Sunday, August 12, 2012
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Friday, August 10, 2012
36th International Geological Congress to be held in India in 2020
The 36th International Geological Congress will come
to India in 2020 after a period of 56 years. The last International
Geological Congress was held in India in 1964 in Delhi. Dr. Vishwapati
Trivedi, Secretary, Ministry of Mines today presented the bid before the
International Union of Geological Science (IUGS) Council consisting of
121 member countries and 128 votes were cast in favour of India against
51 votes to Canada, which had offered Vancouver as the venue of IGC
2020.
Schemes to Save the Girl Child
The Government recognizes that the problem of
declining child sex ratio in India is not an isolated phenomenon but must be
seen in the context of the low status of women and the girl child as a whole,
within the home and outside. While its immediate reasons can be traced to
increasing son-preference as well as advances in technology that has encouraged
sex selective abortions, concern of safety and security of the girl child along
with the practice of dowry are no less responsible for it.
Accordingly, the Government has
undertaken a number of measures to improve survival and status of girl children
in the country. While programmes for improvement of
nutrition benefit all children including girl children, like the Integrated
Child Development Scheme, National Rural Health Mission, Mid-day meal scheme
etc., specific interventions for girl children include implementing the
Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, pilot
cash transfer scheme of ‘Dhanlakshmi’, setting up a Sectoral Innovation
Council for improving child sex ratio and acting upon its recommendations, and
the pilot scheme ‘Sabla’ for a comprehensive
Intervention for adolescent girls in the age group of 11-18, with a focus on
out of school girls in select 200 districts of the country.
Of these, ‘Dhanlakshmi’ provides conditional cash incentive, and the
scheme does not discriminate on the basis of caste and economic status of
parents. It is a pilot scheme being implemented in 11 blocks in seven States of
the country.
Welfare of Disabled Persons
To provide comprehensive services to the Persons with
Disabilities at the grass root level, the Ministry of Social Justice
and Empowerment facilitates creation of the infrastructure and capacity
building at district level for awareness generation, rehabilitation,
training/guiding of grassroots level functionaries, through setting up
District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRCs). The amount
sanctioned to these centres during the financial years 2009-10, 2010-11
and 2011-12 is Rs. 201.08 lakh, Rs. 590.77 lakh and Rs. 410.09 lakh
respectively.
A Central Sector Scheme namely “Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drugs) Abuse” for Social Defence Services is being implemented for identification, counseling, treatment and rehabiliation of addicts through voluntary organizations, Panchayati Raj Institutions, Urban Local bodies and organizations/institutions fully funded or managed by State/Central Government are also eligible for financial assistance under the scheme.
A Central Sector Scheme namely “Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drugs) Abuse” for Social Defence Services is being implemented for identification, counseling, treatment and rehabiliation of addicts through voluntary organizations, Panchayati Raj Institutions, Urban Local bodies and organizations/institutions fully funded or managed by State/Central Government are also eligible for financial assistance under the scheme.
Innovation Programme
The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
(MSME) has taken initiative in consultation with National Innovation
Council (NIC) to set up a dedicated fund with an initial contribution of
Rs.100 crores in the name of “India Inclusive Innovation Fund” for
promoting grass root innovations. It is expected that promoting
innovation would also improve the competitiveness and efficiency of SMEs
(Small and Medium Enterprises). The scheme is at the stage of approval.
The amount allocated for “India Inclusive Innovation Fund” for the current year (2012-13) is Rs.100 Cr.
The National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme (NMCP) is the nodal programme of the Government to develop global competitiveness among Indian MSMEs. An amount of Rs.500 crores approx as GOI Contribution had been allocated for NMCP during XIth Plan. NMCP targets at enhancing the entire value chain of the MSME sector through the following schemes:
• Lean Manufacturing Competitiveness Scheme for MSMEs;
• Promotion of Information & Communication Tools (ICT) in MSME sector;
• Technology and Quality Up gradation Support to MSMEs;
• Design Clinics scheme for MSMEs;
• Enabling Manufacturing Sector to be Competitive through Quality Management Standards (QMS) and Quality Technology Tools (QTT);
• Marketing Assistance and Technology Up gradation Scheme for MSMEs;
• Setting up of Mini Tool Room under PPP Mode;
• National campaign for building awareness on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR);
• Support for Entrepreneurial and Managerial Development of SMEs through Incubators.
In addition, Government operates a number of schemes for the MSME sector which inter alia improve competitiveness. These schemes include Credit Guarantee Scheme, Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme, Performance and Credit Rating Scheme, Cluster Development Programme, Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme.
The amount allocated for “India Inclusive Innovation Fund” for the current year (2012-13) is Rs.100 Cr.
The National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme (NMCP) is the nodal programme of the Government to develop global competitiveness among Indian MSMEs. An amount of Rs.500 crores approx as GOI Contribution had been allocated for NMCP during XIth Plan. NMCP targets at enhancing the entire value chain of the MSME sector through the following schemes:
• Lean Manufacturing Competitiveness Scheme for MSMEs;
• Promotion of Information & Communication Tools (ICT) in MSME sector;
• Technology and Quality Up gradation Support to MSMEs;
• Design Clinics scheme for MSMEs;
• Enabling Manufacturing Sector to be Competitive through Quality Management Standards (QMS) and Quality Technology Tools (QTT);
• Marketing Assistance and Technology Up gradation Scheme for MSMEs;
• Setting up of Mini Tool Room under PPP Mode;
• National campaign for building awareness on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR);
• Support for Entrepreneurial and Managerial Development of SMEs through Incubators.
In addition, Government operates a number of schemes for the MSME sector which inter alia improve competitiveness. These schemes include Credit Guarantee Scheme, Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme, Performance and Credit Rating Scheme, Cluster Development Programme, Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme.
New Scheme for Life Saving Drugs
The Pharmaceutical Policy as amended from time to
time also envisages making available quality medicines at affordable
price to the masses. For fulfilment of this goal, a Campaign in the
name of ‘Jan Aushadhi’ has been launched in 2008. The aim of this
campaign is to make available quality medicines at affordable prices for
all, especially the poor and the disadvantaged. Under this campaign,
less priced quality unbranded generic medicines will be made available
through Jan Aushadhi stores which inherently are less priced but are of
same and equivalent quality, efficacy and safety as compared to branded
generic medicines. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has informed
that they have taken the initiative for Free Supply of Essential
Medicines in Public Health Facilities in the country. Some of the
salient features of this scheme is as under:
• Government proposes to start an Initiative for Free Supply of Essential Medicines in Public Health Facilities in the country aiming to provide affordable health care to the people by reducing out of pocket expenses of medicines.
• The initiative aims to increase share of public health in health care from a current level of 25-30% to around 50%.
• This initiative will promote rational use of medicines and reduce the consumption of inessential, unscientific and hazardous medicines.
• The initiative is based on the Tamil Nadu model where free medicines procured in bulk by the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC), in generic name, directly from the manufacturers is supplied through an IT enabled supply chain management system to the public.
• An MoU would be signed with the States which will involve the following:-
o State would be encouraged to set up TNMSC like institutions or use any existing institution with sufficient autonomy for bulk procurement of essential drugs in generic names directly from the manufacturers in generic names. Strict instructions shall be issued to Medical Officers in Public Health facilities to prescribe generic medicines.
o The drugs would be supplied by the district ware houses through an IT enabled supply chain management system.
o States will involve Rogi Kalyan Samitis to ensure that free supply of medicines in public health facilities is properly and effectively implemented.
• Government proposes to start an Initiative for Free Supply of Essential Medicines in Public Health Facilities in the country aiming to provide affordable health care to the people by reducing out of pocket expenses of medicines.
• The initiative aims to increase share of public health in health care from a current level of 25-30% to around 50%.
• This initiative will promote rational use of medicines and reduce the consumption of inessential, unscientific and hazardous medicines.
• The initiative is based on the Tamil Nadu model where free medicines procured in bulk by the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC), in generic name, directly from the manufacturers is supplied through an IT enabled supply chain management system to the public.
• An MoU would be signed with the States which will involve the following:-
o State would be encouraged to set up TNMSC like institutions or use any existing institution with sufficient autonomy for bulk procurement of essential drugs in generic names directly from the manufacturers in generic names. Strict instructions shall be issued to Medical Officers in Public Health facilities to prescribe generic medicines.
o The drugs would be supplied by the district ware houses through an IT enabled supply chain management system.
o States will involve Rogi Kalyan Samitis to ensure that free supply of medicines in public health facilities is properly and effectively implemented.
Installation of American Nuclear Reactor in India
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a
confidentiality agreement between Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC),
USA and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) was initially
signed in 2009. An amendment to extend the term of the earlier signed
MoU till May, 2014 was signed on June 12, 2012. The amendment also
includes a clause ot sign an Early Works Agreement.
The review of safety provisions in design of AP – 1000 systems to withstand extreme natural events like earthquakes and Tsunamis, post Fukushima incident, has been carried out in the vendor country. Westinghouse Electric Company has made a presentation on the same to the Indian side. The Design Certification of the AP – 1000 reactor was issued by United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) in December 2011, after the Fukushima accident.
The review of safety provisions in design of AP – 1000 systems to withstand extreme natural events like earthquakes and Tsunamis, post Fukushima incident, has been carried out in the vendor country. Westinghouse Electric Company has made a presentation on the same to the Indian side. The Design Certification of the AP – 1000 reactor was issued by United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) in December 2011, after the Fukushima accident.
Implementation of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana
The Minister of Panchayati
Raj Shri V. Kishore Chandra Deo
has said that the Rashtriya
Gram Swaraj Yojana (RGSY),
implemented in districts not covered by the Scheme of Backward Regions Grants
Fund (BRGF), focuses primarily on providing financial assistance to the States
/ UTs for Training & Capacity Building of elected representatives (ERs) and
functionaries of Panchayats so that they can perform
the functions devolved upon them and the schemes entrusted to them
effectively. Replying to a
question in Rajya Sabha today, he said that assistance is also provided for Satellite based training infrastructure
for Distance Learning for the ERs and Functionaries of the Panchayats
and, in respect of the Hill States and States in the North Eastern Region, for
capital expenditure on establishment of Panchayat
Resource Centers / Training Institutes at Divisional
/ District level. There is a small component of Infrastructure Development under which assistance is provided to States / UTs for
construction of Panchayat Ghars
at Gram Panchayat level. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has already proposed higher allocations for
capacity building during Twelfth Five Year Plan.
Interlinking of Rivers
The Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) (erstwhile Ministry of Irrigation) had formulated a
National Perspective Plan (NPP) for Water Resources Development as early as
1980 envisaging inter-basin transfer of water from surplus basins to deficit
basins/areas which comprises two
components, namely, Himalayan Rivers Development Component and Peninsular
Rivers Development Component. The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) was
set up under the Ministry of Irrigation in 1982 for carrying out various
technical studies to establish the feasibility of the proposals of NPP and to
give concrete shape to it. NWDA has already identified 14 links under Himalayan
Component and 16 links under Peninsular Rivers Component. Out of these, Feasibility Reports of 14 links
under Peninsular Component and 2 links under Himalayan Component (Indian
portion) has been prepared. The present status of links identified for
preparation of Feasibility Reports is given below:-
Peninsular Rivers Development Component
1. Mahanadi (Manibhadra) - Godavari (Dowlaiswaram) link - FR completed
2. Godavari (Polavaram) - Krishna (Vijayawada)
link * -FR completed (Taken by the
state as per their own proposal)
3. Godavari (Inchampalli) - Krishna ( Pulichintala)link - FR completed
4. Godavari (Inchampalli ) - Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) link - FR completed
5. Krishna
(Nagarjunasagar) - Pennar (Somasila )
link - FR completed
6. Krishna
(Srisailam) - Pennar link - FR completed
7. Krishna
(Almatti) - Pennar link - FR completed
8. Pennar (Somasila) - Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link - FR completed
9. Cauvery (Kattalai) – Vaigai – Gundar link - FR
completed
10. Parbati – Kalisindh – Chambal link* -
FR completed
11. Damanganga – Pinjal link* -
FR completed & DPR started
12. Par – Tapi – Narmada link* -
FR completed & DPR started
13. Ken – Betwa
link* - DPR (Phase-I) Completed
14. Pamba – Achankovil – Vaippar link -
FR completed.
15. Netravati - Hemavati Link - PFR completed
16. Bedti - Varda link - FR work taken up
Himalayan Rivers Development Component
1. Kosi-Mechi link -
Entirely lies in Nepal
2. Kosi-Ghaghra link -
S&I works taken up
3. Gandak-Ganga link - S&I works completed
4. Ghaghra-Yamuna link - FR completed (for
Indian portion)
5. Sarda-Yamuna link -
FR completed (for
Indian portion)
6. Yamuna-Rajasthan link -
S&I works completed
7. Rajasthan-Sabarmati link -
S&I works completed
8. Chunar(at
Ganga)-Sone Barrage link - S&I works
completed
9. Sone Dam - Southern Tributaries of Ganga
link - S&I works
taken up
10. Manas-Sankosh-Tista-Ganga (M-S-T-G) link - S&I works taken up
11. Jogighopa(at Brahmaputra)-Tista-Ganga at
Farakka
(Alternate to M-S-T-G) link - S&I works
taken up
12.
Ganga (Farakka)-Sunderbans link -
S&I works completed
13.
Ganga-Damodar-Subernarekha link -
S&I works completed
14. Subernarekha-Mahanadi link -
S&I works completed
*
Priority links
PFR- Pre-Feasibility Report; FR- Feasibility
Report; DPR- Detailed Project Report
S&I - Survey & Investigation in Indian
portion
The Implementation of Inter Linking
of Rivers (ILR)
involves various steps such as
preparation of FRs of
links, negotiation and consensus among concerned States, agreement with neighbouring countries if link involve area lying in other
countries, preparation of DPRs of the projects and
structures identified for the link, clearance from appraisal agencies which
include clearance by Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF),
clearance by Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA),
techno-economic clearance by Technical Advisory Committee of MoWR, investment clearance by Planning Commission and
funding of the project
The initial cost of the Inter Linking projects as per PFR/FR
was 5.60 Lakh crore at 2002
Price Level.
Costs of
individual project have not yet been finalized. The
present cost including the cost of land required to be acquired for the project
can be estimated only after the completion of DPR of the projects.
The State Government of Bihar has submitted
six Intra state link proposals
1. Kosi – Mechi [entirely lie in India] 2. Barh – Nawada 3. Kohra – Chandravat (now Kohra-Lalbegi) 4. Burhi Gandak – None – Baya – Ganga 5. Burhi Gandak – Bagmati [Belwadhar] 6. Kosi – Ganga
The PFRs of
all six links have been completed and sent to State Government of Bihar. On the
request of Bihar Government the preparation of DPR of two links i.e. 1. Kosi – Mechi, 2. Burhi Gandak – None – Baya – Ganga is
under preparation.
As desired by Govt. of Bihar, NWDA
has completed the Preliminary Project Report (PPR) of Burhi
Gandak-None-Baya –Ganga
link and sent the same to Govt. of Bihar and CWC on 31.05.2012.
Preparation of Preliminary Project
Report (PPR) of Kosi – Mechi
link is under progress.
Further 3 additional proposals ,viz. i) Development of Bagmati
Irrigation & Drainage Project – Phase-II (Barrage near Kataunjha
in Muzaffarpur District) and Adhwara
Multipurpose Project with Kosi-Adhwara-Bagmati link,
ii) Transfer of Ganga water to South Bihar through
Pump Canal Scheme at Buxer & iii) Development of Badua-Chandan Basin, from Bihar have also been received.
These are being examined for their suitability for further studies.
The State Government of Rajasthan has
submitted two Intra state link proposals i.e. 1. Mahi
– Luni link 2. Wakal – Sabarmati – Sei
– West Banas – Kameri link.
PFR of Intra-State link of Rajasthan
viz. Wakal – Sabarmati – Sei – West Banas – Kameri link have been prepared and sent to Govt. of
Rajasthan. The PFR of Mahi-Luni is in progress.
The
report on interlinking of rivers was submitted by National Council of Applied
Economic Research (NCAER) in April, 2008.
The conclusions/recommendations given by NCAER in its report mention
various benefits of Interlinking of river programme
such as additional benefits of Irrigation & Power, increase in growth rate
of agriculture, growth of direct & indirect employment, improvement in the
quality of life of people in rural areas and mitigation of floods &
drought. The recommendations also include certain action points like setting up
National Commission for Basin Management, improving cost recovery from irrigation
projects & formation of Water Users Association. At present, no
interlinking project under National Perspective Plan is under
implementation. Therefore, the stage has
not come for taking decision on the action points suggested in the report.
Implementation of Water Policy
National Water Policy is finalised and adopted by
National Water Resources Council. Several States have formulated their
State Water Policies, by and large as per the provisions of National
Water Policy. The States implement these policies as per their
requirement and priorities.
The third Minor Irrigation Census has counted 5.56 lakh tanks and storages in India. The storage capacity of these tanks and storages was not surveyed.
The average annual water availability for the country has been assessed as 1869 billion cubic meters (BCM). Due to topographic, hydrological and other constraints, the utilizable water has been estimated to be about 1123 BCM comprising 690 BCM of surface water and 433 BCM of replenishable ground water. The National Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development (NCIWRD), in its report in 1999, had assessed that the annual water requirement by the year 2025 and 2050 will be about 843 BCM and 1180 BCM respectively.
The third Minor Irrigation Census has counted 5.56 lakh tanks and storages in India. The storage capacity of these tanks and storages was not surveyed.
The average annual water availability for the country has been assessed as 1869 billion cubic meters (BCM). Due to topographic, hydrological and other constraints, the utilizable water has been estimated to be about 1123 BCM comprising 690 BCM of surface water and 433 BCM of replenishable ground water. The National Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development (NCIWRD), in its report in 1999, had assessed that the annual water requirement by the year 2025 and 2050 will be about 843 BCM and 1180 BCM respectively.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
TOP-50 LATEST CURRENT AFFAIRS MCQs FOR ALL APPSC EXAMS
1. The limit of overseas investment in government bonds/securities has been raised
from $15 billion to _________.
a) $20 billion
b) $25 billion
c) $30 billion
d) $35 billion
e) None of the above
2. According to “World Investment Report 2012″, the total FDI inflow in India in 2011 stood at ________.
a) $67 billion
b) $87 billion
c) $52 billion
d) $78 billion
e) None of the above
3. According to The Global Competitiveness Report 2011-2012, India ranks at ____.
a) 42nd
b) 36th
c) 56th
d) 53rd
e) 62nd
4. Which country tops the overall rankings in The Global Competitiveness Report 2011-2012?
a) Sweden
b) Singapore
c) Netherland
d) Switzerland
e) None of the above
5. The World Bank Group have entered into an agreement with which among the following industrial bodies to establish the India Wildlife Business Council (IWBC)
to promote tiger and biodiversity conservation for sustainable development?
a) Industrial Development Bank of India
b) Indian Industries Association
c) Confederation of Indian Industry
d) The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India
e) None of the above
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Saina wins bronze after Wang retires hurt
Saina Nehwal on August 04 created history by becoming the first Indian to
win an Olympic Games bronze medal in badminton, though under fortuitous
circumstances, as her world number two Chinese opponent retired from
the play-off because of a knee injury.
The 22-year-old Saina was trailing 18-21, 0-1 in the high-voltage bronze
medal play-off match when her second seeded opponent Xin Wang retired
hurt, giving India an unexpected medal without having to sweat much.
Saina also became the second Indian woman to win an Olympic medal, after
Karnam Malleswari’s weightlifting bronze in 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Vijay Kumar wins Silver medal men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event
Army sharp shooter Vijay Kumar on August 03 fought a nerve-wracking battle with five other top marksmen to clinch the silver medal in the men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event at the Olympic Games in London.
Kumar beat back the challenge of world champion Alexei Klimov of Russia, Chinese duo of Ding Feng and Zhang Jian and German Christian Reitz in the 40-shot final to finish runner-up in a thrilling finale behind Cuba's Leuris Pupo who shot his way to the gold with a world record equalling score of 34.
The 26-year-old army subedar from Himachal Pradesh found the target 30 times out of 40 attempts in the series comprising eight rounds of five shots each.
This is India's second medal in the ongoing quadrennial extravaganza after fellow marksman Gagan Narang's bronze in the 10m Air Rifle event on July 30. This was also the country's fourth medal in shooting in Olympic history.
The other medal winners are Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (silver in 2004 Athens) , Abhinav Bindra (gold in 2008 Beijing) besides Narang.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
India is the Second-Largest Mobile Phone user in World
India is the second-largest mobile phone user with
over 900 million users in the world. It accounted for over 10% of the
world’s online population in 2011. This was stated by Shri Ghulam Nabi
Azad, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare in Londonon August 02.
Addressing the seminar on “The Role of Health Informatics - How Health is making difference to ordinary people in India” at Healthcare & Life Sciences Global Business Summit, Shri Azad said that mobile telecommunications have seen tremendous growth in India. This growth has been inclusive with benefits accruing to the poorest households in the remotest regions of the country. In 2011 alone, 142 million mobile-cellular subscriptions were added in India, twice as many as in the whole of Africa, and more than in the Arab States, CIS and Europe put together. The mobile tariffs in India have become among the lowest in the world. A new mobile connection can be activated with a monthly commitment of 15 cents only.
Recognizing the potential to reach out to people, especially those living in remote areas and adolescents he said that Government of India has recently taken steps to integrate and enhance existing Health related - IT enabled Systems. A name, address and telephone based Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS) is a new initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and is one of the excellent examples of leveraging Information Technology for ensuring delivery of full spectrum of healthcare and immunization services to pregnant women and children up to 5 years of age. This system is aimed at generating a data bank to validate delivery of services, ensuring ante-natal, intra-natal and post-natal checkups, nursing universal immunization, ensuring quality service delivery, micro planning. These initiatives will have a positive impact on important health indicators like Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR).
Addressing the seminar on “The Role of Health Informatics - How Health is making difference to ordinary people in India” at Healthcare & Life Sciences Global Business Summit, Shri Azad said that mobile telecommunications have seen tremendous growth in India. This growth has been inclusive with benefits accruing to the poorest households in the remotest regions of the country. In 2011 alone, 142 million mobile-cellular subscriptions were added in India, twice as many as in the whole of Africa, and more than in the Arab States, CIS and Europe put together. The mobile tariffs in India have become among the lowest in the world. A new mobile connection can be activated with a monthly commitment of 15 cents only.
Recognizing the potential to reach out to people, especially those living in remote areas and adolescents he said that Government of India has recently taken steps to integrate and enhance existing Health related - IT enabled Systems. A name, address and telephone based Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS) is a new initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and is one of the excellent examples of leveraging Information Technology for ensuring delivery of full spectrum of healthcare and immunization services to pregnant women and children up to 5 years of age. This system is aimed at generating a data bank to validate delivery of services, ensuring ante-natal, intra-natal and post-natal checkups, nursing universal immunization, ensuring quality service delivery, micro planning. These initiatives will have a positive impact on important health indicators like Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR).
First India - Sri Lanka CEOs Forum Meeting to be held in Colombo on August 4
The first meeting of the India-Sri Lanka CEOs Forum,
constituted by the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan
Singh and the Honourable President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, will
take place on August 4, 2012 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Forum, which
has been set up to develop a roadmap for increased cooperation and
mutually beneficial economic partnership between the two countries, will
deliberate ways and means to enhance trade and investments between the
two nations. The Indian Prime Minister has appointed Mr. Sunil Bharti
Mittal, Chairman & Managing Director, Bharti Airtel Ltd. to be the
Co-Chair from the Indian side while Mr. Kulathunga Rajpaksa, Executive
Director, Samson International Ltd has been appointed to Co-Chair from
Sri Lanka.
The bilateral trade between India and Sri Lanka trade was USD 4 billion in 2010-11 and has the potential to double to USD 8 billion within the next three years. It is worth noting that Sri Lanka is India’s largest trade partner in South Asia while India, in turn, is Sri Lanka’s largest trade partner globally. The trade between the two countries grew rapidly particularly after the India-Sri Lanka FTA came into force in March 2000. Between 2000-2008, the bilateral trade multiplied nearly five-fold.
The bilateral trade between India and Sri Lanka trade was USD 4 billion in 2010-11 and has the potential to double to USD 8 billion within the next three years. It is worth noting that Sri Lanka is India’s largest trade partner in South Asia while India, in turn, is Sri Lanka’s largest trade partner globally. The trade between the two countries grew rapidly particularly after the India-Sri Lanka FTA came into force in March 2000. Between 2000-2008, the bilateral trade multiplied nearly five-fold.
Indian scientist Ashoke Sen bags top physics honour
Ashy an unassuming Indian scientist in Allahabad has won the world's
biggest prize in physics . Ashoke Sen, a professor at the little known
but exclusive Harish-Chandra Research Institute
, Allahabad , was on July 31 declared one of the winners of the first
Fundamental Physics prize started by Russian billionaire Yuri Milner.
Sen and eight other scientists will get $3 million each — double of what is given with the Nobel prize. Seven of the winners are based in the United States, one in France and one in India. Sen has been awarded for his pioneering work on string theory.
Typically, Ashoke Sen deflected attention away from himself and pointed at others in the field in India.
Yuri Milner made billions from investments in various internet-based companies after giving up his job as researcher at Moscow's Lebedev Physical Institute. He personally selected the winners of this year's award but in future the work would be done by a panel.
Sen studied in Shailendra Sircar Vidyalaya, and then Presidency College, in Kolkata before going to IIT Kanpur in 1976. He got his doctorate from State University of New York, Stonybrook and then worked at Fermilab and Stanford before returning to India.
Sen and eight other scientists will get $3 million each — double of what is given with the Nobel prize. Seven of the winners are based in the United States, one in France and one in India. Sen has been awarded for his pioneering work on string theory.
Typically, Ashoke Sen deflected attention away from himself and pointed at others in the field in India.
Yuri Milner made billions from investments in various internet-based companies after giving up his job as researcher at Moscow's Lebedev Physical Institute. He personally selected the winners of this year's award but in future the work would be done by a panel.
Sen studied in Shailendra Sircar Vidyalaya, and then Presidency College, in Kolkata before going to IIT Kanpur in 1976. He got his doctorate from State University of New York, Stonybrook and then worked at Fermilab and Stanford before returning to India.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Council of Ministers
| Serial Number | Portfolio | Name of Minister |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Prime Minister Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Ministry of Planning Department of Atomic Energy Department of Space |
Dr. Manmohan Singh |
| 2. | Minister of Finance | Shri Palaniappan Chidambaram |
| 3. | Minister of Agriculture Minister of Food Processing Industries |
Shri Sharad Chandra Govindrao Pawar |
| 4. | Minister of Defence | Shri A.K. Antony |
| 5. | Minister of Home Affairs | Shri Sushil Kumar Sambhajirao Shinde |
| 6. | Minister of External Affairs | Shri S.M. Krishna |
| 7. | Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister of Science and Technology Minister of Earth Sciences |
Shri Vilasrao Dagadojirao Deshmukh |
| 8. | Minister of Health and Family Welfare | Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad |
| 9. | Minister of Power Minister of Corporate Affairs |
Dr.(Shri) M. Veerappa Moily |
| 10. | Minister of New and Renewable Energy | Dr. Farooq Abdullah |
| 11. | Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas | Shri Jaipal Sudini Reddy |
| 12. | Minister of Urban Development | Shri Kamal Nath |
| 13. | Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs | Shri Vayalar Ravi |
| 14. | Minister of Civil Aviation | Shri Ajit Singh |
| 15. | Minister of Information and Broadcasting | Smt. Ambika Soni |
| 16. | Minister of Labour and Employment | Shri Mallikarjun Kharge |
| 17. | Minister of Human Resource Development Minister of Communications and Information Technology |
Shri Kapil Sibal |
| 18. | Minister of Commerce Industry and Minister of Textiles |
Shri Anand Sharma |
| 19. | Minister of Road Transport and Highways | Shri C. P. Joshi |
| 20. | Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister of Culture |
Kumari Selja |
| 21. | Minister of Tourism | Shri Subodh Kant Sahai |
| 22. | Minister of Shipping | Shri G.K. Vasan |
| 23. | Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Minister of Water Resources |
Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal |
| 24. | Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment | Shri Mukul Balkrishna Wasnik |
| 25. | Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers | Shri M. K. Alagiri |
| 26. | Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises | Shri Praful Manoharbhai Patel |
| 27. | Minister of Coal | Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal |
| 28. | Minister of Law and Justice Minister of Minority Affairs |
Shri Salman Khurshid |
| 29. | Minister of Tribal Affairs Minister of Panchayati Raj |
Shri V. Kishore Chandra Deo |
| 30. | Minister of Steel | Shri Beni Prasad Verma |
| 31. | Minister of Railways | Shri Mukul Roy |
| 32. | Minister of Rural Development Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation |
Shri Jairam Ramesh |
| Serial Number | Portfolio | Name of Minister |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ministry of Mines | Shri Dinsha J. Patel |
| 2. | Ministry of Women and Child Development | Smt. Krishna Tirath |
| 3. | Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports | Shri Ajay Maken |
| 4. | Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution | Prof. Kuruppassery Varkey Thomas |
| 5. | Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers |
Shri Srikant Kumar Jena |
| 6. | Ministry of Environment and Forests | Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan |
| 7. | Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs |
Shri Paban Singh Ghatowar |
| Serial Number | Portfolio | Name of Minister |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ministry of External Affairs Ministry of Human Resource Development |
Shri E. Ahamed |
| 2. | Ministry of Home Affairs | Shri Ramachandran Mullappally |
| 3. | Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Prime Minister Office |
Shri V. Narayanasamy |
| 4. | Ministry of Commerce and Industry | Shri Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia |
| 5. | Ministry of Human Resource Development | Smt. Daggubati Purandeswari |
| 6. | Ministry of Railways | Shri K.H. Muniyappa |
| 7. | Ministry of Textiles | Smt. Lakshmi Panabaka |
| 8. | Ministry of Finance | Shri Namo Narain Meena |
| 9. | Ministry of Defence | Shri M. Mangapati Pallam Raju |
| 10. | Ministry of Urban Development | Shri Saugata Roy |
| 11. | Ministry of Finance | Shri S.S. Palanimanickam |
| 12. | Ministry of Road Transport and Highways | Shri Jitin Prasada |
| 13. | Ministry of External Affairs | Smt. Preneet Kaur |
| 14. | Ministry of Agriculture Ministry of Food Processing Industries Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs |
Shri Harish Rawat |
| 15. | Ministry of Railways | Shri Bharatsinh Madhavsinh Solanki |
| 16. | Ministry of Tribal Affairs | Shri Mahadeo Singh Khandela |
| 17. | Ministry of Rural Development | Shri Sisir Kumar Adhikari |
| 18. | Ministry of Tourism | Shri Sultan Ahmed |
| 19. | Ministry of Information and Broadcasting | Shri Choudhury Mohan Jatua |
| 20. | Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment | Shri D. Napoleon |
| 21. | Ministry of Information and Broadcasting | Shri S. Jagathrakshakan |
| 22. | Ministry of Health and Family Welfare | Shri S. Gandhiselvan |
| 23. | Ministry of Road Transport and Highways | Shri Tushar Amarsinh Chaudhary |
| 24. | Ministry of Communications and Information Technology | Shri Sachin Pilot |
| 25. | Ministry of Coal | Shri Pratik Prakashbapu Patil |
| 26. | Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry of Corporate Affairs |
Shri Ratanjit Pratap Narain Singh |
| 27. | Ministry of Water Resources Ministry of Minority Affairs |
Shri Vincent H Pala |
| 28. | Ministry of Rural Development | Shri Pradeep Kumar Jain Aditya |
| 29. | Ministry of Rural Development | Ms. Agatha Sangma |
| 30. | Ministry of Planning Ministry of Science and Technology Ministry of Earth Sciences |
Shri Ashwani Kumar |
| 31. | Ministry of Power | Shri K. C. Venugopal |
| 32. | Ministry of Health and Family Welfare | Shri Sudip Bandyopadhyay |
| 33. | Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Food Processing Industries Ministry of Food Processing Industries |
Shri Charan Das Mahant |
| 34. | Ministry of Home Affairs | Shri Jitendra Singh |
| 35. | Ministry of Communications and Information Technology | Shri Milind Murli Deora |
| 36. | Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs | Shukla Shri Rajeev |
Monday, July 30, 2012
LECTURERS IN GOVERNMENT POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES (ENGINEERING AND NONENGINEERING) IN A.P. TECHNICAL EDUCATION SERVICE GENERAL RECRUITMENT
LECTURERS IN GOVERNMENT POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES (ENGINEERING AND NONENGINEERING) IN A.P. TECHNICAL EDUCATION SERVICE GENERAL RECRUITMENT
NOT I F ICAT ION NO. 1 9 / 2 0 1 2 , Da t e d : 3 0 / 0 7 / 2 0 1 2
Recruitment Applications online are invited between 06/11/2012 to 06/12/2012 and the last date for payment of fee is 04/12/2012.
The Written Examination will be held on 06/01/2013.
The candidates are advised to visit Commission’s Website for detailed information.
Notification Details Click Here
NOT I F ICAT ION NO. 1 9 / 2 0 1 2 , Da t e d : 3 0 / 0 7 / 2 0 1 2
Recruitment Applications online are invited between 06/11/2012 to 06/12/2012 and the last date for payment of fee is 04/12/2012.
The Written Examination will be held on 06/01/2013.
The candidates are advised to visit Commission’s Website for detailed information.
Notification Details Click Here
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Indian Police Service (Limited) Competitive Exam, 2012
Objective Type
Papers
Paper I
Paper II
Paper III - English
Paper IV - Essay
Paper V - General Studies
Paper I
Paper II
Descriptive Type
Papers
Paper III - English
Paper IV - Essay
Paper V - General Studies
UPSC Civil Services Prelims Exam 2012 Results
The candidates with the Roll Numbers
mentioned in the above link have qualified for admission to the Civil
Services (Main) Examination, 2012 based on the result of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2012 held on 20.05.2012.
Instructions to Candidates:
- In accordance with the Rules of the Examination, all these candidates have to apply again in the Detailed Application Form (DAF), which would be available on the website of the Union Public Service Commission www.upsc.gov.in.
- All the qualified candidates are advised to fill up the DAF and submit the same ONLINE for admission to the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2012 to be held from 05.10.2012.
- The DAF will be available on the website of the Commission from 1st August, 2012 till 11.59 PM on 21/08/2012. Important instructions regarding filling up of the DAF and submitting the same ONLINE to the Commission would also be available on the website.
- The candidates who have been declared successful have to first get themselves registered on the relevant page of the website before filling up the ONLINE Detailed Application Form.
- The qualified candidates are further advised to refer to the Rules of the Civil Services Examination, 2012 published in the gazette of India (Extraordinary) of Department of Personnel and Training notification dated 04.2.2012, which is also available on the website of the Commission.
- After submitting the DAF duly filled in ONLINE, the candidates are required to take out a print out of the finally submitted DAF separately and will have to send the printed copy of the DAF duly signed by the candidates alongwith all relevant documents including the prescribed fees, wherever applicable as enclosures addressed to the Under Secretary [CS(M)], Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110069, so as to reach the Commission's Office latest by 27/08/2012.
- The envelope containing the print out of the DAF submitted ONLINE should be superscribed “Application for Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2012”. It can also be delivered at Union Public Service Commission counter by hand till 27/08/2012 (5.00 P.M). It may be noted that mere submission of application form does not, ipso facto, confer on any right for admission to the Main Examination.
- The admission certificate alongwith the time table of the Main Examination will be issued to the eligible candidates 2-3 weeks before the commencement of the examination. Changes, if any, in the postal address after submission of the DAF may be communicated to the Commission at once.
The Union Public Service Commission have a Facilitation Counter
near the Examination Hall Building in its Campus.
Candidates may obtain any information/clarification regarding their
result of the above mentioned examination on all working days
between 10.00 AM to 5.00 PM, in person or on Tel. No. 011-23385271,
011-23098543 or 011-23381125 from this Facilitation Counter.
Candidates can also obtain information regarding their result by
accessing Union Public Service Commission Website
www.upsc.gov.in. The result of Roll Nos.253465 has been withheld.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Global Investment Conference in London
The Union Minister of Commerce, Industry and Textiles
Shri Anand Sharma addressed on July 26 The Global Investment Conference in
London. Speaking during a session on Global Trade Partnerships, Shri
Sharma put stress on the issue of free movement of labour across the
borders. Shri Sharma said that “if we are viewing the trade paradigm
from a perspective of generating sustainable employment, it is
imperative to address the issue of free movement of labour across
borders”. He also wondered as to why “in today’s globalised world, where
capital and technology move with unprecedented speed, in unprecedented
volumes across national boundaries”, labour cannot move. British
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Dr. Vince Cable
and Dr. Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investment, Nigeria, were
also present during the session on Global Trade Partnerships.
Highlighting the success of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), European Union’s growth, and dynamism of Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, which Shri Sharma said are “testimony to the potential offered by freer markets and liberal trade regimes”, he added that it is no longer an option for countries to stand back in isolation and erect barriers around their national boundaries. “Today, intra-NAFTA trade constitutes 51% of its total trade, intra-EU trade is 65% and intra-ASEAN trade is a quarter of the total ASEAN trade,” Shri Sharma said to underscore that regional trade agreements are now the building blocks of the emerging global economic architecture.
Stating that India has “engaged with all dynamic and emerging parts of the world in a spirit of true partnerships”, Shri Sharma said that India is in “an advanced stage of concluding an ambitious Broad based Trade and Investment agreement with EU.” India, in the last three years, has also signed Trade in Goods Agreement with ASEAN, Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements with Republic of Korea, Japan, and Malaysia.
Highlighting the success of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), European Union’s growth, and dynamism of Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, which Shri Sharma said are “testimony to the potential offered by freer markets and liberal trade regimes”, he added that it is no longer an option for countries to stand back in isolation and erect barriers around their national boundaries. “Today, intra-NAFTA trade constitutes 51% of its total trade, intra-EU trade is 65% and intra-ASEAN trade is a quarter of the total ASEAN trade,” Shri Sharma said to underscore that regional trade agreements are now the building blocks of the emerging global economic architecture.
Stating that India has “engaged with all dynamic and emerging parts of the world in a spirit of true partnerships”, Shri Sharma said that India is in “an advanced stage of concluding an ambitious Broad based Trade and Investment agreement with EU.” India, in the last three years, has also signed Trade in Goods Agreement with ASEAN, Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements with Republic of Korea, Japan, and Malaysia.
NSIC to Set Up Incubation Centres in Africa
The National Small Industries Corporation Limited
(NSIC), a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Micro, Small
& Medium Enterprises is setting up incubation centers in ten African
Countries including Gaborone, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Libya, Burkina
Faso, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Burundi, Mozambique. The funding of Incubation
project is done by MEA under the discussions held during the India
African forum summit held in 2008.
The NSIC model of incubation is a unique model of incubation for small enterprise establishment where the budding entrepreneurs are trained for establishment of small enterprises. The trainees are given hand on experience on the project which they proposed to set up and the course module includes basic skill development, facilitation on fund management to banks, interaction on project suppliers for machine for technology supply, marketing product packaging, costing and pricing, general banking procedure, basic book keeping and accounting etc.
The projects identified to be set up in these ten countries are concrete block manufacturing plant, tomato ketchup and fruit juice making plant, paper corrugated box manufacturing plant, plant for making cookies, blow-molding plant, wire nail manufacturing, soya milk extraction, socks knitting, manufacturing of plastic bottle cap, water treatment plants, noodle making machine, honey processing plant, manufacturing of plastic shopping bags, jewelry making and finishing equipment, gem stone cutting and polishing machines.
The NSIC model of incubation is a unique model of incubation for small enterprise establishment where the budding entrepreneurs are trained for establishment of small enterprises. The trainees are given hand on experience on the project which they proposed to set up and the course module includes basic skill development, facilitation on fund management to banks, interaction on project suppliers for machine for technology supply, marketing product packaging, costing and pricing, general banking procedure, basic book keeping and accounting etc.
The projects identified to be set up in these ten countries are concrete block manufacturing plant, tomato ketchup and fruit juice making plant, paper corrugated box manufacturing plant, plant for making cookies, blow-molding plant, wire nail manufacturing, soya milk extraction, socks knitting, manufacturing of plastic bottle cap, water treatment plants, noodle making machine, honey processing plant, manufacturing of plastic shopping bags, jewelry making and finishing equipment, gem stone cutting and polishing machines.
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