India's Advanced Communication Satellite GSAT-7 Launched Successfully

India's advanced multi-band communication satellite, GSAT-7, was successfully launched on August 30, 2013 by the Ariane-5 launch vehicle of Arianespace from Kourou, French Guiana. Ariane-5 precisely placed GSAT-7 into the intended Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) after a flight of 34 minutes 25 seconds duration. 

As planned, ISRO's Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka started acquiring the signals five minutes prior to the separation of GSAT-7 from Ariane-5 launch vehicle. The solar panels of the satellite have been deployed and they are generating power. Initial checks have indicated normal health of the satellite. 

The present orbit of the satellite will be raised to Geostationary Orbit of about 36,000 km altitude through three orbit raising manoeuvres by firing of GSAT-7's Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM). Preparations are underway for the first firing, planned in the early hours of August 31, 2013. The satellite will be placed in the Geostationary Orbit by Sep 04, 2013.

                                        All Satellites

Satellite	Launch Date	Launch Vehicle	Type of Satellite
GSAT-7	30.08.2013	Ariane-5 VA-215	Geo-Stationary Satellite
INSAT-3D	26.07.2013	Ariane-5 VA-214	Geo-Stationary/Meteorological Satellite
IRNSS-1A	01.07.2013	PSLV-C22	Navigation Satellite
SARAL	25.02.2013	PSLV-C20	Earth Observation Satellite
GSAT-10	29.09.2012	Ariane-5 VA-209	Geo-Stationary Satellite
RISAT-1	26.04.2012	PSLV-C19	Earth Observation Satellite
Jugnu	12.10.2011	PSLV-C18	Experimental / Small Satellite
SRMSat	12.10.2011	PSLV-C18	Experimental / Small Satellite
Megha-Tropiques	12.10.2011	PSLV-C18	Earth Observation Satellite
GSAT-12	15.07.2011	PSLV-C17	Geo-Stationary Satellite
GSAT-8	21.05.2011	Ariane-5 VA-202	Geo-Stationary Satellite
RESOURCESAT-2	20.04.2011	PSLV-C16	Earth Observation Satellite
YOUTHSAT	20.04.2011	PSLV-C16	Experimental / Small Satellite
GSAT-5P	25.12.2010	GSLV-F06	Geo-Stationary Satellite
STUDSAT	12.07.2010	PSLV-C15	Experimental / Small Satellite
CARTOSAT-2B	12.07.2010	PSLV-C15	Earth Observation Satellite
GSAT-4	15.04.2010	GSLV-D3	Geo-Stationary Satellite
Oceansat-2	23.09.2009	PSLV-C14	Earth Observation Satellite
ANUSAT	20.04.2009	PSLV-C12	Experimental / Small Satellite
RISAT-2	20.04.2009	PSLV-C12	Earth Observation Satellite
Chandrayaan-1	22.10.2008	PSLV-C11	Space Mission
CARTOSAT - 2A	28.04.2008	PSLV-C9	Earth Observation Satellite
IMS-1	28.04.2008	PSLV-C9	Earth Observation Satellite
INSAT-4B	12.03.2007	Ariane-5ECA	Geo-Stationary Satellite
CARTOSAT - 2	10.01.2007	PSLV-C7	Earth Observation Satellite
SRE - 1	10.01.2007	PSLV-C7	Experimental / Small Satellite
INSAT-4CR	02.09.2007	GSLV-F04	Geo-Stationary Satellite
INSAT-4C	10.07.2006	GSLV-F02	Geo-Stationary Satellite
INSAT-4A	22.12.2005	Ariane-5GS	Geo-Stationary Satellite
HAMSAT	05.05.2005	PSLV-C6	Experimental / Small Satellite
CARTOSAT-1	05.05.2005	PSLV-C6	Earth Observation Satellite
EDUSAT (GSAT-3)	20.09.2004	GSLV-F01	Geo-Stationary Satellite
Resourcesat-1(IRS-P6)	17.10.2003	PSLV-C5	Earth Observation Satellite
INSAT-3A	10.04.2003	Ariane-5G	Geo-Stationary Satellite
INSAT-3E	28.09.2003	Ariane-5G	Geo-Stationary Satellite
GSAT-2	08.05.2003	GSLV-D2	Geo-Stationary Satellite
KALPANA-1(METSAT)	12.09.2002	PSLV-C4	Geo-Stationary Satellite
INSAT-3C	24.01.2002	Ariane-42L H10-3	Geo-Stationary Satellite
Technology Experiment Satellite (TES)	22.10.2001	PSLV-C3	Earth Observation Satellite
GSAT-1	18.04.2001	GSLV-D1	Geo-Stationary Satellite
INSAT-3B	22.03.2000	Ariane-5G	Geo-Stationary Satellite
Oceansat(IRS-P4)	26.05.1999	PSLV-C2	Earth Observation Satellite
INSAT-2E	03.04.1999	Ariane-42P H10-3	Geo-Stationary Satellite
INSAT-2DT	January 1998	Ariane-44L H10	Geo-Stationary Satellite
IRS-1D	29.09.1997	PSLV-C1	Earth Observation Satellite
INSAT-2D	04.06.1997	Ariane-44L H10-3	Geo-Stationary Satellite
IRS-P3	21.03.1996	PSLV-D3	Earth Observation Satellite
IRS-1C	28.12.1995	Molniya	Earth Observation Satellite
INSAT-2C	07.12.1995	Ariane-44L H10-3	Geo-Stationary Satellite
IRS-P2	15.10.1994	PSLV-D2	Earth Observation Satellite
Stretched Rohini Satellite Series (SROSS-C2)	04.05.1994	ASLV	Space Mission
IRS-1E	20.09.1993	PSLV-D1	Earth Observation Satellite
INSAT-2B	23.07.1993	Ariane-44L H10+	Geo-Stationary Satellite
INSAT-2A	10.07.1992	Ariane-44L H10	Geo-Stationary Satellite
Stretched Rohini Satellite Series (SROSS-C)	20.05.1992	ASLV	Space Mission
IRS-1B	29.08.1991	Vostok	Earth Observation Satellite
INSAT-1D	12.06.1990	Delta 4925	Geo-Stationary Satellite
INSAT-1C	21.07.1988	Ariane-3	Geo-Stationary Satellite
Stretched Rohini Satellite Series (SROSS-2)	13.07.1988	ASLV	Earth Observation Satellite
IRS-1A	17.03.1988	Vostok	Earth Observation Satellite
Stretched Rohini Satellite Series (SROSS-1)	24.03.1987	ASLV	Space Mission
INSAT-1B	30.08.1983	Shuttle [PAM-D]	Geo-Stationary Satellite
Rohini (RS-D2)	17.04.1983	SLV-3	Earth Observation Satellite
INSAT-1A	10.04.1982	Delta 3910 PAM-D	Geo-Stationary Satellite
Bhaskara-II	20.11.1981	C-1 Intercosmos	Earth Observation Satellite
Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE)	19.06.1981	Ariane-1(V-3)	Geo-Stationary Satellite
Rohini (RS-D1)	31.05.1981	SLV-3	Earth Observation Satellite
Rohini (RS-1)	18.07.1980	SLV-3	Experimental / Small Satellite
Rohini Technology Payload (RTP)	10.08.1979	SLV-3	Experimental / Small Satellite
Bhaskara-I	07.06.1979	C-1 Intercosmos	Earth Observation Satellite
Aryabhata	19.04.1975	C-1 Intercosmos	Experimental / Small Satellite

Chairmen of Parliamentary Committees

AS ON :- 29/08/2013

Srno Name Status House Party State Committees of Rajya SabhaBusiness Advisory Committee Constituted on:- 08/05/2013 1 Chairman, Rajya Sabha Chairman Rajya Sabha  - - Committee of Privileges Constituted on:- 08/05/2013 1 Prof. P.J. Kurien Chairman Rajya Sabha  I.N.C. KR Committee on Ethics Constituted on:- 28/12/2012 1 Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav Chairman Rajya Sabha  S.P. UP Committee on Government Assurances Constituted on:- 08/05/2013 1 Shri Satish Chandra Misra Chairman Rajya Sabha  B.S.P. UP Committee on MPLADS Constituted on:- 23/08/2012 1 Prof. P.J. Kurien Chairman Rajya Sabha  I.N.C. KR Committee on Papers Laid on the table Constituted on:- 08/05/2013 1 Shri D.P. Tripathi Chairman Rajya Sabha  N.C.P. MH Committee on Petitions Constituted on:- 08/05/2013 1 Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari Chairman Rajya Sabha  B.J.P. UTK Committee on Provision of Computers to Members of Rajya Sabha Constituted on:- 23/08/2012 1 1 Dr. Karan Singh Chairman Rajya Sabha  I.N.C. DL 1 Nominated w.e.f. 27/12/2012 Committee on Rules Constituted on:- 08/05/2013 1 Chairman, Rajya Sabha Chairman Rajya Sabha  - - Committee on Subordinate Lesiglation Constituted on:- 08/05/2013 1 Smt. Maya Singh Chairman Rajya Sabha  B.J.P. Madhya Pradesh General Purposes Committee Constituted on:- 26/10/2010 1 Chairman, Rajya Sabha Chairman Rajya Sabha  - - House Committee Constituted on:- 08/05/2013 1 Shri Bhubaneshwar Kalita Chairman Rajya Sabha  I.N.C. AS Joint CommitteesCommitte on Empowerment of Women Constituted on:- 23/09/2012 1 1 Rajkumari Ratna Singh Chairman Lok Sabha  I.N.C. 1 Nominated w.e.f. 28/10/2012 Committee on Food Management in Parliament House Complex Constituted on:- 15/10/2009 1 Prof. Ranjan Prasad Yadav Chairman Lok Sabha  J.D.(U) Committee on Public Accounts Constituted on:- 01/05/2012 1 Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi Chairman Lok Sabha  B.J.P. UP Committee on Public Undertakings Constituted on:- 01/05/2013 1 Shri Jagdambika Pal Chairman Lok Sabha  I.N.C. Committee on Welfare of Other Backward Classes Constituted on:- 29/06/2013 1 Shri Bijoy Handique Chairman Lok Sabha  I.N.C. Assam Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes Constituted on:- 01/05/2012 1 Shri Gobinda Chandra Naskar Chairman Lok Sabha  A.I.T.C. Constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to examine matters relating to allocation and pricin Constituted on:- 11/03/2011 1 Shri P.C. Chacko Chairman Lok Sabha  I.N.C. Joint Committee on Members Salary & Allowances Constituted on:- 24/01/2013 1 Shri Bhaskar Rao Patil Khatgonkar Chairman Lok Sabha  I.N.C Joint Committee on Offices of Profit Constituted on:- 01/12/2009 1 Kunwar Rewati Raman Singh Chairman Lok Sabha  S.P. Uttar Pradesh Joint Parliamentary Committee on Installation of Portraits/Statues of National Leaders and Parliamen Constituted on:- 04/08/2009 1 Smt. Meira Kumar Chairman Lok Sabha  I.N.C. Bihar Joint Parliamentary Committee on Maintenance of Heritage Character and Development of Parliament Hou Constituted on:- 15/12/2009 1 Smt. Meira Kumar Chairman Lok Sabha  I.N.C. Bihar Joint Parliamentary Committee on Security in Parliament House Complex Constituted on:- 04/09/2009 1 Shri Kariya Munda Chairman Lok Sabha  B.J.P. Jharkhand Library Committee Constituted on:- 24/11/2011 1 Shri Kariya Munda Chairman Lok Sabha  B.J.P. Jharkhand Railway Convention Committee Constituted on:- 15/03/2010 1 Shri Arjun Charan Sethi Chairman Lok Sabha  B.J.D. Orissa Committe on Information Technology Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Shri Rao Inderjit Singh Chairman Lok Sabha  I.N.C. Haryana Committee on Agriculture Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Shri Basudeb Acharia Chairman Lok Sabha  C.P.I.(M) West Bengal Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Shri Gopinath Munde Chairman Lok Sabha  B.J.P. Committee on Coal and Steel Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Shri Kalyan Banerjee Chairman Lok Sabha  A.I.T.C. Committee on Commerce Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Shri Shanta Kumar Chairman Rajya Sabha  B.J.P. HP Committee on Defence Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 1 Shri Raj Babbar Chairman Lok Sabha  S.P. Uttar Pradesh 1 Nominated w.e.f. 05/11/2012 Committee on Energy Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav Chairman Lok Sabha  S.P. Uttar Pradesh Committee on External Affairs Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Shri Ananth Kumar Chairman Lok Sabha  B.J.P. Karnataka Committee on Finance Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Shri Yashwant Sinha Chairman Lok Sabha  B.J.P. Jharkhand Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Shri Vilas Baburao Muttemwar Chairman Lok Sabha  I.N.C. Committee on Health and Family Welfare Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Shri Brajesh Pathak Chairman Rajya Sabha  B.S.P. UP Committee on Home Affairs Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu Chairman Rajya Sabha  B.J.P. KAR Committee on Labour Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Shri Dara Singh Chauhan Chairman Lok Sabha  B.S.P. Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Shri Shantaram Naik Chairman Rajya Sabha  I.N.C. GOA Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Shri V. Aruna Kumar Vundavalli Chairman Lok Sabha  I.N.C. Committee on Railways Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Shri T.R. Baalu Chairman Lok Sabha  D.M.K. Tamil Nadu Committee on Rural Development Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Smt. Sumitra Mahajan Chairman Lok Sabha  B.J.P. Madhya Pradesh Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Dr. T. Subbarami Reddy Chairman Rajya Sabha  I.N.C. Andhra Pradesh Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Shri Hemanand Biswal Chairman Lok Sabha  I.N.C. Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Shri Sitaram Yechury Chairman Rajya Sabha  C.P.I.(M) WB Committee on Urban Development Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Shri Sharad Yadav Chairman Lok Sabha  J.D.(U) Bihar Committee on Water Resources Constituted on:- 31/08/2012 1 Shri Dip Gogoi Chairman Lok Sabha  I.N.C. Sub-Committee of Home Affairs for Enemy Property (Amendment & Validation) Second Bill, 2010 Constituted on:- 25/04/2011 1 Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu Chairman Rajya Sabha  B.J.P. KAR

Note: In Membership,The options Past, Present and Current represent the Following Options:- Past :- "From and "To" date fields appear to enable selection Present:- Data relating to total membership of current Committees(i.e. from date of constitution/reconstitution to date) are available Current:- Data relating to current membership of current Committees are available The option "All" next to Committee name if enabled, gives historical data of selected Committee Disclaimer :- Only those Parliamentary Committees are included in the database, wherein                     (a) Rajya Sabha is represented and                     (b) The Committees are not purely internal to Parliament. As such, the Committee on Estimates , which is a purely Lok Sabha Committee has not been included. Similarly internal Committees such as Library Committee have not been included.

National Food Security Bill passed in Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha on 26 August 2013 passed the National Food Security Bill 2013. The Bill was adopted by the House through a voice vote after a day-long debate. The Bill seeks to give legal rights to get subsidized grains every month to 67 percent of the overall population (of which 75 percent is rural and 50 percent is urban population). 

As per the provisions of the Bill, the responsibility to identify the beneficiaries and implement the program under the Targeted Public Distribution Scheme is the responsibility of the states. The passage of the Bill in Parliament will guarantee 5 kilograms of rice, wheat and coarse cereals per month per person at the highly subsidised rates of 1-3 rupees a Kg.

During the passage of the Bill, an Amendment to Clause 8 of the Bill was suggested by the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj on which a revote was done. The amendment was declared null and void as the result of division displayed, 252 supports and 141 disagreements, making a total of 393 votes. 

Once the Bill gets its nod in the Rajya Sabha and President’s accent, India will join the selected league of countries that guarantee food grants to a majority of its population. 

Article 79 of the Constitution of Indian mentions about the provisions of the Constitution of a Parliament in the country: There shall be a Parliament for the Union, which shall consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the House of the People.

Earlier, the proposal to promulgate an Ordinance to implement National Food Security Bill in the country was passed by the Union Government of India on 3 July 2013, which was replaced by the Bill in the 2013 monsoon session of Parliament to make it a law.