Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
-
Upload
9290010274 -
Category
Documents
-
view
222 -
download
0
Transcript of Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
1/33
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
2/33
CONTENTS
Disclaimer : All Readers of this book undertake responsibility for the relevance and accuracy of its content. The Publisher cannot Guarantee the accuracy and
Reliability of Content.
Honours & Awards - 2
News Makers - 6
Places in News - 6
Science Snippets - 7
Defence - 8
Space Science - 8
Summits - 9
Committees - 10
Deaths - 10
Economic Scenario - 11
Sports - 14
NationalRound-Up - 16
International Round-Up - 20
Knowledge Capsules - 24
Banking Awareness - 26
(For Bank PO & Clerks Exams)
Current MCQ Capsules - 28
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
3/33
Current News & Events 2
LatestCurrentAffairsHonours & Awards
British Writer Hilary
Mantel won Booker Prize
for Second TimeBritish Writer Hilary Mantel
on 16 October 2012 won theprestigious literary prize, the BookerPrize for her novel Bring up theBodies, the second in a historicaltrilogy set during the reign of KingHenry VIII. Hilary Mantel had earlierwon the Booker prize in 2009 for"Wolf Hall," the first novel in thetrilogy. Hilary Mantel is the thirdauthor to win the prize twice,alongside South-African-born J.M.Coetzee and Australian PeterCarey. With this she also becamethe first British author, and the firstwoman, to achieve a double BookerPrize. Bring Up the Bodies is alsothe first sequel to win the prize.Bring up the Bodies and Wolf Hallare parts of a planned trilogy aboutThomas Cromwell, the powerfuland ambiguous chief minister to
King Henry VIII.Man Booker Prize:
The Man Booker Prize forFiction is a literary prize awarded
each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English
language, by a citizen of theCommonwealth of Nations,Ireland, or Zimbabwe. The winnerof the Man Booker Prize is generallyassured of international renownand success. The selectionprocess for the winner of the prizecommences with the formation ofan advisory committee whichincludes an author, two publishers,a literary agent, a bookseller, alibrarian, and a chairpersonappointed by the Booker PrizeFoundation.
Gavaskar to receive
BCCIs lifetime achieve-
ment award
Former India captain Sunil
Gavaskar will be conferred the Col
C K Nayudu Lifetime Achievement
award at the annual BCCI awards
function. The BCCI's Col C K
Nayudu Award Committee met on25 October and decided to confer
the honour on the legendaryopener, a release from BCCIsecretary Sanjay Jagdale said. Theaward comprises a trophy, citationand a cheque for Rs 25 lakh.
Sharmila Tagore gets
honorary degree from
Edinburgh UniversityVeteran actress Sharmila
Tagore has been given an HonoraryDoctorate of Arts from EdinburghNapier University for heroutstanding contribution to Indian
Narayana Murthy receives 2012 Hoover Medal
Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy has been conferred withthe prestigious 2012 Hoover Medal in recognition of his philanthropicactivities in India. Former US Presidents Herbert Hoover, DwightEisenhower and James Earl Carter are among some of the prominentrecipients of this annual award established in 1930 to recognize great,unselfish and non-technical services by the engineers to humanity.Murthy was awarded with the prestigious award at the GlobalHumanitarian Technology Conference in Seattle.
The 70th recipient of the award, Murthy was recognized forestablishing a foundation that forges outstanding improvements inhealthcare, social rehabilitation, rural uplift and education following hisformation of Infosys, an innovative company that provides businessconsulting, technology, and engineering services in over 30 countries.
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
4/33
Current News & Events 3
cinema. The 67-year-old actress,who is the great grand-niece ofnoted poet Rabindranath Tagore,
jo ined leading figures from the
world of foreign affairs, educationand almost 1000 students at theceremony to collect the award. "It isindeed a privilege to be conferredan Honorary Degree by EdinburghNapier University.
Kahaani wins Best Film
award in FijiVidya Balan starrer
'Kahaani' has been named the bestfilm at the International Film Festivalin Fiji. The two-week long film
festival, which was partnered withIndian High Commission andorganized by Fiji National Universityand Film Fiji, was held in Labasa.The Indian feature anddocumentary films were also a partof festival where 'Kahaani' receivedthe award in 'Best Film' category.
The Fiji Film Festivalfeatured a range of diverseinternational and local film entriesincluding French, Russian, MiddleEastern films, Bollywoodblockbusters and Bengali classicsas well. These films were screenedfrom all over the country fromOctober 5 to 18.
Waheeda Rehman
conferred with the life
achievement awardWaheeda Rehman was
conferred with the life achievementaward at the closing function of the14th Mumbai Film Festival onOctober 25. The weeklong festival,
during which over 200 films werescreened, concluded with thescreening of Pablo BergersBlancanieves. Ms. Rehman, who
accepted the award from directorShyam Benegal, said there comesa time in an artistes life when he-or-she shies away from accoladesand she was doing that in the past.
However, this time shedecided to accept since the honourwas from her own fraternity, at an
international film festival and in the100th year of cinema. Shededicated the award to hercolleagues in the film industry. Ms.Rehman has acted in 84 films in acareer spanning six decades andhas been awarded the PadmaBhushan.
Pakistani singer Abida
Parveen recieves lifetime
achievement awardSufi legend Abida Parveen
was honoured with a lifetimeachievement award by KaladharmiBegum Akhtar Academy of Ghazal.
Abida is an internationallyacclaimed Pakistani singer ofSindhi descent and one of theforemost exponents of Sufi music.Her songs include mainly ghazals,Urdu love tracks and her forte,Kafis, a classical form of Sufipoetry. Some of her hits are 'DumaDum Mast Qalandar', 'Teray IshaqNachaya', 'Latthe Di Chadar', 'Kuch
Is Ada Se Aaj' and 'Kafian BullehShah'. During her career, Abida hasbeen awarded both the 'Pride ofPerformance' and the 'Sitara-e-Imtiaz' by the Government ofPakistan.
British military dog gets
posthumous medalA British mili tary dog who
died in Afghanistan has beenawarded the highest bravery awardfor an animal for finding hiddenweapons and improvised explosivedevices planted by the Taliban.
Theo, a springer spaniel,died from an undiagnosed seizurehours after his handler LanceCorporal Tasker was killed onMarch 1, 2011 in a firefight. Theoworked for five months in
Afgh an is tan wi th Ro ya l ArmyVeterinary Corps, searching outroadside bombs. Theo has nowbeen recognised with the DickinMedal by the Peoples Dispensaryfor Sick Animals (PDSA). It is thehighest award any animal canreceive and is given for gallantry ordevotion to duty in military conflict.
The PDSA Dickin medalrecognises that in finding IEDs andbomb-making equipment, Theoprevented soldiers and civilians
Sachin Tendulkar to be awarded Order of Australia
membership
Sachin Tendulkar is set to another feather to his already crowdedcap as Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillardon October 16 announced that the iconicIndian cricketer will be conferred themembership of the Order of Australia, anhonour rarely awarded to non-Australians.
Sachin Tendulkar will become only thesecond Indian after former Attorney GeneralSoli Sorabjee to get the honour. Mr. Sorabjeewas made an Honorary Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for serviceto Australia-India bilateral legal relations in 2006. Tendulkar is not thefirst cricketer to be made an Order of Australia AM as in 2009, WestIndies legend Brian Lara was also made an honorary member. AnotherWest Indies legend, Clive Lloyd, is an Honorary Officer in the Order of
Australia, having been conferred the award way back in 1985. The right-handed Tendulkar, considered the finest batsman in contemporarycricket, has 15,533 runs in 190 Tests besides a mammoth 18,426 runsin 463 ODIs.
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
5/33
Current News & Events 4
from being killed or wounded. Theois the 64th animal to receive thePDSA Dickin Medal. Otherrecipients include 27 other dogs,
32 pigeons, three horses and a cat.
Gov. of Bangladesh
Awarded Babu Jagjivan
Ram with Friends of
Liberation War HonourFormer Deputy Prime
Minister and Defence Minister ofIndia, Babu Jagjivan Ram wasawarded with the Friends ofLiberation War Honour by theGovernment of Bangladesh for his
contribution in the 1971 War. Hewas given the honour by the PrimeMinister of Bangladesh, SheikhHasina and President ofBangladesh, Mohammad. ZillurRahman.
The award was received byBabuji's grandson, Anshul Avijit atthe Bangabandhu InternationalConference Centre in Dhaka.
Anshul Avij it, is a journalist andacademician and also the son ofSpeaker of the Lok Sabha, MeiraKumar. Babu Jagjivan Ram as the
Defence Minister and chiefstrategist of India in 1971, helpedin liberation of Bangladesh. Heassured that the war for liberationof Bangladesh ended in theremarkably short time of 13 days.
First Ever India
Biodiversity Award
Presented in HyderabadThe Government of India in
collaboration with United Nation
Development Programme (UNDP)announced Biodiversity award2012 in Hyderabad on 17 October2012. The winners of the awardswere: Pir Jahania Jungle SurakshaSamiti from Odisha in thecommunity stewardship category,Shankarpur Village GramPanchayat from Maharashtra in thecategory of decentralisedmanagement, Van UtthanSansthan from Rajasthan in thecategory of co-management andPeriyar Tiger Reserve in the
protected areas category. Theprogramme was hosted by theMinistry of Environment andForests.The award recognizes the
outstanding models of biodiversitygovernance across the country. Theaward was actually presented atministerial reception of EleventhConference of the Parties to theConvention on Biological Diversity.
With the presentation ofAward, the Minister of Environmentand Forests Jayanthi Natarajanannounced that the IndiaBiodiversity Awards will now begiven annualy, to mark InternationalBiodiversity Day on 22 May eachyear.
Singham Bravery Awards
An Indian Pol ice Service
officer who was crushed to death
by mining mafia in Madhya
Pradesh and several security
personnel who have laid down
their lives fighting for the country
were honoured posthumously with
Singham Bravery Awards on
October 20.
The awards, instituted by All
India Anti-Terrorist Front led by M.
S. Bitta, were handed over to thebereaved families by reel-life
Singham Ajay Devgn, film-maker
Rohit Shetty and former Central
Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
Director-General K. Vijay Kumar.
Narendra Kumar, a 2009-batch IPS
officer, was crushed to death under
a stone-laden tractor trolley
belonging to the mining mafia in
Chambal district of Madhya
Pradesh on March 8 while on
inspection.
Niryat Shree and Niryat
Bandhu AwardsPresident of India Pranab
Mukherjee with Union Minister forCommerce, Industry and Textiles
Anand Sharma on 5 October 2012presented awards to exporters onthe occasion of the presentation ofFederation of Indian ExportOrganisations (FIEO) Niryat Shreeand Niryat Bandhu awards atVigyan Bhavan in New Delhi.
The President gave away52 awards 46 Niryat Shree
Awards was given to exporters fortheir performance in 12 differentcategories, which includesagriculture, plantation products;chemicals, drugs, pharmacy andallied products; engineering; gemsand jewellery, handicrafts, carpets;textiles, leather, service providers;and 6 Niryat Bandhu Awards weregiven to Export Promotion Councilsand Banks for their support to theexporting community.
Among the Ni ryat Shreeawardees that were presented agold trophy was MIOT HospitalsLimited for being the highestforeign exchange earner in thecountry among all serviceproviders.
The award was received bycompany chairperson MallikaMohandas. Reliance Industrieswas also awarded a gold trophy forearning the highest foreignexchange.
PC Jewellers was awardeda silver trophy in the Gems andJewellery category. In the NiryatBandhu category for banks, thewinners were Canara Bank whichgot gold trophy followed by Bank ofIndia and Punjab National Bankgetting silver and Bronze trophy
respectively.
President Presents L.B.
Shastri National AwardThe President of India, Shri
Pranab Mukherjee conferred onSmt. Tessy Thomas, theprestigious Lal Bahadur ShastriNational Award for Excellence inPublic Administration, Academicsand Management: 2012 at afunction in Rashtrapati Bhavan onOctober 1.
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
6/33
Current News & Events 5
Nobel Prizes 2012
British, Japanese
scientists win NobelPrize for Medicine
Two scientists from differentgenerations won the Nobel Prizein medicine on October 8 for thegroundbreaking discovery that cellsin the body can be reprogrammedto become completely differentkinds, potentially opening the doorto growing customized tissues fortreatments.
The work of Britishresearcher John Gurdon andJapanese scientist ShinyaYamanakawho was born the yearMr. Gurdon made his discovery hasraised hopes of developingtransplant tissue to treat diseases
like Parkinsons and diabetes. Andit has spurred a new generation oflaboratory studies into otherdiseases, including schizophrenia,that may lead to new treatments.
Haroche, Wineland win
Nobel prize for physicsFrenchman Serge Haroche
and American David Winelandhave won the 2012 Nobel Prize inphysics for inventing anddeveloping methods for observingtiny quantum particles without
destroying them. The RoyalSwedish Academy of Sciencescited the two scientists for ground-breaking experimental methodsthat enable measuring andmanipulation of individual quantumsystems. Their ground-breaking
methods have enabled this field ofresearch to take the very first stepstowards building a new type ofsuper fast computer based onquantum physics, the academysaid.
Lefkowitz, Kobilka win
Nobel chemistry prizeAmer ican s Robert
Lefkowitzand Brian Kobilka wonthe 2012 Nobel Prize in chemistryon October 10 for studies of proteinreceptors that let body cells senseand respond to outside signals.Such studies are key for developingbetter drugs.
The Royal SwedishAcademy of Sciences said the tworesearchers had made groundbreaking discoveries on animportant family of receptors,known as G-protein-coupledreceptors. About half of allmedications act on these
receptors, so learning about themwill help scientists to come up withbetter drugs. The human body hasabout 1,000 kinds of suchreceptors, which let it respond to awide variety of chemical signals,like adrenaline. Some receptorsare in the nose, tongue and eyes,and let us sense smells, tastesand vision.
Mo Yan wins Nobel
Prize for LiteratureChinese authorMo Yan has
been awarded the 2012 NobelPrize for literature. The Swedish
Academy praised his work which"with hallucinatory realism mergesfolk tales, history and the contemporary". Mo Yan is the first Chineseresident to win theprize. Chinese-born Gao Xingjianwas honoured in2000, but is aFrench citizen. Mois the 109threcipient of theprestigious prize.
European Union wins
Nobel Peace PrizeThe European Union won
the Nobel Peace Prize for its effortsto promote peace and democracyin Europe despite being in themidst of its biggest crisis since thebloc was created in the 1950s.
The Norwegian prizecommittee said the EU received theaward for six decades ofcontributions to the advancementof peace and reconciliation,democracy and human rights inEurope. The EU rose from theashes of World War II, born of theconviction that ever-closereconomic ties would make surethat century-old enemies neverturned on each other again. Its nowmade up of 500 million people in27 nations, with other nations linedup, waiting to join.
Two Americans win
Nobel economics prizeAmericans Alvin Roth and
Lloyd Shapleywere awarded theNobel economics prize forresearch that helps explain themarket processes at work whendoctors are assigned to hospitals,students to schools and humanorgans for transplant to recipients.
The Royal SwedishAcademy of Sciences cited the twoeconomists for "the theory of stableallocations and the practice ofmarket design". Roth, 60, is aprofessor at Harvard University inBoston. Shapley, 89, is a professoremeritus at University of CaliforniaLos Angeles.
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
7/33
Current News & Events 6
News Makers
Hyderabad Last Nizam
Named All time RichestIndian
Osman Ali Khan the lastNizam of Hyderabad on 16 October2012 was named in list of the 25richest people across the worldwho ever lived by US websiteCelebrity Networth.
Osman Ali Khan, the Nizam,who ruled Hyderabad between1886-1967, was ranked sixth inworld and the richest in India with
$236 billion. He died in 1967 at ageof 80. The list declared by USwebsite Celebrity Networth wascompiled after adjusting thefortunes of people across historyfor inflation. For example, $100million in 1913 is equivalent to$2299.63 billion in 2012.
As per the report, The 25richest who ever lived had acombined fortune of $4.317 trillion,of which 14 are American.
Chavez re-elected to 6-
year term in VenezuelaVenezuelan President Hugo
Chavez was re-elected on October7 to a fourth term, which would bringhis total years in office to 20,according to preliminary officialresults made public by the NationalElectoral Council.
Mr. Chavez received 54.42per cent of the votes with about 90per cent of the ballots countedwhile Henrique Capriles, theunified opposition candidate,
received 44.97 per cent. The resultswould secure Mr. Chavez anothersix-year mandate, taking his termof office through 2019.
Monisha Kalterborn Became the First Woman
Team Principal in Formula oneIndian born, Monisha Kalterborn Became the First Woman Team
Principal in Formula one on 11 October 2012 after taking the control ofteam Sauber, a swiss Formula one team with the stepping down ofteam founder Peter Sauber from day to day management.
The news of Monisha Kalterborn appointment came after PeterSauber made it clear that he did not wish to run the team, which hebuilt more than fourty years ago. Monisha Kalterborn joined Sauber in2000 as head of its legal department and has been its CEO sinceJanuary 2010. Monisha secured her bachelors degree in law from theUniversity of Vienna in 1995 and also holds a Masters degree inInternational Business Law from the London School of Economicswhich she did in 1996.
Ajit Saran Appointed as
Secretary in National
Commission for WomenSenior IAS officer Ajit M
Sharan was appointed as MemberSecretary in National Commissionfor Women (NCW) on 3 October2012. Ajit Sharan is a 1979 batchofficer of Haryana cadre. He isgoing to be in the rank and pay of
Additional Secretary.The Appointments
Committee of the Cabinet has alsoappointed Rajiv Mehrishi, an IASofficer of 1978 batch of theRajasthan cadre, as Secretary,
Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairsin the vacancy of Parvez Dewan, a1977 batch IAS officer of Jammuand Kashmir cadre. Rajiv Mehrishiis presently Special Secretary,Department of AgriculturalResearch and Education, Ministryof Agriculture.
Places in News
Hyderabad Named world
Third Best City to Visit in
2013The City of Hyderabad was
named as World Third best city tovisit in 2013 by Travel guide bookLonely Planet published on 22October 2012. Hyderabad thecapital city of Andhra Pradesh wasdescribed as "elegant andblossoming" by the Lonely Planet.The top 10 cities according to Lonely
Planet to visit in 2013 are SanFrancisco, Amsterdam, Hyderabad,Derry/Londonderry, Beijing,Christchurch, Hobart, Montreal,
Addis Ababa and Puerto Iguazu.Earlier in 2011, New York Timesrated Hyderabad among the 41 topdestinations to visit in the world.
North East biggest
mosque to be
inaugurated in ShillongThe north-east biggest and
a unique mosque is all set to beopened up for devotees for prayersfrom October 18. Named asMedina Masjid with an imposing
and resplendent structure of glassdome and glass minarets.
The four storey structure onthe Umshyrpi College campus aninstitution run by Shilong MuslimUnion (SMU), is an architecturalmarvel in itself. With 120-foot widthand 61-footbreath, the buildingfitted with glittering glass workhouses a mosque besides anorphanage, Islamic library and aMarkaz (Islamic theologicalinstitute). At night the mosque is aneye catching spectacle as brilliant
ligh work set the entire areaglowing. The Shillong MuslimUnion was formed in 1905 inerstwhile East Bengal, whichstretched from Siliguri to Cox'sBazar and Chittagong to Dibrugarh.
After India's partition in 1947, SMUnarrowed down its activities to
Assam. Sinc e Megh alaya' sformation in 1972, its activities havebeen limited to the state.
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
8/33
Current News & Events 7
Science Snippets
Humanoid Robot called
Baxter designed in USAA hu mano id robo t wi th
common sense, designed to worksafely alongside its human co-workers on factory productionlines, was unveiled in the US.Baxter could apply common sense,adapt to its environment and betrained in less than 30 minutes tocomplete specific tasks. It iscapable of superhuman speed andprecision. To teach Baxter a new
job, a human guides its arms to
simulate the desired task, andpresses a button to program in thepattern, the report said. The robotresponds with a confusedexpression, if it does notunderstand.
Australian Scientists
unveiled the Colossal
Radio TelescopeAustralian Scientists on 5
October 2012 unveiled a colossalradio telescope with abilities ofexploring the depths of universewith unparalleled precision. Thetelescope will increase theabilities of astronomers inmapping black holes, survey theuniverse, and cracking the newlight across the galaxies to anexponential level.
At present the AustralianSKA Pathfinder telescope having36 antennas with diameter of 12meters each is placed at theremote Murchison Radio-
As tronomy obse rvatory in the
deserts of West Australia.Designed and developed bymaking investments of Australian$ 140 million has facilit ies ofsurveying the sky at a much fasterspeed than any other telescopeavailable in the world. Thesensitive antennas of thetelescope are quite sensitive to thefaint radiations of Milky Way henceis able to detect the galaxies faraway. The radio waves generatedfrom this telescope can providedetails of the cosmos far away and
the gases that resulted in theformation of any particular star.
Pulsars and quasars canalso be identified by the telescopewith an ease pushing forward theboundaries of knowledge of themankind ahead of the physical lawsof nature. The principle of radio-astronomy can provide the detailsof the beginning of the universe.Basically the antennas of thetelescope spread across the rocky
terrain would be used for collectionof the radio signals of the cosmicphenomenon. Being 50 times morepowerful, when compared to otherradio devices, it can easily detectthe exploding stars. Hence can beof a great use in establishing thefacts related to the formation of theuniverse that happened about 14billion years ago.
Home cure for dengueThe juice of the humble
papaya leaf has been seen toarrest the destruction of plateletsthat has been the cause for somany deaths due to dengue.
Ayurveda researchers havefound that enzymes in the papayaleaf can fight a host of viralinfections, not just dengue, and canhelp regenerate platelets and whiteblood cells. Scores of patients havebenefited from the papaya leaf
juice, say doctors . Papaya hasalways been known to be good forthe digestive system. Due to its richvitamin and mineral content, it is a
health freaks favourite. But itsdengue-fighting properties haveonly recently been discovered.Chymopapin and papin-j enzymesin the papaya leafhelp reviveplatelet count, say experts.
The juice has to beprepared from fresh papaya leaves.De-vein the leaves and grind thegreen, pulpy part into a paste. Youcan also use a mixer. The paste isvery bitter and you would probably
have to mix it with fruit juice. Doctorsrecommend 20-25 ml (about fourto five teaspoons), twice a day, forat least a week to get the bestresults.
Giant telescope with most
advanced mirror to
probe universeScientists have developed
the most challenging astronomicalmirror - ten times more powerfulthan any other ever made - for a
giant telescope to explore the outerspace and early universe.Researchers at the StewardObservatory Mirror Laboratory,University of Arizona and inCalifornia, working underneath afootball stadium have beenpolishing an 8.4-meter diametermirror with an unusual, highlyasymmetric shape. By thestandards used by opticalscientists, the degree of difficultyfor this mirror is 10 times that ofany previous large telescopemirror.
New species of coelacanth fish discoveredScientists have discovered a new species of coelacanth fish
whose tiny pieces of fossil skull are 100 million years old. The
coelacanth has one of the longest lineages, 400 million years, of anyanimal. The discovery, made in Texas, is significant because it is mostclosely related to vertebrates, including humans. The SouthernMethodist University (Dallas) specimen is the first coelacanth in Texasfrom the Cretaceous (period), extending from 146 million years ago to66 million years ago, said John F. Graf, the palaeontolgist who identifiedthe fossil and named it Reidus hilli. Previously, the youngest was a200 million-year-old coelacanth from the Triassic. Reidus hilli is thefirst coelacanth ever identified from the Dallas-Fort Worth area,according to a Southern Methodist statement.
Coelacanth fossils have been found on every continent exceptAntarctica. The species has eluded extinction for 400 million years.Scientists estimate the coelacanth reached its maximum diversity
during the Triassic.
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
9/33
Current News & Events 8
Defence
Space Science
India tests nuclear-
capable ballistic missileDhanush
India successfully test-firednuclear capable Dhanush, thenaval version of Prithvi short-rangeballistic missile, from a warship offOdisha coast on October 5.
The indigenously developed naval version of the Prithvishort-range ballistic missile has astrike range of up to 350 km andcan carry 500 kg of conventional ornuclear warhead.
"Dhanush was test-firedfrom a naval ship off Odisha coast.
The test was conducted by thestrategic force command (SFC) ofthe Indian Navy. The trial was acomplete success and all themission objectives wereaccomplished. Developed by theDRDO, the missile is about 8.53metre in length and 0.9 metre indiameter. This single stage missileuses liquid propellant.
Nuclear Capable Prithvi
II Missile Sucessfully Test
FiredIndia on 4 October 2012
successfully test fired itsindigenously developed, nuclear-capable ballistic missile Prithvi-IIfrom a test range in Odisha.
The missile was test firedby the Strategic Forces Command(SFC) from the Integrated TestRange at Chandipur, Odisha.
All the radars and electro-optical systems along the coasthave monitored the missile
throughout its flight path. TheDefence Research andDevelopment Organisation(DRDO) have developed Prithvi-II
for the Indian Air Force for deepinterdiction and the missile can bearmed with a nuclear warheadweighing 500 kg. In this flight, itcarried conventional explosives.
Prithvi-II is a user-friendlymissile which has a completelyguided trajectory. The SFC hadearlier launched it on August 25,2012 and the flight was successful.The Indian Army is already armedwith the single-stage Prithvi-II,which uses liquid propellants.
From July 2012 onwards theStrategic Forces Command hadlaunched a series of strategicmissiles including Agni-I, Agni-IIand Agni-III.
It is one of the five missilesthat were developed under thecountry's Integrated Guided MissileDevelopment Programme.
First commercial cargo
flight heading toInternational Space StationThe SpaceX rocket, the first
commercial flight to theInternational Space Station, lifted offOctober 7 carrying an unmannedcargo capsule. The Falcon 9 rocketwith its Dragon capsule launchedfrom Cape Canaveral, Florida.
About 10 minutes into the flight, theDragon separated from the rocketand was on its way to the spacestation. Mission control called it "a
picture-perfect launch and aflawless flight of Falcon."
It is is the first of a dozenNASA-contracted flights to resupplythe International Space Station, ata total cost of $1.6 billion. Thelaunch comes nearly five monthsafter a demonstration mission inwhich a Dragon capsulesuccessfully berthed at the stationand returned to Earth.
The unmanned capsule ispacked with about 1,000 poundsof cargo -- everything from low-
sodium food kits to clothing andcomputer hard drives. It 'sscheduled to return in late Octoberwith about 2,000 pounds of cargo,
including scientific experimentsand failed equipment that can berepaired and sent back
The Dragon spacecraft issupposed to catch up with thespace station early Wednesday.Station Commander SunitaWilliams and Aki Hoshide from theJapanese Space Agency will usethe robotic arm to grab Dragon andberth it to the station.
ISRO plans 58 space
missions during 12th PlanISRO plans to launch 58space missions, including sendingspacecraft to moon and Mars, an
exclusive satellite to keep a round-the-clock watch on the country and
deploy 500 transponders in the next
five years.
The space agency also
aims to deploy its own version of
the Global Positioning System by
putting into orbit a constellation ofseven satellites which would form
the Indian Regional NavigationalSatellite System (IRNSS).
According to the 12th Five
Year Plan, approved by the Cabinet
last week, the Indian Space
Research Organisation plans toadd 400 transponders to the
existing 187 to meet the growingdemand from DTH operators,
satellite mobile communications
and new generation broadband
VSAT systems.
An indicative plan outlay of
Rs 39,750 crore for the 12th Plan
has been made for the Departmentof Space. Missions initiated in the
11th Plan like Chandrayaan-II,Astrosat-1 and Aditya-1 are also
expected to set forth on their
respective destinations into space
over the next five years.
As part of Chandrayaan-
II, ISRO plans to land a rover on the
lunar surface and put a satellite inan orbit around the moon. The
mission is expected to be launchedin 2014.
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
10/33
Current News & Events 9
Summits
International Conference
of CAPAMThe three day International
Conference of CommonwealthAssoci at ion of Publ ic Admi nistration and Management (CAPAM)and the fourth Common PublicService Ministers Forumconcluded at New Delhi on October27 with a call for efficient andeffective public administration thatcan enhance the role of just andhonest government to spur socio-economic and political
development, leading to transformation of societies. The MinistersForum agreed on the important roleof public policy in improvinggovernance and strengtheningpublic admini stration in support ofnational development objectivesand to meet internationalchallenges. They acknowledgedthe need for developing countriesto address challenges posed by aglobalised economy, the competitiveness of markets and the
capability of member countries toretain their comparable advantages. The three day CAPAMconference was attended byMinisters and senior officials from21 countries besides India. Thetheme of the Conference was APublic Service Fit for the Future.During the conference learnedscholars made importantpresentations on the challenges ofgood governance and publicservice excellence.
Second India-Japan 2+2Dialogue held in TokyoThe 2nd India-Japan 2+2
Dialogue was held in Tokyo on 22October, 2012. These 2+2consultations at Senior Officiallevel are mandated by the ActionPlan to Advance SecurityCooperation concluded betweenIndia and Japan in December2009. The first India- Japan 2+2Dialogue was held at New Delhi inJune 2010. The two countries
CoP - Leading the Way ForwardFollowing are the highlights of the CoP-11 Conference on
Biodiversity concluded in Hyderabad on 19 October, 2012:
Largest ever such conference organised in India. 170 countriesparticipated. The number of pre registered delegates around 15000.Minister/Vice Minister level participation around 80. More than 400side events many organised by the World Bank, UNDP, GEF,other countries and International and national NGOs.
The elements of successful CoP were flawless logistics, strategicthinking in the development of Agendas content, participation of alarge number of stakeholders and persuasive yet effectivenegotiations.
One of the most important outcomes of the CoP is the commitmentof the Parties to double the international financial flows for BioDiversity by 2015. This will translate into additional financial flowsto the developing countries to the tune of about US $ 30 billion
equivalent to about Rs. 1,50,000 crore over the next 8 years. This isa major achievement especially in the context of .1. Global economic downturn2. Contentious stands regarding the robust baseline and the reporting
mechanism3. Absence of any such target in the recommendation sent to the CoP
by WGRI4. With no proposal from Working Group on Review of Implementation
(WGRI) the Parties would not have come with the required clearancefrom the respective Finance Ministries.
India rectified the situation by her initiatives
1. Suggested a two track solution envisaging a preliminary target anda road map.
2. Co sponsored informal dialogue to promote better Understanding
among the parties of the issues involved.3. Co sponsored India UK High Level Panel to assess the requirement
of funds.4. Worked closely with the Bureau to introduce a specific element of
preliminary target, so that the parties come prepared with mandatesfrom their Finance Ministries.
5. During the CoP India led the efforts of the Parties to find a satisfactoryoutcome
briefed the other on their respectivedefence and security policies in thebackground of each countryssecurity environment.
The next and the 3rd roundof the India Japan 2+2 Dialoguewill be held at New Delhi at amutually convenient date.
ASEAN- India Agri ExpoAgriculture Minister Sharad
Pawar October 17 inaugurated theASEAN-India Agri Expo along withMinisters and representatives ofthe ASEAN member countries. TheExposition has been organisedconcurrently with the Second
ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting
on Agriculture and Forestry meeting
to showcase technologies of the
region to further promote and
intensify cooperation between
India and ASEAN nations inagriculture, forestry and allied
sectors.
The Expo displays exhibits
from different Indian institutes such
as the test kit for detection of
antibiotic residues in milk at dairy
farm and new colour based test for
anionic detergent in milk developed
by the National Dairy Research
Institute, Karnal. Exhibits from
institutes of ASEAN countries are
also on display at the Expo.
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
11/33
Current News & Events 10
Deaths
King of romance Yash
Chopra diedKing of romance, master of
the emotion-laden weepie andlover of beautiful people andbeautiful locations are some of theterms being showered on YashChopra, who died on October 21.
Chopras oeuvre tracks thatarc, beginning with the aftermathof Partition and the effect it had onordinary people to the lifestyles ofthe rich and famous who live aseasily in London and Ludhiana,Jalandhar and New Jersey. At alltimes, however, they remainPunjabi and that too a certain kind
of Punjabi living life king size,wearing their heart on their sleeves,hosting huge weddings and,sticking to Indian Traditions inwhich the women, pretty andgorgeously dressed, carrieddesigner bags and let the men bemen. Though the new generationwill identify him with films likeChandni, Dil to Pagal Hai and VeerZara all directed by him andblockbusters like Dilwale DulhaniaLe Jayenge (DDLJ), directed by histalented son Aditya but with the
fathers unmistakable stamp on it,one must look way back into historyto really understand the YashChopra journey.
Committees
PM constitutes National
Committee on DirectCash Transfers
The Union Government on
25 October 2012 constituted a
National Committee on Direct
Cash Transfers. The committee
would be responsible to coordinate
in development of the process for
making the transfer of the cash
directly to the individuals, being
provided under different types of
government schemes and
programs.The Prime Minister of India,
Manmohan Singh would be the
Chairperson of the committee and
the group of members would
include eleven Cabinet Ministers,
two Ministers of State with
independent charge, the Deputy
Chairman Planning Commission,
the Chairman UIDAI, the Cabinet
Secretary with the Principal
Secretary to the PM as the
convenor. The Prime Minister can
invite some more officers, minister
or any expert for the committees
meet.
The National Committee on
Cash Transfers will be assisted by
an Executive Committee on Direct
Cash Transfers chaired by the
Principal Secretary to PM and the
Secretaries of the concerned
Ministries and the DG UIDAI. The
Secretary Planning Commission
will be the convenor.
Kelkar CommitteeThe Kelkar Committee was
set up by Finance Minister P.Chidambaram to chalk out aroadmap for fiscal consolidation. Itwas headed by Mr Vijay Kelkar,former Finance Secretary. Thereport was warned there is anurgent need to take immediatecorrective measures to fix the fiscaldeficit to prevent the economy fromslipping in to a situation worse than1991.
Shome CommitteeThe Parthasarathi Shome
Committee report on General Anti-
Avoida nce Ru les (G AAR) hasrecommended the postponementof GAAR by three years andabolition of short-term capitalgains tax.
Rangarajan panel
recommends deregulation
of sugar sectorThe Rangarajan
Committee in its latest report,submitted to the Prime Minister,recommended deregulation of the
sugar sector, the only remainingindustry that continues to becontrolled by the government, bygiving freedom to mills to sell sugarin the open market.
It has also suggested doingaway with the system of levy sugar,under which the mills are requiredto sell 10 per cent of their productionto the government at below marketprice for running ration shops. Levysugar is meant for distribution inthe ration shops, while non-levysugar is for sale in the open market.
While other sectors of theeconomy have been freed, thesugar industry continues to remainunder the government control, rightfrom the level of production todistribution. The Centre fixes thequantity of sugar that mills can sellin the open market and rationshops. The industry has been for along time demanding thegovernment do away with thesystems of regulated releasemechanism and levy sugar
obligations. The expert committeewas set up by the Prime Minister toexamine issues related todecontrolling the sugar sector.
Jaspal Bhatti died in a road accidentA pall of gloom descended on the streets in Chandigarh as
word spread about the tragic demise of satirist and filmmaker JaspalBhatti, whose mortal remains were consigned to flames following hisdeath in a road accident. Bhatti, who became popular with his satiricalshows during the golden days of Doordarshan, was on a tour topromote his upcoming film 'Power Cut' when the accident took place.
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
12/33
Current News & Events 11
Economic Scenario
Indian government debt
jumped 3.6%The government's debt in
the July-September period in thisfinancial year grew by 3.6 per centto Rs 39,00,386 crore from Rs37,63,264 crore in the previousquarter.
The total public debt(excluding liabilities that are notclassified under public debt) of theGovernment had grown by 5.2 percent in April-June quarter. "Thisrepresented a Quarter-on-Quarter
(QoQ) increase of 3.6 per cent(provisional) compared with anincrease of 5.2 per cent in theprevious quarter (Q1 of FY13)," theQuarterly Report on DebtManagement released by theFinance Ministry said. Internal debtin July -September quarterconstituted 90.4 per cent of publicdebt, compared with 89.6 per centat the end of June. The internal debtat Rs 35,27,405 crore constituted34.7 per cent of GDP. It was 33.2
per cent at end-June 2012.During the second quarterof the fiscal, liquidity conditions inthe economy remained generallytight, though the deficit was withinthe Reserve Bank's stated comfortzone of about one per cent of NetDemand and Time Liabilities(NDTL) of scheduled commercialbanks.
The net amount providedunder Liquidity Adjustment Facility(LAF) operations, the report added,witnessed some oscillations
during the quarter. It further said thatthe cash position of the governmentduring the second quarter was
generally comfortable andremained in positive territory for amajor part of the period underreview. Gross tax collections duringthe April-August at 26.4 per cent ofbudget estimates were higher than25.8 per cent a year ago.
In the direct taxes,collections from corporation taxand personal income tax at Rs64,900 crore and Rs 58,249 crore,respectively, showed healthygrowth rates of 25.8 per cent and
30.3 per cent against 13.9 per centgrowth rate budgeted for eachduring FY13. Among the majorindirect taxes, growth in collectionsfrom customs and excise dutiesdecelerated to 3.4 per cent and10.8 per cent, respectively, againstbudgeted growth rates of 22.0 percent and 29.1 per cent. However,service tax collections increased by33.5 percent during April-August2012-13 as against BE growth rateof 30.5 per cent.
Backward Regions GrantFund (BRGF)
The Cabinet Committee onEconomic Affairs on October 25approved the proposal for :(i) continuing the Special Plan for
Bihar in 2012-13 with anallocation of Rs.1500 crore,based on the enhanced levelof cost of Rs.9985.54 crore ofall existing projects, revisedcost of existing projects, and
AP ranks 4th in share of private investments
Andhra Pradesh ranks fourth in terms of share in the total private
sector investments, including from foreign private players across India.
A study by industry body Assocham revealed that the State had a share
of over 8 per cent in the total private sector investments as of June this
year. Gujarat, Odisha and Maharashtra with a share of 12.5 per cent,
10.7 per cent and 8.9 per cent, respectively, figure ahead of Andhra
Pradesh. Out of the total outstanding investment of over Rs 12.3 lakh
crore in the State, private sector accounts for over Rs 6.9 lakh crore,
accounting for a share of 56 per cent, the study reveals.
In fact, at the national-level, private sector investments account
for a share of 86.6 per cent of the total outstanding investments. At the
other end of the spectrum, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand
and Assam, have the least share in Indias total private sector
investment, which is even less than one per cent, the study said.
the cost of new projects, if any,that may be approved by theEmpowered Committee,
(ii) continuing the Special Plan forthe Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput (KBK) districts ofOdisha in 2012-13 with anallocation of Rs.250 crore, and
(iii) continuing the special packagefor implementing droughtmitigation strategies inBundelkhand region of UttarPradesh and Madhya Pradesh
in 2012-13 with an AdditionalCentral Assistance of Rs.1400crore.
Background:
The Twelfth Five Year Plan(2012-17) is being finalized. Thepossibility of restructuring theBackward Regions Grant Fund(BRGF) including the DistrictComponent as well as the StateComponent for the period 2013-14to 2016-17 is being considered.Pending completion of thisexercise, it is necessary to continuethe BRGF (District Component andState Component) in its presentform in 2012-13. The districtcomponent of BRGF as well as thespecial plan for West Bengal andthe Integrated Action Plan (IAP) forselected tribal and backwarddistricts under the State componentof BRGF are already approved forcontinuation in 2012-13. Since thepresent approval to the specialplan for Bihar, special plan for the
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
13/33
Current News & Events 12
KBK districts of Odisha andBundelkhand package is valid onlyfor the Eleventh Five Year Planperiod i.e. 2011-12, it is now
proposed to continue theseprogrammes in 2012-13 in itspresent form.
India ranks 132nd in
ease of doing business
among 185 economiesIndia lags behind
neighbours Sri Lanka, Bangladeshand Nepal in the rankings on easein doing Business, despite carryingout most reforms since 2005, asurvey by International Finance
Corporation, the private sectorlending arm of World Bank shows.
A new IFC and World Bankreport- Doing Business- finds thatIndia has improved the regulatoryenvironment for localentrepreneurs more than any othereconomy in South Asia since 2005.In the past eight years Indiaimplemented a total of 17institutional or regulatory reformsmaking it easier to do business.
'Doing Business' analyzes
regulations that apply to aneconomy's businesses duringtheir life cycle, including start-upand operations, trading acrossborders, paying taxes, andprotecting investors. The aggregateease of doing business rankingsare based on 10 indicators andcover 185 economies. But in termsof ranking, India lags Sri Lanka (81), Maldives (95) and Bangladesh(129) and is ranked 132 globally interms of doing business.
The report finds that India is
the first economy in the region to
make dealing with constructionpermits easier for local firms since2005. In the past year Indiaestablished strict time limits for
preconstruction approvals,reducing the time needed toprocess permit applications.
BSE joins UN's Sustainable
Stock Exchanges global
initiative
The Bombay StockExchange Ltd (BSE) announcedthat it has joined the SustainableStock Exchanges (SSE) initiative.
The SSE initiative waslaunched by UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon and UNCTADSecretary-General SupachaiPanitchpakdi in 2009 at UNheadquarters in New York City.
The BSE has been the firstamongst global peers to join fiveother leading exchanges that havepublicly committed to promotingsustainable investment practices.
Other exchanges includethe Brazilian stock exchange BM &FBOVESPA, Egyptian Exchange(EGX), Istanbul Stock Exchange
(ISE), Johannesburg StockExchange (JSE) and NASDAQ OMXmade a commitment towardsimproving sustainability at theSustainable Stock Exchanges 2012global dialogue in Rio de Janeiro
earlier this year. BSE is alsocredited with launching the first-ever live Carbon Index BSE-GREENEX in India, earlier in 2012.
The index measures theperformances of companies interms of carbon emissions.
"BSE is committed toworking with investors, companiesand regulators in playing atransformative role towardsenhancing sustainability in Indiancapital markets.
More powers to FMCIn a reforms boost to the
commodity futures market, theUnion Cabinet, on October 4,cleared amendments to theForward Contract (Regulation) Act(FCRA) Amendment Bill, 2010,which provides for autonomy andpower to the regulator.
The amendments arebased on the recommendations ofthe Standing Committee of theMinistry of Food and Consumer
Af fa ir s. The Ac t prov id es fo rregulation of futures markets inIndia and establishment of theForward Markets Commission.
The Bill was meant to givemore teeth to the regulator and alsobenefit farmers, Minister of State forConsumer Affairs K.V. Thomas told
journa li st s af te r th e Cabi ne tmeeting.
India among fastest growing Internet marketIndia is among the top three fastest growing Internet markets in
the world, a study by industry body Assocham and ComScore has said."Among the Bric nations, India has been the fastest growing marketadding over 18 million Internet users and growing at an annual rate of41 percent," the study said. The Internet user base in the country is
approximately 125 million, the study added. "China added over 14 millionusers to reach 336 million Internet users by the end of July 2012. Russiaand India show similar trends in online usage patterns along withsimilarities in e-commerce and payment types," it said. India is alsoamong the top three fastest growing markets worldwide in the last 12months, the study said. The top five popular categories accessedonline are social networking, portals, search, entertainment and newssites, the study said. "Out of the approximate 125 million Internet userbase, the female population accounts for almost 40 percent," it added.The study said the average transaction size online in India across bothtravel and retail category is USD 31 between April-June 2012. Thisamount is set to increase with consumer confidence in buying highpriced products in the coming months, it said.
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
14/33
Current News & Events 13
Union Cabinet Approved setting up of National
Automotive Board
The Union Cabinet on 18 October 2012 gave its nod for settingup of the National Automotive Board (NAB). The body will beresponsible for promoting the research and development activities ofthe industry and act as a facilitator in between the industry and thegovernment. NAB would also be responsible as a specialized body topromote sustainable development of the Nations Auto Sector alongwith skill development for the automobile sector.
RBI Expanded the
Lending Norms on
Priority SectorsThe Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) on 18 October 2012 extendedthe lendings on the Priority sectorslike housing, agriculture, small andmedium enterprises, andexpanded the scope of bank loansfor these sectors up to 2 croreRupees. These ammendmentswould be in effect from 20 July2012. The banks were permittedby the central bank to offer loansup to an aggregate limit of 2 croreRupees, to corporate that includes
farmers producer companies, co-operatives and partnership firms offamers indulged in agricultural andallied activities including animalhusbandry, bee-keeping, dairy,fishery and sericulture. The Priorityloan would also be made availablefor pre-harvest and post-harvestactivities like weeding, spraying,grading, harvesting and sorting.Export Credit loans for exportingones own farm produce wouldalso be made available. The
lending scheme fulfills the criterionmentioned under the MSMED Act-2006.
Bank loans to Micro andSmall Enterprises (MSEs) those areengaged in providing serviceswould be eligible for the directfinance of up to 2 crore Rupees perborrower per unit under prioritysector. In case the loan amount perborrower increases the limit of 2crore rupees, than it can beconsidered as the indirect financefor agriculture.
India topples Thailand as
world's largest rice
exporterIndia has the emerged as
the world's largest rice exporter in2012 beating its Asian counterpartThailand with shipment of 9.75million tonnes, according toUSDA's latest report. Thailand wasthe top rice exporter with exports of10.65 million tonnes in 2011.
However, its volume slipped to 6.5
million tonnes in 2012. "On the
export side, India's exports were
raised 1.75 million tonnes to a
record 9.75 million tonnes based
on a record pace of shipments to
date and larger supplies. This
makes India the largest rice
exporter in 2012, a first for India,"
the USDA report said.
India is followed by Vietnam,
which shipped 7 million tonnes of
rice, Thailand (6.5 million tonnes),
Pakistan (3.75 million tonnes) and
the US (3.5 million tonnes), it
added. India moved to the top slot
from the third place in 2011 buoyed
by record production of 104.32
million tonnes on the back of good
monsoon rains.
The US agency said with
India's shipments rising this yearit had to revise its global trade
estimates upwards by 1.85 million
tonnes. "Global trade for 2012 was
raised 1.85 million tonnes to a
record 37.7 million tonnes, with
India accounting for the bulk of the
upward revision in exports," it said.
The global rice production
in 2012 is estimated at 464.87
million tonnes in 2012. India is the
world's largest grower.
19th livestock census
report by Aug 2013The 19th livestock census
will be completed by November-endin all the States and the final report
will be presented by August 2013,the Central Statistical Organisation(CSO) said.
The livestock census isconducted once in five years. Thelast census report was finalised in2007.The 19th livestock censuswas launched on September 15except in Sikkim and Jammu andKashmir. The census will becompleted in all the States byNovember-end and the final reportwill be presented by August 2013,
CSO Director-General S. K. Dastold. At present, information aboutlivestock population has beencollected in 18 States and theprocess is midway in the remaining17 States.
South Africa agrees to
host planned development
bank for BRICSSouth Africa indicted that it
was ready to host a planneddevelopment bank for the BRICS
grouping of five emergingeconomies, including India.Officials from Brazil, Russia, India,China and South Africa are workingon feasibility studies for the creationof a BRICS bank expected tomobilise resources for infrastruc t u r a ld e v e l o pm e n tprojects indevelopingnations.
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
15/33
Current News & Events 14
Sports
Pankaj Advani wins
Billiards world title(Time format)
Ace Ind ian cueis t PankajAdvani proved his class once againas he notched up his seventhWorld Billiards Championship titleafter comprehensively beatingdefending champion andseasoned Englishman MikeRussell in the final. The celebratedcueist stamped his dominancewith 1895-1216 win.
This is the eighth overallworld title for Pankaj and hisseventh in billiards. His first world
title in billiards came in 2005 whenhe created history by becoming thefirst cueist ever to win the Timedand Points format of the IBSF WorldBilliards Championship in thesame year, a feat he repeated in2008. He also won the IBSF WorldBilliards Championship (TimedFormat) in 2007 and won WorldProfessional Billiards title 2009.The only active player to competeat the highest level in both Billiardsand Snooker, Pankaj made thetough choice of picking the WorldBilliards Championship overInternational Snooker Championships due to a clash in the dates ofthe two tournaments.
Vettel wins Indian Grand Prix
Red Bulls Sebastian Vettelhad a lonely race from pole to thechequered flag at the Indian GrandPrix as the German took anotherstep towards a Formula One titlehat-trick. Vettel got his fourth victoryin a row, a first for him, ahead of
title rival Fernando Alonso of Ferrariand Mark Webber of Red Bull, whohad to relinquish second place latein the race with problems with theKers power boost system.
Alon so le d Vettel by 39points but the German turned thedeficit into a 13-point lead into thefinal three races with victories inSingapore, Japan, South Korea
and India.Vettel has 240 points to
Alonsos 227, with Kimi Raikkonenof Lotus (173) and Webber (167)with only a mathematical chance.McLarens Lewis Hamilton (165)and Jenson Button (141) are nowofficially out of the title race aftercoming fourth and fifth, respectively.
Sydney Sixers win 2012
Champions League
Twenty20Sydney Sixers produced a
clinical all-round display to clinchthe Champions League Twenty20title with a thumping 10-wicketvictory over Highveld Lions in alopsided summit clash atJohannesburg on October 28.
Sixers first rode on abrilliant bowling display by spinnerNathan McCullum (three for 24) andpacer Josh Hazlewood (three for22) to dismiss Lions for a modest121 after electing to field. The
Aust ralian side overhauled thetarget with 7.3 overs to spare,thanks to some powerful hitting byopeners Michael Lumb and BradHaddin who added 124 runs. Lumb
annihilated the Lions with eightfours and five sixes in his 42-ball82 while Haddin blasted fourboundaries and a six in his 33-ball
37. The opening duo wasparticularly harsh on Chris Morrisand Aaron Phangiso as the twoconceded 54 in just four overs.
The Sydney Sixers becamethe second Australian team, afterNew South Wales Blues to win theChampions League. They weretested by the Nashua Titans in thesecond semi-final but apart fromthat, they have been outstandingthroughout the tournament. TheSixers take away the trophy, Lumbtakes away the Golden Bat andMitchell Starc takes away theGolden Wicket.Man-of-the-match: M. Lumb;Man-of-the-tournament: M. Starc.
Minatsu Mitani wins
French Open TitleMinatsu Mitani of Japan
shocked World No. 3 Saina Nehwalof India to record a sensational 21-19, 21-11 win in the 39-minute finalof the French Open Super Series
womens singles in Paris onOctober 28. Mitani created historyof sorts by becoming the firstJapanese woman player ever towin the French Open, which alsofor the first time has not featuredany Chinese player in the final. Thisperformance also meant that Mitanidenied Saina Nehwal what couldhave been her third straight title-triumph in Super Series this yearhaving won the Indonesian and theDenmark editions earlier.
Rupesh claim Worldbilliards title
(point frame)
Rupesh Shah became onlythe fifth Indian cueist to lift the worldtitle twice after he beat AustraliasMatthew Bolton 6-2 in the final ofthe World billiards (point frame) atLeeds. Rupesh had earlierdefeated big guns like Mike Russell(in quarterfinals), and PeterGilchrist (in semifinals).
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
16/33
Current News & Events 15
Sun TV Network wins new IPL franchise bidSun TV Network has won the Hyderabad franchise of the Indian
Premier League for an amount of Rs 85.05 crores per year, putting an
end to the process of finding a new team in the wake of the controversialtermination of cash-strapped Deccan Chargers. The IPL GoverningCouncil met in Mumbai to open the bids for the new IPL franchise andSun TV was found to have the highest bid amount.
The SUN TV Network bid was substantially higher than thesecond bid of PVP Ventures, which was Rs 69.03 crores. The BCCIhad floated the tenders for a new IPL franchise after terminating DeccanChargers' contract on 15th September but the team owners DCHLhad challenged it at the Bombay High Court.The High Court had ruledin favour of the BCCI after Deccan Chargers Holdings Limited failed tofurnish bank guarantee of Rs 100 crore before October 12 5pmdeadline. DCHL then approached the Supreme Court which, however,declined on 19th October to interfere with the High Court decision
which had set aside the status quo order passed by the arbitrator.
Saina clinches Denmark
Open titleSaina Nehwal came up with
a near flawless performance tonotch up an impressive 21-17, 21-8 win over Juliane Schenk ofGermany in the 35-minute final ofthe Denmark Super Seriesbadminton championship.
The World No. 4 from Indiawas in irresistible form against anopponent who threatened to posemuch bigger challenge than manyof the opponents lined up in thisevent against Saina did to level thescores nine-all 10-all at one stage.
Saina, playing in her maidentournament after her bronze-medalwinning performance in the 2012London Olympics, ensured that her
return to the big league ended on atriumphant note.
Playing without the chiefnational coach and her mentorPullela Gopi Chand, the 22-year-old Hyderabadi was just too goodfor the German opponent, winnerof the World championship bronzein 2011 and who ironically finishedrunner-up in four events this year.
The final point of the matchwhen Schenk did not attempt toreturn the serve from Saina was ina way symbolic of the totaldomination of the ace Indianshuttler. On the other hand forSaina, this was her sixth SuperSeries title overall and second this
year after the Indonesian Open win.
Novak Djokovic won
Shanghai MastersNovak Djokovic beated
British Tennis Player Andy Murray,on 14 October 2012 saving fivematch points to seal a stunning 5-
7, 7- 6 ( 13/ 11), 6- 3 victory in theShanghai Rolex Masters final. Withthe winning of match NovakDjokovic became the first player towin seven of the nine ATP WorldTour 1000 Masters events
Al so in the Doub le sCategory, Leander Paes andRadek Stepanek won the ShanghaiRolex Double title by defeatingMahesh Bhupati and Rohan
Bopanna.Novak Djokovic has won fiveGrand Slam singles titles: the 2008,2011, and 2012 Australian Open;the 2011 WimbledonChampionships; and the 2011 USOpen. By winning three Majors in2011, Djokovic became the sixthmale player in the open era to winthree Majors in a calendar year.
He is the first male playerrepresenting Serbia to win a Majorsingles title and the youngest playerin the open era to have reached the
semifinals of all four Grand Slamevents, separately and
consecutively.
NRAI appointed Jaspal
Rana as Junior Pistol
Chief CoachNational Rifles Association
of India (NRAI) on 15 October 2012appointed Jaspal Rana as thechief coach for the Junior PistolShooters. The triple Gold Medallist
at Doha Asian Games, Rana wouldbe entitled for a salary of 50,000rupees per month.
Olympic Shooter Vijay
Kumar Named Services
Best Sportsman
London Olympic Shooter
and silver medalist Vijay Kumar on
19 October 2012 was honoured
with the Services Best Sportsman
award for 2012 at the Army
Headquarters in New Delhi
The award which include
trophy and cash award of one lakh
rupees is generally given to the
best sportsman from the three
defence forces of Army, Air Force
and Navy. Vijay Kumar is the current
world number and had earlier won
three gold medals and one silver
medal at the Delhi 2010
Commonwealth Games. Vijay
Kumar won a silver medal at the
July-August 2012 London Gamesin the individual 25 metre rapid fire
pistol. Vijay Kumar is from Barsar
village of Hamirpur district of
Himachal Pradesh and is
presently a serving Subedar Major
in the Dogra Regiment (16th
Battalion) of the Indian Army. He was
also awarded with Arjuna Award in
2007 and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
Award in 2011-12 by the
Government of India.
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
17/33
Current News & Events 16
National
Round-Up
Infant Mortality Rate Reduced to 44 Per 1000 Live
Births during 2011
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has dropped by 3 points from 47 to 44infant deaths per 1000 live births during 2011. As per October 2012bulletin of the Sample Registration System (SRS) released by theRegistrar General of India (RGI), the IMR for rural areas has droppedby 3 points from 51 to 48 infant deaths per 1000 live births while theUrban rate now stands at 29 from the previous 31/1000.
Among the states, Goa and Manipur have the lowest IMR of 11infant deaths followed by Kerala with 12 infant deaths per 1000 livebirths. Madhya Pradesh has the highest IMR of 59/1000 followed by UPand Odisha with 57/1000 IMR. Assam, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthanand Meghalaya have IMRs more than the national average of 44.
It may be mentioned that the Sample Registration System (SRS)is a large-scale demographic survey for providing reliable annualestimates of birth rate, death rate and other fertility & mortality indicators
at the national and sub-national levels. At present, SRS is operationalin 7,597 sample units (4,433 rural and 3,164 urban) spread across allStates and Union territories and covers about 1.5 million householdsand 7.35 million population.
16 States Sign Tripartite
Agreements for Laying
Digital HighwaysThe Minister of
Communications & IT Sh. KapilSibal on October 26 called theNational Optical Fibre Network(NOFN) ---a project, which wouldconnect all the 2, 50,000 GramPanchayats (GPs) in the countrythrough Optical Fibre Cable (OFC)
in two yearsas a paradigm shiftwhich would transform the wayIndia works. Sh Sibal was speakingat a function in New Delhi where13 State governments and 3 Unionterritories signed tripartiteMemorandums of Understandingfor free Right of Way (RoW) with theCentral Government and BharatBroadband Network Limited(BBNL--the SPV incorporated forexecution of the project). Calling itthe end of distance, the Ministersaid from people reaching out tothe government we have now cometo the government reaching out tothe people. He emphasized that thecontent that would be riding onthe virtual highway would beequally important, and its successwould lay on it being accessibleand affordable to the common man.Sh Sibal said it is now upto theState governments to digitize alldata, and make it interoperable not
just within the state but also insidethe country.
In all 1,40,727 GramPanchayats will get covered byOptical Fibre Network in theseStates and UTs.
Mumbai to have First
Museum of Indian
CinemaFilms Division Ministry of
Information & Broadcasting,Government of India on 16 October2012 announced its plan ofestablishing a National Museum of
Indian Cinema (NMIC). TheMuseum would be located in the
Films Division Complex, Dr. G.
Deshmukh Marg, Mumbai and is
predicted to come up by June 2013.
The development of the museum
was planned to mark the occasion
of Indian Cinema that will completeits 100 years of journey from the
day of first screening of Raja
Harishchandra in 1913.
Union Cabinet Approved
Amendment of Indecent
Representation of
Women ActThe Union Cabinet on 11
October 2012 approved the
introduction of Amendments to theIndecent Representation ofWomen (Prohibition) Act, 1986 inParliament under thechairmanship of Prime MinisterManmohan Singh.
The amendmentsproposed are as:(a) Broaden the scope of the law
to cover the audio-visual mediaand material in electronic formwhich includes Internet,satellite-based communication, multi-media
messaging and cable
television, among others.
(b) Penalties to be enhanced to a
maximum of three years of
imprisonment and fine of
between 50000 to 100000
Rupees for first conviction, and
imprisonment of not less than
two years, but which mayextend to seven years, and a
fine between 100000 Rupees
to 500000 Rupees for second
conviction.
(c) Police officers not below the
rank of Inspectors authorized
to carry out search and seizure,
in addition to State and Central
Government officers authorized
by the State or Central
Government.
The Act was enacted in
1986 to prohibit the indecentrepresentation of women through
advertisement, publication, writing,
and painting or in any other
manner. With the increased use of
advanced technology and
communication devices in everyday
life, the Government felt the scope
of the Act should be amended. The
amendments were introduced after
consultations with stakeholders,
including lawyers and civil society
organisations, on the draft Bill.
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
18/33
Current News & Events 17
Arvind Kejriwal
Launched Bijli Paani
Satyagrah
Indian Social activist Arvind
Kejriwal on 6 October 2012
launched a Bijli-Paani Satyagraha
in New Delhi to protest against
inflated power and water bills and
hike in tariffs by restoring electricity
connection to the household of a
labourer which was disconnected
for non-payment of bills.
The protest was launched
at Tigri Colony in New Delhi where
Kejriwal and his supporters
restored the power connection of
the labourer. The labourer claimed
that he got a bill for Rs 15000 last
month and connection
disconnected as he could not pay
it. Arvind Kejriwal told the masses
to Stop paying electricity and water
bills til l Delhi government
withdraws tariff hikes.
Save Ganga, Save Dolphin
campaign initiated in
Uttar Pradesh
Save Ganga, Save Dolphin,the three day campaign was
initiated on 5 October 2012 by the
Uttar Pradesh Forest Department
in association with the World
Wildlife Fund (WWF). The team
also included local volunteers and
14 NGOs. The campaign was a
state-initiative to create awareness
to conserve the Gangetic Dolphins
one of the critically endangered
species of the Gangetic River
System. These dolphins are
scientifically named as PlatanistaGangetica.
To cover a distance of about
2,800 kilometers in the Gangetic
River System that flows within the
state, 18 boats were flagged off by
Raja Mahendra Aridaman Singh,
the Transport Minister of the state.
The campaign that also aims at
identifying the population of the
dolphins in the river system and it
ended with the declaration by
Akhilesh Yadav, the Chief Minister
5 October observed as Dolphin Day in BiharBihar on 5 October 2012 observed Dolphin Day. This day was
observed in wake of spreading awareness for conservation of the
Gangetic Dolphins the rare and endangered species that is found
only in the Gangetic River System and its Tributaries. Bihar that
observed the World Wildlife Week from 2 to 8 October 2012, decided
to observe 5 October as Dolphin Day every year. Sushil Kumar Modi,
the Deputy Chief Minister of the state on this occasion declared that
the state will come up with a Dolphin Watch Center at places where
these rare aquatic species are seen.
of the state on 7 October 2012. In
the last two surveys conducted in
the year 2005 and 1982, the
population of this species recorded
was 1,600 and 4000 to 5000respectively.
Construction of Tunnel
across Jojila Pass on
Srinagar-Leh highway
Started
In Jammu and Kashmir, an
ambitious project of constructing
6.5 kilometre long tunnel across
Jojila Pass on Srinagar- Leh
highway started on 4 October 2012.
The project on its completion willmake Srinagar - Leh road an all
weather road and fulfill the long
pending demand of the people of
Laddakh region. The tunnel project
fulfills the long term demand of
people in Laddakh region.
Ministry of RD Launched
Nirmal Bharat Yatra
Ministry of rural
development on3 October 2012
started a campaign named Nirmal
Bharat Yatra which focuses on
making the country free from open
defecation.The yatra will begin from
Wardha District of Maharashtra
from 3 october 2012 and will go
through Indore, Kota, Gwalior, andGorakhpur and end up in Bettiah
district of Bihar on November 17,
covering about 2000 km of
distance. The Indian Bollywood
actress Vidya Balan is the brand
ambassador of the campaign.
Oldest Voter, Highest
Polling Booth in
Himachal PradeshThe Election Commission
has identified Sh. Shyam SaranNegi as oldest voter in HimachalPradesh (HP). Sh. Negi, aged 95,lives in Kalpa Tehsil, DistrictKinnaur. H.P. Sh. Negi retired fromGovernment Primary School in1975 and his family includes wife,four sons and five daughters.
Sh. Negi was among thefirst to cast his vote in independentIndias first Election in October1951, of H.P. State Legislative
Assembly from 10- Chini AssemblyConstituency later renamed as
Kinnaur. At that time, election insnow-bound 10- Chini (nowKinnaur) was held ahead of otherplaces in the State.
Interestingly, the worldshighest Polling booth will also belocated in H.P. at the height of 15000ft above sea level. This PollingStation will be at Hikkam in Lahaul& Spiti Assembly Constituencylocated on motorable road. TheHikkam Polling Station will serve
333 voters, comprising 180 male
& 153 female voters.
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
19/33
Current News & Events 18
Indira Gandhi International Airport Got
International CertificationThe Indira Gandhi International Airport operator, Delhi
International Airport (P) Limited (DIAL) on 22 October 2012 got an ISO20000 international certification for eliminating and controllinginformation technology-related threats. With the getting of ISOcertification, Delhi International Airport (P) Limited (DIAL) became thesixth airport operator to receive the ISO 20000 certification in IT ServiceManagement System (ITSMS) after Dubai, Munich, Abu Dhabi, Incheonand Hyderabad. ISO 20000-1:2011 is a service management system(SMS) standard which specifies requirements for the service providerto plan, establish, implement, operate, monitor, review, maintain andimprove an SMS.
Rajat Gupta Got Two Year
Jail For Inside Trading
Rajat Gupta, the formerGoldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS)director and McKinsey & Co.Managing director on 25 October2012 was sentenced to two yearsin prison for passing inside tips tohis business partner. Rajat Guptawas convicted in June 2012 onthree counts of securities fraud andone count of conspiracy. It wasalleged by the US prosecutors thatRajat Gupta used his positions onthe boards of Goldman and Procter& Gamble, one of the world's
largest consumer goodscompanies, to pass information tohedge fund manager RajRajaratnam, who then drewmillions of dollars in profit fromtrading on it. Rajat Gupta, the India-born businessmen in the US whowas considered to be an icon isnow being called "deceptive anddishonest" after his conviction oninsider trading charges.
International rubber
conferenceThe International Rubber
Research and Development Boardwill hold its annual meetings 2012and the tenth annual rubberconference at Kovalam. Theconference will be held fromOctober 29 to November 2. Theconference will have technicaldeliberations focusing onchallenges to rubber industry andfarm mechanisation. Annualmeetings include those ofdirectors, chief executive officersand liaison officers of internationalboard.
Brahma Chellaney won
Bernard Schwartz AwardIndia's leading strategic
thinker and analyst, BrahmaChellaney on 25 October 2012 wonthe 2012 Asia Society BernardSchwartz Book Award for hisrecently published book Water:
Asia's New Battleground .
Brahma Chellaney is goingto be honoured with $20,000 prizemoney at a special event to be heldat Asia Society's headquarters in
New York City. The book Water:As ia 's New Ba tt le ground " byBrahma Chellaney was selectedfrom nearly 90 nominationssubmitted by US and Asia-basedpublishers for books published in2011. Asia Society BernardSchwartz Book Award wasestablished in 2009 and is the onlyaward that recognizes non-fictionbooks for their outstandingcontributions to the understandingof contemporary Asia or US-Asiarelations.
Delhi among 10 most
attractive cities for global
shoppers in Asia-Pacific
regionDelhi figures among the 10
most attractive cities forinternational travel shoppers in the
Asia-Pacific region, a report says.Delhi came tenth in the GlobeShopper Index, published by GlobalBlue. A few points behind Seoul and
ahead of Manila, while Bangaloreranked fourteenth and Mumbaisixteenth.
The length of the city's salesseasons also helped Delhi to agood score. The sales seasonslast more than 13 weeks of the yearin Delhi, the fourth longest of thecities on the Index. In Delhi, globeshoppers have good opportunitiesfor bargaining and the city ranked
second on the Index with a few other
cities as a place to bargain for a
good price. The national Capital
also scored well on climate and
tourist sites, however, itsperformance was held back by the
quality of public transport and the
cost of some luxury items such as
watches and electrical goods.
Global Blue's expanded
Globe Shopper Index adds 25 Asia-
Pacific cities to the existing 33
European cities and ranks them on
the experience they provide to
international travel shoppers. The
rankings are based on five
categories covering shops,
affordability, convenience, hotels
and transport and culture and
climate.
Saibaba Sansthan bans its
staff from using mobile
phones
The Shri Saibaba Sansthan
has banned its staff and security
men from using mobile phones
after it was found that this caused
negligence of their duties. Several
Sansthan employees have links to
outside businesses and they also
facilitate 'darshan' of rich VIPs. After
the ban, such activities will be
reduced. Earlier, the Sansthan had
banned using mobiles in temple
premises, but employees and
security men failed to maintain the
ban, forcing it to impose the ban on
its staff and security men.
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
20/33
Current News & Events 19
Global Hunger Report
2012The report on Global
Hunger Index for seventh year wasreleased on 11 October 2012 by theInternational Food Policy ResearchInstitute (IFPRI), Welthungerhilfe,and Concern Worldwide. The basictheme of the report for the 2012Global Hunger Index -- TheChallenge of Hunger: EnsuringSustainable Food Security underLand, Water, and Energy Stresses.
IFPRI that calculated theglobal hunger Index analysed themeasures based upon
multidimensional angles. Thepublished report have shown aproportional growth in hungerreduction of people worldwide butrecorded the progress speed wastragically slow and alarming.
The report in its findingsrecorded twenty countries acrossthe world mainly from South Asiaand Sub-Saharan Africa to be highlyalarming and have highest level ofhunger, and showcased thesufferings of millions of poor.
As per the report, the nationsthat had showcased an absoluteprogress between 1990 GlobalHunger Index to 2012 GlobalHunger Index were Bangladesh,
Ango la , Ma lawi , Ni ca ragu a,Ethiopia, Niger, and Vietnam.Whereas there are 15 countries thathave managed to reduce it by 50percent or more. As per the report,India instead of its fast pacedeconomic growth in past twodecades has lagged behind inimproving its record in Global
Hunger Index chart. In the list of 79countries in the global Hunger
Index, India was ranked 65thbehind China that was placed at2nd place position, Pakistan at57th and Sri Lanka at 37th position.
The report also points outthe three countries Bangladesh,India and Timor-Leste constitutesto the highest occurrence ofunderweight children under the agegroup of five years, which recordsto more than 40 percent in eachcountry. India was ranked secondwith 43.5 percent of the childrenless than five underweight in thelist of the 129 countries comparedfor underweight child, after Timor-Leste. Countries like Ethiopia,Niger, Nepal and Bangladesh
followed the chart.
India gearing up to be
declared polio free by 2014
Having made unprecedented progress in polioeradication, India is now gearingup to be declared polio free by 2014by guarding itself against the importof polio virus from neighbouringcountries and by boosting routineimmunisation. "However, the riskof polio persists as long as
India's milk output may touch new high of 135 mn
tonne next year
India's milk production, highest in the world, is estimated totouch a record 135.5 million tonne next year on firming domestic demandand better prices, a study has said.
It is expected to be sufficient to meet the local demand, andthere may not be significant export volumes of skimmed milk powder(SMP) even as the ban has been lifted on the same in June 2012. "Asa result of strong prices, active government support, and growingdemand, USDA forecasts 2013 calendar year fluid milk production at arecord 135.50 million tonnes, 5 per cent more than 2012," the USDepartment of Agriculture (USDA) said in its latest report.
Similarly, production of butter and ghee is estimated to increaseby 5 percent to 4.75 million tonnes next year. While fluid milk productionis expected to continue increasing in 2013, production of non-fat drymilk (NFDM) is only expected to face marginal increases due to large
stocks carried over from this year, it added. USDA also noted, "Thisestimate may fluctuate slightly in response to fodder availability andoverall monsoon conditions in 2013." India accounts for about 17percent of the world's total dairy production, and consumes almost allof it. The report highlighted that over the last several years, India hasexperienced strong growth in demand for dairy products, which isestimated to be 6-8 percent annually, approximately twice the growthrate of supply.
poliovirus transmission continuesanywhere in the world," says Dr AjayKhera, Deputy Commissioner atthe Union Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare, while pointing outthat among the remaining polioendemic countries of Pakistan,
Afghanistan and Nigeria, two ofthem are with close proximity toIndia. Regular Polio immunisationis being carried out at five borderpoints along the Indo-Pak border,at Baramulla and Poonch inJammu and Kashmir, Attari andWagah in Punjab and Munabo inRajasthan.
To raise public awarenesson the ravages of polio and garner
support for eradication efforts,World Polio Day will be observedtomorrow across the globe. Thehealth ministry, along with itspartners in World HealthOrganisation (WHO), Unicef andRotary International, are takingspecial efforts across the country,particularly in the high-risk areasand among high-risk groups forpolio - such as migrant and mobilepopulations to ensure they arereached with polio vaccines.
-
7/31/2019 Sree Current Affairs NOVEMBER-32pages
21/33
Current News & Events 20
International
Round-Up
India and Spain Sign
MoU on Roads and Road
SectorMemorandum of Under
standing between India and Spainon Roads and Road TransportSector was signed by the Ministerof Road Transport & Highways andMinister of Railways, Dr. C.P.Joshiand visiting Spain Minister of PublicWorks and Transport, Ms. Ana
Pastor Julin at New Delhi onOctober 26.
The objective of MOUinclude promoting efficient andenvironmentally sustainabletransport systems and toinstitutionalize a technical andscientific cooperation in the fieldsof road infrastructure, construction,maintenance and management ofroads. It will also include exchangeof information betweenGovernment officials andspecialists of the HighwayDepartments in the field oftransportation by road, andpromote and develop the relationsbetween enterprises (consultancy,engineering and road transportservice provider companies) toenable transfer of technology in thefield of road and road transport.
India convinces rich
nations to commit $12
billion biodiversity
conservationIndia, backed by vociferous
developing countries, ultimatelyconvinced the rich world to doublethe international funds forconserving biodiversity in thedeveloping world by 2015. Thedecision was taken at the annualmeeting of the UN Convention onBiodiversity, after hard-nosednegotiations with the EuropeanUnion and some other countriesdrew the meeting into extra time.
The gathered representatives of 193 countries decided thatthe developed countries woulddouble the biodiversity-related
international funds by 2015, usinga baseline figure of the averageannual national spending onbiodiversity between 2006 and2010. Back-of-the-envelopecalculations peg it to be around$12 billion.
The decision took a long-drawn argument with the UK, EUand Canada besides some otherdeveloped countries, Indiannegotiators said. Unionenvironment and forests ministerJayanthi Natarjan was engaged inseveral closed-door parleys toconvince the developed nations togive into the demand.
In a meeting that saw theNorth-South cleave get deepen, therich countries demanded that thedeveloping world first make afirmer assessment of needs andalso develop elaborate reportingframework before funds arecommitted. The African nations,particularly, along with several otherdeveloping countries like Brazil
saw this as a delaying tactic afterpromises were made last year thatrich countries would pledge moneyat Hyderabad.
The last-minute deal alsoincluded the decision that greaternumber of countries wouldincorporate biodiversity-related
concerns in their financial anddevelopment plans. All partiesagreed to substantially increasedomestic expenditures for
biodiversity protection over thesame period. These targets are notto be reviewed in 2014.
In another significantdecision, the countries decided toclassify marine areas on basis oftheir ecological or biologicalsignificance. This classification isexpected to feed into the larger UNprocess of creating a new globaltreaty for conservation ofbiodiversity in international waters.
The meet also decided tokeep track of and follow theprecautionary principle in studyingthe impact of the new emergingscience of synthetic biology anadvancement over the existinggenetically modified technologies.
Tea Board of India Joined
hand with European Tea
CommitteeTea Board of India Signed a
joint Communique with Europeantea Committee on 17 October
2012. It was agreed with signing ofcommuniqu that both theoraganisation will cooperate andwork together in distributinginformation about the ProtectedGeographical Indication (PGI)registration and its implications inGermany and other tea consuming
Cultural Carnival to Celebrate Six Decades of Indo-
German TiesThe German Ambassador to India, Michael Steiner on 19 Octo-
ber 2012 announced the event named Indo-German Urban Mela sched-uled to start from 27 October 2012 at Delhi. The celebrations are thepart of Germany and India 2011-2012: Infinite Opportunities.
The nine-day cultural extravaganza that is scheduled to be heldat Indraprastha Millenium Park that is mea