India-US Joint Working Group held its 10th Meeting in Washington

The India-U.S.Joint Working Group on UN Peacekeeping held its 10th meeting in Washington on 13 February 2013. At the meeting, India and the United States advanced a number of goals laid out in the Declaration of Principles the Joint Working Group agreed upon in 2011. The Joint Working Group also continued in-depth consultations on UN peacekeeping issues, and explored an agreement on a set of Principles of India-U.S. Cooperation in the Area of Training UN Peacekeepers and institutional arrangements between their peacekeeping institutions.

India and USA welcomed the open and comprehensive nature of the discussions, and agreed the talks helped advance their shared commitment to supporting and strengthening United Nations peacekeeping operations, and their mutual interest in assuring the success of UN peacekeeping missions. Both nations agreed that the 11th meeting of the Working Group will be held in New Delhi in 2014.

Australia clinched its ICC Women’s World Cup

Australia won the ICC Women’s World Cup Trophy after defeating West-Indies by 114-runs on 17 February 2013 at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. Australia clinched the title for the sixth time in the history of women’s cricket World Cup it last won the title in 2005. 

Australia scored 259 runs (this is the highest score in Women’s World Cup Final) at the loss of 7 wickets in 50 overs and West Indies lost all its wickets at the score of 145. 

Scorecard of Finals
•     Australia: 7/259 
i.     J Cameron scored 75runs in the finals
ii.     R Haynes scored 52 runs in the finals 
iii.     S Quintyne took 3 wickets for 27 runs 
•     West Indies 10/145 
i.     KA Knight scored 21* in the finals
ii.     MR Aguilleria scored 23 runs in the finals
iii.    E Perry took 3 wickets for 19 runs

Tournament Report

•     Player of the tournament - New Zealand’s Suzie Bates for scoring 407 runs with three half-centuries and a ton at an average of 67.83 in the series.

RGESS (Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme)

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has expressed the need revisit theRajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme (RGESS) to make its provisions more retail investor-friendly. It was felt by the minister that the in current form the scheme is too complex for the small investor to understand and that complying would be difficult. He is expected to bring necessary changes to in the coming Budget.

The finance ministry is set to notify the Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme (RGESS).

• Finance Minister P Chidambaram had approved the RGESS on September 21, 2012.
• Implementation delayed due to the deliberations on inclusion of Mutual Funds (MF) in it. Thus, further consultations with the RBI, SEBI and the law ministry on the coverage of RGESS.

• It might be so that only MFs fitting in specific conditions would be allowed.
• Tax benefits for investing up to Rs 50,000 in the capital markets for first-time retail investors with an annual income of Rs 10 lakh.
• The scheme initially announced in Budget 2012 had allowed tax benefits for investments in stocks. Later, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and MFs were included under its ambit.
• Open to retail investors who have opened demat accounts but have not made any transactions in equity or derivatives till the notification of the scheme.
• All those opening fresh accounts would also be eligible to participate in RGESS.
• Investments can be made in various installments during a year,
• Total lock-in period: 3 years, including an initial lock-in of one year in the stock/ETF/MF in which the money has been invested.
• Stocks listed under BSE 100 or CNX 100 or those of PSUs which are Navratnas, Maharatnas and Miniratnas would be eligible.
• Investment in follow-on offers of these companies would also be eligible for tax deduction.

Second Meeting of Joint Committee Of Business Development Cooperation Between India And Colombia

The Second Meeting of Joint Committee of Business Development Cooperation between India and Colombia was held on 11th February, 2013 in New Delhi. Mr. Carlos Andres de Hart Pinto, Vice Minister of Entrepreneurial Development, Colombia and Commerce Secretary Shri S R Rao, Govt. Of India met to discuss issues of concern of both sides. 

A lot of emphasis was made on improving bilateral trade and investment between the two countries. Specific sectors such as Mines and Minerals, textiles, engineering, automobile, pharmaceuticals and Biotech, transport sector, infrastructure development, strengthening human capital, cluster development of certain sectors, knowledge transfer, services trade (IT, software engineers, BPOs) have been identified for enhancing collaboration and co-operation . 

It was decided to constitute Joint Working Group (JWG) in five sectors viz pharma/biotech, IT, FMCG, Auto, engineering & transport, textiles to formalize the structure and follow up enhancement in value chains in these sectors. Both sides decided to consider flexibility in Visa issues. Cooperation in tourism sector was also explored. 

It has been decided to set up a CEO forum for discussion on various issues at the level of B2B which will be co-chaired by business stalwarts from both sides. 

The Environment Ministry Constituted Committee to Examine Legal Cover for Elephant Habitats

The Environment Ministry in the third week of February 2013 constituted a committee that will review better legal protection to elephant reserves as well as the corridors in India under the green laws which are already present. The committee was constituted after National Board for Wildlife raised concerns about absence of any legal cover for the elephant corridors and reserves. 

The central government has already identified two-third elephant reserves which cover 69582 sq km of area. The size of these reserves varies from 450-6724 sq km. These reserves not just include the forest patches of various kinds but also the tea plantations, revenue land, agricultural land, villages and townships. 

As of now, these elephant reserves are identified as the programme of the environment ministry for facilitating more funds under Project Elephant central scheme. However, it does not facilitate better legal protection against the changes to demarcated landscape like that is case of tiger reserves. The government does not face many difficulties in safeguarding the tiger reserves, national parks and sanctuaries, but in case of elephant reserves, there are certain difficulties faced by the government. 

This is so because the elephants travel hundreds of kilometres in a year and they run through the forest and, cities and villages as well. 

Members of the committee

•The committee which was set up by the environment ministry will be headed over by retired senior forest officer, Vinod Rishi.
•The director of Project Tiger will be the member convener of the committee. 
•Other members will include Member of National Board for Wildlife M D Madhusudan, elephant conservation expert Ajay Desai, chief wildlife warden of Odisha J D Sharma and Supreme Court lawyer Sanjay Upadhayaya.

Purpose of the committee

•The committee will have a one year time for examining the existing networks of elephant corridors and reserves. The committee will inspect whether these reserves and corridors sufficiently cover the habitat of elephants and that what other legal cover can be provided to these reserves and corridors under the green laws recommended by Elephant Task Force. 
•The committee will also assess impact of wildlife protection regulations on the population that lives on or uses the land that falls inside elephant corridors and reserves.

Afzal Guru’s Secret Hanging Was Called Operation Three Star

Operation Three Star: Code name given to secret plan for executing Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist Afzal Guru in Tihar Jail on 9 February 2013. 

Operation Three Star started on 4 February 2013, just a day after the President of India Pranab Mukherjee rejected mercy plea of Afzal Guru. A few top officials of Home Ministry were aware about secret Operation Three Star.
 
Afzal Guru was hanged on 9 February 2013 at 8 AM in Tihar Jail, New Delhi. Afzal Guru was guilty of conspiring as well as providing shelter to terrorists who attacked Indian Parliament on 13 December 2001. 

Hanging of Mumbai terror attack militant Ajmal Kasab was called Operation X. he was hanged at Yerwada Central Jail on 21 November 2012.

Priority Sector Lending (PSL) to Minorities Crossed 15 Percent Mark in 2012-2013

Priority Sector Lending (PSL) to Minorities increased considerably from 10.60 percent of total PSL in 2007-2008 to 15.01 percent in 2012-2013. Priority Sector Lending (PSL) to minorities belongs to one of the schemes which are covered under the Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for Welfare of Minorities.

An increase was observed because of lending of 171960.71crore Rupees as on September 2012 to the minorities. Self-employment initiatives were created and sustained because of bank credit. The increase was observed because of sustained efforts of government of India.

In order to increase credit flow to the minorities, various steps were undertaken by the Government. These included:

•Reserve Bank of India issued directions on Priority Sector Lending in order to improve credit facilities to the minorities.
•From 2007-2008 to 2011-2012, 5954 branches of bank were opened in those areas where there was substantial minority population.
•Regular monitoring of Public Sector Banks was done for checking disposal of loan applications for the minorities.
•14244 awareness campaigns were organised by Public Sector Banks in 15466 towns and blocks which covered minority population.

Priority Sector Lending (PSL) to Minorities in the absolute terms increased from 58662.67 crore Rupees in 2007-2008 to 171960.71crore Rupees as of September 2012.

Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme for Welfare of Minorities

The President on 25 February 2005 announced that Government of India would recast the 15 Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities for including certain programme specific interventions.

The objectives of this programme were as follows:

•Enhancing opportunities for education.
•Ensuring an equitable share for minorities in economic activities and employment, through existing and new schemes, enhanced credit support for self-employment, and recruitment to State and Central Government jobs.
•Improving the conditions of living of minorities by ensuring an appropriate share for them in infrastructure development schemes.
•Prevention and control of communal disharmony and violence.

National Conference on e-Governance at Jaipur

The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Government of India, in association with the Department of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India and the Department of Information Technology & Communication, Government of Rajasthan, is organizing 16th National Conference on e-Governance on 11-12 February, 2013 in Jaipur. Senior Officers from the Government, industry, academicians, technical experts and NGOs will participate in the Event.  

                    Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Ashok Gehlot will inaugurate the Conference on 11th February, 2013. Other dignitaries who will be present on the occasion include, Minister of State in the Prime Minister Office and Personnel, Shri V. Narayanasamy; Minister of State in the Ministry of Communication and IT, Dr.(Smt.) Kruparani Killi, Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Government of India, Shri Sanjay Kothari and Chief Secretary, Rajasthan Shri C.K. Mathew.

                   During the Conference, the National Awards on e-Governance for the year 2012-13 will be presented. These awards are given in seven different categories concerning various aspects of e-Governance. The Awards distinguish some of the best Government to Government (G2G), Government of Citizen (G2C), Government to Business (G2B) initiatives by various government departments and public sector units. The Conference along with the Exhibition is a forum to showcase best practices, innovative technologies and ICT solutions.

                The objective of these awards is to recognize and promote excellence in implementation of e-Governance initiatives. These awards recognize achievements in the area of e-Governance; disseminate knowledge on effective methods of designing and implementing sustainable e-Governance initiatives; encourage horizontal transfer of successful e-Governance solutions; promote and exchange experiences in solving problems, mitigating risks, resolving issues and planning for success.

              The Conference will be based on the theme, “Towards an Open Government” with the sub themes, (i) Leveraging Social Inclusion; (ii) E-Governance Infrastructure- status and Challenges; and (iii) Social sector Programs. The Conference will explore how use of ICT has transformed governance from the perspective of the beneficiaries of the services. It is an attempt at a reality check to ascertain the outcome of the services rendered and whether it has achieved the intended objectives of transparent, effective, responsive and accountable system of governance.

JUNIOR ASSISTANTS IN DR. NTR UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES (NOTIFICATION NO.18/2012) EXAM GENERAL STUDIES SOLVED PAPER (EXAM HELD ON 06-10-2012)

 

Padma Awards 2013

Padma Awards in Arts Discipline

Sl No.	Name	Discipline	Award
1.	Shri Raghunath Mohapatra	Art - Sculpting	Padma Vibhushan
2.	Shri S. Haider Raza	Art - Painting	Padma Vibhushan
3.	Dr. Ramanaidu Daggubati	Art - Film-making	Padma Bhushan
4.	Smt Sreeramamurthy Janaki	Art - Singing	Padma Bhushan
5.	Dr. (Smt.) Kanak Rele	Art - Dancing (Mohiniattam)	Padma Bhushan
6.	Smt Sharmila Tagore	Art - Cinema	Padma Bhushan
7.	Dr. (Smt.) Saroja Vaidyanathan	Art - Dancing (Bharat Natyam)	Padma Bhushan
8.	Shri Abdul Rashid Khan	Art - Classical Music (Vocalist)	Padma Bhushan
9.	Late Rajesh Khanna	Art - Cinema	Padma Bhushan
10.	Late Jaspal Singh Bhatti	Art - Cinema	Padma Bhushan
11.	Shri Gajam Anjaiah	Art - Handloom designing	Padma Shri
12.	Swami G.C.D. Bharti alias Bharati Bandhu	Art - Singing (Kabirvani)	Padma Shri
13.	Ms. B. Jayashree	Art - Theatre	Padma Shri
14.	Shri Sridevi Kapoor	Art - Cinema	Padma Shri
15.	Shri Kailash Chandra Meher	Art - Painting	Padma Shri
16.	Shri Brahmdeo Ram Pandit	Art - Geeta and Ved Pravachan	Padma Shri
17.	Shri Vishwanath Dinkar Patekar alias Nana Patekar	Art - Films	Padma Shri
18.	Shri Rekandar Nageswara Rao alias Surabhi Babji	Art - Theatre	Padma Shri
19.	Shri Lakshmi Narayana Sathiraju	Art - Cinema	Padma Shri
20.	Shri Jaymala Shiledar	Art - Singing	Padma Shri
21.	Shri Suresh Dattatray Talwalkar	Art - Tabla	Padma Shri
22.	Shri P. Madhavan Nair alias Madhu	Art - Cinema	Padma Shri
23.	Shri Apurba Kishore Bir	Art - Cinematography	Padma Shri
24.	Shri Ghanakanta Bora Borbayan	Art - Sattriya Dance	Padma Shri
25.	Smt. Hilda Mit Lepcha	Art - Lepcha music	Padma Shri
26.	Smt. Sudha Malhotra	Art - Singing	Padma Shri
27.	Shri Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz	Art - Kashmiri Sufiyana Music	Padma Shri
28.	Shri Ramesh Gopaldas Sippy	Art - Cinema	Padma Shri
29.	Ms. Mahrukh Tarapor	Art - Museums	Padma Shri
30.	Shri Balwant Thakur	Art - Theatre	Padma Shri
31.	Shri Puran Das Baul	Art - Music (Baul tradition)	Padma Shri
32.	Shri Rajendra Tikku	Art - Sculpting	Padma Shri
33.	Shri Pablo Bartholomew	Art - Photography	Padma Shri
34.	Shri S. Shakir Ali	Art - Painting	Padma Shri

Padma Awards in Public Affairs

Sl No.	Name	Award
1.	Shri Shivajirao Girdhar Patil	Padma Bhushan

Padma Awards in Science and Engineering

Sl No.	Name	Award
1.	Prof. Yash Pal	Padma Vibhushan
2.	Prof. Roddam Narasimha	Padma Vibhushan
3.	Dr. Apathukatha Sivathanu Pillai	Padma Bhushan
4.	Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat	Padma Bhushan
5.	Dr. Ashoke Sen	Padma Bhushan
6.	Dr. B.N. Suresh	Padma Bhushan
7.	Prof. Satya N. Atluri	Padma Bhushan
8.	Dr. Jogesh Chandra Pati	Padma Bhushan
9.	Prof. Mustansir Barma	Padma Shri
10.	Shri Avinash Chander	Padma Shri
11.	Prof. Sanjay Govind Dhande	Padma Shri
12.	Prof. (Dr.) Sankar Kumar Pal	Padma Shri
13.	Prof. Deepak B. Phatak	Padma Shri
14.	Dr. Mudundi Ramakrishna Raju	Padma Shri
15.	Prof. Ajay K. Sood	Padma Shri
16.	Prof. Krishnaswamy Vijayraghavan	Padma Shri
17.	Dr. Manindra Agrawal	Padma Shri
18.	Dr. Jayaraman Gowrishankar	Padma Shri
19.	Prof. Sharad Pandurang Kale	Padma Shri

Padma Awards in Civil Services

Sl No.	Name	Award
1.	Shri Hemendra Singh Panwar	Padma Bhushan
2.	Dr. Maharaj Kishan Bhan	Padma Bhushan

Padma Awards in Literature and Education

Sl No.	Name	Award
1.	Shri Mangesh Padgaonkar	Padma Bhushan
2.	Prof. Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak	Padma Bhushan
3.	Prof.(Capt) Dr. Mohammad Sharaf-e-Alam	Padma Shri
4.	Dr. Radhika Herzberger	Padma Shri
5.	Shri J. Malsawma	Padma Shri
6.	Shri Devendra Patel	Padma Shri
7.	Dr. Rama Kant Shukla	Padma Shri
8.	Prof. Akhtarul Wasey	Padma Shri
9.	Prof. Anvita Abbi	Padma Shri
10.	Shri Nida Fazli	Padma Shri
11.	Shri Surender Kumar Sharma	Padma Shri
12.	Dr. Jagdish Prasad Singh	Padma Shri
13.	Late Shaukat Riaz Kapoor Alias Salik Lakhnawi	Padma Shri
14.	Prof. Noboru Karashima	Padma Shri
15.	Shri Christopher Pinney	Padma Shri

Padma Awards in Trade and Industry

Sl No.	Name	Award
1.	Shri Ramamurthy Thyagarajan	Padma Bhushan
2.	Shri Adi Burjor Godrej	Padma Bhushan
3.	Smt. Vandana Luthra	Padma Shri
4.	Ms. Rajshree Pathy	Padma Shri
5.	Shri Hemendra Prasad Barooah	Padma Shri
6.	Shri Milind Kamble	Padma Shri
7.	Ms. Kalpana Saroj	Padma Shri

Padma Awards in Social Work

Sl No.	Name	Award
1.	Shri S.K.M. Maeilanandhan	Padma Shri
2.	Ms. Nileema Mishra	Padma Shri
3.	Ms. Reema Nanavati	Padma Shri
4.	Ms. Jhama Dhara Chowdhury	Padma Shri
5.	Late Dr. Ram Krishan	Padma Shri
6.	Late Manju Bharat Ram	Padma Shri

Padma Awards in Medicine

Sl No.	Name	Award
1.	Dr. Nandkishore Shamrao Laud	Padma Bhushan
2.	Dr. Sudarshan K. Agarwal	Padma Shri
3.	Dr. C Vankara S. RAm alia Chitta Venkata Sundara Ram	Padma Shri
4.	Dr. Rajendra Achyut Badwe	Padma Shri
5.	Dr. Taraprasad Das	Padma Shri
6.	Prof. (Dr.) T.V. Devarajan	Padma Shri
7.	Prof. (Dr.) Saroj Chooramani Gopal	Padma Shri
8.	Dr. Pramod Kumar Julka	Padma Shri
9.	Dr. Gulshan Rai Khatri	Padma Shri
10.	Dr. Ganesh Kumar Mani	Padma Shri
11.	Dr. Amit Prabhakar Maydeo	Padma Shri
12.	Dr. Sundaram Natarajan	Padma Shri
13.	Prof. Krishana Chandra Chunekar	Padma Shri
14.	Dr. Vishwa Kumar Gupta	Padma Shri

Padma Awards in Sports

Sl No.	Name	Discipline	Award
1.	Shri Rahul Dravid	Cricket	Padma Bhushan
2.	Smt. Ms. H. Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom	Boxing	Padma Bhushan
3.	Smt. Premlata Agrawal	Mountaneering	Padma Shri
4.	Shri Yogeshwar Dutt	Wrestling	Padma Shri
5.	Shri Hosanagara Nagarajegowda Girisha	Paralympic High Jumper	Padma Shri
6.	Subedar Major Vijay Kumar	Shooting	Padma Shri
7.	Shri Ngangom Dingko Singh	Boxing	Padma Shri
8.	Naib Subedar Bajrang Lal Takhar	Rowing	Padma Shri

Padma Awards - Others

Sl No.	Name	Discipline	Award
1.	Ms. Ritu Kumar	Fashion Designing	Padma Shri
2.	Dr. Ravindra Singh Bisht	Archaeology	Padma Shri

Planning Commission Annual Report 2011-2012 - English

  

Group-II Services General Recruitment (Notification No. 39/2011) Final Key

	GROUP-II SERVICES (39/2011): Paper -1- GENERAL STUDIES-Final Key
	GROUP-II SERVICES (39/2011) :: Paper-2 - PAPER-2-Final Key
	GROUP-II SERVICES (39/2011) :: Paper-3 - PAPER-3-Final key

President of India to Preside Over Two-Day Conference of Governors on February 11 and 12

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, will preside over the two-day Conference of Governors on February 11 and 12, 2013 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This is the 44thGovernors’ Conference and the first such Conference to be presided over by Shri Pranab Mukherjee. 

Thirty Governors and Lt. Governors of the States and Union Territorieswill be attending the Conference. The Prime Minister, Union Ministers of Defence, Finance, Agriculture, Home Affairs, Human Resource Development, Urban Development, Water Resources, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission and Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and Chairman of UIDAI will also participate in the two-day deliberations. 

South Asian Autism Network Conference

A daylong Conference of South Asian Autism Network (SAAN) will be held at New Delhi on 11th February 2013. Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, National Advisory Council will inaugurate the conference. Representatives from India, Bangladesh, Thailand and WHO, SEARO will participate in the daylong conference. 

It may be mentioned that Autism is a developmental disorder which is characterized by communication difficulties, social, behavioral challenges as well as repetitive behaviours. The diagnosis of autism is difficult due to the use of different diagnostic criteria. The WHO perspective about health, especially mental health, shows an escalation in the disease burden for autism from 10% to 14% over the period 1990 to 2011. It is expected to rise to 15% by 2020. 

After the adoption of Dhaka Declaration on 25 July 2011, the South Asian Autism Network (SAAN) was born to combat the devastating autism public health crises. The intention is to identify common challenges each country is facing and form a partnership to develop solutions in a collaborating and coordinated fashion. The intensions include establishing a regional autism awareness campaign in South East Asia, creating joint programmes for information-sharing and professional training, and defining national and regional strategies to advance autism public health research and policy development. 

During the daylong conference, representatives from India and Bangladesh will present the official SAAN Charter for adoption by all network member States. The Charter notes the commitment to the following goals:- 

1. To raise public and professional awareness of ASD 

2. To provide resources for parents and professionals 

3. To collect public health data to understand the burden of ASD 

4. To conduct professional training in the areas of evidence based services to meet the life cycle needs of persons with ASD 

5. To encourage in ASD 

6. To promote inter-country sharing of data resources and expertise 

7. To explore funding mechanisms to achieve the above goals and objectives 

International Conference on Traditional Medicine for South-East Asian Countries

The Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, in collaboration with WHO-SEARO New Delhi will organize International Conference on Traditional Medicine at hotel Ashok, New Delhi on 12-14 February 2013.The conference will be participated by Health Ministers of the SEARO region, experts from WHO SEAR (South East Asia Region),WPR (Western Pacific Region) and other countries. 

The objective is to promote the role of traditional and complementary medicine (TM & CM) in healthcare provision in general and Primary Health Care in particular, evaluate the integration of TM & CM into National Health Systems and promotion of their use in Primary Healthcare, share research methodologies for studies on safety, efficacy and quality of TM & CM for PHC in order to identify best practices to ensure the safety, share National policies, programmes and experiences on TM &CM to promote and propagate in SEARO Region,exchange views and share evidence-based information and country experiences on TM & CM, identify priority issues and challenges in strengthening the development and appropriate integration of traditional medicine as part of the National Health system. 

3rd National Community Radio Sammelan

The 3rd National Community Radio (CR) Sammelan is being organised at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, from 9-11 February 2013. This Sammelan is significant as it also celebrates the first decade of the CR Policy in India, which was announced in 2002. 

The Conference will bring together Community Radio Operators, Policy makers, Community Radio enthusiasts, Government Ministries/Departments, the UN and International organisations like UNICEF, UNESCO, Ford Foundation etc. The 1st CR Sammelan was organised in February 2011 and the 2nd in February 2012. An exhibition is being organised on the sidelines of the Sammelan to showcase work being done by various organisations and new entrants in the Community Radio Sector. 

Water Resources Ministry to Organize “India Water Week-2013

Ministry of Water Resources is organizing the “India Water Week-2013 from 8th-12th April, 2013 here at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi with the theme “ Efficient Water Management : Challenges and Opportunities”. The event will have two major components namely, Multi-disciplinary Dialogue in form of a Conference and a concurrently running exhibition enriching the theme and showcasing the technologies in water sector. The theme for India Water Week- 2012 was “Water, Energy and Food Security - Call for Solutions” which from 10-14 April, 2012. 

In this connection, Union Minister for Water Resources, Shri Harish Rawat today issued, a Curtain Raiser Function of “India Water Week”-2013 at Central Soil & Materials Research Station, New Delhi. Secretary(WR), Chairman, CWC, Senior Officers from MoWR, Head of Departments under MoWR and various Central Govt. Ministry/Departments/ Public Sector Undertakings/ Private Industries/ NGOs and individuals were present during the issuance of this curtain raiser. On this occasion the Minister highlighted the importance of organizing IWW-2013 considering the limited availability of Water Resources of the country. He stressed on the need of conservation, equitable distribution and adoption of most rational and scientific approach for judicious use of Water Resources. Organization of event will help in sharing the experience of professional working in the Water Resources Sector World over for better management of Water Resources. He also launched the Second Information Bulletin of IWW-2013. 

The Union Government of India approved setting up of NPCA

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 7 February 2013 approved the proposal for the merger of National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) and National Wetlands Conservation Programme (NWCP) to develop a new scheme named National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA). 

The estimated cost to bring this plan into operations during the 12th Plan Period is 900 crore rupees. The Government of India and the State Governments would be sharing the costs in a ratio of 70:30 and in case of the North-Eastern states the ratio is 90:10. 

National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA)

The Union Government of India merged National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA) to develop a new program named National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA). The formation of the NPCA was done with the objective of conserving aquatic ecosystems (lakes and wetlands) by implementing sustainable conservation plans. To govern the implementation uniform policy and guidelines will be framed.

India Returned With 46 Medals in 2013 Pyeongchang Special Olympics World Winter Games

The 2013 Pyeongchang Special Olympics World Winter Games finished on 5 February 2013 after a week of competition among differently-abled athletes. The games took place from 29 January 2013 to 5 February 2013. Almost 200000 spectators witnessed the games in venues- Pyeongchang and Gangneung. India returned with 46 medals in 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games at Pyeong Chang, South Korea. 

The differently-abled athletes of India won 46 medals in all- 13 gold, 17 silver and 16 bronze from mentally-challenged 2200 athletes participating from more than 120 nations in the games. The medal tally of India doubled from World Winter Games 2009. 

These games were completed in eight categories of sports- alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, figure skating, short track speed skating, floor hockey and floorball.

Various celebrities participated in the games to support these athletes. Some of the popular faces were former NBA All-Star Yao Ming and Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi. In its closing ceremony, figure skating superstars Kim Yu-na and Michelle Kwan were also present.

Survival of Asian Birds Threatened From Climate Change: Study

Research conducted by the Durham University and BirdLife International in its finding concluded that change in the climate is causing a threat to the survival of various Asian bird species including the ones found in India.
 
These species do not just need the complete protection of protected and important sites but also the management of wider countryside. The research also warned that in case of extreme situations, these birds would be required to be moved physically to climatically-suitable areas. 

A study was conducted for 370 species of Asian birds. These are the species where conservation is a prime cause of concern in biodiversity hubs like lower Mekong River basin regions in certain parts of Nepal and India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Bhutan as well as eastern Himalayas. The findings of the study showed that for survival of these bird species it was important to properly manage the conservation sites. 

It was shown that at least 45 percent and up to 88 percent of these 370 bird species would face a decrease in the availability of suitable habitats, which in turn would lead to change in the species composition in certain areas. 
As far as India is concerned, there are in all 466 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) which are identified for hosting the different kinds of avian species, most of which also belong to the endangered category. 

BirdLife International described that even though the important sites like these will sustain the bird species but change in the climate will lead to a modification in the site for which the species will be suitable. Therefore there is a need to adapt the conservation management.

Merger of National Lake Conservation Plan and National Wetlands Conservation Programme into a new scheme

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs  approved the proposal for the merger of National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) and National Wetlands Conservation Programme (NWCP) into a new scheme called the `National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems` (NPCA). 

The merged scheme shall be operational during the XII Plan Period at an estimated cost of Rs.900 crore on 70:30 cost sharing between the Central Government and respective State Governments (90:10 for North-East States). 

For conservation of lakes and wetlands, the Ministry of Environment and Forests is presently, implementing two separate Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), namely the NWCP and the NLCP. To avoid overlap, promote better synergies and to ensure conservation and management works, an integrated scheme, NPCA is proposed, with the objective of conserving aquatic ecosystems (lakes and wetlands), through implementation of sustainable conservation plans and governed with application of uniform policy and guidelines. 

The principal objectives of the new scheme will be holistic conservation and restoration of lakes and wetlands for achieving desired water quality enhancement, besides improvement in biodiversity and the ecosystem, through an integrated and multidisciplinary approach with a common regulatory framework, The scheme would contribute to reduction of pollution loads and improvement in goods and services provided by these water bodies to stakeholders.

The new scheme will have conservation and management of lakes and wetlands in the country within its scope, to include inventory and information system on lakes and wetlands national level directive on criteria for lakes and wetlands, regulatory framework, capacity building at state government and local body levels, evaluation etc.

Rashtriya Bal Swasthya karyakram launched

Under the National Rural Health Mission, several new initiatives have been taken, particularly to improve maternal and child health. Over Rs. 90,000 crores has been released to the states for strengthening health systems. Despite tremendous improvements in health indicators, about 15 lakh children die before their fifth birthday every year. Many more suffer from debilitating diseases affecting their growth and quality of life.

Thus GOI has launched a new health initiative "Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram" at Palghar, a Tribal Block in Thane district, Maharashtra. The initiative is to provide comprehensive healthcare and improve the quality of life of children through early detection of birth defects, diseases, deficiencies, development delays including disability.

With the launch of the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram, regular health screening of children in public health facilities, Aanganwadis and Government and Government aided schools for defects at birth, diseases, deficiencies and development disorders will be done now.

A set of thirty common conditions have been identified for screening and further management. These services are built on the existing school health services and these services will be provided through dedicated mobile health teams placed in every block. The block level dedicated mobile medical health teams would comprise of four health personnel viz. two AYUSH doctors (One Male, One Female), ANM/ SN and a Pharmacist. The teams will carry out screening of all the children in the age group 0 – 6 years enrolled at Anganwadi centres at least twice a year besides screening of all children enrolled in Government and Government aided schools. The newborns will also be screened for birth defects in health facilities where deliveries take place and during the home visit by ASHA. An estimated 27 crore children in the age group of zero to eighteen years are expected to be covered in a phased manner.

The District Early Intervention Centre is envisaged to be made operational in all districts of the country for providing management of these referred cases from the blocks and will also link these cases with tertiary level health services in case of surgical management. The existing services from Ministry of Women and Child, Social Justice and empowerment and Education will also be optimally utilized. Necessary treatment costs would be provided under National Rural Health Mission to tertiary level institutions whether in Government or Private sector. The implementation of these services will also generate country wide epidemiological data on selected health conditions for improved future planning of health services. 

Early identification of select health conditions and their linkage to care, support and treatment, under Child Health Screening and Early Intervention Services will help to achieve equitable child health care. In the long run, the programme would prove economical for the poor and marginalized through reducing out of pocket expenditure, burden of diseases, improving health awareness among community, improving the professionalism in service delivery and finally strengthening the public sector hospitals. This would lead to promotion of health among children which is of fundamental value to the entire nation.

About Green Houses Gases

Atmosphere is a thick gaseous envelope that surrounds the earth and extends thousands of kilometers above the earth’s surface. Much of the life on the earth exists because of the atmosphere otherwise the earth would have been barren. In fact, atmosphere directly or indirectly influences the vegetation pattern, soil type and topography of the earth.

The atmosphere is a mixture of several gases. The major constant gas components which remain the same over time and location are:  Nitrogen (N2) 78%; Oxygen (O2) 21% and Argon (Ar) 1%.

The major variable gas components that vary over time and location are: Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 0.038% ; Water Vapor (H20) 0-4% ; Methane (CH4) trace ; Sulfur dioxide (SO2) trace ; Ozone (O3) trace and Nitrogen oxides trace (NO, NO2, N2O).

While nitrogen and oxygen comprise 99% of the atmospheric gases, they have little effect on atmospheric processes and consequently little or no effect on weather or climate. The gases which make up far less than 1 percent of the atmosphere have a much greater influence on both short-term weather and long-term climate.

Most of the incoming solar radiation (short wavelength, shown in purple) is absorbed and converted to long wavelength radiation at or near the Earth's surface. Thermal energy (heat) results from the absorption of some long wavelength radiation by atmospheric gases, including water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). These gases have the ability to absorb thermal energy (heat) emitted by the earth and thus are able to warm the atmosphere. This warming is popularly called as the "greenhouse effect."

There are obvious benefits to these so-called greenhouse gases as without them the surface of the earth would be about 30 degrees Celsius cooler, and far too cold for life to exist. On the other hand, these greenhouse gases are so thermally potent that even proportionately small amounts can cause Earth’s lower atmospheric temperature to rise. 

But the concentration of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere has climbed to a record high in 2011, according to the analysis of observations from the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Global Atmosphere Watch programme. The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2)-the single most important greenhouse gas- reached 390.9 parts per million (p.p.m.) in 2011 and is now 40% above the pre-industrial level of 280 p.p.m. Methane (1,813 parts per billion) and nitrous oxide (324 parts per billion)-both potent greenhouse gases-also reached new highs. From 1990 to 2011, radiative forcing by long-lived greenhouse gases has increased by almost one-third, with CO2 alone accounting for about 80% of this increase. Since the start of the industrial era in 1750, about 1,377 billion tonnes of CO2 have been released into the atmosphere.

About one half of that amount may have been absorbed by the ocean and by soils and plants on land. The other half lingers in the atmosphere, causing temperatures near the surface to warm.

There are ten primary GHGs; of these, water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) are naturally occurring. Perfluorocarbons (CH4, C2F6), hydrofluorocarbons (CHF3, CF3CH2F, CH3 CHF2), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), are only present in the atmosphere due to industrial processes.

Some salient characteristics of GHGs:

• Water vapor is the most abundant and dominant GHG in the atmosphere. Its concentration depends on temperature and other meteorological conditions, and not directly upon human activities.

• CO2 is the primary anthropogenic greenhouse gas, accounting for 77% of the human contribution to the greenhouse effect in 2004.

• The second-most important greenhouse gas for the enhanced greenhouse effect is methane (CH4). Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, atmospheric methane concentrations have doubled and contributed some 20% to the enhancement of the greenhouse gas effect. In industrialized countries, methane accounts typically for 15% of greenhouse gas emissions.

• Methane is created predominantly by bacteria that feed on organic material where there is a lack of oxygen. It is therefore emitted from a variety of natural and human-influenced sources. Natural sources include wetlands, termites, and oceans. Human-influenced sources include the mining and burning of fossil fuels, livestock husbandry (cattle eat plants that ferment in their stomachs, so they exhale methane and their manure contains it), rice cultivation (flooded paddy fields produce methane since organic matter in the soil decomposes without sufficient oxygen) and landfills (again, organic waste decomposes without sufficient oxygen).

• Nitrous oxide (N2O) is released naturally from oceans and rainforests and by bacteria in soils. Human-influenced sources include nitrogen-based fertilizers, fossil fuel combustion and industrial chemical production using nitrogen, such as sewage treatment.

• Fluorinated greenhouse gases are the only greenhouse gases that do not occur naturally, but have been developed by man for industrial purposes. Their share of greenhouse gas emissions from industrialized countries is around 1.5%. But they are extremely powerful-they can trap heat up to 22,000 times more effectively than CO2-and they can stay in the atmosphere for thousands of years.

Agriculture Census in India

Agriculture Census is a large scale periodic, Government sponsored operation for the collection and derivation of quantitative information about nation’s agriculture, using the agricultural operational holding as the statistical unit. The operational holding is defined as “all land which is wholly or partly used for agriculture production, and is operated as one technical unit by one person alone or with others without regard to title, legal form, size or location.” A technical unit is defined as that unit which is under the same management and has the same means of production such as labor force, machinery and animals. Agricultural production includes growing of field crops, fruits, grapes, seeds, tree nurseries (except those of forest trees), vegetables and flowers, production of coffee, tea, cocoa, rubber, jute, oilseeds, fodder grass etc. Grass would be treated as a crop if special efforts are made to raise it.

In India, the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation is organising Agricultural Census quinquennially since 1970-71, in collaboration with the States and Union Territories on the recommendation of Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations as a part of World Agricultural Census.  The World Agricultural Census programme aimed at obtaining the data for different countries so as to fill up the lacunae in Agricultural Statistics and also to me them internationally comparable. 

The Census is done in three phases:

• In the first phase information on number and area of the operational holding according to the size, area, gender and social groups of holder are collected In the hill districts where land record is not maintained, data is collected in 20% sample village through door to door enquiry method.

• In the second phase of the census, data is collected in 20% sample villages. In this phase detailed information about the structure of holdings is collected viz. information on tenancy status, area leased in terms of leasing, area under different land use, crop and source wise area irrigated and un-irrigated and disposal of operated area, which is then estimated for the State. 

The information is collected in the following broad groups:

a) Gender wise number and area of operational holdings by specified size groups and their dispersals.

b) Tenancy status Size class wise.

c) Area under different land use size class wise in six fold classification.

d) Cropping pattern such as cropped once or more than once etc.

e) Crop-wise and source-wise area irrigated/un-irrigated size class wise. The information so collected were compiled for three social groups viz. scheduled caste, scheduled tribes and other than scheduled caste and scheduled tribes and institutional holding separately.

• The third phase of the Agriculture Census is known as the Input survey. Input survey is done in only 7 percent sample villages of the total villages of the State. The 7% villages are selected by selecting 35% villages randomly out of the 20% TRS villages which were already selected for the 2nd phase of Agricultural Census 2005- 06 and data is collected on the pattern of Input used for various crops. The information is collected with respect of:

a) Multiple cropping

b) Application of chemical fertilizer and pesticides

c) Live-stocks

d) Agricultural machineries

e) Seeds

f) Agricultural credit and IPM (Integrated Pest Management)

Scientists Created World’s First Digital Atlas of Brain

Scientists at the Berkeley Lab in their first major breakthrough made possible to get the close view of how a brain develops as well as functions. The scientists would also be able to find out which part of brain is an absentee during the neurological disorders such as epilepsy, autism and schizophrenia. In their major breakthrough, the scientists created the first of its kind genome-wide digital atlas of gene enhancers that are found in the brain. 

Genomes, as described by the scientists are the switches which help a gene in getting information about when and where they should be switched on or off. The world’s first atlas of this kind documents the cerebrum, motor functions as well as emotion identifies and also find out various gene-regulating elements that form the basic causes of neurological disorders.
 
A geneticist with Berkeley Lab's genomics division, Axel Visel described that the most challenging tasks of the contemporary science is to understand the functioning or malfunctioning of the brain. Therefore, they created the digital atlas of gene enhancers in the human brain. This atlas enabled the scientists to get a detailed study about how the individual genes can be regulated during the development of a brain and also how the genetic mutations can create an impact on the human neurological disorders.

The gene enhancers in reality are the short pieces of DNA in human genome, rather than the actual genes. Therefore these enhancers do not give rise to the proteins. Actually, they are the switches which are used to inform actual genes when they should become active and create a protein. Every cell type of human body composes of different sets of enhancers which are switched on or off. Together, these can help in coordination of activities of 20000 genes in every single cell.

Government clears death for rape-murder

The Union Cabinet has cleared an ordinance for tougher anti-rape laws and recommended death penalty or imprisonment for the remainder of a convict's life in extreme cases such as aggravated sex crimes leading to death or a persistent vegetative state for the victim.

Reports has replaced the word "rape" by the term "sexual assault" and acid attacks, use of criminal force and stalking have been included under that.  The government though has omitted a recommendation made by the Justice Verma panel that sexual assault in a marriage also be included in the definition of rape.

The ordinance provides for a new crime of gangrape, which will be punishable with a minimum prison term of 20 years provided it is proved that more than one person was involved in the crime.  Anyone convicted for throwing acid will be jailed for a minimum of 10 years that may extend to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10 lakh.  A man who rapes his estranged wife during separation can be jailed for seven years while those convicted for the new crimes of stalking, voyeurism and intentionally touching a girl or woman with sexual intent will get a minimum jail term of one year. 

The ordinance also provides for an amendment in the Indian Penal Code to define trafficking, which will be punishable with a jail term of no less than seven years and may extend to life imprisonment. Employment of trafficked persons will also be a penal crime now. 

Public servants who knowingly don't act to prevent rape or refuse to take cognisance of a rape case will be jailed for between one and five years. The ordinance also says that a rape victim's moral character can't be questioned during trial. 

However, the government has not accepted the Verma panel recommendation about paying compensation to victims of sexual assault. It has also not accepted the panel's suggestion to keep rape gender-specific to women. Further the cabinet has also rejected the doing away with the provision for obtaining sanction for prosecuting a police or armed forces personnel in areas where the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is in force in cases of sexual crimes. The government has also rejected the proposal that sought to fix criminal responsibility on the leader of a force for a sexual crime committed by a subordinate. 

The ordinance must now be promulgated by the President.

President Inaugurates the Anti Leprosy Fortnight and Leprosy Seal Campaign

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the Anti Leprosy Fortnight and Leprosy Seal Campaign on January 30, 2013 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. 

In this connection, a delegation of the Delhi branch of the Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh called on the President. The Sangh is a voluntary organization working in the field of service of leprosy sufferers and looking after their medical and socio-economic rehabilitation. It was set up in 1961 under the pioneering guidance of social activist Dr. Yudhvir Singh. 

On the occasion, the Punjab National Bank also donated a cheque of Rs. 3 lakh for the noble cause. 

Executive Committee on Climate Change constituted

The Prime Minister has decided to constitute an Executive Committee on Climate Change to assist the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change. The Executive Committee on Climate Change would focus on the following tasks:

1. Assist the PM’s Council on Climate Change in evolving a coordinated response to issues relating to climate change at the National level.

2. Regularly monitor the implementation of the eight national missions and other initiatives on Climate Change.

3. Advise the PM’s Council on Climate Change on modifications in the objectives, strategies and structure of the missions, as may be necessary.

4. Co-ordinate with various agencies on issues relating to climate change.

The Chairman of the Executive Committee on Climate Change will be the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests will be the Member-Convenor. Other members of the Committee include Cabinet Secretary, Finance Secretary, Secretary, Planning Commission, Secretary, Ministry of Power, Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Secretary, Water Resources, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & co-operation, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research & Education, Secretary, Department of Earth Sciences, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs. The Chairman of Executive Committee on Climate Change may invite any other officer/Expert to the meetings as may be necessary. The PM’s Council on Climate Change and the Executive Committee on Climate Change would be serviced by Ministry of Environment and Forests.

The Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change was constituted in 2007, in order to co-ordinate National Action for Assessment, Adaptation and Mitigation of Climate Change. The National Action Plan of Climate Change (NAPCC) was released by the Prime Minister in June 2008. Under the NAPCC, with the approval of PM’s Council on Climate Change, eight national missions are being implemented.

World Press Freedom Index 2013

The Press Freedom Index is an annual ranking of countries compiled and published by Reporters Without Borders based upon the organization's assessment of the countries' press freedom records in the previous year. A smaller score in the index corresponds to greater freedom of the press.

This year’s index is a better reflection of the attitudes and intentions of governments towards media freedom in the medium or long term.

For the third year running, Finland has distinguished itself as the country that most respects media freedom. It is followed by the Netherlands and Norway. Although many criteria are considered, ranging from legislation to violence against journalists, democratic countries occupy the top of the index while dictatorial countries occupy the last three positions. Again it is the same three as last year – Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea.

India has dropped nine places to 140th rank in the list of 179 countries because of increasing impunity for violence against journalists and because Internet censorship continues to grow. It is the lowest for the “world’s biggest democracy” since 2002. China (173rd, +1) shows no sign of improving. Its prisons still hold many journalists and netizens, while increasingly unpopular Internet censorship continues to be a major obstacle to access to information.

The Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders does not take direct account of the kind of political system but it is clear that democracies provide better protection for the freedom to produce and circulate accurate news and information than countries where human rights are flouted. In dictatorships, news providers and their families are exposed to ruthless reprisals, while in democracies news providers have to cope with the media’s economic crises and conflicts of interest. 

Coinciding with the release of its 2013 Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders for the first time has published an annual global “indicator” of worldwide media freedom. This new analytic tool measures the overall level of freedom of information in the world and the performance of the world’s governments in their entirety as regards this key freedom In view of the emergence of new technologies and the interdependence of governments and peoples, the freedom to produce and circulate news and information needs to be evaluated at the planetary as well as national level. Today, in 2013, the media freedom “indicator” stands at 3395, a point of reference for the years to come.

The indicator can also be broken down by region and, by means of weighting based on the population of each region, can be used to produce a score from zero to 100 in which zero represents total respect for media freedom. This produces a score of 17.5 for Europe, 30.0 for the Americas, 34.3 for Africa, 42.2 for Asia-Pacific and 45.3 for the former Soviet republics. Despite the Arab springs, the Middle East and North Africa region comes last with 48.5.

The high number of journalists and netizens killed in the course of their work in 2012 (the deadliest year ever registered by Reporters Without Borders in its annual roundup), naturally had a significant impact on the ranking of the countries where these murders took place, above all Somalia (175th, -11), Syria (176th, 0), Mexico (153rd, -4) and Pakistan (159th, -8).

3 new High Courts for North East States

 The Centre has constituted three new High Courts in the northeast — Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura — taking the total number of High Courts in the country from 21 to 24.

According to Law Ministry sources, the strength of judges in each High Court will be as follows: Tripura 4 (including the Chief Justice), and Meghalaya and Manipur: three each (including the Chief Justice).

As per the recommendations of the Supreme Court collegium, Justice T. Meenakumari, judge of the Patna High Court, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, is being elevated as Chief Justice of Meghalaya. Justice Deepak Gupta, who hails from Himachal Pradesh, is being elevated as Chief Justice of Tripura, and Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre, judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court, is being appointed CJ of Manipur.

The sources said recommendations had been received for the transfer of Justice Rajesh Kumar Agrawal, judge of the Allahabad High Court to the Madras High Court. Once transferred, he would become acting Chief Justice by virtue of his seniority, said the sources. Justice S. Nagappan, judge of the Madras High Court, is being elevated as Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court and Justice D.H. Waghela, judge of the Gujarat High Court, is being appointed Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court.