WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM
elephants and that what other legal cover can be Environment News provided to these reserves and corridors under the green laws recommended by Elephant The Environment Ministry Constituted Task Force. Committee to Examine Legal Cover for •The committee will also assess impact of wildlife Elephant Habitats protection regulations on the population that lives on or uses the land that falls inside elephant corridors and The Environment Ministry in the third week of February reserves. 2013 constituted a committee that will review better legal protection to elephant reserves as well as the Hydro Projects Worth 2500 MW accorded corridors in India under the green laws which are already present. Clearance by the Ministry of Environment & The committee was constituted after National Board for Forest Wildlife raised concerns about absence of any legal cover for the elephant corridors and reserves. The Hydro Projects worth 2500 MW across various states were accorded clearance by the Forest The central government has already identified two-third Advisory Committee (FAC) of Ministry of Environment & elephant reserves which cover 69582 sq km of area. The Forest (MoEF) on 5 February 2013. The projects include size of these reserves varies from 450-6724 sq km. Tawang-II H.E. Project (800 MW) in Arunachal Pradesh, These reserves not just include the forest patches of Teesta-IV H.E. Project (520 MW) in Sikkim to be various kinds but also the tea plantations, revenue land, executed by NHPC Limited and Luhri H.E. Project (775 agricultural land, villages and townships. MW) in Himachal Pradesh to be executed by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) Limited. The National Board for As of now, these elephant reserves are identified as the Wild Life (NBWL) has accorded wild life clearance to programme of the environment ministry for facilitating Vishnugad Pipalkoti H.E. Project (444 MW) in more funds under Project Elephant central scheme. Uttarakhand to be executed by THDC India Limited However, it does not facilitate better legal protection subject to clearance by the State Board of Wild Life. against the changes to demarcated landscape like that is case of tiger reserves. The government does not face The clearances were pending for a long time. The way is many difficulties in safeguarding the tiger reserves, straight clear in tapping the hydro potential of the national parks and sanctuaries, but in case of elephant country to meet the country’s power needs. Separately, reserves, there are certain difficulties faced by the the MoEF has recently granted Stage-I forest clearance government. to eight transmission projects and Stage-II forest clearance to two transmission projects of the Power This is so because the elephants travel hundreds of Grid Corporation of India Ltd. kilometres in a year and they run through the forest and, cities and villages as well. Members of the The MoEF, through an order exempted certain linear committee projects including transmission lines from the requirement of obtaining consent of the concerned •The committee which was set up by the environment Gram Sabha (s) unless recognised rights of Primitive ministry will be headed over by retired senior forest Tribal Groups/Pre-Agricultural Communities are being officer, Vinod Rishi. affected. However, all other conditions as prescribed in the MoEF`s earlier order would apply. This would help •The director of Project Tiger will be the member transmission projects obtain clearances faster. convener of the committee. The Union Government of India approved •Other members will include Member of National Board for Wildlife M D Madhusudan, elephant conservation setting up of NPCA: National Plan for expert Ajay Desai, chief wildlife warden of Odisha J D Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems Sharma and Supreme Court lawyer Sanjay Upadhayaya. Purpose of the committee The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 7 February 2013 approved the proposal for the •The committee will have a one year time for examining merger of National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) the existing networks of elephant corridors and and National Wetlands Conservation Programme reserves. The committee will inspect whether these (NWCP) to develop a new scheme named National reserves and corridors sufficiently cover the habitat of
Page 2 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM
Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems This project builds on the successful experience of (NPCA). earlier Bank-supported Karnataka Watershed Development Project I, also known as Sujala, The formation of the NPCA was done with the which helped improve the lives of 230000 farmers objective of conserving aquatic ecosystems (lakes by increasing crop yields by about 25 percent, and and wetlands) by implementing sustainable raising household incomes of small and marginal conservation plans. farmers by 40 percent. To govern the implementation uniform policy and guidelines will be framed. KWDP II will focus on improving the performance and results of IWMP by introducing new tools and The estimated cost to bring this plan into approaches for integrated watershed planning, operations during the 12th Plan Period is 900 crore incorporating more information about water rupees. The Government of India and the State resources into the planning process, facilitating Governments would be sharing the costs in a ratio better convergence of IWMP with other of 70:30 and in case of the North-Eastern states government programs such as NREGS, and helping the ratio is 90:10. farmers increase agricultural productivity. The project will cover about 465000 ha and 160000 Union Cabinet of India gave its nod to farmer households in 7 districts. decrease head counts in areas covered under PMGSY Consequently, a primary focus of the project is on supporting the implementation of IWMP in the 7- The Union Cabinet of India on 6 February 2013 selected districts of Karnataka through better gave its nod to the proposal of decreasing the planning, capacity building, monitoring and headcounts to 100 in habitations under the evaluation, and post-harvest value addition. government's flagship programme, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, PMGSY. Under this Focus will also be on understanding local needs, program (PMGSY) habitation with population of like location‐specific soil‐crop‐water interactions; 100 tribals and more in eighty-two naxal-hit would expanding the scope of rainwater harvesting and be connected via all weather roads. groundwater recharge, by partly converging the NREGS with the IWMP and developing Earlier, under the PMGSY program the tribal areas agro‐climatic zone specific technology to enable with a population graph of more than 250 people rural communities to better adapt to the effects of in the naxal-affected reasons were covered. The climate change. decision of decreasing the head counts in different area came after it was pointed out by Kishore Among the other components of the project, Chandra Deo, the Tribal Affairs Minister that horticulture is expected to play a major role in maximum habitations in these areas had a raising income of farmers even in dry tracks. The population graph of less than 250 people. Project will support activities for promoting dry land production for annual and perennial crops; India and World Bank signed a Deal for crop diversification; help farmers in carrying out Karnataka Watershed Development Project II soil, water and leaf analysis to identify nutrient deficiencies; create facilities for testing, training The Government of India and the World Bank on and demonstrations; facilitate farmers in availing 11 February 2013 signed a 60 million US dollars quality seed and planting material; and support credit agreement for the Karnataka Watershed farmers to improve post-harvest handling and Development Project II (KWDP II) to further marketing of the produce among others. improve watershed planning and management in project areas. The Project will improve Karnataka’s dry regions are among the states’ government watershed operations in 930 micro- poorest, have low agricultural productivity, and watersheds covering 465000 across 7 districts of are susceptible to drought and deepening Karnataka. environmental stress and degradation. The project
Page 3 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM area has 39400 landless families. Annual normal India and Bangladesh signed MoU on Health. rainfall varies from 600 to 800 mm with 43 rainy days in a year. Rain fed agriculture in 278000 ha of The Health Ministers of India and Bangladesh project area, experiences at least two water deficit signed a MoU on Health in New Delhi on 12 years in a five year cycle due to prolonged dry February 2013.The salient features of the MoU spells during crop season and/or delayed onset of between India and Bangladesh are as following: monsoon rains. The project will be financed by a The main areas of cooperation between the two credit from the International Governments will include the following: Development Association (IDA) – the World Bank’s • Exchange of medical doctors, other health concessionary lending arm – which provides professionals and experts: interest-free loans with 25 years to maturity and a grace period of five years. The Closing Date of the • Development of human resources. Project is 31 December 2018. • Exchange of information on health.
India and Neighbors • Medical and health research development.
Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley, Prime Minister of • Regulations of pharmaceuticals, medical devices Bhutan visited India and cosmetics.
Prime Minister of Bhutan, Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. • Health promotion and disease prevention. Thinley was on the home visit to India from 7 February to 9 February 2013. During his visit to • Fostering cooperation for the development of India he met with President of Indian Union- culturally sensitive and effective public and Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Vice- professional awareness campaign including clinical President of India-Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister- are practices and best practices guidelines for Manmohan Singh, Minister of Finance-P healthcare providers and caretakers to benefit Chidambaram and Foreign Secretary-Ranjan individuals and families touched by Autism Mathai. His visit was aimed at improving India- Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Bhutan bilateral relationship. Disabilities
Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley is the Prime Minister of • Any other area of cooperation as may be the Royal Government of Bhutan from 2008, after mutually decided upon. Bhutan became a democratic country. Bhutan Moreover, the cooperation between India and became the youngest democracy of the world on 6 Bangladesh in the fields of health and medical November 2008. sciences will be promoted through the following • He was the secretary in the Ministry of Home means: Affairs in 1992 • Exchange of scientific materials and information. • In 1994 was appointed as the Deputy Minister • Joint collaboration in the area of research in of Home Affairs medical science. • In 1994 he became Bhutan's Permanent • Institution level cooperation in the field of Representative to the office of United Nations and medical treatment, scientific research and training. other international organizations in Geneva • Exchange of health specialists and professionals. • Lyonchhen served as the Prime Minister of Bhutan twice before introduction of Democracy in • Participation of specialists / professionals in the nation and the period included July 1998 to seminars, workshops, conferences and meetings July 1999 and August 2003 to August 2004. to be organized by both the parties.
Page 4 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM
• Training for doctors and health workers by both Rajkeswur Purryag, President of Mauritius the parties in the areas where they have relevant Visited India expertise and excellence. Rajkeswur Purryag, President of Republic of • Other areas of cooperation in the fields of Mauritius visited India from 3 January 2013 to 10 health and medical sciences as mutually agreed January 2013. He was accompanied by Aneetah upon.” Purryag as well as the Ministers of Arts & Culture and of Social Integration and Economic Presidential Election in Maldives scheduled Empowerment, and senior officials. in September 2013 Key highlights of his visit: Election Commission of Maldives on 6 February 2013 announced that the Presidential Elections in •Rajkeswur Purryag was the Chief Guest at the Maldives would be held on 7 September 2013. This Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2013 from 8 January 2013 would be the first election scheduled to take place to 9 January 2013. in Maldives after the former President Mohamed Nasheed was replaced by the vice-President •President Purryag was honoured with the Pravasi Mohamed Waheed, on 7 February 2012. Bharatiya Samman Award.
Nepal Started Census of Endangered Species •President Purryag met President Pranab Mukherjee and also held talks with PM Manmohan Tigers in Five Conservation Areas Singh in New Delhi on 4 January 2013. Nepal started a three-month-long census of the •President Purryag also visited Patna, Tirupati as tigers on 4 February 2013. Tigers were declared as well as Kochi during the visit. He visited ancestral the endangered species by International Union for village, Bojeetpore near Patna in Bihar. Conservation of Nature in 2010. King of Bhutan visited India as Republic Day The census includes five main conservation areas function Chief Guest in Nepal which include two wildlife reserves namely, Parsa and Shuklaphanta as well as three The King and Queen of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar national parks namely Bardiya, Banke and Namgyel Wangchuck and Jetsun Pema respectively Chitwan. All the conservation areas where census visited India from 23 January to 30 January 2013. began lie in the Terai plains of the country. First King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck counting of the tigers started in Shuklaphanta was invited by the Indian President to be the Chief reserve which is situated in far-west region. The Guest for the Republic Day Celebrations of India. census was jointly started by the World Wide Fund for Nature and the National Trust for Nature The visit of the King of Bhutan and his acceptance Conservation. 50 cameras were installed in to be the chief guest for the Republic Day Shuklaphanta reserve for counting the number of celebration would contribute to further tigers. strengthening and expansion of the bilateral relation and ties between Bhutan and India. Nepal is said to be the abode of Royal Bengal Tiger During his visit, the King of Bhutan met with that primarily dwells in dense forests of the Terai President of India, the Vice-President, Prime plains. Royal Bengal Tiger was declared as the Minister, UPA Chairperson, Leader of Opposition in endangered species by International Union for Lok sabha, Foreign Secretary, National Security Conservation of Nature in 2010. Advisor.
As per the initial census, there were a total of 200 tigers in Nepal. However, poaching remains a Indian Defense threat to tigers in Nepal. The 9th edition of Aero India 2013, a five-day aviation show organised by the Defence Exhibition
Page 5 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM
Organization of the Ministry of Defence ended at AWACS allows IAF to keep a close watch on the the Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bangalore on 10 enemy territory. The government granted an in- February 2013. principal approval to the proposal for developing an indigenous AWACS. The approval was granted Defence Minister of India, A K Antony inaugurated in the meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security. the Air Show on 6 February 2013. DRDO officials announced that DRDO would work During the inauguration ceremony of the 9th for finalisation of further details of the Edition of Aero India show, Aero Space Policy of programmes as well as the number of aircrafts Karnataka state was unveiled by the Defence that IAF would need for giving overall coverage to Minister of India, A K Antony. India’s boundaries. At present, India has a fleet of three AWACS aircraft. The Show was opened for general public on 9 February 2013. The ended after displaying its magnificent aerobatic skills and belongings that Indian Economy created a chance of winning potential business tie- ups and networking. Exports of India Increased By 0.8 Per Cent in January 2013 To make the show the largest Air Show of Asia different bodies namely Defence Ministry of India, The exports of India increased by 0.8 percent in Indian Air Force, Defence Research and the month of January 2013 to 25.58 billion US Development Organization (DRDO), Department of dollars, comparatively; exports in January 2012 Space, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry and few were 25.37 billion US dollars. more comes together to organize the show. Imports on the other hand, increased by 6.12 The first Edition of the show was organised for the percent to 45.5 billion US dollars. During April to first time in 1996. In the previous 2011 edition of January 2012-2013, the overseas shipments of the show Boeings F/A-18 Super Hornet, Jaguars, India dropped by 4.86 percent to 239.6 billion US Sukhoi Su-30MKIs, Saab Gripen and Dassault dollars. The main concern for the country is Rafale were the main highlights of Aero India however to widen the trade deficit. 2011. As a cumulative result, the exports depicted an The next Aero India show is scheduled to be held arrest in decreasing exports. Now, the result is -4.9 from 18 February to 22 February 2015 at percent. Bangalore. Import of crude oil was growing at a faster pace. The Exhibition aimed at creating good scopes of Oil imports in January 2013 increased by 6.91 public-private partnership model following the percent to 15.89 billion US dollars in comparison provisions available in the Defence Procurement to 14.87 billion US dollars in January 2012. Policy of 2010 that provides Indian aerospace industry a chance to turn up as a hub for world India's Trade Deficit for April - January, 2012- class products and technologies for Indian 13 was estimated at 167168.12 Million US aerospace industry in the sub-continent. Dollars
Union Cabinet approved DRDO for As per the data released by Union Ministry of developing AWACS for IAF Commerce and Industry on 13 February 2013, India’s performance in export and import are as The Union Cabinet of India on 6 February 2013 following: gave approval to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for developing an indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control
System (AWACS) for IAF.
Page 6 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM
EXPORTS during April – January 2012-13 were valued at 266435.0 million US dollars which was 5.17 per Exports during January, 2013 were valued at cent lower than the level of such imports valued at 25587.24 million US dollars. (138981.70 crore 280946.1 million US dollars in April - January 2011- rupees) which was 0.82 per cent higher in Dollar 12. terms (6.67 per cent higher in Rupee terms) than the level of 25379.05 million US dollars Economic Growth of India Estimated to Fall (130294.02 crore rupees) during January 2012. To 5 Percent in 2012-2013 FY Cumulative value of exports for the period April- January 2012 -13 was 239687.01 million US dollars The Central Statistics Office (CSO) on 7 February (1305420.39 rupees) as against 251930.14 million 2013 revealed that the economic growth of India is US dollars (1196962.33 crore rupees) registering a estimated to fall to 5 percent in 2012-2013 negative growth of 4.86 per cent in Dollar terms financial year, which is a lowest figure in 10 years. and growth of 9.06 per cent in Rupee terms over A fall in the economic growth is because of the the same period 2011-12. poor performance of the services, agriculture and manufacturing sectors. IMPORTS The Central Statistics Office (CSO) in its advance Imports during January, 2013 were valued at forecast of the national income chopped off the 45583.25 million US dollars (247593.63 crore gross domestic product (GDP) growth estimate to rupees) representing a growth of 6.12 per cent in 5 percent for financial year which will end on 31 Dollar terms and 12.28 per cent in Rupee terms March 2013. This is much less than the GDP of 6.2 over the level of imports valued at 42952.47 percent in 2011-2012 financial year. This is said to million US Dollars ( 220514.54 crore rupees) in be the worst performance of economy of India January 2012. Cumulative value of imports for the since 2002-2003 when the economic growth was 4 period percent.
The major share of India’s GDP comes from the April-January 2012-13 was 406855.13 million US services sector. The services sector is estimated to dollars (2215115.46 crore rupees) as against record a growth of 5.2 percent in 2012-2013 fiscal 406820.28 million US dollars (1934946.96 crore year against 7 percent of 2011-2012 fiscal year. rupees) registering a positive growth of 0.01 per cent in Dollar terms and growth of 14.48 per cent As far as the industry sector is concerned, it is in Rupee terms over the same period 2011-12. expected that the growth would decrease to 1.9 percent in 2012-2013 FY. The farm sector growth CRUDE OIL AND NON-OIL IMPORTS: will fall down to 1.8 percent.
Oil imports during January, 2013 were valued at It is important to note that the official projection 15899.3 million US dollars which was 6.91 per of the economic growth of India is much lower cent higher than oil imports valued at 14871.2 than budgetary estimate as well as projections of million US Dollars in the corresponding period last the central bank of India and other organisations. year. Oil imports during April-January, 2012-13 In the union budget for financial year 2012-2013 were valued at 140420.1 million US dollars which which was presented in March 2012, the was 11.56 per cent higher than the oil imports of government pegged India’s economic growth at 125874.2 million US dollars in the corresponding 7.6 percent. period last year. Also in the quarterly monetary policy review which Non-oil imports during January 2013 were took place in the first week of February 2013, the estimated at 29684.0 million US dollars which was Reserve Bank of India projected the growth of 5.5 5.71 per cent higher than non-oil imports of US percent for 2012-2013 financial year. 28081.3 million in January 2012. Non-oil imports
Page 7 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM
In the meanwhile, Finance Minister P. The Union Government of India gave the Chidambaram had projected the economic growth Maharatna status to two PSUs- BHEL and GAIL on of 5.7 percent. 1 February 2013. Granting Maharatna status to BHEL and GAIL will provide them with better In first half of 2012-2013 FY, the economy of India functional and financial freedom and will also grew by 5.4 percent. However, as per the latest guarantee them with better valuation of the estimate, the growth would be around 4.6 percent shares. in second half of 2012-2013. Ideally any Maharatna firm has a capacity to take Industry bodies in the meanwhile asked the investment decision of around 5000 crore Rupees government to press for the reform process in without taking assistance from the government. order to revive the economic growth. On the other hand, forms with Navratna status have the capability of 1000 crore Rupees. Flight safety International Entered India through Agreement with Aviators India However, both BHEL and GAIL do not have enough non-official directors on the board, which is why Flight Safety International, which is said to be one they cannot exercise their Maharatna powers. of the biggest aviation training companies Even though all other conditions of Maharatna promoted by Warren Buffett's Berkshire status were met by both these PSUs but their Hathaway, entered India through licensing and boards do not have requisite number of board consultancy agreement with the Bangalore-based members. While GAIL is short of 4 independent Aviators India. directors, BHEL, on the other hand is short of 6 Flight Safety International is a 60-year old non-official directors. company based in New York and it offers more In terms of turnover, networth as well as net than million hours of flight training to the aviation profit, both these companies meet all the eligibility professionals, pilots, cabin attendants and criterions. technicians every year. It also additionally supplies visual systems, flight simulators and displays to the Eligibility of a company to get a Maharatna status military, commercial and governmental organizations across the length and breadth of the •For any company to qualify for Maharatna status, world. India operations of Flight Safety will start by the annual turnover should be over 25000 crore June 2013. In its early stage, FlightSafety would Rupees in past three years, as per the guidelines start with the training of cabin attendant for issued by Department of Public Enterprises. corporate and commercial flight operators. •The net worth of the PSU should be more than Flight Safety will address two main kinds of market 15000 crore Rupees in past three years. training in India and these are initial market and •The net profit should be over 5000 crore Rupees recurrence market training. during past three years. Bangalore-based Aviators India announced that At present, there are seven Maharatna companies, there will be more than 10000 flight attendants in after inclusion of BHEL and GAIL and these India for corporate and commercial operators. companies are - ONGC, Indian Oil, SAIL, NTPC and Also, in next five to seven years, there would be a CIL. Also, there are 14 Navratna companies, growth of 100 percent in this vertical. Aviators including Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited and India has remained in business of aircraft charter NMDC. services as well as sales of corporate jets to Indians for around 20 years. SEBI ordered freezing of accounts and BHEL and GAIL Granted Maharatna Status by attachment of properties of two companies the Union Government of India of Sahara
Page 8 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM
Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) the stock Asteroid 2012 DA14 to Pass through Earth market regulator of India on 13 February 2013 poses no threat ordered freezing of bank accounts and attachment of properties of two Sahara group firms Sahara The Asteroid 2012 DA14, a 150-foot asteroid India Real Estate Corporation Ltd., and Sahara would fly above the earth at a distance of about Housing Investment Corporation Ltd. and its 17000 miles on 15 February 2013, inside the ring Chairman Subrata Roy as well as top executives of geosynchronous weather and communications Vandana Bhargava, Ravi Shanker Dubey and Ashok satellites. The asteroid would be visible across Asia Roy Choudhary after it failed to refund more than including India and can be seen with the help of a 24,000 crore rupees to investors. binocular or telescope.
The decision from the market regulator came after This would be the first encounter of the scientists the Supreme Court of India granted it the freedom with an object so close to earth. This encounter to freeze the accounts of the two companies and will bring chances of studying the closet near earth attach the properties of the defaulting groups. object. NASA's Near-Earth Object Program Office that have predicted the path of the asteroid had The market regulator gave 21 days time to Sahara cleared that there exist no chances of asteroid Firms to submit the details of the investments collision with earth. done and not listed in an order. SEBI’s orders restricts the Sahara India Estate Corporation from Astronomers Discovered Six Speeding Stars operating its demat accounts and redeeming the Racing Through Milky Way mutual fund units held by it as well as from transferring the shares controlled by it to any Astronomers in the third week of January 2013 other body or company. discovered six speeding stars which were racing through the space at a speed of 3.2 million Sahara Housing was asked to furnish details kilometers per hour. These stars were ejected related to the development rights along with the from the huge black hole which sits in the middle special puprpose vehicles as well as stakes. The of Earth’s galaxy, Milky Way. orders to submit the details of movable and immovable properties to Subrata Roy and the These stars represented the first-known three executives have restrained them from hypervelocity stars that have mass just like that of alienating, disposing or encumbering the Earth’s Sun. The discovery is said to be very properties on their names. important because it would reveal how stars were formed in the dust-cloaked core of Milky Way. Authorized Capital of NABARD raised from 5000 crore rupees to 20000 crore rupees The core of Milky Way is actually cloaked in dust which makes all stars unclear from telescopes of The Union Cabinet of India on 7 February 2013 the astronomers, except the brightest stars. But approved raise in the authorized capital of these hypervelocity stars were useful in providing National Bank for Agriculture and Rural a peep into how star formation took place in the Development, Nabard to 20000 crore rupees from depths of Milky Way. 5000 crore rupees. This is so because it is believed that the The authorized capital was increased with the aim hypervelocity stars form when the black holes in to enlarge the operations and broadening the the centre of Milky Way consume one star in activities of NABARD. binary system and ejects other (its twin), throwing it through the space at extremely high speed.
Science and Technology The astronomers explained that these stars were highly fast-moving objects which were gravitationally unbound to Earth’s galaxy. Even
Page 9 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM though these stars were in proximity to black Since early 1990s, scientists knew about existence holes, but they were not cloaked by dust and so of thermochemical piles, which were that of the they could be identified using telescopes easily. size of continents, sitting on top of the Earth’s core Identifying these stars could help in revealing the and below most of the volcanic hotspots of the kind of star formation that took place in galactic Earth. centre. First Complete Bionic Man of the World Astronomers at University of Hawaii in their study Unveiled at London's Science Museum made use of the data from Palomar 5-metre telescope in California. In their study they First bionic man of the world called Rex was discovered 130 stars in Milky Way which were unveiled on 7 February 2013 at London's Science traveling at a fast pace. Then the astronomers Museum. The bionic man was created using 1 narrowed down the group of stars which were million US dollar limbs as well as organs. traveling at extremely fast speed with ejection Prosthetic legs and ankle came from MIT, synthetic from centre of Milky Way galaxy. Six of the stars blood from Sheffield University, spleens, pancreas met this criterion. and artificial kidneys from University College Seismologists Declared Life on Earth Was London, retinas from Oxford University and Facing Threat Due to Catastrophic Super- artificial lungs came from Swansea.
Volcano Rex has a human face with brown eyes and a height of 6.5 feet. It was designed jointly with Seismologists in the second week of February 2013 assistance from 18 universities and companies. declared that life on our planet was facing threat Rex gave a hope that it was possible to replace the because of the catastrophic super-volcano which body parts with the artificial alternatives, for the would erupt anytime in 200 million years. very first time. The seismologists explained that around two The internal organs of Rex such as artificial lungs, heaps of rocks which are like the size of bladder and pancreas were in line of development. continents, were crashing against each other as It is important to note that it is not possible for they shift under the mantle of the Earth, i.e., 2900 certain technology to function without the help of km below Pacific Ocean. human input. For example bionic hands require Seismologists also explained that beginning of any signals from brain and muscles to work properly. of huge eruptive events could lead to gigantic Other parts however, such as pancreas and heart destruction on the Earth. This mechanism would can be designed to work automatically. lead to huge plume eruptions but these would Rex would remain in display at London's Science happen somewhere in 100 million to 200 million Museum from 7 February 201 to 11 March 2013. years time duration.
The study conducted revealed that the activity Sir Issac Newton’s 300-Year-Old Textbooks created zone of partly molten rock which was that Discovered in UK School of the size of Florida and this would cause massive A box of books said to be that of Sir Isaac Newton, eruptions in the times to come. in the school physics laboratory of Newcastle- Hotspot plume super-volcano eruptions during under-Lyme School, Staffordshire in UK were previous 2 million years at Yellowstone caldera of discovered in the first week of February 2013. The Wyoming led to huge landforms. For example, textbooks are over 300 years old and contain gigantic flood basalt eruptions created huge works of Sir Issac Newton who is credited with provinces such as Pacific Northwest’s Columbia discovery of gravity. River basalts some 17 to 15 million years ago. The auctioneers estimated that the discovery could be worth thousands of pounds. The books
Page 10 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM were discovered by the sixth-form physics student present in human brain. This could greatly help in Will Garside while working on the artefacts from interpreting the behaviour of an animal which the school site. includes understanding their anger, joy, memory, learning and much more. The books contained Newton’s Laws of Motion as well as the account of principles of gravity spread In their study, the scientists modified the larvae of across over 1000 pages. The discovered books are the Zebra Fish genetically so that the neurons in a set of three volumes and are said to be the their optic tectum emitted a fluorescent green property of first headmaster, Francis Elliot light when being used. The larvae of Zebra Fish Kitchener, who was a keen scientist. The three have transparent bodies which meant that the books are known as Philosophiæ Naturalis activities of brain cells could be easily filmed in a Principia Mathematica, meaning mathematical real-time with the help of a microscope and a high- principles of natural philosophy. They were first resolution camera. published on 5 July 1687. NASA launched a New Communication The work of Sir Issac Newton was translated in Satellite called TDRS English in 1728. Sir Newton was leading scientist in subjects such as alchemy, theology, natural NASA on 31 January 2013 launched a new philosophy and astronomy. He was born in 1642 communication satellite to stay in touch with its and died in 1727. space station astronauts and relay more Hubble telescope images. An unmanned Atlas V rocket Japanese Scientists Filmed the Thoughts of a blasted into the starry night sky carrying the Fish for the First Time Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) from Cape Canaveral. This is the 11th TDRS satellite to be The Japanese scientists from the Saitama launched by NASA. The space agency uses the University in the first week of February 2013 orbiting network to communicate with astronauts filmed for the first time, the thoughts of a fish living on the International Space Station. The first while it tracks the prey, revealing about the TDRS spacecraft flew in 1983. precision of the brain activity that governs its hunting behaviour. The study is a first of its kind This newest third-generation TDRS carries the and it led to real-time recording of the precise letter K designation. Once it begins working, it will brain processes in the animal. become TDRS-11. It will take two weeks for the satellite to reach its intended 22300-mile-high In the similar studies conducted earlier, the orbit. Testing will last a few months. NASA patterns of the brain activities while making use of estimates the satellite costs between 350 and 400 MRI scans were studied. These MRI scans were million US Dollars. Another TDRS spacecraft, L in used to find out when the different regions of a the series, will be launched in 2014. brain switched on and off. However, this new study used a very different approach for recording NASA Satellite Data Found Freshwater Losses which individual cells were being used at a in Middle East particular moment. A new study using data from a pair of gravity- The filmed thoughts are very important because measuring NASA satellites found on 12 February this technology can be used for understanding the 2013 that large parts of the arid Middle East region thought process of the animals as well as the lost freshwater reserves rapidly during the past humans. Also, it could be used for learning about decade. the abnormalities which lead to increase in diseases of a brain. Scientists at the University of California at Irvine found that during a seven-year period beginning in In the study, the scientists demonstrated the map 2003, parts of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran along the in a brain of the Zebra fish. This map was also Tigris and Euphrates river basins lost 117 million
Page 11 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM acre feet (144 cubic kilometers) of its total stored Center for Geosciences, in partnership with the freshwater. That is almost the amount of water in University of Texas at Austin. the Dead Sea. The researchers attribute about 60 percent of the loss to pumping of groundwater National from underground reservoirs. Giuseppe Orsi held on Bribe Charges in Since obtaining ground-based data in the area is difficult, satellite data, such as that from NASA's Indian Defence Helicopter Deal twin Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Giuseppe Orsi, head of an Italian defence and (GRACE) satellites, are essential. GRACE is aerospace giant Finmeccanica was arrested in providing a global picture of water storage trends Milan on 11 February 2013 on the charges of his and is invaluable when hydrologic observations are alleged involvement in the bribery activity to not routinely collected or shared beyond political secure an Indian defence helicopter deal of 3600 boundaries. crore rupees. He was arrested in relation to the GRACE is like having a giant scale in the sky. probe of the international corruption. Within a given region, rising or falling water The Deal reserves alter Earth's mass, influencing how strong the local gravitational attraction is. By periodically The contract signed with Italian defence giant measuring gravity regionally, GRACE tells us how Finmeccanica in February 2010 involved supply of much each region's water storage changes over 12 VVIP three-engine time. AW-101 choppers from AgustaWestland for the Indian Air Force’s elite Communication Sqadron. The team calculated about one-fifth of the By now, three choppers have already been observed water losses resulted from soil drying up delivered to India. and snowpack shrinking, partly in response to the 2007 drought. Loss of surface water from lakes As per the reports on the bribe scam, it’s expected and reservoirs accounted for about another fifth of that about 362 crore rupees that is equivalent to the losses. The majority of the water lost about 10 percent of the final deal was given back approximately 73 million acre feet (90 cubic to help the Italian firm in winning the contract. kilometers) was due to reductions in groundwater. About Finmeccanica When a drought reduces an available surface water supply, irrigators and other water users turn The Finmeccanica is an Italian defence Giant to groundwater supplies. For example, the Iraqi company that entered into a deal to supply 12 government drilled about 1000 wells in response three-engine AW-101 helicopters to India in to the 2007 drought, a number that does not February 2010. include the numerous private wells landowners Giuseppe Orsi, now the CEO of Finmeccanica and also very likely drilled. the then head of its Helicopter Unit was arrested Water management is a complex issue in the on the charges of the bribe scandal that surfaced. Middle East, an area that already is dealing with Mohan Parasaran Appointed As the Solicitor limited water resources and competing stakeholders said Kate Voss, lead author of the General of India study and a water policy fellow with the University Mohan Parasaran, the Additional Solicitor General of California's Center for Hydrological Modeling in was on 13 February 2013 appointed as the Irvine, which Famiglietti directs. Solicitor General of India after senior advocate GRACE is a joint mission with the German Rohinton Nariman resigned from his designation. Aerospace Center and the German Research Mohan Parasaran will serve as the Solicitor General of India for a term of three years. The
Page 12 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM
Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) Lalit Kala Akademi or the National Academy of Fine cleared his name for Solicitor General of India. Art is fine art institution of Government of India Rohinton Nariman resigned from his post in Early with an objective to promote, develop as well as February 2013. spread the culture of Indian fine art. It receives funds from Ministry of Culture. Mohan Parasaran is a senior advocate of the Supreme Court. He was appointed by first UPA Priority Sector Lending (PSL) to Minorities Government as Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Crossed 15 Percent Mark in 2012-2013 in July 2004. Priority Sector Lending (PSL) to Minorities Government of Haryana abolished VAT on increased considerably from 10.60 percent of total Wheat PSL in 2007-2008 to 15.01 percent in 2012-2013.
The State Government of Haryana exempted Value Priority Sector Lending (PSL) to minorities belongs Added Tax (VAT) on Wheat that is given to the to one of the schemes which are covered under beneficiaries of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) the Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for under Public Distribution System (PDS) on 13 Welfare of Minorities. February 2013. It’s expected that this exemption would tune up about 1.50 crore Rupees in a year. An increase was observed because of lending of 171960.71crore Rupees as on September 2012 to The State Government of Haryana was offering a the minorities. subsidy benefit of 6.35 crore rupees on wheat to Self-employment initiatives were created and the beneficiaries of Antyodaya Anna Yojana. sustained because of bank credit. The increase was observed because of sustained efforts of The State Government also offered a VAT free government of India. distribution of Kerosene under Public Distribution System. The decision of exempting wheat from In order to increase credit flow to the minorities, VAT for the Beneficiaries of Antyodaya Anna various steps were undertaken by the Yojana was taken in conformation of the directions Government. These included: provided by the Union Government of India that is 2 Rupees per Kilogram. •Reserve Bank of India issued directions on Priority Sector Lending in order to improve credit facilities Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty Appointed As the to the minorities. Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi •From 2007-2008 to 2011-2012, 5954 branches of The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee bank were opened in those areas where there was appointed Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty as the substantial minority population. chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi on 12 February •Regular monitoring of Public Sector Banks was 2013. Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty is the IAS officer done for checking disposal of loan applications for of 1970 batch and retired from the designation of the minorities. Secretary to Government of India. •14244 awareness campaigns were organised by Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty will retain his position Public Sector Banks in 15466 towns and blocks till 31 December 2017. Chakravarty also served in which covered minority population. Madhya Pradesh government. He had also remained member-secretary of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts and director general of the National Museum, New Delhi apart from Priority Sector Lending (PSL) to Minorities in the vice chancellor of the National Museum Institute. absolute terms increased from 58662.67 crore Rupees in 2007-2008 to 171960.71crore Rupees as Lalit Kala Akademi of September 2012.
Page 13 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM
Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for Stampede took place at the Allahabad railway Welfare of Minorities station on 10 February 2013. On 11 February 2013, the death toll reached to 36 people. The death toll The President on 25 February 2005 announced is likely to increase. The injured were being treated that Government of India would recast the 15 at SRN hospital in Allahabad and railway hospitals. Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities for including certain programme specific Victims included 9 men, 26 women and one child. interventions. Bodies of 20 deceased people were identified. The stampede took place at Platform number 5 and 6 The objectives of this programme were as follows: where a number of passengers, most of which were Maha Kumbh devotees, were returning after •Enhancing opportunities for education. they took dip in the Holy Sangam on the occasion •Ensuring an equitable share for minorities in of Mauni Amavasya. economic activities and employment, through The government of Uttar Pradesh ordered inquiry existing and new schemes, enhanced credit into this matter. The government also asked support for self-employment, and recruitment to Railways to sanction ex-gratia of 5 lakh Rupees to State and Central Government jobs. families of deceased. •Improving the conditions of living of minorities by Azam Khan resigned as in-charge of Kumbh after ensuring an appropriate share for them in the Allahabad stampede infrastructure development schemes. Following the stampede that tolled 36 lives, •Prevention and control of communal disharmony Mohammad Azam Khan, the UP minister resigned and violence. as an in-charge of ongoing Kumbh Mela, owing to Afzal Guru’s Secret Hanging Was Called the moral responsibility. Operation Three Star Pandit Ravi Shankar Honoured With Operation Three Star: Code name given to secret Posthumous Lifetime Achievement Grammy plan for executing Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist Award Afzal Guru in Tihar Jail on 9 February 2013. Pandit Ravi Shankar, the sitar legend was Operation Three Star started on 4 February 2013, honoured with the posthumous Lifetime just a day after the President of India Pranab Achievement Grammy award. His daughter sitarist Mukherjee rejected mercy plea of Afzal Guru. A Anoushka Shankar accepted the award on his few top officials of Home Ministry were aware behalf on 9 February 2013 ahead of the Grammy’s about secret Operation Three Star. show that took place in Los Angeles on 10 February 2013.
Anoushka Shankar and Norah Jones attended the Afzal Guru was hanged on 9 February 2013 at 8 pre-Grammy ceremony at the Wilshire Ebell AM in Tihar Jail, New Delhi. Afzal Guru was guilty Theatre for accepting the honour which was given of conspiring as well as providing shelter to to their deceased father. Pandit Ravi Shankar died terrorists who attacked Indian Parliament on 13 on 11 December 2012 at 92 years of age. December 2001. Pandit Ravi Shankar was in the list of seven other Hanging of Mumbai terror attack militant Ajmal artistes named for Lifetime Achievement Award Kasab was called Operation X. he was hanged at honourees and this also included Carole King and Yerwada Central Jail on 21 November 2012. the Temptations. The Indian sitar legend also won best world music album Grammy for The Living Allahabad Stampede: Several Injured and Room Sessions Part 1. Pandit Ravi Shankar’s Killed at Allahabad Railway Station
Page 14 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM daughter Anoushka Shankar was also nominated in building and this would initiate a principle of this category for album Traveller. participative governance across the nation.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram launched The I&B Ministry on 8 February 2013 also tried to Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme in reach out the citizens for the first time via Live Mumbai Twitter Conference on the eve of 3rd Community Radio Conference. This was the first ever Finance Minister P Chidambaram on 9 February conference of such type by any of the Ministry’s of 2013 launched the much-awaited Rajiv Gandhi Government of India. Community Radio: Road Equity Savings Scheme in Mumbai. The move will Travelled & way forward was the topic for encourage new investors to put their money in the community radio conference and it lasted for a stock market. The scheme, which was announced period of 30 minutes from 4 pm to 4:30 pm. in the Budget 2011-12, seeks to provide tax benefits to first-time investors in stock market. Afzal Guru, the convict of Parliament Attack Under the 2001 hanged after rejection of Mercy Plea scheme, an individual with an income of less than Mohamammed Afzal Guru, the convict of 2001 10 lakh rupees would get tax incentives for Parliament attack was hanged on 9 February 2013 investing up to 50000 rupees in the stock market. at 8 AM in Tihar Jail, New Delhi. As per the notification issued by the Securities and The Supreme Court of India pronounced the death Exchange Board of India on the scheme, there Sentence for Afzal Guru in 2004 for masterminding would be a lock-in period of one year on the terrorist attack on Indian Parliament on 13 investments made under the scheme. December 2001. Ministry of Civil Aviation launched Monthly The decision of hanging him came after the mercy Bi-lingual Shubh Yatra Magazine petition filed was cancelled by the President of Ministry of Civil Aviation on 8 February 2013 India, Pranab Mukherjee on 23 January 2013. released Shubh Yatra, an exclusive monthly bi- The 2001 Parliament Attack lingual (Hindi & English) inflight magazine of Air India. It covers travel, lifestyle, culture and The terrorist of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e- entertainment in all colour and spice. Mohammad managed to attack on the Parliament of India, leading to the death of about a dozen of This is the new name of the inflight magazine. people including the security persons as well as I&B Ministry launched MyIndia Initiative-A civilians. Digital Volunteer Programme to reach More mercy plea’s rejected by the President, Citizens Pranab Mukherjee
The Information and Broadcasting Minister, Before rejection of Afzal Guru’s mercy plea, two Manish Tewari on 7 February 2013 launched the more mercy pleas were rejected by the President MyIndia Initiative-A Digital Volunteer Programme in the recent past and they include the mercy to reach out the people in the social media space. pleas of 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks convict, Ajmal Kasab and Saibanna Ningappa Natikar, the The initiative from the I&B Ministry is aimed person convicted for murdering his daughter and towards disseminating and delivering the wife and was sentenced to death. messages of development to the citizens by registering them as volunteers them on the social Ajmal Kasab, the terrorist caught during the 26/11 media platforms. The initiative is an effort to make attacks in Mumbai, was hanged in a Yerwada Jail, the citizen contribute positively towards nation Pune in a top-secret operation on 21 November 2012.
Page 15 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM
Saibanna Ningappa Natikar currently lodged in the review the institutional frame work of Prasar Central Prison at Hindalga, Belgaum, Karnataka Bharati as well as its relationship with and his plea was rejected by the President on 4 Government, its role in continuance as a public January 2013. broadcaster and the measures that needs to be taken to ensure technical upgradation of the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram launched organization. Sam Pitroda is the Chairperson of the in Thane, Maharashtra committee.
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on 6 February 2013 Roles and Responsibilities of the Committee are as launched a new health initiative called Rashtriya follows: Bal Sawsthya Karyakram at Palghar town in Thane district of Maharashtra. The Rashtriya Bal • To suggest measures to sustain, strengthen and Swasthya Karyakram, is a part of the National amplify Prasar Bharati`s role as a Public Rural Health Mission of the Union Ministry of Broadcaster with special reference to its Health and Family Welfare. relationship with Government in the emerging context. The Main Features of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram are as following: • The committee is responsible for reviewing the status of implementation of the • The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram is aimed recommendations, which were made by different at improving overall quality of life of children committees after undertaking the study of Prasar through early detection of birth defects, diseases Bharati, mainly, the Sengupta committee, the and deficiencies, which are among key factors for Bakshi Committee and the Narayanamurthy child mortality. committee. It is also responsible to suggest a road map ahead to enhance the reach and potential of • The new initiative would assure a package of Prasar Bharati. health services for all children up to 18 years of age. The programme will also prove economical • The committee is responsible for identifying the for poor and marginalized. ways for digitization of the archived material available with Doordarshan (DD) and All India • The services will be provided through dedicated Radio (AIR), which includes digitization of the mobile health teams placed in every block. The materials of the Independence Movement. As well scheme, which will be implemented in a phased suggest the measures for development of manner, is expected to benefit approximately 27 infrastructure data centre, digitalization system crore children across the country. and networks Birth defects account for 9.6 per cent of all new- • The committee is responsible to find the ways born deaths and 4 per cent of under-five mortality. offer suggestions to use the new media for According to the programme, a set of thirty delivering digital content; both in broadcast mode common conditions have been identified for (DTH) and in a demand-based mode (Free on social screening and further management of child health. media like You-Tube and on payment through National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) is an Indian IPTV). health program for improving health care delivery • Identify the ways and develop strategy to across rural India. It was launched on 12 April 2005 create a network of domestic and overseas for a period of 7 years. business partners to ensure wider reach to a I&B Ministry Constituted Expert Committee worldwide audience that includes creation of an exclusive overseas service. to Review Functioning of Prasar Bharti • Any other statutory issue that the Committee The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on 29 may like to consider. January 2013 constituted an Expert Committee to
Page 16 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM
Members appointed by the government in the report within two days. The court posted the Expert Committee are: matter for further hearing on 7 February 2013.
• Sam Pitroda is appointed as the Chairperson of The court was hearing Tamil Nadu's petition the committee. At present he is the advisor to the seeking the immediate release of 12 TMC of water. Prime Minister of India on Public Information Infrastructure & Innovations Rohinton F Nariman Solicitor-General of India resigned from his office • Asha Swaroop (member of the committee), he is a retired IAS and former Secretary to the Govt. Rohinton F Nariman, the Solicitor-General of India of India resigned from his office on 4 February 2013. He was appointed at the second highest law official of • Dr. B.K. Gairola (member of the committee), he India on 23 July 2011 after Gopal Subramanium is the Mission Director of e-Governance resigned from his office on 14 July 2011 following the issues with Government in context to the 2G • Shekhar Kapur (member of the committee), he Spectrum Allocation Scam. is the Member of the National Innovation Council Nariman was designated as a senior advocate at • Prof. M.P. Gupta(member of the committee), the age of 37, when M.N. Venkatachaliah, the he is from IIT Delhi - Member Chief Justice of India amended the rules and • Jitendra Shankar Mathur (member of the reduced the age from 45 years for designating a committee), he is the Additional Secretary and lawyer as a senior advocate. nominated member on Prasar Bharati Board In the history of last four decades, only three • Shri Jawhar Sircar (Convenor member of the Solicitor Generals have been successful in committee), at present he is the Chief Executive of completing his five year term in the office and they Prasar Bharati are - L N Sinha from 1972-77, Dipankar Gupta from 1992-97 and G E Vahanvati from 2004-09. SC directed Government to notify Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal Award Panel to Examine issues of Certification under Cinematograph Act 1952 Constituted The Supreme Court of India on 4 February 2013 directed the Union Government of India to notify the six-year-old final award of the Cauvery Water The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on 4 Disputes Tribunal by 20 February 2013. A bench February 2013 constituted a panel for examining headed by Justice RM Lodha expressed displeasure the issues of certification under Cinematographer over the government not notifying the award even Act 1952. Shri Mukul Mudgal, the retired Chief after the warring Tamil Nadu and Karnataka had Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court was agreed before it on 4 January 2013 that they had appointed the Chairman of the Panel. no objection if the award was notified. The Centre had earlier assured the apex court that it would Role and Responsibilities of the panel: notify the tribunal’s award by 31 December 2013. I) The Panel would be responsible for reviewing The apex court also directed Karnataka to release the mandate and functioning of CBFC and 2 Thousand Million Cubic feet, of Cauvery water to recommend measures that includes constitutional Tamil Nadu and directed the Central Water changes for enabling CBFC to deal with Commission to file a report on the water contemporary requirements of certification with requirement of the two states. It asked the increased transparency/efficiency. The issues, Commission to form a three-member expert body inter alia, may include: which will visit the states and directed it to file
Page 17 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM a) The process of certification under the Act and • Leela Samson, she is the Chairperson of CBFC Rules, including the mechanism followed by Examining and Revising Committees • L Suresh, he is the Secretary of South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce and former President b) Categories of certification, existing and of Film Federation of India proposed, under the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2013 • Rameeza Hakim, is the Advocate in Supreme Court of India c) Requirement of special categories of certification for the purposes of broadcasting on • Raghvendra Singh, he is the Joint Secretary television channels and radio stations (Films) and I&B-Member and Convenor
II) It will be responsible for reviewing the mandate The constituted Panel is responsible for submission and functioning of Film Certification Appellate of report within two months period from the day Tribunal (FCAT) in order to make it a more of its constitution. efficacious appellate body
III) It will be responsible towards examining the President of India Pranab Mukherjee Gave role of Central Government regarding sanctioning Assent to the Criminal Law (Amendment) of cinematograph films for exhibition under Entry 60, List I of the Seventh Schedule to the Ordinance, 2013 Constitution of India with reference to Entry 33, The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee on 3 List II of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution February 2013 agreed to the Criminal Law of India (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013 for sharpening the IV) The Panel will also be responsible for laws against sexual assault. The President suggesting measures for carrying on more mandated harsher punishment such as death effective legal remedies and penal provisions in penalty for the offenders in such cases where the the Act, particularly with reference to making of victim either dies or lands into the vegetative the unlawful copies, camcording in cinema halls, state. The amended law would come into force interpolation/insertion of clips after certification almost immediately. and such similar issues Features of the Criminal Law (Amendment) V) It will be responsible for the issues that the Ordinance, 2013: Panel may find fit to deliberate upon This Ordinance may be called the Criminal Law Members of the Panel constituted to examine (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013. It shall come into issues in Cinematographer Act 1952 by I&B force at once. Ministry includes: •Insertion of new section 166A to the Indian Penal • Mukul Mudgal is appointed as the chairperson Code: Public servant disobeying direction under of the panel. He is the retired chief justice of high law. court of Punjab and Haryana •Insertion of new sections 326A and 326B to the • Lalit Bhasin, at present is the Chairperson of Indian Penal Code: Voluntarily causing grievous FCAT hurt by use of acid, voluntarily throwing or attempting to throw acid. • Sharmila Tagore, she was the former Chairperson of CBFC •Insertion of new sections 354A, 354B, 354C and 354D to the Indian Penal Code: Sexual harassment • Janab Javed Akhtar, renowned music composer, and punishment for sexual harassment, Assault or writer and lyricist
Page 18 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM use of criminal force to woman with intent to moving bus. The ordinance brought changes to the disrobe, voyeurism, stalking. clauses of already-existing criminal law by making amendments in Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), •Substitution of new sections 370 and 370A for Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Evidence Act. section 370 to the Indian Penal Code: Trafficking of person, employing of a trafficked person. Part V the Union CHAPTER III of the Constitution of India grants legislative powers to the president to •Substitution of new sections for sections 375, pass the ordinance. Article 123 includes power of 376, 376A, 376B, 376C and 376D to the Indian president to promulgate ordinances during recess Penal Code: Sexual assault, punishment for sexual of parliament. assault, punishment for causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of the victim, sexual Article 123 of the Constitution of India assault by husband upon his wife during separation, sexual intercourse by a person in (1) If at any time, except when both Houses of authority, sexual assault by gang and punishment Parliament are in session, the President is satisfied for repeat offenders. that circumstances exist which render it necessary for him to take immediate action, he may •Insertion of new section 198B of the Code of promulgate such Ordinances as the circumstances Criminal Procedure: Cognizance of offence appear to him to require.
•Insertion of new section 53A of the Indian (2) An Ordinance promulgated under this article Evidence Act, 1872: Evidence of character or shall have the same force and effect as an Act of previous sexual experience not relevant in certain Parliament, but every such Ordinance- cases. (a) shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament •Substitution of new section for section 114A of and shall cease to operate at the expiration of six the Indian Evidence Act, 1872: Presumption as to weeks from the reassembly of Parliament, or, if absence of consent in certain prosecution for before the expiration of that period resolutions sexual assault. disapproving it are passed by both Houses, upon the passing of the second of those resolutions; and •Substitution of new section for section 119 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872: Witness unable to (b) May be withdrawn at any time by the communicate verbally. President. Explanation - Where the Houses of Parliament are summoned to reassemble on What does the Criminal Law (Amendment) different dates, the period of six weeks shall be Ordinance, 2013 include? reckoned from the later of those dates for the purposes of this clause.
(3) If and so far as an Ordinance under this article •The Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013 makes any provision which Parliament would not was given assent by the President and it includes under this Constitution be competent to enact, it stalking, voyeurism, acid attacks as well as shall be void. disrobing of women. These crimes were given the status of specific offences under the Indian Penal Duration of the ordinance Code. The ordinance was approved by Union Cabinet of India on 1 February 2013. An ordinance once passed by the President of India remains into force for a time period of six The Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013 months. Within this period, the Parliament needs comprises of various recommendations from the to pass the ordinance. JS Verma committee as well.
•The ordinance is an impact of the Delhi gangrape which took place on 16 December 2012 in a
Page 19 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM
P.R. Vasudeva Rao Appointed As the Director road accidents should immediately be given first of the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic aid treatment, as per the condition of the victim. Research The directions of Delhi High Court were a result of P.R. Vasudeva Rao became the Director of the the Delhi gangrape which took place on 16 Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) December 2012 in a moving bus. The court also at Kalpakkam on 31 January 2013. He succeeded said that Police Commissioner of Delhi will issue S.C Chetal, who has now retired. directions with immediate effect after the order is passed by the Government of Delhi to abide by the Dr. Rao was earlier the Director, Chemistry Group orders of the Delhi High Court. in IGCAR and is also a specialist in the field of actinide chemistry as well as a few areas of India dropped to 140th Rank in the Latest chemistry of nuclear fuel cycle. In IGCAR, Dr. Rao World Press Freedom Index led various R&D programmes related to the field India dropped nine places to 140th rank in the list of chemistry. of 179 countries in the latest World Press Freedom About Dr. Rao Index 2013, which is the lowest since 2002. India got this lowly rank because of increasing impunity • Dr. Rao did graduation from Sri Ramakrishna for violence against journalists and internet Mission Vivekananda College, Chennai in 1972. censorship. Netherlands, Norway and Finland topped the list. The Press Freedom Index was • He later became a part of the Department of released by world Press Freedom index for the Atomic Energy after he graduated from Bhabha year 2013. China got 173rd rank. Turkmenistan, Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Training School, North Korea and Eritrea were placed at the bottom Trombay. of the list as has been in the last three years. • He got his Ph.D. degree in actinide chemistry As per the Press index report, there has been a from Bombay University. decline in freedom of information in South Asia • In 1978, after resigning from BARC, he joined and the Indian subcontinent among Asia witnessed IGCAR. He played a crucial role in establishing the sharpest deterioration in providing freedom Radiochemistry Laboratory in IGCAR. and security for those involved in news reporting in 2012. In India considered as the world's biggest • Various awards were bagged by him which also democracy, the authorities insist on censoring the include Indian Nuclear Society award in 2007. Web and impose numerous kinds of restrictions, while violence against journalists was not punished • Dr. Rao’s specialty is designing and developing and the regions like Kashmir and Chhattisgarh are breeder reactors. getting increasingly isolated.
Immediate Medical Treatment to be given to The Maldives crashed to 103rd place (-30) because Criminal Offence Victims: Delhi High Court of violence and threats against journalists in state television and private media regarded as Nasheed The Delhi High Court on 31 January 2013 ordered supporters by the coup leaders. Bangladesh more the Government of Delhi to issue guidelines to all or less faces the same situation. Its journalists are hospitals, including the private hospitals in the targets of police violence frequently. They are not capital not to refuse treatment to the victims of protected by authorities in case they face violence criminal offences, mainly those of road accidents against them. and rapes. Pakistan which ranked 159th is one of the world’s A bench which was headed by Chief Justice D most dangerous nation for reporters. Nepal ranked Murugesan ordered the Delhi government that 118th position. victims of gangrape and other crimes, including
Page 20 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM
Reporters without Borders also published an existence. The test is reported to have conducted annual global indicator of worldwide media in the North Hamgyeong Province nearby the freedom which coincided with the release of its Punggye-ri nuclear complex, the place where the 2013 Press Freedom Index. This new analytic tool tests of 2006 and 2009 were conducted. Due to is helpful in measuring the overall level of freedom the past two nuclear tests of 2006 and 2009, North of information in the world and the performance Korea is already facing many sanctions over it of the world's governments in their response to imposed by the United Nations Security Council. Press freedom. This is the first test conducted in North Korea under the leadership of Kim Jong-un. Parle-G Became the First Indian FMCG Brand to Cross 5000 Crore Rupees Mark World Response
Parle-G in February 2013 became the first Indian The Western Nations termed this act to be highly FMCG brand that crossed 5000 crore Rupees mark provocative act of North Korea and claimed it to in terms of retail sales in one year. Parle Products be a threat to the stability of the region. Whereas were launched in 1939 when the British ruled Asian countries like, China, Japan and Russia India. Factually, Parle Products in criticized the test and announced it to be a threat beyond tolerance. The international bodies like UN 2012 sold 5010 crore rupees worth glucose and NATO claimed this test as irresponsible and biscuits at the retail price, surpassing the domestic threat to the world peace. sales of Godrej products and Dabur, while at the same time also selling thrice more products than World Radio Day was observed to raise Maggi. Awareness about the Importance of Radio
This means that Parle Products sold over 100 crore World Radio Day was observed on 12 February packets of the glucose biscuits every month, or 2013 to raise awareness about the importance of 14600 crore biscuits in 2012. Parle-G that has less radio, facilitate access to information through it than 1 billion dollar sales in a year, but even then it and enhance networking among broadcasters. On has good lead over its rivals such as Hindustan the 18th of December, 2012, the United Nations Unilever's Wheel and Ghari Detergent. General Assembly endorsed the 2011 resolution adopted by the UNESCO General Conference, Parle-G’s share increased from 67 percent in 2002 proclaiming the 13th of February as World Radio to 79 percent in 2012. Comparatively, shares of Britannia's Tiger and ITC's Sunfeast brand fell Day, the day United Nations Radio was established down. in 1946.
Since its invention more than a century ago, the World News radio serves as a channel for information and entertainment. The multi-purpose medium is an North Korea conducted its third Nuclear Test important source of information in those areas and defied UN Regulations for World Peace which are sometimes too remote to get a newspaper delivered. North Korea on 12 February 2013 announced success of its underground Nuclear Test. The Across the world, the number of radio stations is country cleared that the miniaturized nuclear increasing and the cost of broadcasting is device was detonated successfully and it also decreasing. More than ever, the radio remains an announced that the test was an act of self-defence effective means to bring social change, by sharing from the US Hostility and also threatened stronger knowledge and providing a platform for inclusive steps in future. debate. This was the third test conducted by the country since 2006 that had defied the UN regulations in
Page 21 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM
Pope Benedict XVI announced his University took the action after the committee Resignation because of Poor Health considered the allegations of plagiarism done by Schavan in different parts of the thesis submitted Pope Benedict XVI announced on 11 February to the University. 2013 that he would resign at the end of the month. He reasoned that he was too infirm to The allegations were made against the Education carry on. He is the first pontiff to do so in nearly Minister by an anonymous blogger in 2012 600 years. The decision set the stage for the claiming the Annette Schavan failed to cite the election of a new Pope before the end of March passages properly of the thesis in philosophy 2013. submitted to the University in 1980.
Pope Benedict XVI is 85 years old. He had become Before this, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, the the Pope in 2005. The last Pope to resign was Pope former Defence Minister of Germany resigned Gregory XII, who took this step in 1415 to put an from his office in 2011 after it was confirmed that end to the Great Western Split among competing a major portion of doctoral thesis submitted by papal claimants. him to avail the doctorate was copied.
Largest Saltwater Crocodile of the World, World Cancer Day observed across the world Lolong Died in Philippines 4 February: World Cancer Day World cancer day The largest saltwater crocodile of the world, was observed on 4 February 2013 in order to raise named Lolong died in Philippines on 10 February awareness about this illness as well as to promote 2013 just 17 months after it was captured and put the measures, early detection, prevention and for tourists on display. treatment of the disease. The theme for World Cancer Day, 2013 was Cancer - Did you know? The Lolong measured 6.17 metres or 20.24 feet. The theme focused on dispelling the misconceptions largest crocodile of the world died because of associated with the disease. illness that is not known. It is believed that Lolong was over 50 years old. Various functions on the day were organised by Union for International Cancer Control, which is A hunting party that was sanctioned by the the leading organisation for cancer fighting. government captured Lolong in September 2011. The largest crocodile of the world became a source Facts related to cancer of tourist attraction. •Cancer accounts for 7.6 million death in a year Lolong was declared officially as the largest across the world. crocodile of its kind in captivity by the Guinness •Most of the cancer deaths occur because of Book of World Records in 2012. It beat the record stomach, lunch, colon, liver and breast cancer. of 5.48-metre crocodile named Cassius which was kept in park in an island off Queensland, Australia. •Around 30 percent cancer deaths occur because of dietary and behavioral risks. Lolong belonged to the family of species called Crocodylus Porosus, or the Indo-Pacific crocodile, •22 percent of the cancer deaths occur because of which is said to be the largest reptile of the world. tobacco use. Tobacco use also accounts for 71 percent of worldwide lung cancer deaths. Education Minister of Germany Annette Schavan Stripped of Doctorate for plagiarism •Around 70 percent of deaths due to cancer occur in low and middle income countries. Annette Schavan the Education Minister of Germany on 6 February 2013 was stripped of her •Deaths because of cancer across the world are doctorate degree by the committee of academics rising continuously and it is estimated that there at Duesseldorf’s Heinrich Heine University. The
Page 22 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM might be 13.1 million deaths because of cancer in political role in China by being selected as 2030. members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, one of the houses of Report: India accounts to 86 percent Oral Cancer Chinese parliament. Figure across the World Mo Yan and Jackie Chan were among 2237 people Experts of National Institute of Health and Family selected by China's new leaders led by Xi Jinping as Welfare (NIHFW) in first week of February released the members of CPPCC National Committee. Out a report on the harmful effects of gutka. It of 2237 people, 399 are women. Xi Jinping is the reported that 86 percent of the total oral cancer new general secretary of the Communist Party. He figure across the world accounted to India. A total will become the President of China after two of 75000 to 80000 new cases of cancer were Houses of Parliament have meeting in March 2013. diagnosed in India itself. Apart from Mo Yan and Jackie Chan, other known In case of India the maximum number of cancer face to be given a seat in this political party was a result of tobacco chewing, because Indians includes former NBA star and popular basket ball chew tobacco more than smoking. India consists of player Yao Ming. 14 percent smoking tobacco users and 26 percent chewing tobacco users. CPPCC comprises of the members from different fields and they were selected without any election As per the report tobacco is responsible for process. The party includes 893 members of the creating 1.5 lakh cancer patients, 4.2 million heart Communist Party. The chosen officials include diseases and 3.7 million lung diseases in India members of non-Communist parties, military every year, making India an oral cancer capital. officers, officials, representatives from The statistics released by the Health Ministry 65 environmental, social, cultural, political and percent cancers in India are caused due to the use economic fields. of tobacco. Other data released reveled that a third of the annual 5.6 million cancer deaths in India occurs due to the excessive use of tobacco. Sports The rate of oral cancer reported in India is about India maintained their Number One Spot in twice the global average. the ICC ODI Championship Table In 2008 cancer was the cause of 7.6 million deaths worldwide. In case of men from South-East Asia India maintained their number one spot in the ICC Region, oral and lung cancers are the most ODI Championship table in the latest rankings prevalent ones and breast and cervical cancers are issued in Dubai on 11 February 2013. Both India mainly found in women. and England have same 119 rating points, but England lags behind on the basis of decimal points. The Government of India invests a sum of 300 Australia and South Africa follow the top two billion rupees per year approximately on teams closely with 116 and 112 points treatment of tobacco related illness via both respectively. private and public spending. It accounts to one- fourth of the total spending on health issues in the Among the batsmen, South African run machine country. About 2500 persons die every day in India Hashim Amla is at number one followed by fellow due to diseases related to tobacco. countryman AB Devilliers. India’s Virat Kohli is at number three followed closely by the skipper Mo Yan and Jackie Chan Selected As Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Among the bowlers, Members of Chinese Parliament Pakistan off spinner Saeed Ajmal maintains his top billing followed by Mohammad Hafeez. In the All Mo Yan, the winner of Nobel Prize for literature, rounder’s category, Pakistan skipper Mohammed 2012 and Jackie Chan, the movie star were given a
Page 23 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM
Hafeez is the leader followed by Bangladesh’s India Returned With 46 Medals in 2013 Shakib Al Hasan. Pyeongchang Special Olympics World Winter Games Zhuang Zedong, Three-Time World Table Tennis Champion Died At 72 The 2013 Pyeongchang Special Olympics World Winter Games finished on 5 February 2013 after a Zhuang Zedong, the table tennis legend died in week of competition among differently-abled Beijing on 10 February 2013 following lengthy fight athletes. The games took place from 29 January with cancer. He was aged 72 years. 2013 to 5 February 2013. Almost 200000 Zhuang Zedong is a three-time world table tennis spectators witnessed the games in venues- champion. He won a range of events in 1960s. He Pyeongchang and Gangneung. India returned with was renowned for chance meeting with Glenn 46 medals in 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Cowan, the US table tennis player during 31st Games at Pyeong Chang, South Korea. World Table Tennis Championships in 1971. The differently-abled athletes of India won 46 Zhuang Zedong and Ping-Pong Diplomacy medals in all- 13 gold, 17 silver and 16 bronze from mentally-challenged 2200 athletes participating Zhuang Zedong remained a crucial figure in ping- from more than 120 nations in the games. The pong diplomacy of 1971 and is popularly also medal tally of India doubled from World Winter called the Architect of Ping-Pong Diplomacy. Ping- Games 2009. pong diplomacy means exchange of the table tennis (ping-pong) players between China and US. These games were completed in eight categories of sports- alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, This was done to normalise relations between snowboarding, snowshoeing, figure skating, short these two countries. track speed skating, floor hockey and floorball.
Sachin Tendulkar equaled Sunil Gavaskar’s Various celebrities participated in the games to record of 81 Centuries in First Class Cricket support these athletes. Some of the popular faces were former NBA Sachin Tendulkar on 8 February 2013 equaled the record of Sunil Gavaskar of 81 first class hundreds All-Star Yao Ming and Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi. in first class cricket at Mumbai. He managed to In its closing ceremony, figure skating superstars equal Gavaskar’s record after scoring an unbeaten Kim Yu-na and Michelle Kwan were also present. 140 runs in Irani Trophy against Rest of India in the Allan Border Medal 2013: Michael Clarke first innings of the tournament of Mumbai team. Won the Medal Fourth Time Centuries of Sachin in first class cricket Michael Clarke, the Australian cricket captain won • 51 in Test matches the fourth Allan Border Medal in Melbourne on 4 February 2013. 31-year old Clarke had won the • 18 in Ranji Trophy medal earlier in 2005, 2009 and 2012. Apart from Clarke, the only other player to win this medal four • 2 in Irani Cup times is Captain Ricky Ponting. • 3 in Duleep Trophy Michael Clarke also won the Test cricketer of the • 1 in county cricket for Yorkshire year award for the second consecutive time after he scored 1080 runs in nine tests from 25 February • 6 in other games 2012 to January 28 2013.
List of Awardees of Allan Border Medal in different categories:
Page 24 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM
•Domestic Player of the Year: Phil Hughes Glenn McGrath and Charlie Turner, the renowned fast bowlers were unanimously chosen to be •Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year: Joe Burns inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame on 3 February 2013. Hall of fame chairman David •T20 Player of the Year: Shane Watson Crow declared that these two pace bowlers were •ODI Player of the Year: Clint McKay inducted officially at Allan Border Medal ceremonies on 4 February 2013. •Test Player of the Year: Michael Clarke McGrath has a test career spanning 14 years over •Women's International Player of the Year: Jessica 124 matches. The highest tally of McGrath is 563 Cameron wickets at 21.64. This is the fourth highest tally of all times. McGrath was also the winner of Allan •Allan Border Medal: Michael Clarke Border Medal in 2000. He was inducted in ICC Hall About Allan Border Medal of Fame in December 2012.
Allan Border Medal is a prestigious award given Charlie Turner, on the other hand, took 6-15 on away in the Australian cricket. It was first awarded test debut at Sydney in 1887. He died in 1944. in 2000. The Allan Border Medal is named after the Turner took 101 wickets at 16.53 in 17 test former captain of Australia, Allan Border. matches between the time period of 1887 and 1895. ICC Rankings for Test Cricket released in Dubai, South Africa achieved the top Spot Other Hall of Fame inductees
International Cricket Council, ICC rankings for test The other Hall of Fame inductees include Keith cricket was released on 4 February 2013 in Dubai. Miller, Arthur Morris, Bill O'Reilly, Bill Ponsford, South Africa emerged as the world number one Bob Simpson, Warwick Armstrong, Richie Benaud, team in the category and is followed by England, Lindsay Hassett, Ian Healy, Hugh Trumble, Victor Australia, Pakistan and India. Trumper, Bill Woodfull, Rod Marsh, Stan McCabe, Allan Border, Sir Donald Bradman, John Blackham, In the latest rankings released by the ICC Hashim Charles Macartney, Shane Warne, Steve Waugh, Amla, the South African batsman has emerged as Doug Walters, Glenn McGrath, Graham McKenzie, the best batsman in the category and with this he Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Neil Harvey, Clem Hill, became the first batsman to hold the number one Ray Lindwall, Fred Spofforth, Mark Taylor, Alan dice in both Test and One-day format of the game Davidson, George Giffen, Dennis Lillee, Clarrie since 2007, before this Ricky Pointing was the Grimmett, Monty Noble and Bill Lawry. cricketer to hold this position. Michael Clarke, the Australian batsman was racked at second position MS Dhoni Named As the Vice-President of in the ranking. India Cements
Dale Steyn, the South African bowler holds the top Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the captain of the Indian position in the bowling ranking and is followed by cricket team was appointed as the vice-president his teammate, Vernan Philander. South African, of India Cements on 1 February 2013. India Jacques Kallis has retained his position as the Cements is headed by BCCI President N Srinivasan. number one test all-rounder with versatile It is important to note that Dhoni resigned from performance. Air India team recently and now is expected to Pragyan Ojha is the only Indian to feature among play for India Cements in the BCCI Corporate the top ten bowlers in the test rankings released. Trophy which started on 1 February 2013. India Cements owns IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings, Glenn McGrath and Charlie Turner Joined the captaincy of which lies in the hands of Dhoni Australian Cricket Hall of Fame
Page 25 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM since 2008. The Managing Director-cum-vice- chairman of India Cements is Srinivasan.
Including MS Dhoni’s name in the India Cements team for Corporate Trophy starting from 1 February 2013 to 8 February 2013 was actually a surprise, especially because the captain had declared to take rest for some time.
Earlier, Dhoni played in the Corporate Trophy for the team of Air India, but later he resigned. The Corporate Trophy will be taking place in four main cities- Nagpur, Raipur, Indore and Pune.
Angelo Mathews appointed Captain of the
Sri Lankan Test and One-Day Cricket Team
Angelo Mathews, the Sri Lankan all-rounder cricketer was appointed the Captain of the test and one-day cricket team of Sri Lanka on 14 February 2013 for a period of one year. Mathews replaced Mahela Jayawardene, who announced to quit captaincy after Sri Lanka’s tour of Australia.
Dinesh Chandimal, the wicket-keeper batsman was appointed as the vice-captain in the test and one- day format of the game and will lead the country as a captain in the T20 format of the game. Lasith Malinga was appointed as the vice-captain for the T20 team.
Angelo Mathews
• Angelo Mathews is a Sri Lankan all-rounder cricketer, who made his debut in the international cricket in a One Day International match against Zimbabwe in November 2008. • In 31 test matches Mathews have scored 1668 runs since making his debut in 2009 and recorded his first and only test century against Australia
Page 26 of 27
WWW.CIVILSERVICEINDIA.COM
Page 27 of 27