current affairs november 2013 ebook(1)

Current Affairs eBook November 2013 www.jagranjosh.com2

PREFACE 13

PICK OF THE MONTH 14

ISRO successfully launched Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) 14

COP-19, UN Climate Change Conference 2013 Concluded at Warsaw, Poland 19The UNFCCC’s 19th Conference of the Parties (COP19) began on 11 November 2013 at Warsaw, Poland. 19

Prof. CNR Rao and Sachin Tendulkar Selected for Bharat Ratna Award 21

Iran and P5+1 Group of Nations clinched Nuclear Deal 27

22nd CHOGM Summit ended with adoption of three declarations 30

Magnus Carlsen of Norway Dethroned Vishwanathan Anand 33

Virat Kohli became Fastest Batsman to Score 5000 Runs in ODIs 35

Union Cabinet approved a proposal to set up Legislative Council in Assam 36

India’s 1st Synthetic Rubber Plant inaugurated in Panipat, Haryana 37

National Tiger Conservation Authority approved fifth tiger reserve in Maharashtra 37

First Integrated Checkpost along India-Bangladesh border inaugurated 38

Bharatiya Mahila Bank launched by Prime Minister of India 40

Angela Merkel, German Chancellor selected for Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace 2013 41

Abdulla Yameen sworn in as the President of Maldives 42

Latvian Prime Minister resigned over supermarket collapse 43

INS Vikramaditya commissioned in Indian Navy 44

India to host Men’s Hockey World Cup in 2018 46

Nepali Congress emerged as Single largest Party in Nepal Constituent Assembly elections 46

Vice-President of India, Hamid Ansari Visited Cuba 47

INTERNATIONAL 48

US exempted India and China from Iranian Sanctions 48

UN health agency issues new guidelines for treating severe acute child malnutrition 49

European Union has signed an agreement to provide financial assistance to Egypt 50

Silvio Berlusconi expelled from Italian Parliament 51

Dubai to host World Expo 2020 51


Raheel Sharif appointed as new Army Chief of Pakistan 52

NATO launched Cyber Defence Exercise ‘‘Cyber Coalition 2013’’ 53

Pakistan Launched Construction of Country’s Largest Nuclear Power Project 54

Pakistan launched military operations against terrorists near Afghan border 54

Thailand PM declared Emergency Law for Bangkok 55

Geneva II Syria peace conference set for 22 January 2014: Ban Ki Moon 55

India and Malaysia Signed MoU to boost co-operation in Public Administration 56

Loya Jirga gave consent on Afghan-US Bilateral Security Agreement 56

Heads of Competition Authorities of BRICS Nations signed the Delhi Accord 57

India and Vietnam signed Eight Agreements 58

UN urged Myanmar to grant Rights to Rohingya Muslims 61

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro got Special Powers 61

Preneet Kaur, the Minister of State for External Affairs of India visited Serbia 62

Iran unveiled New Biggest Drone Fotros with 2000 Km Range 62

OPCW adopted final roadmap for destruction of Syria’s Chemical Weapons 63

India and Australia signed two agreements 64

IAF C 130J sent to Philippines on a Humanitarian Aid Mission 65

Fifth Session of India-Ukraine Inter-Governmental Commission held 66

UN Court ruled for Cambodia in Thailand Border Row 66

Afghanistan signed Agreement with ADB for the Development of Dara-Suf to Yakawlang Highway-

India and Japan decided to strengthen their Cooperation in the Maritime Sector 68

India and Kuwait signed five pacts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in Culture and Education

69

Engineers to attempt extraction of fuel rods from the wrecked reactor at Fukushima 71

India-Republic of Korea Joint Commission Meeting held 71

UNESCO suspended the Voting Rights of US and Israel 71

Emomali Rahmon Reelected as the President of Tajikistan 72

Pakistan Successfully Test Fired Surface-to-Surface Missile Hatf IX (Nasr) 73

73

India and China set to hold 3rd Joint Military Exercises after five years 74

Russia and Japan agreed to expand their Defence Ties 74


13th Council of Ministers Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association held in Australia 75

India and Vietnam signed Treaty on the Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners 77

China opened new Highway linking Medog to Zhamog near Arunachal Pradesh border 77

Six Major Central Banks made Currency Swap Accords Permanent 78

WORLD DAIRY 79

NATIONAL 85

Supreme Court set up Internal Committee to Deal with Sexual Harassment Complaints 85

Union Cabinet Approved land transfer for Dr B. R. Ambedkar Memorial 86

VVPATS used on large-scale for 1st time in Mizoram Polls 86

National Lok Adalat settled over 28 Lakh cases pending in Courts across the Country 88

EGoM Approved Higher Base Price for upcoming Spectrum Auction 88

Amendment of Article 371(D) and bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh 89

Gurgaon’s Rapid Metro-India’s First Metro Service on Public Private Model 89

PrasarBharti and Radio-Television of Slovenia inked Broadcasting MoU 90

Union Government of India nod for three year BSc Community Health Course 91

India declared itself free from Bird Flu 91

Union Minister of Minority Affairs launched National Portal on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad 92

India Signed Financing and Project Agreements with World Bank for Disaster Management 93

CCI Imposed Penalty on Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners’ Association 94

Union Cabinet approved the Visa Waiver Agreements with Poland, Slovenia and Lithuania 95

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reconstituted the Medical Council of India 95

First Ever Dual Cab Freight Diesel Locomotive Vijay Flagged Off by the Minister of Railways 96

Ministry of External Affairs launched mPassport Seva Mobile App for iOS and Windows Phone

Platforms 98

New Delhi to host 12th Edition of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2014 98

India won election to United Nations Board of Auditors 99

INDIA DAIRY 101


ECONOMY 107RBI relaxed the norms for participation of NBFCs in Insurance Joint Ventures 107

SMS alerts from the Banks will be Chargeable now : RBI 108

RBI decided to include Medium Manufacturing Enterprises under Priority Sector 108

RBI widened definition of Infrastructure lending Sub Category 109

CCEA approved continuation of Agriculture Export Plan of APEDA 109

National Innovation Council got approval of 75 percent Innovation Fund Corpus 110

RBI Directed Public Sector Banks to give loans to women SHGs at 7 percent 111

Government approved twenty proposals of Foreign Direct Investment 112

Government announced the Provision for Higher Sugar Export 115

Government Introduced Risk Management System (RMS) for Trade Facilitation in Export Sector

115

Industrial production grew by 2 percent in September 2013 116

RBI allowed third-party payment for Export and Import Transactions 116

RBI permitted foreign banks subsidiaries to acquire domestic private sector banks 118

Gross Direct Tax Collections up by 11.58 Percent 119

Government decided to extend the sale of 5 Kg LPG cylinders at petrol pumps 120

FDI inflows into the Service Sector declined by 47.5 Percent 121

ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT 122

New Species of Wild Cat found in Brazil 122

State law can’t prevail over Central law on Sand Mining: National Green Tribunal 123

Four New Catfish species discovered in Kerala State 124

CCEA approved scientific deep drilling in the Koyna intra-plate seismic zone in Maharashtra 125

Carbon Dioxide Could Warm Earth for Centuries 125

Acid Rain, Ozone Depletion Contributed to Ancient Extinction 127

Cyclone Helen Struck Andhra Pradesh Coast 127

Assam Government announced High Security Measures Against Poachers at Kaziranga National

Park 130

Bangladesh became the First South Asian Country to approve Commercial Cultivation of Bt Brinjal

131


SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 132

Biocon got DCGI Approval for Breast Cancer Drug-Biosimilar Trastuzumab 132

India successfully Test Fired Advanced Version of BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile 133

133

World’s First Green Helicopter Tested in Germany 133

Russia successfully launched Proton-M Rocket Carrying a Military Satellite 134

Agni-1 missile test fired from Wheeler Island off Odisha coast 135

Oceans acidifying at Unprecedented Rate: International Scientific Study 135

NASA Cassini Spacecraft provided New View of Saturn and Earth 136

Microsoft developed New Sign Language Translator-KINECT 137

IICT, Hyderabad received samples for detection of Chemical Weapons from OPCW 138

Europe’s cargo-carrier, the ATV-4 accomplished its Mission 139

CORPORATE 140

Google has set up election portal in India 140

NALCO Received EEPC Export Award for 2011-12 141

Cadila Pharmaceuticals launched Mycidac-C, a lung cancer drug 141

24 Percent Jet Airways Equity allotted to Etihad Airways 141

CCI approved Jet-Etihad deal worth 2058 Crore Rupees 142

MCX signed MoU with China’s DCE 143

Krishna Mohan Sahni appointed Chairman of the National Multi-Commodity Exchange of India

143

MTNL signed MoU with US Firm to impart Security Training in India 144

SBI increased Lending Rates by 0.20 Percent 145

Sunita Sharma appointed as the MD and CEO of the LIC Housing Finance 145

Dr. Reddy to launch an anti-blood clot drug in Canada 146

Bharti Airtel signed an Agreement with the Warid Group 146

IIMC signed International Cooperation Agreement with Queensland University of Technology 146

Piramal Enterprises acquired Caladryl from Valeant Pharma 147

HUDCO signed MoU with School of Planning and Architecture 148


SPORTS 149

Sports Ministry signed MoU with Department of AIDS Control 149

India defeated West Indies in the cricket ODI series 150

Nepal and UAE qualified for ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2014 151

Indian Team Announced For Junior Men Hockey World Cup 2013 151

World water-skier Champion Sarah Teelow died 152

Deepak Lathore won Gold and Silver Medals at Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 152

Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu reappointed as India Boxing Coach 153

Indian Senior Women Hockey Team Coach Inderjit Singh Gill Died 153

V. Baskaran appointed as Coach of the Senior Men Hockey Team 154

Darvis Patton, the US sprinter and two time Olympic Medalist retired 155

Redek Stepanek clinched Davis Cup for Czech Republic 155

Sebastian Vettel won the United States Grand Prix for record 8th successive victory 156

Bolt and Fraser-Pryce were crowned World Athletes of 2013 156

India won the two match test series against West Indies by 2-0 157

Bengal topped the medal list of the 23rd G V Mavalankar Shooting Championship 157

India moved to second position in ICC test ranking 158

South Africa defeated Pakistan to Clinch ODI Series 4-1 in UAE 159

Novak Djokovic won Barclays ATP World Tour Final after defeating Rafael Nadal 159

Indian Men’s Hockey Team finished fifth at 3rd Asian Champions Trophy 2013 159

Mohammed Siddikur won Indian Open Golf Tournament 2013 160

Heena Sidhu became Third Indian Shooter to Win Gold at Rifle/Pistol World Cup 160

Mark Schwarzer retired from International Football 161

Paralympic Powerlifter Ali Jawad won Gold at the Asian Open Championships 162

Yuki Bhambri won the Traralgon title 162

Abraham K Techi appointed International Weightlifting Referee 162

Novak Djokovic won BNP Paribas Masters Tennis Tournament 2013 163

Sebastian Vettel won Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix 2013 163

Indian Men’s Hockey Team qualified for Hockey World Cup 2014 164

Rohit Sharma became Third Cricketer in the World to Score a Double Hundred in ODI 165


India defeated Australia 3-2 in the seven matches cricket ODI series 166

India won Gold in 18th Asian Archery Competition at Chinese Taipei 167

STATE 168

Tripura Introduced PVC-Electoral Photo Identity Cards First Time in the Country 168

Cyclone Lehar Struck Andhra Pradesh Coast 169

Gujarat Government set up panel to probe Snooping Scandal 170

Karnataka Minister Santosh Lad Resigned over Allegation of Illegal Mining 170

Haryana Launched its First Food Bank at Gurgaon with Support from Cargill 170

RAF Academy of Public Order inaugurated in Meerut 171

NEWS CAPSULE 172

Person in news 172

Abdullah Yameen won Maldives Presidential Polls 172

Kenichi Ito set his new Quadruped Record 173

Miss Venezuela Gabriela Isler Won Miss Universe 2013 173

Person Appointed 174

Satyananda Mishra appointed as Chairman of Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) 174

Neeraj Sahai appointed as President of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services 175

Justice Ajit Prakash Shah appointed as Chairman of Law Commission of India 175

Five Central Information Commissioners Appointed to CIC 176

Nisha Desai Biswal sworn in as US Asst. Secretary of State for South and Central Asia 177

Kushal Das reappointed as AIFF General Secretary 178

Usha Ananthasubramanian appointed as CMD of Bharatiya Mahila Bank 178

R. Banumathi appointed Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court 179

Ratan Watal appointed as the new Expenditure Secretary 180

Parvinder Sohi Behuria appointed new Secretary General of NHRC 180

G.K. Pillai appointed as the Chairman of MCX-SX 180


Bharat Suresh Joshi appointed as British Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai 181 Person Resigned 182

Shoma Chaudhury resigned from Tehelka Magazine 182

Yogesh Agarwal, the Chairman of PFRDA Resigned and Anup Wadhawan Took Over 182

Paras Ajmera resigned from MCX Board 183

Yogesh Malik Resigned as CEO of Uninor 184

Jignesh Shah resigned from MCX Board 184

Person Died 185

British actress Jean Kent died at 92 185

Frederick Sanger the two time Chemistry Nobel Prize winner died 186

Noted Dalit Writer Omprakash Valmiki Passed away 186

Doris Lessing, Nobel Prize-Winning Author, Died at 94 187

Ram Kripalu Tripathi, Popularly Known as Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj, Died 187

Veteran Journalist R.K. Mukker Passed Away at 88 188

Vijaydan Detha, the Rajasthani folk writer died 188

Tarla Dalal, the Celebrity Cook of India, Passed Away at 77 189

Assamese Music Director Sher Choudhury Passed away 190

Ishwar Das Rohani, the Speaker of Madhya Pradesh Assembly, died 191

Legendary Pakistani Folk Singer Reshma Passed Away in Lahore 191

Nitish Sengupta, the former Member of Parliament Died 192

Places in News 193

Belgium opened Consulate General in Chennai 193

Regional Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2013 launched in Sydney, Australia 193

Kannur Declared First Zero Landless District in the Country 194


Summit | Conference 195

International Heavy Minerals Conference 2013 held at Visakhapatnam, AP 195

11th ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting held at New Delhi 196

National Conference on the Wakf (Amendment) Act, 2013 Inaugurated 197

Awards | Honours 198

Malala topped Power List 101 at GG2 Leadership awards 198

Priti Patel won the Asian Trader Editor’s Award 199

Malala Yousafzai Received EU’s Sakharov Human Rights Prize 2013 200

Kauwboy won the Golden Elephant Award in International Children’s Film Festival 201

Anjolie Ela Menon awarded with Dayawati Modi Award 201

SPMCIL conferred with Engineering Excellence Award 2013 202

Waheeda Rehman to receive first Centenary film award at IFFI 203

Mangalore University Presented with Indira Gandhi NSS Best University Award 2012-13 203

Lord Swraj Paul presented with International Indian of the Decade Award 204

Krishna Tirath gave away National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement 205

Infosys Science Foundation Announced Winners of the Infosys Prize 2013 206

Mushirul Hasan was conferred with Nehru Fellowship 208

Rahul Jindal, an Indian-American doctor got outstanding American by Choice Award 208

Shiraz Naval Minwalla won New Horizons in Physics Prize 2014 210

IRCON for its performance won two top Infrastructure Awards 211

Report | Survey 212

Mumbai emerged as the City with Highest Internet Penetration in India 212

Exhibition | Fare 213

Exhibition Titled Czech Castles Inaugurated At the Red Fort, Delhi 213


Defence | Security 214

India successfully test fired Nuclear capable Dhanush Ballistic Missile 214

IAF’s Sukhoi 30 to be platform for supersonic Brahmos missiles 214

India and Russia decided to held a Joint Air Force Exercise in 2014 215

Boeing delivered second P-8I Aircraft to India 216

IAF Flagged in White Water Rafting Expedition Called IAF Aqua Scullers 217

Indian Navy commissioned first Advanced Light Helicopter squadron at Kochi 218

Hawk 132 inducted into the Indian Navy 218

Books & Author 219

Hamid Ansari released book entitled Maimaar-E-Qaun-Dr A.R. Kidwai 219

Birth of Cinema authored by N. Gopal Krishna Released 220

Book Entitled Indian Railway Track-Design, Construction and Maintenance Released 220

The Vice President of India Released a Book Entitled Momentous Times 222

Indian Urdu writer’s book launched in Singapore 222

Vice President Released a Book on India’s Nuclear Energy Programme 222

7th Edition of Indian Pharmacopoeia 2014 – A Book of Drug Standards, Released By Ghulam Nabi

Azad 223

Art | Culture 224

East Timor film ‘Beatriz’s War ‘won Golden Peacock Award at IFFI 2013 224

Ministry for I & B Instituted New Centenary Award to Honour Contribution to Indian Cinema 225

UTV Motion Pictures Announced to Distribute Five Malayalam Films 226

Science | Space 227

Scientists discovered a Black Hole in Ophiuchus Star Constellation 227


Day | Week | Year 227

Constitution Day was observed across India on 26 November 227

World Toilet Day observed on 19 November 228

International Day for Tolerance observed on 16 November 229

National Press Day observed on 16 November 229

Children’s Day Observed Across India on 14 November 230

World Diabetes Day observed on 14 November 231

Public Service Broadcasting Day observed in India on 12 November 232

World Pneumonia Day observed on 12 November 233

National Education Day of India Observed Across the Country on 11 November 233

Miscellaneous 234

Music Album released to commemorate 150th birth celebrations of Swami Vivekananda 234

44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) began at Panaji, Goa 235

Coffee Board ready to launch new hybrid varieties of Coffee 236

Finance Ministry Released Commemorative Coins on Birth Anniversary of Abul Kalam Azad 236

Nobel Memorial Wall unveiled at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, Delhi 237

Mahatma Gandhi’s Charkha was sold for £110000 at UK Auction 237

Bangladeshi Court sentenced to Death 152 Soldiers 238

Prof CNR Rao Elected to Chinese Academy of Sciences 238

ONE LINERS 240


PREFACEThe Current Affairs eBook November 2013 includes the happenings of November Month.

Current Affairs plays an important role in making people aware of the happenings of the

world and it also acts as a guide for candidates engaged in preparation of different levels of

competitive exams. The eBook that we provide has been drafted to meet the requirements of

different competitive exams including IAS|PCS, SSC, Banking, MBA. Each and every event,

compiled in the eBook is followed by the date of its occurrence in different sections. Before

being included in the magazine, the events have been evaluated using genuine methods

and represented in a way that it meets the requirements of the readers in the best way.

Presentation of the offered material is planned in a way that it lasts longer in the memories of

the readers and perceived in a better way. The perception of the stories allows a candidate

to apply the theories behind the making of the event and face the challenges during the

exams everywhere.

Our experts have tried to put in their best efforts to make sure that the content provided

remains in the mind of the candidate for a longer period of time and is perceived with its true

meaning. The eBook will provide updates from different sections that include events and

happenings of national and international importance, daily affairs of corporate world and

economy, advancements on the frontiers of science and technology as well as environment

and ecology, sports happenings and issues of different states of the country. It also provides

details related to the personalities who have been in news, important awards and many

more things.

Copyright ©Jagranjosh.com

All rights reserved. No part or the whole of this eBook may be copied, reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted and/or cited anywhere in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the written permission of the copyright owner. If any misconduct comes in knowledge or brought in notice, strict action will be taken.

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Readers are requested to verify/cross-check up to their satisfaction themselves about the advertisements, advertorials, and external contents. If any miss-happening, ill result, mass depletion or any similar incident occurs due to any information cited or referenced in this e-book, Editor, Director/s, employees of Jagranjosh.com can’t be held liable/responsible in any matter whatsoever. No responsibilities lie as well in case of the advertisements, advertorials, and external contents.

PREFACE


PICK OF THE MONTH

ISRO successfully launched Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan)

Indian Space Research Organisation on 5 November 2013 successfully launched Mars Orbiter spacecraft by using PSLV C-25 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, and Andhra Pradesh.

Mars Orbiter Mission is India’s first interplanetary mission to planet Mars with an orbiter craft designed to orbit Mars in an elliptical orbit.

The satellite is scheduled to reach the Mars orbit in September 2014 and is designed to circle the Red Planet in an elliptical orbit of 366 km X 80000 km.

Mission Objectives

One of the main objectives of the first Indian mission to Mars is to develop the technologies required for design, planning, management and operations of an interplanetary mission.

A. Technological Objectives:

• Design and realisation of a Mars orbiter with a capability to survive and perform Earth bound manoeuvres, cruise phase of 300 days; Mars orbit insertion / capture, and on-orbit phase around Mars.


• Deep space communication, navigation, mission planning and management.

• Incorporate autonomous features to handle contingency situations.

B. Scientific Objectives:

• Exploration of Mars surface features, morphology, mineralogy and Martian atmosphere by indigenous scientific instruments.

Payloads

1. Lyman Alpha Photometer (LAP)

2. Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM)

3. Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyser (MENCA)

4. Mars Colour Camera (MCC)

5. Thermal Infrared Imaging Spectrometre (TIS)

About Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM)

Primary objectives of the Mars mission are to demonstrate India’s technological capability to send a satellite to orbit around Mars and conduct meaningful experiments such as looking for signs of life, take pictures of the red planet and study Martian environment.

The main aim of MOM to be to seek whether there is methane, considered a precursor chemical for life, on the red planet. Methane sensor, one of the five payloads (scientific instruments) on board the spacecraft, would look to detect the presence of methane.

The spacecraft subsequently is planned to enter into a 372 km by 80000 km elliptical orbit around Mars.

About Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle

1. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) caters to the requirements of launching satellites into Sun-Synchronous and Low Earth Orbits.

2. PSLV is a four stage vehicle with alternate Solid and Liquid propulsion stages. The booster stage along with the strap-on motors and the third stage are solid motors while the second and Fourth stages use liquid engines.


3. PSLV has the capability to launch 1750 kg class satellites into 600 km Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO) and 1425 kg satellites into Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (Sub GTO) of 284 km X 21000 km. The vehicle has provision to launch multiple satellites.

4. PSLV has successfully accomplished 2 developmental and 21 operational Missions in a row. It has established itself as a work horse operational launcher of ISRO and has a demonstrated reliability of 0.96.

5. Currently two variants of PSLV are operational, namely PSLV-XL (with six extended strap-on motors attached to the First stage) and PSLV-Core Alone (without strap-on motors). PSLV-C25/Mars Orbiter Mission employs the PSLV-XL version which has already been used in four earlier Missions.

6. PSLV-C25, the 25th mission of PSLV and 5th in the XL configuration, will carry the Mars Orbiter Satellite (1337 kg) into a 250 km x 23500 km elliptical orbit. The Satellite will be further navigated to a hyperbolic departure trajectory and thereafter it traverses an interplanetary cruise trajectory before reaching the intended orbit around the Mars.

The main features of the Mars mission are as following:

• The main objective of the mission is to develop the technologies required for design, planning, management and operations of an interplanetary mission.

• The main objective of the mission is to explore Mars surface features, morphology, mineralogy and search for methane in the Martian atmosphere using indigenous scientific instruments.

• The satellite carries instruments such as Lyman Alpha Photometer, a methane sensor, a composition analyser, a camera and an imaging spectrometer for studying the atmosphere, particle environment and surface imaging.

• The satellite is scheduled to reach the Mars orbit in September 2014 and is designed to circle the Red Planet in an elliptical orbit of 366 km X 80000 km.

ISRO’s Mars orbiter sent first pictures of earth

The Mars Orbiter Mission also known as Mangalyaan has beamed back the first set of pictures of Earth on 21 November 2013 that was captured by Mars Color Camera fitted on Mars Orbiter spacecraft. The picture of earth has captured the Indian subcontinent and parts of Africa.

The camera has also captured the cyclonic storm Helen that is heading towards Andhra Pradesh coast. The Picture was taken on 19 November 2013 from an altitude of 67975 km with a resolution


of 3.53 km. This is the first time after launch that an instrument on board has been checked for its operation.

Earlier, ISRO had performed all five orbit raising manoeuvres planned on the Mars Orbiter and raised the apogee of the spacecraft to over 1.92 lakh km.

ISRO Performed last orbit Raising Manoeuvre on its Mars Mission

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 16 November 2013 performed the last of the five orbit-raising manoeuvre on its Mars Orbiter, raising the apogee (farthest point from Earth) of the spacecraft to over 1.92 lakh km.

In the series of five orbit raising manoeuvre with a supplementary operation after the fourth one, the space agency had raised the apogee of the spacecraft to over 1.92 lakh km.

After the successful completion of these operations, the Mars Orbiter mission is expected to take on the crucial event of the trans-Mars injection around 12.42am on 1st December 2013. It will reach the orbit of the red planet by 24th September, 2014 after taking on a voyage of over 10 months.

ISRO’s PSLV C 25 on 5 November 2013 successfully injected the 1350-kg ‘Mangalyaan’ Orbiter (Mars craft) into the orbit around the earth, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, Andhra Pra desh.

NASA Launched MAVEN Mission to study Mars Atmosphere

The US space agency NASA on 18 November 2013 launched its MAVEN orbiter Mission to Mars planet. The orbiter mission was launched on an Atlas V rocket from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 18:28 GMT.

The probe will have a 10-month cruise to the Red Planet- Mars. MAVEN is going to study Mars’ atmosphere. During the course of the long cruise, Maven will perform four trajectory corrections, with the first scheduled to occur on 3rd December 2013.

About MAVEN Mission

The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission is part of NASA’s Mars Scout program. The mission will explore the Red Planet’s upper atmosphere, ionosphere and interactions with the sun and solar wind.

The trip to Mars takes 10 months, and MAVEN will go into orbit around Mars in September 2014.


MAVEN will be the NASA’s first spacecraft mission dedicated to exploring the upper atmosphere of Mars.

Scientists will use MAVEN data to determine the role that loss of volatile from the Mars atmosphere to space has played through time, giving insight into the history of Mars’ atmosphere and climate, liquid water, and planetary habitability. The entire MAVEN mission cost 671 million US Dollars.

MOM & Maven will complement each other in Mars findings

ISRO and NASA will coordinate functions of their Mars Orbiters-Mangalyaan and MAVEN once both get into orbit of the Mars planet in September 2014. This was announced by ISRO scientists.

ISRO scientists also stated that the findings of ISRO’ Mars Orbiter mission and NASA’s Maven would complement each other.

NASA’s Mars-bound spacecraft, the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutionN (MAVEN) was launched aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida, US on 18 November 2013.

MAVEN is the second mission for NASAs Mars Scout Program and is likely to obtain critical measurements of the Martian upper atmosphere to help understand the climate change over the red planet-Mar’s history.

MAVEN carries eight instruments Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer, Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph, Magnetometer, Solar Wind Electron Analyzer, SupraThermal And Thermal Ion Composition, Langmuir Probe and Waves antenna, Solar Energetic Particles and Solar Wind Ion Analyzer.

After having successfully completed five orbit raising manoeuvres on its Mars Orbiter, ISRO is expected to perform the crucial event of trans Martian injection of the spacecraft in the early hours of 1 December 2013

The spacecraft will reach the red planet’s orbit by 24 September 2014 after an over 10 month voyage.

ISRO’s PSLV-C25 successfully injected 1350-kg Mangalyaan Orbiter (Mars craft) into orbit around Earth some 44 minutes after launch at 2.38 PM from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota on 5 November 2013 marking the successful completion of the first stage of the 450 crore Rupees mission.


COP-19, UN Climate Change Conference 2013 Concluded at Warsaw, Poland

The COP-19, UN Climate Change Conference 2013 concluded in Warsaw, Poland on 23 November 2013 by approving the new global treaty.

The UN climate talks concluded with delegates reaching a compromise on how to fight global warming. After 30 hours of deadlock, they approved a way out for a new global climate treaty to be signed in Paris in 2015.

It will replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which set targets for developed countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions. Negotiators agreed that all countries should work to curb emissions from burning coal, oil and gas as soon as possible, and ideally by the first quarter of 2015.

Key decisions adopted at this conference include decisions on further advancing the Durban Platform, the Green Climate Fund and Long-Term Finance, the Warsaw Framework for REDD Plus, the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage and other decisions

The nineteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 19) was held from 11 to 23 November 2013 in Warsaw, Poland.

The UNFCCC’s 19th Conference of the Parties (COP19) began on 11 November 2013 at Warsaw, Poland.

The 19th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC and the 9th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol will be held from 11 to 22 November 2013 at Warsaw, Poland. In this conference, delegates from more than 190 countries are meeting to discuss the global climate change issues, plans and solutions.

The COP19/CMP9 began with calls for governments to harness the strong groundswell of action


on climate change across all levels of government, business and society and make real progress here towards a successful, global climate change agreement in 2015.

One of the key talking points in COP 19 will be the Global Climate Fund (GCF), the mechanism being used to transfer money from the developed to the developing world to assist with the effects of climate change.

G77+ and China group walked out of Loss and Damage talks at COP 19

The G77+China group of 133 Countries walked out of negotiations on “Loss and Damage” in the United Nations Climate Change conference in Warsaw, Poland on 20 November 2013.

The walk-out followed the developed countries’ refusal to change their position that the matter would be discussed only after 2015—the year when the world is expected to sign a new climate agreement.

Loss and Damage refers to the demand for compensation from the poorest and most vulnerable countries for the damages caused by impacts of climate change which cannot be prevented even by adaptation.

Rich countries, including the US and Australia, have been against setting up a separate mechanism on compensation on Loss and Damage.

The developed countries continued to demand that the issue be discussed only after 2015 in a closed door meeting of representatives.

Loss and Damage

The issue of Loss & Damage –which is how countries should respond to climate impacts that are difficult or impossible to adapt to—has risen high on the negotiating agenda.

This issue emerged at 2012’s COP in Doha, with negotiators deciding to create “institutional arrangements” on loss and damage. To be effective, these institutional arrangements need to constructively tackle the needs of communities affected by climate impacts, including by systematically identifying harm, preventing loss and damage, engaging in recovery and response, and building solidarity in the face of unrecoverable loss and damage.

About UNFCCC

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was created in 1992. Each year it hosts the Conference of the Parties (COP) in a different city around the world in order to debate and discuss the most effective ways to combat climate change.


Prof. CNR Rao and Sachin Tendulkar Selected for Bharat Ratna Award

The Government of India on 16 November 2013 decided to confer, the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award on eminent scientist Prof CNR Rao and cricket player Sachin Tendulkar.

Sachin Tendulkar is the first sports person to win the Bharat Ratna Award.

The Bharat Ratna award so far, given only to eminent personalities from the field of dance, music, art, literature and the social sector. In the year 2011, the Government of India modified the eligibility criteria for Bharat Ratna Award - to enable eminent Sports-persons to receive the Nation’s highest civilian award.

About Prof. CNR Rao

Prof. Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao (CNR Rao) was born on 30 June 1934, Bangalore, India. He is an eminent scientist and a well recognized international authority on solid state and materials chemistry.

He has published over 1400 research papers and 45 books. Prof. CNR Rao’s contributions have been recognized by most major scientific academies around the world through conferment of memberships and fellowships. He has been honoured with several national and international awards, including Padma Vibhushan in 1985.

Prof. CNR Rao is Honorary President of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India.

Prof, CNR Rao is presently serving as the head of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India.The Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister is the uppermost body that deliberates on various policy issues, pertaining to Science & Technology and also on the role it can play in the upliftment of the Indian economy.


About Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is an Indian Batsman who is considered one of the greatest batsmen of the cricket world.

Sachin Tendulkar who belongs to Mumbai Maharashtra made his appearance in six world cups for India and was the member of the 2011 World Cup winning squad of the nation.

Sachin Tendulkar made his Test debut against arch-rival Pakistan at Karachi in 1989. He made his ODI debut against Pakistan in 1989 in Gujranwala. He currently holds the record for most hundreds in both Tests and One Day Internationals.

In 198 Test matches, Sachin Tendulkar scored over Fifteen Thousand Eight hundred runs at an average of 53.86. He slammed 51 Test centuries and an unbeaten 248 against Bangladesh in Dhaka in 2004 was his best ever.

He made 49 hundreds in the one-day format, including a double hundred which is the first in this form of cricket and 96 half centuries.

In 2012, Sachin Tendulkar became the first player to score 100 international centuries.

Sachin Tendulkar announced his retirement from Test cricket after playing his landmark 200th Test match against the West Indies on 15 November 2013. Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar announced retirement form one day cricket on 23 December 2012 and from Twenty20 cricket format on 26 May 2013.

Sachin Tendulkar appointed as UNICEF’s first brand ambassador for South Asia

Indian Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar on 28 November 2013 appointed as UNICEF’s first brand ambassador for South Asia.

Sachin Tendulkar will work for promoting hygiene and sanitation in the South Asian region for two years. Sachin Tendulkar was already involving with the UNICEF campaigns for polio and global hand washing.

According to UNICEF, almost half the population in India defecates in the open and 681 million people practice open defecation in South Asia.

Children under five years of age are the most vulnerable to the effects of poor sanitation and annually more than half a million children in South Asia die of diarrhoea caused by unsafe drinking water, poor hygiene and lack of sanitation.

After sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia is the region with the highest number of under-five deaths, accounting for 2.3 million in 2011.

Around 39 percent of children under five are stunted in this region which is also the worst in terms of lack of toilets; over 680 million people do not use toilets.


What is UNICEF?

The United Nations Children’s Fund – UNICEF (Est. 1946) - works for children’s rights, their survival, development and protection, guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.

UNICEF insists that the survival, protection and development of children are universal development imperatives that are integral to human progress. It is committed to ensuring special protection for the most disadvantaged children - victims of war, disasters, extreme poverty, all forms of violence and exploitation and those with disabilities.

UNICEF’s work is carried out in more than 190 countries through country programmes and National Committees. Some 88 per cent of the organisation’s approximately 7200 posts are located in the field. There are eight regional offices and 126 country offices worldwide, as well as a research centre in Florence, a supply operation in Copenhagen and offices in Tokyo and Brussels. UNICEF headquarters are in New York.

BCCI launched ‘Thank You Sachin’ campaign on Twitter

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on 6 November 2013 launched Thank you Sachin campaign on social networking site Twitter. This Campaign will allow fans worldwide to connect and say thank you to Sachin Tendulkar on his retirement.

The campaign offers fans across India and the world a rare opportunity to receive a personalised picture of Sachin Tendulakar.The Board of Control for Cricket in India launched this campaign in collaboration with Twitter and Digigraph.

During the Test series between India and the West Indies(6 to 18 November 2013), all Twitter users who send an appreciative message for Sachin to the BCCI handle with the ThankYouSachin will instantaneously receive a Tweet from BCCI with a momentous picture of Sachin, including a personalised message and signature in his handwriting.


Sachin Tendulkar on 10 October 2013 announced his decision to retire from Test cricket after playing his landmark 200th Test match against the West Indies in November 2013.

Mumbai Cricket Association Felicitated Sachin Tendulkar; Renamed Kandivili Ground

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on 11 November 2013 held a grand felicitation ceremony to honour Sachin Tendulkar, also known as Little Master. Sachin Tendulkar is scheduled to play his last test match soon.

Sachin Tendulkar, in the meanwhile, explained that MCA was one of the best platforms for the next generation for learning cricket with right coaching and facilities. In the meanwhile, the MCA also formally renamed the Kandivili ground as the Sachin Tendulkar Gymkhana Club.

Legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar on 10 October 2013 announced his decision to retire from Test cricket after playing his landmark 200th Test match against the West Indies in November 2013. Previously, Sachin Tendulkar announced retirement form one day cricket on 23 December 2012 and from Twenty20 cricket format on 26 May 2013.

Sachin Tendulkar’s Career Statistics:-

Tests One –Day Internationals Twenty 20

Matches 200 Marches 463 Matches 96

innings 329 Innings 452 Innings 96

Not out 33 Not out 41 Runs 2,797

Runs 15,921 Runs 18,426 Highest 100*

Average 53.78 Highest 200* Average 32.90

Highest 248* Average 44.83 Strike rate 121.08

100s 51 Strike rate 86.23 100s 1

50s 68 100s 49 50s 16

Sixes 69 50s 96 Fours 359

Catches 115 Sixes 195 Sixes 38

wickets 46 Catches 140 Catches 28

Best figures 3/14 wickets 154 wickets 2

Economy 3.52 Best figures 5/32 Best figures 1/12

Economy 5.10 Economy 7.93


About Bharat Ratna award

• Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian Award of the country was instituted in the year 1954.

• It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour.

• The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister himself to the President.

• The number of annual awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year.

• The last recipient of Bharat Ratna award is Pandit Bhimsen Joshi in 2009.

• The first three Indians, who received the Bharat Ratna were Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari and Sarvapali Radhakrishnan in 1954.

• There is no written provision that Bharat Ratna should be awarded to Indian citizens only.

• The award has been conferred to a naturalised Indian citizen Mother Teresa (1980) and to two non-Indians Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Nelson Mandela (1990).

• The award does not carry any monetary grant.In terms of Article 18 (1) of the Constitution, the award cannot be used as a prefix or suffix to the recipient’s name.

Bharat Ratna Awardees List:-

LIST OF RECIPIENTS OF BHARAT RATNA

S. No. NAME AWARDED IN

1 Shri Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (1878-1972) 1954

2 Dr. Sarvapali Radhakrishnan (1888-1975) 1954

3 Dr. Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (1888-1970) 1954

4 Dr. Bhagwan Das (1869-1958) 1955

5 Dr. Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (1861-1962) 1955

6 Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru (1889 -1964) 1955

7 Pt. Govind Ballabh Pant (1887-1961) 1957


8 Dr. Dhondo Keshave Karve (1858-1962) 1958

9 Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy (1882-1962) 1961

10 Shri Purushottam Das Tandon (1882-1962) 1961

11 Dr. Rajendra Prasad (1884-1963) 1962

12 Dr. Zakir Hussain (1897-1969) 1963

13 Dr. Pandurang Vaman Kane (1880-1972) 1963

14 Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri (Posthumous) (1904-1966) 1966

15 Smt. Indira Gandhi (1917-1984) 1971

16 Shri Varahagiri Venkata Giri (1894-1980) 1975

17 Shri Kumaraswami Kamraj (Posthumous) (1903-1975) 1976

18 Mother Mary Taresa Bojaxhiu (Mother Teresa) (1910-1997) 1980

19 Shri Acharya Vinobha Bhave (Posthumous) (1895-1982) 1983

20 Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (1890-1988) 1987

21 Shri Marudu Gopalan Ramachandran (Posthumous) (1917-1987) 1988

22 Dr. Bhim Rao Ramji Ambedkar (Posthumous) (1891-1956) 1990

23 Dr. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (b-1918) 1990

24 Shri Rajiv Gandhi (Posthumous) (1944-1991) 1991

25 Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (Posthumous) (1875-1950) 1991

26 Shri Morarji Ranchhodji Desai (1896-1995) 1991

27 Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (Posthumous) (1888-1958) 1992

28 Shri Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhai Tata (1904-1993) 1992

29 Shri Satyajit Ray (1922-1992) 1992

30 Shri Gulzarilal Nanda (1898-1998) 1997

31 Smt. Aruna Asaf Ali (Posthumous) (1909-1996) 1997

32 Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (b-1931) 1997

33 Smt. Madurai Sanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi (1916-2005) 1998

34 Shri Chidambaram Subramniam (1910-2000) 1998

35 Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan (Posthumous) (1902-1979) 1999

36 Professor Amartya Sen (b-1933) 1999


Iran and P5+1 Group of Nations clinched Nuclear Deal

Iran and P5+1 group of Nations reached a breakthrough deal on 24 November 2013 to curb Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for limited sanctions relief.

An agreement to this effect was signed at UN Headquarters in Geneva on 24 November 2013 between the Chief negotiator for the six nations, Catherine Marie Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Jawad Zarief.

The interim deal for six months is intended to give time and space to the international community to work towards

a comprehensive agreement. After four days of negotiations, representatives of P5+1 group of nations - the US, the UK, Russia, China, France and Germany - reached an agreement with Iran.

The deal is intended as the first step in a six-month process aimed at a permanent resolution to the decade-old global impasse over Iran’s nuclear programme, and heading off the threat of a new war in West Asia.

The Geneva deal also makes the way for releasing over 4 billion Dollars in Iranian oil sales revenue from frozen accounts, and suspends restrictions on the country’s trade in gold, petrochemicals, and car and plane parts.

In return, Iran undertakes to restrict its nuclear activities. Over the next six months Iran has agreed to:

• Stop enriching uranium above 5 per cent, reactor-grade, and dilute its stock of 20 per cent-enriched uranium or convert it to oxide, which makes it harder to enrich further.

37 Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi (Posthumous) (1890-1950) 1999

38 Pandit Ravi Shankar (b-1920) 1999

39 Sushri Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar (b-1929) 2001

40 Ustad Bismillah Khan (1916-2006) 2001

41 Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi (1922-2011) 2009

42 Prof. CNR Rao ( b-1934) 2013

43 Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar (b-1973) 2013


• Not to increase its stockpile of low-enrichment uranium.

• Freeze its enrichment capacity by not installing any more centrifuges, leaving more than half of its existing 16000 centrifuges inoperable.

• Not to fuel or to commission the heavy-water reactor it is building in Arak or build a reprocessing plant that could produce plutonium from the spent fuel.

• Iran will give greater access to inspectors including daily access at the Natanz and Fordo nuclear sites.

In return, there will be no new nuclear-related sanctions for six months if Iran sticks by the accord.

India welcomed deal on Iran’s Nuclear Programme

India on 24 November 2013 welcomed the prospect of resolution of issues related to Iran’s controversial nuclear programme through dialogue and diplomacy after Iran agreed to curb it under a deal with P5+1 Group of Nations.

Syed Akbaruddin, spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs,Government of India announced the statement in this regard.

About Iran’s Nuclear Deal

After four days of negotiations, representatives the US, the UK, Russia, China, France and Germany (P5+1 group of nations) reached an agreement with Iran at Geneva to slow its controversial nuclear programme in return for about 7 billion Dollars in sanctions relief.

Under the deal, Iran agreed to give better access to inspectors and halt some of its work on uranium enrichment. But Iranian negotiators insisted they still had a right to nuclear power. In return, there will be no new nuclear-related sanctions on Iran for six months.

Under the deal, Iran will also stop enriching uranium beyond 5 percent, the level at which it can be used for weapons research, and reduce its stockpile of uranium enriched beyond this point.

The agreement -described as an “initial, six-month” deal - could build trust and confidence between Iran and the international community and can lead to a durable and long-term settlement of the nuclear issue.

Indian Point of view

The agreement is consistent with India’s position that the issue should be resolved diplomatically on the basis of recognition of Iran’s right to peaceful use of nuclear energy and in accordance with its international obligations as a non-nuclear weapon state. Earlier, India had welcomed the earlier agreement reached on 11th November 2013 between Iran and the IAEA on practical measures for


enhanced IAEA verification activity at Iranian nuclear sites.

However, sanctions on oil exports from Iran will continue, affecting India and other countries.

India has slashed import of crude oil from Iran by over 26.5 percent in the financial year ended 31st March 2013 as US and European sanctions made it difficult to ship oil from the Persian Gulf nation.

Iran invites IAEA Inspectors to visit its Arak nuclear facility

In the recent follow up to the Iran’s Nuclear Deal ,Iran on 28 November 2013 has invited inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit a nuclear heavy water facility, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog announced today.

“I can inform the Board that we have received an invitation from Iran to visit the Heavy Water Production Plant at Arak on 8 December,” Director General Yukiya Amano told the Agency’s Board of Governors at a meeting in Vienna updating the body on the IAEA’s work on nuclear verification, safety, security and the peaceful use of nuclear technologies.

“All other outstanding issues, including those raised in my previous reports to the Board, will be addressed in subsequent steps,” he said, recalling that on 11 November, he had signed a Joint Statement on a Framework for Cooperation with Iran.

Under the Framework, Iran and the Agency agreed “to strengthen their cooperation and dialogue aimed at ensuring the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme through the resolution of all outstanding issues.” Iran committed itself under the Framework to implementing six practical measures within three months.

Iran’s nuclear programme – which its officials have stated is for peaceful purposes, but some other countries contend is driven by military ambitions – has been a matter of international concern since the discovery in 2003 that the country had concealed its nuclear activities for 18 years in breach of its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The IAEA chief’s comments come on the heels of a diplomatic breakthrough earlier the week following a separate announcement that Iran had reached an interim agreement with six other UN Member States regarding its nuclear activities.

“I have received a letter from European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton, on behalf of China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, concerning the Joint Plan of Action agreed with Iran on 24 November in Geneva,” Mr. Amano told the Board.

He said the letter states that “the IAEA will have an important role in the verification of the nuclear-related measures” which were agreed in Geneva.

“I welcome the Joint Plan of Action. We are now looking at the way in which the elements of the agreement relevant to the Agency could be put into practice,” he said, noting that this will include


the implications for funding and staffing.

“This analysis will take some time. I will consult the Board as soon as possible when it has been completed,” he added.

Initial Geneva talks

The three-day talks between six world powers (P5 nations plus Germany) and Iran held in Geneva failed to reach an agreement on latter’s nuclear programme. The talks ended on 8 November 2013.

The divisions emerged among the USA and European allies on the final day of the talks as France implied that the proposal under discussion failed to sufficiently neutralize the threat of an Iranian nuclear bomb.

Iran is expecting a deal that will ease or remove the international sanctions that have frozen its assets around the world and prevented it from selling its oil.

22nd CHOGM Summit ended with adoption of three declarations

The 22nd Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 15-17 November 2013 on the theme Growth with Equity: Inclusive Development ended. The event concluded with the adoption of the independent declarations - on Youth, International Trade and Inclusive Development and the release of Summit Communiqué.

Before the end of the CHOGM, the leaders continued the

discussions at the retreat, which was followed by an executive session, where the decisions taken at the meetings were formalized.

CHOGM 2013 concluded with the adoption of the independent declarations - on Youth, International Trade and Inclusive Development and the release of Summit Communiqué.


Year Date Country Town Chairperson

1971 14–22 January Singapore Singapore Lee Kuan-Yew

1973 2–10 August Canada Ottawa Pierre Trudeau

1975 29 April – 6 May Jamaica Kingston Michael Manley

1977 8–15 June United Kingdom

London James Callaghan

1979 1–7 August Zambia Lusaka Kenneth Kaunda

1981 30 September – 7 October Australia Melbourne Malcolm Fraser

1983 23–29 November India Goa Indira Gandhi

1985 16–22 October Bahamas Nassau Lynden Pindling

1986 3–5 August United Kingdom

London Margaret Thatcher

1987 13–17 October Canada Vancouver Brian Mulroney

1989 18–24 October Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Mahathir bin Mohamad

1991 16–21 October Zimbabwe Harare Robert Mugabe

1993 21–25 October Cyprus Limassol George Vasiliou

1995 10–13 November New Zealand Auckland Jim Bolger

1997 24–27 October United Kingdom

Edinburgh Tony Blair

1999 12–14 November South Africa Durban Thabo Mbeki

2002 2–5 March Australia Coolum John Howard

2003 5–8 December Nigeria Abuja Olusegun Obasanjo

2005 25–27 November Malta Valletta Lawrence Gonzi

2007 23–25 November Uganda Kampala Yoweri Museveni

2009 27–29 November Trinidad and Tobago

Port of Spain Patrick Manning

2011 28–30 October Australia Perth Julia Gillard

2013 15–17 November Sri Lanka Colombo Mahinda Rajapaksa

2015 To be announced. Malta TBA TBA

2017 To be announced. Vanuatu TBA TBA

2019 To be announced. Malaysia TBA TBA


Three Declaration

1. Heads of Government adopted the Colombo Declaration on Sustainable, Inclusive and Equitable Development.

2. Heads of Government adopted the Kotte Statement on International Trade and Investment.

3. Heads of Government adopted the Magampura Declaration of Commitment to Young People.

The participant leaders of the CHOGM unanimously agreed on the proposal to host the next CHOGM in 2015 in Malta. Before this, Malta hosted a Commonwealth Summit in 2005. Whereas, Mauritius had withdrawn its earlier offer to host the event.

The Indian delegation to CHOGM to Sri Lanka was led by the Foreign Minister of India, Salman Khurshid after Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India decided to skip the event. Apart from this, 27 heads of Government had attended the event from the 50 member Countries. The highlight of the Opening Ceremony was an addressed by his royal highness, the Prince of Wales, who represented the Head of the Commonwealth.

Malta to Host Next Commonwealth Summit in 2015

Malta, a Southern European country was on 17 November 2013 unanimously chosen as the host of the next Commonwealth summit in 2015.

The decision was made at the retreat session of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo, Sri Lanka after Mauritius withdrew as host of the 2015 Commonwealth summit as a result of its prime minister’s boycott of the Colombo summit over Sri Lanka’s human rights concerns.

This is second time for Malta to host the Commonwealth summit. Before this, Malta hosted a Commonwealth Summit in 2005.

About CHOGM 2013

The 22nd Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 15-17 November 2013 on the theme Growth with Equity: Inclusive Development. The event concluded with the adoption of the independent declarations - on Youth, International Trade and Inclusive Development and the release of Summit Communiqué.


The Commonwealth Business Forum Inaugurated by the President of Sri Lanka

The Commonwealth Business Forum was inaugurated by the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo on 12 November 2013. The Commonwealth Business Forum is a side event being hosted alongside Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

In the Commonwealth Business Forum, an 11-member high-level Business Mission from India will take part. The delegation is led by S. Gopalakrishnan, President of CII and also includes Rahul Bajaj, who presided over the first session of the forum on The Commonwealth, Indian Ocean and SAARC: Building New Partnerships.

About the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF)

• The Commonwealth Business Forum is the two-day forum that started on 12 November 2013 and will conclude on 14 November 2013.

• It is organised in conjunction with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

• The forum is the business event in Commonwealth, which will bring together Heads of Government, Ministers, and top business leaders from around the world.

• The CBF is co-organised by the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) and the Government of Sri Lanka.

Magnus Carlsen of Norway Dethroned Vishwanathan Anand

Magnus Carlsen of Norway won the FIDE World Chess Championship 2013 at Chennai on 22 November 2013.

Magnus Carlsen defeated the previous world champion Viswanathan Anand of India by 6.5-3.5 in the match that was held from 7th November in Chennai, India.

The last 10th game (out of 12 possible) finished in a draw after 65 moves of play and Carlsen accumulated the necessary 6.5 points to claim the title. The victory was worth 8.4 crore Rupees

for Magnus Carlsen. Anand settled for 5.6 crore Rupees. The match was sponsored by the Tamil Nadu state and organized by FIDE and AICF.

The Magnus Calsen’s victory was also the end of Anand’s six-year reign as the World champion. It


was Anand’s first loss in a world title match since 2007. Magnus Carlsen, who became the youngest world No. 1 at 19, also holds the record of being the strongest rated player in chess history with a published rating of 2872, on 1 February 2013.

About 2013 FIDE World Chess Championship

The 2013 FIDE World Chess Championship match which took place from 7 to 22 November in Chennai, India. It is a match for the highest crown in chess between the Defending Champion Viswanathan Anand (India) and the Challenger Magnus Carlsen (Norway).

About Vishwanathan Anand

Indian chess Grandmaster Vishwanathan Andand was born 11 December 1969 in Tamil NAdu. Vishwanath Anand won the World Chess Championship for five time (2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012). He lost World Chess Championship in 2013.

Carrer:

Anand won the National Sub-Junior Chess Championship at the age of fourteen in 1983.

In 1984 Anand was the youngest Indian to win the title of International Master at the age fifteen.

In 1987 Anand won the World Junior Chess Championship and he is the find Indian to won. Anand won the FIDE World Chess Championship for the first time in 2000 by defeating Alexei Shirov and he was the first Indian to win the title.

Anand won the World Chess Championship five time (2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012)

Awards:

Anand was awarded Padmashri in 1987 at the age of 18.

Anand was the first recipient of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 1992.

Anand received the second highest civilian award Padma Vibhushan in 2007 and he was the first sports person to receive this award.

Anand won chess Oscar for six times (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008)


Virat Kohli became Fastest Batsman to Score 5000 Runs in ODIs

Indian Cricketer Virat Kohli became the fastest batsman to score 5000 runs in one-day internationals when he scored 86 against the West Indies in the first ODI in Kochi on 21 November 2013.

Virat Kohli achieved the feat in just 120 matches and 114 innings. He has so far scored 5005 runs, which included 17 centuries and 27 fifties in his short career.

In terms of innings, Virat Kohli has equalled the record of Sir Viv Richards of West Indies, who also achieved the feat in 114 innings way back in 1987 but it was Viv’s 126th match.

Before Kohli, former captain Sourav Ganguly was the fastest to achieve the feat among Indian batsmen in 131 matches and 126 innings. From India, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (135 innings), Gautam Gambhir (135 innings) and Sachin Tendulkar (138 innings) are the next fastest batsmen to reach the 5000 runs in ODIs.

Batsman Opposition Match Date Matches Innings

Virat Kohli (India) West Indies 21 Nov 2013 120 114

Viv Richards (WI) England 30 Jan 1987 126 114

Brian Lara (WI) South Africa 3 Nov 1997 120 118

Gordon Greenidge (WI) Pakistan 13 Nov 1990 122 121

AB de Villiers (SA) England 28 Aug 2012 129 124

Sourav Ganguly (India) Pakistan 25 Jan 2000 131 126

Virat Kohli became No. 1 ranked ODI batsman

Virat Kohli on 3 November 2013 became the number 1 batsman in one day International cricket rankings after scoring 344 runs in the series against Australia, that India won by 3-2. In the series Kohli scored 61 in Pune, 100 in Naipur, 68 in Mohali, 115 in Nagpur and 0 in Bengaluru at an average of 114.66. The 344 runs in the series gave 38 rating points to him, which helped him to


jump three points to top in the ICC ranking tables. He achieved the top position on the ODI rankings for the first time. He also became the third Indian to hold number 1 position after Sachin Tendulkar in 1996 and MS Dhoni in 2006.

Tendulkar claimed the number 1 position for the first time from Brain Lara in February 1996 and for the last time he achieved the position in March 2008. Dhoni reached the number 1 position for the first time from Ricky Pointing in April 2006 and for the last time in July 2010.

In the latest list released by the ICC, the other players who changed their rankings were George Bailey, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma. The captain of Australia during the series against India skipped six places and claimed third position in rankings released. This was the first time for Bailey in the career to achieve the third position.

Shikhar Dhawan broke into the top 20 list for the first time by jumping 12 places to stand at 11th ranking in the list. Rohit Sharma achieved 15th position in the rankings list after scoring 491 runs at an average of 122.75, which includes the score of 209 runs in the final. Rohit Sharma became the fifth batsman to feature inside top 20 along with Kohli (first position), MS Dhoni (sixth position), Dhawan (eleventh position) and Suresh Raina (nineteenth position).

Union Cabinet approved a proposal to set up Legislative Council in Assam

Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 28 November 2013 approved a proposal to create a Legislative Council in Assam.

According to the Article 169 of Constitution of India, Parliament can create or abolish the Legislative councils in States.

According to the proposal, the Legislative Council will have 42 members. As per Article 171 of the Constitution, the total number of members in the Council of a state having such a House shall not exceed one third of the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly of that state. In the case of Assam, the total number of MLAs is 126.

The Assam state Legislative Assembly had in 2005 and 2010 passed a resolution demanding an Upper House. Political parties and groups believe that members of various communities and ethnic, groups which could not be sent to the Assembly, can be accommodated in the Council for a fair representation. Assam had an Upper House which was abolished after Independence.

The Vidhan Parishad (or Legislative Council) is the upper house in the states of India that have a bicameral legislature.

As of 2011, six Indian states viz. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh have a Legislative Council.


A Bill to create a Legislative Council in Rajasthan was introduced in Parliament recently and it is pending with the Standing Committee.

Name of the stateNumber of seats in

Legislative AssemblyNumber of seats in Legislative Council

Andhra Pradesh 294 90

Bihar 243 75

Jammu and Kashmir 87 36

Karnataka 224 75

Maharashtra 288 78

Uttar Pradesh 403 100

India’s 1st Synthetic Rubber Plant inaugurated in Panipat, Har-yana

Union Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily on 29 November 2013 inaugurated the first “Synthetic Rubber Plant” of the country at Panipat in Haryana.

The country’s first e-SBR (styrene butadiene rubber) unit was set up by Indian Synthetic Rubber Ltd (ISRL), a joint venture promoted by Indian Oil, TSRC Corporation, Taiwan, and Marubeni Corporation, Japan.

The plant will produce 120 kilo tonnes synthetic rubber annually, which would be used in industrial units for manufacturing automobile and daily need products. It is planned to increase the capacity of the plant to 220 KT in next two years.

The project, which is estimated to cost 958 crore rupees, has been funded through debt raised from Japan Bank for International Cooperation and Mizuho Corporation Bank. Technology for the manufacturing unit is being provided by TSRC Corporation.

National Tiger Conservation Authority approved fifth tiger re-serve in Maharashtra

The National Tiger Conservation Authority on 28 November 2013 approved the fifth tiger reserve of Maharashtra in Nagzira. The Nagzira tiger reserve will be developed between Bhandara and Gondia districts, which will be the home of surplus tigers of the state.


The tigers, who wander outside the Tadoba reserve territory, will go in Nagzira-Navegaon tiger reserve. The Nagzira sanctuary, which was of 150 square kilometer and the Navegaon National Park, was of 130 square kilometer, which has been increased to 700 square kilometer to form a new tiger reserve.

The four tiger reserves in Maharashtra are Melghat, Tadoba, Pench and Sahyadri. The state Government has issued a notification for the tiger reserve in Maharashtra.

First Integrated Checkpost along India-Bangladesh border inaugurated

The first Integrated Checkpost along Agartala-Akhaura, India-Bangladesh border was jointly inaugurated on 17 November 2013 by Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir. The chief Mister of Tripura, Manik Sarkar was also present on the occasion.

It is India’s second international-standard multi-purpose Integrated Check Post (ICP) and the first along the Bangladesh border opened on Sunday to people at Akhaurah, near Agartala.

Union Home Minister of India Sushil Kumar Shinde inaugurated the check post which was constructed at a cost of Rs.74 crore, in

the coordial presence of Bangladesh Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir.

India’s first international standard Integrated Check Post was inaugurated in Attari in Punjab along the Pakistan border by then union home minister of India P. Chidambaram (now union finance minister of India) in April 2012.

The multi-use ICPs will provide a boost to trade and economy between India’s North-Eastern states and the neighbour Bangladesh will provide various facilities among the trans-border passengers and traders.

Trade and movement of people between Bangladesh and northeastern states are increasing every year and this would further increase by opening of the Akhaurah ICP. This is the first of its kind along the Bangladesh border.

The integrated checkpost has been created to facilitate easier movement for the goods and passengers across the border and this will help in promoting the relations between India and Bangladesh. The Agartala-Akhaura Integrated checkpost is the first of the seven Land Customs Border Stations has been upgraded by the Land Port Authority of India along the 4096 km border. The Integrated Checkpost houses all regulatory agencies, which includes Immigration, Customs and Border Security and it constitutes a single complex equipped with the state-of-art facilities with


dedicated cargo and passenger terminals, ware-housing and banking.

Trade between India and Bangladesh has improved significantly after India granted zero-customs and zero-quota trade concessions to all Bangladeshi products, except 25 items. Bangladeshi exports to India hit a record of 562 million dollar during 2012-13.

Establishemt of the Land Ports Authority of India

To oversee and regulate the construction, management and maintenance of the ICPs the setting up of a Statutory Authority called ‘Land Ports Authority of India’ (LPAI) was also approved. The LPAI is envisaged to function as an autonomous agency under the Department of Border Management, MHA with representation from the M/o External Affairs, M/o Commerce, D/o Revenue and other stakeholders. It would also associate with the State Governments and Border Guarding Forces concerned in its work. The LPAI is envisaged as a lean, oversight body aimed at providing better administration and cohesive management of cross-border movement of people and goods. It would be vested with powers on the lines of similar bodies like the Airports Authority of India.

Activities

The Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) has been envisaged as a statutory body which will function as a body corporate under the administrative control of the Department of Border Management, Ministry of Home Affairs. The LPAI is expected to provide better administration and cohesive management of entry points/land ports on the land borders and would be vested with the powers on the lines of similar bodies like Airports Authority of India. The Land Ports Authority of India Bill, 2010 as passed by Lok Sabha on 6th May, 2010 and Rajya Sabha on 19th August, 2010has received the assent of the President of India on 31st August, 2010 and the same has now become as Act viz. The Land Ports Authority of India Act, 2010. The Land Ports Authority of India Act, 2010 has been published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section I on 1st September, 2010 as Act No. 31 of 2010.

Constitution

The Land Ports Authority of India has been constituted as follows:

• Shri Anil Goswami ….. Chairman

• Shri Rajvir Singh.....….. Member

• Shri Mahendra Ranga .. Member


China Set up Air Defence Zone over East China Sea

China on 23 November 2013 announced that it was set up an Air Defence Identification Zone over an area in the East China Sea. The Zone includes Senkaku islands that are controlled by Japan but claimed by China.

In this regard, the Chinese Defense Ministry issued a map of an East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone including a chain of disputed islands. The zone came into effect from 10:00 local time from 23 November 2013.

China also issued a set of rules for the zone, saying all aircraft must notify Chinese authorities and are subject

to emergency military measures if they do not identify themselves or obey orders from Beijing. It stated it would identify, monitor, control and react to any air threats or unidentified flying objects coming from the sea.

China-Japan islands row

The islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, that lie in the East China Sea are a source of rising tension between China and Japan. The eight uninhabited islands with a total area of about 7 sq km are lie northeast of Taiwan, east of the Chinese mainland and southwest of Japan’s southern-most prefecture, Okinawa.

They matter because they are close to strategically important shipping lanes, offer rich fishing grounds and are thought to contain oil deposits. The islands are controlled by Japan.

Bharatiya Mahila Bank launched by Prime Minister of India

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi Jointly inaugurated India’s first all-women bank, Bharatiya Mahila Bank in Mumbai on 19 November 2013,marking the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The main objectives of the bank will be to focus on the banking needs of women and to promote their economic empowerment. The bank


will commence operations with an initial capital of one thousand crore rupees.

The Union Government on 12 November 2013 appointed Usha Ananthasubramanian as the first chairperson and managing director of public sector Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB).

About Bharatiya Mahila Bank

• The Mahila bank aims to service women and women-run businesses, support women’s self-help groups and their livelihoods and promote further financial inclusion.

• An only-for-women bank first time in India.

• Bhartiya Mahila Bank will be a universal bank and will provide every banking service and facility that is provided by comparable Public and Private sector banks. It will establish branches all over the country and, in due course, some branches in abroad.

• The Union Cabinet cleared the proposal for setting up of all-women bank on August 2013.

• The Reserve Bank of India gave its in-principal approval for the Bharatiya Mahila Bank in June 2013 and the banking company was set up.

• The Union government approved 1000 crore Rupees seed capital for the women-focused public sector bank, announced by Union finance minister P. Chidambaram in his 2013-14 budget speech.

Angela Merkel, German Chancellor selected for Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace 2013

Dr. Angela Merkel, German Chancellor on 19 November 2013 selected for Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for the year 2013.

The International Jury for the Prize was chaired by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, which made this announcement on 19 November 2013 on the birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi.

Dr. Angela Merkel is nominated for her exemplary leadership in Europe and the world during the financial crises, her


commitment to universal peace and disarmament and her leadership role in strengthening productive and mutually beneficial relations with India and other developing countries.

About Angela Merkel

• Angela Dorothea Kasner, better known as Angela Merkel, was born in Hamburg, West Germany, on 17 July 1954. Trained as a physicist, Merkel entered politics after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall.

• Rising to the position of Chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union party, Merkel became Germany’s first female chancellor, and one of the leading figures of the European Union, following the 2005 national elections.

About Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development

1. The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development was instituted (in 1986) in the name of former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. It celebrates the values that she stood and fought for in the service of our nation and its people.

2. The award is conferred upon the person or an organisation irrespective of race, religion, nationality or other aspects. It consists of award worth 2.5 million Rupees as well as trophy along with citation.

3. The Indiara Gandhi Award is constituted by Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.

4. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Liberian President was conferred with the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for the year 2012.

Abdulla Yameen sworn in as the President of Maldives

Abdulla Yameen has been sworn in as the 6th President of the Maldives on 17 November 2013. The Chief Justice of Maldives, Ahmad Faiz at a special session of the Parliament in Male administered the oath of office to Abdulla Yameen. Mohammad Jameel was sworn in as vice-President.

Yameen (54) a candidate of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) secured 51.39 percent of votes, whereas the opposition leader and the former


President Mohamed Nasheed received 48.61.

Election Commission of Maldives, declared the results of the election on 16 November 2013 in which it declared Yameen, the half-brother of former autocratic ruler Maumoon Abdul Gayoom as the President elect. Abdulla Yameen’s sworn in has ended the two years of political turmoil that was threatened to isolate the country internationally. The Maldives was witnessing the political turmoil, since Nasheed resigned under pressure in February 2012 because of a controversial transfer of power.

Latvian Prime Minister resigned over supermarket collapse

The Latvian Prime Minister, Valdis Dombrovskis announced his resignation and thereby the fall of the Government on 27 November 2013. He resigned due to the deadly collapse of Maxima supermarket of Riga on 21 November 2013. His announcement came during the meeting with Andris Berzins, the President of Latvia. Dombrovskis is the longest serving prime minister in Latvia’s history.

About 54 people died in the collapse of the supermarket. This collapse is the biggest loss of life in the country since its independence from the USSR in 1991.

The police had opened a criminal investigation into the cause of the disaster. The possible explanations to the collapse include a flawed design, substandard construction materials, and corruption.

Further it depends on the President, Andris Berzins to accept or reject the resignation and nominate an acting Prime Minister, who will be responsible to form a new cabinet.

About Valdis Dombrovskis

• He came to power in 2009

• He was reappointed twice as prime minister since then and is widely credited to prevent the small Baltic nation from going bankrupt

• He has served as the Minister of Finance from 2002 to 2004

• He has been a Member of the European Parliament for the New Era Party, since 2002

• He was Observer at the Council of the European Union from 2003–2004


Books:

• V.Dombrovskis, A.Aslund “How Latvia Came Through the Financial Crisis”, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Washington DC, May 2011

• He has been the Author of many publications on economics and politics in various periodicals, journals and electronic media

Awards:

• July 2012 - The Vašek and Anna Maria Polák visiting lecturer’s award for contribution to region’s democracy and economic reforms

• December 2011 – international award from Friedrich August von Hayek Foundation (Friedrich August von Hayek Stiftung) for essential contribution to restoring financial and economic stability in Latvia

INS Vikramaditya commissioned in Indian Navy

INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier was inducted into the Indian Navy on 16 November 2013 giving a boost to the India’s maritime warfare capabilities. The INS Vikramaditya (44500 tonne carrier Admiral Gorshkov) was commissioned by the Union Defence Minister, AK Antony and the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Dmitry Rogozin in a ceremony at the sub zero temperature in the wind-swept Sevmash Shipyard in the city of Severodvinsk port in the

northern Arctic region of Russia.

At the time of commissioning, the Russian flag on the 2.3 billion dollar vessel was lowered and the flag of the Indian Navy was raised in its place. The transfer deed of the aircraft carrier was signed by commanding officer of Vikramaditya Captain Suraj Beri and Deputy Director of Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport Igor Sevastyanov.

The commissioning of the INS Vikramaditya will enhance the reach and capability of Indian Navy and its induction with its integral MiG 29K fighters and Kamov-31 helicopters will add a new dimension to the operational capabilities of the Navy.


About INS Vikramaditya

INS Vikramaditya, the floating airfield has an overall length of about 284 meters and a maximum beam of about 60 meters, which stretches as much as three football fields put together. Standing about 20 storeys’ tall from keel to the highest point, the sheer sight of this 44500 tonne mega structure of steel is awe inspiring. The ship has total 22 decks.

The INS Vikramaditya can carry over 1600 persons on board and have the capacity of 8000 tonnes of LSHSD. It has the capable operations up to the range of over 7000 nautical miles (13000 kms). It can cut through the seas with the speed of up to 30 knots and is powered by 8 new generation steam boilers which can generate the total output power of 180000 SHP. These boilers power four enormous propellers, each greater in diameter than twice the height of an average male. This is a four propeller - four shaft configurations is another first in the Indian Navy. It has the power generation capacity onboard of 18 megawatts.

An extensive revamp of sensors including fitment of Long range Air Surveillance Radars, Advanced Electronic Warfare Suite makes the ship capable of maintaining a surveillance bubble of over 500 kms around the ship.

The ship has the ability to carry over 30 aircraft comprising an assortment of MiG 29K/Sea Harrier, Kamov 31, Kamov 28, Sea King, ALH-Dhruv and Chetak helicopters. The MiG 29K swing role fighter is the main offensive platform and provides a quantum jump for the Indian Navy’s maritime strike capability. These fourth generation air superiority fighters provide a significant fillip for the Indian Navy with a range of over 700 nm and an array of weapons including anti-ship missiles, Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missiles, guided bombs and rockets.

The ship is equipped with state of the art launch and recovery systems along with aids to enable smooth and efficient operation of ship borne aircraft. Major systems include the LUNA Landing system for MiGs, DAPS Landing system for Sea Harriers and Flight deck lighting systems.

The heart of the operational network that infuses life into the combat systems onboard the ship is the Computer aided Action Information Organisation (CAIO) system, LESORUB-E, with the capability to gather data from ship’s sensors and data links and to process, collate and assemble comprehensive tactical pictures. This state of the art system has been specifically designed keeping in mind the essential requirement on the carrier for fighter control and direction.

One of the most prominent equipment fitted on the super structure is the Resistor-E radar complex. Resistor-E is the automated system designed for providing air traffic control, approach/landing and short range navigation for ship borne aircraft. INS Vikramaditya also boasts of a very modern communication complex, CCS MK II, to meet her external communication requirement. Installation of Link II tactical data system allows her to be fully integrated with the Indian Navy’s network centric operations.


India to host Men’s Hockey World Cup in 2018

India was selected by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on 7 November 2013 to host the Men’s World Cup of Hockey in 2018. The finals will be played from 1 to 16 December 2018. Also, England will host the Women’s World Cup of hockey from 7-21 July, 2018. This was announced by Leandro Negre, the President of FIH at Lausanne during the special ceremony.

Hockey’s World Cup is held every four years and is second only to the Olympics in significance.

India hosted the world cup in 2010 at New Delhi. The 2014 edition of Hockey World Cup would be played in The Hague, Netherlands.

Nepali Congress emerged as Single largest Party in Nepal Con-stituent Assembly elections

Nepali Congress (NC) emerged as single largest Party in the second Constituent Assembly elections which are held on 19 November 2013.

The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) stood a close second position and the UCPN (Maoist) party is in a distant third position.

Elections to the Constituent Assembly were held under two categories — first-past-the-post and proportional representation. A total of 240 seats were allocated in the first category and 365 seats in the proportional representation category. The remaining 26 seats in the 601-member will be nominated by the Cabinet later.

A total of 301 seats are needed for majority and to form a government.

Nepali Congress Party wins 105 of the 240 directly elected seats followed by Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) with 91 and the United Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) with 26.

The NC has also emerged a clear front-runner in both the electoral formats. It won 105 seats under the direct election of candidates and has so far bagged 26 per cent under the PR system. The CPN (UML) is a close second with 91 seats and 25 per cent, respectively. The largest party in the last assembly- the UCPN (Maoist) is in a distant third position.

Party FPTP PR Total Seats in 2013 FPTP PR Total seats in

2008

Nepali Congress 105 91 196 37 73 110

CPN-UML 91 85 176 33 70 103

UCPN-Maoist 26 54 80 120 100 220

RPP (Nepal) 00 23 23 0 8 08

Madhesi and others

18 82 100 30+20 22+62 52+108

Total 240 335+26 601 240 335+26 601


Vice-President of India, Hamid Ansari Visited Cuba

The Vice-president of India, Hamid Ansari on 30 October 2013 had a meeting with the revolutionary hero and the former President of Cuba, Fidel Castro. This was the first ever bilateral visit from Indian side to Cuba. During the meeting, India and Cuba signed an agreement on co-operation in broadcasting. It is important to note that India and Cuba are the founding members of Non Aligned Movement (NAM).

Agreement signed between India and Cuba

• The Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on broadcasting between Prasar Bharti and Cuban Radio and Television Institute was signed on 30 October 2013.

• The MoU was signed by India’s ambassador to Cuba Chinthapalli Rajasekhar and vice-president of the institute Emillio Moises Garcia Borroto.

Major Highlights of the visit

» During the tour, Hamid Ansari did the tour of Peru and signed four agreements.

» In the meanwhile, he also inaugurated the Festival of India which started off with Nrityaroopa, a fusion of six classical dances.

» Delegation-level talks and discussions were held with the Cuban leaders.

» Hamid Ansari also visited the Biotechnology Centre in Cuba.

» He also visited the Revolution Plaza.


INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL US exempted India and China from Iranian Sanctions

United States of America on 29 November 2013 exempted some countries, including India and China, from the tough Iranian sanctions for reducing their dependence on Iranian oil.

Secretary of State, John Kerry announced in a statement in Washington that other countries which have significantly reduced the purchases of Iranian crude oil are the Republic of Korea, Turkey, and Taiwan and these have qualified for an exception to sanctions under the National Defence Authorisation Act.

This move came after the decision made by US President Barack Obama that there is sufficient supply of non-Iranian oil for countries to continue to reduce import of oil from Iran.

This is the fourth time that these countries have qualified for an NDAA exception as a result of their continued significant reductions in the volume of crude oil purchases from Iran or their end to such purchases.


UN health agency issues new guidelines for treating severe acute child malnutrition

27 November 2013 – The United Nations health agency today released new treatment guidelines for the almost 20 million children under the age of five worldwide who have severe acute malnutrition, including options for allowing them to recover at home, as well as treating those with HIV.

“The guidelines are critical because many national health plans currently overlook children with severe acute malnutrition. This can be fatal. If these children don’t get the right medical and nutritional care, very often they die,” said Dr. Francesco Branca, Director of the Department of Nutrition for Health and Development at the World Health Organization (WHO).

Definition of Malnutrition

According to WHO,

• Severe acute malnutrition is when the children suffer from severe wasting that may or may not be accompanied by swelling of the body from fluid retention.

• It occurs when infants and children do not have adequate energy, protein and micronutrients in their diet, combined with other health problems such as recurrent infections. It is diagnosed when the circumference of the upper arm is less than 115 millimeters or when the weight for height of a child is severely reduced.

The updated WHO guidelines recommend that children with severe acute malnutrition who do not have health complications that require hospitalization, receive special, high-energy food and antibiotics to treat infection. This allows them to recover at home with their families.

• The new guidelines also address how to treat children with severe acute malnutrition for HIV and offer recommendations on treating severely malnourished infants under six months.

• They supersede WHO’s 1999 guidelines which recommended that all severely malnourished children be hospitalized, given fortified formula milk and appropriate treatment including antibiotics.

• While the proactive use of antibiotics is important because the immune system of a child who is severely malnourished can virtually shut down, the new recommendation advocates this specifically for children with severe acute malnutrition – not those who are simply undernourished.


European Union has signed an agreement to provide financial assistance to Egypt

European Union on 28 November 2013 signed an agreement to provide the financial assistance worth 122 million dollar (€90 million) to Egypt to tide over the financial crisis. The funds under the assistance finance will be used to increase the children’s access to education, social and reaching out to the most impoverished areas and improvements in unplanned housing.

An agreement to this effect was signed between the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Marie Ashton and Deputy Prime Minister Ziad Bahaaeeddin of Egypt at Brussels. Apart from this, the two sides have also discussed about the implementation of Egypt’s political roadmap. This calls for an elected Parliament and president by summer.

“Widespread use of antibiotics among children who do not need them would increase the risk of

infections becoming resistant to lifesaving antibiotics – a situation that would harm the health and

survival of all children,” WHO pointed out.

Another new aspect relates to the treatment of severely malnourished children with HIV. The 1999

guidelines did not recommend HIV testing of children with severe acute malnutrition. At that time,

there was poor availability and little experience of treating children with antiretroviral drugs.

“Circumstances today are very different,” WHO noted. “We now know that antiretroviral significantly

increase survival of children with HIV, and access to these drugs is improving.”

The new guidelines recommend that children with severe acute malnutrition in countries where HIV

is common be routinely tested for the virus, and those who are positive should start on antiretroviral

drugs as well as special foods and antibiotics to treat their severe malnutrition.

Also addressed for the first time are the needs of infants under the age of six months with severe

acute malnutrition. WHO recommends that all babies under six months are exclusively breastfed

for optimal nutrition and protection against infections, adding that this is particularly important for

babies who are severely malnourished.

“If there is no realistic prospect of a severely malnourished baby being breastfed, the family may

need breast milk from another woman, e.g. a family member, a neighbour, a wet nurse or a milk

bank. If this is not possible, they will need infant formula and support to prepare and use it safely,”

said WHO.


Silvio Berlusconi expelled from Italian Parliament

The Italian Senate on 27 November 2013 expelled ex- Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from Parliament over his tax fraud conviction.

The Senate declared Berlusconi ineligible for parliament after he was convicted of masterminding a complex system of illegally inflated invoices to cut the tax bill for his Mediaset television empire.

About Silvio Berlusconi

• He was born on 29 September 1936.

• Berlusconi, 77, is an entrepreneur, media tycoon and politician.

• In 1993, Berlusconi founded his own political party, Forza Italia - Go Italy - named after a chant used by Italian football fans.

• Berlusconi as Italian politician dominated for two decades and he served three times as Prime Minister (In between 1994-2011). He was the member of Italian senate.

• He was involved in many scandals during his political career, like charges of abuse of office and corruption.

Dubai to host World Expo 2020

Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) on 27 November 2013 voted in favour of Dubai to be the host city for the World Trade Fair or EXPO 2020.

This was decided after the third and the final round of voting in Paris on 27 November 2013. Four cities including Dubai in UAE, Yekaterinbergh in Russia, Sao Paulo in Brazil and Izmir in Turkey were competing to host the prestigious event.

The theme of Dubai for the EXPO 2020 is Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.

A World Expo in Dubai in 2020 would be the first to be held in the MENASA (Middle East, North Africa and South Asia) region, which takes place every five years.


The yearlong event is considered a major event since the award of the EXPO brings home more number of visitors and adds to the trade, economy, tourism and hospitality sectors in the host city. The focus is on attracting 25 million people and through word of mouth may be 100 million over three to four years. This will give a boost to the local economy, trade, realty, tourism and retail sectors in the long run.

About World Expo

World Expos is a meeting point for the global community to share innovations and make progress on issues of international importance such as the global economy, sustainable development and improved quality of life for the world’s population.

The first world expo was held in London in 1851. This Expo will be held every five years in different cities across the world.

The last world expo took place in 2010 at Shanghai, China and the next World Expo takes place in Milan, Italy, in 2015. The focus: “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”.

About Bureau International des Expositions

The Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) is the international body responsible for overseeing the calendar, bidding, selection and organisation of World Expos. It has a total of 167 member countries.

Raheel Sharif appointed as new Army Chief of Pakistan

Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan appointed Lt Gen Raheel Sharif as the new Chief of Army Staff and Lt Gen Rashad Mahmood as the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Lt Gen Raheel Sharif and Lt Gen Rashad Mahmood have been promoted to the rank of four-star general.

The generals will take up the new posts from 27 November 2013, the day when the 61 year old Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani will retire from the post of Army Chief. Lt Gen Raheel is currently serving as Inspector General, Training and Evaluation, whereas Lt Gen Mahmood is serving as Chief of General Staff.

The names of the two commanders were recommended by Sharif after endorsement by the


President Mamnoon Hussain. Both were promoted to the General rank from Lt. Generals by the President.

The prior appointments of Lt General Sharif include Commander, Gujranwala XXX Corps, Commandant of Pakistan Military Academy Kakul and General Officer Commanding Lahore. Lt Gen Mahmood has served as the Corps Commander of Lahore as well as the military secretary to former President Rafiq Tarar. Mahmood belongs to the Baloch Regiment and had served under General Kayani as ISI deputy director general.

NATO launched Cyber Defence Exercise ‘‘Cyber Coalition 2013’’

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on 26 November 2013 launched a three-day cyber defence exercise “Cyber Coalition 2013”in Estonia.

The defense exercises are based at the NATO’s cyber defense centers in Estonia, Russia and will be held from 26 to 28 November 2013.

The Cyber Defence Exercise is aimed at training technical personnel and their leadership as well as testing the capability of NATO and its partners to coordinate their efforts in foiling multiple simulated cyber attacks.

The exercises involve participants from more than 30 countries across Europe, including five non-NATO nations: Austria, Finland, Ireland, Sweden, and Switzerland. New Zealand and the European Union have observer status.

According to NATO, around 300 cyber defense experts will take part in the operation from their home countries and partner nations while an additional 80 experts will work from the military training facility in the Estonian city of Tartu.

About NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, is an intergovernmental military alliance of 28 European and North American countries, ranging from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Canada to Albania, Bulgaria and Turkey. It was formed in 1949 as deterrence against the Soviet bloc armed forces in Eastern Europe.


Pakistan Launched Construction of Country’s Largest Nuclear Power Project

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on 26 November 2013 launched the construction of the country’s biggest Nuclear power project.

The 2200-MegaWatt- Karachi Coastal Power Project, comprising the K-2 and K-3 nuclear plants, is being built at Paradise Beach, located 40 km from the Karachi.

The nuclear power plant is to be built with Chinese technical assistance on the Arabian Sea coast.

Pakistan already has three operational nuclear plants generating a total of around 740 MW of power. The World Nuclear Association has estimated the cost of the new project at nearly 10 billion Dollars.

Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission engineers will work on the project with help from the China Atomic Energy Authority. As Pakistan is not party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty it is excluded from the international trade in nuclear materials and technology, and can rely only on its neighbour China for help.

Pakistan launched military operations against terrorists near Afghan border

The Pakistan army on 26 November 2013 has launched military operations against terrorists in the North Waziristan tribal region near the Pak-Afghan border. The Pakistan’s attack came two days after two security persons, were killed and five were injured in a remote control bomb explosions in the area by the terrorists.

North Waziristan acts like a haven for Pakistani Taliban, linked to the al-Qaeda. The US had been pushing the Pakistan Army to launch a military operation in North Waziristan. However, Army has refused to do so.


Thailand PM declared Emergency Law for Bangkok

Thailand Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on 25 November 2013 declared a special emergency law for Bangkok after riot police and anti-government protesters scuffled in the capital city.

The decision came after hundreds of anti-government protesters stormed into the finance ministry compound and later forced their way into the foreign ministry building.

Anti-government protesters want Prime Minister to step down amid claims that her government was remote-controlled by her older brother Thaksin Shinawatra , who was forced to quit as prime minister in 2006. He has since lived in exile to avoid jail on a corruption conviction.

The current political crisis is the most serious confrontation in Thailand since the 2010 bloody protests in which over 90 people were killed.

Geneva II Syria peace conference set for 22 January 2014: Ban Ki Moon

Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary General on 25 November 2013 announced the Geneva-II peace conference is to be held on 22 January 2014. The international conference is aimed at a democratic political transition in Syria, which will bring the Government and the opposition to a negotiating table for the first time, since the conflict that started in March 2011.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the UN special envoy on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi with the Russian Deputy

Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov and Gennady Gatilov along with the US under Secretary for political Affairs, Wendy Sherman in Geneva on 25 November 2013.

The Geneva-II conference was termed as the mission of hope by Ban Ki Moon in which, the fighting has killed more than 100000 and driven almost nine million from their homes, left countless missing and detained and terrible violations of human rights.

The goal of Geneva II would be to achieve a political solution to the conflict through a comprehensive agreement between the Government and the opposition for the full implementation of the Geneva communiqué, adopted after the first international meeting on the issue on 30 June 2012.

The communiqué, which has been endorsed by the UN Security Council, lays out key steps in a process to end the violence. Among these, the establishment - based on mutual consent - of a transitional governing body with full executive powers, including over military and security entities.


India and Malaysia Signed MoU to boost co-operation in Public Administration

India and Malaysia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 25 November 2013 to strengthen co-operation in public administration and governance as part of the efforts to enhance their strategic partnership.

The MoU covers eight areas of co-operation including human resource management, e-governance, public delivery system, accountability and transparency, skills and capacity building and quality results.

The MoU was signed by Malaysia’s Public Service Department Director-General Mohamad Zabidi Zainal and the Secretary of India’s Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Sanjay Kothari.

The MoU envisages cooperation via tours, workshops and conferences, sharing of public administration and governance information and expertise, common project implementation mechanisms and exchange of publications, state.

Loya Jirga gave consent on Afghan-US Bilateral Security Agreement

The Loya Jirga, Afghanistan’s Grand Assembly of tribal elders and elite persons on 24 November 2013 gave its consent on the issue of signing the Afghan-US Bilateral Security Agreement that would pave the way for the continuation of some US troops in the country after 2014.

2500 member traditional Loya Jirga after three days of deliberations adopted a 31-point resolution approving the proposed agreement and called upon Afghan President to sign the document by the end of the 2013.

However, Afghan President put forward conditions for signing the agreement with the United States.

The United States wants the agreement to be signed before the end of the 2013, but the Afghan President has been saying that it may be signed after the presidential elections in Afghanistan in April 2014. The US is to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan next year (2014).

About Loya Jirga

The Afghan constitution of 2003 constituted a Loya Jirga, made up of both houses of parliament


and elected heads of regional administrations, with the power to amend the constitution, impeach the president and decide matters of national sovereignty.

Heads of Competition Authorities of BRICS Nations signed the Delhi Accord

The Heads of the Competition Authorities of BRICS Nations signed a Joint Accord namely Delhi Accord on 22 November 2013 at 3rd BRICS International Competition Conference (ICC) at New Delhi.

The Delhi Accord was signed to ensure effective enforcement of competition rules, among the BRICS nations and to strengthen the co-operation among their fair trade regulators by exchanging views and boosting communication.

BRICS Competition Authorities also considered the need of establishing good communication between the BRICS Competition Authorities on competition law and policy to further improving and strengthening the relationship between the BRICS Competition Authorities.

BRICS Competition Authorities, while recognising the benefits of technical cooperation among the competition agencies, in sound and effective enforcement of competition laws expressed their resolve and commitment to exchange views on different aspects of competition policy. The Competition Authorities of BRICS also support the hosting of the Fourth BRICS ICC during 2015 at South Africa.

The Delhi Accord was signed by Alessandro Serafin Octaviani Luis, Commissioner, CADE for the Brazilian Competition Policy System, by Andrey Tsarikovsky, Stats Secretary-Deputy Head of the FAS, Russia for the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation, by Ashok Chawla, Chairman, for the Competition Commission of India, by Sun Hongzhi, Vice Minister, for the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and by Tembinkos Bonakele, Acting Commissioner for the Competition Commission of South Africa.


S.No NameVietnamese Signatory

Indian Signatory

Remarks

1.

Air Service Agreement

Dinh La Thang, Minister for Transport

Ajit Singh, Minister for Civil Aviation

The ASA seeks to promote international air services, including direct flights between the two countries and also to promote an international aviation system based on competition among airlines. The ASA will ensure the highest degree of safety and security in international air services and reaffirms the grave concern about acts or threats against the security of aircraft, which jeopardize the safety of persons or property and adversely affects the operation of air services.

2.

MOU for setting up of the Indira Gandhi Hightech Crime Lab (IGHCL ) in Hanoi

Lieutenant General Le Quy Vuong,

Deputy Minister for Public Security

Preeti Saran, Ambassador of India to Vietnam

The MoU reaffirms the desire to further strengthen and consolidate the cooperation between the two countries in the field of crime investigation, counter terrorism and other transnational organized crime, and other relevant areas. India shall provide financial grant towards procurement of technical equipment for IGHCL, teaching aids, training programmes for staff members and deputation of experts and Vietnam shall provide a permanent venue and related infrastructure to establish the IGHCL in Hanoi.

India and Vietnam signed Eight Agreements

India and Vietnam signed eight agreements on 20 November 2013 in areas of defence and security, oil exploration, civil aviation and scientific research. India will also assist Vietnam in the modernization and training of the defence and security forces of Vietnam and agreed to give a 100 million dollar line of credit to Vietnam for defence purchases.

The agreements were signed by Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong in New Delhi after delegation level talks.

The eight agreements signed are:


3.

Agreement on Protection of Classified Information

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister for Defence

Radha Krishna Mathur,

Defence Secretary

The MoU is based on the principles of the MoU on Defence Cooperation signed between the two countries in November 2009 to recognise the benefits of sharing of information and to confirm mutual interest in protection of such information in accordance with the respective national laws and relevant provisions.

4.

MOU between two Ministries of Finance

Vu Thi Mai, Deputy Minister for Finance

Arvind Mayaram, Secretary, Dept. of Economic Affairs

The MoU will permit the parties to strengthen exchanges and share experiences in the fiscal policies for transitional economies, macroeconomic management, budget management process, financial policies to support high technology and software technology development. Exchange of financial policies would be used to develop policies in related areas as mutually agreed by the Parties.

5.

Cooperation Agreement between Hanoi National University and Indian Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

Prof. Phung Xuan Nha, President of Vietnam National University, Hanoi

Prof. Samir K Brahmachari, DG CSIR & Secretary, Dept. of Scientific & Industrial Research

The purpose of the Agreement is to promote Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the two institutions aimed at developing long term S&T collaboration between the two countries and also promoting friendly relations. This would include exchange of Scientists, Research Scholars and Specialists etc. for the purpose of research, training and consultation.


6.

MoU on Cooperation between India Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore and HCM National Academy of Public Administration

Prof. Truong Thi Thong, Vice President of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Public Administration

Prof. Devanath Tirupati,

Director (In-Charge), IIMB

The MoU shall focus on the activities and programmes such as exchange of faculty members and students, joint research activities, participation in seminars and academic meetings, exchange of academic materials and other information, special short-term academic programmes, training programmes and study tours. The cooperation will initially be focused on Public Policy, Entrepreneurship, Corporate Governance, Training for executives from public and private sector enterprises, Social Sciences and Student & Faculty Exchanges.

7.

MoU between Vietnam Oil and Gas Group and ONGC Videsh Limited(OVL)

Nguyen Vu Truong Son, Vice President of Petro Vietnam

D. K. Saraf Managing Director, OVL

The MoU provides for association in the field of exploration, development and production of petroleum resources between the two countries for new investments by OVL in oil and gas blocks in Vietnam for oil and gas exploration and production. Petro Vietnam is also invited to participate in open blocks in India and in third countries.

8.

MOU between Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade and Tata Power Ltd. on development of Long Phu 2 Thermal Power Project in Soc Trang, Vietnam

Nguyen Khac Tho, Deputy Director General of the Energy Department

Anil Sardana, Chief Executive Officer of Tata Power

The MoU approves TATA Power belonging to TATA Group to act as Investor to develop Long Phu 2, coal-fired Power Plant Project of 2x660 MW capacity. The Project will be designed, engineered, procured, contracted, constructed, owned, operated and maintained through a BOT Company owned by TATA Power and additional investors, with TATA Power as the lead member and will reach commercial operation in accordance with Agreements with the Vietnam side.


UN urged Myanmar to grant Rights to Rohingya Muslims

The UN General Assembly’s human rights committee on 19 November 2013 passed a resolution urging Myanmar to give the stateless Rohingya minority equal access to citizenship. The committee also asked Myanmar to crack down on violence against them and other Muslims in Myanmar.

The resolution also expressed “concern about remaining human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests and detentions of political activists and human rights defenders, forced displacement, land confiscations, rape and other forms of sexual violence and torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.”

In the resolution, the 193-nation committee reiterated its serious concern about communal violence and other abuses of the Rohingya minority in Rakhine State of Myanmar. The UN resolution, which will move to the full UN General Assembly, acknowledged “the scale of the reform effort undertaken” so far in Myanmar.

Background

Myanmar emerged from a half-century of military rule in 2011, but its transition to democracy has been marred by sectarian violence that has left more than 240 people dead and sent another 240000 fleeing their homes, most of them Rohingya Muslims.

In 1982, Myanmar passed a citizenship law recognising eight races and 130 minority groups — but omitted the nation’s 800000 Rohingya, among Myanmar’s 60 million people.

Many Myanmar Buddhists view the Rohingya as interlopers brought in by British colonialists from modern-day Bangladesh, but many Rohingya say they have lived in the country once known as Burma for hundreds of years.

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro got Special Powers

Nicolas Maduro, the President of Venezuela on 19 November 2013 got the final approval to special powers by Venezuela National Assembly. Because of this approval, Maduro will be able to govern without consulting the congress for 12 years.

The new powers assigned to the power will help him to tackle corruption and the economic crisis of the country. Presently, Venezuela is facing the shortages of food and


other essential goods, power cuts and inflation about 54 percent.

As the economic sabotage activity, the retailers of the country have been forced to slash the prices up to 60 percent. Strict controls over the sale of the foreign currency have been introduced by the government to control the growing black market of dollars.

Preneet Kaur, the Minister of State for External Affairs of India visited Serbia

Preneet Kaur, the Minister of State for External Affairs of India was on a three day visit from 18-21 November 2013 to Serbia. During her visit, she met Ivica Dacic, the Prime Minister of Serbia.

During this meeting, she discussed on matters of bilateral relations including the economic cooperation, exchange of high level visits, people-to-people contact, issues relating to visa regime and UNSC expansion.

The Serbian Prime Minister appreciated the stand of India on Kosovo. The Prime Minister also emphasized the need for further cooperation in the fields of IT, pharma, investment, film production, agriculture and various other sectors.

During her visit to Belgrade, she also visited Gandhi Street named in 1970 and Nehru Street named in 1972. She also garlanded the busts of Mahatma Gandhi, which was unveiled in 2007 and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru unveiled in 1990.

Iran unveiled New Biggest Drone Fotros with 2000 Km Range

Iran on 18 November 2013 unveiled a biggest missile-equipped drone with a range of 2000 km, which would enable it to cover much of the Middle East, including Israel.

The drone named Fotros has an operational range of 2000 kilometres and can fly at an altitude of 25000 feet, with a flight time of 16 to 30 hours. The drone


could carry out reconnaissance missions or launch air-to-surface missile strikes.

In September 2013, Iran announced the mass production of the Shahed 129 drone, which it said has a range of 1700 kilometres, is capable of carrying eight missiles and can fly for 24 hours. In the same month, Iran unveiled a reconnaissance drone named Yasseer, which was said to be capable of flying for eight hours with a range of 200 kilometres and at an altitude of 4500 meters.

Yasseer was based on the US ScanEagle drone, a model of which Tehran claimed to have captured in December 2012 and reproduced since then. The Iranian army also recently claimed that it was producing a series of drones called Rad-85.

OPCW adopted final roadmap for destruction of Syria’s Chemical Weapons

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the UN Chemical weapons watchdog on 15 November 2013 started its work on the final roadmap for the destruction of chemical arsenals of Syria. In the plan, Syrian chemical weapons will be transported for destruction outside its territory to ensure their destruction in the safest and soonest manner, and no later than 30 June 2014.

The deadline of OPCW to agree on the destruction milestones of more than 1000 tonnes of dangerous chemicals in Syria expired on 15 November 2013. The plan was adopted during the meeting of its 41-member Executive Council in The Hague.

The UN Security Council gave its mandate to the agency to destroy the weapons of mass destruction by mid-2014. As per the reports, OPCW will send the resource for packaging and handling the chemical materials to 12 chemical storage sites by December 2013, under a tentative plan. Subsequently, the chemicals would be taken to Syria’s Latakia port from where they would be shipped out by 5 February 2013.

About Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is the implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) that entered into force in 1997. As of today the OPCW has 190 Member States, who are working together to achieve a world free from chemical weapons.


S.No Document Australian Sig-natory

Indian Signatory Remarks

1.

Amendments on MoU between the Central Board of Excise & Customs of the Republic of India and the Australian Customs Service on Customs Cooperation on Mutual Administrative Assistance

Patrick Suckling Australian High Commissioner to India

Praveen Mahajan Chairperson, Central Board of Excise and Customs

The amendments allow both parties to establish Joint Working Group for the effective implementation of the MOU

2.

Statement of Intent between the Government of Australia and Nalanda University to Progress a three year arrangement towards a chair of Ecology and Environment Studies at the University

Patrick Suckling Australian High Commissioner to India

Gopa Sabharwal Vice Chancellor, Nalanda University

Both sides agree to work towards establishment of Chair of Ecology & Environment Studies at the University

They share the collective goal of preventing chemistry from ever again being used for warfare, thereby strengthening international security.

India and Australia signed two agreements

India and Australia on 18 November 2013 signed two agreements in New Delhi during the visit of Foreign Minister of Australia, Julie Bishop to India. She was on four days visit to India from 15 November to 18 November 2013.

List of documents signed during the visit of Foreign Minister of Australia to India:


IAF C 130J sent to Philippines on a Humanitarian Aid Mission

Government of India on 14 November 2013 dispatched relief package that includes medicines, hygiene and chemicals, tentage, blankets, tarpaulins and ready to eat meals to Hurricane ravaged Philippines by an Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft to Mactan.

The relief package will helped the people of Philippines to meet the urgent needs at the time of trouble like life-saving medical care, food supplies and construction of temporary shelters in this hour of need. A similar aid was provided to Philippines by India in 2006.

The Problem of Philippines

Super Typhoon Haiyan of category-5 struck Philippines on 8 November 2013 and left behind more than 10000 people dead. It also affected about 4 million people. This was one of the most powerful typhoons to hit Philippines. It pushed winds up to 300 kilometers an hour.

President of Philippines declared state of National Calamity

President of Philippines, Benigno Aquino on 11 November 2013 declared a state of national calamity to speed relief efforts for victims of Typhoon Haiyan. Leyte and Samar are the much suffered provinces of the country as it suffered massive destruction and loss of life. About 10000 people were killed in Philippines.

Tacloban is one of the worst affected cities, as more than thousands of people have been displaced after the high winds and floodwaters.

About the Typhoon Haiyan

Super Typhoon Haiyan is a category-5 super typhoon to hit Philippines on 8 November 2013 leaving behind many people dead. It also injured many people in the city of Tacloban on Leyte Island. This was one of the most powerful typhoons to hit Philippines. It pushed winds up to 300 kilometers an hour. The typhoon forced millions of people to flee to safe places


Fifth Session of India-Ukraine Inter-Governmental Commission held

The fifth session of India-Ukraine Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, Industrial and Cultural Cooperation held in New Delhi on 13 November 2013. The Commission was chaired by E. Ahamed, the Minister of State for External Affairs.

The Ukrainian delegation was led by Ihor Mykolayovych Prasolov, the Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine. He was accompanied by a 15 member official and 12 member business delegations from Ukraine.

During the session current status and future prospects of cooperation in trade and investment, heavy/light industry, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, mining and metallurgy, science and technology, energy (coal, nuclear), transportation, agriculture and food processing, education, culture and tourism were reviewed.

The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India, and the State Administration of Ukraine on Medicinal Products signed the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Joint Ventures and Research and Development in Pharmaceuticals and Bio-pharmaceuticals.

The Ukrainian Business Delegation held an interactive session with Indian business community organized by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The Ukrainian side agreed to address the concerns of Indian pharmaceutical companies operating in Ukraine. Both sides also agreed to work on an agreement on simplification of visa procedures to ease movement of business people and tourists. The bulk of India’s exports of pharmaceuticals to Ukraine amount to about 375 million US dollars per annum.

India and Ukraine also agreed to increase trade beyond the existing level of 3.2 billion US dollars.

The fourth session was held in Kyiv in June 2012 and the sixth session of the Commission will take place in 2014 at Kyiv.

UN Court ruled for Cambodia in Thailand Border Row

The UN’s International Court of Justice ruled on 11 November 2013 that the area around a flashpoint ancient temple on the Thai border belongs to Cambodia.

The International Court of Justice interpreted a 1962 ruling saying that “Cambodia had sovereignty over the whole territory of the promontory of Preah Vihear temple”.


In 2012, the ICJ ruled that both countries should withdraw forces from around the ancient Khmer temple, which is perched on a clifftop in Cambodia but is more easily accessed from the Thai side. Thailand does not dispute Cambodia’s ownership of the temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, but both sides laid claim to an adjacent 4.6-square-km piece of land.

At least 28 people have been killed in outbreaks of violence since 2011 over the ownership of the patch of land next to the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.

About Preah Vihear Temple

The Preah Vihear Temple is a Khmer Hindu temple situated atop a 525-meter cliff in the Dângrêk Mountains of Cambodia. The temple complex runs 800m along a north-south axis. It was built mainly during the 11th and 12th centuries during the reigns of the kings Suryavarman I (and Suryavarman II).

Ownership of the temple by Cambodia has been under dispute from neighbouring Thailand. In 1962 the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that it belonged to Cambodia.

The Preah Vihear temple was made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008

Afghanistan signed Agreement with ADB for the Development of Dara-Suf to Yakawlang Highway

The Government of Afghanistan on 10 November 2013 signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the development of road network in the country at a cost of 220 million US dollar. The agreement was signed between Afghan Finance Minister Dr. Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal and the ADB Country Director Joji Tokeshi in Kabul.

Major Highlights of the Agreement

• The agreement envisages reconstruction of 178 kilometer north-south corridor road joining northern Balkh province with the central Bamyan province of Afghanistan. This connectivity will play an important role in joining Afghanistan to the other regional countries.

• The agreement includes reconstruction of the 178km Dara-Suf to Yakawlang highway, preliminary


survey of Gardan Diwal to Cheghcharan road and preliminary survey of Kabul’s ring road.

• It is important to note that the northern and southern parts of Afghanistan are linked by the Asian Highway which passes through the Salang Pass situated at an altitude of nearly 12000 foot in the Hindukush Mountains. However, due to the snowfall during winters, the highway gets blocked leading to the obstacle in connecting northern and southern Afghanistan.

• The proposed north-south corridor will provide an alternative route between the two reagions of the country.

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) also facilitated execution of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) project, which is actually an opportunity for the regional cooperation at an unprecedented scale, linking the four countries economically.

It is worth noticing that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had earlier decided to support Afghanistan and commit to the economic development after the year 2014

India and Japan decided to strengthen their Cooperation in the Maritime Sector

India and Japan on 9 November 2013 decided to further strengthen their cooperation in the maritime sector as a part of the overall robust bilateral relations. The two countries agreed to enhance their interaction through the existing forums and through port-to-port exchanges. This was decided during the visit of Union Minister of Shipping G.K. Vasan, to Japan.

India explained the developments that were taking place in its Ports sector and assured Japan that concerns regarding

infrastructure and connectivity of ports are being addressed expeditiously. The ports in Ennore and Chennai are catering to the Japanese car exporters like Toyota and Nissan who have so far exported about 42000 and 300000 cars respectively from these ports.

During the talks, India thanked the Japanese government for its support to various Indian Ports and infrastructure projects through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It also


mentioned the possibility of JICA assistance to VOC Port at Thoothukudi for the upcoming Outer Harbour Project.

Japan acknowledged the existing cordial relationship between the two nations, assured that it will carry forward the momentum. Japan expressed its interest in shipbuilding and recycling industries in India.

India and Kuwait signed five pacts to strengthen bilateral coop-eration in Culture and Education

India and Kuwait on 8 November 2013 agreed to expand cooperation in key areas, which includes energy and investment. Five pacts were signed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in culture and education during the India visit of the Prime Minister of Kuwait, HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

During this India visit of the Kuwait Prime Minister to India five documents were signed including an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons, cooperation in the field of sports and youth affairs and exchange of cultural and information programmes, besides cooperation in the field of education. The documents are:

Name of Agreement/ MoU Remarks

Transfer of Sentenced Persons The Agreement aims to enable the transfer of sentenced persons of both the countries to serve their remaining sentences of imprisonment or any other form of punishment in their own country.

Cooperation In Mutual Beneficial Area of Activities.

The MoU aims at promoting cooperation between the FSI and KDI, including exchange of information on structure and content of training programmes, exchange of trainees, students, faculty members, experts and researchers.


Cooperation in the field of Sports & Youth Affairs

The MoU aims at promoting and strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the field of Sports & Youth through institutional exchanges particularly through exchange of youth and sports teams in various disciplines.

Executive Programme for Cultural and Information Exchanges

The Executive Programme aims at enhancing cultural cooperation between National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters of Kuwait and Indian Lalit Kala Akademi, between Rampur Raza Library, Rampur India and Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiya Kuwait, exchange of TV and radio programmes for better understanding of the culture of each other’s countries, increased participation in training programmes and courses and symposia of mutual interest in the field of libraries and information, visit of experts and archaeologists, cooperation on management and conservation of cultural heritage sites.

Educational Exchange Program on Cooperation in Education And Learning for the Years 2013-16

The Executive Programme aims at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of education and learning by exchange of students, researchers in the field of education and learning, and academicians and specialists in the field of general education, adult education, special needs education, conducting research seminars in the fields of science and education, exchange of books, publications, audio-visual materials, microfiche and archives resources and other information to assist researchers in their fields of operations.


Engineers to attempt extraction of fuel rods from the wrecked reactor at Fukushima

Engineers in Japan on 7 November 2013 prepared to extract the first of more than 1000 nuclear fuel rods from one of the wrecked reactor of Fukushima nuclear power station. Being risky, the process will be taken as a step towards stabilizing the site. The fuel rods in the unit 4, storage pool is in the precarious stage.

In March 2011, the building as damaged badly due to the Great Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. The work of removal of the rods to a safe place would become possible after repair work and planning will be done. The repairing work can take more than a month.

India-Republic of Korea Joint Commission Meeting held

The 7th India-Republic of Korea (South Korea) Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) was held in New Delhi on 8 November 2013. The Indian side was led by External Affairs Minister, Salman Khurshid, while the Republic of Korea (ROK) side was led by Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se.

The two nations did a comprehensive review of bilateral relations, which were upgraded to a Strategic Partnership and acquired range and depth over the past few years. Noting that high level political exchanges had imparted momentum to the relationship, India and South Korea discussed the possibility of a visit to India by ROK wPresident Madame Park Geun-hye in early 2014.

The JCM discussed ways to add strategic and economic content to bilateral ties including in the political, security, trade, investment, consular, scientific and cultural spheres. Regional and international issues of mutual interest were also discussed.

The 8th India-ROK Joint Commission Meeting at a mutually convenient time will be held in Seoul in 2014.

UNESCO suspended the Voting Rights of US and Israel

UNESCO on 8 November 2013 suspended the voting rights of the United States (US) and Israel. The suspension happened as the two countries stopped paying the dues to the United Nations (UN’s) cultural arm from two years in the protest over the grant of full membership to the Palestinians.

The funding to UNESCO started in October 2011 because of the laws of US, which prohibits it to pay the dues to any UN agencies giving recognition of the Palestinians demand for their own state. The fund from Israel was pulled out because it objected the one-sided attempts of Palestinians to be recognized of its statehood.


The voting rights of the two nations were suspended as they both failed to provide a justification for non-payments of the dues within deadline.

UNESCO

In 1945, UNESCO was created in order to respond to the firm belief of nations, forged by two world wars in less than a generation that political and economic agreements are not enough to build a lasting peace. Peace must be established on the basis of humanity’s moral and intellectual solidarity.

UNESCO strives to build networks among nations that enable this kind of solidarity, by:

• Mobilizing for education: so that every child, boy or girl, has access to quality education as a fundamental human right and as a prerequisite for human development.

• Building intercultural understanding: through protection of heritage and support for cultural diversity. UNESCO created the idea of World Heritage to protect sites of outstanding universal value.

• Pursuing scientific cooperation: such as early warning systems for tsunamis or trans-boundary water management agreements, to strengthen ties between nations and societies.

• Protecting freedom of expression: an essential condition for democracy, development and human dignity

Emomali Rahmon Reelected as the President of Tajikistan

Central Election Commission (CEC) of Tajikistan on 6 November 2013 declared that Emomali Rahmon was re-elected as the President of Tajikistan.

Emomali Rahmon belongs to People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT).

The President of Tajikistan is elected by popular vote. The term of the office is 7 years.


The term of the President of Tajikistan is limited to not more than two terms. However, a constitutional amendment passed in 2003 allows President Imomali Rakhmon to run for a third term which, if he prevails, would keep him in office until 2020.

About Emomali Rahmon

• Emomali Rahmon was born as Emomali Sharipovich Rahmanov to a peasant family in Kulob, Kulob Oblast (present-day Khatlon province) in Tajikistan.

• He was served in the Soviet Armed Forces from 1971-74.

• He has served as Tajikistan’s head of state since 1992 and as President since 1994.

Pakistan Successfully Test Fired Surface-to-Surface Missile Hatf IX (Nasr)

Pakistan on 5 November 2013 successfully test-fired Hatf IX (Nasr) missile, a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 60 km.

The test fire was conducted with successive launches of 4 x missiles (Salvo) from a state of the art multi tube launcher.

Facts related to Hatf IX (Nasr)

• Nasr is designed specifically to defeat Anti-Tactical Missile Defence Systems of all kinds.

• The test firing of short range surface-to-surface missile Hatf IX (Nasr) was a part of medium-range ballistic missiles [MRBM] and short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile [SRBMs].

• The missile has the capability to carry nuclear weapons.

Nasr, with a range of 60 Kilometer and in-flight maneuver capability is a quick response system, with shoot and scoot attributes. It contributes to the full spectrum deterrence against threats in view of evolving scenarios.


India and China set to hold 3rd Joint Military Exercises after five years

Indian and Chinese army are set to hold their third joint military exercises after a gap of 5 years. During the exercises the Indian army contingent of 150 people reached the Chengdu city on 4 November 2013 to take part in the anti-terrorism drills.

The 10 day drill code has been named hand in hand was inaugurated in the Chengdu city on 5 November 2013. Earlier, the annual exercises began in 2007 and the first exercise was held in Kumming city of China, whereas the second round was held in India at Belgaum in Karnataka in 2008.

Further, the next round of exercise was called off by India after the General who headed troops in Jammu and Kashmir was denied the visa on the grounds that the region part of disputed territory.

The contact between the two nations was resumed after China withdrew its decision and started issuing the regular visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir. This step facilitated a broad engagement between the two giant neighbours.

Russia and Japan agreed to expand their Defence Ties

Russia and Japan on 2 November 2013 held their first joint Defence and Foreign Ministers meeting and agreed to expand their defense and security cooperation.

The Foreign Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida and Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera and their counterpart from Russia, Sergei Lavrov and Sergei Shoigu, who met in Tokoyo agreed to hold joint military and antipiracy exercises and then established a defence consultation framework. The defence tie-up between the two countries is signed with an aim to establish the stability and peace in the Asia-Pacific region.

With this agreement, Russia became the third country in the world to establish the two-plus-two mechanism of bilateral interaction at the ministerial level with Japan after US and Australia. On the other side, Japan became the first Asian country to have the arrangement with Russia.

The two countries have also agreed to conduct, the first ever anti-terrorism and anti-piracy exercises between the Maritime Self Defence Force of Japan and the Navy of Russia.


Japan and Russia have also agreed to discuss the territorial dispute, because of which Russia and Japan has been able to sign the peace treaty after the second world war 2. The two nations had disputes over the four Kuril Islands that are claimed by Japan.

13th Council of Ministers Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association held in Australia

Indian Ocean R i m A s s o c i a t i o n ( I O R A ) conducted its 13th Council of M i n i s t e r s meeting in Perth, Australia on 1 November

2013. On the occasion, India handed over the chair of the IORA to Australia. India chaired the IORA, since 2011.

The Perth Council of Ministers Meeting reviewed the process made by IORA since 2012 meeting in Gurgaon, India. The future directions and initiatives to advance were considered then for the interests of the IORA and its members.

The thirteenth Council of Ministers’ Meeting was visited by the member states Foreign Ministers namely Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Perth Principles

• Reiterating that IORA is the apex pan-regional organisation for the Indian Ocean.

• Recalling the six priority areas of cooperation agreed at the eleventh COMM (Council of Ministers’ Meeting) in Bengaluru, namely: Maritime Safety and Security; Trade and Investment Facilitation; Fisheries Management; Disaster Risk Management; Academic and Science and Technology Cooperation; and Tourism and Cultural Exchanges.

• Recalling Also our desire to promote the sustainable growth and balanced development of the Indian Ocean region and IORA Member States, and to create common ground for regional economic cooperation.


• Committed to promoting cooperation and collaboration between IORA and other Indian Ocean regional stakeholders including Dialogue Partner States and other regional and international forums.

• Reaffirming our commitment to the Charter of the United Nations, to the Charter of IORA, and to the applicable principles of international law.

• Reaffirming Also our commitment to ‘The Future We Want’, as adopted at the 2012 United Nation as Conference on Sustainable Development, and to the protection, restoration, health, productivity and resilience of the Indian Ocean and its resources.

• Recognising that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources and plays a vital role in maintaining peaceful cooperation and stability across the Indian Ocean.

About the IORA

The IOR-ARC was formally launched at the first Ministerial Meeting in Mauritius on 6 – 7 March 1997. This meeting adopted the IOR-ARC Charter, and determined a number of administrative and procedural matters.The apex body of the IOR-ARC is the Council of (Foreign) Ministers (COM). The meeting of the COM is preceded by the meetings of the Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group (IORAG), Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum (IORBF), Working Group on Trade and Investment (WGTI), and the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO). The Coordinating Secretariat of IOR-ARC is located at Ebène, Mauritius. Apart from a Secretary-General, its present staff strength at the executive level includes two Directors and eight local staff.

IORA was formerly known as IOR-ARC (Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation).

Members of IORA (IOR-ARC)

The Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), initially known as the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative, is an International/Diplomatic Organization with 20 Member States namely Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Whereas the China, Egypt, France, Japan, United Kingdom and the United States of America are Dialogue Partners of the IOR-ARC. The Indian Ocean Tourism Organisation (IOTO) and Indian Ocean Research Group (IORG) have been granted Observer Status.


India and Vietnam signed Treaty on the Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners

List of other countries with which the Government of India has signed such

agreements are

UK Maldives

Mauritius Thailand

Bulgaria Turkey

Cambodia Italy

Egypt Bosnia

France Herzegovina

Bangladesh Israel

Korea Russia

Saudi Arabia Iran

UAE Sri Lanka

India and Vietnam on 1 November 2013 signed a treaty on transfer of sentenced prisoners in the jails in the two countries. The treaty would allow prisoners of the two countries to be near their families and they will have to serve the remaining part of their sentences. This process will help to facilitate the process of their social rehabilitation. The treaty was signed from Sushilkumar Shinde, the Union Home Minister and Tran Dai Quang, the Minister of Public Security of Vietnam.

The two sides also held bilateral talks on security matters, issues of training, capacity building, cyber security, cyber crime, trans-national crime, terrorism and disaster management. The negotiations on the same line have been concluded with countries like Canada, Hong Kong, Brazil and Spain.

China opened new Highway linking Medog to Zhamog near Arunachal Pradesh border

China on 31 October 2013 opened a new highway that links Medog to Zhamog-located near the border with Arunachal Pradesh.

The highway linking Medog, the last roadless county in China, with neighboring Bome county in Tibet formally opened to traffic, ending the county’s isolation from the outside world. The 117-km highway, which cost 950 million yuan (155 million U.S. dollars), links Zhamog Township, the county seat of Bome, and Medog in Nyingchi Prefecture in southeastern Tibet.

The road will be accessible for 8 to 9 months per year, barring major natural disasters. The Zhamog-


Medog starts along the Number 318 National Road in Zhamog township in Bomi County. It goes through the 4400-meter high Galung La Mountain and cross 6 rivers, to reach Medog.

The opening of the Medog road will greatly lower transportation costs and will also improve medical care and educational facilities.

With this new highway, every county in Tibet is now linked through the highway network, underlining the widening infrastructure gulf across the disputed border, even as India belatedly pushes forward an upgrading of border roads in more difficult terrain.

China first started attempting to build the highway to Medog – a landlocked county in Tibet’s Nyingchi prefecture – in the 1960s, in the aftermath of the 1962 war with India.

Six Major Central Banks made Currency Swap Accords Permanent

Names of Six major central banks

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

The Bank of Japan

U.S. Federal Reserve

European Central Bank

Bank of England

central bank of Canada

central bank of Switzerland

Six major central banks in the world made currency swap arrangements permanent on 31 October 2013 as a prudent liquidity backstop in case of future global financial strains.

Previously these banks had temporary bilateral currency swap arrangements.

About Currency Swap

A currency swap is a foreign-exchange agreement between two institutions /Countries to exchange aspects (namely the principal an interest payments) of a loan in one currency for

equivalent aspects of an equal in net present value loan in another currency.

About Central bank liquidity swap

Central bank liquidity swap/Currency is a type of currency swap used by a country’s central bank to provide liquidity of its currency to another country’s central bank.


WORLD DAIRYNovember 2013

1 November 2013

• India and Vietnam signed treaty on the transfer of sentenced prisoners.

2 November 2013

• Rohit Sharma became third cricketer in the world to score a double hundred in ODI.

3 November 2013

• Indian Men’s hockey team qualified for Hockey World Cup 2014.

• Novak Djokovic won BNP Paribas Masters Tennis Tournament 2013.

4 November 2013

• India and China have resumed 3rd Joint Military Exercises after five years.

• Yuki Bhambri won the Traralgon title.

• Abraham K Techi Appointed International Weightlifting Referee.

5 November 2013

• Pakistan Successfully Test Fired Surface-to-Surface Missile Hatf IX (Nasr).

• India successfully launched its Maiden Mars Mission from Sriharikota.

• Bangladeshi Court sentenced to Death 152 Soldiers.

• Mahatma Gandhi’s Charkha was sold for £110000 at UK Auction.

• Paralympic Powerlifter Ali Jawad won Gold at the Asian Open Championships.

6 November 2013

• Imomali Rakhmon Reelected as the President of Tajikistan.

• Martha Dodray won UN Award.

• Mark Schwarzer, Australia Goalkeeper Retired from International Football. - See more at:



7 November 2013

• Engineers to attempt extraction of fuel rods from the wrecked reactor at Fukushima.

• Scientists discovered a Black Hole in Ophiuchus Star Constellation.

• Exhibition Titled Czech Castles Inaugurated At the Red Fort, Delhi.

• ISRO successfully raised Mars Orbiter Spacecraft’s Orbit.

• National Conference on Intellectual Disability Inaugurated.

• India to host Men’s Hockey World Cup in 2018.

8 November 2013

• India and Kuwait signed five pacts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in Culture and Education.

• UNESCO suspended the Voting Rights of US and Israel over Palestine row.

• Geneva talks on Iran’s Nuclear Programme failed to Reach any Conclusion.

• 7th India-Republic of Korea Joint Commission Meeting held in New Delhi.

9 November 2013

• India and Japan decided to strengthen their Cooperation in the Maritime Sector.

• Rahul Jindal, an Indian-American doctor got Outstanding American by Choice Award.

• Miss Venezuela Gabriela Isler Won Miss Universe 2013.

• India won Silver Medal at 3rd Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2013.

10 November 2013

• Afghanistan Signed Agreement with ADB for the Development of Dara-Suf to Yakawlang Highway.

• International Conference on Comprehensive Cleft Care Concluded in Guwahati, Assam.

• Typhoon Haiyan Made a Landfall in Northern Vietnam with Reduced Intensity.

• Heena Sidhu Became Third Indian Shooter to Win Gold at Rifle/Pistol World Cup Finals.



11 November 2013

• President of Philippines declared state of National Calamity

• UN Court ruled for Cambodia in Thailand border row

12 November 2013

• Russia Successfully Launched Proton-M Rocket Carrying a Military Satellite

13 November 2013

• Prasar Bharti signed MoU with Slovenia Radio & TV for Cooperation in Broadcasting

• Fifth Session of India-Ukraine Inter-Governmental Commission held in New Delhi

14 November 2013

• IAF C 130J sent to Philippines on a Humanitarian Aid Mission

15 November 2013

• OPCW adopted final roadmap for destruction of Syria’s Chemical Weapons

• 22nd Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting (CHOGM) began in Colombo, Sri Lanka

16 November 2013

• Abdullah Yameen won Maldives Presidential Polls

• International Day for Tolerance observed on 16 November

17 November 2013

• First Integrated Checkpost along India-Bangladesh border inaugurated

• 22nd CHOGM Summit ended with adoption of three declarations



18 November 2013

• India and Australia signed two agreements in New Delhi during the visit of Foreign Minister of Australia, Julie Bishop to India.

• The US space agency NASA launched its MAVEN orbiter Mission to Mars planet.

• Iran unveiled a biggest missile-equipped drone with a range of 2000 km.

• India and Russia agreed to expand the range of strategic partnership in a significant manner in Moscow. The two countries will also hold a Joint Air Force Level exercise for the first time in 2014.

19 November 2013

• The Second Constituent Assembly elections were held for Nepal.

• The UN General Assembly’s human rights committee passed a resolution urging Myanmar to give the stateless Rohingya minority equal access to citizenship.

• Nicolas Maduro, the President of Venezuela got the final approval to special powers by Venezuela National Assembly.

• Frederick Sanger, a British biochemist who is the only person to win Nobel Prize two times for Chemistry died in Cambridge, eastern England.

• The World Toilet Day (WTD) was observed across the world.

20 November 2013

• India and Vietnam signed eight agreements in areas of defence and security, oil exploration, civil aviation and scientific research.

• The 18th International Children’s Film Festival concluded in Hyderabad, India. A Dutch Film named Kauwboy, directed by Boudewijn Koole won the Golden Elephant Award for best film in the ‘International Live Action’ category.

• Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani teenage activist received the EU’s Sakharov human rights prize for her brave crusade for the right of the children to education.

21 November 2013

• Nisha Desai Biswal was sworn in as the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia.



• Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh inaugurated the 3rd BRICS International Competition Conference in New Delhi, India.

22 November 2013

• The Heads of the Competition Authorities of BRICS Nations signed a Joint Accord namely Delhi Accord at 3rd BRICS International Competition Conference (ICC) at New Delhi, India.

• Priti Patel, an Indian Origin British MP has been honoured with the prestigious Asian Trader Editor’s Award.

23 November 2013

• China announced that it was set up an Air Defence Identification Zone over an area in the East China Sea.

• The COP-19, UN Climate Change Conference 2013 concluded in Warsaw, Poland by approving the new global treaty.

24 November 2013

• Iran and P5+1 group of Nations reached a breakthrough deal to curb Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for limited sanctions relief.

• The Loya Jirga, Afghanistan’s Grand Assembly of tribal elders and elite persons gave its consent on the issue of signing the Afghan-US Bilateral Security Agreement that would pave the way for the continuation of some US troops in the country after 2014.

25 November 2013

• Thailand Prime Minister declared a special emergency law for Bangkok after riot police and anti-government protesters scuffled in capital.

• India and Malaysia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen co-operation in public administration and governance.

26 November 2013

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization launched a three-day cyber defence exercise “Cyber Coalition 2013” at Estonia.



• Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif launched the construction of the country’s biggest Nuclear power project.

27 November 2013

• Italian Senate expelled ex- Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from Parliament over his tax fraud conviction.

• Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) voted in favour of Dubai to be the host city for the World Trade Fair or EXPO 2020.

• Nawaz Sharifappointed Lt Gen Raheel Sharif as the new Chief of Army Staff and Lt Gen Rashad Mahmood as the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.

28 November 2013

• Belgium has opened a Consulate General of Belgium in Chennai. The consulate was inaugurated by Princess Astrid of Belgium.

• European Union has signed an agreement to provide the financial assistance worth 122 million dollar to Egypt to tide over the financial crisis.

29 November 2013

• United States of America exempted some countries, including India and China, from the tough Iranian sanctions for reducing their dependence on Iranian oil.

30 November 2013

• Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif has visited Afghanistan for the first time since he took office in May 2013 as part of the efforts to revive the Afghan peace process.

• United Nations has called for more international support to Lebanon to tackle the Syrian refugee crisis.

• Sri Lanka has scrapped a 100 percent surcharge on gold imports and cut import duty from 10 to 7.5 percent with immediate effect to help its jewelry industry.


NATIONAL NATIONAL

Supreme Court set up Internal Committee to Deal with Sexual Harassment Complaints

The Supreme Court of India on 26 November 2013 constituted a ten-member Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committee (GSICC) to deal with complaints of sexual harassment within its premises. The committee was constituted by the Chief Justice of India P. Sathasivam.

The committee is headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai.


The committee has six other female members. Two members are outsiders and not connected with the Supreme Court.

The panel is in consonance with the guidelines laid down by the apex court in its judgment in the Vishaka case for dealing with complaints of sexual harrassment at the workplace.

Union Cabinet Approved land transfer for Dr B. R. Ambedkar Memorial

Union Cabinet on 25 November 2013 approved a proposal to transfer Indu Mill land in Mumbai to Maharashtra government for constructing Dr B R Ambedkar memorial.

The decision was taken in the meeting of the Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. It would empower the Centre to acquire certain area of the Mill belonging to National Textile Corporation Limited in Mumbai for facilitation of construction of the memorial.

Over 48000 square metres of land will be acquired for the purpose. According to the cabinet note, NTCL will be

paid 45.77 crore rupees for the land. In this regard, Dr. B R Ambedkar Memorial Bill, 2013 is likely to be introduced in Parliament in the winter session beginning on 5 December 2013.

The legislation is aimed at empowering the Central government to acquire a portion of the land belonging to the National Textile Corporation Limited (NTCL) for facilitation of the construction of a memorial for Ambedkar. The ashes of Dr Ambedkar are interred at Chaitya Bhoomi, which is situated in the vicinity of the Indu Mill.

VVPATS used on large-scale for 1st time in Mizoram Polls

Election Commission used Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) on a large-scale for the first time in the country in the Mizoram Assembly polls on 25 November 2013.

The VVPAT is a machine attached to EVMS which allows voters to verify that their vote has been cast in the way they wished. As soon as the voter casts his vote, the


VVPAT will show a small slip in a glass covered screen with the symbol and the candidate he has voted for in a form of a small ballot paper, which after 3 to 4 seconds would automatically fall into an attached closed box.

The VVPATs are being used in only ten assembly constituencies of Aizwal District of the total 40 assembly segments in Mizoram.The VVPAT system was first experimented in the Noksen Assembly bypoll in Nagaland on 4 September 2013 and Mizoram would be the first state where it would be introduced on a large scale.

Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail System (VVPAT)

1. The VVPAT system is a new initiative of the Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections.

2. The VVPT will enable electors to see a printout of their ballot -displaying the name, election symbol and serial number of the chosen candidate. However the voter cannot take the printout home.

3. In case there is a dispute about the voting and a petition is filed, the votes can be tallied electronically and physically with the ballot slips that fall into the compartment.

4. The cost of each VVPAT, manufactured by Bharat Electronic Ltd and Electronics Corporation of India (ECIL) is estimated at about 12000 rupees.

5. At present, EVMs are used for voting and counting is based on the results in the machines. In comparison the VVPAT will print a voter’s selection, thus also allowing for physically verification of the vote.

Election Commission of India with an objective of free and fair polls, the VVPAT System is introduced. This new voting system is a step towards winning the public trust in election process.

VVPAT system will also help to resolve the election disputes by providing physical verification of the votes in EVMs. For introducing VVPAT systems throughout the country would cost around 2000 to 3000 crore rupees.

Election Commission of India

Under article 324, the Constitution of India has vested in the Election Commission of India the superintendence, direction and control of the entire process for conduct of elections to Parliament and Legislature of every State and to the offices of President and Vice-President of India.

Election Commission of India is a permanent Constitutional Body. The Election Commission was established in accordance with the Constitution on 25 January 1950.


National Lok Adalat settled over 28 Lakh cases pending in Courts across the Country

The National Lok Adalat organised throughout the country on 23 November 2013 settled a record 28.26 lakh cases pending in various courts.

The three Lok Adalat benches constituted in the Supreme Court settled 51 cases, while other benches across the country set a world record by amicably settling over 28 lakh cases. Due to the ongoing assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, the 7.97 lakh cases referred to the national Lok Adalat would be taken up for disposal on the 30th November 2013.

For the first time, Lok Adalats was held across the country in all courts including the Supreme Court and High Courts aiming to dispose of lakhs of cases in a day.

About Lok Adalats

Lok adalats are an alternative dispute resolution mechanism where parties are encouraged to amicably settle cases outside the formal court system. Generally, cases where parties can reach an amicable settlement, including bounced cheque and bank recovery cases, civil suits, motor accident claims, service matters, family matters and traffic challan cases are taken up by lok adalats.

The adalats, organized by National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), state legal services authorities and district legal services authorities. NALSA organizes lok adalats on a regular basis but this is for the first time that it has been organized on such a huge scale.

EGoM Approved Higher Base Price for upcoming Spectrum Auction

The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on 22 November 2013 approved hiking by up to 25 per cent the reserve or start price for the auction of mobile phone spectrum in January 2014.

An Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on Telcom headed by Defence Minister A K Antony agreed with the recommendation of the Telecom Commission to better regulator TRAI’s suggested reserve or base price for the auction of spectrum in the 1800 MHz and 900 MHz bands used by GSM operators such as Bharti Airtel and Vodafone.

The EGoM also asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to suggest a base price for the 800 MHz spectrum, which is used by CDMA operators such as Sistema. TRAI had not recommended a reserve price for the 800 MHz band, saying there was no need to auction these airwaves now.


The Telecom Commission had earlier this month (Nov 2013) suggested fixing a minimum 1765 crore Rupees per MHz as the price for pan-India spectrum in the 1800 MHz band, 15 per cent higher than the TRAI’s suggested rate of 1496 crore Rupees.

Amendment of Article 371(D) and bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh

The Union Law Ministry on 14 November 2013 told to the Group of Ministers (GoM) about the necessity of amendment of Article 371 (D) of the Constitution of India for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The Article 371D of Constitution of India writes Special provisions with respect to the State of Andhra Pradesh.

Two-third majority of Parliament will be needed for the passage of the constitution Amendment Bill, which will be the biggest political inference in passage. The GoM will seek the advice of Goolam Vahanvati, the Attorney General before they proceed with the Bill. As they want to enquire that a single bill on bifurcation is sufficient or a separate bill will be required to be amendment.

Gurgaon’s Rapid Metro-India’s First Metro Service on Public Private Model

Rapid Metro-India’s First Private Metro service started operation from Gurgaon, Haryana on 14 November 2013. Rapid Metro is India’s first fully privately financed Metro system connecting NH-8 to Delhi Metro via Cyber City, Gurgaon.

Rapid Metro, with an elevated route and six stations with a frequency of every four minutes, can carry 800 passengers in each trip. The 5.1 km long route covers


six stations-Sikanderpur, Phase-2, Belvedere Towers, Cyber City, Moulsari Avenue and Phase 3. The Rapid Metro is using a common ticketing system with Delhi Metro.

The launch of Rapid Metro Gurgaon will boost connectivity within Cyber City, which is the corporate and the retail hub of Gurgaon -nearly one lakh people work or visit the hub each day.

About Rapid Metro Rail System

Rapid Metro is a metro rail system in the Indian city of Gurgaon, Haryana, linked with the Delhi Metro system’s Yellow Line. Built and operated by Rapid MetroRail Gurgaon Limited (RMGL), the system is India’s first fully privately financed metro.

It was built at a cost of 1100 crore rupees and construction was completed in 30 months. Originally planned to open in 2012, the first phase of the system opened on 14 November 2013.

The Rapid Metro is the country’s first metro service to built on the public-private partnership model. The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) provided the land and the infrastructure was built by Rapid Metro, a partnership between IL&FS and construction major DLF. The project has been leased to Rapid Metro for 99 years.

PrasarBharti and Radio-Television of Slovenia inked Broadcasting MoU

Prasar Bharati, the India’s public broadcaster, and the Radio-Television of Slovenia (RTV-SLO) on 13 November 2013 signed an MoU in the field of broadcasting. This will help to develop and strengthen the

mutual friendly relations through an increased cooperation in broadcasting.

The signed MoU allow to explore the opportunities in potential projects of production programs, further. It also allows the exchange of programs in the field of culture, entertainment, education, sports and news.

The agreement was signed by the head of the international department of RTV-SLO, Suzana Vidas Karoli and Member Personnel of Prasar Bharati, VAM Hussain.

The MoU will help to develop the relations between the two countries and also strengthen people to people contact between the two sides and will develop better understanding among people.


Union Government of India nod for three year BSc Community Health Course The Union Government of India on 13 November 2013 gave its nod to the Union Health Ministry to go ahead with the scheme aimed at creation of the mid-level rural health cadre of professionals. To give the nod of creation of the mid-level rural health cadre of professionals, the government overruled the Parliamentary Committee recommendation to scrap the course in community health.

The Union Cabinet in its meeting gave its nod to the health ministry to start a new three-year BSc community health program. The program would help in creation of the new cadre of health professionals to improve the rural medicare infrastructure in India.

The proposal was pending for few years but after the Ministry came up with the idea to create a new cadre of health professionals in rural areas as the doctors were unwilling to serve there.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health had opposed the introduction of the undergraduate community health course. The committee had instead recommended compulsory one-year rural posting for fresh medical graduates to meet the shortage of doctors in rural areas. The introduction of the course was also opposed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA).

India declared itself free from Bird Flu

India on 12 November 2013 declared itself free from Notifiable Avian Influenza (H5N1), commonly called bird flu and notified the same to World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

India notified the outbreak of the Avian Influenza (H5N1) at poultry production unit, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Anjora, Durg and Government Poultry Farm, Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh on 05th August, 2013.

The control measures adopted in the outbreak was taken in form of stamping of the entire poultry population and it included the destruction of eggs, litters, feed and other infected materials within the radius of one kilometer around

the location of the outbreak, restriction of the poultry movement, disinfection and cleaning up of the infected premises and subsequently issuing of the Post Operation Surveillance Plan (POSP). On 12 August 2013 the POSP was issued. Although India is free from the bird flu, but regular surveillance will be continued across the country especially in the vulnerable areas that is bordered by the infected countries and in areas which are visited by migratory birds.


Union Minister of Minority Affairs launched National Portal on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Union Minister of Minority Affairs K Rahman Khan on 11 November 2013 launched a National Portal on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. The portal was inaugurated to mark 125th birth anniversary of the great national leader- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, (11 November 1888 – 22 February 1958) was a scholar and a great Indian freedom fighter, an eminent educationist and the first Education Minister of India. He was one

of the greatest national leaders of his time in the cause of Hindu Muslim unity as well as secularism and socialism.

About the National Portal

This portal is an initiative to digitise the heritage of the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, and make his life and legacy available online. Along with a biographical account on Maulana Azad, the portal contains titles and information on over 20 books written by Maulana Azad, in Urdu and English, as well as information on over 45 books written on Maulana Azad in Urdu, Hindi and English.

Portal also contains over 60 photographs – some of which are with contemporaries like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, C Rajagopalachari amongst others. The portal also has excerpts of rare writings by Maulana Azad – his address on the Mahatma’s Birthday on All India Radio, his message on the day that marked the anniversary of the JallianwalaBagh massacre, his insights on the history of philosophy – to name a few. Additionally, the portal enlists the institutions, scholarships and other initiatives named after the leader.

The portal is a collaborative effort by the Union ministry of minority affairs, the Office of Advisor to the Prime Minister, the National Commission for Minorities, the Ministry of Culture). The national portal www.maulanaazadheritage.org a one stop point collating all knowledge and resources available on Maulana Azad, is now available to the public.


India Signed Financing and Project Agreements with World Bank for Disaster Management

The Union Government of India, the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Government of Puducherry signed the Financing and Project Agreements for World Bank assistance (IDA assistance) of 236 million US Dollar with the World Bank on 11 November 2013. The agreements were signed for Tamil Nadu-Puducherry Coastal Disaster Risk Reduction Project (CDRRP). The function took place at North Block, New Delhi.

Major Highlights of the Agreements

• The Financing Agreement was signed by Nilaya Mitash, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs on behalf of Government of India and Onno Ruhl, Country Director, World Bank on behalf of the World Bank.

• The Project Agreement was signed by Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Secretary, Revenue Department, Government of Tamil Nadu on behalf of Government of Tamil Nadu and Deepak Kumar, Project Director, Project Implementing Agency, Government of Puducherry on behalf of Government of Puducherry.

• The objective of the Project is to increase the resilience of coastal communities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, to a range of hydro-meteorological and geophysical hazards along with improving project implementation entities’ capacity to respond promptly and effectively to an eligible crisis or emergency.

• The Project will have five components, which are- (i) Vulnerability Reduction; (ii) Sustainable Fisheries; (iii) Capacity building in Disaster Risk Management; (iv) Implementation Support; and (v) Contingency Emergency Response.

Expected Results of the Project

• The Project is expected to result in (i) increased community resilience and preparedness in coastal areas; (ii) improved multi-hazard resilient coastal infrastructure; (iii) enhanced performance of and livelihood opportunities from fisheries with increased safety at sea; (iv) increased institutional capacity for risk mitigation and response at the state level.


• The primary beneficiaries of the project would be approximately 150 coastal villages that would benefit from the risk mitigation infrastructures.

• Further, the project would enable a local reform process, which will ensure an improved performance in the marine fisheries sector, characterised by a sustainable flow of social and economic benefits to coastal fisheries communities and a healthy marine environment.

• Over 17000 families are expected to benefit from the construction of in-situ permanent multi-hazard resilient houses.

• Through a disaster management curriculum development for schools and training institutions, the project has the potential to benefit a large community of school children and trainees.

• It is Specific Investment Loan for a period of 5 years. The implementing agencies are Government of Tamil Nadu and Government of Puducherry.

CCI Imposed Penalty on Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners’ Association

Competition Commission of India (CCI) imposed the penalty of 41393 Rupees on Tamil Nadu Film Exhibitors’ Association (TNFEA) (now known as Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners’ Association). The penalty was imposed after the information filed by Reliance Big Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. (RBEPL).

Reliance Big Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. (RBEPL) alleged that Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners’ Association contravened the provisions of Section 3 and 4 of the Competition Act, 2002. RBEPL alleged that it was entitled to distribute a film titled Osthe in Tamil language that was a remake

of Hindi film Dabang. However, TNFEA boycotted this film with an effort to secure a claim of its members against a third party Sun TV.

CCI in its investigation concluded that the decisions and conduct of TNFEA in respect of the boycott against film Osthe and other films dealt by Sun TV were in contravention of the provisions of Section 3(3) (b).

Therefore, the penalty of 41393 Rupees was imposed at the rate of 10 percent of the average turnover of the Association for the relevant last three years. The penalty should be deposited within 60 days of receipt of the order of penalty. At the same time, CCI also directed TNFEA to cease and desist from indulging in such anti-competitive conduct in future.


About the Competition Act, 2002

• The Competition Act, 2002 was passed by the Parliament in the year 2002, to which the President accorded assent in January, 2003. It was subsequently amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007.

• In accordance with the provisions of the Amendment Act, the Competition Commission of India and the Competition Appellate Tribunal were established.

• The Competition Commission of India is fully functional body with a Chairperson and six members.

• The provisions of the Competition Act relating to anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position were notified on 20 May 2009.

Union Cabinet approved the Visa Waiver Agreements with Poland, Slovenia and Lithuania

The Union Cabinet on 7 November 2013 approved the visa waiver agreements with Poland, Slovenia and Lithuania. This move will help the Indians with diplomatic passports to visit the three countries. The agreements would be signed very soon.

The CCEA (Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs) cleared a proposal to disinvest 17 percent of paid up capital for Follow on Public Offering (FPO) of the state owned power grid corporation of India. As per the Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, 13 percent of fresh equity by the Public Sector Company and 4 percent stake sale by the government includes under the FPO.

A similar agreement was cleared with Cuba in first week of November 2013.By now India has similar agreements with about 50 countries that include Japan, Russia and Israel.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reconstituted the Medical Council of India

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India reconstituted the Medical Council of India (MCI) on 6 November 2013 with 68 members. The reconstitution has been done following the provisions contained in sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2013.


The composition of the Council is as underClause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 3 23 members (nominated by the Central

Government in consultation with the States)

Clause (aa) of sub-section (1) of section 3 1 member (nominated by the Central

Government representing the UT

Administration of Daman & Diu)

Clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 3 29 members (representing the Universities/

Health Sciences Universities)

Clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 3 7 members (representing the Registered

Medical Graduates of the States)

Clause (e) of sub-section (1) of section 3 8 members (nominated by the Central

Government)

As per provisions contained in section 3AA of the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2013, the powers and functions of the Board of Governors (BoG) of MCI stands withdrawn and the BoG of MCI stands dissolved with immediate effect.

First Ever Dual Cab Freight Diesel Locomotive Vijay Flagged Off by the Minister of Railways

The Minister of Railways Mallikarjun Kharge flagged off the first ever Dual Cab 4500 HP Freight Diesel locomotive called Vijay from Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW), Varanasi, a production unit of Indian Railways, on 6 November 2013. At the same time, the Minister announced to stop the Swatantrata Senani Express at Bhulanpur Railway Station, Sub-way at DLW administration.

It is important to note that the DLW has not only increased its production in large but also developed latest state-of-the-art technologies. Building of this WDG4D High Horse Power freight locomotive is a breakthrough for DLW as well as for the Indian Railways.


Highlights of the Dual Cab 4500 HP Freight Diesel locomotive- Vijay

• Vijay, the dual cab freight WDG4D is a trailblazer.

• It is the first dual cab diesel electric freight locomotive to be built by Indian Railways.

• The locomotive has been designed on a 21.7 metre platform to accommodate two cabs and this is about two meters longer than the single cab version.

• The cabs have full width front view.

• Besides the obvious visibility advantages, the locomotive also has several features for crew comfort.

• Vijay has been provided with air conditioned cabs. The AC unit is designed to heat up the cab during winters while cooling it during summers, thus maintaining a comfortable ambient for efficient working.

• The loco also has TFT screen based integrated driver display. This feature which is similar to the one used in the aero planes allows the operating parameters to be displayed on a single screen.

• The system also provides alarm levels for the ease of the crew.

• The display system naturally assists the crew through fault diagnostics. The system reduces eye fatigue, improves reliability and improves crew response.

• The locomotive has been provided with an ergonomically designed control stand and seat. The seat is based on the excavator design (which needs 360 deg view and operability) has been provided with movement on three axis for operational flexibility.

• The locomotive has also been provided with airplane type task light and automotive type auto wash wipers.

• Vijay has been built around the 4500HP 710 G3B engine with inverter controlled three phase traction motor drive.

• The inverter control uses the state of the art IGBT technology. This is the technology being used worldwide by the leading manufacturers i.e. GE, ABB, Alsthom etc.

• The locomotive is provided with the latest Computerised Control Brake system which is the world standard. The brake system uses the latest in the electronics and communication to improve response times and to improve reliability.

• The locomotive has been designed to implement the Indian Railways’ efforts at increasing the speed of loaded trains to 100kmph. It can run at 105 kmph and can be used to haul passenger trains in emergencies.

• The cost of the locomotive is approximately 14.7 crore Rupees as compared to 14.38 crore Rupees for the single cab version.


Ministry of External Affairs launched mPassport Seva Mobile App for iOS and Windows Phone Platforms

The Ministry of External Affairs, in the first week of November 2013 launched the mPassport Seva mobile app for iOS and Windows Phone platforms. It had already launched this application for the Android platforms.

About the app- mPassport Seva

• The mPassport Seva mobile app facilitates the passport-related information on the smartphones to the users who have downloaded this application.

• The application is basically an extended service of Passport Seva Project, which was executed in Public-Private-Partnership mode with Tata Consultancy Services.

• The application allows the Indian citizens to get the passport-related information on their smartphones.

• It provides various other services such as locating the nearest passport office, status tracking as well as other general information.

• The application also offers information on the steps involved in getting the passport-related service as well as related phone numbers.

• The application allows the users to search for the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or District Passport Cell (DPC) in a district where he/she has submitted the passport application.

• This facility can also be utilised for the overseas citizens who wish to apply for the passport service in Indian Posts/Missions abroad.

• The mPassport Seva mobile app also offers the Fee Calculator feature which allows the users to search for the applicable fee depending upon the service and mode of submission.

• The users can easily track status of the passport applications by giving information about their date of birth and file number.

• The application is downloadable free of cost at the Windows, iOS and Android phones.

New Delhi to host 12th Edition of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2014

The 12th edition of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas will be held in New Delhi from 7th to 9th of January 2014. This was announced by Vayalar Ravi, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs on 5 Novemeber 2013 in New Delhi.


The theme of the convention is -Engaging Diaspora - Connecting across Generations- with a special focus on the younger generation.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the convention and President Pranab Mukherjee will give his valedictory address. Pravasi Bharatiya Samman will also be bestowed on 15 persons during the convention.

The PBD Convention provides a unique platform for overseas Indians to interact among themselves and with the Government of India and the Governments of various Indian States. It is a forum where the Government of India showcases investment opportunities in India and its potential in various sectors. The 11th edition of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) was held at Kochi, Kerala from 7th to 9th of January 2013.

About Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on 9th January every year to mark the contribution of Overseas Indian community in the development of India. January 9 was chosen as the day to celebrate this occasion since it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi the greatest Pravasi, returned to India from South Africa, led India’s freedom struggle and changed the lives of Indians forever.

PBD conventions are being held every year since 2003. These conventions provide a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the government and

people of the land of their ancestors for mutually beneficial activities. These conventions are also very useful in networking among the overseas Indian community residing in various parts of the world and enable them to share their experiences in various fields.

During the event, individuals of exceptional merit are honoured with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award to appreciate their role in India’s growth. The event also provides a forum for discussing key issues concerning the Indian Diaspora.

India won election to United Nations Board of Auditors

India on 1 November 2013 won a crucial election to the UN Board of Auditors with its nominee Shashi Kant Sharma, the Comptroller and Auditor General- by 124 votes out of the total 186.

Shashi Kant Sharma won 124 votes out of the total 186 cast in the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee on Administrative and Budgetary questions. India won by a comfortable margin against


its closest contender the Philippines, which got 62 votes. Having obtained the required majority and the largest number of votes, Shashi Kant Sharma will be appointed to the UN Board of Auditors for a six year term beginning on 1 July 2014.

About UN Board of Auditors

The General Assembly in 1946 established the UN Board of Auditors to audit of the accounts of the United Nations organisation and its funds and programmes and to report its findings and recommendations to the Assembly through the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions.

The Auditors-Generals of UN member states are elected to the Board. India had last sat on the board in 1993 for six years.

The United Nations Board of Auditors comprised of the heads of the Supreme Audit Institutions from three Member States, has for more than 60 years provided independent external audit services to the General Assembly. Board has involved certifying the accounts of the UN and its funds and programmes, and providing reports covering a wide array of managerial and value for money issues.

The overarching goal of the Board is to use the unique perspective of public external audit to both help the General Assembly to hold UN entities to account for the use of public resources, and add value by identifying ways to improve the delivery of international public services.

The chairmanship of the Board is rotated every two years, and is currently held by Amyas Morse for the period 2013-2014. Amyas Morse is Comptroller and Auditor General, United Kingdom of Great

Britain and Northern Ireland.


INDIA DAIRYNovember 2013

1 November 2013

• India won a crucial election to the UN Board of Auditors with its nominee Shashi Kant Sharma, the Comptroller and Auditor General.

• Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh declared Kannur in Kerala as the first zero-landless district in the country

2 November 2013

• India clinched the seven-match series against Australia 3-2

3 November 2013

• Indian men’s hockey team officially qualified for the Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014.

4 November 2013

• 7th Edition of Indian Pharmacopoeia 2014 – A Book of Drug Standards, Released By Ghulam Nabi Azad

5 November 2013

• UTV Motion Pictures Announced to Distribute Five Malayalam Films

• India successfully launched its Maiden Mars Mission from Sriharikota

6 November 2013

• Tarla Dalal, the Celebrity Cook of India, Passed Away at 77

• First Ever Dual Cab Freight Diesel Locomotive Vijay Flagged Off by the Minister of Railways

• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reconstituted the Medical Council of India

• National Conference on the Wakf (Amendment) Act, 2013 Inaugurated

• Hawk 132 inducted into the Indian Navy

• Sunita Sharma Appointed as the MD and CEO of the LIC Housing Finance



7 November 2013

• Ministry of External Affairs’ mPassport Seva Mobile App for iOS and Windows Phone Platforms

• New Delhi to host 12th Edition of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2014

• Scientists discovered a Black Hole in Ophiuchus Star Constellation

• Exhibition Titled Czech Castles Inaugurated At the Red Fort, Delhi

• Vice President Released a Book on India’s Nuclear Energy Programme

• Ministry for I & B Instituted New Centenary Award to Honour Contribution to Indian Cinema

8 November 2013

• Competition Commission of India Imposed Penalty on Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners’ Association

• Indian Urdu writer’s book launched in Singapore

• Parvinder Sohi Behuria appointed new Secretary General of NHRC

• 7th India-Republic of Korea Joint Commission Meeting held in New Delhi

9 November 2013

• Martha Dodray won UN Award

• Rahul Jindal, an Indian-American doctor got Outstanding American by Choice Award

10 November 2013

• Heena Sidhu Became Third Indian Shooter to Win Gold at Rifle/Pistol World Cup Finals

11 November 2013

• Union Minister of Minority Affairs launched National Portal on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

• India Signed Financing and Project Agreements with World Bank for Disaster Management

• Mumbai Cricket Association Felicitated Sachin Tendulkar; Renamed Kandivili Ground

• National Education Day of India Observed Across the Country on 11 November



• Haryana Launched its First Food Bank at Gurgaon with Support from Cargill

12 November 2013

• India declared itself free from Bird Flu

• Paras Ajmera resigned from MCX Board

• India declared itself free from Bird Flu

13 November 2013

• Government nod to three years BSc Community Health Course

• Veteran Journalist R.K. Mukker Passed Away at 88

• Yogesh Agarwal, the Chairman of PFRDA Resigned; Anup Wadhawan Took Over

• IAF Flagged in White Water Rafting Expedition Called IAF Aqua Scullers

14 November 2013

• Law Ministry said that Amendment of Article 371(D) is needed for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh

• 33rd India International Trade Fair opened at New Delhi

• 18th International Children’s Film Festival of India Inaugurated at Hyderabad

• Mushirul Hasan was conferred with Nehru Fellowship

• Coffee Board ready to launch new hybrid varieties of Coffee

• Krishna Tirath gave away National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement

• Children’s Day Observed Across India on 14 November

15 November 2013

• Boeing delivered second P-8I Aircraft to India

16 November 2013

• INS Vikramaditya commissioned in Indian Navy



• Prof. CNR Rao and Sachin Tendulkar Selected for Bharat Ratna Award

• Bengal topped the medal list of the 23rd G V Mavalankar Shooting Championship

17 November 2013

• Waheeda Rehman to receive first Centenary film award at IFFI

18 November 2013

• The Election Commission of India has allowed the launch of the first all women Bharatiya Mahila Bank in Mumbai.

• The Reserve Bank of India opened a 5000 crore rupees refinance window for MSME sector, for a period of one year to ease the liquidity.

19 November 2013

• Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi Jointly inaugurated India’s first all-women bank, Bharatiya Mahila Bank in Mumbai.

• RBI directed Public Sector Banks (PSBs) to provide loans to women self-help groups (SHGs) at 7 per cent per annum.

• The Government of India approved 20 proposals of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) amounting 915.83 crore rupees on the recommendation of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).

20 November 2013

• The National Innovation Council (NInC) got approval of 75 percent of the 500 crore rupees initial corpus of the upcoming India Innovation Fund (IIIF).

• MCX signed a MoU with the Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) of China to boost the strategic co-operation.

• Hockey India appointed the former Olympic gold-medallist V Baskaran as Coach of the Senior Men Hockey Team.



21 November 2013

• Election Commission decided to use Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) on a large-scale for the first time in the country in the Mizoram Assembly polls.

• Cadila Pharmaceuticals launched a new lung cancer drug, Mycidac-C, which is priced 40000 rupees for 10 course injection.

• Mars Orbiter Mission has sent the first set of pictures of Earth.

22 November 2013

• The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on Telcom approved hiking by up to 25 per cent the reserve or start price for the auction of mobile phone spectrum in January 2014.

• Santosh Lad, Minister for Information and Infra Development resigned from the State Government owing to the charges of illegal mining.

• Five new Information Commissioners are appointed to the Central Information Commission (CIC).

23 November 2013

• The National Lok Adalat organised throughout the country settled a record 28.26 lakh cases pending in various courts.

• India successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable Dhanush ballistic missile from a naval ship off Odisha coast.

24 November 2013

• India welcomed the Iran Nuclear deal with P5+1 group of nations to curb Iran’s nuclear activities.

25 November 2013

• Union Cabinet approved proposal to transfer Indu Mill land in Mumbai to Maharashtra for constructing Dr B R Ambedkar memorial.

• CCEA approved the continuation of the Agriculture Export Promotion Plan Scheme of the APEDA during 12th Plan Period.

• Mizoram Assembly Polls



• Madhya Pradesh Assembly Polls

26 November 2013

• Supreme Court constituted Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committee to deal with complaints of sexual harassment.

• Reserve Bank of India allowed banks to treat loans given to medium manufacturing enterprises as priority sector advance.

27 November 2013

• ISRO and NASA will coordinate functions of their Mars Orbiters-Mangalyaan and MAVEN once both get into orbit of the Mars planet in September 2014. ISRO announced.

28 November 2013

• The National Tiger Conservation Authority approved the fifth tiger reserve of Maharashtra in Nagzira.

• CCEA has approved the proposal to undertake scientific deep drilling in the Koyna intra-plate seismic zone, in Maharashtra.

• RBI has relaxed the norms for participation of Non-Banking Finance Companies in the insurance joint ventures.

29 November 2013

• The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Department of AIDS Control to bring awareness about AIDS.

• Union Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily inaugurated the first “Synthetic Rubber Plant” of the country at Panipat in Haryana.

30 November 2013

• 44th IFFI Concluded at Panaji, Goa.


ECONOMYECONOMYRBI relaxed the norms for participation of NBFCs in Insurance Joint Ventures

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 28 November 2013 relaxed norms for participation of Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) in the insurance joint ventures by allowing them to hold more than 50 percent in such companies.

The notification of Reserve Bank of India has stated that - it has been decided that in cases where IRDA issues calls for capital infusion into the Insurance joint venture company, the RBI may, on a case to case basis, consider need based relaxation of the 50 percent group limit.

The relaxation will be subject to compliance by the NBFC with all regulatory conditions.


In the operation of Insurance Company, the IRDA often requires an insurance company to expand its capital taking into account the stipulations of the Insurance Act and the solvency requirements of the insurance company.

The restriction of a group limit of the NBFC to 50 percent of the equity of the insurance joint venture company prescribed in the above mentioned circular may act as a constraint for the insurance company in meeting the requirement of IRDA.

SMS alerts from the Banks will be Chargeable now : RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 26 November 2013 directed the banks to charge customers for the transaction SMS alerts on the basis of usage, instead of imposing a fixed fee.

The RBI in its notification issued to all banks has asked the banks to charge customers based on actual usage of SMS alerts, considering the technology available with banks to considering the technology available with banks and the telecom service providers.

The notification has been done to ensure reasonableness and equity in the charges levied by banks for sending SMS alerts to customers. In its second quarter review of monetary policy 2013-14, the RBI had advised banks to charge for SMS alerts on usage basis.

Earlier, the Reserve Bank of India had set the guidelines for banks to send online alerts to the customers for all types of transactions, irrespective of the amount in March 2011.

RBI decided to include Medium Manufacturing Enterprises un-der Priority Sector

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 26 November 2013 allowed banks to treat loans given to medium manufacturing enterprises after 13 November 2013 as priority sector advance.

RBI stated that the step has been taken to provide enhanced liquidity support to the medium and small enterprises.

The RBI also allowed incremental bank loans to medium services enterprises extended after 13 November 2013 to up to 100 million rupees and raised the loan limit given to micro and small


service enterprises to 100 million rupees from 50 million rupees that will be treated as priority sector advance. This facility will remain open till 31 March 2014.

Under priority sector advance, most banks have to lend 40 percent of their loans to agriculture, micro and small enterprises, poor people for housing, students for education and other low income groups and weaker sectors.

RBI widened definition of Infrastructure lending Sub Category

Reserve Bank of India on 25 November 2013 widened the definition of infrastructure lending sub category in a bid to expedite Projects.

In a notification issued by RBI, it has stated that new sub-sectors that have been added in the list will include hotels with project cost of more than 200 crore rupees bring built anywhere in India and of any star rating. The list will also include convention centres with project cost of more than 300 crore rupees.

RBI also stated that the new sub-sectors will get classified as ‘infrastructure’ for the purpose of lending by banks and select All India Term-Lending and Refinancing Institutions.

Various sub-sectors under the categories such as Transport, Energy,Water & Sanitation, Communication, Social and Commercial Infrastructure come under infrastructure lending. Hotel and convention centre come under ‘Social and Commercial Infrastructure’ category for this kind of lending.

CCEA approved continuation of Agriculture Export Plan of APEDA

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 25 November 2013 approved the continuation of the Agriculture Export Promotion Plan Scheme of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) during 12th Plan Period (2012-13 to 2016-17).

It was a proposal of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for APEDA with four components namely infrastructure development, transport assistance, market development and quality development. The CCEA meeting was chaired by Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh.

The outlay of the scheme will be 1100 crore rupees during the 12th Plan period. The investments on the components are (Rupees in crore):


Component 2012-13* 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Total

Infrastructure Development 43.35 62.00 62.00 65.00 66.65 299.00

Transport Assistance 72.99 116.00 125.00 130.00 66.65 600.00

Market Development 26.98 29.00 31.00 34.00 30.02 151.00

Quality Development 6.68 9.00 10.00 11.00 13.32 50.00

Total 150.00 216.00 228.00 240.00 266.00 1100.00

The Integrated Finance Division approved the expenditure incurred in the 1st year of the 12 plan period. The scheme will enhance the capabilities of the Indian exporters of agro products and support them in realizing their export potential. The components will help to catalyze the efforts of the exporting community because of the interventions by APEDA at different stages of supply chain.

National Innovation Council got approval of 75 percent Innovation Fund Corpus

The National Innovation Council (NIC) on 20 November 2013 got approval of 75 percent of the 500 crore rupees initial corpus of the upcoming India Innovation Fund (IIIF), which is an Indian model of innovation.

IIIF will have contributions from Ministry of Finance, public sector banks (PSBs) and multilateral agencies and is being mobilized by NIC. The main objective of IIIF is to finance Enterprises focusing on the bottom of the pyramid that is, firms delivering goods and services to the poorest of the country. Multilateral agency, PSBs and financial institutions already gave commitment of 375 crore rupees and additional commitments to council, which mentioned in NIC annual “Report of the People 2013”. The launch date not yet decided though it is in its final stage of launching the fund. Minimum 50 percent of advances from the fund would be to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the first close. The fund will not invest more than 15 percent of the corpus in any single company to ensure spread of investment. The fund intends to partner with public R&D programmes and laboratories to support the commercialization and deployment of socially relevant technologies and solutions.

The fund would be registered with Securities and Exchange of India (SEBI). A pipeline of the potential investment prospects has been identified. A specialised core team is also expected to be in place before the first closure. It is expected that the fund would be operational by the beginning of 2014.


The fund may increase eventual size of 5000 crore rupees in the long term.

About National Innovation Council (NIC)

The National Innovation Council (NIC) was set up by the Prime Minister under chairmanship of Sam Pitroda, an adviser to PM on public information infrastructure and innovations (PIII).

NInC will provide mutually reinforcing policies, recommendations and methodologies to implement and boost innovation performance in the country.

The task of the National Innovation Council include formulating Roadmap for innovation for 2010-2020 and creating framework for evolving an Indian model of innovation, with focus on inclusive growth, encouraging central and state governments , universities and R&D institutions to innovate and to encourage the multi-displinary and globally competitive approaches for innovations and others.

The Council will also promote the setting up of State and Sector Innovation Councils to help implement strategies for innovation in Stated and Specified sectors.

RBI Directed Public Sector Banks to give loans to women SHGs at 7 percent

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 19 November 2013 directed Public Sector Banks (PSBs) to provide loans to women self-help groups (SHGs) at 7 per cent per annum to avail the benefit of interest rate subvention scheme under the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana-Aajeevika (SGSY) scheme.

Salient features of RBI Notification

• All women SHGs will be eligible for interest subvention to avail the credit upto 3 lakh Rupees at 7 per cent per annum.

• PSBs will be subvented to the extent of difference between the Weighted Average Interest charged and 7 per cent subject to the maximum limit of 5.5 per cent, for the FY-2014.

• This subvention will be available to all the PSBs on the condition that they make SHG credit available at 7 per cent in the 150 districts.

• The Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) will be subvented to the extent of difference between the lending rates and 7 per


cent for the FY-2014 on the condition they make SHG credit available at 7 per cent.

• SHGs will be given an additional 3 per cent subvention on prompt repayment of loan.

Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana-Aajeevika (SGSY) is an initiative by the government to provide sustainable income to poor people living in rural areas of the country.

About Interest Rate subvention concept

Interest Rate subvention is a subsidy of interest given by Government to certain sectors like Textiles, Agriculture etc. For eg. Textile Company borrows from Bank at 10 percent and Government gives subvention of 2 percent. Hence net bank takes interest from textiles companies 8 percent. Other sectors have to pay 10 percent to the bank.

Government approved twenty proposals of Foreign Direct Investment

The Government of India on 19 November 2013 approved 20 proposals of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) amounting 915.83 crore rupees on the recommendation of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). The FIPB hold a meeting in regard of the FDI on 24 October 2013.

The FIPB has sent a proposal of M/s Federal Bank Ltd., Kerala, amounting to 1400crore rupees for consideration to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

The 20 proposals that have been approved are:

Sl. No. Name of the applicant Particulars of the proposal

FDI/NRI inflows (Rs. in crore)

1.

M/s Castleton Investment Ltd., Mauritius; M/s GlaxoSmithKline Pte Ltd., Singapore

NR to NR transfer of shares between the foreign promoter group companies of an Indian pharma company – deletion of the standard conditions.

Nil

2.

M/s Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

To issue fresh equity shares to eligible non-resident investors in a book-building IPO and by an offer for sale by an existing foreign investor M/s Mozart Limited to carry out the business of pharmaceutical sector.

225


3.

M/s Fenwal India Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon

Transfer of shares from NR to NR as a part of global restructuring of the group companies. The investee company is engaged in the pharma sector.

Nil

4.M/s Menarini Raunaq harma Ltd.

Conversion of ECB into equity shares in a pharma sector company. Nil

5.

M/s Perrigo API India Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai

To increase the foreign equity participation from 85% to 100% by way of issue of fresh equity shares and transfer of equity shares from resident to non-resident shareholders in a pharma sector company.

130

6.M/s Cigniti Technologies Ltd., Hyderabad

Transfer of shares by way of share swap in a software company. Nil

7.M/s Hardinge Machine Tools B.V., Netherlands

To set up a LLP to carry out the end-to-end business of workholding products and their after sales services.

21.99

8.M/s Casbaa Ltd., Hong Kong

To set up a LLP in India to be engaged in representing and promoting cable and satellite industry in India.

0.02

9.

M/s Luxora Realators Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai

Condonation of delay in bringing in the minimum capitalization amount of US $ 5 million into the FDI compliant real estate project.

Nil

10.

M/s Sugam Vanijya Holdings Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi

NR to NR transfer of FCDs within group companies before the completion of the 3 year lock in period.

Nil

11.

M/s Religare Enterprises Ltd.

To issue warrants to carry out the business of Investment Advisory Services and Financial Consultancy and to make holding investments in the NBFC Sector.

179.43

12.

M/s ANZ Capital Pvt. Ltd. Post facto approval for exemption from minimum capitalisation requirement for a fund based NBFC, in order to regularise all transactions before winding up and liquidating the NBFC.

Nil


• The proposals of M/s Mordril Properties (India) Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai and M/s Cygnus Medicare Pvt. Ltd., Delhi were deferred

• The proposals of M/s Big India Malls Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi and M/s Indostar Capital Finance Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai (No.217/2012-FC.I) were rejected

• Proposal of M/s MY Mobile Payment Ltd., Mumbai (MMPL) has been advised to access automatic route

13.The Nuance Group AG To set up a duty free shop in Chatrapati

Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai. 19

14.

M/s Emerald Group Publishing (India) Pvt. Ltd., Delhi

WOS of a foreign company to undertake the additional activities of Publishing of books and their supplements (text books, hand books, eBooks) in India for universities, educational institutions, research centres, other corporate etc.

12.37

15.

M/s DA Vinci GmbH, Berlin To set up a WOS in India to undertake the down-linking and distribution of a Non-news and Non-current Affairs Edutainment Channel.

5

16.

M/s Berns Brett India Insurance Broking Pvt. Ltd., Delhi

Company having foreign investment to carry out the business of insurance broking under the regulation of IRDA.

0.65

17.M/s JM Financial Limited, Mumbai

An Indian Core Investment company to issue warrants. 22.19

18.M/s Aavishkar India Micro Venturecental Fund

Transfer of units from NR to NR in a Domestic Venture Capital Fund (DVCF). Nil

19.

M/s Sacmi Engineering (India) Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai

Issue of equity shares to the shareholders of its foreign parent company pursuant to a High Court approval of the Scheme of Demerger.

Nil

20.

M/s Singapore Airlines Ltd., Singapore

To set up a JV Company in the ratio of 49%: 51%, which will be engaged in domestic and international full service scheduled passenger airlines services in the civil aviation sector in India.

303.18


• In case of M/s Dashtag UK proposal has been advised that FIPB approval is not required.

• M/s Provimi Animal Nutrition India Pvt. Ltd., of Karnataka’s proposal has been advised to apply afresh after the approval of the scheme of arrangement by the competent court.

• The proposal of the Federal Bank Ltd., Kerala was recommended for the consideration of CCEA, as the investment involved in the proposals is above 1200 crore Rupeees

• In case of M/s DLF Limitless Developers Pvt. Ltd. and M/s SingTel Global (India) Pvt. Ltd. the decision in case of their proposals have been kept in abeyance.

Government announced the Provision for Higher Sugar Export

The Union Government of India on 15 November 2013 announced the provision of higher sugar export with domestic production becoming surplus. The condition of export of sugar has been relaxed by doubling the limit of the overseas shipment that sellers can register.

The export of sugar has been doubled to 50000 tonnes from 25000 tonnes per application for registration was announced by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

The sugar production of India is projected at 25 million tonnes in 2013-14, which is two million tonnes more than the domestic demand.

Government Introduced Risk Management System (RMS) for Trade Facilitation in Export Sector

Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram was on 13 November 2013 inaugurated the IT based Risk Management System (RMS) for the Customs clearance of export goods at New Delhi.

Government has introduced RMS to enhance trade facilitation in export sector and to check smuggling of drugs, weapons and other illegal substances harmful to the country.

RMS will also enable the Excise and Customs Department to enhance the level of facilitation and speed up the process of cargo clearance. The single window system of RMS will contribute to reduce in dwell time, by achieving the desired objective of reducing the transaction cost in order to make the business internationally competitive.

The launch of RMS in exports covers 11 Customs stations at Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad,


Mumbai, Pune and Tutocorin. It would be extended to all EDI Customs stations by year end. Benefits are expected to accrue to the trade in terms of faster clearances and reduced transaction costs thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of our export goods.

Industrial production grew by 2 percent in September 2013 The Industrial Production output grew by 2 percent in September 2013 mainly on account of better performance by power and mining sectors. The growth in the output of the industrial production is showing the signs of recovery. The factory output was measured in terms of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) had contracted by 0.7 per cent in September 2012.

Meanwhile, the IIP for August 2013 has revised to 0.43 percent from the provisional estimate of 0.6 percent.

The industrial output for April-September 2013 was 0.4 percent, when compared to 0.1 percent in the same period in 2012-13 as per the data released by the Government. Whereas, the power generation displayed the growth of 12.9 percent in September 2013 and the expansion in power generation was 5.9 percent in April to September 2013, when compared to 4.6 percent in the same time in 2012-13.

The mining sector grew by 3.3 percent in September 2013, whereas in September 2012 it was 2.2 percent. The output during April to September shrank by 2.5 percent in 2013 against the contraction of 1.1 percent in 2012. The mining sector is about 14 percent in the IIP.

The manufacturing sector grew by 0.6 percent in September 2013, which was against the decline of 1.6 percent in September 2012. During the time period of April to September 2013 the output of the sector grew by 0.1 percent against the decline of 0.3 percent in the same time period of 2012. The manufacturing sector constitutes over 75 percent of the index.

RBI allowed third-party payment for Export and Import Transactions

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 8 November 2013 has allowed third party payment for the export and import transactions. The procedure relating to payments for exports or imports was liberalized taking into account the evolving international trade procedure. Banks are allowed to receive the payments for export of goods/software from the third party.

The order of RBI also permits the banks to make payments to the third


party for imports of goods. The third party refers to an entity other than the buyer or the seller. The procedure was liberalised taking into account the evolving international trade practices.

However, banks would have to follow certain conditions in case of export transaction:

• Firm irrevocable order backed by a tripartite agreement should be in place

• Third party payment should come from a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) compliant country and through the banking channel only

• The exporter should declare the third party remittance in the Export Declaration Form;

• It would be responsibility of the Exporter to realize and repatriate the export proceeds from such third party named in the EDF

• Reporting of outstandings, if any, in the XOS would continue to be shown against the name of the exporter. However, instead of the name of the overseas buyer from where the proceeds have to be realised, the name of the declared third party should appear in the XOS

• In case of shipments being made to a country in Group II of Restricted Cover Countries, (e.g. Sudan, Somalia, etc.), payments for the same may be received from an Open Cover Country

The banks have been allowed to make payments for import transactions to a third party for import of goods, subject to conditions as under:

• Firm irrevocable purchase order / tripartite agreement should be in place

• Third party payment should be made to a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) compliant country and through the banking channel only

• The Invoice should contain a narration that the related payment has to be made to the (named) third party

• Bill of Entry should mention the name of the shipper as also the narration that the related payment has to be made to the (named) third party

• Importer should comply with the related extant instructions relating to imports including those on advance payment being made for import of goods

• The amount of an import transaction eligible for third party payment should not exceed USD 100000. This limit will be revised as and when considered expedient.


RBI permitted foreign banks subsidiaries to acquire domestic private sector banks

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 6 November 2013 permitted the Wholly Owned Subsidiaries (WOS) of the foreign banks to acquire the domestic private sector banks. RBI also permitted the banks to set up branches anywhere in the country.

As per the permission given by RBI, the foreign banks will have to seek permission of RBI to open branches in certain sensitive locations. The

foreign bank subsidiaries have also been allowed to list on the local stock exchanges. Although, they will not be allowed to hold more than 74 percent in the private banks they may acquire.

The order of the RBI also stated that the foreign banks that commenced banking business in India before August 2010 will be given an opportunity to convert into a wholly owned subsidiary.

Key features of the Framework

• Banks with complex structures, also the banks which do not provide adequate disclosure in their home jurisdiction, as well as the banks which are not widely held and banks from jurisdictions having legislation giving a preferential claim to depositors of home country in a winding up proceedings, would be mandated entry into India only in the WOS mode.

• Foreign banks in whose case the above conditions do not apply can opt for a branch or WOS form of presence.

• A foreign bank opting for branch form of presence shall convert into a WOS as and when the above conditions become applicable to it or it becomes systemically important on account of its balance sheet size in India.

• Foreign banks, which commenced banking business in India before August 2010 shall have the option to continue their banking business through the branch mode. However, they will be incentivised to convert into WOS because of the attractiveness of the near national treatment afforded to WOS.

• To prevent domination by foreign banks, restrictions would be placed on further entry of new WOSs of foreign banks/ capital infusion, when the capital and reserves of the WOSs and foreign bank branches in India exceed 20 per cent of the capital and reserves of the banking system.


• The initial minimum paid-up voting equity capital for a WOS shall be ` 5 billion for new entrants. Existing branches of foreign banks desiring to convert into WOS shall have a minimum net worth of 5 billion.

• The parent of the WOS would be required to issue a letter of comfort to the RBI for meeting the liabilities of the WOS.

• Corporate Governance

1. Not less than two-third of the directors should be non-executive directors;

2. A minimum of one-third of the directors should be independent of the management of the subsidiary in India, its parent or associates

3. Not less than fifty percent of the directors should be Indian nationals /NRIs/PIOs subject to the condition that not less than 1/3rd of the directors are Indian nationals resident in India

• The branch expansion guidelines as applicable to domestic scheduled commercial banks would generally be applicable to WOSs of foreign banks except that they will require prior approval of RBI for opening branches at certain locations that are sensitive from the perspective of national security.

• Priority Sector lending requirement would be 40 per cent for WOS like domestic scheduled commercial banks with adequate transition period for existing foreign bank branches converting into WOS.

• On arm’s length basis, WOS would be permitted to use parental guarantee/ credit rating only for the purpose of providing custodial services and for their international operations. However, WOS should not provide counter guarantee to its parent for such support.

• WOSs may, at their option, dilute their stake to 74 per cent or less in accordance with the existing FDI policy. In the event of dilution, they will have to list themselves.

Gross Direct Tax Collections up by 11.58 Percent

The Gross Direct Tax collection in India is up by 11.58 % in the period of April to October 2013 in comparison to the same period in financial year 2012-13. The gross direct tax was 302844 crore rupees.

Whereas, the Gross Collection of Corporate taxes from April to October 2013-2014 financial year has increased by 8.23 percent and stood at 209622 crore rupees. But the Gross Collection of Corporate taxes was 193679 crore rupees in


the same period of financial year 2012-13.

The Gross collection of Personal income tax is up by 17.89 percent and stood at 125078 crore rupees as against 106097 crore rupees in the same period last year. Net direct tax collections is up by 13.33 percent and stands at 284339 crore rupees, as compared to 250900 crore rupees in the same period in the 2012-13.

The collection of Securities Transaction Tax (STT) stands at 2645 crore rupees showing the growth of 5.67 percent as compared to collections made in the same period in the last fiscal. The Wealth Tax has posted a growth of 5.86 percent and stands at 560 crore rupees as against 529 crore rupees in the same period last year.

Government decided to extend the sale of 5 Kg LPG cylinders at petrol pumps

The Government of India on 4 November 2013 decided to extend the sale of the non-subsidized 5 kg cooking gas (LPG) cylinders at petrol pumps across the country. The proposal to extend the scope of the scheme was approved by M. Veerappa Moily, the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Earlier, the scheme was in operation in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru. The scheme was launched on 5 October 2013 by Moily in Bangalore for sale in selected company owned and company operated petrol pumps in the four cities. The cylinders will be sold at market rates.

The scheme will be delayed in poll bounding states like Delhi, Madhya

Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The scheme has allowed to sale the 5 kg LPG cylinders with just proof of Identity through Petrol Stations to students, IT professional, BPO employees and people with odd duty timings. As per the decision, the sale of the cylinders would be done with or without regulator for the first time.

The cylinders will be charged 1000 rupees and the regulator will be available at 250 rupees. Whereas, the cost of refills of the LPG will be as per to the non-domestic rates applicable in the market. A 5 kg is sold at about 340 to 350 rupees.


FDI inflows into the Service Sector declined by 47.5 Percent

As per the data released by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) on 4 November 2013, Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into the service sector declined by 47.5 percent to 1.19 billion US dollars during the April-August 2013 period. The service sector, which includes banking, insurance, outsourcing, R&D, courier and technology testing, had received FDI (foreign direct investment) worth 2.28 billion US dollars in April-August 2012 period.

The services sector contributes over 60 percent to India’s GDP. In 2012-13, foreign investment in the segment declined to 4.83 billion US dollars from 5.21 billion US dollars in 2011-12.The other sectors where foreign inflows declined during the first five months of this fiscal as compared to the previous year include construction development (township and housing), power and metallurgical industries. On the whole, during the April-August 2013 period, FDI has increased by only 4 per cent to 8.46 billion US dollars, from 8.16 billion US dollars in the same period last fiscal.

Foreign investments are considered crucial for India, which needs around 1 trillion US dollars in the next five years to overhaul its infrastructure sector such as ports, airports and highways to boost growth.


ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT

New Species of Wild Cat found in Brazil

The Researchers in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on November 27 have identified a cryptic new species of wild cat living in Brazil. The discovery is just a reinstatement that how little scientists still know about the natural world, even when it comes to such charismatic creatures. The findings also have important consequential conservation implications for the cats, the researchers say.

Scientists had earlier anticipated that there was a single species of housecat-sized Brazilian tigrina. However, the molecular data now show that tigrina populations in northeastern versus southern Brazil are completely different, with no evidence of interbreeding between them. As such, they are best described as two distinct species.

“Our study highlights the need for urgent attention focused on the Brazilian northeastern tigrinas, which are virtually unknown with respect to most aspects of their biology,” says Eduardo Eizirik of Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, noting that much more is known about the cats living in the southern part of the country.


The new study by Eizirik, Tatiane Trigo of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, and their colleagues further revealed a complicated set of relationships between the tigrinas and two other species of Neotropical cats. That evolutionary history includes ancient hybridization and movement of genes between the pampas cat and the northeastern tigrinas (Leopardus tigrinus). In contrast, southern tigrinas (newly recognized as Leopardus guttulus) continue to hybridize with Geoffroy’s cats, leading to extreme levels of interbreeding between the species along their contact zone. Those patterns add to evidence that hybridization can and does occur between distinct animal species.

As for the two tigrina species, the researchers suggest that they may be suited to different habitats, with the northeastern cats living primarily in savannahs, as well as dry shrub lands and forests, and the southern species living in denser and wetter Atlantic forests.

“Such distinct habitat associations provide a hint to potentially adaptive differences between these newly recognized species and may have been involved in their initial evolutionary divergence,” Trigo says. Moreover, Eizirik adds, “all four species are threatened, and we need to understand as much as possible regarding their genetics, ecology, and evolution to be able to design adequate conservation strategies on their behalf.”

State law can’t prevail over Central law on Sand Mining: National Green Tribunal

National Green Tribunal on 28 November 2013 ruled that state law can’t prevail over central rules on sand mining.

NGT gave this judgment by dismissing the Madhya Pradesh government’s plea that its district level environmental committees be treated as competent authority for grant of clearance for such activity.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar refused to modify its 5 August 2013 order banning illegal sand mining across the country.

The NGT bench stated that according to central law, environmental clearance (EC) can be granted only by Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).

In its 5 August 2013 order, the tribunal had held that removal of sand without having requisite clearance from either MoEF or SEIAA, as per the area of the mining site, shall be illegal.

According to central law, sand mining on land measuring five hectares or more requires environmental clearance from MoEF, while clearance for areas less than that is given by SEIAA.


What is National Green Tribunal (NGT)?

The National Green Tribunal has been established on 18 October 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

It is a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues.

The Tribunal shall not be bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.

The Tribunal’s dedicated jurisdiction in environmental matters shall provide speedy environmental justice and help reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts. The Tribunal is mandated to make and endeavour for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same.

New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting of the Tribunal and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai shall be the other 4 place of sitting of the Tribunal.

Four New Catfish species discovered in Kerala State

Four new species of freshwater catfish recently discovered in Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts of Kerala.

All the four species, namely Horabagrus melanosoma, Mystus heoki, Mystus indicus and Mystus menoni were discovered from the Manimala river by Mathews Plamoottil, Assistant Professor in Zoology, Government College, Chavara, and Nelson P. Abraham, Associate Professor, St. Thomas College, Kozhenchery.

The researchers have published their findings in the latest issue of two prominent scientific journals, Biosystematica and the International Journal of Pure and Applied Zoology. The International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) has also approved the names given by the researchers to the new species.

About Catfish

Catfish are freshwater, bottom-dwelling fish. Unlike other fish, they have no scales and are smooth skinned. They are known for growing whiskers, called “barbels,” at some point during their lifespan. Catfish use their barbels as feelers as they swim along the bottom of the various bodies of water


in which they live. There are 2,900 species of catfish worldwide. They range in size from 1.5 to 2 in chesto more than 8 feet in length.

CCEA approved scientific deep drilling in the Koyna intra-plate seismic zone in Maharashtra

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 28 November 2013 approved the proposal to undertake scientific deep drilling in the Koyna intra-plate seismic zone, in Maharashtra. The total cost of the project is 472.3 crore rupees for five years.

The proposed scientific deep drilling investigation in Koyna region will provide a unique opportunity to understand the mechanism of reservoir-triggered earthquakes better and develop a forecast model and assess the earthquake hazard in a stable continental region.

The objective of the project is to undertake the investigations of 6-8 kilometers in a deep borehole in the Koyna-Warna region of Maharashtra. For past five decade, the earthquakes have been occurring in the restricted area of 20x30 square kilometer, which includes the earthquake of magnitude of 6.3 in December 1967. Koyna–Warna area is the best site in the world, which acts as a natural laboratory to study reservoir-triggered earthquakes.

Crucial insights will be provided by the project into Deccan volcanism and mass extinction, thermal structure and state of stress in the lithosphere and geothermal potential of the West Coast Belt as well as the geothermal record of climate change in the region.

A research laboratory will be set up at Karad as a part of the project, which will serve as the operational center for carrying out the research activities related to seismic, deep drilling, borehole investigations, core analysis and research in associated fields.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences will implement the project through its Seismology Division/Centre for Seismology in collaboration with the CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI).

Participations from various universities, research organizations and academic institutions will also be encouraged.

Carbon Dioxide Could Warm Earth for Centuries

A research from the Princeton University suggest that even if carbon dioxide emissions came to a sudden halt, the carbon dioxide already present in the Earth’s atmosphere could continue to warm our planet for hundreds of years. Their study suggests that it might take a lot less carbon dioxide than previously estimated to reach the unsafe limits of global temperature.


The researchers simulated an Earth model on which, after 1,800 billion tons of carbon entered the atmosphere, all carbon dioxide emissions suddenly stopped. Scientists commonly use the scenario of emissions screeching to a stop to gauge the heat-trapping staying power of carbon dioxide. Within a millennium of this simulated turnoff of emission, the carbon dioxide itself faded steadily with 40 percent absorbed by Earth’s oceans and landmasses within 20 years and 80 percent soaked up at the end of the 1,000 years.

It was estimated that such a decrease of atmospheric carbon dioxide should lead to cooling. But the heat trapped by the carbon dioxide took a divergent track. After a century of cooling, the planet model warmed by 0.37 degrees Celsius (0.66 Fahrenheit) during the next 400 years as the ocean absorbed less and less heat. While the resulting temperature spike seems slight, a little heat goes a long way here. Earth has warmed by only 0.85 degrees Celsius (1.5 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that global temperatures a mere 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than pre-industrial levels would dangerously interfere with the climate system. To avoid that point would mean humans have to keep cumulative carbon dioxide emissions below 1,000 billion tons of carbon, about half of which has already been put into the atmosphere since the dawn of industry.

The lingering warming effect the researchers found, however, suggests that the 2-degree point may be reached with much less carbon, said first author Thomas Frölicher, who conducted the work as a postdoctoral researcher in Princeton’s Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences under co-author Jorge Sarmiento, the George J. Magee Professor of Geo-Science and Geological Engineering.

The researchers’ work is counter to the existing scientific consensus that the global temperature would remain constant or decline if emissions were suddenly cut to zero. But previous research did not account for a gradual reduction in the oceans’ ability to absorb heat from the atmosphere, particularly the polar oceans, Frölicher said. Although carbon dioxide steadily dissipates, Frölicher and his co-authors were able to see that the oceans that remove heat from the atmosphere gradually take up less. Eventually, the residual heat offsets the cooling that occurred due to dwindling amounts of carbon dioxide.

Frölicher and his co-authors showed that the change in ocean heat uptake in the polar regions has a larger effect on global mean temperature than a change in low-latitude oceans, a mechanism known as “ocean-heat uptake efficacy.” This mechanism was first explored in a 2010 paper by Frölicher’s co-author, Michael Winton, a researcher at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) on Princeton’s Forrestal Campus.

“The regional uptake of heat plays a central role. Previous models have not really represented that very well,” Frölicher said.

“Scientists have thought that the temperature stays constant or declines once emissions stop, but


now we show that the possibility of a temperature increase can not be excluded,” Frölicher said. “This is illustrative of how difficult it may be to reverse climate change -- we stop the emissions, but still get an increase in the global mean temperature.”

Acid Rain, Ozone Depletion Contributed to Ancient Extinction

Approximately 250 Million years ago, may be at the end of the Permian period, there was a mass extinction, so severe that it remains the most traumatic known, of species die-off in Earth’s history. Various researchers suggested that this extinction was triggered by contemporaneous volcanic eruptions in Siberia. New results from the research conducted by the team including Director of Carnegie’s Department of Terrestrial Magnetism Linda Elkins-Tanton shows that the atmospheric effects of these eruptions could have been devastating. Their work is published in Geology.

That mass extinction included the sudden loss of more than 90 percent of the marine species and more than 70 percent of terrestrial species and set the stage for the rise of the dinosaurs. The fossil records suggest that ecological diversity did not fully recover until several million years after the main pulse of the extinction.

One of the leading candidates for the cause of that event is gas released from a large swath of volcanic rocks in Russia that is called the Siberian Traps. Using advanced 3-D modeling techniques, the team, led by Benjamin Black of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was able to predict the impacts of gas released from the Siberian Traps on the end-Permian atmosphere.

The results indicate that the volcanic releases of both carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) could have created highly acidic rain, potentially leaching the soil of nutrients and damaging plants and other vulnerable terrestrial organisms. Releases of halogen-bearing compounds such as methyl chloride could also have resulted in global ozone collapse.

The volcanic activity was likely episodic, producing pulses of acid rain and ozone depletion. The team concluded that the resulting drastic fluctuations in pH and ultraviolet radiation, combined with an overall temperature increase from greenhouse gas emissions, could have contributed to the end-Permian mass extinction on land.

The team also included Jean-François Lamarque, Christine Shields, and Jeffrey Kiehl of the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

Cyclone Helen Struck Andhra Pradesh Coast

The Cyclonic storm Helen on 22 November 2013 struck Andhra Pradesh coast near Machilipatnam, triggering heavy rains and strong gales, killing eleven people and causing massive damage to the


crops in the coastal region. Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari and Guntur districts and part of Krishna district were the worst affected due to the cyclone. The cyclone also brought heavy to very heavy rains in the Krishna district and its nearby districts.

Andhra Pradesh Government has made arrangements of relief camps wherever required and to evacuate people to safety.The sea conditions were rough and the sea water at some places

flushed out for a few metres over land.

Name Date PlaceArrival Dissipation

Thane 25 December 2011 31 December 2011 Southern India, Srilanka

Sandy 22 October 2012 31 October 2012 Greater Antilles, Bahamas, Eastern United States, Bermuda, Canada

Nilam 31 October 2012 1 November 2012 Srilanka, South India (Nagapattinam, Cuddalore)

Bopha 25 November 2012 9 December 2012 Micronesia, Mindanao island of Philippines, Palau

Phailin 4 October 2013 14 October 2013 Thailand, Myanmar, Indian States like Andhra Pradesh, Odissa

Wipha 16 October 2013 17 October 2013 Coastal areas of Izu Oshima near Tokyo

Haiyan 3 November 2013 11 November 2013 Micronesia, Philippines, South China, Vietnam

Helen 19 November 2013 23 November 2013 India (Machilipattnam, Srikakulam, West Godavari Districts)

The high-speed wind has damaged coconut, banana and paddy crops, and dealt another blow to farmers who are still recovering from the heavy damage caused by last month’s cyclone Phailin and accompanying heavy rain.

The practice of naming storms (tropical cyclones) began years ago in order to help in the quick


identification of storms in warning messages because names are presumed to be far easier to remember than numbers and technical terms. Many agree that appending names to storms makes it easier for the media to report on tropical cyclones, heightens interest in warnings and increases community preparedness.

Experience shows that the use of short, distinctive given names in written as well as spoken communications is quicker and less subject to error than the older more cumbersome latitude-longitude identification methods. These advantages are especially important in exchanging detailed storm information between hundreds of widely scattered stations, coastal bases, and ships at sea.

In the beginning, storms were named arbitrarily. An Atlantic storm that ripped off the mast of a boat named Antje became known as Antje’s hurricane. Then the mid-1900’s saw the start of the practice of using feminine names for storms.

In the pursuit of a more organized and efficient naming system, meteorologists later decided to identify storms using names from a list arranged alpabetically. Thus, a storm with a name which begins with A, like Anne, would be the first storm to occur in the year. Before the end of the 1900’s, forecasters started using male names for those forming in the Southern Hemisphere.

Since 1953, Atlantic tropical storms have been named from lists originated by the National Hurricane Center. They are now maintained and updated by an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization. The original name lists featured only women’s names. In 1979, men’s names were introduced and they alternate with the women’s names. Six lists are used in rotation. Thus, the 2008 list will be used again in 2014.

The only time that there is a change in the list is if a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of its name on a different storm would be inappropriate for reasons of sensitivity. If that occurs, then at an annual meeting by the WMO Tropical Cyclone Committees (called primarily to discuss many other issues) the offending name is stricken from the list and another name is selected to replace it. Infamous storm names such as Katrina (USA, 2005), Mitch (Honduras, 1998) and Tracy (Darwin, 1974) are examples for this.

Procedure of Naming Tropical Cyclones

There is a strict procedure to determine Category Sustained Winds

Super Cyclonic Strom >222 Km/h

Very Severe Cyclonic Strom 118-221 Km/h

Severe Cyclonic Strom 88-117 Km/h

Cyclonic Strom 62-87 Km/h

Deep Depression 52-61 Km/h

Depression <51 Km/h

a list of tropical cyclone names in an ocean basin(s) by the Tropical Cyclone Regional Body responsible for that basin(s) at its annual/biennial meeting. There are five tropical cyclone regional bodies, i.e. ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones,


RA I Tropical Cyclone Committee, RA IV Hurricane Committee, and RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee. For instance, Hurricane Committee determines a pre-designated list of hurricane names for six years separately at its annual session. The pre-designated list of hurricane names are proposed by its members that include National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in the North/Central America and the Caribbean. Naming procedures in other regions are almost the same as in the Caribbean. In general, tropical cyclones are named according to the rules at a regional level.

It is important to note that tropical cyclones/hurricanes are named neither after any particular person, nor with any preference in alphabetical sequence. The tropical cyclone/hurricane names selected are those that are familiar to the people in each region. Obviously, the main purpose of naming a tropical cyclone/hurricane is basically for people easily to understand and remember the tropical cyclone/hurricane in a region, thus to facilitate tropical cyclone/hurricane disaster risk awareness, preparedness, management and reduction.

Assam Government announced High Security Measures Against Poachers at Kaziranga National Park

The Assam government announced on 7 November 2013 the high security measures against poachers of the world heritage site Kaziranga National Park.

N V Basu , the Field Director of the park explained that in a bid to enhance security of its inhabitants including precious rhinos, eight high security towers known as Electronic Eye are being set up in the first phase.

These towers will give a clear view of the park which can be accessed at several places. The electronic tower is likely to serve its purpose particularly during night times as rampant poaching incident occurs mostly at night time.

Kaziranga National Park will be the second park in the India to take such high security measures.

About Kaziranga National Park

• Kaziranga National Park is a national park in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam, India.


• Kaziranga is a title of a remarkable success story of conservation of the One Horned India Rhinoceros and other wild lives in the North East India.

• It is not only the homeland of the Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros, but also provides shelter to a variety of wild lives.

• It is a World Heritage Site; the park hosts two-thirds of the world’s Great One-horned Rhinoceroses.

Bangladesh became the First South Asian Country to approve Commercial Cultivation of Bt Brinjal

Bangladesh on 31 October 2013 approved the commercial cultivation of transgenic Bt brinjal. With this decision Bangladesh became the first country in South Asia to cultivate the genetically modified food crop.

National Committee on Biosafety (NCB), the highest regulatory body for GM crops in Bangladesh, officially approved the Bt brinjal varieties. With this step, Bangladesh becomes the 29th country in the world to grow GM crop. In South Asia, India, Pakistan and Myanmar grow GM crop cotton. With the NCB nod, Bangladesh becomes the first in the region to grow a GM food crop.

Four Bt brinjal varieties (Bt brinjal-1, 2, 3 and 4) have been approved by the Bangladesh Government for limited scale

cultivation with some conditions. BARI (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute) had developed these Bt brinjal varieties incorporating Indian company Mahyco’s proprietary gene construct technology.

Maharashtra-based seed company-Mahyco had transferred its Bt brinjal technology to BARI way back in 2005-06 through a USAID-funded and Cornell University-managed Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project.

About Bt brinjal

In GM crops, the genetic material (DNA) is altered for improvements in its qualities. Bt Brinjal, for instance, has been inserted with a natural bacterial protein which makes it resist pests.

Bt brinjal contains a foreign Cry1Ac gene derived from a soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis or Bt. This gene synthesises a protein toxic to the fruit and shoot borer (FSB), a destructive pest. The gene gives the crop abuilt-in resistance to FSB, reducing reliance on spraying pesticides.


SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Biocon got DCGI Approval for Breast Cancer Drug-Biosimilar Trastuzumab

Indian Biotech Company Biocon on 26 November 2013 announced that it had received market authorisation from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for its Breast cancer Drug- biosimilar Trastuzumab.

The biosimilar trastuzumab will be marketed in India under the brand name of CANMAb by the company, and is expected to be available to Indian patients in the fourth quarter of FY14. The drug is jointly developed by Biocon along with US-based pharma company Mylan.

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in India, with over 100000 new patients being diagnosed with this disease every year. The cost of biologics in cancer treatment is high, which makes access unaffordable to a large number of patients.

Biosimilar Trastuzumab will offer an alternative affordable option thereby enhancing access to treatment for cancer patients in India and the world over.


Biosimilar Trastuzumab drug is used for the treatment of Her 2+ metastatic breast cancer.The Biosimilar Trastuzumab marketed in the brand name of CANMab. CANMab is the first biological equivalent of Herceptin, a breast cancer drug manufactured by Swiss company, Roche.

India successfully Test Fired Advanced Version of BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile

India on 18 November 2013 successfully test-fired the advanced version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from the Pokhran test firing range in Rajasthan.

The block III variant of BrahMos with deep penetration capability was test launched from a Mobile Autonomous Launcher (MAL). The missile after launch followed the predetermined trajectory and successfully pierced the designated concrete structure.

The 290-km range BrahMos flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach and carries a conventional warhead of up to 300 kg. The missile can be launched from multiple platforms including land, sea, sub-sea and air.

Both the Army and Navy have already inducted the missile in service, while the air-version of the weapon is scheduled to be flight tested by the IAF soon.

World’s First Green Helicopter Tested in Germany

Germany’s aviation company e- Volo on 17 November 2013 successfully tested the first helicopter which is noiseless and emission-free named- Volocopter.

The Volocopter is an environmentally friendly and emission-free private helicopter.


About the Green Helicopter

The helicopter, named Volocopter, developed by the German company e-volo, two seat prototype made it earlier voage in kalsruhe, Germany.

The volocopter uses eighteen electrically driven rotos propel instead of one combustion engine which is environmentally friendly and emission-free.

The emission free Volocopter is a vertical take-off and landing manned aircraft, with rich features and incredibly quiet sound, absolutely no noticeable vibrations, new spring strut landing gear and extremely calm rotor plane that replace conventional aircraft

Russia successfully launched Proton-M Rocket Carrying a Military Satellite

Russia on 12 November 2013 successfully launched the Proton-M rocket carrying a defense satellite, Raduga-1M from its Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

It is important to note that Russia restarted the launch of Proton rockets in September 2013 after a small gap in order to check why a Proton rocket launched on 2 July 2013 exploded while taking off. The Proton-M rocket is the most popular rocket of Russia for the commercial satellite launches.

About the Raduga-1M Defense Satellite

• Raduga-1M is primarily a defense satellite of the third generation.

• It is a part of the Stage Two Unified Satellite Telecommunications System.

• It is equipped with the multichannel transponder equipment, which enables it to establish reliable communications with mobile geo-service stations.

What is a Proton-M rocket?

Proton-M rocket is a Russian carrier rocket which is derived from Soviet-developed Proton. Proton is actually an expendable launch system which is used for commercial as well as Russian Government space launches.


Proton-M rocket is built by Khrunichev and launched from sites 81 and 200 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The commercial launches of Proton-M rocket are marketed by International Launch Services (ILS). First Proton-M launch took place on 7 April 2001.

All the Protons are built at the Khrunichev plant in Moscow. These are then transported for the launch to Baikonur Cosmodrome from where they are raised into the vertical position for the purpose of launch.

Agni-1 missile test fired from Wheeler Island off Odisha coast

India successfully test fired the indigenous Agni-1 missile from Wheeler Island off Odisha coast on 8 November 2013. The user trial of the 12 ton bomb was conducted from Chandipur in Balasore district of Odisha.

The surface to surface missile Agni-1 was launched from a mobile launcher. It can travel a distance of 700 kilometers. The 15 meter long missile can carry a payload of 1000 kilogram. It has a specialized navigation system that ensures it to reach the target with a high degree of accuracy and precision.

Agni-I was developed by the advance systems laboratory, the premier missile development laboratory of the DRDO and was collaborated with the Defence Research Development Laboratory and the Research Centre Imarat and integrated by the Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad.

The sophisticated Agni-1 was for the last time was successfully carried out on 12 December 2012 from the same place.

Oceans acidifying at Unprecedented Rate: International Scientific Study

A report released in second week of November 2013 claimed that the world’s oceans are becoming more acidic at an unprecedented rate. The oceans of the world are becoming hot, sour and breathless due to the impact of the greenhouse gases. As per the new report from scientists, the way those changes work together is creating a very serious outlook for global water.

The scientists from the International Biosphere Geosphere Programme said that the human


emissions of Carbon Dioxide are the matter to be blamed. The human activities add 24 million tonnes of Carbon Dioxide to the World’s ocean every day. These emissions will have a profound effect on the chemistry of sea water.

The increasing acidity of the oceans is making the life of the marine organisms hard. The acidity is happening in the polar oceans at a higher speed, where the cold water holds the larger amount of CO2. The researchers and scientists claim that by the end of this century the acid effect would be global and scientists warn, at least 30 per cent of ocean species will be unable to survive.

The acidification of the ocean has increased at an unprecedented rate in the past 300 million years. The scientists have calculated that the world oceans have became 26 percent more acidic since 1880 due to the increase of carbon in the water.

NASA Cassini Spacecraft provided New View of Saturn and Earth

NASA in November 2013 released a natural-color image of Saturn from space, the first in which Saturn, its moons and rings, and Earth, Venus and Mars, all are visible. The panoramic mosaic of the majestic Saturn system was taken by Cassini Spacecraft of the NASA. It shows the view that can be seen by the human eyes. It was unveiled at the Newseum in Washington on 12 November 2013.

To create the panorama, the image team of Cassini processed 141 wide-angle images. The image sweeps 404880 miles across Saturn and its inner ring system, which includes Saturn rings out to the E ring, the second outermost ring of Saturn.

On July 19, people for the first time had advance notice a spacecraft taking the picture from planetary distance during the Cassini’s Wave at Saturn campaign. During the campaign, NASA invited public to celebrate by finding Saturn in their part of the sky, waving at the ringed planet and sharing pictures over the internet.

An annotated version of the Saturn system mosaic labels points of interest. Earth is a bright blue dot to the lower right of Saturn. Venus is a bright dot to Saturn’s upper left. Mars also appears, as a faint red dot, above and to the left of Venus. Seven Saturnian moons are visible, including Enceladus on the left side of the image. Zooming into the image reveals the moon and the icy plume emanating from its south pole, supplying fine, powder-sized icy particles that make up the E ring.

The E ring shines like a halo around Saturn and the inner rings, because it is tenuous and can be seen with the light shine from behind it.


About the Cassini Spacecraft

Cassini Spacecraft was launched in 1997 and explored the Saturn system for more than nine years. NASA has planned to continue the mission through 2017 with the anticipation of many more images of Saturn, its rings and moons, along with scientific data.

The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and Italian Space Agency. JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, manage the mission for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. JPL designed, developed and assembled the Cassini orbiter and its two onboard cameras. The imaging team is based at the Space Science Institute, Boulder, Colo.

Microsoft developed New Sign Language Translator-KINECT

US software company Microsoft recently developed a new cost-effective sign language translator that converts signs into spoken and written language - and vice versa.

In collaboration with researchers in China, Microsoft created the Kinect Sign Language Translator, a prototype system that understands the gestures of sign language and converts them to spoken and written languageand vice versa.

The translator uses a computer and a Kinect camera that recognises signing gestures, then gives a spoken and written translation of languages for people who can hear.

The system captures a conversation both sides: the deaf person is shown signing, with a written and spoken translation being rendered in real-time, while the system takes the hearing person’s spoken words and turns them into accurate, understandable signs. The system takes a person’s spoken words and translate them into accurate signs carried out by an on-screen avatar.

The Kinect’s sensors read a user’s body position and movements and, with the help of a computer, translate them into commands. The project was collaboration between the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing Union University, and Microsoft Research Asia.


IICT, Hyderabad received samples for detection of Chemical Weapons from OPCW

The Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad, recently received over 50 samples for detection of chemical weapons from the Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

The samples in the form of soil, water and organic solvents were sent twice a year since 2008 when IICT attained the status of designated laboratory for off-site analysis of weapons.

OPCW had been sending to IICT for analysis only blank samples collected from different parts of the world. Six samples which were coded to hide the identity of the substance and the originating country were sent by courier every six months as part of continuous evaluation of the lab. The report of the institute should be cent per cent accurate to be eligible to get three ‘A’ grades in succession and pass the proficiency test every year.

The institute has already got the proficiency certificate for this year (2013), but it was yet to enter into a technical agreement with OPCW to get authentic on-site samples.It had the technique to identify chemicals at parts per million (PPM) levels. A dedicated centre for analysis of chemical toxins was set up at the institute to attend to OPCW.

The IICT was one of the 21 labs in 17 countries that were designated by OPCW for off-site analysis of chemical weapons.

Apart from IICT, the Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior, under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is also one of the ‘designated laboratories’ of the OPCW.

A ‘designated laboratory’ has to participate every year in the OPCW proficiency test and consistently attain the ‘A’ grade benchmark to retain its status. From 2008, IICT has retained its status though it has been associated with OPCW since 1998.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on 11 October 2013 won the Nobel Peace Prize for the year 2013 for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.


About Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT)

Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, (established in 1989) is a national-level research center located in Hyderabad, India under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India.

IICT conducts research in basic and applied chemistry, biochemistry, bioinformatics, chemical engineering and provides science and technology inputs to the industrial and economic development of the country.

Europe’s cargo-carrier, the ATV-4 accomplished its Mission

The heaviest-ever cargo-carrier of Europe to the International Space Station burned up in the Earth’s Atmosphere in the controlled manoeuvre after a five month mission on 2 November 2013. When the cargo was burnt, it carried about six tonnes of garbage and waste produced on the board of the ISS. The Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) was burnt over the uninhabited zone of the southern Pacific Ocean.

The ATV-4 set the record for the heaviest Ariane 5 launch and its mission started on 5 June 2013 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The record cargo of 2480 kg included more than 1400 individual items.

Albert Einstein performed a series of delicate manoeuvres to reenter below the Station in order for the astronauts to observe the spacecraft’s fragmentation in the upper atmosphere, providing unique information on reentry physics.

Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATVs)

Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATVs) are the most complex space vehicles ever developed in Europe and are the largest and most capable resupply ships to dock with the Space Station.

European Space Agency (ESA)

The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space and its mission is to shape the development the space capability of Europe ensuring that the investments done in the space can deliver benefits to the people of Europe and the world. ESA is an international organisation with 20 Member States. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, it can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country.


CORPORATEGoogle has set up election portal in India

Google on 28 November 2013 setup an election portal in India, the largest democracy of the world. The portal will provide polls and politics related news to users in India. The launched search engine will also provide information on the political parties.

This portal will help the voters of India to get the answers on elections and voting-related queries to make an informed decision. Initially, during the first phase of the launch will cover the videos and information related to state elections in Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Mizoram. It will cover news from leading publications and broadcasters both in English and Hindi.

Contents hosted by YouTube partners on elections and links to Hangouts done by political representatives in the recent past, will be available for the users.


NALCO Received EEPC Export Award for 2011-12

National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) on 22 November 2013 received the EEPC (Engineering Export Promotion Council, Eastern Region)’s Gold Trophy.

NALCO has bagged the EEPC Gold Trophy, as Top Exporter in the Large Enterprise Category, for its outstanding export performance during the year 2011-12.

National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) is a Navratna PSU and India’s leading manufacturer-exporter of alumina and aluminium.

On behalf of the company, N. Pandab, Regional Manager (Eastern Region) received the award from Ravi Kapoor, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, at the 30th Regional Award Presentation Ceremony, organized by EEPC India (Eastern Region) at Kolkata on 22 November 2013.

During the financial year 2011-12, NALCO has achieved sales turnover of 6927 crore Rupees, including the export earnings of 2569 crore Rupees.

NALCO also have the Premier Trading House status, and it is the first Indian aluminium company to be registered with London Metal Exchange, for its high quality products.

Cadila Pharmaceuticals launched Mycidac-C, a lung cancer drug

Cadila Pharmaceuticals on 21 November 2013 launched a new lung cancer drug, Mycidac-C, which is priced 40000 rupees for 10 course injection. The drug is much cheaper than the drugs manufactured by the multinational companies.

Cadila developed the drug after 15 years research and it will be available in Indian market from December 2013. Mycidac-C has been licensed and approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). The drug, Mycidac-C is meant for the patients, who suffer from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

24 Percent Jet Airways Equity allotted to Etihad Airways

Jet Airways on 20 November 2013 concluded the sale of 24 percent equity stake in the airline to Etihad Airways for 2057 crore Rupees.

The 335 million Dollar deal, which was unveiled in April 2013, is the first cross border transaction in


the Indian aviation sector after it was opened up for foreign direct investments in 2012.

In September 2012, Government of India allowed foreign airlines acquire up to 49 percent stake in domestic carriers.

The Jet Airways issued and allotted 27263372 equity shares of a face value of 10 Rupees each at a price of 754.74 Rupees per equity share on a preferential basis to Etihad Airways. With this the paid up share capital of Jet Airways has gone up to 113597383 equity shares of 10 Rupees each. The move formalizes the sale of 24 percent equity of Jet Airways to the Etihad Airways.

The deal has already been cleared by capital markets regulator SEBI, Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) and Competition Commission of India (CCI).

About Jet Airways

Jet Airways is Indian Airline Company based at Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is India’s top two airlines, in terms of market share and passengers carried, after Air India.

About Ethihad Airways

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Set up by Royal (Amiri) Decree in July 2003, Etihad commenced commercial operations in November, 2003, and has gone on to become the fastest growing airline in the history of commercial aviation.

CCI approved Jet-Etihad deal worth 2058 Crore Rupees

Competition Commission of India (CCI) on 12 November 2013 approved the proposed acquisition of 24 percent stake in the Naresh Goyal–led Indian carrier by Abu Dhabi based airline. This decision will allow the closure of long pending Jet-Etihad deal.

Etihad is acquiring the stake for 2058 crore rupees in a deal that was announced in April 2013. This will become the first-ever Foreign Direct Investment in an Indian carrier by


an overseas airline.

The deal has already been cleared by capital markets regulator SEBI, Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) and Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA).

MCX signed MoU with China’s DCE

Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (MCX) signed an agreement with China based Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) on 20 November 2013. Both Commodity future exchanges alliance will boost the strategic co-operation.

The agreement is designed to facilitate potential collaboration in areas such as knowledge sharing, research and price risk management. The move will also foster the development of communication channels for the sharing of information between the exchanges.

About MCX

The Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited (MCX), India’s first listed exchange, is a state-of-the-art, commodity futures exchange that facilitates online trading, and clearing and settlement of commodity futures transactions, thereby providing a platform for risk management.

The Multi Commodity Exchange, which started operations in November 2003, operates within the regulatory framework of the Forward Contracts Regulation Act, 1952 (FCRA, 1952).

About DCE

Founded on 18 November 1993, Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) is one of the four futures exchanges under the supervision and administration of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) upon the approval of the State Council, and also the only futures exchange in Northeast China.

Krishna Mohan Sahni appointed Chairman of the National Multi-Commodity Exchange of India

Retired bureaucrat Krishna Mohan Sahni was appointed Chairman of the National Multi-Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (NMCE) on 12 November 2013. His appointment was approved by the Forward Markets Commission, the commission which is responsible for regulating the commodities markets in India.


In the meanwhile, two former Gujarat Chief Secretaries, Pravin K. Laheri and Sudhir G. Mankad joined as independent directors on the NMCE board.

Life Sketch of Krishna Mohan Sahni

• Krishna Mohan Sahni is a 1969 batch IAS officer.

• He was the Union Labour and Employment Secretary during 2004-2006 before he superannuated on 31 December 2006.

About National Multi-Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (NMCE)

• National Multi-Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (NMCE) is the first demutualised commodity exchange of India which was granted permanent recognition by the Union Government of India in 1990s.

• NMCE started with the futures trading in 24 commodities on 26 November 2002.

MTNL signed MoU with US Firm to impart Security Training in India

MTNL (Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited) signed a MoU with Los Alamos Technical Associates, Inc. (LATA) of USA on 12 November 2013. The MoU has been signed to launch the state of the of the art training programs on Cyber Security, Risk and Crisis Management, Public Safety and Disaster Management, Homeland Security/ Critical Infrastructure Protection, Security Operations Management, Industrial Security, Fire & Safety Management etc.

The MoU will bring to India the practices followed in US for security, which has been developed over a period of time. The security needs are evolving in India at a rapid speed and the partnership between MTNL and LATA will help in development of professional programs in cyber and physical security to meet the growing demands of India.

The trainings of MTNL are going to start at the training centers at New Delhi and Mumbai. The first batch of training will start from March 2014. For the top management of the companies and the government department a one or two day series of awareness programme will be developed by MTNL.


SBI increased Lending Rates by 0.20 Percent

India’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) on 6 November 2013 increased its lending rates by 0.20 percent with effect from 7 November 2013. The bank increased the base rate or the minimum lending rate to 10 per cent from 9.80 percent. The Benchmark Prime Lending Rate (BPLR) was also increased by 0.20 per cent from 14.55 per cent to 14.75 per cent. SBI increased fixed deposit rate by 0.2 per cent on select maturity.

Earlier, RBI had increased short-term lending (repo) rate by 0.25 per cent to 7.75 per cent, making cost of fund expensive for the banks.

SBI had last raised base rate by 0.10 per cent to 9.80 per cent in September 2012.

Sunita Sharma appointed as the MD and CEO of the LIC Housing Finance

Sunita Sharma was on 6 November 2013 appointed as the managing director and chief executive director of the LIC Housing Finance. She is the first women MD and CEO of the company since its inception in 1989.

She succeeded V K Sharma who was elevated to the post of managing director of LIC.

About Sunita Sharma

• Before being elevated to the MD and CEO of the LIC Housing Finance Sunita Sharma was executive director of investments at LIC.

• She has 30 years experience in insurance field.


Dr. Reddy to launch an anti-blood clot drug in Canada

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories is set to take its complex generic drug named Fondaparinux sodium injection to Canada as well as two other emerging markets. The Alchemia Ltd. statement says that the Australian Pharmaceutical company that has tie-up for marketing with the city-based drug maker, Dr. Reddy’s is expected to file for approval in up to four additional territories in 2014.

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories

Dr. Reddy’s began as an API manufacturer in 1984, producing high-quality APIs is the first Indian and later, the international markets. In 1987, we it started formulations operations and after becoming a force to reckon with in the Indian formulations market, it went international in 1991.

Bharti Airtel signed an Agreement with the Warid Group

Bharti Airtel on 5 November 2013 entered into an agreement with the Warid Group to acquire its Congo operations with the objective of strengthening its stronghold in the African market. The acquisition will make Airtel the largest mobile operator in the Republic of Congo with around 2.6 million customers. At present, Airtel is the second largest operator in that country with over 1.6 million customers, while Warid is the third largest with around one million customers.

This is the second acquisition by Airtel in African continent. It had acquired Warid’s Uganda operations earlier in 2013. The agreement will bring together the strengths of Airtel and Warid in Congo Brazzaville. It will benefit customers in the form of affordable tariffs, superior 2G/ 3G network and affordable voice and data services.

Airtel had over 66 million customers at the end of September 2013 in the region with its presence across 17 African countries. Bharti Airtel is ranked fourth largest mobile operator at world level with operation in 20 countries and had over 280 million customers at the end of September 2013.

IIMC signed International Cooperation Agreement with Queensland University of Technology

Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi and Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia signed the International Cooperation Agreement to collaborate in academic programmes and in frontier areas of research in Media and Communication on 4 November 2013.


Highlights of the Agreement

• The agreement was signed by Bimal Julka, IIMC Chairman and Secretary I&B Ministry and Prof. Peter Coaldrake, Vice Chancellor, Queensland University of Technology.

• The agreement envisages bringing ICT in academic programmes in a significant way.

• Both the institutes agreed for the development of joint venture projects and also for opening avenues for developing a collaborative doctoral programme to benefit students and faculty.

• The bilateral cooperation agreement also envisages organization of joint academic and scientific activities, such as courses, conferences, seminars, symposia or lectures, exchange of staff and students and exchange of materials and publications of common interest.

• One of the core areas of the agreement is to facilitate Training of senior and mid-level Indian Information Service officers at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), especially in use of modern technology and social media for providing information about government policies to stakeholders.

• The objective is to ensure skill development of IIS officers in critical areas of the changing media landscape.

• This is the first agreement signed by IIMC seeking international collaboration and partnership with a foreign university.

• The agreement aims to facilitate a two-way value added training and capacity building programme in the field of Mass Media & Communication.

• The cooperation agreement shall be valid for five (5) years from the date of signing. It was decided that the agreement shall be reviewed six (6) months prior to expiry and may be renewed for a further term by mutual agreement.

Piramal Enterprises acquired Caladryl from Valeant Pharma

Piramal Enterprises Limited acquired OTC skincare brand Caladryl in India from the Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc on 1 November 2013. Earlier, Caldryl was owned by the Valeant Pharmaceuticals from 2012, when it acquired the rights for the product from Johnson and Johnson. Piramal Enterprises Ltd. was formerly named as Piramal Healthcare Ltd.

Basically, the Caladryl is an anti pruritic solution, which is known for the dermatosis application for minor skin irritations and itching. At present the consumer products of Piramal includes the Itchmosol and Supractiv Complete, lacto Calamine, Saridon, i-Pill and some other brands like Jungle Magic, Tetmosol and Triactiv.


HUDCO signed MoU with School of Planning and Architecture

Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO) on 29 October 2013 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi.

Objective of MoU

• The MoU helps to undertake joint research activities, training and capacity building programmes, consultancy assignments, access to documentation centre of each other, development of new academic and training programmes and enable students to have practical exposure through internship programmes etc.

• The Human Settlement Management Institute (HSMI), the Research & Training Institute of HUDCO will be the Nodal Department to operationalize this MoU on behalf of HUDCO.

• HSMI will closely work with School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi to bring about coordination between various departments and Regional Offices of HUDCO as well as different departments and Centres at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi.

About HUDCO

The Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO) is a Public Sector Company, under the Union Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation (MoHUPA). HUDCO is a key partner with the Government in building assets for the Nation. In its operations, HUDCO lays a considerable emphasis on the housing need of the ‘deprived’ i.e Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low-Income Groups (LIG).

HUDCO was incorporated on 25 April 1970 under the Companies Act 1956, as a fully owned enterprise of the Government of India.


Sports Ministry signed MoU with Department of AIDS Control

The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on 29 November 2013 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Department of AIDS Control.

The MoU was signed between Secretary, Department of Sports Ajit M Saran, and Secretary, Department of AIDS Control, Lov Verma, in New Delhi.

The MoU’s objective is to “reach a large number of youth engaged in sports activities” at village, district and state level with information on STI/HIV/AIDS prevention and related services.

Other objectives included building the capacity of sports educators, administrators and coaches on “Minimizing the risk of HIV transmission on and outside the sports field, involve youth organisation, sports federations in HIV/AIDS prevention activities, promote awareness generation through hoarding and banners at eminent places and sports infrastructure during state/national

SPORTS


events and tournaments, and involve eminent sports personalities for addressing social stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS.

For fulfillment of objectives of MOU, the Department of Sports would issue directives to Sports Authority of India (SAI), National Anti Doping Agency (NADA), Lakshmibai National University of Physical Education (LNUPE), National Sports Federations (NSFs) and other sports bodies for creating awareness.

The Department of AIDS Control provide technical support in capacity building on HIV/AIDS for sportspersons, trainees and staff of sports organisations and federations, by sharing of Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials for awareness generation activities.

India defeated West Indies in the cricket ODI series

India has won the three one day series against West Indies by 2-1 on 27 November 2013. This was the sixth ODI title win in a row for India after it defeated West Indies by 5 wickets in the third and final match of the series at Kanpur.

After India lost a series in December 2012 against Pakistan, it has played six more series and had consecutively won all the series.

The six ODI series were:

• England tour to India to play 5 matches ODI - India won this series by 3-2

• ICC Champions Trophy which was played in England – India defeated the host England in the final

• A triangular series with Sri Lanka and West Indies – India won the final match against Sri Lanka

• India tour to Zimbabwe – India won the series 5-0. Virat Kohli captained the Indian side

• Seven ODI series during Australia tour to India - India defeated Australia 3-2. Two matches of the series were washed away

• West Indies tour to India to play three matches ODI – India defeated West Indies 2-1


Nepal and UAE qualified for ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2014

Nepal and the UAE on 27 November 2013 qualified for the ICC T20 World cup which will be held in Bangladesh in 2014.

Nepal defeated Hong Kong by five wickets in Abu Dhabi on 27 November 2013. Nepal survived a last-over scare to score the required 13 runs, with 10 runs coming from the first two deliveries and a last-ball misfield producing the winning runs.

The UAE has also qualified for the tournament as they defeated the Netherlands by 10 runs.

This will be the first time since the ICC Cricket World Cup 1996 that the UAE and Nepal will make an appearance on the global stage. Four teams have now qualified for the ICC T20 in Bangladesh next year. These include Afghanistan, Ireland, Nepal and UAE.

The 2014 ICC World Twenty20 to be held in Bangladesh from 16 March 2014 to 6 April 2014 and a total of 16 teams are participating in this tournament.

Indian Team Announced For Junior Men Hockey World Cup 2013

Hockey India on 27 November 2013 announced its Junior Men National Team for the Hero Hockey Junior Men World Cup 2013.

The 18 member team will be captained by midfielder Manpreet Singh while defender Amit Rohidas will be the Vice-Captain.

The Junior Hockey world Cup is scheduled from 6-15 December in New Delhi, India. A total of 16 teams are participating in this tournament.

India will open its campaign against The Netherlands on 6 December 2013 followed by Canada on 7 December 2013 and Korea on 10 December 2013.

India’s Performance in previous world cups

India had won the title of the Junior Men World Cup in 2001 when they defeated Argentina in the final held in Australia. India finished as runners-up in the fifth edition of the Junior Men World Cup held in England in 1997 when they lost to Australia in the final.


Participating Teams:-

Pool A Pool B Pool C Pool D

Germany Australia Netherlands England

Pakistan Spain Korea New Zealand

Belgium Argentina India South Africa

Egypt France Canada Malaysia

World water-skier Champion Sarah Teelow died

Sarah Teelow, the world champion water skier of Australia died on 25 November 2013 after a fall during a high-speed endurance race on Australia’s Hawkesbury River. The 21 year old, Teelow fell from her skis after the start of the 75 mile Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic near Sydney.

She was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition, with spinal and head injuries and later she died in the hospital. She is the seventh water-skier to die in an accident in Australia in last five years.

Teelow had won the Formula 2 category at the World Waterski Racing Championships in Spain in September. Teelow was the

daughter of two-time world waterski champion, Tania Teelow.

Deepak Lathore won Gold and Silver Medals at Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships

Indian weightlifter, Deepak Lathore won Gold and two Silver medals in the Boys’ 50 Kg category of the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships on 25 November 2013 at Penang, Malaysia.

On the opening day of the event, Lathore took the Gold in Snatch with a lift of 83 kg. In Clean and Jerk, he lifted 102 kg to claim the Silver. With a total lift of 185 kg, he won another Silver in the event.


The 2013 Commonwealth Senior, Junior and Youth weightlifting Championships are being held at Penang city of Malaysia from 24 to 30 November 2013. In this event, India is represented by 41 Weightlifters in three categories.

About Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation

The Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation (CWF) was established in 1947. It is one of the oldest sporting federations of the Commonwealth and is unique in that it encompasses Commonwealth nations from the five continents and recognised by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF).

Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu reappointed as India Boxing Coach

Gurbax Singh Sandhu was on 20 November 2013 reappointed as the national coach of the men’s Indian boxing team till the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. This decision was taken in consultation with the Sports Authority of India at New Delhi.

First appointed as coach in 1993, Gurbax Singh Sandhu has ably served for almost two decades during which Indian boxers have made ground-breaking progress in the international arena including winning the country’s first Olympic medal, and first World Championship medal, through Vijender Singh (75kg category).

Indian Senior Women Hockey Team Coach Inderjit Singh Gill Died

India’s senior women’s hockey team coach Inderjit Singh Gill passed away in a fatal road accident near Sangrur in Punjab on 20 November 2013. Gill died at the age of 59. He was a Sports Authority of India (SAI) coach.

About Inderjit Singh Gill

Inderjit Singh Gill, Coach of Sports Authority of India who did his NIS Diploma of Coaching in 1979 started his coaching career in 1986 and was working with the Junior & Senior Women hockey teams since 1999.


He was also part of the Coaching staff of the Senior Women Team that won Silver medal at the 3rd Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2013 in Japan.

He was also part of the Indian Women Team in the major tournaments including Commonwealth Games in 2002 Manchester, Asian Games in 2002 Busan, Asia Cup in 2007 Hong Kong, FIH Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2012 New Delhi and 2013 FIH World League Round 2 in New Delhi.

V. Baskaran appointed as Coach of the Senior Men Hockey Team

Hockey India on 20 November 2013 appointed the former Olympic gold-medallist V Baskaran as Coach of the Senior Men Hockey Team. Baskaran will work under the recently appointed Chief Coach Terence Walsh.

Hockey India on 15 October 2013 appointed the Terence Walsh as Chief Coach of the Senior Men National Hockey Team.

About V Baskaran

Vasudevan Baskaran who was the captain of the team that won the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow has 287 internationals caps and has represented India in the Olympic Games in 1976 Montreal, two World Cups in 1973 Amsterdam (Silver) and in 1978 Buenos Aires, two Asian Games in 1974 Tehran (Silver) and in 1978 Bangkok (Silver) and Champions Trophy in 1978 Pakistan (Bronze).

Baskaran coached the senior men national team for ten years. Under his coaching India had played 187 matches including major tournaments such as the Olympic Games in 2000 (Sydney), two World Cups in 1998 in Utrecht and 2006 in Germany, Asian Games 2006 in Doha, Junior World Cup in 1997 in Milton Keynes (Silver) and Champions Trophy in 1997 in Chennai. In 1980, he received the Arjuna Award and in 1981 he received Padamshri Award.


Darvis Patton, the US sprinter and two time Olympic Medalist retired

Darvis Patton, the US sprinter on 18 November 2013 announced his retirement after 13 years career. He won the Olympic silver medal as part of the 4x100 relay teams in the 2004 Athens Olympics and in London Olympics in 2012.

He was a part of the team of US that won the sprint relay gold at the Paris world championship and Osaka in 2003 and 2007, respectively.

About Darvis Patton

• He became the sixth fastest man to run 100 meters at the 2013 Texas Relays

• He was elected to the USATF Board of Directors as the Athletes Advisory Committee representative in 2012

• He was born in 4 December 1977

Redek Stepanek clinched Davis Cup for Czech Republic

The Czech Republic on 17 November 2013 defended the Davis Cup title 2013 after Redek Stepanek defeated the Serbian Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 in the fifth rubber of the final by BNP Paribas Final in Belgrade. With the win Stepanek handed the win too Czech Republic 3-2.

With this win, Stepanek became the third player in the history to win Two Davis Cup Finals live fifth singles rubbers. He is also the first man to do so on consecutive occasions after bypassing Serbian youngster Dusan Lajovic for the loss of just five games.In 2012, he defeated Nicolas Almagro in the fifth rubber of the 100th Final in Prague. Only France’s Henri Cochet (1927, 1929 and 1931) and Britain’s Fred Perry (1933, 1936) have won two Davis Cup Final live fifth singles rubbers before - Radek Stepanek.


Sebastian Vettel won the United States Grand Prix for record 8th successive victory

Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull’s team on 17 November 2013 won United States Grand Prix. France’s Romain Grosjean in Lotus was second with Red Bull’s Mark Webber took the third place.

This was his eighth successive race of Vettel in a season. With this win he succeeded ahead of Michael Schumacher’s previous record of winning seven races in a row in the same season, which was set in 2004.

This was also vettel’s 12th win of the season and if he wins the year-ender in Brazil than he will tie with Michael Schumacher Formulae one record of 13 victories in a single season. The win in the Brazil grand prix that is scheduled to happen on 24 November 2013 will bring to him ninth victory in a row, which was set by Alberto Ascari.

The Mark Webber (37) of Red Bulls will be driving last time in the Brazil grand prix, as it will be his last race in the Formulae one.

Bolt and Fraser-Pryce were crowned World Athletes of 2013

The Jamaican sprinters, Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce were crowned the male and female World Athletes of the Year, 2013 on 16 November 2013. They were selected as the world athletes of the year by the sport’s governing IAAF at a ceremony in Monaco.

Gold in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4x100 relay at the Moscow Worlds in August helped Bolt to take his all-time tally to eight golds and two silvers at the championship. Usain Bolt had been the World Athlete of the Year in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012, previously. Bolt won 10 out of his 11 100m races (including heats), and was unbeaten in his five races over 200m.

Whereas, the Olympic Sprint Champion, the Fraser-Pryce claimed gold medals in three events in Moscow. Fraser-Pryce, regained her 100m title at the 2013 IAAF World Championships, winning in 10.71, which remained the fastest time of the year. Earlier, she had gold and two silvers. Fraser-Pryce became the second Jamaican woman to win, after Merlene Ottey in


1990.

Bolt and Fraser-Pryce also received a prize of 100000 US dollars.

India won the two match test series against West Indies by 2-0

India on 16 November 2013 won the test series against West Indies 2-0 at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. The second and the last match of the series was the last and final international game of Sachin Tendulkar. After the match Sachin bid a tearful adieu to the sport after India won the match by an innings and 126 runs.

Pragyan Ojha of India took 10 wickets and Cheteshwar Pujara scored 113 in the match. Rohit Sharma got his first player of the series award in tests for scoring 288 runs in two innings. In two innings he scored two centuries. Pragyan Ojha received the man of the match award for first time in tests.

Apart from it, Pragyan Ojha got the haul of 10 wickets in a test match. Ojha became the seventh Indian left arm spinner to take 10 wickets in a test match. The left arm spinners, who recorded the feat twice in tests, are Vinoo Mankad and Maninder Singh.

Bengal topped the medal list of the 23rd G V Mavalankar Shooting Championship

West Bengal, the host of the 23rd All India G V Mavalankar Shooting Championship topped the medals tally on 16 November 2013. The championship concluded at the Chandmari Range in West Bengal. This is the first time that West Bengal topped the medal table of national level of shooting championship.

West Bengal, shooters won five gold, five silver and a bronze to top the 10 day long championship. Maharashtra stood at the second position in the championship with four gold, five silver

and three bronze medals. Whereas, Chandigarh was third in the list as it won three gold, one silver and one bronze medal.


In the All India G V Mavalankar Shooting Championship, in all 1400 shooters from 15 states, military and para-military forces participated in 72 events in four different categories namely, boys, girls, men and women. Of all the participants, more than 500 shooters have qualified for the national meet, which will be held in New Delhi from 11 December 2013.

India moved to second position in ICC test ranking

In the latest ICC test ranking, India moved to the second position, following the 2-0 victory over West Indies on 16 November 2013. South Africa stood at the top position with 131 points, which is followed by India with 119 ratings point. England stands at third position with 116 points.

India in the two match test series made a clean sweep of West Indies. India defeated the West Indies in the second match with an innings and 126 runs in Mumbai. The second match of the series was also the last match of Sachin Tendulkar, as

he hung his bat and gave an end to his 24 years long cricketing career. After India won the match, the Government of India chose Sachin for the highest civilian award, Bharat Ratan on 16 November 2013.

Test rankings of other nations:

Rank Team Matches Points Rating

1 South Africa 27 3531 131

2 India 33 3920 119

3 England 38 4407 116

4 Pakistan 25 2538 102

5 Australia 33 3318 101

6 West Indies 25 2366 95

7 Sri Lanka 26 2295 88

8 New Zealand 30 2243 75

9 Zimbabwe 11 372 34

10 Bangladesh 16 285 18


South Africa defeated Pakistan to Clinch ODI Series 4-1 in UAE

South Africa defeated Pakistan 4-1 in the One-Day International series in UAE on 11 November 2013. In the final match at Sharjah, the South Africa defeated Pakistan by 117 runs to win the series.

The two teams will play Twenty20 internationals in Dubai on 13 November 2013 and 15 November 2013. During the match, South African batsman De Villiers hit 115 off 102 deliveries with 10 fours and three sixes, which took the team to a total of 268 runs for seven in 50 overs.

With the century, De Villiers also became the fastest South African to reach 6000 ODI runs from 147 innings.

Novak Djokovic won Barclays ATP World Tour Final after defeating Rafael Nadal

Novak Djokovic on 11 November 2013 retained the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals title after defeating the number one, Rafael Nadal. The world number two Djokovic, won 6-3, 6-4 at the O2 Arena in London. The ATP world tour took place from 4 to 11 November 2013.

He earned 1923000 US dollar as prize money and 1500 Emirates ATP Rankings points, while Nadal earned 1013000 US dollar and 1000 points as he dropped to a 10-4 record in finals in 2013.

Earlier, Djokovic won the same title in the year 2008 and 2012. This is the fifth time, when number 1 versus number 2 in the final in 44 years. Djokovic extended his unbeaten run to 22 matches as he claimed the season-ending title for the third time. With this win, he became the seventh player to win the year-end championship at least three times namely Roger Federer (six titles), Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras (five each), Ilie Nastase (four), and Boris Becker and John McEnroe (three each).

Indian Men’s Hockey Team finished fifth at 3rd Asian Champions Trophy 2013

Indian men’s hockey team finished fifth at the 3rd Asian Champions Trophy at Kakamigahara, Japan on 10 November 2013. In a fifth-sixth place match, India defeated Oman 6-1 by scoring at regular intervals in both halves of the game.

Pakistan men and Japan women were crowned as the winners of the Asian Champions Trophy following victories over Japan and India respectively. The Bronze medal in men’s category went to Malaysia, who defeated China 3-0. Malaysia women matched their male counterparts by taking


Bronze in the four-nations tournament, claiming a surprise victory over China.

3rd Men’s & Women’s Asian Champions Trophy held from 2nd to 10th November 2013 at Kakamigahara,Japan.

Participants of Men’s

Competition

Participants of Women’s Competition

Asian Champions Trophy 2013 The Medallists

Pakistan Japan Men WomenIndia India Gold: Pakistan Gold: Japan

Malaysia Malaysia Silver: Japan Silver: India

Japan China Bronze: Malaysia Bronze: Malaysia

China

Oman

Mohammed Siddikur won Indian Open Golf Tournament 2013

Mohammed Siddikur of Bangladesh won the 50th edition of Indian Open golf tournament on 10 November 2013 at the Delhi Golf Club (DGC), New Delhi. It was his second Asian Tour title after Brunei Open victory in 2010. The tournament carries a cash prize of 1.25 million US dollars. This win catapulted him from ninth to third on the Order of Merit. Siddikur scored a total of 274 to edge past his Indian friends Anirban Lahiri and SSP Chowrasia to win the tournament. Mohammad Siddikur Rahman was born on 20 November 1984. He is a Bangladeshi professional golfer who plays on the Asian Tour. He is known as Tiger Woods of Bengal.

Heena Sidhu became Third Indian Shooter to Win Gold at Rifle/Pistol World Cup

Heena Sidhu became a part of the history by becoming the third Indian pistol shooter to win Gold at the FIORAFF Final on 10 November 2013 in Munich. In the Women’s 10-metre Air Pistol event at the ISSF World Cup final, the 24-year-old shooter defeated World Champion Zorana Arunovic of Serbia to bag her first Gold.

Prior to her, Anjali Bhagwat (2003) and Gagan Narang (2008) have won Gold at the rifle/pistol event in World Cup finals.


Final ResultsThe overall results in the Women’s event were as follows:

• 10m air pistol: 1. Heena Sidhu 203.8 (384); 2. Zorana Arunovic (Srb) 198.6 (382); 3. Viktoria Chaika (Blr) 176.8 (381).

• 50m rifle 3-position: 1. Petra Zublasing (Ita) 462.7 (585); 2. Andrea Arsovic (Srb) 457.9 (587); 3. Wu Liuxi (Chn) 446.4 (585); 4. Lajja Gauswami 435.5 (581).

About Heena Sidhu

• Heena Sidhu was born in Ludhiana, Punjab.

• She is an Indian shooter.

• Heena Sidhu along with Annu Raj Singh won the gold medal in women’s Pairs 10 metre air pistol at the 2010 Commonwealth Games as well.

• She also won a silver medal in the singles event in the Commonwealth Games.

• In the 2009 Beijing ISSF World Cup tournament, in 10 metre air pistol event, Heena Sidhu won the Silver medal.

• In 2010 Guangzhou Women’s 10m Air Pistol Team event, she won Silver medal in the Asian Games. -

Mark Schwarzer retired from International Football

Australia golkeeper Mark Schwarzer on 6 November 2013 announced his retirement from international football.

Mark Schwarzer (41 years old) represented Australia at international level on 109 occasions since his debut in 1993, and one of the key players in qualifying for three consecutive World Cups.

Mark Schwarzer moved to Chelsea as backup to established Petr Cech this season after more than five years and 172 appearances at Fulham. Mark Schwarzer represented Australia at the 2006 and 2010 World cups.

Mark Schwarzer is the key player in Socceroos team (Australia National football team) for twenty years. Mark played in Australia’s 6-0 loss to Brazil in his last match for the national team in September 2013.


Paralympic Powerlifter Ali Jawad won Gold at the Asian Open Championships

British Paralympic powerlifter Ali Jawad on 5 November 2013 won gold at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Asian Open Championships with a world-record lift. Ali lifted 185.5kg in the 59kg class in Malaysia to better his record by 10.5kg. The championship was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ali Jawad is 24 years old.

Jawad had won gold at the 2007 Powerlifting European Championships in Greece and became World Junior Champion at the 2008 championships in the USA. But at the London Paralympics 2012, he lost the bronze medal to Chinese lifter Wang Jian.

Jawad is one of five British athletes competing in Kuala Lumpur which includes fellow Paralympian Natalie Blake and ex-serviceman Micky Yule.

Yuki Bhambri won the Traralgon title

Yuki Bhambri on 4 November 2013 won the ATP men’s singles title of Traralgon event in Australia. He defeated Bradely Klahn of America in the summit clash that was hit by rain. This is the second win of his career.

Yuki, the 21 years old Indian defeated higher ranking Bradely by 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 in the finals in a match played on two days due to rain. This is the third straight win of Yuki over a higher ranked opponent in this

tournament. The 277 ranked Yuki earlier defeated, Tatsuma of Japan ranked 191 and the James Duckworth of Australia ranked 147 in the tournament to reach the finals.

Abraham K Techi appointed International Weightlifting Referee

Indian Weightlifting Federation Joint Secretary Abraham K Techi on 4 November 2013 appointed as an international Weightlifting referee. Budapest–based International Weightlifting Federation issued the honour to Abraham, making him the fourth international referee from North East India.


Abraham K Techi, President of the Arunachal Weightlifting Association (AWA), is the first international referee from Arunachal Pradesh and fourth from the North East.

The other three referees from the region include Sunil Elangbam of Manipur, Birendra Prasad Baishya (IWF president and Rajya Sabha member) and Bhabajyoti Goswami both from Assam.

Besides being the Eastern Indian Body Building Association vice president, Abraham was member of the organising committee, in charge of sports presentation and medal ceremony (weightlifting) during the 2010 Commonwealth Games and manager of the Indian weightlifting teams that went to Cyprus, Uzbekistan and Malaysia.

Novak Djokovic won BNP Paribas Masters Tennis Tournament 2013Novak Djokovic of Serbia on 3 November 2013 won the BNP Paribas Masters Tennis tournament at Paris, France. In the title clash, Novak Djokovic defeated defending champion David Ferrer of Spain in straight sets, 7-5, 7-5.

This Paris Master title was Novak Djokovic’s 40th career title and sixth title in 2013.

Novak Djokovic 2013 titles1. January: Australian Open

2. March: Dubai Championships

3. April: Monte Carlo Masters

4. October: China Open, Shanghai Masters

5. November: BNP Paribas Masters (Paris Masters)

BNP Paribas Masters Tennis tournament

The BNP Paribas Masters (also called Paris masters) is an annual tennis tournament for male professional players held in Paris, France. It is played indoors at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy. The event is part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour. The Prize Money for the tournament winner is 2646495 Euros.

Sebastian Vettel won Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix 2013

Formula 1 racing driver, Sebastian Vettel on 3 November 2013 won the Abu Dhabi Formula 1


Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit, Abu Dhabi.

Sebastian Vettel clocked 1 minute 43.893 seconds to finish at the top of the table. Vettel’s team-mate Aussie Mark Webber finished with second position, with Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany finishing third.

Sebastian Vettel won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for the second time in his career. (First time is in 2009). This victory has drawn Vettel level with compatriot Michael Schumacher’s mark of seven successive wins.

Earlier, Sebastian Vettel (26 years old) had clinched the title at the Indian Grand Prix on 27 October 2013.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (formally known as the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race that was held at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi on 3 November 2013.

About Sebastian Vettel

• Sebastian Vettel is a German formulae one racing driver and at present he is driving for the Red Bull a Austrian racing team

• At present he is the world champion as he won the Championship in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013

• He was born on 3 July 1987

• While driving for Red Bull in 2009, he finished as the season as the youngest ever World Driver’s Championship runner-up.

• He became the youngest driver, who won the World Drivers’ Championship in 2010 and the same year he helped Red Bull to win the first team’s World Constructors Championship.

Indian Men’s Hockey Team qualified for Hockey World Cup 2014

Indian men’s hockey team on 3 November 2013 officially qualified for the Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014. International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed the India’s berth in a official press release at Switzerland. Australia success at Oceania Cup on 3 November 2013 confirmed latest teams for world cup 2014.

The Rabobank Hockey World Cup will be held from 31 May to 15 June 2014 at The Hague,


Netherland. The India men’s team finished sixth at the Rabobank HWL Semi Final in Rotterdam and that was enough to confirm their participation in the tournament.

A total of 22 teams (11 men/11 women) have now qualified for the Rabobank Hockey World Cup, with just two more places left to fill. The remaining berths will be taken by the winners of the rescheduled Men’s and Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which takes place from 18-24 November 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Men’s Teams for World Cup

Netherlands: Hosts

Germany: Continental Champions Europe

Argentina: Continental Champions Pan America

Korea: Continental Champions Asia

Australia: Continental Champions Oceania

England: 3rd place Hockey World League Semi-Final, Johor Bahru (MAS)

Belgium: 1st place Rabobank Hockey World League Semi-Final, Rotterdam (NED)

New Zealand: 4th place Rabobank Hockey World League Semi-Final, Rotterdam (NED)

Spain: 5th place Hockey World League Semi-Final, Rotterdam (NED)

Malaysia: 5th place Hockey World League Semi-Final, Johor Bahru (MAS)

India: 6th place Hockey World League Semi-Final, Rotterdam (NED)

Rohit Sharma became Third Cricketer in the World to Score a Double Hundred in ODI

Rohit Sharma, the Indian batsman on 2 November 2013 became the third cricketer in the world to score a double hundred in an ODI match. He scored 209 runs off 158 ballsagainst Australia in seventh and final ODI (One-Day International) match at Bangalore’s M.Chinnaswamy Stadium.


Records broken by Rohit Sharma

• The highest scorer against Australia

• Highest number of sixes in the ODI innings

• Second highest ODI score (209) after Virendra Sehwag (219)

His runs included 12 fours and 16 sixes, which also means that he re-wrote the record of highest number of sixes in an ODI match. He out-beat Shane Watson’s record of 15 sixes in the ODI which he hit in the match against Bangladesh. It is worth noticing that all the three batsmen who scored double hundred in one day match are Indians. The milestone was at first achieved by Sachin Tendulkar who scored 200 runs against South Africa in the year 2010. The second one to do so was Virendra Sehwag who scored 219 against West Indies in the year 2011 and the third one is Rohit Sharma to score 209 runs against Australia in 2013.

Yet another record was that of the partnership between Rohit Sharma and Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni, who collectively added 167 runs for the fifth wicket, a record against Australia. It is also important to note that India’s score of 383 for six is the highest ever total against Australia.

India defeated Australia 3-2 in the seven matches cricket ODI series

Series Report

• Man of the Match in the seventh match: Rohit Sharma

• Man of the Series: Rohit Sharma

India won the series 3-2 against Australia on 2 November 2013 by beating Australia in the seventh match by 57 runs at Bangalore. In the seventh One Day International (ODI) match India scored Score 383/6 in 50 over and Australia scored 326 in 45.1 over.

In the seventh ODI, Rohit Sharma scored 209 in 158 balls and became the third players to score more than 200 runs. Rohit hit 16 sixes, while scoring the 209.

The rest of two scorers are Indian cricketers namely Sachin Tendulkar (who scored 200 runs in 147 balls)


and Virender Sehwag (who scored 219 in 140 balls). While chasing, Faulkner of Australia broke the Australian record of fastest century in an ODI in 57 balls. Glenn Maxwell also equaled the Australian record of fastest fifty in 17 balls, while scoring 60 runs in 22 balls.

In the seven ODI series two successive matches were washed out at Ranchi and Cuttak. India was successful to equal the level in series 2-2 at Nagpur, during the sixth match.

India won Gold in 18th Asian Archery Competition at Chinese Taipei

India’s men’s compound Archery team on 31 October 2013 won a gold medal in the 18th Asian Archery competition held at Chinese Taipei.

Abhishek Verma, Ratan Singh, Sandeep Kumar forming the compound team defeated the Korean trio of Lihong Min, Yong Hee Choi and Jongho Kim 233-231 to win the gold.

The Indian compound trio showed their consistency right through the qualification round, in which they totalled 2086 points, to be ranked No.1 after they got a bye in the pre-quarters.

In the quarters, India ousted Iraq 231-221 while hosts Chinese Taipei faced the elimination going down 220-232.

18th Asian Archery Championships 2013 was organized by Asian Archery Federation (AAF) in Taipei (TPE) from 29 October to 2 November 2013.


STATESTATETripura Introduced PVC-Electoral Photo Identity Cards First Time in the Country

Tripura on 30 November 2013 introduced for the first time in the country PVC Electoral Photo Identity Card (PVC EPIC) as mandated by the Election Commission of India.

About PVC Electoral Photo Identity Card (PVC EPIC)

The new PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride- or Plastic) EPIC has many scientific security features to prevent duplication, forging and tampering. Unlike the present paper voter’s card, the PVC-EPIC has


inserted coded information of the elector. The information and government logos of the new EPIC would be visible only in ultraviolet light.

Tripura is the first state in India to introduce the newly designed EPIC.

The new card will be issued through the Common Service Centre of the central government’s Information Technology department. The card was simultaneously introduced in 23 sub-divisions of all the eight districts of the State.

What is PVC?

Plastics are also called synthetic resins and are broadly classified into two categories: thermosetting resins and thermoplastic resins.

The thermosetting resins include phenolic resin and melamine resin, which are thermally hardened and never become soft again. Thermoplastic resins include Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP), which can be re-softened by heating.

Cyclone Lehar Struck Andhra Pradesh Coast

The cyclonic storm Lehar on 27 November 2013 hit the Andhra Pradesh coast and caused severe damage in the coastal region.

The tropical cyclone Lehar was centered about 520 km east-southeast of Machillipatnam and 470 km southeast of Kakinada in Bay of Bengal. The nine coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh are highly affected in the region and coastal area of Odisha also affected.

After cyclone Phailin and cyclone Helen, this is the third severe cyclone within a month.

Cyclone Lehar turned into deep depression

Cyclone Lehar in the Bay of Bengal rapidly weakened into deep depression before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast on 28 November 2013. No major damage reported from costal districts of Andhra Pradesh and there was a heavy rainfall in Krishna, Guntur, West and East Godavari.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed as many as 30 rescue teams in coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh in consultation with the state government to assist in rescue work.

Tropical cyclone HELEN affected the same area of Andhra Pradesh with heavy rains and winds on 22 November 2013 killing 10 people.


Gujarat Government set up panel to probe Snooping Scandal

The Gujarat government on 26 November 2013 formally issued a notification constituting an inquiry commission into the alleged snooping on a woman by the Gujarat police. The snooping was allegedly supervised in 2009 by then junior home minister Amit Shah.

The panel has been asked to find out if there was any conspiracy in releasing the tapes after four years. The panel has been given six terms of references to inquire into and submit its report.

The commission is headed by retired Gujarat High Court judge Sugnyaben K Bhatt. Retired Additional Chief Secretary K C Kapoor will be part of the inquiry panel, which has been asked to submit its report within three months.

Karnataka Minister Santosh Lad Resigned over Allegation of Il-legal Mining

Santosh Lad, Minister for Information and Infra Development resigned from the State Government owing to the charges of illegal mining on 22 November 2013.He submitted his resignation to the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Santosh Lad resigned after being allegedly charged with having played a role in illegal mining activities in the state. Santosh Lad, who is originally from Bellary district of Karnataka, is an MLA from neighbouring Dharwad district. He was earlier with the JD(S).

Haryana Launched its First Food Bank at Gurgaon with Support from Cargill

Haryana, on 11 November 2013, launched its first food bank in order to give assistance to the different feeding programmes in Gurgaon as well as nearby areas. The food bank received support by global food major Cargill and India Food Banking Network (IFBN), which is initiated by Sam Pitroda, Advisor to Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations.

The Haryana Industries Minister, Randeep Singh Surjewala explained that Haryana recently adopted the National Food Security Ordinance in order to ensure that people have adequate quantity as well as quality of food at reasonable prices.

The new Gurgaon Food Bank targets sustained daily feeding of approximately 10000 beneficiaries by 2014 in the Gurgaon region. It is estimated that if replicated on a national level, this model will play a crucial role in eliminating the hunger completely from the country by the year 2020.


RAF Academy of Public Order inaugurated in Meerut

Ministry of Home Affairs on 9 November 2013 inaugurated RAF Academy of Public Order in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. This academy will train personnel of Rapid Action Force along with selected members of other paramilitary forces and civil police. Public administration, riot control, crowd management, disaster management, human rights, media management and first aid to the victims are some of the core issues on which focussed training will be provided to troupes.

Besides, security persons moving on to peace missions under the United Nations, will also be provided necessary training in the Academy.


NEWS CAPSULE

Abdullah Yameen won Maldives Presidential Polls

Abdulla Yameen, the candidate of Progressive Party of Maldives on 16 November 2013 defeated the former premier, Mohammed Nasheed to win the Maldivian Presidential elections. Election Commission of Maldives announced the result of the election on 16 November 2013, in which Yameen defeated Mohamed Nasheed of Maldivian Democratic Party with a margin of six thousand votes.

Yameen secured 51.39 percent (1 lakh 11 thousand) of votes, whereas Mohamed Nasheed received 48.61 (1 lakh 5 thousand

Person in news


votes). 45 foreign observers and 22 foreign monitors saw the transparency and credibility of the election. The winning candidate Abdullah Yameen will be sworn in as the President at a special seating of the Majlis, the Maldivian Parliament.

About Abdulla Yameen

• The 54 years old Yameen is an economist and the half-brother of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the former autocratic ruler, who ruled Maldives for 30 years

• He is also known as Yameen Abdul Gayoom

Earlier, in September 2013, the first round of elections was conducted in which none of the candidates secured more than 50 percent of the votes. Thus the Supreme Court of Maldives annulled the results. Whereas, the second attempt of polls was to be hold on 19 October 2013, which was thwarted by the police after the ruling of the Supreme Court. The re-vote was held on 9 November 2013, in which any one didn’t emerged as the winner by crossing the 50 percent mark.

After the failure of the two polls, international community asked to conduct the elections as per the Constitutional provisions.

Kenichi Ito set his new Quadruped Record

Kenichi Ito, a Japanese man broke his own Guinness World Record for the 100 meter dash on 14 November 2013. He runs on his arms and legs broke.

ITO of 30 years finished the dash in 16.87 seconds by saving about 30 seconds of his 2012 run of 17.47 seconds.

Miss Venezuela Gabriela Isler Won Miss Universe 2013

Gabriela Isler from Venezuela won Miss Universe 2013 contest on 9 November 2013 held at Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia. Patricia Yurena Rodriguez from Spain finished as the first runner-up, whereas Constanza Baez from Ecuador was the second runner up. Manasi Moghe from India


had been shortlisted for the top 10 finalists of Miss Universe 2013 but failed to win the crown. Miss Universe is the oldest International beauty pageant.

The top 10 finalists comprised India, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Ukraine, Ecuador, USA, Brazil, Great Britain, Spain and Philippines. Top 5 finalists included Ecuador, Spain, Brazil, Philippines, Venezuela.

María Gabriela Isler was born on 21 April 1988 in Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela. She is a Venezuelan fashion model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Venezuela 2012. She is the third Miss Universe from Venezuela in 6 years.

Person Appointed

Satyananda Mishra appointed as Chairman of Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX)

Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd on 27 November 2013 appointed Satyananda Mishra as the chairman of MCX’s board.

Market Regulatory authority, the Forward Markets Commission (FMC) also approved the appointment of Satyananda Mishra as the independent Director of MCX’s board for a period up to 31 March 2016.

The previous chairman of MCX, Venkat Chary, resigned in August 2013 due to the new guidelines of Forward Markets Commission (FMC). The FMC new guidelines stated that the age limit of people on the board should not be more than 70 years.

About Satyananda Misra

Satyananda Mishra is a retired Indian Administrative Services officer (1973 Batch) and has acted as a Chief Information Commissioner from December 2010 to September 2013. He was also Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT).

About Multi Commodity Exchange

The Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited (MCX), India’s first listed exchange, is a state-of-the-art, commodity futures exchange that facilitates online trading, and clearing and settlement of


commodity futures transactions, thereby providing a platform for risk management.


Neeraj Sahai appointed as President of Standard & Poor’s Rat-ings Services

Neeraj Sahai, Indian-American has appointed as president of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, the world’s largest ratings firm. He was appointed by McGraw Hill Financial Company. Neeraj Sahai (56) will assume his new role at Standard & Poor’s from 6 January 2014.

Neeraj Sahai, who did his master’s in economics from the University of Delhi, is currently head of Citi’s Securities and Fund Services business and also acts as chief fiduciary officer of Citigroup. He succeeds Douglas Peterson, who became president and chief executive officer of McGraw Hill Financial on 1 November 2013.

About Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, part of McGraw Hill Financial, is the world’s leading provider of independent credit risk research. It publishes more than a million credit ratings on debt issued by sovereign, municipal, corporate and financial sector entities.

About McGraw Hill Financial

McGraw Hill Financial is a financial intelligence company providing the global capital and commodity markets with independent benchmarks, credit ratings, portfolio and enterprise risk solutions, and analytics.

The Company’s iconic brands include: Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Dow Jones Indices, Platts, CRISIL, J.D. Power, and McGraw Hill Construction.

Justice Ajit Prakash Shah appointed as Chairman of Law Com-mission of India

Union Government on 22 November 2013 appointed Justice Ajit Prakash Shah as the new Chairman of the 20th Law Commission of India. Justice Ajit Prakash Shah succeeded Justice D. K. Jain who resigned in October 2013 to take over as the President of National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.


Justice Ajit Prakash Shah was born on 13 February, 1948 at Solapur, Maharashtra. He started practice at Solapur district Court and shifted to the Bombay High Court in the year 1977.

He was Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi from May 2008 till his retirement in February 2010. He is known for his bold judgments, especially concerning social issues, including the world-headliner July 2009 ruling that found India`s 150-year-old statute prohibiting homosexual acts (Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code) as discriminatory and, therefore, a “violation of fundamental rights”.

20th Law Commission of India

The 20th Law Commission of India was constituted with the Order of the Government of India with effect from 1 September 2012. It has a three-year term ending on 31st August, 2015.

The commission would be responsible for identification of obsolete laws and suggest measures suitable for quick grievance handling and redressal of the citizens. It would also be examining the laws that effects poor and suggest measures which would help in harnessing the law and the legal process for the economically weaker and poor section of the society.

Five Central Information Commissioners Appointed to CIC

Five new Information Commissioners are appointed to the Central Information Commission (CIC) on 22 November 2013. Chief Information Commissioner Deepak Sandhu administered the oath of office to them in New Delhi.

The new commissioners are Yashovardhan Azad, Sharat Sabharwal, Manjula Parasher , M A Khan Yusufi and Madabhushanam Sridhar Acharyulu. With this the total number of Information Commissioners including the Chief Information Commissioner has gone up to 10.

Yashovardhan Azad, a former IPS Officer, before joining the Office of Information Commissioner in Central Information Commission, was holding the post of Secretary (Security) in Cabinet Secretariat.

• Sharat Sabharwal a career diplomat, retired as High Commissioner of India in Pakistan before joining the Office of Information Commissioner.

• Manjula Parasher a former Indian Postal Service Officer had retired as Secretary from the Department of Posts before joining the Office of Information Commissioner.


• MA Khan Yusufi, a former Indian Legal Service Officer, before joining the Office of Information Commissioner in CIC was holding the post of Chairperson in Airport Appellate Tribunal.

• Madbhushanam Sridhar Acharyulu was working as Professor at NALSAR, before joining the Office of Information Commissioner in CIC.

Nisha Desai Biswal sworn in as US Asst. Secretary of State for South and Central Asia

Nisha Desai Biswal was on 21 November 2013 sworn in as the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia.

United States Secretary of State John K Kerry administered the oath to Nisha Desai Biswal as she was sworn in as the US Assistant Secretary of State at the George Marshall East Auditorium of the White House.

Nisha Desai Biswal took over charge from Robert Blake, who moved recently to Indonesia as ambassador.Before her appointment to this position, Biswal was assistant administrator for Asia at the US Agency for International Development.

Nisha Desai Biswal will oversee the US Foreign Policy and relations at the State Department for India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. This is the first time an Indian-American is heading the South Asia Bureau, a new milestone for the Indian community.

About Nisha Desai Biswal

• Nisha Desai Biswal worked at the American Red Cross from 1993 to 1995 in the Washington headquarters, and as an overseas delegate in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

• From 1999 to 2002, she worked as a Hill staffer with the US House of Representatives International Relations Committee.

• From 2005 to 2010, Biswal was the Majority Clerk for the State Department and Foreign Operations Subcommittee on the Committee on Appropriations in the House of Representatives.

• Nisha Desai Biswal held the post of assistant administrator for Asia at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), since September 2010.


Kushal Das reappointed as AIFF General Secretary

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on 20 November 2013 reappointed Kushal Das as AIFF General Secretary for a second term of another three years.

Kushal Das, who had served as Chief Financial Officer of the ICC and International Management Group (IMG) India, was appointed as AIFF General Secretary in November 2010.

The Executive Committee of AIFF also approved the recommendations of AIFF Technical Committee to extend the contract of national team coach Wim Koevermans and Technical Director Rob Baan by one year.

National football team coach Wim Koevermans’ contract was extended till October 2014. Besides the national team, Koevermans will also be in charge on India’s campaign in 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

In June 2012, The All India Football Federation appointed former Netherlands football player Wilhelmus Jacobus Koevermans, popularly known as Wim Koevermans, as the new head coach of the Indian national football team.

Usha Ananthasubramanian appointed as CMD of Bharatiya Mahila Bank The Union Government on 12 November 2013 appointed Usha Ananthasubramanian as the chairperson and managing director of public sector Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB), the first women’s bank.

Before joining BMB, she was an Executive Director with Punjab National Bank (PNB).

Usha Ananthasubramanian started her career in the actuarial department with LIC and banking career in February 1982 with Bank of Baroda. She holds a master’s degree in statistics from the University of Madras and a master’s degree in ancient Indian culture from University of Mumbai.

During her tenure at Punjab National Bank, she was part of the panel formed for examination of the blueprint and other issues for setting up of the women’s bank. The panel’s report paved the way for India’s first public sector women’s bank.


About Bharatiya Mahila Bank

• The bank aims to service women and women-run businesses, support women’s self-help groups and their livelihoods and promote further financial inclusion.

• An only-for-women bank first time in India.

• The Union Cabinet cleared the proposal for setting up of all-women bank on August 2013.

• The Reserve Bank of India gave its in-principal approval for the Bharatiya Mahila Bank in June 2013 and the banking company was set up.

• The Union government approved 1000 crore Rupees seed capital for the women-focused public sector bank, announced by Union finance minister P. Chidambaram in his 2013-14 budget speech.

• One of the key objectives of the bank is to focus on the banking needs of women and promote economic empowerment.

R. Banumathi appointed Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court

Justice R. Banumathi, Judge of the Madras High Court was on 12 November 2013 appointed as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court. She was appointed by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee.

The Supreme Court’s collegium has cleared her elevation as Chief Justice in August 2013 and the Union government has taken three months to process and notify the appointment.

Justice R. Banumathi (58) entered the Tamil Nadu Higher Judicial Service in 1988 as a direct recruit district judge. She worked as District and Sessions Judge in Coimbatore and Vellore, and Principal District and Sessions Judge in Pudukottai, Madras, Tirunelveli and Salem. She also worked as Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Chennai. She was made a judge of the Madras High Court on 3 April 2003.

According to clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution of India every Chief Justice of the High


Court shall be appointed by the President of India after consultation with the Chief Justice of India and the Governor of the concerned State. In the case of appointment of a Judge of the High court, the President will also consult the concerned Chief Justice High Court.

The Jharkhand High Court came into existence after reorganiszation of state of Bihar in existing state of Bihar and Jharkhand on 15 November 2000.

Ratan Watal appointed as the new Expenditure Secretary

Ratan P Watal, a senior IAS officer was appointed as the Secretary of Department of Expenditure in the Union Ministry of Finance on 11 November 2013. He will be a successor of RS Gujral, an officer of the 1979 of Haryana cadre, who will retire from the post on 30 November 2013.

Ratan P Watal is an IAS officer of 1978 batch of Andhra Pradesh Cadre. At present he is serving as the Secretary in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Meanwhile, he has been appointed in the Department of Expenditure with immediate effect as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD).

Parvinder Sohi Behuria appointed new Secretary General of NHRC

Parvinder Sohi Behuria, a Senior IRS officer was appointed as the Secretary General of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on 8 November 2013.

Behuria was appointed in the rank and pay of the secretary. She is the successor of Ashok Sahu, a 1975 batch officer of Indian Economic Service, following his retirement. She is a 1977 batch IRS (Income Tax) officer. At present, she is the Member (Revenue) in Central Board of Direct Taxes under the Department of Revenue.

G.K. Pillai appointed as the Chairman of MCX-SX

G.K. Pillai, the former Union Home Secretary on 1 November 2013 was appointed as the Chairman of the MCX-SX. Thomas Mathew T, the former acting chairman of the Life Insurance Corporation has also been appointed as the Vice President of the bourse.

The appointments were cleared by the board of directors on 24 October 2013 and have been also cleared by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). In October 2013, SEBI had also renewed the license of the exchange after extensively exam the same.


About MCX-SX

MCX-SX (MCX Stock Exchange Limited) is a new stock exchange of India. It is recognized by the Securities and Exchange Board of India under Section 4 of Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956. MCX-SX became the recognized stock exchange by the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs on 21 December 2012, under Section 2(39) of the Companies Act, 1956

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

Established on 12 April 1992, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) was established as per the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992. To protect the interests of the inventors in securities and to promote the development of the securities market and to regulate the securities it describes the basic functions of the SEBI.

Bharat Suresh Joshi appointed as British Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai

Bharat Suresh Joshi on 31 October 2013 was appointed as British Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai. He will succeed Mike Nithavrianakis.

About Bharat Suresh Joshi

• Bharat Suresh Joshi was born in Croydon, UK.

• He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1995.

• He has had diplomatic postings to Gambia, Dhaka and Qatar.

• He was worked as the British High Commissioner to Camaroon and non-resident Ambassador to Gabon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and Central African Republic.

• He is the first person of Indian origin to represent the British mission in Chennai. It is an indication of the growing influence and spread of the diaspora in the UK.


Shoma Chaudhury resigned from Tehelka Magazine

Shoma Chaudhury, managing editor of Tehelka, on 27 November 2013 announced her resignation from the Tehelka, an investigative magazine.

This resignation came in the wake of the sexual harassment case in which a young Tehelka reporter alleged that the magazine’s editor in chief Tarun Tejpal had sexually assaulted her during an event the magazine’s group conducted in Goa.

Shoma Chaudhury’s resignation came after six other senior journalists quit the magazine after the alleged sexual assault came to light. Writers including Jay Mazoomdaar, Ayesha Siddiqa, Revati Laul and Rana Ayyub put in their papers following the incident.

Tehelka magazine’s editor in chief Tarun Tejpal also stepped down as editor following allegations of sexual assault on 21 November 2013.

Yogesh Agarwal, the Chairman of PFRDA Resigned and Anup Wadhawan Took Over

The Chairman of Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), Yogesh Agarwal resigned from the post of Chairman on 13 November 2013. He resigned because of the Government’s decision to not allow him to be a part of the selection panel for members of the regulator.

In the meanwhile, Joint Secretary Anup Wadhawan was appointed as the new Chairman of PFRDA by the Finance Ministry. It is important to note that Yogesh Agarwal had one and half years more

as his tenure of the Chairman.

Person Resigned


Inclusion of Chairman in the Selection Panel as Per the PFRDA Act 2013

The selection panel members include Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram, Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Takru, Department of Personnel and Training Secretary Syamal Kumar Sarkar, Chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), TS Vijayan, former LIC Chairman S B Mathur. According to the PFRDA Act 2013, the body should include the Chairperson and not more than six members (out of which three should be the full-time members), to be appointed by the Union Government of India.

Term of the Chairman of PFRDA

The Chairman as well as every full-time member of PFRDA holds the office for the term of five years. Also, the Chairman and members are eligible for reappointment. The age limit for a Chairman of PFRDA is 65 years and that of the full-time members is 62 years. Part-time members, in the meanwhile, can hold the office for the term not exceeding five years from the date of joining the office.

Paras Ajmera resigned from MCX Board

Paras Ajmera, Director of Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX) resigned from the board on 12 November 2013.

Paras Ajmera is a nominee of promoter Financial Technologies India Ltd (FTIL) to the board of directors of Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (MCX).

MCX on 13 November 2013 informed the BSE that FTIL had withdrawn the nomination of Paras Ajmera, a shareholder director, from the board with effect from 12 November 2013, consequent to his resignation from the MCX Board.

The resignation came amid the continuing 5600 crore Rupees payment crisis at the FTIL-promoted National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL). Paras Ajmera was the only FTIL representative on the MCX Board after FTIL’s founder Jignesh Shah resigned from the board in October 2013.

About MCX




Yogesh Malik Resigned as CEO of Uninor

Yogesh Malik resigned as the Chief Executive Officer of Uninor, Norwegian telecom giant Telenor’s India unit on 7 November 2013.

Sigve Brekke, Executive Vice President and Head of the Telenor Asia operations appointed as the acting CEO of Uninor.

About Yogesh Malik

• He has almost 20 years of extensive telecom experience.

• He was previously held executive positions at Telenor Group headquarter in Norway,

• He was served as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Telenor Group companies in Ukraine and Bangladesh.

• His extensive career in the telecom industry also includes experience from AT&T, Tata and Ericsson in India and Sweden and for the international mobile operator TIW (today known as Vodafone) in Canada, China, Brazil and the Czech Republic.

• He is responsible for developing a highly efficient operating model that has made Uninor a preferred choice for customers in the hypercompetitive Indian market.

Jignesh Shah resigned from MCX Board

Jignesh Shah, founder, vice-chairman and a Director of Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX), resigned from the board on 31 October 2013.

The commodity exchange regulator, Forward Markets Commission (FMC), had issued show-cause notices to Jignesh Shah; former Managing Director and CEO of MCX Shreekant Javalgekar; and another board member Joseph Massey on 4 October 2013

questioning their fit and proper status to operate MCX. Shreekant Javalgekar and Massey have already resigned from the MCX board.

The MCX was promoted by Jignesh Shah-led Financial Technologies India Ltd (FTIL), which is also promoted the now-defunct National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL). (MCX is 26 percent owned by


Financial Technologies, of which Jignesh Shah is founder, chairman and CEO).

About MCX



Person Died

British actress Jean Kent died at 92

An British actress Jean Kent, died on 30 November 2013 at age of 92. The Actress was injured in a fall at her home and consequently she died. Jean Kent acted in a number of films and television shows throughout the 1940’s and 50’s.

Jean Kent was born in Britain, South London on june 29, 1929, the only child of variety performers Norman and Nina Norre and started her carrer as dancer in 1931.

Ms Kent made last appearances in june 2011 when she was honoured by the The Birtish Film Institute (BFI) on her 90th birthday.

She acted nearly 45 films like The Prince and the Showgirl, The Man Within and The Browning Version and also includes regular appearances in Gainborough melodramas which is largely independent woman after outbreak of second world war.


Frederick Sanger the two time Chemistry Nobel Prize winner died

Frederick Sanger, a British biochemist who is the only person to win Nobel Prize two times for Chemistry died on 19 November 2013 in Cambridge, eastern England. He was aged 95.

For the first time, he won the Nobel Prize in 1958 for development of the methods, which helped to unravel the chemical structure of Protein, mainly insulin. Second Nobel Prize was given to him in 1980, jointly with Walter Gilbert and Paul Berg for the development of the techniques to read the sequences of DNA, which carries the basic code for life.

By winning two Nobel, Sanger became one of the four people who had won the Nobel Prizes two times. The other winners of Nobel Prize two times are Marie Curie, John Bardeen and Linus Pauling.

About Frederick Sanger

• Frederick Sanger was born on 13 August 1918 at Rendcombe in Gloucestershire

• He worked with Dr. A. Neuberger on the metabolism of the amino acid lysine and obtained a Ph.D. degree in 1943

• He held a Beit Memorial Fellowship for Medical Research from 1944 to 1951

• He has been a member of the External Staff of the Medical Research Council

• In 1951 he was awarded the Corday-Morgan Medal and Prize of the Chemical Society

• He was awarded with one of the Britain’s highest honours - the Order of Merit - in 1986. However, he declined a knighthood as he did not want to be called a Sir

Noted Dalit Writer Omprakash Valmiki Passed away

Noted Dalit writer Omprakash Valmiki passed away on 17 November 2013 at Dehradun, Uttarakhand. He died at the age of 63 after prolonged illness due to cancer.

Omprakash Valmiki is one of the most famous Dalit litterateurs in Hindi and he portrayed the life of Dalits with an authentically Dalit voice. He was born in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh in 1950. He


worked with Government Ordnance Factory Dehradun.

Valmiki’s autobiography Joothan is one of his famous works. In his autobiography Joothan (1997) he spoke in detail about the caste discrimination, persecution and humiliation tha he faced, whe he is growing up. Joothan is regarded as a milestone in Hindi literature.

Valmiki’s other works also include three collections of poetry (in Hindi): Sadiyon ka santap (The centuries-old anguish, 1989), Bas! bahut ho chuka (Stop it! That’s enough, 1997) and Ab aur nahin (Not any more, 2009).

Doris Lessing, Nobel Prize-Winning Author, Died at 94 British Nobel Prize-winning author Doris Lessing was died on 17 November 2013 at London.She was 94 years old.

Her best-known works are The Golden Notebook, Memoirs of a Survivor and The Summer Before the Dark. In her life time she wrote more than 80 books, including poetry, two operas, short stories, plays and non-fiction. In 2007, the 88-year-old Doris Lessing became the oldest recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature. and only the 11th woman to win the award.

About Doris Lessing

• Doris Lessing was born on 22 October 1919, in Kermanshah, Iran. When she was 3, the family settled in southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).

• Her debut novel The Grass is Singing was published in 1950 and she made her breakthrough with The Golden Notebook in 1962. Her first novel, The Grass is Singing is about a woman trapped in a doomed marriage in a troubled country, a stinging critique of racial politics in the former Rhodesia.

Ram Kripalu Tripathi, Popularly Known as Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj, Died

Ram Kripalu Tripathi, popularly known as Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj passed away on 15 November 2013 at New Delhi. He was 91 years old. He was given the title of Jagadguru (the world teacher) at the age of 34 years, in 1957.


Life History of Ram Kripalu Tripathi

• Ram Kripalu Tripathi was born in October 1922 at Allahabad, India.

• He was the preceptor of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, which is the worldwide Hindu non-profit organization with 5 main spiritual centers. This is considered as one among the largest Hindu Temple complexes in entire Northern Hemisphere.

• His discourses were broadcasted everyday on various religion channels such as Zee Jagran, Aastha TV and Sanskar TV.

• He authored various books such as Prem Ras Siddhant, Bhakti Shatak and Radha Govind Geet.

Veteran Journalist R.K. Mukker Passed Away at 88

Veteran journalist R.K. Mukker passed away on 13 November 2013 after prolonged illness. He was 88 years old. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. He died at Sahibabad in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad district.

Life History of R.K. Mukker

• He had 60 years long career.

• He started off with The National Herald in Lucknow.

• He also worked with the Indian Express and The Statesman.

• He was also the Editor of Morning Echo, which was the tabloid of the Hindustan Times Group.

• He served as the Editor of Searchlight by the Hindustan Times Group in Patna.

• R.K. Mukker was the founder-Editor of the Lokmat Times, which was the English daily of the Lokmat Newspaper Group, published from Maharashtra.

Vijaydan Detha, the Rajasthani folk writer died

Vijaydan Detha, a writer from Rajasthan died on 10 November 2013 in Borunda village in Jodhpur


due to cardiac arrest. He gave a modern touch and identity to the folk tales of Rajasthan. He is now survived by three sons and a daughter. Detha (87) was popularly known as Bijji.

About Vijaydan Detha

• He was born on 1 September 1926 in a village Borunda near Jodhpur

• He had over 800 short stories to his credit. He is also credited for adding modernization to the folk tales of the state and an identity to them

• He was a powerful representative of Rajasthani literature internationally for some works like Chauboli and others, which were translated by Christie Merrill and Kailash Kabir

• One of his works, Baatan ri Phulwaari was retold in his distinctive style as a 13 volume anthology of folktales. For the same work he won the Sahitya Akademi Award

• He also received Padma Shri for his contribution to education and literature in 2007

• He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in 2011 for his contribution to folk tales

• He was also conferred with the Rajasthan Ratan award from state Government in 2012

• He also is a recipient of Sahitya Chudamani Award

• One film named Paheli was based on his story Duvidha. This was the last film based on his works

• His story, Charandas Chor was adopted by a theatre director Habib Tanvir to make a play. Shyam Bengal also made a film on the story

Tarla Dalal, the Celebrity Cook of India, Passed Away at 77

Tarla Dalal, one of the first celebrity chefs of India as well as prolific cookbook writer died on 6 November 2013 due to heart attack in Mumbai. She was 77 years old and is survived by three children. She authored more than 100 cookbooks which sold three million copies. Her website tarladalal.com is the largest food website of Asia.


Life History of Tarla Dalal

• Tarla Dalal was born in the year 1936 in Pune, India.

• She was a renowned Indian chef, food writer, host of various cooking shows as well as best-selling cookbook author.

• Her first cookbook was entitled The Pleasures of Vegetarian Cooking, which was published in the year 1974.

• She had the largest Indian food website and also published the bi-monthly magazine called Cooking & More.

• Apart from this, she also wrote the cookbooks for pregnant women as well as children.

• Her cooking shows broadcasted across India, South East Asia, the Gulf, the USA and the UK.

• She wrote about various cuisines and healthy cooking. However, her specialty was Indian cuisine, primarily the Gujarati cuisine.

• She was honoured with the Padma Shri by Government of India in 2007.

• She also won the Women of the Year Award by Indian Merchants’ Chamber in 2005.

Assamese Music Director Sher Choudhury Passed away

Assamese music director Sher Choudhury passed away on 6 November 2013 at B. Baruah Cancer Institute in Guwahati, Assam. He was 69.

Sher Choudhury received National Award for best music director for the Gautam Bora directed film ‘Wosobipo’ in 1990. His first film as music director was ‘Prothom Ragini’, directed by late Dhiru Bhuyan, for which he received an award from EIMPA.

Sher Choudhury had also composed music for Sanjib Hazarika’s national-award winning film ‘Halodhar’. He gave music for award-winning films like ‘Mimangsha’, ‘I Killed Him Sir’, ‘Raag Birag’, ‘Adajyo’, ‘Rongbin’, ‘Chakrabehu’, ‘Nissihido Nodi’, ‘Ahir-Bhairav’ and ‘Dwaar-The Voyage Out’.

He also won best music director award for ‘Raag Birag’, Adajyo’ and ‘Nishiddho Nodi’ in Assam. He composed music for several documentary films and directed the documentary ‘Sound of the dying Colours’ which won the best promotional national film award. He also produced several documentaries for Doordarshan.


Ishwar Das Rohani, the Speaker of Madhya Pradesh Assembly, died

Iswardas Rohani, the speaker of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly died on 5 November 2013 due to cardiac arrest at Jabalpur. He was the speaker of the assembly of Madhya Pradesh from 2003. He was 67.

BJP fielded him from the Jabalpur’s Cantt segment for the elections of the state to be held on 25 November 2013.

About Ishwar Das Rohani

• He was born on 30 June 1946 in Karachi. His family migrated to Jabalpur a year after the partition

• In 1965 he joined Bharatiya Jan Sangh

• In 1973, he was elected from the Jabalpur Municipal Corporation

• During emergency in 1975 he was in jail for 19 months

• He was elected as the Deputy Speaker in Madhya Pradesh in 1998

Legendary Pakistani Folk Singer Reshma Passed Away in Lahore

Legendary Pakistani folk singer Reshma passed away in Lahore, Pakistan on 3 November 2013 after a long battle with throat cancer. She was 66 years old. She is known for her popular songs such as Lambi Judai andDama Dam Mast Kalandar. She is survived by a son and a daughter.

Life History of Reshma

• Reshma was born in 1947 in Bikaner, Rajasthan, in a Banjara family.

• She has no formal education in music, but at the age of just 12 years, she was seen singing at the Shahbaz Qalander’s shrine. Thereafter, her iconic song Laal Meri was recorded on the state-run Pakistan Radio. With this, she became the most popular folk singer of Pakistan.

• She appeared on the television in the year 1960 and recorded


songs for not just Pakistani film industry, but also the Indian cinema.

• Some of her most popular songs also include Hai O Rabba nahion lagda dil mera and Ankhiyan no rehen de ankhyan de kol kol.

• She won various national awards such as Sitara-i-Imtiaz as well asLegends of Pakistan, by the President of Pakistan.

• She performed in India during 1980s when exchange of artists was allowed between India and Pakistan.

Nitish Sengupta, the former Member of Parliament Died

Nitish Sengupta, the former Lok Sabha and Revenue Secretary died on 3 November 2013 due to the cardiac arrest. He was of 80 years. Now he is survived by two daughters.

About Nitish Sengupta

• He joined politics in the year 1996 and was elected as the Member of Parliament to the 13th Lok Sabha from 1999 to 2004

• Sengupta was selected as the member of the Public Accounts Committee, Petitions Committee and the standing committee for Ministry of Railways and Consultative committee for the Ministry of Finance

• He became an IAS in 1957 and held different positions like Revenue Secretary, Member Secretary, Planning Commission, Director-General Tourism, Controller of Capital Issues and Secretary, Department of Supply in the Government of India and Secretary, Information and Cultural Affairs and Director of Food Rationing in the Government of West Bengal

• He retired in 1992 and then took over as the Director General of International Management Institute in New Delhi and held the post till January 2005

• He held the position of United Nations Commission on Transnational Corporations (1981-82) as Chairman

• He was the chairman of the Committee on Prasar Bharati Act 1996

• In 1996 he conducted Amarnath Yatra Tragedy Enquiry

• He was the chairman committee on Restructuring of Sector Petroleum Companies in 19998 to 1999

• IN 1996 he was the Non-Alignment Movement observer for the presidential election in Palestine


Belgium opened Consulate General in Chennai

Princess Astrid of Belgium on 28 November 2013 inaugurated the Consulate General of Belgium in Chennai for expansion of the bilateral ties with India. This is the second Consulate General and the third diplomatic mission in India.

Princess Astrid is the representative of the King of Belgium, who is on a visit to India from 23-30 November, 2013. At present is leading a high power trade delegation to India. As per the Belgian Ambassador to India, Pierre Vaessen the initiative was part of his country’s efforts to strengthen presence in India, mainly in South India.

At present about 160 Belgian companies are operational in India, which of maximum are in South India. India and Belgium generally do trade of 15 billion, which mainly includes diamond business. The trade could also be diversified into different sectors like green technology, renewable energy and chemical and pharmacy industries.

Regional Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2013 launched in Sydney, Australia

The Regional Pravasi Bhartiya Divas was officially launched on 11 November 2013 in Sydney, Australia by New South Wales, Premier Barry O’Farrell and Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi.

The 2013 convention is the first to be held in Australia, marking the contribution the overseas Indian community makes to the development of India.

The convention’s objective is to link the vast Indian diaspora and other parts of the Asia-Pacific region with India. The 2013 Convention will be the seventh such conference held outside India.

The Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is organised by the High Commission of India and the

Places in News


Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. Participation in the convention is expected from all states and territories of Australia and from neighbouring countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Fiji and the Pacific Islands.

About Regional Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (Overseas Indians Day)

Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas are organised by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs with the collaboration of the host Government, the Indian Mission, Prominent Overseas Indians and Organisations catering to the needs of the Indian Diaspora.

The objective is to reach out to those members of the community who have been unable to participate in the annual PBD in India and to provide a platform for the Indian community in Australia and the Pacific to contribute to the relationship between countries of the region and India.

Kannur Declared First Zero Landless District in the Country

Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh on 1 November 2013 declared Kannur in Kerala as the first zero-landless district in the country.

Kannur District Authorities provided land to as many as 11118 beneficiaries, including 85 families belonging to the Scheduled Tribes category.

The Zero Landless programme in Kerala

The prestigious Zero Landless programme of the United Democratic Front was flagged off by Congress president Sonia Gandhi in October 2013. The Zero Landless programme

envisages distribution of three cents of land each to 243928 families identified across the State.


About Kannur District

Kannur District is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The town of Kannur is the district headquarters. Its total area is 2966 km2.

Kannur district is bound by the Western Ghats in the East (Coorg district of Karnataka State), Kozhikkode and Wayanad districts, in the South, Lakshadeep sea in the West and Kasaragod, the northern most district of Kerala, in the North.

Summit | Conference

International Heavy Minerals Conference 2013 held at Vi-sakhapatnam, AP

The 9th International Heavy Minerals Conference (HMC 2013) was held in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh from 27 to 29 November 2013.

The biennial International conference is ninth in a series of conferences that focus on the heavy minerals industry. This International conference was held for the first time in India by the Mining Engineers Association of India (MEAI) in collaboration with and support from the Government of India, other professional organisations and industry.

The Conference theme is: Overcoming New Challenges.

The aim of HMC 2013 was to discuss the technical, managerial, business opportunities and challenges facing the sector worldwide. Delegates attended the conference including from Australia, Canada, Africa, US, China, Vietnam, Srilanka and Europe.

The earlier editions of the conference were held in diverse places as Cape Town (SA), Jacksonville (US) Fermantle & Perth(Australia) etc. The first conference held in Kwazulu Natal (SA) and the previous conference held in Perth.

Heavy Minerals

The Minerals with a density greater than 2.9 g/cm3 are called as heavy minerals. Examples of heavy minerals include garnet, zircon, tourmaline, topaz, magnetite, hematite, apatite, kyanite, glauconite, etc.


11th ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting held at New Delhi

The 11th ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Foreign Ministers Meeting took place in New Delhi from 11 to 12 November 2013.

This is the first time that India has hosted the biennial ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting since India joined the group in 2007.

The theme of the meeting was “ASEM: Bridge to Partnership for Growth and Development.”

The meeting was attended by 34 Foreign Ministers from Asia and Europe, including the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, Catherine Ashton and the Secretary General of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Le Luong Minh. 11 countries were represented by Deputy Foreign Ministers.

The meeting was chaired by the External Affairs Minister of India, Salman Khurshid.

The issues which were discussed during the meet include economic and financial issues, sustainable development, non-traditional security challenges and regional and global issues. Delegates also assessed the achievements of ASEM in the past 17 years and its future orientation.

In this meet Foreign Ministers agreed to intensify efforts to bring about greater synergy between Asian and European partners of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) across the three pillars of political dialogue, economic cooperation and socio-cultural exchanges.

About ASEM

• Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) was set up in 1996.

• ASEM represents over half of the global population and accounts for more than half of the global GDP.

• It held its first summit meeting at Bangkok.

• It is a forum of 46 Asian and European countries. 27 countries are from the EU and 19 countries are from Asia. India has been participating in ASEM meetings since 2007.

• ASEM also comprises two international organisations, i.e. the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union, for expanding political and security, economic and socio-cultural cooperation.

• Outside of the government-level meetings, ASEM also brings together, in individual fora, lawmakers, businesses and civil society groups.


• In the key achievements of ASEM, the Trans-Eurasia Information Network (TEIN) a ground-breaking research and education network connecting researchers in both continents are included.

• The 10th ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting held at Godollo, Hungary from 4 to 5 July 2011.

National Conference on the Wakf (Amendment) Act, 2013 Inaugurated

K Rahman Khan, the Union Minister of Minority Affairs inaugurated the National Conference on the Wakf (Amendment) Act, 2013 in New Delhi on 6 November 2013. The conference was organised to update and sensitize Chairmen and CEOs of State Wakf Boards across the country.

It is important to note that various amendments were introduced in the Wakf Act in order to strengthen the Wakf Institution and stream line their functioning. Some of the important provisions

incorporated in the Act and highlighted by the Minister include-

• The definition of Wakf has been modified to allow non-Muslims also to create Wakf;

• If the tenancy, lease or license has expired or been terminated, this would be considered as encroachment;

• The Survey Commissioner will be appointed within three months and survey required to be completed within a year;

• Wakf properties already surveyed and notified are not to be reviewed again in subsequent surveys except where the status of such property has been changed in accordance with the provisions of any law;

• The Central Wakf Council has been empowered to issue directive to the State Wakf Boards on their financial performance, survey, maintenance of Wakf deeds, revenue records, and encroachment of Wakf properties seeking annual report and audit report;

• Any dispute arising out of a directive issued by the Central Wakf Council to be referred to a Board of Adjudication to be constituted by the Central Government, to be presided over by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or a retired Chief Justice of a High Court;

• The Establishment of State Wakf Boards within 6 months from the date of commencement of this Act;

• Sale, Gift, Mortgage, Exchange and Transfer of Wakf properties have been prohibited to curb


alienation of Wakf properties;

• Lease of Wakf properties is being allowed. However, Lease of Mosque, Dargah, Khanquah, Graveyard and Imambara has been prohibited;

• The Board will sanction lease when two thirds of total membership of the Board is present and cast their vote in favour of such transaction;

• The lease period has been enhanced uniformly upto 30 years for commercial activities, education or health purposes with the approval by the State Govt. because of the long gestation periods of such projects and the long periods of return on capital employed. The maximum period of lease of agricultural land is fixed for 3 years. Further, lease beyond 3 years is to be intimated to the State Government and it would become effective only after 45 days.

• The provisions of this Act shall have overriding effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force.

Malala topped Power List 101 at GG2 Leadership awards

Malala Yousafzai, Kainat Riaz and Shazia Ramzan on 27 November 2013 were chosen for the GG2 Hammer Award, for their bravery at the GG2 (Garavi Gujarat 2) Leadership Awards 2013 a London. The activist Malala Yousafzai won the number one spot in the GG2 Power List 101 for her work in raising awareness for female empowerment.

Malala Yousafzai, the teenager from Pakistan, who was shot in the head by the Taliban for campaigning for girls’ education. She has been

named as the Britain’s most influential Asian by a weekly publication. Kainat Riaz and Shazia Ramzan were shot and wounded in Swat Valley last year. The GG2 Hammer Award winner of 2013 transcends every boundary and appeals to the very core of our humanity.

The GG2 Power 101 has been compiled by The Asian Media and Marketing Group (AMG) and features the top 101 most influential Asians in the UK, ranging from all walks of life. Now in its third year, the list honours some notable British Asians who hold power and influence not just in Britain, but also globally.

Awards | Honours


Others who received the award are:

• Ingrid Loyau-Kennett was handed the GG2 Spirit in the Community Award for her courage and bravery in the face of the Woolwich attackers

• Simon Woolley, the founding member and director of Operation Black Vote was given the GG2 Pride of Britain Award

• Physicist Professor Tejinder Virdee, who has previously worked on the investigation of the Higgs Boson particle, was honoured with the GG2 Man of the Year Award

• Christine Lee received the award for Woman of the Year for her success in establishing and managing the largest British Chinese law firm in the UK

Other Asians who were ranked in the list:

• Nick Clegg, British Deputy Premier, who was the chief guest on the occasion, was ranked first in the latest edition of GG2 Power 101 list.

• Chairman of the Home Affairs Committee MP Keith Vaz, who headed the power list last year, has been ranked as Number 2.

• The steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal was ranked at Number 3.

• The Hinduja brothers, Srichand, Gopichand, Ashok and Prakash, were ranked at Number four in the Power 101.

• Lord Swraj Paul and his son Angad were ranked at Number 21 on the list.

Priti Patel won the Asian Trader Editor’s Award

Priti Patel, an Indian Origin British MP on 22 November 2013 has been honoured with the prestigious Asian Trader Editor’s Award. She was awarded for her tireless campaigning to support small shops and convenience stores. She was awarded at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in a ceremony held.

Priti has supported the sector by campaigning for tougher punishments for offenders, who commit retail crime, reforms to business rates and cuts to red tape. She has also warned the Government of the impact on


small shops of new tobacco controls being proposed by Europe.

About Priti Patel

• Priti Patel was elected as the first Member of Parliament for the Witham Constituency in May 2010.

• She was born in London and educated at a comprehensive school in Watford before studying economics at Keele University and completing her postgraduate studies at the University of Essex.

• At present, she is an elected Member of the Conservative Party Board, the 1922 Committee’s Executive and the Public Administration Select Committee.

• She also chairs the All Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group and is an active member of the Free Enterprise Group.

Malala Yousafzai Received EU’s Sakharov Human Rights Prize 2013

Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani teenage activist on 20 November 2013 received the EU’s Sakharov human rights prize for her brave crusade for the right of the children to education.

The European Parliament President Martin Schulz presented the award to the 16-year-old Malala at a ceremony in Strasbourg, France. Malala Yousafzai dedicated the award to “the unsung heroes of Pakistan” and to human rights campaigners worldwide.

Malala was shot in the head in October 2012 for campaigning for better rights for girls in Swat Valley of northwest Pakistan, an erstwhile Taliban stronghold.

About Sakharov Prize

The Sakharov Prize for free speech is awarded by the European Parliament annually in memory of Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov.

The prize was set up in 1988 to honour individuals or organisations for their efforts on behalf of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The 50000-Euro prize is considered Europe’s top human rights award.

In 2012 the award went to detained Iranians, lawyer Nasrin


Sotoudeh and film maker Jafar Panahi, to honour those standing up for a better Iran.

with this award Malala joins a distinguished list of winners of the prize that includes South Africa’s Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar.

Kauwboy won the Golden Elephant Award in International Chil-dren’s Film Festival

The 18th International Children’s Film Festival concluded on 20 November 2013 in Hyderabad. A Dutch Film named Kauwboy, directed by Boudewijn Koole won the Golden Elephant Award for best film in the ‘International Live Action’ category. The film is about a 10 year old boy and a bird.

The Golden Plaque for second-best film in the same section was won by a German film Das Pferd Auf Dem Balkon or A horse on the Balcony. The Jury Prize for the best artwork was won by a Hindi film Goopi Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya directed by Shilpa Ranade.

Ernest Et Celestine won the award for the Best Animation Feature and Zarafa won the Golden Plaque for the second best animation film in the International Animation Competition section that has been added in 2013.

During the film festival, Batul Mukthiar received the best director award for his film Kaphal in the International Live Action. The best screenplay award went to Nono-The Zigzag Kid.

The Golden Elephant trophy for Best Little Director category was given to an Indian film Breaking Silence and Tamator Chor. The Golden Plaque for the second best Little Director went to Phoolwati Amma and Mondial World School.

The film festival was organised by the Children’s Film Festival India (CFSI), which is an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Andra Pradesh Government. The Festival started on 14 November 2013.

Anjolie Ela Menon awarded with Dayawati Modi Award

Anjolie Ela Menon, a contemporary artist was awarded with Dayawati Modi Award for Art and Culture and Education by Dayawati Foundation on 19 November 2013. The award comprised of a cash price of 2.51 lakh rupees, a silver shield and a scroll of hounour. It was presented to her by the Minister of state for Prime Minister Office, Department


of personnel and Training, Government of India.

About Anjolie Ela Menon

• Anjolie Ela Menon was born in 1940 in India

• She is one the leading contemporary female artist and well known muralist

• She held a solo exhibition with fifty-three variety style at age of 18

• She was awarded Padma Shree in 2000

• Most recently a major work yatra was acquired by the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, California.

SPMCIL conferred with Engineering Excellence Award 2013

Engineering Excellence Award 2013 was conferred on the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL), a Public Sector Unit under the Ministry of Finance, and Government of India on 19 November 2013. The award was given by Engineering Watch at SCOPE Convention Centre in Delhi.

The second Best Engineering Marvel for Project Innovativeness was conferred on Modernisation of Ink Factory Project at Bank Note Press, Dewas. Indigenisation of Bank Note Paper production at Security Paper Mill, Hoshangabad and Modernisation of Bank Note Press, Dewas have been awarded under the Special Mention Category.

Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited

Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) was formed after corporatization of nine units including four mints, four presses and one paper mill, which were earlier functioning under the Ministry of Finance. The Company was incorporated on 13 January 2006 under the Companies Act, 1956 with its headquarters at New Delhi. SPMCIL is a Miniratna Category-I CPSE, and wholly owned Schedule ‘A’ Company of Government of India. It is engaged in the manufacture of security paper, minting of coins, printing of currency and bank notes, non-judicial stamp papers, postage stamps, travel documents and others.


Waheeda Rehman to receive first Centenary film award at IFFI

Waheeda Rehman, the veteran actress of Bollywood will be conferred with the inaugural Centenary Award for the Indian Film Personality of the Year 2013 at the 44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa on 20 November 2013. The award will be given to her in recognition of her contributions to the film industry. She has been selected unanimously by the team of five member jury.

The award has been instituted by the Government of India to mark the 100 years of Indian Cinema. It includes a prize amount of 10 lakh rupees and a citation.

About Waheeda Rehman

• Born in 1936, Waheeda Rehman is known for her performance in films Kaagaz Ke Phool, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1961), Guide and more.

• She is the winner of several awards, which includes the Padma Shri in 1972 and Padma Bhushan in 2011.

• She started her career in film industry with a Telgu film named Jayasimha in 1955 and her debut in the Hindi films started in 1956 with CID

The 100 years of Indian cinema was celebrated on 3 May 2013 on the day of release of the first film of India by Dadasaheb Phalke in 1913, namely Raja Harishchandra

Mangalore University Presented with Indira Gandhi NSS Best University Award 2012-13

President of India Pranab Mukherjee on 19 November 2013 presented Indira Gandhi National Service Scheme Best University Award 2012-13 to Mangalore University of Karnataka.

Mangalore University is fourth in the row of universities winning Indira Gandhi NSS Award in Karnataka. Prior to this university, RGUHS, Bangalore University, and UAS Dharwad had received this award.

The award comprises a memento and a citation along with a cash prize of 2 lakh Rupees.

President of India also gave NSS Best Plus 2 Council Award for 2012-13 to Directorate of Higher Secondary Education, Thiruvananthpuram while Upcoming University Award was presented to


Kumaun University, Nainital. The awards are given to educational institutions, faculty and students for their contribution in various beneficial and voluntary activities.

The awards were presented on the occasion of National Integration Day (19 November 2013) at a function in Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi. National Integration Day is the Birth anniversary of the first woman Prime Minister of the India, Indira Gandhi.

Lord Swraj Paul presented with International Indian of the Decade Award

Lord Swraj Paul, a leading NRI industrialist and educationist was presented with the International Indian of the Decade award on 15 November 2013. Swraj Paul was presented the award for his outstanding achievements in the fields of industry, education and philanthropy.

Virender Paul, the acting High Commissioner of India to the UK presented the award to Lord Swraj Paul at the 20th anniversary of the publication of India Link International (a monthly magazine).

About Lord Swraj Paul

• Lord Swraj Paul is the founder of the UK-based steel and engineering multinational company Caparo, which at present employs about 10000 people worldwide from UK, USA and India.

• He was made the Life Peer is a member of the House of Lords in 1996 and donated 1 million pounds to prevent the London Zoo closure in 1994.

• He became the first Indian-born Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords in 2008 and was also appointed to the Privy Council in 2009.

• From 2000 to 2008, he was the member of the London Development Agency. He chaired the London Development Agency Olympics Delivery Committee between 2005 to 2008, which was responsible for delivering the land and infrastructure for the London 2012 Olympic Games on time and on budget

• In 1999, he became the chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton in 1999. In 2006, he became the Chancellor of the University of Westminster. From 1992 to 1997, he was the pro-chancellor of Thames University and its chancellor in 1998

• In 1983 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India


• In 1998, he was granted the freedom of the city of London

• Universities of UK, USA, Switzerland and India has awarded him 15 honorary degrees

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology gave him the Corporate Leadership Award .

Krishna Tirath gave away National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement

Krishna Tirath, the union Minister for Women and Child Development on 14 November 2013 gave away the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement to 22 children on Children’s Day during the opening ceremony of Vatsalya Mela at Dilli Haat.

The awards initiated in 1996 are presented every year to the children between the age group 4-15 years for their exceptional achievements in various fields including academics, art, culture and sports etc. They include a Gold Medal with cash

prize of 20000 Rupees and a citation, and 21 Silver Medals with cash prize 10000 Rupees and citations.

The Vatsalya Mela is celebrated on the day of Jawahar Lal Nehru’s birth anniversary, which also marks the Children’s Day.

The Gold Medal was presented to Harshal Shahi from Delhi for his exceptional achievement in the field of chess.

Out of 21 Silver Medal winners, 10 are girls. The names are:

1. S. Harshitha Reddy from Andhra Pradesh for her exceptional achievement in the field of mathematics.

2. Dhanraj Sahariah from Assam for his exceptional achievement in the various fields like martial arts, dance, music, swimming and theatre.

3. M. Shraddha from Chandigarh for her exceptional achievement in the field of Hindustani classical music.

4. Anjali Yadav from Chattisgarh for her exceptional achievement in the various fields like yoga, taekwondo, painting and dancing.

5. Hardik Jay Prakash Nayar from Daman & Diu for his exceptional achievement in the field of


academics.

6. A.A. Aravinda Lochanan from Delhi for his exceptional achievement in various fields like musical instrument (Violin), recitation, quiz etc.

7. Vaishnav Chinmay Surilbhai from Gujarat for his exceptional achievement in the field of academics and sports.

8. Harman Singh from Haryana for her exceptional achievement in the field of dance and culture.

9. Kushagra Rastogi from Himachal Pradesh for his exceptional achievement in the field of academics.

10. Kariha Javaid from Jammu and Kashmir for her exceptional achievement in the field of martial arts and academics.

11. Simpi Kumari from Jharkhand Kashmir for her exceptional achievement in the field of archery.

12. Pooja G. Prabhu from Karnataka for her exceptional achievement in the field of music.

13. Akshay V. A from Kerala for his exceptional achievement in the field of painting.

14. Usman Hanif Patel from Maharashtra for his exceptional achievement in the field of Technical Innovation

15. Khagembam Binta Devi from Manipur for her exceptional achievement in the field of boxing.

16. Harsha Pattnaik from Odisha for her exceptional achievement in the field of literature.

17. Chirag Gupta from Punjab for his exceptional achievement in the field of sports.

18. Megha Gupta from Rajasthan for her exceptional achievement in various fields such as academics, sports, dance, skating, drawing, football and arts.

19. R. Ajeetha from Tamil Nadu for her exceptional achievement in the field of yoga.

20. Pranay Fartyal from Uttar Pradesh for his exceptional achievement in the field of academics.

21. Mitrabha Guha from West Bengal for his exceptional achievement in the field of chess.

Infosys Science Foundation Announced Winners of the Infosys Prize 2013 The Infosys Science Foundation on 12 November 2013 announced the winners of the Infosys Prize 2013 across six categories: Engineering & Computer Science, Humanities, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences and Social Sciences.


The winners were recognized for their outstanding achievements and contributions to scientific research. The Infosys Science Foundation also announced an increase in the prize purse by 5 Lakhs to 55 Lakhs rupees for each category for 2013. The prize for the Humanities category will be split equally between the two winners.

The seven winners were chosen based on significant progress showcased in their chosen spheres, as well as for the impact their research will have on the specific field. In addition to the prize purse, each category award includes a gold medallion and a citation certificate.

The distinguished winners of the 5th Infosys Prize 2013 are:

Engineering and Computer

ScienceHumanities Life

SciencesMathematical

SciencesPhysical Sciences

Social Sciences

Prof. Ramgopal Rao, Institute Chair Professor – Department of Electrical Engineering and Chief Investigator, Centre of Excellence in Nanoelectronics, Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai

Archaeology Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Director, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi

Prof. Rahul Pandharipande, Professor – Department of Mathematics, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule, Zürich (ETH Zurich)

Pandharipande, Professor – Department of Mathematics, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule, Zürich (ETH Zurich)

Prof. Shiraz Naval Minwalla, Professor – Department of Theoretical Physics, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai and Member, School of Natural Sciences, Institute for Advanced Studies, New Jersey, USA

Prof. Aninhalli R. Vasavi, Senior Fellow, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi

Prof. Nayanjot Lahiri, Professor – Department of History, University of Delhi, New Delhi

Linguistics

Prof. Ayesha Kidwai, Professor – Centre for Linguistics, School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi


About the Infosys Science Foundation

The Infosys Prize is awarded under the aegis of the Infosys Science Foundation, a not-for-profit trust set up in February 2009 by the management of the Infosys company. The Infosys Science Foundation is funded by a corpus which today stands at over 100 Crore Rupees contributed by the trustees and Infosys.

Mushirul Hasan was conferred with Nehru Fellowship

Professor Mushirul Hasan, the former Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia on 14 November 2013 was conferred with the Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship by the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund. The title of the Hasan’s fellowship project is Roads to Freedom – Prison, Prisoners and the Raj.

The project of professor Hasan will see how the jails were used during the time of Raj to bring down the body and soul of those resting or revolting against the British.

About Professor Mushirul Hasan

• He is an internationally known historian and has written extensively on the partition.

• He did his MA from Aligarh Muslim University and the PhD from Cambridge in 1977.

• He was awarded Padma Shri and the Ordre des Palmes Academiques by the French Government in 2010.

• He was also the Director-General of the National Archives from May 2010 to May 2013.

Rahul Jindal, an Indian-American doctor got outstanding American by Choice Award

Rahul Jindal, a doctor of Indian origin was selected on 9 November 2013 for the prestigious Outstanding American by Choice award. He was awarded for his contribution to US health sector.

He will be honoured by the US citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on 13 November 2013. Rahul is a transplant surgeon and philanthropist.


Martha Dodray won UN Award

Martha Dodray, a health worker from Bihar on 6 November 2013 won the global UN Award for her commitment and dedication to eradicate Polio in India. United Nation has conferred the UN Frontline Workers Global Leadership Award to Martha Dodray.

The award was given in recognition of the roles to individuals, organizations, and corporations played in supporting the work of the United Nations’ to advance global peace, justice, and prosperity. The United Nations Foundation and the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) honored recipients of the 2013 Global Leadership Awards at the annual Global Leadership Dinner in New York City.

About Martha Dodray

• Martha Dodray is an Auxiliary Nurse & Midwife (ANM) from Darbhanga district of Bihar

• She represented the worldwide polio frontline workers. Her contribution cause was recognized by United Nations Foundation in 2013 and awarded

The other honorees recognized were

• Malala Yousafzai, honored for her role as a global activist on behalf of educating and empowering girls worldwide

• The Documentary Group and 10x10 for Girl Rising, honored for its efforts to ensure all girls receive an education

• GE Africa honored for its commitment to the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s Every Women Every Child initiative and for building partnerships across Africa to advance country-owned solutions, innovation and development in health care

• Ambassador Samantha Power, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, was presented the Leo Nevas Human Rights Award for her enduring commitment to the global advancement of human rights and a strong U.S.-UN relationship

• Senator Timothy E. Wirth, former UN Foundation President, and current Board Vice Chair, recipient of the Champion for Global Change, was honored for his leadership in advancing women’s rights, sustainable development, and climate security throughout his career, including his 15-year legacy as President of the UN Foundation

About the United Nations Foundation

The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most


pressing problems and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by global corporations, foundations, governments, and individuals.

About UNA-USA

The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) is a membership organization dedicated to informing, inspiring, and mobilizing the American people to support the ideals and vital work of the United Nations. For 70 years, UNA-USA has worked to accomplish its mission through its national network of Chapters, youth engagement, advocacy efforts, education programs, and public events. UNA-USA is a program of the United Nations Foundation. UNA-USA and its sister organization the Better World Campaign represent the single largest network of advocates and supporters of the United Nations in the world.

Shiraz Naval Minwalla won New Horizons in Physics Prize 2014

Shiraz Naval Minwalla, Professor of Physics in TIFR, Mumbai selected for the 2014 New Horizons in Physics Prize on 5 November 2013.

He was awarded “for his pioneering contributions to the study of string theory and quantum field theory; and in particular his work on the connection between the equations of fluid dynamics and Albert Einstein’s equations of general relativity”.

The New Horizons for Physics Prize awarded to promising junior researchers by Fundamental Physics Prize Foundation. The award carries prize money of 100000 US Dollars.

The other laureates of 2014 New Horizons in Physics Prize are:

Freddy Cachazo, Perimeter Institute, for uncovering numerous structures underlying scattering amplitudes in gauge theories and gravity.

Vyacheslav Rychkov, CERN/Pierre-and-Marie-Curie University/École Normale Supérieure, for developing new techniques in conformal field theory, reviving the conformal bootstrap program for constraining the spectrum of operators and the structure constants in 3D and 4D CFT’s.

About Fundamental Physics Prize Foundation

The Fundamental Physics Prize Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established by the Milner Foundation, Russia in 2012 and dedicated to advancing our knowledge of the Universe at the


deepest level by awarding annual prizes for scientific breakthroughs, as well as communicating the excitement of fundamental physics to the public.

Two categories of prizes will be awarded for past achievements in the field of fundamental physics, with the aim of providing the recipients with more freedom and opportunity to pursue even greater future accomplishments.

The Fundamental Physics Prize recognizes transformative advances in the field, while the New Horizons in Physics Prizes are targeted at promising junior researchers.

IRCON for its performance won two top Infrastructure Awards

IRCON International Limited on 29 October 2013 was selected as the top infrastructure company under the category construction infrastructure development - mid at the Dun and Bradstreet Infra Awards 2013 for delivering exemplary performance by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). The world’s leading provider of global business information, knowledge and insight, announced and presented the third edition of Infra awards. IRCON is a Public Sector Undertaking in construction sector under the Ministry of Railways.

The award was received by Mohan Tiwari, the Chairman and Managing Director of IRCON at ITC Maratha Mumbai. During the award ceremony, the Dun & Bradstreet also released the sixth edition of its premier publication named India’s Leading Infrastructure Companies 2013.

IRCON has executed the J&K Rail Link project in the Quazigund–Banihal section. It was selected as the best project under the category Railways at the Dun and Bradstreet Infra Awards 2013. IRCON worked on the Banihal- Quazigund section of 18 kilometer length that involved the 11.2 kilometer long transportation tunnel with modern Ventilation and SCADA system. This work helped in connecting the valley area of Jammu across the Pir Panjal range with all-weather transportation system.

About IRCON International Limited

IRCON International Limited is a government company incorporated by the Ministry of Railways under the Companies Act, 1956 on 28 April 1976. Originally, it was established under the name Indian Railway Construction Company Limited. It is the leading turnkey construction company in the public sector and is known for its quality, commitment and consistency in terms of Performance. IRCON has widespread operations in several States in India and in other countries (Malaysia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, U.K. Algeria and Sri Lanka) now.


Other Awards received by IRCON International Limited

• Dun & Bradstreet’s best PSU Award 2012 in Engineering Construction category

• ISO 14001:2004 Certificate, CIDC Vishwakarma Award 2012

• All-India Export Excellence Award of EEPC INDIA for 2011-12

• Award for Excellence Received from Department of Public Enterprises

• India Pride Award 2011

• CIDC Vishwakarma Award 2012

• All-India Export Excellence Award of EEPC INDIA for 2010-11

• India Pride Award 2011

Mumbai emerged as the City with Highest Internet Penetration in India

As per the data released by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) on 6 November 2013, Mumbai emerged as the city with highest internet penetration in India. Bangalore which is considered as the information technology (IT) capital of the country was the sixth in the list of internet penetration with 3.8 million internet users. Mumbai has 12 million internet users, followed by Delhi with 8.1 million users and Hyderabad with 4.7 million users.

Kolkata emerged as the city with highest growth of internet users in 2013. The city registered a 47 percent rise in internet adoption. Ahmedabad registered the lowest growth rate among the top eight cities at 26 percent.

Report | Survey


Exhibition Titled Czech Castles Inaugurated At the Red Fort, Delhi

The Union Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch along with Jan Kohout, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and Jiri Balvin, Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic, on 7 November 2013 jointly inaugurated an exhibition titled Czech Castles.

It is for the first time that this exhibition has been organised in India in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India and the Ministry of Culture, Government of India by the National Museum of the Czech Republic and the Embassy of the Czech Republic, New Delhi.

It is important to note that a cultural agreement was signed between India and Czech Republic in the year 1959. At the occasion of inauguration of the exhibition, a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the ASI and the National Museum of the Czech Republic at the Red Fort for promotion of cultural exchange and bilateral cooperation. The MoU will form the basis for more active cooperation between the two institutes.

About the Czech Castles Exhibition

• The Czech Castle architecture is an important part of the cultural heritage of the Czech Republic.

• The Exhibition presents a selection of 37 most interesting castles and chateaux of Bohemia and Moravia, two of the historic areas that make up the Czech state.

• The criterion for the selection of the localities has been their historical significance as well as their architectural, artistic, and historical value.

• The exhibition is accompanied by rich cultural program consisting of film shows, art exhibitions, music presentations and other events that will together celebrate the Czech-India Cultural Year 2014.

• The Exhibition will stay at the Red Fort, Delhi till January 2014 and then tour various other cities of India.

• After Delhi, the exhibition will be presented in Leh (Leh Palace, June-July 2014), Kolkata (Currency Building September – October 2014), Mumbai (Nehru Science Centre, November 2014) and Goa –Panaji (Kala Academy, December 2014 – January 2015).

Exhibition | Fare


India successfully test fired Nuclear capable Dhanush Ballistic Missile

India on 23 November 2013 successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable Dhanush ballistic missile from a naval ship off Odisha coast.

The surface-to-surface Dhanush, a naval variant of India’s indigenously developed Prithvi missile, was test fired from a location at Bay of Bengal by the Srategic Force Command of the defence force.

The single-stage, liquid propelled Dhanush has already been inducted into the armed services. It is one of the five missiles developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.

Dhanush missile is capable of carrying conventional as well as nuclear payload of 500 to 1000 kg and hit both land and sea-based targets.

IAF’s Sukhoi 30 to be platform for supersonic Brahmos missiles

Sukhoi-30 fighter jet on 21 November 2013 has been selected as the platform to mount the supersonic BrahMos missiles by the Indian Air Force. The first test launch will be carried out by the end of 2014.

The air version of the BrahMos missile is ready but testing; simulations and aircraft modifications will take about a year. Thus the final flight with the missile will be done only at the end of 2014.

This is the only supersonic cruise missile platform in the world with abilities to travel at the supersonic speed and it can also be launched from both the sea and land. The BrahMos missile was jointly developed by the Indian and Russian Army in early 2000s and has since been inducted by the Army and the Navy. An air platform, has however, not been completed yet.

Defence | Security


IAF’s Sukhoi 30MK

The Sukhoi Su-30MK aeroplane has been designed on the platform of the Su-27UB. It is in the series production in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and in Irkutsk. It is a two seat highly manoeuvrable fighter designed for air-superiority and strikes at ground and naval surface targets using a variety of guided and unguided ADO, with an option of supporting group actions.

The negotiations to supply the Su-27 type fighter started in 1994 and the design bureau started the development of Su-30 based plane for India’s Air Force in 1995. A.F. Barkovsky was appointed chief designer of the project.

About BrahMos

BrahMos is the first supersonic cruise missile known to be in service. BrahMos Weapon Complex first version was inducted in the Indian Navy from 2005 with INS Rajput as the first ship. The first regiment of BrahMos missile Block (A1) with the formation of N816 missile regiments and the deliveries started to the Indian Army in 2007.

India and Russia decided to held a Joint Air Force Exercise in 2014

India and Russia on 18 November 2013 agreed to expand the range of strategic partnership in a significant manner in Moscow. The two countries will also hold a Joint Air Force Level exercise for the first time in 2014.

The decision was taken during the 13th Meeting of the India–Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRITC-MTC) and it was co chaired by AK Antony, the Defence Minister of India and His counterpart of Russia, Sergey Shoigu. This decision was taken by the two countries within two days after commissioning of INS Vikramadatya into Indian Navy.

The Agreements

• The two countries agreed to hold a joint Air Force level exercise for the first time, which will happen in 2014 with a joint Navy Exercise in the Peter the Great Bay in the Sea of Japan. Recently, the armies of the two countries held an Exercise Indra in Rajasthan with a focus on anti-terrorism.

• Agreement was reached between the two ministers on further cooperation at all levels, especially in view of the regional and global challenges and to fight the menace of terrorism jointly. Both sides reviewed the situation in West Asia, especially in Syria and the evolving paradigm in


Afghanistan.

• The two sides also agreed on to expand the cooperation not only in product design and development but also to involve various echelons of the Defence establishments in strategizing policies and cooperation in the fast changing global security scenario.

The Indian delegation in Russia also laid a wreath at the World War-II memorial at Poklonnaya Gora (Bow-Down Hill) of the Victory Park. A ceremonial guard of honour was also presented. Shoigu has also assured to India that the Indian pilots will be trained by the Naval Aviation Specialists to take offs and landing on the INS Vikramaditya, which may be held in Goa.

Boeing delivered second P-8I Aircraft to India

Boeing on 15 November 2012 delivered its second P-8I aircraft to Indian Navy at the INS Rajali Air Base in Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu. This will boost up the long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare capabilities of the Indian Navy. It will also raise its surveillance capabilities that extend from Gulf of Aden on the West to Malacca Straits on the East.

The second aircraft will begin its flight trials in coming months. Eight P-8I aircraft is being developed by Boeing for India. It is based on the company’s Next-Generation 737 commercial airplane, the P-8I is the Indian Navy variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing has developed for the U.S. Navy.

The first P-8I aircrafts was delivered to India in May 2013. The first P-8I recently completed testing its weapons capabilities, including successfully firing a Boeing Harpoon missile at a target and dropping a torpedo.

About P-8I

The P-8I is a long range anti submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft capable of broad-area, maritime and littoral operations.

This military derivative of the Next-Generation 737-800 combines superior performance and reliability with an advanced mission system that ensures maximum interoperability in the future battle space.

The Indian navy is the first international customer for the P-8. Boeing signed a contract on 1 January 2009, to deliver eight long-range


maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft to the Indian navy.

About Boeing

Boeing is the world’s leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Additionally, Boeing designs and manufactures rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems. As a major service provider to NASA, Boeing is the prime contractor for the International Space Station. The company also provides numerous military and commercial airline support services. Boeing provides products and support services to customers in 150 countries and is one of the largest U.S. exporters in terms of sales.

IAF Flagged in White Water Rafting Expedition Called IAF Aqua Scullers

Air Marshal HB Rajaram on 13 November 2013 flagged in IAF (Indian Air Force) Aqua Scullers on the successful completion of their white water rafting expedition on the Ganges from Gangotri (at an altitude of 3049 mtrs) to Ganga Sagar in West Bengal.

It is worth noticing that the River Ganges is known to be one of the most challenging rivers in the world for White Water rafting. The Himalayan portion of the river from Gangotri (at 3049 mtrs) to Haridwar (at 295 mtrs) is considered one of the most treacherous white water stretches in the world, with forceful Grade IV and V rapids. IAF Aqua Scullers completed the expedition by overcoming challenges in the record time of 16 days.

Also, this is the first and the most unique kind of expedition undertaken by the Indian Armed Forces.

Milestones Achieved During the Expedition

• This was the longest Rafting expedition ever in India and covered 3000 km.

• It took shortest duration ever to raft down the entire length of Ganga. The IAF expedition took 16 days with larger distance traversed while the ITBP expedition took 53 days.

• The Indian Armed Forces completed the longest non – stop rafting at a stretch in a single day. On 23 October 2013, the team rafted continuously for 15 hrs from Jalalpur (near Garmukteshwar) to Rajghat (near Anupshahar) in Uttar Pradesh.


• In the meanwhile, the IAF also covered the longest distance by the raft in a single day.

• 3 November 2013, more than 300 kms were covered from Ramakantapura iron bridge to Barrackpore in West Bengal.

What is White Water Rafting?

• Rafting is primarily a challenging recreational outdoor activity by making use of a raft in order to navigate the river or a water body.

• Rafting or White Water Rafting is usually done on white water or the different degree of rough water.

• White Water is basically formed in the rapid when the gradient of a river increases so much that it disturbs the laminar flow to create turbulence.

• White Water Rafting became a popular leisure sport since mid 1970s. It is the extreme adventure sport and can also be fatal.

Indian Navy commissioned first Advanced Light Helicopter squadron at Kochi

Indian Navy on 12 November 2013 commissioned the first Advanced Light Weight Helicopters Squadron at Southern Command, Kochi, Kerala.

This squadron of Advanced Light Weight Helicopters will help Indian Navy for search and rescue operations during night hours in a more effective manner. The Navy has transformed Dhruv helicopters into an advance search and rescue helicopter according to the requirements.

The newly commissioned Squadron named Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 322 is an exclusive group of Dhruv Helicopters, which was designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. Bangalore.

The Dhruv helicopters are being operational at INAS Garuda, the Naval Air Station at Kochi since March 2002 and being used for missions including rescue operations. It has proven her mettle in many rescue operations during the last nine years. Dhruv is one among the few helicopters in the world, which is capable of night search and rescue operations over the sea.

Hawk 132 inducted into the Indian Navy

Indian Navy on 6 November 2013 inducted the fourth generation advanced jet trainer aircraft Hawk


132 at a ceremony held at the Naval Air Station INS Dega at Visakhapatnam. Hawk 132 is an aircraft operating with over 24 countries around the world. The aircraft was built by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with Transfer of Technology from M/s British Aerospace, UK. Hawk 132 is equipped with advanced and reliable navigation systems and it is able to deploy an impressive array of weaponry including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground rockets, bombs and guns.

The HOTAS (Hands on Throttle and Stick) system on the control column enables the pilot to make weapon selections without maneuvering his hands. The Indian Air Force is also operating these aircraft for training of their pilots.

The induction of the sophisticated aircraft will boost the training of combat pilots in the Navy for helping them learn advanced fighter flying.

Books & Author

Hamid Ansari released book entitled Maimaar-E-Qaun-Dr A.R. Kidwai

Maimaar-E-Qaun-Dr. A. R. Kidwai edited by Mufti Ataur Rahman Ansari

Hamid Ansari, the Vice President of India on 21 November 2013 released a book entitled Maimaar-E-Qaun-Dr. A. R. Kidwai. The book has been edited by Mufti Ataur Rahman Ansari.

Dr A.R. Kidwai has been compiled in the book creatively. He was a learned scientist and served as a professor at Aligarh Muslim University. He contributed in the formation of Mewat Development Board in Haryana

About Dr A.R. Kidwai

• Professor and Head, Department of Chemistry; Dean, Faculty of Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh (1951-67).


• Chairman and Member, Union Public Service Commission of India (1967-79).

• Two times, he served Bihar as the Governor of Bihar from 1979-85 and 1993-98

• He served West Bengal as its Governor from 1998-99

• He became the member of Rajya Sabha from January 2000 to July 2004.

• He also remained the member of the following Parliamentary Committees:

1. Consultative Committee for the Ministries of Science and Technology, Environment and Forest from 2000-04

2. Standing Committee on Agriculture, Water Resources and Food Processing Industries from 2000-04

3. Committee on Subordinate Legislation from 2000-04

• He assumed the charge as the Governor of Haryana in 2004

Birth of Cinema authored by N. Gopal Krishna Released

Birth of Cinema by N Gopal Krishna

The book entitled Birth of Cinema written by N. Gopal Krishna was released at ICFFI media centre by a Journalist T. Udayawarluon 18 November 2013. The book comprises of details related to the advanced cinematic technologies like the 3D shootings and Voice enhancements and others, which were popularized by the Hollywood directors.

He is a film maker of Andhra Pradesh. During the launch, he said that the Government patronization of the children films, which should be in the form of providing cinema halls, publicity and lower entertainment tax.

Book Entitled Indian Railway Track-Design, Construction and Maintenance Released

Indian Railway Track-Design, Construction and Maintenance (Ruby Jubilee-40th Year Edition) by M.M. Agarwal

The Minister of Railways Mallikarjun Kharge released a Ruby Jubilee-40th Year Edition of the book titled Indian Railway Track-Design, Construction and Maintenance (Ruby Jubilee-40th Year Edition) on 13 November 2013. The book is authored by a renowned Civil Engineer M.M. Agarwal who served Indian Railways for 33 years and retired from the post of Chief Engineer.


About the book- Indian Railway Track-Design, Construction and Maintenance (Ruby Jubilee-40th Year Edition)

• This is the 19th revised edition of the book, which was originally written in 1973. The book has since then been revised almost every two years to include the latest technical developments in the track taking place on Railway around the world with special reference to Indian Railways.

• Indian Railway Track is designed for all the permanent way members, whether in office or in the field.

• The Ruby Jubilee (40th year) revised and enlarged edition 2013-14 contains 30 updated chapters covering the entire spectrum of track technology including its design, construction, maintenance and modernization from the fundamental.

• The book is a complete treatise on track technology and has been serving as a useful guide to all Railway Supervisors, Engineers and other professionals for the last about four decades.

• It is important to note that the Railway Track, also called Permanent Way, is the basic structure over which the trains run. The book covers all the vital aspects of Railway Tracks and related issues for the safety of Rail operations.

• The latest edition of the book covers not only the existing details about Track Standard, Track Maintenance and Track Modernisation but also gives details about high speed railway, dedicated freight corridors and all other new developments taking place on Indian Railways.

• The Railway Engineers use this book to ensure that they are able to carry out their duties more efficiently and smoothly with good technical input.

About the author of the book- M.M. Agarwal

• M.M. Agarwal wrote various other Civil Engineering books which are patronized by Railway professionals. These include Railway Works Engineering- Design, Construction, Maintenance - Objective Railway Engineering-Track, Works & Others, Indian Railway Safety-Ultimate Goal to prevent Railway Accidents)- Railway Engineering, Rail Path Parchiya (Hindi) and Rail Nirman & Pul Engineering (Hindi).

• He has also won various awards such as National Award (Railway Minister’s Prize & Award) for special work done on ‘Track Modernisation’ on Indian Railways (1973), President’s Award “Indira Gandhi Raj Bhasa Award” by Government of India for the best original book written in Rajbhasa for Engineering professionals (1993) and Lal Bahadur Raj Bhasha Award by Railway Board for best professional book in Raj Bhasa for Railway technical staff (2005).


The Vice President of India Released a Book Entitled Momentous Times

Momentous Times by Times of India Group

The Vice President of India, M. Hamid Ansari released a book entitled Momentous Times on the 175 years of Times of India at a function in New Delhi on 11 November 2013.

About the Momentous Times

• The Momentous Times is the fine collection and is the quick glimpse of a selective history. The book is an effort of the Times of India Group.

• The book brings together 175 landmark events, from 1838 to 2013, as seen through the eyes of Times of India.

• The book provides a glimpse on how dramatically our country has changed in this one-and-three-quarter century

Indian Urdu writer’s book launched in Singapore

An English book on the introduction to Urdu poetry by Hyderabad-based writer Anees Ayesha was launched at the Singapore Writers Festival on 8 November 2013. Zafar Anjum translated the book into English.

About Anees Ayesha

• Ayesha of 70 years taught Urdu Language and Literature in Hyderabad for more than five decades

• She is an avid promoter of the learning of Urdu among the new generations.

• She closely works with the two organisations that are deeply involved in promoting the Urdu language namely Mehfil-e-Khawateen and Dabistan-e-Jaleeli.

Vice President Released a Book on India’s Nuclear Energy Programme


India’s Nuclear Energy Programme: Future Plans, Prospects and Concerns: Edited by Prof. R. Rajaraman

The Vice President of India, M. Hamid Ansari released a book entitled India’s Nuclear Energy Programme: Future Plans, Prospects and Concerns at a function organized by Indian National Science Academy (INSA) on 7 November 2013. The book is edited by Prof. R. Rajaraman.

It is important to note that at present, the nuclear energy is contributing to a very small segment and by 2032; it will be around 10 percent. The book is aimed at creating the public opinion on nuclear energy.

The book contains state-of-the art discussions by top experts of a whole range of diverse issues that constitute this complex subject. It brings together expert contributions both from apex leaders of the Indian nuclear programme and from those who have serious reservations about the programme.

7th Edition of Indian Pharmacopoeia 2014 – A Book of Drug Standards, Released By Ghulam Nabi Azad

The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad released the 7th edition of Indian Pharmacopoeia 2014 – a book of Drug Standards at the Nirman Bhawan on 4 November 2013.

About the book- Indian Pharmacopoeia 2014

• The book entitled Indian Pharmacopoeia 2014 includes the standards of drug all over the world. These standards given in this pharmacopoeia are authoritative, legally enforceable and intended to help in the inspection and licensing of manufacturing units and distribution of drugs and pharmaceuticals.

• The new edition includes advanced technology and experimental methods widely adopted in India and abroad.

• The seventh edition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP 2014) has been published by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) in fulfillment of the requirements of the


Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules thereunder.

• It prescribes the standards for drugs produced and/or marketed in India and thus contributes in the control and assurance of the quality of the medicines.

• The Indian Pharmacopoeia 2014 is presented in four volumes.

• The scope of the Pharmacopoeia has been extended to include products of biotechnology, indigenous herbs and herbal products, veterinary vaccines and additional antiretroviral drugs and formulations, inclusive of commonly used fixed-dose combinations.

• Standards for new drugs and drugs used under National Health Programmes are added and the drugs as well as their formulations not in use now days are omitted from this edition.

• It incorporates 2548 monographs of drugs out of which 577 are new monographs consisting of APIs, excipients, dosage forms, antibiotic monographs, insulin products and herbal products etc.

• 19 New Radiopharmaceutical Monographs and 1 General chapter is first time being included in this edition.

Objective of Indian Pharmacopoeia 2014

The Indian Pharmacopoeia 2014 will be able to fulfill the mission of the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission to promote public health, both in India and other countries using drugs manufactured in India.

East Timor film ‘Beatriz’s War ‘won Golden Peacock Award at IFFI 2013

East Timor film ‘Beatriz’s War’ bagged Golden Peacock award for Best Film at the 44th International Film Festival of India at Panaji, Goa on 30 November 2013.

The film, directed by Bety Reis and Luigi Acquisto, is a passionate story of one woman’s conviction to remain true to the man she loves. The award carries a Golden Peacock, a certificate and a Cash Prize of 40 lakh Rupees.

Indian Director Kaushik Ganguli bags the award for Best Director for his Bengali film ‘Apur Panchali’.

Art | Culture


The award carries a Silver Peacock, a certificate and a cash prize of 15 lakh Rupees.

Special Jury Award went to Turkish film ‘Thou Gild’st The Even’, directed by Onur Unlu. The award carries a Silver Peacock, a certificate and a cash prize of 15 lakh rupees.

Best Actor (Male) award went to Alon Moni Aboutboul for his performance in Israeli movie ‘A Place in Heaven’. The award carries a Silver Peacock, a certificate and a cash prize of 10 lakh rupees.

Best Actor (Female) award was presented to Boczarska Magdalena for her excellent performance in Polish film ‘In Hiding’. The Award carries a Silver Peacock, a certificate and a cash prize of 10 lakh Rupees.

The Special Centenary Award was given to Bengali film ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’, directed by Kamaleshwar Mukherjee. The award carries a Silver Peacock, a certificate and a cash prize of 10 lakh Rupees.

Ministry for I & B Instituted New Centenary Award to Honour Contribution to Indian Cinema

The Ministry for Information & Broadcasting on 7 November 2013 announced the institution of a special award in the series of initiatives undertaken to commemorate the 100 years of Indian Cinema. The Centenary award would be given every year to an outstanding Indian film personality- A Film Icon, for his/her contribution to Indian Cinema at IFFI.

About the Centenary Award

• The award reiterated the rich legacy of Indian Cinema where eminent personalities had contributed to its growth through different stages of its evolution.

• The award is the second in the series instituted by the Government to commemorate the centenary celebrations.

44th International Film Festival of India

• The 44th International Film Festival of India was also be inaugurated to celebrate the 100 years of Indian cinema. 44th IFFI opened on 11 October 2013 and will close on 30 November 2013.

• For the first time two International Film personalities, Susan Sarandon and acclaimed Iranian Filmmaker Majid Majidi shared the stage at the opening ceremony.


• The 44th edition will also provide the platform to screen for the first time films on Nobel Prize winners, namely, Mandela, A long Walk to Freedom and Lech Walesa.

• For the first time, a film produced and directed by an Afghan Director would be screened.

• For the first time, a film on India’s great freedom struggle leader Basha Khan would be screened at the Festival.

• Acclaimed Hollywood Actress Michelle Yeoh would be the Chief Guest for the closing ceremony of the Festival.

• The festival would highlight for the first time Cinema from the North Eastern states of India.

Children’s Film Festival- Retrospective on Best Children’s Films in commemoration of 100 years to be screened

• The Children’s Film Festival is a unique one in various ways.

• It combines the traditional and modern aspects of film making on issues concerning children.

• For the first time a retrospective on the Best of Indian children’s Films, a specially curated package in commemoration of 100 years of Indian Cinema will be screened.

• The package would showcase 15 National Award winning and Classic Indian Children’s films.

• Special attention will be given to the animation section where 285 films have been received.

• For the first time, a separate category of Competitive Section for animation films has been introduced.

• For the Festival, a record number of entries, 123 in number, have been received for the “Little Director” Section, films made by children from India and around the world.

• For the first time, films had been sourced from prestigious International Children’s Film Festivals.

• The children’s film festival would have a country focus retrospective of Czech Films.

UTV Motion Pictures Announced to Distribute Five Malayalam Films

UTV Motion Pictures on 5 November 2013 announced that it will handle the India theatrical distribution rights of five films in Malayalam. One of the titles also includes Mohanlal-starrer Koothara, which is directed by Srinath Rajendran.


Other titles are- Jisjoy’s Bicycle Thieves, Albey’s Pournami, Jinu G. Daniel’s Rasputin and Azad Alavil’s Nikkah. These films will be released by April 2014. G. Dhananjayan, Chief, South Business - Studios, Disney UTV explained that every film has its own exclusive story.

It is important to note that earlier, UTV had distributed Malayalam films such as Husbands in Goa and Grandmaster. New films to be distributed by UTV will be accessible to everyone and will be released at a large-scale level. These films will be distributed to huge audience of exhibitors and viewers.

Day | Week | Year

Constitution Day was observed across India on 26 November

26 November: Constitution Day

Constitution Day was observed across India on 25 November 2013 to honour the Constitution of India. The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949,

Science | Space

Scientists discovered a Black Hole in Ophiuchus Star ConstellationScientists discovered a black hole in a collection of stars in the constellation Ophiuchus, which is about 22000 light years from Earth. The globular cluster in which black hole was spotted is known as M62. The globular cluster M62 is located in the constellation Ophiuchus.

The discovery was done by the team of astronomers led by a Michigan State University professor. Black holes are stars that have died, collapsed into themselves and possess such a strong gravitational field that even light cannot escape from them.

Prior to this discovery, astronomers had assumptions that the black holes did not exist in globular clusters- some of the oldest and densest collections of stars in the universe.

There are numerous stars in such a condensed area that they often interact with one another. Massive black holes will have most violent encounters.


which came into force on 26 January 1950.

About the Constitution of India

The Constitution of India is a supreme law of India, which lays down the framework that defines the political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers and duties of Government institution. It also sets the fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens. Being one of the longest constitution in the world, which contains 448 articles in 22 parts, 12 schedules and 118 amendments.

Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is regarded as the father of the Indian Constitution.

World Toilet Day observed on 19 November World Toilet Day – 19 November

The World Toilet Day (WTD) was observed across the world on 19 November 2013. In the world about a third of the world’s people don’t have an access to a decent toilet.

As per the United Nations about 2.5 billion people do not have an access to adequate sanitation and about 1 billion people practice open defecation, which contributes many diseases. Each year, more than 800000 children under 5 die from diarrhea, many due to poor sanitation.

About the World Toilet Day

In 2001 WTO declared 19 November World Toilet Day (WTD). It is celebrated in over 19 countries with over 51 events being hosted by various water and sanitation advocates on this day. The World Toilet Organization created World Toilet Day to raise global awareness of the struggle 2.5 billion face every day without access to proper, clean sanitation. World Toilet Day also brings to the forefront the health, emotional and psychological consequences the poor endure as a result of inadequate sanitation.

World Toilet Day popularity is gaining momentum, and in 2010 there were 51 events spanning 19 countries. The Big Squat campaign of the World Toilet Organization has generated 24 Big Squats globally and in Singapore over 600 squatters joined the cause in six locations island-wide.

World Toilet Summit

Earlier the World Toilet Summit in 2013 was observed from 2 to 4 October 2013 in Central Java, Indonesia. The 13th session of the World Toilet Summit was held in support of the World Toilet


Organization and the Indonesia Toilet Association (ATI), and supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia and the Ministry of Public Works and the Government of Surakarta.

The World Toilet Summit is an annual event, which is organized by the World Toilet Organization in partnership with a host government, since 2001. The summit has been held in 10 countries across the world namely Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Ireland, Russia, Thailand, India, USA and South Africa. The inaugural World Toilet Summit was held in Singapore in 2001.

International Day for Tolerance observed on 16 November

International Day for Tolerance was observed on 16 November 2013 across the world to educate people about the need for tolerance in society and to aware them about the dangers of intolerance.

Live discussions and debates took place across the world on this day, focusing on how various forms of injustice, oppression, racism and unfair discrimination have a negative impact on society. Human rights activists also used this day as an opportunity to speak out on human rights laws, especially with regard to banning and punishing hate crimes and discrimination against minorities.

About International Day for Tolerance

International Day for Tolerance is celebrated worldwide every year on 16 November to promote the Tolerance among the public. The day was first observed in 1995.

Timeline of International Day for Tolerance

• In 1993, UN General Assembly (by resolution 48/126) declared the year-1995 as United Nations Year for Tolerance. The year was declared on the General Conference of UNESCO’s initiative.

• On 16 November 1995‚ the UNESCO member states adopted the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance and Follow-up Plan of Action for the year.

• In 1996, the UN General Assembly (by resolution 51/95) invited UN Member States to observe the International Day for Tolerance on 16 November.

National Press Day observed on 16 November

16 November: National Press Day


National Press Day is celebrated across the country on 16 November 2013. The day is symbolic of a free and responsible press in India.

It is the day on which the Press Council of India started functioning as a moral watchdog to ensure that not only the press maintains the high standards expected from this powerful medium but also that it was not fettered by the influence or threats of any extraneous factors.

The Press Council of India was first constituted on 4 July 1966 as an autonomous, statutory, quasi-judicial body, and it started functioning from 16 November 1966 with Justice J R Mudholkar, then a Judge of the Supreme Court, as Chairman.

Children’s Day Observed Across India on 14 November

14 November: Children’s Day in India

Children’s Day was celebrated in India on 14 November 2013 in order to commemorate the birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964), the first Prime Minister of India after Independence. The day is celebrated to commemorate the affection of Jawaharlal Nehru towards children.

Children’s Day across the World

• The United Nations recognised 20 November as the Universal Children’s Day in the year 1954. This was done in order to create attentiveness on the development of children.

• The World Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland in the year 1925, had recognised 1 June as the International Children’s Day. However, the United Nationals General Assembly approved 20 November as the Universal Children’s Day.

Children’s Day Celebrations in India

Children’s Day is celebrated in India with various innovative activities at schools.

Competitions, poems, feast and dance are organised by community groups and schools in order to mark the event.

Also, the Children’s Day festivals are organised, in which the focus remains on education, recreation, cultural, economic and health needs of the children.


World Diabetes Day observed on 14 November

14 November:World Diabetes Day

World Diabetes Day was observed on 14 November 2013 across the world to raise awareness of diabetes-a chronic disease.

World Diabetes Day is an annual campaign, led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and its member associations. It engages millions of people worldwide in diabetes advocacy and awareness.

The theme for 2009-13 is Education and Prevention.

The world Diabetes day is celebrated every year on 14 November. The date was chosen because it marks the birthday of Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, is credited with the discovery of insulin in 1921.

World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to concern over the escalating incidence of diabetes around the world. World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2007 with the passage of United Nation Resolution 61/225.

Key facts about Diabetes by WHO

1. 347 million people worldwide have diabetes.

2. In 2004, an estimated 3.4 million people died from consequences of high fasting blood sugar.

3. More than 80 percent of diabetes deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

4. WHO projects that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death in 2030.

5. Healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

About Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease, which occurs when the pancreas gland does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. This leads to an increased concentration of glucose in the blood (hyperglycaemia).


Types of Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (previously known as insulin-dependent or childhood-onset diabetes) is characterized by a lack of insulin production.

Type 2 diabetes (formerly called non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset diabetes) is caused by the body’s ineffective use of insulin. It often results from excess body weight and physical inactivity.

Gestational diabetes is hyperglycaemia that is first recognized during pregnancy.

About Pancreas gland

The pancreas is a gland organ in the digestive and endocrine system of vertebrates. It is both an endocrine gland producing several important hormones, including insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin, as well as an exocrine gland, secreting pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that pass to the small intestine. These enzymes help in the further breakdown of the carbohydrates, protein, and fat in the chyme.

Public Service Broadcasting Day observed in India on 12 November 12 November: Public Service Broadcasting Day

The Public Service Broadcasting Day was observed on 12 November 2013. The day is marked to commemorate the Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to All India Radio (AIR) studio in New Delhi in 1947. On this day Gandhi spoke on the radio to the refugees from Pakistan, stationed at Kurukshetra. It was Gandhi’s first and last visit to the studio of AIR.

What is public service broadcasting?

In case of Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) the broadcasting is financed and controlled by the public for the public. The broadcasting is neither state owned and nor commercial and that’s why it is free from political interference and pressures by the commercial forces.


World Pneumonia Day observed on 12 November

12 November 2013: World Pneumonia Day

World Pneumonia Day was observed on 12 November 2013 across the world to raise awareness of pneumonia. The United Nations (UN) first celebrated the day on 12 November 2009.

This year, the theme for World Pneumonia Day will focus on innovation – highlighting innovative solutions to end childhood pneumonia, while at the same time emphasizing that there are existing simple interventions that need to reach the most vulnerable children.

About Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs, making breathing painful and limiting oxygen intake. Pneumonia is the biggest killer of children under age five worldwide. Nearly one in five global child deaths result from pneumonia every year. In 2012, 1.1 million children under five died from pneumonia, the bulk of whom were less than 2 years old. The impact of pneumonia is worst among the poorest and most marginalized children.

National Education Day of India Observed Across the Country on 11 November

11 November 2013: National Education Day of India

The National Education Day of India was celebrated on 11 November 2013 at Gangtok, Sikkim. The National Education Day has been celebrated in India since the year 2008. It is celebrated to commemorate the anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, a great freedom fighter, an eminent educationist and the first Education Minister of India. It was also celebrated at Mewat in 2008.

Celebrations of the National Education Day of India

• On the occasion of the National Education Day of India, the President of India Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the 40th Jawaharlal Nehru National Science, Mathematics and Environment Exhibition. The theme of the exhibition will be Science and Society.

• The objective of the exhibition is development of scientific temper in the society and also to develop enhanced learning of mathematical capabilities in the children. Around 400 children from across the country will participate in this exhibition.


Music Album released to commemorate 150th birth celebra-tions of Swami Vivekananda

Jitin Prasada, the Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development on 28 November 2013 released a music album to commemorate 150th birth celebrations of Swami Vivekananda. The released album contains original poem of Swami Vivekananda among others.

The poems have been sung by Akshayaa Vibho and Amrutaa Vibho – 11 year old twin sisters from Delhi. Akshayaa Vibho has rendered the song and Amrutaa Vibho has accompanied on the acoustic drums.

Akshayaa learns Hindustani classical vocal from Pandit Sitangshu Chaudhary of Rampur Sehaswan

Miscellaneous

• The State Governments, regulators and autonomous organisations under Ministry of HRD also decided to observe the National Education Day.

• In the meanwhile, the National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) planned a Maulana Azad Memorial Lecture at India International Centre in New Delhi on the National Education Day.

• The universities arranged competitions like Conferences, Essay, Debate competitions and Quiz.

• UGC also planned to organise a lecture on this occasion to commemorate the anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

• Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathana will also celebrate the National Education Day.

• Also, 187 entries were received from different regions of CBSE in order to select two students as well as two teachers in every region for their exemplary work in areas like facilitating education to underprivileged section. These students and teachers will be felicitated with the cash prize of 20000 Rupees.


Gharana. She also specializes in rendering of patriotic songs and film songs of Lata Mangeshkar. Whereas, Amrutaa is being trained under the legendary mridanga vidwan Dr. T. K. Murthy, international drum star Shri Sivamani and Shri Chandrakant Mohanti of Bollywood fame. Amrutaa is the only the youngest female drum player in India.

44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) began at Panaji, Goa

The 44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) began at Panaji in Goa on 20 November 2013 with great fanfare.

Academy award winning actress Suasan Sarandon inaugurated the 11- day cinematic extravaganza by lighting the traditional lamp in the distinguished presence of Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parriker and a galaxy of cine stars.

The 44th International Film Festival of India (from 20 to 30 November 2013) is organized by the IFFI Secretariat under the

aegis of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Goa.

A variety of film screening programmes, academic sessions and cultural exchange programmes will mark the occasion. Around 160 foreign films are to be showcased in this edition under various categories.

44th edition of IFFI is unique on several accounts. The festival would highlight for the first time Cinema from the North Eastern states of India. A package of 19 films from the North-East will explore the immense ethnic, traditional and cultural diversity in the 8 states of North- East.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is being conferred on the legendary Czech film director Jiri Menzel whose films have been acknowledged as the Czech New Wave Cinema. Renowned actress Waheeda Rehamn will be conferred with the first Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year.

The 44th IFFI will showcase Japanese films in the country focus section. Czech comedy THE DON JUANS directed by Jiri Menzel will open the 44th International Film Festival of India. Indian Panorama category comprises of 26 feature films and 16 non-feature films from contemporary Indian cinema.


Awards

16 films from around the world competing for the coveted Peacock Awards at the 44th IFFI. Best Film will get a Cash prize of 40 lakhs Rupees to be shared equally between the Director and Producer and the Director will be given the Golden Peacock and a certificate in addition to the cash component.

About IFFI

The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia, held every year. It aims at providing a common platform for the cinemas of the world to project the excellence of the film art, contributing to the understanding and appreciation of film cultures of different nations in the context of their social and cultural ethos, and promoting friendship and cooperation among people of the world. The first edition of IFFI was organized by the Films Division, Government of India at Mumbai 1952.

Coffee Board ready to launch new hybrid varieties of Coffee

Jawaid Akhtar, the Chairman of the Coffee Board on 14 November 2013 declared about the plan of the board to introduce three or four new hybrid varieties of coffee during the 55th Annual Conference of the Karnataka Planters Association.

The board is also trying to expand the land under coffee in the traditional coffee growing states by 20000 hectares. The expansion is also being planned in the non-traditional like Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

As per Jawaid Akhtar, the Government supports the efforts of the coffee growers by increasing mechanization. During the 12th Plan Period, the Government has also preparing the scheme for the implementation of the coffee growers referring the increase in the demand of the coffee.

Finance Ministry Released Commemorative Coins on Birth Anniversary of Abul Kalam Azad

The Union Finance Minister P.Chidambaram released a Commemorative Coin of 20 Rupees a circulation coin of 5 Rupees to mark the culmination of the 125th Birth Anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad at New Delhi on 11 November 2013.

2013 marked the culmination of 125th Birth Anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Maulana Azad was one of India’s most prominent freedom


fighters, who espoused the cause of an undivided India. He was the first Minister of Education of India and was also awarded country’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna in 1992.

On that occasion, two commemorative coins were brought out by the Ministry of Finance.

Nobel Memorial Wall unveiled at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, Delhi

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and the Embassy of Sweden on 9 November 2013 jointly unveiled a Nobel Memorial Wall at Rajiv Chowk metro station, Delhi.

The aim of exhibiting this wall is to spread awareness about all the Nobel Laureates of India, with a focus on Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. The wall at the Rajiv Chowk metro station was unveiled by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s Managing Director Mangu Singh and the Ambassador of Sweden Harald Sandberg.

The wall has been created as part of celebrations of Sweden India Nobel Memorial Week that started on 8 November 2013. This year(2013) the Nobel Memorial Week is dedicated to Rabindranath Tagore’s centenary of winning the Nobel Prize in Literature.

The Nobel Memorial Wall has a bust of Tagore against the original text of his Nobel Prize nomination, which has been procured by the Swedish Embassy from the Swedish Academy. The Nobel Memorial Wall also has the portraits of the seven Nobel Laureates from India: Rabindranath Tagore, CV Raman, Dr Hargobind Khorana, Mother Teresa, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, Amartya Sen and Venkatraman Ramakrishnan and provided details about their contribution to society and a panel each on Alfred Nobel and the Nobel Prizes.

Mahatma Gandhi’s Charkha was sold for £110000 at UK Auction

Charkha of Mahatma Gandhi that he used in Yerwada Jail during the Quit India Movement was auctioned in UK on 5 November 2013 for £110000 (1.1 crore rupees approximately) at England. The charkha of Mahatma Gandhi is about eight decades old.

His last/final will was also auctioned over £20000 (19 lakh rupees approximately) for historical documents and


artefacts by the Mullock’s Auction house in Shropshire, England. The name of the buyer was kept secret by the buyer.

The Charkha made by Indian teak was gifted by Mahatma Gandhi to Revd Floyd A Puffer, an American Free Methodist missionary in 1935. Whereas. His will was written at Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarati. The will succeeded the will dated 1921 that was sold at an earlier auction by Mullock’s.

Bangladeshi Court sentenced to Death 152 Soldiers

A Bangladeshi court on 5 November 2013 sentenced to death 152 soldiers for their role in a 2009 mutiny. The life includes massacre of 74 people, including top army officers. The trial is considered one of the world’s biggest ever mass criminal trials.

Besides, a total of 820 ex-paramilitary soldiers and 26 civilians were put on trial and Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court Judge Md. Akhtaruzzaman gave life imprisonment to 158 rebel soldiers and jail terms of three to 10 years to 251 others, while 271 were acquitted.

Bangladesh paramilitary border guards had staged a two-day mutiny over pay and other grievances against military leaders during 25-26 February 2009. The mutiny had taken place two months after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina assumed office. Then BDR chief Major General Shakil Ahmed was killed during the mutiny and the mutineers hacked to death, tortured and burnt alive 74 people.

Prof CNR Rao Elected to Chinese Academy of Sciences

Eminent Scientist and Bharat Ratna Awardee Prof CNR Rao was on 4 November 2013 elected as honorary foreign member of Chinese Academy of Science (CAS).

He is first Indian to be elected to this prestigious Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) which comprises of many Nobel laureates and eminent scientist across the world.

CNR Rao has been elected to almost all scientific academies of the world including The Royal Society-London, National Academy of Science-USA, Pontifical Academy of Science, Japan Academy and Royal Spanish Academy of Sciences, among others.

About Prof CNR Rao

Prof. Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao (CNR Rao) was born on 30 June 1934, Bangalore, India. He is an eminent scientist and a well recognized international authority on solid state and materials chemistry.


He has published over 1400 research papers and 45 books. Prof. CNR Rao’s contributions have been recognized by most major scientific academies around the world through conferment of memberships and fellowships. He has been honoured with several national and international awards, including Padma Vibhushan. Prof. CNR Rao was founder and Honorary President of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India. Prof, CNR Rao is presently serving as the head of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India.

The Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister is the uppermost body that deliberates on various policy issues, pertaining to Science & Technology and also on the role it can play in the upliftment of the Indian economy.


• A health worker from Bihar on 6 November 2013 won the global UN Award for her commitment and dedication to eradicate Polio in India-Martha Doodray

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 8 November 2013 has allowed third party payment for - the export and import transactions

• A doctor of Indian origin was selected for the prestigious Outstanding American by Choice award for his contribution to US health sector - Rahul Jindal

• UNESCO on suspended the voting rights over Palestine row of - United States and Israel

• A Senior IRS officer was appointed as the Secretary General of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is - Parvinder Sohi Behuria

• Who won the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals title after defeating Rafael Nadal is - Novak Djokovic

• Benigno Aquino on 11 November 2013 declared a state of national calamity to speed relief efforts for victims of Typhoon Haiyan is - the President of Philippines

• MTNL (Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited) signed MoU with a firm of US on 12 November 2013 - Los Alamos Technical Associates, Inc. (LATA)

• India and Australia on 18 November 2013 signed two agreements in New Delhi during the visit of Julie Bishop to India- Julie Bishop is the Foreign Minister of Australia.

• The Election Commission of India on 18 November 2013 has allowed the launch of the first all women- Bharatiya Mahila Bank.

• The book entitled Birth of Cinema was released at ICFFI media centre on 18 November

ONE LINERSNovember 2013


2013. The book is written by - N. Gopal Krishna

• The Reserve Bank of India on 18 November 2013 opened refinance window for MSME sector of what sum – 5000 crore rupees

• The US sprinter on 18 November 2013 announced his retirement after 13 years career - Darvis Patton

• The World Toilet Organization created World Toilet Day to raise global awareness of the struggle 2.5 billion face every day without access to proper, clean sanitation. The World Toilet Day is observed on – 19 November

• The British biochemist who is the only person to win Nobel Prize two times for Chemistry died on 19 November 2013 - Frederick Sanger

• The political party that emerged as single largest Party in the second Constituent Assembly elections which are held on 19 November 2013 - Nepali Congress (NC)

• The footballer, who has won the Golden Shoe award three times in his career - Lionel Messi

• An Official Development Loan Assistance of Yen 30.703 Billion to India for the first batch of financial year 2013 loan package has been made by – Japan

• The Vice President of India, Hamid Ansari released a book entitled Maimaar-E-Qaun-Dr. A. R. Kidwai. The book has been edited by - Mufti Ataur Rahman Ansari

• The Mars Orbiter Mission also known as Mangalyaan has beamed back the first set of pictures of Earth on 21 November 2013 that was captured by Mars Color Camera. It has also captured a cyclonic storm, named - Helen


• Cadila Pharmaceuticals on 21 November 2013 launched a new lung cancer drug, which is priced 40000 rupees for 10 course injection - Mycidac-C

• An Indian Origin British MP on 22 November 2013 was honoured with the prestigious Asian Trader Editor’s Award - Priti Patel

• The author, Salman Rushdie and filmmaker, Mira Nair were honoured for their commitment and contributions to the global artistic community by - Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC)

• The world champion water skier of Australia died on 25 November 2013 after a fall during a high-speed endurance race on Australia’s Hawkesbury River was - Sarah Teelow

• Constitution Day was observed across India on 26 November 2013 to honour the Constitution of India. The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on - 26 November 1949

• Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary General on 25 November 2013 announced the Geneva-II peace conference is to be held on 22 January 2014. The international conference is aimed at a democratic political transition in-Syria

• The Managing editor of Tehelka magazine on 27 November 2013 announced resignation from the Tehelka. Who is the Managing editor of Tehelka: Shoma Chaudhury

• McGraw Hill Financial Company on 28 November 2013 appointed president for its rating agency Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. Who appointed as S&P President: Neeraj Sahai, Indian-American

• Who was appointed as UNICEF’s first brand ambassador for South Asia region on 28 November 2013: Sachin Tendulkar

• Jitin Prasada, the Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development on 28


November 2013 released a music album; music album released to commemorate 150th birth celebrations of: Swami Vivekananda.

• The 9th International Heavy Minerals Conference (HMC 2013) was held at: Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh from 27 to 29 November 2013.

• Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd on 27 November 2013 appointed a new chairman to MCX’s board. Who was appointed as MCX chairman: Satyananda Mishra

• Who is the chief guest of 44th International Film Festival of India closing ceremony on 30 November 2013: Hollywood actress Michelle Yeoh

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