PM constitutes National Committee on Direct Cash Transfers

The Prime Minister has constituted a coordination committee called the National Committee on Direct Cash Transfers, as a mechanism to coordinate action for the introduction of direct cash transfers to individuals under the various government schemes and programmes.

            The National Committee chaired by the Prime Minister will have as its members eleven Cabinet Ministers, two Ministers of State with independent charge, the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, the Chairman UIDAI, the Cabinet Secretary with the Principal Secretary to the PM as the convenor. The Prime Minister may invite any other Minister/Officer/Expert to any meeting of the Committee.

The National Committee on Direct Cash Transfers would engage in the following tasks:

a) Provide an overarching vision and direction to enable direct cash transfers of benefits under various government schemes and programmes to individuals, leveraging the investments being made in the Aadhaar Project, financial inclusion and other initiatives of the Government, with the objective of enhancing efficiency, transparency and accountability.

b) Determine broad policy objectives and strategies for direct cash transfers.

c) Identify Government programmes and schemes for which direct cash transfers to individuals can be adopted and suggest the extent and scope of direct cash transfers in each case.

d) Coordinate the activities of various Ministries/ Departments/ Agencies involved in enabling direct cash transfers and ensure timely, coordinated action to ensure speedy rollout of direct cash transfers across the country.

e) Specify timelines for the rollout of direct cash transfers.

f) Review the progress of implementation of direct cash transfers and provide guidance for mid-course corrections.

g) Any other related matter.

 The National Committee on Cash Transfers will be assisted by an Executive Committee on Direct Cash Transfers chaired by the Principal Secretary to PM and the Secretaries of the concerned Ministries and the DG UIDAI. The Secretary Planning Commission will be the convenor.

The Executive Committee on Direct Cash Transfers would engage in the following tasks:

a) Identify and propose for the consideration of the National Committee on Cash Transfers such Government programmes and schemes for which direct cash transfers to individuals can be adopted and suggest the extent and scope of direct cash transfers in each case.

b) Ensure the preparation of and approve strategies and action plans for the speedy rollout of direct cash transfers in areas agreed to and in line with the timelines laid down by the National Committee on Cash Transfers.

c) Coordinate the activities of various Ministries/ Departments / Agencies involved in enabling direct cash transfers to ensure that the architecture and framework for direct cash transfers is in place for rolling out direct cash transfers across the country.

d) Review and monitor the rollout of direct cash transfers and undertake mid-course corrections as and when necessary.

e) Any other related matter entrusted by the National Committee on Cash Transfers or relating to direct cash transfers.

            The Chairman may invite any other Officer/Expert to any meeting of the Executive Committee as may be necessary. The National Committee and the Executive Committee would be serviced by the Planning Commission, which may obtain assistance as required from any Ministry/Department/Agency of the Government in this task. The Planning Commission will designate an officer of the rank of Joint Secretary in the Planning Commission to coordinate and service the work of the National Committee and Executive Committee.

            In order to finalise the operational and implementation details relating to the design and implementation of the direct cash transfer system, and for ensuring a smooth roll-out of direct cash transfers in an orderly and timely fashion, Mission Mode Committees will be constituted.

These will be:

a) Technology Committee to focus on the  technology,  payment architecture and IT issues.

b) Financial Inclusion Committee to focus on ensuring universal access to banking and ensuring complete financial inclusion.

c) Implementation Committees on Electronic Transfer of Benefits at the Ministry/ Department level to work out the details of cash transfers for each department such as data bases, direct cash transfer rules and control and audit mechanisms.

The notifications for these three committees will be issued in due course.

The composition of the National Committee on Direct Cash Transfers is as follows:

1.      Prime Minister                                              -        Chairperson

2.      Finance Minister

3.      Minister of Communications & IT

4.      Minister of Rural Development

5.      Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment

6.      Minister of Human Resource Development

7.      Minister of Tribal Affairs

8.      Minister of Minority Affairs

9.      Minister of Health & Family Welfare

10.    Minister of Labour & Employment

11.    Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas

12.    Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers

13.    Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission

14.    Minister of State (i/c) of Food & Public Distribution

15.    Minister of State (i/c) of Women & Child Development

16.    Chairman, UIDAI

17.    Cabinet Secretary

18.    Principal Secretary to PM                                -        Convenor

Shome Panel Report on GAAR

The Government had constituted an Expert Committee on General Anti Avoidance Rules (GAAR) to undertake stakeholder consultations and finalise the GAAR guidelines as well as a roadmap for implementation. The Committee, chaired by Dr. Parthasarathi Shome, has submitted its draft report after analysis of the GAAR provisions and noting the concerns expressed by various shareholders. The draft report has recommended certain amendments in the Income-tax Act, 1961; guidelines to be prescribed under the Income-tax Rules, 1962; circular to clarify GAAR provisions along with illustrations; and other measures to improve tax administration specifically oriented towards GAAR matters. The terms of reference of the Committee are: a) Receive comments from stakeholders and the general public on the draft GAAR guidelines which have been published by the Government on its website. b) Vet and rework the guidelines based on this feedback and publish the second draft of the GAAR guidelines for comments and consultations. c) Undertake widespread consultations on the second draft GAAR guidelines. d) Finalize the GAAR guidelines and a roadmap for implementation and submit these to the government. Highlights of the Recommendations: a) Recommendations for amendments in the Income-tax Act, 1961 • The implementation of GAAR may be deferred by three years on administrative grounds. GAAR is an extremely advanced instrument of tax administration – one of deterrence, rather than for revenue generation – for which intensive training of tax officers, who would specialize in the finer aspects of international taxation, is needed. Hence GAAR should be deferred for 3 years. But the year, 2016-17, should be announced now. In effect, therefore, GAAR would apply from 2017-18. • Abolish the tax on gains arising from transfer of listed securities, whether in the nature of capital gains or business income, to both residents as well as non-residents. • The Act should be amended to provide that only arrangements which have the main purpose (and not one of the main purposes) of obtaining tax benefit should be covered under GAAR. An arrangement shall be deemed to be lacking commercial substance, if it does not have a significant effect upon the business risks, or net cash flows, of any party to the arrangement apart from any effect attributable to the tax benefit that would be obtained.‖ • As regards constitution of the Approving Panel(AP),  the Committee recommends that – The Approving Panel should consist of five members including I. Chairman; II. The Chairman should be a retired judge of the High Court; III. Two members should be from outside Govt. and persons of eminence drawn from the fields of accountancy, economics or business, with knowledge of matters of income-tax; and IV. Two members should be Chief Commissioners of income tax; or one Chief Commissioner and one Commissioner. The Approving Panel should be a permanent body with a secretariat.  It should have a two year term. A decision of the AP should occur by a majority of members. b) Recommendations under Income tax Rules • The GAAR provisions should be subject to an overarching principle that – (1) Tax mitigation should be distinguished from tax avoidance before invoking GAAR. • A monetary threshold of Rs 3 crore of tax benefit (including tax only, and not interest etc) to a taxpayer in a year should be used for the applicability of GAAR provisions. In case of tax deferral, the tax benefit shall be determined based on the present value of money. c) Other recommendations The Committee has made following recommendations in respect of tax administration:- • The administration of Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR) should be strengthened so that an advance ruling may be obtained within the statutory time frame of six months. • Shall not invoke GAAR where the taxpayer submits a satisfactory undertaking to pay tax along with interest in case it is found that GAAR provisions are applicable in relation to the remittance during the course of assessment proceedings; or • To minimize the deficiency of trust between the tax administration and taxpayers, concerted training programmes should be initiated for all AO‘s placed, or to be placed, in the area of international taxation.

BSE joins UN's Sustainable Stock Exchanges global initiative

The Bombay Stock Exchange Ltd (BSE) announced that it has joined the Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative.

The SSE initiative was launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNCTAD Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi in 2009 at UN headquarters in New York City.

The BSE has been the first amongst global peers to join five other leading exchanges that have publicly committed to promoting sustainable investment practices.

Other exchanges include the Brazilian stock exchange BM & FBOVESPA, Egyptian Exchange (EGX), Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE), Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and NASDAQ OMX made a commitment towards improving sustainability at the Sustainable Stock Exchanges 2012 global dialogue in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year.

BSE is also credited with launching the first-ever live Carbon Index BSE-GREENEX in India, earlier in 2012. The index measures the performances of companies in terms of carbon emissions.

"BSE is committed to working with investors, companies and regulators in playing a transformative role towards enhancing sustainability in Indian capital markets.

The initiative aims at exploring how exchanges can work together with stakeholders to enhance corporate transparency and performance on ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) issues besides encouraging responsible long-term approaches to investment.

COP 11 held in Hyderabad Emphasised on Biodiversities Well Being

The XIth Conference of the Parties (COP 11) - Convention on Biological Diversity was organised by the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India from 8 October to 19 October 2012. Eleventh meeting of the COP 11 was held at Hyderabad International Convention Centre, and the conference included a high-level ministerial segment meet that was organised by India in consultation with the Bureau and Secretariat and it took place from 17 October to 19 October 2012.

Mobilisation of financial resources was the theme for the COP 11 summit. The next round of the conference is scheduled to take place in Korea after 2 years. Finding out the commendable solution by discussions over the issues of the Earth’s bio-diversity is the main agenda of the conference.  The conference was attended by more than 5000 delegates from 180 countries. Enrollment of about 14,400 participants in the convention made it the largest biodiversity gathering of its time.

Demands of Developing and Developed Countries:
•    African countries like Namibia demanded developed nations to stand by their promise fund allocation for saving the bio-diversity, made in the 2010 protocol
•    The developed nations stood by their demand of creating a baseline of the investments made by now and how much more was needed

Discussions on Identified Targets of Nagoya Protocol:
•    Discussion over the 20 identified targets at 2010 Nagoya Protocol was also done to find out the problems that it faced for implementation.

India’s Stand:
India also demanded steps to be taken for ecosystem restoration and establishment of a relationship between biodiversity and climate change, identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas in marine ecosystems.

India to Chair the Conference for Next Two Years as its President: India will be Chairing the Conference as its President for next two years. The Union Environment and Forests Minister Jayanthi Natarajan took over the charge of COP-11 as its President for next two years.
•    The Union Environment and Forests Minister Jayanthi Natarajan, who took over the charge of COP-11 as its President for next two years emphasised on the issue of resource mobilization that remained an unfinished agenda of COP-10 at Nagoya in Japan
•    Manmohan Singh the Prime Minister of India announced a grant of $50 million for strengthening the institutional mechanism of biodiversity conservation in India and other developing countries by the name of Hyderabad Pledge
•    The Prime Minister also launched the high level segment of the 11th conference of parties during the UN Convention on Biodiversity meeting at Hyderabad. This conference was the first conference after the launch of Decade of Biodiversity by United Nations in 2011.

The high level meet took place during the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity (UNBD) that was declared by the United Nations General Assembly following its resolution 65/161. This plan was designed to find out the solutions for the objectives like Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Across the UNBD, a trial to encourage government and representatives of different countries to develop, implement and communicate the results established by their national strategies designed for fine implementation of the strategic plan over biodiversity.

Plan and Programmes Launched during COP11 Conference:
•    BirdLife International on 16 October 2012 launched an e-Atlas of Marine-Important Bird Areas during COP11. The e-Atlas would act as an inventory and carry data of around 3000 important bird areas from across the world and can play a major role in conserving the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) target for protection of 10 percent coastal and marine Areas by 2020
•    The NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority) also declared its plan to create a national database for tigers, the flagship species of India proving a unique identification code and number to each one of these big cats in India. This was declared by the member secretary of NTCA, Rajesh Gopal during an event organized with a theme Have We Turned the Corner in Tiger Conservation

Conclusion
Amid the discussions and concerns, the COP 11 conference failed to reach to a concrete decision of making resource mobilisation and fund arrangements done. Indian Prime Minister allocated a fund of $50 million for strengthening the mechanism for preserving the biodiversity in India and other Developing nations. Although several steps and things were critically discussed and concerns were raised to achieve better results and face the upcoming challenges.

Successful CoP - Leading the Way Forward

Following are the highlights of the CoP-11 Conference on Biodiversity concluded in Hyderabad on 19 October, 2012:

• Largest ever such conference organised in India. 170 countries participated. The number of pre registered delegates around 15000. Minister/Vice Minister level participation around 80. More than 400 side events – many organised by the World Bank, UNDP, GEF, other countries and International and national NGOs.

• The elements of successful CoP were flawless logistics, strategic thinking in the development of Agenda’s content, participation of a large number of stakeholders and persuasive yet effective negotiations.

• One of the most important outcomes of the CoP is the commitment of the Parties to double the international financial flows for Bio Diversity by 2015. This will translate into additional financial flows to the developing countries to the tune of about US $ 30 billion equivalent to about Rs. 1,50,000 crore over the next 8 years. This is a major achievement especially in the context of .

1. Global economic downturn

2. Contentious stands regarding the robust baseline and the reporting mechanism

3. Absence of any such target in the recommendation sent to the CoP by WGRI

4. With no proposal from Working Group on Review of Implementation (WGRI) the Parties would not have come with the required clearance from the respective Finance Ministries.

India rectified the situation by her initiatives

1. Suggested a two track solution envisaging a preliminary target and a road map.

2. Co sponsored informal dialogue to promote better Understanding among the parties of the issues involved.

3. Co sponsored India UK High Level Panel to assess the requirement of funds.

4. Worked closely with the Bureau to introduce a specific element of preliminary target, so that the parties come prepared with mandates from their Finance Ministries.

5. During the CoP India led the efforts of the Parties to find a satisfactory outcome

• Way Forward India will like to play its leadership role during India’s Presidency by supporting and hosting capacity building in the developing countries to help them prepare project proposals to avail the additional funding now envisaged.

• India will now be working closely with all the member countries to make a success of the Hyderabad Road Map. India will also share its experience with other countries to help them establish a robust baseline, so that the target for resources fixed now is further refined by CoP 12. India has already set apart a sum of Rs. 50 crores towards South South cooperation.

• India has launched the initiative of Hyderabad Pledge which is now available on the web site of CBD. All the countries are requested to pledge money for the cause of bio diversity. MEF will now write to all the Ministers the world over requesting them to pledge additional resources for Biodiversity.

• India has already ratified Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit sharing. India during its Presidency will work tirelessly for the ratification of the Protocol by 50 countries so that it comes into force during the Presidency of India. Towards this end, India will offer to host the meeting of the Inter Governmental Committee of Nagoya Protocol. India will also host capacity building workshops of developing Countries to help them take legislative / administrative measures. India has already offered to meet part of the cost of the meeting of the Working Group on Art. 8j on Traditional Knowledge.

• After the resounding success of the Science Express Biodiversity Special. The Government will take special efforts to increase the reach of this Express to even more remote corners of the country to increase the awareness about Biodiversity.

• Many delegates who visited the Biodiversity express in Hyderabad wanted something similar done in their country. India will explore ways of replicating this wonderful success of Biodiversity Express in other countries by providing them appropriate support.

• In Hyderabad, a commemorative Pylon and a Biodiversity Garden have been established. The Prime Minister of India had planted the first tree on behalf of India, representatives of the participating countries have also planted trees. It has been decided to establish a Biodiversity Museum on this site. This will be a token of gratitude to the people of Hyderabad whose hospitality had won the heart of every international delegate. Hyderabad is the first host city of CBD CoP to establish commemorative Pylon, garden and museum.

• During its Presidency India will take special steps to strengthen the State Biodiversity Boards and to prepare Peoples Biodiversity Registers at the village level. A sum of about Rs.250 crores has been approved for this purpose.

• India will substantially increase its allocation for Biodiversity by working closely with other Ministries for mainstreaming of Biodiversity.

• India has instituted together with UNDP Biodiversity Governance Awards. The first such awards were given during the CoP 11. It is now proposed to institute Rajiv Gandhi International Award for Harnessing Biodiversity for Livelihood.

'The Cities and Biodiversity Outlook' report 2012

The "Cities and Biodiversity Outlook" (CBO) consists of a global assessment of the links between urbanization, biodiversity and ecosystem services. Combining science and policy, scientists from around the world analyze how urbanization and urban growth impacts biodiversity and ecosystems; deliver key messages on the conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources to decision-makers. With the world’s urban area set to triple during 2000 and 2030, growing urbanization will have significant implications on biodiversity if the current trend continues. According to a new assessment made by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, over 60 per cent of the land projected to become urban by 2030 is yet to be built. The assessment has been drawn by the contributions from more than 123 scientists’ worldwide. This presents a major opportunity to greatly improve global sustainability by promoting low-carbon, resource-efficient urban development that can reduce adverse effects on biodiversity and improve quality of life. The report states that urban expansion is occurring fast in areas close to biodiversity ‘hotspots’ and coastal zones. In rapidly urbanizing regions, such as large and mid-size settlements in sub-Saharan Africa, India and China, resources to implement sustainable urban planning are often lacking. The report made a strong argument for greater attention to be paid by urban planners and managers to the nature-based assets within city boundaries. Sustainable urban development that supports valuable ecosystems presents a major opportunity for improving lives and livelihoods, and accelerating the transition to an inclusive green economy. Cities are also increasingly recognized for their role in supporting plant and animal species and diverse ecosystems. For example, over 50 percent of Belgium’s floral species can be found in Brussels, while 65 percent of Poland’s bird species occur in Warsaw. Urban green spaces perform important ecosystem services, such as filtering dust, absorbing carbon dioxide from the air and improving air quality. Data from the United Kingdom shows that a 10 percent increase in tree canopy cover in cities may result in a 3-4°C decrease in ambient temperature, thus reducing energy used in air conditioning. Urban biodiversity also delivers important health benefits. Studies have shown that proximity to trees can reduce the prevalence of childhood asthma and allergies. Sustainable urban planning, which addresses biodiversity issues along with other priorities such as poverty alleviation, employment, and housing, can bring positive effects for health and the environment. Cities need to learn how to better protect and enhance biodiversity, because rich biodiversity can exist in cities and is extremely critical to people’s health and well-being.

UN State of the World's Cities Report-2012

UN-Habitat has launched the State of World's Cities Report 2012/2013. Titled 'The Prosperity of Cities', the report recommends that those engaged in development work need to explore a more inclusive notion of prosperity and development. According to the report there was an urgent need for a shift in attention around the world in favour of a more robust notion of development. – one that looks beyond the narrow domain of economic growth that has dominated ill-balanced policy agendas over the last decades, and includes other vital dimensions such as quality of life, adequate infrastructures, equity and environmental sustainability. “In this Report, UN-Habitat advocates for a new type of city – the city of the 21st century – that is a good people centred city. CHARACTERISTICS OF CITY OF THE 21ST CENTURY: a) Reduces disaster risks and vulnerabilities for the poor and build resilience to adverse forces of nature. b) Creates harmony between the five dimensions of prosperity and enhances the prospects for a better future. c) Stimulates local job creation, promotes social diversity, maintains a sustainable environment and recognizes the importance of public spaces. d) Comes with a change of pace, profile and urban functions and provides the social, political and economic conditions of prosperity. In order to measure present and future progress of cities towards the prosperity path, UN-Habitat introduces a new tool - the CITY PROSPERITY INDEX- together with a conceptual matrix, the WHEEL OF PROSPERITY, both of which are meant to assist decision makers to design clear policy interventions. THE CITY PROSPERITY INDEX (CPI): a) Includes 5 dimensions of prosperity: productivity, infrastructure, quality of life, equity and environmental sustainability. b) Enables decision-makers to identify opportunities and potential areas along the path of prosperity. THE WHEEL OF PROSPERITY: a) Ensures the prevalence of public over any other kind of interest. b) Controls the direction and pace of city growth towards prosperity. INDIAN SITUATION Mumbai and Delhi figure among 95 world cities identified by the United Nations as those moving towards prosperity, but the two Indian metropolis are just "half-way" to achieving it with the reasons being poor infrastructure and environment conditions among others. The report places Mumbai at the 52nd position and New Delhi at 58th among the world cities, though two Chinese cities - Shanghai and Beijing - figure much above. Two Indian cities come under the Group 4 and they are in the medium level (of prosperity). Prosperity is not just the economic prosperity, but the kind of infrastructure and the quality of life in the city. Both the cities have been penalised for poor environment conditions, especially New Delhi. The report also praises the IT revolution that Bangalore has been able to achieve and calls Hyderabad as the pharmaceutical capital of India. On ICTs criteria in Asian cities Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai feature mobile telephone connection rates of 138 per cent, 112 per cent, 102 per cent and 143 per cent respectively. The report also noted that cities in India are fast expanding at the cost of rural areas and pitched for a policy for use of land in cities.

INDIA - NEW ZEALAND EDUCATION COUNCIL MEET

India and New Zealand signed five Memoranda of Understanding in the different fields of education. The MoUs were signed in the presence of Union Human Resource and Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal and New Zealand's Minister for Tertiary, Education, Skills and Employment Steven Joyce during the first meeting of the India-New Zealand Education Council. The Council has been constituted to draw up a framework and devise mechanisms of co-operation and set the agenda for improving educational relations between the two countries. India and New Zealand expressed their commitment to earmark US $ 1 million annually to enhance the cooperative activities through specific programmes designed by the India-New Zealand Education Council. The programmes will include joint research, student mobility, faculty development, qualifications framework as well as vocational education and training, among others. Six MoUs of cooperation between different institutions were signed during the meet: a) MoU between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of the Republic of India and Sport New Zealand of the Government of New Zealand on Cooperation in the field of Sports. The objectives of this MoU are to encourage and promote an exchange of programmes, experiences, skills, techniques, information and knowledge. b) Educational Partnership Agreement between University of Delhi, India and Massy University New Zealand. The MoU covers: Joint teaching (Including online, blended and distance education); Joint Quality Enhancement (Including benchmarking and academic development); Exchange of publications, academic material and students. c) Memorandum of collaboration between Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), India and the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand. Objectives of the partnership are: I. To establish a network of partnership for vocational education through distance education II. Sharing of experiences through communication of faculty III. Develop strategies for design development and implementation of Under Graduate and Post graduate programmes with entry and exit point. IV. Develop joint R&D project collaborations V. Create avenues for ICT enabled education VI. Establish interface learner space d) MoU between Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand and Jawahar Lal Nehru University of India to  Exchange of faculty members, students and conduct Joint Research activities and Joint Cultural Programmes. e) MoU between Waiariki Institute of Technology of New Zealand and Punjab Technical University, India for developing opportunities for fee paying  students to pathway onto Waiariki qualifications and/or obtain credit for courses towards a qualification at the Punjab Technical University The members of the Council recognized skill development, especially catering to the needs of the industry and keeping  pace with the exponential growth in global mobility of workforce, as one of the major challenges facing the two countries and pledged further collaboration. The mobility of students and workforce also necessitates parity in qualifications between various countries and therefore, the Council suggested early recognition of each other’s educational qualifications by India and New Zealand. The Council also noted the need to set up more institutions of excellence, for which enhancement of the quality of faculty is a key challenge. It was also agreed to collaborate in the Tribal Studies and preservation of languages, culture and traditional crafts.

APPSC POLYTECHNIC LECTURERS G.S. PAPER 2007

UPSC CIVILS 2012 ESSAY (COMPULSORY) QUESTION PAPER

Write an Essay  on any one of the following topics?    200 Marks



1.     In the Context of Gandhiji’s views on the matter,  explore on an evalutionary scale, the terms Swadhinata, Swaraj, and Dharmarajya. Critically  Comment on their contemporary relevance to Indian Democracy.


2.     Is the Criticism  that the ‘Public-Private-Partnership’ (PPP) model for development is more of  a bane that a boon in the Indian context, Justified?


3.     Science and Mysticism : Are they Compatible?


4.     Managing work and home - is the Indian working woman getting a fair deal?

CURRENT NEWS & EVENTS OCTOBER 2012

CURRENT NEWS & EVENTS SEPTEMBER 2012

British Writer Hilary Mantel won Booker Prize for Second Time

British Writer Hilary Mantel on 16 October 2012 won the prestigious literary prize, the Booker Prize for her novel Bring up the Bodies, the second in a historical trilogy set during the reign of King Henry VIII.

Hilary Mantel had earlier won the Booker prize in 2009 for "Wolf Hall," the first novel in the trilogy.

Hilary Mantel is the third author to win the prize twice, alongside South-African-born J.M. Coetzee and Australian Peter Carey. With this she also became the first British author, and the first woman, to achieve a double Booker Prize.

Bring Up the Bodies” is also the first sequel to win the prize. Bring up the Bodies and Wolf Hall are parts of a planned trilogy about Thomas Cromwell, the powerful and ambiguous chief minister to King Henry VIII.

Hilary Mantel beat five other shortlisted books to take the prize.  She was the Bookies favourite, although Britain's Will Self was also considered a strong contender for the century-spanning stream of consciousness "Umbrella."

Indian poet Jeet Thayil was also nominated for his first novel, "Narcopolis," set among heroin addicts in 1970s and 80s Mumbai, and Britain's Alison Moore for "The Lighthouse," about a middle-aged man's life-changing ferry trip to Germany.

Man Booker Prize:

The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe. The winner of the Man Booker Prize is generally assured of international renown and success.

The selection process for the winner of the prize commences with the formation of an advisory committee which includes an author, two publishers, a literary agent, a bookseller, a librarian, and a chairperson appointed by the Booker Prize Foundation.

Sachin Tendulkar to be awarded Order of Australia membership

Sachin Tendulkar is set to another feather to his already crowded cap as Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on October 16 announced that the iconic Indian cricketer will be conferred the membership of the Order of Australia, an honour “rarely” awarded to non-Australians.

Sachin Tendulkar will become only the second Indian after former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee to get the honour. Mr. Sorabjee was made an Honorary Member of the Order of Australia (AM) “for service to Australia-India bilateral legal relations” in 2006.

Tendulkar is not the first cricketer to be made an Order of Australia AM as in 2009, West Indies legend Brian Lara was also made an honorary member.

Another West Indies legend, Clive Lloyd, is an Honorary Officer in the Order of Australia, having been conferred the award way back in 1985.

The right-handed Tendulkar, considered the finest batsman in contemporary cricket, has 15,533 runs in 190 Tests besides a mammoth 18,426 runs in 463 ODIs.

US duo Alvin Roth and Lloyd Shapley win Nobel Prize in economics

Americans Alvin Roth and Lloyd Shapley were awarded the Nobel economics prize  for research that helps explain the market processes at work when doctors are assigned to hospitals, students to schools and human organs for transplant to recipients.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences cited the two economists for "the theory of stable allocations and the practice of market design".

Roth, 60, is a professor at Harvard University in Boston. Shapley, 89, is a professor emeritus at University of California Los Angeles.

"This year's prize concerns a central economic problem: how to match different agents as well as possible," the academy said.

Shapley made early theoretical contributions to the field of study, and Roth took it further by applying it to the market for US doctors. 

The economics prize was created by the Swedish central bank in Nobel's memory in 1968, and has been handed out with the other prizes ever since. Each award is worth 8 million Swedish kronor, or about $1.2 million.  

Recent winners of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, and their research: 

2012- Americans Alvin Roth and Lloyd Shapley for the theory of stable allocations and the practice of market design.

2011- Americans Thomas Sargent and Christopher Sims for their research on cause and effect in the macro economy.

2010- Americans Peter Diamond and Dale Mortensen and Christopher Pissarides, of Britain and Cyprus, for their analysis of markets with search frictions.

2009- Americans Elinor Ostrom and Oliver Williamson for their analysis of economic governance.

2008- American Paul Krugman for his analysis of trade patterns and location of economic activity.

2007- Americans Leonid Hurwicz, Eric S. Maskin and Roger B. Myerson for laying the foundations of mechanism design theory.

2006- American Edmund S. Phelps for furthering the understanding of the trade-offs between inflation and its effects on unemployment.

2005- Robert J. Aumann, of Israel and the United States, and American Thomas C. Schelling, for their work in game-theory analysis.

2004- Finn E. Kydland, Norway, and Edward C. Prescott, United States, for their contribution to dynamic macroeconomics.

2003- Robert F. Engle, United States, and Clive W.J. Granger, Britain, for their use of statistical methods for economic time series.

2002- Daniel Kahneman, United States and Israel, and Vernon L. Smith, United States, for pioneering the use of psychological and experimental economics in decision—making.

2001- George A. Akerlof, A. Michael Spence and Joseph E. Stiglitz, United States, for research into how the control of information affects markets.

2000- James J. Heckman and Daniel L. McFadden, United States, for their work in developing theories to help analyze labor data and how people make work and travel decisions.

1999- Robert A. Mundell, Canada, for innovative analysis of exchange rates that helped lay the intellectual groundwork for Europe’s common currency.

1998- Amartya Sen, India, for contributions to welfare economics, which help explain the economic mechanisms underlying famines and poverty.

1997- Robert C. Merton and Myron S. Scholes, United States, for developing a formula for the valuation of stock options.

Global Hunger Report 2012 released- India ranked at 65th position

The report on Global Hunger Index for seventh year was released on 11 October 2012 by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Welthungerhilfe, and Concern Worldwide. The basic theme of the report for the 2012 Global Hunger Index -- The Challenge of Hunger: Ensuring Sustainable Food Security under Land, Water, and Energy Stresses.

IFPRI that calculated the global hunger Index analysed the measures based upon multidimensional angles. The published report have shown a proportional growth in hunger reduction of people worldwide but recorded the progress speed was tragically slow and alarming.

The report in its findings recorded twenty countries across the world mainly from South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa to be highly alarming and have highest level of hunger, and showcased the sufferings of millions of poor.

As per the report, the nations that had showcased an absolute progress between 1990 Global Hunger Index to 2012 Global Hunger Index were Bangladesh, Angola, Malawi, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Niger, and Vietnam. Whereas there are 15 countries that have managed to reduce it by 50 percent or more. As per the report, India instead of its fast paced economic growth in past two decades has lagged behind in improving its record in Global Hunger Index chart. In the list of 79 countries in the global Hunger Index, India was ranked 65th behind China that was placed at 2nd place position, Pakistan at 57th and Sri Lanka at 37th position.

The report also points out the three countries Bangladesh, India and Timor-Leste constitutes to the highest occurrence of underweight children under the age group of five years, which records to more than 40 percent in each country. India was ranked second with 43.5 percent of the children less than five underweight in the list of the 129 countries compared for underweight child, after Timor-Leste. Countries like Ethiopia, Niger, Nepal and Bangladesh followed the chart.

The report also complained about the lack and absence of an up-to-date data and information in case of India for the ineffectiveness of Indian Government’s nutrition relevant social programmes. India’s expenditure on Nutrition-related schemes for 2012-13 states that there is not a problem of resources in this case.

India’s investments in the schemes are:

•    Mid Day Meal - 11,937 crore rupees
•    Food Subsidy - 60, 573 crore rupees
•    ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) - 15,850 crore rupees
•    MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) - 33,000 crore rupees

Whereas the surveys done during 2005-06 proved the health indicators of India to be poor with 36 percent of Indian women during their child bearing age were underweight and 43.5 percent of the children under age of 5 were underweight.

European Union wins Nobel Peace Prize

The European Union won the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to promote peace and democracy in Europe despite being in the midst of its biggest crisis since the bloc was created in the 1950s.

The Norwegian prize committee said the EU received the award for six decades of contributions “to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe. 

The EU rose from the ashes of World War II, born of the conviction that ever-closer economic ties would make sure that century-old enemies never turned on each other again. It’s now made up of 500 million people in 27 nations, with other nations lined up, waiting to join.

The idea of a united Europe began to take on a more defined shape when, on May 9, 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed that France and the Federal Republic of Germany pool their coal and steel resources in a new organization that other European countries could join.

“Today war between Germany and France is unthinkable. This shows how, through well-aimed efforts and by building up mutual confidence, historical enemies can become close partners,” the committee said.

The citation also noted the democratic conditions the EU has demanded of all those nations waiting to join, referred to Greece and Spain when they joined the 1980, and to the countries in Eastern Europe who sought EU membership after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall.

The prize focused on the EU’s historical role as a builder of peace at a time when the union’s existence is under challenge from the financial crisis that has stirred deep tensions between north and south and when there are questions about the form in which the EU will survive.

“The EU is currently undergoing grave economic difficulties and considerable social unrest,” Jagland said. “The Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to focus on what it sees as the EU’s most important result- the successful struggle for peace and reconciliation and for democracy and human rights.

Chinese author Mo Yan wins Nobel Prize for Literature

Chinese author Mo Yan has been awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize for literature. The Swedish Academy praised his work which "with hallucinatory realism merges folk tales, history and the contemporary".Mo Yan is the first Chinese resident to win the prize. Chinese-born Gao Xingjian was honoured in 2000, but is a French citizen. Mo is the 109th recipient of the prestigious prize, won last year by Swedish poet Tomas Transtroemer. Presented by the Nobel Foundation, the award - only given to living writers - is worth 8 million kronor (£741,000).

Born Guan Moye, the author writes under the pen name Mo Yan, which means "don't speak" in Chinese. He began writing while a soldier in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and received international fame in 1987 for Red Sorghum: A Novel of China. Made into a film which won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 1988, the novella was a tale of the brutal violence in the eastern China countryside where he grew up during the 1920s and 1930s. Favouring to write about China's past rather than contemporary issues, the settings for Mo's works range from the 1911 revolution, Japan's wartime invasion and Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution. Mo's other acclaimed works include Republic of Wine, Life And Death Are Wearing Me Out and Big Breasts and Wide Hips. The latter book caused controversy when it was published in 1995 for its sexual content and depicting a class struggle contrary to the Chinese Communist Party line. The author was forced by the PLA to withdraw it from publication although it was pirated many times. After it was translated into English a decade later, the book won him a nomination for the Man Asian Literary Prize. Despite his social criticism Mo is seen in his homeland as one of the foremost contemporary authors, however critics have accused him of being too close to the Communist Party.

Americans Lefkowitz, Kobilka win Nobel chemistry prize for work on protein receptors

Americans Robert Lefkowitz and Brian Kobilka won the 2012 Nobel Prize in chemistry on October 10 for studies of protein receptors that let body cells sense and respond to outside signals. Such studies are key for developing better drugs.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said the two researchers had made groundbreaking discoveries on an important family of receptors, known as G-protein-coupled receptors.

About half of all medications act on these receptors, so learning about them will help scientists to come up with better drugs.

The human body has about 1,000 kinds of such receptors, which let it respond to a wide variety of chemical signals, like adrenaline. Some receptors are in the nose, tongue and eyes, and let us sense smells, tastes and vision.

Dr. Lefkowitz, 69, is an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and professor at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Kobilka, 57, is a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. 

The academy said it was long a mystery how cells interact with their environment and adapt to new situations, such as when adrenaline increases blood pressure and makes the heart beat faster. Scientists suspected that cell surfaces had some type of receptor for hormones.

Using radioactivity, Dr. Lefkowitz managed to unveil receptors including the receptor for adrenaline, and started to understand how it works. Dr. Kobilka’s work helped researchers realize that there is a whole family of receptors that look alike a family that is now called G-protein-coupled receptors. 

The Nobel Prizes were established in the will of 19th century Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite. Each award is worth 8 million kronor, or about $1.2 million. The awards are always handed out on Dec. 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death in 1896. 

Haroche, Wineland win Nobel prize for physics

Frenchman Serge Haroche and American David Wineland have won the 2012 Nobel Prize in physics for inventing and developing methods for observing tiny quantum particles without destroying them.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences cited the two scientists on Tuesday “for ground-breaking experimental methods that enable measuring and manipulation of individual quantum systems.”

“Their ground-breaking methods have enabled this field of research to take the very first steps towards building a new type of super fast computer based on quantum physics,” the academy said. “The research has also led to the construction of extremely precise clocks that could become the future basis for a new standard of time.”

This year’s Nobel Prize announcements got under way on Monday with the medicine prize going to stem cell pioneers John Gurdon of Britain and Japan’s Shinya Yamanaka. Each award is worth 8 million kronor, or about $1.2 million. 

British, Japanese scientists win Nobel Prize for stem cell research

Two scientists from different generations won the Nobel Prize in medicine on October 8 for the groundbreaking discovery that cells in the body can be reprogrammed to become completely different kinds, potentially opening the door to growing customized tissues for treatments. 

The work of British researcher John Gurdon and Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka who was born the year Mr. Gurdon made his discovery has raised hopes of developing transplant tissue to treat diseases like Parkinson’s and diabetes. And it has spurred a new generation of laboratory studies into other diseases, including schizophrenia, that may lead to new treatments. The prize committee at Stockholm's Karonlinska institute said the discovery has “ revolutionized our understanding of how cells and organisms develop”

Sir John Bertrand Gurdon (JBG), Fellow of Royal Society (born 2 October 1933) is a British developmental biologist. He is best known for his pioneering research in nuclear transplantation and cloning.

Prof Gurdon used a gut sample to clone frogs and Prof Yamanaka altered genes to reprogramme cells. The Nobel committee said they had "revolutionised" science. When a sperm fertilises an egg there is just one type of cell. It multiplies and some of the resulting cells become specialised to create all the tissues of the body including nerve and bone and skin. It had been though to be a one-way process - once a cell had become specialised it could not change its fate. In 1962, John Gurdon showed that the genetic information inside a cell taken from the intestines of a frog contained all the information need to create a whole new frog. He took the genetic information and placed it inside a frog egg. The resulting clone developed into a normal tadpole. The technique would eventually give rise to Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal.

Shinya Yamanaka, born September 4, 1962 in Higashiosaka) is a Japanese physician and adult stem cell researcher. He serves as the director of Center for iPS Cell Research and Application and a professor at the Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences at Kyoto University, as a senior investigator at the UCSF-affiliated J. David Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco, California, and as a professor of anatomy at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Yamanaka is also the current President of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR).

Shinya Yamanaka used a different approach on stem cell research. Rather than transferring the genetic information into an egg, he reset it. He added four genes to skin cells which transformed them into stem cells, which in turn could become specialised cells. The Nobel committee said the discovery had "revolutionized our understanding of how cells and organisms develop. "The discoveries of Gurdon and Yamanaka have shown that specialized cells can turn back the developmental clock under certain circumstances.

APPSC LIBRARIANS EXAM G.S. SOLVED PAPER (EXAM HELD ON: 05-12-2010)

APPSC Extension Officer Grade-I (Supervisor) in A.P. Women Development and Child Welfare Sub-Ordinate Service Exam Key (Exam Held On: 29-04-2012)

Key for Notification No. 36/2011 , Extension Officer Women and Child Welfare : Paper-I  600 - G.S. & M.A.


Key for Notification No. 36/2011 , Extension Officer Women and Child Welfare :Paper-2 011 - HOME SCIENCE  

Key for Notification No. 36/2011 , Extension Officer Women and Child Welfare : Paper-2 012 - SOCIAL WORK 

West Indies Wins T20 World Cup

West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by 36 runs in the ICC World Twenty20 final at the R. Premadasa Stadium here on October 7. Chasing the West Indies’ 137 for six, Sri Lanka was a nervous-wreck and finished with a measly 101. 

The diverse challenges that a small target strangely evoke, were in full force once Ravi Rampaul cleaned up Tillakaratne Dilshan’s stumps. Mahela Jayawardene (33) had the onerous task of keeping his head and anchoring the chase while his nation, including President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Marlon Samuels (78, 56b, 3x4, 6x6) waged a lone-battle while the Sri Lankan spinners buzzed around and nearly ruined Sammy’s dreams of batting big on winning the toss.  

Scores:

West Indies: 137/6

Sri Lanka : 101/10 

Man-of-the-match: Marlon Samuels.

Player-of-the-tournament: Shane Watson.

Australian eves beat England to win Women’s World T20 championship

Australian women produced an impressive performance to edge out their English counterparts by four runs in an exciting final of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 here on October 7.

Put into bat, Australia put up a competitive 142 for four in 20 overs with almost all the batswoman getting runs.

Jess Cameron with 45 was the top scorer but openers Meg Lanning (25), Alyssa Healey (26) and Lisa Sthalekar (23 not out) all chipped in with useful contributions.

In reply England could manage 138 for nine as Australian bowlers got wickets at regular intervals.

Needing 16 of the last over, England managed only 11 runs off spinner Erin Osborne’s over. England needed an over boundary of the last delivery but could manage a single as girls in canary yellow celebrated enthusiastically.

In a big ground like Premadasa (although boundaries were shortened), chasing a target of 143 is an uphill task in women’s cricket.

Although skipper Edwards showed positive intent but once she was dismissed for 28, the other batswomen could hardly make any impact.

They did get the boundaries but couldn’t stay long enough to get a decisive result in their favour.

Players like Sarah Taylor, Aaran Brindle all got starts but couldn’t carry on as left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen turned out to be the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 25.

She could have taken four had she not dropped a sharp return catch offered by Jenny Gunn.

The main wicket of Edwards was however taken by veteran Lisa Sthalekar.

While batting, Australia had two significant partnerships that clinched the issue in their favour. The opening partnership of 51 runs between Lanning and Healy and another of 51 runs in six overs between Sthalekar (23) and Cameron.

Cameron hit five fours and a six during his 34-ball knock.

Brief scores:

Australia: 142 for 4 in 20 overs (Jess Cameron 45, Alyssa Healey 26, Meg Lanning 25; Holly Colvin 2/21).

England: 138 for 9 in 20 overs (Charlotte Edwards 28; Jess Jonassen 3/25, Lisa Sthalekar 2/16).

Amjad Ali among 11 to be honored by Sangeet Natak Akademi

Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan and danseuse Padma Subrahmanyam are among 11 eminent personalities in the field of culture who will be awarded prestigious fellowships of the Sangeet Natak Akademi by President Pranab Mukherjee on 9th October.

Besides Khan and Subrahmanyam, the highest honour of Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna) will be conferred on Mukund Lath, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Shivkumar Sharma, Umayalpuram Kasiviswanatha Sivaraman, Mohan Chandrasekaran, Rajkumar Singhajit Singh, Kalamandalam Gopi, Chandrasekhar Basavanneppa Kambara and Heisnam Kanhailal.

                         

The fellowships will be awarded by Mukherjee at a function here on October nine.

They will receive purse money of Rs three lakhs, besides an angavastram and a tamrapatra.

The fellowship of the Akademi is an honour restricted to a limited number at a given time.

Presently, there are only 40 living fellows of the Sangeet Natak Akademi in the field of music, dance and theatre, a total of 26 artists will receive the Akademi Award 2011, while another eight eminent personalities will be awarded for their contribution to other traditional, folk, tribal music and puppetry.

Shrivatsa Goswami will receive the Akademi Award 2011 for Overall Contribution and Scholarship to Performing Arts.

Alakhnandan (Theatre-Direction) and Sundari Krishnalal Shridharani (Overall Contribution) were also selected for Akademi Awards 2011.

Due to their demise, the said Award will be conferred on them posthumously.

Cabinet likely to approve 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17)

The union cabinet  approve the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) that seeks an average annual economic growth of 8.2 percent and identifies infrastructure, health and education as thrust areas.

The growth rate has been lowered to 8.2 percent from the 9.0 percent projected earlier in view of the current slowdown in the economy and adverse international situation.

During the 11th Plan period, the average annual growth was 7.9 percent. A full Planning Commission chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh September 15 endorsed the document which has fixed the total plan size at Rs.47.7 lakh crore.

The 12th Plan seeks to achieve 4 percent agriculture sector growth during the five-year period "critical to achieve inclusive growth".

Highlights of 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17):

• Average growth target has been set at 8.2 percent
• Areas of main thrust are-infrastructure, health and education
• Growth rate has been lowered to 8.2 percent from the 9.0 percent projected earlier in view adverse domestic and global situation.
• During the 11th Plan period, the average annual growth was 7.9 percent
•  A full Planning Commission chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on September 15 endorsed the document which has fixed the total plan size at Rs.47.7 lakh crore
• The 12th Plan seeks to achieve 4 percent agriculture sector growth during the five-year period
• Agriculture in the current plan period grew at 3.3 percent, compared to 2.4 percent during the 10th plan period. The growth target for manufacturing sector has been pegged at 10 percent
• On poverty alleviation, the commission plans to bring down the poverty ratio by 10 percent. At present, the poverty is around 30 per cent of the population.
•  According to commission Deputy Chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia, health and education sectors are major thrust areas and the outlays for these in the plan have been raised.
• The outlay on health would include increased spending in related areas of drinking water and sanitation.
• The commission had accepted Finance Minister P. Chidambaram's suggestion that direct cash transfer of subsidies in food, fertilizers and petroleum be made by the end of the 12th Plan period
• After the cabinet clearance, the plan for its final approval would be placed before the National Development Council (NDC), which has all chief ministers and cabinet ministers as members and is headed by the Prime Minister

Agriculture

Agriculture in the current plan period has grown at 3.3 percent, compared to 2.4 percent during the 10th plan period. The growth target for manufacturing sector has been pegged at 10 percent.

Infrastructure

The document stresses the importance of infrastructure development, especially in the power sector, and removal of bottlenecks for high growth and inclusiveness. It also sets targets for various economic and social sectors relating to poverty alleviation, infant mortality, enrolment ratio and job creation.

Poverty

On poverty alleviation, the commission plans to bring down the poverty ratio by 10 percent. At present, the poverty is around 30 per cent of the population.

Health and Education

According to commission Deputy Chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia, health and education sectors are major thrust areas and the outlays for these in the plan have been raised.

The outlay on health would include increased spending in related areas of drinking water and sanitation.

The commission had accepted Finance Minister P. Chidambaram's suggestion that direct cash transfer of subsidies in food, fertilizers and petroleum be made by the end of the 12th Plan period.

Direct cash transfers would bring down the government's subsidy burden as the money would go directly to the "genuine" beneficiaries and "plug leakages" in the implementation of these schemes.

After the cabinet clearance, the plan for its final approval would be placed before the National Development Council (NDC), which has all chief ministers and cabinet ministers as members and is headed by the Prime Minister.

Oldest Voter, Highest Polling Booth in Himachal Pradesh

The Election Commission has identified Sh. Shyam Saran Negi as oldest voter in Himachal Pradesh (HP). Sh. Negi, aged 95, lives in Kalpa Tehsil, District Kinnaur. H.P. Sh. Negi retired from Government Primary School in 1975 and his family includes wife, four sons and five daughters.

Sh. Negi was among the first to cast his vote in independent India’s first Election in October 1951, of H.P. State Legislative Assembly from 10- Chini Assembly Constituency later renamed as Kinnaur. At that time, election in snow-bound 10- Chini (now Kinnaur) was held ahead of other places in the State.

Interestingly, the world’s highest Polling booth will also be located in H.P. at the height of 15000 ft above sea level. This Polling Station will be at Hikkam in Lahaul & Spiti Assembly Constituency located on motorable road. The Hikkam Polling Station will serve 333 voters, comprising 180 male & 153 female voters.

Minister of Water Resources Released Atlas named Aquifer System of India

Minister of water resources and parliamentary affairs Pawan Kumar Bansal on 28 September 2012 in New Delhi had released Atlas for six states namely- Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Chattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.

The atlas comprises data on various aspect of ground water since its inception that was compiled and integrated by the Central Ground Water Board. The atlas was named as Aquifer System of India.

The atlas provides a country wide overview and summary of the most important information available for each principal and major aquifer systems and depicts aquifer wise ground water scenario. It also deals with major issues and challenges which need immediate attention for sustainable management of ground water resources.

In this process, a baseline data on GIS platform was created for initiating National Aquifer Mapping Programme and demarcating priority areas for aquifer wise management of ground water resources on scientific and sustainable basis. Attempt was also made to represent the correlations of various thematic layers such as climate, topographic settings on the occurrence, movement, and chemical quality of ground water in map forms.

The Atlas is going to be of immense use for Regional and National ground water resources planning by the policy makers and anyone who needs to understand ground water scenario in the country.