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Home , Akhtarul Wasey, Anil Bordia, Anvita Abbi, Bajrang Lal Takhar, Balwant Thakur, Brahmdeo Ram Pandit

IAS

General Studies Series

Current Affairs (Prelims), 2013 by Abhimanu’s IAS Study Group

© 2013 Abhimanu Visions (E) Pvt Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system or otherwise, without prior written permission of the owner/ publishers or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act, 1957. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claim for the damages.

2013 EDITION

Disclaimer: Information contained in this work has been obtained by Abhimanu Visions from sources believed to be reliable. However neither Abhimanu's nor their author guarantees the accuracy and completeness of any information published herein. Though every effort has been made to avoid any error or omissions in this booklet, in spite of this error may creep in. Any mistake, error or discrepancy noted may be brought in the notice of the publisher, which shall be taken care in the next edition but neither Abhimanu's nor its authors are responsible for it. The owner/publisher reserves the rights to withdraw or amend this publication at any point of time without any notice.

TABLE OF CONTENTS PERSONS IN NEWS ...... 13 NATIONAL AFFAIRS ...... 39 SC JUDGMENT ON RIGHT TO EDUCATION ACT ...... 39 Provisions Of The Act ...... 39 Supreme Court Judgment ...... 40 Summary Of The Judgment ...... 40 AFSPA ...... 42 What is the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act? ...... 42 When did the act extend to and Kashmir? ...... 42 What are the special powers given to army officials? ...... 42 What has been the role of the judiciary? ...... 43 Has there been any review of the Act? ...... 43 What is the present status of the Act? ...... 44 THE J&K INTERLOCUTORS GROUP ...... 44 Political Recommendations ...... 44 Cultural, Economic and Social Recommendations ...... 45 Roadmap Proposed ...... 45 GOVERNMENT DECIDES COMMON TEST FOR ADMISSION ACROSS ALL GOVERNMENT FUNDED ENGINEERING COURSES ...... 46 BIMAL GURUNG ELECTED CEO OF GTA ...... 47 AADHAAR ENABED SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM ...... 48 NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON DIRECT CASH TRANSFERS ...... 48 Proposed tasks of the National Committee on Direct Cash Transfers ...... 49 UNIVERSAL SERVICE OBLIGATION (USO) ...... 50 SECTION 66A OF THE IT ACT ...... 50 LAND ACQUISITION BILL ...... 51 UGC SCHEME ON INNOVATION UNIVERSITIES ...... 51 RASHTRIYA BAL SWASTHYA KARYAKRAM ...... 51 TO MISS UN MDG GOALS ...... 52 SUPREME COURT ALLOWS MAINTENANCE WORKS IN MULLAPERIYAR DAM BY ...... 53 Mullaperiyar Dam ...... 53 What is the issue? ...... 53 NATIONAL POLICY FOR CHILDREN 2012 ...... 54 GOVERNMENT APPROVES A COMPLETE BAN ON EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN ...... 54 RASHTRIYA AAROGYA NIDHI SCHEME LAUNCHED ...... 55 WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY LAUNCHED A WEB PORTAL NAMED TRACK CHILD ...... 55

SAKSHAM ...... 56 MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT LAUNCHED NIRMAL BHARAT YATRA ...... 56 PASSIVE EUTHANASIA SUPPORTED BY THE LAW PANEL ...... 57 What is Euthanasia? ...... 58 INDIA AND WORLD BANK SIGNED 500 MILLION DOLLAR DEAL FOR SHIKSHA ABHYAN .... 58 What is Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan? ...... 58 MOS WAS SIGNED TO PROVIDE AUTONOMY FOR THE HILLS COUNCIL IN ...... 59 PLAN TO TACKLE JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS ...... 59 About Japanese Encephalitis? ...... 60 NATIONAL DATA CENTRE FOR UIDAI TO COME UP IN GURGAON ...... 60 NATIONAL GIRL CHILD DAY CELEBRATED IN INDIA ON 24 JANUARY ...... 61 Objective of the National Girl Child Day ...... 61 HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY LAUNCHED CARAVAN ...... 61 ELECTRONICS PROJECT PROPOSAL SYSTEM E-PPS LAUNCHED BY KAPIL SIBAL ...... 62 What is Electronic Project Proposal System (e-PPS)? ...... 62 Processes Supported by the e-PPS System ...... 62 Impact of the e-PPS System ...... 62 NATIONAL COUNTER TERRORISM CENTRE (NCTC) ...... 63 What will be the powers of the proposed body? ...... 63 What will be the composition of the NCTC? ...... 63 What would be the implications of this step? ...... 64 How is the Indian NCTC different from the one in the USA? ...... 64 Why is it being opposed? ...... 65 What changes are being suggested? ...... 65 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ...... 66 GREECE ...... 66 ELECTIONS AND FORMATION OF GOVT...... 66 What is Greece Crisis? ...... 67 DOCTOR WHO HELPED CATCH OSAMA SENTENCED ...... 67 POLITICAL CRISIS IN ...... 68 Nepal Constituent Assembly ...... 68 ...... 68 Constituent Assembly approves final draft of country’s Constitution ...... 68 Parliament of Egypt Passed Draft of the New Constitution ...... 68 Morsi signs draft constitution ...... 69 Morsi imposes emergency ...... 70 ...... 71 President Thein Sein declared Emergency in West Myanmar ...... 71 Historical perspective on the Issue ...... 71 India's Viewpoint ...... 72 UNITED NATIONS MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS 2012, REPORT ...... 73 What are UN Millenium Development Goals? ...... 74 INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY SET UP SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR IRAN ...... 75

UNHRC RESOLUTION TO PROTECT THE ONLINE HUMAN RIGHTS OF GLOBAL CITIZENS ... 75 UNHRC RESOLUTION ON ...... 76 ICC SENTENCED CONGOLESE WARLORD THOMAS LUBANGA TO 14-YEAR IMPRISONMENT ...... 76 LIBYA ...... 77 Libya's NTC Handed Power to Newly Appointed National Assembly ...... 77 National Assembly of Libya rejected the New Cabinet Proposed by Prime Minister ...... 78 SENKAKU/ DIAOYU ISLANDS DISPUTE ...... 78 What is the Dispute all about? ...... 79 INDIA, MYANMAR AND DECIDED TO IMPLEMENT TRILATERAL CONNECTIVITY PROJECT BY 2016 ...... 79 UK, SCOTLAND AGREE ON REFERENDUM ON LATTER'S INDEPENDENCE ...... 80 SYRIA ...... 80 UNGA Resolution On Syria ...... 81 UN Security Council decided not to extend the UN Observer’s Mission in Syria ...... 82 Lakhdar Brahimi appointed New Joint Special Representative of UN and Arab League for Syria ...... 83 Geneva Plan on Syria ...... 83 MALI ...... 84 ...... 84 Pakistan’s Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has agreed to open the graft case against the President Asif Ali Zardari ...... 84 Opted out of D-8 Summit Scheduled to be Held in Pakistan ...... 84 Pakistan approved the Deal which Handed over Gwadar Port to ...... 85 Iran and Pakistan launched Gas Pipeline Project ...... 85 UNGA RESOLUTION ON DEATH PENALTY ...... 86 MALDIVES ...... 87 Maldivian Court issued an arrest warrant against ex-President Mohamed Nasheed ...... 87 Nasheed takes refuge at Indian embassy ...... 87 FIVE NEW NON-PERMANENT MEMBER COUNTRIES ELECTED TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL . 88 COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT AND FARC LAUNCHED PEACE TALKS ...... 88 OBAMA REELECTED US PRESIDENT ...... 89 AFRICAN LEADERS SIGNED UN-BROKERED ACCORD IN DR CONGO ...... 89 POLITICAL TRANSITION IN CHINA ...... 89 MISCELLANEOUS ...... 90 International Womens' Day ...... 90 World Consumer Rights Day ...... 90 World Water Day ...... 90 World Food Day Celebrated worldwide on 16 October 2012 ...... 91 RIMPAC ...... 91 Dongfeng-41 ...... 92 Liaoning: China's first Aircraft Carrier ...... 92 SUMMITS/MEETS/ CONFERENCES ...... 93

G20 SUMMIT ...... 93 The G 20 Declaration ...... 94 India's Contribution ...... 95 INVESTMENT SUMMIT ON AFGHANISTAN ...... 95 Key Highlights ...... 95 Objective of the Summit ...... 96 TOKYO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AFGHANISTAN ...... 96 Tokyo Declaration ...... 96 International assistance in Nation Building ...... 97 SCO SUMMIT ...... 98 RIO+20 CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ...... 98 The themes for Rio+20 Conference ...... 99 Background of the Rio+20 Conference ...... 99 OIC SUMMIT ...... 100 About Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) ...... 101 NAM SUMMIT ...... 101 SIXTH MEKONG–GANGA COOPERATION MEETING ...... 102 IOR-ARC ...... 102 GALLE DIALOGUE ...... 103 21ST ASEAN SUMMIT ...... 103 Issues Discussed ...... 103 Documents Signed and Adopted ...... 103 New Secretary General for ASEAN ...... 104 About ASEAN ...... 104 THE SEVENTH EAST ASIA SUMMIT ...... 104 Issues Discussed ...... 105 TENTH ASEAN-INDIA SUMMIT ...... 105 Marked Commemorative Activities ...... 105 Trade between ASEAN and India ...... 106 Other Agreements ...... 107 Concerns towards Climate Change and Environment ...... 107 DOHA CLIMATE TALKS ...... 108 Highlights of the Doha Climate Talk ...... 109 WORLD CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS (WCIT-12) ...... 109 The main provisions of the treaty ...... 110 11TH PRAVASI BHARTIYA DIVAS ...... 110 About Pravasi Bharatiya Divas ...... 111 FIFTH BRICS SUMMIT ...... 111 About BRICS ...... 112 BILATERAL ISSUES ...... 113 INDO-PAKISTAN ...... 113 New Indo Pak Visa Regime ...... 113 ICA Decision On Kishanganga ...... 115

INDO-CHINA ...... 117 Talks on sidelines of Rio+20 Summit ...... 117 India China agreed to set up Joint Working Group on Trade and Investments ...... 117 The 2nd India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue held in ...... 118 What is India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue? ...... 120 Meeting on Sidelines of BRICS Summit ...... 120 INDIA- 2ND FOREIGN POLICY AND SECURITY DIALOGUE ...... 121 The India-South Korea Bilateral trade and CEPA ...... 121 INDIAN, SIGN DTAA ...... 122 Highlights of the Meet ...... 122 INDIA-CELAC MEETING ...... 122 About Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) ...... 122 Objective of the meet ...... 122 Collective Discussions ...... 123 INDIA, IRAN AND AFGHANISTAN AGREED FOR TRANSIT CO-OPERATION THROUGH CHABAHAR PORT ...... 123 INDIA, AFGHANISTAN AND IRAN TO SET UP JOINT WORKING GROUP TO SPUR TRADE .. 124 US, INDIA AND AFGHANISTAN: FIRST TRILATERAL DIALOGUE ...... 124 SECOND INDIA-AFGHANISTAN- TRILATERAL DIALOGUE ...... 125 INDIA AND TAJIKISTAN ...... 125 INDIA- ANNOUNCE NUCLEAR DEAL NEGOTIATIONS ...... 126 The other memorandums are: ...... 126 A CULTURAL CARNIVAL TO CELEBRATE SIX DECADES OF INDO-GERMAN TIES ...... 127 INDO- ...... 127 The 2nd India-Japan 2+2 Dialogue held in Tokyo ...... 127 India, US and Japan Trilateral meet ...... 128 First India-Japan Maritime Affairs Dialogue was held in New Delhi ...... 128 INDIA-US JOINT WORKING GROUP MEETING ...... 129 INDIA-UK ...... 129 India and UK Amended pact on Avoidance of Double Taxation ...... 129 INDIA-UK SUMMIT, 2013 ...... 130 Economic Growth and Cooperation ...... 130 MALDIVES CANCELLED ITS BIGGEST FOREIGN INVESTMENT PROJECT WITH GMR GROUP ...... 132 VLADIMIR PUTIN'S INDIA VISIT ...... 132 ECONOMIC AFFAIRS ...... 134 NATIONAL ...... 134 General Anti Avoidance Rule ...... 134 New Trade Policy ...... 137 Rbi Raises Ceiling Of FII Investment In G-Secs ...... 138 High Level Committee On Financing Infrastructure ...... 138 Rbi Directed NBFCs To Maintain Net-Owned Funds (NOF) At Rs 3 Crore By 31 March 2013 ...... 139

Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission ...... 140 RBI-BoJ Currency Swap ...... 141 INDIA-ASEAN FTA IN SERVICES & INVESTMENT FINALIZED ...... 141 Mahartana status to BHEL & GAIL ...... 143 Regulator SEBI permitted seven Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) to start Operation in India ...... 144 RBI Stipulated The Norms For Securitisation Of Loans By NBFCs ...... 145 Union Finance Ministry approved 49 Percent FDI in Insurance and Pension Sector ...... 146 SEBI allowed Partial Flexibility in IDRs for Investors ...... 147 Foreign Investment cap hiked to 74 percent for Broadcasting Services ...... 147 RBI Expanded the Lending Norms on Priority Sectors ...... 148 National Dairy Plan (NDP) ...... 149 New RBI Guidelines on Banking Licenses ...... 149 Cabinet gives nod to two subsidiaries of Air India: AIESL and AITSL ...... 150 Proposal for 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retail and 49 percent in Aviation passed ...... 150 Union Cabinet of India approved the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy ...... 152 Miscellaneous ...... 152 INTERNATIONAL ...... 155 SAGE (South Asian Gas Enterprise) ...... 155 GSPA (Gas Sale Price Agreement) for TAPI ...... 156 decided to set up a 2 Billion Dollar Swap Facility for SAARC Nations 156 Pakistan out of FEMA negative list ...... 157 UK Bank CEO resigns after LIBOR fixing ...... 157 India 3rd most preferred Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) destination ...... 158 India 59th on Global Competitive Index ...... 158 , India set up Investment Consortium ...... 158 and China Signed the Currency Swap Agreement ...... 158 Human Development Report, 2013 ...... 159 Miscellaneous ...... 160 AWARDS ...... 162 SPORTS ...... 162 FIH Player of the Year Award ...... 162 FIFA Ballon d’or ...... 162 Laureus World Sports awards ...... 163 National Sports Awards ...... 163 BCCI Awards, 2012 ...... 165 IAAF World Athlete of the Year ...... 165 ICC Awards ...... 166 LITERATURE & ARTS ...... 166 Literature ...... 166 Cinema ...... 172 OTHER INTERNATIONAL AWARDS ...... 175 World Food Prize 2012 ...... 175

Norman Borlaug Award ...... 176 Ramon Magsaysay Award ...... 176 Order of Australia ...... 177 Congressional Gold Medal ...... 178 2012 Nobel Prizes ...... 178 The Right Livelihood Award ...... 179 OTHER NATIONAL AWARDS ...... 179 National Awards, 2013 ...... 179 National Sadbhavana Puraskar ...... 185 Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award, 2012 ...... 185 National Integration Award ...... 186 Tagore Peace Prize ...... 187 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize ...... 187 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development, ...... 188 Borlaug Award ...... 188 CSIR U.N. Brahmachari Award ...... 188 INFOSYS Prize ...... 189 Outstanding Parliamentarian Award ...... 189 Bangladesh Liberation War Honour ...... 190 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT ...... 191 NATIONAL ...... 191 Bay of Large Marine Ecosystem Project ...... 191 National Telecom Policy, 2012 ...... 192 Clean India Campaign ...... 194 MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS MAKES IT MANDATORY TO LABEL GM FOODS ...... 194 Supreme Court Bans Tourism Activities Near Jarawa Habitat ...... 195 New Water Policy Adopted ...... 195 WESTERN GHATS IN UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST ...... 195 Tourism ...... 196 eBiz Portal ...... 197 PSLV-C20 ...... 198 Save Ganga, Save Dolphin campaign initiated in Uttar Pradesh ...... 198 Delhi Government Ties up with INTACH for Conservation of Monuments ...... 199 Miscellaneous ...... 200 INTERNATIONAL ...... 201 World Environment Day, 2012 ...... 201 Russian-made Soyuz craft launched from Baikonur cosmodrome in ...... 202 NASA’s Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array launched to explore Holes ...... 202 China's Fourth Human Spaceflight ...... 203 China sent its First woman Astronaut into Space ...... 204 The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on Global Food Security ...... 204 Mars Science Laboratory Space craft: Curiosity Rover ...... 205 18th International Day for preservation of the Ozone Layer celebrated worldwide ...... 206

New Earth Sized Planet Discovered in Neighboring Solar System ...... 207 Australia Created World’s Largest Marine Reserve to Protect Ocean Environment ...... 208 NASA’s Mercury-orbiting probe discovered ice on the planet ...... 208 CCAMLR Meet ...... 209 ' feat ...... 210 World's largest Optical Telescope to be developed by Five-Nation Consortium ...... 210 NASA launches a New Communication Satellite called TDRS ...... 210 DEFENCE ...... 212 INDIA LARGEST IMPORTER OF WEAPONS ...... 212 PRITHVI ...... 213 Prithvi I ...... 213 Prithvi II ...... 213 Prithvi III ...... 213 Dhanush ...... 213 K-15/Sagarika ...... 214 Shaurya ...... 214 Nag ...... 214 Akash ...... 215 Astra BVRAAM ...... 215 AGNI ...... 215 Agni I ...... 215 Agni II ...... 216 Agni III ...... 216 Agni IV ...... 216 Agni V ...... 216 ADVANCED AIR DEFENCE (AAD) ...... 216 BRAHMOS ...... 217 NIRBHAY ...... 217 INS Tarkash ...... 218 INS Saryu ...... 218 P-8I Maritime Surveillance Aircraft ...... 218 ARMY'S FIRST INDIGENOUS CHOPPER: RUDRA ...... 219 EKUVERIN 2012 ...... 219 DOSTI XI ...... 220 SPORTS ...... 221 IPL PLAYERS PENALIZED ...... 221 FIDE WORLD CHESS TITLE ...... 222 LEGENDARY CUBAN BOXER TEOFILO STEVENSON DIES ...... 223 FRENCH OPEN, 2012 ...... 223 EURO CUP, 2012 ...... 224 WIMBELDON 2012 ...... 224 TOUR de ...... 225

About Tour de France ...... 225 OLYMPICS, 2012 ...... 225 India at London, 2012 ...... 228 LONDON PARALYMPICS, 2012 ...... 229 IOA THREE-MEMBER COMMITTEE TO RESOLVE ISSUES IN INDIAN HOCKEY ...... 230 Committee's Opinion ...... 230 US OPEN, 2012 ...... 231 LIONEL MESSI WINS GOLDEN BOOT AWARD ...... 231 Some of the Records in his name ...... 232 IOC SUSPENDS IOA ...... 232 LANCE ARMSTRONG STRIPPED OFF HIS TITLES ...... 233 AUSTRALIAN OPEN, 2013 ...... 233 FAUJA SINGH RETIRES ...... 234 OFFICIAL OF 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP UNVEILED ...... 234 Previous FIFA World Cup ...... 235 INDIAN BOXING BODY BANNED ...... 235 MISCELLANEOUS ...... 235 LEGISLATIONS ...... 239 THE MICRO FINANCE INSTITUTIONS (DEVELOPMENT AND REGULATION) BILL, 2012 ... 239 THE COPYRIGHT (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2012 ...... 241 PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AGAINST SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT, 2012 ...... 242 What was the need for such legislation? ...... 242 What are the key provisions of the Act? ...... 242 What is the issue with ‘age of consent’? ...... 242 THE WHISTLEBLOWERS PROTECTION BILL, 2011 ...... 243 CITIZENS CHARTER BILL ...... 244 What does the bill propose? ...... 244 What is the mechanism for grievance redressal? ...... 244 Is there a right to appeal against the decisions of the GRO? ...... 245 THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AGAINST SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT WORK PLACE BILL, 2010 ...... 245 SIDBI (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2012 ...... 246 THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT, 2012 ...... 247 NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY BILL CLEARED ...... 248 THE PIRACY BILL, 2012 ...... 249 What are the objectives of the Act? ...... 249 What is the significance of this Legislation? ...... 250 What is the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)? ...... 250 What are the highlights of UNCLOS? ...... 251 India and UNCLOS ...... 251 Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) and its legal status in India ...... 252 COMMISSIONS/ COMMITEES ...... 253

JUSTICE DM DHARAMADHIKARI COMMITTEE REPORT ...... 253 JUSTICE MUKUL MUDGAL COMMISSION ON DOPING IN INDIAN SPORTS ...... 254 THE JUSTICE JS VERMA COMMITTEE ...... 255 Differences between Govt. Ordinance & Panel's Recommendations ...... 256 PITRODA TO REVIEW THE FUNCTIONING OF PRASAR BHARATI ...... 257 NARESH CHANDRA COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY ...... 258 Kargil Review Committee ...... 258 MUKUL MUDGAL COMMISSION ON FILM CENSORSHIP ...... 259 RAVINDRA DHOLAKIA COMMITTEE ON RATIONALIZATION OF AIR INDIA EXPENDITURE ...... 259 20TH LAW COMMISSION OF INDIA ...... 260 14TH FINANCE COMMISSION ...... 260 Additional Mandate ...... 260 MISCELLANEOUS ...... 261

1 PERSONS IN NEWS • Rahul Khullar, Commerce Secretary was appointed as the new Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)1. He succeeded J S Sarma. He will lead TRAI during its most difficult time when the proposed high 2G spectrum pricing was opposed by all the Telecom Operators. • Scott Thompson, Yahoo CEO stepped down from his role amid controversy about his CV and fake degree. Yahoo’s global media head Ross Levinsohn replaced him as the interim CEO of Yahoo. Later, Yahoo appointed Google executives Marissa Mayer and Henrique de Castro as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) respectively. • Francois Hollande has taken over as the next President of France. He succeeded Nicolas Sarkozy. • Jean-Marc Ayrolt taken over as the next Prime Minister of France. He succeeded Francois Fillon. • : Visually impaired Chinese activist, who fled from house arrest.

1 TRAI, established in 1997, is an independent regulatory body established by the Government of India to regulate the

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• Sarath Fonseka: Former Sri Lankan Army Chief (2005) & Chief of Defence Staff (2009), has been released from Prison. He contested 2010 Presidential elections against incumbent, Mahinda Rajapaksa. • Tomislav Nikolic, the Serbian Progressive Party leader won the ’s presidential election on 20th May, 2012. Nikolic beat his centrist opponent, the incumbent Boris Tadic in a closely contested election. Nikolic accounted for 50.21% of the total vote, against 46.77% for Tadic, with 40% of votes counted. • : Veteran Bengali Author, Mahashweta Devi on 23rd May 2012, resigned as the chairperson of the Bangla Academy2. The 86-year-old litterateur decided to quit as she was left annoyed with the manner in which the award committee selected the recipient for the prestigious Vidyasagar Award. The award committee had been set up by Mahasweta Devi herself after becoming chairperson of the academy. The award is named after 19th-century social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, who himself was a noted Bengali literary figure. The award committee had selected Shibaji Bandhopadyay as the recipient of the award for the year 2010. The recipient of several national and international awards, Mahashweta Devi was given the Award in 1979, while she was conferred the , one of India’s highest awards in the field of literature, in 1996. In 1997, she was given the Ramon Magsaysay Award for her contribution to the field of Journalism, Literature, and the Creative Communication Arts. • Peter Brabeck-Letmathe: Austrian businessman and Chairman & CEO of Nestle Group has been appointed as Chairman of Formula One Motor Racing.

2 It is an autonomous body set up to promote the . The body falls under the Information and Cultural Department of , which is controlled by the state Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee.

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• Charles Taylor: Former Liberian President sentenced to 50 years for arming rebels in Sierra Leone. • Julian Assange, the Wikileaks founder loses his appeal against extradition to . He finally took refuge at Ecuador embassy in London fearing deportation to Sweden and was granted political asylum by Ecuador. The situation threatened to snowball into a major diplomatic face-off between UK and Ecuador, before the situation was diffused. The foreign ministry of Ecuador announced that Ecuador would be granting Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange a political asylum on 16th August, 2012. This decision will help Assange shield from being extradited from Britain to Sweden, where he is facing charges of rape and sexual molestation. In June, 2012, Assange sought shelter in the Ecuadorian embassy in Britain after filing a petition seeking asylum from being extradited to Sweden. Assange claims that the accusations are a device of getting him to the US authorities so he could be indicted for divulging State secretes. Following this, Ecuador requested the British government to grant the embassy permission to fly Assange to Ecuador, but the British authorities have declined any such permission. This decision taken by the British government did not go down well with Ecuador and both the nations have started a war of words. Assange shot to fame in the year 2010 after he leaked a number of US diplomatic cables and videos regarding the war in Iraq and Afghanistan through Wikileaks. Following the incident, USA and other countries whose secrets were divulged jumped into considerable action. Assange and his team argue that the alleged sex crimes allegations and these accusations are untrue and falsely built up. • Gen Bikram Singh, has taken over as the 25th Chief of the for 2 years and 3 months. He has succeeded Gen V K Singh whose tenure was full of controversies and came to end on 31st May 2012. Bikram Singh, 59, will remain at the top position for next two years and three months. Prior to his appointment to the top post, General Bikram served as commanding officer of the Eastern Army Command. He is the second Sikh to reach the top notch position, the first having been General JJ Singh.

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In his 40-year-long illustrious career with the Indian army, General Bikram Singh held a number of vital positions in counter insurgency areas as the Corps Commander of Srinagar-based 15 Corps and Akhnoor-based 10 Division as Major General. The officer joined the Sikh Light Infantry regiment on 31st March 1972 after attending the prestigious Indian Military Academy (IMA). At the IMA, he held the appointment of battalion cadet adjutant and was awarded the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles gold medal for 'tactics and leadership' and the Shriganesh Trophy. The officer was in charge of media briefing during the Kargil war. At Military Operations Directorate in Kargil he was assigned with the task to brief the media about the developments taking place in the war. Singh attended the US Army War College in Pennsylvania and has served with the United Nations peace force in Central America and as the deputy force commander and GOC of Eastern Division in the Democratic Republic of Congo. • Tin Aung Myint Oo, Myanmar’s first Vice President resigned on 4 July 2012 due to health reasons. The move, which was expected to begin a broader reshuffle in the government, could see the appointment of some more reformers to Myanmar's cabinet. Tin Aung Myint Oo, a former army general was widely regarded as a hard- liner. He took over as the vice president in 2011 after being selected by a bloc of military officers in the country's legislature. The resignation is likely to accelerate the pace of economic change in Myanmar after the European Union and the US began lifting their longstanding economic sanctions against the country during the past several months. • Anand Mahindra has become the new Chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra and will succeed Keshub Mahindra. Keshub Mahindra will become the chairman emeritus of the Company. • Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, The Kerala high court has given bail to two Italian navy guards, who are accused of killing two fishermen off Kerala Coast aboard Italian merchant vessel, Enrica Lexie in February, 2012.

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This incident led to a diplomatic standoff when Italy refused to send the marines to stand trial in India, after being allowed to go home for voting in Italy's General elections. This permission was granted by the Supreme court after a solemn undertaking by the Italian Ambassador to India. The Supreme Court responded by restricting the Ambassador to travel out of India and denying any protection under diplomatic immunity, since he himself submitted to the jurisdiction of the court. The situation was diffused after Italy sent back the marines following intense diplomatic negotiations. • Hosni Mubarak: An Egyptian court awarded former President Hosni Mubarak with life imprisonment on 2nd June 2012. The former autocrat was convicted given his involvement in the murder of protesters during the uprising, which dethroned him in 2011. Mubarak's former interior minister Habib al- Adly was also awarded with the life sentence. The court, however, acquitted Mubarak’s son Alaa and Gamal, due to the expiry of a statute of limitations. They were being prosecuted in a case of corruption. Mubarak was also acquitted in one of the corruption cases. The trial against Mubarak began in August 2011. Mubarak was the only autocrat who was dethroned from his post during the Arab Spring. The former president along with former interior minister Habib al-Adly and six others were charged with the killing of nearly 850 people during the 18-day Egyptian uprising in early 2011. Hosni Mubarak served as the fourth President of Egypt from 1981 to 2011. Before being escalated to the post of president he also served as the deputy of President Anwar El Sadat from 1975 to 1981. Following the assassination of President Anwar El Sadat in 1981 Mubarak became the President of Egypt and remained on the position for nearly 30 years, making him the longest serving president of Egypt. • Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi took over as the next Chief of Naval Staff. He succeeded Admiral . • VS Sampath, Election Commissioner has been appointed as the new Chief Election Commissioner. He will succeed current CEC S Y Quraishi and will preside over the next Lok Sabha General Elections in 2014.

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• Ray Bradbury, Science Fiction writer famous for his book ‘Fahrenheit 451’ dies • VRS Natarajan: Bharat Earth Movers Ltd. (BEML) CMD has been suspended due to his suspected involvement in Tatra Truck Deal. • Rajat Gupta: Former McKinsey & Co. head and director of Goldman Sachs and P&G, Rajat K. Gupta, has been convicted in Insider trading case by a group of jury today. He had leaked secret information about Goldman Sachs board meetings to his friend and business partner Raj Rajaratnam of Galleon Hedge Fund Group which he used to place trading orders on Goldman Sachs stocks. He was later sentenced to 2 years in prison and USD 5 million fine for his alleged involvement in Insider trading case. Earlier he was convicted of three counts of securities fraud and one count of conspiracy, insider-trading charges. He provided insider information to his friend, Hedge fund Owner Rajaratnam who is now serving 11 years in Prison. • Elinor Ostrom: Only woman Economics Nobel Prize winner dies. • Mehdi Hasan, India-born Pakistani legend Mehdi Hassan passed away after suffering from prolonged illness at the age of 84. Born into a family of traditional musicians on 18 July 1927 in Luna in , Mehdi Hassan had migrated to Pakistan with his family in 1947 at the time of partition. Belonging from the Kalawant clan of traditional classical musicians, he represented the 18th generation of the family. He had been presented with numerous honours including Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, and Hilal-e-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan, Saigal Award in India and Gorkha Dakshina Bahu by the . • Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince died. He has been succeeded by Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz as Saudi Arabia’s new Crown Prince. • Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani: Pakistan’s Supreme Court has disqualified Gilani as Prime Minister with retrospective effect from April 26, 2012 for refusing to write to Swiss authorities asking for reopening of graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. Earlier he was convicted for contempt of court regarding the same. His party, PPP has accepted this ruling and started meeting with other

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coalition parties in order to choose his successor as the next Prime Minister of Pakistan. • Fatou Bensouda: Gambian lawyer appointed as the Chief Prosecutor of International Criminal Court3, becoming first African & first Woman to occupy that position. • Vinod Raju, the founding director of National Investigation Agency4 (NIA) died at the age of 62 on 21st June 2012. Raju also headed the special investigation team (SIT), which probed the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991. The SIT headed by him, held LTTE culprit of the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Raju was awarded with numerous medals and awards during his service with the IPS. Most coveted of the awards that he received includes the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 1992, the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 1999, a Director-General’s Commendation Certificate in January 2000 and the Sher-e-Kashmir Medal for Meritorious Services in 2003. • Raja Parvez Ashraf, has been appointed as the new Pakistan PM to replaced Yousuf Raza Gilani who was deposed after conviction in a Contempt of Court case.

3 International Criminal Court (ICC) is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes. It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, entered into force—and it can only prosecute crimes committed on or after that date. The Court's official seat is in The Hague, , but its proceedings may take place anywhere.

4 National Investigation Agency (NIA), the counter terrorism law enforcement agency of India, was founded on 31 December 2008. The agency was founded amidst the growing incidents of terror attacks in India. The dreadful terror attack of 26 November 2011, prompted the Government of India to take some concrete measure to prevent any such incident in the future. The government, consequently, proposed to enact a legislation, to set up the NIA. The agency is entirely dedicated to inspect the acts of terror in the country. Senior IPS officer SC Sinha is the present Director General of NIA.

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• Adrin D’Souza, Indian Hockey Goalkeeper has been suspended yesterday for 1 year for his anti- doping rule violation. He has committed the violation in the World Series Hockey (WSH) tournament 2012 during which he was tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). • Fernando Lugo, Paraguay President was impeached and replaced by Vice- President, Federico Franco. • Shekhar Basu has been appointed as the new Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC5) and he will succeed current director Ratan Kumar Sinha. Ratan Kumar Sinha has been appointed as the Chairman of BARC recently, which has created the vacuum in the post. • Mohamed Morsy, Muslim Brotherhood leader has won the historic presidential polls in Egypt after securing 51.73% votes. He will become the country’s first freely elected President by voting. He defeated Ahmed Shafiq by a narrow margin who had secured 48.3% votes in the Presidential election. • Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, top leader of ruling party PPP, has been appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan with immediate effect. He holds the key portfolios Defence Production and Industries. • , Chairman ICSSR, headed the committee that recommended deletion of political cartoons. The recommendations were,

5 BARC is India's premier nuclear research facility based in Trombay, Mumbai. BARC is a multi-disciplinary research centre with extensive infrastructure for advanced research and development covering the entire spectrum of nuclear science, engineering and related areas. The Government of India created as the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET) on 3 January 1954. It was established to consolidate all the research and development activity for nuclear reactors and technology under the Atomic Energy Commission. All scientists and engineers engaged in the fields of reactor design and development, instrumentation, metallurgy and material science etc. were transferred with their respective programmes from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) to AEET, with TIFR retaining its original focus for fundamental research in the sciences. After Homi J. Bhabha's death in 1966, the centre was renamed as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre on 22 January 1967.

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however, rejected by NCERT and NCF-2005 Review Committee Chairman Prof Yash Pal. • Alan Isaac from ’s has taken over as the 8th President of International Council (ICC) for next two year. He has succeeded previous President India’s Sharad Pawar. At the same time, former South wicket-kepeer David Richardson was confirmed as the new chief executive of the International Cricket body. He succeeded Haroon Lorgat from . • , Tata Sons Chairman has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the prestigious Rockefeller Foundation for innovation in philanthropy. The foundation which is celebrating 100 years of global innovation has honoured individuals and institutions in the field of innovation. • Enrique Pena Nieto, leader of ’s Institutional Revolutionary Party, has been appointed as the next President of Mexico after winning the Presidential election. He won 38% support compared to 31% support by its nearest rival Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. • Dara Singh: Rustam-E-Hind, Dara Singh, who won India numerous accolades globally in wrestling, passed away on 12 July 2012 in Mumbai following a protracted illness. Born in 1928 in Amritsar as Deedar Singh Randhawa, Dara Singh travelled to different parts of the globe as a Professional Wrestler. He announced his retirement from active wrestling in 1983. In 1996 he was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. Dara Singh, who earned a name for him worldwide in professional wrestling, also has had a long stint in Indian film Industry. After he made his debut in in 1967 with the film Saat Samundar Paar, he played numerous characters in more than fifty Indian movies. He also directed and produced a number of movies. Singh, however, got the real recognition as an actor when he fabulously portrayed the character of Lord Hanuman in the ’s Ramayan television series. Imtiaz Ali’s Jab We Met marked the last movie of his career.

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Dara Singh was also the member of Rajya Sabha from August 2003 to August 2009. He was conferred the title Rustam-E-Punjab in 1966 and Rustam-E- Hind in 1978. • Leung Chung Ying, elected as the New Chief Executive. • Hiren Bhattacharya, Assamese poet & winner dies. • Rajkeshwur Purryag: New President of Mauritius. He visited India in January 2013 and was Chief Guest at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, 2013 held at Kochi in Kerala • Sally Ride, the first US woman to travel into space died in La Jolla, California on 23 July 2012. She was 61. She was suffering from pancreatic cancer. Ride fired the imagination of millions of women across the world when she set off for space in the US space shuttle Challenger in June 1983. Sally Ride was, however, not the first woman to travel into space, as Valentina Tereshkova of erstwhile USSR had visited space in June 1963. Her second space visit occurred in 1984, also aboard the Challenger. She spent a total of more than 343 hours in space. • Captain Laxmi Sehgal: A freedom fighter and a woman rights activist passed away. She was the leader of Rani Laxmi Bai Regiment of INA and Minister of Women's Affairs in the Azad Hind government. She was also the founding member of AIDWA [All India Democratic Women's Association]. She contested Presidential election in 2002 against eventual winner Dr. Abdul Kalam Azad as a candidate of Left parties. She was honoured with Padma Vibhushan in 1998. • Hisham Kandil: Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi elected fifty year old as the country’s Prime Minister. Morsi ordered the country’s former minister of water resources and irrigation, Kandil to form a new government. Kandil, is the first Egyptian prime minister to wear a beard, which is a sure sign of change in the country. A number of more experienced names were suggested for the prestigious role, but Morsi chose Kandil, a relatively lesser known face as the Prime Minister of the country, this could be because he wanted someone unlikely to threaten or

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overshadow him. Kandil is an independent national figure who has never been a member of any party before. The next government will be technocratic in nature, and the ruling Islamist Freedom and Justice Party is expected to head eight to ten ministries of the new cabinet • Traian Basescu, Romanian President has survived the impeachment referendum piloted by PM Victor Ponta. People of Romania voted in a referendum on impeaching the President on 28 July 2012. The President, however, survived the impeachment because of low voter turnout. According to Romanian law, the referendum required at least 50 percent voting of eligible voters, while the turnout was under 46 percent on the day of referendum. The referendum came following Romania's center-left government, led by Prime Minister Victor Ponta, suspended Basescu as it accused him of making unnecessary interference in government affairs. Traian Basescu was removed from his post by the parliament on 10 July 2012, but as the referendum stands invalid now, he has been reinstated to the position. Traian Basescu was elected president of the country in 2004. Previously he was suspended from office in 2007, though he reacquired the position a month later through a referendum. In 2009 he was re-elected the president for a second 5- year term. Romania, the member of European Union, is located at the intersection of Central and Southeastern . It is the ninth largest country of the European Union by area, and has the seventh largest population. The country became the member of European Union on 1 January 2007. Under the Romanian political system, Prime Minister of the country serves as the head of the government, while the President works as the head of the state. President is elected through the universal adult franchise system for a maximum of two five-year terms. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of the country after it holds consultations with the leaders of the party that enjoys the majority in the Parliament. • Syed Nasim Ahmad Zaidi has been appointed as an Election Commissioner to fill the vacancy after elevation of VS Sampath as Chief Election Commissioner following retirement of former Chief Election

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Commissioner S Y Quraishi. He has retired as civil aviation secretary and also served earlier as Chairman in Airport Authority of India. • Laisenia Qarase, the last democratically elected leader in the coup-plagued South Pacific nation, was sentenced to 12 months jail on Friday after being found guilty of corruption. • John Dramani Mahama: Vice President of Ghana from 2009 to 2012, he took office as President on 24 July 2012. • Riad Hijab: Syrian PM defects to the rebel side. • Hamid Ansari: Former IFS Officer, worked as India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, High Commissioner to Australia, Ambassador to Iran, Afghanistan, UAE & Saudi Arabia. Awarded in 1984. Also worked as the Vice Chancellor of Ailgarh Muslim University. 13th Vice President of India (2007-2012). Has been reelected for another term, becoming only second after S Radhakrishnan to get a second term as Vice President. • Saadat Hasan Manto, acclaimed Pakistani writer on 14 August 2012 was honoured with the Nisan-i-Imtiaz, Pakistan's highest civilian award. Manto is best known for his short stories, especially those that explored the impact of the partition of the subcontinent into India and Pakistan in 1947. Toba Tek Singh, Bu (Odour), Khol Do (Open It) and Thanda Gosht (Cold Meat) were written by him. Saadat Hasan Manto worked for the Urdu Service of All India Radio in 1941 for several months. Manto ended a career as a scriptwriter in Mumbai to move to Pakistan in 1948. He died at the age of 42 in 1955. His frank style angered conservatives in Pakistan and he faced trial three times on charges of obscenity. Besides Manto, renowned singer Mehdi Hassan, Lt.Gen (retired) Khalid Kidwai and Munir Ahmed Khan were honoured with civilian awards for their contributions in fields like arts and literature, nuclear science, education and sports, healthcare and public service. The awards were given away at a ceremony to be held on Pakistan Day on 23 March, 2013. • : Urdu Scholar from India and winner of was awarded Pakistan’s third highest Civilian award, Sitara-i- Imtiaz.

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• K Kasturirangan: Planning Commission member has been appointed to head a working group to review the report of Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel6 (WGEEP). • Lakhdar Brahimi has replaced Kofi Annan as United Nations peace envoy to Syria. • P J Kurien of Congress has been unanimously elected as the deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha. He has been a member of Rajya Sabha since 2005. The role of Deputy Chairman is to drive the session during the absence of Chairman or the Vice President of India. • Poonam Kishore Saxena has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) from Yesterday. With this both CBDT and CBEC (Central Board of Excise and Customs) are now headed by Women with Praveen Mahajan as the head of the later one. • Meles Zenawi, the Ethiopian Prime Minister, passed away on 20 August 2012 following prolonged illness. He was 57. Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who is also 's foreign minister, will assume the charge as the acting Prime Minister of the country. Meles Zenavi joined the politics when he was still studying in the university. He later dropped out of university to take full participation in the insurrection against the Syrian military regime. In 1991 when Mengistu Haile Mariam led Military Council was finally thrown out of power, Meles assumed the charge as the president in a transitional government. Later in 1995 he took over as the prime minister of the country. He went on to lead the African country for nearly 20 years and influenced the Ethiopian public life until his death.

6 Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel: The Ministry of Environment and Forests has set up the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel to recommend steps and help government to preserve, conserve and rejuvenate the ecologically sensitive and significant region. The 14-member panel was chaired by Prof .

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• Lance Armstrong: The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has announced that it plans to bring formal doping charges against iconic Sportsperson Lance Armstrong for taking “Transfusions” which boosted blood during his Tour De France Career. Cycling champion has been banned for life stripped off his achievements for taking banned substances. • Neil Armstrong: First man to walk on moon aboard Apollo 11 in 1969 died recently. He was awarded US Presidential Medal for Freedom in 1969. • AK Hangal: Freedom Fighter and Film Actor died recently. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2006. • : Eminent educationist, activist and former civil servant, who played an important role in defining the country’s new education policy. Was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 2010. • Justice Altamas Kabir has sworn in as the 39th Chief Justice of India by President . He succeeded former Chief Justice S. H. Kapadia who retired recently after serving the post for nearly two and half years. Justice Kabir is expected to serve as Chief Justice till 18th July 2013 when he will reach the mandatory retirement age of 65. • Syed Mustafa Siraj, an eminent Bengali writer died recently. In 1994, he received the Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Aleek Manush. • : Appointed as the Chief Economist & Senior Vice President of the World Bank. He holds a PhD degree in economics from London School of Economics and recently worked as the Chief Economic Adviser in India’s Finance Ministry till July this year. He replaced Justin Yifu Lin for the post. • , father of “White Revolution” and founder of the cooperative dairy movement in the country who founded Amul died recently. He devised “Billion Litre Idea”, which became famous as Operation Flood making India the largest Milk producer in the world. He was appointed as the Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in

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1965. He was awarded Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1969, World Food Prize7 in 1989 and Padma Vibhushan in 1999. • John Christopher Stevens: United state ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens with three other embassy staff were killed on 9 September 2012 after some fundamentalist mobs fumed and protesting over a film mocking Prophet Mohammed, attacked Consulate building in Benghazi city of Libya. The said event happened on the day, which is also marked as the 11th anniversary of 9/11. The US ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens was the man who had helped Libyan opposition to overthrow the Gaddafi regime. The protest came after 14-minute trailer of the film posted on You Tube. The film named as Innocence of Muslims, was directed and produced by an Israeli- American real estate developer. It depicts the Prophet in poor light. • Hassan Sheikh Mohamud: was been elected as the new President of Somalia. He defeated current President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed in the Presidential election after securing 190 votes compared to Ahmed’s 79 votes. He survived a deadly bomb attack by al-Shabab, an extremist Islamic terrorist Organization. • Ranganath Misra, the former chief justice of India died on 13th September 2012. Ranganath Misra was appointed to be the 21st Chief Justice of India from 25 September 1990 to 24 November 1991 during the reign of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar and former President of India, R. Venkataraman. He served NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) as its first chairman. He also chaired the famous Ranganath Misra Commission that was constituted by his name on 29 October 2004 by the Government of India to deal and look after the issues related to Linguistic and Religious minorities in India. The report was submitted by the commission on 21st May 2007 and important findings like,

7 The World Food Prize prize was created in 1986 by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Norman Borlaug. The prize recognizes contributions in all fields involved in the world food supply —food and agriculture, science & technology, manufacturing, marketing, nutrition, economics, poverty alleviation, political leadership and the social sciences.

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o To reserve 8.4 percent of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota of the 27 percent of the minorities o Scheduled caste reservation for Dalit converts o 15 percent seats for minorities in educational institutions and government services

Ranganath Misra was also the head of the judicial commission that was appointed for the probe in the anti-Sikh riots of New Delhi after the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated.

• Mohammad Ali, the boxing Champion, who retired from the game in the year 1981 was honoured with Liberty Medal in Philadelphia on 13 September 2012. The boxer who has been battling with Parkinson disease for the past 30 years was awarded with the honor for his contribution towards the humanitarian causes like religious freedom and civil rights. National Constitution Center of the United States administers the Liberty Medal and presents the honuor of this medal to the leaders who fight in pursuit of freedom. Muhammad Ali, who was born as Cassius Marcellus Clay changed his name to be Muhammad Ali after converting himself into Isalm in the year 1964. He won the world heavyweight title three times and is nicknamed as The Greatest. In the year 1999, BBC crowned Ali, with the title; Sports Personality of the Century and Sports illustrated crowned him with the title of Sportsman of the century. • has been appointed as the UN Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS. She will help UNAIDS to raise awareness on issues related to stopping new HIV infections in children. • Hugo Chavez wins Venezuelan Presidential election for the third time beating Henrique Capriles Radonski. • Abu Hamza al-Masri, the radical preacher facing charges of inciting violence in a London Mosque has been extradited to USA to face trial for alleged terror charges. • Brajesh Mishra, the first National Security Advisor of India, died on 28 September 2012 at New Delhi after suffering from a heart ailment. Mishra

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played a pivotal role in making of the foreign policies during the NDA regime of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and was a trouble shooter to him. Son of the former congress Chief Minister of , late Dwarka Prasad Mishra and one of the titans among the Indian diplomats, had several credentials in his account. He was Indian permanent representative to Geneva and to the United Nations, where he continued till June 1987 on deputation. He was the principal secretary to former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee from November 1998 to 23 May 2004 It was under his series of guidance related to foreign policies and the security exercises that motivated the NDA government to carry out Pokharan-2. • Malala Yousafzai: A 14-year old women rights activist and blogger was seriously hurt in an attack by Pakistani Taliban in North Waziristan. • Felix Baumgartner: Austrian Felix Baumgartner became the first skydiver on 14 October 2012 to go faster than the speed of sound, reaching a maximum velocity of 1,342 kilometers per hour or about 1.24 mach. In jumping out of a balloon 39 kilometers above New Mexico, the 43-year-old also smashed the record for the highest ever freefall. It took just under 10 minutes for him to descend. Only the last few thousand feet were negotiated by parachute. The previous highest, farthest, and longest freefall was made by Kittinger, who leapt from a helium envelope in 1960. His altitude was 31 kilometers. • Norodom Sihanouk, Former Cambodian king died on 15 October 2012 in Beijing. He was 89 Years old. Norodom Sihanouk was receiving medical treatment for many years in Beijing for cancer and other ailments. Norodom had dominated politics in for nearly 60 years. He was the King of Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until 2004. He was the effective ruler of Cambodia from 1953 until 1970. After his second abdication in 2004, he was known as The King-Father of Cambodia, a position in which he retained many of his former responsibilities as constitutional monarch. Sihanouk held so many positions since 1941 that the he was identified as the politician who has served the world's greatest variety of political offices. These included two terms as king, two as sovereign prince, one as president, two as

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prime minister, as well as numerous positions as leader of various governments- in-exile. He was succeeded in 2004 by his son, King Norodom Sihamon. • Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was appointed as the first woman Chairperson of African Union Commission8. • Ramesh Abhishek has been appointed as the new Chairman of Forward Markets Commission (FMC), which the chief regulator of forwards and futures markets in India. It is overseen by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. He succeeded former chairman Mr. B.C. Khatua. • Pranay Sahay, appointed Director-General of the Central Reserve Police Force. • : Noted Hindi film director, popularly called 'King of Romance' died recently. He won six National Film Awards, the Government of India honoured him with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan in 2005. • Sunil Gangopadhyay: Noted writer and President of the Sahitya Akademi died recently. In 1982 he received Sahitya Akademi award in 1985 for his novel Sey Samaya (Those Days). He also received Samman in 2004. • Bal Thackeray, Shiv Sena Chief and founder passed away in Mumbai. He was 86 and was critically ill for last couple of days. • Ami Bera, an Indian-American physician from California has become only the 3rd Indian to be elected to the US House of Representatives. Before his election to the Congress, Dalip Singh Saund and Bobby Jindal from Indian origin have been elected in US Congress.

8 AU is a union consisting of 54 African states. Established in2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). AU Commission is its executive organ.

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• Guru Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma, great Kucchipudi dancer died recently. Was honoured with Award in 1961, Padma Shri in 1970 and was elected Fellow of the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1967. • Ranjit Sinha, has been appointed as the new Director of CBI. • Ernest Bai Koroma, leader of the All People's Congress was re-elected as the President of the nation on 23 November 2012 after the electoral body declared results of the elections that took place in the country in third week of November. He had sworn in as the President of Sierra Leone on the same day, when the results were declared. He won the Presidential elections by securing 58.7 percent votes in his favour. Julius Maada Bio, the top rival of Koroma won 37.4 percent votes. The incumbent President managed to save himself from the second round of voting by securing more than 55 percent votes in his support. • Dr. Joseph Edward Murray, the first doctor to perform kidney transplant successfully died on 26 November 2012. The 93-year-old doctor had received a Nobel Prize for the work. Murray had stroke at the suburban home in Boston on 22 November 2012 and eventually he died at Brigham and Women's Hospital. After he performed the first kidney transplant on the identical twins, various other transplants on different organs of the body were performed. Murray also shared Nobel Prize in Physiology in 1990 along with Dr. E. Donnall Thomas, who performed various bone marrow transplants. • Marc Grossman, the US special envoy to Af-Pak (Afghanistan-Pakistan) announced his resignation after being at the helm of diplomatic affairs in the volatile region for two years from 2010 to 2012. His resignation would come into effect from 14th December 2012. Grossman would be succeeded by his Deputy Special US Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, David D Pearce. Grossman, a former State Department diplomat, Grossman was roped in after the sudden death of Richard Holbrooke in 2010. • Syed Asif Ibrahim, has been appointed as Director Intelligence Bureau • Alok Joshi, has been appointed as Director, Research & Analysis Wing (RAW).

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• Joaquim Barbosa was sworn-in as Brazil's Supreme Court's first non-White President on 23 November 2012 at a packed ceremony in the capital Brazilia. Barbosa became famous in Brazil after overseeing one of the country's biggest corruption trials involving key members of the former President Lula Da Silva's government. • IK Gujral, who served as the Prime Minister in United Front government in 1990s, died at the age of 92 on 30 November 2012. Following the resignation of HD Deve Gowda, he became the 13th Prime Minister of India on 21st April 1997 and held that post till 19th March 1998 in United Front government. He began his political career with the Quit India movement in 1942. Gujral was a Rajya Sabha Member twice from 1964 to 1976 and a member of the Lok Sabha from 1989 to 1991. He was the Union minister of state, information and broadcasting when Emergency was imposed on 25 June 1975. He was appointed as the ambassador of India to Russia (cabinet rank) afterwards. He left Congress and joined Janata Dal in late 1980s. He became external affairs minister when national front government came to power in 1989 with VP Singh as the Prime Minister. During his tenure as external affairs minister Iraq invaded Kuwait, resulting into first Gulf war. He was re-elected to Rajya Sabha from in 1992. He became external affairs minister for the second time in Deve Gowda government in 1996. He was re-elected to Lok Sabha from Jalandhar in Punjab as an independent with help from Akali Dal in 1998. It is important to note that he was the Rajya Sabha member during his tenure as the Indian Prime Minister. He had written Matters of Discretion: An Autobiography which was released in February 2011. The golden jublee (50 years) of Indian Independence was celebrated during IK Gujral's tenure as the Prime Minister. During his tenure as the Prime Minister, IK Gujral resisted signing CTBT (Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty) paving the way for next government conducting the Pokhran nuclear tests. He provided a five-point roadmap to build trust between India and its neighbouring countries known as Gujral Doctrine. The five principles of Gujral doctrine are:

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o With neighbors like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, India does not ask for reciprocity, but gives and accommodates what it can in good faith and trust. o No South Asian country should allow its territory to be used against the interest of another country of the region. o No country should interfere in the internal affairs of another. o All South Asian countries must respect each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty. o They should settle all their disputes through peaceful bilateral negotiations. • : India’s C&AG has been elected as the head of UN Panel of External Auditors for a successive term. • Enrique Pena Nieto has taken over as the new President of Mexico. • has been honoured with Bharat Muni Samman, 2012 for her contributions to the fields of art, cinema and culture. The award is given by Kalingaya Touryatrikam, a cultural organization based in Orissa. The award is named after the writer of Natyasastra. • Pandit Shankar, a renowned Sitar player and one of the greatest musicians produced by India has passed away. He was awarded with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1962, Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1975, Padma Bhushan in 1967, Padma Vibhushan in 1981 and Bharat Ratna in 1999. Internationally too, he was awarded with Magsaysay Award in 1992, KBE in 2011, France’s highest civilian Award, Legion of Honour and numerous Grammy Awards. He was conferred posthumous conferred Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, 2013 by US National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. • : Indian hockey legend, who won three Olympic gold medals at London (1948), (1952) and Melbourne (1956) passed away. He was also a part of Indian team that won the Silver medal at Rome Olympics in 1960. • Arvind Ranjan has been appointed as the Director General of National Security Guards (NSG). • Park Geun-hye has been elected as the new President of South Korea.

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• Subhash Joshi has been appointed as the new head of the Border Security Force (BSF). • Norman Woodland, the inventor of bar code, which revolutionalised retail in 1970s, died on 8 December 2012 at New Jersey. Woodland was the co-inventor of bar code; the zebra pattern which stores information about the products. He as well as his partner Bernard Silver patented this idea of bar code back in 1952 and also sold that to Philco, the electronics company. • of USA won the crown of 2012 at the recently held ceremony in USA. Miss Janine Tugonon placed second and Miss Irene Esser Quintero placed third in the same event. • Naina Lal Kidwai, Country head of HSBC India has been appointed as the new President of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry. She is the first woman President of FICCI. • Cyrus was appointed as the chairman of Tata Sons, the firm that holds more than 100 billion dollar Tata Group, on 18 December 2012. Cyrus Pallonji Mistry would take on the role of chairman of Tata Sons with effect from 28 December 2012, after Rata Tata retires as the current Chairman of the company. Ratan Tata was conferred the honorary title of chairman emeritus by Tata Sons Board. • Shinzo Abe of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has taken over as the new Prime Minister of Japan. • Mahmoud Mekki: Egyptian Vice President has resigned following controversial referendum on a constitutional framework. • Justice Swatanter Kumar has been appointed as the Chairman of National Green Tribunal. The National Green Tribunal was established in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. Its function is effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources. It is a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues. • Tony Greig, former Cricket Captain, commentator and a pioneer of Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket died recently.

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• MS Gopalakrishnan was a famous violinist in the field of Carnatic music. He was a recipient of Padma Shri (1975), Padma Bhushan (2012) and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1980). Died recently. • Shirani Bandaranayake, Sri Lanka Chief Justice was pronounced guilty of graft by a Parliamentary select committee paving way for her impeachment proceedings. Later, country’s Supreme Court has held that the committee had no legal authority to act in this manner. She was however impeached by the Parliament. Sri Lankan Opposition leaders had requested Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to call for an all-party meeting. A Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), which probed a series of charges against Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, held her guilty on three counts, on December 8. The charges included financial irregularities; conflict of interest; and failure to declare her assets. On January 7, the Court of Appeal quashed the PSC report. This followed the January 3 Supreme Court determination that the PSC had no legal authority to inquire into allegations against a judge. Parliament ignored this decision and set January 10 and 11 as dates for a discussion on an impeachment motion against Ms. Bandaranayake. • Madanjeet Singh: Former diplomat, artist, writer, and philanthropist, Madanjeet Singh, 88, a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 2000, passed away in Beaulieu-sur-Mer in the south of France on Sunday following a stroke. He was passionate in his commitment to South Asian regional cooperation and solidarity on a secular, democratic, and progressive basis. This commitment was backed by an extraordinary personal financial contribution to the South Asia Foundation (SAF), which he founded in 2000, worked for tirelessly, and mentored until the day he died. This organisation, which is focussed on providing educational opportunities for young women and men, has active chapters across the region. He sponsored the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Award for promotion of tolerance and non violence. • Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk: King of Bhutan was the Chief Guest at this year Republic Day Function. • & MC Marykom: The Election Commission (EC) of India on 22 January 2013 announced Saina Nehwal and as the National Icons to help promote, voter participation in India. Saina Nehwal and Mary

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Kom, both are Olympic Bronze Medalists in the London Olympics 2012, in and Boxing respectively. Apart from these two, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Captain of the Indian National Cricket Team and former President of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam are the existing National Icons of the Board and they will continue to be at the position. The National Voters Day was observed on 25 January 2013 and some of the first-time voters would be given their photo identity cards on this day. The National Voters day is celebrated on the foundation day of the Election Commission • Milos Zeman: Czech Republic PM has won country’s first direct presidential election. He will succeed Vaclav Klaus. • Mohan Parasaran has been appointed as the new Solicitor General of India. • Chokri Belaid, Tunisian opposition leader has been murdered leading to widespread protests against the ruling Ennahda party. • Kalyan Kumar Chakraborty has been appointed as the Chairperson of Lalit Kala Akademi. Lalit Kala akademi9. • Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) was the 265th head of Roman , who was appointed in 2005. He has decided to resign due to

9 The Lalit Kala Akademi is India's National Academy of Fine Arts. It is an autonomous organization, established at New Delhi in 1954 by Government of India to promote and propagate understanding of Indian art. It is funded by the Union Ministry of Culture. It has its headquarters at New Delhi, and has regional centres at , , Garhi (Delhi), , and . The Lalit Kala Akademi Fellowship, also, Lalit Kala Akademi Ratna is an the principal honour for the fine arts in India, given to eminent artists for their lifetime achievements in the field of visual arts. The ‘Fellow,’ carries a purse money of Rs.25,000/-, a citation and a plaque. The Fellow is honoured with a portfolio of their art works. The first elected fellow, in 1955, was the artist Jamini Roy. Last was Jeram Patel in 2007.

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ill health, becoming only pope in resign in more than 600 years. Before him Pope Gregory XII resigned in 1415 AD. • Rafael Correa, has been elected as the president of Ecuador for third consecutive term. • Asoke Kumar Mukerji has been appointed as India’s next permanent representative at the United Nations. • , Chief Justice of Nepal has been chosen to head caretaker govt. during elections. • Anurag Thapliyal has been appointed as the Director General of Coast Guard. • Raul Castro has been re-elected as the President of Cuba. He has elected Miguel Diaz-Canel as his Vice-President. • Nicos Anastasiades has been elected as the President of . • Hamadi Jebali resigned from the office of the Prime Minister of Tunisia on 19 February 2013 after his attempt to end a political standoff by formation of a Government of Technocrats failed. Hamadi Jebali was trying to create coalition because of the political crisis, which took birth by killing of Chokri Belaid, the opposition leader. • T. S. Vijayan, the former LIC chief took over as the Chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA)10 on 21 February 2013. Vijayan will succeed J. Hari Narayan. J. Hari Narayan completed the five-year term on 20 February 2013. • Hugo Chavez: President of Venezuela from 1999-2013 has died recently. He was Socialistic leader, deeply influenced by life and ideas of Simon Boliver. He lead a wave of leftism throughout Latin America and was especially opposed to

10 The IRDA is a regulatory body for insurance sector, based in . It was formed by an act of Indian Parliament known as IRDA Act 1999, which was amended in 2002 to incorporate some emerging requirements. Mission of IRDA as stated in the act is "to protect the interests of the policyholders, to regulate, promote and ensure orderly growth of the insurance industry and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto."

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US dominance of the region. This was named a "pink tide", which lead to the formation of leftist regimes of Rafael Correa in Ecuador, Evo Morales in Bolivia and Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua. He has been succeeded by Interim President Nicolas Maduro, who was anointed by him as his successor in the face of terminal illness. • Jorge Bergoglio, of Argentina has been elected as the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. He has taken the name of Pope Francis. He is first non European Pope in more than a millennium since Pope Gregory III in 8th Century AD. • Uhuru Kenyatta, the Deputy Prime Minister of Kenya, won the Presidential election by a narrow margin yesterday. • , Famous Tamil and actress died recently. She was awarded Padma Shri in 2003 and National Film Award for best supporting actress in 2010. • Navneet Kaur Dhillon has been crowned as Miss India 2013. • Giulio Terzi , Italian foreign minister has resigned over the Marines issue. • Mir Hazar Khan Khoso, a retired Judge has been appointed as the caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan. • Francois Bozize, Central African President has been ousted by armed rebels. • Najib Mikati: The Prime Minister of Lebabon on 22 March 2013 announced resignation of his Government. The decision came after the cabinet failed to approve the commission to oversee elections, scheduled in June 2013 and refusal of the cabinet in extending the tenure of the Police Chief Major General Ashraf Rifi, who will retire in April 2013.

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2 NATIONAL AFFAIRS

SC JUDGMENT ON RIGHT TO EDUCATION ACT Provisions Of The Act • The 86th Constitution Amendment Act, 2002 requires the State to provide free and compulsory elementary education to all children. • The Parliament enacted the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 to give effect to this amendment. • All children between the ages of six and 14 years shall have the right to free and compulsory elementary education in a neighbourhood school. It also lays down the minimum norms that each school has to follow in order to get legal recognition. • No child shall be held back, expelled, or required to pass a board examination until the completion of elementary education. Schools may not screen applicants during admission or charge capitation fees. A child who completes elementary education shall be awarded a certificate. • Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, Sainik Schools, and unaided schools shall admit at least 25% of students from disadvantaged and economically weaker groups.

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• A person who wants to file a grievance claim shall submit a written complaint to the local authority. Appeals shall be decided by either the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights or the specified authority.

Supreme Court Judgment • In a landmark judgment on April 12, 2012, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the provision in the Right to Education Act, 2009 that makes it mandatory for all schools (government and private) except private, unaided minority schools to reserve 25% of their seats for children belonging to “weaker section and disadvantaged group”. • There was controversy erupted over provisons under Section 12 of the Act, which required private, unaided schools to admit at least 25% of students from SCs, STs, low-income and other disadvantaged or weaker groups. The Act stated that these schools shall be reimbursed for either their tuition charge or the per-student expenditure in government schools, whichever is lower. • After the Act was notified on April 1, 2010, the Society for Unaided Private Schools of Rajasthan filed a writ petition challenging the constitutional validity of this provision on the ground that it impinged on their right to run educational institutions without government interference.

Summary Of The Judgment • The Judgment held that Act is constitutionally valid and shall apply to o government controlled schools, o aided schools (including minority administered schools), and o unaided, non-minority schools. • The following reasons were give: o First, Article 21A makes it obligatory on the State to provide free and compulsory education to all children between 6 and 14 years of age. However, the manner in which the obligation shall be discharged is left to the State to determine by law. Therefore, the State has the freedom to decide whether it shall fulfill its obligation through its own schools, aided schools or unaided schools. The 2009 Act is “child centric” and not “institution centric”.

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The main question was whether the Act violates Article 19(1)(g) which gives every citizen the right to practice a profession or carry out any occupation, trade or business. However, the Constitution provides that Article 19(1)(g) may be circumscribed by Article 19(6), which allow reasonable restriction over this right in the interest of the general public. The Court stated that since “education” is recognized as a charitable activity reasonable restriction may apply. o Second, the Act places a burden on the State as well as parents/guardians to ensure that every child has the right to education. Thus, the right to education “envisages a reciprocal agreement between the State and the parents and it places an affirmative burden on all stakeholders in our civil society.” The private, unaided schools supplement the primary obligation of the State to provide for free and compulsory education to the specified category of students. o Third, past SC judgments hold that the right to establish and administer educational institutions falls within Article 19(1)(g). It includes right to admit students and set up reasonable fee structure. However, these principles were applied in the context of professional/higher education where merit and excellence have to be given due weightage. This does not apply to a child seeking admission in Class I. Also, Section 12 of the Act seeks to remove financial obstacle. Therefore, the 2009 Act should be read with Article 19(6), which provides for reasonable restriction on Article 19(1)(g). • The Court also ruled that the 2009 Act shall not apply to unaided, minority schools since they are protected by Article 30(1) (all minorities have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice). This right of the minorities is not circumscribed by reasonable restriction as is the case under Article 19(1)(g).

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AFSPA

What is the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act? • The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) was preceded by the Armed Forces (Assam and Manipur) Special Powers Ordinance 1958. The Ordinance gave the armed forces certain special powers in the 'disturbed areas' of Manipur and Assam. • It was replaced by AFSPA on September 11, 1958. Currently, AFSPA is applicable to the seven states of the North-East, i.e. Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura and J&K. • AFSPA empowers the of the state, or the central government to declare any part of the state as a 'disturbed area', if in its opinion there exists a dangerous situation in the said area, which makes it necessary to deploy armed forces in the region.

When did the act extend to Jammu and Kashmir? • In the backdrop of the growing insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, the Central government issued a similar enactment known as the The Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990. • It empowers the governor or the Central government to declare any part of the state as a 'disturbed area' if in its opinion special powers are required to prevent o terrorist acts aimed at overthrowing the government, striking terror in the people, or affecting the harmony of different sections of the people or o activities which disrupt the sovereignty of India, or cause insult to the national flag, anthem or India's Constitution.

What are the special powers given to army officials? • Under Section 4 of the AFSPA, an authorised officer in a disturbed area enjoys certain powers. The authorised officer has the power to open fire at any individual even if it results in death if the individual violates laws which prohibit o the assembly of five or more persons; or o carrying of weapons. o However, the officer has to give a warning before opening fire.

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o The authorised officer has also been given the power to o arrest without a warrant; and o seize and search without any warrant any premise in order to make an arrest or recovery of hostages, arms and ammunitions. • Individuals who have been taken into custody have to be handed over to the nearest police station as soon as possible. • Prosecution of an authorised officer requires prior permission of the Central government.

What has been the role of the judiciary? • There were questions about the constitutionality of AFSPA, given that law and order is a state subject. The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of AFSPA in a 1998 judgement (Naga People's Movement of Human Rights v. Union of India). • In this judgement, the Supreme Court arrived at certain conclusions including o a suo-motto declaration can be made by the Central government, however, it is desirable that the state government should be consulted by the central government before making the declaration; o AFSPA does not confer arbitrary powers to declare an area as a 'disturbed area'; o the declaration has to be for a limited duration and there should be a periodic review of the declaration 6 months have expired; o while exercising the powers conferred upon him by AFSPA, the authorised officer should use minimal force necessary for effective action, and o the authorised officer should strictly follow the Do’s and Don'ts issued by the army.

Has there been any review of the Act? • On November 19, 2004, the Central government appointed a five member committee headed by Justice B P Jeevan Reddy to review the provisions of the act in the north eastern states. • The committee submitted its report in 2005, which included the following recommendations:

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o AFSPA should be repealed and appropriate provisions should be inserted in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967; o The Unlawful Activities Act should be modified to clearly specify the powers of the armed forces and paramilitary forces; and o Grievance cells should be set up in each district where the armed forces are deployed. • The 5th report of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission on public order has also recommended the repeal of the AFSPA. • These recommendations have not been implemented.

What is the present status of the Act? • In 2011, the Jammu and Kashmir government asked for some parts of the state to be removed from the list of 'disturbed areas'. However, the army has opposed this and according to news reports, a compromise formula is being framed to be discussed at the meeting of the unified command (the highest decision making body on the security affairs of the state). THE J&K INTERLOCUTORS GROUP • The Central Government appointed the three member-J&K Interlocutors Group on October 13, 2010. They were Dileep Padgaonkar, Radha Kumar and MM Ansari. • The Group submitted the Report to the Home Ministry earlier this year. The Home Ministry made the Report public on May 24, 2012.

Political Recommendations • The Group recommended that a Constitutional Committee (CC) should be set up to review all the central Acts that have been extended to the state of Jammu and Kashmir since 1952. The CC should come out with its findings within six months. According to the Group, the CC should review whether, and to what extent, the application of central acts to the state has led to an erosion of the state’s special status. • The word ‘Temporary’ in Article 370 should be replaced with ‘Special’ which has been used for certain states such as Assam, Nagaland and Andhra Pradesh.

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• Central laws shall only be made applicable to the state if they relate to the country’s security or a vital economic interest, especially in the areas of energy and water resources. • Currently, the President appoints the Governor. The Group recommended that the state government shall give three names for consideration for the position to the President. However, the President shall finally appoint the Governor. • Separate Regional Councils for Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh should be created and certain legislative, executive and financial powers should be devolved to them. The subjects that could be transferred to the Regional Council include prison reforms, public health, roads and bridges and fisheries.

Cultural, Economic and Social Recommendations • There are 16 centrally sponsored schemes, which are mostly funded by the Centre. However, most of the funds for these schemes have not been utilised properly. The Group recommended that an effective system to monitor these schemes should be put in place. • An expert committee to review the state’s financial needs should be constituted. • The central government should tap the hydro-electricity potential of the state. Till date only 15 per cent of the potential has been harnessed. Additional hydro-electricity projects should be established for which the central government should meet the entire equity capital. • Industrial establishments and other buildings occupied by the security officers should be vacated. • Financial package of incentives on the pattern given to the North Eastern States should be given to the state. • The hilly, remote areas should be declared as special development zones. • The restrictions on the Internet and mobile phones should be reviewed.

Roadmap Proposed • The ‘stone pelters’ and political prisoners against whom no serious charges have been framed should be released.

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• There should an amendment and review of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1990 and the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978. • The state policy should provide for the return of Kashmiri Pandits. • A judicial commission to supervise the identification of bodies buried in the unmarked graves should be established. GOVERNMENT DECIDES COMMON TEST FOR ADMISSION ACROSS ALL GOVERNMENT FUNDED ENGINEERING COURSES • Indian government has announced for a common national test for admission to engineering courses across the country from next year 2013. All the national institutes including the premier Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), centrally funded institutions like NIITs or IIITs or state-funded institutions, which are getting government grants, will come under this purview. • Two exams JEE main and JEE advanced will be held for the same and the eligibility for the admission in the premier institutes will be decided based on the candidates’ score in these exams. For IIT admission, candidates will be shortlisted based on their performance on their JEE main exam and their Class XII marks (50% weightage to both of them) and the merit list will be decided based on their performance in the advance test. • For other government funded institutions different weightage will be given to these two exams and Class XII marks for admission. For Central government funded institutions, the weightages will be 40% for Class XII marks, 30% for the main test score and another 30% for the advanced test score. State Government will decide on the final weightages for admission in their state funded institutions. • To get all the Class XII exams conducted by central as well as state government boards, the Class XII marks will be standardized on percentile basis by a formula worked out by the Indian Statistical Institute. The merit list for the best class institutions will be decided based on their performance in the advance test.

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BIMAL GURUNG ELECTED CEO OF GTA • The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), a semi-autonomous body for trouble-torn Darjeeling hills in West Bengal, sworn in on 4 August 2012. The 50-member body was administered oath by West Bengal Governor MK Narayanan. • Bimal Gurung, President of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), will head the first elected body of the GTA. The 50-member body will consists of 45 elected candidates and 5 nominated candidates. • The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) had emerged victorious on all 45 seats in the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) election. The party won 28 seats out of 45 uncontested while, the voting for remaining 17 GTA seats were held on 29 July 2012 and results were declared on 2 August 2012. • Gorkhaland Territorial Administration is the successor of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, which came into existence in 1988. Gorkhaland Territorial Administration was the result of three-year long agitation by Bimal Gurung led Gorkha Janmukti Morcha for separate Gorkhaland state. The agitation, which kicked off in 2007, culminated with the formation of GTA in 2011. In 2011, when Mamta Banrjee led Trinmool Congress stormed to power in West Bengal, three sides viz. Union Government, West Bengal Government and GJM inked a tripartite agreement with respect to the formation of GTA. • The West Bengal Legislative Assembly had passed legislation for the formation of Gorkha Land on 2 September 2011. According to the legislation the GTA will have administrative, executive and financial powers but no legislative powers.

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AADHAAR ENABED SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM o Govt. has launched Aadhaar Enabed Service Delivery system11, which will modernize the subsidy system in the Indian consumer market. With this the subsidy benefits for the MNREGA, PDS and Domestic Cooking gas will be directly transferred to the Aadhar linked bank accounts of the beneficiaries. Prime Minister on 20 October 2012 launched Aadhaar Enabled Service Delivery in Dudu district of Rajasthan to mark the 2nd anniversary of Aadhaar. o With this launch of delivery system the government is going to start out Aadhaar Enabled Service Delivery initiatives in 51 districts across the country. o Now, the services will be linked to various government schemes such as MNREGA wage payments, PDS distribution, payment of social security benefits such as old-age payments, distribution of LPG cylinders, etc. o A number of state governments are coming ahead to roll out for these initiatives. Currently 23 crore residents have enrolled for an Aadhaar number, of which 21 crore Aadhaar numbers have already issued. NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON DIRECT CASH TRANSFERS o The Union Government on 25 October 2012 constituted a National Committee on Direct Cash Transfers. The committee would be responsible to coordinate in development of the process for making the transfer of the cash directly to the individuals, being provided under different types of government schemes and programs. o The Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh would be the Chairperson of the committee and the group of members would include eleven Cabinet Ministers, two Ministers of State with independent charge, the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, the Chairman UIDAI, the

11 Aadhaar, issued by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is a 12-digit number, which serves as a proof of identity and address anywhere in the country. It is an online identity platform that can be accessed in real-time for authenticating beneficiaries and can be adapted by various user agencies.

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Cabinet Secretary with the Principal Secretary to the PM as the convenor. The Prime Minister can invite some more officers, minister or any expert for the committee’s meet.

Proposed tasks of the National Committee on Direct Cash Transfers • With a clear objective of establishment of transparency, accountability and efficiency in the process the committee would guide and provide a vision and direction for enabling the cash transfers directly to ensure that the individuals are benefitted by the schemes and programs being run by the Government. They would also control the investments being made in the Aadhaar Project that includes the financial initiatives of the government. • Policy objectives and strategies would be determined and framed by the committee for direct cash transfers. • Identification of the schemes and programmes of the Government in which the process of direct transfer of cash to individuals can be adopted and formulated for the country. • The committee would be responsible for coordination of activities of all the departments, ministries and agencies that are involved in the process of transferring cash to make sure that a coordinated action for ensuring speedy roll-out of the cash transfers directly without delay across the country. • The committee would be responsible for specifying the timeliness on the cash transfers of the deliverables. • It would be responsible for reviewing the process for implementation of direct cash transfer as well as guide the mid-term corrections on it. • To assist the National Committee on the issue of Direct Cash Transfer, an Executive Committee for Direct Cash Transfer under the chairmanship of Prime Ministers' Principal Secretary is constituted along with the Secretaries of the concerned Ministries and the DG UIDAI. Convenor for this committee would be the Secretary of the Planning Commission.

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UNIVERSAL SERVICE OBLIGATION (USO) • The New Telecom Policy, 1999 provided that the resources for meeting the Universal Service Obligation (USO) would be raised through a Universal Access Levy (UAL), which would, be a percentage of the revenue earned by the operators under various licenses. • The USO Fund of India Aims to: • Provide widespread and non-discriminatory access to quality ICT services at affordable prices to people in rural and remote areas. • Provide an effective and powerful linkage to the hinterland thereby mainstreaming the population of rural and remote parts of the country • Ensure that universal services are provided in an economically efficient manner • Ensure that by developing hitherto unconnected areas, the benefits of inclusive growth are reaped by our nation, bringing in its wake rapid socio-economic development and improved standards of living. SECTION 66A OF THE IT ACT • Section 66A of the IT Act penalizes any person who sends, by means of a computer resource or a communication device: • any information that is grossly offensive or has menacing character; or • any information which he knows to be false, but for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred or ill will, persistently by making use of such computer resource or a communication device, or • any electronic mail or electronic mail message for the purpose of causing annoyance or inconvenience or to deceive or to mislead the addressee or recipient about the origin of such messages. • Punishment: Imprisonment for a term, which may extend to three years and with fine. • The section has been amended to provide that no case can be registered under it without being duly certified by an IPS officer concerned. After Facebook arrest issue related to IT Act (Section 66(a)), the Union government has issued new guidelines to stop misuse of a particular

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section of the Information Technology Act, as per the new guidelines, police needs to get prior approval from an IGP rank office before registering any case related to section 66(a) of IT Act in metropolitan cities. For Urban and rural areas, approval from DCP or higher-ranking officer is must. LAND ACQUISITION BILL • Land Acquisition Bill has been finalized by the Union Cabinet for introduction in the Parliament. Among the important provisions, consent of at least 80% of the affected landholders would be mandatory to carry out acquisition in case of private projects and 70% in case of PPP projects. Various provisions for the rehabilitation of the affected people have been included for the first time. Although such provisions do not apply retrospectively, in cases of existing projects, where the land acquisition is not completed within 5 years, such provisions shall be applicable. UGC SCHEME ON INNOVATION UNIVERSITIES o The University Grants Commission (UGC) has introduced a new scheme to provide funds to existing universities, which meet the criteria of an innovative university. o Under the "Scheme on Innovation Universities, UGC is going to invite proposals from existing universities on: • innovative teaching or educational programmes; • innovative research programmes; and • organizational innovations for financial support during the XIIth Plan. o An "innovative project‟ would get a one-time grant of Rs 25 crore; an "innovative programme‟ would get a grant between Rs 25 crore and Rs 100 crore; and an "innovative university‟ will be eligible for a grant between Rs 100 crore and Rs 300 crore for five years. RASHTRIYA BAL SWASTHYA KARYAKRAM • Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram is a new health initiative under the National Rural Health Mission. It seeks to provide comprehensive health care and improve the quality of life of children below 18 years by early

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detection of birth defects, diseases, deficiencies and development delays. It seeks to cover 30 common health conditions prevalent in children for early detection and free intervention and treatment. There will be provisions for child health screening services through dedicated mobile health teams placed in every block. The teams will screen children in the age group of 0 to 6 years at anganwadi centres and all children enrolled in government and aided schools. INDIA TO MISS UN MDG GOALS • India is expected to miss the crucial UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG), including those related to reduction in poverty, hunger and infant mortality, according to a government report. The poverty ratio is likely to be 26.7% by 2015 as against the target of 23.9%, while infant mortality rate (IMR) would be 43 per 1,000 live births against the milestone of bringing it down to 27.The child mortality rate would be at 52 per 1,000 live births compared to the target of 42, according to the Statistical Year Book 2013 released by minister of statistics and programme implementation Srikant Kumar Jena. • The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015. The goals are:

o eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, o achieving universal primary education, o promoting gender equality and empowering women o reducing child mortality rates, o improving maternal health, o combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, o ensuring environmental sustainability, and o developing a global partnership for development. • Latest movie of Chinese Oscar winning director Ang Lee, Life of Pi has been awarded with two National Tourism Awards by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India recently for promoting some famous Indian tourist spots including Puducherry and Munnar. The film ‘The Life of Pi’, was shot

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in Puducherry and Munnar in Kerala. The film was based on the novel of the same name by Yann Martel. Both of them were awarded with the awards. SUPREME COURT ALLOWS MAINTENANCE WORKS IN MULLAPERIYAR DAM BY TAMIL NADU • The Supreme Court of India on 23 July 2012 allowed Tamil Nadu government to carry out repair and maintenance works on the Mullaperiyar dam. However, the court instructed that the repairing and maintenance work is to be carried out in the presence of the Superintending Engineer of Kerala and an independent member nominated by the Chairman of the Central Water Commission. • A five-judge Constitution Bench of Justices DK Jain, RM Lodha, Deepak Verma, CK Prasad and Anil R Dave gave the verdict after hearing an application filed by Tamil Nadu government for the court’s permission to carry out certain maintenance works.

Mullaperiyar Dam • The Mullaperiyar Dam is constructed on the Periyar River in Kerala. The dam was constructed by the British government in 1895, to feed the water need of Tamil Nadu. The dam is located 2889 feet above mean sea level on the Cardamom Hills of the Western Ghats in Thekkadi, Idukki District in Kerala. • The height of the dam is 176 feet while, its length is 1200 feet. The Periyar National Park is located around the dam's reservoir.

What is the issue? • The past few years have witnessed a bitter disagreement between the Tamil Nadu and Kerala government over the safety of the dam. Kerala has openly expressed its disagreement over the safety of the dam as it argues that dam is 117 years old and has well outlived the average life span of a dam that stretches out between 50 to 60 years. In the face of a disaster, it will be extremely difficult to prevent the loss caused by the breakage of dam. The rising concern over the

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safety of dam is mostly due to the insufficient safety maintenance and monitoring of the dam. • The Kerala government argues that if the dam breaks, as it can in the event of a disaster like earthquake, it will cause a massive loss of lives and property. On the contrary, the Tamil Nadu government contends that if the dam cease to work it will create a severe water scarcity in five districts of the state, leading to a draught in the region. NATIONAL POLICY FOR CHILDREN 2012 • The Ministry of Women and Child Development on 26 July 2012 drafted the National Policy for Children 2012. The revised draft policy reaffirms the government's commitment towards children and addresses new challenges, seeking to realize the full potential of children’s rights throughout the country. It defines a child as a person below eighteen years of age, and acknowledges the inalienable and inherent rights of the child and aims to realize the full range of child rights for all children in the country. The draft has stated that every child has a right to be safeguarded against hunger, deprivation and malnutrition. According to the draft policy, the state is bound to secure the rights and entitlement of children in difficult circumstances such as migration, displacement, disasters and communal violence. • The first National Policy on Children was formulated in 1974. The first policy of 1974 described children as a supremely important asset and made the state responsible for providing equal opportunities for growth and development of all children. The policy primarily focused on health and education of the children. GOVERNMENT APPROVES A COMPLETE BAN ON EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN • The Union Government on 28 August 2012 cleared a proposal to put a complete ban on employment of children up to the age of 14 both in hazardous and non-hazardous work by amending an anti-child labour Act. The Union Cabinet, approved bringing amendment to the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, which has also penal provisions for non compliance.

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• As per the existing Act, children below 14 years of age are allowed to work in industries not considered to be hazardous. Children between 14-18 years will also be defined as adolescents in the amended Act. The amendment will also fulfill the mandate of Right to Education to free and compulsory education for children in the age group of 6-15 years. It will also bring labour laws in the country in line with International Labour Organisation norms. The Union Cabinet also referred the Land Acquisition Bill, to a Group of Ministers (GoM). RASHTRIYA AAROGYA NIDHI SCHEME LAUNCHED • The State Health Ministry of Arunachal Pradesh launched Rashtriya Aarogya Nidhi scheme in Itanagar on 14 September 2012. The scheme which is under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, provides financial assistance upto 1.5 lakh rupees to BPL patients suffering from life threatening diseases in the form of a one time grant. In the event of the treatment cost exceeding 1.5 lakh rupees, the patients can avail the assistance from the Central Rashtriya Aarogya Nidhi scheme. • The Central government’s contribution to the scheme for Arunachal Pradesh, will be two crore rupees. WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY LAUNCHED A WEB PORTAL NAMED TRACK CHILD • The Union Women and Child Development Ministry launched the portal to serve as a central database of all those children who have gone missing in different parts of the country. • The Union Women and Child Development Ministry on 18 September 2012 decided to launch a web portal named Track Child, which will serve as a central database of all those children who have gone missing in different parts of the country. The portal will act as a coordination mechanism between child homes, police departments and state governments. • As soon as a child is enlisted in a home, or whenever a missing FIR is registered in a police station, the details will be put on the portal. The ministry will coordinate with police heads, social welfare departments of various states and IAS (PRELIMS), 2013: CURRENT AFFAIRS 55

other agencies to create this mechanism. The ministry is also considering a proposal to create a National Institute of Women Affairs, which will serve as a think tank for women-related matters. SAKSHAM • The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development on 18 September 2012 decided to launch a scheme called Saksham to empower adolescent boys by educating them on gender sensitivity and moral behaviour. Saksham aims to target young boys in the age group 10-18 years for their holistic development by giving lessons in gender sensitivity and inculcating in them respect for women. • The Union government has already allocated ten lakh rupees for preparatory work for the scheme which is expected to be rolled out from the next financial year 2012-13. MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT LAUNCHED NIRMAL BHARAT YATRA • Ministry of rural development on3 October 2012 started a campaign named Nirmal Bharat Yatra which focuses on making the country free from open defecation. • The yatra will begin from Wardha District of Maharashtra from 3 october 2012 and will go through Indore, Kota, , and Gorakhpur and end up in Bettiah district of Bihar on November 17, covering about 2000 km of distance. • The Indian Bollywood actress is the brand ambassador of the campaign. • The campaign is being promoted by several NGOs and private companies and it is going to be completed at a cost of over Rs 12 crore and is going to target over 9 crore people to spread awareness about sanitation. • The well known NGOs that are participating in the programme are Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council. • According to the Studies conducted by World Health Organisation and UNICEF it was found that with 626 million people defecating in the open,

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India has largest population without access to toilets. The Yatra is about demand generation and sensitization about the sanitation issues as open defecation is a blot on our society. • The single biggest cause of malnutrition in India is poor sanitation and hygiene. Therefore with the most important medical and behavioral message is going to be conveyed. • Sikkim has already achieved the ODF (Open Defecation Free) status and the States like Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra are on way to achieve the sanitation goals in coming one to two years. PASSIVE EUTHANASIA SUPPORTED BY THE LAW PANEL • The Law Commission which advice government on legal issues made a recommendation to the government to initiate measures to enact a comprehensive law on passive euthanasia, subject to certain safeguards. • According to the Commission, Passive Euthanasia is not objectionable from a legal and constitutional point of view. • It was in April 2011 that the UPA government had asked the law commission to study the feasibility of framing a law for euthanasia after the legalization of Passive Euthanasia in Aruna Shanbaug case after the Supreme Court verdict. The verdict was just law of the land till it will enacted by Parliament. • In its report on passive euthanasia the law commission recommended that a “competent” adult patient, who can take an informed decision, has the right to insist that there should be no invasive medical treatment by way of artificial life sustaining measures. • It was also suggested by the commission that if patients cannot take a decision on their own, then the decision of the doctors or relatives to withhold or withdraw the medical treatment will not be final. • Also, the same rule will apply to a minor above 16 years of age who has expressed his or her wish not to have such treatment provided the consent has been given by the major spouse and one of the parents of such patient. • Whereas, Active euthanasia still remain a crime under Section 302(murder) or 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC, along with the physician assisted suicide under section 306 IPC (abetment of suicide)

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What is Euthanasia? • Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering. • Passive euthanasia entails the withholding of common treatments, such as antibiotics, necessary for the continuance of life. • Active euthanasia entails the use of lethal substances or forces, such as administering a lethal injection, to kill and is the most controversial means. INDIA AND WORLD BANK SIGNED 500 MILLION DOLLAR DEAL FOR SHIKSHA ABHYAN • World bank and the Government of India on 5 October 2012 signed a loan agreement of 500 Million US Dollar for Secondary Education Project named Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA). • The project is going to help in achieving increased and good quality secondary education as directed in the framework of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, the flagship government of India program for gradual Universalisation of secondary education.

What is Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan? • Like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the Department of School Education and Literacy of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) under Government of India is launching Rastriya Madhyamic Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) with an aim to achieve Universal Access and Quality Secondary Education. • Under Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan, the responsibility to develop Secondary-Education Management Information system (SE-MIS) is given to the Department of Educational Planning, National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA), New Delhi.

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MOS WAS SIGNED TO PROVIDE AUTONOMY FOR THE HILLS COUNCIL IN ASSAM • Tripartite Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed on 9 October 2012 for providing autonomy for the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council in Assam and a special package for speedier socio-economic development of the area. It was signed between Centre, Assam government and both factions of Dima Halam Daogah(DHD). DHD used to be a group with violent activities in the state but gave up violence and resorted to peace for getting into the mainstream of development. • Under the MoS, a committee will be constituted to deal with the matters relating to the 6th schedule councils. Under the agreement, the DHD will dissolve as an organization within a reasonable timeframe as a precursor to the government initiating further process to implement the agreed decisions. PLAN TO TACKLE JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS • The Union Cabinet of India on 18 October 2012 approved a 4038-crore Rupees comprehensive multi-pronged plan for prevention and control of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in the country. • The plan will implemented in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Assam within five years from 2012-13 to 2016-17. • The Plan is going to be jointly implemented by the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Social Justice and Empowerment, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Women and Child Development. • The proposal for Prevention and Control of Japanese Encephalitis came after the recommendation of Group of ministers (GoM) to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. • For making up a sum of 4000 crore rupees for Contribution, the biggest component of 2301.57 crore of Rupees is given by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation while the Health ministry's contribution is of 1131.49 crore of rupees.

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• Also, The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will put in 9.19 crore of rupees with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation contributing 418 crore of Rupees and Ministry of Women and Child Development 177.85 crore of rupees.

About Japanese Encephalitis? • Japanese Encephalitis is a disease caused by the mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus. The Encephalitis disease is mainly prevalent in Southeast Asia and the Far East. • Japanese encephalitis (JE) is one of the main cause of viral encephalitis in Asia, with 30,000–50,000 cases reported annually. Case-fatality rates range from 0.3% to 60% which depends on the population and on age. • Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome had already taken almost 1000 lives in India in 2012. • Also, there is not any specific treatment for Japanese encephalitis and treatment is supportive; with assistance given for feeding, breathing or seizure control as required. NATIONAL DATA CENTRE FOR UIDAI TO COME UP IN GURGAON • The Chief Minister of Haryana, Bhupinder Singh Hooda on 7 January 2013 laid the foundation stone of the state-of-the-art National Data Centre of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) at Manesar, Gurgaon in Haryana. • The centre that will spread in an area of five-acres would serve as the respiratory system for the UIDAI and would store all the basic biometric and demographic information of the residents, before the 12-digit Aadhaar Number is issued. The development work of the UIDAI center would be completed by mid 2014 and is being developed as a green data centre and abides to all the global standards and guidelines.

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NATIONAL GIRL CHILD DAY CELEBRATED IN INDIA ON 24 JANUARY o This day is celebrated as the National Girl Child Day every year by the Government of India with an objective to raise consciousness of Indian society towards the girl children. o The Women and Child Development Ministry observed National Girl Child Day on 24 January 2013. 24 January is celebrated as the National Girl Child Day every year since 2008 by the Government of India.

Objective of the National Girl Child Day o The primary objective of the National Girl Child Day is raising awareness and consciousness of the society towards the girl child. The primary aim is to ensure that every girl is respected and valued in Indian society. o On this day, the Women and Child Development Ministry take up multi- pronged approach for addressing as well as working towards the trend of diminishing child sex ratio in India. The initiatives like these ensure that girl child is born as well as nurtured in a way that it gives them equal opportunities as well as rights like those to the boys. o On the National Girl Child Day, the aim is to address issues related to health, education and nutrition of the girl child. The State's Women and Child Development Department instructed the District Programme Officers of various states of India to organise programmes for the National Girl Child Day. HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY LAUNCHED SANSKRIT CARAVAN • Sanskrit Caravan was launched in New Delhi on 14 February 2013 by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor for promoting, preserving as well as propagating Indian languages such as Sanskrit and Urdu. • Sanskrit Caravan was launched as a part of Indian Heritage Caravan, which is actually an initiative of Press Council of India chairman and former Supreme

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Court Judge Justice Markandey Katju. Idea Communication was the sponsor of the event. • Earlier in February 2013, Justice Markandey Katju had also inaugurated Urdu Caravan from Delhi to Bhopal as well as Mumbai. ELECTRONICS PROJECT PROPOSAL SYSTEM E-PPS LAUNCHED BY KAPIL SIBAL • Union Minister Kapil Sibal on 6 March 2013 launched the Electronics Project Proposal System (e-PPS), developed by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, through the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) during a round table discussion with Academia, Industry and R&D Organisation. The e-PPS system will initially start as a project.

What is Electronic Project Proposal System (e-PPS)? • It is a web-based system in form of solution to fund the R&D projects, which will start from online submission of the project proposal for funds and will monitor as well as manage the funded projects.

Processes Supported by the e-PPS System • Online submission of project proposals • Evaluation of proposals by experts • Project recommendations • Project Monitoring

Impact of the e-PPS System • It will replace existing manual system of project funding in which the project investigators submit hard copies of R&D proposals, which are presented to a Working Group and based on the recommendations of the Working Group the proposals are further processed. • The system would create a One-Go-Dash-Board to monitor the projects from its initiation to completion.

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• Will ease the processing time of the proposal and dissemination of the project information. NATIONAL COUNTER TERRORISM CENTRE (NCTC) • The government planned to set up on March 1, 2012, a powerful anti-terror agency that will integrate and analyse inputs on terror threats in India and will have legal authority to make arrests and conduct search operations. • The order came after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on January 11, 2012 approved the creation of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), an agency to maintain data of terror modules, terrorists, their associates, friends, families and supporters.

What will be the powers of the proposed body? • NCTC will derive powers from the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which allows central government agencies to make arrests or searches in terror-related cases while keeping state police concerned . • According to the order the officers of the NCTC shall have the powers to arrest and the power to search under the UAPA. • The NCTC will also have the power to seek information, including documents, reports, transcripts, and cyber information from any agency, including from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), National Investigation Agency, NATGRID, National Technical Research Organization, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and all seven central armed police forces including the National Security Guard (NSG). • The agency has worked out on the model of the US’ similar body aimed at combating terrorism by collecting and analysing threats, sharing the inputs and information with other agencies and converting these into actionable data.

What will be the composition of the NCTC? o The counter-terrorism agency will be a separate body located in the Intelligence Bureau under the control of the home ministry. o The head of the NCTC will be called director and will be an officer in the rank of additional director IB.

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o Other officials of the agency will be deputed from other organisations like the Research and Analysis Wing, IB and other intelligence and investigation agencies. o The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on 06.02.2012 approved the Home Ministry’s ambitious plan to set up the National Counter-Terrorism Centre.

What would be the implications of this step? • After the CCS’ nod, the NCTC will be the nodal agency for all counter- terrorism activities and intelligence agencies such as Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) and state intelligence agencies. • These agencies will report to it on matters related to terrorism. The NCTC will then streamline terror-related intelligence, analyse and provide them for action to concerned agencies, official sources said. • It will coordinate with all intelligence agencies and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will act as the investigation wing. • The NCTC will connect Multi Agency Centre (MAC), which would be subsumed into NCTC, and all agencies reporting to it, in Delhi and state capitals.

How is the Indian NCTC different from the one in the USA? • The Indian NCTC will differ from the NCTC set up in the US after 9/11 in two important respects. • Firstly, in the US, the NCTC is an independent institution functioning under the supervision of the Director, National Intelligence. It co-ordinates the functioning of the counter-terrorism divisions of the various agencies of the intelligence community. The expectation was that being an independent agency, its functioning will not be affected by inter-agency clashes and egos. However, the NCTC being set up in India will not be an independent institution. It will be part of the IB and director, IB, will supervise its functioning. This could come in the way of an independent audit and supervision of the functioning of the counter-terrorism division of the IB.

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• Secondly, the NCTC in the US has no powers of arrest, interrogation, investigation and prosecution. The responsibility in these matters continues to be that of the FBI. In India, the NCTC has been given the powers to arrest and carry out searches under Section 43 (A) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. • Till now, in India, these powers belong to only the National Investigation Agency and the Central Bureau of Investigation at the Centre and the police in the states. By giving these powers to the NCTC too, we are going to create confusion in the investigation and prosecution of terrorism-related cases. • In India, the IB informally associates itself with all terrorism-related interrogation, but the arrests and searches are made either by the police or by the NIA or the CBI. By creating a multiplicity of organisations having such powers and by giving these powers to the NCTC which will work under the director, IB, we will be taking an unwise step which could further politicise our handling of counter-terrorism.

Why is it being opposed? • A diverse group of chief ministers believe that NCTC’s charter was violative of the federal structure. They questioned the manner in which the agency was set up, without taking states on board, and demanded that the decision be reversed. • Another perspective among the strategic community feels that by creating a multiplicity of organisations having powers to arrest and by giving these powers to the NCTC which will work under the director, IB, would mean taking an unwise step which could further politicise our handling of counter-terrorism.

What changes are being suggested? • Post Hyderabad blasts, the need for a centralized spy agency is again come to the forefront. Centre is planning a strategy, like the one adopted fro FDI in retail, whereby the states would be given the discretion to opt for participation in the NCTC. This would blunt the pro-federalism argument against the NCTC. Moreover, centre is also inclined to change various provisions of NCTC, important being the dilution of police powers.

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3 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

GREECE

ELECTIONS AND FORMATION OF GOVT. • General Elections were conducted in may no govt. However, there emerged a deadlock and no govt. could be formed • Finally, New Democracy Party leader Antonis Samaras was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Greece after forming coalition government with other parties socialist party Pasok and the Democratic Left party. With this, Greece was able to come out of the political crisis which occurred after first election held in May. The new government supported the bailout deal with EU and IMF, which also reduces concern about Greece’s exit from the euro zone. • Greece has been passing through the severe economic crisis which started in 2008. The country which makes nearly 2 per cent of the gross economic output of the Euro zone has seriously been contemplating the option of pulling out of the group. The exit of Greece from the eurozone raises a serious question over

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the future of European Union as many larger European economies such as , Italy, are also likely to follow in the steps of Greece. To rescue Greece out of the economic crisis the European Union and International Monetary Fund had granted a 110 billion Euro package to the country in 2010, followed by a 130 billion Euro package in 2012.

What is Greece Crisis? • Greece over the past ten years took a massive amount of loan from different sources, to keep its numerous public expenditure and social security programs going. But hit hard by the 2008-09 economic recession the country failed to pay back its loan to lenders. Hence, it defaulted in its mandatory loan repayments. Since the country is the part of Eurozone, the economic catastrophe, which hit the nation, directly affected the entire Eurozone economy. Though, and France, the two largest economies of Eurozone, bailed Greece out in 2010 it again slipped in the same situation forcing other EU nations to plan another bailout for the nation. DOCTOR WHO HELPED CATCH OSAMA SENTENCED • Shakeel Afridi, the man behind the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abottabad in Pakistan on 2 May 2011 sentenced to 33 years imprisonment under the colonial vintage Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) on 23 May 2012. • Shakeel Afridi, had helped the CIA collect the DNA sample of bin Laden by conducting a fake vaccination drive in the Abbottabad area. The sample helped the the U.S. intelligence agency to confirm his presence in the fortified house. • Afridi was produced before a four-member tribal court and sentenced to 33 years of imprisonment. A penalty of 320000 Pakistani Rupees was also imposed on the doctor. He was charged with high treason after he was picked up by the ISI soon after the Abbottabad raid. Earlier this year, senior U.S. administration officials confirmed that he had helped them track down bin Laden and called for his release.

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POLITICAL CRISIS IN NEPAL • Nepal President has removed Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai as the Constituent Assembly of Nepal failed to deliver the new constitution before its last deadline of 27th May 2012. The Assembly failed to reach a consensus on the shape and specifics of federal structure of Governance. However he will work as a temporary Prime Minister until new government is chosen.

Nepal Constituent Assembly • Nov, 2006: SPA-Maoist Agreement. • April 2008: Constituent Assembly elected. • May 2010: One year extension • May, 2011: 6 months extension • Nov., 2011: 6 months extension • May, 2012: Dissolved EGYPT

Constituent Assembly approves final draft of country’s Constitution • Egypt’s Constituent Assembly has approved a final draft of the country’s first Constitution since the fall of former President Hosni Mubarak. The Assembly has sent the draft to President Mohamed Morsy who will submit it for public approval in a referendum. As per him, this new Constitution will help Egypt to overcome the current political crisis.

Parliament of Egypt Passed Draft of the New Constitution • The Parliament of Egypt passed draft of their new constitution in which the duties, responsibilities and roles of the legislature, judiciary and executive have been defined. • 230 articles of this new constitution were discussed as well as voted upon by Salafist and Islamist MPs at the rushed session of Egyptian Parliament, which

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took place for 16 hours. This was also followed by protests and boycotting. The secular, liberal as well as leftist opposition with the minority Coptic Christians proscribed proceedings of Parliament while discussions and voting was going on. • As per the law of Egypt, now the President of Egypt would sanction the draft. It would then be put for referendum from the nation within a month. It was concluded that speeding up passing of the draft was important because constitution was the need of the hour urgently in order to have properly-elected Parliament, President for execution of the law as well as an independent judiciary. President Morsy guarded his decisions on the grounds that his decisions were a step for saving the revolution, which brought down the regime of Mubarak. • In the meanwhile, National Salvation Front, the umbrella of leftist, secular and liberal opposition as well as youth revolutionary movements criticised this decision as ill-conceived and hastily moved. President Morsy was blamed to impose this constitution. The decision of the Parliament is seen as the effort to block the Country's Supreme Constitutional Court, which could have dissolved constitution-drafting body completely. The ruling on dissolution of constitution assembly as well as upper house of Parliament was outstanding by the Supreme Constitutional Court. • Consequently, possibly this would increase tiff between the opposition as well as the Government because the opposition is continuously demanding fragmenting Presidential diktat which grants comprehensive powers to the existing President.

Morsi signs draft constitution • Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy on 25 December 2012 signed into law a new Islamist-drafted constitution. • Mohamed Morsi signed a declaration enforcing the charter late after the official announcement of the result of a referendum approving the basic law, Egypt's first constitution since Hosni Mubarak's overthrow. • The passing of the constitution meant Egypt could now move to a new stage that should bring security and stability for the people.

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• The body, known as the Shura Council, will temporarily be able to pass laws until a new parliament has been elected within the next few months, after the adoption of an election law. • Two-thirds of the members of the 270-seat council were elected earlier in 2012 in a vote in which only 12 per cent of registered voters participated. The remaining 90 were appointed by Mohamed Morsi, the Islamist president. • It was expected to draft a law for legislative elections for the dissolved lower house that have to be held by the end of February 2013. • The National Salvation Front opposition coalition said it would vie for seats in the parliament, which has powers under the new charter that could hamper Morsi’s ability to govern.

Morsi imposes emergency • President Mohamed Morsi announced emergency as well as curfew in three main cities of Egypt on 27 January 2013. • Emergency and curfew was declared by the Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in three main cities, i.e., Suez, Ismailia and Port Said because of increasing violence and protests in the streets. The violence posed serious threats to Morsi’s government as well as the democracy of Egypt. It is important to note that the three major cities sit on the economically crucial Suez Canal. • The state of emergency was imposed for one month in three major cities of Egypt. Under the Mubarak-era laws which are in-effect to the Egypt’s new constitution, under the state of emergency, the ordinary judicial process as well as most of the civil rights is suspended. Also, the state of emergency imparts extraordinary powers to the police and the President. • In Port Said, the violence ignited over the death sentences which were imposed by the court on 21 local soccer fans for the role they played in riots. The protests began after 30 people died on 26 January 2013 in clashes with the police.

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MYANMAR

President Thein Sein declared Emergency in West Myanmar • Myanmar President Thein Sein declared emergency in West Myanmar on 10 June 2012. The government’s move came following a wave of sectarian violence between the Buddhists and Muslims in the past week which left seven people dead and hundreds of properties ravaged in Rakhine state of west Myanmar. • Conflict in troubled Rakhine state blazed after a Buddhist woman was killed in May 2012, followed by an attack on a bus carrying Muslims. The clashes began on 4 June 2012 when a violent mob attacked a bus in Taungup, Rakhine province, apparently mistakenly believing some of the passengers were responsible for the earlier rape and murder of a Buddhist woman. • Rakhine state is named after the ethnic Rakhine Buddhist community, which is in the majority in the state. The state also has a sizeable Muslim population, including the Rohingya minority. The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic group and are considered to be the refugees who have illegally entered Myanmar from neighboring Bangladesh. • The state emergency imposed in the western state can upset the country’s initiatives taken in the direction of democracy. The former military ruled country has been trudging the path of political reforms over the past two years. • The process of political reforms accelerated in Myanmar after Thein Sein’s Union Solidarity and Development Party stormed to the power in March 2011after its massive victory in the election held in the country after 20 years. Despite largely being controlled by the military, the Thein Sein’s government showcased enough willingness to introduce real political reforms in the country. In a reconciliatory move the government had released hundreds of prisoners from the jail in January 2012. The move was followed by a by-elections in the state in April 2012, which witnessed pro democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party NLD for the first time since 1990 capturing 43 out of 45 seats.

Historical perspective on the Issue • The Rohingyas, numbering nearly a million and thereby constituting a significant portion of the approximately 55 million population of Myanmar, are

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recognised by the UN as one of the most persecuted ethnic minorities in the world. The level of persecution has only varied over the past few years, and has worsened now. • General Ne Win, former dictator Premier of erstwhile Burma (now Myanmar), caused the greatest misery to the Rohingyas and started the process of their deprivation by stripping them of Burmese citizenship in 1982. There has been no reversal of this trend by successive military junta leaders. • As per conditions presently prevailing in Myanmar, the Geneva Convention on Refugees of 1951 and its Protocol of 1967 are being grossly violated in respect of the Rohingyas. • The geographical proximity of the Rohingya-inhabited Rakhine state of Myanmar with Bangladesh has led a large number of Rohingyas to flee to , Bandarban and Cox`s Bazar districts of Bangladesh whenever there is political turbulence in Rakhine state. • Though centuries ago the Rohingyas had settled down in what is today the Rakhine state of Myanmar, in British India, Rakhine province used to be administered from Chittagong and the Rohingyas moved freely between Bengal and Burma. Therefore, there was some historical affinity between the Rohingyas of Rakhine state and the afore-mentioned adjoining area of Bangladesh.

India's Viewpoint • As a result of the June 2012 riots between the Rohingyas and local Buddhists in Rakhine state, nearly 100,000 Rohingyas were affected apart from a large number of local Buddhists; approximately 20,000 Rohingyas fled from the riot affected areas and tried to move into Bangladesh. • Some Rohingyas who had earlier left Myanmar are already housed in miserable conditions in makeshift camps in Bangladesh. The position in regard to refugee habitation in Bangladesh was aggravated when new Rohingya refugees started crossing into that country. • While India is not immediately affected by the Rohingya refugee migration from Myanmar, it cannot be oblivious to the regional dimensions of such human migrations based on ethnic discontent. Earlier, the Buddhist Chakmas

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of Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh, who had felt discriminated in that country, had migrated to Mizoram state of India. The Chakma presence had been a source of considerable local tension in Mizoram. Any diversion of Rohingya refugees from camps in Bangladesh to adjoining north-eastern states of India would not be acceptable to New Delhi. • The ethnic turbulence in the Rakhine state of Myanmar involving the Muslim Rohingyas and local ethnic Buddhists has also added an uncertain element in the Myanmar Government`s approach to its minorities, which also has future geopolitical ramifications for both Bangladesh and India. Such disturbances can not only be a cause of another home-grown insurgency, but also set off a chain reaction of ethnic demands and counter- demands among the different ethnic groups in Myanmar. UNITED NATIONS MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS 2012, REPORT • United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon released United Nations Millenium Development Goal 2012. Report on 2 July 2012. The report noted that three important targets on poverty, slums and water have already been met three years ahead of 2015, the target year. • On the front of poverty, the report stated that for the first time since poverty trends began to be monitored, both the number of people living in extreme poverty and the poverty rates have fallen in every developing region including sub-Saharan Africa, where rates are highest. Preliminary estimates indicate that in 2010, the share of people living on less than a 1.25 dollar a day dropped to less than half of its 1990 value. • The target of providing clean drinking water to a substantial population of the world also saw a considerable achievement as the proportion of people using improved water sources rose from 76 per cent in 1990 to 89 per cent in 2010, which means more than two billion people across the world today have the access to sources of clean drinking water. • In developing world the share of urban population living in slums came down to 33 per cent in 2000 from 39 per cent in 2000.

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• The millennium development goal asserted that the developing countries have also marked considerable achievements in education as many more of the world’s children are enrolled in school at the primary level, especially since 2000. Girls have benefited the most. • On the front of AIDS control, the developing countries have achieved tremendous fate as at the end of 2012 nearly 6.5 million people in the developing countries were receiving the antiretroviral therapy for HIV AIDS.

What are UN Millenium Development Goals? • The UN Millenium Development Goals Report presents the most comprehensive global assessment of progress to date, based on data provided by a large number of international organizations within and outside the United Nations system. The aggregate figures in the report provide an overview of regional progress under the eight goals and are a convenient way to track advances over time. The report is coordinated and published by the Statistics Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. • The Millenium Development Goals have their origin in the Millennium Declaration produced by the United Nations following the Millennium Summit in 2000. The Declaration asserts that every individual has the right to dignity, freedom, equality, a basic standard of living that includes freedom from hunger and violence, and encourages tolerance and solidarity. In order to achieve its target of providing every individual a basic standard of living along with freedom, equality, the member nations had adopted the Eight goals which has to be achieved by 2015. The eight areas which comprises the UN Millenium Development Goal are as follows: o Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger o Achieve universal primary education o Promote gender equality and empower women o Reduce child mortality o Improve maternal health o Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases o Ensure environmental sustainability

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o Develop a global partnership for development INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY SET UP SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR IRAN • International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the international agency for the monitoring of nuclear energy, on 29 August 2012 set up a special Task Force to handle inspections and other issues related to the Iran's disputed nuclear programme. • The Vienna based agency is aiming at handling the sensitive Iran issue by deploying the experts and other resources under one unit. IAEA, which regularly inspects Iran's nuclear sites, has voiced growing concern over the lran's nuclear program. Tehran, however, has argued that its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful and there is no any military dimension to it. • Iran has been at the target of western nations for carrying out its nuclear plan. The western nations including US and European Union have been persuading Iran to stop its nuclear development programme to yield to vital result. Iran has been facing tough economic sanctions imposed by US and European Union. The Islamic state has dubbed the allegations made by US and its allies as ridiculous and maintained that the country has no military ambition behind its nuclear programme.

UNHRC12 RESOLUTION TO PROTECT THE ONLINE HUMAN RIGHTS OF GLOBAL CITIZENS • United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Geneva based human rights wing of UN, on 5 July 2012, adopted a first ever resolution to protect the online human rights of global citizens. The resolution adopted by consensus, stated that citizens of the world are as much entitled to the human rights online as they are offline.

12 UNHRC is the successor of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and a subsidiary of UNGA. Constituted in 2007, it has 47 seats.

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• The resolution noted that there can be no double standard with regard to people’s right of fundamental freedom and since internet makes a major part of present world’s communication process, all governments must endeavour to protect the online rights of its citizens. • The landmark resolution was sponsored by Sweden and co-sponsored by over 80 countries, that includes United States, Brazil, , , and Tunisia. UNHRC RESOLUTION ON SRI LANKA • The UNHRC has adopted the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka on human rights, India voting in favour of the resolution. The resolution calls the Sri Lankan government to conduct an independent and credible investigation into allegations of human rights violations. ICC SENTENCED CONGOLESE WARLORD THOMAS LUBANGA TO 14-YEAR IMPRISONMENT • Hague based International Criminal Court (ICC) awarded Thomas Lubanga, a Congolese warlord, 14-year imprisonment on 10 July 2012. Judges at the ICC found Thomas Lubanga guilty of recruiting and using children in his Union of Congolese Patriots militia. The court, however, has arrangements with seven countries to jail the war criminals which includes; , Serbia, Mali, Austria, Finland, Britain and Belgium. • Lubanga, who had used children as the soldiers during the violent struggle in Congo's eastern Ituri region in 2002-2003 was convicted for war crime. He is the first person to be convicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) since it was established in 2002. He was arrested by UN peacekeepers, in March 2005. • Lubanga had led the Union of Congolese Patriots, an ethnic militia in the violent struggle in the Ituri region and its main town of Bunia. The conflict, which began in 1999, claimed the life of about 60000 people in the country.

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LIBYA • Anti-government protests began in Libya on 15 February 2011. By 18 February the opposition controlled most of Benghazi. The uprising in Libya was more a result of foreign intervention than being spontaneous. On 17 March, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 was adopted, authorising a no-fly zone over Libya, and "all necessary measures" to protect civilians. Two days later, France, the United States and the intervened in Libya with a bombing campaign against pro-Gaddafi forces. A coalition of 27 states from Europe and the Middle East soon joined the intervention. • Muammar Gadaffi, the leader of the country was eliminated by the opposition forces in Libya. • National Transition Council, which led fight against Gaddaffi took over the power in the country. • Elections for a General National Congress (GNC) were held in Libya on 7 July 2012. The General National Congress is empowered to appoint a Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Libya's NTC Handed Power to Newly Appointed National Assembly • The ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) handed over power to the newly elected National Assembly on 8 August 2012 in a night ceremony in Tripoli, Libya. NTC Chairman, Mustafa Abdel Jalil passed on the responsibility to the oldest member of the new two hundred-member assembly, Mohammed Ali Salim. • The new assembly will appoint a new interim Prime Minister to form the government and a sixty member panel to draft the new constitution of Libya. • The ceremony marked the first peaceful government transition of the country post Gadhafi seized power in Libya. • Though the handover of power came in as a good news, Libya still struggled with its security concerns. Unknown individuals attacked the residence of the International Committee of the Cross in Misrata on 5 August 2012. None

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of the staff members inside the building at the time of the attack were registered hurt, but the building suffered extensive damage. NTC was announced in the city of Benghazi, Libya on 27 February 2011 to act as the political face of the revolution.

National Assembly of Libya rejected the New Cabinet Proposed by Prime Minister • The General National Assemly of Libya on 7 October 2012 rejected the new 10-member Crisis Cabinet proposed by the Prime Minister Mustafa Abu Shagur. He had submitted his second list of Cabinet Ministers for approval to the National Assembly. There were 125 votes against, 44 in favour while 17 MPs abstained from voting in the 200 member National Assembly. The rejection implies dismissal of Libyan Prime Minister. The National Assembly can now elect a new Prime Minister within the next four weeks. • The second list of 10 cabinet ministers was proposed as an emergency response by the Prime Minister Mustafa Abu Shagur, barely 3 days after the first list of 29 ministers was rejected by the General National Congress on 4 October 2012. The lawmakers at the 200 member National Assembly yet again disapproved it saying it was not representative of all the regions in Libya. After the release of the first list, the Parliament in Tripoli was stormed by the protesters from Zawiya and Zuwara demanding more representation and the resignation of the Prime Minister. SENKAKU/ DIAOYU ISLANDS DISPUTE • Ten Japanese on 23 August 2012, made a landing on Uotsuri, which is known in Japan as the Senkaku Islands and in China as the Diaoyu Islands. The uninhabited islands surrounded by rich fishing grounds are controlled by Japan but also claimed by China and . • The Senkaku Islands are located in the East China Sea between Japan, and the Republic of China. The archipelago contains five uninhabited islands. • Japan on 11 September 2012, announced that it has purchased the three uninhabited islands in the Diayo Islands from its owner family based in Tokyo. Amidst, the growing tensions in relation to the disputed East China Sea, China

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issued a warning to Japan on that it will take care of its interests by taking necessary steps in relation to the three islands purchased by Japan in the Diaoyo Islands. • Two Marine Surveillance Ships were sent on patrol by China to the inhabited islands for enforcement of Chinese control that heightened the possibilities of confrontation with Japanese coastguards.

What is the Dispute all about? • Senkaku or Diaoyu Islands are the uninhabited group of Islands in the East China Sea controlled by Japan since 1895. These Islands lie in between the mainland of China, West of Okinawa Island, Northeastern Taiwan and north of the South-western end of Ryukyu Islands. As per a study conducted by the experts in the year 1968, it was discovered that these islands may have oil reserves. • After Japan’s surrender in the World War II, the control of the Islands went in the hands of USA and controlled by them from 1945 to 1971. US returned these islands to Japan after the Okinawa Reversion Treaty inked in between US and Japan in 1972. • After the reversal treaty, People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China, Taiwan (ROC) claims the discovery of the islands and their control over these from 14th Century. Amidst the complexity, ROC and PRC consider these Islands as the part of Taiwan. Japan does not consider Taiwan as a sovereign state and hence does not regard the claims of Taiwan over the group of Islands. INDIA, MYANMAR AND THAILAND DECIDED TO IMPLEMENT TRILATERAL CONNECTIVITY PROJECT BY 2016 • India, Myanmar and Thailand on 10 September 2012 reviewed the eagerly awaited trilateral connectivity project and decided to make all efforts to implement this by 2016. This was done at the meeting of the India-Myanmar- Thailand Joint Task Force, which met in New Delhi.

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• It was also agreed during the meeting that steps be initiated to address issues related to harmonisation of customs and immigration procedures at border check-posts to enable seamless movement of goods and people to realise the full potential of the trilateral highway. UK, SCOTLAND AGREE ON REFERENDUM ON LATTER'S INDEPENDENCE • UK and Scotland signed an agreement on 15 October 2012 to hold a referendum in 2014 on Scottish independence. The referendum agreement has been signed following talks in Edinburgh between David Cameron, UK Prime Minister and Alex Salmond, who leads the pro-independence Scottish National Party. The referendum could lead to the United Kingdom breaking up after 300 years, leaving only England, Wales and in the Union. • The British Government wants Scotland to stay in its political union with England. The Scottish Government led by Alex Salmond favours independence. After months of negotiations, the deal is expected to give Scotland's administration the power to hold a vote in the final quarter of 2014, which will offer Scotland a choice on leaving the United Kingdom. SYRIA • Syria was under Emergency Law from 1963–2011, effectively suspending most constitutional protections for citizens. Bashar al-Assad has been president since 2000 and was preceded by his father Hafez al-Assad, who was in office from 1971. • Since 2011, the Syrian government has faced massive protests for democratic reforms leading to its suspension from the Arab League. • The governments of the United States, France, Spain and Libya have recognised the opposition Syrian National Council. They believe that Assad leads a dictatorial regime, which denies the basic freedoms to people. They want a democratic transformation in the country. • The other perspective is that the Shia-Sunni Faultline in the Arab world is dictating the turn of events. Syria is a Sunni majority country ruled by a Shia

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ruler. It is a major ally of Iran, which is seen as a threat to the pre-eminence of the Sunni powers like Saudi Arabia & Turkey in the Arab world. • Turkey, which had a major role in arming and funding the Libyan uprising is believed to have pushed the former Libyan fighters into the Syrian territory. Saudi Arabia is also on a slippery ground, calling for regime change in Syria while ignoring the human rights abuses within its own territory and its allies like Bahrain and Yemen. The issue is also seen as the first step towards the attack on Iran by disabling its major ally. • There is no denying the fact that there are human rights abuses and protests, even while they are peaceful have been handled with a heavy hand. The killing of many journalists and bombarding of civilian enclaves like Homs is a testimony to this side of the coin. • Mr. Assad has, however, successfully steered a national referendum on the adoption of a new Constitution that will end ruling Baath Party's monopoly on power. 89 per cent of those who participated in the referendum had backed the new Constitution. The referendum was fully backed by Russia and China. Russians and Chinese have opposed any attack on Syria. • Russia is Syria’s major ally and arms supplier. A Syrian Mediterranean port of Tartus is Russia’s only access to the Mediterranean Sea. China, is dead against any new US-led offensive in the area having a major bearing on its energy security. • OIC (Organization for Islamic Cooperation13) suspended Syria’s membership due to ongoing civil war.

UNGA Resolution On Syria • The United Nations General Assembly on 3 August 2012 adopted a non- binding resolution that condemns Syria's use of heavy weapons in the fight against rebel forces. The resolution, drafted by Saudi Arabia, deplored the

13 Organization of 57 muslim states which claims to represent the voice of Muslim ummah (community). It is headquartered at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Estd. in 1969 at Rabat in Morrocco.

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unrelenting bloodshed in Syria and demanded a peaceful political transition in the country. • The resolution got 133 votes in favour in the 193-member body, while 12 voted against the resolution. 31 nations including India chose to remain absent during the voting. The fresh resolution is largely in line with the League of Arab States’ resolution, which demanded Syrian President Bashar-al-Assad to step down from power and urged world community to severe diplomatic relations and ties with Syria. • Syrian government, however, deemed the resolution as an attempt to jeopardize the regional peace and stability. Those who opposed the UN resolution including China, Iran, North Korea, Belarus, Cuba argued that putting pressure only on one party would not help resolve the Syrian issue and would instead derail the issue from the track of a political settlement. • India abstained from voting after it found some of the provisions of the resolution contrary to its long held stance on the Syrian crisis. Provisions such as forced regime change and sanctions against the country India found particularly objectionable. Before deciding to abstain from the voting Indian Ambassador to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri had held several rounds of dialogue with his Saudi and Qatari counterparts to remove these provisions.

UN Security Council decided not to extend the UN Observer’s Mission in Syria • The United Nations Security Council decided not to extend the mandate of UN Observer’s Mission in Syria. However, it has supported the idea of maintaining a political office in Damascus. The French Ambassador to the UN said in New York that the conditions to continue were not fulfilled. The mission will come to an end on 19 August 2012. • The UN Security council had set two conditions for extending the mission of the unarmed observers beyond 20 August 2012. These included a halt to the Syrian Government's use of heavy weapons and a significant reduction in the violence. UN stated since neither condition had been met, Syria now risks a descent into a full-scale civil war. It virtually sealed the fate of UN Observer

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mission in Syria. Due to escalation in violence and risk to the lives of observers, the mission had to suspend its operations mid way in June 2012.

Lakhdar Brahimi appointed New Joint Special Representative of UN and Arab League for Syria • Veteran Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi was appointed the new joint special representative of the UN and the League of Arab States for Syria on 17 August 2012. Brahimi, the former Algerian Foreign Minister, will replace Kofi Annan, who had stepped down as UN and Arab League joint special envoy to Syria on 2 August 2012. • Brahimi, who served as Algeria’s foreign minister from 1991 to 1993, joined UN in 1994 and served various high profile positions until he retired in 2005. Brahimi also has a vast experience of working with Arab nations. He served as under-secretary-general of the Arab League from 1984 to 1991.He also served as the Arab League's special envoy to Lebanon from 1989 to 1991, mediating the end of a civil war in that country. • Brahimi's appointment to the high profile poition came a day after the UN Security Council decided to set up a new political liaison center in Damascus, the Syrian capital. • The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on 16 February demanding the heads of the UN and the Arab League to appoint a special envoy for Syria, a country which has been troubled by prolonged tension and violence between anti-government protesters and rebels and the forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. • Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was appointed the UN and Arab League’s joint special envoy to Syria on 23 February 2012.

Geneva Plan on Syria • Geneva Plan on Syria has been accepted as the basis of solution of the Syrian crisis by Lakhdar Brahimi, Arab League and UN envoy on Syria, Russia and USA. according to this plan, denies any military solution to the crisis and does not specifically call for the exit of President Bashar al-Assad. It calls for the

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establishment do a transitional governing body in which both the present regime and the opposition are represented. MALI • The French govt. has started air strikes in Mali on the appeal by the country's president. The country is facing a threat of takeover by Ansar Dine, a group of Islamist Rebels linked with Al Qaeeda. The Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS14) also decided to deploy its troops in the country. PAKISTAN

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has agreed to open the graft case against the President Asif Ali Zardari • Pakistan’s Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has informed Pakistan’s Supreme Court that the government would revoke a former Attorney General’s letter to Swiss authorities for the closure of graft cases against him. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raja Gilani has lost his office as he failed to re- open the graft case against the President.

Bangladesh Opted out of D-815 Summit Scheduled to be Held in Pakistan • Bangladesh opted out of the key summit known as D-8 Summit in Pakistan which is scheduled to be held in November, 2012. Bangladesh opted out

14 ECOWAS is a regional group of fifteen West African countries, founded in 1975. Its mission is to promote economic integration in all fields of economic activity. It is headquartered at Abuja in Nigeria. 15 The Developing-8 is a grouping of eight most populous Islamic countries. The concept of the D-8 was floated by Turkey. The first summit was held in Istanbul in 1997. The D-8 comprises Turkey, Egypt, , Indonesia, Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh and Nigeria. The combined population of these countries is 60% of whole muslim population.

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because Pakistan refused to apologise for the deeds committed during 1971 war which eventually led to Bangladesh’s independence. • Bangladesh’s foreign minister in an earlier visit of Hina Rabbani, Pakistan’s foreign minister demanded a formal apology to the Bangladesh’s populace. This apology was demanded for the carnage committed by Pakistan Army and also for putting the former political as well as military personalities on trial in then- . • Since then, Pakistan has not paid heed to the demand. Now, Bangladesh claims more clarity on this issue. Pakistan approved the Deal which Handed over Gwadar Port to China • Pakistan in the last week of January 2013 approved the deal, which transferred operational control of Gwadar port from ’s PSA International to Chinese Overseas Port Holdings Ltd. Gwadar port is situated at a strategic location of the Arabian Sea and the mouth of the Persian Gulf. It is only 400 kilometres away from the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil supply route. • Pakistan’ decision to hand over Gwadar port to China is a serious concern for India. It can be an attempt by China to encircle India. In addition to funding ports in Sri Lanka, China has also plans to build a port in Bangladesh.

Iran and Pakistan launched Gas Pipeline Project • Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari on 11 March 2013 launched a 7.5 billion dollar gas pipeline project, which will link Iran's gas pipeline to that of Pakistan. • The inauguration ceremony of gas pipeline project was held in Iran's Chabahar city and attended by ministers and senior officials from Iran and Pakistan. With the launch of pipeline Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asserted that West has no right to obstruct Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project that has nothing to do with Iran's nuclear issue. • Both the president mentioned that the completion of the pipeline is in the interests of peace, security and progress of the two countries and is supposed to consolidate the economic, political and security ties of the two nations.

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About the gas Pipeline

• Iran has constructed 900 km of the 1600-km pipeline on its soil. • Both Iranian and Pakistani firms have undertaken the construction of the remaining part in Pakistan. • The project is completed by mid-2014, as scheduled; Iran will export 21.5 million cubic metres of natural gas to Pakistan on daily basis. • The work on the Iranian side is almost complete and on 11 March 2013 saw the construction work start on the Pakistani side. • A total of 780km of pipeline is to be built in Pakistan by December 2014. • Tehran has agreed to lend Islamabad 500 million, dollar a third of the estimated 1.5 billion dollar cost of the Pakistani section of the pipeline.

Controversy about the project

• The project provoked several warnings of sanctions from the US. Washington stated that the pipeline would enable Tehran to sell more gas, undermining efforts to step up pressure over its nuclear activities. As per US, if this deal is finalized for a proposed Iran-Pakistan pipeline, it would raise serious concerns under our Iran Sanctions Act. • US State Department's advise saying Pakistan to better look for other energy options instead of the Iran gas project. UNGA RESOLUTION ON DEATH PENALTY • India was one among the 39 other countries that voted on 20 November 2012 against the non-binding draft resolution of UN General Assembly that proposed for putting an end to death penalty. India voted on the grounds that each and every nation has its own sovereign right in order to determine the legal system. 110 nations voted in the favour, while 36 members withdrew. • The non-binding UN resolution called for suspension on the capital punishment with a view to put an end to the death penalty. This was adopted at Third Committee of the General Assembly on 20 November 2012 along with the deals with humanitarian as well as social issues.

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• The resolution of the draft expressed deep concerns over continued applications of death penalties, which is why it calls for establishment of cessation on capital punishment, viewing that the practice would be abolished completely. The resolution called the nations to gradually hamper the use of death penalty and not to impose them for offences, which are committed by pregnant women or people below 18 years of age. The nations were also called to decrease the offences for which capital punishment is imposed. • In the explanation of the non-agreeing vote, India said that every state has its autonomous right for determination of the legal system. Apart from India, other nations that voted against the resolution include China, Korea, Bangladesh, Japan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Libya, Kuwait and US. • Over 2/3rd countries of the world have completely abolished death penalty. 97 countries of the world have abolished death penalty for all the crimes. MALDIVES

Maldivian Court issued an arrest warrant against ex-President Mohamed Nasheed • An arrest warrant was issued by the Maldivian Court on 7 October 2012 against Mohamed Nasheed, country’s first democratically elected President. The warrant was issued in reference to Nasheed’s questioning the authority of the special court for initiating a trail against him for the alleged charges of power abuse, when he was in the office. • Ordering the police to produce the former President in the court, the Magistrate Court of Hulhumale also asked the police to keep Nasheed in Custody to face the charges of arresting and detaining Abdulla Mohamed, the Chief Criminal Judge. This is a case that is related to his order of dispatching the military for arresting the senior judge. This action led to his resignation after viewing protests.

Nasheed takes refuge at Indian embassy • Fearful that the present govt. might victimize him, the former President, Mohamed Nasheed walked into the Indian embassy and sought shelter. He was

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anxious about being implicated in fabricated legal disputes to overrule his candidature in the Presidential elections due to be held later this year. After intense diplomatic negotiations between India and Maldives, he left the Indian Embassy. FIVE NEW NON-PERMANENT MEMBER COUNTRIES ELECTED TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL • The UN General Assembly on 18 October 2012 elected five new non- permanent members to the Security Council. The New Members are South Korea, Luxembourg, Argentina, Australia and Rwanda. • The newly elected member countries are going to serve a two-year term in the powerful UN body that began on 1 January 2013. • The five new members replaced Colombia, Germany, India, Portugal and South Africa, whose term ends on 31 December 2012. • Under the UN Charter, the 15-member Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. • To be elected to the UN Security Council, a country must win support from two thirds of the General Assembly members, or 129 votes. COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT AND FARC LAUNCHED PEACE TALKS • Government of Colombia and Leftist FARC rebels formally launched peace talks in on 17 October 2012 which aimed at ending nearly five decades of conflict that has claimed an estimated 600000 lives. • The peace talks were officially launched by government and the rebels in a hotel in Hurdal, a small town north of . The core area of discussion focused on five main areas that is land reform, the rebels' future role in political life, a definitive end of hostilities, fighting the illegal drug trade and the situation of the victims. • FARC is Latin America's largest rebel group, founded in 1964 with 9,200 armed fighters is known by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. In the past several years FARC suffered the capture and killings of some of its top

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leaders, and its rank had been depleted to half of Militants what they were at their peak in the 1990s. • It was also earlier found that Colombia’s leftist FARC rebels smuggle U.S.- bound cocaine via Venezuela, Panama and the Pacific. The FARC is on both the U.S. and EU lists of terrorist groups. Drug trafficking, extortion and kidnapping-for-ransom are the FARC’s main means of financing its operations. OBAMA REELECTED US PRESIDENT • President Barack Obama won re-election on 6 November 2012 overthrowing a severe challenge from Republican Mitt Romney resisting concerns over his handling of economy and anxiety over the future. • The President Barack Obama had secured over 270 votes in the Electoral College, which was needed to win the race. • He was re-elected for a second term in the White House securing another four years in which he will try to fulfill the promise that greeted his election in 2008. AFRICAN LEADERS SIGNED UN-BROKERED ACCORD IN DR CONGO

• Regional African leaders from Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Republic and South Sudan signed UN- brokered accord, which aims to bring peace to the troubled eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The deal was signed in the presence of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in , capital of Ethiopia. • As many as 800000 people were displaced since rebel group M23 revolted against the DR Congo government in May 2012.The agreement, signed by leaders of the Great Lakes region, will result in setting up of special UN intervention brigade in eastern Congo. POLITICAL TRANSITION IN CHINA • The new leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Xi Jinping was on 14 March 2013 appointed as the President of China. It is important to note that

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Xi Jinping, 59, was also chosen as the General Secretary of CPC in November 2012. He overtook the office from Hu Jintao. • Politburo member Li Yuanchao was also chosen as the Vice President of Xi Jinping on the same day with 2839 votes in favour of him. • Li Keqiang, 57, was appointed as the Prime Minister of China. He replaced Wen Jiabao. MISCELLANEOUS

International Womens' Day • Originally called International Working Women's Day, is marked on March 8 every year. International Women's Day was first observed as a popular event after 1977 when the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for women's rights and world peace. The UN theme for International Women's Day 2013 is "A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women."

World Consumer Rights Day • The World Consumer Rights Day is observed today 15th March to create awareness about consumer rights and this year’s theme is “Consumer Justice Now”. • On March 15 1962 US President John F. Kennedy gave a speech on consumer rights, which led to the creation of the Consumer Bill of Rights. Consumer rights activist Anwar Fazal later proposed the observance of a World Consumer Rights Day; marking that date, and on 15 March 1983 consumer organizations began observing that date as an occasion to promote basic rights of consumers.

World Water Day • World Water Day was observed on 22nd March across the world as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. 22nd March as the World Water date was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).

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• The theme of 2013 world day is “Water Cooperation” and the current year 2013 is also dedicated as the International Year of Water Cooperation.

World Food Day Celebrated worldwide on 16 October 2012 • World food day 2012 is celebrated with a theme "Agricultural cooperatives – key to feeding the world". • World Food Day is celebrated every year across the globe on 16 October in honour of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945. • The aim of this World Food Day is to raise awareness on global food problems and to create a sense of solidarity in the fight against poverty, hunger and malnutrition. • The theme was chosen by United nation to highlight the role of cooperatives -- or voluntary associations of people who work together for their common benefit -- in improving food security and contributing to the eradication of hunger. • The United Nation’s latest hunger report, released in October 2012, warns that nearly 870 million people around the world, or one in eight people on the planet, suffered from chronic undernourishment in 2010-12. • The report also asserted that the vast majority of the hungry, 852 million, live in developing countries, while 16 million people are undernourished in developed countries. • In India, on the eve of world food day, a group of dalit women farmers in Medak district in Andhra Pradesh highlighted the measure for preserving traditional farming practices, an effort which will help India tackle the serious malnutrition challenge it faces. • The women are using biodiversity as a weapon against hunger, malnutrition, erratic monsoon and climate change. Their effort will earn these villages the status of being declared an agri-biodiversity heritage site. Along with cultivation, the women are also encouraging their children to take up agriculture.

RIMPAC • The Rim of the Pacific Exercise, is the world's largest international maritime warfare exercise. RIMPAC is held biennially in Hawaii. It is hosted

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and administered by the United States Navy's Pacific Command. 22 nations in 2012. Russia & Philippines participated for the first time.

Dongfeng-41 • China has successfully test-fired a new 14,000-km range inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) named as Dongfeng-41 which can carry multiple warheads and capable of attacking any target in the world. This has put China far ahead of India in terms of missile technology and nuclear war arsenal.

Liaoning: China's first Aircraft Carrier • China has commissioned its first aircraft carrier named “Liaoning” amid current tussle with Japan over the ownership of the disputed land in the East China Sea. With this China has become the last of the five-member UN Security Council and the 10th country in the world to own an aircraft carrier. India is looking forward to receive the Soviet Aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov by next year.

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4 SUMMITS/MEETS/ CONFERENCES

G2016 SUMMIT • The seventh G20 summit took place on 18,19 June 2012. Mexico chaired the summit, summit took place in the city of Los Cabos in Mexico. It is a twenty member brigade, the summit includes countries, South Africa, , India, Mexico, United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Australia.The objectives and highlights of the summit is as follows :

16 The Group of Twenty, or G20, is the premier forum for international cooperation on the most important aspects of the international economic and financial agenda. It brings together the world’s major advanced and emerging economies. The G20 includes 19 country members and the European Union, which together represent around 90% of global GDP, 80% of global trade and two-thirds of the world’s population. The G20 started in the year 1999, but it has been regular only since 2008.

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The G 20 Declaration • The leaders of the world's largest economies will help in boosting growth and job creation to repair the wounded global economy because of the European financial crisis. The statement also included the importance of easing the Spanish Crisis. • The Summit declaration also included investment in infrastructure in the developing countries, this decision would help in achieving global growth which was hauled due to the falling state of the world economy and the Eurozone crisis. • All the Euro members of the G 20 will indulge in necessary policy measures to not only safe guard the integrity, but also stabilize the whole area. This would be done only by breaking the feedback loop between the sovereigns and the banks. • The summit has also recognized the progress made by China in market- determined exchanged rates. • The summit has singled out Saudi Arabia, by bringing in a Saudi pledge to keep the oil prices at bay and low. This is a step to ensure global economic well being. • European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy asked markets to focus on a European summit at the end of the month. It would eventually help the continent move deeper and help the economic and political integration to match its single currency. • The 14-page statement emphasized the need for growth because this is the only way they will solve the debt problem of the Eurozone. • The non-European members of the G20 have sent a message to Europe that it has to find a way that the Eurozone’s finances can be supervised by a triumvirate comprising the European Central Bank, the IMF and the EU. • The next G20 Summit is scheduled in 2013 with Russia as the new chair.

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India's Contribution • Owing to the debt loaded 17 nation Euro zone, India on 19 June 2012 announced a $10 Billion contribution to the already existing IMF’s $430 Billion financial money. • The announcement was made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The amount was contributed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the bailout fund, that would help them ease off a little burden from the debt scenario. DELHI INVESTMENT SUMMIT ON AFGHANISTAN The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with Government of India and Afghanistan along with Afghan investment and business organizations organized the Delhi Investment Summit on Afghanistan on 28 June, 2012. The summit took place at Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi.

Key Highlights • India and US to enhance defense cooperation through increased technology transfer, collaborative joint research and development, and co-production of defense items in Afghanistan. • Eight grants awarded under the Obama-Singh Knowledge Initiative. Next call for proposals in July 2012. • India to establish 100 Community Colleges • CV Raman Fellowship will place 300 Post-Doctoral fellows in US higher education institutions • India and USA to launch a web portal for educational and research collaboration and exchanges • India proposed to organize a regional South Asia Women’s Entrepreneurship Conference that will bring key policy makers, women entrepreneurs, civil society organizations, private sector institutions, and corporations. • To facilitate travel between the two countries, an interview waiver pilot program is being introduced to further streamline U.S. visa processing and facilitate legitimate travel.

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• The participants in the summit were investors not only from the public sectors, but also private sectors. The summit was expected to provide an extraordinary opportunity to get information on investment opportunities in Afghanistan.

Objective of the Summit • The primary objective was to attract foreign investment into Afghanistan opening in areas like Hydrocarbons, mining and infrastructure • It envisioned fruitful partnerships to help invest in Afghanistan. • The summit also included presentations in regard to Investment Climate in Afghanistan. • To throw light on Afghanistan’s national growth strategy, long term and short term investment opportunities. TOKYO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AFGHANISTAN • International donors have agreed to provide nearly USD 16 billion to Afghanistan as development aid until 2015. Led by US and Japan, the aid will help them to prepare for elections and withdrawal of foreign military forces in 2014. • The daylong International Conference on Afghanistan held in Japanese capital Tokyo on 8 July 2012. The conference, which was held to discuss the peace building process in the war-torn nation concluded with the participants getting agreed to provide 16 billion dollar as the development aid to the country over the next four years.

Tokyo Declaration • The participants adopted Tokyo Declaration towards the end of the conference, which widely acknowledged India's concerns on the security of Afghanistan. The declaration stated that the main threat to Afghanistan's security and stability comes from terrorism and that this threat also endangers regional and international peace and security. The declaration also endorsed key recommendations of a regional conclave hosted by India to promote direct

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investment in Afghanistan. Confederation of Indian Industry had hosted the Delhi Investors' Summit on Afghanistan on 28 June 2012.

International assistance in Nation Building • The Tokyo conference was attended by nearly 70 countries and organizations who assured Afghanistan of a complete support in nation building provided Afghan government curb corruption and take measures to strengthen democracy in the country. On financial part the US is expected to provide around 1 billion dollar every year, while Japan, Afghanistan’s second-largest financial supporter, will contribute 3 billion dollar over the next four years. Germany will feed the kitty annually with 536 million dollar. • The international aid to Afghanistan came against the backdrop of global concern related to political and economic turmoil prevailing in the country over the past one decade. The country is still under the shadow of fanatic Islamic groups like Taliban, which sees western powers as the sole reason of all the problems that Afghanistan is confronting today. Taliban and terror group like Al-qaida, which draws its authority from the fundamentalist Islamic factions in the country, still poses a great threat to the future of the country. The international aid is largely aimed at bolstering the pace of development in the country by instating common citizen’s faith in democracy. • As all the US and NATO troops are scheduled to leave the country by the mid 2014, the security of the nation will completely be transferred in the hand of Afghan government, which until recently, has been quite inefficient in tackling the terror forces in the country. The pledged aid is intended to stabilise the fragile political and financial situation of the country. • Afghanistan has received nearly 60 billion dollar from diversified international bodies as civilian aid over the past one decade. In addition to the 16 billion dollar aid pledged during the Tokyo conference, NATO members in May 2012 agreed to provide 4.1 billion dollar to strengthen country’s security forces.

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SCO17 SUMMIT • The Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit concluded in Beijing on 7 June 2012, with member states agreeing to further cooperation in a variety of fields. Chinese President Hu Jintao, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Uzbek President Islam Karimov, Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and Afghan President Hamid Karzai were among the top leaders who attended the summit. • Leaders and officials from the four SCO observer countries of Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan and India were also present at the summit. Leaders across the participating nations held a broader discussion over the issues like Afghanistan crisis and the Iranian nuclear programme. • The member states of the SCO adopted 10 agreements on the concluding day of the summit. The agreement includes the Declaration on Building a Region with Lasting Peace and Common Prosperity, the Strategic Plan for the Medium-Term Development of the SCO, and the SCO Regulations on Political and Diplomatic Measures and Mechanism of Response to Events Jeopardizing Regional Peace, Security and Stability. The SCO also decided to grant Afghanistan observer status and accept Turkey as a dialogue partner. • Chinese President Hu Jintao offered a 10 billion U.S. dollars loan to the SCO, which will be used to promote the development of SCO members. RIO+20 CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT • Rio+20 the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20 to 22 June 2012.

17 The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), an intergovernmental mutual security organization, was founded in Shanghai on 15 June 2001. The group has six full time members at present namely China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The Central Asian nation Kyrgyzstan will host the 2013 summit of SCO.

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The two-day conference was held with an objective to renew political commitment for sustainable development, assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, and address new and emerging challenges. Heads of 172 States and Government marked their presence at the conference.

The themes for Rio+20 Conference • Green economy in the context of sustainable development poverty eradication • Institutional framework for sustainable development. • The representatives discussed eight core issues in the course of summit, which comprises decent jobs, energy, sustainable cities, food security and sustainable agriculture, water, oceans and disaster readiness. • The various stake holders of Rio+20 conference, agreed on seven specific committments. The committments made by the global stake holders in the summit include: o Planting 100 million trees by 2017 o Greening 10000 square km of desert o Saving 1 Megawatt-hour of electricity per day o Empowering 5000 women entrepreneurs in green economy businesses in Africa o Establishing a Masters programme on sustainable development practice o Developing an Environmental Purchasing Policy o Waste Minimization & Management strategy o Recycling 800000 tons per year of PVC by 2020

Background of the Rio+20 Conference • The conference marked the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in Rio de Janeiro (Since the conference marked 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), it was named Rio+20). The conference also marked 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg and four

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decades of the 1972 Stockholm Conference or the UN Conference on Human Environment. • The global event on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) was organized in accordance with the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 64/236 (A/RES/64/236). The UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Sha Zukang was appointed the UN Secretary-General for the Rio+20 Conference. • The summit provided global leaders with a chance to develop a collective framework to meet their poverty eradication goals while not letting the environment get destructed. The summit, which came after the failure of number of conferences such as Kyoto Summit, Copenhagen Summit, widely focused on the need of sustainable development and green economy by addressing environmental degradation and building a bridge to the future. OIC SUMMIT • Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the 57-member body of Islamic countries, suspended Syria from the organization. The decision to suspend Syria was taken despite Iran's vociferous opposition, during the OIC summit meeting in the Saudi city of Mecca on 16 August 2012. • The OIC move is aimed at pressurizing Syrian President embattled regime to cease violence against its own citizens. More than 20000 people have been killed so far in one of the bloodiest civil war in the history of Arab nations. In an statement issued at the end of the summit, OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said that the OIC decision is a strong message of Islamic Orgainsation to the trouble-torn nation. • The summit of the world's largest Islamic bloc, which represents nearly 1.6 billion muslim population globally started on 14 August 2012 with the suspension proposal put forward by a preparatory meeting of foreign ministers. Saudi King Abdullah presided over the meeting, attended by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad whose country has openly criticised the push to suspend Syria. • Earlier, Syria had faced suspension from Arab League in 2011 for supporting violence following the massive uprising against the current regime. Syrian

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President Bashar-al-Assad had however termed the move as a plot of western countries against Syria.

About Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) • Oragnisation of Islamic Cooperation, which was earlier known as Organisation of Islamic Conference came into existence on 25 September 1969. The 57- member body is headquartered Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The bloc claims to be the representative of nearly 1.6 billion muslim population across the world. Arabic, English and French are the official language of the organization. Despite the fact that India represents about 10 percent of muslim population in the world, it has not been given the membership of the organization. NAM SUMMIT • NAM (Non Aligned Movement) is a group of states considering themselves not aligned formally with or against any major power bloc. As of 2012, the movement has 120 members and 17 observer countries. • The organization was founded in Belgrade in 1961, and was largely the brainchild of Yugoslavia's president, Josip Broz Tito; Indonesia's first president, Sukarno; Egypt's second president, Gamal Abdel Nasser; Ghana's first president Kwame Nkrumah; and India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. All five leaders were prominent advocates of a middle course for states in the Developing World between the Western and Eastern blocs in the Cold War. • The 16th NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) summit was held at Tehran, Iran on 30-31 August 2012.The theme of the summit was Lasting Peace through Joint Global Governance. At the Tehran Summit, the Chairmanship of NAM was passed on from Egypt to Iran in accordance with the NAM’s practice of regional rotation. The NAM meeting in Tehran was held in three phases: preparatory senior officials meeting on 26-27 August, ministerial level meeting on 28-29 August, and the summit on 30-31 August. Heads of the government from over 100 countries participated in the Tehran Summit to discuss the new global challenges.

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• Venezuela was selected the host for the 17th NAM Summit in 2015. India expressed support for popular aspirations for a democratic order in Syria while cautioning against external intervention. India urged NAM to take a clear stand on Syria. SIXTH MEKONG–GANGA COOPERATION MEETING • Mekong–Ganga sixth Cooperation meeting was held in New Delhi on 3-4 September 2012.Senior officials meeting was held on September 3 whereas the Foreign Ministers meet was held on September 4 2012. • The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) was established on November 10, 2000 in Vientiane, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic with a purpose of cooperation amongst India and the five Mekong region countries - Cambodia, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Myanmar, and Thailand. • It was basically established to emphasize on four areas of cooperation, which are tourism, culture, education, and transportation linkage, in order to build strong foundation for future trade and investment cooperation among the region. • This is the first time that the Mekong Ganga Cooperation meeting was hosted by India. India had earlier chaired the 5th MGC Ministerial Meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Meetings. • Five Mekong Ganga Cooperation ministerial meetings has held so far, In Vientiane, Lao Peoples Democratic Rebuplic on November 10, 2000; In Hanoi, Vietnam on July 28, 2001; In Phnom Penh, Cambodia June 20, 2003; In Cebu, Philippines on January 12, 2007 and in Manila, Philippines on August 1, 2007. IOR-ARC • 12th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of IOR-ARC was held at Gurgaon. Initially known as the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative, is an international organization with 18 member states. It was first established in Mauritius on March 1995 and formally launched on 6–7 March 1997.

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GALLE DIALOGUE • It is a dialogue forum on the maritime Challenge and threats in the Indian Ocean. It was established in 2010. In a recent development, India, Sri Lanka and Maldives have agreed to sign an agreement on cooperation between their navies in the Indian Ocean.

21ST ASEAN SUMMIT • It was held on 18 November 2012 at Peace Palace, Phnom Penh in Cambodia. Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Hun Sen was the Chairperson for the 21st ASEAN Summi. The head of states of the ASEAN members and the Secretary-General of ASEAN participated and discussed matters like progress of the Implementation of ASEAN Charter and Roadmap for an ASEAN community.

Issues Discussed • Follow-up to the 20th ASEAN Summit • The Progress Report on the Implementation of Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity • Signed Phnom Penh Statement on the Adoption of ASEAN Human Rights Declaration • Exchange of View on Regional and International Issues • A Leaders’ Statement on the establishment of an ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC) was also issued during the summit. Documents Signed and Adopted • Phnom Penh Statement on the Adoption of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration • ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) • Concept Paper on the Establishment of an ASEAN Regional Mine Action Centre (ARMAC) • ASEAN Leaders’ Joint Statement on the Establishment of an ASEAN Regional Mine Action Centre (ARMAC)

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New Secretary General for ASEAN • Le Luong Minh, the candidate from Vietnam was appointed as the upcoming Secretary General for ASEAN for the next five-year term by the ASEAN Head of States. The nomination was done on the basis of alphabetical rotation plan for next five year that would start from January 2013 and end in December 2018. About ASEAN • ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) was created on 8 August 1967 at Bangkok, Thailand after ASEAN Declaration (also called Bangkok Declaration) was signed between the Founding Fathers of ASEAN, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines and Thailand. With time 5 more South Asian countries joined the group namely Brunei Darussalam joined on 7 January 1984, Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999. Today, ASEAN is a 10-member group. The group was formed with a basic idea of promoting social progress, economic growth and cultural development between the member nations and talk on the differences in a peaceful manner. THE SEVENTH EAST ASIA SUMMIT

• The seventh East Asia Summit (EAS) was held at Peace Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 19 November 2012. Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Hun Sen chaired the meeting. The Leaders of East Asia Summit adopted a joint declaration for the 7th East Asia Summit following the regional responses to control Malaria and address the resistance to anti- malarial medicines. • The Phnom Penh Declaration of the East Asia Summit Development Initiative was also taken on this occasion. Discussions and exchange of views on different regional and international issues was also done between the leaders of the member-nations. • Apart from the 10 members of the ASEAN representatives from eight different countries namely Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and United States of America also participated in the summit. IAS (PRELIMS), 2013: CURRENT AFFAIRS 104

Issues Discussed

• Environment and energy • Education • Global health issues and pandemic diseases • Natural disaster mitigation • ASEAN connectivity TENTH ASEAN-INDIA SUMMIT • The tenth ASEAN-India Summit that was held at Peace Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia concluded on 19 November 2012. The summit was chaired by the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia Hun Sen and attended by the leaders of the ten Member states of ASEAN and the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. • During the summit the discussions were held on identifying the future course of action on the ASEAN-India relations. Success was achieved in deciding the convening of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit scheduled to be held on 20 December to 21 December 2012 at New Delhi, India, the summit will be held to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations. • During the 10th Anniversary of the ASEAN-India summit, 20th Anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations was also observed at the same venue of Peach Place, Phnom Penh. The ASEAN-India Summit for the first time was observed in the year 2002 at Phnom Penh.

Marked Commemorative Activities • The meeting between Heads of Space Agencies • Ministerial level meetings in tourism, environment, agriculture, new and renewable energy, • The sending of the Sail Training Ship “Sudarshini” on an expedition to ASEAN countries • Some other commemorative activities on which discussions were held included 2nd ASEAN-India Business Fair and Business Conclave, and the ASEAN-India

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Car Rally, these would be held during the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit.

• Decisions were also made on implementing the Plan of Action and the ASEAN- India Partnership for Progress, Peace and shared Prosperity (2010- 2015). These implementations would be followed by the ministers of the ASEAN members and India to contribute in deepening the dialogue relations between the two sides. • Excellent works of the ASEAN-India Eminent Persons Group (EPG) in production of a good and concise report was also commended at the summit. Recommendations for further advancements of the partnership to next levels were also evaluated. Security, peace and stability of the region, along with strengthening of the maritime cooperation via existing mechanism of were recognized and stressed upon. Strict management of the recommendations would bring back security, peace and stability in the region at the time when security challenges like sea piracy, vessel accidents, oil spills, terrorism and natural disasters are becoming a threat and challenge to the security of the region.

Trade between ASEAN and India • The trade between the ASEAN and India grew by 43 percent in the year 2011 that amounted to 74.9 billion US dollar that also surpassed the bilateral trade target of 70 billion US dollar. Target for achieving the 100 billion US dollar mark by 2015 for ASEAN-India trade was also identified and set at the summit. • Foreign Ministers of all the member nations and India would be working ahead to settle down thing and conclude the ASEAN-India Trade in Services and Investment Agreements before the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit in December in India. • Before this the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh in April 2012 welcomed the adoption of the Declaration on Drug- Free ASEAN 2015 by the ASEAN Leaders at the 20th ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh.

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Other Agreements • Both the parties adopted of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration at the 21st ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, on 18 November 2012. The two parties also emphasized to contribute supports on realization of the ASEAN Community based on the decided rules of law, democracy, promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. India will be supporting the ASEAN Community building efforts by Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) in which India will play a role in establishment of the Entrepreneurship Development Centres (EDCs) and Centres for English Language Training (CELTs) in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam. • India made a commitment of supporting the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) and connectivity with the wider East Asia Region for establishment of the linkage between the ASEAN and South Asia. • The announcement also cleared that India-Myanmar-Thailand highway that is backed by the U.S., which would be operational by 2016 and would act as the Gateway for North East India to South-East Asia. The same announcement also cleared the fact of the alternative route that would connect the central or North Myanmar with Guwahati and Hanoi, on which the discussions were made during the trilateral meet between, India, U.S. and Japan. Both the parties, ASEAN and India looked forward for better connectivity of the region via highways and made decisions on early construction of new India-Myanmar- -Viet Nam-Cambodia Highway. It also decided about the extension of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway to Laos and Cambodia.

Concerns towards Climate Change and Environment • Both the parties during the Tenth ASEAN-India Summit that concluded at Peace Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia agreed to work together to respond to the issues of climate change and its impact. They also agreed on strengthening steps to respond to natural disasters that has always remained a issue of concern in the region, like flood and earth quakes.

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DOHA CLIMATE TALKS • The 18th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nation Frame work Convention on Climate change (UNFCCC) and the 8th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol opened on 26 November 2012 and continued until 8 December 2012 in Doha in Qatar. • The talks in Doha closed with a historic shift in principle but few genuine cuts in greenhouse gases. • On 8 December 2012, Almost 200 nations extended a weakened United Nations plan for combating global warming until 2020 with a reserved set of measures that would do nothing to halt rising world greenhouse gas emissions. • The world in Doha Climate Talk agreed to the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol, starting 2013 by agreeing to a roadmap for binding world to a new global legal compact on climate change by 2015 that would become operational by 2020. • Environment ministers of different extended until 2020 the Kyoto Protocol, which obliges about 35 industrialised nations to cut their greenhouse gas emissions until the end of 2012. That keeps the pact alive as the sole legally binding climate plan. • However, in an unparalleled incident, two of the most powerful countries — the US and Russia decided to discard parts of the deal gaveled through using diplomatic guile by host Qatar. • The US took on 192 countries to reject the principle of equity and the application of the principles of the UN climate convention to the post-2020 global deal. • too joined the US and demanded its reservations and rejection of some of the decisions be put on record. • The Doha outcome — adopted on 8 December 2012 is a tricky balance among three different streams of climate negotiations. It secures a second phase of the Kyoto Protocol since it permits the unresolved issues of the last five years like adaptation and finance for poor countries, technology to be carried forward

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into future talks and creation of a framework to hammer out a new global compact by 2015.

Highlights of the Doha Climate Talk o The poor nations like the small island development countries and the least developed countries got the least out of the deal. There is neither a firm commitment for them on how the finances would be provided to fight climate change between now and 2020 and their cap on emission reductions during the eight-year period. o For India, it was an instance of respite as it got its central plank - the principle of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) — re-inserted in the talks after it had been shut out of the negotiations in 2009 and 2010. Its concerns about high costs of intellectual properties in green technologies and the attempt by some developed countries to take unilateral decisions found weak references. o The 27-member European Union, Australia, Switzerland and eight other industrialised nations agreed to the binding emission cuts by 2020. Each signatory had already legislated individual targets. WORLD CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS (WCIT-12) • International telecommunication Union (ITU) summoned the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which was held from 3 to14 December 2012. In the landmark conference, it was decided that the current International Telecommunications Regulations (ITRs) shall be reviewed. • After negotiating for two weeks, the delegates from the length and breadth of the world agreed to a fresh international treaty called New Global Telecoms Treaty, which will welcome the power of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to everyone in the world. More than 2000 delegates from across the world were registered for this conference.

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The main provisions of the treaty • The treaty basically embarks general principles for making sure that there is free flow of the information across the world. • New provisions ensured that there was special emphasis on the future efforts for helping the developing countries, on promotion of accessibility to the disabled as well as on emphasising the right to freedom of expression of people over all the ICT networks. • In another provision, there was an inclusion of a Resolution for creating one, globally-harmonised number for access to various emergency services, improving the energy efficiency of the ICT networks, new text making it mandatory for the prices set for mobile roaming as well as fighting against the e- waste.

Important Issues discussed • There were certain tough issues, which led to debate at this conference. These issues were: • Network security • Unwanted bulk content like spam e-mails • Definition of the entities which provided services under terms of the treaty, whether the language on freedom of expression in the Preamble text of the treaty should be included or not • The principle of non-discriminatory access of the networks of each other’s countries

11TH PRAVASI BHARTIYA DIVAS • The three-day 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) kicked off in Kochi on 7 January 2013. The event saw delightful response from the people with more than 2000 registrations. • The organizing partner of this year summit is Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC). Rajkeshwar Purryag, President of Mauritius was the Chief Guest on the occasion.

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• The distinctive feature of this year's Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is that this is the first time that there is going to be an exclusive session on Middle East. Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi lead the day-long Middle- East session along with Chief Minister of Kerala Oommen Chandy. • Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the annual flagship event on 8th January 2013 and President Pranab Mukherjee will deliver the valedictory address on 9 January 2013and also confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards.

About Pravasi Bharatiya Divas • Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on 9th January every year to mark the contribution of Overseas Indian community in the development of India. January 9 was chosen as the day to celebrate this occasion since it was on this day in 1915 that , the greatest Pravasi, returned to India from South Africa, led India’s freedom struggle and changed the lives of Indians forever. • PBD conventions are being held every year since 2003. These conventions provide a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the government and people of the land of their ancestors for mutually beneficial activities. These conventions are also very useful in networking among the overseas Indian community residing in various parts of the world and enable them to share their experiences in various fields. • During the event, individuals of exceptional merit are honoured with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award to appreciate their role in India’s growth. The event also provides a forum for discussing key issues concerning the Indian Diaspora. FIFTH BRICS SUMMIT o The fifth BRICS Summit held in Durban, South Africa. It concluded with the finalization of Durban Declaration (eThekwini Declaration). o At the summit, the BRICS leaders have agreed to start formal negotiations to set up a development bank to fund infrastructure and development projects in the five member nations in a move to reform the global financial

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architecture. It will be similar to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. o The BRICS also agreed to form a Contingency Reserve Arrangement, a 100 billion dollars fund to be managed by the central banks of the member countries. The facility will provide precautionary effect to forestall short term liquidity pressures and strengthen global financial stability.

About BRICS • The BRIC [Brazil, Russia, India and China] idea was first conceived in 2001 by Jim O'Neill of Goldman Sachs as part of an economic modeling exercise to forecast global economic trends over the next half century in a paper entitled "Building Better Global Economic BRICs". • It was institutionalized with the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers on the margins of UNGA in New York in September 2006. The first standalone Summit took place in Yekaterinburg, Russia in June 2009 and the 2nd Summit was held in Brasilia in April 2010. • BRIC Foreign Ministers at their meeting in New York on 21st September, 2010 agreed that South Africa may be invited to join BRIC

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5 BILATERAL ISSUES

INDO-PAKISTAN

New Indo Pak Visa Regime • Group Tourist Visa: A new category. Group of 10 to 50 persons will get Group Tourist visa, which will be valid for 30 days through registered tour operators. Agents to furnish details of 45 days in advance and will be responsible for police reporting. • Diplomatic Visa: A Diplomatic Visa will be issued within a period of 30 days and it will be valid for the place and duration of assignment of the diplomats instead of previously one-year visa. It will be issued within a period of 45 days. • Official visit and visitor visa: In the category of official visit, the visa will be valid for15 days. In the category of visitor visa, there was single entry and validity was 30 days, for meeting with relatives, friends, businessmen but now it will be single entry to be issued for period of six months but stay will not be exceed for three months and it will be for five places instead of current three places.Issued for a maximum for five specified places and it will be for two years

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with multiple entries to the senior citizens above the age of 65, spouse of a national of one country married to persons of another country and children below 12 years of age accompanying parents. • Business Visa: Business men with an income of Rs 0.1 million or equivalent per annum or annual turnover or gross sale of Rs3 million or equivalent will be given one year business visa with five places for up to four entries. Businessmen with an income of at least Rs5 million or equivalent per annum or turnover of Rs30 million or equivalent per annum will be given one year multiple entry business visa for up to ten places with exemption from Police Reporting. The period of stay of the businessman at a time shall not exceed 30days. The maximum time taken in processing of a business visa will not exceed more than five weeks. • Pilgrim Visa: Pilgrim visas will be issued to pilgrims intending to visit religious shrines as per the 1974 protocol on visits to religious shrines, or any future revision to the protocol. Such visas need to be applied at least 45 days before the commencement of the intended tour. The visa will be issued at least ten days before the commencement of travel. These visas will be issued for a single entry and restricted to 15 days validity and would be non-extendable. • Visa on arrival: Persons of more than 65 years of age will be given 45 days visa at arrival at Attari-Wagah check post and it will be non-extendable and non-convertible. Fee would be Rs 100 and validity of the visa would be within a period of 80 days from the date of issue.

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ICA18 Decision On Kishanganga • The Court of Arbitration at The Hague on 18 February 2013 allowed India to go ahead with the Construction of the Kishanganga hydro-electric project in Gurez valley near Bandipura in North Kashmir, the court rejected the plea of Pakistan that the construction was a violation of 1960 Indus Water Treaty. • The Court of Arbitration, chaired by Stephen M. Schwebel in its orders stated that India can move ahead with the diversion of water plans of Kishanganga that is a tributary of Jhelum, for generation of hydro-electric power. But it restrained India from adoption of the drawdown technique of flushing for clearing the sedimentation of the run-of-the river project that had been designed and asked it to adopt a different technique for generation of 330 MW power facilities. The Court had also demanded the environmental flows statistics of the project. • Pakistan initiated the arbitration against India with a charge that India violated the provisions of the Water Treaty between the two countries. But India denied the charges forced on to it by explain that the country reserved its rights to divert the water from one of the tributaries of Jhelum to another.

The Issues raised by Pakistan in the Court of Arbitration

• The project is being developed at the downstreams of Kishanganga River that is known by the name Neelam in Pakistan and is a tributary of Jhelum. India is

18 The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) was established during the First Hague Peace Conference 1899 by a treaty. It is an intergovernmental organization (IGO) that provides a variety of dispute resolution services to the international community. It provides resolution to the disputes related to intergovernmental organizations, states, state entities and private parties. PCA is located in The Hague, Netherland. PCA provides services for the resolution of disputes involving various combinations of states, state entities, intergovernmental organisations, and private parties. The PCA can assist in the selection of arbitrators, and may be called upon to designate or act as appointing authority.

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diverting the waters of the river from the dam site to Bonar Madmati Nallah that is another tributary of Jhelum. • India planned to use modern drawdown flushing technique for sedimentation management in the dam. The technique requires waters to be brought below the dead storage level (as per the treaty the water can be reduced below the dead storage level only in cases of unforeseen emergency) and was this plan was accepted by the neutral expert during the Baglihar dispute with Pakistan.

Provisions of Indus Waters Treaty, 1960

• The Indus system of rivers comprises three Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas and Sutlej and their tributaries) and three Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab and their tributaries). • The Indus Waters Treaty 1960 was signed on 19.09.1960 between India and Pakistan. It is however effective from 01.04.1960. • Under the Treaty, the waters of Eastern Rivers are allocated to India. India is under obligation to let flow the waters of the Western Rivers except for the following uses: o Domestic Use o Non-consumptive use o Agricultural use as specified o Generation of hydro-electric power as specified • The Commissioners of the Indus Waters may discuss the questions arising under the Treaty under Article IX of the Treaty related to Settlement of Differences and Disputes and in the case of non-resolution, take further action under this Article for resolution through a Neutral Expert, negotiators or Court of Arbitration.

Articles under Consideration:

o Article III (2): Let flow all waters of the Western Rivers and not permit any interference with the water o Article IV (6): Both the countries require use of the best endeavors at each other’s end for maintenance of natural channels of the rivers and

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should avoid all the steps that may obstruct the flow of these rivers creating a material damage at the end of any of the two parties. INDO-CHINA

Talks on sidelines of Rio+20 Summit • India and China agreed to take the defence and security dialogue to a higher level and work to take steps to ensure that the two countries achieve a USD 100 billion trade target by 2015 on 26 July 2012.The dialogue of forty minutes took place on the sidelines of the Rio+20 Environment Summit by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabo. Post the dialogue, Prime Minister Singh invited Chinese investment in infrastructure in India. • The two leaders also discussed the issue of trans-border rivers flowing in both the countries, India and China during which Beijing agreed to transfer of information in this regard to New Delhi. • The two countries have agreed to establish strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity, they also reiterated their intention to promote regular ministerial-level exchanges and make full use of the strategic dialogue and other bilateral dialogue mechanisms. • Indian exporters can soon begin shipping basmati rice to China after both countries agree on a mutually satisfactory quarantine protocol. • As far the trans-border rivers issue is concerned, China has maintained that its hydropower project on Brahmaputra River in Tibet is not obstructing the water flow to India. It has also said that its dam is not big enough to affect the lower riparian regions like in India.

India China agreed to set up Joint Working Group on Trade and Investments • India and China agreed to set up a joint working group (JWG) to look into issues related to trade and investments. The decision to set up the JWG was taken at the meeting of India-China Joint Group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science and Technology in New Delhi on 27 August 2012. Besides the

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two nations also agreed to adopt a five-year plan on economic cooperation. The ministerial level meeting was attended by Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and his Chinese counterpart Chen Deaming. • The working group will submit its report within three months. The working group is set up even as India has expressed serious concerns over the widening trade deficit with its neighbour and sought a correction. On its part, China expressed serious concern over the imposition of duty on import of power equipment by New Delhi. • The total bilateral trade between India and China for 2011-12, stood at 75457.42 million dollar as compared with 59000.36 million dollar in 2010-11. During 2011-12, the exports were 17902.98 million dollar while the imports stood at 57554.44 million dollar. The provisional trade deficit for 2011-12 was 39651.46 million dollar. • The Joint Group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science & Technology was formed in 1988 when then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Beijing.

The 2nd India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue held in New Delhi • The 2nd India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue was held in New Delhi on 26 November, 2012. During the 2nd meeting of the Dialogue, India and China discussed a wide range of topics including greater cooperation at the global level, strengthening communication on macro-economic policies, deepening and expanding trade and investment and promoting bilateral cooperation in the financial and infrastructure sectors. The proposals and recommendations made by the five Working Groups were considered during the 2nd Dialogue and directions given for their future activities. • India and China agreed that in the current global economic situation it was important to raise the level of economic engagement between India and China. The agreements are as following: o Cooperation at the global level: Exchanging views on current global economic and developmental challenges, India and China recognized that as major developing economies, they needed to maintain close coordination and communication to pursue their common interests.

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Among them is the reform of international monetary and financial systems, stabilizing the volatility in global commodity markets, working towards sustainable development and climate change goals, and ensuring food and energy security. Both countries believe that the ongoing and future cooperation on existing and upcoming issues will greatly enhance mutual trust and expand common interests. o Strengthening communication on macroeconomic policies: Following detailed discussions on the global and national economic situations, the two countries agreed that development growth trends globally have weakened as a result of a number of factors since the onset of the global financial crisis. This included weakening demand in the developed markets, the ongoing Eurozone crisis, lower business confidence, and growing inflationary trends. Both sides seek to maintain continued economic growth while adjusting manufacturing and services, upgrading levels of technologies and skills, while developing the hard and soft infrastructure for encouraging economic growth. The two countries agreed that they would regularly conduct joint studies on issues of mutual interest, focusing on benefits of best practices and information exchanges. o Deepening and expanding trade and investment: With a view to promoting greater economic and commercial engagement, both sides recognized the need to explore potential synergies in areas where the two sides have mutual complementarities, improve trade and investment environments, work towards removing market barriers, enhance cooperation in project contracting, deepen business to business exchanges, improve transportation links, encourage greater bilateral investment and work towards achieving a more balanced and sustainable bilateral trade. o Expanding cooperation in the financial and infrastructure sectors: Both sides have agreed to intensify the cooperation in the financial sector by encouraging financial institutions of the two countries to set up operations in either country to support enterprises of the two countries to establish / expand commercial operations. Both sides agree to undertake studies in related areas including innovative financial methods to support the requirements of priority sectors particularly the IAS (PRELIMS), 2013: CURRENT AFFAIRS 119

infrastructure sector having significant scope for furthering economic development. • India and China agreed that the 3rd India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue will be convened in China in 2013. They also agreed that prior to the 3rd Dialogue, the Working Groups would meet to implement the consensus and decisions agreed to by the two sides at the 2nd Strategic Economic Dialogue.

What is India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue? • Established during the visit to India of Wen Jiabao, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China in December 2010, the India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue is aimed at improving macro-economic policy coordination, promoting exchanges on economic issues and enhancing India- China economic cooperation. The 1st Dialogue had been successfully held at Beijing in September 2011 where the two countries agreed to constitute five Working Groups on policy coordination, infrastructure, energy, environment protection and high-technology. A working level delegation from China visited New Delhi in March 2012 following which the five Working Groups met in Beijing in the months of August and September 2012. This preparatory work has contributed immensely to the successful deliberations in and outcomes of the 2nd Dialogue.

Meeting on Sidelines of BRICS Summit • During the summit, India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Chinese President Xi Jinping in the first structured high-level contact between the two countries since the change of leadership in China. They discussed the setting up of a joint mechanism • President Xi Jinping has offered a “five-point proposal” for Sino-Indian relations. The updated principles are: o Maintain strategic communication and healthy bilateral relations; o Harness each other’s strengths and expand cooperation in infrastructure, investment, and other areas; o Deepen cultural ties and increase mutual understanding and friendship;

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o Expand coordination and collaboration in multilateral affairs to safeguard developing countries’ legitimate interests and address global challenges; and o Accommodate each other’s core concerns and reconcile bilateral disagreements amicably. • India would be happy to embrace each of these principles. Only the fifth point is tricky, for it leaves China’s “core concerns” undefined. Traditionally, these were Tibet and Taiwan, but Chinese officials have recently referred to their claims on the whole of South China Sea and Xinjiang as core concerns as well. • India and China also agreed on a proposal to create a joint mechanism on river water disputes.

INDIA-SOUTH KOREA 2ND FOREIGN POLICY AND SECURITY DIALOGUE • India and South Korea decided to cooperate in the areas of civil nuclear energy and space, including the launch of Korean satellites by India. Both of them met in New Delhi on 28 June 2012 during their second foreign policy and security dialogue. • Both the sides have decided to encourage enhanced engagement in civil nuclear energy cooperation apart from the launch of Korean satellites by India. The other discussion was a cluster of regional and global issues, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula. • Both India and South Korea also agreed to accelerate work on upgrading their comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) to ensure that it reflected current realities.

The India-South Korea Bilateral trade and CEPA • The Bilateral trade soared up by 70 percent to $20.5 billion in 2011 since the implementation of the CEPA since the last two years. • South Korea expressed interest in opening a new consulate general in Chennai while welcoming India's decision to open a new defence Office at its embassy in before the end of the year, 2012.

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INDIAN, INDONESIA SIGN DTAA • India and Indonesia signed an agreement to avoid double taxation and prevent fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income on 27 July 2012. • Apart from the agreement, both sides also signed the agreed minutes of the fourth Joint Commission Meeting between India and Indonesia.

Highlights of the Meet • Both the countries reviewed the entire state of bilateral relationship including trade and commerce. • Two nations have also agreed to strengthen the bilateral relationship into a strategic partnership • Both countries share a warm relationship on account of the solid foundation of historical and cultural ties. Both countries are also hopeful of achieving the trade target of 25 billion US Dollars by 2015. INDIA-CELAC MEETING

About Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) • It was created on February 23, 2010. It consists of 33 sovereign countries in the representing roughly 600 million people. Absent from the bloc are Canada, the United States, Greenland, and territories of France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom in the Americas. • The first meeting of the India-CELAC Troika Foreign Ministers was held on 7 August 2012 in New Delhi.

Objective of the meet • To discuss the regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest, to strengthen the multifaceted bilateral cooperation between India and CELAC. • To co ordinate responses to regional issues and address international challenges including the UN reform, the international financial crisis, climate change and international terrorism.

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• To enhance the exchange of visits at all levels including at the Summit level leading towards a 'Strategic Partnership' between India and CELAC. • To expand relations between India and countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean region and make it possible for them to work together bearing in mind each sides' respective development priorities based on the common shared values of democracy, freedom, equality and justice.

Collective Discussions • The two sides expressed satisfaction over the growth of commercial, economic and investment relations between India and CELAC, that has crossed US$ 25 billion in 2012. • The sides agreed to set up an Energy Forum to discuss energy security issues. • Both the sides agreed to work towards providing value addition in the exchange of commodities through direct trading and by setting up of manufacturing units. • Both sides agreed to work towards providing for food security for their people. • Both the countries agreed to initiate various projects related to tele-education, e- governance and tele-medicine that would cover the entire Latin America and Caribbean region. INDIA, IRAN AND AFGHANISTAN AGREED FOR TRANSIT CO-OPERATION THROUGH CHABAHAR PORT • India, Iran and Afghanistan agreed to work for expanding trade and transit co- operation through Chabahar port in Iran. The representatives of the three countries will meet in September 2012 to expedite the process. The move was finalized at a trilateral meeting of the top officials from the three nations. • Located in South East Iran, Chabahar port offers great opportunities in trade and commerce for India in Afghanistan and Central Asia.

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INDIA, AFGHANISTAN AND IRAN TO SET UP JOINT WORKING GROUP TO SPUR TRADE • Iran, India and Afghanistan discussed options for investment in the Chabahar Port, located in southeast Iran. In a crucial trilateral meeting held on 26 August 2012 ahead of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit, the three nations agreed to set up a joint working group to spur trade and transit through the Iranian port of Chabahar. • Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai held dialogues with deputy foreign ministers of Iran and Afghanistan in Tehran to explore ways to expand trade and transit cooperation, including investment, among the three countries, starting with the Chabahar Port. • In a joint statement released after trilateral dialogue the three countries committed to meet within next three months at Chabahar to take the discussions forward. • In another significant development Indian External Affairs Minister SM held bilateral dialogues with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi on 27 August 2012. The two leaders discussed issues related to trade and economy during the meeting. The two nations hoped to take their economic ties to a new level through increased cooperation in the economic sector. US, INDIA AND AFGHANISTAN: FIRST TRILATERAL DIALOGUE • US, India and Afghanistan held its first ever trilateral meeting on 25 September 2012. The major point of discussion was on the situation in Afghanistan along with the issue of terrorism. • The discussion marks the strengthening of Afghanistan relation with India and US who are totally behind the vision of a secure, peaceful, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan living in peace, security, friendship and cooperation with its region and the wider world. • The discussions also mark the beginning of a series of consultations among the three governments, who share common interests across South and Central Asia and who have pledged to work together on common challenges and

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opportunities including combating terrorism and violent extremism, reviewing cultural exchanges and increasing regional trade, investment and economic integration. SECOND INDIA-AFGHANISTAN-UNITED STATES TRILATERAL DIALOGUE • India hosted the second meeting of India-Afghanistan-US trilateral dialogue in New Delhi on 19 February 2013. • India has strategic partnerships with both Afghanistan and the US, and jointly they share a vision of a secure, peaceful, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan. The second trilateral dialogue provided a platform for in-depth consultations on issues ranging from political and security spheres to trade, commerce and investment, and other areas of mutual interest. The three sides agreed to continue this trilateral process as a vehicle for achieving the shared goal of peace, security and development of Afghanistan. It may be recalled that the first trilateral dialogue was hosted by Afghanistan in New York on 25 September 2012. INDIA AND TAJIKISTAN • India and Tajikistan on 3 September 2012 signed six agreements in the field of sports, health, culture, education, labour, textiles and energy. • India and the central Asian country of Tajikistan agreed to advance their ties to a strategic partnership in order to impart greater strength to the relationship through all-round co-operation and engagement. • The President of Tajikistan, Mr. Emomali Rahmon, was on a State Visit to India from 1 to 4 September 2012 at the invitation of the President of the Republic of India. This was the fifth visit to India by President Mr. Emomali Rahmon. • The visiting dignitary also attended a business meeting organized jointly by ASSOCHAM, CII and FICCI. • Both the countries identified information technology, bio-technology, mining, tourism, pharmaceuticals among other sectors as high potential area.

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• After the agreements it was decided that India will increase training slots for Tajikistan from 100 to 150 under India Technology and Eco Training Programme. INDIA-AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCE NUCLEAR DEAL NEGOTIATIONS • India and Australia on 17 October 2012 announced the launch of nuclear negotiations for a civil nuclear deal that will enable the sale of uranium from Australia. • The deal was announced by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on her visit to India. The deal is going to provide stretch in India's civilian nuclear ambitions and will also strengthen bilateral ties between both the Countries. • Earlier in 2011, the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Australian Labour Party refused to sell uranium to India by specifying that India had not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. • The actual Supply of uranium is going to take couple of years as negotiations for the safeguards agreement are complex and lengthy. • Both the Countries also signed four memorandum, the most important of which is agreement on Student mobility and welfare in which they agreed to hold annual meetings at the summit level either bilaterally or during multilateral events.

The other memorandums are: • Memorandum on Military and Security Initiative committed to enhance maritime cooperation • Memorandum to develop a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement • India and Australia also agreed to launch a Ministerial-level Dialogue on Energy Security, establish a Water Technology Partnership and start negotiations for an Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons.

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A CULTURAL CARNIVAL TO CELEBRATE SIX DECADES OF INDO-GERMAN TIES • The German Ambassador to India, Michael Steiner on 19 October 2012 announced the event named Indo-German Urban Mela scheduled to start from 27 October 2012 at Delhi. The celebrations are the part of Germany and India 2011-2012: Infinite Opportunities. • The nine-day cultural extravaganza that was held at Indraprastha Millenium Park that is meant for commemorating the sixty years of German and Indian ties. • The Carnival that is named as Indo-German Urban Mela is partnered by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and other business organizations from Germany and India and aims towards achieving a holistic exchange, of culture, science, entertainment and technology. • Before this the Mela travelled through Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai and has followed its journey to the largest show in the capital. INDO-JAPAN

The 2nd India-Japan 2+2 Dialogue held in Tokyo • The 2nd India-Japan 2+2 Dialogue was held in Tokyo on 22 October, 2012. These 2+2 consultations at Senior Official level are mandated by the Action Plan to Advance Security Cooperation concluded between India and Japan in December 2009. The first India- Japan 2+2 Dialogue was held at New Delhi in June 2010. The two countries briefed the other on their respective defence and security policies in the background of each country’s security environment. • In this context, both nations reviewed bilateral security and defence cooperation and discussed ways of further expanding such ties. The two sides also exchanged views on maritime, cyber and outer space security. They agreed to an early meeting of the new India – Japan Cyber Security Dialogue. They also discussed the regional and international security situation. • The next and the 3rd round of the India – Japan 2+2 Dialogue will be held at New Delhi at a mutually convenient date.

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India, US and Japan Trilateral meet • India, U.S. and Japan on its third trilateral meet on 29 October 2012 discussed trilateral cooperation in maritime security and a route through middle or north of Myanmar leading up to Hanoi. • The other major area of discussion was on exchanging of proposals for doing projects together in Africa as well as cooperating on the economic side in Afghanistan. • The three countries were on cycle of talks, which they completed following this meet. The talk began with their first meeting in Washington in December 2011 which was followed by next meeting in Tokyo in April 2012. • Talking of maritime security the three countries discussed some specific areas of cooperation which will be productive in the next cycle of talks that is going to begin after the U.S. Presidential elections and with the settling down of next US administration. • Each side gave a strategic overview of the Asia Pacific. While Japan‘s Briefing was primarily focused on dispute with China over the Senkaku islands. • India with discussing issues on Myanmar had taken up a trilateral connectivity initiative with Myanmar and Thailand that touched on a route through upper Myanmar that would lead into Vietnam. • Also, US briefing was about its much-talked about policy of 'pivot to Asia', which is a move driven by the allure of emerging Asian economies, especially China and India.

First India-Japan Maritime Affairs Dialogue was held in New Delhi • The first India-Japan Maritime Affairs Dialogue was held in New Delhi on 29 January 2013. Issues of mutual interest were discussed, inter alia, maritime security including non-traditional threats, cooperation in shipping, marine sciences and technology, marine biodiversity and cooperation at various multilateral forums.

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INDIA-US JOINT WORKING GROUP MEETING • The India-U.S.Joint Working Group on UN Peacekeeping held its 10th meeting in Washington on 13 February 2013. At the meeting, India and the United States advanced a number of goals laid out in the Declaration of Principles the Joint Working Group agreed upon in 2011. The Joint Working Group also continued in-depth consultations on UN peacekeeping issues, and explored an agreement on a set of Principles of India-U.S. Cooperation in the Area of Training UN Peacekeepers and institutional arrangements between their peacekeeping institutions. • India and USA welcomed the open and comprehensive nature of the discussions, and agreed the talks helped advance their shared commitment to supporting and strengthening United Nations peacekeeping operations, and their mutual interest in assuring the success of UN peacekeeping missions. Both nations agreed that the 11th meeting of the Working Group will be held in New Delhi in 2014. INDIA-UK

India and UK Amended pact on Avoidance of Double Taxation • India and the United Kingdom on 30 October 2012 signed a protocol amending the 1993 bilateral convention on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion related to taxes on income and capital gains. • The Protocol amends the pact or Convention that was originally assigned on 25 January 1993 in New Delhi. The amended protocol is going to provide tax stability to the residents of both the countries and also facilitate mutual economic cooperation with stimulating flow of investment, technology and services. • Also, the withholding taxes on the dividends would be 10 per cent or 15 per cent and is equally applicable in the UK and in India. The Protocol integrates provisions for effective exchange of information between tax authorities of the two countries in line with latest international standards including exchange of banking information and supplying of information irrespective of domestic interest.

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• With the amendment there will now be a new article in the Convention on assistance in collection of taxes. It includes provision for taking measures of conservancy. • The Protocol also constitutes the Convention anti- abuse (limitation of benefits) provisions, which ensure that the benefits of the Convention are not misused. INDIA-UK SUMMIT, 2013 • The India-UK Summit talks took place on 19 February 2013 in New Delhi during the official visit of British Prime Minister, David Cameron to India. The British Prime Minister was accompanied with his Ministerial colleagues as well as delegation which included largest British trade delegation ever to visit India, i.e., the university Vice Chancellors, leaders of the UK-India CEO Forum and members of Parliament. • In the official visit, the progress, which was made between the two countries since previous Summit in 2010, was reviewed and discussed. The issues which were discussed included:

Economic Growth and Cooperation • It was found that the trade between India and UK grew at a positive pace since last Summit in 2010. The average growth of the trade in 2010 and 2011 was 23 percent. However, in 2012, the economic climate remained tougher. It was decided that trade and investment between the two countries would be increased. • Two-way investment between India and UK since 2010 Summit was also reviewed. It was found that UK was 3rd largest investor in India now and India, on the other hand, was 5th largest investor in UK. • It was also additionally found that signature of an Amending Protocol of their Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC) in October 2012 provided tax stability to residents of the two countries. It also led to flow of investment, services as well as technology. • During the visit, the leaders also had a meeting with the members of the UK- India CEO forum. During the meeting, recommendations in context with

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advance manufacturing and R&D, education and skills, healthcare, and infrastructure and energy were taken. • The EU-India negotiations were discussed as well. It was found that Free Trade Agreement would help in generation of jobs as well as growth of the two countries. • UK extended co-operation with India for development of a new Bengaluru- Mumbai Economic Corridor (BMEC). • During the visit, it was also found that co-investment made by both countries in supporting joint research activities increased from 1 million pounds in 2009 to more than 100 million pounds in 2013. • It was agreed by the leaders of both the nations that energy security challenge would be faced in a co-operative manner. India and UK during the visit of the UK PM agreed to discuss between relevant agencies working in the field of petroleum conservation in the two countries. It was decided that the two countries would promote joint cooperation through activities where exchanging technology and knowledge would lead to fuel conservation. • It was agreed to encourage Indian Public Sector Undertakings and UK oil and gas companies for exploring possibilities of upstream oil and gas sector investment in India, the UK and in third countries. The issue of cyber security was also discussed. • The two nations also agreed to work towards security of nuclear weapons. It was agreed that regular consultations on disarmament and non-proliferation issues would be held. • UK Prime Minister David Cameron committed to facilitate India with cutting edge British technology, civil and military, in accordance with the international obligations. • International security matters such as conflict in Syria and Iran’s nuclear programme were also discussed during the visit. Both the nations agreed to deepen the existing India-UK strategic consultations on developments in West Asia / Middle East.

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• Establishing a new Joint Working Group was also agreed upon. This was done for regular bilateral dialogue on peace, security and development in Afghanistan. • India welcomed the British Council’s programme for providing digital English language materials for Indian learners. Both India and UK affirmed welcoming legitimate travellers, including students, tourists, visitors, business people or qualified workers. MALDIVES CANCELLED ITS BIGGEST FOREIGN INVESTMENT PROJECT WITH GMR GROUP • Maldives cancelled its biggest foreign investment project with Indian firm GMR Group to develop its international airport. The total value of the project was 511 million dollar. The deal with the GMR was signed during former President Mohamed Nasheed's administration. Prior to this, a competitive bidding process was conducted by the World Bank's International Finance Corporation (IFC). The project was implemented through a joint venture company comprising GMR Infrastructure Limited and Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad. • However the contract was termed invalid by the new regime as it included a 25 dollars airport development charge per outgoing passenger. This was not authorised by the Parliament of Maldives. VLADIMIR PUTIN'S INDIA VISIT • India and Russia on 24 December 2012 signed a pact for strengthening their economic ties with a Kremlin-backed 2 billion dollar investment fund. Both the parties also agreed to talk about a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement involving Kazakhastan and Belarus. • During the twelfth straight annual summit, the leaders of both the nations Vladimir Putin - President of Russia and Manmohan Singh - Prime Minister of India finalised 10 agreements including two military contracts of 20000 crore rupees, which was under process for past some time. • The two nations were not successful in making a substantial progress on issues related to delay in commissioning of Gorshkov-the aircraft carrier,

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applicability of the Nuclear Limited Liability Act at Kudankulam’s six new reactors developed by Russia. Plans of Sistema and Severstal- the two Russian companies investment plans in India and the tax imposed on the Indian company operating in Russia named Imperial Energy. • Sistema, whose 2G licenses were cancelled by the Supreme Court of India signed two agreements in the satellite segment with India through its sister concern company named Glonass. India has signed military side contracts with Glonass- the constellation of 34 satellites in 2011 for receiving precision signals. • Both the nations would be extending their partnership in energy sector moving beyond the investments made in Sakhalin-I and direct trade of Gazprom-Gail and are planning to boost joint investment in upstream and downstream sectors. India also managed to discuss on its areas of interest for equity participation via ONGC-OVL in the projects of Siberia, Arctic Shelf and Far East of Russia either in the existing ones or the new ones. India also put on table the interests of acquiring equity stakes in the proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in Russia. • India and Bangladesh on 28 January 2013 signed two landmark agreements on extradition of criminals and terrorists and liberalising the visa regime. However, refusal provisions were incorporated into the extradition treaty. If extradition of someone poses a threat to national security, a nation has the right to refuse the deportation request. Moreover, no political detainee will be brought under the purview of the extradition treaty. In case of a controversy during an extradition process, the matter will be resolved according to the laws of the country concerned. • The other agreement has provision for a friendlier visa regime for citizens of Bangladesh. Businessmen will be provided a five-year, multiple-entry visa. Those travelling on medical grounds will be eligible for a two-year, multiple- entry visa, which could be extended for one more year. Three attendants of a patient will also be given visa. Until now, India was granting Bangladeshi tourists visas for up to six months and had allowed one person to accompany a patient.

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6 ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

NATIONAL

General Anti Avoidance Rule • The issue of the General Anti Avoidance Rule (GAAR) has encouraged the fears that GAAR will discourage foreign investment in India. However, tax avoidance can hinder public finance objectives and it is in this context GAAR was introduced in this year’s Budget. Later, the Finance Minister pushed back the implementation of GAAR by a year.

What is GAAR?

• GAAR was first introduced in the Direct Taxes Code Bill, 2010. The original proposal gave the Commissioner of Income Tax the authority to declare any arrangement or transaction by a taxpayer as ‘impermissible’ if he believed the main purpose of the arrangement was to obtain a tax benefit. • The 2012-13 Finance Bill, passed by Parliament, defines ‘impermissible avoidance arrangements’ as an arrangement that satisfies one of four tests. Under these tests, an agreement would be an ‘impermissible avoidance arrangement’ if it:

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o creates rights and obligations not normally created between parties dealing at arm’s length, o results in misuse or abuse of provisions of tax laws, o is carried out in a way not normally employed for bona fide purpose or o lacks commercial substance. • As per the Bill, arrangements that lack commercial substance could involve round trip financing, an accommodating party and elements that have the effect of offsetting or cancelling each other. A transaction that disguises the value, location, source, ownership or control of funds would also be deemed to lack commercial substance. • The Bill as introduced also presumed that obtaining a tax benefit was the main purpose of an arrangement unless the taxpayer could prove otherwise.

Why GAAR?

• GAAR was introduced to address tax avoidance and ensure that those in different tax brackets are taxed the correct amount. In many instances of tax avoidance, arrangements may take place with the sole intention of gaining a tax advantage while complying with the law. This is when the doctrine of ‘substance over form’ may apply. ‘Substance over form’ is where real intention of parties and the purpose of an arrangement is taken into account rather than just the nomenclature of the arrangement. Many countries, like Canada and South Africa, have codified the doctrine of ‘substance over form’ through a GAAR – type ruling.

Issues with GAAR

• A common criticism of GAAR is that it provides discretion and authority to the tax administration, which can be misused. The Standing Committee responded to GAAR in their report on the Direct Taxes Code Bill in March, 2012. They suggested that the provisions should ensure that taxpayers entering genuinely valid arrangements are not harassed. They recommended that the onus should be on tax authorities, not the taxpayer, to prove tax avoidance. In addition, the committee suggested an independent body to act as the approving panel to

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ensure impartiality. They also recommended that the assessing officer be designated in the code to reduce harassment and unwarranted litigation.

GAAR Amendments

• India’s Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee stated that Income tax department will not reopen cases where assessment proceedings had been finalized before 1st April this year in order to provide comfort to the worried foreign investors. Foreign investors have been raising their concerns since Parliament has passed the new amendments in the tax laws with retrospective effects. • On May 8, 2012 the Finance Minister amended the GAAR provisions following the Standing Committee’s recommendations. The main change was to delay the implementation of GAAR by a year to “provide more time to both taxpayers and the tax administration to address all related issues”. GAAR will now apply on income earned in 2013-14 and thereafter. In addition, the Finance Minister removed the burden upon the taxpayer to prove that the main purpose of an alleged impermissible arrangement was not to obtain tax benefit. These amendments were approved with the passing of the Bill. • A Committee had also been formed under the Chairmanship of the Director General of Income Tax. The Committee will suggest rules, guidelines and safeguards for implementation of GAAR. The Committee is expected to submit its recommendations by May 31, 2012 after holding discussions with various stakeholders in the debate. • The expert committee on GAAR, headed by Parthasarathi Shome to address the concerns of foreign and domestic investors, has recommended: o postponement of imposition of GAAR by three years o abolition of capital gains tax on transfer of securities o GAAR provisions should not be invoked to examine the genuineness of the residency of investor entities in Mauritius. o GAAR be applicable only if the threshold of tax benefit is Rs. 3 crore and above. • The implementation of General Anti Avoidance Rules (GAAR) was deferred by two years by the government of India. It will now come into force from 1 April 2016. Earlier, the provisions of GAAR were to be implemented from 1 April

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2014. GAAR will not apply to those Foreign Institutions Investors, FIIs who are not taking any benefit under an agreement under the Income Tax Act. Besides, it will also not apply to non-resident investors in FIIs.

New Trade Policy • The Union Government of India on 5 June 2012 announced a new trade policy aimed at achieving 20 per cent increase in exports to 360 billion dollar in the fiscal year 2012-13. India's exports grew by 21 per cent and touched 303.7 billion dollar in 2011-12, while the trade deficit during the same period expanded to 185 billion dollar. • The government also announced to come out with new guidelines to restore Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and Export Oriented Unit (EOU) schemes to further boost the shipments. • As the part of the new trade policy, the Union Commerce Ministry had added seven new markets to the focus market scheme (FMS) and an equal number of new markets to the special FMS. Countries like Algeria, , Austria, Cambodia, Myanmar, the Netherland Antilles and Ukraine have been added to FMS; while countries including Belize, Chile, El Salvador, , Honduras, Morocco and Uruguay have been added to special FMS. The FMS and SFMS scheme will help India to explore new markets and promote the product diversification.

Highlights of the new trade policy

• Government set the export target for 2012-13 at 20 per cent • 2 per cent interest subsidy scheme extended till March 2013 • Government to announce new guidelines to promote SEZs • Incentives for exports from north-eastern states • Shipments from Delhi, Mumbai through post, courier or e-commerce to get export benefits • Foreign Trade Policy document to be more user friendly • 13 shows abroad to promote Brand India • Single revolving bank guarantee for different export deals • Seven new markets added to Focus Market Scheme IAS (PRELIMS), 2013: CURRENT AFFAIRS 137

• Market linked focus product scheme extended till March'13 for apparel export to USA and EU.

Rbi Raises Ceiling Of FII Investment In G-Secs • Ceiling of SEBI-registered FII Investment in Goverbment Securities (G-Secs) raised from $ 15b to $ 20b. It has been decided to allow Indian companies in the manufacturing and infrastructure sector and earning foreign exchange to avail of external commercial borrowing (ECB) for repayment of outstanding rupee loans towards capital expenditure and/or fresh Rupee capital expenditure under the approval route upto a limit of $10 billion.

Deepak Parekh High Level Committee On Financing Infrastructure • The government on 16 July 2012 appointed HDFC chairman Deepak Parekh as the new chairman of the High Level Committee on Financing Infrastructure. He functioned in an honorary capacity with the rank of minister of state. He was elected after the approval from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in first week of July 2012. • The committee is authorized to re-examine existing policies and advice necessary changes to present in the investment for the infrastructure sector. It will work under 12th Five- Year project investments plan from 2012 to 2017 of 4099240 crore rupees. • The other members of the committee are R. Gopalan (secretary, Department of Economic Affairs), D. K. Mittal (secretary, Department of Financial Services), J. Hari Narayan (chairman, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority), Yogesh Agarwal (chairman, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority), Subir Gokarn (deputy governor, Reserve Bank of India), Pratip Chaudhuri (chairman, State Bank of India), D. K. Mehrotra (chairman, Life Insurance Corporation of India), Satnam Singh (chairman, Power Finance Corporation), (chief, ICICI Bank) and Rajiv Lall (chief, IDFC). • Parekh is a chartered accountant. He joined Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) in 1978 after Ernst & Young Management Consultancy

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Services in New York. He is a part of sub-committee of the Prime Minister’s council on Trade and Industry for promoting Financial Inclusion. He is also one of the member in the expert team of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). • The committee was first set up by Rakesh Mohan, former Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in November 2012.

Recommendations

• 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in the telecom sector. The limit at present is 74 per cent. • The panel also suggested raising prices of natural gas. • The government should draw “a time-bound action plan...with a view to improving the enabling environment for private investment, which is expected to finance about 47 per cent of the projected investment during the XII Plan.’’ • promoting the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model of development for projects in sectors such as rail, ports, airports and highways. • The increase in fuel cost should be passed on to the consumers to prevent piling up of losses of the power distribution companies. • The committee has suggested rationalisation of gas allocations and pricing policy within the next two months as further delay would impact the viability of gas-based power stations. • With regard to rail fares, the report calls for “rationalisation of the prevailing uneconomic rail fares, which have not been revised for a decade”.

Rbi Directed NBFCs To Maintain Net-Owned Funds (NOF) At Rs 3 Crore By 31 March 2013 • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in a notification issued on 3 August 2012 stated that all registered non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) which who intend to convert themselves into non-banking financial company-micro finance institutions (NBFC-MFIs) would have to seek registration with immediate effect, not later than 31 October 2012. • The central bank also mentioned that the NBFCs have to maintain net-owned funds (NOF) at Rs 3 crore by 31 March 2013, and at Rs.5 crore by 31 March 31 2014. If the NBFCs fail maintain the NOF they will have to ensure that IAS (PRELIMS), 2013: CURRENT AFFAIRS 139

lending to the micro finance sector, that is, individuals, SHGs or JLGs, which qualify for loans from MFIs to be restricted to 10 per cent of the total assets. • The NBFCs operating in the north-eastern region are to maintain the minimum NOF at Rs.1 crore by 31 March 2012, and at Rs.2 crore by 31 March 2014.

Operational Flexibility

• To promote operational flexibility the NBFCs are to ensure that the average interest rate on loans during a financial year does not exceed the average borrowing cost during that financial year plus the margin, within the prescribed cap. The RBI notification also stated that while the rate of interest on individual loans may exceed 26 per cent, the maximum variance permitted for individual loans between the minimum and the maximum interest rate cannot exceed 4 per cent. • The average interest paid on borrowings and charged by the MFI will have to be calculated on the average monthly balances of outstanding borrowings and the loan portfolio, respectively.

Cap Margin

• The RBI also decided that the cap on margins as defined by the Malegam Committee are not to exceed 10 per cent for large MFIs (loans portfolios exceeding Rs.100 crore) and 12 per cent for others. The measure was initiated to ensure that in a low cost environment, the ultimate borrower will benefit, while in a rising interest rate environment and that the lending NBFC-MFIs will have sufficient leeway to operate on viable lines.

Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission • Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC) headed by Justice B. N. Srikrishna was set up with a view to strengthening the mechanism for maintaining financial stability, financial sector development and inter-regulatory coordination in December, 2010. • It has proposed an Indian Financial Code Bill to enable creation of a unified financial regulator while limiting the role of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to monetary management.

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• As per the proposed regulatory architecture recommended by the Commission, the Unified Financial Agency (UFA) will comprise four existing agencies, which will be merged into one. These are the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Forward Markets Commission (FMC), the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). • It also suggested setting up of a Financial Redressal Agency (FRA) to address consumer complaints against companies across the financial sector.

RBI-BoJ Currency Swap • The Reserve Bank of India on 4 December 2012 signed a three year Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA) with the Bank of Japan for swapping of the local currencies to address short-term liquidity problems. The BSA will be effective from 5 December 2012. • The main idea behind the arrangement is to address short-term liquidity difficulties and supplement the existing international financial arrangements, as one of the efforts in strengthening mutual cooperation between Japan and India. • The Bilateral Swap Agreement (BSA) is going to enable both the countries to swap their local currencies either Japanese yen or Indian rupee against US dollar for an amount up to 15 billion dollars. • Earlier for a period of three years from June 2008 to June 2011 both the countries signed a similar agreement for an amount of 3 billion dollar. • The enhancement of the BSA is going to strengthen economic and financial cooperation between the two countries and accordingly to financial market stability. The BSA is activated when an IMF-support programme already exists or is expected to be established in the near future. INDIA-ASEAN FTA IN SERVICES & INVESTMENT FINALIZED • The awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in investments and services was finalised between India and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on 20 December 2012. The actions would be beneficial in enhancing the trade IAS (PRELIMS), 2013: CURRENT AFFAIRS 141

to around 100 billion dollar by 2015. Also, it will help in enhancing the economic ties. • FTA in the goods was operationalised in 2011 and since then both the sides were busy in widening the pact by also including investments and services. Trade between the two sides is at present 80 billion dollar. India’s Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh declared that after implementation of FTA in the goods, the trade between the two sides increased by 41 percent in the year 2011-2012. Manmohan Singh announced at the summit that two-way flows in terms of investment grew rapidly and reached the mark of 43 billion dollar over last 10 years. Because the investments through ASEAN in India grew, therefore the ASEAN countries also emerged as lucrative destination for the Indian companies. • India was demanding from ASEAN to open the services sector even more which would also include the steps to cover contractual service suppliers along with independent professional services at all its levels. But following difficult rounds of talks and discussions on 19 December 2012, India decided to drop the demand of independent professional services. As trade-off, ASEAN on the other hand dropped the demand for prudential measures in context with financial services.

Impact of the agreement

• The agreement would create new pathways for greater economic integration. Post, FTA in investments and services, India was also planning to hold market opening negotiations like these with other members of the group. FTA was already implemented with Malaysia and Singapore. Negotiations with Thailand and Indonesia were still on its way. • This FTA would also create pathways for discussions on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which ASEAN planned sealing with its six crucial trade partners, including India. ASEAN along with the six partners, India, China, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea would begin first negotiation rounds on RCEP in 2013. This would form the economic alliance of the world in 2015.

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• Final legal paper work on investment and services pact would be given a concrete shape by February 2013. Signing of the agreement would take place in August 2013.

Mahartana status to BHEL & GAIL • The govt. has decided to confer Maharatna status on BHEL & GAIL leading to five-fold increase in the investment ceiling of the company.

What are Maharatna PSUs?

• In 2009, the government established the Maharatna status, which raises a company’s investment ceiling from Rs. 1,000 crore to Rs. 5,000 crore. The Maharatna firms would now be free to decide on investments up to 15 per cent of their net worth in a project. • Earlier, the Navaratna companies could invest up to Rs 1,000 crore without government approvals. • In order to qualify as a Maharatna, a company must have: o Three years with an annual net profit of over Rs.2500 crore o Net worth of Rs. 10,000 crore o Turnover of Rs. 20,000 crore • The companies enjoying this status before this decision were: o Indian Oil Corporation Limited o NTPC Limited o Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited o Steel Authority of India Limited

What are Navratna PSUs?

• The Navratna status is offered to PSEs, which gives a company enhanced financial and operational autonomy and empowers it to invest up to Rs. 1000 crore or 15% of their net worth on a single project without seeking government approval. In a year, these companies can spend up to 30% of their net worth not exceeding Rs. 1000 cr. They will also have the freedom to enter joint ventures, form alliances and float subsidiaries abroad.

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• Navratna status is conferred by Department of Public Enterprises. To be qualified as a Navratna, the company must obtain a score of 60 (out of 100). The score is based on six parameters which include net profit to net worth, total manpower cost to total cost of production or cost of services, PBDIT (Profit Before Depreciation, Interest and Taxes) to capital employed, PBDIT to turnover, EPS (Earning Per Share) and inter-sectoral performance. Additionally, a company must first be a Miniratna and have four independent directors on its board before it can be made a Navratna.

What are Miniratnas in India?

• In addition, the government created another category called Miniratna. Miniratnas can also enter into joint ventures, set subsidiary companies and overseas offices but with certain conditions. In 2002, there were 41 government enterprises that were awarded Miniratna status. o Category I: This designation applies to PSEs that have made profits continuously for the last three years or earned a net profit of Rs. 30 crore or more in one of the three years. These miniratnas granted certain autonomy like incurring capital expenditure without government approval up to Rs. 500 crore or equal to their net worth, whichever is lower. o Category II: This category include those PSEs which have made profits for the last three years continuously and should have a positive net worth. Category II miniratnas have autonomy to incurring the capital expenditure without government approval up to Rs. 300 crore or up to 50% of their net worth whichever is lower.

Regulator SEBI permitted seven Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) to start Operation in India • Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in August 2012 permitted seven Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) to start operation in India under a newly formulated route that enable pooling of funds for investments in areas such as real estate, private equity and hedge funds. Six AIFs registered with the regulator in August 2012, while one was granted

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registration back on 23 July 2012. SEBI had published its guidelines with regard to AIF in May 2012. • The seven AIFs that registered with SEBI include IFCI Syncamore India Infrastructure Fund, Utthishta Yekum Fund, Indiaquotient Investment Trust, Forefront Alternate Investment Trust, Excedo Realty Fund, Sabre Partners Trust and KKR India Alternate Credit Opportunities Fund. • Funds established or incorporated in India for the purpose of pooling in of capital from Indian and foreign investors for investing would have to follow a pre-decided policy. SEBI decided to allow promoters of listed companies can offload 10 per cent of equity to AIFs such as such as SME Funds, Infrastructure Funds, PE funds and Venture Capital Funds registered with the market regulator to attain minimum 25 per cent public holding. • AIFs, as per SEBI guidelines can operate broadly in three categories and it is mandatory for them to get registered with the regulator. The SEBI rules apply to all AIFs, including those operating as private equity funds, real estate funds and hedge funds, among others.

AIF Categories

• The Category I AIFs are those where funds stand a chance of getting certain incentives or concessions from the government, SEBI or other regulators in India and include Social Venture Funds, Infrastructure Funds, Venture Capital Funds and SME Funds. • The Category II AIFs are those funds which can invest anywhere in any combination but are prohibited from raising debt, except for meeting their day- to-day operational requirements. These AIFs include PE funds, debt funds or fund of funds, as also all others falling outside the ambit of Category I and Category III. • The Category III AIFs are those trading with an objective to make short term returns and include hedge funds, among others.

RBI Stipulated The Norms For Securitisation Of Loans By NBFCs • Extending the guidelines of securitisation of loan from banks to non-banking finance companies (NBFC), India’s Central Bank Reserve Bank of India on 21

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August 2012 tightened the securitisation norms for NBFCs. The RBI instructed that a non-banking finance company will have to retain at least 5 per cent of the loan being sold to another entity. • The RBI in its revised guidelines also stipulated that NBFC cannot sell or securitise a loan unless three monthly installments have been paid by the borrower. The latest directives from the RBI are aimed at checking unhealthy practices and distributing risk to a wide spectrum of investors. • These guidelines have to implemented by NBFCs in two phases by the end of October 2012. Earlier, the RBI had issued similar guidelines with regards to securitisation of loans by banks.

Union Finance Ministry approved 49 Percent FDI in Insurance and Pension Sector • In a move aimed at encouraging investment sentiment in the country, the Union Finance Ministry on 22 August 2012 approved 49 percent foreign direct investment in insurance and pension sector. Earlier the permitted level of FDI in the insurance and pension sector was 26 percent. • The proposal for 49 percent FDI in insurance and pension sector was made during Pranab Mukherjee’s tenure at the finance minister office. However, the decision on the same was delayed because of resistance from the cronies. • As per the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) estimates, over the next five years, the insurance sector requires a capital infusion of more than 12 billion dollar. The Union Government has been trying hard to introduce the major reforms to revive the ailing economy. The measures such as FDI in multi -brand retail and civil aviation, implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) have, however, faced fierce opposition from different political parties. • Indian economy is rapidly moving towards the grim economic situation similar faced during the recession. The economy needs some big ticket reforms to reverse the pessimistic economic environment. India's GDP growth fell to 6.5 percent during 2011-12 but the fourth quarter growth rate dropped to 5.3 percent, the slowest in past nine years. Business confidence among the investors

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and business leaders has touched the historic low as industrial output and trade figures are constantly going down. • The tight monetary policy measures adopted by the central bank to check inflation has actually aggravated the situation as high interest rates are hugely impacting the overall growth scenario. Indian industries have been reiterating that there is an urgent need to create conditions for revival of private investment. • The FDI in insurance might prove to be a start of the long pending reform but the Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram will have to work hard on political front to make it possible. Earlier the government had to defer the decision on the bill as it faced opposition from its allies such as Trinammol Congress

SEBI allowed Partial Flexibility in IDRs for Investors • India’s market regulator Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on 28 August 2012 allowed partial flexibility in the conversion of Indian Depository Receipts (IDRs) into equity shares by investors. The SEBI move is aimed at retaining domestic liquidity besides, it is also expected to attract foreign entities to enroll their IDRs on India stock exchanges. • In another circular released by the RBI, the central bank put an overall cap of 5 billion dollar for raising of capital through IDRs by foreign companies in Indian markets. The RBI measure will help Indian investors to convert their depository receipts into equity shares of the issuer company and vice versa.

Foreign Investment cap hiked to 74 percent for Broadcasting Services • The Government of India on 20 September 2012 hiked the foreign investment cap for the broadcasting service providers to 74 percent. The registered hike in foreign investment cap is for service providers of Direct to Home (DTH), modernized cable network and mobile television. This move of the government will allow the global players in acquiring major stakes in the broadcasting companies. Before his decision was passed, the eligibility of DTH and multi- system cable operators to make foreign investment was limited to 49 percent only.

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• In its decision last week, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs cleared its stand on the companies of broadcast content that the TV news Channels and FM radio channels can have a foreign investment cap of 26 percent. This decision was made to make sure that majority of control remains back in the hands of Indian Partner.

RBI Expanded the Lending Norms on Priority Sectors • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 18 October 2012 extended the lending’s on the Priority sectors like housing, agriculture, small and medium enterprises, and expanded the scope of bank loans for these sectors up to 2 crore Rupees. These ammendments would be in effect from 20 July 2012. • The decision came after discussions were held with the CMDs/CEOs of selected banks as well as the heads of Priority Sectors of selected banks and based on the same the new guidelines and amendments were made. • The banks were permitted by the central bank to offer loans up to an aggregate limit of 2 crore Rupees, to corporate that includes farmers’ producer companies, co-operatives and partnership firms of famers indulged in agricultural and allied activities including animal husbandry, bee-keeping, dairy, fishery and sericulture. The Priority loan would also be made available for pre- harvest and post-harvest activities like weeding, spraying, grading, harvesting and sorting. Export Credit loans for exporting one’s own farm produce would also be made available. The lending scheme fulfills the criterion mentioned under the MSMED Act-2006. • Bank loans to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) those are engaged in providing services would be eligible for the direct finance of up to 2 crore Rupees per borrower per unit under priority sector. In case the loan amount per borrower increases the limit of 2 crore rupees, than it can be considered as the indirect finance for agriculture. • Loans under priority sector would also include loans provided to Government agencies for development of dwelling units or slum clearance and rehabilitation up to 10 lakh rupees. This provision also spreads for low income group and the economically weaker sections of the society in form of housing finance, construction and re-construction, purchase and more up to ceiling.

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• The Central Bank also guided the banks to keep a check on the loans, which are offered for the approved purposes. Thus the banks engaged in issuing loans would have to put forward a fine and channeled internal system and control in this regard. The apex court decision came to ensure that credit needs of people who don’t have access to institutional finance.

National Dairy Plan (NDP) • National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) announced to start World Bank sponsored National Dairy Plan (NDP) I covering 8 states. Under the NDP, the Central Government will introduce scientific measures in all the states to increase cattle’s milk production. The scheme underlines progeny testing, pedigree selection, strengthening of semen stations, balanced ration programme and fodder development proposals. • In the first phase of this scheme, 49 proposals from 8 States have been approved. These states are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, , Tamil Nadu, , Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra.

New RBI Guidelines on Banking Licenses • The Reserve Bank of India has issued guidelines for new bank licences under which: o RBI has allowed corporates and public sector entities with sound credentials and a minimum track record of 10 years to enter the banking business. RBI has laid down an elaborate 'fit and proper' criteria, has not excluded any category like brokerages, real estate companies from entering into the banking space. o The minimum paid-up capital for setting up a bank has been pegged at Rs 500 crore. The cap on the foreign investment, including FDI/FII and NRI, has been set at 49 per cent. o As per norms notified by RBI, on receipt of licence, promoter has to start operations within one year and list the company within three years of commencement of the business. o Also, new banks should open at least 25 per cent of branches in unbanked rural centres.

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Cabinet gives nod to two subsidiaries of Air India: AIESL and AITSL • To split off the ground handling and engineering services of Air India, Union cabinet under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh approved a proposal of Rs 768 crore on 6 September 2012. Now the two units Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) and Air India Transport Services Ltd. (AITSL) will be operational as two completely owned subsidiaries and treated as separate profit centers. • The approval came after waiting for almost two years since Air India board agreed for the separate operations of the two units and sent it for clearance to the Ministry Of Civil Aviation. Ministry gave its nod to the proposal in the month of April. • AIESL will be operational in line of repair, maintenance and overhaul (MRO) business for Air India only but also for airlines owned by different groups. It’s expected that the unit can bring back a potential turnover of about $ 1.5 billion MRO business in Asia Pacific. • Air India that has reportedly suffered a loss of about 7,853 crore in the financial year 2011-2012 is hoping to gain a total equity infusion of Rs 30,000 Crore by 2021 under the turnaround and restructuring time devised by the government. • J.R.D. Tata founded Air India and is also known as the Father of Civil Aviation in India. Air India took its first flight on 15 October 1932. Air India is known as the national flag carrier of India.

Proposal for 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retail and 49 percent in Aviation passed • The Union Cabinet on 14 September 2012 cleared the proposal of foreign direct investment (FDI) for 51 percent in the multi-brand retail chains and 49 percent in Aviation power exchanges industry. • Passing of the proposal have cleared the floor for welcoming the multi-brand retail chains like Wall mart and Tesco and Carrefour in the country for setting up of their shops and retail outlets. Similarly, the 49 percent of FDI allowed in aviation and Power exchanges will bring in funds for the domestic carriers on a

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verge of death and will help in enhancement of power availability and distribution management, respectively.

Conditions for investors in the proposal for the multi-brand retails

• The proposal makes a clear stand that investors looking ahead for investments will have to take the permission in form of approvals from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board • Investment of minimum $100 million is a must for any foreign investor planning to invest in India, out of which 50% of the investment should be made in creation of back-end infrastructure. Back-end investment means investments that is made in quality control, warehouse creation, cold storage, design improvement, manufacturing, processing and packaging • The investors will have to get 30% of the production of their total products by the small-scale industries • The proposal also clears that the agricultural produce like pulses, flowers, fruits, vegetables, poultry item, fishery, meat and others can be unbranded • Investors can invest in the 51 cities with a minimum population of 10 lakh people as per the census presented in the year 2011

Conditions for making investment in the aviation sector

• This will help in making equity invasion for the aviation companies seeking financial support at the time when maximum of the domestic airlines are passing through a phase of losses. • Investors who are not functional in airline business can own equity of 49 percent directly or indirectly in the Indian Aviation Companies.

Conditions for FDI in Power Exchanges

• 49 percent of FDI in power trading exchanges will be taken care of as per the regulation laid down by SEBI and Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Power Market) Regulations) 2010 • The commerce minister stated that Foreign Institutional Investors cannot exceed a limit of 26 percent investment and the paid-up capital will be restricted to 23 percent IAS (PRELIMS), 2013: CURRENT AFFAIRS 151

• FII can be permitted under automatic routes whereas; the FDI will be scrutinized under the route approved by the government • The generation of electricity, power transmission and distribution along with trading will be done in accordance to the provisions of the Electricity Act 2003 • The current policy allows FDI up to 100 percent in power sector (atomic energy is an exception)

Union Cabinet of India approved the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy • The Union Cabinet of India on 22 November 2012 passed the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy (NPPA). As per the new pricing policy declared by the Union Government, 348 essential drugs would come under price control policy of the nation, which would lead to price reduction of the same. • The policy was approved by the Union Cabinet with an objective to bring in a regulatory framework to make sure that the pricing of essential drugs remains under control and are made available in the market at reasonable prices. • The approval came in as a response to the deadline of 27 November 2012 set by the Supreme Court of India for finalization of a policy that to without altering or hampering the mechanism for cost-based drug pricing policy in existence. The move would bring down the cost of the drugs to an average of 30 percent as the pricing now would be fixed following the simple average of the rates of all the brands that have more than one percent of market share in the pharmaceutical industry. Following the rules of the policy, the companies will have to take a clearance by NPPA to increase the prices beyond 10 percent on all the 348 drugs enlisted in the new National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy.

Miscellaneous Implementation Of Basel III Norms Postponed

• RBI has postponed the implementation of BASEL III norms in the Indian Banking System from 1st January 2013 to 1st April 2013. BASEL III are the latest global capital norms followed by the Banks around the world. This would give the Indian banks more time to enhance their capital base. Under BASEL

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III norms, the banks are required to hold a core capital of at least 7% of risk- weighted assets by 2018.

RBI proscribes Credit For Gold Investment

1. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has notified the banks to stop providing any loans to its customers for purchasing gold in any form including Primary Gold, Gold bullion, Gold jewelry, Gold Coins, Gold related ETFs and MFs etc. But it can provide to meet working capital requirements to Jewelers. The step has been taken to reduce import of Gold into India in order check trade deficit.

RBI Working Group On Gold Loans By NBFCs Headed By KUB Rao

• Important recommendations: • Dematerialization of gold investment by designing innovative financial instruments that provide real returns to investors. • Monitoring the functioning of gold loan NBFCs to prevent negative effects on the financial system. • Suggested banks to increase their gold jewellery loans portfolio to curb large imports of gold, which is widening the current account deficit (CAD). The working group proposed the setting up of ‘Bullion Corporation of India’ (BCI), as a backstop facility, to provide refinance to institutions lending against the collateral of gold, and also to undertake retailing functions in gold, including pooling of idle gold, in the system.

Tax Residency Certificates Mandatory For Benefit Under DTAA

• The government has mandated that from April 1, 2013, all foreign investors desirous of claiming benefits under the double taxation avoidance agreements (DTAAs) will have to produce tax residency certificates (TRC) of their base country in which they are located.

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Financial Inclusion Advisory Committee (FIAC)

• RBI appointed Financial Inclusion Advisory Committee (FIAC) under the chairmanship of Deputy Governor K C Chakrabarty to expedite the goal of financial inclusion in the country.

Rangarajan Committee on gas pricing

• C Rangarajan Committee on pricing of domestically produced natural gas appointed by PM has recommended the pricing at average of international prices and prices of LNG imports into the country. The present pricing mechanism used was market discovery.

GI for Meerut Scissors

• Meerut Scissors have become a first tool manufactured MSMEs of India to be registered for GI. • A product’s quality, reputation or other characteristics can be determined by where it comes from. Geographical indications are place names (in some countries also words associated with a place) used to identify products that come from these places and have these characteristics (for example, “Champagne”, “Tequila” or “Roquefort”).

National Waterway 6

• 121 Km Lakhipur-Bhanga stretch of Barak river would soon be turned into a sixth national waterway of India. It will be completed in two phases–first ending in 2016-17 and second in 2018-19. It will integrate waterways in NE providing cargo transport through Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh.

TCS Most valuable firm in India

• India’s largest IT services Company Tata Consultancy Services has overtaken RIL as the country’s most valuable company in terms of market capitalization as its share price touched 52-week high. Now, TCS market cap

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stood at Rs 2,58,578 crore as per the closing price at the end of today’s share market trading.

Govt. Raises Authorized Capital of NABARD

• The govt. has approved raising of the authorized capital of NABARD from 5000 crores to 20, 000 crores. It has also decieded to widen the scope of its activities.

Indian Software Products Industry Roundtable (iSpirt)

• Indian Software Products Industry Roundtable (iSpirt) is a new IT Industry Organization created by some companies, which have dissociated from Nasscom.

Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings (RGESS) Scheme

• Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings (RGESS) Scheme for the first time equity investors to encourage investment in equity market. Under the scheme, a first time equity investor with an income of less than 10 lakh rupees would get tax incentives on 50% of investment value for investing up to 50,000 rupees in the stock market.

MCX Stock Exchange

• Third Indian national stock exchange, MCX Stock Exchange (MCX-SX) has begun trading in equities and equity derivatives. MCX-SX is the third full- fledged equity bourse after BSE and NSE. 40-stock index named SX40 will be a free-float based index of large-cap and liquid stocks from different sectors. The base value will be 10,000 with a base date of March 31, 2010. The index allows fast entry for companies with better free float, market cap and liquidity. INTERNATIONAL

SAGE (South Asian Gas Enterprise) • It is pursuing deep sea natural gas pipeline project from Oman to India, in a consortium with other international companies. SAGE is a project development

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vehicle set up for the proposed deep-sea natural gas pipeline project from the Middle East to India. SAGE pipeline is expected to transport 30 million metric cubic metres of gas per day, the same volume as what Iran has earmarked for India in the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline.

GSPA (Gas Sale Price Agreement) for TAPI • GSPA was signed for TAPI pipeline. GAIL signed on India’s behalf. Capacity of 99 mmscmd. India, Pak get 38 each. GAIL (India) Limited inked the gas sale and purchase agreement (GSPA) with TurkmenGaz, Turkmenistan's national oil company, for the 7.6-billion TAPI project on 23 May 2012. The agreement would enable India to bring gas from Turkmenistan. • The Union Cabinet of India had approved the TAPI project on 17 May 2012, which subsequently paved the way for signing the agreement. The proposed 1680 km pipeline of which, 144 km falls in Turkmenistan, 735 km in Afghanistan and 800 km in Pakistan, will have a capacity to supply 90 mscmd (Million Standard Cubic Metres per Day) of gas. India and Pakistan each will be entitled to have 38 mscmd of the gas while the remaining 14 mscmd will be given to Afghanistan. • The TAPI pipeline is expected to be operational in 2018 and supply gas for the next 30 years. The GSPA includes all the terms and conditions related to the pact and will be signed bilaterally between the members. The bids for building and operating the pipeline will be invited following the agreements among all the member countries.

Reserve Bank of India decided to set up a 2 Billion Dollar Swap Facility for SAARC Nations • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 16 May 2012 decided to set up a 2 billion dollar swap facility for SAARC (South-Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) member-nations. This facility will be available in foreign currency and Indian rupee. • The facility will provide the member nations with the facility to swap U.S. dollar, euro or Indian rupee against the domestic currency or domestic

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currency-denominated government securities. The withdrawal could be done in multiple tranches. • The move for a SAARC swap facility follows a decision taken by the SAARC Finance Ministers at the Ministerial Meeting on Global Financial Crisis held on 28 February 2009. The move by the RBI will strengthen economic co-operation within the SAARC nations and improve intra-regional trade.

Pakistan out of FEMA negative list • India on 8 June 2012 announced to allow foreign direct investment from Pakistan. The move is aimed at strengthening the bilateral economic relations between the two countries. The decision will also facilitate the economic integration in the South Asian region. • The Union Finance Ministry had received a proposal by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) seeking changes in Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to allow FDI from Pakistan. • Under the present FDI policy, a Pakistani citizen or an entity incorporated in there is not allowed to invest in India. The Government had earlier allowed investments from Bangladesh under the FIPB route. • The bilateral trade between India and Pakistan for the year 2010-11 stood at 2.7 billion dollar. With 2.32 billion dollar exports, India dominated the trade, which grew at a rate of 47 per cent and also approaching forward to occupy 1 per cent share of Indian global exports.

UK Bank CEO resigns after LIBOR fixing • UK bank giant Barclay’s Chief Executive Officer Bob Diamond has resigned with immediate effect over a rate rigging controversy. This move came just after the resignation of the chairman Marcus Agius over the same controversy which has led to 290 million pounds for attempting to manipulate the LIBOR19 inter- bank lending rate.

19 LIBOR (London Inter Bank Offered Rate): A 3-month interest rate on Inter Bank transfers in London used as a global benchmark in setting interest rates.

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India 3rd most preferred Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) destination • India has been placed as the 3rd most preferred Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) destination by the World Investment Report 2012 prepared by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. China held the first position and US held the second position in the list. This confirms investors’ confidence in Indian growth story in spite of 9-year low GDP growth in the last quarter and worsening macro-economic condition.

India 59th on Global Competitive Index • India Slipped to 59th spot in the Global Competitive Index list for 2012-13 compiled by the World Economic Forum which is a drop of three notches compared to last year’s ranking. China’s rank was also slipped by 3 notches to 29th rank this year. Switzerland holds the 1st place followed by Singapore, Finland, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, USA, UK, Honk Kong and Japan in the same list.

Russia, India set up Investment Consortium • Russian sovereign wealth fund Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) on Monday signed a pact with State Bank of India (SBI) for setting up a $2 billion investment consortium for promoting investments between the two countries. • The RDIF and SBI would each invest up to $1 billion in the consortium, a statement issued by the Russian sovereign wealth fund said.

Brazil and China Signed the Currency Swap Agreement • Brazil and China signed the currency swap agreement on 26 March 2013 in Durban, South Africa. The agreement is designed specifically for providing safety against the future global financial issues. The currency swap agreement was first announced in 2012. The agreement will enable the central banks of two countries to swap the local currencies worth 190bn Yuan or 60bn Reais, i.e. 30 billion US Dollar. The agreement will enable smooth bilateral trade irrespective of the financial conditions at the global level.

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Human Development Report, 2013 • Human development defined as ’enlarging the range of people’s choices’. Proposed by Mahbub Ul Haq and Amartya Sen to counter per capita income as sole indicator of development. Places people at centre stage - emphasis on enhancing capabilities – particularly relevant during Globalisation. Global Human Development Reports annually since 1990, Published by UNDP. Theme: • "The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World" – examines the profound shift in global dynamics driven by the fast-rising new powers of the developing world and its long-term implications for human development.

HDI rank HDI value

India 136 0.554

Best performer in world 1 .955 (Norway)

Worst performer in world 186 .304 (NIger)

Best performer in South Asia 92 0.715 (Sri Lanka)

Worst performer in South Asia 175 0.374 (Afghanistan)

• The Gender Inequality Index (GII) is a new index for measurement of gender disparity that was introduced in the 2010 Human Development Report 20th anniversary edition by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

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• According to the UNDP, this index is a composite measure which captures the loss of achievement, within a country, due to gender inequality, and uses three dimensions to do so: reproductive health, empowerment, and labor market participation. India's score is 0.610 and Rank 132. • The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) was developed in 2010 by Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative and the United Nations Development Programme and uses different factors to determine poverty beyond income-based lists. It replaced the previous Human Poverty Index. India’s score is .283 based on 2005-06 data. • Dimension Indicators Health Child Mortality Nutrition

Education Years of school Children enrolled

Living Standards Cooking fuel Toilet Water Electricity Concrete floor Household assets

Miscellaneous • Cyprus has become the fifth euro zone nation to ask a bailout from the European Union and IMF due to worsening debt crisis across the region. Earlier Greece, Portugal, Ireland and Spain have asked for IMF and EU bailout in order to avoid default. • Russia has become the 156th member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) after nearly 20 years of negotiation. It has started for the membership negotiation way back in 1993. For this membership, Russia will reduce import duty on some goods and relax government control in foreign investment in its financial and other sectors.

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• Fiscal Cliff: It refers to a situation whereby, the US govt. was required to end tax cuts and reduce govt. spending at the end of 2012 under the provisions of Budget Control Act, 2012. However, under a deal by legislators, it was averted by some lesser changes in the Fiscal Policy.

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7 AWARDS

SPORTS

FIH Player of the Year Award • The award is given by the governing body of International Hockey to the best performing player for the year gone by. This year's awardee is Jamie Dwyer, a veteran hockey player from Australia.

FIFA Ballon d’or • Men: Lionel Messi (Argentina) • Women: United States striker Abby Wambach was named the women’s player of the year • Spain coach Vicente del Bosque claimed the coach of the year award. • Ballon d’Or means golden ball. It was started in 1956 to award the Best European Footballer of the year. In 2010 Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year Award were merged to form FIFA Ballon d’Or. Ever since the best male footballer of the year is honoured with this award.

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Laureus World Sports awards • The Laureus World Sports Awards were established in 1999 by Founding Patrons Daimler and Richemont . The first gala was held on May 25, 2000 in Monte Carlo. o Sportsman of the year: Usain Bolt. o Sportswoman of the year: Jessica Ennis o Lifetime Achievement Award: Sebastian Coe

National Sports Awards • These awards are given on the birth anniversary of legendary hockey player . Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, the silver medallist of Athens Olympics 2004, was named the head of the 15-member committee, set up to select the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardee and Arjun Award winners. Aslam Sher Khan, the former hockey team skipper, was named the head of the 15- member committee that will select the Dronacharya Awardees.

Arjuna Award

• The Arjuna Awards were instituted in 1961 by the government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in National sports. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 500,000, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll. • 2012 Awrads: o Archery: , Laishram Bombayla Devi o Athletics: , Kavita Ramdas Raut o Badminton: Ashwani Ponnappa, Parupalli Kashyap o Billiards and Snooker: Aditya S Mehta o Boxing: Vikas Krishan o Cricket: o Hockey: Sardar Singh o Judo: Yashpal Solanki o Kabbadi: Anup Kumar o Polo: Samir Suhag o Shooting: Annu Raj Singh, Omkar Singh, Joydeep Karmakar o Squash: Deepika Pallikal

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o Swimming: Sandeep Sejwal o Weightlifting: Ng. Sonia Chanu o Wrestling: Narsingh Yadav, Rajinder Kumar, Geeta Phogat o Wushu: M. Bimoljit Singh o Athletics-Paralympics: Deepa Mallick), Ramkaran Singh

Dronacharya Award

• Dronacharya Award is an award presented by the government of India for excellence in sports coaching. The award comprises a bronze statuette of Dronacharya, a scroll of honour and a cash component of Rs.500,000. The award was instituted in 1985. Dronacharya honour is given for the contributions of a coach who has “successfully trained sportspersons or teams and enabled them achieve outstanding results in international competitions” in the previous calendar year. • 2012 Awards: o Athletics: Virendar Poonia, JS Bhatia. o Kabbadi (Women): . o Wrestling: Yashvir Singh o Hockey: Harendra Singh o Para Sports (Athletics): Dr. Satyapla Singh o Table Tennis: Bhawani Mukherjee o Boxing: BI Fernandez, Cuban Boxing Coach

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna

• India’s highest award in sports, carries an award money of 7, 50,000. Instituted in 1991-92. For 2012, it has been given to Vijay Kumar & .

Dhyan Chand Award

• It is India's highest award for lifetime achievement in sports and games, given by the Government of India. The award is named after the legendary Indian hockey player Dhyan Chand. The award was initiated in 2002.The award carries a cash prize of INR 5lakh (500,000 rupees)

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• 2012 Awards: o Athletics: Jagraj Singh Mann o Hockey: Gundeep Kumar o Wrestling: Vinod Kumar o Para Sports: Sukhbir Singh Tokas

BCCI Awards, 2012 • Col. CK Naydu Award (For Lifetime Achievement): Sunil Gavaskar • Award (For Cricketer of the year):

IAAF World Athlete of the Year • Usain Bolt won the IAAF World Athlete of the Year Award 2012 for the fourth time on 24 November 2012 during the IAAF's 100th Anniversary Celebration. The Jamaican sprinter Bolt had won for defending his gold medals in the 100 and 200 meter races of the summers’ , he also won the same award previously in 2008, 2009 and 2011. • United States sprinter Allyson Felix won women's World Athlete of the Year Award 2012. Allyson Felix managed to secure her Gold medal in the London Olympics in the 200 meter race. Before this she managed to settle down with the Silver in the Beijing Olympics in the year 2008. New Zealand shot putter Valerie Adams and British heptathlete Jessica Ennis were the other finalists of the Women award segment, who also were the gold medalists in London Olympics. • In 2003, Bolt and Felix won the Rising Star awards for the most promising young athletes of the year. • United States hurdler Aries Merritt was successful in winning the Inspiration Award for his season and the award included a gold medal and a world record in the 110-meter hurdles. • David Rudisha won the Performance of the Year award for his record- setting gold medal run in the 800 meters; he was the winner of the Athlete of the Year in 2010. • Keshorn Walcott, Javelin thrower of Trinidad and Anthonique Strachan sprinter of Bahamas won the Rising Star awards.

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ICC Awards • Awarded by the ICC to honour meritorious performance on the cricket filed. Started in 2004. • 2012 AWARDS:

Award Winner Cricketer of the Year Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) Test player of the year Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) ODI player of the year Virat Kohli (India) ICC Emerging player of the year Sunil Narine (West Indies) Best T20 performance of the year Richard Levi (South Africa) Spirit of Cricket award Daniel Vettori (New Zealand) ICC Associate player of the year George Dockrell (Ireland) Umpire of the year Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka) Women’s Cricketer of the Year Stafanie Taylor (West Indies) LG people’s choice award Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)

LITERATURE & ARTS

Literature KK Birla Foundation Awards:

• 2012: , Malayalam poetess has been chosen for the prestigious Saraswati Samman 2012 for her poetry collection ‘Manalezhuthu’ (The Writing on the Sand). The award, constituted by the K. K. Birla Foundation, carries a cash reward of Rs.10 lakh, a citation and a plaque. The award is given annually to an outstanding literary work written in any Indian language during the last 10 years.

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• Vyas Samman: , noted Hindi writer has been selected for Vyas Samman 2012 for his historical novel, ‘Na Bhooto Na Bhavishyati’, about , published in 2004. First awarded in 1991, Vyas Samman is awarded annually by the K.K. Birla Foundation and includes a cash payout of 2.5 lakh. To be eligible for the award, the literary work must be in the Hindi language and have been published in the past 10 years. • Bihari Puraskar: Hariram Meena, noted Rajasthani author has been selected for the Bihari Puraskar for 2012 for his Hindi novel "Dhooni Tape Teer". The Bihari Puraskar, Instituted by the K K Birla Foundation in 1991, is named after Hindi poet BIhari Lal Chaubey. It is given annually to Rajasthani writers for outstanding literary works in Hindi or Rajasthani published in the past 10 years. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.

Bhartiya Jnanpith Awards:

• Jnanpith Award: It is presented by the Bharatiya Jnanpith, a trust founded by the publishers of the . It carries a check for 7 lakh, a citation plaque and a bronze replica of Saraswati. The award was instituted in 1961, and its first recipient, in 1965, was the Malayalam writer G. Sankara Kurup. Any Indian citizen who writes in any of the official languages of India is eligible for the honour. o 2010: Chandrasekhar Kambar has been awarded with the prestigious 46th Jnanpith award for his contribution to Literature. o 2011: Oriya novelist and academician was named for the prestigious 47th Jnanpith Award for the year 2011. • for 2010: It was given to eminent Urdu scholar Gopi Chand Narang for his outstanding work on Urdu Ghazal aur Hindustani Zehan wa Tehzeeb. • Gopi Chand Narang revived Urdu language in India through his writings and he is one of the foremost theorist, literary critic and Urdu scholar of our country. His perceptive writings have helped Urdu criticism becoming more contemporary. Gopi Chand Narang is an Indian scholar of Urdu language and literature, an

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eminent Urdu writer, scholar, critic and linguist. He is author of many books in Urdu, Hindi and English. Gopi Chand Narang received many awards from the governments of India and Pakistan and many literary organizations worldwide. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2004. He taught in many universities in India and participates in literary conferences around the world. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu 1993 for Sakhtiyaat, Pas-Sakhtiyaat aur Mashriqi Sheriyaat (Literary criticism), later he remained the president of the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, 2003 to 2007. He was also on the editorial board of Akademi's journal, . Moortidevi Award is named in the memory of Moortidevi, mother of Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain, founder of Bharatiya Jnanpith. This Award is presented for a reflective or intellectual work, which underlines and expresses Indian philosophy and cultural heritage based on wider ideals and human values. It is conferred on the litterateur who is alive. As far as the selection Process is concerned Nomination forms are invited from hundreds of scholars, thinkers and writers of different languages. These forms are presented before the selection board, which is authorised to include any more names to the list. The writer is awarded an amount of Rupees two Lakh, a citation plaque, a Saraswati Statue, a srifal and a shawl.

Ondaatje Prize 2012

• Rahul Bhattacharya, the Delhi-based author, on 29 May 2012 won the prestigious Ondaatje Prize 2012 for his book The Sly Company of People Who Care. He is the first Indian author to have received the award. • The 10000 pounds award is conferred by the Royal Society of Literature every year to recognize a work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry which evokes the spirit of a place. The award is presented to the author who is a citizen of or who has been resident in the Commonwealth or Ireland. • The other authors whose work were shortlisted for the prize include Julia Blackburn's 'Thin Paths', Teju Cole's 'Open City', Paul Farley and Michael Symmons Roberts' 'Edgelands', Olivia Laing's 'To the River' and Tim Robinson's 'Connemara'.

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2013 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature

• Narcopolis, a novel by Indian writer Jeet Thayil won the Award, which carries a cash award of $50,000 and is awarded at the annual Jaipur Literary Festival.

2012 Man Booker Prize

• Hillary Mantel for ‘Bring up the bodies’. • It is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe. The prize was originally known as the Booker- McConnell Prize, after the company Booker-McConnell began sponsoring the event in 1968. Administration of the prize was transferred to the Booker Prize Foundation in 2002, the title sponsor became the investment company Man Group. Alice Munro has a unique place in Booker Prize history; The Beggar Maid is the only short story collection to have been shortlisted, doing so in 1980. Hillary Mantel also won the award for Wolf Hall, 2009. • Shortlist for 2012 Man Booker Prize: o India’s Jeet Thayil, Narcopolis o Tan Twan Eng’s “The Garden of Evening Mists” o Deborah Levy’s “Swimming Home” o Hilary Mantel’s “Bring up the Bodies” o Alison Moore’s “The Lighthouse and Will Self’s Umbrella”

Sahitya Akademi20 Award

• The Awards relate to books first published during the three years immediately preceding the year of Award. The Award contains an engraved copper plaque, a shawl and a cheque of 1,00,000. Estd. In 1954.

20 Sahitya Akademi is India’s National Academy of Letters founded in 1954 & supported by the govt. but functioning independent of it.

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• 2012 Awards: Guneshwar Musahary (Bodo), Bal Krishan `Bhaura` (Dogri), H.S. Shivaprakash (Kannada), Makhan Lal Kanwal (Kashmiri), Kashinath Samba Lolienkar (Konkani), Darshan Buttar (Punjabi), Aaidan Singh Bhati (Rajasthani), Ramji Thakkura (Sanskrit), Krishna Kumar Toor (Urdu) besides Devtale (Hindi), Sachidanandan (Malayalam) and Thayil (English).

Novelists Jodha C. Sanasam (Manipuri) and D. Selvaraj (Tamil) besides Mukhopadhayay (Bengali) and Goswami (Assamese) have also won the award.

Short story writers Uday Thulung (Nepali), Gaurahari Das (Odiya), Gangadhar Hansda (Santhali), Indra Vaswani (Sindhi) and Peddibhotla Subbaramaiah (Telegu) besides Pawar (Marathi) have also been honoured.

Chandrakant Topiwala (Gujarati) has been chosen for his book of literary criticism and Sefalika Verma for her autobiography.

Man Asian Literary Prize 2013

• Malaysian author Tan Twan Eng won the Man Asian Literary Prize 2013 for his novel “The Garden of Evening Mists.” With this he became the first Malaysian national to win the $30,000 prize. The Man Asian Literary Prize, founded in 2007, is an annual literary award given to the best novel by an Asian writer, either written in English or translated into English, and published in the previous calendar year. It is awarded to writers who are citizens or residents of one of the following 34 Asian countries

SAARC Literature Award

• India’s Abhay K and Farheen Chaudhary were among five writers honoured with the SAARC Literature Award here today. Abdul Khaliq Rashid of Afghanistan, Suman Pokhrel of Nepal and novelist Daya Dissanayake of Sri Lanka have also received the award at the SAARC Festival of Literature. • SAARC Literature Award is given annually to eminent writers from the South Asian countries who have contributed to promotion of literature through their writings and literary initiatives.

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International Man Booker Prize for Fiction

• UR Ananthamurthy, the Kannada author was shortlisted among other ten authors for prestigious International Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2013. UR Ananthamurthy, 80, is an only Indian who was shortlisted in the final list of this prestigious award. The list of the awardees was announced at the Jaipur Literature Festival on 24 January 2013. • UR Ananthamurthy is considered as the important author bringing reforms in the form of new movement in the Kannada language. The author has so far written 5 novels, 8 short story collections and 3 poetry collections. These works have also been translated into different languages in India and Europe. • Other authors shortlisted for the International Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2013: o Aharon Appelfeld (Israel) o Lydia Davis (USA) o Intizar Husain (Pakistan) o Yan Lianke (China) o Marie Ndiaye (France) o Josip Novakovich (Canada) o Marilynne Robinson (USA) o Vladimir Sorokin (Russia) o Peter Stamm (Switzerland) • About the International Man Booker Prize: International Man Booker Prize is a derivative of Britain’s Man Booker novel-of-the-year prize. It is awarded to the author for his lifetime work. • The International Man Booker Prize is meant for the authors of any nationality whose work can be found in English. • The winner of this award would be announced in London on 22 May 2013 by the chair of judge Christopher Ricks.

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Cinema IFFI Awards

• IIFI was first held in 1952 at Bombay. From 1965-2004, it was held at Truvandrum. In 2004 it moved to Goa. This year 43rd IFFI was held at Panaji in Goa. o The Best Film Golden Peacock, with a cash prize of Rs.40 lakh to be shared by the Director and the Producer; o The Best Director Silver Peacock with a cash prize of Rs.15 lakh; o The Best Actor (Male) Silver Peacock with a cash prize of Rs.10 lakh; o The Best Actor (Female) Silver Peacock with a cash prize of Rs.10 lakh; o The Special Jury Award Silver Peacock with a cash prize of Rs. 15 lakh; o Lifetime Achievement Award for an individual for his/her outstanding contribution to World Cinema with a cash prize of Rs.10 lakh: Eminent Polish director Krzystof Zanussi o A special Centenary Award, comprising a silver peacock, certificate and cash prize of Rs.10 lakh to be given to a feature film that reflects a new paradigm in motion pictures in aesthetics, technique or technological innovation: The Reluctant Fundamentalist by based on a novel by Mohsin Hamid has won this award.

South Asian Cinema Foundation's 'Excellence in Cinema Award'

• The South Asian Cinema Foundation (SACF) in association with British Film Institute (BFI) Southbank and The Nehru Centre decided to honour the work of veteran Indian filmmaker with the South Asian Cinema Foundation's 'Excellence in Cinema Award' on 9 June 2012. He is to be presented the award in recognition of his contribution to new wave Indian cinema. Benegal who is also a recipient of the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, will be sixth filmmaker to be honoured by SACF.

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• Previous recipients of the award include M S Sathyu (2004), (2006), Saeed Akhtar Mirza (2008), (2009) and poet and Oscar winning lyricist of Slumdog Millionaire fame, (2010). • Director and screenwriter Shyam Benegal is considered the father of the New Wave in Indian cinema. Benegal made 26 fiction features, several and TV series, notably a 53-hour TV series on the History of India. In his career spanning 50 years he made documentaries as well as features which established him as highly accomplished and deeply humanitarian filmmaker. His critique of sexual and social inequality was represented in all his work. • Benegal's movies like Nishant (Night's End, 1976), Bhumika (The Role, 1977), Trikal (Past Present Future, 1985), Junoon (Obsession, 1978) and (2000) documented social change in India after the end of the British Raj. His movies had a deep impact in Bollywood in terms of creation of new content.Benegal had taught mass-communication techniques between 1966 and 1973 and had also taken an active role in shaping film education as Chairman of the Film Television Institute of India during 1980-83 and 1989-92. Benegal was part of the National Integration Council (1986-89) and the National Council of Art. • Benegal was a Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) between 2006 and 2012. • The Government of India conferred on him two of its most prestigious awards Padma Shri (1976) and Padma Bhushan (1991). He also won the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2005 and bagged several National film awards in his illustrious career.

Golden Globe Awards

• Given by The Hollywood Foreign Press Association. o Best Film, Drama: Argo o Best Film, Musical or Comedy: Les Miserables o Best Actor: Ø Drama: Daniel Day Lewis, Lincoln Ø Musical or Comedy: Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables o Best Actress:

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Ø Drama: Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty Ø Musical or Comedy: Jeniffer Lawrence, Silver Lining Playbook o Best director: Ben Affleck, Argo o Best animated Film: Brave o Best Foreign Language Film: Amour, Austria o Best Screenplay: Adele, Skyfall.

Venice Film Festival

• The South Korean Movie, Pieta won the Golden Lion Prize in the “Best Movie” category at the 69th Venice Film Festival recently. It was directed by Kim Ki-duk. ’s “The Master” won two prizes, The Best Director award for Paul Thomas Anderson and Best Actor awards for Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix.

85th Annual Academy Award

• Given by American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). The Oscar statuette is officially named the Academy Award of Merit. Started in 1929. o Best Film: Argo o Best Director: Ang Lee, Life of Pi (2005-Brokeback Mountain) o Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln o Best Actress: Jeniffer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook o Best Animated Feature Film: Brave. o Best foreign Language Film: Amour, Austria. • Barfi directed by Anurag Basu had been selected as India’s entry into the Foreign Language category at 2013 Annual Academy Awards, but did not win the award.

National Film Awards, 2012

• Instituted in 1954, administered by Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973. o Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus): Ø Best Feature Film (2.5 lakh each): Paan Singh Tomar

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Ø Indira Gandhi Awards for Best first film of a Director (1.25 lakh/Started in 1980): Chittagong by Bedabrat Pain and 101 Chodyangal (Malayalam) by Sidhartha Siva. Ø Best Popular film providing wholesome entertainment (2 lakh): Vicky Donor by Shoojit Sircar and Ustad Hotel (Malayalam) by Anwar Rasheed. Ø Best Direction (2.5 lakh): Shivaji Patil for Dhag (Marathi). Ø Best Children’s film (1.5 lakh): Dekh Indian Circus by Mangesh Handawale. Ø Dada Saheb Phalke Award (10 lakh): . This award is given for lifetime contribution to cinema. o Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus): Ø Best Actor (50 thousand): Irfan Khan for Paan Singh Tomar and Vikram Gokhale for Anumati (Marathi). Ø Best Actress (50 thousand): Usha Jadhav for Dhag (Marathi) Ø Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration (50 thousand/started in 1965): Thanichalla Njan (Malayalam) by Babu Thiruvalla. OTHER INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

World Food Prize 2012 • Daniel Hillel won World Food Prize 2012 on 13 June 2012. He is a scientist from Israel. The work and motivation of Daniel Hillel built the bridge between the divisions and to promote peace and understanding in the Middle East by advancing a breakthrough achievement. His work is relevant for agriculture- dominated economies. He applied the method of micro-irrigation, which maximizes the efficiency of water usage in agriculture. • World Food Prize is an international award. This award recognizes the importance of water for agricultural purposes. Dr. Hillel will be formally presented with the cash prize of 250000 dollar award in October 2012 at United States. This award was recognized by Norman Borlaug in 1987. This award indicates to that person who is pioneer in radical innovative way of

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bringing water to crops in arid and dry-land regions. Norman Borlaug is a Nobal Prize winner and champion in Green Revolution. The World Food Prize award is chaired by M.S. Swaminathan. He is Indian agricultural scientist Professor and the first World Food Prize laureate. • Norman Ernest Borlaug was an American agronomist, humanitarian and also known as the the father of the Green Revolution. He won Padma Vibhushan which is the India's second highest civilian honour.

Norman Borlaug Award • Aditi Mukherjee, a Delhi based scientist, won the prestigious Norman Borlaug Award in Field Research and Application. Mukherjee was picked for the award for her work in transforming access to water for thousands of farmers in West Bengal. The award will be formally presented to Mukherji on 17 October 2012 in Des Moines, Iowa, US. • Mukherji, 37, is a senior researcher at the Delhi office of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). As alumnus of Presidency College (Kolkata), JNU (Delhi), she completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge. • The international award is conferred by the World Food Prize Foundation, which was started by Norman Borlaug, the father of Green Revolution in India. The award carries 10000 dollar cash prize. The Borlaug Award is restricted to scientists under 40.

Ramon Magsaysay Award • The Ramon Magsaysay Award is often considered Asia's Nobel Prize. The prize was established in April 1957 by the trustees of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund with the concurrence of thePhilippine government. • Every year the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation grants the prize to Asian individuals and organizations for achieving excellence in their respective fields. The awards are given in six categories: o Government Service o Public Service o Community Leadership

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o Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts o Peace and International Understanding o Emerging leadership • Acharya was one of the first recipients of this award in 1958. • 2012 Awards: o Chen Shu-Chu from Taiwan, Transforming young lives through a life of giving o Romulo Davide from the Philippines, Turning farmers into scientist-producers o Syeda Rizwana Hasan from Bangladesh, Advocating for Social & Ecological justice o Yang Saing Koma from Cambodia, Putting science at the service of farmers o Ambrosius Ruwindrijarto from Indonesia, Creating entrepreneurial ways for community based natural resource management o Kulandei Francis from India, Breaking the bonds of poverty & injustice. In the year 1979, Francis begun with his organisation, Integrated Village Development Project (IVDP) in Krishnagiri, wherein he initially started with small projects, amongst his achievements, he has conducted night schools in the light of gas lamps, set up first aid centres.

Order of Australia • , has been inducted as an honorary member of the Order of Australia. 1. Indian Batting Icon Sachin Tendulkar has been conferred with the membership of the “Order of Australia” which is very rare honour for Non-Australians. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced the same yesterday. He becomes the second Indian with this honour after former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee, who was honored with this status in 2006 for improving bilateral legal relationship between these two countries

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Congressional Gold Medal • The Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi received, the US Congress highest Civilian Honour at a ceremony organized in the Capitol Rotunda on 19 September 2012, before her meet with the US president Barack Obama. Before her, the recipient of this award includes George Washington, Pope John Paul II and Dalai Lama-the Tibetan Buddhist Leader. During her 15 year long house arrest against the military rule in Myanmar, she received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2008.

2012 Nobel Prizes • Medicine: The Nobel Prize for Medicine/Physiology is being awarded jointly to British researcher John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka of Japan won this year`s Nobel Prize in medicine today for the discovery that mature, specialized cells of the body can be reprogrammed into Stem cells which can be converted into all types of cells. • Physics: is awarded once a year by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. It was established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895 and awarded since 1901. The Physics Nobel Prize was awarded to Frenchman Serge Haroche and American David Wineland for inventing methods to observe the bizarre properties of the quantum world • Chemistry: The Nobel Prize for Chemistry is being awarded US chemists Robert Lefkowitz and Brian Kobilka won the Nobel Prize on Wednesday for work on cell receptors, yielding vital insights into how the body works at the molecular level. • Literature: The Nobel Prize for Literature goes to the Chinese Novelist Mo Yan (Don’t speak) known for his narrative style called “hallucinatory realism “. His real name is Guan Moye. His most famous work is Red Sorghum. • Peace: The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded The European Union won the Nobel Peace Prize for fostering peace on a continent ravaged by war. This prize is not given in Stockholm, but in Oslo, Norway. The awardee is

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selected by a Norwegian Nobel Committee appointed by the Parliament of Norway. • Economics: The Economics Nobel, called the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences (Estd. In 1968 & first awarded in 1969): 2012 Award goes to American Scholars Alvin Roth and Lloyd Shapley for “their theory of stable allocations and the practice of market design”, the focused on the problem of matching different agents in a market in situations where prices aren’t the deciding factor.

The Right Livelihood Award • Also referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", is a prestigious international award to honour those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today". The prize was established in 1980 by German-Swedish philanthropist Jakob von Uexkull. • 2012 Award: Afghan human rights activist and former Minister Sima Samar won this time. OTHER NATIONAL AWARDS

National Awards, 2013 About National Awards

• In February, 1948, the Prime Minister's Committee on Honours and Awards was set up under the chairmanship of the constitutional advisor to the government of India, Sir B N Rau. It submitted its report on March, 1948. • National awards were instituted in 1954 and the purpose for conferment of these awards was codified in 1955 through four Presidential notifications. • All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards. • Article 18(1) of the Constitution bans conferment of 'titles' by the government. No suffix or prefix. Consequently, these awards were challenged in Balaji Raghavan/SP Anand v UOI, 1995. The Supreme Court held that these

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awards are essential for rewarding the meritorious achievements in various fields. • Bharat Ratna: It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour. • Padma awards: The award seeks to recognize work of any distinction and is given for achievements/service in all fields of activities/disciplines, such as Art, Literature and Education, Sports, Medicine, Social Work, Science and Engineering, Public Affairs, Civil Service, Trade and Industry etc. o Padma Shri is awarded for ‘distinguished service’; o Padma Bhushan for ‘distinguished service of a high order’; and o Padma Vibhushan for ‘exceptional and distinguished service. • 2013 Awards: Following is the list of the recipients: o Padma Vibhushan: Ø , Art, Orissa Ø S Haider Raza, Art, Delhi Ø Prof. Yash Pal, Science and Engineering, Uttar Pradesh Ø Prof. , Science and Engineering, Karnataka o Padma Bhushan: Ø Dr. Ramanaidu Daggubati, Art, Andhra Pradesh Ø Sreeramamurthy Janaki, Art, Tamil Nadu Ø Dr. (Smt) , Art, Maharashtra Ø , Art, Delhi Ø Dr. (Smt) , Art, Delhi Ø Abdul , Art, West Bengal Ø Late , Art, Maharashtra Ø Late Jaspal Singh Bhatti, Art, Punjab Ø Shivajirao Girdhar Patil, Public Affairs, Maharashtra Ø Dr. Apathukatha Sivathanu Pillai, Science, Engineering Delhi Ø Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat, Science and Engineering, Delhi Ø Dr. Science and Engineering Uttar Pradesh Ø B N Suresh, Science and Engineering, Karnataka Ø Prof. Satya N Atluri, Science and Engineering, USA Ø Prof. Jogesh Chandra Pati, Science and Engineering, USA

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Ø Padma Bhushan Ø Ramamurthy Thyagarajan, Trade and Industry, Tamil Nadu Ø Adi Burjor Godrej, Trade and Industry, Maharashtra Ø Dr. Nandkishore Shamrao Laud, Medicine, Maharashtra Ø , Literature and Education, Maharashtra Ø Prof. Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Literature and Education USA Ø , Civil Service, Madhya Pradesh Ø , Civil Service, Delhi Ø , Sports, Karnataka Ø H Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom, Sports, Manipur o Padma Shri Ø , Art, Andhra Pradesh Ø Swami G C D Bharti alias Bharati Bandhu, Art, Chhattisgarh Ø B Jayashree, Art, Karnataka Ø Kapoor, Art, Maharashtra Ø , Art, Orissa Ø , Art, Maharashtra Ø Vishwanath D Patekar alias , Art, Maharashtra Ø R Nageswara Rao alias Surabhi Babji, Art, Andhra Pradesh Ø Lakshmi Narayana Sathiraju, Art, Tamil Nadu Ø Jaymala Shiledar, Art, Maharashtra Ø Suresh Dattatray Talwalkar, Art, Maharashtra Ø P Madhavan Nair alias , Art, Kerala Ø Apurba Kishore Bir, Art, Maharashtra Ø Borbayan, Art, Assam Ø Hilda Mit Lepcha, Art, Sikkim Ø , Art, Maharashtra Ø Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz, Art, Jammu and Kashmir Ø Ramesh Gopaldas Sippy, Art, Maharashtra Ø Mahrukh Tarapor, Art, Maharashtra Ø , Art, Jammu and Kashmir Ø Puran Das Baul, Art, West Bengal Ø , Art, Jammu and Kashmir Ø , Art, Delhi IAS (PRELIMS), 2013: CURRENT AFFAIRS 181

Ø S Shakir Ali, Art, Rajasthan Ø S K M Maeilanandhan, Social Work, Tamil Nadu Ø Nileema Mishra, Social Work, Maharashtra Ø , Social Work, Gujarat Ø , Social Work, Bangladesh Ø Late Dr Ram Krishan, Social Work, Uttar Pradesh Ø Late , Social Work, Delhi Ø Prof , Science and Engineering, Maharashtra Ø , Science and Engineering, Delhi Ø , Science and Engineering, Uttar Pradesh Ø Prof. (Dr) , Science, Engineering, West Bengal Ø Deepak B Phatak, Science and Engineering, Maharashtra Ø Dr. Mudundi Ramakrishna Raju, Science and Engg, Andhra Pradesh Ø Prof. Ajay K Sood, Science and Engineering, Karnataka Ø Prof. Krishnaswamy Vijayraghavan, Science and Engg, Karnataka Ø Dr. , Science and Engineering, Uttar Pradesh Ø Dr. Jayaraman Gowrishankar, Science and Engineering, Andhra Pradesh Ø Prof. Sharad Pandurang Kale, Science and Engineering, Maharashtra Ø Vandana Luthra, Trade and Industry, Delhi Ø , Trade and Industry, Tamil Nadu Ø , Trade and Industry, Assam Ø , Trade and Industry, Maharashtra Ø , Trade and Industry, Maharashtra Ø Dr. Sudarshan K Aggarwal, Medicine, Delhi Ø Dr. C Venkata S Ram alias Chitta, Venkata Sundara Ram, Medicine, Andhra Pradesh Ø Dr. , Medicine, Maharashtra Ø Dr. , Medicine, Orissa Ø Prof. (Dr.) T V Devarajan, Medicine, Tamil Nadu Ø Prof. (Dr.) , Medicine, Uttar Pradesh Ø Dr. , Medicine, Delhi Ø Dr. Khatri, Medicine, Delhi Ø Dr. Ganesh Kumar Mani, Medicine, Delhi IAS (PRELIMS), 2013: CURRENT AFFAIRS 182

Ø Dr. , Medicine, Maharashtra Ø Dr. , Medicine, Maharashtra Ø Prof. , Medicine, Uttar Pradesh Ø Dr. , Medicine, Delhi Ø Prof. (Captain) Dr. M Sharaf-eAlam, Literature and Education, Bihar Ø Dr. Radhika Herzberger, Literature and Education, Andhra Pradesh Ø J Malsawma, Literature and Education, Mizoram Ø , Literature and Education, Gujarat Ø Dr. , Literature and Education, Delhi Ø Prof. , Literature and Education, Delhi Ø Prof. , Literature and Education, Delhi Ø , Literature and Education, Madhya Pradesh Ø Surender Kumar Sharma, Literature and Education, Delhi Ø Dr , Literature and Education, Bihar Ø Late Shaukat Riaz Kapoor Alias Salik Lakhnawi, Literature and Education, WB Ø Prof. , Literature and Education, Japan Ø , Literature and Education, UK Ø , Sports, Jharkhand Ø Yogeshwar Dutt, Sports, Haryana Ø Hosanagara Nagarajegowda Girisha, Sports, Karnataka Ø Subedar Major Vijay Kumar, Sports, Himachal Pradesh Ø Ngangom , Sports, Maharashtra Ø Naib Subedar , Sports, Rajasthan Ø Ritu Kumar, Fashion Designing, Delhi Ø Dr Ravindra Singh Bisht, Archaeology, Uttar Pradesh

Gallantry awards, 2013

Param Vir Chakra (PVC)

• The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India's highest military decoration awarded for the highest degree of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy. The PVC was established on 26 January 1950 (the date of India becoming a republic), by the President of India, with effect from

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15 August 1947 (the date of Indian independence). It can be awarded to officers or enlisted personnel from all branches of the Indian military. It is the second highest award of the government of India after Bharat Ratna (amendment in the statute on 26 January 1980 resulted in this order of wearing).

Maha Vir Chakra (MVC)

• The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) is the second highest military decoration in India and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. It may be awarded posthumously

Ashok Chakra

• The Ashok Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra. • The medal was originally established on 4 January 1952 as the "Ashoka Chakra, Class I" as the first step of a three-class sequence of non-combatant bravery decorations. In 1967, these decorations were removed from the "class- based" system and renamed as the Ashoka Charkra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra.

Kirti Chakra

• It is the peacetime equivalent of the Maha Vir Chakra. It is second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards; it comes after Ashoka Chakra and before Shaurya Chakra. Before 1967, the award was known as the Ashoka Chakra, Class II. • 2013 Award: Major Anup Joseph Manjali, Bihar Regiment/24th Battalion, The Rashtriya Rifles

Shaurya Chakra

• It is the third highest peacetime gallantry award. Before 1967, the award was known as the Ashoka Chakra, Class III.

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• 2013 Awards: o Havildar Vir Singh, 13th Battalion, The Sikh Regiment o Major Sandeep Kumar, 13th Battalion, The Sikh Regiment o Major Manish Punj, The Rajput Regiment/10th Battalion, The Rashtriya Rifles o Captain A Rahul Ramesh (Posthumous), Corps of Engineers/72nd Road Construction Company o Captain Dinesh Kumar, 9th Battalion, The Madras Regiment o Lieutenant Manish Singh, 9th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) o Subedar Pradeep Beck, Bihar Regiment/24th Battalion, The Rashtriya Rifles o Naik Rajeshver Singh (Posthumous), 16th Battalion, The Punjab Regiment o Naik Anil Kumar (Posthumous), 16th Battalion, The Punjab Regiment o Naik Krishan Kumar (Posthumous), Brigade Of The Guards/13th Sikh Light Infantry Battalion Group

Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Puraskar • The Award is given for outstanding contribution towards promotion of communal harmony, national integration and peace. The award was instituted by All India Congress Committee in 1992 to commemorate the lasting contribution made by the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. It carries a cash award of Rs. 5 lakhs. It is given on August 20, the birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi, which is celebrated as Sadbhavna Diwas . • D. R. Mehta, the founder and chief patron of Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, the organisation known the world over for the affordable artificial Jaipur Foot has been awarded this time.

Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award, 2012 • President Pranab Mukherjee on 1 October 2012 conferred the prestigious Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award 2012 to ISRO scientist Tessy Thomas at an award function in Rashtrapati Bhawan. The award was given on the eve of Birth anniversary of Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shashtri.

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• Tessy Thomas is the Key Scientist for Agni-V in Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hyderabad. She is the first woman scientist to head a missile project in India. • Tessy Thomas was an associate Project director (mission) for Agni-I, II and III systems. She was associated with the Agni Programme since their developmental stages. • She has designed the guidance scheme for long-range missile systems, which is used in all Agni missiles. Presently, she is the Project Director of Agni -IV, which is a major project with state of the art technologies. The Agni-IV was successfully flight tested on 15th November, 2011.

About Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award

• The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award, instituted by the Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management (LBSIM) is given each year each year to an Indian, residing either in India or abroad, who is an exceptionally outstanding and distinguished business leader, management practitioner, public administrator, educator or institution builder for his/her sustained individual contributions and achievements of high professional order and excellence. • The honour carries a cash award of Rupees Five Lakh plus a Citation and a Plaque. The Awardee's name is inscribed on the Roll of Honour of LBSIM and he/she is designated as Lal Bahadur Shastri Fellow. • The Award is presented by the President of India on October 1 each year which is the eve of the birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri. • The Award process begins in January each year with the nomination of a twelve member Jury by the Chairman of LBSIM, who is the ex-officio convenor of the Jury.

Indira Gandhi National Integration Award • Lyricist and well-known poet Gulzar on 31 October 2012 awarded with Indira Gandhi National Integration Award by congress President Sonia Gandhi. • The award was given on the eve of 28th death anniversary of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who was assassinated on 31 October 1984.

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• Marking the event, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulated the poet for the award and asserted the fact that Gulzar Sahab is real talent and a great personality who is spreading the message of peace and brotherhood in the country. • Earlier, Gulzar was awarded Sahitya Akademi Award in 2002 and the Padma Bhushan in 2004 for his contribution to the arts.

Tagore Peace Prize • Emirati poet and translator Shihab Ghanem became the first Emirati and Arab to win the Tagore Peace Prize. • Tagore Peace Prize wass instituted by the Indian government to commemorate the birth anniversary of India’s poet, philosopher and Nobel Laureate . • Shihab Ghanem is officially going to receive the Tagore award by the Asiatic society in a ceremony to be held in Kolkata on 6 May 2012. The award is given to one person every two years. Ghanem was chosen due to the promotion of the human values of love and peace via his poetic works. Ghanem was awarded the accolade in recognition of his creative literary and translation works, both in Arabic and English, and for promoting human understanding and values of love and peace Tagore had advocated.

Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize • Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize is the highest award given annually to scientists below 45 for outstanding contribution in the field of science and technology in the country. • 2013 Awards: o Ravishankar Narayanan, Associate Professor, Materials Research Centre, in the area of engineering sciences; o Arindam Ghosh, Associate Professor, Department of Physics, in the field of physical sciences, and o Govindsamy Mugesh, Associate Professor, Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, in the field of chemical sciences.

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Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development, • Accorded annually by India to individuals or organizations in recognition of creative efforts toward promoting international peace, development and a new international economic order; ensuring that scientific discoveries are used for the larger good of humanity, and enlarging the scope of freedom. The prize carries a cash award of 25 lakh Indian rupees. • The recipients are selected by a panel appointed by Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust • 2010: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, former President of Brazil. • 2011: , Founder Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) • 2012: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia. She has worked to ensure peace, democracy and women’s development in her country Liberia and she is also considered as an inspiration to Women in Africa. The award is awarded by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust every year to individuals or organizations in recognition of creative efforts toward promoting international peace, development and a new international economic order; ensuring that scientific discoveries are used for the larger good of humanity, and enlarging the scope of freedom.

Borlaug Award • The award, instituted in honour of Nobel Laureate Norman Borlaug by Coromandel International, an entity of the Murugappa Group carries a gold medal and citation and a cash amount of Rs. 5 lakh. • K.V. Prabhu and Singh, scientists at the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), for their contribution to food security through Basmati rice research and development.

CSIR U.N. Brahmachari Award • The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) announced the U.N Brahmachari Award for excellence in the field of research in combating infectious diseases. The award is in honour of Dr. Brahmachari who discovered the treatment of Leishmaniasis (Kala azar). Dr. Brahmachari played an important role in the field of medicines. He discovered Urea Stibamine in 1922. IAS (PRELIMS), 2013: CURRENT AFFAIRS 188

INFOSYS Prize • The Infosys Science Foundation, set up in 2009, instituted the Infosys Prize, an annual award, to honor outstanding achievements of researchers and scientists across five categories, each carrying a prize of rupees 50 Lakh. The award intends to celebrate success in scientific research and stand as a marker of excellence in these fields. o Engineering and Computer Science: Ashish , scientist at the National Chemical Laboratories, . o Life Sciences: Satyajit Mayor, Dean at the National Centre for Biological Sciences. o Mathematical Sciences: , Professor of Mathematics, Princeton University. o Physical Sciences: Ayyappanpillai Ajayaghosh, senior scientist at the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram. o Social Sciences: o Economics: Professor Arunava Sen of the Indian Statistical Institute, New Delhi. o History: Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Professor of History, , and scholar of early modern South Asian history. o Literary Studies: Amit Chaudhuri, Professor of Contemporary Literature, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom.

Outstanding Parliamentarian Award • This award, given for exceptional performance in Parliament, was instituted by Shivraj Patil, the then Speaker of Lok Sabha in 1992. The first winner of the Award was former PM, Chandra Shekhar. The awards: o 2010: Arun Jaitley o 2011: Karan Singh o 2012: Sharad Yadav.

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Bangladesh Liberation War Honour • Pranab Mukherjee, the President has been honoured with Bangladesh Liberation War Honour for his efforts in liberation of the country from Pakistan. • Babu Jagjivan Ram: Former Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of India, was Posthumously awarded with the Friends of Liberation War Honour by the Government of Bangladesh for his contribution in the 1971 War. • Babu Jagjivan Ram as the Defence Minister of India in 1971, helped in liberation of Bangladesh. He assured that the war for liberation of Bangladesh ended in the remarkably short time of 13 days. He was among the remarkable figure sthat had helped in creation of the Joint Command of Bangladesh and the Indian forces for the final outrage, which led to the victory. He as a freedom fighter founded the All India Depressed Classes League. He was the youngest serving member of Jawaharlal Nehru’s Interim Government of 1946 as the Minister of Labour and had also hold a number of critical portfolios including Agriculture, Railways, Communications and Defence. He holds the record for having an uninterrupted Parliamentary career that spanned almost half a century with holding the record for being the longest-serving cabinet minister in India for 30 years.

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8 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT

NATIONAL

Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project • The Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project (BOBLME) is a cross-region programme that brings together eight countries (Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia) to improve the lives of the coastal populations through improved regional management of the Bay of Bengal environment and its fisheries. It is being conducted under the aegis of FAO, Regional Office for Asia & Pacific, Bangkok. It was started in 2005.

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National Telecom Policy, 2012

• The National Telecom Policy was adopted by the cabinet on May 31, 2012. It was released in public domain later in June. Among other things, the policy aims to provide a single license framework, un-bundle spectrum from licenses, and liberalize spectrum.

Delinking License From Spectrum Allocation

• Previously, the central government had decided to unbundle spectrum and licenses for all future licences on January 29, 2011. TRAI too in its recommendations sought to de-link spectrum from licenses. The Supreme Court in the 2G judgment had held that spectrum should not be allocated on a first-cum-first-serve basis and should instead be auctioned. In the April 23 recommendations, TRAI has detailed the mechanism for auctioning spectrum. • As of now spectrum bands are reserved on the basis of technology that may be used to exploit them. For instance, the 900 and 1800 bands are reserved for GSM technology and 800 for use of CDMA technology. The new policy seeks to liberalise spectrum. Further, spectrum would be de-linked from all future licenses. Spectrum would be reframed so that it is available to be used for new technology. The policy aims to move to a system where spectrum can be pooled, shared and traded. Periodic audits of spectrum usage would be conducted to ensure efficient utilization of spectrum. The policy aims at making 300 MHz of additional spectrum available for mobile telecom services by the year 2017 and another 200 MHz by 2020.

Unified License Framewok

• TRAI has also recommended moving to a unified license framework under which a single license would be required to provide any telecom service. It has also recommended that spectrum should be liberalized so that any technology could be used to exploit it. • Presently, as per the 2003 Amendment to the 1999 Telecom Policy, there are two forms of licences – Unified Service Licence (to provide any telegraph service in various geographical areas) and Unified Access Service Licence

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(to provide basic and cellular services in defined service areas). The new policy targets simplification of licensing framework by establishing a unified license for all telecom services and conversion to a single-license system for the entire country. It also seeks to remove roaming charges

Connectivity

• The policy aims to increase rural tele-density from the current level of approximately 39% to 70% by 2017, and 100% by 2020. • It seeks to provide 175 million broadband connections by the year 2017 and 600 million by 2020 at a minimum 2 Mbps download speed. Higher download speeds of 100 Mbps would be made available on demand. Broadband access to all village panchayats would be made available by 2014 and to all villages by 2020. • The policy aims to recognise telecom, including broadband connectivity, as a basic necessity like education and health, and work towards the ‘Right to Broadband’.

Promotion Of Domestic Industry

• The policy seeks to incentivise and give preference to domestic telecom products in procurements that o have security implications for India; or o are for the government’s own use. • It also seeks to establish a Telecom Finance Corporation to mobilise and channelise finances for telecom projects.

Legislative Framework

• The policy seeks to review the TRAI Act to remove impediments to effective functioning of TRAI. It also seeks to review the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. The need to review the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 was also recognised in the 1999 Telecom Policy.

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Clean India Campaign • Under 12th five year plan of Indian Government Clean India Campaign was launched on 19 June 2012 at Qutab Minar, Delhi by Tourism Ministery to improve Indian heritage and to attract more tourists. There were 100 heritages likely to be cover under the project of Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC). • The project involves garbage clearance, drinking water facilities, maintenance of parking lots and toilets and proper signage at the heritage complex. It also includes tourist help desks and volunteers for good management among tourists. There were number of facilities available for physically challenged person. • Delhi Government also planned to advertise the campaign message on train tickets. Radio jingles and posters were also released. • The project was launched with the plan to attract 6 million more foreign tourists. Currently, foreign tourist rate is 5.7 million in a year. MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS MAKES IT MANDATORY TO LABEL GM FOODS21 • The Ministry of Consumer Affairs in its gazette notification published on 5 June 2012 made it mandatory to make labelling of every package containing genetically modified food from 1 January 2013. The ministry in the notification noted that every package containing the genetically modified food shall bear at the top of its principal display panel the words ‘GM’. • The ministry's move will affect the numerous GM products which enters into the Indian market for sale. The move is aimed at educating consumers and make them aware of GM products, much in the manner that there is labelling to distinguish non-vegetarian food from vegetarian.

21 Genetically modified foods also known as GM foods or biotech foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms. The process includes the introduction of certain specific changes into the DNA of Genetically modified organisms by genetic engineering techniques. The GM foods were first introduced in the market in year 1996.

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• Under the current practice Importers or exporters rarely display the GM label on the product. Under the new rule the consumers will have the liberty to make a choice on whether they want to buy the GM products or not.

Supreme Court Bans Tourism Activities Near Jarawa Habitat • The Supreme Court of India on 3 July 2012 declared the area within a five- kilometre radius around the Jarawa Tribal Reserve in Andaman and Nicobar Islands no go zone. The Apex Court banned all commercial and tourism activities near the Jarawa habitat. • A Supreme Court bench of justices G S Singhvi and S J Mukhopadhaya in its ruling prohibited entry of any person other than a member of tribe into the reserve area. The court’s verdict came following a news report, which showed some tourists throwing money, food and bananas at the tribal people. The news report had forced the government to order an inquiry. • Jarawas are one of the oldest living indigenous people in the world. The tribe has their home in the forests of the Andaman Islands in India. The present number of Jarawa tribe is estimated to be about 250-400. Jarawas have been living in the forests of the Andaman Islands for past thousands of years.

New Water Policy Adopted • New water policy adopted Despite opposition from the States to several contentious clauses in the draft National Water Resources Policy, 2012, the National Water Resources Council meeting here on Friday chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh adopted the policy with modifications and decided to hold wider consultations with them in a follow-up action. WESTERN GHATS IN UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the science and cultural body of UN, inscribed India's 1600-km long Western

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Ghats mountain chain on the list of its world heritage22 sites on 1 June 2012. The Western Ghats mountain chain is globally renowned for its enormous biological diversity. The mountain’s chain, which are older than the Himalaya, are widely responsible for the Indian monsoon weather pattern. • The Western Ghats are also considered to be one of the world's eight Biodiversity Hotspots. The 1600-km long ghats, begins at the border of Gujarat and Maharashtra and passes through as many as 5 states including Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu marks the ending point of the ghats. • The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO holds its meeting once every year where it reviews its list of World Heritage sites. The committee also looks into the implementation of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, which defines the kind of natural or cultural sites, which can be considered for inclusion on the World Heritage List.

Tiger Tourism • India’s Supreme Court extended the ban on tourism activities in the core area of the country’s tiger reserves in order to protect the wild animal. It has also questioned government’s intension as it has requested the Supreme Court to review its earlier decision to ban tourism activities in the tiger reserve core areas. The next hearing will be done on 29th August.

The Government notified Fresh Guidelines on Tiger Conservation

• The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests on 15 October 2012 notified fresh guidelines on tiger conservation allowing regulated low impact tourism in the core and critical tiger habitat. Since, tourism has been happening in core

22 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST: The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 states parties. Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO on 16 November 1972.

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and critical tiger habitats, regulated low impact tourism visitation would be allowed in such areas subject to site-specific carrying capacity. • The guidelines, however, say no new tourism infrastructure should be permitted in such core and critical tiger habitats. • Recently, the Supreme Court of India had allowed the government to notify within a week its fresh guidelines on tiger conservation and indicated that it may modify its 24July 2012 order staying all tourism activities in the reserved areas across the country.

SC Lifts Ban

• The Supreme Court on 16 October 2012 had lifted its interim ban on tourism in core areas of tiger reserves across the country. The ban came into consideration a day after the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) notified fresh guidelines. • As per the new Guidelines, a maximum of 20 per cent of the core area is going to be outlined for regulated tourism. Also, the state governments will put in place site-specific frameworks for each tiger reserve. • It was in 24 July 2012 that the Supreme Court had imposed an absolute ban on tourism in core areas of 41 tiger reserves across the country. • The Supreme Court Citing the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guideline directed that the state governments are required to prepare their own tiger conservation plans under the Wildlife Protection Act. It directed them to prepare the plans within six months and submit it to the NTCA for approval. eBiz Portal • Under National eGovernance Plan, eBiz portal aimed at providing Government-to-Business (G2B) services for India’s investor and business communities was launched by the govt. The portal has been developed by Infosys in a public-private partnership (PPP) mode. Infosys is responsible for the design, development, implementation and maintenance of the eBiz solution. It works under online single-window concept was visualized to enable businesses and investors to save time and costs and improve the business environment.

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PSLV-C20 • Six foreign micro and mini spacecrafts as well as the Indo-French oceanographic study satellite, SARAL (Satellite for Argos-3 and Altika) were launched successfully by ISRO's PSLV-C20 rocket on 25 February 2013 from the spaceport at Sriharikota. • The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) of Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) flew from first launch pad of Space Centre and was successfully put into the orbit. The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee witnessed this launch from mission control centre at Sriharikota.

Satellites launched by PSLV-C20 rocket

• 410-kg SARAL with payloads - Argos and Altika o SARAL is said to be a very unique satellite which serves the research community. o This satellite will assist the researchers in oceanographic studies. o SARAL will study the sea surface heights and ocean currents. o ARGOS-2 will help in collecting the data, while Altikameter will be responsible for measuring the height of sea surface. o SARAL will also assist researchers in studying about the climatic developments. o Its practical applications include study of migration of the marine animals, continental ice studies, protection of biodiversity and coastal erosion. • These seven satellites were launched successfully by PSLV, which depicted its versatility and recorded 22nd successful flight consecutive. ISRO also has plans to launch the Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle that has indigenous cryogenic engine, along with the India’s mission to Mars, both of which are scheduled for 2013.

Save Ganga, Save Dolphin campaign initiated in Uttar Pradesh • Save Ganga, Save Dolphin, the three day campaign was initiated on 5 October 2012 by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department in association with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The team also included local volunteers and 14 NGOs.

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The campaign was a state-initiative to create awareness to conserve the Gangetic Dolphins one of the critically endangered species of the Gangetic River System. These dolphins are scientifically named as Platanista Gangetica. • To cover a distance of about 2,800 kilometers in the Gangetic River System that flows within the state, 18 boats were flagged off by Raja Mahendra Aridaman Singh, the Transport Minister of the state. The campaign that also aims at identifying the population of the dolphins in the river system and it ended with the declaration by Akhilesh Yadav, the Chief Minister of the state on 7 October 2012. • The Ganga Dolphins are also called as the of Ganga as it enjoys the position in Ganga that is equivalent to that of the tiger in the forest. In the last two surveys conducted in the year 2005 and 1982, the population of this species recorded was 1,600 and 4000 to 5000 respectively. • The survey was conducted in the river Ganga and its tributaries across the state. In Ganga, this campaign started from Bijnor and ended at . In the Chambal River it started from Rajghat of District in Madhya Pradesh to Pachneda of Etawah at the confluence of the river with Yamuna and further it will be carried out from this place to yamuna’s confluence with Ganga at the Sangam in . The campaign also included a survey in the Saryu River in Ayodhya and Rapti in Garakhpur, Ghagra and Geruwa from Katarniaghat Wild Life Sanctury to Dohrigaht in Mau District of Uttar Pradesh. In Ken River the survey was done from the Banda to Chilla and from Rampur to Deoara in the Sone River. In Betwa River the campaign started from Orchha and ended at Hamirpur.

Delhi Government Ties up with INTACH for Conservation of Monuments • The Delhi Cabinet on 9 October 2012 agreed for an agreement with INTACH for conservation and refurbishment work of 16 monuments in New Delhi. • Infact, A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the INTACH in October 2008 for survey, documentation, protection, conservation and refurbishment of Ancient Monuments of Local Importance and the work was to be done in two phases.

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• In the first phase, INTACH has completed the field surveys, photo documentation, brief descriptions, and site plans of 95 documents showing all topographic features. Based on this the department is processing the notification for protection of various monuments. • And, During the second phase of the INTACH Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) , 17 monuments were selected for carrying out chemical cleaning and preservation, scientific conservation, land scrapping the surrounding, developing cultural notice board and signage and illuminating the monuments. These works have been executed by INTACH. • With the impressive outcome of the earlier MoU and extensive resources and expertise of INTACH, the Government has now decided to further utilise its services for survey, protection and conservation of 16 other monuments.

About INTACH

• The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is an autonomous non-governmental Indian NGO which was founded in 1984 by Rajiv Gandhi that seeks to preserve Indian Art and Cultural heritage. In 2007, the United Nations awarded INTACH a special consultative status with United Nations Economic and Social Council • Its headquarters are in New Delhi and today it has chapters in 117 Indian cities, as well as chapters in Belgium, the UK and the United States. INTACH is the only non-governmental Indian non-profit society working for the awareness and conservation of Indian culture and heritage.

Miscellaneous • IPV6: A communication protocol intended to replace Currently used IPV4. It will provide 2128 as compared to 232 provided by IPV4. Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) assigns IP addresses.

• The Indian government has set up a committee to recommend the framework for cloud computing services after initiatives taken by IT Minister Kapil Sibal. Infosys’ Executive Co-Chairman, will chair the committee.

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• Param Yuva II: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), Pune has developed Param Yuva II, a 500-teraflop version of India’s fastest supercomputer Param Yuva. It is ranked as 62nd fastest computer in the world. • 28th Feb. was celebrated as National Science day with the theme "Genetically Modified crops & Food Security". The day is celebrated to commemorate the announcement of Raman Effect by Nobel winning Physicist CV Raman in 1928. • ISRO: Established in 1969, ISRO is headquartered in Bangalore, and under the administrative control of the Department of Space. India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, was built by ISRO and launched by the Soviet Union in 1975. Rohini, the first satellite to be placed in orbit by an Indian-made launch vehicle, SLV-3, was launched in 1980. • GSAT-10, the country’s newest and heaviest satellite, was launched in the early hours of Saturday from the Kourou launch pad in French Guiana. The GSAT- 10 carries 30 communication transponders — 12 in Ku-band, 12 in C-band and six in extended C-band. GSAT-10 also has the second GAGAN payload which has fine tuned the U.S. GPS signals into far more accurate readings. GAGAN, a venture of the Department of Space and Airports Authority of India, is primarily meant to benefit airlines and their aircraft flying into and out of India. INTERNATIONAL

World Environment Day, 2012 • The World Environment Day is observed every year on 5 June to raise public awareness on the issues related to global environment. The World Environment Day activities keep going on through out the year, but culminate on 5 June every year. • Theme for the World Environment Day 2012 was: Green Economy: Does it include you? The host for World Environment Day 2012 was Brazil. Theme for the World Environment Day 2011 was Forests-Nature At Your Service and India was the global host for the year's events.

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• World Environment Day 2012 was the 40th edition of the global. The UN General Assembly started observing the day in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.

What does Green Economy means?

• As per the definition of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a Green Economy is 'one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.' • Green economy widely refers to an economic situation where the economic developments take place without hurting the environment. In the green economy the income of people is driven by the private and public investments which helps in the reduction of carbon emissions and pollution and stimulates energy and resource efficiency, and ultimately helps in the prevention of loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Russian-made Soyuz craft launched from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan • A three-man team on 15 May 2012 blasted off from Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on board a Russian-made Soyuz craft for a half- year stay at the International Space Station. • Nasa astronaut Joseph Acaba and Russian cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and Sergei Revin set off from the Baikonur facility as scheduled. • The craft was due to dock with the space station on 17 April 2012. The crew will join the three astronauts on the orbiting laboratory. Russia is now the sole nation capable of transporting humans to the International Space Station after the withdrawal of the US shuttle but this blast-off was the first manned flight from Baikonur since 21 December 2011.

NASA’s Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array launched to explore Black Holes • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on 13 May 2012 launched Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) on a

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Pegasus rocket. The jet was launched from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. • NuSTAR will help scientists find the most subtle and energetic black holes23, which will enable them to understand the structure of the universe. The project aims to study energetic phenomena such as clusters of galaxies, black holes and the explosions of massive stars. It will also study the Sun's atmosphere for hints on how it is heated. • The NuSTAR will work in coordination with other telescopes in space, including NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, which observes lower-energy X-rays. The project will open a new avenue on the universe and will provide complementary data to NASA's larger missions including Fermi, Chandra, Hubble and Spitzer. • The total budget of the project is estimated to be 180 million dollar, including the cost of development, the launch vehicle and two years of in-orbit operations. The entire project including the telescope and Pegasus launcher was developed by Orbital Sciences Corp.

China's Fourth Human Spaceflight • China on 16 June 2012 launched its fourth human spaceflight -9 from the Jiuquan satellite launch centre in north-western Gansu state. The 30.3 feet long and 9.1 feet diameter, Shenzhou-9 spacecraft will conduct the first manned docking mission and set the foundation for Chinese plans to build a space station by 2020. • Shenzhou-9 was expected to take at least 20 days to complete its space mission. In the course of the mission the crew will accomplish automated docking procedure followed by scientific experiments, technical tests and physical exercises conducted in the space lab. The crew will conduct manual docking

23 A black hole is a place in space where gravity pulls so much that even light cannot get out. The gravity is so strong because matter has been squeezed into a tiny space. This can happen when a star is dying.

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with the Tiangong-1 or heavenly palace space laboratory module, which has been orbiting the earth since 29 September 2011. • China, notwithstanding its assurance given to the world community that it will not get indulged in space warfare, is spending billions of dollars to accomplish its ambitious space programmes. China, in December 2011, had revealed a five- year space programme, in which it vowed to set up a space lab and collect sample from the moon by 2016. Earlier, the Chinese government had undertaken a mission to get to the moon and set up a manned space station by year 2020. • China, launched its manned space programme in year 1999 with the launch of Shenzhou-1 with no crew on board. In 2001, Shenzhou-2 was blasted off with small animals aboard, and in 2003, China launched its first manned space craft. Since then, it has completed a space walk in 2008 and an unmanned docking between a module and rocket in 2011. The launch of Shenzhou-9 is a testimony to China’s determination to develop its technological competence vis-a-vis United States and Russia.

China sent its First woman Astronaut into Space • Shenzhou-9 space mission also holds significance as its crew members comprise three astronauts including China’s first woman astronaut . Yang, a cargo pilot in the People's Liberation Army air force, is the first Chinese female astronaut, who has been sent on the space mission. The other two astronauts on the mission include People's Liberation Army (PLA) pilots, and , who after this mission became China's first astronaut to travel into space twice.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on Global Food Security • The United Nations Environment Programme released its food security report Avoiding Future Famines: Strengthening the Ecological Basis of Food Security through Sustainable Food Systems during Rio+20 conference. The report noted that food security must be at the top of the priority list of country’s policy if the world has

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to provide food to its seven billion population - a number expected to cross nine billion mark by 2050.

Mars Science Laboratory Space craft: Curiosity Rover • It is a robotic mission to Mars launched by NASA on November 26, 2011. The US space agency NASA landed Curiosity, a huge new robot rover on Mars on 5 August 2012. The one-tonne vehicle touched the surface of Mars after a 345- million-mile expedition. The robot rover will now conduct a study to find out whether the planet was ever hospitable to life. The robot rover, which epitomizes the technological wizardry of man kind, is set to spend nearly two years for the mission. • NASA undertook the mission with an objective to determine whether Mars has ever had the conditions to support life. The ambitious project costed the US government about 2.5 billion dollar. • NASA’s Curiosity rover took its first drive on the surface of Mars on 23 August 2012. The rover in its first drive moved around six metres from its original landing site. After more tests on its systems, NASA intends to move the Curiosity rover some 400 metres to the southeast to continue its exploration of the red planet. • NASA also released images of the tracks left by the rover, to show the success of the mission. The space agency also announced that the original landing site of the Curiosity rover would be named after the late science fiction author Ray Bradbury who died on 5 June 2012. The site will be known as the Bradbury Landing. • Scientists at NASA on 27 September 2012 announced that the Mars Curiosity Rover has discovered stream bed gravel, which hints towards the presence of waist-deep water on the surface of Mars in the past. • For the first time water transported gravel was seen on Mars. Rebecca Williams a scientist at Curiosity Rover stated that the shape of these gravels proves that they have been transported by some means but its size proves that it can’t be transported by the wind or some other medium of erosion. • The findings of the scientists following the proofs provided by the cameras of the curiosity rover indicate that once upon a time the dry planet Mars was once

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wet with the presence of water that followed their for millions or thousands of years. • Scientists at NASA concluded that rover’s central goal was to identify a potentially habitable site on Mars and till now it succeeded in achieving it. Some proofs related to presence of flowing water near by the landing site of rover, the Gale Crater were determined by the presence of pebbles and gravels in the area.

Scientists identified First Radio Waves from Middleweight Black Hole HLX-1

• A team of scientists at the University of Sydney on 10 July 2012 discovered the first radio emissions from the middleweight black hole HLX-1, that lies in a galaxy about 300 million light-years away. The research team had used Compact Array radio telescope from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO). • HLX-1 (hyper-luminous X-ray source 1), lies in a galaxy called ESO 243-49 about 300 million light-years away. HLX-1 was discovered by chance in 2009, because it stood out as a very bright X-ray source. • Before the discovery of HLX-1, scientists had evidence for only supermassive black holes ones a million to a billion times the mass of the Sun and stellar mass ones, three to thirty times the mass of the Sun. As per the new study, the size of HLX-1 is around 20000 times the mass of our sun which makes it an intermediate mass black hole.

18th International Day for preservation of the Ozone Layer celebrated worldwide • On 16 September every year, from 1995 onwards the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is celebrated. This date was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 49/114, to memorialize the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. With this, The Montreal Protocol is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

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• The theme for this year’s celebration was Protecting our Atmosphere for Generations to come. • This celebration around the world offers a chance to focus attention and action at the global, regional and national levels on the protection of the ozone layer. • The ozone layer is a layer in Earth's atmosphere which contains relatively high concentrations of ozone (O3). The ozone layer is mainly found in the lower portion of the stratosphere from approximately 20 to 30 kilometres (12 to 19 mi) above Earth. It protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. Scientist in the 1970’s discovered that the layer was thinning as a result of the release of CFC’s, which resulted in the development of ozone hole. • In 1985 national around the world signed an agreement and developed a framework for cooperative activities to protect the ozone layer in Vienna which is known by Vienna convention for the protection of ozone layer.

New Earth Sized Planet Discovered in Neighboring Solar System • Astronomers have discovered a new earth sized planet in October 2012 which is closest to but outside our solar system. The planet is said to be astronomical stone’s throw away at four light years. • The discovery of planet was announced in Science Journal, Nature by Stephane Urdy and Xavier Dumusque at Geneva Observatory. • The planet is very close to its sun that it is difficult to support life there. The planet is of very low mass and have a surface temperature of about 1200 degree Celsius (2192 Farenheit).The Planet orbits one of the suns in Alpha Centauri, roughly 25 trillion miles away. • Also according to the previous study by different scientist if one planet is discovered orbiting a sun there is usually other planet in the same solar system. • Almost 800 exoplanets are discovered in the recent past that is outside our solar system since early 1990’s. But this Planet is very close to earth. • It was also asserted that getting to the planet is nearly impossible because it would take about 40000 years to travel to new planet even with current Propulsion Technology

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Australia Created World’s Largest Marine Reserve to Protect Ocean Environment • Australia on 16 November 2012 created the world's largest network of marine reserves, protecting more than 2.3 million square kilometres of ocean environment. • The announcement came after years of planning and consultation. The Marine reserve created is going to expand the protection of creatures such as the blue whale, green turtle and the critically endangered populations of grey nurse sharks, and dugongs. • The plan extension cover six marine regions and it was first made public in June 2012. • Australia is home to some incredible marine environments which include the Canyon in the south-west and the stunning reefs of the Coral Sea and by creating World’s largest Marine Reserve is becoming a world leader on environmental protection. • However, the Marine reserve creation is going to ruin coastal communities and it will also affect thousands of jobs with a serious impact on US $ 2 billion aquaculture Industry. It was also criticized by the Commonwealth Fisheries Association. • As per the cost analysis by the Australian Marine Alliance it was found that the marine reserve creation would affect 60 regional communities ,36000 jobs lost and a displacement of 70-80 trawler operators while the cost of seafood imports would soar.

NASA’s Mercury-orbiting probe discovered ice on the planet • Scientists of NASA have discovered a huge mass of ice at Mercury’s North Pole on 29 November 2012. Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun. These findings come from the Mercury-orbiting probe of NASA, Messenger. • Frozen water is found in the North Pole regions of Mercury, which are always found in shadows, and mainly affects the craters. It is supposed that the south pole of mercury also has ice but there is no hard and fast data, which supports this. Messenger orbits closer to the North Pole than South Pole.

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• Scientist from the Johns Hopkins University opined that if all this is added, the total amount of ice comes out to be 100 billion to 1 trillion metric tons. The only thing that is uncertain is how deep it lies. • It is thought that the ice is approximately 1.5 feet or 0.5 metres deep or possibly, around 65 feet deep as well. The amount of ice found at Mercury is enough to bury the area the size of Washington D.C. by around 2.5 miles deep. • The radar measurements analysed from Earth had suggested existence of ice on Mercury’s poles for two decades. Because of the Messenger, the results have been confirmed now. The water, it seemed, came from impacting comets and possibly even the asteroids. Ice was found at Mercury’s surface and also buried under the dark organic material. • It is very important to note that presence of ice on Mercury does not necessarily indicate that there is a possibility of life on Mercury. But it is evidence that Mercury might support life, considering the presence of water on its surface. Over the years, Mercury has also become a subject of astrobiological interest.

About Messenger

• Messenger was launched back in 2004. It is a NASA spacecraft orbiting around Mercury. The observations through NASA’s Messenger will continue in the next year as well

CCAMLR Meet • CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) meet in Australia, to protect the waterways around the Antarctic failed to reach agreement on establishment of marine reserves in two critical areas of the Southern Ocean. • The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) was established by international convention in 1982 with the objective of conserving Antarctic marine life. It was established in large part to concerns that an increase in krill catches in the Southern Ocean could have a serious impact on populations of other marine life which are dependent upon krill for food.

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Sunita Williams' feat • Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams has set a new world record for the maximum number of spacewalks by a woman astronaut. NASA has announced that Williams has broken record set by Peggy Whitson after doing spacewalk for 6 times with combined time duration of 44 hours and 2 minutes. • Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams has taken over the command of the International Space Station this week. With this she has become the second woman in history to do so. Sunita Williams holds three records for female space travelers including spending maximum time on the space.

World's largest Optical Telescope to be developed by Five- Nation Consortium • A five-nation consortium including India would be constructing the world’s largest optical telescope, which would be the world’s most advanced ground based observatory. This telescope will be developed in Hawaii at the summit of the Mauna Kea Volcano. • Thirty Metre Telescope (TMT) governing body on 22 January 2013 met to decide the contributions to be made by the member nations namely, India, Japan, Canada, China and the US in the development of world’s largest optical telescope. The work on this telescope is expected to start in 2014 and the project is planned at an investment of 1.2 billion US dollar. This Thirty Meter Telescope would be eighty one times more sensitive than all the telescopes of its kind available at present. • The Indian scientists would play a major role in the development of the key components of the telescope and 15 percent of the 492 mirror segments, each of 1.44 m in size, would be fabricated in India.

NASA launches a New Communication Satellite called TDRS • NASA on 31 January 2013 launched a new communication satellite to stay in touch with its space station astronauts and relay more Hubble telescope images. An unmanned Atlas V rocket blasted into the starry night sky carrying IAS (PRELIMS), 2013: CURRENT AFFAIRS 210

the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) from Cape Canaveral. This is the 11th TDRS satellite to be launched by NASA. The space agency uses the orbiting network to communicate with astronauts living on the International Space Station. The first TDRS spacecraft flew in 1983. • This newest third-generation TDRS carries the letter K designation. Once it begins working, it will become TDRS-11. It will take two weeks for the satellite to reach its intended 22300-mile-high orbit. Testing will last a few months. NASA estimates the satellite costs between 350 and 400 million US Dollars. Another TDRS spacecraft, L in the series, will be launched in 2014.

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9 DEFENCE

INDIA LARGEST IMPORTER OF WEAPONS • According to a report published in March 2012 by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India topped China as the largest importer of arms during 2007-11 and accounted for 10 per cent of global arms import as compared9 to Chinese share of five per cent. • The report mentioned China, which was the largest importer of arms during 2002-2006, slipping to fourth spot in 2007-11 given the significant advancement in China’s arms industry and increased arms exports. • India has taken numerous measures to modernise its armed forces in the past ten years. The country has signed several deals to procure military hardware such as 10 C-17 strategic lift aircraft, six C-130 Super Hercules Special Operations aircraft, additional Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets along with several warships. • The report revealed the countries from Asia and Oceania as the leading arms importers as they accounted for 44 per cent of arms imports followed by Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Africa which accounted for 19 per cent, 17 per cent, 11 per cent and 9 per cent of total arms imports respectively.

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• In the budget presented in the parliament for the fiscal year 2012-13, the Finance Minister announced to increase India's defence budget by 17 per cent and doled out 1.93 trillion Indian rupees for the defence purpose. Of this outlay, 41 percent has to be spent on procuring modern weapons systems and military hardware. PRITHVI • PRITHVI is a family of tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) developed by DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. The Prithvi was India's first indigenously developed ballistic missile. Development of the Prithvi began in 1983, and it was first test- fired on February 25, 1988.

Prithvi I • The single-stage, liquid-engine 150 km-range, army-version, Prithvi I ballistic missile was inducted into the Indian Army in 1993.

Prithvi II • The Prithvi II was primarily developed for Indian Air Force (IAF) with a range of 250 kms. It was first tested in 1996 and inducted in 2004. It has also been inducted into the army.

Prithvi III • The third variant, Prithvi III has a range of 350 kms and was successfully test fired in 2004.

Dhanush • Dhanush is a ship-launched variant of the Prithvi missile. The Dhanush has been tested in both ship-based and sub-surface versions. It has been test-fired offshore from ships as well as from underwater canisters substituting for a submarine. A 150 km-version was test fired in 2005 while an enhanced 350 km- version was successfully tested in 2009.

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K-15/Sagarika • Another sub-surface version of the Prithvi III, the K-15 or Sagarika, was tested successfully on 26 February 2008. The missile is powered by solid propellants. It can carry nuclear or conventional payloads and has a range of upto 700 km. It was also tested in January, 2013 proving India's capability of launching missiles from any terrain.

Shaurya • Shaurya missile is a land version of the under-water launched K-15 missile, Sagarika (missile). • The Shaurya missile is a short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile developed by DRDO for use by the Indian Army. Capable of hypersonic speeds, it has a range of 600 km. The Shaurya missile provides India with a significant second-strike capability since it would be stored in silos to avoid damage from first strike. The missile was tested in November 2008.

Nag • The Nag is an all weather, third generation, fire and forget, top attack, guided anti-tank missile. Nag uses Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) guidance with day and night capability. Mode of launch for the IIR seeker is LOBL (Lock on before launch). Recently, LOAL (Lock on after launch) version with Radio Frequency (RF) seeker was also tested for 2 km range. • Separate versions for the Army and the Air Force have been developed. The Army version can be mounted on an infantry vehicle, which will be equipped with a thermal imager for target acquisition. • The range of the missile is 500m-4 Km for the land-launched version and 7-10 Km for the air-launched version.

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• A special missile carrier NAMICA24 has been designed for this missile.

Akash • The Akash is a surface-to-air missile with an intercept range of 30 km. It can reach a speed of around Mach 2.5 and an altitude of 18 km. • An on-board guidance system, coupled with actuator systems, makes the missile maneuverable and a tail chase capability for end-game engagement. A self- destruct device is also integrated. • It is fitted with Rajendra RADAR.

Astra BVRAAM • The Astra is an active, radar-homing Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile (BVRAAM). Such advanced missiles enable fighter pilots to lock-on and shoot down enemy aircraft 90-120 km away. The missile's onboard radio- frequency seeker has been designed indigenously and will have an active homing range of 15 km. The range of the Astra is 80 km in head-on chase and 15 km in tail chase, with the range being extended to 100km eventually. The missile will intercept the targets at mach 1.2-1.4 speed. It has already been tested on the ground to prove its avionics, guidance and other sub-systems including propulsion. Astra will weigh 150 kg, making it the lightest in its class. AGNI

Agni I • It is an intermediate range, rail-/road-mobile, single-stage, solid-motor, 700- 800 km-range variant of the Agni family of ballistic missiles. It was recently

24 NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier) is a tank destroyer built for the army. It is equipped with a thermal imager for target acquisition. The carriers are capable of carrying 12 missiles with 8 in ready-to-fire mode. It has top attack and fire and forget capability.

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launched to test its readiness to launch ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads.

Agni II • It is a rail-/road-mobile, two-stage, all solid-fueled, 2,000-2,500km-range missile that has undergone three successful developmental tests between April, 1999 and August, 2004.

Agni III • It is a 3,000-4,000 km-range variant, was successfully tested in April 2007 and May 2008.

Agni IV • Agni IV is the fourth in the Agni series of missiles. Agni IV was tested on November 15, 2011. Earlier called Agni II-Prime, its launch in Dec 2010 ended in failure. It is a nuclear capable, Surface to surface missile with a range of over 3000 km.

Agni V • India’s 5000 km multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) warhead was tested successfully recently bringing whole of China under the reach of Indian missiles. ADVANCED AIR DEFENCE (AAD) • The Prithvi platform has also been configured in an anti-ballistic missile role and a modified stage has been used in an "interceptor" mode to bring down an incoming "enemy" missile as part of the country's Ballistic Missile Defence programme. Also called ASHWIN, this missile defence system was tested successfully in March, 2012.

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BRAHMOS • This Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace, named after Brahamaputra river in India and Moskova river in Russia, represents a quantum jump in India's missile-building technological capabilities. • The BrahMos is a 280-300km-range, 2.8 mach supersonic cruise missile. It is a multi-platform, multi-objective cruise missile that has been successfully configured for ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore, land-to-land, land-to-ship (coastal defence) modes. • It is also being developed as a submarine-launched and air-to-air version. Both these versions are ready for initial tests and await suitable platforms. For the Indian Navy this means a suitably modified submarine, which can test the missile. The missile is already in serial production as it has been inducted for service by the Army and the Navy. • Recently, the Indo-Russian joint collaboration for this missile was questioned internationally for transgressing MTCR25 guidelines. NIRBHAY • This is cruise missile with around 1,000 km-medium range, high sub-sonic (0.7 mach), multi-platform cruise missile that can be launched from ground, sea and air. • With its terrain-hugging capability, the missile would be able to avoid detection from ground radar. It is a modified version of Lakshya26 pilotless aircraft.

25 MTCR: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Great Britain, and the United States established the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in April 1987. The MTCR was created in order to curb the spread of unmanned delivery systems for nuclear weapons, specifically delivery systems that could carry a minimum payload of 500 kg a minimum of 300 km. In October 1994, in order to make the enforcement of MTCR Guidelines more uniform, the member states established a “no undercut” policy, meaning if one member denies the sale of some technology to another country, then all members must adhere. 117 nations now enforce export controls to curb the proliferation of UAV’s.

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INS Tarkash • Krivak II class stealth frigate INS Tarkash arrived at the Western Naval Command headquarters in Mumbai in November last year. This is the second of the three frigates constructed at the Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad in Russia. The frigate was commissioned on November 9 in Kaliningrad by Vice-Admiral Shekhar Sinha, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command. The frigate is armed with advanced combat suite. Its arsenal includes BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, a surface-to-air missile system, an upgraded 100 mm medium range gun, an optically-controlled 30 mm close-in weapon system, torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets.

INS Saryu • The Indian Navy on 21 January 2013 commissioned INS Saryu, its largest shore patrol vessel for the maritime surveillance around Andaman and Nicobar Islands. INS Saryu, the 105 meter vessel is built at Goa Shipyard Limited is the first among the four new class naval Off Shore Patrol Vessels (NOPVs) to be commissioned, rest would be commissioned by the Indian Navy in next one and a half year or so. • Air Marshal PK Roy, commander in chief of Andaman and Nicobar Command of Indian Navy commissioned the ship in the Vasco Town. • The ship would be patrolling across the exclusive economic zone of the exclusive economic zone across the island and discharge its duties on the eastern coast. INS Saryu has a capacity of being offshore for a period of a month.

P-8I Maritime Surveillance Aircraft • The Indian Navy on 19 December 2012 received its first P-8I Maritime Surveillance Aircraft at its facility located at Seattle, out of the eight that it

26 Lakshya: Pilotless Aircraft, manufactured by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of DRDO. Speed: Upto 0.65 Mach, Height: 9Kms, Range: 150 Kms.

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would get from Boeing. P-8I would be armed with torpedoes, rockets and deadly missile with abilities to fight against powerful warships and anti- submarine warfare. • A deal of 2.1 billion dollar was signed between India and the US Aircraft maker Boeing in January 2009 for procurement of the long range surveillance aircraft equipped with anti-submarine weaponry. This contract also included the option of having four additional aircrafts along with the intelligence and surveillance systems, training and maintenance support and warfare. The aircraft will arrive in India by May 2013 along with two more aircrafts expected to be handed over the Indian Naval team by the month.

About P-8I

• P-8I, the aircraft is an imitative of the Boeing 737-800 long range maritime reconnaissance aircraft and an anti-submarine warfare aircraft. Being an Indian variant of the P-8A Poseidon, being developed by Boeing for U.S. Navy the P- 8I is expected to replace Indian Navy’s Russian Tupolev Tu-142M maritime surveillance turboprop. The aircraft would enable Indian Navy to patrol across Indian Ocean to a greater level. ARMY'S FIRST INDIGENOUS CHOPPER: RUDRA • First indigenously-developed chopper called Rudra was given to the Indian Army on 8 February 2013. It is important to note that Army has raised the fleet of attack choppers of its own. Rudra is the first out of 60 armed helicopters which provided to the Army by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). • Rudra is armed with Mistral, the air-to-air missile, heavy machine guns as well as rocket pods. This will help in assisting the ground forces. EKUVERIN 2012 • The fourth Joint Military Training Exercises between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) - EKUVERIN 2012 - was held in Belgaum, India from 12 to 25 November 2012. A total of 45 personnel from the MNDF are taking part in the exercises along with the personnel from the Indian Army. The bilateral annual exercises, which commenced in 2009 in Belgaum,

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are alternately held in India and Maldives. The aim of the exercises is to enhance the close military cooperation between the two countries.

DOSTI XI • In April 2012, both countries (India & Maldives), along with Sri Lanka, held joint Coast Guard/Naval exercises – DOSTI XI - off the coast of Male (Maldives) to strengthen the bonds of friendship and enhance mutual operational capability and cooperation in the region.

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10 SPORTS

IPL PLAYERS PENALIZED • The IPL Governing Council suspended five players named in the TV sting for 15 days. The governing council also asked Ravi Sawani, the head of the BCCI's new anti-corruption unit, to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within 15 days. The strong action to suspend Mohnish Mishra, Shalabh Srivastava, TP Sudhindra, Amit Yadav and Abhinav Bali was taken after a lengthy tele-conference of top BCCI officials and members of the IPL's Governing Council. • The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) later suspended Madhya Pradesh and Deccan Chargers bowler T. Sudhindra for life term after he was found guilty of receiving money to spot fix a match in domestic cricket. Uttar Pradesh’s Shalabh Srivastava faced a five-year ban for agreeing to fix a match and negotiating with the reporters engaged in the sting operation. Three other domestic players Mohnish Mishra, Amit Yadav and Abhinav Bali have been banned for one year from playing in BCCI or ICC events for their alleged involvement in spot fixing

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ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE27

• English Football club Manchester City won the English title for the first time in last 44 years yesterday when it defeated Queens Park Rangers by 3-2 goals in a dramatic win. Manchester United held the second spot as it lost the first place to Manchester City in terms of goal difference instead of having same points. • English football club Chelsea defeated German football club Bayern in a dramatic penalty shoot-out to win the UEFA28 Champions League29 2012. This is the first time; the English club won the prestigious trophy in its 107-year long history. FIDE WORLD CHESS TITLE • Ace Indian chess player Vishwanathan Anand on 30 May 2012 claimed the FIDE30 ( Federation Internationale des Echec) World Chess Title for the record fifth time. The defending champion Anand beat Israeli opponent Boris

27 The Premier League is at the top of the English football league system, being country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation. The Premier League is a corporation in which the 20 member clubs act as shareholders. The competition formed as the FA Premier League on 20 February 1992 following the decision of clubs in the Football League First Division to break away from The Football League, which was originally founded in 1888, and take advantage of a lucrative television rights deal.

28 The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is the administrative body for association football in Europe and, partially, Asia.

29 The UEFA Champions League was originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup until 1992. It is an annual continental club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe.

30 FIDE, the international federation for chess, was founded in on 20 July 1924, and got recognition by the International Olympic Committee as an International Sports Federation in 1999. The federation with a total of 170 members is among the biggest sports organizations in the world. It organizes over forty official championships world over for youngsters, men, women and seniors.

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Gelfand in a rapid-chess tie-breaker. Anand received 1.5 million dollar as the winning amount, while rival Gelfand bagged 1 million dollar. • The world title is Anand’s fourth in a row as he had also claimed the title in 2007, 2008, and 2010. The 42-year-old had claimed his maiden world title in 2000 after beating Latvian Alexei Shirov in Tehran. He is also the first Asian to win the FIDE world chess championship. • Born on 11 December 1969 in Madras, Anand's breakthrough success in professional chess came in 1983 when he won the Indian Under-16 and Under- 19 championships successively and went on to win a place in the country’s adult championships. In 1985, at the age of 16, Anand was crowned as an International Master, the youngest Asian player to hold this title. In 1986 he won the Indian adult championship, and in 1987, at his fourth attempt, he won the Under-20 World Championship. Anand had won his first world title in 2000 and reining over the championship since 2007. LEGENDARY CUBAN BOXER TEOFILO STEVENSON DIES • Legendary Cuban Boxer Teofilo Stevenson died of heart attack on 13 June 2012 at the age of 60. An amateur boxer he never turned professional in his 14-year long career. • Stevenson, who won his first gold at the 1972 Munich Games, and went on to win two more golds at the 1976 Montreal and 1980 Moscow Games, ruled the game for nearly 14 years. He was the first fighter to win the Olympic gold medal in the same division three times. Stevenson was denied a chance of a fourth medal after Cuba joined the Soviet boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles Games. • The legendary boxer, who quit the game in 1986, had emerged victorious in a record 302 bouts out of 321 that he played. FRENCH OPEN, 2012 • Men’s Singles: Rafael Nadal (Spain) bt. Novak Djokovic (Serbia). Surpassed Bjorn Borg by winning his 7th French Open title. • Women’s Singles: Maria Sharapova (Russia) bt. Sara Errani (Italy)

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• Men’s Doubles: Max Mirnyi (Belarus)/Daniel Nestor (Canada) bt Mike Brown/Bob Brown (USA) • Women’s Doubles: Sara Errani/Roberta Vinci (Italy) bt Maria Kirilenko/Nadia Petrova (Russia) • Mixed Doubles: / (Ind) bt. Gonzalez (Mexico)/Klaudia Jans-Ignacik () • Swiss Tennis star Roger Federer has set a new record of 234 Grand Slam match wins during his campaign in the French Open. He has crossed Jimmy Connor’s record of total 233 Gland Slam wins. EURO CUP, 2012 • Organized by UEFA, the tournament was started in 1960 as UEFA European Nations Cup. In 1968, it was renamed as UEFA European Football Championship. Germany & Spain (3 each) hold the record for maximum titles. • The winner's Trophy is called The Henri Delaunay Trophy. • The tournament was hosted by Poland & Ukraine. The slogan of the tournament was "Creating History Together". The Mascots Slavek & Slavko. • Winner: Spain bt. Italy. Spain became the only side to win two consecutive titles. • Golden boot: Fernando Torres, Spain • Best Player: Andres Iniesta, Spain WIMBELDON 2012 • Men’s Singles: Roger Federer (Switzerland) bt. Andy Murray (Britain). Equals Pete Sampars's record of seven Wimbeldon titles. • Women: Serena Williams (USA) bt. Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) • Men’s Doubles: Jonathan Marray (UK)/ Fredrik Nielson (Denmark) bt Mike Brown/Bob Bryan (USA) • Women’s Doubles: Serena Williams/Venus Williams (USA) bt. Andrea Hlavakova/Lucie Hradecka (Czech Rep.)

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• Mixed Doubles: Mike Bryan (USA)/Lisa Raymond (USA) bt. (India)/Elena Vesnina (Russia) TOUR de FRANCE • Bradley Wiggins of Britain became the first cyclist of the country, to win the coveted Tour de France Cycling race on 22 July 2012. Team Sky rider Wiggins is the first cyclist to have won both the Tour and an Olympic track cycling gold. His Sky teammate and fellow Briton, Froom Christopher came second. Their teammate and fellow country man Mark Cavendish was declared the day’s winner as he won the final stage of the race. • Wiggins, 32, was given the yellow jersey at the end of the event. The rider with the lowest aggregate time at the end of each day is given the yellow jersey. • One of the most successful Olympian of Britain, Wiggins won a bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and three medals (1 Gold + 1 Silver + 1 Bronze) at the 2004 Athens Olympics, and two golds at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. • Wiggins is the first and only person in history to win the Paris-Nice, the Tour de Romandie, Critérium du Dauphiné and Tour de France in one single season.

About Tour de France • The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race event held in France and nearby countries. The first The Tour de France was held in 1903. The race which lasts three weeks, covers around 3200 kilometres. Mauris Garin was the winner of the first edition of tour, while Lance Armstrong of USA had won the race for 7 times, the highest individual win. LONDON OLYMPICS, 2012 • The Summer Olympics 2012 were officially known as the Games of the XXX Olympiad took place in London, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012. • The opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics was held on 27th July and called Isles of Wonder and it was directed by Oscar-winning director

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Danny Boyle. The London 2012 Olympics were officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II. • Important facts about them are: o Mascots: Mascots have been a part of Olympic Games since Munich 1972, when , a dachshund, was the symbol of the Munich games. The mascots of London Games were . While Wenlock is a mascot of Olympics, Mandeville is mascot for Paralympics. These are two ultra-modern one-eyed creatures. o Motto: Inspire a Generation o Nations participating: 204 o Athletes participating: 10,820 o Olympic Torch: Olympic Torch is the symbol of Olympic Games which is lit in Olympia (modern day Greece). The initial editions of Olympics were organized without flame. The tradition of torch was reintroduced in Amsterdam Olympics 1928. o Olympic Medals: There were 4700 medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze) up for grab at the London Olympics 2012. The Olympic medals weigh between 375-400 grams, they are eighty-five millimetres in diameter and seven millimetres thick. The gold medals are not actually made of solid gold. They are in fact 92.5 percent silver and 1.34 percent gold, while the rest is copper. Metals used in the medals were mined in Mongolia and Utah in the United States.On every medal there is the image of Nike, the Greek Goddess of victory. o Next (31st) Summer Olympics: The 31st edition of Summer Olympics will be held in Reo de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016. The city was made the host of the event in 121st IOC session. The games are scheduled to be held fron 5 August to 21 August 2016. • The host nation, Great Britain achieved its highest tally of gold medals since 1908, finishing third in the medal table. • London was the first city to officially host the modern Olympic Games three times, having previously done so in 1908 and in 1948. • London was selected to host the 30th Summer Olympics on 6 July 2005 after it defeated bids from Moscow, New The York City, Madrid and Paris during the

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117th IOC Session in Singapore. London also got a distinction to host the modern Olympic Games three times. The city had previously host the games in 1908 and in 1948. • Michael Phelps of the United States of America became the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, winning his 22nd medal. He surpassed Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina who won total 18 Olympics medals from 1965- 1964. • Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, known as the fastest man in the world with the world record holder in the 100 m sprint category, won the men’s Olympic 100m title with new record of 9.63 seconds. This is the second fastest time in the history. He, again, created history when he won the Olympic Gold medal in the 200m race. With this he became the first person to win Olympic Gold medal both in the 100m and 200m races in two consecutive Olympic Games. He completed the 200m race in 19.32 seconds to break the record of US’s famous sprinter Carl Lewis who won 3 Gold Medals and 1 Silver Medal in the 100m and 200m races in 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul Olympics games. • Germany beat Netherlands 2-1 to win men’s hockey gold. • Mexico beat Brazil 2-1 to win Soccer gold • United States defeated Spain to win men’s Basketball gold • Russia defeated Brazil to win men’s volleyball gold • Dan Lin of China beat Malaysian Chong Wei Lee to clinch Badminton men’s singles gold • UK’s Andy Murray defeated Swiss Tennis champion Roger Federer to win the Olympic Gold in the Men’s singles category. • At the end of the game USA topped the medal tally with a total of 104 medals (46 Gold+29 Silver+ 29 Silver) followed by China, which bagged a total of 88 medals (38 Gold+27 Silver+23 Bronze), Great Britain with 65 medals (29 Gold+17 Silver+19 Bronze), Russia with 82 medals (24 Gold+26 Silver+32 Bronze) and South Korea with 27 medals (13 Gold+8 Silver+6 Bronze) finished third, fourth and fifth respectively. India with a total of 6 medals (2 Silver+4Bronze) finished 55th on the medal tally.

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India at London, 2012 • India at Olympics: India started participating in Summer Olympics from Paris Olympics 1900 after Norman Pritchard, an Anglo-Indian, participated in two events and claimed silver in both the events. India first sent its contingent to Summer Olympics in Antwerp Olympics 1920 and has sent its team in every Olympics since then. In the last 112 years of modern Olympics India has won mere nine gold and 8 of them are in hockey and one in individual shooting event. After 6 medal haul at the London Olympics 2012 total number of medals won by India now stands at 26. • The Indian Olympic Association had sent a total of 83 athletes to compete in 13 sports making it the largest contingent India has ever sent to an Olympic Games. • Brigadier PK Muralidharan Raja was named as the acting Chef-de- Mission of the Indian contingent for the London Olympic Games because of indisposition of incumbent Ajitpal Singh. Raja, who was the Deputy Chef-de- Mission, was elevated after Singh could not come to London due to severe spondylitis. • India has won 6 medals including 2 silver and 4 bronze which is by far the best performance by India in terms of number of medals won at any single Olympic games. • Flag bearer for India in the Opening Ceremony of London 2012 Olympic Games was , bronze medal winning wrestler in Beijing Olympics, 2008. • Flag bearer for India in the Closing Ceremony of London 2012 Olympic Games was medallist boxer, MC Mary Kom. • won the country's first medal at the Games, a bronze in the men's 10 metre air rifle event. • Vijay Kumar won a silver medal in men's 25 m rapid fire pistol event. Vijay Kumar became the third man ever representing India to win an individual silver medal after Norman Pritchard and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.

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• Saina Nehwal, won a bronze medal in women's singles in badminton. She became the first Indian to win a medal in Badminton at the Olympics and also the second Indian woman to win an individual medal after 's bronze medal in Weightlifting in 2000 Sydney Olympics. • MC Mary Kom won India its fourth medal at the games by winning a Bronze in the Women's flyweight category in Boxing. Mary Kom become the third Indian woman to win a medal at the Olympics and first Indian Woman boxer to win Medal at the Olympic Games. She is also five time boxing world champion. • Yogeshwar Dutt won a bronze in the 60 kg Freestyle Wrestling event. He defeated North Korea’s Jong Myong Ri by 3-1 to win his bronze medal. • Sushil Kumar won the Silver medal in 66 kg Freestyle wrestling. He did it in the repechage Sushil Kumar is the first Indian to win an individual medal in back to back Olympics. • India’s men's hockey team badly disappointed those who were expecting them to reclaim the lost glory of Indian hockey. The team in a show of disastrous performance finished 12th and at the bottom most as they lost all their six matches. It was the worst-ever performance by the Indian hockey team in the history of Olympics. Prior to this the worst ever performance of the Indian Hockey team came in 1996 Atlanta Olympics when it had finished 8th. • Besides, major medal hopes for the country such as Beijing Gold medalist in shooting and Deepika in Archery also could not meet with the expectations of the people, as they squarely failed to deliver a medal winning performance. Beijing bronze medalist Vijender Kumar also failed to recreate the magic in the boxing ring as he lost to Uzbekistan's Abbos Atoev 17- 13 in the quarterfinals. LONDON PARALYMPICS, 2012 • Queen Elizabeth London on 29 August 2012, which will be the biggest in the event's 64-year history. The flame was lit at midnight, local time. Britain's first Paralympic Games gold medallist, Margaret Maughan hit the cauldron.

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• The event involved 11 days of competition by 4200 athletes from 164 countries, including more than 300 athletes from Britain. • Girisha Hosanagara Nagarajegowda of India won Silver medal in the men’s high jump F42 event at the Paralympic Games in London. This was India’s only medal in the Sports event held in London. IOA THREE-MEMBER COMMITTEE TO RESOLVE ISSUES IN INDIAN HOCKEY • The Indian Olympic Association set up a three-member committee to resolve the issues in Indian Hockey. Hockey India and the Indian Hockey Federation, the two bodies for Hockey in India have been asked to present their stand before the committee on 21 August 2012. • The committee has been set up following the directions from the International Hockey Federation in July 2012. The three-member committee will have former Wrestling Federation of India president GS Mander, the Indian Weightlifting Federation president Birendra Prasad Baishya and the Handball Federation of India secretary-general SM Bali as its member. The committee will submit its report on 31 August 2012. • In its worst ever performance the Indian Hockey team had finished at the bottom in the London Olympics 2012. The team, which had failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics 2008, suffered defeat in all the eight matches it played in the London Games.

Committee's Opinion • The special committee came up with a decision in favor of Hockey India (HI) on 5 September 2012. The report was submitted to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) by the three-member committee that comprised of, the Indian Weightlifting Federation President Birendra Prasad Baishya, former Wrestling Federation of India President GS Mander and the Handball Federation of India Secretary-general SM Bali with details of the findings in a thousand page draft. • As per the report, Hockey India conforms to the IHF (International Hockey Federation) statute of having 40 percent of woman representative in its IAS (PRELIMS), 2013: CURRENT AFFAIRS 230

Executive Committee. Hockey India also conforms to the IHF norm of having a unified body to run both men’s and women’s competition. US OPEN, 2012 • Men: Andy Murray (Britain) bt. Novak Djokovic (Serbia). First Briton in 76 years after Fred Perry in 1936 to win a grand slam. • Women: Serena Williams (USA) bt.Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) • Men’s Doubles: Mike Bryan/Bob Bryan (USA) bt Leander Paes (India)/ Radek Stepanek (Czech Rep.) • Women’s Doubles: Sarra Erani/Roberta Vinci (Italy) bt. Andrea Hlavakova/Lucie Hradecka (Czech Rep.) • Mixed Doubles: Ekaterina Mkarova(Russia)/Bruno Soares (Brazil) bt. Kveta Peschke (Czech Rep.)/Marcin Matkowski (Poland) • Legendary US tennis player Andy Roddick has announced his retirement during the current US open championship after facing defeat from John Martin del Potro. He was a former number one ranked tennis player and won 2003 US Open Grand Slam title.

MARIAMMA KOSHY, NEW HOCKEY INDIA PRESIDENT

• Hockey India on 17 September 2012 appointed Mariamma Koshy of Hockey Kerala as its new full-time President. The decision was made during the 15th meet of Board Executives and was taken following the guidelines prescribed under rule 4(f) of Hockey India Rules and Regulations. • Koshy (63 years in age) has been a vice-president of Hockey India as well as an Interim-President of the National Body. LIONEL MESSI WINS GOLDEN BOOT AWARD • Lionel Messi, the Barcelonean forward footballer on 29 October 2012 won Golden Boot Award. Messi won the award in recognition to his record 50 goals scored in the Europe’s domestic football league in the last session. To win the award he scored 4 more goals than Cristiano Ronaldo, the Spanish league star.

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This is the second Golden Boot award for Messi, as he won his first Golden Boot Award in the year 2010 after scoring 34 goals during Argentina International to help win the league title. He is also in the list of the favorites to win the 2012 Ballon d’Or for the World’s best player. • The 25 year old is an Argentine Footballer and a captain to the national team of Argentina and fourth footballer to win three Ballons d’or.

Some of the Records in his name • He scored 73 goals, the highest number of goals in a season in all the competitions and broke the European record of 67 goals made in the year 1972- 73 by Bayern Munich's Gerd Mueller • By scoring 14 goals he became the person to score maximum goals in European Cup season; this record is jointly shared with Jose Altafini • With 8 hat-tricks, he became the person to score maximum La Liga hat-tricks in one season • With 15 hat-tricks, he became the person to score maximum La Liga hat-tricks overall • His 21 hat-tricks made him the person to score maximum hat-tricks in all competitions overall • 4 awards of as a top scorer in European Cup and he shares this position with Gerd Muller IOC SUSPENDS IOA • The International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended the India Olympic Association (IOA) on 4 December 2012 and eventually this might also lead to IOA ban from Olympic movement. • IOA ban from Olympic would result in consequences such as: o No funding from IOC o No officials from India would be invited by IOC to any events such as Paralympics and Olympics o No India athlete would be allowed competing under India’s flag; but could be permitted competing under IOC flag

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o Commonwealth Games Federation as well as The Olympic Council of Asia might also go with the trend which would lead to similar sanctions in case of Commonwealth Games as well as the Asian games • IOC suspended IOA because India was following the Sports Code of government in the IOA elections, which is against the Olympic Charter. IOC declared that following of Sports Code of government is actually the interference of the government in the Olympic Movement. • Suspension of IOA from Olympics came just before the Election Day. IOA officials declared that the elections would go as planned and scheduled. IOA has been holding the elections on direction by the Delhi high court which had asked this body to conduct its polls as per the Sports Code and its own constitution. IOA decided this after it put down the bid of IOA to send the 2-member delegation for explaining its scenario. • It was already evident that the suspension was in the line because of the development in run-up to these elections. After sending various letters to IOA, asking it to follow the Olympic Charter, IOC warned for the first time regarding suspension on 23 November 2012. Then it gave the second warning of suspension to IOA on 28 November 2012. • It is worth noticing that the decision of IOC was welcomed by several former as well as current sportspersons. They believed that suspension was an opportunity of cleaning the hassles in IOA. LANCE ARMSTRONG STRIPPED OFF HIS TITLES • IOC has decided to strip American cyclist off his 2000 Sydney Olympics bronze medal after he confessed to involvement in doping. • He has already been stripped off his seven Tour de France titles. Lance Armstrong has been stripped of his 7 Tour de France titles and banned by the International Cycling Union (UCI). AUSTRALIAN OPEN, 2013 • Men's Singles: Novak Djokovic (Serbia) bt Andy Murray (Britan). First man to win three straight Australian Open titles. • Women's Singles: Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) bt. Li Na (China)

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• Mixed Doubles: Jarmila Gajdosova and Matthew Ebden (Australia) bt. Czech Republic's Lucie Hradecka and Frantisek Cermak. • Women’s Doubles: Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci (Italy) bt. Australian wildcards Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua. • Men’s Doubles: Bob & Mike Bryan (USA) bt. Robin Haass & Igor Sijsling (The Netherlands). It is their 13th Grand Slam Title, most by a doubles team. They overtook 12 titles by John Newcombe and Tony Roche. FAUJA SINGH RETIRES • Fauja Singh, 101, the oldest marathon runner of the world decided to stop running in the competitions after Hong Kong marathon which will be held in February 2013. However, before the Hong Kong marathon, Singh will be running in the Australia marathon as well. • Fauja Singh is also popularly known as the Turbaned Tornado in all the international events. Though Fauja Singh announced his retirement from marathon, but he admitted that he would keep running for inspiring the masses. OFFICIAL MASCOT OF 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP UNVEILED • A Smiling Armadillo named Fuelco is announced as the official mascot for the 2014 FIFA World Cup scheduled to be held in Brazil in 2014. The armadillo is an animal with a leathery armor shell, which helps them to roll like a ball. A Smiling Armadillo is declared to be the official mascot for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil on 12 September 2012. The reports state that FIFA has registered the patent for this rare animal with the European Patent Office as a symbol to this extreme sporting event. Officials declared that internet poll will help in deciding the name of this mascot. Brazuca the name of the ball for the world cup 2014 to was finalized by the opinion poll on internet. • The armadillo in Brazil is known by the name of 'tatu-bola' and is known for its abilities of rolling itself in form of a ball to with a leathery shell as a symbol of self defence. • Fuleco is a fusion of the words “futebol” and “ecologia”. IAS (PRELIMS), 2013: CURRENT AFFAIRS 234

Previous FIFA World Cup Mascots • FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa- Zakumi the green-haired leopard. • FIFA 2006 World Cup in Germany- Goleo named lion. INDIAN BOXING BODY BANNED • The International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) has provisionally suspended the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) yesterday due to Government interference into the election procedure of the sports body. The move came just after the suspension of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) earlier this week due to same reason. MISCELLANEOUS • Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, 201231: New Zealand bt Argentina. India wins bronze. • Thailand Open Grand Prix Badminton: Saina Nehwal bt Ratchanok Inthanon of Thailand. This is her first Thailand Open Title. • Indonesian Open Super Series Badminton: Saina Nehwal bt Li Xuerui (China) • Nehru Cup: The Nehru Cup is an international football tournament organised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). It was launched in 1982, but was not held from 1998 to 2006. It was reinstated only in 2007. o 2012 Winner: India bt Cameroon. • Famous Australian pacer , known for his speed, has announced his retirement from all forms of International cricket but he will continue to play in IPL and other leagues. He has already retired from test cricket in 2010. In his

31 The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup is an annual international men's hockey tournament held in Malaysia. It began in 1983 as a biennial contest. The tournament became an annual event after 1998, following its growth and popularity. The tournament is named after the ninth King of Malaysia, Sultan Azlan Shah, an avid of field hockey. Australia (6) is the winner of most titles followed by India (5).

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13 year long international career, he has taken 310 wickets in test cricket and 380 wickets in ODIs. • India’s iconic stylish batsman V.V.S. Laxman has announced his retirement from International Cricket. With this his glorious 16 years of cricketing career came to an end. He scored 8781 runs in 134 tests at an average of 45.97 and scored 2338 runs in 86 One Day matches at an average of 30.76. He scored 17 test centuries and 6 ODI centuries. He was best known for his style and some great innings in India as well as overseas tours. • England Test Cricket Captain Andrew Strauss has resigned as England’s Test captain and announced his retirement from all form of International cricket with immediate effect today. England’s One Day captain Alastair Cook has been appointed as the Captain of the Test team as well. In his glorious 10 year long career, he has played exactly 100 tests and scored 7037 runs at an average of 40.91. • Former Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath will take over the role of director at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai from Australian fast bowler genius . Deninis Lillee has served the academy for 25 years after joining the same since its inception in 1987. He has converted the foundation as an internationally-renowned destination for fast bowlers who are looking to sharpen their skills from different cricket playing nations in the world. He cited age as the main reason behind this step. • South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher on 10 July 2012 announced his retirement from International Cricket due to eye injury. He suffered the eye injury on the opening day of South Africa’s tour match against Somerset at Taunton on 9 July 2012. He was struck by a flying bail from Imran Tahir’s delivery. After that he was operated for 3 hours eye surgery in Taunton to repair a laceration to the white of his eyeball. Earlier, He had planned to retire after Somerset tour. Mark Boucher had played 147 Test matches with a world record of 555 dismissals which include 532 catches and 23 stumping. He scored 5515 runs with five centuries and 35 half centuries at an average of 30.30. He also played 295 ODIs in which he made 425 dismissals with 403 catches. He scored 4686 runs in a century and 26 half centuries.

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• West Indies Cricket team won the ICC World Twenty20 Cup after defeating Sri Lanka in the final match today. It was first world title for West Indies Cricket team after 33 years since it won the World Cup in 1979. • Australian Women Cricket team won the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Cup after defeating England. Player of the Tournament: Suzie Bates, NewZealand. • Famous Formula One driver Michael Schumacher has announced his retirement from Formula One Race after 2012 season. He won World Championship for 7 times in which he won 5 consecutive world titles from 2000 to 2004. Earlier he retired in 2006 and made a comeback in 2010. • Former German football captain Michael Ballack has announced his retirement from profession football. He player for famous European football clubs Bayern Munich and Chelsea. He also plated 2000, 2004 and 2008 Euro cups and 2002 and 2006 FIFA world cups. • Former India cricketer has been appointed as the new head of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Cricket Committee and he will succeed former West Indies Captain Clive Lloyd. The committee recommends changes of different rules and technical aspects regarding Cricket. • PV Sindhu: Asian junior badminton Champion has defeated London Olympics gold medallist Li Xuerui in QFs of China Masters Super Series Tournament. • Saina Nehwal registered a win over Juliane Schenk of Germany in the final of the Denmark Super Series badminton championship. • Sebastian Vettel, of Red Bull has won Indian Grand Prix for second consecutive year. He also completed his fourth consecutive wins and extended his lead with other teams. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Red Bull’s Mark Webber have finished second and third respectively in the same race. McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton secured fourth place in the race. • India’s Pankaj Advani won his seventh World billiards title after defeating the defending champion Mike Russell. • Australia has won Hockey Champions Trophy for fifth consecutive time beating the Netherlands. India stood fourth after losing to Pakistan.

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• Soumyajit Ghose & K Shamini have emerged as National TT champions in Men & Women categories respectively. • Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has announced his retirement from Test cricket after the Perth Test against South Africa which is the last test of the ongoing series due to his poor form. The 38 year old Australian batsman has taken this decision due to his poor form in the current test series. He has scored 13366 test runs with 41 centuries from 167 test matches and scored 13704 ODI runs from 375 ODI matches. In terms of Total test and ODI runs, he is only behind India’s Sachin Tendulkar. • Luiz Felipe Scolari has been appointed as the new coach of Brazilian Football team for the upcoming 2014 World Cup which Brazil will host. He replaced former coach Mano Menezes who was sacked earlier this month. Luiz has given the responsibility to win Brazil’s sixth world cup on home soil in little more than 18 months’ time. Earlier he also led Brazil to their fifth and last World Cup win in 2002 held in South Korea and Japan.

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11 LEGISLATIONS

THE MICRO FINANCE INSTITUTIONS (DEVELOPMENT AND REGULATION) BILL, 2012 • The Micro Finance Institutions (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2012 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on May 22, 2012. The Bill aims to provide for the development and regulation of micro finance institutions. • A micro finance institution (MFI) is defined as an organisation, other than a bank, providing micro finance services. These services are defined as micro credit facilities not exceeding Rs 5 lakh in aggregate, or with the Reserve Bank’s (RBI) specification Rs 10 lakh, to each individual. Other services like collection of thrift, pension or insurance services and remittance of funds to individuals within India also come under micro finance services. • The Bill allows the central government to create a Micro Finance Development Council with officers from different Ministries and Departments. This council will advise the central government on policies and measures for the development of MFIs. • In addition, the Bill allows the central government to form State Micro Finance Councils. These councils will be responsible for coordinating the

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activities of District Micro Finance Committees and reviewing the MFIs in their state. • District Micro Finance Committees review the development of micro finance activities within the district, monitor over-indebtedness and monitor the methods of recovery used by MFIs. These committees can be appointed by the RBI. • The Bill requires that all MFIs to obtain a certificate of registration from the RBI. The applicant needs to have a net owned fund of at least Rs 5 lakh. By ‘net owned fund’ the Bill means the aggregate of paid up equity capital and free reserves on the balance sheet. The RBI should also be satisfied with the general character or management of the institution. • Every MFI will have to create a reserve fund and the RBI may specify a percentage of net profit to add to this fund. There can be no appropriation from this fund unless specified by the RBI. • At the end of every financial year, MFIs are required to provide an annual balance sheet and profit and loss account for audit to the RBI. They will also have to provide a return detailing their activities within 90 days of the Bill being passed. • Any change in the corporate structure of a MFI, such as a shut down, amalgamation, takeover or restructuring, can only take place with approval from the RBI. • The RBI has the power to issue directions to MFIs. This could include directions on the extent of assets deployed in providing micro finance services, ceilings on loans or raising capital. • The RBI has the authority to set the maximum annual percentage rate charged by MFIs and set a maximum limit on the margin MFIs can make. Margin is defined as the difference between the lending rate and the cost of funds (in percentage per annum). • The RBI shall create the Micro Finance Development Fund. Sums raised by the RBI from donors, institutions and the public along with the outstanding balance from the existing Micro Finance Development and Equity Fund form this fund. The central government, after due appropriation from

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Parliament, may grant money to this fund. The fund can provide loans, grants and other micro credit facilities to any MFI. • The RBI is responsible for redressal of grievances for beneficiaries of micro finance services. • The Bill allows the RBI to impose a monetary penalty of upto Rs 5 lakhs for any contravention of the Bill’s provisions. No civil court will have jurisdiction against any MFI over any penalty imposed by the RBI. • The Bill gives the central government the authority to delegate certain RBI powers to the National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development or any other central government agency. • The central government has the power to exempt certain MFIs from the provisions of the Bill. THE COPYRIGHT (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2012 • The Bill was introduced on April 19, 2010 in the Rajya Sabha and referred to the Standing Committee on HRD, which tabled its report on November 23, 2010. The government had attempted to pass it in the winter session twice but failed. It was passed in the budget session. • The Copyright Act, 1957 defines the rights of authors of creative works such as books, plays, music, and films. • Two key amendments proposed in the Bill are: o Copyright in a film currently rests with the producer for 60 years. The Bill vests copyright in a director as well. o The Bill makes special provisions for those whose work is used in films or sound recordings (e.g. lyricists or composers). Rights to royalties from such works, when used in media other than films or sound recordings, shall rest with the creator of the work. • The Lok Sabhapassed the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2010 on 22 May 2012. The bill seeks to provide royalty to the lyricists and remove operational difficulties.

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PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AGAINST SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT, 2012 • The Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act, 2012 was passed by both Houses of Parliament on May, 22. The legislation defines various types of sexual offences against children and provides penalties for such acts.

What was the need for such legislation? • According to a report commissioned by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2007, about 53% of the children interviewed reported some form of sexual abuse. The law has been viewed as a welcome step by most activists since it is gender neutral (both male and female children are covered), it clearly defines the offences and includes some child friendly procedures for reporting, recording of evidence, investigation and trial of offences. However, the issue of age of consent has generated some controversy.

What are the key provisions of the Act? • The Act defines a child as any person below the age of 18 years and provides protection to all children from offences such as sexual assault, penetrative sexual assault and sexual harassment. It also penalises a person for using a child for pornographic purposes. • The Act treats an offence as “aggravated” if it is committed by a person in a position of authority or trust such as a member of the security forces, a police officer or a public servant. • It specifies penalties for the offences and provides a mechanism for reporting and trial of such offences.

What is the issue with ‘age of consent’? • Age of consent refers to the age at which a person is considered to be capable of legally giving informed consent to sexual acts with another person. • Before this law was passed, the age of consent was considered to be 16 years (except if the woman was married to the accused, in which case it may be lower). Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 states that any sexual

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intercourse with a woman who is below the age of 16 years is considered to be “rape”. The consent of such person is irrelevant. • After introduction, the Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resource Development. The Committee submitted its report on December 21, 2011. • Taking into account the recommendations of the Standing Committee, the Parliament decided to amend certain provisions of the Bill before passing it. • The Bill stated that if a person is accused of “sexual assault” or “penetrative sexual assault” of a child between 16 and 18 years of age, it would be considered whether the consent of the child was taken by the accused. This provision was deleted from the Bill that was passed. • The Bill (as passed) states that any person below the age of 18 years shall be considered a child. It prohibits a person from engaging in any type of sexual activity with a child. However, the implication of this law is not clear in cases where both parties are below 18 years ). • The increase in the age of consent to 18 years sparked a debate among experts and activists. • Proponents of increasing the age of consent argued that if a victim is between 16 and 18 years of age, the focus of a sexual assault case would be on proving whether he or she consented to the act or not. The entire trial process including cross-examination of the victim would focus on the conduct of the victim rather than that of the accused. • Opponents of increasing the age of consent pointed out that since this Act criminalises any sexual activity with persons under the age of 18 years (even if consensual), the police may misuse it to harass young couples or parents may use this law to control older children’s sexual behaviour. THE WHISTLEBLOWERS PROTECTION BILL, 2011 • The Bill seeks to protect whistleblowers, i.e. persons making a public interest disclosure related to an act of corruption, misuse of power, or criminal offence by a public servant.

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• Any public servant or any other person including a non-governmental organization may make such a disclosure to the Central or State Vigilance Commission. • Every complaint has to include the identity of the complainant. • The Vigilance Commission shall not disclose the identity of the complainant except to the head of the department if he deems it necessary. The Bill penalises any person who has disclosed the identity of the complainant. • The Bill prescribes penalties for knowingly making false complaints. CITIZENS CHARTER BILL • The Right of Citizens for Time Bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of their Grievance Bill, 2011 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 20, 2011. • The Bill seeks to confer on every citizen the right to time bound delivery of specified goods and services and provide a mechanism for grievance redressal.

What does the bill propose? • The Bill makes it mandatory for every public authority to publish a Citizen’s Charter within six months of the commencement of the Act. • The Citizen’s Charter shall o list the details of the goods and services provided by a public authority; o the name of the person or agency responsible for providing the goods or services; o the time frame within which such goods or services have to be provided; o the category of people entitled to the goods and services; and o details of the complaint redressal mechanism.

What is the mechanism for grievance redressal? • Every public authority shall appoint Grievance Redress Officers (GRO) within six months of the Act coming into force. These officers shall be appointed at various levels i.e. central, state, district, panchayat and municipality to inquire and redress any complaints. The complaint has to be acknowledged within two days of making the complaint.

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• It shall be the duty of the GRO to ensure that within 30 days of the receipt of the complaint, o the complaint is remedied o the grievance is redressed; and o the defaulting officer is identified. • The GRO shall ensure that departmental action is taken against an individual if a grievance has occurred due to deficiency or negligence of that individual. The GRO may also recommend action against an individual to the designated authority if he feels there was willful neglect or a prima facie case under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. • The GRO shall give an Action Taken Report to the complainant informing him the manner in which the complaint was addressed. Any complaint not redressed within 30 days shall be forwarded by the GRO as an appeal to the designated authority.

Is there a right to appeal against the decisions of the GRO? • The complainant can also file an appeal against the decision of the GRO to the designated authority within 30 days of the receipt of the decision. The appeal shall be disposed of within 30 days from the date of the receipt of the appeal. • An appeal may be filed against the decision of the designated authority with o State Public Grievance Redressal Commission in case the designated authority falls within the jurisdiction of the state government; o Central Public Grievance Redressal Commission in case the designated authority falls within the central government. THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AGAINST SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT WORK PLACE BILL, 2010 • The Bill was introduced in, 2010 in the Lok Sabha and referred to the Standing Committee on HRD, which tabled its report in December, 2011. • The Indian Penal Code covers criminal acts that outrage or insult the ‘modesty’ of women. It does not cover situations, which could create a hostile or difficult environment for women at the work place. The Supreme Court in 1997 (Vishaka judgment) laid down guidelines to protect women from sexual IAS (PRELIMS), 2013: CURRENT AFFAIRS 245

harassment. This Bill defines sexual harassment and provides a mechanism for redressing complaints. The protection against sexual harassment is applicable to all women at the workplace. However, the Bill originally did not cover domestic workers working at home. But they have been included on the recommendations of the Standing Committee. • The Standing Committee recommendations also addressed issues of gender neutrality, inclusion of domestic workers and the modified definition of sexual harassment. • The Internal Complaints Committee shall include 4 members: a senior woman employee, two or more employees and one member from an NGO committed to the cause of women. Disqualifies a member if o he has been convicted of an offence or an inquiry is pending against him or o he is found guilty in disciplinary proceedings or a disciplinary proceeding is pending against him. • An LCC is required to be constituted in every district and additional LLCs at block level. At the block level the additional LCC will address complaints where the complainant does not have recourse to an ICC or where the complaint is against the employer. • The ICC/ LCC shall provide for conciliation if requested by the complainant. Otherwise, it shall initiate an inquiry. However, monetary settlement shall not be the basis on which conciliation is made. • Non-compliance with the provisions of the Act shall be punishable with a fine of up to Rs 50,000. • The Bill was passed in the Parliament. SIDBI (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2012 • The Union government on 22 May 2012 tabled the Small Industries Development Bank of India (Amendment) Bill, 2012 in the Lok Sabha, allowing sectors including floriculture, tourism, restaurants, and the entertainment industry to access loans from the bank. • The SIDBI (Amendment) Bill:

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o empowers SIDBI to confiscate the mortgaged property or right to transfer by way of lease or sale in case enterprise makes a default in repayment of any loan or advances. o envisages the widening of the scope of industrial concerns as well as aims at conferring more powers upon the board of directors of bank to decide investment limit for these industrial concerns. • It was believed that an amendment would replace definition and expression of industrial concern in small sector with industrial concern or micro enterprise or small enterprise or medium enterprise in the SIDBI Act 1989. The board of directors would be empowered to unanimously resolve to decide the investment limit for the purpose of industrial concern. • The change in definition as stated in the bill will thus help businesses such as convention centres, travel and transport, tourist service agencies, guidance and counselling services to tourists, financial assistance by way of venture capital, risk capital factoring and discounting , construction and development of roads to take loans and advances from the bank. THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT, 2012 • The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 came into force on 14 November 2012. The Act was passed in the Indian Parliament in May 2012. The Act under its ambit defines child as a person below the age-group of 18 and is gender neutral and have a clear definition for all types of sexual abuses like sexual harassment, penetrative or non-penetrative sexual abuse, and pornography. • The Act also has defined the punishments following the kind and harshness of the offence that includes life time imprisonment for heinous crimes of sexual assaults and abuses. The Act under its ambit has tried to set up the standards of International Child Protection rights and has made it mandatory to report the sexual offences against any child. Punishment against the person trying the allegedly defame any person that also includes a child via false information is mentioned in this Act.

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• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 has defined the ways to provide a child friendly process of offence reporting to evidence recording, trial and investigations. Section 45 of the Act allows the Union Government to make the necessary changes in the Act, whenever and wherever applicable. • The Act has also defined the facts like qualification and experience of the translators, interpreters, special educators, experts, arrangement for protection and care at times of emergencies and emergency treatment of child as well as the Compensation amount that is payable to any victim of sexual abuse. This Act has also cleared that the provisions of this Act would be monitored by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, periodically. • All the rules have been structured and framed relying upon the Juvenile Act, 2000 for making arrangements in regards to the care and protection of the child, the devised rules of the act also would pay attention to the fact that the child is not re-victimised at time of investigation as well as trial. The Act has also made it clear that under situations in which the child who is being taken for the medical facility on an emergency factor no documentation or magisterial requisition would be demanded before the treatment. • The Rules laid down in the Act also had defined the criterion of awarding the compensations by the special court that includes loss of educational and employment opportunities along with disability, disease or pregnancy suffered by the subject as the consequence of the abuse. This compensation would be awarded at the interim stage as well as after the trial ends. NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY BILL CLEARED • The Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on 19 March 2013 approved the National Food Security Bill. • The food security bill approved is directed towards giving the right to food to around 67 per cent of India's 120-crore population. The amendments to the Bill will guarantee 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month, while families in the poorest of the poor will continue to get 35 kg of grains per month.

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• As per the bill around 800 crore people will be entitled to get five kilos of subsidised grain per month. Rice will be made available at 3 Rupees per kilo; wheat will cost 2 rupees a kilo and cereal will be sold for 1 Rupees per kilo. • The beneficiaries are supposed to be decided by state governments, while the criteria to exclude 33 per cent of population would be provided by the Planning Commission. • The scheme will be linked to the Aadhar scheme, which provides every citizen with a unique identification number that's linked to a database that includes the biometrics of all card-holders. • It is also evident from the present year budget, that 90000 crore Rupees is allocated for spending on food subsidies with the government setting aside an extra 10 000 crore Rupees for the bill. • In earlier versions, the Food Security Bill assigned subsidised grains on the basis of priority and general groups, which were demarcated on the basis of poverty levels. The Cabinet gave its nod to the 71 amendments proposed by the Food Ministry, including the one that said the 2.43 crore Antyodaya Anna Yojna beneficiary households will continue to get their quota of 35 kg grains a month under the public distribution system. THE PIRACY BILL, 2012 • The Piracy Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on April 24, 2012.

What are the objectives of the Act? • According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons, there has been a significant increase in attacks by pirates, particularly in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia. This has affected security of maritime traffic and personnel plying between Asia, Europe and Africa. Moreover, enhanced naval presence in the Gulf of Aden is now causing pirates to shift operations close to India’s Exclusive Economic Zone. • As a result, a number of Somali pirates are presently in the custody of Indian police authorities. However, since piracy as a crime is not included in the Indian Penal Code (IPC), this has led to problems in prosecution. • The Piracy Bill intends to fill this gap and provide clarity in the law.

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What is the significance of this Legislation? • The Bill, if passed by Parliament, would extend to the entire Exclusive Economic Zone of India (EEZ). Under international law, EEZ is a seazone over which a country has special rights for exploration and use of marine resources. It stretches outward from the coast, up to 200 nautical miles into the sea. • The Bill defines ‘piracy’ as any illegal act of violence or detention for private ends by the crew or passengers of a private ship or aircraft on high seas or at a place outside the jurisdiction of any State. This definition is akin to the definition of piracy laid down under the ‘United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea‘. • The Bill seeks to punish piracy with imprisonment for life. In cases where piracy leads to death, it may be punished with death. It also provides that if arms and ammunition are recovered from the possession of the accused, or if there is evidence of threat of violence, the burden of proof for proving innocence would shift to the accused. • The Bill empowers the government to set up designated courts for speedy trial of offences and authorizes the court to prosecute the accused regardless of his/her nationality. It also provides for extradition.

What is the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)? • UNCLOS is a set of rules for the use of the world’s oceans, which cover 70% of the Earth’s surface. The convention was concluded in 1982 to replace a group of treaties adopted in 1958 that were considered to be out of date. UNCLOS came into force in 1994 and to date 159 countries (including the EU and India) have joined the treaty, while the United States has stayed out of it. • One of the main purposes of UNCLOS is to set universal zones of jurisdiction where coastal states can assert property rights. In general, coastal States have complete jurisdiction over marine resources up to 200 nautical miles from its shore. This jurisdiction, or property interest, includes all marine resources found within this 200 nautical mile zone. IAS (PRELIMS), 2013: CURRENT AFFAIRS 250

• Beyond this zone is the High Seas. No sovereign country under UNCLOS can claim independent jurisdiction to this region. This area exists under the notion of mare liberum, or freedom of the high seas. The effect is to create a vast area of ocean where the resources are available to any state. Whether a state is entitled to a territorial sea, continental shelf or exclusive economic zone is a question to be decided by the law of the sea.

What are the highlights of UNCLOS? • Of the many achievements of UNCLOS, the evolution of Territorial sea with clear fixed limits of 12 nautical miles from the base lines, the concept of innocent passage through the territorial sea and the contiguous zone over which the coastal state may extend the operation of certain of its laws are well settled principles. It is now universally recognized that the territorial sea is an integral part of the territory of the coastal state which has sovereignty over it. • The UNCLOS created the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in waters previously regarded as high seas. The aim of the convention was to accord new rights to coastal states to manage resources found in their adjacent seas, extending outwards to a maximum of 200 nautical miles, whilst maintaining freedom of navigation and movement for other states.

India and UNCLOS • The Department of Ocean Development is the nodal agency for implementation of the provisions of the UNCLOS in India. India ratified the convention in June 1995. • India, being a signatory to the UNCLOS, already had legislation (The Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976) which governed the field of maritime zones which reflects the principle norms laid down in UNCLOS. The Coast Guard Act and the Maritime Zones of India (Regulation of Fishing by Foreign Vessels) Act, 1981 contain provisions so as to deal with the offences committed with the territorial sea, contiguous zone and the exclusive economic zone.

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Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) and its legal status in India • The concept of the EEZ, along with the varying rights and responsibilities of littoral and island states, is provided legal sanction by the UNCLOS. The Law of the Sea provides vastly extended areas of sea to littoral and island states, comprising a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles (nm.), a contiguous zone of 24 nm, and an EEZ of 200nm, along with a continental shelf of 200-350 nm., where applicable with respect to the EEZ, they possess sovereign rights over all natural resources as well as over certain economic activities in the area, along with the exercise of jurisdiction over marine science research and environmental protection. The size of the Indian EEZ is estimated at 2.02-2.2 million sq km, covering both the western and eastern coasts, as well as the island territories of Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal. • In the EEZ, India possesses the following rights and jurisdictions: o sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources of the seabed, subsoil, and the waters; o rights and jurisdiction with regard to the establishment of artificial islands, installations and structures; o exclusive jurisdiction with regard to other activities for the economic exploitation and exploration of the zone, such as the production of energy from the water, currents and winds; and o jurisdiction with regard to the preservation of the marine environment, including pollution control. • Other states could utilise the resources of the EEZ only with the prior permission of the Indian government. Under Article 76(8) of the UNCLOS, an application must be submitted to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, a body set up under the UNCLOS.

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12

COMMISSIONS/ COMMITEES

JUSTICE DM DHARAMADHIKARI COMMITTEE REPORT • Appointed to look into Indian Airlines-Air India merger in 2007, the committee gave its report in January. The Union Government of India on 1 June 2012 announced to constitute an implementation panel to look into the ways of implementing the Dharmadhikari committee report on Air India and erstwhile Indian Airlines merger. The implementation panel will suggest the government of ways to implement the recommendations of Dharmadhikari Committee on issues including pay, allowances and career progression structure. • The implementation committee will submit its report within 45 days of its constitution. The committee will also be given the task of ‘level mapping’ of employees of Air India and erstwhile Indian Airlines.

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• The four-member Dharmadhikari committee on integration of nearly 29000 employees of Air India and Indian Airlines was headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice D. M. Dharmadhikari. The committee had submitted its report in January 2012. The committee had consulted all the concerned parties including pilots and management staffs before submitting its findings. The committee was constituted in March 2011. • Some of the major recommendations of Dharmadhikari committee are as follows: o Air India should continue to maintain two separate lines of seniority for pilots belonging to the pre-merger Indian Airlines and Air India o Pilots of both erstwhile carriers must be allowed to fly aircraft of all types o A 10-15 per cent salary cut for pilots and engineers to bring their salaries on par with industry standards o Uniform salaries for both sets of pilots o Cross-utilisation of pilots, which means Indian Airlines pilots can fly Dreamliners, and Air India pilots can fly Airbus aircraft after obtaining requisite endorsements and training • The Government of India in 2007 announced the merger of Air India with Indian Airlines. Subsequently a new company called the National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL) was established, into which both Air India (along with Air India Express) and Indian Airlines (along with Alliance Air) was merged. On 27 February 2011, Air India and Indian Airlines merged along with their subsidiaries to form Air India Limited. The merger did not go down well with the national carrier as it got trapped under a huge debt of 10 billion dollar. Besides the post merger days have also been marred with the reports of controversies and rifts among the management. The pilots of Air India have been on indefinite strike since 8 May 2012. JUSTICE MUKUL MUDGAL COMMISSION ON DOPING IN INDIAN SPORTS • The one-man commission was appointed in July, 2011 to look into the instances of doping in Indian Sports. It submitted its recommendations early this year. Important among them are:

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o NADA (National Anti Doping Agency) should be made independent of the govt. as laid down in the World Anti Doping Code (WADC). o NADA should setup a dedicated phone line for providing consultation to coaches and players about Anti Doping programmes. o A separate laboratory should be identified to test dietary supplements since National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) cannot do it under World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) regulations. o Anti Doping Programme in the country should be organized from school level to the elite level so that doping can be controlled in early stages. THE JUSTICE JS VERMA COMMITTEE • This committee was appointed after the infamous Delhi rape case to look into the sexual crimes law in the country. The committee was headed by former CJI JS Verma and had Leila Seth and Gopal Subramanium as members. • Justice Verma panel has submitted its report within 30-day timeframe to propose stricter laws in order to curb rising incidence of sexual assault cases against women. It has recognized failure of governance as primary cause of sexual crimes. It has also criticized the police, government and also the public for the lack of interest and also recommended changes in the entire society. To tackle with rising incidents of sexual assaults, it has raised the bar of punishment for a wide range of existing and proposed sexual offences though the panel has rejected the demand for introducing death sentence for rape. • It is important to address even the placid sexual harassment and each and every complaint of sexual harassment should be registered. • The victim has to be provided immediate medical aid, even in case of the private practitioners. • Also it has proposed changes in the duration of life sentences in the sexual assault crime. It has proposed to increase the duration of life sentence to 20 years or for the rest of that person’s natural life compared 14 years at the discretion of the government. This new variety of long life or whole life sentence has been recommended for aggravated forms of sexual assault: rape causing death or persistent vegetative state, gang rape,

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repeat offenders of rape, rape of an underage person followed by death or coma, trafficking by a public servant or of a minor. • If victim is a minor, panel recommends minimum 10 years jail up to life sentence. If minor dies during rape or is reduced to a vegetative state, sentence should range from 20 years to the rest of convicts life. • Marital rape to be recognized as an offence for women of all ages • Panel for recognizing new offences such as disrobing a woman, trafficking & stalking. • Trafficking should be made punishable with imprisonment ranging from not less than 7 years to 10 years. Minor children trafficking should be considered as a serious offence. • Introduces offence of breach of command responsibility, making a senior officer of security forces liable to jail of 7-10 years if subordinates commit rape • Panel did not recommend lowering juvenile age in spite of public demand but wants juvenile justice system strengthened • Voyeurism will lead to a punishment of up to 7 years • It recommends that Khap panchayat is unconstitutional and it has no right to declare the marriage invalid • It has recommended for Police reforms as well • Need to amend of Criminal law amendment bill 2012.

Differences between Govt. Ordinance & Panel's Recommendations • However, the ordinance passed by the Cabinet went for a harsher punishment for a rapist - a minimum of 20 years imprisonment for rapists and even death penalty in extreme cases. o The Justice JS Verma Committee recommended reviewing of the controversial section of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) so that armed force personnel, who commit crime against women, could be tried under ordinary criminal law.

Ordinance rejected this recommendation.

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o Verma panel reccomended criminalization of marital rape but the ordinance rejected it. o The Justice JS Verma Committee recommended restriction of politicians facing sexual offence charges from contesting elections.

Ordinance rejected this recommendation.

o The panel recommended that the senior police or army officials be held responsible for sexual offences committed by their junior but the ordinance rejected it. o The Justice JS Verma Committee wanted to make videography of recording statement from victim mandatory but the ordinance made it optional. o The Justice JS Verma Committee wanted the definition for sexual offences as rape but the ordinance replaced it with the word "sexual assault". TO REVIEW THE FUNCTIONING OF PRASAR BHARATI32 • The Government of India has set up an Expert Committee under the chairpersonship of Sam Pitroda to review the functioning of Prasar Bharati. The terms of reference of the Committee are as follows:- o To sustain, strengthen and amplify Prasar Bharati's role as a Public Broadcaster with special reference to its relationship with Government in the emerging context. o To suggest a road map ahead for enhancing the reach and potential of Prasar Bharati.

32 Prasar Bharati is a statutory autonomous body established under the Prasar Bharati Act and came into existence in 1997. It is the Public Service Broadcaster of the country. It controls All India Radio and Doordarshan, which earlier were working as media units under the Ministry of I&B.

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o To suggest measures to digitize the archival material in the possession of Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR) including material from Independence Movement era. o To suggest ways of using the new media to deliver digital content - both in broadcast mode (DTH) and in a demand-based mode (Free on social media like You-Tube, and on payment through IPTV). o To suggest a strategy for creating a network of domestic and overseas business partners for ensuring wider reach to a worldwide audience including creating an exclusive overseas service. NARESH CHANDRA COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY • Naresh Chandra Committee, a 14-member task force on national security, submitted its report to the government on 8 August 2012. The committee was set up by the Union government on 21 June 2012 to suggest ways to revamp of defence management in the country. • Naresh Chandra, a former bureaucrat, headed the committee which members included former military officers, intelligence chiefs, diplomats and strategic analysts. Air Chief Marshal (retired) S. Krishnaswamy, General (retired) VR Raghavan, the former Department of Atomic Energy chief , Admiral (retired) Arun Prakash, the former R&AW head KC Verma, the former Union Home Secretary V.K. Duggal, G Parthasarathy, former diplomat, and senior journalist were the other members in the committee. • The main objective behind the constitution of the committee was to contemporarise the Kargil Review Committee’s recommendations, which was tabled in the Parliament on 23 February 2000. Besides, the task force was also asked to examine the state of country's border management and restructuring system.

Kargil Review Committee • The Kargil Review Committee (KRC), headed by the late K. Subrahmanyam, had submitted its report a decade back. The

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recommendations made by the committee had paved the way for the setting up of a Group of Ministers, which had suggested massive reforms in the country's security management system. The KRC is considered to be the first major attempt at revamping the country's security after Independence. MUKUL MUDGAL COMMISSION ON FILM CENSORSHIP • The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has constituted a panel under the Chairmanship of Justice Mukul Mudgal, Retired Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court, to examine issues of certification under the Cinematograph Act, 1952. The Committee also includes Lalit Bhasin, Chairperson, FCAT, Sharmila Tagore, former Chairperson, CBFC, , , Chairperson, CBFC etc. • The committee will: o Review the mandate and functioning of CBFC and recommend measures including statutory changes to enable CBFC to deal with contemporary requirements of certification. o To review the mandate and functioning of Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) in order to improve its functioning. o Examine the role of Central Government regarding sanctioning of cinematograph films for exhibition. o To suggest more effective legal remedies and penal provisions in the Act, particularly with reference to making unlawful copies, camcording in cinema halls, interpolation/insertion of clips after certification etc. RAVINDRA DHOLAKIA COMMITTEE ON RATIONALIZATION OF AIR INDIA EXPENDITURE • The Ministry of Civil Aviation on 3 January 2013 constituted a five-member committee to look into and suggest the measures that can be taken for cost cutting as well as optimal utilization of resources in Air India. The committee would be headed by Prof. Ravindra Dholkia of IIM, . • The Ministry has provided a two months time to Prof. Dholkia and the committee to submit its report along with interim recommendations, for immediate implementation.

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20TH LAW COMMISSION OF INDIA • Justice DK Jain has been appointed as the Chairman of 20th Law Commission. Justice Jain would take on the chair of the Chairman of the Law Commission on 24 January 2012 after he retires of a Judge of Supreme Court on the same day. The Law Commission is responsible for offering advices on complex issues to the Government. He would be heading the commission as its chief for a period of three-years from the date of being in the office. • The 20th Law Commission of India was constituted with the Order of the Government of India with effect from 1 September 2012. The functioning of the commission would end on 31 August 2012. The commission would be responsible for identification of obsolete laws and suggest measures suitable for quick grievance handling and redressal of the citizens. It would also be examining the laws that effects poor and suggest measures which would help in harnessing the law and the legal process for the economically weaker and poor section of the society.

TH 14 FINANCE COMMISSION • YV Reddy, Former RBI governor has been appointed as the Chairman of 14th Finance Commission, which would submit its report by Oct. 31, 2014. Finance Commission is a constitutional body set up every five years under Article 280 of the Constitution of India. It is concerned with allocation of non-planned resources from the centre to the states. It would recommend measures for a five years period starting 1st April, 2015.

Additional Mandate • It would also recommend steps for pricing of public utilities such as electricity and water in an independent manner so that they can be insulated from policy fluctuation through statutory provisions • PSEs disinvestment and sale of non priority PSUs • GST Compensation to states • Fiscal consolidation map proposed by 13th FC, also maintaining a stable and sustainable fiscal environment consistent with equitable growth

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• Subsidies. MISCELLANEOUS • N. Rangachary, former CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) heads a committee to suggest taxation measures for IT Sector and Development Centres. • Ashok Chawla Panel to ensure transperancy in aloocation of natural resouces like land, coal, petroleum & Natural Gas. Constituted January, 2011. Report Submitted in May, 2011. Most recommendations accepted. • The Government has constituted a four-member committee headed by Economic Affairs Secretary, Arvind Mayaram today to remove ambiguity in the definitions of FDI and FII, two types of foreign investments. The committee includes the DIPP Secretary, an RBI Deputy Governor and a SEBI Whole-time Member.

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