Strictly Personal, Manmohan and Gursharan: A book by Daman Singh
A book ‘Strictly Personal, Manmohan and Gursharan’ penned by Daman Singh was released. It tells the untold story of Manmohan Singh, India’s 13th PM, and his wife Gursharan.
The book doesn’t portrait Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister but as the family man whose life and loved ones were embroiled in the vortex of history. The writer reiterates the fact that other than Jawaharlal Nehru, no other PM has had such an influence on India and its economic policies as Manmohan Singh.
Daman Singh sheds light on the life and struggle of her father – as a young boy; he lost his mother to eternity, and his family to the partition.
A book ‘Strictly Personal, Manmohan and Gursharan’ penned by Daman Singh was released. It tells the untold story of Manmohan Singh, India’s 13th PM, and his wife Gursharan.
The book doesn’t portrait Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister but as the family man whose life and loved ones were embroiled in the vortex of history. The writer reiterates the fact that other than Jawaharlal Nehru, no other PM has had such an influence on India and its economic policies as Manmohan Singh.
Daman Singh sheds light on the life and struggle of her father – as a young boy; he lost his mother to eternity, and his family to the partition.
Reserve Bank issue draft guidelines for ‘anytime anywhere’ Bharat Bill Payment System
With a view to introduce an ‘anytime anywhere payment system’, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued draft guidelines for the implementation of Bharat Bill Payment System (BPPS).
The draft mentions the requirements and the basic framework of operating the BBPS, and stipulates the eligibility criteria, standards for settlement model and customer grievance redressal, roles and responsibilities and scope for entities seeking to be part of BBPS.
RBI’s plan to implement an ‘anytime anywhere’ centralized payment system is based on a report submitted by the GIRO (Government Internal Revenue Order) Advisory Group. GIRO Advisory Group (GAG) was constituted by the RBI in October 2013, under the chairmanship of Prof. Umesh Bellur, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay to implement a national GIRO-based Indian Bill Payment System.
The panel had recommended a mechanism for centralized bills payment system in India, mainly by laying out 2 organizations:
- Bharat Bill Payment Services (BBPS)
- Bharat Bill Payment Operating Units (BBPOUs)
Bill Payments in India: Issues and challenges
What do Bill payments in India mainly comprise of?
Bill payments form a key portion of all retail payment transactions. Bills include utility services such as school/university fees, examination fees, Government payments, pre-paid payment instruments top-up, mobile phones recharge/top-up etc.
How are Bill payments at present done in India?
Currently, customers make bill payments at Bill Owners Customer Point (BOCP), cheque drop boxes, bank branches, agent outlets, and via electronic modes. Options available include:
- Direct payment to billers – biller operated payment centres, Internet Banking / Payment Gateway, ECS (Electronic Clearing Service).
- Aggregators and Banks – Internet Banking, Bill Presentments, Standing Instructions.
- Bill Pay Agents – Collection Points, Business Correspondents.
What are the shortcomings observed in the present scenario of bill collection/ payment process in India?
- Absence of Interoperability- Limited or no interoperability, thus each biller needs to establish and supervise its own collection points (BOCPs.
- Consumer preference for BOCP- A consumer prefers that BOCP where (s)he feels comfortable by a direct payment and an instant printed receipt received for the payment. Due to lack of visibility consumer usually do not trust agents’ networks.
- Poor Accessibility- BOCPs are generally concentrated in urban centers and are not easily accessible to people in rural/remote areas.
- Lack of coordinated initiative- No industry-driven initiative as of yet to develop a common interoperable system, which would bring about comfort of payment to users and cost and functional efficiency to the Billers.
- There is no common website from where all bills can be accessed and smoothly paid .
Why there is a need for a national ‘GIRO-based Indian Bill Payment System’?
Those people who have access to internet banking facility can pay their bills online, however there are a huge number of consumers who don’t have access to internet banking and thus they cannot pay their bills online. Such consumers have to physically go at different places to pay their different bills. Albeit, the ECS (Electronic Clearing Service) debit volume is growing in India at the rate of 5% per annum and in 2012-13 it was Rs 176.50 Million, but, still this is very small when compared with total billing volume in largely populated country like India. Most of the consumers in India still pay their bills by physically visiting different customer outlets.
Therefore, there is a requirement for an interoperable, integrated bill payment system in India which:-
- Provides consumers a single point for their various bill payments
- Near to place of work or residence
- Enables payment of any bill at any place
- Allow payments via any mode (cash, cheque, credit card, debit card, prepaid payment instruments etc.)
- Includes bank branches, post offices, business correspondents, retail agents of aggregators, ATMs (Automated Teller Machine), etc.
- Furnishes quick confirmation of payment made via SMS or a payment receipt
- Provides facility of payment of bills via internet banking (if possible a single website), mobile banking and IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System)
- Is efficient and cost effectual substitute to the present systems
- Motivates billers to switch over to the new system
- Sets up billing standards in India
- Increases consumer trust and experience
- Reduces the expenditure that billers incur on collection of bills at their own collection centres
The above issues and challenges can be resolved if we have a centralizedinfrastructure for bill payments in India which brings about interoperability with an all India-standard.
What is the Model for pan-India centralised bill payment in India as suggested by the Umesh Bellur headed GIRO Advisory Group?
The pan-India centralised bill payments infrastructure would have two types of entities:
- Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS)- Will set standards and conduct of centralised payment, clearing and settlement process
- Bharat Bill Payment Operating Units (BBPOUs)- Will act as operating unit(s)
The model would thus be a 2-tier structure with a single standard setting body (BBPS) with payment and settlement functionalities/responsibilities and multiple operating entities (BBPOUs).
Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS)
A ‘not-for-profit organization’ registered under the Companies Act 1956, like NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India). It shall have a Steering Group constituting of representatives from the participating BBPOUs and other stake holders.The Roles and Responsibilities of BBPS include:
- Setting Business standards and processes the BBPOUs, management of dispute resolution, standards for information exchange.
- Marketing and brand positioning of the pan-India Bharat Bill payments system
- Accomplishing payment, clearing and settlement of the transactions executed at several BBPOUs
- Act as final dispute resolution escalation point
- Set up a single website on behalf of the brand for online payment of bills
Bharat Bill Payment Operating Units (BBPOUs)
A for–profit company registered under the Companies Act 1956 and has obtained requisite certification from BBPS for participating in the the centralised bill payments system.
Roles and Responsibilities of BBPOUs:-
- Infrastructure development (including APIs as per standards set by BBPS).
- Transaction handling
- Handling customer grievance / disputes at first place
- Provide Value-added services
- Ensure confidentiality and privacy standards are in place
With a view to introduce an ‘anytime anywhere payment system’, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued draft guidelines for the implementation of Bharat Bill Payment System (BPPS).
The draft mentions the requirements and the basic framework of operating the BBPS, and stipulates the eligibility criteria, standards for settlement model and customer grievance redressal, roles and responsibilities and scope for entities seeking to be part of BBPS.
RBI’s plan to implement an ‘anytime anywhere’ centralized payment system is based on a report submitted by the GIRO (Government Internal Revenue Order) Advisory Group. GIRO Advisory Group (GAG) was constituted by the RBI in October 2013, under the chairmanship of Prof. Umesh Bellur, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay to implement a national GIRO-based Indian Bill Payment System.
The panel had recommended a mechanism for centralized bills payment system in India, mainly by laying out 2 organizations:
- Bharat Bill Payment Services (BBPS)
- Bharat Bill Payment Operating Units (BBPOUs)
Bill Payments in India: Issues and challenges
What do Bill payments in India mainly comprise of?
Bill payments form a key portion of all retail payment transactions. Bills include utility services such as school/university fees, examination fees, Government payments, pre-paid payment instruments top-up, mobile phones recharge/top-up etc.
How are Bill payments at present done in India?
Currently, customers make bill payments at Bill Owners Customer Point (BOCP), cheque drop boxes, bank branches, agent outlets, and via electronic modes. Options available include:
- Direct payment to billers – biller operated payment centres, Internet Banking / Payment Gateway, ECS (Electronic Clearing Service).
- Aggregators and Banks – Internet Banking, Bill Presentments, Standing Instructions.
- Bill Pay Agents – Collection Points, Business Correspondents.
What are the shortcomings observed in the present scenario of bill collection/ payment process in India?
- Absence of Interoperability- Limited or no interoperability, thus each biller needs to establish and supervise its own collection points (BOCPs.
- Consumer preference for BOCP- A consumer prefers that BOCP where (s)he feels comfortable by a direct payment and an instant printed receipt received for the payment. Due to lack of visibility consumer usually do not trust agents’ networks.
- Poor Accessibility- BOCPs are generally concentrated in urban centers and are not easily accessible to people in rural/remote areas.
- Lack of coordinated initiative- No industry-driven initiative as of yet to develop a common interoperable system, which would bring about comfort of payment to users and cost and functional efficiency to the Billers.
- There is no common website from where all bills can be accessed and smoothly paid .
Why there is a need for a national ‘GIRO-based Indian Bill Payment System’?
Those people who have access to internet banking facility can pay their bills online, however there are a huge number of consumers who don’t have access to internet banking and thus they cannot pay their bills online. Such consumers have to physically go at different places to pay their different bills. Albeit, the ECS (Electronic Clearing Service) debit volume is growing in India at the rate of 5% per annum and in 2012-13 it was Rs 176.50 Million, but, still this is very small when compared with total billing volume in largely populated country like India. Most of the consumers in India still pay their bills by physically visiting different customer outlets.
Therefore, there is a requirement for an interoperable, integrated bill payment system in India which:-
- Provides consumers a single point for their various bill payments
- Near to place of work or residence
- Enables payment of any bill at any place
- Allow payments via any mode (cash, cheque, credit card, debit card, prepaid payment instruments etc.)
- Includes bank branches, post offices, business correspondents, retail agents of aggregators, ATMs (Automated Teller Machine), etc.
- Furnishes quick confirmation of payment made via SMS or a payment receipt
- Provides facility of payment of bills via internet banking (if possible a single website), mobile banking and IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System)
- Is efficient and cost effectual substitute to the present systems
- Motivates billers to switch over to the new system
- Sets up billing standards in India
- Increases consumer trust and experience
- Reduces the expenditure that billers incur on collection of bills at their own collection centres
The above issues and challenges can be resolved if we have a centralizedinfrastructure for bill payments in India which brings about interoperability with an all India-standard.
What is the Model for pan-India centralised bill payment in India as suggested by the Umesh Bellur headed GIRO Advisory Group?
The pan-India centralised bill payments infrastructure would have two types of entities:
- Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS)- Will set standards and conduct of centralised payment, clearing and settlement process
- Bharat Bill Payment Operating Units (BBPOUs)- Will act as operating unit(s)
The model would thus be a 2-tier structure with a single standard setting body (BBPS) with payment and settlement functionalities/responsibilities and multiple operating entities (BBPOUs).
Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS)
A ‘not-for-profit organization’ registered under the Companies Act 1956, like NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India). It shall have a Steering Group constituting of representatives from the participating BBPOUs and other stake holders.The Roles and Responsibilities of BBPS include:
- Setting Business standards and processes the BBPOUs, management of dispute resolution, standards for information exchange.
- Marketing and brand positioning of the pan-India Bharat Bill payments system
- Accomplishing payment, clearing and settlement of the transactions executed at several BBPOUs
- Act as final dispute resolution escalation point
- Set up a single website on behalf of the brand for online payment of bills
Bharat Bill Payment Operating Units (BBPOUs)
A for–profit company registered under the Companies Act 1956 and has obtained requisite certification from BBPS for participating in the the centralised bill payments system.
Roles and Responsibilities of BBPOUs:-
- Infrastructure development (including APIs as per standards set by BBPS).
- Transaction handling
- Handling customer grievance / disputes at first place
- Provide Value-added services
- Ensure confidentiality and privacy standards are in place
Strange practice of aboriginal Martu people of Australia helped kangaroo population flourish
As per a study conducted by anthropologists, the practice of aboriginal Martu people of Australia which involves setting small grass fires to catch lizards has actually enhanced kangaroo populations. The Martu people have been following this practice for at least 2000 years to expose burrows dug by 2-foot-long sand monitor lizards, which they then drag from the holes, cook and eat. The fires set by these people average about 10 acres. A researcher found such human-made disruption boosts kangaroo populations – showing how co-evolution helped marsupials and made Aborigines into unintentional conservationists.
It has been found that the same land becomes the breeding ground for different types of vegetation, aiding kangaroos. For instance, the marsupials hide from predators such as dingoes in older bush grass and consume shoots and fruits in areas of younger vegetation.
The findings, published online today in the journal Human Ecology, suggest that Australia might want to encourage small-scale burning to bolster wildlife populations in certain areas. The study concludes: “To be successful, management schemes should facilitate traditional burning and hunting regimes in remote communities, and incorporate this traditional ecological practice into future management protocols.”
As per a study conducted by anthropologists, the practice of aboriginal Martu people of Australia which involves setting small grass fires to catch lizards has actually enhanced kangaroo populations. The Martu people have been following this practice for at least 2000 years to expose burrows dug by 2-foot-long sand monitor lizards, which they then drag from the holes, cook and eat. The fires set by these people average about 10 acres. A researcher found such human-made disruption boosts kangaroo populations – showing how co-evolution helped marsupials and made Aborigines into unintentional conservationists.
It has been found that the same land becomes the breeding ground for different types of vegetation, aiding kangaroos. For instance, the marsupials hide from predators such as dingoes in older bush grass and consume shoots and fruits in areas of younger vegetation.
The findings, published online today in the journal Human Ecology, suggest that Australia might want to encourage small-scale burning to bolster wildlife populations in certain areas. The study concludes: “To be successful, management schemes should facilitate traditional burning and hunting regimes in remote communities, and incorporate this traditional ecological practice into future management protocols.”
Union Cabinet gives nod to Juvenile Justice Bill, 2014 to amend previous Act
With a view to amend the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, 2000, the Union cabinet approved the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2014. The bill is expected to be introduced in the Monsoon session of Parliament.
The bill will place minors above the age of 16, accused of heinous crimes like rape and murder, in the adults’ category. The current JJ Act, 2000 treats any person below the age of 18 as juvenile. With the new Bill, Juvenile Justice Board will be empowered to decide whether a minor would be tried in a regular court or sent to a correctional centre. However, as per the provision of the bill, if a minor is sent to regular court, he would not be awarded life or death sentence if found guilty. At present, the maximum punishment under the JJ Act is 3 years confinement at correctional centres.
The amendment in the current law comes after it has been observed that minors were involved in many incidences of rapes reported over the last two years.
As per the Bill:
- The bill has the provision of up to 7 years of rigorous imprisonment, Rs 5 lakh fine or both for militant groups who recruit child soldiers or use children for any purpose.
- The term ‘corporal punishment’ will include physical and verbal abuse.
- Stringent punishment for those who subject a child to corporal punishment causing hurt and emotional distress to the child.
- Offenders to be punished with jail term of up to 6 months on first conviction. Depending on the seriousness of physical injury and mental trauma of the child, the offender could be punished with 3 to 5 years in jail and up to Rs 1 lakh fine.
- In case the wrongdoer is an employee of an institution dealing with children, he could be dismissed from service for repeat offender. Even the management of such institution can be sentenced to up to 3 year jail and Rs 1 lakh fine for non-compliance or non-cooperation in any investigation.
Ragging within or outside the institution will be dealt with strictly with the provision of punishing the offender with a sentence up to 3 years in jail and fined up to Rs 1 lakh. An accomplice or anyone propagating ragging can also be punished with imprisonment. If India enacts the Bill it will join 40 other countries where corporal punishment is a penal offence.
With a view to amend the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, 2000, the Union cabinet approved the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2014. The bill is expected to be introduced in the Monsoon session of Parliament.
The bill will place minors above the age of 16, accused of heinous crimes like rape and murder, in the adults’ category. The current JJ Act, 2000 treats any person below the age of 18 as juvenile. With the new Bill, Juvenile Justice Board will be empowered to decide whether a minor would be tried in a regular court or sent to a correctional centre. However, as per the provision of the bill, if a minor is sent to regular court, he would not be awarded life or death sentence if found guilty. At present, the maximum punishment under the JJ Act is 3 years confinement at correctional centres.
The amendment in the current law comes after it has been observed that minors were involved in many incidences of rapes reported over the last two years.
As per the Bill:
- The bill has the provision of up to 7 years of rigorous imprisonment, Rs 5 lakh fine or both for militant groups who recruit child soldiers or use children for any purpose.
- The term ‘corporal punishment’ will include physical and verbal abuse.
- Stringent punishment for those who subject a child to corporal punishment causing hurt and emotional distress to the child.
- Offenders to be punished with jail term of up to 6 months on first conviction. Depending on the seriousness of physical injury and mental trauma of the child, the offender could be punished with 3 to 5 years in jail and up to Rs 1 lakh fine.
- In case the wrongdoer is an employee of an institution dealing with children, he could be dismissed from service for repeat offender. Even the management of such institution can be sentenced to up to 3 year jail and Rs 1 lakh fine for non-compliance or non-cooperation in any investigation.
Ragging within or outside the institution will be dealt with strictly with the provision of punishing the offender with a sentence up to 3 years in jail and fined up to Rs 1 lakh. An accomplice or anyone propagating ragging can also be punished with imprisonment. If India enacts the Bill it will join 40 other countries where corporal punishment is a penal offence.
NASA to launch Mars 2020 Rover to further exploration of the Red Planet
NASA has announced that it will launch a new mission to Mars in 2020 named asMars 2020 Rover mission. The mission will endeavor to find out the potential habitability of the Mars environment, and directly search for signs of prehistoric Martian life. This attempt if successful will facilitate future manned missions.
The Mars 2020 rover mission is likely to be launched somewhere in July or August 2020, which will make landing on the red planet after an eight to nine month journey in 2021. The mission will be designed and managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The mission rover will be based on the design of the successful rover, Curiosity that is functioning since it landed on the Mars in August 2012 and is a part of the NASA’s Mars Exploration Program.
NASA has announced that it will launch a new mission to Mars in 2020 named asMars 2020 Rover mission. The mission will endeavor to find out the potential habitability of the Mars environment, and directly search for signs of prehistoric Martian life. This attempt if successful will facilitate future manned missions.
The Mars 2020 rover mission is likely to be launched somewhere in July or August 2020, which will make landing on the red planet after an eight to nine month journey in 2021. The mission will be designed and managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The mission rover will be based on the design of the successful rover, Curiosity that is functioning since it landed on the Mars in August 2012 and is a part of the NASA’s Mars Exploration Program.
Rosetta: First spacecraft placed into orbit around a comet
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) spacecraft ‘Rosetta’ became the first spacecraft to intercept and go into orbit around a comet. It is now in position tohelp researchers to begin with their investigations into how the Solar System came into being.
ESA scientists brought Rosetta to within 100km of the comet – a 3km by 5km rock called 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko – and put it in a stable orbit by reducing its speed with its thrusters. To reach that point so far from the earth the spacecraft took around 10 years. Comets are considered to be primitive building blocks of the Solar System, and relics of the formation of the planets. It also believed that they provided Earth with both water and other essential ingredients which were necessary for triggering the evolution of life.
Rosetta and 67P
67P was first discovered in 1969 by Soviet astronomers Ivanovych Churyumov and Svetlana Ivanova Gerasimenko.
Scientists hope that Rosetta will unravel the secrets of this early history. The spacecraft has been named after the Rosetta Stone, the discovery of which in 1799 provided the key to translating Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and Demotic script into Ancient Greek (and thus any other language).
It blasted off from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, in March 2004, for a long journey involving loops around the Sun as it aimed to get onto the same orbit as 67P.
Rosetta has traversed over 6bn km, passing by Earth three times, Mars once, and flew by two asteroids, using the gravitational pull of those bodies to change velocity and catch up with 67P.
The mission has some resemblance with Japan’s 2005 Hayabusa mission, which landed on an asteroid named Itokawa. Its task was to lift out material from the asteroid’s surface, and return it to Earth for study – those samples arrived in 2010, but its capture mechanism malfunctioned. It is still uncertain if the capsule could successfully collect the asteroid rock fragments.
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) spacecraft ‘Rosetta’ became the first spacecraft to intercept and go into orbit around a comet. It is now in position tohelp researchers to begin with their investigations into how the Solar System came into being.
ESA scientists brought Rosetta to within 100km of the comet – a 3km by 5km rock called 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko – and put it in a stable orbit by reducing its speed with its thrusters. To reach that point so far from the earth the spacecraft took around 10 years. Comets are considered to be primitive building blocks of the Solar System, and relics of the formation of the planets. It also believed that they provided Earth with both water and other essential ingredients which were necessary for triggering the evolution of life.
Rosetta and 67P
67P was first discovered in 1969 by Soviet astronomers Ivanovych Churyumov and Svetlana Ivanova Gerasimenko.
Scientists hope that Rosetta will unravel the secrets of this early history. The spacecraft has been named after the Rosetta Stone, the discovery of which in 1799 provided the key to translating Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and Demotic script into Ancient Greek (and thus any other language).
It blasted off from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, in March 2004, for a long journey involving loops around the Sun as it aimed to get onto the same orbit as 67P.
Rosetta has traversed over 6bn km, passing by Earth three times, Mars once, and flew by two asteroids, using the gravitational pull of those bodies to change velocity and catch up with 67P.
The mission has some resemblance with Japan’s 2005 Hayabusa mission, which landed on an asteroid named Itokawa. Its task was to lift out material from the asteroid’s surface, and return it to Earth for study – those samples arrived in 2010, but its capture mechanism malfunctioned. It is still uncertain if the capsule could successfully collect the asteroid rock fragments.
Russia hackers stole 1.2 billion usernames and passwords
As per Hold Security – a US firm with expertise in spotting breaches, a Russian group of hackers dubbed ‘CyberVor’ has stolen 1.2 billion usernames and passwords belonging to more than 500 million email addresses.
It claimed the hacked information belongs to over 420,000 websites, including many leaders in virtually all companies across the globe. It revealed that the hackers targeted every site that their victims visited. However the firm has not disclosed the names of those companies the accounts of which have been compromised.
Surprisingly, it has posted a message on its site saying it will charge $120 (£71) a month for a breach notification service. As claimed by Hold Security, the hackers also got access to data from “Botnets” – a network of computers infected with malware, to set off online scam and helped the hacking group identify more than 400,000 websites that were susceptible to cyber attacks.
As per Hold Security – a US firm with expertise in spotting breaches, a Russian group of hackers dubbed ‘CyberVor’ has stolen 1.2 billion usernames and passwords belonging to more than 500 million email addresses.
It claimed the hacked information belongs to over 420,000 websites, including many leaders in virtually all companies across the globe. It revealed that the hackers targeted every site that their victims visited. However the firm has not disclosed the names of those companies the accounts of which have been compromised.
Surprisingly, it has posted a message on its site saying it will charge $120 (£71) a month for a breach notification service. As claimed by Hold Security, the hackers also got access to data from “Botnets” – a network of computers infected with malware, to set off online scam and helped the hacking group identify more than 400,000 websites that were susceptible to cyber attacks.
Team India equals world record of maximum dismissals at zero in a Test innings
In an utterly disappointing performance by Indian cricket team on the first day of the Manchester Test played against England, six Indian players got out without opening their account. With this dismal show, India equaled the world record of maximum number of 6 ducks in a Test innings.
The six players who lost their wickets at duck were Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Pankaj Singh.
Stuart Broad played a major role in making India suffer as he scalped 6 Indian wickets in 13.4 over by spending 25.
The other teams with the record of six ducks in a Test innings are Pakistan, SouthAfrica and Bangladesh.
In an utterly disappointing performance by Indian cricket team on the first day of the Manchester Test played against England, six Indian players got out without opening their account. With this dismal show, India equaled the world record of maximum number of 6 ducks in a Test innings.
The six players who lost their wickets at duck were Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Pankaj Singh.
Stuart Broad played a major role in making India suffer as he scalped 6 Indian wickets in 13.4 over by spending 25.
The other teams with the record of six ducks in a Test innings are Pakistan, SouthAfrica and Bangladesh.
Ebola is a Public Health Emergency: WHO
The emergency committee of the World Health Organization has unanimously agreed to proclaim the Ebola virus a Public Health Emergency of InternationalConcern.
As per the UN body, the possible outcomes of further international spread are particularly serious in view of the mortality rate linked with the disease, the intensive community and health facility transmission patterns, and the fragile health systems in the currently affected and most at-risk countries.
As per WHO, the current Ebola outbreak began in Guinea in December 2013 and has since spread to Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. As of August 4, 2014, 1,711 cases of the infection have been reported and over 1,000 of which have been confirmed, and 932 deaths due to the virus have occurred.
The WHO also released a list of recommendations for governments in affected nations. Among other things, the organization suggested temporary bans on “mass gatherings” and exit screenings at airports to examine people leaving countries hit by the virus.
The emergency committee of the World Health Organization has unanimously agreed to proclaim the Ebola virus a Public Health Emergency of InternationalConcern.
As per the UN body, the possible outcomes of further international spread are particularly serious in view of the mortality rate linked with the disease, the intensive community and health facility transmission patterns, and the fragile health systems in the currently affected and most at-risk countries.
As per WHO, the current Ebola outbreak began in Guinea in December 2013 and has since spread to Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. As of August 4, 2014, 1,711 cases of the infection have been reported and over 1,000 of which have been confirmed, and 932 deaths due to the virus have occurred.
The WHO also released a list of recommendations for governments in affected nations. Among other things, the organization suggested temporary bans on “mass gatherings” and exit screenings at airports to examine people leaving countries hit by the virus.
Kapil Dev to chair Arjuna Award selection panel
Legendary India cricket skipper Kapil Dev will head the Arjuna Awards selectioncommittee for selecting outstanding sportspersons of the country for year 2014. Former hockey captain Ajitpal Singh is expected to head the Dronacharya Awardsselection committee.
Each panel will have 15 members, including 12 renowned sportspersons and three officials. The three officials – Director General of the Sports Authority of India and a Joint Secretary and Deputy Secretary from the ministry – will be on both panels.
It is worth recalling that for year 2013, Arjuna and Dronacharya awards selection committee’s were chaired by world billiards champion Michael Ferreira and mountaineer H P S Ahluwalia respectively.
Legendary India cricket skipper Kapil Dev will head the Arjuna Awards selectioncommittee for selecting outstanding sportspersons of the country for year 2014. Former hockey captain Ajitpal Singh is expected to head the Dronacharya Awardsselection committee.
Each panel will have 15 members, including 12 renowned sportspersons and three officials. The three officials – Director General of the Sports Authority of India and a Joint Secretary and Deputy Secretary from the ministry – will be on both panels.
It is worth recalling that for year 2013, Arjuna and Dronacharya awards selection committee’s were chaired by world billiards champion Michael Ferreira and mountaineer H P S Ahluwalia respectively.
Union Cabinet gives nod to increase FDI in defence sector to 49%
The Union Cabinet cleared a proposal to enhance the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit in defence sector to 49% from the current 26%.
The step is aimed at boosting domestic defence industry of the country that imports up to 70% of its military requirements.
In the Budget 2014-15, it was proposed to hike the composite limit of foreign investment to 49% to be approved through the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) route and with control of the enterprise to be in Indian hands.
At present, the government allows 26% FDI in defence manufacturing.
The Union Cabinet cleared a proposal to enhance the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit in defence sector to 49% from the current 26%.
The step is aimed at boosting domestic defence industry of the country that imports up to 70% of its military requirements.
In the Budget 2014-15, it was proposed to hike the composite limit of foreign investment to 49% to be approved through the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) route and with control of the enterprise to be in Indian hands.
At present, the government allows 26% FDI in defence manufacturing.
ZMapp: Experimental drug to treat Ebola infected U.S. Aid Workers
A small biotech company Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc. based in San Diego-based has provided an experimental Ebola treatment for two Americans infected with the deadly virus in Liberia. The biotechnology drug, produced with tobacco plants, appears to be working.
The company which has just nine employees released its experimental ZMapp drug, until now only tested on infected animals, for the two health workers. Kentucky BioProcessing LLC, a subsidiary of tobacco giant Reynolds American Inc. (RAI), manufactures the treatment for Mapp from tobacco plants.
As per the relatives and supporters of both these workers, their health condition is now improving.
A small biotech company Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc. based in San Diego-based has provided an experimental Ebola treatment for two Americans infected with the deadly virus in Liberia. The biotechnology drug, produced with tobacco plants, appears to be working.
The company which has just nine employees released its experimental ZMapp drug, until now only tested on infected animals, for the two health workers. Kentucky BioProcessing LLC, a subsidiary of tobacco giant Reynolds American Inc. (RAI), manufactures the treatment for Mapp from tobacco plants.
As per the relatives and supporters of both these workers, their health condition is now improving.
Researchers discover India’s first jellyfish lake in Gujarat
Marine researchers have found a jellyfish lake in Gujarat, which is probably the first such lake in the country.
As per marine biologists, the concentration and density of jellyfish is very high in this lake. A team of researchers led by wildlife scientist BC Choudhury from the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) found the jellyfish habitat during a routine field visit to a small town Armabada in Gujarat.
Biologists found that the bottom of the lake, spanned over 5-6 hectares, was carpeted with a type of jellyfish known as ‘upside down jellyfish’. They are called so because they swim upside down unlike others. Another distinctive characteristic of the lake is that these jellyfish are present all around the year unlike other places where they are seasonal. As per experts, the thriving population of jellyfish in the lake might be linked to low predation.
Though jellyfish are found in various parts of coastal India but they are rarely found in lakes. Eil Malk Island in Palau is world’s renowned jellyfish lake.
Marine researchers have found a jellyfish lake in Gujarat, which is probably the first such lake in the country.
As per marine biologists, the concentration and density of jellyfish is very high in this lake. A team of researchers led by wildlife scientist BC Choudhury from the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) found the jellyfish habitat during a routine field visit to a small town Armabada in Gujarat.
Biologists found that the bottom of the lake, spanned over 5-6 hectares, was carpeted with a type of jellyfish known as ‘upside down jellyfish’. They are called so because they swim upside down unlike others. Another distinctive characteristic of the lake is that these jellyfish are present all around the year unlike other places where they are seasonal. As per experts, the thriving population of jellyfish in the lake might be linked to low predation.
Though jellyfish are found in various parts of coastal India but they are rarely found in lakes. Eil Malk Island in Palau is world’s renowned jellyfish lake.
China plans to ban coal use in its capital by 2020
China’s capital city Beijing which is battling with severe air pollution, particularly smog, has announced plans to ban the use of coal by the end of year 2020. Beijing drew nearly 25% of its energy consumption by using coal in 2012 and 22% of the fine particles floating in the capital’s air were also the result of coal use. Besides coal, emissions from motor vehicles, industrial production and general dust also contributed to pollution in the city. Even with the Beijing ban, coal use is likely to increase in China.
Coal-fired power and heating is a major contributor of greenhouse gases and has played a major role in turning China into the world’s largest emitter of carbon and other greenhouse gases. Pressure is mounting on China’s central government to clean up the country’s polluted environment, as dissatisfaction over smog and water and soil contamination surges among China’s growing middle class.
Recently, the central government listed environmental protection as one of the top criteria by which leaders will be judged. In September 2013, the government announced a ban on new coal-fired power plants around Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
China’s capital city Beijing which is battling with severe air pollution, particularly smog, has announced plans to ban the use of coal by the end of year 2020. Beijing drew nearly 25% of its energy consumption by using coal in 2012 and 22% of the fine particles floating in the capital’s air were also the result of coal use. Besides coal, emissions from motor vehicles, industrial production and general dust also contributed to pollution in the city. Even with the Beijing ban, coal use is likely to increase in China.
Coal-fired power and heating is a major contributor of greenhouse gases and has played a major role in turning China into the world’s largest emitter of carbon and other greenhouse gases. Pressure is mounting on China’s central government to clean up the country’s polluted environment, as dissatisfaction over smog and water and soil contamination surges among China’s growing middle class.
Recently, the central government listed environmental protection as one of the top criteria by which leaders will be judged. In September 2013, the government announced a ban on new coal-fired power plants around Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Mangroves in Sunderbans losing capacity to soak up CO2: Research
As per a latest research financed by the Union government and headed by noted marine scientist Abhijit Mitra, the Sunderban’s huge mangrove forest is rapidly losing its capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, one of the main greenhouse gases, from the atmosphere due to increase in the salinity of water, unchecked deforestation and pollution.
As per the study, the mangrove forest, marsh grass, phytoplanktons, molluscus and other coastal vegetation in the largest delta on earth are the natural absorbers of carbon dioxide (CO2). The locked carbon in the plants is known as “Blue Carbons”. The absorption of CO2 is a process which plays a role in reduction of the warming of the earth and other bad effects of climate change.
The study titled “Blue Carbon Estimation in Coastal Zone of Eastern India – Sunderbans” was submitted to the government in 2013. The researchers who conducted the study expressed concerns, especially towards the central Sunderbans, one of the three zones into which the forest was divided for the study, the other two being western and eastern.
The situation, especially in the central part, is quite alarming. The capacity of the mangrove forest, especially the Byne species, to absorb carbon dioxide has declined significantly. This will affect the whole ecosystem of the area.
The study was focused mainly on the Byne species of mangrove. There are 34 other species of mangroves found in the forest including Keora and Genwa. The situation is worrying because less absorption of CO2 from the atmosphere meant higher proportion of CO2 in the atmosphere which traps heat.
The main causes of such an alarming situation in the Sunderbans, a UNESCOworld heritage site, are increased salinity in water and human activities like shrimp farming, kiln industries and deforestation.
- Sharp increase in the salinity of water in Matla River: The mangroves thrive on fresh water, but due to lack of fresh water the height of mangroves has reduced significantly, bringing down its capacity to absorb carbons. Due to deposition of silt at the confluence of the Vidyadhari and Matla rivers, fresh water is unable to enter the Matla river resulting into rise in its salinity.
- Human incursion in these areas for activities like shrimp farming, setting up of brick kiln industry and deforestation has added to the problem.
As per a latest research financed by the Union government and headed by noted marine scientist Abhijit Mitra, the Sunderban’s huge mangrove forest is rapidly losing its capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, one of the main greenhouse gases, from the atmosphere due to increase in the salinity of water, unchecked deforestation and pollution.
As per the study, the mangrove forest, marsh grass, phytoplanktons, molluscus and other coastal vegetation in the largest delta on earth are the natural absorbers of carbon dioxide (CO2). The locked carbon in the plants is known as “Blue Carbons”. The absorption of CO2 is a process which plays a role in reduction of the warming of the earth and other bad effects of climate change.
The study titled “Blue Carbon Estimation in Coastal Zone of Eastern India – Sunderbans” was submitted to the government in 2013. The researchers who conducted the study expressed concerns, especially towards the central Sunderbans, one of the three zones into which the forest was divided for the study, the other two being western and eastern.
The situation, especially in the central part, is quite alarming. The capacity of the mangrove forest, especially the Byne species, to absorb carbon dioxide has declined significantly. This will affect the whole ecosystem of the area.
The study was focused mainly on the Byne species of mangrove. There are 34 other species of mangroves found in the forest including Keora and Genwa. The situation is worrying because less absorption of CO2 from the atmosphere meant higher proportion of CO2 in the atmosphere which traps heat.
The main causes of such an alarming situation in the Sunderbans, a UNESCOworld heritage site, are increased salinity in water and human activities like shrimp farming, kiln industries and deforestation.
- Sharp increase in the salinity of water in Matla River: The mangroves thrive on fresh water, but due to lack of fresh water the height of mangroves has reduced significantly, bringing down its capacity to absorb carbons. Due to deposition of silt at the confluence of the Vidyadhari and Matla rivers, fresh water is unable to enter the Matla river resulting into rise in its salinity.
- Human incursion in these areas for activities like shrimp farming, setting up of brick kiln industry and deforestation has added to the problem.
SEBI empowering ‘Securities Laws (Amendment) Bill 2014’ passed in Lok Sabha
Securities Laws (Amendment) Bill 2014 passed in the Lok Sabha. By the virtue of the bill, Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) will be empowered and strengthened to clamp down on fraudulent investment schemes and to seek information from any entity related to an investigation.
Key points in Securities Laws (Amendment) Bill 2014
- SEBI will have the authority to seek relevant information and records from any person
- Any pooling of funds in any unregistered scheme or arrangement, having corpus of Rs 100 crore or more, shall be deemed to be a collective investment scheme
- It provides for express powers for the settlement (compounding)
- Authorizes SEBI to set up Special Courts – to expedite trial with powers such as the authority to seek call-data records
- It provides SEBI powers of recovery of amounts
- It empowers the institution to increase the penalty imposed by an adjudicating officer
- SEBI will have the authority to conduct search-and-seizure operations related to probes under a designated court in Mumbai.
- Section 15A-HB of the SEBI Act has been amended and prescribed a minimum penalty to be slapped for each violation.
The law in its current form authorizes SEBI to carry out the search operations only after being permitted by the magistrate of the area, which compromises with the secrecy of the move. Previously, the Section 15A-HB prescribed one level of penalties to be imposed for various offences but without any minimum level of penalty or range and without giving any discretion to the Adjudicating Officers.
Securities Laws (Amendment) Bill 2014 passed in the Lok Sabha. By the virtue of the bill, Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) will be empowered and strengthened to clamp down on fraudulent investment schemes and to seek information from any entity related to an investigation.
Key points in Securities Laws (Amendment) Bill 2014
- SEBI will have the authority to seek relevant information and records from any person
- Any pooling of funds in any unregistered scheme or arrangement, having corpus of Rs 100 crore or more, shall be deemed to be a collective investment scheme
- It provides for express powers for the settlement (compounding)
- Authorizes SEBI to set up Special Courts – to expedite trial with powers such as the authority to seek call-data records
- It provides SEBI powers of recovery of amounts
- It empowers the institution to increase the penalty imposed by an adjudicating officer
- SEBI will have the authority to conduct search-and-seizure operations related to probes under a designated court in Mumbai.
- Section 15A-HB of the SEBI Act has been amended and prescribed a minimum penalty to be slapped for each violation.
The law in its current form authorizes SEBI to carry out the search operations only after being permitted by the magistrate of the area, which compromises with the secrecy of the move. Previously, the Section 15A-HB prescribed one level of penalties to be imposed for various offences but without any minimum level of penalty or range and without giving any discretion to the Adjudicating Officers.
NGRBA brought under Ministry of Water Resources
The National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) has been shifted from the Ministry of Environment to the Ministry of Water Resources . Hereafter, all issues pertaining to conservation, development management and abatement of pollution in river Ganga and its tributaries will also be directed by the Ministry of Water Resources.
National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)
The government of India gave River Ganga the status of a national river and constituted the NGRBA in February 2009, under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
NGRBA is a planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating body of the Centre and the states. The purpose of the NGRBA is to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a river basin approach for comprehensive planning and management.
The NDA-led central government has given priority for cleaning river Ganga for which Rs 2,037 crores was sanctioned in the Union Budget 2014-15 under theGanga Conservation Mission named “Namami Gange”.
The National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) has been shifted from the Ministry of Environment to the Ministry of Water Resources . Hereafter, all issues pertaining to conservation, development management and abatement of pollution in river Ganga and its tributaries will also be directed by the Ministry of Water Resources.
National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)
The government of India gave River Ganga the status of a national river and constituted the NGRBA in February 2009, under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
NGRBA is a planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating body of the Centre and the states. The purpose of the NGRBA is to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a river basin approach for comprehensive planning and management.
The NDA-led central government has given priority for cleaning river Ganga for which Rs 2,037 crores was sanctioned in the Union Budget 2014-15 under theGanga Conservation Mission named “Namami Gange”.
How Ebola spread and became deadliest disease
The Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa has emerged as a new medical challenge and poses a serious threat to the rest of the African region and the world at large. Researchers are still trying to ascertain the causes, key factors involved, and are also trying to forecast the future eruption and movement of the virus.
The outbreak of the Ebola triggered with Ebola cases that turned up in Guinea, and subsequently spread to the neighbouring countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone.This is particularly surprising as until now, none of these three West African countries had ever experienced an Ebola outbreak, let alone cases of a type of Ebola virus that had been detected only in distant Central Africa.
But, as per scientists, despite the image of Ebola as a virus that furtively and randomly emerges from the forest, the sites of the cases are far from random. Scientists are of the view that the outbreak has a connection with the travel patterns of bats across Africa and current weather patterns in the region, as well as other factors.
Researchers have narrowed down to five potential reasons why this outbreak is so severe:
- Involvement of deadliest type of Ebola virus: The Ebola virus has 5 species, and each species has caused outbreaks in different regions. Surprisingly, instead of the Taï Forest Ebola virus, which is found near Guinea, it was the Zaire Ebola virus that is involved in the current outbreak. This virus was previously found only in three countries inCentral Africa: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo and Gabon. Zaire Ebola virus is the deadliest type of Ebola virus — in previous outbreaks it showed a fatality rate of up to 90% which means it kills 90 out of 100 people it infects. Scientists suspect bats to be the carrier of the virus that migrated from Zaire to Guinea. It is also possible that the virus was actually in West Africa before the current eruption, circulating in bats — and possibly even infected people but so infrequently that it was never reported. Some preliminary investigation of blood samples gathered from patients with otherdiseases before the outbreak indicates people in this region were exposed to Ebola previously but the finding still needs more research.
- Poorest countries getting affected: Guinea is one of the poorest countries in the world, which has been ranked as low as 178 out of 187 nations on the United Nations’ Human Development Index (HDI). Likewise, Liberia and Sierra Leone stand at 174th and 177th on the HDI respectively. Because of prevalent poverty, they are inadequately equipped to counter an outbreak and lack coordination to monitor people’s movements across regions.
- Lack of good health care systems: A poor economy translates into weak health care systems that are not ready to respond to an outbreak and lack even basic health resources. The hospitals in the region do not have even basic medical needs like protective gloves, masks, clean needles and disinfectants.
- Poverty forcing people to move towards forests: Normally the animals carrying or infected with the Ebola virus or other pathogens are not usually in the vicinity of humans, but rather deep in the forests with little possibility of coming into contact with people. However, poverty is pushing the people deeper into forest territories to search for resources.
- Extremely dry season may have been the trigger: The first case of Ebola was reported in Guinea in December 2013, at the start of the dry season. In other countries, too, outbreaks often occur during the transition from the rainy to dry seasons, when conditions become drier sharply. It is likely that drier conditions one way or another affect the number or proportion of bats infected with the Ebola virus, or the frequency of human contact with them.
The Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa has emerged as a new medical challenge and poses a serious threat to the rest of the African region and the world at large. Researchers are still trying to ascertain the causes, key factors involved, and are also trying to forecast the future eruption and movement of the virus.
The outbreak of the Ebola triggered with Ebola cases that turned up in Guinea, and subsequently spread to the neighbouring countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone.This is particularly surprising as until now, none of these three West African countries had ever experienced an Ebola outbreak, let alone cases of a type of Ebola virus that had been detected only in distant Central Africa.
But, as per scientists, despite the image of Ebola as a virus that furtively and randomly emerges from the forest, the sites of the cases are far from random. Scientists are of the view that the outbreak has a connection with the travel patterns of bats across Africa and current weather patterns in the region, as well as other factors.
Researchers have narrowed down to five potential reasons why this outbreak is so severe:
- Involvement of deadliest type of Ebola virus: The Ebola virus has 5 species, and each species has caused outbreaks in different regions. Surprisingly, instead of the Taï Forest Ebola virus, which is found near Guinea, it was the Zaire Ebola virus that is involved in the current outbreak. This virus was previously found only in three countries inCentral Africa: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo and Gabon. Zaire Ebola virus is the deadliest type of Ebola virus — in previous outbreaks it showed a fatality rate of up to 90% which means it kills 90 out of 100 people it infects. Scientists suspect bats to be the carrier of the virus that migrated from Zaire to Guinea. It is also possible that the virus was actually in West Africa before the current eruption, circulating in bats — and possibly even infected people but so infrequently that it was never reported. Some preliminary investigation of blood samples gathered from patients with otherdiseases before the outbreak indicates people in this region were exposed to Ebola previously but the finding still needs more research.
- Poorest countries getting affected: Guinea is one of the poorest countries in the world, which has been ranked as low as 178 out of 187 nations on the United Nations’ Human Development Index (HDI). Likewise, Liberia and Sierra Leone stand at 174th and 177th on the HDI respectively. Because of prevalent poverty, they are inadequately equipped to counter an outbreak and lack coordination to monitor people’s movements across regions.
- Lack of good health care systems: A poor economy translates into weak health care systems that are not ready to respond to an outbreak and lack even basic health resources. The hospitals in the region do not have even basic medical needs like protective gloves, masks, clean needles and disinfectants.
- Poverty forcing people to move towards forests: Normally the animals carrying or infected with the Ebola virus or other pathogens are not usually in the vicinity of humans, but rather deep in the forests with little possibility of coming into contact with people. However, poverty is pushing the people deeper into forest territories to search for resources.
- Extremely dry season may have been the trigger: The first case of Ebola was reported in Guinea in December 2013, at the start of the dry season. In other countries, too, outbreaks often occur during the transition from the rainy to dry seasons, when conditions become drier sharply. It is likely that drier conditions one way or another affect the number or proportion of bats infected with the Ebola virus, or the frequency of human contact with them.
RBI leaves Repo unchanged, SLR slashed by 50 basis points
As per RBI’s third bi-monthly monetary policy statement for 2014-15 the central bank has not made any change in Repo rate which is currently at 8%. The Reverse Repo rate has also been left unchanged at 7% and the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) is also the same at 4%. The only major change is in Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR)which has been slashed by 50 basis points (bps) to 22% from previous 22.50%.
With the Budget reiterating commitment to the medium-term fiscal consolidation plan and setting the target of 4.1% of GDP as the fiscal deficit for 2014-15, banks now have the space to extend credit to the productive sectors in response to its financing needs as growth gains momentum.
As per RBI’s third bi-monthly monetary policy statement for 2014-15 the central bank has not made any change in Repo rate which is currently at 8%. The Reverse Repo rate has also been left unchanged at 7% and the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) is also the same at 4%. The only major change is in Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR)which has been slashed by 50 basis points (bps) to 22% from previous 22.50%.
With the Budget reiterating commitment to the medium-term fiscal consolidation plan and setting the target of 4.1% of GDP as the fiscal deficit for 2014-15, banks now have the space to extend credit to the productive sectors in response to its financing needs as growth gains momentum.
NASA’s Mars 2020 rover mission to have MOXIE to generate Oxygen on Mars
The US space agency NASA has decided to put MOXIE – Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment as one of the payloads on the Mars 2020 rover mission. MOXIE willproduce oxygen on MARS using the Martian atmospheric Carbon Dioxide (CO2).NASA will launch the Mars 2020 rover mission in July or August 2020. The conversion of CO2 into Oxygen will be beneficial for human respiration. The oxygen can be used as an oxidizer for rocket fuel for return mission. If this experiment is successful it will make future manned missions easier.
MOXIE is among the seven selected instruments that will be sent on Mars mission with a view to determine the potential habitability of the Marsenvironment, and directly search for signs of early Martian life.
The US space agency NASA has decided to put MOXIE – Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment as one of the payloads on the Mars 2020 rover mission. MOXIE willproduce oxygen on MARS using the Martian atmospheric Carbon Dioxide (CO2).NASA will launch the Mars 2020 rover mission in July or August 2020. The conversion of CO2 into Oxygen will be beneficial for human respiration. The oxygen can be used as an oxidizer for rocket fuel for return mission. If this experiment is successful it will make future manned missions easier.
MOXIE is among the seven selected instruments that will be sent on Mars mission with a view to determine the potential habitability of the Marsenvironment, and directly search for signs of early Martian life.
Government plans to set up Telecom Finance Corporation
The central Government has proposed to establish a Telecom Finance Corporation (TFC) in the 12th Five Year Plan period (2012-17). As per the proposal, TFC would be registered as Non-Banking Finance Company and Non-Deposit InfrastructureFinance Company. It would be a Public Sector Unit (PSU) under the administrative control of Department of Telecom (DoT).
The time frame to establish the main sources of funds for TFC shall be through issue of taxable and tax-free bonds. The other sources of funds include term loans from banks/financial institutions and off-shore borrowings and borrowings from multilateral institutions such as Asian Development Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and other sovereign funds.
The central Government has proposed to establish a Telecom Finance Corporation (TFC) in the 12th Five Year Plan period (2012-17). As per the proposal, TFC would be registered as Non-Banking Finance Company and Non-Deposit InfrastructureFinance Company. It would be a Public Sector Unit (PSU) under the administrative control of Department of Telecom (DoT).
The time frame to establish the main sources of funds for TFC shall be through issue of taxable and tax-free bonds. The other sources of funds include term loans from banks/financial institutions and off-shore borrowings and borrowings from multilateral institutions such as Asian Development Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and other sovereign funds.
Micromax dethrones Samsung, emerges as India’s No. 1 mobile supplier
As per a report by an independent market research and consulting firm,CounterPoint Research, Micromax has overtaken Samsung to become the largest mobile phone supplier in India in Q2 2014.
As per the report, Micromax’s mobile shipments share was 16.6% in the quarter while Samsung’s share stood at 14.4%. This is the first time that Samsung has been toppled from the apex position.
With a 10.9% shipments share, Nokia stood at the third spot followed by domestic brands Karbonn and Lava which had a 9.5% and 5.6% share, respectively.
In the sphere of smartphone, Samsung still holds the top position with a 25.3% shipments share in the second quarter (Q2). Micromax is catching up with 19.1% share, followed by Karbonn, Motorola and Nokia.
Micromax was also the top feature phone supplier with a shipments share of 15.2%. It dethroned Nokia for the first time in this race. Micromax has been reported as the 10th largest handset brand in terms of mobile phone shipments.
As per a report by an independent market research and consulting firm,CounterPoint Research, Micromax has overtaken Samsung to become the largest mobile phone supplier in India in Q2 2014.
As per the report, Micromax’s mobile shipments share was 16.6% in the quarter while Samsung’s share stood at 14.4%. This is the first time that Samsung has been toppled from the apex position.
With a 10.9% shipments share, Nokia stood at the third spot followed by domestic brands Karbonn and Lava which had a 9.5% and 5.6% share, respectively.
In the sphere of smartphone, Samsung still holds the top position with a 25.3% shipments share in the second quarter (Q2). Micromax is catching up with 19.1% share, followed by Karbonn, Motorola and Nokia.
In the sphere of smartphone, Samsung still holds the top position with a 25.3% shipments share in the second quarter (Q2). Micromax is catching up with 19.1% share, followed by Karbonn, Motorola and Nokia.
Micromax was also the top feature phone supplier with a shipments share of 15.2%. It dethroned Nokia for the first time in this race. Micromax has been reported as the 10th largest handset brand in terms of mobile phone shipments.
No change in the UPSC prelims schedule
With the government announcing the changes in Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) which include non-inclusion of English marks in gradation of candidates,the exam schedule of the preliminary exam will be held as scheduled on August 24, 2014.
The government has taken the step despite demands by some protesting aspirants to defer the prelims until the new pattern was adopted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The NDA-led government has announced that one more attempt will be given in the year 2015 to aspirants who had appeared in 2011 civil services examination.
The Varma Committee, which looked into various issues related to this exam, has suggested not to postpone the date of the examination.
With the government announcing the changes in Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) which include non-inclusion of English marks in gradation of candidates,the exam schedule of the preliminary exam will be held as scheduled on August 24, 2014.
The government has taken the step despite demands by some protesting aspirants to defer the prelims until the new pattern was adopted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The NDA-led government has announced that one more attempt will be given in the year 2015 to aspirants who had appeared in 2011 civil services examination.
The Varma Committee, which looked into various issues related to this exam, has suggested not to postpone the date of the examination.
PM Modi to induct warship INS Kolkata
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to induct country’s largest indigenously-built combat vessel INS Kolkata in Mumbai in August 2014.
Key points about INS Kolkata:
- Largest indigenously-built warship
- Constructed by the Mazagon Dockyards Limited and designed by Navy’s design bureau.
- The 6,800 tonne warship is a technology demonstrator and will markIndia’s giant leap in shipbuilding technology.
- To be a part of the Kolkata Class destroyers of the Indian Navy which will include follow-on ships by the name of INS Kochi and INS Chennai respectively.
- It also test-fired a BrahMos missile off Karwar’s coast earlier in August 2014 as part of pre-induction weapon trials at sea.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to induct country’s largest indigenously-built combat vessel INS Kolkata in Mumbai in August 2014.
Key points about INS Kolkata:
- Largest indigenously-built warship
- Constructed by the Mazagon Dockyards Limited and designed by Navy’s design bureau.
- The 6,800 tonne warship is a technology demonstrator and will markIndia’s giant leap in shipbuilding technology.
- To be a part of the Kolkata Class destroyers of the Indian Navy which will include follow-on ships by the name of INS Kochi and INS Chennai respectively.
- It also test-fired a BrahMos missile off Karwar’s coast earlier in August 2014 as part of pre-induction weapon trials at sea.
Hari Gautam Panel to review the status of UGC
A four-member Committee under the chairmanship of former UGC chairman Hari Gautam has been constituted by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) with a view to review the present status of Universities Grants Commission’s (UGC).
The panel will recommend ways to restructure and reorganize the Commission to upgrade its performance in order to meet desired objectives.
The panel has been assigned 14 items for review, which include performance evaluation of UGC in coordinating and determining standards of education in universities, conducting an audit of its regulatory reach and identifying its strengths and weaknesses in this regard. The committee will submit its report within six months.
A four-member Committee under the chairmanship of former UGC chairman Hari Gautam has been constituted by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) with a view to review the present status of Universities Grants Commission’s (UGC).
The panel will recommend ways to restructure and reorganize the Commission to upgrade its performance in order to meet desired objectives.
The panel has been assigned 14 items for review, which include performance evaluation of UGC in coordinating and determining standards of education in universities, conducting an audit of its regulatory reach and identifying its strengths and weaknesses in this regard. The committee will submit its report within six months.
Ramon Magsaysay Award 2014: List of Awardees
The list of Awardees for the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Awards for year 2014 has been announced.
The Awardees are:
- Hu Shuli: An investigative journalist from China whose work was instrumental in the dismissal of corrupt officials. She is the founder and former editor of Caijing a business magazine widely-known for its groundbreaking investigative reporting that has made a significant impact on China.
- Saur Marlina Manurung: The Award recognizes her outstanding efforts to protect and improve the lives of Indonesia’s forest people, and her kinetic leadership of volunteers in SOKOLA’s customized educationprogram.
- Omara Khan Masoudi: The award has been conferred upon him in recognition of his courage, labor, and leadership in preserving Afghan cultural heritage. At great risk to his life, the deputy director of the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul led his colleagues in moving some of the museum’s most precious objects to safety during the Taliban’s attack on his country’s cultural treasures in the 1990s.
- The Citizens Foundation from Pakistan: It is an NGO in Pakistanfounded by six business leaders. It built 1,000 schools over hundreds of cities and towns in the country which is home to the world’s second highest number of children who are out of school.
- Wang Canfa: He is a Chinese Professor who founded the Center forLegal Assistance to Pollution Victims, which has provided free legal services to thousands of people and imparted environmental law training to lawyers and others.
- Randy Halasan: The award is in recognition of his extraordinary leadership and service to the indigenous Matigsalug tribe. He made huge efforts in teaching the children of the Matigsalug tribe in one of the remotest mountain villages in Mindanao, Philippines.
Ramon Magsaysay Award
The Ramon Magsaysay Award is Asia’s highest honor and is also regarded as the region’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. It commemorates the leadership example of the third Philippine president after whom the award is named. The award is conferred every year to individuals or organizations in Asia who manifest the same altruistic and philanthropic service that dominated the life of the late and highly respected Filipino leader.
The list of Awardees for the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Awards for year 2014 has been announced.
The Awardees are:
- Hu Shuli: An investigative journalist from China whose work was instrumental in the dismissal of corrupt officials. She is the founder and former editor of Caijing a business magazine widely-known for its groundbreaking investigative reporting that has made a significant impact on China.
- Saur Marlina Manurung: The Award recognizes her outstanding efforts to protect and improve the lives of Indonesia’s forest people, and her kinetic leadership of volunteers in SOKOLA’s customized educationprogram.
- Omara Khan Masoudi: The award has been conferred upon him in recognition of his courage, labor, and leadership in preserving Afghan cultural heritage. At great risk to his life, the deputy director of the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul led his colleagues in moving some of the museum’s most precious objects to safety during the Taliban’s attack on his country’s cultural treasures in the 1990s.
- The Citizens Foundation from Pakistan: It is an NGO in Pakistanfounded by six business leaders. It built 1,000 schools over hundreds of cities and towns in the country which is home to the world’s second highest number of children who are out of school.
- Wang Canfa: He is a Chinese Professor who founded the Center forLegal Assistance to Pollution Victims, which has provided free legal services to thousands of people and imparted environmental law training to lawyers and others.
- Randy Halasan: The award is in recognition of his extraordinary leadership and service to the indigenous Matigsalug tribe. He made huge efforts in teaching the children of the Matigsalug tribe in one of the remotest mountain villages in Mindanao, Philippines.
Ramon Magsaysay Award
The Ramon Magsaysay Award is Asia’s highest honor and is also regarded as the region’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. It commemorates the leadership example of the third Philippine president after whom the award is named. The award is conferred every year to individuals or organizations in Asia who manifest the same altruistic and philanthropic service that dominated the life of the late and highly respected Filipino leader.
Chinese Government takes strict steps to regulate GM Crops
With a view to exercise stern regulation on GM Crops, China’s Ministry ofAgriculture has decided to regulate the sales and growth of Genetically Modified (GM) crops in the country. As per the Ministry of Agriculture, any firm or individual found transgressing regulations to grow or sell GM crops will be punished strictly.
The decision comes close on the heels of a media publicizing the sale of GM rice at a supermarket in Central China, which is prohibited in the country. The objective behind this measure is to prevent illegal distribution of GM crops in the country.
China has authorized imports of GM soybeans and corns and certified the growth of various GM crops including cotton, tomatoes, papayas and peppers. However, it has not allowed commercial production or sale of GM crops.
Though, the ministry has given nod to experimental planting of two strains of insect-resistant GM rice in 2009, but the safety certificates for this experiment expire this year and commercial production is yet take off. Grant of safety certificates on GM crops doesn’t mean autonomy of commercial production.
China faces the challenge of providing adequate food to its billions of people. Its population is continuously on the rise and its available land is gradually reducing leading to flat yield in the past decade. Such long-term food security trends are worrying for the country. China’s decision to open the doors of commercial production of GM crops can extenuate the worries. But, concerns over after-effects of GM crops persist.
The major reason behind such protective concern is the uncertainty on GM crops’ long-term risks on environment and humans.
Status of GM crops in India
Indian government has approved commercialization of only one GM crop i.e. Bt Cotton. However, there are various GM crops that are in pipeline and are under development and field trials. The crops include brinjal, corn, tomato, rice and groundnut. The success of field trials of GM crops will pave the way for commercialization of GM crops in the country.
However, Indian government is still in quandary over the issue of commercialization of GM crops.
Major concerns related to this are:
- GM is a cost-intensive technology, which is not suitable for small farmers in India.
- There is a dearth of sufficient infrastructure and tools required for testing of GM crops in India
- India has a weak regulatory framework of GM crops.
With a view to exercise stern regulation on GM Crops, China’s Ministry ofAgriculture has decided to regulate the sales and growth of Genetically Modified (GM) crops in the country. As per the Ministry of Agriculture, any firm or individual found transgressing regulations to grow or sell GM crops will be punished strictly.
The decision comes close on the heels of a media publicizing the sale of GM rice at a supermarket in Central China, which is prohibited in the country. The objective behind this measure is to prevent illegal distribution of GM crops in the country.
China has authorized imports of GM soybeans and corns and certified the growth of various GM crops including cotton, tomatoes, papayas and peppers. However, it has not allowed commercial production or sale of GM crops.
Though, the ministry has given nod to experimental planting of two strains of insect-resistant GM rice in 2009, but the safety certificates for this experiment expire this year and commercial production is yet take off. Grant of safety certificates on GM crops doesn’t mean autonomy of commercial production.
China faces the challenge of providing adequate food to its billions of people. Its population is continuously on the rise and its available land is gradually reducing leading to flat yield in the past decade. Such long-term food security trends are worrying for the country. China’s decision to open the doors of commercial production of GM crops can extenuate the worries. But, concerns over after-effects of GM crops persist.
The major reason behind such protective concern is the uncertainty on GM crops’ long-term risks on environment and humans.
Status of GM crops in India
Indian government has approved commercialization of only one GM crop i.e. Bt Cotton. However, there are various GM crops that are in pipeline and are under development and field trials. The crops include brinjal, corn, tomato, rice and groundnut. The success of field trials of GM crops will pave the way for commercialization of GM crops in the country.
Indian government has approved commercialization of only one GM crop i.e. Bt Cotton. However, there are various GM crops that are in pipeline and are under development and field trials. The crops include brinjal, corn, tomato, rice and groundnut. The success of field trials of GM crops will pave the way for commercialization of GM crops in the country.
However, Indian government is still in quandary over the issue of commercialization of GM crops.
Major concerns related to this are:
- GM is a cost-intensive technology, which is not suitable for small farmers in India.
- There is a dearth of sufficient infrastructure and tools required for testing of GM crops in India
- India has a weak regulatory framework of GM crops.
RBI to keep enhancing forex reserves cover: Bank of America- Merrill Lynch
As per a report by Bank of America- Merrill Lynch, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)will continue to buy dollars to increase the foreign exchange reserves to further support the country’s import cover.
The forex reserves decreased to $ 320.564 billion in the week to July 25, 2014 significantly lesser than the all-time high of $ 321 billion in September 2011.
As per the report:
- RBI is likely to continue increasing forex to protect against contagion.
- RBI needs to raise $ 80 billion to maintain the current import cover of 8 months by March 2016.
- In May and June 2014, the central bank had bought $ 28.3 billion of forex forwards.
- This completely covers RBI’s short outstanding forwards position including the $ 26 billion of FCNR-B (Foreign Currency Non-Repatriable) swaps.
- The government and the RBI are expected to launch another bulk forex scheme to further enhance foreign exchange reserves.
- The government could raise investment limit in government securities by another $ 5 billion to $ 30 billion, replacing the $ 5 billion reserved for sovereign wealth funds and others, within the overall FII debt investment limit of $ 81 billion to increase reserves.
- It may also exercise the option of listing government securities in a growing market bond index to raise $ 20-25 billion from benchmark funds that track that index.
The government could also issue sovereign bonds or quasi sovereigns to raise $ 5-8 billion capitalizing on the Modi government’s solid political mandate, to bolster the reserves.
As per a report by Bank of America- Merrill Lynch, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)will continue to buy dollars to increase the foreign exchange reserves to further support the country’s import cover.
The forex reserves decreased to $ 320.564 billion in the week to July 25, 2014 significantly lesser than the all-time high of $ 321 billion in September 2011.
As per the report:
- RBI is likely to continue increasing forex to protect against contagion.
- RBI needs to raise $ 80 billion to maintain the current import cover of 8 months by March 2016.
- In May and June 2014, the central bank had bought $ 28.3 billion of forex forwards.
- This completely covers RBI’s short outstanding forwards position including the $ 26 billion of FCNR-B (Foreign Currency Non-Repatriable) swaps.
- The government and the RBI are expected to launch another bulk forex scheme to further enhance foreign exchange reserves.
- The government could raise investment limit in government securities by another $ 5 billion to $ 30 billion, replacing the $ 5 billion reserved for sovereign wealth funds and others, within the overall FII debt investment limit of $ 81 billion to increase reserves.
- It may also exercise the option of listing government securities in a growing market bond index to raise $ 20-25 billion from benchmark funds that track that index.
The government could also issue sovereign bonds or quasi sovereigns to raise $ 5-8 billion capitalizing on the Modi government’s solid political mandate, to bolster the reserves.
Glasgow Commonwealth Games: With Kashyap’s historic gold India finishes 5th
Parupalli Kashyap created history as he clinched Gold in themen’s singles badminton at 20th Commonwealth Gamesbeing held in Glasgow, Scotland. With his gold medal, the country earned a fifth-spot finish with 64 medals, including 15 gold. He created history by becoming the first Indian male shuttler in 32 years to win a gold in the Commonwealth Games. Kashyap put up brilliant show to register triumph over Derek Wong of Singapore in the final showdown. The shuttler from Hyderabad thus joined badminton legend Prakash Padukone and the late Syed Modi, who had won the title in the past. While Padukone had won the men’s singles gold medal at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Canada, Modi bagged it four years later. Commonwealth Toppers:
- England
- Australia
- Canada
- Scotland
- India
The XXI Commonwealth Games will be held in Gold Coast City,Queensland, Australia between 4 to 15 April 2018. The Gold Coast’s creative concept in the Ceremony brought to life the three brand pillars of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games – ‘The Place’, ‘The Event’ and ‘The Sport’.
Parupalli Kashyap created history as he clinched Gold in themen’s singles badminton at 20th Commonwealth Gamesbeing held in Glasgow, Scotland. With his gold medal, the country earned a fifth-spot finish with 64 medals, including 15 gold. He created history by becoming the first Indian male shuttler in 32 years to win a gold in the Commonwealth Games. Kashyap put up brilliant show to register triumph over Derek Wong of Singapore in the final showdown. The shuttler from Hyderabad thus joined badminton legend Prakash Padukone and the late Syed Modi, who had won the title in the past. While Padukone had won the men’s singles gold medal at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Canada, Modi bagged it four years later. Commonwealth Toppers:- England
- Australia
- Canada
- Scotland
- India
The XXI Commonwealth Games will be held in Gold Coast City,Queensland, Australia between 4 to 15 April 2018. The Gold Coast’s creative concept in the Ceremony brought to life the three brand pillars of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games – ‘The Place’, ‘The Event’ and ‘The Sport’.India’s PM Narendra Modi’s Nepal visit concludes
The two-day Nepal visit of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded on August 4, 2014.
Highlights of Mr. Modi’s Nepal visit:
- Mr. Modi is the first Indian PM to Nepal in 17 years. He was welcomed by the guard of honour.
- He addressed the Nepalese Parliament.
- Aim was to forge a new relationship with Nepal and to begin a new chapter in bilateral ties that will serve as a model and catalyst for regional collaboration.
- Mr. Modi gave a ‘HIT’ formula for Nepal expressing India’s willingness to help Nepal build Highways (H), Information highways (I) and Transways- transmission lines (T).
- He promised to grant Nepal 10,000 crore Nepali rupee concessional line of credit, for its development.
- He announced India’s keenness to double power supply to Nepal.
- India would help Nepal in building pipelines to help transport oil to Nepal.
- The scholarships to students from Nepal would be increased.
- India extended help to Nepal to enable it to emerge as a major exporter of herbal medicines.
- India would also help develop the tourism potential of Nepal, both as a spiritual, and adventure tourism destination.
- Mr. Modi extended assistance to Nepal in the fields of organic farming, and soil health.
Key agendas of PM’s Nepal visit:
The aim was to forge a new relationship with Nepal and to begin a new chapter in bilateral ties that will serve as a model and catalyst for regional collaboration.
The main agenda of the visit was to give impetus to negotiations on a power trade between the two nations.
Negotiators were trying to resolve the differences over the power agreement aimed at tapping Nepal’s estimated 42,000 MW hydro-electric potential to meet domestic demands and also supply India’s power-deficient economy.
Currently, Nepal has an installed capacity of 600 MW as its development has been hindered by years of political turbulence. Nepal is still grappling with the transition to a constitutional republic after the abolition of the monarchy in 2008.
Nepal’s ties with India are also significant to tackle the emergence of China as the strongest power in South Asia.
The two-day Nepal visit of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded on August 4, 2014.
Highlights of Mr. Modi’s Nepal visit:
- Mr. Modi is the first Indian PM to Nepal in 17 years. He was welcomed by the guard of honour.
- He addressed the Nepalese Parliament.
- Aim was to forge a new relationship with Nepal and to begin a new chapter in bilateral ties that will serve as a model and catalyst for regional collaboration.
- Mr. Modi gave a ‘HIT’ formula for Nepal expressing India’s willingness to help Nepal build Highways (H), Information highways (I) and Transways- transmission lines (T).
- He promised to grant Nepal 10,000 crore Nepali rupee concessional line of credit, for its development.
- He announced India’s keenness to double power supply to Nepal.
- India would help Nepal in building pipelines to help transport oil to Nepal.
- The scholarships to students from Nepal would be increased.
- India extended help to Nepal to enable it to emerge as a major exporter of herbal medicines.
- India would also help develop the tourism potential of Nepal, both as a spiritual, and adventure tourism destination.
- Mr. Modi extended assistance to Nepal in the fields of organic farming, and soil health.
Key agendas of PM’s Nepal visit:
The aim was to forge a new relationship with Nepal and to begin a new chapter in bilateral ties that will serve as a model and catalyst for regional collaboration.
The main agenda of the visit was to give impetus to negotiations on a power trade between the two nations.
Negotiators were trying to resolve the differences over the power agreement aimed at tapping Nepal’s estimated 42,000 MW hydro-electric potential to meet domestic demands and also supply India’s power-deficient economy.
Currently, Nepal has an installed capacity of 600 MW as its development has been hindered by years of political turbulence. Nepal is still grappling with the transition to a constitutional republic after the abolition of the monarchy in 2008.
Nepal’s ties with India are also significant to tackle the emergence of China as the strongest power in South Asia.
1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship
The 1950 India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship is a bilateral pact between the Government of Nepal and Government of India aimed at establishing a close strategic relationship between the two South Asian neighbors. The treaty was inked at Kathmandu on July 31, 1950 by then Prime Minister of Nepal Mohan Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana and the then Indian ambassador to Nepal, Chadreshwar Narayan Singh.
The treaty permits free movement of people and goods between the two countries and a close relationship and collaboration on matters of defence and foreign affairs. After an unsuccessful attempt in 1952 of the Communist Party of Nepal to seize power with Chinese backing, India and Nepal intensified military and intelligence cooperation under treaty provisions, and India sent a military mission to Nepal.
The treaty has 10 articles. It envisages for eternal peace and friendship between the two nations and there is a bilateral agreement to recognize and respect the complete sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of each other.
According to Articles 6 and 7, the two governments agree to grant, on a reciprocal basis, to the citizens of one country in the territories of the other, the same privileges in the matter of residence, ownership of property, participation in trade and commerce, movement and other privileges of a similar nature. This enables the Nepali and Indian nationals to move freely across the border without passport or visa, live and work in either country and own property or do trade or business in either country. There is a significant number of Nepalis (in millions) living, owning property and working or doing business in India as a beneficial aspect of the treaty for Nepal. Similarly, many Indians live, own property and do business in Nepal.
The norm of free trans-border movement of people was there even before the1816 Treaty of Suguali. This became somewhat restricted after 1816. After the 1860 treaty, Prime Minister Jung Bahadur allowed Indians to acquire and sell land in the Tarai and invited businessmen, traders and landlords from India. The British also kept the Nepal-India border open.
The Nepal king enacted Citizenship Act of 1952 that permitted Indians to immigrate to Nepal and acquire Nepalese citizenship.
Background
The Himalayan Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal borders northern India in the south, east and west. During British regime in India, Nepal’s ties with India were governed by the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli.
The 1923 “Treaty of perpetual peace and friendship” replaced the former treaty. After the independence of India in 1947, the two nations wanted to create close strategic, commercial and cultural ties. The emergence of Communist China in 1949 and the subsequent invasion of Tibet escalated security concerns in both India and Nepal — while India had maintained good relations with Tibet, Nepal apprehended that China would back the Communist Party of Nepal and sponsor a communist revolution toppling the state. With increasing concerns over the security threat to India presented by Communist China, which was seen as seeking to projecting power and influence over Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan and border disputes with India, the latter sought to bolster its “Himalayan frontier” by forging an alliance on defence and foreign affairs with Nepal.
Criticism of the treaty
Some Nepalese criticize this treaty by calling it unequal. They claim that Nepalese law does not allow an open border and Indians cannot buy lands and properties in Nepal and carry out businesses in their names. They claim that the 1950 treaty was signed by undemocratic rulers of Nepal and can be revoked by a one year notice. Some segments of Nepal disagree with the treaty as they often regard it as a violation of its sovereignty.
The 1950 India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship is a bilateral pact between the Government of Nepal and Government of India aimed at establishing a close strategic relationship between the two South Asian neighbors. The treaty was inked at Kathmandu on July 31, 1950 by then Prime Minister of Nepal Mohan Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana and the then Indian ambassador to Nepal, Chadreshwar Narayan Singh.
The treaty permits free movement of people and goods between the two countries and a close relationship and collaboration on matters of defence and foreign affairs. After an unsuccessful attempt in 1952 of the Communist Party of Nepal to seize power with Chinese backing, India and Nepal intensified military and intelligence cooperation under treaty provisions, and India sent a military mission to Nepal.
The treaty has 10 articles. It envisages for eternal peace and friendship between the two nations and there is a bilateral agreement to recognize and respect the complete sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of each other.
According to Articles 6 and 7, the two governments agree to grant, on a reciprocal basis, to the citizens of one country in the territories of the other, the same privileges in the matter of residence, ownership of property, participation in trade and commerce, movement and other privileges of a similar nature. This enables the Nepali and Indian nationals to move freely across the border without passport or visa, live and work in either country and own property or do trade or business in either country. There is a significant number of Nepalis (in millions) living, owning property and working or doing business in India as a beneficial aspect of the treaty for Nepal. Similarly, many Indians live, own property and do business in Nepal.
The norm of free trans-border movement of people was there even before the1816 Treaty of Suguali. This became somewhat restricted after 1816. After the 1860 treaty, Prime Minister Jung Bahadur allowed Indians to acquire and sell land in the Tarai and invited businessmen, traders and landlords from India. The British also kept the Nepal-India border open.
The Nepal king enacted Citizenship Act of 1952 that permitted Indians to immigrate to Nepal and acquire Nepalese citizenship.
Background
The Himalayan Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal borders northern India in the south, east and west. During British regime in India, Nepal’s ties with India were governed by the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli.
The 1923 “Treaty of perpetual peace and friendship” replaced the former treaty. After the independence of India in 1947, the two nations wanted to create close strategic, commercial and cultural ties. The emergence of Communist China in 1949 and the subsequent invasion of Tibet escalated security concerns in both India and Nepal — while India had maintained good relations with Tibet, Nepal apprehended that China would back the Communist Party of Nepal and sponsor a communist revolution toppling the state. With increasing concerns over the security threat to India presented by Communist China, which was seen as seeking to projecting power and influence over Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan and border disputes with India, the latter sought to bolster its “Himalayan frontier” by forging an alliance on defence and foreign affairs with Nepal.
Criticism of the treaty
Some Nepalese criticize this treaty by calling it unequal. They claim that Nepalese law does not allow an open border and Indians cannot buy lands and properties in Nepal and carry out businesses in their names. They claim that the 1950 treaty was signed by undemocratic rulers of Nepal and can be revoked by a one year notice. Some segments of Nepal disagree with the treaty as they often regard it as a violation of its sovereignty.
India ready to review 1950 Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty: PM Narendra Modi
India’s PM Narendra Modi who is on a visit to neighboring country Nepal said in his speech that he was ready to take into account suggestions if any to review the 1950 India-Nepal Friendship Treaty that governs the relationship between the two nations.
There have been demands lately for reviewing the treaty and both sides have been expressing their willingness to do so without any progress. However, some sections in Nepal have been critical of this pact, arguing that it is not in the interest of Nepal.
Modi also spoke about the process of Constitution-making in Nepal, saying it is moving forward. He praised Nepal’s tryst with democracy, and said that it highlights the preference given to “ballot over the bullet”.
Earlier, Modi gifted ‘Samvidhan — The making of the Constitution of India’ to the Chairman of Nepal’s Constituent Assembly.
Modi, on his arrival in Nepal, was received with a rousing welcome which he mentioned in his speech. He said that the warmth showed the affection people of Nepal have for the people of India.
India’s PM Narendra Modi who is on a visit to neighboring country Nepal said in his speech that he was ready to take into account suggestions if any to review the 1950 India-Nepal Friendship Treaty that governs the relationship between the two nations.
There have been demands lately for reviewing the treaty and both sides have been expressing their willingness to do so without any progress. However, some sections in Nepal have been critical of this pact, arguing that it is not in the interest of Nepal.
Modi also spoke about the process of Constitution-making in Nepal, saying it is moving forward. He praised Nepal’s tryst with democracy, and said that it highlights the preference given to “ballot over the bullet”.
Earlier, Modi gifted ‘Samvidhan — The making of the Constitution of India’ to the Chairman of Nepal’s Constituent Assembly.
Modi, on his arrival in Nepal, was received with a rousing welcome which he mentioned in his speech. He said that the warmth showed the affection people of Nepal have for the people of India.
Earlier, Modi gifted ‘Samvidhan — The making of the Constitution of India’ to the Chairman of Nepal’s Constituent Assembly.
Modi, on his arrival in Nepal, was received with a rousing welcome which he mentioned in his speech. He said that the warmth showed the affection people of Nepal have for the people of India.
“Right to Research (R2R) Foundation” to promote Indian researchers launched
With a view to support foreign-educated and trained Indian researchers to help them find suitable jobs, upon their return to the country, a group of researchers and academicians have launched the Right to Research (R2R) Foundation.
It has been observed that a significant number of Indian researchers are returning from overseas, after obtaining their MS, PhDs and post doctorate fellowships. And despite their high qualifications and training, many of them do not get suitable jobs or do not get absorbed in research.
The R2R Foundation calls it ‘Intelligent Reverse Brain Drain’. Therefore, to engage such researchers, the foundation has been established and has started operations near Pune’s Hinjewadi Biotech Park.
To begin with, R2R Foundation has established dry lab facilities, to engage around 25 researchers. The researchers will be engaged in inter-disciplinary research thought process, and will find good opportunities in India.
With a view to support foreign-educated and trained Indian researchers to help them find suitable jobs, upon their return to the country, a group of researchers and academicians have launched the Right to Research (R2R) Foundation.
It has been observed that a significant number of Indian researchers are returning from overseas, after obtaining their MS, PhDs and post doctorate fellowships. And despite their high qualifications and training, many of them do not get suitable jobs or do not get absorbed in research.
The R2R Foundation calls it ‘Intelligent Reverse Brain Drain’. Therefore, to engage such researchers, the foundation has been established and has started operations near Pune’s Hinjewadi Biotech Park.
To begin with, R2R Foundation has established dry lab facilities, to engage around 25 researchers. The researchers will be engaged in inter-disciplinary research thought process, and will find good opportunities in India.
The R2R Foundation calls it ‘Intelligent Reverse Brain Drain’. Therefore, to engage such researchers, the foundation has been established and has started operations near Pune’s Hinjewadi Biotech Park.
To begin with, R2R Foundation has established dry lab facilities, to engage around 25 researchers. The researchers will be engaged in inter-disciplinary research thought process, and will find good opportunities in India.
British parliament to debate ‘rights violation’ in Kashmir
British parliament’s House of Commons has agreed to hold a special debate on the state of human rights in Kashmir.
British MP David Ward informed the backbench business committee that “ongoing Kashmir dispute a threat to regional and global peace” and that the new Indian government has been “quite aggressive in terms of its stance towards Kashmir” which was “opening up a whole new area of uncertainty”.
Ward also informed that he had the support of 40 MPs who would like Westminster to hold a debate on the human rights violations in Kashmir.
Though a formal date for the debate has not been decided as yet, Britain’s decision to agree for a debate on Kashmir hasn’t been well received by Friends ofIndia and Southeast Asian think-tanks. They said “Why should Kashmir be discussed in the parliament when Britain has always been of the view that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan?”
Ward informed that “Kashmir has been a constant source of misery over many years to many people. In the region of 500,000 to 600,000 Indian Army troops are in the area on a permanent basis. It is an area of tension and some 500,000 people have died there in the past 60 or so years”.
Ward who represents Bradford East in the British parliament also cited what he called the “uncertainty about article 370″.
Ward expressed concerns that the members of the new India government are talking about the abrogation of Article 370 which grants special status to Jammu & Kashmir. He sought a debate on a motion from a petition that has been signed by 40 MPs, 10 MEPs and also 50,000 members of the public.
The petition says that “the ongoing Kashmir dispute is a threat to regional and global peace; further that the dispute is causing insecurity, instability and human rights violations; and further that the state of Jammu & Kashmir should be given the right to self-determination”.
British parliament’s House of Commons has agreed to hold a special debate on the state of human rights in Kashmir.
British MP David Ward informed the backbench business committee that “ongoing Kashmir dispute a threat to regional and global peace” and that the new Indian government has been “quite aggressive in terms of its stance towards Kashmir” which was “opening up a whole new area of uncertainty”.
Ward also informed that he had the support of 40 MPs who would like Westminster to hold a debate on the human rights violations in Kashmir.
Though a formal date for the debate has not been decided as yet, Britain’s decision to agree for a debate on Kashmir hasn’t been well received by Friends ofIndia and Southeast Asian think-tanks. They said “Why should Kashmir be discussed in the parliament when Britain has always been of the view that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan?”
Ward informed that “Kashmir has been a constant source of misery over many years to many people. In the region of 500,000 to 600,000 Indian Army troops are in the area on a permanent basis. It is an area of tension and some 500,000 people have died there in the past 60 or so years”.
Ward who represents Bradford East in the British parliament also cited what he called the “uncertainty about article 370″.
Ward who represents Bradford East in the British parliament also cited what he called the “uncertainty about article 370″.
Ward expressed concerns that the members of the new India government are talking about the abrogation of Article 370 which grants special status to Jammu & Kashmir. He sought a debate on a motion from a petition that has been signed by 40 MPs, 10 MEPs and also 50,000 members of the public.
The petition says that “the ongoing Kashmir dispute is a threat to regional and global peace; further that the dispute is causing insecurity, instability and human rights violations; and further that the state of Jammu & Kashmir should be given the right to self-determination”.
Science can now explain why sun’s atmosphere is hotter than its surface
Researchers have found substantial evidence to explain why the Sun’s outer atmosphere is much hotter than its surface.
As per scientists, ‘Nanoflares’ – a continuous infusion of impulsive bursts of heating, none of which can be individually detected – is behind the production of the extra heat.
The photosphere, the visible surface of the Sun, is around 6,000 Kelvins, while thecorona reaches temperatures which are 300 times more than the photosphere.
NASA’s EUNIS (Extreme Ultraviolet Normal Incidence Spectrograph) rocket, equipped with a very sensitive spectrograph gathered information about the Sun about how much material is present at a given temperature by recording different wavelengths of light.
EUNIS flew up nearly 321 km above the ground aboard a sounding rocket and gathered about collected observations from above the planet’s air.
It scanned a region on the Sun known to be magnetically complex, also termedactive region, which can often be the source of larger flares and coronal mass ejections.
Several theories have been offered for how the magnetic energy coursing through the corona is converted into the heat that raises the temperature.
The EUNIS spectrograph was tuned into a range of wavelengths useful for locating material at temperatures of 10 million Kelvin – temperatures that are a key characteristic of nanoflares.
Scientists have conjectured that infinite number of nanoflares could heat up solar material in the atmosphere to temperatures of up to 10 million Kelvins. This material would cool very rapidly, producing ample solar material at the 1 to 3 million degrees regularly seen in the corona. However, the faint presence of that extremely hot material should remain.
The EUNIS team studied the data from the rocket and found a wavelength of light indicating presence of 10 million degree material.
Researchers have found substantial evidence to explain why the Sun’s outer atmosphere is much hotter than its surface.
As per scientists, ‘Nanoflares’ – a continuous infusion of impulsive bursts of heating, none of which can be individually detected – is behind the production of the extra heat.
The photosphere, the visible surface of the Sun, is around 6,000 Kelvins, while thecorona reaches temperatures which are 300 times more than the photosphere.
NASA’s EUNIS (Extreme Ultraviolet Normal Incidence Spectrograph) rocket, equipped with a very sensitive spectrograph gathered information about the Sun about how much material is present at a given temperature by recording different wavelengths of light.
EUNIS flew up nearly 321 km above the ground aboard a sounding rocket and gathered about collected observations from above the planet’s air.
It scanned a region on the Sun known to be magnetically complex, also termedactive region, which can often be the source of larger flares and coronal mass ejections.
Several theories have been offered for how the magnetic energy coursing through the corona is converted into the heat that raises the temperature.
The EUNIS spectrograph was tuned into a range of wavelengths useful for locating material at temperatures of 10 million Kelvin – temperatures that are a key characteristic of nanoflares.
Scientists have conjectured that infinite number of nanoflares could heat up solar material in the atmosphere to temperatures of up to 10 million Kelvins. This material would cool very rapidly, producing ample solar material at the 1 to 3 million degrees regularly seen in the corona. However, the faint presence of that extremely hot material should remain.
The EUNIS team studied the data from the rocket and found a wavelength of light indicating presence of 10 million degree material.
Dongfeng-41: China’s 12,000-kms intercontinental missile
Enhancing the reach of its fire-power, China’s has unveiled the sophisticated Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), which has a range of 12,000 kms, placing it among the world’s longest-range missiles.
The existence of a new generation of Chinese ICBM, the Dongfeng-41 (DF-41) missile, was indirectly revealed by a Chinese Government environmental monitoring file. It is widely speculated that the DF-41 missiles will be capable of carrying three nuclear warheads. The next generation missile is also likely to have better mobility as the launchers can cross more complicated terrain, and have better survivability in the event of a first strike. It would also have stronger penetration abilities and faster response times.
Enhancing the reach of its fire-power, China’s has unveiled the sophisticated Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), which has a range of 12,000 kms, placing it among the world’s longest-range missiles.
The existence of a new generation of Chinese ICBM, the Dongfeng-41 (DF-41) missile, was indirectly revealed by a Chinese Government environmental monitoring file. It is widely speculated that the DF-41 missiles will be capable of carrying three nuclear warheads. The next generation missile is also likely to have better mobility as the launchers can cross more complicated terrain, and have better survivability in the event of a first strike. It would also have stronger penetration abilities and faster response times.
Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award to Filmmaker Muzaffar Ali
Famous film director Muzaffar Ali (69), who had directed the Bollywoodclassic “Umrao Jaan”, has been chosen for Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award for his extraordinary contribution towards the promotion of communal harmony, peace and goodwill. The award carries a citation and cash award of Rs 5 lakh.
Ali also directed over one-and-a-half dozen movies including “Gaman” and “Khizan”. He was also conferred Padma Shri in 2005. The award was instituted to mark the contribution made by Rajiv Gandhi to promote peace, communal harmony and fight against violence.
Previous recipients of the award include Mother Teresa, K.R. Narayanan, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Lata Mangeshkar, Sunil Dutt, Dilip Kumar, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan.
Others who were conferred upon with this award were Jagan Nath Kaul, Mohd Yunus, Hiteswar Saikia and Subhadra Joshi (jointly), Kapila Vatsyayan, Teesta Setalvad and Harsh Mander (jointly), S N Subbarao, Swami Agnivesh and Madari Moideen (jointly), Nirmala Deshpande, Hem Dutta, N Radhakrishnan, Gautam Bhai, SPIC MACAY and D R Mehta.
Famous film director Muzaffar Ali (69), who had directed the Bollywoodclassic “Umrao Jaan”, has been chosen for Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award for his extraordinary contribution towards the promotion of communal harmony, peace and goodwill. The award carries a citation and cash award of Rs 5 lakh.
Ali also directed over one-and-a-half dozen movies including “Gaman” and “Khizan”. He was also conferred Padma Shri in 2005. The award was instituted to mark the contribution made by Rajiv Gandhi to promote peace, communal harmony and fight against violence.
Previous recipients of the award include Mother Teresa, K.R. Narayanan, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Lata Mangeshkar, Sunil Dutt, Dilip Kumar, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan.
Others who were conferred upon with this award were Jagan Nath Kaul, Mohd Yunus, Hiteswar Saikia and Subhadra Joshi (jointly), Kapila Vatsyayan, Teesta Setalvad and Harsh Mander (jointly), S N Subbarao, Swami Agnivesh and Madari Moideen (jointly), Nirmala Deshpande, Hem Dutta, N Radhakrishnan, Gautam Bhai, SPIC MACAY and D R Mehta.
No conclusive data available on effects of Mobile Phone/Tower on Health: ICMR
As per Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), there are no conclusive data available on the issue of Health Hazards due to radiation emitted from cell phone and cell phone tower.
Some scientific evidences indicate some bio-effects and potential adverse health effects of Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR). As per ICMR, WHO/InternationalAgency for research on Cancer has categorized radio frequency electromagnetic field as possible carcinogenic agent to humans. ICMR has initiated a multi-disciplinary cohort study in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) to investigate adverse effects of Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR), if any, emitted from cell phone on adult Indian population.
The study intends to examine whether use of cell phone is linked with reproductive dysfunctions, infertility, neurological disorders (cognitive behaviour, sleep related disorders, depression etc.), cardiovascular disorders, Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) disorders and promote cancer, if any in human volunteers.
Key Findings reported by some studies:
- Cytogenetic damage in tissues of some individuals using cell phone over a period of time.
- Study conducted animals indicated considerable reduction in testicular size, weight and in sperm counts after chronic exposure to Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR) imitated from cell phone which may lead to infertility.
- Headache, dizziness, numbness in the thigh, and heaviness in the chest among mobile phone.
- Long term and intensive mobile phone use may cause inner ear damage.
- Increase in peak heart rate, serum total cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides concentration in acute RFR.
- Microwave radiation caused an increase in erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, a significant DNA strand break in brain cells and the loss of spatial memory in mice.
- Microwave exposure adversely affects male fertility.
- Reduction in melatonin or an increase in caspase-3, creatine kinase, and calcium ion may cause significant damage in rat brain due to chronic exposure of microwave radiations. These biomarkers indicate possible health implications of such exposures.
- Prolonged exposure to non-ionizing Microwave radiation may lead to infertility.
- Study conducted on animal concluded that 3G mobile phone radiations affect the brain function and cause several neurological disorders. It also indicated testicular impairment in male Westar rats due to long-term exposure of Microwave.
Measure taken in India:
- India has adopted Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) radiation limitsprescribed by International Commission on non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).
- In addition to this, Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has prescribed stricter precautionary limits for EMF radiation from mobile tower which is 1/10th of the limits suggested internationally by ICNIRP.
- With a view to ensure adherence to the prescribed EMF radiation limits from mobile tower in India, self-certificates are required to be submitted by telecom service providers as per the guidelines issued by DoT.
- To inspect this, regular audit of Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites is conducted by Telecom Enforcement Resource & Monitoring (TERM)field units.
- If any BTS site is found to infringing the prescribed EMF norms, actions are taken by imposing a penalty of Rs.10 lakh per BTS per incidence.
As per Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), there are no conclusive data available on the issue of Health Hazards due to radiation emitted from cell phone and cell phone tower.
Some scientific evidences indicate some bio-effects and potential adverse health effects of Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR). As per ICMR, WHO/InternationalAgency for research on Cancer has categorized radio frequency electromagnetic field as possible carcinogenic agent to humans. ICMR has initiated a multi-disciplinary cohort study in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) to investigate adverse effects of Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR), if any, emitted from cell phone on adult Indian population.
The study intends to examine whether use of cell phone is linked with reproductive dysfunctions, infertility, neurological disorders (cognitive behaviour, sleep related disorders, depression etc.), cardiovascular disorders, Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) disorders and promote cancer, if any in human volunteers.
Key Findings reported by some studies:
- Cytogenetic damage in tissues of some individuals using cell phone over a period of time.
- Study conducted animals indicated considerable reduction in testicular size, weight and in sperm counts after chronic exposure to Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR) imitated from cell phone which may lead to infertility.
- Headache, dizziness, numbness in the thigh, and heaviness in the chest among mobile phone.
- Long term and intensive mobile phone use may cause inner ear damage.
- Increase in peak heart rate, serum total cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides concentration in acute RFR.
- Microwave radiation caused an increase in erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, a significant DNA strand break in brain cells and the loss of spatial memory in mice.
- Microwave exposure adversely affects male fertility.
- Reduction in melatonin or an increase in caspase-3, creatine kinase, and calcium ion may cause significant damage in rat brain due to chronic exposure of microwave radiations. These biomarkers indicate possible health implications of such exposures.
- Prolonged exposure to non-ionizing Microwave radiation may lead to infertility.
- Study conducted on animal concluded that 3G mobile phone radiations affect the brain function and cause several neurological disorders. It also indicated testicular impairment in male Westar rats due to long-term exposure of Microwave.
Measure taken in India:
- India has adopted Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) radiation limitsprescribed by International Commission on non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).
- In addition to this, Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has prescribed stricter precautionary limits for EMF radiation from mobile tower which is 1/10th of the limits suggested internationally by ICNIRP.
- With a view to ensure adherence to the prescribed EMF radiation limits from mobile tower in India, self-certificates are required to be submitted by telecom service providers as per the guidelines issued by DoT.
- To inspect this, regular audit of Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites is conducted by Telecom Enforcement Resource & Monitoring (TERM)field units.
- If any BTS site is found to infringing the prescribed EMF norms, actions are taken by imposing a penalty of Rs.10 lakh per BTS per incidence.
Supreme court asks Centre to submit proposal to expedite criminal justice system
The Supreme Court has said that the judiciary cannot fast-track cases against MPs and in fact asked the government to submit a proposal within a month to expedite the Criminal justice system in India. The apex court also observed that the pace of criminal justice system is not satisfactory in the country.
This statement from Supreme Court came because recently, PM Narendra Modi had asked Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to devise a mechanism to adjudicate criminal and other court cases against politicians within a year.
The Law Ministry has already begun working on the roadmap and one of the options is to pursue the suggestions of the Law Commission made to the apex court in March 2014. As per the law panel, the trial must be expedited and concluded within a one-year period for charges framed against sitting MPs or MLAs. If trial is not concluded within a year then (either) the MP/MLA may be disqualified at the expiry of the one-year period or the MP/MLAs’ right to vote in the House as a member, remuneration shall be suspended at the expiry of the one-year period.
As per a research by the Association for Democratic Reforms, this Parliament has a significant number of legislators facing criminal charges – 186 members or 34% of the Lok Sabha.
The Supreme Court has said that the judiciary cannot fast-track cases against MPs and in fact asked the government to submit a proposal within a month to expedite the Criminal justice system in India. The apex court also observed that the pace of criminal justice system is not satisfactory in the country.
This statement from Supreme Court came because recently, PM Narendra Modi had asked Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to devise a mechanism to adjudicate criminal and other court cases against politicians within a year.
The Law Ministry has already begun working on the roadmap and one of the options is to pursue the suggestions of the Law Commission made to the apex court in March 2014. As per the law panel, the trial must be expedited and concluded within a one-year period for charges framed against sitting MPs or MLAs. If trial is not concluded within a year then (either) the MP/MLA may be disqualified at the expiry of the one-year period or the MP/MLAs’ right to vote in the House as a member, remuneration shall be suspended at the expiry of the one-year period.
As per a research by the Association for Democratic Reforms, this Parliament has a significant number of legislators facing criminal charges – 186 members or 34% of the Lok Sabha.
Government conferred Navratna status on CONCOR
Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Department of Public Enterprises, Government of India granted Navratna status to Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR).
The company provides logistics solution and has the largest network of 62 Inland Container Depots (ICDs)/container freight stations in India. Besides providing inland transport by rail for containers, it has also expanded to cover management of ports, air cargo complexes and setting up cold-chain.The Government of India (GoI) controls 61.80% stake in CONCOR.
Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Department of Public Enterprises, Government of India granted Navratna status to Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR).
The company provides logistics solution and has the largest network of 62 Inland Container Depots (ICDs)/container freight stations in India. Besides providing inland transport by rail for containers, it has also expanded to cover management of ports, air cargo complexes and setting up cold-chain.The Government of India (GoI) controls 61.80% stake in CONCOR.
Robert Frederick Panara: Pioneer of Deaf Studies passed away
Robert Frederick Panara (94), the pioneer of deaf studies passed away in Rochester, US. Robert was an author, a poet, a professor who later went on to become the first deaf teacher within the mainstream Higher Education in the US. He helped translate Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Hamlet and Othello into sign language. His wife Shirley Fischer was also deaf. Both used sign language to communicate.
Panars’s key contributions and achievements:
In 1965, Panara helped establishing America’s first Technical college for the deaf, National Technical Institute for Deaf (NTID). NTID was set up by an act of US Congress and is a part of the Rochester Institute of Technology. He also helped in the foundation of the Connecticut-based National Theatre of the Deaf. In 1948, Panara became the first deaf person to get a Master’s degree in English from New York University.
Robert Frederick Panara (94), the pioneer of deaf studies passed away in Rochester, US. Robert was an author, a poet, a professor who later went on to become the first deaf teacher within the mainstream Higher Education in the US. He helped translate Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Hamlet and Othello into sign language. His wife Shirley Fischer was also deaf. Both used sign language to communicate.
Panars’s key contributions and achievements:
In 1965, Panara helped establishing America’s first Technical college for the deaf, National Technical Institute for Deaf (NTID). NTID was set up by an act of US Congress and is a part of the Rochester Institute of Technology. He also helped in the foundation of the Connecticut-based National Theatre of the Deaf. In 1948, Panara became the first deaf person to get a Master’s degree in English from New York University.
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