Jag Ran Josh Current Affairs Oct 2011 To Dec 2011

Scientists claimed that Alcohol can be used to treat Tremors
Current Affairs Category: Science | Technology, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 02 Jan 2012 To 08 Jan 2012
Scientists at the US National Institutes of Health claimed that alcohol could be used to treat tremors, a brain disorder that triggers exaggerated shaking and occurs during movement. The octanol (a form of alcohol and a colourless ingredient in perfume) can help treat tremor. The tremor can affect people of all ages.
For their experiment, the scientists gave patients a single dose of one milligramme of octanol for each kilogramme of their weight, and found it significantly decreased tremor for up to 90 minutes. In their second experiment, people who had octanol had fewer symptoms of tremor after five hours than those were given a placebo. Symptoms of Tremor Tremor occurs during movement, but not at rest. It affects not only the arms and hands but also the head, face and feet. In at least half of cases there is a family history as well.
Other causes of similar tremor symptoms include an over-active thyroid, anti-epileptic medication and drugs used to treat psychiatric disorders. In fact, tremor is caused by spontaneous activity in nerve cells in the areas of the brain that control movement.
One theory is that alcohol may help dampen this activity. It is known that alcohol has some effect on this kind of movement because as well as reducing tremor. It can also cause it if drunk excessively.
Madhya Pradesh Cow Slaughter Ban Act was approved by the President
Current Affairs Category: 2012 Current Affairs, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 02 Jan 2012 To 08 Jan 2012
Madhya Pradesh Gau- Vansh Vadh Pratishedh (Sansodhan) Vidheyak(Madhya Pradesh prohibition of slaughter of cow-progeny (amendment) Bill was approved by the President on 22 December 2011. Under the amendment act, the onus would be on the accused to prove prosecution wrong if found guilty in a cow slaughter case.
pay a minimum fine of 5000 rupees.
The guilty person would be liable for 7 years imprisonment, instead of the present 3 years. He will also have to
The MP state government had passed the amendment Bill in 2010 in the assembly to boost the existing cow slaughter prohibition Act (Madhya Pradesh Gauvansh Pratishedh Adhiniyam 2004). The bill was forwarded to the Union Home Ministry on 3 September 2010. The bill received the Presidential assent following the approval of Indian Parliament
Lokpal a Historical Perspective
Current Affairs Category: Article on Current Issues, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 |
The success of a democracy and the realization of its socio economic goals depend on the extent to which the grievances of the citizens are redressed. The earliest democratic institutions created in the world for the redressal of public grievances was the Scandinavian institution of Ombudsman. The institution of ombudsman in Indian context is referred to as Lokpal or Lokayukta.
The modern state has taken up the activities in all the areas of human endeavour be it developmental (socio economic nation building), non developmental (policing, law and order etc) or symbolic (celebrating national holidays, maintaining museums etc). The rising footprint of the government has meant greater interaction with
the citizens and thus grater chances of corruption, favoritism, harassment and abuse of authority. This makes the setting up of an independent institution of ombudsman/Lokpal a clear necessity. It is in this backdrop that the rising demand for a Lokpal by the members of the civil society (Team Anna) must be seen. Sweden was the first country to set the institution of ombudsman in 1809.This later spread to other Scandinavian countries like Finland, Denmark and Norway. The Sweden model of Lokpal where this institution germinated has very broad powers. It is an institution appointed by the legislature to look into corruption, abuse of discretion, discourtesy, nepotism and inefficiency. Thus the Team Anna cannot be completely criticized for demanding power for the Lokpal beyond the corruption cases. But it should also be kept in mind that India is huge as compared to Scandinavian countries and thus the number of cases coming to Lokpal can get unmanageable. The Sweden model of Lokpal can prosecute any erring official including the judges but can only recommend the punishment to higher authorities and not inflict any punishment by itself. In Indian context it was the first Administrative Reforms Commission headed by Morarji Desai that first recommended setting up of Lokpal and Lokayuktas in 1966. The first ARC proposed to keep judiciary out of the preview of Lokpal and included ministers and secretaries of central and state governments. Since then there has been eight official attempts to create this institution by way of legislation. The first such attempt was by Indira Gandhi government in 1968.
While central government is still debating the establishment of such institutions many state governments have already set up Lokayuktas. The first state to do so was Maharashtra in 1971. Orissa passed such an act in 1970 but it came into force only in 1983. The model of Lokayukta varies in different states widely and so does its power
and authority. Some states have given suo motu power of investigation to Lokayukta while the others have not. Some states like Uttar Pradesh and Gujrat have judicial qualification prescribed for the institution while states
like Bihar and Maharashtra have no such criteria. Chief Minister is included in the Lokayuktas jurisdiction in states like Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh while it is excluded from states like Bihar and Orissa. Thus this wide variation calls for some broad uniform enabling law from the central government within which the states can pass their own acts.
Significant changes have taken place in the politico administrative realities of India since its Tryst with Destiny started more than sixty years ago. At the turn of 21st Centuary our administration seems to be mired in the charges of corruption, dishonesty, nepotism, elitism and self aggrandizement. An independent and effective Lokpal will act as the bulwark of democratic government against the tyranny of officialdom. It will be the keeper of public conscience which will increase the faith of citizens in rule of law and help in maturing of our democracy
RBI allowed NRIs to hedge their Currency Risk in respect of External Commercial Borrowings (ECB)
Current Affairs, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Affairs Category: 2012 Current Affairs, January 2012 Current Affairs, December 2011 Current Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
The Reserve Bank of India on 29 December 2011 allowed non-residents to hedge their currency risk in respect of external commercial borrowings (ECB) denominated in rupees, with AD Category-I (authorised dealer) banks in India.
The apex bank mentioned that the amount and tenor of the hedge cannot not exceed that of the underlying
transaction. Besides, it should be in consonance with the extant regulations regarding tenor of payment or realisation of the proceeds. The NGOs (non-Government organisations) engaged in microfinance activities were permitted to avail themselves of ECBs designated in Indian rupee under the automatic route from overseas organisations and individuals as per the ECB guidelines.
According to the RBI, once cancelled the contracts cannot be rebooked. The contracts may, however, be rolled over on or before maturity. On cancellation of the contracts, gains may be passed on to the customer.
Eligible borrowers were permitted to avail of ECBs designated in Indian rupees from foreign equity holders under the automatic/ approval route, as the case may be, as per the extant ECB guidelines
Food Inflation fell to its Lowest Level in Six Years at 0.42% for the Week ended 17 December 2011
Current Affairs, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Affairs Category: 2012 Current Affairs, January 2012 Current Affairs, December 2011 Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
Current
According to data released on 29 December 2011, food inflation fell to its lowest level in six years at 0.42 per cent for the week ended 17 December with a sharp decline in prices of essential items like onions and potatoes. The fall is likely to prompt the RBI to cut interest rates at its policy review in January 2012. Food inflation declined to below 1 per cent, the lowest since April 2006. Food inflation was in double digits in early November 2011. It stood at 1.81 per cent in the previous week ended 10 December 2011. Experts attributed the fall to a good kharif harvest as well as a high base. Food items have a 14 per cent share in the overall Wholesale Price Index (WPI) basket. Onion prices grew cheaper by 59.04 per cent year-on-year during the week under review, while potato prices were down by 33.76 per cent. Prices of wheat also fell by 3.30 per cent.
Overall, vegetables became cheaper by 36.02 per cent. Inflation in the vegetable and wheat segments eased during the reporting week but prices of protein-rich items such as eggs, milk and pulses continued to remain high. Pulses grew costlier by 14.07 per cent during the week under review, while milk grew dearer by 11.30 per cent and eggs, meat and fish by 11.56 per cent.
Inflation in the overall primary articles category stood at 2.70 per cent during the week ended December 17, as against 3.78 per cent in the previous week ended 10 December 2011. Inflation in the non-food segment, which includes fibres and oilseeds, was recorded at 0.28 per cent during the week under review, as against 1.37 per cent in the week ended 3 December. Fuel and power inflation stood at 14.37 per cent during the week ended 17 December as against 15.24 per cent in the previous week.
Headline inflation remained above 9 per cent-mark since December 2010. It stood at 9.11 per cent in December and the RBI had projected it to fall to 7 per cent by March 2012. Manufactured inflation, which forms over 65 per cent of the WPI basket, is hovering around 8 per cent.
BRPSE recommended Financial Package of Rs 257 crore to revive the Sick Newsprint Unit NEPA
Current Affairs, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Affairs Category: 2012 Current Affairs, January 2012 Current Affairs, December 2011 Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
Current
The Board for Reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises (BRPSE) recommended a financial package of Rs 257 crore to revive the sick newsprint unit NEPA. The initiative was taken after the government shelved its plan to divest majority stake in the company and revive it through a joint venture with the private sector. The government holds 97.75% in NEPA. BRPSE also favoured the waiving off NEPA's interest and statutory dues worth Rs 304 crore.
The Board for Reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises suggestion was made to NEPA's administrative ministry, the Department of Heavy Industry.
BRPSE suggested the department to infuse Rs 175 crore in the form of fresh equity to meet part-finance of total
expenditure of Rs 318 crore for Revival and Mill Development Plan (RMDP). It also recommended sanction of non-plan loan of Rs 22.48 crore towards cash loss from production for the first year of production.
The Madhya Pradesh-based company suffered a loss of Rs 70.40 crore in 2010-11. BRPSE also suggested Rs 60 crore for implementing Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for 400 employees. NEPA, which pioneered manufacturing of newsprint, commenced production in April 1956 with an installed annual capacity of 30000 tonne through sourcing raw materials from captive Salai wood and bamboo. The company employed 1355 regular employees, including executives 178 and non-executives 1177, as on 31 March 2010
USA and Saudi Arabia inked an Agreement worth 29.4 billion US Dollars
Current Affairs Category: International | World, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
In one of their biggest arms deal, the US and Saudi Arabia on 28 December 2011 inked an agreement worth 29.4 billion US dollars for the sale of 80 new F-15SA combat jets and modernisation of another 70. These F-15SA aircraft, manufactured by The Boeing Company, are among the most sophisticated and capable aircraft in the world
Sibsagr in Assam to have Indias first Cooperative University

Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
Current Affairs Category: Places in News, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs
Sibsagar in Assam: The country's first cooperative university will be set up here India's first cooperative university will be set up at Sibsagar in Assam. To be known as the Rajiv Gandhi University of Cooperative Management, it will offer courses on cooperative management and train existing manpower in both the government and the private sectors, to manage the cooperative sector.
China issued a White Paper on its Space Activities

Current Affairs Category: International | World, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs
China on 29 December 2011 issued a white paper entitled Chinas Space Activities in 2011. The white paper is on the development of space industry since 2006 and the major tasks for the next five years. It was the third white paper on Chinas space activities. The white paper was issued by the State Council Information Office. China has made the space industry an important part of the nations overall development strategy with the objective of exploring and utilizing outer space for peaceful purposes. The Major tasks , which were listed in the white paper for the next five years include space transportation system, Earth satellites, human spaceflights and deep-space exploration.
The white paper stated that China would work together with the international community to promote world peace and development.
Leading Writers & Journalists presented with Bharatendu Harish Chandra Awards for 2009 & 2010
Current Affairs Category: Awards | Honours, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
Fourteen persons (Leading writers and journalists) were given Bharatendu Harish Chandra Awards for 2009 and 2010 by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, S Jagathrakshakan on 28 December 2011.
2009 Winners The first prize in the Journalism and Mass Communication category for the year 2009 was awarded to Dilip
Chandra Mandal for his manuscript Corporate, Loktantra aur Paid News. Kumud Sharmas book Samachar Bazar ki Naitikta bagged the second prize. The third prize went jointly to Shivananda Kamde for his book Cartoon Patrakarita and Dr. Akela Bhai for his book Radio Sahitya aur Patrakarita.
In the Womens issues category, the first prize for 2009 was given to Lata Kot for her manuscript Adha Asmaan Hamara.
The first prize in Childrens Literature category for 2009 was given to Ghamandi Lal Agrawal for his book Geet Gyan Vigyan Ke and the second prize to Renu Saini for her manuscript Bachpan ka Safar. 2010 Winners For 2010 the second prize in Journalism and Mass Communication category was awarded to Pranjal Dhars manuscript Samkaleen Vaishwik Patrakarita Mei Akhbaar. No one was awarded first prize for 2010 in this category.
In Womens issues category for 2010, Suman Rais book Gharelu Hinsa mein Mahila Sanrakshan Adhiniyam 2005, 2006 got the first prize.
Sanjeev Jaiswal Sanjays book Dooba Hua Qila and the book Cycle Par Thaa Kavva by Prabhat received the first and second prize respectively in the Childrens Literature category.
In the National Integration category for 2010, Shiv Kumar Rais manuscript Meri Jati Bhartiya was given the first prize.
Bharatendu Harish Chandra Awards The Bhartendu Harishchandra Awards are given to published or unpublished books in four categories- Journalism and Mass Communication, Womens Issues, Childrens Literature and National Integration. The awards were instituted in 1983 to encourage original Hindi writings on topics related to journalism and mass communication.
Awards for writings on womens issues, childrens literature and national integration were included in from 1992-
93. The Awards scheme is coordinated by Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, increased the Bhartendu Harishchandra award money from the year 2009. For journalism and mass communication categories, the first prize now carries an award of Rs 75000, up from Rs 35000 earlier. The amount for the second prize was increased from Rs 25000 to Rs.50000 and the third from Rs.20000 to Rs.40000. For books in category of Womens Issues, Childrens Literature and National
Integration, the first prize carries an award of Rs 40000 instead of Rs.15000 and the second prize Rs.20000 instead of Rs.10000.
Deepak Parekh resigned from the Board of Hindustan Unilever (HUL)

Current Affairs Category: Charge | Discharge, Corporate, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
Hindustan Unilever (HUL) informed the Bombay Stock Exchange on 28 December 2011 that Deepak Parekh, an Independent Director on the Board of HUL resigned after a tenure of more than 14 years. Parekh stepped down as Director from the board of Hindustan Oil Exploration Company (HOEC). He was associated with the company since its formative years according to HOEC's filing to the BSE. HOEC was incorporated in 1983 and commenced operational activities in 1991.
Parekh had joined the HUL board as an independent director in May 1997. He was also the chairman of the audit committee.
Parekh continues to be on the boards of all HDFC Group companies (except HDFC Bank), Mahindra & Mahindra,
Castrol India and Indian Hotels Company Limited. Parekh is also non-executive Chairman at GlaxoSmithkline Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation and Siemens India Ltd.
Realty Giant DLF sold IT Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Pune to Private Equity Firm Blackstone
Current Affairs Category: Corporate, News , December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
Realty giant DLF, and its partner Hubtown in a joint venture, DLF Ackruti Info Parks sold its IT special economic zone (SEZ) in Pune to private equity firm Blackstone for Rs.810 crore. DLF and Hubtown held 67 per cent and 33 per cent stake respectively in the joint venture firm DLF Ackruti Info Parks (Pune).
Real estate firm Ackruti City has been rechristened Hubtown Ltd. The transaction is in line with DLF's continuing objective of divesting its non-strategic assets.
DLF, the country's largest realty firm, is currently selling its non-core assets such as hotels and plots in the last few years to cut debt, which stood at Rs.22519 crore as on 30 September 2011.
DLF could so far raised Rs.3480 crore from sale of non-core assets and is planning to raise about Rs.7000 crore in the next 2-3 years. It is aiming to bring down its total debt to about Rs.10000 crore by 2013 and as part of this strategy, the firm is closing in on a few deals to sell non-core assets.
The company expects to raise about Rs.3000 crore by March 2012 through the sale of non-core assets such as IT Park in Noida and hospitality business Amanresorts.
The Cyclonic Storm Thane formed over South-West Bay of Bengal

Current Affairs Category: Abbreviations | Terms, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs
Thane: Cyclonic storm in India The cyclonic storm 'Thane' formed in the last week of December 2011 over South-East and adjoining South-West Bay of Bengal moved Westwards and lay centred over South-West and adjoining South-East Bay of Bengal, about
750 Km South of Gopalpur.The severe cyclonic storm lays centred in East Southeast of Bay of Bengal, 350 kilometres off Chennai coast. The system is likely to move West-North-Westwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours
Indias IMR showed 3 Point Decline, dropping from 50 to 47 Deaths per 1000 Live Births
Current Affairs Category: Report | Survey, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
Indias infant mortality rate (IMR) showed a 3 point decline, dropping from 50 deaths per 1,000 live births to 47, as per government data released on 28 December 2011. India thus moved closer to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) target of 30. While the IMR national average is 47, it stands at 51 in the rural areas and 31 in the urban regions.
According to estimates available with health and family welfare ministry, 17 lakh children under five die annually,
out of which 13 lakh are infants. Another 7 lakh deaths occur within the first week. The main cause of death in 50 per cent of cases is malnutrition. Other top reasons attributed to child mortality are- diarrhea, pneumonia and measles.
State-wise Analysis According to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS), conducted by the Registrar-General of India, the two worst performing States, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh showed an impressive 5 point decline. In MP, the figure dropped from 67 in 2009 to 62 in 2010 and in HP, it dropped from 45 to 40.
Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh were the two best performers as they brought down the number of child
deaths by five points. Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh stood out with a five-point drop each in one year. However, the figure stood at 62 deaths per 1000 in MP. In Himachal, the infant mortality rate was 40. However,
despite MPs good performance in the last one year, on a national level MP along with Odisha and Uttar Pradesh are the three worst performers with an IMR above 60. The IMR declined by three points in Karnataka and Delhi. Both states fared better than the national average. While it dropped from 41 in 2009 to 38 in 2010 in Karnataka, in Delhi, the drop was from 33 to 30.
Bihar, Gujarat, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Tripura had shown a four-point decline in the IMR. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi, Nagaland, Uttarakhand and Chandigarh showed a three-point decline.
In Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the IMR came down by two points.
States where the infant mortality rate continue to remain higher than the national average include Assam (58), Bihar (48), UP (61), Chhattisgarh (51) and Meghalaya (55).
IMR increased by one point in Kerala, Mizoram and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Kerala, Goa, Manipur and Nagaland are the only four states that achieved an IMR below the MDG target so far. The same also holds true for Union territories Andaman and Nicobar islands, Chandigarh, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep and Puducherry. It remained static in Lakshdweep and Puducherry.
Neo-natal deaths However, neo-natal deaths (babies who die within 28 days) continue to be a challenge where 34 babies are still dying for every 1000 born. Efforts would have to be concentrated on home-based newborn-care as 52 per cent of child deaths took place in the first 28 days of birth. Initiatives to control child mortality Home-based newborn-care through Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) was initiated by providing an incentive of Rs. 250. The purpose of home-based newborn-care is to improve newborn practices at the community level and early detection and referral of sick newborns.
The Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram, providing for free transport, food and drugs and diagnostics to all
pregnant women and sick newborns has been put in place to further promote institutional delivery and eliminate out-of-pocket expenses, which act as a barrier to seeking institutional care. Facilities such as Special New Born Care Units, New Born Stabilisation Units and New Born Baby Corners at different levels with at least one at the district level are expected to be put in place. The mother and child tracking system also evoked a huge response, with 1.32 crore women and 82.6 lakh children already registered
Maharashtra Government to provide Free Medicare for 50 lakh Poor Families

Current Affairs Category: State, Other States, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs
Maharashtra state government on 28 December 2011 planned to spend 800 crore rupees on the first phase of a health scheme for the poor. This plan will benefit 50 lakh families from eight districts. The health scheme will be executed under the Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana. Under this yojana any family earning below 1 lakh rupees per annum will be given free medical treatment worth 1.5 lakh rupees a year
WB Government decided to turn Indira Bhavan into Museum & Research Centre devoted to Nazrul Islam
Current Affairs Category: News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs, Miscellaneous, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
The West Bengal Government on 28 December 2011 declared its decision to take over Indira Bhavan, which was the official residence of former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu at Salt Lake. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee declared that Indira Bhavan would be turned into a museum and a research centre devoted to Kavi Nazrul Islam, a contemporary of Rabindranath Tagore.
After the death of Jyoti Basu in 2010, the previous government (CPIM) had mulled many options including converting it into a government guest house. The decision to convert Indira Bhavan into Nazrul Bhavan was taken in public interest and to promote research work on the great rebel poet. The Nazrul Bhavan would house a research centre and museum on the great rebel poet who made a memorable contribution to the country's freedom movement.
All furniture and other belongings of former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu would be handed over to his family or party. The building will house primarily the poet's memorabilia, his books and research on the poet's works. The project on Kazi Nazrul was announced earlier. However it was not known then where the research centre and museum on Kazi Nazrul Islam would be housed.
The process of handing over the property to the state government is expected to be completed by 31 December 2011. The property will then be under the state urban development department. Since 2000, Alimuddin Street (CPIM party office) used to pay about Rs 8880 per month to the state urban development department as rent for Indira Bhavan and rent for the bungalow had been paid in advance till December 2011.
The bungalow was named Indira Bhavan during the Congress Session in 1972 when the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi stayed there for the duration of the session.
Indira Bhavan was built in 1972 primarily to serve as a guest house for then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for her visits to the city. The Left Front government later decided to allot Indira Bhavan for Basu to live in and he had moved into the bungalow in August 1989. Since then, he continued to live there till his death in 2010
Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormouz
Current Affairs Category: Places in News, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
Strait of Hormuz: Located between the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf Iran has threatened to close the Strait if Western nations place an embargo on Iranian oil. Iranian navy is currently holding exercises close to the Strait. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow, strategically important strait between the Gulf of Oman in the southeast and the Persian Gulf.
The strait is the only sea passage to the open ocean for large areas of the Persian Gulf.
Union Government Quadrupled Limits on Loans that a Banks Internal Committee can Approve
Current Affairs Category: December 2011 Current Affairs, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
The Union government quadrupled (four times) the limits on loans that a banks internal committee can approve. The giovernments move is expected to quicken credit clearance at 26 state-run banks, including the Bank of Baroda and Punjab National Bank. The government directed banks to set up a credit approval committee comprising chairman, executive directors and three chief general managers who is to handle credit, finance and risk management functions. The group can approve credit proposals up to Rs 400 crore. Currently, any loan above Rs 100 crore has to be vetted by the management committee of the board, which meet once a month, or 20 days. Under the old regime, a management committee of the board, which included a Reserve Bank of India nominee and two independent directors appointed by rotation, the banks chairman and managing director and executive directors, took these decisions.
The prescribed limit is applicable on Category A banks with a business of Rs 3 lakh crore, while smaller public sector banks can use the same structure to approve loans up to Rs 250 crore. If a loan under consideration is higher than these limits, it would be take to the management board. However those who oppose the move mentioned that the banking system need to have a robust credit risk management policy, otherwise it may result into increase in nonperforming assets. The credit approval committee replaced the boards management committee. The two are significantly different.
The MCB has outside members as well such as RBI nominee and independent directors, the new committee on the other hand comprises two EDs and chief general managers, who report to the CMD.
Reserve Bank of India ordered Banks to set aside more Capital for Investments in Financial Entities
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) ordered banks to set aside more capital for their investments in financial entities such as insurance with an objective to strengthens the ring fence around banks. However the move can strain capital resources which are increasingly getting scarce. The RBI proposed the raise in risk weight to prevent banks from getting affected because of their holdings in other finance entities.
The banks are to set aside 25% more capital following the central bank raise of the risk weight for buying or holding of equity in financial entities. Banks investments in paid-up equity of financial entities, even if they are exempted from the capital market exposure norms, will thus be assigned a 125 percent risk weight. The proposal is expected to lead banks, which at present set aside Rs 9 for every Rs 100 of investment in financial entities, to keep aside about Rs 11.
As per the apex bank, inter-linkages between insurance and banking sector are a matter of concern, as many
insurance companies being part of financial conglomerates. Any financial stability issue regarding the bank in the conglomerate therefore may have an amplifying effect on the insurer. The contagion between the banking and insurance sector will also depend on the insurance companies overall exposure to banks.
RBI opined that consolidation in the banking sector would pave the way for stronger financial institutions with the capacity to meet corporate and infrastructure funding needs, and to rescue distressed lenders. However, it prescribed a non-operative bank holding company structure to avoid creation of complex institutions.
Voluntary mergers and transfers help consolidation in the financial sector and pave the way for stronger financial institutions to rescue the weaker ones. These voluntary measures provide business opportunity to the stronger ones to spread their presence in different geographies. The Competition Act, 2002 (as amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007) could however come in the way of consolidation. One of the provisions of
the Act requirean enterprise proposing to enter into a combination via a merger or an amalgamation to notify the Competition Commission
China won the Gold Medal with 16 points in the World Women's Team Chess Championship
Current Affairs Category: Sports, News, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
The Indian team finished at the fourth position in the World Women's Team Chess Championship at Mardin,Turkey on 27 December 2011. India's chances of winning a medal was blown away following a loss to Georgia and then China. The losses by Tania Sachdev and Soumya Swaminathan of India paved the way for an easy Georgian victory in the end.
China won the gold medal with 16 points while the silver was claimed by the Russians who finished with 13 points in all. Georgia ended with the bronze while India and Ukraine were tied for the fourth spot.
Ukraine caused the biggest surprise of the championship with a sensational 2.5-1.5 victory over leaders China.
Though China was not much affected, the helped the Ukrainian eves come into reckoning after a rather subdued performance in the first half
Telecom Commission recommended a Uniform Licence Fee of 8 per cent of AGR

Telecom Commission, the decision-making body of the Department of Telecommunications recommended a uniform licence fee of 8 per cent of adjusted gross revenues (AGR). Uniform license fee of 8 % was recommended as against the prevalent rate of 6-8 per cent depending upon the type of service and circle a firm is operating. The Commissions move will put more financial pressure on telecom operators.
The Telecom Commission is also likely to impose one-time charges on extra 2G spectrum that operators have been holding beyond the contractual limit of 6.2 MHz.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) also recommended a charge of 8 per cent of AGR for deciding the license fee. TRAI recommended that each MHz of additional spectrum (beyond 6.2 MHz of contractual radio waves) held by operators should have one-time cost of Rs.4571.87 crore (pan-India). The Telecom Commission futher specified that in future additional spectrum would be allotted through the auction route.
The Telecom Commission had accepted the TRAI recommendation on merger and acquisition (M&A), which
according to the Commission would help consolidation of the mobile sector that currently has around a dozen players, the highest in the world. The Commission accepted the TRAI's recommendations on spectrum sharing as well. The spectrum sharing would be permitted between any two licensees holding spectrum, subject to the condition that the total bandwidth would not cross the permissible limit under mergers. The permission would be for five years, subject to renewal for one more term of five years.
As per the new regulation, pre-2008 operators will need to pay one-time additional spectrum charge. The operators are currently paying about 6-10%, depending on the circles they operate in. The new figure of 8% is much more than what the TRAI had earlier suggested at 6%. C
RBI directed Banks to issue Cheques conforming to Cheque Truncation System 2010 Standard
The Reserve Bank on 27 December 2011 directed all banks to issue cheques conforming to Cheque Truncation System (CTS) 2010 standard with uniform features from 1 April 2012 onwards. All banks providing cheque facility to their customers were advised to issue only CTS-2010 standard cheques not
later than 1 April 2012 on priority basis in northern and southern region. The two- northern and southern region will be part of the northern and southern CTS grids respectively. CTS-2010 standard cheques are to be issued by banks across the country by 30 September 2012 through a time bound action plan.
The Indian Banks Association ( IBA) and National Payment Corporation of India ( NPCI) were vested with the
responsibility of coordinating and implementing the uniform cheque standard across the country by all participating banks. Need for the CTS The introduction of new cheque standards 'CTS 2010' was needed on account of several developments in the
cheque clearing: growing use of multi-city and payable-at-par cheques at any branch of a bank, increasing popularity of Speed Clearing for local processing of outstation cheques and implementation of grid based Cheque Truncation System (CTS) for image-based cheque processing etc Advantage of the CTS The new cheque standard CTS 2010 with set of minimum security features will ensure uniformity across all cheque forms issued by banks in the country as well as help presenting banks while scrutinising and recognising cheques of drawee banks in an image-based processing scenario, RBI said in a notification.
The homogeneity in security features is also expected to act as a deterrent against cheque frauds. Also, the standardisation of field placements on cheque forms would enable straight-through-processing both under CTS and MICR clearing. Current Practise At present in most parts of the country banks have to physically move cheques presented to them for clearing to
the clearing house. The cheques are then sent to the issuing banks which verify the signature before releasing the funds. Under RBI cheque truncation programme banks will release payments based on images of cheques conveyed to them
Investment Advisors to be registered Organisation (SRO) as per SEBIs Rule

with
Self-regulatory
Current Affairs Category: December 2011 Current Affairs, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) proposed new rules for investment advisors under which the advisors would be required to be registered with a self-regulatory organisation (SRO) before undertaking such a
role (role of an advisor). The proposed framework was proposed with an objective to regulate investment advisory services in various forms, including independent financial advisors, banks, distributors and fund managers.
While the activity of giving investment advice will be regulated under the proposed framework through an SRO,
issues relating to financial products other than securities will come under the jurisdiction of the respective sector regulators. Persons or entities seeking registration as investment advisors shall have to obtain it from the SRO. The SRO formed to regulate investment advisors will be registered under the SEBI (Self Regulatory Organisation) Regulations, 2004.
The duties of the SRO will include registering and setting minimum professional standards, including certification of investment advisors, laying down rules and regulations and enforcing those, informing and educating the investing public, setting up and administering a disputes resolution forum for investors and registered entities. Those entities registered with the SRO will provide advice on investments in financial products or products that are traded and settled like financial products. The services will include financial advice, financial planning service and actions which would influence an investment decision
Rajya Sabha approved the Export- Import Bank of India Amendment Bill, 2011
Current Affairs Category: National | India, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
Rajya Sabha approved the Export-Import Bank of India Amendment Bill, 2011, on 27 December 2011. It aims at promoting international trade by raising the capital funds of overseas trading from two thousand crore rupees to ten thousand crore rupees. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha earlie
32nd Sahara Senior National Archery Championship to be held in Jamshedpur 24 to 29 January 2012
Current Affairs Category: Sports, Miscellaneous, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
The Archery Association of India (AAI) announced in late December 2011 that the 32nd Sahara senior National archery championship (recurve and compound) will be held at the JRD Tata Sports Complex, Jamshedpur from 24
to 29 January 2012. The meet is to serve as the selection trials for aspirants of a place in the Indian archery team for the first Asian Grand Prix at Bangkok scheduled to be held 14 to 20 February 2012. The best five finishers in the men's recurve section will vie for three places in the Indian team, and the best five
women will vie for one spot in the women's recurve team at a selection trials to be held at SAI, Eastern Centre, from 3 to 6 February 2012.
The AAI retained Jayanta Talukdar and the three women archers, Chekrovolu Swuro, Deepika Kumari and L. Bombayla Devi, in the Indian team for all international competition till the London Olympics since they earned the country four Olympic quota places. Four men and as many women compound archers will be selected out of top eight finishers in both the men's and women's sections at the Jamshedpur National for the Kolkata trials. The AAI also announced the postponement of the 19th Sahara senior National (Indian round) archery championship scheduled to be held at Raipur (Chhattisgarh) from 9 to 13 January 2012. The meet was postponed till the last week of March 2012
India and Pakistan concluded their Sixth Round of talks in Islamabad

India and Pakistan concluded their Sixth Round of Expert Level Talks on Nuclear Confidence Building Measures in Islamabad on 27 December 2011. In this meeting, both the nations agreed to recommend to their foreign secretaries to extend the validity of the agreement on reducing the risk from accidents relating to nuclear weapons. Pakistan suggested to India that heavy artillery should be removed from the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
India and Pakistan also reviewed the implementation and strengthening of CBMs in the framework of Lahore MoU. The nations also agreed to explore possibilities for mutually acceptable additional CBMs.
India and Pakistan discussed a proposal seeking a cooperative mechanism to deal with a crisis like Fukushima
Lok Sabha Passed the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011

Current Affairs Category: National | India, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs
The Lok Sabha on 27 December 2011, approved the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011 with the government making it clear that setting up of Lokayuktas by the states would not be mandatory. However, the Constitutional Amendment Bill, designed to confer constitutional status on the anti-corruption watchdog, fell through, as the government failed to get two-thirds support for it.
The Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011 was approved after the government moved a few other key amendments,
including keeping the Defence Forces and Coast Guard personnel out of the purview of the anti-graft ombudsman and increasing the exemption time of former MPs from five to seven years. A number of amendments moved by the Opposition, including Corporates, Media and NGOs receiving donations, were defeated. The government rejected the opposition's demand to bring CBI under Lokpal
A team of 50 Arab League Observers arrived in Damascus, Syria

A team of 50 Arab League Observers arrived in Damascus in Syria on 26 December 2011. The team consisting of experts from Algeria and Tunisia is led by Sudanese General Mustafa Daby. It would take about a week for Arab League to find out if the peace plan is being implemented in totality.
The Arab Observer mission to monitor the implementation of League mediated peace plan would visit the worst hit
cities in phases. However, the group will maintain an element of surprise by only announcing the specific areas they would be visiting on the same day of departure. The 50-member group consists of politicians, lawmakers and military officials. They will split themselves into ten groups for different cities. The team is likely to visit Homs amidst reports of killings of 23 people by the security forces
RBI tightened the Capital Adequacy Norms for all Non-banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)
The Reserve Bank on 26 December 2011 tightened the prudential norms for the non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) under which the NBFCs will have to account for risks towards off-balance sheet items while computing capital adequacy requirement. The NBFCs can thus participate in the credit default swap market only as users. As users, the NBFCs would be permitted only to hedge their credit risk on corporate bonds they hold. However, they are not permitted to sell protection. They are therefore not permitted to enter into short positions in the credit default contracts. NBFCs are however permitted to exit their bought CDS positions by unwinding them with the original counter-party or by assigning them in favour of buyer of the underlying bond.
RBI also tightened the capital adequacy norms for all NBFCs. The rule tightening exercise comes in the wake of their stepped-up exposure to off- balance sheet items.
The RBI revised capital adequacy norms for non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) with an objective to improve their capacity and help manage off-balance sheet exposure.
The regulatory framework was expanded to have greater granularity in the risk weights and credit conversion factors for different types of off-balance sheet items.
The RBI prescribed that the total risk weighted off-balance sheet credit exposure be calculated as the sum of the
risk weighted amount of the market-related and non-market related off-balance sheet items. The RBI specified that for the off-balance sheet items already contracted by NBFCs, the risk weight shall be applicable with effect from the financial year beginning 1 April 2012.
As per the apex bank, off-balance sheet exposures of NBFCs have increased with the increased participation in the
designated currency options and futures and interest rate futures as clients for the purpose of hedging their underlying exposures.
Asset liability management for NBFCs had become complex and large, requiring strategic management with a greater use of derivatives.
In the normal course of their business, NBFCs are exposed to credit and market risks due to asset-liability transformation as the Indian markets are now more integrated with global ones
Indian Football Team International Football
Defender
Mahesh
Gawli
Retired
from
Current Affairs Category: Personality, Sports, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
Indian football team defender Mahesh Gawli announced his retirement from international football on 26 December 2011. He however announced his decision to continue to play at the club level for some more years. Gawli who made his international debut in the pre-Olympic qualifier against Thailand in 1999 represented India in 82 matches. He captained the Indian team in one match (against Malaysia) in November 2011. He had scored one goal against Bhutan in SAFF Cup in 2005. He was part of the Indian teams which won SAFF Cup (2005), Nehru Cup (2007 and 2009), AFC Challenge Cup (2008) apart from the recent SAFF championship. The triumph in the AFC Challenge Cup (2008) topped of the list of his memorable moments. He played for several top clubs like FC Kochin (1998-99), Churchill Brothers (2000-02), East Bengal (2003), Mahindra United (2004) and Dempo (from 2005 onwards).
Infrastructure Sector recorded 6.8% Growth in November 2011 after touching 0.3% in October
The infrastructure sector recorded a growth of 6.8% in Novemberr 2011 after touching five-year low of 0.3% in October 2011. The growth in this sector was propelled by an impressive growth in cement, electricity and refinery products. The infrastructure sector have weightage of 38% in the overall Index of Industrial Production (IIP), considerably improved year-on-year as well from 3.7% in November 2010. Except for crude oil, natural gas and fertilisers, all other segments registered healthy growth in November 2011.
The maximum growth was witnessed in cement which expanded by 16.6%, while there was a contraction of 4.3% in the same period in 2010-11. Electricity and steel output grew by 14.1% and 5.1% against 3.5% and 7.6%, respectively. Coal and petroleum refinery products growth went up by 4.9% and 11.2% in November 2011.
Crude oil and natural gas output however contracted by 5.6% and 10.1% from a positive growth of 17% and 5.5%, year-on-year, respectively.
Due to regressive performance in the previous months of 2011 prior to November, the April-November growth of core industries stood at 4.6 per cent as against 5.6 per cent in the same period in 2010.
2012 declared as National Mathematical Year as a Tribute to Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan

Current Affairs Category: Day | Week | Year, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 26 December 2011 declared the birthday of the great mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, 22 December as National Mathematics Day. Singh also declared 2012 as the National Mathematical Year as a tribute to the great mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.
The Ramanujan Mathematical Society (RMS) will hold a series of activities in 2012 (National Mathematical Year) to mark the 125th birth anniversary of mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the year-long celebrations at the Madras University Auditorium to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Ramanujan.
The activities to be organised as a part of the year long celebration were planned to involve different sections,
including school-goers, college students, students pursuing their research in mathematics and others interested in developments in the discipline. In the programmes involving school students, for instance, talks and activities would focus on helping them get rid of their fear of the subject. The biography of Ramanujan by Robert Kanigel in regional languages has been planned . A documentary, tracing the history of mathematics in India, would also be made. The year-long celebrations of Ramanujan birth anniversary would culminate in an international conference of mathematicians in New Delhi in December 2012. On the occasion, Manmohan Singh also expressed concern over a slide in the number of students pursuing higher studies in mathematics. He also expressed concern over the sharp decline in the number of quality mathematics teachers in schools and colleges.
RMS president and chair of the organising committee M.S. Raghunathan declared on 26 December 2011 that a mathematics centre named after Ramanujan would be set up in Chennai. It would have a host of facilities, including a museum.
WGEEP designated Entire Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive

Current Affairs Category: Environment | Ecology, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
The WGEEP (Western Ghats expert Panel) designated entire Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area. The panel in its report classified the 142 taluks in the Western Ghats boundary into Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ) 1, 2 and 3.
The report further recommended that no new dams should be allowed in Ecologically Sensitive Zone 1. The report added that Both the Gundia of Karnataka and Athirappilly of Kerala hydel projects should be denied environmental clearance because these sites fall in Ecologically Sensitive Zone 1
Delhi Cabinet approved (Amendment) Bill, 2011
the
Delhi
Cooperative
Societies
Current Affairs Category: State, Delhi, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
The Delhi state cabinet on 26 December 2011 approved the draft of the Delhi Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2011. It also approved the draft of the Salary and Allowances of the Chief Whip in the Legislative Assembly (Amendment) Bill, 2011. It means that the Chief Whip of the Opposition Party of the Delhi Assembly will get facilities on par with the chief whip of the ruling party. Besides, it also gave its approval for construction of a new building for Deen Dayal Upadhyay College at Dwarka.
India and Russia signed Five Agreements and Issued a Joint Declaration
The Prime Minister of India visited Russia on 15-17 December 2011 to participate in the 12th Indo-Russian annual summit. India and Russia signed five major agreements during this summit, which includes licensed
production of an additional 42 Sukhoi combat planes and to manage fly ash residue at thermal plants in Siberia. A MoU was signed on increasing cooperation and exchanges between anti-monopolies agencies and another MoU was signed to oversee the safety and quality issues by the drug standards and safety organisations to increase trade in the pharma sector.
India and Russia also signed an educational exchange programme to share experiences in the field of pedagogy and to form a joint working group to monitor the agreement's implementation.
During this visit, India and Russia also issued a joint declaration. The main features of this joint declaration are as following: India and Russia decided to commemorate the 65th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations
between India and Russia in 2012 in both the countries in a fitting manner. The sides commended the successful launch, by India, of the jointly built YouthSat for space science studies;
and expressed satisfaction on the progress in implementation of the joint lunar exploration project. The nations welcomed the outcome of the eleventh meeting of the India-Russia Inter Governmental Commission
on Military-Technical Cooperation in addressing issues of mutual concern. As an important element of their Strategic Partnership, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to work together to strengthen the central coordinating role of the United Nations in international affairs as well as the crucial role of its Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security. The sides expressed concern over negative trends in the global economy. The nations identified successful completion of the IMF reform under the terms and conditions agreed in the
framework of the G-20 as a key element of the general reform of the international financial architecture. In the context of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, the sides reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of: searching the way to overcome crises in the region in compliance with law, exclusively through peaceful means, avoiding violence and outside intervention, through broad, inclusive national dialogue on democratic reforms, taking into account the legitimate rights and aspirations of the peoples of the region. The sides agreed that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) had become an important factor for regional security and cooperation. The sides attached importance to strengthening cooperation among BRICS countries.
India and the Russian Federation, as responsible states, possessing advanced nuclear technologies, share the objective of preventive proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, including
preventing their possible acquisition by terrorist groups. The sides recalled the bilateral Moscow Declaration between India and the Russian Federation on International Terrorism signed on November 6, 2001 in Moscow. Both sides reaffirmed the need for all states to combine efforts to vanquish terrorism.
The sides emphasized the importance of joint bilateral and multilateral efforts in the fight against illicit drug trafficking which poses a growing threat to international peace and stability.
India and the Russian Federation expressed concern over the situation emerging around Irans nuclear programme. Both sides support a comprehensive and long-term settlement of the situation through exclusively political and diplomatic means by promoting dialogue.
Kerala won Men's & Womens Title in the 10th All-India Volleyball Tournament for Vajpayee Cup
Kerala defeated Andhra Pradesh in straight sets to lift the men's title in the 10th All-India Invitational volleyball tournament for the Vajpayee Cup on 25 December 2011. Kerala won the game 25-20, 25-18, 25-18. Karnataka outdid Tamil Nadu to occupy the third position in the mens category.
The Kerala on the other hand defeated Central Railway (Mumbai) and to claim the titlee. Tiji Raju and N. Bijina led the turnaround as it won 20-25, 18-25, 25-23, 26-24, 15-13. The women had to come back from two sets down to take the title. The Kerala women lost the first set 20-25 before finding themselves in deep trouble after losing the second set 18-25. In the deciding set Kerala outdid Central Railway 15-13 to clinch the title. Southern Railway (Chennai) finished third in the women's sections
The Memory Gene Npas4 was found by the Neuroscientists

Current Affairs Category: Science | Technology, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs
A team of neuroscientists found a gene that turns on when memories are stored in the brain. This discovery could help trace the exact locations of memories in the brain. It could help in creating and altering memory. The gene
is called Npas4 , which is very active in the hippocampus. The animal is known to have a brain structure critical in forming long-term memories. During mice studies Scientists found that by taking out Npas4 from test subjects, neuroscientists were able to prevent new memories from forming
Tea Imports declined by 14 per cent to 9.91 million kg in the AprilOctober Period of 2011
According to the Tea Board data released in December 2011, tea imports declined by 14 per cent to 9.91 million kg in the April-October period of 2011. Imports of the brew fell by 15% to 14.15 million kg from 16.57 million kg in January-October 2010. The country had imported 11.55 million kg of tea in same period in 2010. India, the world's largest consumer of tea imports tea leaves solely for re-export to other countries. The dip in imports therefore signals lower re-exports.
first seven months of the 2011-12 financial year. India imports tea largely from Kenya, Malawi, Nepal, Argentina, Iran, Sri Lanka, China and Indonesia, among other countries.
The inbound shipments of tea from most countries, except Argentina, Iran and the UK, registered a decline in the
India is the second-biggest producer of tea in the world and accounts for about 28% of global output and 14% of trade. There are around 1600 tea estates in India and the industry employs more than two million people.
Finance Ministry directed State-run Banks to do away with Separate Promotion Policies
The finance ministry in December 2011 directed state-run banks to do away with their separate promotion policies. The ministry's move was strongly opposed by the officer's union.
The fresh guidelines from the Finance Ministry aim at removing the anomalies across public sector banks and addressing severe manpower shortage by creating a common pool of managers. The initiative is likely to mark an end of fasttrack and super fast-track promotions at managerial levels in some public sector banks, including the country's largest lender, State Bank of India.
The new guidelines will allow lateral movement across banks without any remuneration issues. The guidelines will also ensure that there are eligible candidates across all verticals in all 21 state-run banks. The presence of such eligible candidates is expected to be of big advantage when it comes to succession planning.
The 2.5 lakh strong All India Bank Officers' Confederation however opposed the guidelines. According to the Union, the government ought to realise the situation is different in each bank and therefore policies cannot be forced.
As per the guidelines, an employee will have to work in all verticals of a bank before being promoted to the middle management level. Specialists recruited in banks will however have to spend at least five years in their area
before being moved to other functions. Also, in a case where a relaxation has been provided on the basis of merit, the same officer will not be eligible again.
The guidelines run contrary to the recommendations of a panel, set up to look into human resource issues at state-run banks. The panel had recommended that the banks should develop mechanisms for identifying star performers and track their performance for fast-track growth. Headed by former Bank of Baroda chairman AK
Khandelwal, the panel had suggested that such a move will act as a motivational and retention tool, besides creating a leadership pipeline.
Highlights An employee will have to work in all verticals before being promoted to the middle management level The new policy spells the end of fast-track promotions at managerial levels The guidelines will ensure that there are eligible candidates across all verticals in all 21 state-run bank
The Information Technology (IT) Sector created most Jobs in the Five Years (2006-2011)Period
The information technology (IT) sector led by the top three listed companies, TCS, Infosys and Wipro, created the most jobs in the five years ending 2011 compared with other sectors. Increased employment in the sector was boosted by an over two-fold jump in aggregate revenue.
The data is based on the hiring trend of a sample of 600 listed companies that reported annual financials along with headcount information since 2006. The findings provide a reflection of the changing trend in Indias GDP composition. There was a marked shift from the agrarian phase to the services phase.
The data revealed that the proportion of services sector jobs in the total headcount of the sample rose to 46.5% in 2011 from 41.8% in 2006. The sample companies also expanded the aggregate headcount by 48% to 43.8 lakh employees between 2006 and 2011. IT sector The analysis by Economic Times (ET) Intelligence Group of the trend in job creation by the organised sector
reflected the rising clout of services companies. Of the 14.3 lakh jobs created between Financial 2006 and 2011, over 8 lakh (56%) were added by companies in the services sectors, which includes banking and finance, healthcare, hospitality, technology, telecom, trading and retail. These companies created four out of seven jobs in the country over the past five years thereby outpacing the manufacturing sector.
IT sector players led the service sector, adding as many as 4.5 lakh employees. TCS, Infosys and Wipro together added 2.4 lakh people, or more than half the total additions for the sector. Manufacturing sector The manufacturing sector however took a back seat. Manufacturing jobs increase by 35% to 23.3 lakh during the
period. The increase was at a much slower pace compared to the 66% growth in services sector employment. The increasingly capital-intensive nature of Indias manufacturing businesses was understood to be major reason for
lower job creation in the sector. the rising trend of shifting production and employees off the balance sheet through sub-contracting and temporary workers also reduced the payroll of manufacturing players. The falling share of manufacturing sector in new jobs creation is also worrisome since it would resulot in the curtaiing of lowskill employment
Honey Baisoya became the Youngest Winner of Goodricke East India Amateur Golf Championship
Delhi's Honey Baisoya became the youngest winner of the 22nd Goodricke East India amateur golf championship at RCGC on 25 December 2011. The 15-year-old defeated the country's No.1 amateur, S. Chikkarangappa to win 3 and 2. Both had to play two rounds of 36 holes on the final day. Baisoya secured a winning start after making birdies on first, fourth, fifth, ninth, 12th and 15th in the first round of 18 holes where both Baisoya and Chikka halved 11 holes. Though, Chikka won on seventh, 11th and 14th, Baisoya was 2-up after the first round.
In the second round, Baisoya again took an early lead after making a birdie on the first to go 3-up though Chikka kept giving a tough competition. Baisoya in total had six birdies in the first round of 18 and three more in 16 holes in the second round while Chikka had three birdies in both rounds. Baisoya also dropped fewer bogeys.
Planning Commission approved investment for Karnataka Flood Protection Project

Current Affairs Category: State, Other States, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
The Planning Commission of India approved Investment clearance for the scheme Flood Protection works for River Banks of Ghatprabha River at Gokak Town of Belgaum District of Karnataka.The project envisages strengthening of the right bank of the river Ghatprabha at Gokak town to enable it to carry the full capacity discharge of 7361 cumec for 100 year return period to avoid damages to right flood bank, residential and commercial houses, town, roads etc. The scheme is likely to benefit an area of 146 ha of residential and commercial land and population of about 1400.
Estimated to cost 34.07 crore rupees, the project shall be completed by the financial year 2012-13 and Plan accounts would be closed by 31st March 2013. The State Finance Department would restrict the expenditure to the approved cost and no additional expenditure beyond approved cost will be permitted unless the revised estimate is got approved following the prescribed procedure.
The proposal envisages construction of earthen embankment and couterfort retaining walls along with sopana
(Steps) for river Ghatprabha on right bank near Gokak town for a length of 1685 m and 1165 m (including 20 m length of steps) respectively
Indonesias Taufik Hidayat defeated Sourabh Verma to win the $120000 India Open Grand Prix
Indonesias experienced shuttler, Taufik Hidayat, won his first Mens Singles title of 2011 at the 2011 $120,000 Syed Modi India Open Grand Prix Gold badminton championship when he defeated Sourabh Verma of India. Taufik is currently World Number 12 in Mens Singles world rankings. Hidayat who ended his title drought of 2011 with a 21-15, 21-18 triumph over Saurabh received $9,000 as the prize money. In the first set of this final battle, Taufik played with precision and won it with a comfortable score. in the second game, Sourabh elevated his level of play and matched the speed of Taufik but lost the set with a decent margin. Ranked 72 in the world and on his debut season on the senior international circuit, Sourabh had won the Bahrain International Challenge in 2011 and had also reached the quarterfinals of TATA Open India International Challenge, Thailand Grand Prix Gold and Indian Super series.
The women's singles final was won bythird seed Inthanon Ratchanok of Thailand. Naoki Kawamae & Shoji Sato (Jpn) emerged winners in Men's doubles while in women's doubles, Shinta Mulia Sari & Lei Yao of Singapore defeated Miyuki Maeda & Satako Suetsuna of Japan to emerge champions.
Scientists discovered a Way to Transform Ordinary Tissue into Heart Muscle Cells
Current Affairs Category: Science | Technology, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
Scientists discovered a way to transform ordinary tissue into beating heart muscle cells. It could pave the way for new therapeutic approaches for making a damaged heart to repair itself. Scientists used a zebrafish system to develop a small and robust molecule, which can transform stem cells into beating heart muscle cells.
The scientists in their experiment found that cardionogen treatment enlarged the zebrafish heart by stimulating production of new cardiac muscle cells from stem cells.
The scientists discovered three structurally related molecules (Cardiongen-1, 2 and3) after screening 4000 compounds. It could promote or inhibit heart formation depending on when they were administered during development
Theatre Director Satyadev Dubey, Existential & Absurd Theatre died

credited
with
Introducing
Current Affairs Category: News Capsule, Person Died, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs
Theatre director, screenplay writer and actor Satyadev Dubey, credited with introducing existential and absurd theatre, passed away on 25 December 2011. Dubey was a maverick who went on to become a theatre guru. Born in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, in 1936, Dubey's first ambition was to become a cricketer. However after coming to Mumbai, he gave up the idea of becoming a cricketer. He gave up that ambition as he got attracted to the post-1947 theatre that was emerging in the city. He joined Theatre Unit, the theatre group-cum-school founded by Ebrahim Alkazi. Although he came from the Hindi heartland, he was equally at ease on Marathi and Gujarati stage.
Dubey came into prominence with Dharamvir Bharatis radio-play Andha Yug that brought to the fore the pervasive criminal and homicidal tendencies during the times of war.
By early 70s, Dubey shifted to Marathi playwrights. He also directed a documentary and a feature film in Marathi
language. Dubeys significantly contributed to Mumbai theatre by introducing Theatre of the Absurd inspired by playwrights like Sartre, Beckett, Durrenmatt and Ionesco. He penned down the screenplay for Shyam Benegals film Bhumika as well. He penned screenplays/dialogue of
some acclaimed films in the 1970s, including Shyam Benegal's Nishant, Ankur, Kalyug and Bhumika, and also acquired a distinct identity as theatre director-teacher.
In his career spanning four decades, he directed or produced plays of the prominent playwrights who shaped the modern Indian theatre: Girish Karnad (Yayati, Hayavadana), Badal Sarkar (Evam Indrajit, Pagla Ghoda), Mohan Rakesh (Aadhe Adhure), Vijay Tendulkar (Gidhade, Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe), Chandrashekhara Kambara (Aur Tota Bola). He is also credited with discovery of Dharam Vir Bharti's play 'Andha Yug', which he recommended to Alkazi. Awards He won the Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue in 1980 for the film Junoon. He also won the Silver Lotus Award in 1978 for Best Screenplay for the fim Bhimika. He shared this award with Shyam Benegal and Girish Karnad
India's Foreign Exchange Reserves fell by $4.67 billion for Week ended 16 December 2011
According to the RBI data, India's foreign exchange reserves fell by a steep $4.67 billion to $302.1 billion during the week ended 16 December 2011 on account of a fall in foreign currency assets. The dip marked the lowest in
nine months. The forex reserves registered a fall for the sixth of the last seven weeks. The reserves declined by over $18 billion in the last seven weeks and are currently at their lowest level since March 2011. Foreign currency assets, the biggest component of the forex reserves, fell by $4.66 billion to $266.96 billion for the week ended 16 December according to the weekly statistical supplement of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The assets expressed in US dollar terms include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US currencies such as the pound sterling, euro and yen held in reserve. The value of special drawing rights (SDRs) fell by $54 million to $4.44 billion, while the value of gold reserves remained unchanged at $28.04 billion. However, India's reserves with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) rose by $47 million to $2.65 billion
Delhi Court set Deadline for Social Networking Sites to remove Antireligious or Anti-social Content
A Delhi court set 6 February as a deadline for 22 social networking sites including the Facebook, the Google, the Yahoo and the Microsoft to remove all anti-religious or anti-social content.The court directed the social networking sites to file compliance reports by 6 February 2012.
Additional Civil Judge Mukesh Kumar had on 20 December in a ex-parte order issued summons to the social networking websites, granted around one and half month for compliance of his order. The court after going
through the several printouts of the objectionable contents, CD and other documents had found them defamatory and derogatory and ordered to take them off from the sites. The social networking sites were issued summons by the court, on grounds of carrying objectionable content. The companies were charged with section 292 (sale of obscene books etc), 293 (sale of obscene objects to young person etc) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.
The court's order came amid a raging controversy over monitoring the content on Internet and of those websites depending on user generated contents. The issue surfaced after Union Telecommunications Minister Kapil Sibal asked the social networking websites to screen contents.
Social networking sites in India have been going through a rough phase, after the government began showing dislike for the content portrayed. as per the court's directive, in case the social networking sites fail to clear derogatory content off their websites by 6 February 2012 they would be charged for contempt of court
Veteran Politician and Former S.Bangarappa passed away

Chief
Minister
of
Karnataka
Current Affairs Category: News Capsule, Person Died, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs
Veteran politician and former Chief Minister of Karnataka S.Bangarappa who was the Chief Minister of Karnataka from 1990-92 died on 26 December 2011. He was born on 26 October 1932 in Kubatur village of Shimoga District, he was a highly respected leader among backward classes. He represented Shimoga constituency in the 14th Lok Sabha. S Bangarappa changed parties and constructed parties but finally landed in Janata Dal S Party.
Bangarappa, who had tested his political fortunes in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after a long stint in
Congress, had recently joined the H D Devegowda-led Janata Dal (Secular). The three time Lok Sabha member represented Shimoga constituency and has been a legislator several times. In his political career spanning over 50 years, Bangarappa had founded Karnataka Vikas Party and Karnataka Congress Party, both of which did not do very well. Bangarappa had played a crucial role in installing the first ever non-Congress government in Karnataka in 1983 when his outfit Karnataka Kranti Ranga supported the then Janata Party government headed by late Ramakrishna Hegde. He was the Chief Minister between 1990-92 and
after he was removed from the post, he floated Karnataka Congress Party which contested the 1994 assembly elections and won 10 seats. He was on the national political stage as a Lok Sabha member for three terms in 1996, 1999 and 2003. He was also associated with the Samajwadi Party.
His worst times in political arena came in 2009, when Bangarappa was defeated by B Y Raghavendra, son of former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa in Shimoga parliamentary seat and also in the assembly election held in 2008 at the hands of Yeddyurappa in Shikaripura constituency.
S Bangarappa was a keen enthusiast in culture of the state. Bangarappa was in to stage plays, singing and was
part of one or two films in Kannada. S Bangarappa was instrumental in holding the first Indian international film festival in Bengaluru in 1993
Following RBIs Deregulation 5 Indian Banks raised Interest Rates on NRE Deposits
Current Affairs Category: Corporate, News , December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
Reserve Bank of India deregulated non-resident external (NRE) deposits on 16 December 2011 allowing banks to offer higher interest rates to dollar-denominated accounts. Reserve Bank freed the rates on non-resident external accounts, offering interest as high as 9.6% per annum. Following RBIs deregulation five Indian banks, including HDFC Bank and Yes Bank on 23 December 2011 raised their interest rates on such deposits in order to lure foreign money. The Reserve Bank of India's move to deregulate interest rates on non-resident external (NRE) rupee deposits and ordinary non-resident accounts encouraged banks to attract dollars. Private lender Yes Bank increased the interest rates on fixed deposits held by non-resident Indians (NRIs) to 9.6 per cent from 3.82 per cent. The new rate is being offered on term deposits of 15 months 15 days to 16 months. The bank also raised savings bank rate by 200 basis points to 6 per cent.
Lakshmi Vilas Bank revised the rate of interest for NRE term deposits with effect from December 22. Deposits under the maturity slab of one year to below two years will in fact attract 10 per cent from 3.82 per cent previously. Deposits of 2 years to below three years will fetch 8 per cent against 3.51 per cent and three years and above 7 per cent against 3.64 per cent.
IndusInd Bank increased the interest rates on NRE deposits to 9.25 per cent from 3.82 per cent. Similar steps were also taken by banks like Federal Bank, HDFC Bank, State Bank of Travancore (SBT). The new rates are effective from 24 December for fresh deposits as well as those being renewed on maturity.
Malappuram (Kerala) Off-campus of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) dedicated to the Nation
Union Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal dedicated the Malappuram (Kerala) off-campus of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) to the nation at a function held in Perinthalmanna on 24 December 2011. The Aligarh Muslim University special centre in Malappuram is one of the five such centres being set up in the country.
Sibal also laid the foundation stone for the new campus of the centre. Union Minister of State for HRD E Ahamed laid the stone for the administrative building of the centre.
The new campus will house five hostels for men and three women hostels. The construction also includes an administrative block, two academic blocks and 20-odd staff quarters.
The Union government sanctioned Rs 200cr for the AMU campus which is expected to be ready in five years. It will have facilities from pre-school to a full-fledged medical college. The state government will spend Rs 100cr on the development of the campus.
The UN and Iraq signed an Agreement to relocate Iranian Exiles

The United Nations (UN) and the Iraqi Government on 24 December 2011 signed an agreement to relocate Iranian exiles living in a camp in northeastern part of Iraq. The Iraqi government has been insisting on closing the camp by the end of this month. Under the agreement, UN High Commission for Refugees will monitor the relocation while Iraqi Government will be responsible for their security. UNHCR would decide the refugee status for the residents of Ashraf here. This will be the first step toward resettlement to the third countries other than the native or the host countries.
Camp Ashraf was the base of dissident Iranians led by the People's Mujahedeen Organization of Iran. The group moved to Camp Ashraf during the regime of Saddam Hussein and sided with Iraq in the war against Iran in the 1980s. The camp, now home to over 3400 dissident Iranians will be shifted to Camp Liberty, a former U.S. military base near the Baghdad International Airport.
Mumbai Skipper Wasim Jaffer overtook Amol Muzumdar as Highest Run-getter in Ranji Trophy
Current Affairs Category: Personality, Sports, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Dec 2011 To 01 Jan 2012 Share|
Mumbai skipper Wasim Jaffer on 22 December 2011 overtook former teammate Amol Muzumdar (8237 runs) as the highest run-getter in Ranji Trophy. He scored a total of 8242 runs a against Muzumdars 8237 runs. Jaffer had his debut season in 1996.
The Mumbai captain accomplished the record in 100 matches which is quicker compared to former skipper Muzumdar. In 201 first class matches, Jaffer scored 15125 runs with the help of 44 centuries and 73 fifties at an average of 50.76. His highest first-class score is unbeaten 314 against Saurashtra at Rajkot in November, 1996. He scored 1944 runs with five hundreds and 11 fifties at a rate of 34.10 in 31 Tests. He played in only two ODIs. He had made a triple-century in only his second innings which shot him to fame. He subsequently led Mumbai to their 38th and 39th Ranji titles. He also led West Zone to their 16th Duleep Trophy success in early 2010.
Jaffer (8271) overtook Muzumdar, who had overtaken Amarjeet Kaypee (7553) in 2009 ago while playing for Assam, and reached the milestone during the course of his 187-minute stay at the crease at the Wankhede stadium in his 100th match. Pankaj Dharmani of Punjab is third with 7621 runs, ahead of Kaypee on tlist of highest Ranji run getters.
Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 Introduced in Lok Sabha by the Government
Current Affairs Category: National | India, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 19 Dec 2011 To 25 Dec 2011 Share|
The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on 22 December 2011. The bill was aimed at setting up the body of Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas at the level of the States. Government also
introduced a Bill for amending the Constitution for conferment of Constitutional status on both bodies. Government also withdrew earlier Lokpal Bill, 2011 and decided to introduce a new comprehensive Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 Bill after consideration of the suggestions made by the Parliamentary Committee, which recommended significant changes in the scope and content of the earlier Bill. The salient features of the proposed new Bills are as under:
Establishment of new institution in the Constitution called Lokpal for the Union and Lokayukta for the States. These autonomous and independent bodies, shall have powers of superintendence and direction for holding a preliminary inquiry, causing an investigation to be made and prosecution of offences in respect of complaints under any law for the prevention of corruption.
The Bill provides a uniform vigilance and anti corruption road map for the nation, both at Centre and States. The Bill institutionalizes separation of investigation from prosecution and thereby removing conflict of interest as well as increasing the scope for professionalism and specialisation. Structure of the Lokpal: Lokpal will consist of a Chairperson and a maximum of eight Members of which fifty percent shall be judicial Members. Fifty per cent of members of Lokpal shall be from amongst SC, ST, OBCs, Minorities and Women. There shall be an Inquiry Wing of the Lokpal for conducting the preliminary inquiry and an independent Prosecution Wing.
Officers of the Lokpal to include the Secretary, Director of Prosecution, Director of Inquiry and other officers. Process of selection:
The selection of Chairperson and Members of Lokpal shall be through a Selection Committee consisting of Prime Minister; Speaker of Lok Sabha; Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha;
Chief Justice of India or a sitting Supreme Court Judge nominated by CJI; Eminent jurist to be nominated by the President of India A Search Committee to assist Selection Committee in the process of selection. Fifty per cent of members of Search Committee shall be from amongst SC, ST, OBCs, Minorities and Women. Jurisdiction of Lokpal: Prime Minister to be brought under the purview of the Lokpal with subject matter exclusions and specific process for handling complaints against the Prime Minister. Lokpal cannot hold any inquiry against the Prime Minister if allegations relate to: International relations; External and internal security of the country; Public Order; Atomic energy Space.
Any decision of Lokpal to initiate preliminary inquiry or investigation against the Prime Minister shall be taken only by the Full Bench with a majority of 3/4th. Such proceedings shall be held in camera. Lokpals jurisdiction to include all categories of public servants including Group A, B, C & D officers and employees of Government. On complaints referred to CVC by Lokpal, CVC will send its report of PE in respect of Group A and B officers back to Lokpal for further decision. With respect to Group C and D employees, CVC will proceed further in exercise of its own powers under the CVC Act subject to reporting and review by Lokpal. All entities receiving donations from foreign source in the context of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) in excess of Rs. 10 lakhs per year are brought under the jurisdiction of Lokpal. Lokpal will not be able to initiate inquiry suo moto. Other Important Features of the Lokpal Bill
No prior sanction shall be required for launching prosecution in cases enquired by Lokpal or initiated on the direction and with the approval of Lokpal.
A high powered Committee chaired by the Prime Minister with leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha and Chief Justice of India as members, will recommend selection of the Director, CBI.
Provisions for confiscation of property acquired by corrupt means, even while prosecution is pending. Lokpal to be final appellate authority on all decisions by public authorities relating to provision of public services and redressal of grievances containing findings of corruption. Lokpal to have power of superintendence and direction over any investigation agency including CBI for cases referred to them.
The Lokpal Bill lays down clear time lines for:
Preliminary enquiry- three months extendable by three months. Investigation six months extendable by six months.
Trial one year extendable by one year. The Bill proposes to enhance punishment under Prevention of Corruption Act :
Maximum punishment from 7 years to 10 years
Minimum punishment from 6 months to 2 years The Bill proposes to give legal backing to Asset Declaration by public servants.
The Bill also seeks to make necessary consequential amendments in the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, and the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.
Food Inflation dropped to 1.81% during the Week ended 10 December indicating Easing of Prices
Current Affairs Category: December 2011 Current Affairs, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 19 Dec 2011 To 25 Dec 2011 Share|
According to official data released here on 22 December 2011, food inflation dropped sharply to an almost fouryear low of 1.81 per cent during the week ended 10 December indicating an overall easing of prices. It stood at
4.35 per cent in the week ended 3 December. The fall was attributed to decline in prices of essential commodities such as onion and potato. The food inflation figure for the week ended 10 December are the lowest since the week ended 9 February 2008, when it stood at 2.26 per cent. The sharp moderation in food inflation was largely because of a 26.4% drop in vegetable prices, notably staple items such as onions, potatoes and tomatoes. Onion became cheaper by 49.38 per cent year-on-year during the week under review, while potato prices were down by 34.39 per cent. Prices of wheat also fell by 4.21 per cent. Overall, vegetables became cheaper by 26.37
percent. Milk was dearer by 11.19 per cent and eggs, meat and fish by 9.25 per cent. Pulses became costlier by 14.22 per cent. While inflation in vegetables and wheat segments eased during the reporting week, prices of protein-rich items such as eggs, milk and pulses have continued to remain high.
Experts opined that moderation in food inflation numbers, which was in double-digit in early November, was on account of good kharif harvest as well as a high base.
Inflation in the overall primary articles category stood at 3.78 per cent during the week ended 10 December as against 5.48 per cent in the previous week.
Fuel inflation stood unchanged at 15.24% for the week to 10 December while inflation in non-food manufactured items, a keenly watched indicator of demand, rose to 7.9% in November from 7.6% in October 2011
Jacob E. Goldman, who Founded Xerox PARC that developed Computing Innovations died
Current Affairs Category: News Capsule, Person Died, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 19 Dec 2011 To 25 Dec 2011 Share|
Jacob E. Goldman, a founder of the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) that developed breakthrough computing innovations died on 20 December 2011. The Palo Alto Research Center developed computing innovations such as the graphical user interface and ethernet networks. Physicist Jacob E. Goldman, as Xerox's chief scientist founded the company's vaunted Palo Alto Research Center, which invented the modern personal computer. In 1970s, the laboratory created a string of innovations from laser printing to object-oriented programming to the world's first WYSIWYG (What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get) editor.
In 1975, PARC unveiled the graphical user interface with pop-up menus and windows and point-and-click controls. The GUI represented crucial ground work later built upon by companies such as Microsoft and Apple and eventually launched personal computing in the 1980s.
Goldman played an important role both at the Ford Motor Co., during the 1950s, and later at Xerox in the 1960s and 1970s, in financing basic scientific research in an effort to spark corporate innovation. He became a private investor after retirement, according to the book Dealers of Lightning: Xerox PARC and the Dawn of the Computer Age by Michael Hiltzik
First Pan-India Satellite Survey pegged the Sugar Cane Area for 2011-12 Crop Year at 51.82 lh
The first pan-India satellite survey jointly commissioned by Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) and the National Federation of Co-operative Sugar Factories Ltd (NFCSF) pegged the cane area for 2011-12 crop year starting October at 51.82 lakh hectares (lh). For the first time the survey was carried out State-wise and district-wise for the area under sugarcane, through satellite mapping on such a large-scale.
Satellite images of the cane area procured from the National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad, were analysed using the Geographical Information Systems software by South India-based firm.
A satellite mapping of sugarcane acreage carried out for the first time across India showed an increase of 3% over the government estimate. The data showed acreage to be the same in Uttar Pradesh and higher by 3% in Maharashtra as compared to the figures projected by the ministry of agriculture for the two states.
The satellite-based survey was jointly carried out by Indian Sugar Mills Association and National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories to reduce the deficiencies involved in the manual estimation of acreage. The Union government had provisioned satellite crop surveys under its Fasal (forecasting of agriculture outputs through satellite, agrometeorology and land-based observations) programme.
According to the satellite data, acreage for 2011-12 has been estimated at 51.82 lakh hectare. The figure is higher than the estimates made manually by the sugar industry at 50.79 lakh hectare, by the ministry of agriculture at 50.93 lakh hectare and the ministry of food and public distribution at 50.25 lakh hectare.
The area estimated for the 2011-12 season through satellite mapping is 2.38 lakh hectare higher than the actual area of 49.44 lakh hectare in the previous crop year marking an increase of 4.8%. India joined the ranks of major sugar producers such as Brazil and Thailand in leveraging remote sensing technology to estimate the cane area.
Rajya Sabha approved the Bill to add more Scheduled Tribes to List
Rajya Sabha of Indian Parliament on 22 December 2011 passed the bill the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2011 to amend the list of Scheduled Tribes and add more tribes from North-Eastern India. The bill includes six more tribes namely Thangal, Zeme, Mate, Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei from Manipur and substitutes Galo in place of Galong in the list of Scheduled tribes in Arunachal Pradesh. At present, 26 communities exist in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Arunachal Pradesh, which includes Galong as well. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill on 19 December 2011.
Apple Co-founder Steve Jobs to be posthumously honoured with a Grammy Award

Current Affairs Category: Awards | Honours, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 19 Dec 2011 To 25 Dec 2011 Share|
The Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences on 21 December 2011 chose Apple co-founder Steve Jobs to be posthumously honoured with a Grammy award for his contribution to music technology. Jobs is to be honoured as a creative visionary. He is one of 11 people who will be honoured with special awards.
Jobs, who died on 5 October 2011 of pancreatic cancer, will receive a Trustees Award on 13 February 2012 for helping create products that transformed the way music, TV, movies and books are consumed. Apple Computer Inc first received a Technical Grammy Award in 2002 for contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording field.
Bandleader and composer Dave Bartholomew, recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder will also receive the award along with Jobs.
The academy also picked the Allman Brothers, Glen Campbell, Diana Ross and Brazilian pianist/singer/guitarist Antonio Carlos Jobim as recipients of Lifetime Achievement Awards. Jobim was known for composing The Girl from Ipanema, a worldwide hit in the mid-1960s which won a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1965.
Trumpeter Wayne Jackson, saxophonist Andrew Love of the Memphis Horns, country legend George Jones, and the late Gil Scott-Heron were also named as recipients.
German sound-technology firm Celemony and the late audio engineer Roger Nichols, who worked with artists including Ross, Placido Domingo, James Taylor and Stevie Wonder, were also recognised with Grammy Technical Awards.
The Trustees Awards are given to people who make a contribution to music beyond performance.
The Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences also chose seven performers to receive Lifetime Achievement Awards: The Allman Brothers Band, Glen Campbell, Antonio Carlos Jobim, George Jones, The Memphis Horns, Diana Ross, Gil Scott-Heron
Rajya Sabha approved the Bill to add more Scheduled Tribes to List
Rajya Sabha of Indian Parliament on 22 December 2011 passed the bill the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2011 to amend the list of Scheduled Tribes and add more tribes from North-Eastern India. The bill includes six more tribes namely Thangal, Zeme, Mate, Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei from Manipur and substitutes Galo in place of Galong in the list of Scheduled tribes in Arunachal Pradesh. At present, 26 communities exist in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Arunachal Pradesh, which includes Galong as well. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill on 19 December 2011
Apple Co-founder Steve Jobs to be posthumously honoured with a Grammy Award

The Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences on 21 December 2011 chose Apple co-founder Steve Jobs to be posthumously honoured with a Grammy award for his contribution to music technology. Jobs is to be honoured as a creative visionary. He is one of 11 people who will be honoured with special awards.
Jobs, who died on 5 October 2011 of pancreatic cancer, will receive a Trustees Award on 13 February 2012 for helping create products that transformed the way music, TV, movies and books are consumed. Apple Computer Inc first received a Technical Grammy Award in 2002 for contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording field.
Bandleader and composer Dave Bartholomew, recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder will also receive the award along with Jobs.
The academy also picked the Allman Brothers, Glen Campbell, Diana Ross and Brazilian pianist/singer/guitarist Antonio Carlos Jobim as recipients of Lifetime Achievement Awards. Jobim was known for composing The Girl from Ipanema, a worldwide hit in the mid-1960s which won a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1965.
Trumpeter Wayne Jackson, saxophonist Andrew Love of the Memphis Horns, country legend George Jones, and the late Gil Scott-Heron were also named as recipients.
German sound-technology firm Celemony and the late audio engineer Roger Nichols, who worked with artists including Ross, Placido Domingo, James Taylor and Stevie Wonder, were also recognised with Grammy Technical Awards.
The Trustees Awards are given to people who make a contribution to music beyond performance.
The Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences also chose seven performers to receive Lifetime Achievement Awards: The Allman Brothers Band, Glen Campbell, Antonio Carlos Jobim, George Jones, The Memphis Horns, Diana Ross, Gil Scott-Heron
Former Indian Test Cricketer Vasant Ranjane passed away in Pune

Former Indian Test (medium-pace) cricketer Vasant Ranjane passed away in Pune on 22 December 2011. Born in Pune on 22 July 1937, Ranjane grabbed 19 wickets in Tests at 34.15 per innings and 175 wickets from 64 first class ties.
Ranjane thus made a successful first-class debut in 1956-57, when he took 9 for 35 and 4 for 36 for Maharashtra against Saurashtra. Ranjane played seven Tests for India between 1958 and 1964 and represented Maharashtra and Railways in first-class cricket from 1956 to 1971.
He made his Test debut against West Indies in 1958-59. Next he was chosen for his second game in1961-62, when England toured India. He played two more Tests in that series and was taken on the 1962 tour of West Indies, where he played one game, the final Test at Kingston.
He played two more Tests, against England in Madras in 1963-64 and against Australia at the same venue a year later and finished with 19 Test wickets at an average of 34.
Ranjane worked for Indian Railways as a fitter and retired in 1994
The Union Cabinet of India approved 4.5 Percent Quota for Minorities
Current Affairs Category: National | India, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs
Current Affairs Week: 19 Dec 2011 To 25 Dec 2011 Share|
The Union cabinet of India on 22 December 2011 approved 4.5 percent share for minorities within the 27% OBC quota in jobs and university seats. The approval will come in force from 1 January, 2012. It suggests that minorities can get 4.5 jobs out of every 100 government jobs and university seats. As per the data released by the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities, the OBC population was 52 percent of Indias population, of which minorities constitute 8.4 percent. Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee Report-released in November 2006- had found the minority community underrepresented in all spheres of professional and public life
The Manipur Legislative Assembly passed the Manipur Lokayukta Bill, 2011
Current Affairs Category: State, Other States, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 19 Dec 2011 To 25 Dec 2011 Share|
The Manipur Legislative Assembly on 22 December 2011 unanimously passed the Manipur Lokayukta Bill, 2011. The Bill seeks to establish the institution of Lokayukta in the state to inquire into the allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries. With the passage of the Bill, Manipur will be the third state in North-Eastern India after Assam and Tripura, to have a legislation of Lok Ayukta.
CSTO agreed to Tighten Rules for Opening Extra-regional Military Bases in its Territory
Current Affairs Category: International | World, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 19 Dec 2011 To 25 Dec 2011 Share|
The leaders of the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organisation) nations on 21 December 2011 agreed that the deployment of foreign bases in their territory would be done with the approval of all partners of the defence alliance. The CSTO summit was held in Moscow.
Besides Belarus and Kazakhstan, CSTO includes Armenia, Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan succeeded Belarus as the President of CSTO.
However, the CSTO agreement does not apply to existing facilities such as a German air transit facility in Uzbekistan, French military aircraft in Tajikistan and US transit centre in Kyrgyzstan
Jamil Ahmad presented the Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize for His Book The Wandering Falcon
Current Affairs Category: Awards | Honours, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs,2011 Current Affairs
Jamil Ahmad was declared the winner of the Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize for his book The Wandering Falcon at the British Council in New Delhi on 21 December 2011. The Wandering Falcon, is a narrative about the lives of tribal people along the borders of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran. The book contained personal sights, sounds, actual faces and conversations.
The book that has won critical acclaim worldwide was written decades ago and then went into hibernation for 40
years. He started writing the book in 1971, it was completed by 1973 and then it hibernated for 40 years. Born in Jalandhar in 1933, Jamil Ahmad is a Pakistani national. He had not agreed to the demands of the
publishers, which eventually led to the book being locked away for four decades. The book was published by Hamish Hamilton an imprint of Penguin earlier in 2011. Ahmad was posted in Quetta in 1959 where he first came into contact with tribals and was fascinated by their lives and their stories. The former civil servant from Pakistan, Ahmad gave away the prize money of Rs. 1 lakh to St. Columba's School, where he was enrolled from 1941 to 1944. The prize is set up in memory of writer and editor Shakti Bhatt. A shortlist of six books was announced ahead of the prize ceremony. The shortlist included The Collaborator by Mirza Waheed, The Truth About Me by A. Revathi, Chinaman by Shehan Karunatilaka, A Free Man by Aman Sethi and R.D. Burman: The Man, The Music by Anirudha Bhattacharjee and Balaji Vittal.
The winner was chosen by a jury comprising graphic novelist and illustrator Sarnath Bannerjee, writer and blogger Jai Arjun Singh, and novelist Palash Krishna Mehrotra
Ravi Ruia decided to step down as Chairman of the London-listed Essar Energy
Current Affairs Category: Charge | Discharge, Corporate, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 19 Dec 2011 To 25 Dec 2011 Share|
Ravi Ruia decided on 21 December 2011 to step down as chairman of the London-listed Essar Energy after a trial court admitted a criminal chargesheet filed by the investigating agency. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chargesheeted three Essar Group honchos, including Ravi Ruia, alleging violation of telecom industry guidelines. Prashant Ruia, presently the vice chairman, will take over as interim chairman while Ravi Ruia will continue as a director of Essar Energy. Billionaire brothers Shashi and Ravi Ruia lead the $17-billion diversified Essar Group. Essar Energy is owned 76.72% by Essar Global, which is the principal holding company for the group's business activities globally. Essar firms listed on the domestic bourses are- Essar Oil and Essar Shipping.
Essar Energy is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is also the only firm in which Ravi Ruia is a chairman. In all other group companies, listed or unlisted, it is his elder brother, Shashi Ruia is chairman.
CBI had named the Essar Group promoters, Anshuman and Ravi Ruia, Loop Telecom promoters Kiran Khaitan and I P Khaitan, and Essar Group director (strategy and planning) Vikas Saraf, as accused in the case. Cognizance of
the CBI chargesheet against Essar-Loop, the trial court summoned all the eight accused, including three companies, to appear before it on 27 January 2012. The companies named were Loop Telecom Pvt Ltd, Loop Mobile India Ltd and Essar Tele Holding.
In charges filed on 12 December 2012, the CBI alleged the group violated Clause 8 of the guidelines governing
the mobile telecom UAS licences by withholding facts about the size of its stake in Loop Telecom thereby creating a complex corporate veil
Iran's Former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Wilayati released Nahjul Balagha at AMU
Current Affairs Category: News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs, Miscellaneous, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 19 Dec 2011 To 25 Dec 2011 Share|
Iran's former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Wilayati on 21 December 2011 released a 1000-year-old manuscript, Nahjul Balagha believed to be a collection of letters, speeches and aphorisms of the fourth Caliphate of Islam Hazrat Ali at Aligarh Muslim University.
The manuscript was released for publication at Aligarh Muslim University. The Urdu, Hindi and English versions of this rare manuscript is to be published by the AMU with financial support of the Iran Government.
Bahr-e-Zakhkhar, another book believed to contain a rare collection of Tazkira (a sort of biography mostly in the
form of poetry) in Persian was also released. AMU's Maulana Azad Library was also gifted 3000 Persian manuscripts and CDs by the Iran Cultural House.
Mobile Phone Operators asked to Scrap Illegal Mutual Roaming Agreements

India's telecom ministry on 22 December 2011 informed mobile phone operators that they must scrap illegal mutual roaming agreements that allow them to provide seamless nationwide 3G services. As per the ministry, the pacts that let the operators offer 3G services outside their licensed zones are in violation of terms and conditions of their licences.
The government complained that telecom operators wereusing the 3G roaming deals to offer services in areas where they have not paid for the spectrum.
Leading mobile operators such as Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular had struck deals with each other to
offer ultra-fast 3G services in areas where they did not acquire spectrum in a costly bandwidth auction in 2010. The firms entered into the deals because none could afford nationwide 3G spectrum in the high-priced sale.
Bharti has 3G bandwidth in 13 of India's 22 telecom zones while Idea has access in 11 areas and Vodafone's India unit in nine. The announcement by the ministry dealt a a blow to the companies, which had hoped to recover their 3G auction payments by providing high-premium 3G data services across the country in India's fiercely competitive telecom market.
Earlier operators had noted that in case they could not offer nationwide roaming, the government should refund the sums paid for 3G spectrum or restage the auction as it would alter the basis on which 3G bids were made.
Third-generation services, or 3G, allow mobile phone users to surf the Internet, video conference and download
music, video and other content at a much faster pace than the current second-generation service offered in India. The government had reaped $15 billion from auctioning the 3G licences in 2010. Bharti and Idea paid 123 billion rupees ($2.3 billion) for licences while Vodafone paid 116 billion rupees.
Indian telecom companies which currently generate only small revenues from data services expect the market to
grow exponentially as less than 10 percent of the 1.2 billion population has access to Internet at the moment. India has some 881.4 million mobile and 33.2 million fixed-line subscribers with total teledensity at 76, up from 2.5 in 2000
Pakistan defeated Bangladesh in the Second test to sweep the Series 2-0
Current Affairs Category: Sports, News, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 19 Dec 2011 To 25 Dec 2011 Share|
Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets in the second and final cricket Test in Dhaka on 21 December 2011. Pakistan by defeating Bangladesh in the second test was able to to sweep the series 2-0. Pakistan was set 103 to win after bowling Bangladesh out for 234 in its second innings and achieved the target in the final session.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq secured the victory by hitting a six after Mohammad Hafeez made 47 and Azhar Ali chipped in with 34.
Earlier, left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman took 4-51 to restrict Bangladesh
Delhi Government inked an Agreement with NISG for Digitisation of its Archival Records
Current Affairs Category: State, Delhi, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs
Delhi government on 20 December 2011 inked an agreement with the National Institute for Smart Government, NISG, Hyderabad for digitisation of its archival records. It will preserve 10 crore documents including CID records, Gazettes, Maps, Manus, photographs and records of eminent personalities. It will also include transfer of the digital contents on microfilms for long term preservation. The pact was signed by Secretary for arts and Culture of Delhi government and NISG CEO in New Delhi.
22 Writers including Novelists, Poets & Playwrights chosen for Sahitya Akademi Awards for 2011
Current Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 19 Dec 2011 To 25 Dec 2011 Share| Affairs Category: Awards | Honours, Topics for Bank PO | Clerk Exam 2011, Hot Topics,News
Twenty-two writers selected on 21 December for the prestigious Sahitya Akademi awards for2011. Eight books of poetry, seven novels, three essays and one each short stories, narrative history, biography and play were selected for the awards. Writers in 23 languages are recongised every year by the Akademi.The books were selected on the basis of recommendations made by a jury of three members in each language. The awards that are given every year and contain an engraved cooper plaque, a shawl and a cheque of Rs 1 lakh. Sahitya Akademi awards for Poetry Poets chosen for the award includes: Late Kabin Phukan (Assamese), Manindra Gupta (Bengali), Premananda Mosahari (Bodo), Naseem Shafaie (Kashmiri), Melvyn Rodrigues (Konkani), Harekrishna Satapathy (Sanskrit), Aditya Kumar Mandi (Santali) and Khaleel Mamoon (Urdu). Sahitya Akademi awards for Novels Novelists who won the award include: Kashinath Singh (Hindi), Kshetri Bira (Manipuri), Kalpanakumari Devi (Odia), Baldev Singh (Punjabi) and Atul Kanakk (Rajasthani). Tamil novelist Su Venkatesan's , debut novel Kaval Kottam earned him the coveted Sahitya Akademi Award in Tamil section. The book is about the 600-year old history of the city of Madurai and a security system that prevailed there Awardees in Essays Category Lalit Magotra (Dogri), Grace (Marathi) and Samala Sadasiva (Telugu) received the award for their books on essays. Awardees in Other Sections Historian Ramachandra Guha was chosen for the award for his book of narrative history - India After Gandhi. Mohan Parmar (Gujarati) was chosen for his short stories, M.K. Sanu (Malayalam) for his biography and Mohan Gehani (Sindhi) for his book on plays
Nuclear Scientist PK Iyengar who played a Key Role in India's First Nuclear Explosion in 1974 died
Current Affairs Category: Topics for Bank PO | Clerk Exam 2011, Hot Topics, News Capsule,Person Died, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 19 Dec 2011 To 25 Dec 2011 Share|
India's top nuclear scientist and nuclear physicist PK Iyengar who designed Indias first atomic bomb and was a staunch opponent of the Indo-US nuclear deal, passed away at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) hospital in Trombay on 21 December 2011.
Iyengar started his career with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in 1952, joined the then atomic energy establishment in Mumbai in 1955. He was next deputed to the Chalk River Laboratories of the Canadian Atomic Energy Establishment. After returning from Canada, he built a number of experimental facilities around research reactors APSARA and CIRUS at the BARC.
He was trained under BN Brockhouse, a Nobel laureate in Physics, the nuclear physicist. He had also played a major part in the design of the Dhruva reactor at Trombay. He was transferred to Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in 1971 where he was appointed the director of Physics Group (PG) and was one of the mainstream scientists in the development of India's first nuclear device under the code name Smiling Buddha.
He became director of BARC in 1984 and was chairman of the atomic energy commission (AEC) between 1990 and 1993. Though Iyengar had contributed a great deal to various aspects of India's nuclear programme, he is best known for the country's first nuke test, code-named Smiling Buddha. The test had successfully ushered India into the
elite nuclear weapons club, deceiving American spy satellites. Iyengar was one of the key figures in the Operation Smiling Buddhathe first peaceful nuclear explosion at Pokhran on 18 May 1974.
One of high points in his career came when he successfully led a team to indigenously develop a reactor called PURNIMA - 1 which was commissioned in 1972. Iyengar identified the need for large-scale development of advanced science and technology. Research and development activities in several areas such as material science, radiation physics and molecular biology became a reality owing to his efforts.
After his retirement, Iyengar served several academic roles such as the chairman of the Council for Science and Technology and president of the Indian Nuclear Society.
In 1975, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan. He was also honoured withBhatnagar Award (1971), Raman Centenary Medal of the Indian Academy of Science (1988) among others
Rating Agency Moody's upgraded Credit Government's Bonds to Investment Grade

Rating
of
Indian
Credit rating agency Moody's on 21 December 2011 upgraded the credit rating of the Indian government's bonds from the speculative to investment grade. According to a release issued by the Finance Ministry, Moody's unified India's local and foreign currency bond ratings at Baa3. The ratings agency initially had separate rating for
investors who choose to buy bonds in foreign currency and separate rating for those who have a rupee exposure. the ratings agency had a Baa3 foreign currency rating and a Ba1 local currency rating till September 2011. Moody's Investor Service upgraded its local currency rating for Indian government bonds to Baa3 which is investment grade as compared to the earlier Ba1 which is junk or speculative grade. India's Baa3 rating incorporates credit strengths such as a large, diversified economy, robust medium term growth prospects and a strong domestic savings pool that facilitates the financing and refinancing of the government's relatively high debt burden.
India's foreign currency bond ceiling is unchanged at Baa2, and the foreign currency bank deposit ceiling is Baa3.
The local currency bond and bank deposit ceilings are unified at A1. In addition, the government's local currency short-term rating has been changed to P-3 from NP, indicating the government's ability to repay short-term debts. Moody's expected India's growth downturn to persist for the next two quarters, but the GDP growth would be above average with respect to the similarly rated peers. Giving the rationale for the upgrade, Moody's mentioned that diverse sources of Indian growth have enhanced its resilience to global shocks. The present slowdown could reverse some time in 2012-13, as inflation cools from the current 9 per cent levels.
Moodys upgrade is expected to attract Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) to the Indian bond market and boost the gloomy economic outlook.
The last time Moody's upgraded any Indian long-term sovereign debt instrument from the speculative to investment grade was in 2004
India ranked as the most Uncharitable Nation in South Asia

As per the Charities Aid Foundations World Giving Index, India ranked as the most uncharitable nation of South Asia in 2011. India is the worst performer in South Asia with a global ranking of 91. India was ranked at 134 in 2010. Pakistan was ranked to 34th position in 2011 while Sri Lanka ranked 8th. Bangladesh was placed at 78th position and Nepal at 84th. Thailand was the most generous nation, with 85 per cent of its people. The United Kingdom was the second most generous nation, with 79 per cent regularly giving to charity.Charities Aid Foundations World Giving Index ranked nations on the strength of monetary donations and charitable acts.
Expression of Thoughts & Izhar-e-Khayal by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K.Rahman Khan released
Current Affairs Category: News Capsule, Books | Authors, December 2011 Current Affairs,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 19 Dec 2011 To 25 Dec 2011 Share|
Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Hamid Ansari released two booksExpression of Thoughts (English) and Izhar-e-Khayal (Urdu) authored by K.Rahman Khan, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha in New Delhi on 19 December 2011.
The books in English and Urdu are compilation of his selected speeches on various subjects like Parliament, democracy and governance, economy and business, besides issues of equity, justice and secularism, women empowerment and development.
The books - Expression of Thoughts and Izhar-e-Khayal were released in the presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee wrote the foreword to the English version of the book, while Hazrat Maulana Rabe Hasan Nadwi Sahab has written for the Urdu version. On the occasion,the Vice President highlighted Khans seminal contribution to the field of education and minority uplifting especially matters pertaining to Wakf. The Wakf Committee Report presented under his Chairmanship was a remarkable piece of diligent work.
Ten Indians Featured in the Forbes Magazines List of Under 30 Achievers

The Forbes' 30 under 30 list was prepared by selecting young turks from 12 diverse fields including energy, finance, media, law, entertainment, science, design and technology. Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, human rights
activist Ronan Farrow and pop stars Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber are also included in Forbes magazine's list of top-achieving people under age 30. The list released in December 2011 included 10 people of Indian origin. The list included 360 young ultra impressive individuals that the companies should either now or would be working for them in the future as they are the young people of today who matter.
Among the Indian-origin people on the list is 17 year old Param Jaggi, a student and inventor at Austin College. Jaggi created algae-filled device that fits over a car's tailpipe and turns carbon dioxide into oxygen. Vivek Nair, Chief Executive of Damascus Fortune, who is developing a technology that transforms industrial carbon emissions into carbon nanotubes was also named in the list. Manvir Nijhar, Co-Head of European Equity Derivatives Sales at Citigroup was named as well. Kunal Shah, the youngest Managing Director at Goldman Sachs was also included in the list.
Making a mark in the field of science was Raj Krishnan, Chief Executive of Biological Dynamics who is developing blood tests that use electric fields to detect key signals that a patient has cancer from the blood. Sidhant Gupta, a graduate student at the University of Washington who has been listed as well, is developing new sensors and software for the home that conserve electricity, heat and gas.
KV Varadaraj, Former Olympian & Winner of Gold Medal in 1951 Asian Games passed away
KV Varadaraj, one of the few Indian footballers who played in two Olympics in 1948 and 1952, passed away in Bangalore on 20 December 2011. Varadaraj was nicknamed 6-footer by the English. Born on 7 May 1924, Varadaraj came up quickly through the ranks representing Challenge Union Mysore, Mysore Railways and Bangalore Blues. Varadaraj was the goalkeeper of the Indian team led by Mohun Bagan defender Talimeren Ao that took the field in the 1948 London Games. Despite Varadaraj also known as Mysore Wall guarding the goal, India lost to France 1-2 in the first round.
KV Varadaraj was also part of the Indian squad led by Sailendra Nath Manna at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952. India went in to the first round match with Berland Anthony at the goal and got thrashed 10-1 by Yugoslavia. Varadaraj won the gold medal at the 1951 inaugural Asian Games in New Delhi as he helped India keep a clean slate in all the matches, beating Iran 1-0 in the final. His superb skills under the bar won him a place in the Mohun Bagan. He was a specialist in tie-breakers. For a long time he was a permanent fixture in the Mysore state team. Later he also worked a coach for the HMT.
Varadaraj was one among the several Olympians to have emerged from Karnataka, then known as Mysore. Among his illustrious contemporaries were T Shanmugam, BN Vajravelu, Ahmed Khan, SA Basheer and S Raman
Indian Striker Sunil Chhetri voted Player of the Year by the All India Football Federation
Current Affairs Category: Sports, Miscellaneous, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 19 Dec 2011 To 25 Dec 2011 Share|
India striker Sunil Chhetri was on 20 December 2011 voted Player of the Year by the All India Football Federation. He was chosen by I-League coaches from a five-player shortlist. He will receive a cash award of Rs 2 lakh and a silver plaque.
The criteria of selection were Performance for India and general conduct on and off the field. Chhetri scored 13 goals in 17 internationals in 2011, which was the highest the by an Indian. Chettri has also scored 11 goals in 20 appearances for I-League club Mohun Bagan. He won the man of the championship in the SAFF Championship in New Delhi in 2011.
He has also been awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award in the past. I.M.Vijayan was the first recipient of the award in 1992. In 2010 the award was bestowed on Gouramangi Singh
Controversial Film, Dam999 directed by Sohan Roy entered Oscar Race as Hollywood Entry
Controversial film, Dam999 directed by Sohan Roy made it to a shortlist for the Oscars under the Best Picture category. The film, based on a catastrophe caused by a 100-year-old dam in India giving way, is among the 265
films in contention for the Best Picture. Tamil Nadu government imposed a ban citing that it may cause animosity between Kerala and TN people as the film was dealing with the subject of the 116-year-old Mullaperiyar dam on the Kerala-TN border.
Directed by Kerala-based naval architect Sohan Roy, Dam999 is an English film that features Indian actors Rajit Kapur, Vimala Raman, Vinai Rai and Ashish Vidhyarthi. It has been dubbed in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and Malayalam. It has made it to the Oscar shortlist as a Hollywood film. Malayalam film Adaminte Makan Abu is Indias official entry. The film also fulfilled other criteria of being exhibited theatrically on 35 mm, 70 mm or in digital format and having a running time of over 40 minutes. Three of the songs from Dam999, The film`s songs - Dam 999 (Theme song ), Dakkanga Dugu Dugu and Mujhe Chodke were among the 39 songs shortlisted under the Best Original Song category. All three songs were written by Roy himself, and set to tune by Ousephachan. National award winner Hariharan lent his voice to the Hindi song Mujhe Chod Ke and vocals for the other two shortlisted songs were by Suchith, Suvi and Shaktisree.
Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) became the World's Fifth-largest Commodity Futures Exchange
Current Affairs Category: Corporate, News , December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 19 Dec 2011 To 25 Dec 2011 Share|
India's leading commodity bourse the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) on 20 December 2011 became the world's fifth-largest commodity futures exchange. Financial Tech, a promoter of MCX rallied 2.88% after MCX became the world's fifth-largest commodity futures exchange.
It became the first Indian entity to join the top-five league in terms of the number of contracts. MCX replaced China-based Dalian Commodity Futures Exchange at the fifth position.
MCX become the worlds fifth-largest in terms of number of futures contracts traded during January to June 2011, based on the Futures Industry Association (FIA) volume survey and market data. MCX has occupied the sixth slot among global commodity futures exchanges for two years since 2009. It had replaced the UK-based London Metal Exchange at the sixth position.
Mumbai-based MCX is a demutualised nation-wide electronic futures exchange and the various commodi-ties traded on its platform include bullion, energy, metals and agricultural commodities.
The data for the January-June period showed that the global commodity derivatives market had grown by 10.2
per cent, based on the number of contracts. Precious metals and energy contributed 49.8 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively. The Asia-Pacific region contributed 39.6 per cent of the total volume in terms of the number of contracts traded on the exchange
Supreme Court: Courts can interfere in the Case of Contractual Job

The Supreme Court of India on 20 December 2011 ruled that courts can interfere in the case of contractual job if the decision taken by the management is arbitrary. A bench of the apex court, however, said that scope of such judicial review is not all pervasive. It said a writ Court is entitled to judicially review of the action and determine whether there was any illegality, perversity, unreasonableness, unfairness or irrationality that would vitiate the action. The court passed the order on a petition filed by Grid Corporation of Orissa Ltd challenging the Orissa High Court's order. In its order Orissa high court asked the grid corporation to reinstate one of its employee whose contractual job was terminated.
Markets Slide & Rupee Depreciation forced India to exit from $1 trillion Group
Fears of continuing economic slowdown, lack of decision making at the centre, rising fiscal deficit combined with not-so-impressive revenue collections upset Dalal Street investors on 20 December 2011 leading to a 204 points loss in sensex to end at 15175. The loss of 204 points represented a 28-month low for the index and its fifth consecutive session of losses, during which it has lost 827 points, or 5.2%.
The days slide was triggered by FII selling which recorded a net outflow of Rs 526 crore, taking the months total net outflow to about Rs 1300 crore.
The Indian rupee which had weakened further to go below 53 to a US dollar level again, closed at level of Rs 52.89 on 19 December 2011. The combined effect of the markets slide and the depreciation of the rupee forced India to exit from the select group of countries with a $1 trillion market capitalization. With BSEs market cap currently at Rs 52.53 lakh crore, Indias market cap in dollar terms works out to $993 billion.
On 28 May 2007, when the rupee was showing unusual strength against the dollar and hovered around the 40
mark that India had first entered the $1-trillion market cap league. However, lately the twin effect of rupees weakness and the slide of the market combined to drag it below the trillion dollar mark. According to Bloomberg data, Indias market cap so far in 2011 went down by 38%, making it the worst performing market among the 12 countries that were in the trillion dollar club.
Fund raising through ADRs (American Depository Receipts) by Indian corporate houses dried up. There was not even a single ADR issue in 2011. However, companies raised about $220 million through GDRs (Global Depository
Receipts) during 2011. The amount raised from GDRs this year is, however, much lower than the mobilization in 2010. The largest GDR of the year 2011 was just $32 million from Rasoya Proteins. The average size of GDR in 2011 was $18.3 million compared to $26.6 million in the previous year.
Even during 2010, there was not even a single ADR issue, with fund raising through this route almost becoming a thing of the past. Data compiled by SMC Global Securities showed that 33 GDR issues mobilized about $880 million in 2010.
Scientists found Remains of Giant Dianosaur on Antarctica

Current Affairs Category: Environment | Ecology, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs
Scientists discovered a fossil of a tail-bone belonging to a titanosaur on Antarctica. The new specimen was discovered on James Ross Island. Their remains were found around the world but this is the first evidence to support the fact that they roamed Antarctica. Titanosaur is the family of giant plant-eating dinosaurs. Titanosaurs were saurpods-four-legged herbivorous dinosaurs. They had long necks and tails. Titanosaurs included the mighty Argentinosaurus whose length was 100 feet.
NASA discovered the First Earth-size Planets Kepler-20e and Kepler20f

Current Affairs Category: Science | Technology, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 19 Dec 2011 To 25 Dec 2011 Share|
NASA's Kepler mission on 20 December 2011 discovered the first Earth-size planets orbiting a sun-like star outside our solar system. The planets, calledKepler-20e and Kepler-20f, are too close to their star to be in the socalled habitable zone where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface, but they are the smallest exoplanets ever confirmed around a star like our sun. The discovery marks the next important milestone in the ultimate search for planets like Earth. The new planets are thought to be rocky. Kepler-20e is slightly smaller than Venus, measuring 0.87 times the radius of Earth.
Kepler-20f is a bit larger than Earth, measuring 1.03 times its radius. Both planets reside in a five-planet system called Kepler-20, approximately 1000 light-years away in the constellation Lyra. The Kepler space telescope detects planets and planet candidates by measuring dips in the brightness of more than 150000 stars to search for planets crossing in front, or transiting, their stars. The Kepler science team requires at least three transits to verify a signal as a planet.
The Kepler science team uses ground-based telescopes and the Spitzer Space Telescope to review observations on planet candidates the spacecraft finds. The star field Kepler observes in the constellations Cygnus and Lyra can be seen only from ground-based observatories in spring through early fall. The data from these other observations help determine which candidates can be validated as planets. To validate Kepler-20e and Kepler-20f, astronomers used a computer program called Blender, which runs simulations to help rule out other astrophysical phenomena masquerading as a planet. Kepler-20e orbits its parent star every 6.1 days and Kepler-20f every 19.6 days. These short orbital periods mean very hot, inhospitable worlds. Kepler-20f, at 800 degrees Fahrenheit, is similar to an average day on the planet Mercury. The surface temperature of Kepler-20e, at more than 1400 degrees Fahrenheit, would melt glass. The Kepler-20 system includes three other planets that are larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune. Kepler-20b, the closest planet, Kepler-20c, the third planet, and Kepler-20d, the fifth planet, orbit their star every 3.7, 10.9 and 77.6 days. All five planets have orbits lying roughly within Mercury's orbit in our solar system. The host star belongs to the same G-type class as our sun, although it is slightly smaller and cooler.
The system has an unexpected arrangement. In our solar system, small, rocky worlds orbit close to the sun and large, gaseous worlds orbit farther out. In comparison, the planets of Kepler-20 are organized in alternating size: large, small, large, small and large
The Union Cabinet of India approved National Food Security Bill

The Union Cabinet of India on 18 December 2011 approved a draft National Food Security Bill that seeks to give legal entitlement of cheaper food-grains to 62.5 per cent of the country's population. The total financial liability to implement the law would be 3.5 lakh crore rupees, as funds will be required to raise agriculture production, create storage space and publicity among others.
The bill aims to provide Indian citizens access to nutritional food at affordable prices. This bill proposes to give a legal entitlement to food to 75 percent of our rural population and 50 percent of our urban population. The bill also provides for 7 kg of rice, wheat and coarse grains per person per month to priority households at 3 Rupees, 2 rupees and 1 rupee per kg respectively
Chhattisgarh Assembly defeated the No-confidence Motion against the Government

Current Affairs Category: Chhatisgarh, State, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 19 Dec 2011 To 25 Dec 2011 Share|
The Chhattishagrh assembly on 20 December 2011 defeated the no-confidence motion against the 3-year old Raman Singh-led government. The motion, which was brought by the main Opposition Congress, was opposed by 48 MLAs of the BJP and supported by 37 MLAs of the Congress in the 91 member strong Assembly.
Chhattisgarh vidhan sabha now has 49 members from the BJP, 39 from the Congress, 2 from the BSP and one nominated member. Discussion on the motion went on for three days.
Morocco banned EU Fishing Vessels Operating in its Waters

Current Affairs Category: Environment | Ecology, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs
Morocco ordered foreign fishing boats operating in its waters to leave immediately following the decision of European Parliament, which refused to extend the deal under which the EU paid Morocco for access to its fish stocks. The Parliament termed the deal illegal as it did not benefit the people living in the disputed Western Sahara, off which most of the fishing was done.
The European Union had been paying 36m euros a year to Morocco for fishing rights in its waters. The deal between Morocco and EU expired in February 2011.
On 14 December 2011, European parliament voted 326 to 296 to block the renewal, on the basis that there was
not enough evidence to show the deal would benefit the Sahrawi population, who live in Western Sahara. Morocco annexed Western Sahara in the year 1976. However, its claims of sovereignty have not been internationally recognised
Former Indian Footballer Hamilton Bobby passed away on 17 December 2011

Former Indian footballer Hamilton Bobby passed away following a cardiac arreston 17 December 2011. Bobby, an assistant manager of Indian Bank who fell unconscious at his place of work could not be saved though he was immediately rushed to the hospital. He had twice captained Tamil Nadu in the Santosh Trophy and also represented the state for seven years from 1993 to 2000. The footballer had also played in the under-16 and under-23 national teams and was a member of the senior India national team at President's Cup in Colombo.
Syria agreed to allow the Arab League Observers inside the Country
Syria on 19 November 2011 agreed to allow the Arab League observers to monitor the situation inside the country. The Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad signed the Arab League peace plan to this effect in Cairo. The plan is aimed at ending the crackdown on pro democracy protesters in Syria. The League accepted the amendments suggested by Syria in the protocol on the movement of observers in the country. The independent observers will assess the ground reality in Syria. The Arab League had set the date of
21 December 2011 as deadline for Syria to sign the deal otherwise it would have referred the peace plan to U.N. Security Council.
Indian Women's Hockey won Bronze in the Four-nation Tournament held in Argentina
The Indian women's hockey team defeated Ireland 4-1 win to clinch the bronze medal in the four-nation tournament held in Parana, Argentina in December 2011. Both the teams were locked 1-1 at half-time but India came back strongly in the second session to score three goals. Jaspreet Kaur, Anuradha Thokchom, Vandana Katariya and Preety Sunila Kiro 69thscored for India India thus won bronze medals at both the four-nation tournaments held at Buenos Aires and Parana on the current tour. In the final World champion Argentina defeted South Africa 2-0 to win the tournament.
Biopharmaceutical Company AstraZeneca chose HCL as Strategic Infrastructure Outsourcing Partner

Current Affairs Category: Agreement | Tie-ups, Corporate, December 2011 Current Affairs,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 19 Dec 2011 To 25 Dec 2011 Share|
AstraZeneca, a biopharmaceutical company in December 2011 chose HCL Technologies (HCL) as a strategic infrastructure outsourcing partner. HCL will be responsible for the provision, management and transformation of AstraZeneca's global hosting and collaboration environment.
As part of the five-year engagement, HCL will be responsible for managing AstraZeneca's entire data centre environment across over 60 locations globally. Also as a a part of the agreement, HCL will host and migrate some of the existing large data centres into state-of-the-art facilities. In addition, HCL will manage AstraZeneca's global collaboration environment, including e-mail, messaging and collaboration services for users worldwide. It will deliver transformational projects, including server virtualisation, storage and back-up transformation and implementation of the hybrid cloud.
The USA Government lifted most of its Sanctions on Libya

The USA government on 16 December 2011 lifted most of its sanctions on Libya, unfreezing some of Libya's assets held in the United States. The USA government freed about 30 billion dollars in assets owned by the Libyan government and 2 Libyan banks that had been blocked since February. But holdings of the late leader Muammar al-Qadhafi and his family, as well as those of his aides, will be kept frozen. The US decision coincided with a similar action by the UN Security Council, which decided to end a freeze on the assets of Libya's financial institutions, including the central bank.
Enigmatic Leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-il referred to as Supreme Leader passed away
The enigmatic leader of North Korea Kim Jong-il passed away on 17 December 2011 after he suffered a massive heart attack on a train. The news of his death was announced by the state television from the North Korean
capital, Pyongyang on 19 December 2011. An autopsy conducted mentioned that the death was caused by physical and mental over-work. Kim Jong-il led his nation for 17 years and through a devastating famine while frustrating the United States and other global powers with approach to talks on giving up nuclear arms in return for food and other assistance. His longtime pursuit of nuclear weapons and his militarys repeated threats to South Korea and the United States caused worries that fighting might break out again on the Korean peninsula or that North Korea might provide weapons of mass destruction to terrorist movements.
The Korean War ended more than 50 years ago in a ceasefire, but the two sides remain technically in a state of war.
Kim took over after his father and founding President Kim Il-sung died in 1994, coming to power with a reputation as a playboy. In the mid- to late-1990s he presided over a famine which killed hundreds of thousands of his people.
Severe food shortages still continue and the UN children's fund estimates one-third of children are stunted by malnutrition. However Kim still found the resources to continue a nuclear weapons programme which culminated in tests in
October 2006 and May 2009. The country is believed to have a plutonium stockpile big enough for six to eight weapons.
More on Kim Jong-il Kim Jong-il was born as Yuri Irsenovich Kim on 16 February 1941/2. He was the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, the ruling party since 1948, Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea, and the supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, the fourth-largest standing army in the world.
In April 2009, North Korea's constitution was amended to refer to him implicitly as the supreme leader. On 24 December 1991, Kim was also named supreme commander of the North Korean armed forces.
By the time of the Sixth Party Congress in October 1980, Kim Jong-il's control of the Party operation was
complete. He was given senior posts in the Politburo, the Military Commission and the party Secretariat. When he was made a member of the Seventh Supreme People's Assembly in February 1982, international observers deemed him the heir apparent of North Korea.
The North Korean government system became even more centralized and autocratic during the 1980s and 1990s under Kim Jong-il than it had been under his father. The state-controlled economy of North Korea struggled throughout the 1990s, primarily due to mismanagement.
According to a 2004 Human Rights Watch report, the North Korean government under Kim was among the world's most repressive governments, having up to 200000 political prisoners.
India and Australia inked revised DTAA (Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement)
India and Australia on 16 December 2011 signed an agreement to amend DTAA (Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement) with the objective of ensuring more effective exchange of financial information between the two countries. DTAA was signed between India and Australia in 1991. The revised tax agreement will facilitate the exchange of information on banking related information and taxation policies. The revised agreement also has a provision that India and Australia can assist each other in the collection of revenue claims.
The agreement states that nationals of one country will not be discriminated against the nationals of the other country, a feature absent in the earlier agreement. Moreover, there was no threshold limit for determining permanent establishment. In the revised agreement, the threshold limit has been rationlised to avail the exemption for service and exploration to boost cross border movement of capital and services.
Former Czech President Vaclav Havel who played a Crucial Role in Velvet Revolution died in Prague
Former Czech president Vaclav Havel who had been suffering from chronic respiratory problems died on 18 December 2011 at the age of 75. He was one of the leading anti-Communist dissidents of the 1970s and 1980s. He was the tenth and last president of Czechoslovakia (198992) and the first President of the Czech Republic (19932003).
He played a seminal role in the Velvet Revolution that won his people their freedom. The peaceful resistance
pursued by him exposed the emptiness of a repressive ideology. He was his country's first democratically elected president after the Velvet Revolution. The non-violent Velvet Revolution ended four decades of repression by a regime which Havel ridiculed as Absurdistan.
Vaclav Havel, the dissident playwright wove theatre into politics to peacefully bring down communism in Czechoslovakia and thus became a hero of the epic struggle that ended the Cold War. Vaclav Havel Vaclav Havel was born on 5 October 1936 in Prague. His familys assets were confiscated by the communists in 1948. Havel who was denied a formal education had to earn a degree at night school. His political activism began in January 1977, when he co-authored the human rights manifesto Charter 77, which drew wide attention in the West. Havel first made a name for himself after the 1968 Soviet-led invasion that crushed the Prague Spring reforms of Alexander Dubcek. He wrote a series of underground essays that stand with the work of Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov.
Havel first came to international fame as a dissident playwright in the 1970s. The playwright turned political activist spent four-and-a-half years in prison for opposing Czechslovakia's Communist government before emerging as a leader of the non-violent Velvet Revolution in 1989.
After communism began to collapse across Eastern Europe and the Berlin Wall fell, Havel was elected Czechoslovakia's president by the country's still-communist parliament in 1989.
As president, he oversaw the country's transition to democracy and a free-market economy and also the peaceful 1993 breakup into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. During his presidency, Czechoslovakia
He was credited with laying the groundwork that brought his Czech Republic into the 27-nation European Union. Czech Republic became a mamber of the European Union in 2004. During his regime his country also joined NATO in 1999.
broke
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Slovakia
in
1993.
Havel left office in 2003. Important Dates On 29 December 1989, while leader of the Civic Forum, Havel became president by a unanimous vote of the Federal Assembly. After the free elections of 1990 he retained his presidency. On 3 July 1992 the federal parliament did not elect Havel, who was the only candidate due to a lack of support from Slovak MPs. After the Slovaks issued their Declaration of Independence, he resigned as president on 20 July
1992 mentioning that he would not preside over the country's breakup. However, when the Czech Republic was created, he stood for election as president on 26 January 1993 and won. Honours bestowed on Havel He was awardedthe Prize For Freedom of the Liberal International in 1990. Havel received the Prince of Asturias Award for Communication and Humanities and the Prix mondial Cino Del Duca in 1997.
In 2002, he became the third recipient of the Hanno R. Ellenbogen Citizenship Award presented by the Prague Society for International Cooperation. In 2003, he was awarded the International Gandhi Peace Prize.
Havel was the inaugural recipient of Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience Award for his work in promoting human rightsHe was also the recipient of the US Presidential Medal of Freedom. In January 2008, the Europe-based A Different View cited Havel to be one of the 15 Champions of World Democracy. Other champions mentioned were Nelson Mandela, Lech Wasa and Corazon Aquino.
As a former Czech President, Havel was a member of the Club of Madrid. In 2009 he was awarded the Quadriga Award. He however decided to return it in 2011 following the announcement of Vladimir Putin as one of the 2011 award recipients.
RLD Leader Ajit Singh inducted into the Union Cabinet as Civil Aviation Minister
Current Affairs Category: Person Appointed, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 19 Dec 2011 To 25 Dec 2011 Share|
Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Ajit Singh was inducted into the Union Cabinet as civil aviation minister on 18 December 2011. President Pratibha Patil administered the oath of office and secrecy to Singh at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Jat leader will face the challenge of reviving the aviation sector in general and the government-owned Air India in particular as the new Civil Aviation minister.
The Civil Aviation Ministry was held by Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi after the elevation of Praful Patel as Cabinet Minister. About Ajit Singh Singh who is an MP from Baghpat is the fourth entry into the Cabinet. Ajit Singh is a six-time member of the Lok Sabha and represents his family bastion of Baghpat. This is the fourth time he has become a Union minister. He had joined the government for the first time in the V.P. Singh cabinet and was in charge of the industry portfolio from 1989 to 1990.
Son of the former Prime Minister, Chaudhary Charan Singh, Ajit Singh was a Minister in the P.V. Narasimha Rao-
led Congress government, in the United Front government under Prime Minister V.P. Singh and later in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government. Ajit Singh's biggest challenge is to revive Air India which is stuck in debt crisis. Singh will be expected to tackle issues such as growing operational costs, human resource optimisation and financial support. With Singh's induction, the Cabinet strength now is 33 and the Council of Ministers 77. This is for the third time that it has been expanded in UPA-II. With the five-member RLD joining the UPA, its strength in the 545-strong Lok Sabha has gone up from 272 to 277. Rashtriya Lok Dal The RLD is 15th party to join the UPA. The major constituents of the UPA are the Trinamool Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. With five MPs of the RLD joining it, its strength in the Lok Sabha is now 277. The RLD joined the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in mid December 2011. The RLD was part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in the 2009 general elections. It had earlier partnered with the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party. The RLD, which has presence in its traditional stronghold of western Uttar Pradesh, will contest the coming Assembly elections in the State along with the Congress. In state assembly election in 2012. The Congress is presently trying hard to revive its fortunes in India's most populous State under the leadership of party general secretary Rahul Gandhi.
Government directed Cash Rich PSUs to issue Bonus Shares to balance Paid-up Capital & Reserves
The Union government directed cash rich PSUs to issue bonus shares to bring about a proper balance between paid up capital and accumulated reserves. The move is aimed at improving market image of state run firms. The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) in an internal note mentioned that there are a number of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) which have reserves and surpluses more than three times of their paid up capital. Reserves and surpluses in excess of paid up capital does not reflect equitable capital base of the company. Referring to a 1995 instructions on bonus shares, the DPE directed concerned administrative ministries are requested to direct the CPSEs under their control to examine and approve the bonus share proposals.
In 1995 the DPE had issued instructions that such PSUs should immediately consider the scope of issuing bonus shares to Government of India and other existing shareholders. The issue of bonus shares helps in bringing about a proper balance between paid up capital and accumulated reserves.
Also issue of bonus shares helps elicit good public response to equity issues of the public enterprises and helps in improving market image of the company, as per guidelines of DPE. The DPE note also mentioned that PSUs that large reserves will be allowed to make any public issue only after examining the scope for capitalising a portion of the reserves.
Genetic tests developed by Scientists to detect Breast Cancer

Scientists recently developed a genetic test to detect breast cancer. It will help those women who are in the early stages of breast cancer. It will save them the trouble of undergoing chemotherapy. Scientists invented the Oncotype DX test, which can help doctors determine the likelihood of breast cancer returning and if further intervention is needed. The test uses a small sample of breast tumour tissue and focuses
on groups of genes, which can influence how a cancer is likely to grow and respond to treatment. At present, the test is available in the US and American Society for Clinical Oncology and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network include it in their treatment guidelines for the early stage of breast cancer.
Poet Ram Nath Singh, popularly known as Adam Gondvi passed away in Lucknow
Poet Ram Nath Singh, popularly known as Adam Gondvi, breathed his last in Lucknow on 18 December 2011. Gondvi lived like a villager throughout his life and wrote revolutionary poetry focusing on the pathetic state of dalits and the poor. He himself died in poor financial condition and cultural and social activists had to appeal for donations for his treatment.
Adam Gondvi was born on 22 October 1947 in Aataa Paraspur village of Gonda district in Uttar Pradesh. His couplet, Kaaju bhuni plate mein, whisky bhari gilaas mein, utra hai raamraaj vidhayak niwas mein was a great hit among the masses. Gondvi also criticised politicians who sought votes on caste and communal basis in his gazal collections. His collection Dharti ki satah par and Samay se Muthbhed made him an acclaimed gazal writer. He was felicitated with Dushyant Kumar prize in 1998 by Madhya Pradesh government.
India's Energy Security under Dependence on Imported Oil

Pressure
due
to
Increasing
As per a joint study by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry ( FICCI) and consultancy firm Ernst and Young, India's energy security is under severe pressure due to reasons like increasing dependence on imported oil, regulatory uncertainty and natural gas pricing policies. The report mentioned that a small pool of skilled manpower and poor upstream infrastructure are also exerting pressure. The Report According to the report, there exists a dire need to address the supply issue through a slew of policy reforms, as well as to launch a massive awareness campaign on the demand side management, and the pricing of products to incentivise investments for raising domestic production. As per the Integrated Energy Policy of the Government, India's requirement of primary commercial energy is projected to increase from 551 million tonne of oil equivalent in 2011-12 to 1823 mt of oil equivalent in 2031-32. The increase in oil price by $10 a barrel is likely to slow the GDP growth by 0.2 per cent and may inflate the current account deficit by 0.4 per cent. Also, the recent depreciation of the rupee raised the crude oil imports costs, impacting trade deficit and domestic inflation. Consequently the import of crude oil and oil products rose from $50.3 billion in 2005-06 to $115.9 billion in 2010-11.
In the current financial year (till October 2011), oil imports touched $75 billion. The country meets 73 percent of its fuel needs through oil imports.
It was observed that around 32 per cent of demand for gas in the country is unmet. Most of the gas production and liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals were located in the western part of the country, adversely impacting the availability of gas in the rest of the country.
The availability of gas is expected to increase on the back of incremental supplies from the KG-D6 block, as well as from the new gas fields of ONGC and Gujarat State Petroleum, coal-bed methane (CBM) and new LNG facilities. Suggestions made The study sugggested the need to introduce reform and favourable policies for the private sector to secure foreign oil and gas assets. India, though has surplus oil refining capacity, it still needs major investments to upgrade the existing production infrastructure. It also stressed on the need to shore up the energy security initiatives in an environment of unstable geopolitical situation in the Middle East and North Africa, from where India gets 60 percent of its oil imports.
Wang Yihan defeated Saina Nehwal in the BWF World Super Series Badminton Championship in China
Indian ace badminton player and World No. 4 Saina Nehwal of India was defeated by World No. 1 Wang Yihan 1821, 21-13, 21-13 in the womens singles final of the $500000 BWF World Super Series badminton championship in China on 18 December 2011. In 2011 Saina won only the Swiss Open Super Series title.
Wang proved to be too good for the Indian shuttler in the crucial phases of the 72-minute final. The scores were
levelled twice, four-all and 11-all, before the Chinese picked seven points in a row to take a huge 18-11 lead. With this win, Yihan kept her 100 per cent record against Saina intact, having now beaten her in all their four faceoffs so far.
Saina Nehwal had created history by becoming the first ever Indian to enter the singles final of the World Super Series. Gutta Jwala and V. Diju were the only other Indians who made it to the final in mixed doubles in the 2009 edition
DGH approved Cairn Indias Proposal to Commence Production from Bhagyam

The directorate general of hydrocarbons (DGH), the technical arm of the oil ministry approved Cairn Indias proposal to commence production from Bhagyam, the second-largest oil field in the Rajasthan block. The company, which currently operates the block with a 70% stake, waited for a year to obtain approvals to start production.
The DGH gave its approvals to commence production from Bhagyam, along with both the management committee
and the operations committee. The management committee comprises Cairn India, ONGC and representatives of the DGH and the petroleum minister while the OC is composed of only JV partners Cairn India and ONGC. The representatives of the oil ministry also gave their in-principle nod to commence production. Currently, Mangala, the biggest of the 18 discoveries in the Rajasthan block, is producing 125000 bpd. Bhagyam is targeted to produce a peak output of 40000 bpd by the end of 2011, which would help Cairn achieve the approved peak output of up to 175000 bpd.
The approvals were stuck for more than a year as previously, the ministry wanted all prior entitlement issues related to the Vedanta deal to be resolved before giving Cairn a go-ahead to start production from the oil field.
DGH approved Cairn Indias Proposal to Commence Production from Bhagyam

The directorate general of hydrocarbons (DGH), the technical arm of the oil ministry approved Cairn Indias proposal to commence production from Bhagyam, the second-largest oil field in the Rajasthan block. The company, which currently operates the block with a 70% stake, waited for a year to obtain approvals to start production.
The DGH gave its approvals to commence production from Bhagyam, along with both the management committee
and the operations committee. The management committee comprises Cairn India, ONGC and representatives of the DGH and the petroleum minister while the OC is composed of only JV partners Cairn India and ONGC. The representatives of the oil ministry also gave their in-principle nod to commence production. Currently, Mangala, the biggest of the 18 discoveries in the Rajasthan block, is producing 125000 bpd. Bhagyam is targeted to produce a peak output of 40000 bpd by the end of 2011, which would help Cairn achieve the approved peak output of up to 175000 bpd.
The approvals were stuck for more than a year as previously, the ministry wanted all prior entitlement issues related to the Vedanta deal to be resolved before giving Cairn a go-ahead to start production from the oil field.
Renowned Architect Charles Correa presented with Goa's Highest Civilian Honour, Gomant Vibhushan
World renowned architect and Goa's son-of-the-soil Charles Correa was bestowed with Goa's highest civilian honour, the Gomant Vibhushan, on the eve of the Golden Jubiliee of Goa's Liberation on 18 December 2011. The award was presented to him by Goa governor K Shankaranarayanan. Goa governor presented Correa with the over half-metre high, glass-encased brass replica of Goa's state symbol along with a cash award of Rs 5 lakh and a citation in one of Correa's own architectural creations, the Kala Academy at Panaji.
Correa's architectural genius and projects dotsnot only Indian cities but also cities around the world, including Boston and Lisbon.
Correa is the second recipient of the Gomant Vibhushan, the first being eminent nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar, who was awarded the Gomant Vibhushan in 2010.
Correa has earlier been conferred with India's Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan.
Indian Mobile Phone Market grew 12% in Units shipped in JulySeptember Quarter of 2011
According to the International Data Corporation's (IDC) Quarter 3 2011 Mobile Phone Tracker release, the Indian mobile phone market grew 12% in units shipped in the July-September quarter of 2011 to clock 47.07 million units. Year-on-year too, there was a shipment growth of 13.8%.
The shipments were propelled by the dual-SIM handsets, which grew by 25.2 per cent over the previous quarter (April-June).
The mobile phone shipments witnessed a spurt, as vendors built channel inventories ahead of a long festival
season. Dual-SIM handset shipments were notable with a sequential growth of 25.2% over the previous quarter(april-June quarter). However there was a sharp decline in the mobile service subscription adds during July-Sept 2011.
Nokia grew its share of overall mobile phone shipments during July-Sept by 6.8% over the previous quarter, Samsung succeeded in increasing its smartphone shipment share by 5% over the same July-September quarter. Nokia had 31.8% of the mobile phones shipment share, followed by Samsung at 17.5% in the quarter of July-Sept
2011. In the smartphone segment, Nokia still led with a shipment share of 35.3%, but Samsung came closer at 26%. According to the release, the overall, smartphones shipment for the India market showed an impressive growth of 21.4% over the previous quarter and 51.5% year-on-year. This helped the segment grow its contribution to the mobile phone shipment to 6.5% in third quarter from 5.6% in the second quarter.
From an operating system (OS) perspective, Android overtook Symbian to emerge as the top platform in India for the first time, with a share of 42.4% of the smartphone market. The platform (Android) saw a growth of 90% over the previous quarter. The Apple iOS consolidated further, with a 3.09% share of the smartphone market, compared to a share of 2.6% in second quarter (April-June) of 2011. Several of the Indian and Chinese brands registered varying declines in shipments. However Spice and MAXX were notable exceptions and saw shipment growths of 34.1% and 10.5%, respectively in July-September) over the previous quarter of (April-June) 2011.
Diesel Consumption in Delhi declined by 26% in 2010-11

Diesel consumption in Delhi declined by a startling 26% in 2010-11 compared to 2009-10. Delhi was however found to have used 2.24% more petrol in the same period. As per the latest Delhi government figures, the
consumption of diesel in the city was 8.11 lakh metric tonnes in 2010-2011 as against 10.98 lakh metric tonnes the year before. The drop of around three lakh metric tonnes of diesel in 2010-11 came when nearly five lakh new cars were added to the city roads in the same period. According to government statistics, the number of vehicles in the city went up to 69.32 lakh in 2010-11 from 64.51 lakh in 2009-10. The decline in diesel consumption despite significant increase in number of vehicles was attributed to expansion of metro network and modernisation of bus transport. The city had only 5.62 lakh vehicles in 1981.
The total number of vehicles in Delhi is more than the combined total of vehicles in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. On an average, over 1000 vehicles gets added to the city roads everyday. The consumption of CNG and petrol, however, swelled by 19.2% and 2. 24% in 2010-11,respectively, as compared to their consumption in 2009-11. In 2010-11, the city consumed a total of 8.25 lakh metric tonnes of petrol as against 8.07 lakh metric tonnes in the previous year.
The consumption of petrol, which was 6.12 lakh metric tonnes in 2003-04, has been on the rise while
consumption of diesel has been on the decline since 2007-08. The city consumed 13.94 lakh metric tonnes of diesel in 2007-08
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) ended its Training Mission in Iraq
NATO ended its training mission in Iraq on 17 December 2011. The mission was aimed at assisting in the development of Iraqi security forces training structures and institutions. It was comprised of 120 soldiers from 12 countries. All of them will leave by the end of 2012. The move follows a day after US military handed over the last military base in Iraq and officially announced shutdown of its operations in the country.
Earlier, the alliance had been asked by Prime Minister Maliki to extend its training mission until the end of 2013 and it had accepted the request in principle. However, Baghdad made it clear that it can't grant immunity to the soldiers on its own as the matter has to be taken to the cabinet and then parliament for approval.
Supreme Court: Animals also entitled to Accident Compensation

A bench of the Supreme Court including Justices BS Chauhan and TS Thakur on 16 December 2011 ruled that even animals are entitled to accident compensation. The court upheld an award of 13.48 lakh rupees for the death of a temple elephant. The animal was hit by a KSRTC (Kerala State Transport Corporation) bus. The court refused to accept the contention that the Motor Vehicles Act would be applicable to human beings and not to animals. It
clarified that the definition of property in the Motor Vehicles Act is very inclusive and wide. Therefore, animal should be included under this act. The court added that the elephant was owned by the temple and it was Gods property.
Conference on Autism organised to understand Applied Behaviour

Current Affairs Category: Summit | Confrence, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs,2011 Current Affairs
Non-government organisation Association for Behaviour Analysis (ABA-India) organised the 2nd ABA-India conference Autism: From Early Childhood to Adulthood Successful Data Based Intervention at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi on 17 and 18 December 2011. Association for Behaviour Analysis is working on increasing the limited resource pool of behaviour analysts and educating parents of children with autism.
The two-day conference was aimed at providing support for the understanding of Applied Behaviour Analysis through cutting-edge workshops and training to parent groups and organisations based on latest research. The conference is focussed on the child with autism and successful evidence based interventions for these children. Besides the keynote speakers and presentations, papers were also be presented by parents teaching their children using ABA principles. The conference offered a first one of a kind learning opportunity.
ABA-India is an affiliate chapter of ABA International, U.S., and is pioneering the introduction of ABA in India. ABA
is a subject dealing with the scientific study of human behaviour and its applications in various fields, including
mental health, developmental disabilities, child development and education. ABA methods are used to shape behaviour for bringing positive changes in society.
India, according to the organisation lacks any study on the subject in the country. All behaviour analysts in India study behaviour analysis abroad at Bachelor's and Master's level, making services in the country expensive
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram inaugurated Training Facilities NSGs Chennai Hub
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on 17 December 2011 inaugurated several facilities, including a new administrative block and training facilities exclusively designed for National Security Guards (NSG) Chennai hub. National Security Guards (NSG) Chennai hub was formed in 2009. National Security Guard (NSG) commandos will now be trained in this exclusive, 69-acre facility sandwiched between forests and hillocks at Nerkundram off the Vandalur-Kelambakkam Road, about 30 km from Chennai. the commandos were untill now housed in a temporary unit in Ashok Nagar.
Steps have been taken to ensure that the 241 commandos trained for anti-terror strikes and anti-hijack operations are ready for deployment within a few minutes of receiving a request.
The hub has been designed to immediately mount a counter attack on the occasion of an attack or a hijack. The
unit members are to reach the airport or the Tambaram air force station within 20-40 minutes of a terror strike being reported to board a plane. Machine guns, rocket launchers, night vision cameras, ammunition and other equipment had been provided to the commandos who will stay at the hub for five years before returning to their parent force. A fresh team will be brought in every five years.
After the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror strikes, a decision to set up regional NSG hubs at Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai was taken on 30 June 2009. Of these, the Kolkata and Hyderabad hubs will be upgraded into bigger facilities to cater to the eastern and southern regions.
A regional centre is also to be established at Hyderabad from where commandos can be moved for counter-terror operations in South India. The Hyderabad centre will be on the lines of the NSG's Manesar facility in Delhi.
Reserve Bank of India kept its Policy Repo Rate unchanged at 8.5 percent at its Mid-quarter Review
The Reserve Bank of India on 16 December 2011 left its policy rate unchanged at a three-year high of 8.5 per cent. RBI paused the hike after 13 consecutive rate hikes since March 2010. The Reserve Bank of India kept its policy repo rate unchanged at 8.5 percent at its mid-quarter review two days after data showed November wholesale price index inflation at 9.11 percent, far lower than the 9.73 percent clocked in October.
The RBI also left the cash reserve ratio unchanged at 6 percent, despite market specualtion that it might cut the ratio in order to boost market liquidity. The central bank noted that while inflation remained on the projected trajectory, downside risks to growth clearly increased. It reiterated that further rate hikes might not be warranted as the growth momentum was moderating. Retaining its option to raise rates again if inflationary expectations persist, the RBI mentioned that the timing and magnitude of further action would depend on how things panned out on the inflation and rupee fronts.
RBIs policy statement stated that inflation risks remain high and inflation could quickly recur as a result of both supply and demand forces. Also, the rupee remains under stress. The central bank that the GDP growth declined to 6.9 per cent in the second quarter (July-September) from 7.7 per cent in the first (April-June), and key deficit indicators worsened mainly due to higher expenditure and lower revenues.
Noting that liquidity conditions were tight, consistent with the policy intent, the RBI mentioned that it would conduct open market operations as and when it felt the need for it
George Whitman, Owner of a Fabled English-language Bookstore, Shakespeare & Company died
George Whitman, the American-born owner of Shakespeare & Company, a fabled English-language bookstore on the Left Bank in Paris died in Paris on 14 December 2011. His bookstore served as a magnet for writers , poets and tourists for close to 60 years.
For him the book business was the business of life. More than a distributor of books, Whitman saw himself as
patron of a literary haven and the heir to Sylvia Beach, the founder of the original Shakespeare & Company. Whitman founded his bookstore in 1951 and named it Le Mistral, then later named it after Sylvia Beach's earlier Paris bookstore Shakespeare and Company.
Overlooking the Seine and facing the Cathedral of Notre-Dame , the store that look beat-up behind a Dickensian facade and spread over three floors, has been an offbeat mix of open house and literary commune. Whitman provided food and makeshift beds to young aspiring novelists or writing nomads, often letting them spend a night, a week, or even months. He welcomed visitors with large-print messages on the walls. He was a contemporary of such Beat poets as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg.
Born in East Orange, New Jersey, United States he was awarded the Officier des Arts et Lettres medal by the French government for his contribution to the arts over the previous fifty years
Non-food Credit grew 17.8% to over Rs 43.66 lakh crore in the 12 months ending 2 December 2011
Non-food credit grew 17.8% to over Rs 43.66 lakh crore in the 12 months ending 2 December 2011 according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India. The offtake had stood at Rs 37.04 lakh crore during the 12 months to 3 December 2010. For the second consecutive fortnight when the annualised credit growth stayed below 18%. A per the experts, slowdown in credit growth is on account of the high interest rate regime, which was increased 13 times since March 2010 with a view to reining in high inflation. Deposits rose to Rs 58.69 lakh crore as on 2 December 2011 as against Rs 49.89 lakh crore as of 3 December 2010 marking a growth of 17.6%.
RBI raised key policy rates by 350 basis points through 13 hikes since March,2010 to curb inflation, which has been above the 9% mark since December 2010. The rate of price rise was 9.11% in November 2011.
RBI had in its first quarterly monetary policy review for 2011-12 in July projected credit growth to be around 17-
18% in 2011-12, as against the earlier estimation of 19%, while deposit growth had been pegged at 17%. During the financial year 2011 bank credit offtake increased by 21.5%, while deposits grew by only 15.5%. Economic growth slowed to a nine-quarter low of 6.9% in the July-September 2011. industrial growth also entered the negative trajectory in October and contracted by 5.1%.
Veteran Telugu Film Producer and Noted Lyricist MS Reddy died

Veteran Telugu film producer and noted lyricist MS Reddy passed away on 11 December 2011. He was popularly known as Mallemala. Reddy, during a career that spanned about 60 years, produced hit films like Ankusam, Talambralu, Ahuti, Baala Ramayanam, Ankusam, Ammoru, Agraham and the more recent Arundhati.
Born on 15 August 1924 near Nellore, Sundara Rami Reddy was also known as Sahaja Kavi for his lyrical simplicity in penning poems. He penned more than 5000 lyrics and played a vital role in the shifting of the Telugu film industry from Chennai to Hyderabad.
He worked with some of the industry's most popular heroes, including NTR Jr who made his debut in Baala
Ramayanam, which Reddy made with 3000 child artistes. The film had bagged the Best Children's Film Award. He portrayed the role of chief minister in one of his films, Ankusam. Reddy also served as president of the Telugu Film Producers Council, South Indian Film Writers Association, Film Nagar Cooperative Housing Society and chairman of AP Film Development Corporation.
SEBI directed Intermediaries not to Outsource their Core Business Activities

Market regulator SEBI on 15 December 2011 directed intermediaries not to outsource their core business activities and compliance functions. According to SEBI, core business activities may include execution of orders and monitoring of trading activities of clients in case of stock brokers, dematerialisation of securities in case of depositary participants, investmentrelated activities in case of mutual funds and portfolio managers.
Intermediaries would be responsible for reporting any suspicious transactions to the Financial Intelligence Unit or other competent authority in respect of activities carried out by the third parties.
Government agreed to give 10 Percent of the Group B Posts in Paramilitary Forces to ex-servicemen
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs agreed to fill 10% of the Group B posts in Central Paramilitary Forces from among Ex-Servicemen. Presently, the scheme caters to 38 lakh beneficiaries including 12 lakhEx-Servicemen and over 26 lakh dependents. This scheme is currently being implemented through 247 polyclinics.
Initially, 227 polyclinics had been approved by the Union Cabinet of India. Later, in 2008 another 199 polyclinics were sanctioned, out of which 20 are functional and 179 polyclinics are in various stages of implementation. During the year 2010-11, a total of 89 lakh patients attended the polyclinics. With the commissioning of all the sanctioned polyclinics, the entire fraternity of Ex-Servicemen would be covered comprehensively
Tamil Nadu Assembly passed the Resolution on Mullaperiyar Dam

The special session of Tamil Nadu Assembly on 15 December 2011 passed the resolution, which seeks immediate deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force at the vicinity of the Mullaperiyar dam. It also states that Kerala Government should bring in necessary amendments in the Kerala Irrigation and water protection Act passed in 2006 and accept the Supreme Courts order to increase the water level to 142 ft.
The resolution also stated that it should allow Tamilnadu to continue the strengthening work at the Dam so that the water level is raised to 152 ft. The Assembly also resolved to unanimously sustain the rights of Tamilnadu on the issue.
The UN Security Council lifted Sanctions on Libyas Central Bank

The UN Security Council on 16 December 2011 lifted sanctions on Libya's central bank and the country's foreign investments banks. The move is aimed at easing the current cash crisis in Libya. The United States has also lifted most of the sanctions against Tripoli. The Libyan banks' assets abroad were frozen in early 2011 as part of sanctions against former Libyan leader Col. Muammer Gaddafi. The USA rolled back most sanctions on the government of Libya to keep its commitment to the Libyan people
OPEC decided to increase its Production Limits to 30 million Barrels a Day

OPEC, (The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) in its summit held in Vienna, on 14 December 2011 decided to increase its production ceiling to 30 million barrels a day, which is the first change in three years. Earlier, the production output was 24.88 million barrels per day. OPEC agreed to the new limit but it won't set individual quotas for each member country.
OPEC is increasing its quota to match up actual production. The last OPEC summit in June failed to reach consensus when six members including Iran and Venezuela opposed the idea to pump more oil by Saudi Arabia and three other Gulf countries, who increased their oil production to make up for Libyan exports which was
stopped following the civil war. OPEC will need to produce 30.1 million barrels a day in 2012 to balance world supply and demand of oil. OPEC is an organisation of twelve oil-exporting countries consisting of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the
United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Angola, Venezuela, Libya, Algeria and Ecuador. The organisation has its headquarters in Vienna since 1965, and hosts regular meetings among the oil ministers of its member nations
SEBIs Committee on MF recommended Break Down of the Expense Ratio Bifurcation

A committee on mutual funds, constituted by SEBI in December 2011 recommended to the regulators board to break down the bifurcation within the fee structure known as expense ratio. According to the committee the measure will allow mutual funds to manage their expenses better and possibly improve their profits. In the absence of bifurcations within the expense ratio, fund houses will try to reduce recurring expenses which, in turn, will increase their profitability.
Currently mutual funds are allowed to charge up to 2.25% as expense ratio. Of the 2.25% charged as expense ratio, fund houses are allowed to accept only 1.25% as asset management charges. The remaining 1% has to be
mandatorily used to meet recurring expenses, which include payment of annual trail fees, auditor & registrar charges and dealing charges to empanelled brokers. Funds with large corpuses currently charge 1.75% as expenses charges. There exists scope for these funds to charge lower expense ratios. The SEBI panel also suggested that mutual funds, with higher assets under management, will have to bring down their expense ratio proportionately. SEBI was suggested to keep overall scheme expenses unchanged at 2.25% for schemes with assets under management not exceeding Rs 400 crore. Panel members aslo proposed an alternative slab system, which will bring down expense ratio with a proportionate increase in the asset base of the fund. There will be no change in expense ratios of debt funds.
The panel suggested SEBI to come out with wider slab limits which bring down expenses on large funds even further.
Expense ratio is more than important in debt schemes where the rate of return is not high. In the case of equity funds, the expense ratio becomes critical in times of lacklustre markets
World's Largest Coal Miner CILs Board approved Acquisition of Stakes in Overseas Unlisted Firms
The world's largest coal miner Coal India Ltd (CIL's) board on 14 December 2011 approved a proposal to acquire stakes in unlisted firms overseas, provided the offers were valid. The proposal was approved in the wake of Finance Ministrys approval for the public sector firm to proceed with its plan to acquire unlisted firms overseas. CIL plans to take up three offers - in Australia, Indonesia and the US. The PSU put together a war-chest of Rs.6,000 crore for acquisition of mines. b CIL sought clarifications from the Finance Ministry before entering into discussions with owners, having received proposals offering an IRR between 9 percent and 12 percent.
CIL had request for a relaxation in the PSU guidelines stipulating a minimum 12 percent internal rate of return
(IRR) on investments. In response to the request, the Finance Ministry mentioned that CIL could proceed with such proposals, if they are of strategic nature, and subject to government clearance. CIL also sought to sidestep the rule that only the mines of listed companies should be acquired, which was permitted by the Finance Ministry.
RBI announced Non-direct Intervention Measures in the Wake of Rupee Depreciation

The Reserve Bank of India announced non-direct intervention measures in the wake of steady weakening of the rupee against the dollar. The non-direct intervention measures are aimed at curbing speculative positions in the foreign exchange market.
Re-booking cancelled forward contracts, whatever the type and tenor of the underlying exposure, by resident and
foreign institutional investors has been disallowed. Forward contracts booked to hedge current account transactions regardless of the tenor were allowed to be cancelled and rebooked. Such facility was also available to hedge capital account transactions that were falling due within one year.
The apex bank through the new measures made it clear that forward contracts once cancelled cannot be rebooked.
The central bank also modified the currency risk hedging norms for importers and exporters. Importers were earlier allowed to hedge currency risk on the basis of a declaration of an exposure based on past performance up to the average of the previous three financial years' actual import/export turnover or the previous year's
import/export turnover, whichever is higher. Also, contracts booked in excess of 75 per cent of the eligible limit were to be on a deliverable basis and could not be cancelled. The apex bank revised these norms. As a result of the revision the earlier 75 per cent facility stands reduced to 25 per cent of the limit as compounded by above for importers who avail themselves of the past performance facility. If importers have already used up in excess of the revised or reduced facility, they will not be allowed further bookings. the RBI also specified that this facility will be available on fully deliverable basis only.
The RBI reduced the net overnight open position limit (NOOPL) of authorised dealers across the board with an objective to prevent speculations in the foreign exchange market. It asserted that the intra-day open position/ daylight limit of authorised dealers should not exceed the RBI-approved NOOPL.
The apex bank indicated that these arrangements would be reviewed periodically in line with the evolving market conditions.
India paid Tribute to its Martyred Soldiers on the 40th Anniversary of Vijay Diwas
Current Affairs Category: Day | Week | Year, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 12 Dec 2011 To 18 Dec 2011 Share|
The 40th anniversary of vijay diwas was celebrated on 16 December 2011 marking the finest hour of the Indian armed forces when they defeated Pakistan, leading to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. The Pakistani Army had surrendered on this day and Bangladesh was liberated after a 13 day-long battle. 90000 Pakistani troops had surrendered tothe Indian Army along with their top commanders in East Pakistan.
Dhaka, the then capital of East Pakistan, fell to the Indian forces on 16 December 1971. Lt. Gen. A K Niazi,
commanding the Pakistani troops in the eastern sector, surrendered to the Indian Armed Forces led by the then General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora. Niazi also signed the Instrument of Surrender that resulted in the birth of Bangladesh.
India paid tribute to its martyred soldiers, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of its victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war that resulted in the liberation of East Pakistan now called Bangladesh.
Number of soldiers and officers on the Indian and Bangladeshi sides were awarded the highest gallantry award of
their respective countries. While the Indian Army was awarded three Param Vir Chakras, the Indian Air Force earned its sole PVC following the daring act of Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon who single-handedly thwarted a Pakistani Air Force attack on Srinagar.
Except Major Hoshiyar Singh who retired as Brigadier later on, all the awards were given posthumously
Food Inflation fell to Four-year Low at 4.35 % for the Week ended 3 December 2011
Food inflation fell to nearly a four-year low at 4.35 per cent for the week ended 3 December 2012 due to significant fall in prices of wheat and vegetable owing to seasonal factors. Onions became cheaper by 46.03 per cent year-on-year during the week under review, while potato prices were down by 33.28 per cent.
While vegetables, on the whole turned cheaper by 12.28 per cent, prices of kitchen staples such as onions and potatoes slumped by 46.03 per cent and 33.28 per cent on a year-on-year basis. What prices also eased by 4.43 per cent.
The WPI (wholesale price index) food inflation moderated from 6.6 per cent in the week ended 26 November. food inflation was at 10.78 per cent in the same week of 2010. However headline inflation in November 2011 remained unacceptably high at 9.11 per cent.
Chief Economic Advisor Kaushik Basu, who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on tackling the price spiral, reiterated that food inflation would go down to 3 per cent by early January 2012 as the slew of policy measures had begun to show effect.
The food inflation for the week ended 3 December 2011 was the lowest since the week ended 23 February 2008, when it was 4.28 per cent
Former French President Jacques Chirac convicted on Graft Charges

Current Affairs Category: News Capsule, Person in News, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 12 Dec 2011 To 18 Dec 2011 Share|
A French court sentenced former French President Jacques Chirac to a two-year suspended jail term following his conviction on graft charges. He was held guilty for misappropriation of public funds and embezzlement. This is the first time a French Head of State has been convicted since the trial in 1945 of Marshal Philippe Petain who collaborated with the Nazis.
He is the first former or serving president of modern France to be tried, although Nazi-era collaborationist leader Philippe Petain was convicted of treason and king Louis XVI was sent to the guillotine by revolutionaries in 1793. Chirac who suffers from neurological problems and is in poor health was not present in the courtroom. served two consecutive terms as President from 1995 to 2007.
Chirac's crimes date back to the 1990s when, as Mayor of Paris, he placed several of his party men and women on the public payroll in what has been described as phantom jobs. Chirac's case took years to come to court because as President he was immune to prosecution. He was found guilty of influence peddling, breach of trust and embezzlement between 1990 and 1995.
Chirac's criminal conduct had cost Paris taxpayers the equivalent of 1.4 million euros ($1.8 million). He breached the duty of trust that weighs on public officials charged with caring for public funds or property, in contempt of the general interest of Parisians.
Time Magazine named The Protester as Person of the Year for 2011
Current Affairs Category: News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs, Miscellaneous, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 12 Dec 2011 To 18 Dec 2011
The Protester was named Time magazines 2011 Person of the Year on 14 December 2011. Time defines the Person of the Year as someone who, for better or for worse, influenthat individual action can bring collective, colossal change. 2011 witnessed unprecedented rise in both peaceful and sometimes violent unrest and dissent from the Arab Spring to the Occupy Wall Street movement. People across the globe in Tunisia, in Egypt, in Libya dissented and
demanded even when they were answered with tear gas or a hail of bullets. The Mideast was the centerpiece of the years protests. US Special Operations Command and overall commander of the secret US mission into Pakistan in May 2011 that killed Osama bin Laden, came in at second place on the Time list. Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei came in at No
3. Rep. Paul Ryan, who put forth a plan to tackle Americas burgeoning national debt stoof fourth. Britains Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, who married Prince William finshed fifth. In 2010, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg got wa named the Person of the Year. Time Magazine mentioned that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was the People's Choice for the Person of the Year. In an online poll, Erdogan received 123000 votes nominating him as the most influential person of the year significantly more than any other nominee. History Time picked its first person of the year in 1927 with Charles Lindberg, who put aviation on the map. Person of the
Year was then called Man of the Year. Since 1927, Time Magazine has chosen has chosen the good, Mohandas Gandhi in 1930 and the bad, Adolf Hitler in 1938as the Person of the Year. Responding to the Cold War, the magazine praised Hungarian freedom fighters in 1958. For the honour it had also chosen Baby Boomers in 1966 and Middle America in 1969
Sangita Kalanidhi M.S. Subbulakshmi Award presented to Trichy Sankaran

S.R. Nathan, former President of the Republic of Singaporepresented the Sangita Kalanidhi M.S. Subbulakshmi Award to Sangita Kalanidhi-elect Trichy Sankaran at the inauguration of the 85th annual conference of the Music
Academy in Chennai on 15 December 2011. S.R. Nathan also inaugurated the 85th annual conference of the Music Academy. On the occassion the second volume of the Sangita Sampradaya Pradarsini was launched. The Music Academy and the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS) exchanged a memorandum of understanding on education and training in Carnatic music, drafting of syllabus and training of teachers during the inaugral ceremony.
The Music Academy pioneered the Margazhi music festival in Chennai, which had evolved into a wondrous
phenomenon that greatly enriched the cultural underpinning of the city over the last eight decades. The festival remains unparalleled for its sheer size, aesthetics, quality and undiluted classicism. Trichy Sankaran Trichy Sankaran is the mridangam maestro and flag-bearer of the Pudukottai' percussive tradition. Trichy is 2011s designate for the Academy's Sangita Kalanidhi. Trichy Sankaran, who is based in Toronto became the first recipient of the Sangita Kalanidhi title in the Pudukkottai parampara of his guru Palani Subramania Pillai.
Sangita Kalanidhi M.S. Subbulakshmi Award has been instituted by The Hindu. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh.
Communications & IT Minister Kapil Sibal chaired Meeting on Citizen Engagement through Social Media
Current Affairs Category: Summit | Confrence, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 12 Dec 2011 To 18 Dec 2011 Share|
Communications and IT Minister Kapil Sibal on 15 December 2011 sought help from social networking websites and Internet companies in propagating government's various e-governance initiatives. The objective is to make people more aware of the online environment. Sibal chaired a meeting Citizen engagement and use of social media attended by functionaries of all leading Internet companies including Google, Facebook and Twitter besides other stakeholders. The meeting was organised on 15 December to discuss how the social media could empower the government, since under the normal processes of governance only limited dialogue with the representatives of society is possible. The Internet companies were asked to give their opinions on how to use social media and e-governance to empower citizens. The objective of using the internet to improve citizen engagement in policy formulation and implementation of its projects and programmes was highlighted.
Minister of State for Communications and IT Sachin Pilot specified that there was no plan to formulate a mechanism to regulate Internet content. Pilot however, pointed out that the government was committed to protecting privacy and identity of individuals besides addressing security concerns about data, including personal data.
On the occasion it was reiterated that there was no question of censoring Internet content
India signed Loan Agreement with ADB under HP Clean Energy Transmission Investment
The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 15 December 2011 signed an agreement for the first tranche (113 million US dollars) under the 350 million US dollars Himachal Pradesh Clean Energy Transmission Investment Programme, which is a multi-tranche financing facility. The total estimated investment cost of the programme is 437.85 million US dollars which includes financing of 87.85 million US dollars by the state govt. of Himachal Pradesh. The programme is for the upgradation of transmission system to help Himachal Pradesh take greater advantage of its vast hydropower resources. It will help expand the supply of power to industry, commerce and households, within and outside the state, and thereby contribute to job creation and poverty reduction.
ADBs loan has a 25-year term including grace period of five years and interest determined in accordance with ADBs LIBOR-based lending facility. HP Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. will implement the programme, which is expected to be completed in December, 2017.
Himachal Pradesh, a small mountainous state with five major rivers, has about a quarter of Indias total hydropower generation potential. It wants to scale up generation, but its transmission facilities in certain locations are currently unable to handle large amounts of additional power.
The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet approved Amendment to the State Industrial Policy
Current Affairs Category: State, Himachal Pradesh, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 12 Dec 2011 To 18 Dec 2011 Share|
The Himachal Pradesh government on 15 December 2011 decided to amend the industrial policy of the state to make it more environment friendly. The amended industrial policy seeks to promote environmentally sustainable development in the state and encourage cleaner production and adoption.
Under this policy, disincentive industries will be put on negative list and public disclosure of pollution status at the unit and cluster will be promoted.
NASA developed Space Harpoon to take Samples from Comets

NASA(National Aeronautics and Space Administration) built a prototype capable of launching test harpoon tips across a distance of a mile (1.6km). It would be safer to collect comet material using the space harpoon before landing on the celestial bodies.
Stardust mission had recovered particle samples in 2002. These samples included an amino acid, glycine, which is used by living organisms to create proteins. It endorsed the fact that some of lifes ingredients had formed in space and were delivered to Earth by meteorite and comet impacts.
The samples thus collected will help reveal the origins of the planets and how life was created on Earth. NASAs
A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes a tail.
Parliamentary Committee rejected Proposal to allow 49% Foreign Direct Investment in Insurance Sector
A parliamentary committee on 13 December 2011 rejected almost all the key changes proposed in the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill 2008, including the key reform to allow 49% foreign direct investment in the sector. The the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in December 2008 to bring about improvement and revision of laws pertaining to the insurance sector in the changed scenario of private sector participation and was subsequently referred to the standing committee.
The panel headed by BJP leader and former Finance Minister (during NDA regime) Yashwant Sinha maintained that the move to hike the FDI cap in the insurance sector might not have the desired effect and could expose the economy to global vulnerability. The standing panel pointed out in its report that the proposal to increase the FDI cap to 49 per cent in insurance companies appeared to have been decided upon without any sound and objective analysis of the status of the
insurance sector following liberalisation. The commitee asserted that the suggested policy stance of enabling a greater role for foreign capital in the insurance sector, may not necessarily have the desired impact. Increased role of foreign capital it was feared would lead to the possibility of exposing the economy to the vulnerabilities of the global market, flight of capital outside the country and also endanger the interest of the policy holders.
While opening up the insurance sector to foreign investment in 1999, Parliament was given an assurance that the
statutory prescriptions as also the foreign investment regulations would ensure that the cap of 26 per cent on foreign equity participation in insurance companies would not be breached. The panel maintained that the scope effectively tapping the alternative domestic market route for meeting the capital requirements of the sector was not seriously assessed. The committee noted that stipulating the capital requirement of insurance businesses is a policy measure which may have implications on the share-holding pattern of the insurer and hence needs to be considered by Parliament.
The government's move was also opposed by both insurance regulator IRDA and GIPSA on grounds that that foreign insurers would be at an advantage over their domestic counterparts in the matter of regulations. Health insurance business
The panel also rejected the proposal to halve the minimum paid up capital required to start exclusive health insurance business to Rs 50 crore. The committee mentioned that the amount may be inadequate as an insurance company needs to be fully equipped with modern infrastructure and other facilities.
Another proposal to empower the insurance companies to appoint agents and do away with the system of licensing of agents by the regulator, IRDA, was rejected. The panel maintained the measure is inappropriate and fraught with the danger of leading to ineffective regulation of the profession, particularly in instances of unscrupulous act on the part of the agents as also insurance companies.
In its report, the panel suggested the insurance regulator, IRDA, to play a pro-active role towards evolving a common procedure for availing cashless facility and standardising the rates and charges for different hospital procedures, treatment guidelines, forms and formats for settlement of claims. Decision on SEZ The standing committee on finance rejected the proposal to allow unregistered foreign entities to operate in special economic zones, or SEZs. The proposal was rejected on grounds that it will place domestic capital at the risk of being taken out of the country and will be biased against Indian insurers. The committee observed that
that foreign banks, which operate under the supervision of the RBI, are not allowed any special dispensation in SEZ
Journalist-author Mark Tullys Book- Non-Stop India released in Chennai

Non-Stop India: Mark Tully The book Non-Stop India by journalist-author Mark Tully was launched in Chennai by Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, N Ram on 13 December 2011. The book was published jointly by Penguin Books India and Madras Book Club.
Tully, who also authored No Full Stops in India mentioned on the occasion of the launch that he had extensively
covered India over the last 20 years. The book talked of the visit of the writer who has travelled across the length and breadth of the counrty which include visiting Maoists-hit areas, problems faced by Dalits. The book had also mentioned about the growth of Tata Group and its Chairman Ratan Tata. Mark Tully cautioned in his book that excessive secularism was a danger to a country like India and added that both secularism and communalism were used as political weapons
Coal Ministry decided to Bar Captive Coal Miners from Raising Production Beyond Approved Level
The coal ministry decided to bar captive coal miners from raising production beyond the approved level, rejecting industry demands and the proposal from the Planning Commission to allow excess output to ease fuel scarcity. The coal ministry prepared a policy, under the policy, surplus coal should be sold to state-run Coal India Ltd at price lower than production cost.
According to the ministry, the Coal Mines Nationalisation Act of 1973 allows coal from captive block to be used
exclusively for specified end use project and production of surplus coal should not be allowed to result in any undue advantage to captive block owner. The policy said coal so transferred to Coal India Ltd should disposed by e-auction.
The government is believed to be concerned about misuse of diversion of excess coal to other projects. Of 193
coal blocks allotted over 18 years to companies for captive use, only 28 are in production. Against a target of more than 90 million tonnes, only 38 million tonnes is being mined out from these mines. In this context it is worthwhile to mention that the CAG has questioned a special dispensation to Reliance Power to use excess coal from mines attached to Sasan ultra mega project in another private power project. The matter has been referred to Attorney General for opinion.
Coal deficit in India is likely to grow to 137 million tonnes by end of fiscal 2011-12. Due to domestic coal shortage, power projects commissioned after March 2009 are operating at sub-optimal capacity.
Indian Drugmakers posted 21% month-on-month Growth in Sales of November 2011

According to data from research body All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), domestic drugmakers posted sales of Rs 4912 crore in November 2011 compared with Rs 4668 crore in October. Indian drugmakers posted 21% month-on-month growth in sales of November 2011 which was the highest in the past 14 months. The growth in sales was driven by an increase in demand for respiratory anti-infective drugs. Ameesh Masurekar, director, AIOCD however is of the opinion that revenue growth would fall 14-15% once the seasonal demand for viral and bacterial infection drugs came down. Analysts opined that the November sales numbers would improve pharma companies revenues for the OctoberDecember quarter at a time when most drugmakers are expected to post mark-to-market loss due to rupee depreciation.
The top 20 drug companies registered a double-digit growth, AIOCD data showed. McLeods Pharma, which has been growing consistently month-on-month, recorded the highest growth in sales. the drugmaker surpassed Dr Reddys in total sales within four-five months.
Official Journey to Makkah Opus representing the Incredible Journey of Hajj Pilgrimage unveiled
A book titled The Official Journey to Makkah Opus was unveiled on 14 December 2011 by Prince Turki Bin Faisal Al Saud of Saudi Arab at pre-launch function in New Delhi. The book is scheduled to be formally launched in 2012. Prince Turki Bin Faisal Al Saud is a member of the Saudi royal family and founder of the King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies, which has provided active support and advice for the publication of the Makkah Opus. The book is bound by hand in the finest leather and contained in a silk covered clamshell case. The book is being published by the Opus Media Group, luxury publisher of premium large format books. The India
edition, priced at a whopiing $40000-50000, would be limited to 100 copies and will be exhibited in different cities of the country in March 2012. The Description of the Book The book has been described as a compendium of finest scholarly writing, and both historical and specially commissioned art and photography. It is believed to faithfully represent the incredible journey of Hajj pilgrimage world-over.
The book is a limited edition volume which contains 100000 words both in Arabic and English with the support of 2000 photographs, most of which have been specially commissioned. A striking feature of the book is the two meters long gatefold pictures.
The book has also been compiled with a view to make it an educational tool for those who follow and are interested in the Islamic faith.
The book includes interviews, profile, photography and features, including contributions from eminent Islamic scholars and Islamic VVIPs across the world.
Government waived Rs 3521 crore Loan of Handloom Weavers to help Revive the Handloom Sector
The government waived about Rs 3521 crore loan of handloom weavers in India to help revive the sector. Minister of State for Textiles Panabaka Lakshmi declared that the loan waiver is one of the components of the scheme of Revival, Reform and Restructuring Package for Handloom Sector.
The governments initiative is likely to benefit 15000 handloom weaver's cooperative societies and approximately 3 lakh individual handloom weavers across India. Kerala topped the list with Rs 557.16 crore loan waiver, followed by Tamil Nadu with Rs 548.35 crore, Andhra Pradesh Rs 506.64 crore and West Bengal Rs 420.66 crore. All viable and potentially viable primary weavers cooperative societies and state level apex societies would benefit under the scheme. The individual handloom weavers, weaver entrepreneurs, self-help groups and joint liability groups, who have taken loans for handloom weaving purposes would also be covered under the scheme. There would be an overall ceiling of Rs.50000 to write off for individual beneficiaries.
The US Military Officially ended its Mission in Iraq

The US military officially ended its mission in Iraq on 15 December 2011. As per Pentagon statistics, approximately 4487 US soldiers lost their lives in Iraq war, with another 32226 Americans wounded in action. Despite the official declaration of ending its mission in Iraq, US military still has two bases in Iraq and 4000 troops. While in 2007, there were 505 bases and more than 170000 troops. However, these two military bases will be closed and the final US troops will be withdrawn by 31 December 2011
NRI Industrialist Lord Swraj Paul conferred with the Life Time Achievement Award
Lord Swraj Paul, leading NRI industrialist was conferred with the Life Time Achievement award for his outstanding contributions in various fields. The award, instituted by an Indian company Powerbrands, was presented to Lord Paul on 12 December 2011 by Subrata Roy, chief of the Sahara Group.
Lord Paul, Chairman of the Caparo Group, dedicated the award to the ordinary people of India who he fells have little, but never complains.
Philanthropist and Labour politician, Lord Paul is the chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton and the University of Westminster. Paul was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1983. He was elevated to the British Peerage in 1996. Raghupati Singhania of J K Tyres was earlier given the Powerbrands Hall of Fame Award.
CRISIL Researchs Report Companies to Improve
estimated
Profitability
of
Textile
CRISIL Research released its report on profitability of textile companies on 14 December 2011. According to the research firm, profitability of cotton yarn and man-made fibre (MMF) players are expected to improve over the next few quarters on account of decline in input costs and moderate demand growth. During the first quarter of 2011-12, the textiles companies witnessed severe profitability pressures which led to significant erosion in their market capitalisation. cotton yarn and MMF players have registered a negative return of 48% and 37%, respectively in the past one year.
CRISIL Research opined that the current valuation of players discounts the current negative sentiments around
the sector and offers good scope for upside. Also, stocks of ready-made garment (RMG) companies are fairly priced in spite of being at historical highs, as they offer relatively high and stable returns among the textile companies during the present uncertain times. The stocks of branded RMG companies have out-performed the S&P CNX NIFTY significantly and posted 25% return on a one-year basis.
The slow-down in demand in both domestic and export markets and the anticipation of a spurt in global cotton production resulted in sharp correction in cotton and yarn prices in the first half of 2011-12. This resulted in cotton yarn players reporting losses in the same period as they were carrying high cost cotton inventory from the last season. However, the sharp drop in cotton yarn prices also enhanced its price competitiveness vis-a-vis
polyester (a substitute for cotton) thereby limiting the flexibility of MMF players to pass on the hike in the costs of their inputs, which are derivatives of crude oil. CRISIL Research covered seven textile stocks Nahar Spinning Mills and Maharaja Shree Umaid Mills in the cotton yarn segment, JBF Industries , Sangam (India) , Alok Industries and Shri Lakshmi Cotsyn in the MMF segment, Kewal Kiran in the RMG space. Of these, most companies have a valuation grade of 5/5, indicating that these stocks have a strong upside (more than 25%). The existing scenerio
India, the world's second-largest textile supplier, had this year set a target to increase its textile and garment exports to USD 33 billion. The textiles industry has a bank loan of over Rs one trillion and most companies have reportedly started defaulting on their payments to banks as a massive spike in raw material prices and a steep fall in demand have
eaten into their margins. Cotton yarn production is down 15 percent and fabric output 19 percent during the AprilOctober period from a year earlier, shooting up prices
Maharashtra Government announced a Package of Two Thousand crore for the distressed farmers
The Maharashtra government announced a package of two thousand crore for the distressed cotton, soya and paddy growers mainly belonging to the Vidarbha, Marathwada and Khandesh regions of the state. The fiscal package would cover all the cotton farmers and only those soya and paddy growers, who suffered crop losses of more than 25 per cent. It would cover a total area of 85 lakh hectares, including 40 lakh hectares of cotton, 30 lakh hectares of soya and 15 lakh hectares of paddy cultivation. The aid would be given on per hectare basis and the particulars of the said amount in respect of each crop would be made known later during the current session.
Lok Sabha passed a Bill to amend the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act
The Lok Sabha on 13 December 2011 unanimously passed a Bill to further amend theCable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995. It replaces a Presidential Ordinance of 25 October, 2011. As per the amendments, there
will be a check on objectionable contents. Doordarshan will be able to provide more free-on-air channels in the DTH mode to audiences across the country. Cable TV operators violating the provisions of the Bill will face penalty. The legislation will reduce dependence on the television rating points, TRP. By 2014, the entire cable network will be digitized.
Those Cable operators who will violate the Cable Television Network Regulation Act,1995 Government will have
the right to consider about the continuity of the Licence of those cable operators. Till date, this kind of provision was not in existence in the form of Act
Canada barred Veiled Women from taking Oath of Citizenship
The Government of Canada announced on 12 December 2011 that women who aspire for Canadian citizenship cant wear burqa or Islamic hijab when they take oath of citizenship. Belgium, France, Australia and Netherlands have also banned women from covering their face in public.
The government received complaints from lawmakers and judges that they found it difficult to know whether women who masked their faces were actually reciting the oath or not
Hydrogel developed by Researchers that Regenerated Healthy Tissue on Damaged Skin

Scientists developed a hydrogel that regenerated healthy and scar-free tissue on skin damaged by severe burns. The hydrogel helps in formatting of new blood vessels and skin including hair follicles. The injured soldiers, fire victims and people with third degree burns can avail of the gel. Third-degree burns typically destroy the top layers of skin down to the muscle. The treatment involves, dressing up the wound, which includes hydrogel and 3D framework of polymers.
Indian Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta won the London Chess Classics Open Section
Indian Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta won the London Chess Classic's open section, with a hard-earned victory over Grandmaster Keith Arkell of England. Abhijeet, a former world junior champion and reigning national champion, scored eight points in all. The chess tournament was held from 3 December 2011 to 12 December 2011. Another Indian, International Master Sahaj Grover pulled himself to the second spot after defeating English Grandmaster Peter Wells in the final round of the event. Sahaj, who scored 7.5 points in all.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved National Electricity Fund
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs( CCEA) on 13 December 2011 approvednational electricity fund to provide subsidy of 8466 crore rupees for projects of electricity distribution sector for a period of 14 years. The fund will be operational within a period of six months to one year. The fund is being set up to provide interest subsidy on loans to be disbursed to the distribution companies both in the private and the public sector.
The objective is to improve the distribution network for areas not covered by Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran
Yojna (RGGVY) and Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP) project areas.
Lok Sabha approved the Amendments to the Petroleum and Minerals Pipeline Act
The Lok Sabha on 12 December 2011 passed the amendments to the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962. The Bill aims to make provisions for sufficient deterrence to criminals from committing the offence of pilferage or
sabotage. The existing sub-section (2) of section 15 provides that whoever willfully removes, displaces, damages or destroys any pipeline, shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment of a term which shall not be less than one year, but which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine. Section 16 provides that offence under sub-section 15 shall be deemed to be cognizable under the Cod of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
The proposed amendments provide for higher quantum of punishment in terms of imprisonment and provision for
death penalty in rare cases where the Act of sabotage is dangerous and is likely to cause death of any other person. The Bill further proposes to amend section 16 of the aforesaid Act to make the offences under sub-section (2), (3) of section 15 of the said Act to be cognizable and non-bailable. The amendment to the act was necessary to prevent pilferage of petroleum by organized gangs and saboteurs.
Supreme Court:Water Level in Mullaperiyar Dam should not exceed 136 Feet
The Supreme Court of India directed Tamil Nadu to ensure that the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam does not exceed 136 feet but declined to entertain Keralas plea for reducing the level to 120 feet. A five-Judge Constitution Bench, headed by Justice DK Jain gave the order. The Supreme Court asked Tamil Nadu and Kerala to maintain restraint on their statements on the Mullaperiyar
dam row. Urging for sanity and sensitivity, the court lamented that they were adding fuel to the fire instead of dousing it. The Bench also asked the Centre to clarify its position on Tamil Nadu's plea for deployment of Central Industrial Security Force to protect the dam from possible vandalism
Scientists discovered the Mechanism Controlling the Fat in Human Body

Scientists made a key discovery about the mechanism controlling the fat in human body. It sheds new light on how proteins regulate appetite control and insulin secretion.This is the first time such a mechanism was described and it's unique, showing the importance of this protein to cellular function.
CPT1 is the protein responsible for regulating fatty acid oxidation in the liver and is critical for metabolism. Its activity determines whether a person suffers from fatty liver in one case or ketosis in the other.
The discovery will help in better understanding of why some people has a speedy metabolism and others struggle to control their appetite.This would be a major breakthrough in tackling the obesity crisis faced by humans
Supreme Court directed State Governments to build Night Shelters for Homeless People
The Supreme Court directed state governments to build adequate number of night shelter to ensure that no homeless person has to sleep under sky this winter. A bench of justices Dalveer Bhandari and Justice Dipak Misra asked the governments to file their detailed report by 3 January 2012 on the status of night shelters, which are operating in their states.
The bench, which passed separate orders for different states, asked the Chief Secretaries to ensure construction of sufficient number of shelters for the homeless and poor people
Land Mine Technology to help Detect Breast Cancer in 8 Sec

Scientists claimed that now a simple test could diagnose breast cancer in women in eight seconds. They claim to have developed it from a technology that is used to detect land mines. The new screening tool, called MARIA, is safer and more comfortable than traditional mammogram X-rays. It can be used on women of any age, unlike current technology. Scientists already carried out three successful trials with 300 women at Frenchay and Southmead hospitals. They also claimed that results from the trials showed a diagnostic success rate of 80 per cent.
MARIA stands for Multistatic Array processing for Radio wave Image Acquisition, is made from 60 antennas, which create a complete scan of the breast in eight seconds
India beat West Indies in the Fifth and Final Cricket One Day Match, won the Series 4-1
India beat West Indies by 34 runs to win the fifth and final cricket one-day match and recorded an emphatic 4-1 series triumph in Chennai on 11 December 2011. Electing to bat, India scored 267 runs with the loss of six wickets in the stipulated overs. Manoj Tiwary 104 and Virat Kohli 80 were the top scorers for India. In reply, West Indies reached as close as 233 in 44.1 overs. K. Pollard 119 and A Russel 53 were top scorers for West Indies. Darren Sammy was the captain of West Indies while Virender Sehwag was the captain of Indian side for this series. Gautam Gambhir was the standin captain for the last onedayer. Indias Manoj Tiwary was declared Man of The Match and Indian batsman Rohit Sharma got Man of the Series Award.
Manoj Tiwary and K. Pollard scored their international one day careers first centuries in this match. India and West Indies played this five-oneday match series from 29 November 2011 to 11 December 2011
Lok Sabha passed the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Bill of 2011
The Lok Sabha on 12 December 2011 unanimously passed the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Bill of 2011, which granted a three-year term extension to the Master Plan of Delhi (MPD). It is meant
to ensure continued implementation of all the ongoing schemes for its betterment. The revised master plan of Delhi will have a long-term vision of 25 years to address the problems specially faced by the weaker sections of the society. The government intends to implement the second phase of the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission after its current phase is over.
The objective of the bill is to prevent sealing and demolition of unauthorised structures in Delhi till 31 December, 2014. It seeks to maintain the status quo regarding unauthorised colonies, which includes storages, warehouses, and godowns for farm produce, village abadis (settlements)and their extensions. Commercial establishments in rural areas and urbanised villages of Delhi are expected to get a reprieve after the proposed bill is enacted
NATO announced the Withdrawal of its Iraqi Mission by the End of 2011
NATO on 11 December 2011 announced that it would withdraw its Iraq training mission by the end of 2011. The decision follows a nearly complete pullout of US troops from Iraq. Meanwhile, the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Malki
left for the United States to hold talks on ties between the two countries after the withdrawal of the American military troops. The NATO had earlier agreed in principle to extend its stay till the end of beyond 2013. At present around 4,000 US troops are left in Iraq on four bases.
The Government decided to Set up a Village Water and Sanitation Committee in each Gram Panchayat
The Government decided to set up a village water and sanitation committee in each Gram Panchayat, village and ward to ensure safe drinking water supply. The committee will be set up as a standing committee in each Gram Panchayat for planning, monitoring, implementation and maintenance of water supply schemes in the area with active participation of the villagers. The membership of the committee will consist of 6 to 12 persons comprising elected Panchayat members and at least 50 percent women with due representation to Scheduled castes and Tribes.
The committee will be an integral part of the village panchayat. This initiative has been taken under the National
Rural Drinking Water Programme to decentralize power and responsibilities and to give greater focus on water and sanitation issues
British Scientists developed a Technology to Produce Pocket TV

British scientists recently developed a technology, which could be used to produce pocket TV. Scinetists developed a new form of light-emitting crystals, known as quantum dots. These dots can be used to produce ultra-thin televisions.
The tiny crystals are 100000 times smaller than the width of human hair. This can be printed onto flexible plastic sheets (which can be rolled up) to produce a paper-thin display.
Parliamentary Panel Recommended Constitutional Amendment to set up NJC

The Parliamentary panel on law and justice, headed by Abhishek Singhvi stated that the Constitution should be amended to set up a National Judicial Commission with powers to initiate criminal prosecution and sacking of
corrupt judges. The concluded that judiciary cannot be left unpoliced in matters of corruption. The report prepared by the Parliamentary panel recommended setting up of a National Judicial Commission (NJC) to create a broadbased and comprehensive model of judges appointments. If necessary it should include amendments in the Constitution in the process of comprehensive model of judges appointment.
The recommendations of the Parliamentary Panel The NJC has to be entrusted with powers of both transfer and criminal prosecution of judges for corruption. It may also be given the power for dismissal or removal of judges by relevant amendments in the constitution. The panel also recommended that the former judges working as chairpersons and members of tribunals
should also be brought under the NJC.
The panel stated that Judicial Accountability Bill is meant to strengthen the existing in-house procedure of the judiciary to deal with wrong behaviour of judges. The Bar Council of India which is the apex regulator of the legal profession in India welcomed the panels
recommendation. The report also explained the reasons for not bringing the judiciary under the Lokpal's purview as - if the judiciary was included, it would have resulted in possible and direct prosecution of even a Supreme Court judge before a magistrate. The same would have been applied to high court judges
4th International Tax Dialogue was held on Tax and Inequality

The 4th International Tax Dialogue (ITD), a global conference on Tax and Inequality was inaugurated by the Finance Ministry of India from 7 December to 9 December 2011. Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the three-day Tax meet.
More than 400 senior tax policymakers from almost 90 countries attended it including Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Min Zhu, World Bank Vice President Otaviano Canuto, and Deputy Secretary General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation Development Rintaro Tamaki.
The ITD is a joint initiative of various organisations working on tax issues the IMF, the OECD, the World Bank, the European Commission, the IADB, and CIAT. This conference provides an opportunity to address how taxation can be seen as a part of the solution to growing inequalities in income and wealth around the world. The use of plenary and parallel sessions, with active country participation, allows a peer dialogue between Ministers of Finance and Heads of Revenue Administration internationally. Issued discussed Design of growth-enhancing and equitable tax systems
Fair tax systems: vital for state-building and an exit from aid dependency Informality, inequality and the role of the tax systems Gender friendly tax systems and inequality Taxation of elites and inequality
Administrative challenges, issues and solutions for fair tax systems Income taxes, progressivity and inequality across regions
Highlights
More global cooperation is required to tackle black money in India: annual illicit capital outflows from emerging and developing economies has been estimated at $725-810 billion
Direct Taxes Code (DTC) has been proposed in India: DTC seeks to replace the archaic Income Tax Act, 1961
and thereby modernize the taxation regime. Its supposed to be implemented from 1 April 2012 Uruguay signed 7 new agreements providing for the exchange of tax information
The Senate of Brazil approved Legislation to Preserve Forests

Current Affairs Category: Environment | Ecology, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 05 Dec 2011 To 11 Dec 2011 Share|
The Senate of Brazil on 7 December 2011 approved the bill that reforms rules on the amount of land farmers must preserve as forest. Brazilian senators voted by 59 to seven to approve the legislation. The Key Features of the Bill
The forest alongside rivers and lakes can be counted by farmers on their land as part of their conserved area. It reduces the total amount of land they need to safeguard or reforest.
The bill allowed agriculture closer to environmentally fragile areas. The bill suspended fines for land cleared illegally before 2008 if farmers sign up to replant trees over the next 20 years.
data show tree clearance at its lowest since 1988. As per the data released, there had been an 11% drop in the amount of rainforest cleared between August 2010 and July 2011 compared with the year 2010
Although Brazil needs land for food production, environmentalists warn of increased Amazon destruction. Latest
Former Illinois Governor Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years Imprisonment on Corruption Charges
Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison on 7 December 2011. He was arrested and charged with a wide-ranging corruption spree that included trying to auction off President Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat. Blagojevich, a onetime rising star in the Democratic Party whose public defense strategy included stints on reality TV, a media tour and a book. He was convicted over the course of two trials on 18 counts of corruption. His crimes included lying to the FBI, attempting to shake down a children's hospital for campaign contributions and seeking to secure campaign funds, a cabinet post or an endowment for a new foundation in exchange for the Senate seat vacated by Obama. Under federal guidelines, he is to serve 85% of his sentence, or around 12 years
Defence Minister A.K. Antony ordered Probe into Controversial Rs. 500-crore Contract
Defence Minister A.K. Antony on 8 December 2011 ordered a probe into reports that a key military intelligence unit's imagery intelligence gathering and analysis equipment is below par. The probe was ordered based on a revelation that possible corruption in the procurement of Rs. 500-crore worth of equipment had compromised its ability to use satellite images of enemy troop movements and assets.
According to reports, the Indian Army's imagery interpretation capabilities that are critical to provide information
on enemy troops locations and military assets were compromised due to faulty procurement processes leading to critical software upgrades being denied to the unit by the contracted firm. The Army's image-analysis capabilities, which allow it to cull information of military relevance from satellite images, were hit by a controversial 2008 contract. The contract relieved the supplier, Rolta, of its responsibility of providing periodic upgrades of the software though the Army continued to pay crores of rupees to the company.
The reports of a leading daily also claimed that the Indian company was being contracted again for a Rs.165-crore order for supply of software for which it does not hold licenses anymore. It was also established that the military officials involved in giving the contract to Rolta went on to work with the firm raising fears of conflict of interest.
Mobile Subscriber Base in India increased to 881.4 million by October 2011 from 873.61 million
According to the data released by the regulator TRAI on 8 December 2011, mobile subscriber base in India increased to 881.4 million by October 2011 from 873.61 million in September 2011 registering a growth of 0.89%. The overall teledensity (telephones per 100 people) in India reached 76.03%.
Telecom operators added 7.79 million mobile subscribers in October 2011, taking the total number of telephone users in the country to 914.59 million.
The number of active mobile subscribers, according to the visitor location register (VLR) data, during the month of was 626.18 million. VLR numbers provide details on active customers at any given point of time, excluding switched-off and out-of-the-coverage area customers. Performance by the telecom operators The growth in the wireless category was led by Uninor, which added 2.66 million new users, taking its subscriber
base to 32.31 million by the end of October 2011. Tata Teleservices on the other hand lost 0.93 million and its subscriber base stood at 87.83 million.
The countrys largest private operator Bharti Airtel added 0.94 million subscribers, taking its user base to 173.73 million. Vodafone added 0.92 million new customers to take its user base to 145.91 million.
Idea Cellular and Aircel added 1.63 million and 0.48 million users, respectively, during the period. Idea's
subscriber base stood at 101.81 million at the end of October 2011, while that of Aircel stood at 60.28 million. RCom (Reliance Communications) added 1.03 million new subscribers to take its user base to 148.11 million, while SSTL added 0.74 million new users to take its total userbase to 14.01 million.
State-run telcos BSNL and MTNL added 0.40 million and 31788 new users in October. The subscriber base of BSNL stood at 96.19 million and 5.61 million, respectively. Mobile Number Portability (MNP) As per TRAIs report, about 25.38 lakh subscribers submitted request for MNP in October 2011. Since the introduction of MNP in November 2010, about 231.66 lakh subscribers across India had submitted requests, till October, for changing their service providers while retaining their mobile numbers.
In MNP Zone-I (Northern and Western India), maximum number of requests were received in Gujarat (22.39 lakh), followed by Maharashtra (19.10 lakh).
In MNP Zone-II (Southern and Eastern India), maximum number of requests have been received in Andhra Pradesh (19.46 lakh) followed by Karnataka Service area (19.18 lakh). Broadband Wireline category subscriber base declined to 33.19 million in October from 33.31 million in September. Broadband subscription reached 12.98 million in the reported month from 12.84 million in September 2011
Japan decided to impose a Fresh Round of Financial Sanctions against Iran

Japan announced on 9 December 2011 that it is imposing a fresh round of financial sanctions against Iran. Japan will freeze the assets of 106 organizations, one individual and three Iranian banks. More than 350 Iran-based entities are now subject to Japanese sanctions. However, the move will not restrict imports of Iranian crude oil, a step many Western nations have been urging.
Resource-starved Japan relies on Iranian oil for 10 percent of its energy supply
Pentagons DSCA Report ranked India Third Amongst the Largest Purchasers of US Arms
Current Affairs Category: Report | Survey, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 05 Dec 2011 To 11 Dec 2011 Share|
According to the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) report, India emerged as the third largest purchaser of US arms with contracts worth $4.5 billion in the year ended 30 September 2011 as US weapons sales
rose to $34.8 billion in fiscal 2011. Defence Security Cooperation Agency is the Pentagon agency that oversees foreign arms sales. Even though the US firms lost the bid for an estimated USD 10 billion contract for sale of 126 jets to Indian Air Force (IAF), India was listed as the third largest purchaser of US arms through the government to government channel Foreign Military Sales (FMS).
American arms sales to India include Naval Reconnaissance planes, giant transporters, sea-skimming missiles and other weapon systems.
According to the report government-to-government foreign military sales totalled $28.3 billion in fiscal 2011, while other sales managed by various government agencies reached $6.5 billion. The Pentagon had projected government-to-government sales would reach $36.3 billion for the year ending 30 September 2011. Afghanistan, Taiwan, India, Australia and Saudi Arabia emerged the top buyers of US arms. Topping the list for the fiscal year 2011 ending 30 September 2011 were- the Afghan Security Forces ($5.4 billion); Taiwan (US $4.9 billion); India ($4.5 billion); Australia ($3.9 billion); Saudi Arabia ($3.5 billion); Iraq ($2.0 billion); the United Arab Emirates ($1.5 billion); Israel ($1.4 billion); Japan ($0.5 billion); and Sweden ($0.5 billion). The
Australia with USD 3.9 billion was fourth on the list, followed by Saudi Arabia (USD 3.5 billion), Iraq (USD 2.0 billion), the UAE (USD 1.5 billion), Israel (USD 1.4 billion), Japan (USD 0.5 billion) and Sweden (USD 0.5 billion). US Foreign Military Sales passed the USD 30 billion mark for the fourth consecutive year, with the 2011 figure starting USD 34.8 billion
DSCA
expected
foreign
military
sales
to
continue
to
be
about
$30
billion
for
fiscal
2012.
CAG of India, Vinod Rai elected Chairman of the United Nations Panel of External Auditors
Current Affairs Category: Person Appointed, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 05 Dec 2011 To 11 Dec 2011 Share|
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, Vinod Rai was on 8 December 2011 elected chairman of the United Nations panel of external auditors. Rai succeeded Norbert Hauser, vice-president of Germany's Federal Court of Auditors as chairman of the United Nations panel of external auditors.
As head of the panel, Rai will shoulder the responsibility of overseeing the external audit works and periodical reports on accounts and management of the UN and its specialised agencies. As chairman Rai will oversee the
audit of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), besides setting audit agenda for all UN specialized agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), World Food Programme and the World Intellectual Property Organization.
Jagbans Singh, director general in the office of the CAG, was elected chairman of the Technical Group of the UN
panel. Much of the external auditors' work is determined by the technical group that is mandated to set specific topics of interest to be taken up for audit. The accounts and management operations of the UN, the specialized agencies (WHO, WFP, WIPO etc.) and the IAEA are required to be audited and reported periodically by independent external auditors, who are supreme audit institutions of various countries selected by the UN.
Rai will give direction to the external auditors and will have a final say in preparation of the reports before they are placed to the UN General Assembly.
The findings and recommendations of United Nations panel of external auditors are taken seriously, and the reports are closely monitored for effective implementation. United Nations panel of external auditors United Nations panel of external auditors was formed through a resolution by the General Assembly in 1959. The panel comprises individual external auditors who are the heads of supreme audit institutions of various countries.
The panel members share experiences and methodologies on an ongoing basis to ensure uniformity of external audit practices throughout the United Nations system to the extent possible. Much of the panel's work is
undertaken by the Technical Group, which is mandated to research and review specific topics of interest to the panel. The Technical Group has to report to the panel on the topics reviewed and its recommendations at regular meetings of the independent audit body.
The Union Cabinet of India approved a Package of 8750 crore for West Bengal
The cabinet committee on economic affairs on 7 December 2011 approved the special package of 8750 crore for West Bengal from the Backward Area Grant Fund. The fund will be used for development of backward region in the state. The package is proposed to be implemented in the state's backward areas affected by naxalism, including Jungle Mahal area, which comprises West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura.
The package is expected to cover aspects like rural employment, safe drinking water, watershed and rural road construction. The state has been facing financial crunch as its debt stock, according to the state finances report of the Reserve Bank, was 1.9 lakh crore rupees.
West Bengal had the highest fiscal deficit in 2010-11 among non-special category states, at 4.6 per cent of gross state domestic product (GSDP). Punjab at 3.6 per cent was ranked fifth and Kerala at 3.5 per cent was the sixth.
Food Inflation dropped to a Three-and-half-year-low of 6.6% for Week Ended 26 November 2011
As per the governement data released on 8 December 2011, food inflation dropped to almost a three-and-a-halfyear-low of 6.6% for the week ended 26 November 2011. It is the lowest rate of food inflation, as measured by
the Wholesale Price Index, since 9 August 2008, when it stood at 6.19 per cent. Food inflation stood at 8 per cent in the previous week ended 19 November 2011. The sharp fall in food inflation was attributed to good harvest that reduced vegetable prices further, thereby raising hopes that the stubborn inflation will finally ease. Food articles have a 14.3% weight in the wholesale price index. Vegetable prices were 1.25 per cent cheaper than twelve months earlier in December 2010 while cereals, milk, eggs, meat and fish grew dearer at a slower rate.
Food items were 0.97 per cent cheaper with vegetable prices 5.28 per cent lower. Potatoes were 15.75 per cent cheaper than in December 2010. Onions were 39.20 per cent cheaper as well after their prices fell 1.45 percentage points lower.
Inflation for milk fell 0.39 percentage points to 11.02 per cent while the measure for eggs, meat and fish dropped 3.51 percentage points to 10.04 per cent.
Inflation for rice shed 0.18 percentage points to 2.34 per cent while the measure for pulses dropped 0.8 percentage points to 13 per cent.
Inflation rose for fruits. Fruit prices grew 2.74 percentage points faster than in the in the week ended 19 November 2011 at 10.72 per cent. Cereal prices were also 1.68 per cent higher, compared to 1.97 per cent in the previous week. Wheat prices gained 0.01 percentage points and were 4.71 per cent higher. Prime Ministers Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC) Chairman C Rangarajan was of the opinion that the fall in inflation figures reflected high vegetable prices after unseasonal rain in 2010 and their normal tendency to fall in the winter. The seasonal pattern of decline in prices helped to reduce inflation.
Fruit and vegetables and items such as milk, meat and eggs have kept food inflation high, which in turn kept the overall inflation at over 9% during the 11 months till November.
Turkey announced a New Set of Sanctions against Syria

Turkey on 8 December 2011 announced a new set of sanctions against Syria. Turkey would impose 30 percent tax on goods coming from Syria. The move as a response to Damascus imposing 30 percent customs duty on goods imported from Turkey besides suspending the free trade agreement with Ankara.
Turkey earlier announced a series of economic sanctions on Syria for its crackdown on anti-regime protests. These include an immediate ban on transactions with the Syrian Government and its central bank and freezing the Syrian government assets in Turkey. Turkey has also been seeking alternative routes to bypass Syria for trade with the Middle East. The Turkish government was considering three alternative routes through Egypts Alexandria, Lebanon and Iraq to bye pass Syria.
Coal Ministry decided to Auction 54 Blocks on Upfront Payment Basis

The coal ministry decided to auction 54 blocks on upfront payment basis. The ministry however might not offer mines to power companies. The ministry is currently considering a proposal to earmark blocks to states that can call competitive bids for power supply.
The coal ministry also decided that blocks will not be given free to government companies. Though competitive
bidding route would not be applicable to centre and state government projects, PSUs will have to pay reserve price for coal blocks. Preference would be given to companies setting up end use projects in the state that hosts the coal block and agree to match the highest bid.
The blocks lie in the coal belts of seven states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
Blocks with over 18,000 million tonnes of reserves is set to go under hammer in the first round of competitive bidding. The government has not awarded single coal or lignite block for captive use to private companies since October 2008.
The coal ministry decided to initiate auction by putting the list of blocks on its website. Information on estimated reserves, exploration status and environmental clearances would also be provided. The ministrys objective is to avoid double bidding for power companies that after January 2011 have to participate in tariff-based bidding to bag power supply contracts from states
Supreme Court: All states to ensure Tamper-free High Security Number Plates for Vehicles
Supreme Court of India on 8 December 2011 directed all states to ensure vehicles carry tamper-free high security number plates within four weeks. Giving last opportunity to state governments to implement the scheme, a bench of the apex court ruled that contempt proceedings will be initiated against the state authorities in case of noncompliance of the scheme within the time limit fixed by it.
The bench added that no further time will be granted to put in force the scheme and directed the state authorities to file their affidavits on compliance of its order within four weeks.
The court passed the order on a PIL seeking its direction to introduce tamper-proof number plates and licences for vehicles
Changes in the Foreign Direct Pharmaceuticals Sector Notified

Investment
Regime
for
the
The changes in the foreign direct investment regime for the pharmaceuticals sector approved by the union cabinet was notified in early December 2011. The department of industrial policy and promotion notified the changes through Press Note 3 of 2011. Under the new regime, all FDI into Indian pharmaceuticals companies will have to be approved by the government. The greenfield foreign investment in the sector, however will continue to be on the approval route. The overall FDI limit in this sector is to remain at 100%. The government had made these changes following fears that largescale takeover of Indian drug companies by multinationals will make medicine expensive.
Indian Government to set up Independent Evaluation Office to Evaluate Flagship Programmes

The Indian government approved the setting up of an Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) to be fully funded by the government of India. The IEO will evaluate the impact of flagship programmes. Also it will be allowed to engage the services of leading institutions working in the field of social science research and other fields for the purpose.
The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission will be the chair of the governing body of the IEO. The core staff of the IEO would comprise a Director General, four Directors (Domain Experts) at the level of an Additional Secretary/Joint Secretary, one Joint Secretary (Administration/Finance), six Research Coordinators at the Director-level of the Government of India, ten young professionals (subject experts) and seven office staff.
IEO will be an independent body with full functional autonomy to discharge its functions
The Chhattisgarh Government decided to Increase Reservation for SCs and STs
Current Affairs Category: Chhatisgarh, State, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 05 Dec 2011 To 11 Dec 2011 Share|
The Chhattisgarh government on 7 December 2011 decided to raise the percentage of reservation for the scheduled tribes (STs) and scheduled castes (SCs) in government jobs. The STs will now get 32 per cent whereas the SCs will get 12 per cent reservation.
The OBCs will continue to be given 14 per cent reservation as usual.
India's R Ashwin moved into Top 20 of the ICC ODI Bowling Charts for the First Time in His Career
According to the latest ICC ranking released on 7 December 2011, India's R Ashwin moved into top 20 of the ICC ODI bowling charts for the first time in his career following his consistent performance in Indias test and one day series against West Indies. With 620 points, Ashwin was ranked 18th, a jump of three places. After his
performance in the recent three-match series in Bangladesh, Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez gained six places in the latest rankings and now sits just 19 ratings points behind team-mate Saeed Ajmal, who headed the bowlers' list.
Batsman Virat Kohli moved one rung to be placed fourth in the latest ranking. Kohli has who garnered 766 points was placed alongside India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni who has lost one rank.
Rohit Sharmas three half centuries in the ongoing series against the West Indies helped him move up 21 places to 35th. However opener Gautam Gambhir lost seven places to be placed alongside South Africa's JP Duminy at 19th position.
South Africa's Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers and Jonathan Trott continued to keep the top three spots in the batsman list.
England Batsman Alastair Cook received Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) Medal
England batsman Alastair Cook on 6 December 2011 received Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) medal from Britain's Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.
The left-handed opener's prolific form in Australia during the 2010/11 Ashes series helped England to a 3-1 series win - their first Test campaign triumph Down Under in 24 years. Cook scored a mammoth 766 runs in the series to play a major part in that series win. Then series win helped propel England to the top of the Test rankings.
Cook began his Test career with a second-innings century in Nagpur, India, in March 2006. He has till date made 19 Test tons in all. In the second innings of the first Ashes Test in November 2010, Cook made 235 not out. He then scored 148 in the second Test, 82 in the fourth and 189 in the fifth and final Ashes encounter in Sydney.
Delhi State Government launched e-PDS System for Greater Transparency

Current Affairs Category: State, Delhi, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 05 Dec 2011 To 11 Dec 2011 Share|
Delhi state government on 7 December 2011 launched the Electronic Public Distribution System (e-PDS). This system will help consumers get online information on the availability of food grains, distribution of important commodities and ration shops. It will reduce complaints of divergence and other corrupt practices. The project was launched on a pilot basis for Krishna Nagar and Gandhi Nagar areas of the city. The government plans to extend the project to the entire city.
The e-PDS would improve the Public Distribution System by bringing more transparency in the supply chain management.
Scientists identified a new gene HTR7, which makes people Alcoholic

Current Affairs Category: Abbreviations | Terms, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 05 Dec 2011 To 11 Dec 2011 Share|
HTR7- A gene, which plays a major role in making a person alcoholic. Scientists discovered a new gene, which plays a major role in making a person alcoholic. Scientists put more than a 1000 people with generations of problem-drinking in the family on test. The test established a strong link between drinking and the serotonin receptor gene called HTR7
The State Assembly of Bihar passed the Bihar Lokayukta Bill 2011
Current Affairs Category: State, December 2011 Current Affairs, Bihar, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 05 Dec 2011 To 11 Dec 2011 Share|
The state assembly of Bihar on 7 December 2011 passed the Bihar Lokayukta Bill 2011to constitute a strong and effective Lokayukta in the state. The bill will have Chief Minister, ministers, former chief Ministers, the Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha and Chairman of the Legislative Council, Legislators and former legislators under its purview. It will cover also public servants, employees of the government and corporations or organizations getting government grants.
The bill provides for a three-member Lokayukta, which will have at least two members from the judiciary. Its chairperson and members are required to have special knowledge and professional experience of not less than 25
years in public affairs, academics, law, finance, management, administrative law and policy. Moreover, the term of the chairperson and members would be five years from the date of assuming office. However, the Governor can suspend the chairperson or any other member from office on the ground of misbehaviour after the Supreme Court of India agrees on a reference made by the Governor.
There will be a five-member selection committee consisting of Legislative Council Chairman, Assembly Speaker, two judges (nominated by the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court) and a Lokayukta. Out of this selection committee, a search panel will be constituted and it will have a time-limit of three months to draw up a list of probable candidates for Lokayukta
ICICIs & IDBIs launch of CDS marked Formal Introduction of Local Currency CDS Market in India
Indias largest private lender by assets, ICICI Bank and IDBI Bank, the seventh largest public sector bank in India together launched Indias first credit default swap (CDS) on 7 December 2011. CDS was launched seven days after the product was cleared by the Reserve Bank of India on 30 November 2011. Public sector undertaking Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) bought the CDS cover for its Rs 5 crore loan from ICICI Bank.
The launch of the CDS was a landmark transaction for the domestic corporate debt market and marked the formal introduction of local currency CDS market in India.
IDBI Bank became the countrys first PSU bank to underwrite a CDS transaction in the domestic market for
managing credit risks associated with Indian corporate bonds. This is the first transaction of its kind entered by any public sector bank with another bank in India on selling protection in the domestic market on corporate bonds.
The central bank, RBI had issued prudential guidelines on CDS transactions on corporate bonds on 30 November 2011. The guidelines refered to CDS transactions underwritten by Indian operations of foreign banks, Indian banks and overseas branches/subsidiaries/joint ventures of Indian banks. Benefits The launch of the CDS market in India will encourage foreign institutional investors to invest in domestic corporate bonds. The investment in domestic corporate bonds will provide much-needed funding for projects, including infrastructure sector projects.
Credit default swaps also will investors to transfer and manage credit risk in an effective manner through redistribution of risk. Such products are expected to increase investors interest in corporate bonds and is likely to prove beneficial to the development of the corporate bond market in India.
What is CDS? A CDS is similar to a traditional insurance policy where it obliges seller of the CDS to compensate the buyer in the event of a loan default. The agreement is that in the event of a default, buyer of the CDS receives the money which is equivalent to the face value of the loan and seller of the CDS receives the defaulted loan and with it the right to recover it at some later time.
The Parliament of Greece approved Austerity budget for 2012

Greek Parliament on 7 December 2011 approved a budget for 2012 pledging tough fiscal goals demanded by European Union partners in return for fresh loans. The austerity budget projects a modest primary surplus excluding interest payments on debt. A broad majority of the parties backing Lucas Papademos' caretaker administration secured the economic blueprint's passage by 258 votes to 41, after the vote concluded. Greek has been relying on loans from other eurozone countries and the IMF (International Monetary Fund) since May 2010. In return, Greece cut salaries and pensions and hike taxes to reduce budget deficits.
Delhi Metro won Clean Development Mechanism Project Award for Reducing Emission
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation(DMRC) won a green award for reducing emissions of polluting gases in the national capital by 6.3 lakh tons every year. The best Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project award was presented at Urban Mobility Conference, 2011 which concluded in New Delhi on 7 December 2011.
The best CDM award was given to Delhi Metro for for its Modal Shift Project under which it became the first Metro
rail and rail-based system in the world to be certified by United Nations for getting carbon credits for reducing green house gas(GHG) emissions. Delhi Metro, which ferries around 18 lakh people daily, helped to reduce pollution levels in the city by 6.3 lakh tonnes every year, thus helping in reducing global warming. DMRC director (Works) Mangu Singh received the award on the organisation's behalf. This is the second CDM project from DMRC to be registered with the UN in the last three years. DMRC's first CDM project on regenerative braking had also achieved many international firsts apart from earning valuable foreign exchange for the country
EMB-145I Aircraft for Indian Airborne Warning & Control System (AEW&C) undertook Maiden Flight
Current Affairs Category: News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs, Miscellaneous, 2011 Current Affairs
The first fully modified aircraft, EMB-145I for the indigenously developed Indian Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C) undertook its maiden flight from Sao Jose dos Campos in Brazil on 6 December 2011. The modified Embraer aircraft undertook its maiden flight with about 1000 Mission System Components provided
by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO). The components include the critical item AESA (Active Electronic Scanning Antenna) Radar Antenna developed by DRDO and certified from ANAC, International FAR Certification Agency.
The indigenous system, AEW&C estimated to cost around Rs 1800 crore would detect, identify and classify threats present in the surveillance area and act as a command and control centre to support air operations, according to DRDO officials.
The systems for the EMB-145I aircraft is currently being developed by Bangalore-based Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS), a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) facility. The inclusion of this aircraft will enable India to join the league of countries capable of developing and delivering such complex Airborne System of Systems to its user. India and Brazil had signed a deal in 2008, under which Embraer was to supply the aircraft. The fully integrated AEW&C system would be flight tested in 2012.
Indian Government set up Electronic Centre Unit to deal with Black Money issue in IBSA Countries
The Indian government in December 2011 set up an electronic centre unit in the Finance Ministry to deal with the unaccounted money issue in IBSA countries- India, Brazil and South Africa. The new unit is to deal with governments in exchanging information on tax-evaders and black money in IBSA nations. The government received information from 10 countries on the issue.
The IBSA electronic centre unit is aimed at tackling the black money menace in the IBSA nations. The information is currently being disseminated by various government agencies. Prosecution has also been launched in 17 cases pertaining to LTG bank in Germany. The unit, in close association with the revenue intelligence agencies of other countries, will identify and share information on tax evaders, abusive tax schemes as well as of the people who are involved in promotion of such activities. Abusive tax schemes are transactions designed to reduce or defer taxation.
The revenue authorities of IBSA countries will also study the latest trends in tax evasion, abuse of taxation laws
and the trends that have emerged to avoid taxes. They will track black money flow in these countries and get information in a speedy and accurate manner as well as facilitate sharing of expertise, best practices and experiences in tax administration to combat abusive tax schemes.
India has Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs) is currently in place with Brazil and South Africa. Representatives of all the countries are to have an exchange of information and hold regular meetings in the three
countries by rotation to work out a joint strategy on how to tackle this growing menace of stashing funds abroad and prevent ways of tax evasion.
Wipro Infrastructure entered into JV with Kawasaki Heavy Industries to produce Hydraulic Pumps
The global hydraulics business of Wipro, Wipro Infrastructure Engineering entered into a joint venture with Kawasaki Heavy Industries in India to set up a large manufacturing facility for producing hydraulic pumps for excavators. The joint venture is to be called Wipro Kawasaki Precision Machinery. The investment will be Rs.50 crore and the plant is to be set up in Bangalore.
The new manufacturing unit to be set up at Bangalore will have an initial capacity of 4000 pumps which would be augmented to 15000 pumps by 2015. The manufacturing facility will produce hydraulic pumps catering to a range of 7 tonne to 20 tonne.
Wipro Infrastructure Engineering is one of the world's largest independent manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders. Wipro will be able to expand its product portfolio in the hydraulic segment with this deal and the localisation will offer improved time to market advantage and enhanced customer service.
The overall construction equipment market in India is likely to grow to USD 20 billion by 2020-21.
Lok Sabha passed the New Delhi Municipal Council (Amendment) Bill 2010
Current Affairs Category: State, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 05 Dec 2011 To 11 Dec 2011 Share|
Lok sabha on 7 December 2011 passed the New Delhi Municipal Council (Amendment) Bill 2010. The bill allows local representatives more say in the civic body. The Main Features of the Bill
The bill seeks to change the structure of the NDMC by making the MP of the area its member with voting right. Prior to this, the MP was just a special invitee to the council. The bill increases the number of members from 11 to 12. The bill also increases the number of representatives belonging to the schedule castes from 1 to 2. As per the amendments, NDMC will have three women members and two nominated members. The Bill also proposes to reduce the number of MLAs as members of the council, from 3 to 2 because after the
delimitation exercise there are only two Assembly constituencies whose area partly or fully fall in the New Delhi area.
The bill further adds that a Chief Minister if representing the NDMC area, will preside over the meetings. If he is
not available, then an MP of the area, if he or she is a minister, will chair the meetings. If the MP representing the area is not a minister, then the MLA, if he holds a ministerial position, will preside. Failing all the three, the area MP will chair the meetings and if none of them is available, then the chairman of the council will preside. At present, NDMC meetings are presided over by the chairman of the council.
Josphat Ndambiri of Kenya won the Fukuoka Men's Marathon in Japan

Josphat Ndambiri of Kenya won the Fukuoka men's marathon in Japan winning the 42.195km race in 2hrs 7mins and 36secs on 4 December 2011. Mwangi stood second. Both Ndambiri and Mwangi currently reside in Japan. Mwangi crossed the line one minute and two seconds after Ndambiri who had opened up a sizeable lead following the 35km mark. Yuki Kawauchi of Japan finished in third place with a time of two hours, nine minutes and 57 seconds. The Fukuoka marathon, now in its 64th year, is widely regarded as a prestigious title. In 2011 the ocassion was treated as valuable preparation for next year's Olympics in London.
Lake City of Udaipur in Rajasthan voted Best Leisure Destination in India

Current Affairs Category: Places in News, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 05 Dec 2011 To 11 Dec 2011 Share|
Readers of international travel magazine Cond Nast Traveller voted the lake city of Udaipur in Rajasthan as the best leisure destination in India. Rajasthan State Tourism Minister Bina Kak received the Cond Nast Traveller India Award-2011 from Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay in New Delhi on 3-4 December 2011 weekend. The award opened up Rajasthans tourism sector to the globetrotters and package tour operators in a big way Rajasthan emerged, over the years as a famous tourist destination as well as a State continually endeavouring to
create new circuits and new tourism products and upgrade the tourism infrastructure to attract both domestic and foreign travellers. Cond Nast Traveller is one of the world's most renowned travel magazines. Its readers vote for various categories of destinations, accommodations and transport every year
The National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) was launched by the Name More
More- The National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) launched to provide commuters hassle free travel experience. The Union Ministry for Urban Development on 6 December 2011 launched the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), by the name More, on the concluding day of the four-day Urban Mobility India 2011 Conference-Cum-
Exhibition. The brand name has been chosen More signifying the national bird Peacock as also literally in English meaning more to convey that you get more and more by using this card. The idea of NCMC is to promote the user to perceive it as a single transport system and provide the commuter with a seamless, efficient and hassle free travel experience across the length and breadth of the country
Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDC) for the Textile and Apparel Sector launched
With the inauguration of the first state-of-the-art ATDC-SMART (Skill for Manufacturing Apparels through Research and Training) in Egmore, Chennai, the Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDC) for the textile and apparel sector was launched by the Ministry of Textiles.
The Ministry launched the project in association with the Apparel Training & Design Centre (ATDC), which was
selected as a nodal agency for the project. The project aims to impart training to a workforce of about 256000 in the next two years. The ATDC-SMART project worth Rs 23 billion focuses on the core workforce requirements of the garment industry located across India. The importance of the Scheme can be judged from the fact that the apparel industry is the second largest employment provider in the country after agriculture.
Rural youth and women stand to benefit the most from the ISDC. The rural youth would be able to find gainful employment in areas near their domicile with the help of the imparted training.
Indias domestic textile market is expected to grow to US$ 60 billion and exports to US$ 50 billion by 2015. By
2015 the sector is expected to create an additional 12 million jobs, nearly 40 per cent of which will be in the core production activities. The handicrafts industry employs 12 million people in India currently.
Total Demand of Cotton for 2011-12 Estimated to be Marginally Lower at 250 lakh Bales
According to the assessment by Cotton Advisory Board (CAB), total demand of cotton for 2011-12 is estimated to be marginally lower at 250 lakh bales as compared to the demand for 253 lakh bales for 2010. The domestic demand for cotton is expected to decline due to slowdown in the global and domestic markets. The demand for the natural fibre stood at 253 lakh bales (one bale equal to 170 kg) during the 2010-11 cotton season (October - September). The demand for cotton is moderate and buying is slow in the domestic market. Also lower textile shipment to the US and Europe forced domestic textile industry to cut down production by around 10 per cent. CAB projected the exports of natural fibre at 80 lakh bales in the 2011-12 cotton season against 70 lakh bales in 2010-11.
CAB pegged the India's cotton production at 356 lakh bales in the current cotton season, as against 325 lakh bales in the last cotton season.
Justice P.N. Bhagwati Award presented to Naveen Jindal by Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presented the Justice P.N. Bhagwati Award to O.P. Jindal Global University chancellor and managing director of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, Naveen Jindal on 6 December 2011. The award was conferred upon Jindal for his outstanding contribution to legal education and corporate philanthropy. Justice P.N. Bhagwati Award has been instituted by the Capital Foundation.
Naveen Jindal is the Founding Chancellor of the O.P. Jindal Global University. He is also a Member of Parliament, the Chairman and Managing Director of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL), and a sports enthusiast.
The O.P. Jindal Global University has four schools: Jindal Global Law School (JGLS), Jindal Global Business School (JGBS), Jindal School of International Affairs (JSIA) and Jindal School of Government and Public Policy (JGSP). The Bhagwati Award was also given to Arun Mohan, a senior advocate in the Supreme Court, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to access to justice.
Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal and Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid were conferred the Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer Award on the occassion
Coal Ministry turned down Coal Indias (CIL) Plea for Scaling Down 2011-12s Output Target
The Coal Ministry on 6 December 2011 turned down Coal Indias (CIL) plea for scaling down current fiscal 201112 s output target to 448 million tonnes (MT) from 452 MT.
Fearing that it will not be able to make up the slippage in output that occurred during the first half of 2011-12, CIL which accounts for 81 per cent of domestic production had asked the coal ministry to revise the target. CIL was instructed to surpass the target, which was possible and required given the paucity of coal. The country's demand-supply gap is expected to reach 142 MT in 2011-12, as against the country's estimated output of 554 MT. The Planning Commission projected the demand-supply to touch 200 MT in the next five years.
CIL had missed its April-September target by about 20 MT, recording an output of 176 MT, as against 196 MT planned. CIL had blamed the inclement weather, including heavy rains in August-September for disruptions. The five CIL trade unions had in October 2011 assured the ministry of their best efforts to meet the production target after their employee bonuses were revised upward to Rs 20000 per worker instead of the earlier announced Rs 17000.
CIL had missed its production target in 2010-11 as well recording an output of 431 MT, as against the revised target of 440 MT.
Permanent People's Tribunal indicted Agrochemical Multinational Corporations

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Current Affairs Category: News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs, Miscellaneous, 2011 Current Affairs
A panel of jurors of the Permanent People's Tribunal, an international opinion tribunal, presented its findings following three days of depositions by citizens from around the world. The findings of the panel indicted parent states of six agrochemical multinational corporations, host countries such as India, and international bodies (such as the United National, Food and Agricultural Organisation and the World Trade Organisation).
The panel highlighted that the failure of states to regulate, monitor and discipline the activities of the companies made culpable along with the host states. Witnesses from around the world had testified in the four-day Permanent People's Tribunal regarding the health impact, human rights violations and unethical practices by six transnational corporations Bayer, BASF, Dupont, Monsanto, Syngenta and Dow Chemical.
German economist Elmar Altvater presented the facets of the findings and also mentioned on the occassion that economic liberalisation, deregulation and privatisation of formerly public goods have led to human rights violations and unethical practices by six transnational corporations.
The conclusion drawn maintained that transnational have not been responsible in their pursuit of higher profits, and for this people have had to pay a hefty price.
NASAs Kepler Mission discovered a Habitable Earth-like Planet, Kepler-22b

A team of researchers from NASAs Kepler Mission discovered a habitable earth-like planet, called Kepler-22b. This newly discovered planet orbits around a sun-like star 600 light years away from the planet earth. The star is loacted near the constellations of Lyra and Cygnus. The team of researchers used photometric data from the NASA Kepler space telescope. The telescope monitors the brightness of 155000 stars. When earth size planet periodically passes in front of their stars, it results in tiny dimming of their host stars dimming, which is measured by a space telescope like Kepler. The planet is very much similar to earth in key aspects. It has a surface temperature of about 72 degrees Fahrenheit and it is likely to have water and land. The research team was led by William Borucki of the NASA Arms research centre.
The star was categorized as a G5 star. It has a mass and radius smaller than that that of the Sun. It makes the star 25 percent less luminous than the Sun. NASA's Kepler mission confirmed its first planet in the habitable zone, the region where liquid water could exist on a planets surface. The newly confirmed planet, Kepler-22b, is the smallest yet found to orbit in the middle of the habitable zone of a star similar to our sun.The planet has an orbital period of 290 days in comparison of 365 days
of planet earth. It is orbiting in the middle of the stars habitable zone, where liquid water can exist on the surface of the planet. The new exoplanet has the smallest radius amongst all the planets so far discovered
Bank Lending to the Priority Sector grew at 10% in October 2011 on an Annual Basis
Bank lending to the priority sector grew at a mere 10 % in October 2011 on an annual basis due to lower offtake by agriculture and MSME segments as well as decline in micro credit. Credit offtake by the priority sector had grown by 19.9 per cent during October 2010. Credit disbursement to the priority sector stood at Rs 12.48 lakh crore in October 2011 compared to Rs 11.35 lakh crore in October 2010. Bank disbursements to agriculture and allied activities in October 2011went up by a mere 7.1 per cent to Rs 4.35 lakh crore. In October 2010, credit disbursement to the segment had gone up by 20.4 per cent on an annual basis.
growth in offtake by the micro and small enterprises (MSME) slowed to 17.4 per cent at Rs 4.73 lakh crore in October 2011. Bank credit disbursement to the sector had increased by 20 per cent in October 2010.
The micro sector witnessed a decline of 13.3 per in October 2011 to Rs 24601 crore. Micro credit had grown by over 50 per cent in the same month in 2010.
Credit to the housing sector in October 2011 stood at Rs 2.36 lakh crore, up a meagre 3.5 per cent on an annual
basis. The growth in credit to housing had stood at 9.3 per cent in October 2010. Bank credit disbursement to weaker sections grew by 13.3 per cent to Rs 2.20 lakh crore during the month under review.
Credit offtake by weaker sections from banks had risen at an annual rate of 27.7 per cent in October 2010. While some priority sectors like agriculture and loans for weaker sections is disbursed at an interest rate lower than their prime lending rates, other segments do not fall under the subsidised lending regime
Kishore Biyani sold Stakes in Future Capital & Future Generali Life to Deccan Chronicle & IITL
Retail entrepreneur Kishore Biyani exited his financial services through two separate transactions worth over Rs 1000 crore. Hyderabad-based sports and media company Deccan Chronicle acquired the stake owned by Biyanis flagship firm, Pantaloon in Future Capital Holdings. The deal is estimated to be worth Rs 600-700 crore. In a separate transaction, Mumbai-based Industrial Investment Trust ( IITL) purchased Pantaloon's 26% stake in its insurance joint venture Future Generali Life for Rs 250-300 crore. Both the transactions were all-cash deals. The transaction and cash infusion is expected to provide relief to debt laden Pantaloon after hopes of a stake sale in the company to a foreign retail giant were dashed. Pantaloon's hopes of a stake sale were dashed after the government put on hold its recent decision to open up multi-brand retail to global chains. The Future group had planns to use the group's vast retail presence to sell financial services products, but the model ran into trouble after the financial sector meltdown in 2008. The businesses, especially life insurance,
required constant capital which Pantaloon was unable to provide due to increasing competition and margin pressure in the core retail business. Pantaloon's standalone debt stood at Rs 2173 crore at the end of June 2011. Consolidated debt was at Rs 7846 crore compared with Rs 4352 crore in 2010
The Global Conference on Afghanistans Future Concluded in Bonn

Current Affairs Category: Places in News, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 05 Dec 2011 To 11 Dec 2011 Share|
Bonn-The Global Conference on Afghanistans future concluded here. Bonn is the capital of Germany. The one-day global conference in Bonn on Afghanistans future ended on 5 December 2011. During the summit, Afghanistan pledged to intensify the drive against corruption in exchange for international support after NATO forces withdraw in 2014.
About 1000 delegates from 100 countries and international organisations participated in the organisation. Pakistan didnt attend the Bonn summit. First Bonn summit was held in 2001
The Theme for World Disability Day 2011 stressed on the Inclusion of the Disabled for a Better World
World Disability Day (WDD) is observed anually on 3 December. In 2011, the theme for the International Day of Persons With Disability was- Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development.
It is estimated that nearly 610 million people are existing with disabilities across the world. In India alone, nearly 60 million people suffer disabilities.
Apart from raising issues and creating awareness on the rights of disabled people, the day is observed with an objective to give back something to the society. World Disability Day intends to provide accessibility to infrastructure that could enable the differently abled to lead a life well-integrated with the civil society. World Disability Day aims to celebrate the rights of disabled people.
National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) works to promote better life for those who are differently abled. NCPEDP has been celebrating this day on a national scale for last six years to encourage solidarity among disabled people. It managed to successfully focussed on the issue of disability among other social groups. NCPEDP had in 1997 organised the first walkathon Walk to Freedom in Delhi to commemorate the countrys 50 years of independence. Students from both regular and special schools had participated in the walk. Over the years the event became an integral part of WDD celebrations. Observance of WDD in 2011
Observance of WDD celebration for 2011 included reaching out to general public and sensitising them about disability related issues and about their Inclusion in the everyday fuctioning of their society. Regional Learning Centre on Deafblindness, supported by Sense International on 3 December 2011 organised the
event to create more awareness on the needs of those with disabilities. According to project coordinator of Deafblind and Multi-Handicap Unit, the aim of such events is to create an inclusive environment for deafblind people in the society and ensure a quality life for them. Helen Keller Helen Keller, who herself was a severely disabled woman, deaf-mute and blind, fought against her disability to become a world famous speaker and author. Helen Keller championed the cause of the disabled and showed that
it is only through knowledge that the disabled will be able to overcome their handicap to fulfill the purpose of their lives.
History International Day of People with Disability is an international observance promoted by the United Nations since 1992. The Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
The objective of this day revolve around exploring better ways of accessing information and communication technologies that are a right to the disabled. The United Nations General Assembly in 1976 proclaimed 1981 as the International Year of Disabled Persons (IYDP). It called for a plan of action at the national, regional and international levels, with an emphasis on equalization of opportunities, rehabilitation and prevention of disabilities.
The theme of IYDP was full participation and equality. The theme promoted the right of persons with disabilities to
take part fully in the life and development of their societies, enjoy living conditions equal to those of other citizens, and have an equal share in improved conditions resulting from socio-economic development. United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons was 1983-1992. Each year the theme focusses on different issues related to disability. In 2009 the theme was- Making the MDGs Inclusive: Empowerment of persons with disabilities and their communities around the world. Keeping the promise: Mainstreaming disability in the Millennium was the theme in 2010
Centre for Development of Telematics transferred GPON Technology to Telecom Equipment Makers
The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) on 5 December 2011 transferred indigenously-developed Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) technology to seven telecom equipment manufacturers, including private players. The GPON technology was transferred to the telecom equipment manufacturers to give the much-needed push to broadband penetration in India.
The government transferred this technology to seven manufacturers in public and private sectors ITI, Bharat Electronics, VMC Systems, United Telecoms, Sai InfoSystem (India), SM Creative Electronics. Transfer of technology was also signed with Tejas Networks for customised development. GPON technology
The GPON technology is a pivotal component required for broadband connectivity over optical fibre. C-DOT indigenously designed and developed GPON technology, which can be used to provide triple play (voice, video and data) through fibre-based networks. The present GPON standards specify 2.5 Gbps (Gigabit per second) downstream and 1.25 Gbps upstream data capability to customer premise. Apart from urban areas, the large data carrying capability is important for Indian villages too where prevailing low literacy levels will require better dissemination of information with greater graphic and audio content. Besides, voice telephony, high speed Internet access and IPTV, the C-DOT GPON has provision to carry cable TV signal too.
The GPON technology was tested, validated, field-evaluated and made operational in BSNL's network in Ajmer
(Rajasthan). The technology will help fulfil requirements of major national programmes like the National Optical Fibre Network and the State Wide Area Network.
Empowered Committee to send Technical Members to Inspect Mullaperiyar Dam

The Empowered Committee in its meeting on 5 December 2011 decided to send two technical members to inspect the Mullaperiyar dam before finalising its report following apprehensions raised by Kerala about the safety of the dam after mild tremors occurred in the area. The Empowered Committee is headed by former Chief Justice of India, A.S. Anand. The other members of the committee include Justice K.T. Thomas, a retired Supreme Court judge representing Kerala; Justice A.R. Lakshmanan, a retired Supreme Court Judge representing Tamil Nadu; C.D. Thatte, former Secretary to the Ministry of Water Resources and D.K. Mehta retired Chief Engineer, Central Water Commission. The committee had conducted a spot inspection of the dam in December 2010.
During iots meeting on 5 December, the committee considered the reports of the studies and investigations conducted by various agencies it constituted to study the dam's safety. It also discussed the applications filed respectively by Kerala and Tamil Nadu and took note of their submissions. Kerala had urged the Expert Committee to review its order rejecting permission for producing additional evidence in respect of the safety, based on the reports of two experts, D.K. Paul and M.L. Sharma. the committee had
earlier rejected Kerala's application on the grounds that in 2009, the Supreme Court had not taken on record these reports. The committee, according to Kerala ought not to have relied on the Supreme Court's order as it was not barred from receiving evidence in respect of seismic threat to the dam. Following Keralas argument the committee agreed to hear the State's arguments on this count.
Since Kerala filed an application for bringing on record the recent tremors and sought an oral hearing, the
committee decided to send two of its members to conduct a spot inspection of the dam. Kerala's plea for oral hearing was also accepted. The committee directed Tamil Nadu and Kerala to make submissions on 2 January 2012. On 3 January the committee will consider the modalities for finalising its report to the Supreme Court.
Earthquakes in the region During the months of July-November 2011, 25 earthquakes were reported in the Mullaperiyar dam region . Some of the earthquakes on 26 July and 18 and 26 November were more than magnitude 3 on the Richter Scale. The highest magnitude 3.8 was recorded on 26 July 2011. The frequent earthquakes caused panic among 50 lakh people in the downstream region of the Periyar dam. The fear was further heightened by the incessant rain in the catchments of Mullaperiyar shooting the storage above 136 feet mandated by the provisions of the Amendment Act of 2006.
If the Mullaperiyar dam breaks due to flood or earthquake, a mass disaster would follow, wherein not only the life
and property of 50 lakh people will be affected in Kerala, but lakhs of farmers of Tamil Nadu will also lose irrigation of about 2.5 lakh acres. Kerala therefore feels that Tamil Nadu should agree for the construction of a new dam offered by Kerala as a precautionary measure
International Team of Scientists discovered Adult Stem Cells in the Heart

An international team of scientists led by Prof Richard Harvey of the University of New South Wales and colleagues at Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute discovered a new population of adult stem cells in the heart. The findings were piblished following recent reports that stem cells harvested from human hearts during surgery show promise for reversing heart attack damage.
Scients claimed in their findings, published in the latest edition of the 'Cell Stem Cell' journal that the adult stem cells can augment the development of new regeneration and repair therapies for people who have suffered cardiac failure.
This is the first time this new population of stem cells was formally described, and its origins clearly defined. A mouse was used as a model system.
The first part of the study included the discovery and characterisation of a new population of multi-potent, adult
stem cells that live in the heart . The stem cells were found to be powerful in dividing, and responding to their native environment to form whatever tissue is needed for repair. The new group of cells are multi-potent, and highly specific to the heart. These cells when translated into the human setting is expected to work well at regenerating and repairing a broken heart or a heart that has suffered injury through heart attack or heart failure. The scientists are of the opinion that population of cells are very high up in the stem cell hierarchy, and can generate a number of progenitor cells that would exist in a healthy heart, ready for action.
42nd Edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) concluded in Panaji on 3 December 2011
The 42nd edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was held in Panaji, Goa from 23 November to 3 December 2011. Film star Shah Rukh Khan inaugurated the 42nd edition of IFFI. The inaugural ceremony was marked by presentation of Life Time Achievement award, which was revived after almost 10 years to French film maker Bertrand Tavernier by Shah Rukh Khan.
The 10-day festival, featured 6680 delegates from India and around the world, and 165 films. The films were divided in the categories of Indian Panaroma - Fiction and Non Fiction, World Cinema, Retrospectives, Country Focus (US, Poland and Russia), Three Dimension and Soccer Packages.
The festival also included classics from Tagore, such as Milan, Streer Patra, Charulata and Kshudita Pashan. Films of Mani Kaul, Shammi Kapoor, Samir Chanda and M.F. Husain were also showcased.
World Cinema films Pina, Artist, Agha Yousef, How big is your love, My Australia, Starbuck, Porfirio and Majidleft an impact on the audience.
The opening film of the festival was The Consul of Bordeaux, directed by Francisco Manso and Joao Correa. The 42nd IFFI came to an end with the Asia premiere of the film The Lady directed by Luc Besson.
Besides the films, there were a spate of master classes, discussions, seminars, documentaries and short films, open forums and networking events at eight locations spread over two cities of Panjim and Margao. The Firsts The festival was marked by several firsts. For the first time, the inauguration ceremony was held 30 km away from the main action point. There was a first-ever open screen on a football ground for free display of soccer films. The festival was the first to feature the new sections like 3D, Animation (Sketches on Screen) and Festival Kaleidoscope films. Awards presented during the Festival The 42nd International Film Festival of India come to an end at the Kala Academy in Panaji with the presentation
of awards in five different segments. The Golden Peacock Award for the Best Film was given to a Columbian Film Porfirio. The Chief Guest of the closing ceremony, Southern Superstar, Suriya presented the award to the Director Alejandro Landes and Producer, Francisco Aljure.
The Silver Peacock Award for Best Actor (Female) category was given to the actor Nadezhda Markina for her role in the Russian film Elena. Whereas, the Silver Peacock Award for Best Actor (Male) category was won by Sasson Gabey for his role in an Israeli film Restoration.
The Special Jury Award was presented to Salim Ahamed for directing Malayalam film Adaminte Makan Abu meaning Abu, Son of Adam. The Special Jury Award carries a Silver Peacock Trophy, a certificate and Rs. 15 lakh.
The five members Jury under the chairmanship of Adoor Gopalakrishnan had screened 14 films from as many countries and unanimously decided the awards. History of IFFI The 1st edition of IFFI was organized by the Films Division, Government of India, with the patronage of the first
Prime Minister of India. The 1st edition was held in Mumbai from 24 January to 1 February 1952. The festival travelled to Madras, Delhi Calcutta and Trivandrum. From the 3rd edition in January 1965, IFFIs became competitive. It was since then moved to Trivandrum, capital of Kerala. In 1975 the Filmotsav, non-competitive and to be held in other filmmaking cities in alternate years, was introduced. Filmotsavs were later merged in IFFIs. In 2004 the IFFI was moved to Goa from Trivandrum. Since then the IFFI has been an annual event and competitive.
The festival aims at providing a common platform for the cinemas of the world to project the excellence of the film art. It aims at contributing to the understanding and appreciation of film cultures of different nations in the context of their social and cultural ethos; and promoting friendship and cooperation among people of the world. The festival is conducted jointly by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Government of Goa.
Getting to Zero was the Dominant Theme of World Aids Day observed on 1 December 2011
World Aids Day is observed anually on 1 December 2011. The theme of World AIDS Day 2011 was Getting to Zero. Backed by the United Nations the Getting to Zero campaign will run until 2015. The Getting to Zero
campaign draws heavily from successful 2010 World AIDS Days Light for Rights initiative encompassing a range of vital issues identified by key affected populations. In 2011 the global community committed to focusing on achieving 3 targets: Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination and Zero AIDS-related deaths.
The World AIDS Campaign focus on Zero AIDS Related Deaths signifies a push towards greater access to treatment for all and a call for governments to act now. The global campaign claims that fundamental right to health is intrinsically and inextricably linked to other basic rights- the right to food, to shelter, to freedom, to clean water and safety. Access to affordable life saving quality medicines free from the crippling effects of excessive profit taking is also considered cricial.
Zero New HIV Infections and Zero Discrimination is expected to spark high impact events from small scale community vigils to nation wide events using the universally recognised shape of zeros.
World AIDS Day is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. Government and health officials observe the day, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. The President of the United States has made an official proclamation on World AIDS Day since 1995. Statistics World AIDS Day is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. AIDS killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007 and an estimated 33.2 million people worldwide live with HIV (as of 2007). In 2010, there were 2.7 million new HIV infections and 1.8 million people died from AIDS.3 Moreover, in 2011
people living with HIV were still subject to restrictions on their travel and/or stay in 47 countries, territories and areas. Despite improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 2 million lives in 2007, of which about 270,000 were children. The Red Ribbon The red ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness that is worn by people all year round and particularly around World AIDS Day to demonstrate care and concern about HIV and AIDS as well as to remind others of the need for their support and commitment. History World AIDS Day was first conceived in August 1987 by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, two public information officers for the Global Programme on AIDS at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. World AIDS Day was first observed on 1 December 1988.
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) became operational in 1996 and took over the planning and promotion of World AIDS Day. UNAIDS created the World AIDS Campaign in 1997 to focus on yearround communications, prevention and education.
In its first two years, the theme of World AIDS Day focused on children and young people. These themes were
strongly criticized at the time for ignoring the fact that people of all ages may become infected with HIV and suffer from AIDS. The World AIDS Campaign became an independent organization in 2004.
From its inception until 2004, UNAIDS spearheaded the World AIDS Day campaign, choosing annual themes in consultation with other global health organizations.
each year's World AIDS Day theme is chosen by the World AIDS Campaign's Global Steering Committee after extensive consultation with people, organizations and government agencies involved in the prevention and
treatment of HIV/AIDS. For each World AIDS Day from 2005 through 2010, the theme was Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise, with a yearly sub-theme.
Theme is not specific to World AIDS Day, but is used year-round in WAC's efforts to highlight HIV/AIDS awareness
within the context of other major global events including the G8 Summit. World AIDS Campaign also conducts incountry campaigns throughout the world, like the Student Stop AIDS Campaign, an infection-awareness campaign targeting young people throughout the UK
The Labour Party conference in Australia approved Uranium Exports to India

Australias ruling Labour Party on 4 December 2011 in its annual policy conference approved plans to open up uranium sales to India. This cleared the way for talks on a bilateral nuclear agreement between India and Australia. The conference held in Sydney overturned its own ban, which prohibits Australia to sell uranium to nations such as India that have not signed Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty.
The policy change does not need to be approved by Parliament. Australia possesses approximately 40 percent of the worlds known uranium reserves.
Scientists produced the Most Detailed Map of Antarctica, called BEDMAP

BEDMAP- Detailed map of Antarctica. Scientists produced the most detailed map of Antarctica, which can help understand how Antarctica might respond to a warming world. This is the second generation of the digital BEDMAP. It incorporates 27 million measurement points. Scientists report significant changes at the margins of the continent, with increasing volumes of ice now being lost to the ocean, which in turn raises global sea levels. The type of information contained in BEDMAP will help scientists forecast the pace of future events
Rafael Nadal defeated Argentinas Potro to Give Spain its Fifth Davis Cup
Spain won its fifth Davis Cup title after Rafael Nadal defeated Argentinas Juan Martin del Potro 1-6 6-4 6-1 7-6 (0) on 4 December 2011. The victory earned Nadal his first title since winning his sixth French Open in June 2011. Nadal with the victory stretched his record on clay to 16-0.
Nadal earned his 20th straight victory since debuting in the competition in 2004. Nadal caught Del Potro out with one of 35 winners to take the second set and cruise through the third set. However Potros late fightback broke Nadal four times in the fourth set to send it to a tiebreaker, where Nadal raced ahead without losing a point before securing victory with a forehand winner. Argentina remained the only nation to play in four Davis Cup finals and never win one
Weightlifter Karnam Malleswari resigned as Vice-president of Indian Weightlifting Federation

Legendary weightlifter Karnam Malleswari resigned as vice-president of the national body, Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) on 1 December 2011 citing unconstitutional functioning of the body as the reason for her resignation.
In a letter to IWLF president BP Baishya, Malleswari mentioned that the reason for her resignation was the
appointment of coach Ramesh Malhotra as one of the technical officers for selection trials in Bangalore in early 2011. The IWLF had earlier suspended Malhotra after he was found guilty of physically assaulting women lifters by
the federations executive committee in April 2011. She accused the IWLF officials of running the federation arbitrarily for their personal gains with total disregard for the sport and the players. Malleswari also termed the appointment of Sahdev Yadav as general secretary illegal mentioning that proper procedure was not followed while suspending former secretary BR Gulati. Her resignation brought to light an affidavit filed by former IWLF general secretary, Squadron Leader (retd) B R Gulati, alleging that former general secretary of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) Organising Committee (OC) Lalit Bhanot had, in the knowledge of Suresh Kalmadi, compelled the dissolution of the IWLF Executive Committee (EC).
Malleswari was appointed vice-president in December 2009. Olympic bronze medallist Karnam Malleswari had finished on the podium at the 2000 Sydney Games.
Number of Corporate Debt Restructuring (CDR) Cases rose Sharply to 35 in the First Half of 2011-12
The number of corporate debt restructuring (CDR) cases rose sharply to 35 in the first half of 2011-12 as compared to 22 in the first six months of 2010-11.
The corresponding amount of loan referred also increased by nearly seven times to Rs 34560 crore in the first half of 2011-12 as compared to Rs 5180 crore in 2010-11. The amount of loan referred was the highest amount in the last eight years.
There was thus an increase both in the number of cases as well as in the value of the loans being referred for recast.
According to bankers, the trend of rising CDR cases is unlikely to change in the next six months as companies continue to face difficulties because of the macro-economic environment and the uncertainty in developed nations.
During the first half of 2011, banks restructured around four per cent of their advances. PSU banks had to deal
with higher restructuring proposal than private lenders. The State Bank of India restructured loans of over Rs 500 crore during the quarter, taking the cumulative restructured amount to Rs 35400 crore. What is CDR? CDR is a mechanism for restructuring debts of viable corporates who have been affected by internal or external factors. CDR cases include cases which are outside the purview of the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR), Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) and other legal proceedings.
There are certain conditions on the cases that can be recast under CDR. The mechanism involved in the recast covers only multiple banking accounts/syndication/consorti-um accounts with banks and financial institutions that have an outstanding exposure of at least Rs 10 crore.
The loans can be considered for restructure only if 75 per cent of the creditors by value agree to a restructuring package of an existing debt, this will be binding on the remaining creditors. Once a case is referred to CDR, there is a standstill agreement binding for 90/180 days.
During this period, both the borrower and the lender commit themselves not to taking recourse to any other legal action so that the debt restructuring exercise can be undertaken without any intervention.
Brazil's Former Football Captain, Socrates who led Brazil in 1982 & 1986 World Cup died in Sao Paulo
Current Affairs Category: News Capsule, Person Died, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 05 Dec 2011 To 11 Dec 2011 Share|
Brazil's former football captain, Socrates who led Brazil in two World Cups died of septic shock on 4 December 2011 in Sao Paulo. Socrates was also known as the Golden Hee and the Big Thin One. He was renowned as one of the great playmakers of his generation. Born on 19 February 1954, Socrates was part of a golden Brazilian generation who included midfielder Zico, Junior, Falcao and Eder.
Socrates Brasileiro de Souza Viera de Oliveira made his international debut in 1979 and captained Brazil at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups. However Brazil did not manage to win the cup under the captaincy of the former attacking midfielder.
Socrates won 60 caps and scored 21 goals in his seven-year Brazil career. He had scored 25 goals in 63 games for Brazil.
He was notable for the use of the backheel and the casual manner in which he took penalties. He scored outstanding goals with both feet.
Socrates was a also a cultural icon and a political activist who used his celebrity to fight for the end of Brazil's
1964-1984 military government. Socrates was a physician and had practiced medicine after retiring as a player in 1989.
Belgium defeated India in the Final of the Champions Challenge Hockey Tournament
Belgium defeated India 4-3 in the final of the Champions Challenge hockey tournament in Johannesburg, South Africa on 4 December 2011. The victory enabled Belgium, who are already through to the 2012 London Games, to qualify for the next Champions Trophy in Australia. The Belgium sise was coached by Colin Batch. Tom Boon scored the winning goal for Belgium and in the process became the joint top scorer of the tournament along with Justin Reid Ross of South Africa with eight goals. VR Raghunath, Sandeep Singh and Shivender Singh scored for India.
Sandeep Singh finished the tournament with seven goals, all through penalty corners, and won the Player of the Tournament award
NACO to roll out 21 Anti-Retroviral Treatment Plus Centres to Provide Drugs to HIV Patients
The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) decided to roll out 21 Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) Plus centres to meet the increasing demand of providing second line drugs to HIV patients who failed to respond to treatment provided previously. The NACOs ART programme is headed by Dr B B Rewari.
21 more ART Plus centres will be rolled out exclusively for such HIV positive people who require second line drug
therapy. 2600 people are currently on second line drugs for HIV as they were critical despite taking medication. Presently a total of 4.48 lakh people are availing free of cost drugs at 324 ART centres.
Centres were proposed in Surat, Patna, Guwahati, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and Jaipur. The government earmarked Rs 350 crore for the entire project of providing free of cost drugs at all ART centres. Of these 21 centres, seven are already functional.
10 centres had also been set up to provide the facility for second line drugs and seven paediatric HIV centres in
the country. In addition to the 324 ART centres and other second line ones, there are 678 link centres and 259 community care centres. NACO streeses on strengthening the link between the ART centres and more than 5000 Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres where people are initially identified and detected with the virus. As per the National Family Health Survey-3, there are 2.47 million HIV infected people in India of which 3.8 per cent are children. Nearly 40 per cent of the people are unaware of their HIV status. According to NACO, there are around 30000 patients availing of medication in the private sector.
The World AIDS Day theme was getting to zero, but for the NACO it was also providing 100 per cent access to anti-retroviral drugs
Icon of Indian Cinema and Evergreen Star Dev Anand died in London
2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 05 Dec 2011 To 11 Dec 2011
Current Affairs Category: Topics for Bank PO | Clerk Exam 2011, Hot Topics, News Capsule,Person Died, December
An icon of Indian cinema and evergreen star Dev Anand died at the age of 88 in London on 3 December 2011 (4 December according to IST) after suffering a massive cardiac arrest. Dharam Dev Anand was born on 26 September 1923 and is more popularly known as Dev Anand. Dev Anand was an Indian film actor, director and producer known for his work in Hindi cinema.
Anand came Bombay in the early 1940s and began his career in the military censor's office at Churchgate. He joined his older brother, Chetan, as a member of the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA).
Dev Anands Film Career He was offered a starring role in Prabhat Films' Hum Ek Hain (1946) soon after he joined IPTA. In the late 1940s, Anand was offered a few roles starring as the male lead opposite singer-actress Suraiya in woman-oriented films. Dev Anand and Suraiya were paired in seven films together: Vidya (1948), Jeet (1949),
Shair (1949), Afsar (1950), Nili (1950), Do Sitare (1951) and Sanam (1951), all of which were successful at the box office. He acted of the mystery genre or light comedy love stories or were films with social relevance like Ek ke baad ek and Funtoosh.
Anand was offered his first big break by Ashok Kumar. He was picked as the hero for the Bombay Talkies production, Ziddi (1948), co-starring Kamini Kaushal. Ziddi went on to become a huge success. Anand started producing films after the success of Ziddi. he launched his own company Navketan in 1949 which, by 2011, had produced 31 films. Dev chose Guru Dutt as director for the crime thriller, Baazi (1951). The film starring Dev Anand, Geeta Bali and Kalpana Kartik was a trendsetter for urban crime films that followed in Bollywood in the 1950s. The film Baazi saw
debut of Kalpana Kartik (aka Mona Singh) as the lead female actress and Guru Dutt as a director. The collaboration was a success at the box office. Dev Anand and kalpana subsequently made the movies Aandhiyan, Taxi Driver, House No. 44 and Nau Do Gyarah-all of which went on to become big hits too.
His penchant for nodding while speaking became Dev's style in films like House No. 44, Pocket Maar, Munimji,
Funtoosh, C.I.D. and Paying Guest. He starred in a series of box office successes for the remainder of the 1950s opposite newcomer Waheeda Rehman in C.I.D. (1956), Solva Saal, Kala Pani, Kala Bazar and Baat Ek Raat Ki. Waheeda first became a star with C.I.D becoming a hit.
His acting in Kala Pani (1958), as the son who is willing to go to any lengths to clear his framed father's name
won him his first Filmfare award for Best Actor for the film. He attempted films of tragic genre occasionally like Pocketmaar (1956), Kala Pani (1958), Bombai Ka Baboo (1960) and Sharabi (1964) and tasted success in them as well. Dev also played a few characters with a negative shade, like in Jaal(1952).
Dev Anand acquired a romantic image with films like Manzil and Tere Ghar Ke Samne with Nutan, Kinaare Kinaare with Meena Kumari, Maya with Mala Sinha etc.
His first colour film, Guide with Waheeda Rehman was based on the novel of the same name by R. K. Narayan. Guide, directed by younger brother Vijay Anand, was an acclaimed movie.
Vijay Anand also another Dev Anand's Jewel Thief, based on thriller genre which featured Vaijayantimala, Tanuja,
Anju Mahendru, Faryal and Helen. Their next collaboration, Johny Mera Naam (1970), again a thriller, where Dev was paired opposite Hema Malini was a big hit. Just as when he was being dismissed as a leading man he delivered hits again and romanced young heroines Yogita Bali and Rakhee in Banarasi Babu (1973), Hema Malini in Chhupa Rustam (1973) and Amir Ghareeb (1974), Zeenat Aman in Heera Panna(1973), Warrant(1975) and Darling Darling(1977).
Evergreen Dev Anand The 1978 hit Des Pardes, directed by Dev Anand marked the debut of actress Tina Munim and this films success
gave him the tag of evergreen hero. He was 55 but he shared very good chemistry with the 20 year old Tina Munim. Dev Anand was offered lead role in Man Pasand by director Basu Chatterjee. Dev Anands successful run at the box office continued in the 1980s with Man Pasand, Lootmaar (both opposite Tina Munim), Swami Dada (1982) being both critically acclaimed and box office hits.
Dev Anand as Director His directorial debut, the espionage drama Prem Pujari, was a flop. He however tasted success with his 1971 directorial effort, Hare Rama Hare Krishna which talked about the prevalent hippie culture. Hare Rama Hare Krishna that launched Zeenat Aman became a cult movie. Dev also became known as a filmmaker of trenchantly topical themes.
In 1989, his directorial venture Sachch Ka Bolbala was released. Though critically acclaimed, it was a commercial failure.
The actors political activity Dev Anand had been politically active. He led a group of film personalities who stood up against the Internal Emergency imposed by the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. He actively campaigned against her with his supporters in Indian parliamentary elections in 1977. He also formed a party called the National Party of India, which he later disbanded.
More on Dev Anand Dev Anand directed 19 films and produced 31 films of which 7 directorial ventures and 18 films respectively were commercially successful at the box office. He wrote the story for 13 of his films. Dev Anand's films are well known
for their hit songs. He was known to have been an active participant in the music sessions of a number of his films. His career spanned more than 65 years. Since the 1990s except for Awwal Number, rest of the eight films directed by him were box office failures. But Sau Crore (1991) and Censor (2000) were critically acclaimed. His last film as an ator and director,Chargesheet was a dud at the box office.
In September 2007, Dev's own autobiography Romancing with Life was released at a birthday party with the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. his 1961 black and white film Hum Dono was digitised and colourised and released in February 2011.
Awards received by Dev Anand The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2002 for his contribution to Indian cinema. He won the filmfare award thrice- Best actor for kalapani (1958), Best Film for Guide (1966), Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (1991).
Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema was bestowed on him at IIFA Award
in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2003. In 2004, he was given the Living Legend Award by the Federation of
Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in recognition of his contribution to the Indian entertainment industry.
He received several international award as well: He was honoured by an Award at the hands of the then First Lady of the United States of America, Hillary Rodham Clinton in July 2000. He was also awarded the IndoAmerican Association Star of the Millennium Award.
Donna Ferrar, Member New York State Assembly, honoured him with a New York State Assembly Citation for his Outstanding Contribution to the Cinematic Arts Worthy of the Esteem and Gratitude of the Great State of New York on 1 May 2001.
He was honoured with a Special National Film Award by the Government of Nepal at Nepals first NationIndian film festival in Stockholm in 2005.
India Successfully test-fired N-capable Agni-I Missile

Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
India successfully test-fired its nuclear capable Agni-I strategic ballistic missile on 1 December 2011 from the test range at Wheeler Island off Odisha coast, as part of the Indian Army's user trial. It was test-fired from a mobile launcher, from launch pad-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR). The Strategic Force Command (SFC) of the Army, as part of their training exercise, executed the trial with logistic support provided by Defence Research
Development Organisation (DRDO) at the ITR. The trajectory of the missile, which had an operational strike range of 700 km, was tracked by sophisticated radars and electro-optic telemetry stations located along the sea coast and ships positioned near the impact point in the downrange area.
Agni-I missile is equipped with a specialised navigation system which ensures it reaches the target with a high degree of accuracy. Agni-I was developed by Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), the premier missile development laboratory of the
DRDO in collaboration with Defence Research Development Laboratory (DRDL) and Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and integrated by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Hyderabad. The last trial of the Agni-I missile was successfully carried out on 25 November 2010 from the same base. About Agni-I Agni-I strategic ballistic missile is an indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile It is a single-stage missile It is powered by solid propellants Agni-I can carry payloads up to 1000 kg It Weighed 12 tonnes
It was 15-metre-long
Kishori Scheme for Adolescent Girls was launched by Delhi State Government
Current Affairs Category: News Capsule, Plan | Programme, December 2011 Current Affairs,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
The state government of Delhi on 28 November 2011 launched a Kishori Scheme under which sanitary napkins would be distributed to adolescent girls. The scheme aims to promote menstrual hygiene among these girls. Under the Kishori Scheme, sanitary scheme will be provided to girls every month in their school. The total expenditure on the scheme would be 1.05 crore rupees.
Supreme Court of India: Adultery Law Biased against Men

Current Affairs Category: National | India, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
The Supreme Court of India on 1 December 2011 stated that section497 of the Indian penal Code is biased against men. The section punishes a man alone for adultery for having consensual sex with a married woman. As per the observation of the court, the provision of section 497 reduces a married woman to a property of the husband and it punishes man only despite the fact that the woman with whom he had consensual sex was an
equal partner in the alleged crime. The court added that the provision is under criticism from certain sections for showing a strong gender bias. A bench of the Supreme Court including Justices Aftab Alam and R M Lodha made the above observation. Section 497 of IPC Section 497 of IPC states that whoever has sexual intercourse with a person who is and whom he knows or has
reason to believe to be the wife of another man, without the consent or connivance of that man, such sexual intercourse not amounting to the offence of rape, is guilty of the offence of adultery, and shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both. In such case, the wife shall not be punishable as an abettor .
Social Activist & Narmada Bachao Andolan Leader Medha Patkar chosen for Basava award for 2010
Current Affairs Category: Awards | Honours, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
The Karnataka State government on 1 December 2011 announced its decision to confer the prestigious Basava Sri Award for the year 2010 on noted environment activist Medha Patkar. Social activist and Narmada Bachao
Andolan leader Medha Patkar was chosen for the Basava award for the year 2010 for excellence in service in the social sector.
Basava Sri Award was instituted by the Karnataka government. Kannada and Culture Minister Govind Karjol declared the award carries a purse of Rs 10 lakh and a citation. It was also declared that the Jakanachari Award for the year 2009 and 2010 will be conferred on K C Puttannachar and Venkatachalapati respectively. The Amarashilipi Jakanachari' award is given to talented
sculptors and craftsmen. The award was previously won by sculptors K C Puttanachar and Venkatachalapthi for the year 2009 and 2010 respectively. The Santa Shishunala Sharief Award for 2009 and 2010 is to be conferred on T V Rajuand B K Sumitra, respectively. Both Jakanachari Award and Santa Shishunala Sharief Award carry a prize money of Rs three lakh and a citation.
The Karnataka government decided to felicitate noted Kannada writer S L Byrappa on being conferred with the prestigious Saraswathi Sanman award.
On the occasion of announcing the names of the awardees, Kannada and Culture Minister Govind Karjol also called
for an end to practices like the Devadasi system and made snana, a ritual held at Kukke Subramanya temple by devotees rolling on plantain leaves left after partaking food.
Exports Registered a Meagre 10.8 per cent Growth at $19.8 billion in October 2011
Current Affairs Category: December 2011 Current Affairs, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
According to the data released by the Commerce Ministry, exports registered a meagre 10.8 per cent growth at $19.8 billion in October2011. Demand contraction in traditional markets such as Europe and the US coupled with Indian governments policies resulted in the dip in export. The growth rate was the lowest since October 2009 when it contracted by 6.6 per cent.
Imports soared in October 2011 rising by 21.7 per cent at $39.5 billion, leaving a trade deficit of $19.6 billion. The trade deficit was the highest ever in any month in the last four years. The trade imbalance was attributed to expensive crude oil and vegetable oils.
Export growth slipped to 44.25 per cent in August, 36.36 per cent in September and 10.8 per cent in October from a peak of 82 per cent in July 2011. In October, oil imports grew 20.73 per cent at $10 billion, whereas non-oil imports rose by 22 per cent to $29.4 billion. Exports aggregated to $179.7 billion, showing a handsome growth of 45.9 per cent in the April-October period. However, a steady rise of 30.9 per cent in imports for the seven-month period to $273.4 billion left the trade gap
widening to $93.7 billion. During April-October, oil imports stood at $81.9 billion thereby marking an increase of 40 per cent. Non-oil imports rose by 27.1 per cent to $191.5 billion.
Federation of Indian Export Organisations President Ramu S. Deora commented that exports would suffer in the third and fourth quarters of 2011-12. He also expressed serious concern over drop in exports in value terms for products such as engineering.
Italian Luxury Auto Maker Ferrari unveiled a $ 250000 Diamond Encrusted Book
Current Affairs Category: News Capsule, Books | Authors, December 2011 Current Affairs,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
Italian luxury auto maker Ferrari on 1 December 2011 unveiled a $ 250000 (over Rs 1.25 crore) diamond encrusted book depicting the history of the car maker. Antonio Ghini, Ferrari's longstanding communications director and editor-in-chief of The Ferrari Official Magazine was the creative advisor of the book, which was edited and designed by a team led by Ezster Karpati. The books description The book weighs 37 kg and has a 30-carat diamond studded Ferrari horse with about 1500 selected stones. The
edition of the book, Enzo Diamante is limited to one copy per country. Ferrari India and Opus Media Group unveiled the Enzo Diamante's only edition for India is one of the most expensive books in India. The special edition is presented in a bespoke hand-crafted black carbon-fibre case, features three signature sheets, bearing those of the current Ferrari drivers in addition to former world champions. The leather cover binding sports a 16x12cm silver prancing horse - the Ferrari logo - encrusted with diamonds totaling 32.3 carats. The book has been personally signed by Ferrari F1 world champions such as Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso on a silver foil signature sheet, racing legends and current F1 drivers. It also bares a personal note by the Ferrari president. Content of the book The official Ferrari Opus contains two lakh words and over 2000 pictures across 852 pages. Many of the photographs were specially commissioned or sourced from Ferrari's archives and were not published earlier.
The 852-page book features more than 1000 images put together to paint the history of the iconic Ferrari. The Opus includes two metre long gatefold images as well as exclusive interviews with the motorsport legends who were part of Ferrari's unique history. The Ferrari Opus (diamante edition) traces the company's history from the time of its inception. With only one book being printed per country, India stands on number 63. The contributors to the book include legendary portrait photographer Rankin, Enzo Ferrari's biographer Leo Turrini, famous Ferrari designer Mauro Forgheiri, design guru Stephen Bayley and world champions like Niki Lauda, Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso
SEBI issued Regulations Registration Agency (KRA)
for
Uniform
Know
Your
Client
KYC
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) put forth the regulations for uniform Know Your Client KYC Registration Agency (KRA) on 2 December 2011. The move is expected to benefit investors as it would save them the trouble of repeating the KYC process while investing in various financial products.
The regulator allowed stock exchanges, depositories or any other Self Regulatory Organisation (SRO) to form
wholly-owned subsidiaries that could be registered as a KRA. SEBI will consider applications to grant certificates of initial registration to a wholly owned subsidiary of a recognised stock exchange that have a nation-wide network of trading terminals, a wholly owned subsidiary of a depository or any other intermediary registered with the Board. The certificates of initial registration of KRA granted under sub-regulation would be valid for a period of five years from the date of its issue to the applicant. What is KRA? A KRA will make life simpler for investors who have to go through the entire KYC procedures each time they want
to register with a new broker or a fund house. The role of a KRA will involve completion of the KYC procedures for a client and make it available to all capital market intermediaries that avail of its services. If there is more than one KRA, inter-operability will have to be put in place to avoid duplicacy. The KRA will be required to maintain a net worth of at least R25 crore on a continuous basis.
SEBI mentioned that the KRA will be responsible for storing, safeguarding and retrieving the KYC documents and it will also have to retain the original KYC documents of the client, in both physical and electronic form. KRAs have the responsibility to appoint a compliance officer who shall be responsible for monitoring the compliance of the Act, rules and regulations, notifications, guidelines and instructions issued by the board or the
central government and for redressal of clients grievances. The compliance officer will immediately and independently report to the Sebi board any non-compliance observed by him.
The Artist judged the Best Picture at 2011 New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Current Affairs Category: Awards | Honours, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
The 2011 New York Film Critics Circle Awards announced its winners on 29 November on its official Twitter feed. The the black-and-white silent movie The Artist won the top prize of Best Picture. Michel Hazanavicius who directed The Artist was named the Best Director. John Anderson, the chairman of New York Film Critics Circle applauded The Artist calling it a celebration of cinema.
Meryl Streep was dubbed the Best Actress for her portrayal of the former female English Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. It was the fourth time she won the title from NYFCC. The Best Actor went to Brad Pitt who won the title for his roles as a baseball coach in Moneyball and as Mr. O'Brien in The Tree of Life.
Jessica Chastain was named the Best Supporting Actress for her roles in Tree of Life,The Help as well as Take Shelter. Albert Brooks won the Best Supporting Actor title for starring in Drive.
The special award for 2011was given to the Raoul Ruiz, Chilean filmmaker who made over 100 movies and passed away on 19 August 2011 at the age of 70.
Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin won best screenplay for Moneyballl while Emmanuel Lubezki won best cinematography for his work on The Tree of Life. About NYFCC The NYFCC, which was founded in 1935, consists of acclaimed New York-based critics who meet annually to vote on the best movies and actors of the year. This was the first time the group announced its winners on Twitter . In 2010 they had picked Facebook film The Social Network as the Best Picture.
In Assam, the Militant Outfit HPC-D declared a Unilateral Ceasefire

Current Affairs Category: State, Other States, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
In Assam, the militant outfit Mar Peoples Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) on 2 December 2011 declared a unilateral ceasefire paving the way for peace talks with the Government. The outfit announced this before their cadres somewhere in a dense forest near the district headquarter of Halflong.
The step was taken in response to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogois
latest appeal to the militant outfits of the North-East to shun violence and to come for negotiations. The outfit announced it would not indulge in any kind of violence any more in the interest of creating a congenial atmosphere for the peace talks.
RBI approved Creation of Separate Category of Non-banking Financial Companies for MFI Sector
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 2 December 2011 approved the creation of a separate category of nonbanking financial companies for the microfinance institution (MFI) sector. The central bank also specified that such institutions need to have a minimum net owned fund of Rs 5 crore. An RBI-appointed panel headed by YH Malegam had earlier recommended setting up of a special category of
NBFCs operating in the micro finance sector. The panel had suggested a minimum net worth of 15 crore for an entity to qualify as an NBFC-MFI.
The RBI highlighted that the NBFC-MFIs should have a minimum net worth of Rs 5 crore. However, for those operating in the North-Eastern states, the slab was kept at Rs 2 crore.
The RBI had in its second quarter policy review in October 2011 approved of setting up of this category of specialised financial companies which would cater to low-income groups.
Standard and Poors (S&P) assigned Stable Outlook to 10 Indian Banks

Current Affairs Category: Corporate, News , December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
Credit rating agency Standard and Poors (S&P) assigned stable outlook to 10 Indian banks and kept their long term and short-term issuer credit rating (ICR) at BBB- and A-3. As per S&Ps ratings definition, BBB- denotes a long-term issue rating that exhibits adequate protection parameters but shows a weakened capacity to meet obligations under adverse economic conditions. A-3 on the other hand is a short-term issue rating that exhibits adequate protection parameters but shows a weakened capacity to meet obligations under adverse economic conditions. Out of the top four Indian Banks in the list, S&P rated HDFC Bank highest on standalone credit profile (SACP) and offered it BBB+ while giving a BBB- to Axis Bank. State Bank of India (SBI) and ICICI Bank were assigned BBB. HDFC Banks business position was rated as strong, its capital and earnings and risk position were rated adequate, and its funding and liquidity position was concluded to be above average and strong. Customer deposits represent more than 90 per cent of HDFCs funding base. Its savings and current deposits, which are inherently low cost and stable, have been stable at about 50 per cent of the banks deposit base. Also HDFCs liquidity ratios were found to be noticeably stronger compared to the other players.
Flagship Explorer Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) announced Two Significant Oil Discoveries
State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) on 1 December 2011 announced two significant oil discoveries. ONGC discovered oil in North Kadi area of Gujarats Mehsana district, which is the companys major production
centre. The discovery is a new layer, called play in industry parlance, and will add to the companys output. ONGC also made another strike in the Panna area, 40 km from its Mumbai offshore field. This discovery will make incremental addition to the output from a cluster that the company is developing.
ONGC is to invest Rs 25000 crore in bringing to production nearly a dozen marginal oil and gas fields by 2014. Projects in pipeline The 14 projects of ONGC entailed an investment of Rs 27305 crore. The Rs 506.22-crore development of D-1 field, Rs 219.77 crore SB-11 development and Rs 1,688.38 crore investment in development of Vasai East in western offshore have already been completed. Another 11 projects entailing an investment of Rs 24890 crore are under various stages of implementation.
The biggest among the projects is B-193 Cluster development at the cost of Rs 5633.44 crore which would yield 5.57 million tonnes of oil and 5.12 billion cubic metres of gas in 15 years. The project is scheduled to be completed by June 2012.
Another Rs 3,241.03 crore is being spent on Cluster-7 development by March 2013 to produced 9.73 million tonnes of oil and 4.52 billion cubic metres of gas over a period of 16 years.
ONGC is also investing Rs 3,195.16 crore in producing 6.13 million cubic metres of condensate and 15.14 bcm of gas from C-Series field by 2022-23. Rs 2218.01 crore is being investment in integrated development of G-1 and GS-15 fields in for producing 0.982 million tons of oil and 5.92 bcm of gas over 15 years period beginning May 2012.
ONGC is to invest Rs 2920.82 crore in producing 2.46 million tonnes of oil and 6.56 bcm of gas from B-22 Cluster,
Rs 2,523 crore in WO-15 Cluster development for 2.83 million tonnes of oil and 8.58 bcm of gas and 2,163.65 crore in additional development of D-1 field.
SAIL Chairman C.S. Verma presented CEO of the Year Award by Minister of State for Road Transport
Current Affairs Category: Corporate, News , December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
SAIL chairman C.S. Verma was conferred CEO of the Year award under public sector category by Minister of State for Road Transport Tushar Chaudhary in New Delhi on 2 December 2011. The award was presented to Verma in recognition of his contributions in the area of supply chain management. The ceremony was organised as part of Natcom 2011, a convention organised by IIMM with the theme: Achieving Inclusive and Sustainable Growth Role of Supply Chains. CEO of the Year award has been instituted by the Indian Institute of Materials Management.
Food-price Inflation Slowed to 8 per cent in the Week Ended 19 November 2011
Accordin to governemnts data released on 1 December 2011, food-price inflation slowed to 8 per cent in the week ended 19 November 2011 from 9.01 per cent a week ended 12 November. Slower growth in food prices will likely help headline inflation to settle between 6 and 7 per cent before the end of the financial year in March 2012. Prices of vegetable and cereals slowed but costs of fruits, milk, eggs, fish and meat did dip. the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) published on 1 December 2011 showed that vegetables were 5.13 per cent dearer year-on-year during the week under review. Onions became cheaper by 40.65 per cent year-on-year in the week ended 19 November, while potato prices were down by 10.98 per cent. Inflation for cereals dropped 0.89 percentage points to 1.97 per cent. Wheat prices were 4.71 per cent cheaper. Rice was 2.52 per cent dearer, its inflation having been 2.75 per cent in the previous week. Fruits price however rose to 2.39 per cent and milk 0.95 per cent. Prices of eggs, meat and fish accelerated 1.57 per cent over the previous week
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved Phase-3 of Yamuna Action Plan

Current Affairs Category: Environment | Ecology, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 1 December 2011 approved 1656 crore rupees scheme for phase-3 of Yamuna Action plan. Under this project, the sewage treatment plants situated in Kondli, Rithala and Okhla will be rehabilitated. At present, the project is operational in 21 cities of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana. The Indian government will execute the phase-3 of Yamuna Action Plan with help from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). JICA is providing financial help since 1993.
help improve the water quality of Yamuna. This plant will have a capacity of holding 13.6 crore liter of water on a daily basis. The project will be implemented by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) under the supervision of the department of Urban Development, Delhi government
A new sewage treatment plant in Okhla will be set up by the government under this project. The new plant will
President Pratibha Patil constituted a Committee to increase the Productivity of Agriculture Sector
Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
Current Affairs Category: Committees | Commissions, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current
President Pratibha Devisingh Patil constituted a 12-member committee to study and recommend measures for increasing productivity, profitability and sustainability of the agriculture sector in India. The committee will work under the Chairmanship of Governor of Punjab and Rajasthan, Shivraj Patil.
The committee will deliberate on the need for formulating requisite policy initiatives and legislative measures and prospects for investment in the agriculture and allied sectors among others. The Committee will also discuss on measures for transfer of innovations and cutting- edge technologies to the farm and allied sectors.
CCEA approved a Proposal for Additional Funds under the Interest Subsidy Scheme
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a proposal for additional funds under the interest subsidy scheme to the tune of over 2000 crore rupees. This scheme has been extended for the small and medium enterprises until March 2012. It also covers handicrafts, handloom and carpet sector.
Approximately, 1654 crore rupees were released by the Reserve Bank of India as the interest subsidy claims so
far. In another decision, the CCEA approved 1645 crore rupees proposal by Japan International Cooperation Agency, assisted Yamuna Action Plan Phase III project at Delhi.
The European Union slapped Increased Sanctions on Syria

The European Union slapped increased sanctions on Syria over continuing violence. International pressure is mounting on Syria to comply with the measures as per the Arab League's peace plan. European Union banned the purchase of Syrian bonds and the sale of surveillance software to the Syrian government. It also stopped EU companies from participating in oil or power projects in Syria. Arab League identified a list of 17 powerful people
from Syria against whom the travel bans have been issued. These include the Syrian defence and the interior ministers. Meanwhile, the report released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that more than 4000 people were killed in the crackdown on anti-government protesters in Syria.
Delhi state Assembly passed the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2011
Current Affairs Category: State, Delhi, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
The Delhi Assembly on 1 December 2011 passed the Delhi Municipal Corporation, MCD (Amendment) Bill -2011 to trifurcate the Civic body with voice vote. The move will help provide better amenities in the city. As per the bill, the MCD, which came into existence on 7 April 1958 under an Act of Parliament, will be divided into North, South and East Delhi municipal corporations and 50 per cent of total two hundred and seventy-two seats will be reserved for women as against current 33 per cent.
United Kingdom (UK) shut down the Iranian Embassy in London

Current Affairs Category: International | World, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
The United Kingdom shut down the Iranian embassy in London and expelled all its staff in retaliation to the storming of the British diplomatic compound by an angry mob. They were asked to leave the UK within 48 hours. The British government also shut its embassy in Iran and evacuated the staff.
France and Germany have both recalled their ambassadors to Iran for consultations following the attack on the U.K. embassy in Tehran.
Scientists designed a Network Proxy to cut the Power Consumption of 3G Smart Phones
Current Affairs Category: Science | Technology, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
A team at Aalto University in Finland claimed to have designed a network proxy, which can cut the power consumption of 3G smart phones up to 74%. The device improves performance and significantly reduces power usage by serving as a middleman for mobile devices to connect to the internet and managing the most of the data transfer for the smart phone. This new
device is valuable in developing countries like India because it provides more effective internet access to a much larger number of people.
The Parliament of Bangladesh approved Hindu Property Restoration Act

The Bangladeshi Parliament on 29 November 2011 passed a landmark bill, the Vested Properties Return (Amendment) Bill 2011 that will enable Hindus to reclaim their property taken over by the government and individuals. The land was taken under a controversial law enacted in the 1960s. It was implemented by the East Pakistan administration before Bangladesh became independent in 1971.
The law was known as the Enemy Property Act initially and it allowed the authorities to confiscate land and buildings of Hindus who migrated to India. The act was renamed as the Vested Properties Act after independence. As per the law, property belonging to millions of Hindus who fled to India was taken over. The law came into effect in 1965 during Indo-Pak war
IRDA launched Two Online Initiatives to Safeguard the Interest of Insurance-seekers

Current Affairs Category: December 2011 Current Affairs, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011
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The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) announced two online initiatives to safeguard the interest of insurance-seekers. The first of the two online initiatives is the extensive guidelines pertainining to web aggregators and the second one relates to the launch of a mobile application to compare unitlinked insurance policies (ULIPS) from various companies and their premium rates. Guidelines to web aggregators Web aggregators are sites like policybazaar.com, i-save.com, medimanage.com and click2insure.in that provide information on insurance products from various companies. The information so collated can help insuranceseekers compare premium rates for life, health, travel and motor insurance. Most portals just generate leads and not all offer the option to purchase a product online.
However, some do facilitate an online buying process to the extent possible, usually by directing the insurance-
seekers to the companies website. However, aggregators often sell visitors personal information to several insurers, resulting in customers being bombarded with sales calls from the companies or their agents. IRDA
therefore directed the aggregators not to pass visitors information on to companies on the sites home page. To ensure that aggregators do no indulge in promoting products, the insurance regulator has decreed that they cannot display ratings, rankings, endorsements or bestsellers of insurance products on their websites. Similarly, they have been barred from commenting on insurers or their products.
In addition, aggregators will from here on be required to highlight links to the product comparison charts and tables for each category of products covered by them. Items to be displayed include premiums quoted by each insurer as per age and other personal details, policy and premium term, sum assured, default underwriting requirements such as medical examination, diagnostics, etc, and key features of the product chosen. The diktat also puts the onus of safeguarding and securing the entire process on the aggregators. Launch of the mobile application The launch of the mobile application, is intended to help insurance-seekers compare ULIPs launched after 1 September 2010. The tool, which works on Android, iPhone, Nokia and Blackberry platforms, has been termed a mobile application and can be accessed even via a personal computer.
Users can search products for comparison through three options By company, Policy type and Keywords. Up to
three products can be selected at a time for comparison, with the criteria listed being benefits offered, premiumpaying term, tenure, charges and so on.
Global HIV/AIDS Response Epidemic Update released by the World Health Organisation
According to the UNAIDS report, drafted jointly with the UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO) and released on 30 November 2011, India houses half of Asia's HIV patients and is way ahead of China in disease
burden. India also featured in the list of 22 countries prioritised for preventing mother to child transmission infection.
The report was titled- Global HIV/AIDS response Epidemic update and health sector progress towards universal access: progress report 2011.
About 48 lakh people were living with HIV in Asia in 2010 and nearly half of them , 49 per cent were found to be living in India. The percentage of pregnant women who tested positive for HIV infection in India also rose from 2 per cent in 2005 t0 23 per cent in 2010. Seven Asian countries report an estimated 100000 or more people living with HIV in 2009, collectively accounting for more than 90 per cent of people with HIV in the region. India topped the list followed by China, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam, though the highest prevalence rate, one per cent, was observed only in Thailand.
In Asia, the rate of HIV transmission appeared to slowdown. The estimated 360000 people who were newly infected with HIV in Asia in 2010 were considerably fewer than the 450000 estimated for 2001. Traditional risk groups: The report noted that the HIV epidemic is being stabilised among female sex workers and traditional risk groups in the six high-prevalence States including Karnataka. However the epidemics among men who have sex with men was found to be growing across the region including India.
High prevalence: High prevalence, between 8 and 32 per cent of the disease was found among surveyed men who have sex with men in many Asian cities. The UNAIDS report quoted a study according to which the prevalence is 18 per cent in South India. The report also says that 35 per cent of children with HIV infection were receiving anti-retroviral therapy treatment.
A 2009 survey had showed that HIV prevalence of 4.6 per cent among female sex workers in Mumbai and Thane
and 24 per cent among street-based sex workers. The prevalence could be as high as 29 per cent among their brothel-based counterparts in some districts of Maharashtra. Prevention programmes: Several prevention programmes was put to work in India. One such programme in Karnataka was associated with a drop in HIV prevalence from 25 per cent to 13 per cent among female sex workers in three selected districts between 2004 and 2009. A similar programme brought down the prevalence from 1.4 per cent to 0.8 per cent among young antenatal clinic
attendees between 2004 and2008 in 18 districts. Another intervention programme in Mumbai and Thane led to a decline from 45 per cent HIV prevalence in 2004 to 13 per cent in 2010 among brothel-based sex workers. HIV/AIDS in Europe and Asia A report titled HIV/AIDS surveillance in Europe 2010 noted a 2.5-fold increase in the total number of HIV infections reported in Europe since 20011.
500000 cases were diagnosed in the Russian Federation and almost 180000 AIDS cases were diagnosed in
countries with no HIV surveillance data from before 20022004 (France, Italy and Spain). The total cumulative number of people diagnosed with HIV in the Region was about 1.4 million.
In eastern Europe and central Asia, 43% of the new cases reported in 2010 were in people who inject drugs, slightly less than the 48% in people infected through heterosexual contact. In recent years, eastern countries experienced an increasing proportion of heterosexually transmitted HIV cases, which are likely to be associated with sexual transmission from drug injectors.
In the western part of the Region, the epidemic remains concentrated among men who have sex with men (accounting for 39% of newly diagnosed cases in 2010) and migrants from countries with generalized epidemics (accounting for at least a third of heterosexually acquired infections). The estimated number of people dying from AIDS-related causes in eastern Europe and central Asia increased more than 10-fold between 2001 and 2010. Challenge to the HIV response in Europe The biggest challenge to the HIV response in Europe lies in increasing access to effective and life-saving
treatment, especially in eastern Europe and central Asia, where only 23% of those believed to need antiretroviral treatment were receiving it in 2010. This is well below the global average of 47% for low- and middle-income countries.
To reduce mother-to-child transmission, the European Region had a rate of 88% coverage with antiretrovirals for HIV-positive pregnant women in 2010, surpassing the United Nations target (80%) and the global average for low- and middle-income countries (59%). European Action Plan Faced with this alarming rise, the 53 Member States in the Region endorsed the new European Action Plan for HIV/AIDS 20122015.
The new European Action Plan for HIV/AIDS 20122015, adopted in September 2011 by the 53 countries in the
WHO European Region and officially released on 30 November 2011, is an urgent call for action on this public health challenge.The European Action Plan represents an excellent roadmap for national strategies and responses.
Governments Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) reduced Petrol Prices by Rs 0.78 per litre
The governments three oil marketing companies (OMCs) on 29 November 2011 cut petrol prices by Rs 0.78 per litre. It would now cost Rs 65.64 in Delhi against Rs 66.34 earlier. Earlier in November 2011 there was a cut of Rs 3.2 per cent in petrol prices.
Losses on retail sale of diesel, kerosene and LPG was moved up.The petrol cut is the second since the fuels price was decontrolled in June 2010. The price of aviation turbine fuel was raised by 3.7 per cent, to Rs 64,622 per kl (Delhi). Motor spirit or petrol prices internationally moved down significantly from $116 per barrel to $109 (in the current
fortnight), while the exchange rate weakened further from Rs 49.32 to Rs 51.50 per dollar. The combined impact resulted in an over-recovery (margin) of Rs 0.65 per litr. Price of petrol is callculated on the basis of its trade parity (80 per cent import price weight and 20 per cent export price weight) for the previous fortnight. Petrol prices have moved up by nearly 39 per cent since decontrol. During the same period, the price of diesel, still regulated, increased by just 7.37 per cent, to Rs 40.91 per litre. Under-recovery or revenue loss on diesel had moved up from Rs 10.17 to Rs 12.03 per litre and on kerosene from Rs 25.66 to Rs 28.56 per litre. On domestic LPG, the loss widened from Rs 260.50 to Rs 286.50 per cylinder. Petrol has a 1.09 per cent weighting in the overall wholesale price index basket and a price cut by Rs 1.80 a litre essentially implies easing of headline inflation by 0.27 percentage point.
SEBI Investor Protection & Education Fund to be headed by KV Kamath

Current Affairs Category: Committees | Commissions, News Capsule, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on 23 November 2011 constituted advisory committee for SEBI Investor Protection and Education Fund. The committee consist of eight member. The committee is to be headed by Infosys chiarman KV Kamath. The eight-member committee under the ICICI Bank chairman comprises five external members and three SEBI officers. The eight-member panel also consists of Abraham Koshy, professor at IIM Ahmedabad; Jayashree Vyas, MD, Shri Mahila SEWA Sahkari Bank and Ramesh Narayan, communications consultant, among others. SEBIs ED Ananta Barua and chief general managers GP Garg and VS Sundaresan will represent the regulator.
The committee will recommend investor education and protection activities that may be undertaken directly by
the board, or through any other agency, for utilisation of the SEBI Investor Protection and Education Fund for the purposes stated in the SEBI regulations, 2009. The committee will look at investor education and protection activities that SEBI could undertake directly or through any other agency.
According to the norms for SEBI IPEF, the fund can be also be used to aid investor associations, recognised by the regulator as well as undertake legal proceedings in the interest of investors in securities that are listed or proposed to be listed. It can also be used for awareness programmes and educational activities.
Private Sector Lender HDFC Bank launched Premium Credit cards Exclusively for Women
Current Affairs Category: Corporate, December 2011 Current Affairs, New Launch, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
Private sector lender HDFC Bank launched premium credit cards exclusively for women on 30 November 2011. HDFC expects to add 4 million credit card customers in the next two years. The bank has about six million credit card customers. Of this, 1.5 million customers are women.
The card Solitaire introduced exclusively for women has a credit limit of up to 2 lakh. The bank also launched a special card, Solitaire Premium, with a credit limit of Rs 5 lakh for women. Solitaire will provide unmatched lifestyle offers, its wellness aspects will help women take holistic care of themselves in the midst of a busy career.
Solitaire is expected to fulfil a long-standing need of women who are pursuing a successful career, travelling the world and are at the forefront of the global consumption story. The bank, which is the biggest issuer of credit cards in the country decided to come out with new credit card products including co-branded card every quarter.
India and Nepal signed Revised DTAA (Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement)
India and Nepal on 27 November 2011 signed a revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA). This will help prevent tax evasion and facilitate exchange of information on banking between the two countries. DTAA, will allow Indian traders and investors to enjoy tax relaxation in India once they pay taxes in Nepal. The agreement is also likely to increase confidence of investors and help Nepal attract more investment from India.
The revised DTAA between India and Nepal will replace an earlier agreement signed between India and Nepal in 1987.
Important Information
Indian firms are the biggest investors in Nepal. They account for about 47.5 per cent of total approved FDIs (Foreign Direct Investments). India is the biggest source of foreign investments in Nepal and its largest trading partner. However, Nepal accounts for only 0.44 per cent of India's total trade.
The bilateral trade between India and Nepal increased from USD 1.98 billion US dollars in 2009-10 to around 2.70 billion US dollars in 2010-11, which is an increase of 37 per cent.
Manipur decided to Extend the Disturbed Area Status for another One Year
In Manipur, Cabinet on 29 November 2011 decided to extend the Disturbed Area Status for another one year in the state except the seven assembly constituencies under the Imphal Municipal Area where the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act was already withdrawn.The Cabinet reviewed the prevailing situation in the state. The Cabinet meeting also discussed reports on the Police, Assam Rifles and Army regarding the law and order situation in Manipur.
A Team of Scientists identified Bone marrow Cancer Genes

Scientists identified genes that can increase a persons risk of developing multiple myeloma by 30 percent. Multiple myeloma is an aggressive form of bone marrow. A team at the Institute of Cancer Research used a technique known as genome wide association study to scan the DNA of 1675 patients with multiple myeloma. When results were compared, scientists found that two regions of the DNA that were more common in people with multiple myeloma and were therefore linked to a higher chance of developing the disease. Multiple myeloma is also known as plasma cell myeloma or Kahler's disease. It is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell responsible for the production of antibodies.
Soviet Dictator Joseph Stalins Daughter, Lana Peters died of Colon Cancer in Wisconsin
Current Affairs Category: News Capsule, Person Died, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
Soviet dictator Joseph Stalins only daughter, Lana Peters, who had defected to the US while in India at the height of the Cold War died on 22 November 2011 in Wisconsin. At her birth, on 28 February 1926 she was named
Svetlana Stalina, the only daughter and last surviving child of the brutal Soviet tyrant Josef Stalin. After Stalin died in 1953, she took her mothers last name, Alliluyeva. In 1970, after her defection and an American marriage, she became and remained Lana Peters.
Life of Joseph Stalins only daughter, Lana Peters She graduated from Moscow University in 1949 with history. She initially workied as a teacher and translator. Her defection in 1967 to the US was partly motivated, among other things, by the poor treatment by Soviet
authorities of Indian communist Brijesh Singh, with whom she had a relationship. She left the Soviet Union in 1966 for India, where she planned to leave the ashes of Singh who had died in the USSR. Instead of returning to her country, she walked unannounced into the US embassy in New Delhi and asked for political asylum.
Upon reaching the US in April 1967 she burned her passport, denouncing communism and her father, whom she called a moral and spiritual monster.
She took the name Lana Peters upon marrying architect William Wesley Peters in the US. Peters became a United States citizen in 1978. She wrote four books, including two best-selling memoirs. Her first memoir, Twenty Letters to a Friend, was published in 1967 and made more than $2.5m (1.6m). In 1969 she recounted her journey from the Soviet Union in a second memoir, Only One Year.
She returned to the Soviet Union briefly in 1984, renouncing the US. However she left again for Georgia after her
feud with relatives. During the latter years, she constantly moved from America to England, then to France, then back to America, gradually fading from the public eye. Other famous exiles from USSR: Igor Gouzenko -spy, 1945, Canada; Rudolf Nureyev - ballet star, 1961, France; Anatoly Golitsyn - KGB officer, 1961, Finland; Alexander Solzhenitsyn - dissident writer, 1974, expelled to US; Natan Sharansky, human rights activist - 1986, Israel
Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar & presented for Performance Year 2009

National
Safety
Awards
Current Affairs Category: Awards | Honours, November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs
Union Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun Kharge presented the Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar and National Safety awards for the performance year 2009 at a function in New Delhi. For the performance year 2009, the total number of National Safety Awards were 123 (72 winners and 51 runners-up).
Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar (VRP) is awarded in recognition of outstanding suggestions given by a worker or group of workers and implemented by the management during the previous calendar year (Performance year) that result in improvement in quality, productivity and working conditions such as safety, health and environmental conservations in the industrial undertakings where Suggestion Schemes are in operations.
The financial savings, due to adopted and implemented suggestions of the winning applications of the VRP in 2009 was 1082.85 crores recurring and 94.83 crores non-recurring in Indian currency and 21.73 crores recurring & 29.59 crores nonrecurring in Foreign Exchange.
VRP is awarded in the form of cash prize and a certificate of merit in three classes- Class A 5 winners win Rs. 75000 each, Class B Eight winners win Rs. 50000 each and Class C 15 winners win Rs. 25000.
For 2009 performance, 28 puraskars Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar were shared by 117 winners. National Safety Awards
The National Safety Awards is given in recognition of outstanding safety performance of industrial establishments, construction sites, ports and installations under AERB to stimulate and maintain the interests of both the management and the workers in accident prevention programmes.
For the performance year 2009, the total number of National Safety Awards were 123 (72 winners and 51 runners-up). NSA are given under twelve schemes, out of which ten are meant for Factories/Construction sites/Installations
under AERB and two are for Ports. Under each award, a Shield and a Certificate of Merit is given to each of the Award Winners and Runners-up. The establishments are classified in different schemes on the basis of working of highest man-hours.
The criteria for presentation of these awards is: Lowest average frequency rate over a period of three
consecutive years ending in the Performance year as compared to the National Average for that group of industries; Accident Free year based on man-hours worked during the contest year. How the awardees are selected The Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar (VRP), previously known as Shram Veer National Awards as well as the
National Safety Awards (NSA) was instituted by the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment in 1965. The Awards Schemes are operated by the Technical Wing of the Ministry, namely, the Directorate General Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI), Mumbai.
The applications for Viswakarma Rashtriya Puraskar (VRP) & National Safety Awards (NSA) from eligible applicants are invited every year. For VRP, the management is required to send the application on behalf of the workers and for NSA the management directly applies for awards under each scheme. The applications received for VRP as well as NSA are then adjudged by a Tripartite Awards Committee constituted by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, comprising of representatives from Employers organizations, Employees Organisations and Central/State Governments.
Besides the Tripartite representation, experts in the Committee from renowned institutions, Universities and Industries in the field of Safety, Health, Environment, Productivity and Quality also judge the applications
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, National | India, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
Nagas lifted Economic Blockade from Manipur after 121 Days
The United Naga Council (UNC) on 29 November 2011 decided to lift the economic blockade from Manipur following assurance from Union home affairs minister P Chidambaram. The UNC was spearheading the blockade
on the two national highways since 21Aug 2011 to counter the economic blockade launched by the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) on Aug 1. SHDDC is demanding conversion of the Kuki tribal majority Sadar Hills area into a district.
The SHDDC lifted the blockade on two highways; Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati (NH39) and Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar
(NH53) on the 92nd day after the Manipur state government agreed to their demand of creating a district. The Nagas are against this move
The World's First Test Tube Eld's Deer born at Khao Kheow Zoo in Thailand
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Places in News, News Capsule, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
The first Elds deer was born via in vitro fertilization in Thailand. The researchers at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) collected eggs, inseminated in vitro with thawed semen to produce embryos and transferred the embryos to a surrogate mother. As a result, a fawn was born on 17 October 2011 at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand. The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute plays a key role in the Smithsonians global efforts to conserve species and train future generations of conservationists. Eld's Deer is also known as the Thamin or Brow-antlered Deer. It is an endangered species of deer indigenous to southeastern Asia
Indian Refiners Processed 2.8% Less Oil in October 2011, the 1st Decline since November 2010
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
According to government data released on 25 Novevember 2011, Indian refiners processed 2.8 percent less oil in October 2011 from a year ago, the first decline since November 2010. The country's crude oil output in October declined 0.9 percent to about 760000 bpd. The annual rate of growth declined in October due to maintenance shutdown at refiners of Indian Oil Corp, Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals and Essar Oil. Units at IOC's 160000 Mathura plant in northern India were shut for maintenance in October 2011.
Refiners processed about 3.12 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil in october as against 3.10 million bpd in September, when crude processing was up an annual 4.4 percent. Output at Reliance's bigger 660000 bpd plant was up 9.6 percent in october. Reliance Industries, whose two refineries at Jamnagar in western Gujarat state account for about a third of India's refining capacity, does not report data for its 580000 bpd export-focused plant to the government. The production of Essar Vadinar refinery, also in Gujarat, declined 79.4 percent. Essar shut its refinery in midSeptember to raise capacity to 375000 bpd. The plant resumed operations on 24 Oct 2011 while a crude unit at MRPL's plant came back online in mid-October.
Natural gas output declined 7.4 percent to about 4.03 billion cubic metres in October from a year ago as
production from the Reliance-operated D6 block in the east coast declined after touching about 60 million cubic metres per day in 2010.
However it must be noted that crude processing by the 120000 bpd Bina refinery in central India, which came
onstream earlier in 2011 was not included in the government data. India, the world's fourth-biggest crude importer, produces only a fraction of its overall needs. India's oil output is expected to rise an annual 1.3 percent to 763800 bpd in fiscal year 2011-12, while natural gas production is likely to move down to 51.68 billion cubic meters
British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC, James Murdoch re-elected as Chairman of the Group
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Charge | Discharge, Corporate,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC chairman James Murdoch was re-elected on 29 November 2011 in the companys annual general meeting. He was re-elected to the position of chairman though he faced a powerful protest vote from the satellite-TV company's independent shareholders. News Corp., run by James's father, Rupert Murdoch, owns 39.1% of BSkyB.
British Sky Broadcasting Group comprises film and television production as well as newspaper publishing and other activities. Accounting for all votes cast, Murdoch was supported by 76.9% of shareholders, while 17.8% opposed him and 7.3% of votes cast were withheld. 31.4% of votes were cast against the Murdoch at BSkyB's annual meeting in London, while 12.9% were withheld. That effectively amounts to a protest vote in which more than 44% of the voted independent shares withheld their support from James Murdoch.
He won re-election primarily because the Murdoch family and Saudi investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal together control nearly half the voting shares. The Scandal News Corporation, parent company of News International, owns 39 per cent of BSkyB and its multi-million pound bid to acquire the remaining 61 per cent was derailed earlier in 2011 by the hacking controversy. News Corp, which owns 39 per cent of BSkyB, is also the parent company of News International (NI), of which Murdoch is the chairman.
Key shareholders had voted against James Murdoch because of his links with the News of the World phonehacking scandal.
The News of the World had allegedly resorted to phone hacking and other illegal or unethical reporting tactics. U.K. police is currently probing the phone hacking and other wrongdoing related to the News of the World.
Delhi State Government launched Kishori Scheme for Adolescent Girls

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, State, Delhi, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011
Delhi state government on 28 November 2011 launched Kishori Scheme under which sanitary napkins would be distributed to adolescent girls. Delhi becomes the first state in India to reach out to as many as 7.5 lakh girls with this scheme, which aims to promote menstrual hygiene among these girls. Under the Kishori Scheme, sanitary scheme will be provided to girls every month in their school.
The total expenditure on the scheme would be 1.05 crore rupees. The scheme would be implemented in 729 schools from 1 December 2011 and it would cover girls studying from class VI to class XII.
Eminent Assamese Litterateur and Jnanpith Award Winner, Indira Goswami died in Guwahati
Current Affairs Category: Topics for Bank PO | Clerk Exam 2011, November 2011 Current Affairs, Hot Topics, Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011
Eminent Assamese litterateur and Jnanpith award winner, Indira Goswami, popularly known as Mamoni Raisom Goswami passed away in Guwahati on 29 November 2011. Dr. Goswami authored several bestseller Assamese novels and short story collections in her life time. She was also instrumental in initiating peace talks between the government and insurgent United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). Work of Indira Goswami Born in 1942, Goswami was encouraged by Kirti Nath Hazarika who published her first short stories in a literary journal he edited. At 20, she published her first collection of short stories Chinaki Morom. Goswami had served as a professor of modern Indian languages at Delhi University. Classics such as The Pages
Stained with Blood and The Moth Eaten Howdah of a Tusker were written during her stint in Delhi University. Goswami was an expert in Ramayani studies. Goswami authored several award winning books which include Datal Hathir Uwe Khowa, Neelakantha Braja, Mamore Dhora Tarowal, Ahiron, Chenabor Srot, Dasarathir Khoj, Tej Aru Dhulire Dhusaritha Prishta, Udaybhanur
Charitra, Chhinmastar Manuhto and her autobiography Adha Lekha Dastavej. Her treatise Ramayana from Ganga to Brahmaputra is considered a literary masterpiece. Awards she received She won the Sahitya Akademi Award for her powerful novel Mamare Dhara Tarowal Aru Dukhan Upanyasa in 1982
and the Jnanpith Award in 2000. She was also a recipient of the Katha Award, the Karnataka Sangha Sammam, the Manas Chatuechati Samiti Samman, the Kamal Kumari Foundation National Awards, the Sauhardya award and the Bhart Nirman award.
She was India's first Principal Prince Claus Laureate in 2008.
Indira Goswami as peace maker Dr. Goswami in 2004 mediated between the Centre and the ULFA and succeeded in convincing both the
government and the ULFA to come forward for negotiations. Her initiative led to the formation of the Peoples' Consultative Group (PCG) by the ULFA to prepare the ground for peace talks. She had prepared ground for talks between the two sides. She had acted as the sole mediator between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, her former colleague at Delhi University, and the ULFA leadership. She had prepared and submitted the first draft peace proposal to Singh.
Later, she had played a key role when the Sanmilta Jatiya Abhbartan, an umbrella body of civil society organisations of Assam, facilitated the resumption of dialogue between the ULFA and the Centre.
Justice M. Karpaga Vinayagam was reappointed Chairperson of Appellate Tribunal

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Person Appointed, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
Justice M. Karpaga Vinayagam was in November 2011 reappointed chairperson of the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity, Petroleum and Natural Gas on the recommendations of Chief Justice of India S.H. Kapadia. Justice Karpaga Vinayagam had first assumed office on 14 November 2008. He will serve in the capacity of chairperson of the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity, Petroleum and Natural Gas for three more years in his second term. He is entitled to a monthly salary and such allowances and other benefits as are admissible to a Supreme Court judge.
Under his supervision during his first term, the tribunal had disposed of 1278 appeals/petitions/ interlocutory applications pertaining to consumer interests. He ensured that in all States, the posts of ombudsmen and the grievance redress forums became functional.
He directed the formation of State Regulatory Commissions wherever they did not exist. Justice Karpaga
Vinayagam initiated steps for holding Circuit Bench sittings of the tribunal in Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai for the southern, eastern and western regions. The holding of the Circuit Bench is expected to provide relief to advocates and parties who have represented that it is difficult for them to go to Delhi every time.
Justice Karpaga Vinayagam was a judge of the Madras High Court from 1996 to 2006. Following which he served as Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court till retirement in May 2008
Kuwaits Prime Minister and Cabinet Resigned amid Accusations of Corruption

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, International | World, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
Kuwaits Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah and the Cabinet resigned on 28 November 2011 amid accusations of corruption. Kuwaits emir, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, accepted the resignation. Opposition groups, liberals, Islamists, student associations and rival chiefs organised a mass rally in the Erada Square pressing for their demands. The opposition accused Sheikh Nasser of transferring public funds into his overseas bank accounts. The Kuwaiti Government denied these charges.
Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra.
The Union Government of India Corporation of Delhi) Trifurcation

approved
MCD
(Municipal
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, State, Delhi, 2011 Current Affairs
The Union government of India on 23 November 2011 approved the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2011, thus paved the way for dividing MCD into 3 corporations and to increase the reservation of seats for women to 50 percent from the current 33 percent. MCD is Asias largest civic body. The Bill proposes that MCD( Municipal Corporation of Delhi) should be divided into three separate corporations East Delhi Municipal Corporation, North
Delhi Municipal Corporation, South Delhi Municipal Corporation and 50 per cent reservation for women and three different Mayors for three corporations and setting-up of Directorate of Local Bodies (DLB) which would be headed
by director. As per Amendment Bill, the civic body in East Delhi will have 64 wards, while the new civic bodies in North and South Delhi will have 104 wards each. Both North and South Delhi municipality will have 26 Assembly constituencies each, while the 16 Assembly segments will be covered under the East Delhi municipality.
The municipal wards would remain 272. As per Amendment Bill, the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) would retain supervisory powers that include administrative issues, dissolution of MCD, appointments of Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners and amendments in the Act. At present, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi is the
administrator of the MCD. Lieutenant Governor will only have emergency powers to dissolve the agency in case of any financial or other impropriety after the bill becomes an Act. The Delhi government had sent the proposal to Home Ministry in June 2011 seeking the approval for trifurcation of the MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi). The Home Ministry had in September 2011 returned the proposal to the city government asking it to furnish details on the administrative structure, distribution of funds and the proper coordination among three proposed bodies.
Supreme Court: Awards passed by the Lok Adalat bound to be implemented through a Court Decree
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, National | India, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
The Supreme Court ruled on 28 November 2011 that awards passed by the Lok Adalat either in criminal or civil matters are bound to be implemented through a court decree if parties after reaching a compromise fail to stick to it. The court added that any award passed by the Lok Adalat is deemed to be a decree and will be executed by a court if either parties to the dispute retracts on the agreement reached before the Lok
adalats.
A bench of justices P Sathasivam and J Chelameswar passed the judgement while allowing the appeal filed by a
person named K N Govindan Kutty Menon challenging an Ernakulam civil court judgement that awards passed by the Lok Adalat cannot be enforced by courts. The Kerala High Court had upheld the civil courts judgement, following which Menon appealed in the apex court
Government set up Expert Group to Suggest Restructuring of Power Utilities of Seven States
The UPA-II Government set up an expert group to suggest restructuring of power utilities of seven major States, including Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh with an objective to push through power reforms and unlock the power sector. The government is to initiate a major reform in the shape of open access allowing consumers of above 1 MW to choose their preferred electricity supplier.
The plan for reforms follows a recent government report that revealed that the accumulated losses of the power utilities across the country ran into Rs.1.50-lakh crore and annual losses were around Rs.55.000 crore. Task of the Expert Group The expert group headed by Planning Commission member (Energy) B. K. Chaturvedi is expected to submit its report by March 2012. The group was entrusted with the responsibility to make an assessment of the cumulative losses of distribution utilities of seven major States, including Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. It was
asked to suggest a strategy for capital restructuring of these power discoms (distribution companies), including commitment by other stakeholders like State governments. It will also have to suggest a road map and monitoring mechanism for implementing the above. Open Access Some of the interim recommendations on the issue of open access have already been submitted. Under the recommendations on Open Access, it was suggested that distribution licences should inform all consumers of 1MW and above that they could choose their electricity supplier.
Other suggestions includes: State power utilities should provide power to open access consumers at negotiated
rates and not regulated rates, the State Electricity Regulatory Commissions should specify reasonable tariffs to be charged by distribution companies for providing standby supply, State load despatch centres should be upgraded in a time-bound manner to enable open access and 25 per cent of discretionary allocation of 15 per cent of central public sector undertakings generation must be made available for direct sale to open access consumers.
Roger Federer won Singles Final Tennis Match at Barclays ATP World Tour Finals
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Sports, News, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
Swiss tennis star Roger Federer defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in their singles final tennis match at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, in the O2 arena in London on 27 November 2011. The victory earned him a record sixth ATP World Tour Finals title. The victory also helped him move ahead of Pete Sampras and Ivan Lendl on the list of Tour Finals champions in the 100th final of his career. Federer has won 70 trophies in his career and has also equalled Lendl's record of 39 match wins in the end-ofseason event. Federer received the winners' cheque worth $770,000. For the first time since 2002 he ended the season without a Grand Slam title.
30% Sourcing under FDI in Multi-brand Retail made Mandatory from Indian MSEs Only
The Union government on 28 November 2011 asserted that 30 per cent sourcing under FDI in multi-brand retail has been made mandatory from Indian MSEs only. The government highlighted that the 30 per cent obligation before the global players is limited to India. The governments explanation came amidst protests from the opposition and the micro and small enterprises (MSEs).
The governments assertion however was found to be in total contrast to the note issued earlier which stated that
the 30 per cent sourcing by global retailers can be done from anywhere in the world and is not India-specific. The provision for procurement from small units would not violate the WTO obligations. According to governments previous stand, the overseas players have to do 30 per cent of their sourcing from MSEs which, however, can be done from anywhere in the world and is not India-specific. The only condition placed was that these MSEs must not have more than $1 million [Rs.5 crore] investment in plant and machinery.
Small enterprises had raised concerns over the clause of 30 per cent sourcing from MSEs anywhere in the world,
complaining that it would help the cheap Chinese goods rather than Indians in view of cheaper labour available in China. Union cabinet on 24 November 2011 approved 51 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail. The Cabinet also decided to raise the cap on foreign investment in single-brand retailing to 100 per cent from 51 per cent.
Afghanistan awarded Mining Rights for Three Hajigak Blocks to Indian Consortium led by SAIL
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Corporate, News , 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
Afghanistan on 28 November 2011 awarded mining rights for three of the four Hajigak blocks located at the central Bamyan province to an Indian consortium led by state-run Steel Authority of India (SAIL). The four blocks in Hajigak are estimated to hold more than 1.8 billion tonnes of iron ore with 62% ferrous content. This is the first time an Indian consortium successfully bid for a large mine, reversing a depressing trend of the past where Indian consortiums had failed to acquire overseas resources, losing out mainly to Chinese groups. A seven-member consortium of Indian companies led by Steel Authority of India bagged the rights to mine iron ore at Hajigak in Afghanistan. The Indian consortium, called AFISCO for Afghan Iron and Steel Consortium, includes three state-run firms - SAIL, National Mineral Development Corporation and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam. It also includes four private steelmakers - JSW Steel, JSW Ispat, Jindal Steel and Power and Monnet Ispat. While
SAIL is the largest stakeholder with a 20% holding in the consortium, RINL and NMDC hold 18% each. JSW Steel and Jindal Steel have 16% each. JSW Ispat owns 8% stake, while Monnet Ispat has 4%. The consortium will develop the mines, build a 7-million tonne steel plant and an 800 mw power plant. The Indian syndicate will be allotted coking coal from Shabasha for steelmaking. The rights to a fourth block at the deposit had been won by Canada's Kilo Goldmines Ltd
Public Debt Management Report by Finance Ministry showed Increse in Government's Internal Debt
According to the the quarterly public debt management report released by the Finance Ministry on 28 November 2011, the Indian government's internal debt rose during the second quarter (July-September) of 2011-12. The
government had to pay higher interest to raise funds. The internal debt to GDP ratio increased to 32.3% of GDP during second quarter of 2011-12 from 31.4% in the April-June quarter. The flatter yield curve, indicating small difference between short term and long term rates, made more sense to raise longer tenure funds. The average maturity of outstanding government securities increased to 9.68 years
during the Junuary-September quarter in 2011 from 9.58 years during the October-December quarter of 2010. The bonds maturing in one year also reduced to 4.25% during the second quarter of 2011-12 fiscal from 5.33% in the previous quarter.
As per the report, flat yield curve and market appetite, issuance under shorter maturities was reduced during the quarter taking into consideration rollover risk
Eccentric British Film Director Ken Russell known for making Controversial Films died
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Person Died, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
The acclaimed and eccentric British film director Ken Russell died on 27 November 2011. The director was known for a florid adaptations of classic literature and over-the-top biopics that ranged from perverse to merely provocative. Russell is best known for controversial films including Women In Love and The Devils. Music played a central role in much of his work including The Music Lovers, and Tommy and Lisztomania. About Ken Russell Henry Kenneth Alfred Russell born on 3 July 1927 in England was an English film director, known for his pioneering work in television and film and for his flamboyant and controversial style. He attracted criticism for being obsessed with sexuality and the church.In his famous film The Devils, Vanessa Redgrave played a nun who is vividly tortured. The church and the critics disgusted by the film's excesses and sadomasochism had objected.
He is best known for his Oscar-winning film Women in Love (1969), The Devils (1971), The Who's Tommy (1975), and the science fiction film Altered States (1980). Classical musicians and conductors held him in high regard for his story-driven biopics of various composers, most famously Elgar, Delius, Liszt, Mahler and Tchaikovsky. He had moved into television work after short careers in dance and photography.
His series of documentary Teddy Girl photographs were published in Picture Post magazine in the summer of 1955, and he continued to work as a freelance documentary photographer until 1959. He worked with the BBC from 1959 to 1970 making arts documentaries for Monitor and Omnibus.
Russell's first feature film was French Dressing (1963), a comedy loosely based on Roger Vadim's And God Created Woman.
Russell in 1969 directed what is considered his signature film, Women In Love, an adaptation of D. H. Lawrence's
novel of the same name about two artist sisters living in post-World War I Britain. Glenda Jackson won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in Women In Love. Russell himself was nominated for an Oscar for Best Director for Women in Love. The film was BAFTA-nominated for the costume designs of Russell's first wife, Shirley. Ken Russell (1927-2011) won a BAFTA in 1969 for creative contribution to television
Calcutta Stock Exchange (CSE) launched operations on the National Stock Exchange
The 103-year-old Calcutta Stock Exchange (CSE) launched operations on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) platform on 28 November 2011. The CSE thus became the only stock exchange in India to offer facility to trade on
three trading platforms Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), National Stock Exchange (NSE) and CSE with a single membership. As per the agreement signed with the NSE, CSE trading members will be able to access the trading platform of NSE and trade on the shares listed on the bourse.
CSE members will now be able to enjoy the opportunity to issue contract notes directly. This is special kind of opportunity where the brokers from CSE will go to national platform. Second, the companies which are listed in CSE platform, if they have the compliance, will go to the national platform.
At present, there are 2606 companies listed on the CSE, of which 1550 are listed exclusively on the CSE. Two New Delhi-based companies Tribute Financial Company and Elite Leasing were the most recent companies to have been listed listed on the CSE. CSE's daily turnover stands at around Rs.70 crore presently. CSE was offering BSE trading platform since 2008.
The Calcutta Stock Exchange (CSE) also introduced a Bangla language website in the presence of state Industry
Minister Partha Chatterjee. The brouse declared its decision to fund a Chair at the Calcutta University for conducting studies in financial markets. About Rs.25 lakh was earmarked for this project out of the interest earned from the corpus of Investors Service Fund.
Rajasthan State Government to give Khatedari Rights to 30000 farmers

The Rajasthan state cabinet on 28 November 2011 approved the decision to give khatedari rights to over 30000 farmers occupying the custodian land in Alwar, Sriganganagar, Hanumangarh and Bharatpur. The farmers will have to pay a nominal regularisation fee to get the rights. The lands were vacated mostly by those famers, who left the country during the partition.
Earlier, the farmers were asked to pay 25 percent of the market prices fixed by the district level committee. Now, they would get the khatedari rights on the payment of 2000 rupees for irrigated land and 1000 rupees for other categories of land.
GVK BIO entered into alliance with Moulder Centre for Drug Discovery Research at Temple University
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Corporate, News , 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
Hyderabad-based drug discovery research and development organisation, GVK Biosciences (GVK BIO) on 28 November 2011 entered into an alliance with the Moulder Centre for Drug Discovery Research at Temple University, Philadelphia.
As part of the collaboration, GVK Bio would be responsible for the target validation, lead identification and lead optimisation of small molecules in selected therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular, metabolic and central nervous system disorders.
The Moulder Center is stated to be used for both internal research within Temple University and for external collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotech companies and other universities. It is focussed on drug discovery
in the area of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. It works with industry and other universities in joint research projects.
Expert Group set up under B. K. Chaturvedi for Revamp of Power Sector

Current Affairs Category: Committees | Commissions, November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, 2011 Current
To push through power reforms and unlock the power sector, the UPA-II Government set up an expert group to suggest restructuring of power utilities of seven major States, including Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. The plan for reforms follows a recent government report that revealed that the accumulated losses of the power
utilities across the country ran into Rs.1.50-lakh crore and annual losses were around Rs.55.000 crore. The government is to initiate a major reform in the shape of open access allowing consumers of above 1 MW to choose their preferred electricity supplier. Task of the Expert Group The expert group headed by Planning Commission member (Energy) B. K. Chaturvedi is expected to submit its report by March 2012. The group was entrusted with the responsibility to make an assessment of the cumulative losses of distribution utilities of seven major States, including Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. It was asked to suggest a strategy for capital restructuring of these power discoms (distribution companies), including commitment by other stakeholders like State governments. It will also have to suggest a road map and monitoring mechanism for implementing the above.
The Justice and Development Party (PJD) won the Elections in Morocco
The Justice and Development Party (PJD) won the parliamentary elections in Morocco according to the poll results announced on 27 November 2011. PJD won 107 seats out of the 395 seats, almost twice as many as the second place finisher. The Polls were held on 25 November 2011 and there was only a 45 percent turnout. The PJD party follows the moral dictates of the religion. The party is the second Islamist party to win an election after the Arab Spring. Tunisias moderate Islamist party, Ennahda, recently won the election in that country. Arab uprising had some effect also on Morocco. The king responded by modifying the constitution to give the next parliament and prime minister more powers and held early elections. Elections in Morocco are held on a national level for the legislature. Parliament has two chambers. The Assembly of Representatives of Morocco has 325 members elected for a five-year term, 295 elected in multi-seat
constituencies and 30 in national lists consisting only of women. The Assembly of Councillors has 270 members,
elected for a nine-year term, elected by professional chambers (91 seats), local councils (162 seats), and wageearners (27 seats).
Morocco has had a multi-party system since independence in 1956. Morocco is the North African Kingdom. King Mohammed VI is the head of the state
A New Type of Cell was discovered to Boost the Ability of Human body to fight off Infections
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Science | Technology, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
A researcher from Australia National University discovered a new type of cell, which boosts the ability of human body to fight off infections and life threatening diseases. The cell is called Natural killer T follicular helper (NKTfh). It generates antibody responses in B cells, which are the bodys natural defence against invasion by bacteria and viruses. These Natural Killer T Cells recognize molecules known as lipids instead of just recognizing proteins expressed by infectious bacteria.
NKTfh cells also produce specialised structures called germinal centres, similar to those, which generated high affinity antibody responses to protein antigens.
Both these qualities give a natural boost to B cells and strengthen the human immune system and its ability to fight infection. NKTfh cells provided this boost over a very short period of time
NASA launched a Rover to explore the Red Planet (Mars)

Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Science | Space,2011 Current Affairs
NASA on 26 November 2011, launched Rover, nicknamed Curiosity to explore the planet Mars. The rover was launched from Florida on an Atlas 5 rocket. The Rover will take eight and a half months to reach the Red Planet (Mars). The cost of the NASA space mission is 2.5 billion US dollars. The Rover will then scour Martian soils and rocks for any signs that could have supported microbial life on the planet. The Atlas flight lasted almost three-quarters of an hour. The rover is also known as the Mars Science laboratory (MSL). It is due to arrive at the Red Planet on 6 August 2012. The Rover will land at a deep equatorial depression called Gale Crater, which contains a central mountain that rises some 5kilometre above the plain below. MSL is equipped with 10 sophisticated instruments to study the rocks, soils and atmosphere in Gale Crater.
Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) scaled down Indias GDP forecast to 7.8% for 2011-12
Leading research firm, Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) in November 2011 scaled down Indias GDP forecast to 7.8% for 2011-12 from the earlier forecast of 7.9%. Downward revision in the forecast for the mining index from 4.4% to 3.2%, manufacturing sector from 7.5% to
6.9% and electricity from 9 to 8.7% led to a further decline in GDP forecast for this fiscal. the Reserve Bank had also reduced its forecast for real GDP growth sharply from 8 to 7.6%. The rating agency Crisil had revised its growth estimate from 7.7-8% to 7.6%.
The index of industrial production growth slowed down to 2-4% and the wholesale price index-based inflation growth remained riveted to 9.5% despite sustained efforts by the RBI to rein in inflation by raising interest rates. The lack of availability of coal in 2011-12 pulled down the mining index and led to delay of thermal projects. As a result the electricity generation forecast was revised. Analysis The research firm warned that the economy is headed towards stagflation due to persistent fall in the IIP (Index of Industrial Production) and the high inflation. The growth in sales of companies, which grew by a handsome 25% in the first half of 2011 was however robust. Sales of manufacturing companies adjusted for inflation indicated that the IIP under-estimates growth in the manufacturing sector by about 33%. CMIE also noted thatr in the first half, the real sales of manufacturing companies grew by about 9%, indicating robust demand for industrial goods. Though profit margins of the corporates later declined because of an increase in raw material cost and interest rates, it is still robust and way above the low margins seen in the years 1999 to 2002. The net profit margin of the
listed non-finance companies fell to 6.4% in June 2011, but between March 1999 and December 2002 they never touched 6%. Growth in corporate sales indicates that consumption demand continues to grow well. Kharif sowing this year was higher than last season. Agricultural production was estimated to grow by 2.9% after a robust 6.6% growth in 2010. Estimation of growth in agricultural production indicated robust domestic consumption demand in in 2011-12
Working Groups on Road Safety set up by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways submitted Report
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Report | Survey, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
The five working groups on road safety that were set up by the ministry of road transport & highways have submitted their reports in November 2011. The different working groups constituted on road safety wereeducation, enforcement, engineering (roads as well as vehicles) and emergency. The groups were constituted following the March 2011 meeting of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) to lay out the macro and micro
dimensions with potential solutions to road safety and to suggest short term and long term measures to curb road accidents in the country.
The wide-ranging recommendations contained in the report are meant to be incorporated in the decadal action programme on road safety. The NRSC will finalize the detailed decadal action plan on road safety at the national level which could be replicated by all governments at state and district levels. Recommendations The working group on enforcement mentioned that the penalty structure as per Amendment of Motor Vehicles Act 1988 has become redundant and the fines not a deterrence for traffic rule violators.
It suggested increasing the penalties for offences. While revising the penalties for traffic offences, the group
mentioned a clause needs to be inserted in the Amendment Act so that every three years there is revision of the fines based on consumer price index. On the topic of overloading of commercial vehicles, the group specified that if a commercial vehicle was found overloaded it would be prosecuted with mandatory criminal case under the provisions of Damage to Public Property Act against the transporter, the consignor and the consignee.
The groups felt the need for digitization of the existing driving licence holders. Measures need to be adopted to ensure when driving licence of a defaulter is suspended he should not be able to get another licence from any other transport authority.
It was noted that a large number of accidents on roads happen because of many commercial vehicles not being in good condition. It was felt that fitness certificate for commercial vehicles needed to be issued in a routine and there should also be stringent checks of commercial vehicles before fitness certificate is issued to the vehicle. Stringent fitness certificate issuance will ensure enhanced road safety
Padma Bhushan Awardee & Renowned Sarangi Maestro, Ustad Sultan Khan died
Renowned sarangi maestro and singer Ustad Sultan Khan died of kidney failure on 27 November 2011. He belonged to the Indore Gharana of singing. Born in the year 1940, Khan's first performance was at the All India Conference at the age of 11. He was taught sarangi by his father Gulab Khan. A Hindustani classical music exponent, Khan was renowned for his international
collaborations and will always be remembered as the voice behind Piya Basanti Re and Albela Saajan (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam). His work in films like jab we met, maqbool, hum dil de chuke sanam was applauded by music lovers across the country.
He was one of the members of the Indian fusion group Tabla Beat Science, with Zakir Hussain and Bill Laswell. He
had performed on an international scale with Ravi Shankar on George Harrison's 1974 Dark Horse World Tour. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third highest Indian civilian honour in 2010. He won numerous musical
awards including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award which he won twice. He was presented the President's Award,
as well as the Gold Medalist Award of Maharashtra and the American Academy of Artists Award in 1998. India lost two other renowned musicians in 2011 with the death of Jagjit Singh and Bhupen Hazarika.
Indian e-commerce Market Estimated to Grow to $24 billion by 2015 from the Current $6.3 billion
According to the study titled Indian Digital Consumer Industry by financial services firm Avendus, the number of people transacting online is expected to touch 39 million by 2015. The estimated online transaction will further boost the Indian e-commerce market which is estimated to grow to $24 billion by 2015 from the current $6.3 billion.
Currently 8-10 million people in India transact online, which is about 11% of the 80 million internet users in the
country, which represents a penetration of 7% of the population and 17% of the urban population The study estimated the number of unique users transacting on travel sites (only) to be around 6-7 million and 23 million for non-travel e-commerce sites in the present day.
The online travel market was estimated at Rs 24900 crore ($5.5 billion) in 2011. In India, online travel revenues are dominated by ticket bookings, with air and train bookings accounting for close to 90% of the segments revenues. India, as per the study is considered one of the most lucrative markets for online travel. While 57% of
the online travel revenue came from air travel, train and hotel packages contributed 37% and 5%, respectively in 2010-11. The remaining 1% was from bus bookings. Online travel is expected to grow at 22% to reach Rs 54800 crore by 2015.
The number of transacting users in the US was 170 million in 2010, comprising 69% of the overall internet users in the country. Thenumber of transacting users in The US was observed to be growing at 8% for the last six years
Expert Group on Universal Health for India held Session to Address World Banks Concerns
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Miscellaneous, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
The High Level Expert Group on Universal Health Coverage for India held a session on 27 November 2011 to address concerns raised by the World Bank over some of the recommendations in the groups report for the 12th Five Year Plan. The issues raised during the session centred around marginalisation of the private sector and the elimination of intermediation by insurance companies. The expert group that emphasised on the need to strike a balance between cost-effectiveness, affordability in terms of budget and equity, remained committed to providing universal health coverage to al. The focus of the
group was on cost-effective primary care, especially guaranteeing access to free medicines to generate appreciable health, economic and political benefits in the short timeframe.
Apart from the commitment to provide equity and coverage in health care at the primary and district level, the groups report also recommended the setting up a separate group that would look into the possibilities of providing tertiary care as well.
World Banks Views on the Expert Groups Report According to theWorld Bank, the expert groups report lacked an analysis of the private sector, a dominant financier and provider of health services in India. It complained that the report marginalised the role of the private sector in this repect.
The World Bank diaagreed with the report's recommendation to eliminate intermediation by insurance companies
or other independent purchasing agencies as experiences showed that intermediaries had contributed substantial administrative and technical capacity to the government agencies. It mentioned that large investment in health worker training did not guarantee greater supply of human resource in the public sector and much of the subsidy was likely to be captured by individuals.
Contradicting the groups view, the organisation also felt that India's universal health coverage strategy would be much more successful in delivering health, economic and political benefits, if it could focus on achieving results at the primary and district level rather than improving access to expensive tertiary care.
The expert group needed to be pragmatic, and develop structure relations with private providers carefully.
Ameya Walavalkar clinched Maiden Drivers' title in the JK TyreFMSCI National Racing Championship
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Sports, News, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011 Share|
Ameya Walavalkar of Mars Racing registered his sixth win of 2011 in the Formula LGB Swift class, thereby clinching his maiden drivers' championship title in the JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship at the MMRT in Irungattukottai on 27 November 2011. Walavalkar finished 22 points ahead of teammate R. Deepak, who came fifth in the race. Sarosh Hataria of Meco Motorsports stood second. Karthik Krishna finished third but was penalised for overtaking when the yellow flag was being waved and thus conceded his podium place to Chitesh Mandody. Rahil Noorani, a championship contender in the Polo R Cup series was excluded from the competition after a postrace incident in the pits after he vent his frustration at Ajay Kini.
Scientists discovered the Gene called ABCC9 that Controls Sleep

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Science | Technology, 2011 Current Affairs
A team of the Scientists at the Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich identified the gene, called ABCC9 that can reduce the length of time people sleep. The same gene was linked to heart disease and diabetes. The scientists based their findings on a Europe-wide survey. Survey participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire assessing their sleep habits. The survey revealed that people who had two copies of one common variant of ABCC9 slept for shorter periods than people with two copies of another version.The scientists had already established that the ABCC9 gene was also present in fruitflies. the team was able to modify it in the animal and decrease the length of time for which it slept
Brazilian Filmmaker & Journalist, Oscar Maron Filho died in Goa while addressing IFFI Forum
Film maker and journalist from Brazil, Oscar Maron Filho died of a fatal heart atrtack on 27 November in Goa while addressing an open forum arranged as part of the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI). Oscar Maron, born in Rio de Janeiro in 1955 had come to the 42nd IFFI with his documentary Mario Filho, the Creator of Crowds on the legendary sports chronicler and creator of the Brazilian football mythology. He was the director of biggest production house, Atlantica Cinematographica in Brazil. Filhos other notable films include Bye Bye Romario, Pele and O Papa da Bola
The Arab League Imposed Sanctions against Syria for its Failure to Comply with the Peace Plan
The Arab League on 27 November 2011 imposed a set of sanctions against Syria for its failure to comply with the League mediated peace plan to end violence in the country. These include freezing of financial assets, a halt on dealing with Syrias central bank and stopping investments and a travel ban on high- ranking officials. The sanctions go into effect immediately.
The League also banned financial transactions and trade with the Syrian government. Syrian government is under economic and political pressure to end an eight-month crackdown against demonstrators.
Vladimir Putins Candicacy endorsed for March 2012 Presidential Polls

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Person in News, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 28 Nov 2011 To 04 Dec 2011
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The United Russia party convention on 27 November voted unanimously to nominate its leader, Vladimir Putin, as the presidential candidate for the elections scheduled for 4 March 20112. The decision to nominate Putin, who is
Russias current prime minister, was also supported by delegates of the Popular Front a new organization bringing together supporters of Putin and United Russia. All 614 delegates from United Russia and Putins All-Russia Peoples Front movement who took part in the vote during a party congress at Luzhniki unanimously backed Putins candidacy. Candidates to challenge Putin in the
March 2012 elections are Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov and Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the leader of the rightwing LDPR party. United Russia party convention held pre-election congress after the upper house of the Russian Parliament officially approved 4 March as the date for presidential elections thereby triggering the presidential race. Incumbent President Dmitry Medvedev endorsed Putin as United Russias candidate back in September 2011.
Putin has already been elected president twice, in 2000 and 2004. As Russia has recently lengthened the
presidential term, the winner of the 2012 election will take up the post for six years, with the right to stand for a second six-year term.
Damn 999 based on Disputed Mullaperiyar Dam raised Issues between TN & Kerala
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, National | India, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
Tamil Nadu government on 24 November 2011 banned the screening of Hollywood film Dam 999 with immediate effect. The movie directed by Sohan Roy is believed to be based on disputed Mullaperiyar Dam between Tamilnadu and Kerala. Tamilnadu Film Exhibitors' Association general secretary R Panneerselvam mentioned that the ban was imposed following the demand for it by parties including DMK, MDMK and PMK.
Tamil Nadu government imposed a ban citing that it may cause animosity between Kerala and TN people as the
film was dealing with the subject of the 116-year-old Mullaperiyar dam on the Kerala-TN border. Director Sohan Roy however mentioned that the ban was illegal as there is a Supreme Court ruling against banning of a film after it had been certified by Censor Board.
The film centres on a dam and how it collapses and ravages the surrounding areas. The English film, released by Warner Bros was scheduled for release on 25 November. It has been dubbed in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi. The Dispute The Mullaperiyar dam was constructed in 1895 and a lease agreement for 999 years signed between the Dewan of
Travancore and the state secretary of Madras Presidency. Travancore is currently a part of Kerala and Madras Presidency has metamorphosed into Tamil Nadu.
The dam is in Iddukki district of Kerala but is operated by the Tamil Nadu government by way of a lease agreement. While the government of Tamil Nadu wants to increase the storage level of the dam, the Kerala government opposes it citing safety concern.
Kerala wants a new dam built to replace the 116-year old dam but Tamil Nadu is not open to the idea and terms concerns about the safety of the dam as unfounded. The Mullaperiyar dam is important for Tamil Nadu as it meets the irrigation needs of farmers in southern districts
Indian Government inked Tripartite Peace Agreement with Assam's Insurgent Group, UPDS
| India, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
Current Affairs Category: Topics for Bank PO | Clerk Exam 2011, November 2011 Current Affairs, Hot Topics, National
The Indian government inked a path-breaking tripartite peace agreement with a prominent insurgent group of Assam, United Peoples Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) on 25 November 2011 after two-year-long peace negotiations. The tripartite peace agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. As per the terms of the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS), the Karbi Anglong hill will get more power and a Rs 350-crore special financial package spread over five years. The signing of the pact was described as historic by Chidambaram who went to highlight that the government was ready for dialogue with any group that shuns violence and puts its demands within the framework of the Indian Constitution. After the signing, the governemnt urged all groups engaged in violence to give it up and come forward to find a peaceful solutions to all perceived problems.
The UPDS had spearheaded a violent insurgent movement in Assams Karbi Anglong district since its formation in 1999 till 23 May 2002 when it entered into a ceasefire agreement with the governmen
ONGC won Maiden Nehru Cup Title by defeating Punjab National Bank 1-0
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Sports, News, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
ONGC won their maiden Nehru Cup title by defeating Punjab National Bank 1-0 at the Dhyanchand Stadium in New Delhi on 25 November 2011. ONGC got the winning goal in the 25th minute through Bikash Toppo off Mandeep Antils pass. After the first goal. However they failed to score further in the first half due to lack of co-ordination and bad finishing. The teams went into the half time with ONGC in the lead. In the next half ONGC adopt a defensive mode of play. PNB received several oppoprtunities but failed to score.
ONGC who are also one of the sponsors of the tournaments collected a prize money of Rs 250000, while PNB took home half the amount. Air India on the other hand defeated Bharat Petroleum 2-0 to finish as the second runners up in the Nehru Cup tournament
Union Government cleared 18 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Proposals worth Rs.2126.20 crore
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 25 November cleared 18 foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals enabling a forex inflow of about Rs.2126.20 crore. The major chunk of the projected FDI inflow is envisaged to come through two proposals pertaining to Dish TV
India (Rs.980 crore) and Ventureast Life Fund (Rs.950 crore) which were given the go-ahead based on the recommendations of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). Dish TV India was premitted to increase foreign equity to produce telecommunication equipment and provide management and marketing of agrani services in the area of mobile satellite communications. The induction of fresh foreign equity will involve an inflow of Rs.980 crore in foreign exchange.
Mauritius-based Ventureast Life Fund III LLC received the government's nod to induct foreign equity in a trust to the extent of Rs.950 crore in foreign exchange.
The application of Unitech Wirless (TN) Pvt. Limited seeking to bring in fresh foreign equity worth Rs.8,250 crore
to carry out the business of providing unified access services was referred to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) for approval in view of it exceeding the FIPB's approval ceiling pegged at Rs.1200 crore. Mumbai-based Amar Remedies Ltd. has been permitted to issue secured redeemable non-convertible debentures along with warrants to undertake manufacturing and marketing of personal care and OTC (over the counter) products entailing a FDI inflow of Rs.170 crore
Under SC Directive, Survey of India Team started Investigation of Taj Mahal Minarets & Foundation
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Miscellaneous, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
As per the Supreme Court directive, a team of the Survey of India on 25 November started checking the foundations of the Taj Mahal. The directive was issued in the wake of media reports that quoted local BJP member of the Lok Sabha Ram Shankar Katheria and a local writer on historical monuments, Ram Nath on this issue.
According to the reports, the foundations of the 17th centure monument of love had become weak because of the low level of water in the Yamuna river flowing immediately north of the monument. The reports had mentioned that the minarets on the four corners of the Taj had bent further from the markings done by the Survey of India in 1940.
The Supreme Court is itself overseeing the pollution level around the Taj as well as its state of preservation through a court commissioner. In pursuance of the observation of the SC, the Archaeological Survey of India asked four premier agencies of the country to recheck the stability of the monument.
The Survey of India team will investigate the verticality of the minarets and their stability as also the state of the foundations of the monuments.
Food Inflation dropped to a Four-month Low of 9% for the Week ended 12 November 2011
As per the data released on 24 November 2011, food inflation dropped to a four-month low of 9% for the week ended 12 November 2011. Food inflation, measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), dropped sharply to 9%
from 10.63% in the week ended 5 November. It was 11.38% at the same time in 2010. Week ended 12 November recorded lowest rate of food inflation since the week ended July 23 when it stood at 8.43%. Besides, the latest numbers also mark a climb-down of the food inflation to single-digit after a gap of five weeks.
The drop in food inflation was attributed to drop in prices of vegetables, milk, fruit and meat, eggs and fish.
Onions became cheaper by 4.4% during the week while potatoes dropped 4.2%. Fuel inflation remained unchanged at 14.91%. Inflation in both edible oils and sugar fell in October 2011 compared to September. In case of edible oils, it declined to 13.09 per cent from 13.45 per cent and in case of sugar, it fell to 6.69 per cent from 7.45 per cent in October.
Food price inflation was 9.01 per cent or down from 10.63 per cent for the week ended November 5. Cereal price
inflation eased to 2.86 per cent from 3.53 per cent. Rice price growth retreated to 2.75 per cent from 4.03 per cent. Wheat price inflation was negative by 3.09 per cent. The headline inflation remained at 9.7% largely because of high food and fuel inflation.
Tamilnadu Government banned the Screening of the Film Dam 999

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, State, Other States, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
Tamilnadu government banned the screening of English film Dam 999 with immediate effect. The movie is believed to be based on disputed Mullaperiyar Dam between Tamilnadu and Kerala.
Sohan Roy directed the film. The film focuses on a dam and how it collapses and ravages the surrounding areas. The film has been dubbed in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam. The English film, released by Warner Bros, is scheduled for 25 November 2011.
Political parties protesting against the film in Tamilnadu alleged that the project financed by Keralites, has been
named Dam 999 referring to the legal rights held by Tamilnadu over the dam for 999 years. Tamilnadu is locked in a row with Kerala over Mullaperiyar dam. Mullaperiyar Dam is constructed over the Periyar River in 1895 Kerala, India. The Periyar National Park, Thekkady is located around the Periyar reservoir formed by the backwaters of this dam. It is operated by the Government of Tamil Nadu according to a 999-year lease agreement made during erstwhile British colonial rule.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari conferred Nishan-i-Imtiaz Award upon General Hou Shusen
Current Affairs Category: Awards | Honours, November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on 23 November 2011 conferred Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) upon General Hou Shusen, deputy chief of general staff of Chinese Peoples Liberation Army, at a special investiture ceremony in Islamabad. Pakistan awarded a top Chinese General with Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) for promoting friendship and strengthening bi-lateral ties between the two countries. General Hou was given the award in recognition of his consistent and valuable contributions in promoting relations and understanding between the two countries and armies. On the occasion, China was termed as a factor of stability in the region and country was applouded for enabling the convergence of interests and unanimity of views on bilatera. Pakistani governement mentioned that regional and international issues brought the two countries further closer.
About the Award The Nishan-i-Imtiaz is one of the state organized civil decorations of State of PakistanIt is the highest honor along with the optimum award Nishan-e-Pakistan given to any civilian in Pakistan.
The award was established in 19 March 1957, following the proclamation of State of Pakistan as Parliamentary republic, by the 1956 Constitution. The award is a top and prestigious decoration in the country. It is given to a person who accomplished their service beyond what was assigned.
Nishan-i-Imtiaz, is an honor given by the Government of Pakistan to both the military officers of the Pakistan Armed Forces and civilians who have done outstanding contributions that prompted world recognition of Pakistan.
The award is not limited to citizens of Pakistan and, while it is a civilian award, it can also be awarded to military personnel and worn on the uniform.
Indians who received the award Two Indians have been given this award in the past- Morarji Desai (1971) and Dilip Kumar (1997)
NRI Steel Tycoon Lakshmi Mittal topped the List of Britains Most Influential Asians 2011
NRI steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal topped the GG2/Eastern Eye Power 101, list comprising powerful Asians in UK. The list was unveiled by Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at the GG2 (Garavi Gujarat) Leadership Awards 2011 on 23 November 2011. Lakshmi Mittal topped the list of Britains Most Influential Asians 2011.
Mittal who is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ArcelorMittal, the worlds largest steelmaking company, has a fortune estimated at 15.5 billion pounds.
Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor ranked 6th in the list. S P Hinduja and G P Hinduja, Chairman and Vice Chairman
respectively of the Hinduja Group hold the No 4 position in the list. NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul held the 17th rank. List also featured famous figures from the world of politics, the arts, high society and sport. Baroness Sayeeda Warsi and Keith Vaz MP, creative talents Meera Syal and Sanjeev Bhaskar, actresses Archie Panjabi and Nina Wadia, Sir Suma Chakrabarti and sporting figures Amir Khan and Ravi Bopara are all on the list
RBI approved Restructuring of Air India's Working Capital Loan Liability of Rs 22000 crore
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Corporate, News , 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cleared Air Indias loan restructuring proposal thereby extending AIs loan tenures from 10 to 15 years. RBI approved the restructuring of the airline's working capital loan liability of Rs 22000
crore. The latest proposal is part of the report prepared by a Group of Officers led by Finance Ministrys special secretary Vilasini Ramachandran. The Group of Officers report had recommended a multi-pronged approach to turnaround Air India. It had suggested a mix of cash infusion, writing off part of Rs 44000 crore aircraft purchase loans and cutting down the remaining aircraft order. Proposal The Rs 18000 crore Corporate Debt Restructuring (CDR) proposal offered restructuring of Rs 11,000 crore into
long-term loans with a repayment guarantee by the government. The tenure will be increased by another five years to 15 years. Apart from this, Rs 7000 crore loan will be converted into cumulative redeemable preference shares and Rs 3,500 crore is likely be converted into cash credit. The debt trapped national carrier has accumulated debt of over Rs64,000 crore from 14 lenders which, under the aegis of SBI Caps, had submitted a restructuring proposal to RBI seeking its permission to extend the loan tenures.
Consequence RBIs decision expected to ease the debt servicing burden of the troubled airline, was taken at a meeting that was attended by officials of the RBI, Air India and SBI Caps. SBI Caps submitted the debt restructuring proposal. Under the Rs 18000 crore Corporate Debt Restructuring proposal, the lenders to Air India would extend the tenure of Rs11000 crore short-term loans into long term loans of 15 years and convert Rs7000 crore debt into equity
Actor-producer Aamir Khan chosen to be UNICEFs Ambassador in India

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Person in News, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
Aamir Khan was chosen to be the latest celebrity face of UNICEF in India. The actor is to be appointed the national ambassador of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund on 30 November 2011. The actorproducer, known for his films like Taare Zameen Par, Ghajini, 3 Idiots and Dhobi Ghat, will support UNICEF's work in promoting child rights and nutrition of children under two years.
UNICEF had earlier appointed Amitabh Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra as the face of the organisation. Bachchan
was appointed a UNICEF goodwill ambassador in 2005 and has since fronted their polio eradication programme successfully. The global organisation has roped in various international celebrities to support its campaigns around the globe. Some famous faces include Hollywood actors Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Mia Farrow, Vanessa Redgrave, Susan Sarandon, and entertainer Shakira, and football player David Beckham.
NRI Politician in the UK, Lord Navnit Dholakia won GG2 (Garavi Gujarat) Hammer Award
Leading NRI politician in the UK, Lord Navnit Dholakia, won GG2 (Garavi Gujarat) Hammer Award at the GG2 Leadership Awards 2011 for his outstanding achievements on 23 November 2011. Britain's Attorney General Dominic Grieve presented the award to Lord Dholakia. About Lord Navnit Dholakia
Born on 4 March 1937, Dholakia is a British Liberal Democrat politician and the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords. Lord Dholakia is one of the most senior Asian politicians in Britain. He became active in the Liberal party and was elected to Brighton Borough Council between 1961 and 1964. From 1976 he served as member of the Commission for Racial Equality and has been involved in the Sussex Police Authority, Police Complaints Authority and Howard League for Penal Reform. He is the current chair of Nacro. Dholakia was made a life peer as Baron Dholakia, of Waltham Brooks in the County of West Sussex, in 1997, and has also sat on the Liberal Democrat benches in the House of Lords.
From 1997 to 2002 he served as a Liberal Democrat whip in the House, and from 2002 to 2004 he was the Home Affairs Spokesman.
He was elected President of the Liberal Democrats at the end of 1999 and served in the post from 2000 to 2004. In November 2004 he was elected joint Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords. In 2010 he became the sole Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords. Dholakia was appointed to the Privy Council (PC) in December 2010.
Dholakia is involved with a range of charities including being a Patron of the British branch of Child In Need India (CINI UK).
Other Honors bestowed on Lord Dholakia In 1994 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). In 2000 he was named Asian of the Year, and won the Pride of India Award in 2005. In November 2009 he was given an honorary doctorate from the University of Hertfordshire. He has been a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) in the county of West Sussex since 1999.
Personalities who were awarded during the GG2 (Garavi Gujarat) are as follows: Sargeant Dip Pun (GG2
Pride of Britain Award), Nina Wadia (GG2 Woman of the Year), Darra Singh, Chairman of the Riots Community and Victims Panel (GG2 Man of the Year), Nazia Parveen, Senior Reporter, Lancashire Evening Telegraph (GG2 Young Journalist of the Year), Atul Pathak (GG2 Social entrepreneur of the Year)
Union Cabinet approved 51 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Multi-brand Retail
Current Topics, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Affairs Category: Topics for Bank PO | Clerk Exam 2011, November 2011 Current Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
Affairs, Hot
The Union cabinet on 24 November 2011 approved 51 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail. The Cabinet also decided to raise the cap on foreign investment in single-brand retailing to 100 per cent from 51 per cent. An estimated Rs 30-lakh-crore retail sector was thus opened to foreign investors by clearing a bill that allows 51 per cent investment in multi-brand retail.
The decision being perceived as game-changer for the estimated USD 590 billion (Rs 29.50 lakh crore) retail
market was taken at the meeting of the Cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
India currently allows 51 percent foreign investment in single-brand retailers and 100 percent for wholesale operations but no FDI in multi-brand retail. Union cabinet arrived at the decision amid opposition by UPA constituents including the Trinamool Congress and DMK. Amid opposition by UPA constituents including the Trinamool Congress and DMK,DMKs M K Azhagiri too
raised objections. Several Congress ministers like A K Antony, Vyalar Ravi and Jairam Ramesh had reservations about 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) opposed the decision on the grounds that it would harm self-employed retailers. About the Provisions The major provisions for FDI investment include that the minimum investment will have to be $100 million. Retail stores will only be allowed in cities with more than one million people. Also it will be mandatory for retailers to
source a minimum 30 per cent of the value of manufactured goods, barring food products, from small and medium enterprises. Investment up to 50 per cent will have to be in storage and back-end infrastructure. Advantages Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma is of the opinion that FDI in multi-brand retail would benefit
farmers as well as consumers and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee argued that the decision will also strengthen the rural infrastructure. Allowing foreign retailers to take stakes of up to 51 per cent in supermarkets would attract much-needed capital from abroad and ultimately help unclog supply bottlenecks that have kept inflation stubbornly close to a doubledigit clip.
The decision of the governemnt makes 53 cities eligible to have large international retail outlets. Foreign investment in the multi-brand retail is to pave way for global chains like WalMart, Carrefour and Tesco to open mega stores in 53 major cities.
51 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail is expected to bring enhanced employment opportunities, especially in rural India, lend the retail sector to organised investment, and enable technology and
infrastructure to permeate in the highly fragmented sector. Multi-brand retail will also benefit the consumers, producers (farmers) and small and medium enterprises and generate significant employment. It will open up opportunities for expansion of organised retail and allow substantial investment in backend infrastructure as well. Apprehensions One of the fears expressed was that foreign companies will start by selling cheap to attract people and then, within a year or so increase prices. Those who opposed the decision maintained that self-employment in India is the single largest source of jobs with an overwhelming section of the population being self-employed and allowing 51 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail might adversely impact the self-employed.
History FDI in cash and carry or wholesale trade, was allowed way back in 1997 during the United Front Government.
Foreign investment of up to 51 per cent in single brand retailing came to India in January 2006. A decision on FDI in the retail sector had been delayed in view of concerns that it would adversely impact domestic kirana shops, which account for over 90 per cent of retail trade. the advocates of the FDI however argued that the conditions imposed by the government for investing in the sector will serve as sufficient safeguards for small retailers
Scientists discovered Gene HTR7 which makes People Alcoholic

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Science | Technology, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
A new study done by the scientists discovered a gene HTR7, which plays a major role in making a person problem- drinker. A Texas institute identified the serotonin receptor gene called HTR7, which was common in the brains of
alcoholics. They also found that the children of problem drinkers had the same patterns of brain activity and therefore, are at the same risk of becoming alcoholics. Scientists put more than a 1000 people with generations of problem-drinking in the family on test following which
they found a strong link between drinking and the serotonin receptor gene. Serotonin affects mood and sleep and antidepressant drugs often work by regulating it
Union Cabinet approved 51 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Multi-brand Retail
Affairs, Hot
The Union cabinet on 24 November 2011 approved 51 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail. The Cabinet also decided to raise the cap on foreign investment in single-brand retailing to 100 per cent from 51 per cent. An estimated Rs 30-lakh-crore retail sector was thus opened to foreign investors by clearing a bill that allows 51 per cent investment in multi-brand retail.
The decision being perceived as game-changer for the estimated USD 590 billion (Rs 29.50 lakh crore) retail market was taken at the meeting of the Cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. India currently allows 51 percent foreign investment in single-brand retailers and 100 percent for wholesale operations but no FDI in multi-brand retail.
Union cabinet arrived at the decision amid opposition by UPA constituents including the Trinamool Congress and
DMK. Amid opposition by UPA constituents including the Trinamool Congress and DMK,DMKs M K Azhagiri too raised objections. Several Congress ministers like A K Antony, Vyalar Ravi and Jairam Ramesh had reservations about 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) opposed the decision on the grounds that it would harm self-employed retailers.
About the Provisions The major provisions for FDI investment include that the minimum investment will have to be $100 million. Retail
stores will only be allowed in cities with more than one million people. Also it will be mandatory for retailers to source a minimum 30 per cent of the value of manufactured goods, barring food products, from small and medium enterprises. Investment up to 50 per cent will have to be in storage and back-end infrastructure. Advantages Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma is of the opinion that FDI in multi-brand retail would benefit farmers as well as consumers and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee argued that the decision will also strengthen the rural infrastructure.
Allowing foreign retailers to take stakes of up to 51 per cent in supermarkets would attract much-needed capital
from abroad and ultimately help unclog supply bottlenecks that have kept inflation stubbornly close to a doubledigit clip. The decision of the governemnt makes 53 cities eligible to have large international retail outlets. Foreign investment in the multi-brand retail is to pave way for global chains like WalMart, Carrefour and Tesco to open mega stores in 53 major cities.
51 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail is expected to bring enhanced employment opportunities, especially in rural India, lend the retail sector to organised investment, and enable technology and infrastructure to permeate in the highly fragmented sector. Multi-brand retail will also benefit the consumers,
producers (farmers) and small and medium enterprises and generate significant employment. It will open up opportunities for expansion of organised retail and allow substantial investment in backend infrastructure as well. Apprehensions One of the fears expressed was that foreign companies will start by selling cheap to attract people and then,
within a year or so increase prices. Those who opposed the decision maintained that self-employment in India is the single largest source of jobs with an overwhelming section of the population being self-employed and allowing 51 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail might adversely impact the self-employed. History FDI in cash and carry or wholesale trade, was allowed way back in 1997 during the United Front Government. Foreign investment of up to 51 per cent in single brand retailing came to India in January 2006. A decision on FDI in the retail sector had been delayed in view of concerns that it would adversely impact domestic kirana shops, which account for over 90 per cent of retail trade. the advocates of the FDI however argued that the conditions imposed by the government for investing in the sector will serve as sufficient safeguards for small retailers.
UNs Human Rights Committee voted to Condemn Syrias Crackdown on Dissent

The U.N. General Assembly's human rights committee on 22 November 2011 voted to strongly condemn Syria's crackdown on dissent. 122 countries voted for a resolution and only 13 countries voted against and 41 abstained. Arab states that voted for it included Kuwait, Morocco, Bahrain, Jordan,Qatar and Saudi Arabia as well as Egypt. A previous attempt to pass a resolution in the Security Council was vetoed by Russia and China. The twonations abstained in the latest vote. The resolution strongly condemned the continued human rights violations by Syria. Amnesty International welcomed the U.N. committee vote.
Construction Tycoon Pallonji's son, Cyrus P. Mistry to succeed Ratan Tata as Chairman of Tata Group
Cyrus P. Mistry was on 23 November 2011 chosen to succeed Tata group chairman Ratan Tata as the groups new chairman in 2012. He has currently been appointed as the Deputy Chairman and will take over when Ratan N Tata formally retires in December 2012 on reaching the age of 75. Ratan Tata has been the chairman of the group with interests in diverse sectors such as telecom, automobile, engineering and hotels, since 1991.Tata Group is worth $70 billion dollars.
Youngest son of construction tycoon Pallonji Mistry, Cyrus P. Mistry is currently the Managing Director of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group. He is also on the board of Tata Sons, the holding company which controls the Tata Group. Pallonji Mistry owns a significant stake in the Tata Group.
Board of Directors decided that Mistry will first serve as the Deputy Chairman of Tata Sons. Mistry will then work as an understudy of Ratan Tata, before eventually taking over from him when the latter retires. Mistry will then work as an understudy of Ratan Tata, before eventually taking over from him when the latter retires.
A five-man selection team - which included the 43-year-old Mistry himself - spent 15 months searching for a successor to 73-year-old Tata. The naming of Mistry ended months of intense media speculation.
For the second time a non-Tata is to take over as the group's chairman. Before Cyrus Sir Nowroji Saklatwala had been the group's chairman between 1932 and 1938.
Cyrus P. Mistry Mistry is a graduate of civil engineering from Imperial College of London, and has a Master of Science in Management from the London Business School. Cyrus Mistry joined the Shapoorji Pallonji group as a director in 1991. he announced post his appointment that he would legally dissociate himself from the SP group.
Mistry who will head a group with revenues in excess of $83 billion, is brother-in-law to Noel Tata, Ratan Tata's half-brother. Noel Tata was considered by many observers to have been the front-runner in the race for the chairmanship.
Mistry's grandfather first bought shares in Tata Sons in the 1930s, a stake that currently stands at 18.5 percent in the hands of Mistry's father, Pallonji Mistry, the largest single shareholder in a firm mostly controlled by trusts. Mistry's father, Shapoorji Pallonji Mistry known as Phantom of Bombay House is a reclusive billionaire with an
estimated wealth of $7.6 billion according to Forbes. Accordin to Forbes, he is the world's wealthiest Parsi and the richest Irishman. He is an Irish citizen by marriage. Since Indian constitution does not allow for dual citizenship, it can be concluded that Pallonji's nationality is only Irish and not Indian. Born to an Irish mother and a father who attained Irish nationality on marriage, Cyrus P. Mistry's nationality is also Irish.
When Pallonji retired from the board of Tata Sons in 2006, his then 38-year-old son, Cyrus P. Mistry stepped into his shoes.
Yemens President Ali Abdullah Saleh agreed to Step down Amidst Massive Public Protests
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, International | World, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
Yemen's embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh finally agreed to step down amidst massive public protests. Saleh signed a Gulf co-operation council (GCC) brokered peace Initiative in Riyadh on 22 November 2011 to transfer his power within 30 days to his Vice President, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. The activists and protesters rejected the GCC mediated deal to grant immunity to President Saleh and his relatives in lieu of the transfer of power to the Vice President Hadi.
After a long and agonizing wait and backtracking three times on his promises, a beleagured Yemen's President Ali
Abdullah Saleh signed the agreement in Riyad. Under the deal, he and his relatives get immunity from prosecution on handing over power to the Vice president, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi in 30 days. It will be followed by early presidential elections within 90 days. Yemen has been besieged with violence and protests by the powerful tribals, army dissidents, the opposition and the people who called for the ouster of Saleh on charges of nepotism and corruption. The Gulf mediated Initiative will put an end to a 33-year old reign of one of the longest serving Presidents in the region.
Chairman of Indias Largest Microlender, SKS Microfinance, Vikram Akula, resigned

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Charge | Discharge, Corporate,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
Vikram Akula, founder and chairman of Indias largest and only listed microlender, SKS Microfinance, resigned from his posts in the company on 23 November 2011. Akula who started SKS in 1998 stayed at its helm for 14 years. Independent director P H Ravi Kumar who has been on SKS board for the last five years was appointed interim non-executive chairman with immediate effect. Akula will stay on as a consultant till the end of March 2012 to assist with the transition.
Akula was lately under tremendous pressure from the board to resign as executive chairman in the larger interest of the company, which has seen a massive decline in its financial fortunes since the controversial sacking of CEO Suresh Gurumani in early October 2010. The Dispute The board members had proposed that SKS Microfinance should diversify into offering loans against gold, housing loans, loans for purchasing mobile, working capital loans to kirana stores and other secured and unsecured loans. Accordingly, the board members sought shareholders' approval to scale these businesses into new verticals and amend the main objects of the Memorandum of Association. Akula was not in favour of this. SKS Microfinance SKS was the fastest growing micro-lender in the country till 2009 and its initial public offer, first ever by a
microfinance firm and the only one till date, was a grand success. The issue was oversubscribed 14 times and SKS raised over Ra 1600 crore. The companys earnings however started shrinking since October 2010 when the Andhra Pradesh government
introduced a new legislation curbing micro-lending activities in the state. In July-September 2011, SKSs net loss widened to Ra 385 crore from Ra 219 crore in the previous quarter. The company is currently looking to raise up to Ra 900 crore through a qualified institutional placement to support its expansion plans.
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Study on Bellary conducted by ICFRE submitted to SC

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Environment | Ecology, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
On Supreme Courts directive issued on 5 August 2011, issued directive for the the ICFRE conducted a macro Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study on Bellary. The assessment team led by Dr Bahuguna comprised 50 members. The team comprised of scientists, laboratory analysts, satellite imagery analysts from Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Forest Survey of India (FSI), and National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Hyderabad. The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) submitted the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study report of mining at Bellary district to the Supreme Court on 2 November 2011.
In its report submitted to the court, the Institute mentioned that the flora and fauna of the Bellary district was severely impacted while the environment has sustained significant damage. The damage has been compounded as the small miners resorted to blatant and unscientific mining operations. Preparation of the Report As per the direction, ICFRE first made a preliminary visit on the mining site at Bellary. Then for 21 days all the team members visited all the 104 mines in Bellary, Chitradurga, Tumkur and Koppal. During the teams visit,
members of the team interacted with senior state government officials at Bangalore, held discussions with district officials at Hospet, Bellary and all major stakeholders involved in mining activities. Meanwhile, an extensive
inspection of the mining areas in Bellary district with all the team members along with mine owners/representatives was conducted.
The visiting team got an overview of the impact of mining activities on the environment particularly affecting forests, wildlife and on human habitation.
Through the study the team came up with a detailed survey of the impact of mining on the lives of people in the villages, with emphasis on agriculture and horticulture production, the ground water table, health and the socioeconomic conditions. All the results were compiled and submitted to the Supreme Court. The Report The report mentioned that a large number of mines in Bellary district violated green norms and mining conditions. Accusing mine owners of flouting norms, the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) suggested that the quantum of iron ore to be mined from the area should be annually capped as the mineral is a finite resource.
The mines also encroached upon the adjacent lands illegally and in the process damaged the environment. To mitigate the damage, it was necessary to take stringent punitive actions against the mines and the defaulting mine owners asked to pay for the damage caused to the environment caused due to unscientific mining.
The report highlighted that the mineral is a finite resource and the issue of inter-generation equity has to be borne in mind while giving its consent to mining
NPCIL and IOC signed the MoU for Setting up Nuclear Power Plants
The MoU between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) signed the MoU on 4 November 2009 for setting up Nuclear Power Plants in India for generation of electricity and any other area as mutually agreed.
A Joint Venture Company (JVC) was incorporated in the name of NPCIL-Indian Oil Nuclear Energy Corporation Limited.
Former Pakistani Information Minister Sherry Rehman appointed Pakistans Ambassador in USA
Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Person Appointed, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs
Former Pakistani Information Minister Sherry Rehman was on 23 November 2011 designated to become Pakistans next Ambassador in the U.S. She succeeded Husain Haqqani who resigned over the Memogate controversy. Her selection for the post announced by the Prime Ministers was perceived by analysts as a sign of consensus between the civil and military leadership of the country after a tense week that followed the Memogate controversy.
Rehmans appointment was criticised by the Sunni Tehreek on the premise that she is not fair to either Islam or her country. The organisation also accused her of pursuing Jewish and American policies. A petition was also filed in the Multan bench of the Lahore High Court against Rehmans appointment as Ambassador on the plea that she had committed blasphemy. Following the assassination of former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, Rehman faced a grave threat to her life with a fatwa being issued against her. Sherry Rehman Sherry Rehman has been a close associate of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Rehman was a journalist before she joined politics. A key minister when the current dispensation took charge, she resigned from the Cabinet over the issue of
restrictions on the media. She chaired Track-II dialogue processes with India twice. She launched the think-tank Jinnah Institute which, according to some analysts, is closely aligned with the military position on strategic matters while at the same time taking up issues regarding minority communities and their rights
Lifetime Achievement Awards to be conferred on Amjad Ali Khan, Girija Devi & Ruskin Bond
The Delhi Cabinet on 21 November 2011 approved conferring of lifetime achievement awards for 2011-12 on sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan, renowned Hindustani vocalist Girija Devi and noted author Ruskin Bond. In the past, the Sahitya Kala Parishad under the Delhi government conferred the lifetime achievement award, which was instituted in 2004-05 on eminent personalities like M. S. Subbulakshmi, Ebrahim Alkazi, Kapila Vatsyayan, Zohra Sehgal, Bhimsen Joshi, Habib Tanvir and Vishwanathan Anand. About the winners Amjad Ali Khan is an acclaimed sarod player who was awarded India's second highest civilian honour Padma Vibhushan in 2001.
Girija Devi, known as the queen of Thumri, is an eminent Indian classical vocalist representing the Banaras
Gharana. She was awarded the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan and was also bestowed with Sangeet Natak Academy Award and Sangeet Natak Academy Fellowship. Ruskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He is considered to be an icon among Indian writers and
Indian authors. He was earlier honoured with the Sahiya Academy Award for English writing for his short stories collection. He was also awarded Padma Shri for contribution to children's literature.
Renewable Energy Ministry entered into MoU with Swedish Governemnt for Producing Bio-fuel
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Environment | Ecology, 2011 Current Affairs
DJB, Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL) and KG Renewables Ltd on 23 november 2011 signed a memorandum of understanding for setting up a pilot plant at the Keshopur STP to help run DTC buses on compressed biogas (CBG). The fuel will be derived from sludge, a byproduct of treated sewage at Delhi Jal Board's sewage treatment plants (STPs).
The signing of the MoU was supported by the Government of Sweden and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, in line with the Indo-Swedish MoU on renewable energy. The Indian and Swedish government are in a 50-50 cost sharing model of the estimated Rs 25 crore project.
DJB was lately facing a major problem in disposal of sludge at all its STPs and the sludge, a form of hazardous waste, had been piling up at the plants. Hence the idea of producing biogas at several STPs emanated. The production of biofuel is to take place for the first time in India. The Memorandum of Understanding The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Swedish government for upgrading its sewage treatment plant at Keshopur, with a capacity of 72 million gallons a day, for the purpose of producing biogas.
The two-year pilot project which is the first of its kind in India, proposed to use the fumes produced during the sewage treatment process and convert it to compressed biogas that would be fully compatible with Delhis grid of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). The DJB will then use the gas to fuel over 120 DTC buses at the Keshopur filling station. The CApure system, being provided by Lackeby Water AB - Division Purac Puregas, will be designed for a minimum methane leakage and will lead to an emission reduction of 10000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
As per the MoU, a detailed project report is to be developed after which a special purpose vehicle will be created for the purpose of implementing the project. Keshopur Plant The Keshopur STP can produce up to 25000m3 gas per day. Keshopur has a treatment capacity of 72 million liters per day. The estimated gas production at Keshopur is 25,000 cubic meters per day it would be sufficient to fuel a fleet of 120 DTC buses
Veteran Batsman Rahul Dravid to be given Polly Umrigar Award for India's Best Cricketer of 2010-11
Veteran batsman Rahul Dravid was selected for the Polly Umrigar Award for India's best cricketer of 2010-11 season. He will receive his award during the BCCI's annual awards ceremony to be held on 10 December 2011 in Chennai. He will be honoured with a trophy and prize of Rs 5 lakh. Dravid, who scored 1258 runs in 15 Tests at an average of 53 this season, pulled off six hundreds during 201011. Dravid was the star of India's tour of England in 2011, though Indiad 0-4 defeat in the series cost India the top spot in the ICC Test rankings.
India women's team captain Jhulan Goswami is also to be honoured at the annual awards. The pacer will be awarded the M A Chidambaram Best Woman Cricketer of 2010-11 trophy for claiming 21 wickets in eight matches.
During the BCCI's annual awards ceremony, honours will also be conferred upon the following cricketers: Col. C K Nayudu Lifetime Achievement award: Ajit Wadekar Madhavrao Scindia Award (Highest Scorer in the Ranji Trophy 2010-11): S Badrinath (922 runs at a rate of 131.71 in nine matches, inclusive of four centuries and three half centuries)
Madhavrao Scindia Award (Highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy 2010-11): Bhargav Bhatt (47 wickets at an average of 21.57 in nine matches, inclusive of four 5WI and one 10WM).
MA Chidambaram Trophy (Best Under-16 cricketer of 2010-11): Vijay Zol (858 runs at an average of 85.8 in seven matches, inclusive of four centuries and two half-centuries)
MA Chidambaram Trophy (Best Under-19 cricketer of 2010-11): Avi Barot (971 runs at an average of 88.27 in seven matches, inclusive of four centuries and three half-centuries)
MA Chidambaram Trophy (Best Under-22 cricketer of 2010-11): Suryakumar Yadav (721 runs at an average of 80.11 in seven matches, inclusive of two centuries and four half centuries)
MA Chidambaram Trophy (Best woman cricketer of 2010-11): Jhulan Goswami (21 wickets at an average of 7.62 in eight matches, inclusive of one 5WI)
MA Chidambaram Trophy (Best woman cricketer (junior) of 2010-11): Mona Meshram (623 runs at an average of 103.83 in eight matches, inclusive of one century and five half centuries). Best Umpire in Domestic cricket 2010-11: S Ravi Dilip Sardesai Award for India's Best Cricketer in the 2011 Test series in the West Indies: Ishant Sharma (22 wickets at an average of 16.8 from three Tests, inclusive of two 5WIs and one 10WM) Dilip Sardesai Award for India's Best Cricketer in the 2011-12 Test series against the West Indies: To Be Decided at the end of the ongoing Test series Lala Amarnath Award for the Best all-rounder in the Ranji Trophy 2010-11:Iqbal Abdulla (385 runs and 27 wickets from 8 matches)
Lala Amarnath Award for the Best all-rounder in the Domestic Tournaments 2010-11: Sumit Narwal (163 runs and 13 wickets from 6 matches) Best Overall Performance in 2010-11: Railways Sports Promotion Board and Delhi and District Cricket Association
India and the UAE signed Agreements on Security and Exchange of Prisoners
India and the United Arab Emirates on 23 November 2011 signed two key agreements. The first agreement will allow each other's convicted prisoners to serve the rest of their jail terms in their native country. It is likely to benefit 1000 Indians imprisoned in different UAE jails for various crimes. The agreement has provision that any
Indian sentenced in the UAE who is to be transferred to India should have a minimum of six months of jail term left and there should not be any pending case against him. The second agreement is related to security cooperation. The agreement seeks to increase cooperation on several issues like organized crime, combating terrorism and drug trafficking. India and UAE already have an extradition treaty.
The two key agreements were signed by UAE deputy Prime Minister and minister of interior Lt-Gen Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan and home minister P Chidambaram when the former visited India
Study in Lancet established that Anti-Cholesterol Drugs are Safe Even After Years of Use
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Report | Survey, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
A study titled Effects of 11-year mortality and morbidity of lowering LDL cholesterol with simvastatin for about five years in 20,536 high-risk individuals: a randomised control trial was published in the medical journal Lancet on 23 November 2011. The study was funded by funded by the UK Medical Research Council, British Heart Foundation, Merck and Co and Roche Vitamins.
Long-term follow-up in the 20 000-patient Heart Protection Study (HPS) found no evidence that statins increased the risk of non-vascular mortality or made patients more likely to develop cancer. The Findings According to the study, a patient on a regimen of cholesterol lowering drugs (statins) has to continue it for life. It was established that statin effects can continue even after the drugs are stopped and there were no evidence of any long-term hazards.
High levels of cholesterol, specially LDL or bad cholestero is a known risk for cardiovascular diseases. Statins are a
drug of choice for all patients with a history of heart attack, paralytic attack, brain stroke and patients with
diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking habits and a family history of cardiovascular diseases. Statins, widely
believed to be among the most used drugs in the world, have been criticised for long for side effects such as joint pain, gastrointestinal problems and nausea. According to the study, even after treatment stopped benefits persisted for at least five years without any evidence of emerging hazards. These findings provide further support for the prompt initiation and continuation of statin treatment.
The study showed that the effects of the drugs are not as transient as it was normally thought. If a patient is unwilling to continue the drug after the LDL cholesterol levels have stabilised, it can be stopped.
The finding of the study that followed patients for 11 years provides reassurance for people at risk of heart attacks who are typically prescribed such medicines indefinitely.
The study found a 23% reduction in heart attack, stroke and vascular disease after five years in those on
treatment - and the benefit persisted largely unchanged for a further six years for patients who stopped the statin use. Other popular statin medicines include Pfizer's top-selling Lipitor and AstraZeneca's Crestor. Key words- current affairs November 2011, anti-cholestrol drugs, stroke and vascular disease, cholesterol lowering drugs, medical journals, Heart Protection Study, UK Medical Research Council, British Heart Foundation
Court: Government cannot delay its Decision on the Representation made by Detenus
The Supreme Court of India ruled that the government cannot indefinitely delay its decision on the representations made by detenus under the preventive detention law as it violates the precious right to liberty of
every citizen and foreigners residing in the country. A bench of justices A K Ganguly and J S Khehar ruled in their judgement that courts are duty-bound to protect the fundamental right of liberty of the people by issuing a writ of habeas corpus for production of the detenues even if there are technical flaws in the petitions filed on their behalf.
The apex court passed the ruling quashing the detention of four women under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974
DIPP Proposed 26 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Domestic Airlines
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) on 22 November 2011 moved a Cabinet note, proposing 26 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in domestic airlines. The note is opposed to move by the Civil Aviation Ministry, which has stuck to 24 per cent FDI in domestic carriers. DIPP is of the opinion that anything below 26 percent would not attract strategic investment from foreign airlines because in that case they will not have any powers to block a special resolution in a board meeting under the Indian company laws.
The move came at a time when several domestic airlines are in complete financial mess and struggling to run their
day-to-day operations. IndiGo is the only carrier that registered a profit in 2010-11. According to lobby group Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), private airlines in India lost Rs3500 crore in the six months ended September 2011 more than the Rs2900 crore they lost in all of 2010-11. Kingfisher reported a net loss of Rs.468 crore, Jet Airlines Rs.713 crore and Spicejet Rs.240 crore for the second quarter of 2011-12 under the impact of rising AFT price and weakening rupee.
India allows overseas investment of up to 49% in Indian carriers, but foreign airlines are not allowed to invest
directly or indirectly in domestic ones due to security concerns. Non-resident Indians (NRIs) can invest 100 per cent.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) decided to set up 11-member Athletes Commission

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Sports, Miscellaneous, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on 22 November 2011 decided to set up an 11-member Athletes Commission to give more representation to sports persons in its general assembly and executive board. The 11 members will be picked by sportspersons who have qualified for the 2012 London Olympics. The outgoing IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh highlighted that the initiative was taken in keeping with the International Olympic Committee's charter.
The IOA will set up an 11-member Athletes Commission. The sportspersons selected/qualified for the London Olympics will, among themselves, select the members for the commission. Two members among the 11 will be elected to the IOA's General Assembly and one to the Executive Board. They will have the privilege of full voting rights.
An Olympic monitoring committee which will have one sportsperson, who s qualified for the London Games from each discipline, as its member is set to be launched. The IOC charter also proposed setting up of Olympian Association of India (OAI). The meeting to hold elections for the OAI was scheduled for 12 December 2011
Investments of the Foreign Institutional Investors fell 23% in Six Months

The double impact of rupee depreciation and the slide in the sensex led to a 23% fall in the value of investments of the foreign institutional investors (FIIs). The rupee has depreciated a staggering 15.6%, from the 45 level to 52 in six months. Therefore, when calculated in dollar terms, the value of all FII investments which were bought at least six months ago has also been reduced by the same percentage. the market in general has fallen with the sensex currently down by 11.2% from the 18000 level to just below 16000. In dollar terms, the total loss is a staggering 23.2%.
The fall in the valur of the FIIs was attributed to the RBIs statement that it would not intervene in the foreign exchange market. RBIs statement gave speculators the leeway to speculate against the rupee and have conveyed a wrong signal to FIIs.
On a net basis, FIIs have already taken out about Rs 2,700 crore (a little over $500 million) from the secondary market in the last five sessions. While FIIs of European origin are eager to take money out of India and remain in cash fearing further weakness in their home market, USbased FIIs are taking money out and converting it into dollars.
According to market dealers, FIIs would return only if the government can quicken its decision making process and is successful in instilling investor confidence.
UNAIDS HIV AIDS report 2011 revealed 56% Fall in the Number of New HIV Infections in India
The UNAIDS HIV AIDS report 2011 released on 21 November 2011 revealed a dramatic decrease of 56 per cent between 1996 and 2010 in the number of new HIV infections in India. India overshot treatment targets for 2012 with 4.48 lakh HIV positive patients on the lifesaving anti-retroviral therapy at present, against the target of 3.4 lakh. The report pointed out that in India, 20-40% of the eligible HIV population was actually receiving ART one of the lowest HIV treatment coverage in the world and only 40% of pregnant women had access to ART to prevent new HIV infections among children. World-wide scenerio
Worldwide, with 2.7 million new HIV infections in 2010, the number of new infections went down by 21 per cent compared to 1997. According to the new estimates, 47% (6.6 million) of the estimated 14.2 million people eligible for treatment in low- and middle-income countries were accessing ART in 2010, an increase of 1.35 million since 2009. The year 2010 saw 2.7 million new HIV infections while 1.8 million people died of AIDS-related illnesses. A massive scale up in access to HIV treatment had a dramatic effect on the lives of people everywhere. The report
pointed out that behaviour change among young people, sex workers, injectible drug users and MSM groups is the biggest reason for the fall in new HIV infections. Increased coverage of anti-retroviral therapy programmes was pronounced as the key to universal access to treatment, care and support.
It, however claimed that the number of new HIV infections continued to rise in eastern Europe and central Asia, west Asia and North Africa, while it remained stable in other regions. South and South-east Asia The report mentioned that new HIV infections had been significantly reduced or had stabilized in most parts of the world. The number of new HIV infections in south and south-east Asia dropped by more than 40% between 200610. New HIV infections among adults and children in south and south-east Asia declined from an estimated 3.8 lakh in 2001 to 2.7 lakh in 2010
HIV prevalence remained substantially lower in Asia than in some other regions In 2010, an estimated 0.1% of the population in east Asia was living with HIV, and 0.3% in south and south-east Asia. Since the epidemics peak in 1996, there has been a 40% decline in new infections in south and south-east Asia. Asian population represents the second largest grouping of people living with HIV globally, due to its absolute size. Sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the region most heavily affected by HIV in 2010 with 70 per cent of the new
infections being reported from the region. The number is 26 per cent less than at the height of the epidemic in 2007. An estimated 5.6 million people are believed to be living with HIV in South Africa alone. Eastern Europe and Central Asia The report highlighted the burgeoning HIV load of countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia where there was a
250 per cent increase between 2001 and 2010 in people living with HIV. Also it noted that that the HIV epidemic in Western and Central Europe remained stubbornly steady during the period under survey. The total number of people living with HIV in the region was 34 per cent more than the figure in 2001. More than half of the total 2.2 million HIV positive people in the area are from the US. UNAIDS Finding
According to UNAIDS and WHO estimates, 47 per cent (6.6 million) of the estimated 14.2 million people eligible for treatment in low and middle income countries had access to lifesaving ART in 2010-a rise of 1.35 million since 2009. Around 400,000 new HIV infections in children were estimated to have been averted since 1995 due to increased access to effective ART regimens
India to launch its Maiden Bid Round for Exploration of Shale Gas during the XII Plan
Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) S. K. Srivastava announced on 22 November 2011, the Indian governments decision to launch its maiden bid round for exploration of shale gas during the XII Plan (2012-17) with an aim to meet its rising energy needs. The DGH had initiated steps to identify the prospective areas for offering. As per current available data, six basins Cambay (in Gujarat), Assam-Arakan (in the Northeast), Gondawana (in central India), KG onshore (in Andhra Pradesh), Cauvery onshore and Indo Gangatic basins, hold shale gas potential.
Legislative changes would be needed for shale gas exploration. Simultaneous exploitation of different sources such as coal bed methane would also be required.
Under the current policy, exploration and production of conventional oil and gas and coal bed methane (CBM) is
allowed. However, shale gas exploration faces several challenges such as the availability of water and vast tracts of land. India's gas demand was likely to rise from 290 million standard cubic metres a day in 2012-13 to 470 mscmd in 2016-17. As against the demand, domestic supply will increase from 124 mscmd to 220-230 mscmd only. The balance will have to be met through either imports or through unconventional energy sources such as shale gas. India has signed an MoU with the U.S. for assessment of shale gas resource and is currently developing policy framework to exploitation of the resource. About Shale Gas Shale gas or natural gas trapped in sedimentary rocks (shale formations) below the earth's surface is the new focus area in the U.S., Canada and China as an alternative to conventional oil and gas for meeting the growing energy needs
Gagan Narang won 50m Rifle 3 Position Men's Event at the 55th National Shooting Championships
Gagan Narang won the 50m Rifle 3 Position men's event at the 55th National Shooting Championships on 22 November 2011. The 55th National Shooting Championships concluded at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune on 22 November 2011. Gagan had to earlier settle for silver in the air rifle and rifle prone events. However, during the 50m Rifle 3 Position men's event he achieved his personal best of 1,272 points, much above his World Cup-winning score (1,264) in Korea in 2009 and the gold medal effort at the Commonwealth Games (1,262.2) in Delhi in 2010. The Khel Ratna winner finished almost 15 points ahead of silver medallist Sanjeev Rajput. Navy's Omkar Singh on the other hand survived a scare to take home the 10m Air Pistol men's gold with a score of 676.6, ahead of Vivek Singh by one-tenth of a point.
Gartner Predicted Mobile Device Sales in India to reach 231 million units in 2012
Leading IT research and advisory company, Gartner predicted mobile device sales in India to reach 231 million units in 2012, against 213 million units in 2011 marking an increase of 8.5 per cent. The mobile handset market is expected to show steady growth through 2015 when end-user sales will surpass 322 million units. The Indian mobile device market is driven by the lowest call rates in the world and dominated by low-cost devices, which account for 75 per cent of overall sales in India in 2011. According to Gartner, the Indian mobile device market is competitive with more than 150 manufacturers selling devices to consumers. While most of the local and Chinese manufacturers have remained focussed on low-cost
devices, some manufacturers have built capabilities to deliver smartphone devices and even ventured into other global markets. The average selling price of a mobile device is about $45 with 75 per cent of devices sold costing below $75. Smartphone sales in India made up 6 per cent of total device sales in the first three quarters of 2011, and the share is expected to increase to 8 per cent in 2012.
India accounts for about 12 per cent of worldwide sales and is an important market for device manufacturers, with
aspirations to grow their global market share. Due to its sheer size and open market, it has attracted many global mobile device manufacturers. Gartner also mentioned in its study that with the growing influence of local handset players in the low-end segment, the position of the traditionally stronger, big global players weakened. The mid- to high-end market is believed to be getting increasingly competitive too, with greater focus from global players on the Indian market, and the launch of competitively-priced midrange and high-end devices.
India-Bangladesh Home Secretary Level Talks concluded in New Delhi

The 12th meeting of the Home Secretaries between India and Bangladesh was concluded on 21 November 2011 in New Delhi. The Indian delegation was led by R.K. Singh, Union Home Secretary while the Bangladesh delegation was led by Monzur Hossain.The two sides issued a joint statement at the conclusion of the talks. Following are the main features of the joint statement:
Both nations reiterated their commitment to further expand and strengthen mutual cooperation in the security and border related issues. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment not to allow the territory of either country to use for any activity inimical to each others interests.
It was agreed that current level of engagement between the two countries needs to be further consolidated for mutual benefits. Both sides agreed to operationalise Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), Transfer of Sentenced Persons (TSP), Agreement on Combating Organized Crime and Illegal Drug Trafficking which were signed during the visit
of Prime Minister of Bangladesh to India in January 2010 and to implement the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) signed during the visit of Minister of Home Affairs of India to Bangladesh in July 2011.
Both sides agreed that Extradition Treaty, under consideration by both the Governments, may be finalized at an early date.
Bangladesh side sought assistance of Indian side in tracking, apprehending and handing over of the killers of the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. India and Bangladesh reviewed the functioning of the nodal points for sharing of information on security related matters and expressed their satisfaction in this regard.
Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to take immediate action on the basis of real time and actionable information through nodal points of the two countries.
Both sides agreed to develop mechanisms to further hasten the process of verification of nationality status of prisoners lodged in jails of either country, particularly of those who have completed their sentence, to enable their early repatriation. Both sides agreed to provide consular access for expediting verification of nationality of the persons lodged in
jails. In order to further intensify people to people contact, both sides agreed to discuss visa related issues in the next meeting of the Revised Travel Agreement, which would be held soon. Both sides noted with appreciation the firing incidence has considerably reduced along the international border. Both sides agreed that utmost restraint would be exercised to avoid human casualty. Indian side appreciated the cooperation extended by Bangladesh side to prevent smuggling of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) into India. Both sides agreed to further enhance level of cooperation and vigilance in this regard.
Both sides also discussed the urgency of stopping the smuggling of narcotics and psychotropic substances. Both sides seriously took into cognizance the menace of human trafficking, particularly women and children
along Indo-Bangladesh border. Both sides agreed that the two Task Forces under the respective Ministries need to meet on a regular basis for better coordination aiming to combating this social menace. Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in capacity building of Police and other law enforcement agencies.
Both sides agreed that the next Home Secretary level Talks would be held in Dhaka, the date of which would be decided through diplomatic channels
Delhi Government decided to set up Liquor Shops at the IGI Airport Terminal 3
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, State, Delhi, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
The Delhi state government on 21 November 2011 decided to set up liquor shops at the lounge of IGI Airport terminal 3, Delhi to increase its revenue. The passengers arriving in Delhi by international flights will only have access to these shops. The state government decided that there should be amendment to the Central Excise Act 2010, which will allow setting up liquor shops at airport. The IGI airport will be granted L-10 license for setting up of liquor shops at its lounge
India was elected to the UNs Joint Inspection Unit (JIU)

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, International | World, 2011 Current Affairs
India was elected to the United Nations' Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and returned to this oversight body after a gap of 35 years. Indias five-year term with the body will start from 1 January 2013. India defeated China to get a place on the JIU. India won with a clear majority of 106 votes out of the 183 cast, while China got 77 votes. India had served only once on the JIU, 35 years ago from 1968 to 1977. Countries are elected to the JIU for five years and extend their term for another five years. China had held its seat for 10 years and its term was to expire in December 2012.
The JIU is an independent external oversight body of the United Nations system, mandated to conduct evaluations, inspections and investigations. It is composed of not more than 11 Inspectors serving for a term of five years.
Former India Captain Ajit Wadekar to be Honoured with Col C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award
Former India cricket captain Ajit Wadekar was selected for the Col C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement award. Former India captain Ajit Wadekar will be honoured with the Col C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement trophy at the
annual Indian Cricket Board awards ceremony to be held in Chennai on 10 December 2011. The award is to comprise a trophy, citation and cheque for Rs. 15 lakhs. Ajit Wadekars Cricket Carrer The former Indian cricket captain was first introduced to Test cricket in a match against Garry Sobers' West Indies in the 1966-67 season. Wadekar represented India in 37 Tests and scored 2113 runs.
Wadekar made his first-class debut for Mumbai in the late fifties. Wadekar was also a part of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi's team that defeated New Zealand 3-1 to register India's first-ever Test series win overseas. Wadekar was appointed the captain of the national team in early 1971 and that became a turning point in the history of Indian cricket. In an unprecedented achievement, Wadekar led India to consecutive series victories against the formidable West Indies and England on their own grounds. This was an unprecedented achievement as never before had India won a Test match or series in the Caribbean and England. He had led Mumbai to Ranji Trophy triumphs in 1968-69, 1969-70, 1971-72 and 1972-73. He retired from both international and first-class cricket in 1974. He was Indian team's cricket manager from 1992-93 to 1995-96 and the Chairman of the All India Senior Selection Committee in 1998-99. C K Nayudu Lifetime Achievement award winners list: Lala Amarnath (1994), Syed Mushtaq Ali (1995), Capt. Vijay Hazare (1996), K.N. Prabhu (1997) Polly Umrigar (1998) Col. Hemachandra Adhikari (1999) Subhash Gupte (2000), Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (2001), Bhausaheb Nimbalkar (2002), Chandrakant Borde (2003), B.S. Bedi, B. Chandrasekhar, EAS Prasanna, S. Venkataraghvan (2004), Nariman Contractor (2007), Gundappa Viswanath (2008), Mohinder Amarnath (2009), Salim Durrani (2011)
Indian Rupee hit All-time Low at Rs. 52 per dollar on 22 November 2011
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The rupee fell to an all-time low on 22 November 2011 as oil refiners and other companies rushed to buy dollars in the midst of swelling current account deficit and fears over the global economy and eurozone. Exposure to short-term portfolio flows, a rising oil import bill and worsening government finances heightened the risk of the rupee which has been Asia's worst-performing currency in 2011.
The Indian rupee commenced in the lower ranges of Rs. 52 per dollar levels through 23 November 2011 as well. Rupee was seen plunging to record lows since 21 November 2011 having breached the so far all time lows of 52.06, seen on 5 March 2009.
In the spot currency market, the Indian unit was trading at around 52.22, up almost 21 paise or 0.40% as compared to previous close at 52.43. FIIs sold Indian shares worth Rs. 952.68 crore on 22 November 2011, as per the provisional data from the stock exchanges. India's key benchmark BSE Sensex was at one moment down near 234 points at around 15831 while S&P CNX Nifty was lower by almost 75 points at around 4737.
The US Dollar Index, which measures the performance of the U.S. unit against six currencies was up 0.24%, at around 78.45 levels. Among Asian currencies, the Taiwan dollar was found to be down 0.26% at 30.38, the South Korean lost 0.38% at 1149.65 while the Indonesian Rupiah fell 0.88% at 9125.00 as against the US dollar.
Key benchmark indices dropped to 7-week lows at the onset of the trading session as a poor manufacturing
survey from China and weaker-than-expected US economic growth raised fresh worries about the global growth. The barometer index, BSE Sensex, fell below the psychological 16000 on 23 November 2011.
Australian Cricket Board appointed Mickey Arthur as Head Coach of Australias National Cricket Team
Australian Cricket Board on 22 November 2011 announced the appointment of Mickey Arthur as the head coach of Australias national cricket team. Arthur became the first foreign head coach of the Australian team. He was appointed to remain in charge of Australias team until after the 2015 World Cup, being hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Arthur replaced Tim Nielsen, who opted not to apply for the position after an extensive independent review in
early 2011 in the wake of Australias home Ashes series loss to England. Arthur was chosen ahead of other contenders such as former Australian test players Steve Rixon and Tom Moody who both have experience as coaches of national teams and Justin Langer.
As the head coach Arthur will be responsible for planning, preparing coaching staff and taking joint responsibility with captain Michael Clark for the team performances.
Arthur played 110 first-class matches in South Africa before moving into coaching and had gathered vast
experience in the domestic competition before taking over as Proteas head coach in 2005. Arthur coached South Africa from 2005 to 2010, leading them to a first series victory in England for 43 years and a maiden series win in Australia.
He had also coached Western Australia in Australias domestic competition
Pro-democracy Demonstrators called for Protest in Cairos Tahrir Square

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Places in News, News Capsule, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
Tahrir Square: Tahrir Square is a major public town square in Downtown Cairo, Egypt. Pro-democracy demonstrators in Cairo called for a million-strong protest in the Egyptian capital's Tahrir Squarr
against the interim military regime. The mass rally was organised by similar groups and activists involved in the
uprising in February. Tens of thousands of people had packed into Tahrir Square as clashes with police and soldiers continued. The protesters are demanding an end to military rule, which has been in place since Hosni Mubarak was ousted as President in February 2011. The Tahrir square was originally called Ismailia Square after the 19th-century ruler Khedive Ismail. After the Egyptian Revolution of 1919 the square became known as Tahrir (Liberation) Square
USA removed the Inaccurate Maps of India and Pakistan from its Website
The US State Department removed the inaccurate maps of India and Pakistan from its website, which did not reflect the correct boundary and geographical locations. The map contained some inaccuracies and wasn't drawn properly. The USA will put up a new map on the website that is accurate. Earlier, India had lodged a protest against the inaccurate maps.
EU Agreed to a 2 Percent Budget Rise for 2012 to 129 Billion Euros

European Union negotiators on 19 November 2011 agreed to a two percent rise in the bloc's budget for 2012 to 129 billion euros (174 billion US dollars). The deal was seen as a victory for cash-strapped nations struggling with Europe's debt crisis, which had opposed demands by EU lawmakers to increase the budget by more than 5 percent. More than two thirds of the EU budget
is spent on subsidies for farmers and regional aid funds, which provide financial aid to road construction, environmental cleanups and other projects.
UP Assembly passed a Resolution to divide the State into Four Parts

Current Affairs Category: Uttar Pradesh, November 2011 Current Affairs, State, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
The Uttar Pradesh assembly on 21 November 2011passed a resolution seeking to divide the state into four parts namely; Purvanchal, Pashchim Pradesh, Avadh Pradesh, and Bundelkhand and forwarded it to the Centre. The procedure laid down by Article 3 of the Constitution of India for formation of new states is given below: 1. Union Cabinet to clear a bill which is sent to the President 2. President refers bill to legislature of the concerned state for expressing its views in the form of a resolution within a specified time
3. Irrespective of the resolution, President may recommend the bill to Parliament
4. New state comes into existence only after bill is passed by both Houses of Parliament and President gives assent
Former Telecom Minister Sukhram sentenced to 5 years in Jail for Telecom Scam
A Delhi court on 18 November 2011 held former telecom minister Sukh Ram guilty of misusing his official position when he was a member of the PV Narasimha Rao Cabinet and giving undue favour to a cable supply company. Sukh Ram was awarded five years of rigorous imprisonment for accepting a bribe of Rs. three lakh and showing undue favour to a private firm in 1996. Apart from the five-year jail term, he will also have to pay a fine of Rs. 4 lakh. He was a part of the Congress at the Centre when the scams took place. During his tenure as Telecom Minister in P V Narasimha Rao's Cabinet he had given a contract worth Rs. 30 crore to a private firm, Haryana Telecom Limited (HTL), to supply 3.5 Lakh Conductor Kilometers (LCKM) of Polythene Insulated Jelly Filled (PIJF) cables to the telecom department.
Special CBI Judge RP Pandey convicted 84-year-old Sukh Ram under various provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act and section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code in the 15-year old case.
The CBI, in its chargesheet filed in 1998, had accused Sukh Ram of allegedly showing undue favour in supply of excess quantity of cable and acceptance of Rs 3 lakh. Two cases were filed against Sukh Ram after suitcases stuffed with cash were seized from his government residence in New Delhi and private home in Mandi in August 1996. In 2009, he was held guily of possessing disproportionate assets worth . 4.25 crore.
In 2002, he was awarded a three-year jail term under the Prevention of Corruption Act in an equipment supply case for causing a loss of Rs 1.66 crore to the state exchequer.
In 1997, he had floated Himachal Vikas Congress. He was inducted in the cabinet of BJP-HVC government led by
Prem Kumar Dhumal on March 24, 1998, but had to resign when charges were framed against him in corruption cases
Revised Concept Paper on Taxation of Services on the Basis of Negative List Presented
The governments indirect taxes body released in November 2011 a revised concept paper on taxation of services on the basis of a negative list, making some additions and deletion to the first paper published in August 2011. 22 services will be under the negative list, or exempt from tax, as against 27 proposed in the earlier draft. India currently specifies the services that will be taxed. The shift to a negative list will mean that all services
except those mentioned in the list will be taxed, providing clarity on services that will be taxed and widening the
service tax base. The major sectors that remain excluded from services tax are financial sector, education, social welfare services, health and certain notified services provided by the government. The revised concept paper proposed to exempt from tax healthrelated services, those relating to agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry and passenger travel by non-AC second-class trains, metro and monorails. The
negative list also includes include services like funeral, burial and mortuary agencies, interest paid on deposits by bank, services provided by independent journalists, dividend on investments, and transport of passenger in public transport.
Services are currently taxed at 10% rate. The negative list approach will also help widen the tax base for services. The services sector constitutes more than 50% of GDP but service taxes are only 4-5% of GDP. Experts opined that the measure was from the fiscal front but bad for the industry. The incidence of indirect taxes is already very high in the country.
Supreme Court said No to Compromise Deals in Serious Offences

Supreme Court of India ruled that serious offences like attempt to murder cannot be settled through compromise deals and the accused must suffer conviction and imprisonment. A bench including Justice BS Chauhan and Justice TS Thakur gave the judgment. The accused were awarded three years imprisonment under section 307 IPC (attempt to murder) in a property dispute case with their uncle Veerajis family.
The accused are the sons of Gulab Das, brother of Veeraji. The convicts had appealed in the Madhya Pradesh High Court which dismissed their petition, upon which they moved the apex court.
Costlier Food and Clothing pushed up Consumer Price Index (CPI) by 0.97% in October 2011
According to government data released on 18 November 2011, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was pushed up by 0.97% in October 2011 due to costlier food and clothing. The CPI based on retail prices stood at 113.1 points
in September. At the all-India level, the CPI for food, beverages and tobacco went up by 1.06% to 114.4 points in October from 113.2 points in September. The main increase was seen in the prices of vegetables, with the index rising by 2.98% month-onmonth to 120.8 points, while the index for milk and milk product rose 1.52% to 120.4 points. Analysis The All-India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers (Base: 1986-87=100)
for October 2011 increased by 4 points and 6 points respectively to stand at 619( Six hundred and nineteen) points for Agricultural Labourers and 620 (Six hundred and twenty) points for Rural Labourers.
The rise in index varied from State to State. In case of Agricultural Labourers, it recorded an increase between 1 to 11 points in all the 20 States. Haryana with 690 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with the index level of 514 points stood at the bottom.
In case of Rural Labourers, it recorded an increase between 1 to 10 points in all the 20 States. Haryana with 683 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with the index level of 535 points stood at the bottom.
The Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers in respect of Himachal Pradesh State registered the maximum increase of 11 points mainly due to increase in the prices of rice, wheat atta, pulses, milk, ghee, vegetables & fruirs, sugar, electricity charges and anacin. The Consumer Price Index Numbers for Rural Labourers
in respect of Karnataka State registered the maximum increase of 10 points mainly due to increase in the prices of jowar, ragi, milk, vegetables & fruits, pan leaf and anacin.
Consumer price index (CPI), the main gauge of inflation, increased by 6.71 percent year-on-year in October 2011 spurred by higher transport and food prices, especially for fresh fish and meat. For the 12 months ended October 2011, the average composite CPI increased by 5.34 percent from the previous period.
Miscellaneous goods and services was the category of prices that registered the highest increase (over 10 percent), while food and non-alcoholic beverages and transport on account of dearer prices of gasoline, gold jewellery, fresh fish and fresh pork registered increases of 9.75 percent and 9.23 percent, respectively. In contrast, the price index of communication decreased by 14 percent year-on-year. About CPI Current CPI weights were introduced in January 2009 and is based on the 2005/06 survey. The CPI will be reweighted four years after its last re-weighting, not according to the international norm of every five years. Stats SA's Living Conditions Survey (LCS) will be used to update CPI weights every three years, starting in 2016.
The CPI and PPI are indices compiled from the prices of weighted baskets of either consumer goods, like the goods people buy in supermarkets, or producer goods, like the goods which leave a factory after production. The indices have a base year, for which it is set at 100. The monthly changes in the levels of the CPI and PPI are expressed as percentages, which is commonly known as the inflation rate for consumers or production.
Eight Indians featured in Thinkers 50, a Bi-annual Global Ranking of 50 Most Influential Thinkers
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Miscellaneous, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011
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Eight Indians made it to Thinkers 50, a bi-annual global ranking of 50 most influential thinkers. The list compiled by consultancy Crainer Dearlove promoted by Stuart Crainer and Des Dearlove was released in November 2011.
The list of the final 50 was arrived at by panelists who relied on criteria such as originality of ideas,practicality of ideas,presentation style,written communication,loyalty of followers,business sense,international outlook,rigor of research,impact of ideas and the elusive guru factor.
At No. 3 is Indian- Vijay Govindarajan, a professor of international business at the Tuck School of Business at
Dartmouth College in the US, while Nitin Nohria, dean of the Harvard Business School, came in at No. 13 on the list. Govindarajan, author of The Other Side of Innovation that focuses on how to turn an innovative idea into a successful commercial business, moved up from 24th position in the 2009 list and 23rd position in the 2007 list. Others Indians in the list include Nirmalya Kumar, professor at London Business School, at number 26, Pankaj Ghemawat, professor at IESE Business School in Spain, at number 27, chief executive of IT firm HCL Technologies, Vineet Nayar at number 40 and Sudhir Choudhury at number 50. Sheena Iyengar, a professor at Columbia Business School, and Rakesh Kurana, a professor at Harvard Business School also made it to the list at 48 and 41 ranks respectively.
Nirmalya Kumar is known for his works around Indias rise as an economic force while Nayar is known for his management strategy Employees First, Customers Second, that has recently gotten the attention of management gurus.
Professor Clayton Christensen of Harvard Business School topped the 2011 Thinkers50 list. Christensen, the author of several best-selling books including The Innovators Dilemma, topped the list for the first time. At two in the 2011 ranking are the INSEAD professors W Chan Kim and Rene Mauborgne. Kim and Mauborgne, Korean and American respectively, are the authors of Blue Ocean Strategy and a string of highly influential Harvard Business Review articles. Thinkers 50 Founded in 2001, Thinkers 50 is a highly coveted recognition in the world of business management. Late CK Prahlad, known for his work Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid topped the list in 2007 and 2009. Well known management thinker Peter Drucker topped the list 2001 and 2003
Former Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi's Son, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi captured near Obari
Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's second and highest-profile son, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was captured along with several bodyguards by fighters near the town of Obari in Libya's southern desert. Saif was captured
when two aides were trying to smuggle him out to neighbouring Niger. Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the fugitive son of Libya's deceased former dictator was taken to an army base in the town of Zintan, 90 miles south-west of Tripoli.
Abdullah al-Senussi, former intelligence chief in Gaddafi's regime was also arrested on 20 November 20-11. He has been detained on charges of crimes against humanity in cracking down on anti-Gaddafi protests.
The ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) head Abdul Hafid Ghoga declared that Saif will be tried in Libya and
not in the International Court of Justice in Hague. Saif, who had been on the run for months since forces of the NTC took over Tripoli in late August 2011 is wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity. The ICC issued warrants on 27 June 2011 against Saif, his father and Abdullah al-Senussi, former intelligence chief in Gaddafi's regime. Born in 1972, Saif is the oldest of seven children of Muammar and Safia Gaddafi. He drew western backing in previous years by touting himself as a liberal reformer but then staunchly backed his father in the brutal crackdown on rebels in the regime's final days. Saif fled Libya after forces loyal to Libya's new rulers captured and apparently killed Muammar Gaddafi in Sirte.
Supreme Court: Divorced Woman cant be evicted from Home

The Supreme Court of India ruled that a Hindu Woman cannot be evicted from the matrimonial home after divorce except through procedure sanctioned by law. The law does not have provision for the automatic eviction of a woman after divorce. Although a woman does not have a legal right to continue in the house of the ex-husband, the latter cannot use force to evict her.
A Supreme Court bench including Justice GS Singhvi and Justice SD Mukhopadhyay gave the judgment. The court
gave the ruling while upholding an appeal filed by Ranjit Kaur. Kaur in her appeal had challenged the decisions of the Punjab and Haryana HC, which had upheld her eviction from the house of her husband after divorce.
First Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru joined the Elite Club of Singapore
India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru joined the elite club of Singapore christenedFriends to our Shore on 20 November 2011. Only four other world personalities are members of the coveted club. The club is in memory of their contribution to shaping the contemporary world history and their strong connection to Singapore. The measure was initiated by the Singapore National Heritage Board. The other four members in the list are- Polish-English writer Joseph Conrad (2004), Father of modern Vietnam Ho Chi Minh (2008), Filipino revolutionary leader Jose Rizal (2008) and Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping (2010). The bust of Nehru was unveiled on the banks of the Singapore river by the Indian PM Manmohan singh who visited Singapore for a bi-lateral discussions.
Nehru visited Singapore thrice and the first was in May 1937 as part of his pan-Malayan tour. Nehrus presence in the elite club of Singapore will reinforce the historic Indian connection in Singapore where the Indian National Army led by Subhas Chandra Bose took birth.
Karnataka emerged Overall Champion of the 65th National Aquatics Meet in Ranchi
Karnataka emerged the overall champion of the five-day 65th National aquatics meet which concluded on 20 November 2011 in Ranchi. Karnataka won mens team championship (swimming) with 164 points. Karnataka also won the womens team championship with 163 points.
Karnataka swimmers won a whopping 23 gold, 11 silver and nine bronze medals. Karnataka's Saurabh Sangvekar set the best Indian time in 1500m, clocking 15:51.10s on the final day of the meet at the Veer Budhu Bhagat Stadium. This marked the 17-year-old's second National record of the meet.
Aaron D'Souza and Richa Mishra of Police were crowned the best swimmers of the meet. Both won five individual gold medals and broke three records. Karnataka emerged the overall champion by collecting 327 points. Maharashtra ended second with 176 points and Railways (143) third. In the MensWaterpolo category Services defeated Railways to gold. Railways stood second and Police stood thirs in this category. In the Womens Waterpolo category, kerala stood first, Police second and Maharashtra third.
IBSA gifted Multipurpose Sports Center to the Palestinian Authority

The IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) gifted a sports centre to the Palestinian Authority in November 2011. Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed, Ambassador Paulo Cordeiro de Andrade Pinto of Brazil and South Africa's
Deputy Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Marius Fransman attended the inauguration ceremony in Ramallah, Palestine for the occasion. India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Multipurpose Sports Center was constructed in Ramallah with the funding of IBSA Forum. It is the first IBSA project in the entire Middle East. The sports centre is the first project completed through IBSA funding and two more IBSA-funded projects are in progress -rehabilitation of the Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza and construction of a Centre for People with Special Needs in Nablus.
India, along with Brazil and South Africa, consistently supported Palestine's cause. In 1975, India was the first non-Arab state to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation and five years later gave full diplomatic recognition to its office in New Delhi. In 1988, India recognised the state of Palestine.
India has been steadfast in its support for the Palestinian people's struggle for a United State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as the capital, as per the relevant U.N. resolutions, the Arab Peace Initiative and Quartet road map. Ahamed who reached Palestine on 18 November 2011 handed over a cheque of $1 million as India's annual contribution for 2011-12 to be utilised for food for 50 school days to 76,000 students attending U.N.-funded schools in Gaza.
Sushil Ghaley won Gold in 50m Rifle Event at the 55th National Shooting Championship
Army marksman Sushil Ghaley won gold in the 50m rifle prone event at the 55th National Shooting Championship on 20 November 2011 in Pune. Ghaley outplayed Commonwealth Games champion Gagan Narang to win the gold medal.
Ghaley qualified for the finals with an impressive score of 596, and then logged 699.4 points in summit round to edge out Air India's Narang.
Narang is a two-time individual winner of the 50m rifle 3-position at the CWG (2006 Melbourne and 2010 Delhi).
He got the silver with 696.8, while Navy shooter Rajput had won the prone bronze in 2006 CWG at Melbourne, was beaten to the fourth spot by Army's Shivaji More who came third. Gagan Narang of Air India (696.8) and Shivaji More of Army (695.1) got the silver and bronze respectively.Narang fired a high 10.9 in the fourth and dipped to 9.8 just once in the sixth, settling for second place in the face of
Ghaley's streak of 10-pluses. More got it right with 10.8 on the 10th and last shot but two poor shots earlier pulled him down to third slot
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Indonesia and Singapore

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Person on Visit, News Capsule, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 21 Nov 2011 To 27 Nov 2011 Share|
The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Indonesia from 17 November 2011 to 19 November 2011 and Singapore on 19-20 November 2011. The Prime Minister attended the 9th ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits at
Bali in Indonesia. He also held bilateral talks with US President Barack Obama, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. Manmohan Singh also met Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard and President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the sidelines of the Summits.
The biggest gathering of Asian countries in Bali, Indonesia sought domination of economic agenda of interest to their region. The Asian leaders met with confidence and new optimism, obviously so as they were meeting at a
time when European economies were showing signs of stress. Asian countries expressed confidence that they were growing and even contributing to the recovery of world economy. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stated that Asian countries have stake in early resolution of euro zone crisis and should send a message of solidarity to Europe.
In the second leg of his tour, the Prime Minister visited Singapore, where he held bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong. Lee supported India's permanent membership in the UN Security Council. He opined that Singapore looks forward to India playing a more active role in global affairs. Manmohan Singh invited greater investment from Singapore for India's ambitious infrastructure plans. He also unveiled the bust and commemorative marker of the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, at the Asian Civilizations museum.
The Modified Tatkal Scheme for Booking of Train Tickets Came into Effect
The modified Tatkal scheme for booking of train tickets came into effect from 21 November 2011. Under the new scheme announced by Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi in the third week of November 2011, the reservation period was reduced to one day from the earlier two days. The scheme also restricts the agents from booking the ticket under the tatkal quota from 8 am to 10 am. Tatkal tickets will now only be issued on production of identity proof at the counter.
New Labour Laws in Oman for the Welfare of Workers

In Oman, many changes were introduced in the new labour laws for the welfare of workers. Two weekly offs have been made mandatory for workers in all private firms. The holidays can be on any day mutually decided by the firms and workers. The maximum number of work hours a day has been fixed at nine hours a day. An employee can be asked to work extra hours, provided the total does not exceed 12 hours a day. The employer should give the employee the basic salary for the hour plus 25 per cent for the extra hours during day shifts and 50 per cent for the extra hours during night shifts.
The new Omani Law provides for 30 days of paid leave annually and an emergency leave of six days. It has also brought labour friendly amendments regarding dismissal or termination of service of an employee. The companies that do not comply with the prescribed Oman rules, would be penalized.
Fujitsu to open its Fourth Delivery Centre in Bangalore

Current Affairs Week: 14 Nov 2011 To 20 Nov 2011
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Corporate, News , 2011 Current Affairs
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Fujitsu on 18 November 2011 announced that it would expand its footprint in India by opening a new delivery centre in Bangalore. Fujitsu will now have four delivery centres in India. Fujitsu is the third largest IT services company in the world.
China signed a Contract with ISA to explore Ore Deposits in Indian Ocean
China on 18 November 2011 signed a contract with ISA (International Seabed Authority) to gain rights to explore polymetallic sulphide ore deposits in Indian Ocean over the next 15 years. The exploration contract was signed between China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development
Association and International Seabed Authority (ISA). ISA is an inter-governmental body with observer status in the United Nations. Through this contract, the Chinese association won exclusive rights to explore a 10000 square kilometres of international seabed in the southwest Indian Ocean.
The Chinese association will have to give up 75 per cent of the ore deposit region within 10 years before it exercises pre-emptive rights of commercially mining the remaining 2500 square kilometres as per the contract. Moreover, the Chinese association will also have to conduct environmental monitoring, environmental baseline
research and to train scientific workers for other developing countries.
This is the second time China has gained the right to explore an international seabed ore deposit. In 2001, China got the rights to mine a 75000 square kilometres area of international seabed for polymetallic nodule ore in the northeast Pacific Ocean.
The Directorate of Naval Intelligence (DNI) expressed its reservations to the Indian government about the contract. It could provide an excuse for China to operate its warships and compile data on the vast mineral resources in India's backyard.
Rice with Radiation Levels exceeding the Safety Limits was detected in Japan
In Japan, rice with radiation levels exceeding the country's safety limits was discovered for the first time since the nuclear disaster at Fukushima in the Tsunami in early 2011. The Japanese government is considering banning all shipments from the area where it was detected. Rice with radiation above the official safety limits was detected in a sample from a farm in Fukushima city. The rice was being prepared for market.
Radiation was detected in food in Japan in recent months in beef, mushrooms and green tea among other products. Japan is fighting to tackling the radiation, which spread across eastern Japan by wind and rain following the damage of Fukushima Nuclear complex in the Tsunami.
Finance Ministry increased Investment Limit for FII in G-secs & Corporate Bonds by $5 billion Each
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The Finance Ministry on 17 November 2011 increased the investment limit for foreign institutional investors (FII) in government securities (G-secs) and corporate bonds by $5 billion each. The Ministrys move will enhance capital flows and increase the availability of resources for corporates. The FIIs can now invest up to $15 billion in G-secs and $20 billion in corporate bonds.
The investment limit in long-term infrastructure bonds, however was kept unchanged at $25 billion. A notification informing about the new FII investment ceilings was issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India. The enhancement is expected to increase investment in debt securities and help in further development of the
government securities and corporate bond markets in the country. The decision was taken after a review of the macroeconomic situation. the increase in investment limits became necessary as little space was available for further FII investment in Gsecs and corporate bonds. As against the FII investment ceiling of Rs.43650 crore in G-secs, foreign institutions had invested Rs.41,253 crore as of 31 October 2011.
In the case of corporate bonds, FIIs invested Rs.68289 crore as of 31 October 2011 as against the ceiling of Rs.74416 crore.
Report Titled- Gold Demand Trends Third Quarter 2011 published by World Gold Council (WGC)
According to the report titled- Gold demand trends third quarter 2011 published by World Gold Council (WGC) on 17 November 2011, demand for jewellery declined by 26 per cent to 125.3 tonnes in the third quarter of calendar year 2011 as compared to the same period in 2010. The decline in demand was attributed to retailers selling their stocks following volatility in gold prices. The third quarter of 2011 witnessed difficult times for gold, not just in India but around the world. Global gold demand in the third quarter was up 6 per cent at 1053.9 tonnes (year-on-year). While global gold jewellery market contracted by 10 per cent in the third quarter of 2011, at 465.6 tonnes, demand was only 5 per cent below quarterly average since the fourth quarter of 2008 of 490 tonnes.
In terms of value,the demand was marginally higher by 2 per cent at Rs.31,450.30 crore for the quarter under review against Rs.30,858.88 crore in the same period in 2010. The drop in demand was mainly in urban areas, while in semi-urban and rural areas it was good.
Investment demand, comprising bars, coins and ETFs (exchange traded funds), during July-September also
dropped by 18 per cent to 78 tonnes from 95.5 tonnes in the same quarter in calendar year 2010. In value terms investments in the third quarter went up by 12 per cent to Rs.19578 crore from Rs.17495 crore in the same quarter in 2010.
Imports dipped by 20 per cent to 200 tonnes from 250 tonnes in July-September period of 2010.
As per ther report, if the volatility remains moderate at about 15-20 per cent, gold imports may cross 960 tonnes. However, if the volatility continued at 30-33 per cent, reaching 900-tonne mark in 2011 will become a big achievement. Total gold imports till October 2011 stood at 753 tonnes. In 2010, total gold imports were 958 tonnes.
The recycled jewellery trade declined by 32 per cent to 15 tonnes from 22 tonnes in the third quarter of 2010. However, there has been a marginal rise in scrap jewellery since second quarter (April-June) of 2011. In the second quarter of 2011, scrap jewellery in India stood at 10 tonnes.
Slow Pace Reforms & Limited Long-term Funding Options hinder Infrastructure Development in India
According to the report, titled Can India's developing infrastructure keep pace with economic growth, published by rating agency Standard & Poor's, slow pace of reforms and limited long-term funding options negetively impact infrastructure development in India.
In the report, the rating agency analused the key factors hindering the infrastructure growth. It mentioned that
the government stepped up infrastructure spending in recent years, but a slow pace of reforms and a lack of longterm funding options were constraining the sector's growth. India's inadequate infrastructure, highlighted the report proved to be a major roadblock to the country's target of achieving a 9-9.5 per cent annual growth in 2012-17. increasing urbanisation in India in recent years resulted in manifold growth in demand for infrastructure. The demand was likely to keep increasing in step with growth in the Indian economy. In order to keep up the pace of infrastructure development, reforms were necessary to create a robust framework with transparent policies for project execution and funding. Constraints in securing clearances, land rights, and long-term funding could cause companies to fall short of their targets.
The country's power deficit is fuelling demand for energy projects, while rapid industrialisation and urbanisation
are creating an urgent need for efficient road and rail network and other improvements in infrastructure.
The 12th Five Year Plan focuses on removing some of these roadblocks and creating a sustainable frameworkfor private sector participation
Richa Mishra became First Indian Swimmer to clock the Best Indian Time in 800m Freestyle
Richa Mishra became the first woman to clock the best Indian time in 800m freestyle. On 17 November 2011, she won three gold medals at the 65th National aquatic championships (meet) at the Veer Budhu Bhagat Stadium. She became the first to win three gold medals of the meet and set two senior championship marks (800m & 200m freestyle).
Richa stood out in the afternoon session on 17 November by winning the 200m freestyle in 2:07.29 that outdid
Nisha Millet's previous best of 2:07.92s. She also ruled supreme in the 400m individual medley taking the gold in 5:05.17s. Aaron D'Souza of Karnataka (men's 200m freestyle), Railways' Sandeep Sejwal (50m breaststroke) and Tamil Nadu's A.V. Jayaveena (women's 50m breaststroke) also set record timings. Sandeep Sejwal broke his own mark
of 29.11s in the 50m breaststroke heats by clocking 28.93s. He improved it further in the final with a time of 28.35s. D'Souza stopped the clock at 1:51.38s to improve his own mark of 1:53.36 achieved at 2009 National.
Anti Erosion Measures to Protect Moisa and Belguri Villages in Assam was Approved
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Other States, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 14 Nov 2011 To 20 Nov 2011 Share|
The Planning Commission of India gave investment clearance for Anti Erosion measures to protect 2 villages, Moisa and Belguri from erosion of River Gangadhar, Assam, with an estimated cost of 14.97 Crore rupees. The project will be completed by the financial year 2012-13 and Plan account would be closed by 31 March 2013. Project may accordingly be executed as per the approved outlays in the State Annual Plans. The project proposes to provide 600 m long revetment and RCC porcupine screens along the bank as well as
across the bank at various locations. The project area consisting of thickly populated villages of Moisa, Belguri, Agomoni, Pub-Kaldoba, Bhangaduli, Maragadadhar are situated at the right bank of river Gangadhar at a distance
of about 48 km from district headquarter town of Dhubri and 300 km from Guwahati. The scheme will benefit an area of 2267 ha comprising of cultivated and homestead land
Tamil & Kannada Inscription Belonging to the Reign of Krishna III Discovered at Vallimalai
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Miscellaneous, 2011 Current Affairs
Two inscriptions belonging to the reign of the Rashtrakuta King, Krishna III, were found at Vallimalai village in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu. The inscriptions- one in Tamil and the other in Kannada were discovered by archaeologist K. Kumar while visiting Vallimalai. The two inscriptions recorded that Rashtrakuta King Krishna III gifted village to poet Appaiyan. The Tamil inscription was engraved on a granite slab. A small portion of the inscriptions that contain the image of Goddess Gajalakshmi at the top was missing.
The inscriptions record that Krishna III, while camping at Melpadi gifted Mahendrapadi as jivitham after auditing the village accounts and exempting it from all imposts, to Disai-idang Gaganadeva Appaiyan an immigrant from
Karanjikheta area in the Krishna valley. The king gifted the village to Appaiyan in recognition of his prowess as a Vikatakavi poet (vikata chakramadi). According to the Tamil inscription, Appaiyan demonstrated his prowess as vikatakavi in the assembly of poets gathered at Kancheepuram. While stipulating the conditions governing the endowment, the inscription calls Krishna III Kannaradeva.
The Kannada inscription says the endowment was made in the presence of Krishna III's feudatories, Rattas and Bitti Raja, who were staying at Melpadi. Krishna III was eulogised as Akalavarsha Deva, Prithvi Vallabha, Maha Rajathiraja, Parameshvara, Parama Bhattaraka and Chaleka Nallathan.
The importance of these inscriptions, which are Krishna III's two earliest stone inscriptions discovered so far, mention his presence at Melpadi, a fact otherwise known only through copper plate charters, says Dr. Kumar. Other Findings The Karhad copper plates in Kannada from Maharashtra gives detail about Krishna IIIs distribution of the spoils of war among his men at his military camp at Melpadi after defeating Rajaditya in Takkolam.
The Athakur (near Mysore) inscription of Krishna III's son-in-law, Bhutuga II, mentioned that Rajaditya was
treacherously killed by Bhutuga II while Rajaditya was seated on his elephant. Bhutuga II took part in the Takkolam battle along with Krishna III. The recently discovered Tamil inscription also noted that Rajaditya was killed while seated on the elephant.
The Karhad plates mention that one of the aims behind Krishna III's invasion of the Chola territory was to provide livelihood for his subjects.
Thedetails known through the copper plate charters were confirmed by the recently discovered stone inscriptions at Melpadi. Hence, the discovery of these lithic inscriptions is important in the history of south India. About Vallimalai Vallimalai is situated close to Melpadi village, which served as the military encampment of the king during the middle of the 10th century C.E (Common Era). It is about 50 km from Takkolam, where the king defeated the
Chola prince Rajaditya, son of Parantaka Chola I, in a battle in 949 C.E. Vallimalai has two important Chola
temples named Arinjikai Eswaram and Somanatha Eswaram, built by Emperor Raja Raja (regnal years 985 1014 C.E.).
Food Inflation eased marginally to 10.63 per cent for the Week ended 5 November 2011
Food inflation eased marginally to 10.63 per cent for the week ended 5 November 2011. Food inflation, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), declined by 1.18 percentage points during the week under review from 11.81 per cent in the previous week ended 29 October. It stood at 11.41 per cent in the corresponding week of 2010.
The marginal decline could not bring much change in the price scenerio as prices of most commodities with the
exception of onions and wheat continued to remain firm. onions became cheaper by 22.89 per cent year-on-year, while wheat prices were down 3.63 per cent. Vegetables grew dearer by 27.26 per cent, pulses by 14.44 per cent, milk by 10.74 per cent and eggs, meat and fish by 11.73 per cent. Food Inflation- Category-wise Analysis Inflation in the overall primary articles category stood at 10.39 per cent during the week ended 5 November as against 11.43 per cent in the previous week. Primary articles have over 20 per cent weight in the WPI. Inflation in non-food articles, including fibres, oilseeds and minerals, was recorded at 5.33 per cent during the week under review, as against 6.41 per cent in the week ended 29 October 2011.
Fuel and power inflation stood at 15.49 per cent during the week ended 5 November as against 14.50 per cent in the previous week.
Persistently high food prices are likely to exert further pressure on the government and the Reserve Bank of India to tackle the situation expeditiously.
Headline inflation, which also factors in manufactured items, has been above the 9 per cent-mark since December 2010. It stood at 9.73 per cent in September 2011. The RBI has hiked interest rates 13 times since March 2010 to tame demand and curb inflation.
India won 3 Match Series with 2-0 Lead Ahead of Final Test Match against West Indies
India won the three-match series with 2-0 lead ahead of the final Test match against West Indies scheduled to be played in Mumbai from 22 November 2011. India won by an innings and 15 runs with a day to spare in the second Test that concluded in Eden Garden, Kolkata on 17 November 2011. Darren Bravo (136), Marlon Samuels (84) and skipper Darren Sammy's (32) efforts were not enough to beat India's 478-run first innings lead. The West Indies' second innings halted at 463. The key characters of the match V.V.S. Laxman and Rahul Dravid both secured century to give India a comfortable win Laxman won the Man-of-the-Match award for his unbeaten 176.
SAIL & POSCO signed MoU to Form JV for Producing Cold-rolled Non-oriented Products
Steel Authority of India (SAIL) and South Korean steel major, Posco in November 2011 signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a feasibility study to establish a joint venture company for production of cold-rolled nonoriented products.
The MoU also provides for formation of a joint venture company with FINEX technology facility at Bokaro or any other location. The feasibility report, prepared jointly by SAIL and Posco, envisages a FINEX technology-based steel plant of around 3 million tonnes annual capacity at Bokaro and other downstream steel facilities According to the MoU, based upon joint feasibility studies, definitive agreements will be entered into subject to approval of respective boards. FINEX technology is operational only in the Pohang plant (Korea) of Posco
US Army conducted the Test Flight of Advanced Hypersonic Weapon from Kauai
Kauai : US army conducted the test flight of AHW from here. It is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. It is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. The US Army on 17 November 2011 conducted the test flight of Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW) from the military's Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai. The new weapon is capable of travelling five times the speed of sound.
The weapon's glide vehicle reached Kwajalein Atoll some 3,700 kilometres away in less than half an hour. The Advanced Hypersonic Weapon is part of the military's programme to develop global strike weapons that would allow the US to strike targets anywhere in the world with conventional weapons in as little as an hour
IAEA Resolution expressed Deep and Increasing Concern about Irans Nuclear Programme
World powers on 17 November 2011 put forward a resolution at IAEA (International Atomic Energy Association), expressing deep and increasing concern about Iran's nuclear programme following a hard-hitting IAEA report. The resolution from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany (P5+1) expressed deep and increasing concern about the unresolved issues regarding the Iranian nuclear programme, including those, which need to be clarified to exclude the existence of possible military dimensions. The resolution will be discussed by the International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors
Scientists discovered Sunken Islands that linked India to Australia

Scientists discovered two sunken islands west of Australia, in the Indian Ocean, which once formed part of the last link between India and Australia. The two islands were about the size of Tasmania. They were once part of the supercontinent Gondwana and more than 1.5 kilometres underwater. The islands, called micro continents, were formed when India moved away from Australia, 130 million years ago during the Cretaceous period (when dinosaurs roamed the Earth).
collected on the voyage could help us understand better the process in which India, Australia and Antarctica broke off from Gondwana.
The scientists made the discovery while they were mapping the seafloor of the Perth Abyssal Plain. The data
Union Cabinet Nod for 26% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Pension Sector
Affairs, Hot
The Union Cabinet on 16 November 2011 agreed to partially allow foreign direct investment (FDI) to enter the pension sector to the extent of 26 per cent, as is now available in the area of insurance. The cabinet however refused to mention any sectoral cap in the proposed legislation.
In its approval to amendments in the PFRDA Bill, 2011, the Cabinet turned down the Parliamentary Standing
Committee's suggestion of providing a guarantee on assured returns on pension fund schemes. The provision with regard to the FDI cap for the pension sector was proposed to be incorporated in the regulations once the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, 2011, is enacted.
Though the government is of the view that the FDI cap in the pension (sector) should be at 26 per cent, on a par with the insurance sector, it would like to retain the flexibility of changing the cap of FDI as and when required. Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill The proposed legislation introduced in the Lok Sabha on 24 March 2011 was subsequently referred to the Standing Committee chaired by BJP leader and former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha for scrutiny. In its suggestions, the committee wanted the government not only to specify the FDI cap in the legislation itself but also provide for a minimum guaranteed return to pension subscribers.
With the Cabinet's approval of some of the amendments proposed, the PFRDA Bill, which seeks to open the pension sector to private sector and foreign investment, will be taken up for consideration and passage in the winter session of Parliament. The Cabinet turned down the committee's suggestion on providing greater flexibility to subscribers on withdrawal of funds from their accounts. The PFRDA Bill provides for the setting up of a statutory authority to undertake promotional, developmental and regulatory functions with regard to pension funds. The government decided not to mention the FDI cap in the legislation. The government has also not been able to raise the FDI ceiling in insurance from the existing 26 per cent to 49 per cent as the changes require fresh
amendments. As a result, the Insurance (Amendment) Bill has been pending approval since 2008. Once the FDI caps are mentioned in the regulations, it will be easy for the government to modify the ceilings through an executive order, as and when required
Eminent Kannada Author S. L. Bhyrappa awarded 20th Saraswati Samman for His Novel Mandra
Eminent Kannada author S. L. Bhyrappa was presented with 20th Saraswati Samman in literature for 2010 for his epic novel Mandra on 16 November 2011. The Saraswati Samman is awarded by the K. K. Birla Foundation to a work published in the last 10 years, selected from among works published in 25 Indian languages. The award carries a prize of Rs.7.5 lakh. About Bhyrappa Born on 20 August 1931 in Hassan district of Karnataka, Bhyrappa has authored twenty novels in a career spanning four decades. His first novel, Dharmashree was published in 1961.
Some of his famous works include- Gatha Janma (1955), Bheemakaaya (1958), Belaku Mooditu (1959), Doora saridaru (1962), Jalapaata (1967). His latest novels Aavarana & Kavalu was sold out even before its release. The
novel went on to create a record in Indian literary world by witnessing 10 reprints within five months of its release. Vamshavruksha, Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane, Matadana and Nayi Neralu have been made into films.
Bhyrappa also wrote tomes (a large book, especially one volume of a multi-volume scholarly work) pertaining to literature and philosophy such katavastu and Naneke bareyuttene?. as Satya mattu saundarya,Sahitya mattu prateeka, Kate
mattu
Bhyrappa was elected as the president of Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held in Kanakapura in 1999. Honours His novel Vamshavruksha received Kannada Sahitya Academy Award in 1966 and Daatu(Crossing Over) received both Kannada and Kendra Sahitya Academy awards in 1975. He also received the NTR National literary award in 2007.
About the Novel- Mandra Mandra or The Lower Musical Note published in 2002 provides a musical take on the question of art against morality and other philosophies of life. The novel explores the relation between art and other values of life through the life of a musician, his surroundings and persons who come in touch with him.
Ghaziabad ranked Second Fastest Growing City in the World after Chinas Beihai
According to a survey conducted by the City Mayors Foundation, an global think tank on urban affairs, there are 37 Indian cities among the world's 300 fastest growing urban centres. The Indian city of Ghaziabad is the second
fastest growing city in the world. The general parameter used to consider the growth of a city is the rate of its urbanization. According to the report- The Transition to a Predominantly Urban World and its Underpinnings released by International Institute for Environment and Development, eleven cities in India are amongst the 100 fastest
growing cities of the world. The 11 cities in the list of 100 fastest growing cities are- Durg Bhilai, Ghaziabad, Aurangabad, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Surat, Asansol, Dhanbad, Visakhapatnam, Faridabad. India is second to only China in this growth race.
The economic boom has been a catalyst for the fast-track development across India. India's development was
observed to have shifted from the big metropolitan cities to the smaller cities where the cost of living is much lower and the quality of life far better. The boom in the small cities is evident with these cities offering better infrastructure, better work-life balance and lucrative jobs. The speedy growth in the smaller cities are attributed to education, reduction in poverty, industrialization, IT boom, and improved health services. The Survey
The tables prepared during the survey assumed annual growth rates for cities and urban areas between 2006 and 2020. The assumptions are based on past growth/decline and forecasts by international and national statistics organisations. The reserch in this field revealed that most of the countries growing at a fast pace are the middle or low-income nations. none of the European cities feature in the list of 100 fastest growing cities. The urban population in Africa was found to exceed the urban population of North America.
Beihai in China is the fastest growing city in the world, with a population growth rate of 10.58 per cent, says the survey.
The five fastest growing cities in the world are- Beihei (China), Ghaziabad (India), Sana (Yemen), Surat (India) and Kabul (Afghanistan)
The Latest Technique in Medical Science, Dracula Therapy now Available in India
Dracula Therapy is the latest technique in medical science, being used to fight ageing with your own blood. The blood extracted from the patient processed with growth hormones in the laboratory is re-injected in the face with micro needles. The blood with growth hormones then repairs and heals scars and treats wrinkled skin without chemical or surgical procedures. This procedure was first introduced in Britain and is now available in India.
Market Capitalization of all 24 Listed Public Sector Banks below that of 15 Listed Private Banks
The combined market capitalization of all 24 listed public sector banks,which control 73% of bank deposits,is currently below that of the 15 listed private banks. On 15 November 2011, the combined market capitalization of the 24 public sector banks which include 19 nationalized banks, SBI and its three associates and IDBI was Rs 311877 crore. As against this,the market
capitalization of 14 private banks was Rs 321613 crore. This is a reversal of the position at the beginning of 2011. As on 1 April 2011, the total mkt-cap of government-owned banks was Rs 439600 crore much higher than the Rs 374218 crore for private banks.
As on end-June 2011,PSU banks accounted for 74.6% of bank deposits while private sector banks had only 18%,with the rest of the funds lying with regional rural banks and foreign banks.In matters of credit, PSU banks account for 74.9% of bank loans in the country while private banks have only a 17.6% share.
Two bad quarters of 2011-12 for State Bank of India and reports of loan restructuring and NPA worries in public sector banks hit valuations hard. HDFC Bank overtook SBI to become the most valuable bank in the country.Incidentally,SBI the largest lender in the country has contributed the most to the decline in value of public sector banks. PSU banks can work around capital constraints in the short-term by consolidation or via a relaxation in norms that require the government to hold a minimum 51% stake.There also exists larger social burden on the public sector banks because of which they have had to restructure large loans. Compared to them the private banks have been selective in their lending and have had far fewer NPAs.
RBI to buy Government Bonds worth 10000 crore from Investors to Ease Pressure on Interest Rates
The Reserve Bank of India decided to buy government bonds worth 10,000 crore from investors for the first time in the 2011-12 fiscal. The decision was taken with an objected to ease pressure on interest rates after three of the four bond sales in the July-September quarter did not have enough takers at the specified price. The central bank will buy unspecified bonds on 24 November 2011 in what is known as 'open market operations' (OMO). It last conducted such purchases on 12 January 2011for an aggregate amount of 12000 crore. The move to ease the pressure of excess demand for funds than what is available, will however contradict the central bank's anti-inflationary stance as more funds in the market add to demand, fuelling price rise. This may not be the first such injection of funds into the system by RBI to temper the government's borrowing costs as the treasury will raise the borrowing target again as revenue growth falters. The government raised borrowing target in the second half to 2.2 lakh crore from 1.67 lakh crore forecast in February 2011.
Fund availability in the system is tight with banks borrowing more than 1 lakh crore from the central bank's liquidity facility. Hence, release of 10,000 crore will ease pressure on interest rates.
Labour Ministry Survey revealed 2.15% Increse in Employment in Eight Sectors

A survey of eight sectors conducted by the labour ministry released on 16 November 2011 revealed that despite the slowdown in economic activity, employment increased marginally in April-June quarter of 2011-12. According to the survey, employment in eight sectors grew 2.15% during April-June 2011, compared to 1.74% in
the january-March quarter and 1.62% in 2010. The eight sectors added 2.15 lakh jobs during the quarter, with IT-enabled services (1.64 lakh) and metals (53,000) contributing the most.
However two sectors - textiles and transport saw a fall in employment numbers during the quarter. The textiles sector saw a 0.33% reduction in employment, while there was a 0.02% decrease in case of transport.
Auto companies and component makers added a mere 18,000 employees given the slump in sales. Gems &
jewellery, despite the robust export growth in the January-march quarter could only add 13000 more workers. The situation was far worse in leather and textiles sectors with both seeing 1000 workers each added to the workforce.
Cabinet Committee on Construction Projects
Infrastructure
approved
15
Highway
The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure on 16 November 2011 approved 15 projects for highway construction of about 1814 kilometres at an estimated cost of Rs 15680 crore. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is to undertake 10 of these projects projects whereas implementation of the rest of the projects would rest with the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh state agencies. 14 projects would be taken up on BOT-Toll model, only 1 project will need government assistance through annuity payments. Most of the projects involve 4 laning of the existing stretches.
The government is currently expediting work in Left Wing affected areas as well as North-East region, which is being implemented by the Road ministry. In the Left Wing areas, bids for 1286 kms and work for executing 524 kms has been awarded so far in 2011
Karnatakas Saurabh Sangvekar set Swimming Record at 65th Senior National Aquatic Meet
Karnatakas Saurabh Sangvekar created a national record in swimming on the first day of the 65th Senior National Aquatic meet in Ranchi on 16 November 2011. Saurabh swam to a new national record in the 800m freestyle in a time of 8:12.57 seconds.
He outdid his own record of 8:18.40 set during the Asian Age Group Swimming Championship in october 2011. Sangvekar trains with National coach Pradeep Kumar at the Basavagudi Aquatic centre in Bangalore.
Three other meet records were set on 16 November 2011. Railways Sandeep Sejwal won gold and a meet record in 200m breaststroke by clocking 2:16.37.He erased his own record of 2:17.92 set in 2010. Sejwal was also the part of gold-winning Railways team in 4x100m medley relay,which set a meet record as well.
Karnatakas 4x100 medley teams gold-winning performance came with a meet record.Rehan Poncha (200m backstroke),S P Nair (50m butterfly ) in the mens category and M Raghavi (200m breaststroke ) and Pooja R Alva (50 butterfly) in the womens category also won gold medals.
The Arab League confirmed the Suspension of Syria from the Organisation
The Arab League on 16 November 2011 confirmed the suspension of Syria from the organisation and decided to impose economic sanctions on the nation in case it refuses to accept an observer mission sent by the former. The league also asked Syria to stop the violence within three days.
The suspension of Syria was first announced by the Arab League on 12 November 2011. The U.N. estimated that more than 3500 people were killed in Syrias 8-month-old uprising.
The Arab League officially called the League of Arab States is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia (Middle East). It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan , Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a member on 5 May 1945.
Titan Industries decided to Acquire Swiss Watch Brand Favre Leuba

Current Affairs Category: Decision, November 2011 Current Affairs, Corporate, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 14 Nov 2011 To 20 Nov 2011 Share|
Titan Industries on 16 November 2011 announced its decision to acquire Swiss watch brand Favre Leuba for up to 2 million Euro (over Rs. 13 crore) as a part of its strategic business plan to expand product portfolio. Titan Industries signed a binding offer with Valfamily SL Spain and Maison Favre Leuba of Switzerland for the acquisition, post which Titan will secure global rights of the brand. Titan decisided to acquire Favre Leuba to complement and strengthen the existing watches brand portfolio of the company with a Swiss heritage brand. Favre Leuba was created in Switzerland in 1737 and has a rich history in international markets, including India.
Victoria Wood won the Top Accolade for a TV Writer at the Writers' Guild Awards
Affairs Current Affairs Week: 14 Nov 2011 To 20 Nov 2011 Share|
Current Affairs Category: Awards | Honours, November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule,2011 Current
Victoria Wood won the top accolade for a TV writer at the Writers' Guild Awards. Victoria Wood was recognised for her outstanding contribution to writing which includes comedies Dinnerladies, Acorn Antiques and Pat and Margaret. Wood is the first woman to have won the top prize at the awards, which celebrates the best writing across genres as diverse as TV, radio, film, literature and videogames.
Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy also won the award for best screenplay for their Oscar-winning film 127 Hours. While Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain and Simon Blackwell picked up best comedy for Channel 4's Peep Show.
Peter Bowker won the short-form drama award for Eric & Ernie - the story of the early careers of Morecambe and Wise, which also came from an original idea by Wood.
Casualty episode Place of Safety won best continuing TV drama for Dana Fainaru and The Shadow Line won best TV drama series.
Roy Williams's Sucker Punch - which won an Oliver award picked up best play and Lisa Evans won the prize for best play for children and young people for The Day the Waters Came.
Best radio comedy went to John Finnemore for Cabin Pressure, while Ed Harris's Troll won the best radio drama. The Writers' Guild is the trade union representing writers in TV, theatre, film, radio, videogames and books.
A Pilot Project launched in Assam to Vaccinate Girls against HPV

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, State, Other States, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 14 Nov 2011 To 20 Nov 2011 |The Assam government launched a pilot project to vaccinate girls against human papiloma virus (HPV) causing cervical cancer. 300 girls in the age group of 13 to 26 years would be vaccinated at the first phase under the project. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended vaccine, will be administered to the target group. Cervical cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer affecting women in recent times. Vaccination is the best way to prevent cervical cancer. Reports said that out of all cancer patients, about 35 percent are victims of this cancer. According to WHO, the
HPV vaccine has been found to have 100 percent effectiveness to prevent the disease. Gauhati Medical College and Hospital would administer HPV vaccine to about 300 women. After monitoring the results, the vaccination programme is likely to be extended to the other parts of the state later on. Along with vaccination, the health department also initiated an awareness programme to control the cervical cancer.
The Union Cabinet approved the Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Universities

The Union Cabinet of India on 16 November 2011 approved the official amendment tothe Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Technical Educational Institutions, Medical Educational Institutions and Universities Bill, 2010 based on the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on HRD for consideration of the Parliament. The Bill aims to provide an institutional mechanism for preventing, prohibiting and punishing unfair practices in
technical and medical educational institutions and universities. The object is to curtail the element of profiteering in some institutions, which are presently beyond the scope of any such regulation. The institutions are also expected to mandatorily disclose information related to admission process by publication of its prospectus. This would bring about public accountability of such institutions and act as a check on use of unfair practices being adopted vis-a-vis students.
The provisions of mandatory disclosure of information related to the admission process and holding the institution accountable in respect of compliance with such information is an innovation over the inspection based regulatory
processes normally adopted. The student or any other stakeholder can move the tribunal as well as the competent criminal court of law in case the institutions attempts to adopt unfair practices and the burden of proof would be upon the institution.
The students would stand to benefit by enactment of a legislation to curb unfair practices in admission and other areas of higher educational institutions, who are exposed to the prevalence of distortions in the admission process leading to harassment and extortion of students for admission.
Prompt and effective deterrent action is constrained in the absence of any Central law prohibiting capitation fee and other unfair practices. While the current policy in higher education is to promote autonomy of institutions,
adoption of unfair practices by misusing autonomy would be detrimental for the credibility of the higher education sector. It would be in public interest to balance autonomy of higher education institutions with measures to protect the interests of students and others accessing higher education. Background: (i) There has been an unprecedented growth in higher education in recent years, of which the growth of higher professional education, especially technical and medical education has been mainly through private participation. The current national policy supported by several judicial pronouncements is against commercialization of higher education, though the policy encourages private note for profit participation with surplus revenues to be ploughed back for growth and development of institutions.
(ii) There is public concern that technical and medical educational institutions, and universities should not resort to unfair practices, Such as charging of capitation fee and demanding donations for admitting students, not issuing receipts in respect of payments made by or on behalf of students, admission to professional programmes of study through non-transparent and questionable admission processes, low quality delivery of education services and false claims of quality of such service through misleading advertisements, engagement of unqualified or ineligible teaching faculty, forcible withholding of certificates and other documents of students.
China donated 1 million US dollars to Nalanda International University

Chinese Ambassador to India, Zhang Yan on 17 November 2011 handed over the cheque of 1 million US dollars for construction of a library in Nalanda International University (NIU) to highlight the Chinese art and architecture.
The fund will be used for the construction of a library, which will help in strengthening the relations between India and China. China fulfilled the commitment made by Premier Wen Jiabao during his Nalanda visit on 21 January 2011. Exchange of culture through Nalanda International University is a major project for China.
IIP Scientists developed a New Technology to convert Plastic into Petroleum Products
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Science | Technology, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 14 Nov 2011 To 20 Nov 2011 Share| A team of six scientists at the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) developed a new technology to convert plastic into petroleum products. After a decade long experiments, the scientists led by director Madhukar Omkarnath Garg managed to develop a combination of catalysts, which convert the plastic either into gasoline or diesel or aromatics along with LPG as a cmmon byproduct.
General Motors appointed Lowell Paddock as President and MD of India Operations

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Charge | Discharge, Corporate,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 14 Nov 2011 To 20 Nov 2011 |
General Motors announced on 15 November 2011 the appointment of Lowell Paddock as president and MD of India operations with effect from 1 January 2012. He will succeed outgoing president and MD Karl Slym. Slym who led the Indian operations of GM since 1 October 2007, will move to SAICGM-Wuling in China as executive V-P. Lowell Paddock will oversee GMs operations across India, including manufacturing facilities in Halol, Gujarat, and Talegaon, Maharashtra, as well as its joint venture with Chinese auto-maker SAIC. Paddock has held several important posts in product planning and programme management in the US, Europe and Asia, since joining GM in 1992. His previous positions include director of portfolio planning at GM Europe, V-P (planning) at GM Asia Pacific, and executive director of planning and programme management at GMs Shanghai joint venture in China.
WPI Based Overall Inflation moved up to 9.73% in October from 9.72% in September
As per inflation data released on 14 November 2011, headline inflation moved up to 9.73 per cent in October 2011 despite the various supply-side and monetary measures taken by the government and the RBI. For the 11th consecutive month the headline inflation stood above the 9% mark.
WPI (wholesale price index) based overall inflation moved up in October from 9.72 per cent in September to 9.73 per cent owing to the hike in prices of fuel (petrol), higher prices of manufactured goods and food items such as fruits, milk and vegetables.
In October 2010, headline inflation was lower at 9.08 per cent. The increase in headline inflation was attributed the near double-digit food inflation. Food items became 11.06% more expensive year-on-year during October
2011. Vegetables grew 21.76% costlier on an annual basis, while fruit prices were up by 11.96% and milk by 11.12% during the month. Eggs, meat and fish witnessed 12.59% inflation during October 2011. Food inflation was at 9.23% in September.
Inflation in the fuel and power segment stood at 14.79% on an annual basis in October, as against 14.09% in September 2011.
Non-food primary articles, which include fibres, oil seeds and minerals, grew dearer by 7.71% in October, as compared to a 14.82% rise in September. Prices of manufactured products, which have a weight of around 65% in the WPI basket, went up by 7.66% year-on-year in October. Inflation in overall primary articles stood at 11.40% in October compared to 11.84% in September.
Petrol Price slashed by Rs. 2.22 After Being Raised by Rs 1.80 in Early November
The petrol price was slashed by a higher margin of Rs. 2.22 on 15 November 2011. The reduction in the price, for the first time in almost three years, is likely to ease the pressure on the government ahead of the Parliament's winter session scheduled to begin on 22 November 2011.
Earlier in November, petrol prices were hiked by Rs 1.80. The hike drew flak from the Opposition and UPA allies alike for casting an additional burden at a time when inflation remained perilously close to double digits.
With the reduction in prioze, petrol will be cheaper at Rs. 66.42 a litre in Delhi, against Rs. 68.64 hitherto. In
Mumbai, it will be Rs. 2.34 less at Rs. 71.47. In Kolkata, it will stand reduced by Rs. 2.31 at Rs. 70.84. In Chennai, it will be lower by Rs. 2.35 at Rs. 70.38.
The OMCs slashed prices for the first time since January 2009 as a result of favourable impact of slide down both in the international prices of motor spirit and in rupee-dollar parity.
Indian Rupee Fell by 24 paise to a 32-month Low of Rs. 50.91 against the US Dollar
The Indian rupee fell by 24 paise to a fresh 32-month low of Rs. 50.91 against the US dollar on 16 November amid depreciation of the euro due to the deepening European debt crisis. Persistent dollar demand from banks and importers and a weak opening in the equity market put temendous pressure on the Indian rupee.
The rupee is currently the worst-performing Asian currency, weakening by more than 13% from its strongest point in late July 2011. Trade deficit and fiscal issues are the other factors that have impacted rupee depreciation.
The Indian rupee breached the Rs 51 per US dollar-level after a 32-month gap on good dollar demand from banks and importers in view of the strong dollar overseas.
The rupee resumed lower at Rs 50.90/91 per dollar on the Interbank Foreign Exchange, as against 15 Novembers close of Rs 50.67/68 per dollar, and dropped further to a 32-month low of 51.01 per dollar before quoting at Rs 50.88/90 per dollar. The rupee had last touched Rs 51.20 per dollar on 31 March 2009.
Indian Rupee Fell by 24 paise to a 32-month Low of Rs. 50.91 against the US Dollar
The Indian rupee fell by 24 paise to a fresh 32-month low of Rs. 50.91 against the US dollar on 16 November amid depreciation of the euro due to the deepening European debt crisis. Persistent dollar demand from banks and importers and a weak opening in the equity market put temendous pressure on the Indian rupee.
The rupee is currently the worst-performing Asian currency, weakening by more than 13% from its strongest point in late July 2011. Trade deficit and fiscal issues are the other factors that have impacted rupee depreciation.
The Indian rupee breached the Rs 51 per US dollar-level after a 32-month gap on good dollar demand from banks and importers in view of the strong dollar overseas.
The rupee resumed lower at Rs 50.90/91 per dollar on the Interbank Foreign Exchange, as against 15 Novembers
close of Rs 50.67/68 per dollar, and dropped further to a 32-month low of 51.01 per dollar before quoting at Rs 50.88/90 per dollar.
The rupee had last touched Rs 51.20 per dollar on 31 March 2009.
Ministry of Environment and Forests granted Clearance to JPL for its Power Poject at Tamnar
The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on 15 November 2011 granted clearance to Jindal Power Limited (JPL) for its 2,400 MW power project at Tamnar in Chhattisgarh. The clearance will enable commencement of construction work as the state environment conservation board (ECB) also gave the go-ahead to the project. While the Ministry had granted clearance for two units of 600 MW each of the expansion project (4 x 600 MW) at Tamnar on 18 March 2011, clearance for the remaining two units was accorded only on 4 November 2011. The
March 18 approval had put a condition that JPL should obtain permission from the Ministry of Coal before starting construction activities at the project site. The Coal Ministry has communicated its permission for the expansion project to the Chhattisgarh Government. Jindal Power currently operates 1,000 MW at Tamnar. JPL had earlier decided to set up the main plant for the 2,400 MW expansion project within the 360 hectare premises of its 1,00 MW units which was approved by MoEF in 1997 and thus entailing no requirement for additional land. JPL had placed orders for four units of 600 MW on the public sector power equipment major Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) in early 2009. Financial closure for the 2,400-mw project was achieved in March 2010
Wimbledon Champion Petra Kvitova was voted WTA's Player of the Year
Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was voted WTA's Player of the Year on 14 November 2011. In 2011 she claimed her debut grand slam title. In the 2011 season she steered the Czech Republic to Fed Cup glory and shot up 32 places in the world rankings.
The Czech, who ended the year ranked second, picked up four prizes in total 14 November following a remarkable 12 months in which she won six titles and chalked up a 6-0 record in Fed Cup singles.
Kvitova also bagged the Most Improved Player award and the fair play prize, while fans voted her the Breakthrough Player of the Year.
Kveta Peschke and her Slovenian partner Katarina Srebotnik earned their first award for Doubles Team of the Year. Sabine Lisicki of Germany scooped the Comeback Player of the Year honour. Irina-Camelia Begu was named Newcomer Of The Year.
India's Most Advanced Long-range Missile, Agni-IV Test Fired Successfully

India's most advanced long-range missile, Agni-IV was test fired successfully on 15 November 2011 from a roadmobile launcher from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Wheelers Island, off the coast of Orissa. The missile covered a range of more than 3,000 km in 20 minutes of fluent flight. It accurately reached the targeted area in the Bay of Bengal. The missile system is equipped with modern and compact avionics with redundancy to provide high level reliability. The indigenous ring Laser Gyros based high accuracy INS (RINS) and Micro Navigation System (MINGS) was used in the launch for the first time.
So far this was Indias longest range mission flown by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The DRDO of India used a host of new technologies for the first time in this mission. Agni-IV opened a
new era for India in the class of long-range missiles to carry strategic nuclear warheads for the armed forces. It is capable of providing deterrence; strategically Agni-IV is capable of covering the whole area of Indias border with China.
About Agni-IV Agni-IV is a two-stage missile It weighs 17 tonnes and is 20 metres long Agni-IV is capable of carrying nuclear warheads
It can carry a 1,000-kg payload. However, it carried an 800-kg payload of conventional explosives in the test flight Agni-IV was earlier called Agni-II Prime. The first flight of Agni-II Prime in December 2010 was a failure
India and Pakistan held Two-day Trade Talks in New Delhi

India and Pakistan held two-day trade talks in New Delhi on 14 and 15 November 2011. These were IndiaPakistans Commerce Secretary-level talks.
The agenda of the trade talks was laid out in terms of preparing timelines for complete normalisation of trade
relationship and implementation of committed SAFTA obligations. The Most Favoured Nation (MFN) issue was among the main agenda items. The agenda included Indias seeking clarity on Pakistans Cabinet decision to grant
it MFN status and Pakistans seeking liberalisation of visa regime for its businessmen. According to these trade talks agendas, Islamabad needed to treat India at par with other economic partners after the grant of MFN status. Islamabad demanded a complete normalisation of the bilateral trade. The India-Pakistan trade is a paltry USD 2.6 billion, though the third country-routed commerce is estimated at USD 10 billion. India had granted the MFN status to Pakistan in 1996.
What is MFN? The MFN (Most Favoured Nation) is a World Trade Organisation rule under which countries are required to give equal treatment to their trading partners
Italy's Silvio Berlusconi resigned as Prime Minister failing to handle Fierce Financial Crisis
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Person Resigned,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 14 Nov 2011 To 20 Nov 2011 Share|
Italy's Silvio Berlusconi resigned as Prime Minister on 12 November 2011 after he was stripped of a parliament majority due to his unsuccessful handling of the fierce financial crisis. Berlusconi's latest popularity rating was at an all-time low of just 22 per cent. Silvio Berlusconi, born in September 1936 is an Italian politician and
businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and since 2008. Itlians were tired of his sleaze scandals and a series of embarrassing international gaffes. He lost his majority in parliament amid growing fiscal problems related to the European debt crisis.
He got his nickname, Il Cavaliere (literally, The Knight) from the knighthood of the Order of Merit for Labour he received in 1977.
Silvio Berlusconis Political Career He made his political debut in 1993 with a new party called Forza Italia. His populist style and championing of the American dream of the self-made man earned him huge popularity in Italy. Berlusconi is the longest-serving post war Prime Minister of Italy, and third longest-serving since the creation of Italy, after Benito Mussolini and Giovanni Giolitti.
He was elected as a Member of the Chamber of Deputies for the first time and appointed as Prime Minister following the March 1994 parliamentary elections. In the April 1996 snap parliamentary elections, Berlusconi was defeated by the centre-left candidate Romano Prodi. In the May 2001 parliamentary elections, he was again the centre-right candidate for Prime Minister and won against the centre-left candidate Francesco Rutelli. Berlusconi then formed his second and third cabinets, until 2006.
Berlusconi was criticised for his dominance over the Italian media whilst he held political office. His broadcasting
company Mediaset is the largest in the country and Berlusconi never fulfilled his election campaign of selling his shares in the company. His leadership was largely undermined by rampant sex scandals.
Berlusconis Successor Economist Mario Monti, whoi came to promonance as the powerful Competition Commissioner Berlusconi to head an emergency Italian government succeeded
World Diabetes Day observed on 14 November with the theme- Act on Diabetes. Now
Current Affairs Category: Day | Week | Year, November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 14 Nov 2011 To 20 Nov 2011 Share|
World Diabetes Day, the primary global awareness campaign of the diabetes mellitus world is held on 14 November every year. Each year, World Diabetes Day is centred on a theme related to diabetes. The year 2011 is the third year of the five year campaign 2009-2013, that takes the main theme Diabetes education and prevention. The theme for 2011 World Diabetes Day diabetes education and prevention
The objectives of World Diabetes day 2011 focussed on diabetes education and prevention, and stress on the
power of knowledge as the only way to improve management of the disease. It marked a clarion call to people in healthcare and government to relook at the strategies for diabetes management. Various programmes were held on the occassion of the World Diabetes Day on 13 November 2011 including walk for diabetes and painting competition. The Blue Monument Lighting initiative was taken by HEAL Foundation and Via Media Group in association with health and family welfare ministry to create diabetes awareness. The monuments in Delhi were lit in blue on the occasion. World Diabetes Day World Diabetes Day was introduced in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in response to the alarming rise of diabetes around the world. World Diabetes Day is a campaign that features a new theme chosen by the International Diabetes Federation each year to address issues facing the global diabetes community. The day marks the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1922.
Topics covered in the past as themes include diabetes and human rights, diabetes and lifestyle, diabetes and obesity, diabetes in the disadvantaged and the vulnerable, diabetes in children and adolescents. About the disease-Diabetes Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has
high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. The high blood sugar produces the classical symptoms of polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger).
There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes: results from the body's failure to produce insulin, and presently requires the person to inject
insulin Type 2 diabetes: results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes
combined with an absolute insulin deficiency Gestational diabetes: is when pregnant women, who have never had diabetes before, have a high blood glucose level during pregnancy.
Though Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, Type 2 diabetes can be offset by making lifestyle changesmaintaining weight, eating healthy and regular exercise.
Taking a vigorous twenty minutes walk every day can decrease a persons risk of developing diabetes, Men and
women who incorporate physical activity into their lifestyles are less likely to develop diabetes but unfortunately in India (urban area) every 22 per cent arediabetic. Around 285 million people worldwide are victims of diabetes. In the absence of education and prevention programmes, the figure is expected to touch 435 million by 2030. IDF therefore adopted a focussed approach to prevention of diabetes for a five year period (2009-2013)
Jamaican Sprinter Usain Bolt & Australian Hurdler Sally Pearson named Athlete of the Year by IAAF
Jamaican sprint icon Usain Bolt and Australian hurdler Sally Pearson won 'Athlete of the Year' awards in Monaco on 12 November 2011. They were named athletes of the year by athletics' governing body, the IAAF. Bolt, the Olympic 100 metres champion, won the award for the third time after being honoured in 2008 and 2009. He retained his 200m crown at the World championships in Daegu where he also helped Jamaica defend the 4x100m relay in a new world record time of 37.04sec.
It was in Daegu that Pearson produced the fourth fastest time in history, and the fastest in 19 years, for the women's hurdles event which she dominated in a time of 12.21sec. Pearson won 10 of her 11 competitions and
produced seven of the season's quickest 11 performances. She became the first athlete from Australia to be honoured as such by the IAAF since the awards were introduced in 1988. Pearson was recognised ahead of contenders in Kenyan distance runner Vivian Cheruiyot, who won three world titles this year (5000m, 10,000m and cross country) and New Zealand's world shot put champion Valerie Adams. Both athletes picked up cheques for $100,000. Other Winners
Other award winners at the ceremony included Blake, who was feted for his 19.26s-run the second fastest 200m performance in historyat the Memorial van DammeDiamond League final in Brussels. Cheruiyot also won a prize for her 5000-10000m double gold haul at the Daegu championships, a feat achieved only once before, by Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia in the 2005 Worlds
India topped list of Pneumonia Mortality in Children Under the Age of Five
A study published in medical journal Lancet on 12 November 2011 mentioned that India has the highest number of flu-related pneumonia deaths among children. Flu-related pneumonia is also responsible for 28000 to 115000 deaths of children around the globe.
The study was conducted by the University of Edinburgh with support from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study was done between 1995 and 2010. The research was led by the University of Edinburgh and involved 47 researchers from 14 countries. They reviewed data from high income and developing countries and found 43 suitable studies with data for around eight million children.
This is the first of its kind study conducted in the world since earlier it was considered that ALRI was confined to elders only and not much attention was paid to children with this condition accounting for the total absence of data. According to WHO, though pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics, only about 30% of children receive the antibiotics they need. Findings The researchers found that in 2008, there had been about 111500 deaths of children under the age of five due to influenza and ALRI related diseases. It has further been noted that 99 per cent of the deaths took place in the developing countries.
The study estimated that 90 million cases of seasonal flu occur in under-five children each year globally. 20 million of these are flu-related pneumonia resulting in 1 million hospital admissions. India has the highest number of flu-related pneumonia deaths among children with more than 370000 children under the age of five years dying due to pneumonia of which seven per cent die of flu-related pneumonia. The estimates for India were based on influenza and pneumonia data from Ballabgarh in Haryana. Researchers estimated that although about 6,000 acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) deaths occurred in hospitals here in 2008, as many as three times this number could be occurring at home.
India contributes about a fourth of the global influenza-pneumonia deaths in children under the age of five. India is the world leader for pneumonia mortality in children under the age of five contributing to about a fourth of the
global pneumonia deaths. Influenza is the second most common infection identified in children with pneumonia and contributes substantially to the burden of hospitalisation and mortality in young children.
Economist Mario Monti to head Emergency Italian government following Berlusconis Resignation
Economist Mario Monti will head an emergency Italian government following the departure of Silvio Berlusconi who resigned as Prime Minister on 12 November 2011. Monti made came into prominance as the powerful
Competition Commissioner who took on U.S. corporate titans General Electric and Microsoft, blocking GE's planned merger with rival Honeywell and imposing a record 497 million euro ($683 million) antitrust fine on the software giant.
Mario Monti Mario Monti served as European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Services, Customs, and Taxation from 1995 to 1999 and then as European Commissioner for Competition from 1999 to 2004. He has also been rector and president of Bocconi University.
He was nominated by Berlusconi as internal markets commissioner in 1994, taking over the competition portfolio
in 1999 where he served for five years. His technical expertise, sharp intellect and diplomatic skills added to his refusal to bow to intense lobbying pressures. He was named as Senator for Life by President Giorgio Napolitano in the first week of November 2011 and is expected to appoint a small cabinet made up largely of technical specialists to steer Italy through a crisis that has
brought it to the brink of financial disaster. A convinced free marketeer, Monti always backed a more closely integrated euro zone and has written a series of articles in recent months against the Berlusconi government's policy failures.
He is chairman of the European branch of the Trilateral Commission, a body that brings together the power elites of the United States, Europe and Japan. He is also a member of the secretive Bilderberg Group of business leaders and other leading citizens. Italy's main business and banking associations alled for a national emergency government with broad parliamentary backing. New elections are not due until 2013, giving Monti and his cabinet a window of around 18 months to implement the kind of painful reforms to pensions, labour laws and the public sector that markets and Italy's European partners are demanding.
McLaren s Lewis Hamilton won Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit
McLaren Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain won he Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix at Yas Marina circuit in Abu on 13 November 2011. The victory at Abu Dhabi marked hamiltons third win of 2011 and 17th of his career. Lewis Hamilton produced a near-flawless performance when he took full advantage of the early retirement of double world champion Sebastian Vettel. Vettel's Red Bull suffered a puncture to his right-rear tyre and forced him to swerve off the Yas Marina circuit.
Two-time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso came home second for Ferrari. Briton Jenson Button in the second McLaren fought through to finish third.
Renowned Cricket Committed Suicide
Writer
and
Commentator
Peter
Roebuck
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Person Died, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 14 Nov 2011 To 20 Nov 2011 Share|
Renowned cricket writer and commentator Peter Roebuck committed suicide at a hotel in South Africa on 12 November 2011 after being questioned on allegations of sexual assault by the police. England-born Roebuck was in South Africa to cover the ongoing Test series between South Africa and Australia. He would be best
remembered in India for his indictment of Ricky Ponting and the Australian team, whom he called a pack of wild dogs, for their behaviour in the controversial Sydney Test in 2008. About Peter Roebuck Roebuck, who scored more than 17000 first class runs, retired from the game in 1991 and moved to Australia.
Post retirement he forged a career as a stylish and strongly opinionated cricket writer for the Herald, Melbournes the Age and latterly Cricinfo website. He authored several books. His diary of the 1983 season, It Never Rains, established him as one of crickets most insightful and strong voices. He also wrote an autobiography, Sometimes I Forgot To Laugh. Roebuck, who
captained the famous 1980s Somerset side that included Ian Botham and West Indies great Viv Richards, wrote widely for the Australian press and also worked as a radio commentator for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
He played 335 first-class matches between 1974-91. However he was considered unlucky to never play for England, although he once captained an England A team.
Roebuck, who aptained Somerset in the 1980s was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1988.
Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi won their First ever ATP Masters in Paris
Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi won their first ever ATP Masters tournament by beating Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut 6-2, 6-4 in the final of Paris Masters on 13 November 2011. The seventh-seeded pair took just 65 minutes to defeat the French duo and pocket its third title of the season. Bopanna and Qureshi had earlier won the Gerry Weber Open at Halle and the Stockholm Open.
Roger Federer Roger Federer won his maiden Paris Masters by defeating Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 7-6(3) in a onesided final.
It was the Swiss star's third tournament win of 2011 after Doha in January and his Basel hometown in the first week of November 2011. It was also his 18th Masters title win, second only to Rafael Nadal who has won 19 times, and the 69th title of his career
Asia-Pacific Economic Honolulu Declaration
Cooperation (APEC)
Summit
2011:
The
APEC summit 2011 was held in Honolulu, Hawaii from 8 November to 13 November 2011. Under the chairmanship of US President Barak Obama, leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum agreed a comprehensive set of measures to increase economic growth and job creation by expanding trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region. Leaders agreed to adopt market-driven innovation policies, reduce tariffs and eliminate other barriers to trade in environmental goods and services, and improve regulatory environments to reduce unnecessary burdens on businesses.
The APEC leaders vowed to set a model for innovation that is market-driven and non-discriminatory, not government-directed and protectionist, in recognition of the key role entrepreneurship plays in increasing
productivity and ensuring economic growth. US supported the need to show leadership to launch negotiations to expand the product scope and membership of the WTO Information Technology Agreement. This could create significant market-enhancing opportunities for U.S. high-tech companies.
APEC nations encouraged small and medium-sized businesses to trade in the region by exempting more low-value shipments from customs duties and simplifying customs requirements and documentation. They planned to launch an APEC Travel Facilitation Initiative to make travel in the region easier, faster, and more secure. US supported promotion of domestic structural reforms in APEC economies to minimize barriers to market-based incentives and to facilitate competition and opportunities for U.S. exporters.
The leaders agreed to improve food security by extending an APEC-wide standstill on agricultural export
restrictions. They vowed promotion of growth by taking concrete actions to expand economic opportunities for women in the Asia-Pacific region. As part of the larger commitment to promoting a green economy, APEC leaders agreed to support sustainable
growth and create green jobs. They agreed to develop a list in 2012 of environmental goods on which APEC economies would reduce applied tariffs to 5% or less by 2015, and eliminate non-tariff barriers to environmental goods and services.
APEC member nations committed to implement a set of good regulatory practices, including ensuring internal coordination of rulemaking, assessing impacts of regulations, and conducting public consultation, in order to
reduce unnecessary burdens on businesses, costing time and money. They also planned to improve the quality of regulations and standards for emerging green technologies like smart grid, green buildings, and solar technologies to reduce technical barriers to trade in those products. About APEC APEC stands for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. APECs 21 member economies account for 55 % of global GDP; 58 % of U.S. goods exports, and comprise a market of 2.7 billion consumers. Seven of Americas top 15 trade partners come under APEC.
Through APEC, the United States works to create jobs and growth by tackling a wide range of economic issues critical to long-term prosperity. APEC works closely with the private sector and other stakeholders to ensure that activities reflect the regions economic needs.
APECs first meeting was held in Blake Island near Seattle, Washington in 1993. APECs member economies 1. The United States, 2. Australia, 3. Brunei Darussalam, 4. Canada, 5. Chile, 6. China, 7. Hong Kong, 8. Indonesia, 9. Japan, 10. South Korea, 11. Malaysia, 12. Mexico, 13. New Zealand, 14. Papua New Guinea, 15.
Peru, 16. The Philippines, 17. Russia, 18. Singapore, 19. Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), 20. Thailand, and 21. Vietnam.
American Express launched leadership Academy in India

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Corporate, New Launch, 2011 Current Affairs
American Express launched its leadership academy in India as part of its corporate social responsibility. It will help develop emerging leaders for the not-for-profit sector. The academy at present is vailable only in the USA, Britain and Japan.
American Express Leadership Academy was organised in partnership with an independent international leadership development organization, In Gurgaon between 31 October 2011 and 4 November 2011.
Indian Oil won All India Beighton Cup with a 2-0 win over ONGC
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Sports, News, 2011 Current Affairs
Indian Oil won the 116th All India Beighton Cup with a 2-0 win over ONGC on 11 November 2011. Indian oil took the lead when Afan Yousuf scored the goal in the 58th minute. Goalkeeper Baljeet Singh stood out with a man of the match performance. Baljeet was substituted in the second half in place of Vivek Chauhan
Delhi Tourism organised Kite Festival upholding the Rich History of Flying Kites
Current Affairs Category: Art | Culture, November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 14 Nov 2011 To 20 Nov 2011 Share|
A two-day long Kite festival was organised by the Delhi Tourism in association with Shahjehanabad Redevelopment Corporation and Delhi Government's Department of Art and Culture at the India Gate lawns. The
festival was inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on 12 November 2011. The festival aimed at providing entertainment to the masses along with educating them about the rich history of flying kites. Kite flying has over the centuries emerged as one of the most popular sports in India. It also found a pride of place in various other civilisations such as the Chinese and the Greek. The kite flying festival at India Gate witnessed participation of expert kite makers from all over India. participants from Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Gujarat and Rajasthan joined the festival. kite cutting competition for professionals were organised on the occassion. A large number of designer kites werealso be on display. A trail of over 100 kites on one string was one of the attractions.
Other cultural programmes Dastan-e-Patang by Mirza Asif and Mausiki-e-Patang by Soul Sambad were organised. Magic shows, a mini Dilli Haat and a food court serving foods of Delhi were the other attractions of the festival.
Session Court: Harassment by Step-Family is also Domestic Violence

A session court stated that a woman who faced harassment and ill treatment from her stepmother and stepsiblings is entitled to get protection under the Domestic Violence Act. Additional Sessions Judge Virender Bhat gave the ruling while upholding a trial courts summons to the alleged victims stepbrother and stepsister. The session court observed that as per Domestic Violence Act, domestic relationship between two persons does not mean that they should be related only through marriage. The parties are in domestic relationship, if they are related to each other by consanguinity (blood relation), adoption, or are family members living together as a joint family.
The woman had approached the magisterial court seeking legal protection from harassment and maltreatment by her stepmother and step-siblings
India to give Preferences like Tax Cuts to Indigenously Manufactured Telecoms Equipment
India decided to give preferences, including tax cuts, to indigenously manufactured telecoms equipment. The decision was taken despite concerns raised by the United States and the European Union, which mentioned that such concessions would violate WTO commitments.
Telecoms department (DoT) five-member committee afer examinig the issue concluded that these concessions as
well as reservations for local mobile equipment manufacturers were necessary from a national security perspective. The committee cleared the proposal that mandates domestic operators to source 65% of their annual
hardware and network-related equipment from Indian companies by 2020. The reservations for domesticallymanufactured equipment is to be part of the new telecoms policy 2011. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had earlier proposed that mobile phone companies be mandated to source 80% of their network equipment and other related infrastructure from domestic manufacturers by 2020. The new mandate goes a step forward to include network and other hardware produced by the manufacturing units of foreign vendors located in India. TRAI had also recommended that companies owned by Indians and located here get 65% of all telecom network orders by 2020.
Manufacturing arms of international vendors such as Ericsson, Nokia Siemens, Alcatel-Lucent and Huawei amongst
others are to account for only 15% of all equipment orders by 2020. TRAI also sought that these proposals be implemented in a phased manner. by 2015, mobile phone companies are to source 45% of all telecoms equipment domestically. Off this, TRAI wants Indian companies to account for 25%.
TRAI recommended that domestically manufactured products be given preferential market access. It also proposed a slew of incentives to kick-start telecoms equipment manufacturing in India.
Regarding 65% reservation for Indian products, the committee clarified that this should involve products whose
R&D is done in India, or if be outsourced, the control and ownership of the same reside with the registered Indian entity. Indian products can only be sourced from firms whose management and board consist of majority Indian citizens.
India to give Preferences like Tax Cuts to Indigenously Manufactured Telecoms Equipment
India decided to give preferences, including tax cuts, to indigenously manufactured telecoms equipment. The decision was taken despite concerns raised by the United States and the European Union, which mentioned that such concessions would violate WTO commitments.
Telecoms department (DoT) five-member committee afer examinig the issue concluded that these concessions as well as reservations for local mobile equipment manufacturers were necessary from a national security
perspective. The committee cleared the proposal that mandates domestic operators to source 65% of their annual hardware and network-related equipment from Indian companies by 2020. The reservations for domesticallymanufactured equipment is to be part of the new telecoms policy 2011.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had earlier proposed that mobile phone companies be mandated to source 80% of their network equipment and other related infrastructure from domestic manufacturers by 2020. The new mandate goes a step forward to include network and other hardware produced by the manufacturing units of foreign vendors located in India. TRAI had also recommended that companies owned by Indians and located here get 65% of all telecom network orders by 2020.
Manufacturing arms of international vendors such as Ericsson, Nokia Siemens, Alcatel-Lucent and Huawei amongst others are to account for only 15% of all equipment orders by 2020. TRAI also sought that these proposals be implemented in a phased manner. by 2015, mobile phone companies are to source 45% of all telecoms equipment domestically. Off this, TRAI wants Indian companies to account for 25%. TRAI recommended that domestically manufactured products be given preferential market access. It also proposed a slew of incentives to kick-start telecoms equipment manufacturing in India. Regarding 65% reservation for Indian products, the committee clarified that this should involve products whose R&D is done in India, or if be outsourced, the control and ownership of the same reside with the registered Indian
entity. Indian products can only be sourced from firms whose management and board consist of majority Indian citizens.
Outlook India's Editor-in-Chief Mehta's Autobiography launched

&
Renowned
Journalist,
Vinod
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Books | Authors,2011 Current Affairs
Lucknow Boy: Vinod Mehta Outlook India's Editor-in-Chief and renowned journalist, Vinod Mehta's autobiography Lucknow Boy was launched in New Delhi on 9 November 2011. The book provides talks at length about the life of the journalist in scam-hit India. His autobiography provides a ringside view into major events of the times.
Embedded with racy tales and thoughtful insights on Indian politics and society, Lucknow Boy provides an account of the life of one of India's most independent editors. Mehta's book recounted his struggle for editorial independence through his nearly four-decade-long tryst with Indian journalism. Lucknow Boy is
eclecticism and flair that is his hallmark of Vinod Mehta.
shocking, insightful, sharp and delightful at the same time. The book is marked with the
The memoir published by Penguin Viking recounts his encounters with personalties from the world of politics,
business, films and the media with pen portraits of personalities ranging from Shobhaa De to V S Naipaul, Salman Rushdie and Sonia Gandhi. About the Author Vinod Mehta grew up in Lucknow in 1950`s. Mehta left home with a BA third class degree and experimented with
a string of jobs including that of a factory hand in suburban Britain before accepting an offer to edit Deboanir. Over the next few decades, Mehta launched several publications including the legendary Sunday Observer and the weekly newsmagazine Outlook.
TRAI Data showed 100% Rural Teledensity Target Possible only by 2020
Data published by TRAI revealed that nearly half a billion Indians, mostly rural are still to become digital citizens, even where voice telephony is concerned. As per the data, 500 million Indians do not yet own a personal mobile device and the slow pace of growth indicates that a 100% rural teledensity target may be possible only eight years later or by 2020.
TRAI pegged Indias mobile teledensity at 72.12% or 865.71 million wireless subscribers as of August 2011. However in reality, VLR (Visitor Location Register) data showed that only 70.30% are active, indicating a real subscriber base of 608.63 million.
Of the total 865 million mobile subscribers, rural subscribers are pegged at 295.17 million, translating to an overall rural teledensity of 35.20%. As per the VLR parameters, only 206 million of these are active (70% of 295 million). Given that India has 700 million rural inhabitants, this leaves nearly half a billion rural Indians outside the mobile network.
The challenge for the government in this respect is enormous and well identified in both draft NTP 2011. The draft NTP seeks to increase rural teledensity from the current level of around 35% to 60% by the year 2017 and 100% by the year 2020
IAEA Report: Iran carried out Nuclear Weapons-Related Activities
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in its report stated that it has credible information about Irans clandestine nuclear activities. IAEA report was released on 8 November 2011 in Vienna. The IAEA report says Iran appears to have carried out nuclear weapons-related activities as part of a structured program prior to 2003. The IAEA report is based on intelligence forwarded by some member states and material
collected by the agency itself. Iran insists that its nuclear prgramme is aimed at the peaceful generation of energy. The U.N. Security Council has imposed four rounds of sanctions on Iran for failing to suspend sensitive nuclear activities that have both peaceful and military uses.
Indo-Pak Express, Bopanna- Qureshi won the Stockholm Open men's Doubles Title
India's Rohan Bopanna and Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi won the Stockholm Open men's doubles title by defeating Brazilians Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares 6-1, 6-3 on 23 October 2011. the Stockholm Open was topseeded India-Pakistan pair's second ATP World Tour title of 2011. They had earlier won on grass at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle in June 2011. The victory got them their third title as a team. They had also sealed victory as a team in Johannesburg in 2010. Bopanna and Qureshi who are ranked seventh in the ATP doubles team rankings, added 250 points after their win. The top-seeded pair defeated Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares 6-1, 6-4 in just 57 minutes in the 600,00-Euros hard court event.
Bopanna and Qureshi swiftly took the first set, breaking Melo and Soares' serve twice. They then broke in the
seventh and ninth game of the second set to seal the victory in less than an hour. Overall, it is Bopanna's fourth ATP doubles title as he had won a title in 2008 with American Eric Butorac at Los Angeles.
Wheat Crops in India facing Threat from Ug99 Stem Rust

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Abbreviations | Terms, News Capsule, 2011 Current Affairs
Ug99: It is a race of black stem rust and it is virulent to the majority of wheat crops. Wheat crops in India is facing threat from a virulent strain of stem rust called UG99. The scientists asked the farmers to sow Ug99 resistant wheat varieties as a precautionary measure. The US-based Borlaug Global Rust
Initiative (BGRI) works on a global campaign for combating Ug99. The scientists at Indian Agricultural Research
Institute (IARI) recently developed several varieties of wheat crops that are immune to Ug99. It is important to note that Wheat and Rice are the two crops that majorly fulfill the food demand in India. What is Ug99 Ug99 was first discovered in Uganda in 1999.The fungus is incredibly deadly and at present there is no complete
cure for it.The strain was named after the country where it was identified (Uganda) and the year of its discovery (1999)
Mehsana court awarded Life Imprisonment to 31 Convicted in a 2002 Post-Godhra Riot Case
In Gujarat, a special designated Mehsana court on 9 November 2011 awarded life imprisonment for all the 31 accused in the 2002 Sardarpura massacre case of post Godhara riots. 33 persons were burnt alive in this massacre during the 2002 communal violence that broke out after the Godhra train carnage. The court acquitted 42 of the total 73 persons accused in the case. 11 were released due to lack of evidence, while 31 were given the benefit of doubt and acquitted on a solvency bond of 25,000 rupees each. They have been directed not to leave the country without the permission of court.
It should be noted that this is the first post-Godhara riot case, probed by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), on which the verdict has been pronounced. The 31 convicted have been charged with murder, attempt to murder, rioting and other Sections of IPC, while charges of criminal conspiracy against them were dropped by the court
The Foundation Stone of Rishikesh-Karnprayag Railway Line was laid in Uttarakhand

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Uttarakhand, State, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 07 Nov 2011 To 13 Nov 2011 Share|
Defence Minister A K Antony on 9 November 2011 laid the foundation stone of the ambitious RishikeshKarnprayag railway line at Gauchar in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The Project aims to connect the remote Garhwal is expected to be commissioned in five year time after the final
land acquisition work is done. At present, the distance of 176 kilometer from Rishikesh to Karnprayag is covered from 7 to 8 hours, but after commissioning the proposed new rail line it would get reduced to 125 Km and would be covered in about four hours. The total cost of this project is packed at around four thousand five hundred crores. The project would connect 13 stations including Srinagar and Rudraprayag.
With the commissioning of this important rail line, a large number of tourists and pilgrims that flock to Char dhams and other temples located on and around the proposed alignment would get easier access.
The Foundation Stone of Rishikesh-Karnprayag Railway Line was laid in Uttarakhand

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Uttarakhand, State, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 07 Nov 2011 To 13 Nov 2011 Share|
Defence Minister A K Antony on 9 November 2011 laid the foundation stone of the ambitious RishikeshKarnprayag railway line at Gauchar in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The Project aims to connect the remote Garhwal is expected to be commissioned in five year time after the final
land acquisition work is done. At present, the distance of 176 kilometer from Rishikesh to Karnprayag is covered from 7 to 8 hours, but after commissioning the proposed new rail line it would get reduced to 125 Km and would be covered in about four hours. The total cost of this project is packed at around four thousand five hundred crores. The project would connect 13 stations including Srinagar and Rudraprayag.
With the commissioning of this important rail line, a large number of tourists and pilgrims that flock to Char dhams and other temples located on and around the proposed alignment would get easier access.
Sri Lankan Court Stayed the Land Circular Number 2011/04

A court in Sri Lanka on 9 November 2011 stayed the Land Circular number 2011/04. This circular deals with land in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. The court of Appeal was presided over by Justice WLR Silva, which heard the petition filed by TNA National List MP and lawyer MA Sumanthiran. The petition sought an interim order restraining the land commissioner general from implementing the Land Circular No.2011/04. Under the circular, all landowners of the North and East, including private land owners such as the petitioner, have to provide details to the relevant Divisional Secretary or Assistant Government Agent, through the Grama Niladari, within two months.
The Land Settlement Department issued a public notice requiring all landowners in the Northern and Eastern provinces to tender their details on or before 20 November 20 2011
Insurance regulator, IRDA removed Guaranteed Returns on Pension Products

The insurance regulator, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), on 9 November 2011 relaxed its earlier decision asking insurance companies to guarantee a minimum return of 4.5 per cent on unitlinked pension policies. IRDA removed the guarantee clause which required all insurers to offer a minimum 4.5 per cent return on the investment made by subscribers.
IRDA mentioned that riders, as a part of pension products, cannot exceed 15% premium. Assured benefit will be based on pension premium and not overall premium. IRDAs move is expected to revive the pension products industry.
The move will also encourage pension funds to earmark larger amounts towards equities. Earlier, pension funds parked their monies largely in debt since it offered greater stability and predictability in terms of returns, unlike the equity markets.
The doing away of the minimum returns is likely to enable fund managers to innovate and offer new products that would invest in a mix of debt and equity based on the investors risk. Being a long term investment, an exposure to equity increases the chances of better returns on the total accumulated corpus.
IRDA mentioned that pension products, which are currently allowed via ULIP and non-ULIP platforms, cannot be
provided through variable insurance products. Insurers providing pension can provide annuity on surrender. The insurers also need to ensure investment in pension products are only for long-term saving. The regulator has given an option to commute only up to 33% on surrender and utilise entire proceeds to buy single premium deferred pension. IRDA made it compulsory for customers to buy annuity from the same insurer with an objective to address the issue of annuity concentration risk which lies with the state insurer Life Insurance Corporation (LIC). Currently
about 95 per cent of the annuities are with LIC, posing a huge risk to the entire pension market. Insurers would have to show an illustration of 4 per cent and 8 per cent for both the pension fund as well as for the annuity. Fact The period during which an investor puts money into the pension fund, is called as the accumulation phase. When
the investor hits the vesting age, normally kept at 55, s/he is supposed to purchase an annuity from the accumulated corpus. The corpus is divided into payments which are known as annuity, paid at defined intervals.
Mary Ann Gomes won Velammal Educational Trust National Premier Chess Championship
Mary Ann Gomes of Airports Authority of India emerged winner of the Velammal Educational Trust National Premier women's chess championship on 9 November 2011. Mary became the 17th player to win this event. She received a trophy and Rs.75000 from D.V. Sundar, vice-president, FIDE (World Chess Federation).
Eesha Karavade finished second after defeating Padmini Rout. Tania Sachdev went on to defeat Sai Meera with the white pieces to take third place. Cash prizes totalling Rs. 250000 were distributed to the top finishers in an event.
Union Environment Ministry approved the Lavasa Township Project in Pune

Union Ministry of Environment and forests on 10 November 2011 approved the first stage of Lavasa township project in Pune on the basis of assessment done by an expert committee. The approval was given on the condition that all environmental rules and regulations are followed. The Lavasa township project was disputed due to violating environment law and the case is sub-judiced in Bombay High Court. Lavasa is a private, planned city being built near Pune. The project is being developed by HCC ( Hindustan Construction Company), the project has been controversial for many reasons including procurement of land, harm to the environment, and loans acquired through political corruption.
In 2010, Union ministry of Environment and Forests requested that construction cease because the environmental laws are violated by the project.
Finance Ministry to extend Cash Management System to 23 Departments and Ministries

The Finance Ministry on 9 November 2011 decided to bring 23 more departments and ministries for grants under its monthly monitor with an aim at improving cash management and controlling expenditure. From 2012-13 onwards, the cash management system would apply to 46 ministries and departments.
The cash management system has been in operation since 2007-08 with an objective to ensure evenness in the budgeted expenditure and reduce rush of spending in the last quarter of financial year. It also monitors the expenditure pattern and reduces the tendency of parking funds by departments. Also, the cash management system helps the government in planning its market borrowing calender. Under the cash management system, the departments and ministries are required to submit monthly expenditure plan (MEP) to the Finance Ministry. They are not allowed to issue cheques beyond their quarterly limit. The maximum expenditure for the last month of the fiscal has been set at 15 per cent of the budgeted provision of the department. It is 33 per cent for the last quarter. It was decided that departments of atomic energy, home, defence, forest and environment, railways would be added to the Finance Ministry's surveillance.
The decision was taken in the wake of government finances coming under pressure because of slowdown in the industrial production, which affects its tax revenue. Indirect tax collections in October 2011 dropped by 2.5 per cent to Rs 30278 crore. Industrial production growth was only 4.1 per cent in August.
Giant Asteroid 2005 YU55 came close to Earth

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Science | Space,2011 Current Affairs
A 400-metre-wide giant asteroid, called 2005 YU55, came within 201700 miles of earth on 8 November 2011. An asteroid of this size didnt come so near to Earth since 1976 and will not again until 2028. 2005 YU55 makes one complete lap around the sun every 15 months. The asteroid sped off into the deep space at a speed of about 46700 square kilometre per hour.
Indian Army received Second Regiment of Brahmos Supersonic Cruise Missiles

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Defence | Security,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 07 Nov 2011 To 13 Nov 2011 Share|
The Indian Army received the second regiment of indigenously produced Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles on 9 november 2011. BrahMos was handed to Lt. Gen. Vinod Nayanar, Director General, Artillery by Union Minister of State for Defence, M. M. Pallam Raju. The second BrahMos cruise missile regiment of ground systems comes with mobile launchers, command post, replenishment systems, fire-control systems with sophisticated electronic hardware and software and multiple communication systems.
The Army already had guns for near- range and Smerch rockets for range of 75 km. BrahMos was the only system that gave tremendous fire power capability to the armed forces for targets beyond 75 km and as deep as 300 km.
The BrahMos has supersonic speed (Mach 2.8) all through its 290-km range, precision of near-zero circular error probability and devastating power nine times more kinetic energy than sub-sonic cruise missiles. BrahMos world leader in cruise missile technology and the preferred first strike weapon of the armed forces.
These missiles is to be deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) facing China in the next two to three years thereby adding muscle to Armys operational preparedness.
One regiment has four to six mobile launchers with self-contained computerised command posts and one launcher
has a battery of four to five Brahmos missiles having a speed of Mach 2.8 and can hit a target at a range of 300 km. The Army operationalised the first regiment in 2007. Jointly designed by India and Russia, BrahMos is the first venture of its kind between the two countries in the field of highly sophisticated defence industry. This supersonic missile, developed by from Brahmos Aerospace, is rated as one of the best in the world and can be used for precision hits without causing collateral damage.
The formation of a missile industry complex with a network of public and private sector industries who tirelessly work for producing BrahMos missiles for meeting the demand of all the three services is of utmost importance.
The Delhi State Cabinet decided to waive VAT on Fertilisers

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, State, Delhi, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 07 Nov 2011 To 13 Nov 2011 Share|
The Delhi Cabinet on 8 November 2011 decided to waive VAT on fertilsers to provide relief to the farmers. The farmers were facing difficulties because of the high tax rate on fertilizers. Due to the high tax on fertilizers, a significant difference had emerged in the prices in Haryana and Delhi. In Delhi, fertilizers mentioned in serial number 73 and 188 of the First Schedule were taxed at the rate of 5%, while the fertilizers mentioned in serial number 20 of the third schedule were taxed at the rate of 12.5% from 1 April 2010. Following the Delhi Cabinet decision, fertilizers will not be taxed under VAT.
Kerala topped the National Child Rights Index released by HAQCentre for Child Rights
A report on child rights, India's Child Rights Index, a first-of-its-kind report was released on 9 November 2011 by the HAQ-Centre for Child Rights. Kerala topped the national child rights index, followed by Karnataka. Arunachal Pradesh was found to be the worst performer in protecting the rights of children. The rankings of few other states are as follows: Maharashtra (3), Tamil Nadu (4) and Andhra Pradesh (5), Gujarat (6), Rajasthan (7). Madhya Pradesh ranked 11, Bihar (16), Uttar Pradesh (18) and Chhattisgarh (19). child rights issues such as sex ratio, early childhood care, child marriage, child labour, education, health, crime against and by children were taken into consideration while preparing the report. Details of State Performance Though Kerala topped the list, its child marriage indicator is the lowest, and the State's performance is far from satisfactory in early childhood care and crimes against children.
The report pointed out that economic growth did not necessarily improve the wellbeing of children. Kerala, which
ranked first in the national child rights, stands ninth in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) status, whereas Maharashtra, which ranks first in the GDP, stands third in child rights. Maharashtra does badly in sex ratio and child marriage. Arunachal Pradesh performed fairly well in sex ratio, child marriage and early childhood care. With the second highest GDP in the country, Uttar Pradesh ranked 18th in child rights and 27th in the provision of
health care, next only to Jharkhand. Mizoram performed badly in controlling child labour, while crimes against children were found to be the highest in Nagaland (in proportion to the number of children), and Manipur is the worst performer in crimes by children and Bihar is the best.
Jharkhand was found to be the only State whose economic status matched its child rights rank both standing at 17.
Four of the five best performing States Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh are from the southern region. Maharashtra alone is from the west. On the other hand, all the worst performing States are in
the Northeast- Sikkim, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. In fact, of the five States falling in the not-so-well performing States category, Tripura, Assam and Mizoram are also from the Northeast. The Child Rights Index stated that although in absolute numbers, most of the child victims of select crimes are in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, the ratio of child victims to overall child population is higher in the northeastern states of Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. The worst performers Nagaland, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Manipur - also have the lowest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the country.
The index revealed that the states that have higher incidences of crimes being committed by children also are
among the worst performers when it comes to child labour. Mizoram, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Nagaland - all have very high percentages of children working as labourers. Mizoram is the worst performer being at the bottom of the list at 29.
Performance of the National Capital New Delhi ranked 12 in the country when it comes to ensuring well-being of children. Delhi's lead in providing education to children is offset by its poor pupil-teacher ratio of 1:100. As far as the incidence of crime against children and crimes by children is concerned, Delhi again ranked 19th. It ranked 17 on the index which takes into account the victims of crimes. Delhi ranks second in the index on child labour. While the index showed Delhi on the top of the list in two indicators, namely education and birth registrations, it tumbles to the bottom of the list with a rank of 27 when it comes to early childhood care. The city fares poorly ranking 24 in the index for sex ratio. About India's Child Rights Index Like the Human Development Index, education index, hunger index and health index now, the Child Rights Index attempts assess how different states and union territories fare in providing child friendly policies and where they stand in terms of securing the rights of children. In the Child Rights Index, the states have been ranked on 10 major indicators- birth registration, sex ratio, early childhood care, child marriage, child labour, education, health, incidence of crime against children, victims of crime against children and crimes by children. The index looked into all aspects of child wellbeing in all sectors and indicators for realisation of child rights as a whole.
The ranking of states was not done on the basis of absolute numbers, but in proportion to the number of children in the states. So, though a state may perform well in absolute numbers, it figured low on the index. The index showed that the so-called world-class city needed to do much more to secure the rights of its children.
The index pointed out the states that lag behind in child rights' indicators. It will help ascertain areas of intervention, issues as well as geographical regions that need attention in the coming five-year plan.
Ratings Firm Moody's downgraded Indian Banking System's Rating outlook from Stable to Negative
Global ratings firm Moody's on 9 November 2011 downgraded the entire Indian banking system's rating outlook from stable to negative indicating a deterioration in asset quality in the months ahead. In September 2011, Standard & Poor's (S&P) downgraded the country's largest lender, the State Bank of India, by one notch. Arguing its case for the outlook downgrade the Moody's mentioned that with asset quality was anticipated to deteriorate over the next 12-18 months, thereby causing an increase in provisioning needs for the banks in financial year 2012 and 2013.
The Moody's decision was announced at a time when the Eurozone financial system is in turmoil and a large number of European banks are in dire straits.
The government rejected it claiming that the country's lending institutions are much healthier than their global counterparts. Indian bankers termed the move unwarranted and premature at this point of time.
The market apprehended that the downgrade by the Moody's would render overseas borrowings costlier for Indian
banks. The negative sentiment sparked a major sell-off in banking stocks, resulting in the banking index on the Bombay Stock Exchange tumbling by 2.62 per cent on 9 November.
India won Two Prestigious Awards Destination at the World Travel Awards
as
the
World's
Leading
India won two prestigious awards- Best Destination and Best Marketing Campaign as the World's Leading Destination at the World Travel Awards 2011 on 8 November 2011. Union Tourism Minister, Subodh Kant Sahai received the awards from Graham Cooke, Chairman, World Travel Awards in London. The awards will boost the government of Indias efforts to brand India as a global tourist destination. The Tourism Minister on the occassion announced the ministrys plans to double number of tourists visiting India by 2016. the
number of visitors to India increased by 10% between January and October 2011. India is to execute grander plans to ensure that 1% of all global tourists are in India by the end of 2016. The increase in tourism is expected to create an additional 25 million jobs in the country focusing on developing human resources, travel and hospitality and education. India will hold its first Global Travel Mart on 12 December 2012 to reinforce Indias commitment to become a major player in world tourism.
Sahai met the Tourism Minister of Israel, Stas Meseznikov at the Travel Mart organised in London. The leaders discussed visa issues, connectivity and agreed on the formation of a joint working group (JWG). The first meeting of JWG is scheduled to be held in Tel Aviv in February 2012
Emerging Markets attracted USD 3.5 billion or 70% of Fresh Capital invested in Equity Funds
According to global fund-tracking agency EPFR, emerging markets attracted USD 3.5 billion or over 70 per cent of total fresh capital invested in the equity funds across the world during the week ended 2 November 2011. For the week ended November 2, India-focused equity funds registered their biggest retail investor inflow since mid-December 2010. Most of such funds invest in India as FIIs ( Foreign Institutional Investors) and the capital flows through this route are a key factor in the stock market trends. As per capital market regulator SEBI, FIIs made a net investment of USD 680 million in Indian equities during the week ended 2 November.
In its report, EPFR mentioned that equity funds dedicated to global markets saw net inflows of USD 4.9 bilion during the week ended 2 November while emerging markets equity funds collectively took in USD 3.5 billion. This was the biggest inflow for emerging markets equity funds since early April 2011. The report noted that equity funds-dedicated to BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China) collectively saw net outflow during the week under review (week ended 2 November 2011). Besides, Latin America equity funds attracted fresh capital for the first time since July 2011 and flows into Asia excluding Japan equity funds climbed to a 17-week high. equity funds focused to Japan witnessed an outflow of USD 620 million--the most since middle of the second quarter, 2010, due to rising yen.
Commodity funds attracted USD 438 million in inflows although energy funds suffered net redemptions of USD 667 million.
Former Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Joe Frazier died

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Person Died, 2011 Current Affairs
Joe Frazier, the former heavyweight boxing champion died on 7 November 2011 after a battle with liver cancer. Frazier is most famous for defeating bitter rival and another boxing legend Muhammad Ali in the 1971 Fight of the Century. World heavyweight champion, Frazer had started life as a share-cropper's son growing up in South Carolina and punched meat in a Philadelphia slaughterhouse.
Known as Smokin' Joe, he won 32 fights in all, 27 by knockouts, losing four times - twice to Ali in furious bouts and twice to George Foreman. He also recorded one draw. Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali battled it out in a famed 1970s trilogy of bouts (3 fights). In the epic Thriller in Manila on 1 October 1975, in Quezon City in The Philippines, Frazer could not return for the 15th round because of a swollen shut eye. Frazier won the first of those three match-ups, the Fight of the Century on 8 March 1971, at Madison Square Garden, punctuating his 15-round win by flooring Ali with a leaping left hook. Ali scored a 12round decision over Frazier at the Garden in a non-title bout in January 1974.
After won gold at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics by defeating Australia's Athol McQueen. Frazier won the WBC and WBA heavyweight titles in 1970 by stopping Jimmy Ellis in the fifth at Madison Square Garden.
Frazier and Ellis fought again at Melbourne's Junction Oval in 1975, with Frazier winning in nine rounds and earning him the Manila shot at Ali, who had defeated George Foreman in the famous Rumble in the Jungle.
Frazier formed a back-up group called the Knockouts after he turned to siging. After retiring, Frazier made cameo appearances in several Hollywood movies, and two episodes of The Simpsons
Indirect Tax Collections in October 2011 dropped by 2.5 percent to Rs 30278 crore
Indirect tax collections in October 2011 dropped by 2.5 percent to Rs 30,278 crore on account of a slowing economy and cut in customs and excise duties on petroleum products. Indirect tax revenue comprising customs, excise and service tax was at Rs 31058 crore in October 2010. Realisations from customs dropped by 11.6 percent in October to Rs 11357 crore, from Rs 12,849 crore in October 2010. The central excise collections dropped 5.3 percent to Rs 10527 crore from Rs 11120 crore in October 2010. Service tax collections in october 2011 rose to Rs 8,394 crore from Rs 7,089 crore in October 2010.
The government had in June 2011 slashed customs and central excise duties to provide a relief to consumers from the hike in petrol prices that month. The cut meant an annual loss of Rs 49000 crore to the central exchequer. The decline in the total indirect tax collection in October would have been much sharper but for the 18.4 percent growth in realisation from service tax. April-October period of 2011 During April-October period, the indirect tax collection showed 17.8 percent increase to Rs 2.01 lakh crore from Rs 1.70 lakh crore during the corresponding period in 2010-11. The increase during the first seven months of the current fiscal was on account of higher collections from customs, central excise and service tax which rose by 16.6 percent, 10.6 percent and 33.6 percent, respectively.
During the April-October period customs collection was Rs 86156 crore (up from Rs 73,895 crore during corresponding period of last fiscal), central excise at Rs 69511 crore (Rs 62,838 crore) and service tax at Rs 45391 crore (Rs 33,977 crore).
The decline in indirect tax collection that followed can be attributed to poor performance of the industrial sector as well as the government decision to reduce duties on petroleum goods to partly offset the impact of price hike on consumers.
Industrial production during April-August period of 2011-12 moderated to 5.6 percent from 8.7 percent during the corresponding period in 2010-11. The government is targetting an 18 percent year-on-year increase in indirect tax collection at Rs 3.98 lakh crore for 2011-12 fiscal
Delhi Cabinet constituted Three-member Committee to suggest Model for upkeep of Bus Queues
Affairs Current Affairs Week: 07 Nov 2011 To 13 Nov 2011 Share|
Current Affairs Category: Committees | Commissions, November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, 2011 Current
The Delhi Cabinet on 8 November 2011 constituted a three-member committee, under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary P.K. Tripathi, to decide the financial model for the upkeep of bus queue shelters across Delhi. Besides the Chief Secretary, the panel comprises Secretary Transport and Secretary Finance. There are about 1,600 bus queue shelters in Delhi and are governed and maintained by different agencies, such as New Delhi Municipal Council, the Delhi Transport Corporation and private players, under a public-privatepartnership model. There are a total of 1638 bus shelters in the city out of which, 1138 are currently being maintained by a private firm which has been earning revenue through advertisement.
The cabinet decided to bring all the bus queue shelters in Delhi under a nodal agency to bring about uniformity in their maintenance. The bus shelters were facing the problem of vandalism since companies were not coming forward to take up their maintenance. High-level committee is to suggest maintenance and create a revenue-earning model for 500 bus Q-shelters constructed in the run up to the Commonwealth Games held in 2010
Second Annual Pushkar International Balloon Festival celebrated in Pushkar, Rajasthan

Current Affairs Category: Exhibition | Fare, November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs
The second annual Pushkar international balloon festival was held from 7 to 9 November 2011 in Pushkar near Ajmer, Rajasthan. Participants from ten countries showcased their ballooning skills during the event. Colourful hot air balloons with beautiful motifs presented a spectacular view to tourists and participants. Fifteen balloons were included in the festival. Pilots and technical officials of ten countries, including the UK, France, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Spain, Netherlands and Czech Republic participated. The balloon flight of two hours duration each took twice daily at 5.30 am and 4 pm respectively.
being to the fair for livestock trading.
Over five lakh people visited Pushkar, some 15 km from Ajmer to attend the festival. Nearly 20000 cattle are also
Pushkar Balloon Festival is held in the backdrop of world famous Pushkar Fair. The balloons fly over festival
grounds, camel camps, sand dunes, campfires, mountains and lakes around the scenic destination during mesmerizing sunrise and sunsets of Pushkar Hills. Pushkar Fair The Pushkar Fair, or Pushkar ka Mela, is the annual five-day camel and livestock fair, held in the town of Pushkar
in Rajasthan. It is one of the world's largest camel fairs, and apart from buying and selling of livestock it has become an important tourist attraction. Competitions such as the matka phod, longest moustache, and bridal competition are the main draws for this fair which attracts thousands of tourists
International Conference on the threat from Cyber Security Attacks was held in London
London: International conference on the threat from cyber security attacks was held here. London is the capital of England. A major international conference on the threat from cyber-security attacks was held in London on 1 November 2011. The conference aims to have nations work together to combat international cyber crime. Representatives of 60 nations gathered to discuss how to deal with the rising levels of cybercrime. The governments have seen digital attempts to steal IT, energy and defence data.
Australia passed Legislation to Impose a Tax on the Nations 500 Largest Polluters
Australian senate on 8 November 2011 passed legislation that would impose a carbon tax on the nations 500 largest polluters. The government reasoned that it was necessary to control climate change. Australia's largest polluters will now pay 23 Australian dollars for every metric ton of carbon gases they produce. Australia is one of the world's worst greenhouse gas emitters per capita because of its heavy dependence on abundant reserves of coal to generate electricity. Critics contended that Australian businesses would become uncompetitive because the carbon tax is very high. However, through this tax, the government could achieve its target of reducing Australia's carbon emissions by 5 percent below 2000 levels by 2020
SITE Study revealed 60% Indian suffer from the Twin AilmentsDiabetes and Hypertension
A study on the twin ailments, diabetes and hypertension, called Screening India's Twin Epidemic (SITE) conducted by Aventis Pharma Limited, Sanofi Group were published on 7 November 2011. Sanofi, tested almost 16,000 people living in urban cities across eight states over the last three years. Patients walking into general practitioners' clinics for complaints other than diabetes and hypertension were tested.
The study assessed people on three parameters: if their levels of glycated haemoglobin were under 7, if their blood pressure was less than 130/80 and their levels of bad cholesterol less than 100 mg/dl. Epidemics fed by obesity and non-vegetarianism
According to the study, one in every five Indian adults living in urban cities suffers not only from hypertension but also diabetes. 60%, or three out of every five Indians, have either diabetes or hypertension or both. The data also revealed that 26 per cent of the hypertension patients suffer from kidney complications. Findings in Maharashtra The corresponding figure in Maharashtra, at 67%, is worse. In Maharashtra, more disturbingly, one in three persons is struck by the twin epidemic. In particular, almost 40% of those tested in Maharashtra had diabetes. The only parameter where Maharashtra performed better than the all-India average was in the level of awareness: if 7% of those tested in the eight states put together didn't know they had these diseases, in Maharashtra it was 5%.
Casues behind the Surge Study to find prevalence of diabetes & hypertension discovered that 80% people had abdominal obesity. Obesity, the study noted was responsible for the surging number of diabetic patients. Almost 80% of the people studied had abdominal obesity or a waist circumference of over 90 cm. The study also found that one of the driving forces was the rising trend of non-vegetarianism along with the old cause of excess salt in diet. While the average American consumes 4 to 6 grams of salt a day, Indians had almost 6 to 8 grams a day.
Challenges According to medical experts, the biggest challenge that people were unaware of the disease in them. The SITE
study, for instance, found that 7.2% of those tested didn't know they had diabetes or hypertension. 18.4% of those tested had a condition called pre-diabetes. The study also has disclosed that in 9 per cent of the newly diagnosed cases, patients did not know that they had diabetes. Among hypertensive patients, 83 per cent did not have their condition under control
UP Government announced the 20 Percent MSP Hike for Sugarcane

Current Affairs Category: Uttar Pradesh, November 2011 Current Affairs, State, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 07 Nov 2011 To 13 Nov 2011 Share|
Uttar Pradesh government on 8 November 2011 announced the 20 percent MSP (Minimum Support Price) hike for sugarcane for the current season. Following this, the sugarcane farmers will get 240 rupees as MSP for every quintal of crop sold in the state.The government decision is likely to benefit 40 lakh farmers in the state. According to an estimate, the sugarcane production is likely to be around 1200 lakh tonnes in 2011-12 as against the production of 1050 lakh tonnes in 2010-11.
Retired General & Former Intelligence Director Perez Molina won Guatemala Presidential Election
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Person Appointed, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 07 Nov 2011 To 13 Nov 2011 Share|
Retired general and former intelligence director Otto Perez Molina of the Conservative Patriotic Party of Guatemala won the presidential election on 6 November 2011 by defeating tycoon-turned-political populist Manuel Baldizon of the Democratic Freedom Revival party. Prez Molina, is the first former military leader elected president in Guatemala in the 25 years after the end of brutal military rule. Otto Perez Molina succeded lvaro Colom as Guatemalas President. Perez's iron-fist approach to rampant crime in a country overrun by gangs and Mexican drug cartels attracted the electorates. Perez declared that his priority would be to lower the levels of violence and insecurity and work with congress to improve the federal budget.
Guatemalans, like before once again elected the presidential candidate who lost the previous election, something they have done since democracy returned to the Central American country in 1986.
Elections were held on 11 September, 2011 in Guatemala for the offices of President and Vice President. Roxana Baldetti was elected the vice-president.
About Otto Perez Molina During his time in the army he served as director of military intelligence and inspector-general of the army. In
1983 he was a member of the group of army officers who backed Defence Minister scar Meja's coup d'tat against de facto president Efran Ros Montt. While serving as chief of military intelligence in 1993, he was instrumental in forcing the departure of President Jorge Serrano. Serrano had attempted a self-coup by dissolving Congress and appointing new members to the Guatemalan Supreme Court.
Following this incident, Guatemala's human rights ombudsman, Ramiro de Len, became president and appointed Prez as his presidential chief of staff, a position he held until 1995. Prez also represented the military in the negotiations that led to the 1996 Peace Accords, putting an end to Guatemala's 30-year-long Civil War. Between 1998 and 2000 he represented Guatemala on the Inter-American Defense Board. General Prez retired from active military duty in January 2000.
Jamnalal Bajaj Awards for 2011 presented by Spiritual Leader Morari Bapu
Vinoba Sewa Ashram founders Ramesh Bhaiya and Vimla Bahan, and social activists Anupam Mishra, Shobhana Ranade and Agus Indra Udayana were awarded 2011 Jamnalal Bajaj Awards on 7 November 2011. Anupam Mishra was chosen for Application of Science and Technology for Rural Development, while Ranade was selected for her work in Development and Welfare of Women and Children. Agus Indra Udayana received the award for promoting Gandhian Values Outside India and Ramesh Bhaiya and Vimla Bahan were chosen for the Award for Constructive Work.
Each award comprised a citation, a trophy and Rs five lakh in cash. The awards were presented by spiritual leader Morari Bapu
Guatemala's Supreme Electoral Tribunal announced Results of Presidential Election

Retired general and former intelligence director Otto Perez Molina of the Conservative Patriotic Party of Guatemala won the presidential election on 6 November 2011. Otto Perez Molina succeded lvaro Colom as Guatemalas President.
Elections were held on 11 September, 2011 in Guatemala for the offices of President and Vice President. Roxana Baldetti was elected the vice-president.
Guatemala in a Glance Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the
southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast. Guatemala is a representative democracy and its capital is Guatemala de la Asuncin, also known as Guatemala City.
The country became independent from Spain in 1821, joining the Mexican Empire. After it became an independent country in its own right, it was ruled by a series of dictators, assisted by the United Fruit Company. The late 20th century saw Guatemala embroiled in a 36-year-long civil war. Following the war, Guatemala witnessed successive democratic elections.
Guatemala is a constitutional democratic republic whereby the President of Guatemala is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Congress of the Republic. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
It has one of lowest tax rates in the world, raising little money for schools, roads or other improvements that
would help bring the country out of severe poverty. More than half of Guatemala's 14 million people live below the poverty line.
Czech Republic won Fed Cup Title by securing a 3-2 win over Russia
The Czech Republic won its first Fed Cup title (tennis) in 23 years after Lucie Hradecka and Kveta Peschke defeated Maria Kirilenko and Elena Vesnina 6-4, 6-2 in the decisive doubles match on 7 November 2011 to secure a 3-2 win over Russia in the final. The Russian pair broke early for a 4-2 lead, but the Czechs won four consecutive games to take the first set and then jumped to a 5-2 lead in the second. It was the sixth Fed Cup title for the Czechs but their first since 1988, when it competed as Czechoslovakia and defeated the Soviet Union 2-1 in the final. The victory marked a breakthrough season for second-ranked Petra Kvitova, who won both of her singles matches for the Czechs. Kvitova remained unbeaten in six Fed Cup matches in 2011. The victory was her 12th in a row
after winning back-to-back titles in Linz, Austria, and the season-ending WTA Championships in Istanbul. Kvitova won six titles in 2011 which moved her to No. 2 in the rankings
Union Ministry of Health launched Anti-measles Vaccination Drive in collaboration with the HRD
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched anti-measles vaccination drive, Measles Catch-up Campaign. The vaccination programme was launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resource
Development (HRD) to target children aged up to 10 years, particularly in 14 States where the routine immunisation coverage is less than 80 per cent. More than 13 crore children are expected to be covered under the Measles Catch-up Campaign, irrespective of their previous measles vaccination status.
The State Education Departments in the states are to set up a State Steering Committee for implementing the
campaign. A nodal officer will collaborate with the principals and guardians of private and government schools for implementing the campaign. They will provide a list of the schools and of students enrolled in these schools. For each school, the vaccination programme will be completed in one day with the least disruption to academic routine. However, unlike the Pulse Polio campaign, there will be no door-to-door visits, and children will have to be mobilised from outreach areas to the session site. Mobilisation and actual vaccination will be done by accredited social health activists, auxiliary nurse midwives, male health works and other paramedical staff.
The first round will be conducted in the education institutions and subsequently at the health centres. Beneficiaries The States that will benefit from the campaign are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh. About Measles Measles is a highly infectious disease which is contracted by children with low immunity and can cause acute respiratory problems, diarrhoea, and pneumonia. The disease can also result in disabilities such as visual impairment. Measles can be prevented by a single dose of vaccine if it is administered when the child is between 9 to 12 months. Measles in India
While India has made significant improvement in reducing child mortality due to immunisation coverage, measles continues to remain a major cause of death among children, claiming between 50000 to 100000 lives every year.
Only 69 per cent of children in the country are protected against this disease. The campaign offers an opportunity to the children to get immunised, particularly those who were left out earlier.
WHO Survey: Expense on Healthcare to push 3.2 per cent Indians below the Poverty Line
According to a survey by the Indian Institute of Population Sciences and WHO published on 1 November 2011, out-of-pocket (OOP) spending of their income on medicines and health care services will push millions of Indians (about 3.2 per cent) below the poverty line. Rising cost of diagnosis, medicines and hospitalisation will be responsible for the out-of-pocket spending. Statistics More than 40 per cent of low-income families in India borrowed money from outside the family to meet their health care costs. The study found that 16 percent families were pushed below the poverty line by this trend. A majority of Indians spend around 70 per cent of their income on medicines and health care, compared to 30-40 per cent in other Asian countries like Sri Lanka.
The WHO stressed the need for effective monitoring system in India, while expressing concern about the lack of Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) and Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (PTC) in Indian hospitals. What the Planning Commission said The Planning Commission accepted that OOP to pay for healthcare costs was a growing problem in India. It
mentioned that 39 million Indians were pushed to poverty because of ill health every year. According to the Planning Commission, around 30% in rural India didn't go for any treatment for financial constraints in 2004. In urban areas, 20% of ailments were untreated for financial problems in 2004.
About 47% and 31% of hospital admissions in rural and urban India, respectively, were financed by loans and sale of assets.
The Planning Commission's high-power expert group on universal health coverage recommended ensuring
availability of free essential medicines by increasing public spending on drug procurement. The expert group mentioned in its report that low public spending on drugs and non-availability of free medicines in government healthcare facilities were major factors discouraging people from accessing public sector health units. State-wise Analysis Maharashtra spent 5.2% of its health expenditure in 2010 on purchasing drugs as against 11.3% a decade ago. Rajasthan, Haryana, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh too followed suit during the same period. Though Kerala spent the highest in India on drug procurement in 2010 -12.5% on health expenditure, the figure is still far less than what it had in 2001 (17%). Tamil Nadu's expenses on buying medicines came down from 15.3% (2001) to 12.2% (2010).
Data from 2010-11 indicated that about 10%-12% of the health spending in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala went towards procuring drugs as against the 2%-3% spent on drugs by states like Jharkhand, Punjab and
Rajasthan. While there has been a significant improvement in drug procurement in the state of Bihar as a result of increased allocation of NRHM funds, it is still spending a very little (Rs 8 per capita) on drugs.
Electronic Nose received $950000 Grant to Develop Technology to Fight Tuberculosis

The Electronic Nose, which has the potential to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) in symptomatic patients, was awarded a $950,000 grant from Grand Challenges Canada and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on 7 November 2011. The grant was given to enable Electronic Nose to support further development and testing of this ground-breaking technology. The funding will help determine whether the Electronic Nose is able to detect TB immediately and non-invasively from the patient's breath, in order to replace time-consuming testing with sputum. It is estimated that up to
400000 lives a year can be saved in the developing world by early diagnosis, immediate treatment and reduced transmission of this killer disease. TB claims close to 1.7 million lives yearly and is second only to HIV/AIDs as the world's most deadly infectious disease. The two-year grant given to Electronic Nose will be used to validate the finding in four centres throughout India. Dr. Ranjan Nanda of the New Delhi-based International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, one of the lead researchers on the electronic nose project, aims to have a validated prototype by December 2013. About Electronic Nose The development of the Electronic Nose marks the collaboration between the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in New Delhi, India, and Next Dimension Technologiesin California. The New Delhi innovators are currently working with sensors developed in California to track biomarkers in the breath.
Grand Challenges Canada is funded by the Government of Canada through the Development Innovation Fund
announced in the 2008 Budget. Grand Challenges Canada works in a consortium with Canada's International Development Research Centre and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Government Prepared Draft Bill on Citizens Right to Grievance Redress

The government prepared a draft of Citizens Right to Grievance Redress Bill 2011 in the first week of November 2011. The bill aims at creating institutionalize mechanism to ensure delivery of public services in a time bound manner and redressal of public grievances. Key recommendations in the Draft Bill are: There will be a Citizens Charter, and a protocol will be put in place.
Bill can be enacted as a central legislation under the concurrent list Item 8 (actionable wrongs) and can cover Central Schemes and Central Government Departments.
Provide a Platform to States to make this a Grievance Redressal Mechanism for State Schemes and Departments Bill will incorporate the institution of Information and Facilitation Centre in all public authorities to ensure that Citizens can be facilitated and grievances are systematically recorded and tracked using telephone, sms, web etc. First level Redress should be within concerned department as proposed. This should be done through a Grievance Redress Officer in each department The second level redress/ appeal will be at the level of Head of the Department of the public authority. State Grievance Commissions should be set up as second level appellate authorities.
India and Japan held Defence Talks in Tokyo to discuss Maritime Issues
India-Japan Defence Ministers Meeting was held in Tokyo on 2 November 2011. The delegation level talks, led by the Defence Minister AK Antony and his Japanese counterpart Yasuo Ichikawa, recognized the importance of sea lanes and decided to actively pursue consultations and cooperation in the field of maritime security both bilaterally and in association with all other countries in the region. India and Japan agreed to hold their first bilateral naval exercises in 2012.
The two nations exchanged views on regional and international security and decided to step up defence cooperation and exchanges between the two countries. India-Japan defence cooperation is geared towards peace and prosperity of the region and is transparent.
The Indian delegation included the Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma, the Indian Ambassador to Japan, Aloke Prasad, the Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral RK Dhowan and GoC-in-C, Central Command, Lt Gen VK Ahluwalia.
Anti-piracy efforts need to be supplemented by adoption of better security measures by the world maritime community. There is a need to not only have a legal framework for prosecuting the pirates, but concerted efforts
are also necessary to track the money-trail and to stop it from being channelized for funding terrorist activities, worldwide.
Scheduled Tribe Students to get Subsidised Education Loans

Tribal Affairs Ministry launched a scheme, Adivasi Shiksha Rinn Yojana (ASRY) on 2 November 2011 to offer subsidised education loans to Scheduled Tribe students at concessional rate for higher, professional and technical education in government-approved institutions. The scheme will provide concessional loan at six per cent interest which is payable only after completion of the course or after getting a job.
Malaysian Squash Superstar Nicol David won a Record Sixth Women's World Open
Malaysian squash superstar Nicol David won a record sixth women's World Open title on 6 November 2011 by defeating England's Jenny Duncalf at Luxor Theatre, Rotterdam. With this victory David surpassed Sarah Fitzgerald's record five world titles. She won her first world title in Hong Kong in 2005.
Nicol defeated world No. 2 Jenny Duncalf of England 11-2, 11-5, 11-0 in just 29 minutes in the final of the World Open. David was five points ahead before Duncalf could score at all, won 11 of the first 13 rallies with frightening speed, and hurtled through the third game without losing a rally.
Nicol, who turned pro in 2000, won her other world titles in Hong Kong (2005), Belfast, Northern Ireland (2006), Manchester (2008), Amsterdam (2009) and Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt (2010). The world crown won in Rotterdam was also Nicols 56th Wispa title and ninth in the year 2011. It was her 27th win over Duncalf in 29 meetings.
Nicol received US$21188 while Duncalf pocketed US$13656. Nicol David was inducted into the Hall of Fame for her outstanding accomplishments
Calcutta High Court granted Continuation of Stay of Singur Act

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, State, Other States, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 07 Nov 2011 To 13 Nov 2011 Share|
The Calcutta High Court on 3 November 2011 granted continuation of the stay of the trial court order validating the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act. The Act was challenged by the Tatas. A division bench of justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Mrinal Kanti Chaudhuri passed the order granting continuation of the stay until disposal of the appeal.
On 28 September 2011, Justice I P Mukherjee while validating the Singur Act had stayed the operation of the
order until 2 November 2011 so that any aggrieved party was able to file an appeal. While Kalyan Bandopadhyay appearing on behalf of the West Bengal government prayed that the stay be restricted to 645 acres of leased out
land to the Tatas, the division bench rejected the appeal and said that stay would be applicable to the entire 997 acres.
Tata Motors had moved the division bench challenging the order of the trial court, praying for continuation of the
stay of the operation of the judgement and also the validity of the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act, 2011. The legislation provided for return of 400 acres of land to unwilling farmers who had given their holding for Tata Motor's Nano car project at Singur in Hooghly district.
CAG to Audit Performance of all Schemes under the Rural Development Ministry
Union Rural Development Ministry announced on 4 November 2011 that Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG) will audit performance of all schemes under the Ministries of Rural Development and Drinking Water and Sanitation. CAG is to conduct an audit on expenditure incurred over a period spanning the past five years in 12 States.
The CAG audit that is to cover the outgo of an estimated Rs.3.5 crore during the past five years is expected to plug the loopholes and ensure proper execution of development and welfare schemes.
In the first phase, the CAG will audit the expenditures under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). It will be the second such exercise related to MGNREGA. The earlier audit was a limited exercise to gauge its impact after its launch. In the first phase, CAG will conduct financial as well as performance audits in 12 states that get the most money from the programmes Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh. These States were selected for the first phase of audit as they accounted for the major share of the expenditure incurred during the past five years.
Apart from drawing up a checklist to monitor expenditure at the Central and State levels, an expert committee was also set up to prepare a common accounting format for all schemes in consultation with the CAG. The audit, apart from MGNREGA will also include other major programmes like the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and drinking water supply and sanitation schemes
Rebel Guerrilla Leader Government Bombing
of
Colombia,
Alfanso
Cano
killed
in
The leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Guillermo Leon Saenz alias Alfanso Cano was killed in a government bombing raid in the Cauca department, southwest Colombia in the first week of November 2011. The guerrilla leader's body was found in the municipality of Suarez. Alfanso Cano was a rebel leader with both political experience and military credibility. Cano went from being a middle-class youth in the capital Bogota to the top FARC leader after taking part in peace talks in neighbouring Venezuela and Mexico during the 1990s.
He took over the leadership of the rebel group after founder Pedro Antonio Marin Marin, alias Manuel Marulanda died of natural causes in May 2008.
Cano had been the country's top target since September 2010, when the group's military chief was killed. The government offered up to $3.7m (2.3m) for information that would lead to his capture. About FARC The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC is a MarxistLeninist revolutionary guerrilla organization based in Colombia which is involved in the Colombian armed conflict. FARC is a peasant army which claims to represent the rural poor in a struggle against Colombia's wealthier classes, and opposes United States influence in Colombia. It funds itself principally through ransom kidnappings, gold miningand production and distribution of illegal drugs.
The group is on a US list of terrorist organisations and the Colombian governments military campaign, which began in 2002, has been backed by the American administration. Current Position of FARC The FARC rebels lost four member of the ruling Secretariat since 2008, thereby suffering major blows to the leadership of the guerrilla army. After Cano, there is no one with the profile to keep the FARC together and
fragmentation and criminalization is expected to follow. As a result any further peace process with the government would deliver only a fraction of the rebel ranks. Canos killing is the latest in a series of blows delivered to Latin America's last remaining leftist rebel army that began in March 2008, when the FARC's foreign minister, Raul Reyes, was killed in a bombing across the border in Ecuador.
FARC's revered co-founder, Manuel Marulanda, died in a mountain hideout of a heart attack. Later, Mono Jojoy was killed in late 2010.
Cano's death is a strategic victory for President Juan Manuel Santos who came to office in 2010 with a promise to keep up a hard-line stance against the guerrillas
Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde represented India at SCO Meeting in St. Petersburg
Union Minister of Power Sushilkumar Shinde represented India at the meeting of the Heads of Governments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in St. Petersburg on 7 November 2011. The meeting hosted by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin considered providing full membership to India and Pakistan as well as granting observer status to Afghanistan and making Turkey a dialogue partner.
The meeting was attended by Heads of Governments of the member-States of the SCO, namely, Russia, China,
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Republic and Kazakhstan. While India, Pakistan, Iran and Mongolia are observer States, Afghanistan is a Special Invitee at the forum. The SCO & India The SCO was founded in 2001 at Shanghai. SCO has six full members and aims at strengthening mutual trust and good-neighbourliness and friendship among member states.
India joined this regional organisation as an observer in 2005. Within the existing participatory mechanisms open to the observer countries, India has demonstrated its strong commitment to the SCO by engaging actively in several areas related to development and security.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela chosen winner of People's Parliament Global Award
A traditional tribal institution of Meghalaya on 4 November 2011 announced Former South African President Nelson Mandela the winner of People's Parliament Global Award. Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya (GCCM) chairman John F. Kharshiing declared that Mandela was chosen for the award because of his sacrifice for the struggle against apartheid.
Besides, three journalists Aroon Purie, Rajdeep Sardesai and Arnab Goswami would also be given the People's Parliament National Awards for their unbiased, ethical and investigative reporting. These awards, instituted by GCCM, would be conferred at a function to be held at Asananggre near Tura in West Garo Hills District on 14 November 2011.
Earlier, former United States Vice-President Al Gore was conferred the People's Parliament Global Award for promoting awareness on climate change
Legendary Singer-composer and Padma Bhushan Awardee Bhupen Hazarika passed away
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Person Died, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 07 Nov 2011 To 13 Nov 2011 Share|
Legendary singer-composer and Padma Bhushan awardee Bhupen Hazarika died in Mumbai on 5 November 2011. He is also known for his poetic compositions that covered a variety of subjects ranging from politics to society and from love to eroticism. Hazarika was a multi-talented personality. He was a poet, music composer, singer, actor, journalist, author and filmmaker. About Bhupen Hazarika Bhupen Hazarika was born on 8 September 1926, in Sadiya, Assam. Hazarika studied at Cotton College and then moved to the Banaras Hindu University to complete his Bachelor in Arts in 1944. He completed his MA in Political
Science and was honoured with a doctorate by the Columbia University in New York in the 1952. He also received the Lisle Fellowship from Chicago University, US to study the use of educational project development through cinema.
He was the chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi from 1999-2004. He was chosen as a member of the Assam Legislative Assembly from 1967-72. Works of Bhupen Hazarika At the age of 12, Hazarika sang his first song Biswa Bijoy No Jowan for an Assamese film Indramalati. He was involved with the Assamese film industry ever since its inception. He worked to bring tradition of Assamese music to a platform where the world could listen.
Era Batar Sur, Shakuntala, Loti ghoti, Pratidhwani, Chick Mick Bijul, Swikarokti and Sirajare some of the Assamese films that were directed by him. He lent his voice and composed songs for the film.
His soulful compositions for Hindi films Rudali, Chingaari, Daman introduced a new dimension in Bollywood music. His song Dil Hoom Hoom Kare from Rudali is a legend.
Legendary black singer Pual Robenson inspired him to compose his magnum opus O Ganga behti ho kyon.
He wrote over 1000 lyrics and covered a wide range of topics that included short stories, essays, travelogues, poems and children's rhymes. Hazarika featured in his first music video -Our Northeast, Our Star with Shantanu Moitra and Swanand Kirkire. The veretan also sang Mahatma Gandhis favourite bhajanVaishnav Jan To for the film Gandhi To Hitler.
He had moved to Mumbai to work as an artist with Indian People's Theatre Movement (IPTA) with music composer Salil Chowdhury, actor Balraj Sahni and a few others. Awards conferred on Bhupen Hazarika He was awarded the National Award in 1975 for Chameli Memsaab. He also won the Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1992. The legendary composer was conferred the Indian Music Director award for best music Internationally for the film Rudaali at the Asia Pacific International Film Festival 1993 held in Japan.
He won President's medal for his films Shakuntala (1960), Pratidhwani (1964) andLotighoti (1967). He was also awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987
Human Resources Graduate from Venezuela, Ivian Sarcos was crowned Miss World 2011 in London
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Person in News, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 07 Nov 2011 To 13 Nov 2011
A human resources graduate from Venezuela, Ivian Sarcos was crowned Miss World 2011 at the 61st Miss World contest at a glittering beauty pageant at Earls Court exhibition Centre in London on 6 November 2011. She was crowned winner by Miss World 2010, Alexandra Mills, who competed for the United States. Sarcos ambition is to work with children and she is currently is employed by a broadcasting company in Venezuela. Her hobbies include mountaineering, trekking and volleyball. The runner-up was Miss Philippines, Gwendoline Ruais, and Miss Puerto Rico, Amanda Perez, claimed third place. 113 women competed in the pageant, which was broadcast to 150 countries and over a billion estimated viewers.
The jury for the 2011 competition included Cindy Breakspeare (1976), Nigeria Agbani Darego (2001), Zhang Zilin (2007) and Kaiane Aldorino (2009). Facts The first Miss World competition was staged in 1951 in London. The 2012 Miss World Competition is scheduled to take place at Ordos in Inner Mongolia, China
6th G20 (Major Economies) Summit Held in Cannes

Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
The 6th G20 (Major Economies) summit was held in Cannes, France on November 3 and 4 2011 to discuss key issues in the global economy. Eurozone debt crisis dominated the Summit in Cannes. The other issues discussed in the summit were global imbalances, financial transactions tax, tax evasion and reform of the international monetary system.
Agreements made in G20 Cannes Summit
growth. They agreed to create jobs, ensure financial stability, promote social inclusion and make globalization serve the needs of the people. They agreed on an Action plan for Growth and Jobs to address short term vulnerabilities and strengthen
The G20 leaders affirmed their commitment to work together and took decisions to reinvigorate economic
medium-term foundations for growth.
An affirmation was made on G20s commitment to move more rapidly toward more market-determined exchange rate systems and enhance exchange rate flexibility to reflect underlying economic fundamentals, avoid persistent exchange rate misalignments and refrain from competitive devaluation of currencies.
The leaders of G20 agreed to continue their efforts to further strengthen global financial safety nets. They committed to support the IMF in putting forward the new Precautionary and Liquidity Line (PLL) to provide on a case by case basis increased and more flexible short-term liquidity to countries with strong policies and fundamentals facing exogenous shocks.
including of country reforms.
They supported the euro area's comprehensive plan and urged rapid elaboration and implementation,
Member countries decided to develop the regulation and oversight of shadow banking. They agreed on developing further their regulation on market integrity and efficiency, including addressing the risks posed by high frequency trading and dark liquidity.
They determined to enhance the functioning and transparency of energy markets.
India pitched for a consensus among G-20 nations on sharing of tax and banking information with retrospective effect.
India stressed on the fact that the era of banking secrecy laws was over, and it was vital to build a consensus on sharing of past banking data as it would help in investigation of earlier cases of tax evasion. The G20 summit in Cannes finally ended in ominous disarray. The leaders finally were unable to agree upon a
boost to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help distressed countries. Debt-ridden Italy, was seen as the epicentre of the euro crisis, was forced to put its austerity programme under the fund's control. The UK showed
focus on urging its European partners to make progress, and wished to continue support extra cash for the IMF.
What is the G-20? G-20 is an abbreviated form of the Group of Twenty. It consists of 19 member countries and EU. G20 was
established in 1999 to bring together systemically important industrialised and developing economies to discuss key issues in the global economy. The inaugural meeting of the G-20 took place in Berlin, on December 15-16, 1999, and it was hosted by German and Canadian finance ministers.
The G-20 was created as a response both to the financial crises of the late 1990s and to a growing recognition that key emerging-market countries were not adequately included in the core of global economic discussion and governance
RBI eased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Procedures to woo Global Investors
Current Topics, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Affairs Category: Topics for Bank PO | Clerk Exam 2011, November 2011 Current Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
Affairs, Hot
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 4 November 2011 announced that transfer of shares between Indians and non-resident Indians (NRIs) would not require its permission in several key areas such as financial services. RBI
initiated measures to ease foreign direct investment (FDI) procedures with an objective to woo global investors. The central bank Amended the Foreign Exchange Management Regulations. It mentioned that prior permission would not be necessary where the company whose shares were being transferred was engaged in any financial service.
The RBI permission had also been done away with for transfer of shares between residents and non-residents in cases where the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) had already given its clearances and the SEBI guidelines were met.
The steps had been taken as a measure to further liberalise and rationalise the procedures and policies governing foreign direct investment in India.
However, RBI clarified that the transactions would have to comply with the SEBI regulations, FDI sectoral caps, and the pricing guidelines as specified by the RBI.
FDI inflows shot up by 95 per cent to $17.37 billion between April and August 2011. The government and the RBI want to maintain robust foreign exchange reserves as volatility in the stock market has led to outflows
Gross Direct Tax Collection for April-October of 2011-12 Fiscal stood at Rs 284081 crore
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
According to the Finance Ministrys statement released in the first week of November 2011, the gross direct tax collection jumped 20.28 per cent during the April-October period of 2011-12 to Rs 284081 crore due to an
increase in corporate tax mop-up. The figure was Rs 236176 crore in the same period in 2010-11. The gross tax collection in the first seven months of 2011-12 fiscal is only about 48.5 per cent of the Rs 5.85 lakh crore target for the entire fiscal.
Net direct tax collection for the seven-month period(April-October) of the fiscal 2011-12 stood at Rs.218850 crore and it marked an increase of a mere 7.1 per cent as compared to the previous fiscal 2010-11 owing to the huge outgo on refunds.
Although the direct revenue garnered during the April-October 2011 was higher than the Rs.236176 crore collected during the same period of 2010-11, the percentage-wise shortfall in collection has been attributed to the ongoing economic slowdown.
However, the gross corporate tax collection was a robust 20.35 per cent higher at Rs.189872 crore during AprilOctober 2011-12 as against Rs.157767 crore mopped up in the same period in 2010. Gross personal income tax collection was up by 20.17 per cent at Rs.93769 crore.
The mop-up by way of wealth tax grew by 10.6 per cent to Rs.418 crore from Rs.378 crore in the same period last
fiscal. However, owing to the absence of boom in the stock market during the current fiscal year, collection through securities transaction tax (STT) declined by 17.9 per cent to Rs.2958 crore during April-October period in 2011 as against a mop-up of Rs.3602 crore in the same period in 2010.
Oil Companies raised Petrol Prices by Rs 1.80 per litre marking 13th increase since June 2011
State-owned oil companies on 3 November 2011 raised petrol prices by Rs 1.80 per litre at a time when the nation is already battling high double-digit food inflation. This is the 13th increase in petrol prices since the fuel was decontrolled in June 2010. Petrol prices were last raised by over Rs 3 a litre on 15 September 2011. With the latest price rise, the fuel's price has risen 33.5% since it was decontrolled in June 2010.
The latest rise in petrol prices came after Brent crude oil fell for four consecutive days before rising about half a
dollar on 3 November. The sharp rise is due to high crude prices particularly Brent as well as rupee deprecation. As per RBI reference rate, $1 was equivalent to Rs 49.3748. The India crude oil basket for the fortnight ended 31 October was recorded at $108.59 a barrel. the average exchange rate for the fortnight stood at Rs 49.36 to a dollar. The Indian basket of crude oil touched $ 108.40 a barrel on 3 November 2011.
A litre of petrol now cost nearly Rs 28 more than diesel. The gap was barely Rs 11 in the middle of 2010 but the government controls diesel prices and has not raised diesel rates. Diesel prices have risen barely 2% sice June 2010 thereby accelerating sales of diesel vehicles and dampening demand for petrol cars. The government's pricing policy and absence compensation to oil companies for selling kerosene and cooking gas below cost has hurt oil marketing companies
Oil Companies raised Petrol Prices by Rs 1.80 per litre marking 13th increase since June 2011
State-owned oil companies on 3 November 2011 raised petrol prices by Rs 1.80 per litre at a time when the nation is already battling high double-digit food inflation. This is the 13th increase in petrol prices since the fuel
was decontrolled in June 2010. Petrol prices were last raised by over Rs 3 a litre on 15 September 2011. With the latest price rise, the fuel's price has risen 33.5% since it was decontrolled in June 2010.
The latest rise in petrol prices came after Brent crude oil fell for four consecutive days before rising about half a
dollar on 3 November. The sharp rise is due to high crude prices particularly Brent as well as rupee deprecation. As per RBI reference rate, $1 was equivalent to Rs 49.3748. The India crude oil basket for the fortnight ended 31 October was recorded at $108.59 a barrel. the average exchange rate for the fortnight stood at Rs 49.36 to a dollar. The Indian basket of crude oil touched $ 108.40 a barrel on 3 November 2011.
A litre of petrol now cost nearly Rs 28 more than diesel. The gap was barely Rs 11 in the middle of 2010 but the government controls diesel prices and has not raised diesel rates. Diesel prices have risen barely 2% sice June 2010 thereby accelerating sales of diesel vehicles and dampening demand for petrol cars. The government's pricing policy and absence compensation to oil companies for selling kerosene and cooking gas below cost has hurt oil marketing companies.
Food Inflation surged to 12.21 per cent for the week ended 22 October 2011
According to the WPI data released released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on 3 November 2011, food inflation surged further to 12.21 per cent for the week ended 22 October 2011 from 11.43 per cent in the
previous week owing to soaring prices of various edibles such as vegetables, fruits, pulses, milk and all other protein-rich items. The double-digit food inflation was attributed to risingprices of tomato and protein-based items due to supply shortage that aggravated amid surging demand during the festival season. Tomato prices went up by 88 per cent during the week on the top of a 55 per cent rise in the previous week.
Prices of vegetables during the week ended 22 October 2011 were higher by 28.89 per cent on a year-on-year
basis while pulses turned dearer by 11.65 per cent, fruits by 11.63 per cent and milk by 11.73 per cent. Alongside, eggs, meat and fish were also more expensive by 13.36 per cent while prices of even cereals were 4.13 higher on a yearly basis. The only edibles that turned cheaper as compared to last year were onions by 20.33 per cent and wheat by 1.54 per cent, which provided hardly any relief to the common man. Demand for vegetables, milk, egg, meat and fish shot up in recent times due to rising incomes and changing dietary preferences. But despite promises of improving supplies, the situation on the ground has remained unchanged.
The index for food articles group rose by 0.7% to 202.2 from 200.8 due to higher prices for river fish (9%),
chicken and sea fish (4% each), egg, condiments & spices and ragi (2% each) and gram, tea and bajra (1% each).
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised interest rates 13 times since March 2010 to tame inflation.
Indian Mobile Devices Market to reach 350 million a year by 2020

Joint study by industry association FICCI and Ernst & Young predicted Indian mobile devices market to reach 350 million a year by 2020. The handset companies currently sell about 150 million mobile phones annually in India. While smart phones will lead the Indian growth story, people will spend more on buying cell phones as the average selling price of handsets is likely to go up to Rs 2950 by 2020 compared to Rs 2300 in 2010.
According to this study, rural market will provide the next phase of growth for handset players. The study also
stated that about 500 million handsets will be manufactured in India by 2020. However, this will be possible only if the country were to create a manufacturing ecosystem to produce handsets. India is the world's second-largest telecom market after China, with the total wireless subscriber base crossing 850 million at the end of June, 2011. The study stated that In India, handsets are categorised as high, medium, low, and ultra low cost ASP devices. The medium ASP segment is likely to be the fastest growing segment in terms of volume. The estimation that number of 3G subscribers is expected to cross 300 million by 2020 fuelled the growth of 3Genabled handsets. A favourable policy and regulatory initiative conducive for handset manufacturing in India is expected to drive sustainable growth in this segment.
The study recommended that there is need to set up handset manufacturing cluster parks that would enable a sustainable ecosystem for the manufacture of mobile handsets in the country. Affordability of feature-rich handsets is also expected to be a key enabler of handset adoption. Recommendations The study recommended that detailed component supply roadmap needs to be developed by starting to manufacture certain parts such as chip-sets, keyboard, plastic elements and battery. The study also suggested creation of sizeable export promotion fund by the government for the telecom equipment and services export and handset exports from India may be included in bilateral trade agreements with emerging markets in regions such as South Asia, Africa, Latin America, Russia and Eastern Europe
Anirban Lahiri shot 12-under 60 at BILT Open Golf Championship

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Sports, News, 2011 Current Affairs
Anirban Lahiri became the first Indian golfer to shoot a spectacular round of 12-under 60 on home soil when he took a three-stroke lead on the second day of the Rs. one-crore BILT Open golf championship at the Jaypee Greens golf course on 3 November 2011. The defending champion, Lahiri has a two-round aggregate of 13-under 131 that saw him jump to the top of the leaderboard. Lahiri smashed Jyoti Randhawa's previous course record of 64, recorded in the 2008 edition of the championship. Lahiri also matched the score recorded in the country by China's Liang Wen-Chong during the 2008 Indian Open in New Delhi. Lahiri is the 2009 Rolex Rankings champion
SEBI ordered All Mutual Funds to Disclose Names of Distributors

In order to improve transparency, market regulator SEBI ordered all mutual funds to disclose names of distributors, who receive commission in excess of Rs 1 crore annually, on their respective websites. Fund houses, according to a Sebi circular, will have to disclose names of distributors who have their presence in more than 20 locations or those who have received over Rs 1 crore commission in a year. They would also have to disclose the amount of commission paid to distributors.
The disclosure, which would also be uploaded on the MF industry body AMFI's website, was made mandatory from 10 November 2011.
Experts are of the opinion that the move is aimed at tracking the payouts to big distributors like global and domestic banks and large independent financial advisors.
Distributors earn a upfront commission from the mutual funds in the first year which is generally higher for selling equity schemes and lower for debt schemes. They also earn a Trail Commission, which is a percentage of total business brought by the distributor. This commission is paid in the subsequent years and accounts for a huge earning for the distributors.
SEBI board decided that as a first step towards regulating distributors of MFs, selected distributors will be regulated through Asset Management Companies (AMCs) by putting in place the due diligence process to be conducted by AMCs.
Pakistani Cricketers Imprisoned for Involvement in Spot-fixing Scandals

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Sports, Miscellaneous, 2011 Current Affairs
Three Pakistan cricketers and an agent were sentenced imprisonment in Britain for their involvement in one of the biggest fixing scandals. Former captain Salman Butt received two and a half years, the longest term of the three players and was called the orchastrator of the entire event. Mohammad Asif was sentenced to 1 year, while 19year-old Mohammad Amir will serve six months. Agent Mazhar Majeed was sentenced to 2 years, 8 months. All four may be released for good behavior after serving half their terms.
Butt, Asif and Majeed are expected to begin their sentences at Wandsworth prison in south London, Amir is due to be sent to Feltham young offenders' institute in west London. The players were found guilty of conspiring with Majeed to bowl deliberate no-balls as part of a betting scam during the test match against England at Lord's in August 2010. The conspiracy was exposed following a sting by undercover reporters working for the News of the World, who filmed Majeed accepting 150000.
The scandal is being described as the biggest fixing scandal in cricket since South Africa captain Hansie Cronje was banned for life in 2000 for taking bribes from bookmakers
Legendary Bollywood Playback Singer Asha Bhosle entered the Guinness World Records
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Person in News, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
Legendary Bollywood playback singer Asha Bhosle on 20 October 2011 entered the Guinness World Records for the most number of single studio recordings. Asha recorded up to 11000 solo, duets and chorus backed songs and several others in over 20 Indian languages since 1947.
The 78-year-old was conferred with the Guinness honour at the Asian awards function held in London. Asha has evergreen numbers like Dum maro dum, Mehbooba mehbooba (Sholay), Piya tu ab to aaja (Caravan) and Chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko (Yaadon ki Baraat) to her credit.
Bhosle's work includes film music, pop, ghazals, bhajans, traditional Indian classical music, folk songs, qawwalis, and Rabindra Sangeets. Apart from Hindi, she has sung in over 20 Indian and foreign languages. The World Records Academy, an international organization which certifies world records, recognised her as the Most Recorded Artist in the world, in September 2009. The Government of India honoured her with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008.
Delhi's Per Capita Income at Current Prices Third in the Country behind Goa & Chandigarh
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, State, Delhi, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
According to the Delhi Statistical Handbook-2011 released by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on 3 November 2011, Delhi's per capita income at current prices was Rs 116886 during 2009-10, recording an increase of Rs.13446 over 2008-09. Delhi therefore ranked third in the country behind Goa at Rs.132719 and Chandigarh at Rs.120912.
On an average, a Delhiite earns Rs.1.16 lakh a year, owns 2.5 mobile phones, watches nearly two movies annually, gets a supply of 50 gallons of water each day and consumes over a case and quarter of liquor in a year.
Delhi CM pointed out that it was rapidly acquiring a very urban look and noted that the rural population declined by over 55 per cent over the past decade. Of Delhi's total population of 1.68 crore, the urban population constitutes 1.65 crore. Delhi registered a 26 per cent growth in urban population over the past decade with NorthWest Delhi recording the highest growth rate of 21.79 per cent and New Delhi district the lowest at 0.80 per cent.
Despite the high population growth, the literacy rate in Delhi managed to keep pace and there are currently 86.34
per cent literates in Delhi. About 92 per cent of males are literate, while among females this percentage is 80.99. 79.65 per cent of the rural population is literate as against 87.06 per cent in the urban areas. Mobile Phone Usage in Delhi The report highlighted that Delhi's economic well-being was reflected in its mobile phone use. The number of
connections rose by over a crore to touch 3.88 crore in 2011 as against 2.82 crore in 2010. The growth of landline connections was comparatively moderate rising by about 11.28 lakh during the same period and increasing to 28.38 lakh in 2011.
Increase in No. of Vehicles The number of vehicles rose sharply from 6451883 in 2009-10 to 6932706 in 2010-11, an addition of 5 lakh vehicles to the city roads. About the Handbook The handbook has been brought out by the Delhi Government's Directorate of Economics and Statistics. The book is the 36th issue of the handbook has 23 chapters covering various socioeconomic parameters of the city
Mining Company Coal India received FinMins Approval for Acquiring Stake in Overseas Unlisted Firms
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Corporate, News , 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
Finance Ministry gave its nod to mining company Coal India Ltd (CIL) for acquiring stake in overseas unlisted firms.
The Finance Ministry however did not grant complete relaxation to the norm of minimum 12 per cent internal rate of return (IRR) from such acquisitions. The Finance Ministry declared that it was prepared to go ahead with the proposals even if the return is below 12 per cent if they are for strategic reasons.
CIL, the world's largest coal miner, failed to strike any deal due to procedural delays in approval by the government. It had sought relaxation in two parameters of overseas acquisition norms, which were allowing them to acquire stake in unlisted firms, including those offering below 12 per cent IRR.
Supreme Court directed Accident Tribunals to award Adequate Compensation to the Victims
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, National | India, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
The Supreme Court of India directed Motor Accident Claims Tribunals to award just and adequate compensation to the victims. The bench ruled that in cases involving partial or total disablement, the term compensation used in Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act will cover not only the expenses for immediate treatment but also for future medical treatment.
The Supreme Court bench including Justice GS Singhvi and Justice SS Nijjar gave the ruling. The bench observed that the majority of accident victims cant engage lawyers for proving negligence on the part of the wrongdoer. In the instant case, Govind Yadavs leg was amputed following an accident in November 2004. He claimed 107000 rupees as compensation but was awarded only 256000 rupees by the accident tribunal in Jabalpur.
Table Tennis Federation of Kucharski as Indian TT Coach

India
appointed
Polands
Leszek
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Sports, Miscellaneous, 2011 Current Affairs
The Table Tennis Federation of India in October 2011 appointed Polands Leszek Kucharski as the Indian TT coach on a one-year contract. Kucharski is to take over in December 2011 at a salary of $6,000 per month including free accommodation and internal travel expenses. Kucharski had reached No 11 in rankings as a player and has had a successful career as coach in his country. Those in the running were Kucharski, Michael Hajek of the Czech Republic and 1988 Seoul Olympics bronze medallist Erik Lindh of Sweden.
The 53-year-old Pole finished his international career in the beginning of 1990s and served the Polish Table Tennis Federation (PTTA) in various capacities from 1994 to 2009, including as head coach of the men's and women's national teams.
Italian Massimo Constantini was Indias TT coach before Kucharski and his contract expired after the Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010
Pakistan granted India Most Favored Nation (MFN) Trade Status

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, International | World, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
Pakistan on 2 November 2011 decided to grant India most-favoured-nation(MFN) trade status. The Pakistani cabinet voted unanimously to grant most-favored-nation status to India, which in effect gives Indian businesses lower tariffs and fewer trade barriers. It will allow Pakistan to start removing formidable barriers to sales of Indian goods.
India had granted Pakistan most favoured nation (MFN) status in 1996. However, Pakistan had shown reluctance to reciprocate until the dispute over Kashmir was resolved
UN ranked India at 134 out of 187 Countries in terms of Human Development Index
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Report | Survey, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
A UN study ranked India at 134 out of 187 countries in terms of Human Development Index. The study however observed that life expectancy at birth in India has increased by 10.1 per cent a year over the last two decades. In the 2010 Human Development Report, prepared by UNDP, India had been ranked at 119 out of 169 countries. However, according to the new report for 2011, it is misleading to compare values and rankings with those of previously published reports as the underlying data and methods have changed, as well as the number of countries included in the Human Development Index. India's Human Development Index (HDI) The report highlighted India's Human Development Index (HDI) value for 2011 was 0.547 positioning the country
in the medium human development category. Between 1980 and 2011, India's HDI value increased from 0.344 to 0.547, an increase of 59 per cent or an average annual increase of about 1.5 per cent. The report pointed out that the India's HDI of 0.547 was below the average of 0.630 for countries in the medium human development group and below the average of 0.548 for countries in South Asia. The report mentioned that mean year of schooling for the country increased by 3.9 years between 1980 and 2011 and expected years of schooling increased by 3.9 years.
Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh admitted that the biggest block in the human development indices for India is in the field of sanitation where 58 per cent of open defecation in the world takes place in India. The UN report also mentioned that between 1980 and 2011, India's life expectancy at birth increased by 10.1 years. Gender Inquality Index In terms of gender inquality index, the report highlighted that in India, 10.7 per cent of Parliamentary seats are
held by women and 26.6 per cent of adult women have reached a secondary or higher level of education compared to 50.4 per cent of their male counterparts. For every 100000 live births, 230 women die from pregnancy-related causes and the adolescent fertility rate is 86.3 births per 1000 live births.
empowerment and economic activity.
Female participation in the labour market is 32.8 per cent compared to 81.1 per men, the report says. The gender inequality index reflects gender-based inequalities in three dimensions - reproductive health,
Human Development Index (HDI) The HDI is a measure for assessing long-term progress in three basic dimensions of human development such as a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living. The five countries who topped the Human Development Index study are as follows (The countries'sequence follow their respective ranks): Norway, Australia, Netherlands, US, New Zealand Neighbouring countries Pakistan was ranked at 145 (0.504) and Bangladesh at 146 (0.500) respectively in terms of HDI as per the UN study.
M. Ravindran took over as Indraprastha Gas Limited 's (IGL) New Managing Director
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Charge | Discharge, Corporate,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
M. Ravindran took over as Indraprastha Gas Limited 's (IGL) new Managing Director. He succeeded Rajesh Vedvyas. S. Venkatraman, Director (Business Development), GAIL (India) Ltd took over as the Chairman of IGL
Ravindran, a mechanical engineering graduate from NIT Kurukshetra and Diploma in Management has over 31years' experience in the fertilizers, petrochemicals, gas pipelines, transmission and city gas business. Prior to joining the current assignment, he served as Chief Executive Officer of GAIL Gas Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of GAIL (India) Limited.
IGL is the supplier of Compressed Natural Gas and Piped Natural Gas in Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad
Indian Scientists decoded the Genes of the Arhar Dal

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Science | Technology, 2011 Current Affairs
Indian scientists succeeded in decoding the genome of the arhar dal, which is also known as pigeon pea. This will help not only in developing new varieties but also in increasing the productivity. Indian Council of Agriculture Research and Banaras Hindu University (BHU) carried out the research. The scientists discovered 152 genes, which can tolerate drought and over 1200 disease resistant genes that can make the pulse crop resilient. Professor Nagendra Kumar Singh spearheaded the project.
In fact, 85 per cent of the world's arhar dal is produced and consumed in India. Therefore, this discovery will help decrease the inflated cost of pulses in India.
Cricket Journalist Rahul Bhattacharya bagged the The Hindu Literary Prize for Best Fiction 2011
Current Affairs Category: Awards | Honours, November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
Rahul Bhattacharya bagged the The Hindu Literary Prize for Best Fiction 2011 for hisThe Sly Company of People Who Care on 30 October 2011. According to The Hindu, The Sly Company of People Who Care won the prize for its consummate artistry, its refusal to exoticise India. The award was presented by author, writer, politician and a Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor.
A debut novel won The Hindu's Literature Prize in the Lit for Life literary festival for the second successive year. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh.
In his book The Sly Company of People Who Care, Rahul Bhattacharya captured the heady adventures of travel, the overheated restlessness of youth, and the paradoxes of searching for lifes meaning in the escape from home. The book narrates a young Indian's Caribbean adventures in the company of a Guyanese diamond-hunter.
Rahul Bhattacharya has been working as a cricket journalist since 2000. He is currently a contributing editor with Wisden Asia Cricket and has been writing for the Wisden Almanack since 2003, when he compiled the series overview of India in England, 2002. He also writes for the Guardian
Bengali Film Chaplin selected as Inaugural Film at River to River Florence Indian Film Festival
Current Affairs Category: Art | Culture, November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
Bengali film Chaplin directed by Anindo Banerjee was selected as the inaugural film at the 11 th edition of River to River Florence Indian Film Festival, 2011, in Florence, Italy. The film is about street artiste Bangshi Das, who dresses up like Charlie Chaplin and performs at household parties. The protaganist, Bangshi had seen only one Chaplin film in his childhood and got hooked to them. As he grew up amid grinding poverty he became a sort of a street performer, regaling guests at birthday parties for Rs. 500 a month by copying the legend's mannerisms.
The film also dwells on how as a single father, Bangshi managed to face all the obstacles in life with the help, support and camaraderie that he shared with his only son.
The festival, the 11th edition is scheduled to be held from 2 to 8 December 2011
Russia and Bangladesh signed a Deal to build a Nuclear Power Plant

Bangladesh and Russia on 2 November 2011 signed a deal to build a nuclear power plant at Rooppur in Pabna district. It would be Bangladeshs first nuclear plant. Russia will provide technical support for setting up two
generators each capable of producing 1000 megawatts of electricity. Russia will also supply fund and fuel rods for safe storage. The new safety features will also be implemented in the plant. Bangladeshs junior science and technology minister Yeafesh Osman and Russias State Atomic energy corporation director-general Sergei Kiriyenko signed the agreement. Bangladesh relies heavily on gas-fired plants for power. Power generation falls 2000 megawatts short of its daily requirement, which hampers its industrial production and economic growth
e-payment System launched to enable Centre to Directly Credit Dues into Beneficiaries Account
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on 31 October 2011 inaugurated a fully secure government e-payment system that will enable the Central government to directly credit dues into the accounts of beneficiaries. Developed by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) the GePG is a portal which enables successful delivery of payment services from Pay & Accounts Offices (PAOs) for online payment into beneficiaries' accounts in a seamless manner under a secure environment. The Government e-Payment Gateway (GePG) will use digitally signed electronic advice (e-advice). The GePG has been designed to serve as middleware between COMPACT (computerised payment and accounts) application at PAOs and the core banking solution (CBS) of the agency banks/Reserve Bank of India, to facilitate paperless transaction. It will thus reduce the overall transaction cost and promoting green banking.
The system will usher in transparency and expedite direct payments from Central paying units with respect to subsidies to users and consumers of fertiliser, kerosene and cooking gas. Its efficiency and ease-of-use for all Ministries and departments will lead to an increased adoption of other e-services for online payment transactions. The e-payment system will save both time and effort in effecting payments and also facilitate the elimination of physical cheques and their manual processing.
Under the traditional system of government transactions, payments to employees and vendors are made through cheque, cash and demand draft or by Electronic Clearing Service (ECS) in a few Ministries. Ministries in the past few years used the RBI's facilities of Real Time Gross Settlement and National Electronic Funds Transfer to make payments through the banking channel.
Besides revolutionizing payments to individual beneficiaries, the government's e-payment gateway (GePG) -
linking 1.3 lakh agencies down to the level of panchayats - has been developed to capture all data on receipt, payments, borrowings and deficit real time. The government will borrow Rs 40000 crore-Rs-50000 crore less every year due to availability of real time data. It will also help the Centre in more effectively channelizing plan expenditure on development schemes. The government spends nearly Rs 4 lakh crore every year on 140 centrally sponsored plan schemes and over 800 central sector schemes along with state schemes and additional central assistance. The new payment gateway will help monitor the entire disbursement.
Eight Core Infrastructure Industries Growth slowed down to 2.3 per cent for September 2011
Data released by the commerce and industry ministry on 31 October 2011 showed that the eight core infrastructure industries growth slowed down to 2.3 per cent for September 2011 as against 3.3 per cent in September 2010. The slowdown was attributed to rising cost of credit and inputs and weak demand. The core sector spanning coal, crude oil, natural gas, petroleum refinery products, fertilisers, steel, registered growth slower than the 3.7% growth in August. During the first half of the current fiscal (April-September 2011), key industries expanded by 4.9 per cent as against 5.6 per cent during the corresponding period in 2010-11 fiscal. Growth in the countrys eight key infrastructure sectors slowed in September, dragged down by decline in coal, natural gas and fertiliser output, raising fresh concerns about the state of the industrial segment, which was hit by rising interest rates and input costs.
In September 2010, the core sector had grown 3.3%. In the first six months of 2011-12, cumulative growth rate of core industries stood at 4.9%, slower than the 5.6% registered in the same period in 2010-11.
The core sector growth was hit by rising cost of credit as the RBI has been making money expensive by raising key interest rates 13 times since March 2010 to contain inflation. The eight infrastructure sectors account for 37.9% of overall industrial production. Economists are of the opinion that September data could have an impact on industrial output numbers, to be released on 10 November 2011. Coal production fell 17.8% in September 2011 compared to a decline of 1.8% in September 2010. Rains in key coal mining areas and a strike in state-run Coal India is believed to have hurt output during the month.
Natural gas production declined by 6.4 per cent in September 2011 as against expansion of 12.6 per cent during 2010 period. Fertilisers were down 2.1 per cent. Production in both the steel and cement sectors also grew at a
slower pace at 6.6 per cent and 0.9 per cent as against 11.7 per cent and 5.2 per cent in September 2010. Experts attributed the decline in coal production and natural gas to long term policy issues. Electricity generation in September 2011 grew by 8.9 per cent generation while refinery products posted a growth of 4.4 per cent during the month. Production of crude oil (weight of 5.22 per cent in IIP) grew 0.1 per cent in September 2011 against a growth of 12.5 per cent in September 2010. Crude oil production grew 5.1 per cent during April-September 2011-12 against a growth of 10.2 per cent during the same period of 2010-11. The index of eight core sector industries having a combined weight of 37.90 per cent in the index of industrial production (IIP) stood at 131.50 in September 2011, showing a growth rate of 2.3 per cent year-on-year. Inflation measured on the consumer price index for industrial workers (CPI-IW) touched the doubledigit mark at 10.06% for September 2011.
Czech Tennis Player Petra Kvitova defeated Victoria Azarenka to win WTA Championships in Istanbul
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Sports, News, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
Czech tennis player Petra Kvitova defeated Victoria Azarenka 7-5 4-6 6-3 to win the WTA Championships on 30 October 2011 in Istanbul. Kvitova took home $1.75 million and Azarenka collected $775000. The 21-year-old Czech had shot to fame by winning Wimbledon 2011. She remained undefeated at the yearending event that featured the worlds top eight players. Victory also confirmed Kvitova at a career-high second in the WTA rankings after ending 2010 in 34th spot. She is the first Czech to win the WTA Championships since Jana Novotna in 1997. Kvitova had also defeated Azarenka in the Wimbledon semifinals on her way to winning her first Grand Slam title in 2011. Kvitova has won six titles in 2011, the same number as No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and twice as many as Azarenka.
Czech holds a 4-2 head-to-head record over Azarenka, who was playing in the championships for the third time and will return to a career-high No. 3 in the new rankings by reaching the final. It was the first time she advanced beyond the round-robin stage.
Istanbuls ability to host the tournament was perceived as integral to the national campaign to host the 2020 Olympics.
TRAI extended the 100 sms Per Day Limit to 200 sms Per Day, Per Sim
TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) extended the 100 sms per day limit to 200 sms per day, per sim. Earlier, TRAI had restricted the number of commercial non-commercial sms that can be sent from a sim, to 100. TRAI received representations from some of the service providers and consumers to increase the limit of 100 sms per day, per sim. TRAI has decided that the New cap of 200 sms per day, per sim will be effective from today onwards
Pakistan Cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were found Guilty of Betting Scam
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Sports, News, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were found guilty of their part in a spot-fixing scam. A jury at London's Crown Court found Butt guilty of both charges and Asif guilty of conspiring to cheat. The Court heard the players, along with fast bowler Mohammad Amir who has already pleaded guilty to the charges. Former Pak cricket team captain Butt and bowler Asif had denied conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments. The two players plotted to deliberately bowl no-balls during a Lord's Test match against England in 2010.
Andhra Pradesh Government launched One Rupee a Kilo Rice Scheme in the State
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, State, Other States, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
Andhra Pradesh Government on 1 November 2011 launched one rupee a kilo rice scheme in the state. Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy launched the scheme at a special programme held in Hyderabad on the occasion of the 56th State Formation Day.
The scheme would benefit about 7.50 crore people in the state. With the new initiative, the subsidy burden over the state Government will go up by 600 crore rupees to a total of 2600 crore rupees
The Union Cabinet approved the Prasar Bharati Amendment Bill, 2010
The Union Cabinet of India on 1 November 2011 approved the proposal of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for pursuing the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Amendment Bill, 2010. The
Cabinet also approved the action taken on the recommendations made in the Eighteenth Report on Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Amendment Bill, 2010 of the Standing Committee on Information Technology.
The Cabinet further approved the amendment to section 11(2) of the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Amendment Bill, 2010 pending in the Rajya Sabha by the addition of the words and until their retirement at the end of the section. This will make the status of the employees recruited between 23 November 1997 and 5 October 2007. It makes the status of employees on deemed deputation to Prasar Bharati until their retirement, absolutely clear and unambiguous.
The Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Amendment Bill 2010 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in August, 2010. The Bill is for making amendments to the existing section 11 of the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990, regarding Transfer of service of existing employees to the Corporation, which deals with the transfer of services of employees to Prasar Bharati upon its creation as a Corporation in the year 1997.
Industrialist Mukesh Ambani's Wife Nita Ambani Inducted into EIH Board
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Corporate, News , 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
East India Hotels inducted Nita Ambani on its board on 31 October 2011. Nita Ambani is the wife of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani. RIL had bought a 14.9 percent stake in EIH in August 2010. East India Hotels runs the Oberoi Hotels chain. Nita Ambani is the founder chairperson of the Dhirubhai Ambani International School and co-owner of the Mumbai Indians cricket team.
Scientists found a new Species of Trap-Door Spider in Australia

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Environment | Ecology, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
Scientists found a new species of trap-door spider, the albino spider, near Northam in Australia. The albino spider is white-headed and the colour of its legs is black and brown. It is about the size of a 50-cent piece. Scientists called it a new type of spider because of subtle differences on the pedipalp and front leg of the male. This new spider belongs to the family of Idiopidae. These spiders make burrows in the soil that have tight-fitting trap-door lid.
Nabam Tuki Sworn in as the Seventh Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh

Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Person Appointed, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
Nabam Tuki was sworn in as the seventh Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh on 1 November 2011. He replaced Jarbon Gamlin. Gamlin resigned from office on 31 October 2011. Arunachal Pradesh Governor JJ Singh administered the oath of office and secrecy at the Raj Bhavan in Itanagar.
Gamlin had taken over as chief minister on 5 May 2011 following the death of Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu in a helicopter crash. Arunachal Pradesh went through political instability since July 2011 after a group of Congress legislators led by Tuki revolted against Gamlin's leadership. Prem Khandu Thungan (Indian National Congress) was the first chief minister of Aruncahla Pradesh.
Palestine won the full membership of UNESCO; with 107 Votes in Favour
Palestine won the membership of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) on 31 October 2011 with 107 votes in favour and 14 votes against. There were 52 abstentions. Eighty-one votes were required for approval with 173 UNESCO member delegations present. The USA, Canada, Germany, The Netherlands, Australia and the Czech Republic voted against. Britain, Italy and many Pacific and Caribbean island
nations absented themselves from the voting. India, Russia, Brazil, China, South Africa and France voted in favour. UNESCO is the first UN agency Palestine has joined as a full member. UNESCO protects historic heritage sites and works to improve world literacy and cultural understanding. Its headquarters are located at Place de Fontenoy in Paris, capital of France. In fact, Palestine is seeking full membership in the UN (United Nations), but USA has threatened that it will veto it unless there is a peace deal with Israel. Full membership of UNESCO is a small but crucial step forward for the Palestine in its attempts to achieve international recognition and statehood. However, the issues of borders of an eventual Palestine state, security troubles and other disputes remain unsolved.
Goa gave its Approval to revive 60 Mines in the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, Places in News, News Capsule, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary: It is located in Goa; 60 kms from state capital Panaji. The state government of Goa gave its approval to 60 non-operational mines in the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary under the Regional Plan 2021. The sanctuary is located 60 kms from Panaji. The Sanctuary is one of the five sanctuaries, which are located in Goa. It is home to animals like slender loris, deer, black panther and leopard. The environmentalists expressed their concern over the state governments decision as the mining activities can have harmful effects on the animals in the sanctuary
Former Colombian Rebel Gustavo Petro Elected Mayor of Bogota, Capital of Colombia
Current Affairs Category: November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Person in News, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
Gustavo Petro was elected mayor of the Colombian capital, Bogota as Colombians voted in local elections. The elections concluded on 30 October 2011. Petro won 32 percent of the votes. His main opponent Enrique Penalosa was the favoured candidate of former President Alvaro Uribe. He could manage only 25 percent of the votes. Petro was a former guerrilla with the defunct M-19 Movement.
Petro helped uncover a bid-rigging scandal in Bogota in 2010 that sent its previous elected mayor, Samuel Moreno, to jail for corruption charges. The voting in the capital was part of nationwide regional and municipal elections, with 32 governorships and more than 1,100 mayoral and municipal council post being contested. What is M-19 Movement The 19th of April Movement or M-19,was a Colombian guerrilla movement. After its demobilization it became a political party, the M-19 Democratic Alliance (Alianza Democrtica M-19), or AD/M-19. The M-19 traced its origins to the allegedly fraudulent presidential elections of 19 April 1970.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga became the First Frenchman to win Austrian Open

Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Sports, News, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga became the first Frenchman to win the Austrian Open with a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Juan Martin del Petro on 30 October 2011. It was the seventh career title for Tsonga. Juan del Potro had won all three of the pair's previous meetings.
Tsongas victory sent him past American Mardy Fish into provisional seventh place for the ATP World Tour Finals in London scheduled to take place on 20-27 November 2011.
Uttarakhand State Cabinet Cleared Uttarakhand Lokayukta Bill, 2011

Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Uttarakhand, State, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
Uttarakhand state cabinet on 29 October 2011 cleared Uttarakhand Lokayukta Bill, 2011 with the objective of curbing corruption in the state. The Chief Minister of the state, all ministers, MLAs and lower judiciary will be under the purview of Lokayukta. It is important to note that judges of the Uttarakhand High Court will not be covered under the purview of Lokayukta. Former chief ministers, former ministers and retired officers will also be within the purview of the Lokayukta. The Features
As per the bill, the Lokayukta will have a chairperson and five members. The number of members could be increased to seven as per the requirement. The bill envisioned that the members of Lokayukta should have legal background and should possess integrity and outstanding ability. The term of the chairperson of the Lokayukta would be of five years or upto the age of 70 years whichever is earlier.
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The bill says that once the investigations are over, the chargesheet will be filed by the Lokayukta in a special court set up under the Prevention of Corruption Act for a speedy trial. The bill further adds that the period of investigation should not exceed twelve months. The Lokayukta will be empowered to recommend punishment of dismissal, removal or demotion against government servants after giving them full opportunity of being heard.
The recommendation will be binding on the appointing or disciplinary authority of the government. For any act of corruption, the punishment will not be less than six months of rigorous imprisonment and could be extended upto 10-year imprisonment. In the rarest of rare case, the punishment could be extended upto life imprisonment.
Corporate Lobbyist Niira Radia announced her Exit from the Communication Business
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Person in News, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 31 Oct 2011 To 06 Nov 2011 Share|
Niira Radia,Corporate lobbyist and provider of public relations services for the Tata group and Reliance Industries on 30 October 2011 announced her exit from the business of communication consultancy. She cited her personal priorities of family and health behind taking the decision after much consideration.
Niira Radia had been in news related to the 2G controversy in the recent past when leaked tapes of her
conversations appeared in the media. The 2G spectrum controversy involved officials in the government of India illegally undercharging mobile telephony companies for frequency allocation licenses, which they would use to create 2G subscriptions for cell phones.
Union Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Textiles Approved 21 New Textiles Parks in India
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 24 Oct 2011 To 30 Oct 2011 Share|
Union Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Textiles sanctioned 21 new Textiles Parks under the Scheme for Integrated Textiles Parks with a project cost of 2100 crores rupees to be implemented over a period of 36 months. The approval came in the 4th week of October 2011. Among these 21 new Textiles Parks, 6 were sanctioned in Maharashtra, 4 in Rajasthan, 2 each in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, 1 each in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir and West Bengal.
Minister for Commerce, Industry and Textiles Anand Sharma as Chairman of the Project Approval Committee under the Scheme accorded approval. Earlier, Inter Ministerial Project Scrutiny Committee which examined 55
proposals for new Textiles Parks in the country gave its recommendations for the setting-up new textiles parks. Proposals received were scrutinised by an inter ministerial Project Scrutiny Committee on the basis of project cost, land size, net worth of investors, employment generation and value chain to be developed by the industry. Government also sought to ensure balanced regional development, promote textiles industry in North Eastern States and in States where the industry is in a nascent stage of development and promote textiles parks in cooperative & handloom sectors. Government received a huge response to the roadshows held at Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Mumbai for seeking proposals for Textiles Parks under the Scheme for Integrated Textiles Parks for development of common infrastructure and the Technology Upgradation Funds Scheme (TUFS).
Government enhanced the allocation under TUFS from Rs. 8000 crores to 15404 crores rupees under the 11th Five Year Plan. The new Textiles Parks would leverage an investment of over 9000 crores rupees and provide employment to 4 lac textiles workers. Government would finance common infrastructure with a subsidy upto Rs. 40 crores per Textiles park. Considerable demand for Textiles Parks in India and given the success of the Scheme in the 11th Five Year Plan, Textiles Ministry would be seeking a higher allocation under the 12th Five Year Plan. Of the 40 textiles parks
sanctioned under the 11th Five Year Plan, 24 Textiles Parks have started operations and have attracted investments of 18880 crores rupees, with a Government subsidy of 1420 crores rupees. About Textiles Parks The product mix in these parks would include apparels and garments parks, hosiery parks, silk parks, processing
parks, technical textiles including medical textiles, carpet parks, powerloom parks. The focus of Government has been to ensure value addition through aggregation to best utilize Indias raw material surplus in cotton and cotton yarn for enhanced labor employment and export earnings.
The Scheme for Integrated Textiles Parks seeks green field investments in textiles sector on a public private partnership basis with the objective of setting up world class infrastructure for Textiles industry.
Noted Hindi Novelist and Satirist Srilal Shukla Passed Away
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Person Died, 2011 Current Affairs
Current Affairs Week: 24 Oct 2011 To 30 Oct 2011 Share|
Renowned litterateur Srilal Shukla died at a hospital in Lucknow on 28 October
following prolonged illness. He was 86. Srilal Shukla wrote Sooni Ghaati Ka Sooraj (1957), Agyaatvaas (1962), Rag Darbari (1968), Aadmi Ka Zahar (1972),Bisrampur Ka Sant (1998), Raag
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Viraag (2001) and many other novels. English translation of his novel Rag Darbari was published under the same title in 1993 by Penguin Books. The novel was also translated and published by National Book Trust, India in 15 Indian languages. A television serial based on this novel continued for several months on the DD National in the 1980s. He wrote many satires like Angad Ka Paanv, Yahaan Se Vahaan, Meri Shreshtha Vyangya Rachnayein (1979), Kuchh Zameen Mein Kuchh Hava Mein (1990), Jahaalat Ke Pachaas Saal (2003), Khabron Ki Jugaali (2005) and many more. Yeh Ghar Mera Nahin, Suraksha Tatha Anya Kahaaniyan, Iss Umra Mein, Dus
Pratinidhi Kahaaniyanare his short story collections. Mere Saakshaatkaar (2002) and Kuchh Saahitya Charcha Bhi (2008) are his memoirs. His detective novel entitled Aadmi Ka Zaharwas serialised in the weekly magazine
Hindustan. His works throw light on the falling moral values of society in post-independence era. Raag Darbaari portrayed a feudal, crumbling Shivpalganj- the archetypal village of the Hindi heartland with its politicocultural tensions and administrative neglect. Shukla delved upon almost everything that was decadent in the system, but stopped short of making a moral statement. Noted Hindi writer, Shrilal Shukla was born in Atrauli village of Lucknow district on 31 December 1925. He had graduated from Allahabad University. He began his career as a state civil servant (UPPCS) in 1949. Later on, he was inducted into the IAS but in 1983 he left the services and continued to pursue his literary dreams. Shrilal
Shukla was presented the Indias highest literary honour Jnanpith award on his hospital bed by Uttar Pradesh Governor B L Joshi on 18 October 2011. He and another Hindi author Amar Kant were chosen on 19 September 2011 for the Jnanpith award for the year 2009. He was honoured with the Sahitya Akademi Award for novel Raag Darbari for the year 1969. He was also a recipient of Vyas Samman (1999), Lohia Sammaan (1994) of Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthaan, Sharad Joshi and Maithili Sharan Gupta Sammaan of Madhya Pradesh Government. He was awarded with national civilian honour Padma Bhushan in 2008.
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage was Celebrated on 27 October 2011

Current Affairs Category: Day | Week | Year, October 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 24 Oct 2011 To 30 Oct 2011 Share| 27 October 2011: World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2011 UNESCO decided Audiovisual Heritage: See, Hear, and Learn as theme for celebration of the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2011. On the occasion of World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2011, the Radio Heritage
Foundation released six new features celebrating AFRS radio stations in India and Burma during the 1940's at its global websitewww.radioheritage.com.
UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted 27 October as the World Day for
Audiovisual Heritage to better focus global attention on the issues at stake, in cooperation with the Co-ordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (CCAAA) and other partners. All of the world's audiovisual heritage is endangered. Through initiatives such as the World Day for Audiovisual
Heritage and the Memory of the World Programme, the precious work of preservation professionals is given impetus to manage a range of technical, political, social, financial and other factors that threaten the safeguard of heritage.
Film, television and radio are our common heritage. They help to maintain the cultural identity of a people but countless documentary treasures have disappeared since the invention of image and sound technologies that permit the peoples of the world to better share their experiences, creativity and knowledge.
India beat England in Fifth and Final One-Day and Won the Series by 5-0
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Sports, News, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 24 Oct 2011 To 30 Oct 2011 Share|
India won 5 matches one-day series by 5-0 by defeating England in 5th and final match played in Kolkata on 26 October 2011. India scored a challenging 271 for eight and stopped England at 176 in 37 overs in the day-night match at the Eden Gardens. Ravindra Jadeja grabbed 4-33 and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed 3-28.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja of team India was declared Man of the Match, while Indian captain Mahendra
Singh Dhoni was awarded with Man of the Series. India achieved a 5-0 verdict in a bilateral One Day International series only 3 times. The two earlier instances were against England (2008-09) and New Zealand (2010-11). Result of other 4 ODIs of India-England five matches series are followings: India won 4th ODI by 6 wickets (with 59 balls remaining). 4th ODI between India and England was played at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on 23 October 2011.
India defeated England to won 3rd ODI of 5 matches series by 5 wickets (with 4 balls remaining). Match was played at Mohali stadium, Chandigarh on 20 October 2011.
India beat England by eight wickets in 2nd ODI. The match was played at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium, Delhi on 17 October 2011.
India won 1st ODI by 126-run in Hyderabad on 15 October 2011.
IPI-India Award for Excellence in Journalism to Tehelka and The Week

Affairs, News Capsule, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 24 Oct 2011 To 30 Oct 2011
Current Affairs Category: Awards | Honours, Topics for Bank PO | Clerk Exam 2011, October 2011 Current
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Tehelka and The Week were jointly chosen for the International Press Institute (IPI) India award for excellence in journalism, 2011for their outstanding journalistic work in 2010. The award was declared by the Indian chapter
of the International Press Institute (IPI). The award comprises of a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, a trophy and a citation. Led by Tarun J Tejpal weekly Tehelka was selected for its expose of the rent a riot tactics of the Sree Rama Sene in Karnataka, which admitted taking money to organise attacks on innocent persons and institutions. The Week
was selected for its sustained investigative reporting on sham medical and dental colleges which had no doctors, no patients and no facilities and yet were permitted to award medical and dental degrees to thousands of students.
The awardees were selected by a distinguished jury of editors and publishers headed by the former Chief Justice of India, A. S. Anand. The members of the jury included IPI-India Chairman and The Hindu Editor N Ravi, PTI Editor-in-Chief M K Razdan, Business Standard Chairman and Chief Editor T N Ninan and Malyala Manorama Senior Assistant Editor Riyad Mathew.
The International Press Institute (IPI) is an active forum of editors, publishers and senior executives of newspapers, magazines and news agencies committed to promotion of free exchange of accurate and balanced news among nations. The IPI was founded in October 1950. Its members are spread in over120 countries.
Supreme Court: Centre has Absolute Powers to decide the Terms and Conditions for Telecom Operators
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, National | India, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 24 Oct 2011 To 30 Oct 2011 Share|
The Supreme Court of India ruled that the Centre has absolute powers to decide the terms and conditions for telecom operators as neither the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, TRAI, nor the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal, TDSAT, can overrule it. The apex court ruled, though TRAI was conferred with the statutory power to recommend the terms and conditions of the license and the Central Government was bound to seek its recommendations, yet, the same was not binding on it. A Bench of Justices R V Raveendran and A K Patanaik passed the ruling while upholding an appeal filed by the Union Government challenging a TDSAT direction of 2007 to the Government to prepare a revised term and conditions for the licensees vis-a-vis adjusted gross revenue
Union Government Prepared a Blueprint to provide Jobs to Youths in Naxal Affected Districts
The Union government of India prepared a blueprint to provide jobs to three-lakh youths in 60 naxal affected districts in India. The government will start a programme for placement-linked jobs for unemployed youth in these
districts by the end of 2016. They will be trained and provided jobs. The government also decided to start major
developmental initiatives in these districts in a bid to tackle the Naxal menace. These initiatives include Indira Awas Yojana housing for people whose homes were destroyed and construction of concrete roads.
The Rural Development Ministry also planned a Public Private Partnership initiative for value addition in nontimber forest produce in six districts of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh as a pilot project
Indian-American Bobby Jindal Re-elected as the Governor of Louisiana

Capsule, Person in News, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 24 Oct 2011 To 30 Oct 2011 Share|
Current Affairs Category: Topics for Bank PO | Clerk Exam 2011, October 2011 Current Affairs,Hot Topics, News
Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, won re-election on 22 October 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. Jindal won 66% of the vote with his nearest challenger, Tara Hollis of the Democratic party, got 18%. On 20 October, 2007, Jindal was elected governor of Louisiana for the first time.
Bobby Jindal is the first Indian-American to occupy the post of a governor. His real name was Piyush Jindal. He
started calling himself Bobby from an early age and converted from Hinduism to Catholicism as a teenager. He was born in Baton Rouge, the capital of the southern state of Louisiana, to Indian parents who had immigrated from the Punjab. He is 37 years old. Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge.
The Planet with Water Ice Discovered by the Astronomers

Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Inventions | Discoveries, 2011 Current Affairs
Astronomers discovered a mysterious little dwarf planet which is believed to be covered in ice. The planet was nicknamed Snow White. It orbits the Sun as part of the Kuiper belt( the ring of the icy body that orbit the Sun beyond Neptune). The planet is located outside Neptune. Officially known as 2007 OR10, it is actually red, half of its surface is covered by water ice that probably emitted from ancient cryovolcanoes.
The official name of the planet is 2007 OR 10. It is red in colour and half of its surface is covered by water ice. The
planet is red because of the thin layer of the methane. Snow White had broken off long ago from another dwarf planet, called Haumea
An Earthquake Measuring 7.2 on the Richter Scale hit Turkey

Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Accident | Incident,2011 Current Affairs
An earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale killed many people in eastern Turkey on 23 October 2011. Approximately, 93 people died in Van province alone and 45 in the Ercis district. The death toll is likely to increase. Serious damage and casualties were also reported in the district of Celebibag, near Ercis. The US Geological Survey initially measured the quake at 7.3 magnitude but later downgraded it to 7.2.
The earthquake struck at at a depth of 20 kilometres with its epicentre 16 kilometres north-east of Van in eastern Turkey. It was followed by a series of powerful aftershocks, also centred north of Van, including two of magnitude 5.6 soon after the quake and one of 6.0. Turkey is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because it sits on major geological fault lines.
Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health

Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, International | World, 2011 Current Affairs
The Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health was adopted during the World Conference on Social Determinants of Health which took place from 19 to 21 October 2011. The conference was attended by 125 Member States. The declaration was meant for a global political commitment for the implementation of social determinants of
health approach to reduce health inequities and to achieve other global priorities. This conference was held to build momentum within countries for the development of dedicated national action plans and strategies. The first meeting of Member States was held at WHO headquarters on 7 September 2011. It was convened by the Government of Brazil.
Jammu Kashmir topped the List in Utilizing the Fund for Minorities
The Minority Affairs Ministry on 20 October 2011 in its official release stated that the 7 States have utilized over 60 percent of the total Funds till September 2011, which was released to them under Multi Sector Development Programme, MSDP, for the Welfare of Minorities. Jammu and Kashmir topped among them which has utilized over 74 percent of the allocated fund of about six crore rupees. Five other States including Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka West Bangal and Haryana have also reported over 60 percent expenditure of the fund released to them. The average percentage of the expenditure of the 20 States under this Programme is about fifty percent. MSDP is a Special Area
Development Programme for the welfare of the Minorities. It was implemented in 90 Minority Concentration Districts identified on the basis of substantial minority population and relative backwardness.
Egypt and Israel reached an Agreement to Swap Prisoners

Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, International | World, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 24 Oct 2011 To 30 Oct 2011 Share|
Egypt and Israel on 24 October 2011 reached an agreement to swap an alleged Israeli spy for 25 Egyptians held in Israeli jails. Egypt agreed to release Ilan Grapel and at Egypts request, Israel agreed to free 25 Egyptian prisoners. Grapel is a former paratrooper in the Israel Defense Forces. Ilan Grapel was arrested on 12 June 2011 on suspicion of spying
The Trigger behind Brain Tumour Identified by the Scientists

Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Science | Technology, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 24 Oct 2011 To 30 Oct 2011 Share|
Scientists identified a new biochemical mechanism, which allows brain tumours to survive and grow. This finding will pave the way for new and effective treatments for some of the most aggressive tumours. An international
team, led by the University Hospital of Heidelberg made the discovery. Scientists identified the major role played by kynurenine, in favouring the brain tumour growth and at the same time suppressing anti-tumour immune response.
Kynurenine is a by-product of metabolism of essential amino acid tryptophan
U Thein Sein, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar visited India
Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Hot Topics, Person on Visit, News Capsule, 2011 Current
U Thein Sein, the President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar visited India from 12 October 2011 to 15 October 2011. This was the first State visit of any political head from Myanmar to India following the swearing in of a new government in Myanmar in March 2011. Apart from his official engagement in New Delhi, President U Thein Sein visited places of economic, historical and religious interest, including Bodhgaya, Kushinagar and Varanasi. During his visit, the President of Myanmar signed several agreements with India including cooperation in Oil and Natural gas. Apart from this, both nations also issued a joint statement.
Muammar Gaddafi, Libyas Autocratic Ruler for 42 years killed in Sirte

Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Person Died, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
Muammar Gaddafi, who ruled Libya for over 40 years, was killed on 20 October 2011 while trying to flee from his hometown, Sirte. Muammar Gaddafi ruled Libya autocratically for 42 years after coming to power in a coup. Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi was born to nomadic parents in the desert region of Sirte in 1942. He went to study history at the University of Libya in 1961 and then entered the Benghazi Military Academy. He remained the autocratic ruler of Libya from 1969, when he seized power in a bloodless military coup that
overthrew King Idris I until 2011 when his government was overthrown in a civil war. His 42-year rule prior to the uprising made him the fourth longest-ruling non-royal leader since 1900, as well as the longest-ruling Arab leader.
He pinned several titles to himself- the Brother Leader and Guide of the Revolution, in 2008 a meeting of traditional African rulers bestowed on him the title King of Kings.
After seizing power in 1969, he abolished the Libyan Constitution of 1951 and civil liberties enshrined in it. He imposed laws based on the political ideology which he had formulated and called it the Third International Theory. He also published The Green Book.
The United Nations called Libya under Gaddafi a pariah state. In the 1980s, countries around the world imposed sanctions against Gaddafi. A leading advocate for a United States of Africa, he served as Chairperson of the African Union (AU) from 2 February 2009 to 31 January 2010. 2011 Libyan Civil War Following revolutions in neighbouring Egypt and Tunisia, protests against Gaddafi's rule began in February 2011. Soon an uprising that spread across the country, with the forces opposing Gaddafi establishing a government based in Benghazi named the National Transitional Council (NTC). This led to the 2011 Libyan Civil War, which included a military intervention by a NATO-led coalition to enforce a UN Security Council Resolution 1973 calling
for a no-fly zone and protection of civilians in Libya. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants on 27 June 2011 for Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam, and his brother-in-law Abdullah al-Senussi, head of state security for charges, concerning crimes against humanity.
In August, rebel forces engaged in a coastal offensive and took most of their lost territory, and captured the capital city of Tripoli. Gaddafi evaded capture and loyalists engaged in a rearguard campaign. He remained in hiding until 20 October 2011, when he was captured and killed in Sirte
Food Inflation stood at Double Digit - 10.6% in the Week ended 9 October 2011
Data released by the commerce and industry ministry on 20 October 2011 showed food inflation stood at 10.6% in the week ended 8 October 2011 up from 9.32% recorded in the week ended 2 October 2011. It stood at 15.72% in the same period in 2010.
Food inflation entered double-digit territory after 20 August 2011. According to commerce ministry data, the week witnessed a broad rise in prices of vegetables, fruit and protein-based items such as egg, meat and fish.
On an annual basis, prices of vegetables rose 17.59%, fruit 12.39%, milk 10.80%, pulses 7.42%, cereals 4.73% and eggs, meat and fish 14.10%. Among food items which became cheaper were onion (11.27%) and wheat (0.18%).
Export restrictions in the form of high minimum prices and a bumper kharif production combined to increase domestic availability of onion, pulling down its price. Onion prices, which had shot up sharply, fell 11.27% in the week ended 8 October. In the previous week, onion prices had dropped 10.15%.
The index for food articles group rose by 0.4% to 200.3 due to higher prices of poultry chicken (4%), bajra (2%) and fish-inland, masur, fruits and vegetables, urad and condiments and spices (1% each). But prices of jowar and ragi (2% each) and barley, maize, fish-marine and moong (1% each) declined
World Bank Report ranked India 132 on Business-friendly Reforms

Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Report | Survey, News Capsule, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
A new report from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank titled- Doing Business 2012: Doing Business in a More Transparent World was released on 20 October 2011. Doing Business 2012: Doing Business in a More Transparent World assessed regulations affecting domestic firms in 183 economies and ranked the economies in 10 areas of business regulation, such as starting a business, resolving insolvency, and trading across borders. Singapore topped the rankings on ease of doing business for the sixth straight year. Hong Kong SAR, China, held onto the second spot. In the report, the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation mentioned that between June 2010 and May 2011, there were 245 business regulatory reforms worldwide, which was 13 per cent more reforms than in the previous year.
China, India, and the Russian Federation were among the 30 economies that improved the most over time. Singapore led on the overall ease of doing business, followed by Hong Kong, New Zealand, the U.S. and Denmark. The Republic of Korea was the new entrant to the top ten list that ranked countries according to their business environment.
India ranked low overall in the Doing Business assessment, with its rank improving marginally from 139 to 132 between the 2011 and 2012 reports. When India dismantled a strict licensing regime controlling business entry and production the benefits were greater in states that had more flexible labour regulations. The report noted that the progressive elimination of the licence raj led to a 6 per cent increase in new firm registrations in India, and resulted in highly productive firms entering the market larger increases in real output than less productive firms.
The report claimed that at a time when persistent unemployment and the need for job creation are in the headlines, governments around the world continue sought ways to improve the regulatory climate for domestic business. Small and medium businesses that benefit most from these improvements are the key engines for job creation in many parts of the world.
The report noted that Indonesia's ranking on regulatory environments for local entrepreneurs dropped three levels from 123 to 126. In spite of the fall, Indonesia is still ranked better than India (132) and the Philippines (136th). Singapore and Hong Kong SAR, China, provide the friendliest regulatory environments for local entrepreneurs. Indonesia is left far behind other Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand (17), Malaysia (18) and Brunei Darussalam (86). Indonesia is even behind Vietnam (98) and Papua New Guinea (101)
Agriculture Ministry proposed a Hike of Rs 115 per quintal in MSP of Wheat

The Agriculture Ministry on 20 October 2011 proposed a hike of Rs 115 per quintal in the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat to Rs 1285 per quintal to cover rising farm input cost and encourage farmers to increase acreage. The ministry circulated a CCEA note among various ministries recommending Rs 1285 per quintal as MSP for wheat for the 2012-13 marketing year begining 1 April 2012.
Wheat's support price for 2011-12 was Rs 1170 per quintal, including a bonus of Rs 50 per quintal. The government announced the support price for more than 20 crops just before the sowing season. The government buys wheat and paddy from farmers at the MSP to ensure assured returns to growers. The MSP also acts as benchmark price for the market.
The Ministry recommended a significant hike in wheat MSP in view of rising input cost of labour, electricity, diesel and fertilisers.
Since the UPA government came into power in 2004, the MSP of wheat has been raised from Rs 630 per quintal to Rs 1170 per quintal.
Countrys wheat production touched an all-time of 85.93 million tonnes in the 2010-11 crop year. According to experts, higher support price played a big role in the record wheat output
Rural Development Ministry cleared Playground in Villages under IAP Districts

Proposal
to
construct
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Plan | Programme,2011 Current Affairs
Union Ministry of Rural Development cleared the proposal to construct one playground in each village, falling under the 60 Integrated Action Plan (IAP) districts under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS works. The playground would be used for games like football, volleyball, hockey and kabbadi. The Ministry of Rural Development decided to revive sports for the tribal boys and girls in the 60 left-wing extremist-affected districts where the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) has been implemented. The idea was not just to spread the scope of sports and games to cover all the tribals but also to wean them away from being tapped by the Naxalite outfits in these districts. It will be the responsibility of the gram panchayat to provide the land and execute the construction of the playground.
For all villages under the IAP districts, the ministry allowed cement concrete roads within the residential habitations in the villages. The objective was to clean up surroundings and improve hygiene and sanitation in these villages particularly during the rainy season.
Pioneer of Nephrology in India, Dr M K Mani declared the Winner of 40th Dhanvantari Award
Current Affairs Category: Awards | Honours, October 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
Dr M K Mani, pioneer of nephrology in India and currently chief nephrologist at the Apollo Hospital was on 20 October 2011 declared the winner of the 40th Dhanvantari Award. Mani pioneered innovative techniques and new regimen in management of kidney disorders.
He is the recipient of many awards including Padma Bhushan and the Ravindranath Tagore award and has over 125 publications to his credit. He was awarded honorary Doctorate of Science from several universities. Mani became well-known after he gave a fresh lease of life to Jairakash Narayan, who was suffering from kidney ailment.
The prestigious award, which recognises contribution in medical science, is being awarded annually since 1972. The other recipients include Dr Denton A Cooley from Houston and pioneer heart transplant surgeon Dr Christian Bernard from South Africa.
Infrastructure Firm IVRCL Limited won Orders worth Rs 5.52 billion

Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Corporate, News , 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
Infrastructure firm IVRCL Limited's buildings, transportation and water divisions bagged orders worth Rs 5.52 billion. The building division won orders worth INR 418.51 crore, which include construction of low cost housing for urban poor in Delhi, civil and structural steel works at Bhilai steel plant in Chhattisgarh and infrastructure for a reserve battalion Central Industrial Security Force in Tamil Nadu.
The transportation division won orders for widening to 2-lane and improvement in km 0.00 to km 45.535 of Govindapalli- Salimi-mahupadar road awarded by Chief Engineer, Orissa.
The water division bagged INR 59.31 crore for the Muzaffarpur water supply project in Bihar
The 125th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union took place in Bern, Switzerland
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Places in News, Hot Topics, News Capsule, 2011 Current Affairs
Bern: The 125th Assembly of the Inter Parliamentary Union was held here. The 125th Assembly of the Inter-parliamentary union was held in Bern, Switzerland from 16 October 2011 to 19 October 2011. Bern was also the headquarters of the IPU from 1892 to 1911
India and Vietnam Signed Six Agreements Including Joint Oil Exploration in South China Sea
World, Hot Topics, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
Current Affairs Category: Topics for Bank PO | Clerk Exam 2011, October 2011 Current Affairs,International |
India and Vietnam signed six agreements on 12 October 2011 during the visit of Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang to India. The agreements are as following: India and Vietnam signed an extradition treaty Oil exploration agreement in South China Sea
Friendship pact to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic relations in 2012 Agreement in the field of agriculture and fisheries Cooperation in sports and tourism Agreement on Cultural Exchanges
India and Vietnam also decided to launch a biennial Security Dialogue between their home ministries. The two nations also decided to increase the trade target to 7 billion US dollars by 2015 from the present mark of 2.7
billion US dollars. Both nations also agreed to work towards early finalisation of the India-Asean Free Trade Agreement in Services and Investment. India and Vietnam also discussed the situation in the Vietnamese Eastern Sea (South China Sea). Vietnams
This is the first visit by the Vietnamese President outside the Asean region and shows the importance attached by both sides to the relationship. Developing close relations with Vietnam is an important component of Indias Look East Policy. The Chinese claim on the South China Sea was rejected by both India and Vietnam, saying as per the UN, the blocks belong to Vietnam
Importance
for
India
British Novelist Julian Barnes declared Winner of 2011 Man Booker Prize for The Sense of an Ending
Topics, News Capsule, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
Current Affairs Category: Awards | Honours, Topics for Bank PO | Clerk Exam 2011, October 2011 Current Affairs, Hot
British novelist Julian Barnes was on 18 October 2011 declared the unanimous winner of the 2011 50,000 Man Booker prize for his novella, The Sense of an Ending. The novel is about a 60-something man forced to confront buried truths about his past after the unexpected arrival of a letter.
The book was hailed by critics as an exquisitemeditation on growing old, the nature of memory and relationships. At 150 pages, The Sense of an Ending is his shortest novel. The judges mentioned that the book was exquisitely written, subtly plotted and reveals new depths with each reading.
Barnes, one of Britain's most critically acclaimed novelists, was previously nominated for Flaubert's Parrot in 1984, England, England in 1998 and Arthur and George in 2005.
The record for the shortest book ever to win a Booker remains Penelope Fitzgerald's Offshore which won in 1979.
The other contenders were : Carol Birch (Jamrach's Menagerie), Patrick deWitt (The Sisters Brothers), Esi Edugyan (Half Blood Blues), and debut authors Stephen Kelman (Pigeon English) and AD Miller (Snowdrops). Julian Patrick Barnes born on 19 January 1946 in Leicester, England is a contemporary English writer. His first novel, Metroland (1980), is a short, semi-autobiographical story of Christopher, a young man from the London suburbs who travels to Paris as a student, finally returning to London.
Julian Barnes had earlier won the Austrial State prize for European literature in 2004 and the David Cohen prize for literature for his lifetime achievement in literature. In France he is the only writer to have won both the Prix Medicis (for Flaubert's Parrot) and the Prix Femina (for Talking It Over). Former British spy chiefturned-thriller writer Stella Rimington chaired the judging panel. Controversy Inspite of being nominted thrice before for the prize, Julian Barnes never won it which had led him to famously describe the Booker Prize as posh bingo
Reserve Bank of India eased Property transaction Norms for NRIs

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) permitted Indians who have non-resident accounts in the country to hold them in any currency which is fully convertible. The move is expected to help NRIs/Persons of Indian Origin as it will give them more options in the holding of accounts, and lessen the risk from fluctuations in major currencies.
In another relaxation, the RBI specified that any citizen who was earlier residing in a foreign country can own or transfer property or other assets in that nation if it was acquired during the time of his residence there.
Earlier, Foreign Currency (Non-Resident) Account (Banks) (FCNR(B)) account holders were allowed to hold accounts in only certain currencies such as the Pound Sterling, US dollar, Japanese yen, euro, Canadian dollar and Australian dollar.
The central bank mentioned that Authorised Dealer banks in India can accept FCNR (B) deposits in any permitted currency. Permitted currency implies a foreign currency which is freely convertible. The Committee to Review the Facilities for Individuals under Foreign Exchange Management Act recommended that FCNR(B) accounts may be opened in any freely convertible currency.
Eminent Malayalam Novelist George Varghese Kakkanadan died in Kollam

Eminent Malayalam novelist George Varghese Kakkanadan who was one of the pioneers of modern Malyalam literature breathed his last on 19 October 2011 in Kollam. Known simply as Kakkanadan, he was one of the harbingers of modernism in the genres of Malayalam novel and short story. Born on 23 April 1935 at Thiruvalla, Kakkanadan started his professional career as a school teacher but he quit that job later to join the Southern Railway. His Style of Writing Kakkanadan was a rebel, both in life and literature and his rebellion extended from his selection of themes and
use of subversive language to his careful crafting of the philosophy of angst into the writing. His violent style of writing shook the very roots of the progressive literary sensibilities of the 1960s and 1970s and its innocent certainties. Each of his works was an act of rebellion against accepted elitist social mores and codes. Sex, like violence, was a leitmotif in many of his works. George Varghese Kakkanadans works He published his first work, Kachavadam, in 1963. Kakkanadan's major novels include Sakshi (1967), Ezham Mudra (1968), Vasoori (1968), Ushnamekhala (1969), Kozhi (1971), Parankimala (1971), Ajnathayude Thaazhvara (1972), Innaleyude Nizhal (1974), Adiyaravu (1975), Orotha (1982), Ee Naaykkalute Lokam (1983) and Barsaathi (1986). His most noted short story collections are
Aswathamaavinte Chiri (1979), Sreechakram (1981), Alwar Thirunagarile Pannikal (1989), Uchayillaatha Oru Divasam (1989) and Jaappaana Pukayila (2005). Two of his works, Parankimala and Aniyara, had been made into films by (late) director Bharathan. Awards won by Kakkanadan
Yuddhaavasaanam
(1969),
Purathekkulla
Vazhi
(1970),
The first notable award he received was Malayala Nadu Cherukatha Award in 1971. He was a recipient of several prestigious awards including Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (2002), Kendra Sahitya Academy Award (2005), Balamaniamma Award (2008) and Muttathu Varkey Award.
He won the Central Sahitya Akademi Award, the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and other awards. His work,Orodha won him the 1984 Kerala Sahithya Akademi award.
Ushnamekhala, Vasoori, Ajnathayude Thazhvara, Japana Pukayila, which won him Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award and Saakshi are some of his famous works
Book by Veteran Journalist & Media Advisor to Former PM Chandrasekhar released

Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Books | Authors, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
Page from the Past-A journalist looks back: K P Srivastava
The book Page from the Past-A journalist looks back, a book by veteran journalist K P Srivastava released on 19 October 2011. The book was released at a function in the Press Club of India by veteran journalist Inder Malhotra. The book was published by Daya Publications, Madurai.
In the book, Srivastava, who retired from PTI as Editor in the late 80s recalled his days as a journalist covering political developments from the time of first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru till coalition era.
K.P. Srivastava, a veteran journalist and media adviser to former prime minister Chandrasekhar mentioned in his book the bygone era of Indian journalism, politics and social life.
The book captured the essence of political developments and the intricacies of manoeuvrings that took place in the corridors of power since the times of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, his successor Lal Bahadur Shastri to Nehru's daughter Indira Gandhi.
The book is a collection of articles by Srivastava or K.P., as his colleagues and friends called him. Srivastava, 86, retired as editor of The Press Trust of India in 1987. The book also offers anecdotes and experiences of the author with politicians and the dilemmas of governance they faced in a culturally, linguistically and politically complex India
Olympic Champion Abhinav Bindra won Air Rifle Silver in 4th Asian Airgun Shooting Championship
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Sports, News, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011
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Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra won the air rifle silver behind Asian Games champion Zhu Qinan of China in the fourth Asian airgun shooting championship in Kuwait 19 October 2011. shot 594 in qualification and 103.6 in the final. He was 2.6 points behind the Chinese who shot 598 in qualification.
Bindra had outdone Zhu Qinan in the Beijing Olympic Games by grabbing the gold. Satyendra Singh won the bronze, following 593 in qualification and the best score in the final (103.7), Gagan Narang took the seventh spot at 694.5 following a preliminary score of 592. In women's air rifle, Indian shooters were below par, as none of them made the final. Anjali Bhagwat missed out on a berth in the final following a shoot-off for two places among three. She shot 50.4, while the other two from Chinese Taipei and Singapore came up with 51.0 and 51.3 respectively.
Irans Narjes Emamgholinejad Andvari defeated the reigning World champion Yi Siling of China by 0.1 point for the gold, despite a 2-point deficit before the final.
Aman Sethi won ICRC Award for Best Indian Print Media Article on Humanitarian Issues
The Hindu's Chhattisgarh correspondent, Aman Sethi on 19 October 2011 was awarded the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) award for the best Indian print media article on humanitarian issues at the India Islamic Cultural Centre.
His article on three Chhattisgarh villages ruthlessly torched by police commandos in March 2011 was selected as the best of nearly 80 entries from across the country. About 300 homes and granaries were burnt in the five-day police operation which left three men dead, and three women sexually assaulted. Sethi's coverage initiated the local administration to probe the incident and send aid to the affected villages.
Tehelka's Umar Baba took the second place for his article Screams from the Valley, while the third prize went to
Reji Joseph of Rashtra Deepika and the consolation prize to Anup Sharma of The Times of India. Delhi-based Kashmiri journalist Mohammad Umar Baba who writes under the byline Baba Umar bagged the best humanitarian
Reporting Award 2011 award in the All India Journalist Competition for the best print media article on humanitarian issues. It is for the first time that a Kashmiri journalist has won this award. Sethi took home a cash award of Rs. 50,000, the second and third prize winners were given Rs.30,000 and Rs.20,000 respectively. About the Award The awards are instituted by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Press Institute of India (PII) for articles published in an Indian national or regional newspaper or magazine in English or any of the Indian languages.
ICRC is a 150 year-old international organisation working in more than eighty countries to preserve a measure of humanity amidst violence while PII is about fifty years old organisation working in India for upholding the standards of journalism in India through research and training programmes.
In all, 100 entries were received by the ICRC of which 44 were shortlisted for further consideration
Indian Railways launched Real-time Train Information System (RTIS) for 12 Important Trains
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Miscellaneous, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
The Indian Railways on 19 October 2011 launched a real-time train information system (RTIS) for 12 important trains through which passengers can access the accurate train running information. Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi launched the facility at the Economic Editors' Conference. The GPS-based train tracking system was jointly developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO), Lucknow and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur to overcome the limitations of the existing Train Running Information System.
Passengers will be provided with the information about the location of the train, its running position on time or late, next stop, nearest approaching/crossed station and the speed.
This facility has been provided for :12301 Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, 12302 New Delhi-Howrah
Rajdhani Express, 12305 Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, 12306 New Delhi-Howrah Rajdhani Express, 12313 Sealdah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, 12314 New Delhi-Sealdah Rajdhani Express, 12951 Mumbai Central-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, 12952 New Delhi-Mumbai Central Rajdhani Express, 12953 Mumbai Central-Nizamuddin A K Rajdhani Express, 12954 Nizamuddin A.K.-Mumbai Central Rajdhani Express, 12003 Lucknow-Delhi Shatabdi Express and 12004 New Delhi-Lucknow Shatabdi Express.
The Book- The Sense of an Ending earned British Novelist Julian Barnes the Man Booker
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Books | Authors, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
The Sense of an Ending: Julian Barnes British novelist Julian Barnes on 18 October 2011 won the Man Booker prize for his novella, The Sense of an Ending. Barnes' eleventh novel, The Sense of an Ending, published by Jonathan Cape, was released on 4 August 2011.
The novel is about a 60-something man forced to confront buried truths about his past after the unexpected arrival of a letter.
The book was hailed by critics as an exquisitemeditation on growing old, the nature of memory and relationships. At 150 pages, The Sense of an Ending is his shortest novel. The judges mentioned that the book was exquisitely written, subtly plotted and reveals new depths with each reading.
Barnes, one of Britain's most critically acclaimed novelists, was previously nominated for Flaubert's Parrot in 1984, England, England in 1998 and Arthur and George in 2005.
The record for the shortest book ever to win a Booker remains Penelope Fitzgerald's Offshore which won in 1979
Rajasthan Government launched a Web based Social Security Pension System

Current Topics, State, Rajasthan, 2011 Current Affairs Affairs Category: Topics for Bank PO | Clerk Exam 2011, October 2011 Current Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
Affairs,Hot
The Rajasthan Government launched a web based Social Security Pension System on 19 October 2011 at Jaipur. This is an e-Governance initiative for effective and timely disbursement of pension and it would accelerate the whole process from sanction to disbursal of the pension under various schemes. This online system is a webbased solution to facilitate and maintain information pertaining to application, verification, sanction and
disbursement of pension under various social security pension schemes. The system would be used by all SDOs, BDOs, Tehsildars, Treasury Officers and Sub Treasury Officers. The state government is providing Social Security Pension to aged people, widows and disabled persons of deprived and weaker sections of the society. Currently in the state, more than 12 lakh pensioners are getting benefit of the Social Security Pension scheme and 700 crore rupees are being disbursed to beneficiaries. The pensioners in the age group of 75 years and above are being provided 750 rupees while pensioner in the age group of below 75 years is being given 500 rupees per month.
USA issued a Travel Alert to its Citizens in India, Warning them of Possible Terror Attacks
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, International | World, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
The USA on 18 October 2011 issued a travel alert to its citizens in India, warning them of possible terror attacks in the country during the holiday season. The State department in its statement urged the US citizens to maintain a heightened situational awareness and a low profile and to be careful while visiting public places.
The travel alert will expire on 20 January, 2012
The places, such as markets, trains, buses, religious sites, hotels and restaurants were defined as public places.
Veteran Congress Ranganath died
leader
&
Former
Karnataka
Minister
Veteran Congress leader and former Karnataka minister K H Ranganath who was suffering from kidney disorder died in Bangalore on 18 october 2011. Ranganath, a six term MLA from Hiriyura assembly constituency in Chitradurga district, was also a Lok Sabha member from Chitradurga during 1984-89. He had served in the ministries of late D Devaraj Urs, Bangarappa and S M Krishna.
Ranganath was also the speaker of the Karnataka state assembly
Government decided to ban the Use of Infertility Drug Letrozole

The union government of India decided to ban the use of infertility drug Letrozole which is mainly recommended for treating Cancer patients. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a directive to ban the use of Letrozole completely with immediate effect. While banning the drug, the Ministry stated that harmful effects were found in the use of Letrozole. Letrozole is used worldwide for cancer patients but it was being used in India as an infertility drug for a long time
Churchill Brothers defeated Prayag United to win 2011 Durand Cup

The 2011 Durand Cup, the 124th edition of the Durand Cup which is the third oldest association football competition in the world was won by the Churchill Brothers. Churchill Brothers won the 2011 Durand Cup at the Ambedkar Stadium with a 5-4 tie-break win over Prayag United on 15 October 2011 by defeating Prayag United.
Churchill Brothers won the Durand Cup 2011 defeating Prayag United in the finals 5-4 on Penalties after the both team failed to score after full time. In the tie-breaker, Churchill Brothers scored through Lalrindika Ralte, M.P. Zakeer, Bineesh Balan, Matthew Kouacic and Denzil Franco. Kayne Vincent, Mohammad Rafique, Belo Razaq and Maksawn Tluanga scored for Prayag.
The Durand Cup was palyed from 24 September to 15 October 2011. The tournament was conducted in two stages. Stage 1 was the Qualifying Knock Out Round and Stage 2 was the Quarter Final League round.
I-League clubs Mohun Bagan, Dempo, Mumbai, HAL and East Bengal skipped the tournament for various reasons like having to play in other tournaments, to prepare for the I-League.
COSCO Platina FIFA approved football was the official ball of the tournament.
The cash award for the Winner, Runners up and the 3rd positions was Rs. 20 Lakhs, 10 Lakhs and 5 Lakhs respectively.
TRAI established that 3G Roaming Agreements between Telcos violated Licence Conditions
A probe by telecom regulator TRAI established that 3G roaming agreements between telcos violated licence conditions. Mobile phone companies had earlier explained to the regulator that the telecom department, prior to the 3G
auctions, had clearly specified that roaming policy is applicable to licences and not specific to spectrum bands. In their defence, telcos had also provided copies of the clarifications provided by the department on this issue before the 3G auctions. The clarifications quote the DoT's response to operators' queries on this issue as stating that roaming will be permitted. The DoT had asked the regulator to examine the 3G roaming agreements between telcos. With no telco bagging pan-India 3G airwaves in 2010 auctions, the leading GSM operators - Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Idea Cellular had entered into an alliance that enables them to offer high-end data services on a pan-India basis (except Orissa). Bharti, Vodafone and Idea had won 3G airwaves in 13, 9 and 11 circles, respectively, and their roaming pacts ensured that customers of these companies can access high-speed data services even in the regions where they don't hold 3G airwaves.
The GSM operators had informed TRAI that 3G roaming agreements would augment the customer experience by allowing users to access high-speed data services on a pan-India basis, while also ensuring better utilisation of national resources and increased revenues to the government. Besides, they also added that these deals would help improve broadband internet coverage. If the government acts on the recommendations of the TERM Cell of the DoT, these mobile phone companies will have to shell out fines to the tune of 50 crore for every circle where they have entered into 3G roaming agreements.
CWG Gold-medallist Krishna Poonia won Gold at Halloween Throws Meet at Portland
Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Krishna Poonia produced an impressive seasons best effort of 62.25m to win gold at Halloween Throws Meet at Portland, United States on 17 October 2011. In the process, she also crossed the A qualifying standard for the London Olympics (62m).
Poonia had already qualified for the 2012 Games by attaining the B qualification standard of 59.50m when she won gold at the Fling Throw Meet at Portland with a throw of 61.12m. Poonia has been training at the Throws Centre at Concordia University at Oregon, Portland since July 2011 and went all out and crossed the magical mark of 62m in her last attempt. She had two fouls and two other 60 plus efforts in the process.
Her last effort was though below her personal best of 63.69m recorded in April in 2010 at Chula Vista in California, United States.
UP Government raised the Age Limit from 35 to 40 years for Recruitment of Primary School Teachers
Current Affairs Category: Uttar Pradesh, October 2011 Current Affairs, State, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
The state government issued an order to raise the age limit from 35 years to 40 years to fill around 70000 posts of primary school teachers lying vacant. For BTC selection in 2007 and 2008 the age limit of 40 years was made mandatory. The B.Ed degree holders
demanded to increase the maximum age limit for the appointment of primary school teachers on the basis of that.
Overnite Express launched New Premium Service, Overnite Priority

Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Corporate, New Launch, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
Overnite Express launched a new premium service, Overnite Priority on 17 October 2011 with an assured next business-day delivery feature besides a money back guarantee attached to it. The new service was launched in response to the market's desire for such an assured service platform. The latest service offering is being considered to be a significant step in the direction of customer satisfaction and innovation-leadership.
Overnite Express put in place a team of dedicated trained executives who would be specially looking after this service segment and would be tracking the movement of consignment from receiving till final delivery. The client would be apprised of the delivery by an SMS.
Overnite, over the years evolved from being a basic courier service provider delivering documents and parcels to an integrated door-to-door time-bound service provider.
The express delivery service (EDS) industry was valued at Rs.10,000 crore and was growing at around 25 per cent annually.
GVK Airport Holdings acquired 108000000 Equity Shares worth Rs10 each in MIAL
GVK Airport Holdings Private Limited, a subsidiary of GVK Power & Infrastructure Limited (GVKPIL) on 18 October 2011 acquired 108000000 equity shares worth Rs10 each (amounting to a 13.5% equity stake) in Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd (MIAL). The stakes were acquired from Bid Services Division (Mauritius) Limited for a sum of US$231 million.
GVK bought the stake for $231 million (Rs 1,140 crore), valuing MIAL at around Rs 8500 crore. After the acquisition, GVKs stake in MIAL stood at 50.5 per cent.
While the Airports Authority of India owns 26 per centin MIAL, Bid Services Division (Mauritius) and the Airports Company of South Africa hold 13.5 and 10 per cent, respectively.
The acquisition is the second-biggest by the GVK group to consolidate its position in the airport business. In
August 2011 the group had increased its stake in Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) to 43 per cent, by acquiring 14 per cent stake from Siemens for Rs 614 crore. The deal valued BIAL at Rs 4300 crore. About MIAL MIAL is executing an airport modernisation project worth Rs 9800 crore. The construction of the integrated passenger terminal is underway and will be complete in mid-2013.
In the first quarter of 2011-12, MIAL made a net profit of Rs 57.8 crore, against Rs 40.1 crore in the same period in 2010. The airport handled 29 million passengers last year and sees around 700 flight movements daily
Magsaysay Awardee Sandeep Pandey to Fast in Protest against BPL Benchmark

Magsaysay awardee Sandeep Pandey decided to observe a five-day fast from 22 October 2011 and observe a black Diwali in protest against the Planning Commissions definition of poverty and setting a BPL benchmark of Rs 32 per person expenditure per day in urban areas and Rs 26 per person in rural areas. Pandey is to observe the fast at his ashram in Lalpur village of Hardoi district.
Pandey decided to demand universalisation of the public distribution system (PDS), withdrawal of the cash transfer scheme as a substitute for PDS, Rs 250 as minimum wages under NREGS with scope for upgradation with price rise and with every hike in salaries of government employees.
Pandeys NGO Asha Pariwar mentioned that demand that BPL lists to be decided by Gram Sabhas and Ward Sabhas, and common school system concept be included in the Right to Education Act would also be placed. It alleged that the government had not been able to check farmer suicides, hunger deaths and malnourishment of children. Also, the economic policy of the government is benefiting the well-off sections of society at the cost of the poor.
Bharti Airtel launched Special Formula One Race Pack for F1 Fans in Bangalore
Bharti Airtel on 12 October 2011 announced the launch of its special Formula One Race Pack for F1 fans in Bangalore. Bharti Airtel is a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 19 countries across Asia and Africa.
Bharti Airtel which is the title sponsor for the 2011 Formula One Airtel Grand Prix of India introduced this pack as
a prelude to the forthcoming Grand Prix slated to be held in Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh) on 30 October 2011. Any new Airtel pre-paid customer in Bangalore would receive a 30 days trial offer on F1 value-added services like watching free Formula One race clips on mobile TV and playing exciting racing games.
Local Airtel calls are priced at 30 paise per minute and the pack would be valid for 60 days from the date of activation. Airtel pre-paid mobile customers subscribing to the pack would also get a chance to win A-Ticket, an ultimate F1 experience for two. The pack would also be inclusive of air travel and five-star hotel stay to the Grand Prix on 28 October 2011.
Government Finalised Saranda Action Plan for the Development of Naxal Affected Districts
India, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
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The Union Government of India finalised a developmental action plan called Saranda Action plan for Naxal Affected districts in Naxal affected districts particularly in eastern India. The Saranda Action Plan was prepared by Rural Development Ministry. It will be implemented firstly in Jharkhand's Naxal-hit Saranda district. Saranda district is in Jharkhand.
According to the plan, immediate priority is to distribute solar lanterns and bicycles, construction of prefab houses
for BPL families under the Indira Awas Yojana and bridges with the help of Army and special water supply handpump schemes. Approximately, 4.5 crore rupees will be needed for distribution of solar lanterns and bicycles and this will be met out of the Integrated Action Plan funds
India Signed a Deal with Sri Lankan Firm to Procure 80 Fast Interception Craft (FIC)
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Defence | Security,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
India signed a deal with a Sri Lankan firm worth over 300 crore rupees to procure 80 fast-interception craft (FIC). These FICs will equip Navy's Sagar Prahari Bal, SPB, which is being raised after the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. The boats are to be delivered in the next three years. FICs are small boats, with a crew of five to seven sailors at top speeds of 40 to 50 knots, and are equipped with light machine guns. These 80 FICs will be in addition to the 15 similar boats being acquired from French shipyard Chantier Naval Couach, three of which have already been inducted at Mumbai.
After 26/11, several steps have been taken to boost coordination in intelligence-sharing and operational matters, with fully-networked joint operation centres being set up in different locations. With 1,000 well-armed personnel, the SPB will be tasked with the protection of naval and other assets, bases and harbours on both west and east coasts.
Supreme Court directed States and UTs to build Toilets Government Schools
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Hot Topics, National | India, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
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The Supreme Court of India on 17 October 2011 directed all states and union territories (UTs) to build toilets, particularly for girls, in all government schools by the end of November 2011. A bench headed by Justice D K Jain asked all the governments to take immediate steps regarding this and file their compliance report before the deadline fixed by it.
The bench ruled that in case of any problem, the governments would at least provide temporary toilets for the students by November-end and the permanent structure should be built by the end of the year
IBSA (India Brazil South Africa) Summit Concluded in Pretoria, South Africa
Topics, News Capsule, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
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Pretoria: The fifth summit of IBSA was held here. Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the administrative capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital. The fifth IBSA (India Brazil South Africa) summit concluded on 18 October 2011 in Pretoria. India, Brazil and South Africa, issued a joint declaration at the end of the summit, which condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
IBSA leaders described terrorism as one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. At their summit meeting, the IBSA leaders said the United Nations should play a central role in co-ordinating international action against terrorism within the framework of the UN Charter and in accordance with the international law.
Capital Market Regulator SEBI approved Share Sale Guidelines for Insurance Firms
Capital market regulator SEBI approved share sale guidelines for insurance firms. The norms once cleared by the government will ensure the entry of the insurance industry to revive the dormant primary market as the novelty value of the sector could attract more investors.
IRDA had earlier specified that insurers that have completed 10 years of operations are eligible to go for share
sale. Prior to filing of the draft document for making public offer with SEBI, the insurer is required to take a formal approval from IRDA. SEBI withdrew a major irritant for life insurance companies waiting to hit the capital market with initial public offers. While clearing IPO guidelines of life insurance companies, the regulator removed the three-year profitability clause that is applicable for all companies as a precondition for tapping the capital markets.
However, insurance companies will have to go for additional disclosures as required by the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) over and above the disclosure norms set by SEBI. The move to remove the threeyear profitability clause is expected to bring some relief to the majority of life insurance companies, as most of them are yet to underwrite any profits.
According to the draft guidelines, insurance companies, which have completed 10 years of operations, will be allowed to tap the capital market and the valuation would have to be based on the embedded value to be calculated by a method designed by the Institute of Actuaries of India. Insurers planning IPOs will have to disclose their economic capital as well as the embedded value to the regulator. They have to first seek formal approval from IRDA and then the final approval from SEBI. Typically, under the disclosure norms, insurance companies will have to disclose their balance sheet, premiums, commission expenses and operating expenses on a quarterly basis.
Apart from this the guidelines are expected to follow the usual norms, like individuals holding more than 10 per cent stake would be considered as promoters and the company will have to maintain a solvency ratio of 1.5. IRDA will not have any mandate on the extent of dilution, and it is up to individual companies to decide on the size of the issue. SEBI guidelines mandate 25 per cent of the shares of a listed company be retained by the public.
The IPO guidelines are considered important as a host of private life insurance companies, such as Reliance Life, HDFC Life and ICICI Prudential Life have expressed interest in tapping the capital market
MC Mary Kom won Gold at the 12th Senior Women's National Boxing Championships
Five-time world champion MC Mary Kom won gold in the 51kg category by defeating Pinki Jangra in the summit clash on the final day of the 12th Senior Women's National Boxing Championships in Bhopal on 16 October 2011. In the feather weight division, bronze medallist at the Women's Youth World Championship, Pwilao Basumatary of Assam settled settle for a silver medal after losing to Mandakini Chann of AIP who won gold.
In the light weight category, Neetu Chahal of Haryana clinched gold after beating Preeti Beniwal of the IABF team.
Neetu won 12-5. Kavita Goyat of Delhi defended her title taking the gold in the middle weight division. She defeated Pooja of Haryana 16:11. Haryana bagged the overall title with three gold medals, two silver and two bronze. Manipur came second with two gold medals, a silver and a bronze while Railways finished third with two gold and three bronze medals.
Swiss Ambassador's Award conferred on Ratan Tata for Exceptional Leadership

Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata was honoured with the Swiss Ambassador's award for exceptional leadership and his contribution to strengthening bilateral ties between India and Switzerland on 16 October 2011. Switzerland's Ambassador to India Philippe Welti conferred the award to Tata at a ceremony at the Swiss embassy in New Delhi.
Ratan Tata had transformed Tata Group into a global conglomerate while retaining its strong roots in the group's traditions and ethics. Ratan Tata became chairman of Tata Sons in 1991. Under the chairmanship of Ratan Tata, the group had acquired several international brands like Land Rover, Jaguar, Tetley and Corus. The first Swiss Ambassador's award, founded in 2010, was conferred on film-maker Yash Chopra for his contribution to strengthening Indo-Swiss people-to-people relations through his movies.
ICMR Study revealed Doubling of Incidence of Breast Cancer in Metropolitan Cities

A landmark analysis of cancer cases among women in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore from 1982 to 2005, conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) revealed that the incidence of breast cancer nearly doubled in metropolitan cities. Breast cancer cases were found to be spiralling world over, and urban India was no exception. On the other hand, cases of cervical cancer, which is the most common form of cancer among Indian women was found to be dipping in some cities by almost 50%.
Indias National Health Profile 2010 predicted that by 2020, breast cancer will overtake cervical cancer as the most common type of cancer among women in India. Almost one in 20 women in metropolitan cities are suffering from breast cancer. Cases have almost doubled in the last decade, and nearly half of the patients come for treatment at the final stage when curing it is difficult. Currently 23 per one lakh women are diagnised with breast cancer every year. In cities like Chennai, the figures are troubling with the breast cancer ratio as high as 1:33.
10 leading types of cancer that women in urban cities suffered from between 2006 and 2008 were looked at and it was found and found that breast cancer accounted for a high percentage in each city. In Mumbai, 30% of cancer
cases among women were that of the breast, in Delhi and Bangalore it was almost 26.9% while the incidence in Chennai was marginally lower at 26.5%. In Kolkata, it accounted for 27.2% of cancer cases among women and in Pune it was 28.9%.
ICMR has also come out with the possibility of one in number of people developing cancer of any site score. The
calculation is age specific0-64 and 0-74 years. In Mumbai and Kolkata, one in 14 women runs the risk of developing cancer before they reach 64 years. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Lets Pink is a movement to raise awareness on the disease and its prevention
Amol Gupte's Son Partho Gupte won Best Actor Award at Schlingel International Film Festival
Actor/director Amol Gupte's son Partho Gupte, who delivered an excellent performance as the quick-witted Stanley in his father's Stanley Ka Dabba won the best actor award at the Schlingel International Film Festival that concluded in Chmnitz, Germany on 16 October 2011. Partho won the best actor award, beating 130 young contenders from all across the world. Stanley Ka Dabba has beenso far screened at four festivals, including Mumbai Film Festival. Schlingel is the only film festival in the world devoted to films for and about children. It's a very evolved film festival. The quality of films and principal performances are at par with some of the most complex films for adult audiences. There were over 130 films in the competition
13th Raid de Himalaya Motor Rally in Himalayan Terrain concluded in Srinagar

Austrian Helmut Frauwallner and India's Suresh Rana won the extreme two-wheeler and extreme-four wheeler categories in the 13th Raid de Himalaya motor rally which concluded on 17 October 2011. Rana and his navigator Ashwin Naik driving a Maruti Gypsy were followed by Harpreet Bawa with navigator Virender Kashyap in second place, while Shakti Bajaj and navigator Prakash finished third.
Of the 42 cars and 32 motorbikes which set out from Shimla in the extreme category, only 26 cars and 16 bikes made it to the finishing line, while others withdrew or had vehicle breakdown. The adventure trial had begun from Shimla via Dalhousie, Srinagar and Zanskar before finishing at Srinagar.
The annual rally which is an off-road racing spectacle in the rugged, inhospitable Himalayan terrain had begun on 9 October 2011 from Shimla before ending at the Royal Springs Golf Course on the banks of the Dal lake. The
rallyists went via Manali-Leh-Rangdum (Zanskar), which comprises of one of the world's most dangerous roads. The results are subject to change if any motorist or biker lodges a protest and is proven right in the scrutiny.
Scientists Identified the bug which Caused the Bubonic Plague in Europe
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Hot Topics, Science | Technology,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
Scientists claimed to have reconstructed the genome of the bug that caused the bubonic plague (often referred as black death) in Europe. The bug was discovered to be an ancient strain of a bacterium called Yersinia pestis and not so much different from todays. The discovery was made by scientists at McMaster University in Canada, the University of Tubingen in Germany. The study was published in the journal Nature on 12 October 2011. The Scientists collected the ancient Y.pestis DNA from 46 teeth and 53 bones excavated from the East Smithfield burial grounds in London. Researchers reconstructed the bacteriums genome and made comparisons to the genomes of existing strains of Y.pestis. They determined that the bug hadn't changed much in the more than 600 years since the plague swept Europe.
The study will help researchers track bugs evolution. It could improve scientists' understanding of modern diseases as well.
Bubonic plague still strikes somewhere between 1000 and 3000 people each year, according to the World Health Organization. It wiped out 30 million people in Europe (30 to 50 Percent of the population in Europe) between 1347 and 1351. Bubonic plague is a zoonotic disease, circulating mainly among small rodents and their fleas, and is one of three types of infections caused by Yersinia pestis (formerly known as Pasteurella pestis), which belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae.
The First ever Prisoner Swap between Israel and Palestine took place at the Rafah Crossing
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Hot Topics, News Capsule,Miscellaneous, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
The first ever prisoner swap between Israelis and the radical Palestinian group Hamas took place at the Rafah crossing on 18 October 2011. Israels abducted soldier Gilad Shalit was handed over to Egyptian authorities and in exchange, 477 Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel.
Israel and the radical outfit Hamas had signed the deal in the second week of October 2011.
Scientists identified the Genes which Increase a Persons Risk of Getting Dengue
Scientists identified two genes, which increase a persons risk of getting dengue. Dengue is the most common mosquito-borne infection after malaria. It causes 100 million infections worldwide annually. For their research, the scientists conducted the first ever genome-wide association study to compare genomes of
children with severe dengue against population controls. Scientists found changes in the DNA code located in two genes; MICB on chromosome 6 and PLCE1 on chromosome10. This increases a persons susceptibility to dengue
shock syndrome. MICB plays a role in the human bodys immune system and any variation in this gene can affect the activation of natural killer cells or CD8T cells. These cells play a key role in combating viral infection. PLCE1 contribute to the normal functioning of the vascular endothelium, the thin layer of cells that lines interior surface of blood vessels with some variants of PLCE1 predisposing an individual to leakage from the blood vessels, the hallmark clinical feature of dengue shock syndrome.
Initially, they compared 2008 patients against 2018 controls. They then replicated the findings in an independent follow-up sample of 1737 cases and 2934 controls, the latest edition of the Nature Genetics journal reported.
Bombay HC awarded Death Sentence to 4 in the 2003 Maharashtra Murder Case

The Bombay High Court on 17 October 2011 upheld the death sentence awarded to four convicts for murdering 10 people in 2003. The judges described the offence as rarest of rare cases for giving capital punishment and observed that the accused showed no repentance for their acts. The four accused, including a self-styled godman Santosh, lured the victims saying that they would multiply their money manifold using black magic. The accused would ask the victims to come to a lonely plateau in Nandos for prayers and then butcher them mercilessly.
On 29 September 2003, they murdered two persons. Then they murdered four on 30 October 2003 and then on 14 November 2003, they murdered the entire Mali family.
The four convictsSantosh Manohar Chavhan, Amit Ashok Shinde, Yogesh Madhukar Chavhan and Mahesh Dhanaji Shindemeticulously planned the murders. They acted as if they are professional murderers. None of the accused has shown any signs of reformation
Delhi State Cabinet Hiked Monthly Pensions of Senior Citizens

Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, State, Delhi, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
Delhi state cabinet on 17 October 2011 hiked monthly pensions of senior citizens who are 70 years old and above from 1000 rupees/month to 1500 rupees/month. The hike in pension will be effective from 1 October 2011. The pension will be sanctioned under the Old Age Financial Assistance Scheme of Social Welfare department. The
hiked pension is likely to benefit more than 1.6 lakh senior citizens in the mentioned group. The government will release an additional budget allocation of 34 crore rupees to implement the scheme
Syria announced the Creation of a Committee tasked with Preparing New Constitution
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, International | World, Hot Topics, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
President Bashar al-Assad of Syria on 15 October 2011 announced the creation of an ad hoc committee tasked with preparing a new Constitution within four months. President Assad issued a decree establishing the national
committee to draft a new Constitution in a period not exceeding four months from the date of its creation. The 29member committee is headed by former Justice Minister Mizhar al-Annbary. A new Constitution has been a key demand of a protest movement that erupted on 15 March 2011, initially calling for greater freedoms and later demanding the ouster of the Assad regime
SEBI Panel rejected the Proposal to raise Mutual Fund Net Worth Cap to Rs 50 crore
Current Topics, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Affairs Category: Topics for Bank PO | Clerk Exam 2011, October 2011 Current Affairs,Hot Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
A SEBI-constituted panel on mutual funds in October 2011 retained the minimum capital requirement to start a fund house at Rs 10 crore, rejecting a proposal to increase the net worth criterion. The move was welcomed by smaller fund houses and firms planning to enter the asset management business in Asia's third-largest economy, India.
A mutual fund advisory committee in 2010 had proposed to raise the capital base of asset management
companies to Rs 50 crore from Rs 10 crore to ward off non-serious players and to ensure higher safety for investors. SEBI however pointed out that higher capital requirement will be a difficult barrier for smaller institutions wanting to start the fund management business.
It was pointed out that even developed nations have lower capital requirement than India. In the US, the base capital required to start an asset management business is Rs 55 lakh, if converted into Indian rupees. The first guideline on base capital criteria, which mandated funds to have a minimum capital of Rs 3 crore, came out in 1993. Sebi increased the net worth criterion to Rs 6 crore and then to Rs 10 crore after CRB Mutual Fund collapsed in 1996-97.
The mutual fund advisory committee had in 2010 also recommended a higher net worth requirement to protect
investors and funds from short-term liquidity stress. Well-capitalised funds, the committee argued would be better placed to handle unforeseen redemption and issues arising from lower market liquidity
World Food Day observed on 16 October with Food Prices From Crisis to Stability as Theme
Current Affairs Category: Day | Week | Year, October 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
World Food Day is observed every year on 16 October. In 2011, World Food Day was observed with the themeFood Prices From Crisis to Stability. Food Priices-from Crisis to Stability was chosen as the 2011 World Food Day theme to shed some light on what can be done to mitigate its impact on the most vulnerable. World Food Day 2011 was observed with an objective to look seriously at what causes swings in food prices, and do what needs to be done to reduce their impact on the weakest members of global society. Price upswings represent a major threat to food security in developing countries. According to the World Bank, in 2010-2011 rising food costs pushed nearly 70 million people into extreme poverty. World Food Day is celebrated every year around the world on 16 October in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945. It is also the Food Engineer day. World Food Day (WFD) was established by FAO's Member Countries at the Organization's 20th General Conference in November 1979.
Since 1981, World Food Day has adopted a different theme each year, in order to highlight areas needed for action and provide a common focus. Most of the themes revolve around agriculture because only investment in agriculture together with support for education and health can ensure food security. The objectives of World Food Day are to: encourage attention to agricultural food production and to stimulate national, bilateral, multilateral and nongovernmental efforts to this end encourage economic and technical cooperation among developing countries encourage the participation of rural people, particularly women and the least privileged categories, in
decisions and activities influencing their living conditions heighten public awareness of the problem of hunger in the world
strengthen international and national solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty and draw attention to achievements in food and agricultural development
promote the transfer of technologies to the developing world
Andy Murray who defeated David Ferrer to win Shanghai Masters Title moved to No.3 Position
Andy Murray retained his Shanghai Masters title by defeating David Ferrer 7-5 6-4 in the final on 16 October 2011. His victory moved him to number three in the ATP rankings. He moved to the top three for the first time since March 2010. Murraywho was as high as No 2 in August 2009. The win in China was Murray's third title in as many weeks, following victories in Bangkok and Tokyo, where he beat Rafael Nadal in the final. He claimed the biggest tournaments in Thailand, Japan and finally the Shanghai Masters in China. He won 25 of his last 26 matches showing remarkable consistency.
Roger Federer dropped out of the top three in the ATP rankings for the first time since June 2003. Roger Federer had won the first of his 16 Grand Slam titles in July 2003
Save Sharmila Campaign flagged off by Magsaysay Award Winner Sandeep Pandey in Srinagar
Capsule, Miscellaneous, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
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The Save Sarmila Campaign was flagged off by Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey on 16 October 2011. The campaign was launched in Srinagar demanding the revocation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast. The campaign, in which 20 persons are participating with an objective to express solidarity with Irom Sharmila, who has been on fast for the last 10 years demanding revocation of the AFSPA. The campaign is headed by noted social activist Medha Patkar. The team started its march from Srinagar and will proceed to Imphal to bring the demand into focus.
The demands in Kashmir and the northeast were almost the same as far as political rights were concerned. However, in many northeast States, demands varied. Some northeast States are for autonomy and some want independence.
Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), was passed on 11 September 1958, by the Indian Parliament of India. It conferred special powers upon armed forces in what the act calls disturbed areas in the states of
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. It was later extended to Jammu and Kashmir as The Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990 in July 1990.
According to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), in an area that is proclaimed as disturbed, an officer of the armed forces has powers to:
contravention of any law against assembly of five or more persons or possession of deadly weapons. To arrest without a warrant and with the use of necessary force anyone who has committed certain offenses or is suspected of having done so To enter and search any premise in order to make such arrests.
Fire upon or otherwise use force, even to the causing of death, against any person who is acting in
It gives Army officers legal immunity for their actions. There can be no prosecution, suit or any other legal proceeding against anyone acting under that law. In 2004, in the wake of intense agitation that was launched by several civil society groups following the death of Thangjam Manorama, while in the custody of the Assam Rifles and the indefinite fast undertaken by Irom Sharmila, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil visited Manipur and reviewed the situation with the concerned state authorities.
The central government accordingly set up a five-member committee under the Chairmanship of Justice B P Jeevan Reddy, former judge of the Supreme Court. The panel had to review the provisions of AFSPA and advisthe Government of India whether (a) to amend the provisions of the Act to bring them in consonance with the obligations of the government towards protection of human rights, or (b) to replace the Act by a more humane Act. The Reddy committee submitted its recommendations on June 6, 2005. However, the government failed to take any concrete action on the recommendations Irom Sharmila Irom Sharmila Chanu known as the Iron Lady of Manipur or Menghoubi (the fair one) is a civil rights activist, political activist, and poet from the Indian state of Manipur. Since 2 November 2000, she has been on hunger strike to demand that the Indian government repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA), which she blames for violence in Manipur and other parts of India's northeast.
She was awarded the 2007 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights, which is given for an outstanding person or group, active in the promotion and advocacy of Peace, Democracy and Human Rights. She shared the award with Lenin Raghuvanshi of People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights, a northeastern Indian human rights organization.
In Addition the largest monetary prize the first Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize was given to her in 2010 by the New Delhi IIPM. She was awarded the Sarva Gunah Sampannah Award for Peace and Harmony aka the 12th Signature Women of Substance award (Assam) also in 2010. she is the recipient of the first Mayillama Award (Kerala). in 2010 she was awarded in absentia a lifetime achievement award in Bangalore.
Fresh Capital to be infused in SBI to help it achieve Compliance with Capital Adequacy Ratio Norms
Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on 16 October 2011 voiced the Finance Ministrys decision to to recapitalise State Bank of India (SBI). Funds would be provided to the PSU lender to enable it to achieve
compliance with capital adequacy ratio (CAR) norms. Fresh capital is to be infused in SBI. The government will inject Rs 3,000-4000 crore into SBI during the current fiscal 2011-12 to help it achieve an 8 per cent capital adequacy ratio (CAR).
Recapitalisation of banks is a continuing process and the government will continue to provide funds to PSU lenders through the Budget to ensure that they can meet solvency requirements.
According to estimates, SBI needs about Rs 20000 crore of fresh capital to maintain the pace of growth without sacrificing solvency margin norms.
Moody's had recently downgraded the credit rating of SBI, citing inadequate capital and poor asset quality as reasons. Following the downgrade, major private sector lenders like ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank currently have a better standing than SBI in terms of their credit rating. The government holds a 59 per cent stake in the country's largest bank, SBI
Red Bull sealed the Constructors Title at the Korean Grand Prix as Vettel clenched Title
Red Bull sealed the constructors title at the Korean Grand Prix on 16 October 2011. Red Bull sealed the 2011 season with 558 points. McLaren with 418 points was second and ferrari with 310 points was third. Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull who won the world championship at the Suzuka in Japan notched up his 10th victory of the 2011 season. McLarens Lewis Hamilton was second while another Red Bull driver Mark Webber finished third.
Vettel, who started from second on the grid, passed pole-sitter Hamilton on the first lap and dominated the 55-lap race before crossing the finish line in 1 hour, 38 minutes, 01.994 seconds, 12 seconds ahead of the McLaren driver. McLarens Jenson Button and Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso finished fourth and fifth, respectively
Gurbachan Singh appointed Chairman of Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board

Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Person Appointed, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011
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Union Agriculture Commissioner Gurbachan Singh was in october 2011 appointed Chairman of the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board for a seven-year term until further orders or till he attains the age of 65, whichever is earlier. The Board is crucial to recruitment of farm researchers and policy formulation.
During the tenure of Dr. Singh as Agriculture Commissioner, India achieved its highest foodgrain production including a record as pulses output, has assumed charge of his new post.
Born in Bhaini Maraj village in Sangrur district of Punjab, Dr. Singh holds a Ph.D. in Agronomy. He specialises in developing alternate approaches to a sustainable use of soil resources. He is the reviewing referee for several peer-reviewed international journals including the Journal of Professional Association of Cactus Development, US, Acta Horticulture and Geoderma.
He is the alumnus of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and the founder-President of the Indian Society of Soil Salinity and Water Quality
Rajasthan Water Resources Minister Mahipal Maderna sacked in the Bhanwari Devi Missing Case
Rajasthan Water Resources Minister Mahipal Maderna was dropped from the Cabinet on 16 October 2011 after an official recommendation sent to the Raj Bhavan for his dismissal. He was dismissed in the wake of allegations about his involvement in a case of mysterious disappearance of an auxiliary nurse midwife, Bhanwari Devi.
Maderna, son of powerful Jat leader and Congress veteran Parasram Maderna could not be persuaded to put in his
papers, following which Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot decided to recommend his sacking to the Governor. The State government announced his removal a day before a habeas corpus writ petition filed by Bhanwari Devi's husband comes up for the next hearing in the Rajasthan High Court.
Maderna figures as an accused in the first information report registered for rape, kidnap and murder of Bhanwari Devi, 36, who has been missing from Jaliwada village in Jodhpur district since 1 September 2011. Maderna faces charges under Sections 376 (rape), 302 (murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code
India and Myanmar agreed to Step up Cooperation in Oil and Natural Gas
President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, HEU Thein Sein visited India from 12 to 15 October 2011. This was the first State visit of any political head from Myanmar to India following the swearing in of a new government in Myanmar in March 2011. During this visit, India and Myanmar agreed to step up cooperation in oil
and natural gas with discussions touching on new gas pipelines. India also offered an additional 5oo million US dollars line of credit. India agreed to resolve border issues and step up energy and trade links.
In security, India and Myanmar agreed to increase the effectiveness of coordinated operations on either side of the border through better intelligence sharing. Both nations will jointly work out a schedule for repairing boundary pillars in a time-bound manner. India also agreed to increase training slots for Myanmar students and establish
more I.T. training centres. India and Myanmar discussed the Moreh-Mae Sot road that would connect India and Thailand via Myanmar. This will open a direct road link between India and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). This direct road link will also accelerate the plans of ASEAN for the Mekong-Ganga corridor. India welcomed Myanmar's progress towards an open and democratic framework. Why Myanmar is Important for India The visit of Myanmars President takes place in a context when Myanmar is no longer a pure military regime. Following elections in November 2010, a civilian government took charge, with an elected Parliament. Myanmar is important for India, because it is a gateway to the ASEAN, it holds the key for the successful implementation of Indias look east policy. India stood as Myanmars fourth largest trading partner after Thailand, Singapore and China with bilateral trade valued at 1.071 billion US dollars in the year 2010-11.
Myanmar's total export to India valued at 876.91 million US dollars, while its import from India was amounted to 194.92 million US dollars. Agricultural produce and forestry products are leading in Myanmar's export to India whereas medicine and pharmaceutical products are the major import items from India. India is a major buyer of Myanmar's beans importing 70 percent of the latter's agricultural produce
5th India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Summit and Academic Forum

Current Affairs Category: International | World, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 10 Oct 2011 To 16 Oct 2011 Share|
The 5th India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Summit and Academic Forum was held on 14 and 15 October 2011 in Pretoria, South Africa. The theme of the 2011 Forum wasCompetitive through synergy from knowledge generation to social development. The three countries were represented by the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, the South African President Jacob Zuma, and the Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. Highlights Economic Crisis At the 5th Summit of the three leading economies, Dr. Singh cautioned that economic crisis in developed
countries could affect developing nations and pressed for urgent steps by Europe and other advanced economies to prevent double-dip recession. Reforms of Global institutions
The three leaders also demanded reform of global institutions of governance, including UN and financial bodies, to address the current international challenges. World Markets
The world financial and capital markets were showing signs of acute distress due to the negative signals sent by the sovereign debt crisis in Europe and recessionary trends in the traditional engines of global economy the U.S., Europe and Japan.
Only Three Countries
IBSA must remain restricted to the three-country format. Actually, Turkey had indicated its desire to join the grouping. In addition, experts had commented that IBSA had been buried under a pile of BRICS consisting of the three IBSA members plus Russia and China.
New Projects Besides remaining active on the global stage, IBSA should consider new projects in agriculture and agro-
processing, environment and energy, including new energy resources. The IBSA Trust Fund projects could also focus on education and skill development, which is a key requirement of almost all developing countries. Trilateral Trade
With the early conclusion of India-SACU-Mercosur Trilateral Trade Arrangement, Africa could emerge as a bridge linking South Asia and Latin America. IBSA is a trilateral, developmental initiative between India, Brazil and South Africa to promote South-South
cooperation and exchange. The establishment of IBSA was formalized by the Brasilia Declaration of June 2003, which mentions India, Brazil and South Africa democratic credentials, their condition as developing nations and
their capacity of acting on a global scale as the main reasons for the three countries to come together. Their status as middle powers, their common need to address social inequalities within their borders and the existence of consolidated industrial areas in the three countries are often mentioned as additional elements that bring convergence amongst the members of the Forum
Scientists found the Ozone Hole above Antarctica, the Fifth Largest on Record
Current Topics, Environment | Ecology, 2011 Current Affairs Affairs Category: Topics for Bank PO | Clerk Exam 2011, October 2011 Current Current Affairs Week: 17 Oct 2011 To 23 Oct 2011 Share|
Affairs,Hot
Scientists found the Ozone hole above Antarctica, which spans about 25 million square kilometers and it is as big as North America. The Ozone hole found by the scientists reached its maximum annual size on 14 September 2011, becoming the fifth largest on record.
A spacecraft called POES discovered the Antarctic Ozone hole for the first time in the late 1970s. POES could
measure Ozone and it was run by the National Oceanic and Administration (NOAA). The largest Antarctic ozone hole ever recorded occurred in 2006, at a size of 27.5 million square kilometer. Scientists stated that intense cold in the upper atmosphere of the Arctic activated ozone-depleting chemicals and that resulted in ozone hole ever recorded over the high northern regions. What is Ozone? Ozone is a pollutant on the earths surface. However, in the stratosphere it forms a protective layer that reflects ultraviolet radiation back out in space and protect us from the damaging ultra-violet rays
Addu Declaration adopted in the 17th SAARC Summit

Current Affairs Category: Summit | Confrence, November 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs
The 17th SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Summit (the heads of states) held in Hithadhoo, Addu, Maldives on 10 November and 11 November 2011. A 20-point Addu Declaration was adopted on 11 November 2011 to forge effective cooperation among the member states in a host of areas including economy, connectivity, climate change and food
security.
The theme of the 17th SAARC Summit was Building Bridges. The Summit recognized the importance of bridging differences, creating better understanding and promoting amity and mutually beneficial and comprehensive cooperation in order to promote effective linkages and connectivity for greater movement of people, enhanced investment and trade in the SAARC members region
Button won Japanese Grand Prix while Vettel became Youngest Double World Champion
McLarens Jenson Button won the Japanese Grand Prix in his adopted homeland, Japan on 9 October 2011. Red Bulls Sebastian Vettel who stood third in the Formula 1 race became the youngest double world champion with four races to spare. In seven years as a Honda driver, Button had only once managed to win the race at the Honda-owned circuit. In winning, Button denied Vettel his third successive Japanese Grand Prix win. Buttons victory cut Vettels overall lead over the Briton to 114 points, an insurmountable advantage with a total of 100 left to be won.
Fernando Alonso stood second. Mark Webber was fourth for Red Bull ahead of McLarens Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes Michael Schumacher, who was sixth.
Red Bulls Sebastian Vettel made his way to the record books as Formula Ones youngest double world champion after finishing third in a Japanese Grand Prix. Vettel had needed only a point at Suzuka to clinch his second successive crown. He was only the ninth driver to take back-to-back championships and on the podium for the 14th time in 15 races in 2011.
Ferraris Fernando Alons had become the previous youngest double world champion when he had won for Renault aged 25 in 2006
Vinod Kumar won the Gold Medal in the National Wrestling Championships
Vinod Kumar of RSPB (Railway Sports Promotion Board) on 14 October 2011 won the 55 kg freestyle gold medal in the 56th Senior National wrestling championships at Nandininagar, Uttar Pradesh. Anil won the gold medal in 60 kg Greco Roman category.
Pradeep Kumar captured RSPB's second gold in 66kg freestyle division.
India and UK agreed to Work towards the MoU in Areas Related to Urban Development
Kamal Nath Minister of Urban Development, Government of India and Gregory Clark, Minister of State for Decentralization and Cities agreed to work towards a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and UK on 14 October 2011 at London. The MoU would aim at enhancing cooperation and deepen the engagement between India and UK in the areas of capacity building, land economics, heritage management, sustainable master planning, transport planning etc. Another area of cooperation would be the sharing of knowledge in the formulation of Public Private Partnership Models. Kamal Nath was in London on 14 October 2011 to participate in the UK India Business Forum organised by the UKIBC, UK Trade & Investment and Indian Chamber of Commerce
Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Launched in Jammu and Kashmir

Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Hot Topics, State, Other States, 2011 Current Affairs
In Jammu and Kashmir, the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna, jointly sponsored by the Centre and State governments was formally launched by State Health and Family Welfare Ministry in Srinagar on 13 October 2011. The scheme has been initially launched in the twin capital districts of Jammu and Srinagar and will be gradually
extended to all the districts of the State. The initial launch of the scheme will benefit around 66000 BPL families in Srinagar and Jammu. Entitled to cashless hospitalization coverage for most of the diseases through the network of identified hospitals
up to expenditure of 30000 rupees per family per annum. This will cover five members of a family which include the head of the household, spouse and up to three dependents. The Central and State Governments will pay the premium to the healthcare providers (insurance companies) being selected by the State Government. The contribution will be on 90-10 basis annually and the beneficiary family has to pay only registration fee of 30
rupees only. Data of every family will be stored in the computer and head of the family will be provided with Smart Cards, which will enable their admission in the designated hospitals
India and United States agreed to Explore New Models for Educational Institutions
India and United States agreed to explore new models for educational institutions to take knowledge partnership to a higher level. This will also help in further deepening the bilateral strategic cooperation. In a Joint Statement issued at the end of the India-US Higher Education Summit in Washington, the goals of the partnership were outlined.
Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal, during discussions in the summit, made it clear that India is
keen to strengthen teacher exchange programmes to promote development of human resources. India intends to
sponsor initially up to 1500 faculty and junior scholars to leading universities and research institutes in the United States.
Worlds First Drug was Created by the Scientists to Prevent Blindness from Cataracts
Australian Scientists created the worlds first drug which can prevent blindness from cataracts. At present, the only treatment available to prevent the blindness from cataracts is to remove surgically the affected eye lens and replace it with a synthetic lens. Cataracts are formed when a protein, known as calpain, clouds the eye lens and impairs vision.
This is for the first time that a non-surgical cure for the debilitating condition was discovered.
The Proposal to Publicize Digitalisation of Analogue Cable Systems Ordinance Approved

Current Topics, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Affairs Category: Topics for Bank PO | Clerk Exam 2011, October 2011 Current Current Affairs Week: 10 Oct 2011 To 16 Oct 2011 Share|
Affairs,Hot
The Union Cabinet of India on 13 October 2011 approved the proposal of Information and Broadcasting Ministry to publicize the Digitalisation of Analogue Cable Systems Ordinance. The objective of the ordinance is the
complete digitalisation of cable television in the four metros by 31 March 2012. By the end of 2014, all parts of India are expected to have phased out analogue cable TV. India has started the process of a global transition towards digitalisation. USA completed the process in 2009, China has set the deadline of 2015 to phase out anologue transmission. The approval of the ordinance means that all customers must have a set top box whether they want to receive free-to-air or pay channels. They could watch high quality channels of their choice and will get access to internet
and telephone through the same digital cable. Broadcasters will generate more revenue directly from subscribers, and it could reduce their dependence on TRPs and advertisers
Supreme Court Slashed the Amount of Compensations to the Uphar Tragedy Victims
Supreme Court of India slashed the amount of compensations to the Uphaar theatre fire tragedy victims awarded by the Delhi High Court. A bench headed by Justice R V Raveendran reduced the amount of compensation from 18 lakh to 10 lakh rupees to the families of deceased where the victims were above 20 years of age and for the victims below 20 years, it was reduced to 7.5 lakh rupees from 15 lakhs. The bench also drastically reduced the
punitive damages to be paid by Uphaar Cinema owners, Ansal brothers to the Centre from 2.5 crore rupees to 25 lakh rupees.
The court, however, retained the part of the High Court's verdict that mandated payment of 1 lakh rupees as
compensation to those injured in the incident. 59 people were killed and 103 injured following a devastating fire in an electrical transformer during a film show on 13 June, 1997 at the Uphaar theatre in South Delhi.
Supreme Court asked States and UTs to Appoint Child Welfare Officers in Every Police Station
The Supreme Court of India directed the states and Union territories to appoint child welfare officers in every police station for monitoring and extending better treatment to juveniles by the police. The apex court, which is monitoring the implementation of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, also directed that state and national legal services authorities issue appropriate guidelines for training and orientation of police officers, who could be designated as child welfare officers. A bench of justices R V Raveendran and A K Patnaik said that the training and orientation should be done over a period of six months to one year in every state and Union territory
DGFT introduced Niryat Bandhu Scheme for International Business Mentoring for Young Turks
The Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on 13 October 2011 announced introduction of a new Niryat Bandhu scheme for international business mentoring for young turks in international business enterprises. The officer (Niryat Bandhu) would function in the mentoring' arena and would be a handholding experiment for the young turks in international business enterprises. Under the scheme, officers of DGFT will be investing time and knowledge to mentor the interested individuals who want to conduct the business in a legal way.
The DGFT also announced that it became India's first digital signature enabled department. According to the new Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) unveiled, a higher level of encrypted 2048 bit Digital Signature has been introduced.
Digital certificate provides a high level of security for online communication such that only intended recipient can read it. It provides authentication, privacy, non-repudiation and integrity in the virtual world. Also, import of radioimmunoassay kits was classified in the restricted category as per ITC HS-Import Schedule. Since the import item is intended for the diagnosis of disease/disorders in humans and animals, the import policy regime for this item was liberalised to free subject to prior permission of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.
The procedure for transfer or sale of imported firearms was also simplified. For sale/transfer of imported firearms prior permission from DGFT is not required after 10 years of import. Further, this condition of 10 years would not apply if importer attains 60 years of age. Local police licensing authorities or District Magistrates can give
permission of sale/ transfer directly. Even for Shooters category, sale/transfer of imported weapons would not require approval from DGFT.
For the first time in the history of foreign trade formulation, the draft text for amendment of HBP v1 was uploaded on the website of DGFT seeking suggestions on the draft.
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Inventions | Discoveries, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 10 Oct 2011 To 16 Oct 2011 Share|
A Team of British Scientists Planned to Drill Antarctic Lake Ellsworth
A team of British scientists and engineers planned to drill three kilometers through the ice in Antarctica to explore signs of life in a lake called Ellsworth, which is buried under the glacial surface. The buried lake has been isolated from the outside world for at least 1 lakh 25,000 years. Scientists believe such lakes could give important clues to development on earth and the pattern of climate change in the region. The mission will use hot water to melt its way through the 3-kilometer thickness of ice to reach Lake Ellsworth
Union Commerce and Industry Ministry announced a Rs. 900-crore Package for Exporters
Union Commerce and Industry Ministry on 13 October 2011 announced a Rs. 900-crore package for exporters taking the total Diwali bonanza to Rs.1,700 crore with an objective to support exporters exporters against slowdown in the U.S. and Europe. The package was announced as part of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) released by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma. The announcement of the 900 crore package followed notifying the interest subsidy of 2
per cent for labour-intensive industries such as handicrafts, handlooms, carpets and small and medium exporters by the RBI. The benefits will largely accrue to exporters of engineering goods, pharmaceuticals and chemicals. The policy announced reward for all those scouting for markets in Latin America, Africa and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States). The new measures will be incorporated in the annual supplement of the Foreign Trade Policy (2009-14).
Around 50 products in engineering, pharmaceuticals and chemicals would get special bonus of additional one per
cent of export value between October and March period of 2011-12 fiscal. Shipments to Latin America, Africa and CIS regions will also be eligible for additional one per cent duty credit besides three per cent already being given. The policies are in sync with the export diversification strategy in the wake of demand sluggishness in the U.S. and European markets.
The apparel sector was given duty credit under Market Linked Focus Product Scheme (MLFPS) for export to the U.S. and Europe. The 2 per cent duty credit would be available to exports made during 2011-12. The Ministry decided to extend MLFPS benefit for exports of agricultural tractors (over 1800 cc capacity) to
Turkey. The list of items under FPS was expanded to include 130 additional items mainly in the chemical, pharmaceutical, textiles, handicrafts, engineering and electronics sectors. The products covered under FPS are entitled for 2 per cent duty credit scrip.
The ministry declared Firozabad for glassware, Bhubaneswar for marine products and Agartala for bamboo and cane products as town of export excellence to boost shipments from these areas
Union Cabinet approved New Policy for acquisition of Overseas Raw Material Assets by CPSEs
All central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) were on 13 October 2011 elegated with more powers for acquisition of raw material assets abroad. The Union Cabinet approved a new policy for acquisition of overseas raw material assets which would be applicable to CPSEs in agriculture, mining, manufacturing and power sectors with a three year track record of making net profits.
With an intention to address the issue of acquisition of raw materials before global raw material assets were no longer available or were available at exorbitant prices, the government vested the CPSEs with the responsibility to acquire raw material assets abroad. Maharatna and Navratna entities were vested with enhanced power to acquire raw material assets worth Rs.5000 crore and Rs.3000 crore respectively from Rs.1000 crore without having to consult the government. The government also set up a Coordinating Committee of Secretaries (CCoS) under the Cabinet Secretary to expedite proposals which require approval of various ministries and involve government funds. The government maintained that it would consider constituting a dedicated Sovereign Wealth Fund to go with the new policy to protect the long-term economic interests of the country.
World Mental Health Day observed with the theme- The Great Push: Investing in Mental Health
Current Affairs Category: Day | Week | Year, October 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 10 Oct 2011 To 16 Oct 2011 Share|
The World Mental Health Day is anually observed on 10 October. World Mental Health Day was observed on 10 October 2011 with the theme, The Great Push: Investing in Mental Health. The theme for 2011 World Mental Health Day invited a multisectoral approach in removing barriers to mental healthcare, thereby reducing the
burden of neuropsychiatric disorders. It also highlighted the long term cost effectivenes of investing in interventions for prevention of mental disorders and promotion of mental wellbeing. The day was celebrated in 2011 with an intention to enhance discussions on mental disorders, and to encourage investments in prevention, treatment and promoting awareness of mental illnesses. A separate day to acknowledge mental health was created by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) in
1992 with a hope to create public awareness on mental health related issues. The day is significant in drawing attention to issues concerning not only mental illness, but mental well being as well.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes mental health as a state of well being in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.
According to an estimation, around 450 million people worldwide have a mental health problem. By the year 2020, the WHO has projected that depression will be the second leading cause of disability in the world. Mental health is an important factor in the overall health of a person. Without good mental health, a person will be unable to fulfill its full potential.
Study showed Avahan Successfully slowed the Transmission of HIV among General Population
A study conducted jointly by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, University of Hong Kong and the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) found that Avahan successfully slowed the transmission of HIV among the general population. Avahan managed to slow down transmission of HIV by raising the coverage of prevention interventions in high-risk groups like female sex workers, their clients and partners, men who have sex with men (MSM), intravenous drug users and truck drivers. About 100, 000 fresh HIV cases among the general population were averted in India in five years by targeting the most vulnerable section. Avahan
complemented the governments own efforts on HIV prevention. The programme was implemented in four large states Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu and two small northeastern states of Manipur and Nagaland. These six states were estimated to have the highest HIV prevalence in India in 2003, and a total population of 300 million.
was launched in 2003 and received $258 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It
The study, Assessment of population-level effect of Avahan, an HIV-prevention initiative in India, published in the British Medical Journal, The Lancet highlighted that interventions like safe-sex counselling by peers, clinical services like treatment for sexually transmitted infections, distribution of free condoms and needle and syringe exchange programmes among the most-at-risk population prevented the virus from spreading among the general population.
through sexual intercourse. According to Lalit, high-risk population like sex workers would infect their clients who would then spread it to other female partners like their wives. Similarly, MSMs infected each other and then
Lead author of the study Professor Lalit Dandona from the PHFI mentioned that HIV mainly spread in India
spread it within the general population through unprotected sex. Avahan showed that by targeting high-risk groups, the virus spread among the general population could be controlled. India has an estimated 2.4 million living with HIV, making it one of the largest infected populations in the world.
Indias Foreign Exchange Reserves fell to $311.48 billion for Week ended 30 September 2011
RBIs data published on 8 october 2011 showed that Indias foreign exchange reserves fell for the second consecutive week, going down by $1.23 billion to $311.48 billion, for the week ended 30 September 2011. The total reserves had fallen by a staggering $4.05 billion to $312.71 billion in the previous week (week ended 23
September 2011). Foreign currency assets, the biggest component of the foreign reserves, were down $1.235 billion to $275.699 billion for the week ended 30 September. Foreign currency assets expressed in US dollar terms include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of the non-US currencies such as the pound sterling, euro and yen held in reserve. India's gold reserves were up by USD 348 million at 28.667 billion, while the special drawing rights (SDRs) were up by a marginal USD 7 million to USD 4.504 billion. The country's reserve position in the International Monetary Fund was down by USD 345 million to 2.612 billion. The value of special drawing rights (SDRs) rose by $7 million to $4.50 billion during the week ended 30 september 2011
Indian Swimmers won 8 Gold on the First Day of 7th Asian Age Group Swimming Championship
Indian swimmers won eight gold medals on the first day (10 October 2011) of the 7th Asian age group swimming championship at Jakarta Indonesia. Olympian Sandeep Sejwal and Arjuna awardee Virdhaval Khade opened with a gold each in the 7th Asian Age
Group Swimming Championship in Indonesia. Sejwal who had won a silver in the last edition of the championship, clinched the gold in 50m breaststroke with a timing of 28.36 secs. Khade swept 100m butterfly with a timing of
54.86. Khade later combined with Aaron D Souza, Anshul Kothari and Rehan Poncha to fetch another gold in 4x100 free style relay. Karnatakas Rehan Poncha won the bronze in the 200m backstroke with a timing of 02:07:76secs. Saurabh Sangvekar, too, bagged the bronze in the 200m freestyle boys group with 01:52:77 secs. Saurabh also won a silver medal in 800m free style, clocking 08.18.40.
Surabhi Tipre was the only Indian women with a podium finish. Tipre won a bronze in 400m Free Style with a timing of 04:26.07 secs. Tipre bagged another bronze after she along with Talasha Prabhu, Kshipra Mahajan and Richa Mishra won the 4x100 free style relay with a timing of 04.01:18
Noted Economist Vishnudutt Nagar known for Analytic Columns on the General Budget died
Noted economist Vishnudutt Nagar passed away after suffering a heart attack on 10 October 2011 at the ager of 82. Nagar was born on December 16, 1930 at Chanchoda in Madhya Pradesh's Guna district. He played a prominent role in the establishment of an economics department at the Vikram University at Ujjain. Nagar's analytic columns on the general budget in national dailies were well received.
Social Networking Site Undisclosed Amount
Facebook
Acquired
Friend.ly
for
an
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Acquisition | Merger, Corporate, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 10 Oct 2011 To 16 Oct 2011 Share|
Social networking site Facebook acquired Friend.ly on 10 October 2011. Friend.ly is a social question and answer service. Friend.ly designed an app for Facebook that helped users pose questions to online friends
Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2011 Approved
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Hot Topics, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 10 Oct 2011 To 16 Oct 2011 Share|
The Union Cabinet of India on 13 October 2011 approved the introduction of the Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2011in the winter session of Parliament. The Bill seeks to amend the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act and Recovery of Debts due to Banks & Financial Institutions (RDBF) Act so as to strengthen the regulatory and institutional framework related to recovery of debts due to banks and financial institutions through the Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2011.
The proposed amendments would enable banks to improve their operational efficiency, deploy more funds for credit disbursement to retail investors, home loan borrowers, etc. without fearing for recovery, thus bringing about equity. Further, mandatory registration of subsisting security interest (equitable mortgages) would promote innovation in credit information.
The suggested amendments would strengthen the ability of banks to recover debts due from the borrowers, enhance the ability of the banks to extend credit to both corporate and retail borrowers, reduce the cost of funds for banks and their customers and reduce the level of non-performing assets.
The banks and financial institutions (FIs) were facing numerous problems in recovery of defaulted loans on account of delays in disposal of recovery proceedings. The Government, therefore, enacted the RDBF Act in 1993
and SARFAESI Act in 2002 for the purpose of expeditious recovery of non-performing assets (NPAs) of the banks and FIs. Although these two acts have helped in reducing the NPAs, banks have sent certain suggestions for further strengthening of the secured creditor rights
First Ever India-Bangladesh Joint Military Exercise Started in Sylhet, Bangladesh

Affairs Current Affairs Week: 10 Oct 2011 To 16 Oct 2011 Share|
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Hot Topics, News Capsule, Defence | Security, 2011 Current
A 14-day long India-Bangladesh joint military exercise started on 9 October 2011 at Jalalabad Cantonment in Sylhet division, some 240 km northeast of capital Dhaka. The military exercise between the two nations was codenamed Op Sampriti. Under the joint military exercise, counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations will be practiced as per the UN mandate.
India fielded around 40 troops of its elite 21 Para (Special Forces) battalion for the exercise while the Bangladesh Army deployed one of its Para Commando battalions. Around 40 to 50 troops took part in the exercise.
Sistema Shyam Tele Services Launched high-speed Net Connectivity

Sistema Shyam TeleServices on 12 October 2011 announced the launch of High Speed Data (HSD) connectivity across the 350 km long Chennai-Bengaluru stretch of National Highway, one of the business stretches in India. Sistema Shyam TeleServices provides services under MTS with over 13 million wireless subscribers.
India and Japan Agreed to Cooperate in the Field of Tourism and Infrastructure
India and Japan on 10 October 2011 agreed to cooperate in the field of tourism and infrastructure. The agreement was finalised between Tourism Minister of India, Subodh Kant Sahai and Japanese Tourism minister, Matsubara in Tokyo. India and Japan also discussed opportunities for investment in tourism infrastructure in India. The Japanese government showed desire to invest in Buddhist and Medical Tourism in India.
year of diplomatic relations with Japan and India. A Taj Mahal made of ice will also be replicated in this festival
Indian cultural troupe will participate in the festival of India in Japan. It will be organised to celebrate the 60th
Ukraines Former PM Yulia Tymoshenko sentenced to 7 years in Prison for Abuse of Office
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Person in News, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 10 Oct 2011 To 16 Oct 2011 Share|
Ukraines former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko was sentenced to 7 years in prison on 11 October 2011 on charges of abuse of office in signing a gas deal with Russia in 2009. Tymoshenko currently the nations top opposition leader, denounced the trial as rigged by president Viktor Yanukovych in order to get rid of a popular political opponent.
natural gas imports contract with Russia in 2009. He also banned her from occupying government posts for three years after the completion of her prison term and fined her 1.5 billion hryvna ($190 million) for the damages her actions cost the state. As a convicted criminal, she would be unable to participate in Ukraine's next presidential elections in 2012.
Judge Rodion Kireyev declared Tymoshenko guilty of exceeding her authority as premier when she signed a
In May 2010, Ukraine's state prosecutor launched a criminal case relating to misuse by Tymoshenkos govt of about $290 million in cash received for selling carbon quotas. Prosecutors mentioned that the deal saddled Ukraine with an exorbitant price for supplies of Russian gas.
Yulia Tymoshenko born in November 1960 and was trained as an engineer. In the mid-1990s she formed United Energy Systems, which helped supply gas to Ukraine's huge industrial base. Her early involvement in the gas industry in the 1990s, after Ukraine had gained its independence with the break-up of the Soviet Union, earned her the nickname gas princess. She shot to prominence
She entered parliament in 1996 and was made a deputy PM in charge of the energy sector in 2000 by PM Viktor Yushchenko. she became PM and Yushchenko the president in 2005. She was however sacked after 8 months in office.
when she
led the Orange
Revolution street
protests
in Kiev in 2004-05
She was reappointed PM in September 2007. As PM, Tymoshenko brokered the 10-year gas deal with Russian PM Putin in January 2009.
In 2010 Tymoshenko lost the presidential election to Viktor Yanukovych
Increase in EMIs to put Additional Annual Burden of Rs 6000 crore on Home Loan Borrowers
According to a report by Crisil, increase in equated monthly installments (EMIs) due to rising interest rates and reset of teaser loans is expected to put additional annual burden of about Rs 6000 crore on home loan borrowers. Higher EMIs and slowdown in economic growth is also likely to increase bad loans for lenders.
To check inflationary pressures, RBI hiked key policy rates 12 times in the past 18 months, leading to higher interest burden for home loan borrowers. The reference floating rate for the industry increased by 200-250 bps during the 18 month period, which translates into an average increase of 15% in EMIs. banks and housing finance companies reset their benchmark rates. However the increase has not yet affected customers who opted for teaser loan schemes launched in early 2009 to stimulate dwindling home demand. For a teaser scheme customer, the rates are fixed for the initial 2-3 years, and subsequently get linked to the prevailing market rates.
According to the Crisil report, a large number of borrowers who are on teaser loans will get hit with a sudden jump in rates when the teaser rates reset to market rates. This shift is expected to take place from April 2012. The difference between the teaser rate and the reset rate is likely to be as high as 300-350 basis points (bps). The report highlighted that at the end of June 2011 quarter the asset quality of industry players like HDFC, LICHFL and DHFL deteriorated by 10-40 bps on a quarteron-quarter basis.
The report however mentioned on the positive side that yields for financiers will improve in 2012-13 as teaser
loans availed in 2009-10 get reset to market rates. The yields for a teaser loan customer is expected to increase by 300-350 bps once they are reset to market rates. This will have a net positive impact of around 30 bps on the net profit margins of housing finance players in 2012-13.
The impact of rising interest rates is best reflected on the EMI of a borrower with a 15-year home loan for Rs 15
lakh. With the current mortgage rates hovering around the 11%, the borrowers EMI would have risen by 15% from Rs 14771 to Rs 17049. If rates were to go up to 13%, his EMI will rise to Rs 18979. Economists who met RBI governor D Subbarao on 11 October 2011 suggested that central bank continue with its rate increases as inflation continues to be high. However the bankers and corporates have asked the central bank
to halt rate hikes. While bankers have pointed out to a moderation in demand, corporates have highlighted the industrial slowdown as the need for measures to revive the economy. Corporates specified that steep inflation is owing to international factors and rate hikes will do more harm than good to the Indian economy
Finance Ministry revised the Budget Estimate of Direct Tax Collection Upwards to Rs 5.85 lakh crore
The finance ministry in October 2011 revised the Budget estimate of direct tax collection upwards by Rs 53000 crore to Rs 5.85 lakh crore. The higher target marked an increase of 31% over last years collection of Rs 4.46 lakh crore. The Budget estimate of direct tax collection was revised upwards to bridge the shortfall that might occur due to reduction in customs duty on crude oil to offset price rise.
The growth in net direct tax collection in the April-September 2011 period was only 7% or Rs 1.94 lakh crore. But the overall gross collection rose by 23% to Rs 2.57 lakh crore. The collection was 36% of the budget estimates of Rs 5.32 lakh crore for 2011-12.
CBDT officials opined that the government will have to move fast on increasing the strength of the department.
There are 1,200 posts of additional commissioners, considered the backbone of tax collection, of which there are at least 600 vacancies.
mandate of inducting a marine and armed unit to tackle white-collar crimes and deal with tax evaders even on foreign shores.
CBDT created several new investigative departments, including a Directorate of Criminal Investigation with the
CBDTs request to enhance the manpower was personally vetted by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and the file was moved to DoPT for final approval.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) appointed Dutchman Robert Baan as the Technical Director
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Sports, Miscellaneous, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 10 Oct 2011 To 16 Oct 2011 Share|
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on 11 October 2011 appointed Dutchman Robert Baan as the Technical Director (TD) for a period of two years. Baan has a 46-year experience in football management and was involved in a similar capacity with the Australia Football Federation. Baan is one of the most high profile coaches to have worked in India having been an assistant coach at PSV Eindhoven from 1995-98 and also the TD at Feynoord Rotterdam from 1998-2004.
He has also served as the TD of the Netherlands youth team. He was briefly appointed a caretaker manager of the senior Dutch team for a match against Cyprus back in 1981. He performed a similar duty during Socceroos 1-0 win over Nigeria in 2007.
As a TD he will drive the development of a philosophy and style of playing. He will also be the main link between
the newly-planned academies, the age-group and senior national teams. Baan who will take charge from 1 November is expected to have a major say in appointment of Indias next coach.
Mohan Dharia was selected winner of 26th Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration
Environmentalist, lawyer and former Union Minister, Mohan Dharia was selected as the winner of the 26th Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration in October 2011. Mohan Dharia was selected for the prestigious award for his yeoman's service in promoting and preserving spirit of national integration. The 86-year-old Padma Vibhushan awardee currently runs the Vanrai NGO in Pune. He was elected to Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha and has been Union Minister and Deputy Chairperson of Planning Commission from December 1990 to June 1991.
The award was constituted by Congress in its centenary year to give recognition to outstanding contribution to the cause by an individual or institution. It carries a citation and cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh. The award will be presented by committee chair and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on 31 October 2011, the anniversary of Indira Gandhi's death
Indian Government decided Not to Discontinue Circulation of Higher Denomination Notes

The Indian government in October 2011 decided not to discontinue circulation of higher denomination notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 despite demands from civil society groups that big currency notes made it easier for those with black money to stash their cash and were the primary causes of inflation. Of the total Rs 9.70 lakh crore worth currency notes in circulation as on 30 June 2011, more than 80% are in the denomination of Rs 500 and Rs 1000. The total value of notes of Rs 2, 5, 10, 50 and 100 in circulation is less than Rs 2 lakh crore.
money, stop fake currency circulation and curb anti-national and terrorists using these counterfeit currency to destabilize the economy.
The demand to curb higher denomination notes was with an objective to check the menace of unaccounted
Civil society groups demanding withdrawal of higher denomination notes pointed out that even US and European countries where the per capita income is much higher than Indias, the denomination used is much smaller in comparison. The largest denomination note in the US is of $100.
Civil society groups demand had the support from revenue intelligence agencies which have been grappling with the menace of counterfeiting.
A recent report prepared by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in association with the Intelligence Bureau, RAW and CBI had pointed out that fake Indian currency notes in circulation in India could be as high as worth Rs 6000 crore and it seriously undermined the credibility of the rupee.
Former SC Judge Markandey Katju appointed Chairman of Press Council of India (PCI)
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Person Appointed, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 10 Oct 2011 To 16 Oct 2011 Share|
Former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju was appointed as the new chairman of media regulator Press Council of India (PCI) on 5 October 2011. The appointment of Justice Katju, who retired from the apex court on 19 September 2011 was cleared by a committee headed by Vice President Hamid Ansari and included Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar. In exercise of the powers conferred by the sub-section (2) of section 5 of the Press Council
Act, 1978 (37 of 1978), the Central Government notified notified his appointment as the Chairman of the Press Council of India.
He succeeded Justice G N Ray. Justice Katju was first appointed a judge of the Allahabad high court in 1981. He delivered landmark judgements that included favouring passive euthanasia, death penalty for honour killings, capital punishment for policemen involved in fake encounters and wanted the corrupt to be hanged from the lamp post. Before his stint in the Supreme Court, Justice Katju served as a Judge of the Allahabad High Court in 1991 and as its acting Chief Justice in August 2004. He was then appointed as the Chief Justice of Madras High Court in November 2004 and went on to become the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court in October 2005.
He was appointed as the Judge of the Supreme Court in April 2006 and he retired on 19 September 2011.
Katju has written several books which include publications such as Law in the Scientific Era and Interpretation of Taxing Statutes, among others. The Press Council of India (PCI) is the apex media regulator of the country. The Press Council of India is a statutory, quasi judicial body which acts as a watchdog of the media. Its chairman by convention is a retired judge of the Supreme Court
India and China surpassed European Countries in the Number of Affluent Households
According to TNS Global Affluent Investors study, India and China surpassed European countries in the number of affluent households. India and China surpassed major European markets like Germany and France. The US remained the most prosperous country in the world, according to a research firm. India, China and Brazil overtook many European countries in this measure of consumer wealth with three million affluent households each in these countries which have over USD 100000 investible funds.
While the US is ranked as the worlds most prosperous country, with 31 million affluent households, UAE and India appear in the top five countries where the affluent have more than USD 1 million investable assets on average, alongside Singapore and Hong Kong. The only Europeans to feature in top five were the Swedish. According to the study, UK and France were least likely in Europe to have these levels of investable assets.
The study also highlighted that while incidence of affluence would be higher in small, wealthy countries like Luxemburg (29 per cent) and Singapore (20 per cent), this falls to around (1 per cent) in India and China.
The survey showed that there exists a great contrast in wealth distribution within emerging markets, even where the actual number of affluent households is high. The survey highlighted a need for very precise marketing strategies to reach the right audience
Survey showed Deccline in Services Sector and Employment Levels

Survey released on 5 October 2011 showed that activity in the services sector shrank and overall economic activity was found to be stagnating. Employment levels fell for the second successive month in September 2011. HSBC Purchasing Managers Index, which is based on a survey of 350 private sector executives showed that the seasonally adjusted Service Sector Business Activity Index fell to 49.8 from 53.8 in August2011. Any reading of less than 50 indicates contraction, while economic activity is seen to be growing if the index is over 50. This is the first time since April 2009 that the services sector, that accounts for more than half the Indian economy slipped into negative terrain.
The decline in services sector activity was attributed to lower demand for offshoring and IT and IT-enabled
services from the US and Europe, where several economies are grappling with debt problems. The decline in this sectorimpacted financial services as banking activity slowed down on account of higher interest rates and investors are wary of parking their funds in stock markets.
Due to the sharper-than-expected global slowdown and the impact of high interest rates on the domestic
economy, the overall growth was observed to be slowing down at a faster clip than anticipated earlier. The overall trend is in line with expectations that the Indian economy will grow at less than 8% during 2011-12. The economy expanded 8.5% in 2010 prompting the government to predict 9% growth in 2011. However, as the global economic situation deteriorated and higher interest rates slowed down the growth momentum the government lowered its forecasts.
The survey also showed that employment fell as awell increasing worries for policymakers, who want rapid economic growth to take care of the growing population that is joining the workforce.
India and South Africa Signed a Pact on Election Management and Administration
India and South Africa on 11 October 2011 signed a pact to facilitate exchange of Knowledge and experience in the field of election management and administration in New Delhi. It was signed by the Chief Election Commissioner of India, SY Quraishi and the Chairperson of the Electoral Coommission of South Africa, Brigalia Bam.
The MoU also paves the way for promotion and implementation of educational research and training programmes.
The Election Commission of India has so far signed eleven MoUs with Election Management Bodies across the world including Brazil, Russia Indonesia, Bhutan and Nepal
India Decided to Continue with 100 Percent FDI for new Ventures in the Pharmaceutical Sector
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Hot Topics, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 10 Oct 2011 To 16 Oct 2011 Share|
India on 10 October 2011 decided to continue with 100 percent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for new ventures in the pharmaceutical sector. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh to discuss the FDI policy in drugs and pharmaceutical sector held in New Delhi. The move will facilitate addition of manufacturing capacities, technology acquisition and development of the pharmaceutical sector in the country.
However, in case of existing ventures in the pharmaceutical sector, FDI will be allowed for a period of six months
after approval from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). It was also decided that the Competition Commission of India (CCI) will be strengthened for effective oversight on mergers and acquisitions to ensure that there is a balance between public health concerns and attracting FDI in the pharmaceutical sector
India Took Over as the Chairman of UN South Asian Regional Commission for Tourism
Current Affairs Category: Summit | Confrence, October 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 10 Oct 2011 To 16 Oct 2011 Share|
India took over as the Chairman of United Nations South Asian Regional Commission for tourism. This was announced on 10 October 2011 at the ongoing United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) conference at Gyeongju in South Korea.The chairmanship of the Commission was with Iran for the last four years.
It signifies the confidence of various countries in India and the efforts of the Indian government in the promotion of tourism in the country as well as across the globe in a responsible and sustainable manner to achieve inclusive growth.
Myanmar Announced an Amnesty for More than 6300 Prisoners

Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, International | World, Hot Topics, 2011 Current Affairs
Myanmar on 11 October 2011 announced an amnesty for more than 6,300 prisoners.This follows an appeal by the government appointed Human Rights Commission in Myanmar to free prisoners. Earlier, Myanmar's National Human Rights Commission chairman Win Mra had called for the release of prisoners.
The decision by the Government of Myanmar is aimed at persuading the West to end sanctions that have hurt the
regime. The elections in 2010 brought a civilian-led government in place of the military rule. Still, the military retains control of key positions and most of the candidates who won in the election were just-retired members of the armed forces. It was alleged that the election was rigged in the favour of the members of armed forces.
The government is intolerant to political dissidents in Myanmar and according to an estimate, there are 2000 political prisoners, which include pro-democracy activists, government critics and journalists
Neuronal Connections Grow Excessively under Stressful Conditions as the Brain Ages
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Science | Technology, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 10 Oct 2011 To 16 Oct 2011 Share|
Scientists for the first time discovered that neuronal connections grow excessively under stressful conditions as the brain ages. The finding could help scientists better understand neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The scientists studied responses to stress in synapses in fruit flies. Synapses is a structure that allows a neuron to
pass signal to another cell in the brain. The scientists discovered that under stressful conditions, like neurodegeneration, which results in high-energy forms of damaging oxygen. This causes synapses to grow excessively and potentially contributing to dysfunction.
The scientists made notes using a model of lysosomal storage disease, an inherited incurable childhood neurodegeneration where enlarged synapses were observed. However, the role that growth has in disease progression and brain function is not yet clear
European Union Launched a Visa Information System for Indians and other non-EU Citizens
European Union on 11 October 2011 launched a Visa Information System (VIS) for Indians and other non-EU citizens applying for a Schengen visa. It will help prevent fraud and process visa applications faster due to the use
of biometrics (fingerprints and a digital facial image). The system will also help in quick and effective exchange of data on short-stay visas among Schengen countries. In addition, the new system will make the verification process of visas a more efficient and secure. It should be noted that Indian citizens need the Schengen visa to visit the 25 countries in the Schengen area in European Union. At present, approximately 13 million Schengen visas are issued every year by the 25 countries of the Schengen area. The EU said that it was not always easy to prevent frauds and abuses and the application process was burdensome for those who seek legitimately a short stay visa for travel within the EU.
The Schengen Area comprises the territories of twenty-five European countries that have implemented the Schengen Agreement signed in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, in 1985.
Ghazal Singer and Padmabhushan Awardee, Jagjit Singh Passed Away in Mumbai
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, News Capsule, Person Died, 2011 Current Affairs
Veteran ghazal singer Jagjit Singh passed away on 10 October 2011 in Mumbai. He was 70. He was admitted in Lilavati Hospital for more than two weeks. The singer had undergone an emergency surgery for brain hemorrhage at the Hospital on 23 September 2011. The veteran singer, popularly known as the Ghazal King had gained acclaim together with his wife Chitra Singh in 1970s and 1980s. He had sung in Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Gujarati, Sindhi and Nepali languages. Moreover, Jagjit Singh is the only singer and composer to have composed
and recorded songs written by former Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, in two albums, Samvedna in the year 2002 and Nayi Disha in the year 1999. His music became popular through films such as Prem Geet, Arth and Saath Saath and TV serials Kahkashan and Mirza Galib.
Jagjit Singh was awarded Padmabhushan, Indias third highest civilian honour, in 2003. He was the voice behind Hazaron Khwaishe aisi, Jhuki Jhuki si Nazar and Ye kaghaz ki kashti. Jagjit Singh was born to Sikh parents in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan on 8 February, 1941. He sang the famous song tum jo intna muskura Rahe Ho from Mahesh Bhatts film Arth in 1982.
Jagjeet Singh began his musical journey singing Shabads or devotional songs in Gurudwaras. He studied in DAV
college Jalandar where his fee was waived off because of his voice. He got a chance as a professional singer in Jalandars All India Radio. He came to Mumbai in 1961 to try his hand in play back singing but soon returned to Jalandar. He came again to Mumbai to fulfil his dreams in 1965. His voice infused a new melody into Ghazals and brought Ghazals into the mainstream. He also sang duets with his wife Chitra Singh. He sang in Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and Sindhi
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Launched the Nationwide Come and Play Scheme
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on 9 October 2011 launched the nationwide Come and Play scheme in New Delhi. Through this scheme, the ministry aims at opening SAIs sporting infrastructure for the youth across India.
The scheme is targeted at the 8-17 age group. The main objective of the scheme is to provide coaching primarily to sportspersons of young age.
Under the Come and Play Scheme, competitions related to various age categories would be conducted twice a year and the top three position holders in the relevant age group would be permitted for admission to boarding scheme in SAI (Sports Authority of India) training centres.
India and the Czech Republic Set the Trade Target of 2 Billion US Dollars by 2012
India and the Czech Republic upgraded their economic cooperation and fixed a target of bilateral trade volume of two billion US Dollars by 2012. The current volume is 1.3 billion US Dollars. The decision was taken on 10 October 2011 in New Delhi between the visiting Czech Minister for Industry & Trade, Martin Kocourek and Commerce and
Industry Minister Anand Sharma. During the discussions, Anand Sharma stressed the need for a liberal visa regime for business people and suggested that a system of issue of long-term business visas on the recommendations of the apex business chambers should be put in place. The Czech Minister agreed that the VISA regime needs to be addressed more forcefully and informed the Indian side that next week their government will discuss Investment Incentive Act for the Czech Republic and corresponding resolution of VISA related issues will form part of the discussion
The Election Commission of India Increased the Minimum Vote Limit from 6 to 8 Percent
The Election Commission of India raised the cap of minimum votes a political party must secure in election to get the status of a State party or maintain it further. The new minimum limit is 8 per cent of total valid votes polled in State Assembly or Lok Sabha polls. Earlier, the limit was 6 per cent. In addition, the party must have returned at least two members to the Legislative Assembly in case of Assembly polls or at least one member in Parliament from the State in case of Lok Sabha elections.
To make these changes, the Commission amended its Election Symbols reservations and allotment order 1968 and issued a new order on 16 September 2011, the Election Symbol reservations and allotment amendment order 2011. The amended order was sent to all States and Union Territories
China became Russias Biggest Trading Partner: Bilateral Trade reached 50.8 billion US Dollars
China became Russias biggest trading partner. The exports and imports between these two nations touched 50.8 billion US dollars from January to August 2011. The year 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of China-Russia Good neighborly, Friendly Relations and Cooperation Treaty. On 7 October 2011, at a meeting on customs cooperation, Russia and China agreed to seize the new opportunities for speedy development of bilateral relations to achieve the bilateral trade targets of 100 billion dollars before 2015 and 200 billion dollars before 2020
A New Species of Gigantic Mollusce was Discovered in the Antarctic Waters

Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Hot Topics, Environment | Ecology,2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 10 Oct 2011 To 16 Oct 2011 Share|
Spanish researchers discovered a rare mollusce in Antarctic waters that looks the same as limpets but is bigger in size. The discovered species was named Zeidora Antarctica. It is 14 milimetre long. It was discovered at a depth of more than 600 metres in the Bellingshausen Sea in Antarctica.
The discovery was made by a research team from the Ecology and Zoology Department of the University of Vigo, Spain and was published in The Nautilus. The discovery provides more information on the members of the Zeidora genus and their geographic distribution. The group is made up of 14 species of which very few specimens were found.
Russia and China Vetoed UN Security Recommending Sanctions against Syria

Council
Resolution
Russia and China on 5 October 2011 vetoed UN Security Council draft resolution recommending sanctions against Syria for the ongoing crackdown on Protesters.The resolution was moved by EU (European Union) member countries and backed by USA. There were nine votes in support of the resolution while two votes were against of it. Four countries abstained themselves from the voting. India along with other member countries of IBSA (Brazil and South Africa) abstained from voting. Lebanon was the fourth nation to abstain.
This was the second attempt by the western countries to bring a resolution on the Syrian unrests. Russia and China opined that the threat of sanction was not the best solution for the problem. At present, there are five nations which have veto power at present. These nations are Russia, USA, UK, France and China(often referred as P-5 nations; they are the permanent members of Un Security Council). Among these
five, if any nation exercises his Veto power on any resolution moved by Un security council, it could not be implemented
In Assam, Tea Production Gone up by Seven Percent in August 2011

Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, State, Other States, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 10 Oct 2011 To 16 Oct 2011 Share|
In Assam, tea production increased by seven percent in August 2011. The tea production touched 85 million kg in August 2011, compared to 78.63 million kg in August 2010. Assam produces over 51 per cent of the total tea in the country and 13 percent to the global tea production. The state has 64 thousand small tea estates spread over 14 districts. The annual turnover of this industry in Assam is Rs five thousand crore and it employs over 10 lakh workers
Egypts Military Amended Election Law: Parties Allowed to Contest Seats Reserved for Independents
Egypt's military council on 8 October 2011 amended a contentious election law to allow parties to contest a third of the seats in Parliament reserved for independents. Egypts military decided to cancel Article 5 of the election law, which reserved a third of seats for independents. The three-round Parliamentary election will start on 28 November 2011, which will be the first since an uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak on 11 February 2011.
The amendment to the election law was made after political parties warned the military, that they would boycott the poll if the article allowing only independent candidates to contest a third of seats were not amended. Political groups feared the law could allow supporters of Hosni Mubarak to return to power.
In September 2011, Egypts caretaker cabinet had announced that three rounds of elections will start on 28
November and made amendments to the contentious election law. This will be the first parliamentary election since the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak in February this year. Egypt's military council is acting as a caretaker government until the parliamentary elections are over
Uttar Pradesh Government announced the Creation of Three More Districts

Current Affairs Category: Uttar Pradesh, State, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 03 Oct 2011 To 09 Oct 2011 Share|
Uttar Pradesh government on 28 September 2011 announced the creation of three more districts namely Prabuddhanagar, Panchsheel Nagar and Bhimnagar. With these new districts, the total number of districts has gone up to 75 in the state. Prabuddhanagar comprises Muzaffarnagars Shamli and Kairana tehsils and Panchsheel Nagar consists of Ghaziabads Hapur, Garhmukteshwar and Dhaulana tehsils. Shamli will be its headquarters. Its population is 12 lakh, 91 thousand 5 hundred and 41.
Bimnagar, carved out of Moradabad district includes Sambhal, Chandausi and Gunnaur tehsils. The population of newly created Bimnagar would be 22 lakhs, 12 thousand and 7 hundred sixty.
Panchsheel nagar consists of Ghaziabads Hapur, Garhmukteshwar and Dhaulana tehsils. Hapur will be the headquarters of Panchsheel nagar. The population of Panchsheel Nagar will be 14 lakh, 22 thousand and 43. Besides, the state government also announced its decision to upgrade Dhaulana as a new tehsil
India approved the Next Phase of the Housing Project in Sri Lanka
Current Affairs Category: International | World, December 2011 Current Affairs, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 03 Oct 2011 To 09 Oct 2011 Share|
India on 2 December 2011 approved the next phase of the Housing Project in Sri Lanka, which includes repair and reconstruction of 49000 houses for Internally Displaced Persons in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. The
Project will be under full grant assistance of the Government of India and its total cost would be approximately 260 million dollars.
India continues with its commitment to help the war displaced Tamil civilians by providing 50000 houses in the Northern and Eastern prvinces of Sri Lanka. The project will primarily be implemented under the owner-driven model wherein the beneficiaries will undertake the reconstruction or the repair of their houses with necessary technical assistance and support provided to them
Tata Motors Announced the Launch of Tata Manza Sedan in Johannesburg, South Africa
Tata Motors on 7 October 2011 announced the launch of luxurious Tata Manza sedan and the international Tata Prima range of premium commercial vehicles at the Johannesburg International Motor Show 2011. It also displayed a wide range of other vehicles, laden with latest technologies delivering better, convenience, comfort, performance and environment protection. In passenger vehicles, the Tata Vista is on display.
the latest 1 tonne mini-truck, Tata LPO 1823 commuter bus, Tata Xenon 2.2 L Cargo Box, Tata Xenon 2.2 L Double Cab 4x4, Tata LPO 1623 CNG bus and the Tata Xenon CNG
While In commercial vehicles, the debutants comprise the Tata Venture, a multi-purpose vehicle, Tata Super ACE,
Worlds Highest Webcam Was Installed on Kala Patthar to Study the Impact of Climate Change
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Places in News, News Capsule, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 03 Oct 2011 To 09 Oct 2011 Share|
The worlds highest webcam was installed on Kala Patthar, a smaller mountain facing the Everest. It is a solarpowered camera and set at 18618 feet (5675 metres). The webcam can withstand temperature as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius and operates from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Web cam will send live images of Mount Everest back to scientists studying the effect of climate change on the planets tallest peak. Earlier, scientists had set up a webcam at the base camp of Mount Aconcagua in Argentina.
The German surveillance firm Mobotix developed the device and it was installed by the mountain research group, Giampietro Kohl of EV-K2-CNR.
Apple Inc. co-founder and Former CEO Steve Jobs Died from Pancreatic Cancer
Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc. died at age 56 from pancreatic cancer on 6 October 2011. Steve Jobs had stepped down as Apples chief executive on 24 August 2011. Steve Jobs co-founded Apple in 1976 along with Ronald Wayne and Steve Wozniak. Steve also co-founded and was the CEO of Pixar Animation Studios, which created animated films. He became a member of the board of directors of the Walt Disney Company in 2006,
following the acquisition of Pixar by Disney. After leaving Apple, Jobs founded NeXT Computer in 1985. Steve Jobs was from California, USA.
Steve Jobs helped create the Macintosh, one of the worlds most influential computers. He also reinvented the portable music player with the iPod, launched the first successful legal method of selling music online with iTunes and reordered the cellphone market with the iPhone.
Apple is leading the consumer technology world with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, its family of iPod media players and iTunes media store, and its Mac computers and iLife and iWork application suites. Apple recently introduced the iPad, a breakthrough internet and digital media device, in addition to iBookstore, alongside iTunes and the App store.
Delhi State Government Launched Micro Finance Project for Women

Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, State, Delhi, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 03 Oct 2011 To 09 Oct 2011 Share|
Delhi state government on 8 October 2011 launched a micro-finance project for women. The project aims at providing financial support to over one-lakh vulnerable women in the capital. The project will be implemented by the Samajik Suvidha Sangam(SSS) in collaboration with Delhi chapter of SEWA. SSS is a Delhi government entity set up to provide various services to the poor.
Under this project, loans will be given to women at a nominal interest rate of 1.5 percent. The women from
economically-weak sections will be given access to funds and other financial services through a cooperative society called Mahila Sewa Urban Cooperative thrift and credit society limited.
The Largest Ever Water Supply Scheme in Himachal Pradesh Was Inaugurated
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, State, Himachal Pradesh, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 03 Oct 2011 To 09 Oct 2011 Share|
The largest ever water supply scheme in Himachal Pradesh was inaugurated on 6 October 2011 in Kangehan area of Kangra district. Constructed at a cost of 70 crore rupees, the scheme will benefit a population of one lakh 31 thousand people. This will cater to Changer area which was facing water scarcity.
This lift water supply scheme to be operated in full automation will cover a population of more than 1.311 lakh scattered over 35 panchayats of Changar area of Tehsils Jaisinghpur, Dehra, Khundian and Palampur. A provision of storing 91 lakh liters water has been made under the scheme by constructing 15 storage tanks. Himachal Pradesh Government has accorded priority to provide safe drinking water to the people of the State and all the efforts are being made to construct new water supply schemes in the remotest areas of the State, besides augmenting the existing ones
Godrej Properties Entered into an Agreement with Godrej& Boyce
Current
Topics, Corporate, News , 2011 Current Affairs
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Godrej Properties (GPL) announced that it has entered into an agreement with Godrej & Boyce (G&B) whereby GPL will act as development manager and be responsible for the conceptualisation, sales, designs and marketing of all future development on the G&B-owned land in Vikhroli in suburban Mumbai. Godrej Properties is the real estate development arm of the Godrej Group.
cost for design and construction of the development will be incurred by Godrej & Boyce in its role as ownerdeveloper whereas the cost for sales and marketing will be borne by Godrej Properties in its role as development manager.
GPL will get a fee equal to 10 per cent of the total revenue generated from the development for its services. The
The project will be constructed in phases and the details on each phase will be announced before the launch of the individual phase. The development will have a mixed-use character. The first project under this agreement will begin immediately with the launch of Godrej Platinum
SAI and AIFF signed Agreement to Develop Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium as the Football Hub
Current Affairs Category: Topics for Bank PO | Clerk Exam 2011, October 2011 Current Affairs,Sports, News, Hot Topics, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 03 Oct 2011 To 09 Oct 2011 Share|
The Sports Authority of India and the All India Football Federation signed an agreement to develop the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium as the football hub in India. According to the agreement, SAI will permit AIFF to use the stadium (including the main pitch) for a maximum period of 40 days in a year.
Besides, SAI will provide AIFF the outside practice ground of the stadium in addition to other necessary facilities. These facilities will be available to SAI for 50 days in a year for the smooth conduct of national and international football tournaments.
In exchange, AIFF will repair the turf on the main pitch of the Nehru Stadium. AIFF will hold the SAFF CUP in December, the Nehru Cup, domestic tournaments and international matches in the next one year. The agreement is valid for one year and can be extended further for two years on the basis of review and mutual understanding
PMI signed MoU with SAEINDIA to Promote the Profession of Project Management
ups, Hot Topics, Corporate, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 03 Oct 2011 To 09 Oct 2011 Share|
Current Affairs Category: Topics for Bank PO | Clerk Exam 2011, October 2011 Current Affairs,Agreement | Tie-
Project Management Institute (PMI) on 7 October 2011 signed a MoU( Memorandum of Understanding) with the Engineering Society for advance mobility land, sea, air and space( SAEINDIA) to collaborate in advancing the
mutual objectives of promoting the profession of project management by both these institutes.The MoU was signed by SAEINDIA President and Maruti Suzuki Executive Officer R. Dayal and PMI India Managing Director Raj Kalady.
Under the MoU, the institutes agreed to utilise complementary capabilities of both the organisations to advocate, promote and institutionalise the profession of project management, across organisations within the mobility sector.
Both organisations will work jointly towards identification and development of training modules, designed to the requirements of government departments, PSUs and corporates. Both organisations would think about joint funding arrangements and sponsorship of research projects of mutual interest at universities and technical institutes in India. The institutes also agreed to explore opportunities to support the development and expansion of university programmes in project management
Goa State Assembly Unanimously Passed Goa Lokayukta Bill 2011

Current Topics, State, Other States, 2011 Current Affairs Affairs Category: Topics for Bank PO | Clerk Exam 2011, October 2011 Current Current Affairs Week: 03 Oct 2011 To 09 Oct 2011 Share|
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The Goa Legislative Assembly on 5 October 2011 unanimously passed Goa Lokayukta Bill 2011. The bill is a modified version of Goa Lakayukta Bill 2003. It was reintroduced in the state assembly after the said clauses were amended. The bill had been sent back to the state legislature by the centre sans Presidential assent because of a couple of legal infirmities.
The bill empowers the ombudsman to even investigate the Chief Minister. The bill states that Lokayuktas term
would be for three years and he would be appointed by the Governor on the advice of Chief Minister in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court and the leader of opposition. The bill further states that Lokayukta or Upa-Lokayukta, shall not be removed from his office except by an order of Governor passed after an address by the State Legislative Assembly supported by majority of the House. Moreover, the Lokayukta can investigate the complaint suo moto or on complaint made to him. The Bill mentions that after preliminary inquiry, if Lokayukta finds that there are reasonable grounds for detailed investigation, he should forward the complaint to the government and the concerned authority. Congress legislator Agnelo Fernandes tabled the Bill, which was passed after a brief discussion.
India and Iran Agreed to Set up a Mechanism for Payment of Crude Oil
India and Iran on 5 October 2011 agreed to set up a mechanism for payment of crude oil and ensure bilateral trade. Both sides agreed that the mechanism will cover the payment to Indian exporters and some other areas. The two countries have decided to continue their dialogue on the issue. Earlier, Iran had threatened to stop crude oil supplies to India if a mechanism to pay for imports is not found quickly. India has to pay Iran 9 billion dollars, which is now seven months in arrears.
Iran is second only to Saudi Arabia as an oil supplier to India, while India is Iran's second-biggest crude buyer
after China, accounting for about 20 per cent of its exports. India imports 40000 barrels of oil from Iran on daily basis. Nearly 12 percent of India's oil demand is met by oil supply from Iran. Indian firms are finding it difficult to pay Iran because of international sanctions imposed over Iran's controversial nuclear programme. The sanctions include banking restrictions.
TThe problem over payment to Iran happened after the Reserve Bank of India on 23 December 2010 scrapped the Asian Clearing Union (ACU). As an alternative to Asian Clearing Union, India tried to make payments through countries like the UAE, Turkey and Russia. However, these nations had objections to routing big amount of 13 billion dollars which India pays for Iranian oil annually. They wanted to route small payment upto 6-7 million dollars. MMangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals-a susidiary of ONGC- is the biggest consumer of Iranian crude in India
Myanmar was Banned by FIFA for the 2018 World Cup Football
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Sports, News, 2011 Current Affairs
Myanmar was banned from taking part in qualifying matches for the 2018 World Cup and fined 25000 Swiss francs (28000 US dollars) by FIFA on 30 September 2011. FIFA (Fdration Internationale de Football Association) banned Myanmar because of the trouble caused by the crowd in 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers against Oman on 28 July 2011.
Myanmar was trailing 2-0 in the second leg in its capital Yangon when the crowd became violent just before the
end of the first half. FIFA immediately awarded Oman a 2-0 victory over Myanmar. The game was stopped after the fans threw rocks and glass bottles at the Oman football coach Paul Le Guen and the Oman players. The matter was subsequently referred to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, and their decision is as follows: 1. The Myanmar Football Federation is regarded as having breached art. 65 b) and c) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and being liable for the improper conduct of supporters in violation of art. 4 par. 5 lit a) and 6 par. 5 of the Regulations 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil and art. 65 b) and c) as well as art. 67 par. 1 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. 2. The Myanmar Football Federation is excluded from taking part in the matches of the preliminary competition for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
3. The costs of these proceedings of 2,000 Swiss francs are to be borne by the Myanmar Football Federation. The 2018 world cup football is scheduled to take place in Russia.
Weiss Umwelttechink of Germany Launched its Indian Subsidiary, Weiss Technik India Pvt. Ltd.
Weiss Umwelttechink of Germany on 2 October 2011 launched its Indian subsidiaryWeiss Technik India Pvt. Ltd. with the objective of catering to the growing needs of the Indian market. Weiss Umwelttechnik GmbH is a
subsidiary of the Shcunk Group and a manufacturer of testing chambers and systems for environmental simulation. The company already has over 700 installations in India.Weiss at present has a manufacturing facility in China with technology from Germany. A facility in India would focus on a different range of products.
The market size for environmental simulation chambers and systems in India is about 100 crore rupees and Weiss has 45 per cent market share in it. The company's customers include DRDO, ISRO, Tata Motors and Maruti Suzuki. The market size is likely to reach Rs 200 crore in the next five years.
The products are used by vehicle manufacturers, pharmaceutical, electronic, aviation, aerospace and defence industries. The company has 450 customers in India. The company will have branch offices at Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata with Hyderabad as its headquarters.
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Announced the Decision to Set Up NISSM
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, Sports, News, Hot Topics, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 03 Oct 2011 To 09 Oct 2011
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The ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports on 1 October 2011 announced the decision to set up the National Institute of Sports Science and Medicine (NISSM). NISSM will have its premises at the Jawahar Lal Nehru stadium in New Delhi. The institute will aim at fostering disciplines like Physiology, Nutrition, Psychology, Anthropometry, Nutrition, Biochemistry and Sports medicine.
NISSM is modeled on the lines of China Institute of Sports Sciences (CISS). The decision to set up the institute was taken during the visit of Indian President to China on 27 May 2010.
NISSM will be registered as Society under Societies Registration Act by 1 November 2011. This institute will be headed by a Director equivalent to a Vice- Chancellor of a Central University. A search committee will be
appointed to identify and recommend the name of person to Head this Institute. The NISSM will work in close partnership with national and international partners from USA, UK, China, South Korea, Australia, Germany and South Africa.
NISSM will function under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. It will also provide evaluation, performance
and assessment related advice to sportspersons and start high quality research in the field of sports medicine and sports sciences
The United States Issued a World Wide Travel Alert to its Citizens
The United States on 1 October 2011 issued a world-wide travel alert to its citizens, warning of a heightened risk of violence in the wake of the killing of key al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki. The US-born radical Islamist cleric was killed by US drones in Yemen on 30 September 2011. The state department has warned that his death would provide motivation for retaliation against US interests. USborn propagandist Samir Khan was also killed in the drone attack
The Assam Government Launched the Social Auditing Programme of Gram Panchayats
Current Affairs Category: October 2011 Current Affairs, State, Other States, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 03 Oct 2011 To 09 Oct 2011 Share|
The Assam government launched the social auditing programme of Gram Panchayats at Aamlokhi Gram Panchayat under Baajia Development Block in Nagaon district on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti (2 October 2011). The government launched the programme to ensure transparency and check corruption in Panchayat Raj institutions. It is considered as a tool through which Government Departments can plan, manage and measure their functions, efficiency and consequences.
A total of 2202 Gram Panchayats under 219 Blocks will be covered under the audit. On the first day one
panchayat each in 219 Development Blocks will be audited at public meeting where citizens can raise objections on implement of various rural development schemes.
The Union Cabinet Approved Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2011
Current Affairs Category: Hot Topics, September 2011 Current Affairs, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Sep 2011 To 02 Oct 2011 Share|
The Union Cabinet approved the proposal to introduce the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill (MMDR Bill), 2011, in terms of National Mineral Policy, 2008 in Parliament and to repeal the existing Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
The new MMDR Bill, 2011, aims to introduce better legislative environment for attracting investment and technology into the mining sector by the following:
States may call for applications in notified areas of known mineralization for prospecting based on technical knowledge, value addition, end-use proposed ore -linkage etc. and to invite financial bid;
States may grant of direct mining concessions through bidding based on a prospecting report and feasibility study in notified areas where data of minerals is adequate for the purpose; State Government may set up a minimum floor price for competitive bidding; Special provisions for allowing mining of small deposits in cluster, where cooperatives can apply;
National Mining Regulatory Authority for major minerals - State Governments may set up similar Authority at State level for minor minerals; Imposition of a Central cess and a State cess, and setting up of Mineral Funds at National and State Level for capacity creation;
For the purpose of sharing the benefits of mining with persons or families having occupation, usufruct or traditional rights in mining areas, and for local area infrastructure, creation an amount equal to royalty in case of
mineral other than coal, and 26% of net profits, in the case of coal, has been proposed to be credited each year to district Level Mineral Foundation; Sustainable and scientific mining through provision for a Sustainable Development Framework; Consultation with local community before notifying an area for grant of concession, and for approval of Mine Closure Plans; Enhanced penalties for violation of provisions of the Act, including debarment of person convicted of illegal mining for future grants and termination of all mineral concessions held by such person; and Establishment of Special Courts at the State level for speedier disposal of the cases of illegal mining.
The new draft MMDR Act would have financial implications in the creation of an independent National Mining
Tribunal and National Mining Regulatory Authority at the Central Level, and the expenditure involved in the capacity building of the Indian Bureau of Mines. The funds for this expenditure are likely to be met from levy of cess at the rate of 2.5% on the basis of Customs/Excise Duty.
The new MMDR Act would be implemented immediately after receiving Parliamentary approval and President`s assent, and a date of commencement would be notified separately. The approval will help in developing the country`s mining sector to its full potential so as to put the nation`s
mineral resources to best use for national economic growth, and ensure raw materials security in the long term national interest. Background:
The Government constituted a High Level Committee (HLC) in 2006, which suggested for evolving a mining code
adapted to the best international practices, streamlining and simplifying procedures for grant of mineral concessions to reduce delays, etc. Based on the HLC recommendations, the Government had announced National Mineral Policy (NMP) on 13 March 2008. To give effect to the policy directions in NMP, the Government has now evolved a new Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill, 2011, after several rounds of consultations with the stakeholders including State Governments, concerned Ministries and Departments of Central Government, Industry and Civil Society. The MMDR Bill, 2011 was referred to a Group of Ministers (GoM) on 14
June 2010 and which has now, after five rounds of discussion, had recommended the draft Bill to the Cabinet. The GoM in its meeting held on 7 July, 2011 has recommended the draft MMDR Bill, 2011 for introduction in Parliament
Union Government increased FDI Limit for FM radio from 20 per cent to 26 per cent
Current Affairs Category: September 2011 Current Affairs, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Sep 2011 To 02 Oct 2011 Share|
The Union government on 30 September 2011 increased the foreign direct investment limit for FM radio from 20 per cent to 26 per cent. The government also exempted the education sector and old-age homes from the conditions imposed in the construction sector.
The FDI limit in terrestrial broadcasting and FM radio was approved by the Cabinet in July 2011. TRAI in 2010 had
made necessary recommendations arguing that increasing the limit will help the third-phase for FM radio, which will see 806 FM stations across 217 cities. FDI into construction activities in the education sector and old-age homes has been exempted from the conditionalities imposed on FDI in the construction development sector. This would mean that schools, universities
and colleges would not have to meet minimum area and built-up area requirement, minimum capital requirement, minimum capitalisation requirement and lock-in period. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) mentioned that the educational institute and old-age homes have their own special requirements which do not fit these conditionalities.
The government allowed overseas investment in bee-keeping and share-pledging for raising external debt. The FDI policy highlighted that liberalisation will bring in international best practices to upgrade the product in these sectors.
Research and development in biotechnology, pharmaceutical and life sciences sector would be covered under the industrial parks scheme, where 100 per cent FDI is permitted under automatic route.
The revised policy also allowed pledging of shares of an Indian company, which has raised ECBs, for securing the ECB raised. It also provides for opening and maintaining, without RBI approval, non-interest bearing rupee Escrow accounts by non-residents towards payment of share purchase consideration in a move to facilitate FDI. The
circular also said that procedure for conversion of imported capital goods and machinery and pre-operative expenses into equity has been made easier.
Governments Fiscal Deficit surged to Rs 2.73 lakh crore in AprilAugust 2011 Period
Current Affairs Category: September 2011 Current Affairs, Economy, 2011 Current Affairs Current Affairs Week: 26 Sep 2011 To 02 Oct 2011 Share|
According to Comptroller General of Accounts data released on 30 September, the governments fiscal deficit surged nearly two-fold to Rs 2.73 lakh crore during the first five months (April-August) of the current fiscal 201112 due to low revenue realisation. Deficit was Rs 1.5 lakh crore in April-August period of 2010. The higher deficit in the April-August, 2011 was attributed to slowdown in net revenue collection following higher refunds and moderation in economic growth rate. The government decided to increase 2011s borrowing target by an additional Rs 53,000 crore anticipating slower tax collections and lower disinvestment proceeds.
The deficit in the April-August period was 66.3 per cent of the target originally estimated at the beginning of the 2011-12 fiscal for the whole year.
Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC) chairman C Rangarajan pointed out that the target to cut
fiscal deficit to at 4. per cent of the GDP for the current financial year would be missed. The government's decision to borrow Rs 52872 crore more from the market, over and above Rs 4.17 lakh crore estimated earlier for the current year, put pressure on the deficit number.
The net tax revenue receipts for April-August period stood at Rs 1.44 lakh crore, which is 21.8 per cent of the budget estimates. On the other hand, total expenditure was at 37.5 per cent of the target at Rs 4.72 lakh crore.
During April-August 2011, the direct tax mop-up was at Rs 96738 crore, which is 3.3 per cent less than the
corresponding period in 2010 on account of huge refunds of Rs 57622 crore. The advance tax paid by corporates witnessed a marginal growth of 13 per cent to Rs 68000 crore in the second quarter of 2011-12, compared with the corresponding period in 2010. However, the indirect tax collection in the first five months stood at Rs 1.40 lakh crore, an increase of 26 per cent, over the corresponding period in 2010. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had lowered the fiscal deficit target to Rs 412,817 crore or 4.6 per cent of the gross domestic product from 4.7 per cent achieved during 2010-11.

Jag Ran Josh Current Affairs Oct 2011 To Dec 2011

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Jag Ran Josh Current Affairs Oct 2011 To Dec 2011

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Scientists claimed that Alcohol can be used to treat Tremors

pay a minimum fine of 5000 rupees.

Lokpal a Historical Perspective

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Mobile Phone Operators asked to Scrap Illegal Mutual Roaming Agreements

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Rating Agency Moody's upgraded Credit Government's Bonds to Investment Grade

India ranked as the most Uncharitable Nation in South Asia

Ten Indians Featured in the Forbes Magazines List of Under 30 Achievers

Supreme Court: Courts can interfere in the Case of Contractual Job

Scientists found Remains of Giant Dianosaur on Antarctica

NASA discovered the First Earth-size Planets Kepler-20e and Kepler20f

The Union Cabinet of India approved National Food Security Bill

Chhattisgarh Assembly defeated the No-confidence Motion against the Government

Morocco banned EU Fishing Vessels Operating in its Waters

Former Indian Footballer Hamilton Bobby passed away on 17 December 2011

Biopharmaceutical Company AstraZeneca chose HCL as Strategic Infrastructure Outsourcing Partner

The USA Government lifted most of its Sanctions on Libya

Genetic tests developed by Scientists to detect Breast Cancer

India's Energy Security under Dependence on Imported Oil

DGH approved Cairn Indias Proposal to Commence Production from Bhagyam

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Diesel Consumption in Delhi declined by 26% in 2010-11

Supreme Court: Animals also entitled to Accident Compensation

Conference on Autism organised to understand Applied Behaviour

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Veteran Telugu Film Producer and Noted Lyricist MS Reddy died

SEBI directed Intermediaries not to Outsource their Core Business Activities

Tamil Nadu Assembly passed the Resolution on Mullaperiyar Dam

The UN Security Council lifted Sanctions on Libyas Central Bank

OPEC decided to increase its Production Limits to 30 million Barrels a Day

SEBIs Committee on MF recommended Break Down of the Expense Ratio Bifurcation

RBI announced Non-direct Intervention Measures in the Wake of Rupee Depreciation