1 – 21 National 1. cabinet nod for women’s reservation bill Contents 8. The world lost a language. 10. A.P. quota for sections of muslims quashed Manidha Naeyam 13. World spice congress. Current Affairs Magazine 14. Kolkata group demands universal, justiciable food entitlements 19. The Indus waters treaty 22-29 International Issue 8 22. India-born businessman has been nominated to the canadian senate February 2010 23. India, new zealand start fta talks 23. Landmark deal in northern ireland 24. Yanukovych wins ukraine run-off Available Online 26. Sri lanka loses eu benefits @ www.saidais.com 29- 42 ECONOMY 29.FAQ – finance commission. 31. ‘manufacture in india, sell in india and make money in india’. 32. Oil exploration pact signed with hungary Head Office 34. RBI introduces new category of nbfcs Manidha Naeyam 35. U.k. investor pulls out of vedanta IAS & IPS Free 42 – 46 Environment Coaching Centre No.28 First Main 42. Mansagar lake Road C.I.T. Nagar 43. A repository of seeds on cliff top of himalayas Chennai-600035 mntcurrentaffairs@ 45. International conference on biodiversity - chennai gmail.com 43- 49 Science & Technology mntcurrentaffairs@ yahoo.com 50 - 51 Personalities FEBRUARY 1- 28 2010 NATIONAL CABINET NOD FOR WOMEN’S RESERVATION BILL The Union Cabinet approved the Women’s Reservation Bill, 2008, that seeks to reserve 33 per cent seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. The Parliamentary Standing Committee has approved the 108th Constitutional Amendment Bill in its original form with minor changes. WOMEN'S RESERVATION BILL - FAQ The Women's Reservation Bill has been a political raw nerve for nearly a decade now. It has always triggered heated debates in Parliament and outside.Its advocates say the Bill is essential for active political participation of women.Opponents argue that reservation would only help women of elitist groups gain political power, aggravating the plight of the poor and deprived sections. How did the Women's Reservation Bill originate? The proposed legislation to reserve 33.3 percent seats in Parliament and state legislatures for women was drafted first by the H D Deve Gowda-led United Front government. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on September 12, 1996. Though it has been introduced in Parliament several times since then, the Bill could not be passed because of lack of political consensus. What does the Bill provide? Reservation for women at each level of legislative decision-making, starting with the Lok Sabha, down to state and local legislatures. If the Bill is passed, one-third of the total available seats would be reserved for women in national, state, or local governments. In continuation of the existing provisions already mandating reservations for scheduled caste and scheduled tribes, one-third of such SC and ST candidates must be women. What is the argument in favour of the Bill? Its proponents say it would lead to gender equality in Parliament, resulting in the empowerment of women as a whole. Historically, the Bill's supporters say, women are deprived in India. Increased political participation of women will help them fight the abuse, discrimination, and inequality they suffer from. Does reservation for women exist in panchayat elections? Manidha Naeyam I.A.S & I.P.S Free Coaching Centre 1 FEBRUARY 1- 28 2010 Yes, 33.3 per cent seats in panchayat elections have been reserved for women already. The experience of women's reservation at the panchayat level has been very encouraging. A million women are being elected to the panchayats in the country every five years. This is the largest mobilisation of women in public life in the world. Then why is there opposition to the Bill? Various political parties have staunchly opposed it because they fear many of their male leaders would not get a chance to fight elections if 33.3 percent seats are reserved for women. The Bill has also been opposed by politicians from the socially and economically backward classes. They argue that reservation would only help women of the elitist groups to gain seats, therefore causing further discrimination and under-representation to the poor and backward classes. Who are the main political opponents of the Bill? From day one, Lalu Prasad Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Mulayam Singh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party have been the main political forces opposed to the Bill. Why? The SP and RJD are opposed to the bill in its present form and want a quota within quota for women from backward classes. Lalu says the Bill 'would deny adequate representation to other sections of society.' He favours 10 to 15 percent reservation for women. 'My party is not opposed to women's reservation, but the case of Dalits, backward classes, Muslims and other religious minorities should not be overlooked,' is his argument.There should be reservation within reservation," said Lalu. Mulayam favours making it mandatory for political parties to give 10 percent of election tickets to women. If 33.3 per cent reservation for women is added to the already existing 22.5 percent for scheduled castes and tribes, more than 55 per cent of seats in Parliament would be reserved. This would not be fair to other sections of the population. Most members opposing say that it is better to create reservation of women in political parties than in Parliament. The provision of rotation of reserved states is also debated. It can reduce the incentive of the elected MPs to spend energy because he or she may not be able to re-seek the mandate from the same constituency. Manidha Naeyam I.A.S & I.P.S Free Coaching Centre 2 FEBRUARY 1- 28 2010 What is the status of the Bill now? The Bill had been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice, and Personnel, which gave its report in December 2009. It recommended passage of the Bill in its present form and suggested that the issue should not be left to the discretion of political parties. The central government cleared the Bill on February 25, 2010. For such a bill to pass, the Constitution has laid out an elaborate procedure. So, even if the Rajya Sabha passes the bill its real impact will be felt only when it passes through the Lok Sabha. Political pundits, sociologists, political scientists, feminists and historians and almost everybody has said that if the bill becomes an act then it will be the biggest socio-political news since independence. 4 ‘Chief Ministers’ for Meghalaya Meghalaya now has four leaders in the rank of Chief Minister. The State government has elevated Pradesh Congress Committee president Lyngdoh from the rank of Deputy Chief Minister — which he was enjoying as political adviser to Chief Minister D.D. Lapang — to Chief Minister. The political leaders already enjoying the rank of Chief Minister are Dr. Lapang; the former Chief Minister, J.D. Rymbai, as Chairman of the Meghalaya Economic Development Council; and another former Chief Minister, Donkupar Roy, as Chairman of the State Planning Board. PTI’S DIAMOND JUBILEE Employees of The Press Trust of India (PTI) will celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the newswire for three days from February 2. Press Trust of India is the largest news agency in India. It is headquartered in Delhi and is a nonprofit cooperative among more than 450 Indian newspapers and has a staff of about 2,000 writers spread across 150 offices nationwide. It took over the Indian operations of the Associated Press and Reuters soon after India's independence on August 15, 1947. It provides news coverage and information of the region in both English and Hindi. Its current chairman is Mr. V.K. Chopra Manidha Naeyam I.A.S & I.P.S Free Coaching Centre 3 FEBRUARY 1- 28 2010 ‘MOZART OF MADRAS’ BAGS TWO GRAMMYS Oscar-winner A.R. Rahman continued his winning streak, bagging two Grammy awards for his foot-tapping number ‘Jai Ho’ and outstanding soundtrack for the film Slumdog Millionaire. The composer shared the award for ‘Jai Ho’ with lyricist Gulzar and Tanvi Shah, who penned the Spanish words of the international hit. Rahman won in the category of Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media for Slumdog Millionaire and Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media for ‘Jai Ho.’ The ‘Mozart of Madras’ bagged two Academy awards for his music in Slumdog Millionaire, besides winning a Golden Globe and a BAFTA award. AMITABH TO BE GUJARAT’S BRAND AMBASSADOR Hindi film icon Amitabh Bachchan accepted the Gujarat government’s offer to be the new “brand ambassador” for the State . Mr. Bachchan had volunteered to act as the brand ambassador for the State during his visit to Gandhinagar on January 6 for a special screening of his film “Paa,” for Mr. Modi and other top dignitaries in the State, seeking tax exemption for the film. KALBELIA DANCE. Kalbelia is the one of the most sensuous dance forms of Rajasthan, performed by the kalbelia tribe. The Kalbelias were known for their frequent movement from one place to another in ancient times. Their main occupation is catching snakes and trading snake venom. Hence, the dance movements and the costumes of their community bear a resemblance to that of the serpents. They are also known as Sapera, Jogira or Jogi. They follow Hindu religion. They trace their ancestry from Kanlipar, the 12th disciple of Guru Gorakhnath. The largest number of the population of Kalbelias is in Pali district, then Ajmer, Chittorgarh and Udaipur district. They live a nomadic life. Manidha Naeyam I.A.S & I.P.S Free Coaching Centre 4 FEBRUARY 1- 28 2010 SURAJKUND CRAFTS MELA Haryana Tourism cohosts the yearly Surajkund Crafts Mela (Fair) highlighting some of the finest handloom and handicraft traditions of India.