SHUNMUGAM IAS STUDY CIRCLE H.O: Coimbatore -99941 46662 B.O: Tirunelveli - 95972 11166, Tirupur -99944 27714 SHUNMUGAM IAS STUDY CIRCLE Coimbatore, Tirupur & Tirunelveli 99941 46662 99944 27714 95972 11166 on 7th November 2012.

Last Eight months Cur rent affairs 2012 -13 for IBPS S pec ialist Officer’s and SBI PO Exam

Current Affairs Study Material for Month of ˛ China’s Communist Party selects new leadership China elects the new President as Xi Jinping and ∑ August 2012 Prime Minister as Li Keqiang on 14 November ∑ September 2012 2012. ∑ October 2012 ˛ U.N. approves Palestinian ‘observer state’ bid ∑ November 2012 The United Nations General Assembly on 30 ∑ December 2012 November 2012 endorsed an upgraded U.N. ∑ January 2013 status for the Palestinian Authority, despite intense opposition from the United States and ∑ Febraury 2013 Israel.The vote was 138 delegates in favor of the ∑ March 2013 measure including India, nine against including Content: America, Brazil and Canada and 41 abstentions including Britain. 1. International ˛ Mahama Re-elected as Ghana’s President : 2. India and World On 10 December Ghana’s incumbent President 3. National John Dramani Mahama of the ruling National 4. States Democratic Congress (NDC) 5. Conferences has won the country’s 6. Awards and Honours presidential election. 7. Sports News Mahama took 50.70 percent 8. Economy of the total valid votes cast, 9. Science & Technology while his closest challenger, 10. Persons in news Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- 11. Places In News Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) obtained 47.74 percent.With his re-election, 12. Abbreviations Mahama becomes the fourthpresident to be 13. Books in news elected under the Forth Republic.He had served 14. Committees as Ghana’s vice president since 2009. 1. International Events ˛ Shinzo Abe Elected As Japan’s New PM : The former Prime Minister and the Leader of LDP ˛ UN General Assembly elected five new non- Shinzo Abe elected as a Prime Minister with a permanent members to the Security Council. clear victory over the Prime Minister and leader The New Members are South Korea, of the Democratic Party of Japan(DPJ) Luxembourg, Argentina, Australia and Rwanda. Yoshihiko Noda in the Parliamentary Elections 28. on 26 December ˛ Barack Obama re-elected as President of US 2012.The lawmakers Barack Obama re- in Japan voted in elected as President of favour of Abe by US with a clear victory 328 votes. Opponent over Republican Banri Kaieda, the challenger Mitt Romney newly chosen leader of DPJ received merely 57 votes.

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˛ Jacob Zuma re-elected as South Africa’s ˛ 140 Nations Agreed On Global Mercury Limits President : South Africa’s ruling African On 19 January , More than 140 nations have National Congress on 18 December 2012 re- agreed on the first legally binding treaty to curb elected President Jacob Zuma as the party mercury pollution.Delegates at UN discussed in chief with a thumping majority. Mr.Zuma Geneva approved measures to control the use of received the support of over 75 per cent of the the highly toxic metal, which is widely used in total voting delegates at the ANC National chemical production and small-scale mining, in Conference held in Bloemfontein. Juma was order to limit mercury emissions.The Deputy President of South Africa from 1999 to governments agreed to ban the production, 2005. export and import of a range of products containing mercury by 2020.The treaty has ˛ Park elected South Korean President : Park Guen-hye, the daughter of former military been discussed for four years, but it is only dictator Park Chung-hee, beat her opponent now that the negotiators agreed over the final version of the document. The treaty, on 19 December 2012 in known as the Minamata Convention on the South Korean Mercury, provides controls and reductions across presidential elections. Park a range of products and processes where is the country’s first woman mercury is used, released and emitted. President. She is the former head of the ruling ˛ Milos Zeman Elected as Czech Republic new Conservative Saenuri Party, had secured the President : On 25 January A leftist candidate necessary votes and defeatedMoon Jae-in, of Milos Zeman won the Czech Republic’s first the Democratic United Party. presidential election decided by direct vote.Milos Zeman, a ˛ Morsi signed on Egypt’s New Constitution : former prime minister On 25 December Egyptian President and head of the Mohamed Morsi signed into law a new Islamist-drafted constitution. He signed a Citizens’ Rights Party, declaration enforcing the charter late after won with 54.8% of the official announcement of the result of a the vote.He defeated Karel Schwarzenberg, referendum approving the basic law. Two- an aristocratic foreign minister with the TOP09 thirds of the members of the 270-seat council party, who garnered 45.2%.Zeman replaces were elected earlier this year in a vote in Vaclav Klaus, who must step down after serving which only 12 per cent of registered voters the maximum of two terms. participated. The remaining 90 were appointed by Mohamed Morsi, the Islamist president. INDIA & WORLD ˛ Pakistan Recognised the Republic of Kosovo : ˛ EC signs MoU with South Korean counterpart : On 26 December Pakistan Government officially The Election Commission of India on 01 August recognised Kosovo as an independent state, 2012 signed an MoU with its South Korean almost five years after it declared counterpart to help each other in strengthening independence from Serbia the electoral processes and political on 17 February 2008. culture. The Memorandum of Understanding Pakistan is the 98th country was signed by Chief Election among the 193 U.N- Commissioner of India V S Sampath on behalf member states to recognise of the poll panel and by Justice Nung Hwan Kim Kosovo .Kosovo is a small of the Republic of Korea at a brief ceremony. This south east European state lies between is the 13th MoU signed by ECI with other Albania, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro. countries and international election panels.

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˛ India, Monaco ink tax information exchange ˛ Sonia is Sixth in Forbes list of 100 most agreement :Tata Communications’ payment powerful Women : The Forbes magazine solutions providing arm has bagged an on 22nd August 2012 ranked united progressive exclusive order to install and manage nearly Alliance(UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi the 14,000 ATMs for all public sector banks in sixth most powerful woman in the world in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West the list of 100women.Germany Chancellor Bengal,Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar Angela Merkel got the first place. United Islands by 2013—14.” and States Secretary Hillary Clinton got the second Government of Principality of place and Michelle Obama got the 7th Place. Monaco have signed Tax i nformation ˛ Ranking by World Bank : As per the World Exchange Agreement (TIEA) on 02.August Bank Report, India has been ranked at 132 2012″. amongst the sample 183 ˛ India, Iran & Afghanistan to expand Countries.Recognising the need for Reforming trade,transit through Chabahar port : India, Iran the Regulatory Environment for doing and Afghanistan have moved one step closer to business in India, a Committee under the expand their trade and economic ties. At a Chairmanship of Shri. M.Damodaran has been trilateral meeting in Teheran, they agreed to constituted on 23 August 2012 by this work for expanding trade, investment and ministry to extensively examine different transit cooperation through Chabahar port in areas of root functioning such as financial Iran. A joint working group consisting ofthe reforms, governance reforms, liberalized representatives of the three countries will policy framework,process reforms etc, and to meet within the next three months in suggest a roadmap for improving business Chabahar to expedite the process. climate in India ˛ India to help Sri Lanka set up SEZs :India ˛ India, China to resume joint military exercises will help Sri Lanka establish a special India and China announced on 04th September economic zone to manufacture auto 2012 they would resume joint military components in Trincomaee, commerce minister exercises after a four-year gap, a move Anand Sharma said in colombo on 03 August designed to build trust in the often prickly 2012. The SEZ would promote exports to relationship between the world’s two most the production chains in India. populous nations. ˛ Indian Scientist , Amitabh Ghosh in NASA ˛ Five Indian firms in Forbes list of world’s most team helped choose Curiosity’s landing site : innovative companies : Five Indian companies An Indian scientist, including Larsen & Toubro, Hindustan Amitabh Ghosh part of the Unilever and Infosys are ranked on Forbes NASA team which had magazine’s list of “The World’s Most identified the landing site of Innovative Companies” topped by four US the ‘Curiosity’ rover on companies.Larsen & Toubro got the ninth Mars on 6August 2012 described the Spot as rank,Hindustan Unilever got the 12th rank, “very exciting and holding “great promise”. Infosys got 19th rank,Tata Consultancy Services got 29th rank and Sun ˛ India Ranked Second in Search Queries for Pharmaceutical Industries got 38th rank.Four Education on Google :Indian Ranked second US companies- Cloud computing king in education queries on Google.After the US, Salesforce.com, drug major Alexion Indian people from IIT and IIM Pharmaceuticals, internet retail giant Ahmadabad were the most searched in their Amazon.com and open source software leader respective categories. India was Ranked 8th in Red Hat took the top four places. 2008, at present it is behind only to the US.

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˛ India, Pakistan ink visa agreement: ˛ India, Australia signs MoU to strengthen Pakistan and India have announced on 8th bilateral cooperation : India and Austrlia has September 2012 that they will ease tough visa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) restrictions, an important step forward in on 1st October 2012 for strengthening long-term improving relations between the nuclear armed relationship and bilateral Cooperation on neighbours. Road and Rail Infrastructure.The agreement was signed between the Minister of Railways ˛ Onno Ruhl appointed World Bank country and Road Transport and Highways, Dr. director for India : The World Bank has C.P.Joshi and visiting Federal Minister of appointed Onno Ruhl as the country director Transport, Innovation and Technology of for India. He will replace Roberto Zagha, who retires in October. Ruhl, a Dutch national, Austrlia, Mrs. Doris Burse in New Delhi. was previously the director for operation ˛ India gets $500 mn World Bank fund for services and quality in the South Asia region of secondary education : World Bank, the the World Bank, the multi-lateral funding multilateral lending agency, and the agency. government of India 5th October signed a loan agreement worth $ 500 million for ˛ Saudi Arabia, India hold talks on defence ties The first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) joint committee on defence cooperation was in the country. held on 10th September 2012 at New Delhi ˛ IOC signs MoU with Korea Gas : Indian Oil and both sides discussed proposals for Corporation (IOC), on 17th October 2012, exchange of high-level visits, training and entered into a memorandum of understanding functional exchanges in various areas. (MoU) with Korea Gas Corporation (Kogas) for jointly exploring opportunities in exploration of ˛ Delhi Metro Rail Corporation won work in Jakarta Metro Rail Project : Delhi Metro has oil and gas and LNG business. bagged the work of Management Consulting ˛ India and Australia Sign Four Agreements of Services for building the Phase- I of Jakarta Cooperation : India and Australia agreed to Mass Rapid System in Indonesia.This is the expand cooperation in security and first time that Delhi Metro has got a project Defence including fight against outside the country since its inception in 1997. terrorism.They also agreed to begin negotiations for an agreement on Civil Nuclear Energy ˛ Afghanistan, US, India hold first trilateral meeting : India, Afghanistan and the US held Cooperation which will precede actual cooperation. Both the countries also signed four their first trilateral meeting in New York on agreements in the field of space science 25th September 2012.The major point of technology and education, cooperation in discussion was on the situation in Afghanistan student mobility and welfare, skill development along with the issue of terrorism. and textiles. ˛ Highest under-5 deaths in India : In the ˛ India, Austrlia tie up to develop ‘smart cities’ : Child Mortality Estimates Report 2012 India tie up with Austrlia to develop two “smart published by United Nations Children’s Fund cities” in all states with a host (UNICEF), India was placed at the top position of modern features like in the chart of 10 countries that topped on intelligent transport ancarbon the chart. The other countries with their neutral status in each of the names on the chart are Nigeria, the states in the second phase of Democratic Republic of Congo, China, the Jawaharlal Nehru National Pakistan, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Urban Renewal mission. Afghanistan.

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˛ Iran to complete gas pipeline work by year- ˛ India to give financial assistance to Nepal’s end : Iran has said it was for India and Palpa District :India is to provide an assistance Pakistan to sort out issues related to the of four crore and thirty-three lakh Nepali rupees proposed Indo-Iran gas pipeline, even as it for Palpa District in Western Nepal on 31st committed itself to complete its part of 800 October 2012. km of gas pipeline to India till Irani boundaries ˛ The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs by the end of this year. (CCEA) lift export ban on some milk products: ˛ India, New Zealand sign five pacts to Amid surplus availability of milk powder in the cooperate in field of education : India and country, the government is likely to decide on New Zealand signed five Memoranda of 1st November 2012 on lifting ban on export Understanding in the different fields of of milk products, especially whole milk powder, education on 19th October 2012. dairy whitener and infant milk foods. ˛ India, Switzerland to cooperate in Transport ˛ US included as dialogue partner of Indian Ocean sector : India and Switzerland on 19 th October countries:The US was inducted as a sixth 2012 discussed ways and means for dialogue partner in the 20-nation Indian enhancing cooperation in the field of Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Transport sector including roads and Cooperation (IOR-ARC) grouping on 3rd Railways. November 2012.The ministers of countries which are members of IOR-ARC decided unanimously ˛ India & Pakistan may introduce a common to give the US the same status that they had currency called “Papee” : After taking into earlier accorded to the United Kingdom, France, consideration the decade long success of Egypt and Japan. Euro, and due to increasing demands of businessmen of India (and terrorists of ˛ Agreement with World Bank for Assam road Pakistan), both countries’ ruling leaders (i.e. project:India has signed a 320-million dollar loan India’s UPA, and Pakistan’s Military) are agreement with the World Bank for road thinking about introducing a common currency projects in Assam on 5th November 2012. for India and Pakistan.The name with the ˛ Canada to allow civil nuclear trade with highest votes , is a word derived by adding India : India and Canada signed an agreement “pa” from ‘Pa’kistan and “pee” from Indian on 6th November 2012 in New Delhi for Ru’pee’ i.e. “Papee” bilateral Cooperation in civil nuclear trade. So, ˛ India, Japan focus on expanding defence India imports Uranium from canada for civil cooperation : India and Japan on 22 nd nuclear reactors. October 2012 discussed ways to expand ˛ DRDO ties up with York University, Canada : their security and defence cooperation at a Defence Research and Development meeting of their foreign and defence Organisation and York University, Canada secretaries in Tokyo. signed a memorandum of understanding for ˛ 7th SAFF begins in Goa: The Seventh South doing collaborative defence research in the areas Asia Film Festival (SAFF)-2012 held at of advanced materials, nanotechnology, life Panaji in Goa from. sciences, bio-informatics, chemical and biological defence, sensors, and others. ˛ India-US-Japan trilateral meet : The US’ ‘pivot-to-Asia’ policy, Iran, China-Japan ˛ India and Afghanistan signed four maritime dispute and South China Sea will be agreements : India and Afghanistan signed among the issues to be discussed during four agreements to cooperate in areas of the3rd round of India-US-Japan Trilateral social welfare, fertilizer, coal mining and dialogue in New Delhi on 29th October 2012. youth affairs on 12th November 2012.

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˛ Grandson elected to ˛ Bangladesh Agreed on Zero Line Fencing Kansas State Assembly : Shanti Gandhi along Tripura Border : On 2 December elected to a State Assembly in the United Bangladesh had agreed to set up barbed wire States from Kansas’s 52nd Assembly District as fencing along zero line in nine stretches on the a Republican Party candidate during the Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura. According general elections held on 6 November 2012. to the MHA communique, fencing along zero line was to be allowed in 9 areas. ˛ Dr Ami Bera is the third Indian- American elected to the US House of ˛ India & Japan Signed Currency Swap Representatives : An Indian-American Agreement : India signed a bilateral swap physician from California arrangement (BSA) with the Bank of Japan to became only the third swap their local currencies for an amount of person of Indian-origin to $15 billion for a three year period on 4 be elected to the US December 2012.The BSA will effect from 5 House of Representatives December 2012. by defeating Republican ˛ India Ranked 94th Position in Corruption : Dan Lungren with just 184 votes lead. Denmark, Finland and New Zealand tied for the ˛ Japan signs pact to import rare earths from first place in watchdog Transparency India : India and Japan on 16 November 2012 International’s 2012 index of the least corrupt inked a strategic agreement on ”Tokyo to countries. India is on 94th position in the import rare earth minerals from India”. Corruption Perceptions Index. Most corrupted nations are Afghanistan, North Korea and ˛ India votes against UN resolution on death Somalia in 174th positions. penalty ban : India was among the 39 countries that voted against a UN General ˛ US Extends Exemptions For India to Iran Oil Assembly draft resolution which called for Sanctions : On 8 December the US Secretary abolishing the death penalty, saying every of State Hillary Clinton has extended nation had the “sovereign right” to determine exemptions to India, China ,South Korea, its own legal system. Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Taiwan from Iranian Sanctions Act ˛ India- Maldives joint military training exercises held at Belgaum : The fourth joint mainly because of their significant reduction military training exercises between the Indian in oil import from Iran.The 9 countries have Army and the Maldives National Defence again qualified for an exception to sanctions outlined in Section 1245 of the National Force (MNDF) – EKUVERIN 2012 – was held in Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Belgaum from 12 to 25 November 2012. Year 2012, based on additional reductions in ˛ India, China joint economic strategy held at the volume of their crude oil purchases from New Delhi : The Second India-China Strategic Iran. Economic Dialogue was held in New Delhi on 26 ˛ November 2012. In this meeting China and Indian Projects among Strategic- Global Infrastructure Projects List : Three India discussed several topics including greater Indian cooperation at the global level, strengthening projects have placed in the new york’s Global 100 communication on macroeconomic policies, Infrastructure Leadership Forum “Top Strategic Global Infrastructure Projects “ list. deepening and expanding trade and GIFT city ( International Financial Tech investment and promoting bilateral city), -Ahmedabad High Speed Rail cooperation in the financial and infrastructure sectors. project () and the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) project (Andhra Pradesh).

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˛ Indians ‘Largest Ethnic Minority Group in UK ˛ India – Pakistan Exchanged Nuclear Unit’s Lists :On 11 December According to the 2011 On 1 January India and Pakistan exchanged their Britain population census record Indians are nuclear units’ lists , as it is customary since 20 the largest ethnic minority group in the years. The list which contains the names of UK.With 1.5 percent of the Hindu religion nuclear units of two countries, are exchanged became a third-largest religion in the nation’s. between India and Pakistan as a custom and The Christian population in the country is part of an agreement which prevents them also a drop in the statistics.. The Muslim from aiming the nuclear installations of each community population in the country’s others’ nations. fastest growing increased by 3 percent to 4.8. ˛ World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report ˛ India, Ukraine Signed on Five Agreements : According to the WEF report , India ranks India and Ukraine on 10 December 2012 signed lowest among the world’s major economies on five agreements in New Delhi to for its preparedness to tackle global enhance cooperation including in areas of environmental risks and second-lowest for defence, Nuclear, Science and Technology economic risks.Switzerland is best placed among and also to remove barriers in trade and the world’s 10 major economies for adapting to commerce. or recovering from global economic and environmental risks.While India is ranked 9th in ˛ India& Pak Signed on New Visa Agreement : The new Visa Agreement between India and terms of its ability to tackle global economic risks, it comes last at 10th position for Pakistan on 14th December, 2012 at New environmental risks.However, India fared Delhi. However, the Visa-on-Arrival will come relatively better at 6th position in terms of the into effect from 15th January, 2013. Shri government’s risk management effectiveness. Sushilkumar Shinde, Home Minister of India and Mr. A. Rehman Malik, Pakistan Interior ˛ India – Vietnam Signed on Micro, Small & Minister singed on the agreement. Medium Enterprises : On 15 January India and Vietnam signed an MoU aimed at building ˛ Hinduism Third Largest Religion of World capacity for developing institutional framework :According to the ‘ Pew research ‘ survey and identifying thrust areas and opportunities report Hinduism is the third largest religion of for micro, small and medium enterprises in this the world after Christianity , Islam and 97 per country.The MoU was signed here between the cent of all Hindus live in the world’s three Ministry of Planning and Investments of Vietnam Hindu-majority countries (India, Mauritius and Nepal), and nearly nine-in-ten Christians (87 and Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium per cent) are found in the world’s 157 Enterprises (MSMEs) of India . Christian majority countries.In the total world ˛ International Tea Producers Forum formed : population 2.2 billion Christians (32 per cent of On 22 January India, along with five other tea the world’s population), 1.6 billion Muslims (23 producing countries, has formed the per cent) around the world as of 2010. International Tea Producers Forum) at Colombo. Union Minister of State for Commerce and ˛ India & Russia signed Rs 22,000 crore Defence Deals : India and Industry D Purandesari signed the joint Russia signed defence deals communique on behalf of India along with representatives of Kenya, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, worth around Rs. 22,000 crore Rwanda and Malawi in Colombo.The ITPF will ($4 billion) on 24 December. initially be an independent body but in future According to this pact Russia may get affiliated to Food & Agriculture will sell India 71 military helicopters for $1.3 Organisation of United Nations. billion and technological kits to assemble 42 Sukhoi jet fighters for $1.6 billion.

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˛ India , Bangladesh Signed Extradition and ˛ NRHM to be expanded to towns also : The Visa Agreements : On 28 January government will expand the scope of the Bangladesh and India signed an extradition NRHM(National Rural Health Mission) to all treaty and struck a deal to relax business visa towns and cities, by converting it into a restrictions between the neighbouring National Health Mission(NHM). countries. However, refusal provisions were ˛ PSCC recommends declaration of tea as incorporated into the extradition ‘national drink’: The Parliamentary Standing treaty.Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde Committee on Commerce (PSCC) headed by signed the agreement with his Bangladeshi BJP Rajya Sabha member Shanta Kumar has counterpart Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir at the recommended declaration of tea as a end of their bilateral talks. ‘national drink‘.Stating this at Palampur on Friday, Kumar said the 102nd report of the NATIONAL Committee on the Tea Industry had placed in ˛ Ban on SIMI upheld by Tribunal: A special both houses of the Parliament that 96 percent tribunal has upheld the ban imposed by the to 99 percent people in both Urban and Rural Centre on Students Islamic Movement of India areas of the country consume tea and as (SIMI), which has links with Pakistan-based such it has already acquired the status of a terrorist outfits including Lashkar-e-Taiba and national drink. its front, Indian Mujahideen. The Home ˛ Hamid Ansari re-elected as India’s 14th Vice Ministry on February 3 extended the ban on President : Hamid Ansari has been re- elected SIMI by two more years. as the 14th Vice ˛ India is the second-largest mobile phone user President of India.He in world : India is the second-largest mobile received 490 votes in phone user with over 900 million users in his favour.His rival, BJP the world said Union Health Minister Ghulam nominee Jaswant Nabi Azad in London on 03 August 2012. Singh polled 238 Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) voted.He became the only person after announced that the mobile users in India are Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan to get a second increased to 93.4 crore. term. ˛ Supreme Court lifts ban on iron ore mining in ˛ Complete ban on child labour below 14 : Supreme Court partially lifts ban approved by Cabinet : The Union Cabinet on iron ore mining in Karnataka on 3rd on28th August 2012 approved a proposal for September 2012, on the basis of the amending the Child Labour (Prohibition and recommendations of the Central Empowered Regulation) Act, 1986, to ban employment of Committee (CEC). CEC divides the leases of children aged up to 14 in any form of iron ore mines in three categories industry. It will be an offence to employ such A,B,C.marginal irregularities and no children not only in factories or industries but irregularities of leases come under A also in homes or on farms, if their labour is category, most irregularities in leases meant to serve any commercial interest. come under C category,moderate ˛ Sebi plans investor website in 13 Indian irregularities come under B category.The languages : Market regulator Sebi is planning Supreme Court has lifted the banwould only to soon offer its investor website in as many as be effective in 18 category A mines, subject 13 Indian languages, besides the existing one in to their compliance with statutory English, to spread awareness among investors clearances.The ban will continued on the and to help resolve their grievances. remaining leases.

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˛ 2% Reservation to Sports Persons : Youth ˛ Women and Child Development Ministry Services and Sports – Sports Policy - launched a Web Portal named Track Child The Incentives to Sports Persons – Extension of Union Women and Child Development Ministry Sports Reservation to Two (2%) to meritorious on 18 September 2012 decided to launch a web sports persons in direct recruitment in portal named Track Child, which will serve as a Government Departments / Undertaking / central database of all those children who have Grant – in – Aid Institutions at all levels – gone missing in different parts of the country. Instructions and Guidelines – Notification The portal will act as a coordination Orders Issued. mechanism between child homes, police departments and state ˛ Lok Sabha passed two Bills on 3rd governments. September 2012 : Lok Sabha passed two bills ˛ Ministry of Rural Development Launched on 3rd September 2012 They are Nirmal Bharat Yatra : Ministry of rural 1.Sexual harassment may mean loss of development on 3 October 2012 started a business licence:Non-compliance with the campaign named Nirmal Bharat Yatra which provisions of the law will be punishable with focuses on making the country free from open a fine of up to Rs 50,000. Repeated violations defecation.The yatra will begin from Wardha may lead to higher penalties and cancellation District of Maharashtra from 3 october 2012 and of licence or registration to do will go through Indore, Kota, Gwalior, and business.2.National Highways Authority of Gorakhpur and end up in Bettiah district of India (NHAI) expansion bill passed. on November 17, covering about 2000 km of distance. ˛ 4.6 magnitude quake rocks Ladakh, no impact in Kashmir : A 4.6 magnitude quake ˛ Govt launches Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings rock Ladakh region in Jammu and Kashmir on Scheme : The Finance Minister P Chidambaram 4th September 2012 afternoon. However, it on 21st September 2012 cut withholding tax on was not felt in the Kashmir valley.Its overseas borrowings to 5 percent from 20 epicentre was in Southern Xinjiang China, percent and approved the Rajiv Gandhi located at a distance of 327 km from Leh. Equity Savings Scheme (RGESS).While the RGESS is aimed at encouraging first time retail ˛ MGNREGA work days raised to 150, crop investors to invest in stock markets through tax loans cut to 7% : Empowered Group of concessions, the cut in withholding tax to 5 Ministers(EGoM) on drought headed by percent seeks to lower the cost of foreign Agriculture Minister decided to increase the number of guaranteed work borrowings by the Indian companies.The RGESS days under Mahatama Gandhi National will give tax benefits to new investors who Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREGA) to invest up to Rs 50,000 and whose annual income is below Rs 10 lakh. 150 days and cut interest rates on crop loans to 7 percent for one year for the farmers in ˛ Election Commission Ban the usage of animal drought-affected states. and birds in poll campaign : The Election Commission of India (ECI) on 26th September ˛ SC orders new survey to identify bonded labour : The Supreme Court on 15th 2012 issued an order banning the use of October 2012 directed all states and Union animals and birds by political parties during campaigns. People for the Ethical Treatment of Territories to conduct fresh surveys to identify Animals (PETA) India said that following repeated bonded labour problems in the country and requests by animal activist, the Election regretted that a large number of children Commission asked political parties and continue to work as domestic help even after candidates to refrain from using animals for the enactment of the Right to Education Act. their campaigns.

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˛ FICCI urges Centre to ban bauxite exports : ˛ India’s infant mortality rate drops : India’s Trade body Federation of Indian Chambers of infant mortality rate (IMR) has come down by Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has urged the three points from 47 to 44 deaths per 1,000 live Union ministry of commerce and industry to births during 2011. ban bauxite exports fearing closure of alumina ˛ Cabinet Approved Naval Base Phase II of refineries for shortage of the key raw material Project “Seabird “ : On 7 December The required to produce alumina. Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) cleared a ˛ Centre to launch Aadhaar based delivery Rs 13,500 crore major system : The much awaited Aadhaar expansion plan of the enabled system for direct cash transfer to strategic Karwar naval beneficiaries under social schemes such as base Phase II Alpha of MNREGA and pension will be launched on the project “Seabird “in 19th October 2012 by PM at Karnataka is set to Dudu, Rajasthan. become the country’s biggest Naval base by 2025. The Karwar naval base is India’s third ˛ Centre, states sign MoU for broadband linking major naval base after Mumbai and of villages : The Central government has signed a tripartite agreement with 16 states Visakhapatnam on the east coast. and union territories and a special purpose ˛ Rajya Sabha Passed SC/ST Quota Bill : A vehicle Bharat Broadband Network Ltd (BBNL) Constitution 117th amendment bill providing has been launched to expedite the mission of for quota for SCs and STs in government job connecting every gram panchayat with promotions was on December 17 passed by broadband network. Rajya Sabha. ˛ President released a ˛ Unlawful Activities Amendment Bill Passed commemorative postage stamp by Rajya Sabha : On 20 December on late Ramgopal Maheshwari Parliament passed a bill that makes : President Pranab Mukherjee economic offences, including circulation of released a commemorative high quality counterfeit currency, a terrorist postage stamp on late Ramgopal act.The Rajya Sabha passed Unlawful Maheshwari on 20 November 2012. Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2012 by voice vote while several parties. The bill ˛ Arvind Kejriwal launches Aam Admi Party : was already passed by Lok Sabha. Arvind Kejriwal announced the name for his newly launched party as “Aam Admi Party” on ˛ LokSabha Approved Company Bill 2011 : On 24 November 2012 in New Delhi. 18 December Lok Sabha passed the Companies Bill 2011 paving the way for a new ˛ Sexual Assault a Gender-Neutral Offence Bill Passed by Lok Sabha : The Criminal Law modern company law.The Bill is aimed at (Amendment) Bill, replacing the word ‘rape’ by improving corporate governance. It contains the phrase ‘sexual assault’ and seeking to provisions to strengthen regulations for corporate as well as auditing firms. widen the scope of the offence passed by Lok Sabha on 4 December. Both men and women ˛ Banking Bill passed by Lok Sabha : The could soon be able to invoke the provisions Banking Laws Amendment Bill, 2011, have of a criminal law in case of sexual assault been passed in the Lok Sabha on 20 .The amendment bill expands the definition so December .The amendments pave the way for that cases of sexual assault where victims were the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to issue new male would fall under the same law along with bank licences, and also opens door for more cases where victims were women. foreign investment into the sector.

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˛ Usha Mehra commission for Delhi incident STATES victim Nirbhaya’s Case : A female ˛ Orissa is the first state to provide physiotherapy intern student Nirbhaya beaten e-payment : facility for government and gang raped in Delhi on 16 December and employees Orissa became the First Indian died on 29 December while undergoing state to provide epayment facility for emergency treatment in Singapore for brain government employees from 1 August and gastrointestinal damage from the 2012.Now, the government employees in the assault.The government has formed a state will receive their salaries and pensions committee of enquiry under justice Usha through the online Portal of Reserve Bank of Mehra to reconstruct the events leading to the India.Employees received their salaries and incident identify lapses by police and other pensions directly to their bank account. agencies and fix responsibility for the crime. ˛ Keshubhai Patel launched Gujarat Parivartan ˛ Govt Launched Direct Cash Transfer Scheme (GPP) Party : Former Chief Minister of Gujarat, in 20 Districts : On 1 January 2013 The Keshubhai Patel launched Gujarat Parivartan government launched its scaled down Cash (GPP) Party on 6 August 2012. Keshubhai Transfer Benefit (CBT) in 20 districts,but food, Patel and the former union textile minister fertiliser and fuel subsidies will not be covered Kanshiram Rana resigned from Bhartiya Janta in the initial phase. All 26 schemes are ready for Party (BJP) on 4 August 2012. This Party would rollout. On 1 January 2013 the seven schemes contest all the 182 seats in Gujarat assembly in which payout is due in the (20 selected) elections which will be held by the end of 2012. districts, the money will be transferred through ˛ Himachal Bagged top slot in the direct benefit transfer system using the Environment Index :Environment UIDAI platform.The scheme is going to be Performance Index(EPI)-2012 compiled on July rolled out in 43 districts by 1 March 2013, 20 Month.According to the Survey Report districts from January 1, 11 districts from conducted across all 28 states and 7 Union February 1 and 12 districts from March 1. By territories, the EPI is an Indication of the “ end of 2013, the direct cash benefit transfer Environmental well-being of a state”. Himachal will be rolled out in all the districts of the bagged first and Andhra Pradesh bagged country. Second. The rankings, the report added, have ˛ PA Sangma launched National People’s Party : been decided based on five broad parameters: PA Sangma, who broke away with the NCP in air pollution, forests, water quality, waste 2012 to contest the presidential elections, management and climate change. though unsuccessfully, on 05 January 2013 ˛ MJP merges with Keshubhai party : The anti- launched National People’s Party (NPP), and Narendra Modi factions in the Bharatiya chosen a book as its symbol. Sangma has Janata Party(BJP)in Gujarat under one chosen to align his party with the BJP-led umbrella, the Mahagujarat Janata National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Party(MJP), formed five years ago, was on ˛ President Released Stamps on Swami 8 August 2012 merged with the Gujarat Vivekananda : On 12 January Parivartan Party(GPP) formed by the former The President, Shri Pranab Chief Minister and Mr. Modi’s arch rival Mukherjee released the Keshubhai Patel. Commemorative Postage ˛ Haryana to ban food articles containing Stamps, at the Nicotine and Tobacco :Haryana government Commemoration of the 150th will impose a complete banon food articles Birth Anniversary of Great containing nicotine and tobacco from 2012 Saint Swami Vivekananda, in New Delhi . August 15.

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˛ Maharashtra bans Bt cotton seeds : The ˛ Delhi launched the Kerosene-free Delhi scheme Maharashtra government has banned the sale and Delhi Government set to launch an ambitious distribution of the genetically modified Bt cotton scheme(Kerosene-free Delhi scheme ) on 21st seeds of Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company August 2012 under which 3.56 lakh households (Mahyco), a partner of US multinational will get LPG cylinder and a gas stove free of cost. Monsanto, in the state with immediate effect for ˛ Uttarakhand Cabinet increases age limit for jobs supplying inferior quality seeds. “The Uttarakhand Cabinet the maximum age limit for government has banned the Mahyco company government jobs had been increased from 35 to with immediate effect,” agriculture commissioner 40 years for general category candidates from 21 Umakant Dangat told IANS(Indo-Asia News August 2012 onwords.Candidates belonging to Service) 9 August 2012, when asked about the other categories would also get the benefit of the canceling of the company’s license. decision accordingly. ˛ House Sparrow declared “State Bird of Delhi” : ˛ ‘Odisha tops in FDI proposals; Andhra, Gujarat The good old house sparrow, which is becoming next’ : Odisha attracted the largest value of rarer by the day, has been investments from foreign direct investment declared “State Bird of Delhi” (FDI) proposals filed in 2011-12, followed by by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.Odisha garnered as part of a new campaign to 27 per cent of the total investments (worth save the species and enhance about Rs 49,527 crore), though barely 17 FDI awareness about their life and proposals were filed for the State. Andhra habitat.High court imposed a fine of Rs.5000 Pradesh ranked second with a share of about 19 rupees to State Government for the appointment per cent through about 70 proposals, attracting of DGP investment worth about Rs 33,936 ˛ The State Government challenged the Central : crore.Gujarat, which received 131 FDI Administrative Tribunal(CAT) order in the High proposals, ranked third with a share of over Court. Ironically for the State, the High Court 11 per cent attracting proposed investment imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on the government, worth Rs 20,258 crore. while declaring the appointment of Dinesh ˛ Jaane Apna Rajasthan’ scheme for NRIs : The Reddy in the post of DGP as invalid. Rajasthan Government on 27 Aug launched a ˛ Drug Trial Related Deaths Highest in Maharastra : scheme aimed at making the young non-resident According to data released by the Drug Controller Indians(NRIs) familiar, with the culture and General of India Maharastra has recorded the traditions of the state under the ‘ Jaane Apna maximum deaths number of deaths due to serious Rajasthan’(Know your Rjasthan)scheme adverse events (SAEs) during drug trials, while announced by the chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. saw the least number of such According to this scheme the NRIs who visit deaths.During the 49 months period (January Rajasthan will be taken around” historical 2008 to January 2012) , the country had recorded places, tourist, attractions,sanctuaries,famous the 2,061 drug trial related deaths. while educational institutions, ancestral villages maharastra recorded maximum number of deaths and major Industrial projects” will be shown to 268 deaths to stand first among top five states.It them . : is followed by Andhra Pradesh (153), ˛ UP government announces ban on gutka Delhi/National Capital Region (97), Gujarat (87) industry from April 2013 : On 3rd October 2012 and Karnataka (78). The number of deaths in Uttar Pradesh government decided to impose a Maharashtra was over 10 times that of Madhya ban on gutka industry in the state with effect Pradesh, which is the lowest among the top 10 from April 2013. States. :

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˛ Supreme Court bans mining activities in Goa : In ˛ Chain of static sensors positioned along the Goa, the Supreme Court imposed a complete ban coast of Andhra Pradesh : Union Minister on the mining activities as well as transportation of State for Defence Jitendra Kumar of iron and manganese ore on 5th October 2012. inaugurated a chain of static sensors positioned along the coast of Andhra ˛ Arvind Kejriwal launches ‘bijli-paani satyagraha’ Pradesh at a programme organised at the in Delhi : Activist Arvind Kejriwal on 6th Coast Guard district headquarters Octomber 2012 launched a ‘bijli-paani Visakhapatnam on 23 November 2012.This satyagraha’ in Delhi to protest against will improve surveillance along coast. “inflated” power and water bills and hike in tariffs by restoring electricity connection to the ˛ Union Power Ministry gave its Nod to household of a labourer which was disconnected Implement Islanding Scheme in Delhi : The for non-payment of bills. Union Power Minister Veerapa Moily on 17 October 2012 announced the implementation ˛ Maharashtra tribals demand ban on alcohol : of Islanding Scheme for Delhi by January 2013 Tribal women from Maharashtra’s Chandrapur to protect it from massive disruptions caused have sent 80,000 postcards to Chief Miniter due to grid failures in power supply. The Prithviraj Chavan asking to make the district liquor-free. scheme of Delhi is different to that of the existing ones in cities like Mumbai and ˛ UPRVUNL, NLC to set up thermal plant at because the transmission lines of different Ghatampur : The UP Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam states is routed through Delhi. Ltd (UPRVUNL) and the central government PSU ˛ Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd (NLCL) signed a HC(High Court) fixes quota in local bodies at joint venture agreement (JVA) to set up a 2,000 50 percent : The AP High Court on 04 MW thermal power plant at Ghatampur (Kanpur) September 2012 ruled that the combined on 7th October 2012 . reservations for Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the ˛ Union Government ruled out the decision of Panchayat Raj local bodies should not Cauvery River Authority : Decision of the exceed the upper ceiling of 50 per cent.The Cauvery River Authority was ruled out by the court directed the state to cut the quota for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 8 October BCs and bring the cumulative figure down to 50 2012. The Prime Minister ordered Karnataka to per cent. : release 9000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu every ˛ Supreme Court issues notice to Tamil day, till 20 October 2012. Nadu government on 69 per cent ˛ Uttarakhand Named best Performing States in reservation : The Supreme Court 10th terms of Environmental standards : The state of September 2012 issued a notice to Tamil Uttarakhand on 29 October 2012 tops the Nadu government on a petition challenging Environmental Performance Index (EPI) list of the constitutional validity of the 69 per being best-performing States and Union cent reservation by the state government in territories in terms of environmental well-being employment and educational institutions. released by Planning Commission. The petition, filed by students, challenged the ˛ 50% reservation for women in Assam government’s decision to exceed the 50 per Panchayat Elections:The Assam State Election cent limit in reservation mandated by the Commission has announced 50 per cent Mandal Commission judgement.The ten reservation of seats for women in the student petitioners from Tamil Nadu had forthcoming panchayat polls as stated by State approached the Court after failing to secure Election Commissioner Biren Dutta on 9th admission to the Medical College despite November 2012. having secured 198/200.

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˛ Ban on gutka in Delhi comes into effect : A ˛ Meghalaya Passed Lokayukta Bill 2012 : On 14 blanket ban on manufacturing, sale, storage December the Meghalaya Lokayukta Bill, 2012 and display of all gutka products in the national was passed in the Meghalaya Legislative capital came into effect from 13 th September Assembly and replaced the existing Lokayukta 2012. States like Maharashtra, Rajasthan, , Act, 2002 amidst opposition from legislators. The Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar have already new act under the lokayukta bill covered the announced ban on gutka products. A similar chief minister, governor and all public servants, comprehensive ban came into effect in Gujarat but allowed the state government through a from 12th September 2012. clause to exclude the complaints by citing public interest. ˛ Ban on plastic bags comes into force in New Delhi : The ban on manufacture, sale and use ˛ Odisha Launched ‘Public Service Delivery of most types of plastic bags in the Capital System‘: On 2 January The Odisha government came into force on on 23 November 2012. launched the much-sought after ” Public Service Delivery System ” for citizens under the Odisha ˛ Delhi Government Launched “Delhi Annshri Right to Public Service Act, 2012. Under the Yojna” : UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi was new act, people will get services like issue of launched a major food security programme of Delhi Government “Delhi Annshri Yojna” on 15 driving license, birth and death certificates, December 2012.under which a monthly cash passport and trade license within a stipulated subsidy of Rs. 600 will be transferred directly time.Odisha is among the 12th state to implement the law. into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of the senior- most female members of two lakh poor families. ˛ Three New High Courts for North East : The ˛ BJP Won in Gujarat Assembly Elections : The Centre has constituted three new High Courts in BJP registered its fifth consecutive victory in the northeast Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura Gujarat on 20 December 2012.This is the third taking the total number of High Courts in the victory under Modi leadership. BJP won the country from 21 to 24.According to Law Ministry 115 seats.Congress won the 61 seats. Modi sources, the strength of judges in each High won by a landslide from Maninagar Court will be as follows: Tripura 4 (including the constituency in Gujarat, beating his nearest Chief Justice), and Meghalaya and Manipur: three Congress party rival Shweta Bhatt by a margin of each (including the Chief Justice).

86,373 votes. CONFERENCES

˛ Congress has won Himachal Pradesh Elections : ˛ Cairns in Australia to host G20 financeministers The Congress returned to power in Himachal meet in 2014 : The Prime Minister Gillard Pradesh after five years, defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Himachal Pradesh State announced on 05 August 2012, the tropical Assembly elections conduced on 4 November northen Australian city of Cairns will host a 2012.The Congress secured 36 seats and the BJP meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in 2014. 26 seats. The Congress Leader Virbhadra Singh won from Shimla (Rural) constituency and ˛ Countries G20 finance ministers and central defeated the rival from BJP Ishwar Rohal by bankers summit held in Mexico : The G20 19033 Votes. countries finance ministers and central bankers ˛ 30% Reservation for Rural Candidates in Assam summit held in Mexico on 4th November Govt. Jobs : Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi 2012.In this summit the Finance Minister P. on 26 December 2012 announced that 30 per Chidambaram said the India’s economy should cent state government jobs will be reserved for grow by 5.5 percent to 6.0 percent in the year candidates belonging to rural areas from 2013. 2012 and return to 7 percent growth in 2013.

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˛ 9th World Hindi Conference To held in ˛ Indian National Science Academy Summit : In Johannesburg :The 9th World Hindi Conference the last day of the summit conducted from 7th to be held in Johannesburg ,South Africa from 22- to 9th September 2012 in New Delhi,Scientists 24 September 2012. The first world Hindi across South Asia decided to work closely in Conference was held in Nagpur from 10-12 research initiatives and advise decision makers January 1975 under aegis of in offering solutions to problems ranging from RashtrabhashaPracharaSamiti,Wardha. The main healthcare to energy security.The three-day theme of the conference is ’Bhasha Ki Asmita meeting saw participation from the Science Aur Hindi Ka Vaishvik Sandarbh’. Academies of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Mauritius and sri Lanka. ˛ The eleventh Energy Efficient Summit : The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Summit ˛ The international biodiversity meet in held in HICC, Novotel Hyderabad. The summit was Hyderabad : The XI Conference of Parties held between 22 August 2012 to 25 August 2012. (CoP-11) on the Convention on Biological The objective of the summit was to facilitate Diversity (CBD) being hosted by India at the Indian industry to improve energy efficiency Hyderabad starts on 1st October 2012. on a continuous basis and help them in achieving ˛ South Korea to host next UN biodiversity meet the target set as part of Perform Achieve and in 2014 : South Korea will host the 12th Trade under the National Mission on Enhanced m eeting of the Conference of the Parties Energy Efficiency. It was ended on 31st August (COP12) to the Convention on Biological 2012. Diversity in 2014, it was announced in ˛ 16th Non Alignment Movement in Iran :The Hyderabad on 19th October 2012. Two-day meet of the 120 grouping of nations ˛ Asia Co-operation Dialogue Summit held in takes place at Tehran in Iran. The key issues like Kuwait : Asia Co-operation Dialogue Summit the worsening situation of Syria, Iran’s nuclear has given a call for stronger co-operation among programme and other matters of global are member nations and to work for the main agenda of this NAM summit which opened improvement of living conditions.Leaders from on 30 Aug 2012. Prime Minister Manmohan singh 32 countries pledged to focus on key areas to is leading the Indian delegation to the summit, fulfill the aspirations of the people. These which is being attended by over 30 Heads of state include sustainable energy and development, and government. This summit ended on 31 economic growth, food security, trade and August, 2012. commerce, health care, climate change and co- ˛ APEC Russia 2012 Summit : The APEC Russia 2012 operation in financial and education sectors. Summit is the 24th annual gathering of APEC ˛ SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians leaders of 21 countries.Leaders from the Conference held at Islamabad : The sixth member economics are currently meeting on conference of the Association of SAARC Russky Island off the Coast of Vladivostok, Russia Speakers and from September 2-9 ,2012 . Asia-Pacific Economic Parliamentarians held in Cooperation(APEC) is a forum for Rim Countries Islamabad on 4th November (formally member Economics) that seeks to 2012.From India, Lok Sabha promote free trade and Economics throughout Speaker Meira Kumar and the Asia-Pecific region established in 1989. Deputy Chairman Rajya ˛ The 8th meeting of the India-UK Joint Working Sabha Professor P. J. Kurien Group (JWG) on counter terrorism: The 8th are participated the conference.In this meeting of the India-UK Joint Working Group conference they discussed the role of women (JWG) on counter terrorism was held on 20 parliamentarians for social justice and the November 2012 in New Delhi. strengthening of democracy in South Asia.

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˛ E-9 countries review meeting held in New Delhi : ˛ ASEAN – India Commemorative Summit held E-9 countries review meeting held in New Delhi in New Delhi : India is hosted the ASEAN- on 9th and 10th November 2012.The E-9 India Commemorative Summit held from countries are India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, December 20-21 in New Delhi to mark the Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria and Mexico . 20th anniversary of the ASEAN – India dialogue partnership and the 10th anniversary of ˛ Prime Minister Manmohan Singh went to ASEAN-India Summit-level partnership.The Cambodia for South Asian summits : Prime theme of the summit is “ASEAN-India Minister Manmohan Singh went to Cambodian Partnership for Peace and Shared Prosperity”. capital Phnom Penh on 18 November 2012 to ASEAN and India have signed the awaited attend the ASEAN and East Asia Summits. Free Trade Agreement (FTA)on comprehensive ˛ Bangladesh Opted out of D-8 Summit economic cooperation as foundations for the Scheduled to be Held in Pakistan : establishment of an ASEAN-India Trade and Bangladesh opted out of the key summit Investment Area. known as D-8 Summit in Pakistan which is ˛ Third Worldwide Cybersecurity Summit : The scheduled to be held later in November, 2012. 3rd Worldwide Cybersecurity Summit Bangladesh opted out because Pakistan refused to apologise for the deeds committed during organized by EastWest Institute, a New York 1971 war which eventually led to Bangladesh’s based think-and-do tank, kick-started in the independence. New Delhi on 30th October 2012. ˛ 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas held in Kochi : ˛ UN Climate Change Conference (COP 18) : 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) was held The United Nations Climate Chang Conference , from 7- 9 January at Kochi (Kerala). Mauritius which is the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 18) and 8th President Rajkeswur Purryag was the chief session of the Conference guest of this official inaugural session.2000 of the Parties (serving as delegates from 40 countries attended the convention.The theme for this year’s Pravasi the Meeting of the Parties Bharatiya Divas is “Engaging Diaspora – the to the Kyoto Protocol ) Indian Growth Story”.On 7th January in the ends on 8 December in event they discussed on problems that people Qatar, Doha. United Nations climate talks in Doha from Kerala face in the region.Prime Minister had agreed to extend the Kyoto Protocol through Manmohan Singh will inaugurated the annual 2020. Poland will host the next round of 19th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) UN flagship event and released the postage stamp climate talks in 2013. on Ghadar Movement on 8 January and ˛ World Conference on International President Pranab Telecommunications (WCIT-12) : The First ever Mukherjee will World Conference on International delivered the Telecommunications (WCIT) from 3 -14 December valedictory address on held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.The January 9 and also presented the Pravasi conference reviewed the current International Bharatiya Samman awards.Pravasi Bhartiya Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs). The 193 Divas (PBD) is celebrated on January 9 every member states of the ambassadors are attended year to mark the contribution of overseas Indian this conference. While 89 states have signed the community in the development of India.The UN International Telecommunications agreement Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the first of its kind and another 55 countries have refused the involving the Indian Diaspora, was held in 2003 deal.The new agreement will come into effect in at New Delhi. January 2015.

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˛ Fourth Meeting of ASEAN and India Tourism ˛ The 100th Indian Science Congress (ISC 2013) is Ministers held in Vientiane : The Fourth also organized a special programme “ Women meeting of ASEAN and India Tourism Minister empowerment for the development of the (4th M-ATM+ India) was held in Vientiane, Lao country” to showcase the contribution of women PDR from 21 to January in conjunction with in science and technology.This is the 13th time the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2013 (ATF2013).The the Indian Science Congress is being hosted by Meeting was jointly co-chaired by H.E. Prof. Kolkata. Dr. Bosengkham Vongdara, Minister of AWARDS & HONOURS Information, Culture and Tourism, Lao PDR, and H.E. Dr. K. , Minister for ˛ P.K.B Pattnaik Honoured with Damien -Dutton Tourism, Government of India.In the meeting Award : State Leprosy Officer P.K.B. Pattnaik, Both the Ministers have signed the Protocol to has been selected for the coveted Damien- amend the Memorandum of Understanding dutton award for the year2012 for his work in between ASEAN and India on Strengthening the field of leprosy eradication. Mother Teresa, Tourism Cooperation. Babu Amte and Dr. has given Is award. He is an Odisha doctor. He said ˛ World Economic Forum Summit Held in Davos that”We have been able to treat 12 lakh leprosy : The 43rd World Economic Forum Annual patients, rehabited 40,000 patients with Meeting held from 23 – 27 January at Davos- leprosy and performed surgical defromitry Klosters in Switzerland.The annual forum, which correction on 3,500 patients”. has been running for over 40 years, provides a platform for decision-makers in politics, non- ˛ Delhi Scientist Aditi Mukherji won Morman governmental organisations and businesses to Baorlaug award : A Delhi based scientist, Aditi gather and to exchange views on the world’s Mukherji has won the world’s most prestigious most pressing problems.The World Economic award for young researchers in food and water Forum (WEF) unites international political management, named after leaders, business leaders and journalists from the father of India’s Green across the globe to discussed and shape global, revolution on regional and industrial agendas with regards to 29 Aug 2012. The World food economics, health and the environment.The WEF prize Foundation started by was founded in 1971 as a non-profit organization Borlaug has picked Mukherji by the German Klaus Schwab, a business professor for the first ever Norman Borlaug award for his at the University of Geneva. application of work in transforming access to water for thousands of farmers in west Bengla. ˛ 100th Indian Science Congress held in Kolkata : The award comes with $10,000 prize. It will The 100th Indian Science Congress was held from present to Mukherji on October 17 in Dea 3 to 7 January in Kolkata (West Bengal) .The Moines, lawa US. theme of the session is ” Science for Shaping the Future ˛ Utsa Patnaik gets V.V. Giri award : The V.V. Giri of India ” .The session was Memorial Award 2011 for outstanding inaugurated by Pranab contribution to labour studies was conferred on Mukherjee the President of Utsa Patnaik, Professor in Jawaharlal Nehru India .In the session Prime Minister University, New Delhi on 29 August 2012. The Manmohan Singh released ‘ The Science, award, instituted by the V.V Giri National Labour Technology and Innovation Policy(STI) 2013 ’ Institute, was conferred by Labour Minister .On 4 January Former President Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Mallikarjun Kharge, who stressed on the Kalam inaugurated a Children Science Congress importance of systematic and sound research as part of the 100th Indian Science Congress . to understand the nature and characteristics of the emerging labour landscape.

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˛ Eight Sporting Coaches received Dronacharya ˛ Three National awards for State Literacy Award for 2012 : Dronacharya Award is an award Mission : the Andhra Pradesh State Literacy presented by the government of India for Mission Authority (SLMA) has received awards excellence in sports coaching. Eight Sporting for its work in Vizianagaram district and one Coaches selected for the Dronacharya Award gram panchayat P Yeleru of Anantapur district. for 2012 are Wrestling coach Yashvir Singh, Andhra Pradesh is the only State which Boxing Coach BI Fernandez, Athletics Coaches received the Saakshar Bharat Award in the Virender Poonia, J.N.Bhatia,Kabaddi Coach Sunil entire Country. The Awards comprising a Davas, Parathletics Coach Dr. Satyapaul, Hockey trophy and a certificate which will be given by Coach Harinder Singh, Table Tennis Coach the Vice-President of India Hamid Ansari on the BhavaniMukherjee,.Fernandez will become the occasion of International Literacy Day to be first foreign coach to be awarded the the celebrated on September 8 at Lucknow in Uttar Dronacharya Award Pradesh. ˛ Arjuna Awards : Deepika Kumari , Laishram ˛ Aung San Suu Kyi Receives US Congressional Bombayla Devi (archery), Sudha Singh , Kavita Gold Medal : Burmese democracy leader Aung Ramdas Raut (athletics), Ashwani Ponnappa , San Suu Kyi has received the Congressional Parupalli Kashyap (badminton), Aditya S Mehta Gold Medal – the highest honor Congress can (billiards and Snooker), Vikas Krishan (boxing), bestow, at a Yuvraj Singh (cricket), Sardar Singh (hockey), ceremony in the U.S. Yashpal Solanki (judo), Anup Kumar (kabaddi), Capitol Rotunda on Samir Suhag (polo), Annu Raj Singh, Omkar Singh, 19th September 2012. Joydeep Karmakar (shooting), Deepika Pallikal Members of the U.S. (squash),Sandeep Sejwal (swimming), Ng. Sonia Congress from both Chanu (weightlifting), Narsingh Yadav , Rajinder chambers and both Kumar , Geeta Phogat (wrestling), M. Bimoljit major political parties gathered to pay tribute Singh (wushu), Deepa Mallick, Ramkaran Singh to Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu (athletics, Paralympics). Kyi, who was first awarded the Congressional

Gold Medal in 2008, while she was under 15 ˛ T.S. Subramanian among winners of nuclear years of house arrest in Burma. society’s awards : T.S. Subramanian, Associate ˛ Four Sports persons receive Dhyan Chand Editor, Frontline, , and R.K. Singh, Head, Award-2012 : Dhyan Chand Award is India’s Media Relations and Public Awareness Section, highest award for lifetime achievement in Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, have sports and games, given by the Government been selected for theIndian of India. Four persons selected for the Nuclear Society’s “INS Dhyan Chand Award-2012 are Jagrajsinghman Outstanding Service Award” (Athletics), Gundeep Kumar(Hockey), Vinod for 2011 for Science Kumar (wrestling), Sukhbeer Singh Tokan (para Communication.The awards sports). will be presented on November 7 during the inaugural function of the ˛ DRDO scientist G. Satheesh Reddy received 23 annual conference of the INS to be held in IETE Award : G. Satheesh Reddy, outstanding Mumbai. scientist and associate director, Research Centre Imarat, a premier laboratory of the Defence ˛ Dr. M.V. Reddy get the Bharat Jyoti Award : Research and Development Organisation’s The Director, Department of Animal (DRDO) Missile complex, was given IETE B.V. Husbandry,Dr. M.V.Reddy got the Bharat Jyoti Baliga Memorial Award on 30th September 2012 Award .This award was presented by the India at Bangalore. International Friendship Society.

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˛ Sastra Ramanujan Prize to Zhiwei Yun : The ˛ awarded top French honour : 2012 sastra Ramanujan prize will begiven to the Ebrahim Alkazi, the grand old man of Indian Professor Zhiwei on December 22, The birth theatre has been conferred France’s highest anniversary of mathematical genius Ramanujan, cultural award for his contribution in nurturing in New Delhi. The award will be given away and presenting modern theatre in India and during the closing ceremony of the International preserving the treasures of photography and conference in the legacy of Ramanujan, other art forms for posterity.Alkazi, was organized by the National Board of Higher awarded Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters Mathematics of India & co-sponsored by sastra on 29th September 2012. University and Delhi University. prof. Zhiwei Yun ˛ to be made member of has made fundamental contributions to sevaral Order of Australia : Australian Prime Minister areas that lie at the interface of representation Julia Gillard made the announcement on 16th theory. This Prize will be given to under 32 age, at October 2012 that the first Indian sportsperson the same age as Ramanujan died. Tendulkar to be conferred with the Membership ˛ Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana award for D.R.Mehta : of the Order of Australia, an honour “rarely” Renowned social worker DR Mehta, founder and bestowed on non-Australians. chief patron of the organization that popularized ˛ Bangladesh honours Babu Jagjivan Ram : the Jaipur Foot, has been selected for the Rajiv Former Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award for the year Minister of India, late Babu Jagjivan Ram has 2012. D.R. Mehta will present the 20th Rajiv been awarded with the “Friends of Liberation Gandhi National Sadbhavna Award at a function War Honour” by the Government of Bangladesh New Delhi on 20 Aug 2012. The award, for his contribution in the 1971 War. which carries a citation and cash of Rs 5 lakh, is being given to Mehta, a former chairman of ˛ Narayan Murthy honoured with Hoover the Securities and Exchange Board of India, for Medal : IT giant Infosys founder, N.R. his “outstanding contribution towards promotion Narayan Murthy honoured with Hoover Medal of communal harmony, peace and for promoting science at Global Humanitarian goodwill”.Former recipients of the award Technology Conference in Washington. include Mother Teresa, Ustad , ˛ Gavaskar to receive BCCI’s lifetime , , S.N. Subbarao and achievement award : Former India captain Sunil . Gavaskar will be conferred the Col C K Nayudu ˛ to get lifetime achievement Lifetime Achievement award at the annual BCCI award : Veteran actress Waheeda Rehman will awards function on 25th October 2012. receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the ˛ Noted film lyricist and poet forthcoming 14th Mumbai Film Festival, which presented with Indira Gandhi award starts on October 18. Mumbai Academy of for National Integration : The Indira Gandhi Moving Image(MAMI) is organising the film award for National Integration for 2011 has festival. been given to noted film lyricist and poet ˛ DRDO scientist G. Satheesh Reddy received Gulzar in recognition of his contribution to IETE Award : G. Satheesh Reddy, outstanding national integration. scientist and associate director, Research Centre ˛ Conferred ‘National Imarat, a premier laboratory of the Defence Tansen Samman’ :On 14 December 2012 noted Research and Development Organisation’s vocalist duo of Rajan and Sajan Mishra will be (DRDO) Missile complex, was given IETE B.V. awarded prestigious ‘National Tansen Samman’ Baliga Memorial Award on 30th September 2012 for year 2011-12 for their contribution to at Bangalore. Hindustani classical music

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S.No Department Name of the Person/ Country Field of Research Organization 1. PHY SICS Serge Har oche and France For ground -br eaking experimental methods that enable measuring and manipulation of individual quantum systems David J. Wineland America 2. CHEMISTRY Robert J. Lefkowitz and America For studies of G-Protein - cou pled receptors Brain K. Kobilka America 3. PHY SIOLOGY OR Sir John B. Gurdon and Britan For the discovery that mature cells can be MEDICINE reprogrammed to become pluripotent

Shinya Yamanaka Japan 4. EC ONO MIC Alvin E. Roth and America For the theory of stable allocations and the SCIENCES practice of market design Lioyd S. Shapley America 5. LITERATURE Mo Yan China Who with hallucinatory realism merges folk tales, history and the contemporary 6. PEACE PRIZE European Union (EU) Europe For over six de cades con tribut ed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation. Democracy and human rights in Europe.

˛ First-ever India Biodiversity Awards presented ˛ Won 2011 Jnanpith Award : The women who led the ecological restoration of Leading Oriya novelist and academician Gundlaba village in Odisha’s district after Pratibha Ray, who has over 40 novels, the 1999 super cyclone are among the four travelogues and short stories to her credit, winners of the first India Biodiversity Awards. was named for the prestigious Jnanpith The awards, instituted by the Ministry of Award for the year 2011 on 27 December Environment and Forests and the United Nation 2012. Development Programme (UNDP). ˛ Scientist Venkatesh Mannar honoured with ˛ Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for Order of Canada Award : A Chennai born Shankar : Sitar maestro Pandit will scientist of Indian origin, M.G Venkatesh be honoured with a Grammy Lifetime Mannar and President, Micronutrient Achievement Award posthumously.He becomes Initiative, Canada was the first Indian to get the prestigious award. awarded with Canada’s The decision to honour Ravi Shankar, a three- Highest Civilian Award – the time Grammy winner, was made before his death. “ Order of Canada “ on ˛ Indian Journalist’s Association Honoured Sir December .US, was Charles Wheeler : On 16 December Indian honoured with the award Journalists Association has conferred its for his forty years long contribution Lifetime Achievement Award for 2012 working towards reduction of debilitating posthumously to former BBC correspondent Sir micronutrient deficiencies among the worlds Charles Wheeler. most vulnerable.

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˛ Shihab Ghanem the First Arab to receive ˛ Malala won ” 2012 Tipperary International India’s Tagore Peace Prize : On 26 December Peace Award “ : On 3 January Malala The Asiatic society will award the Tagore Yousafzai, the teenaged Pakistani school girl Peace Prize to Emirati poet and translator shot by a Taliban gunman last year , has Shihab Ghanem .Shihab Ghanem been awarded the ” 2012 Tipperary the first Arab to receive India’s International Peace Award ” from Ireland Tagore Peace Prize.The peace for her courage and determination to speak prize is named after out in support of equal access to education Rabindranath Tagore, a Bengali for children.Malala is the second Pakistani creative talent and India’s first Nobel laureate. to get the award. In 2007, it was given to late Benazir Bhutto. ˛ Astronautical Society’s Aryabhatta award for Muthunayagam & Saraswat : The former ˛ Malala honored with the French ” Simone de secretary of the Department of Ocean Beauvoir ” Prize : On 9 January Malala Development, A.E. Muthunayagam, will Yousafzai (15), the schoolgirl from Pakistan received the prestigious Aryabhatta award, shot by Taliban for campaigning girls’ instituted by the Astronautical Society of India education, received France’s Simone de (ASI), for 2010 and V.K. Saraswat, Scientific Beauvoir Prize for Women’s Freedom in Adviser to the Defence Minister, will receive the Paris. Malala’s father Ziaudin Yousafzai award for 2011.They have been selected for their received the honour on her behalf. he achievements in rocketry. award is accompanied with 2.5 million RupeTes honorarium. ˛ Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2013 : On 9 January Pranab Mukherjee President of India ˛ Krishi Karman Awards 2011- 2012 On 15 presented the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman January President Pranab Mukherjee (Awards) 2013 to 14 people, included presented the Krishi Karman awards for the Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi and year 2011-12 at an award ceremony at the Mauritius President Rajkeswur Purryag, He was Rashtrapati Bhavan. The awards were also the Chief Guest of 11th Pravasi Bharatiya presented to the State Governments for Divas 2013. In accordance to Tradition, Pravasi their excellent performance in increasing the Bharatiya Samman (Awards) 2013 have been production of food grains in their respective given to notable Indians living abroad. The states. other awardees are Prof Dr Gurusharan Singh ˛ 70th Golden Globe Awards – 2013 : On Chhatwal of Germany for science, Dr Rasik January 13 The 70th Golden Globe Awards Vihari Joshi (Mexico) for Literature, Gilbert honored the best in film and television of Canabady Moutien (Reunion Island) and 2012, was presented in California . Mohammed Rabeeh Karuvanthodi (Saudi Arabia) for business, Patricia Maria Rozario(UK) ∑ Best Film – : Argo for Music, Dr Narendra Ramakrishna Kumar ∑ Best Actor – : Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln) (USA) for Healthcare, Subash Razdan (USA) and ∑ Best Actress – : Jessica Chastain (Zero Islmail Ebrahim (South Afrcia) for Public service. Dark Thirty) Dr Satendra Kumar Singh (New Zealand), ∑ Best Director - Ben Affleck (Argo) Australia India Society of Victoria (Australia) and Bava Pandalingal (UAE), Ashok Shambhomal ∑ Best Musical or Comedy -: Les Vaswani (Guinea), Indian Doctors Forum, Miserables Kuwait for community service, Tan Sri Ravindran ∑ Best Foreign Language Film – : Amour Menon from Malaysia for Community service, ∑ Best Animated Feature Film -: Brave are among others on the list of awardees.

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˛ 58th 7) , Sports, Karnataka.

The 58th Filmfare Awards were held honoring the 8) H Mangte Chungneijang , Sports, best films of 2012 from the Hindi-language film Manipur. industry (commonly known as ). The 9) Ramanaidu Daggubati, Art, Andhra pradesh ceremony was held on January 20, 2013 at 10) , Art, Maharastra Mumbai. 11) Sreeramamurthy Janaki, Art, Andhra ∑ Best Movie :- Barfi Pradesh ∑ Best Actor :- Ranbir (Film -Barfi) 12) Abdul , Art, West Bengal ∑ Best Actress :- (Film – Kahaani ) 13) Shivajirao Girdhar patil, Public Affairs, MH ∑ Best Director :- Sujoy Ghosh (Film – Kahaani ) 14) Apathukatha Sivathanu Pillai, Science, Deli ∑ Lifetime Achievement Award :- (After Death) 15) Vijay Kumar Saraswat, DRDO, Delhi

16) , Science, Uttar Pradesh ˛ Padma Awards – 2013President of India Approved the Conferment of 108 Padma Awards 17) B.N. Suresh, Science, Karnataka : On 25 January Pranab Mukherjee, the 18) Satya N.Atluri, Science, Aerospace, USA President of Union of India approved 19) Jogesh Chandra Pati, Science, USA conferment of 108 Padma Awards. Four people have been conferred with Padma Vibhusan, 20) Ramamurthy Thyagarajan, Trade, twenty four are conferred with Tamilnadu and 80 people would be receiving Padma Shree 21) Naddkishore Shamrao Laud, Medicine, MH Awards. Out of all the awardees twenty-four 22) , Literature , MH are ladies and 11 people belong to categories like NRIs, PIOs, Foreigners and Posthumous 23) Hamendra Singh Panwar, Civil service, M.P awardees. 24) , Civil Service, Delhi

˛ ˛

1) , Art, Orissa 1) Lakshmi Narayana Sathiraju, Art, Tamil Nadu 2) S Haider Raza, Art, Delhi 2) Maeilanandhan, Social Work, Tamil Nadu 3) Prof , Science and Engineering, Uttar 3) Rajshree Pathy, Trade, Tamil Nadu Pradesh 4) T.V. Devarajan, Medicine, Tamil Nadu and also Hosanagara Nagarajegowda Girisha, 4) Prof , Science and Sports, Karnataka , Subedar Major Vijay Engineering, Karnataka Kumar, Sports, Himachal Pradesh Yogeshwar

Dutt, Sports, Haryana B Jayashree, Art, ˛ Padma Bhushan Karnataka Kapoor, Art, Maharashtra 1) , Art, Delhi. Ramesh Gopaldas Sippy, Art, Maharashtra.

2) Dr (Smt) , Art, Delhi. ˛ Gallantry and Other Defence Decorations 3) Late , Art, Maharashtra. Announced : On 26 January President Pranab 4) Late Jaspal Singh Bhatti, Art, Punjab. Mukherjee has approved awards of 359 Gallantry 5) Adi Burjor Godrej, Trade and Industry, and other Defence decorations to Armed Forces Maharashtra. personnel and others on the eve of the 64th 6) Prof Gayatri kravorty Spivak, Literature & Republic Day Celebrations . Education USA.

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˛ This includes 01 Kirti Chakra, 11 Shaurya Chakra, ° BEST PICTURE: Argo. 56 Sena Medal (Gallantry), 01 Bar to Nao Sena BEST ACTOR: Daniel Day-Lewis , Lincoln. Medal (Gallantry), 03 Nao Sena Medal ° (Gallantry), 03 Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), 28 ° BEST ACTRESS: Jennifer Lawrence , Silver Param Vishisht Seva Medal, 03 Uttam Yudh Seva Linings Playbook. Medal, 06 Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, 44 Ati ° BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:Christoph Waltz , Vishisht Seva Medal, 12 Yudh Seva Medal, 02 Bar Django Unchained. to Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), 37 Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), 01 Bar to Nao Sena ° BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Anne Hathaway , Medal (Devotion to Duty), 07 Nao Sena Medal Les Miserables. (Devotion to Duty), 14 Vayu Sena Medal ° BEST DIRECTOR: Ang Lee , Life of Pi . (Devotion to Duty), 04 Bar to Vishisht Seva Medal and 116 Vishisht Seva Medal..Major ° BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Abup J Manjali of the Rashtriya Rifles was Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained selected for the award of Kirti Chakra for his ° BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Chris Terrio, Argo extraordinary bravery efforts in counter- terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir. ° BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM: Brave

˛ Prof C N R Rao awarded by Chinese Academy of ° BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Life of Pi , Claudio Sciences : The Chinese Academy of Sciences was Miranda awarded Prof C N R Rao, National Research ° BEST COSTUME DESIGN: Professor and Honorary President of Jawaharlal Anna Karenina , Jacqueline Durran Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCAR), the prestigious “International Scientific ° BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: Cooperation Award 2012″. The award is Searching for Sugar Man. designed to acknowledge outstanding scientists ° BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT: for their contribution to science and for Inocente , Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine. promoting global networking of international science cooperation. ° BEST FILM EDITING: Argo , William Goldenberg ° BEST FOREIGN FILM: Amour , Austria ˛ Oscars Winners List 2013 ° BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING: It was a great night celebrating the best in movies Les Misérables , Lisa Westcott and Julie Dartnell at the 2013 Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday (February 24) in Hollywood. ° BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: Life of Pi , Mychael Danna The big award of the night for Best Picture went ° BEST ORIGINAL SONG: to Argo and its producers Ben Affleck , George “Skyfall” from Skyfall , Music and Lyric by Adele Clooney , and Grant Hezlov . The film also won the Adkins and Paul Epworth awards for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing. Lincoln ‘s Daniel Day-Lewis won the award ° BEST PRODUCTION for Best Actor, Silver Linings Playbook ‘s Jennifer DESIGN Lawrence won the award for Best Actress, Django Lincoln , Production Design: Unchained ‘s Christoph Waltz won the award for Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Jim Erickson Best Supporting Actor, and Les Miserables ‘ Anne ° BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM Hathaway won the award for Best Supporting Paperman , John Kahrs Actress.

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° BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM ° BEST CHOREOGRAPHY : Curfew , Shawn Christensen (Viswaroopam). ° BEST SOUND EDITING: ° BEST ART DIRECTION: Skyfall , Per Hallberg and Lalgudi Ilayaraja Karen Baker Landers (Viswaroopam). Zero Dark Thirty , Paul N.J. Ottosson. ° BEST ORIGINAL ° BEST SOUND MIXING : Les Misérables , Andy SCREENPLAY - Sujoy Ghosh (Kahaani). Nelson, Mark Paterson and Simon Hayes. ° Best Dialogue Writer: Anjali Menon (Ustad ° BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: Hotel). Life of Pi , Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, ° BEST SOUND RECORDING: Gangs of Erik-Jan De Boer and Donald R. Elliott. Wasseypur.

° BEST DIRECTION - Shivaji Lotan Patil (Dhag - ˛ 60TH NATIONAL FILM AWARDS Marathi Film). BEST ACTOR: Irfan Khan for Pan Singh Tomar ° ° BEST EDITING: Celluloid Man(Non- and Vikram Gokhale for Anumati (Marathi). feature section). BEST ACTRESS: Usha Jadhav for Marathi film ° ° BEST MAKEUP ARTIST: Raja 'Dhag'. (Vazahkku En 18/9). BEST HINDI FEATURE FILM: - Paan Singh ° ° BEST COSTUME DESIGNER : Tomar. Poornima (Paradesi). BEST FILM FOR WHOLESOME ° ° BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: ENTERTAINMENT: & Ustad Hotel Annu Kapoor (Vicky Donor'). (Malayalam). ° BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Dolly Ahluwalia BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS: Eega. ° (Vicky Donor). BEST NON-FEATURE FILM: Shepherd's of ° ° BEST FILM ON SOCIAL ISSUES: Spirit Paradise. (Malayalam). ° BEST FILM ON ENVIRONMENT: Black Forest (Malayalam). SPORTS AND NEWS ° BEST TELUGU FILM: Eega. ˛ India beat Australia to win Under-19 World ° BEST TAMIL FILM: Vazhakku En 18/9. Cup India won their third Under-19 World Cup title as captain Unmukt Chand saved his best for ° BEST HINDI FILM: Filmistan. last, coming up with a crucial, unbeaten ton in ° BEST INVESTIGATIVE FILM: the final against Australia on 26 August 2012. Inshallah Kashmir. ˛ South Africa’s Hashim Amla becomes fasters ° BEST PLAYBACK SINGER: players to 3,000 ODI runs South Africa’s Shankar for Bolo Na Hashim Amla became the fastest player to 3,000 one-day international runs during the course of (Chittagong). his 150 that set up the Proteas’ 80- run win over ° BEST SONG: Bolo Na (Chittagong). England at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

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˛ Life Long Ban on Lance Armstrong : The U.S. anti ˛ Armadillo to be 2014 FIFA World Cup mascot : A doping agency 14 years of Lance Armstrong rare species of armadillo is set to be the official strong career on 24 Aug , including his record of mascot for the 2014 FIFA seven tour de France Titles and banned him for World Cup in Brazil on 12 life from the sport. He was cyclist who retired an September 2012. Inthe year ago. He would no longer challenge USDA previous FIFA World Cup the and declined to exercise his last option by mascots were: FIFA 2010 entering arbitration. He denied again that he World Cup in South Africa- ever took banned substances in his career, Zakumi the green-haired leopard FIFA 2006 called USADA’s Investigation a “witch hunt” World Cup in Germany- Goleo named lion. without any physical evidence ˛ Deepika Kumari won Silver at Recurve World

Cup : Deepika Kumari won Silver at Recurve Dhoni named Castrol Indian cricketer of the year ˛ World Cup on 23 September 2012 in Tokyo. In The Castrol Awards for Cricketing the finals of the tournament, she lost against Excellence a re the premier the Korean double Olympic gold medalist, Ki Bo- cricketing awards recognizing Bae outstanding performances by Indian cricketers – past, present ˛ Indian wrestler Babita wins world and future. Mahendra Singh championship bronze : Babita Kumari (51kg) Dhoni was declared the Castrol Indian Cricketer became the second Indian female wrestler to of the Year 2011 whilst Ajit Wadekar received win a World Championships medal after she the Castrol Lifetime Achievement Award and clinched a bronze in Edmonton, Canada. India’s Under 19 World Cup winning Captain ˛ Sun TV Network Acquired Hyderabad IPL Unmukt Chand was awarded the Castrol Junior Franchise : Chennai based SUN TV Network Cricketer of the Year Award. acquired the Indian Premier League (IPL) Hyderabad franchise on 25 October 2012 for an ˛ USA wins third FIFA U-20 women’s World Cup : enormous amount of 85.05 crore Rupees per United States of America beat former champion year. Germany 1-0 in Tokyo to claim its third FIFA U-20 ˛ Sebastian Vettel won F1 Second Indian Grand women’s World Cup crown on 8th September Prix : Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel won the 2012. Indian Grand Prix 2012 on 28 October 2012 at ˛ Serena clinches fourth US Open title : Serena the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) for the Williams captured her 15th Grand Slam title and second time in a row extending his Formula fourth career US Open crown with a 6-2, 2-6, One championship lead.This is his fourth 7-5 victory over World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka consecutive success in this year. on 9th September 2012. ˛ Pankaj Advani defeats Russell, clinches ˛ Oscar Pistorius Wins Paralympics Gold In 400 seventh World Billiards Championship title : Meters : The ‘Blade Runner’ of South India`s Pankaj Advani won his seventh World Africa ,Oscar Pistorius successfully completed billiards title when he outclassed defending 400m-T44 event in 46.68 sec in Paralympics and champion Mike Russell 1,895-1,216 in the final won the gold medal. on 28th October 2012. ˛ Andy Murray first Britisher to win Grand Slam ˛ Joshna Chinappa wins Penang Open squash men`s singles title in 76 years : title : India’s top squash player Joshna Andy Murray has overpowered Serbia’s Novak Chinappa claimed the IJM Land Penang Open, Djokovic in five gruelling sets in a classic US Open defeating top seed and local favourite Siti final to become the first Britisher to win a Grand Munirah Jusoh in straight games on 28th Slam men’s singles title in 76 years. October 2012.

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˛ Humpy wins Ankara Grand Prix-2012: ° Men’s Singles:- Novak Djokovic (Serbia) has Grandmaster Koneru Humpy won gold medal won the men’s singles title after defeating in FIDE Grand Prix in Turkey at Ankara on 28th Andy Murray (Britain) in four sets. This is September 2012. Djokovic’s fourth Australian Open and over all six Grand Slam single title. ˛ India Won the World Cup Kabaddi Tournament 2012 : India won the 3rd World Cup Kabaddi ° Women’s Doubles:- Top seeds Sara Errani and Tournament for the third consecutive time in Roberta Vinci won the title, defeating wild cards the Men’s category and second consecutive Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua in the final. time in the Women’s category on15 December ° Men’s Doubles : Top seeded American brothers 2012. Indian men defeated the Pakistan and Bob and Mike Bryan won the men’s doubles India Women defeated the Malaysia in the finals title. Americans Mike and Bob Bryan won held at the Guru Nanak Dev Stadium in Ludhiana. their record 13th Grand Slam doubles title, ˛ Kohli is CEAT ” International Cricketer of the defeating the Dutch team of Robin Haase and Year “ : On 4 January Vice-captain of Indian Igor Sijsling. Cricket team Virat Kohli was named the OLYMPICS LONDON 2012 - GLIMPSE International Cricketer of the Year while Pakistan cricket team was named as the Best ˛ The 30th Olympics 2012 held at London on 27 International Cricket Team in the 2011-2012 July and ended on 12 August. This is a 17 days season at the CEAT cricket awards in New Delhi. Festival of Five Rings. There are 204 countries Unmukt Chand, who led India to the U-19 World and more than 10,000 athletes participated in Cup win last year, got the inaugural Indian 300 events. US secured top place in medals of Youngster of the Year award.The Former Pakistan acquiring 104 medals in total, 46 gold, 29 silver cricket captain Zaheer Abbas received the and 29 bronze. the next Lifetime Achievement Award. place occupied by China of 99 medals. Britain ˛ Lionel Messi, the man of the four Golden Balls : stood at 3rd place of Lionel Messi became the first four-time winner acquiring 65 medals in of the FIFA Player of the Year total. India stood at 55th award after shattering the place by acquiring 6 world record with 91 goals medals in total, 2 silver and 4 bronze. India got last year(2012) for Barcelona 6 medals among 81 athletes who participated in and Argentina.His 91 goals London Olympics. The next Olympics will be topped Gerd Mueller’s mark of 85 for Bayern host by Rio De Janeiro on 2016. The Winter Munich and Germany in 1977. Olympics 2014 will be host by Russia, Sochi. ˛ Mumbai won 40th Ranji Trophy Title : On 29 The name of the Indian Medalists are : January Mumbai won its 40th Ranji Trophy title against Saurashtra by an inning and 125 runs in 1. Gagan Narang won the bronze Medal in the the final at Wankhede at Mumbai .Wasim Jaffar event of Men’s 10m. Air Rifle shooting. was declared Man of the Match. Ajit Agarkar was 2. Vijay Kumar won the Silver Medal in the the captain of the winning team. event of individual 25 metre rapid fire ˛ Australian Open Tennis Tournament – 2013 pistol. He was awarded Khel Ratna by the Winners : Womens Single’s :- Victoria Azarenka Government of India of his performance of Belarus won the Women’s Singles title of inLondon Olympics 2012. the Australian Open Tennis tournament after 3. won the Bronze medal in the defeated Li Na of China in the final at Melbourne Event of Badminton Women’s Singles. on 26 January .

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4. Mary Kom won the bronze medal in the event ˛ Serena and Venus Williams won Olympics of Women’s Fly 51kg. Gold in Women’s Doubles : Serena and Boxing. Venus Williams teamed to win women’s doubles title at the Olympics on 5 August 5. Yogeswar Dutt won the 2012. The third time the dynamic duo taken bronze medal in the event Home the gold medal. of Men’s 60kg. Free style wrestling. He was awarded Khel Ratna by the ˛ Lin Defends Olympic Badminton Gold : Government of India of his performance in China’s Lin Dan over hauled Lee Chong Wei London Olympics 2012. in the final to win Olympic men’s badminton singles on 5 August 2012. 6. Sushil kumar who is an Indian Flag Bearer and also won Silver Medal in the event of ˛ Salimikordasiabi Won Olympic Gold : nran’s Men’s 66kg. Free style wrestling. Beh Salmi Kordasiabi won gold in the event of weightlifting competition at London to Tit bits: claim the title of “Strongest man at the ˛ Andrian Clinhes Gold by a Finger Tip : Nathan Olympics”. He lifted 455 kg in total.silver for Andrian clinched the Olympic 100 m free style sajjad Anoushiravani. He is from Iran. Bronze gold by a fingertip on 1 August 2012 to for Russia’s Rulsan ALbegor with 448kg. become the first American to hold the title since 1988. List of Countries ranking by gold Medal:

˛ Serena Williams Wins Olympic Gold : Serena Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total Williams secured her first ever gold medal 1 USA 46 29 29 104 victory in the women’s singles with 6-0, 6-1 win 2 China 38 27 23 88 over the Russian beauty, Maria Sharapova at 3 England 29 17 19 65 the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon 4 Russia 24 26 32 82 on 4 August 2012.Serena becomes the second 5 S. Korea 13 8 7 28 women to win the Olympic gold medal in 55 India 0 2 4 6 addition to all four different Grand Slam titles. she also set the record of being the only female professional to attain the number one HIGHEST MEDAL IN OLYMPIC 2012 spot in both singles and doubles category. ˛ Ben Ainslie Claims a Record : Britain’s Ben Country Athlete Gold Silver Bronze Total Ainslie became the most successful Olympic name sailor on 5 August 2012 won a gold medal USA Phelps 4 2 0 6 in the single handed finn class to claim a michael record breaking fifth consecutive medal. USA Fr anj klin 4 0 1 5 missy ˛ Murray Won Olympic Gold : Britain’s Andy USA Schmi tt 3 1 1 5 Murray demolished Roger Federer 6-2,6-1,6-4 allison in the men’s final on 5 Jamaica Usain 3 0 0 3 Aug 2012 to wins first Bolt gold medal ad avenge USA Felix 3 0 0 3 his Wimbledon final allyson defeat against the world no1. Roger Federer bagged Olympic Silver , Juan Martin del potro bagged copper.

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INDIVIDUAL RECORDS ON OLYMPIC 2012 .

Name Event World Record Dong Hyun Im Archery 699 Points Rebecca Soni Swimming Breast Stroke 2:19.59 hr:mm:ss Xiaojun Weight Lifting 379 kgs Xiaojun Lu Weight Lifting 175 kg Lulu Zhou Weight Lifting 333 kg Ilya Ilyin Weight Lifting 418kg Ilya Ilyin Weight Lifting 233kg Zulfiya Chinshanlo Weight Lifting 131kg Un Guk Kim Weight Lifting 327kg Usian Bolt Runner 100m race 9.63 seconds Rudisha Runner 800m race 1:40.91 Jason Kenny Cycling (Track)Individual 9.713 seconds Sergei Martynov Shooting 50 m Rifle Prone 705.5points Leuris Pupo Shooting 25m rapid fire pistol 34 points Jessica Rossi Trap 99 points Alexei Klimov Shooting rapid fire pistol 592 points Shiwen Ye Swimming (400m Individual Medley) 4:28:43 hr:mm:ss Missy Franklin Swimming Back stroke 2:04:06 hr:mm:ss Dana Vollmer Swimming (100m Butterfly) 55.98 secs

FORTH COMING GAMES

Winter Olympic Games FIFA World Cup Summer Olympic Games

World Cup Cricket Asian Games Common Wealth Games

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ECONOMY ˝ China’s millionaire number crosses million ˝ Government Detected Rs.49,325 crore Black mark : “The number of millionaires in China Money in India : Government said that crossed a million mark for the first in the Rs.49,325 crore has been detected in the Communist nation, putting it in the elite club of country in the last three years while tax evasion the wealthy nations like US and Japan. The elite of Rs.600 crore found on input from abroad millionaires group includes 63,500 billionaires, under multi-prolonged efforts to heck black according to Hurun Report, a Chinese event money menance. this information has been and publishing group which compiled the contained in a 13 page fact-sheet released by China’s list of the rich. The number of the Finance Ministry.The fact-sheet say the Chinese worth more than 10 million yuan (USD Central Board of Direct Taxes(CBDT) has 1.6 million) broke the million mark in 2011 for detected undisclosed income of over Rs.32,000 the first time, with 1.02 million people now in crore besides seizing assets valued at over Rs this elite group. Of these million-plus wealthy 2,600 crores. 17,325 crore income detected in individuals, 84 per cent are concentrated in the survey. Government also disclosed that under eastern, northern and southern regions of China, Double Avoidance agreement(DTAA), with Beijing home to the greatest number, at 1.79 investigation of information from German and lakh millionaires. France has led to detection of tax evasion of Rs.600 crore and realization of Rs.200 crore in ˝ CIBIL working on Risk Index to help banks : taxes. Credit Information Bureau (India) Ltd (CIBIL) is planning to introduce a risk index that will help ˝ Union Finance Minister Approved the Proposal the country’s banks take quicker decisions on FDI raise up to 49% : The Union Finance extending loans to corporates and business Minister P.Chidambaram approved the raise houses. The index follows the credit of FDI in Insurance and Pension sector up to information firm’s TransUnion score for 49%. Earlier the limit of FDI was up to 26%. individual borrowers being used by financial This Proposal of 49% raise of FDI was made institutions and banks to take decisions in during the tenure of Pranab mukherjee. It respect of credit cards and home loans. “Any was delayed because of resistance from the individual with over 750 score can be considered cronies. as good”. ˝ ISC directs Sahara Group to refund Rs ˝ P.M.’s Economic Panel Lowers the Indian : 17,400 crore to investors : In a major Growth Estimate to 6.7% for 2012-13 Prime setback to the Sahara Group, the Supreme Minister’s economic advisory panel on 17 August Court on 31st August 2012 directed two of its 2012 pegged GDP growth for the current companies to refund around Rs 17,400 crore to financial year to 6.7 percent. This is mainly due their investors within three months with 15 to poor Monsoon which will pull down the percent interest.A agriculture 43 growth rate to 0.5 percent from bench of justices K S 2.8 percent last year. “Economy will grow at 6.7 Radhakrishnan and percent in 2012- 13, Prime Minister’s economic J S Khehar directed Advisory council (PMEAC) chairman C.Rangarajan SEBI to take action said that while releasing “Economic outlook for against the 2012-13”. He asked the government to open companies, Sahara multi – brand retail to foreign investment and India Real Estate Corporation and Sahara raise diesel prices in one (or) more steps to Housing Investment Corporation, if they fail to contain the subsidy bill. India has registered 6.5% refund the money. growth in the fiscal year 2011- 12.

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˝ India, China joint panel to address trade ˝ India-US trade to touch $100 bn : Bilateral trade concerns : India and China have agreed to between India and the US is expected to touch establish a joint working group to address all USD 100 billion in the coming years on trade-related issues, including the widening increasing economic engagement between the trade balance between the countries. The countries. decision was taken at a meeting between trade ˝ India’s GDP to remain below 6% for 2012-13 : minister Anand Sharma and his Chinese CII(Confederation of Indian Industry) survey counterpart Chen Deming in New Delhi on 27th indicated that the GDP growth during 2012- August 2012.Trade between the countries was 13 is expected to remain below 6 percent. $75.4 billion in 2011-12, against $59 billion in 2010- 11. In 2011-12, exports to China stood at ˝ Govt approves 12th Five-Year Plan : On 4th $17.9 billion while imports from there stood at October 2012 Government approved the 12th $57.5 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $39.6 Five-Year Plan (2012-17) document that aims to billion. achieve annual average economic growth rate of 8.2 per cent, down from 9 per cent ˝ Govt approves 49% FDI in insurance & pension envisaged earlier, in view of fragile global sectors : On 4th October 2012 The recovery. Cabinet has cleared proposals to allow more ˝ HDFC Bank partners Indian Oil Corporation to Foreign Direct Investment or FDI in the offer rural banking services : HDFC Bank has insurance and pension sectors.In both the partnered Indian Oil Corporation to provide sectors government approves 49% of FDI’s. banking services in the rural areas where IOC’s ˝ Planning Commission for cut in 12th Plan petrol pump outlets Kisan Seva Kendras annual GDP growth target to 8.2% : Planning will act as the business correspondents for Commission is proposing to lower annual average the banks. Year Plan (2012- growth target for the 12th Five ˝ IMF cuts India’s Growth Forecast for 2012 17) to 8.2 per cent from its earlier projection of to 4.9 Percent : The International Monetary 9 per cent in view of uncertain global Fund (IMF) has slashed India’s growth forecast environment and sluggish performance of the to 4.9 per cent for 2012 due to low business manufacturing sector at home. confidence and “sluggish structural reforms”. ˝ CRR cut to inject Rs.17,000 crore : The th ˝ Rangarajan lowers FY13 GDP growth forecast to Reserve Bank of India (RBI), on 17 6% : Prime Minister’s key advisor C Rangarajan September 2012, retained the indicative policy 25th October 2012 lowered the growth rates at the current level while cutting the Cash projection for the current fiscal to 6 percent Reserve Ratio (CRR) by 25 basis points to 4.50 from 6.7 per cent estimated earlier. per cent, injecting a liquidity of around Rs.17,000 crore into the banking system. ˝ Rs 6,000-cr fine on Tata Steel for illegal mining : The Odisha government imposed a fine Rs ˝ Naveen Jindal tops executive pay chart with 6,000 crore on Tata Steel for its alleged Chairperson and Rs 73.4 crore package : The involvement in “illegal and excess mining” at Managing Director of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd its captive mines. (JSPL),Naveen Jindal has topped the executive pay ˝ India signs loan agreement with World Bank charts for listed companies in for USD 70 million : India signed a 70-million the country with a package of US Dollar loan agreement with World Bank for Rs 73.42 crore for the last financing the Karnataka Health Systems fiscal 2011-12, which grew by over Rs six crore Development as well as Reform Project on 22 from previous year. November 2012.

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˝ The ADB cut India’s Growth Forecast to 5.4 ˝ India Lags Several Nations in Per Capita Income : percent : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) India is lagging behind several countries in per cut India’s growth forecast to 5.4 per cent in capita income due to different levels of 2012-13 fiscal, barely two months after it had development and various other factors, the made a projection of 5.6 per cent growth for the central government was informed on 19 Asia’s third largest economy. India’s growth December. India’s per capita GDP on Purchasing forecast is revised from 5.6 per cent to 5.4 per Power Parity (PPP) basis was $3,403 in 2010 and is cent in fiscal year 2012 and from 6.7 per cent to estimated at $3,662.69 in 2011 and $3,851.31 in 6.5 per cent in FY 2013. 2012. ˝ Rich Gulf Families Own Wealth Worth USD ˝ Philippines introduced ‘sin tax’ : A “sin tax” on 1.2 Trillion : According to the ‘KFH- Research’ cigarettes and alcohol was introduced in the report said one million wealthy families in the Philippines on 01 January 2013, as part of a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries own government bid to boost finances.Many stores investment assets worth about USD 1.2 started selling tobacco and drink at inflated trillion.The report about wealth and funds prices before midnight , ahead of the official management said that the world’s population of implementation of the tax hikes on January 01, high net worth individuals (HNWIs) grew by a hitting partygoers in the pocket.Tax on cigarettes marginal 0.8 per cent year on year to 11 million in will gradually be raised to 30 pesos ($0.72) per 2011. pack by 2017, roughly doubling the current price to around 52 pesos.Duty on alcohol will also ˝ India Economy Would Dominate the increase gradually until 2017, increasing the price Economy of the World by 2030: US of a bottle of beer by 23.50 pesos, with varying intelligence counsel was released report on 10 levels for other drinks including wine and spirits. December 2012 declared that India would straddle international commerce and will also ˝ LIC Launched New Jeewan Nidhi & Flexi Plus dominate the economy of the world by 2030. Policies : The Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India launched two new Insurence policies ˝ IOC Retains Top in Fortune 500 India List : New Jeevan Nidhi, a pension scheme, and Flexi Government owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Plus on 3 January .New Jeewan Nidhi provides is ranked as the largest company in terms of the facility of insurance coverage of full revenue, the Fortune 500 list of Indian amount while the insured person keeps companies for 2012 . In this list Indian Oil depositing premiums.The Flexi policy is a unit Corporation got the first place with a full-year revenue of Rs 4,202 billion, Reliance Industries linked insurance product. The plan not only Limited got the second place with a full- year provides a lump sum benefit on death but also revenue of Rs 3,675 billion and Bharat Petroleum maturity benefit irrespective of survival of the policy holder. Corporation got the third place with a full -year revenue of Rs 2,148 billion ˝ Mukesh Ambani 18th richest man in world : Indian business magnate Mukesh ˝ India’s Lost $123 bn in Black Money : Ambani is the According to the report of ‘Illicit Financial 18th richest person in Flows from Developing Countries: 2001— the world with a 2010,’ released by Global Financial Integrity personal wealth of 2012, (GFI) India lost $123 billion in black money $24.7 billion in according to the during 2001-2010. However India’s loss is far less Bloomberg Billionaires than that of China, which according to the Index, a daily ranking of the world’s 100 report suffered a loss of $ 2.74 trillion during wealthiest individuals. the same period (2001 to 2010). India is the eighth largest victim of black money loses.

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˝ Mexican telecommunications magnate Carlos ˝ World Bank’s “Global Economic Prospects Slim remained the world’s richest person last 2013″ Report : According to the World Bank year holding a personal “Global Economic Prospects 2013″ report , India’s fortune of more than $70 growth is expected to inch closer to that of China billion.Microsoft founder Bill in near future, in which the economies of Gates and the founder of developing countries fashion retailer Zara, Amancio like India, China and Ortega, got a second and third places respectively. Brazil are projected to be recovering and ˝ Indian Companies Top Globally in R&D higher growth Investment : According to the European rate.The World Bank Commission report Indian companies have expects that by 2015, come on the top globally when it comes to the growth rate of China would be 7.9% and that growth in their research and development (R&D) investments, leaving their counterparts in the US of India 7%.While the growth of the world and Europe far behind.Indian firms rank far below economy growth is projected to inch up from when it comes to absolute R&D investments 2.3% in 2012 to 2.4% in 2013, with the high- made by them and the top-ranked company from income countries remaining at the same level of the country.These are theonly 14 Indian growth of 1.3% in both 2012 and 2013, it is the companies present in a list of top-1500 entities emerging markets like India, China and Brazil that worldwide in terms of their annual R&D would show significant signs of recovery.They are investments.The top-ranked Indian company is expecting a recovery in India from 5.1% growth in Infosys at 329th place and Japanese company 2012 to 6.1% growth in 2013. Toyota Motor appears at the top of the ranking in the 2012 Scoreboard. ˝ India second in steel production globally : India is second only to China in terms of steel ˝ IMF forecasted Indian Economic Growth Rate production. In the last 5 years India’s production to be 5.9 percent in 2013 : The International grew by 33 percent, thus making it behind China Monetary Fund (IMF) on 23 January 2013 pegged among the top 5 steel producing nation. World India’s economic growth rate in 2013 at 5.9 per Steel Association (WSA) datahas revealed that cent and projected a higher growth of 6.4 per cent China’s production grew by 39 per cent during next year in line with the gradual strengthening of 2008-2012, India’s by 33 percent and India’s global expansion. production grew constantly in the last five years ˝ India 119th on Economic Freedom Index : from 57.8 MT in 2008 to 63.5 MT in 2009, 69 MT According to the ‘Heritage Foundation’ 2013 in 2010, 73.6 MT in 2011 and 76.7 MT in 2012. Index of Economic ˝ RBI cuts CRR, Repo Rates : On 29 January The Freedom survey report Reserve Bank of India slashed its key interest , India has been rates by 0.25 per cent and ranked as the 119th released 18000 crore freest country in the rupees additional liquidity world and India’s into the system to perk economic freedom up growth through score stood at 55.2, as its institutional reduced cost of borrowing. shortcomings continue to undermine the RBI in its third quarter monetary foundations for long-term economic policy review surprised the market by cutting development.The top ten countries in the list short-term lending rate called repo, by 0.25 per include Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New cent to 7.75 per cent and Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) Zealand, Switzarland, canada, Chili, Mauritius, by similar margin to 4 per cent. Denmark and US.

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ˝ Curiosity Landed on Red Planet : The Robotic Explorer Curiosity blazed through the pink skies ˝ IMF forecasted Indian Economic Growth Rate to be 5.9 percent in 2013 : The International of mars, steering itself to gentle landing inside Monetary Fund (IMF) on 23 January 2013 pegged again crater for the most ambitious dig yet into the red planet. It was NASA’s seventh India’s economic growth rate in 2013 at 5.9 per landing on earth’s Neighbor.In November 2011 cent and projected a higher growth of 6.4 per cent American Space next year in line with the gradual strengthening of Research Centre global expansion. NASA Launched ˝ SPOT6 reached to SHAR : The Satish Dawan the curiosity into Space Centre in Nellore district at Sriharikota the space. On 6 will launching PSLV C-21 rocket(100th rocket) Aug 2012 the with French satellite SPOT6(800kg) and a small Curiosity landed Japanese satellite weighing around 15kg in the safely on the month of September.This is the hundredth rocket Mars.The Voyage to Mars took more than eight in the 49 years of ISRO history. months and spanned 352m million miles(566 ˝ Cabinet Clears Mars mission : The Union Cabinet million kilometers). It sliced through Martian on 03 August 2012 cleared the Indian Space atmosphere ay 13,000mph(21,000kph). The first Research Organization(ISRO) mission to Mars of whatscientists predict will be enormous next year November The amounts of Information, Including a possible project envisages putting a answer to whether Mars ever supported spacecraft in the red conditions for Organic life, to find evidence of planet’s orbit to study its life itself,alive or fossilized-its raft of 10 scientific atmosphere with the help of instruments will hunt for carbon based the polar Satellite launch compounds considered essential to vehicle. India joins the United states , Russia, microbial life. It stays 2 years in Mars to collect all these Information. This is the next space Europe, Japan and China in undertakingsuch an effort. The spacecraft will mission of NASA after 1970. Ashwini, Indo- have a scientific payload of 25 kg and its proposed American scientist involved in this mission. to be placed in an orbit of 500 x 80,000 km ˝ A new oxidant in the atmosphere identified : around the planet.The mission is estimated to cost Scientists have found for the first time about Rs $450 crore. unequivocal evidence of another oxidant playing ˝ Largest 3D Map of Galaxies : Astronomers have a vital role in the formation of gaseous sulphuric unveiled the largest ever 3D map of the sky, acid in the atmosphere. Until now, it was encompassing massive galaxies and distance black thought that the combination of OH (hydroxyl holes, based on sloan digital sky survey III(SDSS- radical) oxidant with sulphur dioxide (SO) was III). These galaxies are captures by a 2.5 meter the dominant way by which gaseous sulphuric wide -angle telescope located at the Apache Point acid is formed in the atmosphere. They found observatory in New Mexico.The release Includes of the new oxidant has “significant capacity” to 200 million galaxies and spectra of 1.35 million oxidise sulphur dioxide. galaxies, according to a Harvardsmith soniam ˝ Blue moon on 31st August 2012 : When a full statement with SDSS-III. moon appears in the night sky for the second ˝ NASA picks 3 firms to develop space taxis : time in a calendar month ,it is called a ‘blue NASA picks 3 firms to develop space taxis,the oon’.The next blue moon will occur on July companies are the Boeing Co,Space Exploration 31,2015. Technologies called SpaceX, and Sierra Nvada Corp.

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˝ Agni-II Test Fired Successfully : Surface to ˝ China Military test fires 14,000km range missile Surface missile Agni-II soared to a successfully :The china central television(CCTV) reported that test fired on 9 august the china’s military had successfully tested the 2012 at Wheeler new 14,000 rang Dong feng-41 Intercontinental Island of the Odisha. It Ballistic Missile (ICBM). It have the capacity to have a height of 20km carry 10 nuclear war heads. and weighted as 17 ˝ In US, India’s First C-17 transport aircraft takes tonnes and have the shape : Now the Indian Air Force is planned to capacity to carry a introduce a C-17 Globemaster III heavy lift nuclear war head of military planes in place of old Cargo planes for weighing one ton. The missile Ranging Agni-I the next year June. So India made deal with 700km , Agni-II 2,000 km , Agni- III- 3,300km. Boeing for $410 crores in the last year.C-17 has The future projects are Agni 4 andAgni 5 to launch. the capacity to fill oil in the air. ˝ Print High Resolution Images Without Ink aNew ˝ China developing new class of guided missile Technology Developed : The team of scientists destroyer’ : The Chinese Navy isdeveloping a with Indian origin has developed a new technology brand new class of guided-missile destroyer, a of printing high resolution images without ink. The “new type” of naval warship with upgraded air- Institute of materials research and Engineering in defence missiles, anti-ship and anti-submarine Singapore has demonstrated that 1,00,000 dots missiles.The new destroyers are equipped with per inch(dpi) can produce sharp and full two 32-unit vertical launch systems capable of spectrum color images.Which can be applicable launching HQ-9B air-defence missiles, anti-ship in reflect colour displays , anti-counterfeiting, and and anti-submarine missiles.The ne destroyer high density optical recording.Karthik Kumar says is comparable to the “Aegis” equipped that size and spacing of the nanodots is critical to destroyers of the US Navy which use the final image quality. “The closer the dots are powerful computers and radars to track and together and because of their small size, the higher guide weapons to destroy enemy targets the resolution of the image. ˝ Gliese 163C: New Earth-Like Planet Might ˝ Nanotechnology for Solar panel efficiency : A Sustain Life : Dubbed Gliese 163C, the planet is University of Houston researchers has developed a about seven times the mass of Earth and orbits a nano particle coating for solar panel that makes it red dwarf, or a small, relatively cool star. Gliese easier to keep them clean. This helps in keeping 163C is 49 light years away. It’s thought to be them efficient and cuts maintains cost. NASA spies composed of mostly rock and water and gets 40 cosmic supermom Scientists have found a cosmic percent more light from its parent star than supermom, a galaxy that gives birth to more stars Earth gets from the sun, making it hotter with a in a day than Earth’s does in a year. Astronomers surface temperature of 60 degrees Celsius. used NASA’s Chandra X-ray telescope to spot this distant gigantic galaxy creating about 740 new ˝ India test-fires N-capable Agni-III missile stars a year. By comparison, our Milky Way Galaxy successfully : India on 21st September 2012 spawns just about one new star each year. successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable Agni-III surface-to-air ˝ Prithvi-II missile test, a Success : The strategic missile with a Forces Command, which is in charge of nuclear strike range of weapons, successfully fired the surface to surface over 3000 km and Prithvi-II missile from Chandipur in Odisha’s capable of carrying Balasore district on 25th August 2012, confirming a warhead of 1.5 yet again that the armed forces are capable of tonnes from the launching nuclear missiles independently. Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast.

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˝ Air India’s first Dreamliner landing at IGI ˝ China launches its first aircraft carrier : China Airport : After a four-year delay and launched its first aircraft carrier on 25th subsequent acrimony, the first of Air India’s September 2012. The 60,000 tonne carrier, a advanced Boeing B-787 Dreamliner landing at the former Soviet ship brought from Ukraine and Indira Gandhi International Airport on 08th later refurbished locally is named ‘Liaoning’, September 2012.It is capable of flying over after a Chinese province liberated from 15,000 km non-stop. For AI, the plane has been Japanese occupation in 1945, in what can be configured to have 256 seats — 18 full- flat seen as another symbolic warning to Tokyo. business class seats and 238 in economy.Air The 300m long Liaoning carrier has the capacity India, which ordered 27 Dreamliners six years to bring 3 ago, will get two more in the next few weeks. A ˝ India’s heaviest satellite, GSAT-10 launched total of eight will arrive by March 2013. from Kourou launch pad in French Guiana : ˝ PSLV-C21 delivers two satellites into their India’s advanced communication satellite GSAT- intended Orbits : The Indian Space Research 10 was successfully launched on board Ariane- Organization(ISRO) successfully put into orbit two 5 rocket from Europe’s spaceport in French foreign satellites( French SPOT 6(712kgs) and Guiana on 29th September 2012.This is the Japanese micro Satellite(15kgs)) marking Indian India’s heaviest satellite of 3,400kg weight. space agency’s 100th mission since the launch of ˝ Scientists discover bacteria that can the first satellite,Aryabhata,in 1975 by Russian produce 24-carat gold : Scientists have rocket. discovered a bacteria that has the ability to ˝ ISRO to launch SARAL satellite on 12 Dec 2012 : withstand incredible amounts of toxicity Indo-French satellite “SARAL” would be launched andcan be the key to creating 24-carat onboard PSLV-C20 from the spaceport of gold.Researchers from the Michigan State Sriharikota on 12 December 2012 Indian Space University have found that the metal- Research Organisation ChairmanK Radhakrishnan tolerant bacteria ‘Cupriavidus metallidurans’ said at the Bangalore Space Expo 2012 on 12th can grow on massive concentrations of gold September 2012. chloride or liquid gold, a toxic chemical compound found in nature. ˝ U.S.-Russian space crew lands safely in Kazakhstan : A Russian Soyuz capsule landed ˝ India sucessfully test-fires Prithvi-II ballistic on the Kazakh steppe on 17th September 2012, missile : On 4th October 2012 India delivering a trio of astronauts from a four-month sucessfully test-fired surface-to-surface Prithvi- stint on the International Space Station. II ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur of Balasore district off ˝ India tests Agni-IV n-missile : India successfully Odisha coast. tested its nuclear-capable surface-to- surface Agni-IV missile from a military base in Odisha on ˝ Australia launches world’s fastest radio 19th September 2012.The new generation telescope : In the remote Australian outback, missile, which has the capability to hit targets at scientists have launched the world’s fastest about 4,000 km. radio telescope which will exponentially increase astronomers’ ability to survey the ˝ India successfully test-fires nuclear-capable universe, mapping black holes and shedding Dhanush missile : A day after the new light on the origins of galaxies.The launch of Prithvi-II, India successfully Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder test-fired nuclear-capable Dhanush (ASKAP), located near the region of Murchison ballistic missile for its full range of 350 km from a naval ship off Odisha on 5th about 650 kilometres north of Perth, was October 2012. officially opened 5th October 2012 by Science Minister Chris Evans.

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˝ Indian navy successfully test-fires BrahMos ˝ Solar System’s largest planet discovered : A supersonic cruise missile : The Indian Navy on team of astrophysicists had discovered an 7th October 2012 enormous gaseous planet that is 13 times more successfully test-fired the massive than Jupiter, earning the name “Super- 290-km range BrahMos Jupiter “ and is the largest planet in our own solar supersonic cruise missile, system. capable of carrying a ˝ India successfully test fires supersonic conventional warhead of 300 kg, from a warship interceptor missile : India successfully test- fired off the Goa coast. an indigenously developed supersonic ˝ The Barcode Turns 60 Years Old : October 7, interceptor missile, capable of destroying a 2012 marks the 60th anniversary of the hostile ballistic missile, from a test range off the registration of the first bar code patent. The Odisha coast on 23 November 2012. original patent for what we know today as the ˝ NASA says Curiosity rover finds evidence of modern barcode was granted on October 7, water on Mars : NASA scientist say the Curiosity 1952 to Norman Joseph Woodland and rover has found evidence of a “vigorous” Bernard Silver, its inventors. thousand-year water flow on the surface of Mars. ˝ New planet discovered in Earth’s backyard : ˝ Drug that can halt cancer spread : Scientists Astronomers have found a new planet called was developed a new drug called Aflibercept, exoplanet in Alpha Centauri , the closest yet for stop the cancer cells from multiplying. outside our solar system and just an astronomical stone’s throw away at four light ˝ Astronomers Discovered Giant black hole in years.Alpha Centauri is a three-star tiny galaxy : Astronomers claim to have systemconsisting of two stars similar to our sun discovered the most massive black hole ever and a faint red star called Proxima Centauriand known in a small galaxy about 250 million another one is the Alpha Centauri B.The Exoplanet light-years from Earth, holding a mass orbits Alpha Centauri B. equivalent to 17 billion Suns.The super-massive black hole is located inside the galaxy NGC 1277 ˝ Indian diamond fetches 16.9 million euros at in the constellation Perseus.It makes up about auction : A 76-carat flawless diamond from 14 per cent of its host galaxy’s mass, compared India’s famous Golconda mines broke world with the 0.1 per cent a normal black hole would record by fetching a whooping 16.9 million represent, scientists said, adding that it has a euros (Rs 1,18,16,98,700) at an auction in Geneva mass equivalent to 17 billion Suns. on 14 November 2012. ˝ Canadian Scientists Created Artificial Brain ˝ Scientists Created a Paper-thin material that :Software engineers as well as can stop bullets : A team of mechanical neuroscientists at University of Waterloo, engineering and materials scientists from Rice Canada claimed that they have developed University and MIT has created special aclosest model of the functioning human brain, nanomaterials that were able to stop bullets in the known as Spaun which is advanced enough for lab. The type of material, called a structured passing the basic IQ tests. This is the polymer compositecan actually self-assemble virtual brain which into alternating glassy and rubbery layers. functions on the ˝ Pakistan tests nuclear-capable ballistic missile : supercomputer and Pakistan successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable comprises of a ballistic missile called Hatf-V(Ghauri) on 28 digital eye, which can be used for visual input. It November 2012 that can hit targets up to 1,300 also has the robotic arm which can be used for km (807 miles) away. drawing the response.

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˝ Voyager 1 Drifts Into Unknown Region of Space ˝ India Successfully Test Fired Agni-I Ballistic : NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft has discovered a Missile : India on 12 December 2012 successfully new layer of the solar system that scientists test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear hadn’t known was there, researchers capable Agni-I ballistic missilewith a strike range announced on 4 December 2012. Voyager 1, in of 700 km from a test range off Odisha coast. particular, has entered a new region of the Weighing 12 tonnes, the 15-metre-long Agni-I, heliosphere that scientists are calling a which is capable of carrying payloads up to “magnetic highway,” which allows charged 1000 kg and destroy the targets at a distance of particles from inside the heliosphere to flow 700 km. outward, and particles from the galaxy outside ˝ NASA to Send New Rover to Mars in 2020 : to come in. NASA was announced plans to send a new ˝ New Anti-HIV Gel for HIV Transmission : robotic explorer to the the Red Planet, Mars in Researchers led by Dereuddre-Bosquet from the 2020. European Combined Highly Active Anti- ˝ North Korea Launched Unha-3 Rocket : On 12 Retroviral Microbicides (CHAARM) Consortium December North Korea launched a long-range describe the gel’s key ingredient, which are small rocket Unha-3 despite international opposition peptides engineered to present a decoy to bind and growing tensions in the region successfully up the virus and prevent it from entering and delivering a scientific satellite Kwangmyongsong- infecting the body cells. Because this is a gel it can be topically applied and could represent a 3 into orbit.Unha-3 is the second version of powerful preventative agent against sexual satellite Kwangmyongsong-3 which is successfully transmission of HIV. Bosquet and colleagues lifted off from the Sohae Space Center by carrier rocket.The US and its allies view the launch as a engineered peptides named ‘miniCD4s’ because they mimic the CD4 receptor used by HIV to gain disguised test of ballistic missile technology. entry into immune cells of the body. ˝ NASA’s Twin Probes Crashed Successfully onto ˝ 7 Planets Discovered In The Milky Way : New Lunar Mountain : Ebb and Flow, the gravity York Scientists have been discovered Seven mapping satellites of NASA ended the successful planets in the Milky Way outside our solar mission to Moon by crashing on the rim of system that could potentially harbour life and crater. Lunar surface on which Ebb and Flow researchers from an ambitious project to crashed will be given a name after Sally Ride, the catalogue all habitable worlds claim. first woman of America in the space who died earlier in 2012. ˝ Russia Delivered MiG-29 Fighter Jets to India : Russia on 10 December 2012 delivered the ˝ Rocket with 3 Astronauts Takes off for ISS first three upgraded MiG-29UPG fighter jets to :A Soyuz spacecraft carrying three astronauts India under a USD 900 million contract to took off atop a towering modernise the ageing fleet of MiG-29 aircraft Russian rocket on 19 with the IAF. December 2012, headed for theInternational Space ˝ Tata Group Developed new “Artillery Gun” : Station.It launched from On 11 December In a step towards developing Russia’s manned-space the indigenous private sector defence industry, facility in the frigid steppes the Tata group has created a new Artillery Gun. of Kazakhstan. American The 155mm 52 calibre gun developed by the Tata Tom Marshburn, Russian group is likely to have a strike range of 52 kms, Roman Romanenko and Canadian Chris which would probably be the longest in the Indian Hadfield are travelled in capsule. inventory.

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˝ Prithvi-II Flight-Tested Successfully: The ˝ Hot Spots For World’s more Powerful Strategic Forces Command (SFC) successfully Earthquakes Revealed : The locations of flight-tested nuclear weapons-capable Prithvi-II where the world’s largest earthquakes are most missile from Chandipur, off the Odisha coast on likely to take place had pinpointed with greater 20 December 2012. The surface-to-surface ballistic accuracy than ever before, by researchers missile, was fired from a road mobile launcher and from the University of Sydney.The coasts of tested for its full range of 350 km.The single-stage, Southern Chile and Peru, Indonesia’s Sumatra liquid propelled missile can carry a payload of 500 Island, and several regions along the eastern kg. Eurasian coastline, are some of the regions prone to great earthquakes. ˝ Astra Missile Successfully Test-fired : India on December 2012 test launched its indigenously ˝ US approved First new Tuberculosis Drug : On developed beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air 1 January The US Food and Drug interceptor missile Astra at the interim test administration approved a Johnson & Johnson range(ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha.Astra which tuberculosis drug in 40 years .This is the first has the capability to intercept and destroy new medicine to fight the deadly infection in enemy aircraft at a supersonic speed can be more than four decades.The disease is rare in fitted into any fighter aircraft. Considered as one the US, but kills about 1.4 millionpeople a year of the best of its kind in the world, the 3.8 metre worldwide. long missile which weighs about 160 kg can carry ˝ Spiral galaxy IC 2233 : Astronomers had explosive loaded conventional warheads up to 15 captured one of the flattest galaxies known in kg. the universe, sitting like a silver needle in the ˝ Scientists Discovered Mini Nile River on Saturn’s haystack of space. The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Moon Titan : Nasa scientists had spotted the Telescope produced a beautiful image of the longest extraterrestrial river system ever – on spiral galaxy IC 2233, one of the flattest Saturn’s moon Titan – and it appears to be a galaxies. The IC 2233 is located about 40 million miniature version of Earth’s Nile river. light-years away from Earth. This galaxy was earlier discovered by British astronomer Isaac ˝ Higgs Boson ‘ Tops Journal Science’s 2012 List : Roberts in 1894. The discovery of the Higgs Boson, an invisible particle that explains the mystery of mass, leads ˝ ‘Lakshya’ Missile Successfully Tested : India’s a list of the top 10 scientific advances of 2012 indigenously developed, ‘Lakshya’ was released by the US journal Science on 22 sucessfully tested on 7 January .It was launched December . from the Integrated Test Range – ITR, at Odisha .25 meters in length, 100 km away from the ˝ America Launched Reusable Rockets : US target to the missile . California based SpaceX’s industry successfully launched ‘Grasshopper’ ˝ “Immune system ‘booster’ may hit cancer” : reusable rockets.The Japanese research where stem cells were used rocket took a giant to clone and produce large numbers of a leap for commercial specialized type of white blood cell. These cells, space flight and when known as cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), are it rose 131 feet and produced by the immune system and are able landed safely back on to recognize specific markers on the surface of Earth. Grasshopper rocket rose to a height of 131 various tumour cells, causing them to launch an feet around ten storeys and hovered before attack to kill the tumour cells.The researchers are landing safely on its launch pad using closed loop succeeded in using stem cells to “mass-produce” thrust vector and throttle control. : CTLs in laboratory conditions.

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˝ Chinese Biologists Discovered Antibiotic In ˝ Brahmos cruise missile test fired in successfully : Panda Blood : Chinese biologists have Supersonic cruise missile BrahMos scored once discovered that the blood of the endangered again in its 34th launch on 09 January 2013 off giant panda includes a Visakhapatnam in the Bay of Bengal, hitting a compound called ” decommissioned vessel with accuracy.As it took Cathelicidin-AM ” which off vertically from a naval warship, reached an acts as a natural altitude of 14 km, levelled out and started cruising antibiotic. The nature of at three times the speed of sound, it performed “a the blood compound double manoeuvre in S-form” and hit the makes it an attractive treatment for so-called decommissioned ship, about 290 km away. superbugs, those strains of disease that have ˝ Astronomers Found ” NGC 6872 ” Largest become immune or resistant to traditional known Spiral Galaxy : A team of astronomers antibiotics. from the United States, Chile and Brazil has ˝ India to make world’s largest solar telescope : crowned it the largest-known spiral galaxy, a India is likely to begin construction of the spectacular behemoth five times bigger than our world’s largest solar telescope on the own Milky Way, based on archival data from foothills of the Himalayas in Ladakh to NASA’s Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) understand the fundamental processes taking mission.The title-holder is now NGC 6872, a place on the Sun by year- barred spiral found 212 million light-years end.A 2-metre class, state- away in the southern constellation Pavo. The of-the-art National Large distance between NGC 6872′s two huge spiral Solar Telescope (NLST), arms is 522,000 light-years, compared to about built by Bangalore-based 100,000 light-years for the Milky Way. Indian Institute of ˝ Indian Scientists Discovered Molecule for Astrophysics (IIA), will permit Cancer Treatment : A team of Indian Indian scientists to carry out researchers, led by Dr Sathees C Raghavan of the cutting edge research aimed to study Sun’s Indian Institute of Science at Bangalore,have atmosphere. identified a molecule which they claim will ˝ Internet emits 830 mt of carbon dioxide revolutionise the cure for cancer.The molecule annually : According to Researchers from the has been named after “Sathees as SCR7” and a Centre for Energy-Efficient Telecommunications detailed account of it has been carried in the (CEET) and Bell Labs, Internet and other international scientific journal “Cell”".Scientists components of information communication and world over believe that the double strand break technology (ICT) industry annually produces (DSB) of DNA is one of the most lethal form of more than 830 million tonnes of carbon dioxide DNA damage, resulting in drastic consequences (CO2), the main greenhouse gas, and is expected such as genome instability, and cancer. to double by 2020 ˝ “Largest Space structure in the Universe:Large ˝ 17 billion’ Earth-sized planets in Milky Way : Quasar Group : An international team lead by The Milky Way contains at least 17 billion astronomer Roger Clowes of the University of planets the size of Earth.Astronomers using Central Lancashire in England discovered the NASA’s Kepler spacecraft found that about 17 largest known structure in the universe, a clump percent of stars in our galaxy have a planet of active galactic cores that stretches 4 billion about the size of Earth in a close orbit.The light-years from end to end.This is the largest Milky Way is known to host about 100 billion Space structure in the Universe.This structure is stars, meaning that about one of every six has known as a “Large Quasar Group(LQG)”. an Earth-sized planet around it.

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˝ Indian Scientists Discovered Molecule for ˝ India Increased Rafale Fighter Jets’ Order : India Cancer Treatment : A team of Indian could buy up to 189 of the Rafale fighter jets researchers, led by Dr Sathees C Raghavan of the currently being used by France to bomb Islamist Indian Institute of Science at Bangalore, have militants in Mali, sources closeto negotiations on identified a molecule which they claim will the multi-billion dollar deal .The possibility of an revolutionise the cure for cancer.The molecule additional 63 jets beingadded to an expected has been named after “Sathees as SCR7” and a order for 126 was raised by India .The Indian detailed account of it has been carried in the press has estimated the value of the deal for international scientific journal “Cell”".Scientists 126 Rafales at $12 billion (nine billion euros).A world over believe that the double strand break 50 per cent increase in the number of planes (DSB) of DNA is one of the most lethal form of ordered would take it to around $18 billion, in a DNA damage, resulting in drastic consequences huge boost for the French defence industry. such as genome instability, and cancer. ˝ ‘Japan to replace Fukushima plant with world’s ˝ World’s First Global Renewable Energy Atlas largest wind farm’ : In the wake of the 2011 Launched : On 13 January Abu Dhabi- based Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan had decided International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to build the world’s largest offshore wind farm launched the world’s first clean energy atlas at to replace the crippled nuke plant.The country IRENA’S General Assembly , currently offers plans to build a total of 143 wind turbines on open-access information on solar and wind platforms 16 kilometres off the coast of power throughout the Fukushima by 2020, which is home to the world and the creators stricken Daiichi nuclear reactor that hit the plan to expand to other headlines in March 2011 when it was damaged renewable energy by a severe earthquake and tsunami.The wind resources over the next farm will generate 1 gigawatt of power once two years.The atlas includes information on completed, and is part of a national plan to clean energy resources in 37 countries, including increase renewable energyresources following those which have no diplomatic relations with the the post-tsunami shutdown of the country’s 54 United Arab Emirates.The International nuclear reactors.The wind farm will surpass the Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is working in 504 megawatts generated by the 140 turbines partnership with the Renewable Energy Policy at the Greater Gabbard farm off the coast of Network for the 21st Century (REN21) to build a Suffolk, UK – currently the world’s largest farm. qualitative and quantitative data framework for ˝ India, US finalise Rs 3,000 crore deal for jet renewable energy in developing countries. engines: India and the US have finalised a Rs ˝ Ancient River Found on Mars :On 17 January 3000-crore deal for supplying 99 jet engines to The European Space Agency scientists have be used in the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft revealed a 1500 km long and 7 kilometre wide ‘Tejas’ being developed by the DRDO.Around river that once ran across Mars.The images which two years ago, India had selected the American were captured by the ESA’s Mars Express showed company General Electric over its rival European Reull Vallis, the river-like structure, which is Eurojet 2000 for the LCA Mark II programme believed to have formed when water ran from expected to be ready around 2014-15.The deal the surface of Mars in distant past. The structure worth Rs 3,000 crore has been finalised with which surprised the astronomers stretches for the US for procuring 99 engines for the LCA around 900 miles or 1500 km across the Tejas MkII.As per the contract, the order could Martian surface and also shows various be for 99 engines initially but India will have the tributaries. These structures, it is believed, were option of ordering another 100 engines in the formed somewhere around 3.5 billion years ago. future.

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˝ INS Saryu Inducted into Indian Navy : On PERSONS and PLACES IN NEWS 21 January Air Marshal PK Roy, Commander- ˝ Sushil Kumar Shinde as the new Leader in in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command, house of Lok Sabha : Sushile Kumar Shinde has commissioned INS Saryu into the Indian Navy at been appointed as the new Leader in the House Goa .INS Saryu is the lead ship of the indigenous of Lok Sabha taking the place of Pranab Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel Project designed Mukherjee who has now become the President and built by Goa Shipyard Limited, the ship on 3 August 2012. aptly demonstrates the immense potential of the country’s indigenous designing and ship ˝ Nasim Ahmad Zaidi is new election building capabilities.Capable of carrying a commissioner :Former civil aviation secretary helicopter (ALH) onboard, the ship’s weapon and Syed Nasim Ahmad Zaidi was 7 August 2012, sensor outfit includes a SRGM 76.2 mm gun with appointed an election commissioner by an electro-optic fire control system, two 30mm President Pranab Mukherjee.The former EC guns as close in weapon systems, latest V.S. Sampath took charge as Chief Election navigational and early warning radars, chaff Commissioner. launchers for self protection and an integrated ˝ Dimple Yadav and M. Raja Mohan Reddy ESM system to undertake all assigned missions. takes oath as Lok Sabha member : Dimple ˝ MIT researchers Created Moisture – Powered Yadav, the wife of Uttar Pradesh Polymer : MIT ( Massachusetts Institute of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, 8 Technology ) researchers have created a new August 2012 took oath as a Lok polymer film that can generate electricity by Sabha member from Kannauj. drawing on a ubiquitous source: water She had won the by-election, vapor.The new material changes its shape after caused by her husband’s absorbing tiny amounts of evaporated water, resignation, unopposed in June. Along with allowing it to repeatedly curl upand down. Yadav, M. Raja Mohan Reddy, the newly-elected Harnessing this continuous motion could drive MP from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, also took robotic limbs or generate enough electricity to oath. Reddy is from the YSR Congress. power micro- and nanoelectronic devices, such as ˝ Raghuram Rajan is chief economic advisor : environmental sensors. The government has issued ˝ India Sucessfully Test Fired K-5 Ballistic Missile formal orders to appoint : On 27 January India successfully test fired Raghuram Rajan, former medium range K-5 ballistic missile ,with a International Monetary strike range of around 1500 kilometres, from Fund chief economist, as the an underwater platform in Bay of Bengal.K-5 is chief economic advisor in the finance ministry. part of the family of underwater missiles being The economist, who is currently a professor at developed by DRDO for the Indian strategic Chicago University’s Booth School of Business, is forces’ underwater platforms. not expected to take charge for the next few weeks due to academic commitments. Rajan will ˝ Iran ‘successfully sent monkey into space’ : Iran take over at a time when the government is on 28 January 2013 announced that it had trying to combat a hostile economic climate. successfully send a monkey to the space.It also declared that the monkey come back to the ˝ Cabinet nod for Customs’ first-ever woman chief Earth successfully.The rocket called Pishgam :The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (meaning Pioneer) reached at a height of 120 km has given its nod for Praveen Mahajan to be a (75 miles) for a sub-orbital flight before full-fledged Chairperson of the Central Board of “returning its shipment intact”. The first country Excise and Customs . She is the first lady ever to to launch the primate into space was US head the highest policy-making body.

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˝ Ansari takes oath for second term : Hamid ˝ Admiral D K Joshi takes charge as new Navy Ansari became the second Vice-President of chief : Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi took over India to take oath of office for second as the new Indian Navy chief on 31st August consecutive terms in New Delhi on 11 August 2012.Admiral Joshi is the 21 st Chief of Naval 2012 Ansari, a former diplomat, followed Staff of independent India and the 19th Indian Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan who served two to command the Indian Navy. successive terms as Vice-President. ˝ New President Of Libya is Mohammad Magarief ˝ Indian origin Sanjay Reddy, appointed as the : National Assembly of Libya elected their former director of new York University’s Centre : New Opposition leader Mohammed Magarief as its York’s leading University, the new school, has New President. Mr.Magarief named an Indian-origin academician as director seen as a Moderate of its center of trans-regional study, which is Islamist, will head the 200- focused on research on the relations between member congress. The 72- India, china and U.S. He associate ‘Professor year-old Magarief who is the head of of Economics,has been named academic National front party. An economist and former director of the new school’s India, China Libyan ambassador to India who had lived in Institute(ICI) along with Mark Frazier, Professor exile since the 1980s, Magarief was a leading of Politics on 16 August 2012. figure in Libya’s oldest movement opposition movement. Magarief won 113 votes versus ˝ New Envoy to Syria is Lakhdar Brahimi : The independent Alli zindan who secured 85 votes. United Nations on 17 August, 2012 confirmed that Veteran Algerian diplomat Lakhdar ˝ Kofi A.Annan Resigns as Syria Peace Envoy : Brahimi will replace the former UN Secretary FreeJobAlert.com Current Affairs 20 Kofi A.Annan general Kofi Annan as the International mediator resigned as the UN Peace envoy to Syria on 2 on Syria as the 17 month old conflict slides August 2012 by complaining the international deeper into civil war. Brahimi, who served as community had not done enough to support his Algeria’s foreign minister from 1991 to 1993 bid to persuade Bashar al- Assad to and joined UN in 1994 and served accept a peace plan. His term as UN peace various high profile positions until he retired in interlocutor was set to expire on 31 August 2005. 2012. Annan was appointed the UN-Arab League

˝ P.J. Kurien is Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman : Peace envoy to Syria in February 2012. P.J. Kurien is unanimously elected asDeputy ˝ Contrarian Author Gore Vidal Dies : “Writer Gore Chairman of Rajya Sabha on 21 August 2012. Vidal, who filler his novels and essays with acerbic observation on politics,sex and American ˝ Poonam Kishore Saxena appointed as culture. While carrying on feuds with bigname Chairman of CBDT : The government literary rivals,died on 1 August 2012 at home in appointed Dr.Poonam Kishore Saxena,a 1975 Los angels of complications from pneumonia,age batch IRS officer as the Chairman of Central 86. His historical novels was ‘Burr’, ’18762 Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on 22nd August 2012. .’Lincoln’,’The Golden Age’. ˝ Vilasrao Deshmukh passes away : The Union ˝ P. M. Nair Appointed as Director General,NDRF Minister for science and & CD : Shri P. M. Nair, IPS has been appointed as Technology and Ex. chief Director General, National Disaster Response Minister of Maharashtra Vilasrao Force & Civil Defence (NDRF & CD), Ministry of Deshmukh ,who was suffering Home Affairs.Shri Nair is presently working as Special Director General, Central Reserve Police from sclerosis of the liver, passed Force. away at a chennai hospital on 2012 August 14th.

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˝ Science Friction Writer Harry Harrison Passed ˝ Student Prafull Sharma Discovers SOHO : A Away : American Author Harry Harrison has Delhi boy has discovered a new comet using data died in Britain on 16 august 2012 at 87. He from NASA and European Space Agency;s Space was best known for his”The Stainless Steel rat” Craft-based observatory SOHO that studies the series. His 1966, “Make room! Make Room!- a sun. Prafull sharma, is a XII class student of Ahlcon Science Friction take on the horrors of over public school, the new comet SOHO-2333 is a population. The Other works included fragment believed to have separated from a anthologies, collections and children’s stories- relatively larger comet Machholz when it last including one particularity goofs tale about an came close to the sun in 2007. sharma, who Intergalactic force of Mutant pigs. has been associated with Delhi-based NGO science. Popularization Association of ˝ US Astronaut Neil Alden Armstrong passed away : US Astronaut , Armstrong, as the commander of Communicators and educators (SPACE), ia apart the Apollo 11 mission, became the first human to of a world wide team os comet hunters. Who scour through images of the sun transmitted land on the moon on 20July 1969,passed away on back to earth by Solar and Heliosphere 25th August 2012. Observatory(SOHO). ˝ Fijian President calls on Pranab : Fijian President ˝ Obama appoints IIT graduate to admin post : Ratu Epeli Nailatikaw called on his Indian counter U.S. President Barack Obama has announced to part Pranab Mukherjiee at Rashtrapati Bhavan in appoint eminent Indian-American, Romesh New Delhi on 7 August 2012 and discussed the Wadhwani, to a key administration post by scope for expanding trade and bilateral ties.Mr. making him board of trustees of the prestigious Mukherjiee also granted Fiji for joining the Non- John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Alignment movement. ˝ Browne is new chairman of chiefs of staff : IAF ˝ Chinese defence minister to visit India : India and China are expected to discuss ways of chief Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne, who has strengthening defence ties during the three- become the senior most among the three Service chiefs after Admiral day visit of Chinese defence minister General retired on 31st August 2012, has taken over as Liang Guanglie starting September 2 in Mumbai. the new chairman of the chiefs of staff committee ˝ Miss China Crowned Miss World : Chaina’s Wen (CoSC) on 1st September 2012. Xia Yu was on 18 August 2012 crowned Miss ˝ world-2012 the competitions are conducted in Chief Justice of India names Justice Kabir as his China at Innar Mangolia successor : Chief Justice of India S H Kapadia, who retires 28th Sep. 2012, has recommended the Erina. Wales Sophie Moulds name of seniormost Supreme Court judge Justice was first runner up and the Altamas Kabir as his successor, setting in motion second runner up position to the process of change of guard in the apex court. Jessica. Kahawaty of Australia. Indian beauty ˝ Deveshwar appointed on RBI board : The Vanya Mishra on the 6th position by winning government has appointed ITC chairman Y.C. two awards in miss Deveshwar as a director on the central board of directors of the Reserve Bank of India. ˝ IAF personnel killed in mid-air copter collision : Nine IAF personnel, including five officers, were ˝ World Bank chief economist : killed when two Mi-17 medium-lift utility Kaushik Basu appointed as chief economist and helicopters collided in mid-air while on a “live Senior Vice President of World Bank by World firing exercise” at the Sarmat field range near the Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim on 05 th Jamnagar airbase in Gujarat on 30 August 2012. September 2012. He take charges from 1st Oct.2012

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˝ Sachin Pilot commissioned as Territorial Army ˝ Woman of Pakistani origin becomes minister in officer : Sachin Pilot 06th September2012 Norway : Norwegian Prime Minister Jens became the first Union minister to be Stoltenberg has appointed a Pakistani Muslim commissioned as a regular officer in the woman, Hadia Tajik as Norway’s culture minister. Territorial Army, fulfilling his desire to follow ˝ Sandeep Patil appointed as the Chief for his father’s footsteps to be in the armed forces. BCCI Senior Selection Committee :Former ˝ Indian-American elected to Royal Society of Cricketer and all-rounder, Sandeep Patil was Canada : Ponisseril Somasundaran, an Indian appointed as the Chairman of the five member American member of the faculty of Columbia senior selection committee of BCCI on 27 University School of Engineering and Applied September 2012. The other four members of Science, has been chosen as the sole foreign the committee include Saba Karim, Roger Binny, fellow of the prestigious Royal Society of Vikram Rathour and Rajinder Singh Hans.

Canada. ˝ Altamas Kabir sworn in as new Chief Justice ˝ K N Tilak Kumar elected president of INS : K N of India : Justice Altamas Kabir, seniormost Tilak Kumar of Deccan Herald and Prajavani was Judge of the Supreme Court, was sworn in as the on 13th September 2012 elected president of The 39th Chief Justice of India on29th September Indian Newspaper Society (INS) for 2012-13 at 2012. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, its 73rd annual general meeting held at S.H. Kapadia, retired. : The Chief Justice of the Bangalore. He succeeds Ashish Bagga of India Supreme Court, S.H. Kapadia, retired on 28th Today. September 2012. ˝ BCCI joint secretary Anurag Thakur becomes ˝ , father of India’s White member of Asian Cricket Council : BCCI joint Revolution passes away : secretary and Hamirpur BJP MP, Anurag Thakur Dr. Verghese Kurien, the Father has been inducted as member of executive board of the White Revolution, of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).BCCI chief N passed away on 9th September Srinivasan is also the president of ACC. 2012 after a brief illness. Dr. Kurien was the architect of ˝ Mary Kom brand ambassador of Raj Kundra’s India’s White Revolution, which helped India SFL : Actress Shilpa Shetty Monday named Olympic bronze medal-winning boxer Mary Kom emerge as the largest milk producer in the world. as the brand ambassador of Super Fight League ˝ Iraq vice president sentenced to death : A (SFL).Shilpa’s husband, Britain-based Baghdad court sentenced in absentia Iraq’s vice businessman Raj Kundra, has collaborated with president, Tariq al-Hashemi, to death on hanging actor Sanjay Dutt for SFL, India’s first for the murder of a woman lawyer and terrorism professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event. charges . ˝ appointed as ˝ U.S. ambassador to Libya killed in mob attack : International Goodwill Ambassador. : The United The ambassador of the United Nations Programme on States to Libya, Christopher HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has Stevens, has been killed appointed Bollywood during an armed mob attack actress Aishwarya Rai in Benghazi onthe 11th Bachchan as its anniversary of the 9/11 International Goodwill attacks.Mr. Stevens is the Ambassador.She will raise global awareness on second U.S. ambassador to be killed during an protecting children from HIV infection and outstation posting since the death of Adolph increasing access to antiretroviraltreatment. Dubs in 1979 during his tenure in Afghanistan

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˝ Popular Malayalam film actor passes ˝ Space Triathlon Completed By : away : Thilakan, who had acted in around 200 Williams became the first person in history to films and had won the national award for the complete a triathlon in space.Williams, who is best actor in a supporting role, died in currently aboard the International Space Station Thiruvananthapuram on 24th September 2012. finished her half mile swim, 18 mile bike ride, and four mile run in one hour, ˝ Former National Security Adviser Brajesh 48 minutes, and 33

Mishra dead : , the country’s seconds. first National Security Adviser who played a key ˝ Nivedita Bhasin becomes first woman B-787 role in foreign policy matters and pushed for Dreamliner pilot : Senior Air India pilot Capt deeper engagement with the US, died in New Nivedita Bhasin has become the first woman Delhi on 28th September2012 following a heart to command the new Boeing 787 ailment. Dreamliner.She is presently the only women pilot world. ˝ India, Tajikistan upgrade ties, sign four pacts : for the B-787′s commercial flight in the India and Tajikistan, the energy-rich Central Asian ˝ Ajit Saran Appointed as Secretary in National nation, 03rd September 2012 decided to upgrade Commission for Women : Senior IAS officer Ajit their ties to the level of strategic partnership M Sharan was appointed as Member and signed four pacts in areas of education, Secretary in National Commission for Women health, sports and culture.Prime Minister (NCW). Ajit Sharan is a 1979 batch officer of Manmohan Singh held talks with Tajik President Haryana cadre. Emomali Rahmon on a wide range of bilateral, ˝ Anil Kumble appointed chairman of ICC Cricket regional and global issues and decided to Committee : Former India captain Anil Kumble upgrade their growing ties to the level of a was unanimously appointed chairman of ICC`s strategic partnership. Cricket Committee by the game`s governing ˝ Antony opens army hospital in Male : Defence body, replacing West Indies great Clive Lloyd on Minister A.K. Antony, on a three-day visit to the 11th October 2012. Maldives, on 16th September 2012 opened ˝ Michael Schumacher announces retirement ‘SENAHIYA,’ a Maldives National Defence Force from Formula One : Michael Schumacher (MNDF) hospital, established in Male with has announced that he will retire from Indian assistance.Maldives Defence Minister Formula One at the end of the Mohamed Nazim thanked India for its season.Schumacher’s announcement follows assistance to his country in all areas of news last week that he will be replaced at development and said the enduring friendship Mercedes by Lewis Hamilton in 2013. between the two countries would improve and expand, irrespective of political changes. ˝ External Affairs Minister S M resigned : External Affairs Minister SM Krishna has resigned ˝ Sunita Williams takes over command at from his post ahead of on 28th October 2012 International Space Station : Indian- American cabinet reshuffle. astronaut Sunita Williams has taken over command of the International ˝ Yash Chopra, the ‘King of Romance’ passes away SpaceStation (ISS), yet another Yash Chopra, one of Bollywood’s most well-known feather in her cap as she filmmakers, died of dengue fever on 21st Oct 2012 already holds three records for ˝ Australia PM Julia Gillard begins India visit : femalespace travellers Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has begun a including a new record for three-day visit to India.The two countries are total cumulative spacewalk expected to announce negotiations on civil nuclear time by a female astronaut. co-operation during Ms Gillard’s visit.

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˝ Mukesh Ambani tops Forbes India rich list : ˝ Shiv Sena Chief Balasaheb Thackeray died : Shiv Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani is Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray died in Mumbai the richest Indian for the fifth year in a row with a on 17 November 2012. net worth of $21 billion, according to the Forbes ˝ Ex-Minister KC Pant passes away : India’s India rich list. former defence minister and Planning ˝ Rakesh Mohan appointed as executive director Commission deputy on IMF board : Former RBI Deputy Governor chairman Krishna Chandra Rakesh Mohan appointed as executive director on Pant died on 15 November the board of the International Monetary Fund 2012.Pant was India’s (IMF). defence minister between 1987 and 1989, when the ˝ Shah to head USAID : Indian-Americans won one Congress party was in power under then prime of their highest-ever appointments in the US minister Rajiv Gandhi. government when President Obama on 13 November 2012 nominated Dr Rajiv Shah as ˝ Ajmal Kasab hanged, buried at Pune’s Yerwada administrator of the United States Agency for Jail : Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, the only International Development (USAID). terrorist caught alive during the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai, was hanged at Pune’s Yerwada Jail on ˝ Ranjit Sinha appointed new CBI Director : Senior 21 November 2012.Two secret codes are used IPS officer Ranjit Sinha was appointed the the government with respect to Kasab to Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation for maintain secrecy 1. Operation X:-Hanging code two-year term on 22 November 2012. named Operation X. X stood for execution 2. C- ˝ Barbosa sworn in as first non-white President of 7096 :-C-7096, the number by which Kasab was Brazil’s Supreme Court : Joaquim Barbosa was identified officially. sworn-in as Brazil’s ˝ Supreme Court’s first India’s diplomatic politician and former PM IK Minister non-White President Gujral passes away : “Former Prime Inder Kumar Gujral passed away on 30 on 23 November 2012 November 2012 in Gujral. Born on 4December, at a packed ceremony 1919 in Jhelum.IK Gujral in the capital Brazilia . started as the Vice Barbosa, became famous in Brazil after overseeing one of the country’s biggest President in NDMC in the corruption trials involving key members of the 1950s and later became a Union Minister. Later former President Lula Da Silva’s government. He became the India’s ˝ Alok Joshi new RAW chief : The Haryana cadre Ambassador to theUSSR. IPS officer Alok Joshi was appointed head of Gujral, an intellectual India’s external intelligence gathering agency – who propounded the ‘Gujral Doctrine’ of five Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) on 27 principles for maintaining good neighbourly November 2012. Alok Joshi will take charge from relations, left the Congress to join the Janata Dal S.K. Tripathi on December 30, 2012. in the late-1980s. In the 1989 elections, Gujral ˝ Cartoonist,T.Samuel passes away : Veteran was elected from Jalandhar parliamentary cartoonist, T Samuel, a pioneer of pocket constituency in Punjab and he became Minister cartoons in India, passed away on 2 November for External Affairs, first under V P Singh (in 2012. He worked for the famous newspapers like December 1989) and then under Deve Gowda (in Times of India ,Indian Express and Nav Bharat June 1996). Later he became the12th Prime Times etc.. He became famous as the creator of Minister of India in April 1997 for one year. “ pocket cartoon “Babuji”.

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˝ Canadian Prime Minister visited India : Prime ˝ Hamid Karzai arrived to India on four day visit: Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, visited the Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai arrived to India from November 3rd to 9th, during his visit India on 9th November 2012 on a four-day visit. India and Canada signed several agreements ˝ Life Ban on Mohammad Azharuddin Lifted by including Civil Nuclear Deal, Social Security Andhra Pradesh High Court : The Andhra Pradesh Agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding for High Court on 8 November 2012 lifted the life ban Cooperation in Information Technology and from playing Cricket on Mohammad Azharuddin electronics and an agreement to boost bilateral which was imposed by Board of Control for Cricket cooperation in Defense Science and Technology. in India (BCCI) in Year 2000. ˝ Aung San Suu Kyi met Prime Minister Manmohan ˝ Singh : Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader Aung Ramanujan’s genius Proved by US Mathematician San Suu Kyi met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh : Ramanujan’s genius Proved to the world by Ken In New Delhi on 14 November,2012 during her 6 Ono of Emory University in Atlanta on the occasion 125th Birth Anniversary of Ramanujan.Ken Ono of day visit to India.She then visited Shantivan to pay Emory University proved the Ramanujan’s formula tribute to Jawaharlal Nehru.Later in the day, she of outputs for the roots of 1 like the square root will deliver the Nehru Memorial Lecture on the occasion of the former PM’s birth anniversary. —1. ˝ Prime Minister Manmohan Singh went to ˝ Burma’s Suu Kyi Named New UN Ambassador : Cambodia for South Asian summits : Prime The United Nations announced Myanmar’s Minister Manmohan Singh went to Cambodian opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi as an capital Phnom Penh on 18 November 2012 to ambassador to its program on HIV/AIDS. Suu Kyi attend the ASEAN and East Asia Summits. accepted the invitation to head the program during a meeting with UNAIDS executive director Michel ˝ Barack Obama makes first US presidential visit to Sidibé. Burma : Barack Obama became the first American president visited the Myanmar. He visited the ˝ Visually-challenged Indian-American in key US Myanmar on 18 November 2012 and then went to post : On 1 December Obama administration was Cambodia to attend the ASEAN and East Asia appointed a visually-challenged Indian-American Summits. Sachin Dev Pavithran as a Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board ˝ Sunita Williams embarks on record 7th space member. walk : Indian-American Sunita Williams along with Flight Engineer Aki Hoshide on 1st November ˝ Ajit Pawar sworn-in as Maharashtra Deputy CM : 2012 ventured out of the International Space Ajith Pawar sworn-in as Maharashtra deputy Station, adding to her record-setting space walking chief minister on 7 December. After getting the sojourns, to find an ammonia leak in the vital clean chit from the government on corruption in radiator system. irrigation projects. ˝ Irom Sharmila, the Iron Lady of Manipur ˝ Vijay Kumar appointed Senior Security Adviser in completed 12 Years of Fast : Iron Home Ministry : The Union Lady from Manipur, Irom government had appointed the Sharmila on 5 November 2012 former Director-General of the completed 12 years of her fast Central Reserve Police Force, K. demanding for cancellation of Vijay Kumar, as Senior Security the Armed Forces Special Powers Adviser in the Home Ministry Act, 1958 (AFSPA). She blames where he will advise on security AFPSA as the main cause for violence in the state and development in the Naxal-affected States. of Manipur and other parts of Northeastern India.

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˝ Chautala Elected as IOA President : Abhay Singh ˝ Virbhadra Singh Sworn in as Himachal Pradesh’s Chautala was on December 2012 unanimously Chief Minister : On 25 December Former Union elected president of the Indian Olympic Minister Virbhadra Singh was sworn-in as Association (IOA) while Lalit Bhanot became the Himachal Pradesh’s chief minister for a record new secretary general. sixth term in Shimla. He was Chief Minister five times between 1983 and1985; 1985 and 1990; ˝ Re-elected as Chair of UN Auditors 1993 and 1998 and 2003 and 2007. Panel : Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India Vinod Rai was ˝ Narendra Modi Sworn in Gujarat CM for 4th time re-elected Chair of : Narendra Modi sworn in as Gujarat chief the (UN) auditors minister for the fourth consecutive time on 26 Panel for the year December 2012. He was sworn in along with 2013, while the CAG seven ministers of Cabinet rank and nine of the United ministers of state. Kingdom, Amyas Morse, was re-elected the vice- ˝ Cyrus Mistry took charge as Tata Group chair of the Panel. Chairman : Cyrus Mistry, the new chairman of the ˝ Naina Lal Kidwai Becomes First Woman Tata Group, took charge of his office on 31 President of FICCI : Country Head of HSBC India, December.Mistry is the sixth chairman of the Tata Naina Lal Kidwai, took over as President of FICCI empire. on 15 December 2012. She become the first ˝ World’s Oldest Woman and Tallest Woman Both woman to head the leading industry body. Died : Besse Cooper, the womanlisted as the ˝ Rita Singh Elected Federation of Indian world’s oldest person was died on 4 December Associations President : Rita Singh, an Indian 2012 in Georgia at the age of116. Meanwhile, a American businesswoman from Bihar was elected Chinese woman, Yao Defen, was certified as the the first woman president of Chicago-based tallest in the world was also died. Mrs Cooper was Federation of Indian Associations (FIA). declared the world’s oldest person in January 2011.Chinesewoman Yao Defen was listed as the ˝ Subhash Joshi Appointed As New BSF Chief : world’s tallest woman by Guinness World Records Subhash Joshi was appointed as the new chief of in Border Security Force (BSF) on 18 December 2010. 2012. Chadha, Special Secretary was appointed as ˝ Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar Died : Bharat Director General of ITBP(Indo-Tibetan Border Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar, whose mastery over Police). the sitar helped rejuvenate the classical instrumental tradition ˝ Obama Nominates John Kerry to be Secretary of in India andpopularise Indian State : The senior senator JohnKerry was music in the West through nominated as America’s Foreign Minister by President Barack Obama on 21December concerts and collaborations 2012.The John Kerry, who is the senior Senator with well known artists, died in from Massachusetts, now he became the San Diego, U.S. on 11 December 2012. chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee. ˝ Barcode Co-inventor Woodland Died : Norman Joseph Woodland, who co-created the barcode, ˝ Smita Singh Appointed as member of Global Development Council : On 22 December The was died on 9 December 2012 in New Jersey at Obama administration has appointed Indian- the age of 91. Woodland was the co-inventor of American Smita Singh as member of the bar code. He as well as his partner Bernard Silver (who died in 1963) patented this idea of bar code president’s Global Development Council. back in 1952.

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˝ Guinness World’s Oldest Person Dina Manfredini ˝ Forbes 2012 Most Powerful Persons List : On 6 Died : Dina Manfredini (115 Years) the world’s December 2012 Forbes Magazine released the oldest person and a resident of Iowa, has died on most powerful persons list in the world. In that 17 December in Johnston Guinness World Records list AICC President Sonia Gandhi got the 12th identified Manfredini as the world’s oldest person place and Prime Minister of India Man Mohan on December 5, a day after the death of 116-year- Singh got the 20th place. As usually this year also old Besse Cooper of Georgia. American President Barack Obama got 1st place. German chancellor Angela Merkel got the 2nd ˝ Former England Cricket Team Captain Tony Greig place. The list also includes Russian President Died : Tony Greig, the South Africa-born cricketer who Vladimir Putin at number three, Microsoft co- became England cricket team founder (4), Richest Person in captain and later continued to IndiaMukesh Ambani (37). make his mark on the game as a ˝ Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo (USA) : Miss USA revered commentator in Olivia Culpo is crowned Miss Universe 2012 on 19 Australia, died on 29 December December 2012, on the Las Vegas. Miss 2012.He played 58 tests for England and scored Philippines, Janine Tugonon, came in second, 3,599 runs at an average of 40.43 and took 141 while Miss Venezuela, Irene Sofia Esser Quintero, wickets at 32.20. placed third. ˝ Ukrainian President Yanukovych Visited India : ˝ Eight Indian CEOs have made it to the list of 100 Viktor Yanukovych the President of Ukrainian best performing global chief executives, compiled visited India from 9th to 12th December. During by Harvard Business Review (HBR). Deveshwar this visit he signed 5 agreements .He met Prime was first among the Indian CEOs featured in this Minister Dr. Manmohan and the both nations list, and cornered the seventh place discussed ways to improve bilateral relations. overall.Former chairman and MD, ONGC Subir Raha (Rank ˝ Russian President Putin Visited India : Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India on 24 ˝ China Launched World’s Longest High-Speed Rail December .During the visit he met Manmohan China launched service on the world’s longest Singh in New Delhi and signed aseries of pacts on high-speed railway on 26 December 2012 with defense cooperation and reached consensus to trains scheduled to develop economic and trade relations.Putin last run 2,298 kilometres visited India as prime minister in 2010. between Beijing and Guangzhou in about ˝ China Launched First High Speed Train in eight hours.Travelling Extremely Cold Areas : The world’s first high- at an average speed of speed train in areas with extremely low about 300 km per hour, the service would cut the temperature started operation in China 01 journey time from more than 20 hours by December 2012.This train move with a speed of conventional trains. 350 Kmph in the areas of minus 40 degrees temperature. This is the fastest train world in this ˝ Asif Ibrahim appointed as chief Intelligence areas. Bureau : Indian Police Service officer SA Ibrahim appointed as chief of the Intelligence Bureau on ˝ Urjit Patel appointed as RBI deputy governor : On 01 January 2013 and he becoming the first from 02 January 2013 Urjit Patel, a consultant at Boston the country’s main minority community(Muslim Consulting Group, had been appointed a deputy Community) to hold the post. Ibrahim, an IPS governor at the Reserve Bank of India, succeeding Subir Gokarn who was aiding the governor in officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, has taken shaping the monetary policy. over as from Nehchal Sandhu who retired December 31. He will hold the post for two years

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˝ YV Reddy to head 14th Finance Commission : On ˝ Obama Sworn in as the US President for Second 02 January 2013 former RBI governor YV Reddy Term : On 20 January US President Barack Obama was appointed chairman of the 14th finance Barack Obama was sworn commission to suggest principles of sharing of in as the President of the revenues between the Centre and the states and country for a second four- insulate pricing of public utilities like electricity, year term.Obama as the water and public transport from policy 44th president of the fluctuations. United States and also he is the third consecutive president to win two terms, after Bush and ˝ Indian American Srinivasan re-nominated as Clinton. Joe Biden sworn-in for second term as US Federal Judge : On 4 January Srikanth Srinivasan a brilliant Indian American legal mind has been vice-president. re-nominated by US President Barack Obama to ˝ Jharkhand CM Arjun Munda resigned : Political serve as Federal Judge for the District of Columbia uncertainty deepened in Jharkhand on 08 Circuit.In June 2012 he was nominated by Obama January 2013, with Chief Minister Arjun Munda to serve on the US Court of Appeals for the submitted his resignation to Governor Syed District of Columbia Circuit. Ahmed. On 07 January 2013, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) announced the withdrawal of its ˝ Justice D K Jain appointed new Law Commission support to the BJP-led government. chief : The Union Cabinet of India on 7 January 2013 appointed Justice D K ˝ Violin maestro MSG passes away : M.S. Jain as Chairman of 20th Gopalakrishnan — legendary violinist known for Law Commission of India. He his mastery of both the Carnatic gives advice to the and Hindustani systems of government on complex classical music — passed away on legal issues. Justice Jain, 64, will take over as the 03 January 2013 in Chennai.In his chief of the law panel on January 24 after retiring career spanning 75 years, he not from the Supreme Court on the same day. only broke new ground as an accompanist, but also rose to ˝ Indian-origin politician to be Singapore’s first become one of the best solo violinists in the woman speaker : Indian-origin politician Halimah country, along with Lalgudi G. Jayaraman and T.N. Yacob elected as the first woman Speaker of Krishnan. The three are considered the ‘violin Singapore’s Parliament on 08 Janauary 2013.She take charges from 14 January 2013.Halimah, a trinity’ of south Indian classical music.Despite came in the former labour lawyer, is a member of Parliament enviable success and accolades that from the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP). form of national honours such as the Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, and innumerable titles, ˝ First Gujarati in UK cabinet : Lord Dolar Popat including the ‘Sangita Kalanidhi’ title awarded by has appointed a minister in the UK cabinet .He The Music Academy, Chennai. become the first Gujarati taking his place in the ˝ Mauritius President Rajkeswur Purryag Visited UK cabinet .Popat was appointed minister for business, innovation & skills and transport. India: Mauritius President Rajkeswur Purryag visited India from 3 – 10 January .During the visit ˝ Ved Prakash is UGC chairman : Ved Prakash, Purryag met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and serving as acting chairman of the University Pranab Mukherjee on 4 January in New Delhi. In Grants Commission, had been appointed as its Bihar , he visited his ancestral village , Bojeetpore chairman on 18 January 2013.The chairman’s near Patna.President Purryag also the chief guest post remained vacant ever since S. Thorat retired of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas .He attended the 3 days in February 2011. Since then Mr. Prakash had event 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divasheld in Kochi been the acting chairman. (Kerala).

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˝ 25. Bhutan King Wangchuck Visited India : The ˝ David Headley sentenced for 35 years for 26/11 King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel role(Mumbai attacks) : Pakistani-American Wangchuck visited India from 23-30 Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist David Headley was on January.During the visit he attended the India’s 24 January 2013 sentenced to35 years in jail by a Republic Day celebrations as a Chief Chicago court for his ‘unquestionable’ role in the Guest.Wangchuck met President Pranab massacre of 166 people in the 2008 Mumbai Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and attacks. the United Progressive Alliance’s Chairperson, ˝ Typhoon Haikui Hit East Coast China : Typhoon Sonia Gandhi.This is the fourth time since 1954 Haikui hit to the east coast china on 8 August 012. that a Bhutanese King will be a Chief Guest at By hitting hard the area around the business India’s Republic Day celebrations. metropolis of shanghai with heavy wind and rain. ˝ Ex-Haryana CM Chautala, son get 10 years jail : The storm’s wind’s were at ‘Severe typhoon”. It Former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash made land fall in the Province of Zhejiang, about Chautala and his son Ajay had been sentenced to 225 kilometers(140 miles) south of Shanghai. The 10 years in jail in connection with a teachers wind speed in between 150 and 184 kilometers recruitment scam.Special CBI Judge Vinod Kumar per hour. Chinese officials had relocated 374.000 sentenced the Chautalas and seven others to 10 people from shanghai and 250,000 from zhejiang. years in jail while one convict was given five years ˝ 37 killed in Sivakasi cracker unit blast : 37 people in jail and 45 others four years in jail. have been killed and at least 60 have been injured ˝ Premlata Conquers Summit of Mt Vinson in in a huge fire at a Om Siva Sakthi Crackers in Antarctica : On 17 January Premlata Agrawal, the Mudalipetti, near Sivakasi, in Tamil Nadu. oldest woman in India to have climbed Mt. ˝ Two Same magnitude earthquake in China at Everest, has conquered Mt. Vinson in Antarctica Yunnan and Guizhou : 80 people were died , in pursuit of the ‘Mountaineering Challenge’ of more than 730 people were injured,twenty climbing the ‘Seven Summits’.She completed her thousand homes were destroyed and nearly one Mt. Vinson expedition on January .The person hundred thousand persons have been evacuated successful in conquering all the seven summits is after the two earthquakes at a magnitude of 5.6 considered a member of the ‘Hall of Fame’ for hit Yunnan and Guizhou provinces in China on mountaineers.Premlata will become the first 07th September 2012. Indian woman and one of the oldest in the world to conquer all seven summits. ˝ Shadman Chowk renamed as Bhagat Singh Chowk in Lahore : Pakistan government has ˝ Death toll in Iran’s twin earthquakes is over finally renamed Shadman Chowk as Bhagat Singh 250Two strong earthquakes that struck north- Chowk in Lahore as a mark of respect to the west Iran on 11th August 2012 killed more than martyr and an acknowledgement of his role in the 250 people and left grieving survivors — buffeted struggle against British rule. by repeated aftershocks — in a state of trauma.The first quake, of magnitude 6.2, jolted ˝ Mercedes-Benz rolls out M-Class luxury SUV the Ahar area around 1600 hours local time, Fars from Pune facility : Mercedes-Benz India has News Agency (FNA) reported. Almost an hour rolled out its first locally manufactured M-Class later, a quake of 6 magnitude rocked the city of luxury SUV from its facility in Varzaqan and its surroundings in the same Chakan, Pune. The company has province.Thousands of people, rattled by at least also declared the start of 35 aftershocks, fled from their homes. Many operations of its paint shop at the families spent the night in parks, braving chilly same location.India is the only country outside of conditions that prevail in the mountainous the USA where the German luxury car maker has province. begun production out of the new ML-Class.

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˝ 44 killed in Syrian air strikes : At least 44 people ˝ 5.5 magnitude earthquake hits off Taiwan : A were killed in air strikes on the Syrian rebel-held 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck off southern town of Maaret al-Numan on 18th October 2012. Taiwan on 25th October 2012, the island’s Seismology Center said, but there were no ˝ Typhoon Bopha Killed Hundreds in Philippines : reports of any damage or casualties. Bopha, the strongest typhoon hit the Philippines on 5 December 2012, was left at least 325 died. ˝ Strong Earthquake strikes Myanmar : A strong The typhoon with central winds of 115 kph and earthquake with magnitude of 6.8 hit the gusts of up to 145 kph was moved to west- Myanmar on 11th November 2012 . northwest of the central Philippines on 6 ˝ Earthquake in Guatemala : Guatemalans hit by A December 2012. powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 ˝ Powerful Earthquake in Japan : The powerful on 8th November 2012. earthquake had occurred in Japan on 7th December 2012.The magnitude of this BOOKS IN NEWS

earthquake was recorded as 7.3. This earthquake had occurred in 240 km beyond the Miyagi coast ˝ “Mission That Killed Osama Bin Laden”: A New in the Pacific Oceanin a depth of 10m Book released : No Easy Day: The Firsthand ˝ North Island New Zealand volcano Mt Tongariro Account of the Mission that erupts : New Zealand’s MountTongariro volcano Killed Osama Bin Laden was in the central North Island erupted on 21 written by a Navy SEAL under November 2012. the pseudonym Mark Owen with co-author Kevin Maurer ˝ Strong Quake in Indonesia : On 22nd January A and is to be released next strong, shallow earthquake rocked parts of month on the anniversary of western Indonesia early killed 30 persons and the September 11 attacks. This book has panicking residents and ruining homes. Several claimed that Abbottabad house where al- other people were injured.Indonesia’s Qaeda chief lived was “carved out”from meteorology and geophysics agency put the Pakistan Military Academy compound and its preliminary magnitude at 6.0 and said the powerful army chief may have been briefed inland quake caused no tsunami. It was beforehand on the ‘Kill Osama Mission’. centered southwest of the city of Banda Aceh and 10 miles (6 kilometers) beneath the earth’s ˝ Vice President Releases the Book ‘Muslims in crust, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.. Indian Cities’ : Vice President after releasing the book entitled “Muslims in Indian Cities” ˝ Earthquake in Canada triggers tsunami in edited by Laurent Gayer and Christoph Hawaii : A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake Jafferlot on 10th September rattled the west coast of Canada, triggering 2012 at New Delhi, Shri tsunami warnings for Hawaii on28th October Ansari has said that Muslims 2012. have lived in India’s religiously ˝ 233 People Killed in Brazil Night Club Fire plural society for over a Accident : On 27 January The blaze in the thousand years, at times as university town of Santa Maria nightclub fire rulers, at others as subjects and killed at least 233 people in southern Brazil now as citizens. They are not homogenous in .Most of those who died were suffocated by racial or linguistic terms and bear the impact toxic fumes that rapidly filled the crowded club of local cultural surroundings, in manners after sparks from pyrotechnics used by the band and customs, in varying degrees. for visual effects set fire to soundproofing on the ceiling.

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˝ Salman Rushdie released his Book Joseph Anton ˝ Amitav Ghosh, Jeet Thayil shortlisted for : Joseph Anton the 633 page book depicts a literature prize : Six books including “River of memoir of Salman Rushdie during his 10 years Smoke” by Amitav Ghosh, “Narcopolis” by Jeet long run to protect himself from the Fatwa issued Thayil and “The Wandering” by Pakistan- based by his name was released on 18 September 2012. author Jamil Ahmad, have been shortlisted for the DSC South Asian Literature Prize ˝ Hilary Mantel wins Booker Prize for Tudor saga : 2013.The British writer Hilary Mantel won the prestigious finalist will be announced at the DSC Jaipur

Booker literary prize for a second time on 16th Literature Festival January 2013. October 2012 with her blood- soaked Tudor saga. ˝ “Pankaj, Bengal’s Forgotten Hero” Book Ms Mantel, who took the 50,000 pound Released : On 3 December Senior batsman ($82,000) award in 2009 for “Wolf Hall,” is the Sachin Tendulkar and former India captain first British author, and the first woman, to Sourav Ganguly released a book on former achieve a Booker double. : India opener Late Pankaj Roy named ‘Pankaj, Bengal‘s Forgotten Hero‘ has been written by ˝ Vice President Releases Series of Books Bengali sports journalist Gautam Bhattacharya. Granthavali : The Vice President Mohammad Pankaj Roy had played 43 Tests for India in a Hamid Ansari released a collection of writing span of 10 years scoring 2442 runs with five and works -Granthavali of late Dr centuries. Dineshnandini Dalmia in New Delhi on 2nd November 2012. ˝ “My Tryst with Justice” Book Released : ˝ Saina Nehwal autobiography book released by On 12 December President Pranab Mukherjee released a book “My Tryst with Gagan Narang : Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal , Ace Justice” which was written by Former Chief shooter Gagan Narang and badminton player Parupalli Kashyap released book autobiography Justice P.N.Bhagwati .The book would be a of Saina Nehwal “Playing to win-My life on and prized possession for every Indian who wants to off the court ” in Hyderabad on 7 Nov. 2012. make a difference to the world and who aspires for a world more just, he added. ˝ Yuvi – book on Yuvraj released : “The book on ˝ Swami Vivekananda “The Monk as Man ” Indian Cricketer Yuvraj Singh named Yuvi was Book Released : The renowned Bengali writer released in third week of November 2012. Yuvi, the book on Yuvraj Singh is published by Harper Shankar wrote a “The Monk as Man ” book on Sport and written by Makarand Waingankar. The Swami Vivekananda ,who spread the message book illustrates the brilliance of cricket shown by of India’s spiritual heritage across the world.In the book Shankar described Yuvraj Singh in his career as a cricketer and the Vivekananda used to emphasise greatly on way he recovered from Cancer. physical strength and is known for the shocking ˝ “The Peak” Book Released on Sachin Tendulkar statement ‘Better to play football than read the : On 2 December Indian Cricketer Yuvraj Singh Gita’ ’ was launched Sachin ˝ Tendulkar’s new book named M.S. Subbulakshmi – Queen of ’ Book Launched : The life story of ‘The Peak’ which is a unique carnatic music legend M.S. Subbulakshmi, the photographed story on first musician to be conferred the Bharat Tendulkar by photo-journalist Ratna, is now detailed in a graphic illustrated Suman Chattopadhyay. The book launched on December. The story of the book captures some rare and nightingale of carnatic music, fondly known as memorable moments of Tendulkar’s life through Chattopadhyay’s lens and the stories MS. It is being told through Amar Chitra Katha’s behind them in the master’s own words. new title “M S Subbulakshmi – Queen of Carnatic Music’’

53 SHUNMUGAM IAS STUDY CIRCLE H.O: Coimbatore -99941 46662 B.O: Tirunelveli - 95972 11166, Tirupur -99944 27714 SHUNMUGAM IAS STUDY CIRCLE H.O: Coimbatore -99941 46662 B.O: Tirunelveli - 95972 11166, Tirupur -99944 27714

˝ Chief of the Air Staff and Chairman COSC Air Chief ˝ Pak Prez Formed a Panel to Talk with Pak Hindus Marshal Nak Browne Releases Book : Chief of the : Pakistan President Asif Ali zardari has set up a Air Staff and Chairman COSC Air Chief Marshal three member committee of Parliamentarians to Nak Browne Releases Book titled “VICTORY INDIA meet and reassure Hindus in sindh of their – A Key to Quality Military Leadership” on 20 security after their families decided to flee their November 2012.The book homes. Zardari has taken serious notes of reports is a collection of well written of the “Sense of Insecurity” among hindus families contributory articles by in sindh and directed authorities to address their military experts.The book unfair treatment and report to him. This panel focuses on the process of consists of senator Hari Ram, National Assembly identification, selection and training of our member Lal Chand and Federal Minister Moula dynamic youth to mould them into inspiring Bakhsh Chandio. effective quality military leaders. ˝ Panel to Examine Western Ghats Report : ˝ McChrystal “My Share of the Task: A Memoir ” Environment Ministry has constituted a high level Book Released : General Stanley McChrystal, the working panel to headed by eminent space former American commander in Afghanistan, scientist and panning commission member K wrote a “My Share of the Task: A Memoir,” Kasturirangan to examine the Western Ghats book which was released on 7 January .In the ecology expert panel report “in a holistic and book Chrystal explained that tensions between multidisciplinary fashion”. The nine member the White House and the Pentagon were group will examine the theMadhav Gadgil evident in the Obama administration from its committee report released recently “in a holistic opening months in office.This book is not just for and multidisciplinary fashion keeping in view the aficionados of military history or for students of comments received from the concerned state American foreign policy . governments, central ministries, stakeholders”.It will also study the “effects and challenges of COMMITTEES climate change in the ecologically significant ˝ Justice Verma Committee Submitted Report : On Western Ghats region,” “the implications of the 23 January The three-member committee included UNESCO heritage site recognition of some former Chief Justice of India, J S Verma, who parts of the Western Ghats” and the headed the committee, Justice (Retd.) Leila Seth, constitutional implications of Centre-State former Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High relations regarding the conservation and Court and Gopal sustainable development of the region.” It is also Subramanian, former expected to “recommend further course of Solicitor General of India , naction” regarding the report within two set up to suggest ways to months. make rape laws stronger ˝ Two Member Panel to Study on Universal Health in the country, has coverage :The National Advisory council has set up submitted its report with recommendations to a two member working group to study the report enhance and amend existing laws dealing with on Universal Health Coverage prepared by the cases of sexual crime.The Justice Verma panel high level expert scope of the National rural recognised failure of governance as primary cause health Mission and convert it into a National of sexual crimes.The Panel suggested Trafficking Health Mission. The Two-member group, should be made punishable with imprisonment comprising Miraichatterjee and .Shiva kumar,will ranging from not less than 7 years to 10 years work closely with the Ministry of Health and .There was a need for the separate Bill of Rights for Family welfare and the planning commission to women that will make sure that women would resolve any possible issues arising on health. have their own rights for having sexual autonomy.”

54 SHUNMUGAM IAS STUDY CIRCLE H.O: Coimbatore -99941 46662 B.O: Tirunelveli - 95972 11166, Tirupur -99944 27714