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Energy policy of the Obama administrationInd

ex

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On June 2014, a significantevent took place in the Constitutionalhistory of India. Telangana becamethe 29th state of the Indian Union. Itconsists of the ten north-westerndistricts of Andhra Pradesh, withHyderabad as its capital. As of now,Hyderabad will serve as the jointcapital for Andhra Pradesh as well asTelangana for a period of 10 years.

The birth story of the Telanganais itself ridden with conflicts andstruggles, which incorporate in itselfa number of dimensions, ranging fromthe issues of rights to economicexclusion. The dynamics that wereinvolved in the creation of the state isbound to have a bearing on thepolitcs of both- the center and thestate.

However, the genesis of theTelangana movement lies deep intothe history of the region itself.

Background: HistoricalBackground: HistoricalBackground: HistoricalBackground: HistoricalBackground: HistoricalEvolution of the TelanganaEvolution of the TelanganaEvolution of the TelanganaEvolution of the TelanganaEvolution of the TelanganaMovementMovementMovementMovementMovement

The Telangana region wasmerged with Andhra state, whileformation of the state of Andhra

Pradesh. However, there have beensome communist-led peasant revoltsin the Telangana region since 1946.

After the 1952 elections, Dr.Burgula Ramakrishna Rao was electedas the Chief Minister of the HyderabadState. However, some sections of theTelangana region started to protestagainst the outsider-bucreaucrats,and demanded to implement the‘Mulki-rules ’, that is, ‘local jobs forlocals only’. This mulki movement wasmainly spearheaded by the studentcommunity, against the outsiders.

The State ReorganizationCommission (SRC) of 1953recommended reorganization of thestate on linguistic lines. As a result ofthe political pressures, thecommission recommendeddisintegration of Hyderabad state,and favored merging of the Marathi-speaking regions with Bombay state,and Kannada-speaking regions withMadras stae.

The Commission did not favoran immediate merger of theTelangana region with Andhra state,despite of the common language, asthe political opinion in Telangana had

not crystallized in favor of the merger.The main concerns of the Telanganaregion were that- economically,Telangana was not much developed,as compared to the Andhra region.However, Telangana constituted atax-rich region. Thus, there wereconcerns in the Telangana region thatthe funds of the state would bediverted for the use of Andhra.

Further, it was feared that thefunds of the major developmentprojects would not benefit Telanganaregion in any substantial way.Similarly, people feared that thepeople of Andhra would eat awaythe resources and job opportunitiesof the Telangana region, putting thelatter in the disadvantaged position.

The Commission had thenproposed for the constitution ofTelangana as a separate state, with aprovision for unification with Andhrastate, only after the 1961 generalelections. However, this could nothappen, as Andhra and Telanganaregion mere merged. The Andhrastate assembly passed a resolution,on November 25, 1955, to providesafeguards to Telangana region. But,

NEW STATE TELANGANA

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there always existed a suspicion overthe effectiveness of such safeguards.

A strong lobby of AndhraCongress leaders and Centralleadership of Congress pressed foran agreement between theTelangana leaders and Andhraleaders, on February 20, 1956, tomerge Telangana and Andhra withpromises to safeguard Telangana’sinterest. This was referred to as the‘Gentlemen’s AgreementGentlemen’s AgreementGentlemen’s AgreementGentlemen’s AgreementGentlemen’s Agreement’. Theagreement followed the formation ofthe state of Andhra Pradesh itself.Thus, the recommendations of theStates’ Reorganization Commission(SRC) were overlooked andTelangana was merged into AndhraPradesh without taking the consentof the Andhra Assembly.

Jawaharlal Nehru was initiallyskeptical of the merger of Telanganawith Andhra State. He compared themerger to a matrimonial alliancehaving “provisions for divorce”.However, following the Gentlemen’sagreement, the Central Governmentestablished a unified AndhraPradesh, on November 1, 1956. Theagreement provided reassurances toTelangana in terms of power-sharingas well as administrative domicilerules and distribution of expenses ofvarious regions.

However, in 1969 agitationstarted after students felt betrayedby the provisions of interestsafeguard. In a series of violentprotests, about 369 students werekilled in police firing.

Main DemandsMain DemandsMain DemandsMain DemandsMain Demands

Telangana is the largest of thethree regions of Andhra Pradesh,covering about 41.47% of its totalarea. It is inhabited by 40.54% of thestate’s population, and contributesabout 76% of the state’s revenues.

Proponents of the separateTelangana state cite the perceivedinjustices in the distribution of water,budget allocation, and jobs. Many

activists argue that the benefits ofirrigation through the canal systemunder major irrigation projects isaccuring substantially to the CoastalAndhra region, while the share ofTelangana is significantly low, despitethe fact that the a substantial part ofthe catchment area of the major riversfall in the Telangana region.

In the field of education,funding for Telangana is substantiallylow, as compared to the other partsof Andhra Pradesh. Budgetallocations to Telangana region hasbeen generally less than 1/3rd of thetotal Andhra Pradesh budget. Also,there have been frequent complaintsof funds misappropriation and lackof fund spending.

In terms of employment, therepresentation of the people ofTelangana has been abysmally low,with only 20% of the total governmentemployees coming from Telangana.As per Srikrishna Committee onTelangana, Telangana held theposition of CM for 10.5 years whileSeema-Andhra region held it for 42years.

Proponents of Telangana statefeel that the agreements, plans andassurances from the legislature andLok Sabha over the last 5 odddecades have not been honored, andas a result Telangana has remainedneglected, exploited and backward.They argue that the experiment toremain as one state has proven to bea futile exercise and that separationis the best solution.

Telangana Movement History:Telangana Movement History:Telangana Movement History:Telangana Movement History:Telangana Movement History:In BriefIn BriefIn BriefIn BriefIn Brief

1952: 1952: 1952: 1952: 1952: First elections held inHyderabad State.

Nov 1, 1956: Nov 1, 1956: Nov 1, 1956: Nov 1, 1956: Nov 1, 1956: Telanganamerged with Andhra State, whichwas carved out of Madras State, toform Andhra Pradesh, a united statefor Telugu-speaking people.

1969: 1969: 1969: 1969: 1969: ‘Jai Telangana’movement for separate statehood

to Telangana began. Over 300people killed in police firing.

1972: 1972: 1972: 1972: 1972: ‘Jai Andhra’ movementbegan in coastal Andhra forseparate Andhra State.

1975:1975:1975:1975:1975: Presidential orderissued to implement Six PointFormula, providing somesafeguards to Telangana.

1997: 1997: 1997: 1997: 1997: BJP supporteddemand for Telangana state; in 1998election, it promised ‘one vote twostates’.

2001:2001:2001:2001:2001: K Chandrasekhara Raofloated Telangana Rashtra Samithi(TRS) to revive Telanganamovement.

2004: 2004: 2004: 2004: 2004: TRS fought electionsin alliance with Congress, wins fiveLok Sabha and 26 assembly seats.UPA includes Telangana issue incommon minimum programme.

2008: 2008: 2008: 2008: 2008: TDP announcedsupport for Telangana demand.

2009:2009:2009:2009:2009: TRS contestedelections in alliance with TDP butits tally came down to two LokSabha and 10 assembly seats.

Sep 2:Sep 2:Sep 2:Sep 2:Sep 2: Chief minister Y SRajasekhara Reddy died inhelicopter crash, triggering politicaluncertainty.

Oct 2009: Oct 2009: Oct 2009: Oct 2009: Oct 2009: ChandrasekharaRao began fast-unto-death forTelangana state.

Dec 9: Dec 9: Dec 9: Dec 9: Dec 9: Centre announceddecision to initiate the process forformation of Telangana state.Dec23: Following protests inRayalaseema and Andhra regions(Seemandhra) and en massresignations of MPs and statelegislators, centre put the processon hold citing need for consensus.

Feb 3, 2010: Feb 3, 2010: Feb 3, 2010: Feb 3, 2010: Feb 3, 2010: Centre set upfive-member Srikrishna committeeto look into Telangana issue.

Dec 2010:Dec 2010:Dec 2010:Dec 2010:Dec 2010: Srikrishnacommittee submitted its report,suggested six options

July 30, 2013: July 30, 2013: July 30, 2013: July 30, 2013: July 30, 2013: UPAcoordination panel and Congress





Working Committee decided tocarve out Telangana state. Protestsin Seemandhra.

Oct 3, 2013:Oct 3, 2013:Oct 3, 2013:Oct 3, 2013:Oct 3, 2013: Union cabinetapproved the proposal to divideAndhra Pradesh. A Group ofMinisters (GoM) was constituted toprepare the roadmap afterconsultations with all stakeholders.

Oct 25, 2013:Oct 25, 2013:Oct 25, 2013:Oct 25, 2013:Oct 25, 2013: Chief ministerN Kiran Kumar Reddy raised bannerof revolt against Congressleadership. He wrote letters topresident and prime ministerurging them to stop bifurcationprocess.

Dec 5, 2013:Dec 5, 2013:Dec 5, 2013:Dec 5, 2013:Dec 5, 2013: Union cabinetapproved draft Andhra PradeshReorganisation Bill 2013 preparedon the basis of recommendationsby the GoM. Bill sent to PresidentPranab Mukherjee with a request tomake a reference to AndhraPradesh legislature to obtain itsviews under Article 3 of theConstitution.

Dec 9: Dec 9: Dec 9: Dec 9: Dec 9: The President gavetime till Jan 23 to the statelegislature to give its views.

Dec 12, 2013:Dec 12, 2013:Dec 12, 2013:Dec 12, 2013:Dec 12, 2013: Bill broughtto Hyderabad in a special aircraftand amid tight security.

Dec 16, 2013: Dec 16, 2013: Dec 16, 2013: Dec 16, 2013: Dec 16, 2013: Billintroduced in both houses of statelegislature amid clashes betweenSeemandhra and Telanganalawmakers.

Jan 8, 2014: Jan 8, 2014: Jan 8, 2014: Jan 8, 2014: Jan 8, 2014: Afterdisruptions for several days, debatefinally began on the bill in assemblyand council.

Jan 21, 2014:Jan 21, 2014:Jan 21, 2014:Jan 21, 2014:Jan 21, 2014: Stategovernment sought four moreweeks to debate the bill. ThePresident gave one week.

Jan 27, 2014:Jan 27, 2014:Jan 27, 2014:Jan 27, 2014:Jan 27, 2014: Chief ministerKiran Kumar Reddy gave notice toassembly speaker for a resolutionto reject the bill.

Jan 30, 2014: Jan 30, 2014: Jan 30, 2014: Jan 30, 2014: Jan 30, 2014: Amid ruckus,both houses of state legislaturepassed by a voice vote official

resolutions, rejecting the bill andappealing to the President not tosend the bill to parliament.

Feb 5, 2014:Feb 5, 2014:Feb 5, 2014:Feb 5, 2014:Feb 5, 2014: Chief ministerstaged sit-in in Delhi to opposebifurcation.

Feb 7, 2014:Feb 7, 2014:Feb 7, 2014:Feb 7, 2014:Feb 7, 2014: Union cabinetcleared the bill and rejectedSeemandhra leaders’ demand tomake Hyderabad a union territory.Bill sent to the President for hisapproval to table it in parliament.

Feb 11, 2013:Feb 11, 2013:Feb 11, 2013:Feb 11, 2013:Feb 11, 2013: Congressexpelled six MPs from Seemandhrafor moving no-confidence motionagainst government.

Feb 13, 2014:Feb 13, 2014:Feb 13, 2014:Feb 13, 2014:Feb 13, 2014: Billintroduced in Lok Sabha amidclashes between MPs fromSeemandhra and Telangana. LRajagopal, a MP from Seemandhra,used pepper spray in the house.Speaker suspended 16 MPsincluding Rajagopal for rest of thesession.

Feb 18, 2014:Feb 18, 2014:Feb 18, 2014:Feb 18, 2014:Feb 18, 2014: Lok Sabhapasses Telangana bill.

Feb 21, 2014:Feb 21, 2014:Feb 21, 2014:Feb 21, 2014:Feb 21, 2014: Rajya Sabhaapproves Telangana Bill.

Major DevelopmentsMajor DevelopmentsMajor DevelopmentsMajor DevelopmentsMajor Developments

The Telangana movement,though persisted, revived in therecent months. The increasingintensity of the movement led toradical shifts in the party politics andpolitical alignments of the state.

However, the rising pressurefrom different sections led to theinitiation of the process of legislationto create the Telangana state.

With the UPA governmentsupporting the formation of theTelangana, there were many ups anddowns in the Andhra polity. In aninteresting turn of events, the AndhraPradesh Legislative Assembly passedthe motion to reject the AndhraPradesh Reorganization Bill, 2013.However, the resolution did not hadany substantive impact on theprocess of bifurcation of the state, as

the will of the state legislature is notbinding on the Union Parliament.Thus, the bill failed to restrain thebifurcation of Andhra Pradesh,except creating politicalcontroversies over the stateassembly’s role in reformation ofstates.

The Union Cabinet cleared theTelangana Bill in February 2014,clearing its path for the introductionin the Parliament.

Opposing the overall demandof bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, theSeemandhra leaders have beendemanding that Hyderabad be madea Union territory. The Seemandhraleaders were firm on their decisionto oppose the bifurcation of state.This also proved to be a big loss forthe Congress, in terms of electoralsupport. Seemandhra ministers alsodemanded to include the districts ofKurnool and Anantapur in Telangana,but the demand was rejected.

Finally, President PranabMukherjee gave nod to the AndhraPradesh Reorganization Bill, 2013,paving the way for its introduction inthe Rajya Sabha.

Salient Features of the AndhraPradesh Reorganization Bill were-·

• Hyderabad as the commoncapital, with Andhra PradeshGovernor as the Governor forboth Andhra Pradesh andTelangana.

• The Centre will setup an apexcouncil for the supervision ofKrishna and Godavari rivers onwater sharing.

• 25 Lok Sabha seats to beallocated to residuary AndhraPradesh and 17 Lok Sabhaseats to Telangana.

• Residuary Andhra Pradeshwould get 175 LegislativeAssembly seats and Telangana119.

• Existing admission quotoas inall government or private,aided or unaided institutions





of higher, technical andmedical education shallcontinue for 10 years.

• The Polavaram IrrigationProject will be declared as anational project and the Centerwill take its control.

• The High court of Hyderabadwill be common for the statestill a separate High Court isinstituted for residuary AndhraPradesh.

• Any dispute, regardingfinancial assets and liabilitiesshall be settled through mutualagreement, or by the Center’sorder on the advice of theCAG.

• All properties situated outsideexisting Andhra Pradesh willbe apportioned between thetwo states proportionally.·Greyhound and Octopusforces of the existing AndhraPradesh will be distributedafter seeking opinions from thepersonnel.

• The award made by the 13th

Finance Commission to theexisting state of AndhraPradesh will be apportionedbetween the two by theCentre on the basis ofpopulation and other factors.

Creation of TelanganaCreation of TelanganaCreation of TelanganaCreation of TelanganaCreation of Telangana

On February 19, 2014 the LokSabha approved, amid protests, thecontentious bill for the creation ofTelangana, after BJP lend its supportto the government. Within 2 days, onFebruary 21, 2014 Rajya Sabha alsogave its approval to the Telangana Bill,with BJP’s support.

With this, Telangana became the29th state of the Indian Union.However, Union Cabinetrecommended the imposition of thePresident’s rule in Andhra Pradesh,while keeping the state Assembly insuspended animation. The decisionwas taken after Andhra Pradesh ChiefMinister Shri Kiran Kumar Reddy

resigned and quit the Congress inprotest against the decision tobifurcate the state.

Telangana Present FormTelangana Present FormTelangana Present FormTelangana Present FormTelangana Present Form

On June 2, 2014, Telanganabecame the 29th state of India. Itconsists of the ten north-westerndistricts of Andhra Pradesh, and hasHyderabad as its capital. The city ofHyderabad will continue to serve asthe joint capital capital for AndhraPradesh and Telangana for a periodof 10 years.

The new Telangana state isbordered by the states of AndhraPradesh to the south and east, andMaharashtra to the north and north-west, Karnataka to the west, and

Chattisgarh to the north-east. Theapproximate territory of theTelangana state cover an area ofabout 114.840 square kilometers, anda population of about 35,286,757(according to 2011 census).

Hyderabad, Warangal,Nizamabad, Karimnagar andRanagundam constitute the majorcities of the Telangana state.

The first Chief Minister of theTelangana state is Shri K.Chandrashekar Rao. Rao has playedan important role in the politicalmovement to create Telangana. He isalso the President of the TelanganaRashtriya Samiti, which he formed inApril 2001, to further the Telanganamovement.

Other Ministers of the Rao government of Telangana are:Other Ministers of the Rao government of Telangana are:Other Ministers of the Rao government of Telangana are:Other Ministers of the Rao government of Telangana are:Other Ministers of the Rao government of Telangana are:

Department/Off iceDepartment/Off iceDepartment/Off iceDepartment/Off iceDepartment/Off ice MinisterMinisterMinisterMinisterMinister

Deputy Chief Minister,

Medical & Health T. Rajaiah

Home,Prisons,

Fire Services,Sainik Welfare,Labour & Employment. Naini Narshimha ReddyFinance & Planning,Small Savings,State Lotteries, Consumer Affairs,Legal Metrology,Civil Supllies. Etela RajendraAgriculture,Horticulture,Sericulture,Animal Husbandry,Fisheries,Dairy Development Corp.,Seeds Corporation. Pocharam Srinivas ReddyIrrigation,Mining & Geology,Marketing& Legislative Affairs T. Harish RaoExcise & Prohibition. T. Padma Rao GoudTransport. P. Mahender ReddyPanchayat RajInformation Technology K. T. Rama RaoForest & Environment. Jogu Ramanna

Education. G.Jagadish Reddy

Nikhil GuptaNikhil GuptaNikhil GuptaNikhil GuptaNikhil Gupta

Energy policy of the Obama administrationEnergy policy of the Obama administrationEnergy policy of the Obama administrationEnergy policy of the Obama administrationEnergy policy of the Obama administration




With the world facing thepossibility of an energy crisis, effortshave been made everywhere toevolve the mechanism to resolve theissues related to the energy crisis. TheUnited States of America (USA),today, is one of the most advancedcountries of the world. The majorthrust of the US economic growthrelies on the energy sources.However, with crisis in the MiddleEast and growing concerns over theenvironmental issues, the Obamaadministration has tried to arrive at aneffective plan to serve it’s growingenergy needs.

The energy policy of theObama administration, stated on thewebsite of U.S. President BarackObama, lists the guiding principlesof the administration regardingenergy and the environment. Itinclude creating new “clean energy”jobs and technologies, makingAmerica more energy independent,and reducing carbon emissions.

Major Provisions of theMajor Provisions of theMajor Provisions of theMajor Provisions of theMajor Provisions of theEnergy PolicyEnergy PolicyEnergy PolicyEnergy PolicyEnergy Policy

Provide Short-term Relief toProvide Short-term Relief toProvide Short-term Relief toProvide Short-term Relief toProvide Short-term Relief toAmerican FamiliesAmerican FamiliesAmerican FamiliesAmerican FamiliesAmerican Families

Enact a Windfall Profits TaxEnact a Windfall Profits TaxEnact a Windfall Profits TaxEnact a Windfall Profits TaxEnact a Windfall Profits Taxto Provide a $1,000 Emergencyto Provide a $1,000 Emergencyto Provide a $1,000 Emergencyto Provide a $1,000 Emergencyto Provide a $1,000 EmergencyEnergy Rebate to AmericanEnergy Rebate to AmericanEnergy Rebate to AmericanEnergy Rebate to AmericanEnergy Rebate to AmericanFamilies: Families: Families: Families: Families: Obama and Biden willenact a windfall profits tax onexcessive oil company profits to giveAmerican families an immediate$1,000 emergency energy rebate tohelp families pay rising bills. This reliefwould be a down payment on theObama-Biden long-term plan toprovide middle-class families with atleast $1,000 per year in permanenttax relief.

Crack Down on ExcessiveCrack Down on ExcessiveCrack Down on ExcessiveCrack Down on ExcessiveCrack Down on ExcessiveEnergy Speculation:Energy Speculation:Energy Speculation:Energy Speculation:Energy Speculation: BarackObama and Joe Biden will closeenergy industry market loopholes andincrease transparency to preventtraders from unfairly lining theirpockets, while driving up oil pricesat the expense of the Americanpeople.

Swap Oil from the StrategicSwap Oil from the StrategicSwap Oil from the StrategicSwap Oil from the StrategicSwap Oil from the StrategicPetroleum Reserve to CutPetroleum Reserve to CutPetroleum Reserve to CutPetroleum Reserve to CutPetroleum Reserve to CutPrices: Prices: Prices: Prices: Prices: With oil prices doubling inthe past year, Barack Obama and JoeBiden believe we have an economicemergency that requires a limited,responsible swap of light oil from the

Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) forheavy crude oil to help bring downprices at the pump.

Eliminate Current ImportsEliminate Current ImportsEliminate Current ImportsEliminate Current ImportsEliminate Current Importsfrom the Middle East andfrom the Middle East andfrom the Middle East andfrom the Middle East andfrom the Middle East andVenezuela within 10 YearsVenezuela within 10 YearsVenezuela within 10 YearsVenezuela within 10 YearsVenezuela within 10 Years

Increase Fuel EconomyIncrease Fuel EconomyIncrease Fuel EconomyIncrease Fuel EconomyIncrease Fuel EconomyStandards: Standards: Standards: Standards: Standards: Obama and Biden willincrease fuel economy standards 4percent per year while providing $4billion for domestic automakers toretool their manufacturing facilities inAmerica to produce these vehicles.

Get 1 Million Plug-In HybridGet 1 Million Plug-In HybridGet 1 Million Plug-In HybridGet 1 Million Plug-In HybridGet 1 Million Plug-In HybridCars on the Road by 2015: Cars on the Road by 2015: Cars on the Road by 2015: Cars on the Road by 2015: Cars on the Road by 2015: Thesevehicles can get up to 150 miles pergallon. Barack Obama and Joe Bidenbelieve we should work to ensurethese cars are built here in America,instead of factories overseas.

Create a New $7,000 TaxCreate a New $7,000 TaxCreate a New $7,000 TaxCreate a New $7,000 TaxCreate a New $7,000 TaxCredit for PurchasingCredit for PurchasingCredit for PurchasingCredit for PurchasingCredit for PurchasingAdvanced Vehicles.Advanced Vehicles.Advanced Vehicles.Advanced Vehicles.Advanced Vehicles.

Establish a National LowEstablish a National LowEstablish a National LowEstablish a National LowEstablish a National LowCarbon Fuel Standard: Carbon Fuel Standard: Carbon Fuel Standard: Carbon Fuel Standard: Carbon Fuel Standard: Obamaand Biden will establish a NationalLow Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) toreduce the carbon in our fuels 10

ENERGY POLICY OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION





percent by 2020. Obama and Bidenwill also require 60 billion gallons ofadvanced biofuels to be phased intoour fuel supply by 2030.

A “Use it or Lose It”A “Use it or Lose It”A “Use it or Lose It”A “Use it or Lose It”A “Use it or Lose It”Approach to Existing Oil andApproach to Existing Oil andApproach to Existing Oil andApproach to Existing Oil andApproach to Existing Oil andGas Leases:Gas Leases:Gas Leases:Gas Leases:Gas Leases: Obama and Biden willrequire oil companies to develop the68 million acres of land (over 40million of which are offshore) whichthey have already leased and are notdrilling on.

Promote the ResponsiblePromote the ResponsiblePromote the ResponsiblePromote the ResponsiblePromote the ResponsibleDomestic Production of Oil andDomestic Production of Oil andDomestic Production of Oil andDomestic Production of Oil andDomestic Production of Oil andNatural Gas:Natural Gas:Natural Gas:Natural Gas:Natural Gas: An Obama-Bidenadministration will establish a processfor early identification of anyinfrastructure obstacles/shortages orpossible federal permitting processdelays to drilling in the Bakken Shaleformation, the Barnett shale formation,and the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

Create Millions ofCreate Millions ofCreate Millions ofCreate Millions ofCreate Millions ofNew Green JobsNew Green JobsNew Green JobsNew Green JobsNew Green Jobs

Ensure 10 percent of OurElectricity Comes from RenewableSources by 2012, and 25 percent by2025.

Deploy the Cheapest,Deploy the Cheapest,Deploy the Cheapest,Deploy the Cheapest,Deploy the Cheapest,Cleanest, Fastest EnergyCleanest, Fastest EnergyCleanest, Fastest EnergyCleanest, Fastest EnergyCleanest, Fastest EnergySource — Energy Efficiency:Source — Energy Efficiency:Source — Energy Efficiency:Source — Energy Efficiency:Source — Energy Efficiency:Obama and Biden will set anaggressive energy efficiency goal —to reduce electricity demand 15percent from projected levels by2020.

Weatherize One MillionWeatherize One MillionWeatherize One MillionWeatherize One MillionWeatherize One MillionHomes Annually:Homes Annually:Homes Annually:Homes Annually:Homes Annually: Obama andBiden will make a nationalcommitment to weatherize at leastone million low-income homes eachyear for the next decade, which canreduce energy usage across theeconomy and help moderate energyprices for all.

Develop and Deploy CleanDevelop and Deploy CleanDevelop and Deploy CleanDevelop and Deploy CleanDevelop and Deploy CleanCoal Technology:Coal Technology:Coal Technology:Coal Technology:Coal Technology: Obama’sDepartment of Energy will enter intopublic private partnerships todevelop five “first-of-a-kind”

commercial scale coal-fired plantswith clean carbon capture andsequestration technology.

Prioritize the ConstructionPrioritize the ConstructionPrioritize the ConstructionPrioritize the ConstructionPrioritize the Constructionof the Alaska Natural Gasof the Alaska Natural Gasof the Alaska Natural Gasof the Alaska Natural Gasof the Alaska Natural GasPipeline:Pipeline:Pipeline:Pipeline:Pipeline: As president, Obama willwork with stakeholders to facilitateconstruction of the pipeline. Not onlyis this pipeline critical to our energysecurity, it will create thousands ofnew jobs.

Reduce our Greenhouse GasReduce our Greenhouse GasReduce our Greenhouse GasReduce our Greenhouse GasReduce our Greenhouse GasEmissions 80 Percent by 2050Emissions 80 Percent by 2050Emissions 80 Percent by 2050Emissions 80 Percent by 2050Emissions 80 Percent by 2050

Implement an economy-Implement an economy-Implement an economy-Implement an economy-Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program towide cap-and-trade program towide cap-and-trade program towide cap-and-trade program towide cap-and-trade program toreduce greenhouse gasreduce greenhouse gasreduce greenhouse gasreduce greenhouse gasreduce greenhouse gasemissions 80 percent by 2050:emissions 80 percent by 2050:emissions 80 percent by 2050:emissions 80 percent by 2050:emissions 80 percent by 2050:The Obama-Biden cap-and-tradepolicy will require all pollution creditsto be auctioned, and proceeds willgo to investments in a clean energyfuture, habitat protections, andrebates and other transition relief forfamilies.

Make the U.S. a Leader onMake the U.S. a Leader onMake the U.S. a Leader onMake the U.S. a Leader onMake the U.S. a Leader onClimate Change:Climate Change:Climate Change:Climate Change:Climate Change: Obama andBiden will re-engage with the U.N.Framework Convention on ClimateChange (UNFCC) — the maininternational forum dedicated toaddressing the climate problem. Theywill also create a Global EnergyForum of the world’s largest emittersto focus exclusively on global energyand environmental issues.

EnergyEnergyEnergyEnergyEnergy Plan Overview Plan Overview Plan Overview Plan Overview Plan Overview

Safe and ResponsibleSafe and ResponsibleSafe and ResponsibleSafe and ResponsibleSafe and ResponsibleDomestic Oil and GasDomestic Oil and GasDomestic Oil and GasDomestic Oil and GasDomestic Oil and GasProductionProductionProductionProductionProduction

In 2010, in response to theDeepwater Horizon oil spill in theGulf of Mexico, the Obamaadministration launched the mostaggressive and comprehensivereforms to offshore oil and gasregulation and oversight in U.S. historyand put in place new safeguards toprotect the environment. Thesemeasures help to ensure that ournation can continue to safely andresponsibly develop offshore energyresources.

Carbon Capture andCarbon Capture andCarbon Capture andCarbon Capture andCarbon Capture andSequestration TechnologiesSequestration TechnologiesSequestration TechnologiesSequestration TechnologiesSequestration Technologies

Continued progress in reducingpollution to improve public healthand the environment can beaccomplished while supplying thereliable, affordable power neededfor economic growth and advancingcleaner energy technologies such ascarbon capture and sequestration(CCS). CCS is technologically feasiblefor implementation at new coal-firedpower plants, and its corecomponents — carbon dioxidecapture, compression, transportation,and storage — have beenimplemented successfully atcommercial scale.

As part of the President’sClimate Action Plan, the U.S. hasinvested several billions of dollarsinto the research and developmentof CCS technologies, including thoseaiming to develop innovative,second-generation technologies thatwill help improve the efficiency anddrive down the costs of carboncapture processes for new andexisting coal-fired power plants.

Advancing Clean EnergyAdvancing Clean EnergyAdvancing Clean EnergyAdvancing Clean EnergyAdvancing Clean EnergyPresident Obama has also taken

an all-in approach to innovation thatstarts with a strong commitment tobasic and applied energy. That is whythis Administration has made thelargest investment in clean energy inAmerican history and has launchedseveral initiatives to advance cleanenergy deployment. Since PresidentObama took office, the U.S. hasincreased solar electricity generationby more than ten-fold, and tripledelectricity production from windpower.

Building on the progress of thefirst term, this Administrationcontinues to take new action to driveclean, American-made energy.Through initiatives such as public-private partnerships and renewableenergy projects on public lands, weare on track to meet our goals of





installing 100 megawatts ofrenewable capacity across federallysubsidized housing by 2020,permitting 10 gigawatts of renewableprojects on public lands by 2020,deploying 3 gigawatts of renewableenergy on military installations by2025, and doubling wind and solarelectricity generation in the UnitedStates by 2025.

The President called onCongress to make the renewableenergy Production Tax Creditpermanent and refundable, whichwill provide incentive and certaintyfor investments in new clean energy.Instead of continuing century-oldsubsidies to oil companies, thePresident believes that we need toinvest in the energy of the future.

And we’ve seen progress: Onlyfour years ago, President Obamaannounced SunShot — a goal tomake solar energy cost-competitivewith traditional energy sources by theend of the decade. Today, U.S. solaris more than 60 percent of the waythere. The cost of geothermal andadvanced biofuels is also dropping,and since 2008, the cost ofmanufacturing advanced electricvehicle batteries has dropped by

more than 65 percent. Additionally,in May 2014, the Obamaadministration launched a process forsecuring commitments from thepublic and private sectors to cutenergy waste and deploy morerenewable energy.

Advancing Energy EfficiencyAdvancing Energy EfficiencyAdvancing Energy EfficiencyAdvancing Energy EfficiencyAdvancing Energy EfficiencyCutting our energy waste is one

of the fastest, easiest, and cheapestways to create jobs, save familiesmoney, and cut down on harmfulcarbon pollution. The Obamaadministration has taken severalactions that advance energyefficiency in our vehicles and homes.Through partnerships with ruralelectric cooperatives, homeefficiency upgrades, and private-sector partnerships such as thePresident’s Better BuildingsChallenge, America has been able tocut its carbon emissions, create jobs,and save families hundreds of dollarsat the pump and on their utility billsevery year. In fact, since PresidentObama took office, U.S. oil demandhas declined, in part because ofthese efficiency initiatives.

Developing Clean FuelsDeveloping Clean FuelsDeveloping Clean FuelsDeveloping Clean FuelsDeveloping Clean Fuels

Biofuels are a key componentof President Obama’s all-of-the-above energy strategy and play animportant role in reducing America’sdependence on foreign oil. TheObama administration has supportedresearch and engaged in public-private partnerships to pursue newinnovations in biofuels technologies,increase production of U.S. biofuels,strengthen American energy security,and create jobs.

Reducing Our DependenceReducing Our DependenceReducing Our DependenceReducing Our DependenceReducing Our Dependenceon Foreign Oilon Foreign Oilon Foreign Oilon Foreign Oilon Foreign Oil

All-of-the-above energystrategy aims to harness Americaninnovation and develop a diverseportfolio of American-made energy.USA safely and responsiblydeveloping energy resources whileadvancing cleaner forms of energy,such as natural gas and renewables.In November 2013, America hit amilestone of energy independence:For the first time in nearly twodecades, the U.S. produced more oildomestically than it imported fromforeign sources. And the U.S. is nowthe number-one natural gas producerin the world.

Rohit SinghRohit SinghRohit SinghRohit SinghRohit Singh

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Iraq IssueIraq IssueIraq IssueIraq IssueIraq Issue




Iraq has descended into bloodywar , it has to fight ISIS led sunnimilitant as well as Kurdish fighters.Overall, at least 1,300 people werekilled and another 1,250 injured inIraq. Government has lost a Northernand easternportion to sunni andkurdish seperatist respectively. Thebeleaguered Prime Minister of Iraq,Nouri al-Maliki, is the latest in the longlist of the West’s favorite politicalleaders turned into pariahs. Theconventional wisdom now is thatMaliki’s flaws and wrong policies,especially his alienation of the Sunnisand dictatorial style of governance,are at the root of Iraq’s problems. Butin truth this war is a spillover of manyfactors like Syrian war, Geopolitics,Internal politics of Iraq anddemography of Iraq.

First let’s look at theFirst let’s look at theFirst let’s look at theFirst let’s look at theFirst let’s look at theexternal factors involved in theexternal factors involved in theexternal factors involved in theexternal factors involved in theexternal factors involved in thecrisis:-crisis:-crisis:-crisis:-crisis:-

Conflicting U.S. policyobjectives in the region have led tocurrent problem. It has proved to bedifficult — indeed impossible — toeliminate Saddam but produce astable Iraq; to isolate Iran and possibly

change its regime; to get rid of Assadin Syria without exacerbating its civilwar; to forge a Sunni-Israeli allianceagainst Shia Iran. They removed andexecuted Saddam Hussain on thegrounds of terrorism and mass killing.On the other hand they have notstopped ISIS militant group to gainground in the region and now ISIS iskilling people on religious grounds.Analyst say West could have donemore to stop Saudis and others,including Turkey and Qatar, fromfunding Sunni insurgents.

The most significant factorbehind Iraq’s problems has been theinability of Iraq’s neighbours to comein terms with Iraq government. This isprimary because of Shia and sunnidivide, with Turkey and Saudi Arabiabeing Sunni dominated and Iraqbeing predominantly Shiadominated. Turkey which used torule the Ottoman empire alsosupported the possibility of whatTurkey’s Foreign Minister AhmetDavutog ¢lu favoured as “neo-Ottomanism,” the Turkishgovernment called for the removal ofSyrian President Assad and the

emergence of a pro-Istanbul government there. Turkeyopened its borders to internationalmilitants, with fighters fromLibya and Chechnya flying intoTurkey to cross into Syria to fight forISIS and its offshoots. Saudi Arabiaalso funded and providedpolitical support for jihadis in theregion.

Now look at the internalproblems of Iraq government. PM ofmaliki has been blamed of beingsectarian and promoting Shia’s forjob’s in government and also for allimportant decision making positions.After NATO forces left Iraq, littlehasbeen invested for the modernizationand training of armed forces.Recruitment for armed forces hasbeen done on sectarian grounds andShia’s are promoted. This is fueled bydeep divide between Shia’s andsunni’s in muslim world in general andIraq in particular. Sunni’s havetraditionally ruled Iraq for centuriesin ottoman empire and afterindependence also found it difficultto come in terms with Shia dominatedgovernment.

IRAQ ISSUE

Iraq IssueIraq IssueIraq IssueIraq IssueIraq Issue




Iraq’s Sunni Arabs have notbeen alone in undermining theauthority of the country’s Shialeadership. Masood Barzani, whodreams of an independent Kurdistan,has also done what he can toundermine the authority of thegovernment in Baghdad, byessentially running his owneconomic, oil, and foreign policies.A factor in Barzani’s attitude has beenhis anti-Iran sentiments, which goback to the troubles that his father,Mulla Mustafa Barzani, had with theShah.

Iraq and IndiaIraq and IndiaIraq and IndiaIraq and IndiaIraq and India

An estimated 22,000 Indiannationals were in Iraq at thebeginning of the conflict. Thisincluded 500 in Baghdad, 2,300 inNajaf, 1,000 in Karbala, 3,000 in Basra,15,000 in Kurdistan and about 200 inother cities. Some Indians gottrapped in the conflict areasfollowing sudden attacks andcapturing of several cities in northernand central Iraq by the Islamic Stateof Iraq and Sham (ISIS) beginning 8June. A group of 46 nurses workingin a local hospital in the city of Tikritgot stuck due to the conflict, butwere safely brought back to India ina special Air India flight on 5 July.Another group of about 41 Indiannationals working in a constructioncompany in Mosul were taken captiveby an unidentified group.

On 19 June, the Governmentsuspended emigration clearance toIraq, until further notification andadvised Indian nationals to avoid alltravel to Iraq. The Government issuedtravel advisories on 15 June, 24 Juneand 28 June advising Indian nationalsto leave Iraq by commercial means.Our nationals living in areas affectedby the ongoing armed conflict havebeen advised to stay indoors as far aspossible and to remain in contact withour Embassy in Baghdad fornecessary guidance and updatedinformation on the evolving security

situation. Those Indian nationals, whodo not have travel documents orneed other consular services, havebeen advised to seek assistance fromour Embassy in Baghdad. India’sMission in Baghdad and the Ministryof External Affairs have established24 hour help lines to assist Indian’s inIraq and their concerned familymembers in India. The Governmenthas set up special camp offices inNajaf, Karbala and Basra andstrengthened our Embassy inBaghdad through the addition of 25staff members.

India negotiated with ISIS whohave kidnapped its nationals in Mosulwith the assistance of Saudi Arabia,which has influence in the region andwithin ISIS. Government of Indialooked for every other help as well. Itcontacted red crescent onlyInternational organisation in theregion. It has approached Russia toassist them in release of abductedIndians. The US is providing Indiainformation by decoding messages ofthe ISIS from cyberspace. The IndianNavy has deployed INS Mysore,warship in the Persian Gulf. The Navyhas another warship INS Tarkashdeployed in the Gulf of Aden and ifrequired, both the ships can bepressed into evacuation operations

Crisis of Iraq has long termrepercussions for the region andbeyond. ISIS cheif Bakr al-Baghdadi declaring theformation of the Caliphate, with himas the Caliph. It is the first return ofa Caliphate since KemalAtaturk’s Turkish National Assemblyabolished it in 1924. He declaredthat borders inside the world of Islamare no longer applicable. Al-Baghdadi’s declaration comes afterISIS threatened to make itspresence felt outside the territory itnow controls. Bomb blasts in Beirut,Lebanon, hinted at ISIS’ reach. Whichcould be a threat to democracy’s andterrorist activities could riseworldwide. With Iraq controlling

large oil reserves, petroleum priceshave already seen a spike. Theadvance of the Al-Qaeda splintergroup, the Islamic State in Iraq andSyria (ISIS) and its allies towardsBaghdad appears to have beenstalled, but the grave situation in Iraqneeds to be dealt with militarily aswell as politically. Need for nationaldialogue, for unity, and, veryimportantly, for the full participationof the all community in the politicalprocess is absolute necessity forpeace in Iraq.

Chronology of events in IraqChronology of events in IraqChronology of events in IraqChronology of events in IraqChronology of events in Iraq

2014 January -2014 January -2014 January -2014 January -2014 January - Pro-al-Qaeda fighters infiltrate Fallujahand Ramadi after months ofmounting violence in mainly-SunniAnbar province. Governmentforces recapture Ramadi but faceentrenched rebels in Fallujah.

2014 March - 2014 March - 2014 March - 2014 March - 2014 March - The electoralcommission board tendersresignation in protest at what it saysis political interference ahead ofparliamentary elections, amidallegations opposition candidatesare being barred using acontroversial legal clause.

2014 April - 2014 April - 2014 April - 2014 April - 2014 April - Prime MinisterAl-Maliki’s coalition wins a pluralityat first parliamentary election since2011 withdrawal of US troops, butfalls short of a majority.

2014 June - 2014 June - 2014 June - 2014 June - 2014 June - Sunni rebelsled by the Islamic State of Iraq andthe Levant (ISIS) surge out of AnbarProvince to seize Iraq’s second cityof Mosul, moving on to the oilrefinery centre of Baiji. Tens ofthousands flee amid reports ofatrocities. Iran and the US offerassistance.

2014 July-2014 July-2014 July-2014 July-2014 July- U.S. said it will notinvolve ground troops in the Iraqwar. It will only send a small teamfor assistance and training of Iraqforces.

Abhishek SinghAbhishek SinghAbhishek SinghAbhishek SinghAbhishek Singh

National IssuesNational IssuesNational IssuesNational IssuesNational Issues




First CM of TelanganaFirst CM of TelanganaFirst CM of TelanganaFirst CM of TelanganaFirst CM of Telangana

• Telangana Rashtriya Samiti(TRS) chief K ChandrashekharRao was sworn in as the firstChief Minister of Telangana,which became the 29th stateof India.

• Eleven ministers have alsotaken oath in K ChandrasekharRao’s Cabinet in the new stateof Telangana.

• Rao hoisted the tricolour andtook salute at an impressiveparade held at Parade Grounds,Secunderabad.

• In his first public address as theCM, Rao vowed to makeTelangana a model state in allrespects and said that welfareand development would bethe two driving forces of hisgovernment.

• The Telangana governmentwould maintain cordialrelationship not only with theCentre but also neighbouringstates.

• Rooting out “politicalcorruption” would also be top

worldwide the total number ofroad traffic deaths remainunacceptably high at 1.24million per year.

• Only 28 countries, covering 7per cent of the world’spopulation, havecomprehensive road safetylaws on five key risk factors:drinking and driving, speeding,and failing to use motorcyclehelmets, seat-belts, and childrestraints.

• For India, the report notes therising fatalities in road accidents– rising from 8 deaths per lakhof population to nearly 12 in2010. Sixteen per cent of allsuch deaths occur in fourwheeled cars and 32 per centin two or three wheelers.

Execution of death rowExecution of death rowExecution of death rowExecution of death rowExecution of death rowconvict Yakub Memonconvict Yakub Memonconvict Yakub Memonconvict Yakub Memonconvict Yakub Memon

• The Supreme Court has stayedthe execution of death rowconvict Yakub Abdul RazakMemon, a key conspirator alongwith Dawood Ibrahim in the1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.

• The mercy plea of Memon wasrejected by President PranabMukherjee on May 21.

• The decision was taken by thePresident followingrecommendations of theMaharashtra government and

on his agenda to ensuretransparent governance.

Road safety in IndiaRoad safety in IndiaRoad safety in IndiaRoad safety in IndiaRoad safety in India

• Every four minutes a life is lostin a road accident in India with1,40,000 deaths recorded in2012 alone. In the past decade,over a million people have losttheir lives in road accidents inthe country and over 5 millionhave been left seriously injuredor permanently disabled.

• According to Save LIFEFoundation, an advocacygroup which aims to reducethe high number of roadaccident deaths in Indiathrough rapid emergency carefor injured victims, “road safetyhas been a victim of India’spolicy paralysis since 2001".

• The World Health Organization2013 Global Status Report onRoad Safety indicates that





the Union home ministry thatthe mercy petition of Memonbe rejected.

• A bench comprising justice JSKhehar and justice C Nagappanissued a notice to theMaharashtra government andothers on the plea of Memonand said “executionproceedings will remainstayed”.

• The court also referred to aConstitution Bench a plea ofMemon that review petitions indeath penalty cases should notbe heard by the apex court inchamber proceedings and bedecided in open court.

Sumitra MahajanSumitra MahajanSumitra MahajanSumitra MahajanSumitra Mahajan

• Eight-term member SumitraMahajan was unanimouslyelected Speaker of the 16thLok Sabha, becoming thesecond woman presidingofficer of the Lower House afterher predecessor Meira Kumar.

• 71-year-old Mahajan, thelongest-serving woman MP,was elected after a motionmoved by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi and secondedby BJP veteran L K Advani wasadopted by voice vote calledby Protem Speaker Kamal Nath.

• 13 similar motions proposedand seconded by severalparties in the ruling NDA as alsoin the opposition supportingMahajan were also approved bythe House.

• An active parliamentarian, shehas not only headed importantcommittees, but has also been

a keen debater and avidquestioner inside the House,often seen putting ministers onthe mat with her calm but firminterventions.

• The mild-mannered Mahajanhas over the years emerged asa force to reckon with in Indorewhere she never lost since shefirst became an MP in 1989 anda generation of oppositionleaders have been waiting totrounce her.

• She, however, had lost theIndore Assembly electionthrice before becoming an MP.

• Ms. Mahajan won her LokSabha seat for the eighthconsecutive time in thiselection by an impressivemargin of 4.67 lakh votes.

• Within the BJP, Ms. Mahajan hasgrown from being President ofthe BJP Mahila Morcha inMadhya Pradesh in 1990 tobeing the national generalsecretary in 1998.

Demise of Union MinisterDemise of Union MinisterDemise of Union MinisterDemise of Union MinisterDemise of Union MinisterGopinath MundeGopinath MundeGopinath MundeGopinath MundeGopinath Munde

• President Pranab Mukherjeehas condoled the untimelydemise of Union MinisterGopinath Munde and said thecountry has lost a veteranleader who always worked forthe common man.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modisaid he was extremelysaddened by the demise of his“friend” and cabinet colleagueGopinath Munde, whom hehailed as a “true mass leader.”

• The party and government, he

said, stands by the bereavedfamily members of the 64-year-old leader.

• The President, expressing hisshock, grief and sorrow overthe death of Munde, said thathis passing away is a huge lossfor the people of Maharashtraand India.Munde, the Rural DevelopmentMinister and the OBC face ofBJP in Maharashtra, diedapparently of shock andcardiac arrest suffered duringa road accident.

• Munde, who made his entry intothe Union Cabinet for the firsttime after the Lok Sabha polls,was on his way to the airportwhen his car was hit by anothervehicle.

LoP in Rajya SabhaLoP in Rajya SabhaLoP in Rajya SabhaLoP in Rajya SabhaLoP in Rajya Sabha

• Ghulam Nabi Azad is set tobecome Leader of theOpposition in Rajya Sabha afterhis appointment as leader ofCongress in the Upper House.

• Anand Sharma was madedeputy leader of the party.Since Congress has therequisite number to claim thepost of Leader of theOpposition in the UpperHouse, Mr. Azad would be thenatural choice.

Four Cabinet panels dissolvedFour Cabinet panels dissolvedFour Cabinet panels dissolvedFour Cabinet panels dissolvedFour Cabinet panels dissolved• Ten days after ‘abolition’ of all

Group of Ministers (GoMs) andEmpowered Group ofMinisters (EGoMs) ‘for greateraccountability andempowerment’, the Prime





Minister Narendra Modiannounced discontinuation offour Standing Committees ofthe Cabinet.

• A statement by the PrimeMinister’s Office (PMO) said thefunctions of CabinetCommittee on Management ofNatural Calamities which standsdiscontinued will be handledby the Committee under theCabinet Secretary whenevernatural calamities occur.

• Functions of CabinetCommittee on Prices will behandled by the CabinetCommittee on EconomicAffairs; of the CabinetCommittee on World TradeOrganisation Matters by theCabinet Committee onEconomic Affairs and,whenever necessary, by the fullCabinet and on the CabinetCommittee on UniqueIdentification Authority of Indiarelated issues it said that majordecisions in this area havealready been taken and theremaining issues will bebrought to the CabinetCommittee on EconomicAffairs.

First session of 16th LokFirst session of 16th LokFirst session of 16th LokFirst session of 16th LokFirst session of 16th LokSabhaSabhaSabhaSabhaSabha

• The first session of the 16th LokSabha adjourned sine die afterthe adoption of the motion ofthanks to the President’saddress.

• With very little disruption ofproceedings, all the businesslisted for this short session wastransacted on schedule. Thisincluded the swearing-in of thenewly election members, theelection of Speaker andadoption of the motion ofthanks.

Four new ordinancesFour new ordinancesFour new ordinancesFour new ordinancesFour new ordinances

• Four pending ordinances will

be passed in the budgetsession of Parliament

• While two of the ordinanceswere promulgated by theprevious UPA Twogovernment, two more werecleared by the BJP-led NDAgovernment — that was swornin on May 26 — in quicksuccession on May 28 and May29.

• The two that the NDAgovernment inherited relate toamendments to strengthen theprovisions of The ScheduledCastes and the ScheduledTribes (Prevention ofAtrocities) Act and theSecurities and ExchangeBoard Act, while the onespromulgated by the currentgovernment are The TelecomRegulatory Authority of India(Amendment) Ordinance,2014 and The Andhra PradeshReorganisation (Amendment)Ordinance, 2014.

• If the TRAI (Amendment)Ordinance cleared on May 28ensured that the governmentcould appoint Nripendra Misraas Principal Secretary to thePrime Minister, the APordinance was promulgated onMay 29, ahead of the officialdivision of the state on June 2.

• In promulgating the TRAIordinance, the Modi-led NDAgovernment has reversed adecision taken in 2000 by theVajpayee-led NDAadministration: the TRAI Acthad been amended in 2000 tobar the TRAI chairman from

taking up future governmentassignment.

Mukul RohatgiMukul RohatgiMukul RohatgiMukul RohatgiMukul Rohatgi

• Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgiwas recently appointed as thenew Attorney General (AG)and will have a tenure of threeyears.

• The Law Ministry issued aformal notification appointinghim as the top law officer of theNDA government.

• The government has alreadyappointed Ranjit Kumar as theSolicitor General. SixAdditional Solicitors Generalhave also been appointed.

• Mr. Rohatgi took over from G.E.Vahanvati as the 14th AG of thecountry. Mr. Vahanvati hadresigned following a change ofthe government at the Centre.

No special category status forNo special category status forNo special category status forNo special category status forNo special category status forSeemandhraSeemandhraSeemandhraSeemandhraSeemandhra

• The residual Andhra Pradesh,known as Seemandhra, can’tbe accorded the status ofspecial category State toprovide extra Central aid underthe current norms, the PlanningCommission has said.

• “Andhra Pradesh(Seemandhra) does not meetNational Development Councilcriteria (for special categorystate),” the Commission said inits presentation to PlanningMinister Inderjit Singh Rao.

• This point is significant becausethe Union Cabinet headed byformer Prime MinisterManmohan Singh on March 2





had directed the Commissionto accord special categorystatus to the successor ofAndhra Pradesh (Seemandhra)for five years.

• Singh had even announced inthe Rajya Sabha on February 21that special category statuswould be extended toSeemandhra for five years.

• The Commission, however, hasintimated to Rajasthan, Odishaand Jharkhand that they areeligible for getting SCS as perthe criteria.

• About according SCS toSeemandhra, the Commissionpointed out to the Minister thatany such proposal would haveto be endorsed by the country’sapex planning body NationalDevelopment Council (NDC)headed by the Prime Ministerwith Cabinet Ministers and allChief Ministers on its board.

• As per the Gadgil—Mukherjeeformula for devolution ofCentral assistance for stateplans, 30 per cent of the totalfunds is earmarked for SpecialCategory States.

• As against the composition ofCentral assistance of 30 percent grant and 70 per cent loanfor major States, specialcategory states receive 90 percent plan assistance as grantand just 10 per cent as loan.

• The special category status tovarious States in accorded bythe NDC based onconsideration of a set criteria.

Bill banning dance barsBill banning dance barsBill banning dance barsBill banning dance barsBill banning dance bars

• Dance bars are set to bebanned once in Maharashtra,with both houses of the statelegislature passing a bill to thiseffect . The ban will beextended from beer bars tothree and five star hotels, whichwere spared earlier.

• The bill proposes a fine of upto

Rs 5 lakhs and imprisonment ofupto 3 years against those whoviolate the ban. The licensesuch establishments will also becancelled.

• This comes almost a year afterthe Supreme Court had liftedthe ban on the state’s dancebars, calling it a violation on thedancers’ fundamental right toearn a living. The apex courthad also objected to luxuryhotels being selectively ex-cluded from the ban.

• Initially, the Maharashtra gov-ernment planned to refer thebill to a Select Committee, butfinally ended up tabling it in theState Assembly, where it waspassed unanimously withoutmuch debate. The State Coun-cil too passed the bill unani-mously.

• The Maharashtra governmenthad banned dance bars in thestate in 2005. In 2006, theBombay High Court struckdown the ban as unconstitu-tional. This stand was upheldby the Supreme Court in 2013.

• The new bill however, allowsdancing in cultural events andfestivals even if they are held inluxury hotels. Dancing ingymkhanas and theatres willalso be permitted.

• Meanwhile, women’s groupshave already said they willapproach the court against thebill, saying it discriminatesagainst the rights of the dancersto earn a living in theentertainment industry.

Secure sea lanes and India’sSecure sea lanes and India’sSecure sea lanes and India’sSecure sea lanes and India’sSecure sea lanes and India’sgrowth storygrowth storygrowth storygrowth storygrowth story

• Prime Minister Narendra Modihas conveyed hisgovernment’s sharp focus onmodernising the country’sdefence infrastructure andtying maritime security toIndia’s growth story.

• Advocating infusion of newtechnology and indigenisationto produce weapons andplatforms, Mr. Modi signalledthat Indian-produced militaryhardware could find a niche incountries belonging to theglobal South.

• By choosing the giant aircraftcarrier as his first outing to adefence establishment, PrimeMinister Narendra Modiseemed to convey that India’slong-held aspiration ofestablishing a footprint in theIndian Ocean — which wasdrawing several competingpowers — had not beenextinguished.

Government to rectify LokpalGovernment to rectify LokpalGovernment to rectify LokpalGovernment to rectify LokpalGovernment to rectify Lokpalselection processselection processselection processselection processselection process

• The Narendra Modigovernment, which chargedthe erstwhile UPA governmentwith framing rules for the SelectCommittee to choose theLokpal against the letter andspirit of the law, has set inmotion the process to ‘rectify’the situation.The FinanceMinister and the Leader of theHouse in the Rajya Sabha ArunJaitley informed the House last





week that the rules framed bythe Manmohan Singhgovernment for the SelectionCommittee were contrary tothe Act with the ulterior motiveof controlling the Lokpal.

• According to officials in theDepartment of Personnel andTraining (DoPT) work hasbegun to effect changes in therules on the mandate of thesearch committee which willbe notified soon.As perexisting rules, an eight-membersearch committee is taskedwith drawing up a panel ofpersons for consideration bythe selection committee led byPrime Minister. These personshave to be chosen from amongthe panel provided by theDoPT, the rules say.

• However, the government willnow empower the search com-mittee to include people fromoutside the list provided byDoPT for consideration by thecommittee, the sourcessaid.Besides, the DoPT has writ-ten to the Law Ministry to vetrules formed on filing of prop-erty returns by governmentemployees under the Lokpalregime.

• As per the Lokpal andLokayuktas Act, every publicservant shall make a declarationof his or her assets andliabilities.The Lokpal andLokayuktas Act provides for theestablishment of a Lokpal forthe Union and Lokayuktas forthe States to enquire into cor-ruption charges against publicfunctionaries.

• Outlining Narendra Modigovernment’s road map, Presi-dent Pranab Mukherjee lastweek in his address to the JointSession of Parliament said thatthe government “is committedto providing a clean and effi-cient administration focused ondelivery. “

State violating its own policyState violating its own policyState violating its own policyState violating its own policyState violating its own policy

• A Division Bench of the KeralaHigh Court asked the Stategovernment to file an affidaviton the bar licence issue whileorally observing that thegovernment was acting againstits own policy of reducingliquor consumption.

• The Bench comprising JusticeHarun-Ul-Rasheed and JusticeAnil K. Narendran made theobservation when appeals filedby some bar hoteliers against asingle judge’s order refusing tointerfere in the bar licenceissue came up for hearing. Thecourt orally observed that theState government shouldreduce the number ofbeverages corporation’soutlets as well if it intended to

bring down liquorconsumption.

• The government was allottingmore bar licences under theguise of promoting tourism. Infact, the government whichwas bound to implement itsown policy was violating thesame policy. The governmentshould try to reduce liquorconsumption in a time boundmanner.

• The government submittedthat a decision on the renewalof licences would be takenbased on the report of theSecretary (Taxes) on therecommendations of a one-man commission appointed toformulate the abakri policyparameters.

• The Bench directed thegovernment to file the counteraffidavit. The petitionersalleged that the governmentwas discriminating againstthem. They were entitled to gettheir licences renewed, as theirhotels had not been includedon the list of the 418 sub-standard bars in the State.

Fewer students are getting mid-day mealFewer students are getting mid-day mealFewer students are getting mid-day mealFewer students are getting mid-day mealFewer students are getting mid-day meal

• Despite the huge expenditure on education under the previous UnitedProgressive Alliance government, latest statistics on elementary edu-cation show that the percentage of government and aided schoolsproviding mid-day meals to students has dropped from 94.83 in 2012-2013 to 88.60 in 2013-14.





• A similar drop has also beenwitnessed in the percentage ofschools providing mid-daymeals prepared outside theschool premises. According tothe data collected by theNational University ofEducational Planning andAdministration on elementaryeducation for the last fiscal, thepercentage of schoolsproviding meals cookedoutside had dropped from12.53 to 9.45.

• In all States barring UttarPradesh, Manipur andNagaland, the mid-day mealcoverage is over 90 per cent.While Manipur and Nagalandimproved their coverage in2013-14, Uttar Pradesh is oneof the four States which saw adrop that is reflected in thenational average.

• The coverage of the scheme inUttar Pradesh went down from87.86 per cent to 82.99 percent.

• Besides U.P., Punjab witnesseda significant drop with thecoverage going down from96.37 per cent to 91.42 percent. Other States where therehas been a drop in coverageare: Delhi from 98.01 to 97.53per cent, Goa from 96.04 percent to 92.64 per cent andRajasthan from 97.88 per centto 97.7 per cent.

• Percentage of aided schoolswith coverage drops from 94.3to 88.6 in past year.

Advances hearing of pleaAdvances hearing of pleaAdvances hearing of pleaAdvances hearing of pleaAdvances hearing of pleaagainst Suhag’s appointmentagainst Suhag’s appointmentagainst Suhag’s appointmentagainst Suhag’s appointmentagainst Suhag’s appointmentby SCby SCby SCby SCby SC

• The Supreme Court agreed toadvance the hearing of a pleaby Lt. Gen. Ravi Dastaneseeking a stay on theappointment of Lt. Gen. DalbirSingh Suhag as the Army chief,saying his rise in rank to Army

Commander of EasternCommand two years back was“wholly illegal.”

• Lt. Gen. Dastane, who was oneof the contenders for the ArmyCommander’s post along withLt. Gen. Suhag in 2012, claimshe has “strong prima facie case”against the latter.He has filedthe application in a pendingappeal challenging an order ofthe Armed Forces Tribunal,dismissing his allegationsagainst Lt. Gen. Suhag. Theapplication seeks to restrain Lt.Gen. Suhag from taking over asthe Army Chief.

• Defence Minister Arun Jaitleyrecently stood firmly by thegovernment’s stand to appointLt. Gen. Suhag.Mr. Jaitley wascompelled to step in and clearthe air after an affidavit filed bythe Defence Ministry in theSupreme Court as a counter toLt. Gen. Dastane’s case had putthe government in a spot. Theaffidavit blamed General(Retd) V.K. Singh, former Armychief and now a Minister ofState in the Modi government,of taking an “illegal,premeditated” course to stallthe promotion of Lt. Gen.Suhag as Army Commander in2012.

• Appearing for Lt. Gen. Dastane,advocate R.K. Anand sought anearly hearing as his client’s casewould become infructuousonce Lt. Gen. Suhag takes overfrom Army chief GeneralBikram Simgh on July 31,2014.The Bench posted thematter for second week of July.

Chhattisgarh GovernorChhattisgarh GovernorChhattisgarh GovernorChhattisgarh GovernorChhattisgarh GovernorShekhar Dutt resignsShekhar Dutt resignsShekhar Dutt resignsShekhar Dutt resignsShekhar Dutt resigns

• Chhattisgarh Governor ShekharDutt sent his resignation toPresident Pranab Mukharjee onWednesday night. “ShriShekhar Dutt has put in his

paper to the president ofIndia,” said Mr. Aman Singh,Secretary, Public Relations,Chhattisgarh in a statementissued to the media.

• Mr. Dutt’s term was to end inJanuary next year. An IASofficer of 1969 batch of MadhyaPradesh cadre, he served asDefence Secretary and theDeputy National SecurityAdviser under the UPAgovernment before beingappointed as ChhattisgarhGovernor in January 2010.

• Mr. Dutt’s resignation comesamid reports of pressure onUPA-appointed Governors toresign. However, the exactreason of his resignation couldnot be confirmed. On Tuesday,Uttar Pradesh Governor B.L.Joshi submitted his resignationto President Pranab Mukherjee.

PMO has no intention toPMO has no intention toPMO has no intention toPMO has no intention toPMO has no intention toimpose Hindi on any Stateimpose Hindi on any Stateimpose Hindi on any Stateimpose Hindi on any Stateimpose Hindi on any State

• After the Union HomeMinistry’s May 27 instruction togovernment departments touse Hindi compulsorily in theirsocial media communicationsspiralled into a politicalcontroversy, the PrimeMinister’s Office (PMO)clarified that the directive





applied only to Hindi-speakingStates and did not amount to achange in policy.This is neithera new policy nor an attempt toimpose the use of Hindi on anynon-Hindi-speaking State.

• The PMO clarification came inthe wake of loud protests fromTamil Nadu, capped by a letterfrom Chief Minister Jayalalithaawho urged Prime MinisterNarendra Modi to ensure “thatEnglish is used on socialmedia.”

• The release said the instructionwas only a follow-up to theMinistry’s circular on March 10— when the United ProgressiveAlliance was in power — to thesame effect. “It was a routinecircular and the governmenthas no intention to imposeHindi on any State.

Supreme Court to get 3 newSupreme Court to get 3 newSupreme Court to get 3 newSupreme Court to get 3 newSupreme Court to get 3 newjudgesjudgesjudgesjudgesjudges

• President Pranab Mukherjeehas cleared the elevation of theChief Justices of Calcutta andOrissa High Courts Arun Mishraand Adarsh Kumar Goel,respectively, and senior lawyersRohinton Nariman as SupremeCourt judges.

• Earlier this week, the LawMinistry sent the file to thePresident after removing thename of the former Solicitor-General Gopal Subramanium.The Centre returned his nameto the collegium headed byChief Justice of India R.M.Lodha for reconsideration.

• The warrant of appointment is

expected to be issued nextweek to enable them to assumeoffice when the courtreconvenes on June 30 after thesummer holidays. With theirappointment, the strength ofjudges in the court will go upto 28, as against the sanctioned31. However Justices B.S.Chauhan and S.K. Prasad aredue to retire in July; the ChiefJustice on September 27; andMs. Justice Ranjana Desai onOctober 29.

New Telangana State has notNew Telangana State has notNew Telangana State has notNew Telangana State has notNew Telangana State has notbeen noticed by the UPSC yetbeen noticed by the UPSC yetbeen noticed by the UPSC yetbeen noticed by the UPSC yetbeen noticed by the UPSC yet

• The birth of new TelanganaState has not been noticed bythe Union Public ServiceCommission (UPSC), or it seemsso, and aspirants of variousUPSC exams are unable toprovide the correct details inthe online application formwhile applying to various posts.

• The UPSC website for onlinesubmissions ‘upsconline.nic.in’still shows only Andhra Pradeshin its list of States and Telanganaresidents are in a dilemmawhether to choose AndhraPradesh as their state, and ifthey choose will they end upwith some problems in futurefor selecting the wrong State.They are more worried as thelast date of a few exams willend this month.

• For example, aspirants for CivilServices preliminary exam haveto apply online by June 30while those aspiring for NationalDefence Academy (NDA) andNaval Academy Examinationneed to apply before July 21.Apart from these, vacancieshave also been announced invarious departments likeInformation Service, BorderRoad Transport organisation,Power Department, Directorateof Health and Family Welfare

among others.• After the formation of

Telangana on June 2 this year,aspirants say, four notificationshave been issued by the UPSCand the dilemma continues forall the aspirants. The ‘error’ maycost the aspirants as they fearthat their applications may berejected by the software infuture once Telangana entersthe list. Moreover, unsuccessfulcandidates may use theinformation to create legalhurdles for the selectedcandidates, aspirants argue.

Modi govt. to focus on publicModi govt. to focus on publicModi govt. to focus on publicModi govt. to focus on publicModi govt. to focus on publicgrievances, defence, Centre-grievances, defence, Centre-grievances, defence, Centre-grievances, defence, Centre-grievances, defence, Centre-State relationsState relationsState relationsState relationsState relations

• As the BJP-led NDAgovernment completes its firstmonth in office later this week,Prime Minister Narendra Modihas zeroed in on three key areaswhere he wants the PMO to paygreater attention.Mr. Modi has given top priorityto streamlining the mechanismof redressal of publicgrievances, improving Centre-State relations and meeting therequirements of the armedforces. The PMO would have aspecial cell to monitor theprogress in resolving issuesrelating to these three priorityareas.

• On Centre-State relations, thePrime Minister has directed hisoffice that any request from aState government forassistance should not be keptpending. He wants senior PMO





bureaucrats to regularly meetrepresentatives from the States.

• The Prime Minister has alreadybeen given detailed briefingsby the chief of the each of thethree wings of the armed forces– Army, Navy and the Air Forceas well as the DefenceSecretary. He has asked thethree service chiefs and theDefence Ministry to furnish alist of their priorities onmodernisation andrequirements of weapons andother gadge.

Central govt. to simplify lawsCentral govt. to simplify lawsCentral govt. to simplify lawsCentral govt. to simplify lawsCentral govt. to simplify lawsfor single window clearancefor single window clearancefor single window clearancefor single window clearancefor single window clearance

• As the BJP-led NDAgovernment completes its firstmonth in office, Law andJustice Minister Ravi ShankarPrasad said his Ministry wasworking towards meetingPrime Minister Narendra Modi’scommitment to provide a singlewindow clearance for projects.This, he said, would improvethe investment climate andsend a clear message to foreigninvestors that they could freelyinvest in India.

• Mr. Prasad, who is also theTelecom Minister, said therewas an impression that Indiawas one of the most over-regulated countries in theworld and one had to obtain20 or odd clearances for aproject and this affectedinvestment climate. He said hehad asked the Law Commissionto examine whether so manyclearances were needed for

approvals.• “The Commission has been

asked to submit a report inconsultation with trade bodieslike Confederation of IndianIndustry, with a suggestion increating a more enabledbusiness atmosphere, viz. howmany clearances you need fora project with certainmandatory clearances.

• Also to tell the governmentwhether we can have a processof self-certification from theproject proponents that everylaw had been followed, with arider that in the event ofviolation there will be seriouspunishment.

33 per cent reservation for33 per cent reservation for33 per cent reservation for33 per cent reservation for33 per cent reservation forwomen in the police force inwomen in the police force inwomen in the police force inwomen in the police force inwomen in the police force inGujratGujratGujratGujratGujrat

• In a pioneering move, GujaratChief Minister Anandiben Patelannounced 33 per centreservation for women in thepolice force.It is necessary toempower women for theiruplift in the society.It will beimplemented in all cadres.

• The path-breaking initiativecomes at a time when crimeagainst women is on the rise inseveral states and is undermedia spotlight followingalleged rape and murder oftwo minor girls in Badaun inUttar Pradesh.

• Gujarat will be the first state inIndia to implement 33 per centreservation for women in thepolice force.The sanctionedposts in Gujarat Police is

around 60,000, around 10,000more than its present strength.There are around 2500policewomen in the State atpresent. If the governmentmanages to fill all 33 per centposts for women against thesanctioned strength, the Statewould have around 19,800women in the force.

Gopal Subramanium opts outGopal Subramanium opts outGopal Subramanium opts outGopal Subramanium opts outGopal Subramanium opts out

• Feeling “let down” by thegovernment and the judiciary,senior advocate and formerSolicitor-General GopalSubramanium informed ChiefJustice of India R.M. Lodha thathe was withdrawing hisconsent for appointment as aSupreme Court judge.

• In his nine-page letter, Mr.Subramanium told the CJI, “I donot want my elevation to be thesubject matter of any kind ofpoliticisation. I am dismayed atreports that the file forwardedby the court to the governmentrecommending four names forelevation (including mine) hasbeen segregated and thenames of three candidates (notincluding mine) have beencleared by the government aswell as by the President of Indiaand that warrants have beenissued for their appointment.”

• Mr. Subramanium said, “Iwithdrew my consent touphold my self-respect anddignity.” Asked whether hewould change his stand if thecollegium were to reiterate hisappointment, he said his





decision was final.

The legitimacy of theThe legitimacy of theThe legitimacy of theThe legitimacy of theThe legitimacy of thecollegium systemcollegium systemcollegium systemcollegium systemcollegium system

• The collegium system is onewhere the Chief Justice ofIndia and a forum of four senior-most judges of the SupremeCourt recommendappointments and transfers ofjudges. However, it has noplace in the Constitution.

• The system was evolvedthrough Supreme Courtjudgments in the Three JudgesCases: S.P. Gupta case(December 30, 1981) or theFirst Judges Case: It declaredthat the primacy of the CJI’srecommendation on judicialappointments and transfers canbe refused for cogent reasons.The ruling gave the Executiveprimacy over the Judiciary injudicial appointments for thenext 12 years.

• Supreme Court Advocates onRecord Association versusUnion of India or the SecondJudges Case(October 6, 1993):The majority verdict gave backCJI’s power over judicialappointments and transfers. Itsays the CJI only need to consulttwo senior-most judges. Therole of the CJI is primal in naturebecause this being a topicwithin the judicial family, theExecutive cannot have anequal say in the matter, theverdict reasoned. However,confusion prevails as the CJIsstart taking unilateral decisionswithout consulting two

colleagues. The President isreduced to only an approver.

• In Special Reference case of1998 or the Three Judges Case(October 28, 1998): On areference from formerPresident K.R. Narayanan, theSupreme Court lays down thatthe CJIs should consult with aplurality of four senior-mostSupreme Court judges to formhis opinion on judicialappointments and transfers.

Deadline extended forDeadline extended forDeadline extended forDeadline extended forDeadline extended forNational Food SecurityNational Food SecurityNational Food SecurityNational Food SecurityNational Food Security

• The Centre extended by threemonths the deadline by whichStates should roll out theNational Food Security Act thatprovides for distribution ofconcessional foodgrains to 75per cent of identifiedbeneficiaries.

• Under the Act, States weregiven time till July 4 toimplement the Act but so faronly five states have begun toroll out the scheme while sixothers are “in the process.”

• To discuss the Act’s rollout andthe problems faced by theStates, the Centre has called ameeting of Food Ministers onJuly 5. The meeting will alsodiscuss steps that States shouldtake to check hoarding andtackle inflation.

• Announcing the decisionstaken at a high-level meetingconvened by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, Union Foodand Consumer Affairs MinisterRam Vilas Paswan said it wasmandatory for the governmentto announce an extension ofthe scheme under the Act.“The allocation of foodgrains toall States will continue on thebasis of the Targeted PublicDistribution System till theyswitch to the new dispensationunder the Act.

M.K. Narayanan has resignedM.K. Narayanan has resignedM.K. Narayanan has resignedM.K. Narayanan has resignedM.K. Narayanan has resignedas Governor of West Bengalas Governor of West Bengalas Governor of West Bengalas Governor of West Bengalas Governor of West Bengal

• Two days after the CentralBureau of Investigations (CBI)recorded his statement as awitness in the probe intokickbacks in the 2010AgustaWestland chopper deal,M.K. Narayanan has resigned asGovernor of West Bengal.

• The first Governor to bequestioned by an investigativeagency, Mr Narayanan is thefourth Governor to resignfollowing pressure from theBJP government on appointeesof the UPA government. Aformal acceptance of theresignation by the President isawaited.

• The 80-year-old Narayanan, aformer director of theIntelligence Bureau (IB) andNational Security Adviser(NSA) in the first ManmohanSingh government, isconsidered close to theCongress and his tenure wouldhave come to an end in January2015.

• As NSA, he had in 2005participated in a meeting on thechopper deal. With Mr.Narayanan’s resignation, GoaGovernor B.V. Wanchoo, whoas chief of the SpecialProtection Group, hadparticipated in the samemeeting, will be underpressure to quit as the CBI willbe examining him soon.

• You will be provided current affairs on various important topics on a weekly basis. • Important national and international news from various sources at a single platform for your

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China provokedChina provokedChina provokedChina provokedChina provoked

• A top Chinese Army Generalslammed the United States andJapan for “provoking” China, aday after U.S. Defence Secre-tary Chuck Hagel had accusedBeijing of “destabilising” theregion.

• At the conference, JapanesePrime Minister Shinzo Abe alsohit out at China over the dis-putes, pledging support toVietnam and the Philippines.Mr. Abe said Japan would sup-ply naval patrol vessels to bothcountries and boost its securitypresence in the region.

• People’s Liberation ArmyDeputy Chief of General StaffWang Guanzhong blasted Mr.Hagel and Mr. Abe, saying theywere “singing notes in chorus”.

• The PLA official was particu-larly aggrieved by the Japaneseleader’s speech, which did notdirectly mention China butwarned of “elements thatspawn instability” in the region.

Release of captured USRelease of captured USRelease of captured USRelease of captured USRelease of captured USsoldiersoldiersoldiersoldiersoldier

• President Barack Obama iswelcoming the release of thelone U.S. solider held inAfghanistan, Sgt. BoweBergdahl.

• Sgt. Bergdahl was turned overby the Taliban in exchange forthe release of five Afghan de-tainees who were held at theU.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay,Cuba.

• Mr. Obama says the U.S. “doesnot ever leave our men andwomen in uniform behind.”

A new U.S.-Russia proxy warA new U.S.-Russia proxy warA new U.S.-Russia proxy warA new U.S.-Russia proxy warA new U.S.-Russia proxy war

• With Russia and the UnitedStates as far apart as ever onways of resolving the crisis inUkraine’s southeast, itsoutcome may well be decidedon the battlefield.

• Russia’s President VladimirPutin has not spoken with U.S.President Barack Obama sinceKiev launched its “anti-terroristoperation” against anti-government protesters inRussian speaking regions in theeast six weeks ago.

• While Moscow denounces theUkrainian crackdown in theeast as a “punitive operation”against the civilian population,Washington maintains thatKiev’s authorities “have everyright to take steps to maintainlaw and order in their owncountry.”

• The Ukrainian border guardservice has reported severalconvoys of trucks with militantsand weapons crossing theporous border from Russia inrecent weeks.

• Russia has refrained fromopenly supporting separatistsin eastern Ukraine and stillhopes to persuade Kiev toresolve the conflict by grantingbroad autonomy to the region.

• The conflict in the east is fast

International IssuesInternational IssuesInternational IssuesInternational IssuesInternational Issues




morphing into civil war. Thiswas in stark display earlier thismonth in Odessa, a peacefulmultiethnic Ukrainian port cityon the Black Sea, where agroup of ultranationalists fromwestern Ukraine burnt alive andclubbed to death at least 48pro-Russian activists.

Obama’s energy policyObama’s energy policyObama’s energy policyObama’s energy policyObama’s energy policy

• The path breaking cleanenergy policy unveiled by theObama administration wouldput the US at a disadvantageagainst countries like India andChina, top US lawmakers andpolicy advocacy groups havesaid.

• The US EnvironmentalProtection agency hasannounced to cut carbonemission from existing powerplants, which is the singlelargest source of carbonpollution in the US, by 30 percent by the year 2030.

• It also announced to cut by2030 particle pollution, nitro-gen oxides, and sulfur dioxideby more than 25 per cent as aco-benefit.

• The White House describedthis as American leadership tothe world.

• But Republicans and many oth-ers are not willing to buy theargument, according to whomsuch a policy would put theUnited States at an disadvan-tage against countries like In-dia and China.

• The United Mine Workers ofAmerica internationalpresident Cecil E Roberts

alleged that the proposed ruleissued by the EnvironmentalProtection Agency will lead tolong-term and irreversible joblosses for thousands of coalminers, electrical workers,utility workers, boilermakers,railroad workers and otherswithout achieving anysignificant reduction of globalgreenhouse gas emissions.

Spain’s abdication lawSpain’s abdication lawSpain’s abdication lawSpain’s abdication lawSpain’s abdication law

• The cabinet of Spanish PrimeMinister Mariano Rajoy hasapproved a proposal foremergency legislation thatallows King Juan Carlos toabdicate and hand over hisduties to Crown Prince Felipe.

• The proposal will be fast—tracked by the SpanishParliament and is expected topass easily because Mr. Rajoy’sPopular Party has the majorityof seats and the leadingopposition Socialist Party alsosupports the legislation.

• Jesus Posada, who leads theParliament’s lower house,predicted the law will takeeffect by June 18, meaningPrince Felipe would beproclaimed king beforelawmakers shortly after that.

• Juan Carlos is widely respectedfor leading Spain’s transitionfrom dictatorship to democracyand staring down a 1981 coupattempt, but was hit hard byroyal scandals over the last sev-eral years.

Iran oil sanctions suspendedIran oil sanctions suspendedIran oil sanctions suspendedIran oil sanctions suspendedIran oil sanctions suspended

• With Iran complying with its

commitment on a controversialnuclear weapons programme,US President Barack Obamahas suspended his action onIranian oil sanctions for the nextsix months.

• Even though there is enoughoil in the international marketfor countries like India andChina to reduce theirdependence on Iranian oil, soas to avoid US sanctions as perCongressional Act, Mr. Obamadetermined that there is noneed to do so for the next sixmonths as Tehran is fully co-operating with the US-ledinternational community toaddress their concerns aboutits nuclear weapons program

• The International AtomicEnergy Agency has verified thatIran is complying with thesecommitments.

• The analysis contained in theEnergy InformationAdministration’s report of April24, indicates that global oilconsumption has exceededproduction in recent months.

Renewable power in GermanyRenewable power in GermanyRenewable power in GermanyRenewable power in GermanyRenewable power in Germany

• May 11, 2014 was a red letterday for renewable power inGermany. The biggest cleanenergy market reached anenviable record of almost 75per cent renewable marketshare for several hours that day.Germany faces its own travailsover its chosen path.

• Germany is indeed avoidingblackouts-by opening new coaland gas fired plants.Renewable electricity isproving so unreliable andchaotic that it is starting toundermine the stability of theEuropean grid and provokeinternational incidents.

• The spiraling cost of therenewables surge has sparkeda backlash, including





government proposals to slashsubsidies and deploymentrates.

• For all modes of power genera-tion, capacity factor — CF (theamount of electricity, a genera-tor produces in a year dividedby the amount it will produceif it ran at full capacity for all8,760 hrs a year) — is impor-tant. Typically during 2012, CFs(per cent) in Germany were, forsolar: 11; wind: 17; fossil fuel:80 and for nuclear: 94.

• Since India has in place an am-bitious renewable energyprogramme, we must learn fromthe experiences of other coun-tries particularly Germany;Germany’s tryst with renew-able power is often taken as amodel.

• India must promote all modesof power generation includingsolar and wind. Copious sun-shine and abundant wind maylead to over production in thegrid. Balancing the grid may bea challenge. Central Govern-ment must organise a system-atic review of the challenges toarrive at India- centric solu-tions.

G-7 summitG-7 summitG-7 summitG-7 summitG-7 summit

• Russian President Vladimir Putinwas kept out of the summit ofworld leaders but dominatedthe meeting as PresidentBarack Obama and hiscounterparts from the G-7group of major economiessought the Kremlin chief’srenewed cooperation to endthe Ukraine crisis.

• In March, the U.S. and its mostimportant allies retaliated forMr. Putin’s military occupationand subsequent annexation ofUkraine’s Crimean Peninsula bysuspending Russia’smembership in what had beenthe G-8 club of rich countries.

• They also nixed Mr. Putin’s planto hold the meeting in Sochi,the city Russia lavished billionson to host the 2014 WinterOlympics.

• Mr. Obama, however, has noplans to meet with Mr. Putin —a clear indication the U.S. ismore reluctant than itsEuropean peers aboutrenewing the dialogue.

• The meeting was not expectedto produce any major decisions.Many observers criticise theformat as being mostly a talkingshop since the role of settingrules for global economicgovernance in the wake of the2008-2009 financial crisis hasshifted to the wider Group of20, which also includesemerging economies likeChina, India and Brazil.

China urged to reduceChina urged to reduceChina urged to reduceChina urged to reduceChina urged to reducefinance riskfinance riskfinance riskfinance riskfinance risk

• The World Bank and theInternational Monetary Fundare urging China to focus oncontrolling risks from rapidlyrising debt due to its relianceon credit-fuelled growth.

• The World Bank said Beijingshould pay close attention torising credit, especially in itslargely unregulated informal

lending market, and reducedebts owed by localgovernments.

• Rising debts owed by localgovernments and uncertaintyabout informal lending havefuelled concerns China’seconomic slowdown mightcause a rise in defaults and hurtits financial system.

• Chinese regulators have takensteps to cool credit growth butstill are allowing a relatively fastexpansion to supporteconomic growth that slowedto 7.4 percent in the threemonths ending in March.

• By the country’s broadestmeasure, total outstandingdebt rose from the equivalentof 124 percent of grossdomestic product in 2007 tomore than 200 percent in 2013,according to the World Bank.

• Corporate debt in Chineseeconomy , at the equivalent of125 percent of GDP, is “amongthe highest in Asia.

New high commissioner forNew high commissioner forNew high commissioner forNew high commissioner forNew high commissioner forhuman rightshuman rightshuman rightshuman rightshuman rights

• U.N. secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has said he will appointJordan’s ambassador as thenew high commissioner forhuman rights, bringing to thatpost a voice from the West Asia.

• Mr. Ban’s office announcedthat Prince Zeid al Hussein, along-time diplomat and formerU.N. peacekeeper, has beennominated to replace NaviPillay.

• The South African-born Ms.





Pillay’s term as U.N. HighCommissioner for HumanRights was originally set to endin 2012 but was extended fortwo years.

• Prince Zeid, who has beenambassador to both the U.N.and the United States,announced in late April hewould resign as U.N.ambassador.

New Ukraine PresidentNew Ukraine PresidentNew Ukraine PresidentNew Ukraine PresidentNew Ukraine President

• Petro Poroshenko has taken theoath of office as Ukraine’sPresident, assuming leadershipof a country mired in a violentuprising and economictroubles.

• Mr. Poroshenko, who becamea billionaire as a candy tycoon,was elected after the pro-Russian president ViktorYanukovych fled the country inthe wake of months of streetprotests.

• The ceremony in the UkrainianParliament, the VerkhovnaRada, was attended by high-ranking delegations fromWestern governments, whichinclude U.S. Vice-President JoeBiden, E.U. President HermanVan Rompuy and thepresidents of Poland andGermany, BronislawKomorowski and JoachimGauck.

Egypt president sworn inEgypt president sworn inEgypt president sworn inEgypt president sworn inEgypt president sworn in

• Egypt’s former army chiefAbdel Fattah el-Sisi has beensworn in as President for a four-year term, taking the reins ofpower in a nation roiled since

2011 by deadly unrest andeconomic woes.

• Mr. el-Sisi’s inauguration cameless than a year after the 59-year-old career infantry officerousted the country’s first freelyelected President, MohammedMorsy, following days of massprotests by Egyptiansdemanding he step down.

• 8th of June was declared anational holiday and tightsecurity was enforced by thepolice and military throughoutCairo.

• Outside the building, modelledto look like an ancient Egyptiantemple, around a hundred el-Sisi supporters gathered, wav-ing Egyptian flags and postersof the country’s new President.

Nepal Parliament obstructionNepal Parliament obstructionNepal Parliament obstructionNepal Parliament obstructionNepal Parliament obstruction

• Belying hopes of breakthroughto resume proceedings of theParliament, the three majorpolitical parties on S failed toreach agreement after claimingthey were close to it. As a result,the opposition partiesobstructed Parliament for the10th straight day.

• Speaking in the Parliament afterthe talks ended inconclusively,Bijay Gachchhadar of MadhesiJanaadhikar Forum(Democratic) accused the

ruling coalition of breaching aprevious agreement on anumber of issues, includingforming a high level politicalcommittee (HLPC) comprisingof political parties.

• When Mr. Gachchhadar said NCPresident and Prime MinisterSushil Koirala and other ruingparty leaders should go toSarnath in India if they failed todeliver a Constitution, theruling MPs objected to hisremarks. With neither siderelenting, Speaker SubasNembang, adjourned theHouse.

• Mr. Nepal said the NepaliCongress and his party are infavour of rotating leadership ofthe HLPC.

City seized by Iraqi militantsCity seized by Iraqi militantsCity seized by Iraqi militantsCity seized by Iraqi militantsCity seized by Iraqi militants

• Iraqi police and army forcesabandoned their posts in thenorthern city of Mosul aftermilitants overran the provincialgovernment headquarters andother key buildings, dealing aserious blow to Baghdad’sefforts to control a wideninginsurgency in the country.

• The insurgents seized thegovernment complex, a keysymbol of state authorityfollowing days of fighting in thecountry’s second—largest city,a former al—Qaida strongholdsituated in what has long beenone of the more restive parts ofIraq. The gunmen also torchedseveral of the city’s policestations, freeing detainees heldin lockups.





• The fighters are believed to beaffiliated with the Islamic Stateof Iraq and the Levant, an al—Qaida splinter group that isbehind the bulk of the bloodyattacks in Iraq and is among themost ruthless rebel forcesfighting to topple PresidentBashar Assad in neighboringSyria. The group has also triedto position itself as a championfor Iraq’s large and disaffectedSunni minority.

• The militants’ push comes asIraq’s embattled Shiite primeminister, Nouri al—Maliki,struggles to hold onto powerfollowing parliamentaryelections in late April that lefthim with the most seats butshort of a majority needed toform a new governmentoutright.

• Iraq has been grappling with itsworst surge in violence sincethe sectarian bloodletting of2006 and 2007.

Taliban attack in PakistanTaliban attack in PakistanTaliban attack in PakistanTaliban attack in PakistanTaliban attack in Pakistan

• Taliban militants attacked atraining camp of the AirportSecurity Force near Karachiinternational airport in Karachi,but fled after Pakistani forcesrepulsed the assault, a day afteran all-night siege at the facilityleft nearly 40 people dead.

• Two militants attacked thecamp number 2, located at theASF academy in Bitai Abad,near the Jinnah InternationalAirport which had beencleared of militants after fierceclashes between forces and

terrorists on Monday.• The attackers failed to

penetrate the security cordonand managed to flee intonearby residential areas.

• Eleven airport security guards,along with a paramilitary rangerand a policeman, 14 civilianworkers and 10 militants werekilled in the previous attack.

• The attack came a day after thedeadly assault at Karachiinternational airport. TheTehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan hasclaimed responsibility for theattack on the airport.

Russia’s ‘gas discount’Russia’s ‘gas discount’Russia’s ‘gas discount’Russia’s ‘gas discount’Russia’s ‘gas discount’

• Ukraine’s Prime Minister hasrejected a Russian proposal tosell Ukraine gas at a discount,insisting that the contractualprice be lowered.

• Russia had insisted that cash-strapped Ukraine pay about 2billion dollars to settle its gasarrears, but Ukraine now hasuntil 0800 GMT .

• Russia upped the price to 485dollars after it annexedUkraine’s Crimea region inMarch, saying that a previousdiscount hinged on the leaseagreement for its Black SeaFleet stationed on thepeninsula.

• The gas talks in Brussels arebeing watched closely acrossEurope as Russia has threat-ened to shut down gas ship-ments to Ukraine. Such an ac-tion would threaten a largesource of supplies to WesternEurope, which happened in2009.

Iraq crisis and concerns in oilIraq crisis and concerns in oilIraq crisis and concerns in oilIraq crisis and concerns in oilIraq crisis and concerns in oilmarketmarketmarketmarketmarket

• The rapid advance of jihadiststhrough large swathes of Iraqraises concerns in the oil mar-ket about the ability of the Or-ganization of the PetroleumExporting Countries (OPEC) tomeet global demand, industryexperts say. Analysts estimatethat the cartel needs to rampup production by at least700,000 million barrels per day(bpd) in the second half of theyear to meet global demand,and their hopes are partlybased on increased outputfrom Iraqi oil wells.

• In the longer term, 60 per centof growth in OPEC’s produc-tion capacity is expected tocome from Iraq, the Interna-tional Energy Agency in Parisestimated Friday.

• The European benchmarkprice for Brent oil from theNorth Sea shot up to a 9—month high of 114.5 dollars perbarrel early on Friday morning,before retreating below 113dollars later in the day.

• Iraq pumped 3.33 million bpdlast month, making it the sec-ond—largest OPEC producerafter Saudi Arabia.

• Oil from the north of the coun-try stopped reaching marketsin March, following violence inAnbar province and an attackon a pipeline to Turkey.

Iran and P6 begins talksIran and P6 begins talksIran and P6 begins talksIran and P6 begins talksIran and P6 begins talks

• Nuclear negotiators from Iranand six world powers got downto business on Tuesday seeking





to strike a momentous dealbefore a July 20 deadline butwith significant differences stillto bridge. The United Statesand Iran briefly discussed thecrisis raging in Iraq, U.S. officialssaid, but the focus in Vienna onthe second day of talks was themooted atomic agreement.

• The many problem areasinclude the duration of any finalaccord, the pace of sanctionsrelief, Iran’s partially-built Araknuclear reactor and allegationsof past efforts to build a bomb.But the main sticking pointremains uranium enrichment: aprocess that can producenuclear fuel but also, whenhighly purified, the core of anatomic bomb.

• The West hotly disputes Iran’sclaim that it needs this materialfor nuclear facilities around thecountry.The parties have setthemselves a deadline of July20, when an interim deal struckin November expires, and manyexperts believe an extension isalready being talked about.

Possible Nuclear dealPossible Nuclear dealPossible Nuclear dealPossible Nuclear dealPossible Nuclear deal

• A nuclear deal between Iranand the West was possiblewithin the next five weeks,according to Iranian PresidentHassan Rowhani .

• The target date for acomprehensive agreementbetween Iran and six worldpowers — Britain, China,France, Russia, the UnitedStates and Germany — to endthe decade—long row over

Iran’s nuclear activities is July20.

• In November, the partiesreached an interim deal underwhich Iran agreed to limit itsuranium enrichmentprogramme and reduce somelevels of enrichment inexchange for some relief frominternational sanctions.

• The US and its allies are seekingan agreement to guarantee thatIran will use its nuclearprogramme solely for peacefulpurposes. Tehran has insistedthat it is not seeking nuclearweapons.

Norwegian ex-PM named forNorwegian ex-PM named forNorwegian ex-PM named forNorwegian ex-PM named forNorwegian ex-PM named forAsian ‘Nobel’Asian ‘Nobel’Asian ‘Nobel’Asian ‘Nobel’Asian ‘Nobel’

• Former Norwegian premier GroHarlem Brundtland was namedas the first recipient of the TangPrize, touted as Asia’s versionof the Nobels, for her work asthe “godmother” of sustainabledevelopment.

• Ms. Brundtland was awardedthe debut prize, created byone of Taiwan’s richest menwith a $100 million donation,with winners in three othercategories to be announcedthis week. She was awarded thebiennial prize for “herinnovation, leadership andimplementation” of sustainabledevelopment.

U.S. to send 300 ‘militaryU.S. to send 300 ‘militaryU.S. to send 300 ‘militaryU.S. to send 300 ‘militaryU.S. to send 300 ‘militaryadvisers’ to Iraqadvisers’ to Iraqadvisers’ to Iraqadvisers’ to Iraqadvisers’ to Iraq

• Firmly ruling out the possibilityof American boots on theground in Iraq in the face of

escalating sectarian violencethere, U.S. President BarackObama announced that hewould nevertheless be sending300 “military advisers” toBaghdad and also remainprepared to take “targeted,”“precise,” military actions in thefuture.

• “American combat troops willnot be fighting in Iraq again,”Mr. Obama said, adding,“Ultimately this is somethingthat will have to be solved byIraqis.”

• The President explained thatthe military personnel wouldbe sent to Iraq to examine howto train and equip Iraqi forces,and this would come on theheels of Washington’s steps toincrease its intelligence, sur-veillance and reconnaissanceoperations to better under-stand the threats to Baghdad.Yet, Mr. Obama appeared de-termined to hold firm to theview that U.S. combat troopswould not return to Iraq as thatcould not resolve the core is-sues the country is currentlyfacing.

• Among the key priorities thatWashington had in the country,he said, was to create joint op-eration centres in Baghdad andnorthern Iraq, which wouldshare intelligence and coordi-nate planning to confront theterrorist threat of ISIS, the ex-tremist group that has capturedat least two cities and a majoroil facility.

Ukraine rebels refuseUkraine rebels refuseUkraine rebels refuseUkraine rebels refuseUkraine rebels refuseceasefireceasefireceasefireceasefireceasefire

• Ukraine’s military waged new





• The resurgence of violence inthe 11-week insurgencythreatening to splinter the ex-Soviet nation came asWashington slapped sanctionson top separatist leaders andwarned the Kremlin againstsending forces into Ukraine.

• But Russian President VladimirPutin appeared unfazed as heordered units from the Volga towestern Siberia to conductsnap military drills.

• The militia used sniper fire andgrenade launchers to strike abase in Donetsk.

NESCO granted heritageNESCO granted heritageNESCO granted heritageNESCO granted heritageNESCO granted heritagestatus for cave drawingsstatus for cave drawingsstatus for cave drawingsstatus for cave drawingsstatus for cave drawings

• U.N. cultural agency Unescogranted its prized WorldHeritage status to a prehistoriccave in southern Francecontaining the earliest knownfigurative drawings.

• Delegates at Unesco’s WorldHeritage Committee voted togrant the status to the GrotteChauvet at a gathering in Doha,where they are consideringcultural and natural wonders forinclusion on the U.N. list.

• The cave in the Ardecheregion, which survived sealedoff for millennia before itsdiscovery in 1994, containsmore than 1,000 drawingsdating back some 36,000 yearsto what is believed to be thefirst human culture in Europe.

• The painted images includerepresentations of humanhands and of dozens of animals,including mammoth, wild cats,rhinos, bison, bears andaurochs.

Jail for three AL JazeeraJail for three AL JazeeraJail for three AL JazeeraJail for three AL JazeeraJail for three AL Jazeerajournalistsjournalistsjournalistsjournalistsjournalists

• An Egyptian court sentenced

three Al Jazeera journalists,including Australia’s PeterGreste, to jail terms from sevento 10 years. Mr. Greste andEgyptian-Canadian MohamedFadel Fahmy each got sevenyears, while producer BaherMohamed received twosentences — one for sevenyears and another for three.

• Eleven defendants tried inabsentia , including one Dutchjournalist and two Britishjournalists, were given 10-yearsentences.

• Of the six defendants incustody along with Mr. Greste,Mr. Fahmy and Mr. Mohamed,four were sentenced to sevenyears and two were acquitted.

• All of the defendants had beenaccused of aiding theblacklisted MuslimBrotherhood and tarnishingEgypt’s reputation after theouster of Islamist presidentMohamed Morsy by spreadingfalse news.

More women abducted inMore women abducted inMore women abducted inMore women abducted inMore women abducted inNigeriaNigeriaNigeriaNigeriaNigeria

• Suspected Boko Harammilitants have abducted morethan 60 women and girls, someas young as three, in the latestkidnappings in northeastNigeria and over two monthssince more than 200 schoolgirlswere seized.

• Analysts said the kidnapping,which happened during a raidon Kummabza village in theDamboa district of Borno state,could be an attempt by theIslamist group to refocus

battles with pro-Moscow rebels who rejected Kiev’s unilateral ceasefire,while the government raised alarm over the Kremlin’s decision to puttroops across Russia on combat alert.





change of heart that Kiev hailedas the “first practical step” indefusing the months-long crisis.

• The Russian leader howeverinsisted that the seven-daytruce between separatist rebelsand forces loyal to Kiev inUkraine’s restive east befollowed by concrete talks.

Kiev seeks talks with MoscowKiev seeks talks with MoscowKiev seeks talks with MoscowKiev seeks talks with MoscowKiev seeks talks with Moscow

• Ukraine’s new Western-backed leader sought urgenttalks with Russian PresidentVladimir Putin on Wednesdayafter separatist rebels shotdown an Army helicopterdespite orders from their owncommander to observe a fragiletruce.

• The death of nine servicemenoutside the pro-Russianstronghold city of Slavyansk andloss of two other soldiers inmilitia attacks promptedUkrainian President PetroPoroshenko to threaten tounleash a powerful new militarycampaign in the industrial east.The warning dealt a crushingblow to hopes of the sidesmediating an end to 11 weeksof fighting that has killed morethan 435 people and broughtthe ex-Soviet nation to thebrink of collapse.

• Kiev’s temporary ceasefire waspicked up by separatistcommanders but was due toexpire on Friday morning afterjust one round of inconclusiveand indirect talks.

Russia to join Kiev talks withRussia to join Kiev talks withRussia to join Kiev talks withRussia to join Kiev talks withRussia to join Kiev talks withE UE UE UE UE U

• Russia said it had finally gotBrussels and Kiev to include itin talks over a landmarkassociation agreementbetween Ukraine and the EUto be signed this week.

• Much to Russia’s chagrin,Ukrainian President Petro

attention on its demands for therelease of militant fighters.

• Boko Haram has indicated thatit would be willing to releasethe 219 schoolgirls that it hasheld hostage since April 14 inexchange for the freedom ofits brothers in arms currentlyheld in Nigerian jails. Nigeriainitially refused to sanction anydeal but efforts have sincebeen made to open talks withthe group, with a possibleprisoner swap part ofdiscussions.

• The military in Abuja said in atweet late that it could notconfirm the latest abductionsand spokesmen were notimmediately available forcomment when contacted byAFP. The Chibok abductiontriggered a groundswell ofoutrage within Nigeria thatspread overseas, leading to asocial media campaign andinternational pressure on thegovernment to act.

Follow up ceasefire withFollow up ceasefire withFollow up ceasefire withFollow up ceasefire withFollow up ceasefire withconcrete talks: Putinconcrete talks: Putinconcrete talks: Putinconcrete talks: Putinconcrete talks: Putin

• Moscow will continue toprotect ethnic Russians ineastern Ukraine, PresidentVladimir Putin said afterdismissing a week-longceasefire between pro-Kremlinrebels and Ukrainian troops as“too short.”

• “We will always protect ethnicRussians in Ukraine, as well asthe part of Ukrainian peoplewho ... feel part of the widerRussian world, and we will notonly monitor this but also react,”Mr. Putin said during a visit toAustria. “I hope that armedforces will not be necessary forthis.”

• Mr. Putin asked Russianlawmakers on Tuesday torevoke a resolution allowinghim to invade Ukraine in a shock

Poroshenko is set to sign thefinal chapters of the landmarkEU pact that has been at theheart of a raging crisis in hiscountry.

• However Moscow hopes it willstill be able to raise its concernsover possible damage to itseconomic interests as a resultof the agreement which hasseen it threaten to protect itsmarkets against Ukrainiangoods.

Ukraine signs landmark dealUkraine signs landmark dealUkraine signs landmark dealUkraine signs landmark dealUkraine signs landmark dealwith EUwith EUwith EUwith EUwith EU

• Ukraine’s new Western-backed president signed alandmark EU pact whoserejection by his pro-Moscowpredecessor plunged the ex-Soviet country into turmoil andsent East-West relations to theirlowest level since the Cold War.

• Ukraine President PetroPoroshenko hailed the deal,which pulls Kiev out ofKremlin’s orbit, as a turningpoint for the strategic countrysandwiched between Europeand Russia.

• But the agreement burstsRussian President VladimirPutin’s dream of enlisting Kievin a Kremlin-led alliance thatcould rival the European Unionand NATO and Moscowwarned it would have “seriousconsequences.”

• The Association Agreement isalso deeply unpopular inUkraine’s heavily Russifiedeastern rustbelt, where pro-Russian insurgents are battlingKiev government troops.

• The European Union alsosealed similar partnershipagreements with Georgia andMoldova — two former Sovietnations with similarlycomplicated relations withRussia.





• Mr. Poroshenko said the dealoffered Ukraine “an absolutelynew perspective for mycountry,” hailing a “historic day,the most important day sinceindependence.”

Panchsheel still relevant:Panchsheel still relevant:Panchsheel still relevant:Panchsheel still relevant:Panchsheel still relevant:ChinaChinaChinaChinaChina

• Quoting from one of RabindraNath Tagore’s verses onfriendship, ‘... If you thinkfriendship can be won throughwar, spring will fade awaybefore your eyes’, President Xi

Jinping reiterated the virtues ofgood relations betweenneighbours, peace andcooperation and amity in theregion as envisaged sixdecades ago in the Panchsheeltreaty among India, China andMyanmar.

• At the 60th commemoration ofthe Panchsheel, he assertedthat China would follow the fiveprinciples of Panchsheel evenas it is ready to work with theWest to uphold world peaceand development.

• Mr. Xi spoke of adhering to ter-ritorial integrity and sover-eignty, mutual non-aggressionand non-interference in inter-nal matters, and peaceful co-existence — the basics ofPanchsheel, and said thesecontinue to remain relevant andgrow.

• Dr. Yadav emphasised the im-portance of promulgating theConstitution in time throughconsensus. The coalitiongovernment’s road map alsotalks about adopting zero tol-erance to corruption. On for-eign aid, the government aimsto channelise it into the nationalsystem and mobilise in areas ofnational priority.

• The road map reiterates thegovernment’s commitment toform the Truth and Reconcilia-tion Commission and the Com-mission on Investigation of Dis-appeared Persons as per theInterim Constitution. Legislationpassed by the Parliament onformation of these two transi-tional justice bodies faces chal-lenge in the Supreme Court.

Israel issued a brusqueIsrael issued a brusqueIsrael issued a brusqueIsrael issued a brusqueIsrael issued a brusquewarning to Hamaswarning to Hamaswarning to Hamaswarning to Hamaswarning to Hamas

• Israel issued a brusque warn-ing to Hamas, demanding itprevent rocket fire from Gazaas fears grew of a new confron-tation around the coastal Pal-estinian enclave.

• Militants fired 14 rockets atsouthern Israel during the morn-ing, sending tension soaringand drawing a warning fromPrime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu that unless the Is-lamist movement crackeddown on those behind the at-tacks the Israeli military wouldstep in.

• If this fire continues there aretwo possibilities: either Hamasstops it as the responsible au-thority in the area, or we willstop it.

Israel is “ready” to expand its operations in GazaIsrael is “ready” to expand its operations in GazaIsrael is “ready” to expand its operations in GazaIsrael is “ready” to expand its operations in GazaIsrael is “ready” to expand its operations in Gaza

• Israel is “ready” to expand its operations in Gaza, Prime Minister Ben-jamin Netanyahu warned after the air force struck 12 targets overnightfollowing a surge in militant rocket fire.

• Speaking to ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting, the Israeli Pre-mier said the almost-nightly military strikes on Gaza could be expandedshould the need arise.

• Israeli warplanes struck Gaza 12 times overnight, with Palestinian offi-cials saying two people had been lightly injured.

Constitution a key priority in NepalConstitution a key priority in NepalConstitution a key priority in NepalConstitution a key priority in NepalConstitution a key priority in Nepal

• Nepal President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav presented the government’sprogrammes and policies for the fiscal year 2014-15 in the Parliament.

India & The WorldIndia & The WorldIndia & The WorldIndia & The WorldIndia & The World




Evacuation of Indian nationalsEvacuation of Indian nationalsEvacuation of Indian nationalsEvacuation of Indian nationalsEvacuation of Indian nationalsfrom Luganskfrom Luganskfrom Luganskfrom Luganskfrom Lugansk

• India has made arrangementsto evacuate all its nationals,mainly students, from violence-hit Ukrainian city of Lugansk toKyiv.

• The evacuation arrangementswere made in cooperation withthe Ukrainian government.

• Indian authorities havearranged 500 train tickets toevacuate the Indian nationals.

• India few days back issued anadvisory asking its nationals toleave Donetsk and Luganskregions in eastern Ukrainewhich is witnessing frequentviolent clashes between pro—Russian separatists andgovernment forces.

• In the advisory, it also askedcitizens in the other parts ofeastern and southern Ukraineto remain vigilant about theirpersonal safety and security.

this decision Mr. Modi is makingit clear that the neighbourhoodis his immediate priority. Hebegan his tenure in office byinviting all the SAARC leadersto his swearing in, and willtravel to Kathmandu for theSAARC summit slated forNovember.

• The decision to visit Bhutan,with whom India holds theclosest ties, is the third surpriseannouncement from thegovernment, after decisions toinvite SAARC leaders and tovisit the US for bilateral talksand the UNGA in September.

India, U.S. policy forum meetIndia, U.S. policy forum meetIndia, U.S. policy forum meetIndia, U.S. policy forum meetIndia, U.S. policy forum meet

• Trade officials of India and theU.S. are expected to meet inDelhi to prepare thegroundwork for the ministeriallevel meeting of the TradePolicy Forum (TPF).

• The U.S.-India TPF is an inter-

• Eastern Ukraine is witnessing afierce escalation of violencebetween the two sides over thepast few days.

• The violence started afterRussia annexed Crimea — anautonomous peninsula withinUkraine with a Russian ethnicmajority — in March followingwhich the pro—Russian rebelsseized control of parts ofeastern Ukraine anddemanded its independence.

Modi’s first stop: ThimpuModi’s first stop: ThimpuModi’s first stop: ThimpuModi’s first stop: ThimpuModi’s first stop: Thimpu

• Keeping his focus on theneighbours, Prime MinisterNarendra Modi has decided tomake his first trip abroad toIndia’s closest ally, Bhutan.

• While a date for Mr. Modi’s visitwill be finalised during theadvance team’s visit, sourcesconfirmed that it will be his firstvisit to a foreign country. With





agency collaboration led by theUSTR. It is the principal tradedialogue between thecountries.

• It has five focus groups:Agriculture, Investment,Innovation and Creativity(intellectual property rights),Services, and Tariff and Non-Tariff Barriers.

• In recent months, the U.S. hasincreased its attack againstIndia’s intellectual propertyregime and safety issues relatedto domestic pharmaceuticalsector. The American pharmasector had alleged that theIndian IPR laws discriminateagainst U.S. companies andviolate global norms.

• The USTR in its Special 301report had kept India out of thepriority list, but has said thatthey would do an ‘out-of-cycle’review of India’s IPR regime.

• At present, bilateral trade isaround $100 billion. The U.S.-India Business Council had saidbilateral trade between thecountries could touch $500-billion mark over the next onedecade.

Chinese FMs trip to IndiaChinese FMs trip to IndiaChinese FMs trip to IndiaChinese FMs trip to IndiaChinese FMs trip to India

• After fetching SAARC Heads ofState at Prime MinisterNarendra Modi’s swearing-inceremony, the Ministry ofExternal Affairs is readying toroll the red carpet for its firstbig visitor from outside thesubcontinent — ChineseForeign Minister Wang Yi.

• He will meet with ExternalAffairs Minister Sushma Swaraj,as the two leaders acquainteach other with the road aheadon Sino-Indian ties. On theagenda, according to sources,would be the meetingschedule for SpecialRepresentatives (SRs) todiscuss the most pressingbilateral issue of resolving theborder dispute between boththe sides.

• India is keen to narrow the vasttrade deficit of $31 billion,even as the two countries closein on their goal of $100 billionbilateral trade by 2015.

• The two sides are alsoscheduled to talk about issuessuch as energy cooperation,Afghanistan and counter-terrorism, especially Jihaditerrorism, in the wake of a risein attacks emanating fromChina’s Xinjiang province.

Prime Minister’s Japan visitPrime Minister’s Japan visitPrime Minister’s Japan visitPrime Minister’s Japan visitPrime Minister’s Japan visitput offput offput offput offput off

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’sexpected visit to Japan nextmonth has been deferred tillthe budget session ofParliament ends in early August.

• The decision has been taken inview of the Budget Sessionwhich is very important for thePrime Minister and is expectedto be a path—breaking one,putting into action many ideaswhich Mr. Modi has beentalking about since severalmonths.

• The Cabinet meeting, chairedby Mr. Modi here this evening,decided to recommend theconvening of the Budgetsession in the first week of July.

U.S. push to tag India asU.S. push to tag India asU.S. push to tag India asU.S. push to tag India asU.S. push to tag India asemerging economyemerging economyemerging economyemerging economyemerging economy

• The crisis at the World TradeOrganisation (WTO) talks inGeneva has deepened with theUnited States demanding thatIndia and China be categorisedas ‘emerging’ rather than as‘developing economies’. Indiais resisting the move which, if itmaterialises, will halve WTOcaps applicable to India’s foodsubsidies. It will also requireIndia to grant market access tothe U.S. The U.S. is insisting thatIndia meet its food security lawobligations with Americanimports.

• “The U.S. insists that economiessuch as India and Indonesiawith high rates of growth canno longer be categorised asdeveloping countries,” thesources said. “India’s stand isthat going by per capita income,it is actually the world’s largestLeast Developed Countrywhere about 600 million live atless than $2 a day,” the sourcessaid.

• The U.S. has also tabled a studyin Geneva, produced by itsallies Pakistan and Canada, thatclaims food subsidies in Indiaand China exceed those in theU.S. and the EU.India hascountered the study, with datato show that the U.S. farmsubsidies to its corporatesector are to the tune of$20,000 to $30,000 per capitaper year against India’s mere$200.

• At the Geneva talks, the U.S. hasso far successfully thwartedIndia’s efforts aimed at findinga permanent protection against





even the WTO’s agriculture caps currently applicable to its foodsubsidies. America’s own agenda of an agreement on Trade Facilitation,however, is well on track for the July 31 deadline as laid down at theBali Ministerial.

Modi’s scheduled visit to USModi’s scheduled visit to USModi’s scheduled visit to USModi’s scheduled visit to USModi’s scheduled visit to US

announce an agreement onUranium sale, and a nuclearpartnership that has been in theworks for years. But officialsources maintain, theimmediate neighbourhood willremain the new government’sfocus, with the SAARC summitin Kathmandu planned inNovember this year.

Strong and prosperous IndiaStrong and prosperous IndiaStrong and prosperous IndiaStrong and prosperous IndiaStrong and prosperous Indiain neighbour’s interestin neighbour’s interestin neighbour’s interestin neighbour’s interestin neighbour’s interest

• Prime Minister Narendra Modiconcluded his “extremelysuccessful” visit to Bhutan witha message to neighbouringcountries that a strong andprosperous India was in theirinterest.The upshot of the two-day visit, the first abroad by Mr.Modi since assuming office, wasa decision by the two countriesto scale up their ties that coversecurity interests andcooperation in a wide varietyof fields.

• Bhutan promised not to allowits territory to be used againstIndia, an assurance that comesagainst the backdrop ofmilitants from the northeasttaking shelter there.The twocountries agreed to continuewith their close coordinationand cooperation on issuesrelating to their nationalinterests, said a joint statementissued at the end of the visit.

• Earlier, addressing the jointsession of the BhutaneseNational Assembly, Mr. Modisaid a strong Bhutan wouldbenefit India like a strong andprosperous India would be

• The confirmation of PrimeMinister Narendra Modi’s visitto the United States means twothings: that Mr. Modi is keen toextend his summit-levelapproach to bilateral ties pastthe subcontinent to the U.S. aswell, and that U.S. PresidentObama wants to patch up thedamage to Indo-US ties,enough to break with USprotocol for a second year in arow for an Indian PrimeMinister.

• This year, a very differentcircumstance has necessitatedthe US exception beingrepeated for Prime MinisterModi. The last year has seen alow in Indo-US relations thatrivals Cold-war era ties over theKhobragade affair. Not only didMinistry officials and Indiandiplomats in the US feeloutraged by the manner of herarrest, they felt angered by thelack of advance warning on thecase.Despite that decision,however, the Indo-USrelationship has yet to get that

‘reset button’ pushed.decisions on several deals,including on FDI in retail,nuclear business, and defencedeals await resolution. India’spush for H1B visas, andoutsourcing contracts havebeen rebuffed in the past years.

• With his decision to accept theUS President’s invitation forend-september, Mr. Modi isalso heralding a busy period ofinternational travel for him. Inmid-July he will travel to theBRICS summit in Brazil. InSeptember he heads to the UNand to Washington, while inNovember he is expected toattend the G-20 in Brisbane,Australia. Many Team Modimembers have guessed his firstbilateral stop with be Japan,that was amongst the firstcountries to invite him.

• In between, he is slated towelcome Chinese President XiJinping to Delhi, whileAustralian PM Tony Abbott hasexpressed an interest in a flyingvisit to tie up and possibly





beneficial for the countries ofthe region, especially theSAARC members.”India’sprosperity is important, as thenit can help small countries andperform its duty of a goodneighbour. But if India is weakand struggling with its ownproblems, then how can it helpothers?”

20 Indian institutions in QS20 Indian institutions in QS20 Indian institutions in QS20 Indian institutions in QS20 Indian institutions in QSrankings for BRICSrankings for BRICSrankings for BRICSrankings for BRICSrankings for BRICS

• Twenty Indian educationalinstitutions have made it to thelatest QS University Rankingsfor the BRICS (Brazil, Russia,India, China and South Africa)countries. Of these, five are theIndian Institutes of Technologyat Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai,Kanpur and Kharagpur.

• A copy of the ‘QS UniversityRankings: BRICS 2014’ waspresented to Prime MinisterNarendra Modi by UnionHuman Resource DevelopmentMinister Smriti Irani. The surveyalso flagged the fact that IITKharagpur has a higherproportion of PhDs among itsstaff than any university inBRICS.

• Other educational institutionsfrom India in the list include theUniversity of Mumbai, Univer-sity of Madras, Banaras HinduUniversity, Manipal University,Birla Institute of Technologyand Science, University ofPune, Indian Institute of Infor-mation Technology, CalcuttaUniversity, Delhi University,

Allahabad, Amity University,Anna University and PanjabUniversity.

Japan disappointed as ModiJapan disappointed as ModiJapan disappointed as ModiJapan disappointed as ModiJapan disappointed as Modipostpones visitpostpones visitpostpones visitpostpones visitpostpones visit

• In another example of his“direct letter diplomacy”, PrimeMinister Narendra Modi wroteto Japanese Prime MinisterShinzo Abe express his regretover having to put off his visitscheduled for July 3 to 5 dueto the budget session.

• In the letter, that was handedover personally by Indian Am-bassador to Japan, DeepaGopalan Wadhwa, Mr. Modi

spoke of India and Japan’s“shared interests” as two “Asiandemocracies” and looked for-ward to visit Japan at the “earli-est opportunity”.

• The postponement of Mr.Modi’s visit was one of two dis-appointments to thegovernment’s plans for a bigsplash in Japan. The India-U.S.-Japan trilateral meeting, thathad been scheduled for June23-24 was also postponed un-til further notice because oflast-minute scheduling issueswith the Japanese delegation.

• The decision of Mr. Modi to calloff a visit that requiresconsiderable arrangements,given Japanese penchant formeticulous attention to detail,has been received with somedisappointment at the Ministryof Foreign Affairs (MoFA) inTokyo.

Global recognition for Bengal’s girl child schemeGlobal recognition for Bengal’s girl child schemeGlobal recognition for Bengal’s girl child schemeGlobal recognition for Bengal’s girl child schemeGlobal recognition for Bengal’s girl child scheme

• Kanyashree Prakalpa, a West Bengal government scheme that providesscholarship to girls from economically-backward backgrounds, hasbeen given international recognition by the United Kingdom’sDepartment for International Development (DFID) and UNICEF. Staterepresentatives have been invited to the Girl Summit 2014 in London,in June, and to talk about the scheme to a global audience.

• The conditional cash transfer scheme for school girls was inauguratedby the Trinamool Congress government on October 1, 2013, with theexpress purpose of ensuring the education of girls and therebypreventing forced child marriage.





• Under the scheme, thegovernment provides an annualscholarship of Rs. 500 to girlsbetween 12 and 18 years (classeight to class 12) to continuewith their studies, providedthey are unmarried. A one-timegrant of Rs.25,000 is alsoprovided to the girl, once shereaches the age of 18, to pursuehigher studies.

Switzerland to share list ofSwitzerland to share list ofSwitzerland to share list ofSwitzerland to share list ofSwitzerland to share list ofIndian account holder withIndian account holder withIndian account holder withIndian account holder withIndian account holder withIndian govtIndian govtIndian govtIndian govtIndian govt

• In a major boost to India’s fightagainst black money,Switzerland has prepared a listof Indians suspected to havestashed un-taxed wealth inSwiss banks and the details arebeing shared with Indiangovernment.

• The names of these Indian in-dividuals and entities havecome under the scanner of theSwiss authorities during an on-going exercise to identify realbeneficiary/owners of fundsheld in various banks operatingin Switzerland, a senior Swissgovernment official said.

• These individuals and entitiesare suspected to have held un-taxed money in Swiss banksthrough structures like trusts,domiciliary companies andother legal entities based outof countries other than India.

Vice President’s visit toVice President’s visit toVice President’s visit toVice President’s visit toVice President’s visit tostrengthen Sino-Indian tiesstrengthen Sino-Indian tiesstrengthen Sino-Indian tiesstrengthen Sino-Indian tiesstrengthen Sino-Indian ties

• Vice President Hamid Ansari’svisit to China to mark the 60thanniversary of Panchsheel on

June 28 will set the ball rollingfor a series of high-levelbilateral visits to strengthen thestrategic and cooperativepartnership between the twocountries.

• India, which will roll out the redcarpet for Chinese President XiJinping later this year, isexpecting substantiveoutcome from the visit.

• Trilateral talks are alsoscheduled between China,India and Myanmar. The visit isexpected to add newsubstance to bilateral relationswith substantial outcomes.

• In Xian, Vice President Ansariwill visit the Wild Goose Pagoda,which holds the sutras andfigurines of the Buddha thatwere brought to China fromIndia by the Buddhist translatorand traveller Hiuen Tsang.

• The fact that Panchsheelcontinues to remain relevant forIndia, China and Myanmar canbe gauged by the fact that thethree countries are jointlycelebrating the 60thanniversary.

MoU for India-China industrialMoU for India-China industrialMoU for India-China industrialMoU for India-China industrialMoU for India-China industrialparkparkparkparkpark

• After deciding to sign theAdditional Protocol with theInternational Atomic EnergyAgency (IAEA), theGovernment has sought topluck another low-hanging fruitat the international level byapproving the signing of anMoU with the Chinese forsetting up industrial parks here.

• Briefing reporters after theCabinet meeting, Law andJustice and Telecom MinisterRavi Shankar Prasad said thatdetails would be disclosedafter the MoU is signed withChina.

• The subject will be discussedin greater depth by VicePresident Hamid Ansari wholeaves for Beijing to meet hisChinese counterpart.

• The trajectory of discussionshas led to the Chinese agreeingto allow India to set up industrialparks there as well but officialssaid this is a futuristic proposaland could take a couple ofyears to materialise.

• Then Prime Minister ManmohanSingh took up the proposalduring his visit to Beijing inOctober last year and agreedwith the Chinese leadershipthat inward investments wouldbe the best way to bridge thewidening trade deficit fromIndia’s point of view.

Government began planningGovernment began planningGovernment began planningGovernment began planningGovernment began planningfor the possible evacuationfor the possible evacuationfor the possible evacuationfor the possible evacuationfor the possible evacuationIndians from IraqIndians from IraqIndians from IraqIndians from IraqIndians from Iraq

Days after the governmentbegan planning for the possibleevacuation of 10,000 or moreIndians who may be in Iraq,Minister of External AffairsSushma Swaraj is seeking helpfrom other Gulf countries aswell.

• Ms. Swaraj along with Ministerof State for Overseas IndianAffairs Gen. V.K. Singh chaireda meeting of Indian envoys to





six Gulf countries: Kuwait,Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman,Saudi Arabia to discussassistance to Indians in Iraq.

• Later Ms. Swaraj metAmbassadors of the Gulf statesin India, where she requestedthem to suggest ways toevacuate Indians, especially ifthe conflict in Iraq worsens.

• Meanwhile, the governmenthas stepped up efforts toensure that all Indians workingin Iraq are registered, in casethey need to be evacuated atshort notice. Camp offices havebeen set up in Najaf, Karbalaand Basra, cities that haven’tseen the spread of violence.

China has invited India toChina has invited India toChina has invited India toChina has invited India toChina has invited India toparticipate in the Asianparticipate in the Asianparticipate in the Asianparticipate in the Asianparticipate in the Asian

Infrastructure InvestmentInfrastructure InvestmentInfrastructure InvestmentInfrastructure InvestmentInfrastructure InvestmentBankBankBankBankBank

• China has invited India toparticipate in the AsianInfrastructure Investment Bank(AIIB) — Beijing’s brainchild tosteer development along theancient “silk route” free fromthe influence of western-

backed lenders such as theWorld Bank and the AsianDevelopment Bank (ADB).

• China had sought India’sparticipation during the visit toNew Delhi by Chinese ForeignMinister Wang Yi soon after theModi government assumedoffice. “It is clear that theChinese will not tie the lendingfrom the investment bank tonon-economic issues, such ashuman rights, which western-backed lenders have oftenleveraged as instruments ofpolitical influence and control.

• India is yet to make up its mindon Beijing’s offer, thoughpartnership in the bank could,eventually, facilitate NewDelhi’s access to infrastructuralfunding.

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EconomyEconomyEconomyEconomyEconomy




Balancing act of RBIBalancing act of RBIBalancing act of RBIBalancing act of RBIBalancing act of RBI

• The Reserve Bank of India’scredit policy review, will be thefirst after the new governmenthas taken charge. It is also thesecond bi-monthly policy forthe current year (2014-15).The RBI has switched to thesystem of reviewing creditpolicy once in two months fromthe earlier once in 45 days orso following ther e c o m m e n d a t i o nrecommendation of the UrjitPatel committee.

• Fortunately, very few expectthe government to interfere,certainly not so soon aftertaking office. Moreover, therehas been a positive messagefrom the meeting RBI GovernorRaghuram Rajan had with newFinance Minister Arun Jaitleyon May26. In this very firstmeeting with a seniorgovernment official, Mr. Jaitleyhas listed out his priorities —

• The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) recently told several largelenders that they are free tocarry out foreign exchangeproprietary trades in whichbank treasuries bet on thedollar-rupee movement.

• The move will deepen thecurrency market and offer finerforeign exchange rates tocustomers, particularly largecorporates with regularexports, imports and dollarborrowings.

• The RBI allows each bank acertain net open position(NOP) limit for prop (or,proprietary) trades; the limitvaries from $20 million to $100million, depending on a bank’ssize and level of treasuryactivity.

• In 2013, when the rupeebuckled under speculators’attack, the limits were whittleddown by banks to $5 million

price stability, stimulate growthand fiscal consolidation — andsaid he is keenly aware of theneed to do a tough balancingact in reconciling the severalpolicy oblectives.

• India’s inflation problems arestructural in nature. The RBIcannot influence supply-sidefactors, which are responsiblefor food inflation. Supply sidepressures on prices will be feltwhen investment picks upconsequent on the newgovernment’s initiatives.

• Balance sheet problems ofpublic sector banks are anotherreason standing in the way oflower interest rates. The com-bination of bad and restruc-tured loans means little room forbanks to lower interest rates.

• The policy document will stressthe obvious point that inflationis a problem for the governmentand the RBI.

Restrictions on foreignRestrictions on foreignRestrictions on foreignRestrictions on foreignRestrictions on foreignexchange proprietary tradesexchange proprietary tradesexchange proprietary tradesexchange proprietary tradesexchange proprietary trades

• A stronger rupee has paved theway for high-street banks tohave a greater play in thecurrency market, with lastyear’s unnerving choppinesssuddenly looking like a thing ofthe past.





and even zero at the RBI’sinstruction.

Key policy rates unchangedKey policy rates unchangedKey policy rates unchangedKey policy rates unchangedKey policy rates unchangedby RBIby RBIby RBIby RBIby RBI

• Despite intense pressure andwidespread anticipation, theRaghuram Rajan-led ReserveBank of India (RBI) hasdecided to keep the policy rateunchanged.

• In doing so, it has indicated thatit is prepared for a wait-and-watch approach.

• Perhaps, it has chosen to awaitthe maiden budget of theNarendra Modi Government atthe Centre so as to get a senseof direction of the new fiscalmanagers.

• The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has kept the policy reporate under the liquidityadjustment facility (LAF)unchanged at 8.0 per cent. Ithas also decided to keep thecash reserve ratio (CRR) ofscheduled banks unchangedat 4.0 per cent of net demandand time liabilities (NDTL).

• However, it has reduced thestatutory liquidity ratio (SLR) ofscheduled commercial banksby 50 basis points from 23.0 percent to 22.5 per cent.

• The apex bank has alsodecided to continue to provideliquidity under 7-day and 14-day term repos of up to 0.75per cent of NDTL of thebanking system.

• Consequently, the reverse reporate under the LAF will remainunchanged at 7.0 per cent, and

the marginal standing facility(MSF) rate and the Bank Rateat 9.0 per cent.

Core sector growth at 4.2 %Core sector growth at 4.2 %Core sector growth at 4.2 %Core sector growth at 4.2 %Core sector growth at 4.2 %

• Helped by healthy growth inelectricity, fertilizers, cementand coal, the output of eightcore industries increased 4.2per cent in April, up from 2.5per cent in the previous month.

• The growth of the eight coresector in April, 2013, was 3.7per cent.

• Electricity productionincreased 11.2 per cent inApril this year from 3.5 per centin the same month last year.

• Similarly, fertilizers, cement andcoal registered higher growthduring the month under review.

• Fertilizers, cement and coalrecorded a growth 11.1 percent, 6.7 per cent and 3.3 percent, respectively, in April,according to the data releasedby Commerce and IndustryMinistry .

• Coal, crude oil, natural gas,refinery products, fertilizers,steel, cement and electricitysectors had expanded 2.7 percent in 2013-14. The eightindustries have a combinedweight of about 38 per cent inthe Index of IndustrialProduction. Steel productionincreased 3.1 per centcompared with 10.1 per centin the same month last year.Crude oil, natural gas andpetroleum refinery productsectors contracted 0.1 percent, 7.7 per cent and 2.2 percent, respectively, in April.

FDI restrictions on onlineFDI restrictions on onlineFDI restrictions on onlineFDI restrictions on onlineFDI restrictions on onlineretailers to be easedretailers to be easedretailers to be easedretailers to be easedretailers to be eased

• India could allow global onlineretailers such as Amazon.comto sell their own products asearly as next month, removingrestrictions that have held back

competition in one of theworld’s biggest, and mostprice-sensitive, retail markets.

• The decision, which is likely tobe announced in or alongsidethe budget, is one of the firsttangible signs of economicreform by the business-friendlygovernment of Prime MinisterNarendra Modi.

• The move could allow thegovernment to circumventpolitical opposition to openingup India’s $500 billion retailsector to global retail giantssuch as Wal-Mart Store.

China urged to reduceChina urged to reduceChina urged to reduceChina urged to reduceChina urged to reducefinance riskfinance riskfinance riskfinance riskfinance risk

• The World Bank and theInternational Monetary Fundare urging China to focus oncontrolling risks from rapidlyrising debt due to its relianceon credit-fuelled growth.

• The World Bank said Beijingshould pay close attention torising credit, especially in itslargely unregulated informallending market, and reducedebts owed by localgovernments.

• Rising debts owed by localgovernments and uncertaintyabout informal lending havefuelled concerns China’seconomic slowdown might





cause a rise in defaults and hurtits financial system.

• Chinese regulators have takensteps to cool credit growth butstill are allowing a relatively fastexpansion to support eco-nomic growth that slowed to 7.4percent in the three monthsending in March.By the country’s broadest mea-sure, total outstanding debtrose from the equivalent of 124percent of gross domesticproduct in 2007 to more than200 percent in 2013, accord-ing to the World Bank.

• Corporate debt in Chineseeconomy , at the equivalent of125 percent of GDP, is “amongthe highest in Asia.

Subsidised seedsSubsidised seedsSubsidised seedsSubsidised seedsSubsidised seeds

• Shortage of seeds is staring inthe face of the farmers aheadof kharif season in Srikakulamdistrict, notwithstanding thetall claims by the governmenton making seed distribution asmooth affair.

• It is estimated that over 1.5 lakhquintals of seeds of all varietiesare needed for the farmers whocultivate 2 lakh hectares in 38mandals. But the governmentis unlikely to supply the seedsin the required quantity, withthe shortage of supply by theAP Seeds and otherorganisations.

• The supply for the kharif sea-son is expected to be around49,000 quintals this time ofwhich around 33,000 quintalshave been sent to the 67 salepoints set up at various placesin the district.

May’s exports up by 12.4%May’s exports up by 12.4%May’s exports up by 12.4%May’s exports up by 12.4%May’s exports up by 12.4%

• India’s trade deficit rose to a10-month high of USD 11.23billion in May even as exportsgrew by 12.4 per cent, highestrate in six months, onimprovement in the globaldemand.

• Trade deficit, the differencebetween earnings fromexports and outflow onaccount of imports was USD10.09 billion in the previousmonth. It was however, lowerthan USD 19.37 billion in May2013.

• Helped by healthy growth inkey sectors such asengineering, petroleumproducts and garments,exports during the monthincreased USD 28 billion fromUSD 24.9 billion in May 2013.However, imports dipped by11.4 per cent at USD 39.23billion.

• Gold imports in May dipped by72 per cent to USD 2.19 billion,as against USD 7.7 billion in May2013.

• In the April-May period of thisfiscal, exports grew by 8.87 percent to USD 53.63 billion.Imports during the perioddipped by 13.16 per cent toUSD 74.95 billion, leaving atrade deficit of USD 21.3billion.

Insider trading schemeInsider trading schemeInsider trading schemeInsider trading schemeInsider trading scheme

• Three Indian-Americans andtheir associate have beencharged by federal regulator inan insider trading scheme

where they reaped $12 millionin illegal profits by trading inshares of a discount clothingchain.

• The U.S. Securities andExchange Commission allegedthat Saleem Khan was routinelytipped by his friend RoshanlalChaganlal, who was a directorin the finance department atRoss headquarters in California.

• Mr. Khan used the confidentialinformation to illegally trade onmore than 40 occasions aheadof the company’s publicrelease of financial results.

• The SEC’s complaint chargesMr. Khan, Chaganlal,Mendonsa, and Akbari withviolating the antifraudprovisions of the federalsecurities laws.

The target for installing ATMThe target for installing ATMThe target for installing ATMThe target for installing ATMThe target for installing ATM

• Eighteen public sector banks,including SBI and PNB, failedto fulfil the target for installingATMs during 2013-14, leavingmore than over 9,300 brancheswithout cash vendingmachines. As part of the target,a total of 34,668 onsite ATMswere to be installed by PSUbanks during the last fiscal.

• However, they could set uponly 25,331 such machines byMarch 2014, thus falling shortby 9,337, as per Finance Minis-try data. Installation of Auto-matic Teller Machines (ATMs),especially by public sectorlenders, has been a major pri-ority for the government’s ef-forts to ensure financial inclu-sion.





• Pursuant to Budget 2013-14announcement, public sectorbanks were required to ensurean onsite ATM in ever branch.As on March 2014, AllahabadBank was yet to set up 1,950ATMs, Central Bank of India1,620, Syndicate Bank 1,085,Bank of India 7,44, State Bankof India (SBI) 696, IndianOverseas Bank 553 and PunjabNational Bank (PNB) 499. Onthe other hand, Bank ofBaroda, Bank of Maharashtra,Canara Bank, IDBI Bank and thefour associates of SBI managedto meet the targets given tothem.

• There are roughly about 1.4lakh ATMs of public and privatesector banks in the country.Financial inclusion aims toextend financial services to thelarge hitherto un-servedpopulation of the country. Inaddition, it strives towards amore inclusive growth bymaking financing available tothe poor in particular.

Inflation hits five month highInflation hits five month highInflation hits five month highInflation hits five month highInflation hits five month high

• Even before the effect ofdeficient monsoons begins tokick in, wholesale price inflationhit a five-month high of 6.01per cent in May with the rate ofrise of food prices running at9.5 per cent. The bad newscame after Prime MinisterNarendra Modi warned: “Toimprove the economic healthof India, pull the country out ofthe current mess shouldn’t wetake some bitter decisions?”

• In April, the rate of growth of

the Wholesale Price Index(WPI) was 5.2 per cent; foodprice inflation had risen at therate of 8.6 per cent. The pick-up in food inflation was ledprimarily by higher poultry andmilk prices, according to theofficial data released here onMonday. Wholesale prices ofpotato are up more than 40 percent since March. The build upin wholesale inflation invegetables since March istouching 18 per cent.

• Fuel inflation climbed to 10.5per cent in May largely on theback of the Rs.1.3 a litre hike indiesel prices and the laggedrevision in the electricity index.In April, the fuel price rate ofinflation was 8.9 per cent.

• The wholesale price datadampened the feel-good thatthe easing of retail priceinflation in May to 8.3 per centfrom 8.6 per cent in the previousmonth had generated. Theofficial release also said that therate of WPI rise for March hasbeen revised up to 6 per centfrom 5.7 per cent.

RBI said avoid excessive legalRBI said avoid excessive legalRBI said avoid excessive legalRBI said avoid excessive legalRBI said avoid excessive legalsupervision on financialsupervision on financialsupervision on financialsupervision on financialsupervision on financialregulatorsregulatorsregulatorsregulatorsregulators

• The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) Governor, RaghuramRajan, warned againstexcessive legal supervision onfinancial regulators as it wouldhamper policy-making andincrease systemic risks.

• “The broader point is that a lotof regulatory action stems from

the regulator exercising soundjudgment based on years ofexperience. In doing so, it fillsin the gaps in laws, contracts,and even regulations. Noteverything the regulator doescan be proven in a court oflaw,” said Dr. Rajan whileaddressing State Bank of IndiaBanking Conclave 2014.

• Talking on the suggestions adeby the Financial SectorLegislative Reforms Committee(FSLRC), Dr. Rajan said that thecreation of a Financial SectorAppellate Tribunal wouldhamper the policy decisionstaken by the regulator. Heasked, “How much checkingand balancing is enough? Dowe want even policy decisionsto be appealable? Can legaloversight become excessive?”

• The FSLRC had recommendedseveral measures to reform thecountry’s financial sector.However, Dr. Rajan said thatsome of the recommendationsseemed somewhat“schizophrenic” while stillothers ‘faddish andimpressionistic” rather thanbased on deep analysis.

• He warned that because of thetendency of any neworganisation to overreach tojustify its existence, one shouldbe careful about tying thefinancial regulator with furtherjudicial oversight.He alsocriticised the suggestion tomerge all regulation of tradingunder a new Unified FinancialAgency, so that the ForwardMarkets Commission, as well asthe bond regulation activitiesnow undertaken by the RBI,would move under a new roof,as would the Securities andExchange Board of India(SEBI).





U.S. push to tag India asU.S. push to tag India asU.S. push to tag India asU.S. push to tag India asU.S. push to tag India asemerging economyemerging economyemerging economyemerging economyemerging economy

• The crisis at the World TradeOrganisation (WTO) talks inGeneva has deepened with theUnited States demanding thatIndia and China be categorisedas ‘emerging’ rather than as‘developing economies’. Indiais resisting the move which, if itmaterialises, will halve WTOcaps applicable to India’s foodsubsidies. It will also requireIndia to grant market access tothe U.S. The U.S. is insisting thatIndia meet its food security lawobligations with Americanimports.

• “The U.S. insists that economiessuch as India and Indonesiawith high rates of growth canno longer be categorised asdeveloping countries,” thesources said. “India’s stand isthat going by per capita income,it is actually the world’s largestLeast Developed Countrywhere about 600 million live atless than $2 a day,” the sourcessaid.

• The U.S. has also tabled a studyin Geneva, produced by itsallies Pakistan and Canada, thatclaims food subsidies in Indiaand China exceed those in theU.S. and the EU.India hascountered the study, with datato show that the U.S. farmsubsidies to its corporatesector are to the tune of$20,000 to $30,000 per capitaper year against India’s mere$200.

• At the Geneva talks, the U.S. hasso far successfully thwartedIndia’s efforts aimed at findinga permanent protection againsteven the WTO’s agriculturecaps currently applicable to itsfood subsidies. America’s ownagenda of an agreement onTrade Facilitation, however, is

well on track for the July 31deadline as laid down at theBali Ministerial.

Reliance would start offeringReliance would start offeringReliance would start offeringReliance would start offeringReliance would start offering4G broadband service in 20154G broadband service in 20154G broadband service in 20154G broadband service in 20154G broadband service in 2015

• Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL)has announced plans to investRs. 1.80 lakh crore ($30 billion)in three years inpetrochemicals, refining, retailand broadband businesseswith an aim to be among theFortune 50 companies by thetime it completes 40 years ofcorporate journey in 2017.

• RIL Chairman and ManagingDirector Mukesh Ambani saidthis while unveiling his vision forthe company at the annualgeneral meeting .”In the past37 years, we invested Rs.2.40lakh crore, and in this currentthree years’ investment cycle,we will be investing overRs.1.80 lakh crore. We arecurrently at the mid-point oflargest investment programmein Reliance’s history,” Mr.Ambani told shareholders..

• RIL, which is at present debt-free, would raise debt ofRs.60,000 crore in the next twoyears and by the time thisinvestment cycle was finished,it would once again be debt-free in 2017-18 on a muchlarger basis.

• Reliance Jio would start offering4G broadband service in 2015,and it would be one of thelargest job-creating and wealth-creating business initiatives inIndia. About Rs.70,000 crore

had already been invested inthis business, and 10,000people were working acrossthe country.

SEBI Initiating a wide rangeSEBI Initiating a wide rangeSEBI Initiating a wide rangeSEBI Initiating a wide rangeSEBI Initiating a wide rangeof measures of reformof measures of reformof measures of reformof measures of reformof measures of reform

• Initiating a wide range ofmeasures, Securities andExchange Board of India(SEBI) asked all listed publicsector undertakings (PSUs) toensure at least 25 per centpublic shareholding withinthree years and unveiled newnorms for research analysts,employee stock optionschemes as well as reforms toboost the primary market.

• Besides, the capital marketwatchdog has decided toshare know your client (KYC)information with entitiesregulated by other financialsector watchdogs, a moveaimed at having common normsacross the financial market.

• Approving a slew of reformmeasures, the SEBI board saidthat all listed PSUs shouldachieve a minimum publicshareholding of 25 per centwithin three years.

• The decision, aimed atensuring uniformity amonglisted entities irrespective oftheir promoters, would alsohelp the government raise closeto Rs.60,000 crore from the saleof shares in around 36 listedPSUs where the publicshareholding is less than 25 percent.





• Under current norms,government undertakingsshould have at least 10 per centpublic shareholding whereasfor non-PSU firms the minimumlevel is 25 per cent. Looking torevive the primary market, themarket regulator has easednorms related to the size of aninitial public offer (IPO) andpricing of preferential shareswhile allowing anchor investorsto have a greater exposure tothe offering.

FMC stop futures trading inFMC stop futures trading inFMC stop futures trading inFMC stop futures trading inFMC stop futures trading inpotatopotatopotatopotatopotato

• The Forward MarketsCommission (FMC) has curbedfutures trading in potatocontracts for July, August and

Karnataka will receivewidespread rains, while the restof the country will get eitherscattered or isolated rain.

Over 10 % foreign investmentOver 10 % foreign investmentOver 10 % foreign investmentOver 10 % foreign investmentOver 10 % foreign investmentin listed firms treat as FDI:in listed firms treat as FDI:in listed firms treat as FDI:in listed firms treat as FDI:in listed firms treat as FDI:Mayaram panelMayaram panelMayaram panelMayaram panelMayaram panel

• Seeking to simplify norms, agovernment panel hassuggested that foreigninvestment of over 10 per centin a listed company be treatedas FDI and the one from NRIson a non-repatriable basis bedeemed as domesticinvestment.

• The panel on rationalising defi-nitions of FDI and FII, headedby Finance Secretary ArvindMayaram, said foreign invest-ment in an unlisted companyshould be treated as FDI.It aimsat removing ambiguities overclear demarcation betweenFDI and foreign institutional in-vestment.

• The report also says an investormay be allowed to invest be-low the 10 per cent threshold,and “this can be treated as FDI,subject to the condition thatthe FDI stake is raised to 10 percent or beyond within one yearfrom the date of the first pur-chase.’’

• If the stake is not raised to 10per cent or above, then the in-vestment can be treated asportfolio investment.Foreigndirect investment is subject tosectoral caps.

• FDI reflects a lasting interestand long-term relationship,while under portfolio invest-ment, the relationship betweenthe investor and the companyremains largely anonymous, thereport says.

India should roll out theIndia should roll out theIndia should roll out theIndia should roll out theIndia should roll out theGoods and Services Tax:Goods and Services Tax:Goods and Services Tax:Goods and Services Tax:Goods and Services Tax:World BankWorld BankWorld BankWorld BankWorld Bank

• Ahead of the Modi-

September to check prices bydisallowing fresh positions andhiking the deposit amount onbuyers.

• The FMC has taken this deci-sion in the backdrop of risingprices of potato and other es-sential commodities, whichcould be aggravated by thelikelihood of a sub-normal mon-soon.

Kharif sowing trailing by 17.64%Kharif sowing trailing by 17.64%Kharif sowing trailing by 17.64%Kharif sowing trailing by 17.64%Kharif sowing trailing by 17.64%

• The overall 45 per cent deficiency in the southwest monsoon so far hasimpacted kharif sowing, which is lagging by 17.64 per cent over theprevious year. Sowing of rice, pulses, coarse cereals, oilseeds,sugarcane, cotton, jute and mesta is lower compared to thecorresponding period last year.

• An Agriculture Ministry-headed inter-ministerial group reviewed thecrop and weather situation on Friday. It was informed that rainfall isdeficient in the country as a whole. The deficiency is 62 per cent inthe east and northeast region, 40 per cent in the northwest, 38 percent in south Peninsula and 32 per cent in central India.

• Of the 36 met sub-divisions, rain has been deficient in over 14 andscanty in 13 sub-divisions. It was normal in only five sub-divisions andexcess in four, according to the India Meteorological Department. Theforecast is that till June 26, north-eastern States as well as coastal





government’s first budget, theWorld Bank, suggested thatIndia should roll out the Goodsand Services Tax (GST),reduce subsidies, and broadentax base to promote growth,projecting it to be lower at 5.5per cent for 2014-15, from theearlier forecast of 5.7 per cent.

• “Implementing the Goods andServices Tax (regime),targeting subsidies better, andbroadening the tax base willhelp create the fiscal space forsupporting accelerated growthand poverty reduction,” saidOnno Ruhl, World Bank’sCountry Director-India.

• He was speaking at a functionhere to release the World Bank’sreport on Global EconomicProspects (GEP) 2014. Leadauthor of the report AndrewBurns, too, was present at thelaunch of the report in India.

• The report, which was releasedglobally earlier, has scaleddown economic growthprojection for the currentfinancial year to 5.5 per centfrom 5.7 per cent estimated inApril.

• “The growth in India isprojected at 5.5 per cent in2014-15, accelerating to 6.3per cent in 2015-16 and 6.6per cent in 2016-17,” the GEP2014 report says.

SEBI consider level tax fieldSEBI consider level tax fieldSEBI consider level tax fieldSEBI consider level tax fieldSEBI consider level tax fieldfor investors in bondsfor investors in bondsfor investors in bondsfor investors in bondsfor investors in bonds

• Suggesting uniform taxtreatment for all investors,

Securities and ExchangeBoard of India (SEBI) ChairmanU. K. Sinha, said thegovernment needed to comeout with a detailed policy onthe matter to remove theexisting ‘anomalies’ in the bondmarket.

• At present, tax rates vary forentities making investments inbonds.Mr. Sinha said the moredifficult issue pertained to taxtreatment or the withholdingtax for investors in bond market.

• Noting that there were ‘certainanomalies’, the SEBI chief saidthe level of withholding tax foran FII investing in infrastructurebonds was different from thatof others.

• Emphasising that procedureshad been simplified for thecorporate bond market, he saidSEBI was in dialogue withindustry to encourage them tocome out with moreissuances.At present, $10billion is the maximuminvestment limit allowed forentities such as sovereignwealth funds in governmentsecurities.

• On e-voting facility forshareholders, Mr. Sinha saidlisted companies had to followSEBI norms. Recently, theCorporate Affairs Ministryextended the time tillDecember this year forcompanies to mandatorily havee-voting facility under the newCompanies Act.

Centre accepts MayaramCentre accepts MayaramCentre accepts MayaramCentre accepts MayaramCentre accepts Mayarampanel reportpanel reportpanel reportpanel reportpanel report

• Foreign investment of 10 percent or more in a listed companywill now be treated as foreigndirect investment (FDI) as thegovernment has accepted thereport of a committee onrationalising definitions of FDIand FII.

• The Finance Ministry in astatement said the governmenthad accepted the report of thecommittee headed by FinanceSecretary Arvind Mayaram.

• It said an investor may beallowed to invest below 10 percent and “this can be treatedas FDI subject to the conditionthat the FDI stake is raised to10 per cent or beyond withinone year from the date of thefirst purchase”.

• If the stake is not raised to 10per cent or above, then theinvestment can be treated asportfolio investment.

• Among variousrecommendations, the panelhas suggested that foreigninvestment in an unlistedcompany, irrespective of thethreshold limit, may be treatedas FDI.

India has moved up to 58thIndia has moved up to 58thIndia has moved up to 58thIndia has moved up to 58thIndia has moved up to 58thrank in terms of foreign moneyrank in terms of foreign moneyrank in terms of foreign moneyrank in terms of foreign moneyrank in terms of foreign moneylying with Swiss bankslying with Swiss bankslying with Swiss bankslying with Swiss bankslying with Swiss banks

• India has moved up to 58thrank in terms of foreign moneylying with Swiss banks, but itaccounts for a meagre 0.15 percent of an estimated $1.6 trilliontotal global wealth held inSwitzerland’s banking system.

• The U.K. has retained its topposition with highest share ofclose to 20 per cent of globalwealth in Swiss bankingsystem, followed by the U.S.,West Indies, Germany andGuernsey in the top-five interms of exposure to banks inSwitzerland.





• Amid much hue and cry overhuge amounts of illicit wealthstashed by Indians in Swissbanks, the latest official datareleased by Switzerland’scentral banking authority SNBshows that Indian money inSwiss banks rose by 43 per centduring 2013 to close to Rs.14,000 crore (2.03 billion Swissfrancs), pushing its globalranking up from 70th at the endof 2012.The rankings are basedon the direct client exposureas also the funds held through‘fiduciaries’ or wealthmanagers with a total of 283banks in Switzerland.

RBI fixed schedules forRBI fixed schedules forRBI fixed schedules forRBI fixed schedules forRBI fixed schedules forregulatory approvalsregulatory approvalsregulatory approvalsregulatory approvalsregulatory approvals

• Moving to a time-defined pro-cess, the Reserve Bank of In-dia, fixed schedules for variousregulatory approvals, includinggrant of private bank licence,and also released a citizens’charter for its various servicessuch as clearing of transactions.

• The release of ‘Timelines forRegulatory Approvals’ and’Citizens’ Charter’ for deliveryof services on the RBI’s websiteis a part of implementation ofn o n - l e g i s l a t i v erecommendations of theFinancial Sector LegislativeReforms Commission (FSLRC),the central bank said in anotification.

• In case an applicant does notget a response within theindicated timeline, they canapproach the head of thedepartment, who will respondwith status of the application,the reason for delay, request foradditional information andlikely time for disposal of theapplication, it added.

• As per the citizens’ charter forRBI’s departments which havepublic interface, depositaccounts department shouldissue cheque book within 20minutes and demand draftshould be issued in an hour,among others.

• Besides, refinance facility anddisbursement of loans shouldtake place in the same day ofapplication while clearingshould be completed by threedays.

• Similarly, timelines have beenfixed for in principle approvalto banks for IPO, preferentialissues of capital and qualifiedinstitutional placements (30days) and authorisation forimport of gold and silver bybanks (60 days).

• As per one recommendation ofthe FSLRC, all regulators arerequired to move to a time-defined approval process,subject to applicable laws, forall permissions includinglicence to do business, as wellas launch of products andservices.

Sugar prices rises on importSugar prices rises on importSugar prices rises on importSugar prices rises on importSugar prices rises on importduty hikeduty hikeduty hikeduty hikeduty hike

• Sugar prices jumped by at leastRs. 10 per kg in the market afterthe government decided toincrease import duty on thesweetener and continue withthe export subsidy to give reliefto the industry that owes Rs.15,000 crore to sugarcanegrowers.

• Market sentiment was affectedas the government announceda slew of measures for millers,including an additionalinterest-free loan of up to Rs.4,400 crore.

• At a meeting convened byUnion Food Minister Ram VilasPaswan, it was decided to raisesugar import duty to 40 percent from 15 per cent andprovide export subsidy of Rs.3,300 per tonne till Septemberthis year.

Disinvestment target likely toDisinvestment target likely toDisinvestment target likely toDisinvestment target likely toDisinvestment target likely tobe revisedbe revisedbe revisedbe revisedbe revised

• With stock markets on an upturnand SEBI pushing for minimum25 per cent public holding inPSUs, the DisinvestmentDepartment is likely to reviseupwards from the Rs.51,925crore PSU stake sale target forthe current fiscal.

• The new government is eyeinghigher funds from PSU stakesales. There will be somecompanies which will be fasttracked for stake sale in thecurrent fiscal in view of 25 percent public holding norm.

Centre to collaborate withCentre to collaborate withCentre to collaborate withCentre to collaborate withCentre to collaborate withStates to fight inflationStates to fight inflationStates to fight inflationStates to fight inflationStates to fight inflation





• To keep a check on inflation inthe wake of a weak monsoon,Prime Minister Narendra Modipushed for “proactive”coordination between theCentre and States inimplementing contingencyplans and asked the States toset up fast-track courts tosternly deal with hoarders.

• At a high-level inter-ministerialmeeting convened by him todiscuss food security andmonsoon situation, the PrimeMinister reviewed theavailability of water and seedsand directed that fodder gridsbe formed for a long-termsolution to the problem ofdrying grazing lands forlivestock in rain-fed areas.The meeting, attended amongothers by Union MinistersRajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, RamVilas Paswan, Radha MohanSingh and Uma Bharti, decidedto extend by three months theperiod till when States shouldimplement the National FoodSecurity Act, which providesfor concessional foodgrains to75 per cent identifiedbeneficiaries. Earlier, Stategovernments had to implementthe Act by July 4, 2014, within365 days of it coming into force(on July 5, 2013). Only fiveStates are ready forimplementation of the Act.

• It gave a go-ahead for setting aminimum export price of $450per tonne for potato todiscourage exports and checkthe rising price of the tuber.Onion supplies have improvedover the last week easingprices, but the price of potatohas gone up by about 30 percent compared to last year.India exports between one totwo lakh tonne potatoesannually.

• Monsoon has so far been

delayed in parts of Karnataka,Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtraand Gujarat, hitting kharifsowing in paddy and cotton.Itwas informed at the meetingthat monsoon will revive by July7 and the El-Nino effect inAugust-September will belower than initially expected.

• Steps to tackle inflation wereyielding results and theAgriculture Ministry was readywith a contingency plan for 500districts in case the monsoonfailed to revive, the PrimeMinister was informed.

• The government announcedonly a modest hike in theminimum support price ofpaddy and pulses to containinflation.

Ranbaxy gets FDA nodRanbaxy gets FDA nodRanbaxy gets FDA nodRanbaxy gets FDA nodRanbaxy gets FDA nod

• Ranbaxy Laboratories has re-ceived approval from the U.S.Food and Drug Administration(FDA) to launch a cheapercopy of Novartis AG’s bloodpressure pill Diovan, bolsteringits outlook after a raft of regula-tory bans for poor productionquality at its India facilitiesdented investor sentiment.

• Ranbaxy, which is in theprocess of being acquired bySun Pharmaceutical Industriesfor $3.2 billion, will be the firstrival drugmaker to launch acopy of Diovan in the UnitedStates, and will be entitled tosix months of exclusivity to sellit.

• The drug, whose chemicalname is valsartan, should addabout $200 million to Ranbaxy’s

sales and $100 million to itsprofit after tax during theexclusive sale period, saidPraful Bohra, a senior researchanalyst at Mumbai-basedbrokerage Nirmal Bang.

• Swiss firm Novartis’s once-bestselling drug Diovan lost patentprotection in September, 2012,but it has been spared genericcompetition because Ranbaxy,which holds the right to launchthe first generic of Diovan, wasstruggling with quality controlissues at its manufacturing sites.

• The FDA has banned all ofRanbaxy’s India-based plantsunder a wider scrutiny of thecountry’s $15-billionpharmaceutical industry, whichis the largest supplier ofmedicines to the UnitedStates.

ONGC plans to investONGC plans to investONGC plans to investONGC plans to investONGC plans to investRs.5,700 crRs.5,700 crRs.5,700 crRs.5,700 crRs.5,700 cr

• Oil and Natural Gas Corp(ONGC) said it would investover Rs.5,700 crore in re-development of its giantMumbai High (North) oil andgas field off the west coast. Theproject will yield anincremental 6.997 milliontonnes of crude oil and 5.253billion cubic metres of gas by2030, the company said in astatement here.

• The board of ONGC approvedthe proposal for re-development of its giantoffshore field, Mumbai High(North), involving a capitalinvestment of Rs.5,706.47crore, including foreignexchange component ofRs.4,421.76 crore.

• The project is designed tocarry forward the success of theprevious two editions of re-development projects of thefields that were discoveredfour decades ago. This will give





a new lease of life to the giantfield.

Price Stabilisation FundPrice Stabilisation FundPrice Stabilisation FundPrice Stabilisation FundPrice Stabilisation FundScheme may be modifiedScheme may be modifiedScheme may be modifiedScheme may be modifiedScheme may be modified

• The Union Commerce Ministryis trying to modify the PriceStabilisation Fund Scheme soas to lower the price thresholdat which the fund getsactivated. The Rs.500-croreFund, which lapsed in 2013, isbeing re-launched, accordingto a Union Commerce Ministryofficial.

• The commodity fund wasestablished in 2003 to helpindustries engaged inproducing four commodities—- tea, coffee, tobacco andnatural rubber. The idea behind

setting up the fund was to helpthe trade stay in business byextending them support ifthere is a drop in theircommodity prices… the ideawas to establish India as areliable supplier in theinternational markets.

• As per current rules, prices ofcertain commodities have todrop 20 per cent ininternational markets for thefund to kick in.This wasconsidered stringent, and theCommerce Ministry has neverhad to operate the fund.Now amove is afoot to revive the fundand lower the threshold to 10per cent.

American pharma companiesAmerican pharma companiesAmerican pharma companiesAmerican pharma companiesAmerican pharma companiesfavour dialogue with Indiafavour dialogue with Indiafavour dialogue with Indiafavour dialogue with Indiafavour dialogue with India

• Top executives of Americanpharma companies favour‘dialogue’ with India and ‘notconfrontation’ to address theirconcerns on key issues like the

protection of intellectualproperty (IP) and clinical trials.

• Arguing that global pharmacompanies share the same goalof ‘patient first’ with that of theIndian government, corporateexecutives attending the day-long ‘U.S.-India BioPharma andHealthcare Summit’, organisedby the USA-India Chamber ofCommerce.

• While asserting there can be nocompromise on IP protectionissues, executives from top U.S.pharma companies said thatthey were willing to work withIndia like — tier pricing — tocome out with a solution, whichis acceptable to both parties.

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Science & TechnologyScience & TechnologyScience & TechnologyScience & TechnologyScience & Technology




Sun-observing IRISSun-observing IRISSun-observing IRISSun-observing IRISSun-observing IRIS

• Nasa’s sun-observing IRIS (In-terface Region Imaging Spec-trograph) spacecraft has cap-tured its first stunning close-upof a colossal coronal massejection(CME) erupting fromthe sun.

• The field of view for this imag-ery is about five times the widthof earth and about seven-and-half times its length, a tremen-dous sheet of solar material canbe seen erupting in a latestvideo released by Nasa.

• The view is unprecedented forIRIS which was launched inJune last year to observe thelowest levels of the sun’s atmo-sphere with better resolutionthan ever before.

• IRIS must commit to pointingat certain areas of the sun atleast a day in advance, socatching a CME in the act in-volves some educated guessesand a little bit of luck.

• Kepler-10c was originally spot-ted by NASA’s Kepler space-craft. Kepler-10c was known tohave a diameter of about 18,000miles, 2.3 times as large as Earth.This suggested it fell into a cat-egory of planets known as mini-Neptunes, which have thick,gaseous envelopes. The teamused the HARPS-North instru-ment on the TelescopioNazionale Galileo (TNG) in theCanary Islands to measure themass of Kepler-10c. They foundthat it weighed 17 times asmuch as Earth – far more thanexpected. This showed thatKepler-10c must have a densecomposition of rocks and othersolids.

New supercomputer unveiledNew supercomputer unveiledNew supercomputer unveiledNew supercomputer unveiledNew supercomputer unveiledby IIT-Kanpurby IIT-Kanpurby IIT-Kanpurby IIT-Kanpurby IIT-Kanpur

• One of India’s top educationalinstitutes, the Indian InstituteOf Technology at Kanpur

Kepler -10cKepler-10cKepler-10cKepler-10cKepler-10c

• Astronomers have discoveredthe “Godzilla” of all Earths – anew type of rocky planet thatweighs 17 times as much as ourplanet and is more than twiceas large in size, a surprising findthat could change scientists’understanding of the origins ofthe universe.

• The newly found mega-Earth,Kepler-10c, circles a Sun-likestar once every 45 days. It islocated about 560 light-yearsfrom Earth in the constellationDraco. Theorists believed sucha world could not form becauseanything so hefty would grabhydrogen gas as it grew andbecome a Jupiter-like gas giant.This planet, though, is all solidand much bigger than previ-ously discovered “super-Earths,” making it a “mega-Earth.”





(IIT-K) has unveiled a newsupercomputer recently.

• It is the second supercomputerthat has been developed bythe prestigious institute. Thecomputer has been ranked fifthin the country in terms of per-formance and 130th in the listof world top 500supercomputers.

• According to Srivastava , themachine operate at a peak per-formance of 307.2 Terra Flops(TF) and a realised perfor-mance of about 249 TF.

• They said the new machinewould be used for regular edu-cation, research and trainingpurposes.

• The machine has beenlaunched after extensive re-search by a seasoned team andthe engineers behind theproject felt that this is one ofthe best supercomputers.

• The project cost Rs 48 crore tothe institute.

Renewable power in GermanyRenewable power in GermanyRenewable power in GermanyRenewable power in GermanyRenewable power in Germany

• May 11, 2014 was a red letterday for renewable power inGermany. The biggest cleanenergy market reached an en-viable record of almost 75 percent renewable market sharefor several hours that day. Ger-many faces its own travails overits chosen path.

• Germany is indeed avoidingblackouts-by opening new coaland gas fired plants. Renew-able electricity is proving so un-reliable and chaotic that it isstarting to undermine the sta-bility of the European grid andprovoke international inci-dents.

• The spiraling cost of therenewables surge has sparkeda backlash, including govern-ment proposals to slash subsi-dies and deployment rates.

• For all modes of power genera-tion, capacity factor — CF (the

amount of electricity, a genera-tor produces in a year dividedby the amount it will produceif it ran at full capacity for all8,760 hrs a year) — is impor-tant. Typically during 2012, CFs(per cent) in Germany were, forsolar: 11; wind: 17; fossil fuel:80 and for nuclear: 94.

• Since India has in place an am-bitious renewable energyprogramme, we must learn fromthe experiences of other coun-tries particularly Germany;Germany’s tryst with renew-able power is often taken as amodel.

• India must promote all modesof power generation includingsolar and wind. Copious sun-shine and abundant wind maylead to over production in thegrid. Balancing the grid may bea challenge. Central Govern-ment must organise a system-atic review of the challenges toarrive at India- centric solu-tions.

Scientists develop water-Scientists develop water-Scientists develop water-Scientists develop water-Scientists develop water-based organic batterybased organic batterybased organic batterybased organic batterybased organic battery

• Scientists have developed awater-based organic batterythat is long lasting and built fromcheap, eco-friendlycomponents.The new battery- which uses no metals or toxicmaterials - is intended for usein power plants, where it canmake the energy grid more re-silient and efficient by creatinga large-scale means to storeenergy for use as needed.

• “The batteries last for about5,000 recharge cycles, givingthem an estimated 15 yearlifespan,” said Sri Narayan, pro-fessor of chemistry at the Uni-versity of Southern CaliforniaDornsife College of Letters, Artsand Sciences and the corre-sponding author of thestudy.”Lithium ion batteriesdegrade after around 1,000cycles, and cost 10 times moreto manufacture,” Narayan said.

• Narayan collaborated withSurya Prakash, professor ofchemistry and director of theUSC Loker Hydrocarbon Re-search Institute, as well as USC’sBo Yang, Lena Hoober—Burkhardt, and FangWang.”Such organic flow bat-teries will be game-changersfor grid electrical energy stor-age in terms of simplicity, cost,reliability and sustainability,”said Prakash.

• Solar panels and wind turbinesare inherently unreliable whichmakes it difficult for powercompanies to rely on them tomeet customer demand.Withbatteries to store surplus en-ergy and then dole it out asneeded, that sporadicunreliability could cease to besuch an issue, researchers said.

• “Mega-scale energy storage isa critical problem in the futureof the renewable energy, re-quiring inexpensive and eco—friendly solutions,” Narayansaid.The new battery is basedon a redox flow design — simi-lar in design to a fuel cell, withtwo tanks of electroactive ma-terials dissolved in water.

• The solutions are pumped intoa cell containing a membranebetween the two fluids withelectrodes on either side, re-leasing energy.The design hasthe advantage of decouplingpower from energy.The tanks





of electroactive materials canbe made as large as needed —increasing total amount of en-ergy the system can store — orthe central cell can betweaked to release that energyfaster or slower, altering theamount of power (energy re-leased over time) that the sys-tem can generate.

• While previous battery designshave used metals or toxicchemicals, Narayan and Prakashwanted to find an organic com-pound that could be dissolvedin water.Such a system wouldcreate a minimal impact on theenvironment, and would likelybe cheap, they figured.

• They found that certain natu-rally occurring quinones —oxidised organic compounds— fit the bill. Quinones arefound in plants, fungi, bacte-ria, and some animals, and areinvolved in photosynthesis andcellular respiration.The re-search was published in theJournal of the ElectrochemicalSociety.

New algae species couldNew algae species couldNew algae species couldNew algae species couldNew algae species couldprovide valuable biofuelprovide valuable biofuelprovide valuable biofuelprovide valuable biofuelprovide valuable biofuel

• The discovery of a new speciesof macro algae along the coastat south Goa could open upvast reserves of biofuel besidesproviding raw material for anti-cancer drugs.A variety ofmacro algae was last discov-ered some 45 years back in thecoastal region of Chennai.

• Such macro algae can be a richsource of biomass,” said Felix

Bast, principle investigator andscientist at the Centre for Bio-sciences, Central University ofPunjab. “Macro algae or sea-weed changes its morphologyfrequently and hence it is ex-tremely tough to record or findout about various species.

• Algae larger than 100micrometre in size is termed amacro algae, or seaweed, inlayman’s language. The newspecies has been namedCladophora goensis Bast afterthe researcher who found it.Green marine algae is respon-sible for the phenomenon ofthe massive green tides occur-ring in Goa, due to the explo-sive growth of seaweeds.

• This is a rapidly growing algaewhich cultivates in marine ar-eas only and in water with sa-linity greater than 30ppm,” saidBast. Apart from the possibilityof this being used as a raw ma-terial for biofuel, it can be cul-tivated and used in the pro-duction of FDA-approved anti-cancer drugs.

• The team of researchers in-cluding Felix Bast and his stu-dents Aijaz Ahmad John andSatej Bhushan used DNA se-quencing techniques to estab-lish their findings.The research-ers said this bloom forming al-gae needs some hard sub-strata or rock-like substance togrow on and was seen to begrowing on mooring lines,buoys, hulls of wooden din-ghies and intertidal substrata,including natural rocks andconcrete breakwaters. Its mor-phological characters distin-guish it from its earlier speciesincluding the green pigment-chloroplast- containing organiccell.

El Niño in 2014El Niño in 2014El Niño in 2014El Niño in 2014El Niño in 2014

• The El Niño weather phenom-

enon, which can cause globalfamines, floods and even wars,has a 90 per cent chance ofstriking this year, according tothe latest forecast released .

• El Niño begins as a giant poolof warm water swelling in theeastern tropical Pacific that setsoff a chain reaction of weatherevents around the world, somedevastating and some benefi-cial.

• India is expected to be the firstto suffer, with weaker monsoonrains, followed by furtherscorching droughts in Austra-lia and collapsing fisheries offSouth America. But some re-gions could benefit, in particu-lar the U.S., where El Niño isseen as the “great wet hope”,bringing rains that could breakthe searing drought in the west.

• The knock-on effects can im-pact even more widely, fromcutting global gold prices tomaking England’s World Cupfootballers sweat a little more.

Earth size white dwarf starEarth size white dwarf starEarth size white dwarf starEarth size white dwarf starEarth size white dwarf starfound in spacefound in spacefound in spacefound in spacefound in space

• A team of astronomers has iden-tified possibly the coldest,faintest white dwarf star everdetected. This ancient stellarremnant is so cold that its car-bon has crystallised, forming, ineffect, an earth-sized diamondin space.

• It is likely its age is the same asof the Milky Way, approximately11 billion years old.It is a reallyremarkable object,” said DavidKaplan, professor at University





of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in theUS.These things should be outthere, but because they are sodim they are very hard to find.

• Kaplan and his colleaguesfound this stellar gem using theNational Radio AstronomyObservatory’s (NRAO) GreenBank Telescope (GBT) andVery Long Baseline Array(VLBA), as well as otherobservatories.White dwarfs areextremely dense end-states ofstars that have collapsed.

• The researchers calculated thatthe white dwarf would be nomore than a comparatively cool3,000 degrees Kelvin (2,700degrees Celsius).Astronomersbelieve that such a cool, col-lapsed star would be largelycrystallised carbon, not unlikea diamond.The findings werepublished in the AstrophysicalJournal.

‘Super-adapted’ chikungunya‘Super-adapted’ chikungunya‘Super-adapted’ chikungunya‘Super-adapted’ chikungunya‘Super-adapted’ chikungunyavirus a possibilityvirus a possibilityvirus a possibilityvirus a possibilityvirus a possibility

• The chikungunya virus circulat-ing in parts of India as well asSri Lanka and South-East Asiacould gain the ability to spreadmore efficiently by combiningmutations, becoming ‘super-adapted’ for transmission bythe Asian tiger mosquito,Aedes albopictus, according toresearch published recently.

• The virus has been primarilytransmitted by the Aedesaegypti mosquito. However, tenyears back, a novel form of thevirus emerged in coastal Kenya,which then spread to countries

around the Indian Ocean, in-cluding India, causing hugeoutbreaks.

• Strains of this virus found in is-lands off Africa, states in Indiasuch as Kerala, Sri Lanka and incountries in South-East Asiahad a mutation that allowed itto be passed on by the A.albopictus mosquito as well.The mutation changed the vi-rus’ E1 protein.

• Subsequently, an additionalmutation was discovered in avirus isolated in Kerala in 2009and from Orissa a year later thataltered the viral E2 protein.Themutation, known as ‘E2-L210Q,’ further enhanced thevirus’ ability to replicate in theA. albopictus mosquito andthereby increase its circulationamong humans.

• A team of scientists led by ScottC. Weaver of the University ofTexas Medical Branch atGalveston in the U.S. has iden-tified more E2 mutations, eachof which, along with thechange in the E1 protein, madethe virus more efficient in es-tablishing itself in A. albopictus.

• One of these mutations, ‘E2-K252Q,’ first turned up in a vi-rus isolated in Kerala in 2007and later in viruses from South-East Asia.More ominously, theirpaper published recently inNature Communications alsoprovided experimental evi-dence that a ‘super-adapted’form of the virus could poten-tially emerge by combining E2mutations.

• A lab-created virus with boththe E2-L210Q and E2-K252Qmutations was far more effec-tive than either one of thosemutations at colonising A.albopictus.The findings indi-cated that even more efficientchikungunya virus transmissionby A. albopictus “will likely

evolve when combinations ofthese second-step mutationsoccur in their current ranges ofendemic circulation in Indiaand Southeast Asia, followedby their likely global spread,”the scientists noted in the pa-per.

Full capacity attained inFull capacity attained inFull capacity attained inFull capacity attained inFull capacity attained inKudankulam reactorKudankulam reactorKudankulam reactorKudankulam reactorKudankulam reactor

• The Kudankulam NuclearPower Project crossed themuch-awaited milestone as thefirst reactor of the upcomingnuclear park attained its maxi-mum capacity of 1,000 MW.

• The Nuclear Power Corporationof India Limited (NPCIL) engi-neers were operating 1,000MWe reactors built with VVERtechnology, supplied byAtomstroyexports, Russia.

• When the reactor reached 90per cent of its capacity on May5 last, it was expected that thefirst unit would attain the maxi-mum power generation capac-ity within a week or so.

• Though the NPCIL had origi-nally planned to commissionthe first of the 2 X 1,000 MWereactor within five years fromthe date of ‘first pouring of con-crete’, the completely newtechnology for the NPCIL tech-nocrats, a range of technical is-sues, delayed supply of com-ponents, incorporation of ad-ditional safety measures, anti-KKNPP struggle and other rea-sons delayed its completion.Finally, the reactor is now ready





for commercial power genera-tion 11 months after it attainedcriticality last year.

PSLV C23 successfully putPSLV C23 successfully putPSLV C23 successfully putPSLV C23 successfully putPSLV C23 successfully putfive foreign satellitesfive foreign satellitesfive foreign satellitesfive foreign satellitesfive foreign satellites

• India’s Polar Satellite LaunchVehicle C-23 successfully putfive foreign satellites into orbitin the presence of Prime Minis-ter Narendra Modi at the IndianSpace Research Organisation’sspaceport in Sriharikota.

• In a smooth 20-minute mission,the ISRO launched the 714-kgFrench earth observation satel-lite SPOT-7, the 14-kg GermanAISAT, the two 15-kg CanadianNLS7.1 (CAN-X4) and NLS7.2(CAN-X5) and the 7-kgSingapore VELOX-1. Followinga “perfect” lift-off at 9.52 a.m.,the PSLV-C23’s four stagescame to life and fell off as pro-grammed — the 4-storey heatshield which protected the sat-ellites from turbulence, split intwo and fell into the Bay of Ben-gal. Soon, all five were in theirslots at a height of more than660 km.

• Observing that 40 of the 67PSLV satellites were put intoorbit from 19 foreign countries,Mr. Modi said it was “a globalendorsement of India’s capa-bilities”.

ISRO must develop SaarcISRO must develop SaarcISRO must develop SaarcISRO must develop SaarcISRO must develop Saarcsatellite- PMsatellite- PMsatellite- PMsatellite- PMsatellite- PM

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi

asked India’s space communityto take up “the challenge of de-veloping a Saarc satellite”which can be dedicated to“our neighbourhood, as a giftfrom India”.

• He suggested that the Saarcsatellite could provide a fullrange of applications and ser-vices to all neighbours of India.He also asked the Indian SpaceResearch Organisation (ISRO)“to enlarge the footprint of oursatellite-based navigation sys-tem to cover all of South India.”

• Mr. Modi, who addressed theISRO employees from the Mis-sion Control Centre (MCC) atSriharikota after the Polar Sat-ellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C23) successfully put five for-eign satellites into orbit, wantedthe ISRO to develop more ad-vanced satellites with higherdegree of computation, imag-ing and transmission. “We mustexpand our satellite footprintin terms of frequency and qual-ity.”

• The Prime Minister praisedIndia’s space scientists for help-ing the country become a self-reliant space power. Indiacould be proud that its spaceprogramme was indigenousand the country developed itdespite international hurdles.

Akash ready for induction intoAkash ready for induction intoAkash ready for induction intoAkash ready for induction intoAkash ready for induction intoArmyArmyArmyArmyArmy

• The DRDO-developed air de-fence missile system was suc-cessfully test-fired by the Armyand hit an unmanned aerial

vehicle.The Army on Wednes-day fired a surface-to-air Akashmissile, which intercepted afast-moving, small unmannedaerial vehicle called Banshee atan altitude of 30 metres abovethe sea level.

• The interception proved themissile’s capability against sub-sonic cruise missile, said offi-cials from the Defence Re-search and DevelopmentOrganisation (DRDO) whichdeveloped Akash.Wednesday’s launch was thelast among the validation trialsdone by the Army on themissile’s production model.

• A modern radar, which formspart of the entire Akash system,continuously tracked the low-flying target. Special tech-niques developed by theDRDO for overcoming the re-flections of the target vehicleBanshee coming from the seaworked perfectly in the mis-sion. With this flight trial, theArmy had accomplished all thevalidation trials on the missile’sproduction model and theAkash system was being deliv-ered for induction into theArmy.

• Bharat Dynamics Limited(BDL), Hyderabad, is produc-ing the missile for the Army, theBharat Electronics Limited(BEL) is the production agencyfor the Air Force. BEL and BDLwere executing productionorders for more than Rs.23,000crore of the Akash missile sys-tem.

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Ceat AwardsCeat AwardsCeat AwardsCeat AwardsCeat Awards

• India’s top batsman Virat Kohlihas won the Ceat InternationalCricketer of the Year awardwhile off-spinner RavichandranAshwin, the fastest player fromthe country to pick 100 Testwickets, bagged the IndianPlayer of the Year award for2013-14.

• Left-handed opener ShikharDhawan was named the Inter-national Player of the Year whileRobin Uthappa, who was partof the triumphant KarnatakaRanji Trophy team, clinched theDomestic Cricketer of the Yearhonour.

• Kohli had won the best playeraward in 2011-12 too. India’sunder-19 cricketer Vijay Zol gotthe Young Player of the Yearaward while yesteryearstumper Syed Kirmani, one ofthe finest behind the stumpswho was also part of the 1983

• McAfee, part of Intel Security,has brought out ‘Red CardClub’ list showcasing the top 11Brazil-bound football playerswhose web pages are consid-ered to be risky for fans tosearch for online.

• Other names in include Spain’sIker Cassillas, Karim Ziani (Al-geria), Karim Benzema(France), Paulinho (Brazil),Edinson Cavani (Uruguay),Fernando Torres (Spain), EdenHazard (Belgium) and GerardPique (Spain).

National Sports Talent SearchNational Sports Talent SearchNational Sports Talent SearchNational Sports Talent SearchNational Sports Talent SearchSystemSystemSystemSystemSystem

• Government has promised tofacilitate development andpromotion of sports, particu-larly rural sports, and said it willlaunch a National Sports TalentSearch System.

• Addressing the first joint sittingof Parliament after the recentLok Sabha polls, PresidentPranab Mukherjee said the new

World Cup winning team, washonoured with the LifetimeAchievement Award. Kirmaniplayed in 88 Tests and 49 ODIs.

• Australian Mitchell Johnson,who was instrumental in hiscountry winning the Ashes Se-ries in overwhelming fashionagainst England at home, andcompatriot Glenn Maxwell re-ceived the Test Player of theYear and Popular Choiceawards respectively, whileBangladesh all-rounder ShakibAl Hasan got the T20 Player ofthe award.

Riskiest online searches listRiskiest online searches listRiskiest online searches listRiskiest online searches listRiskiest online searches listfor footballersfor footballersfor footballersfor footballersfor footballers

• Cybercriminals are most likelyto use names of famousfootballers like CristianoRonaldo and Lionel Messi to lurenetizens to maliciouswebpages designed to infectthem with malware, cyber se-curity firm McAfee said.

SportsSportsSportsSportsSports




government will also formulatea National Education Policy andset up IITs and IIMs in everyState. Maintaining that India isthe world’s oldest civilisationand today it is also a countrywith the largest population ofthe youth, the President saidgovernment must equip andnurture the youth with the rightkind of education, skill-set andopportunity to reap this demo-graphic dividend.

Nadal’s ninth titleNadal’s ninth titleNadal’s ninth titleNadal’s ninth titleNadal’s ninth title

• After all the consecutive victo-ries and the confidentlyclenched fists, after the newhires and the new attitude, the2014 French Open was justanother red-clay rerun forNovak Djokovic.

• He arrived in Paris full of freshand legitimate hope.

IOA seeks views on AsiadIOA seeks views on AsiadIOA seeks views on AsiadIOA seeks views on AsiadIOA seeks views on Asiad

• The Indian Olympic Associa-tion (IOA) has sought the viewsof its members about submit-ting a bid for hosting the AsianGames in 2019.

• With the deadline for submit-ting the bid being July 1, thesecretary general of the IOA,Rajeev Mehta, has written to themembers, stating that there wasnot enough time to call a gen-eral body meeting.

• “The Ministry of Youth Affairsand Sports has already shownits keenness in supporting a bidfrom IOA to host the Games.

ViswanathanViswanathanViswanathanViswanathanViswanathanAnand joint ninthAnand joint ninthAnand joint ninthAnand joint ninthAnand joint ninth

• Five-time world championViswanathan Anand got off toa sedate start with two drawsand ended up joint ninth afterthe end of the fifth round ofWorld Rapid Chess Champion-ship .

• A couple of draws at the be-ginning against Ivan SalgadoLopez of Spain and MaximMatlakov of Russia in the firsttwo rounds for Anand were fol-lowed by a couple of victoriescoming at the expense of hisnew full time ‘second’Sandipan Chanda and RussianVladimir Fedoseev.

• But a draw in the fifth roundwith Viktor Laznicka of CzechRepublic saw the Indian aceslump a little in the strongestever rapid chess tournament ofthe world.

He will depart again withoutthe trophy, which is officiallycalled the Coupe desMousquetaires but which isclearly in need of a namechange at this belief-beggaringstage of the tournament’s his-tory.

• In the modern era, no man hashad a tighter grip on a GrandSlam event than Rafael Nadal,whose 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 victoryover Djokovic allowed him towin his ninth French Open bythe age of just 28.

Seventh women’s hockey World Cup titleSeventh women’s hockey World Cup titleSeventh women’s hockey World Cup titleSeventh women’s hockey World Cup titleSeventh women’s hockey World Cup title

• Olympic gold medallists The Netherlands defeated Australia 2-0 in thetitle showdown to clinch the women’s hockey World Cup .

• This was the fourth time these two nations met in the women’s WorldCup final and The Netherlands has won three of them. Out of 13women’s World Cups since its inception in 1974, the Dutch have wonit seven times.

• Captain Maartje Paumen, one of the four Dutch players winning hersecond World Cup gold, put her team ahead in the 12th minute with apenalty stroke conversion. The penalty stroke was awarded when RossDross was brought down by the goalkeeper and a defender inside thecircle.





India fifth in the shootingIndia fifth in the shootingIndia fifth in the shootingIndia fifth in the shootingIndia fifth in the shootingWorld CupWorld CupWorld CupWorld CupWorld Cup

• National champion SanjeevRajput shot 1160 to take the26th spot in the men’s free rifle3-position event, but India hadthe honour of finishing fifth inthe medals table, in the shoot-ing World Cup at Maribor,Slovenia.

• Rajput shot 386 in kneeling, 394in prone and 380 in standing,16 points short of his nationalrecord 1176, and missed thefinal by 10 points.

• Gagan Narang was in awfulform, finished second from lastamong 52 shooters with a scoreof 1141. It was his third lowesttotal in an international compe-tition in the event.

• India was fifth out of 14 coun-tries that won at least onemedal, in an overall field of 59countries, thanks to a gold andsilver by Jitu Rai and a bronzeby Ayonika Paul.China (7) andGermany (4) finished in thatorder with three gold medals.

Amla named South Africa testAmla named South Africa testAmla named South Africa testAmla named South Africa testAmla named South Africa testcaptaincaptaincaptaincaptaincaptain

• South African cricket brokenew ground with the appoint-

ment of Hashim Amla as testcaptain, the first black cricketerto hold the post permanentlyin a sport long seen to be domi-nated by whites.

• Cricket South Africa (CSA) hadidentified Amla, one-day skip-per AB de Villiers andTwenty20 leader Faf du Plessisas the potential successors toGraeme Smith, who retired fromthe international game inMarch.

• Having initially ruled himselfout, Amla had a change of heartin recent weeks and will nowlead the side to Sri Lanka for atwo-match series next month.

• Amla believes it is the right timefor him to take over after theloss of senior players Smith andJacques Kallis in the past sixmonths.

Srinivasan set to take over asSrinivasan set to take over asSrinivasan set to take over asSrinivasan set to take over asSrinivasan set to take over aschairman of ICCchairman of ICCchairman of ICCchairman of ICCchairman of ICC

• BCCI’s president-in-exile N.Srinivasan is set to take over asthe chairman of the Interna-tional Cricket Council (ICC) atthis week’s annual conferencein Melbourne.

• BCCI secretary Sanjay Patelconfirmed that Srinivasan wasgoing to Melbourne. “By themonth-end, India will take aleading role in the ICC.

Sourav Ganguly joined Mudgal CommitteeSourav Ganguly joined Mudgal CommitteeSourav Ganguly joined Mudgal CommitteeSourav Ganguly joined Mudgal CommitteeSourav Ganguly joined Mudgal Committee

• Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian cricket captain, joined the MudgalCommittee on IPL spot-fixing as an expert on cricketing affairs.TheMudgal committee headed by Justice (retired) Mukul Mudgal is prob-ing IPL betting and spot fixing scandals of 2013.

• It is investigating on the 13 names submitted by it to Supreme Court ina sealed envelope in February 2014 after a preliminary inquiry. It wasappointed in October 2013 by the Supreme Court to investigate thefixing allegations that took place during the IPL’s 2013 season.

• The Supreme Court in its direction asked the probe committee toselect a cricketer of impeccable repute and integrity to help the com-mittee on the cricketing matters related to IPL betting and spot fixing.





Saina Nehwal won AustralianSaina Nehwal won AustralianSaina Nehwal won AustralianSaina Nehwal won AustralianSaina Nehwal won AustralianOpen Super Series titleOpen Super Series titleOpen Super Series titleOpen Super Series titleOpen Super Series title

• Saina Nehwal, Indian badmin-ton ace, on 29 June 2014 won750000 US dollar AustralianOpen Super Series by defeat-ing Carolina Marin of Spain instraight-game 21-18, 21-11 infinal played at Sydney.

• This is the second title win ofthe year for sixth-seeded, SainaNehwal. The previous title forher was Indian OpenGrandprix Gold in Delhi. On theother hand, this was first WorldSuper Series final for WorldNumber 11, Carolina Marin.

35th National Games to be35th National Games to be35th National Games to be35th National Games to be35th National Games to beheld in Keralaheld in Keralaheld in Keralaheld in Keralaheld in Kerala

• 35th National Games dateswere announced at

Thiruvananthapuram by IndianOlympic Association (IOA).The games will be held at 32different venues across sevendistricts of Kerala from 31 Janu-ary to 14 February 2015. Thedates for the games were for-mally approved by Union Min-ister for Sports and Youth Af-fairs Sarbanand Sonowal onbehalf of Government of India.

• The 35th National Games willbe held in 36 disciplines andwill see a total of 11641 partici-pants that includes 7744 ath-letes. The participants willcompete for a total of 365 goldand silver medals as well as 477bronze medals.This is for thesecond time Kerala will be host-ing the National Games. For thefirst time, Kerala conducted the27th National Games in 1987.

Awards and PrizesAwards and PrizesAwards and PrizesAwards and PrizesAwards and Prizes




Russian mathematician receives the 2014 Abel PrizeRussian mathematician receives the 2014 Abel PrizeRussian mathematician receives the 2014 Abel PrizeRussian mathematician receives the 2014 Abel PrizeRussian mathematician receives the 2014 Abel Prize walk, Sinai-Ruelle-Bowenmeasures, and Pirogov-Sinaitheory.

Salman Rushdie wins the 2014Salman Rushdie wins the 2014Salman Rushdie wins the 2014Salman Rushdie wins the 2014Salman Rushdie wins the 2014Pen / Pinter PrizePen / Pinter PrizePen / Pinter PrizePen / Pinter PrizePen / Pinter Prize

• Salman Rushdie has beenawarded the 2014 Pen / PinterPrize. Established in 2009 byEnglish Pen, the worldwidewriters’ association andfreedom of expression charity,it celebrates the memory of theplaywright and Nobel LaureateHarold Pinter and is awardedannually to a British writer ofoutstanding literary merit whocasts an “unflinching,unswerving” gaze upon theworld and shows a “fierceintellectual determination todefine the real truth of our livesand our societies”.

• Rushdie is best known for hisacclaimed novels such asMidnight’s Children, Shame and

• The Norwegian Academy ofScience and Letters has de-cided to award the Abel Prizefor 2014 to Yakov G. Sinai (78)of Princeton University, USA,and the Landau Institute forTheoretical Physics, RussianAcademy of Sciences,”for hisfundamental contributions todynamical systems, ergodictheory, and mathematical phys-ics”. The President of the Nor-wegian Academy of Scienceand Letters, Nils Chr. Stenseth,announced the winner of the2014 Abel Prize at the Acad-emy in Oslo today, 26 March.Yakov G. Sinai will receive theAbel Prize from His Royal High-ness The Crown Prince at anaward ceremony in Oslo.

• The Abel Prize recognizescontributions of extraordinarydepth and influence to themathematical sciences and hasbeen awarded annually since2003. It carries a cash award ofNOK 6,000,000 (about EUR750,000 or USD 1 million).

• Yakov Sinai is one of the mostinfluential mathematicians ofthe twentieth century. He hasachieved numerousgroundbreaking results in thetheory of dynamical systems, inmathematical physics and inprobability theory. Manymathematical results are namedafter him, includingKolmogorov–Sinai entropy,Sinai’s billiards, Sinai’s random





The Satanic Verses. Much of his fiction is set in India and Pakistan, andcombines magical realism with historical fiction to explore therelationship between East and West.

• He has received the Booker Prize (with Midnight’s Children alsowinning the one-off Best of Booker prize in 2008) and the WhitbreadPrize for Best Novel (twice) among many other accolades.

Booktrust Best Book Awards 2014 winners announcedBooktrust Best Book Awards 2014 winners announcedBooktrust Best Book Awards 2014 winners announcedBooktrust Best Book Awards 2014 winners announcedBooktrust Best Book Awards 2014 winners announced

• John Green’s YA novel ‘TheFault In Our Stars’ has beenchosen as one of the winningtitles in the first ever BooktrustBest Book Awards.The novel,which has been made into asuccessful Hollywood filmstarring Nat Wolff, ShaileneWoodley and Ansel Elgort, is amoving tale about teenagerswith cancer.

• Green beat a strong shortlistthat included CJ Skuse for DeadRomantic,Phil Earle for Heroicand Sophia Bennett for YouDon’t Know Me.The BooktrustAwards with Amazon Kindleare part of Children’s BookWeek 2014. A shortlist forseveral categories was selectedby judges and then 12,000schoolchildren nationwidevoted in a poll for their favouritebooks.

Civil Services is the dream of many students. No wonder, there is a great competition for this examination, given the prestige and power linked to the profile of a civil servant. However, a large majority of students are struggling without any proper guidance. Thus, at IASEXAMPortal we have come up with an initiative to guide the aspirants, in their journey through the IAS, IPS exam.

We have started with a series called- Getting Started with Civil Services Examinations, to guide you in your preparations. Every other day, we would come up with motivational and informative articles, discussing the various aspects of the civil services examination, and the possible strategies, that a candidate might choose to get success.

The Vision Our aim is to guide the candidate, in making different decisions while facing the UPSC. We welcome the aspirants to discuss, with us, their problems and confusions, anytime. Any aspirant may subscribe to the Getting Started Series, and enjoy our support free of cost. You may, later, take our other products and services, if you so like.

We wish the candidates All the Best for the their preparations!!

• Civil Services Exam: What, Why and How ?

• How to Read A Newspaper for IAS Exam

• Two more attempts in UPSC Exams: all boon and no bane!!

• How to Study? The Ultimate Dilemma

• Preparing for Civil Services without Coaching

• IAS Preparation for Rural/Remote Areas Students

• Why do Online Test Series?

• NCERT and NIOS Books for IAS Preparations

• Strategy for IAS Exam for Working Professionals

Getting Started with IAS Exam Preparations - FAQ for New Aspirants

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Ratan TataRatan TataRatan TataRatan TataRatan Tata

• Former TATA Group ChairmanRatan Tata on 21 June 2014received an honorary doctor oflaws degree from YorkUniversity in Toronto, Canada.The award was given for hisachievements in promotinginnovations, exemplaryleadership and corporate socialresponsibility.

• The honour was conferred atthe 2014 spring convocation ofYork University’s SchulichSchool of Business byChancellor of the varsityGregory Sorbara.Tata wasamong the 12 recipients ofhonorary doctorate from YorkUniversity.

Sanjay RajaramSanjay RajaramSanjay RajaramSanjay RajaramSanjay Rajaram

• India-born Mexican plantscientist, Sanjaya Rajaram willbe honoured with the WorldFood Prize for the year 2014. Itwas announced by the WorldFood Prize Foundation . The

award will be presented toRajaram in Des Moines, Iowa inOctober 2014.

• He won the prize for hisoutstanding work in theimprovement of wheat crop.He is credited with increasingworld wheat production bymore than 200 million tonsduring the 25-year-periodknown as the golden years ofwheat – building upon thesuccesses of the GreenRevolution. It had a far-reaching impact in alleviatingworld hunger.

Abhijit GuhaAbhijit GuhaAbhijit GuhaAbhijit GuhaAbhijit Guha

• Lieutenant General (retired)Abhijit Guha of Indian Armywas on 5 June 2014 appointedas member of a UN ExpertPanel on Technology and Inno-vation in UN peacekeeping. Abhijit Guha is a member ofthe five-member expert panel.

• The five-member Expert Panelwas appointed by Under-Sec-retaries- General for Peace-keeping Operations and forField Support Herve Ladsousand Ameerah Haq.

• The panel is headed by Ms.Jane Holl Lute (United States)who is currently the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser forRelocation of Camp HurriyaResidents Outside of Iraq. Theother members of the panel areMajor General Michael Fryer ofSouth Africa, Major General IbJohannes Bager of Denmarkand Walter Dorn of Canada.

V K RajahV K RajahV K RajahV K RajahV K Rajah

In The NewsIn The NewsIn The NewsIn The NewsIn The News




• Indian-origin judge V K Rajahon 25 June 2014 wasappointed as 8th Attorney-General of Singapore. Presidentof Singapore Tony Tan KengYam presided at the swearing-in of Justice V K Rajah.

• He will succeed Steven Chong.Steven Chong will return to theSupreme Court.VK Rajah wasalso appointed as a member ofthe Presidential Council forMinority Rights for a three-yearterm. 17-member councilreports on matters, includingBills or other legislation.

Sujit ChoudhrySujit ChoudhrySujit ChoudhrySujit ChoudhrySujit Choudhry

• Sujit Choudhry became the firstIndian-American dean of theBerkeley Law School,University of California. He is the12th dean of the famed Lawschool and he will serve theinstitution for five years startingfrom 1 July 2014.

• He relieved Interim Dean GillianLester, and replacesChristopher Edley, whostepped down in December2013 after nearly ten years asdean.

• He is a noted expert incomparative constitutional lawand his core work addressesbasic methodologicalquestions in comparativeconstitutional law. He alsostudied constitutional designas a way for states to transitionfrom civil war to peacefuldemocracies, especially inethnically divided societies.

Sumitra MahajanSumitra MahajanSumitra MahajanSumitra MahajanSumitra Mahajan

• Eight-term member SumitraMahajan was unanimouslyelected Speaker of the 16thLok Sabha, becoming thesecond woman presidingofficer of the Lower House afterher predecessor Meira Kumar.

• 71-year-old Mahajan, thelongest-serving woman MP,was elected after a motionmoved by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi and secondedby BJP veteran L K Advani wasadopted by voice vote calledby Protem Speaker Kamal Nath.

K Chandrashekhar RaoK Chandrashekhar RaoK Chandrashekhar RaoK Chandrashekhar RaoK Chandrashekhar Rao

• Telangana Rashtriya Samiti(TRS) chief K Chandrashekhar

Rao was sworn in as the firstChief Minister of Telangana,which became the 29th stateof India.

Prince Zeid al HusseinPrince Zeid al HusseinPrince Zeid al HusseinPrince Zeid al HusseinPrince Zeid al Hussein

• U.N. secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has announced thatPrince Zeid al Hussein, a long-time diplomat and former U.N.peacekeeper, has beennominated as as the new highcommissioner for human rights.

Virat KohliVirat KohliVirat KohliVirat KohliVirat Kohli

• India's top batsman Virat Kohlihas won the Ceat InternationalCricketer of the Year awardwhile off-spinner RavichandranAshwin, the fastest player fromthe country to pick 100 Testwickets, bagged the IndianPlayer of the Year award for2013-14.

Selected Articles from Various Newspapers & JournalsSelected Articles from Various Newspapers & JournalsSelected Articles from Various Newspapers & JournalsSelected Articles from Various Newspapers & JournalsSelected Articles from Various Newspapers & Journals




SELECTED ARTICLES FROM VARIOUSNEWSPAPERS & JOURNALS

Britain considering ban onBritain considering ban onBritain considering ban onBritain considering ban onBritain considering ban onMuslim Brotherhood : reportMuslim Brotherhood : reportMuslim Brotherhood : reportMuslim Brotherhood : reportMuslim Brotherhood : report

Britain’s government isconsidering banning the EgyptianMuslim Brotherhood over concernsthe group is behind terrorist attacksin Egypt. Brotherhood leaderMohamed Morsy was ousted asEgypt’s first democratically electedPresident last year by the military andthe group has since been blamed byCairo for a wave of attacks. TheBrotherhood insists it is a peacefulorganization with no links to violence.Egyptian authorities have launcheda crackdown on Islamists since July,during which hundreds were killedand thousands injured.

A court in southern Egypthanded down death sentences to529 alleged backers of Morsy overrioting and killing a police officer inAugust, drawing strongcondemnations from human rightsorganizations. Since being banned inEgypt, the Brotherhood has movedsome of its operations to Britain. TheBritish review is being handled by thecountry’s top diplomat in SaudiArabia. Riyadh, historically hostile toorganized political Islamicmovements, this year declared theMuslim Brotherhood to be a terroristorganization and the monarchy hassupported Egypt’s military rulers.

Meanwhile, al—Qaeda in theArabian Peninsula — the networks’sYemen—based branch — releaseda new video in which they mockedthe Saudi government as being apawn of the United States.

AQAP condemned the ban onthe Brotherhood and said it was a signthe Saudi government would nevertolerate Islamist groups.

AQAP has hundreds of Saudiand other foreign fighters in its ranksand is considered one of the mostdangerous branches of al—Qaeda.

No sign of troop pullback :No sign of troop pullback :No sign of troop pullback :No sign of troop pullback :No sign of troop pullback :NATONATONATONATONATO

Even as NATO saw no sign oftangible Russian force pullback fromthe Ukrainian border, Russia has hikedthe price of natural gas for Ukraine.The Russian gas monopoly Gazpromhas withdrawn the 30 per centdiscount, thereby increasing theprice of gas for Ukraine from $268.5to $385.5 per 1,000 cubic metres.The discount was part of a financialbailout package Russia’s PresidentVladimir Putin extended to Ukraine’sPresident Viktor Yanukovych inDecember following his refusal to signa free trade pact with the EuropeanUnion. At the same time Russia hasnot acted on its threat to cancelanother gas price discount Ukrainereceived in 2010 under anagreement to extend the Russianlease of a naval base in Crimea. Had itdone so, the price would have soaredto $480 per 1,000 cubic metres ofgas. The International Monetary Fundhas agreed a $14-18 billion standbycredit for Ukraine, in exchange forpainful economic reforms that areexpected to be launched after thepresidential elections scheduled forMay 25. In Ukraine, the authoritieshave moved to crack down on far rightmilitants who helped them topplethe Yanukovych government.

The Ukrainian Parliamentdirected the security services todisarm the illegal self-defence groupsthat sprang up during the protestsagainst the previous government. Themove came a day after a shooting inthe capital Kiev involving activists ofthe extreme nationalist Right Sectorgroup in which three people werewounded, including a deputy Mayorof Kiev.

Russia has accused Ukrainiannationalists of intimidating ethnicRussians living in Ukraine. Russianimmigration authorities said on

Monday that hundreds of Russianshave fled Ukraine for Russia in recentweeks.

Japan allows evacuees back toJapan allows evacuees back toJapan allows evacuees back toJapan allows evacuees back toJapan allows evacuees back tono-go zone around Fukushimano-go zone around Fukushimano-go zone around Fukushimano-go zone around Fukushimano-go zone around Fukushimaplantplantplantplantplant

For the first time since Japan’snuclear disaster three years ago,authorities are allowing residents toreturn to live in their homes within atiny part of a 20-kilometre (12-mile)no-go zone around the Fukushimaplant. The decision, which tookeffect, applies to 357 people in 117households from a corner of Tamuracity after the government determinedthat radiation levels are low enoughfor habitation. But many of thoseevacuees are still undecided aboutgoing back because of fears aboutradiation, especially its effect onchildren. Visits inside the zone hadpreviously been allowed, and about90 people already live in the area withspecial permission, according toTamura city hall.

The March 11, 2011 nucleardisaster, when a huge earthquakeand ensuing tsunami led tomeltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-ichiplant, displaced more than 100,000people. Many of them are still livingin temporary housing or with relatives,and some have moved away to startlife over elsewhere. Areas within theevacuation zone have become ghosttowns, overgrown with weeds.Evacuees now receive governmentcompensation of about 100,000 yen($1,000) each a month. Those whomove back get a one-time 900,000yen ($9,000) as an incentive. Themonthly compensation will endwithin a year for residents from areaswhere the government decides it issafe enough to go back and live. Newstores and public schools are plannedto accommodate those who moveback.

The radioactive plume from theFukushima plant did not spread





evenly in a circle and so some areasoutside the 20-kilometre zone are stilltoo unsafe to live. Decontaminationon an unprecedented scale isongoing in Fukushima. Some placesmay not be safe to live for decades.

India poses barriers toIndia poses barriers toIndia poses barriers toIndia poses barriers toIndia poses barriers toAmerican trade : USTRAmerican trade : USTRAmerican trade : USTRAmerican trade : USTRAmerican trade : USTR

Indian policies pose barriers toAmerican trade and the US will keeppressing India to remove obstaclesto smoothen business relation, says aUSTR report. Noting that it is holdingtalks with India both at bilateral andthe World Trade Organisation level,the 2014 report of the UN TradeRepresentative (USTR) on “TechnicalBarriers to Trade” listed out some ofthe issues obstructing trade relations.

Indian policies on wholesalefoods labelling, security regulationson telecom equipment, safety testingrequirements for electronics and ITequipment and proposedamendment to the hazardous wasteact as trade barriers, the report said.US electronics and IT goodsmanufacturers have raised concernsabout the Indian Department ofElectronics and InformationTechnology’s (DEITY) September2012 order that mandates compulsoryregistration for 15 categories ofimported electronic and IT goods, itsaid. The policy, originally set to takeeffect from April 2013, mandatesexporters to register their productswith laboratories affiliated or certifiedby the Bureau of Indian Standards(BIS).

“Although US industry wouldultimately like to see the entire policyrepealed, an important first step is toseek an exemption for HighlySpecialised Equipment (HSE),including servers, storage, printingmachines, and IT products that areinstalled, operated, and maintainedby professionals who are trained tomanage the product’s inherent safetyrisks,” the report said. USTR said theUnited States will continue to seekclarification on the scope andapplication of the revised PreferentialMarket Access (PMA) policy for

domestically manufacturedtelecommunications equipment andclosely monitor its implementation in2014.

The United States, it said, hasdetailed concerns about ‘onerous’India-specific labelling issues inprevious TBT Reports since the FSSRwere published in India’s Gazette in2011. India’s responses have failedto provide additional or reliableinformation with regard to how theelements of this measure advancessafety or efficacy or quality of theproducts in question or meets thespecific needs of India, the reportsaid.

UN asks Sri Lanka toUN asks Sri Lanka toUN asks Sri Lanka toUN asks Sri Lanka toUN asks Sri Lanka tocooperate with UNHRCcooperate with UNHRCcooperate with UNHRCcooperate with UNHRCcooperate with UNHRC

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has askedSri Lanka to engage “constructively”and cooperate with its human rightsbody to implement a resolution callingfor an international inquiry intoalleged war crimes committed duringthe final stages of the country’s civilwar. Mr. Ban has “consistentlyunderlined the importance of anaccountability process for addressingviolations of internationalhumanitarian and human rights law inSri Lanka,” the UN Secretary General’sDeputy Spokesman Farhan Haq toldreporters. The Council had on March27 voted to open an internationalinquiry into alleged war crimescommitted by the Sri Lankangovernment and the Liberation Tigersof Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the finalstages of a decades-long conflict thatended in 2009.

India had abstained from votingon the resolution which was adoptedby a vote of 23 in favour to 12 against.The Geneva-based Councilrequested the Office of the UN HighCommissioner for Human Rights(OHCHR) to undertake a“comprehensive investigation” intoalleged serious violations and abusesof human rights and related crimesby both parties, and to establish thefacts and circumstances of suchalleged violations “with a view to

avoiding impunity and ensuringaccountability.”

Mr. Haq said Mr. Ban recalledthe commitments made to him onaccountability by the President of SriLanka in their joint statement of 2009.The United Nations will remainengaged with Sri Lanka to support SriLanka’s efforts to make progress inaccountability, reconciliation and alasting political solution,” Mr. Haqadded. The resolution had also calledon the Sri Lankan government torelease publicly the results of itsinvestigations into alleged violationsby security forces, including theattack on unarmed protesters inWeliweriya in August 2013, and thereport of 2013, by the court of inquiryof the Sri Lanka Army. UN HighCommissioner for Human Rights NaviPillay had stressed the need to ensurejustice and accountability, includingthrough the establishment of anindependent and credibleinvestigation, saying: “This is essentialto advance the right to truth for all inSri Lanka and create furtheropportunities for justice,accountability and redress.”

RBI adopts new CPI as keyRBI adopts new CPI as keyRBI adopts new CPI as keyRBI adopts new CPI as keyRBI adopts new CPI as keymeasure of inflationmeasure of inflationmeasure of inflationmeasure of inflationmeasure of inflation

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)Governor, Raghuram Rajan said thatthe central bank had adopted thenew Consumer Price Index (CPI)(combined) as the key measure ofinflation. Earlier, RBI had given moreweightage to Wholesale Price Index(WPI) than CPI as the key measure ofinflation for all policy purposes.“Some recommendations of Urjit R.Patel Committee report have beenimplemented, including adoption ofthe new CPI (combined) as the keymeasure of inflation,” said Dr. Rajan,while addressing a press conferencehere to announce the first bi-monthlymonetary policy for 2014-15. This alsoincludes explicit recognition of theglide path for disinflation, transitionto a bi-monthly monetary policy cycle,progressive reduction in access to





overnight liquidity at the fixed reporate, and a corresponding increasein access to liquidity through termrepos, and introduction of longer-tenor term repos as well as, goingforward, term reverse repos.

Following on therecommendations of the high-leveladvisory committee chaired by BimalJalan, and after consulting theElection Commission, the RBI willannounce in-principle approval fornew bank licences. In order toexpand the market for corporatebonds, banks would be allowed tooffer partial credit enhancements tothem. He also said that the feasibilityof limited re-repo/re-hypothecationof “repoed” government securitieswas being explored.

The RBI, he said, wouldcontinue to work to ease entry costsfor foreign investors. It would alsostrive to reduce risk for investors andthe volatility of flows. Towards thisend, the RBI Governor said thatmodalities for allowing foreignportfolio investors (FPIs) to hedgetheir currency risks throughexchange-traded currency futureswere being worked out in consultationwith the Securities and ExchangeBoard of India (SEBI). Further, he saidthat FPIs would be allowed to hedgetheir coupon receipts falling dueduring the next 12 months. Toencourage longer-term flows andreduce volatility, FPI investments inG-Secs would, henceforth, bepermitted only in dated securities ofmaturity of one-year and above, andexisting investment in T-bills wouldbe allowed to taper off on maturity/sale. Any investment limits vacatedat the shorter end would be availableat longer maturities, “so that overallFPI limits will not be diminished.”

The RBI Governor further saidthat banks should not levy penalcharges for non-maintenance ofminimum balance in ordinary savingsbank account and inoperativeaccounts, “but instead curtail theservices accorded to those accountsuntil the balance is restored.”

India needs multi-prongedIndia needs multi-prongedIndia needs multi-prongedIndia needs multi-prongedIndia needs multi-prongedapproach to eradicateapproach to eradicateapproach to eradicateapproach to eradicateapproach to eradicatepoverty: Reportpoverty: Reportpoverty: Reportpoverty: Reportpoverty: Report

A multi-pronged approach withfocus on inclusive economicgrowth would help eradicatepoverty, which is increasingly gettingconcentrated in a few geographicalareas, says a research report. Theobservations are part of the IndiaPublic Policy Report (IPPR) 2014jointly published by O P Jindal GlobalUniversity and Oxford UniversityPress. “Overcoming poverty requiresa context specific multi-prongedstrategy that includes: a basic needsapproach, a human rights entitlementapproach, a natural resourcemanagement approach and a focuson inclusive economic growth,” thereport released said. Poverty in Indiais getting increasingly concentratedin a few geographical areas, amongspecific social groups and isincreasing in urban areas, it said. Italso noted that access to a diversefood basket alone may not help ineffectively overcoming malnutrition.

The report’s PolicyEffectiveness Index (PEI) showedthat at all India level there is a gradual,but only a marginal, improvement inthe policy effectiveness index overthe three decades - period from 1981to 2011. The index is based on fourfactors - livelihood opportunity, socialopportunity, rule of law and physicalinfrastructure development.

Russia for federalism inRussia for federalism inRussia for federalism inRussia for federalism inRussia for federalism inUkraineUkraineUkraineUkraineUkraine

Russia’s Foreign Minister hascalled on reluctant Western nationsto push Ukraine towards a “genuine,not cosmetic” constitutional reformto grant autonomy to its Russian-speaking regions. “It is necessary topursue genuine, rather than cosmeticconstitutional reform and to stopmeddling in Ukraine’s internal affairs,”said Sergei Lavrov. “Otherwise it lookslike the West has taken up the role ofarbiter of Ukraine’s fate, while itscurrent authorities lack any significant

independence.” Mr. Lavrov statedthat the Ukrainian new leadershipshows no intention of transformingthe country’s unitary state into afederation. Kiev has arrested activistsin the Russian-speaking regions whodemanded local referendums ongreater autonomy from the centre.The Russian Parliament accused theUkrainian authorities of committing“political reprisals” and resorting to“physical violence” against“hundreds” of detained pro-autonomy activists.

The Russian Foreign Ministryearlier this week denouncedUkraine’s reported plans to hireforeign private militaries to suppressprotest movements in eastern andsouthern regions. It cited reports thatKiev planned to recruit the notoriousGreystone Ltd to police Russian-speaking regions. Some reports saidGreystone mercenaries had beendeployed in Donetsk to control pro-Russian demonstrators last month.Greystone Ltd were contracted bythe Pentagon for security duties inIraq and were accused of committingatrocities.

IRNSS-1B orbit raisedIRNSS-1B orbit raisedIRNSS-1B orbit raisedIRNSS-1B orbit raisedIRNSS-1B orbit raised

The Indian Space ResearchOrganisation (ISRO) successfullyboosted the apogee and the perigeeof its navigation satellite, the IndianRegional Navigation Satellite System(IRNSS-1B), by firing the propulsionsystem on board the satellite forseven minutes and a half. Missioncontrollers at the ISRO’s MasterControl Facility (MCF) in Hassan,Karnataka, gave the command for thepropulsion system, called the LiquidApogee Motor (LAM), aboard theIRNSS-1B to kick-start it. At the endof 450 seconds of firing, the satellite’sapogee was boosted from 20,630 kmto 24,760 km and the perigee wentup from 283 km to 299 km, said M.Nageswara Rao, Project Director,IRNSS. The IRNSS-1B is India’s





second navigation satellite and it wasput into its initial orbit of 20,630 km x283 km by the ISRO’s Polar SatelliteLaunch Vehicle (PSLV-C24) on April4 evening. A PSLV had put the firstnavigation satellite called the IRNSS-1A into orbit on July 1, 2013. A totalof seven satellites will form the IRNSSconstellation. The ISRO will put intoorbit two more IRNSS satellitesbefore the end of 2014 and anotherthree by the end of 2015, thuscompleting the constellation.

ISRO scientists said India hadbecome a member of the club of theU.S., Russia, Europe, Japan and Chinaby building these satellites. While theU.S’ GPS, the Russian GLONASS andthe European Galileo are globalnavigation satellites which can beused by anybody anywhere in theworld with the help of a receiver, theIRNSS-1B forms part of the regionalnavigation system which will providepositional information to users only inIndia and the region extending 1,500km from its borders. In aerialnavigation, aircraft will use the IRNSSsatellites when they are cruising,approaching an airport to land orduring landing. During these phases,the aircraft will know their positionand flight direction accurately. Thesatellites will help the aircraft land onrunway with an accuracy of 20metres. The IRNSS constellation willhelp ships navigate towards theirdestination through safe and shortroutes and in guiding them to enterharbours. In land navigation, driversof cars and trucks, with a receiver intheir mobile phone, can reach theirdestination through the shortest routeIn defence, the IRNSS will helpmissiles in accurately reaching theirtargets — be it a town or installation.They help missiles in “way-pointing”towards their target. If there are hillson a missile’s flight path, it will helpthe missiles circumvent the hills with

the information received from theIRNSS. Air-launched missiles will usethese satellites to know where theyare and head towards their targets.

Long-billed vultures sighted inLong-billed vultures sighted inLong-billed vultures sighted inLong-billed vultures sighted inLong-billed vultures sighted inthe Nilgiristhe Nilgiristhe Nilgiristhe Nilgiristhe Nilgiris

Wildlife officials and volunteersof Arulagam, a Coimbatore-basedNGO involved in vultureconservation, sighted five long-billedvultures in the north-eastern slopesof the Nilgiris. Sharing theexperience, S. Bharathidasan ofArulagam said his team receivedspecific information about thepresence of long-billed vultures inthe area. It took more than two hoursfor the team to reach a cliff fromwhere, using a binocular, it recordedthe presence of the vultures onanother cliff. Long-billed vultures arefound only in the north-eastern slopesof the Nilgiris. White-backed, Kingand Egyptian vultures are the otherthree species found in the Nilgiris andthe Moyar valley, its adjoining area,Mr. Bharathidasan said. Huge cattlepopulation is found in the Nilgiris andits surrounding areas. This could beone of the reasons the vultures thrivehere. Diclofenac, an anti-inflammatorydrug used for both animals andhumans, poses a major threat to thesurvival of vultures. Diclofenac-baseddrugs should be banned in theregion, Mr. Bharathidasan said.

Iran, six powers push forIran, six powers push forIran, six powers push forIran, six powers push forIran, six powers push fornuclear deal by Julynuclear deal by Julynuclear deal by Julynuclear deal by Julynuclear deal by July

Senior envoys from Iran and sixworld powers met for a new round ofnegotiations, in an effort to reach abroad agreement on scaling backIran’s nuclear programme and liftingsanctions by July. Iran’s PresidentHassan Rowhani is under pressure tosee the crippling sanctions against hiscountry lifted, while US Republicansgearing up for Congressional mid—term elections in November arepushing President Barack Obama totake a tough stance on the issue.Adding more urgency is theexpected end—of—year departure

of EU foreign policy chief CatherineAshton, the chief negotiator forBritain, China, France, Russia, theUnited States and Germany.However, Iran and the six powershave yet to agree on the limits thatTehran will have to accept on itsenrichment programme, and on thefuture of the plutonium—producingArak reactor, Iranian and Westerndiplomats have said.

The six powers are concernedthat Iran could use enriched uraniumor plutonium to make nuclearweapons. Iranian leaders insist theyare only interested in nuclear energyand scientific applications. Westernofficials have said one option wouldbe to convert Arak into a type ofreactor that does not produceplutonium as a side product. Iranianofficials have proposed instead thatcountries such as Germany, France,Japan, Brazil or Argentina join theArak research reactor project, toguarantee that it serves peacefulpurposes. Iran and the six powershave been implementing apreliminary agreement since January,under which Tehran has sloweddown its drive to enrich uranium andhalted construction at Arak, whilesome Western sanctions have beensuspended.

A significant capabilityA significant capabilityA significant capabilityA significant capabilityA significant capability

India’s Polar Satellite LaunchVehicle (PSLV) mared its 25thconsecutive successful mission bylofting he second spacecraft requiredfor the Indian Regional NavigationSatellite System (IRNSS). The IRNSSwill function much like America’swidely-used Global PositioningSystem (GPS), albeit on a regionalscale. The GPS is based on aconstellation of 24 satellites thattransmit signals, which suitablyequipped receivers pick up andutilise to establish their position witha great level of accuracy. Originallyintended for the U.S. armed forces,the use of unencrypted GPS signalshave spawned a wide range of civilianapplications. Vehicles, aircraft and





ships increasingly rely on equipmentwith satellite navigation capability.Smartphones and other mobiledevices providing map and location-based services too take the aid of GPSsignals. Russia has a similar satellitesystem in place, called GLONASS.Europe is in the process ofestablishing a navigation satellitesystem of its own, named Galileo.China’s BeiDou Navigation SatelliteSystem began offering regionalservices in December 2012 and isexpected to achieve global coverageby around 2020. Japan wants tocreate a satellite system to improveGPS coverage over that country.

The IRNSS, being wholly underIndian control, serves an importantsecurity requirement — making surethat so critical a service is available atall times. Military operations havecome to rely on satellite navigationand there is no guarantee that anothercountry’s system will be accessibleduring a crisis situation. To keep costsdown, the Indian Space ResearchOrganisation has opted for aconstellation of just seven satellitesto provide accurate navigation signalsover India and up to 1,500 km fromits borders. The first of thosesatellites, IRNSS-1A, was launched inJuly last year. The performance of thatsatellite has been extensivelyanalysed and found to be verysatisfactory.

The second satellite, IRNSS-1B,has now been put into orbit, and twomore will follow later this year. Oncethe four IRNSS satellites are up andfunctioning, it will be possible toascertain whether the system’s signalsprovide the required positionalaccuracy. The remaining threesatellites are to be launched by themiddle of next year. The option existsto extend the coverage area byadding four more satellites. ISRO isworking with industry so thatreceivers that utilise the IRNSS signalsbecome available. Some of thesereceivers will be capable of takingsignals from other navigation satellite

systems as well, like the GPS. The useof IRNSS must extend well beyondIndia’s security services, and ISROwill need to take the lead inpromoting the widespread utilisationof the system.

Developing countriesDeveloping countriesDeveloping countriesDeveloping countriesDeveloping countriesconcerned about U.S.-EUconcerned about U.S.-EUconcerned about U.S.-EUconcerned about U.S.-EUconcerned about U.S.-EUeconomic treatyeconomic treatyeconomic treatyeconomic treatyeconomic treaty

Even as a fourth round ofnegotiations on the TransatlanticTrade and Investment Partnershipbetween the U.S. and EuropeanUnion was concluded recently,experts from developing countries aswell as within the U.S. haveunderscored concerns emergingfrom the powerful trade bloc that thisnew treaty would represent, ifsuccessful.

Speaking at a roundtable eventhere organised by the Friedrich EbertFoundation and Just Jobs Network,Bruce Stokes, Director of GlobalEconomic Attitudes at the PewResearch Center and Pradeep Mehta,Secretary-General, CUTSInternational, India, said the TTIP was“creating a model of ‘mega-tradeagreements’ [and] would encompassapproximately a third of allinternational trade flows andestablish new benchmarks for globaltrade regulations.” Mr. Stokes arguedthat the US may use trade as a meansof national security objectives, andin this context the TTIP “could beseen as a counter measure againstincreasing growth in Asia… a measureagainst China, [or, as] SecretaryGeneral of NATO, Anders FoghRasmussen, remarked recently[about] NATO, [it could be seen] as astrategic initiative, especially in lightof the crisis in Ukraine. Mr. Stokesadded that in terms of the U.S.public’s attitude toward the TTIP, themajority expressed support for it,even if they however have lessunderstanding on the specifics of theagreement. “Americans are more infavor of common standards promotedin the TTIP than Europeans,” he said,

noting that although EU standardswere typically higher than in the U.S.,it is uncertain how common standardswill impact business and labour forthe negotiating parties. Commentingon the viewpoint of developingcountries Mr. Mehta said preliminaryresearch showed that in aggregate, athird of India’s exports go to the TTIP-Trans-Pacific Partnership region anda fourth of India’s imports come fromthere. “TTIP is likely to have a highernegative impact on India’s trade thanTPP,” he cautioned.

The forward momentum on theTTIP comes even as India and the U.S.find themselves enmeshed in an ever-deepening cycle of trade disputes,on everything from solar panelmanufacturing to compulsorylicensing in pharmaceuticals andtelecommunications sectors.

Japan’s new energy policyJapan’s new energy policyJapan’s new energy policyJapan’s new energy policyJapan’s new energy policysupports nuclear usesupports nuclear usesupports nuclear usesupports nuclear usesupports nuclear use

Japanese Prime Minister ShinzoAbe’s government approved a newenergy policy that sees nuclearpower as an important source ofelectricity, and reversing the previousadministration’s plan to phase outnuclear power.

The Basic Energy Plandescribes nuclear power as an“important base-load power source”that is cheap in terms of operationcosts and can generate electricitycontinuously through the day. Themove comes as Mr. Abe has movedto reactivate idled reactors. All of thenation’s 48 reactors have beensuspended amid public fears aboutnuclear power following the 2011atomic accident at the FukushimaDaiichi Nuclear Power Station.

Japan’s new energy policynullifies a nuclear phase-out planapproved by the previousgovernment following the disaster atFukushima, which was caused by the2011 earthquake and tsunami.Environmentalists criticised thereassertion of the role of nuclearenergy in Japan’s power mix.





Triumph for the Afghan publicTriumph for the Afghan publicTriumph for the Afghan publicTriumph for the Afghan publicTriumph for the Afghan public

Afghanistan’s presidentialelection, held on April 5 with over350,000 security personnel on duty,marks the country’s first potentialdemocratic transfer of power. TheIndependent Election Commissionput the turnout at about 60 per centof a 12-million electorate. Threemillion more people voted than didin 2009, which shows publicconfidence in the electoral processitself; the previous election wasdeeply flawed. This time, althoughthe Electoral Complaints Commissionhas received over 1,200 allegationsof malpractice, the poll was betterrun than the previous one. Afghansof all ethnic groups turned out, andwomen made a strong showing; thefigure was estimated at 35 per centof the turnout. One candidate, DaoudSultanzoy, voted along with his wife,the first time an Afghan politicianappeared in public with a spouse.Over 86 per cent of the 20,000polling stations opened; most ofthose which stayed closed were inthe southern and southeasternprovinces, where the army said itcould not provide security.According to defence ministryspokesman General Zahir Azimy, theTaliban made about 700 attacks invarious areas, but none was seriousenough to disrupt the election, whichwas also the first in recent times totake place without foreign help. Thecounting process is being managedbetter than it was in 2009, withduplicated teams so as to limit fraud.Every polling station is required topost its results for the public to reador photograph.

The overall result is to beannounced in a fortnight’s time, butuncertainties remain. The Taliban,who will lose most by theconsolidation of democracy, havenot succeeded in derailing theelection, but their ranks number asmany as 30,000 and they may be

waiting for other chances to wreckthe political process. A second issuehas to do with the candidates’ ownattitudes; none of them is likely toobtain the 50 per cent plus one voteneeded for outright victory, and ofthe eight who contested, only threestand a realistic chance of going intothe May 28 runoff. These are formerforeign ministers Abdullah Abdullahand Zalmai Rassoul, and formerfinance minister Ashraf GhaniAhmadzai (the incumbent, HamidKarzai, has completed the two five-year terms the Constitution allows).Mr. Rassoul trails the others, as hislargely educated supporters arebased around Kabul and other cities,and the two front-runners areclaiming victory. Squabbling, ordelays in the runoff, could let theTaliban to exploit the vacuum. Thepoliticians owe it to the Afghanpublic, who have shown courage andcommitment to the ballot box, toensure a prompt and smoothhandover of power.

Two new banks on the horizonTwo new banks on the horizonTwo new banks on the horizonTwo new banks on the horizonTwo new banks on the horizon

A day after reviewing the creditpolicy statement on April 1, theReserve Bank of India (RBI)announced its decision to award ‘in-principle’ approval to two applicants,IDFC Limited and Bandhan FinancialServices Private Ltd., to set up banks.These two successful applicants willnow proceed to set up full-fledgedbanks under guidelines issued by theRBI on February 22, 2013. They have18 months to comply with therequirements under the guidelinesand any other stipulations that RBImight prescribe. Senior officials fromboth the institutions have been keenlyaware of the tasks on hand. They havevery different profiles at present. Intheir march to full banking status, theywould naturally leverage on theirexisting strengths — infrastructure inthe case of IDFC and micro financefor Bandhan. The tasks look dauntingbut achievable within the given

timeframe. The last private banklicences were awarded ten years agoin 2004. Kotak Mahindra Bank andYes Bank came into being. At the startof the reform era, several licenceswere given to private players to setup “new generation private banks”.These were expected to be verydifferent from the already existingprivate banks, in terms of technology,capitalisation and so on. However, inthe reform context, it is easy to seethat these new banks were licensedspecifically to be a model for thepublic sector banks, which continueto be the dominant force till date.

It is difficult to generalise butthe performance of the new privatebanks as a class did not match theexpectations of them. Moresignificantly, only a few of them havesurvived, the others being gobbledup by stronger private banks. Onehigh-flier, Global Trust Bank, had tobe rescued by the government-owned Oriental Bank of Commerce.And the CRB fiasco, when a totallyundeserving non-banking financecompany was given an in-principleclearance to start a bank, is still freshin our minds. One message from themore successful ones is that theirmodel has not been inclusive. Usingtechnology and starting with a cleanslate they have created a newparadigm essentially for the wellheeled. How far their success inniche areas is relevant to banklicensing today —with its emphasison financial inclusion — is to be seen.Interestingly, the more successfulbanks set up in the 1990s andthereafter are those with goodpedigree. All the above provide anexplanation as to why the process ofissuing private bank licences hastaken so long. The RBI has, for veryvalid reasons, been conservative.Bank licensing is a sensitive subjectalways. More so when private players,including corporates, were to beconsidered. In fact, the suggestion





to include corporates among thosewho can bid has been the mostcontroversial. The RBI itself wasopposed to it and most of theresponses to the discussion paperswere not in favour.

Those who oppose grantingbank licences to corporates are on asound wicket. Recent economichistory is on their side. Banks werenationalised in two phases beginning1969 to end the corporate owners’stranglehold over major banks.Whatever else might have been thepitfalls of nationalisation, it ended thecosy relationship between bankmanagements and corporates. It wasin 2010 that the then FinanceMinister, Pranab Mukherjee, firstmooted the proposal to issue a fewprivate bank licences in his budgetspeech. The RBI circulateddiscussion papers and elicitedresponses from a wide range ofpeople. Guidelines were framed afterthat. After two of them withdrew, 25were considered. The first round ofscrutiny was done at RBI. To furthervet the applicants who meet theeligibility criteria and also to avoid anybias, the RBI appointed a High LevelAdvisory Committee (HLAC) headedby former RBI Governor Bimal Jalan.It is on the basis of this committee’srecommendations that the first twolicences were awarded. The RBI hasdone everything right. The twosuccessful applicants are non-controversial. As to the criticism thatthe RBI could have waited until aftera new government is formed, theGovernor had said that the entireprocess might have had to berevisited in that case. Considerableground had been covered and thewhole procedure has been aboveboard. Despite some big namesamong the corporate applicants, theRBI has played it safe by giving inprinciple clearances to entirely non-controversial non-banking financecompanies.

UN Security Council meets onUN Security Council meets onUN Security Council meets onUN Security Council meets onUN Security Council meets onUkraine crisisUkraine crisisUkraine crisisUkraine crisisUkraine crisis

The U.N. Security Council metin emergency session amid growingviolence in eastern Ukraine, withWestern powers and Russia blamingeach other for the deepening crisis.Russia called the meeting hours afterUkrainian special forces exchangedgunfire with a pro-Russia militia in aneastern city, and at least one securityofficer was killed and five otherswounded. Ukraine’s presidentaccused its powerful neighbour offomenting unrest, and announcedthat it would deploy armed forces toquash an increasingly bold pro-Russian insurgency.

Russian Ambassador VitalyChurkin denied Western andUkrainian claims that Moscow wasbehind the violence, and told U.N.diplomats that Ukraine has beenusing radical neo-Nazi forces todestabilize its eastern region.U.S.Ambassador Samantha Power said theprotesters in eastern Ukraine werewell-organised and had militaryequipment, and accused Russia ofspreading fiction. Russia has tens ofthousands of troops massed alongUkraine’s eastern border, and thereare fears that Moscow might use theviolence in the mainly Russian-speaking region as a pretext for aninvasion, in a repeat of events inCrimea earlier this year.

Global trade to rise by 4.7 %Global trade to rise by 4.7 %Global trade to rise by 4.7 %Global trade to rise by 4.7 %Global trade to rise by 4.7 %in 2014: WTOin 2014: WTOin 2014: WTOin 2014: WTOin 2014: WTO

Global trade is expected toincrease by 4.7 per cent in 2014,better than the average of 2.2 percent in the past two years, on the backof projected improvements in thedeveloped economies, the WorldTrade Organisation (WTO) said. Theworld trade growth is projected toaccelerate to 5.3 per cent in 2015said WTO Director General RobertoAzevedo.

Although the 2014 forecast of4.7 per cent is more than double the

2.1 per cent increase of last year, itremains below the 20-year averageof 5.3 per cent. For the past two years,growth has averaged only 2.2 percent. The sluggish pace of tradegrowth in 2013 was due to acombination of flat import demandin developed economies (0.2 percent) and moderate import growthin developing economies (4.4 percent). On the export side, bothdeveloped and developingeconomies only managed to recordsmall, positive increases (1.5 per centfor developed economies and 3.3per cent for developing economies).In 2013, the dollar value of worldmerchandise exports rose 2.1 percent to $18.8 trillion, while the valueof world commercial services exportsrose 5.5 per cent to $4.6 trillion. Thetrade forecast for 2014 is premisedon an assumption of 3 percentgrowth in world GDP growth atmarket exchange rates, while theforecast for 2015 assumes outputgrowth of 3.1 percent. “Risks to thetrade forecast are still mostly on thedownside, but there is some upsidepotential, particularly since trade indeveloped economies is startingfrom a low base,” the WTO said.However, volatility is likely to be adefining feature of 2014 as monetarypolicy in developed economiesbecomes less accommodative, it said.

Kiev launches armed offensiveKiev launches armed offensiveKiev launches armed offensiveKiev launches armed offensiveKiev launches armed offensive

Ukraine has launched a militaryoperation to crush anti-governmentprotests in the Russian-speakingeastern part of the country, deployingthousands of troops, armour andaircraft to Donetsk region whereprotesters seized governmentbuildings in a dozen cities and towns.The military, in armoured personnelcarriers backed by aircraft, onTuesday afternoon stormed a smallairfield near Kramatorsk.Unconfirmed reports said betweenfour and 11 protesters had been killedin the attack. Following the attack,hundreds of unarmed Kramatorskresidents drove to the airfield to





protest against the killing of civilians.Acting President OleksandrTurchynov told the UkrainianParliament that an “anti-terroristoperation” in the east had begunduring the night. In Kiev, twopresidential candidates representingeastern Ukraine were attacked byarmed far right radicals. Oleg Tsarev,an independent, was severely beatenafter appearing in a TV show called“Freedom of Speech.” The mobdemanded that he and the othercandidate, Mikhail Dobkin, withdrawfrom the elections scheduled for May25.

Ukrainian authorities confirmedthat a battalion of newly formed“National Guard” made up of “Maidanactivists” had been deployed foraction against pro-Russian protestersin the east.

Supreme Court recognisesSupreme Court recognisesSupreme Court recognisesSupreme Court recognisesSupreme Court recognisestransgenders as third gendertransgenders as third gendertransgenders as third gendertransgenders as third gendertransgenders as third gender

A Bench of Justices K.S.Radhakrishnan and A.K. Sikri, inseparate but concurrent judgments,said “eunuchs, apart from the binarygender, be treated as a “third gender”for the purpose of safeguarding theirrights under our Constitution and thelaws made by Parliament and theState Legislature.” The ruling came ona petition filed by the National LegalServices Authority. The Benchdirected the Centre and States to takesteps to treat them as socially andeducationally backward classes andextend reservation for admission ineducational institutions and for publicappointments. The Bench said“recognition of transgenders as a thirdgender is not a social or medical issuebut a human rights issue.Transgenders are also citizens ofIndia. The spirit of the Constitution isto provide equal opportunity to everycitizen to grow and attain theirpotential, irrespective of caste,religion or gender.” By virtue of thisverdict, all identity documents,including a birth certificate, passport,ration card and driving licence wouldrecognise the third gender. The

Bench said gender identification isessential. It is only with thisrecognition that many rights such asthe right to vote, own property andmarry will be meaningful.

Reining in cancerReining in cancerReining in cancerReining in cancerReining in cancer

Grim statistics present thedeadly reality of the spread of cancerin India: one million new cases ofdifferent cancers are diagnosedevery year in the country; anestimated 600,000 to 700,000people were killed in 2012. The factthat tobacco was singularlyresponsible for nearly 40 per cent ofall cancers is also painfullyunderlined again. A few paperspublished recently in thejournal Lancet Oncology point outthat men were the most affected bytobacco, with the commonestcancers being those of the lung andof the lip and oral cavity. Tobaccocompanies continue to have astranglehold over nearly 275 milliontobacco-users in India — 35 per centof the adult population and about 14per cent of children in the age range13 to 15. All this reflects the miserablefailure of the government inimplementing tough and effectivemeasures to counter the tobaccocompanies’ devious ways ofattracting and trapping young minds.Though it would take 10 to 20 yearsfor the benefits to show, half thebattle against cancer would be wonif only tobacco consumption can bereined in. In the case of women,breast cancer is the most common,followed by cervical cancer.Changed lifestyle is one of the reasonsfor the increase in breast cancerincidence — the incidence of thiscancer type in rural areas is one-thirdof the total in urban areas, and thebig metros have higher numbers thannon-metro cities. India’s cancerburden is projected to increase to 1.7million by 2035. Mortality will doubleto 1.2 million a year by 2035.

There is a need to take remedialsteps, and quickly too. More cancer

registries are needed to cover agreater percentage of the population.Those in place today cover less than10 per cent of India’s population.However, each registry has goodincidence data as it has its ownmethods of capturing them. Butcancer mortality data are at bestsketchy and not quite reliable. Thethree pillars of reducing the mortalityare prevention, early detection andmore effective treatment. Concertedefforts with respect to the first twohave been found wanting, and thereare several challenges even inproviding effective treatment. Withonly one cancer specialist for every5,000 new cases, the total number ofoncologists in India is frighteninglylow in proportion to the increasingpopulation of cancer victims. Theavailability of doctors and facilities isskewed — the urban areas are betterserved than rural areas. There is alsoan imbalance in the distribution ofcancer facilities and doctors: thesouth and the west of the countryhave about 60 per cent of thefacilities.

Boko Haram abducts 100Boko Haram abducts 100Boko Haram abducts 100Boko Haram abducts 100Boko Haram abducts 100school girls in Nigeriaschool girls in Nigeriaschool girls in Nigeriaschool girls in Nigeriaschool girls in Nigeria

At least 100 school girls wereabducted by suspected members ofIslamist extremist sect Boko Haram innorthern Nigeria. The insurgentsarrived in the early morning with alarge truck at the girls’ school, locatedin the village of Chibok, and forcedthe pupils inside, according to localpolice spokesman Gideon Jibrin,who noted that some were able toescape. Boko Haram, which means“Western education is sinful”, hasbeen active in the Muslim north ofthe West African country, carryingout attacks against governmentinstitutions and civilians.

Earlier, a major bomb blast,allegedly orchestrated by BokoHaram, killed scores of people in thecapital, Abuja, while last week, morethan 100 people were killed duringBoko Haram attacks in Maiduguri.





Since 2009, more than 6,000 peoplehave been killed in the violence.

Iran has cut stock closest toIran has cut stock closest toIran has cut stock closest toIran has cut stock closest toIran has cut stock closest tonuke-arms grade: IAEAnuke-arms grade: IAEAnuke-arms grade: IAEAnuke-arms grade: IAEAnuke-arms grade: IAEA

Iran has converted most of anuclear stockpile that it could haveturned quickly into weapons—gradeuranium into less volatile forms as partof a deal with six world powers, theU.N. atomic agency.

The development leaves Iranwith substantially less of the 20—percent enriched uranium that it wouldneed for a nuclear warhead. Irandenies any interest in atomic arms. Butit agreed to some nuclearconcessions in exchange for a partiallifting of sanctions crippling itseconomy under the deal, which tookeffect in January. Uranium at 20 percent is only a technical step away fromweapons—grade material. By thetime the agreement was reached latelast year, Iran had amassed nearly 200kg. With further enrichment, thatwould have yielded almost enoughweapons—grade uranium for oneatomic bomb.

Under its agreement, Iranagreed to stop enriching to gradesbeyond 5 per cent, the level mostcommonly used to power reactors. Italso committed to neutralizing all its20—per cent stockpile half bydiluting to a grade that is lessproliferation—prone and the rest byconversion to oxide used for reactorfuel Iran has until July to fulfill all of itscommitments under the deal. But ithas to show progress in exchange forsanctions relief, and it is eager to getits hand on the next tranche of some$4.2 billion of oil revenue fundsfrozen under international sanctionsmeant to force it into nuclearcompromise.

The November agreementbetween Iran and the six the UnitedStates, Russia, China, Britain, Franceand Germany is meant to lead to acomprehensive deal placing long—term caps on Iran’s enrichmentprogram and other atomic activitiesin exchange for full sanctions relief.

The two sides hope to reachagreement by July but can extendnegotiations if both agree to do so.Beyond its commitments to neutralizeits 20—per cent uranium stock, theIAEA report said that Iran also wascomplying with other obligationsunder the six—month interim plan,which restricts Tehran fromexpanding any activities that couldbe turned toward making a nuclearweapon.

Haunted by inflationHaunted by inflationHaunted by inflationHaunted by inflationHaunted by inflation

Price rise is one of the key issuesin this election, and the latest data oninflation spell bad news for theincumbent UPA government; themonster is rearing its head again afterlying low over the last threemonths. Retail inflation, specificallyfood price inflation, has reboundedin March on the back of rising pricesof vegetables and fruits. Wholesalefood prices rose 9.9 per cent withrice shooting up 12.6 per cent andvegetable prices showing an inflationof 8.6 per cent in March. As a whole,retail inflation was higher at 8.31 percent compared to 8.1 per cent inFebruary, while wholesale priceinflation hit 5.7 per cent in Marchcompared with 4.68 per cent in theprevious month. After a period of softprices for vegetables and fruits,courtesy the winter season, priceshave started moving up again. Giventhat we are still in early summer, foodprices are bound to shoot furtherupwards, as they always do duringthe season. With unseasonal rains andhailstorm in parts ofthe country during spring, it isfeared that the rabi crop may havesuffered damage. This means thatfoodgrain prices will join the inflationparty, cutting deep into people’spockets. The rebound in inflationonly serves to underline the problemof rising prices half-way through theelection season, and it spells trouble

at the hustings for the UPAgovernment.

The current dispensation willbe handing over a troubled legacy tothe new government in the form ofinflation caused largely by structuralproblems, especially in agriculture.Food prices have been risinginexorably in the last few years, savebrief and intermittent spells ofsoftness due to seasonal factors. It isclear that there are serious issues onthe supply side when it comes tofood commodities, which thegovernment has failed to address.Tackling these issues will obviouslybe a priority for the new government.The inflation in respect ofmanufactured products is a matter ofconcern indeed, coming as it doeson the back of a persisting weaknessin industrial output. The latest datahave obvious implications formonetary policy, and the ReserveBank of India, which has now shiftedto the consumer price inflation as itsbenchmark, will be watching closelyindeed. It is logical to expect thatrates will be on hold until theunderlying trend manifests itselfclearly. The coming monsoon will becritical in determining near-terminflationary trends, but there areworries there as well with expertstalking about the El Nino effect thisyear. In the past, El Nino has resultedin sub-optimal monsoons in India andpolicymakers must be hoping that thepredictions are wrong. What all thismeans is that the new government willnot have much time to settle down inmanaging the economy and will needto hit the ground running.

Improving western economiesImproving western economiesImproving western economiesImproving western economiesImproving western economiesto drive Indian ITto drive Indian ITto drive Indian ITto drive Indian ITto drive Indian IT

Things are certainly looking upfor the information technology (IT)sector in 2014 and this was evidentlast week when industry





heavyweights like TCS, Wipro, HCLTechnologies and Infosys announcedtheir fourth quarter and full yearearnings. Fourth quarter sales growthover the year-ago period ranged from31 per cent for TCS to 21.3 per centfor Wipro. Net profit growth rangedfrom 59 per cent for HCLTechnologies to 25 per cent forInfosys, although analysts felt thequarter was muted compared to thepreceding quarter. “The prospectsthough, are good and improving. Therevival in the US, UK and Europeaneconomies is promising,” Dipen Shah,Head – Private Client Group Research,Kotak Securities said.

IT firms are well-equipped tocater to the increased demand andare venturing deeper into markets inAsia Pacific and Latin America. Theyare all present in the fast-growingsocial mobility, analytics and cloud(SMAC) space and have developedgood competencies in it. Importantly,according to Mr. Shah, thecompanies have recognized veryearly the huge opportunity that digitalpresents. TCS indicated that goingforward, increasing discretionaryspend towards digital presents a $3-5 billion opportunity over the nextfew years. “Globally, consumer-oriented companies are being forcedto accept going digital with severalof them having to reconfigure theirentire organization,” said Mr. Shahadding, “this could be the next bigwave and demand is picking up fast.”The last few years were challengingdue to poor demand and lowexpenditure. But now withcompanies increasingly going digital,it could well be a growth driver for ITcompanies, Daljit Singh Kohli, Head-Research, IndiaNivesh Securities toldthis correspondent. The IT sector isexpected to surpass the guidancegiven by National Association ofSoftware and Services Companies(NASSCOM) of a 13 per cent growthrate in FY’15. Wipro and Infosys asper their own guidance may not findit so easy to surpass the NASSCOMguidance, the industry is poised to

surpass that figure, Mr. Kohli said,adding that prospects in terms ofIndia business “continue to hinge onthe poll prospects, as governmentspending has been slack but a clearmandate will shore up IT spend.”

China’s ‘maritime Silk Road’ toChina’s ‘maritime Silk Road’ toChina’s ‘maritime Silk Road’ toChina’s ‘maritime Silk Road’ toChina’s ‘maritime Silk Road’ tofocus on infrastructurefocus on infrastructurefocus on infrastructurefocus on infrastructurefocus on infrastructure

China has for the first timereleased details of its recentlyannounced “maritime Silk Road” plan,announcing that the Indian Ocean-focused initiative will prioritisebuilding ports and improvinginfrastructure in littoral countries likeBangladesh and Sri Lanka.China is alsoplanning to establish free trade zonesin Indian Ocean countries as part ofthe plan — a move that will reinforceChina’s deepening economicpresence in the Indian Ocean Regionand in India’s neighbourhood. Themaritime Silk Road plan was unveiledin October last year when PresidentXi Jinping travelled to Southeast Asia.Since then, Chinese officials havehighlighted the initiative as a keydiplomatic priority for Mr. Xi’sgovernment.

Nations from Malaysia andSingapore to India, Sri Lanka and theGulf countries have all been soundedout about the plan. It had, however,remained unclear what the planwould actually entail.

In the first official details of theplan, a report in the China SecuritiesJournal said a “priority” of theinitiative was “port construction” andfree trade zones. China hopes to“coordinate customs, qualitysupervision, e-commerce and otheragencies to facilitate the scheme”, aswell as set up free trade zones, theofficial Xinhua news agency said,citing the report. China’s southernprovinces of Yunnan — whichborders Myanmar and is at the centreof another economic plan to build aBangladesh-China-India-Myanmar(BCIM) corridor — and GuangxiZhuang may be tasked with pushingthe plan. The initiative was first

proposed by Mr. Xi when he visitedSoutheast Asia in October last year.The plan was reinforced by PremierLi Keqiang, who also visited Aseancountries last year and announcedthe setting up of a 3 billion Yuan(around $500 million) maritimecooperation fund.

The initiative, which willdeepen Chinese economic andmaritime links with both SoutheastAsia and Indian Ocean Region (IOR)countries, is being seen by someanalysts as to assuage regionalanxieties about China’s growingmilitary and naval presence amid anumber of disputes.

Zhou Bo, a strategic scholar atthe Academy of Military Science, saidin a recent article the “maritime SilkRoad” may be a response to the“string of pearls” theory — asuggestion that China intended tobuild military bases in littoralcountries, from Sri Lanka to Pakistanand Bangladesh.

Pakistan tests Ghaznavi missilePakistan tests Ghaznavi missilePakistan tests Ghaznavi missilePakistan tests Ghaznavi missilePakistan tests Ghaznavi missile

Pakistan conducted asuccessful training launch of the shortrange surface-to-surface ballisticmissile Hatf III (Ghaznavi), which cancarry nuclear and conventionalwarheads to a range of 290 km. Thesuccessful launch concluded thefield training exercise of the strategicmissile group of the Army StrategicForces Command, a statement fromthe Inter Services Public Relations(ISPR) said.

UN condemns ethnic killingsUN condemns ethnic killingsUN condemns ethnic killingsUN condemns ethnic killingsUN condemns ethnic killingsin South Sudanin South Sudanin South Sudanin South Sudanin South Sudan

U.N. human rights investigatorshave confirmed that hundreds ofcivilians were killed because of theirethnicity after rebel forces seized adisputed town in South Sudan lastweek. The U.N. Mission in SouthSudan condemned what it called“the targeted killings of civiliansbased on their ethnic origins andnationality” in Bentiu, the capital of





oil-producing Unity state, on April 15-16. It also condemned the useo f Radio Bentiu FM by someindividuals “associated with theopposition” to broadcast hatespeech, even urging “men from onecommunity to commit vengefulsexual violence against women fromanother community.”

Thousands of people havebeen killed in violence in SouthSudan since December, whenpresidential guards splintered andfought along ethnic lines. Theviolence later spread across thecountry as soldiers loyal to PresidentSalva Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, tried toput down a rebellion led by RiekMachar, the former vice presidentand an ethnic Nuer.

According to human rightsinvestigators from the U.N. mission,anti-government forces entered theKali-Ballee Mosque in Bentiu on April15, separated civilians of certainnationalities and ethnic groups andescorted them to safety while theothers were killed. Individuals fromother South Sudanese communitiesas well as people from Darfur werespecifically targeted and killed at thehospital, the statement said. At theCatholic church and the vacated U.N.World Food Program compound,rebels similarly asked people whohad sought shelter to identify theirethnic group and nationality “andproceeded to target and kill severalindividuals,” Dujarric said. The U.N.has been warning of mountingevidence of ethnically-targetedkillings in the world’s newest nationas both government troops and rebelforces lose and gain territories insporadic clashes. Despite a ceasefiresigned earlier this year, both sidescontinue to trade allegations overrights violations and civilian abuses.

CAG scan of the private sectorCAG scan of the private sectorCAG scan of the private sectorCAG scan of the private sectorCAG scan of the private sector

The Supreme Court’s rulingthat the Comptroller and AuditorGeneral of India can audit privatetelecom firms that share their

revenues with the government is alandmark one. The ruling has, at onestroke, extended the reach of theCAG from government and publicsector companies to any entity thatmay be using a public resource in itsbusiness and sharing revenue withthe government. The ostensibleprinciple behind the ruling is thatwhen the Executive deals withnatural resources, such as spectrum,which belong to the people,Parliament should know how thenation’s wealth has been dealt with.The quantum of revenue generatedfrom the resource has to be verified;whether the revenue has beenproperly accounted for by thegovernment and the private licenseealso needs to be ascertained. Theprinciple behind the ruling isunexceptionable and gainsresonance in the context of scams inspectrum and coal blocks allocationsthat were unearthed by the CAG.Politicians are not beyond colludingwith private firms to extract rent fromtheir control of public resources, andthe latter have been happy to playalong. The origins of the case that hasled to the Supreme Court ruling lie ina dispute between a couple oftelecom companies and thegovernment over accounting ofrevenues, which is crucial todetermining the licence fee payableto the government. The governmentsuspected that the companies wereaccounting for revenues in a mannerthat would lower their fee liability.

The fact is that companies thatuse public resources have aresponsibility to bear, and if they playtrue and fair they have nothing to fearfrom an audit, including one by theCAG. A CAG audit can be an irritantin the conduct of daily business asrecords need to be produced andqueries answered, especiallybecause this will be in addition to the

statutory audit under the CompaniesAct. If governments and the CAGensure that there is no harassment,there would be no cause to protestagainst the audit itself, as industryassociations are now doing. After all,the ruling is a direct result of provenmisdemeanour by some entities inrecent times. That said, the challengefor the CAG will be in deployingadequate resources and talent insuch audits when called upon by thegovernment or the regulators. Theseneed to be completed and thereports submitted in good time unliketraditional CAG audits of publicsector entities that are invariablydelayed. The government and theregulators should resort to CAG auditssparingly and only under exceptionalcircumstances where they suspectserious wrongdoing by a player.Turning to CAG audits routinely willonly increase the regulatory burdenand turn away private investors.

Panel to frame norms for rulingPanel to frame norms for rulingPanel to frame norms for rulingPanel to frame norms for rulingPanel to frame norms for rulingparty adsparty adsparty adsparty adsparty ads

The Supreme Court constituteda three-member committee tosuggest guidelines to regulate rulingparty advertisements on the birthdaysof political leaders and to highlightthe government’s achievements. Thecommittee would be headed by N.R.Madhava Menon, former director,National Judicial Academy, Bhopal.A Bench of Chief Justice P.Sathasivam and Justices Ranjan Gogoiand N.V. Ramana, acting on writpetitions filed by Common Cause andothers, asked the committee to submitits report in three months after anintricate study of all best practices inpublic advertisements in differentjurisdictions. The petitioners saidadvertisement campaigns wereundertaken ostensibly to promotecertain public works. “Almost allthese advertisements containphotographs of Ministers andimportant political personalities of





the government, which clearly showthat these advertisements are framedfor the purpose of highlighting theachievements of the incumbentgovernment and aim to create animpression that those particularpolitical personalities were directlyresponsible for providing publicbenefits to the people. In succinct,the use of public office and publicfunds for personal, political orpartisan purposes is clearly mala fide,illegal and not permissible under theConstitution. .”

On behalf of the Centre andvarious States, it was submitted thatthe purpose was not to give personalpublicity to leaders or to their parties,but to let the people about theprogress of programmes/performance of the government.

BCCI and a credibility deficitBCCI and a credibility deficitBCCI and a credibility deficitBCCI and a credibility deficitBCCI and a credibility deficit

Once again, the credibilitydeficit of the Board of Control forCricket in India stands underlined. Athree-member committeerecommended by the BCCI to holdan investigation into chargesconcerning the Indian PremierLeague matches last year has notfound favour with the Supreme Court.Instead, the Court has, in a welcomemove, chosen to request JusticeMukul Mudgal, who headed a Court-appointed panel that came out withan insightful report earlier, to hold afull-fledged investigation. The probewill cover allegations contained in asealed cover against 12 persons,including some cricketers, besides N.Srinivasan, related to the IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal. It hassuggested that Mr. Justice Mudgalcould also take the assistance ofinvestigative agencies. Going by themanner in which the Boardresponded to the Court’s suggestionat an earlier hearing that it shouldspell out how it proposed to conductan internal inquiry, it is clear that thecricket body is more worried aboutthe fallout of a probe than getting atthe truth. When the Supreme Court

itself was against any police agencyprobing the matter — so that theplayers’ reputation and the Board’sautonomy were not undermined —all it had to do was come up with apanel comprising members with noobvious conflict of interest. Yet, whatthe Board proposed was a committeecomprising a former CBI Director withsome connection to a team in theTamil Nadu Cricket Associationleague, a retired Calcutta High CourtChief Justice related to the court-appointed BCCI president ShivlalYadav, and a former cricketer with alucrative commentating contractwith the Board.

While all of them — former CBIdirector R.K. Raghavan, Justice J.N.Patel and Ravi Shastri — areindividuals of undoubted personalintegrity, experience andunderstanding of the issues involved,the BCCI could not have lost sight ofthe need for an investigation of someof the leading personalities in Indiancricket to appear to be fair and freeof any conflict of interest orconnection with the BCCI. There canonly be one explanation for the Boardnot coming up with a plan for acredible investigation by acompletely independent panel: itdoes not want a fair inquiry even if inthe process its credibility takes abeating. It reveals an unwillingnessto shed its image as an opaque clique.What cricket fans and the public neednow is reassurance that theglamorous flagship tournament of theBCCI is not yielding illegal spin-offbenefits to punters, bookies, fixersand assorted operators seeking tocapitalise on the popularity of thesport. Apart from a thorough clean-up of the game, the Indian cricketboard needs to win back the trust ofthe game’s fans, and the public atlarge.

China pledges support for SriChina pledges support for SriChina pledges support for SriChina pledges support for SriChina pledges support for SriLankaLankaLankaLankaLanka

Amid growing concern in New

Delhi over the increasing presenceof China in Sri Lanka, visiting ViceForeign Minister of China Liu Zhenminsaid: “Sri Lanka will always find afriend in China.” At a meeting withPresident Mahinda Rajapaksa, Mr. Liusaid: “We will continue to support SriLanka in the [United Nations HumanRights Council (UNHRC)] and the[United Nations Security Council(UNSC)].”

A statement from thePresident’s office said Mr. Rajapaksathanked China for its support in thepast decades, and particularly to someof the landmark infrastructureprojects coming up in Sri Lankacurrently.

China, in the last decade, hasinvested heavily in Sri Lanka’sinfrastructure. In August 2013, amassive Chinese-built port, at a costof $ 500 million, opened in Colombo,about a year after another deep-seaport in Hambantota, funded and builtby the Chinese became operational.

S&P cuts Russia’s credit ratingS&P cuts Russia’s credit ratingS&P cuts Russia’s credit ratingS&P cuts Russia’s credit ratingS&P cuts Russia’s credit rating

The Standard & Poor’s creditagency has cut Russia’s credit ratingfor the first time in more than fiveyears, citing the capital flight and riskto investment in the wake of theUkraine crisis. Russia’s economicgrowth slowed to 0.8 percent in thefirst quarter — sharply worse thanearlier forecast — while spookedinvestors pulled about $70 billion outof the country in 2013. However, thecut in Russia’s rating from BBB to BBB-is the most tangible economic resultof Russia’s policies toward Ukraine sofar. BBB- is just a step above aspeculative or non-investment grade.S&P said in a statement that theyrevised Russia’s rating because thetense situation “could see additionalsignificant outflows of both domesticand foreign capital from the Russianeconomy.” Rating agencies had notcut Russia’s sovereign rating since





December 2008. Moscow in Marchrecognized a hastily calledreferendumin Ukraine’s Black Seapeninsula of Crimea and annexed itweeks later, attracting condemnationof the West as well as sanctionstargeting indviduals. Secretary ofState John Kerry on Thursday warnedMoscow that unless it took immediatesteps to de-escalate the situation,Washington would impose additionalsanctions. A senior official travelingwith President Barack Obama said heis likely to call European leaders onFriday to discuss the possibility offurther sanctions. The official spokeon condition of anonymity becausethere had been no officialannouncement.

Sustainable miningSustainable miningSustainable miningSustainable miningSustainable mining

The Supreme Court’s verdictpermitting resumption of iron-oremining in Goawith a temporary capof 20 million tonnes per annum iswelcome for more reasons than one.First, the lifting of the mining ban willrestore livelihoods to a vast numberof people in a State whose economyis powered by the twin engines ofmining and tourism. By the Court’sown finding, more than 1.5 lakh Goansdepend on the mining industrydirectly, and then there aredownstream beneficiaries such astruck operators and other serviceproviders. The State’s economy hassuffered, as indeed the country’sexports, due to the 18-month ban.The verdict represents anacknowledgement that the problemwith mining is not the activity itself;rather, it is illegal and unregulatedmining that needs to be clampeddown upon. The problem in Goa, asalso in Karnataka, began with theunscrupulous activities of somemining companies which pushed theboundaries of their operations,literally and figuratively, beyond legallimits. Mining in areas outside the

lease territory, under-reportingproduction both in quantitative andqualitative terms and showing scantregard for the environment were thereasons that attracted action from theNGOs and the public and caused thecourts to step in with a ban. It isshocking that the exports of iron oreexceeded official production figuresin each of the five years between2006-07 and 2010-11. This isevidence of illegal mining.

The Supreme Court has nowdefined the framework, inclusive ofdirections to the Centre and the Stategovernment over the promulgation ofrules and adherence to them. It hasalso acknowledged the concernsof environmentalists by prohibitingmining within a kilometre of theboundaries of national parks andsanctuaries in Goa. By directing theCentre to notify eco-sensitive zonesaround national parks and sanctuarieswithin six months, the Court hasensured that the mining industry’sterritory is clearly marked out andthere is no possibility of harm beingcaused to the ecology andenvironment. The interim solution ofallowing up to 20 million tonnes ofore to be mined per annum until theexpert committee appointed by theSupreme Court comes up with its finalreport in the next 12 months, is a fairone as it takes into account theinterests of both the mining industryand the environment. With the Stategovernment now being permitted togrant fresh leases as per its ownpolicy, whether by auction or othermeans, the onus is now clearly on itto move quickly in framing atransparent policy in this regard. Awell-regulated mining industry that isalso environmentally sustainable is nota difficult goal to achieve if thegovernment sets its mind to it.

FinMin appoints Ila Patnaik asFinMin appoints Ila Patnaik asFinMin appoints Ila Patnaik asFinMin appoints Ila Patnaik asFinMin appoints Ila Patnaik asPrincipal Economic AdvisorPrincipal Economic AdvisorPrincipal Economic AdvisorPrincipal Economic AdvisorPrincipal Economic Advisor

Even as the BJP approached

the Election Commission to stop theUPA government from appointing anew Navy Chief and Lokpal mid-way into elections, the Centre hasappointed columnist and RBI ChairProfessor at the National Institute ofPublic Finance and Policy, Ila Patnaik,as Principal Economic Advisor, a postthat had been vacant sinceNovember 2013.

The appointment assumessignificance as Dr. Patnaik has in hercolumns by-and-large concurredwith Reserve Bank GovernorRaghuram Rajan’s policy stances.“The most important factor thatfavours success this time is GovernorRaghuram Rajan,” Dr. Patnaik wrotedays after Dr. Rajan’s appointment ina column on an RBI proposal aboutinterest rate futures. More recently,in April she wrote: “His strategy of anaggressive attack on inflation, despitethe scepticism often voiced in theIndian monetary policy debate aboutthe effectiveness of monetary policy,was the right strategy and is yieldingresults.”

This is in sharp contrast to theBJP’s stated position on GovernorRajan. BJP treasurer Piyush Goyalrecently said in an interview to abusiness newspaper: “I thinkGovernor Rajan is only aggravatingproblems and is making it worse byincreasing interest rates….”Delhi’sbureaucratic and political circles arerife with speculation that if the BJP isvoted to office in the Lok Sabhaelections it could even “sack”Governor Rajan. Days before baggingthe Reserve Bank’s governorship Dr.Rajan had as the head of a UPAGovernment-appointed committeeon evolving a compositedevelopment index of states rankedGujarat 12th out of 28 andcategorised it as “less developed”.The report challenges BJP’s primeministerial candidate Narendra Modi’sprojection of Gujarat as a model state.“Heavens would not have fallen if apost that had been vacant for sixmonths could have been left for the





new finance minister to take adecision on,” said a top FinanceMinistry source not wanting to bequoted adding that Union FinanceMinister P. Chidambaram hadpresented the Interim Budget inFebruary without a Chief EconomicAdvisor or a Principal EconomicAdvisor. Ms. Patnaik did her Ph.D. inEconomics from the University ofSurrey, Guildford, U.K. The post ofthe Principal Economic Advisor waslast held by Dipak Dasgupta, a formerLead Economist for India and SouthAsia at the World Bank.

Muslim women entitled toMuslim women entitled toMuslim women entitled toMuslim women entitled toMuslim women entitled tomaintenance even aftermaintenance even aftermaintenance even aftermaintenance even aftermaintenance even afterdivorce: Supreme Courtdivorce: Supreme Courtdivorce: Supreme Courtdivorce: Supreme Courtdivorce: Supreme Court

In a significant verdict, theSupreme Court has held that a Muslimwoman will be entitled tomaintenance from her husband evenafter divorce and she can file anapplication before a magistrate court.Quoting an earlier Constitution Benchverdict, a Bench of Justices DipakMisra and Vikramajit Sen said: “AMuslim husband is liable to make areasonable and fair provision for thefuture of the divorced wife whichobviously includes her maintenanceas well.” Such a reasonable and fairprovision extending beyondtheiddat period must be made bythe husband withinthe iddat period. His liability, arisingfrom Section 3 of the Muslim Women(Protection of Rights on Divorce) Actto pay maintenance, “is not confinedto the iddat period.” ( Iddat is thewaiting period after a declaration ofdivorce.)

Writing the judgment, JusticeMisra said: “A divorced Muslimwoman who has not remarried andwho is not able to maintain herselfafter the iddat period can proceedas provided under Section 4 of theAct against his relatives, who areliable to maintain her.” The Benchsaid: “An aspect which has to be keptuppermost in mind is that when themarriage breaks up, a woman suffersemotional fractures, fragmentation of

sentiments, loss of economic andsocial security and, in certain cases,inadequate requisites for survival. Amarriage is fundamentally a uniquebond between two parties. When itperishes like a mushroom, the dignityof the female fame gets corroded. Itis the law’s duty to recompense, andthe primary obligation is that of thehusband. Needless to emphasise, theentitlement and the necessitousprovisions have to be made inaccordance with the parameters oflaw.”

In the instant case, ShamimBano and Asraf Khan were marriedon November 17, 1993 inaccordance with the Sharia law. ButShamim left his house alleging crueltyby him. Even as her application forgrant of maintenance was pending,divorce took place on May 5, 1997. Amagistrate, while rejecting her pleafor maintenance taking intoconsideration that during thependency of the case, the couplewere granted divorce, directed Khanand others to pay her Rs.11,786towards mahr (a form of dowry), toreturn goods and ornaments andRs.1,750 towards maintenance onlyfor the iddat period. This wasupheld by the Chhattisgarh HighCourt. Allowing her appeal againstthis order, the Supreme Court Benchheld that Shamim was entitled tomaintenance even after divorce. Itremitted the matter back to the trialcourt for fresh disposal in the light ofthis judgment.

Two Akash missiles testedTwo Akash missiles testedTwo Akash missiles testedTwo Akash missiles testedTwo Akash missiles tested

The Indian Air Forcesuccessfully test-fired two Akash, theground-to-air missiles, which hit theirtargets flying 25 km away. While onemissile tore apart an incoming targettowed by Lakshya, a pilotless targetaircraft (PTA), another took apart areceding target, again trailed byLakshya. The IAF personnel operatedthe entire Akash system including thetargets. The Defence Research andDevelopment Organisation (DRDO)has developed Akash, which isalready under production for the IAF

and the Army. Akash Project Director,G. Chandramouli of the DRDO, saidthe missiles intercepted their targetsat high altitudes and when they weretravelling fast. “We destroyed boththe targets. The second one was afar-boundary, receding target and sodifficult to intercept”, he said. OnApril 23 also, the IAF had successfullytest-fired an Akash. All the trials tookplace from the Integrated Test Rangeat Chandipur, Odisha. Mr.Chandramouli called it “a notableachievement” that the entireequipment of radars, launchers,ground support systems and controlcentres for the Akash missile systemfor the IAF were realised andproduced in less than two years,indicating the integrated capabilityof the DRDO, the Department ofDefence Production, the MissileSystem Quality Assurance Agencyand the Indian industry. AvinashChander, Scientific Advisor to theDefence Minister, congratulated theteams from the DRDO, the IAF, theproduction agencies and theindustries for the coordinateddemonstration. S. Som, Director,Defence Research and DevelopmentLaboratory, Hyderabad, S. Ravind,Director, Electronics and RadarDevelopment Establishment,Bangalore and M.V.K.V. Prasad,Director, ITR, witnessed the flightsfrom Chandipur.

Ravi Gupta, DRDO spokesman,called the Akash project “a greatsuccess story.” The IAF had placedorders for eight squadrons of theAkash missile system. The Army hasplaced orders for two regiments ofthe system. “The total productionorders placed by the IAF and theArmy for the Akash missile system isabout Rs.23,000 crores. Already, themissile system worth Rs.3,500 croreshave been delivered to the Services,”Mr. Gupta said.

G-7 agrees on more sanctionsG-7 agrees on more sanctionsG-7 agrees on more sanctionsG-7 agrees on more sanctionsG-7 agrees on more sanctions

The United States and its allieshave agreed to ramp up pressure onRussia over Ukraine as Kiev’s military





crackdown on pro-Russian protestersin the east has stalled. In a jointstatement the Group of Seven nationssaid they would “move swiftly” onnew sanctions against Russia, which“has taken no concrete actions” toimplement the Geneva agreement ondefusing the Ukraine crisis.

The statement was released bythe White House when it becameclear that Kiev’s “anti-terroristoperation” in Ukraine’s southeast hadbogged down.

Ukrainian authorities had calledoff an assault on the insurgents-heldcity of Sloviansk after Russia launchedlarge-scale war games near theUkrainian border, vowing to “stop theUkrainian war machine” fromattacking civilians. U.S. PresidentBarack Obama had a conference callwith European leaders in an effort tomarshal their support for broadersanctions against Russia, but theirjoint statement said the new sanctionswould be “targeted,” that is, targetingindividuals, rather than sections of theRussian economy. Moreover, thesanctions will not necessarily beidentical. A senior U.S. official saideach G7 country will determine itselfwhich targeted sanctions they willimpose. The G7 statement came asthe Pentagon said Russian fighter jetsventured into Ukrainian airspaceseveral times over the last 24 hours.

Ukraine’s Security Service saidthat the military had set up fourroadblocks near Sloviansk in order toprevent protesters from receivingreinforcements. However, themeasures failed to stop leaders of theself-proclaimed “Donetsk Republic”from travelling to the besieged cityfrom Donetsk 130 km away.Addressing a press conference at thelocal government headquarters inSloviansk leaders of the “DonetskRepublic” said they had drawn upplans to coordinate resistance tacticsand that self-defence forces in

Donetsk would shortly sendreinforcements to Sloviansk. Self-proclaimed Mayor of SlovyanskVyacheslav Ponomaryov confirmedthat his people had detained a groupof international observers in Slovianskon suspicion that they were gatheringintelligence on protesters’ positions.

Mr. Ponomaryov said the group,which is in Ukraine on a militaryverification mission under the 2011Vienna Document, had not notifiedhim about their visit to Sloviansk. Hesaid the protesters planned toexchange the observers for activistsdetained by Ukrainian securityservices.

AFP reports from Siauliai: U.S.troops arrived on Saturday inLithuania, part of a U.S. contingent of600 sent to the region to reassureNATO allies. Lithuanian PresidentDalia Grybauskaite hailed the arrivalof American forces as a “deterrencemeasure.”

Obama warns N Korea againstObama warns N Korea againstObama warns N Korea againstObama warns N Korea againstObama warns N Korea againstnuclear threatsnuclear threatsnuclear threatsnuclear threatsnuclear threats

President Barack Obamawarned North Korea that the UnitedStates “will not hesitate to use ourmilitary might” to defend allies, as hesought to showcase U.S. power inthe region amid China’s growinginfluence and Pyongyang’sunpredictable nuclear threats. Mr.Obama’s visit to Seoul comes as NorthKorea has threatened to conduct itsfourth nuclear test, leading the U.S.President to raise the possibility offurther sanctions. “The commitmentthat the United States of America hasmade to the security of the Republicof Korea only grows stronger in theface of aggression,” Mr. Obama saidin a speech to some of the 28,000American service members stationedin South Korea to keep watch on itsnorthern neighbour. “Our alliancedoes not waiver with each bout of

their attention seeking. It just gainsthe support of the rest of the world.”The website 38 North, which closelymonitors North Korea, saidcommercial satellite imagery fromWednesday showed increasedmovement of vehicles and materialsnear what are believed to be theentrances to two completed tunnelsat Punggye-ri nuclear test site. Themovements could be preparationsfor an underground atomicexplosion, although predictingunderground tests is notoriouslydifficult.

Mr. Obama ridiculed NorthKorea’s attempt to show force.“Anybody can make threats,” he said.“Anyone can move an army. Anyonecan show off a missile. That doesn’tmake you strong.” “We don’t use ourmilitary might to impose these thingson others, but we will not hesitate touse our military might to defend ourallies and our way of life,” Mr. Obamasaid to cheers from the uniformedtroops who filled a field house atYongsan Garrison, headquarters forU.S. forces in South Korea. Mr.Obama’s 10-minute speech followeda rare joint defence briefing withSouth Korean President Park Geun-hye that focused on efforts to counterthe North’s nuclear ambitions.

OPCW says over 90 per centOPCW says over 90 per centOPCW says over 90 per centOPCW says over 90 per centOPCW says over 90 per centchemical weapons destroyedchemical weapons destroyedchemical weapons destroyedchemical weapons destroyedchemical weapons destroyedin Syriain Syriain Syriain Syriain Syria

The head of an internationalmission to Syria charged withdestroying the country’s chemicalweapons called on President BasharAssad’s government on Sunday toensure it meets a deadline to destroyall its toxic chemicals amid a ragingcivil war. Sigrid Kaag of theOrganization for the Prohibition ofChemical Weapons (OPCW) toldreporters in Damascus that 92.5percent of Syria’s chemical materials





had been removed from the countryand destroyed. She called it“significant progress,” although shecalled on Syria’s government toensure remaining materials would beeradicated by the end of April. Syriamissed an April 13 deadline todestroy all its chemical weapons inaccessible locations. Internationalexperts say that could impact onreaching a June 30 deadline toremove all Syria’s chemical weapons.Another 12 chemical weaponsproduction facilities are still beingreviewed by the OPCW to see howthey will be destroyed, she said.

She said the timely removal oftoxic chemicals had become evenmore pressing to ensure “none of thechemical weapons material falls in thewrong hands,” referring to rebelstrying to overthrow Mr. Assad whoinclude the increasingly influential al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front. She saidfighting in areas where sensitive siteswere located could rapidlydeteriorate, making a “timely andswift extraction even more”important.

EU bans Indian AlphonsoEU bans Indian AlphonsoEU bans Indian AlphonsoEU bans Indian AlphonsoEU bans Indian Alphonsomangoes, 4 vegetables frommangoes, 4 vegetables frommangoes, 4 vegetables frommangoes, 4 vegetables frommangoes, 4 vegetables fromMay 1May 1May 1May 1May 1

The 28-member EuropeanUnion has temporarily banned theimport of Alphonso mangoes, theking of fruits, and four vegetables fromIndia from May 1, sparking protestsfrom the Indian community,lawmakers and traders. The recentdecision by the grouping’s StandingCommittee on Plant Health came after207 consignments of fruits andvegetables from India imported intothe EU in 2013 were found to becontaminated by pests such as fruitflies and other quarantine pests. Thetemporary ban, proposed by theEuropean Commission, includesmangoes, eggplant, the taro plant,bitter gourd and snake gourd, andprohibits the import to tackle the“significant shortcomings in thesanitary certification system of such

products exported to the EU”.Though the prohibited commoditiesrepresent less than 5 per cent of thetotal fresh fruits and vegetablesimported into the EU from India, thepotential introduction of new pestscould pose a threat to EU agricultureand production, the committeenoted. UK’s Defra (the Departmentfor Environment, Food and RuralAffairs) that is backing the ban said itwas necessary due to pests whichcould threaten the country’s GBP 321million salad crop industry of tomatoand cucumber.

The UK imports nearly 16 millionmangoes from India and the marketfor the fruit is worth nearly GBP 6million a year. A revision of the banwill take place before December 31,2015. Businesses claimed they willlose hundreds of thousands ofpounds due to the ban. Wholesalersand retailers in Indian-dominatedregions of the UK have opposed theban, which comes into effect on May1, saying it will hit them hard.Meanwhile, an e-petition titled‘Reverse Mango Import Ban’ hasgathered hundreds of signatures overits warning that: “The ban will severelyimpact importers and distributors inthe UK and for some it will rendertheir entire trade unfeasible. The banhas been undertaken hastily. Proventreatments have not been consideredbefore an outright ban e.g. hot watertreatment, irradiation which isapproved for import into the USA andvapour heat treatments,” adds thepetition created by Monica Bhandari,who runs the London-based FruityFresh (Western) Limited import firm.

New Foreign Trade Policy toNew Foreign Trade Policy toNew Foreign Trade Policy toNew Foreign Trade Policy toNew Foreign Trade Policy tofocus on ways to boostfocus on ways to boostfocus on ways to boostfocus on ways to boostfocus on ways to boostexportsexportsexportsexportsexports

The new Foreign Trade Policywill focus on ways to boost India’sexports and reduce dependence onimports, a government official said.

“India — being part of WTO —cannot only think in terms its exportpromotion without equally

supporting import substitution.“Therefore, the focus of the newpolicy would be to vigorouslypromote both exports and importswith significantly substantial focus onexports,” industry body PHDCCI said,quoting Additional Director Generalof Foreign Trade (DGFT) SumeetJerath. Mr. Jerath said the policy (FTP2014—19), to be announced by thenew government post generalelections next month, will lay greaterthrust on engaging with the rest ofthe world particularly in sectors suchas pharma and engineering. He saidold procedures and regulationsgoverning exporters will be trimmedand pruned to suit the exportrequirements of the modern times sothat the realistic targets are madeachievable.

India’s overall exports fell shortof the $325 billion target in 2013—14. They touched $312.3 billion.

India seeks crucial reforms ofIndia seeks crucial reforms ofIndia seeks crucial reforms ofIndia seeks crucial reforms ofIndia seeks crucial reforms ofU.N. security institutionsU.N. security institutionsU.N. security institutionsU.N. security institutionsU.N. security institutions

India, which has contributed1.7 lakh peacekeepers to U.N.missions, has told the U.N. SecurityCouncil that it wants crucial reformsof security institutions to facilitatepeace-building in the conflict-hitnations. India’s PermanentRepresentative to the U.N.Ambassador Asoke Mukerji said in aU.N. Security Council debate on’Security Sector Reform (SSR):Challenges and Opportunities’ onMonday that security sector reform isan “important element of post-conflict peace-building” and shouldbe part of the internal politicalprocess of a nation emerging fromconflict. “It was only a few days agothat two Indian Peacekeepersdonning the blue helmet wereinjured while protecting civilians atthe UNMISS base at Bor in the SouthSudan. “This attack is anotherexample of unresolved political issuesin South Sudan which also reflectsthe importance of understanding the





complex political environment ofthese peacekeeping missions, wheresecurity sector reform has to take rootas part of the internal political processof the concerned member state,” Mr.Mukerji said.

Mr. Mukerji said India hasexperience relevant to reform of acountry’s security sector, havingplayed an active role in 43 U.N.peacekeeping missions in whichalmost 170,000 Indian peacekeepershave participated so far. Sixpeacekeeping operations and eightSpecial Political Missions have beenmandated to do SSR. He said in manyof these peacekeeping operations,troops from India are directlyinvolved. Outlining a few principlesthat must guide security sectorreform, he said the most sustainableway for effective reforms is byensuring national ownership of theprocess. Noting that establishmentand maintenance of public order isimportant, Mr. Mukerji said a securityvacuum after a peace agreement isdangerous. The focus has to be onwhat is do-able and not on an agendadriven by priorities of donorcountries. He cautioned against anover reliance on “innovative”approaches, in instances when thereis need to cut costs. He urgedMember-States to be pragmatic byonly including mandates that aredeliverable and for which resourcesare available.

“Security sector capacitybuilding needs to necessarily occupycentre-stage in security sector reform.Such an approach would be bothcost-effective and sustainable,” hesaid.

TDSAT allows 3G roamingTDSAT allows 3G roamingTDSAT allows 3G roamingTDSAT allows 3G roamingTDSAT allows 3G roamingpactpactpactpactpact

The Telecom DisputesSettlement and Appellate Tribunal(TDSAT) allowed three top mobileoperators — Bharti Airtel, VodafoneIndia and Idea Cellular — to continuewith their 3G intra-circle roaming(ICR) pact and provide roamingservices to their customers. It quashed

a cumulative penalty worth Rs.1,200crore imposed on the three operatorsby the Department of Telecom forviolating a licence agreement. In itsorder, the TDSAT bench headed byJustice Aftab Alam ruled that the 3GICR agreement signed by Airtel,Vodafone and Idea Cellular was notin violation of the licence agreement.It allowed them to continue providingroaming services to their 3Gcustomers as per the agreementsigned between them. After winningthe 3G spectrum in 2010 auction,Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellularhad signed the ICR pact. While Airtelhad won 3G-spectrum rights in 13 ofthe 22 telecom circles, Idea Cellularand Vodafone had bagged the rightsfor 11 and 9 circles respectively. Asper the ICR pact, Airtel had soughtaccess to Vodafone’s 3G network infour circles — Maharashtra, Kolkata,Haryana and UP-East. Similarly,Vodafone got access to six 3G circlesof Airtel — Assam, Bihar, Karnataka,North-East, Rajasthan and UP-West —besides seven circles of Idea Cellular— Andhra Pradesh, HimachalPradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala,Madhya Pradesh, UP-West andPunjab. Idea Cellular also got accessto provide 3G service usingVodafone’s network in Delhi, TamilNadu, Chennai and Kolkata.

The three operators first movedTDSAT challenging the DoT noticein December 2011. In July 2012,TDSAT gave a split verdict where oneof the bench members ruled in favourand another member was against it.Soon DoT issued notice to telecomoperators asking them to stop 3G ICRservice and imposed a Rs.1,200 crorepenalty. The three operators movedthe Delhi High Court that ruled inDoT’s favour. They then filed case inthe Supreme Court, which againordered the case to be transferred toTDSAT in September 2013.

Welcoming the TDSAT order,the Cellular Operators Association ofIndia (COAI) said it would benefit3G customers. “TDSAT had

recognised the stand of telecomoperators on the basis of which theymade aggressive bids for 3Gspectrum...They can now invest innetwork coverage,” said COAIDirector General Rajan S. Mathews.

Fiscal deficit control makesFiscal deficit control makesFiscal deficit control makesFiscal deficit control makesFiscal deficit control makeshigher growth challenging:higher growth challenging:higher growth challenging:higher growth challenging:higher growth challenging:CrisilCrisilCrisilCrisilCrisil

The government’s efforts tonarrow fiscal deficit since last twoyears by expenditure cuts hasresulted in lower productivespending, and the new governmentwould find it challenging to give it aboost, says a report by Crisil. Areduced fiscal deficit-to-GDP ratio inFY14, for the second year in a row,has come at the cost of lowerproductive spending. In his interimbudget, Union Finance Minister P.Chidambaram had said that the FY14fiscal deficit would be at 4.6 per cent,below the red line of 4.8 per cent hehad set in the beginning of the year.In FY13, fiscal deficit was containedat 5.2 per cent as against 5.3 per cent.

“The cost of this compromisewill be felt in the years to come sincethe government’s productivespending has a multiplier impact onthe economy in subsequent years,”Crisil said in a report. “The newgovernment that will take charge nextmonth must aim to reverse this trendand raise the government’sproductive spending,” the reportsaid. The 13th Finance Commissionhad last year set a capitalexpenditure-to-GDP target of 4.5 percent by FY15. However, the reportsaid the ratio for FY14 was 1.7 percent and the same is budgeted forFY15. In the last two years,productive spending — which iscapital expenditure and the revenuegrants for capital creation in criticalareas such as public infrastructure,education and health care — hasbeen lower than budgeted by nearlyRs. 1.8 trillion.

In terms of per personspending, the government only spentan incremental Rs. 110 on productivespending, while it spent an additional





over Rs. 1,900 per person on otherexpenditure over the last twofinancial years, the Crisil report said.

It said the government couldlimit fiscal deficit within the target,either by raising revenues or bycutting spending. The report saidwhile large part of the currentexpenditure is sticky — salaries,pensions, and interest payments —cutting unproductive spending onsubsidies, mainly on fuels such askerosene and liquefied petroleumgas, would be necessary.

The road to safetyThe road to safetyThe road to safetyThe road to safetyThe road to safety

India’s roads have acquired areputation, quite deservedly, of beingthe most dangerous in the world.Rapid motorisation and fast-pacedeconomic activity over several yearshave been accompanied by anannual toll of nearly 140,000 accidentfatalities; injuries are estimated to be15 to 20 times the number of deaths.In absolute numbers, more peopledie in road accidents in India than inany other country. Apart from thehuman dimension of the tragedy,avoidable death and disabilityseriously affect economic progress— by some estimates, 3 per cent ofGDP is lost in a year due to thecarnage. The recent decision of theSupreme Court to appoint a three-member committee to suggest waysto prevent road accidents and ensureaccountability offers some hope thata new government at the Centre willbe compelled to address the issue asan emergency. It is not as ifsuggestions for improvements forenhanced safety have not beenproposed earlier. The SundarCommittee constituted by the Centrecalled for an apex agency to becreated to assess all aspects of roadsafety, and to address the lacuna inscientific accident investigation.Although the recommendation wasmade seven years ago, it has failed totake off. Indians are travelling moremiles per capita today, and are at

high risk for injury or worse.Unsafe transport, including

services operated by governmentagencies, are a major part of theproblem. Several ghastly accidentsinvolving public transport vehicleshave been reported, but the Stategovernments involved have shownlittle sense of accountability. Theyroutinely challenge even claims forcompensation. Their response to theneed for improved infrastructure hasbeen woefully weak. In its recentreport, the National TransportDevelopment Policy Committeeheaded by Rakesh Mohan suggestedthat national, State and local-levelinstitutions be set up, withresponsibility to address the issue ofsafety. There is an urgent need toform these committees, and appointprofessionals to them. They must beempowered to upgrade driver-licensing practices, road systems,public lighting and signage. Accidentinvestigation, which remains aneglected area, requires a thoroughoverhaul, and CCTVs can helpdetermine the cause of mishaps. Also,the neglect of the public districthospital network in most States, andthe high cost of treatment at privatehospitals affect access to goodtrauma care for accident victims. Theright to life demands that the Centraland State governments providemedical facilities at a proximateinstitution free of cost to all. TheSupreme Court panel must give roadaccidents the status of a publichealth issue that has acquired alarmingproportions. Reform to improve roadsafety cannot be delayed any longer.

Douse the sparks on ArticleDouse the sparks on ArticleDouse the sparks on ArticleDouse the sparks on ArticleDouse the sparks on Article3 7 03 7 03 7 03 7 03 7 0

In the week since Prime MinisterNarendra Modi was sworn in, asuccession of controversies havethreatened to overshadow his coreagenda of growth and governancereform. None, however, threatens to

erupt into so great a conflagration asthe bitter exchanges over Article 370of India’s Constitution. Ever sinceMinister of State in the Prime Minister’sOffice, Jitendra Singh, was reportedto have said that the process ofabrogating Article 370 had begun,the Jammu and Kashmir NationalConference and the RashtriyaSwayamsevak Sangh have beenlocked in aggressive polemicalexchanges. Dr. Singh has clarified —correctly — that he only spoke ofinitiating a debate on abrogatingArticle 370, a commitment made inthe Bharatiya Janata Party’s electionmanifesto, rather than of the actualprocess of removing it from theConstitution. The rancour isn’tsurprising, though: just as many Hindunationalists oppose Article 370 as abarrier to the full integration of Jammuand Kashmir, many in the State see itas their only protection againstexistential threat. Fears of beingswamped by a hostile majority remaina powerful motif in Kashmir politics— last erupting into large-scale streetbattles in 2008.

Little understood outsideJammu and Kashmir, Article 370 liesat the heart of the State’sconstitutional relationship with India.It makes six special provisions, allemerging from the Instrument ofAccession of Jammu and Kashmir.They include allowing the State itsown Constitution, and limitingParliament’s authority to legislate forit. In 1954, with Sheikh Abdullah inprison, Syed Mir Qasim’s regimeexpanded Parliament’s powers, andextended the Constitution’sFundamental Rights to the State. Inthe years since, other ConstitutionOrders have given the Supreme Courtjurisdiction over the State, andextended to it the supervisory powerof the Election Commission of India.

In 2001, the Jammu and KashmirAssembly passed a resolution seekingthe restitution of the original, pristine





Article 370; the BJP and someCongress leaders from the Hindu-majority Jammu province wanted itoverturned altogether. The NationalDemocratic Alliance flatly refused todiscuss the Assembly’s demand.There is no doubt that there will haveto be a debate on Jammu andKashmir’s constitutional status at somepoint, especially if there is a finalresolution of the India-Pakistandispute over the State. The debatemust be had in a calm frame of mind,though — and this is not the time tohave it. Prime Minister Modi, whospoke in measured and open termson the issue during the electioncampaign, would do well to dousethe sparks his junior Minister has letfly, before a fire breaks out.

Thimphu beginningThimphu beginningThimphu beginningThimphu beginningThimphu beginning

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’schoice of Bhutan as his first foreigndestination may have come as asurprise to some, but it sends outsignificant signals. This visit will helpbuild on the message from theswearing-in ceremony of the newgovernment, which was attended byleaders of SAARC states. Thatunexpected and well-receivedinvitation helped address someconcerns in the neighbourhood,where the decisive verdict for theModi-led BJP had stoked concernsabout a new muscularity of India’sforeign policy. The PM’s decision toprioritise the immediateneighbourhood also underscores hisunderstanding that foreign policybegins at the nation’s borders — thatif India cannot reclaim its primacy inthe subcontinent, it will not see therest of the world taking it seriously.

Till recently, the intimaciesbetween New Delhi and Thimphuhad allowed India a large footprint inBhutan. There is coordination still,between the two nations, on severalmatters, including foreign policy. Butwith Bhutan steadily democratising,

the rise of competitive politics posesa challenge, requiring Delhi to makeits diplomacy towards the Himalayannation more transparent. Bhutan’snearly $2 billion economy is closelylinked to India’s, and Thimphu haslargely resisted pressures to take anydecision inimical to Delhi. However,as China’s overtures to Bhutan overthe last few years have shown, thedistance between Thimphu andBeijing is narrowing. Now, Delhi willhave to engage more intensely withThimphu.

Paternalism only breedsresentment, and Delhi’s ham-fisteddecision — reversed soon — last yearto cancel the supply of subsidisedgas was insensitive to the aspirationsof a changing Bhutan. Prime MinisterModi must take relations withneighbours to the next level, so thatDelhi can discard the tradition ofoffering economic sops and subsidiesand instead concentrate on enablingagreements that allow market forcesto leverage the economic andgeographic complementarities acrossborders.

Modi’s predecessor, ManmohanSingh, rightly saw India’s destiny asinextricably tied up with thesubcontinent’s. But Singh was unableto cross India’s borders as often as heshould have, barring the odd regionalsummit. Modi should make contactwith India’s neighbours a matter ofroutine and follow up his Bhutan visitwith trips to Pakistan, Bangladesh, SriLanka and Nepal at the earliest.Routinisation will not solve allproblems, but the conduciveenvironment thus created may putthe subcontinent on the road toeconomic integration through tradeliberalisation and trans-borderconnectivity. Delhi’s ability to dealwith a Beijing or a Washington willimprove only when it reconstitutesthe subcontinent’s geo-politicalunity. It is time to build on India’snatural geographic advantages.

The end of American worldThe end of American worldThe end of American worldThe end of American worldThe end of American worldorderorderorderorderorder

Domestic critics in Americablame the Russian annexation ofCrimea on Obama’s weak foreignpolicy. Republican Senator JohnMcCain calls Obama the “most naive[U.S.] president in history.” Butoutside the beltway, a differentperception is rapidly emerging,which sees Ukraine not so much afailure of Obama’s foreign policy, butas a sign of general U.S. decline. AsMaleeha Lodhi, a former Pakistaniambassador to the U.S. says: “Muchof this criticism [of Obama] showswilful ignorance of the limits of U.S.power in a transformed internationalenvironment where no single state isable to achieve outcomes by itself orprevail over others, even by usingoverwhelming hard power.”

In his January 2012 State of theUnion address, U.S. President BarackObama asserted that that “anyonewho tells you that America is indecline or that our influence haswaned doesn’t know what they’retalking about.” But in a December2012 report, the U.S. NationalIntelligence Council argued thatwhile America will remain the “firstamong equals with the rapid rise ofother countries…the era of Americanascendancy in international politicsthat began in 1945 is fast windingdown.” Ukraine offers furtherevidence of that.

Rising powersRising powersRising powersRising powersRising powersAnd the report of the World

Bank-supported InternationalComparison Program — that China isset to overtake the U.S. with Indiacoming third by the end of this year— sends the same message. It meansthat for the first time since World WarII, the leading military power is notthe largest global economy.

Perhaps the most importantlesson of Ukraine is that U.S. cannotco-opt the rising powers to support





its own strategic vision and approach.In his influential 2010 book, LiberalLeviathan , American politicalscientist John Ikenberry argues thatwhether America is in decline or not,the liberal world order it had createdand dominated since World War IIwould persist and might even co-optits main challengers including China.As he put it, “The rise of non-Westernpowers and the growth of economicand security interdependence arecreating new constituencies andpressures for liberal internationalorder.”

But Ukraine shows the limits ofthis argument. Not only did Russiathrew a frontal challenge to the U.S.and NATO, but the rest of the BRICS(Brazil, Russia, India, China and SouthAfrica) abstained in the U.N. GeneralAssembly resolution rejectingCrimean referendum that formed thebasis of Russian annexation of Crimea.Russia regarded this as a victory.

The message is clear and simple.Just because these rising powers havebenefitted from the American-dominated international order doesnot mean they would leave it intactand follow America’s lead.

Initial hints are that the newModi government in India might seeNew Delhi pursuing a more assertiveforeign policy point in the samedirection.

An important question is whatcomes after the unipolar moment?The conventional wisdom has beenthat we are entering a multipolarworld. A few have predicted a U.S.-China bipolar order. But the emergingworld order is likely to be neitherbipolar nor multipolar, but amultiplex world order.

The multiplex world implies aworld of multiple great and regionalpowers bound together in complexforms of interdependence. It can alsobe likened to a multiplex theatre inwhich one can see a variety of shows,

directors and actors under one roof.In a multiplex world, while the

U.S. will remain a major force in worldaffairs, it would lack the ability toshape world order after its owninterests and image. As a result, theU.S. will be one of a number ofanchors including emerging powers,regional forces, and a concert of theold and new powers shaping a newworld order.

Will the multiplex world be lessstable than the unipolar moment orAmerica’s hegemony in world affairs?No one can predict the future. TheEconomist magazine bemoans theloss of U.S. authority as a “decline ofdeterrence,” implying that it willembolden America’s enemies anddemoralise its allies. But America hadplenty of enemies and the American-led global deterrence failed toprevent rise of powerful enemiessuch as the al-Qaeda terrorist network.

At the same time, it is importantnot to dismiss new ways of ensuringstability available to America and therising powers.Global interdependenceGlobal interdependenceGlobal interdependenceGlobal interdependenceGlobal interdependence

One crucial differencebetween the multipolar world of the19th Century and the multiplex worldof the future is the huge growth ofglobal interdependence. Europeaninterdependence in the 19th Centurywas mainly based on trade but wasundermined by competitive searchfor foreign colonies by the majorEuropean nations. Today’s globalinterdependence is both broaderand deeper, covering not only trade,but also finance, productionnetworks and global economicarrangements that did not exist then.

Stability of a multiplex wouldrequire new forms of internationalcooperation where leadership isshared rather than monopolised by asingle nation. This would requiremeaningful reform of global

institutions and encouraging moreinstitutions like G20. Also crucial areregional mechanisms for peace andstability.

To maintain stability and its owninfluence, the U.S. would need toshare power. General MartinDempsey, Chairman of the U.S. JointChiefs of Staff, has said in a recentinterview that in the changinginternational strategic environment,the U.S. would find increasingly“harder to articulate the proper useof military power” and have to relyless on direct military action and moreon “building partnership capacity andenabling other actors.” This is morein keeping with the onset of themultiplex world.

Five-point strategy of theFive-point strategy of theFive-point strategy of theFive-point strategy of theFive-point strategy of theModi govt.Modi govt.Modi govt.Modi govt.Modi govt.

Modi has the opportunity totransact much economic and politicalbusiness in his five-year tenure asprime minister of India. Modi’sdetermination to pursue a vigorousregional diplomacy appears to rest onfive foundations.

For one, Modi has appreciatedthe much-neglected fact that foreignpolicy begins at the nation’s borders.India’s traditional diplomaticdiscourse is obsessed with grandconcepts such as non-alignment andthe elusive quest for the leadershipof the global South.

It has been rather easy for theIndian strategic community to forgetthe critical importance of tendingone’s own neighbourhood in thesubcontinent and the Indian Ocean.Worse still, Delhi has been unwillingto confront and address the reasonsfor the steady loss of Indian influencein the region over the last manydecades. An India that fails to reclaimits primacy in the subcontinent, Modican now see, can’t really make alasting impression on the worldbeyond.





Second, Modi has understoodthe importance of discarding thediplomatic formalism that hasbedevilled India’s engagement withthe region. Consider, for example,Manmohan Singh’s legacy onregional diplomacy. In his decade-long tenure as PM, Singh was eitherunwilling or unable to step across theborders to catch up with the leadersnext door. Singh travelled for regionalsummits once each in Dhaka,Colombo, Thimphu and Male. Hetravelled twice to Kabul and onceeach to Dhaka and Thimphu onbilateral business. By any measure,this is a dismal diplomatic record.

In inviting the regional leadersfor his inauguration, Modi issuggesting that contacts with theneighbours should be made a matterof routine rather than treated asexceptional occasions. In hisinteractions with the South Asianleaders after the swearing in, Modimust tell them he is ready to visit allneighbouring countries, includingPakistan, at the earliest and will orderhis cabinet colleagues to do thesame. There is some speculation thatModi might respond positively to therequest of Sheikh Hasina, the premierof Bangladesh, to make Dhaka his firstforeign destination as India’s primeminister.

Third, at the level of substance,Manmohan Singh had a clear visionthat India’s destiny is inextricablylinked with that of her neighbours.He articulated the case for regionaleconomic integration and took someimportant initiatives on tradeliberalisation and trans-borderconnectivity. He was also ready to

address long-standing issues withneighbouring countries. He cameclose to signing agreements withPakistan on the Siachen and Sir Creekdisputes and resolving the landboundary agreement withBangladesh. He also oversaw theback-channel negotiations withPakistan that apparently produced aframework accord on Kashmir.

But Manmohan Singh wasunable to overcome the politicalresistance within the Congress partyto clinch any of these agreements.The Congress leadership would notlet the PM travel to Pakistan evenonce. It caved to pressures from WestBengal Chief Minister MamataBanerjee and compelled ManmohanSingh to pull back on the veryconsequential agreements withDhaka. Yielding to pressures fromTamil Nadu, the Congress leadershipprevented the PM from eventravelling to Colombo last year for amultilateral summit.

If the Congress put narrowelectoral considerations above India’snational interests in the region, Modiseems ready to uphold the Centralgovernment’s responsibility toconduct foreign policy. He can easilyfollow through by clinching theagreements with neighbours thathave already been negotiated and areready for signature. Modi’s rejectionof the protests from the BJP’s alliesand others in Chennai against the visitof Sri Lankan President MahindaRajapaksa not only underlines India’snew resolve but also improves Delhi’snegotiating leverage with Colomboon the question of Tamil minorityrights in Sri Lanka.

Fourth, in inviting the primeminister of Mauritius to the swearingin ceremony, Modi is acknowledgingDelhi’s special relationship with theisland nation and its Indian diaspora.The new PM is acutely aware of theurgent need to reverse the UPAgovernment’s wanton destruction ofthis relationship at the very momentwhen Mauritius was re-emerging asthe strategic pivot of the WesternIndian Ocean.

Finally, Modi appears to haverecognised that India’s ability to dealwith great powers like the UnitedStates and China will significantlyimprove only if and when Delhi canreconstitute the geopolitical unity ofthe subcontinent. For decades, Indiahas complained about US andChinese strategic partnerships withPakistan. More recently, India haswatched warily as China’s politicalinfluence rose rapidly in thesubcontinent. Delhi must accept alarge portion of the blame for makingit easier for outsiders to limit itsinfluence in the region.

Instead of whining aboutexternal intervention in thesubcontinent, Delhi needs a strategythat builds on India ’s naturalgeographic advantage, economiccomplementarity, historic role as theregional security provider and ashared cultural inheritance. IfManmohan Singh talked the talk onrestoring India’s regional primacy,Modi might have the political will towalk the walk by resolving long-standing political disputes andpromoting economic prosperityacross the subcontinent.

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PSLV C23PSLV C23PSLV C23PSLV C23PSLV C23




India on 30th June, 2014,successfully launched five foreignsatellites from four countries on boardPSLV C 23 rocket which placed themin orbit, an achievement describedby Prime Minister Narendra Modi asan ‘endorsement’ of the country’sspace capabilities. After a perfect liftoff from the First Launch Pad in SatishDhawan Space Centre here at 9.52AM, Indian Space ResearchOrganisation’s workhorse PolarSatellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C23placed all five satellites into theirintended orbits, one after the otherbetween 17 and 19 minutes afterliftoff, in textbook precision.

The PSLV-C23 carried a 714 kgFrench Earth Observation SatelliteSPOT-7 as its main payload while a14 kg satellite called AISAT ofGermany, two 15 kg satellites fromCanada CAN-X4 and CAN-X5 andseven kg Singapore satellite calledVELOX-1 as piggy back payload onthe flight.

Primary SatellitePrimary SatellitePrimary SatellitePrimary SatellitePrimary Satellite

SPOT-7: SPOT-7: SPOT-7: SPOT-7: SPOT-7: It is a French earthobservation satellite and identical to

SPOT-6 launched earlier on-board PSLV C21 during September 2012.It will be launched into a 655km SunSynchronous Orbit (SSO) will bephased and placed diametricallyopposite to SPOT-6 and will form partof the existing earth observationconstellation. Satellite mass is 714 Kgwith a mission life of 10 years, buildby Airbus Defence & Space.

Co-passenger SatellitesCo-passenger SatellitesCo-passenger SatellitesCo-passenger SatellitesCo-passenger Satellites

AISAT: AISAT: AISAT: AISAT: AISAT: It is a global sea trafficmonitoring satellite with specialemphasis on high traffic zones usingAIR signals. Satellite mass is 14 kg,build by DLR Germany.

NLS 7.1 & NLS 7.2: NLS 7.1 & NLS 7.2: NLS 7.1 & NLS 7.2: NLS 7.1 & NLS 7.2: NLS 7.1 & NLS 7.2: It is a two-spacecraft precision formation flyingusing different GPS with cm-levelrelative position and sub-metre levelaccurate position controlsystem. Satellite mass is 15 kg each,build by UTIAS/SFL Canada.

VELOX-1: VELOX-1: VELOX-1: VELOX-1: VELOX-1: It is a technologydemonstrator for in-house design ofimage sensor, MEMS-based attitudedetermination and control system,inter-satellite RF-link.

The five satellites werelaunched under commercialarrangements that ANTRIX (ISRO’scommercial arm) entered with therespective foreign agencies.

PSLV C23

PSLV- C23 Stages at a Glance

STAGE-1 STAGE-2 STAGE-3 STAGE-4Nomenclature PS1 PS2 PS3 PS4Propellant Solid(HTPB Liquid (HTPB Liquid MMH +

Based) (UH25+N2O

4) Based) MON-3)

Mass (Tonne) 138 41 7.6 2.5Max Thrust (kN) 4787 804 242 7.3 X 2Burn Time (sec) 102 148 110 526Stage Dia (m) 2.8 2.8 2.0 2.8Stage Length (m) 20 12.8 3.6 3.0

HTPB: HTPB: HTPB: HTPB: HTPB: Hydroxyl Terminated Poly Butadine·UH 25: UH 25: UH 25: UH 25: UH 25: Unsymmetrical di-methyl hydrazine + 25% Hydrazine Hydrate·MMH: MMH: MMH: MMH: MMH: Mono Methyl Hydrazine·





MON-3: MON-3: MON-3: MON-3: MON-3: Mixed Oxides ofNitrogen·

SITVC: SITVC: SITVC: SITVC: SITVC: Secondary InjectionThrust Vector Control

Till April 2014, there had been25 consecutive successful flights ofPSLV and this is the 26th such launch.Meanwhile, PSLV-C23 is the 10thflight of PSLV in ‘core-alone’configuration, which means aconfiguration without the use of solidstrap-on motors.

After an estimated time of 20minutes, Isro’s workhorse PSLVseparated all five satellites — one byone into their intended orbit. All thesatellites were separated as planned,Isro said in a statement.

SPOT-7 is a French optical earthobservation satellite identical toSPOT-6 launched earlier on-boardPSLV-C21 in September 2012. SPOT-7, after its injection into the SSO, willbe phased and placed diametricallyopposite to SPOT-6 and will form partof the existing earth observationconstellation.

The commercial launch comesnearly 16 months after ISROlaunched six small foreign satelliteson board the PSLV C-20 in February2013. There had been 26continuously successful flights ofPSLV, till June 2014. PSLV hasrepeatedly proved its reliability andversatility by launching 70 satellites /spacecrafts (30 Indian and 40Foreign Satellites) into a variety oforbits so far. Some notable payloadslaunched by PSLV include India’sChandrayaan-1 lunar probe and theMars Orbiter Mission.

The Polar Satellite LaunchVehicle, usually known by itsabbreviation PSLV is the firstoperational launch vehicle of ISRO.PSLV is capable of launching 1600kg satellites in 620 km sun-synchronous polar orbit and 1050 kgsatellite in geosynchronous transferorbit. Until the advent of the PSLV,this service was commercially

available only from Russia. Launch Vehicles are used to

transport and put satellites orspacecrafts into space. In India, thelaunch vehicles developmentprogramme began in the early 1970s.The first experimental SatelliteLaunch Vehicle (SLV-3) wasdeveloped in 1980. An Augmentedversion of this, ASLV, was launchedsuccessfully in 1992. India has madetremendous strides in launch vehicletechnology to achieve self-reliancein satellite launch vehicle programmewith the operationalisation of PolarSatellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) andGeosynchronous Satellite LaunchVehicle (GSLV).

Vehicle descriptionVehicle descriptionVehicle descriptionVehicle descriptionVehicle descriptionThe PSLV has four stages using

solid and liquid propulsion systemsalternately. The first stage is one ofthe largest solid-fuel rocket boostersin the world and carries 138 tonnesof Hydroxyl-terminatedpolybutadiene (HTPB) boundpropellant with a diameter of 2.8 m.The motor case is made of maragingsteel. The booster develops amaximum thrust of about 4,430 kN.Six strap-on motors, four of which areignited on the ground, augment thefirst stage thrust. Each of these solidpropellant strap-on motors carriesnine tonnes of HTPB propellant andproduces 677 kN thrust. Pitch andyaw control of the PSLV during thethrust phase of the solid motor isachieved by injection of an aqueoussolution of strontium perchlorate inthe nozzle to constitute SecondaryInjection Thrust Vector ControlSystem (SITVC). The injection isstored in two cylindrical aluminumtanks strapped to the solid rocketmotor and pressurized with nitrogen.There are two additional small liquidengine control power plants in thefirst stage, the Roll Control Thrusters(RCT), fixed radially opposite one oneach side, between the triplet set ofstrap-on boosters. RCT is used for roll

control during the first stage and theSITVC in two strap-on motors is forroll control augmentation.

The second stage employs theVikas engine and carries 41.5 tonnes(40 tonnes till C-5 mission) of liquidpropellant– Unsymmetrical Di-MethylHydrazine (UDMH) as fuel andNitrogen tetroxide (N2O4) asoxidizer. It generates a maximumthrust of 800 kN (724 till C-5 mission).Pitch & yaw control is obtained byhydraulically gimbaled engine (±4°)and two hot gas reaction control forroll.

The third stage uses 7 tonnes ofHTPB-based solid propellant andproduces a maximum thrust of 324kN. It has a Kevlar-polyamide fibercase and a submerged nozzleequipped with a flex-bearing-sealgimbaled nozzle (±2°) thrust-vectorengine for pitch & yaw control. Forroll control it uses the RCS (ReactionControl System) fourth stage.

The fourth and the terminalstage of PSLV has a twin engineconfiguration using liquid propellant.With a propellant loading of 2 tonnes(Mono-Methyl Hydrazine as fuel +Mixed Oxides of Nitrogen asoxidiser), each of these enginesgenerates a maximum thrust of 7.4kN. Engine is gimbaled (±3°) forpitch, yaw & roll control and forcontrol during the coast uses on-offRCS. PSLV-C4 used a new lightweightcarbon composite payload adapterto enable a greater GTO payloadcapability

HISTORY OF PSLVHISTORY OF PSLVHISTORY OF PSLVHISTORY OF PSLVHISTORY OF PSLV

The Polar Satellite LaunchVehicle,usually known by itsabbreviation PSLV is the firstoperational launch vehicle of ISRO.PSLV is capable of launching 1600kg satellites in 620 km sun-synchronous polar orbit and 1050 kgsatellite in geo-synchronous transferorbit. In the standard configuration,it measures 44.4 m tall, with a lift off





weight of 295 tonnes. PSLV has fourstages using solid and liquidpropulsion systems alternately. Thefirst stage is one of the largest solidpropellant boosters in the world andcarries 139 tonnes of propellant. Acluster of six strap-ons attached tothe first stage motor, four of whichare ignited on the ground and twoare air-lit.

The reliability rate of PSLV hasbeen superb. There had been 26continuously successful flights ofPSLV, till June 2014. With its variantconfigurations, PSLV has proved itsmulti-payload, multi-missioncapability in a single launch and itsgeosynchronous launch capability. Inthe Chandrayaan-mission, anothervariant of PSLV with an extendedversion of strap-on motors, PSOM-XL,the payload haul was enhanced to1750 kg in 620 km SSPO. PSLV hasrightfully earned the status ofworkhorse launch vehicle of ISRO.PSLV has repeatedly proved itsreliability and versatility by launching70 satellites / spacecrafts ( 30 Indianand 40 Foreign Satellites) into avariety of orbits so far.

Typical Parameters of PSLV Typical Parameters of PSLV Typical Parameters of PSLV Typical Parameters of PSLV Typical Parameters of PSLV Lift-off weight 295 tonne

1600 kg in to 620 kmPolar Orbit,

Pay Load 1060 kg in toGeosynchronousTransfer Orbit(GTO)

Height 44 metre

PSLV MilestonesPSLV MilestonesPSLV MilestonesPSLV MilestonesPSLV Milestones

• PSLV-C23 launched SPOT 7and four co-passenger satel-lites on June 30, 2014 (Suc-cessful)

• PSLV-C24 launched IRNSS-1Bon April 04, 2014 (Successful)

• PSLV-C25 launched Mars Or-biter Mission Spacecraft on No-vember 05, 2013 (Successful)

• PSLV-C22 launched IRNSS-1Aon July 01, 2013 (Successful)

• PSLV-C20 launched SARAL

and six commercialpayloads on February 25, 2013(Successful)

• PSLV-C21 launched SPOT6 and PROITERES on Sep-tember 09, 2012 (Successful)

• PSLV-C19 launched RISAT-1 on April 26, 2012 (Success-ful)

• PSLV-C18 launched Megha-Tropiques, SRMSat, VesselSat-1 and Jugnu on October 12,2011 (Successful)

• PSLV-C17 launched GSAT -12 on July 15, 2011 (Success-ful)•PSLV-C16 launchedRESOURCESAT - 2,YOUTHSAT and X-SAT onApril 20, 2011 (Successful)

• PSLV-C15 launchedC A R T O S A T - 2 B , A L S A T -2A, NLS 6.1 & 6.2 andSTUDSAT on July 12, 2010(Successful)

• PSLV-C14 launched Oceansat- 2 and Six Nanosatellites onSeptember 23, 2009 (Success-ful)

• PSLV-C12 launched RISAT-2 and ANUSAT on April 20,2009 (Successfully)

• PSLV-C11 launchedCHANDRAYAAN-I, on October22, 2008 (Successful)

• PSLV-C9 launchedCARTOSAT-2A, IMS-1 andEight nano-satellites on April28, 2008 (Successful)

• PSLV-C10 launchedTECSAR on January 23, 2008(Successful)

• PSLV-C8 launched AGILE onApril 23, 2007 (Successful)

• PSLV-C7 launchedCARTOSAT-2, SRE-1, LAPAN-TUBSAT and PEHUENSAT-1 on January 10, 2007 (Suc-cessful)

• PSLV-C6 launchedCARTOSAT-1 and HAMSAT onMay 5, 2005 (Successful)

• PSLV-C5 launched

RESOURCESAT-1(IRS-P6) onOctober 17, 2003 (Successful)

• PSLV-C4 launched KALPANA-1(METSAT) on September 12,2002 (Successful)

• PSLV-C3 launched TES onOctober 22, 2001 (Successful)

• PSLV-C2 launchedOCEANSAT(IRS-P4), KITSAT-3 and DLR-TUBSAT on May26, 1999 (Successful)

• PSLV-C1 launched IRS-1D onSeptember 29, 1997(Successful)

• PSLV-D3 launched IRS-P3 onMarch 21, 1996 (Successful)

• PSLV-D2 launched IRS-P2 onOctober 15, 1994 (Successful)

• PSLV-D1 launched IRS-1E onSeptember 20, 1993 (Unsuc-cessful)

PSLV “global endorsement ofPSLV “global endorsement ofPSLV “global endorsement ofPSLV “global endorsement ofPSLV “global endorsement ofIndia’s space capability”India’s space capability”India’s space capability”India’s space capability”India’s space capability”

The Prime Minister, ShriNarendra Modi witnesses successfullaunch of PSLV-C23 in SriharikotaCalls for maximizing use of spacescience in governance anddevelopment. Speaking of India’sage-old ethos of the whole worldbeing one family, the Prime Ministersaid India’s space programme isdriven by a vision of service tohumanity, not a desire of power. Hesaid India has a rich heritage ofscience and technology, includingspace. Shri Modi said the works ofour ancestors, who includedvisionaries like Bhaskaracharya andAryabhata, still continue to inspiregenerations of scientists. He addedthat India must share the fruits of itsadvancement in space technologywith the developing world, andneighbours in particular. He calledupon the space community to takeup the challenge of developing aSAARC satellite that can bededicated to our neighbourhood asa gift from India.

Shri Modi said we can be proudof the Indian space programme,





which is fully indigenous, developedin the face of great internationalpressure and hurdles. He describedit as a domain where “we havepushed beyond mediocrity toachieve excellence.” He said themoon mission was inspired by thevision of former Prime Minister, ShriAtal Bihari Vajpayee. Among ongoingprojects, Shri Modi referred to theMars Mission, and the satellite-basednavigation system.Referring to thebenefits of space technology for thecommon man, the Prime Minister saidit drives modern communication,

empowers children in remote villageswith quality education, and ensuresquality healthcare to all, throughtelemedicine. He said it has a criticalrole in realizing the vision of a DigitalIndia – the power of 125 croreconnected Indians.The PrimeMinister said continued progress inspace must remain a mission of highpriority. He called for developingmore advanced satellites andexpanding our satellite footprint. Hesaid India has the potential to be thelaunch service provider of the worldand must work towards this goal.

The Prime Minister called forinvolving India’s youth with space.Shri Modi said he was pleased to havemet the young scientists asSriharikota, and admired their workand their achievements. Hecommended Dr. K. Radhakrishnan forhis leadership, and said India’s spaceprogramme is the best example of hisvision of scale, speed and skill. Hewished the team of scientists the bestas they prepare to insert ourspacecraft into the orbit of Mars in afew months.

Rohit SinghRohit SinghRohit SinghRohit SinghRohit Singh

IAS Preparation for Rural/Remote Areas StudentsIAS Preparation for Rural/Remote Areas StudentsIAS Preparation for Rural/Remote Areas StudentsIAS Preparation for Rural/Remote Areas StudentsIAS Preparation for Rural/Remote Areas Students




Breaking the Delhi/NCR Myth:Breaking the Delhi/NCR Myth:Breaking the Delhi/NCR Myth:Breaking the Delhi/NCR Myth:Breaking the Delhi/NCR Myth:

Civil Services Examination is arespectable career option. Thus, alarge number of candidates take theexamination every year, to enter theIAS, IPS, IFS and other Allied Ser-vices. Most of the aspirants choose tocome to the major cities for theirpreparations and coaching. How-ever, a large number of aspirants arenot able to reach out to the urbancenters- like Delhi- which has be-come the hub of coaching and studymaterial. These candidates face thechallenge of preparing for the IASexam, without a developed marketand coaching. Therefore, through thisarticle, we try to discuss and guidethe candidates, who are unable tocome to the big cities for prepara-tions.

It is an unfortunate fact that mostof our rural and remote areas lack inthe availability of sufficient resourcesand coaching institutions, for thepreparation of civil servicesexamination. However, still, a seriousaspirant shall not let his confidencefall. Though the avenues of traditionalcoaching are not available for the

aspirants residing in the rural andremote areas of India, but, there aremany other options that suchcandidates might choose.

The Silver Lining for the Rural/The Silver Lining for the Rural/The Silver Lining for the Rural/The Silver Lining for the Rural/The Silver Lining for the Rural/Remote Area StudentsRemote Area StudentsRemote Area StudentsRemote Area StudentsRemote Area Students

Understand one thing, there isno correlation between thepossibility of attaining success at theIAS exam and not living in 'Delhi/NCR'. What matters is your preparationand dedication towards the exampreparation. If you are able to focuson your goal and keep your mindaway from the various distractions,nothing can stop you from touchingsuccess.

You must understand that themain reason a candidate comes farfrom his home is to be able to focusbetter. However, for a seriousaspirant, it should not be of muchvalue. A serious candidate canprepare for the exams fromanywhere. Also, it is a great myth thatan aspirant is able to put all of his focuson his preparations, when studyingaway from his home. In reality, livingoutside is not easy. Away from your

home, you'll have to look after a wholelot of necessities and makearrangements for yourself. This takesa great amount of mind and time.

Thus, a candidate, living in hisnative town, should make himselfunderstand that there is no extra edgefor the people preparing fromoutside the home. Instead, a personliving in a family environment can fallback to the family support, in timesof depression and stress. This acts asa silver lining for the candidates,hailing from rural/remote areas.

The only factor that matters forsuch aspirants is the availability ofquality study material and guidancechannel. Through the variousinitiatives of the UPSCPORTAL, weensure that these concerns are alsomet adequately.

Express Points:1. The most important thing that

matter in determining your suc-cess at the IAS exam is yourdedication and commitment. Ifyour are serious enough, thecloseness of the market andcoaching does not mattermuch. So do not get bogged

IAS PREPARATION FOR RURAL/REMOTE AREAS STUDENTS

IAS Preparation for Rural/Remote Areas StudentsACBIAS Preparation for Rural/Remote Areas StudentsACBIAS Preparation for Rural/Remote Areas StudentsACBIAS Preparation for Rural/Remote Areas StudentsACBIAS Preparation for Rural/Remote Areas StudentsACB




down By the myths and beliefsof the orthodox groups.

2. It is not necessary to use theConventional methods ofstudy. If you unable to ap-proach the market, the Marketcan come to you in the form ofonline resources.

3. Living at your home, and in thenative place, has other addedplus points. You can alwayscount on the family support Intimes of distress and tension.

Resources for the Rural/Resources for the Rural/Resources for the Rural/Resources for the Rural/Resources for the Rural/Remote Area Students: ThankRemote Area Students: ThankRemote Area Students: ThankRemote Area Students: ThankRemote Area Students: ThankYou IT Revolution!You IT Revolution!You IT Revolution!You IT Revolution!You IT Revolution!

Thanks to the IT revolution, thatpeople are now able to transcend thelimitations posed by distance andtime. Through smartphones andtablet revolution, even the peopleliving in the rural areas are able to reapthe advantages of the internet. It ishigh time that the rural masses shouldstart utilizing the internet facilities fortheir good. To guide the efforts of therural/remote area students,UPSCPORTAL has come up with acomprehensive package for thestudent community, withdifferentpackages and offers, madewith a concern for your interest.

In today's age, it has becomepossible for the aspirants to pursuetheir dreams through the means ofinformation technology. We providedifferent types of coaching and guid-ance, to the students, as per your in-terest. As a mark of our good-will, theUPSCPORTAL has started an initiativeto provide guidance to the differentsections of the student community.see the Integrated GuidanceProgramme (IGP) Considering thedifficulties faced by the student re-siding in the rural and remote areas,we have come up with an integratedguidance programme (IGP) to dealwith the difficulties and challengesfaced by such students, and a ratio-nal approach to deal with it.

Coming over to the main

problem that confronts the rural/remote area students:

If Internet is easilyIf Internet is easilyIf Internet is easilyIf Internet is easilyIf Internet is easilyAvailable: Available: Available: Available: Available: if you are able to managean internet connection near yourplace, nothing can impede yourchances of success. Having aninternet access opens the floodgatesof information and online market, thatis ever-present to serve you. Thus, donot feel demotivated by the uselessthoughts, and put your efforts in yourpreparations. You may select thematerial from the online market, orthrough the UPSCPORTAL products(Study Material, Books, OnlineCoaching) and prepare thereafter.

If Internet is not Available:If Internet is not Available:If Internet is not Available:If Internet is not Available:If Internet is not Available:A serious problem emerges for thosestudents, who does not have theinternet access in their area. For that,we would recommend a little extraeffort, in order to fetch the maximumpossible output with a minimal effort.You might visit the nearest place,where internet facility is available,and buy the appropriate study mate-rial for yourself, along with the printsof the resources you find useful onthe internet. However, this would re-quire a prior planning of what you in-tend to do/study for the comingweeks. This approach would helpyou to spend minimal time in searchof the study material, while giving youan adequate time for studying.

Further, you should subscribeto a good newspaper, and read itcarefully on regular basis. Again, assome recommended newspapersmight not be available in some areas,you might choose to read it online,and save the important articles. Thiswould keep you abreast with thedevelopments taking place in thecountry and the world. See how tostudy a newspaper

Express Points:1. If you are unable to get access

to the internet and study mate-rial in your area, try to visit thenearest internet access pointAnd buy the study material

from a good source. You mightalso subscribe to guidanceprogramme that suits yourneeds.

2. Rely on the newspapers forkeeping up with the latest de-velopments in the nation andworld.

3. Planning is most important forthe aspirant living in rural/re-mote areas. Plan ahead and youshall have no problem..

The Right ApproachThe Right ApproachThe Right ApproachThe Right ApproachThe Right Approach

An aspirant of the civil servicesexamination should focus on studyingquality material available online andin newspapers. Do not get boggeddown by the unavailability of booksor coaching institutes in your area.The Online markets compensate forthese facilities, very adequately.

However, before starting to godeep into the studies, plan yourcourse of action, and execute it instages. Do not let anything for the lastmoment. Since the distance from themarket, adds a time lag to yourpreparations, you must compensatefor that by preparing you plans inadvance.

Even if you are not able to getaccess the online coaching and studymaterial, do not feel demotivated.Instead take the correspondencecourses offered by a good institute.UPSCPORTAL gives you the oppor-tunity to subscribe to our study ma-terial and guidance programme, with-out opting the online options.

Thus, do not fear the market-myths, and just concentrate on yourefforts and 'karma'. UPSCPORTAL issoon coming with its AndroidApplication, to help the candidatesin their search of qualityresources.You may contact usthrough any means for any furthersupport and advice.

We wish the candidates All theBest!!

Team UPSCPORTAL© UPSCPORTALCOM

The Prehistoric PeriodThe Prehistoric PeriodThe Prehistoric PeriodThe Prehistoric PeriodThe Prehistoric Period

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• The prehistoric period in thehistory of mankind can roughlybe dated from 200000 BC toabout 3500-2500 BC, when thefirst civilisations began to takeshape. The first modern humanbeings or the Homo sapiens setfoot on the Indian subcontinentanywhere between 200000BC and 40000 BC and theysoon spread throughout a largepart of the subcontinent, in-cluding peninsular India.

• Man is said to have appearedon the earth in the early Pleis-tocene i.e. between 2,000,000and 10,000 years before thepresent.

• It is now well established thatthe ear-liest human fossilsfound in Africa dates back toabout 42 lakhs years. Thesespecimens show that the earli-est human beings were shorterin height and had a smallerbrain. The humans evolved overa period of these 42 lakhs yearsand the present form reachedabout 50,000 years ago.

• The regular use of tools, begin-ning 26 lakhs years ago in eastAfrica is well attested and ac-companies many earlier andlater hominid fossils.

• Except the solitary find of ahominid fossil from Hathnaurain the Narmada Valley, no earlyhuman fossils have been foundin India, due to the climaticconditions. According to theestimation of experts cranialcapacity of this fossil is equal tothat of homo erectus.

• The various strata of the Shivalikhills containing stone tools havebeen dated between 20 lakhs

years and 12 lakhs years. An-other scientific date for theearly stone tools came from thearchaeological site of Bori inPune district of Maharashtrawhich is 13 lakhs and 80000years old.

STONE AGESTONE AGESTONE AGESTONE AGESTONE AGE

• The age when the prehistoricman began to use stones forutilitarian purpose is termed asthe Stone Age. On the basis ofthe specialization of the stonetools, which were made duringthat time the Stone Age isdivided intog three broaddivisions —

1. Paleolithic Age or the OldStone Age (from unknown till8000 BC),

2. Mesolithic Age or the MiddleStone Age (8000 BC-4000 BC)and

3. Neolithic Age or the NewStone Age (4000 BC-2500 BC)

1. Paleolithic Age1. Paleolithic Age1. Paleolithic Age1. Paleolithic Age1. Paleolithic Age

• Paleolithic Culture of India de-veloped in the Pleistocene pe-riod of the ice-age.

• Animal remains found in theBelan Valley in Mirzapur districtin Uttar Pradesh show thatgoats, sheep and cattle wereexploited in Paleolithic age.

• The human beings living in thePaleolithic Age were essentiallyfood gatherers and dependedon nature for food. The art ofhunting and stalking wild ani-mals individually and later ingroups led to these peoplemaking stone weapons andtools.

• Crudely carved out stones wereused in hunting, but as the sizeof the groups began to increaseand there was need for morefood, these people began tomake “specialized tools” by flak-ing stones, which were pointedon one end. These kind of toolswere generally used to kill smallanimals and for tearing fleshfrom the carcass of the huntedanimals.

• The basic technique of makingthese crude tools was by tak-ing a stone and flaking its sideswith a heavier stone. Thesetools were characteristic of thePaleolithic Age and were veryrough.

• Human beings had come tomake and use fire by this time.

• Based on tool technology thePalaeolithic Age in India is di-vided into three phases.Thesephases are:

(i) Lower Palaeolithic Culture(i) Lower Palaeolithic Culture(i) Lower Palaeolithic Culture(i) Lower Palaeolithic Culture(i) Lower Palaeolithic Culture• Dates available from various

sites indicat that the LowerPalaeolithic culture or the earlyStone Age was quite wide-spread phenomenon be-tween5,00,000 and 50,000 B.C.Itscharacteristic features - use ofhand axes, cleavers and chop-pers.

• The raw materials used for mak-ing these stone tools are of vari-ous kinds of stone, like quartz-ite, chert and sometimes evenquartz and besalt, etc.

• The Lower Palaeolithic toolshave been found over a largearea, virtually from all over In-dia, except the plains of theIndus, Saraswati. Brahmputra

ANCIENT HISTORYTHE PREHISTORIC PERIOD


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and Ganga where raw materialin the form of stone is not avail-able.

• Some of the important sites ofLower Palaeolithic culture arePahalgam in Kashmir, Belan val-ley in Allahabad district (UttarPradesh) Bhimbetka andAdamgarh in Hoshangabaddistrict, (Madhya Pradesh), 16R and Sinsgi Talav in Nagaurdistrict (Rajasthan), Nevasa inAhmadnagar district(Maharashtra),Hunsgi inGulburga district (in Karnataka)and the famous site ofAttirampakkam (Tamil Nadu).

(ii) Middle Palaeolithic(ii) Middle Palaeolithic(ii) Middle Palaeolithic(ii) Middle Palaeolithic(ii) Middle PalaeolithicCultureCultureCultureCultureCulture

• The Middle Palaeolithic Culturecan be dated between 50,000B.C. and 40,000 B.C. or evenslightly later on the basis of sci-entific dates. Its characteristicfeatures are industries mainlybased on flakes.

• The Middle Palaeolithic toolstechnology is characterized ba-sically by the flake tool indus-try. The tools are made on flakesobtained by striking them outfrom pebbles or cobbles.

• The tool types include smalland medium-sized handaxes,cleavers and arious kinds ofscrapers, borers, and knives.The tools show regional varia-tions both in terms of availableraw materials as well as shapesand sizes.

• Some of the most importantsites of Middle Palaeolithic pe-riod are Bhimbetka, Nevasa,Pushkar, Rohiri hills of upperSind, and Samnapur onNarmada.

(iii) Upper Palaeolithic(iii) Upper Palaeolithic(iii) Upper Palaeolithic(iii) Upper Palaeolithic(iii) Upper PalaeolithicCultureCultureCultureCultureCulture

• The Middle Palaeolithic Cultureslowly evolved into the UpperPalaeolithic Culture. From thescientific dates available from

the various sites one may safelysay that Upper PalaeolithicCulture lasted from about40,000 B.C to 10,000 B.C.

• Upper Palaeolithic Culture ischaracterised by use of bladesand burins. It appears that theconcept of composite toolsstart developing during thiscultural period.

• One of the most remarkablediscovery of the UpperPalaeolithic period is that of arubble built, roughly circularplatform of about 85 cm indiameter.

• The Upper Palaeolithic toolshave been found in Rajasthan,parts of the Ganga and Belanvalleys, Central and WesternIndia, Gujarat, Andhra Pradeshand Karnataka. The main tooltypes are scrapers, points, awls,burins, borers, knives, etc.

2. Mesolithic Age2. Mesolithic Age2. Mesolithic Age2. Mesolithic Age2. Mesolithic Age

• Paleolithic age came to an endwith the end of the Ice Agearound 9000 B.C.Anintermediate stage in StoneAge culture began in 9000 B.C,called Mesolithic Age or MiddleStone Age.

• The simple handheld stonetools were now attached tothick branches from trees withrope made from animal skin andsinew. These tools are knownas hand axes, which could beflung at fast-moving animalsfrom a distance. Apart fromhand axes, they also producedcrude stone-tipped woodenspears, borers, and burins.

• The characteristic tools ofMesolithic Age are Microliths.The microlithic tools arecharacterised by parallel-sidedblades taken out fromprepared cores of such finematerial as chert, chalcedony,crystal, jasper, carnelian, agate,etc. Bagor in Rajasthan is the

type site of Microlithexcavations.

• These Microlithic tools aregenerally 1 to 5 cm. long andthe types include smallerverision of upper Palaeolithictypes such as points, scrapers,burins, awls, etc., besides somenew tool-types like lunates,trapezes, triangles,arrow-heads, of various shapesand sizes.

• Bhimbetka near Bhopalpresents the art of paintingpracticed by Paleolithic andMesolithic people. It containsmore than 500 painted rockshelters, distributed in an areaof 10 sq. km.The exact date ofthese paintings is not certain,but some of the paintings areas old as 12,000 years. Theprehistoric artist used naturalwhite and red pigments indepicting the various themes,which were close to his heartand sustenance.

• Some of the most important andextensively studied sites ofMesolithic culutre are Bagor inRajasthan, Langhnaj in Gujarat,Sarai Nahar Rai, ChopaniMando, Mahdaha andDamdama in Uttar Pradesh andBhimbetka and Adamgarh inMadhya Pradesh.

• We get the evidence of theassociation of sheep and goatwith the Mesolithic people fromBagor and Adamgarh, aroundsixth millennium B.C. Thissuggests that they may havepartly adopted the settled wayof life. We come to know thatthese communities wereessentially hunters, food-gatherers and fishermen, butalso practised some form ofagriculture.

3. Neolithic Age3. Neolithic Age3. Neolithic Age3. Neolithic Age3. Neolithic Age

• Approximately 10,000 yearsago at the end of the





Pleistocene Age, climaticconditions more or less similarto those of today wereestablished in western andsouthern Asia. The mostfundamental advance that hasaffected the course of humanlife was the domestication of alarge number of animals andplants. The present evidencesuggests that in west Asia,wheat and barely weredomesticated by 7000 B.C.

• The Neolithic Age (9000 BC-2500 BC) or the New StoneAge was the last phase of theStone Age and is characterisedby very finely flaked, smallstone tools, also known asblades and burins.

• Neolithic (New Stone) Agebegan in 9000 B.C. in the worldcontext. The only Neolithicsettlement in the Indiansubcontinent attributed to7000 B.C. lies in Mehrgarh,which is situated in Baluchistan,a province of Pakistan.

• The archaeological sites of KiliGhul Mohammad, Gumla, RanaGhundai, Anjira, Mundigak, andMehrgarh in the Kacchi plaingive evidence of a datebetween 7000-5000 B.C. Ofthese Mehrgarh has been mostextensively examined. Theevidence shows that thehabitation here began in about7000 B.C. but in the earlyperiod no use of ceramic isseen. However, in about a 1000years time i.e. around 6000 B.C.earthen pots and pans come inuse : first handmade and thenwheel-made.

• The beads found with burialremains show that people usedbeads made of lapis lazuli,carnelian, banded agate andwhite marine shell. A singlecopper bead has also beenfound. The occurrence of shellbangles and pendants made of

mother-of-pearl indicates long-distance trade.

• Some of the most importantNeolithic sites are Gufkaral andBurzahom in Kashmir, Mahgara,Chqpani Mando and Koldihwain Belan valley in Uttar Pradeshand Chirand in Bihar.Besidesrice, evidence for barleycultivation is attested atMahgarah. They built houses ofwattle-and daub, with rammedfloor. tended cow, bull, goat,sheep, and cultivated horsegram, millet and ragi.

• The early Neolithic settlers inthe north-west in Burzahomlived in pit dwell-ings, ratherthan building houses over theground settlement at Chirandin Bihar is relatively late.

• The Neolithic Age also saw thedomestication of cattle, horses,and other farm animals. whichwere used for dairy and meatproducts. An importantinvention of this time was themaking of the wheel.

• The people of Gufkaral, aNeolithic site 41 km south-westof Srinagar, practised bothagriculture and domesticationof animals.

• It is interesting that theBurzahom domestic dogs andwere buried with their mastersin their graves. The placing ofdomestic dogs in the graves ofthe masters do not seem to bethe practice with Neolithicpeople in any other part ofIndia.

• We have the most decisiveevidence of new patterns ofsubsistence in south India,almost contemporary with theHarappan culture. Some of themost important sites in southernIndia are Kodekal, Utnur, andAndhra Pradesh: Tekkalkolta,Maski. T. Narsipur. Sangankullu,Hallur and Brahmagiri inKarnataka and Paiyampalli in

Tamil Nadu.

PREHISTORIC ROCK ARPREHISTORIC ROCK ARPREHISTORIC ROCK ARPREHISTORIC ROCK ARPREHISTORIC ROCK ARTTTTT

• Some of the important rock-painting sites are MurhanaPahar in Uttar Pradesh.Bhimbetka, Adamgarh, LakhaJuar in Madhya Pradesh andKupagallu in Karnataka.

• The colours used in makingthese drawings are deep red,green, white and, yellow.

• The distribution of these rock-paintings is very wide. Theyhave been found in Chargul innorth-west Pakistan to Orissa inthe east, and from the Kumaonhills is in the north to Kerala inthe south.

• Depiction of human figures inrock paintings is quite common.The humans are shown invarious activities, such asdancing, running, hunting,playing games and engaged inbattle.

• Animals are the most frequentlydepicted subjects either aloneor in large and small groups andshown in various poses. Thereare also some hunting scenes,of which the rhinoceros huntfrom the Adamgarh group ofrock-shelters is indicative of thejoining of large number ofpeople for the hunt of biggeranimals.

halcolithic Farming Cultureshalcolithic Farming Cultureshalcolithic Farming Cultureshalcolithic Farming Cultureshalcolithic Farming Culturesof Indianof Indianof Indianof Indianof IndianSubcontinentSubcontinentSubcontinentSubcontinentSubcontinenthalcolithichalcolithichalcolithichalcolithichalcolithicFarming Cultures of IndianFarming Cultures of IndianFarming Cultures of IndianFarming Cultures of IndianFarming Cultures of IndianSubcontinentSubcontinentSubcontinentSubcontinentSubcontinent

• The Neolithic Age quickly gaveway to a number of small“’cultures” that were highlytechnical. These people usedcopper and bronze to make arange of utilitarian tools. Thisphase or period is termed as theChalcolithic Age’(1800 BC-1000BC).





• The Chalcolithic culturesflourished during the thirdmillennium and secondmillennium B.C.

• End of Neolithic period sawthe use of metals. First metal tobe used was copper andculture based on the use ofstone and copper implementswas called chalcolithic (i.e.copper stone).Some culturesdetermined by their uses ofpoteries or waresare as follows:

• NBPW: NBPW: NBPW: NBPW: NBPW: The Northern blackpolished ware, characteristic ofthe urban centres of the Gangaplain, is thought to havedeveloped from hightemperature firing techniquesused in smelting iron and fromthe use of local hematite soil.Its extensive distribution as aluxury ware helps the trackingof exchange and trade invarious parts of the sub-continent.

• OCP: OCP: OCP: OCP: OCP: The period covered bythe Occur Coloured Pooteryculture may roughly be placedbetween 2000 and 1500 B.C.on the basis of a series of eightscientific datings. In the upperportion of the Doab, settlementbegins with the advent of theochre-coloured potterypeople.

• PGW: PGW: PGW: PGW: PGW: The Painted Grey Wareculture, of which some sites arelocated in the Hakra plain in apost-Harappan context, waspredominant in the westernGanga plains in the firstmillennium B.C., spreadingfrom the Indo-Gangeticwatershed to the confluenceof the Ganga and Yamuna.Important settlements of thePGW include Roper (Punjab),Bhagwanpura (Haryana) andAtranji Kheda, Hastinapur,Ahichhatra and Jakhera (UttarPradesh).

• They are all characterised by

painted ceramic, usually black-on-red, a specialised blade andflake chalce-dony and chert,and copper and bronze tools,though on a restricted scale.Their economy was based on-subsistence agriculture, stock-rais-ing and hunting and fishing.Some important Chalcolithiccultures are:

Malwa culture : 1900-1400 B.C.Ahar culture : 2800-1500 B.C.Kayatha culture : 2450-1700 B.C.Jorwe culture : 1500-900 B.C.Svalda cuture : 2300-2000 B.C.Prabhas culture : 2000-1400 B.C.Rangpur Culture : 1700-1400 B.C.

• The Kayatha culture ischaracterised by a sturdyred-slipped ware painted withdesigns in chocolate colour, ared painted buff ware and acombed ware bear-ing incisedpatterns.The Ahar peoplemade a distinctive black-and-red ware decorated with whitedesigns.

• The settlements of Kayathaculture are only a few innumbers, mostly located on theChambal and its tributaries.They are relatively small in sizeand the biggest may be notover two hectares. Settlementsthose of Ahar Culture are big incontrast to small Kayathaculture.

• The Malwa ware is rather coarsein fabric but has a thick buffsurface over which designs aremade either in red or black. TheMalwa ware - typical of theMalwa chalcotithic culture ofcentral and western India isconsidered the richest amongthe chalcolithic ceramics.Some of its pottery and othercultural elements are also foundin Maharashtra.

• Navdatoli, Eran and Nagada arethe three best knownsettlements of Malwa culture.Ithas been seen that some of

these sites were fortified andNagada had been a bastion ofmud-bricks.Eran similarly had afortification wall with a moat.

• The Prabhas and Rangpurwares are both derived fromthe Harappan. But have a glossysurface due to which they arealso called Lustrous Red Ware.The Rangpur culture sites arelocated mostly on Ghelo andKalubhar rivers in Gujarat.

• The Jorwe settlements arecomparatively larger innumber. More than 200settlements are known fromMaharashtra. Prakash,Daimabad nad Inamagaon aresome of the known settlementsof this culture. The largest ofthese is Daimabad whichmeasured almost 20 hectares.

• Chronologically there areseveral series of chalcolithicsettlements in India. Some arepre-Harappan, others arecontemporaries of theHarappan culture and stillothers are post-Harappan. Pre-Harappan strata on some sitesin the Harappan zone are alsocalled early Harappan in orderto distinguish them from themature urban Indus Civilization.Thus the pre-Harappan phaseat Kalibangan in Rajasthan andBanawali in Haryana is distinctlychalcolithic. So is the case withKot Diji in Sindh in Pakistan.

• Excavations reveal that Balathalwas a well fortified settlement.

• The Chalcolithic people builtrectangular and circular housesof mud wattle- and-daub. Thecircular houses were mostly inclusters. These houses and hutshad roofs of straw supportedon bamboo and woodenrafters.

• People raised cattle as well ascultivated both kharif and rabicrops in rotation. Wheat andbarley were grown in the area





of Malwa. Rice is reported tohave been found fromInamgaon and Ahar. Thesepeople also cultivated jowarand bajra andd so also kutth,ragi, green peas, lentil andgreen and black grams.

Religious BeliefsReligious BeliefsReligious BeliefsReligious BeliefsReligious BeliefsReligiousReligiousReligiousReligiousReligiousBeliefsBeliefsBeliefsBeliefsBeliefs

• The worship of mothergoddess and the bull was invogue. The Mother Goddess isdepicted on a huge storage jarof Malwa culture in an appliquedesign. She is flanked by awoman oil the right andcrocodile on the left, by theside of which is representedthe shrine.

• The bull cult seems to havebeen predominant in Malwaduring the Ahar period. A largenumber of these bothnaturalistic as well as stylisedlingas have been found frommost of the sites.

• Likewise the fiddle-shapedfigurines probably resemblingsrivatsa, the symbol of Lakshmi,the Goddess of wealth inhistorical period represent amother Goddess

• Two figurines from lnamgaon,belonging to late Jorweculture, have been identifiedas proto-Ganesh, who isworshipped for success beforeembarking on an undertaking.

• Fireworship seems to havebeen a very widespreadphenomenon among theChalcolithic people. Fire-altarshave been found from a largenumber of Chalcolithic sitesduring the course ofexcavations.

• The occurrence of pots andother funerary objects foundalong with the burials of theMalwa and Jorwe peopleindicate that people had abelief in life after death.

Trade and CommerceTrade and CommerceTrade and CommerceTrade and CommerceTrade and CommerceTradeTradeTradeTradeTradeand Commerceand Commerceand Commerceand Commerceand Commerce

• Chalcolithic communitiestraded and exchangedmaterials with othercontemporary communities.

• Wheeled bullock carts,drawings of which have beenfound on pots, were used forlong distance trade, besidesthe river transport.It appears that Ahar people,settled close to the coppersource, supplied copper toolsand objects to othercontemporary communities inMalwa and Gujarat.

• It has been suggested that mostof the copper axes found inMalwa, Jorwe and Prabhascultures bear someidentification marks, which arealmost identical suggesting thatthey may be the trademarks ofthe smiths who made them.

• Gold and ivory may have comeform Tekkalkotta (Karnataka) toJorwe people who in turntraded these to theirc o n t e m p o r a r i e s .Similarly,conch shell forbangles were traded from theSaurashtra coast to variousother parts of the Chalcolithcregions.The semipreciousstones may have been tradedto various parts from Rajpipla(Gujarat).

• It is interesting to note that theJorwe people traded even thepottery to distant places, asInamgaon pottery has beenfound at several sites locatedaway from it.

TechnologyTechnologyTechnologyTechnologyTechnology

• The Chalcolithic farmers hadmade considerable progress inceramic as well as metaltechnology. The paintedpottery was well made and wellfired in kiln. It was fired at a

temperature between 500-700°C.

• We find axes, chisels, bangles,beads, hooks etc. which weremostly made of copper in metaltools. The copper wasobtained, perhaps, from theKhetri mines of Rajasthan.

• Lime was prepared out ofKankar and used for variouspurposes like painting housesand lining the storage bins, etc.

• The find of crucibles and pairsof tongs of copper at Inamgaonshows the working ofgoldsmiths.

Copper Hoard CultureCopper Hoard CultureCopper Hoard CultureCopper Hoard CultureCopper Hoard CultureCopperCopperCopperCopperCopperHoard CultureHoard CultureHoard CultureHoard CultureHoard Culture

• Since the first reporteddiscovery of a copper harpoonfrom Bithur in Kanpur districtin 1822, nearly one thousandcopper objects have beenfound from almost 90 localitiesin various parts of India.

• The largest hoard fromGungeria (Madhya Pradesh)comprises 424 pieces ofcopper objects and 102 thinsheets of silver. The main typesof objects are various kinds ofcelts, harpoons, antennaeswords, rings andanthropomorphs.

• The source of metal for thesecopper hoards appears to bethe Khetri copper mines as wellas hilly regions of AlmoraDistrict in Uttarakhand.

• The Copper Hoards includeweapons and tools as well asobjects of worship. Theharpoons and antennae swordsare likely to have been used asweapons, while various kinds ofcelts and axes may have beenused as tools. Bar celts appearto have been used for miningores.





OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

1. Earliest human fossils werefound from which of thefollowing places ?(a) Africa(b) North America(c) Asia(d) Europe

2. (The fossils of various periodsand stages of humandevelopment have been foundfrom which parts of the world ?(a) Africa(b) China, Java, Sumatra(c) Southern Europe(d) All of the above

3. Early human fossils have beenfound in India from where ?(a) Langhnaj(b) Bagor(c) Rojadi (d) Hathnaura

4. According to the experts theestimated cranial capacity ofHathnaura fossil is equal to thatof which of these ?(a) Homoerectus(b) Ramapithecus(c) Australopithecus(d) None of the above

5. It is well attested that theregular use of tools in EastAfrica began from-(a) 1300000 years ago(b) 10000000 years ago(c) 5000000 years ago(d) 26000000 years ago

6. In case of Indonesia severalhomi-nid remains have recentlybeen dated between(a) 1800000 and 1000000

years(b) 2500000 and 1500000

years(c) 1800000 and 1600000

years(d) 3300000 and 1300000

years7. Which of the following is

assessed age of earth ?(a) 1250000000 years

(b) 4600000000 years (c) 3600000000 years

(d) 1700000000 years8 In China the early stone tools

are associated with humanfossils dated between(a) 1300000 - 1100000 years(b) 1900000 - 1700000 years(c) 2100000 - 1100000 years(d) 2700000 - 1900000 years

9. The various strata of the Shivalikhills containing stone tools havebeen dated between which ofthe following ?(a) 5000000 - 4000000 years(b) 2000000 - 1200000 years(c) 3000000 - 2700000 years(d) None of the above

10. In India 1300000 years oldearly stone tools found fromwhich of the followingarchaeological site ?(a) Bori in Maharashtra(b) Birbhanpur in Orissa(c) Hunsgi in Karnataka(d) All Palaeolithic above

11. The main tool types in LowerPalaeolithic phase were(a) Tools made on flakes(b) Handaxes and Cleavers(c) Chopper-Chopping tools(d) Both (b) and (c)

12. The raw materials used formaking stone tools in lowerPalaeolithic were of whichstone ?(a) Quartzite and Chert(b) Quartz (c) Besalt(d) All of the above

13. The lower Palaeolithic toolshave been found over a largearea, virtually from all over Indiaexcept(a) The plain of Kaveri(b) The plain of Mahanadi(c) The plain of Narmada(d) The plains of Indus,

Saraswati, Brahmputra andGanga

14. The Lower Palaeolithic famoussite of Attirampakkam is situatedin(a) Karnataka(b) Madhya Pradesh(c) Kerala (d) Tamil Nadu

15. Which of the following sites is/are the important site of lowerPalaeolithic cultures?(a) Adamgarh(b) Belan valley and

Bhimbetka(c) Nevasa(d) All of the above

16. Which of the following sites is/are not correctly matched ?(a) Erana - Nagpur(b) Bhimbetka - Hoshangabad(c) Nevasa -Ahmadnagar(d) All of the above

17. Three radio carbon dates fromKoldihwa provide the earliestevidence for the domesticatedvariety of rice going back toabout:(a) C. 4,000 B.C.(b) C.3,000 B.C.(c) C. 6,500 B.C.(d) C.10,000 B.C.

18. Which of the followingneolithic sites is/are correctlymatched:(a) Gufkral-Kashmir(b) Chopani Mando - Uttar

Pradesh(c) Koldihwa - Uttar Pradesh(d) All of the above

19. Besides rice, evidence forbarley cultivation is attested at:(a) Koldihwa(b) Chirand(c) Mahgara(d) Chopani Mando

20. In the North-West earlyneolithic settlers lived in pitdwelling in:(a) Chopani Mando(b) Sarai Khola(c) Burzahom(d) Chirand

21. In southern Neolithic age isdated between:(a) 1,000 - 800 B.C.(b) 1,500 - 500 B.C.(c) 2,600 - 800 B.C.(d) 800 - 100 B.C.

22. The Palaeolithic age in India isdivided into how manyphases?





(a) Three phase(b) Four phase(c) Six phase(d) Ten phase

23. Which of the followingNeolithic site is/are correctlymatched?(a) Utnur - Andhra Pradesh(b) T. Narsipur - Karnataka(c) P iyampalli - Tamil Nadu(d) Kidekal - Andhra Pradesh

24. They (the people of SouthIndia) cultivated(a) Horse gram and millet(b) Wheat and barley(c) Ragi(d) Both (a) and (c)

25. The earliest Neolithicsettlement in the Indiansubcontinent first developed in(a) The north of the Ganga(b) The south of the Narmada(c) The west of the Indus(d) The east of the Brahmputra

26. Which of the followingchalcolithic cultures is/arecorrectly matched?(a) Ahar Culture - C. 2800 -

1500 B.C.(b) Kayatha Culture - C. 2450 -

1700 B. C.(c) Malwa Culture - C. 1900 -

1400 B.C.(d) All of the above

27. Whick of the followingchalcolithic cultures is/arecorrectly matched-(a) Sayalda Culture- 2300-

2000 B.C.(b) Jorwe Culture - 1500 - 900

B.C.(c) Prabhas Culture - 2000 -

1400 B.C.(d)A ll of the above

28. The most distinguishing featureof these chalcolithic cultures istheir distinct(a) Agriculture (b) Trade(c) Urbanisation(d) Painted pottery

29. The middle Palaeolithic tooltechnology is characterisedbasically by the

(a) Handaxe and CleaverIndustries

(b) Flake tool industry(c) Tool made on flakes and

blades(d) All of the above

30. The Middle Palaeolithic tooltypes include of which of these?(a) Small and medium sized

hand axes(b) Cleaver and various kinds

of scrapers(c) Borers and knives(d) All of the above

31. Lower Palaeolithic culture wasquite wide spreadphenomenon between(a) 6,00,000 and 60,000 B.C. .(b) 1,00,000 and 10,000 B.C.(c) 5,00,000 and 50,000 B.C.(d) 5,000 and 1,000 B.C.

32. Middle Palaeolithic tools havemostly been found from whichof these areas?(a) Central India and Deccan(b) Rajasthan and Maharashtra(c) Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and

Orissa(d) All of the above

33. Which of among Some of themost important sites of MiddlePalaeolithic period ?(a) Pahalgam and Belan valley(b) Pushkar and Rohiri hills of

upper Sind(c) Bhimbetka and Nevasa(d) (b) and (c)

34. On the basis of scientific datesthe middle Palaeolithic can bedated between which of thefollowing ?(a) 50,000 B.C. and 10,000

B.C.(b) 10,000 B.C. and 5,000 B.C.(c) 50,000 B.C. and 40,000

B.C.(d) 40,000 B.C. and 10,000

B.C.35. The main tool types in upper

Palaeolithic culture were -(a) Tool made on flakes(b) Handaxe and cleaver

(c) Tool made on flakes andblades

(d) None of the above36. The upper Palaeolithic tools

have been found in which ofthese areas ?(a) Rajasthan and part of the

Ganga(b) Belan valley central and

western India(c) Gujarat and Andhra

Pradesh(d) All of the above

37. The tool types of upperPalaeolithic culture were -(a) Borers and knives(b) Awls and burins(c) Scrapers and points(d) All of the above

38. Which one of the followingchalcolithic cultures ischaracterised by a sturdy redslipped ware painted withdesigns in chocolate colour, ared painted buff ware and acombed ware bear-ing incisedpatterns?(a) Ahar Culture(b) Kayatha Culture(c) Malwa Culture(d) Savalda Culture

39. Concept of composite toolsstarted developing duringwhich of the following period?(a) Lower palaeolithic culture(b) Upper palaeolithic culture(c) Middle palaeolithic culure(d) None of the above

40. Upper Palaeolithic periodlasted from which period ?(a) 1,00,000 B.C. and 50,000

B.C.(b) 80,000 B.C. and 40,000

B.C.(c) 60,000 B.C. and 30,000

B.C.(d) 40,000 B.C. and 10,000

B.C.1.Which of the following sites has

yielded evidence of rice :(about 7,000 B.C.)?(a) Chirand(b) Barudih





(c) Koldihwa(d) Daojali-Hoding

42. Kupruk in Afghanistan suggeststhat wild precursors ofdomesticated sheep, goat andcattle were being exploited byman about:(a) 5,000 years back(b) 10,000 years back(c) 16,000 years back(d) 26,000 years back

43. In the Indian context, theNeolithic agriculture basedregion can roughly be dividedinto(a) Two groups(b) Six groups(c) Four groups(d) Eight groups

44. One of the most remarkablediscovery of the upperPalaeolithic period is(a) Fire(b) A Rubble build(c) An Iron blade(d) Wheel

45. The microlithic tools arecharacterised by parallel sidedblades taken out fromprepared cores of such finematerial as:(a) Chert and chalcedony(b) Crystal and jasper(c) Carnelian and agate(d) All of the above

46. Most of these chalcolithiccultures-flourished in(a) Semi-arid regions of

Rajasthan(b) Madhya Pradesh and

Gujarat(b) Maharashtra(d) All of the above

47. The settlements of Kayathaculture are only a few innumber, mostly located on the(a) Yarnuna and its tributaries(b) Chambal and its tributaries.(c) Sindhu and its tributaries(d) All of the above

48. Which of the following (AharCulture) sites was a wellfortified settlement?

(a) Gilund(b) Ahar(b) Balathal(d) None of the above

49. The people of Malwa Culturesettled mostly on the(a) Ganga and its tributaries(b) Narmada and its tributaries(c) Godavari and its tributaries(d) Kosi and its tributaries

50. Navdatoli, Eran and Nagada arethe three best knownsettlements of(a) Ahar culture(b) Rangpur culture(c) Savalda culture(d) Malwa culture

51. Navdatoli (one of the largestchalcolithic settlements in thecountry) measures almost(a) 50 hectares(b) 100 hectares(c) 30 hectares(d) 10 hectares

52. The economy of the earliestneolithic culture was based on(a) Industrial economy(b) Agricultural economy(c) Animal Husbandry

economy(d) All of the above

53. The Rangpur culture sites arelocated mostly on(a) Chambal river in Madhya

Pradesh(b) Mahanadi in Orissa(c) Ghelo and Kalubhar river in

Gujarat(d) Krishna river in Karnataka

54. Prakash, Daimabad andInamgaon are some of the bestknown settlements of:(a) The Rangpur Culture(b) The Kayatha Culture(c) The Jorwe Culture(d) The Prabhas Culture

55. The largest of these (Jorweculture) is Daimabad whichmeasured almost(a) 50 hectares(b) 20 hectares(c) 80 hectares(d) 30 hectares

56. More than 200 settlements ofJorwe culture are known from:(a) Uttarakhand(b) Jharkhand(b) Maharashtra(d) Nagaland

57. The C-14 dates available for themesolithic culture from varioussites show that this industrybegan around(a) 18,000 B.C. and survived

upto 10,000 B.C.(b) 12,000 B.C. and survived

upto 2,000 B.C.(c) 20,000 B.C. and survived

upto 8,000 BC.(d) All of the above

58. From the sites in Rajasthan..Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh wecome to know that thesecommunities were essentially(a) Hunters(b) Food-gatherers(c) Fishermen(d) All of the above

59. Which of the followingmesolithic communities were intouch with people of theHarappan and otherchalcolithic cultures?(a) Bagor(b) Langhnag(c) Rerigunta(d) Both (a) and (b)

60. Three copper arrowheads,typical of the Harappancivilisation have been foundfrom(a) Manda (b) Bagor(c) Mahdaha(d) Bhimbetka

61. The pleistocene age endedapproxima-tely:(a) 50,000 years ago(b) 30,000 years ago(c) 10,000 years ago(d) 3,000 years ago

62. Some of the most important andextensively studied site ofmesolithic culture are:(a) Bagor and Langhnaj(b) Sarai Nahar Rai and

Chopani Mando





(c) Mahdaha and Damdama(d) All of the above

63. Which of the followingmesolithic sites is are correctlymatched ?(a) Adamgarh - Madhya

Pradesh(b) Damdama - Uttar Pradesh(c) Bagor - Rajasthan(d) All of the above

64. We get the evidence of theassociation of sheep and goatwith the mesolithic people insix millennium B.C. from:(a) Mahadha and Bhimbetka(b) Bagor and Manda(c) Sarai Nahar Rai and

Langhnaj(d) Adamgarh and Bagor

65. Almost all the rock-shelters inIndia were occupied by(a) The upper palaeolithic

people(b) The lower palaeolithic

people(c) The mesolithic people(d) Both (a) and (c)

66. Rice is reported to have beenfound from:(a) Inamgaon(b) Ahar(c) Navadatoli(d) Both (a) and (b)

67. Prehistoric art, the rock-paintings have been foundfrom(a) Noh (b) Dabarkot(c) Ghazi Shah(d) All of the above

68. Several headless figurines havebeen compared with Goddessvisira of the Mahabharat foundat:(a) Rajpipla(b) Inamgaon(c) Khetri(d) Gungeria

69. during:(a) The Fifth Millennium and

Fourth Millennium B.C.(b) The Third Millennium and

Second Millenniun B.C.

(c) The Fourth Millennium andThird Millemnium B.C.

(d) None of the above70. It has been postulated that

these cultures declined due to:(a) Decline in rainfall(b) Foreign invasion(c) The rise of Harappan

civilisation(d) None of the above

71. The painted pottery was wellmade fired in kiln. It was firedat a temperature between:(a) 100 - 200°C(b) 200 - 300°C(c) 400 - 500°C(d) 500 - 700°C

72. Copper was obtained from:(a) Tekkalkotta (Karnataka)(b) Prakash (Maharashtra)(c) Khetri (Rajasthan)(d) Chunar (Uttar Pradesh)

73. Gold ornaments wereextremely rare and have beenfound only in:(a) The Ahar Culture(b) The Kayatha Culture(c) The Jorwe Culture(d) The Prabhas Culture

74. Crucibles and pairs of tongs ofcopper have been found at:(a) Mahadaha(b) Chirand(c) Navdatoli(d) Inamgaon

75. Some of the important rock-painting sites are(a) Bhimbetka and Adamgarh(b) Lakhajuar and Kapuagalla(c) Murhana Pahar(d) All of the above

76. Which of the followingrock-painting sites is/arewrongly matched?(a) Murhana Pahar – Uttar

Pradesh(b) Bhimbetka - Madhya

Pradesh(c) Kupagulla - Kerala(d) All of the above

77. Which one of the following wasnot frequently depicted in rockpaintings?

(a) Animals(b) Birds(c) Fishes (d) God

78. In making these Rock-paintingswhich colours were used ?(a) Black and Magenta(b) White and Yellow(c) Deep Blue and Green(d) Both (a) and (c)

79. Which of the following was/were depicted in rock-paintings:’(a) Human(b) Birds(c) Fishes(d) All of the above

80. The present evidence suggeststhat in west Asia, wheat andbarley were domesticated by:(a) 10,000 B.C.(b) 1.000 B.C.(c) 7,000 B.C.(d) 15.000 B.C.

81. Rice seems to have beendomesticated in India by about:(a) 10,000 B.C

. (b) 1,000 B.C.(c) 7,000 B.C.(d) 15,000 B.C.

82. Which of the following indicatethat people had a belief in lifeafter death?(a) Malwa peop

83. Which one of the followingneolithic sites shows that thehabitation here began in about7000 B.C. but in the earlyperiod no use of ceramic isseen?(a) T. Narssipur(b) Barudih(c) Mehrgarh(d) Sangana Kallu

84. The subsistence of earlyinhabitants was focussedprimarily on:(a) Hunting(b) Food gathering(c) A g r i c u l t u r e

(Supplimentary)(d) All of the above

85. Which of the followingpotteries came first into use(with the onset of the sixthmillennium B.C.)?





(a) Handmade Pottery(b) Wheel-made Pottery(c) Both (a) and (b)(d) None of the above

86. The beads found with burialremains show that people usedbeads made of(a) Lapis lazuli and carnelian(b) Banded agate(c) White marine shell(d) All of the above

87. Some of the most importantneolithic sites are?(a) Gufkral and Burzahom(b) Mahgara and Chopani

Mando(c) Koldihwa and Chirand(d) All of the above

88. The Ahar people made adistinctive black and red waredecorated with(a) Black designs(b) White designs(c) Red designs(d) Yellow designs

89. Which among the followingwares is rather coarse in fabric,but has a thick buff surfaceover which designs are madeeither in red or black?,(a) Rangpur ware(b) Malwa ware(c) Savalda ware(d) None of the above

90. The Prabhas and Rangpurwares are both derived fromthe Harappan, but have a glossysurface due to which they arealso called(a) Lustrous Black ware

(b) Lustrous Red ware(c) Lustrous Yellow ware(d) None of the above

91. Which domesticated animalsbone have been found inneolithic age?(a) Sheep and Goat(b) Pig (c) Cattle(d) All of the above

92. Jorwe ware is painted(a) Black or Red(b) Red or Black

(c) White or Black(d) All of the above

93. Almost all these chalcolithiccultures flourished in the(a) Wheat soil zone(b) Black cotton soil zone(c) Tea soil zone(d) All of the above

94. We find that harpoons,antennae swords andanthropornorphs are basicallyconfined to(a) Haryana(b) Uttar Pradesh(c) Bihar(d) Jharkhand

95. Even today all over norternIndia tiny anthropomorphs ofthe size of 4-10 cm. areworshipped as(a) The Goddess(b) Shani Devata(c) Indra Devata(d) Hanuman

96. The OCP people used coppertools and cultivated(a) Rice(b) Barley and gram(c) Khaseri(d) All of the above

97. This (O.C.P.) pottery has beenfound all over(a) Upper Narmada plains(b) Upper Sindhu plains(c) Upper Krishna plains(d) Upper Gangetic plains

98. Copper hoard objects werefound in association with OCPdeposits at(a) Kalsi in Dehradun(b) Saipai in Etah(c) Bithur in Kanpur(d) Sarnath in Banaras

99. Which of the followingsettlements would have servedas major centres of trade andexchange? –(a) Ahar, Gilund and Nagda(b) Navdatoli, Eran and

Prabhas(c) Rangpur, Prakash and

Daimabad

(d) All of the above100. Which of the following sites

people settled close to thecopper source, suppliedcopper tools and objects toother contemporarycommunities in Malwa andGujarat?(a) Navdatoli(b) Daimabad(c) Ahar(d) Rangpur

ANSWERSANSWERSANSWERSANSWERSANSWERS

1. (a) 2. (d) 3. (d)4. (a) 5. (b) 6. (c)7.(b) 8. (b) 9. (b)

10. (a) 11. (d) 12. (d)13. (d) 14. (d) 15. (d)16. (a) 17. (c) 18. (d)19. (c) 20. (c) 21. (c)22. (a) 23. (d) 24. (c)25. (c) 26. (d) 27. (d)28. (d) 29. (b) 30. (d)31. (a) 32. (d) 33. (d)34. (c) 35. (c) 36. (d)37. (d) 38. (b) 39. (b)40. (d) 41. (c) 42.(c)43. (c) 44. (c) 45. (d)46. (d) 47. (d) 48. (c)49. (b) 50. (d) 51. (d)52. (b) 53. (c) 54. (c)55. (b) 56. (c) 57. (b)58. (d) 59. (d) 60. (b)61. (c) 62. (d) 63. (d)64. (d) 65. (d) 66. (d)67. (d) 68. (b) 69. (b)70. (a) 71. (d) 72. (c)73. (c) 74. (d) 75. (d)76. (c) 77. (a) 78. (a)79. (d) 80. (c) 81. (b)82. (d) 83. (c) 84. (c)85. (a) 86. (d) 87. (d)88. (b) 89. (b) 90. (b)91. (d) 92. (a) 93. (b)94. (b) 95. (b) 96. (d)97. (d) 98. (b) 99. (d)

100. (c) 101. (b) 102. (c)103. (a) 104. (d) 105. (a)106. (a) 107. (b) 108. (a)





Archaeological DiscoveriesArchaeological DiscoveriesArchaeological DiscoveriesArchaeological DiscoveriesArchaeological Discoveries

• Harappa was the first site to bediscovered by AlexanderCunningham in as early as 1875.He was the first Director-General of the ArchaeologicalSurvey of India (ASI), oftencalled the father of IndianArchaeology. Harappan sitewas badly destroyed by brickrobbers.

• The Harappan civilisation wasdiscovered in 1920-21following the excavations byR.D. Banerjee at Mohenjodaroand by D.R. Sahni at Harappa.

• Primarily this civilization wasnamed after Harappa, the firstsite where this unique culturewas discovered. But latertermed as the ‘Indus ValleyCivilisation’ due to thediscovery of more and moresites in the Indus Valley.Alternatively it has also cometo be called the ‘Harappancivilisation’ after the name of itsfirst discovered site, becausemore and more sites werediscovered far away from theactual river valley.

• On the basis of the findings ofHarappan seals in Ur and Kishin Mesopotamia, Marshalsuggested that Harappancivilisation flourished between3250 and 2750 B.C. Wheelerdated it to 2500–1500 B.C. Butaccording to C – 14 systemmature Harappan Civilisationwas prevalent during 2350 –1750 B.C.

• The cities were far moreadvanced than theircounterparts in prehistoricEgypt, Mesopotamia oranywhere else in Western Asia.

• There were earlier and latercultures, often called EarlyHarappan and Late Harappan,

in the same area. The Harappancivilisation is sometimes calledthe Mature Harappan culture todistinguish it from thesecultures.On the basis ofradiocarbon dating of thiscivilisation followingchronology emerges:

Early Harappan Phase: 3500-2600 B.C.Mature Harappan Phase: 2600-1900 B.C.Late Harappan Phase: 1900- 1300 B.C.

• Those cultures which precedeHarappan culture are pre-Harappan cultures, while proto-Harappan cultures are thosepro-Harappan cultures whichhave some close similarities

with the Harappan culture orwhich may be said to haveanticipated certain essentialelements of Harappan culture.

• There is every chance that itwas in Ghaggar-Hakra system inCholistan that transition fromearly Harappan ‘culture’ to ma-ture Harappan ‘civilization’ wasachieved.

• Early Harappan settlementswere located in Kirthar pied-mont and Kohistan; it is onlyduring mature Harappan ‘civi-lized’ phase that we find settle-ments, one of which wasMohenjodaro, in floodplain.

HARAPPAN CIVILISATION

itesitesitesitesites RiverRiverRiverRiverRiver Location Location Location Location Location Discovered byDiscovered byDiscovered byDiscovered byDiscovered by YearYearYearYearYear

Harappa Ravi Dayaram Sahani 1921Mohenjodaro Indus R.D. Bannerjee 1922Lothal Bhogwa S.R. Rao 1957Kalibangan Ghaggar A. Ghosh 1955Chanhudaro Indus N.G. Majumdar 1935Suktagendor Arabian Sea Aurel SteinBanawali Saraswati R.S. Bisht 1973Kot Diji Indus Ghurye 1935Ropar Sutlej Y.D. Sharma 1953Alamgirpur Hindan Punjab University 1958Balakot Coastal George F. Dales 1979

AREAAREAAREAAREAAREA

• Harappan Civilisation covers anarea of 12,50,000 sq. km. Mostof these sites are located onriver banks.

• Distribution pattern of thesesettlements in terms of riversare,that (i) only 40 settlementsare located on the Indus andits tributaries and (ii) as manyas 1,100 (80%) settlements arelocated on the vast plain be-tween the Indus and theGanga, comprising mainly theSaraswati river system which isdry today, and (iii) about 250settlements are found in Indiabeyond the Saraswati river sys-tem a number of them inGujarat, and a few inMaharashtra.

• Its known extent in the west isupto Sutkagendor inBaluchistan. Alamgirpur in(Meerut in Uttar Pradesh) in theeast; Daimaba Ahmadnagar inMaharashtra) in south: andManda (Akhnoor in Jammu andKashmir) in the north.

• It covers an area of almost 1600km. east-west and 1400 km.north-south.

TOWN PLANNINGTOWN PLANNINGTOWN PLANNINGTOWN PLANNINGTOWN PLANNING

• Harappan Civilisation’s TownPlanning was very well planned.If you look at the plan of theLower Town you will notice thatroads and streets were laid outalong an approximate “grid’pattern intersecting at rightangles.

Harappan CivilisationHarappan CivilisationHarappan CivilisationHarappan CivilisationHarappan Civilisation




• The towns were well plannedand the streets cut each otherat the right angles. Even thewidth of these streets was in setratio. Lanes were considerablynarrower. Inner lanes seldomrats straight but often twistedand turned.

• One of the most distinctivefeatures of Harappan cities wasthe carefully planned drainagesystem. It seems that streetswith drains were laid out firstand then houses built alongthem. If domestic waste waterhad to flow into the streetdrains, every house needed tohave at least one wall along astreet.

• Small drains made of burntbricks were connected withbathing platforms and latrinesof private houses joined themedium sized drains in the sidestreets. These drains ran intolarger sewers in the main streetswhich were covered withbricks or dressed stone blocks.Corbelled-arch drains havealso, been found. One of thenis almost 6 ft. deep whichfunctioned as main drain takingall the waste water out of thetown.

• Most distinctive feature isnumber of burnt-brick drains atMohenjodaro and Lothal.Thereare drains in all larger streets andsmaller lanes also.There is nosystem of street drainage atKalibangan.

• The average size of brick usedfor houses was 7 × 15 × 30 cm.but forth construction offortification walls the size of thebrick was of buyer size viz 10 ×20 × 40 cm. Both sizes of brickshave identical proportions 1 : 2: 4, that the width is double thethickness and the length fourtimes, the thickness.

• Doorways and windows rarelyopened out into the main street,

but faced side lanes.Somehouses have remains ofstaircases to reach a secondstorey or the roof. Often in aroom that could be reachedfrom the outside and perhapsused by passers-by. Almostevery house had a bathroomand in some cases there isevidence of bathrooms on thefirst floor.

• Earlier it was thought that allcities were having a standarddivision into high in westerncitadel and a lower town to theeast reflecting the division o thecities into rulers and the servicecommunities with the craftsworkshop located in the lowercity. But this interpretation isnot correct because largepublic buildings market areaslarge and small private housesas well as crafts workshops havebeen found in all areas.

• While most Harappansettlements have a small highwestern part and a larger lowereastern section, there arevariations. At sites such asDholavira and Lothal (Gujarat),the entire settlement wasfortified, and sections withinthe town were also separatedby walls. The Citadel withinLothal was not walled off, butwas built at a height.

• Perhaps the most remarkablefeature of the citadel mound atMohenjodaro is the Great Bath.This finely built brick structuremeasures 12m, by 7m. and isnearly 3m deep from thesurrounding pavement. It isapproached at either end byflights of steps. The floor of thebath was constructed of sawnbricks set on edge in gypsummortar with a layer of bitumensandwiched between the innerouter brick layers.

• Immediately to the west of theGreat Bath at Mohenjodaro is a

group of 27 blocks of brickswork criss-crossed by narrowlanes. Overall it measures 50 m.east-west and 27 m. north-south. Somewhat similarstructures have been found atHarappa, Kalibangan andLothal, These structures havebeen identified as granarieswhich were used for storinggrains.

• An important structure is thedockyard found at Lothal. It is alarge structure measuring 223m. in length, 35 m. in width and8 m. in depth, provided withan inlet channel (12.30 m.wide) in the eastern wall and aspillway. The inlet channel wasconnected to a river. By its sideis a 240 m. long and 21.6 in.wide wharf.

Social and Political SystemSocial and Political SystemSocial and Political SystemSocial and Political SystemSocial and Political System

• The Harappan society seems tohave been divided into threesections, viz. an elite classassociated with the Citadel, awell-to-do middle Class, and arelatively weaker section,occupying the dower townwhich were generally fortified.

• Whether these divisions werebased purely on economicfactors or had a socio-religiousbasis it cannot be defined.Some visualized transform-ationof petty chiefdoms intoorganized states.

• The Lower Town was alsowalled. Several buildings werebuilt on platforms, whichserved as foundations. It hasbeen calculated that if onelabourer moved roughly a cubicmetre of earth daily, just to putthe foundations in place itwould have required fourmillion person-days, in otherwords, mobilising labour on avery large scale.

• At Kalibangan it appears thatthe priests resided in the upper





part of the citadel andperformed rituals on fire altarsin the lower part of it.

ReligionReligionReligionReligionReligion

• It can be said from the availableevidence, that the religion ofthe Indus people comprised:(i) the worship of the MotherGoddess (ii) the worship of amale deity, probably of Shiva;(iii) worship of animals, natural,semi-human; (iv) worship oftrees in their natural state or oftheir indwelling spirit; (v)worship of inanimate stones orother objects, of linga and yonisymbols; (vi) chrematheism asillustrated in the worship of thesacred “incense-burners”; (vii)faith in amulets and charmsindicative of demono-phobia;and (viii) practice of yoga.

• These were regarded as mothergoddesses. Rare stone statuaryof men in an almoststandardised posture, seatedwith one hand on the knee -such as the “priest-king” wasalso similarly classified. In otherinstances, structures have beenassigned ritual significance.These include the Great Bathand fire altars found atKalibangan and Lothal.

• A male deity, “the protoype ofthe historic Shiva. “ is portrayedon a seal with three faces,seated on low throne in thetypical posture of Yogi, withtwo animals on each side -elephant and tiger on right andrhinoceros and buffalo on left,and two deer standing underthe throne. The depictionshows Shiva as pasupati

• Some animals - such as the one-horned animal, often called the“unicorn”-dipictid on sealsseem to be mythical, compositecreatures. In some seals, a figureshown seated cross-legged ina “yogic” posture, sometims

surrounded by animals hasbeen regarded as a depictionof “proto-Shiva” that is an earlyform -of one of the major deitiesof Hinduism Besides conicalstone objects have beenclassified as lingas.

• There is sufficient evidence forthe prevalence of phallicworship. Numerous stonesymbols of female sex organs(yoni worship), besides thoseof the phallus, have beendiscovered.

• The worship of fire is provedby the discovery of fire altars atLothal. Kalibangan andHarappa. At Kalibangan, Lothal,and Banawali a number of ‘fire-altars’ lave been found whichseim to have been used assacrificial altars.

• Indus people also worshippedGods in the form of trees(piapal, etc.) and animals(unicorn etc)

• Further they believed in ghostsand evil forces and usedamulets as protection againstthem.

Trade and CommerceTrade and CommerceTrade and CommerceTrade and CommerceTrade and Commerce

• Inter regional trade was carriedon with Rajasthan, Saurashtra,Maharashtra. South India, partsof Western Uttar Pradesh andBihar. Foreign trade wasconducted mainly withMesopotamia and Bahrain.Trade was carried on byoverland as well as overseastransport. Bullock carts andpack-oxen were employed forland transport.

• Agricultural produce, industrialraw material like copper ores,stone, semiprecious shells, etc.were traded. Besides the rawmaterial, finished products ofmetals (pots and pans,weapon, etc.), precious andsemi-precious stones (beads,pendants. amulets etc.)

ornaments of gold and silverwere also traded to variousareas.

• In Indus area seals ofMesopotamia, Iran and centralAsia occur at Mohenjodaro andKalibangan. ‘Gulf’ seal wasfound at Lothal and seal with a‘Gulf’ motif was also found atBet Dwaraka.

• There is evidence of sea andriver transport by ships andboats in several seals andterracotta models, apart fromthe dockyard at Lothal. TheSumerian texts refer lo traderelations with Meluha’ whichwas the ancient name given toIndus region and they alsospeak of two intermediatestations called Dilmun(identified with Bahrain) andMakan (Makran coast).

• The occurrence of matureHarappan seals and otherartefacts in contemporaryMesopotamian civilisation, andsome of the Mesopotamian andEgyptian objects in Harappancivilization, and the evidenceof Mesopotamian documents.establish that the Harappanshad trading relationship withthat land.

• The weights proceed in aseries, first doubling, from 1, 2,4, 8, to 64 then going to 160;and from then on in decimalmultiples of sixteen. 320, 640,1600, 6400 (1600 × 4). 8000(1600 × 5 and 128,000 (i.e.16000 × 8).

• Some are suggestive ofMesopotamian mythology, likeGilgamesh.

Craft Production, Industries &Craft Production, Industries &Craft Production, Industries &Craft Production, Industries &Craft Production, Industries &TechnologyTechnologyTechnologyTechnologyTechnology

• Basic tool-types were made bysimple casting. Bronze ispresent from the lowest levels,but is more common in upperlevels.





• Although the Harappancivilisation is referred to as abronze age civilization, mostlyunalloyed copper was used formanufacturing artefacts, andonly rarely tin was alloyed incopper to make bronze.

• Objects of gold are reasonablycommon. Silver makes itsearliest appearance in India. Itis more common than gold.Lead was imported andoccasionally used.

• People also made copper andbronze vessels. They madesmall plates and weights of leadand gold and silver jewelleryof, considerable sophisti-caion.

• The variety of materials used tomake beads is remarkable;stones like carnehain (of abeautiful red colour-), jasper,crystal, quartz and steatite;metals like copper, bronze andgold; and steatite; metals likecopper, bronze and gold; andshell, faience and terracotta orburnt clay. Some beads weremade of two or more stones,cemented together, some ofstone with gold caps. Theshapes were numerous —discshaped, cylindrical,spherical, barrel-shaped,segmented. Some wheredecorated by incising orpainting, and some had designsetched into them.

• Steatite was used for making avariety of objects like seals,beads bracelets, buttonsvessels etc: but its use in makingfaience (a form of glass) isparticularly noteworthy. In thismaterial beads, amulets,sealings and even animalmodels have been found.

• They established settlementssuch as Nageshwar and Balakotin areas where shell wasavailable. Other such sites wereShortughai, in far-off

Afghanistan, near the bestsource of lapis lizuli. a bluestone that was apparently veryhighly valued, and Lothal whichA as near sources of carnelian(from Bharuch in Gujarat),steatite (from south Rajasthanand north Gujarat) and metal(from Rajasthan).

Transport and TravelTransport and TravelTransport and TravelTransport and TravelTransport and Travel

• A terracotta model of a ship ora boat, with stick impressedsocket for the mast andeyeholes for fixing oars hasbeen found from Lothal. Theboats depicted on seals andpottery resemble the onesused today in Sindh and Punjabareas.

• The terracotta models ofbullock cart and cart tracksfound on roads from varioussites indicate that carts used inthose days were in size andshape practically like thepresent day ones.

AgricultureAgricultureAgricultureAgricultureAgriculture

• Most Harappan sites arelocated in semi-arid lands,where irrigation was probablyrequired for agriculture. Tracesof canals have been found atthe Harappan site of Shortughaiin Afghanistan, but not inPunjab or Sind. It is possiblethat ancient canals silted uplong ago. It is also likely thatwater drawn from wells wasused for irrigation. Besides,water reservoirs found inDholavira (Gujarat) may havebeen used to store water foragriculture.

• The principal cereals seem tohave been wheat and barley.Rice, though known, was afavoured grain. Six varieties ofmillets including ragi, kodon,sanwa, and jowar werecultivated, as also peas andbeans Remains of rice have

been found mainly from Gujaratand Haryana areas. Other cropsinclude dates, varieties oflegumes, sesame and mustard.

• Fragments of cotton clothfound at Mohenjodaro andother sites show that cottonwas also grown.Cotton hasbeen found at Mehrgarh at least2000 years before the maturephase of the Civilisation. This isthe oldest evidence of cottonin the world.

• The cultivated field excavatedat Kalibangan (Rajasthan)crisscross furrowmarksindicating that two crops weregrown simultaneously. Fortilling fields, wooden ploughwith a copper or woodenploughshare was usedTerracotta models of the ploughhave been found atMohenjodaro and Banawali.

Script and LanguageScript and LanguageScript and LanguageScript and LanguageScript and Language

• Harappan script is regarded aspictographic since its signsrepresent birds, fish and avariety of human forms. Thescript was boustrophedon,written from right to left. Whenthe inscription was of morethan one line it could be firstline from right to left andsecond from left to right.

• The number of signs of theHarappan script is known to bebetween 400 and 600, ofwhich about 40 or 60 are basic.

• Most inscriptions are short, thelongest containing about 26signs. Although the scriptremains undeciphered to date,it was evidently notalphabetical (where each signstands for a vowel or aconsonant) as t has just toomany signs-somewherebetween 375 and 400.

• The language of the Harappansis still unknown and mustremain so until the Harappan





script is deciphered.• Number of inscribed objects is

around 3675. They consist ofseals, copper tablets,implements, pottery and othermiscellaneous objects. About50 per cent of these objects arefound at Mohenjodaro.

Evidences of Domesticated &Evidences of Domesticated &Evidences of Domesticated &Evidences of Domesticated &Evidences of Domesticated &wild Animalswild Animalswild Animalswild Animalswild Animals

• Animal bones found atHarappan sites include those ofcattle, sheep, goat, buffalo andpig. Studies done by archaeo-zoologists or zooarchaeoloistsindicate that these animalswere domesticated. Bones ofwild species such as boar deerand gharial are also found. Wedo not know whether theHarappans hunted theseanimals themselves or obtainedmeat from other huntingcommunities.Bones of fish andfowl are also found.

• Bones of several animals havebeen found in excavations.Skeletan remains includesheep, goat, bull, buffalo,elephant, camel, pig, dog andcat, which were alldomesticated.

• Bones of wild animals likespotted deer, sambhar deer,hog deer, wild pig, etc. are alsofound which evidently werehunted for food. Several typesof birds as well as fishes werealso hunted for food.

• Bones of horses have beenreported from Lothal.Surkotada. Kalibangan andseveral other sites.Terracottafigurines of the horse havebeen found at Nausharo andLothal But no unambiguousdepiction of this animal on sealshas so far been found.

Burial PracticesBurial PracticesBurial PracticesBurial PracticesBurial Practices

• Three forms of burials are foundat Mohenjodaro, viz. complete

burials. fractional burials (burialof some bones after theexposure of the body to wildbeasts birds) and post-cremation burials. But thegeneral practice wasextended inhumation, thebody lying on us back, with thehead generally to the north.Cremation was also practised.

• At burials in Harappan sites thedead were generally laid in pits.Sometimes there weredifferences in the way theburial pit was made - in someinstances, the flooded-outspaces were lined with bricks.Could these variations anindication of social differences.We are not sure.

• Some graves contain potteryand ornaments, perhapsindicating a belief these couldbe used in the afterlife.Jewellery has been found inburials of battle and women.

• Scattered burials as well asdiscreet cemeteries have beenfound at many major sites. Theskeletal remains are few.

MAIN REGIONSMAIN REGIONSMAIN REGIONSMAIN REGIONSMAIN REGIONS

SindSindSindSindSind

• Mohenjodaro enjoys anagricultural advantage, but alsoserved as the main mercantilecenter.

• Mohenjodaro is three timeslarger than next largestsettlement in Sind, which isNaru Waro Dharo.

• There are totally 174 matureHarappan sites, the largest sitebeing Ganveriwala.

• Areas exclusively earmarked forkilns and mass production ofitems are recognized at 79sites. Some of these wereinvolved in copper-smelting.

Rajasthan, Haryana & PanjabRajasthan, Haryana & PanjabRajasthan, Haryana & PanjabRajasthan, Haryana & PanjabRajasthan, Haryana & Panjab

• Report of 21 sites in an area of

50 by 25 km. Five of these sitesare Dhalewan, Gurni Kalan I,Hasanpur II, Lakhmirwala,Baglian Da Theh.

• They are massive settlements,with four being in category ofHarappa and one(Lakhmirwala) being as large asMohenjodaro.

Makran CoastMakran CoastMakran CoastMakran CoastMakran Coast

• Sutkagendor, Sotka-koh andKhairia Kot are ports in maritimelinks with Gulf andMesopotamia.

• Balakot in Las Bela may have atrading component too.

BaluchistanBaluchistanBaluchistanBaluchistanBaluchistan

• Dabarkot in north possesses aHarappan level. It may be atrading settlement.

GujaratGujaratGujaratGujaratGujarat

• Discovery of Gulf seal at Lothalsuggests maritime contact withGulf.

• There is clear evidence ofcentralized planning at allmajor excavated sites.

MAJOR SITESMAJOR SITESMAJOR SITESMAJOR SITESMAJOR SITES

HarappaHarappaHarappaHarappaHarappa

• The first Indus site to bediscovered and excavated in1921. The Indus Civilizationwas originally called HarappanCivilization after this site.

• The Great Granary measuring 169 ft × 3 5 feet is the largestand the most remarkablestructure found at Harappa.

• Two rows of six granaries arefound here, these were thenearest buildings to the river.

• Rows of single roomed barracksare found here, whichconsidered to be houses oflabourers.

• So far 891 seals have beenrecovered from Harappa, andthat is 40% of the total numberof seals belonging to Indus


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Valley Civilization that havebeen found.

• A red sandstone naked maletorso has been found, whichshows traces of Jainism

• Between the granary and thecitadel, have also been founda series of circular platforms,probably for the pounding ofgrain

• At a lower level below thegranary, platforms and thecitadel were crowded one-room dwellings, which suggestslave habitats.

MohenjodaroMohenjodaroMohenjodaroMohenjodaroMohenjodaro

• In Sindhi language, the wordMohenjodaro means ‘mound ofthe dead’. It is the largest of allIndus cities

• The Great Bath is the mostimportant public place,measuring 39 feet (length) × 23feet (breadth) × 8 feet(depth). Located at the centerof the citadel, it is remarkablefor beautiful brickwork Its flooris made of burnt bricks set ingypsum and mortar. It musthave served as a ritual-bathingsite.

• Remains have been found of anoblong multi-pillared assemblyhall and a big rectangularbuilding, which must haveserved administrativepurposes.

• Most of Mohenjodaro housesare built of kiln-fired brick

• The major streets are 33 feetwide and run north-south,intersecting subordinate ones,running east-west at rightangles.

• The evidence of Indian ships(figured on a seal) and a pieceof woven cloth has beendiscovered from here

• There is a large granaryconsisting of podium of squareblocks of burnt-bricks with awooden superstructure

• Parallel rows of two-roomedcottages found the workmen orpoor sections of the societyperhaps used these cottages.

• A bronze dancing girl, steatitestatue of a priest and a sealbearing Pashupati have beenfound here

• It is important to remember thatMohenjodaro shows nine levelsof occupation towering over300 feet above the presentflood plain

KalibanganKalibanganKalibanganKalibanganKalibangan

• Kalibangan is one of the twoIndus cities which have bothproto-Harappan and Harappancultural phases.

• Discovery of platforms with fivealters from here.

• Less developed compared toMohenjodaro.

• There is evidence of mud-brickfortification.

• Pre-Harappan phase hereshows that the fields wereploughed unlike the Harappanperiod.

• Archaeologists havediscovered two platforms(within the citadel) with firealtars suggesting the practiceof cult sacrifice

• The existence of wheelconveyance is proved by acartwheel having a single hub.

ChanhudaroChanhudaroChanhudaroChanhudaroChanhudaro

• Only Indus city without acitadel.

• Existence of Pre-Harappan aswell as Harappan cultural phase

• A small pot was discoveredhere, which was probably anink pot.

• Excavations reveal that peopleof Chanhudaro were expertcraftsmen. Archaeologists havediscovered here metal-workers’, shell-ornamentmakers ’ and bead-makers’shops

• The city was twice destroyedby inundations.Here moreextensive but indirectevidence of super-impositionof a barbarian lifestyle is seen.

• Like Mohenjo-daro it was alsoflooded more than once.

BanwaliBanwaliBanwaliBanwaliBanwali

• Like Kalibangan, Amri, Kot Dijiand Harappa, Banwali also sawtwo cultural phases - pre-Harappan and Harappan.

• Human and animal figures, claybangles and statue of motherGoddess found here.

• Here we find large quantity ofbarely, sesamum and mustard.

LothalLothalLothalLothalLothal

• Only Indus site with an artificialbrick dockyard. It must haveserved as the main seaport ofthe Indus people It wassurrounded by a massive brickwall, probably as floodprotection.

• Lothal has evidence for theearliest cultivation of rice (1800BC) The only other Indus sitewhere rice husk has been foundis Rangpur near Ahmedabad.

• Fire altars, indicating theprobable existence of a firecult, have been found

• A doubtful terracotta figurineof horse is found here.

Kot DijiKot DijiKot DijiKot DijiKot Diji

• Pre-Harappan and Harappanphases found.

• According to excavations, thecity was probably destroyeddue to fire

• Wheel made painted pottery,traces of a defensive wall andwell-aligned streets,knowledge of metallurgy,artistic toys etc.

• Five figurines of MotherGoddess discovered

RoparRoparRoparRoparRopar

• The excavations have yielded


http://www.iasexamportal.com 1 0 11 0 11 0 11 0 11 0 1 http://www.civilservicesmentor.com



five-fold sequence of cultures— Harappan, PGW, NBP,Kushana-Gupta and Medieval.

• The evidence of burying a dogbelow the human burial is veryinteresting

• One example of rectangularmudbrick ‘chamber wasnoticed.

DeclineDeclineDeclineDeclineDeclineDeclineDeclineDeclineDeclineDecline

v After 2000 BC, the Indusculture slowly declined andgradually faded out. Someascribe this to the decreasingfertility of the soil t)ii accountof the increasing salinity,caused by the expansion of theneighboring desert. Othersattribute ii to some kind ofdepression in the land, whichcaused Hoods. Still others pointout that the Aryans destroyedit.According to some scholars,decline of trade, particularlyoceanic trade with theSumerians, must havecontributed partly in thedecline. Even though there arevarious theories for thedownfall of this civilization, themost accepted version is thatof ecological destruction.

• John Marshall and many otherscholars, on the basis ofevidence available from thesites along the Indus river, feltthat this civilisation declineddue to environmentaldegradation. Reference to thedestruction of forts by Aryansin the Rig Veda; discovery ofhuman skeletons huddledtogether at Mohen—jo-daroindicated that it was probablyinvaded by foreigners;evidence of furtherstrengthening of defence atHarappa.

• The cutting of forests foragricultural and timber for fueland over-exploitation ofresources, etc. resulted in the

land to become baren and inthe silting of rivers.

• Wheeler opined that it wasdestroyed by she ‘barabarian’Aryans who came to India inabout 1500 B.C. Laterresearches proved thatWheeler’s thesis was a myth

• While in the Saraswasti regionit declined mainly due soshifting of channels along theIndus is declined largely dueso recurring foods.

• The rainfall declined generatewhich the agriculture, the maineconomic resources. With thedecline in economicconditions, all other institutionslike trade and commerce,administrative and politicalstructures, civic amenities, etc.also declined over a period oftime.

• The Harappan civilisation wasspread over a large area, andthe causes of its decline in allthe regions can not he one andthe same. Thus, available datasuggest that, instead of comingto an abrupt end, Induscivilization merged into mainflow of Indian culturaldevelopment. Archaeologicalevidence shows that thedecline was gradual and slowwhich is witnessed over aperiod of almost six hundredyears from 1900-1300 B.C.

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONSOBJECTIVE QUESTIONSOBJECTIVE QUESTIONSOBJECTIVE QUESTIONSOBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

1. Site of Mohanjodaro wasexcavated by which of thefollowing person ?:(a) D.R. Sahni(b) R.D. Banerjee(b) H.C. Raychaudhuri(d) John Marshall

2. The Harappan civilisation’sknown extent in the north isManda and which place is inthe south ?(a) Bhagatrav

(b) Daimabad(c) Rojdi (d) Inamgaon

3. The Harappan civilisationcovers an area of almost 1600km. east-west and north-south(a) 1100 km.(b) 800 km.(c) 1400km.(d) 1200km.

4. Which of the following pair is/are correctly matched ?(a) Alamgirpur – Uttar Pradesh(b) Daimabad – Maharashtra(c) Manda – Jammu and

Kashmir(d) All of the above

5. The idea of the settlementplanning did not appearsuddenly with the first largecities but was already wellestablished in earlier period ashas been revealed from theexcavation at:(a) Kot Diji and Kalibangan(b) Harappa and Rahman

Dheri(c) Nausharo(d) All of the above

6. Mohanjodaro, Harappa andKalibangan have a highrectangular mound on the sideof the city:(a) North (b) South(c) East (d) West

7. Harappa, Mohanjodaro andKalibangan have extensivemound in which of these sides?(a) East, West and North(b) North and West(c) East and North(d) North, South and East

8. Which of the following sites hasa single walled moundinternally divided into three orfour walled sectors(a) Kalibangan and

Mohanjodaro(b) Rangpur and Kalibangan(c) Dholavira and Banavali(d) All of the above

9. The letters of the inscription arethe largest example of writingever discovered from any





Harappan city. From whichmaterial it was made ?(a) Chromium paste inlay(b) Platinum paste inlay(c) Gypsum paste inlay(d) None of the above

10. The average size of bricks usedfor houses were -(a) 7½ × 15 × 30 cm(b) 5½ × 15 × 25 cm(c) 3 ½ × 30 × 60 cm(d) 10½ × 7 × 15 cm

11. For the construction offortification walls the size of thebricks was of bigger size. Thesize of such brick was(a) 5 × 10 × 15 cm.(b) 10 × 20 × 30 cm.(c) 3 × 10 × 30 cm.(d) 10 × 20 × 40 cm.

12. Perhaps the most remarkablefeature of the citadel mound isthe great bath at:(a) Ganhwarilwala(b) Kot Diji(c) Mohenjodaro(d) All of the above

13. To which side of the Great bathis a group of 27 blocks of brickwork criss-crossed by narrowlanes?(a) The east(b)The west(c) The north(d) The south

14. The granaries which were usedfor storing grains have beenfound at:(a) Harappa(b) Kalibangan(c) Lothal(d) All of the above

15. The Lothal dockyard is a largestructure measuring:(a) 200m. × 30m. × 5m.(b) 223m. × 35m. × 8m.(c) 100m. × 30m. × 20m.(d) 80m. × 70m. × 10m.

16. It has been suggested that goldmay have come to theHarappan civilisation from(a) Bihar(b) Jharkhand

(c) Andhra Pradesh(d) Karnataka

17. The pottery technology wasquite advanced as spots werebeautifully painted in black on:(a) The bright yellow surface(b) The bright white surface(c) The bright red surface(d) None of the above

8.Which of the following pairs is/arecorrectly matched?(a) Gold - Karnataka(b) Chert blades - Rohiri hills

of Sindh(c) Copper - Khetri mines(d) All of the above

19. Which of the followingcivilisation’s objects have beenfound in the Harappancivilisation ?(a) Egyptian civilisation(b) Mesopotamian civilisation(c) Chinese civilisation(d) Both (a) and (b)

20. Harappan weights andmeasures were cubical andspherical in shape and weremade of:(a) Chert (b) Jasper(c) Agate(d) All of the above

21. A terracotta model of a ship ora boat, with stick impressedsocket for the mast and eyeholes for fixing oars has beenfound from(a) Dholavira(b)

Kalibangan(c) Mohanjodaro(d) Lothal

22. The principal cereals seem tohave been?(a) Rice and wheat(b) Wheat and peas(c) Wheat and barley(d) Barley and ragi

23. Which of the following cropswas/ were cultivated in theHarappan civilization?(a) Barley(b) Kodan and Sanwa(c) Peas and beans(d) All of the above

24. Fragments of cotton cloth havebeen found at which of theseplace ?(a) Lothal(b) Rakhigarhi(b) Dholavira(d) Mohanjodaro

25. Remains of rice have beenfound mainly from: .(a) Bihar and Uttarakhand(b) Haryana and Punjab(c) Gujarat and Haryana(d) Gujarat and Rajasthan

26. The oldest evidence of cottonin the world (at least 200 yearsbefore the nature phase of thecivilisation) has been found at:(a) Sanghao Caves(b) Jerruk(c) Didwana(d) Mehrgarh

27. The cultivated field has beenexcavated at Which of theseplace ?(a) Banawali(b) Mohanjodaro(c) Ganhwarilawala(d) Kalibangan (Period I)

28. Which of the following animalswas/were domesticated in theHarappan civilisation?(a) Sheep, Goat, Bull(b) Buffalo and Elephant(c) Camel and Pig(d) All of the above

29. Which one of the followinganimals has not been depictedon the seals?(a) Buffalo(b) Elephant(c) Camel (d) Goat

30. Bones of the horse have beenreported from:(a) Lothal(b) Surkotada and Kalibangan(c) Mohenjodaro(d) Both (a) and (b)

31. The most outstanding pieces ofa yogi have been found fromwhich place ?(a) Lothal (b) Banawali(c) Mohanjodaro(d) Kalibangan





32. Bronze works are rare, the mostfamous being a small femalestatue of about 11.5 cm. inheight identified as dancingwhich has been found from girlfrom:(a) Rakhigarhi(b) Chanhundaro(c) Dholavira(d) Mohanjodaro

33. How many specimens ofHarappan signs are found onseals and other materials ?(a) Nearly 100(b) Nearly 1,000(c) Nearly 300(d) Nearly 400

34. From the available evidenceswe may say that the religion ofthe Indus people comprisedof which of these things ?(a) The worship of the, mother

Goddess(b) The worship of a male

deity(c) Worship of inanimate

stones(d) All of the above

35. A striking oblong sealingrepresenting the earth ormother goddess, has beenfound at:(a) Lothal (b) Alamgirpur(c) Harappa(d) Mohenjodaro

36. Which of the following animalsare depicted on the seal,popularly known as Shiva foundat Mohenjodaro ?

(a) Camel, dog, elephant,buffalo

(b) Elephant, rhinoceros,buffalo, tiger

(c) Cow, rhinoceros, buffalo,tiger

(d) Tiger, rhinoceros, camel,rabbit

37. A remarkable seal representinga deity, standing between twobranches, of a pipal tree hasbeen found at which of theseplaces ?(a) Desalpur(b) Surkotada(c) Chanhudaro(d) Mohanjodaro

38. Terracotta piece having lingaand yoni in one piece, like theones in the historical period,show that these were lings andyoni, meant for worship. Fromwhere they were found at ?(a) Chanhundaro(b) Kalibangan(c) Harappa(d) Alamgirpur

39. Marshall suggested that theHarappan civilisation flourishedbetween:(a) 200 and 1500 B.C.(b) 2500 and 2000 B.C.(c) 3250 and 2750 B.C.(d) 2500 and 1500 B.C.

40. When the Harappan civilisationwas first recognised in 1920the dating was done mainly onthe basis of the finding ofHarappan seals in?

(a) Ur and Kish inMesopotamia

(b) Kinshasa in Jaire(c) Shanghai in China(d) Rome in Italy

41. The Mature Harappan phase(on the basis of radio carbondating) is dated around:(a) 2900- 1800 B.C.(b) 1000 - 1400 B.C.(c) 2600- 1900 B.C.(d) 2700 - 2500 B.C.

42. Which of the followinghistorians opined that it (TheHarappan civilisation) wasdestroyed by the ‘Barbarian’Aryans who came to India inabout 1500 B.C.?(a) John Marshall(b) Wheeler(c) M.R. Shahni(d) Dales


1. (b) 2. (b) 3. (c)4. (d) 5. (d) 6. (d)7. (d) 8. (c) 9. (c)

10. (a) 11. (d) 12. (c)13. (b) 14. (d) 15. (b)16. (d) 17. (c) 18. (d)19. (d) 20. (d) 21. (d)22. (c) 23. (d) 24. (d)25. (c) 26. (d) 27. (d)28. (d) 29. (c) 30. (d)31. (c) 32. (d) 33. (d)34. (d) 35. (c) 36. (b)37. (d) 38. (b) 39. (c)40. (a) 41. (c) 42. (b)

To be Continued ......To be Continued ......To be Continued ......To be Continued ......To be Continued ......

Solved PaperSolved PaperSolved PaperSolved PaperSolved Paper




UPSC PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONPAPER–II

SOLVED PAPERDATE: 26-05-2013

Directions (Q. 1 and 2)-ReadDirections (Q. 1 and 2)-ReadDirections (Q. 1 and 2)-ReadDirections (Q. 1 and 2)-ReadDirections (Q. 1 and 2)-Readthe following passage andthe following passage andthe following passage andthe following passage andthe following passage andanswer the two items thatanswer the two items thatanswer the two items thatanswer the two items thatanswer the two items thatfollow. Your answers to thesefollow. Your answers to thesefollow. Your answers to thesefollow. Your answers to thesefollow. Your answers to theseitems should be based on theitems should be based on theitems should be based on theitems should be based on theitems should be based on thepassage only.passage only.passage only.passage only.passage only.

PassagePassagePassagePassagePassage

Ecological research over the lastquarter of the century has establishedthe deleterious effects of habitatfragmentation due to mining,highways and such other intrusionson forests. When a large block offorests gets fragmented into smallerbits, the edges of all these bits comeinto contact with human activitiesresulting in the degradation of theentire forests. Continuity of forestedlandscapes and corridors getsdisrupted affecting severalextinction-prone species of wildlife.Habitat fragmentation is thereforeconsidered as the most serious threatto biodiversity conservation. Ad hocgrants of forest lands to miningcompanies coupled with rampantillegal mining is aggravating thisthreat.

1. What is the central focus of thispassage?

(A) Illegal mining in forests(B) Extinction of wildlife(C) Conservation of nature(D) Disruption of habitat

2. What is the purpose ofmaintaining the continuity offorested landscapes andcorridors?1. Preservation of biodiversity.2. Management of mineral

resources.3. Grant of forest lands for

human activitiesSelect the correct answerusing the codes given

below:(A) 1 only(B) 1 and 2(C) 2 and 3(D) 1,2 and 3

3. In a rare coin collection, there isone gold coin for every threenon-gold coins. 10 more goldcoins arc added to the collectionand the ratio of gold coins tonon-gold coins would be 1 : 2.Based on the information, thetotal number of coins in thecollection now becomes-

(A) 90 (C) 60(B) 80 (D) 50

4. A gardener has 1000 plants. Hewants to plant them in such a waythat the number of rows and thenumber of columns remains thesame. What is the minimumnumber of plants that he needsmore for this purpose?

(A) 14 (B) 24(C) 32 (D) 34

5. A sum of Rs. 700 has to be usedto give seven cash prizes to thestudents of a school for theiroverall academic performance.If each prize is Rs. 20 less than itspreceding prize, what is the leastvalue of the prize?

(A) Rs. 30 (B) Rs. 40(C) Rs. 60 (D) Rs. 80

6. Out of 120 applications for apost, 70 are male and 80 have adriver’s license. What is the ratiobetween the minimum tomaximum number of maleshaving driver’s license?

(A) 1 to 2 (C) 3 to 7(B) 2 to 3 (D) 5 to 7

7. In a garrison, there was food for1000 soldiers for one month.After 10 days, 1000 more soldiers

joined the garrison. How longwould the soldiers be able tocarry on with the remaining food?(A) 25 days(B) 20 days(C) 15 days (D) 10 days

8. The tank-full petrol in Arun’smotor-cycle lasts for 10 days. Ifhe starts using 25% moreeveryday, how many days willthetank-full petrol last?

(A) 5 (C) 7(B) 6 (D) 8

9. A person can walk a certaindistance and drive back in sixhours. He can also walk bothways in 10 hours. How much timewill he take to drive both ways?

(A) Two hours(B) Two and a half hours(C) Five and a half hours(D) Four hours

Directions (Q. 10-16)-Read theDirections (Q. 10-16)-Read theDirections (Q. 10-16)-Read theDirections (Q. 10-16)-Read theDirections (Q. 10-16)-Read thefollowing two passages andfollowing two passages andfollowing two passages andfollowing two passages andfollowing two passages andanswer the items that followanswer the items that followanswer the items that followanswer the items that followanswer the items that followeach passage. Your answers toeach passage. Your answers toeach passage. Your answers toeach passage. Your answers toeach passage. Your answers tothese items should be based onthese items should be based onthese items should be based onthese items should be based onthese items should be based onthe passages only.the passages only.the passages only.the passages only.the passages only.

Passage- 1Passage- 1Passage- 1Passage- 1Passage- 1

The law in many parts of theworld increasingly restricts thedischarge of agricultural slurry intowatercourses. The simplest and oftenthe most economically soundpractice returns the material to theland as semisolid manure or as sprayedslurry. This dilutes its concentrationin the environment to what mighthave occurred in a more primitive andsustainable type of agriculture andconverts pollutant into fertilizer. Soilmicroorganisms decompose theorganic components of sewage and





slurry and most of the mineral nutrientsbecome available to be absorbedagain by the vegetation.

The excess input of nutrients,both nitrogen and phosphorus-based, from agricultural runoff (andhuman sewage) has caused many‘healthy’ oligotrophic lakes (lownutrient concentrations, low plantproductivity with abundant waterweeds, and clear water) to changeto eutrophic condition where highnutrient inputs lead to highphytoplankton productivity(sometimes dominated by bloom-forming toxic species). This makesthe water turbid, eliminates largeplants and, in the worst situations,leads to anoxia and fish kills; so calledcultural eutrophication. Thus,important ecosystem services are lost,including the provisioning ser ice ofwild-caught fish and the culturalservices associated with recreation.

The process of culturaleutrophication of lakes has beenunderstood for some time. But onlyrecently did scientists notice huge’dead zones’ in the oceans near riveroutlets, particularly those draininglarge catchment areas such as theMississippi in North America and theYangtze in China. The nutrient-enriched water flows throughstreams, rivers and lakes, andeventually to the estuary and oceanwhere the ecological impact may behuge, killing virtually all invertebratesand fish in areas up to 70,000 km2 inextent. More than 150 sea areasworldwide are now regularly starvedof oxygen as a result ofdecomposition of algal blooms,fuelled particularly by nitrogen fromagricultural runoff of fertilizers andsewage from large cities. Oceanicdead zones are typically associatedwith industrialized nations and usuallylie off countries that subsidize theiragriculture, encouraging farmers toincrease productivity and use morefertilizer.

10. According to the passage, whyshould the discharge ofagricultural slurry intowatercourses be restricted?1. Losing nutrients in this way

is not a good practiceeconomically.

2. Watercourses do notcontain the microorganismsthat can decompose organiccomponents of agriculturalslurry.

3. The discharge may lead tothe eutrophication of waterbodies.Select the correct answerusing the codes givenbelow:

(A) 1 only (B) 2 and 3 only(C) 1 and 3 only(D) 1,2 and 3

11. The passage refers to theconversion of ‘pollutant tofertilizer’. What is pollutant andwhat is fertilizer in this context?

(A) Decomposed organiccomponent of slurry ispollutant andmicroorganisms in soilconstitute fertilizer

(B) Discharged agriculturalslurry is pollutant anddecomposed slurry in soil isfertilizer

(C) Sprayed slurry is pollutantand watercourse is fertilizer

(D) None of the aboveexpression is correct in thiscontext.

12. According to the passage, whatare the effects of indiscriminateuse of fertilizers?1. Addition of pollutants to the

soil and water.2. Destruction of decomposer

microorganisms in soil.3. Nutrient enrichment of

water bodies.4. Creation of algal blooms.

Select the correct answer

from the codes given below:(A) 1, 2 and 3 only(B) 1, 3 and 4 only(C) 2 and 4 only(D) 1, 2, 3 and 4

13. What is / are the characteristicsof a water body with culturaleutrophication?1. Loss of ecosystem services.2. Loss of flora and fauna.3. Loss of mineral nutrients.

Select the correct answerusing the code given below:

(A) 1 only (B) 1 and 2 only(C) 2 and 3 only(D) 1,2 and 3

14. What is the central theme of thispassage?

(A) Appropriate legislation isessential to protect theenvironment

(B) Modern agriculture isresponsible for thedestruction of environment

(C) Improper waste disposalfrom agriculture can destroythe aquatic ecosystems

(D) Use of chemical fertilizers isundesirable in agriculture

Passage-2Passage-2Passage-2Passage-2Passage-2

The miseries of the worldcannot be cured by physical helponly. Until man’s nature changes, hisphysical needs will always arise, andmiseries will always be felt, and noamount of physical help will removethem completely. The only solutionof the problem is to make mankindpure. Ignorance is the mother of eviland of all the misery we see. Let menhave light, let them be pure andspiritually strong and educated; thenalone will misery cease in the world.We may convert every house in thecountry into a charitable asylum, wemay fill the land with hospitals, buthuman misery will continue untilman’s character changes.15. According to the passage,

which of the following





statements is most likely to betrue as the reason for man’smiseries?

(A) The poor economic andsocial conditions prevailingin society

(B) The refusal on the part ofman to change his character

(C) The absence of physicaland material help from hissociety

(D) Ever increasing physicalneeds due to changingsocial structure

16. With reference to the passage,the following assumptions havebeen made-1. The author gives primary

importance to physical andmaterial help in eradicatinghuman misery.

2. Charitable homes, hospitals,etc., can remove humanmisery to a great extent.Which of the assumptions is/ are valid?

(A) 1 only(B) 2 only(C) Both 1 and 2(D) Neither 1 nor 2

17. Consider the following figures 1,2,3 and 4—

In the figures from 1 to 4 above,two symbols are shown tochange their position in a regulardirection. Following the samesequence, which one of thefollowing will appear at the fifthstage?

Directions (Q. 18 and 19)- InDirections (Q. 18 and 19)- InDirections (Q. 18 and 19)- InDirections (Q. 18 and 19)- InDirections (Q. 18 and 19)- Ineach item, there are two sets ofeach item, there are two sets ofeach item, there are two sets ofeach item, there are two sets ofeach item, there are two sets offigures; first four figures namedfigures; first four figures namedfigures; first four figures namedfigures; first four figures namedfigures; first four figures namedProblem figures and next fourProblem figures and next fourProblem figures and next fourProblem figures and next fourProblem figures and next fourfigures named Answer figuresfigures named Answer figuresfigures named Answer figuresfigures named Answer figuresfigures named Answer figuresindicated as (A), (B), (C) andindicated as (A), (B), (C) andindicated as (A), (B), (C) andindicated as (A), (B), (C) andindicated as (A), (B), (C) and(D). The problem figures follow(D). The problem figures follow(D). The problem figures follow(D). The problem figures follow(D). The problem figures followa particular sequence. Ina particular sequence. Ina particular sequence. Ina particular sequence. Ina particular sequence. Inaccordance with the same,accordance with the same,accordance with the same,accordance with the same,accordance with the same,which one of the four answerwhich one of the four answerwhich one of the four answerwhich one of the four answerwhich one of the four answerfigures should appear as thefigures should appear as thefigures should appear as thefigures should appear as thefigures should appear as thefifth figure?fifth figure?fifth figure?fifth figure?fifth figure?

18. Problem figures

Answer figures

19. Problem figures

Answer figures

20. Consider the following diagrams-x men, working at constantspeed, do a certain job in y days.Which one of these diagramsshows the relation between xand y?

21. Consider the following matrix-

What is tie number of ‘X’ in theabove matrix?

(A) 5 (C) 9(B) 8 (D) 11

22. 22.Four cars are hired at the rateof Rs. 6 per km plus the cost ofdiesel at Rs. 40 a litre. In thiscontext, consider the detailsgiven in the following table–

Mi leageMi leageMi leageMi leageMi leage Tota lTota lTota lTota lTota lC a rC a rC a rC a rC a r (km/l it)(km/l it)(km/l it)(km/l it)(km/l it) HoursHoursHoursHoursHours PaymentPaymentPaymentPaymentPaymentA 8 2 0 2120B 1 0 2 5 1950C 9 2 4 2064

D 1 1 2 2 1812

Which car maintained themaximum average speed?

(A) Car A(B) Car B(C) Car C(D) Car D

23. Examine the following threefigures in which the numberfollow a specific pattern—

The missing number (?) in thethird figure above is—

(A) 7 (B) 16(C) 21 (D) 28

24. A Cube has six numbers marked1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 on its faces.Three views of the cube areshown below—

What possible numbers can existon the two faces marked (A) and(B), respectively on the cube?

(A) 2 and 3 (B) 6 and 1(C) 1 and 4(D) 3 and 1





Directions (Q. 25-29)- StudyDirections (Q. 25-29)- StudyDirections (Q. 25-29)- StudyDirections (Q. 25-29)- StudyDirections (Q. 25-29)- Studythe two figures given belowthe two figures given belowthe two figures given belowthe two figures given belowthe two figures given belowand answer the five items thatand answer the five items thatand answer the five items thatand answer the five items thatand answer the five items thatfollow-follow-follow-follow-follow-

Fig. 1: Number of Professors inselected disciplines in a

University by sex.

Fi. 2: Age of Physics Professors25. 25.How many Physics professors

belong to the age group 35-44 ?(A) 18 (B) 16(C) 14 (D) 12

26. Which one of the followingdisciplines has the highest ratioof males to females?

(A) Physics(B) Mathematics(C) Chemistry(D) Economics

27. What percentage of allPsychology professors arefemales ?

(A) 40% (B) 50%(C) 60% (D) 70%

28. If the number of female Physicsprofessors in the age group 25-34 equals 25% of all the Physicsprofessors in that age group, thenwhat is the number of malePhysics professors in the age

group 25-34 ?(A) 9 (C) 3(B) 6 (D) 2

29. If the Psychology professors inthe University constitute 2% ofall the professors in theUniversity, then what is thenumber of professors in theUniversity ?

(A) 400 (B) 500(C) 600 (D) 700

30. Consider the following figures–

Which one of the followingfigures would logically come inthe 7th position indicated aboveby a question mark ?

Directions (Q. 31-38)-Read theDirections (Q. 31-38)-Read theDirections (Q. 31-38)-Read theDirections (Q. 31-38)-Read theDirections (Q. 31-38)-Read thefollowing four passages andfollowing four passages andfollowing four passages andfollowing four passages andfollowing four passages andanswer the items that followanswer the items that followanswer the items that followanswer the items that followanswer the items that followeach passage. Your answers toeach passage. Your answers toeach passage. Your answers toeach passage. Your answers toeach passage. Your answers tothese items should be based onthese items should be based onthese items should be based onthese items should be based onthese items should be based onthe passages only.the passages only.the passages only.the passages only.the passages only.


The subject of democracy hasbecome severely muddled becauseof the way the rhetoric surrounding ithas been used in recent years. Thereis, increasingly, an oddly confuseddichotomy between those who wantto ‘impose’ democracy on countriesin the non-Western world (in thesecountries’ ‘own interest’, of course)and those who are opposed to such‘imposition’ (because of the respectfor the countries’ ‘own ways’). But theentire language of ‘imposition’, usedby both sides, is extraordinarilyinappropriate since it makes theimplicit assumption that democracybelongs exclusively to the West,taking it to be a quintessentially‘Western’ idea which has originatedand flourished only in the West.

But the thesis and thepessimism it generates about thepossibility of democratic practice inthe world would be extremely hardto justify. There were severalexperiments in local democracy inancient India. Indeed, inunderstanding the roots ofdemocracy in the world, we have totake an interest in the history ofpeople participation and publicreasoning in different parts of theworld. We have to look beyondthinking of democracy only in termsof European and American evolution.We would fail to understand thepervasive demands for participatoryliving, on which Aristotle spoke withfar-reaching insight, if we takedemocracy to be a kind of aspecialized cultural product of theWest.

It cannot, of course, be doubtedthat the institutional structure of thecontemporary practice of democracyis largely the product of Europeanand American experience over thelast few centuries. This is extremelyimportant to recognize since thesedevelopments in institutional formatswere immensely innovative andultimately effective. There can belittle doubt that there is a major‘Western’ achievement here.31. Which of the following is closest

to the view of democracy amentioned in the abovepassage?

(A) The subject of democracyis a muddle due to a desireto portray it as a Westernconcept, ‘alien’ to non-Western countries

(B) The language of impositionof democracy isinappropriate. There is,however, a need to considerthis concept in thebackdrop of culture of ‘ownways’ of non-Westernsociety





(C) While democracy is notessentially a Western ideabelonging exclusively to theWest, the institutionalstructure of currentdemocratic practices hasbeen their contribution

(D) None of the statements (A),B) and (C) given above iscorrect

32. With reference of the passage,the following assumptions havebeen made-1. Many of the non-Western

countries are unable to havedemocracy because theytake democracy to be aspecialized cultural productof the West.

2. Westerncountries arealways trying to imposedemocracy on non-Westerncountries.Which of the above is/ arevalid assumption/assumptions?



Corporate governance is basedon principles such as conducting thebusiness with all integrity and fairness,being transparent with regard to alltransactions, making all the necessarydisclosures and decisions, complyingwith all the laws of the land,accountability and responsibilitytowards the stakeholders andcommitment to conducting businessin an ethical manner. Another pointwhich is highlighted on corporategovernance is the need for those incontrol to be able to distinguishbetween what are personal andcorporate funds while managing acompany.

Fundamentally, there is a levelof company that is known to havegood corporate governance. The

presence of an active group ofindependent directors on the boardcontributes a great deal towardsensuring confidence in the market.Corporate governance is known tobe one of the criteria that foreigninstitutional investors are increasinglydepending on when deciding onwhich companies to invest in. It is alsoknown to have a positive influenceon the share price of the company.Having a clean image on thecorporate governance front couldalso make it easier for companies tosource capital at more reasonablecosts. Unfortunately, corporategovernance often becomes thecentre of discussion only after theexposure of a large scam.33. According to the passage,

which of the following should bethe practice / practices in goodcorporate governance?1. Companies should always

comply with labour and taxlaws of the land.

2. Every company in thecountry should have agovernment representativeas one of the independentdirectors on the board toensure transparency.

3. The manager of a companyshould never invest hispersonal funds in thecompany.Select the correct answerusing the codes givenbelow:

(A) 1 only(B) 2 and 3 only(C) 1 and 3 only 3(D) 1,2 and 3

34. According to the passage,which of the following is/are themajor benefit/benefits of goodcorporate governance?1. Good corporate governance

leads to increase in shareprice of the company.

2. A company with good

corporate governancealways increases its businessturnover rapidly.

3. Good corporate governanceis the main criterion forforeign institutional investorswhen they decide to buy acompany.Select the correct answerusing the codes givenbelow.

(A) 1 only(B) 2 and 3 only(C) 1 and 3 only(D) 1, 2 and 3


Malnutrition most commonlyoccurs between the ages of sixmonths and two years. This happensdespite the child’s food requirementsbeing less than that of an older child.Malnutrition is often attributed topoverty, but it has been found thateven in households where adults eatadequate quantities of food, morethan 50 per cent of children-under-five do not consume enough food.The child’s dependence onsomeone else to feed him/her isprimarily responsible for themalnutrition. Very often the mother isworking and the responsibility offeeding the young child is left to anolder sibling. It is therefore crucial toincrease awareness regarding thechild’s food needs and how to satisfythem.35. According to the passage,

malnutrition in children can bereduced-

(A) if the children have regularintake of food

(B) after they cross the age offive

(C) if the food needs of youngerchildren are known

(D) if the responsibility offeeding younger children isgiven to adults

36. According to the author, poverty





is not the main cause ofmalnutrition, but the fact that-1. taking care of younger ones

is not a priority for workingmothers.

2. awareness of nutritionalneeds is not propagated bythe Public Health authorities.Select the correct answerusing the code given below:



A number of empirical studiesfind that farmers are risk-averse,though only moderately in manycases. There is also evidence to showthat farmers’ risk aversion results incropping patterns and input usedesigned to reduce risk rather thanto maximize income. Farmers adopta number of strategies to manage andcope with agricultural risks. Theseinclude practices like crop and fielddiversification, non-farmemployment, storage of stocks andstrategic migration of familymembers. There are also institutionsranging from share tenancy to kinship,extended family and informal creditagencies. One major obstacle to risksharing by farmers is that the sametype of risks can affect a large numberof farmers in the region. Empiricalstudies show that the traditionalmethods are not adequate. Hence,there is a need for policyinterventions, especially measuresthat cut across geographical regions.

Policies may aim at tacklingagricultural risks directly or indirectly.Examples of risk-specific policies arecrop insurance, price stabilizationand the development of varietiesresistant to pests and diseases.Policies which affect risk indirectlyare irrigation, subsidized credit andaccess to information. No single risk-specific policy is sufficient to reduce

risk and is without side-effects,whereas policies not specific to riskinfluence the general situation andaffect risks only indirectly. Cropinsurance, as a policy measure totackle agricultural risk directly,deserves careful consideration in theIndian context and in many otherdeveloping countries-because themajority of farmers depend on rain-fed agricultural and in many areasyield variability is the predominantcause of their income instability.37. The need for policy intervention

to mitigate risks in agriculture isbecause—

(A) farmers are extremely risk-averse

(B) farmers do not know how tomitigate risks

(C) the methods adopted byfarmers and existing risksharing institutions are notadequate

(D) majority of farmers dependon rainfed agriculture

38. Which of the followingobservations emerges from theabove passage?

(A) One can identify a singlepolicy that can reduce riskwithout any side-effect

(B) No single risk-specificpolicy is sufficient to reduceagricultural risk.

(C) Policies which affect riskindirectly can eliminate it

(D) Government’s policyintervention can mitigateagricultural risk completely

39. Consider the followingstatements-(i) A primary group is relatively

smaller in size.(ii) Intimacy is an essential

characteristic of a primarygroup.

(iii) A family may be an exampleof a primary group.In the light of the above

statements, which one of thefollowing is true?

(A) All families are primarygroups

(B) All primary groups arefamilies

(C) A group of smaller size isalways a primary group

(D) Members of a primary groupknow each other intimately.

40. Four friends, A, B, C and Ddistribute some money amongthemselves in such a manner thatA gets one less than B, C gets 5more than D, D gets 3 more thanB. Who gets the smallest amount?

(A) A (B) B(C) C (D) D

Directions (Q. 41-44)- Read theDirections (Q. 41-44)- Read theDirections (Q. 41-44)- Read theDirections (Q. 41-44)- Read theDirections (Q. 41-44)- Read thefollowing statements andfollowing statements andfollowing statements andfollowing statements andfollowing statements andanswer the four items thatanswer the four items thatanswer the four items thatanswer the four items thatanswer the four items thatfollow-follow-follow-follow-follow-

Five cities P, Q, R, Sand Tareconnected by different modes oftransport as follows:

P and Q are connected by boatas well as rail.

Sand R are connected by busand boat.

Q and T are connected by aironly.

P and R are connected by boatonly.

T and R are connected by railand bus.

Which mode of transportwould help one to reach Rstarting from Q, but withoutchanging the mode oftransport?

(A) Boat (B) Rail(C) Bus (D) Air

42. If a person visits each of theplaces starting from P and getsback to P, which of the followingplaces must he visit twice?

(A) Q (B) R(C) S (D) T

43. Which one of the following pairsof cities is connected by any of





the routes directly without goingto any other city?

(A) P and T(B) T and S(C) Q and R(D) None of these

44. Between which two cities amongthe pairs of cities given beloware there maximum travel optionsavailable?

(A) Q and S(C) P and T(B) P and R(D) Q and R

Directions (Q. 45-47)-Read theDirections (Q. 45-47)-Read theDirections (Q. 45-47)-Read theDirections (Q. 45-47)-Read theDirections (Q. 45-47)-Read thefollowing passage and answerfollowing passage and answerfollowing passage and answerfollowing passage and answerfollowing passage and answerthe three items that follow:the three items that follow:the three items that follow:the three items that follow:the three items that follow:

A tennis coach is trying to puttogether a team of four players for theforthcoming tournament. For this 7players are available: males A, BandC; and females W, X, Y and Z. Allplayers have equal capability and atleast 2 males will be there in the team.For a team of four, all players must beable to play with each other. But, Bcannot play with W, C cannot playwith Z and W cannot play with Y.45. If Y is selected and B is rejected,

the team will consist of whichone of the following groups?

(A) A, C, W and Y(B) A, C, X and Y(C) A, C, Y and Z(D) A, W, Yand Z46. If B is selected and Y is rejected,

the team will consist of whichone of the following groups?

(A) A, B, C and W(B) A, B, C and Z(C) A, B, C and X(D) A, W, Y and Z

47.If all the three males are selected,then how manycombinations of fourmember teams arepossible?

(A) 1 (B) 2(C) 3 (D) 4

48. The music director of a filmwants to select four persons towork on different aspects of the

composition of a piece of music.Seven persons are available forthis work; they are Rohit, Tanya,Shobha, Kaushal, Kunal, Mukeshand J aswant.Rohit and Tanya will not worktogether. Kunal and Shobha willnot work together. Mukesh andKunal want to work together.Which of the following is themost acceptable group ofpeople that can be selected bythe music director?

(A) Rohit, Shobha, Kunal andKaushal

(B) Tanya, Kaushal, Shobha andRohit

(C) Tanya, Mukesh, Kunal andJaswant

(D) Shobha, Tanya, Rohit andMukesh

49. Five people, A, B, C, D and E areseated about a round table.Every chair is spaced equidistantfrom adjacent chairs.(i) C is seated next to A.(ii) A is seated two seats from

D.(iii) B is not seated next to A.

Which of the following mustbe true?

(I) D is seated next to B.(II) E is seated next to A.

Select the correct answerfrom the codes given below:

(A) I only(B) II only(C) Both I and II(D) Neither I nor II

Directions (Q. 50-52)-ExamineDirections (Q. 50-52)-ExamineDirections (Q. 50-52)-ExamineDirections (Q. 50-52)-ExamineDirections (Q. 50-52)-Examinecarefully the followingcarefully the followingcarefully the followingcarefully the followingcarefully the followingstatements and answer thestatements and answer thestatements and answer thestatements and answer thestatements and answer thethree items that follow:three items that follow:three items that follow:three items that follow:three items that follow:

Out of four friends A, B, C andD,

A and B play football andcricket,

Band C play cricket and hockey,A and D play basketball and

football,

C and D play hockey andbasketball.50. Who does not play hockey?

(A) D (B) C(C) B (0) A

51. Who plays football, basketballand hockey?

(A) D (B) C(C) B (0) A

52. Which game do B, C and 0 play?(A) Basketball(B) Hockey(C) Cricket (D) Football

53. Geeta is older than her cousinMeena. Meena’s brother Bipin isolder than Geeta. When Meenaand Bipin visit Geeta, they like toplay chess. Meena wins the gamemore often than Geeta.Based on the above information,four conclusions, as given below,have been made. Which one ofthese logically follows from theinformation given above?

(A) While playing chess withGeeta and Meena, Bipinoften loses

(B) Geeta is the oldest amongthe three

(C) Geeta hates to lose thegame

(D) Meena is the youngest of thethree

Directions (Q. 54-57)- Read theDirections (Q. 54-57)- Read theDirections (Q. 54-57)- Read theDirections (Q. 54-57)- Read theDirections (Q. 54-57)- Read thefollowing passage and answerfollowing passage and answerfollowing passage and answerfollowing passage and answerfollowing passage and answerthe four items that follow. Yourthe four items that follow. Yourthe four items that follow. Yourthe four items that follow. Yourthe four items that follow. Youranswers to these items shouldanswers to these items shouldanswers to these items shouldanswers to these items shouldanswers to these items shouldbe based on the passage only.be based on the passage only.be based on the passage only.be based on the passage only.be based on the passage only.


Financial markets in India haveacquired greater depth and liquidityover the years. Steady reforms since1991 have led to growing linkagesand integration of the Indianeconomy and its financial system withthe global economy. Weak globaleconomic prospects and continuinguncertainties in the internationalfinancial markets therefore, have hadtheir impact on the emerging market





economies. Sovereign risk concerns,particularly in the Euro area, affectedfinancial markets for the greater partof the year, with the contagion ofGreece’s sovereign debt problemspreading to India and othereconomies by way of higher-than-normal levels of volatility.

The funding constraints ininternational financial markets couldimpact both the availability and costof foreign funding for banks andcorporate. Since the Indian financialsystem is bank dominated, banks’ability to withstand stress is critical tooverall financial stability. Indianbanks, however, remain robust,notwithstanding a decline in capitalto risk-weighted assets ratio and a risein non-performing asset levels in therecent past. Capital adequacy levelsremain above the regulatoryrequirements. The financial marketinfrastructure continues to functionwithout any major disruption. Withfurther globalization, consolidation,deregulation, and diversification ofthe financial system, the bankingbusiness may become more complexand riskier. Issues like risk andliquidity management and enhancingskill therefore assume greatersignificance.54. According to the passage, the

financial markets in the emergingmarket economies includingIndia had the adverse impact inrecent years due to-1. weak global economic

prospects.2. uncertainties in the

international financialmarkets.

3. sovereign risk concerns inthe Euro area.

4. bad monsoons and theresultant crop loss.Select the correct answerusing the code given below:

(A) 1 and 2 only(B) 1,2 and 3

(C) 2 and 3 only(D) 2,3 and 4

55. The Indian financial markets areaffected by global changesmainly due to the-

(A) increased inflow ofremittances from abroad

(B) enormous increase in theforeign exchange reserves

(C) growing global linkages andintegration of the Indianfinancial markets

(D) contagion of Greece’ssovereign debt problem

56. According to the passage, in theIndian financial system, banks’ability to withstand stress iscritical to ensure overall financialstability because Indian financialsystem is-

(A) controlled by theGovernment of India

(B) less integrated with banks(C) controlled by Reserve Bank

of India(D) dominated by banks

57. Risk and liquidity managementassumes more importance in theIndian banking system in futuredue to—1. further globalization.2. more consolidation and

deregulation of the financialsystem.

3. further diversification of thefinancial system.

4. more financial inclusion inthe economy.Select the correct answerusing the code given below:

(A) 1,2 and 3(B) 2,3 and 4(C) 1 and 2 only(D) 3 and 4 only

58. There are five hobby clubs in acollege viz., photography,yachting, chess, electronics andgardening. The gardening groupmeets every second day, theelectronics group meets every

third day, the chess group meetsevery fourth day, the yachtinggroup meets every fifth day andthe photography group meetsevery sixth day. How many timesdo all the five groups meet onthe same day within 180 days?

(A) 3 (B) 5(C) 10 (D) 18

59. A, B, C, D and E belong to fivedifferent cities P, Q, R, Sand T(not necessarily in that order).Each one of them comes from adifferent city. Further it is giventhat:1. Band C do not belong to Q.2. Band E do not belong to P

and Q.3. A and C do not belong to R,

Sand T.4. D and E do not belong to Q

and T.Which one of the followingstatements is not correct?

(A) C belongs to P(B) D belongs to R(C) A belongs to Q(D) B belongs to S

60. Seven men, A, B, C, D, E, F and Gare standing in a queue in thatorder. Each one is wearing a capof a different colour like violet,indigo, blue, green, yellow,orange and red. D is able to seein front of him green and blue,but not violet. E can see violetand yellow, but not red. G cansee caps of all colours other thanorange. If E is wearing an indigocoloured cap, then the colour ofthe cap worn by F is-

(A) Blue (B) Violet(C) Red (D) Orange

61. There are some balls of red,green and yellow colour lying ona table. There are as many redballs as there are yellow balls.There are twice as many yellowballs as there are green ones. Thenumber of red balls-





(A) is equal to the sum of yellowand green balls

(B) is double the number ofgreen balls

(C) is equal to yellow balls minusgreen balls

(D) cannot be ascertained

Directions (Q. 62 and 63)-ReadDirections (Q. 62 and 63)-ReadDirections (Q. 62 and 63)-ReadDirections (Q. 62 and 63)-ReadDirections (Q. 62 and 63)-Readthe following passage andthe following passage andthe following passage andthe following passage andthe following passage andanswer the two items thatanswer the two items thatanswer the two items thatanswer the two items thatanswer the two items thatfollow. Your answers to thesefollow. Your answers to thesefollow. Your answers to thesefollow. Your answers to thesefollow. Your answers to theseitems should be based on theitems should be based on theitems should be based on theitems should be based on theitems should be based on thepassage only.passage only.passage only.passage only.passage only.


Crude mineral oil comes out ofthe earth as a thick brown or blackliquid with a strong smell. It is acomplex mixture of many differentsubstances, each with its ownindividual qualities. Most of them arecombinations of hydrogen andcarbon in varying proportions. Suchhydrocarbons are also found in otherforms such as bitumen, asphalt andnatural gas. Mineral oil originates fromthe carcasses of tiny animals and fromplants that live in the sea. Overmillions of years, these dead creaturesform large deposits under the sea-bed; and ocean currents cover themwith a blanket of sand and silt. As thismineral hardens, it becomessedimentary rock and effectivelyshuts out the oxygen, so preventingthe complete decomposition of themarine deposits underneath. T

he layers of sedimentary rockbecome thicker and heavier. Theirpressure produces heat, whichtransforms the tiny carcasses intocrude oil in a process that is still goingon today.62. Mineral oil deposits under the sea

do not get completelydecomposed because they-

(A) are constantly washed bythe ocean currents

(B) become rock and preventoxygen from entering them

(C) contain a mixture of

hydrogen and carbon(D) are carcasses of organisms

lying in saline conditions63. Sedimentary rock leads to the

formation of oil depositsbecause—

(A) there are no salineconditions below it

(B) it allows some dissolvedoxygen to enter the deadorganic matter below it

(C) weight of overlyingsediment layers causes theproduction of heat

(D) it contains the substancesthat catalyze the chemicalreactions required tochange dead organisms intooil

64. In a class of 45 students, a boy isranked 20th. When two boysjoined, his rank was dropped byone. What is his new rank fromthe end?

(A) 25th (B) 26th

(C) 27th (D) 28th

65. A thief running at 8 km/hr ischased by a policeman whosespeed is 10 km/hr. If the thief is100 m ahead of the policeman,then the time required for thepoliceman to catch the thief willbe–

(A) 2 min (B) 3 min(C) 4 min (D) 6 min

66. A train travels at a certain averagespeed for a distance of 63 kmand then travels a distance of 72km at an average speed of 6 km /hr more than its original speed. Ifit takes 3 hours to complete the

total journey, what is the originalspeed of the train in km/hr ?

(A) 24 (B) 33(C) 42 (D) 66

Directions (Q.67-74)-TheDirections (Q.67-74)-TheDirections (Q.67-74)-TheDirections (Q.67-74)-TheDirections (Q.67-74)-Thefollowing eight items are basedfollowing eight items are basedfollowing eight items are basedfollowing eight items are basedfollowing eight items are basedon three passage in English toon three passage in English toon three passage in English toon three passage in English toon three passage in English totest the comprehension oftest the comprehension oftest the comprehension oftest the comprehension oftest the comprehension ofEnglish language. Read eachEnglish language. Read eachEnglish language. Read eachEnglish language. Read eachEnglish language. Read each

passage and answer the itemspassage and answer the itemspassage and answer the itemspassage and answer the itemspassage and answer the itemsthat follows-that follows-that follows-that follows-that follows-

English Passage-1English Passage-1English Passage-1English Passage-1English Passage-1

Seven-year-old Jim came homefrom the park without” his newbicycle. “An old man and a little boyborrowed it,” he explained. “They aregoing to bring it back at four 0' clock.”His parents were upset that he hadgiven his expensive new bicycle, butwere secretly proud of his kindnessand faith. Came four O'clock nobicycle. The parents were anxious.But at 4:30, the door bell rang, andthere stood a happy man and a boy,with the bicycle and a box ofchocolates. Jim suddenlydisappeared into his bedroom, andthen came running out. “All right,” hesaid, after examining the bicycle.“You can have your watch back !”67. When Jim came home without his

bicycle, his parents-(A) were angry with him(B) were worried(C) did not feel concerned(D) were eager to meet the old

man and the little boy68. Jim returned the watch to the

old man and the little boybecause

(A) they gave him chocolates(B) his father was proud of him(C) he was satisfied with the

condition of his bicycle(D) they were late only by 30

minutes


It was already late when we setout for the next town, whichaccording to the map was aboutfifteen kilometres away on the otherside of the hills. There we felt that wewould find a bed for the night.Darkness fell soon after we left thevillage, but luckily we met no one aswe drove swiftly along the narrowwinding road that led to the hills. Aswe climbed higher, it became colderand rain began to fall, making it





difficult at limes to see the road. Iasked John, my companion, to drivemore slowly. After we had travelledfor about twenty kilometres, therewas still no sign of the town whichwas marked on the map. We werebeginning to get worried. Thenwithout warning, the car stopped andwe found we had run out of petrol.69. The author asked John to drive

more slowly because—(A) the road led to the hills(B) John was an inexperienced

driver(C) the road was not clearly

visible(D) they were in wilderness

70. The travellers set out for the townalthough it was getting darkbecause–

(A) they were in a hurry(B) the next town was a short

distance away and was a hill-resort

(C) they were in wilderness(D) the next town was a short

distance away and promiseda good rest for the night

71. The travellers were worried aftertwenty kilometres because—

(A) it was a lonely countryside(B) they probably feared of

having lost their way(C) the rain began to fall(D) it was getting colder as they

drove


A stout old lady was walkingwith her basket down the middle ofa street in Petrograd to the greatconfusion of the traffic and no smallperil to herself. It was pointed out toher that the pavement was the placefor foot-passengers, but she replied,“I’m going to walk where I like. We’vegot liberty now.” It did not occur tothe dear lady that if liberty entitledthe foot-passenger to walk down themiddle of the road it also entitled thetaxi-driver to drive on the pavement,and that the end of such liberty

would be universal chaos. Everythingwould be getting in everybody else’sway and nobody would getanywhere. Individual liberty wouldhave become social anarchy.72. It was pointed out to the lady that

“he should walk on the pavementbecause she was-

(A) a pedestrian(B) carrying a basket(C) stout (D) an old lady

73. The lady refused to move fromthe middle of the streetbecause—

(A) she was not afraid of beingkilled

(B) she felt that she is entitledto do whatever she liked

(C) she did not like walking onthe pavement

(D) she was confused74. The old lady failed to realise that-

(A) she was not really free(B) her liberty was not unlimited(C) she was an old person(D) roads are made for motor

vehicles only

Directions (Q. 75-80)-GivenDirections (Q. 75-80)-GivenDirections (Q. 75-80)-GivenDirections (Q. 75-80)-GivenDirections (Q. 75-80)-Givenbelow are six items. Each itembelow are six items. Each itembelow are six items. Each itembelow are six items. Each itembelow are six items. Each itemdescribes a situation and isdescribes a situation and isdescribes a situation and isdescribes a situation and isdescribes a situation and isfollowed by four possiblefollowed by four possiblefollowed by four possiblefollowed by four possiblefollowed by four possibleresponses. Indicate theresponses. Indicate theresponses. Indicate theresponses. Indicate theresponses. Indicate theresponse you find mostresponse you find mostresponse you find mostresponse you find mostresponse you find mostappropriate. Choose only oneappropriate. Choose only oneappropriate. Choose only oneappropriate. Choose only oneappropriate. Choose only oneresponse for each item. Theresponse for each item. Theresponse for each item. Theresponse for each item. Theresponse for each item. Theresponses will be evaluatedresponses will be evaluatedresponses will be evaluatedresponses will be evaluatedresponses will be evaluatedbased on the level ofbased on the level ofbased on the level ofbased on the level ofbased on the level ofappropriateness for the givenappropriateness for the givenappropriateness for the givenappropriateness for the givenappropriateness for the givensituation.situation.situation.situation.situation.

Please attempt all the items:There is no penalty for wrong answersfor these six items.75. You are the head of your office.

There are certain housesreserved for the allotment to theoffice staff and you have beengiven the discretion to do so. Aset of rules for the allotment ofthe houses has been laid downby you and has been made

public. Your personal secretary,who is very close to you, comesto you and pleads that as hisfather is seriously ill, he shouldbe given priority in allotment ofa house. The office secretariatthat examined the request as perthe rules turns down the requestand recommends the procedureto be followed according to therules. You do not want to annoyyour personal secretary. In suchcircumstances, what would youdo ?

(A) Call him over to your roomand personally explain whythe allotment cannot bedone

(B) Allot the house to him to winhis loyalty

(C) Agree with the office noteto show that you are notbiased and that you do notindulge in favouritism

(D) Keep the file with you andnot pass any orders.

76. While travelling in a Delhi-registered commercial taxi fromDelhi to an adjacent city (anotherState), your taxi driver informsyou that as he has no permit forrunning the taxi in that city, hewill stop at its Transport Officeand pay the prescribed fee offforty for a day. While paying thefee at the counter you find thatthe transport clerk is taking anextra fifty rupees for which noreceipt is being given. You are ina hurry for your meeting. In suchcircumstances, what would youdo ?

(A) Go up the counter and askthe clerk to give back themoney which he has illigallytaken

(B) Do not interfere at all as thisis a matter between the taxidriver and the tax authorities

(C) Take note of the incident





and subsequently reportthe matter to the concernedauthorities

(D) Treat it as a normal affair andsimply forget about it

77. A person lives in a far off villagewhich is almost two hours by bus.The villager’s neighbour is a verypowerful landlord who is tryingto occupy the poor villager’sland by force. You are the DistrictMagistrate and busy in a meetingcalled by a local Minister. Thevillager has come all the way, bybus and on foot, to see you andgive an application seekingprotection from the powerfullandlord. The villager keeps onwaiting outside the meeting hallfor an hour. You come out of themeeting and are rushing toanother meeting. The villagerfollows you to submit hisapplication. What would you do?

(A) Tell him to wait for anothertwo hours till you comeback from your nextmeeting (B) Tell him that thematter is actually to be dealtby a junior officer and thathe should give theapplication to him

(C) Call one of your seniorsubordinate officers and askhim to solve the villager’sproblem

(D) Quickly take the applicationfrom him, ask him a fewrelevant questions regardinghis problem and thenproceed to the meeting

78. There is a shortage of sugar inyour District where you are theDistrict Magistrate. TheGovernment has ordered thatonly a maximum amount of 30 kgsugar is to be released forwedding celebrations. A son ofyour close friend is gettingmarried and your friend requests

you to release at least 50 kg sugarfor his son’s wedding. Heexpresses annoyance when youtell him about the Government’srestrictions on this matter. Hefeels that since you are theDistrict Magistrate you canrelease any amount. You do notwant to spoil your friendship withhim. In such circumstances, howwould you deal with thesituation?

(A) Release the extra amount ofsugar which your friend hasrequested for

(B) Refuse your friend the extraamount and strictly followthe rules

(C) Show your friend the copyof the Governmentinstructions and thenpersuade him to accept thelower amount as prescribedin the rules

(D) Advise him to directly applyto the allotting authority andinform him that you do notinterfere in this matter

79. You are in-charge ofimplementing the FamilyPlanning programme in an areawhere there is a strongopposition to the present policy.You want to convince theresidents of the need forkeeping small families. Whatwould be the best way ofcommunicating the message?

(A) By logically explaining tothe residents the need forfamily planning to improvethe health and livingstandards

(B) By encouraging latemarriage” and pT0per“pacing of children

(C) By offering incentives foradopting family planningdevices

(D) By asking people who have

been sterilized or are usingcontraceptives to directlytalk to the residents

80. You are a teacher in a Universityand are setting a question paperon a particular subject. One ofyour colleagues, whose son ispreparing for the examination onthat subject, comes to you andinforms you that it is his son’s lastchance to pass that examinationand whether you could help himby indicating what questions aregoing to be in the examination.In the past, your colleague hadhelped you in another matter.Your colleague informs you thathis son will suffer fromdepression if he fails in thisexamination. In suchcircumstances, what would youdo?

(A) In view of the help he hadgiven you, extend your helpto him

(B) Regret that you cannot beof any help to him

(C) Explain to your colleaguethat this would be violatingthe trust of the Universityauthorities and you are notin a position to help him

(D) Report the conduct of yourcolleague to the higherauthorities


1. (D) 2. (A) 3. (A)4. (B) 5. (B) 6. (C)7. (D) 8. (D) 9. (A)

10. (C) 11. (B) 12. (B)13. (B) 14. (C) 15. (B)16. (D) 17. (B) 18. (C)19. (B) 20. (A) 21. (C)22. (A) 23. (B) 24. (A)25. (B) 26. (A) 27. (C)28. (A) 29. (B) 30. (D)31. (C) 32. (D) 33. (A)34. (A) 35. (C) 36. (A)37. (C) 38. (B) 39. (D)40. (A) 41. (A) 42. (B)





43. (D) 44. (A) 45. (B)46. (C) 47. (B) 48. (C)49. (C) 50. (D) 51. (A)52. (B) 53. (D) 54. (B)55. (C) 56. (D) 57. (A)58. (A) 59. (D) 60. (C)61. (B) 62. (B) 63. (C)64. (C) 65. (B) 66. (C)67. (B) 68. (C) 69. (C)70. (D) 71. (B) 72. (A)73. (B) 74. (B) 75. (A)76. (C) 77. (C) 78. (C)79. (A) 80. (C)

EXPLANATIONSEXPLANATIONSEXPLANATIONSEXPLANATIONSEXPLANATIONS

3. Let the number of gold coins bex and non-gold coins be 3x.Then as per question–

103

xx+

= 12

2(x + 10) = 3x

2x + 20 = 3xx = 20Now, total number of coins inthe collection= (x + 10) + 3x= 20 + 10 + 3 × 20= 30 + 60 = 90

4. Required minimum number ofplants= (32)2 – 1000= 1024 – 1000= 24

5. Let the least value of the prizewill be Rs. xThen as per question–x + (x + 20) + (x + 40) + (x + 60)+ (x + 80) + (x + 100) + (x + 120)= 7007x + 420 = 7007x = 700 - 4207x = 280 x = 40

6. As per question–

n( A U B) = n (A) + n(B) - n (A

B)

120 = 70 + 80 - n (A B)

n (A B) = 150 - 120 = 30

∴ Required ratio = 30 : 70= 3 : 7

7. Let the number of days be x.Then as per question–1000 × (30 - 10) = (1000 + 1000)× x

1000 × 20 = 2000 × x

x = , x = 10

21. Since, 33 + 73

= 27 + 343= 370and 23 + 63 = 8 + 216 = 124Therefore,13 + X3 = 730X3 = 730 - 1 = 729∴ X = (729)1/3

X = 923. Series,

12 × = 12 × 7 = 84

9 × = 9 × 9= 81

Similarly in figure III.

11 × = 88 ∴ x =

= 8 × 2 = 1625. Required number of Physics

professors

= (32 + 8) ×

= 40 × = 16

26. Ratio of males to females in:Physics 32 : 8 4 : 1Mathematics 28 : 8 7 : 2Chemistry 16 : 22 8 : 11Economics 24 : 8 3 : 1Hence, Physics has the highestratio of males of females.

27. Required percentage

=

=6 100%

10×

= 60%28. Since, all the Physics professors

of 25-34 age group= 30% of 40

= 30 40100

× = 12

Therefore, female Physicsprofessors in 25-34 age group= 25% of 12

= = 3

Now, required no. of malePhysics professors in the agegroup of 25 - 34= 12 - 3 = 9

29. Let the number of professors inthe university be x2% of x = (6 + 4)

= 10

∴ x = = 500

40. Let the amount distribute in fourfriends A, B, C and D as follows:A xB x + 1D (x + 1) + 3 (x + 4)C (x + 4) + 5 (x + 9)Hence, A gets the smallestamount.

For Q. 45 - 47If W(√) B(x)

B (√) W(x)C(√) Z(x)Z(√) C(x)W(√) Y(x)Y(√) W(x)

45. If Y(√) and B(x)Then possible group will be A,C, X and Y.

46. If B(√ ) and Y(x). The possiblegroups areA, B, C and X or A, B, X and Z.

47. Required possible teams are(A, B, C), X(A, B, C), Y

48. The most acceptable group ofpeople = Tanya, Mukesh, Kunaland Jaswant.

53. Age-wiseVipin > Geeta > Mena (cousin).Hence, Meena is the youngestof the three.

58. Here, every 60th day they willmeet together. So in 180 daysall the five groups can meet 3times.

61. Let the green balls are x.Then, yellow balls will be 2x andalso the red balls.Hence, the number of red ballsis double the number of greenballs.





64. Required rank= (45 + 2) - (20 + 1) + 1= 47 - 21 + 1= 27th

65. Required time

= = 3 min.

66. Let the original speed of the

train in km/hr.Then as per question—

t1 + t2 = 63 72

6x x+

+

3 =

x(x +6) = 21 (x + 6) + 24x

x2 + 6x = 21x + 126 + 24xx2 + 6x - 45x - 126 = 0x2 - 39x - 126 = 0x2 - 42x + 3x - 126 = 0x(x - 42) + 3(x – 42) = 0(x - 42) (x + 3) = 0∴ x = 42 and x = -3 (not possible)Hence, the original speed of thetrain 42km/hr.

Mock PaperMock PaperMock PaperMock PaperMock Paper




Direction: Direction: Direction: Direction: Direction: The following questionconsists of two statements; onelabelled as the ‘Assertion (A)’ and theother as ‘Reason (R)’ You are toexamine these statements carefullyand select the answers to these itemsusing the codes given below:Code:Code:Code:Code:Code:

(a) Both A and R are individuallytrue and R is the correctexplanation of A.

(b) Both A and R are individuallytrue but R is not the correctexplanation of A.

(c) A is true but R is false.(d) A is false but R is true.

1. Consider the following Mughalnobles:1. Afzal Khan2. Mahabat Khan3. Ali Mardan Khan4. Asaf KhanWhat is the correct chronologicalsequence of the above nobles ?

(a) 1 - 2 - 3 - 4(b) 4 - 3 - 2 - 1(c) 3 - 1 - 4 - 2(d) 4 - 2 - 3 - 1

2. Who among the followingplayed an important role insigning at the Gandhi Irwin Pact?1. Motilal Nehru2. Tej Bahadur sapru3. Madan Mohan Malaviya4. M.R. Jayakar5. C.Y. ChintamaniSelect the correct answer usingthe code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 4(c) 2 and 3 (d) 4 and 5

3. Which one of the followingstatements is not true in relationto Annie Besant ?

(a) She was an Irish Lady(b) She was actively connected

with the theosophical society.(c) She was connected with the

Home-Rule Movement.(d) She was the founder of a

womens university.4. Which comment among the

following is not true in relation tothe politics at the Muslim Leagueafter the provincial legislativeAssembly elections of-1937 ?

(A) Muslim league was inclined toform coalition ministries withIndian National congress

(B) Jinnah criticised the congressas 'drunk with power'

(C) Muslim league got a Reportprepared aboutilltratement of the Mulslims incongress governmentprovinces.

(D) Muslim league ministries ofBengal, Sindh and N.W.F.P.resigned

5. Consider the following:1. The Amrita Bazar Patrika was

started in 1868.2. Aruna Asaf Ali was the

founder of the congresswomen volunteers corps.

3. Bina Das fired at the Governorwhile reciving her degree atthe convocation.

4. Latika Ghose took part in thechittgong armoury raid. whichof the statements given aboveare correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 4 (b)1, 3 and 4(c) 1 and 3 only (d)2 and 4 only 6. Match List I with List II and select

the correct answer using thecode given below the lists:List IList IList IList IList I List IIList IIList IIList IIList II( f o u n d e r )( f o u n d e r )( f o u n d e r )( f o u n d e r )( f o u n d e r ) ( w o m e n ' s( w o m e n ' s( w o m e n ' s( w o m e n ' s( w o m e n ' s

political aspolitical aspolitical aspolitical aspolitical asgomisa t ion)gomisa t ion)gomisa t ion)gomisa t ion)gomisa t ion)

A. Latika Ghosh 1 . Rashtriya StreeSangha

B. Sarojini Naidu2 . Mahila RashtriyaSangha

C . Krishnabai Rao3 . Nari SatyagrahaSamiti

D. Urmila Devi 4 . Desh Sevika SanghaC o d e :C o d e :C o d e :C o d e :C o d e :

A B C D(a) 2 4 1 3(b) 3 4 1 2(c) 2 1 4 3(d) 3 1 4 27. Consider the following

statements:Surendranath Banerjee IndianAssociation1. Was concerned with a plea

for the admission of Indians tothe civil service.

2. Carried on a campaign againstthe Arms Act and theVernacular Press Act.

Which of the statements givenabove is/are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only(c) Both 1 and 2(d) Neither 1 nor 2

8. With reference to theGovernment of India Act, 1935,consider the followingstatements:1. As per the Act, in the

Governors provinces, diarchywas abolished and provincialAutonomy introduced.

2. All the provincial Legislaturesconsisted of only onechamber called LegislativeAssembly.


(a) 1 only (b) 2 only(c) Both 1 and 2(d) Neither 1 nor 2

9. Which one of the following wasnot actually part of the originalplan of the non-cooperationmovement, but acquired greatpopularity among the movementin many parts of the country ?

(a) Picketing of shops sellingforeign cloth

(b) Boycott of Government





schools and colleges(c) Picketing of tadi shops(d) Boycott of public transport

and communication system.10. Match List I with List II and select

the correct answer using thecode given below the lists:

List IList IList IList IList I List IIList IIList IIList IIList II( F o u n d e r s )( F o u n d e r s )( F o u n d e r s )( F o u n d e r s )( F o u n d e r s ) ( j o u r n a l s )( j o u r n a l s )( j o u r n a l s )( j o u r n a l s )( j o u r n a l s )

A. Zafar Ali khan 1 . Kudi ArasuB. B.C Horniman 2 . Kisan BulletinC . E.V.R. Naicker

periyar 3 . Bombay chronicleD. Indulal Yagnik 4 . Zamindar

C o d e :C o d e :C o d e :C o d e :C o d e :A B C D

(a) 4 2 3 1(b) 4 3 1 2(c) 1 3 2 4(d) 1 2 3 411. 'Mitra Mela' was later on renamed

as(a) Anushilan samiti(b) Abhinava Bhart Samiti(c) Jugantar(d) Nibandhamala

12. In the context of Non-cooperation Movement underwhose chairmanship was the AllIndia college student'sconference held at Nagpur inDecember 1920 ?

(a) B.C. Pal (b) C.R. Das(c) Lala Lajpat Rai(d) Pandit Motilal Nehru

13. What is the correct chronologicalorder of the Buddhist councilsheld at the under mentioned fourplaces ?

(a) Vaishali, Rajgriha, Kundalvan,Pataliputra

(b) Rajgriha, Vaishali, Pataliputra,Kundalvan

(c) Pataliputra, Kundalvan,Vaishli, Rajgriha

(d) Rajgriha, Pataliputra,Kundalvan, Vaishli

14. Who was the first to sign thesubsidiary Alliance in India ?

(a) Peshwa(b) Nawab of Awadh(c) Nizam of Hyderabad(d) Ruler of Tanjore

15. Which one was the most seriouspolitical blunder of Dalhousie ?

(a) Prohibiting adoption(b) Beginning of Railways(b) Attempt to capture Burma(d) Take over of Awadh

16. Which one of the followingstatements is not true ?

(a) Nana Saheb led the revolt inKanpur.

(b) Tatya Tope was an associateof Nana Saheb

(c) Nana Saheb was hanged(d) Nana Saheb was the adopted

son of peshwa Baji Rao-II17. Which one of the following acts

was not done by the British afterthe Revolt of 1857 ?

(a) Contemplation over theorganization of the army.

(b) Works to woo the rulers andzamindars.

(c) Interfering in the religion andpractices in India.

(d) Demolishing the HinduMuslim unity.

18. Which one of the following is notcorrect ?

(a) Indian National Congress,Calcutta Session (1887)

(b) Indian National congress,Lucknow Session (1916)

(c) Indian National Congress,Gaya Session (1922)

(d) Indian Nationa Congress,Tripuri Session (1939)

19. The author of "IndianMussalmans" is

(a) W.W. Hunter(b) Sir Aga khan(c) Atulanand Chakravarti(d) Rizaul Karim

20. Who among the followingdirected to throw bomb onviceroy Lord Hardings ?

(a) Khudiram Bose(b) Rashbihari Bose(c) Chandrashekhar Azad(d) Ramprasad Bismil

21. The grant of 'Diwani' in Bengal,Bihar and Orissa was given to theEnglish East India company bythe Treaty in 1765 with

(a) Shah Alam II(b) Mir Qasim

(c) Siraj-ud-daula(d) Fran cis Josept Dupleix

22. With reference to the swadeshmovement during the indianfreedom struggle, which of thefollowing statement is notcorrect?

(a) The theme song at swadeshmovement in Bengal wasRavindranath's “Amar SonarBangala"

(b) Sayed Haider Raza led theswadesh movement in India

(c) The Ganpati and Shivajifestival become a medium ofthe movement.

(d) The Surat split in 1907weakened the swadeshimovement.

23. In which order Europeans cometo India for carrying on trade ?

(a) Portuguese, Dutch, English,French

(b) Portuguese, English, Dutch,French

(c) English, Portuguese Dutch,French

(d) Dutch, Portuguese, French,English

24. Who were the signatories of thetreaty at Salabai ?

(a) Peshwa and the East Indiacompany

(b) Haider Ali, Peshwa and EastIndia company

(c) Haider Ali and Peshwa(d) Mahadaji Sindhia and Warren

Hastings25. What was the British policy

towards Mysore after TipuSultan's death ?

(a) Establishing control over thewhole of Mysore

(b) The whole Mysore washanded over to the successorof Tipu Sultan.

(c) The whole of Mysore washanded over to the successorof Wadyar dynasty

(d) Only the central part oferstwhile Mysore was handedover to the successor atwadyar dynasty.





26. Historians are of the view that theBritish signed the Treaty ofBassien (1802) with a 'cypher'.Who was this 'cypher'?

(a) Baji Rao II(b) Raghunath Rao(c) Nana Phadanvis(d) Daulat Rao Sindhia

27. During the Indian freedomstruggle, who of the followingstarted the weekly Yugantar inApril 1906?

(a) Jnanendranath Basu andBipin Chandra Pal

(b) Barindra Kumar Ghosh andBhupendranath Dutta

(c) Aswini Kumar Dutta andSatish Chandra Mukherji

(d) Krishna Kumar Mitra andHemchandra Kanungo

28. In the year 1911, who of thefollowing founded the socialservice league with its aim beingto secure for the masses at thepeople better and reasonable.Condition at of life and work ?

(a) G.K. Gokhale(b) M.G. Ranade(c) N.M. Joshi(d) Srinivasa Sastri

29. Consider the followingstatements:1. The Nawab of Awadh

surrendered Allahabad andKada to the English companyby the treaty of Allahabad.

2. The english company soldAllahabad and Kada to theNawab of Awadh for Rupeestwo crores by the treaty ofBanaras.


(a) 1 only (b) 2 only(c) Both 1 and 2(d) Neither 1 or 2.

30. Who of the following was the firstpresident ot the Indian TradeUnion Congress in 1920 ?

(a) Bipin Chandra Pal(b) Chittaranjan Das(c) Lala Lajpat Rai(d) Dr. Rajendra Prasad

31. Bal Gangadhar Tilak worked toinspire the national sprit inpeople.

(a) By publishing artrocities madeby British Government againstIndians in his paper 'Kesri'

(b) By Organizing festivals inhonour of lord Ganesh and byreviving the cult of Shivaji

(c) By supporting the KhilafatMovement

(d) All of the Above.32. "A single shelf of a good

European Library was worth thewhole native literature of Indiaand Arabia" Who made thisstatement?

(a) Raja Rammohan Roy(b) Lord William Bentinck(c) Sir Charles Wood(d) Lord Macaulay

33. The name of Foreign Journalistwho reported satyagrah atDharsana salt works was

(a) Mark Tully(b) Webb Miller(c) Philip sprat(d) Francis Louis

34. At the beginning of British rulein India, Fortified Factory meantto protect.

(a) The trading place whereofficers of the companyworked

(b) The centre of manufacturingat goods.

(c) The godown where goodswere stored for shipment ofEurope

(d) None of the above35. Which of the following European

wars flared up the first carnaticwar in India ?

(a) War of Spanish succession(b) Austrian war of succession(c) War of Devolution(d) War of France-Prasa

36.Consider the followingstatements:1. The 1857 Revolt against

British rule was the first mutinyof sepoys under the Britishrule of India.

2. During the Revolt of 1857against British rule. GulabSingh led the multineers atAmbala.


(a) 1 only (b) 2 only(c) Both 1 and 2(d) Neither 1 or 2.

37. Consider the followingstatements.1. Lord Irwin appointed the

Sedition committee or rowlattcommittee

2. Sir Sankaran Nair resigned hismembership of the viceroysexecutive council in theprotect of Jallianwalamassacre

3. Udham Singh shot deadMichael O’ dier

(a) All of the above(b) Only1& 2(c) 2 & 3 (d) 1 & 3

38. Consider the followingstatements1. October 17, 1919 was

observed as the khilafat dayat an all India scale

2. At a special session of theIndian National Congress atCalcutta (sep., 1920. passedthe resolution to launch thenon co-operation movement

(a) Both1& 2(b) Only 1(c) Only 2(d) Neither1nor 2

39. Consider the followingstatements1. about the programme of

Non-cooperation movement2. Surrender of titles & honorary

offices3. Boycott of foreign goodsWhich of the statements givenabove is/are correct?

(a) 1 & 2(b) All of the above(c) 2 & 3(d) 1 & 3

40. Consider the followingstatements





1. The Non-cooperationmovement were suspendedafter the Chauri ChauraIncident

2. Gandhi Ji faced trial (March1922. in mumbai

3. Gandhi Ji took fullresponsibility of ChauriChaura.

(a) All of the above(b) 1 & 2(c) 2 & 3 (d) 1 & 3

41. Consider the followingstatements1. The founder of the Indian

Communism was M.N. Roy2. M.N. Roy founded communist

party of India in Kanpur.(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2(c) Both 1 & 2(d) Neither 1 nor 2

42. Match the followingP a r t yP a r t yP a r t yP a r t yP a r t y S t a t eS t a t eS t a t eS t a t eS t a t e

1 . Labour Swaraj Party(a) Madras

2 . Kirti Kishan Party (b) Bengal3 . Congress Labour Party(c)Punjab4 . Labour Kisan Party (d) Mumbai

(a) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c, 4-d(b) 1-b, 2-c, 3-d, 4-a(c) 1-c, 2-d, 3-b, 4-a(d) 1-d, 2-a, 3-c, 4-b

43. Consider the followingstatements1. All India trade union congress

held its first Session in Kanpur.2. Meerut conspiracy case’s

accured were defended byJ.L. Nehru, M.A. Ansari & M.C.Chagla

(a) Only 1 (b) Both1& 2(c) Only 2 (d) Neither1nor 2

44. Consider the followingstatements about Congress SamajParty (CSP)1. Congress Socialist Party was

formed in 19342. J.L. Nehru & Bose did not

support CSP3. The Cabinet Mission Plan was

rejected by CSP.(a) All of the above(b) 1 & 2 (c) 2 & 3(d) 1 & 3

45. Consider the followingstatements1. Under the presidentship of

C.R. Das, Swaraj Party formedin 1922

2. Swaraj Party win 42 out of 101elective seats in the centrallegislative assembly

(a) Both1& 2(b) Only 1(c) Only 2(d) Neither1nor 2

46. Consider the followingstatements1. Hindu Mahasabha founded in

1918 under the presidentshipof Madan Mohan Malviya

2. Fazl-i-Husain was related toUnionist Party of Punjab

(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2(c) Both 1 & 2(d) Neither 1 nor 2

47. Consider the followingstatements1. The Nagpur Flag Satyagraha

was started in mid-19232. Vaikom Satyagraha was fought

for temple only(a) Only 1 (b) Both 1 & 2(c) Only 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

48. Consider the followingstatements1. Simon Commission

enumerated two features ofIndian states British territory &not British subjects

2. The Government of India Actof 1935 proposed a system offederation

(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2(c) Neither 1 nor 2(d) Both 1 & 2

49. Consider the followingstatements1. The Butler Committees

report(1929. rankly said thatthe princes had no sovereignauthority

2. Gandhi start Salt Satyagraha inAug., 1929

(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2(c) Both 1 & 2(d) Neither1nor 2

50. Consider the followingstatements about all India statespeople’s conference1. It took shape in 19272. Balwant Rai Mehta, Manilal

Kothari & G.R. Abhayankarwas the leader

3. Its headquarter was based inDelhi

(a) Only 2 & 3(b) Only1& 3(c) Only 1 & 2(d) All of the above

51. Consider the followingstatements about SimonCommission1. Indian Statutory Commission

known as Simon Commission2. Commission consisted 9

members.3. Sir John-Simon was the Chief

of Simon Commission(a) 1 & 2 (b) 1 & 3(c) 2 & 3(d) All of above

52. Consider the followingstatements1. Indian National Congress

meet in Calcutta to boycottSimon Commission

2. Muslim League supportedSimon Commission

(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2(c) Both1& 2(d) Neither 1 nor 2

53. Consider the followingstatements:

1. Shah Jahan succeeded tothe throne on the death ofhis father in 1628.

2. He appointed his son,Prince Aurangzeb, as theviceroy of the Deccan.

3. Shah Jahan had trouble withthe Portuguese who had asettlement at Calicut.

4. Shah Jahan is known for thetomb of Mumtaz Mahal, and.for Shahjahanabad (newcity built.’ by him)

Which of the above statementsabout. Shah Jahan is/are correct?





(a) Only 1, 2 and 3(b) Only 2, 3 and 4(c) Only 1, 2 and 4(d) All the above


1. Dara Sikoh was the son ofShah Jahan and brother ofAurangzeb.

2. His best known work was Astudy of Sufi and VedantaPhilosophy.

3. He also translated theUpnishads into Persian in1657.

4. He was killed in the fight forthe throne between him andhis brother Aurangzeb.

Which of the above statementsabout prince Dara Sikoh is/arecorrect?

(a) Only 1, 2 and 3(b) Only 2, 3 and 4(c) Only 1, 3 and 4(d) All the above


1. During the 18th century theSikhs formed themselvesinto twelve small. groupsknown as Misls.

2. When Ahmad Shah Abdaliinvaded India, hecompletely destroyed theseMisls.

Code:Code:Code:Code:Code:(a) Only 1 is correct(b) Only 2 is correct(c) Both are correct(d) Neither 1 nor 2


1. Like most other Indian rulersHyder and Tipu sultan wereunaware of thedevelopments in the world.

2. ‘In religious matters,however, they wereenlightened andbroadminded.

Code:Code:Code:Code:Code:(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2

(c) Both(d) Neither 1 nor 2

57. Which among the following isthe correct chronological orderof the Peshwas?

(a) Baji Rao- Balaji Vishwanath-Balaji Baji Rao - Madhav Rao

(b) Balaji Vishwanath-Baji Rao-Balaji Baji Rao - Madhav Rao

(c) Balaji Vishwanath - Baji Rao-Balaji Baji Rao - Madhav Rao

(d) Balaji Vishwanath-Balaji BajiRao - Baji Rao - Madhav Rao

58. Match the following List-I withList-II and answer as per thecodes given below:

List-IList-IList-IList-IList-I List-IIList-IIList-IIList-IIList-IIA. Sindhia 1. NagpurB. Gaekwad2. IndoreC. Bhonsale3. Baroda .D. Holkar 4. Gwalior

Code:Code:Code:Code:Code:A B C D

(a) 4 1 2 3(b) 4 3 1 2(c) 3 4 1 2(d) 1 2 3 4

59. Which of the followingstatements is/are NOT correct?

1. After the advent of theBritish, a few new types ofschools giving instruction inEnglish language and otherbranches of westernlearning had startedfunctioning first in the Bengaland Bombay region andthen in Madras.

2. These were mostly run byBritish administrators.

3. The first educationalinstitutions supported bythe government were theCalcutta Madarsa and theBanaras Sanskrit Collegeestablished in 1791 and1781 respectively.

4. The purpose of openingthem was to give masseducation.

Code:Code:Code:Code:Code:(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 and 4 only(c) 2 and 4 only(d) All the above

60. The actual issue of the misuseof Dastaks by the company wasthat:

(a) The company was grantedpermits (dastaks) for theduty free import export-trade; but the company wasmisusing it for internal trade- also.

(b) The dastaks were granted tothe company, but they werebeing misused by thecompany’s servants:

(c) The company and itsservants were selling thedastaks even to privatemerchants.

(d) All of the above.61. Why did the trade and industries

of Bengal suffer heavily after thebattle of Plassey?

(a) Indian merchants faced stiffcompetition from theEnglish.

(b) Indian merchants were at adisadvantageous situationon account of payment ofduties by them while theEnglish trade was duty-free.

(c) Producers were forcedthrough the use of violentmethods to sell their,commodities at lowerprices.

(d) All of the above62. The market in Britain was

completely closed for the goodsproduced in India. The devicewhich was used by the Englishfor achieving the arrangementwas:

(a) Orders were issued that theships carrying Indian goodswould not be allowed totouch ports in Britain.

(b) The British IndianGovernment itselfpurchased Indian goodsand sold them in the





markets in Africa at fabulousprofits.

(c) The British IndianGovernment imposedrestrictions on the export ofIndian goods.

(d) A heavy import duty wasimposed on Indian goodsimported into Britain with aview to make the export andsale of Indian goods inBritain an uneconomicproposition.

63. Which of the following isincorrect?

(a) In 1859, the separate armiesof the presidencies wereunified.

(b) The entire army of the BritishGovernment in India -wasbrought under the control ofthe Commander-in Chief

(c) For every three Indian.

soldiers, there was oneEuropean soldier.

(d) None of the above.64. By passing the Regulating Act of

1773, the British. Parliamenttried:

(a) To exercise its own authorityon the affairs of the company

(b) To remove the evils foundunder the rule of thecompany

(c) To protect the Indian rulersfrom the high handedness ofthe officers of the company.

(d) To regulate the company’strade with India.

65. Which of the following was NOTone of the effects of NadirShah’s invasion?

(a) It caused an irreparable lossto the prestige of theempire.

(b) It exposed the hiddenweakness of the empire tothe Maratha Sardars and theforeign trading companies.

(c) It ruined imperial financesand adversely affected the

economic life of thecountry.

(d) It destroyed all the initiativeof –the impoverishednobles, most of whomretired from active court life.

66. Match the following List-I withList-II and answer as per thecode given below:

List-I List-IIA. Eka Movement 1 . N.G. RangaB. All India Kisan 2 . Khoodi

Sabha Mullah andShambhu Pal

C. Pabna Revolt 3 . Madari PasiD. Andhra Ryots 4 . Swami

SahajanandAssociationCode:Code:Code:Code:Code:

A B C D(a) 3 4 1 2(b) 4 3 1 2(c) 4 3 2 1(d) 3 4 2 1

67. Consider the followingstatements: .

1. The revolt of Chhatar Singh,the governor of Multan,precipitated the secondAnglo-Sikh war.

2. The ‘Indian War’ ofIndependence’ was writtenby V.D. Savarkar.

Code:(a) Only 1 is correct (b)

Only 2 is correct(c) Both are correct(d) Neither 1 nor 2 is correct

68. Match the following List-I withList-Il and answer as per thecodes given below:

List-I List-IIA. Delhi. 1 . Colin CampbellB. Jhansi 2 . John NicholsonC. Lucknow 3 . Hugh RoseD. Arra 4 . Winset Taylor

Code:A B C D

(a) 2 3 1 4(b) 1 3 4 2(c) 4 1 2 3(d) 2 3 4 1

69. Which of the followingmovements can be said to haveinitiated the process ofassociating the workers with the

wider nationalist struggle againstBritish?

(a) Swadeshi Movement(b) Home Rule Movement(c) N o n - C o o p e r a t i o n

Movement.(d) Anti-Simon Agitation

70. Which of the following was NOTone of the administrative andeconomic causes of theRebellion of 1857?

(a) The Indian aristocracy wasdeprived.of power andposition since all high posts,civil and military, werereserved for the Europeans.

(b) The administration ofAwadh after its annexation,received popular acclaimand aroused the jealousy ofother ruling princes.

(c) The land revenue policywas most popular.

(d) None of the above71. The main motive of the British

Indian Government indeveloping modern road and railcommunication was:

(a) To improve the generalcommunication facilitiesavailable to the people

(b) To modernize India(c) To improve the prospects of

the British company’s tradeand commerce in India-

(d) To improve trade. andcommerce inside India

72. Which of the following isincorrect?

1. In 1877 the Prarthana Samajof Bombay was founded.

2. Two of its chief architectswere Mahadev GovindRanade and RamkrishnaBhandarkar.

3. The leaders of the PrarthanaSamaj were not influencedby the “Brahmo Samaj.

4. The Prarthana Samaj leaderscondemned the castesystem and the practice ofuntochability.





Code:Code:Code:Code:Code:(a) 1, 2 and 3(b) 2, 3 and 4(c) 1 and 3(d) 3 and 4

73. Which of the followingstatement is wrong?

(a) The Hindu College ofCalcutta founded in 1817,played an important role inmodernising the ongoingmovements in Bengal.

(b) David Hare, an associate ofRammohan Roy, took keeninterest. in starting theHindu College.

(c) Henry Vivian Derozio’sstudents, collectively calledthe Young Bengal ridiculedall old social traditions andcustoms.

(d) The young Bengalmovement came to an endafter Derozio’s dismissalfrom the Hindu College andhis sudden death in 1831.

74. Which of the following is wrong?(a) Dayananda, whose original

name was Mula Shankara,was born in Kathiawad in1824.

(b) In 1863 Dayanand startedpreaching his doctrine -there was only one god whowas to be worshipped notin the form of images but asa spirit.

(c) In 1875 he founded the AryaSamaj in Lahore.

(d) The Satyarth-Prakash was hismost important book.

75. Assertion (A): Assertion (A): Assertion (A): Assertion (A): Assertion (A): The earlynationalists in the initial phasespaid relatively little attention tothe question of workers.Reason (R): Reason (R): Reason (R): Reason (R): Reason (R): The earlynationalist did not wish to, in anyway; weaken the commonstruggle against British rule, bycreating any divisions within theranks of the Indian people.

76. Consider the following

statements:1. The period after 1858

witnessed a gradualwidening of the gulfbetween the educatedIndians and-the BritishIndian administration.

2. In 1876, Dadabhai Naorojiorganized The East IndiaAssociation in London todiscuss the Indian questionand to influence Britishpublic men to promoteIndian Welfare.

Code:Code:Code:Code:Code:(a) Only 1 is correct(b) Only 2 is correct(c) Both are correct(d) Neither 1 nor 2 is correct


1. The system of DualGovernment established bythe company in Bengalremained in operation forfive years.

2. The establishment of thismasked system was a sign ofthe company’sunwillingness to recognizethat it had ceased to be amere trading body andbecame a ‘ruling power.


78. Which of the following machinebased industries wereestablished in India, in thesecond half of the 19th century?

1. Cotton-Textile2. Jute3. Coal-Mining 4. CementSelect.the answer from thecodes given below:

(a) Only 1 and 2(b) Only 1 and 3(c) Only l, 2 and 4(d) All the above

79. Consider the following

statements:1. The All India Trade Union

Congress was formed in1920.

2. Lokamanya Tilak, played animportant role in theformation of the AITUC

3. Lala Lajpat Rai, wasappointed as its firstpresident.

Code:Code:Code:Code:Code:(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 and 3(c) Only 1 and 2(d) All the above

80. Consider the followingstatements regarding the Pitt’sIndia Act 1784:

1. The Board of control wasestablished to control allcivil, military and revenueaffairs of the company.

2. In India, the chiefgovernment was placed inthe hands of a GovernorGeneral and a council offour.



1. One significantdevelopment in the secondhalf of the 19th century wasestablishment of large scalemachine based industries inIndia.

2. The first textile mill wasstarted in Bombay byCowasjee Nanabhoy in 1863and the first jute mill inRishra (Bengal) in 1865.


82. Which of the following Actsauthorized for Governor-General to appoint Indian Law





Commission to study and codifyvarious rules and regulationsprevalent in India?

(a) Charter Act of 1813(b) Charter Act of 1833(c) Charter Act of 1853(d) The Act for the better

Government of India,185883. Assertion (A): Assertion (A): Assertion (A): Assertion (A): Assertion (A): The

Communist Party dissociateditself from the Quit IndiaMovement launched by Gandhijiin August 1942.Reason (R): Reason (R): Reason (R): Reason (R): Reason (R): With the Naziattack on the Soviet Union in1941,: the communist arguedthat character of the war hadchanged from an imperialist warto peoples war.


1. The decision to boycottSimon Commission wastaken by the Congress in its1927 Bombay Session.

2. Muslim League also decidedto Boycott SimonCommission.

Which of the above statementsare correct?

(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2(c) Both 1 and 2(d) Neither 1

nor 285. Which of the following

statements is wrong in thecontext of Karachi Congress1931?

(a) It was presided over byVithalbhai Patel

(b) The congress decided toparticipate in the SecondRound Table Conference.

(c) The resolution onFundamental Rights waspassed

(d) The future economic policyof the Congress was alsospelt out

86. Arrange the following eventschronologically:

1. Cripp’s Mission2. Cabinet Mission3. Quit India Movement

4. Individual Satyagraha5. I.N.A MutinisSelect the correct answer fromthe codes given below:Code:Code:Code:Code:Code:

(a) 1-4-2-3-5(b) 4-1-3-5-2(c) 4- 1-3-2-5(d) 4-1-2-3-5

87. Which of the following is notcorrect?

(a) The decision to launchIndividual SatyagrahaMovement was taken inRamgarh session of theCongress

(b) The session presided byMaulanaAbul Kalam Azad in1940 launched theIndividual SatyagrahaMovement

(c) The first Satyagrahi ofIndividual SatyagrahaMovement was C.Rajagopalachari

(d) Srikrishna Sinha, the premierof Bihar during Congress ruleparticipated in IndividualSatyagraha Movement

88. Which of the following was notincluded in the Nehru Report?

(a) India must be givenDominion Status.

(b) The Governor General mustbe only the constitutionalhead.

(c) There was to be no separateelectorate

(d) Dyarchy should beintroduced both at the.centre as well as in theprovinces

89. In the elections held in January-February 1937, Congress failedto emerge as a party withabsolute majority in which of thefollowing province?

(a) Bengal (b) Madras(c) United Provinces(d) Central Provinces


1. Sisir Kumar Bose formed theIndian IndependenceLeague.

2. A women’s regiment ofAzad Hind Fauz was formedunder the command ofKalpana Dutta.

Codes:Codes:Codes:Codes:Codes:(a) Only 1 is correct(b) Only 2 is correct(c) Both are correct(d) Neither 1 nor 2

91. Match the following List-I(Festivals) with List-II (States)and answer as per the code givenbelow:

List-I List-IIA. Baisakhi 1 . Tamil NaduB. Bhogali Bihu2 . KeralaC. Onam 3 . PunjabD. Pongal 4 . Assam

Code:A B C D

(a) 2 4 1 3(b) 3 1 2 4(c) 1 3 2 4(d) 3 4 2 1

92. The Vivekananda Rockmemorial is located at:

(a) Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu(b) Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu(c) Dakshineshwar, West

Bengal(d) Ajmer, Rajasthan

93. Match the following List-I(Personality) with List-II (Danceform) and answer as per thecode given below:

List-I List-IIA. Yamini Krishnamurthy1 . KuchipudiB. Swapna Sundari 2 . Bharat

NatyamC. Shambhu Maharaj 3 . OdissiD. Protima Bedi 4 . Kathak

Code:A B C D

(a) 2 1 4 3(b) 3 1 2 4(c) 1 2 3 4(d) 4 2 1 3

94. Match the following List-I(Personalities) with List-II(Intruments) and answer as perthe code given below:

List-I List-II





A. Ali Akbar Khan 1 . SarodB. Alla Rakha 2 . TablaC. Balamurali Krishna3 . Carnatic

VocalistD. Bismillah Khan 4 . Shehnai


(a) 1 2 3 4(b) 3 1 2 4(c) 2 3 1 4(d) 1 4 3 2

95. Which of the followingstatements is/are correct?

1. In the Indian classical music,Raga is the basis of rhythmand Tala is the basis ofmelody.

2. Ragas in the Carnatic musicfall into-three categories.

3. In Hindustani music, thereare ten main forms or stylesof singing and compositions.

Code:Code:Code:Code:Code:(a) 1 and 2 only(b) 2 and 3 only(c) Only 3(d) Only 2

96. Match the following List-I withList-II and answer as per thecode given below:List-I List-II

A. Kuchipudi 1 . NagalandB. Mohiniattam 2 . HaryanaC. Aaluyattu 3 . KeralaD. Khoria 4 . Andhra


(a) 3 4 1 2(b) 4 3 1 2(c) 4 3 2 1(d) 3 4 2 1


1. The Modern Theatre in Indiadeveloped with the adventof the british rule and achange in the political setup in India.

2. The Indian theatre can bedivided into threedistinctive types.



1. Painting as an art form hasflourished in India fromancient times.

2. The Guptas period is oftendescribed as the GoldenAge of Indian Arts.

3. The Pallavas also left behindexcellent examples ofpaintings in temples.

Code:Code:Code:Code:Code:(a) 1 and 2 only(b) 2 and 3 only(c) 1 and 3 only(d) All the above

99. Which of the followingstatements is/are correctregarding Chola society?

1. Brahmins and the merchantsclass were greatlyrespected.

2. Those Brahmins who werelearned were given landand villages as gifts and wirereferred to as brahmadeya.

3. The merchants during theChola period joinedtogether in a body calledthe merchant-guild, such asthe manigramam.

4. A guild usually consists ofpersons working in differentprofessions.

Code:Code:Code:Code:Code:(a) 1 and 2 only(b) 2 and 3 only(c) 1, 2 and 3 only(d) All the above

100. Which of the followingstatements correctly describes,the difference between aChaitya and Stupa?

(a) Chaitya is a resting place,while Stupa is a funeralmonument.

(b) Chaitya is a place of worshipwhile Stupa is anarchitectural term for amound containing the relicof Buddha and otherleading Buddhist saints.

(c) Chaityas were constructedby monasteries while Stupaswere constructed by kingsand rich merchants.

(d) Chaityas representsMahayanism while Stupasrepresent Himayanism.


1 (d) 2 (b) 3 (d) 4 (d)5 (c) 6 (c) 7 (c) 8 (d)9 (c) 10 (b) 11 (b) 12 (c)

13 (b) 14 (c) 15 (a) 16 (c)17 (c) 18 (a) 19 (a) 20 (b)

21 (A) 22 (b) 23 (a) 24 (d)25 (c) 26 (a) 27 (b) 28 (c)29 (d) 30 (c) 31 (b) 32 (c)33 (b) 34 (a) 35 (b) 36 (b)37 (c) 38 (a) 39 (a) 40 (a)41 (a) 42 (b) 43 (c) 44 (b)45 (c) 46 (b) 47 (b) 48 (b)49 (a) 50 (c) 51 (b) 52 (a)53 (c) 54 (d) 55 (a) 56 (B)57 (b) 58 (b) 59 (d) 60 (d)61 (d) 62 (d) 63 (C) 64 (b)65 (d) 66 (d) 67 (c) 68 (a)69 (a) 70 (b) 71 (c) 72 (c)73 (d) 74 (c) 75 (a) 76 (a)77 (d) 78 (c) 79 (d) 80 (a)81 (a) 82 (b) 83 (A) 84 (b)85 (a) 86 (d) 87 (c) 88 (d)89 (a) 90 (d) 91 (c) 92 (a)93 (a) 94 (a) 95 (c) 96 (b)97 (c) 98 (d) 99 (c) 100 (b)

Essay and PromoEssay and PromoEssay and PromoEssay and PromoEssay and Promo



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ESSAY AND PROMOResult for the April 2014 open Essay Competition. IASEXAMPORTAL is proud to declare Ms. Mamta, as theResult for the April 2014 open Essay Competition. IASEXAMPORTAL is proud to declare Ms. Mamta, as theResult for the April 2014 open Essay Competition. IASEXAMPORTAL is proud to declare Ms. Mamta, as theResult for the April 2014 open Essay Competition. IASEXAMPORTAL is proud to declare Ms. Mamta, as theResult for the April 2014 open Essay Competition. IASEXAMPORTAL is proud to declare Ms. Mamta, as the

winner of the essay competition. The essay by Ms. Mamta is as under:winner of the essay competition. The essay by Ms. Mamta is as under:winner of the essay competition. The essay by Ms. Mamta is as under:winner of the essay competition. The essay by Ms. Mamta is as under:winner of the essay competition. The essay by Ms. Mamta is as under:

"ESSAY TOPIC: DEVELOPMENT VS. DISPLACEMENT DEBATE IN INDIA"ESSAY TOPIC: DEVELOPMENT VS. DISPLACEMENT DEBATE IN INDIA"ESSAY TOPIC: DEVELOPMENT VS. DISPLACEMENT DEBATE IN INDIA"ESSAY TOPIC: DEVELOPMENT VS. DISPLACEMENT DEBATE IN INDIA"ESSAY TOPIC: DEVELOPMENT VS. DISPLACEMENT DEBATE IN INDIA

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

There are no free lunchesThere are no free lunchesThere are no free lunchesThere are no free lunchesThere are no free lunchesDevelopment Vs displacement, endless debates on this topic but can we really have development

without displacement? India after independence was all sucked out by the British raj in the field ofagriculture, trade, art, handicrafts, industries etc. The nation at that time, with the population of 350million was all torn out. The aim of achieving the self sufficiency and self esteem was paramount atthat time. Today India has overtaken Japan to become third largest economy in the world for the year2011 as per the recent report by World Bank. India is the global leader in Information Technology.India is respected all over the world. Indian Diaspora has earned reputation abroad and is reachinghigh positions abroad. India the largest democracy was the fastest growing economy before therecent economic crisis, touching the growth trajectory of 9 percent. India is pioneering in space

sector. India’s successful launch of Mars Orbiter Mission adds jewel to its crown of its achievements in space sector. India a nuclearpower with a great military might today is considered to be strategic partner of many world powers. India’s stand in Internationalmatters is significantly improving (Mr. Putin calling Mr. Singh on Crimea issue & many countries supporting India’s permanent seat inUnited Nations Security Council). India is the youngest country going through the phase of demographic dividend. India aspires to bethe world power in 21st century. India has developed so much since independence but are this achievements an end in itself? Is everycitizen of our country bearer of fruits of our progress? Has every citizen gained from the development? Has every citizen becomebetter off in term of welfare? Had India been a market economy the question of the debate arising between development anddisplacement wouldn’t have arisen but we are a welfare state. All our policies and actions are supposed to promote welfare of thecitizens.

Development Vs. DisplacementDevelopment Vs. DisplacementDevelopment Vs. DisplacementDevelopment Vs. DisplacementDevelopment Vs. DisplacementIn India more than nineteen lakhs people are homeless. Large numbers of people migrate from one place to another. What are

the causes of people becoming homeless? What are the causes of people migrating from one place to another? The more our countrydevelops more and more people are displaced. Can’t we progress without displacing people? Even if some people are displaced dueto unavoidable reasons, can’t we assure them a good deal with some policy initiatives?

After independence in initial five year plans our main focus was on agricultural and industrial development. We still after so manydecades of independence depend on monsoon for irrigation. The problem was more severe than. To increase the agriculturalproduction to feed the ever increasing masses, we went for constructing dams. Dams although form backbone of economy byproviding water for irrigation, electricity for industrial as well as residential purpose are notorious for displacing a huge number ofpeople. Many villages are submerged when dams are created then people are left with no other option except to move on to otherplaces. Displacement not only displaces them, it displaces their future, their expectations, and their dreams. Displacement does notonly displace people but our culture, our heritage and our values. Can we expect a tree to grow the same way after we remove it fromone place and place it at other? India a country known for its rich diversity in culture, won’t lose its reputation if we keep on destroyingour culture for short term gains?

Vedanta issue in the recent past in Odisha is the best example to show how fast paced development affects cultural values ofpeople. Vedanta was lobbying for the project of extracting bauxite from Niyamgiri hills in Odisha. The place is inhabited by Dongria,Kondh and Kutia tribes. They worship Niyam Raja and consider the mining as an encroachment in their religious life, further theybelieve that the mining would make Niyam raja angry and their whole tribe will vanish due to the anger of Niyam raja. If we still blindlyrunning after development keep on encroaching their property won’t it affect them mentally? Right to property although is not afundamental right in our constitution, but it surely qualifies to be a human right. Should we dishonor their right for betterment of someothers?

The red terror the most dangerous threat to our internal security, has it come from outside the country? Have we imported thered terror? No, it has emerged on our very own soil. When we keep on encroaching the culture, land and personal lives of our tribalpeople, who are part of our rich culture and keep on displacing them without any proper and just rehabilitation plan will they keepquiet? The Naxalites, the Maoists are not terrorists rather they are terrified. They are not predator rather they are prey. The continuoustorture in the name of development by development seekers on these people has made them vulnerable. And we know from our pastexperience that vulnerable people can be influenced easily by mischievous elements.

Ms. MamtaMs. MamtaMs. MamtaMs. MamtaMs. Mamta





In economics as well we talk about Pareto optimum. An outcome is said to be efficient if it increases welfare of some personwithout decreasing welfare of other. Now if the development is done by displacing people, will that be efficient? No, then why weshould the benefit accrue to some person at the cost of other?

The Amartya sen and Bhagwati debate is more or less linked to the same problem. Both renowned economists one from HarvardUniversity and other from Columbia University differ on the role of different classes in development process and the conduit throughwhich the fruits of development reach them. While Sen believes that India should invest more in its social infrastructure to boost theproductivity of its people and thereby raise growth, Bhagwati argues that only a focus on growth can yield enough resources forinvesting in social sector schemes. Investing in health and education to improve human capabilities is central to Sen’s scheme ofthings. Without such investments, inequality will widen and the growth process itself will falter, Sen believes. Bhagwati argues thatgrowth may raise inequality initially but sustained growth will eventually raise enough resources for the state to redistribute andmitigate the effects of the initial inequality. In Indian context where a minuscule fraction of people comes in rich class and a large masscomes in lower middle class, can we think of growing without providing them required support. Can we keep on developing to makeIndia represented by few Ambanis and myriad people displaced to make those Ambanis? If we keep on avoiding the lower class toblindly reach the high growth trajectory, what the upshot is going to look like? We are a welfare state; can we keep at stake the welfareof people to become superpower? Can we keep on frustrating marginalized class to reach our development agenda? The continuousfrustration among them may culminate in a civil war kind of situation. And do we need to actually see a civil war inside our country tosee the impacts of it? Sri Lanka, Egypt, Syria, Thailand aren’t these examples enough to make us think about the way where we areheading?

It is argued that development displaces people. Aren’t there enough examples within our country to bolster the fact that lack ofdevelopment also causes internal displacement? People from north-eastern states and some eastern states like Uttar Pradesh and Biharas well migrate to relatively developed cities for want of better education and employment opportunity. This displacement is not resultof fast paced development rather it is a result of lack of development at those places.

Displacement if occurs for better education and employment opportunities is justified apparently, but the incidence of unjustbehavior meted out to them by the fellow citizens affects national harmony and fraternity. The recent attack in Delhi on north-easternstudents and attack on Bihar natives by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, a political outfit laments the impact of internal displacement onthe displaced people, our national fraternity and our social structure. Further this type of displacement imbalances the demography ofthe home and host states to displacement.

WWWWWhat is the way ahead now?hat is the way ahead now?hat is the way ahead now?hat is the way ahead now?hat is the way ahead now?Displacement whether because of development or lack of development creates trauma on the evictees and excludes them from

continuing social and economic network. Construction of dams, extension of transportation corridors, improvement of urban infrastructureetc. are some of the areas, which dislodge large number of people. But without development of infrastructure we can’t move ongrowth path so the dilemma is that we have to develop and the development necessarily will cause displacement. If developmentsuffers on account of consideration of displacement problem then also poor growth will impact our national stand in internationalcommunity and make us vulnerable to external pressure. This lack of development will not only affect us as a nation but its brunt willbe on citizens. Lack of development creates social unrest as well and social unrest is home to many problems. Now what should beour right course of action? The way forward is to put attention to the rehabilitation plans for the displaced people. We if for someimportant reason want to shift a plant from one place to another; we can’t just throw it and let it dry for want of attention. We have toput it at another and water it till it becomes strong enough to grow itself. The same strategy should be designed for these people. Weshould have a well prepared rehabilitation plan for them and we should effectively execute it to get better results.

First of all to tackle the displacement happening due to lack of development we need to make sure that all the regions in ourcountry whether rural or urban, all the states of our country whether eastern or western, northern or southern should grow equally.Every citizen no matter in which part of country he resides, whether a metropolitan city or a far remote area should have access tobetter social infrastructure. He should have access to participation in developmental activities. Similarly fruits of development shouldalso reach him. Now this requires a lot of effort on State’s part. We are a democracy, the largest in this world. We send our politiciansto parliament to represent us, our problems, our culture and our welfare needs. We give them power to make us powerful. It is nowresponsibility of our government to ensure that, the strength of democracy that is its people do not suffer due to any reason. It is a factthat we need more and more dams to be independent in matter of irrigation and it is also a green source of power generation. We needbetter roads and highways to connect trade and commerce to each part of the country. We also need to have access to mines to explorethe metal potential of our country. But it is also a fact that we are a welfare state, it is also a fact that government has moral as well aslegal duty to take care of each faction of the society. It is also a fact that the people who are displaced are our very own brothers. It isnow government’s duty to devise and implement better rehabilitation plans for the displaced people. We should respect their right toa dignified life. We could do that by providing them with the good residential facilities elsewhere in the same kind of locality, ensuringa better employment option for them, keeping their culture alive by moral support to them. As far as beliefs of tribal people areconcerned, we should respect their beliefs as India is country of different beliefs owned by different sections of society. We can’t takeaway identity of our country in the name of development. A good rehabilitation plan is answer to all questions. It should be clear by thefact that whenever state announces good rehabilitation plans, we see a lot of surrenders by Naxalites and Maoists.

Ms. MamtaMs. MamtaMs. MamtaMs. MamtaMs. Mamta





Q1. I want to prepare for IPSexamination, but my height is tooshort, and I might not be able toqualify the eligibility criterion.What should I do? I really want tobecome an IPS officer. Mohit,Shimla

A. Dear Mohit, do not feeldemotivated. If, due to somereasons, you are not eligible forthe IPS, you may still take the civilservices examination, and pursueother administrative services. Allthe services of the civil servicesexam are highly reputed, and giveyou a good name. We recommendthat you should keep preparing forthe exam and pursue otherservices offered by the UPSC.

Q2. Sir, I am an aspirant fromBengal. I want to become an IASofficer. But the problem is that thiswill be my first attempt at the civilservices examination. But due tothe relaxation in the age andnumber of attempts, thecompetition has increased manyfolds. Due to this, I feel afraid thatI would not be able to competein the examination, and wouldwaste my precious attempt. Whatshould I do? Should I take theattempt or should I wait foranother year?

Dipesh Banerjee,Dipesh Banerjee,Dipesh Banerjee,Dipesh Banerjee,Dipesh Banerjee,Kolkatta .Kolkatta .Kolkatta .Kolkatta .Kolkatta .

A. Dear Dipesh, you shouldhave faith in yourself. Keeppreparing for the exam with fulldedication and work hard. Do notthink that the competition wouldadversaly affect you. Due to thechanged syllabus, it does notmatter whether you are taking the

exam for the first time or fifth time.What matters is your practice andhard work. Thus, we recommendyou to take the exam if you havecompleted the syllabus properly.You should do your best and leaveeverything else aside.

Q3. Sir, I have studied mostof the topics for the Prelims but Iam unable to finish the paper intwo hours. That is why I losemarks in the exam. Though I knowabout 75-80% of the paper inGeneral Studies, and 90-95% ofpaper in CSAT, I am unable tofetch marks as I have no time leftto attempt all questions. Whatshould I do. Please help.

Shanmugam, Kerela.Shanmugam, Kerela.Shanmugam, Kerela.Shanmugam, Kerela.Shanmugam, Kerela.A. Dear Shanmugam, you

should attempt the paper in sucha way that gives you highestpossible marks. Do not try toattempt all the questions, if it istaking a lot of time. You shoulddevote much time on questionsthat are tricky and difficult. Rather,attempt the questions that are easyand simple. You only need about60-65% in order to qualify for thecivil services exam. Trying toattempt all the questions couldprove to be fatal. Thus, try tosecure the minimal required marksand qualify the prelims.

Q4. Is competing undergeneral category be better thanOBC Non creamy? Will there anyconsideration be given for OBCcandidates while making the finalrank list rather than providingrelaxation in age and number ofattempts only?

Rahul Ashok, via emailRahul Ashok, via emailRahul Ashok, via emailRahul Ashok, via emailRahul Ashok, via email

A. Dear CandidateIt does not matter whether

you take the exam in general listor OBC list. the final merit list isprepared for the differentcategories on the basis of themarks. Though the merit list forOBC non-creamy layer categoryhas a lower score in merit list, butthe competition level is great. youshould take the exam in therelevant category of your choice.However, if you fill the form withgeneral category, you will not begiven any relaxation in marks oreligibility criteria.

UPSCPORTAL StudentUPSCPORTAL StudentUPSCPORTAL StudentUPSCPORTAL StudentUPSCPORTAL StudentQueries SectionQueries SectionQueries SectionQueries SectionQueries Section

We encourage the civilservices aspirants to share and asktheir queries, confusions andproblems regarding the civilservices examination. Yourquestions would be discussed byour Expert panel, and will beanswered adequately. Yourproblems will be answered to youvia mail. Also, a selected querieswould be put in the CIVILSERVICES MENTOR Magazineevery month.

Thus, we invite the IASaspirants to ask their queries andproblems to our Expert team.UPSCPORTAL is glad to help thebudding aspirants in their quest ofCIVIL SERVICES.

You may send your queriesand questions at:

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The Course Features: • Comprehensive Coverage of the matter for General Studies.

• Expert Support and ‘Ask Your Queries’ Section.

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communicated to you.

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