial sectors
came into effect from 22 Decem-
ber 2012. These are considered to
be the toughest EU measures and
include bans on financial transac-
tions, sales to Iran of shipping
equipment and steel, and imports
of Iranian natural gas in addition
to the existing ban on import of
Iranian crude oil.
Britain would Pull Half of its Britain would Pull Half of its Britain would Pull Half of its Britain would Pull Half of its Britain would Pull Half of its
Troops from Afghanistan Troops from Afghanistan Troops from Afghanistan Troops from Afghanistan Troops from Afghanistan
The Prime Minister of Britain,
David Cameroon on 19 December
2012 announced that Britain has
planned to withdraw more than
half of its troops back from Af-
ghanistan by 2013 and all-foreign
2012 signed into law a new Islam-
ist-drafted constitution which will
help end political disorder and al-
low him to focus on fixing the
weak economy. Mohamed Morsi
signed a declaration enforcing the
charter late after the official an-
nouncement of the result of a ref-
erendum approving the basic law,
Egypts first constitution since
Hosni Mubaraks overthrow. The
passing of the constitution meant
Egypt could now move to a new
stage that should bring security
and stability for the people. The
body, known as the Shura coun-
cil, will temporarily be able to pass
laws until a new parliament has
been elected within the next few
months, after the adoption of an
election law. Two-thirds of the
members of the 270-seat council
were elected earlier this year in a
vote in which only 12 per cent of
31 31 31 31 31
forces of the country would be
pulled out by 2014. The Prime Min-
ister informed to the commons
that 3800 troops, who were de-
ployed at Helmand Province
would be back by end of the year
2013 leaving 5200 troops behind.
Overall, 9500 troops from Britain
are out of home out of which 500
are waiting to be back to home
before the Christmas of 2012. The
troops would be returning home
in relatively two even steps in 2013
and 2014. The decision was made
because of the success that the
British Forces and the Afghan Na-
tional security Forces accom-
plished in the region. By the time
the British forces are pulled out,
the Afghani Forces would have
been mentored from the battalion
level to the Brigade level by 2013.
The Prime Minister also an-
nounced that even after the final
withdrawal of the British Forces a
small number of there force would
remain operational into the region
to have a check on returning of
equipments and to deal with the
logistics. Philip Hammond, the
Defence Secretary of Britain in-
formed about the long-term plans
of the British Forces following the
commitment that it made to the
Afghani people. The British Gov-
ernment also informed that at the
end of 2014 reduction in the num-
ber of troops on a large scale with
immediate effect would not occur.
The troops would be withdrawn
gradually following the plans of its
ISAF [International Security Assis-
tance Force] partners as well as
the advice offered by its army
commanders. A small number of
U.K. Forces would remain func-
tional for operations in Afghani-
stan counterparts till the time the
combat operations doesnt come
to a cease completely by 2014.
Maldives took over Charge of Maldives took over Charge of Maldives took over Charge of Maldives took over Charge of Maldives took over Charge of
Male Airport scrapping Male Airport scrapping Male Airport scrapping Male Airport scrapping Male Airport scrapping
Agreement with GMR Agreement with GMR Agreement with GMR Agreement with GMR Agreement with GMR
Maldives took charge of Male
airport from GMR. Maldives gov-
ernment had scrapped the agree-
ment with GMR on first December
2012, saying that the agreement
was not in the interest of the coun-
try. Singapore Supreme Court had
upheld the right of Maldives to ter-
minate the 25 year contract. There
will be a three-week transition
period starting 7 December 2012
at the end of which GMR will stop
operating the airport. Maldivian
Airport Company Limited, which
will run the airport, has agreed to
retain all staff, including Indian
nationals, on the same terms.
Beijing was 14th Safest City in Beijing was 14th Safest City in Beijing was 14th Safest City in Beijing was 14th Safest City in Beijing was 14th Safest City in
China China China China China
A survey conducted
by China Academy of Social Sci- China Academy of Social Sci- China Academy of Social Sci- China Academy of Social Sci- China Academy of Social Sci-
ences (CASS) ences (CASS) ences (CASS) ences (CASS) ences (CASS) which is a govern-
ment owned body, revealed that
the capital of China, Beijing is less
safer than other cities of the coun-
try. The safest place is the capital
of Tibet, Lhasa, followed by
Shanghai. When analysed in
terms of safety, the Chinese capi-
tal city was ranked 14th, inspite of
huge network of the security cam-
eras as well as constant police
force on the lanes and roads.
Other major cities of China were
ranked much safer than Beijing
and these safe cities included
Xiamen, Ningbo, Changchun,
Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjin,
Dalian, Hangzhou and Nanjing.
CASS also revealed that around 40
percent of the 25000 respondents
of survey from 38 cities of China
felt unsafe to go out during night-
time. Residents of Guiyang, the
capital of Guizhou province
marked it lowest in terms of safety.
It was also found out that people
in the coastal cities of East China
as well as municipalities were
safer than other parts of country.
Ireland to legalise Abortions Ireland to legalise Abortions Ireland to legalise Abortions Ireland to legalise Abortions Ireland to legalise Abortions
Ireland on 18 December 2012
announced that it will legalise
abortions when the mothers life
is at risk, weeks after the death of
Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar
who died after being refused an
abortion in the European country.
The decision comes after a huge
public outcry over the death of 31-
year-old Savita, who died on 28
October 2012 at Galway University
Hospital. She had been 17-week
pregnant and was found to be mis-
carrying. Savita Halappanavar
asked repeatedly for a termination
of pregnancy but was refused and
was told the foetal heartbeat was
still present and this is a Catholic
country.
Global Telecom Treaty without Global Telecom Treaty without Global Telecom Treaty without Global Telecom Treaty without Global Telecom Treaty without
Net Control Signed by 89 Net Control Signed by 89 Net Control Signed by 89 Net Control Signed by 89 Net Control Signed by 89
Nations Nations Nations Nations Nations
A controversial new global
treaty on telecom regulations was
32 32 32 32 32
signed on 14 December 2012 by
89 International Telecommunica- International Telecommunica- International Telecommunica- International Telecommunica- International Telecommunica-
tion Union tion Union tion Union tion Union tion Union member states out of
a possible 144 Countries regard-
less of US objections to prospec-
tive regulation of the Internet. Over
150 nations met in Dubai, under
the support of the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU)
to update a set of telecom rules of
1988, before the Internet and mo-
bile phones transformed commu-
nications. But they failed to draw
a conclusion which will lead to a
new fight over cyberspace. Fifty-
five countries did not sign the
treaty that enters effect in January
2015.
A US-led bloc advocated a
tolerant approach to the Internet,
while Russia, China and much of
Africa and the Middle East wanted
greater governmental oversight of
cyberspace.
The treaty that is the first up-
date to the International Tele- International Tele- International Tele- International Tele- International Tele-
communication Regulations communication Regulations communication Regulations communication Regulations communication Regulations
(ITRs) (ITRs) (ITRs) (ITRs) (ITRs) agreed in 1988, stimulated
controversy as Internet operators,
activists and countries led by the
United States objected to refer-
ence to the Internet deemed to be
paving the way for government
control. The United States on 13
December 2012 opposed the
treaty saying that the proposed
text opened the door to govern-
ment regulation of the Internet. As
per the treaty, the non-binding
resolution on the Internet
recognises, among other things,
that all governments should have
an equal role and responsibility for
international Internet governance
and for ensuring the stability, se-
curity and continuity of the exist-
ing Internet and its future devel-
opment and of the future Internet.
As in a previous version, the Inter-
national Telecom Regulations spell
out guidelines on technical issues
such as how carriers charge each
other for incoming international
phone calls, as well as taxation and
accounting.
Countries that sign the treaty
are supposed to be guided by its
principles, although these have no
force of law. US lawmakers had
voted unanimously to oppose any
efforts to give the United Nations
new authority to regulate the
Internet, and a variety of Internet
activists and US firms, led by
Google, also warned against new
regulations. Google had asserted
that governments taking part in the
meeting in Dubai proved that they
wanted increased censorship, and
it supported countries rejecting
the treaty.
Israels Jewish Population Israels Jewish Population Israels Jewish Population Israels Jewish Population Israels Jewish Population
Passed Crucial 6 Million Mark Passed Crucial 6 Million Mark Passed Crucial 6 Million Mark Passed Crucial 6 Million Mark Passed Crucial 6 Million Mark
Israels Central Bureau of Sta-
tistics (CBS) in the last week of De-
cember 2012 revealed that the
Jewish population of Israel passed
the crucial mark of 6 million for
first time. This is equal to the Jews
killed in Holocaust. According to
the Israels CBS the overall popu-
lation of Israel was 7.98 million out
of which 75.4 percent were Jew-
ish. The Arab population of Israel
accounted for 20 percent and 4
percent were defined as
others. However it was made
clear that the position of Jews
worldwide was the same. Before
Holocaust, the number of Jews
across the world was 18 million.
After it, the number was just a little
more than the mark of 13 million.
Even now, the population is just a
little more than 13 million. Never-
theless, the population of Jews in
Israel is somewhere near half the
population of Jewish nations
across the world, which would put
Israel in central place.
Other figures were released
by Palestinian Central Bureau of
Statistics and it was found that the
overall population of Arabs in Pal-
estine and Israel would be equiva-
lent to that of Jews by 2016. It was
also revealed that the population
of Arabs would exceed that of
Jews by 2020. Jewish population
in Israel increased by ten times
since the declaration of this state
in May 1948 when the number of
Jewish citizens was just 660000.
What is Holocaust? What is Holocaust? What is Holocaust? What is Holocaust? What is Holocaust?
Holocaust is said to be the
bureaucratic, systematic and
state-sponsored murder of around
six million Jews by Nazi regime as
well as collaborators. Holocaust is
the Greek-origin word which
means sacrifice by fire. Nazis ac-
quired power in January 1933 in
33 33 33 33 33
Germany and considered Jews as
racially inferior. This genocide oc-
curred during the Second World
War.
Republic of Kosovo recognised Republic of Kosovo recognised Republic of Kosovo recognised Republic of Kosovo recognised Republic of Kosovo recognised
by Pakistan by Pakistan by Pakistan by Pakistan by Pakistan
Government of Pakistan on
24 December 2012 officially
recognised Kosovo as an indepen-
dent state, almost five years after
it declared independence from
Serbia on 17 February 2008.
The decision was made in ac-
cordance with the aspirations of
the people of Kosovo. With this
Pakistan became the 98th sover-
eign state among 193 UN-member
states recognising Kosovo. The
government of Pakistan has also
decided to at the same time to ac-
credit its ambassador to the Re-
public of Turkey in Ankara as am-
bassador of the Islamic Republic
of Pakistan to the Republic of
Kosovo. Kosovo declared full full full full full
i ndependence i ndependence i ndependence i ndependence i ndependence in September
2012 after the western powers
overseeing Kosovo announced the
end of their supervision of this
Balkan nation. The unilateral dec-
laration of independence by
Kosovo was seen as an example
for resolving ethnic conflicts on
considerations other than territo-
rial integrity of countries. It was
also feared that the Kosovo prin-
ciple could at a successive stage
be applied to other separatist
movements.
About Republic of Kosovo About Republic of Kosovo About Republic of Kosovo About Republic of Kosovo About Republic of Kosovo
Kosovo is a small south east
European state lies between
Albania, Macedonia, Serbia
and Montenegro. The capital
of the Republic is Prishtina, a
city of around 500000 people.
The population of Kosovo ex-
ceeds 2 million.
Kosovo is a democratic, multi-
ethnic and secular Republic
that incorporates into its Con-
stitution the UN Special En-
voy, Martti Ahtisaari, Compre-
hensive Proposal for Kosovo
Status Settlement. This plan
ensures that the Constitution
of the Republic protects and
guarantees rights for all of
Kosovo citizens. The support
of this proposal by Kosovar
people shows readiness to
move on, forgive and build.
Kosovo has historically, cultur-
ally and socially been part of
Europe. The ancient kingdoms
that stood there were at the
center of European history
well over 3,000 years ago.
Later on, as new world pow-
ers emerged and the world
changed, again the nations of
south east Europe forged the
future of this continent.
In more modern times,
Kosovo ended up as the least de-
veloped part of Yugoslavia, slowly
moving towards high unemploy-
ment and unequal opportunities
for Kosovar Albanians. This,
coupled with nationalistic policies
that broke up Yugoslavia, culmi-
nated in the Kosovo - Serbia war
of 1997-199
First Woman President of South First Woman President of South First Woman President of South First Woman President of South First Woman President of South
Korea Korea Korea Korea Korea
Park Geun-hye was elected
as the president of South Korea on
19 December 2012, the first
woman who acquired this post.
Park Geun-hye is the daughter of
longest ruling dictator of South
Korea. After the counting of
votes, it was declared by the Na-
tional Election Commission that
Park had enjoyed clear victory
with 51.64 percent votes in com-
parison to 47.93 percent votes for
Moon Jae-in, who is the former
lawyer of human rights. Moon Jae-
in was also imprisoned at some
point of time for standing in op-
position with the authoritarian rule
of her father.
Moon Jae-in accepted the
defeat because clearly her lead
was impossible. Election of Park
Geun-hye, 60, is said to be the
milestone for South Korean soci-
ety which has remained mainly
male-dominated. Dictator Park
Chung-hee, the father of Park
Geun-hye ruled the country from
1961 to 1979 and left behind po-
litical repression, something that
is still dividing the country. While
in office, Lee intensified several
problems such as dwindling job
opportunities, political corruption
as well as increasing tensions with
North Korea. While campaigning,
Park had said that being a female
would help her in a lot of ways.
She never got married. Reputation
of Park in South Korea is that of a
steely as well as principled leader.
Her role models are Queen Eliza-
beth and British PM Margaret
Thatcher.
34 34 34 34 34
Immigration to Britain Immigration to Britain Immigration to Britain Immigration to Britain Immigration to Britain
Witnessed Biggest Fall in 20 Witnessed Biggest Fall in 20 Witnessed Biggest Fall in 20 Witnessed Biggest Fall in 20 Witnessed Biggest Fall in 20
Years Years Years Years Years
Immigration into Britain saw
the deepest dip in 20 years, the
official figures revealed. In 2011,
536000 foreigners migrated to live
in UK, which is 42000 lower than
in 2010. This drop is said to be the
biggest and deepest because im-
migration dropped down by
61000 during the recession of
1991. Numbers of people enter-
ing UK were lowest since the year
2004 when thousands of European
workers were permitted to work
here. The basic reason why this
number sank was because of the
dramatic reduction in the number
of people coming on student vi-
sas. In terms of percentage, the net
immigration figure went down by
25 percent from 242000 to 183000.
The number of students who
come for joining courses in UK
colleges sank by 67 percent. In the
meanwhile, the students coming
down for English Language
schools dropped by 76 percent.
Nevertheless, the foreign students
who go to UK varsities increased
by 1 percent. Ministers of UK
called this drop as a crucial step
towards achieving the aim of gov-
ernment in reducing immigration
to what it was in 1990s.
Paper Money to be replaced Paper Money to be replaced Paper Money to be replaced Paper Money to be replaced Paper Money to be replaced
with Plastic Banknotes in UK with Plastic Banknotes in UK with Plastic Banknotes in UK with Plastic Banknotes in UK with Plastic Banknotes in UK
Britain planned to replace
the paper money with plastic
banknotes, which are said to be
more durable as well as water-
proof. Another advantage of these
plastic banknotes is that they are
difficult to be forged. Paper money
has been used in Britain for over
300 years. The radical renovation
in Britain might see polymer ster-
ling currency in circulation in just
three years time. The Bank of En-
gland already publicised the 1 bil-
lion pounds tender from 2015 for
the process of printing of these
notes at the press in Debden,
Essex. Bidders are expected to
cope up with this change from
paper currency to plastic right
from the beginning of the contract
as the part of this process. The
contract since 2003 was held by
De La Rue, which is one of the only
two polymer notes makers. Ini-
tially, the Bank would produce
lower denominations like fiver
(five-pound note). De La Rue
prints over 150 currencies and re-
cently it had produced new plas-
tic banknotes for Pacific island of
Fiji. The first country to introduce
plastic notes was Australia where
the currency was introduced in
1988 as a step to curtail counter-
feiting. Some of the other coun-
tries that might issue polymer
notes include Vietnam, Mexico,
Papua New Guinea, New Zealand
and Romania. Plastic fiver was in-
troduced in Northern Ireland in
1999 for indicating the mark of a
Millennium.
Why plastic notes can be Why plastic notes can be Why plastic notes can be Why plastic notes can be Why plastic notes can be
beneficial than paper currency? beneficial than paper currency? beneficial than paper currency? beneficial than paper currency? beneficial than paper currency?
Plastic notes are more du-
rable than the paper notes. Also,
these polymer notes prove to be
more hygienic because they at-
tract fewer bacteria and do not
form crease or tear. Apart from
being waterproof, the plastic
notes are also easier to be used for
vending machines. The primary
feature of plastic notes is that they
offer clear window which also
contains optical variable device
through which light can be split
easily into the component colours.
This makes it very difficult for any-
one to counterfeit the currency.
These notes are eco-friendly as
well as recyclable. However, the
cost of producing these notes is a
bit higher than the paper currency.
Also, the initial cost needs to be
invested so that the vending ma-
chines as well as ATMs can adapt
to them.
North Korea Launched Long North Korea Launched Long North Korea Launched Long North Korea Launched Long North Korea Launched Long
Range Unha-3 Rocket Range Unha-3 Rocket Range Unha-3 Rocket Range Unha-3 Rocket Range Unha-3 Rocket
North Korea launched a long-
range rocket Unha-3 Unha-3 Unha-3 Unha-3 Unha-3 on 12 De-
cember 2012 despite international
opposition and growing tensions
in the region successfully deliver-
ing a scientific satellite
Kwangmyongsong-3 into orbit.
Unha-3 is the second version
of satellite Kwangmyongsong-3
which is successfully lifted off
from the Sohae Space Center by
carrier rocket. The North Ameri- North Ameri- North Ameri- North Ameri- North Ameri-
can Aerospace Defense Com- can Aerospace Defense Com- can Aerospace Defense Com- can Aerospace Defense Com- can Aerospace Defense Com-
mand (NORAD) mand (NORAD) mand (NORAD) mand (NORAD) mand (NORAD)reported that the
North Korean missile deployed an
object that appeared to achieve
orbit, which would fall in line with
Pyongyangs claims about the na-
ture of the launch. The debris of
the rocket fell into waters off the
Philippines at 10:05 a.m. local time
after passing over Okinawa. The
launch is a message from North
35 35 35 35 35
Korea to prove they are not lag-
ging behind in terms of technol-
ogy.
However, The UN Security
Council had condemned North
Koreas rocket launch in a short
statement following an emergency
meeting, saying that an appropri-
ate response is now being con-
sidered.
The United States evacuated its The United States evacuated its The United States evacuated its The United States evacuated its The United States evacuated its
Embassy in the Central African Embassy in the Central African Embassy in the Central African Embassy in the Central African Embassy in the Central African
Republic Republic Republic Republic Republic
The United States of America
evacuated its embassy in the Cen-
tral African Republic, reflecting
growing fears that the capital,
Bangui, may fall to rebel forces
called Saleka. The countrys Presi-
dent Francois Bozize sought
French and American help against
the insurgents, who have been
making rapid territorial gains.
France, however, rejected any in-
tervention.
Seleka consists of breakaway
factions from three former armed
groups. It accuses Bozize of fail-
ing to honour a 2007 peace deal,
under which fighters were meant
to be paid who laid down their
arms.
The rebels want to depose
Bozize in case he fails to negoti-
ate with them. The rebels started
their campaign in November 2012
and have captured several towns
in their advance towards the capi-
tal.
No Religion Described Third No Religion Described Third No Religion Described Third No Religion Described Third No Religion Described Third
Largest World Group Largest World Group Largest World Group Largest World Group Largest World Group
In a study entitled The Glo- The Glo- The Glo- The Glo- The Glo-
bal Religious Landscape bal Religious Landscape bal Religious Landscape bal Religious Landscape bal Religious Landscape which
was issued by Pew Forum on Reli-
gion and Public Life on 18 Decem-
ber 2012, it was found that people
under the affiliation of no no no no no
religion religion religion religion religion accounted for 3rd largest
global group only after Christians
and Muslims. No Religion No Religion No Religion No Religion No Religion group
stood just before the Hindus. The
study is based on the data for
2010. It indicated that Hinduism
and Islam are two religions that are
likely to grow larger in future,
while the weakest growth oppor-
tunities were that of Jews.
The most consistently
spreading religion was Christian-
ity which is said to be present in
almost all regions of world. Hin-
duism, on the other hand, has its
concentration in one country, In-
dia with around 94 percent popu-
lation following the religion. The
study found out that comprehen-
sively, 84 percent of the popula-
tion of the world (around 6.9 bil-
lion) identified itself with a reli-
gion.
In the unaffiliated category or
no religion category were the
people who did not profess any
religion or are atheists and agnos-
tics or have no link with the estab-
lished faith. The study also indi-
cated that belief in higher power
or God was shared by 7 percent
unaffiliated Chinese adults, 68 per-
cent unaffiliated US adults and 30
percent unaffiliated French
adults. Age breakdown was also
focused in the study and it was
found out that lowest median age
was 23 years among Muslims in
comparison to 28 years in the
population of the world. Median
age is the highlighter of the popu-
lation bulge at that point where 50
percent population is above and
50 percent is below the number.
Breakdown Breakdown Breakdown Breakdown Breakdown
According to the study,
Christianity was largest faith with
31.5 percent world population fol-
lowing the religion. Roman Catho-
lic Church accounts for 50 percent
of the total.
The Muslim population was
1.6 billion or 23 percent of the
population of the world. 87-90
percent Muslims are Sunnis and
around 10-13 percent are Shia. Out
of the 1.1 billion unaffiliated popu-
lation of the world, more than 700
million or around 62 percent live
in China.
Second comes Japan with 72
million or 57 percent unaffiliated
population. Thereafter comes US
with 51 million people having no
link with any established
faith. Hindu population is found
mainly in India, Nepal and
Bangladesh. 50 percent of the
Buddhists of the world live in
China, followed by Thailand and
Japan. 405 million world popula-
tion or around 6 percent followed
their folk religions.
This kind of population was
found in Africa as well as China
apart from Australian aboriginals
and Native Americans. 58 million
population came from other reli-
gion category which includes
Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Tenrikyo,
Wicca, Jainism and Taoism. This
population was concentrated in
Asia-Pacific region. The study in-
dicated that Christians were in
majority in 157 countries of the
world, Muslims in 49 countries of
the world and with sharp contrast,
Hindus were in majority only in
Nepal, India and Mauritius.
37 37 37 37 37
INDIA & THE WORLD INDIA & THE WORLD
INDIA & THE WORLD INDIA & THE WORLD INDIA & THE WORLD
INDIA AND RUSSIA
India and Russia on 24 De-
cember 2012 signed a pact for
strengthening their economic ties
with a Kremlin-backed 2 billion
dollar investment fund. Both the
parties also agreed to talk about a
Comprehensive Economic Part-
nership Agreement involving
Kazakhastan and Belarus. During
the twelfth straight annual summit,
the leaders of both the nations
Vladimir Putin - President of Rus-
sia and Manmohan Singh - Prime
Minister of India finalised 10 agree-
ments including two military con-
tracts of 20000 crore rupees,
which was under process for past
some time. The two nations were
not successful in making a sub-
stantial progress on issues related
to delay in commissioning of
Gorshkov-the aircraft carrier, ap-
plicability of the Nuclear Limited
Liability Act at Kudankulams six
new reactors developed by Rus-
sia. Plans of Sistema and Severstal-
the two Russian companies invest-
ment plans in India and the tax
imposed on the Indian company
operating in Russia named Impe-
rial Energy.
Sistema, whose 2G licenses
were cancelled by the Supreme
Court of India signed two agree-
ments in the satellite segment with
India through its sister concern
company named Glonass. India
has signed military side contracts
with Glonass- the constellation of
34 satellites in 2011 for receiving
precision signals. Both the nations
would be extending their partner-
ship in energy sector moving be-
yond the investments made in
Sakhalin-I and direct trade of
Gazprom-Gail and are planning to
boost joint investment in upstream
and downstream sectors. India
also managed to discuss on its ar-
eas of interest for equity partici-
pation via ONGC-OVL in the
projects of Siberia, Arctic Shelf
and Far East of Russia either in the
existing ones or the new ones. In-
dia also put on table the interests
of acquiring equity stakes in the
proposed liquefied natural gas
(LNG) projects in Russia.
India and Russia India and Russia India and Russia India and Russia India and Russia
The only Hindu temple in
Russia, ISKCON was scheduled to
be demolished by Moscow au-
thorities by 15 January 2013. The
ISKCON monks announced that
the Hindu temple was facing clo-
sure by Russian government, a year
after the country had sought ban
of Bhagvad Gita. As Vladimir
Putin, the Russian President arrives
in India on 24 December 2012 for
negotiations with the Government
of India; there are hardly any
chances that the issue of ISKCON
would be discussed because it
was followed already by foreign
38 38 38 38 38
ministry. The Indian ambassador
to Russia had requested Moscow
authorities for giving extension
regarding temporary temple
which would expire on 31 Decem-
ber 2012, until the construction of
Vedic cultural centre is com-
pleted. The temple was scheduled
to be demolished on the grounds
that it violated the urban building
code. Additionally, it did not have
any legal grounds for its existence.
The ISKCON monk finally
also confirmed that the demolition
order was not cancelled, which is
why the temple would be demol-
ished in January 2013. Moscows
Mayor Sergey Sobyanin had also
ordered to cut down the perma-
nent temple project, which was
included by Delhi CM Sheila
Dikshit and former Moscow mayor
Yuri Luzhkov in the joint declara-
tion back in 2006 for cultural co-
operation between these cities.
In the year 2004, ISKCON temple
in Moscow was demolished and
another plot was offered to
ISKCON group for building the
temple. However, this offer was
again withdrawn after the mem-
bers of Russian Orthodox Church
had protested against building
plans of the temple. In 2011, ban
on Bhagvad Gita by Russia was
also discussed in Lok Sabha and
Parliament had asked unanimously
to Russia for preventing the ban.
The issue of demolition would
hamper the bilateral relations once
more.
INDIA AND PAKISTAN
India and Pakistan ex-
changed their nuclear units lists
on 1 January 2013, as it is custom-
ary since 20 years. The list which
contains the names of nuclear
units of two countries, are ex-
changed between India and Paki-
stan as a custom and part of an
agreement which prevents them
from aiming the nuclear installa-
tions of each others nations.
The exchange of the list of
nuclear units has been going on,
on 1 January every year since 1992.
This is a customary action as a part
of Agreement on Prohibition of At-
tacks against Nuclear Installations
and Facilities which was signed in
December 1988. The external af-
fairs ministry of India announced
that the two countries exchanged
the list of nuclear installations
through their diplomatic channels
at Islamabad and New Delhi. Apart
from this list, the two nations, as a
part of another bilateral agreement
signed back in 2008, share the list
of each others prisoners in the
jails of two countries. The bilateral
agreement was signed between
India and Pakistan in May 2008,
according to which a complete list
of the citizens of both the coun-
tries living in the jails of other
country should be exchanged two
times every year on 1 January and
in July.
India and Pakistan India and Pakistan India and Pakistan India and Pakistan India and Pakistan
A meeting of the India and
Pakistan former diplomats, peace
activists, army and navy officers
concluded on 3 December 2012
with an agenda that Sir Creek dis-
pute will be resolved. Apart from
this, Siachen and Kashmir are other
territorial troubles that sit amidst
the India-Pakistan relationship.
The strategic seminar called Aman
Ki Asha concluded with the fact
that even after a lot of deadlock
after the bilateral meetings, the is-
sue of Sir Creek was not difficult
to handle. There were certain pro-
posals on which both India as well
as Pakistan agreed and this in-
cluded de-linking maritime
boundaries from land. Also, it was
agreed that there would be mark-
ing from seaward to the point
where both these sides agree.
Additionally, it was agreed that the
non-defined area (Sir Creek and
the approaches) would be de-
clared as free zone or the maritime
sensitive zone. Or, it was agreed
upon that such an area be turned
into a jointly administered mari-
time park. The experts in the
meanwhile also highlighted that in
case the shore points are accepted
by both the sides mutually, the
boundary line marked using angu-
lar bisection would only undergo
a few changes when final baseline
would be established.
What is Sir Creek? What is Sir Creek? What is Sir Creek? What is Sir Creek? What is Sir Creek?
Sir Creek is the 96 km narrow
piece of water that is a subject of
dispute between India and Paki-
stan. Sir Creek sits in the Rann of
Kutch marshlands. Creek opens
into the Arabian Sea and divides
the region of Kutch of Indias
Gujarat with Sindh of
Pakistan. The major dispute over
Sir Creek is about understanding
of the maritime boundary between
the Kutch and the Sindh. Before
Indias independence, the region
remained a part of the British In-
dia. After the partition of 1947,
Sindh enterred Pakistan and Kutch
remained with India.
India and Pakistan India and Pakistan India and Pakistan India and Pakistan India and Pakistan
India and Pakistan jointly
operationalized the new Visa
Agreement on 14th December,
39 39 39 39 39
2012 in New Delhi during the visit
of Pakistan interior minister to In-
dia. However, the Visa-on-Arrival
will come into effect from 15th
January, 2013 and the Group Tour-
ist Visa from 15th March,
2013. Government of the Repub-
lic of India and the Government of
the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
had signed on 8th September,
2012, a new Visa Agreement to
facilitate travel for the nationals of
both countries desirous of travel-
ling to the other country and to
promote people to people con-
tact. Main features of the India-
Pakistan new Visa Agreement are
as following:
Visitor Visa Visitor Visa Visitor Visa Visitor Visa Visitor Visa
Places of visit allowable in-
creased from three to five
places
In exceptional cases visitor
visa for one year could be is-
sued in the past. Now provi-
sion made for issue of visa
upto two years in following
cases:
a. Persons above 65 years of
age
b. National of one country mar-
ried to national of the other
country.
c. Children below 12 years ac-
companying parents in (b)
above
Visa on Arrival can be
granted at Attari/Wagah check-
post to persons more than 65 years
of age for 45 days with single en-
try (effective from 15 January
2013).
Business Visa Business Visa Business Visa Business Visa Business Visa
Exemption from Police Re-
porting for Business visa granted
to businessmen with an annual in-
come above Pak Rs. 5 million or
equivalent or annual turnover
above Pak 30 million rupees or
equivalent.
Group Tourist Visa Group Tourist Visa Group Tourist Visa Group Tourist Visa Group Tourist Visa
Group Tourist Visa for 30 days
may be issued for travel in
groups, with not less than 10
members and not more than
50 members in each group,
organized by approved tour
operators/travel agents (effec-
tive from 15 March 2013).
Entry and Exit Entry and Exit Entry and Exit Entry and Exit Entry and Exit
Now entry and exit from dif-
ferent designated Immigration
Check Posts can be allowed,
if indicated in application.
However, exit from Wagha/
Attari on foot cannot be ac-
cepted unless the entry was
also on foot via Attari/Wagah.
INDIA AND UKRAINE
India and Ukraine on 10 De-
cember 2012 signed five agree-
ments in New Delhi to enhance
cooperation including in areas of
defence, Nuclear, Science and
Technology and also to remove
barriers in trade and
commerce.The two countries also
agreed to raise bilateral coopera-
tion to Comprehensive partner-
ship level. The agreements were
signed during the visit of Ukraine
President Victor Yanukovich. The
agreements are as following:-
(1) Agreement between the Gov-
ernment of the Republic of
India and the Cabinet of Min-
isters of Ukraine on Coopera-
tion in the Field of Defence
The Agreement will provide
the framework for expanding
our military technical coopera-
tion on an institutionalized
basis. It envisages mecha-
nisms to be set up for promot-
ing defence cooperation. It
will pave the way for moving
our relationship to a new
plane, that of joint research
and development in the fu-
ture.
(2) Agreement between the Gov-
ernment of the Republic of
India and the Government of
Ukraine on Co-operation in the
Fields of Science and Technol-
ogy
The agreement envisages
regular meetings of a joint
committee, exchange of sci-
entists and holding of semi-
nars, joint research
programmes and contacts be-
tween scientific organizations.
There are over ten ongoing
joint research programmes
and this agreement will allow
for further expansion of col-
laboration in this area.
(3) Treaty on Mutual Legal Assis-
tance in Civil and Commercial
Matters between the Repub-
lic of India and Ukraine
The Treaty provides for recip-
rocal arrangements for service
of summons, execution of de-
crees etc. In an environment
of increased contacts and en-
hanced engagement it eases
legal procedures in the field of
consular affairs.
(4) Agreement between Atomic
Energy Regulatory Board,
Government of India and the
State Nuclear Regulatory In-
spectorate of Ukraine for Ex-
change of Technical Informa-
tion and Co-operation on
Nuclear Safety and Radiation
Protection
The Agreement flows from
40 40 40 40 40
the continuing interaction be-
tween AERB and the Ukrainian
nuclear regulator and will now al-
low them to cooperate in a struc-
tured format. The Agreement en-
visages cooperation in some very
important regulatory activities, in-
cluding legislative regulations,
safety guides and technical crite-
ria on nuclear safety; siting, design,
construction, operation, decom-
missioning of nuclear facilities;
waste management and environ-
ment impact etc.
(5) Memorandum of Understand-
ing in the Field of
Standardisation, Conformity
Assessment and Quality be-
tween the Bureau of Indian
Standards and the Ministry of
Economic Development and
Trade of Ukraine
The MoU is in continuation of
a similar MoU signed for a period
of five years in 2005. It envisages
enhanced economic engagement
through elimination of technical
barriers to trade and economic
relations.
INDIA AND CANADA
The 11th meeting of the In-
dia-Canada Joint Working Group
(JWG) on Counter Terrorism was
held in New Delhi on 29 Novem-
ber 2012. The meeting took place
within the framework of the en-
hanced interaction in bilateral re-
lations between India and Canada,
and in keeping with the desire of
the governments of India and
Canada towards greater coopera-
tion in counter terrorism matters.
India and Canada shared their re-
spective threat assessments and
informed each other of the mea-
sures taken by them to strengthen
counter terrorism policy and struc-
ture.
Both nations also discussed
the follow-up of the Mumbai ter-
ror attack of 26 November 2008.
India and Canada also exchanged
views on international develop-
ments, coordination in interna-
tional fora and their bilateral co-
operation in the area. The next and
the 12th meeting of the Joint Work-
ing Group will be held in Canada
in 2013 on mutually convenient
dates.
The meeting was co-chaired
by Asoke Kumar Mukerji, Special
Secretary, Ministry of External Af-
fairs, India and Artur Wilczynski,
Director General for International
Relations, Canada.
India and China India and China India and China India and China India and China
Shiv Shankar Menon, the na-
tional security advisor as well as
negotiator in the border talks with
China paid the visit here on 2 De-
cember 2012. This was the first
visit by any top ranking Indian of-
ficial post changes announcement
in Communist Party of China.
Menon would meet the next pre-
mier of China- Li Keqiang. China
might look for diplomatic indica-
tor from the Indian official suggest-
ing that India would not join its
forces with Philippines and Viet-
nam in the passport row which is
started by China. Three countries
protested against China when it
e m b o s s e d
Chinas map on
those areas which
are controlled as
well as claimed
by them on the
passports.
China as
well as India were
working over to
explore the posi-
tive signal in or-
der to rise above
the criticism that
both these nations have already
had 15 rounds of negotiations over
border but all in vain without any
significant improvements. In the
meanwhile, the passport row by
China has vitiated this situation.
The visit by Menon is very
important, especially because
China is preparing itself for change
of guard with the premier as well
as president being replaced in
March 2013.
Impact of the agreement Impact of the agreement Impact of the agreement Impact of the agreement Impact of the agreement
The agreement would create
new pathways for greater eco-
nomic integration. Post, FTA in in-
vestments and services, India was
also planning to hold market open-
ing negotiations like these with
other members of the group. FTA
was already implemented with
Malaysia and Singapore.
Negotiations with Thailand
and Indonesia were still on its
way. This FTA would also create
pathways for discussions on the
Regional Comprehensive Eco-
nomic Partnership (RCEP) which
ASEAN planned sealing with its six
crucial trade partners, including
India. ASEAN along with the six
partners, India, China, Australia,
New Zealand, Japan and South
Korea would begin first negotia-
tion rounds on RCEP in 2013. This
41 41 41 41 41
w o u l d f o r m t h e e c o n o m i c a l l i a n c e
o f t h e w o r l d i n 2 0 1 5 . F i n a l l e g a l
p a p e r w o r k o n i n v e s t m e n t a n d
s e r v i c e s p a c t w o u l d b e g i v e n a
c o n c r e t e s h a p e b y F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 3 .
S i g n i n g o f t h e a g r e e m e n t w o u l d
t a k e p l a c e i n A u g u s t 2 0 1 3 .
I n d i a t o s i g n M u t u a l L e g a l
A s s i s t a n c e T r e a t y
i n c r i m i n a l m a t t e r s
w i t h f o u r o t h e r n a -
t i o n s
I n d i a w o u l d
s i g n M u t u a l L e g a l
A s s i s t a n c e T r e a t y
i n t h e c r i m i n a l m a t -
t e r s w i t h f o u r o t h e r
c o u n t r i e s i n 2 0 1 3 .
T h e t r e a t y i n g e n -
e r a l h e l p s i n m u -
t u a l a s s i s t a n c e b e -
t w e e n t w o n a t i o n s f o r p r e v e n t i n g ,
i n v e s t i g a t i n g a s w e l l a s p r o s e c u t -
i n g c r i m e . D i s c u s s i o n s o n t r e a t y
w e r e i n i t i a t e d a l r e a d y w i t h f o u r
c o u n t r i e s n a m e l y A z e r b a i j a n , I s -
r a e l , N e p a l a n d O m a n . M i n i s t r y o f
H o m e A f f a i r s a n n o u n c e d t h a t f o r -
m a l s i g n i n g o f t h i s t r e a t y w i l l t a k e
p l a c e i n 2 0 1 3 . A s o f n o w , I n d i a
h a s s i g n e d t h e t r e a t y w i t h 3 2 c o u n -
t r i e s w h i c h i n c l u d e R u s s i a , E g y p t ,
U S , S o u t h A f r i c a , F r a n c e , S w i t z e r -
l a n d , U K , C a n a d a , U A E a n d I r a n .
T h e a g r e e m e n t i s i m p o r t a n t b e -
c a u s e i t h e l p s i n f i g h t i n g b a c k t h e
t r a n s - n a t i o n a l o r g a n i s e d c r i m e s
s u c h a s m o n e y l a u n d e r i n g , t e r r o r -
i s m , c o u n t e r f e i t c u r r e n c y , s m u g -
g l i n g o f e x p l o s i v e s a n d a r m s , d r u g
t r a f f i c k i n g a n d m u c h m o r e .
I N D I A A N D A S E A N
T h e a w a i t e d F r e e T r a d e
A g r e e m e n t ( F T A ) i n i n v e s t m e n t s
a n d s e r v i c e s w a s f i n a l i s e d b e -
t w e e n I n d i a a n d A s s o c i a t i o n o f
S o u t h e a s t A s i a n N a t i o n s ( A S E A N )
o n 2 0 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 2 . T h e a c t i o n s
w o u l d b e b e n e f i c i a l i n e n h a n c i n g
t h e t r a d e t o a r o u n d 1 0 0 b i l l i o n
d o l l a r b y 2 0 1 5 .
A l s o , i t w i l l h e l p i n e n h a n c -
i n g t h e e c o n o m i c t i e s . F T A i n t h e
g o o d s w a s o p e r a t i o n a l i s e d i n 2 0 1 1
a n d s i n c e t h e n b o t h t h e s i d e s w e r e
b u s y i n w i d e n i n g t h e p a c t b y a l s o
i n c l u d i n g i n v e s t m e n t s a n d s e r -
v i c e s . T r a d e b e t w e e n t h e t w o
s i d e s i s a t p r e s e n t 8 0 b i l l i o n d o l -
l a r . I n d i a s P r i m e M i n i s t e r D r .
M a n m o h a n S i n g h d e c l a r e d t h a t
a f t e r i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f F T A i n t h e
g o o d s , t h e t r a d e b e t w e e n t h e t w o
s i d e s i n c r e a s e d b y 4 1 p e r c e n t i n
t h e y e a r 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 . M a n m o h a n
S i n g h a n n o u n c e d a t t h e s u m m i t
t h a t t w o - w a y f l o w s i n t e r m s o f i n -
v e s t m e n t g r e w r a p i d l y a n d
r e a c h e d t h e m a r k o f 4 3 b i l l i o n d o l -
l a r o v e r l a s t 1 0 y e a r s . B e c a u s e t h e
i n v e s t m e n t s t h r o u g h A S E A N i n I n -
d i a g r e w , t h e r e f o r e t h e A S E A N
c o u n t r i e s a l s o e m e r g e d a s l u c r a -
t i v e d e s t i n a t i o n f o r t h e I n d i a n
c o m p a n i e s . I n d i a w a s d e m a n d i n g
f r o m A S E A N t o o p e n t h e s e r v i c e s
s e c t o r e v e n m o r e w h i c h w o u l d
a l s o i n c l u d e t h e s t e p s t o c o v e r
c o n t r a c t u a l s e r v i c e s u p p l i e r s a l o n g
w i t h i n d e p e n d e n t p r o f e s s i o n a l
s e r v i c e s a t a l l i t s l e v e l s . B u t f o l l o w -
i n g d i f f i c u l t r o u n d s o f t a l k s a n d
d i s c u s s i o n s o n 1 9 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 2 ,
I n d i a d e c i d e d t o d r o p t h e d e m a n d
o f i n d e p e n d e n t p r o f e s s i o n a l s e r -
v i c e s . A s t r a d e - o f f , A S E A N o n t h e
o t h e r h a n d d r o p p e d t h e d e m a n d
f o r p r u d e n t i a l m e a s u r e s i n c o n t e x t
w i t h f i n a n c i a l s e r v i c e s .
42 42 42 42 42
ECONOMY ECONOMY
ECONOMY ECONOMY ECONOMY
Indian Economy Would Indian Economy Would Indian Economy Would Indian Economy Would Indian Economy Would
Dominate the Economy of the Dominate the Economy of the Dominate the Economy of the Dominate the Economy of the Dominate the Economy of the
World by 2030 World by 2030 World by 2030 World by 2030 World by 2030
US intelligence community in
its report called Global Trends
2030: Alternative Worlds which
was released on 10 December
2012 declared that India would
straddle international commerce
and will also dominate the
economy of the whole world by
2030. This would happen with
decelerating Chinese economy as
well as declining West.
Key points of the report:
Indias chance of powering
would begin only after 2015 as
Chinas fortunes would start
diminishing.
By the year 2030, Asia (mainly
India) would return back to its
position of being the power-
house of the world, like it was
before 1500.
Pakistan might not exist at all.
India will rush forward after
2020 as China would begin de-
celerating, primarily on certain
demographic trends.
China is indeed ahead of In-
dia, but the gap between In-
dia and China would start ze-
roing in by 2030. The eco-
nomic growth rate of India will
surge while that of China will
slow down.
In 2030, India might be rising
as the economic powerhouse
just like China is today. The
current economic growth rate
of China, 8-10 percent would
become just a memory for the
country.
Overall size of the working-
age population in China would
increase in 2016 and decrease
from 994 million to 961 million
in 2030. Contrarily, working
age population of India would
most probably rise until
around 2050.
The demographic opportuni-
ties of India will rise between
2015 to 2050. Chinas oppor-
tunities window is from 1990
to 2025. Contrarily, USs op-
portunity was best between
1970 to 2015.
Median age of India which is
at present 26 will increase to
32 by 2030, which would still
be the least among top 10
economies of world.
The report also mentioned
that anytime after 2030, India
instead of China would be
having the largest middle-
class consumption, which
would be even larger than US
and Europe combined. How-
ever, India might face trapping
in the status of middle-income
group in case the resources
constraint, especially food,
water and energy are not re-
solved. More investment
would be required in science
43 43 43 43 43
and technology sector in order
to keep the pace of economy
in the value chain. It was how-
ever made clear that the jour-
ney of economic development
of both India as well as China
will not be smooth. But if the
difficulties were handled well,
India as well as China would
be dominating the world in
2030.
About Global Trends 2030: About Global Trends 2030: About Global Trends 2030: About Global Trends 2030: About Global Trends 2030:
Alternative Worlds Alternative Worlds Alternative Worlds Alternative Worlds Alternative Worlds
The latest National Intelli-
gence Councils (NIC) Global
Trends Report was released on 10
December 2012 by the Office of
the Director of National Intelli-
gence.
This report is called Global
Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds.
Global Trends project offers ex-
pertise beyond government on
certain factors like demography,
environment, globalisation. The
documents are prepared by Glo-
bal Trends to assist the makers of
policies in long-term planning on
major issues which hold world-
wide importance. First Global
Trends Report was released back
in 1997.
New global trends report is
being published after every four
years after the U.S. presidential
elections. For the production of
Global Trends 2030, a range of
analytical tools, in-depth research
as well as detailed modeling was
employed.
UN Slashed World Growth UN Slashed World Growth UN Slashed World Growth UN Slashed World Growth UN Slashed World Growth
Forecast to 2.4 % Forecast to 2.4 % Forecast to 2.4 % Forecast to 2.4 % Forecast to 2.4 %
United Nations on 18 Decem-
ber 2012 slashed its global growth
predictions to 2.4 percent for 2013
and 3.2 percent for the following
year and warned of a lasting em-
ployment crisis for western coun-
tries. The UNs World Economic
Situation and Prospects 2013 re-
port warned that the Debt crises
in Europe and the United States
and a slowdown in China could all
throw the world economy into re-
cession. Earlier in the t month of
June 2012 UN had predicted a
growth forecast 2.7 percent for
2013 and 3.9 percent for the year
after. As per the Report, With ex-
isting policies and growth trends,
it is going to take at least another
five years for Europe and the
United States to make up for the
job losses caused by the Great Re-
cession of year 2008-2009. The
report also predicted growth in
South Asia averaging 5 percent in
2013, up from 4.4 percent in 2012,
led by a moderate recovery in In-
dia.
Rollout of Direct Benefits Rollout of Direct Benefits Rollout of Direct Benefits Rollout of Direct Benefits Rollout of Direct Benefits
Transfers started on 1 January Transfers started on 1 January Transfers started on 1 January Transfers started on 1 January Transfers started on 1 January
2013 2013 2013 2013 2013
National Committee on Di-
rect Cash Transfers in its meet with
the Prime Minister of India Dr.
Manmohan Singh decided to roll-
out, the Direct Cash Benefits from
1 January 2013 in 43 identified dis-
tricts of the country. The decision
was taken to ensure that the ben-
efits could be transferred elec-
tronically into the bank accounts
of the individuals, without making
delays and diversions of any
type. A high level meet was con-
ducted on 13 December 2012 with
the District Collectors of thee iden-
tified areas and fine tuned infor-
mation related to steps that need
to be taken in case of Direct Ben-
efits Transfer.
Direct Benefits Transfer and
it covers:
Transfer of cash benefits like
pensions, scholarships,
NREGA wages and others di-
rectly through the Govern-
ment in the Bank or Post Of-
fice Accounts of identified
beneficiaries under the Direct
Benefits Transfer (DBT)
programme. The program
would also device necessary
system so that the transfers
can be done in a phased, time-
bound manner for Direct Ben-
efits Transfer.
Direct Benefits Transfer would
not act as a substitute for de-
livery of public services and it
would continue to be in place
via normal delivery channels.
The Direct Benefits Transfer
would not allow replacement
of food through cash managed
under Public Distribution Sys-
tem. The Government will be
committed towards legislation
of the National Food Security
Act.
Rollout on 1.1.2013 mean in Rollout on 1.1.2013 mean in Rollout on 1.1.2013 mean in Rollout on 1.1.2013 mean in Rollout on 1.1.2013 mean in
practice practice practice practice practice
The Rollout that would began
on 1.1.2013 in 43 districts of 16 dif-
ferent states under 26 different
schemes, which have been iden-
tified for first round of Direct Ben-
efits Transfer. All these districts
were selected on the basis of its
44 44 44 44 44
coverage of bank accounts and
Aadhaar.
BSE launched SME Platform BSE launched SME Platform BSE launched SME Platform BSE launched SME Platform BSE launched SME Platform
Index Index Index Index Index
The Bombay Stock Exchange
(BSE) on 14 December 2012
launched an SME index which pri-
marily aims at tracking the current
primary market conditions in the
Indian capital market and measur-
ing the growth in investors wealth
over a period. The index is going
to be constituted by small and
medium enterprises (SMEs) which
are listed on the BSE SME plat-
form. Presently, there are 11 com-
panies which are listed on the SME
platform and this index is going to
have features similar to the BSE
IPO index. Through SME index the
authorities can recognize the vi-
ability of the company and based
on the report, people can invest
in these companies, which will not
only help the organisations to
grow their businesses but also
suppose to create employment.
Small and Medium Enterprises
(SMEs) in India constitute an im-
portant segment of Indian
economy. Currently, the contribu-
tion of SMEs alone is greater than
7 per cent to GDP and 45 per cent
to industrial production. Small and
Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is also
the second largest provider of em-
ployment after agriculture. SMEs
also contribute to 40% of total ex-
ports directly and a significant
amount of exports indirectly
through large trading houses or
third parties. With the SME plat-
form, companies did not have to
rely on loans from banks, as they
can raise funds through the mar-
ket and play an important role in
contributing to the economic
growth of the country. Out of the
11 companies listed so far, 10 are
trading above their issue prices,
while one is below its IPO price.
Retail Inflation Increased to 9.90 Retail Inflation Increased to 9.90 Retail Inflation Increased to 9.90 Retail Inflation Increased to 9.90 Retail Inflation Increased to 9.90
Percent in November 2012 Percent in November 2012 Percent in November 2012 Percent in November 2012 Percent in November 2012
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
data released on 12 December
2012 showed that the retail infla-
tion increased for the second suc-
cessive month to 9.90 percent in
November 2012 mainly because of
the increase in price of food prod-
ucts like edible oil, sugar, veg-
etables as well as clothing. In Oc-
tober 2012, the retail inflation was
9.75 percent and in September
2012, it was 9.73 percent. Maxi-
mum increase in the price in the
month of November 2012 was in
oil as well as fats segment,
amounting to the annual inflation
of 17.67 percent. Apart from oil,
the price of sugar also increased
by 16.97 percent and pulses on the
other hand because costlier by
14.19 percent on yearly basis. The
prices of vegetables increased by
14.74 percent in November 2012,
while the price of egg, fish and
meat increased by 11.33 percent.
Also, there was an increase in the
price of footwear and clothing at
11.08 percent in November 2012.
In the urban areas, retail inflation
increased to 9.69 percent in No-
vember 2012 in comparison to
9.46 percent in October 2012.
However, in rural areas there was
a very slight decrease in inflation
to 9.97 percent in November 2012
from 9.98 percent in October
2012. The rural, urban and com-
bined All India provisional General
(all groups) CPI numbers for the
month of November 2012 are
126.9, 123.4 and 125.4, respec-
tively. It is important to note that
the Reserve Bank will keep an in-
crease in retail inflation in mind
while taking review about the mid-
quarter policy in the third week of
December 2012. In October 2012,
raising concerns over rising infla-
tion, Reserve Bank had kept the
standard interest rates unchanged.
SEBI allowed 12 more SEBI allowed 12 more SEBI allowed 12 more SEBI allowed 12 more SEBI allowed 12 more
Alternative Investment Funds Alternative Investment Funds Alternative Investment Funds Alternative Investment Funds Alternative Investment Funds
Indian Market regulator Secu-
rity and Exchange Board of India
(SEBI) allowed 12 entities to set
up Alternative Investment Funds
(AIFs), a newly created class of
pooled-in investment vehicles for
real estate, private equity and
hedge funds, in the last two
months of October and November
2012. The 12 Alternative Invest-
ment Funds AIFs that were reg-
istered with SEBI since October
2010 included India Realty Fund,
Dar Mentorcap Film Fund,
Capaleph Indian Millennium Small
& Medium Enterprises Fund and
Capaleph Indian Millennium Pri-
vate Equity Fund. SEBI in last few
years had already allowed nine
AIFs to set up shops in the coun-
try. As on 31 August 2012, a total
of 20 applications were pending
with SEBI for registration as AIFs.
45 45 45 45 45
As per the new SEBI guidelines,
AIFs can operate broadly in three
categories. The SEBI rules is ap-
plicable to all AIFs which also in-
cludes those operating as private
equity funds, real estate funds and
hedge funds.
The Category-I AIFs are those
funds that get incentives from
the government, SEBI or other
regulators. It includes Social
Venture Funds, Infrastructure
Funds, Venture Capital Funds
and SME Funds.
The Category-II AIFs are those
funds which can invest any-
where in any combination but
are prohibited from raising
debt, except for meeting their
day-to-day operational re-
quirements. These AIFs in-
clude PE funds, debt funds or
fund of funds.
The Category-III AIFs are
those trading with a view to
make short-term returns and
include hedge funds, among
others.
Core Sectors of Indian Economy Core Sectors of Indian Economy Core Sectors of Indian Economy Core Sectors of Indian Economy Core Sectors of Indian Economy
Grew By 6.5 % Grew By 6.5 % Grew By 6.5 % Grew By 6.5 % Grew By 6.5 %
Eight core sectors of the In-
dian Economy grew by 6.5 per-
cent, the eight-month high in Oc-
tober 2012-2013 in comparison to
0.4 percent in same time period
last year, the official data revealed
on 30 November 2012. The sectors
which weight approximately 38
percent in Index of Industrial Pro-
duction (IIP) increased by seven-
month high in September by 5
percent and 2.3 percent in Au-
gust. However, the growth of
core sector is not dependent on
the data of industrial production.
For instance, inspite of the higher
growth in core sector, the indus-
trial production contracted
around 0.4 percent in September.
A lot of things are dependent on
the capital goods segment which
showed consistent contraction.
The official data revealed that the
eight main industries of the Indian
economy- steel, electricity, coal,
crude, cement, natural gas, refin-
ery products and fertilisers grew
3.7 percent in initial seven months
of 2012-2013 fiscal year against 4.3
percent in the same period in
2011-2012 fiscal year.
Output of the coal showed
regular growth with 10.9 percent.
However, on the monthly basis, it
was lower when compared with
21.4 percent in September. Refinery
products, steel as well as cement
contributed towards the strong eco-
nomic growth with 20.3 percent, 5.9
percent and 6.8 percent respec-
tively. Natural gas as well as crude
oil remained in contractionary zone.
Crude oil witnessed a fall in the
growth consecutively for fifth month
at 0.4 percent in comparison to 1.7
percent in September. Production
of natural gas on the other hand, de-
creased by 14.9 percent. In Septem-
ber as well, it decreased 14.8 per-
cent. Production of natural gas has
continued to contract for more than
a year now. Initially, in February
2012, all these sectors grew at a
faster speed of 6.9 percent. The pro-
duction of cement decreased from
13.8 percent in September to 6.8
percent. Generation of electricity,
on the other hand increased by 5.2
percent after this segment saw a
decrease in previous three months.
Fertilisers indicated positive growth
of 2 percent after 5.7 percent
growth in September.
FII Investment in India FII Investment in India FII Investment in India FII Investment in India FII Investment in India
surpassed more than 24000 surpassed more than 24000 surpassed more than 24000 surpassed more than 24000 surpassed more than 24000
crore crore crore crore crore
Foreign Institutional Investors
(FIIs) in the month of December
had pumped in more than 24000
crore rupees in the Indian stock
market which is said to be the high-
est in 10 months timeline taking to-
tal FII inflow for the year 2012 to
over 24 billion dollars. As per the
SEBI Data, In December, 2012 For-
eign Institutional Investors (FIIs)
were gross buyers of shares worth
Rs 71595 crore rupees while they
sold equities amounting to 47412
crore rupees. This translates into a
net inflow of 24183 crore rupees or
around.4.42 billion dollar. Earlier in
the month of February FIIs had in-
fused 25212 crore rupees in stocks,
which is counted to be second high-
est investment in Year 2012 since
their entry into Indian capital mar-
kets in 1992. If we take the latest in-
flows into count, FII investment in
that case in the countrys equity
market reached 127455 crore rupees
($24 billion) for the year 2012 with
just one more trading session left.
Foreign investors are pouring money
into the Indian stocks in hopes of
cut in interest rates by the RBI. FIIs
continued their positive standpoint
on the Indian equities as the lack of
investment options make the coun-
try an attractive destination. In ad-
dition to equities, FIIs invested 1178
crore rupees in the debt market the
month taking the years tally to
34462 crore rupees. As on 28 De-
cember 2012 the number of regis-
tered FIIs in the country stood at
1759 and total numbers of sub-ac-
counts were 6358 during the same
period.
About Foreign Institutional About Foreign Institutional About Foreign Institutional About Foreign Institutional About Foreign Institutional
Investors Investors Investors Investors Investors
Foreign Institutional inves-
tors are those organizations which
sum up huge amount of money
and invest that amount in securi-
ties, real property and other invest-
ment assets. Some Foreign Insti-
tutional investors are also operat-
46 46 46 46 46
ing companies that decide to in-
vest their profits to some degree
in these types of assets. The most
common types of typical investors
includes banks, insurance compa-
nies, retirement or pension funds,
hedge funds, investment advisors
and mutual funds. They act as
highly specialized investors on
behalf of others which are consid-
ered as their economic role.
Foreign Investments through P- Foreign Investments through P- Foreign Investments through P- Foreign Investments through P- Foreign Investments through P-
Notes Increased to 8-Month Notes Increased to 8-Month Notes Increased to 8-Month Notes Increased to 8-Month Notes Increased to 8-Month
Highest Highest Highest Highest Highest
Foreign investments in the In-
dian markets through P-notes or
PNs (Participatory Notes) in-
creased to 8-month high of around
1.75 lakh crore Rupees or 32 bil-
lion dollar in October 2012. This
happened because different re-
form measures attracted the over-
seas investors towards the Indian
markets. Market regulator SEBI
(Securities and Exchange Board of
India) revealed in its data that the
overall value of P-Note invest-
ments in India (debt, equity or
derivatives) by October 2012 end
increased to highest since Febru-
ary 2012, when the total value of
investments like these were 1.83
lakh crore Rupees. Apart from
this, the overall value of P-notes
issued with the derivatives as ba-
sics stood at 95536 crore Rupees
by October 2012 end.
What are P-Notes or PNs? What are P-Notes or PNs? What are P-Notes or PNs? What are P-Notes or PNs? What are P-Notes or PNs?
P-Notes or PNs or Participa-
tory Notes are used by the HNIs
or High Networth Individuals, for-
eign institutions as well as hedge
funds. P-Notes allow them to in-
vest their money in Indian markets
via registered FIIs or Foreign Insti-
tutional Investors. This saves them
cost as well as time related to di-
rect registrations. So basically,
PNs are the tools or instruments
which are issued by the registered
FIIs to the overseas investors who
are willing to invest in stock mar-
ket of India without registering
with market regulator SEBI.
RBI signed Currency Swap RBI signed Currency Swap RBI signed Currency Swap RBI signed Currency Swap RBI signed Currency Swap
Agreement with Bank of Japan Agreement with Bank of Japan Agreement with Bank of Japan Agreement with Bank of Japan Agreement with Bank of Japan
The Reserve Bank of India on 4
December 2012 signed a three year
Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA)
with the Bank of Japan for swapping
of the local currencies to address
short-term liquidity problems. The
BSA will be effective from 5 Decem-
ber 2012. The main idea behind the
arrangement is to address short-
term liquidity difficulties and
supplement the existing interna-
tional financial arrangements, as one
of the efforts in strengthening mu-
tual cooperation between Japan
and India. The Bilateral Swap Agree-
ment (BSA) is going to enable both
the countries to swap their local cur-
rencies either Japanese yen or In-
dian rupee against US dollar for an
amount up to 15 billion dollars. Ear-
lier for a period of three years from
June 2008 to June 2011 both the
countries signed a similar agreement
for an amount of 3 billion dollar. The
enhancement of the BSA is going to
strengthen economic and financial
cooperation between the two coun-
tries and accordingly to financial
market stability. The BSA is acti-
vated when an IMF-support
programme already exists or is ex-
pected to be established in the near
future.
More Incentives Announced to More Incentives Announced to More Incentives Announced to More Incentives Announced to More Incentives Announced to
Exporters Hit By Global Exporters Hit By Global Exporters Hit By Global Exporters Hit By Global Exporters Hit By Global
Meltdown Meltdown Meltdown Meltdown Meltdown
The union government on 26
December 2012 announced more
incentives for the exporters who
were hit hard because of global
meltdown. An extension of 2 per-
cent interest subsidiary would be
provided for another year till
March 2014. Additionally, the
Commerce and Industry Minister
Anand Sharma decided an intro-
duction of pilot scheme of 2 per-
cent interest subsidiary for those
project exports that took place
through Exim Bank. Any incre-
mental export which would be
done in the time duration of Janu-
ary to March 2013 would also be
granted incentive. The ministry an-
nounced that the incentives would
enable to push the exports in last
quarter of 2012-2013 fiscal year.
The objective of these incentives
was stabilisation of the situation
as well as shift from the negative
territory to the positive one. An-
other objective of the incentives
was keeping trade deficit under
the control. Exports during the
period of April-November 2012
shrunk by 5.95 percent to 189.2
billion. If the situation continues,
it would be very difficult for India
to achieve export target of 360 bil-
lion dollar in 2012-2013 fiscal year.
Setting up of CCI approved Setting up of CCI approved Setting up of CCI approved Setting up of CCI approved Setting up of CCI approved
The Union government of In-
dia on 13 December 2012 ap-
47 47 47 47 47
proved the setting up of a Cabinet
Committee on Investment (CCI), to
fast track investment clearances
for mega projects. The decision
was taken in the Union Cabinet
meeting held under the chairman-
ship of Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh. Prime Minister will head the
CCI and he will also nominate the
members of the committee. The
CCI will expedite projects offer-
ing single window clearance for
projects costing 1000 crore rupees
or more by setting timelines for the
concerned ministries.
The Union Cabinet also
cleared the Land Acquisition Bill.
Under the new bill consent of 80
percent land owners is mandatory
for private acquisition of land
where as for Public-Private-Part-
nership 70 per cent consent is re-
quired. The award of compensa-
tion will also be as per the new bill.
The Cabinet also approved cutting
the 1800-MHz band 2G spectrum
auction reserve base price by 30
per cent for four circles that did
not attract bidders in November.
The circles are Delhi, Mumbai,
Karnataka and Rajasthan. The Cabi-
net Committee on Economic Af-
fairs also cleared a new urea in-
vestment policy.
The Minimum Support Price of The Minimum Support Price of The Minimum Support Price of The Minimum Support Price of The Minimum Support Price of
Wheat was Increased to 1350 Wheat was Increased to 1350 Wheat was Increased to 1350 Wheat was Increased to 1350 Wheat was Increased to 1350
Rupees per Quintal Rupees per Quintal Rupees per Quintal Rupees per Quintal Rupees per Quintal
dia on 26 December 2012 raised
the Minimum Support Price, MSP
of wheat by 65 rupees per quintal
to 1350 rupees per quintal. The de-
cision was taken in a Cabinet
meeting this morning in New Delhi
Chaired by the Prime Minister,
Manmohan Singh. The government
also decided to export additional
25 lakh tonnes of wheat from its
go-downs. The CCEA approved
the disinvestment of 12.5 per cent
paid up equity capital to the
Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertiliz-
ers. Current government holding is
about 92.5 per cent. This will make
the company compliant with the
SEBI norms that 10 per cent float
should be there. CCEA approved
the proposal to export an addi-
tional 25 lakh tonnes of wheat.
Earlier, we had approved export
of 20 lakh tonnes of wheat of that
a little over 17 lakh tonnes have
been contracted.
dia on 26 December 2012 raised
the Minimum Support Price, MSP
of wheat by 65 rupees per quintal
to 1350 rupees per quintal. The de-
cision was taken in a Cabinet
meeting this morning in New Delhi
Chaired by the Prime Minister,
Manmohan Singh. The government
also decided to export additional
25 lakh tonnes of wheat from its
go-downs. The CCEA approved
the disinvestment of 12.5 per cent
paid up equity capital to the
Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertiliz-
ers. Current government holding is
about 92.5 per cent. This will make
the company compliant with the
SEBI norms that 10 per cent float
should be there. CCEA approved
the proposal to export an addi-
tional 25 lakh tonnes of wheat.
Earlier, we had approved export
of 20 lakh tonnes of wheat of that
a little over 17 lakh tonnes have
been contracted.
Indirect Tax Collection Indirect Tax Collection Indirect Tax Collection Indirect Tax Collection Indirect Tax Collection
Increased at 16.8 Percent to Increased at 16.8 Percent to Increased at 16.8 Percent to Increased at 16.8 Percent to Increased at 16.8 Percent to
2.92 Lakh Crore Rupees in April- 2.92 Lakh Crore Rupees in April- 2.92 Lakh Crore Rupees in April- 2.92 Lakh Crore Rupees in April- 2.92 Lakh Crore Rupees in April-
November 2012 November 2012 November 2012 November 2012 November 2012
The Finance Ministry an-
nounced that indirect tax collec-
tion increased at the rate of 16.8
percent to 2.92 lakh crore Rupees
in the period of April-November
2012 in comparison to the yearly
growth target of 27 percent.
It was announced that in first
8 months of 2011-2012 fiscal year,
accumulation of the indirect taxes
which include excise, services tax
as well as customs, was 2.50 lakh
crore Rupees. Excise amounted
to 108470 crore Rupees during
April to November 2012, while
accumulation from service taxes
and customs was 78774 crore Ru-
pees and 104864 crore Rupees re-
spectively. In 2011-2012 fiscal
year, the government had propos-
als of collecting 5.05 lakh crore
Rupees in all, from customs, ser-
vice taxes and excise, which
would bring an expected growth
of 27 percent from last years
collection. Targeted collection
through customs for 2012-2013
was determined at 1.87 lakh crore
Rupees. The targeted collection
was 1.93 lakh crore Rupees
through excise and 1.24 lakh crore
Rupees through service tax. In the
third week of December 2012, the
government found it difficult for
achieving customs, corporate tax
as well as excise target as it was
projected in Budget. This hap-
pened because there were unre-
sponsive corporate profits. During
November 2012, indirect tax accu-
mulation increased by 17.2 per-
48 48 48 48 48
cent to 36081 crore Rupees in
comparison to 30790 crore Ru-
pees.
Union Government of India Union Government of India Union Government of India Union Government of India Union Government of India
lowered the Growth Projection lowered the Growth Projection lowered the Growth Projection lowered the Growth Projection lowered the Growth Projection
for Current Fiscal to 5.7 Percent for Current Fiscal to 5.7 Percent for Current Fiscal to 5.7 Percent for Current Fiscal to 5.7 Percent for Current Fiscal to 5.7 Percent
dia on 17 December 2012 lowered
down the growth projection for
the current financial year 2012-13
from 7.6 percent that was esti-
mated earlier to 5.7-5.9 percent. It
also pitched for the supportive
monetary and fiscal policies for
improving the confidence of the
investors. The projection was
showcased in the Mid-Year Eco-
nomic Analysis tabled in Indian
Parliament.
Indias Foreign Trade in Indias Foreign Trade in Indias Foreign Trade in Indias Foreign Trade in Indias Foreign Trade in
November 2012: Exports valued November 2012: Exports valued November 2012: Exports valued November 2012: Exports valued November 2012: Exports valued
at 22299.63 Million Dollars at 22299.63 Million Dollars at 22299.63 Million Dollars at 22299.63 Million Dollars at 22299.63 Million Dollars
As per the data released by
Union Ministry of Commerce and
Industry on11 December 2012, ex-
ports and imports during Novem-
ber 2012 were valued at 22299.63
and 41586.90 million US dollars re-
spectively. The trade deficit for
April - November 2012-13 was es-
timated at 129500.18 million US
dollars which was higher than the
deficit of 122638.35 million US
dollars during April -November
2011-12.
EXPORTS (including re-exports) EXPORTS (including re-exports) EXPORTS (including re-exports) EXPORTS (including re-exports) EXPORTS (including re-exports)
Exports during November,
2012 were valued at 22299.63 mil-
lion US dollars (122148.03 crore
rupees) which was 4.17 per cent
lower in Dollar terms (3.22 per
cent higher in Rupee terms) than
the level of 23269.71 million US
dollars (118341.35 crore rupees)
during November 2011. Cumula-
tive value of exports for the period
April-November 2012 -13 was
189222.20 million US dollars
(1030488.22 crore rupees) as
against 201185.40 million US dol-
lars ( 933049.70 crore rupees) reg-
istering a negative growth of 5.95
per cent in Dollar terms and
growth of 10.44 per cent in Rupee
terms over the same period in
2011.
IMPORTS IMPORTS IMPORTS IMPORTS IMPORTS
Imports during November
2012 were valued at 41586.90 mil-
lion US dollars (227795.59 crore
rupees) representing a growth of
6.35 per cent in Dollar terms and
14.55 per cent in Rupee terms
over the level of imports valued at
39102.48 million US dollars
(198861.13 crore rupees) in No-
vember 2011. Cumulative value of
imports for the period April-No-
vember 2012-13 was 318722.38
million US dollars (1734998.17
crore rupees) as against 323823.75
million US dollars (1503492.73
crore rupees) registering a nega-
tive growth of 1.58 per cent in
Dollar terms and growth of 15.40
per cent in Rupee terms over the
same period in 2011.
CRUDE OIL AND NON-OIL CRUDE OIL AND NON-OIL CRUDE OIL AND NON-OIL CRUDE OIL AND NON-OIL CRUDE OIL AND NON-OIL
IMPORTS: IMPORTS: IMPORTS: IMPORTS: IMPORTS:

Oil imports during Novem-
ber 2012 were valued at 14522.1
million US dollars which was 16.77
per cent higher than oil imports
valued at 12436.6 million US dol-
lars in the corresponding period
in 2011. Oil imports during April-
November 2012-13 were valued at
110091.1 million US dollars which
was 10.84 per cent higher than the
oil imports of 99324.2 million US
dollars in the corresponding pe-
riod in 2011. Non-oil imports dur-
ing November 2012 were esti-
mated at 27064.8 million US dol-
lars which was 1.50 per cent
higher than non-oil imports of
26665.9 million US dollars in No-
vember 2011. Non-oil imports
during April - November, 2012-13
were valued at 208631.3 million
US dollars which was 7.07 per cent
lower than the level of such im-
ports valued at 224499.5 million
US dollars in April November
2011-12.
Ex| #r qoIqh#dw=#kwws=22z z z 1xsvf sr uwdo1f r p 2f IyIovhuyIf hv2er r nv
Logical Reasoning &
Analytical Reasoning
MCQ Series
KALINJ AR PUBLICATIONS
http://www.flipkart.com
http://upscportal.com/civilservices/books
50 50 50 50 50
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
CHAMP Missile tested CHAMP Missile tested CHAMP Missile tested CHAMP Missile tested CHAMP Missile tested
successfully successfully successfully successfully successfully
Boeing, the US aircraft manu-
facturer claimed that a new mis-
sile codenamed CHAMP has been
tested successfully which makes
use of the electromagnetic pulses
in order to target the buildings can
permanently blackout the elec-
tronics of the country without
causing any harm to people.
Boeing claimed that it has success-
fully tested this weapon on their
one-hour flight. During the flight,
the missile made all the comput-
ers of the military in Utah dead.
It is also thought that this missile
could possibly break through the
caves as well as bunkers which
allegedly are hiding the nuclear
facilities of Iran. However, it was
also warned that in case the mis-
sile is acquired by the wrong
people, it would knock down the
Western cities as well. In the ex-
periment of Boeing, the missile
went flying over Utah Test and
Training Range, and it discharged
electromagnetic pulses on seven
targets. Eventually, it shut down all
the electronics of the area perma-
nently. Boeing claimed that this
test remained highly successful; so
much that it also disabled the cam-
era recording. CHAMP or Counter
- Electronics High Power Micro-
wave Advanced Missile Project is
the first of its kind missile test with
the capability of electromagnetic
pulse. Boeing Report mentioned
that the stealth aircraft deployed
the missile which emitted radio
waves from the undercarriage and
knocked down the computers in
the building below the
missile. Experts believed that this
missile was equipped with the
electromagnetic pulse cannon that
make use of the powerful micro-
wave oven for generation of con-
centrated beam of energy, result-
ing in voltage fluctuations in the
electronic equipment, rendering
them absolutely futile before the
fluctuation protectors can
react. The programme manager of
CHAMP for Boeings prototype
arm Phantom Works opined that
this technology would mark an era
in the modern welfare.
NASA to send New Rover to NASA to send New Rover to NASA to send New Rover to NASA to send New Rover to NASA to send New Rover to
Mars in 2020 Mars in 2020 Mars in 2020 Mars in 2020 Mars in 2020
The US space agency NASA,
on 4 December 2012 announced
plans to send a new robotic ex-
plorer to the the Red Planet, Mars
in 2020. The announcement came
a day after NASA released the re-
51 51 51 51 51
sults of the first soil tested by the
Curiosity rover, which found
traces of compounds like water
and oxygen that are necessary for
life. Some basic guidelines for the
mission are already planned. The
2020 rover is going to help NASA
in preparing for its eventual goal
of bringing samples from Mars
back to Earth an effort most
scientists regard as the best way
to look for signs of life on the Red
Planet. The unmanned rovers
chassis and landing system will be
based heavily on NASAs 2.5 bil-
lion dollar Curiosity rover, which
was send on Mars in August 2012.
The Curiosity Rover landed on
Mars 5 August 2012 and dropped
onto the surface by a rocket-pow-
ered sky crane.
Its now four months into a
two-year prime mission to deter-
mine if the Red Planet can, or ever
could, support microbial life. The
1-ton rover carries 10 different sci-
ence instruments to aid this quest.
The 2020 Curiosity Rover launch
would allow NASA to keep con-
tributing to two European-led
Mars missions the Trace Gas
Orbiter and the ExoMars rover
which is scheduled to lift off in
2016 and 2018, respectively.
NASA also plans to send a craft
dubbed InSight to dig the planets
depths in 2016 to determine
whether the planets core is solid
or liquid like Earths. The 2020 mis-
sion is just another step toward
being responsive to high-priority
science goals and challenge of
sending humans to Mars orbit in
the 2030s.
Mini Nile River on Saturns Mini Nile River on Saturns Mini Nile River on Saturns Mini Nile River on Saturns Mini Nile River on Saturns
Moon Titan Discovered Moon Titan Discovered Moon Titan Discovered Moon Titan Discovered Moon Titan Discovered
Scientists from NASA spot-
ted the longest extra-terrestrial
river system ever on Saturns moon
Titan which appears to be a min-
iature version of Earths Nile
River. As per NASA Jet Propul-
sion Laboratory, the river valley on
Titan stretches more than 400
kilometres from its headwaters to
a large sea comparing it with the
Nile River on Earth which stretches
about 6700 kilometres. The find-
ing came into in light after NASAs
Cassini mission sent images which
revealed for the first time a river
system this vast and in such high
resolution anywhere other than
Earth. Titan is the only body in the
solar system apart from earth
which is known to have vast seas
and possess a cycle of liquids on
its surface.
However, the other evident
fact is that the thick Titan atmo-
sphere is a frigid where water
could not possibly flow. The liq-
uids on Titan are therefore com-
posed of hydrocarbons such as
methane and ethane. Images from
Cassinis visible-light cameras in
late 2010 in Titans equatorial re-
gions revealed the regions to be
darkened due to recent rainfall.
Cassinis visual and infrared map-
ping spectrometer confirmed liq-
uid ethane at a lake in Titans
southern hemisphere known as
Ontario Lacus in 2008. The radar
image taken on 26 September
2012 shows Titans north polar re-
gion, where the river valley flows
into Kraken Mare, a sea that is, in
terms of size, between the Caspian
Sea and the Mediterranean Sea on
Earth.
Anti-Ageing Gene Might Anti-Ageing Gene Might Anti-Ageing Gene Might Anti-Ageing Gene Might Anti-Ageing Gene Might
Suppress Tumours Suppress Tumours Suppress Tumours Suppress Tumours Suppress Tumours
Researchers of the University
of Michigan Health System and
Harvard Medical School in the sec-
ond week of December 2012
showed that anti-ageing genes
might be helpful in curtailing the
multiplication of cancer. It was
shown that the loss of anti-ageing
gene can promote the occurrence
of tumours in the human beings.
The researchers had shown
that the decrease in SIRT6 protein
in rats increased the size, aggres-
siveness as well as number of
tumours apart from promotion of
tumour growth in the human co-
lon as well as pancreatic cancers.
The researchers however admitted
that it was difficult to know about
the range of genes which can sup-
press the development of
tumours.
In the meanwhile, the re-
search suggested that the SIRT6
might play an important role in
stopping cancer as well as control-
ling the cellular metabolism. Re-
searchers decided to work further
in this regard in order to under-
stand how the protein could be
helpful in suppressing the devel-
opment of tumours. In the new
research the role of SIRT6 in dimin-
ishing the growth of cancer by re-
pressing aerobic glycolysis was
highlighted.
Aerobic glycolysis is said to
be the primary feature of the can-
cer cells which involve conversion
of the glucose to lactate. SIRT6 is
also responsible for inhibiting the
activity of major cancer gene
called Myc. The research basically
indicates the conservation of the
biological mechanisms that occur
between humans and the lower
organisms.
52 52 52 52 52
Anti Collision Device for Anti Collision Device for Anti Collision Device for Anti Collision Device for Anti Collision Device for
Railways Railways Railways Railways Railways
Hyderabad Based Company,
Hyderabad Batteries Limited
(HBL) developed a new anti colli-
sion safety device which is path
breaking technology in ensuring
safe travelling and fewer acci-
dents. The device is based on a
combination of railway signalling
data with radio communications,
global position, radio frequency
identification devices, software
and logic. It was HBL Power Sys-
tems which reacted first to the
expression of interest floated by
the Research, Design and Stan-
dards Organisation of the Indian
Railways to develop an anti-colli-
sion device in August 2008. The
system is designed to automati-
cally bring trains to a halt when
collision-like situations arise or
when the red signal is violated, for
whatever reason. In the Month of
September 2012, a train collision
avoidance system (TCAS), tested
in real time on a track near Tandur,
in the South Central Railway dem-
onstrated the viability of the sys-
tem. During the trials, the effective-
ness was demonstrated for pre-
vention of head-on collisions, rear-
end collisions, over-speeding of
trains and disregard for red
signal. The new anti collision de-
vice had essential features of both
automatic train protection and
collision prevention in one
solution. HBL Power Systems had
also developed electronic inter-
locking system, audio frequency
track circuits and train manage-
ment systems.
Most complex and realistic Most complex and realistic Most complex and realistic Most complex and realistic Most complex and realistic
artificial brain artificial brain artificial brain artificial brain artificial brain
Software engineers as well as
neuroscientists at University of
Waterloo, Canada claimed that
they have developed a closest
model of the functioning human
brain, known as Spaun which is
advanced enough for passing the
basic IQ tests. This is the virtual
brain which functions on the
supercomputer and comprises of
a digital eye, which can be used
for visual input. It also has the ro-
botic arm which can be used for
drawing the response. The engi-
neers as well as neuroscientists
claimed that this was the most
complex model of the world of
human brain. Spaun or Semantic
Pointer Architecture Unified Net-
work comprises of 2.5 million
simulated neurons which enables
this brain to perform multiple
tasks. The tasks which this artifi-
cial brain can perform range from
answering the questions to copy
drawing as well as fluid reasoning.
The tests were conducted in
which the engineers and neurosci-
entists showed various letters as
well as numbers, which were read
in the memory by Spaun. Later, the
other symbol or letter behaved like
the command which tells Spaun
what needs to be done with the
memory.
Quake risk at Japan atomic Quake risk at Japan atomic Quake risk at Japan atomic Quake risk at Japan atomic Quake risk at Japan atomic
recycling plant recycling plant recycling plant recycling plant recycling plant
Japans only reprocessing
plant for spent nuclear fuel could
sit on an active seismic fault vul-
nerable to a massive earthquake,
experts warned Wednesday (De-
cember 19). If regulators agree
they will have to order its closure
and Japan would be without any
recycling capacity of its own, a
government official told AFP on
condition of anonymity. This
would leave it dependent on other
countries and with no way to deal
with waste from the Fukushima
plant crippled by last years earth-
quake and tsunami. Yasutaka
Ikeda, assistant professor of geo-
morphology at Tokyo University,
said a nearly 100-kilometre fault
runs under the Rokkasho repro-
cessing plant in Japan. Even
though experts opinions are di-
vided on whether this fault is ac-
tive or not, I think the possibility
of it being an active fault is ex-
tremely high, given the evidence,
Ikeda told AFP. This fault could
cause an 8-magnitude earthquake,
so any nuclear-related facilities in
the region are in danger, he said,
referring to the Shimokita Penin-
sula where the Rokkasho plant is
located. Mitsuhisa Watanabe, pro-
fessor of geomorphology at Toyo
University, separately told
WednesdaysTokyo Shimbun that
part of an active fault runs directly
under the Rokkasho plant, warn-
ing it is likely to move when the
53 53 53 53 53
bigger fault moves. Active faults
are those that, amongst other
things, have moved within the past
120,000-130,000 years. Under gov-
ernment guidelines atomic instal-
lations cannot be sited on a fault
if it is still classed as active. The
comment came days after govern-
ment-appointed experts found
that a nuclear power plant in the
same region may sit atop an active
seismic fault. A panel appointed
by the Nuclear Regulation Author-
ity said fractures in the earth be-
neath the Higashidori plants com-
pound on the peninsula may be
active faults, meaning it may be
scrapped. An unfinished nuclear
fuel storage facility is also on the
peninsula, in addition to the recy-
cling plant and the Higashidori
power plant. It is also home to
another part-built atomic power
plant. Operator Japan Nuclear
Fuel said last month it would con-
duct more research on the fault,
but a spokesman said the purpose
is to back up its claim that the seis-
mic fault is not active.
Spaceplane Successfully Spaceplane Successfully Spaceplane Successfully Spaceplane Successfully Spaceplane Successfully
Completed Flight Test Completed Flight Test Completed Flight Test Completed Flight Test Completed Flight Test
The spaceplane constructed
by Richard Bransons spaceflight
company called Virgin Galactic
successfully completed the impor-
tant flight test which would be
able to carry the people to space.
SpaceShipTwo, the spaceplane
was piloted to soft runway touch-
down after high-altitude release
from White Knight Two
mothership, which eventually en-
abled it to score successful test
drop. It additionally also checked
off various milestones at Mojave
Air and Space Port in California.
George Whitesides, CEO and
president of Virgin Galactic de-
clared that the test flight made
them closer to first powered
flight. The spaceplane called
SpaceShipTwo is the hybrid mo-
tor-powered plane which is de-
signed for carrying six passengers
as well as two pilots. The
spaceplane would carry these pas-
sengers to edge of the space with-
out completing the full orbit of
Earth. The price of spaceplane per
seat is 200000 dollar. Commercial
operations would be carried out
in America at New Mexicos
Spaceport.
A Headset That Give Humans A Headset That Give Humans A Headset That Give Humans A Headset That Give Humans A Headset That Give Humans
360 Degree Vision 360 Degree Vision 360 Degree Vision 360 Degree Vision 360 Degree Vision
French scientists claimed
that they developed a new system
called FlyVIZ which enables hu-
mans to get 360 degree vision. The
headset in the system is said to
capture the images from different
directions and thereafter trans-
form these into the matter which
is possible for the human vision
system to comprehend. The
headset was designed at Grande
Ecole dIngenieurs Paris-Laval,
France. At present the headset is
at a stage where it weighs 1.6 kg
and is quite heavy to carry around.
It is connected with the laptop for
processing the images while func-
tioning.
The device basically makes
use of a video camera which is
mounted on the top of the helmet
with special mirrors that can be
used for capturing scenes all
around a user. It then displays the
results in real-time on modified 3D
Viewer headset. The entire system
takes around 15 minutes for a user
to get used to. Once a user is able
to get used to it, it is possible to
move around as well as interact
fluidly with the environment. In
the trials that were conducted, the
users got hold of the sticks which
were beyond their normal view
field. The users even dodged the
balls from behind as well as drove
the vehicle! Even though the de-
vice offers a new perspective of
environment to the users, but it
still does not cause any form of
uneasiness, visual fatigue or mo-
tion sickness. Despite FlyVIZ cap-
tures and displays the images in 2
D formats, but the users still got
functional depth perception.
Genetic code of Honey Bees Genetic code of Honey Bees Genetic code of Honey Bees Genetic code of Honey Bees Genetic code of Honey Bees
Decoded Decoded Decoded Decoded Decoded
Scientists unlocked the ge-
netic secrets behind honey bees
high sensitivity to environmental
change which will help show links
between nutrition, environment
and the insects development. The
decoded gene could offer an in-
sight into problems like Colony
54 54 54 54 54
Collapse Disorder, a mysterious
cause of mass bee deaths globally.
Honey bees live in complex soci-
eties comprising tens of thousands
of individuals. Most of these are
female worker honeybees that
are unable to reproduce and in-
stead devote their short lives to
finding food in flowers and other
tasks such as nursing larvae inside
the hive. However, the hive has a
queen as well - the much longer-
lived, reproductive head of the
hive. As per the Researchers the
change occurs as a result of a his-
tone code - a process that sees
genetic changes made to proteins
called histones within cells nuclei.
Rather than genetic changes that
are locked into DNA, these are
known as epigenetic changes.
The study findings appeared in
Insect Biochemistry and Molecu-
lar Biology.
Hottest planet cold enough for Hottest planet cold enough for Hottest planet cold enough for Hottest planet cold enough for Hottest planet cold enough for
ice ice ice ice ice
Mercury, the innermost
planet in the Solar System, is like
a small rock orbiting the Sun, con-
tinuously assaulted by the stars
heat and radiation. It would have
to be the last place to look for
water. However, observations of
NASAs MESSENGER spacecraft
indicate that Mercury seems to
harbour enough water-ice to fill 20
billion Olympic skating rinks. On
November 29, during a televised
press conference, NASA an-
nounced that data recorded since
March 2011 by MESSENGERs
onboard instruments hinted that
large quantities of water ice were
stowed in the shadows of craters
around the planets North Pole.
Unlike Earth, Mercurys rotation is
not tilted about an axis. This means
one side of the planet permanently
faces the sun, becoming hot
enough to melt lead. The other
side, however, constantly faces
away from the sun, and is ex-
tremely cold. This characteristic
allows the insides of craters to
maintain low temperatures for mil-
lions of years, and capable of stor-
ing water-ice. But then, where is
the water coming from? Bright
spots were identified by
MESSENGERs infrared laser fired
from orbit into nine craters around
the North Pole. The spots lined up
perfectly with a thermal model of
ultra-cold spots on the planet that
would never be warmer than -170
degrees centigrade.
These icy spots are sur-
rounded by darker terrain that re-
ceives a bit more sunlight and
heat. Measurements by the neu-
tron spectrometer aboard MES-
SENGER suggest that this darker
area is a layer of material about 10
cm thick that lies on top of more
ice, insulating it. Dr. David Paige,
a planetary scientist at the Univer-
sity of California, Los Angeles, and
lead author of one of three papers
in Science that indicate the cra-
ters might contain ice, said, The
darker material around the bright
spots may be made up of complex
hydrocarbons expelled from
comet or asteroid impacts. Such
compounds must not be mistaken
as signs of life since they can be
produced by simple chemical re-
actions as well. The water-ice
could also have been derived from
crashing comets, the study by
Paige and his team concludes.
Finding water on the systems hot-
test planet changes the way sci-
entists perceive the Solar Systems
formation. Indeed, in the mid-
1990s, strong radar signals were
fired from the US Arecibo radar
dish in Puerto Rico, aimed at
Mercurys poles. Bright radar re-
flections were seen from crater-
like regions, which were indicative
of water-ice. However, other sub-
stances might also reflect radar in
a similar manner, like sulphur or
cold silicate materials, says David
J. Lawrence, a physicist from the
Johns Hopkins University Applied
Physics Laboratory and lead au-
thor of the neutron spectrometer
study.
Lawrence and his team ob-
served particles called neutrons
bouncing and ricocheting off the
planet via a spectrometer aboard
MESSENGER. As high-energy cos-
mic rays from outer space bom-
barded into atoms on the planet,
debris of particles, including neu-
trons, was the result. However,
hydrogen atoms in the path of neu-
trons can hold the speeding par-
ticles almost completely as both
weigh about the same. Since wa-
ter molecules contain two hydro-
gen atoms each, areas that could
contain water-ice will show a sup-
pressed count of neutrons in the
space above them. Because scien-
tists have been living with the idea
of Mercury containing water for
the last couple decades, the find
by MESSENGER is not likely to be
revolutionary. However, it bolsters
an exciting idea. As Lawrence
says, I think this discovery rein-
forces the reality that water is able
to find its way to many places in
the Solar System, and this fact
55 55 55 55 55
should be kept in mind when
studying the system and its his-
tory.
100 Times Faster and Sensitive 100 Times Faster and Sensitive 100 Times Faster and Sensitive 100 Times Faster and Sensitive 100 Times Faster and Sensitive
Laser Explosives-Detection Laser Explosives-Detection Laser Explosives-Detection Laser Explosives-Detection Laser Explosives-Detection
Device Device Device Device Device
Scientists of the University of
New South Wales (UNSW) in the
second week of December 2012
developed an all-new 100 times
sensitive and faster laser device
than any other explosives-detec-
tion device, for detecting even the
minor traces of explosives. The
sample which is pulsed, cavity
ring-down spectrometer, quantum
laser-based is currently being
tested in New Mexico at Los
Alamos National Laboratory of US
government. Associate Professor
of the University of New South
Wales (UNSW) revealed that the
newly developed laser machine
was 100 times more sensitive as
well as faster than other detection
devices. The professor revealed
that the machine had a capability
of measuring the TNT components
clearly or in the parts per billion
range, to be precise. This laser
device has a capability of sniffing
the travel bags on conveyer belt
and alerting the security person-
nel in case explosive vapours are
detected from the passing object.
The device could be used for re-
placing the security checks at air-
port which include complete scan
of the body or bomb sniffer dogs.
The device makes use of mir-
rors in order to continuously pass
through vapour, which in turn of-
fers more accuracy in measure-
ments. It is expected that the de-
vice would take two years for test-
ing as well as regulating the pro-
totype for detection of unique sig-
natories of substances as well as
different kinds of explosives, be-
fore it could be used
commercially. The team of scien-
tists started working on this device
in 2005. The team was asked by
Australian Federal Police for cre-
ation of machine which could help
in detection of explosive residue
at crime scene as well as forensic
investigations. Police actually
wanted the machine which had a
capability of working throughout
the day for identifying actual kinds
of explosives on each and every
suitcase which passes on con-
veyer belt.
Voyager 1, the NASA Spacecraft Voyager 1, the NASA Spacecraft Voyager 1, the NASA Spacecraft Voyager 1, the NASA Spacecraft Voyager 1, the NASA Spacecraft
The Voyager 1 spacecraft
sailed into the new area of solar
system which scientists were not
aware about. Both Voyager 1 as
well as Voyager 2 have been con-
tinuously moving away from the
Sun into the interstellar space, also
known as the space between the
stars. During the summers, Voy-
ager 1 entered into the space
where effects are felt from the
outside. Scientists at NASA jet
propulsion laboratory who man-
age the Voyager 1 spacecraft be-
lieved that this might be the last
layer between earth and interstel-
lar space. The location of this
spacecraft was presented at
American Geophysical Union in
San Francisco. Voyager 1 would
eventually become the first
manmade object that would exit
the solar system. When Voyager 1
would exactly exit our solar sys-
tem is still unknown, to a certain
extent since there is no pattern.
Scientists estimated that Voyager
1 would have around two to three
years of traveling before it reaches
the boundary which separates so-
lar system from other space.
In the meanwhile, scientists
were very surprised to see the un-
expected region in boundaries of
the solar system. During 2011,
team at NASA had been observ-
ing alluring clues which signal to-
wards new environment of the
space. High-energy cosmic rays
were streaming in from beyond
the solar system. Also, the amount
of low-energy particles which
originate from within our solar sys-
tem dropped down briefly. The
scientists were however sure that
Voyager 1 did not break through
because there were no changes in
direction of magnetic field lines.
Scientists are calling this newly
discovered zone as the type of
magnetic highway. These space-
crafts called the Voyagers were
launched in the space around 35
years ago to take a tour on other
planets. Even though Voyager 2,
which is at present 9 billion miles
away from sun, was first launched
but Voyager 1 is closer in leaving
the solar system at the back.
US Grand Canyon Is 65-70 US Grand Canyon Is 65-70 US Grand Canyon Is 65-70 US Grand Canyon Is 65-70 US Grand Canyon Is 65-70
Million Years Old Million Years Old Million Years Old Million Years Old Million Years Old
56 56 56 56 56
U S G r a n d C a n y o n , o n e
a m o n g t h e s e v e n n a t u r a l w o n d e r s
o f w o r l d , i s i n r e a l i t y 6 5 m i l l i o n
y e a r s o l d t h a n w h a t w a s t h o u g h t ,
r e v e a l e d a s t u d y c o n d u c t e d b y t h e
U n i v e r s i t y o f C o l o r a d o B o u l d e r .
T h i s m e a n s t h a t G r a n d C a n y o n
m i g h t h a v e b e e n t h e r e a t t h e t i m e
o f d i n o s a u r s a s w e l l .
I n t h e p r e v i o u s e s t i m a t e s o f
t h e a g e o f G r a n d C a n y o n , i t w a s
f o u n d t h a t i t w a s 5 - 6 m i l l i o n y e a r s
o l d d e p e n d i n g u p o n t h e a g e o f
g r a v e l - w a s h e d d o w n s t r e a m b y t h e
C o l o r a d o R i v e r . R e s e a r c h e r s n e v -
e r t h e l e s s b e l i e v e t h a t i t w a s c r e -
a t e d a r o u n d 7 0 m i l l i o n y e a r s a g o
w h e n d i n o s a u r s h a d e x i s t e d o n
E a r t h .
T h e r e s e a r c h e r s m a d e u s e o f
r a d i o a c t i v e d e c a y a s w e l l a s t h e r -
m a l d a t i n g i n o r d e r t o f i n d o u t t h e
a g e o f G r a n d C a n y o n . I n t h e s t u d y ,
t h e r a d i o a c t i v e d e c a y o f t h o r i u m
a s w e l l a s u r a n i u m a t o m s w a s e x -
p l o i t e d i n t o t h e h e l i u m a t o m s i n
p h o s p h a t e m i n e r a l c a l l e d a p a t i t e .
T h e h e l i u m a t o m s r e m a i n e d
l o c k e d i n s i d e t h e a p a t i t e g r a i n s
w h e n t h e y c o o l e d a n d c o n t r a c t e d
t o s u r f a c e w h e n G r a n d C a n y o n
w a s c a r v e d .
H o t n e s s o f t h e a p a t i t e d e t e r -
m i n e d t h a t f e w e r h e l i u m a t o m s
w e r e t h e r e w i t h i n i t , w h i c h e n -
a b l e d r e s e a r c h e r s t o f i n d o u t t h e r -
m a l h i s t o r y o f t h i s a r e a . T h e t e m -
p e r a t u r e v a r i a t i o n s a t t h e s h a l l o w
l e v e l s u n d e r t h e s u r f a c e o f E a r t h
a r e i n f l u e n c e d b y t h e t o p o g r a p h y
a n d t h i s i n t u r n e n a b l e d t h e t e a m
o f r e s e a r c h e r s t o f i n d o u t a b o u t
t h e i m p o r t a n t n a t u r a l e x c a v a t i o n
o f t h i s w o n d e r o f t h e w o r l d . T h e
r e s e a r c h f o u n d o u t t h a t G r a n d
C a n y o n w a s c a r v e d t o a r o u n d
s o m e h u n d r e d m e t r e s o f t h e m o d -
e r n d e p t h a r o u n d 7 0 m i l l i o n y e a r s
b a c k .
A m e r i c a n s c i e n t i s t i n v e n t s A m e r i c a n s c i e n t i s t i n v e n t s A m e r i c a n s c i e n t i s t i n v e n t s A m e r i c a n s c i e n t i s t i n v e n t s A m e r i c a n s c i e n t i s t i n v e n t s
p l a s t i c l i g h t b u l b p l a s t i c l i g h t b u l b p l a s t i c l i g h t b u l b p l a s t i c l i g h t b u l b p l a s t i c l i g h t b u l b
A U S s c i e n t i s t h a s i n v e n t e d a
n e w k i n d o f l i g h t b u l b t h a t u s e s
p l a s t i c p o l y m e r s a n d n a n o m a t e -
r i a l s t o g e n e r a t e l i g h t t h a t i s m o r e
e n e r g y - e f f i c i e n t t h a n c u r r e n t f l u o -
r e s c e n t l i g h t s a n d i s e a s i e r o n t h e
e y e .
D e t a i l s o f t h e n e w i n v e n t i o n
w e r e p u b l i s h e d M o n d a y o n t h e
w e b s i t e o f W a k e F o r e s t U n i v e r s i t y
i n N o r t h C a r o l i n a , w h e r e t h e i n v e n -
t o r , p h y s i c s p r o f e s s o r D a v i d
C a r o l l , i s b a s e d .
T h e n e w p l a s t i c l i g h t i n g u s e s
t h e s a m e a m o u n t o f e l e c t r i c i t y a s
L E D b u l b s a n d h a l f a s m u c h a s
f l u o r e s c e n t b u l b s . T h e d e v i c e i s
m a d e o f t h r e e l a y e r s o f w h i t e -
e m i t t i n g p o l y m e r b l e n d e d w i t h a
s m a l l a m o u n t o f n a n o - m a t e r i a l s
t h a t g l o w w h e n s t i m u l a t e d w i t h
e l e c t r i c a l c u r r e n t t o c r e a t e b r i g h t ,
p e r f e c t l y w h i t e l i g h t s i m i l a r t o t h e
s u n l i g h t h u m a n e y e s p r e f e r . I t c a n
b e m a d e i n a n y c o l o u r o r s h a p e
f r o m f l a t s h e e t s t o r e p l a c e o f -
f i c e l i g h t i n g t o s t a n d a r d b u l b s i n
h o u s e h o l d l a m p s . P e o p l e o f t e n
c o m p l a i n t h a t f l u o r e s c e n t l i g h t s
b o t h e r t h e i r e y e s , a n d t h e h u m
f r o m t h e f l u o r e s c e n t t u b e s i r r i t a t e s
a n y o n e s i t t i n g a t a d e s k u n d e r -
n e a t h t h e m , s a i d D r . C a r r o l l .
D r . C a r o l l i s t h e d i r e c t o r o f t h e C e n -
t r e f o r N a n o t e c h n o l o g y a n d M o -
l e c u l a r M a t e r i a l s . T h e n e w l i g h t s
w e h a v e c r e a t e d c a n c u r e b o t h o f
t h o s e p r o b l e m s a n d m o r e .
N A S A R u l e d o u t A s t e r o i d N A S A R u l e d o u t A s t e r o i d N A S A R u l e d o u t A s t e r o i d N A S A R u l e d o u t A s t e r o i d N A S A R u l e d o u t A s t e r o i d
C o l l i s i o n w i t h E a r t h i n 2 0 4 0 C o l l i s i o n w i t h E a r t h i n 2 0 4 0 C o l l i s i o n w i t h E a r t h i n 2 0 4 0 C o l l i s i o n w i t h E a r t h i n 2 0 4 0 C o l l i s i o n w i t h E a r t h i n 2 0 4 0
T h e M a y a n D o o m s d a y p r e -
d i c t i o n s a b o u t t h e w o r l d e n d i n g
o n 2 1 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 2 h a d f a i l e d
a n d a d d i t i o n a l l y N A S A r u l e d o u t
t h e a s t e r o i d c o l l i s i o n w i t h E a r t h i n
2 0 4 0 . N A S A c l a i m e d t h a t t h e f e a r
o f a s t e r o i d c o l l i s i o n w i t h E a r t h
d o e s n o t p o s e a t h r e a t t o o u r
p l a n e t a n y m o r e . N A S A d e c l a r e d
t h a t d o u b t a b o u t o r b i t o f t h i s a s -
t e r o i d c a l l e d 2 0 1 1 A G 5 i n i t i a l l y
e n a b l e d t h a t t h e r e w e r e l e s s t h a n
1 p e r c e n t c h a n c e s o f i t h i t t i n g t h e
p l a n e t i n F e b r u a r y 2 0 4 0 . I n i t i a l l y
t h e s c i e n t i s t s h a d e s t i m a t e d t h a t
r i s k o f 1 4 0 m - d i a m e t r e a s t e r o i d
c o l l i s i o n w i t h E a r t h w a s j u s t o n e
i n 5 0 0 . I n c a s e , t h i s a s t e r o i d
w o u l d h a v e c o l l i d e d w i t h E a r t h ,
t h e r e w o u l d h a v e b e e n a r e l e a s e
o f a r o u n d 1 0 0 m e g a t o n n e s o f e n -
e r g y , w h i c h i s a l o t m o r e t h a n a t o m
b o m b s u s e d i n W o r l d W a r I I . C o n -
s i d e r i n g t h e s t a t i s t i c s , i t w a s f o u n d
t h a t a b o d y a s h u g e a s t h i s w o u l d
h a v e c r e a t e d a n i m p a c t o n E a r t h
e v e r y 1 0 0 0 0 y e a r s o n a n
a v e r a g e . T h e o b s e r v a t i o n s w e r e
m a d e w h i l e m a k i n g u s e o f G e m i n i
N o r t h t e l e s c o p e i n H a w a i i . T h e
o b s e r v a t i o n s w e r e v e r y c h a l l e n g -
i n g f o r t h e t e a m . T h e s c i e n t i s t s
w e r e e s p e c i a l l y s u r p r i s e d a b o u t
t h e f a c t t h a t a t e l e s c o p e c o u l d r e -
c o v e r f a i n t a s t e r o i d i n t h e s k y .
B r a i n - R e m o v a l T o o l D i s c o v e r e d B r a i n - R e m o v a l T o o l D i s c o v e r e d B r a i n - R e m o v a l T o o l D i s c o v e r e d B r a i n - R e m o v a l T o o l D i s c o v e r e d B r a i n - R e m o v a l T o o l D i s c o v e r e d
i n 2 4 0 0 - Y e a r O l d M u m m y i n 2 4 0 0 - Y e a r O l d M u m m y i n 2 4 0 0 - Y e a r O l d M u m m y i n 2 4 0 0 - Y e a r O l d M u m m y i n 2 4 0 0 - Y e a r O l d M u m m y
B r a i n - r e m o v a l t o o l , w h i c h
w a s u s e d b y t h e a n c i e n t E g y p t i a n
e m b a l m e r s , w a s d i s c o v e r e d b y
57 57 57 57 57
the researchers of Zagreb Croatia
in the third week of December
2012. This brain-removal tool was
lodged in skull of the female
mummy which dated back to ap-
proximately 2400 years. This was
the 3-inch object which was found
in body of the 40-year old woman.
The researchers who discovered
this tool were surprised by the
breakthrough. Brain removal was
the Egyptian mummification pro-
cedure which was quite popular
around 3500 years ago. It was also
used extensively in later periods.
It is important to note here that
identification of the ancient tools
which were used by the embalm-
ers for brain removal was very dif-
ficult. Researchers also noted that
this was the 2nd time when this
kind of a tool was found in the
skull of a mummy.
After the CT scans were car-
ried out, the researchers found a
tool or an instrument which was
located between the left parietal
bone as well as the rear of skull.
This was filled with the resin dur-
ing the process of mummifica-
tion.
Curious about the recent dis-
covery, the team of researchers
also made use of the endoscope
(a thin tube that is used for
noninvasive medical processes),
in order to extract it from the resin
with which it remained stuck. The
researchers found out that the
embalmers might have inserted
this tool through a hole which was
made in skull near nose. This was
later used for liquifying as well as
removing the brain. The re-
searcher, Dr Mislav avka of Uni-
versity Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb
Croatia explained that this brain-
removal tool was extracted using
the clamp with the help of endo-
scope. Some of the parts of brain
might be wrapped around the
stick and extracted while others
might be liquefied during the
mummification process.
The mummy could be put on
the abdomen then and liquid
might be drained through hole of
the nose. The researcher also
added that leaving this tool in the
skull of the mummy was an error
on the part of embalmers. The re-
searcher also added that possibly
the tool might have been broken
during the process. This embalm-
ing accident which might have
occurred provided the research-
ers with rare artifact. The research-
ers found out that brain-removal
tool or stick found in the skull of
the mummy dated back to some
2200 years. At present this
mummy is in Archaeological Mu-
seum in Zagreb Croatia.
New Dinosaur with Gigantic New Dinosaur with Gigantic New Dinosaur with Gigantic New Dinosaur with Gigantic New Dinosaur with Gigantic
Nose Discovered Nose Discovered Nose Discovered Nose Discovered Nose Discovered
Scientists in northern Mexico
discovered a new dinosaur with a
large prominent nose which lived
about 73 million years ago. The
duck-billed dinosaur, which was
named Latirhinus uitstlani lived
during the Late Cretaceous period
and its wide nasal cavity might
have given it incredible smell-de-
tecting ability. As per researchers
the giant nose of Dinosaur sup-
ported and provided enhanced
space for a soft tissue structure,
sort of like an inflatable bladder,
for display, recognition and com-
munication purposes in general.
The dinosaur also possessed
sturdy hind limbs ending in three
toes, and relatively smaller and
thinner forelimbs ending in 4 dig-
its meaning this animal was
thumb-less. These dinosaurs were
herbivores with a few thousand
teeth closely packed together to
form a grinding surface to chew
the vegetation they fed upon. As
per the report it was concluded
that the environment that
Latirhinus inhabited was likely
warmer and more humid than it is
todays time, with lakes and bays
nearby.
Alarming Cushion to Warn You Alarming Cushion to Warn You Alarming Cushion to Warn You Alarming Cushion to Warn You Alarming Cushion to Warn You
against Sedentary Lifestyle against Sedentary Lifestyle against Sedentary Lifestyle against Sedentary Lifestyle against Sedentary Lifestyle
Australian researchers at the
University of Queenslands human
movement studies developed the
alarming cushion, a unique device
that enables you to get warning
against the sedentary lifestyle. This
cushion provides you with the
warning signals against the risks
which are being posed by the in-
active lifestyle. The device re-
minds people or those workers
especially who spend several
hours at their desks and seldom
stand up. The study conducted
found out that sitting for several
hours amounted to health issues
such as obesity, shoulder, neck
and back injuries, diabetes as well
as obesity. Also, sitting for several
hours continuously led to reduced
life expectancy, even in case of
those people who are considered
physically fit and active. The
alarming cushion device actually
records the sitting time of the em-
ployees and the time when they
get up. This is done by making use
of the medical grade pressure sen-
sor as well as custom-built micro-
controller. There is a mechanism
built within the sensor and it is
58 58 58 58 58
being set in order to sound the
alarm in case the person remains
seated continuously for a longer
duration or predetermined time
period. The alarm thereafter stops
when person gets up. Again the
alarm would be reactivated in case
a person sits down just in certain
seconds. Researchers who have
used the device explored that
employees spent more than two-
third of their time period sitting at
their desks. Improvement of the
health of employees could be
achieved through measurement of
workplace behaviour, the re-
searchers found out.
Video shows physics can be fun Video shows physics can be fun Video shows physics can be fun Video shows physics can be fun Video shows physics can be fun
Australian researchers have
shown that physics can be fun,
with an experiment using nothing
more than a coiled spring that
toymakers call a slinky becoming
a hit on video-sharing site
YouTube. Sydney Universitys
Mike Wheatland and Rod Cross
rigged up slow-motion cameras to
show that a slinky performs a mar-
vellous feat when let hang through
gravity and then dropped. What
happens next is not visible to your
naked eye but, remarkably, the
bottom section of the slinky re-
mains suspended in mid-air until
the entire top section collapses
onto it, Wheatland said. The pair
have written a paper to be pub-
lished in the American Journal of
Physics . It might seem like a
frivolous exercise but in fact it pro-
vides us with an insight into the
fascinating physics of everyday
objects, Wheatland said. The fall-
ing slinkys behaviour might seem
counterintuitive, but physics can
be like that. Dynamics the in-
terplay of forces around us of-
ten needs to be examined to be-
come clear.
Protein behind Aggressive Protein behind Aggressive Protein behind Aggressive Protein behind Aggressive Protein behind Aggressive
Breast Cancer Breast Cancer Breast Cancer Breast Cancer Breast Cancer
Australian researchers of
Sydneys Garvan Institute claimed
that they discovered primary fac-
tor which made breast cancer ag-
gressive as well as resistant to the
treatments. Protein called ELF5 is
responsible for making the
tumours of breast cancer more
aggressive as well as resistant to
treatments, revealed the key re-
searcher Chris Ormandy. Chris
Ormandy was studying about this
protein for 10 years. The protein
also plays an important role in
breast cancer development. Study
revealed that in the breast cancer,
certain molecular decisions take
place. ELF5 changes the already-
existing tumour to the oestrogen-
insensitive type. The study de-
picted that cancers that are un-
manageable to anti-oestrogen
treatment are like that because
they elevate the levels of ELF5 and
also become oestrogen receptor
negative functionally. Around half
of the women will eventually not
be able to tackle to anti-oestrogen
treatment which they would have
been undergoing, which would in
turn further progress their tumour.
In the tissue-culture models of this
type of cancer which were made
numb to anti-oestrogen treatment,
levels of ELF5 increase dramati-
cally. Even though the study was
important because it would open
up new possibilities of treatments,
but this may take several years. The
study would help in targeting ELF5
in such a way that it would help in
treating the breast cancers which
became numb to anti-oestrogens.
NASAs Twin Probes Crashed NASAs Twin Probes Crashed NASAs Twin Probes Crashed NASAs Twin Probes Crashed NASAs Twin Probes Crashed
Successfully onto Lunar Successfully onto Lunar Successfully onto Lunar Successfully onto Lunar Successfully onto Lunar
Mountain Mountain Mountain Mountain Mountain
Ebb and Flow, the gravity
mapping satellites of NASA ended
the successful mission to Moon by
crashing on the rim of crater. Lu-
nar surface on which Ebb and
Flow crashed will be given a name
after Sally Ride, the first woman of
America in the space who died
earlier in 2012. Ebb and Flow,
two spacecrafts of NASA that
comprised Gravity Recovery and
Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mis-
sion, on 14 December 2012 were
commanded for landing in lower
orbit of Moon which would cre-
ate an impact on the mountain
near its North Pole. Ebb and Flow
were launched in September 2011
and were orbiting Moon since 1
January 2012. After a year of their
arrival on Moon, the twin space-
crafts of NASA hit the lunar sur-
face as it was planned at 5:28:51
pm EST and 5:29:21 pm EST re-
spectively. The speed of the two
was 1.7 kilometres per
second. The location of site is on
southern face of around 2.5
kilometre tall Lunar Mountain near
the crater called Goldschmidt. The
principal investigator of GRAIL,
Maria Zuber of the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cam-
bridge declared that the lunar mis-
sion was complete and that they
were proud to honour the contri-
59 59 59 59 59
butions of Sally Ride after naming
that corner of Moons surface af-
ter her. The impact indicated that
the GRAIL mission was complete.
This was the first planetary mission
of NASA which carried cameras
that were completely dedicated to
public outreach as well as educa-
tion. Apart from the basic science
instrument, the spacecrafts carried
MoonKAM, the camera which cap-
tured over 115000 images of
Moons surface.
Just fifty minutes before the
impact, spacecraft fired the en-
gines till propellant was ex-
hausted. It was designed in such
a way that it could determine ex-
actly how much fuel was left in
tanks. This would help the engi-
neers of NASA to legalise comput-
ers for improving the predictions
of quantity of fuel needed for mis-
sions in future. Ebb and Flow
were deliberately sent on the sur-
face of Moon since there was not
enough altitude or fuel remaining
for continuing the science opera-
tions. The successful missions of
these two spacecrafts produced
highest resolution gravity field
map in context with any celestial
body till now. The scientists would
take a lot of time, maybe years for
analysing the data that is collected
from Ebb and Flow.
Mystery that Surrounded the Mystery that Surrounded the Mystery that Surrounded the Mystery that Surrounded the Mystery that Surrounded the
Missing Sandy Island Solved Missing Sandy Island Solved Missing Sandy Island Solved Missing Sandy Island Solved Missing Sandy Island Solved
A researcher from New
Zealand claimed that he had
solved the mystery of the missing
South Pacific Island which was
shown on the world maps as well
as Google Earth but did not actu-
ally exist. The blame of the miss-
ing island went to the whaling ship
from the year 1876. The landmass
in Coral Sea which is shown as the
Sandy Island on Google maps as
well as Google Earth is apparently
somewhere between Australia
and New Caledonia. Times Atlas
of the World, on the other hand
identifies it as the Sable Island, but
the Australian scientists who went
on a research in November 2012
could not locate it exactly, which
is why they claimed that the island
did not exist actually. A researcher
at Auckland Museum after his in-
vestigations claimed that the is-
land had never existed. Google in
the meanwhile welcomed this
feedback and explained that sug-
gestions from the users on maps
enabled integration of new infor-
mation into Google Maps. Appar-
ently, now the Sandy Island has
been removed from the maps.
NASA to turn asteroid into NASA to turn asteroid into NASA to turn asteroid into NASA to turn asteroid into NASA to turn asteroid into
space station space station space station space station space station
NASA scientists are planning
to capture a 500,000 kg asteroid,
relocate it and transform it into a
space station for astronauts to re-
fuel at on their way to Mars. It
would be the first time a celestial
object has ever been moved by
humans, the Daily Mail reported.
The White Houses Office of Sci-
ence and technology will consider
the USD 2.6 billion plan in the
coming weeks as it prepares to set
its space exploration agenda for
the next decade. A feasibility re-
port prepared by NASA and Cali-
fornia Institute of Technology
(Caltech) scientists outlined how
they would go about capturing the
asteroid. An asteroid capture cap-
sule would be attached to an old
Atlas V rocket and directed to the
asteroid between the Earth and
the Moon.
Once close, the asteroid cap-
sule would release a 50 ft diam-
eter bag that would wrap around
the spinning rock using draw-
strings, the paper said. The craft
would then turn on its thrusters,
using an estimated 300 kg of pro-
pellant, to stop the asteroid in its
tracks and tow it into a gravitation-
ally neutral spot. From here space
explorers would have a stationary
base from which to launch trips
deeper into space.
The idea of exploiting the
natural resources of asteroids
dates back over a hundred years,
but only now has the technology
become available to make this
idea a reality, the report said. The
feasibility is enabled by three key
developments: the ability to dis-
cover and characterise an ad-
equate number of sufficiently
small near-Earth asteroids for cap-
ture and return; the ability to
implement sufficiently powerful
solar electric propulsion systems
to enable transportation of the
captured asteroid; and the pro-
posed human presence in lunar
space in the 2020s enabling explo-
ration and exploitation of the re-
turned asteroid, it said. NASA
declined to comment on the
project because it said it was in
negotiations with the White
House, but it is believed that tech-
nology would make it possible
within 10-12 years.
The technology would also
open up the possibility of mining
other asteroids for their metals and
minerals. Some are full of iron
which could be used for in the
making of new space stations, oth-
ers are made up of water which
60 60 60 60 60
could be broken down into hydro-
gen and oxygen to make fuel.
Permian Mass Extinction Was Permian Mass Extinction Was Permian Mass Extinction Was Permian Mass Extinction Was Permian Mass Extinction Was
Led By a Microbe Led By a Microbe Led By a Microbe Led By a Microbe Led By a Microbe
A microbe led to extinction
of more than 90 species on Earths
surface around 251 million years
ago, the researchers found out in
the second week of December
2012. The mass extinction did not
take place due to catastrophic
volcano or meteorite, but because
of a microbe. According to the
current theory, mass extinction by
end of Permian period was started
because of volcanic eruptions on
a large area, now called Siberia.
This in turn led to a dramatic in-
crease in the emission of green-
house gases. But a researcher from
Massachusetts Institute of Tech-
nology believes that the scenario
doesnt align with the facts. An
analysis of the end-Permian sedi-
ment sample from China was con-
ducted and it was found that car-
bon levels had rushed too fast for
geological processes to begin.
Microbes could generate equally
fast carbon compounds.
When the group of research-
ers analysed genome of
Methanosarcina - a methanogen
which is accountable for most of
the biogenic methane on Earth
today, it was discovered that mi-
crobe acquired this ability some
231 million years ago. This date
matched closer to the time when
mass extinction took place. How-
ever, the link could still not be
suggested. Methanosarcina needs
huge amount of nickel for produc-
ing methane fast. On going back
to sediment cores, the research-
ers discovered that the level of
nickel prickled exactly 251 million
years. This might have happened
because the Siberian lavas had
nickel in large quantities. This in
turn reinforced the fact that
Methanosarcina triggered mass
extinction. It is important to note
that the mass extinction of
biodiversity of todays time is quite
identical since it is mainly deter-
mined by our species.
100 % Ultrasound Toothbrush of 100 % Ultrasound Toothbrush of 100 % Ultrasound Toothbrush of 100 % Ultrasound Toothbrush of 100 % Ultrasound Toothbrush of
the World Developed the World Developed the World Developed the World Developed the World Developed
British scientists claimed that
they developed in the first week
of December 2012, the first tooth-
brush of the world called
Emmident toothbrush which
makes use of the ultrasound waves
for cleaning teeth, which means
that there is no need of abrasive
brushing. Even though the manual
toothbrushes have been replaced
long back with whizzyelectric ver-
sions of the brushes which have
super-fast vibrations along with
costly whitening heads, but the
high-tech toothbrushes launched
in UK in first week of December
2012 is the first 100 percent ultra-
sound toothbrush of the
world. Ultrasound technology
was also included in electric de-
signs earlier but this time it is the
first of its kind toothbrush which
has independent ultrasound tech-
nology and it does not require
movement of brush.
About the new Emmident About the new Emmident About the new Emmident About the new Emmident About the new Emmident
toothbrush toothbrush toothbrush toothbrush toothbrush
Emmident toothbrush makes
86 million sound waves in a minute
and these waves in turn are used
for cleaning the teeth. The cost
of this product is 79.95 pounds.
Manufacturers of this product
claimed that ultrasound waves
which are emitted from this tooth-
brush create tiny bubbles from
special 3.99 pounds toothpaste
which should be used with this.
These bubbles can get between
teeth as well as the gums which in
turn help in killing bacteria as well
as dislodging tarter. The bacteria
which are left on brush head are
also killed. British Dental Associa-
tion however admitted that proper
tests should be done in order to
prove efficiency of this tooth-
brush.
Silent stroke can cause Silent stroke can cause Silent stroke can cause Silent stroke can cause Silent stroke can cause
Parkinsons Parkinsons Parkinsons Parkinsons Parkinsons
A small or silent stroke which
shows no outward symptoms can
cause Parkinsons disease, scien-
tists claim. In a new study, re-
searchers from the University of
Manchester have for the first time
identified why a patient who ap-
pears outwardly healthy may de-
velop Parkinsons disease, a de-
generative disorder of the central
nervous system. While conditions
such as a severe stroke have been
linked to the disease, for many
sufferers the tremors and other
symptoms of Parkinsons can ap-
61 61 61 61 61
pear to come out of the blue. A
silent stroke happens when a
blood vessel in the brain is
blocked for only a very short
amount of time and often a patient
wont know they have suffered
from one. However, it now ap-
pears that one of the lasting effects
of a silent stroke can be the death
of dopaminergic neurons in the
substantia nigra in the brain, which
is an important region for move-
ment coordination. At the mo-
ment we dont know why dopam-
inergic neurons start to die in the
brain, There have been sugges-
tions that oxidative stress and age-
ing are responsible, said Dr
Emmanuel Pinteaux who led the
research.
Life Supporting planet Found Life Supporting planet Found Life Supporting planet Found Life Supporting planet Found Life Supporting planet Found
orbiting Star near Earth orbiting Star near Earth orbiting Star near Earth orbiting Star near Earth orbiting Star near Earth
Scientist in the month of De-
cember revealed a planet that
could support life, orbits a Sun-
like star near the Earth. There are
five planets found to be
circling Tau Ceti - a star just 12
light years away - which is almost
identical to the sun, a journal set
to appear in Astronomy & Astro-
physics says. Out of the five planet
found, one of the planet which is
five times the mass of earth sup-
port life and lies in the habitable
zone where liquid water and life
could potentially exist. As per the
Astronomers estimate the Tau
Ceti planets is two to six times big-
ger than Earth. Most planets de-
tected in the Universe so far had
high masses due to the difficulties
in finding extra-solar planets. The
Tau Ceti planetary family is
thought to be the lowest mass so-
lar system yet detected. More than
800 planets have been discovered
so far orbiting stars beyond the
sun since the 1990s.
Like water droplets off a lotus Like water droplets off a lotus Like water droplets off a lotus Like water droplets off a lotus Like water droplets off a lotus
leaf? leaf? leaf? leaf? leaf?
Frugal Indian housewives,
who extract the very last traces of
condiments from unyielding
bottles and jars, will be the first to
appreciate the genius of
LiquiGlide, which Time magazine
has named one of the Best Inven-
tions of the Year 2012. Prof. Kripa
Varanasis group at the Massachu-
setts Institute of Technology has
developed a super-slippery, non-
toxic coating for the insides of
food containers, so these surfaces
will concede the stored condi-
ment down to the last drop. No
scraping, rinsing or special
manoeuvres required. And the
compound is safe enough to eat,
says Varanasi. The group demon-
strated the proof-of-concept with
a bottle of free-flowing tomato
ketchup. Of course, the folks at the
MIT Lab for Nano-engineered Sur-
faces, Interfaces & Coatings didnt
set out to solve the problem of
tricky ketchup bottles nor is it the
ultimate use for LiquiGlide. De-
signing super-hydrophobic sur-
faces that can repel water drop-
lets think of lotus leaves in a
pond has been a key research
interest for the group.
The researchers have tested
LiquiGlide on materials used to
make food containers glass, ce-
ramic, metal and plastic. But the
coating need not confined to one
formulation unlike, say, Teflon,
Varanasi points out. Depending
on the substance that needs to
slide, we can design different
coatings for different applications.
The underlying principle remains
the same that is the real beauty
of this. There are possible indus-
trial applications. Hydrophobic
coatings can keep ice off the wings
of an airplane, for instance. The
researchers could use this to ad-
dress the flow assurance prob-
lem of the oil and natural gas in-
dustry where insides of pipes sees
buildup of organic compounds
that clog supply networks. In the
consumer space, LiquiGlide could
find uses in the health and beauty
industry. Think of all those bottles
with pumps to draw expensive
lotions out that design can
change, says Varanasi. That also
means less plastic is needed to
make these containers.
Rare Supercomet Would Rare Supercomet Would Rare Supercomet Would Rare Supercomet Would Rare Supercomet Would
Outshine Moon in 2013 Outshine Moon in 2013 Outshine Moon in 2013 Outshine Moon in 2013 Outshine Moon in 2013
Astronomers claimed that a
rare supercomet called C/2012 S1
(ISON) was moving towards the
Sun from outer solar system. This
supercomet would outshine Moon
in November 2013. C/2012 S1
(ISON) was first noticed in Sep-
tember 2012. The comet would
be closest to the Sun in Novem-
ber 2013. The comet would be as
good as Hale-Bopp, a comet
which appeared in 1997. Hale-
Bopp is the most widely noticed
comet of 20th century. It is also the
62 62 62 62 62
brightest comet observed in vari-
ous decades. ISON on the other
hand would be making its first voy-
age in the solar system. Astrono-
mers believe that this comet might
also contain certain volatile gases
which are not found in other com-
ets. Astronomers also hope that
this would help them get a peep
into the materials of the outer so-
lar system.
Additionally, the year would
also witness celestial fireworks
having various flavours because of
the gas cloud which has three
times the mass of Earth, heading
in the direction of calm
supermassive black hole which
sits in the heart of our galaxy. This
collision would not be visible with
naked eyes. However, the X-ray
telescopes will be able to catch
the radiations from shock wave
which would be created as the
cloud hits into aura of hot gases
which surround the hole. Because
this black hole called Sagittarius
A is just 25000 light years far from
Earth, therefore the crash would
offer a unique view of various ma-
terials getting into the black hole.
This might also provide a hint
about what had happened 300
years back when this black hole
was brighter than present.
New Next-Gen Spacesuit for New Next-Gen Spacesuit for New Next-Gen Spacesuit for New Next-Gen Spacesuit for New Next-Gen Spacesuit for
Complex Space Ventures Complex Space Ventures Complex Space Ventures Complex Space Ventures Complex Space Ventures
NASA developed new next-
gen spacesuit called Z-1 Proto-
type Spacesuit and Portable Life
Support System (PLSS) 2.0 for the
sophisticated and complex space
ventures, which also include Mars
mission. The spacesuit can supply
the astronauts with oxygen as well
as provide protection to them
from the extreme
temperatures. The spacesuits
used by NASA at present were
designed in 1992 and were fabri-
cated especially for the crews that
boarded space shuttle task force
as well as spent time in Interna-
tional Space Station (ISS). But
with the recent retirement of
space shuttle task force as well the
goal of the country to land on
Mars, an asteroid as well as even
beyond that, NASA recognised
that there was time to design tech-
nologically-equipped as well as
robust spacesuits for the astro-
nauts.
The entry into the spacesuit
is from the back and it can perform
approximately all those functions
that are also performed by the ac-
tual spaceship. Basically, the new
spacesuits can get rid of the car-
bon dioxide, supply oxygen as
well as provide protection to as-
tronauts from extreme tempera-
tures such as excessive cold or
heat.
How is the spacesuit How is the spacesuit How is the spacesuit How is the spacesuit How is the spacesuit
designed? designed? designed? designed? designed?
The spacesuit is crafted out
of various hard elements on the
fabric. It also becomes flexible af-
ter being inflated. On the rear of
the suit, astronauts may find the
hatch and life support which
would enable them to attach to
rover or spacecraft. Apart from all
this, it has urethane-coated nylon
as well as polyester layers which
enable the astronauts to maintain
pressure as well as get greater flex-
ibility in torso and limbs.
Getting into the spacesuit Getting into the spacesuit Getting into the spacesuit Getting into the spacesuit Getting into the spacesuit
Astronauts can get in this
spacesuit via suitport which is ba-
sically a pack of hatch and life sup-
port. There is no need of an airlock
for seeking entry or getting exit in
and out of this suit. This means that
it is possible for the astronauts to
make a quick entry and exit in and
out of spacesuit. This happens
because the spacesuit operates at
similar pressure like that of
spacecraft. The spacesuit packs
in itself water membrane evapo-
ration cooler which cools the suit
through same method like sweat-
ing. It does not use the recent
technique that includes sublimator
which works only in hard vacuum.
Natural heart pacemaker from Natural heart pacemaker from Natural heart pacemaker from Natural heart pacemaker from Natural heart pacemaker from
single gene single gene single gene single gene single gene
Researchers of Cedars-Sinai
Heart Institute developed pace-
maker cells through injection of
gene called Tbx18, which could
greatly help in repairing the heart.
This research would help treating
the heart patients with the simple
injection of so-called natural pace-
maker. The researchers pro-
grammed ordinary cells of heart
for becoming the exact imitations
of specialised biological pacemak-
ers through injection of single
gene. This is said to be the major
step towards a long search of 10
years for finding the biological
therapy that can correct falling
heartbeats. The researchers de-
scribed the study the first one to
63 63 63 63 63
depict that one gene can direct
conversion of cells of heart muscle
to authentic pacemaker cells. The
new cells are said to generate elec-
trical impulses unexpectedly and
these were also different from the
local pacemaker cells.
Actually, the pacemaker cells
produce electrical activity which
spreads in turn to other heart cells
in a neat pattern for creating regu-
lar muscle contractions. In case
these cells go wrong, the heart
starts beating randomly at its best.
The heartbeat begins in sino-
atrial node (SAN) of right upper
chamber of heart where there are
accumulated pacemaker cells. Out
of the 10 billion cells of heart, less
than 10000 are the pacemaker
cells which are also referred as
SAN cells. Once these new pace-
maker cells are programmed by
Tbx18 gene, they had all the im-
portant features of the native pace-
makers. These pacemaker cells
once programmed, also main-
tained the SAN-like characteristics
despite the fact that effects of
Tbx18 gene faded away. Research-
ers, who made use of the virus
which is engineered to carry the
single gene called Tbx18, directly
reprogrammed the cells of heart
muscle for specialising pacemaker
cells.
These new cells performed
the function as well as features of
native pacemaker cells in lab cell
reprogramming as well as in the
studies conducted on guinea
pig. In the initial efforts, new
pacemaker cells were created but
there was a risk of infecting can-
cerous cells. However, the new
research created the pacemaker
cells which are closely associated
with native ones that do not pose
risk of cancer.
Human Intelligence Associated Human Intelligence Associated Human Intelligence Associated Human Intelligence Associated Human Intelligence Associated
With Genetic Accident With Genetic Accident With Genetic Accident With Genetic Accident With Genetic Accident
Scientists at the University of
Edinburgh discovered how intel-
ligence originated, after they iden-
tified the genetic accident which
happened 500 million years ago.
This genetic accident allowed the
human species to think and rea-
son; and thus they evolved. The
scientists discovered how humans
as well as various mammals
evolved in terms of intelligence.
Scientists found out that hu-
man intelligence developed be-
cause of a rise in the number of
genes in brain in the evolutionary
ancestors. Scientists additionally
also believed that these genes which
help in improvisation of the mental
capability are also in turn respon-
sible for the brain disorders that
might occur in the humans. Scien-
tists explained that a plain inverte-
brate animal that lived in sea around
500 million years ago experienced
this genetic accident which pro-
duced extra copies of the genes
being developed. The offspring of
these animals benefited in turn from
the extra genes which led to sophis-
ticated vertebrates in terms of
behaviour, including the humans.
HQJ OLVK#J UDPPDU
DQG#XVDJ H
64 64 64 64 64
Soil mediates effects of
phosphorus application
In Brazil, farmers must use a huge
amount of the fertilizer. In Iowa, his-
torical overuse of phosphorus still
harms waterways. A one-size-fits-all
approach will lead to wrong conclu-
sions if the regional biophysics are
not considered.
Probiotics help fish grow up
fast, healthier
A new study at the Institute of Ma-
rine and Environmental Technology
(U.S.) found that feeding probiotics
to baby zebrafish accelerated their
growth and boosted their chances of
survival into adulthood.
Radio waves to kidneys
lower chronic high BP
Directing short bursts of radio
waves at nerves sorrounding the
kidneys lowered BP for at least six
months and up to a year among hy-
pertensive patients, says a study
in Circulation .
Bats may hold clues to
human longevity
Bats have been around for at
least 65 million years. A deeper
understanding of evolutionary ad-
aptations in bats may lead to bet-
ter treatments for human diseases.
HIV has been around longer
than thought
Human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) thought to have
originated from chimpanzees in
central Africa may have crossed
over to humans between 1884 and
1924, a new study has found, over-
turning current belief.
Role of crucial plant
hormone unravelled
New research from Carnegie
Mellon University focuses on the
role of the crucial plant hormone
brassinosteroid in the creation of
plant-shoot architecture leading to
organ formation and organ bound-
ary creation.
De novo assemblies of large
complex genomes
The goat genome is the first refer-
ence genome that may help to ad-
vance the study of distinct rumi-
nants genomic features fromnon-
ruminant species and enable de
novo assemblies of large, complex
genomes in the future.
Immune therapy treats brain
tumours in mice
Using an artificial protein that
stimulates the bodys natural im-
mune systemto fight cancer, a re-
search teamat Duke Medicine has
engineered a lethal weapon that
kills brain tumours in mice while
sparing other tissues.
Squirrels, birds study leads
to tricky robots
Using deceptive behavioural pat-
terns of squirrels and birds, re-
searchers at the Georgia Institute of
Technology have developed robots
that are able to deceive each other
and could be implemented by the
military.
Hawaiian islands are
dissolving from within
Soil erosion is not the cause and
Oahus mountains are dissolving
fromwithin due to groundwater.
Someday, Oahus Koolau and
Waianae mountains will be reduced
to nothing more than a flat, low-ly-
ing island like Midway.
Monkey study to treat
Parkinsons disease
Parkinsons disease is caused by
loss of the neurons that produce the
neurotransmitter dopamine (known
as dopaminergic neurons). Re-
searchers have now derived dopam-
inergic neurons frombone marrow
stemcells in monkeys.
Smaller Colorado River
projected for future
Some 40 million people depend on
the Colorado River Basin for water
but warmer weather and a growing
population may signal a 10 per cent
drop in the Colorado Rivers flow
in the next few
2 cups of milk a day ideal
for kids health
Two cups of milk per day provides
enough vitamin D levels for most
children, while also maintaining
iron stores. With more milk, there is
a further loss in iron stores sans
greater benefit fromvitamin D, says
a study.
West Antarctic ice sheet
warming rapidly
In a discovery about the future con-
tribution of Antarctica to sea level
rise, a new study finds that the west-
ern part of the ice sheet is experi-
encing nearly twice as much warm-
ing as previously thought.
65 65 65 65 65
Voyager 1 enters new region
in deep space
NASAs Voyager 1 spacecraft has
entered a new region the final
area to cross before reaching inter-
stellar space a highway for
charged particles as our suns mag-
netic field lines are linked to inter-
stellar magnetic field lines.
Cause of widespread eye
disease found
It is now shown that thickening of
the arterial walls is behind the com-
mon eye disease known as branch
retinal vein occlusion a type of
blood clot in the eye that blocks the
vessels that transport blood from
the retina.
Rover Curiositys first
analysis of Martian soil
NASAs Curiosity rover analyzed its
first solid sample of Mars in Novem-
ber with a variety of instruments,
including the Sample Analysis at
Mars (SAM) instrument suite.
GRAIL lunar impact site
named for Sally Ride
NASA has named the site where
twin spacecraft impacted the moon
Monday in honour of the late astro-
naut Sally K. Ride, who was
Americas first woman in space and
a member of the probes mission
team.
CSAT
General Studies Manual
IAS Preliminary
Examination Paper I

Click Here for More Information About AITS:
http://upscportal.com/civilservices/AITS
66 66 66 66 66
SPORTS SPORTS
SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS
CRICKET
Sachin Tendulkar announced Sachin Tendulkar announced Sachin Tendulkar announced Sachin Tendulkar announced Sachin Tendulkar announced
Retirement Retirement Retirement Retirement Retirement
Sachin Tendulkar on 23 De-
cember 2012 announced retire-
ment form one day cricket which
put an end to his 23- year old glo-
rious career. Sachin Ramesh
Tendulkar is an Indian Batsman
who is considered one of the
greatest batsman of the world af-
ter Don Bradman in Test Cricket
and the second most successful
one day batsman after Viv
Richards as per the ranking done
by Wisden-the Bible of Cricket.
Tendulkar who belongs to
Mumbai Maharashtra made his
appearance in six world cups for
India and was the member of the
2011 World Cup winning squad of
the nation.
The major facts related to his
one day international career are as
follows:
Sachin scored 18426 runs in
463 one-day matches at an av-
erage of 44.83
Tendulkar made his ODI debut
on his international tour
against Pakistan in 1989 in
Gujranwala, where he scored
zero runs
He scored his first half century
in the 9th ODI
He made 49 hundreds in the
one-day format, including a
double hundred which is the
first in this form of cricket and
96 half centuries
He scored his first century in
the 79th ODI against Australia
in 1994 at R Premadasa Sta-
dium, Colombo in a day-night
match-this was the third
match of singer world series
In the 2003 World Cup in
South Africa he finished as the
highest run-getter
He became the first cricketer
to score a double century in
the history of One Day inter-
national Cricket against South
Africa in February 2010
He played his last One Day In-
ternational Match against Pa-
kistan in Asia Cup Dhaka
played at Shere Bangla Na-
tional Stadium, Mirpur and
scored a half century to help
India win the match
Tendulkar scored his 100th in-
ternational century on 16
March 2012 against
Bangladesh, where he scored
114 runs
India retained their Number India retained their Number India retained their Number India retained their Number India retained their Number
Five Position Five Position Five Position Five Position Five Position
India retained their number
five position as per the latest ICC
67 67 67 67 67
Test Championship rankings is-
sued in Dubai on 17 December
2012 despite losing to England 1-
2 in the home Test series. South
Africa topped the ranking at 123
points. India, however, dropped
a ratings point to 105, and is now
four-points behind arch-rival Paki-
stan who are placed at the fourth
position. England, on the other
hand, consolidated their number
two slot by adding a point after
drawing the final Test at Nagpur,
thereby winning a Test series in
India after a long gap of 28 years.
England now stands just five
points behind South Africa. Aus-
tralia is positioned at number three
in the rankings.
India Lost the Test Series to India Lost the Test Series to India Lost the Test Series to India Lost the Test Series to India Lost the Test Series to
England England England England England
The last test match between
India and England of the Tourna-
ment England Tour to India ended
up as a draw and with this India
lost the four-test match cricket
series against England by 1-2 on
17 December 2012. With this win
England succeeded in ending a 28
year long wait of winning a test
series on Indian Soil. Before this
the English side under the cap-
taincy of David Gower won the
test series in India 1984-85.
The first Test was played at
Ahmedabad from 15 Novem-
ber to 19 November 2012 in
which India won the match by
9 wickets.
The second was played at
Mumbai from 23 November to
26 November 2012 in which
England won the match by 10
wickets
In the third test match played
at Kolkata from 5 December to
9 December 2012 England
won the match by 7 wickets
The last test resulted in a draw
and was played at Nagpur
from 13 December to 17 De-
cember 2012
SBI T20 World Cup for the Blind SBI T20 World Cup for the Blind SBI T20 World Cup for the Blind SBI T20 World Cup for the Blind SBI T20 World Cup for the Blind
2012 2012 2012 2012 2012
India won the inaugural SBI
T20 World Cup for the Blind on 13
December 2012 after beating Pa-
kistan in the finals at Central Col-
lege grounds in Bangalore. A total
of 5000 crowd cheered as India
shattered Pakistan from 29 runs
and the Indian captain Shekhar
Naik lifted the trophy. India de-
cided to bat first and scored 119
for 4 in 10 overs. India put up a
competitive score of 258 runs in
20 overs. Rescuer of the team In-
dia was middle-order batsman
Ketan Patel who scored 98 runs off
43 balls and is completely blind.
Pakistan entered into finals un-
beaten. Pakistan is the only team
that entered the finals of all the
four international blind cricket
tournaments till now. At the break
of the innings, Pakistan might have
thought of winning the match on
the grounds of excellent batting
skills of the team throughout this
tournament. The opener
Mohammad Akram who had the
highest score in the history of in-
ternational blind cricket (264
against West Indies) was sent back
to the pavilion for 32 runs
only. Eventually, India won the
T20 World Cup for the Blind and
the team was later crowned as the
world champions. It is also worth
noticing that Men-of-the-Series
were all Indians. These were Ketan
Patel, Fully blind category (B1);
Prakash Jayaramaiah, Partially
blind category (B2) and Ajay
Kumar Reddy, Partially sighted
category (B3).
About T20 World Cup for the About T20 World Cup for the About T20 World Cup for the About T20 World Cup for the About T20 World Cup for the
Blind 2012 Blind 2012 Blind 2012 Blind 2012 Blind 2012
T20 World Cup for the Blind
was a 12-day tournament which
comprised of nine teams. The T20
World Cup for the Blind 2012 was
hosted by India. The tournament
ran from 1 December 2012 to 13
December 2012 in Bangalore. The
competing teams included
Bangladesh, Australia, India,
Nepal, England, Sri Lanka, Paki-
stan, West Indies and South Africa.
The tournament was played on
league-cum-knockout basis. Crick-
eter Saurav Ganguly is the Brand
Ambassador of T20 World Cup for
the Blind.
The Cricket Association for
the Blind (CABI) is main body
which organises as well as con-
ducts cricket for visually impaired
in India. CABI is registered NPO
which is affiliated to World Blind
Cricket Council (WBCC).
About World Blind Cricket About World Blind Cricket About World Blind Cricket About World Blind Cricket About World Blind Cricket
Council (WBCC) Council (WBCC) Council (WBCC) Council (WBCC) Council (WBCC)
World Blind Cricket Council
(WBCC) laid its foundation in
1996. The founding chairman of
68 68 68 68 68
WBCC was George Abraham of
India. The primary purpose of
WBCC is promotion as well as ad-
ministration of the game of blind
cricket in the world.
About Cricket Association for About Cricket Association for About Cricket Association for About Cricket Association for About Cricket Association for
the Blind (CABI) the Blind (CABI) the Blind (CABI) the Blind (CABI) the Blind (CABI)
CABI is a non-profit
organisation affiliated to World
Blind Cricket Council (WBCC).
Pakistan, South Africa and England
Blind Cricket bodies receive spon-
sorship from their mainstream
cricket bodies but CABI does not
receive any such sponsorship from
Board of Control for Cricket in In-
dia (BCCI). CABI survives with the
support from corporate houses as
well as a few public sector
organisations.
Composition of the team Composition of the team Composition of the team Composition of the team Composition of the team
Among the 11 players, four
players are under completely
blind or B1 category (partially-
sighted), four players are under B2
category (players who are able to
see up to 3 metres) and three play-
ers are under B3 category (play-
ers who are able to see up to six
metres). According to the rules, B1
players get the scores doubled,
which means that when they hit,
they can add major difference to
the score of the team.
Alastair Cook became the Alastair Cook became the Alastair Cook became the Alastair Cook became the Alastair Cook became the
youngest Batsman to score 7000 youngest Batsman to score 7000 youngest Batsman to score 7000 youngest Batsman to score 7000 youngest Batsman to score 7000
Runs Runs Runs Runs Runs
England Cricket team captain
Alastair Cook on 6 December 2012
claimed his place among the
cricketing greats when he set an
England record for the most Test
centuries and became the young-
est player in the long history of the
game to pass 7000 runs. The 27
years old Alastair Cook scored his
23rd Test hundred to leave En-
gland closing in on a rare series
win in India. He has ahead of past
legends Wally Hammond, Colin
Cowdrey and Geoffrey Boycott.
Team-mate Kevin Pietersen has
also scored 22 tons. Alastair Cook
made an unbeaten 136 to put En-
gland on 1 for 216 at stumps at
Eden Gardens on 6 December
2012 only 100 runs behind Indias
first innings total of 316.
Glenn McGrath to be inducted Glenn McGrath to be inducted Glenn McGrath to be inducted Glenn McGrath to be inducted Glenn McGrath to be inducted
into the ICC Cricket Hall of into the ICC Cricket Hall of into the ICC Cricket Hall of into the ICC Cricket Hall of into the ICC Cricket Hall of
Fame Fame Fame Fame Fame
Australian pace legend Glenn
McGrath is going to be inducted
into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame
during the third Test between Aus-
tralia and Sri Lanka starting from 4
January2013 in Sydney. McGrath
became the third inductee of the
year 2012-13 to the ICC Cricket
Hall of Fame and will join Enid
Bakewell and Brian Lara to the list
and also became the 68th male
member of the Hall of Fame. Lara
and Bakewell were inducted in
September 2012 at the ICC
Awards; McGrath will be inducted
at his home ground of the SCG. A
fourth and final inductee of 2012-
13 would be announced next sum-
mer.
Glenn McGraths Career Glenn McGraths Career Glenn McGraths Career Glenn McGraths Career Glenn McGraths Career
McGrath represented Austra-
lia in 124 Test matches be-
tween 1993 and 2007 and
claimed 563 Test wickets at an
average of 21.64.
He took more Test wickets
than any other seam bowler
currently in the game or re-
tired.
Glenn McGrath represented
Australia in 250 ODIs, claim-
ing 381 wickets at an average
of 22.02, and was part of the
Australian side that won three
successive World Cups
1999, 2003 and 2007.
He still holds the record for
most wickets in World Cup
competitions, with 71 scalps
and his figures of 7-15 against
Namibia are the best in the
competitions history.
Michael Hussey Announced Michael Hussey Announced Michael Hussey Announced Michael Hussey Announced Michael Hussey Announced
Retirement Retirement Retirement Retirement Retirement
Australian veteran Michael
Hussey on 29 December 2012 an-
nounced that he would retire from
Test cricket after playing the final
match of the series against Sri
Lanka at Sydney starting on 3 Janu-
ary 2012. Sydney Test match is
going to be the 79th and final Test
in 37-year-old Husseys career hav-
ing made his debut at 30. How-
ever Hussey will continue playing
the ODI tri-series involving Austra-
69 69 69 69 69
lia, West Indies and Sri Lanka
which will be his last international
assignment. Michael Hussey, the
senior left-hand batsman who is
Known as Mr Cricket for his con-
sistency, had a successful year
2012 with four centuries and has
been in great scoring form this
summer season against South Af-
rica and Sri Lanka.
A Brief insight into Husseys A Brief insight into Husseys A Brief insight into Husseys A Brief insight into Husseys A Brief insight into Husseys
Career Career Career Career Career
Hussey made his Test debut at
the age of 30 in the Gabba
cricket ground of Brisbane on
3 November 2005, as a re-
placement for fellow Western
Australian batsman Justin
Langer in the Australia vs. West
Indies series.
Hussey has till now played 78
Tests scoring 6183 runs in-
cluding 19 centuries and 29
half centuries at an impressive
average of 51.52.
Hussey who i s al so the
Australias 393rd Test Captain
had a fantastic ODI record
having scored 5442 runs in 185
ODIs with three hundreds and
39 half-centuries at an average
of 48.15.
He was a member of the vic-
torious 2007 ICC World Cup
squad. He also played 38 T20
Internationals.
He had played in the Indian
Premier League (IPL) for the
Chennai Super Kings, although
he opted out of the 2009 sea-
son. He was retained by
Chennai Super Kings in the
20112012 season of Indian
Premier League for 425000
dollars.
BB Nimbalkar Passed away BB Nimbalkar Passed away BB Nimbalkar Passed away BB Nimbalkar Passed away BB Nimbalkar Passed away
Bhausaheb Babasaheb
Nimbalkar, a giant of Indian do-
mestic cricket who came close to
breaking Sir Don Bradmans first-
class score in the Ranji Trophy,
passed away due to age related
ailments in his residence in
Kolhapur on11 December 2012
just one day shy of his 93rd birth-
day. Nimbalkar is survived by his
son Netaji.
His other three sons died a
few years ago due to ill-
health. Nimbalkar, holds the
record for the highest individual
first-class score by an Indian - 443
not out for Maharashtra against
Kathiawar at Poona Club in De-
cember 1948. Nimbalkar had
claimed that he was not aware of
Bradmans record at the time of
batting, else he would have bat-
ted faster.
A Brief insight into his Career A Brief insight into his Career A Brief insight into his Career A Brief insight into his Career A Brief insight into his Career
He made his Ranji Trophy de-
but in 1939 against Baroda.
Bhausahebs first-class cricket
spanned decades. From 1939-
40 to 1963-64 he played for six
teams: Baroda, Maharashtra,
Holkar, Madhya Bharat,
Rajasthan and Railways.
Bhausaheb was the ADC for
Maharaja of Baroda, and de-
spite having a first-class bat-
ting average of close to 48 in
80 matches (12x100s), never
played for India. He once rep-
resented the Indians against a
Commonwealth team and
scored 48.
BCCI honoured him with the
Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime
Achievement Award, for his
contribution to the sport, in
2002.
Nimbalkar had 58 wickets in
his domestic career which
spanned from 1939-40 to
1964-65, and also kept wick-
ets in some matches.
He was a prolific run getter
and in his 80-match long first-
class career he had scored
4577 runs at an average of
52.01 with 12 centuries.
With an aggregate of 3,687
runs at a healthy average of 56.72
with 11 centuries he is counted
among the outstanding batsmen in
the Ranji Trophy.
TENNIS
World Tennis Championships World Tennis Championships World Tennis Championships World Tennis Championships World Tennis Championships
Novak Djokovic on 29 De-
cember 2012 won World Tennis
Championship final against Span-
ish tennis player Nicolas Almagro.
Novak Djokovic beat Nicolas
Almagro to clinch the Mubadala
World Tennis Championship exhi-
bition tournament held in Dubai.
Novak Djokovic, the world num-
ber one from Serbia beat Nicolas
Almagro the Spaniard by 6-7 (4-7)
6-3 6-4 to get his season off to the
perfect start. Also, Spains David
Ferrer defeated Janko Tipsarevic
of Serbia 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 to take third
place in Abu Dhabi. All the four
70 70 70 70 70
players are going to compete in
the Australian Open which is
meant to be started in Melbourne
on 14 January 2013 with Serbias
Djokovic the defending champion.
Novak Djokovic beat world num-
ber five Ferrer in straight sets to
book his place in the final, while
Almagro, a late replacement for
the injured Rafael Nadal, fought
back from a set down to beat
Janko Tipsarevic.
Swiss Male Athlete of the Year Swiss Male Athlete of the Year Swiss Male Athlete of the Year Swiss Male Athlete of the Year Swiss Male Athlete of the Year
2012 2012 2012 2012 2012
Roger Federer, 31, the No. 2
of the world and 17 times Grand
Slam champion, was named Swiss
Male Athlete of the Year on 16
December 2012. Federer received
the honour for the fifth
time. Earlier in 2012, Federer had
grabbed the 17th Grand Slam title
at Wimbledon Championships,
London, while also reclaiming his
No. 1 ranking in the month of July
2012.
He also acquired top most
position by the end of the
season. Roger Federer, the Swiss
tennis player acquired the same
title in 2003, 2004, 2006 and
2007. The female Athlete of the
year was Nicola Spirig, the Olym-
pic triathlon champion of Switzer-
land.
TABLE TENNIS
Junior World TT Championship Junior World TT Championship Junior World TT Championship Junior World TT Championship Junior World TT Championship
China got the clean sweep of
titles at Volkswagen 2012 World
Junior Table Tennis Championship
after it won girls as well as boys
trophies on 16 December 2012. In
the second week of December
2012, China had won girls and
boys team titles.
Petrissa Solja of Germany
who was the only non-Chinese,
lost in the semifinal to Chinese top
seed Zhu Yuling who finished by
turning over Gu Yuting 4-0 for the
title of girls. Her top speed, supe-
rior technique as well as great at-
titude helped her win the
title. Thereafter, Fan Zhendong
also overcame to beat Lin Gaoyuan
4-2 and thus claimed boys singles
title. Initially, he was also the win-
ner of mixed doubles title. Sec-
ond-seeded team of Liu Gaoyang
and Fan Zhendong recovered fast
to beat top-seeded competitors
Gu Ruochen and Lin Gaoyuan 4-3
to claim their gold in boys
doubles. Gu Yuting and Zhu
Yuling defeated Gu Ruochen and
Liu Gaoyang with a score of 4-3 to
claim girls double gold. The mixed
doubles gold was claimed by Fan
Zhendong and Liu Gaoyang who
defeated Lin Gaoyuan and Gu
Ruochen combine 4-3.
FOOTBALL
Mohun Bagan banned for Two Mohun Bagan banned for Two Mohun Bagan banned for Two Mohun Bagan banned for Two Mohun Bagan banned for Two
I-League football club Mohun
Bagan on 29 December 2012
slapped with a two-year suspen-
sion by the All India Football Fed-
eration (AIFF) for abandoning
their violence-marred I-League
match against East Bengal on 9
December 2012. As per the AIFFs
Statement Mohun bagan had
breached Regulation 22, the 123-
year-old club, had been with-
drawn from the current I-League
season, with all its past and future
matches in the 2012/13 null and
void. In effect, this season will
have 13 teams now. The I-League
Core Committee of All India Foot-
ball Federation (AIFF) received
the detailed Report dated 26th
December 2012 of the Justice A K
Ganguly relating to I-League Match
No. 68 between Kingfisher East
Bengal (KEB) and Mcdowell
Mohun Bagan (MMB) played at
Yuba Bharati Stadium, Salt Lake
City Kolkata on 9 December
2012. Justice Ganguly in his report
has concluded that the decision of
71 71 71 71 71
MMB for not playing the match
after the interval cannot be sup-
ported on the grounds of Force
Majeure and accordingly MMB has
breached Regulation 22 of the I-
League Regulation 2012-2013.
The I-League core committee
is going to meet on 9 January 2013
to decide if the quantum of pun-
ishment on Mohun Bagan is
enough or if additional fine and
suspension were needed.
About Mohun Bagan Football About Mohun Bagan Football About Mohun Bagan Football About Mohun Bagan Football About Mohun Bagan Football
Cl ub Cl ub Cl ub Cl ub Cl ub
Founded in 1889, Mohun
Bagan is the oldest football
club in India.
It is the first Indian club to win
the IFA Shield final, in 1911,
beating East Yorkshire Regi-
ment.
It have won the erstwhile Na-
tional Football League thrice
in 1997-98, 1999-2000,
2001-02 and their best per-
formance in the re-christened
I-League has been a runner-up
finish in 2008-09.
Lionel Messi set the Record for Lionel Messi set the Record for Lionel Messi set the Record for Lionel Messi set the Record for Lionel Messi set the Record for
most Goals in a Calendar Year most Goals in a Calendar Year most Goals in a Calendar Year most Goals in a Calendar Year most Goals in a Calendar Year
Lionel Messi, the renowned
soccer player on 9 December 2012
set the record for most goals in a
calendar year by scoring his 86th
goal of 2012. He set the record
while scoring the winning goal
against Real Betis. Messis record
included 12 for Argentina and 74
goals for Barcelona in 66 games.
The earlier record was made by
Gerd Mueller who had scored 85
goals in 1972 which included 72
goals for his club Bayern Munich
and 13 for his country West Ger-
many.
Messi still has to play two
league matches and one Kings
Cup match before the end of 2012.
The record breaking performance
has made Messi favourite to claim
his fourth FIFA World Player of the
Year award.
Lionel Andrs Leo Messi is a
footballer who plays for La Liga
club FC Barcelona and as the cap-
tain of the Argentina national team.
HOCKEY
Sardar Singh costliest player in Sardar Singh costliest player in Sardar Singh costliest player in Sardar Singh costliest player in Sardar Singh costliest player in
Hockey India League Auction Hockey India League Auction Hockey India League Auction Hockey India League Auction Hockey India League Auction
In the Hockey India League
Auction held at New Delhi on 16
December 2012 the Indian Skip-
per Sardar Singh became the high-
est marquee player after com-
manding for the best price of
78000 dollar. Sardar Singh was
bought by the Delhi
Franchisee. The five marquee
players for the league were drawn
by Delhi Wave Riders, Jaypee
Punjab Warriors, Mumbai Magi-
cians, Ranchi Rhinos and Uttar
Pradesh Wizards. The marquee
players would be offered with 15
percent more price than the com-
manded best price by the player
by their respective teams. The
price quoted for the players would
be same for next three years and
the teams are allowed to buy the
players from other teams. Few
more players who commanded
best prices were V. Raghunath
bought by Uttar Pradesh Wizards
for 76,000 dollar, Moritz Fuertse
bought by Ranchi Rhinos for 75500
dollar, Teun de Nooijer brought by
Uttar Pradesh Wizards for 66000
dollar and Jamie Dwyer bought by
Jaypee Punjab Warriors for 60000
dollar and Sandeep Singh moved
to Mumbai Magicians with a base
price of 27800 dollar. The Hockey
League will comprise of 33
72 72 72 72 72
matches in all and would be
played in India from 16 January
2013 onwards.
Australia Won Hockey Australia Won Hockey Australia Won Hockey Australia Won Hockey Australia Won Hockey
Champions Trophy Champions Trophy Champions Trophy Champions Trophy Champions Trophy
At the Champions Trophy
2012, Australia won once again,
adding to fifth victory consecu-
tively after it earned a 2-1 win in a
match against Netherlands in
Melbourne.
The fifth consecutive victory
of Australia at this event re-estab-
lished it as the hockey team
(mens) to beat, after Australia had
missed on gold at Olympics. For
the Netherlands, it was silver
medal with the silver lining. Neth-
erlands upgraded itself from
bronze which they acquired last
two years. The bronze was
claimed by Pakistan after they beat
India 3-2 on a match on 9 Decem-
ber 2012. India missed the chance
to win bronze, which would have
been its second Champions tro-
phy medal as well as the first since
1982. For the fifth place, Belgium
won the match against Germany,
the Olympic champion. New
Zealand, in the meanwhile stood
at seventh position over England.
The awards for the tourna-
ment were as follows:
Top Scorer: Nicholas Wilson
(NZL)
Best Player: Shakeel Abassi
(PAK)
Fair Play Award: The Nether-
lands
Best Goalkeeper: Jaap
Stockmann (NED)
Records of Hockey Champions Records of Hockey Champions Records of Hockey Champions Records of Hockey Champions Records of Hockey Champions
Trophy (Mens) Trophy (Mens) Trophy (Mens) Trophy (Mens) Trophy (Mens)
In the mens tournament Aus-
tralia has won Champions Tro-
phy 13 times.
Germany has won this trophy
9 times.
Netherlands won the Champi-
ons Trophy 8 times.
Pakistan is only Asian cham-
pion that has three titles in its
name.
About Hockey Champions About Hockey Champions About Hockey Champions About Hockey Champions About Hockey Champions
Trophy Trophy Trophy Trophy Trophy
Hockey Champions Trophy is
held every year by International
Hockey Federation. The tourna-
ment features some of the best
teams of the world which com-
pete against each other in round-
robin format.
Lal Bahadur Shastri hockey Lal Bahadur Shastri hockey Lal Bahadur Shastri hockey Lal Bahadur Shastri hockey Lal Bahadur Shastri hockey
tournament tournament tournament tournament tournament
Air India emerged champion
against Bharat Petroleum in
the 23rd Lal Bahadur Shastri
hockey tournament at the Shivaji
Stadium on 4 December
2012. This was second title of this
season for Air India. Air India had
already shared the MCC-
Murugappa Cup with Indian Oil.
Air India had an edge over Bharat
Petroleum because the team was
full of expereinced players.
Besides, there was also an
advantage because Bharat Petro-
leum did not give its 100 percent
which was evident when it wasted
a lot of opportunities. For Bharat
Petroleum this was another run-
ner-up in the second event
consecutively. Air India, in the
meanwhile, won the cheque
worth 2 lakh Rupees along with the
title of the tournament. Amir Khan,
the Bharat petroleum striker was
decided as the Best Player of the
Tournament. V.S. Vinaya of Air In-
dia team, on the other hand won
the title of Top Scorer of the Event
with six goals.
BOXING
Government de-recognised the Government de-recognised the Government de-recognised the Government de-recognised the Government de-recognised the
Indian Amateur Boxing Indian Amateur Boxing Indian Amateur Boxing Indian Amateur Boxing Indian Amateur Boxing
Federation Federation Federation Federation Federation
dia on 7 December 2012 de-
recognised the Indian Amateur
Boxing Federation and the Ar-
chery Association of India. The government took this
step in the interest of
sportspersons.
Earlier, the International Box-
ing Association (AIBA) had sus-
pended the Indian Amateur Box-
ing Federation, IABF alleging pos-
73 73 73 73 73
sible manipulation in its recent
elections. However, the IABF has
denied the charge, insisting that
the process was transparent. The
development comes within a few
days of the International Olympic
Committee suspending the Indian
Olympic Association. During the
September elections, outgoing
President Abhay Singh Chautala,
who was elected IOA President
despite IOCs suspension, was re-
tained in the body as nominated
Chairman.
SHOOTING/ARCHERY
National Shooting National Shooting National Shooting National Shooting National Shooting
Championship Championship Championship Championship Championship
Mahaveer Singh of Rajasthan
and Tejaswini Sawant of
Maharashtra won gold medals on
28 December 2012 in National
Shooting Championship. In the
category called standard-pistol,
Mahaveer Singh shot 569 to get
hold of the prestigious prize ahead
of Pemba Tamang (567) who be-
longs to Army as well as Samaresh
Jung (563) belonging to CISF at
Karni Singh Shooting Ranges.
ONGCs Amanpreet Singh shot
580 + 99.5 to secure gold in the
mens air pistol. The silver was
grabbed by Armys Jitu Rai scor-
ing 579 + 100. Karnatakas P N
Prakash was the one to win bronze
with 580 + 98.4 score. In 3-posi-
tion womens event, Tejaswini
Sawant shot 581 + 98.2 for the
gold.
Armys Raj Chaudhary
grabbed silver with 579 + 98.5
score while the bronze was
grabbed by Lajja Gujarats
Gauswami who scored 578 + 96.6.
In the category of air pistol junior,
Armys Sarjeet Singh claimed gold
medal by scoring 573.
Womens Air Rifle Womens Air Rifle Womens Air Rifle Womens Air Rifle Womens Air Rifle
Apurvi Chandela of Rajasthan
on 24 December 2012 won
Womens Air Rifle Gold in the Sa-
hara 56th National Shooting Cham-
pionship. The 19 year old man-
aged to take a lead with 0.2 points
from Pooja Ghatkar with a 10.7 last
shot, till the ninth shot the game
between two was tied. Pournima
Zanane, the former champion and
National record holder was suc-
cessful in winning the Bronze and
was 0.2 points ahead of the Avneet
Sidhu the World Championship fi-
nalist. Pournima clinched the
bronze 0.2 point ahead of the
World championship finalist
Avneet Sidhu. Nikita Salunke lost
her race in the final but was suc-
cessful in winning a junior gold.
KABBADI
World Cup Kabaddi Tournament World Cup Kabaddi Tournament World Cup Kabaddi Tournament World Cup Kabaddi Tournament World Cup Kabaddi Tournament
2012 2012 2012 2012 2012
India on 15 December 2012
won the 3rd World Cup Kabaddi
Tournament for the third consecu-
tive time in the Mens category and
second consecutive time in the
Womens category. Indian men
thrashed arch rival Pakistan with a
decisive margin of 37 points
whereas, Indian women out
scored Malaysia 72-12. Both the
finals were played at the Guru
Nanak Dev Stadium in Ludhiana.
The Kabaddi world cup was a 15-
day tournament. In mens cat-
egory, third prize went to Canada
and in womens category, it went
to Denmark. Indian men registered
a hat trick by dashing Pakistan to
the ground in every aspect. At the
end of the first half, Indian men
squad was leading with a point
difference of 34-9. Indias raider
and stoppers showed an extraor-
dinary sport in collecting points
for their country. Womens final
was virtually a one sided show as
Malaysian team was no match
against Indian eves. India on 15
December 2012 won the 3rd
World Cup Kabaddi Tournament
for the third consecutive time in
the Mens category and second
consecutive time in the Womens
category. Indian men defeated
arch rival Pakistan with a decisive
margin of 37 points whereas, In-
dian women thrashed Malaysia 72-
12. Both the finals were played at
the Guru Nanak Dev Stadium in
Ludhiana. The Kabaddi world cup
was a 15-day tournament. In mens
category, third prize went to
Canada and in womens category,
74 74 74 74 74
it was given to Denmark. Indian
men registered a hat trick by out-
classing Pakistan in every aspect
of game. At the end of the first half,
Indian men squad was leading
with a point difference of 34-9.
India s raider and stoppers
showed an extraordinary sport in
collecting points for their country.
Womens final was virtually a one
sided show as Malaysian team was
no match against Indian eves.
SQUASH
Womens World Open Squash Womens World Open Squash Womens World Open Squash Womens World Open Squash Womens World Open Squash
Championship 2012 Championship 2012 Championship 2012 Championship 2012 Championship 2012
Dipika Pallikal of India who
ranked 10th in the world and 13th
seed in tournament lost in the pre
quarters of Womens World Open
Squash Championship.
Pallikal lost to second seed
Weleily in the 38-minute match at
South Sound squash club on 20
December 2012. In the pre-quar-
ters at Grand Cayman Island, Car-
ibbean, Dipika Pallikal of India
played a fruitless game to lose
against Egypts Raneem El Weleily.
In the match there were short ral-
lies and also some errors on both
the sides.
Pallikal had good shots in the
beginning of the match but the op-
ponent took away the match.
Pallikal, the Chennai girl had ear-
lier won against Malaysian quali-
fier Delia Arnold 30 in USD
188,000 WISPA event first round.
CHESS
London Chess Classic London Chess Classic London Chess Classic London Chess Classic London Chess Classic
Viswanathan Anand, the
World Chess Champion in a match
against Luke McShane of England
finished with a draw in second
round of the London Chess Clas-
sic on 3 December 2012. In the
game which was finely crafted, the
number one of the world Norwe-
gian Magnus Carlsen achieved
himself the position of highest-
rated player in the history by de-
feating second seed Levon
Aronian of Armenia. The former
World Champion Russian Vladimir
Kramnik ensured in the meanwhile
that victory wouldnt come easy to
Carlsen in merely two rounds. He
also grinded US-based Hikaru
Nakamura in the endgame
that had queen and the
pawns.
Another game that
concluded in a draw was
a match between Gawain
Jones of England and
Judit Polgar of
Hungary. Wi th ei ght
rounds still remaining in
the 9-player tournament,
Carlsen and Kramnik
rushed forward with six
points respectively.
In first round, Carlsen
thrashed McShane; while on the
other hand, Kramnik achieved an
advantage at Polgars
expense. Michael Adams of En-
gland as well as Nakamura shared
third position with the three points
each and Michael Adams had his
extra match in hand when he bid
adieu in second round only. Just
like Adams, Anand too had a game
in hand and now he shares fifth
spot jointly in the rankings with
Jones, McShane and Polgar.
Aronian on the other hand, is at
the lowest position in table be-
cause he has still not opened his
account.
Womens World Championship Womens World Championship Womens World Championship Womens World Championship Womens World Championship
Crown Crown Crown Crown Crown
Anna Ushenina of Ukraine on
1 December 2012 won the
Womens World Championship
Crown of Chess at Khanty-
Mansiysk, Russia after defeating
Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria in
first set of tie-break game. Anna
won the title along with 60000 US
dollar for the efforts made by her
to win the Chess championship. In
2013 Anna would be playing the
next world championship against
Chinese Yifan Hou, which is a part
of new cycle in Womens World
Championship.
75 75 75 75 75
ATHLETE
Asian Championship Asian Championship Asian Championship Asian Championship Asian Championship
Shiva Keshavan, the top luge
athlete of India won the gold
medal for second time succes-
sively and set the Asian record of
49.590 seconds in the Asian
Championship. In the race, at first
Keshavan was at second place
during his first run at 0.129 sec-
onds behind Hidenari Kanayama
of Japan.
At the third place was the
runner up of last year Oguchi
Takahisa with just 0.058 seconds
after Shiva. All the three athletes
broke the track record of previous
years. The previous record was
50.072, which was set back in
2004. In the second heat however,
the champion of last year, Shiva
collapsed the scores, breaking the
Asian track record by 0.482 sec-
onds. Inspite of having the disad-
vantage from his first run, Shiva
won with good margin. At fourth
and fifth position were Yamaura
Yohan of Japan and Kim Dong
Hyeon of Korea respectively. Shiva
Keshavan now has two out of three
Asian records. The only record
that he needs to break is start
record of 3.190 seconds which
was set in 1999.
WRESTLING
Five wrestlers suspended for Five wrestlers suspended for Five wrestlers suspended for Five wrestlers suspended for Five wrestlers suspended for
testing positive testing positive testing positive testing positive testing positive
Five wrestlers which also in-
clude four medalists were tested
positive on banned substances
during Senior National Wrestling
Championship at Gonda, Uttar
Pradesh which was held from 8
November 2012 to 11 November
2012. All five wrestlers were pro-
visionally suspended while they
have pending hearing against
them.
All these wrestlers agreed to
B Sample testing which would be
conducted soon. Four out of
these five wrestlers were till now
attending national camp at
Sonepat, Haryana. After the infor-
mation, they were asked to leave
the camp till this issue was sorted
finally. The wrestlers who failed
the test include Manoj and Balraj,
winners of bronze in 55kg
freestyle; Sukhwinder, finishing at
the fifth position in same category
of the weight; Jitender, silver med-
alist in 74kg and Manish (60kg),
winner of bronze in Graeco-Ro-
man.
VARIOUS
Athens Olympics Athletes Lose Athens Olympics Athletes Lose Athens Olympics Athletes Lose Athens Olympics Athletes Lose Athens Olympics Athletes Lose
Medals over Doping After 8 Medals over Doping After 8 Medals over Doping After 8 Medals over Doping After 8 Medals over Doping After 8
International Olympic Commit-
tee (IOC) announced on 5 Decem-
ber 2012 that four 2004 Athens
Olympic medalists had their med-
als taken away because the re-tested
samples, which were stored for 8
years, proved positive. The four
medalists included shot put cham-
pion of Ukraine Yuriy Bilonog,
womens shot putter of Russia
Svetlana Krivelyova, discus thrower
Irina Yatchenko of Belarus and
Belarussian hammer thrower Ivan
Tsikhan. 3-times world champion
Tsikhan also had to give away his
bronze medal from the 2008 Beijing
Games. However, this decision was
reversed at Court of Arbitration for
Sport (CAS) on the grounds that
there were errors in laboratory pro-
cedures. IOC declared that the case
which involved fifth athlete from
Athens Games was pending. The
four athletes who had to give their
medals had tested positive for the
anabolic steroids. Around 100
samples from Athens Games were
target tested eight years ago by IOC
with the help of modern methods.
IOC has a procedure of storing the
samples for eight years in order to
enable re-testing of newly found
substances or those substances for
which no tests were available at that
time. IOC also declared additionally
that respective federations had the
responsibility to check whether
medals were returned or not. Ath-
ens Olympics doping cases tally
now stands at 31 after 26 positive
tests as of now. This is the maximum
in any game. IOC declared that it
76 76 76 76 76
would like the extension of law of
limitation from current 8 years. It
was added by IOC that World Anti-
Doping Agency (WADA) was con-
sidering this law of limitation to ex-
tend to 10 years.
IOC suspended IOA IOC suspended IOA IOC suspended IOA IOC suspended IOA IOC suspended IOA
The International Olympic
Committee (IOC) suspended the
India Olympic Association (IOA)
on 4 December 2012 and eventu-
ally this might also lead to IOA ban
from Olympic movement. IOC sus-
pended IOA because India was
following the Sports Code of gov-
ernment in the IOA elections,
which is against the Olympic Char-
ter. IOC declared that following of
Sports Code of government is ac-
tually the interference of the gov-
ernment in the Olympic Move-
ment. Suspension of IOA from
Olympics came just before the
Election Day. IOA officials de-
clared that the elections would go
as planned and scheduled. IOA
has been holding the elections on
direction by the Delhi high court
which had asked this body to con-
duct its polls as per the Sports
Code and its own constitution.IOA
decided this after it put down the
bid of IOA to send the 2-member
delegation for explaining its
scenario. It was already evident
that the suspension was in the line
because of the development in
run-up to these elections. After
sending various letters to IOA, ask-
ing it to follow the Olympic Char-
ter, IOC warned for the first time
regarding suspension on 23 No-
vember 2012. Then it gave the sec-
ond warning of suspension to IOA
on 28 November 2012. It is worth
noticing that the decision of IOC
was welcomed by several former
as well as current sportspersons.
They believed that suspension was
an opportunity of cleaning the
hassles in IOA. IOA ban from
Olympic would result in conse-
quences such as:
No funding from IOC
No officials from India would
be invited by IOC to any
events such as Paralympics
and Olympics
No India athlete would be al-
lowed competing under
Indias flag; but could be per-
mitted competing under IOC
flag
Commonwealth Games Fed-
eration as well as The Olym-
pic Council of Asia might also
go with the trend which would
lead to similar sanctions in
case of Commonwealth
Games as well as the Asian
games
Golf World Challenge Golf World Challenge Golf World Challenge Golf World Challenge Golf World Challenge
Graeme McDowell of North-
ern Ireland ended his two-year
wait of winning the tournament on
2 December 2012 with his three-
shot victory in World Challenge
which was hosted by Tiger
Woods. McDowell had last won in
2010 season in which he captured
the victory in US Open but since
then, he hasnt won
anywhere. For the 72-hole total
out of 17-under 271, McDowell
carded four-under par 68 in his fi-
nal round. He received a three-
stroke triumph over Keegan Brad-
ley. Bradley, in the meanwhile
posted 69 for 274. Bradley had
won PGA Championship in
2011. After he took the 54-hole
lead on 1 December 2012,
McDowell accepted that though
this tournament was not a part of
the tour but it would definitely
help him check the mixed season
in which he tied the match for sec-
ond at US Open and also tie for
the fifth in British Open. Another
player, Bo Van Pelt carded 70 ac-
quiring the individual ownership
of third place on 278. The host,
Tiger Woods, on the other hand
carded one-under 71 on the
courses of Sherwood Country
Club for the fourth place on 279.
Rickie Fowler (69) and Jim Furyk
(70) joined him as well.
Kobe Bryant Became Youngest Kobe Bryant Became Youngest Kobe Bryant Became Youngest Kobe Bryant Became Youngest Kobe Bryant Became Youngest
Player to Reach 30000 Career Player to Reach 30000 Career Player to Reach 30000 Career Player to Reach 30000 Career Player to Reach 30000 Career
Points Points Points Points Points
Kobe Bryant, 34, achieved
the title of youngest ever player to
reach the milestone of 30000 ca-
reer points in NBA (basketball) on
5 December 2012. He achieved
the milestone when he took Los
Angeles Lakers towards the 103-
87 victory over New Orleans
Homets. In the second quarter,
only 1:16 time was left and within
that time period, Bryant took his
jump shot, taking his career points
to 30001. With that accomplish-
ment, Kobe Bryant joined the elite
list of just 5 more players to reach
that milestone in the history of
77 77 77 77 77
NBA. Other four of this elite seg-
ment are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
(38387 points), Karl Malone
(36928 points), Michael Jordan
(32292) and Wilt Chamberlain
(31419). He is the youngest player
in NBA history to reach this land-
mark at the age of 34 years. Cham-
berlain was aged 35 when he
achieved this milestone; Malone
and Abdul-Jabbar were 36 years
of age while Jordan on the other
hand was 38 years old to achieve
this landmark. Bryant however
was the fifth-fastest NBA player in
context to the games played for
reaching this milestone. He
achieved this milestone in 1179th
match. Chamberlain on the other
hand achieved it in 941 games
only.
78 78 78 78 78
AWARDS & PRIZES AWARDS & PRIZES
AWARDS & PRIZES AWARDS & PRIZES AWARDS & PRIZES
Sahitya Akademi Award Sahitya Akademi Award Sahitya Akademi Award Sahitya Akademi Award Sahitya Akademi Award
Jeet Thayil - nominated to
Booker Prize 2012, Subrata
Mukhopadhyay - the Bengali nov-
elist, K Satchidanandan - the
Malayalam poet and HS
Shivaprakash - the noted Kannada
writer are among the 24 authors,
who were chosen for the Presti-
gious Sahitya Akademi Awards
2012 on 20 December 2012 by the
Sahitya Akademi - Indias National
Academy for Letters. Six short
stories, twelve books of poetry,
four novels along with an autobi-
ography and criticism have been
chosen for being awarded. The
works were chosen after the rec-
ommendation of the Jury mem-
bers who represented from 24 In-
dian languages and then the Ex-
ecutive Board of the Akademi ap-
proved the selected candidates
for the award to be presented this
year.
The nominations were done
in the chairmanship of Dr.
Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari, who
also is the acting President of the
Sahitya Akademi. Jeet Thayil was
chosen and awarded for his po-
etry collection in English - These
Errors are Correct. Marannu Vecha
Vasthukal the poetic creation of
Satchidanandan helped him to be
nominated for the award whereas
the Novel Birasan helped Subrata
Mukhopadyay in winning the
nomination for the award.
About Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award the
literary honour in India is annually
conferred to the writers for their
outstanding works in the field of
literature by Sahitya Akademi, the
National Academy of Letters in
India. The award is conferred for
the works done in 24 major lan-
guages of India including English
as quoted in Sahitya Akademi. The
Sahitya Akademi Award had been
into existence since the year of its
inception in 1954 and was con-
ferred for the first time for merito-
rious literature published in India
in the year 1955. Since day of in-
ception the prize amount of the
Sahitya Akademi has been
changed constantly and it fol-
lowed like 5000 rupees since in-
ception which was enhanced to
10000 rupees from 1983, 25000
rupees from 1988, 40000 from
2001 rupees, 50000 rupees from
2003 and is now 100000 rupees
from 2009.
2011 Jnanpith Award 2011 Jnanpith Award 2011 Jnanpith Award 2011 Jnanpith Award 2011 Jnanpith Award
Renowned Oriya novelist,
79 79 79 79 79
Pratibha Ray on 27 December 2012
selected for the prestigious
Jnanpith award for the year 2011
for her contribution to the field of
Indian literature. Pratibha Ray is
the first Oriya woman and fourth
Oriya writer to get the coveted
award. Earlier Gopinath Mohanty
(1973), Sachidananda Routray
(1986) and Sitakant Mohapatra
(1993) were conferred the honour.
The award carries a cash prize of
7 lakh rupees, a citation and a
bronze statuette of Godess
Saraswati.
About Pratibha Ray
Pratibha Ray was born in
Alabol, a village in
Jagatsingpur district of
Odisha.
Rays literary journey started at
nine, she received recognition
as a writer with her first
novel Barsa Basanta
Baishakha in 1974 followed
by Aranya, 1977, Nishidha
Pri thi vi , 1978, Pari chya,
1979, Aparichita, 1979 (a film
was made and won Best Film-
Story award from the state
gover nment ) , Punyat oya,
1979, Meghamedura, 1980, Ashabari,
1 9 8 0 , A y a m a r a m b h a ,
1 9 8 1 , N i l a t r i s h n a ,
1981, Samudrara Swara,
1982.
Rays Shilapadma in 1983 won
her the Orissa Sahitya Acad-
emy Award, 1985, while
Yajnaseni (1984) got her the
Moorti Devi Award in 1991
and Sarala Award in 1990.
Ray has 20 novels, 24 short sto-
ries, 10 travelogues, two po-
etry collections and a number
of essays to her credit.
Rays writings have been trans-
lated into English, other for-
eign languages as also a num-
ber of other Indian languages.
Other renowned works of the
eminent writer include
Yjnaseni (1985), which won
Jnanpith Trusts Moorti Devi
Award in 1991, Mahamoh
(1997), Shilapadma (1983),
Uttarmarg (1988), Magnamari
(2003), among others.
She described Odishas first
Jnanpith awardee (1973)
Gopinath Mohanty as her role
model and favourite among Oriya
novelists. Pratibha Ray is one of the
most widely read Oriya novelists
and short story writers. Her nov-
els and stories are deeply and per-
suasively grounded in the great tra-
dition of story-telling.
Sangeet Natak Akademi Sangeet Natak Akademi Sangeet Natak Akademi Sangeet Natak Akademi Sangeet Natak Akademi
Fellowships and Akademi Fellowships and Akademi Fellowships and Akademi Fellowships and Akademi Fellowships and Akademi
Awards Awards Awards Awards Awards
The General Council of
Sangeet Natak Akademi, the Na-
tional Academy of Music, Dance
and Drama, New Delhi on 21 De-
cember 2012 in a meet elected
and declared N. Rajam, T.H.
Vinayakram and Ratan Thiyam as
the three eminent personalities in
the field of Arts, as Sangeet Natak
Akademi Fellows (Akademi
Ratna). This fellowship is the rare
and most prestigious honour, re-
stricted to a limited number of
people at a given pint of time. At
present, there exist only 40 fellows
of the Sangeet Natak
Akademi. Thirty Six persons from
field of Music, Theater, Puppetry
and Dance were also elected by
the General Council of the
Akademi for the Sangeet Natak
Akademi Awards (Akademi
Puraskar) 2012. Nine eminent art-
ists are from the field of Music and
they are Mysore M. Nagaraja, (Vio-
lin) and K.V. Prasad (Mridangam)
for Carnatic Instrumental Music,
Sabir Khan (Tabla) and Bahauddin
Dagar (Rudra Veena) for
Hindustani Instrumental Music,
O.S. Thyagarajan for Carnatic Vo-
cal Music, Rajashekhar Mansur and
Ajay Pohankar for Hindustani Vo-
cal Music, Illayaraja for Creative
and Experimental Music and Bhai
Balbir Singh Ragi (Gurbani) for
other major traditions of music.
Nine Artists were also se-
lected for the Sangeet Natak
Akademi Awards in the field of
Dance and they are Vijay Shankar
(Kathak), Priyadarsini Govind
(Bharatanatyam), Vedantam
Ramalinga Sastry (Kuchipudi),
Painkulam Damodara Chakyar
(Kutiyattam), Vazhengada Vijayan
(Kathakali),Sharmila Biswas
(Odissi), Jai Narayan Samal
(Chhau), Jwala Prasad (Music for
Dance) and Aditi Mangaldas (Cre-
ative & Experimental Dance).
Eight artists from the Theatre
world were also selected for the
Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards
2012 namely Tripurari Sharma and
Waman Kendre for Direction,
Arjun Deo Charan for Playwriting,
Parvesh Sethi, Murari
Roychoudhury for Theatre Music,
Nirmal Rishi and Purisai Kannappa
Sambandan for Acting and
Ghulam Rasool Bhagat for Major
Traditions of Theatre (Bhand
Pather).
Eight more artists were se-
lected for making the contribu-
80 80 80 80 80
tions in other folk/traditional/
dance/tribal music/ theatre and
puppetry for the Akademi Awards
and their names are Goru
Channabasappa for Folk Music
(Karnataka), Kinaram Nath Oja for
Suknani Ojapali (Assam), Prem
Singh Dehati for Folk Theatre
(Haryana), Sulochana Chavan for
Lavani (Maharashtra), Mattannur
Sankaran Kutty Marar for
Thayambaka (Kerala), Govind Ram
Nirmalkar for Nacha
(Chhattisgarh), Heera Das Negi for
Mask Making (Himachal Pradesh)
and Prafulla Karmakar for Tradi-
tional Puppetry (West Bengal).
Nandini Ramani and Arun Kakade
would be awarded with the
Akademi Award 2012 for their
Overall Contribution/Scholarship
in Performing Arts.
Akademi Award Akademi Award Akademi Award Akademi Award Akademi Award
The Akademi Award has
been conferred on people since
1952 and the Akademi Fellow
honour has been conferred since
1954. The honour and the award
is the symbol of highest standards
of excellence and achievements
on national level and also
recognises sustained work of the
individual and his/her contribution
to the practice and appreciation
of arts via scholarship, teaching
and performance. Akademi Fel-
lowship carries a prize amount of
three lakh rupees and the Akademi
Awards carry a prize amount of
one lakh rupees, besides
Tamrapatra and Angavastram.
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Grammy Lifetime Achievement Grammy Lifetime Achievement Grammy Lifetime Achievement Grammy Lifetime Achievement
Award 2013 Award 2013 Award 2013 Award 2013 Award 2013
Organisers of the Recording
Academy announced on 13 De-
cember 2012 that Pandit Ravi
Shankar, the sitar maestro would
be honoured with the Grammy
Lifetime Achievement Award
posthumously. Pandit Ravi
Shankar would become first In-
dian to receive the prestigious
award. The award would be pre-
sented at 55th Grammy Awards
ceremony on 10 February 2013 in
Los Angeles.
Pandit Ravi Shankar is a
three-time Grammy Award win-
ner. Pandit Ravi Shankar, 92 had
passed away on 11 December
2012 after heart-valve replacement
surgery in California. The
organisers had decided to honour
Pandit Ravi Shankar before his dis-
missal and he was also notified
about this personally. Ravi
Shankar is said to be a pioneer for
introducing Indian music to West-
ern world. The most well-known
Sitar player of not just India, but
the world, he is also said to be
ambassador of the international
music. For the 55th Annual
Grammy Awards, Shankars The
Living Room Sessions Part 1, which
was released in April, has been
nominated for the category of Best
World Music Album. It is impor-
tant to note here that his daughter
Anoushka Shankar has also been
nominated in this category for the
albumTraveller. Shankar per-
formed for the last time on 4 No-
vember 2012 in California with his
daughter Anoushka Shankar. Apart
from Pandit Ravi Shankar, others
who would be receiving the life-
time achievement Grammy award
are Temptations, Carole King, Patti
Page, Lightnin Hopkins, Glenn
Gould and Charlie Haden.
Other honours received by Other honours received by Other honours received by Other honours received by Other honours received by
Pandit Ravi Shankar Pandit Ravi Shankar Pandit Ravi Shankar Pandit Ravi Shankar Pandit Ravi Shankar
Apart from being three times
Grammy Award winner, Ravi
Shankar has also been
honoured with over 14
honourary doctorates from
across the world.
He was honoured with Bharat
Ratna, the highest honour of
India.
Other honours include Polar
Music Prize from Sweden
which is also referred as the
Nobel Prize for Music,
Praemium Imperiale from Ja-
pan, Commandeur de la Le-
gion dHonneur, which is the
highest French civilian award,
Honorary Knight Commander
of the Order of the British
Empire awarded by Queen
Elizabeth.
National Tourism Awards National Tourism Awards National Tourism Awards National Tourism Awards National Tourism Awards
Life of Pi was given two Na-
tional Tourism Awards by the Min-
istry of Tourism, Government of
India on 8 December 2012 recog-
nizing the impact it has had in pro-
moting India as a tourism destina-
tion, especially Puducherry and
Munnar (Kerala). These Awards
will be given to Ang Lee, Director
of the film Life of Pi and Yann
Martel, writer of the book of the
same name. The Ministry of Tour-
ism identified Film Tourism as a
Niche Tourism product. It has re-
81 81 81 81 81
quested the State Governments
and Union Territory Administra-
tions to recognize the potential of
Film Tourism and constitute spe-
cial bodies/cells to facilitate film-
ing in their respective States/Union
Territories. In February 2012 the
Ministry of Tourism signed a MoU
with Ministry of Information &
Broadcasting as a major initiative
to promote the Incredible India
campaign and Cinemas of India as
a sub brand of Incredible India at
various international film festivals
and markets abroad.
The MoU is expected to en-
hance the reach of Incredible In-
dia through the Medium of Cin-
ema, develop synergy between
tourism and film industry and pro-
vide a platform for enabling part-
nerships between the Indian and
global film industry. The MoU also
provided an impetus to frame poli-
cies and guidelines for facilitating
shooting of International films in
India and promote India as a film-
ing destination, both for interna-
tional and domestic film produc-
ers. Another key objective of the
MoU is to initiate dialogue with
State Governments and UTs for
development of locations for film
shootings. As per the MoU, the
Ministry of Tourism would provide
budgetary support for identified
film festivals, markets and events.
The Ministry would facilitate pub-
licity through the available content
based on existing audio visual
material and print designs. The
joint participation of the two Min-
istries would cover the Cannes
Film Festival and Market, IFFI Goa
including the Film Festival and
Film Bazaar and European Film
Market at Berlin.
Bharat Muni Samman Bharat Muni Samman Bharat Muni Samman Bharat Muni Samman Bharat Muni Samman
Famous Bollywood actress
and Bharatanatyam exponent
Hema Malini had been selected for
the prestigious Bharat Muni
Samman of year 2012 for her out-
standing contribution to the field
of art and culture. Bharat Muni
Samman is named after the author
of Natyashastra Bharat Muni and
has been instituted by
Bhubaneswar-based organisation
Kalingayana Touryatrikam.
The award is going to be pre-
sented to Hema Malini on 18 De-
cember 2012 for her outstanding
contribution towards promotion
of Indian arts and entertainment
which is also marked by the con-
cluding day of the three-day
Bharat Muni Festival scheduled to
be held in Bhubaneshwar. Hema
Malini is 64 years old and she
would be the fifth recipient of the
award. The earlier recipients are
Thankamani Kutty, Pandit Birju
Maharaj, Pandit Jasraj and Ratan
Thiyam. Hema Malini was also
awarded with Padma Shri, Indias
fourth highest civilian award in
year 2000.
Aryabhatta Award by the ASI Aryabhatta Award by the ASI Aryabhatta Award by the ASI Aryabhatta Award by the ASI Aryabhatta Award by the ASI
The Astronautical Society of
India (ASI) in the last week of De-
cember 2012 announced names of
former secretary of the Depart-
ment of Ocean Development, Dr.
A.E. Muthunayagam and Dr. V.K.
Saraswat, Scientific Adviser to the
Defence Minister for prestigious
Aryabhatta Award for the year
2010 and 2011 respectively. The
two have been selected for the
achievement in rocketry. Dr. G.
Satheesh Reddy an associate Di-
rector of Research Centre Imarat
Hyderabad and P. Kunhikrishnan
of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Cen-
tre, Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO),
Thiruvananthapuram would re-
ceive ASI Awards for rocket and
rocket related technologies for the
year 2010 and 2011 respectively.
Dr. A.E. Muthunayagam Dr. A.E. Muthunayagam Dr. A.E. Muthunayagam Dr. A.E. Muthunayagam Dr. A.E. Muthunayagam
Served as a director for the
Liquid Propulsion Systems
Centre, ISRO
He served the Department of
Atomic Energy as head of a
committee to look into safety
issues related to the
Kudankulam Nuclear Power
Project in Tamil Nadu in 2011
Dr. V.K. Saraswat Dr. V.K. Saraswat Dr. V.K. Saraswat Dr. V.K. Saraswat Dr. V.K. Saraswat
Director-general of Defence
Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) and was
an architect for the intercep-
tor missile Agni and Prithvi
programme
G. Satheesh Reddy G. Satheesh Reddy G. Satheesh Reddy G. Satheesh Reddy G. Satheesh Reddy
He is a specialist in navigation
system and is the person who
developed Avionics, with ring
laser gyroscope based naviga-
tion system as well as the fi-
bre-optic gyroscope-based
inertial navigation system
P. Kunhikrishnan P. Kunhikrishnan P. Kunhikrishnan P. Kunhikrishnan P. Kunhikrishnan
He has served as a Mission Di-
rector for different Polar Sat-
ellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
82 82 82 82 82
Tagore Peace Prize Tagore Peace Prize Tagore Peace Prize Tagore Peace Prize Tagore Peace Prize
Emirati poet and translator
Shihab Ghanem became the first
Emirati and Arab to win
the Tagore Peace Prize. Tagore
Peace Prize is instituted by the In-
dian government to commemo-
rate the birth anniversary of Indias
poet, philosopher and Nobel Lau-
reate Rabindranath Tagore.
Shihab Ghanem is officially go-
ing to receive the Tagore award by
the Asiatic society in a ceremony
to be held in Kolkata on 6 May
2012. Ghanem was awarded the
accolade in recognition of his cre-
ative literary and translation works,
both in Arabic and English, and for
promoting human understanding
and values of love and peace
Tagore had advocated. The award
is given to one person every two
years. Ghanem was chosen due to
the promotion of the human val-
ues of love and peace via his po-
etic works. Ghanem had written
31 Arabic poems and 36 English
poems and had published 45
books mainly in Arabic verse.
Awards and Honours won by Awards and Honours won by Awards and Honours won by Awards and Honours won by Awards and Honours won by
Shihab Ghanem Shihab Ghanem Shihab Ghanem Shihab Ghanem Shihab Ghanem
Rashid Award for Scientific
Excellence in 1989
1st prize for poetry in the UAE
in 1984
Book prize from the Ruler of
Sharjah for poetry translation
in 2003 and 2007.
Best Administrator in India Best Administrator in India Best Administrator in India Best Administrator in India Best Administrator in India
Award Award Award Award Award
Union Finance Minister P.
Chidambaram on 20 December
2012 awarded with the Best Ad-
ministrator in India Award insti-
tuted by K. Karunakaran Founda-
tion. The award was presented to
him by Vice President of India, M.
Hamid Ansari.
The award is given to him for
his role in evolving indian
economy as Finance Minister in
the late 1990s when he presented
what was widely called a dream
budget which gave a road map
for economic reforms in India and
lowered income and corporate tax
rates.
After the consequences of
the horrific Mumbai terror attacks
in 2008, the tenure as Home Min-
ister of P. Chidambaram was
marked by his constant efforts at
streamlining and modernizing na-
tional security apparatus of the
nation which did provide a sense
of security and calm to a trauma-
tized and angry population.
As a Minister in the Union
Government, P. Chidambaram had
held the important portfolios like
Finance, Home and Commerce.
He has won admiration for his vi-
sion, articulation, diligence and
determination.
P. Chidambaram is second
recipient of the Best Administra-
tor in India Award. Earlier in year
2011 Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh presented the Best Admin-
istrator in India Award 2011 of the
K Karunakaran Foundation to
former finance minister Pranab
Mukherjee on 21 December 2011.
The award carries a purse of 1 lakh
rupees, citation and a memento.
Nobel Peace Prize 2012 Nobel Peace Prize 2012 Nobel Peace Prize 2012 Nobel Peace Prize 2012 Nobel Peace Prize 2012
The Nobel Peace Prize 2012
was awarded to the European
Union (EU) leaders on 10 Decem-
ber 2012 at Oslo, Norway. The
award was given to the European
Union leaders for the efforts in
promotion of peace as well as hu-
man rights. The award was given
despite criticisms from some.
Around 20 European government
leaders which included French
President Francois Hollande, Ger-
man Chancellor Angela Merkel as
well as the Italian Premier Mario
Monti, attended this ceremony in
Oslo, the capital city of Norway. It
is important to note that Norway,
which is a country rich in oil, has
rejected joining EU twice.
Thorbjorn Jagland, the head
of Nobel Committee hailed EU on
the grounds that it brought peace
after years of war. The Nobel di-
plomas as well as medals were
handed over to EU Commission
President Jose Manuel Barroso,
president of the EU Parliament
Martin Schulz as well as EU Coun-
cil President Herman Van Rompuy
at a ceremony initially at the City
83 83 83 83 83
Hall of Oslo. The ceremony was
attended by international dignitar-
ies, heads of state as well as roy-
alty. The prize came this year de-
spite protests. Protests are being
organised because of the debt cri-
sis being faced by countries which
use Euro currency. This has trig-
gered tensions in union, leading to
soaring unemployment. EU insti-
tutions as well as the member
countries were criticised for their
slow reactions to this crisis which
kept going for 3 years.
Nobel Peace Prize Nobel Peace Prize Nobel Peace Prize Nobel Peace Prize Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize is
awarded on 10 December always
in Oslo. 10 December is the anni-
versary of Alfred Nobels death
which happened back in 1896.
Ceremonies like these were also
held in Swedish capital for Nobel
laureates in literature, physics,
chemistry and medicine.
Order of Canada Award Order of Canada Award Order of Canada Award Order of Canada Award Order of Canada Award
Venkatesh Mannar a Channai-
born Scientist of Indian Origin and
President, Micronutrient Initiative,
Canada was awarded with
Canadas Highest Civilian Award
the Order of Canada in the last
week of December 2012. Mannar,
a Graduate from Indian Institute of
Technology, Madras and a post
graduate in chemical engineering
from Northwestern University, US,
was honoured with the award for
his forty years long contribution
working towards reduction of de-
bilitating micronutrient deficien-
cies among the worlds most vul-
nerable.
Micronutrient Initiative Micronutrient Initiative Micronutrient Initiative Micronutrient Initiative Micronutrient Initiative
The not-for-profit organiza-
tion, Micronutrient Initiative is
dedicated towards ensuring the
worlds most vulnerable, the chil-
dren and the women mainly in the
developing countries get a proper
amount of minerals and vitamins
(supplements) that they require
for survival and it tries to thrive the
same through food fortification
programme. The organization
works for identifying, develop-
ment, implementation and moni-
toring the cost effective solutions
for hidden hunger. The Support
offered by Canada to the organi-
zation allows it to improve lives of
more than 500 million people in
70 different countries, annually.
All this is being done through dif-
ferent programs of the organiza-
tion and they are child health,
child survival, growth and devel-
opment, and womens and new-
born survival and health pro-
grams.
About Order of Canada Award About Order of Canada Award About Order of Canada Award About Order of Canada Award About Order of Canada Award
The Order of Canada insti-
tuted by Queen Elizabeth II in the
year 1967 is a Canadian National
Order and is the second highest
honour of merit in the Country. It
is placed next to Order of Merit.
The order is given to people with
lifetime outstanding achievements
and their dedication towards the
community and service to the na-
tion and people in Canadian Soci-
ety in all the sectors.
Queens 2013 New Year Queens 2013 New Year Queens 2013 New Year Queens 2013 New Year Queens 2013 New Year
Honours Honours Honours Honours Honours
Londons Olympic champi-
ons on 29 December 2012 had
been generously rewarded for
their exploits in a special New Year
Honours list, with Bradley
Wiggins and Ben Ainslie receiving
knighthoods.
Bradley Wiggins with his his-
toric Tour de France triumph is the
first British cyclist to be awarded
with the honors. He had won a
fourth Olympic gold medal and
first on the road. On the other hand
Ben Ainslie became the most suc-
cessful Olympic sailor of all time
with his fourth successive gold.
Along with Bradley Wiggins and
Ben Ainslie, inspiring British Cy-
cling performance director Dave
Brailsford is also knighted as he
once again masterminded a stun-
ning medal haul as well as leading
Team Sky to a one-two in the Tour
de France. The fourth knighthood
went to David Tanner, the perfor-
mance director for British Rowing,
who also overseen a record medal
pull as Britains rowers won four
golds and nine medals in all. Four
Olympic stars are made CBEs, in-
cluding the king and queen of Brit-
ish athletics, Mo Farah and Jessica
Ennis, after they lit up the Olym-
pic Stadium. London was the a fi-
nal performance or effort for cy-
clist Victoria Pendleton, who
added a second Olympic gold and
is made a CBE after playing a
trailblazing role for women sprint-
ers on the track. Rower Katherine
Grainger receives the same
honour in the year she finally made
it gold with Anna Watkins in the
84 84 84 84 84
double sculls following three suc-
cessive silvers. Three of Britains
double gold medallists have been
awarded OBEs - dressage star
Charlotte Dujardin and cycling
couple Jason Kenny and Laura
Trott - along with tennis Andy
Murray, who was both a gold med-
allist and a grand slam winner in
2012.
Long jumper Greg Ruther-
ford, another gold medal winner
in the Olympic Stadium on that
Super Saturday, has been given an
MBE. Also honoured with MBEs
are 51-year-old three-day eventer
Mary King, who won team silver
in London, and gymnast Louis
Smith, now a three-time Olympic
medalist.
About New Year Honour About New Year Honour About New Year Honour About New Year Honour About New Year Honour
The New Year Honours is a
part of the British honours system,
where New Years Day, 1 January,
is marked by naming new mem-
bers of orders of chivalry and re-
cipients of other official honours.
A number of other Common-
wealth Realms also mark this day
in this way. The awards are pre-
sented by or in the name of the
reigning monarch British honours
are published in supplements to
the London Gazette. Honours have
been awarded at New Year since
at least 1890, in which year a list
of Queen Victorias awards was
published by the London Gazette
on 2 January.
Web Ratna Award-2012 Web Ratna Award-2012 Web Ratna Award-2012 Web Ratna Award-2012 Web Ratna Award-2012
Directorate of Advertising
and Visual Publicity (DAVP) was
conferred the prestigious Web
Ratna 2012, Golden Icon Award
for Innovative use of Technology.
The DAVP Website (http:/
davp.nic.in/) has enabled a com-
plete change from the manual
mode to the online mode where
the media plans are made and re-
leased for the end users. The
website with several user friendly
features is the only advertising
agency in the country which re-
leases its designs, Release orders,
payments online. The DAVP
website has added a great deal of
transparency to the entire system
in its billing as well as other pro-
cedures which have not only
helped the organisation but also
its stakeholders. DAVP also keeps
as much information as possible
on the website for public scrutiny
and information. The entire chain
has contributed a great deal of ef-
ficiency to the DAVPs operation
and vastly improved the satisfac-
tion levels of the client ministries
as well as newspapers, channels
and other agencies. The Project
was headed by A P Frank Noronha,
DG, DAVP.
The Web Ratna Awards The Web Ratna Awards The Web Ratna Awards The Web Ratna Awards The Web Ratna Awards
The Web Ratna awards, con-
stituted by the Ministry of Commu-
nication and Information Technol-
ogy, acknowledges exemplary ini-
tiatives/practices in the realm of e-
governance. In order to promote
more innovative e-governance ini-
tiatives, the Web Ratna Awards
have been instituted under the
ambit of the National Portal of In-
dia.
Nominees for Padma Awards Nominees for Padma Awards Nominees for Padma Awards Nominees for Padma Awards Nominees for Padma Awards
High-level committee met on
26 December 2012 to shortlist the
nominees of prestigious Padma
awards. Rajesh Khanna, singer
Kailash Kher as well as director of
much-acclaimed movie Sholay,
Ramesh Sippy might be honoured
with the prestigious awards on 26
January 2013. Rajesh Khanna,
who died on 18 July 2012, was
shortlisted for highest category of
Padma awards- Padma Vibhushan.
Ramesh Sippy and Kailesh Kher
were shortlisted for the award of
Padma Shri. The high-level com-
mittee that shortlisted the nomi-
nees of the award included cabi-
net secretary Ajit Seth, home sec-
retary R K Singh, scientist Anil
Kakodkar, principal secretary to
the PM Pulok Chatterjee as well as
actor Ratna Pathak Shah.
Awardees names would be de-
clared on 25 January 2013 after PM
Manmohan Singhs approval.
Rajesh Khanna, Kailash Kher and
Ramesh Sippy were shortlisted
after recommendations from the
Ministry of Information and Broad-
casting. Usually, the Padma
awards are not conferred after the
death of an individual, but Rajesh
Khanna was considered by the
Government as highly deserving
candidate for Padma Vibhushan.
This would make an exception to
the Padma awards. Similar excep-
tions were made earlier when
singer and music director Bhupen
Hazarika was conferred with the
prestigious Padma Vibhushan
posthumously in 2012. It is quite
ironical that Rajesh Khannna had
never received Padma award dur-
ing his lifetime, while a lot of his
colleagues had achieved the
honour in various years.
Brand Laureate Legendary Brand Laureate Legendary Brand Laureate Legendary Brand Laureate Legendary Brand Laureate Legendary
Award Award Award Award Award
47 Years old Bollywood Ac-
tor Shah Rukh Khan on 13 Decem-
ber 2012 awarded with the presti-
85 85 85 85 85
gious BrandLaureate Legendary
Award in Malaysia. The award
was given by the Malaysia-based
Asia Pacific Brands Foundation for
his contributions to the Bollywood
film industry and as Indias fore-
most brand ambassador.
The BrandLaureate Legend-
ary Award had been earlier given
to well known personality like
those to Nelson Mandela, Nobel
Laureate recipient Mohammad
Yunus, Ratan Tata, Steve Jobs,
Mark Zuckerburg, Michael
Schumacher and more.
Earlier in 2008 Shah Rukh was
conferred with the prestigious
Malaysian title of Datuk by the
governor of Malaysias southern
state of Malacca for promoting
tourism through his movies in that
region. Malaysian title of Datuk is
equivalent of the British Knight-
hood, the highest awards given to
an individual in the UK. Shah Rukh
Khan went to Malaysia to attend
Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr
Mahathir bin Mohammads birth-
day.
The BrandLaureate award is
the sobriquet for the APBF Brand
Excellence Awards.
86 86 86 86 86
IN THE NEWS IN THE NEWS
IN THE NEWS IN THE NEWS IN THE NEWS
APPOINTED
Narendra Modi Narendra Modi Narendra Modi Narendra Modi Narendra Modi
Narendra Modi on 26 De-
cember 2012 was sworn-in as the
Chief Minister of Gujarat for the
fourth consecutive term. Governor
Kamla Beniwal administered the
oath of office and secrecy to him
at Sardar Patel Stadium at
Ahmedabad. Seven cabinet Min-
isters and nine Ministers of State
also took oath. Narendra Mdoi
was sworn-in as the Chief Minis-
ter of Gujrat for the first time on 7
October 2001. He was sworn-in as
the Chief Minister of Gujrat for the
second time on 22 December
2002. He was born in September
1950 at Vadnagar, a small town in
Mehsana district of North Gujarat.
Virbhadra Singh Virbhadra Singh Virbhadra Singh Virbhadra Singh Virbhadra Singh
Former Union Minister of In-
dia and Veteran Congress leader
Virbhadra Singh on 25 December
2012 was sworn-in as Chief Minis-
ter of Himachal for a record sixth
term in Shimla. 78 years old
Virbhadra Singh was administered
the oath of office by Governor of
Himachal Pradesh Urmila Singh.
Oath of office and secrecy to the
chief parliamentary secretaries
was administered by the Chief
Minister.
Besides Virbhadra Singh,
nine Cabinet members and three
chief Parliamentary secretaries
were also sworn-in. Virbhadra
Singh is often referred to as the
Raja of Rampur because his ances-
tors were royalty. He had served
five terms as chief minister of
Himachal Pradesh between 1983
and 2007. In his five-decade po-
litical career, he has been an MLA
seven times and a parliamentarian
five times.
Ranjit Sinha Ranjit Sinha Ranjit Sinha Ranjit Sinha Ranjit Sinha
Ranjit Sinha, IPS officer of
1974-batch Bihar cadre on 3 De-
cember 2012 acquired the office
87 87 87 87 87
as new CBI director. Ranjit Sinha,
59, who was holding the designa-
tion of director general Indo-Ti-
betan Border Police, succeeded
A.P. Singh who retired from the
CBI office on 30 November 2012.
Sinha will have two-year duration
as the CBI director. He had served
in CBI agency initially as the DIG
and joint director as well. Sinha
accepted that there were chal-
lenges which the agency needed
to face and these included lack of
proper manpower, Letters Roga-
tory execution delays as well as
delays in the forensic field. Dur-
ing his tenure, he would try solv-
ing and addressing these issues.
Sinha accepted the prestigious
designation with a greater sense
of responsibility. He believed that
the faith in CBI would be strength-
ened under his guidance and su-
pervision.
Vinod Rai Vinod Rai Vinod Rai Vinod Rai Vinod Rai
United Nations gave Vinod
Rai, the comptroller and auditor
general of India a second term as
the designation of chairman of UN
Panel of External Auditors for
2013. CAG of the UK, Amyas
Morse was re-elected as the vice-
chairman. Panel of the United
Nations is the deciding body of the
course as well as subject of audit
of the different UN organisations
which also include International
Atomic Energy Agency. The UN
Panel of External Auditors for 2013
includes apex auditors of various
countries such as Switzerland,
Tanzaniam, Canada, China, India,
Italy, Philippines, UK, France and
Pakistan as the members.
Role of UN Panel of External Role of UN Panel of External Role of UN Panel of External Role of UN Panel of External Role of UN Panel of External
Auditors Auditors Auditors Auditors Auditors
The UN Panel of External
Auditors has a crucial role to play
in promotion of accountability as
well as strengthening of the gov-
ernance mechanisms in various
organisations of UN. The Secretary
General of UN, Ban-ki-Moon ap-
preciated this panel of the audi-
tors which was headed by Vinod
Rai. In the meeting held on 11
December 2012, the panel of au-
ditors at UN headquarters in New
York held discussions about the
business transformations which
were at present underway in
United Nations with secretary gen-
eral.
Composition of UN Panel of Composition of UN Panel of Composition of UN Panel of Composition of UN Panel of Composition of UN Panel of
External Auditors External Auditors External Auditors External Auditors External Auditors
UN Panel of External Audi-
tors comprises of Supreme Audit
Institutions (SAIs) which are al-
ways engaged in auditing the
United Nations as well as the
specialised agencies and Interna-
tional Atomic Energy Agency.
Shinzo Abe Shinzo Abe Shinzo Abe Shinzo Abe Shinzo Abe
Shinzo Abe, the conservative
leader of Japan was elected as the
prime minister of the country by
lower house of the Parliament
called the House of Representa-
tives, on 26 December 2012.
Shinzo Abe took oath to rebuild
Japanese economy as well as
mend the coalition with US. The
lower house of the parliament in
Japan, which is said to be very
powerful, picked 58-year old
Shinzo Abe as the new leader of
the country. All this came after the
loud victory of Liberal Democratic
Party which is headed by Abe, in
national election earlier in Decem-
ber 2012. The Liberal Democratic
Party had won over Democratic
Party of Japan (DPJ). The lawmak-
ers in Japan voted in favour of Abe
by 328 votes. Opponent Banri
Kaieda, the newly chosen leader
of DPJ received merely 57
votes. The cabinet of Yoshihiko
Noda resigned as a whole before
LDP-powered lower house of the
Parliament named Abe as the next
Prime Minister. Abe had initially
served as the Prime Minister of
Japan from 2006 to 2007.
Kamal Nath Kamal Nath Kamal Nath Kamal Nath Kamal Nath
Prime Ministers Office on 26
December 2012 re-constituted the
Planning Commission and ap-
pointed the Parliamentary Affairs
and Urban Development Minister
- Kamal Nath as its new ex-officio
member, replacing Jairam
Ramesh. The decision was taken
with the view to lay down govern-
ment emphasis on the Urban De-
velopment and schemes like
MNREGA, already in existence for
rural development. The other ex-
88 88 88 88 88
officio members of the Commis-
sion are Finance Minister P
Chidambaram, Agriculture Minis-
ter Sharad Pawar, Home Minister
Sushilkumar Shinde, Health Min-
ister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Chemi-
cals and Fertilisers Minister M K
Alagiri, Communications Minister
Kapil Sibal, Law Minister.
Justice Swatanter Kumar Justice Swatanter Kumar Justice Swatanter Kumar Justice Swatanter Kumar Justice Swatanter Kumar
Justice Swatanter Kumar in
the fourth week of December 2012
took over as the Chairperson of the
National Green Tribunal (NGT) -
the apex body constituted under
The National Green Tribunal Act
2010. He would look forward to
the issues related to the cases of
environmental protection and
conversation of forests and the
natural resources.
Justice Kumar is the first
Judge of Supreme Court of India
to preside over the Tribunal that
never had a full-time Chairperson
for itself. He would be retiring
from the Supreme Court on 30
December 2012. A retired judge
of Madras High Court - Justice P.
Jyothimani took his charge as the
judicial member of the NGT on 24
December 2012.
Parthasarathi Shome Parthasarathi Shome Parthasarathi Shome Parthasarathi Shome Parthasarathi Shome
dia appointed Parthasarathi
Shome, the tax expert, as the ad-
viser to finance minister P
Chidambaram. Shome was ap-
pointed with a rank of minister of
state and this also indicated his
comeback to the Secretariat build-
ing after almost 5 years. Shome
was also the adviser to P
Chidambaram during the UPA-I.
He was the working brain behind
fringe benefit tax as well as bank-
ing cash transaction tax on the
withdrawals of the cash. These tax
policies were aimed towards
keeping a check on black money
which was a subject of sharp criti-
cisms apart from the securities
transaction tax. For past few
months, he was also associated
with acquiring back the investor
confidence. He was the head of
committee on General Anti-Avoid-
ance Rules (GAAR) as well as ret-
rospective amendments, the con-
troversial legislative idea which
was taken by Pranab Mukherjee in
previous budget session.
Naina Lal Kidwai Naina Lal Kidwai Naina Lal Kidwai Naina Lal Kidwai Naina Lal Kidwai
Naina Lal Kidwai on 15 De-
cember 2012 took over as Presi-
dent of FICCI, becoming the first
woman to head the leading indus-
try body. Kidwai, is the first
woman and professional manager
to be elected as President of the
chamber. She is 55 years old.
Digjam Ltd,Sidharth Birla was
elected as Senior Vice-President
of FICCI. Kidwai succeeds R V
Kanoria of Kanoria Chemicals &
Industries Ltd.
Chairman of Xpro India Ltd.
Naina Lal Kidwai on 15 December
2012 took over as President of
FICCI (Federation of Indian Cham-
bers of Commerce and Industry),
becoming the first woman to head
the leading industry body. Kidwai,
is the first woman and professional
manager to be elected as Presi-
dent of the chamber. She is 55
years old. Chairman of Digjam
Ltd, Sidharth Birla was elected as
Senior Vice-President of FICCI.
Kidwai succeeded R V Kanoria of
Kanoria Chemicals & Industries
Ltd. Chairman of Xpro India Ltd.
Naina Lal Kidwai is the Country
head of HSBC India and Director
of HSBC Asia Pacific.
Patrick Suckling Patrick Suckling Patrick Suckling Patrick Suckling Patrick Suckling
Career diplomat Patrick
Suckling on 30 December 2012
had been appointed as Australias
next High Commissioner to India.
89 89 89 89 89
Patrick Suckling who is a career
diplomat and had been previously
posted to New Delhi and Wash-
ington is going to take up the po-
sition in New Delhi in January
2013. The appointment of Patrick
Suckling was announced by For-
eign Minister Bob Carr who as-
serted that the role was important
because India is Australias fourth
largest export market, with trade
between the two countries reach-
ing 18-billion dollars a year. Suck-
ling is replacing Peter Varghese,
who is returning to Australia to
head the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade. Suckling holds
a Post-Graduate Diploma in Hindi
from the University of Sydney and
as a career diplomat had an exper-
tise in policy development, pub-
lic diplomacy and consular ser-
vice. Patrick Suckling was adviser
to Foreign Minister D
MS Sahoo MS Sahoo MS Sahoo MS Sahoo MS Sahoo
MS Sahoo, the former mem-
ber of SEBI (Securities and Ex-
change Board of India) on 27 De-
cember 2012 had been appointed
secretary of the Institute of Com-
pany Secretaries. The appoint-
ment of MS Sahoo is going to be
effective from 1 January2013.
MS Sahoo had over three de-
cades of rich work experience
in self-employment, private
sector, public sector, regula-
tor and government in varied
functional areas such as re-
forms, policy, regulations, re-
search and analysis.
Before joining the ICSI, he was
an eminent legal practitioner
in the field of securities laws.
He was a Whole Time Member
of the Securities and Ex-
change Board of India (SEBI)
during 2008-11.
M S Sahoo was instrumental
in development of human re-
source capacity in securities mar-
kets through various interventions
such as NSEs Certification in Fi-
nancial Markets (NCFM), National
Institute of Securities Markets
(NISM) and a number of reputed
publications. He has served /
serves as a member on several
expert committees / boards and
professional groups.
Praful Patel Praful Patel Praful Patel Praful Patel Praful Patel
Praful Patel on 20 December
2012 was re-elected as the Presi-
dent of All India Football Federa-
tion (AIFF) during the annual gen-
eral body meet that was held at
Football House at New Delhi. This
would be the second term for him
as the President of All India Foot-
ball Federation. The election con-
cluded in the presence of Radhica
Sreeman-Regional Director of SAI,
P. C. Makholia of SAI, Mun Si Song
of Asian Football Confederation
and Shaji Prabhakaran of FIFA Re-
gional Developmental Officer,
South and Central Asia and the
members of the federation were
elected unopposed to the AGM.
Justice Arun kumar Mishra Justice Arun kumar Mishra Justice Arun kumar Mishra Justice Arun kumar Mishra Justice Arun kumar Mishra
Justice Arun Kumar Mishra
took over as the new Chief Justice
of Calcutta High Court on 14 De-
cember 2012. Arun Kumar Mishra
was earlier the Chief Justice of
Rajasthan High Court. He was ad-
ministered the oath of office by
West Bengal Governor M K
Narayanan.
Taking over the office Justice
Mishra in his address said he
would strive to ensure speedy dis-
posal of cases to reduce pendency
and his endeavour will be to work
tirelessly for the interest of com-
mon men. Justice Mishra called on
the Bar to ensure speedy and in-
expensive justice to the people.
S.A. Ibrahim S.A. Ibrahim S.A. Ibrahim S.A. Ibrahim S.A. Ibrahim
The Competent Authority on
3 December 2012 approved ap-
pointment of S. A. Ibrahim the IPS
(MP-77) as officer on Special Duty
in the Intelligence Bureau and also
as the Director for Intelligence
Bureau for a next two years from
the date he acquires his charge or
till the next order that is is further
sent. His tenure to the post of Of-
ficer on Special Duty in the Intelli-
gence Bureau started from 1 De-
cember 2012. At Present S.A.
Ibrahim is serving as Special Direc-
tor, Intelligence Bureau and will be
taking over the charge of Director,
Intelligence Bureau after vice
Nehchal Sandhu will retire from
his office on 31 December 2012.
90 90 90 90 90
S Raman S Raman S Raman S Raman S Raman
Indian Market Regulator SEBI
on 28 December 2012 appointed
S. Raman as Whole-time Member
of the Securities and Exchange
Board of India (SEBI). Prior to this
appointment, Raman, had served
as Chairman and Managing Direc-
tor of Canara Bank from Septem-
ber 2010 to September 2012 and
had also served as Executive Di-
rector of Union Bank of India from
October 2008 to August 2010. As
per the Finance ministry Raman is
going to hold the post of SEBI
whole-time member for a period
of five years from the day he as-
sumes charge or up to 65 years of
age or until further orders, which-
ever is earlier. With this appoint-
ment, SEBI has three wholetime
members, including Prashant Sa-
ran and Rajeev Kumar Agarwal.
Subhash Joshi Subhash Joshi Subhash Joshi Subhash Joshi Subhash Joshi
Subhash Joshi on 18 Decem-
ber 2012 appointed as the new
chief of Border Security Force
(BSF) while. Subhash Joshi is at
present is the director general of
National Security Guard and he is
going to lead the 1.8 lakh strong
border force BSF. The post of the
chief of Indian Border Force had
fallen vacant on 1 December 2012
due to retirement U K Bansals, the
director general of the Border Se-
curity Force ( BSF). Subhash Joshi
is a 1976 batch IPS officer from
Uttrakhand cadre and is due to
retire in February 2014. He has also
served in CRPF as special director
general of Police.
Ajay Chadha Ajay Chadha Ajay Chadha Ajay Chadha Ajay Chadha
Special secretary in home
ministry Ajay Chadha appointed to
head the Indo-Tibetan Border
Police (ITBP), appointment
cleared by appointments commit-
tee of cabinet. Ajay Chadha is a
1977 batch IPS officer of AGMU
cadre and is going to have his ten-
ure till August 2013.The post of
director general of ITBP had fallen
vacant after Ranjit Sinha was ap-
pointed as director of CBI.
Arvind Ranjan Arvind Ranjan Arvind Ranjan Arvind Ranjan Arvind Ranjan
The Special director general
of BSF Arvind Ranjan was ap-
pointed as new director
general, National Security Guard
(NSG). Arvind Ranjan is a 1977
batch IPS officer of Kerala and will
continue his service till April 2015.
All the appointments is go-
ing to be in effect from the dates
these officers assume charge of
their posts and till their superan-
nuation or until further orders,
whichever event takes place ear-
lier.
DEATH
Tony Greig Tony Greig Tony Greig Tony Greig Tony Greig
Tony Greig, 66, the former
captain of England cricket team
and renowned commentator
passed away in Sydney on 29 De-
cember 2012 following lung can-
cer. Tony Greig was born in
Queenstown in South Africa. He
was awarded with the Best Crick-
eter of the Year award in
1975. Greig had the test career of
58 matches and he scored 3599
runs while claiming 141
wickets. He played 22 ODIs and
scored 269 runs while grabbing 19
wickets. Greig was diagnosed
with the ailment in October 2012.
Renowned Indian sitarist and
Bharat Ratna Recipient Pandit Ravi
Shankar passed away in San Diego
city of California on 11 December
2012. He was 92 years old. The
musician was admitted to the
Scripps Memorial Hospital in La
Jolla on 6 December 2012 after he
complained of breathing difficul-
91 91 91 91 91
ties. Pandit Ravi Shankar is sur-
vived by his wife Sukanya and
musician daughters, sitar player
Anoushka Shankar, singer Norah
Jones, 3 grandchildren, and 4
great-grandchildren. Pandit Ravi
Shankar was suffering from upper-
respiratory and heart issues over
the past year and underwent heart-
valve replacement surgery on 6
December 2012. Though the sur-
gery was successful, recovery
proved too difficult for him. Pandit
Ravi Shankar was the sitar exem-
plar and was also called Indias
musical ambassador who was re-
sponsible for making Indian clas-
sical music popular in the West. He
had collaborated with several in-
ternational artists including
George Harri son of The
Beatles which had earned him
fame and adoration all over the
world. In his 60 years as a musi-
cian Pandit Ravi Shankar had won
numerous national and interna-
tional awards.
Awards and Honours won by Awards and Honours won by Awards and Honours won by Awards and Honours won by Awards and Honours won by
He received the Padma
Bhushan in 1967, Padma
Vibhushan in 1981 and Bharat
Ratna in 1999.
He is also a three-time
Grammy winner.
He is a honourary member of
the American Academy of
Arts and Letters and is a mem-
ber of the United Nations In-
ternational Rostrum of com-
posers.
He is winner of Magsaysay
award in year 1992.
He received the music award
of the UNESCO International
Music Council in 1975.
Pandit Ravi Shankar had won
the Silver Bear Extraordinary
Prize of the Jury at the 1957
Berlin International Film Fes-
tival for composing the music
for the movie Kabuliwala.
He was awarded the Sangeet
Natak Akademi Award for
1962
He received the Kalidas
Samman from the Government
of Madhya Pradesh for 1987
88, the Fukuoka Asian Culture
Prize in 1991, the Ramon
Magsaysay Award in 1992, and
the Polar Music Prize in 1998.
A three-time Grammy award
winner Pandit Ravi Shankar last
performed in California on 4 No-
vember 2012 along with his
Daughter Anoushka Shankar.
Pandit Shankar has also been
nominated for the 2013 Grammys
for his album The Living Room
Sessions Part1 and was pitted
against Anoushka in the same cat-
egory.
Pandit Ravi Shankar wrote a
autobiography, Raga Mala, with
Harrison as editor in year 1997.
The autobiography was
named Raga Mala: The Autobiog-
raphy of Ravi Shankar.
Pandit Ravi Shankars Career Pandit Ravi Shankars Career Pandit Ravi Shankars Career Pandit Ravi Shankars Career Pandit Ravi Shankars Career
Born in 1920 in Varanasi to a
well-off Brahmin family,
Shankar left a possible career
as a dancer behind to study
sitar.
Ravi Shankar was trained un-
der Baba Allauddin Khan of
the Senia Maihar gharana.
Pandit Ravi Shankar had
authored violin-sitar composi-
tions for Yehudi Menuhin and
himself, music for flute vir-
tuoso Jean Pierre Rampal,
music for Hosan Yamamoto,
master of the Shakuhachi and
Musumi Miyashita - Koto vir-
tuoso, and has collaborated
with Phillip Glass (Passages).
Shankar also composed for
ballets and films in India,
Canada, Europe and the
United States. The latter of
which includes the films
Charly,Gandhi, and the Apu
Trilogy.
He was also nominated as a
member of the Rajya Sabha in
year 1986.
Between the early 1950s and
the mid-1960s he became the
leading international emissary
for Indian music, first perform-
ing as a solo artist in the USSR
in 1954, in Europe and North
America in 1956, and Japan in
1958.
He developed a characteristic
sitar sound, with powerful
bass notes and a serene and
spiritual touch in the alap
movement of a raga.
He was the man responsible
for incorporating many as-
pects of Carnatic (south In-
dian) music into the north In-
dian system, especially its
mathematical approach to
rhythm. He also gave a new
prominence to the tabla player
in concert.
He was appointed Director of
Music at the Indian Peoples
Theatre Association, and later
held the same position at All
India Radio (194956).
He composed his first new
raga in 1945 (30 more would
follow) and began a prolific
recording career.
In 2001, Shankar was made an
honorary Knight Commander
of the Order of the British
Empire by Elizabeth II for
his services to music.
Pandit Ravi Shankar is the
brother of dance exponent
Uday Shankar and had also
92 92 92 92 92
scored music for Satyajit
Ray s Pather Panchal i and
other Bengali and Hindi mov-
ies.
In 2010, Shankar received an
Honorary Doctor of Laws from
the University of Melbourne,
Australia.
Pandit Ravi Shankar is to re-
ceive a posthumous lifetime
achievement Grammy award to be
presented at 55th Grammy
Awards ceremony on 10 February
2013 in Los Angeles becoming the
first Indian to receive the presti-
gious award.
His daughter Anoushka
Shankar was also nominated in the
same category for her Deutsche
Grammophon release, Traveller.
Nityanand Swami Nityanand Swami Nityanand Swami Nityanand Swami Nityanand Swami
The first chief minister of
Uttarakhand, Nityanand Swami,
passed away on 12 December
2012. He was 84 years old and
belonged to the Bhartiya Janta
Party (BJP). Nityanand Swami,
served the people throughout his
life, focused on developmental is-
sues and built a very good rapport
with the people. Nityanand
Swami was born on 27 December
1927 in Haryana. He was the first
chief minister of the Uttarakhand
and had served from 9 November
2000 to 29 October 2001 and then
resigned willingly in favor of
Bhagat Singh Koshiyari when
asked by the BJP leadership.
Nitayanand Swamis father served
in the Forest Research Institute of
India where he had spent almost
all of his life in Dehradun .He
joined Indias freedom struggle at
an early age, under the umbrella
of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak
Sangh(RSS) and contributed to
local resistances in Dehradun.
Nitayanand Swamis Political Nitayanand Swamis Political Nitayanand Swamis Political Nitayanand Swamis Political Nitayanand Swamis Political
Career Career Career Career Career
In year 1969 Nitayanand
Swami was first elected as the
member of U.P legislative from
the Dehradun constituency.
In Year 1984, he was elected
as a member of Uttar Pradesh
legislative council by the
graduate and one of the larg-
est constituency of kumaon
and garhwal.
He had represented the con-
stituency of Garwal and
Kumaon for three years.
He served as the deputy chair-
man of the Uttar Pradesh Leg-
islative Council in 1991 and
was unanimously elected the
chairman of the same in 1992.
Leslie Claudius Leslie Claudius Leslie Claudius Leslie Claudius Leslie Claudius
The legendary hockey player
Leslie Claudius, Indias triple
Olympic Gold Medallist died af-
ter a prolonged illness on 20 De-
cember 2012. Cirrhosis of the liver
became the region of his death
and is now survived by a wife and
three sons. Claudius was a leg-
endary Hockey player from the
Indian side, who won three Olym-
pic Gold Medals in the year 1948
London Olympics, 1952 Helsinki
Olympics and 1956 Melbourne
Olympics. He also won a silver
medal at 1960 Rome Olympics.
Udham Singh along with him is the
only two Indians who share a tally
of 4 Olympic Medals in the history
of Hockey. The 85 year old was a
part of legendary trio of the Indian
Hockey team and shared the berth
with Dhyan Chand and Roop
Singh. During the Bangkok Asian
Games of 1978, Claudius was ap-
pointed as the manager for the In-
dian Team. Claudius was the First
Indian Hockey Player to play more
than 100 games for the country.
Besse Cooper Besse Cooper Besse Cooper Besse Cooper Besse Cooper
Besse Cooper, the woman
listed as the oldest person of the
world died on 4 December 2012
in Georgia nursing home at 116
years of age. Besse Cooper had
died peacefully in Monroe. Besse
was recently taken ill with the
stomach virus. Besse Cooper was
declared as the oldest person of
the world in January 2011 by the
Guinness World Records. She
was also the first Georgian who
had world record with her. The
birth place of Besse was Tennes-
see and she had moved during the
First World War to
Georgia. Guinness World Records
declared that as of now, merely 8
people have reached the age of
116. Besse Cooper held this title
of oldest person of the world since
2011. She explained her secret of
living for such a long time, to
Guinness World Records. She ex-
plained that she didnt eat junk
food.
After the death of Besse Coo-
per, the title of oldest person of
the world now goes to Dina
Manfredini of Johnston who is
aged 115 years of age. Jeanne
Calment, the French woman is the
oldest known person till now. She
was aged 122 when she died in
1997.
Norman Schwarzkopf Norman Schwarzkopf Norman Schwarzkopf Norman Schwarzkopf Norman Schwarzkopf
Norman Schwarzkopf the
retired US General and a person
who led the U.S. Forces for a Vic-
tory in the first Gulf War in Opera-
93 93 93 93 93
tion Desert Strom in 1991 died at
Florida on 27 December 2012. He
led an international coalition of
U.N. authorized forces from 34
different nations into Kuwait to
drive out the forces of Iraq from
the country, when the forces of
Iraq invaded Kuwait during the
regime of President Saddam
Hussein.
The retired general died at
the age of 78 due to the complica-
tions of pneumonia. Norman
Schwarzkopf last served the U.S.
Army as commander-in-chief of
U.S. Central Command on their
assignment in Tampa - the head-
quarter that is responsible for U.S.
military and security concerns in
nearly 20 countries from Africa to
Pakistan and the Eastern Mediter-
ranean.
Norman Woodland Norman Woodland Norman Woodland Norman Woodland Norman Woodland
Norman Woodland, the in-
ventor of bar code, which
revolutionalised retail in 70s, died
at 91 on 8 December 2012 at New
Jersey. He died because of com-
plications resulting due to
Alzheimers disease. He is sur-
vived by his wife (61), two daugh-
ters, one brother and granddaugh-
ters. Woodland was the co-inven-
tor of bar code; the zebra pattern
which stores information about
the products. He as well as his
partner Bernard Silver (who died
in 1963) patented this idea of bar
code back in 1952 and also sold
that to Philco, the electronics com-
pany for 15000 US dollar.
Woodland was mechanical
engineer.
He worked at IBM for around
35 years.
He worked with the team that
had developed laser scanner
which could read bar codes
during the 70s.
For his invention, Woodland
was also awarded National
Medal of Technology in 1992.
Bar code Bar code Bar code Bar code Bar code
Woodland along with his
partner Silver started working on
a project which eventually led to
bar code. At that time, they taught
at Drexel University in Philadel-
phia.
They developed bar code
after the head of one supermarket
asked for a way of keeping a bet-
ter record of the inventory. Wood-
land thought if Morse Code was
useful in tracking inventory and
then he started drawing lines of
varied thickness on sand. That is
how the code came up and is to-
day known as Universal Product
Code (UPC).
First bar code scan occurred
on 26 June 1974 in Troy, Ohio.
Today, there are 5 billion products
which are scanned optically with
the help of bar code or UPC. The
laser scanner which is handheld is
today used in industrial, transpor-
tation as well as shipping indus-
tries across the world. Today, the
bar code saves countless hours of
shoppers in the supermarkets.
ACCUSED/RESIGNED/CONTROVERSY
Narhari Amin Narhari Amin Narhari Amin Narhari Amin Narhari Amin
Senior party leader and
former Deputy Chief Minister of
Indian National Congress in Gujrat
Narhari Amin on 6 December 2012
switched sides and joined the BJP
with his supporters. Narhari
Amin had over 21-year-old asso-
ciation with the Congress, where
he worked hard to build and main-
tain a strong base of party work-
ers. His decision of joining BJP
came after he was denied ticket
by the party for 2012 Assembly
polls. Amin alleged that Union
Minister C P Joshi, who was in-
charge of screening committee on
ticket distribution, had been giv-
ing tickets to unknown faces and
fixed the polls before voting. Amin
resigned from the Congress along
with his six supporters. Another
175 of his supporters also had re-
signed on 5 December 2012 from
the primary membership of the
party. All of them joined BJP along
with him.
Mario Monti Mario Monti Mario Monti Mario Monti Mario Monti
94 94 94 94 94
Italian Prime Minister Mario
Monti on 21 December 2012 re-
signed after 13 months in office
with handing over his resignation
to President Giorgio Napolitano
after parliament gave final ap-
proval to the 2013 budget law.
With the resignation of Mario
Monti the President is expected to
call early national elections within
70 days of the parliament dissolu-
tion, possibly on 24 February 2013.
69-year-old Mario Monti is an
economist and former European
commissioner and was appointed
by the President Napolitano to fill
former premier Silvio Berlusconis
place after he resigned in 2011
under pressure for failing to con-
trol Italys debt and a series of
scandals. Montis term was origi-
nally set to expire in mid-2013, but
his earlier departure is expected
to bring elections forward. Former
Prime Minister Berlusconi had an-
nounced that he intends to run for
re-election in the New Year.
BOOKS
Tamil Version of the Book Still Tamil Version of the Book Still Tamil Version of the Book Still Tamil Version of the Book Still Tamil Version of the Book Still
Counting the Dead Counting the Dead Counting the Dead Counting the Dead Counting the Dead
Tamil version of the book,
Still Counting the Dead- Survivors
of Sri Lankas Hidden War
authored by Frances Harrison was
released on 15 December 2012.
The first copy of the translated
work was received by noted art
critic and writer Sadanand Menon.
This book reveals the unprec-
edented killings in the last phase
of civil war-also called as Eelam
War in Sri Lanka in the year 2009.
The Book
The book states the killings
of thousands of people who lost
their lives in the No Fire Zones
because mortars, artilleries, rocket
launchers and supersonic jets
were used by the armed forces of
Sri Lanka to fight with the rebel
group Tamil Tigers. The book in-
cludes interviews of the people
who had shared their experiences
and condition during the war with
the author.
VARIOUS
Cyber Security get Revamped Cyber Security get Revamped Cyber Security get Revamped Cyber Security get Revamped Cyber Security get Revamped
with Government Five Year Plan with Government Five Year Plan with Government Five Year Plan with Government Five Year Plan with Government Five Year Plan
Union government of India in
its bid to meet the challenge of
cyber attacks and security in the
virtual world in month of Decem-
ber set in motion a five-year
project to revamp the entire cyber
security apparatus of critical sec-
tors in the country. In the past one
year, India has suffered 13,000
cyber incidents.
National Critical Information
Infrastructure Protection Centre
(NCIIPC) had taken the responsi-
bility to coordinate cyber security
operations for critical infrastruc-
tures across the country. It is part
of the step to first create aware-
ness and ensure setting up of a
robust security system in all criti-
cal government agencies at their
own level. Once agencies set up
their security infrastructure, it will
be connected to NCIIPC.
NCIIPC had prepared a five-
year plan to completely revamp
and integrate the cyber security
apparatus of all critical infrastruc-
tures such as power, transporta-
tion, water, telecommunication
and defence. The government has
also defined clear mandates for
NCIIPC and CERT-IN, which is also
engaged in cyber security of na-
tional infrastructure.
Tasks that NCCIIPC is Going to Tasks that NCCIIPC is Going to Tasks that NCCIIPC is Going to Tasks that NCCIIPC is Going to Tasks that NCCIIPC is Going to
Perform Perform Perform Perform Perform
NCIIPC will only look after ab-
solutely critical sectors that
have high threat perception
coupled with greater depen-
dence on computer and infor-
mation technology (CIT),while
other sectors will be with
CERTIN.
These sectors (with NCIIPC)
have been identified as energy
(power,coal,oil and natural
gas),transportation (railways
and civil aviation),banking and
finance, telecom, defence,
space, law enforcement and
security.
NCIIPC also plans to set up a
sectoral Computer Emergency
Response Team (CERTs) that
would be connected to it, and
will install censors on all criti-
cal systems to provide real-
time information to its com-
mand and control (C&C) cen-
ter about any cyberattack to
formulate a quick response.
Under a newly defined man-
date, NCIIPC will look after
critical sectors with high de-
pendency on computer and
information technology (IT),
while other sectors will be
under Indias CERT, CERT-IN.
Indias critical infrastructure
agencies are no stranger to cyber
attacks. Just in month of Decem-
ber a hacker group leaked Indian
telco BSNLs passwords and da-
95 95 95 95 95
tabase, calling for the withdrawal
of a controversial legislation which
allegedly suppresses freedom of
speech and expression. In April
2012 Chinese hackers allegedly
planted a bug via flash drives on
Indias navy computers, which re-
layed sensitive data to China IP
addresses.
Vasai Vasai Vasai Vasai Vasai
Early in December 2012, a
team of the historians in Vasai re-
covered the 750 year old stone
tablet which has sexually explicit
inscription. The historians ex-
plained that the bygone king of
that area (identity of whom is yet
to be discovered) might have had
custom-made the carvings as
warning symbol for keeping the
trespassers at a distance or to
make sure that the tax collectors
regularly deposited the
revenue. The stone tablet bears
the inscription of a donkey copu-
lating with the female, which
might be an indication that women
of trespassers would face a simi-
lar fate. In the olden times, the
property owners in Vasai area
used to place the carved stones at
entrances of their properties. This
practice is followed even today in
Vasai. Trespassers were given a
warning using the abusive words
but historians believe that such a
pictorial abuse was not
common. The stone tablet dates
back to 1268 AD and was recov-
ered from the Kiravali village. The
measurements of the stone are 126
cm, 56 cm and 22 cm in length,
width and breadth respectively.
The stone is from the era of
Shilahara kings who were the rul-
ers of Vasai around 1000 years
back. Shilahara kings had ruled
over the Vasai region before Por-
tuguese in 1536. It is important to
note that this stone tablet was, at
some point of the time, acclaimed
artifact in village. It was kept in
Chankai Devi Mandir and villagers
broke coconuts on it on new moon
day. Later, this stone was kept near
the pond. The historians eventu-
ally removed this stone tablet and
were surprised at the historical
value.
India Successfully test fired India Successfully test fired India Successfully test fired India Successfully test fired India Successfully test fired
Agni I Ballistic Missile Agni I Ballistic Missile Agni I Ballistic Missile Agni I Ballistic Missile Agni I Ballistic Missile
successfully test-fired its indig-
enously developed nuclear
capable Agni-I ballistic
missilewith a strike range of 700
km from a test range off Odisha
coast. The missile was test-fired
under a practice trial by the Stra-
tegic Force Command of the In-
dian Army from a mobile launcher
at about 8.30 am on 12 December
2012 from launch pad-4 of the In-
tegrated Test Range (ITR) at
Wheeler Island, about 100 km from
Balasore, defence.
Facts about Agni I Ballistic Facts about Agni I Ballistic Facts about Agni I Ballistic Facts about Agni I Ballistic Facts about Agni I Ballistic
Missile Missile Missile Missile Missile
Agni- I is a single-stage missile
which is powered by solid
propellants and has a
specialised navigation system
which ensures that it reaches
the target with a high degree
of accuracy and precision.
It Weighs around 12 tonnes
and is 15-metre-long which is
capable of carrying payloads
up to 1000 kg.
Agni-I has been developed by
advanced systems laboratory,
the premier missile develop-
ment laboratory of the De-
fence Research and Develop-
ment Organisation (DRDO) in
collaboration with Defence
Research Development Labo-
ratory and Research Centre
Imarat and integrated by
Bharat Dynamics Limited,
Hyderabad.
The last trial of the Agni-I
missile was successfully carried
out on 13 July 2012 from the same
test range off Odisha Coast.
New Freshwater Mosasaurs New Freshwater Mosasaurs New Freshwater Mosasaurs New Freshwater Mosasaurs New Freshwater Mosasaurs
Species Species Species Species Species
Researchers discovered the
fossilised bones of new species of
mosasaurs in Bakony Hills, West-
ern Hungary in the third week of
December 2012. The fossilised
bones are those of mosasaurs spe-
cies which were thought as the
marine animals initially. New find-
ings proved that the 84 million
years old sea monsters lived in
freshwaters. These reptiles were
present in the period when dino-
saurs existed and were known as
T.Rex of sea. The study established
the fact that these were the first
freshwater mosasaurs discovered.
First fossil ruins of the large speci-
men were also found in 1764 in
Maastricht. The details were pre-
sented after the study conducted
by Laszlo Makadi of the Hungar-
ian Natural History Museum to-
gether with the University of
Alberta, Canada colleagues. The
new species was called
Pannoniasaurus. It was found that
this species was larger than T.Rex
and also they did not share the
same ancestor. The researchers
declared that size of the
Pannoniasaurus made them larg-
96 96 96 96 96
est-known predators in paleo-en-
vironment waters.
Prithvi I, Missile Successfully Prithvi I, Missile Successfully Prithvi I, Missile Successfully Prithvi I, Missile Successfully Prithvi I, Missile Successfully
test-fired test-fired test-fired test-fired test-fired
successfully test-fired its indig-
enously developed nuclear
capable surface-to-surfacePrithvi-
II missile with a strike range of 350
km from a test range at Chandipur
near Balasore. The missile was test
fired from a mobile launcher
in salvo modefrom launch com-
plex-3 of Integrated Test Range at
about 9:20 am. The missile launch
was conducted as part of opera-
tional exercise by the Strategic
Force Command (SFC) of the de-
fence services. The entire trajec-
tory of the missile was tracked by
a battery of sophisticated radars,
telemetry observation stations,
electro-optic instruments and na-
val ships. The missile was ran-
domly chosen from the produc-
tion stock and the total launch ac-
tivities were carried out by the
specially formed SFC and moni-
tored by the scientists of Defence
Research & Development
Organisation (DRDO) as part of
practice drill. The Prithvi-II missile,
developed by the DRDO, is al-
ready inducted into the Indian
Armed forces. The last trial of
Prithvi-II was successfully carried
out from the same base on 4 Oc-
tober 2012.
Missile Specification Missile Specification Missile Specification Missile Specification Missile Specification
Prithvi is Indias first indig-
enously built ballistic missile
and one of the five missile
developed under Indias pres-
tigious Integrated Guided Mis-
sile Development Programme
(IGMDP).
It is capable of carrying 500 kg
to 1000 kg of warheads and
thrusted by liquid propulsion
twine engines, uses advanced
inertial guidance system with
manoeuvring trajectory.
The Prithvi-II missile is
equipped with advanced high
accuracy navigation system
and guided by an innovative
guidance scheme.
The improved Circular Error
Probability (CEP) achieved by
the missile is a testimony to
specify the efficacy of this mis-
sile system.
Prithvi uses an advanced iner-
tial guidance system with
manoeuvring capabilities and
comes within metres of its tar-
get.
Ramanujans Cryptic Death Bed Ramanujans Cryptic Death Bed Ramanujans Cryptic Death Bed Ramanujans Cryptic Death Bed Ramanujans Cryptic Death Bed
Theory Theory Theory Theory Theory
Indian maths genius Srinivasa
Ramanujans cryptic deathbed
theorywhich he claimed was con-
ceived in his dreams was finally
proved by American scientist in
the month of November. It was in
year 1920, when while on his
death-bed, Ramanujan wrote a let-
ter to his mentor, English math-
ematician G.H. Hardy, demarcat-
ing several new mathematical
functions never before heard of,
along with an instinct about how
they worked. As per the Research-
ers study the theory is now proved
to be right and that the formula
derived from the theory is capable
of explaining the behaviour of
black holes. Researcher proved
that Ramanujan was right and
found the formula explaining one
of the visions that he believed
came from his goddess Research-
ers were also stunned to find the
function could be used even to-
day. The problem was solved from
the last mysterious letters of the
theory. The problem has been
open for 90 years for people who
work in this area of math.
Ramanujan, was a self-taught
mathematician who was in born in
a rural village in South India and
had spent so much time thinking
about mathematics that he flunked
out of college twice. The maths
geniuss letter described several
new functions that behaved differ-
ently from known theta functions,
or modular forms, and yet closely
mimicked them. Functions are
equations that can be drawn as
graphs on an axis, like a sine wave,
and produce an output when com-
puted for any chosen input or
value. The findings were pre-
sented in November at a
Ramanujan conference held at the
University of Florida, ahead of the
125th anniversary of the
Ramanujan s birth on 22 Decem-
ber.
Astra Missile test-fired Astra Missile test-fired Astra Missile test-fired Astra Missile test-fired Astra Missile test-fired
Astra air-to-air inceptor mis-
sile was successfully test-fired for
the third time within a week on 24
December 2012 from the
Chandipur, defence base of
Odisha. The test was conducted
for identifying the missiles inter-
ception capability and high
manoeuvring and was successful
in intercepting the simulated tar-
get at an altitude of 4
kilometer. Astra has capabilities
of intercepting the enemy aircraft
and destroy it at supersonic speed
97 97 97 97 97
that is for head on mode at a range
of 1.2 Mach and at the tail-chase
mode at 1.4 Mach. The missile can
be launched from different alti-
tudes and can easily cover a dis-
tance of 110 kilometer if launched
from an altitude of 15 kilometer,
44 kilometer when launched from
an altitude of 8 kilometer and 21
kilometer when launched from sea
level. The missile with a capabil-
ity of carrying a conventional war-
head of 15 kilogram uses a solid
propellant. Astra is of 3.8 meter in
length and the smallest missile
developed by the DRDO till
date. Before this test firing, Astra
was also tested from the same
base on 21 December and 22 De-
cember 2012 by the scientists of
the Defence Research and Devel-
opment Organisation (DRDO),
who have designed and devel-
oped this missile. After passing all
the tests, Astra would be inte-
grated with different combat
fighter aircraft like MIG-29, Sukhoi-
30 and other light combat aircraft.
Worlds Longest High-speed Worlds Longest High-speed Worlds Longest High-speed Worlds Longest High-speed Worlds Longest High-speed
Rail Route Rail Route Rail Route Rail Route Rail Route
China on 26 December 2012
inaugurated worlds longest high-
speed rail route linking its capital
Beijing with the southern me-
tropolis of Guangzhou, covering a
distance of 2298 kms. It runs at an
average speed of 300 km per hour
and it will save nearly 12 hours by
bringing down the travel time be-
tween Beijing and Guangzhou
from more than 20 hours to around
eight. The route connects five
provinces and has 35 stops in ma-
jor cities, including Shijiazhuang,
Zhengzhou, Wuhan and Changsha.
With the opening of the Beijing-
Guangzhou high-speed railroad,
China now has a network of more
than 9300 km of operating high-
speed railways. This is the longest
high speed network China
launched after the Beijing-Shang-
hai Bullet train in 2010, which
brought down travel time to
around five hours, covering over
1300 km distance between two of
Chinas largest cities. The new train
covers Beijing with Chinas most
industrialised province
Guangdong where most devel-
oped cities like Guangzhou close
to Hong Kong and Maccau are lo-
cated. The line is expected to be
extended to Hong Kong by 2015.
P-8I Maritime Surveillance P-8I Maritime Surveillance P-8I Maritime Surveillance P-8I Maritime Surveillance P-8I Maritime Surveillance
Aircraft Aircraft Aircraft Aircraft Aircraft
The Indian Navy on 19 De-
cember 2012 received its first P-8I
Maritime Surveillance Aircraft at
its facility located at Seattle, out
of the eight that it would get from
Boeing. P-8I would be armed with
torpedoes, rockets and deadly
missile with abilities to fight
against powerful warships and
anti-submarine warfare. A deal of
2.1 billion dollar was signed be-
tween India and the US Aircraft
maker Boeing in January 2009 for
procurement of the long range
surveillance aircraft equipped
with anti-submarine weaponry.
This contract also included the
option of having four additional
aircrafts along with the intelli-
gence and surveillance systems,
training and maintenance support
and warfare. The aircraft will ar-
rive in India by May 2013 along
with two more aircrafts expected
to be handed over the Indian Na-
val team by the month.
About P-8I
P-8I, the aircraft is an imita-
tive of the Boeing 737-800 long
range maritime reconnaissance
aircraft and an anti-submarine
warfare aircraft. Being an Indian
variant of the P-8A Poseidon, be-
ing developed by Boeing for U.S.
Navy the P-8I is expected to re-
place Indian Navys Russian
Tupolev Tu-142M maritime surveil-
lance turboprop. The aircraft
would enable Indian Navy to pa-
trol across Indian Ocean to a
greater level.
Sonar Fort Sonar Fort Sonar Fort Sonar Fort Sonar Fort
More than 1500 kg of 500-
year old gunpowder was found on
20 December 2012 in five leather
bags near Jain Temple in Sonar
Fort, Jaisalmer. District administra-
tion decided to seek help from
Army for destroying the
gunpowder. The secretary of
Jaisalmer Vikas Samiti explained
that gunpowder was lying in
closed burj (tower) and was dis-
covered by the labourers who
were engrossed in repairing work.
This burj had remained closed for
several years, possibly
centuries. Local authorities va-
cated the area after getting this
information. Historian Nand
Kishore Sharma believed that gun-
powder could possibly be from
Maharaj Loonkaran Singhs time
when the cannon use was just
98 98 98 98 98
started in 1550. Till today, five
huge cannons were kept in Sonar
Fort, Jaisalmer. Usually the explo-
sives were kept in proximity to the
cannons. It was possible that ex-
plosives were kept in burj near
cannons which were placed near
Jain temple.
IPv6 IPv6 IPv6 IPv6 IPv6
Indian Registry for Internet
Names and Numbers (IRINN)
started issuing next version of
Internet addresses IPv6, which is
going to make it easy for security
agencies to identify each Internet
user. The present version of
Internet that is IPv4 (Internet Pro-
tocol version 4), is limited and ser-
vice providers often assign single
IP address to many users which
makes it difficult to identify the
end user. The number of IPv6 ad-
dresses available is enormous.
ISPs (Internet Service Providers)
can allocate an IP address to their
users. People can be easily identi-
fied if they are using IPv6. Asia
Pacific Network Information Cen-
tre (APNIC), which is one of the
five authorised bodies for issuing
Internet addresses, has recognised
Indian Registry for Internet Names
and Numbers (IRINN) for issuing
IP addresses in India. IRINN has
been set-up under the state-run
NIXI. The new addresses are go-
ing to be be multiple times
cheaper for companies than IPv4
addresses. Indian Registry for
Internet Names and Numbers
(IRINN) is issuing initial set-of IPv6
addresses in price range starting
at 21999 rupees as compared to
prevalent rate of around 66000
rupees in Asia Pacific region.
Gangnam Style Gangnam Style Gangnam Style Gangnam Style Gangnam Style
Gangnam Style, the most-
watched video ever on Youtube
now booked a place in popular
culture with becoming Collins
dictionarys word for November
2012. Gangnam Style, is pop sen-
sation with a horse dance video by
his Sotuh Korean singer Psy. It be-
came the first video in the history
of the Internet to be viewed more
than a billion times. Gangnam
Style was named among the
Collins dictionarys words of the
year al ong wi th mummy
porn, fi scal cl i ff and
Romneyshambles. Mummy
porn became Aprils word of the
year as the erotic novel Fifty
Shades of Grey was published
during that month and became an
instant bestseller. Defeated presi-
dential candidate Mitt Romney
became word of the year for July
after critics recognized his visit to
London a Romneyshambles.
Jubilympics was Junes word,
whi l e Games Makers was
Augusts due to the volunteers
who made the Olympic event in
UK a success. Each word was
submitted by the public to the on-
line dictionary
www. col l i nsdi cti onary. com/
submission. However, the pub-
lishers said not all 12 words had
the staying power to make it to the
print edition.
Barack Obama Barack Obama Barack Obama Barack Obama Barack Obama
US President Barack Obama
was named TIMEs Person of the
Year for 2012, because of his his-
toric win over the re-election in
November 2012 which is being
considered as symbol of the
nations changing demographics
amid the backdrop of high unem-
ployment and other challenges.
His name was announced by TIME
editor Rick Stengel on NBCs To-
day program on 19 December
2012.
It is the second time Barack
Obama is being accorded with
this honour. He had also received
the honour in 2008, when he was
first elected as president. Obama
had won re-election despite a
higher unemployment rate than
anybodys had to face in basically
in 70 years. Hes the first Demo-
crat to actually win two consecu-
tive terms with over 50 percent of
the vote. The short list for the
honour included Malala Yousafzai,
the Pakistani teenager who was
shot in the head for advocating for
girls education, as well as Egyp-
tian President Mohamed Morsi,
Apple CEO Tim Cook and Italian
physicist Fabiola Giannati. Times
Person of the Year is the person
or thing that has most influenced
the culture and the news during
the past year for good or for ill.
Sale at Sothebys Sale at Sothebys Sale at Sothebys Sale at Sothebys Sale at Sothebys
Anonymous bidder bought
two letters of Mahatma Gandhi as
well as rare copy of Indian consti-
99 99 99 99 99
tution at Sothebys sale in London
on 12 December 2012. The bidder
bought letter which was written by
Gandhi in 1922 to eldest brother
of Rabindranath Tagore,
Dwijendranath at 7 times the value
of its pre-sale estimate. The rare
copy of Indian constitution was
sold at around 8 times the offer
price to private collector. The
constitution copy was bought by
the private collector, while the two
letters which were associated to
Gandhi were bought by an anony-
mous buyer. The letter which was
written by Mahatma Gandhi to
Dwijendranath from the Sabarmati
jail brought back 49250 pounds
(around 43 lakh Rupees) at
Sothebys sale of Childrens Books,
History, English Literature as well
as Illustrations. There was an esti-
mate of 5000-7000 pounds. In the
letter, Mahatma Gandhi wrote that
the calm and peace in India was
important for his own strength. He
had asked Dwijendranath to send
this supporting message to Young.
India journal in two pages letter
which was written in
pencil. There was another letter
written by Gandhi to unknown
friend in 1922 in which he had of-
fered condolences after hearing
about the death of his friends
mother. This letter was sold for
5625 pounds. The estimated
amount of this letter was 3000-
4000 pounds. It is important to
note that in November 2012, the
Gandhian author Giriraj Kishore
had gone to UPA chairperson,
Sonia Gandhi in order to put a halt
to the auction of these two letters
written by Gandhi. On the other
hand, the first limited edition of
constitution on the stiff Whatman
paper having an estimate amount
of 4000-5000 pounds was sold for
39650 pounds. This copy of con-
stitution is signed by the President
Rajendra Prasad in English as well
as Devnagari, along with Pandit
Jawarharlal Nehru on
authentification page.
Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II would be
the first UK royal broadcasted in
3D while delivering the Christmas
message. In order to watch this
monarch, viewers will have to use
special glasses as well as new 3D
TV sets. After the 3D debut of
royal Queen Elizabeth II, there
would also be an on-screen per-
formance of the Queen with
Daniel Craig in James Bond se-
quence which is primarily re-
corded for opening ceremony of
London Olympics. The special 3D
Christmas message was filmed by
BskyB. This message would be
available on BBC and ITV. The re-
cording of the special Christmas
message took place on 7 Decem-
ber 2012 at the Buckingham Pal-
ace. However the speech would
miss out on the pregnancy of The
Duchess of Cambridge, news
which broke out in the first week
of December 2012. In the mes-
sage, instead of the pregnancy of
The Duchess of Cambridge, the
86-year old royal Queen Elizabeth
II would speak about Diamond
Jubilee celebrations as well as the
Olympic Games. The opportunity
of becoming the first Royal to be
broadcasted in 3D was declined
by Prince William at the wedding
to Kate Middleton in 2011. The first
Christmas message was given by
the Queen in 1952. The first live
TV broadcast on Christmas was in
1957. The tradition of Christmas
message started with Queens
grandfather George V in 1932.
George V had delivered the radio
broadcast which was written by
Rudyard Kipling. First royal chan-
nel to be set up on YouTube was
back in the year 2007. Queen also
has her account on social network-
ing site- Twitter since 2009.
Tirupati Tirupati Tirupati Tirupati Tirupati
President Pranab Mukherjee
on 27 December 2012 declared
open the 4th World Telugu Con-
ference in the presence of thou-
sands of Telugu-speaking people
from across the world in the
temple town of Tirupati of Andhra
Pradesh. Marking the occasion
President released Teluguvari
Charitra, a coffee table book
brought out by EMESCO and an-
other on gold coins of Srivari
Hundi on Tirumala, while Gover-
nor E.S.L. Narasimhan released
Teluguvani, another book. The
event was also marked with the
felicitation of 14 eminent Telugus.
People were asked to pass on the
rich Telugu culture, heritage and
tradition to the next generation
with a resolve to preserve and pro-
mote the honey-laced aura of the
language. The inaugural also saw
the laying of a foundation stone for
an international convention cen-
tre. The deliberations of the three-
day conference should come out
with recommendations on pre-
serving and promoting the lan-
guage. The purpose behind the
conference is to give a new dimen-
100 100 100 100 100
sion and vision for the upkeep of
Telugu, tracing its history and
while naming prominent persons
and their contributions and vari-
ous literary movements.
Bhanu Athaiya Bhanu Athaiya Bhanu Athaiya Bhanu Athaiya Bhanu Athaiya
Bhanu Athaiya, the first In-
dian to win an Oscar for costume
design in the movie
Gandhidecided to return her
award to the American Academy
of Motion Picture Arts and Sci-
ences (AMPAS) in December
2012. Bhanu Athaiya fears that she
might lose her trophy as the gov-
ernment might not be able to pro-
tect it. Bhanu Athaiya, 85 blamed
that the central government had
neglected her work and contribu-
tions. She also blamed that there
was no one or no museum that
could protect these
things. Athaiya had won the most
prestigious Oscar award for cos-
tume design for classic
film Gandhi in 1982. Now, she
has decided to return the award
to AMPAS, for which she is also in
negotiations with the academy.
Athaiya had dressed Ben Kingsley
i n the fi l m Gandhi . Bhanu
Athaiya is also unsure that her fam-
ily could take care of the presti-
gious award after her dismissal.
Athaiya was the first Indian star at
Academy. She has designed vari-
ous costumes for more than 100
films which include Guide, Sahib
Biwi Aur Ghulam, CID, Pyaasa
and Chaudhvin Ka Chand.
New Delhi New Delhi New Delhi New Delhi New Delhi
The 2nd meeting of the Work-
ing Mechanism for Consultation
and Coordination on India-China
Border Affairs was held in New
Delhi on 29-30 November, 2012.
The discussions took place in a
cordial, constructive and coopera-
tive atmosphere. The two delega-
tions reviewed developments in
the India-China border areas since
the 1st meeting of the Mechanism
and acknowledged with satisfac-
tion that peace and tranquillity
continued to be maintained due
to the efforts of both sides. The
two delegations also exchanged
ideas on additional measures for
maintaining peace and tranquillity
as well as further steps to build
greater trust and confidence be-
tween the two sides. The two del-
egations welcomed the recent lib-
eralization of border trade across
Nathu La, which has led to a sig-
nificant increase in the volume of
trade. They continued their discus-
sions on introducing additional
routes for the Kailash Manasarovar
Yatra. The Indian delegation was
lead by Gautam Bambawale, Joint
Secretary (East Asia) and com-
prised of representatives of the
Ministries of External Affairs, De-
fence and Home Affairs as well as
members of the Indian Army and
the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.
The Chinese delegation was lead
by Ambassador Wang Xiaodu,
Special Representative, Depart-
ment of Boundary and Oceanic
Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and comprised of representatives
of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs
and National Defence of the
Peoples Republic of China. The
3rd meeting of the Working
Mechanism will be held in China
at a mutually convenient time.
Sonia Gandhi & Manmohan Sonia Gandhi & Manmohan Sonia Gandhi & Manmohan Sonia Gandhi & Manmohan Sonia Gandhi & Manmohan
Singh Singh Singh Singh Singh
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi
and Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh were named in the list of top
20 most powerful people in the
world by the Forbes Magazine in
annual power rankings which
were declared on 5 December
2012. Enjoying the first position for
the second year consecutively is
the US President Barrack
Obama. Pri me Mi ni ster
Manmohan Sign was ranked
at number 19.
Sonia Gandhi dropped from
the rankings of 2011 to number
12 in 2012. Reliance Industries
chairman Mukesh Ambani, the
richest business tycoon of India as
well as Arcelor Mittal CEO
Lakshmi Mittal also appeared in
this list. Ambani is ranked at num-
ber 37 and he outranked Mittal by
various positions.
Forbes Magazine also noted
that Rahul Gandhi was next to
reign the most popular political
dynasty of India. The magazine
also described Ambanis Reliance
Industries as the most valued com-
pany of India and Mukesh
Ambanis home called Antilia was
described as the most expensive
private residence of the world.
Antilia is the 27-storeyed 400000
sqft private residence of Ambani
in Mumbai.
101 101 101 101 101
Vladmir Putin Vladmir Putin Vladmir Putin Vladmir Putin Vladmir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin,
the President of Russia visited In-
dia on 24 December 2012 at the
Invitation of Manmohan Singh, the
Prime Minister of India to attend
13th India-Russia Annual Summit.
During the visit the Russian Presi-
dent met the Prime Minister of In-
dia - Manmohan Singh and the
President of India Pranab
Mukherjee. During this visit of
President Vladimir Putin and Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh re-
viewed the progress made in all
the important areas of mutual co-
operation, comprising sectors like
energy, trade, high technology and
military-technical cooperation.
Both these leaders discussed on
extending the special and privi-
leged strategic partnership be-
tween the two countries.
Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Mount Elizabeth Hospital in
Singapore Singapore Singapore Singapore Singapore
The 23-year old para-medical
student who was gangraped in
New Delhi on 16 December 2012
passed away in Mount Elizabeth
Hospital in Singapore on 29 De-
cember 2012. The 23-year old
Delhi gangrape victim passed
away on 29 December 2012 at
Mount Elizabeth hospital in
Singapore at 2:15am (IST). The vic-
tim died due to multiple organ fail-
ure and severe injuries to her brain
and body. Indias High Commis-
sioner to Singapore TCA Raghavan
announced that the body would
be brought back to India on 29
December 2012. According to the
Singapore doctors, the victim lost
the battle of her life after two
weeks of brutal sexual attack
which horrified India. The chief
executive of Singapores Mount
Elizabeth Hospital announced on
28 December 2012 that she was
suffering from severe organ failure
because of injuries to her brain as
well as body. She was raped on
16 December 2012 by six men
who also assaulted her with iron
rods. The victim was shifted to
Singapore hospital on 27 Decem-
ber 2012.
Mumbai Mumbai Mumbai Mumbai Mumbai
Mumbai, the commercial
capital of India was named one
among the dirtiest cities of the
world in the Trip Advisors Cities
Survey. Trip Advisor s Cities
Survey was the global survey in-
cluding 40 main tourist cities.
Mumbai ranked last in the category
of cleanest streets. Tokyo got the
first rank in this category. Mumbai
was again ranked last in the cat-
egory of ease of getting around.
Zurich, on the other hand was
ranked first. The survey also found
out the cities that had rudest lo-
cals, worst shopping as well as
dirtiest streets. It was found that
the least-friendly locals were
found in Moscow. Cities of Russia
ranked last in various categories
which included friendliest
locals. The highly decorated city
of the world was Tokyo and it
ranked at the top most position in
terms of friendliest taxi drivers,
cleanest streets, safety, best pub-
lic transportation as well as best
taxi services. The New York City
was ranked at the top for the pur-
pose of shopping. It already has
the global reputation of shopping
hub. The survey which was com-
pleted by over 75000 people
checked cities from various tour-
ists point of view. The survey
looked at how travellers noticed
these cities and locals viewed
them. They survey was conducted
in the 40 important and popular
tourist cities of the world.
Logical Reasoning &
Analytical Reasoning
MCQ Series
103 103 103 103 103
SELECTED ARTICLE FROM VARIOUS NEWSPAPER & JOURNALS SELECTED ARTICLE FROM VARIOUS NEWSPAPER & JOURNALS SELECTED ARTICLE FROM VARIOUS NEWSPAPER & JOURNALS SELECTED ARTICLE FROM VARIOUS NEWSPAPER & JOURNALS SELECTED ARTICLE FROM VARIOUS NEWSPAPER & JOURNALS
A step closer to Palestine A step closer to Palestine A step closer to Palestine A step closer to Palestine A step closer to Palestine
The Palestinian bid to become
a non-member Observer State at the
United Nations has been, as expected,
approved by an overwhelming vote of
138 to nine, with 41 abstentions in the
General Assembly. The vote implies
global recognition of the relevant ter-
ritory as a sovereign state and is a
major step towards a two-state solu-
tion for historical Palestine. The new
status amounts to less of an achieve-
ment than full U.N. membership,
which the Security Council declined
to consider in September 2011 on the
grounds that the members were un-
able to make a unanimous recom-
mendation, but the Palestinians can
now participate in General Assembly
debates. In sum, this is an important
move towards Palestinian statehood,
which 132 countries have already
recognised. As for particular coun-
tries, one former colonial power,
France, voted in favour, and the other
state with a previous imperial connec-
tion to the region, the United King-
dom, abstained, as did Germany. Pre-
dictably, Israels biggest supporter,
the United States, opposed the reso-
lution, reconfirming its view that a
negotiated settlement is the only way
to establish a Palestinian state.
The U.N. resolution, however,
could well be the first of many mo-
mentous changes for West Asia. The
Palestinian Authority can now seek
membership of several U.N. agencies
and, above all, can apply to sign the
Rome Statute of the International
Criminal Court, with the clear impli-
cation that Israel may finally be held
accountable for crimes committed
against the civilian population of Gaza.
Secondly, differences have emerged
between Washington and major Eu-
ropean countries over Israel-Palestine,
even if some European officials call
criminal charges against Israel a red
line. Thirdly, it is consistent with glo-
bal public opinion; even U.S. opinion
polls show majorities for a two-state
formula. It also testifies to the increas-
ing confidence of Palestinian repre-
sentatives, who have said that contin-
ued exclusion would strengthen sup-
port for Hamas; the representatives,
moreover, now know that the regions
peoples demand justice for the Pal-
estinians and can no longer be ig-
nored. The vote will be truly mean-
ingful if it marks the start of a new in-
ternational resolve to ensure the
people of Palestine are able to exer-
cise their right to statehood and self-
determination, just as the people of
Israel have been doing for years. The
first order of business has to be to stop
the Israeli stranglehold over occupied
Palestinian territory, including the
monstrous policy of building settle-
ments. As long as the international
community gives Tel Aviv a free pass
on these issues, peace and security in
Israel-Palestine will always remain elu-
sive.
Courtesy-The Hindu
Medias Leveson moment Medias Leveson moment Medias Leveson moment Medias Leveson moment Medias Leveson moment
Ending months of feverish
speculation, Lord Justice Leveson has
finally given his verdict on the British
press and it does not make com-
fortable reading either for journalists
or politicians. The Financial
Times called it a damning indictment
of the culture and practices of the
newspaper industry. And The
Times whose sister paper, the now
defunct News of the World , caused
the phone hacking scandal that led to
the inquiry, credited Lord Leveson
with correctly identifying the lapses
in moral and professional standards
104 104 104 104 104
of the press. His 2000-page report
longer than Harry Potter, shorter than
Proust, denser than Tolstoy, as
the Guardian put it lambasts the
media for its reckless and outra-
geous behaviour and accuses it of
having wreaked havoc in the lives of
innocent people for many decades.
Politicians get a sharp rap on the
knuckles for developing too close a
relationship with the press in a way
which has not been in the public in-
terest. Yet, for all the apparent sound
and fury, the report is more significant
not so much for what it says but for
what it does not say.
During the hearings, Lord
Leveson made some strong observa-
tions about the need for a radically
new regulatory regime. This sparked
speculation that he was likely to rec-
ommend a strong dose of statutory
regulation. It was widely thought that
he might bow to pressure from vic-
tims campaign groups such as
Hacked Off and go for the nuclear
option a press law. In the end,
though, he settled for a sensible
middle course between the discred-
ited current system of self-regulation
and state regulation. He wants the cre-
ation of a new regulatory body which
would be truly independent of the
newspaper industry and the govern-
ment, but backed by legislation. He
stressed that this did not imply state
control. The proposed legislation was
not meant to establish the new body
but only to recognise an indepen-
dent regulatory regime as the public
had no confidence in the industry-
controlled Press Complaints Commis-
sion. While the Opposition Labour
Party and the governments junior coa-
lition partner, the Liberal Democrats,
have enthusiastically embraced the
proposal, Prime Minister David
Cameron believes it has the poten-
tial to infringe free speech and the free
press, a view not shared by many of
his own MPs. Eventually what will
count is public opinion and it is over-
whelmingly in favour of the Leveson
proposal, leaving Mr. Cameron look-
ing like the odd man out. The report
will find resonance in India too, where
calls for media regulation are grow-
ing louder. Indeed, before it is beset
with its own hacking scandal, the In-
dian media should see what lessons it
can draw from the Leveson report.
Courtesy-The Hindu
In the world of foreign policy, a In the world of foreign policy, a In the world of foreign policy, a In the world of foreign policy, a In the world of foreign policy, a
rare idealist rare idealist rare idealist rare idealist rare idealist
It was the small town of Baden-
Baden in Germany that External Affairs
Minister Inder Kumar Gujral chose as
the venue for a meeting of Indian en-
voys in Europe. As High Commis-
sioner to the United Kingdom, I at-
tended it. During the discussion,
Gujral wanted our comments on the
future of relations between India and
Pakistan. I said the resolution of Kash-
mir was important. Gujral snubbed
me. Yet when he was the Prime Min-
ister in 1997, he announced at Srinagar
that India was willing to accept a so-
lution outside the Constitution. There
was so much pressure on him that he
retracted the statement. But he re-
mained steadfast in his proposal of a
status for Kashmir outside the Consti-
tution, though as part of the Indian
Union.
A fighter for lost causes A fighter for lost causes A fighter for lost causes A fighter for lost causes A fighter for lost causes
Gujral constituted a Kashmir
group and we visited Srinagar many
times. There came a time when the
Hurriyat leaders were willing to sit
across the table with Indian leaders
to settle the issue. But despite Gujrals
efforts, New Delhi did not change the
policy of a military solution.
Sympathetic to all minorities,
Gujral had also floated a Punjab group.
The purpose was to bring round the
Akalis, representing the Sikhs, to re-
nounce their demand for the
Anandpur Sahib resolution which
sought Punjabs autonomy. Once
again we were able to persuade the
Akalis to give up the demand which
had in it the seeds of separation. The
government let us down at that time
also. We were told to find a solution
to all problems with the Sikhs at one
go, while the government was prepar-
ing for Operation Bluestar. Gujral felt
betrayed.
In fact, I know from my long as-
sociation with Gujral that he fought for
many lost causes and derived satisfac-
tion just from the fight. People in Pa-
kistan, Bangladesh and Kashmir
recognise him as a friend. His tenure
as Prime Minister, although only for
one short year, shows how he went
out of the way to accommodate
neighbouring countries. Towards the
end of his life, he was disillusioned
with Pakistan. He said that he wasted
his life pursuing the mirage of build-
ing bridges with Islamabad and had
realised rather late in the day that Pa-
kistani leaders were anti-India to the
core, never wanting to bury the
hatchet.
Bringing Moscow closer Bringing Moscow closer Bringing Moscow closer Bringing Moscow closer Bringing Moscow closer
Gujral always took pride in hav-
ing brought Russia and India closer.
As the Indian envoy, he was in Mos-
cow for a long time, first serving Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi and then Prime
Minister Morarji Desai. That the non-
Congress regime retained him in Mos-
cow spoke volumes about his out-
standing contribution in making So-
viet leaders appreciate Indias prob-
lems, although with no substantial re-
sult. He was on first-name terms with
all the top shots in the government and
the Communist party.
Gujral understood communism
and its drawbacks well. As a young
man in Lahore, he was a member of
the Indian communist party. After Par-
tition, he had strayed away from it to
join the Congress. But he remained a
leftist. Some said this was why he gave
civil servants an abnormal pay hike
when he was Prime Minister. The
States vehemently criticised him but
had to follow suit. When I conveyed
to him the angry comments made by
members of the government, he said:
The bureaucracy is the backbone of
the government and it should be kept
happy.
His finest hour His finest hour His finest hour His finest hour His finest hour
Gujrals finest hour was prob-
105 105 105 105 105
ably when he refused to continue as
minister of Information and Broadcast-
ing during the Emergency. A spar with
Sanjay Gandhi ended his agony. When
Sanjay gave him instructions on the
telephone on how to tackle the press,
Gujral said he was his mothers minis-
ter, and not his errand boy. Indira
Gandhi sent him to the Planning Com-
mission where he had P.N. Haksar, al-
ready shifted from the Prime Ministers
Office for his leftist views, to share
his grief with.
I recall travelling with Gujral to
South Africa to pay homage to Ma-
hatma Gandhis early days of struggle.
Gujral had another purpose: meeting
Nelson Mandela whose photo he had
on his table. Mandela took Gujral to
the dance floor and made him dance
during a banquet in his honour. He
travelled by car some 17 hours every
day to touch all the places where
Gandhiji had lived. He was particularly
moved when he visited the railway
station at Pietermaritzburg where
Gandhiji was thrown out of the first-
class compartment for being a non-
white.
His book His book His book His book His book
Three years ago when he
brought out his memoirs, I told him
the book revealed no secrets from the
time he occupied top positions in the
government. His reply was: I am not
a journalist. Still, I think he should
have told at least two stories of the
Congress split in 1969 because he was
an insider then; and, the attitude of the
Soviet leaders when they smelt defeat
during the Cold War. But then Gujral
was known for not treading on
anybodys toes. Posterity will remem-
ber him as a Prime Minister who was
humble and who won the hearts of
even his rivals through his humility. He
was a gentleman in politics and this is
imprinted on his work of more than
six decades in the service of his na-
tion and the people. The country has
lost a great leader. And I have lost a
close friend who shared his innermost
thoughts with me. Together we visited
Pakistan, Punjab and Kashmir many
times. In the Kashmir and Punjab
groups, his amiable temperament
brought members closer together.
There is nobody to pick up the thread
from where he left off. The work is
important, and his absence will be felt.
Personally, his death has left me feel-
ing lonely. I shall miss the voice at the
other end of the telephone, offering
advice when I needed it.
Courtesy-The Hindu
What Chinas transition means What Chinas transition means What Chinas transition means What Chinas transition means What Chinas transition means
for India for India for India for India for India
Continuity is a word that Na-
tional Security Adviser Shivshankar
Menon is likely to hear often from his
Chinese interlocutors during his visit
to Beijing, which begins today. Mr.
Menon, who is also the Special Rep-
resentative on the boundary question,
will meet State Councillor Dai
Bingguo, his counterpart on the bor-
der talks, for what officials have de-
scribed as informal talks on the bor-
der and strategic issues of common
concern. He is expected to hold talks
with one of the seven members of the
newly-selected Politburo Standing
Committee likely to be second-
ranked Li Keqiang, the anointed Pre-
mier, subject to his availability
marking Indias first real engagement
with the fifth generation of the Chi-
nese leadership following the Novem-
ber 15 transition. The once-in-ten-year
leadership change in China is likely to
usher in a new chapter on how the
country conducts its foreign policy,
officials and strategic scholars in
Beijing say. Over the next four months,
both the Communist Party of China
(CPC) and the government that it leads
will complete a sweeping change
across all levels of its leadership. At
the recently concluded Party Con-
gress, the CPC selected a new 25-
member Politburo and 371-member
Central Committee, which will guide
policy-making in all spheres for the
next five years. The Parliament session
of the National Peoples Congress in
March will be of more relevance to
Chinas diplomacy. The expected re-
tirement of Dai Bingguo one of five
State Councillors who function under
the four Vice Premiers of the Cabinet,
or the State Council in March has
received much attention in India, as
he has served as the Special Repre-
sentative (SR) on the boundary talks
since the current format was initiated
a decade ago.
Border talks Border talks Border talks Border talks Border talks
Chinese officials and strategic
scholars who focus on China-India
relations say Mr. Dais retirement will
not have much impact on the bound-
ary talks. Mr. Dai himself, as the SR,
was only tasked with the mandate of
following strictly the guidelines put in
place by the Politburo and Central
Committee for the talks. That role will
be continued by his successor as the
SR the current Foreign Minister
Yang Jiechi and Vice Foreign Minis-
ters Fu Ying and Zhang Zhijun, who
were all selected as members of the
new Central Committee, have been
mentioned as likely candidates.
Among Chinese strategic scholars,
there is little expectation that the
boundary talks, of which 15 rounds
have been held, will yield any major
concrete outcomes in the near future.
Since 2005, when the two countries
completed the first of three stages of
negotiations by signing an agreement
on political parameters and guiding
principles, perceptions in Beijing are
that the crucial second stage of frame-
work negotiations has been dead-
locked.
After 2005, there is nearly no
significant progress on the boundary
talks, said Hu Shisheng, a South Asia
scholar at the China Institutes of Con-
temporary International Relations
(CICIR). If there [will] be any progress
in the future, he said, it could be [be-
cause of] accepting and respecting
each others LAC [Line of Actual Con-
trol] claim. Based upon this, he said,
both sides could put aside the sov-
ereignty issue and leave the bound-
ary question for next generations to
solve. Mr. Hus sentiment was echoed
in a rare commentary on the bound-
106 106 106 106 106
ary talks published last month in
the Liberation Daily , a newspaper
with ties to the CPC in Shanghai, which
suggested that both sides put aside
the dispute. The commentary said
even the status quo that is, accept-
ing the Line of Actual Control
would not be acceptable to both
countries, rendering a solution un-
likely in the near future.
Lack of progress on the border
notwithstanding, relations with India
will be much more stable under the
new leadership because of Chinas
current domestic and external priori-
ties, according to Mr. Hu. As the Work
Report of the Party Congress the
policy blueprint for the next five years
stressed, the internal focus will be
on development. As for the external
focus, addressing Chinas relations
with West Pacific neighbours and
Chinas relations with the U.S. would
be the likely priority, Mr. Hu said. He
agreed that India fared far below is-
sues such as relations with the United
States, current territorial disputes with
Japan and the situation in the South
China Sea in terms of Chinas press-
ing priorities. In urgency, it is true that
China-India relations are secondary to
those more urgent issues, he said.
[But] in Chinas present foreign
policy, India is regarded as one coun-
try that China has confidence in. In-
dia-China relations are not a distur-
bance. The Chinese government has
to keep this kind of momentum. But
as for issues such as the regional
order in the Asia-Pacific region in par-
ticular, climate change and trade re-
gime talks, Chinas strong partner is
still India. So, in whatever way, he
concluded, China needs more stable
Indo-China relations.
Pivot concerns Pivot concerns Pivot concerns Pivot concerns Pivot concerns
Chinas concerns on the United
States pivot or rebalancing, which
has emerged as Beijings primary for-
eign policy focus in recent months, is
likely to cast a shadow on ties with
India. Obamas pivot offers a lens
through which many Chinese analysts
see Indias strategic intention toward
China, said Han Hua, a leading South
Asia scholar at Peking University. The
two have to talk to each other on core
interests and how to avoid challeng-
ing those interests, she said. Small
frictions will be still there, but in gen-
eral, stable relations are the main
theme in Chinas India policy.
Ms Han was of the view that
China under new General Secretary Xi
Jinping will attach more importance
on its relations with its neighbours
than before. Chinese officials and
scholars say the new leadership is
acutely aware that the past year has
been a difficult one for Chinas diplo-
macy. There is renewed concern in the
region particularly among Chinas
neighbours about increasing Chi-
nese assertiveness, in the wake of re-
cent territorial disputes with Japan
over the East China Sea islands and in
the South China Sea. There is also a
perception in Beijing that its diplo-
macy has lacked creativity and
nimbleness. To elevate the level of
diplomatic decision-making, the CPC
is considering appointing one of its 25
Politburo members as a new foreign
policy czar who would also hold the
title of Vice Premier a rank higher
than the position held by the current
top Chinese diplomat, Mr. Dai. Wang
Huning, who joined the Politburo in
November, has been mentioned as a
candidate for the post. As an official
working in the Secretariat of the Po-
litburo, Mr. Wang regularly accompa-
nied President Hu Jintao on almost all
of his international trips, including to
India for the BRICS Summit earlier this
year. He speaks French fluently, and
earlier worked as the Dean of the In-
ternational Politics Department at
Shanghais Fudan University.
Two other areas where a new
approach by the Chinese leadership
is likely to be of relevance to India are
with regard to Tibet and trade. The
CPC has appointed a new head of the
United Front Work Department, the
leading organisation in charge of Ti-
bet policy and talks with the Dalai
Lama, which have been stalled after
the Tibetan spiritual leaders represen-
tatives resigned citing a hardening
Chinese position. The around 90 self-
immolation protests by Tibetans have
brought fresh accusations aimed at
Dharamsala of a separatist plot. The
Tibet policy will be under the charge
of Ling Jihua, a protg of Hu Jintao.
Under Mr. Hu, China followed an ap-
proach to Tibet that emphasised sta-
bility and security, and stepped up
pressure on the Dalai Lama interna-
tionally.
On the trade front, the past year
has seen a more than 13 per cent de-
cline in trade with India, as of Octo-
ber. Bilateral trade has been driven by
Indian exports of iron ore and imports
of Chinese power and telecom equip-
ment. Iron ore exports are unlikely to
recover as a result of a prolonged
slowdown in Chinas steel sector in
the short-term and the governments
long-term target of rebalancing the
economy. China has suggested boost-
ing mutual investments as a way to
bridge the imbalance, but its officials
have voiced concern most recently
at the November 26 Strategic Eco-
nomic Dialogue in New Delhi at the
investment climate in India after du-
ties on the import of power equip-
ment and restrictions in the telecom
sector were imposed. The CPCs Work
Report highlighted health care reform
and Information Technology as stra-
tegic priorities for the next five years,
which may open up new possibilities
for Indian pharmaceutical and IT com-
panies. In both sectors, India is push-
ing for greater market access. But Chi-
nese officials say Indian companies
will, for their part, have to invest far
more in the domestic market in
terms of boosting both their expertise
and commitment if they want to
expand their presence in China as the
countrys new leadership takes
charge.
Courtesy-The Hindu
Neither effective nor equitable Neither effective nor equitable Neither effective nor equitable Neither effective nor equitable Neither effective nor equitable
The nondescript town of
Kotkasim in the Alwar district of
Rajasthan had its Peepli Live moment
107 107 107 107 107
after it was chosen for a pilot experi-
ment with direct cash transfers of
kerosene subsidies. According to the
district administration, the scheme led
to net savings of 79 per cent in kero-
sene subsidies after it was launched
in December 2011, by weeding out
fake users. The administration fur-
ther claims that if this were replicated
in Rajasthan as a whole, it would lead
to annual savings of about Rs. 920
crore for the State government. How-
ever, are these savings really driven by
a reduction in the illegal diversion of
subsidised kerosene? A quick investi-
gation, based on discussions with resi-
dents and Fair Price Shop (FPS) deal-
ers in three gram panchayats of
Kotkasim, reveals a different story.
The scheme The scheme The scheme The scheme The scheme
The direct cash transfer of kero-
sene subsidies works as follows. In-
stead of getting kerosene from the lo-
cal FPS at a subsidised price of Rs. 15
a litre, as they used to do, households
now pay the full market price (initially
Rs. 45 a litre, later raised to Rs. 50).
The subsidy, that is, the difference be-
tween the market price and the
subsidised rate of Rs 15 a litre, is de-
posited into their bank accounts. The
subsidy payments are supposed to be
made every three months, with the
first three-month instalment paid in
advance when the scheme is
launched.
Clearly, this scheme requires
careful recording of kerosene pur-
chases and close coordination among
the FPS, the administration and the
banks. When people buy kerosene,
the FPS dealer notes down their ac-
count number in his sales register
along the purchase details. This infor-
mation is sent to the District Supply
Officer (DSO). The relevant subsidies
are then paid into bank accounts
based on this information, every three
months.
The main purpose of the scheme
is to reduce leakages: if FPS dealers
get the same price from their legiti-
mate customers as from the black
market, there is no incentive to cheat.
That, at any rate, is how things are sup-
posed to work.
Peoples perceptions Peoples perceptions Peoples perceptions Peoples perceptions Peoples perceptions
Most of the consumers we
talked to said they used kerosene for
lighting lamps, and sometimes in
cooking stoves. Further probing re-
vealed that some people used to mix
kerosene with diesel to run tubewell
pumpsets as well, though this was
from their own quota of three litres
per month. Before the scheme was
launched, households often bought
extra kerosene by borrowing ration
cards from others who did not pur-
chase their full quota. These proxy
purchases have more or less ceased
under the new scheme, because the
subsidy is credited directly to the
cardholder. Many respondents com-
plained bitterly about this.
On the other hand, in the earlier
system, kerosene supplies often ran
out (possibly due to illegal diversion).
For this reason, many people were
also willing to go along with the new
scheme provided the subsidies were
paid on time. Old entries in the ration
cards suggest that there was demand
for kerosene from every household.
Moreover, due to power cuts and a
lack of alternative source of lighting,
kerosene is a necessity in many house-
holds. Then why did the purchase de-
cline so dramatically after the new
scheme was introduced?
One major reason is the erratic
payment (or even non-payment) of
subsidies, due to lack of coordination
with the banks. Even a year after the
scheme was launched, many house-
holds have not been able to open a
bank account. Since the subsidy trans-
fer requires Core Banking Solutions
(CBS) enabled bank branches, the
post office accounts of MGNREGA
workers were not considered. Many
households are yet to receive any sub-
sidy, despite shelling out Rs 500 to
open a (supposedly zero-balance)
bank account for instance the SBI
account holders of Bilahedi gram
panchayat. Another major hurdle is
the time and effort required to go to
the bank and check whether the sub-
sidy has been credited. Quite often,
people have to visit the bank many
times just to get this information. Even
a single visit can take a full day be-
cause of the distance, long queues,
and uncooperative bank staff. This is
a major hassle, particularly for poor
households.
Because of this erratic and cum-
bersome transfer of subsidies, the ef-
fective price of kerosene has actually
shot up, leading to a dramatic decline
in FPS purchases. Since the launch of
the pilot in December 2011, some
households have received two sub-
sidy instalments (for three months
each) and some have received one
but many others are yet to get any sub-
sidy. Without assured and timely sub-
sidy payments, people are reluctant
or unable to buy kerosene at the
market rate.
The worst-hit are the poorest
households. For instance, Sumitra
Devi of Kanhdka gram panchayat, a
single woman, has been constrained
to use her pension to purchase kero-
sene from the FPS at the market rate
without receiving any subsidy. Appar-
ently, her account number is yet to
reach the bank.
The dealers story was consis-
tent with what we heard from con-
sumers. Kerosene sales dropped dras-
tically in the very first month after the
scheme was introduced. Subse-
quently, kerosene offtake by dealers
also plummeted due to a dramatic in-
crease in the amounts they had to pay
upfront to get kerosene supplies.
When the FPS transaction price per
litre tripled (from Rs 15 to Rs 45), so
did the cash advance from about
Rs 3,300 per 220-litre drum to Rs 9,900
per drum.
Bad deal Bad deal Bad deal Bad deal Bad deal
Dealers commissions, however,
remained the same (per litre). Further,
it takes much longer to recover the
advance, because sales have crashed.
Thus, the returns on investment are
much lower, to the extent that many
dealers have lost interest in supplying
108 108 108 108 108
kerosene. Some of them are literally
being forced to continue, just to show
that the scheme is a success. Even if
many dealers were diverting kerosene
earlier, maintaining a sound incentive
structure for them is very important
for the sustainability of the system.
Forcing them to purchase kerosene at
a loss to ensure that the scheme con-
tinues is both unsustainable and un-
ethical.
Pilot or showpiece? Pilot or showpiece? Pilot or showpiece? Pilot or showpiece? Pilot or showpiece?
Pilot surveys are initiated to
learn lessons from ground realities.
Before scaling up, the shortcomings
need to be rectified. However, till now
there has been no objective assess-
ment whatsoever of the scheme by the
government. On the contrary, the ad-
ministration is projecting the scheme
as a grand success on the sole basis
of reduction in total subsidy, without
analysing (or revealing) its cause. Our
investigation suggests that the main
reason for the reduction in subsidy is
the involuntary dropping out of legiti-
mate buyers. The whole experiment
looks like a desperate top-down at-
tempt to successfully execute a
showpiece at any cost. One dealer
told us that the DSO had scolded him
saying: Ramjibhi to 14 saal ke vanwaas
par gae the, aap teen mahine scheme
nahi chala sakte? (even Lord Ram was
exiled to the jungle for 14 years, cant
you run the scheme for three months).
Another dealer was told: Aapko
scheme chalani hi padegi, Collector
ko sammanit jo karwana hai (you will
have to run the scheme since we have
to get an award for the Collector).
Of course, if the real purpose of
the experiment was just to reduce the
amount of subsidy (if need be by driv-
ing legitimate beneficiaries out of the
system), then, yes, it was a success.
But if the purpose was to put in place
a more effective and equitable system,
the Kotkasim experiment is at best an
opportunity to learn from failure.
Courtesy-The Hindu
Time to clean up our game Time to clean up our game Time to clean up our game Time to clean up our game Time to clean up our game
The news about the Interna-
tional Olympic Committee suspend-
ing India has not been entirely unex-
pected though the pace with which
events unfolded on Tuesday might
have stunned many. That both sides
adopted uncompromising postures
while handling a most sensitive mat-
ter was unfortunate. The IOC did not
wait for the Indian Olympics Associa-
tion (IOA) elections to take place on
Wednesday before suspending India,
nor did it give a hearing to the Indian
body, especially at a time when its
representative in the country, Randhir
Singh, happened to be an aspiring
candidate in the elections. On its part,
the IOA did not show the urgency or
diplomacy that was warranted to deal
with the situation.
The IOA allowed things to drift
even though contentious issues re-
lated to government guidelines on ten-
ure of office-bearers first enforced
in 1975 had been brewing for more
than two years. It was the former
Sports Minister, M. S. Gill, who pulled
out the old guidelines from cold stor-
age in 2010, amended them and firmly
told the IOA and the National Sports
Federations (NSFs) to fall in line. Once
the IOC warned the IOA that it should
not go ahead with its elections under
the National Sports Code as directed
by the Delhi High Court, the suspen-
sion was a foregone conclusion.
If the IOC was on the IOAs side
in 2010 and subsequently, when the
National Sports Development Bill was
mooted in February 2011, the situa-
tion has changed completely with the
IOC taking a rare stand against a Na-
tional Olympic Committee because of
what it perceives is the latters defi-
ance. Factional fights within the Indian
Olympic body have only helped di-
vert the real issues that have plagued
Indian sports administration for long,
and delayed the reforms that are badly
needed. Even as it has objected to
government regulations dictating the
IOAs elections, the IOC has all but
made it plain that it would not be
averse to the idea of tenure restrictions
if the measure is voluntarily adopted
rather than imposed by the govern-
ment. The IOAs inability to sort things
out with the government has led to this
unprecedented suspension in its 88-
year-old history. The Commonwealth
Games scam that led to officials in-
cluding IOA President Suresh Kalmadi
and current Secretary-General-desig-
nate, Lalit Bhanot, being charge-
sheeted, has only strengthened the
public perception that sports bodies
need to be brought under government
regulation, especially when govern-
ment funds are being utilised for the
development of sports. The courts
have concurred with the government
view. The IOCs sanction is not an in-
tractable position but both the gov-
ernment and the IOA will need to
come on board to clean up the mess
without harming the interests of the
athletes.
Courtesy-The Hindu
No excuses for this error of No excuses for this error of No excuses for this error of No excuses for this error of No excuses for this error of
judgment judgment judgment judgment judgment
Only those condemned to await
their own deaths will know what it is
to be suddenly blessed with the elixir
of life. On November 22, two Kashmiri
men found themselves lifted out of the
darkness of their death row cells into
light, life and liberty after the Delhi
High Court set aside their convictions
in the 1996 Lajpat Nagar market bomb
blasts.
Grievously wronged
Mirza Nissar Hussain and
Mohammad Ali Bhatt were grievously
wronged by the Delhi police and the
prosecution which, in the words of the
High Court, committed lapses so
grave that they raised a question
mark on the nature and truthfulness
of the evidence produced. The case
had fallen below the threshold of
minimum proof required in a crimi-
nal trial, the court said.
Minimum proof and maximum
punishment? Why were Hussain and
Bhatt sentenced to death when there
was no evidence even to convict
them? The curious fact here is that the
trial court itself was distressed by the
quality of the police investigation,
109 109 109 109 109
which it described as highly defec-
tive. Hussain and Bhatt eventually
bridged the impossible gulf between
death and freedom because a sen-
sible, sensitive appellate court was
able to see that the evidentiary dots
simply did not connect in their case.
This High Court judgment, and
a Supreme Court judgment of Septem-
ber 2012, have taken our understand-
ing of terror investigations to a level
where the usual excuses can no longer
suffice to explain away acquittals. In-
deed, if a pattern has emerged in re-
cent years of terror trials leading to ac-
quittals, it has equally become a pat-
tern for the police to blame the ac-
quittals on the nature of terrorism
which made evidence gathering diffi-
cult, more so in a system hamstrung
by inadequate manpower and out-
dated forensics. The implication is that
the men are guilty but get away.
The High Court rejected the po-
lice-prosecution argument that the law
and the courts demanded impossible
standards of proof which was both-
ersome in terror crimes. It said the
weakness of the state could not jus-
tify lowering of standards. Very sig-
nificantly, the court also noted that the
evidence appeared to be manufac-
tured.
Overturning the convictions of
11 persons under the Terrorist and
Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act
(TADA), the apex court berated the
prosecution: firstly for falsifying evi-
dence regarding a key TADA safe-
guard and then for arguing that the
case did not turn on this piece of
technical evidence. The plea was not
good enough, the court said, dealing
a blow to the spurious logic that sub-
terfuge was a small aberration in the
battle against terrorism.
Adnan Bilal Mulla
I record here the travails of
Maharashtra resident Adnan Bilal
Mulla. The case is not quite as dra-
matic as the one illustrated above but
it shows the lengths to which the state
will go once it has judged a citizen to
have made the transition to terror sus-
pect. Adnan was to get married on
May 24, 2003. The marriage took place
instead on April 14, 2010 at that be-
cause his fianc, now wife, mustered
the will to wait for a man sent to jail
under the Prevention of Terrorism Act
(POTA). Through the seven years he
was in jail, Adnan, who owned a fruit
juice stall in Padgha in Bhiwandi,
could not get bail, nor was he brought
to trial. Nearly a decade after his ar-
rest, trial has still to start in the case,
and alert to the dark possibilities of
the future, his family lives each day as
if it were the last.
Adnans lawyers went back and
forth from trial court to High Court,
filing applications, appeals and writ
petitions, before securing his release
on bail in February 2010. The prosecu-
tion constructed a powerful story of
terror and conspiracy. In actual fact,
the evidence was thin and far from
constituting grounds for believing
Adnan was guilty as charged a le-
gal requirement to justify persistent
denial of bail.
Quite to the contrary, startling
evidence surfaced while Adnan was
in jail to show that the police had kept
him under illegal detention for over a
month and charged him under POTA
when he refused to implicate Saquib
Nachan, his brother-in-law and the
main accused in a series of three
bomb blasts recorded between De-
cember 2002 and March 2003. The
trial court thrice refused Adnan bail,
the last time in 2008, just months after
a judicial enquiry confirmed his ille-
gal and unauthorised detention. The
enquiry report concluded: There is a
clear probability that the investigating
agency did not want to make Adnan
an accused but it wanted to make him
a witness. In other words, Adnan was
summoned as a witness against
Saquib, and when he did not oblige,
he was made a co-accused with
Saquib and charged similarly: con-
spiracy to wage war against the state
by committing terrorist acts.
Two years earlier, in February
2006, a two judge-bench of the
Bombay High Court had rejected
Adnans bail plea, condemning him in
harsh language and justifying his in-
carceration through broad-brush theo-
ries of larger conspiracy and guer-
rilla war against the state. The rejec-
tion prompted Adnans family to file
an RTI application seeking his where-
abouts between May 5, 2003, the day
he went missing, and June 9, 2003,
when he was shown as officially ar-
rested. The reply nailed the police lie:
Adnan was given over in custody to
Mumbais DCB-CID on May 5, 2003.
Armed with this proof, Adnans law-
yers demanded a judicial enquiry into
when and why he was arrested.
The enquiry, conducted by Prin-
cipal Sessions Judge T.V. Nalawade,
established the following. On March
27, 2003, the Padgah police registered
an FIR against Adnan and several oth-
ers for obstructing the arrest of
Saquib. It was a bailable offence, and
since Adnan was shortly to get mar-
ried, he surrendered to the Padgah
police on May 5, 2003. He should have
been released immediately. Instead he
was handed over to DCB-CID which
took him into illegal custody. When
Adnan emerged from confinement 36
days later, it was as a co-accused in
an omnibus terror conspiracy alleg-
edly plotted by his brother-in-law.
During the enquiry, the prosecu-
tion argued that Adnan did not speak
of his illegal detention when he was
produced before the authorised court
on June 9, 2003. Judge Nalwades an-
swer to this was that long detentions
and the fear of further harassment
often forced suspects to withhold the
truth.
Four years after Adnan was lam-
basted by a bench of the Bombay High
Court, a second bench of the court,
with one of the judges being common
to both, commented on the injustice
done to him and released him on bail.
The judges took on record the
enquiry report of Judge Talwande:
The enquiry indicates that the appel-
lant was initially picked up as a wit-
ness, and when he refused to give a
statement against the main accused,
who is his brother-in-law, he was
110 110 110 110 110
shown as an accused and for doing
so he was shown to have been ar-
rested on 9/6/2003. The judges pulled
up the trial court for refusing Adnan
bail and for its failure to consider the
changed circumstances arising from
the contents of the enquiry report. The
judges further said: the evidence
[produced by the prosecution] can-
not be, as of now, read as to hold that
there is sufficient evidence to record
a conviction against him [Adnan].
Adnans story is by no means
unique: illegal detention, planted evi-
dence and denial of bail have become
so much the rule that not just the po-
lice force but society at large has come
to view these as legitimate weapons
to be deployed in the fight against ter-
rorism. A recent study of 16 terror
crime acquittals by the Jamia Teach-
ers Solidarity Association showed il-
legal detention and trumped up
charges in a majority of cases. More
recently, it has been disclosed that a
member of the R.D. Nimesh Commis-
sion expressed serious doubts on the
date, place and timing of the arrests
of two bomb blast suspects in Uttar
Pradesh.
Worst bias
Terror suspects suffer the worst
attitudinal biases because the horror
of terrorism tends to bring out the vigi-
lante in the ordinary person. The state
capitalises on this revulsion to such
an extent that terror suspects are
thought to have no rights at all. In 1996,
the Supreme Court laid down a set of
procedural safeguards, known as the
D.K. Basu guidelines, to prevent ille-
gal arrests and custodial torture. The
charter gave an arrested person the
right to inform his relatives of his ar-
rest as soon as practicable. It also
placed an obligation on the police to
convey to the relatives the details of
the time, place of arrest and venue
of custody. Though the charter has
since passed into law, it is not even
followed in the breach. The pregnant
wife of Fasih Mahmood an Indian
engineer working in Saudi Arabia who
went missing in May this year had
to file a Habeas Corpus petition to
establish his location when she was
entitled to get this information from
the Indian authorities.
Fasih, who has been named a
co-founder of the Indian Mujahideen,
was formally arrested in India on Oc-
tober 22. If he was illegally detained,
his family should have been told about
it not only because the law gives
them this right but because illegal cus-
tody is where forced confessions hap-
pen, leading to vitiated trials and ver-
dicts.
Courtesy-The Hindu
The promise of unconditional The promise of unconditional The promise of unconditional The promise of unconditional The promise of unconditional
money money money money money
Offering cash transfers before
elections is an inspired move. Like
birthday gifts, election promises must
come brightly packaged, look good
for the event even if they collapse in a
heap afterwards. By then, another
birthday, another election and another
promise!
In election campaigns, it is im-
portant to get the best promise out
first. Performance can catch up, if at
all, much later. There are five full years
for that and time enough to waffle,
dawdle and put up false figures. The
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Em-
ployment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
was a great promise, so what if it failed
to perform in most parts of the coun-
try? Its success in a few showcase
States like Kerala provided the juice
for excuses elsewhere.
Like all good gifts, an election
promise must keep up with the times
and cash transfer does just that. There
is no point in presenting kirpans when
Sikhs want economic opportunities.
This is why when Akhilesh Yadav
traded in his knuckledusters for
laptops, it worked wonderfully for him
in Uttar Pradesh. Caste and minority
consciousness are yesterdays prom-
ises and, as the Congress learnt in U.P.,
ready for the trash can. What kind of
laptops and when, are issues for an-
other day; it is the promise that must
draw in the voters now.
The United Progressive Alliance
(UPA) proposal for cash transfers
comes in a see-through gift wrap. It
allows a peek at what it looks like but
not what it feels like. This is what
makes the cash transfer promise so
electorally compelling. What is visible
is limited cash transfer, but what is ex-
citing is that it promises much more.
For now, cash transfers will concern
payments related to pensions, schol-
arships, and the like. These are low
cost deliverables as they are already
monetised. But the dream team for
cash transfers, which includes money
for food, fertilizer and fuels, will have
to wait. Their prices are difficult to
control for they have a mind of their
own. Also, it is hard to predict how
the market will behave once the Pub-
lic Distribution System (PDS) is dis-
mantled. Wisely then, the UPA is si-
lent about them. Five years from now,
the easy victories will be paraded, just
as Kerala is put out as MGNREGAs
success story. In this case, once again,
those chapters that are not exactly
bedtime reading will stay unopened
and forgotten.
I t worked in Brazil
Also, cash transfer has an inter-
national gloss about it. It has worked
in Brazil and how. Even the World
Bank has certified it as an ace instru-
ment for poverty alleviation. So what
if only about 15 per cent of Brazilians
live in villages while nearly 70 per cent
do in ours? So what if only 6.1 per cent
of Brazils population earns less than
$1.25 a day compared to a crushing
32.6 per cent in India? These compli-
cations should not come in the way
of a good promise, especially when
there is an election round the corner.
The fact that in Brazil it is not
cash transfer but conditional cash
transfer is a little detail that can be ig-
nored. For the record, conditional
cash transfers are linked to several
human development issues which is
why they are more than simple anti-
poverty programmes. In Brazil, poor
families have to satisfy strict condi-
tions before they qualify to receive
cash transfers. They must make sure
111 111 111 111 111
that their children have a high 85 per
cent attendance in school and that
their nutrition and growth charts are
climbing up the right slope. In addi-
tion, all children under five must have
the full complement of vaccines and
no excuses. Mothers too must submit
to pre- and post-natal checks. Failure
on any of these counts, and the
cheque will not be in the mail.
For these conditions to be
met, it is imperative that adequate
medical and school facilities exist.
Brazil has moved swiftly in that direc-
tion as it devotes above four per cent
of its GDP to health and another four
per cent to education. In contrast, In-
dia spends just one per cent of its GDP
on health which is why cash transfers
here had better not be conditional.
Our existing educational and health
infrastructures are too weak to bear
the additional pressure of condi-
tional cash transfers.
Under these circumstances, if
conditional cash transfers are in-
sisted upon in India then that would
drive people to private health and
education providers. They would then
be the new parasites. Fortunately, the
UPA is playing within its limits and is
not burning a hole in its pocket. As
long as Brazil acts as a convenient
metaphor, why step into the kitchen
and spoil the party?
Opening bank accounts
Emaciated though our cash
transfer scheme is, it nevertheless has
a huge task ahead. So far, a little over
200 million Aadhar cards have been
issued, but that is a long way from
being translated into bank accounts.
The Reserve Bank of India is yet to
come out with guidelines on this mat-
ter, though that might happen any day
soon. Yet it will require a fair amount
of rejigging as banks will now be re-
quired to lower their guard when cus-
tomers come in to open accounts. Nor
is the report of the pilot Kotkasim
project encouraging. Though it was
near test tube incubated, it failed on
practically every front; from the open-
ing of accounts to getting cash in the
bank. And there will be new accounts,
millions of them, if the cash transfer
scheme is to save face. So far, only
about a third of our population has a
bank account. In India, sadly, the
poorer the State, the greater the pres-
sure on banks. While in developed re-
gions like Delhi, Chandigarh and Goa
a bank serves between a manageable
3,500 to 6,500 people, the number
jumps to over 21,000 in a place like
Bihar. Not surprising then, after hos-
pitals and courts, public sector banks
scare people the most.
Migration
In the case of cash transfers it is
necessary to factor in an added twist.
Our people refuse to sit at home: they
migrate everywhere in search of work
or marital partners, though sometimes
the two look alike. It is, therefore, not
enough to have bank accounts at ones
address; it is necessary to service
people who are constantly on the
move. As the Census figures show,
upward of 90 million people, in the
past decade alone, have changed their
residence and the Indian Railways
sells over six billion tickets annually.
It is likely that some banks will
manage to overcome these problems,
and do well or passably well in places
like Delhi and Goa even if they flop
elsewhere. Delhi and Goa will then
become the new Kerala as far as the
banking sector is concerned. Like
MGNREGA again, success in a limited
sector will help cloud failure in large
parts of the country.
Crores and crores
The stark truth in India is that
roughly Rs.3.5 trillion is spent every
year in subsidies and it is anybodys
guess what proportion of this lines
undeserving pockets. It cannot be
denied either that the poor should
have bank accounts or that our
economy should be less cash driven
than what it is today. Cheques are
rarely issued, which is why the inter-
mediaries with their scissor hands are
ever ready to take their cut. So if the
promise of cash transfers strikes a bell,
remember it tolls for so many.
Given the complications of a
conditional cash transfer, it is a great
election move for the government to
promise cash transfers, but only in a
limited fashion. Care must be taken
that those in power are not overly
persuaded by their own promises and
begin to behave rashly. A hasty deci-
sion to abandon the Public Distribu-
tion System (PDS) or give money only
to the women of the family, Brazilian
style, would be extremely unwise.
The PDS may not have the whit-
est shirt, but its performance is
not all bad. Different studies, such as
those conducted by the National Fed-
eration of Indian Women and the Self
Employed Womens Association
(SEWA), have come up with contra-
dictory conclusions. While the former
unilaterally support the PDS, the
SEWA research is guarded in this re-
gard as some women prefer cash
transfers, but there are others who are
not so sure. Nor would the UPA do
itself a favour if cash transfers were
made to the womans account, by-
passing her husband. If it did that, cash
transfers would meet with the same
fate as the Womens Reservation Bill
did in Parliament. In Brazil, the woman
gets the cash and if the man wants a
booze for the buck he has to take his
missus to the liquor store. This takes
away much of the sparkle from the
boys night out. This is also why 85 per
cent of cash subsidies are spent on
food in Brazil.
That the UPA has not spelt out
any condition in its cash transfer
scheme is a well plotted election strat-
egy. If it delivers in a limited way to a
limited population it can draw enough
goodwill to shout down the many
Kotkasims that are bound to occur.
But by then its party time again:
another election and another round of
promises on the house.
Courtesy-The Hindu
Arming the law against gun Arming the law against gun Arming the law against gun Arming the law against gun Arming the law against gun
trade trade trade trade trade
An overwhelming majority of
157 countries, including the United
112 112 112 112 112
States and China, have voted to
finalise next March a global treaty to
regulate the billion-dollar trade in con-
ventional weapons. Significantly, not
a single country opposed the resolu-
tion to combat the proliferation of il-
licit arms in the United Nations Gen-
eral Assemblys First Committee and
Russia was the lone major exporting
power to abstain from the vote. The
development reflects an emerging
consensus that despite the legitimate
requirements of defence cooperation
among countries, weapons transfers
ought to be subject to greater multi-
lateral supervision in view of their dev-
astating consequences for human lives
and livelihood.
Needless controversy
Under the proposed global con-
vention, governments are expected to
agree to cease transfers of arms and
ammunition where there are risks that
countries are likely to deploy them for
human rights abuses and violations of
international humanitarian law. This is
Amnesty Internationals Golden Rule,
requiring all states to carry out a rig-
orous risk assessment of unauthorised
use and potential rights violations. Pre-
dictably, attempts to incorporate ba-
sic principles of the rule of law was
resisted both by the big arms export-
ing countries such as the U.S., China,
and Russia, as well as autocratic re-
gimes in Africa and Asia. However,
any attempt to harmonise a global law
on the trade in lethal weapons with
broad human rights principles is un-
exceptionable. Such moves are in fact
consistent with the spirit underlying
established procedures that demo-
cratic states have in place to not ex-
tradite terror suspects to countries
where torture is routinely applied dur-
ing trials.
The other controversy in the ne-
gotiations relates to the nature and
scope of arms that should be subject
to controls. Civil society campaigns
have strongly advocated coverage of
the entire range of conventional weap-
ons, including small arms and light
weapons (SALW) and related ammu-
nition under the treaty. Their claim that
a much larger proportion of casualties
in modern-day armed conflict are
caused by SALW is too compelling to
be overlooked. Although the Obama
administration reversed the earlier
U.S. position on the treaty, Washing-
ton, with Moscow and Tehran, is not
expected to strive hard for a strong
law. One of the sticky points has been
the inclusion of ammunition.
Cross-sectoral support
The first-ever comprehensive
treaty for control of the commerce in
conventional arms enjoys broad sup-
port in view of the ethical, socio-eco-
nomic and public health ramifications
of armed conflict. Some 2,000 parlia-
mentarians from over 114 countries
have backed proposals to cover trans-
fers of all conventional arms, includ-
ing ammunition and equipment. Sig-
nificantly, they have also committed
to advocate early and effective ratifi-
cation of such a treaty by their respec-
tive governments.
A World Health Organisation
report on violence way back in 2002
singled out the need for a global re-
sponse to arms trade as among the top
priorities. Now, the International Phy-
sicians for the Prevention of Nuclear
War has underscored the importance
of a robust treaty on arms trade for
the protection of life and the promo-
tion of health. Also significant is the
call issued last year by a group of glo-
bal investors who manage or own as-
sets worth $1.2 trillion. Signatories to
the United Nations-backed Principles
for Responsible Investment, the group
has underscored the need for greater
transparency in international arms
transfers as social, governance and
environmental issues have implica-
tions for investment portfolios.
Hard realities
Yet none of the stakeholders
who engaged in deliberations for
nearly a decade would seriously count
on major weapons exporting coun-
tries to cease arming Africas warlords
or Latin Americas drug mafia in a
hurry. The ink had barely dried on the
document signed in New York when
Britains Prime Minister David
Cameron was busy negotiating weap-
ons export deals with the United Arab
Emirates, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Ironically, the United Kingdom is one
of the earliest champions of talks on
the arms treaty.
Western powers seldom miss an
opportunity to express support for the
momentous democratic churning wit-
nessed in the Middle East. But the
material support they extend to autoc-
racies and warlords in Asia and Africa
tells a different story.
It is no secret that Mr. Camerons
bid for the sale of Eurofighter Ty-
phoons acquired urgency after the
failed merger of BAE Systems, the
U.K.s largest defence contractor, with
the Franco-German giant, EADS (Eu-
ropean Aeronautic Defence and
Space Company).
More broadly, clandestine arms
supplies that sustain notorious dicta-
torships and defend domestic jobs are
not consistent with the declared
policy of promotion of democracy
and raising human rights violations
abroad. Even less in the context of the
severe fallout of the current global
economic slowdown.
Courtesy-The Hindu
Whos afraid of moral defeat? Whos afraid of moral defeat? Whos afraid of moral defeat? Whos afraid of moral defeat? Whos afraid of moral defeat?
Irrespective of how the Rajya
Sabha votes on the resolution against
Foreign Direct Investment in multi-
brand retail, the United Progressive
Alliance government has won where
it matters most: in the Lok Sabha.
Given that some of the constituents
and supporting parties of the UPA
were against FDI in multi-brand retail,
the government did well to tide over
this mini-crisis, defeating the Opposi-
tion-sponsored resolution comfort-
ably enough in the end. A loss in the
Lok Sabha would have raised ques-
tions about the legitimacy of the gov-
ernment, and of the continuance of
the pro-reforms push. However, the
walkout by the Samajwadi Party and
the Bahujan Samaj Party, both op-
113 113 113 113 113
posed to FDI in multi-brand retail but
supportive of the government, en-
sured the defeat of the resolution
moved by the principal opposition,
the Bharatiya Janata Party. The fact that
the numbers in support of the UPA did
not add up to 272 or more, which is
the absolute majority in the House, is
the only consolation for the BJP, the
Left parties and the Trinamool Con-
gress, who were in the forefront of the
battle against the government on this
issue. But the Congress will have no
problem in dealing with this moral
defeat that means nothing at all in real
terms.
The way the vote went is a
pointer to emergence of key political
fault-lines in the run up to the 2014
general election. Both the SP and the
BSP were content to register their
opposition on FDI and walk out with-
out actually voting against the govern-
ment. Obviously, in their calculations,
the survival of Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh is much more im-
portant than the debate over multina-
tional giants, kirana stores and farm-
ers. After all, the government had left
it to the States to decide whether or
not to allow FDI. Despite the best ef-
forts of the BJP, the resolution was
seen by the two Uttar Pradesh-based
parties in the context of the survival
of a secular government at the Cen-
tre. The BJP was hoping to keep the
focus on FDI, and away from the com-
munal-secular divide, but for the SP
and the BSP, as for the UPA, too much
hinged on the FDI vote. Clearly the BJP
is finding its communally divisive
agenda difficult to live down. No mat-
ter what it professes in the immediate
context, all its actions are viewed by
other secular parties in the larger con-
text of its communal politics. Fear of
the BJPs sectarian politics is enough
to drive parties such as the SP and the
BSP into the arms of the Congress. To
the credit of Congress political man-
agers, the FDI vote turned not just on
the economy, but on the countrys
social-democratic fabric too. While
the BJPs past wrongdoings are still
helping the Congress, the Congresss
present wrongdoings are not coming
to the aid of the BJP.
Courtesy-The Hindu
Dealing with Pakistans Dealing with Pakistans Dealing with Pakistans Dealing with Pakistans Dealing with Pakistans
brinkmanship brinkmanship brinkmanship brinkmanship brinkmanship
During the past decade, there
have been notable shifts in Pakistans
nuclear doctrine, away from minimum
deterrence to second strike capabil-
ity and towards expanding its nuclear
weapons arsenal to include both stra-
tegic and tactical weapons. Islamabad
has described these developments as
consolidating Pakistans deterrence
capability at all levels of the threat
spectrum. These shifts are apparent
from the following developments:
(1) There is a deliberate shift from
the earlier generation of en-
riched uranium nuclear weap-
ons to a newer generation of
plutonium weapons.
(2) This shift has enabled Pakistan
to significantly increase the
number of weapons, which
now appears to have over-
taken Indias nuclear weapon
inventory and, in a decade,
may well surpass those held
by Britain and France.
(3) Progress has been made in the
miniaturisation of weapons,
enabling their use with cruise
missiles, both air and surface-
based (Raad or Hatf VIII and
Babur or Hatf-VII respectively)
as also with a new generation
of short range and tactical mis-
siles (Abdali or Hatf II with a
range of 180 km and Nasr or
Hatf-IX with a range of 60 km).
(4) Pakistan has steadily im-
proved the range and accu-
racy of its delivery vehicles,
building upon the earlier Chi-
nese models (the Hatf series)
and the later North Korean
models (the No-dong series).
The newer missiles, including
the Nasr, are solid-fuelled,
which are quicker to launch
than the older liquid-fuelled
versions.
Not under safeguards
This rapid development of its
nuclear weapon arsenal has been en-
abled by the setting up of two pluto-
nium production reactors at Khusab
with a third and fourth under construc-
tion. These have been built with Chi-
nese assistance and are not under safe-
guards. The spent fuel from these re-
actors is reprocessed at the
Rawalpindi New Labs facility, where
there are reportedly two plants each
with a capacity to reprocess 10 to 20
tonnes annually.
Olli Heinonen, a former Direc-
tor of Safeguards at the IAEA has ob-
served: Commissioning of additional
plutonium production reactors and
further construction of reprocessing
capabilities signify that Pakistan may
even be developing second-strike ca-
pabilities.
These developments are driven
by a mix of old and new set of threat
perceptions and, equally, political
ambitions. The so-called existential
threat from India continues to be cited
as the main driver of Pakistans nuclear
compulsions. The rapid increase in the
number of weapons is justified by
pointing to India having a larger stock
of fissile material available for a much
more numerous weapons inventory,
thanks to the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear
agreement. Tactical nuclear weapons
are said to be a response to Indias so-
called Cold Start doctrine or its sus-
pected intention to launch quick re-
sponse punitive thrusts across the
border in case of another major cross-
border terrorist strike.
Pakistans strategic objective has
been expanded to the acquisition of
a full-spectrum capability compris-
ing a land, air and sea-based triad of
nuclear forces, to put it on a par with
India. However, the focus on India has
tended to obscure an important
change in Pakistans threat perception
which has significant implications. The
Pakistani military and civilian elite is
114 114 114 114 114
convinced that the United States has
also become a dangerous adversary,
which seeks to disable, disarm or take
forcible possession of Pakistans
nuclear weapons.
This threat perception may be
traced to the aftermath of 9/11, when
Pakistan, for the first time in its his-
tory, faced the real prospect of a mili-
tary assault on its territory by U.S.
forces and the loss of its strategic as-
sets. In his address to the nation on
September 15, 2001, President Pervez
Musharraf justified his acquiescence
to the U.S. ultimatum to abandon the
Taliban and support U.S. military op-
erations in Afghanistan, on account of
four over-riding and critical concerns
our sovereignty, second our
economy, third our strategic assets
and fourth our Kashmir cause. Paki-
stan once again became a front-line
state, this time in the U.S. war on ter-
rorism in Afghanistan in contrast to the
U.S.-led war against the Soviet forces
in that country in the 1980s. But this
time round, Pakistan became an ally
by compulsion rather than by choice.
While the immediate threat to its
strategic assets passed, Pakistans sus-
picions of U.S. intentions in this regard
did not diminish and have now risen
to the level of paranoia. The Ameri-
can drone attacks against targets
within Pakistani territory and, in par-
ticular, the brazenness with which the
Abbotabad raid was carried out by
U.S. Navy Seals in May 2011 to kill
Osama bin Laden, have only height-
ened Pakistans concerns over U.S.
intentions. These have overtaken fears
of India, precisely because the U.S.
has demonstrated both its capability
and willingness to undertake such op-
erations. India has not.
Recent shifts
Thus the recent shifts in
Pakistans nuclear strategy cannot be
ascribed solely to the traditional con-
struct of India-Pakistan hostility. They
appear driven mainly by the fear of
U.S. assault on its strategic assets. The
more numerous and compact the
weapons, the wider their dispersal
and the greater their sophistication,
the more deterred the U.S. would be
from undertaking any operations to
disable them or to take them into its
custody. The U.S. finds it as difficult
to acknowledge this reality as it has,
until recently, Pakistans complicity in
terrorism directed against its forces in
Afghanistan. This permits putting the
onus on India to reassure Pakistan
through concessions rather than ad-
mitting that the problem lies else-
where. There is also a strong non-pro-
liferation lobby in the U.S. which be-
lieves it could leverage the threat of
an India-Pakistan nuclear exchange to
reverse some of the concessions made
to India in the civil nuclear deal. More
recently, it is being argued that since
the U.S. is finding it difficult to get its
promised share of the civil nuclear
business in India due to concerns over
the countrys Nuclear Liability legisla-
tion, a major rationale behind the
agreement no longer exists. And
meanwhile, it is further claimed, the
civil nuclear agreement has only
heightened the danger of India-Paki-
stan nuclear war by feeding into Paki-
stani fears of Indias enhanced nuclear
capabilities.
In this context, I wish to recall
an exchange over dinner hosted by
President George Bush for Prime Min-
ister Manmohan Singh in November
2008 in Washington. The then Secre-
tary of State Condoleezza Rice re-
marked that after the heavy lifting the
U.S. had done to get the nuclear deal
through, she hoped India would en-
sure that U.S. companies got a share
of the orders for new reactors. Before
our Prime Minister could reply, Mr.
Bush stated categorically that he was
not bothered if India did not buy even
a single reactor from the U.S., since
he regarded the agreement as con-
firming India as a long-term strategic
partner rather than a mere customer
for U.S. reactors. Pakistan encourages
the arguments of the U.S. non-prolif-
eration lobby since this keeps the
pressure on India and enables the
camouflage of Pakistans real motiva-
tions. It would not wish to project, as
an adversary, a much more powerful
U.S., and lose out on the economic
and military support it receives, how-
ever transactional these deals may
have become.
The implications
What are the implications of
these recent developments?
One, it is not through strategic
restraint or security assurances by
India that Pakistan would be per-
suaded to change its behaviour and
revise its strategy. India and Pakistan
have some nuclear CBMs in place and
India would be prepared to go further.
The main levers for such persuasion
lie in Washington and in Beijing, not
in New Delhi.
Two, whatever sophistry Paki-
stan may indulge in to justify its aug-
mented arsenal and threatened re-
course to tactical nuclear weapons,
for India, the label on the weapon,
tactical or strategic, is irrelevant since
the use of either would constitute a
nuclear attack against India. In terms
of Indias stated nuclear doctrine, this
would invite a massive retaliatory
strike. For Pakistan to think that a
counter-force nuclear strike against
military targets would enable it to es-
cape a counter-value strike against its
cities and population centres, is a dan-
gerous illusion. The U.S. could ac-
quaint Pakistan with NATOs own Cold
War experience when tactical nuclear
weapons were abandoned once it was
realised that use of such weapons in
any conflict would swiftly and inexo-
rably escalate to the strategic level.
Instead of urging India to respond to
Pakistani nuclear escalation through
offering mutual restraint, the U.S.
should convince Islamabad that a lim-
ited nuclear war is a contradiction in
terms and that it should abandon such
reckless brinkmanship. The U.S.
knows that Indias nuclear deterrence
is not Pakistan-specific. Any mis-
guided attempt to constrain Indian ca-
pabilities would undermine, for both,
the value of Indo-U.S. strategic part-
nership in an increasingly uncertain
and challenging regional and global
security environment.
115 115 115 115 115
Three, Pakistan is no longer
Indias problem. Its toxic mix of jihadi
terrorism and nuclear brinkmanship
poses a threat to the region and to the
world. Even China, whose culpability
in continuing to assist Pakistan in de-
veloping its nuclear and delivery ca-
pabilities is well documented, is not
exempt. It needs to reassess its own
policies. An apparently low-cost and
proxy effort to contain India may well
become Chinas nightmare, too, in the
days to come.
Courtesy-The Hindu
For a moratorium on death For a moratorium on death For a moratorium on death For a moratorium on death For a moratorium on death
sentence sentence sentence sentence sentence
The Supreme Courts five-judge
Constitution Bench judgment
in Bachan Singh (1980) is the source
of contemporary death penalty juris-
prudence in India. Its major contribu-
tion was to limit the imposition of
death penalty to the rarest of rare
crimes, and for laying down the prin-
ciple that the courts must impose the
death sentence on a convict only if the
alternative sentence of life imprison-
ment is unquestionably foreclosed.
For achieving these twin objectives,
the court held that judges must con-
sider the aggravating features of the
crime, as well as the mitigating fac-
tors of the criminal.
However, the application of its
principles by the courts to various
cases before them has been very un-
even, and inconsistent. This has natu-
rally led to the criticism that the juris-
prudence suffers from a judge-centric
approach, rather than a principles-
centric approach.
Matter of concern
It is a matter of concern when
this criticism emanates from the judi-
ciary itself, as it smacks of its helpless-
ness. The frequency of such criticism
from the judiciary may appear to be
exercises in genuine introspection but
to the litigants, the very credibility of
the courts death penalty decisions is
at stake.
The execution of death row pris-
oners in India might have come to a
near standstill, with only one in the last
decade, and another recently. Yet, the
frequency of confirmation of death
sentences by the Supreme Court has
created a large pool of death row pris-
oners in the country, who may be liv-
ing between life and death constantly
for many years, till the executive de-
cides on their mercy petitions. When
the Supreme Court time and again
admits that many of these prisoners
might have been sentenced on the
basis of erroneous legal precedents
set by itself, the executive cannot pre-
tend to be unconcerned.
The latest admission of such er-
ror is to be found in the judgment
delivered by Justice Madan B. Lokur
for himself and on behalf of Justice
K.S. Radhakrishnan, in Sangeet & ANR
vs. State of Haryana , on November
20.
The genesis of Sangeet can be
traced to another Supreme Court judg-
ment delivered in 2009. InSantosh
Kumar Satishbhushan Bariyar v. State
of Maharashtra , a two-judge Bench
admitted to error in the sentencing to
death of seven convicts by the previ-
ous benches of the court. Similar er-
ror was immediately noticed in the
sentencing to death of six more con-
victs, after the delivery of judgment
inBariyar , taking their total to 13.
The error was the reliance by the
court on a legal precedent,
which Bariyar declared as per incu-
riam . The term, per incuriam , refers
to a decision which a subsequent
court finds to be a mistake, occurring
through ignorance of a relevant au-
thority, and therefore not a binding
precedent.
Erroneous precedent
The erroneous legal precedent
was Ravji v. State of Rajasthan , de-
cided in 1996 by a two-judge Bench.
In Ravji , the court had found only
characteristics relating to the crime,
to the exclusion of the criminal, as rel-
evant to sentencing. Bariyar noted
with disapproval that the court had re-
lied on Ravji as an authority on the
point that in heinous crimes, circum-
stances relating to the criminal are not
pertinent, in six cases. This was incon-
sistent with the Bachan Singh ruling
by the five-Judge Constitution Bench
in 1980, which had shifted the focus
of sentencing from the crime to the
crime and the criminal.
In Sangeet , the Radhakrishnan-
Lokur Bench has continued the judi-
cial scrutiny started by Bariyar of
post- Bachan Singh death penalty
cases, to see if they have complied
with the requirements of the law.
Thanks to this scrutiny, five other cases
which resulted in the wrongful sen-
tencing to death of six more convicts
have come to light. They are Shivu,
Jadeswamy, B.A. Umesh, Rajendra
Pralhadrao Wasnik, Mohd. Mannan,
and Sushil Murmu. The former Presi-
dent, Pratibha Patil, has already com-
muted Murmus death sentence to life
imprisonment.
Back to 13
Five of the 13 convicts identified
in and after Bariyar have already got
their sentences commuted to life im-
prisonment by competent authorities.
With Sangeet pointing to five more
such convicts, the total number of
prisoners to be taken off the death row
is back to 13 again.
Unl i ke Bari yar , however,
Sangeet has not declared the five er-
roneous judgments per incuriam .
But the result of the scrutiny in both
the cases is the same: no future Bench
can cite these cases on a point of law,
without inviting the Ravji taint. The
recent appeal by 14 former judges to
the President to spare the lives of the
eight convicts, who have been
wrongly sentenced to death by the Su-
preme Court must, therefore, apply
equally to these five convicts identi-
fied in Sangeet .
It is not unusual to come across
observations by the courts while jus-
tifying the death sentence, that there
is extreme indignation of the commu-
nity over the nature of the crime, and
that collective conscience of the com-
munity is petrified by the extremely
brutal, grotesque, diabolical, revolting
or dastardly manner of the commis-
sion of the crime. After making these
116 116 116 116 116
observations, it is easy for the courts
to jump to the conclusion that the
criminal is a menace to society and
shall continue to be so and he cannot
be reformed.
These are empty clichs
repeated ad nauseam without any
basis. Sangeet , therefore, gently re-
minds the courts about the need to
back such observations with some
material. The nature of the crime alone
cannot form such material, it has held.
Sangeet has pointed out a grave
infirmity with regard to the sentenc-
ing of Umesh and Sushil Murmu, to
death. The Supreme Court found both
Umesh and Sushil Murmu incapable
of rehabilitation and, therefore, de-
serving of the death sentence because
of their alleged involvement in crimes
other than those for which they were
convicted turning upside down the
doctrine of presumption of inno-
cence, the cornerstone of our crimi-
nal jurisprudence.
Bachan Singh, delivered by a
five-judge Constitution Bench, clearly
discarded the proposition that the
court must balance aggravating and
mitigating circumstances through a
balance sheet theory. The theory re-
quires weighing aggravating factors of
the crime against the mitigating fac-
tors of the criminal. In Machhi
Singh (1983), however, a three-judge
Supreme Court Bench, brought the
balance sheet theory back, and gave
it legitimacy. The theory has held the
field post-Machhi Singh .
Sangeet has sought to revive
the Bachan Singh dictum that the
aggravating circumstances of the
crime and the mitigating circum-
stances of the criminal are completely
distinct and different elements, and
cannot be compared with one an-
other. Therefore, it has held that a bal-
ance sheet cannot be drawn up of two
distinct and different constituents of
an incident, as required by Machhi
Singh .
Sangeet holds the balance
sheet theory responsible for much of
the arbitrariness in judging whether a
case falls under the rarest of rare cat-
egory, a test enunciated in Bachan
Singh . It also endorses the proposi-
tion that by standardising and
categorising crimes, Machhi Singh
considerably enlarged the scope for
imposing the death penalty, that was
greatly restricted by Bachan Singh .
The Radhakrishnan-Lokur
Bench, being a two-judge Bench,
could not have overruled Machhi
Singh , despite its obvious flaws, and
the source of much of the inconsis-
tency in our death penalty jurispru-
dence. A three-judge bench in Swami
Shraddhanand II in 2008 had raised
similar doubts about Machhi Singh ;
but the courts continue to invoke it.
In its judgment delivered on
August 29, among other things, the
Supreme Court relied on the
flawedMachhi Singh for its reasoning,
and used the balance sheet theory,
arraigned by Sangeet , to sentence
Ajmal Kasab.
The serious issues raised
in Sangeet are incapable of being
resolved by the judiciary itself. Any
delay in their resolution will inexora-
bly create more death row convicts,
than what is justified legally. There is
indeed a case for the government to
immediately announce a moratorium
on executing death sentences and set
up a Commission to identify the cases
in which any of the courts trial
courts, high courts and the Supreme
Court might have erred in correctly
applying the Bachan Singh principles,
while sentencing. The findings of the
Commission will be useful for decid-
ing the future of death sentence in the
country.
Courtesy-The Hindu
Lose-lose deal Lose-lose deal Lose-lose deal Lose-lose deal Lose-lose deal
Resisting the seductive pull of
jingoism, India has adopted a prudent
approach to the Maldives government
decision rescinding GMRs contract
for operating and maintaining Male
airport. In an era when diplomacy and
business appear joined at the hip,
some analysts have attempted to whip
up nationalistic sentiments by describ-
ing the Maldivian action against the
Indian company as a slap on the In-
dian governments face. Nothing can
be further from the truth and it is just
as well that New Delhi appears not to
have been misled by this logic. What
is at stake is a commercial contract
and as External Affairs Minister Salman
Khurshid noted, If they [the Maldives]
have to take a decision in the interest
of their society and country and if that
decision is taken properly as per laws
there, what objections can anyone
have? Yes, GMR had signed a legally
valid and binding contract that has
now been upended because the new
administration considers it to be a bad
deal. But if the expropriation of the
airport is being done legally and
Maldives is willing to compensate
GMR for its investment and loss of
business, what scope is there for the
Indian government to intervene? India
has to keep in mind its larger interests
in the region, which are more impor-
tant than the commercial contract of
a single company.
That said, it is rather unfortunate
that the Maldives government chose
to abrogate a contract which was al-
lotted to GMR through a transparent
process designed and supervised by
the World Bank-affiliated International
Finance Corporation. GMR appears to
have become a pawn, a symbol of the
apparent excesses of the earlier gov-
ernment headed by Mohammed
Nasheed, who was overthrown by
Mohammed Waheed in February. Is-
sues such as the Airport Development
Charges sought to be levied by GMR
based on the contract it signed with
the Maldives government could have
been negotiated and resolved across
the table without taking recourse to
the drastic action of annulment of the
contract. Though GMR stands to suf-
fer in terms of loss of business and
profits, it is the Maldives that will be
paying a bigger price over the long
term. Not only will it now have to pay
compensation running into a few hun-
dred millions of dollars the precise
sum will be determined by arbitration
it will also have to find another pro-
117 117 117 117 117
moter to develop and run the airport.
While the compensation liability could
be ruinous to the small economy of
the island nation with an estimated
GDP of $2.1 billion, it may be next to
impossible to find a private investor
willing to work with Maldives in any
major project given the way it abro-
gated the GMR deal. All in all, the en-
tire episode has turned out to be a
lose-lose proposition for all those in-
volved.
Courtesy-The Hindu
An Indian grammar for An Indian grammar for An Indian grammar for An Indian grammar for An Indian grammar for
International Studies International Studies International Studies International Studies International Studies
A little over three years ago I
wrote in The Hinduthat at a time
when interest in India and Indias in-
terest in the world are arguably at their
highest, Indian scholarship on global
issues is showing few signs of re-
sponding to this challenge and that
this could well stunt Indias ability to
influence the international system.
As we meet here now, at the first
real convention of scholars (and prac-
titioners) of International Studies from
throughout India, we can take some
comfort. A quick, albeit anecdotal,
audit of the study of International
Studies would suggest that the last
three years have been unusually pro-
ductive. So much so, that we are now,
I believe, at a veritable tipping point
in our emergence as an intellectual
power in the discipline.
Stanley Hoffman, Professor of
International Relations (IR) at Harvard,
once famously remarked that IR was
an American social science. The blind-
ing nexus between knowledge and
power (particularly stark in the case
of IR in the United States) perhaps
made him forget that while the first
modern IR departments were created
in Aberystwyth and in Geneva, think-
ing on international relations went
back, in the case of the Indian, Chi-
nese and other great civilizations, to
well before the West even began to
think of the world outside their living
space.
Having absorbed the grammar
of Western international relations, and
transited to a phase of greater self-
confidence, it is now opportune for
us to also use the vocabulary of our
past as a guide to the future.
2011 survey
Recovery of these Indian ideas
should not be seen as part of a reviv-
alist project or as an exercise that
seeks to reify so-called Indian
exceptionalism. Rather, interrogating
our rich past with its deeply argumen-
tative tradition is, as Amartya Sen put
it, partly a celebration, partly an invi-
tation to criticality, partly a reason for
further exploration, and partly also an
incitement to get more people into the
argument. In the context of interna-
tional relations it offers the intellec-
tual promise of going beyond the
Manichean opposition between
power and principle; and between the
world of ideas and norms on the one
hand, and that of statecraft and
even machtpolitik , on the other.
In doing so we are not being
particularly subversive. A 2011 survey
of American IR scholars byForeign
Policy found that 22 per cent adopted
a Constructivist approach (with its
privileging of ideas and identity in
shaping state preferences and inter-
national outcomes), 21 per cent
adopted a Liberal approach, only 16
per cent a Realist approach, and a tiny
two per cent a Marxist approach.
When academics were asked to list
their peers who have had the greatest
influence on them and the discipline,
the most influential was Alexander
Wendt, the Constructivist, and neither
the Liberal, Robert Koehane, nor the
Realists, Kenneth Waltz or James
Mearisheimer.
Mohandas Gandhi once said
that if all the Upanishads and all the
other scriptures happened all of a sud-
den to be reduced to ashes, and if only
the first verse in
the Ishopanishad were left in the
memory of the Hindus, Hinduism
would live forever. Let me make what
may seem like another astounding
claim, and which I hope, in the best
argumentative tradition, will be
heavily contested. If all the books on
war and peace were to suddenly dis-
appear from the world, and only the
Mahabharata remained, it would be
good enough to capture almost all the
possible debates on order, justice,
force and the moral dilemmas associ-
ated with choices that are made on
these issues within the realm of inter-
national politics.
Uncertainty in the region
Beyond theory, we are faced
with a period of extraordinary uncer-
tainty in the international system and
in our region. Multilateralism is in se-
rious crisis. While the U.N. Security
Council remains deadlocked on key
issues, there is little progress on most
other issues of global concern, be it
trade, sustainable development or cli-
mate change. As academics, we can-
not remain unconcerned about these
critical failures.
Our continent is being defined
and redefined over time. Regions are,
after all, as much shaped by the pow-
erful whose interests they seek to ad-
vance as by any objective reality.
Whatever nomenclature we adopt,
and whatever definition we accept,
we are faced with, what Evan
Feigenbaum and Robert Manning de-
scribed as two Asias: the Economic
Asia whose $19 trillion regional
economy drives global growth; the
Security Asia, a dysfunctional re-
gion of mistrustful powers, prone to
nationalism and irredentism, escalat-
ing their territorial disputes over tiny
rocks and shoals, and arming for con-
flict.
The Asian Development Bank
says that by nearly doubling its share
of global GDP to 52 per cent by 2050,
Asia could regain the dominant eco-
nomic position it held 300 years ago.
Yet, as several academics have
pointed out it is beset by interstate
rivalries that resemble 19th century
Europe, as well the new challenges
of the 21st century: environmental ca-
tastrophes, natural disasters, climate
change, terrorism, cyber security and
maritime issues. An increasingly asser-
tive China that has abandoned Deng
Xiaopings 24-character strategy of
118 118 118 118 118
hiding its light and keeping its head
low, adds to the uncertainty of the
prevailing strategic environment.
Indias military and economic
prowess are greater than ever before,
yet its ability to influence South Asian
countries is less than what it was, say,
30 years ago. An unstable Nepal with
widespread anti-India sentiment, a
triumphalist Sri Lanka where Sinhalese
chauvinism shows no signs of accom-
modating legitimate Tamil aspirations,
a chaotic Pakistan unwilling to even
reassure New Delhi on future terrorist
strikes, are symptomatic of a region
being pulled in different directions.
Can our thinking from the past
help us navigate through this troubled
present? Pankaj Mishra, in his brilliant
book, From the Ruins of Empire: the
Revolt Against the West and the Re-
making of Asia , describes how three
19th century thinkers, the Persian
Jamal-al Din al-Afghani, Liang Qichao
from China and Indias Rabindranath
Tagore, navigated through Eastern tra-
dition and the Western onslaught to
think of creative ways to strike a bal-
ance and find harmony. In many ways,
these ideas remain relevant today as
well. For if Asia merely mimics the
West in its quest for economic growth
and conspicuous consumption, and
the attendant conflict over economic
resources and military prowess, the
revenge of the East in the Asian cen-
tury and all its victories will remain
truly Pyrrhic.
Courtesy-The Hindu
Use visa card sensibly Use visa card sensibly Use visa card sensibly Use visa card sensibly Use visa card sensibly
The Ministry of Home Affairs
(MHA) took a long time to see the
light, but it has finally done the right
thing in removing, at least partially, the
unreasonable re-entry restriction im-
posed since 2009 on foreigners with
long-term Indian visas. After it came
to light that David Headley, a Pakistani-
origin U.S national, had visited
Mumbai on a long-term visa several
times to scout sites for the November
2008 Lashkar-e-Taiba attacks, the MHA
acted in a knee-jerk fashion to ban
tourists with multiple entry visas from
re-entering India within two months
of leaving the country. That the restric-
tion did not apply to multiple entry
business visas the very visas
Headley had used for his frequent trips
was the first absurdity about the
new rule. While the restriction did
nothing to deter would-be terrorists,
the two month rule affected thou-
sands of tourists who would have
wanted to use India as a base to travel
through South Asia. Most importantly,
it affected Indian-origin foreign nation-
als who did not have a Person of In-
dian Origin or Overseas Citizen of In-
dia card. True, arrivals for 2010 were
higher than for the previous year,
when in-bound tourism in India was
washed out under the combined ef-
fects of the global economic down-
turn and the 2008 Mumbai attacks. But
for a country trying to get more tour-
ists to come, the restrictive rule
marked it out as one that did not fol-
low global best practices in its visa
policy.
The government has now mer-
cifully relaxed this unwarranted and
ineffective restriction, while retaining
it for citizens of some countries,
namely Afghanistan, China, Iran, Paki-
stan, Iraq, Sudan and Bangladesh.
These are also countries whose nation-
als need individual security clearance
from the MHA before they can be
given visas to attend conferences,
seminars or academic meetings. North
Block justifies this discrimination in
the name of national security, the
same alibi it invokes in order to insist
that all academic conferences where
foreign scholars are invited must be
officially vetted before visa clearances
are issued. This practice, which some-
times leads to the denial of visas for
scholars whose views the Indian state
finds disagreeable, is at odds with the
countrys image as a vibrant democ-
racy and needs urgent review. Re-
search visas for bona fide scholars are
also hard to come by, and can be im-
possible to obtain if the scholar wants
to study a subject that the MHA con-
siders sensitive. Unreasonable visa
restrictions affect friends of India
both current and potential more
than those with evil designs against
India. They can never be a substitute
for an efficient intelligence-gathering
system, which may be harder work but
which would definitely prove more
fail-safe in the long run.
Courtesy-The Hindu
Setting an example Setting an example Setting an example Setting an example Setting an example
Convinced that the International
Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
(ITER) installation is safe, the French
government recently granted the fu-
sion project the necessary permission
to start construction in Cadarache.
There are many firsts to the project.
Maintaining transparency has been
one of ITERs most significant features
and organising an enquiry to give the
public an opportunity to formulate its
opinion has set a new benchmark for
openness. Independent experts as-
sessed the safety of the fusion project
and the public was not just taken into
confidence but made an integral part
of the project construction approval
process. In effect, the two-and-a-half-
year effort fully met the requirements
set forth by Frances own 2006 Nuclear
Transparency and Security legislation.
If the French government took a bold
decision to bring about more trans-
parency and public engagement be-
fore nuclear projects are cleared, the
clearance given to ITER tells us that it
is indeed possible to meet the strin-
gent requirements laid down by the
law.
The ITER approval highlights the
fact that the public is not unreason-
able or obstinate. All people want is
to be provided with facts, made fully
aware of the benefits and risks, con-
vinced that complete transparency is
being maintained, and that their opin-
ion is being taken into account on an
important decision. Internationally,
the nuclear industry is well known for
maintaining opacity and for refusing
to take the public into confidence. In
India, the situation is compounded by
the excessive secrecy surrounding all
things nuclear, and by the lackadaisi-
cal and hurried manner in which en-
119 119 119 119 119
vironmental impact assessments are
often carried out. As for the manda-
tory public hearings for large projects,
both nuclear and non-nuclear, these
frequently descend into chaos if not
farce. The sustained local opposition
to the Kudankulam nuclear power
plant continues unabated even days
before the first two units are to be-
come operational. While many valid
questions concerning the safety as-
pects of the plant have not been
clearly answered, public apprehen-
sion to a great extent has come from
imagined fear, misconceptions and an
improper understanding of the tech-
nology-intensive project. It is time the
Indian nuclear establishment realised
that it can no longer bulldoze its way.
Winning public approval is not only
important but necessary for two rea-
sons the Chernobyl catastrophe
and the 2011 Fukushima disaster are
fresh in peoples mind, and the gov-
ernment has major plans to construct
many power nuclear plants across the
country.
Courtesy-The Hindu
No need for hype but certainly No need for hype but certainly No need for hype but certainly No need for hype but certainly No need for hype but certainly
a hope a hope a hope a hope a hope
We are grateful to Narendar Pani
(Editorial page, Cashing in on
schemes for poor, November 29,
2012) and Bharat Bhatti and Madhulika
Khanna (Editorial page, Neither effec-
tive nor equitable, December 4, 2012)
for starting a useful debate on the
United Progressive Alliance
governments Direct Benefits Transfer
(DBT) initiative.
At the outset, it must be
emphasised categorically that this is
not an initiative driven by electoral
calculations, nor is it a further reduc-
tion in the effectiveness of social wel-
fare schemes, as Mr. Panis article
suggests. On the contrary, this marks
a paradigm shift, where the State is
explicitly taking responsibility to en-
sure that welfare schemes and basic
entitlements reach the intended ben-
eficiaries much more effectively than
at present. In addition, the present
proposal of the government clearly
addresses the challenges observed by
Bhatti and Khanna in the Kotkasim
experiment for providing kerosene
subsidies.
What will DBT do?
It is worth explaining briefly
what the government is seeking to do.
The DBT programme aims that entitle-
ments and benefits to people can be
transferred directly to them through
biometric-based Aadhaar-linked bank
accounts, thus reducing several layers
of intermediaries and delays in the sys-
tem. The last-mile of the initiative is
the most important the system will
allow actual disbursements to take
place at the doorstep of the benefi-
ciaries through a dense, interoperable
network of business correspondents
(BCs) using biometric microATM ma-
chines. Thus, the yardstick of success
is not going to be that the money has
reached a bank account, but that it has
reached the hands of the intended
beneficiary a student, a pensioner,
a widow, an elderly person, a disabled
person, a poor family.
Why is DBT a paradigm shift?
There are several dimensions to
this. First, the link to Aadhaar and the
use of biometrics ensures that the
problems of duplicates, i.e., the
same person getting the benefit more
than once, and ghosts, i.e., a non-
existent person getting the benefit, are
addressed. Second, it makes it pos-
sible for money to reach the intended
beneficiaries directly and on time
so, for example, pensions, which
reach the beneficiary once every four
to six months in many parts of India,
can now reach her bank account on
the first of every month. Third, a dense
BC network on the ground with
microATMs will allow payments to
happen at peoples doorsteps, ensur-
ing that the poor get the same level of
service that the rich and middle-class
in India get. Fourth, as it is a platform
based on an open architecture, State
governments can use this platform as
much as the Central government. This
is important, because the government
views this programme as a coopera-
tive endeavour between the Centre
and the States, and the States will have
a critical role to play (in fact, many
chief ministers, including of the Op-
position-ruled States, are strong cham-
pions of the programme). Fifth, the
potential benefit to internal migrants
who send remittances to their homes
is huge. It is estimated that Rs.75,000
crore worth of within-country remit-
tances are made in India every year
many of these are lifelines for their
families. Seventy per cent of these re-
mittances are today channelled
through informal (and illegal) chan-
nels which impose high costs on
them. The Aadhaar-based microATM
network can ensure that remittances
take place instantly and at much lower
cost to migrants.
Tackling the challenges of
implementation
Having said all this, we would
be the first to admit that there are nu-
merous challenges of implementation
that lie ahead. That is why the govern-
ment is proposing to move ahead only
gradually and with caution. First, the
programme proposes only a modest
beginning in Phase I, covering 34
schemes largely scholarships, pen-
sions, and other benefit payments
in only 51 (of the over 600) districts.
It will be ensured that at least 80 per
cent residents in each district have an
Aadhaar number and an Aadhaar-
linked bank account before any pay-
ments are started. And no one who
does not have an Aadhaar number will
be denied benefits. Only based on the
learning from this phase, would the
programme be expanded. Second, a
system of independent concurrent
evaluation is being embedded, to en-
sure that we get objective feedback
on the challenges of implementation.
There already are useful lessons from
five Aadhaar pilots in different parts
of the country. Third, subsidies on
food and fertilizer have not been in-
cluded in the first phase, recognising
that these are highly complex and re-
quire considerable thought. Chief min-
isters seem to have varying views on
120 120 120 120 120
this issue, with some supporting the
linking of DBT with fertilizer and food
(and other Public Distribution System
commodities), while others oppose it.
Such issues will best be left to the dis-
cretion of the States. Fourth, the issue
of mobile connectivity, a major chal-
lenge in backward areas and essen-
tial for online authentication, is being
addressed in parallel, by adding more
mobile towers (especially in back-
ward districts) and through the ambi-
tious government programme of tak-
ing broadband internet connectivity to
every panchayat within two years.
Fifth, the existing discredited BC
model is being fundamentally
changed, with an open architecture
replacing monopolies. This would en-
abl e anyone ki rana shops,
womens self-help groups, primary
agricultural cooperative societies,
post offices, Accredited Social Health
Activists andanganwadi workers, etc.
to become BCs. The business
model for BCs is also being revamped
to make it more lucrative. The post
office network (a key payment chan-
nel, especially for pensions and Ma-
hatma Gandhi National Rural Employ-
ment Guarantee Act payments) is also
being reformed with the postal de-
partment committing to upgrading to
a core banking solution (CBS) system
across all its post offices within the
next 18 months.
On the Kotkasim experiment,
Bhatti and Khanna identified two main
concerns from a user perspective
erratic and delayed payments due to
a lack of coordination, and the time
and effort required to go to and deal
with banks. They also noted the ab-
sence of an objective assessment of
the programme by the government.
Each of these is being addressed in
the governments proposal. Bank ac-
counts are going to be Aadhaar-linked
that will ensure duplicates and ghosts
are eliminated. Beneficiary accounts
are going to be linked to Aadhaar and
bank account numbers before any
payments are made, and payments
will be made instantly using the
Aadhaar Payment Bridge this will
ensure that payment delays dont hap-
pen. An interoperable BC network
with microATMs is going to be put in
place so that beneficiaries have access
to banking at their doorstep, which
will reduce the hassle and delays in-
volved in dealing with bank branches.
And as mentioned, a concurrent evalu-
ation system is being embedded to en-
sure that we get objective feedback.
Conclusion
The DBT initiative is not a or the
silver bullet for the malaise that
plagues our delivery system. It is, more
realistically, a first step in re-engineer-
ing its very foundations. We are nei-
ther evangelical or dogmatic about
DBT. Instead, we believe that rather
than having endless ideological dis-
cussions for or against DBT, it is
better to be pragmatic and try it out
seriously and systematically, albeit in
a cautious and phased manner.
Courtesy-The Hindu
End of the road for BJP in End of the road for BJP in End of the road for BJP in End of the road for BJP in End of the road for BJP in
Karnataka Karnataka Karnataka Karnataka Karnataka
B.S. Yeddyurappas political
gamble in launching the Karnataka
Janata Party at a massive rally on De-
cember 9 in Haveri has hit the
Bharatiya Janata Party hard. In the run-
up to the launch of the KJP, Mr.
Yeddyurappa declared that he had the
loyalty of 50 to 60 legislators of the
BJP who would walk over at his bid-
ding. The State BJP first scoffed, and
then with ill-placed confidence threat-
ened expulsion of those who attended
the launch of the KJP and the break-
fast meet preceding it. The rebel
group defied the party on both counts.
Fourteen BJP legislators participated
in the rally, six BJP legislative council
members were present on the dais,
while 23 MLAs (including several min-
isters) broke bread with Mr.
Yeddyurappa. The BJP, its bluster and
confidence gone, has quietly capitu-
lated and deferred and diluted its
threat of disciplinary action against 20
of the rebels. It will now merely issue
show-cause notices to the rebel fac-
tion, buying itself time to re-strategise.
This elaborate shadow-boxing has
given rise to a paradoxical situation
in the Assembly. In a House that has a
current strength of 223, and where the
BJPs formal strength is 118 (exclud-
ing the Speaker), there are 14 MLAs
who have openly declared allegiance
to Mr. Yeddyurappas KJP and yet
choose not to resign as MLAs. On the
other hand, the governments continu-
ance in office depends on these
rebels. This establishes that the BJP is
playing by the letter and not the spirit
of democratic norms. Neither the rul-
ing party nor the KJP faction would
like to be seen as pulling down the
government, as the State nears elec-
tions in May 2013.
The launch in Haveri a mas-
sive show of popular mobilisation,
and a demonstration of Mr.
Yeddyurappas continuing hold over
the BJP is an ominous signal for the
ruling dispensation. The chances that
the KJP will trigger a broad re-align-
ment of political forces, attracting el-
ements from disgruntled groups
within the Congress and the Janata Dal
(Secular), appear unlikely. Mr.
Yeddyurappas secular protestations
ring hollow, as do his attempts to
project a clean image. In fact, the
former Chief Minister, who was re-
sponsible for subverting the BJPs
promise of providing stability and
good governance, has managed to
deftly shift the onus of his failure on
to the party. For the BJP, its first ex-
periment with governance on its own
in Karnataka has been a disappoint-
ment from the start. After promising
an alternative to the Congress and the
JD(S), the BJP has a record even more
dismal than that of the previous gov-
ernments. It is with this track-record
of non-performance, instability and
corruption that both the BJP and its
doppelganger, the KJP, must go be-
fore the people.
Courtesy-The Hindu
Look out for the overseas Look out for the overseas Look out for the overseas Look out for the overseas Look out for the overseas
worker worker worker worker worker
The two-month-long offer of
amnesty and regularisation for emi-
121 121 121 121 121
grant workers that the United Arab
Emirates launched on December 4
constitutes a legitimate clean-up ef-
fort. It will let those who have over-
stayed their visas or lack proper docu-
mentation, to either leave without
penalty or regularise their stay by pay-
ing fines. The fact that more than
45,000 Indians are expected to seek
amnesty in this round points to the
scale of the problem. The UAE had
offered similar amnesty schemes in
2007, 2002 and 1996, which led to a
total of 8,42,000 people either
legalising their stay or leaving without
being penalised. On its part, India
ought to handle the situation with sen-
sitivity and understanding. One of the
demands this time is for the waiver of,
or reduction in, the fee for the issue
of Emergency Exit Certificates. Fol-
lowing hints from India that this might
indeed be done, the response to the
amnesty process has so far been slow.
The Central and State govern-
ments should take steps to encourage
people to come forward and
legitimise their status. The authorities
should decide on the fee liability, and
whether free air passage could be pro-
vided to the returnees, many of them
low-paid workers. Minister for Over-
seas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi has
favoured this in deserving cases.
On a broader plane, the situa-
tion highlights the need for well-regu-
lated and orderly processes for those
who seek to emigrate in search of live-
lihood. It is well known that dodgy
practices resorted to by recruiting
agents, who work hand in glove with
unregulated visa-providers, often hold
out before prospective emigrants false
promises in terms of the nature of
work and the quantum of pay. Spon-
sors and employers who illegally re-
tain passports in order to keep mi-
grants in thrall, and those who deny
fair wages and reasonable working
conditions, continue to have a field
day as opportunities shrink. The Emi-
gration Act should be tightened to
ensure harsher punishment for mal-
practices. The Indian consular corps
need to provide a more accessible and
enabling environment to emigrants in
distress. Bilateral agreements that have
been periodically announced, includ-
ing one signed with the UAE in 2006
relating to labour and manpower, have
not entirely succeeded in ensuring the
welfare and protection of Indian work-
ers, especially those at the lower end
of the wage band. Also taking into
account the economic dividend that
accrues to the economy thanks to sig-
nificant remittances from the Gulf
countries, India should take a long-
term view and work to safeguard the
welfare of the diaspora. Once mi-
grants return, the State governments
ought to do more to help them find
their feet and locate alternative means
of livelihood.
Courtesy-The Hindu
On the art of creating fiction On the art of creating fiction On the art of creating fiction On the art of creating fiction On the art of creating fiction
from reality from reality from reality from reality from reality
The human condition is at the
very heart of the work of this years
winner of the Nobel Prize for Litera-
ture, Chinese novelist Mo Yan. And his
Nobel lecture on December 7 was no
exception. Two hours ago, the wife
of the general secretary of the Swed-
ish Academy had a baby girl. It is the
beginning of a beautiful story, began
Mo Yan. And throughout his talk, en-
titled Storyteller, his emphasis was
on how he told stories, the craft of
making a story come alive for the
reader. Many Nobel Prize winners are
tempted to go didactic, make gran-
diloquent statements in the belief that
that is what is expected of them. Not
this modest man who has retained his
peasant roots and forgotten none of
his familys poverty or his own early
struggles. It was his mother, he said,
who did the most for him, showing
him many kindnesses; and it was to
repay her and make her life a little
happier and liveable, that he began
telling her stories. His mother, he said
is the person most on my mind at this
moment.
Born into a family of poor farm-
ers in Chinas eastern Shandong Prov-
ince, Mo Yan was awarded the prize
for his hallucinatory realism that
mixes folk tales, history and contem-
porary life. In his speech which was
simple, direct and unpretentious
qualities that mark his work the
author discussed some of his best
known works such as Frog , Big
Breasts and Wide Hips , Life and
Death are Wearing Me Outand of
course The Transparent Carrot , in
which the protagonist, a young boy,
has to bear immense suffering. He said
the essence of his soul was in that boy.
I feel one should be humble in daily
life but when it comes to literary cre-
ation, then one should follow ones
instinct and take control, he said. He
alluded to authors like William
Faulkner and Gabriel Garcia Marquez
who he said were early influences. The
greatest challenge for any writer, Mo
Yan said, was writing novels about
difficult social realities. In writing
about the darker aspects of society
there is a danger that emotions and
anger allow politics to suppress litera-
ture, he said. Mo Yans English-lan-
guage translator Howard Goldblatt
said the speech had diverse elements
but was essentially a message from the
heart. It was very personal in that it
dealt with many of his novels in de-
tail, and all his work as a reflection of
his values and ideals, while touching
briefly on the controversies surround-
ing his selection.
Courtesy-The Hindu
To pass biometric To pass biometric To pass biometric To pass biometric To pass biometric
identification, apply Vaseline or identification, apply Vaseline or identification, apply Vaseline or identification, apply Vaseline or identification, apply Vaseline or
Boroplus on fingers overnight Boroplus on fingers overnight Boroplus on fingers overnight Boroplus on fingers overnight Boroplus on fingers overnight
Pilot cash transfer projects taken
up in Jharkhand for MGNREGA wages
have achieved little success due to a
variety of logistical, human and tech-
nological problems. A year after the
launch of these projects, the problems
remain unsolved.
In Ramgarh district, a majority of
the beneficiaries are in Dohakatu and
Marar panchayats of Ramgarh block.
Over 63,000 people enrolled for
Aadhaar numbers in the two
panchayats in Ramgarh block. Of
these, only 2,312 were mapped, i.e.,
their Aadhaar numbers and their wel-
122 122 122 122 122
fare details were linked together. Of
4,791 active job-card holders in the
two panchayats, only 469 received
MGNREGA payments through Aadhar-
Enabled Cash Transfers (AECTs).
Fifty km away in Ratu block in
Ranchi, of 8,231 active job-card
holders in three panchayats, those
paid through AECTs was even lower:
162.
Under strain
Ramgarh District Collector
Amitabh Kaushal, who has been
awarded the National Aadhaar Gov-
ernance Award two years in a row,
admits that the districts administra-
tive capacity is under strain and banks
are not able to cope with the volume
of transactions. Of eight banks on the
Aadhaar platform, five got added only
last month. In Ramgarh and Ranchi, all
accounts have so far been linked with
the service area bank, Bank of India.
Initially many people turned up to
enrol without their MGNREGA job-
cards. So now we have to physically
go house to house to find every job-
card holder. In some places there was
high enrolment but no BoI branch, in
other places a branch existed but little
enrolment, says Mr. Kaushal. He
rattles off a list of other concerns
bank technology upgrading, Internet
connectivity in hilly areas, and avail-
ability, security and integrity of the
cash-carrying Banking Correspon-
dents (BCs).
At the Panchayat Bhavan at
Dohakatu where most of the
MGNREGA payments recorded were
made, the BC, Rajesh Kumar, tries to
rush through filling beneficiaries bank
forms online he has been asked to
submit them by December 15 but
runs into many interruptions.
Disappointments
Of the seven workers who take
turns to scan their fingers, the micro-
ATM Mr. Kumar operates recognises
four. He pays them between Rs. 300-
200 from the cash he withdrew at the
bank that morning. For two workers
the micro-ATM lists errors repeatedly.
One workers account has still not
been mapped. Of four pension ben-
eficiaries who turn up, three collect
their payments within an hour. Dashay
Bediya, a frail agricultural worker in a
white shirt and dhoti, tries eight times,
placing different fingers in the hope
that one will work and then goes out-
side the office and scrubs his hands.
He returns and tries five times more
getting more anxious and disap-
pointed each time. Come after three
to four days. Put Vaseline or Boroplus
and rub your fingers before you go to
sleep, Mr. Kumar instructs before
sending him back. And so the ques-
tion, can the ease of payments at the
household or panchayat level not be
better achieved through smart cards
that require neither real-time Internet
connectivity, nor the creation of a
massive centralised database like
UIDAIs that makes it harder to include
those who missed enrolment the first
time? Dohakatu has had such a bevy
of bureaucrats, officials and journal-
ists visiting for months that the
sarpanch, Kalawati Devi, now keeps a
stock of mineral water bottles at the
Panchayat Bhavan. At the site of the
second pilot in Ratu block, however,
things have not gone so smoothly even
during officials visits. A few days be-
fore October 2 when the Chief Secre-
tary of Jharkhand was to hand over
pensions through AECTs at a function
at Tigra panchayat, block officials and
BCs tried frantically to make the fin-
gerprints verification go through for 45
beneficiaries. It worked only in the
case of nine. Since October 2, even
these nine have not been paid through
AECTs even once, their payments still
going to their old post-office ac-
counts. Half of MGNREGA workers
fingerprints do not match. Maybe their
fingerprints keep changing? In March
I gave pension beneficiaries ID proofs
to BoI so they open accounts and give
passbooks. Then the bank manager
changed in June and bank officials say
they lost the documents. I gave the
documents again in September but
everyone is still waiting for pass-
books, says Tulsi Koeri, the BC in
Puriyo panchayat, Ranchi. The BC in
nearby Tigra panchayat, Mahmood
Alam, says of 383 whose MGNREGA
accounts were mapped with Aadhaar
since last December, only 102 have
got passbooks, making it difficult for
them to withdraw wages if they run
into authentication or Internet connec-
tivity problems.
Missing wages
Neither Mr. Koeri, nor Mr. Alam
has been paid their monthly salary of
Rs. 2,100 since they were hired as BCs
last November by United Telecoms
Limited (UTL) that BoI outsourced the
work to. Mr. Kumar, Ramgarhs BC, got
paid for four months after the Collec-
tor, Mr. Kaushal, intervened in June.
Even he has not been paid the last six
months. I spend at least Rs. 400 per
month on fuel for this work. In Octo-
ber at the PMs video conference three
of us were sent from Ratu, we paid
over Rs. 2 lakh those three days. There
have been 18-20 functions with offi-
cials from Delhi, Bangalore, even
America. But if I ask for wages, UTL
says if you do not like the work you
can quit. Could you ask them about
our wages please? asks Mr Koeri.
Courtesy-The Hindu
123 123 123 123 123
Japanese encephalitis (JE)-
epidemics have been reported in
many parts of the country. The in-
cidence has been reported to be
high among pediatric group with
high mortality. The incidence of JE
in recent times is showing an in-
creasing trend. It appears that JE
may become one of the major
public health problems in India,
considering the quantum of the
vulnerable pediatric population,
the proportion of JEV infections
among the encephalitic children
and wide scattering of JE-prone
areas. JE burden can be estimated
satisfactorily to some extend by
strengthening diagnostic facilities
for JE confirmation in hospitals
and by maintenance of contact
with the nearby referral hospitals
to collect the particulars on JE
cases. Vaccination proves to be
the best to protect the individual
against any disease. In the case of
JE, it is essential to immunize the
pigs (amplifying host) also to in-
terrupt the transmission of the dis-
ease.
Japanese encephalitispre-
viously known as Japanese B en-
cephalitis to distinguish it from
von Economos A encephalitis
is a disease caused by the mos-
quito-borne Japanese encephali-
tis virus. The Japanese encephali-
tis virus is a virus from the family
Flaviviridae. Domestic pigs and
wild birds (herons) are reservoirs
of the virus; transmission to hu-
mans may cause severe symp-
toms. Amongst the most important
vectors of this disease are the
mosquitoes Culex
tritaeniorhynchus and Culex
vishnui. This disease is most preva-
lent in Southeast Asia and the Far
East.
What is Japanese Encephalitis What is Japanese Encephalitis What is Japanese Encephalitis What is Japanese Encephalitis What is Japanese Encephalitis
(JE)? (JE)? (JE)? (JE)? (JE)?
JE is the mosquito-borne vi-
rus which mainly affects the CNS
or Central Nervous System. It can
be transmitted to human beings if
infected mosquito bites. Mosqui-
toes in turn are affected when they
feed on domestic pigs that carry
this virus. JE usually affects chil-
dren who are below 15 years of
age. Around 25 percent affected
children usually die and among
those who survive, 30-40 percent
suffers from mental and physical
impairment. In 2011, it was re-
ported that JE had occurred in 135
districts in 17 states of India.
Japanese encephalitis has an incu-
bation period of 5 to 15 days and
the vast majority of infections are
asymptomatic: only 1 in 250 infec-
tions develop into encephalitis.
Severe rigors mark the onset of this
disease in humans. Fever, head-
ache and malaise are other non-
specific symptoms of this disease
which may last for a period of be-
tween 1 and 6 days. Signs which
develop during the acute en-
cephalitic stage include neck rigid-
ity, cachexia, hemiparesis, convul-
sions and a raised body tempera-
ture between 38 and 41 degrees
Celsius. Mental retardation devel-
oped from this disease usually
leads to coma. Mortality of this
disease varies but is generally
much higher in children. Transpla-
JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS IN INDIA JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS IN INDIA JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS IN INDIA JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS IN INDIA JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS IN INDIA
124 124 124 124 124
cental spread has been noted.
Lifelong neurological defects such
as deafness, emotional lability and
hemiparesis may occur in those
who have had central nervous sys-
tem involvement. In known cases
some effects also include nausea,
headache, fever, vomiting and
sometimes swelling of the tes-
ticles.
Japanese encephalitis (JE) is
the leading cause of viral encepha-
litis in Asia, with 30,00050,000
cases reported annually. Case-fa-
tality rates range from 0.3% to 60%
and depends on the population
and on age. Rare outbreaks in U.S.
territories in Western Pacific have
occurred. Residents of rural areas
in endemic locations are at high-
est risk; Japanese encephalitis
does not usually occur in urban
areas. Countries which have had
major epidemics in the past, but
which have controlled the disease
primarily by vaccination, include
China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and
Thailand. Other countries that still
have periodic epidemics include
Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, In-
dia, Nepal, and Malaysia. Japanese
encephalitis has been reported on
the Torres Strait Islands and two
fatal cases were reported in main-
land northern Australia in 1998.
The spread of the virus in Austra-
lia is of particular concern to Aus-
tralian health officials due to the
unplanned introduction of Culex
gelidus, a potential vector of the
virus, from Asia. However, the cur-
rent presence on mainland Austra-
lia is minimal.
Human, cattle and horses are
dead-end hosts and disease mani-
fests as fatal encephalitis. Swine
acts as amplifying host and has
very important role in epidemiol-
ogy of the disease. Infection in
swine is asymptomatic, except in
pregnant sows, when abortion and
fetal abnormalities are common
sequelae. The most important vec-
tor is Culex tritaeniorhynchus,
which feeds on cattle in prefer-
ence to humans, it has been pro-
posed that moving swine away
from human habitation can divert
the mosquito away from humans
and swine. The natural host of the
Japanese encephalitis virus is bird,
not human, and many believe the
virus will therefore never be com-
pletely eliminated. In November
2011, Japanese encephalitis virus
was reported in Culex
bitaeniorhynchus in the Republic
of Korea.
Increased microglial activa-
tion following JEV infection has
been found to influence the out-
come of viral pathogenesis. Micro-
glia are the resident immune cells
of the central nervous system
(CNS) and have a critical role in
host defense against invading mi-
croorganisms. Activated microglia
secrete cytokines, such as
interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor ne-
crosis factor alpha (TNF-), which
can cause toxic effects in the
brain. Additionally, other soluble
factors such as neurotoxins, exci-
tatory neurotransmitters, prostag-
landin, reactive oxygen, and nitro-
gen species are secreted by acti-
vated microglia.
In a murine model of JE, it
was found that in the hippocam-
pus and the striatum, the number
of activated microglia was more
than anywhere else in the brain
closely followed by that in the
thalamus. In the cortex, number of
activated microglia was signifi-
cantly less when compared with
other regions of the mouse brain.
An overall induction of differen-
tial expression of pro-inflamma-
tory cytokines and chemokines
from different brain regions dur-
ing a progressive JEV infection
was also observed. Although the
net effect of the pro-inflammatory
mediators is to kill infectious or-
ganisms and infected cells as well
as to stimulate the production of
molecules that amplify the mount-
ing response to damage, it is also
evident that in a non-regenerating
organ such as brain, a deregulated
innate immune response would be
deleterious. In JE the tight regula-
tion of microglia activation ap-
pears to be disturbed, resulting in
an auto toxic loop of microglia
activation that possibly leads to
bystander neuronal damage. In
animals, key signs include infertil-
ity and abortion in pigs, neurologi-
cal disease in horses and systemic
signs including fever, lethargy and
anorexia.
Evolution Evolution Evolution Evolution Evolution
The virus appears to have
originated from its ancestral virus
in the mid 1500s in the Indonesia-
Malaysia region and evolved there
into five different genotypes and
spread across Asia. The mean evo-
lutionary rate has been estimated
to be 4.35 10 (-4) (range: 3.4906
10 (-4) to 5.303 10 (-4)) nucle-
otide substitutions per site per
year.
The causative agent Japanese
encephalitis virus is an enveloped
virus of the genus flavivirus and is
closely related to the West Nile
virus and St. Louis encephalitis vi-
rus. The positive sense single
stranded RNA genome is pack-
aged in the capsid which is formed
by the capsid protein. The outer
envelope is formed by envelope
(E) protein and is the protective
antigen. It aids in entry of the vi-
rus to the inside of the cell. The
genome also encodes several
nonstructural proteins also
(NS1,NS2a,NS2b,NS3,N4a,NS4b,NS5).
NS1 is produced as secretory form
also. NS3 is a putative helicase,
125 125 125 125 125
and NS5 is the viral polymerase. It
has been noted that the Japanese
encephalitis virus (JEV) infects the
lumen of the endoplasmic reticu-
lum (ER) and rapidly accumulates
substantial amounts of viral pro-
teins for the JEV.
Japanese Encephalitis is di-
agnosed by detection of antibod-
ies in serum and CSF (cerebrospi-
nal fluid) by IgM capture ELISA.
Viral antigen can also be shown in
tissues by indirect fluorescent an-
tibody staining. Based on the en-
velope gene (E) there are five
genotypes (I - V). The Muar strain,
isolated from patient in Malaya in
1952, is the prototype strain of
genotype V. Genotype IV appears
to be the ancestral strain and the
virus appears to have evolved in
the Indonesian-Malayasian region.
The first clinical reports date from
1870 but the virus appears to have
evolved in the mid 1500s. Over 60
complete genomes of this virus
have been sequenced as of 2010.
Prevention Prevention Prevention Prevention Prevention
Infection with JEV confers
lifelong immunity. All current vac-
cines are based on the genotype
III virus. A formalin-inactivated
mouse-brain derived vaccine was
first produced in Japan in the
1930s and was validated for use
in Taiwan in the 1960s and in Thai-
land in the 1980s. The widespread
use of vaccine and urbanisation
has led to control of the disease
in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and
Singapore. The high cost of the
vaccine, which is grown in live
mice, means that poorer countries
have not been able to afford to
give it as part of a routine
immunisation programme. The
most common adverse effects are
redness and pain at the injection
site. Uncommonly, an urticarial
reaction can develop about four
days after injection. Because the
vaccine is produced from mouse
brain, there is a risk of autoimmune
neurological complications of
around 1 per million vaccinations.
However in the case of IXIARO
where the vaccine is not produced
in mouse brains but in vitro using
cell culture there is little adverse
effects compared to the Placebo,
the main side effects are headache
and myalgia. Neutralising antibody
persists in the circulation for at
least two to three years and per-
haps longer. The total duration of
protection is unknown, but be-
cause there is no firm evidence for
protection beyond three years,
boosters are recommended every
three years for people who remain
at risk. Furthermore there is also
no data available regarding the in-
terchangeability of other JE vac-
cines and IXIARO and recom-
mended those previously
immunised with other JE vaccines
receive Green Cross or JE-Vax or
a primary course of IXIARO.
Treatment Treatment Treatment Treatment Treatment
There is no specific treat-
ment for Japanese encephalitis
and treatment is supportive; with
assistance given for feeding,
breathing or seizure control as re-
quired. Raised intracranial pres-
sure may be managed with man-
nitol. There is no transmission
from person to person and there-
fore patients do not need to be
isolated. A breakthrough in the
field of Japanese encephalitis
therapeutics is the identification of
macrophage receptor involvement
in the disease severity. A recent
report of an Indian group demon-
strates the involvement of mono-
cyte and macrophage receptor
CLEC5A in severe inflammatory
response in JEV infection of brain.
This transcriptomic study provides
a hypothesis of neuroinflammation
and a new lead in development of
appropriate therapeutic against
Japanese encephalitis.
First vaccine of the world
was developed against Japanese
Encephalitis (JE) using the Indian
strain of virus. National Institute of
Virology (NIV), Pune offered the
strain of JE virus to Bharat Biotech.
This JE virus was gathered from
Kolar in Karnataka. Bharat Biotech
had submitted results from final
human trials to Drug Controller
General of India (DCGI) so that it
could have marketing clearance.
The vaccine is an injectable one
and offers protection rate of more
than 90 percent. It can be used for
age group of 1-15 years. The ap-
plication has been sent for market-
ing approval to DCGI. Clinical data
about the same would also be put
forward to Indian Council of Medi-
cal Research (ICMR) for reviewing
which would take place in Janu-
ary 2013. The scientific committee
of ICMR would provide technical
support to government in context
of the effectiveness of this JE vac-
cine, after which decision to intro-
duce this in public health
programme would be taken.
Country Programme Leader
of PATH (the organisation which
plays a crucial role in conducting
the vaccination of JE in India in 15
states as well as 118 districts since
2006), informed that apart from
providing protection against In-
dian strains of JE, the vaccine
would also be effective against
Nakayama strain (the strain from
Japan) as well as Biken strain
(which circulates in the Asian
countries). Currently, India im-
ports the stock of JE vaccine from
National Biotech Group of China.
The arrival of this indigenous In-
dian vaccination will help in pro-
tection of the Indian population
against the disease which is largely
growing in the country.
S. K. Singh S. K. Singh S. K. Singh S. K. Singh S. K. Singh
126 126 126 126 126
India has enjoyed freedom
over the last sixty four years, but
has it actually savored it. It has
come a long way since 1947. Po-
litical, judicial and administrative
systems have all undergone dras-
tic transformations. However, the
only difference is that these trans-
formations were more of a step
forward and two backwards, mak-
ing the progress complicated. If
good things happened, they came
at some price and so did freedom.
Freedom meant a sense of respon-
sibility, which unfortunately could
not be displayed by its inhabitants.
Hence, the country gave us every-
thing, but in return asked for its
price. The country gave freedom
to its citizens and constantly re-
minded them of the price associ-
ated with it.
Freedom can be summa-
rized as, the Sequence of Setting
Free of Multiple Domains into
Motion. Freedom means to excel
and move on. But, unfortunately
freedom is one of the most misin-
terpreted, misunderstood and
misused word in English language.
Freedom in most of the cases is
interpreted or compared with ir-
regularities in lifestyle. People
think freedom means Free from
All, that is, free from work, cul-
ture, tradition, nationality and in
some instances enlightenment and
total liberation from life. Above all
what they never think of is that,
freedom is nothing but
ultimate responsibility in life.
In some instances in Indian
society, people often misinterpret
freedom as women equality. Some
also raise their voice stating that
women are being treated as don-
keys, working both at office as well
as home. But, they often tend to
forget that Indian society has pro-
vided not equal, but higher rights
to women than men. If one digs
into the details, you can find that
the responsibility of building a
strong family and bond between
its members have been placed on
womens shoulders, which is a
stepping stone towards building
a strong society and nation.
Women have given this responsi-
bility because, they are more emo-
tionally connected than men and
their heart rules over the mind
which is an essential ingredient to
build a lovely family and society.
For example, Mother Teresa was
able work for the ailment for poor
and diseased and thus with re-
spect and love people called her
Mother. There are many men who
worked for ailment and better-
ment of society, for freedom. But,
none are associated with the ail-
ment and betterment of the poor
and diseased in such a large scale.
There is a common thought
in India that a girl goes to
husbands house after marriage
and servers her in-laws, but men
do not have to come across this
torture, share the burden or per-
form daily chores. But, the answer
is in the society itself. In some
parts of Karnataka state, especially
among Tulu speaking community,
there is a custom wherein the boy
goes to wifes house and looks af-
ter his in-laws. This is popularly
THE MISINTERPRETATION AND MISUSE OF FREEDOM IN INDIA THE MISINTERPRETATION AND MISUSE OF FREEDOM IN INDIA THE MISINTERPRETATION AND MISUSE OF FREEDOM IN INDIA THE MISINTERPRETATION AND MISUSE OF FREEDOM IN INDIA THE MISINTERPRETATION AND MISUSE OF FREEDOM IN INDIA
127 127 127 127 127
known as Aliya Santana. There
was also a matrilineal system fol-
lowed in royal families of ancient
Tulu Nadu. Rani Abbakka Devi of
Ullala is an example provided by
the history of India. She was the
direct female heir to the throne of
Ullala from where she ruled her
kingdom and fought with the Por-
tuguese for four decades. She is
also regarded as the first woman
freedom fighter of India.
Freedom is neither in mis-
conceptualizing equality nor in
fighting for over-freeness to visit
pub, bar or in the name of social-
ization having free sex and cor-
rupting the whole community or
society by increasing the number
of HIV AIDS infected population.
Freedom is in understanding of
duty and responsibility.
The fundamental rights might
be there, but its usage always car-
ries at your own risk tag. If right
to equality says no to discrimina-
tion based on caste, creed, reli-
gion and sex, then there are a few
states which have gone ahead and
ruined the sanctity of this state-
ment. They proudly discriminated
people based on native state and
language. Hindi, officially our na-
tional language is still looked
down upon when spoken in a few
states. People ranging from com-
mon man to ministers are merci-
lessly beaten by the self-pro-
claimed local godfathers and their
henchmen for either speaking in
Hindi or from hailing from a dif-
ferent state.
Things do not end with just
one fundamental right. It extends
to the rest as well. A blue and
blackened face, who might have
tried to revoke it, may stare help-
lessly hoping the right to freedom
of speech and expression to re-
vive. Likewise, right against exploi-
tation, educational and cultural
rights are also a farfetched dream
for many. The country still boasts
of child labor, going against the
right at the first place. Poor unedu-
cated children are often found
subjected to the dastardly act.
Apart from the former, slave trade
and child prostitution are new
additions into the ways of exploi-
tation.
In any country, people take
freedom for granted and try to
perform the act of their own. It can
be legal or illegal. They often for-
get that in a democratic republic
freedom is directly controlled by
constitution, as both are defined
hand-in-hand and they structure
the future of nation. Most often
people get into dirty politics and
tend to forget that freedom is there
not only to enjoy, but to prove
themselves in certain areas of life,
and thus create a better atmo-
sphere around them and a better
society.
Freedom is most often mis-
used. For example, Osama-bin-
Laden, an Al-Qaeda terrorist re-
cently killed by US Navy Seals 6.
Dint he had status in society,
enough money to lead a luxurious
life, knowledge to excel? He had
it all and a strong business empire
borrowed from his Father, yet he
lost in life all because of misuse of
freedom. Genghis Khan, Napo-
leon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler and
many more had power, riches and
popularity yet they lost in race of
life; because they tried to rule the
whole world. Dawood Ibrahim,
son of a respectable police con-
stable became a notorious under-
world don, all because of misuse
of freedom.
People forget that freedom is
provided to achieve something in
life which is helpful for society and
the nation, not to cause problem.
To keep a check on you, policing
of mind and soul by self is essen-
tial. It helps you to reach new
heights in life, scale altitude which
is untouched by others ever in his-
tory of this beautiful world. People
always condemn the nation and its
government for all their social
problems; but, once turn around
and think what have done or given
to this nation and society? When
you ask for freedom then think of
responsibility. Accept the respon-
sibility, prove yourself and show
the world how capable you are?
Thus help the society, nation and
the whole world to get benefited
from it, in a positive way.
Excessive amounts of free-
dom led to its misuse, which has
catapulted in broadening the
crime domain. The irony is that
that a bad event cannot be labeled
as crime till it is proven. High crime
rates constantly shake our con-
science, but we fail to wake up.
And even if we do, the scary road
to freedom disintegrates the re-
maining shred of courage. The very
rigorous path of being exploited
in the name of justice fills the heart
with an unknown, indescribable
fear. It tells that victims are well
off with just one bad episode as
seeking justice would be like en-
countering many of them.
Thats why half the people
dont seek justice due to fear and
the other half bears the brunt of
seeking the same. Throughout the
journey, they are constantly ex-
ploited for being relieved with jus-
tice. Physically, mentally and finan-
cially, justice demands upfront
payment at every step, tiring them
thoroughly. By the time one
reaches the doors of justice, one
remains confused as to seek jus-
tice for which particular crime.
Every coin has two sides.
Similarly, the progress also high-
lights a darker, a much shunned
128 128 128 128 128
aspect. If the country has western-
ized in terms of clothes, food hab-
its, industrialization, medical and
technological solutions, it is losing
its well being. Clothes no more
fulfill the purpose of hiding flesh,
industrialization has killed natural
flora and fauna, medical advance-
ment has allowed us to realize that
we are becoming sicker day by
day. In terms of food, its an even
pathetic situation cause if one half
of the country diets then other half
remains famished and under pov-
erty line. This is sheer mockery and
reflects the price we paid for put-
ting our nation on the international
map.
Maybe we are not living in
British era, whereby our choices
are no longer conditioned by their
power and rule. Take a closer look
and you will know that only the
sides of the coin have changed.
Now instead of British raj, we have
our own exploiting local goons
and corrupt netas to superimpose
their choices on us. Mere restric-
tions from exercising our funda-
mental rights have indeed helped
them in handicapping us. They
brainwash us, sometimes by hook
or crook, to make their choices
seem better. After sixty four years,
maybe we have freed ourselves
from the clutches of the English,
but we still have a long way to go
to taste independence and free-
dom from the clutches of malprac-
tice, exploitation, mental harass-
ment, corruption and crime. It is
high time we respect the very little
amount of freedom bestowed on
us, take suitable action before we
remain nothing more than zom-
bies.
Gyanesh Pandey Gyanesh Pandey Gyanesh Pandey Gyanesh Pandey Gyanesh Pandey
Civil Services Mentor
OUR MAGAZINE OUR MAGAZINE
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Direct Download Free Digital Magazines by
UPSCPORTAL.COM
http://www.upscportal.com/civilservices/magazine
Click Here

Study Kit for Preliminary Examinations:

IAS (Pre) GS Paper 1
http://upscportal.com/civilservices/study-kit/ias-pre/csat-paper-1
IAS (Pre) GS Paper 2
http://upscportal.com/civilservices/study-kit/ias-pre/csat-paper-2
GS Foundation Course (PT+ MAINS) for 2014
http://upscportal.com/civilservices/study-kit/ias-pre/general-studies-foundation-course

Study Kit for Mains Examinations:

Contemporary Issues
http://www.upscportal.com/civilservices/study-kit/contemporary-issues-ias-mains
Public Administration
http://www.upscportal.com/civilservices/study-kit/ias-mains-public-adminstration
Essay Writing
http://www.upscportal.com/civilservices/study-kit/essay-mains
English Grammar & Comprehension
http://www.upscportal.com/civilservices/study-kit/ias-mains-english-compulsory
History
http://www.upscportal.com/civilservices/study-kit/ias-mains-history
Philosophy
http://upscportal.com/civilservices/study-kit/ias-mains-philosophy
Sociology
http://upscportal.com/civilservices/study-kit/ias-mains-sociology
General Studies
http://www.upscportal.com/civilservices/study-kit/gs-mains

Study Kit for UPSC Other Examinations:

Indian Police Service Limited Competitive Examination
http://www.upscportal.com/civilservices/study-kit/ips-lce
Armed Police Forces (CAPF)
http://upscportal.com/civilservices/study-kit/capf

Study Kit for Other Examinations:

SSC Combined Graduate Level (Tier - I)
http://sscportal.in/community/study-kit/cgl
SSC Combined Graduate Level Examination (Tier - II)
http://sscportal.in/community/study-kit/cgl-tier-2
SSC Combined Higher Secondary Level (10+2) Examination
http://sscportal.in/community/study-kit/chsle
UPSCPORTAL Study Kits for IAS, Civil Services &
Other Exams

Civil Services Mentor February 2013

Încărcat de

Informații document

Titlu original

Drepturi de autor

Formate disponibile

Partajați acest document

Partajați sau inserați document

Opțiuni de partajare

Vi se pare util acest document?

Este necorespunzător acest conținut?

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Civil Services Mentor February 2013

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Index Index

Index Index Index

S-ar putea să vă placă și