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    WWW.JAGRANJOSH.COMCURRENT AFFAIRS EBOOK

    MAY 2013

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    Table of Contents

    Preface........................................................................................................................................5

    Pick of the Month........................................................................................................................6

    Chinese Premier Li Keqiangs visit to India ...........................................................................6

    Pakistan Election Result 2013 ............................................................................................10

    India declared Year 2013 as Water Conservation Year 2013 ..............................................12

    India Unveiled indigenously developed Rotavirus Vaccine .................................................13

    International .............................................................................................................................15

    Maryland Abolished Death Penalty....................................................................................15

    Japan UAE Deal for Transferring Nuclear Power Technology .............................................15

    India & China pulled back Troops from Daulat Beg Oldi Sector ..........................................15

    Russia and USA Commited to Negotiate to End Syrian Conflict ..........................................16

    India was granted an Observer Status by Arctic Council.....................................................16

    National ....................................................................................................................................17

    Union Cabinet approved the Launch of NUHM ..................................................................17

    SC approved Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Got Approval for Operations....................18

    Union Cabinet approved Changes to Aajeevika..................................................................18

    Women Self Help Groups to Get Low Interest Loans .........................................................20

    Amendments in National Food Security Bill Introduced in LS .............................................20

    Economy ...................................................................................................................................22

    SC upheld 51 Percent FDI in Multi-brand Retail .................................................................22

    RBI reduced the Repo Rate by 25 Basis Points to 7.25 Percent ..........................................22

    CCEA approved Exchange Trade Fund for PSU stocks.........................................................22

    Government set 325-billion Dollars Export Target for 2013-14 ..........................................23

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    Air India Implemented Cost Cutting Measures...................................................................23

    RBI decided to Launch Inflation Indexed Bonds (IIBs) ........................................................24

    Corporate..................................................................................................................................24

    Ivan Menezes was Named New CEO of Diageo ..................................................................24

    UK's Cairn Energy sold 8 % Stake in Cairn India for 910 US $ ..............................................25

    IFFCO signed Agreement with Vale SA for Supply of Rock Phosphate ................................25

    IL&FS Infrastructure Signed MoU with 8 Public Sector Banks.............................................25

    Star India launched Star Movies Actions ............................................................................25

    COMPAT Ordered Cement Manufacturers to Deposit 630 Crore .......................................26

    Environment Ecology ................................................................................................................27

    Camarillo Springs Wildfire Broke Out In California .............................................................27

    IUCN: Syzygium Travncoricum removed from Red List.......................................................28

    Government Decided to Ban Trade of Peacock Feathers ...................................................28

    Arctic Sea is Becoming Acidic: Research.............................................................................29

    EU decided to issue Ban on Pesticides that Harm Bees ......................................................30

    Science & Technology ...............................................................................................................31

    US Scientists Developed First Smart RFID-Enabled Paper...................................................31

    IBM Released Smallest Stop Motion Film; a Boy and His Atom ..........................................32

    US Scientists Created Worlds Smallest Flying Robot Robo-Fly...........................................32

    Worlds First Gun Made from 3D Printer Technology Fired ................................................33

    New Type of Wheat developed to Increase Productivity....................................................34

    Sports........................................................................................................................................34

    Alex Ferguson Manchester United Manager Retired..........................................................35

    Sreesanth and two others Arrested for Spot-Fixing............................................................36

    Lausanne Talks to bring India Back to Olympic Fold ...........................................................37

    Legendary Footballer, David Beckham announced Retirement..........................................37

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    State .........................................................................................................................................38

    Karnataka Assembly Elections 2013...................................................................................38

    TN announced 9 Crore Grant to Jeevan for Stem Cell Storage ...........................................39

    Punjab Govt. increased Min. Wages on Eve of Labours Day ..............................................40

    Haryana Government issued Shiksha Setu Cards to Students ............................................40

    HC ordered W. Bengal Govt to hold 3-phased Panchayat Polls ..........................................41

    News Capsule............................................................................................................................41

    Briggs appointed as Secretary General of Ramsar Convention ...........................................41

    Recent Trends in Material Flows and Resource Productivity in Asia and Pacific .................42

    Book Entitled Fida-e-Lucknow -Tales of the City and Its People .........................................43

    Jagran Group bagged Three Awards at INMA Awards Ceremony .......................................43

    Questions of the Month ............................................................................................................44

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    PREFACE

    The Current Affairs eBook May 2013 includes the important happenings of May 2013. The

    eBook available on jagranjosh.com is designed with an aim to ensure that the material provided

    is useful for candidates of all types of examinations conducted by IAS|PCS, SSC, Banking, MBA

    as well as Board Exams ofCBSE and State Boards.

    Our experts keep a tab on all important events of the world in all platforms like National,

    International, Corporate, Economy as well as the advancements on the frontiers ofScience and

    Technology, Environment and Ecology, Sports and Issues of different States of the country to

    select the best out of all. The affairs of maximum importance are compiled to help you in

    revising the important events without much brainstorming activity.

    Every event mentioned is examined on different grounds to make sure that everything is

    covered about it and none of the details on the issue is left out, from where their exists any

    percentage of chances of question being asked. So have a look further to find out more. We will

    keep you updated every month with a package of finely compiled magazine.

    This is a sample eBook on Current Affairs. To find the Original Copy Click here.

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    PICK OF THE MONTH

    CHINESE PREMIER LI K EQIANGS VISIT TO IN DIA

    China's new premier Li Keqiangs visited India on his first foreign trip to India from 19 -22, May

    2013, after assuming the charge of his office in March 2013. During the visit of Li Keqiang, both

    the countries looked forward to speed up their efforts to settle a decades-old border dispute

    and strengthen economic ties.

    The leaders of both the countries had a thorough exchange of views on bilateral relations and

    regional and international issues of common interest in a sincere and cordial atmosphere and

    reached broad consensus.

    List of Documents signed during the Visit of Li Keqiang to India:

    1. Protocol between Indian and China on Indian Official Pilgrimage (the Kailash Mansarovar

    Yatra) to the Tibet Autonomous Region of China

    With the signing of Protocol both the countries have agreed to conduct the Yatra every year

    from May to September. China will make further advancements in the existing facilities on the

    route of the pilgrims and to maintain even communication. They have also agreed to assist in

    renting wireless sets and local SIM cards.

    2. Agreement on Work Programmes of the Three Working Groups under Joint Economic

    Group between Ministry of Commerce & Industry of India and China.

    The three working groups under the Joint Economic Group are:

    i. Services Trade Promotion Working Group

    ii. Economic and Trade Planning Cooperation

    iii. Trade Statistical Analysis

    3. MoU on Buffalo Meat, Fishery Products and Agreement on Feed and Feed Ingredients

    between Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority of

    India and China

    It is directly aimed at strengthening mutual cooperation in trade and safety of buffalo meat,

    fishery products and feed and feed ingredients, and to meet the regulatory requirements with

    respect to safety & hygiene & quarantine and is also supposed to deal with the growing trade

    deficit between the two countries.

    4. MoU between the Ministry of Urban Development of India and National Development

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    and Reform Commission of China on Cooperation in the field of Sewage Treatment

    The MoU signed by the Urban Development will enhance cooperation in the field of Sewage

    Treatment and ideas and knowledge sharing in the areas of mutual interest in the urban

    sectors.

    5. MoU between the Ministry of Water Resources of India and The National Development

    and Reform Commission, of China on Cooperation in the field of Water Efficient

    Irrigation

    The MoU directly aims at enhancing bilateral cooperation in the field of water efficient

    technology with applicability in the area of agriculture and exchange of best practices.

    6. MoU between the India and the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film

    and Television of China on Cooperation in Mutual Translation and Publication of Classic

    and Contemporary Work

    As per the MoU a Joint Working Group will formed which will coordinate translation and

    publication of 25 books of Classic and Contemporary Works of each side over a period of 5

    years in to Chinese and Indian languages respectively.

    7. MoU between the Ministry of Water Resources of the India and the Ministry of Water

    Resources of China upon Provision of Hydrological Information of the

    Yaluzangbu/Brahmaputra River in Flood Season by China to India

    As per the Memorandum of Understanding China is supposed to provide India with information

    of water level, discharge and rainfall of 8:00 hrs and 20:00 hrs(Beijing Time) twice a day from1st June to 15 October each year in respect of three hydrological stations on the mainstream

    Brahmaputra river.

    8. Agreement between the Ministry of External Affairs, of India and the Ministry of Foreign

    Affairs, of China to facilitate cooperation and linkages between Indian and Chinese cities

    & states/provinces

    As per this said agreement both the sides agreed to identify sister cities and sister

    states/provinces in India and China with a view to establishing relationships between them in

    areas of mutual interest for enhancing greater people to people contacts

    Important Outcomes of the Meeting between

    Both the Countries agreed to a regular exchange of visits between the Heads of State/

    Government of the two countries. The leaders of the two countries will also continue to

    meet on the sidelines of important multi-lateral forums.

    Both the Countries agreed in further strengthening cooperation in the areas of energy

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    and environmental conservation, new and renewable energy and high-technology. The

    two sides agreed to enhance cooperation in the railway sector including heavy haulage

    and station development.

    India and China showed eagerness to carry out cooperation on establishing industrial

    zones so that they can provide platforms for cluster-type development of enterprises ofthe two countries.

    India and China decided to mark the 60thanniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful

    Coexistence (Panchsheel) in 2014 by designating it as the Year of Friendly Exchanges.

    Both the Country agreed to encourage their cities/provinces to establish twinning

    relationships in accordance with the Agreement to Facilitate Cooperation and Linkages

    between Indian and Chinese Cities and States/Provinces.

    Both the Country underlined the need to implement all relevant UN resolutions, in

    particular UNSC resolutions 1267, 1373, 1540 and 1624.

    Both the Countries agreed to enhance coordination in the follow up process of the UN

    Conference on Sustainable Development and in discussions on the post 2015

    development agenda as well as international negotiations on climate change.

    The two countries sides reaffirmed their commitment to promoting multilateral arms

    control, disarmament and non-proliferation processes. They support the complete

    prohibition and thorough destruction of all nuclear weapons and reaffirm their

    opposition to the weaponization of and an arms race in outer space.

    Both the countries agreed to work towards simplifying visa procedures.

    In order to pursue mutual benefit and fulfill their international cooperation objectives,

    both the Countries agreed in considering collaborating on development projects of

    common interest in third countries.

    Decision on achieving trade target of 100-billion for Financial Year 2014-15

    During the same visit of the Chinese premiere, both the nations also decided to scale up its

    two-way trade to 100 billion US Dollars by 2015 from 67.8 billion US Dollars in 2012-13. The

    decision was made on 20 May 2013.

    It is worth mentioning here that bilateral trade between the two countries scaled up from 2.1billion US Dollars in 2001-02 to 75.6 billion US Dollars in 2011-12 and suddenly it dropped down

    to 67.8 billion US Dollars during 2012-13.

    Some important points to remember

    Indias trade deficit increased from 1.1 billion US Dollars in 2001-02 to 40.8 billion US

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    Dollars in 2012-13.

    In 2012-13, China became Indias fourth largest trading partner from third largest in

    2011-2012. Our exports fell from 18.1 billion US Dollars in 2011-12 to 13.5 billion US

    Dollars in 2012-13

    In year 2010, both countries had set a trade turnover target of 60 billion US Dollars

    which was achieved.

    An India-China CEOs Forum has been constituted to deliberate on business issues and

    make recommendations on expansion of trade and investment cooperation which will

    be head by Anil Ambani and Chen Yuan from India and China Side respectively.

    As per the exporters increasing of market access to China is critical for a shoot in Indias exports

    as the country efforts to change its export profile from raw materials to finished and value-

    added products.

    India and China Signed MoUs to Address Concerns on Trade Deficit

    During the visit of the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to India, the two countries also signed three

    Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) on buffalo meat, fisheries and pharmaceuticals and

    one agreement on feed and feed ingredients on 20 May 2013.

    The MoUs are supposed to deal with the growing trade deficit between the two countries. It is

    worth mentioning here that the trade deficit has increased from 1.08 billion US Dollars in 2001-

    02 to 40.77 billion US Dollars in 2012-13.

    The resumption of exporting buffalo meat from India to China, will bring a big merchandise

    trade that will not only be helpful in reducing trade imbalance of India but also in Chinas foodsecurity by providing quality and hygiene meat products. Earlier the export of buffalo meat is

    not allowed from India to China due to concerns about Foot & Mouth Disease. It was a long

    pending issue between two countries.

    The Other MoU was signed for import and export trade of fishery products which aims to bring

    cooperation in promoting trade of fishery products and healthy development of trade between

    India and China.

    Another MoU was also signed between Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India

    (Pharmexcil) and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Medicines and

    Health Products (CCCMHPIE) which will facilitate access to the China market inpharmaceuticals. The average imports of medicinal and pharmaceutical products from China

    during last five years were 4332.37 million US dollars vis--vis exports from India of 692.44

    million US dollars.

    An important agreement was signed between Export Inspection Council of India (EIC) and

    AQSIQ on trade and safety of feed and feed ingredients which is supposed to bring big

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    merchandise trade for feed & feed ingredients after the resumption of trade as China has

    suspended import of feed and feed ingredients since 1 January 2012.

    Both the countries also agreed to conduct the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra every year between

    May and September.

    PAKISTAN ELECTION RESULT 2013

    The Election Commission of Pakistan on 14 May 2013 announced results of 272 National

    Assembly seats, with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz heading the count with 126 seats,

    followed by the Pakistan Peoples Party with 31 seats.

    The voting took place for all parliamentary constituencies of Pakistan to elect 342 members for

    the National assembly, including 60 seats reserved for women and 10 for non-Muslims,

    simultaneously voting took place for the four Provincial Assemblies of Punjab, KPK, Sindh and

    Balochistan as well. Over 4600 candidates a contested at the centre for National Assembly

    seats, while 11000 candidates contested at provincial levels.

    As per the Article 51 (6) C of the Constitution of Pakistan the members to the seats reserved

    for women which are allocated to a Province under clause (3) shall be elected in accordance

    with law through proportional representation system of political parties' lists of candidates on

    the basis of total number of general seats secured by each political party from the Provinceconcerned in the National Assembly.

    Also with reference to the Article 51 (6) E members to the seats reserved for non-Muslims shall

    be elected in accordance with law through proportional representation system of political

    parties' lists of candidates on the basis of total number of general seats won by each political

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    party in the National Assembly.

    Pakistans General election 2013 was the election to the 14th parliament of Pakistan. Former

    Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declared winner which was followed by a historic

    election.

    The voting has taken place in all parliamentary constituencies of Pakistan, to elect Members

    (MNAs) to seats in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament.

    It is worth mentioning here that the current National Assembly completed its constitutional

    term on 18 March 2013, five years after the first session of the National Assembly elected

    during the 2008 general election.

    Pakistan Election 2013 was intended to elect members of the National Assembly of Pakistan,

    the lower house of the Majlis-e-Shoora (the nation's parliament).Pakistan's opposition parties,

    the Imran Khan`s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (N) were

    the major contenders for the general Election.

    The 63-year-old Sharif belongs to Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (N) party. He had twice

    served as premier. Pakistan Muslim League-N attained an overpowering lead with 130 seats.

    The first runner up is Imran Khan`s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) with 37 seats and the last is

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) with 31 seats.

    The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which had a tally of 124 in the 2008 elections and ruled the

    country for five years with the support of the MQM and the Awami National Party.

    It is important here to note that to win a simple majority, a party or coalition would have to bag

    137 of the 272 National Assembly seats for which polls were held. Another 70 seats, reserved

    for women and non-Muslims, will be allocated to parties according to their performance inpolls.

    To have a majority in the 342-member National Assembly, a party or coalition would need 172

    seats. The Senate or upper house of the parliament is currently controlled by the PPP.

    PARTY WISE STATISTICS OF THE PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLIES ELECTION

    Punjab Sindh KPK Balochistan

    PML-N 211/297 PPPP 65/130 PTI 34/99 PMAP 10/51

    IND 41/297 MQM 35/130 IND 14/99 PML-N 8/51

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    PTI 20/297 IND 8/130 PML-N 13/99 IND 8/51

    PML-Q 8/297 PML-F 7/130 JUI-F 12/99 JUI-F 6/51

    Seats 293/297 Seats 122/130 Seats 98/99 Seats 48/51

    FACTS TO REMEMBER ABOUT PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLIES ELECTION

    PML (N) leads Punjab Province with 211 out of 297 seats

    PPP Party leads the Sindh Province of Pakistan with 65 out of total 130 seats

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party leads the KPK Province with 34 out of total 99 seats.

    PMAP (Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party) leads the balochistan province with 10 out 21

    seats.

    SOME FACTS ABOUT THE ELECTION

    4670 candidates stood for 272 seats in a first-past-the-post system in the 342-member

    lower house.

    Sixty seats reserved for women and 10 for non-Muslim minorities are distributed by

    proportional representation based on the parties share of the directly elected seats.

    A total of 10955 candidates contested in elections for Pakistan s four provincial

    assemblies in Punjab, Sindh in the south, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the northwest and

    Baluchistan in the southwest.

    Only 161 women stood for the national assembly, 3.5 percent of the candidates Voters.

    There are 86.2 million registered voters -- 37.6 million women and 48.6 million men.

    INDIA DECLARED YEAR 2013 AS W ATER CONSERVATION YEAR 2013

    2013: Water Conservation Year

    The Union Cabinet of India on 9 May 2013 gave its approval to declare the year 2013 as Water

    Conservation Year 2013.

    Following the theme of the year, the Government has proposed to come up with several mass

    awareness activities with an emphasis on sensitizing the masses on water issues and to

    encourage them to use water judiciously and conserve it. The Policies and programs of the

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    Ministry of Water Resource for the year will be to create a sustainable society and economy.

    The national awareness programs launched by the Government will aim towards achieving the

    identified objectives of the National Water Policy 2012 and National Water Mission.

    NATIONAL WATER POLICY 2012

    National Water Policy 2012 was adopted by the National Water Resources Council headed by

    the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 28 December 2012. The Policy takes cognizance of the

    existing situation and proposes a framework for creation of a system of laws and institutions

    and a plan of action with a unified national perspective.

    NATIONAL WATER MISSION

    The key objective of National Water Mission is water conservation. It is among the eight

    national missions under the National Action Plan for Climate Change. The mission aims towards

    conservation of water by minimizing wastage and to develop formulae for impartial distribution

    of the water resources both in and across the states via integrated water resources

    development and management.

    INDIA UNVEILED INDIGENOUSLY DEVELOPED ROTAVIRUS VACCINE

    India on 14 May 2013 unveiled its indigenously developed Rotavirus Vaccine named Rotavac

    after the Phase-III clinical trial of low cost rotavirus Vaccine. The Rotavac that has demonstrated

    strong efficacy and excellent safety profile; if gets its approval by the Drugs Controller General

    of India (DCGI) than will be made available in the market at a rate of 54 rupees per dose.

    Approx 453000 child across the world dies every year due to Rotavirus diarrhea and following

    the recent reports every year approx one lakh children below five years in India die due to

    severe diarrhea that is caused due to Rotavirus bacteria. India accounts for 22 percent of the

    global deaths that occurs due to diarrhoea-causing rotavirus.

    Rotavac vaccine has been developed under a public-private partnership and is the third such

    vaccine that will hit the Indian market. The previous two vaccines cost more than 1000 rupees

    per dose and thus remain out of reach from the hands of millions in developing and third world

    nations.

    It is an oral vaccine that is administered in infants in three dose course at ages of six, ten andfourteen weeks, which is given to a child along with the Universal Immunisation Programme

    (UIP) vaccines recommended to be given to children.

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    INTERNATIONAL

    MARYLAND ABOLISHED DEATH PENALTY

    Maryland, the U.S. state located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, on 2 May 2013

    became the first southern US state to abolish the death penalty. The measure on it was signed

    by Democratic Governor Martin OMalley on 2 May 2013.

    The person who was attended was former Maryland death row inmate Kirk Bloodsworth. He

    will be the first person in the country freed from death penalty because of DNA evidence after

    being convicted in a death penalty case. On the global level, Maryland is the 18th state to

    abolish the death penalty.

    The Governor can commute the death sentences of intimates to life without parole. TheGovernor OMalley has asserted that he will consider them on a case -by-case basis. The states

    last execution was in 2005.

    JAPAN UAE DEAL FOR TRANSFERRING NUCLEAR POWER TECHNOLOGY

    Japan on 2 May 2013 concluded a deal with the United Arab Emirates for transferring the

    nuclear power technology. It is the first transfer of the nuclear power technology since 2011

    Fukushima nuclear accident.

    Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the Persian Gulf state on the third leg of a weeklong

    overseas trip. Shinzo Abe met UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed binRashid Al Maktoum on 2 May 2013 in order to conclude the nuclear deal.

    The nuclear deal was concluded with an agreement to promote bilateral investments and

    economic exchanges. Shinzo Abe also explained about Japans plan for holding the ministerial -

    level strategic talks on a regular basis with six Gulf Arab states, known as the Gulf Cooperation

    Council.

    INDIA & CHINA PULLED BACK TROOPS FROM DAULAT B EG OLDI SECTOR

    India and China on 5 May 2013 pulled back their troops from the stand off point at Daulat Beg

    Oldi sector in Ladakh, where the Chinese forces had intruded nearly three weeks back.

    A battalion of Chinese troops estimated at about 50 and accompanied by vehicles and dogs had

    intruded 19 km inside the Indian Territory across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Daulat Beg

    Oldi sector on April 15 and set up five tents. The Indian troops had also established tented posts

    facing the Chinese forces at a distance of 300 metres.

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    An agreement was reached for both nations to pull back their troops simultaneously from the

    face off point.

    RUSSIA AND USA COMMITED T O NEGOTIATE TO END SYRIAN CONFLICT

    Foreign Minister of Russia, Sergei Lavrov and Secretary of United States John Kerry announcedtheir commitments to a negotiated settlement for the end of the conflict of Syria at Moscow on

    7 May 2013. The two have pushed forward for an international conference on the crisis

    situation.

    The decision came up after the talks that lasted for hours between the Visiting US Secretary of

    State John Kerry and Russian President Vladimir Putin further proceeded by the Russian Foreign

    Minister Sergei Lavrov in a bid to lessen the differences between Washington and Russia over

    the Syrian Conflict.

    Both the nations will try to come up with an international conference over the conflict of Syria

    and will try to convince the regime as well as the rebels to accept the terms of Geneva that was

    agreed and suggested by the world powers in June 2012.

    Geneva agreement was reached by the world leaders on 30 May 2012 by setting up the path

    towards the formation of the transitional Government in Syria, without declaring the fate of

    President Bashar al-Assad.

    The International Conference will aim at bringing together the leaders of the government and

    the opposition at one platform to come up with a negotiated settlement of issue, to end the

    bloodshed in Syria.

    INDIA WAS GRANTED AN OBSERVER STATUS BY ARCTIC COUNCIL

    India on 15 May 2013 was successful in getting the observer status in the Arctic Council along

    with five other nations namely China, Italy, Singapore and South Korea. This step of the Arctic

    Council will give India a foothold in the resource rich Arctic Ocean with the melting of the ice.

    As India will get an access from navigation to oil and gas exploration. The observer status was

    assigned to India after a meeting held at Kiruna, Sweden.

    With this success, India will get an opportunity to contribute its scientific expertise mainly its

    capabilities in polar research to the work of the Arctic Council and support its objectives.

    The observer status of India in the Arctic Council if seen at the realpolitik level; India will get an

    access for hydrocarbon exploration that is offered in the Arctic Circle. For this India will have to

    join its hands with one of the five countries gearing up for the purpose among US, Canada,

    Russia, Denmark and Russia.

    If seen with the perspective of geographical distance than Russia is an ideal partner for India

    and to make this happen India will have to take a firm stand on the Lomonosov Ridge and the

    Mendeleev Ridge for Russia. Russia claims that the Lomonosov Ridge and the Mendeleev Ridge

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    are the extension of its continental shelf. This support will also bring in Indias chances to get

    access in the rich deposits of Arctic Belt and utilize the North Sea Route.

    MELTING ICE OF ARCTIC CIRCLE AND INTERESTS OF NATIONS & RESEARCHERS

    The level of melting ice in the Arctic sea in September 2012 went down to the new lows andattracted interest of nations and researchers towards it. Various nations placed their interest in

    the region for exploration of its rich mineral resources and navigation purposes.

    India has its Arctic research station named Himadri since 2008 that is located at the

    International Arctic Research base, Ny-Alesund at Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Norway. The station is

    operated by the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research. Indias approach in the

    Arctic Circle since 2008 has always been purely scientific.

    China became the first Asian country to navigate the area with a three-month sea voyage in an

    ice breaker across the Arctic Circle.

    NATIONAL

    UNION CABINET APPROVED THE LAUNCH OF NUHM

    The Union Cabinet of India on 1 May 2013 approved the launch of the National Urban Health

    Mission (NUHM) to reduce rates of infant mortality, maternal mortality and for universal access

    to reproductive health care. The cost of the National Urban Health Mission for 5 years is 22507

    crore rupees and the Central government will share 16955 crore rupees. The mission will be

    implemented in 779 cities and towns each with the population of more than 50,000 has

    expected to cover about 7.75 crore people.

    The Cabinet also gave its nod to a bill which provides for confiscating property illegally acquired

    by corrupt public servants. The major changes to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 were

    approved by the Cabinet. A timeframe has also been set for getting sanction of the competent

    authority to prosecute serving and retired bureaucrats and reasons will have to be specified for

    giving the nod or refusing it.

    The Union Cabinet also approved the Empowered Group of Minister's (EGoM)s decision to

    conduct auction of 839 channels of FM radio stations in 294 cities through e-auction. The

    decision is part of the amendments in the Policy Guidelines for Phase III expansion of FM Radio

    broadcasting services through private agencies.

    The government also approved amendments to a bill that seeks to eradicate manual

    scavenging. The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Bill,

    2012 includes provisions for mandatory inclusion of women in vigilance committees at the

    district, state and national level and a survey to identify manual scavengers.

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    The Union Cabinet also referred the Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill to a Group of Ministers.

    The law deals with a woman's right to marital property in case of a divorce.

    SC APPROVED KUDANKULAM NUCLEAR POWER PLANT GOT APPROVAL

    FOR OPERATIONS

    The Supreme Court of India directed that the Kudankulam nuclear plant situated in Tamil Nadu

    could start its operations now. A bench of Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra issued

    the directions to the government on safety as well as security of the plant, along with its

    operations.

    The Supreme Court directed Nuclear Power Corporation of India and the Atomic Energy

    Regulatory Board to ensure that all steps were taken for the safety of the nuclear plant.

    The Apex Court explained that the Kudankulam nuclear plant was absolutely safe and secure

    and that it was necessary to start its operations for economic growth as well as welfare of India.

    In 2012, the fishermen as well as villagers protested against the fuelling of this plant.

    Opponents of this plant, People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) complained that

    it was situated in the area which was affected badly by 2004 Asian tsunami and that there was

    a fear of disaster like that of Fukushima nuclear plant of Japan in 2011.

    The Kudankulam nuclear plant is among those plants which is a part of Indias aim of generating

    63000 MW of nuclear power by 2032.

    CONTROVERSY OVER KUDANKULAM NUCLEAR PLANT

    Kudankulam nuclear plant is the under-construction nuclear power plant in Kudankulam inTirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. The construction of this plant began in March 2002. The delay

    in the construction of the plant is attributed to anti-nuclear protests by the locals as well as

    People's Movement against Nuclear Energy (PMANE).

    The pre-service inspection of the first unit of Kudankulam nuclear plant began by the engineers

    in 2012. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board completed the inspection of reactor pressure

    vessel of Unit-1 and it was found that there were no defects at all.

    UNION CABINET APPROVED CHANGES TO AAJEEVIKA

    The Union Cabinet on 6 May 2013 had cleared important changes to the National Rural

    Livelihoods Mission (Aajeevika) in a major boost to the roll out of the womens self help group

    model across the country.

    The changes is supposed to provide additional resources and additional elasticity to implement

    the NRLM (Aajeevika) in a more effective and accelerated manner across the country thereby

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    creating new livelihoods and empowering women across rural India.

    Highlights of the Changes Approved are

    Improved targeting, by doing away with BPL criteria and instead identifying target groups

    through the Participatory Identification of Poor (PIP) process:

    The Participatory Identification of Poor process has been expansively demonstrated to

    be very effective in states where womens self-help-groups have been succeeded. The

    list finalized through the P.I.P process will be inspected by the Gram Sabha and

    approved by the Gram Panchayat.

    The P.I.P process will also have a set of exclusion criteria, automatic inclusion criteria

    and a set of deprivation indicators for enabling poverty ranking in a participatory

    manner. This delinks N.R.L.M target group from the BPL list. Interest subvention and

    additional interest subvention in 150 districts

    Union Cabinet has approved the provision of interest subvention to Women SHGs,enabling them to avail loans up to 3 lakh Rupees at an interest rate of 7 per cent per

    annum.

    Women SHGs that repay loans in time will get additional 3 per cent subvention,

    reducing the effective rate to 4 per cent. The initiative, in the first phase, would focus on

    150 districts, including the 82 IAP districts, affected by Left Wing Extremism.

    Change in the pattern of financial assistance - replacing Capital subsidy with a Community

    Investment Support fund

    The Cabinet has approved to withdraw capital subsidy to S.H.Gs and instead providefinancial support S.H.G federations and livelihoods organizations of the S.H.G members

    in the intensive blocks through a grant called Community Investment Support fun d.

    Setting up of National Level Society under N.R.L.M for more effective implementation

    The Cabinet also approved the setting up an autonomous, adequately staffed,

    professionally managed and empowered agency at the national level to implement the

    N.R.L.M, called the National Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (N.R.L.P.S) under the

    Societies Registration Act.

    The NRLPS will act as the technical support unit of N.R.L.M. The setting up of such aSociety is essential to implement the programme in a mission mode, as livelihoods

    programmes require a wide range of specialization and experience.

    The Society structure would enable access to high quality professional support, provide

    flexibility to create partnerships and facilitate innovations and would serve as a

    knowledge center for rural livelihoods for the state missions.

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    Further it will provide an opportunity for formally involving State Governments in

    decision-making, by nominating them to the Executive Committee of the Society.

    WOMEN SELF HELP GROUPS TO GET LOW INTEREST LOANS

    The Union Cabinet of India on 1May 2013 approved major changes to the National RuralLivelihoods Mission (NRLM) with the objective of removing poverty in rural areas by

    empowering women. Approximately, 25 lakh Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) will be given

    bank loans at an interest rate of seven percent. They could avail loans upto 3 lakh rupees

    annually. At first, the scheme will begin as a pilot project in 150 districts which includes the 82

    Integrated Action Plan districts affected by naxal violence while 75 per cent of the cost will be

    carried by the Central government and 25 per cent by the States in the rest of the states.

    All women SHGs are now getting bank loans at 11.5 to 14 per cent rate of interest. In the 150

    districts, the Union government will carry the complete cost of the interest subvention from the

    market rate to seven per cent. The entire cost of the project is approximately 1650 crore rupees

    for 2013-14, out of which, 1400 crore rupees shall be carried out by the Union government and

    250 crore rupees by the States.

    Aajeevika - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) was launched by the Ministry of Rural

    Development (MoRD), Government of India in June 2011. Aided in part through investment

    support by the World Bank, the Mission aims at creating efficient and effective institutional

    platforms of the rural poor enabling them to increase household income through sustainable

    livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services.

    AMENDMENTS IN NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY BILL INTRODUCED IN LS

    Ministry for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution introduced amendments in the

    National Food Security Bill in the Lok Sabha on 9 May 2013 and placed the amended Bill for

    consideration and passing by the House. Based on the recommendations of the Standing

    Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, the Government decided to

    move certain amendments to the Bill. These amendments seek to make the framework of the

    proposed legislation simpler, provide more flexibility to States/UTs in its implementation and to

    address some of the concerns raised by them.

    MAIN AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL ARE AS UNDER:

    Coverage and entitlement under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): Instead

    of coverage of up to 75 percent of the rural population and up to 50 percent of the

    urban population under two categories of priority and general households with different

    entitlements and issue prices provided in the original Bill, there would be only one

    category of beneficiaries with uniform entitlement of 5 kg per person per month.

    Protection of entitlements under Targeted Public Distribution System: The entitlement

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    of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, which constitute poorest of the poor will,

    however, be protected at 35 kg per household per month. It is also proposed to accept

    the recommendation of the Committee to protect the existing allocation of food grains

    to the States/UTs, subject to it being restricted to average annual off take during last

    three years (2009-10 to 2011-12).

    State-wise coverage and identification of beneficiaries: Corresponding to coverage of

    75 percent/50 percent of the rural/urban population at the all India level, State-wise

    coverage will be determined by the Planning Commission. The work of identification of

    eligible households is proposed to be left to the States/UTs, which may frame their own

    criteria or use the Social Economic and Caste Census (SECC) data.

    Subsidized Prices under TDPS and their Revision: Uniform prices of 3/2/1 rupees per kg

    for rice/wheat/coarse grains will be applicable to all eligible beneficiaries. It is proposed

    to fix these prices for the first three years of implementation of the Act, and thereafter

    link the same suitably to MSP.

    Cost of intra-State transportation & handling of food grains and FPS Dealers Margin:

    In order to address the concerns of States/UTs regarding additional financial burden, it

    is proposed that Central Government may provide assistance to States towards cost of

    intra-State transportation, handling of food grains and FPS Dealers margin, for which

    norms will be devised.

    Maternity Benefit: It is proposed to allow States/UTs to use the existing machinery of

    District Grievance Redressal Officer (DGRO), State Food Commission, if they so desire, to

    save expenditure on establishment of new set up.

    The National Food Security Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 22 December 2011to addresses the issue of food security in a comprehensive manner, by adopting a life

    cycle approach. The Bill was introduced after a wide-ranging consultation with various

    stakeholders.

    After introduction, the Bill was referred to Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and

    Public Distribution, who interacted with other Central Ministries, various other organizations

    and individuals and visited States before submitting its report to the Speaker, Lok Sabha on 17

    January 2013. The recommendations of the Standing Committee were examined in

    consultation with concerned Central Ministries and also with the Food Ministers and Food

    Secretaries of States/UT.

    At the coverage and entitlement now proposed, total estimated annual food grains

    requirement is 612.3 lakh tons and the corresponding estimated food subsidy for

    implementation of NFSB, at 2013-14 costs, is about 124747 crore rupees. When compared to

    the estimated food subsidy requirement under existing TDPS and Other Welfare Schemes, the

    additional food subsidy implication is about 23800 crore rupees per annum. Requirement for

    assistance to States for meeting the expenditure on Transportation, Handling and FPS Dealers

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    margin, etc., would be additional.

    ECONOMY

    SC UPHELD 51 PERCENT FDI IN MULTI-BRAND RETAIL

    The Supreme Court of India on 1 May 2013 upheld the constitutional validity of Governments

    decision allowing 51 percent foreign direct Investment in the multi-brand retail sector. A bench

    of Justices R M Lodha, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph gave the ruling.

    The bench observed that there was no harm in giving the policy a chance. It saw merit in the

    policy that it would eliminate middlemen and help provide farmers a better price for their

    produce. It dismissed the petition filed against the 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retail. As per

    the court, the policy will affect the lives of only 13.3% of the country's population living in 53

    cities.

    RBI REDUCED THE REPO RATE BY 25 BASIS POINTS TO 7.25 PERCENT

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 3 May 2013 reduced the policy repo rate under the liquidity

    adjustment facility (LAF) by 25 basis points, from 7.5 per cent to 7.25 per cent with immediate

    effect as part of its annual monetary policy statement 2013-14. The reverse repo rate under the

    LAF also stands adjusted to 6.25 per cent. The RBI took this step to boost flagging economic

    growth.

    The Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate, both stand adjusted to 8.25 per

    cent with immediate effect. The Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) of scheduled banks has howeverbeen retained at 4 per cent of their net demand and time liabilities.

    In its Monetary Policy Statement the RBI has stated that the balance of risks stemming from the

    Reserve Bank's assessment of the growth-inflation dynamic yields little space for further

    monetary easing. Interest rates on home and car loans will ease following RBIs decision to cut

    key policy rates. The next mid-quarter review of Monetary Policy for 2013-14 will be announced

    on17 June 2013.

    CCEA APPROVED EXCHANGE TRADE FUND FOR PSU STOCKS

    The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 2 May 2013 cleared the government

    proposal to set up an exchange traded fund backed by a basket of PSU stocks, commonly

    referred as CPSEETF.

    The basic idea behind setting up of fund is that among other benefits, PSU divestments could

    be carried out in a much less disturbing manner for the market and can also incentivize retail

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    investors. An empowered group of ministers would take this forward.

    The government plans to float such a fund so that, The CPSEETF will comprise a basket of

    shares of different PSUs which would track an index, but will trade like a stock on the exchange.

    ICICI Securities is the adviser to the ETF and Goldman Sachs is learnt to be the fund manager.

    The release on CPSEETF noted that each stock would have a fixed weightage in the basket and

    the ETF will give discount to investors. It is important here to note that the Selling a mutual

    fund at a discount to its NAV is a new concept in the Indian market, and would require some

    rule change by the market regulator SEBI.

    GOVERNMENT SET 325 -BILLION DOLLARS EXPORT TARGET FOR 20 13-14

    The Union Government announced an export target of 325 billion dollars for the current

    financial year 2013-14 to support the slowdown in the global markets.

    It is due to the global slowdown in developed regions like that of US and Europe, the exports of

    India went down for the first time in three years with a dip of 1.8 per cent to 300.6 billion

    Dollars in 2012-13, making the trade deficit to a record high level of 191 billion dollars.

    It is important here to note that, the Government had set an export target of 360-billion dollars

    for the financial year 2012-13. According to the provisional figures, export registered an

    increase of 0.8 per cent for the month of January 2013 after a permanent fall during May, June,

    July, August, September, October, November and December 2012.

    AIR INDIA IMPLEMENTED COST CUTTING MEASURES

    Air India on 10 May 2013 declared a set of transformations by implementing certain costcutting measures. The airlines will soon start charging passengers travelling in economy class on

    domestic sectors for food. The recommendations on transformation suggested by the

    committee constituted to suggest cost-cutting measures for the bleeding national carrier were

    accepted by the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation.

    The constituted committee has suggested a set of 46 recommendations, which when

    implemented will save an estimated annual expenditure of 3240 crore rupees. One of the major

    recommendations suggested by the committee is serving tea, cold drinks, coffee, peanuts and

    biscuits, free of cost by doing away the meal. The complete meal on an Air India flight costs 175

    rupees which will come down to 25 rupees, with the implementation of recommendation and

    help in saving about 100 crore rupees annually to Air India.

    The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has recommended to Air India to implement the

    recommendations and provide a schedule on implementation to it within a weeks time. The

    Ministry of Civil Aviation on 29 April 2013 allowed airlines to unbundle charges for services like

    preferential seating, meals, snacks, drinks (doesnt include water) and use of lounges and

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    baggage.

    The free baggage allowance was reduced to 15 kg from previous 20 kg by Air India and Jet

    Airways, following the announcement from the Ministry of Civil Aviation. For baggage above 15

    kg, 250 rupees per kg extra will be charged by the passengers. The decision from the Aviation

    Ministry came up in wake up of the nod given to Air Asia to launch a local airline by the UnionMinistry of Finance.

    The constituted committee that suggested the recommendations on the cost cutting measures

    and Optimal Utilisation of Resources in Air India was a five-member Committee, headed by

    Ravindra H. Dholakia, Professor of Economics and Public Systems, IIM, Ahmedabad to suggest

    various measures for cost cutting and optimal utilisation of resources in Air India.

    RBI DECIDED TO LAUNCH INFLATION INDEXED BONDS (IIBS)

    The RBI (Reserve Bank of India) on 15 May 2013 decided to launch Inflation Indexed Bonds

    (IIBs). The first tranche of the IIBs 2013-2014 for 1000 to 2000 crore rupees will be issued on 4

    June 2013. The maturity period of these bonds will be 10 years. The total issue size will be

    12000 to 15000 crore rupees in 2013 to 14.

    The RBI will do on monthly basis to attract household savings of up to 15000 crore rupees so as

    to discourage investments in gold. After the first tranche, bonds will be issued on the last

    Tuesday of every month. While the first series of the bonds will be open for all class of

    investors, the second series issue - beginning October - will be reserved exclusively for retail

    investors.

    CORPORATE

    IVAN MENEZES WAS NAMED NEW CEO OF DIAGEO

    Ivan Menezes was named as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Spirits Company Diageo

    on 7 May 2013. He replaced Paul Walsh who remained the CEO of this British firm since 2000.

    Ivan Menezes was the Chief Operating Officer of the company.

    Menezes will take on his office from 1 July 2013. The Chairman of Diageo, Franz Humer

    explained that the handover of the role of CEO was given to Ivan Menezes at the time when

    their business was strong in terms of global development.

    Ivan Menezes originally hailed from India. He later headed up the key North America division of

    Diageo for 8 years before he was appointed as the COO in 2012. Paul Walsh, 57, has not

    decided about his new job yet. He however has a lot of corporate non-executive roles. He was

    also working as the business ambassador of the business department of the British

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    government.

    UK'S CAIRN ENERGY SOLD 8 % STAKE IN CAIRN INDIA FOR 910 US $

    UKs Cairn Energy plc on 7 May 2013 sold 8 per cent stake in Cairn India for 910 million US

    dollars. Cairn Energy retains about 10 per cent shareholding in Cairn India following the sale.

    The fund will be used to fulfill Cairns current capital needs, which include the development of

    discovered resources in the North Sea. Cairn Energy in June 2012 had sold 3.5 per cent stake in

    Cairn India for about 360 million US dollars. Cairn Energy is based in Edinburgh.

    I FF CO S IG NED A GR EEM E NT W IT H V AL E SA F OR S UP PL Y OF R OC K

    PHOSPHATE

    Indian Farmers Fertiliser Co-operative (IFFCO), on 11 May 2013 signed a long-term agreement

    with Brazilian mining company Vale SA for supply of rock phosphate. It is used in manufacturing

    phosphatic soil nutrients.

    IFFCO signed this agreement in order to strengthen its phosphate sourcing for manufacturing of

    phosphatic fertilisers in India.

    IL&FS INFRASTRUCTURE SIGNED MOU WITH 8 PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS

    IL&FS Infra Asset Management Limited (IAML), an Asset Management Company (AMC)

    promoted by IL&FS Financial Services Limited (IFIN) to manage the IL&FS Infrastructure Debt

    Fund (IIDF), on 13 May 2013 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with eight Public

    Sector Banks (PSBs) including Allahabad Bank, Bank of India, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India,Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce and UCO Bank for acquisition of

    infrastructure loans.

    Signing this landmark MoU which will pave the way for setting-up of more such infra debt funds

    and financing thereof.

    IIDF will complement domestic banks in providing required funding to infrastructure sector and

    would be integral part of the IL&FS Groups efforts in taking Indias infrastructure growth story

    to the next level.

    STAR INDIA LAUNCHED STAR MOVIES ACTIONS

    Star India in the month of May 2013 launched its new movie channel, Star Movies Actions,

    which is targeted at male audiences.

    The new channel is supposed to replaces the companys action brand Fox Action Movies. The

    channel had strong tie-ups with the top four Hollywood studios and has a library of nearly 300

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    exclusive movies. The channel is going to begin with having premiers of recent action movies

    that includes Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter and Taken 2. The channel will also be airing

    big franchisee movies such as Rambo, Fast and Furious, Resident Evil and Jaws.

    On the other hand, there are several new brands targeting males that were being launched

    across categories such as automobiles, two-wheelers, handsets and consumer goods, and thecompany was banking on these brands for Star Movies Action.

    The company has planned an aggressive marketing plan to promote the channel. While the

    band Pentagram has sung a special channel anthem for Star Movies Action, the company would

    be spending on promotion across mediums.

    COMPAT ORDERED CEMENT MANUFACTURERS TO DEPOSIT 630 CRORE

    The Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT) on 17 May 2013 ordered 11 cement

    manufacturers to deposit an amount of 630 crore Rupees before it heard manufacturers

    appeal against 6307 crore Rupees fine imposed on them by Competition Commission of India(CCI) in June 2012. Competition Commission of India (CCI) is the competition watchdog for price

    manipulation as well as cartelization. COMPAT posted cement manufacturers case for final

    hearing in the month of August 2013.

    COMPAT had ordered the cement manufacturers to deposit a 10 percent amount of total

    penalty imposed on it by CCI in June 2012.

    THE LIST OF THESE C EMENT MANUFACTURERS INCLUDE:

    JP Associates

    UltraTech Cement

    Ambuja Cements

    ACC

    Binani Cement

    India Cements

    Grasim Cements

    Madras Cements

    Century Textiles

    JK Cements

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    Indian unit of France's Lafarge SA

    All these manufacturers have been ordered to make the payment within one month. Failure of

    doing so will result in their appeal being dismissed.

    The spokesperson for JP Associates explained that all the cement manufacturers were looking

    for different options, which also includes challenging the decision of COMPAT in Supreme

    Court. The matter will also be discussed with the Cement Manufacturers Association of India

    (CMA).

    CCI imposed highest penalty of 1323.6 crore Rupees on the JP Associates. Additionally, the fine

    of 73 lakh was imposed on CMA. The penalty was stayed by the Competition Appellate Tribunal,

    but the desist order as well as the cease order would remain against these manufacturers.

    ENVIRONMENT ECOLOGY

    CAMARILLO SPRINGS WILDFIRE BROKE OUT IN CALIFORNIA

    Camarillo Springs Wildfire broke on 2 May 2013 near Camarillo in California. Six huge wildfires

    in all broke in California, which tripled in size since 3 May 2013. Over 3000 fire fighters struggle

    with the blazes in California. Among these wildfires, one of the fiercest fire compelled shutting

    down Pacific Coast Highway for second time, with 30-mile stretch off-limits.

    Camarillo Springs Wildfire is spread over the area of 18000 acres. The wildfires, also known as

    Springs Fire reached north-west of Los Angeles, thereby posing a major threat to various homes

    as well. Fire crews in America have already dealt with 680 wildfires in 2013. This Springs Fire

    has already damaged over 12 homes and there are more than 4000 other homes at risk.

    WEATHER CHANGE AFFECTING SPRINGS FIRE

    Change in wind direction is also affecting the wildfire because the wind fanned the fire through

    coastal wilderness to the beach. The fire is fanned by dry Santa Ana winds. These winds are

    occurring late in 2013. It is the strange weather pattern and is also affecting the firemen dealing

    with the wildfire.

    However, the National Weather Service predicted that calmer ocean air might raise humidity

    level which would help in fighting the fire.

    OTHER FIRES IN THE RECENT PAST IN CALIFORNIA

    McNally Fire in 2002 spread over 150700 acres was the largest fire in Sequoia NF

    history.

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    In 2003, Old Fire broke out over an area of 91281 acres.

    Cedar Fire in 2003, spread over an area of 280278 acres was the largest recorded fire in

    the history of California.

    September 2005 California wildfires broke out over an area of 17000 acres.

    Esperanza Fire broke out in 2006 over 40200 acres of area.

    In 2007, Angora Fire broke out in California over 3500 acres of area.

    In 2007, Zaca Fire broke out in California over 240207 acres of area. It was the second

    largest fire recorded in the history of California.

    California wildfires of October 2007 were a series of wildfires over 500000 acres of area.

    In 2008, summer 2008 California wildfires broke out in Northern California. It was

    spread over 1557293 acres of area.

    In 2009, Station Fire broke out in California. It was spread over 157220 acres of area. It is

    the 10th largest fire in the history of the state.

    In 2012, Ponderosa Fire broke in California. It was spread over 28098 acres of area and

    destroyed 52 residences and 81 outbuildings apart from damaging 1 residence and 5

    outbuildings.

    IUCN: SYZYGIUM TRAVNCORICUM REMOVED FROM RED LIST

    The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in the first week of May 2013removed the critically endangered Syzygium Travncoricum (locally known as kulavetti or

    vadhamkolli) tree endemic to Kerala from its red list.

    Kerela Forest Research Institute (KFRI) conducted a field study in wake of the IUCN classification

    and suggested that the tree can now be moved to the endangered list.

    The tree entered the critically endangered list of IUCN in 1998 on the basis of the Conservation

    Assessment Management Plan (CAMP) workshop conducted under the Biodiversity

    Conservation Prioritisation Project India. IUCN classified the Syzygium Travncoricum under the

    critically endangered Red List after the camp study discovered that due to habitat destruction

    (the prime cause) the estimated population of the tree went below 200.

    Maximum of the last trees of the Syzygium Travncoricum group were seen in Southern Part of

    the state raising concerns of the environmentalist about the tree.

    GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO BAN TRADE OF PEACOCK FEATHERS

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    The Environment Ministry of India decided to put a ban on the trade of peacock feathers as a

    measure to conserve the national bird of India- peacock.

    The government has no data regarding peacock population, but it is evident that the number of

    peacocks in India is dwindling because of poaching of the feathers which fetches good price in

    not just international markets, but also within Indian markets.

    World Wide Fund for nature in 1991 did the only stock-taking of peacock population in India. It

    was found that India had only 50 percent of overall peacock population left, in comparison to

    what existed during independence. It is believed that the population of the peacocks went

    down even more since 1991 because of a rise in poaching as well as habitat loss.

    There has been an increased demand of the peacock feathers, also called Morpankh. Therefore,

    the Environment Ministry decided to completely ban the trade of any kind (sale, purchase or

    transport) of the peacock feathers.

    Environment and Forest Minister Jayanthi Natarajan explained that the decision was taken to

    put a complete ban on the trade of Morpankh.

    WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT, 1972 AND THE TRADE OF NATURALLY SHED PEACOCK

    FEATHERS

    Trading of the naturally shed peacock feathers is permitted under the Wildlife Protection Act,

    1972. This act completely prohibits peacock killing. However, because of the loophole in the

    Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, extensive killing of peacocks takes place in India for the lucrative

    business of peacock feathers.

    With the approval of the Union Government of India, an amendment will be made to theWildlife Protection Act, 1972 in order to make trading of any body part of national bird an

    offence, which would be equivalent to the punishment granted for killing the other non-

    endangered species. This means that anyone caught buying or selling the peacock feathers or

    the trophies would be jailed for up to 2 years under amended Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

    ARCTIC SEA IS BECOMING ACIDIC: RESEARCH

    Scientists from Norway's Center for International Climate and Environmental Research in their

    report unveiled that the Arctic seas are becoming acidic rapidly because of carbon dioxide

    emissions. Widespread changes were observed in the ocean chemistry of Arctic.

    The scientists explained that even if the carbon dioxide emissions stopped; it would still take

    thousands of years for the chemistry of Arctic Ocean to revert back to the pre-industrial levels.

    A lot of creatures such as the commercially important fishes would be affected because of this.

    The scientists additionally forecasted that a lot of changes in marine ecosystem will also take

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    place. But what these changes would be is hard to tell.

    It is an already established fact that the carbon dioxide leads to warming of the plant, but it is

    not known to a lot of people that it also make the alkaline seas even more acidic when these

    seas absorb carbon dioxide from air. This absorption is faster in cold waters and therefore the

    Arctic sea is very vulnerable. It is worth noticing that the recent decrease in the summer sea iceexposed the sea surface to atmospheric carbon dioxide.

    The vulnerability of Arctic is intensified because of the increasing flow of freshwater from the

    melting land ice and rivers. This is so because freshwater is not that effective at neutralising the

    acidifying effects of carbon dioxide.

    Nordic Seas are other seas that are acidifying over range of depths, quickly in the surface

    waters as well as slowly in the deep waters. The research team, while exploring the acidifying

    effects, monitored decreases in the seawater pH of around 0.02 per decade ever since late

    1960s in Barents seas and Iceland. Acidification has also been observed in surface waters of

    Bering Strait as well as Canada Basin of the central Arctic Ocean.

    Scientists observed that average acidity of ocean waters across the world is around 30 percent

    higher than what it was before Industrial Revolution.

    EU DECIDED TO ISSUE BAN ON PESTICIDES THAT HARM BEES

    The European Union made decision in May 2013 to impose a continent-wide ban on the

    Pesticides namely neonicotinoids that harm bees. The EU came up with a decision to ban the

    use of the pesticides after scientists came up with the conclusion that chemicals posed an acute

    risk to honeybees that pollinate many of the crops grown in Europe on a commercial scale.

    Bees as pollinators play a vital role in food production. The hives of honeybees across the globe

    are dying off in the phenomenon that is known as Colony Collapse disorder.

    The European countries in May 2013 voted on banning neonicotinoids, which is mainly found in

    pesticides. Fifteen of the twenty seven member states that included France voted for a two-

    year restriction on the neonicotinoids which is not enough to form a qualified majority. The

    voting was made amid strong opposition from chemical companies.

    The final decision is now with the European commission, which will implement the ban.

    According to EU rules, the Commission will now impose a two-year restriction on

    neonicotinoids.

    Neonicotinoids are mainly produced mainly Switzerland's Syngenta and Germany's Bayer. The

    conservationists called up for a ban on the use, whereas the organizations related to agriculture

    claimed that farmers will face hardship and will have an impact on food production, which will

    cost Europe a loss of billions of Euros due to loss of crop yield.

    As per a United Nations report released in 2011, the bees and other pollinators like butterflies,

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    birds and beetles do a worldwide work of pollination that worth 203 billion dollar every year.

    SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

    US SCIENTISTS DEVELOPED FIRST SMART RFID-ENABLED PAPER

    The scientists at the North Dakota State University developed a process called Laser Enabled

    Advanced Packaging (Leap) which can help embed the radio frequency identification (RFID)

    chips on the paper. This process is cheaper and faster as well as it offers a range of applications

    than the present method.

    This technique is useful for preventing fraudulent practices. It also gives a new meaning to

    paper trail. In this process, lasers are used to transfer as well as assemble the chips on the

    paper. The paper would thus be called a smart paper, which in turn can be used for various

    purposes such as smart labels, banknotes, tickets and legal documents.

    These findings would be presented at Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

    conference on RFID in Orlando, Florida.

    There are already some RFID-enabled papers in the market but chip are thicker, which leads to

    either bumpy surface or bulky paper. This means that such a paper would not be printed.

    The chips are at first, thinned by the plasma etcher. The technology is yet to be patented. It

    makes use of the laser beams energy in order to transfer the ultra-thin chips precisely.

    Antennas are embedded by making use of the same method.

    Prof Val Marinov, the Head of the project explained that this process was twice faster than the

    present method of manufacturing. It is also cheaper because of less material used. Therefore,

    there is an extensive potential for this technology.

    Prof Val Marinov also explained that the European bank and Bank of Japan had hinted towards

    their intention for development of this technology, but they did not go for it. Therefore, the

    technology developed by the US scientists is the first one which demonstrates the functional

    RFID tag embedded in paper.

    The team that developed the technology is now looking for the commercial partners of this

    technology.

    WHAT IS RFID?

    RFID is expanded as Radio-frequency identification. RFID is primarily the wireless non-contact

    application of the radio-frequency electromagnetic fields for transferring data. It is used for

    automatic identification as well as tracking the tags which are attached to the objects.

    The tags are encompassed with electronically stored information. Some of these tags are

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    powered as well as read at the short ranges through the electromagnetic induction or magnetic

    fields. Other tags make use of the local power source like battery, but they collect the energy

    from interrogating EM field.

    IBM RELEASED SMALLEST STOP MOTION FILM; A BOY AND HIS ATOM

    The IBM scientists on 1 May 2013 released the smallest movie of the world called A Boy and His

    Atom. The movie tracks movement of the atoms which are magnified 100 million times.

    The movie, A Boy and His Atom, is a story of the character called Atom who in turn befriends

    the single atom and then follows him on journey of bouncing and dancing which helps in

    explaining the science behind the data storage.

    A scientist at IBM Research, Andreas Heinrich explained that positioning, shaping and capturing

    the atoms in order to create the original motion picture on atomic level was completely first-of-

    its-kind and precise science. The movie is actually a fun-filled way of sharing the atomic-scale

    world.

    HOW WAS THE SMALLEST MOVIE OF THE WORLD MADE?

    In order to make this movie, the scientists moved the atoms with the help of IBM-invented

    scanning tunneling microscope. Scanning Tunneling Microscope is the device which helped its

    inventors to get the Nobel Prize as well. This was the first tool which helped the scientists in

    seeing the world in the form of single atoms.

    The device weighs two tons and operates at the temperature of -268 degrees Celsius. It

    magnifies the atomic surface more than 100 million times. With the availability of this device,

    IBM Research lab is one of those rare places in the world where it is possible to move the atoms

    with precision of such a level.

    Guinness Book of World Records certified this movie as the World's Smallest Stop Motion Film.

    The film made use of the microscope in order to control the super-sharp needle along copper

    surface in order to attract the atoms as well as molecules and then, in turn, pull them to

    specified location on any surface.

    Such a kind of science could help in improvement of computer data storage. This is so because

    the data creation as well as consumption is getting bigger and therefore, there is a need of

    making data storage smaller. IBM is now applying this technique for developing new computerarchitectures as well as alternative ways for storing the data in order to make this movie.

    US SCIENTISTS CREATED WORLDS SMALLEST FLYING ROBOT ROBO-FLY

    US Scientists at the Harvard University created a robot of the size of fly which can perform fast

    manoeuvres of omnipresent insects. The robot called Robo-Fly is built from the carbon fibre

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    which weighs just a fraction of the gram and also has super-fast electronic muscles that are

    used to power the wings.

    The developers of the robot described that the tiny robots like these could be used in various

    rescue operations. For example, such a kind of the robot could be used for navigating through

    the tiny spaces in buildings which have collapsed.

    Dr Kevin Ma of Harvard University as well as his team which was led by Dr Robert Wood

    described their creation as the world's smallest flying robot.

    The fly-like agility that this robot encompasses, allows it to evade the fastest human efforts to

    swat them. This ability came because of precise wing movements.

    The robot has the ability to perform immediate evasive manoeuvres as well as hover, by

    constant adjustment of the effect of lift and thrust which acts on the body at extremely high

    speed. Like any real fly, the flexible and thin wings of the robot can beat around 120 times per

    second.

    This high speed of the wings can be achieved with the help of a special substance known as

    piezoelectric material. This material contracts each time with the application of the voltage to

    it. The scientists switched on and off the voltage very rapidly and this helped them in making

    the material behave like tiny muscles which make the flys wings beat very fast.

    The scientists explained that the primary goal of this research was not to build the useful robot,

    but understand the flight working of the insects. However, now, with the development of the

    robot, there could be various uses of the machine. These robots could also be used for the

    monitoring of the environment by being dispersed into habitat for sensing trace chemicals or

    certain other factors.

    Dr Ma also explained that these robots were able to behave like the real insects and could also

    help in pollination of crops. At present, the model of robo-fly is small, off-board power source.

    However, in the next step, it would be created as the completely wireless flying robot.

    WORLDS FIRST GUN MA DE FROM 3D PRINTER T ECHNOLOGY FIRED

    The first gun of the world made out of 3D printer technology was fired successfully in US.

    Defense Distributed created this firearm and the form also planned to make these blueprints

    available online.

    Defense Distributed spent a year for creation of this firearm, which was fired successfully on 4

    May 2013 at firing range south of Austin, Texas. The anti-gun campaigners criticised this

    project, while the law enforcement of Europe is monitoring the developments of this project.

    Victoria Baines of cybercrime centre of Europol explained that the criminals at present were

    likely to pursue the established routes for obtaining these firemans, but with the passage of

    time, the 3D printer technology would become more user-friendly as well as cost-effective,

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    thereby posing risks.

    Cody Wilson, 25, a student of the University of Texas is the head of Defense Distributed. 3D

    printing has successfully been called the future of manufacturing.

    WORKING OF THE 3D PRIN TER TECHNOLOGY

    The 3D printer technology works by building layer upon layer of the material, which is basically

    plastic. This is done in order to build the complex and solid objects.

    This technology is cheaper and instead of buying the goods from markets, the consumers will

    be able to download its designs. Then these can be printed out at the home itself.

    However, like all technologies, there are advantages as well as disadvantages. The first gun of

    the world made out of 3D printer technology cost 8000 US dollar from eBay. The gun was

    assembled from different printed components which were made out of ABS plastic. The firing

    pin was made out of metal.

    Cody Wilson was given the manufacturing as well as sellers license from US Bureau of Alcohol,

    Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in order to make this gun.

    US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) official Donna Sellers explained

    that the gun was legal in US as long as it wasnt a National Firearms Act weapon.

    3D printing technology was used in the past by certain criminal organisations for creation of

    card readers skimmers, which are inserted in the bank machines. Law enforcement agencies

    across the world have professionals for monitoring cybercrimes.

    NEW TYPE OF WHEAT DEVELOPED TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY

    British scientists developed a new type of wheat which could increase productivity by 30

    percent. The last 15 years have registered little growth in the average wheat harvest from each

    acre in Britain. The Cambridge-based National Institute of Agricultural Botany combined an

    ancient ancestor of wheat with a modern variety to produce a new strain. The scientists used

    cross-pollination and seed embryo transfer technology to transfer some of the resistance of the

    ancient ancestor of wheat into modern British varieties.

    The resulting crop turned out to be bigger and stronger than the current modern wheat

    varieties. Scientists will carry out more tests before it is harvested by farmers. This Scientificdevelopment ensures that the global food security demands of the next five decades can be

    met.

    SPORTS

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    ALEX FERGUSON MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER RETIRED

    Alex Ferguson on 8 May 2013 declared that he would step down as the Manager of Manchester

    United at the end of the season. His declaration has put to an end, his 26 years journey as the

    in-charge of Manchester United. After retirement, he will join the board of the football club.

    The 71 year old, Alex Ferguson would step down from the position of manager after the

    Uniteds game against West Bromwich Albion to be played on 19 May 2013. Alex will now take

    over the position of both Director and Ambassador for the club.

    ABOUT ALEX FERGUSON

    Alex Ferguson is the most successful manager in the English Football History

    He took over the charge of the team as its manager in 1986 from Ron Atkinson and since

    then has helped the team in winning five FA Cups and two Champions League

    In 26 years of his journey he managed to win 13 league titles

    He was the in charge of 1498 matches for the club

    After taking the charge of Manchester United, he helped the team to win the English

    title of 1992-93 by defeating Liverpool

    Players like David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, Eric Cantona, Cristiano

    Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney started their career under Alex Ferguson

    Championships Won under Alex Ferguson by Manchester United

    Championships Years of Winning

    Premier League 1993, 1994, 1996,

    1997, 1999, 2000,

    2001, 2003, 2007,

    2008, 2009, 2011 and

    2013

    Champions League 1999 and 2008

    FA (Football Association)

    Cup

    1990, 1994, 1996,

    1999 and 2004

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    League Cup 1992, 2006, 2009 and

    2010

    FIFA World Cup 2008

    India Bagged 2 Silver and 7 Bronze Medals in Commonwealth Championship

    India on 10 May 2013 finished their candidature in the tournament with a record haul of 2

    Silver and 7 Bronze in the 19th Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships that concluded in

    New Delhi.

    One silver medal on behalf of India was won by Soumyajit Ghosh and Mouma Das in the mixed

    doubles event, and the other one was won by the men's team earlier in the tournament.

    Indians represented the country in atleast six of the eight tournaments that included doubles

    too, but didnt turned up to be successful in securing a gold medal for the country. At the same

    time, Singapore delivered the best and claimed gold in every category except the women's

    individual competition. Mo Zhang from Canada pulled off the gold from Singapores world no

    27 Mengyu Mu by securing a 4-3 win in the finals.

    SREESANTH AND TWO OTHERS ARRESTED FOR SPOT-FIXING

    Indian fast bowler, S. Sreesanth and his two team mates from Rajasthan Royals namely A