UPSCPORTAL Magazine Vol 17 September 2010 WWW - Upscportal

Downloaded From: http://www.upscportal.
com
UPSC Portal
Magazine New Symbol for
Vol. - 17 Sept., 2010
Indian Rupee
Sr. Honorary Advisor:
Sant Prasad Gupta
3
Honorary Editor:
Ram Kumar Pandey
Executive Editor:
Dr. Divya
Asistant Editor:
Avadhesh Kumar Pandey
Editorial
Honorary Advisors: Where
Dr. Nageshwar Nath Mishra
Dr. Sachchidanand
there
is a will ...
Designed by :
Shivalik Graphics
SECTION - 2
Disclaimer:
India-Mauritius
Editor and Publisher are not Relation Myanmar's Head of State
responsible for any views, data,
figures etc. Expressed in the articles Public Distribution Visit to India
by the author(s). Maps are notational. System
Published By:
WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM SECTION - 3
Mukherjee Nagar, India to provide USD 1 CONTROVERSY
New Delhi-110009 Bn to Bangladesh
SECTION - 4
For Advertisement Contact at:
9899825962, 011-27650111 Current Affairs
SECTION - 5
Join us at Face Book :
http://www.facebook.com/upscportal.original
World of
Awards
Follow us at Twitter :
http://twitter.com/upscportal
SECTION - 6
Join UPSCPORTAL.COM’s Google Groups :
http://groups.google.co.in/group/upscportal CSE Main 2010 Special:
» Study Package :
Contact us at:
http://upscportal.com/civilservices/contact (Science & Technology)
Sports World
Downloaded From: http://www.upscportal.com Specially designed for UPSCPORTAL.COM Members.
Editorial
Where there is a will ....
"Where there is a will, there is a way" is a familiar and well-known saying. But only few
understand and act upon it. This saying underlines a very vital fact of life. Man is ambitious;
he is full of desires, he needs force of will power to fulfil these dreams.
Without determination and a strong will, nothing can be achieved. Determination is one
of the secrets of success. Those who work hard are crowned with success, others are like cats
that wish to eat fish but dare not wet their feet.
God helps those who help themselves. Napoleon believed that the word "impossible"
was to be found only in the dictionary of fools. There is nothing impossible in the world for a
man of steel, will power and unyielding determination. Take the example of Maharana
Pratap and Shivaji. They are well known in history for their iron will, strong determination,
courage, heroism and patriotism. Rana Pratap fought bravely against such a powerful king as
Akbar, despite successive defeats but never surrendered in slavery.
Again, take the example of Mahatma Gandhi, a frail man but a man of iron will and
strong convictions. He won us freedom through non-violence, Satyagraha and non-
cooperation. A determined person takes hurdles as a challenge and overcomes them with
hard work and tireless efforts.
History is full of many bright examples to show us how people turned seemingly
impossible work into a possibility and success. If you have an unshakable, resolute will and
carry on your efforts, as did these great men of history, you, too, are bound to have what you
want.
In this volume of UPSCPORTAL magazine you can find New Symbol for Indian Rupee
as featured article and articles are Myanmar's Head of State Visit to India, India- Mauritius
Relations and Public Distribution System. In section of hot topics you will find India to
provide USD 1 bn to Bangladesh and BlackBerry Controversy. With regular columns also
we have provided special study package for Civil Services Main Examination 2010 on
Science & Technology.
So we hope with these study materials you will make your efforts better for success in
upcoming challenges.
Wish You All the Best
Ram Kumar Pandey and UPSC Portal Team
2 Copyright © 2010 | WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM Vol. - 17

Featured Article
New Symbol for

Indian Rupee
A step towards globalisation
ndia has finally got a symbol Kumar, who joined the Department • By : Ram Kumar Pandey
I for the Rupee and joined a
select club of countries
whose currencies have an unique
of Design at IIT Guwahati, explained
that the design is based on the Indian
Tricolour.
further till I got this one," said Kumar.
His entry was chosen from 3,000
designs competing for the currency
identity. The Union Cabinet on Jul 15, "My design is based on the Tricolour symbol. He will get an award of Rs 2.5
2010 approved the design, which with two lines at the top and white lakh. All new notes will now bear the
includes both the Devnagiri 'Ra' and space in between. I wanted the symbol.
the Roman capital 'R' and has two symbol for the Rupee to represent Though the symbol will not be
parallel lines running at the top. The the Indian flag. It is a perfect blend of printed or embossed on currency
parallel lines symbolise the equal to Indian and Roman letters: a capital notes or coins, it would be included in
sign. 'R', and Devnagari 'Ra', which the 'Unicode Standard' and major
The symbol selected has been represent rupiya, to appeal to scripts of the world to ensure that it is
designed by an Indian Institute of international and Indian audiences. easily displayed and printed in the
Technology-Bombay postgraduate D After working on the design for few electronic and print media.
Udaya Kumar and was selected from months, I shortlisted eight to 10 Among currencies with distinctive
among five short listed symbols. designs and then refined them identities, only the pound sterling has
Vol. - 17 Copyright © 2010 | WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM 3
ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

ORDER LINK: http://upscportal.com/store/magazine/vol17-hard-copy
Featured Article
first encoded, said Pradeep Parappil, Standardization) Group responsible
lead product manager for Windows for ISO/IEC 10646 decided in 1991 to
and Windows Live, at Microsoft India. create one universal standard for
The new symbol has to be submitted coding multilingual text.
by the Indian government to the The Indian government does not
Unicode Consortium to be encoded appear to have any illusions that it
and allotted a code point in the will take some time before the rupee
Unicode Standard, he said. symbol gets added to computers,
The Unicode Standard is a mobile phones, and other computing
character coding system designed to devices. The encoding of the symbol
support the worldwide interchange, in accordance with Indian standards
processing, and display of written is estimated to take about six months
its symbol printed on the notes. texts of diverse languages and while encoding in the Unicode and
Unicode is an international technical disciplines, according to its ISO/IEC 10646 standards will take
standard that allows text data to be website. The latest version of the about 18 months to two years, it said.
interchanged globally without Unicode Standard is Version 5.2.0. Influence of Indian Economy.
conflict. After incorporation in the The time required to add the new So far the Indian Rupees was
global and Indian codes, the symbol rupee symbol to products does not abbreviated as Rs, Re, or INR. "The
would be used by all individuals and depend on vendors at this point, but symbol should represent the
entities within and outside the on the time it will take for the historical and cultural ethos of India.
country. inclusion of the encoding in the The proposal to have a unique symbol
The symbol will be adopted in a Unicode Standard, Parappil said. for the Indian Rupee was the idea of
span of six months in the country, and Once a new version of the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee
within 18 to 24 months globally and it standard, which has the code point that he brought up in his Budget
will feature on computer keyboards for the rupee symbol, is released by Speech for this fiscal. "In the ensuing
and software for worldwide use. the Unicode Consortium, Microsoft year, we intend to formalise a symbol
New Rupee symbol won't show will start work to include it in the for the Indian rupee, which reflects
soon on computers Windows operating system and other and captures the Indian ethos and
Vendors of computers, mobile products, Parappil said. He did not culture," Finance Minister Pranab
phones, and software say they will specify the time it would take to Mukherjee announced in his Budget
support the symbol for the Indian include the changes. Users will not speech in Parliament.
rupee that was approved by the have to buy new software, but will The introduction of a unique
Indian cabinet. But it may be over two likely receive downloadable updates symbol for Indian Rupee reflects the
years before the rupee symbol starts to their existing software, he added. importance of Indian economy in
showing on computers and mobile The Indian government decided global economy. So far, US dollar,
phones, analysts said. to select a symbol for the Indian European Euro, British Pound, and
Many vendors are also undecided rupee to reflect the country's Japanese Yen were the only members
whether they will offer the new economic growth and its integration of the elite class of having unique
symbol on keyboards and keypads, or with the global economy. The symbol symbols for their currencies.
as additions in software to the will also distinguish the Indian
character set supported by their currency from some other currencies A step towards globalisation
devices. in the region like those of Pakistan Evoking national spirit and inter-
Nokia, for example, welcomed the and Nepal that are also called rupee, national attention the Indian rupee
move by the Indian government to the government said. attained a new avatar in its new
have a symbol for the rupee, and said The symbol will be used by all symbol. A distinct identity with a
it would abide by the rules and individuals and entities within and blend of the Devanagri 'Ra' and
regulations in this regard. However, a outside India after its incorporation Roman 'R', the Indian currency will be
company spokeswoman said it's too in the Unicode Standard, the ISO/IEC joining the elite club of the U.S. dollar,
early to comment on how the symbol 10646 standard for coding the European euro, the British pound
will be implemented, whether on the multilingual text, and the Indian IS sterling and the Japanese yen.
phone keypad or on the character list. 13194 standard, the government said This would distinguish the Indian
For computers, mobile phones in a statement on Thursday. Unicode currency from its neighbouring
and other computing devices to Consortium and the ISO countries' — Pakistan, Nepal, Sri
understand the symbol, it has to be (International Organization for Lanka and Indonesia — similarly

Featured Article
known rupee or rupiah. proved that India would not be able the lessons of the crisis,” D. Subbarao,
While declaring the intention of to take such risks though one may say Governor, RBI, stated recently.
the government to have a symbol for this as a weakness for the Indian Correlation
the Indian rupee, Union Finance currency in the global arena. The recent crisis has clearly been a
Minister Pranab Mukherjee had The Prime Minister, Manmohan turning point in the world view on
stated in his last budget presentation Singh in a speech at the Reserve Bank capital controls.
that: “We intend to formalise a of India (RBI) on March 18, 2006, The Asian crisis of the mid-90s
symbol for the Indian rupee, which referred to the need to revisit the demonstrated the risk of instability
reflects and captures the Indian subject of capital account inherent in a fully open capital
ethos and culture. convertibility. He had said: “Given the account. Even so, the intellectual
“With this, Indian rupee will join changes that have taken place over orthodoxy continued to denounce
the select club of currencies such as the last two decades, there is merit in controls on capital flows as being
the U.S. dollar, British pound sterling, moving towards fuller capital inefficient and ineffective. The recent
euro and the Japanese yen that have account convertibility within a c r i s i s s a w, a c r o s s e m e r g i n g
a clear distinguishing identity.” transparent framework…I will economies, a rough correlation
therefore request the Finance between the extent of openness of
Political dimension Minister and the Reserve Bank to the capital account and the extent of
The growth story of India is intact and revisit the subject and come out with adverse impact of the crisis. Surely,
many would be interested in a road map based on current said Dr. Subbarao “this should not be
correlating the new symbol with its realities”. Y. V. Reddy, the then read as a denouncement of open
economic growth and ambition to Governor of RBI, in consultation with capital account, but a powerful
become an economic super power. the government, appointed on demonstration of the tenet that
However, the introduction of the new March 20, 2006, a committee to set premature opening hurts more than
symbol is having a political out the road map towards fuller it helps.”
dimension. While Pranab Mukherjee capital account convertibility. Notably, the International Monetary
spoke about ethos of the country in Fund (IMF) published a policy note in
Parliament, it was definitely, on the Capital Flows February this year that reversed its
largest democracy of the world. As Volatile capital flows have been a long held orthodoxy. The note has
compared to other Asian powers, central issue during the recent referred to certain 'circumstances in
especially China, India's strength lies financial crisis, which surfaced which capital controls can be a
in its democracy. around 2007-08, and continue to be legitimate component of the policy
This new symbol is also so now as the crisis is ebbing. response to surges in capital flows'.
considered as a step towards Emerging market economies (EMEs) Now that there is agreement that
internationalisation of Indian rupee. saw a sudden stop and reversal of controls can be 'desirable and
While the U.S. dollar, the British capital flows during the crisis as a effective' in managing capital flows in
pound, the euro and the Japanese consequence of global deleveraging. select circumstances. The Indian
yen are widely traded currencies, India has followed a consistent policy rupee is likely to remain a partially
Indian rupee is only partially on capital account convertibility in convertible currency, at least in the
convertible. general and on capital account near future as Dr. Subbarao put it:
Further, majority of world's management in particular. “Our How emerging market economies
currencies are also floating. position is that capital account manage the impossible trinity — the
Convertible currencies are defined as convertibility is not a standalone impossibility of having an open
currencies that are readily bought, objective but a means for higher and capital account, a fixed exchange rate
sold and converted without the stable growth. We believe our and independent monetary policy —
permission from a central bank or economy should traverse towards is going to have an impact on their
government entity. The Indian rupee capital convertibility along a gradual prospects for growth, price stability
is only partially convertible as the path — the path itself being and financial stability.
central bank controls the recalibrated on a dynamic basis in Historically under the British Raj
international investments flowing in response to domestic and global Indian rupee was fully convertible.
and out of the country. developments. Post-crisis, that While many starved and famines hit
With a new symbol, the issue of continues to be our policy. We will the country, a small section was
full capital account convertibility continue to move towards buying palaces and other assets in
would be revived again. However, the liberalising our capital account, but Europe.
recent global financial crisis again we will revisit the road map to reflect

Article
Myanmar's
Head of State
Visit to India
Bilateral agreements towards
strong friendship
yanmar's Head of State,
M Senior General Than Shwe

visited India from 25 to 29
July 2010. This was a religious cum
the famous Salar
Jang Museum.
Before concluding
official visit. He came with a big his visit, on 29 July,
entourage of ministers, officials and he visited the Tata
family members. This was his second Motors Plant in
visit to India – the first one was in Jamshedpur. Tata
October 2004. Motors is establish-
The visit was scantily covered by ing a plant in Myan-
the local media and there was no mar and is hopeful of • By : Dr. Sachchidanand
press conference or press briefing on starting production of 1000 heavy gratitude for India's line of credit
this visit, though a detailed joint trucks from this plant from 2011. of US$ 64 million in the
statement was issued by the Ministry The highlights of the Joint transmission lines sector to be
of External Affairs on 27 July, 2010, on Statement issued by the Ministry of executed through M/s. PGCIL.
the discussions between the two External affairs on 27 July which • The two leaders agreed to
sides. summarises the issues discussed, upgrade the microwave link
On arrival in India in the state of agreements made and the conce- between Moreh to Mandalay
Bihar on 25 July, 2010, Than Shwe ssions extended to Myanmar are : under a line of credit of US$ 6
visited Bodh Gaya and other places of • The Indian side agreed to consider million from India.
Budhist interest near by. After visiting Myanmar's request for assistance • The restoration of the historic
Sarnath temple (Varnasi), he arrived in the three areas namely: IT Ananda temple in Bagan to be
in Delhi on 26 July and was received development, Industrial develo- undertaken with the assistance of
by India's Foreign Minister S. M. pment and Infrastructure deve- the Archaeological Survey of
Krishna. On 27 July, 2010, he was lopment in Myanmar. India, with the involvement of the
accorded a ceremonial reception at • Construction and revamping of Ministry of Culture of Myanmar.
Rashtrapati Bhawan and a banquet the Rhi-Tiddim road at a cost of The following agreements signed
was hosted by the President in his more than US$ 60 million. between India and Myanmar by
honour. On the same day Than Shwe • Grant of US$ 10 million for different ministers/officials of the
had a meeting with the Prime procurement of agricultural two sides were also witnessed by
Minister of India Dr. Manmohan machinery from India. Chairman, State Peace and
Singh which was followed by • The two leaders agreed to Development Council of
delegation level talks. cooperate in the implementation Myanmar, Senior General Than
On 28 July 2010 Gen Than Shwe of the Tamanthi and Shwezaye Shwe and Prime Minister Dr.
was in Hyderabad where he visited projects on the Chindwin River Manmohan Singh.
the L & T Infocity, Bharat Biotech, a Basin in Myanmar. • Treaty on Mutual Assistance in
leading biotechnology company and • The Myanmar side conveyed their Criminal Matters

Article
• Memorandum of Understanding for elections scheduled towards the exert pressure on the military junta
regarding Indian Grant Assistance end of the year. The Indian side for democratic reforms and release
for Implementation of Small thanked the Myanmar side for the of political prisoners. Even the other
Develop-ment Projects detailed briefing and emphasized the nations of ASEAN and its top dialogue
• Agreement on Cooperation in the importance of comprehensively partners US, EU and Japan failed to
fields of Science and Technology broad-basing the national reco- convey their strong feelings for more
• Memorandum of understanding nciliation process and democratic transparency and democracy in the
on Information Cooperation changes being introduced in recent summit meetings at Hanoi.
• Memorandum of understanding Myanmar.” It is incorrect to conclude, that by
for the Conservation and Resto- News Analyses India is accused for hosting the Senior General Than
ration of the Ananda Temple in its policy on Myanmar being based on Shwe's visit on the eve of the general
Bagan. realpolitik instead of its age old elections in Myanmar, India has
Media Reports give the impre- democratic principles. India's earlier endorsed the elections and the
ssion that Than Shwe came to India to stance of supporting the pro- procedure to be adopted for that
solicit India's support or the democratic forces in Myanmar had process. The election is an internal
forthcoming elections. This is far proved to be detrimental to its issue of that country. India can at
from the truth as the present national and security interests and best offer some assistance in the
Myanmar Government will do what it hence had to adopt a more realistic procedural aspects and express its
wants to do, no matter what the and pragmatic policy of engaging the desire for an early national
international reactions would be. military junta. reconciliation.
India has a large number of exiles Most media reports indicate that The elections will no doubt to be a
from Myanmar, mostly settled in the Myanmar is playing the China card flawed one but yet it is better than
North East and in Delhi (waiting to go with India and the India card with not doing anything at all. Any change
over to Western nations as refugees). China. All one can say at this point is can only be for the better and it is
Members of the All Burma Monks that Myanmar needs India as much almost certain that Indian
Alliance and All Burma Students as India needs Myanmar. engagement with the new regime
League protested against this visit by Media reports also harp on the will continue in the interest of both
gathering at Juntar Mantar (a Delhi point that the results achieved in the the countries.
Park), shouted pro-democracy energy sector or on the insurgency The visit has also shown India's
slogans and dispersed peacefully. front from Myanmar are not potential as a 'soft power' that needs
India has also been under commensurate with the efforts taken to be used more often and in a more
pressure from International Fede- from the Indian side. While this may focused manner.
ration for Human Rights and some be true to a certain extent, India (as
western nations including US, to use a ga i n s t C h i n a ) h a d a l s o i t s Joint Statement
its good relations with Burma, to shortcomings in implementing the This visit was a part of a series of high-
convey to the military junta for projects in Myanmar or in convincing level contacts that India and
changing the course and imple- the military junta of its requirements. Myanmar have had over the past few
menting some democratic reforms. The western nations have nothing years. These include visits by Vice
India has taken a neutral stand till to lose by adopting a policy of Senior General Maung Aye, Vice-
date though it has expressed that it is sanctions and repeated censure of Chairman of the State Peace and
looking forward to an early national the military regime for its human Development Council of the Union of
reconciliation. What the Indian rights abuses. This policy has only Myanmar, in April 2008 and Shri M.
leaders told the visiting dignitary was isolated Myanmar from the main Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India,
not known, but the official stand was stream, much to the benefit of China. in February 2009.
one of neutrality. In India's case, Myanmar is its In New Delhi, Senior General Than
An extract from the joint immediate neighbour with a 1640 km Shwe was accorded a ceremonial
statement issued by the Ministry of land border and a long maritime reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan on
External Affairs on 27 July 2010 given boundary in the Bay of Bengal. 27 July 2010. He was received by the
below summarises India's reactions Because of the strategic, security and President of India, who hosted a
on the forthcoming election in economic concerns, India has to be in banquet in his honour.
Myanmar. an engagement mode with Myanmar. Senior General Than Shwe had a
“The Myanmar side informed the Just because India is the world's meeting with the Prime Minister of
Indian side about developments in largest democracy, it is not India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, which
Myanmar including the groundwork incumbent on the part of India to

Article
was followed by delegation level operations by terrorist and insurgent lead to upliftment of the bilateral
talks. The meetings and exchanges organizations and their operatives. cooperation to a higher level.
were positive and marked by Understanding that continued Senior General Than Shwe and
cordiality on both sides. cooperation will lead to success in Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
India and Myanmar are close and fighting the insurgency issue, the two welcomed the considerable
friendly neighbours linked, inter alia, leaders agreed to strengthen enhancement of the connectivity
by civilizational bonds, geographical cooperation and collective efforts of between the two countries. In this
proximity, culture, history and the two countries along the border. In context, they welcomed the progress
religion. Apart from a boundary that this context, the two leaders made by M/s Inland Waterways
stretches over more than 1640 welcomed the Home Secretary level Authority of India towards impleme-
kilometers and borders four North- talks held in Nay Pyi Taw in January ntation of the Kaladan Multi-modal
Eastern states of India, there is a large 2010 and the important decisions Transit Transport Project and reite-
population of persons of Indian origin taken in that meeting. rated their respective Governments'
in Myanmar. Bilateral relations are Both leaders expressed their commitment to this project. In
reflective of these multifarious and d es ire fo r greater eco n o mic particular, they welcomed the
traditional linkages and the two engagement. In this context, the finalization of the contract for port
countries live side by side as close Prime Minister of India conveyed development and Inland waterway
neighbors based on the Five India's commitment to continue with with M/s ESSAR. It was also agreed
Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. d eve l o p m e nta l a s s i sta n c e to that the scope of the project with
Recalling these shared bonds of
civilization, the Head of State of
Myanmar and the Prime Minister of
India expressed their commitment to
further strengthen and broaden the
multi-dimensional relationship
which now encompasses a range of
areas of cooperation. Enhancing
economic, social and developmental
engagement will help harness the
considerable potential in India-
Myanmar bilateral relations, which
would, in turn, contribute to the
socio-economic betterment of their
respective peoples.
Recognizing that peace and
stability in the region is essential for
development and for the well-being
of the people of their respective
countries, the two leaders agreed on Myanmar. The Myanmar side respect to the road component
close cooperation between the expressed deep appreciation for the would be revised. The road
security forces of the two countries in generous and concessionary credit component between Paletwa and
tackling the pernicious problem of facilities given by India to finance Myeikwa on the India border would
terrorism. They agreed that security significant infrastructure and other be executed by the Myanmar
cooperation should be given projects. Projects that are currently Ministry of Construction with M/s
immediate attention since terrorists, underway under such aid assistance IRCON.
insurgents and criminals respect no include railways, road and waterway The two leaders expressed
boundaries and undermine the social development, power and industrial satisfaction at the construction,
and political fabric of a nation. Both training centres, tele-commu- maintenance and repair work by
leaders reiterated the assurance that nication, etc. The Indian side agreed Indian Border Roads Organization of
the territory of either would not be to consider Myanmar's request for the Tamu-Kalaywa-Kalemyo Road
allowed for activities inimical to the assistance in the three areas namely: connecting Moreh in Manipur to
other and resolved not to allow their IT development, Industrial Myanmar and the handing over of
respective territory to be used for development and Infrastructure most of the segments of the TKK Road
training, sanctuary and other development in Myanmar which will to the Government of Myanmar.

Article
To enhance road connectivity, required additional investigations A-1 and A-3 including the natural gas
especially through the State of after the signing of the MoU on pipeline under construction at
Mizoram, both leaders announced C o o p e rat i o n i n H yd ro - p owe r Ramree in Myanmar.
the construction and revamping of Development projects in the In the field of telecom, following
the Rhi-Tiddim road at a cost of more Chindwin River Basin in September the successful functioning of the
than US$ 60 million to be financed 2008. Subject to the findings of these official Fibre link between India and
through grant assistance from India. additional investigations, the two Myanmar via Moreh, the two leaders
The Myanmar side expressed its leaders will endeavour to conclude agreed to upgrade the microwave
appreciation for this gesture. the Memorandum of Agreement link between Moreh to Mandalay
Both leaders emphasized the within a year. under a line of credit of US$ 6 million
need to enhance cooperation in the The Myanmar side conveyed their from India. Further, a new Optical
area of agriculture. The Indian side gratitude for India's line of credit of Fibre Link between Monywa to Rhi-
announced a grant of US$ 10 million US$ 64 million in the transmission Zawkhathar will also be undertaken
for procurement of agricultural lines sector to be executed through with Indian assistance.
machinery from India. The leaders M/s. PGCIL. Both leaders also noted The Myanmar side thanked India
expressed the hope that this the need to provide for inter-grid for its continued assistance through
machinery will help enhance connectivity between the two renewal of the agreement to provide
productivity in Myanmar's agricul- countries. They agreed that the two IRS-P5 and Cartosat Data through
tural sector, which is the mainstay of countries shall cooperate in this area, Antrix.
its economy. The Myanmar side also including generation of electricity The two leaders agreed to
requested for technical assistance in from renewable sources, and, where encourage collaboration between
manufacturing of agricultural necessary, set up joint projects or Myanmar and India in the area of
machinery. corporate entities for that purpose. Information and Communication
The Indian side also announced a The Myanmar side welcomed the Technology.
project to set up rice silos to facilitate interest of Indian companies in the Recalling India's earlier assistance
disaster relief operations particularly mining sector. They promised all in supplying railway rolling stock,
in the cyclone prone delta areas, with necessary assistance to enable these machineries and equipments to
grant in aid from India. companies to explore such Myanmar, both leaders agreed to
The Myanmar side expressed opportunities. further cooperation in the railway
appreciation for India's generous The Indian side agreed to explore sector. The Indian side extended a
assistan ce in th e relief an d possibilities for cooperation in the line of credit of US$ 60 million to
rehabilitation efforts that followed field of solar energy and wind energy procure railway equipment.
the devastating Cyclone Nargis which in Myanmar. They also agreed to offer The two leaders noted with
hit Myanmar in May 2008. He noted Myanmar, training in related fields. satisfaction that the project being
that the assistance from India, which Cooperation in the energy sector undertaken by TATA Motors to set up
included dispatch of a large medical is poised for greater growth, a heavy turbo truck plant at Magway
contingent to work in cyclone especially in the area of oil and is proceeding well and encouraged
affected areas as well as providing natural gas. Both leaders emphasized other Indian companies to enter into
immediate medical and food the importance they attach to energy the industrial sectors in Myanmar.
supplies, supply of GI sheets, 16 security which has a direct bearing on The Myanmar side assured that
electricity transformers, 20 biomass the welfare of the peoples of the two current investment proposals by
gasifiers and funds for restoration countries. They expressed satisfact- private Indian companies in Myan-
work on the holy Shwedagon pagoda, ion at the ongoing bilateral mar would be actively facilitated.
was timely and catered to Myanmar's collaboration in exploration and The two leaders welcomed the
urgent requirements. production in Myanmar's petroleum expansion of trade and commerce
Both leaders identified the power sector and agreed to encourage between the two countries manifest
sector as an area of growing further investment by Indian in the increase in the volume of trade
cooperation. In this context, the two companies both public and private, in to more than US$ 1 billion per
leaders agreed to cooperate in the this sector. annum. They agreed that trade at
implementation of the Tamanthi and The Myanmar side welcomed the border trade points should be further
Shwezaye projects on the Chindwin substantial additional investment by enhanced to boost the immense
River Basin in Myanmar. They ONGC and GAIL for the development potential that exists in bilateral trade.
welcomed the involvement of M/s in the upstream and downstream This would also directly benefit the
NHPC in carrying out the much projects of Myanmar offshore blocks North-East States of India.

Article
Referring to the existing border cooperation under the frameworks The Myanmar side also indicated
trading points at Moreh - Tamu of ASEAN+India and BIMSTEC, the that the training offered by India
(Manipur) and Zawkhathar-Rhi two sides agreed to further promote under the ITEC and TCS schemes have
(Mizoram) as well as the additional tourist contacts. The Myanmar side been valuable for scholars and
point agreed to be operationalised at thanked India for the facilities and Government officials in Myanmar.
Avankhug-Somra (Nagaland), the courtesies being extended to The Indian side agreed to offer more
two sides agreed to put in place the Myanmar pilgrims visiting India. opportunities for higher studies and
necessary infrastructure to make Both leaders welcomed the training in Universities and training
these points viable and business proposal for the restoration of the institutions in India to scholars from
friendly. historic Ananda temple in Bagan to Myanmar.
The two leaders welcomed the be undertaken with the assistance of The Myanmar side informed the
establishment of direct banking links the Archaeological Survey of India, Indian side about developments in
between India and Myanmar with the involvement of the Ministry Myanmar including the groundwork
following the signature of the of Culture of Myanmar. for elections scheduled towards the
correspondent banking relationship Both leaders expressed satisfa- end of the year. The Indian side
agreement between United Bank of ction at the ongoing implementation thanked the Myanmar side for the
India and Myanma Foreign Trade of the MoU for cooperation in detailed briefing and emphasized the
Bank, Myanma Economic Bank and Buddhist studies and the related importance of comprehensively
Myanma Investment and Comm- work plan agreed to between the broad-basing the national recon-
ercial Bank for providing banking Ministry of Religious Affairs of ciliation process and democratic
arrangements relating to upgrading Myanmar and the Nava Nalanda changes being introduced in
of border trade to normal trade. They Mahavihara University. Several Myanmar.
encouraged the business community hundred Myanmar Buddhist scholars While discussing international
to make optimal use of this and monks are currently studying in developments, the two sides
arrangement and thus enhance this university in various disciplines. emphasized the importance of an
direct trade transactions. The Myanmar side expressed effective multilateral system, centred
The two leaders encouraged to gratitude to India for its numerous on a strong United Nations, as a key
conduct business meetings to be held HRD initiatives in Myanmar which factor in tackling global challenges. In
alternately in both countries for trade included setting up of the following: this context, they stressed the urgent
promotion. They noted that such • The Myanmar-India Centre for need to pursue the reform of the
measures can help build bridges at English language Training; United Nations including the Security
the business level and promote • The Myanmar-India Entrepre- Council, to make it more represen-
business and commercial oppor- neurship Development Centre; tative, credible and effective.
tunities. • The India-Myanmar Centre for The leader of Myanmar reiterated
In recognition of the close and Enhancement of IT Skills; and Myanmar's support for India's bid for
friendly tourism cooperation • the Industrial Training Centre in the permanent membership of the
between India and Myanmar and Pakokku. United Nations Security Council. He
also conveyed its support to India's
candidature for a non-permanent
seat in the UNSC for the term 2011-
2012.
The two leaders also emphasized
the importance of India and
Myanmar to work together in the
cause of regional cooperation. The
Indian leadership offered its good
wishes to Myanmar for a successful
t e r m a s B I M S T E C C h a i r, a
responsibility that it assumed in
2009. The Indian side welcomed
participation of Myanmar at the 16th
SAARC Summit as an Observer for the
first time.
The two sides expressed

Article
satisfaction at the ongoing coop- for the warm and gracious hospitality implications.
eration between India and Myanmar extended to him and the members of • India has both a land border (1640
under the ASEAN-India Summit his delegation during their stay in km) and a maritime boundary
Relations and welcomed the India. with Myanmar in the Bay of
implementation of the ASEAN-India Senior General Than Shwe also Bengal. Four Indian states
FTA. The Myanmar side appreciated extended a warm invitation to the (Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland,
India's support for building an ASEAN President and Prime Minister of India Manipur and Mizoram) border
Community in 2015, and to the to visit Myanmar at a mutually Myanmar (Kachin & Chin states
Vientiane Action Programme convenient time. The President and and Sagaing Division)
including the Initiative for ASEAN Prime Minister of India thanked him • China can gain access to Indian
Integration and other sub-regional and accepted the invitation with Ocean through Myanmar
growth initiatives such as Mekong- great pleasure. The dates for the visit
Ganga Cooperation Initiative and EAS would be decided by mutual Economic Importance
cooperation. Myanmar side recog- consultations through diplomatic Myanmar is India's gateway to ASEAN
nized that ASEAN-India Framework channels. as it is the only country of this
Agreement on Comprehensive grouping which has a land and
Economic Cooperation which was Indo-Myanmar Relations: maritime boundary with India. With
signed in 2003 has played a An Overview India becoming a summit level
significant role in strengthening the Introduction partner of ASEAN and a member of
Dialogue Partnership. Myanmar The Indo-Myanmar relations since the East Asia Summit, improved
being a natural bridge between 1948 (when Myanmar became relations with Myanmar will be
ASEAN and India, the Indian side independent) can be considered as beneficial in many respects. Besides
reiterated its intention of building cordial and friendly (from 1948 to Myanmar and India are members of
upon the commonalities and 1962), frozen or strained (from 1962 some sub regional groupings such as
synergies between the two countries to 1988) and flourishing from 1988 till the BIMST-EC and the Mekong Ganga
to advance its Look East Policy. date. The reasons for these radical Cooperation.
In the above context, both leaders changes in the ties can be attributed China has raised its economic
reiterated their commitment to to both Myanmar for its isolationist profile in SE Asia, particularly in
undertake the tri-lateral connectivity policy adopted by the military regime Myanmar despite the sanctions
from Moreh in India to Moe Sot in and to India for its shift from an imposed by the west. India should
Thailand via Myanmar. The Indian idealist or moralistic to realistic or not be left behind especially in view
s i d e a g re e d to ta ke u p t h e pragmatic policy adopted. India's of the large oil and gas resources
preparation of DPRs for roads and Look-East policy has been the main available in Myanmar and much
causeways in Myanmar to realize this driving force for improvement in the needed by India.
project. bilateral relations.
During the visit, the following Security Considerations
documents were signed; Strategic Importance The major security considerations
(a) Treaty on Mutual Assistance The reasons for the strategic are:
in Criminal Matters importance of Myanmar to India are: • Insurgency in the North Eastern
(b) MOU regarding Indian Grant • Myanmar is located at the tri States of India – Some of the
Assistance for Impleme- junction of East Asia, South Asia insurgent groups have estab-
ntation of Small Develop- and South East Asia. lished camps in Myanmar and
mental projects. • Myanmar is the second largest of operating from Myanmarese
(c) MOU on Information Coope- India's neighbours and the largest territory
ration on the eastern flank. • Smuggling of arms (by both land
(d) Agreement on Cooperation in • Myanmar provides the Eastern and sea)
the fields of Science & littoral of the Bay of Bengal. An • Drug trafficking and narco-
Technology unfriendly Myanmar hosting terrorism.
(e) MoU on Conservation and foreign naval presence would • Illegal immigration from Yunnan
Re sto rat i o n o f A n a n d a pose a threat to Indian security. into Northern Myanmar and
Temple in Bagan, Myanmar • Myanmar has a big border with association of Chinese workers in
Senior General Than Shwe China in the north contiguous road construction activities
thanked the President of India and with the Sino-Indian disputed
the Indian Government and people border which has many Bilateral Relations

Article
!948-1962. Relations were friendly based products (especially beans and The reasons for decline in the border
and cordial during the days of Prime pulses) and main exports to trade are mainly due to a) rise of
Minister Nehru and Prime Minister U Myanmar are primary and semi popularity of commodities imported
Nu. India provided economic and finished steel and pharmaceuticals. from third countries by Myanmar
military assistance .Both were The balance of trade is heavily in (primarily China) which find their way
members of the Non Aligned favour of Myanmar. into India and b) frequent
Movement. The Confederation of Indian Industry intimidation and monetary demands
1962-1988 Relations virtually (CII) constituted the India-Myanmar by numerous insurgent groups
froze with the military rule under Ne Joint Task Force during the “Made in operating in border areas.
win adopting an isolationist policy. India” show organized by the CII in Trans border trade has failed to
Domestic policies including the Yangon in February 2004. It has met provide any benefit to local people
expulsion of ethnic Indians soured often both in India and Myanmar and and there are procedural hiccups for
the relations. Myanmar's anti Soviet has helped in giving a big fillip to the obtaining licenses as well.
stance strained relations with India bilateral trade.
being pro-Soviet at that time. The Confederation of Indian
Myanmar refused to become a Industry (CII) has entered into a
member of the Commonwealth. Memorandum of Understanding
Indian Consulate in Mandalay had to with the Union of Myanmar
be closed. Myanmar withdrew from Federation of Chambers of
NAM in 1979. Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI)
1988-Till date. As a result of the and the Myanmar Computer
sympathy of the Indian government Federation. Government of India has
to the pro democracy movement extended a number of general and
which started in 1988, the relations project specific credit lines to
were strained. India had even Myanmar in the last few years for
accommodated a large number of improvement of the trade relations.
pro democracy refugees in camps in
NE India. All India Radio programmes Border Trade
were criticising the military regime. The first Border Trade Agreement
In 1993 India reversed its stance with was signed in Delhi in January 1994
a more realistic and pragmatic policy and was implemented in April 1995
and started engaging the military with the opening of a cross border
regime. Since then the relations have point between Moreh (Manipur,
been growing steadily save for a India) and Tamu (Sagaing Division,
minor hiccup in 1995 when Aung San Myanmar). Subsequently both
Suu Kyi was awarded the Nehru governments had agreed to open
Peace Price for International four check posts which inclue
Understanding. The visit of Maung Pangsau pass, Paletwa, Lungwa-
Aye, Vice Chairman SPDC, the second Yanyong and Pangsha-Pangnyo Border Management
most powerful leader in the junta, in between the nations. Opening of India and Myanmar have regular
November 2000, helped the turn border posts will help in checking the border post meetings at Moreh-
round in the relations. There has border trade and making it official, Tamu. It has been agreed to have four
been all round progress in political, curb the illegal trade of goods and more border posts to facilitate army
economic and military relations as monitor the activities of the meetings. They are at Lungwa (Mon
well as cooperation in technology, insurgent groups between India and district-Nagaland), Bihang
HRD, infrastructure, education, Myanmar. (Churchandpur district-Manipur) and
space, health and other fields. The border trade which had a spurt in at Sapi and Zokawathar (Mizoram). A
the beginning with export of Indian 400 km border with Myanmar is
Bilateral Trade goods worth Rupees 31 crores and already fenced and is being improved
Bilateral Trade has expanded imports from Myanmar woth 15 by raising the height. A stretch of 14
significantly from US $ 12.4 million in crores in 1996-97 had declined to a km near the international boundary
1980-81 to US $ 425 million in 2004- level of Rupees 5 crores in export and at Moreh has also been planned to be
05. India's imports from Myanmar import by 2004-05 according to fenced. The fencing is important in
are primarily agricultural and forest official statistics. view of the rampant narcotic trade

Article
along the Indo-Myanmar border. such as the Yangon-Mandalay sector 2001.
as well as connecting them to rail In January 2000, the Chief of Army
Infrastructure Projects in links on the Indian side.
Myanmar A media report of June 2006 also
T h e 1 6 0 Km I n d i a - M ya n m a r indicates that the Indian Commerce
Friendship road on Burmese territory Ministry has embarked upon an
from Tamu to Kalemyo to Kalewa was ambitious project to develop Sittwe
built by the Border Roads port in Myanmar and to open up a sea
Organisation and completed in 2001. route connecting it to Mizoram in
It will also be maintained by India up North East India. For this purpose,
to March 2008. the navigable river Kaladon in
India is involved in the India- Mizoram is to be developed.
M y a n m a r - T h a i l a n d Tr i l a t e ra l
Oil and Gas
Myanmar has reportedly world's
tenth biggest gas reserves estimated
to be more than 90 trillion cubic feet.
India has evinced keen interest to
procure gas from Myanmar. ONGC
Videsh Limited (OVL) and Gas
Authority of India Limited (GAIL) hold
30 % stakes in the exploration and
production of gas in Myanmar's A1
and A3 off shore blocks located in
Sittwe Area of Arakan State.
The earlier proposal to bring the
gas in Myanmar by a pipeline through
Bangladesh to India had to be
dropped because of unreasonable
demands from Bangladesh. The
latest proposal is to bring the gas
through a 1575 Km pipeline (longer
than the Bangladesh route) from
Sittwe port in Myanmar through
Aizwal –Silchar-Guahawti-Siliguri to
Gaya linking it to Haldia-Jagadishpur
oil pipeline in Gaya (Bihar).
India has even offered to buy
Highway Project. Myanmar gas and import it through
India has extended project ship till the pipeline is laid.
specific credit lines for up gradation
of Yangon-Mandalay Trunk line, an Military to Military Contacts
optical fibre link between Moreh and As early as in 1995 India and
Mandalay and ADSL systems in Myanmar armies had conducted a
Yangon & Mandalay. joint military operation (called
Other projects at various stages of Golden Bird) against some North
completion include construction/ Eastern insurgent groups (ULFA,
upgradation of Rhi-Tidim and Rhi- NSCN, PLA, PLF& KNA) though this
Falam road sections in Myanmar, the operation was abhorted after Aung
Kaladan Multimodal Transport San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nehru
project and the Tamanthi Hydro Peace prize for International
Electric power project. Understanding. Myanmar resumed
India has also offered to help its military operations against the
Myanmar in improving its rail links insurgents from Feb 2000 to May

Article
cooperation in Communications, IT Centre is expected to be launched March 2006.

a n d s er vic es ; Agreem ent o n soon.
extension of a credit line of US $ Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi The China Factor
2 5 m i l l i o n to G ove r n m e nt o f Sectoral Technical and Economic China and Myanmar have been close
Myanmar; Agreement on Visa Cooperation (BIMSTEC): Myanmar allies since the time PRC came into
exemption for Official and Diplomatic became a member of BIMSTEC in being. For Myanmar, China's
passport holders and an Mou 1997. BIMSTEC has identified six substantial economic, military and
between HRD Ministry of India and sectors of cooperation, for each of political support is vital in view of the
Education Ministry of Myanmar. which a lead country has been sanctions imposed by the west and
During 2004 eight agreements designated. Myanmar is the lead the mounting pressure by the regi-
/MoUs were concluded between country for the energy sector. onal and international forum.
India and Myanmar. Of these the Myanmar trades mostly with China is the major supplier of
notable ones were the MoU on the Thailand and India in the BIMSTEC military hardware to Myanmar.
cooperation of Non-traditional region. Myanmar's major exports to China's military sales to Myanmar
Security Issues and the MoU on the India are agricultural products like include jet fighters, armoured
Tamanthi Hydro Electric Power beans, pulses, and maize and forest vehicles and naval vessels valued at
Project. products such as teak and around $ 2 billion. China is helping
In 2005 a MoU on Energy hardwoods. Its imports are chemical Myanmar to modernize its naval
Cooperation was signed. products, pharmaceuticals, electrical bases in Hiangyyi, Coco, Akyab,
In 2006, MoUs on Cooperation in appliances and transport equipment. Z a d e t k y i Ky u n , M e r g u i a n d
the Petroleum Sector, Cooperation in Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC): Khankphyu. China has a maritime
Buddhist Studies and a Framework Myanmar is a member of the MGC reconnaissance and electronic
Agreement for mutual Cooperation since its inception in 2000. MGC is an intelligence station in Coco islands
in the field of Remote Sensing were initiative by six countries – India and and is building a base at this location.
signed. five ASEAN countries namely The ultimate aim is to secure a
Cooperation between India and Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand corridor to the Indian Ocean from
Mynmar in Regional/Sub-Regional and Vietnam – for cooperation in the South China via Myanmar. Thanks to
Context. fields of tourism, education, culture, China, the Myanmar army is the
ASEAN: Myanmar became a transport and communication. second largest in South East Asia
member of ASEAN in 1997. As the Forum on Regional Economic (after Vietnam) and it has expanded
only ASEAN country which shares a Cooperation among Bangladesh- from 180000 men to more than
land and maritime boundary with China-India-Myanmar (BCIM): The 450000.
India, Myanmar is the gateway to BCIM initiative has attracted much The Chinese have built an all
ASEAN. The Ministry Of External attention in India, as it has the weather road from Kunming in
Affairs has indicated that a few potential to bring three of India's Southern China to Mandalay in
proposals for cooperation are under neighbours closer to a joint pursuit of Central Myanmar.
discussion with Myanmar within the common prosperity through the In the year 2004, it gave Myanmar
framework of ASEAN's IAI increasing use of mechanisms of $ 200 million in aid. The trade
Progamme. Of these the Myanmar- regional integration. The sixth forum between the two countries has more
India Entrepreneurship Development of the BCIM was held at Delhi in than doubled in five years to $ 1.1

Downloaded From: http://www.upscportal.com
Article
billion in 2004 as per the Chinese since the visit of Senior General Than
Government statistics. China is Shwe in October 2004, the relations
officially Myanmar's third largest have been on the upswing gaining
trading partner after Singapore and from strength to strength every year.
Thailand not taking into account the India's long term interests may be
informal border trade. better served by a democratic regime
According to a report in Time in Myanmar but the present
(January 30, 2006), “more than $ 400 approach is to help Myanmar in
million in trade funnels through the building its democratic institutions
Jiegao Border Trade Economic Zone without embarrassing or isolating the
each year. China exports household junta but through official and
appliances, chemicals and medicines diplomatic channels.
and Burma ships back jade, sea food The strategic and security considera-
and timber”. tions outweigh India's concern for
India is concerned with China's democracy in Myanmar.
i n c re a s i n g e n ga g e m e n t w i t h Despite India's impro-ving relations
Myanmar's military junta, especially with China, the China factor does
in improving the naval facilities have an impact on India's relations
including the setting up of four with Myanmar. However it is also in
electronic listening posts along the Myanmar's interests to have an
Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. alternative source in India for its
Indian Foreign Secretary (prior to the economic betterment.
recent visit of the Indian President) in It has been proved beyond doubt that
reply to a question on India-China economic sanctions have not
rivalry replied that “It is not deterred the military regime in
appropriate to look for India-China p u rs u i n g i t s a g e n d a . H e n c e
rivalry at every nook and corner of diplomatic persuasion and economic
Asia. The India-Myanmar relations a i d l i n ke d w i t h p ro g re s s i n
stand on their own”. democratic reforms may be a viable
While India's concerns are solution. Hence India is perhaps on
understandable, Myanmar must the right path in engaging the military
have also realised that it is being junta in a constructive manner but
stifled by China and must look for an should be watchful of the efforts of
alternative in India particularly in the other nations in the region to
view of India's rising economic introduce a semblance of democracy
potential and mutual strategic and in Myanmar.
security interests.
Conclusion
The relations between India and
Myanmar have been chequered with
numerous ups and downs. However

Article
India- Mauritius Relations

Visit of External Affairs Minister to Mauritius
• By : Avadhesh Kumar Pandey
xternal Affairs Minister Shri Jugnauth. EAM also met his
E S.M. Krishna paid an official

visit to the Republic of
Mauritius from July 2 - 4, 2010. He
counterpart Dr. Arvin Boolell,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional
Integration and International Trade
was accompanied by Shri Vivek Katju, and discussed issues of mutual
Secretary (West) and other senior interest. EAM laid a wreath at the
officials of the Ministry of External Samadhi of the Father of the
Affairs. The visit was a part of the Mauritian Nation Sir Seewoosagur
regular ongoing high-level bilateral Ramgoolam.
exchanges between India and EAMs discussions with his inter-
Mauritius. This was also EAM's first locutors covered the entire canvass
visit to Africa. of bilateral cooperation between
During his visit, EAM called on India and Mauritius and touched
President Sir Anerood Jugnauth and upon regional and international
Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra issues of mutual interest and
Ramgoolam. He met Deputy Prime concern. The views of the two sides
Minister and Minister of Energy and on all these subjects were identical.
Public Utilities Dr. Ahmed Rashid EAM and Prime Minister Navin EAM remarked that “the cooperation
Beebeejaun, Vice Prime Minister and Ramgoolam recalled the nature of between India and Mauritius is
Minister of Finance and Economic the “special relationship” which c o m p re h e n s i v e a n d m u l t i d i -
Development Mr. Pravind Kumar bound the two countries together. mensional”. He thanked Mauritius for

Article
its consistent support to India's and International Trade of Mauritius ently in Mauritius.
candidature to the UN Security Dr. Arvin Boolell to pay a visit to India. Diplomatic relations between
Council as well as its support to EAM also invited Vice Prime Minister India and Mauritius were established
India's candidature for the non- and Minister of Finance and in 1948.
permanent seat of the UNSC for Economic Development Mr. Pravind
2011-12. EAM also noted that Kumar Jugnauth to visit India for the Political Relations
Mauritius had stood with India all 11th Session of the India-Mauritius Mauritius has consistently extended
along on issues relating to terrorism Joint Commission on Economic, its support for India's candidature for
and had been unwavering and Technical and Cultural Cooperation; a permanent seat in the UN Security
unequivocal in condemning the EAM and Vice Prime Minister Council. It has stated this in public
26/11 Mumbai attack. Mauritian J u g n a u t h co - C h a i r t h e J o i nt forum including the United Nations
leaders expressed their gratitude for Commission. General Assembly.
India's consistent support at all times Relations between India and Mauritius supports initiatives, both
of need and otherwise and noted Mauritius in the political, economic at regional and international levels,
India's continued assistance to and cultural fields are comprehensive against terrorism and highlighted the
Mauritius in various sectors. Prime and extensive. EAM's visit provided need for concerted international
Minister Navin Ramgoolam and yet another opportunity for further action to fight terrorism. Mauritius
Foreign Minister Arvin Boolell consolidation and development of has enacted domestic legislation
expressed their satisfaction over the the traditional, time-tested and against terrorism. During the visit of
technical assistance received from historical relations between India Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
India in anti-piracy patrolling and EEZ and Mauritius. to Mauritius in March-April 2005, an
Surveillance of Mauritian waters to History of Bilateral Relations : Agreement for setting up of a Joint
improve security in this region of the Mauritius maintained contacts with Working Group (JWG) on Combating
Indian Ocean. India through successive Dutch, International Terrorism and Related
The following documents were French and British occupation. The Matters was signed between India
signed during the visit: French colony of Pondicherry played and Mauritius. Pursuant to the
(i) Memorandum of Understan- an important role in the development Agreement, two meetings of the JWG
ding on the supply of an of Mauritius during the French have been held in New Delhi in
Offshore Patrol Vessel; occupation by providing skilled August 2006 and Port Louis in
(ii) Agreement on Early Warning of workforce for various projects in February 2008. The third Meeting is
Coastal Hazards between Indian Mauritius. From the 1820s, Indian expected to be held in New Delhi in
National Centre for Ocean workers started coming into the second half of 2009.
Information Services (INCOIS) Mauritius to work on sugar In the JWG meetings, both sides
and The Meteorological Servic- plantations. From 1834 when slavery have agreed for closer cooperation in
es, Mauritius; was abolished by the British the areas of combating terrorism,
(iii) Programme of Cultural Coo- Parliament, large numbers of Indian including financing of terrorism. India
peration between India and workers began to be brought into and Mauritius have agreed to share
Mauritius for 2010-2013; Mauritius as indentured labourers. information on terrorism and Drug
(iv) Agreement between Standar- The ship 'Atlas', which carried the trafficking, enhance preparedness of
disation, Testing and Quality first batch of Indian indentured the Mauritian Police Force to deal
Control Directorate (STQC), labourers, reached Mauritius on with terrorist attacks and strengthen
Department of Information November 2, 1834. This day is now cooperation in the field of maritime
Technology, Govt. of India and observed in Mauritius as 'Aapravasi security.
the National Computer Board, Day', a national holiday.
Government of Mauritius; Over the following decades, the Defence Cooperation
(v) Agreement between Indian number of Indian immigrants grew to Under the ITEC programme, about
Council for Cultural Relations a level where they came to constitute 30-45 personnel from the Mauritian
(ICCR) and Mahatma Gandhi a majority of the population. In all, Police Force are trained annually in
Institute (MGI), Mauritius on about half a million Indian Indian Defence Training Establish-
the establishment of a Visiting indentured labourers are estimated ments.
Chair of Sanskrit and Indian to have been brought into Mauritius Visit of Indian Naval Ships to
Philosophy at MGI. between 1834 and the early decades Mauritius forms part of the regular
EAM invited the Minister of of the 20th century, out of whom interaction between the defence
Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration about two-thirds settled perman- forces of the two countries. Recent

Article
List of Agreements/MoUs signed during the visit of Minister of External Affairs

Shri S.M. Krishna to the Republic of Mauritius 03/07/2010
Name of the Synopsis of the
S.No. Signed by
MOU/Agreement MoU/Agreement
1. MOU between the Government of the The Government of India has decided to India: H.E. Shri M. Ganapathi, High
Republic of India and the Government of provide one time Grant of US$ 10 million Commissioner of India
the Republic of Mauritius for providing of and Line of Credit of US$ 48.5 million Mauritius: Mrs. K.O. Fong Weng-Poorun,
one Offshore Patrol Vessel extended through the EXIM Bank of India Permanent Secretary, Prime Minister's
to the Government of Mauritius for the Office.
supply of one Offshore Patrol Vessel,
manufactured by Garden Reach Ship-
builders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), Kolkata,
India to assist the Government of
Mauritius in strengthening its maritime
capabilities.
2. MOU on Cooperation for Early Warning To establish cooperative linkages for India: H.E. Shri M. Ganapathi, High
Arrangement for Coastal Hazards Between Tsunami Early Warning arrangements, Commissioner of India
The Indian National Centre for Ocean preparedness, and mitigation of tsunami Mauritius : Mr. Dunputh Balraj Hari-
Services (INCOIS), Government of the hazards and facilitate real-time monitoring krishna, Acting Director of the Meteoro-
Republic of India and The Meteorological data from all sea-level and earthquake logical Services.
Services, Government of the Republic of monitoring stations and other observation
Mauritius systems of the Meteorological Services
3. Programme for Cultural Cooperation To strengthen and reinforce cultural India: H.E. Shri M. Ganapathi, High
between the Government of the Republic linkages and enhance people to people Commissioner of India
of India and the Government of the interactions by organizing exhibitions, Mauritius: H.E. Mr. J.D. Phokeer,
Republic of Mauritius for the years 2010 - holding film festivals and book fairs, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Arts and
2013 exchanging cultural troupes, encouraging Culture
youth exchange programmes, providing
scholarships, etc.
4. MOU between Standardisation, Testing To promote closer co-operation and India: H.E. Shri M. Ganapathi, High
and Quality Certification (STQC), exchange of information pertaining to the Commissioner of India
Department of Information Technology, Information Security and IT standards and Mauritius: Mr. S. Ramgolam, Chairman,
Republic of India and National Computer collaborate on best practices in the field of National Computer Board of the Republic
Board (NCB) of the Republic of Mauritius Information Security Management of Mauritius
Systems; disaster recovery planning and IT
Service management.
5. MOU between the Indian Council for To establish a Visiting Chair of Sanskrit and India: H.E. Shri M. Ganapathi, High
Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Mahatma Indian Philosophy at the School of Commissioner of India
Gandhi Institute (MGI) in consideration of Indological Studies, MGI. The Chair will be Mauritius: Mrs. V.D. Koonjal, Director
Visiting Chair of Sanskrit and Indian responsible to teach Sanskrit and Indian (MGI) & Officer-in- Charge (MGI & RTI)
Philosophy at MGI, Moka Philosophy at B.A./M.A./M.Phil. levels at
MGI.
visits of Indian Navy ships to around Port Louis Harbour, Agalega External Affairs Minister, Shri Pranab
Mauritius include INS 'Mumbai' and Islands, Port Mathurin, St. Brandon, Mukherjee and the Deputy Prime
INS 'Karmuk' in April 2008. INS Ship Saya de Malha Banks, Black River Bay, Minister and Minister of Finance and
'Tir', INS 'Krishna' and ICGS 'Vivek' Tamarin Bay, Grand Bay and Rivière Economic Development of Mauritius,
visited Mauritius in September 2008. des Galets. A Protocol on the Sale of Dr. Rama Krishna Sithanen. In his
A Memorandum of Understanding in Navigational Charts was signed in opening statement, the External
the field of Hydrography between April 2009. Affairs Minister noted that the
India and Mauritius was signed Economic and Commercial relations purpose of his visit was to strengthen
during the visit of the Mauritian The bilateral Joint Commission on cooperation between the two
Prime Minister to India in October Economic, Technical and Cultural countries and build on the new
2005. Under the MOU, hydrographic Cooperation between India and beginnings that have been made in
surveys have been undertaken by Mauritius has so far held ten recent years.
Indian Naval Survey Ships in 2006, meetings. The tenth JMC Meeting He also said that India wished to add
2007, 2008 and 2009. Surveys held in Port Louis on December 18, substance to this partnership and
undertaken include the waters 2007 was co-chaired by the then provide the foundation for its

Article
sustained and rapid development were MRs. 31.7 billion.
taking into account the numerous • Main items of exports were
complementarities that the two petroleum products, yarn, woven
countries shared. The agreed fabrics, made up textile, bovine meat,
minutes of the meeting inter alia fish, rice, organic chemicals,
covered both the traditional areas of pharmaceuticals, plastic, printed
cooperation between the two books & newspapers, footwear,
countries including cooperation in ceramic products, glass & glassware,
the political and security field, aluminium, toys, etc.
economic, technical and commercial • Main items of import into India
cooperation, and cultural coo- were non-industrial Diamonds, Scrap
peration, as well as new areas such as metal, Multiple Yarn, Glycerin, PVC
hydrography, cooperation in explo- products.
ration and exploitation of hydro- • An MOU for cooperation between
carbon in the Mauritian EEZ, bio- State Trading Corporations of India
technology, etc. and Mauritius was signed in July early 1960s. Bank of Baroda, Life
During the visit of the then Prime 2005. Insurance Corporation, and the New
Minister of Mauritius, Paul Raymond • A three-year Agreement was India Assurance were the first to
Bérenger from November 19-24, signed between the Mangalore establish operations followed by
2003, it was decided to set up a Joint Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd other PSUs including India Handloom
Study Group (JSG) to chart out (MRPL) and the State Trading H o u s e , Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s
modalities for establishing a Corporation of Mauritius in July 2007 Consultant India Ltd., Indian Oil
Comprehensive Economic Cooper- fo r s u p p l y o f a l l p et ro l e u m (Mauritius) Limited, Mahanagar
ation and Partnership Agreement requirements of Mauritius. SBI Telephone (Mauritius) Ltd., State
(CECPA) between the two countries. Mauritius has extended a credit line Bank of India Mauritius Limited.
The JSG was launched at the ninth to the STC of Mauritius for purchase • Over the past decades, Indian-
session of the India-Mauritius Joint of petroleum. assisted projects in Mauritius include
Commission held on January 8, 2004 • Air Mauritius operates flights to the Mahatma Gandhi Institute,
in New Delhi. The JSG report was Mumbai, New Delhi and U p a d h y a y a Tr a i n i n g C e n t r e ,
formally presented to the two Prime Chennai/Bengaluru on a code- Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital,
Ministers during the State visit of sharing arrangement with Air India. Subramania Bharati Eye Centre, etc.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh The CMD of Air India is represented Projects established through
to Mauritius in March-April 2005. on the Board of Air Mauritius. assistance provided by the
During the visit, it was decided to set Mauritius accorded 'fifth freedom' Government of India include the
up an Empowered Committee to rights to Air India in 2004 on the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre, the
concretise the recommendations of South Africa - India route. Rabindranath Tagore Institute, the
the JSG within a 12-month time • There are shipping links between Cybertower at Ebene and the Swami
frame. On the Indian side, the India and Mauritius. The Delmas Vivekananda International
Empowered Committee is led by the Shipping Company provides a direct Conference Centre.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry. shipping route between Mumbai and • Information Technology has
Ø India was the largest exporter of Port Louis. In addition, shipping emerged as the most prominent area
goods and services to Mauritius in routes are provided by major of technical cooperation for the
2007 and 2008 (Jan-Sept.). As per shipping companies, connecting future. An Agreement for
official Mauritius estimates, Indian Mumbai to Port Louis through Oman. cooperation between the two
exports to Mauritius during the • Several Indian public enterprises countries in the IT sector was signed
period January - December 2008 are functioning in Mauritius since the in 2000. Prominent Indian IT
Bilateral trade between India and Mauritius over the last ten years is indicated below :
India Exports and Imports From Mauritius
Year 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08
Exports 161 171 200 163 164 203 258 199 737 1086
Imports 2.01 3.93 6.17 3.26 16.13 7.54 7.19 7.33 14.51 10.07

Article
as an important venue for cultural
events. Doordarshan programmes
are telecast over public TV channels
of Mauritius.
Mauritius Factsheet
• Mauritius was named after the
Dutch Prince Maurice Van
Nassau.
• Capital : Port Louis
• Location : Latitude 20º south of
the equator, Longitude 57.5º east
• Area : 2040 km sq
• Population : 1.2 million including
Rodrigues and outer islands
• Geography: The white beaches
are protected by coral reef almost
all around except for the southern
coast that offers wilder strands or
dramatic cliffs. From the northern
plains, the land rises to a central
plateau dotted by lakes and
extinct volcanic craters. A few
uninhabited islets area scattered
around the main island.
• Annual Rainfall : 900 mm on the
companies, such as INFOSYS, Hinduja Economic Cooperation (ITEC) coast 1500 mm on the central
TMT, etc., have established operati- programme, 30 to 40 civilian plateau
ons in Mauritius. Some other Indian officials from the Government of • Sea Temperature : 22ºc to 27ºc.
IT companies also have their Mauritius undergo training in • Languages: English is the official
presence in Mauritius. Indian institutions every year. language. French and Creole are
• Indian tourist arrivals in Mauritius Following the India-Africa commonly used. Hindi & Bhojpuri
increased from 37,934 in 2006 to Summit, this number has been are also spoken. Many hotel
43,624 in 2007 and 43,911 in increased to 80 slots. employees are fluent in German,
2008. • A bilateral agreement provides for Italian and Spanish. The Mauritian
deputation of up to 20 ITEC experts literacy rate hovers around 90%.
Educational, ITEC and from India to Mauritius. • Government : Democratic state
Technical Cooperation based on the Westminster model.
• Annually, 98 scholarships are Cultural Relations 62 Members of Parliament
extended to Mauritian students Active cultural exchanges with elected every 5 years. The
for higher education in India. Mauritius take place both under President is the head of the state
Approximately 200 Mauritian officially sponsored programmes and but constitutional power is vested
students enrol every year in through a wide non-official network in the Prime Minister and the
Indian universities on a self- of Indo-Mauritian socio-cultural Cabinet
financing basis. According to the organisations. Within and outside • Eco n o my : T h e M a u r i t i a n
Government of Mauritius, at the the Cultural Exchange Programme, Economy rests on four main pillars
end of 2006, 1,302 Mauritian regular exchange of artists and : Tourism, Sugar, Textile and the
students were studying in Indian cultural troupes are undertaken. Services Sector.
tertiary education institutions - Promotion of Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, • Religion : In the multi-ethnic
the fourth highest destination for Marathi and Urdu is also taken up. culture of Mauritius, Hinduism,
Mauritian students studying The Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Christianity, Islam and Buddhism
overseas. Culture inaugurated during the visit co-exist peacefully.
• Under the Indian Technical and of Prime Minister Atal Bihari · Currency : The Mauritian Rupee
Vajpayee in March 2000 has emerged (Rs)

Article
• By : Dr. Divya
Three major elements of By all indications, the 150 districts those in the Above Poverty Line (APL)
T the United Progressive

Alliance government's
commitment to provide food security
from where universal PDS would
commence will be in the rural
poverty-belt in Jharkhand, Bihar,
category, in the identified districts.
For the rest of the 490-odd
districts where targeted PDS will
to the people are reforming the Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Assam, eastern continue for now, the Tendulkar
public distribution system (PDS), Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Committee's poverty estimate of
raising foodgrain productivity and Rajasthan. Recent events have 8.07 core families will hold. Hence,
production, and creating a shown that there is a certain urgency for the APL population that is brought
decentralised, modern warehousing about reaching out to the poor and in or kept out of the PDS depending
system. the marginalised people in this belt. on grain availability, it will be status
Ideally, the reforms in the PDS The rough calculation is that quo for the time being. The APL
should have come first for the universalisation will begin in some families will gradually (possibly over
availability and delivery of subsidised 1,500 blocks (an average of 10 in each five years) be assured of a minimum
foodgrains to become meaningful of the 150 districts) where more than of 25 kg per family at prices that will
and comprehensive. Be that as it may, 95 per cent of the population is poor. be worked out by the govern-ment.
the recommendation of the National The criterion that is being worked out The subsidy burden will depend on
Advisory Council (NAC) to launch will exclude those who are in salaried the estimated offtake and the cost
universal PDS in one-fourth of all or government jobs, are income tax will be worked out by the Union
districts or blocks for a start should be payees, have a four-wheeler or own a Ministry of Food and Public
seen as a paradigm shift towards plot or a house with a plinth area of Distribution.
universalisation. This move reveals over 500 square feet. Using these Welfare measures including mid-
that the all-powerful NAC headed by criteria, it is estimated that about five day meal programmes, the
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has per cent of the population would be integrated child development
realised that the ability to deliver out of the scheme in these districts. scheme and calamity relief
cheap foodgrains will be contingent This will be crucial because the programmes will continue. The
on availability availability that is identification of beneficiaries and inclusion of the destitute, migrants,
home-grown, not based on imports. implementation of the scheme will the old, the infirm and the urban poor
In order to make a serious effort to be done by the State governments. will be worked out after the Hashim
meet the provisions of the proposed It has also been decided to Committee report on urban poverty
food security Bill, it is essential to subsume the “poorest of the poor” is received. For now, pulses and
enhance the production of wheat, the Antyodaya Anna Yojna bene- edible oils will not be included in the
rice, pulses, oilseeds and millets. ficiary families now numbering 2.5 food basket under the proposed
This, in turn, needs a policy review in crore of the 6.5 crore Below Poverty National Food Security Act as the
favour of land reforms, securing Line (BPL) families. The AAY acute shortfall in the production of
fertile agricultural land for foodgrain beneficiaries buy PDS foodgrains at these commodities is met by large-
production rather than allowing the Rs.2 a kg. They will have to pay Re.1 scale imports.
indiscriminate setting up of special more for grain under the universal Broadly, there will be an
economic zones (SEZs), mega-food PDS, which will provide 35 kg wheat enhanced outgo of about 20 million
parks and builders' colonies on or rice at Rs.3 a kg per family to all the tonnes on account of providing 35 kg
farmers' fields. identified beneficiaries, including (up from the present 12 kg) to the APL

Article
population at Rs.3 a kg in the 150 promise made by the Congress below the poverty line, which he
districts in addition to the BPL outgo. before general elections 2009. apparently defines as a monthly per
In a bad year, this may come from The draft Food Security Bill would capita income of Rs 700 in rural areas
cutting APL or Open Market Sale provide 25 kg of wheat/ rice to BPL and Rs 1,000 in urban areas. While a
Scheme allocations. households at Rs. 3/- per kg. For Planning Commission estimate puts
It is clear by now that the key to some, it is just old wine in a new the number of below poverty line
universalisation is the availability of bottle and would rely excessively on (BPL) families at 62.5 million, state
foodgrains. For this reason, even the existing infrastructure and logistical governments estimate that this
activists working under the banner of support of the public distribution number is closer to 107 million. Some
the Right to Food Campaign have system (PDS). experts feel that availing the public
accepted “phased” universalisation. If made into a law, the draft Food with more number of BPL ration
The Food Ministry's cautious Security Bill would reduce the cards help the state-level politicians
estimate is that the average annual allocation for a below poverty line to win elections through populist
availability for the PDS is about 43 (BPL) household (e.g. in the case of means. The World Bank's figure for
million tonnes. The NAC seems to Antodaya Anna Yojana) from 35 kg of the percentage of population below
have gone by the Planning rice/ wheat per month to 25 kg of
Commission estimate of availability rice/ wheat per month. This would
of about 50 to 55 million tonnes to appear contradictory to many who
ensure the supply of cheap expected the Bill to be a benign effort
foodgrains in 150 districts besides of the UPA-II (2009-****) to ensure
fulfilling regular commitments of food security. There are possibilities
buffer and welfare schemes. o f i n c re a s e d fo o d s u b s i d i e s
It is obvious that the UPA's amounting to Rs. 70,000 crore per
seeming benevolence on the food annum if the Bill becomes a law,
security front is not going to be which might be opposed by those
entirely without strings. The who prefer to follow neo-liberal
underlying principle is that the doctrine. Subsidies are usually
subsidy accruing from providing opposed on the pretext of distortion
foodgrains at cheap rates will come in prices, inefficiency and leakages.
from withdrawal of subsidies on The Interim Budget 2009-10 estimate
petrol, diesel and, gradually, of the food subsidy bill in 2009-10
kerosene, and other unforeseen was Rs. 42,490 crore.
measures. The exact number of BPL
Besides ensuring minimum households may vary according to
foodgrain entitlements at a discount, the definition of poverty line one the poverty line in India is 42 per cent,
the draft of the National Food selects. In that case, it would be based on 2005 data.
Security Act will indicate enabling difficult to target the original BPL The Uniform Recall Period (URP)
clauses with regard to enhancing households under the new Food Consumption distribution data of
foodgrain production, public distri- Security law. There are four different National Sample Survey (NSS) 61st
bution reforms and improvement in estimates for the number of BPL Round places the poverty ratio at
drinking water, sanitation, health and households: one by Prof. Arjun 28.3 per cent in rural areas, 25.7 per
hygiene for better intake and Sengupta, another by Dr. NC Saxena, cent in urban areas and 27.5 per cent
absorption of food by the poor. World Bank estimates and the for the country as a whole in 2004-05.
In other words, the proposed Bill Planning Commission estimates. The corresponding poverty ratios
will provide for food security but call According to Prof. Arjun Sengupta from the Mixed Recall Period (MRP)
for nutrition security. who chaired the National consumption distribution data are
Salient features of the Food Security Commission for Enterprises in the 21.8 per cent for rural areas, 21.7 per
Bill are as follows: Unorganized Sector, 77% of the cent for urban areas and 21.8 per
President Pratibha Patil on June 4, population of India lives below the cent for India as a whole. While the
2009 said that a National Food poverty line. Dr. NC Saxena, a retired former consumption data uses 30-
Security Act would be formulated civil servant acting as a day recall/reference period for all
whereby each BPL family would be Commissioner appointed by the items of consumption, the latter uses
entitled by law to get 25 kg of rice or Supreme Court, feels that half the 365-day recall/reference period for
wheat per month at Rs 3 a kg, a country's population of 1.15 billion is five infrequently purchased non-food

Article
items, namely, clothing, footwear, may not fall below the poverty line would be at peril if India faces lower
durable goods, education and but are already exposed to food agricultural production due to poor
institutional medical expenses and insecurity? The Rome Declaration harvest, drought etc. in the future. Is
30-day recall/reference period for (1996) made during the World Food India ready to rely upon food imports
remaining items. The percentage of Summit states that 'food security is and food aid to ensure right to food?
poor in 2004-05 estimated from URP achieved when all people, at all At present, the country has been
consumption distribution of NSS 61st times, have physical and economic facing shortage in south-west
Round of consumer expenditure data access to sufficient, safe and monsoon rainfall that might affect
are comparable with the poverty nutritious food to meet their dietary agricultural production and prices of
estimates of 1993-94 (50th Round) needs and food preferences for an commodities. Is India ready to rely
which was 36 per cent for the country active life'. Food security is about exclusively upon biotechnology for
as a whole. The percentage of poor in nutrition security too. If that is the increasing its agricultural production
2004-05 estimated from MRP case, the Food Security Bill has to so as to ensure food security for all?
consumption distribution of NSS 61st rethink about the quality of Some analysts feel that India
Round of consumer expenditure data foodgrains supplied and distributed. presently has adequate buffer stocks
The Food Security Bill must also aim to enact and implement the Food
at providing fortified foodgrains Security law.
along with edible oils, salt and The Food Security law is nothing
essential spices. A balanced diet but a gimmick so as to increase the
would ensure both food and nutrition popularity of the UPA II. This is a
security. The basket of commodities, forward-looking step to ensure vote
which would be available to the for the Congress so that Rahul Gandhi
consumers, should reflect local tastes could lead UPA-III.
and preferences and must include Seeing the popularity of the
locally grown cereals and legumes. National Rural Employment
The alternative draft Food Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), which
Security Bill that has been prepared helped the Congress to win the 2009
by Prof. Jean Dreze and his team and parliamentary elections, the newly
which has been scrutinized by 10, constituted Government has thought
Janpath, according to media of bringing out the Food Security Act
resources, has clauses to make the within the first 100 days of its stay in
various food related programmes the office for the second time.
running in the country more The World Development Report
accountable and transparent. There 2008-Agriculture for Development,
are roughly comparable with the is focus on public accountability and which has been brought out by the
poverty estimates of 1999-2000 more coverage of BPL households World Bank mentions that India
(55th Round) which was 26.1 per cent under the yet to be enacted Food presently faces the problem of
for the country as a whole Instead of Security law. Prof. Dreze's draft points depleting ground water level that
better implementation of the already out that subsidy would not rise due to makes agriculture unsustainable and
existing schemes such as the reduction in allocation for rice/ poses risk to environment. If rice is
Targeted Public Distribution System wheat per BPL household. one of the foodgrain that would be
(TPDS), Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), If targeting of BPL households is supplied when the Food Security Act
Integrated Child Development done under the Food Security Bill, comes into being, then more and
Scheme (ICDS), Mid Day Meal then it might lead to inclusion m o re fa r m e rs wo u l d g o fo r
Scheme (MDMS) etc., the Food (including the non-poor) and cultivation of rice. In the Punjab
Security law might make things exclusion (excluding the poor) errors. region, overexploitation of
unduly worse and unnecessarily It would be wiser to go for groundwater takes place thanks to
complicated. A cynical question here universalization (rather than the huge subsidies given on
would be: Is the Food Security Bill targeting) as was recommended by electricity. Moreover, minimum
going to replace all such food related the Committee on Long Term Grain support prices (MSP) for rice increase
schemes that existed before its Policy under the chairmanship of the financial attractiveness of rice
enactment? Prof. Abhijit Sen (2000-02). relative to less water-intensive crops,
If the Bill is about ensuring food There are apprehensions that which makes depletion of ground
security, how can it leave those who sustainability of Food Security law water table more obvious.

Hot Topic
India To Provide USD

1 Bn To Bangladesh
India and Bangladesh
T signed an agreement in
Dhaka on Aug 7 under
which New Delhi will provide one
billion dollar Line of Credit to finance
implementation of projects in road,
railway and river dredging and power
sector. Indian Exim Bank chairman T C
A Ranganathan and Bangladesh
Economic Relations Division secret-
ary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan
signed the deal.
Indian Finance Minister Pranab
Mukherjee and Bangladesh Finance
Minister A M A Muhith were present
at the signing ceremony at State
Guest House Jamuna late noon.
According to the terms and
conditions of the credit, interest is
1.75 per cent per annum, commit-
ment fee 0.5 per cent on utilised
credit after 12 months from the date
of contract approval and repayment
period is 20 years, including a grace
period of five years. Both the Finance
Ministers described the terms of the
credit as favourable. Bangladesh's conference. dollar Line of Credit deal.
main opposition party BNP, however, India agreed to provide the loan Projects include procurement of
said the rate of interest is very high during Bangladesh Prime Minister six dredgers for the Water Resources
compared with World Bank and ADB. Sheikh Hasina's visit to India in and Shipping Ministry at an estima-
Mr Mukherjee said the terms of January this year. ted cost of 71.69 million dollar,
the Line of Credit are ''extremely Mr Mukherjee, who came here for establishing internal container port
favourable'' and expressed his a 4-hour visit, said India is committed at Ashuganj at a cost of 36.23 million
confidence that this Line of Credit will to assisting Bangladesh in addressing dollar, procurement of 10 broad-
be a stepping stone for a shared its priority development and in its gauge locomotives for Bangladesh
destiny. immediate requirements. Railway at a cost of 31.55 million
‘'India will do whatever possible He said India has agreed to export dollar, procurement of 125 broad
to assist Bangladesh to implement 3,00,000 tonnes of rice and 2,00,000 gauge passengers coaches for
the various projects envisaged under tonnes of wheat despite a ban on Bangladesh Railway at a cost of 53.63
the Line of Credit, including in the export of these essential commo- million dollar.
areas of railway infrastructure, dities. Other projects include 400 KV grid
supply of coaches, locomotives, Bangladesh and India have interconnection between Banglad-
buses and dredging,'' Mr Mukherjee identified some 14 projects to be esh (Bheramera) and India (Bahara-
told a post-signing brief press implemented under the one billion mpur) with 150.86 million dollar.

Hot Topic
The Indian credit will also be spent Following the bloody Liberation War West Bengal. East Bengal was made a
on second Bhairab and second Titas of 1971, Bangladesh gained its part of the Islamic Republic of
Bridge construction with railway independence and established Pakistan due to the fact that both
approach at a cost of 120 million relations with India. regions had an overwhelmingly large
dollar, procurement of 300 double- The political relationship between Muslim population, more than 86%.
decker AC, non AC buses for the BRTC India and Bangladesh has passed In 1955, the government of Pakistan
at a cost of 29.65 million dollar. through cycles of hiccups. The changed its name from East Bengal to
Mr Mukherjee called on Bangladesh relationship typically becomes East Pakistan.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and favorable for Bangladesh during There were some confrontations
also met Foreign Minister Dipu Moni periods of Awami League govern- between the two regions though.
and Finance Minister A M A Muhith ment. Relations have improved Firstly, in 1948, Muhammad Ali
before his departure for Kolkata. significantly, after Bangladesh's Jinnah declared that only Urdu would
clampdown on anti-Indian terrorist the sole official language of the entire
Bangladesh-India Relations groups on its soil, such as the United nation, though more than 95% of the
Bangladesh and India are part of the Liberation Front of Assam, Bangla- East Bengali population spoke
Indian Subcontinent and have had a desh's Prime Minister's Sheikh Bengali. And when protests broke out
long common cultural, economic and Hasina's state visit to India in January in Bangladesh on February 21, 1952,
political history. The cultures of the 2010, and continued dialogue over Pakistani police fired on the
two countries are similar; in the controversial Farakka Barrage. p ro te ste rs , k i l l i n g h u n d re d s .
particular Bangladesh and India's Secondly, East Bengal/East Pakistan
states West Bengal and Tripura are all Historical Background was allotted only a small amount of
Bengali-speaking. However, since the During the Partition of India after revenue for its development out of
partition of India in 1947, Bangladesh independence in 1947, the Bengal the Pakistani national budget.
(formerly East Bengal and East region was divided into two: East Therefore, a separatist movement
Pakistan) became a part of Pakistan. Bengal (present-day Bangladesh) and started to grow in the estranged

Hot Topic
province. When the main separatist 250,000 Indian soldiers fought for, Areas of contention
party the Awami League, headed by and 20,000 losing their lives for the A major area of contention has been
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won 167 of cause of an independent Bangladesh. the construction and operation of the
169 seats up for grabs in the 1970 Before the war, India sheltered over Farakka Barrage by India to increase
elections and got the right to form 10 million refugees, Hindus and water supply in the river Hoogly.
the government, the Pakistan Muslims, who were fleeing the Bangladesh insists that it does not
president under Yahya Khan refused atrocities of the occupying West receive a fair share of the Ganga
to recognize the election results and Pakistan Army. India and its ally waters during the drier seasons, and
arrested Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bhutan were the first countries to gets flooded during the monsoons
This led to widespread protests in re c o g n i ze B a n g l a d e s h a s a n when India releases excess waters.
East Pakistan and in 1971, the independent nation. There have also been disputes
Liberation War, followed by the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's first regarding the transfer of Teen Bigha
declaration (by Sheikh Mujibur foreign visit as Prime Minister and Corridor to Bangladesh. Part of
Rahman on 7 March 1971) of the the Founding Father of the newly Bangladesh is surrounded by the
independent state of Bangladesh. born nation was to India and it was Indian state of West Bengal. On 26
India under Indira Gandhi fully then decided Indo-Bangladesh June 1992, India leased three bigha
s u p p o rted th e cau s e o f th e relations would be guided by land to Bangladesh to connect this
Bangladeshis and its troops and principles of democracy, socialism, enclave with mainland Bangladesh.
equipment were used to fight the nonalignment and opposition to There is dispute regarding the
Pakistani forces. The Indian Army also colonialism and racism. Indira Gandhi indefinite nature of the lease.
gave full support to the main too visited Bangladesh in 1972 and Terrorist activities carried out by
Bangladeshi guerrilla force, the assured that India would never outfits based in both countries, like
Mukti Bahini. Finally, on 26 March interfere in the internal affairs of the Banga Sena and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-
1971, Bangladesh emerged as an country. Islami. Recently India and Bangla-
independent state. Since then, there In 1972, both the countries signed desh had agreed jointly to fight
have been several issues of a 'Treaty of Friendship and Peace'. An terrorism.
agreement as well as of dispute. Indo-Bangladesh Trade Pact was also The Sharing of Ganges Waters was
signed. also a matter of dispute.
Areas of agreement The mainstream party Awami Illegal Bangladeshi immigrants
India played a central role in the League is generally considered to be and their settlements on Indian side
independence of Bangladesh. About friendly towards India. metro cities is causing major issues.

Hot Topic
CONTROVERSY
he Union government
T seems to have made up its

mind to bar the Canada-
based Research In Motion (RIM),
which makes BlackBerry smart-
phones, from offering data services
unless it addresses the security
concerns raised by the Ministry of
Home Affairs and intelligence
agencies.
The government hopes that RIM
will come out with some kind of
solution at the earliest, even as more
nations joined India in raising similar
concerns and threatened to suspend
the BlackBerry services.
Security agencies want access to
RIM's unique BlackBerry data
services such as messenger and e-
mail. But the firm says it is not
possible because it does not have any
key to the encrypted data stored in its
servers in Canada. Furthermore, RIM
is not willing to set up its servers in
the country. India now has more than
10 lakh BlackBerry customers, mainly
of RIM's data solutions that allow
seamless, mobile access to time-
sensitive information through email,
phone, text messages and Internet.
Any action against RIM will not only
hurt the company but also Indian
operators. messenger function. curre-ntly stored beyond the reach of
Days later, Lebanon said it would authorities on the servers of Resea-
Behind the Blackberry Ban be conducting its own review into use rch in Motion (RIM), Blackberry's
It has not been a good week for of the devices, whose encrypted data opera-tor, in Canada.
Blackberry users in the Middle East. transfer services have raised fears RIM have refused to hand over the
First came the news that the they could be used for crime, data, and so authorities have decided
United Arab Emirates (UAE) would terrorism or even espionage. to ban Blackberry services rather
ban the devices in October, then The governments in question than continue to allow an
Saudi Arabia announced it would want access to the data sent and uncontrolled and unmonitored flow
block the Blackberry instant received by Blackberry users, which is of electronic information within their

Hot Topic
borders. monitor Blackberry communications said that they want this sort of
The UAE issued a statement in a bid to secure access to lucrative interception capability."
explaining the decision, saying it had markets. So is this a simple case of corporate
come because "certain Blackberry "It seems that the number of large double standards driven by the size of
services" allow users to avoid "any countries, particularly China and market at stake? Maybe not, data
legal accountability", raising " India, have been able to persuade security experts say, pointing out that
judicial, social and national security Research in Motion to give those the US and the UK have laws dictating
concerns". countries the full ability to look at exactly how communications data
The impending bans have been traffic flowing through their can be used by governments.
met with understandable anger from Blackberry networks, whereas In contrast, Middle Eastern countries
Blackberry users, who have accused smaller countries, like the UAE, it do not have the same privacy
the authorities of censorship and seems they are not willing to give that protections, and experts say that this,
seeking to spy on their private capability to. not the fact that governments have
information. But is it really that "There are certainly countries all access to it first place, is the real
surprising that governments in the round the world, including the US cause for concern.
region want access to their citizens' and the UK, where governments have
communications?
Exception to the rule Many Spyware Text Message
countries monitor communications Thomas Shambler, the Dubai-based editor of the Middle East edition of Stuff
within their borders; in fact the magazine, said that misgivings were not surprising given the history of state-
Blackberry 'loophole' is very much an backed telecommunications surveillance in the region. "Last year Etislat [a
exception to the rule. In some national mobile-service provider in the UAE] sent out a text message to lots
countries every text message, email of its users," he says."That text message led users to download spyware."
and internet search made by a user Days after the text message, which promised to improve service but actually
can be accessed by government contained eaves-dropping software, was sent to UAE Blackberry users, RIM
agencies if required. issued a patch to remove the spyware, effectively thwarting the first attempt
Experts point out that countries in to monitor Blackberry communications in the Emirates. But are Blackberry
the Middle East are not alone in users really worried if their data is made available for scrutiny? Shambler says
seeking access to Blackberry's data, that Dubai's estimated 500,000 Blackberry customers are more concerned
and say that other governments about losing access to their services than they are about being spied on by
appear to have been allowed to the government.

Current Affairs
Echoing Nasscom's concern, IT Ahmed said the ministry conducts

Hike in US visa fee to impact bellwether Infosys Technologies Ltd various activities for the promotion
Indian IT firms : Nasscom termed the US Border Security Bill of tourism like printing and
The proposed sharp increase in the unfortunate and discriminatory at a distribution of literature, partici-
US visa fee to raise funds for its time when companies have to be pation in travel fairs and roadshows,
border security needs would more competitive in an open market advertising , promotions with
significantly impact the Indian IT scenario. stakeholders in the markets abroad
sector, National Association of through its 14 offices overseas and
Software and Services Companies
India to spend Rs.275 crore through the Incredible India
(Nasscom) said on Aug 6. The to attract tourists campaigns.
proposed hike is expected to be The ministry also organises
about USD 4,500 per visa from USD roadshows in important tourist gene-
2,500 currently. rating markets overseas, arranges
"The Border Security Bill, passed familiarisation tours for tour and
by the US senate late Thursday, aims travel operators and invites inter-
to raise about USD 600 million by national travel writers.
increasing fee for H-1B and L-1 visas. “The impact of the 'Incredible
This has significant impact on the India' campaign is seen in the
Indian IT sector," Nasscom said in a increase in the number of
statement. India will spend over Rs.275 crore to international tourist arrivals from
Several Indian software firms avail promote its destinations, art, culture 2.38 million in the year 2002 to an
H-1B and L-1 visas in thousands every and tradition to attract more tourists estimated 5.11 million in the year
year to fly their employees to the US from abroad, Minister of State for 2009," the minister said.
for working at their clients' locations Tourism Sultan Ahmed said on Aug 6.
as on-site engineers. He said in the Lok Sabha that the plan
was to spend Rs.275 crore this year,
up from Rs.240 crore last year. India
creates awareness about its various
products, including various desti-
nations through the much awarded
Incredible India campaign. In 2008,
the country spent Rs.220 crore on the
campaign, while it was Rs.169 crore
in 2007.

Current Affairs
States reject GST draft bill “So, how to handle a situation MoUs one for setting up a plant to
where the State GST and the Central manufacture electronic products in
over Centre's veto powers GST would be there and will have to the State Industries Promotion
In a fresh setback to the proposed be appropriately and acceptably Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCO)
rollout of the Goods and Services Tax handled?” While they were opposed industrial park in Manamadurai and
(GST) from the next fiscal, the States to certain clauses of the draft Bill, the another for an automotive tyre
on Aug 04, 2010 rejected the draft States were ready to accept the facility project in Sriperumbudur.
Constitution amendment Bill in its provision empowering the Centre to Both projects would entail an
present form. For, it seeks to provide levy tax in the Concurrent List, Dr. investment of Rs. 1,500 crore each. JK
the Centre veto powers over indirect Dasgupta pointed out. Tyre & Industries would establish the
taxation matters pertaining to the “That part of the constitutional tyre facility and the Videocon group,
States. amendment suggested is acceptable the electronic goods plant.
Even as Union Finance Minister to States, but not the Bill as a whole.” The LNG terminal [in Kattupalli]
Pranab Mukherjee made a fervent To work out consensus on these would handle five million tonnes per
appeal in the Lok Sabha for the issues, the States require more time year and the re-gassified facility's
wholehearted cooperation of all but are eager to have a meeting with capacity would be 20 million cubic
political parties in approving the Mr. Mukherjee as soon as possible. metre per day of natural (vapourised)
Constitution amendments that are gas.
necessary for ushering in the new
LNG terminal to come up The approval was expected by
indirect tax regime from April 1, at Kattupalli December 2010 or January 2011. Mr.
2011, the State Finance Ministers, at Bansal said the Kattupalli terminal
an Empowered Committee meeting, would be the first along the eastern
felt that giving the Union Finance coast. Already, there were two
Minister veto powers would dilute terminals. The third terminal was
their fiscal autonomy. coming up in Kochi.
Empowered Committee chairman
Asim Dasgupta said: “The draft Compulsory public
Constitution amendment Bill in its float rule issued
present form is not acceptable to the On June 5, 2010, the Union
States...States in general have government made it mandatory for
reservations about the Union all listed companies to have a
Finance Minister having any veto A Rs.10,000-crore liquefied natural minimum public float of 25 per cent.
power over State GST. The Union gas terminal will come up at Those below this level will have to get
Finance Minister, of course, would Kattupalli near the Ennore port, on there by an annual addition of at least
have an exclusive authority with the northern outskirts of Chennai. 5 per cent to public holding.
respect to Central GST.” To be implemented by the Indian Oil The move is expected to result in
As the GST regime was to replace Corporation (IOC) and the Tamil Nadu equity dilution of about Rs 1,60,000
the excise duty and service tax at the Industrial Development Corporation crore by 179 listed companies. These
Central level and the Value Added Tax (TIDCO), the terminal project has include Reliance Power, Wipro,
(VAT), cess, surcharges and other other components the establi- Indian Oil Corporation, DLF and Tata
local levies at the level of States, the shment of a re-gassified facility and a Communications.
States were apprehensive of 1,000 megawatt (MW) power According to the notification,
infringement on their financial project. 'public' will not include the promoter,
autonomy and therefore had certain On august 4, B.M. Bansal, IOC promoter group, subsidiaries and
reservations about the Bill's Chairman and Rajeev Ranjan, TIDCO associates of a company. 'Public
provisions for a GST Council and a Chairman and Principal Secretary shareholding' will mean equity
GST Disputes Authority, Dr. Dasgupta (Industries) of the State government, shares of the company held by the
explained. signed a memorandum of under- public and not the shares held by the
In fact, the States are of the view standing (MoU) at the Secretariat in custodian against depository receipts
that the GST Disputes Authority the presence of Chief Minster M. issued overseas.
should not find a place in the Karunanidhi, Deputy Chief Minister A company can increase its public
Constitution amendment Bill, and it M.K. Stalin and Chief Secretary K.S. shareholding by less than 5 per cent
may be incorporated in GST Sripathi. in a year if such increase brings its
legislation. Mr. Ranjan signed two other public shareholding to the level of 25

Current Affairs
per cent in that year. If the public gas in rupees and has now decided to
shareholding in a listed company falls price it in US dollars.
below 25 per cent at any time, the State-run ONGC and OIL produce
company will have to bring the public 54.32 million cubic metres of gas per
shareholding to 25 per cent within 12 day about 40 per cent of the total
months from the date of such fall, amount originating from the country
compared with the two years allowed through fields given to them on a
at present. nomination basis.
ONGC, OIL get freedom to Petrol, Diesel prices freed
price natural gas from government control
In a significant development, the On June 25, 2010, the Union
Union government has given national government announced that prices
oil companies, Oil and Natural Gas of petrol and diesel would become
Corp (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL), market-driven, in line with the
freedom to price any additional recommendations of a panel headed
natural gas produced from blocks by former Planning Commission
given to them on nomination basis at member Kirit Parikh.
market rates. So far, all gascurrent An empowered group of ministers
and futureproduced from blocks led by Finance Minister Pranab
given to ONGC and OIL was priced at Mukherjee agreed to raise diesel
government-controlled rates, called prices by Rs 2 a litre for now. The fuel would mean users would have to pay
administered price mechanism will eventually be freed from State more whenever international crude
(APM). control. Petrol has been freed fully. oil prices rise and less when they fall.
Even the price of APM gas from The panel also increased prices of
June 1 has been more than doubled liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by Rs The move would bring down the
to $4.2 per million British thermal 35 a cylinder and of kerosene by Rs 3 government's huge subsidy bill and
units, on a par with the rate at which a litre, though both will remain under relieve State-owned oil marketing
Reliance Industries sells gas from its government control. companies of some of the burden
eastern offshore KG-D6 fields. The decision will help to cut fuel they bear by selling fuels much below
The government has also made a subsidies and limit losses of State-run the market prices. This burden, also
significant departure from the refiners. called under-recovery, is estimated at
previous practice of pricing natural The market-driven mechanism Rs 215 crore every day.
Vol. - 17
Copyright © 2010 | WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM 31

Current Affairs
is not willing to set up its servers in shot dead by the police. About 30
BlackBerry: India may bar the country. India now has more than people have died in just over a week.
RIM if it fails to act 10 lakh BlackBerry customers, mainly Demonstrations were ignited
The Union government seems to of RIM's data solutions that allow when a teenager was killed by a
have made up its mind to bar the seamless, mobile access to time- police tear-gas shell in June.
Canada-based Research In Motion sensitive information through email, P Chidambaram, the home
(RIM), which makes BlackBerry phone, text messages and Internet. minister, said that the government
smartphones, from offering data Any action against RIM will not only was ready to hold talks with the
services unless it addresses the hurt the company but also Indian separatists in the Muslim-majority
security concerns raised by the operators. state.
Ministry of Home Affairs and The move was apparently made
intelligence agencies. Separatists reject to ease tensions during the unrest.
The government hopes that RIM Kashmir talks
will come out with some kind of 'Basic right'
solution at the earliest, even as more However, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, one
nations joined India in raising similar of the leaders of the separatists who
concerns and threatened to suspend oppose Indian-rule in Kashmir,
the BlackBerry services. rejected the offer.
Security agencies want access to Farooq said that the current
RIM's unique BlackBerry data protests are in support of ending
services such as messenger and e- Indian rule of Kashmir.
mail. But the firm says it is not "Where is the scope for
possible because it does not have any engagement, when a reign of terror
key to the encrypted data stored in its has been let loose by them against a
servers in Canada. Furthermore, RIM Moderate separatists in Indian- people for demanding their basic
administered Kashmir have turned right?" Farooq said. He has previously
down an offer from the government entered into talks with the central
to enter into fresh talks. government.
The decision follows weeks of During those negotiations Farooq
violent protests against the central has asked for the removal of troops in
government in the region, which the region and the release of political
have left 49 people dead. prisoners. However, he now says that
The majority of those killed were those demands have not been met,
young men and teenagers who were undermining any potential talks.

Current Affairs
India's first PG course in subsidiary of the US-based company

and gave them punishment under
Golf Management less stringent provisions of the Indian
Penal Code for causing death by
negligence.
The 89-year-old Warren
Anderson, the then Chairman of
Union Carbide Corporation of USA,
who lives in the United States,
appeares to have gone scot free for
the present as he is still an absconder
and did not subject himself to trial. operation of the plant, which was
There was no word about him in the owned and operated by Union
judgement. Carbide India Limited.
Golf, as a sport, is one of the fastest The US based company reacted to In his 93-page verdict, Tiwari said
emerging sectors in India, with an the judgement saying neither it nor the accused were not sentenced
estimated growth of 30 per cent in its officials were subject to the under section 304 IPC (culpable
the next five years. However, there is jurisdiction of the Indian court since homicide not amounting to murder
a huge gap for good quality they were not involved in the that provides a maximum of life
management professionals to join
the golfing industry in India. To bridge
this gap, International School of
Corporate Management (ISCOM) has
partnered with the prestigious
Elmwood College, St. Andrews,
Scotland, to introduce the first ever
Postgraduate Programme in Golf
Management.
The course is India's first ever PG
course in Golf Management and
includes six months' intensive
apprenticeship at a golf facility in
Scotland, UK. Minimum degree
required to be eligible for the course
is graduation. Admission is through
entrance test. Candidates who
qualify in GMAT, CAT, MAT or
equivalent with at least 60% marks
will be exempt from the entrance
test. You have to be a golf player with
minimum 24 handicap.
Bhopal Gas Tragedy verdict

On June 7, 2010, nearly 26 years after
the world's worst industrial disaster
left more than 15,000 dead in the
Bhopal gas tragedy, former Union
Carbide India Chairman Keshub
Mahindra and seven others were
convicted and sentenced to two
years imprisonment.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohan P.
Tiwari held the 85-year-old non-
executive chairman of the Indian

Current Affairs
Krishna, flew the aircraft to an island near Goa while INS Kondul
altitude of 11 kms and went derives its name from an island near
supersonic, touching 1.1 Mach Nicobar. Kolkata-based Garden
speed. A fighter plane flies in Reach Ship Builders and Engineers
supersonic speed when it has already built these ships in two years.
accomplished its mission and is being
chased by enemy aircraft. For testing, Jharkhand again under
there was a plane chasing the Tejas President's rule
LSP-4 during its first test flight.
The Tejas flew in the configuration
that would be finally delivered to the
Indian Air Force.
Navy gets two Warships

Giving a boost to the Navy's defence
capabilities, two state-of-the-art
high-speed warships, INS Cankarso
and INS Kondul, were commissioned
imprisonment) since they were old into the naval fleet on June 29, 2010.
age and were suffering from serious The indigenously-built ships use
ailments including heart disease. water jet propulsion technology and
All the convicts applied for bail can achieve speeds in excess of 35
immediately after the sentencing and knots. Water jet technology has
were granted relief on a surety of Rs rapidly gained acceptance as the
25,000 each. leading means of propulsion for all
Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily types of high-speed marine craft, On June 1, 2001, Jharkhand came
described the verdict as an example including ferries, work boats, patrol under Central rule with President
of “justice buried” and said there was crafts and pleasure boats. Pratibha Patil accepting a recomme-
need for fast-tracking such cases and ndation of the Union Cabinet after
ensuring proper investigation. the Congress and the BJP gave up
The BJP termed the order as efforts to form an alternative
“painful” and said the prosecution government following resignation of
should appeal against the lower Chief Minister Shibu Soren.
punishment. It also utilised the The State Assembly will be kept in
opportunity to reconsider the suspended animation during the
provisions of the nuclear liability Bill. President's rule, which has been
imposed for a second time in two
First flight of Tejas years.
supersonic fighter plane The ships will be based in Goa and The Soren government was
The dream of having a supersonic tasked with the role of detecting, reduced to a minority on May 24
fighter jet of indigenous built came locating and destroying small, fast- when the BJP, with 18 MLAs and the
one step closer to realisation on June moving enemy surface craft engaged JD(U) with two, withdrew support to
2, 2010, when the Limited Series in covert operations. it. The JMM, with 18 MLAs and having
Production Tejas aircraft (LSP-4) took INS Cankarso and INS Kondul are t h e s u p p o r t o f s eve n o t h e r
off from the Hindustan Aeronautics fitted with 30-mm CRN-91 gun built legislators, was short of the required
Limited airport, Bangaluru, for its first by Ordnance Factory, Medak, and Igla 42 in the 82-member House. The BJP
flight. missiles and set of machine guns took the decision after Soren voted
Test pilot, Group Captain Suneet ranging from light to heavy. against the cut motions sponsored by
These two ships are the first lot of the opposition in Lok Sabha on April
the ten similar ships that the Navy 27.
proposes to induct in its fleet. They Jharkhand has seen seven CMs
belong to the Car Nicobar class V and since its creation on November 15,
VI in the FAC series. 2000, came under President's rule for
INS Cankarso is named after an the first time on January 19, 2009.

Current Affairs
Bangladesh gets USD 1 bn India, Canada sign civil uranium and waste management.
The two countries can also promote
loan from India nuclear pact cooperation in the development and
Bangladesh on Aug 7 inked a USD 1 use of applications related to health,
billion loan agreement with India to industry, environment and agricul-
finance several projects in the ture.
country. The line of credit will be
utilised for implementation of Visit of South African
projects to be identified and President
approved by the Bangladesh On his maiden visit to an Asian
government, the Daily Star reported. country as the President of South
Bangladesh's Economic Relations Africa, Jacob Zuma was given a
Department secretary M.Musharraf rousing reception by the Indian
Hossain Bhuiyan and India's Exim On June 28, 2001, India and Canada leadership on June 4, 2010, as the
Bank chairman and managing signed a civil nuclear cooperation two countries signed three key pacts,
director T.C.A. Ranganathan signed agreement. The pact was signed including one on air services, and
the deal in presence of Bangladesh during Prime Minister Manmohan agreed to support each other's
Finance Minister A.M A. Muhith and Singh's visit to Canada. candidature for the non-permanent
his Indian counterpart Pranab The deal, the ninth signed by New seat at the UN Security Council for
Mukherjee, who arrived in Dhaka on Delhi, significantly alters Canada's the 2011-2012 term.
a brief visit. stance towards India. The North A wide range of bilateral issues as
During the visit of Prime Minister American nation had led the world in well as global developments,
Sheikh Hasina to India in January this pushing for nuclear isolation after the including reforms of the UN Security
year, New Delhi agreed to extend a 1974 tests in Pokhran. Council, closer cooperation between
line of credit of USD 1 billion to Dhaka The US, France, Russia, Mongolia,
through the bank. Kazakhstan, Argentina, Namibia and
Britain are the eight countries that
have already signed similar pacts
with India.
Among other things, the India-
Canada Agreement for Cooperation
in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy
provides for tie-ups in design,
construction, maintenance, supply of

Current Affairs
the two countries at various prisoners, after wide-ranging talks.
international fora, particularly on The two countries announced a
climate change, and increasing the major initiative to undertake a
volume of bilateral trade, came for programme of construction of 50,000
discussions during the talks. houses for internally displaced
Apart from the pact on enhancing air persons (IDPs) in Northern and
connectivity, the two countries Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka with
signed an MoU on agriculture India's assistance. India would also be
cooperation and another for linkages taking up several projects for the
between the Foreign Service Institute reconstruction of the North and the
of India and the Diplomatic Academy East, including rebuilding of railway
of South Africa. infrastructure, rehabilitation of
Both India and South Africa are Kankesanthurai harbour and Palaly
keen to increase the two-way trade, Airport, construction of a cultural
which currently stands at $7.5 billion centre in Jaffna and several vocati-
annually. Zuma said he wanted that onal training centres, renovation of
to grow to $10 billion by 2012. the Duraiappaj stadium and rehabili-
tation of war widows.
Visit of Sri Lankan President The two countries also decided to
Sri Lankan President Mahinda resettle displaced Tamils and resume the ferry services between
Rajapaksa visited New Delhi on June expedite a political solution to the Colombo and Tuticoran and between
9, 2010. During his talks with Prime ethnic issue. Thalaimannar and Rameswaram.
Minister Manmohan Singh, he The two countries also signed India would also establish consulates
sought to cool down tempers in India seven agreements, including a treaty general in Jaffna and Hambantota.
over the plight of Tamils in his island on mutual legal assistance in criminal India would also assist the island
nation by promising to quickly matters and an MOU on sentenced country in setting up a thermal power

Current Affairs
plant at Trincomalee. two countries. noted.
At their one-on-one meeting The strong relationship between
which was followed by delegation- Indo-US ties defining
the US India is based on mutual trust
level talks, the Indian PM and the Sri partnership of 21st century and respect, enables close
Lankan President also discussed a Noting that US President Barack collaboration across a broad
wide range of bilateral issues, Obama considers India-US relation- spectrum of strategic interests,
including the proposed comprehe- ship as "one of the defining i n c l u d i n g c o u n t e r - t e r ro r i s m ,
nsive economic partnership agree- partnerships of the 21st century," the democracy promotion, regional
ment (CEPA), as well as international US senate has resolved to foster and economic development, human
issues. Sri Lanka supported India's advance the strategic partnership rights, and scientific research, the
case for inclusion in an expanded UN between the two nations. resolution said.
Security Council, as well as its A bipartisan resolution intro- The Senate resolution also
candidature for a non-permanent duced by Republican John Cornyn acknowledged that since 2001,
seat for the 2011-2012 term. and co-sponsored by Democrat Indians have comprised the largest
The five other agreements, signed Christopher Dodd, to mark the 63rd foreign student population on
after the talks between the two sides, anniversary of India's independence, college campuses in the US,
were: renewal of MoU on SDP also celebrated "the contributions of accounting for approximately 15 per
schemes, MoU on setting up of a Americans of Indian descent to cent of all foreign students in the
women's trade facilitation centre and society in the United States." country.
community learning centre, renewal Noting that the first state dinner Noting that there are more than
of cultural exchange programme, hosted by Obama was held in honour two million Americans of Indian
MoU on interconnection of elect- of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan descent in the United States, it
ricity grids and MoU on Talaimannar- Singh in November 2009, the acknowledged the lasting contribut-
Madhu railway line. resolution recalled the two nations ions to the social and economic fabric
"have pursued a strategic partnership of the US made by the Indian
Indo-US strategic dialogue based on common interests and Americans.
The Strategic Dialogue between India shared commitments to freedom, "Americans of Indian descent
and US is another “milestone” in democracy, pluralism, human rights, continue to enrich all sectors of
bilateral relationship with the Obama and the rule of law" public life in the United States,
Administration. External Affairs The US and India have undertaken including as government, military,
Minister S.M. Krishna and US a cooperative effort in the area of and law enforcement officials
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton co- civilian nuclear power, which working to uphold the Constitution of
chaired the first Cabinet-level Indo- Congress approved through the the United States and to protect all
US Strategic Dialogue, which helped enactment of the US-India Nuclear people in the United States," it said.
to set the pace for the long-term Cooperation Approval and Non-
strategic relationship between the Proliferation Enhancement Act, it

Current Affairs
the world's highest railway, running

Nepal fails to elect a Prime at an altitude of 5000 metres.
Minister again The line was opened in July 2006,
Nepal's Parliament failed to elect a with a view to boosting economic
Prime Minister for the fourth time on development in Tibet and enhancing
Aug 06, 2010. Both Unified the People's Liberation Army's (PLA)
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) mobilisation capabilities. The railway
chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has mainly been used to ferry tourists
'Prachanda' and Nepali Congress and businesspeople from other
leader Ram Chandra Poudel could provinces to Tibet.
not obtain a simple majority of 301 slapped sanctions on its commander In mid-summer, a train loaded
votes in the House of 601 as required Mohammad Ilyas Kashmiri, 46, with important combat readiness
by the interim constitution. believed to have been in close materials for the Air Force of the
Mr. Prachanda got 213 votes in his contact with Lashkar-e-Taiba Chinese People's Liberation Army
favour. While 99 MPs voted against operative David Headley, for their (PLAAF) got to the destination safely
him, 156 MPs stayed neutral. During terrorist activities in India and and it was the first time that the
the vote, only 468 MPs participated Pakistan. railway had been used to boost
in the proceedings since many HuJI and Kashmiri have been involved logistical support for the PLAAF.
parliamentarians came late. in a series of terrorist activities in Given the high altitude, the PLAAF
India, including the attack on a has begun training transport security
mosque in Hyderabad in 2007 that personnel to help them combat
killed 16 people and the March 2007 altitude sickness, the PLA Daily said.
Varanasi terrorist attacks that killed To ensure the supply line's security,
at least 25 people personnel would “examine the safety
state of the train” at every stop along
Tibet railway to boost the rail route.
logistical support
China's high-altitude railway line to
Tibet, which opened four years ago, New Colombian president
has begun to be used as a supply-line sworn in
U.S., U.N. declare HuJI a to enhance the mobilisation Juan Manuel Santos has been sworn
terrorist group capabilities of China's Air Force in the in as the new president of Colombia,
The U.S. on Aug 06, 2010 declared the region. taking the helm of a nation facing
Pakistan-based Harkat-ul Jihad (HuJI) The railway line, which runs from soaring unemployment, a decades-
a foreign terrorist organisation and Qinghai province to Lhasa in Tibet, is long insurgency and a diplomatic rift

Current Affairs
Saturday, dispatching his foreign The annual reportuses 12 metrics
minister Nicolas Maduro instead. including security threats, economic
Santos' inauguration ceremony in implosion, human rights violations
Congress was attended by about and refugee flows.
5,000 guests, including many foreign Since the index was published for
heads of state. the first time in 2005, the top 10 slots
He begins his term with a strong have rotated among just 15
mandate after winning 69 per cent of countries, and Foreign Policy said it
the vote in the presidential runoff seems that state failure "is a chronic
with neighbouring Venezuela. vote in June. He gained popularity condition".
Speaking at his formal inauguration during his 2006-2009 stint as defence Africa has seven of the top 10
in the capital Bogota on august 7, m i n i s t e r, l e a d i n g s u c c e s s f u l spots, and half of the 60 weakest
Santos said he wanted unity and operations against Farc fighters. states.
reconciliation to be two of the main Somalia, which has held the worst
goals of his administration. High unemployment position for three years in a row, has
He said he was willing to hold talks On the domestic front, Santos will not had an effective government
with leaders of the Revolutionary have to deal with an unemployment since 1991. It is wracked by bloody
Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the rate of 12 per cent and 46 percent fighting between anti-government
country's left-wing rebel group. poverty. He has vowed to create 2.5 groups and the army in large parts of
Santos also expressed a desire to million new jobs during his four-year the country and pirates are operating
smooth over strained relations with term in office. off the coast.
neighbouring countries. He has also pledged to continue Also listed is Zimbabwe, which
He said that One of his essential Uribe's crackdown on Farc and moved down two ratings from last
purposes as president will be to maintain his pro-business approach, year, to number four, after a power
reconstruct their relations with which has seen foreign investment sharing agreement was reached
Venezuela and Ecuador and to grow five-fold since 2002 as between the party of Robert
restore confidence and to make Colombia's conflict waned. Uribe Mugabe, the president, and Morgan
diplomacy and prudent actions a leaves office with an 80 per cent Tsvangirai, the opposition leader who
priority. approval rating. was named prime minister.
But his second term was marred
Strained ties by scandals over abuses by troops, Some increased stability
Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan illegal wiretapping of his critics, and Asia is home to 30 per cent of the top
president, responded to the Colom- probes into legislative allies over 60 weakest states and the Middle
bian president's offer, saying on collaboration with paramilitary East has just over 10 per cent.
national television that he too gangs. Afghanistan and Iraq, both with
wanted to "turn over the page" tens of thousands of US-led deployed
and re-start good relations with Failed State Index 2010 troops, come in places six and seven
Colombia's new government. United States-based 'Foreign Policy' respectively.
Chavez cut ties with Colombiaon magazine has released the Failed Ye m e n , m e a n w h i l e , s a w
July 22 after the government of State Index for 2010 in June 2010. The increased instability in the last year
Alvaro Uribe, Santos' predecessor, list is topped by Somalia. While while Sri Lanka received a better
Pakistan has been ranked 10th, India ranking this year. Three Nordic
has been ranked 87th in the list of 177 nations - Norway, Finland and
countries. Sweden - are ranked as the most
Somalia tops the list of so-called stable countries. The least and most
failed states, based on factors stable countries in the world:
including its economy, human rights 1. Somalia
record and security, a new survey 2. Chad
says. 3. Sudan
released evidence that it said showed The Fund for Peace and Foreign 4. Zimbabwe
Venezuela gives haven to Colombian Policy Magazine released their 2010 5. DR Congo
rebels. "Failed States Index", on Monday, 173. Ireland
Although invited, Chavez decided ranking 177 countries to determine 174. Switzerland
not to attend the inauguration on those most at risk of failure. 175. Sweden

Current Affairs
176. Finland The United States was ranked at 85th, become more of an “Asian nation,”
177. Norway outranked by countries like Rwanda, which sparked concern in Washin-
Indonesia, United Arab Emirates and gton that he wanted to move away
Global Peace Index report Bosnia. Iraq has been estimated as from the country's pro-US stance and
The Global Peace Index Report 2010, the lease peaceful, followed by closer to China.
in its annual publication has placed Somalia, Afghanistan and Sudan at Finance Minister Naoto Kan
India amongst the lease peaceful of the bottom of the table. The report's succeeded Hatoyama as the new
major countries in the world and has authors believe that world has Prime Minister.
reported that the country is getting become slightly less peaceful in the
even less peaceful year-on-year. past year. Maoists force
THE GLOBAL Peace Index Report Nepal PM to resign
2010 released by 'Institute for
Hatoyama resigns as
Economics and Peace', an inter- Japan's PM
national organisation focused on Japanese Prime Minister Yukio
re s e a rc h i n g t h e re l at i o n s h i p Hatoyama, who ended five decades
between economic, business and of single-party rule when he swept to
peace, has placed New Zealand as the power in August 2009, but stumbled
most peaceful state. when he confronted a long-time ally,
the United States, resigned on June 2,
2010. Hatoyama quit at a meeting of
leaders of the Democratic Party of
Japan in Tokyo, becoming the fourth Nepal's Prime Minister announced
straight Japanese leader to leave his resignation on June 31, 2010,
after a year or less in office. bowing to pressure from opposition
“Since last year's elections, I tried Maoists who had been demanding
to change politics in which the people his ouster in Parliament and on the
of Japan would be the main streets. Prime Minister Madhav
characters,” he said later at a Kumar Nepal said in a televised
nationally broadcast news confe- speech that he decided to resign to
rence. But he conceded that his end political deadlock and shore up
efforts weren't understood. the peace process.
It has placed India amongst the Hatoyama ran for the premiership Mr Madhav Kumar had taken over
lease peaceful of major countries in on a campaign platform of main- the post in May 2009 after the
the world and has reported that the taining a more equal relationship previous government led by the
country is getting even less peaceful with the United States, which still Maoists resigned following
year-on-year. India is placed at 128th enjoys enormous support among differences with the President over
rank, six ranks lower than its 2009 most Japanese. His decision to the firing of the army chief. He had
position. challenge Washington over the the support of 22 political parties in
S o m e o f t h e I n d i a ' s ke y details of a massive military base Parliament and more than half of the
neighbours in South Asia ranked in relocation plan on the island of 601 members in the Assembly.
the bottom along with India Sri Lanka Okinawa befuddled Japanese and However, the Maoists, who have the
placed at 133rd, Pakistan ranked at American analysts and government largest number of seats in the
145th, and Afghanistan at 147th. officials alike. Assembly, refused to support his
However, the Himalayan kingdom, Hatoyama also called for Japan to government and instead staged
Nepal has ranked much better as protests to demand disbanding the
compared to its counterparts, it has government.
been ranked at 82nd place while In May 2010, the Maoists had shut
Bangladesh is at 87th. Bhutan, ranked down the nation for more than a
at 37th, narrowly missed being in top week, imposing a general strike. The
20 peaceful countries across the protests also delayed the writing of a
globe. new constitution, which was
The developed including those of supposed to be complete by May
Europe and Canada ranked in the top 2010. The deadline has now been
20 per cent of the peaceful nations. extended by one year.

Current Affairs
interim government sent a volunteer would “aim” to put in place a new
Landmark US Financial force to the south and granted shoot- framework by the end of 2012, which
Reform Bill to-kill powers to its security forces in was earlier the target date. Members
response to the deadly riots, which will also get flexibility in phasing the
began in Osh, before spreading to new rules.
Jalalabad. The good news is that once these
Renewed turmoil in Kyrgyzstan rules are implemented banks will
has fuelled concern in Russia, the have more capital to deal with crises
United States and neighbour China. as the ratio of core Tier-I capital of a
Washington uses an air base at bank to its risk-weighted assets is
Manas in the north of the country, expected to double from the present
On July 1, 2010, the US House of about 300 km from Osh, to supply its level of 2 per cent.
Representatives approved a land- forces in Afghanistan. On trade, too, there was dilly
mark overhaul of financial regula- dallying. The G-20 leaders, who had
tions. The Bill would impose tighter G-20 Summit meeting earlier said that the Doha Round of
regulations on financial firms and A Summit meeting of Leaders from trade liberalisation talks should be
reduce their profits. It would boost the Group of 20 economic powers concluded in 2010, have not
consumer protections, force banks to was held in Toronto, Canada on June mentioned any deadline now. All that
reduce risky trading and investing 28, 2010. The leaders have agreed to has been said is that they will now
activities and set up a new govern- halve deficits by 2013 and stabilise or deliberate on the ways to take
ment process for liquidating troubled reduce the government debt-to-GDP forward the talks when they meet in
financial firms. ratio by 2016. At the same time, the Seoul in November 2010.
However, the Republicans say the bloc left it to individual countries to G-20 members have also decided
Bill would hurt the economy by decide on levying taxes on banks or against erecting any new trade and
burdening businesses with a thicket adopting other means to fund future investment barriers. The decision to
of new regulations. They also point bailouts. increase the quotas for developing
out that it ducks the question of how Along the way, the G-20 leaders countries in the International
to handle troubled mortgage finance who completed their fourth meeting Monetary Fund by the Seoul summit
giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, since the global financial crisis of was touted as another gain.
which Democrats plan to tackle in 2008, also diluted their position on a While many elements in the 19-
2011. number of problems they had page statement were a reiteration of
decided to fix earlier. For instance, the earlier pledges, these were at
Ethic Riots in Kyrgyzstan while reinforcing their desire to move least two new elements. One of them
Russia sent hundreds of paratroopers to a more stringent capital structure, was a proposal to set up a working
to Kyrgyzstan on June 13, 2010 to the communiqué issued after two group on development. The other
protect its military facilities as ethnic days of discussions said countries was the desire to focus on issues
clashes spread in the Central Asian
State, bringing the death toll from
days of fighting to 97. Ethnic Uzbeks
in a besieged neighbourhood of
Kyrgyzstan's second city Osh said
gangs, aided by the military, were
carrying out genocide, burning
residents out of their homes and
shooting them as they fled.
Witnesses saw bodies lying on the
streets.
The interim government in
Kyrgyzstan, which took power in April
2010, after a popular revolt toppled
President Kurmanbek Bakiyev,
appealed for Russian help to quell the
riots in the south.
Led by Roza Otunbayeva, the

Current Affairs
related to corruption with members The leaders also committed to Market analysts said China's move
urging to ratify and implement the reach agreement expeditiously on would go a long way in lifting the
United Nations Convention against stronger capital and liquidity global economic sentiment that was
Corruption. standards as the core of our reform under the weather due to the Euro
However, the move by some agenda and in that regard fully crisis. China's decision would result in
developed countries to insert supported the work of the Basel a higher growth rate, especially for
another new element a levy on bank Committee on Banking Supervision. countries that have a significant trade
transactions did not find a mention The leaders also emphasized the relation with the Asian behemoth, as
in the final text as the focus of the need to reduce moral hazard currency appreciation would make
deliberations remained on reducing a s s o c i ate d w i t h syste m i ca l l y imports comparatively cheaper in
fiscal deficit levels. A key demand of important financial institutions and China.
European countries, was resisted by reinforced their commitment to According to Barclays Commo-
the US and developing countries such develop effective resolution tools dities, there is a thinking that a
as India and Brazil. and frameworks for all financial stronger yuan will “increase Chinese
Along with deficit reduction, G-20 institutions on the basis of inter- purchasing power” leading to an
leaders also agreed on ushering in nationally agreed principles. increase in its “purchases of base
structural reforms by emerging The G-20 was established in 1999, metals”. “This coincides with a strong
surplus economies, such as China. in the wake of the 1997 Asian set of Chinese trade data for May
These countries, which can tailor Financial Crisis, to bring together 2010, which showed that the country
their reform moves to strengthen major advanced and emerging turned a net importer of aluminium
social safety nets, should increase economies to stabilize the global and lead, while copper and zinc
infrastructure spending and enhance financial market. Since its inception, imports remained strong”.
exchange rate flexibility to reflect the G-20 has held annual Finance
underlying economic fundamentals. Ministers and Central Bank Gover- UNSC slaps sanctions
nors' Meetings and discussed on Iran
G-20 meeting of Finance measures to promote the financial
Ministers stability of the world and to achieve a
Finance Ministers and Central Bank sustainable economic growth and
Governors of G-20 countries met in development.
Busan, South Korea on June 4, 2010.
China announces plans to
At the top of the agenda was
Europe's debt crisis. The Ministers make its currency more
also discussed medium-term growth flexible
framework and how to solve Equity markets across the world
On June 9, 2010, the UN Security
economic imbalances which caused made handsome gains on June 21,
Council slapped sanctions on Iran
the global financial crisis. Canada, the 2010, after China announced plans to
over its controversial nuclear
current G-20 President, hopes to make its currency, the yuan, more
programme, targeting the powerful
secure an agreement in Toronto on flexible against the dollar. India's
Revolutionary Guard, ballistic
the broad suite of policies needed to benchmark equity index, the Sensex,
missiles, and nuclear-related
reduce these imbalances. Individual and the broad-based Nifty today
investments, despite opposition
countries would then commit touched their highest levels in more
from Brazil and Turkey.
themselves to specific policies at the than two months.
next G-20 summit in Seoul. In the 15-member Council, 12
Building on progress to date, the countries, including the US and
leaders affirmed their commitment Britain, voted in favour of the
to intensify efforts and to accelerate resolution, with Lebanon abstaining
financial repair and reform. They also and Brazil and Turkey voting against.
agreed that further progress on The new resolution, which is
financial repair is critical to global fourth against Iran to be adopted by
economic recovery and requires the UNSC, creates new categories of
greater transparency and further sanctions like banning Iran's
strengthening of banks' balance investment in nuclear activity
sheets and better corporate gover- abroad, banning all ballistic missiles
nance of financial firms. activities, blocking Iran's use of banks

Current Affairs
aboard and asset freezes for including steps to apprehend or concern” and said these problems
members of the Islamic Revolu- extradite persons connected with would be addressed in a compre-
tionary Guard Corps. acts of terrorism and facilitate real- hensive manner.
The resolution blacklists entities time intelligence sharing.
that includes 15 enterprises of the The meeting of the Interior US-Russia ties improve
Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Ministers of the South Asian On June 25, 2010, US President
three entities owned by the Islamic Association for Regional Coope- Barack Obama declared he had
Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and 23 ration, held on June 27, 2010 in succeeded in “resetting” the US-
industrial companies. The inter- Islamabad, Pakistan, also resolved to Russia relationship, which he said
national community accuses Iran of step up cooperation in real time had reached its lowest point since the
seeking to develop an atomic intelligence-sharing and to consider Cold War at the end of George W.
weapon. But, Tehran has been Pakistan's proposal for creation of Bush's term in office. Obama was
maintaining that its uranium enrich- SAARCPOL, an institution on the lines speaking to reporters in the East
ment program is for peaceful civilian of Interpol. Room of the White House following
purposes. The ministerial statement on co- meetings with Russian President
India has been maintaining that it operation against terrorism adopted Dmitry Medvedev.
is opposed to such kinds of sanctions at the meeting said the SAARC Medvedev, meanwhile, agreed to
as it will affect the common people member States had underscored allow a resumption of US poultry
more than the establishment. Russia their “commitment to apprehend exports to his country which Russia
and China, which have previously and prosecute or extradite persons had banned earlier in 201, claiming
raised objections against such connected, directly or indirectly, with that a chemical used in the US
sanctions, supported the resolution t h e co m m i s s i o n s o f a c t s o f violated its food safety rules.
and said they were happy with the terrorism”. They also reiterated their But despite the bonhomie
text of the resolution as long as it did commitment to strengthen SAARC's between the two leaders, who have
not have any negative impact on the regime against terrorism. met seven times since Obama took
people. The ministers resolved to ensure office, both Obama and Medvedev
Iran voiced defiance, saying it that “nationals and entities” of acknowledged that they had
would not halt uranium enrichment SAARC States who commit, facilitate differences over certain issues,
and suggesting it may reduce or participate in commission of terror including Georgia. Relations between
cooperation with the UN nuclear acts are “appropriately punished”. the two countries deteriorated after
agency. The SAARC membersAfghanistan, the Russian invasion of Georgia in
SAARC nations pledge Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, 2008.
Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lankaalso The US and Russian Presidents
coordinated action to tackle acknowledged that linkages between said they had resolved a majority of
terror terrorism, illegal trafficking of drugs, the obstacles in the path to Russia's
Members of SAARC have pledged to human trafficking, smuggling of entry into the WTO. They have
step up coordinated action against firearms and threats to maritime instructed their negotiators to work
the common menace of terrorism, security remained a “serious as quickly as possible to wrap up what
Obama said were “difficult issues”
that will require “some significant
work”, but Medvedev described as
“minor problems”.
The two sides released 11 joint
statements at the end of their
meeting. These covered promotion
and implementation of open
government; Kyrgyzstan; energy
efficiency; strategic stability;
counter-terrorism cooperation;
inter-country adoption; Afghanistan;
people-to-people connections;
strategic partnership in innovation;
Russia's accession to the WTO; US-
Russia Presidential Commission.

Current Affairs
that the national security continues Totonto, Canada for their annual
Canada government blamed to be badly organised between the Summit meeting. The leaders
for Kanishka crash RCMP and Canada's spy agency. He decided to drop a commitment to
A long-awaited inquiry into the 1985 also recommended radical complete the troubled Doha trade
Air India Kanishka bombing, which transformation in prose-cution. round in 2010 and vowed to push
killed 329 persons, mostly of Indian Meanwhile, Canadian Prime forward on bilateral and regional
origin, has blamed the Canadian Minister Stephen Harper assured the trade talks until a global deal could be
government for its failure to prevent family members of the victims of the done.
the tragedy and recommended the 1984 Air India Kanishka bombing that In 2009, a G-8 summit in Italy and
appointment of a powerful security the government would respond a Pittsburgh meeting of the Group of
czar to resolve disputes between “positively” to the recommendations 20 both had committed to a 2010 end
conflicting interests among security made by an inquiry committee and date that now looks impossible to
agencies. said compensation would be offered meet.
“The government needs to take to all. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen
responsibility to avoid further failure Years of criminal investigation Harper, who chaired the G-8 summit,
and to prevent a return to a culture of have yielded just one conviction, for said Doha was not dead. “I don't think
complacency,” Justice John Major, manslaughter, against a British we can afford to say that. We've got
the head of the Kanishka bombing Columbia mechanic Inderjit Singh to find a path over time to get to a
inquiry commission, recommended Reyat, who assembled bomb successful conclusion,” he told a
on June 17, 2010, nearly 25 years components. closing news conference.
after Canada's worst terrorist attack. Doha round has been dogged by
G-8 leaders drop differences among trade powers who
In the much-awaited final report
from the commission that investi- commitment to complete want more access to one another's
gated the bombing of Air India Flight Doha round in 2010 markets but have struggled to lower
182 on June 23, 1985, he observed On June 27, 2010, G-8 leaders met in their own trade barriers.

Current Affairs
Body cells can be or factors that mimic their effect, every year.
directly into the heart to create new A tonne of emission saved fetches
regenerated into heart heart muscle would avoid the need to up to Rs 19,000 in the international
muscles inject stem cells into the heart and all carbon market.
the obstacles that go along with such A poor Indian household can save
cell-based therapies," Ieda added. up to Rs 1,000 per annum on
This method also eliminates the kerosene costs, half the cost of a
risk that some stem cells might solar-powered LED lighting system.
develop inappropriately to form Once charged, LED bulb works for up
tumours. However, additional work to 42 hours, compared with eight to
will be necessary to refine the 10 hours that conventional solar
method and bring it closer to a lanterns do.
practical therapeutic strategy. The LED lamps are about 90 per cent
Scientists at the Gladstone Institute study is published in the current issue
of Cardiovascular Disease (GICD) of Cell.
have discovered how the cells in
one's body can be used to regenerate
Solar-powered LED lanterns
heart muscles. GICD director Deepak to earn carbon credits
Srivastava and colleagues were able The United Nations' Clean Deve-
to directly reprogram heart cells lopment Mechanism (CDM) aimed at
called fibroblasts to become beating slowing the warming of the planethas
heart cells called cardiomyocytes. notified govern-ments and compan-
The study was successful in mice ies on how to calculate carbon-
hearts and so, could have therapeutic emission saved by installing solar
implications. Dr. Masaki Ieda said powered Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
that Scientists have tried for 20 years instead of ubiquitous, anci-ent
to convert nonmuscle cells into heart lanterns. This could give India an
muscle, but it turns out we just incentive to replace the lamps that
needed the right combination of are used in 30 per cent of
genes at the right dose. households, meaning a saving of 50
"Introducing the defined factors, million tonnes of carbon emissions

Current Affairs
more energy efficient than It is based on 3-D laser printing
traditional incandescent lamps and technology used to create new
about 20 per cent more than machine parts for industry. But,
Compact Fluorescent Lamps. instead of combining layers of plastic
The UN estimates its new and metal, the “bio-printer” puts
initiative can change the lives of a living tissue together.
quarter of humanity, which still gets Two laser-based printing heads
light by directly burning fuels, are used to place living cells onto thin
emitting nearly 200 million tonnes of sheets of gel with microscopic
carbon dioxide each year, the Singhpur, Bakunthpur, Naramau and precision. Multiple layers are then
equivalent of 60 million cars. Kachchar. The villages are electrified, laid on top of each other in a specially
but the present power supply is designed mould, or 'scaffold' and the
India's first integrated Waste highly erratic. cells begin to fuse together.
Management Plant The Rs 18-crore project has been
taken up as a part of the ongoing
Thirty Meter Telescope
golden jubilee celebrations at the Project
institute. On June 25, 2010, India joined as an
Currently, the solar power observer in the ambitious astrono-
produced in India costs around Rs. 15 mical observatory, Thirty Metre
per KW hour, whereas conventional Telescope (TMT), in Hawaii, which
energy costs as little as Rs 3.5 per KW will help in unravelling mysteries of
hour. The institute will bring in team black hole, origin of galaxies and
Infra firm a2z Infrastructure will set from the biotechnology and formation of planets among others.
up India's first integrated municipal electrical departments to work on
solid waste management plant in reducing the production cost of solar
Kanpur. The project, touted to be power to make it more economical
Asia's largest, would comprise and commercially viable.
management of the city's solid waste The project will be modelled on
in an environment friendly manner the German mode of solar power
and subsequent power generation generation after conducting the
for captive and merchant use. requisite studies on production and The status of an observer is first
Majority of the fuel used in the transmission. step by India in becoming a full
plant will be RDF (Refuse Derived partner in TMT, which will be fully
Fuel) derived from solid waste, which “Printer” to create human operational in 2018 and will be
is considered a better replacement organs world's most advanced astronomical
for coal with lesser emissions. The It may sound a bit too much, but observatory. The telescope will have
power plant will have the capacity to doctors could one day be able to a 30-metre segmented mirror which
produce 15 MW power. “print” new organs for transplant, say uses diffraction of light and focuses in
scientists who claim to have designed much sharper way than smaller
IIT-Kanpur to set up a “bio-printer” to create made-to- telescopes. Such a large size of
experimental power plant measure human organs. A prototype aperture will help it collecting more
The Indian Institute of Technology, machine developed by the California- light, thus generating much clearer
Kanpur (IIT-K) has planned to set up a based regenerative medicine and sharper images of fainter
550 kilowatt (KW) Solar Energy company Organovo is already objects, which may not be possible by
Research Experimental Station capable of growing new arteries. present day scopes. The images
(SERES) in its campus. The station generated by the telescope will be 12
would serve the purpose of solar times sharper than the Hubble Space
energy development research, apart Telescope. A look at these images will
from being a pilot project for help the scientists to understand
improving the commercial viability of several key aspects of universe,
solar energy generation. including the black hole formation,
It would provide uninterrupted formation of galaxies, starting of the
free power supply to six neigh- Universe and formation of first heavy
bouring villages, Nankari, Bara Sirohi, elements in it.

Current Affairs
database exists for the agricultural

Priyanka Chopra National Business Register sector, while much is lacking for the
The sixth economic census, set to non-agricultural ones, particularly
As Brand Ambassador take off in 2011, will provide India services. The move to create a
for UNICEF with a National Business Register directory will particularly benefit the
(NBR) for the first time, containing latter. The services sector, contrib-
The United Nations Children's
the details of every business uting 62.5 per cent to the country's
Fund (UNICEF) has chosen Bolly-
establishment in the country. gross domestic product, does not
wood beauty Priyanka Chopra as
The creation and maintenance of have a comprehensive data bank. The
one of their brand ambassadors.
a business register and directory are national accounts significantly
So, the actress will be now seen
expected to be an economic data under-states the sector, even as it is
supporting UNICEF in the promo-
framework for various needed the major contributor.
tion of child and adolescent rights.
statistical surveys, including the The business register is to keep an
The ambassadors of UNICEF are
Annual Survey of Industries and account of all business establ-
bestowed with the responsibility of
others of the National Sample Survey ishments with a workforce of 10 or
improving the lives of children.
Organisation. more people addresses, sectors,
Currently, a fairly reasonable turnovers, number employed etc.

Amitabh Bachchan named women to bag a gold in any Sawant, whose score equalled the
international sporting contest. world record in her event, was,
brand ambassador of Olympic champion Abhinav however, given a tough fight by
Champions League T20 Bindra and trap shooter Manavjit Poland's Ewa Nowakowska, with
Singh are the only other shooters to both of them finally tying at 597/600,
have bagged golds in the same but Sawant was declared winner on
competition at Zagreb, Croatia in the basis of more 'inner 10s' (hitting
2006. the bulls eye more frequently).
Australia beat England to retain title

Australia beat England 4-0 to win the Champions Trophy field hockey
tournament for the third straight year. Australia have lost only once to
England in a competitive match in 35 years and the Kookaburras were heavy
favorites in game at Warsteiner HockeyPark. Australia also won a hat trick of
Bollywood megastar Amitabh trophy titles from 1983-85. Eight-time champion Netherlands beat Olympic
Bachchan was on Aug 6, 2010 named champion Germany 4-1 in the third-place playoff. Olympic silver medalist
brand ambassador of the upcoming Spain beat New Zealand 3-2 in the fifth-place playoff.
Airtel Champions League Twenty20
by the tournament's official broad-
caster and commercial partner ESPN
Star Sports.
Shooter Tejaswini is now
world Champion
Rifle shooter Tejaswini Sawant won
the gold in the 50 metre rifle prone
event at the World Championships
currently being held at Munich on
August 09, 2010. The 30-year-old
from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, thus
became the first Indian woman to
win a gold in a shooting event, and
indeed one of the very few Indian

Sports
India first toured Sri Lanka in Stokes defeated former India captain
Wozniacki wins
1986, and it wasn't until 1993, under Pargat Singh by a 41-21 margin while
Danish Open the captaincy of Mohammad Batra beat Gunjam Haider of Hockey
Caroline Wozniacki has defeated Azharuddin that they actually Arunachal. According to sources, 62
Klara Zakopalova of the Czech managed to win a series here. That of the 66 voters were present.
Republic 6-2, 7-6 (5) to win the victory remains India's only series The elections were held in the
Danish Open. win on Sri Lankan soil. The last time shadow of a show cause notice by the
India toured the Emerald Isle, in Union Sports Ministry threatening
2008, Ajantha Mendis had wreaked de-recognition of HI on the issue of
havoc to hand his side a 2-1 win in the age and tenure of its office-bearers.
three-match series. Keeping that loss Stokes's nomination had been
in mind, India's show this time objected to by the government.
around, in the absence of Zaheer The elected members: Vidya
Khan and S Sreesanth and after being Stokes (President), Narinder Batra
0-1 down, speaks volumes of their (Secretary-General), Mohd.
fighting spirit. Mushtaque Ahmad (Treasurer), T.P.
India-Sri Lanka Test Series The task wasn't easy for Laxman, Sinha (Sr. Vice-President), I.D.
though, as the wicket was turning Nanavati, Pratap Satpathy, Maria-
VVS Laxman scored his 16th Test square and the target of 257 was mma Koshy and Rekha Bhide (Vice-
hundred and battled the pressure of tougher than it looked on paper. India Presidents), Shobha Singh, Sudar-
a fourth-innings chase as well as a lost all their second innings wickets to shan Pathak, Ramesh Nambiar and
back injury to guide India to a five- two-Test rookie Suraj Randiv. Laxman Tapan Das (Joint Secretaries), Anand-
wicket, series-levelling win over Sri rolled back the years and never got eshwar Pandey, Firoz Ansari,
Lanka at the P Sara Oval on Aug 7, bogged down. He used his wrists, as Mohinder Kaur, Pushpa Srivastava
2010. supple as ever, to flick, glance and and V.A. Shiyad (Executive board
The stylish right-hander scored a drive at will. members) .
graceful unbeaten 103 to seal a
memorable win India's fourth- Vidya Stokes elected Hockey Yonex-Sunrise India Open
highest successful chase in Tests. India President Grand Prix
Sachin Tendulkar made a vital 54 and Vidya Stokes and Narinder Batra Saina Nehwal of India beat Malaysia's
young Suresh Raina hit an aggressive w e re e l e c te d P re s i d e n t a n d Mew Choo Wong to win the title. This
41, besides finishing the match in Secretary-General of Hockey India was her second international title win
style with a huge six over long-on, to (HI) at its maiden elections. In the at home. She had won the Lucknow
help tie draw the three-match series poll, put off on four occasions earlier, Grand Prix in 2009.
1-1.

Sports
career by winning the Singapore French Open, 2010

Open with a straight-game triumph
Men's Singles title: Rafael Nadal won
over Chinese Taipie's Tzu Ying Tai.
the title by defeating Robin Soderling.
Asia Cup This was his fifth French Open win.
Women's Singles title: Francesca
Schiavone became the first Italian
woman to win a Grand Slam singles
title when she defeated Australian
Samantha Stosur to win the women's
Indonesia Open singles title.
Men's Doubles title: Canada's
Saina Nehwal notched up an
Daniel Nestor and Serbia's Nenad
incredible hat-trick of titles by
Zimonjic won by beating defending
successfully defending her Indo-
champions Leander Paes of India and
nesian Open Super Series title with s
Lukas Dlouhy of Czech Republic.
hard-fought win over Japan's Sayaka India defeated Sri Lanka by 81 runs to
Women's Doubles title: Serena
Sato. She had earlier won the Indian win the Asia Cup. India had set the
and Venus Williams of USA. Serena
Lankans a stiff target of 299 runs.
Williams won her second French
Dinesh Karthik was declared man of
Open Women's Doubles title, and the
the match.
twelfth title in that discipline, which
West Indies-South Africa this was the fourth win in a row in the
One Day Series women's doubles in the Slams. Venus
South Africa completed a 5-0 white- Williams won her second French
wash of the series with a thrilling one Open Women's Doubles title, and the
wicket win in the final match. Earlier, twelfth title in that discipline, which
the South Africans had also won the this was the fourth win in a row in the
Twenty20 two-match series. women's doubles in the Slams.
England-Australia One Day series Mixed Doubles: Katarina
England won the five-match series 3- Srebotnik and Nenad Zimonji? were
0. This followed 2009's Ashes the winners. Srebotnik won her third
Open Grand Prix and the Singapore
triumph and 2010's Twenty20 World French Open Mixed Doubles title,
Open Super Series.
Cup final win over their oldest rivals. and the fourth Slam title in that
Singapore Open I S S F S h o t g u n Wo r l d C u p discipline. Zimonji? won his second
Double-trap marksman Ronjan Sodhi French Open Mixed Doubles title,
Indian ace Saina Nehwal clinched the
clinched the gold in the tournament and the fourth Slam title in that
second Super Series title of her
held at Lonato, Italy. discipline.

Featured Article
Lal Bahadur Shastri National chosen by a 10-member jury Best Actress : Shared jointly by Vidya
comprising Punjab Governor Shivraj Balan for “Paa” and Kareena Kapoor
Award for Excellence Patil, former Chief Justices of India J S for “3 Idiots”.
Social activist and head of Mazdoor Verma and V N Khare, and Mr Anil Best Director : Rajkumar Hirani for “3
Kisan Shakti Sangathan Aruna Roy Shastri among others. Idiots
has been chosen for the Lal Bahadur Best Screenplay : 3 Idiots.
Shastri National Award for Excellence IIFA Awards, 2010 Best Cinematography : 3 Idoits
in public administration, academics Best Film : 3 Idiots. Best Supporting Actor (Male):
and management for 2010. Best Actor: Amitabh Bachchan, for Sharman Joshi for his role in “3
Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of his role as a progeria-afflicted child in Idiots”.
Management chairperson and “Paa”. Best Supporting Actor (Female):
former union minister Anil Shastri Divya Dutta for her performance in
announced her selection on Jul 29 “Delhi 6”.
and added that the award will be Best Actor in Negative Role : Boman
g i ve n b y P re s i d e nt P rat i b h a Irani for his role in “3 Idiots”.
Devisingh Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan Best performance in Comic Role:
on October 1. Sanjay Dutt for performance in “All
Ms Roy has been selected for her the Best”.
quality intervention in precipitating
positive social change and triggering
grassroot movement for a check
against arbitrary governance. The
award is being given to her in
recognition of her contribution to
rural development.
Ms Roy, a former civil servant, was

Awards
Best Music Director : Pritam for producer of Indian origin Simon

“Love Aaj Kal”. Lehna Singh has been selected by the
Best Singer (Male): Shaan, for “Behti International Mathematical Union
hawa sa tha woh” (3 Idiots). for the Leelavathi Award in recogni-
Best Singer (Female): Kavita Seth for tion of his outstanding contribution
“Iktara' in “ Wake Up, Sid!”. to public outreach in mathematics.
Best Lyrics: Swanand Kirkire for “3 Named after the immortal
Idiots”. mathematical treatise of the great
Best Debut (Female): Jacqueline Indian mathematician Bhaskara-
Fernandez and Mahie Gill share the charya, the award carries a cash prize
award for their role in “Aladin” and of Rs.10 lakh and a citation.
“Dev D”, respectively. It was presented at the closing
ceremony of the International
Congress of Mathematicians (ICM),
which held in Hyderabad from August
19 to 27.
As of now, the award is a one-time
prize. Efforts are under way to make it
a regular feature at the future
sessions of the ICM. to 21 persons, including noted
Dr. Singh was selected by a industrialists and aviation
committee of five eminent mathe- enthusiasts such as J.R.D. Tata and
maticians, led by M.S. Narasimhan of Vijaipat Singhania. As per the IAF
the Indian Institute of Science, records, the former ruler of Jawhar, a
Bangalore. princely state in Bombay presidency,
Ya s h w a n t R a o P a t a n g s h a h
Ratan Tata - Honorary Vikramshah Mukane, was the first
Doctor of Law person to be granted the honorary
Best Debut (Male): Omi Vaidya for his Ratan Tata, Chairman of the Tata rank of Flight Lieutenant on
role of Chatur in “3 Idiots” and ackky Group of Companies, has been made September 30, 1944.
Bhagnani for “Kal Kissne Dekha”. an Honorary Doctor of Law by the The list includes rulers of a
Lifetime Achievement Award: University of Cambridge in recog- number of erstwhile princely states.
Veteran filmmaker J. Om Prakash and nition of his business achievements J.R.D. Tata was first made an
yesteryear actress Zeenat Aman. and philanthropic work. honorary Group Captain in 1948. He
Outstanding achievement by an Sachin Tendulkar - Honorary rank of was later promoted as Air
Indian in International Cinema: Anil Group Captain of the Indian Air Force Commodore in October 1966 and
Kapoor. Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar will be finally made the honorary Air Vice
The awards ceremony was conferred with the honorary rank of Marshal in 1974. Singhania was the
Group Captain of the Indian Air Force, last to be granted the honorary rank
held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. in pursuance of a provision in the in October 1990 after having flown
Leelavathi Award for Simon Lehna
armed forces to grant such ranks to solo in a micro-light aircraft from
Singh Well-known physicist-turned
eminent personalities. Till date the London to Ahmedabad for 22 days in
author, journalist and television
Air Force has granted honorary ranks 1988.

Awards
57th Idea Filmfare Awards

(South) 2010
The 57th Filmfare awards South
given to Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam
and Kannada films for the year 2009
has been announced. The awards will
be distributed in a function held on
8th Aug at Chennai in an event which
is considered as the celebration of
south Indian cinema.
Malayalam film Pazhassiraja has
won seven awards, Telugu film Malayalam Films
Magadheera six, and Tamil film Best film: Pazhassiraja, Produced by
Kancheevaram won three awarrds. Gokulam Gopalan
Kannada actor Ambareesh and Best director: Hariharan
Malayalam actress KPAC Lalitha won Best actor: Mammootty
the life time achievement awards. Best actress : Swetha menon
The full list of winners is as follows - Best singer (Female): Chinmayi Best actor in a supporting role:
Best lyricist: Namuthukumar Manoj K Jayan
Tamil Films Best new comer: Abinaya Best actor in a supporting role:
Best film: Nadodigal, Produced by Best choreographer: Dinesh Padmapriya
Micheal Royappan Best cinematographer: Thiru Best music director : Vidyasagar
Best lyricist : ONV Kurup
Telugu Films Best singer (Male): KJ Yesudas
Best film: Magadheera by Allu Arvind Best singer (Female): Chithra
Best director: S S Rajamouli Best jury award : Mohanlal
Best actor : Ram Charan Tej
Best actress: Anushka Shetty
Best actor in a supporting role : Sonu
Sood
Best actor in a supporting role:
Ramya Krishna
Best music director: M M Keeravani
Best director: Priyadarshan Best lyricist: Sirivenela Seetha Rama
Best actor: Prakashraj Sastry
Best actress: Pooja Best playback singer: Anuj Guruwara
Best actor in a supporting role: Best playback singer: Priya Himesh
Jayaprakash Best debut actor: Naga Chaitanya
Best actor in a supporting role: Best choreographer: Prem Rakshit
Shammu Best cinematographer: Senthil
Best music director: Harris Jayaraj Kumar
Best singer (Male): Karthik Best jury award: Yuvan Shankar Raja

Special
Civil Services Main Examination 2010

Special Study Package for
Science & Technology
Indian Space Research the Government of India, and one of consideration its budget, it is
the leading space research organi- probably one of the most efficient
Organisation zations in the world. It was space organizations on the globe.
The Indian Space Research Organi- established in its modern form in Under the guidance of a number
sation (ISRO) is the primary body for 1969 as a result of coordinated of scientists, ISRO has conducted a
space research under the control of efforts initiated earlier. Taking into variety of operations for both Indian
and foreign clients. ISRO's satellite
launch capability is provided by
indigenous launch vehicles and
l a u n c h s i te s . I n 2 0 0 8 , I S RO
successfully launched its first lunar
probe, Chandrayaan-1, while future
plans include manned space
missions, further lunar exploration,
and interplanetary probes. ISRO has
several field installations as assets,
and cooperates with the inter-
national community as a part of
several bilateral and multilateral
agreements.
Formative years
Modern space research in India is
most visibly traced to the activities of
scientist S.K. Mitra who conducted a
series of experiments leading to the
sounding of the ionosphere by
application of ground based radio
methods in 1920's Calcutta. Later,
Indian scientists like C.V. Raman and
Meghnad Saha contributed to
scientific principles applicable in
space sciences. However, it was the
period after 1945 which saw
important developments being made
in coordinated space research in
India.
Organized space research in India
was spearheaded by two scientists:
Vikram Sarabhaifounder of the
Physical Research Laboratory at
Ahmedabadand Homi Bhabha, who
Special
had played a role in the establi- 1966 came as a blow to the Indian advanced Augmented Satellite
shment of the Tata Institute of space program. Following Bhabha's Launch Vehicle (ASLV), complete with
Fundamental Research in 1945. passing, Sarabhai was sent to assume operational supporting infrast-
Initial experiments in space sciences Bhabha's place as the chairman of ructure. ISRO further applied its
included the study of cosmic the Atomic Energy Commission and energies to the advancement of
radiation, high altitude and airborne secretary of the Department of launch vehicle technology resulting
testing of instruments, deep Atomic Energy. The 1960s also saw in the creation of Polar Satellite
underground experimentation at the the founding of the Space Science L a u n c h Ve h i c l e ( P S LV ) a n d
Kolar minesone of the deepest and Technology Centre (SSTC), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch
mining sites in the world and studies Experimental Satellite Communi- Vehicle (GSLV) technologies.
of the upper atmosphere. Studies cation Earth Station (ESCES, 1967),
were carried out at research the Sriharikota base, and the Indian Satellite Launch Vehicle
laboratories, universities, and inde- Satellite System Project (ISSP). The (SLV)
pendent locations. Indian Space Research Organization The Satellite Launch Vehicle, usually
Government support became in its modern form was created by known by its abbreviation SLV or SLV-
visible by 1950 when the Department Vikram Sarabhai in 1969. This body 3 was a 4-stage solid-fuel light
of Atomic Energy (India) was founded was to take control of all space launcher. It was intended to reach a
with Homi Bhabha as secretary. The activities in the Republic of India. height of 500 km and carry a payload
Department of Atomic Energy Goals and objectives of 40 kg. Its first launch took place in
provided funding for space research 1979 with 2 more in each subsequent
throughout India. Tests on the Earth's
Launch vehicle fleet year, and the final launch in 1983.
magnetic fieldstudied in India since Geopolitical and economic conside- Only two of its four test flights were
the establishment of the observatory rations during the 1960s and 1970s successful.
at Colaba in 1823and aspects of compelled India to initiate its own
meteorology continued to yield launch vehicle program. During the Augmented Satellite Launch
valuable information and in 1954, first phase (1960s-1970s) the country Vehicle (ASLV)
Uttar Pradesh state observatory was successfully developed a sounding The Augmented Satellite Launch
established at the foothills of the rockets program, and by the 1980s, Vehicle, usually known by its
Himalayas. research had yielded the Satellite abbreviation ASLV was a 5-stage solid
The Rangpur Observatory was set Launch Vehicle-3 and the more propellant rocket with the capability
up in 1957 at Osmania University, of placing a 150 kg satellite into LEO.
Hyderabad. Both these facilities This project was started by the ISRO
enjoyed the technical support and during the early 1980s to develop
scientific cooperation of the United technologies needed for a payload to
States of America. Space research be placed into a geostationary orbit.
was further encouraged by the Its design was based on Satellite
technically inclined prime minister of Launch Vehicle. The first launch test
IndiaJawaharlal Nehru In 1957, the was held in 1987, and after that 3
Soviet Union successfully launched others followed in 1988, 1992 and
the Sputnik and opened up 1994, out of which only 2 were
possibilities for the rest of the world successful, before it was decomm-
to conduct a space launch. The Indian issioned.
National Committee for Space Polar Satellite Launch
Research (INCOSPAR) was found in
1962 with Vikram Sarabhai as its Vehicle (PSLV)
chairman. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle,
Beginning in the 1960s, close ties usually known by its abbreviation
with the Soviet Union enabled ISRO PSLV, is an expendable launch system
rapidly to develop the Indian space developed to allow India to launch its
program and advance nuclear power Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites
in India even after the first nuclear into sun synchronous orbits, a service
test explosion by India on 18 May that was, until the advent of the PSLV,
1974 at Pokhran. The death of Homi commercially viable only from
Bhabha in an air crash on 24 January Russia. PSLV can also launch small

Special
vehicle currently under development
by the Indian Space Research
Organization. It is intended to launch
heavy satellites into geostationary
orbit, and will allow India to become
less dependent on foreign rockets for
heavy lifting. The rocket is the
technological successor to the GSLV,
however is not derived from its
predecessor. The maiden flight is
scheduled to take place in 2011.
Earth observation and
communication satellites
India's first satellite, the Aryabhata,
was launched by the Soviets in 1975.
This was followed by the Rohini series
of experimental satellites which were
built and launched indigenously. At
present, ISRO operates a large
number of earth observation
satellites.
The INSAT series

INSAT (Indian National Satellite
System) is a series of multipurpose
geostationary satellites launched by
ISRO to satisfy the telecommu-
nications, broadcasting, meteorology
and search-and-rescue needs of
India. Commissioned in 1983, INSAT
is the largest domestic communi-
cation system in the Asia-Pacific
Region. It is a joint venture of the
Department of Space, Department of
Telecommunications, India Meteoro-
logical Department, All India Radio
and Doordarshan. The overall
coordination and management of
satellites into geostationary transfer abbreviation GSLV, is an expendable INSAT system rests with the
orbit (GTO). The reliability and launch system developed to enable Secretary-level INSAT Coordination
versatility of the PSLV is proven by the India to launch its INSAT-type Committee.
fact that it has launched 30 satellites into geostationary orbit and
spacecraft (14 Indian and 16 from to make India less dependent on
other countries) into a variety of foreign rockets. At present, it is ISRO's
orbits so far. In April 2008, it heaviest satellite launch vehicle and
successfully launched 10 satellites at is capable of putting a total payload
once, breaking a world record held by of up to 5 tons to Low Earth Orbit.
Russia. Geosynchronous Satellite
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-III
Launch Vehicle (GSLV) (GSLV III)
The Geosynchronous Satellite The Geosynchronous Satellite
Launch Vehicle, usually known by its Launch Vehicle Mark-III is a launch

Special
spacecraft which successfully sensing equipment for visible, near
The IRS series entered the lunar orbit on 8 infrared, and soft and hard X-ray
Indian Remote Sensing satellites (IRS) November 2008. ISRO plans to follow frequencies.
are a series of earth observation up Chandrayaan-1 with Chan- Over its two-year operational
satellites, built, launched and drayaan-2 and unmanned missions period, it is intended to survey the
maintained by ISRO. The IRS series to Mars and Near-Earth objects such lunar surface to produce a complete
provides remote sensing services to as asteroids and comets. map of its chemical characteristics
the country. The Indian Remote and 3-dimensional topography. The
Sensing Satellite system is the largest Lunar exploration polar regions are of special interest,
constellation of remote sensing Chandrayaan-1 is India's first mission as they might contain ice. The lunar
satellites for civilian use in operation to the moon. The unmanned lunar mission carries five ISRO payloads
today in the world. All the satellites exploration mission includes a lunar and six payloads from other
are placed in polar sun-synchronous orbiter and an impactor called the international space agencies
orbit and provide data in a variety of Moon Impact Probe. India launched including NASA, ESA, and the
spatial, spectral and temporal the spacecraft using a modified Bulgarian Aerospace Agency, which
resolutions to enable several version of the PSLV is C11 on 22 were carried free of cost. The
programs to be undertaken relevant October 2008 from Satish Dhawan Chandrayaan-1 along with NASA's
to national development. Space Centre, Sriharikota. The LRO played a major role in
vehicle was successfully inserted into discovering the existence of water on
Oceansat series lunar orbit on 8 November 2008. It the moon.
Oceansat are a series of satellites to carries high-resolution remote
primarily study ocean, part of IRS
Series. IRS P4 is also known as
Oceansat-1, was launched on 27 May
1999. On 23 September 2009
Oceansat-2 was launched.
Other satellites
ISRO has also launched a set of
experimental geostationary satellites
known as the GSAT series. Kalpana-1,
ISRO's first dedicated meteorological
satellite, was launched by the Polar
Satellite Launch Vehicle on 12
September 2002. The satellite was
originally known as MetSat-1. In
February 2003 it was renamed to
Kalpana-1 by the then Indian Prime
Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in
memory of Kalpana Chawla a NASA
astronaut of Indian origin who
perished in Space Shuttle Columbia.
Extraterrestrial exploration
India's first mission beyond Earth's
orbit was Chandrayaan-1, a lunar

Special
train the selected astronauts in
Planetary exploration rescue and recovery operations and
The Indian Space Research Organis- survival in zero gravity, and will
ation had begun preparations for a undertake studies of the radiation
mission to Mars and had received environment of space.
seed money of Rs10 crore from the ISRO will build centrifuges to
government. The space agency was prepare astronauts for the
looking at launch opportunities acceleration phase of the mission. It
between 2013 and 2015. The space also plans to build a new Launch pad
agency would use its Geosyn- to meet the target of launching a
chronous Satellite Launch Vehicle manned space mission by 2015. This
(GSLV) to put the satellite in orbit and would be the third launchpad at the
was considering using ion-thrusters, Satish Dhawan Space Centre,
liquid engines or nuclear power to Sriharikota.
propel it further towards Mars. The
Mars mission studies had already Development of crew vehicle
been completed and that space The Indian Space Research Organi-
scientists were trying to collect sation (ISRO) is working towards a
scientific proposals and scientific maiden manned Indian space
objectives. mission vehicle that can carry three
astronauts for seven days in a near
Human spaceflight program protection, navigation, guidance, earth orbit. The Indian manned
The Indian Space Research Organi- control, deceleration and flotation spacecraft temporarily named as
zation has been sanctioned a budget systems, as well as study hypersonic Orbital Vehicle intend to be the basis
of Rs. 12,400 crore for its human aero-thermodynamics, management of indigenous Indian human
spaceflight program. According to of communication blackouts, and spaceflight program.
the Space Commission which passed recovery operations. The capsule will be designed to carry
the budget, an unmanned flight will ISRO also plans to launch SRE-2 three people, and a planned
be launched in 2013and manned and SRE-3 in the near future to test upgraded version will be equipped
mission likely to launch by 2014- advanced re-entry technology for with a rendezvous and docking
2015. If realized in the stated time- future manned missions. capability. In its maiden manned
frame, India will become only the mission, ISRO's largely autonomous
fourth nation, after the USSR, USA Astronaut training and other 3-ton capsule will orbit the Earth at
and China, to successfully carry out facilities 248 miles (400 km) in altitude for up
manned missions indigenously. ISRO will set up an astronaut training to seven days with a two-person crew
centre in Bangalore by 2012 to on board. The crew vehicle would
Technology demonstration prepare personnel for flights launch atop of ISRO's GSLV Mk II,
The Space Capsule Recovery onboard the crewed vehicle. The currently under development.
Experiment (SCRE or more commonly centre will use water simulation to The GSLV Mk II features an
SRE or SRE-1) is an experimental
Indian spacecraft which was
launched using the PSLV C7 rocket,
along with three other satellites. It
remained in orbit for 12 days before
re-entering the Earth's atmosphere
and splashing down into the Bay of
Bengal.
The SRE-1 was designed to
demonstrate the capability to
recover an orbiting space capsule,
and the technology for performing
experiments in the microgravity
conditions of an orbiting platform. It
was also intended to test thermal
Special
indigenously developed cryogenic
upper-stage engine. The first test of
the cryogenic engine, held on 15 April
2010, failed as the cryogenic phase
did not perform as expected and
rocket deviated from the planned
trajectory. A future launch has been
scheduled for 2011. If successful then
ISRO will become the sixth entity,
after United States, Russia, China,
Japan and Europe, to develop this
technology.
Planetary Sciences and
Astronomy
Indian space era dawned when the
first two-stage sounding rocket was
launched from Thumba in 1963.
However even before this epoch
making event, noteworthy contr-
ibutions were made by the Indian
scientists in the following areas of
space science research:
• Cosmic rays and high energy There is a national balloon vations was undertaken. The first
astronomy using both ground launching facility at Hyderabad balloon flight with the new
based as well as balloon borne jointly supported by TIFR and ISRO. instrument was made on 28, April
experiments/studies such as This facility has been extensively 1968 in which observations of
neutron/meson monitors, Geiger used for carrying out research in high Scorpius X-1 were successfully
Muller particle detectors/ coun- energy (i.e., x- and gamma ray) carried out. In a succession of balloon
ters etc. astronomy, IR astronomy, middle flights made with this instrument
• Ionospheric research using grou- atmospheric trace constituents between 1968 and 1974 a number of
nd based radio propagation including CFCs & aerosols, ionisation, binary X-ray sources including
techniques such as ionosonde, electric conductivity and electric Scorpious X-1, Cyg X-1, Her X-1 etc.
VLF/HF/VHF radio probing, a fields. and the diffuse cosmic X-ray
chain of magnetometer stations The flux of secondary particles background were studied. Many new
etc. and X-ray and gamma-rays of and astrophysically important results
• Upper atmospheric research atmospheric origin produced by the were obtained from these obser-
using ground based optical interaction of the cosmic rays is very vations.
techniques such as Dobson low. This low background, in the One of most important achieve-
spectrometers for measurement presence of which one has to detect ments of ISRO in this field was the
of total ozone content, air glow the feeble signal from cosmic sources discovery of three species of bacteria
photometers etc. is a major advantage in conducting in the upper stratosphere at an
• Indian astronomers have been hard X-ray observations from India. altitude of between 2040 km. The
carrying out major investigations The second advantage is that many bacteria, highly resistant to ultra-
using a number of ground based bright sources like Cyg X-1, Crab violet radiation, are not found
optical and radio telescopes with Nebula, Scorpius X-1 and Galactic elsewhere on Earth, leading to
varying sophistication. Centre sources are observable from speculation on whether they are
With the advent of the Indian Hyderabad due to their favourable extraterrestrial in origin. These three
space program, emphasis was laid on declination. bacteria can be considered to be
indigenous, self-reliant and state-of- With these considerations, an X- extremophiles. Until then, the upper
the-art development of technology Ray astronomy group was formed at stratosphere was believed to be
for immediate practical applications TIFR in 1967 and development of an inhospitable because of the high
in the fields of space science research instrument with an orientable X-Ray doses of Ultra-violet radiation. The
activities in the country. telescope for hard X-Ray obser- bacteria were named as Bacillus

Special
isronensis in recognition of ISRO's services, and schemes such as the
contribution in the balloon experim- National Informatics Centre (NICNET)
ents, which led to its discovery, are direct beneficiaries of applied
Bacillus aryabhata after India's satellite technology. Dinshaw
celebrated ancient astronomer Mistryon the subject of practical
Aryabhata and Janibacter Hoylei applications of the Indian space
after the disting-uished Astroph- programwrites :
ysicist Fred Hoyle. The INSAT-2 satellites also provide
telephone links to remote areas; data
Vision for the future transmission for organizations such
ISRO plans to launch a number of as the National Stock Exchange;
new-generation Earth Observation mobile satellite service communi-
Satellites in the near future. It will ISRO is designing a solar probe cations for private operators,
also undertake the development of named Aditya. This is a mini-satellite railways, and road transport; and
new launch vehicles and spacecraft. designed to study the coupling broadcast satellite services, used by
ISRO has stated that it will send between the sun and the earth. It is India's state-owned television agency
unmanned missions to Mars and planned to be launched in 2012. as well as commercial television
Near-Earth Objects. channels. India's Edusat (Educational
IRNSS Satellite), launched aboard the GSLV
Indian lunar exploration The Indian Regional Navigational in 2004, was intended for adult
programme Satellite System (IRNSS) is an literacy and distance learning
Following the success of Chandra- autonomous regional satellite applications in rural areas. It
yaan-1, the country's first moon navigation system being developed augmented and would eventually
mission, ISRO is planning a series of by Indian Space Research Orga- replace such capabilities already
further lunar missions in the next nisation which would be under total provided by INSAT-3B.
decade, including a manned mission control of Indian government. The The IRS satellites have found
which is stated to take place in 2020 requirement of such a navigation applications with the Indian Natural
approximately the same time as the system is driven by the fact that Resource Management program,
China National Space Administration access to Global Navigation Satellite with regional Remote Sensing Service
(CNSA) manned lunar mission and Systems like GPS are not guaranteed Centers in five Indian cities, and with
NASA's Project Constellation plans to in hostile situations. ISRO plans to Remote Sensing Application Centers
return to the moon with its Orion- launch the constellation of satellites in twenty Indian states that use IRS
Altair project. between 2010 and 2012. images for economic development
Chandrayaan-2 is the second applications. These include
unmanned lunar exploration mission Development of new launch environmental monitoring, analyzing
proposed by ISRO at a projected cost vehicles soil erosion and the impact of soil
of Rs. 425 crore (US$ 90 million). The ISRO is currently developing two conservation measures, forestry
mission includes a lunar orbiter as new-generation launch vehicles, the management, determining land
well as a lander/rover. The wheeled GSLV-Mk III and the AVATAR RLV. cover for wildlife sanctuaries,
rover will move on the lunar surface These launch vehicles will increase delineating groundwater potential
and pick up soil or rock samples for ISRO's present launch capability and zones, flood inundation mapping,
on-site chemical analysis. The data provide India with a greater share of drought monitoring, estimating crop
will be sent to Earth via the orbiter the global satellite launch market. acreage and deriving agricultural
production estimates, fisheries
Space exploration Applications monitoring, mining and geological
ISRO plans to carry out an unmanned India uses its satellites communi- applications such as surveying metal
mission to Mars in this decade. cation network one of the largest in and mineral deposits, and urban
According to ISRO, the Mars mission the world for applications such as planning.
remains at a conceptual stage but is land management, water resources India's satellites and satellite
expected to be finalised shortly. The management, natural disaster launch vehicles have had military
current version of India's geo- forecasting, radio networking, spin-offs. While India's 93124 mile
synchronous satellite launch vehicle weather forecasting, meteorological (150250 km) range Prithvi missile is
will be used to loft the new craft into imaging and computer communi- not derived from the Indian space
space. cation. Business, administrative program, the intermediate range

Special
Agni missile is drawn from the Indian economic applications, but they also Te l ev i s i o n E x p e r i m e nt ( S I T E )
space program's SLV-3. In its early offered military spin-offs. In 1996 conducted large scale video broad-
years, when headed by Vikram New Delhi's Ministry of Defence casts resulting in significant
Sarabhai and Satish Dhawan, ISRO temporarily blocked the use of IRS-1C improvement in rural education.
opposed military applications for its by India's environmental and ISRO has applied its technology to
dual-use projects such as the SLV-3. agricultural ministries in order to "telemedicine", directly connecting
Eventually, however, the Defence monitor ballistic missiles near India's patients in rural areas to medical
Research and Development borders. In 1997 the Indian air force's professionals in urban locations via
(DRDO)based missile program “Airpower Doctrine” aspired to use satellites. Sin ce h igh -q u ality
borrowed human resources and space assets for surveillance and healthcare is not universally available
technology from ISRO. Missile battle management. in some of the remote areas of India,
scientist A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (elected Institutions like the Indira Gandhi the patients in remote areas are
president of India in 2002), who had National Open University (IGNOU) diagnosed and analyzed by doctors in
headed the SLV-3 project at ISRO, and the Indian Institute of Techn- urban centres in real time via video
moved to DRDO to direct India's ology use satellites for scholarly conferencing. The patient is then
missile program. About a dozen applications. Between 1975 and advised medicine and treatment. The
scientists accompanied Abdul Kalam 1976, India conducted its largest patient is then treated by the staff at
from ISRO to DRDO, where Abdul sociological program using space one of the 'super-specialty hospitals'
Kalam designed the Agni missile technology, reaching 2400 villages under instructions from the doctor.
using the SLV-3's solidfuel first stage through video programming in local Mobile telemedicine vans are also
and a liquid-fuel (Prithvi-missile- languages aimed at educational deployed to visit locations in far-flung
derived) second stage. The IRS and development via ATS-6 technology areas and provide diagnosis and
INSAT satellites were primarily developed by NASA. This experim- support to patients.
intended and used for civilian- entnamed Satellite Instructional ISRO has also helped implement

Special
India's Biodiversity Information transponders in various bands (C, S,
System, completed in October 2002. Extended C and Ku) to serve the INSAT-2E
Nirupa Sen details the program: television and communication needs It is the last of the five satellites in
"Based on intensive field sampling of India. Some of the satellites also INSAT-2 series. It carries seventeen C-
and mapping using satellite remote have the Very High Resolution band and lower extended C-band
sensing and geospatial modelling Radiometer (VHRR), CCD cameras for
tools, maps have been made of metrological imaging. The satellites
vegetation cover on a 1 : 250,000 also incorporate transponder(s) for
scale. This has been put together in a receiving distress alert signals for
web-enabled database which links search and rescue missions in the
gene-level information of plant South Asian and Indian Ocean
species with spatial information in a Region, as ISRO is a member of the
BIOSPEC database of the ecological Cospas-Sarsat programme.
hot spot regions, namely north-
eastern India, Western Ghats, INSAT system
Western Himalayas and Andaman The Indian National Satellite (INSAT)
and Nicobar Islands. This has been system was commissioned with the
made possible with collaboration launch of INSAT-1B in August 1983
b et ween t h e D ep a rt m ent o f (INSAT-1A, the first satellite was
Biotechnology and ISRO." launched in April 1982 but could not transponders providing zonal and
The Indian IRS-P5 (CARTOSAT-1) fulfill the mission). INSAT system global coverage with an Effective
was equipped with high-resolution ushered in a revolution in India's Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) of 36
panchromatic equipment to enable it television and radio broadcasting, dBW. It also carries a Very High
for cartographic purposes. IRS-P5 telecommunications and Resolution Radiometer (VHRR) with
(CARTOSAT-1) was followed by a meteorological sectors. It enabled imaging capacity in the visible (0.55-
more advanced model named IRS-P6 the rapid expansion of TV and 0.75 µm), thermal infrared (10.5-12.5
developed also for agricultural modern telecommunication facilities µm) and water vapour (5.7-7.1 µm)
applications. The CARTOSAT-2 to even the remote areas and off- channels and provides 2x2 km, 8x8
project, equipped with single shore islands. km and 8x8 km ground resolution
p a n c h ro m a t i c c a m e ra w h i c h Today, INSAT has become the respectively. In addition to the above
supported scene-specific on-spot largest domestic communication two payloads it has with it a Charge
images, succeed the CARTOSAT-1 satellite system in the Asia-Pacific Coupled Device (CCD) camera
project. region with ten satellites in providing 1x1 km ground resolution
serviceINSAT-2E, INSAT-3A, INSAT- in the Visible (0.63-0.69 µm), Near
Indian National Satellite 3B, INSAT-3C, INSAT-3E, KALPANA-1, Infrared (0.77-0.86 µm) and
System GSAT-2, EDUSAT, INSAT-4A and Shortwave Infrared (1.55-1.70 µm)
INSAT or the Indian National Satellite INSAT-4B. Together, the system bands.
System is a series of multipurpose provides 199 transponders in C,
Geo-stationary satellites launched by Extended C and Ku bands for a variety INSAT-3A
ISRO to satisfy the telecommuni- of communication services. Some of The multipurpose satellite, INSAT-3A,
cations, broadcasting, meteorology, the INSATs also carry instruments for was launched by Ariane in April 2003.
and search and rescue needs of India. meteorological observation and data It is located at 93.5 degree East
Commissioned in 1983, INSAT is the relay for providing meteorological longitude. The payloads on INSAT-3A
largest domestic communication services. KALPANA-1 is an exclusive are as follows:
system in the Asia Pacific Region. It is meteorological satellite. The 12 Normal C-band transponders
a joint venture of the Department of satellites are monitored and (9 channels provide expanded
Space, Department of Telecomm- controlled by Master Control coverage from Middle East to South
unications, India Meteorological Facilities that exist in Hassan and East Asia with an EIRP of 38 dBW, 3
Department, All India Radio and Bhopal. channels provide India coverage with
Doordarshan. The overall coo- an EIRP of 36 dBW and 6 Extended C-
rdination and management of INSAT Satellites in service band transponders provide India
system rests with the Secretary-level There are currently 11 satellites in coverage with an EIRP of 36 dBW).
INSAT Coordination Committee. service out of 21 which have ever 6 Ku-band transponders provide
INSAT satellites provide 199 been part of INSAT system. India coverage with EIRP of 48 dBW.

Special
A Ve r y H i g h Re s o l u t i o n
Radiometer (VHRR) with imaging
capacity in the visible (0.55-0.75 µm),
thermal infrared (10.5-12.5 µm) and
Water Vapour (5.7-7.1 µm) channels,
provide 2x2 km, 8x8 km and 8x8 km
ground resolutions respectively.
A CCD camera provides 1x1 km
ground resolution, in the visible
(0.63-0.69 µm), near infrared (0.77-
0.86 µm) and shortwave infrared
(1.55-1.70 µm) bands.
A Data Relay Transponder (DRT)
having global receive coverage with a
400 MHz uplink and have coverage over the Indian region.
4500 MHz downlink for relay of INSAT-3B also incorporates a Mobile INSAT-3E
meteorological, hydrological and Satellite Services (MSS) payload with Launched in September 2003, INSAT-
oceanographic data from unatt- forward link between the hub and 3E is positioned at 55 degree East
ended land and ocean-based mobile station operating in CxS band longitude and carries 24 Normal C-
automatic data collection-cum- and return link between the mobile band transponders provide an edge
transmission platforms. station and the hub operating in SxC of coverage EIRP of 37 dBW over India
A Satellite Aided Search and band. and 12 Extended C-band
Rescue (SAS&R) SARP payload having transponders provide an edge of
global receive coverage with 406 INSAT-3C coverage EIRP of 38 dBW over India.
MHz uplink and 4500 MHz downlink Launched in January 2002, INSAT-3C
with India coverage, for relay of is positioned at 74 degree East
signals from distress beacons in sea, longitude. INSAT-3C payloads include
air or land. 24 Normal C-band transponders
providing an EIRP of 37 dBW, six
Extended C-band transponders with
EIRP of 37 dBW, two S-band
transponders to provide BSS services
with 42 dBW EIRP and an MSS
payload similar to that on INSAT-3B.
All the transponders provide
coverage over India.
KALPANA-1
KALPANA-1 is an exclusive meteoro-
logical satellite launched by PSLV in
September 2002. It carries VHRR and
DRT payloads to provide meteoro-
logical services. It is located at 74
degree East longitude.
GSAT-2
Launched by the second flight of
GSLV in May 2003, GSAT-2 is located
INSAT-3B at 48 degree East longitude and
Launched in March 2000, INSAT-3B is c a r r i e s fo u r N o r m a l C - b a n d
collocated with INSAT-2E at 83 transponders to provide 36 dBW EIRP
degree East longitude. It carries 12 with India coverage, two Ku-band
Extended C-band transponders and transponders with 42 dBW EIRP over
three Ku-band transponders that India and an MSS payload similar to

Special
those on INSAT-3B and INSAT-3C. employing 140 W TWTAs to provide

an EIRP of 52 dBW at the edge of Glitch in INSAT 4B
EDUSAT coverage polygon with footprint On July 7 2010, ISRO has reported a
Configured for audio-visual medium covering Indian main land and 12 C- glitch in the operation of INSAT 4B.
employing digital interactive band 36 MHz bandwidth Power was not flowing from one of
classroom lessons and multimedia transponders provide an EIRP of 39 the solar panels to the satellite bus
content, EDUSAT was launched by dBW at the edge of coverage with from July 7 night, which led to
GSLV in September 2004. Its ex p a n d e d ra d i at i o n p atte r n s switching off 50 per cent of the
transponders and their ground encompassing Indian geographical transponders on board the
coverage are specially configured to boundary, area beyond India in satellite.ISRO engineers said the
cater to the educational require- southeast and northwest regions. glitch could have developed because
ments. The satellite carries a Ku-band Tata Sky, a joint venture between the a relay that transferred power from
transponder covering the Indian TATA Group and STAR uses INSAT-4A the solar panel to the satellite bus
mainland region with 50 dBW EIRP, for distributing their Direct To Home could have “misbehaved” or the
five Ku-band spot beam transpo- Digital Television services across wires connecting the panel to the
nders for South, West, Central, North India. satellite could have snapped.
and North East regional coverage
with 55 dBW EIRP and six Extended C-
INSAT-4B INSAT-4C
band transponders with India INSAT-4C was to be India's most
coverage with 37 dBW EIRP. EDUSAT advanced communications satellite,
is positioned at 74 degree East and was the second satellite in the
longitude and is collocated with INSAT 4 series.
KALPANA-1 and INSAT-3 The heaviest satellite to be
launched from the Indian soil, INSAT-
4C weighed 2168 kg, and was
designed to last for 10 years. The
satellite would have given a boost to
Direct-to-Home television services,
video picture transmission and digital
It was launched in March 2007 by the satellite news gathering, and would
European Ariane launch vehicle. have also provided space for
Configured with payloads identical to connectivity.
INSAT-4 Series that of INSAT-4A, INSAT-4B carries 12
Ku-band and 12 C-band transponders
INSAT-4A to provide EIRP of 52 dBW and 39
Launched in December 2005 by the dBW respectively. Two Tx/Rx dual
European Ariane launch vehicle, grid offset fed shaped beam
INSAT-4A is positioned at 83 degree reflectors of 2.2 m diameter for Ku-
East longitude along with INSAT-2E band and 2 m diameter for C-band
and INSAT-3B. It carries 12 Ku-band are used. INSAT-4B augments the
36 MHz bandwidth transponders high power transponder capacity
over India in Ku-band and over a
wider region in C-band. It is co- India launched the INSAT 4C on 10
located with INSAT-3A at 93.5 degree July 2006 from Sriharikota at 5:38pm.
E longitude. H o w e v e r, t h e l a u n c h w a s
The national space agency Indian unsuccessful as the Geo-
Space Research Organisation (ISRO) synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
has allotted nearly seven Ku band (GSLV-F02) carrying the satellite
transponders to Sun Direct; a DTH veered from its projected path 60
service provider from South India, seconds after launch, and was self-
and the other five to Doordarshan's destructed over the Bay of Bengal.
DD Direct. 12 transponders in the C The failure is being attributed to
b a n d a re fo r T V, ra d i o a n d pressure of one of the strap-on
telecommunication purposes motors dropping to zero pressure in

Special
the first stage of operation, Thus to restore the satellite to its correct C A R TO S AT - 2 a n d t h e l a t e s t
causing it to deviate it from its path by orbit. However, the ISRO later refuted CARTOSAT-2A and IMS-1. All these
10 degrees. this claim dismissing it as false. are placed in polar sun-synchronous
This satellite is used by Airtel orbit and provide data in a variety of
INSAT-4CR Digital TV and Sun Direct TV to spatial, spectral and temporal
INSAT-4CR was launched on 2 broadcast their DTH services. resolutions.
September 2007 by GSLV-F04. It is a
replacement satellite of INSAT-4C
Indian Remote Sensing IRS data applications
which was lost when GSLV-F02 failed Satellite Data from Indian Remote Sensing
and had to be destroyed on its Indian Remote Sensing satellites (IRS) satellites are used for various
course. It carries 12 Ku-band 36 MHz are a series of Earth Observation applications of resources survey and
bandwidth transponders employing satellites, built, launched and management under the National
140 W TWTAs to provide an Effective maintained by Indian Space Research Natural Resources Management
Isotropic Radiated Power of 51.5 Organisation. The IRS series provides System (NNRMS). Following is the list
dBW at Edge of Coverage with many remote sensing services to of those applications:
footprint covering Indian mainland. It India. • P re h a r ve st c ro p a re a a n d
also incorporates a Ku-band Beacon production estimation of major
as an aid to tracking the satellite. IRS System crops.
Following the successful demon- • Drought monitoring and
stration flights of Bhaskara-1 and assessment based on vegetation
Bhaskara-2 satellites launched in condition.
1979 and 1981, respectively, India • Flood risk zone mapping and flood
began to develop the indigenous damage assessment.
Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite • Hydro-geomorphological maps
program to support the national for locating underground water
economy in the areas of agriculture, resources for drilling well.
water resources, forestry and • Irrigation command area status
ecology, geology, water sheds, monitoring
marine fisheries and coastal manage- • Snow-melt run-off estimates for
ment. planning water use in down
To w a r d s t h i s e n d , I n d i a stream projects
established the National Natural • Land use and land cover mapping
Resources Management System • Urban planning
(NNRMS) for which the Department • Forest survey
of Space (DOS) is the nodal agency, • Wetland mapping
providing operational remote • Environmental impact analysis
sensing data services. Data from the • Mineral Prospecting
IRS satellites is received and • Coastal studies
disseminated by several countries all Integrated Mission for Sustainable
over the world. With the advent of Development (initiated in 1992) for
high-resolution satellites new generating locale-specific pres-
applications in the areas of urban criptions for integrated land and
sprawl, infrastructure planning and water resources development in 174
On 8 September 2007 ISRO other large scale applications for districts.
reported the satellite had reached a mapping have been initiated.
near geosynchronous orbit, and The IRS system is the largest IRS launch log
would be stabilized in its intended constellation of remote sensing The initial versions are composed of
orbital position of 74 degrees E satellites for civilian use in operation the 1 (A,B,C,D). The later versions are
longitude by 15 September. The today in the world. With the launch of named based on their area of
satellite is designed for a mission life CARTOSAT-2A, the constellation now application including OceanSat,
in of ten years. There were reports has eight satellites in operation IRS- CartoSat, ResourceSat. Some of the
that the mission life of the satellite 1D, OCEANSAT-1, Te chnology satellites have alternate designations
had decreased by five years as the Experiment Satellite (TES), based on the launch number and
thrusters had to burn this much fuel RESOURCESAT-1, CARTOSAT-1, vehicle (P series for PSLV).

Special
S.No. Satellite Date of Launch Launch Vehicle Status

1. IRS 1A 17 Mar., 1988 Vostok, USSR Mission Completed
2. IRS 1B 29 Aug., 1991 Vostok, USSR Mission Completed
3. IRS P1 20 Sept., 1993 PSLV - D1 Crashed, due to launch failure
(Also IE) of PSLV
4. IRS P2 15 Oct., 1994 PSLV - D2 Mission Completed
5. IRS 1C 28 Dec., 1994 Molniya, Russia In Service
6. IRS P3 21 Mar., 1996 PSLV - D3 In Service
7. IRS 1D 29 Sept., 1997 PSLV - C1 In Service
8. IRS P4 (Oceansat-1) 27 May, 1999 PSLV - C2 In Service
9. Technology Experiment 22 Oct., 2001 PSLV - C3 In Service
10. Satellite (TES) 17 Oct., 2003 PSLV - C5 In Service
11. IRS P6 (Resourcesat 1) 05 May, 2005 PSLV - C6 In Service
12. IRS P5 (Cartosat 1) 10 Jan., 2007 PSLV - C7 In Service
13. IRS P7 (Cartosat 2) 28 Apr., 2008 PSLV - C9 In Service
14. IRS P? (Cartosat 2A) 28 Apr., 2008 PSLV - C9 In Service
15. Oceansat - 2 23 Sept., 2009 PSLV - C14 In Service
16. Cartosat - 2B 12 July, 2010 PSLV - C15 In Service
Sensor having similar swath and to the launched aboard PSLV in 2012-
Future IRS launches revisit capability as Advanced Wide 13.
Following are the remote sensing Field Sensor (AWiFS), thus overco-
satellites planned by ISRO to be ming any spatial resolution limitation Satellite data acquisition
launched next strengthening the of AWiFS. Satellite would also carry and processing
fleet of IRS satellites and widening Atmospheric Correction Sensor (ACS) The National Remote Sensing Centre
their applications: for quantitative interpretation and (NRSC) at Hyderabad is the nodal
RISAT (Radar Imaging Satellite): A geophysical parameter retrieval. It agency for reception, archival,
microwave remote sensing mission slated to be launched during 2011- processing and dissemination of
with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) 12. remote sensing data in the country.
operating in C-band and having a 6 x 2 CARTOSAT-3: A continuation of NRSC acquires and processes data
meter planar active array antenna Cartosat series , it will have a from all Indian remote sensing
based on trans-receiver module resolution 30 cm and 6 km swath s a t e l l i t e s l i k e C A R T O S AT - 1 ,
architecture. SAR is an all weather- suitable for cadastre and infrastr- CARTOSAT-2, RESOURCESAT-1, IRS-
imaging sensor capable of taking ucture mapping and analysis. It 1D, OCEANSAT-1 and TES as well as
images in cloudy and snow covered would also enhance disaster moni- foreign satellites like Terra, NOAA and
regions and also both during day and toring and damage assessment. It is ERS.
night. RISAT weighs 1,750 kg. slated to be launched during 2011-
RESOURCESAT-2 : It will have imaging 2012. Satellite Launch Vehicle
sensors similar to RESOURCESAT-1. OCEANSAT-3: Oceasat-3 would carry The Indian Satellite Launch Vehicle or
Payload electronics have been Thermal IR Sensor, 12 channel Ocean SLV was a project started in the early
miniaturised to reduce the overall Color Monitor, Scatterometer and 1970s by Indian Space Research
weight. Passive Microwave Radiometer. IR Organisation to develop the
RESOURCESAT-2 is planned for Sensor and Ocean Color Monitor technology needed to launch
launch by PSLV in 2010. would be used in the analysis for satellites. The project leader was Dr.
RESEOURCESAT-3: A follow on to operational Potential Fishing Zones. APJ Abdul Kalam. SLV was intended to
Resourcesat-2, it will carry more Satellite is mainly for Ocean biology reach a height of 400 km and carry a
advanced LISS-III-WS (Wide Swath) and sea state applications. It is slated

Special
Version Date of Launch Launch Location Launch

Pad
Payload Mission Status
3 E1 10 August, 1979 SDHC, Sriharikota 1 Rohini-1A Failure; Faulty valve and wrong
Experimental assessment causes vehicle to crash
Technology into the Bay of Bengal after take
Mission, 30 Kg. off), Developmental Flight.
3 E2 18 July, 1981 SDHC, Sriharikota 1 Rohini-1B, RS-1 Success, Developmental

Experimental Technology Flight
mission, 35 kg.
3 D3 31 May, 1981 SDHC, Sriharikota 1 Rohini-D-1, RS-1 Partial Success, did not reach inte-
Experimental Technology nded height. Satellite only orbits
mission, 38 kg. for 9 days, Developmental Flight.
3 D4 17 Apr., 1983 SDHC, Sriharikota 1 Rohini-D-2, RS-1 Success Developmental Flight.

Experimental Technology
mission, 41.5 kg.
payload of 40 kg. SLV was a four stage Russia. PSLV can also launch small cylindrical aluminum tanks strapped
rocket with all solid-propellant size satellites into geostationary to the solid rocket motor and
motors. The first launch of the SLV transfer orbit (GTO). The PSLV has pressurized with nitrogen. There are
took place in Sriharikota on 10 August launched 41 satellites (19 Indian and two additional small liquid engine
1979. The last launch of the SLV took 22 from other countries) into a control power plants in the first
place on 17 April 1983. SLV-3 formed variety of orbits till date. PSLV costs stage, the Roll Control Thrusters
the basis of the next-generation ASLV. 17 million USD flyaway cost for each (RCT), fixed radially opposite one on
launch. each side, between the triplet set of
Polar Satellite Launch strap-on boosters. RCT is used for roll
Vehicle Vehicle description control during the first stage and the
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, The PSLV has four stages using solid SITVC in two strap-on motors is for
commonly known by its abbreviation and liquid propulsion systems roll control augmentation.
PSLV, is an expendable launch system alternately. The first stage is one of The second stage employs the
developed and operated by the the largest solid-fuel rocket boosters Vikas engine and carries 41.5 tonnes
Indian Space Research Organisation in the world and carries 138 tonnes of (40 tonnes till C-5 mission) of liquid
(ISRO). It was developed to allow Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene propellant Unsymmetrical Di-Methyl
India to launch its Indian Remote (HTPB) bound propellant with a Hydrazine (UDMH) as fuel and
Sensing (IRS) satellites into sun diameter of 2.8 m. The motor case is Nitrogen tetroxide (N2O4) as
synchronous orbits, a service that made of maraging steel. The booster oxidizer. It generates a maximum
was, until the advent of the PSLV, develops a maximum thrust of about thrust of 800 kN (724 till C-5 mission).
commercially viable only from 4,430 kN. Six strap-on motors, four of Pitch & yaw control is obtained by
which are ignited on the ground, hydraulically gimbaled engine (±4°)
augment the first stage thrust. Each and two hot gas reaction control for
of these solid propellant strap-on roll.
motors carries nine tonnes of HTPB The third stage uses 7 tonnes of
propellant and produces 677 kN HTPB-based solid propellant and
thrust. produces a maximum thrust of 324
Pitch and yaw control of the PSLV kN. It has a Kevlar-polyamide fiber
during the thrust phase of the solid case and a submerged nozzle
motor is achieved by injection of an equipped with a flex-bearing-seal
aqueous solution of strontium gimbaled nozzle (±2°) thrust-vector
perchlorate in the nozzle to engine for pitch & yaw control. For
constitute Secondary Injection roll control it uses the RCS (Reaction
Thrust Vector Control System (SITVC). Control System) of fourth stage.
The injection is stored in two The fourth and the terminal stage of

Special
PSLV has a twin engine configuration by more powerful, stretched strap-on
variants of PSLV to cater to different
using liquid propellant. With a boosters. Weighing 320 tonnes at lift-
mission requirements. These
propellant loading of 2 tonnes off, the vehicle uses larger strap-on
c o n f i g u ra t i o n s p ro v i d e w i d e
(Mono-Methyl Hydrazine as fuel + motors (PSOM-XL) to achieve higher
variations in payload capabilities
Mixed Oxides of Nitrogen as payload capability. PSOM-XL uses
ranging from 600 kg in LEO to 1900 kg
oxidiser), each of these engines larger 13.5m, 12 tonnes of solid
in sun synchronous orbit.
generates a maximum thrust of 7.4 propellants instead of 9 tonnes used
kN. Engine is gimbaled (±3°) for pitch, PSLV (Operational) in the earlier configuration of PSLV.
yaw & roll control and for control On 29 December 2005, ISRO
The standard version of the PSLV has
during the coast phase uses on-off successfully tested the improved
four stages using solid and liquid
RCS. PSLV-C4 used a new lightweight version of strap-on booster for the
propulsion systems alternately and
carbon composite payload adapter to PSLV. The first version of PSLV-XL was
six strap-on boosters. It currently has
enable a greater GTO payload the launch of Chandrayaan-1 by
capability to launch 1,678 kg to 622
capability. PSLV-C11. The payload capability for
km into sun synchronous orbit.
this variant is 1800 kg compared to
Development 1600 kg for the other variants. Future
PSLV-CA (Operational)
PSLV is designed and developed at launches include the RISAT Radar
The PSLV-CA, CA meaning "Core Imaging Satellite.
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
Alone", model premiered on April 23,
(VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. PSLV-HP (Under
2007. The CA model does not include
The inertial systems are developed by
ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) at
the six strap-on boosters used by the development / Proposed)
PSLV standard variant. Two small roll As reported on the website of The
Thiruvananthapuram. The liquid
control modules and two first stage New Indian Express newspaper PSLV
propulsion stages for the second and
motor control injection tanks were project director N Narayanamoorthy
fourth stages of PSLV as well as the
still attached to the side of the first spoke of another version being
reaction control systems are
stage. The fourth stage of the CA planned called the PSLV-HP, standing
developed by the Liquid Propulsion
variant has 400 kg less propellant for 'high performance.' It will have
Systems Centre (LPSC), also at
when compared to its standard improved strap-ons motors, and the
Thiruvananthapuram. The solid
version. It currently has capability to payload capability will be raised to
propellant motors are processed by
launch 1,100 kg to 622 km sun 2000 kg. The HP version will be used
Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR,
synchronous orbit. to launch a constellation of seven
which also carries out launch
operations. navigation satellites between 2010
PSLV-XL (Operational) and 2012. Among other things, the
After some delays, the PSLV had
its first launch on 20 September PSLV-XL is the uprated version of efficiency of the stage 4 engine will be
1993. Although all main engines ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle improved in this version.
performed as expected, an altitude in its standard configuration boosted
PSLV-3S (Under
control problem was reported in the
second and third stages. After this development / Proposed)
initial setback, ISRO met complete ISRO is also considering the
success with the third developmental development of a three-stage version
launch in 1996. Further successful of the rocket without six strap-on
launches followed in 1997, 1999, and boosters (with the second stage of
2001. the four-stage version removed)
PSLV continues to be the work which will be capable of placing 500
horse of Indian satellite launches, kg to LEO.
especially for LEO satellites and the
Chandrayaan Projects. It has
Geosynchronous Satellite
undergone several improvements Launch Vehicle
with each subsequent version, The Geosynchronous Satellite
especially those involving thrust, Launch Vehicle (usually known by its
efficiency and weight. abbreviation, GSLV) is an expendable
launch system operated by the Indian
Variants Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
ISRO has envisaged a number of It was developed to enable India to

Special
launch its INSAT-type satellites into The first two flights of the GSLV were Cryogenic Upper Stage Main Engine
geostationary orbit and to make India developmental. The first flight was on and two Steering Engines as
less dependent on foreign rockets. 18 April 2001 which launched GSAT- confirmed to be normal and the
1. The second, which was fully failure is attributed to the anomalous
History successful, was on 8 May 2003 stopping of Fuel Booster Turbo Pump
The Geosynchronous Satellite launching the experimental (FBTP) which stopped after 0.9
Launch Vehicle (GSLV) project was communication satellite GSAT-2. The seconds of its start. The rocket
initiated in 1990 with the objective of first operational flight (GSLV-F01) was carried the GSAT-4 communication
acquiring launch capability for t h e l a u n c h o f t h e E D U S AT satellite.
Geosynchronous satellites. Until communications satellite on 20 T h e I s ra e l i TAU V E X s p a c e
then, India depended on the former September 2004. telescope was initially scheduled for
Soviet Union for the launch of heavy The fourth flight (GSLV-F02) on 10 launch on board GSLV-D3 along with
satellites. July 2006 was unsuccessful in GSAT-4. But ISRO decided against
GSLV uses major components that launching the 2,168 kg (4,780 lb) launching TAUVEX as their review
are already proven in the Polar communications satellite INSAT-4C found issues with signal transmission
Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) as both rocket and satellite were and sensitivity from geo stationary
launchers in the form of the remotely destroyed over the Bay of orbit. An official working on the
S125/S139 solid booster and the Bengal after the rocket's trajectory TAUVEX programme refuted these
Vikas L40/L35.5 liquid fuel motors. veered outside of permitted limits. A claims, saying that if there were any
The first development flight of GSLV defective propellant regulator of the problems, they would not have
Mk.I (GSLV-D1) was launched on 18 fourth strap-on motor caused affected the quality of the data
April 2001. asymmetric thrust on the vehicle, returned and suggested insufficient
steering it off course and conseq- power of GSLV boosters.
Vehicle description uently the self destruct feature was
T h e G S LV i m p r o v e d o n t h e deployed as a safety measure. The Cryogenics
performance of the PSLV with the fifth flight of GSLV (GSLV-F04), In physics, cryogenics is the study of
addition of liquid strap-on boosters carrying a replacement for INSAT-4C t h e p ro d u c t i o n o f ve r y l o w
and a cryogenic upper stage. It is a was successfully completed on 2 temperature (below - 150 °C, - 238 °F
three-stage launch vehicle with the September 2007, carrying the INSAT- or 123 K) and the behavior of
first stage being solid-propelled, the 4CR satellite ( a payload of roughly materials at those temperatures. A
second liquid-propelled (with 2160 kg carrying 12 KU band person who studies elements under
hypergolic fuels) and the final stage transponders capable of reaching extremely cold temperature is called
being liquid propelled as well (with across India) into Geosynchronous a cryogenicist. Rather than the
cryogenic fuels). The solid first and Transfer Orbit. relative temperature scales of Celsius
liquid second stages are carried over On November 15, 2007 the and Fahrenheit, cryogenicists use the
from the PSLV. Early GSLV launches indigenously developed Mk.II - GSLV
used cryogenic upper stages supplied D3's "Cryogenic Upper Stage" was
by Russia. India originally tried to buy successfully tested for 720 seconds,
the technology to build a cryogenic its full flight duration, at the Liquid
upper stage from Russia, but under Propulsion Systems Centre, ISRO's
pressure from the United States, that rocket engine test facility in Kerala.
technology was not provided. Also, the cryogenic stage,
Therefore, ISRO developed the including its engine, has been built by
cryogenic engine used in the GSLV the ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems
indigenously. Centre at Mahendragiri near
The GSLV can place approximately Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu. The GSLV MK
5000 kg (11,000 lbm) into an easterly II was launched on April 15, 2010, but
low Earth orbit. Using the Russian the launch failed. Initial reports
12KRB upper stage, with KVD-1 suggested that the third stage vernier
cryogenic rocket engine, GSLV can engine failed to ignite, when the fuel
place 2200 kg (4,850 lbm) into an 18 supply to the cryogenic engine
degree geostationary transfer orbit. stopped. The Failure Analysis
Committee constituted by ISRO, in its
Launches findings reported the ignition of the

Special
absolute temperature scales. These on Nano Science and Technology importance for the Nano Mission so
are Kelvin (SI units) or Rankine scale (Nano Mission) with an allocation of that India emerges as a global
(English/US units). Rs. 1000 crore for 5 years. knowledge-hub in this field. For this,
research on fundamental aspects of
India successfully tests Nodal Agency Nano Science and training of large
cryogenic rocket engine The Department of Science and number of manpower will receive
The Indian Space Research Technology is the nodal agency for prime attention. Equally importantly,
Organisation (ISRO) announced on implementing the Nano Mission. the Nano Mission will strive for
October 28, 2006 that the first test of Capacity-building in this upcoming development of products and
the indigenously built cryogenic area of research will be of utmost processes for national development,
rocket engine had been a success.
Currently, only the United States,
Russia, the European Space Agency,
China and Japan have successfully
developed cryogenic engines, which
use rocket fuel and oxidiser stored in
a liquified form at very low
temperatures.
The test was carried out at ISRO's
Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in
Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.
ISRO chairman Madhavan Nair
said that the trial had lasted 50
seconds and had been "very
successful". He termed it "a major
milestone in the development of
rocket systems in the country",
adding that India has now "qualified"
to a stage which only developed
countries have managed to reach.
Nair, who is also the secretary of
the Space Commission and the
chairman of the Department of
Space, said that a longer test would
have to be carried out within a
month, to ensure that the rocket is
ready for flight. The Liquid Propulsion
Systems Centre, where the trial was
conducted, is working to develop
liquid and cryogenic propulsion
engines for rockets and auxiliary
propulsion systems for both rockets
and satellites.
Nano Mission
Nano Technology is a knowledge-
intensive and “enabling technology”
which is expected to influence a wide
range of products and processes with
far-reaching implications for national
economy and development. The
Government of India, in May 2007,
has approved the launch of a Mission

Special
especially in areas of national achieve synergy between the w h i c h e nv i s a ge s t h e o ve ra l l
relevance like safe drinking water, national research efforts of various development of this field of research
materials development, sensors agencies in Nano Science and in the country and to tap some of its
development, drug delivery, etc. For Te c h n o l o g y a n d l a u n c h n e w applied potential for nation's
this, it will forge linkages between programmes in a concerted fashion. development. In brief, the objectives
educational and research institutions International collaborative research of the Nano-Mission are:
and industry and promote Public efforts will also be made wherever
Private Partnerships. required. Objectives
The Nano Mission has been The Nano Mission is an umbrella Basic Research Promotion: Funding
structured in a fashion so as to programme for capacity building of basic research by individual
scientists and/or groups of scientists
and creation of centres of excellence
for pursuing studies leading to
fundamental understanding of
matter that enables control and
manipulation at the nanoscale.
Infrastructure Development for
N a n o S c i e n c e & Te c h n o l o g y
Research: Investigations on the nano
scale require expensive equipments
like Optical Tweezer, Nano Indentor,
Transmission Electron Microscope
(TEM), Atomic Force Microscope
( A F M ) , S c a n n i n g Tu n n e l i n g
Microscope (STM), Matrix Assisted
Laser Desorption Time of Flight Mass
Spectrometer (MALDI TOF MS),
Microarray Spotter & Scanner etc.
For optimal use of expensive and
sophisticated facilities, it is proposed
to establish a chain of shared facilities
across the country.
Nano Applications and Techn-
ology Development Programmes: To
catalyze Applications and Technology
Development Programmes leading to
products and devices, the Mission
proposes to promote application-
oriented R&D Projects, estabsish
Nano Applications and Technology
Development Centres, Nano-
Technology Business Incubators etc.
Special effort will be made to involve
the industrial sector into nano-
technology R&D directly or through
Public Private Partnership (PPP)
ventures.
Human Resource Development:
The Mission shall focus on providing
effective education and training to
researchers and professionals in
diversified fields so that a genuine
interdisciplinary culture for nanos-
cale science, engineering and

Special
technology can emerge. It is planned Development Program (IGMDP) was 40%.The enhanced range is made
to launch M.Sc./M.Tech. progra- an Indian Ministry of Defence possible by adding a special-purpose
mmes, create national and overseas program for the development of a coating of chromium metal to the
post-doctoral fellowships, chairs in comprehensive range of missiles, blunt nose cone of missiles and
universities, etc. including the intermediate range launch vehicles. This would add-up
International Collaborations: Apart Agni missile (Surface to Surface), and on the stated range.
from exploratory visits of scientists, short range missiles such as the India's top missile scientist (Dr VK
organization of joint workshops and Prithvi ballistic missile (Surface to Saraswat), revealed for the first time
conferences and joint research Surface), Akash missile (Surface to that the Integrated Guided Missile
projects, it is also planned to facilitate Air), Trishul missile (Surface to Air) Development Programme (IGMDP)
access to sophisticated research and Nag Missile (Anti Tank). The was likely to close down on 31
facilities abroad, establish joint program was headed by Defense December 2008.
centres of excellence and forge Research and Development
academia-industry partnerships at Organization (DRDO), with former Development
the international level wherever President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam, In the twentieth century, the
required and desirable. being one of the chief engineers government of independent India
involved in the project. embarked on a number of plans to
Nanotechnology The project was started in early develop missiles which would
Nanotechnology is the engineering of 1980s and resulted in the deve- strengthen India's defences. In 1958,
tiny machines, the projected ability lopment of several key strategic the government constituted the
missiles. The last major missile Special Weapons Development Team
developed under the program was which would later become the
Agni 3 intermediate-range ballistic Defence Research and Development
missile which was successfully tested Laboratories (DRDL), to undertake
on 9 July 2007. On 8 January 2008, the development of first-generation
and the third test on 7 May 2008, the anti-tank missiles. In the 1970s, the
DRDO announced that it will be Indian government decided to
closing the missile program formally manufacture anti-tank missiles under
since most of the missiles in the license from France. At the same
program are developed and inducted time, DRDL was entrusted with two
into Indian armed forces. According other projects: Project Valiant, which
to build things from the bottom up to statement by Dr. S Pralhada, head involved the development of a long-
inside personal nanofactories (PNs), controller of DRDO, new missile and range ballistic missile; and Project
using techniques and tools being weapons systems will be developed devil, which was aimed at reverse
developed today to make complete, within a five-year time frame at low engineering the Soviet SA-2 surface-
highly advanced products. Ultima- costs, with foreign partners and to-air missile. Both projects were
tely, nanotechnology will enable private industries. DRDO has terminated prematurely; Project
control of matter at the nanometer independently carried out further Valiant was terminated in 1974 and
scale, using mechanochemistry. development work on Nag and Surya Project Devil met the same fate in
Shortly after this envisioned missile. 1980.
molecular machinery is created, it In 2008, India noted that the However, by this time, DRDL had
will result in a manufacturing strategic integrated guided missile developed some infrastructure and
revolution, probably causing severe program was completed with its facilities to undertake the design and
disruption. It also has serious design objectives achieved. Follow development of missiles. In 1983,
economic, social, environmental, and on strategic projects are being either under the experience and leadership
military implications. A nanometer is pursued singly (e.g. Agni project) of Dr. Abdul Kalam, who had
one billionth of a meter, roughly the whereas tactical systems could previously been the project director
width of three or four atoms. The involve joint ventures with even for the SLV-3 programme at ISRO, the
average human hair is about 25,000 foreign partners. Indian government revived the
nanometers wide. In September 2008 Indian missile program as an Integrated
scientists developed a path-breaking Guided Missile Development
Integrated Guided Missile technology that has the potential to Program (IGMDP). As part of this
Development Program increase the range of missiles and program, the Interim Test Range at
The Integrated Guided Missile satellite launch vehicles by at least Balasore in Orissa was developed for

Special
missile testing. outside the sphere of biology
India on Tuesday 07, 2008 AWACS aircraft (chemical engineering, bioprocess
announced the scrapping of the AWACS aircraft was inducted into engineering, information technology,
strategic integrated guided missile Indian Air Force on May 28, 2009. biorobotics). Conversely, modern
programme, and said the develop- Earlier the AWACS aircraft landed at biological sciences (including even
ment and production of most of Jamnagar air base in Gujarat. The concepts such as molecular ecology)
futuristic weapons systems would aircraft will operate from the Agra air are intimately entwined and
henceforth be taken up with foreign base under the Central Air Command dependent on the methods
help. as part of the extended fleet of the IL- developed through biotechnology
The main aim of the Integrated 76s family. India became the first and what is commonly thought of as
Guided Missile Development country in South Asia to own an the life sciences industry.
Program was to develop, a missile in AWACS, popularly called 'an eye in
five different categories simult- the sky'. The aircraft being looked as a Applications
aneously, namely: a short-range replacement for the IL-76 include Biotechnology has applications in
surface-to-air missile (codenamed Embraer and Gulfstream 550, which four major industrial areas, including
Trishul), a medium-range surface-to- can carry out flying missions of over h e a l t h c a r e ( m e d i c a l ) , c ro p
air missile (codenamed Akash), a nine hours at a stretch. production and agriculture, non food
third-generation anti-tank guided (industrial) uses of crops and other
missile (codenamed Nag), a short- products (e. g. biodegradable
range surface-to-surface missile plastics, vegetable oil, biofuels), and
(codenamed Prithvi), and an environmental uses.
intermediate-range surface-to- For example, one application of
surface missile (codenamed Agni). biotechnology is the directed use of
There were a number of failures organisms for the manufacture of
and successes, which led to an organic products (examples include
expansion of the program in the Biotechnology beer and milk products). Another
1990s, to develop the long range Agni Biotechnology is technology based example is using naturally present
missile, a ballistic missile on biology, agriculture, food science, bacteria by the mining industry in
(codenamed Sagarika), which would and medicine. Modern use of the bioleaching. Biotechnology is also
be the naval version of the Prithvi, term usually refers to genetic used to recycle, treat waste, clean up
and an inter-continental-ballistic- engineering as well as cell- and tissue sites contaminated by industrial
missile (codenamed Surya) with a culture technologies. However, the activities (bioremediation), and also
range of 8,000-12,000 km. concept encompasses a wider range to produce biological weapons.
In 1998, the Government of India, and history of procedures for A series of derived terms have
signed an agreement with Russia to modifying living things according to been coined to identify several
design, develop, manufacture and human purposes, going back to branches of biotechnology, for
market a Supersonic Cruise Missile domestication of animals, cultivation example:-bioinformatics
System which has been successfully of plants and "improvements" to • Bioinformatics is an intedisci-
accomplished by 2006. BrahMos is a these through breeding programs plinary field which addresses
supersonic cruise missile that can be that employ artificial selection and b i o l o g i ca l p ro b l e m s u s i n g
launched from submarines, ships, hybridization. By comparison to computational techniques, and
aircraft or land. At speeds of Mach 2.5 biotechnology, bioengineering is makes the rapid organization and
to 2.8, it is the world's fastest cruise generally thought of as a related field analysis of biological data
missile and is about three and a half with its emphasis more on possible. The field may also be
times faster than the American mechanical and higher systems referred to as computational
subsonic Harpoon cruise missile. approaches to interfacing with and biology, and can be defined as,
BAPL is contemplating a hypersonic exploiting living things. "conceptualizing biology in terms
Mach 8 version of the missile, named Biotechnology draws on the pure of molecules and then applying
as the BrahMos II. BrahMos II will be biological sciences (genetics, i nfo r m at i c s te c h n i q u e s to
the first hypersonic cruise missile and microbiology, animal cell culture, understand and organize the
is expected to be ready by 2012-13. molecular biology, biochemistry, information associated with
The laboratory testing of the missile embryology, cell biology) and in many these molecules, on a large scale."
has started.(codenamed BrahMos). instances is also dependent on Bioinformatics plays a key role in
knowledge and methods from various areas, such as functional

Special
genomics, structural genomics, industrial goods. The investments maximize therapeutic effects but
and proteomics, and forms a key and economic output of all of also to decrease damage to
component in the biotechnology these types of applied nearby healthy cells.
and pharmaceutical sector. biotechnologies form what has • More accurate methods of
• Blue biotechnology is a term that been described as the determining appropriate drug
has been used to describe the bioeconomy. dosages. Knowing a patient's
marine and aquatic applications genetics will enable doctors to
of biotechnology, but its use is Medicine determine how well his/ her body
relatively rare. In medicine, modern biotechnology can process and metabolize a
• Green biotechnology is biotech- finds promising applications in such medicine. This will maximize the
nology applied to agricultural areas as value of the medicine and
processes. An example would be • drug production; decrease the likelihood of
the selection and domestication • pharmacogenomics; overdose.
of plants via micropropagation. • gene therapy; and • Improvements in the drug
Another example is the designing • genetic testing; discovery and approval process.
of transgenic plants to grow under The discovery of potential
specific environmental in the Pharmacogenomics therapies will be made easier
p re s e n c e ( o r a b s e n c e ) o f Pharmacogenomics is the study of using genome targets. Genes
chemicals. One hope is that green how the genetic inheritance of an have been associated with
biotechnology might produce individual affects his/her body's numerous diseases and disorders.
more environmentally friendly response to drugs. It is a coined word With modern biotechnology,
s o l u t i o n s t h a n t ra d i t i o n a l derived from the words “pharma- these genes can be used as targets
industrial agriculture. An example cology” and “genomics”. It is hence for the development of effective
of this is the engineering of a plant the study of the relationship between new therapies, which could
to express a pesticide, thereby pharmaceuticals and genetics. The significantly shorten the drug
ending the need of external vision of pharma-cogenomics is to be discovery process.
application of pesticides. An able to design and produce drugs that • Better vaccines. Safer vaccines
example of this would be Bt corn. are adapted to each person's genetic can be designed and produced by
Whether or not green makeup. organisms transformed by means
biotechnology products such as Pharmacogenomics results in the of genetic engineering. These
this are ultimately more following benefits: vaccines will elicit the immune
environmentally friendly is a topic • Development of tailor-made response without the attendant
of considerable debate. medicines. Using pharma- risks of infection. They will be
· Red biotechnology is applied to cogenomics, pharmaceutical inexpensive, stable, easy to store,
medical processes. Some companies can create drugs and capable of being engineered
examples are the designing of based on the proteins, enzymes to carry several strains of
organisms to produce antibiotics, and RNA molecules that are pathogen at once.
and the engineering of genetic associated with specific genes
cures through genomic and diseases. These tailor-made Pharmaceutical products
manipulation. drugs promise not only to Most traditional pharmaceutical
• White biotechnology, also known drugs are relatively simple molecules
as industrial biotechnology, is that have been found primarily
biotechnology applied to through trial and error to treat the
industrial processes. An example symptoms of a disease or illness.
is the designing of an organism to Biopharmaceuticals are large
produce a useful chemical. biological molecules known as
Another example is the using of proteins and these usually target the
enzymes as industrial catalysts to underlying mechanisms and
either produce valuable chemicals pathways of a malady (but not
or destroy hazardous/polluting always, as is the case with using
chemicals. White biotechnology insulin to treat type 1 diabetes
tends to consume less in mellitus, as that treatment merely
resources than traditional addresses the symptoms of the
processes used to produce disease, not the underlying cause

Special
which is autoimmunity); it is a estimating the risk of developing for a joint Human Genome Project
relatively young industry. They can adult-onset cancers; (“HGP”), which officially began in
deal with targets in humans that may · Presymptomatic testing for 1990.
not be accessible with traditional predicting adult-onset disorders. The HGP was originally planned to
medicines. A patient typically is last 15 years. However, rapid
dosed with a small molecule via a Gene therapy technological advances and
tablet while a large molecule is worldwide participation accelerated
typically injected. the completion date to 2003 (making
it a 13 year project). Already it has
Genetic testing enabled gene hunters to pinpoint
Genetic testing involves the direct genes associated with more than 30
examination of the DNA molecule disorders.
itself. A scientist scans a patient's
DNA sample for mutated sequences. Cloning
There are two major types of gene Cloning involves the removal of the
tests. In the first type, a researcher nucleus from one cell and its
may design short pieces of DNA placement in an unfertilized egg cell
(“probes”) whose sequences are whose nucleus has either been
complementary to the mutated Gene therapy may be used for deactivated or removed.
sequences. These probes will seek treating, or even curing, genetic and There are two types of cloning:
their complement among the base acquired diseases like cancer and 1. Reproductive cloning. After a few
pairs of an individual's genome. If the AIDS by using normal genes to divisions, the egg cell is placed
mutated sequence is present in the supplement or replace defective into a uterus where it is allowed to
patient's genome, the probe will bind genes or to bolster a normal function develop into a fetus that is
to it and flag the mutation. In the such as immunity. It can be used to genetically identical to the donor
second type, a researcher may target somatic (i.e., body) or gametes of the original nucleus.
conduct the gene test by comparing (i.e., egg and sperm) cells. In somatic 2. Therapeutic cloning. The egg is
the sequence of DNA bases in a gene therapy, the genome of the placed into a Petri dish where it
patient's gene to disease in healthy recipient is changed, but this change develops into embryonic stem
individuals or their progeny. is not passed along to the next cells, which have shown
generation. In contrast, in germline potentials for treating several
gene therapy, the egg and sperm cells ailments.
of the parents are changed for the In February 1997, cloning became
purpose of passing on the changes to the focus of media attention when
their offspring. Ian Wilmut and his colleagues at the
Roslin Institute announced the
Human Genome Project successful cloning of a sheep, named
The Human Genome Project is an Dolly, from the mammary glands of
initiative of the U.S. Department of an adult female. The cloning of Dolly
Energy (“DOE”) that aims to generate made it apparent to many that the
Genetic testing is now used for: a high-quality reference sequence for techniques used to produce her
• C a r r i e r s c re e n i n g , o r t h e the entire human genome and could someday be used to clone
identification of unaffected identify all the human genes. human beings. This stirred a lot of
individuals who carry one copy of The DOE and its predecessor
a gene for a disease that requires agencies were assigned by the U.S.
two copies for the disease to Congress to develop new energy
manifest; resources and technologies and to
• Confirmational diagnosis of pursue a deeper understanding of
symptomatic individuals; potential health and environmental
- Determining sex; risks posed by their production and
- Forensic/identity testing; use. In 1986, the DOE announced its
- Newborn screening; Human Genome Initiative. Shortly
- Prenatal diagnostic screening; thereafter, the DOE and National
• Presymptomatic testing for Institutes of Health developed a plan

Special
controversy because of its ethical For example, drought and excessively
implications. salty soil are two important limiting
factors in crop productivity.
Agriculture Biotechnologists are studying plants
However biotechnology has little to that can cope with these extreme
do with preventing starvation or conditions in the hope of finding the
malnutrition. The main purpose of genes that enable them to do so and
biotechnology is to increase profits eventually transferring these genes
for a small group of companies by to the more desirable crops. One of
privatizing natural resources. the latest developments is the market for farmers in developing
Starvation is not caused by inade- identification of a plant gene, At- countries due to the reduction in
quate food supplies or crop varieties, DBF2, from thale cress, a tiny weed s p o i l a g e . H o w e v e r, t h e r e i s
but rather the economic and power that is often used for plant research sometimes a lack of understanding
inequalities which biotechnology because it is very easy to grow and its by researchers in developed
reinforces. genetic code is well mapped out. countries about the actual needs of
When this gene was inserted into p ro s p e c t i v e b e n e f i c i a r i e s i n
Crop yield tomato and tobacco cells (see RNA developing countries. For example,
Using the techniques of modern interference), the cells were able to engineering soybeans to resist
biotechnology, one or two genes withstand environmental stresses spoilage makes them less suitable for
(Smartstax from Monsanto will use 8, like salt, drought, cold and heat, far producing tempe which is a
starting in 2010) may be transferred more than ordinary cells. If these significant source of protein that
to a highly developed crop variety to preliminary results prove successful depends on fermentation. The use of
impart a new character that would in larger trials, then At-DBF2 genes modified soybeans results in a lumpy
increase its yield. However, while can help in engineering crops that texture that is less palatable and less
increases in crop yield are the most can better withstand harsh convenient when cooking.
obvious applications of modern environments. Researchers have also The first genetically modified food
biotechnology in agriculture, it is also created transgenic rice plants that product was a tomato which was
the most difficult one. Current are resistant to rice yellow mottle transformed to delay its ripening.
genetic engineering techniques work virus (RYMV). In Africa, this virus Researchers in Indonesia, Malaysia,
best for effects that are controlled by destroys majority of the rice crops Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam
a single gene. Many of the genetic and makes the surviving plants more are currently working on delayed-
characteristics associated with yield susceptible to fungal infections. ripening papaya in collaboration with
(e. g., enhanced grow th) are Increased nutritional qualities the University of Nottingham and
controlled by a large number of &quantity of food crops Zeneca.
genes, each of which has a minimal Proteins in foods may be modified to Biotechnology in cheese production:
effect on the overall yield. There is, increase their nutritional qualities. enzymes produced by micro-
therefore, much scientific work to be Proteins in legumes and cereals may organisms provide an alternative to
done in this area. be transformed to provide the amino animal rennet a cheese coagulant
acids needed by human beings for a and an alternative supply for cheese
balanced diet. A good example is the makers. This also eliminates possible
work of Professors Ingo Potrykus and public concerns with animal-derived
Peter Beyer on the so-called Golden material, although there are
rice. currently no plans to develop
synthetic milk, thus making this
Improved taste, texture or argument less compelling. Enzymes
appearance of food offer an animal-friendly alternative
Modern biotechnology can be used to animal rennet. While providing
to slow down the process of spoilage comparable quality, they are
Reduced vulnerability of so that fruit can ripen longer on the theoretically also less expensive.
crops to environmental plant and then be transported to the About 85 million tons of wheat
stresses consumer with a still reasonable shelf flour is used every year to bake bread.
Crops containing genes that will life. This alters the taste, texture and By adding an enzyme called
enable them to withstand biotic and appearance of the fruit. More maltogenic amylase to the flour,
abiotic stresses may be developed. importantly, it could expand the bread stays fresher longer. Assuming

Special
that 1015% of bread is thrown away the Bt protein, it stops feeding and during a season, and increasing yield
as stale, if it could be made to stay soon thereafter dies as a result of the due to improved weed management
fresh another 57 days then perhaps 2 Bt toxin binding to its gut wall. Bt corn and less crop injury. Transgenic crops
million tons of flour per year would is now commercially available in a that express tolerance to glyphosate,
be saved. Other enzymes can cause number of countries to control corn glufosinate and bromoxynil have
bread to expand to make a lighter borer (a lepidopteran insect), which been developed. These herbicides
loaf, or alter the loaf in a range of is otherwise controlled by spraying (a can now be sprayed on transgenic
ways. more difficult process). crops without inflicting damage on
Crops have also been genetically the crops while killing nearby weeds.
Reduced dependence on
engineered to acquire tolerance to From 1996 to 2001, herbicide
fertilizers, pesticides and broad-spectrum herbicide. The lack tolerance was the most dominant
other agrochemicals of cost-effective herbicides with trait introduced to commercially
Most of the current commercial broad-spectrum activity and no crop available transgenic crops, followed
applications of modern biote- injury was a consistent limitation in by insect resistance. In 2001,
chnology in agriculture are on crop weed management. Multiple herbicide tolerance deployed in
reducing the dependence of farmers applications of numerous herbicides soybean, corn and cotton accounted
on agrochemicals. For example, were routinely used to control a wide for 77% of the 626,000 square
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a soil range of weed species detrimental to kilometres planted to transgenic
bacterium that produces a protein agronomic crops. Weed manage- crops; Bt crops accounted for 15%;
with insecticidal qualities. ment tended to rely on preemer- and "stacked genes" for herbicide
Traditionally, a fermentation process gence that is, herbicide applications tolerance and insect resistance used
has been used to produce an were sprayed in response to in both cotton and corn accounted
insecticidal spray from these expected weed infestations rather for 8%.
bacteria. In this form, the Bt toxin than in response to actual weeds
occurs as an inactive protoxin, which present. Mechanical cultivation and Production of novel
requires digestion by an insect to be hand weeding were often necessary substances in crop plants
effective. There are several Bt toxins to control weeds not controlled by Biotechnology is being applied for
and each one is specific to certain herbicide applications. The novel uses other than food. For
target insects. Crop plants have now introduction of herbicide-tolerant example, oilseed can be modified to
been engineered to contain and crops has the potential of reducing produce fatty acids for detergents,
express the genes for Bt toxin, which the number of herbicide active substitute fuels and petrochemicals.
they produce in its active form. When ingredients used for weed Potatoes, tomatoes, ricererere
a susceptible insect ingests the management, reducing the number tobacco, lettuce, safflowers, and
transgenic crop cultivar expressing of herbicide applications made other plants have been genetically-

Special
engineered to produce insulin and ments. The elimination of a wide
certain vaccines. If future clinical range of pollutants and wastes from
trials prove successful, the advant- the environment is an absolute
ages of edible vaccines would be requirement to promote a
enormous, especially for developing sustainable development of our
countries. The transgenic plants may society with low environmental
be grown locally and cheaply. impact. Biological processes play a
Homegrown vaccines would also major role in the removal of
avoid logistical and economic contaminants and biotechnology is
problems posed by having to taking advantage of the astonishing
transport traditional preparations catabolic versatility of micro-
over long distances and keeping organisms to degrade/convert such
them cold while in transit. And since compounds. New methodological
they are edible, they will not need science. It includes different breakthroughs in sequencing,
syringes, which are not only an disciplines such as biochemical genomics, proteomics, bio-
additional expense in the traditional engineering, biomedical enginee- informatics and imaging are
vaccine preparations but also a ring, bio-process engineering, producing vast amounts of infor-
source of infections if contaminated. biosystem engineering and so on. mation. In the field of Environmental
In the case of insulin grown in Because of the novelty of the field, Microbiology, genome-based global
transgenic plants, it is well- the definition of a bioengineer is still studies open a new era providing
established that the gastrointestinal undefined. However, in general it is unprecedented in silico views of
system breaks the protein down an integrated approach of metabolic and regulatory networks,
therefore this could not currently be fundamental biological sciences and as well as clues to the evolution of
administered as an edible protein. traditional engineering principles. degradation pathways and to the
However, it might be produced at Bioengineers are often employed molecular adaptation strategies to
significantly lower cost than insulin to scale up bio processes from the changing environmental conditions.
produced in costly, bioreactors. For laboratory scale to the manu- Functional genomic and meta-
example, Calgary, Canada-based facturing scale. Moreover, as with genomic approaches are increasing
SemBioSys Genetics, Inc. reports that most engineers, they often deal with our understanding of the relative
its safflower-produced insulin will management, economic and legal importance of different pathways
reduce unit costs by over 25% or issues. Since patents and regulation and regulatory networks to carbon
more and approximates a reduction (e.g., U.S. Food and Drug Administr- flux in particular environments and
in the capital costs associated with ation regulation in the U.S.) are very for particular compounds and they
building a commercial-scale insulin important issues for biotech will certainly accelerate the
manufacturing facility of over $100 enterprises, bioengineers are often development of bioremediation
million, compared to traditional bio- required to have knowledge related technologies and biotransformation
manufacturing facilities. to these issues. processes.
The increasing number of biotech Marine environments are
Criticism enterprises is likely to create a need especially vulnerable since oil spills of
There is another side to the for bioengineers in the years to come. coastal regions and the open sea are
agricultural biotechnology issue. It Many universities throughout the poorly containable and mitigation is
includes increased herbicide usage world are now providing programs in difficult. In addition to pollution
and resultant herbicide resistance, bioengineering and biotechnology through human activities, millions of
"super weeds," residues on and in (as independent programs or tons of petroleum enter the marine
food crops, genetic contamination of specialty programs within more environment every year from natural
non-GM crops which hurt organic established engineering fields). seepages. Despite its toxicity, a
and conventional farmers, damage to considerable fraction of petroleum
wildlife from glyphosate, etc. Bioremediation and oil entering marine systems is
Biodegradation eliminated by the hydrocarbon-
Biological engineering Biotechnology is being used to degrading activities of microbial
Biotechnological engineering or engineer and adapt organisms communities, in particular by a
biological engineering is a branch of especially microorganisms in an remarkable recently discovered
engineering that focuses on effort to find sustainable ways to group of specialists, the so-called
biotechnologies and biological clean up contaminated environ- hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (HCCB).

Specially designed for UPSCPORTAL.COM Members.
ORDER Hard Copy of UPSCPORTAL Magazine

CLICK BELOW LINK TO ORDER
http://upscportal.com/store/magazine/vol17-hard-copy

UPSCPORTAL Magazine Vol 17 September 2010 WWW - Upscportal

Încărcat de

Informații document

Descriere originală:

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

UPSCPORTAL Magazine Vol 17 September 2010 WWW - Upscportal

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Downloaded From: http://www.upscportal.

2 Copyright © 2010 | WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM Vol. - 17

New Symbol for

Vol. - 17 Copyright © 2010 | WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM 3

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

M Senior General Than Shwe

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

cooperation in Communications, IT Centre is expected to be launched March 2006.

14 Copyright © 2010 | WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM Vol. - 17

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

India- Mauritius Relations

E S.M. Krishna paid an official

16 Copyright © 2010 | WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM Vol. - 17

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

List of Agreements/MoUs signed during the visit of Minister of External Affairs

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

Vol. - 17 Copyright © 2010 | WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM 19

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

T the United Progressive

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

India To Provide USD

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

Vol. - 17 Copyright © 2010 | WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM 25

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

T seems to have made up its

Vol. - 17 Copyright © 2010 | WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM 27

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

28 Copyright © 2010 | WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM Vol. - 17

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

Echoing Nasscom's concern, IT Ahmed said the ministry conducts

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

Copyright © 2010 | WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM 31

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

India's first PG course in subsidiary of the US-based company

Bhopal Gas Tragedy verdict

Vol. - 17 Copyright © 2010 | WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM 33

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

Navy gets two Warships

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

36 Copyright © 2010 | WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM Vol. - 17

Vol. - 17 Copyright © 2010 | WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM 37

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

the world's highest railway, running

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.

ORDER Free HARD COPY of This Magazine.