Tuesday, April 29, 2014

List of IIFA Awards 2014 Winners

The IIFA Awards have been announced. The winners are:

● Best Film : Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
● Best Director : Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
● Best Actor : Farhan Akhtar for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
● Best Actress : Deepika Padukone for Chennai Express
● Best Entertainer of the Year : Deepika Padukone
● Best Debutant : Dhanush for Raanjhanaa
● Best Supporting Actress : Divya Dutta for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
● Best Supporting Actor : Aditya Roy Kapur for Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani 
● Best Male Playback Singer : Arijit Singh for Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2
● Best Female Playback Singer : Shreya Ghoshal for Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2
● Best Lyrics Writer : Mithoon for Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2
● Best Story : Prashoon Joshi for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
● Best Performance in a Comic Role : Arshad Warsi for Jolly LLB
● Best Performance in Negative Role : Rishi Kapoor for D Day 
● Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema : Shatrughan Sinha
● Best Cinematography : Binod Pradhan for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag 
● Best Screenplay : Prasoon Joshi for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag 
● Best Dialogue : Prasoon Joshi for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag 
● Best Editing : P S Bharti for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag 
● Best Production Design : Wasiq Khan for Goliyon Ki Rasleela- Ramleela 
● Best Choreography : Remo D'souza for Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani 
● Best Action : Sham Kaushal and Tony Ching Siu Tung for Krrish 3
● Best Sound Design : Nakul Kamte for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag 
● Best Song Recording : Vinod Verma for Lungi Dance
● Best Sound Mixing : Anup Dev for Chennai Express, Debajit Changmai for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag 
● Best Background Score : Shankar-Ehsaan- Loy for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag 
● Best Special Effects : Keitan Yadav & Haresh Hingorani - Red Chillies VFX
● Best Costume Designing : Dolly Ahluwalia for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag 
● Best Make-up : Vikram Gaikwad for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

Sunday, April 20, 2014

SEBI issues detailed corporate governance norms

With the aim to encourage companies to adopt best practices on corporate governance the Security and Exchange Borad of India (SEBI) came out with detailed corporate governance norms for listed companies. The guidelines provide for stricter disclosures and protection of investor rights, including equitable treatment for minority and foreign shareholders.

The norms issued by SEBI are aligned with the new the Companies Act.

Finer points of the guidelines are:

• The new rules would be effective from October 1.
• Companies are required to get shareholders' approval for related party transactions, establish whistle blower mechanism, elaborate disclosures on pay packages and have at least a woman director on their boards.
• The maximum number of boards an independent director can serve on listed companies be restricted to 7, while the directorship would be capped at three if the person is serving as a whole time director in any listed company.
• SEBI has amended clauses -- 35B and 49 -- of the listing agreement. Now, under changed 35B norms, listed companies are required to provide the option of facility of e-voting to shareholders on all resolutions proposed to be passed at general meetings.
• Under clause 49, pertaining to corporate governance, listed entities have to get shareholders' nod for related party transactions. 
• Apart from providing adequate and timely information to all shareholders, listed companies should also facilitate the exercise of voting rights by foreign shareholders.
• It provides for expanded role of audit committee and enhanced disclosure of remuneration policies.

List of 61st National Film Awards 2014 Winners

The 61st National Awards is going to be announced on 16th April 2014, by the Directorate of Film Festivals. This prestigious honour is awarded to celebrate the best of Indian cinema, and many regional and mainstream movies are nominated.

The list of winners:
● Best Feature Film : Ship Of Theseus (English-Hindi)
● Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment : Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (Hindi)
● Best Children's Film : Kaphal (Hindi)
● Best Direction : Hansal Mehta, Shahid (Hindi)
● Best Film on Environment/Conservation : Perariyathavar (Malayalam)
● Best Debut Film of a Director : Nagraaj Manjule for Fandry (Marathi)
● Best Film on National Integration : Thalaimuraigal (Tamil)
● Best Actor : Rajkummar Rao (Shahid) and Suraj Venjaramoodu (Perariyathavar)
● Best Actress : Geetanjali Thapa (Liar's Dice)
● Best Supporting Actor : Saurabh Shukla (Jolly LLB)
● Best Supporting Actress : Aida Elkashif (Ship Of Theseus) and Amruta Subhash (Astu)
● Best Child Artist : Somnath Avghade (Fandry) and Sadhana (Thanga Meengal)
● Best Film on Social Issues : Tuhya Dharma Koncha (Marathi)
● Best Hindi Film : Jolly LLB (Hindi)
● Best Assamese Film : Ajeyo
● Best Telugu Film : Naa Bangaru Talli
● Best Tamil Film : Thanga Meengal
● Best Malayalam Film : North 24 Kaadham
● Best Kannada Film : December 1
● Best Marathi Film : Aajcha Diwas Majha
● Best Konkani Film : Baga Beach
● Best English Film : The Coffin Maker
● Best Khasi Film : RI
● Best Sherdukpen Film : Crossing Borders
● Special Mention : Yellow (Marathi) and Na Bangaaru Talli (Telugu)
● Best Choreography : Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (Hindi)
● Best Location Sound and Sound Design : Madras CafĂ© (Hindi)
● Best Sound Re-recording : Swapaanam (Malayalam)
● Best Special Effects : Jal (Hindi)
● Best Music Direction (Songs) : Jaatishwar (Bengali)
● Best Background Score : Naa Bangaru Talli
● Best Dialogue : Astu
 Best Male Playback Singer : Rupankar for Jaatishwar
● Best Female Playback Singer : Bela Shende for Tuhya Dharma Kocha
● Best Cinematography : Liar's Dice
● Best Original Screenplay : December 1 (Kannada)
● Best Adapted Screenplay : Prakruti (Kannada)
● Best Editing : Vallinam (Tamil)
● Best Production Design : Miss Lovely (Hindi)
● Best Costume Design : Jaatishwar
● Best Make Up : Jaatishwar
● Best Lyrics : Thanga Meengal (Tamil)
● Special Jury Award : Yellow and Miss Lovely

Sunday, April 6, 2014

ISRO successfully launched IRNSS 1B from Sriharikota

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched India’s 2nd regional navigational satellite, IRNSS 1B from Sriharikota Space Station of Andhra Pradesh on 4th April. The launch of IRNSS series would enable India to have its own reliable and independent navigational resources for itself. The satellite was lifted off by the Polar Satellite Vehicle (PSLV) C 24 at 5.14 pm. IRNSS (Indian Regional navigational satellite) was injected by the launch vehicle after four stages of 19 minutes of its take off from Sriharikota. 

This launch of IRNSS 1B is the 25th successful launch of the PSLV series by ISRO. This launch of the satellite had brought India close to join the group of selected nations namely US, Russia, China, Japan and European countries. IRNSS series launch will benefit India from its applications including terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation, disaster management, vehicle tracking and fleet management. It will also provide visual and voice navigation for hikers and travelers. 

Sikkim adjudged Best in Policy Effectiveness Index

India Public Policy Report, 2014, released by the Oxford University Press, measured for the first time state-level performance of policy effectiveness and its impact on growth. The report revealed that in the policy effectiveness index Gujarat showing a marked decline dropping from 11th position in 2001 to 16th in 2011. Except infrastructure development, Gujarat has been found lagging behind on most other parameters.

On Gujarat's deterioration in rank, Abhijit Sen, member of 14th Finance Commission who released the report, said: "This was due to the infrastructure index. This happened not because Gujarat did poorly on infrastructure but because other states, which had poor infrastructure to begin with, showed marked improvement."

Along with Gujarat, Kerala was another surprise -- having slipped from 24 to 29 during the 1981-2011 period.

While states like Jammu and Kashmir and some other small states have improved their rank considerably, the top five and the bottom three states in the ranking have, by and large, remained the same over the three decades of the analysis presented in the report.

The top five states on the policy effectiveness index (PEI) in 2011 are Sikkim, Mizoram, Goa, Punjab and Delhi. At the bottom of the table are Odisha, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and West Bengal.

PEI is a multi-dimensional and a multi-indicator measure and comprises four component indices that reflect human well-being from being able to enjoy: livelihood opportunities; a socially meaningful life; security of life and rule of law; and amenities for a sustained improvement in living standards

The report, compiled by Rajeev Malhotra, executive director, Centre for Development and Finance, Jindal School of Government and Policy (JSGP), observed that geographically smaller states performed better than larger ones, although they offered lesser employment opportunities compared to the larger ones. 

It further said that states which have been bifurcated from a bigger state were found to be doing consistently better than their parent states. Significantly, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand were found to be performing better than Madhya Pradesh and Bihar respectively.

The analysis undertaken for the period 1981 to 2011 provides evidence for some commonly made observations on India's development process and some other less recognised outcomes. The IPPR finds that at the all-India level there is a gradual, but only a marginal, improvement in the policy effectiveness index over the three decades. It is being compromised by a near stagnancy in expansion of livelihood opportunities and deterioration in law and order and justice dispensation environment in the country.

The IPPR was a first of its kind report that sought to create an independent platform for bringing together state-of-the-art policy, research and analysis on issues of policy relevance of India.

New Scheme of IAS Exam

The Civil Services Examination comprises of the following stages:

Stage I:

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type) for the selection of candidates for Main Examination
The Examination shall comprise two compulsory papers of 200 marks each.

Paper I - (200 marks) Duration: Two hours
  • Current events of national and international importance.
  • History of India and Indian National Movement.
  • Indian and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
  • Indian Polity and Governance - Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
  • Economic and Social Development Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
  • General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization.
  • General Science.
Paper II- (200 marks) Duration: Two hours
  • Comprehension
  • Interpersonal skills including communication skills
  • Logical reasoning and analytical ability
  • Decision-making and problem-solving
  • General mental ability
  • Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data
  • interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. - Class X level)
  • English Language Comprehension skills (Class X level).
The Preliminary Examination will consist of two papers of Objective type (multiple choice questions) and carry a maximum of 400 marks in the subjects set out in subsection (A) of Section-II. This examination is meant to serve as a screening test only; the marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination by the candidates who are declared qualified for admission to the Main Examination will not be counted for determining their final order of merit. The number of candidates to be admitted to the Main Examination will be about twelve to thirteen times the total approximate number of vacancies to be filled in the year in the various Services and Posts. Only those candidates who are declared by the Commission to have qualified in the Preliminary Examination in the year will be eligible for admission to the Main Examination of that year provided they are otherwise eligible for admission to the Main Examination.
Note 1 : Questions relating to English Language Comprehension skills of Class X level (last item in the Syllabus of Paper II) will be tested through passages from English language only without providing Hindi translation thereof in the question paper.

Stage II:

Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written and Interview) for the selection of candidates for the various services and posts
The written examination will consist of the following papers:

Paper-I and II:
There will be two qualifying papers in any Indian language and English each of 300 marks.
Paper-III : Essay 250 Marks
Candidates will be required to write an essay on a specific topic. The choice of subjects will be given. They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.

Paper-IV
General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society) of 250 marks which may include following topics:
  • Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
  • Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues
  • The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.
  • Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country. History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society.
  • Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
  • Role of women and women's organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
  • Effects of globalization on Indian society
  • Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
  • Salient features of world's physical geography.
  • Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)
  • Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
Paper-V
General Studies -II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations) of 250 marks which may include following topics:
  • Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
  • Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
  • Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
  • Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
  • Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
  • Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
  • Salient features of the Representation of People's Act.
  • Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
  • Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
  • Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
  • Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
  • Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
  • Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
  • Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
  • Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
  • Role of civil services in a democracy.
  • India and its neighborhood- relations.
  • Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests
  • Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
Paper-VI
General Studies -III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) of 250 marks which may include following topics:
  • Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
  • Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
  • Government Budgeting.
  • Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers
  • Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
  • Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
  • Land reforms in India.
  • Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
  • Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
  • Investment models.
  • Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
  • Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
  • Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
  • Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
  • Disaster and disaster management.
  • Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
  • Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
  • Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention
  • Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism
  • Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate
Paper-VII
General Studies -IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) of 250 marks which may include following topics:
This paper will include questions to test the candidates' attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects. The following broad areas will be covered.
  • Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships. Human Values - lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
  • Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion. Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service , integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weakersections.
  • Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
  • Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
  • Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
  • Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen's Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.
  • Case Studies on above issues
PAPER-VIII & PAPER IX

Optional Subject Papers I & II
List of optional subjects for Main Examination:
Agriculture ; Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science ; Anthropology ; Botany ; Chemistry ; Civil Engineering ; Commerce and Accountancy ; Economics ; Electrical Engineering ; Geography ; Geology ;History ; Law ; Management; Mathematics ; Mechanical Engineering ; Medical Science ; Philosophy ; Physics ; Political Science and International Relations ; Psychology ;Public Administration ;Sociology ;Statistics and Zoology .
Literature of any one of the following languages:
Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, English.
Candidates may choose any optional subject from the list of subjects
Note: The candidates would be allowed to use any one language from the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution or English as the medium of writing the examination.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Fact Sheet on Andhra Pradesh

The 16th Lok Sabha elections would be held in the 42 Parliamentary Constituencies of Andhra Pradesh on 2 poll days, namely April 30 and May 7, 2014. Polling will be held at 69,014 polling stations spread across  43,139polling station locations. Out of the state’s total of 6,23,85,901 electors as on 8th February 2014, 16.59% are in the age group 18–25 while women constitute 49.73%. The poll expenditure limit per candidate for all constituencies in the state is Rs.70 lakhs.