Compendium- February 2014 National International Appointments-National/International Person Resigned/Retired Sports Honours/ Awards Obituaries Important Days Foreign Visits / Foreign Visitors Interim Budget or Finance Bill for 2014 Interim Rail Budget 2014-15 Compiled By Sanjay Singh Compendium- February 2014 National 101st Indian Science Congress Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh inaugurated the 101st Indian Science Congress at Jammu University, Jammu. The five-day (Feb 3-7, 2014) event will see deliberations and presentation of papers by the scientific fraternity from across the globe. Dr. Singh stated that the country must increase its’ annual expenditure on science and technology to at least 2% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the private sector must join hands with the government for an inclusive progress in science and technology. Excerpts of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s speech India will partner with the international scientific community in establishment of the world’s major R&D projects. In the Gravitational Wave Experiment, India intends to host the third detector. A Neutrino- based Observatory is proposed to be established in Tamil Nadu at a cost of about Rs. 1450 crore. India would soon join, as an associate member, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN, where international projects such as the research on ‘God Particle’ was going on. Favored genetically modified crops. Supported the scientists to engage more with society and explain socially productive applications of biotechnology and other alternatives. Announced the names of five eminent scientists, who have been selected for the recently instituted Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowships. The Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship is open to scientists who are either Nobel Laureates or Fellows of the Royal Society, or members of the United States or French academies of science. The selected scientists are entitled to a fellowship of $1,00,000 and a research 2 | Compendium- February 2014 grant of Rs. 55 lakh. They will have to do research in an institution here for 12 months, which can be spent in installments over 3 years. The host institution would also get a grant of Rs. 10 lakh for providing laboratory and other facilities for the research. India’s First Monorail Inaugurated in Mumbai India’s first monorail service started in Mumbai. The monorail service that would link the city to major stations began its first phase of 8.93 km between Wadala and Chembur in the eastern fringes of the Commercial Capital. The first phase of the monorail covered seven stations: Wadala depot, Mysore Colony, BhaktiPark, Bharat Petroleum, V.N. Purav Marg, Fertiliser Colony, and Chembur. Will be able to carry about 2,500 passengers (each car will accommodate 568 commuters). The fares will be between Rs. 5 and Rs. 11. Average speed: 65 km/hr; Maximum speed: 80 km/hr. Expected to reduce the travel time between Wadala and Chembur by almost half. It takes 40 minutes at present but the monorail will take only about 21 minutes. Second phase – connecting Wadala with Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk in South Mumbai will be completed by mid-2015. It will cover a distance of 11.2 km and include the following 11 stations: Chinchpokli, Chembur Naka, Wadala Bridge, Mint Colony, Acharya Atra Nagar, Antop Hill, Wadala, GTB Nagar, Fertilizer Company and Bharat Petroleum. Mumbai monorail will display three colours — pink, green and blue. The project executed by a consortium of engineering major Larsen and Toubro Ltd (L&T) and Malaysian firm Scomi Engineering and owned and operated by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The overall monorail project covers a 19.17 km stretch in the Chembur-Wadala-Jacob Circle corridor, which will be the second longest corridor with 17 stations. (The longest one is Japan’s Osaka Monorail). What is Monorail? A monorail is a rail-based transportation system based on a single rail, which acts as its sole support and its guideway. The term is also used variously to describe the beam of the system, or the vehicles travelling on such a beam or track. The beam in a monorail system is narrower than the vehicle. After the launch of Mumbai monorail, India joined the elite group of countries viz. the U.S., Germany, China, Japan, Australia and Malaysia that run monorails. 3 | Compendium- February 2014 Euthanasia Plea Issue: Apex Court Refers Matter to Constitution Bench The Supreme Court of India referred the issue of legalizing euthanasia in the country to a five-judge Constitution bench. Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering. Due to conflicted opinions on euthanasia, the apex court stated that the Constitution bench will go into all aspects of the issue and take a final decision on framing guidelines. The PIL filed by NGO “Common Cause” had contended that a person whose life was ebbing out should be allowed to die, as the continuance of the life with the support system was an unnatural extension of the natural life span. The Centre had vociferously opposed the plea terming it as “suicide” which could not be allowed in the country. Jurisdictions where euthanasia or assisted suicide is legal – the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Estonia, Albania, and the US states of Washington, Oregon and Montana. Justice B.N. Srikrishna Committee recommendations to be reviewed by a 9-member IRDA panel The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) set up a 9-member panle to review the 14 non-legislative recommendations made by the Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC). The role of panel is to: Examine the extant legislative and regulatory framework in compliance 14 Non-Legislative Recommendations (NLRs). Identify the gaps and possible improvements in the extant framework vis-a-vis the 14 NLR. Suggest changes or modifications to the extant framework in compliance with the 14 NLR. About Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC) report: Headed by former Justice B.N.Srikrishna Contains 12 key proposals and these do not require legislative changes. The financial sector regulators will take serious action with high penalties on violators and time bound investigations that would act as deterrents and improve consumer protection. The proposals that called for penalties discourage the future violations as a multiple of the illegitimate gain of violations. Regulators should also put in place internal manuals on conducting investigations. The investigating officer would be kept different from the officer who would decide the penalty for the crime. 4 | Compendium- February 2014 Mukul Mudgal Committee report on IPL spot fixing scandal The Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee submitted its report to the Supreme Court after investigating allegations of spot-fixing and betting in the Indian Premier League (IPL). As per the Mukul Mugdal Committee report The allegations of betting and passing of information against Mr. Gurunath Meiyappan (the Son-in-Law of BCCI president N Srinivasan) stand proved. More investigation is needed against Rajasthan Royals owner Mr. Raj Kundra, who is facing charges of betting and fixing the match. The allegations of spot-fixing and match fixing against five players – Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan, Ajit Chandila, Amit Singh and Siddharth Trivedi – on the basis of evidence provided by Delhi Police were facing criminal trial and adequate punishment has been imposed upon them by the BCCI. Constitution of IPL Governing Council, the two teams Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals may be suspended. As per the Clause 11.3 of the IPL franchise agreement in any case, if the team, official, team owner or anyone else associated with the team tries to bring in bad image on the league, then the team can be suspended immediately. Recommendations of Mukul Mudgal panel Senior players should make ensure that younger players are aware about the spot-fixing and other things that tarnish the image of the sport as well as the player or team. The game should be made more clear and transparent. Information should be shared with other agencies by BCCI. BCCI should make a proactive approach against players and bookies instead of wait for the media probe. In its recommendation, it has also suggested getting registered agents of the players by BCCI and those agents should not be allowed to travel with the players. About Mukul Mugdal Committee Formed: By Supreme Court in October 2013. Purpose: To investigate spot-fixing in IPL matches. Chairman: Mr. Mukul Mudgal, the Retired Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court. Other members: Additional Solicitor L N Rao and Nilay Dutta. The panel led by Justice Mudgal made the report after compiling statements of players, officials associated to IPL and Journalists. 5 | Compendium- February 2014 CSO: India’s Economy to grow by 4.9% in 2013-14 As per the advanced estimates released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during 2013-14 is estimated at 4.9% as compared to the growth rate of 4.5% in 2012- 13. The advance estimates of national income at constant (2004-05) and current prices, for the financial year 2013-14 Based on expected level of agricultural production from the Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation(DAC), Index of Industrial Production (IIP), monthly accounts of Union Government Expenditure maintained by Controller General of Accounts (CGA) and of State Government expenditure maintained by Comptroller and Auditor general of India (CAG). Per capita income in real terms (at 2004-05 prices) during 2013-14 is probably to attain a level of Rs 39,961 as compared to the first revised estimate for the year 2012-13 of Rs 38,856. The growth rate in per capita income is estimated at 2.8% as against the previous year’s estimate of 2.1%. Per capita income at current prices during 2013-14 is estimated to Rs 74,920 as compared to Rs 67,839 during 2012-13, shows a rise of 10.4%.