New National Water Policy

 

The Ministry of Water Resources has evolved the Draft National Water Policy (2012) to meet the present challenges in the water sector.
State Governments have been actively involved while drafting the Policy. The National Water Board comprising of Chief Secretaries of all the States and Secretaries of related Union Ministries considered the draft National Water Policy (2012) at its Meeting held on 7^th June, 2012. Thereafter, the National Water Resources Council with Chief Ministers of all States as members is to consider and adopt the draft National Water Policy (2012) arrived at as per deliberations in the National Water Board.

SALIENT FEATURES OF REVISED DRAFT NATIONAL WATER POLICY (2012)

1. Emphasis on the need for a national water framework law, comprehensive legislation for optimum development of inter-State rivers and river valleys, amendment of Irrigation Acts, Indian Easements Act, 1882, etc.

2. Water, after meeting the pre-emptive needs for safe drinking water and sanitation, achieving food security, supporting poor people dependent on agriculture for their livelihood and high priority allocation for minimum eco-system needs, be treated as economic good so as to promote its conservation and efficient use.

3. Ecological needs of the river should be determined recognizing that river flows are characterized by low or no flows, small floods (freshets), large floods and flow variability and should accommodate development needs. A portion of river flows should be kept aside to meet ecological needs ensuring that the proportional low and high flow releases correspond in time closely to the natural flow regime.

4. Adaptation strategies in view of climate change for designing and management of water resources structures and review of acceptability criteria has been emphasized.

5.A system to evolve benchmarks for water uses for different purposes, i.e., water footprints, and water auditing be developed to ensure efficient use of water. Project financing has been suggested as a tool to incentivize efficient & economic use of water.

6. Setting up of Water Regulatory Authority has been recommended. Incentivization of recycle and re-use has been recommended.

7. Water Users Associations should be given statutory powers to collect and retain a portion of water charges, manage the volumetric quantum of water allotted to them and maintain the distribution system in their jurisdiction.

8. Removal of large disparity in stipulations for water supply in urban areas and in rural areas has been recommended.

9. Water resources projects and services should be managed with community participation. Wherever the State Governments or local governing bodies so decide, the private sector can be encouraged to become a service provider in public private partnership model to meet agreed terms of service delivery, including penalties for failure.

10. Adequate grants to the States to update technology, design practices, planning and management practices, preparation of annual water balances and accounts for the site and basin, preparation of hydrologic balances for water systems, and benchmarking and performance evaluation.

Welfare Schemes for Older Persons

 

An Act called "The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007" was enacted by Parliament in December, 2007 to ensure need based maintenance for parents and senior citizens and their welfare. The Act, inter-alia, makes maintenance of parents/ senior citizens by children/ relatives obligatory and justiciable through tribunals; provides for revocation of transfer of property by senior citizens in case of negligence by relatives; penal provision for abandonment of senior citizens; protection of life and property etc.
The National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP) was announced in January 1999. Para 95 of the Policy envisages setting up of a National Council for Older Persons (NCOP) to promote and coordinate the concerns of older persons.
In pursuance of the above provision of the Policy, a National Council for Older Persons (NCOP) was constituted. In order to have a definite structure as well as to provide for representation from various regions, the NCOP has been re-constituted and renamed as the National Council of Senior Citizens (NCSrC).
A Resolution dated 17th February, 2012 re-constituting and renaming the NCOP as the NCSrC was published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary on 22nd February, 2012.
The NCSrC will advise the Central and the State Governments on the entire gamut of issues related to the welfare of senior citizens and enhancement of their quality of life, with special reference to policies, programmes and legislative measures; promotion of physical and financial security, health, and independent and productive living; and awareness generation and community mobilization.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is implementing the National Programme for the Health Care for the Elderly (NPHCE) from the year 2010-11. The basic aim of the NPHCE programme is to provide separate and specialized comprehensive health care to the senior citizens at various level of state health care delivery system including outreach services. Preventive & promotive care, management of illness, health manpower development for geriatric services, medical rehabilitation & therapeutic intervention and IEC are some of the strategies envisaged in the NPHCE.
The major components of the NPHCE during 11th Five Year Plan were establishment of 30 bedded Department of Geriatric in 8 identified Regional Medical Institutions (Regional Geriatric Centres) in different regions of the country and to provide dedicated health care facilities in District Hospitals, CHCs, PHCs and Sub Centres level in 100 identified districts of 21 States.
It is proposed to cover the remaining districts under the programme during the 12th Five Year Plan in a phased manner (@ 100 districts per year and develop 12 additional Regional Geriatric Centres in selected Medical Colleges of the country.

 

UN Climate Change Conference held In Doha, Qatar

 

Thousands of government representatives, international organizations and civil society members have gathered in the Qatari capital of Doha for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, on November 26 with a call to build on and implement previously agreed decisions to curb global carbon emissions by the year 2020.
  The ten-day meeting brings together the 195 Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
Under the Protocol, 37 States – consisting of highly industrialized countries and countries undergoing the process of transition to a market economy – have legally binding emission limitation and reduction commitments. Government delegates at the Conference will, among other goals, try to extend the Kyoto Protocol, which expires at the end of 2012.
UNFCCC
No wonder the climate talks turned into such an alphabet soup when the first acronym they came up with had six letters, ending with three Cs. It stands for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Adopted in 1992 and ratified by 194 countries and the European Union, it provides the foundation of the global climate talks.
COP 18
Each meeting of the countries who have joined the convention is called a Conference of the Parties, or COP. This year's edition in Doha is the 18th such meeting, hence the name COP 18. Things got confusing at the 2009 meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, when the uninitiated assumed COP was an abbreviation of the host city.
KYOTO PROTOCOL
Known to the climate crowd as the ``KP,'' it's the most important deal signed within the convention, establishing binding greenhouse emissions targets for 37 industrialized nations. (Keep reading to find out how to say emissions target in Kyoto-speak). The US was the only industrialized nation that didn't ratify the agreement. Adopted in the Japanese city of Kyoto in 1997, the KP expires at the end of 2012. A key issue in Doha is negotiating an extension, referred to as a second commitment period.
LCA
Since the KP focuses on emissions from industrialized nations, a second work flow was set up in 2007 to discuss other climate actions, including by developing countries and Kyoto-dropout US The formal name is the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action. Delegates just refer to it as the LCA. It's supposed to be closed at the end of this year, but some developing countries say its work isn't finished. That's another sticking point in Doha.
DURBAN PLATFORM
Last year in Durban, South Africa, countries agreed to craft a new global climate pact that would include both rich and poor nations. Negotiators gave themselves a 2015 deadline to adopt the agreement, which would enter into force in 2020. A new working group was formed called the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action. Most delegates call it the Durban Platform or the ADP.
QELRO
It may have a more exotic ring to it than `emissions target' but it's essentially the same thing. A QELRO is the commitment that a country has made to cut its greenhouse emissions under the Kyoto Protocol. It stands for Quantified Emission Limitation and Reduction Obligation. Don't confuse QELROs with the NAMAs, or Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions, pledged by developing countries; or NAPAs, Nationally Adaptation Programs for Action, which are action plans submitted by the poorest countries on how to adapt to climate change.
REDD-PLUS and LULUCF
Even those inside the climate bubble will be hard pressed to spell out what those initials stand for. The important thing to know is they are initiatives to reduce emissions from deforestation and agriculture.

India ranks 78th in Rule of Law Index 2012

 

India ranks 78th among 97 countries in guaranteeing access to all civil justice, a latest report released while its neighbouring country Sri Lanka leads the South Asian nations in most dimensions of the rule of law.

The ‘Rule of Law Index 2012’ report by World Justice Project provides country-by-country scores and rankings for eight areas of the rule of law.

India, the report said, has a robust system of checks and balances (ranked thirty-seventh worldwide and second among lower middle-income countries), an independent judiciary, strong protections for freedom of speech, and a relatively open government (ranking fiftieth globally and fourth among lower-middle income countries).

“Administrative agencies do not perform well (ranking 79th) and the civil court system ranks poorly (ranking 78) mainly because of deficiencies in the areas of court congestion, enforcement, and delays in processing cases,” the report said.

“Corruption is a significant problem (ranking 83rd), and police discrimination and abuses are not unusual. Order and security — including crime, civil conflict, and political violence — is a serious concern (ranked second lowest in the world),” the report observed.

According to the report, Sri Lanka outperforms its regional peers in all but two dimensions of the rule of law.

Pakistan shows weaknesses in most dimensions when compared to its regional and income group peers, the report said.

Miss Earth 2012

Miss Czech Republic crowned Miss Earth 2012

Tereza Fajksova of the Czech Republic was crowned Miss Earth 2012 on November 24 in the Philippines.
Miss Philippines Stephany Stefanowitz as Miss Earth Air , Miss Venezuela Osmariel Villalobos as Miss Earth Water and Miss Brazil Camila Brant as Miss Earth Fire.
Around 91 contestants from around the globe participated in the pageant with a theme in line with that of United Nations' (UN) celebration of the International Year of Sustainable Energy for all.
There were many favourites including Miss Prachi Mishra who represented India and had bagged the Friendship subtitle at Miss Earth 2012.
Miss Earth 2012, Tereza Fajksova was crowned by her predecessor- Miss Earth 2011-Olga Alava of Ecuador.

FDI in Various Sectors

As per extant FDI policy, FDI, up to 26% is permitted, in the defence sector, with prior Government approval. Government has, further, interalia announced the following decisions:- 

(i) Amendment of certain conditions relating to FDI, up to 100%, in single brand retail trading, vide Press Note No. 4(2012 Series) dated 20.9.2012 

(ii) Permitting FDI, up to 51%, in multi-brand retail trading, subject to specified conditions, vide Press Note No. 5 (2012 Series) dated 20.9.2012 

(iii) Permitting foreign airlines to invest, in the capital of Indian companies, operating scheduled and nonscheduled air transport services, up to the limit of 49% of their paid-up capital, vide Press Note No.6 (2012 Series) dated 20.9.2012 

(iv) Permitting FDI, up to 49%, in power exchanges, vide Press Note No. 8 (2012 Series) dated 20.9.2012 

The above mentioned decisions have been incorporated in the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person Resident Outside India) Regulations, 2000 vide Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person Resident Outside India) (Sixth Amendment) Regulations, 2012 notified in the Gazette of India: Extraordinary vide G.S.R.795(E) dated 19.10.2012. 

It is the Government’s assessment that implementation of the policy is likely to facilitate greater FDI inflows into front and back-end infrastructure; technologies and efficiencies to unlock the potential of the agricultural value chain; additional and quality employment; and global best practices. This, in turn, is expected to benefit consumers and farmers in the long run, in terms of quality and price. The 30% mandatory sourcing condition has been incorporated to encourage local value addition and manufacturing. The increased level of activity, in the front-end, as well as in the back-end, resulting from greater FDI inflows, is expected to create additional employment opportunities for rural and urban youth. It is, further, expected to encourage existing traders and retail outlets to upgrade and become more efficient, thereby providing better services to consumers and better remuneration to the producers from whom they source their products. 

The consultations with key stakeholders regarding FDI in multi-brand retail trading brought out views both for and against FDI in multi brand retail trading. On balance, however, the discussions generally indicated support for the policy, subject to the introduction of adequate safeguards. The necessary safeguards have, accordingly, been incorporated in the policy and are expected to protect the interests of various stakeholders. Government has also decided to constitute a high-level group to make recommendations on internal trade reforms, with a view to ensuring distributional efficiencies and also that the benefits from trade are available to all sections of society. 

Two proposals have been received for FDI up to 100% in single brand retail trading (from M/s Ingka Holding Overseas B.V, Netherlands and M/s Fossil India Private Limited). Further, seven proposals have been received, for single brand product retail trading, with foreign equity participation up to 51% (from M/s Fapa Company Ltd., Samoa; M/s Promod S.A.S, France; M/s Tommy Hillfiger B.V, The Netherlands; M/s NA Pali Europe SARL; M/s The Semex Alliance, Canada; M/s Le Cruset SAS France and M/s Sketchers South Asia Private Limited). No proposal has been received for FDI in multi-brand retail trading. 

The proposals require in-depth examination with reference to the policy parameters and safeguards. As such, no timeframe can be specified for a decision on these proposals. 

This information was given by the Minister of State for Commerce & Industry Dr. S. Jagathrakshakan in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today. 

National Mission on Monsoon

The aims and objectives of the National Monsoon Mission are 

i. To set up a state-of-the-art dynamical prediction system for (a) improved prediction of monsoon rainfall on extended range to seasonal time scale (16 days to one season) and (b) improved prediction of temperature, rainfall and extreme weather events on short to medium range time scale (up to 15 days). 

ii. To build a working partnership between the academic and research organizations, both national and international and the operational agencies in the country to improve the skill of operational monsoon forecasts over the country. 

The proposed program after its implementation will lead to more accurate prediction of monsoon weather and climate in all time scales, short range to seasonal time scale at appropriate spatial scales. The forecasts based on this dynamical prediction system will cater to the needs of various sectors like agriculture, water resources management, power generation, disaster management, tourism, and transport. 

At present operational extended range to seasonal forecasts are prepared using statistical methods which have constraints and limitations. The monsoon mission will help us to implement a state-of-the-art dynamical prediction system with more accuracy and fidelity for extended range to seasonal forecasts in the country. 

Concerted effort is being made by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM - ESSO), Pune to improve the adopted coupled ocean-atmospheric Climate Forecast System (CFS) model in collaboration with USA towards improving extended range and seasonal scale monsoon forecasts. The National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF - ESSO), NOIDA is putting efforts to improve the adopted unified model in collaboration with UK for medium range scale monsoon rainfall forecasts including extreme weather phenomena. Identified national and international academic and R& D groups will be involved to address associated scientific issues in the overall pursuit. Government has approved the scheme with an allocation of Rs. 400.00crores. 

The above information was given by the Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri S. Jaipal Reddy to the Parliament. 

India and Japan Signed Earths Pact on Rare Earth Minerals

India and Japan signed an Earths Pact on 16 November 2012 that will enable the latter to import the rare Earth minerals from India. These rare minerals are very important for the Tech-savvy industries of Japan. The pact came as a conclusion despite postponement of India-Japan annual summit.
As per the signed pact, Japan will be able to import 4000 tonnes rare Earth minerals for a year from India. By signing the pact, Japan has branched out its supply from China for metals which are used in their industries.
Japan now hopes that the pact will reduce its dependency on China for these rare minerals. It is important to note here that Japan is in tiff on the issue of Senkaku islands with China.
Apart from this, India-Japan also signed a social security pact. These two pacts which were destined to come into force on the now-cancelled Indian PM’s trip were reinforced in Japan.

Katherine Boo won US National Book Award for Mumbai Book

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and writer Katherine Boo on 14 November 2012won the national book award for nonfiction for Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity, which sheds light on the lives of India's poor as well as government corruption.
Behind the beautiful forever is a story of an ambitious woman who has set her sights on being slumlord in Annawadi, a large slum close to Sahar International Airport in Mumbai the story also revolves around a boy and the harsh and illuminating after effects of crime or perceived crime. More broadly, the book explores themes of inequality and the perseverance of families striving for something better.
The National Book Foundation, which administers the awards, nominated five writers in each of four categories: fiction, nonfiction, poetry and young people's literature.

 

Urdu Scholar Gopi Chand Narang Awarded Moortidevi Award for 2010

The Vice President of India M. Hamid Ansari  on 16 November 2012 presented theMoortidevi Award for 2010 to eminent Urdu scholar Gopi Chand Narang for his outstanding work on Urdu Ghazal aur Hindustani Zehan wa Tehzeeb at a function organized by Bhartiya Jnanpith.
Gopi Chand Narang revived Urdu language in India through his writings and he is one of the foremost theorist, literary critic and Urdu scholar of our country. His perceptive writings have helped Urdu criticism becoming more contemporary.
It is befitting that his long academic life of excellence has been felicitated by conferring the Moortidevi award on him.

About Gopi Chand Narang
Gopi Chand Narang is an Indian scholar of Urdu language and literature, an eminent Urdu writer, scholar, critic and linguist. He is author of many books in Urdu, Hindi and English.
Gopi Chand Narang received many awards from the governments of India and Pakistan and many literary organizations worldwide. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2004. He taught in many universities in India and participates in literary conferences around the world. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu 1993 for Sakhtiyaat, Pas-Sakhtiyaat aur Mashriqi Sheriyaat (Literary criticism), later he remained the president of the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, 2003 to 2007. He was also on the editorial board of Akademi's journal, Indian Literature.
About Moortidevi Award

Moortidevi Award is named in the memory of Moortidevi, mother of Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain, founder of Bharatiya Jnanpith. This Award is presented for a reflective or intellectual work, which underlines and expresses Indian philosophy and cultural heritage based on wider ideals and human values. It is conferred on the litterateur who is alive.
As far as the selection Process is concerned Nomination forms are invited from hundreds of scholars, thinkers and writers of different languages. These forms are presented before the selection board, which is authorised to include any more names to the list. The writer is awarded an amount of Rupees two Lakh, a citation plaque, a Saraswati Statue, a srifal and a shawl.

Australia Created World’s Largest Marine Reserve to Protect Ocean Environment

Australia on 16 November 2012 created the world's largest network of marine reserves, protecting more than 2.3 million square kilometres of ocean environment.
The announcement came after years of planning and consultation. The Marine reserve created is going to expand the protection of creatures such as the blue whale, green turtle and the critically endangered populations of grey nurse sharks, and dugongs.
The plan extension cover six marine regions and it was first made public in June 2012.
Australia is home to some incredible marine environments which include the Perth Canyon in the south-west and the stunning reefs of the Coral Sea and  by creating World’s largest Marine Reserve is becoming a world leader on environmental protection.
However, the Marine reserve creation is going to ruin coastal communities and it will also affect thousands of jobs with a serious impact on US $ 2 billion aquaculture Industry. It was also criticized by the Commonwealth Fisheries Association.
As per the cost analysis by the Australian Marine Alliance it was found that the marine reserve creation  would affect 60 regional communities ,36000 jobs lost and a displacement of 70-80 trawler operators while the cost of seafood imports would soar.

Chinese Film, 11 Flowers won NETPAC Award at Kolkata Film Festival

The Chinese film, 11 Flowers on 17 November 2012 won the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) Award at 18th Kolkata International Film Festival. The film won the best film award in Asian Select category-the only competitive category in Kolkata International Film Festival. A total of 13 films from 12 12 Asian Countries were selected to compete for the award of this category.
The film directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Wang Xiaoshuai describes the backdrop of the Cultural Revolution in form of a semi-autobiographical story of the rural Guizhou Province. Wang Jinchun and Wenqing Liu are the lead stars of the film.
The NETPAC award is now a part of 44 film festivals of 28 different countries across five continents.

Tulsi Govinda Baruah, the Assam Tribune’s Chairperson died

Tulsi Govinda Baruah, the Chairman of Assam Tribune Group of Newspapers died on 17 November 2012 at his residence in Rajgarh. The 87 year old is now survived by his wife a daughter and two sons.
About Tulsi Govinda Baruah
Tulsi Govinda Baruah was born in Dibrugarh town of Assam, on 29 July 1925. His father R.G. Baruah was the first Mayor and architect of modern Guwahati and he ran the English daily newspaper, The Assam Tribune. Tulsi Govinda Baruah started working in the newspaper in 1942 and rose to its group Chairperson’s position in the year 1985. The group also publishes monthly literary journal Gariyoshi along with the Assamese daily Dainik Asam, a weekly Asam Bani.

Bangladesh Opted out of D-8 Summit Scheduled to be Held in Pakistan

Bangladesh opted out of the key summit known as D-8 Summit in Pakistan which is scheduled to be held later in November, 2012. Bangladesh opted out because Pakistan refused to apologise for the deeds committed during 1971 war which eventually led to Bangladesh’s independence.
Bangladesh’s foreign minister in an earlier visit of Hina Rabbani, Pakistan’s foreign minister demanded a formal apology to the Bangladesh’s populace. This apology was demanded for the carnage committed by Pakistan Army and also for putting the former political as well as military personalities on trial in then-East Pakistan.
Since then, Pakistan has not paid heed to the demand. Now, Bangladesh claims more clarity on this issue.

Anil Dev Singh became the new Chairperson of IOA Election Panel

Anil Dev Singh, the former Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court on 19 November 2012 was appointed as the new Chairperson of the Election Commission of The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) after S.Y. Quraishi resigned from his post on 17 November 2012. This appointment was done by Vijay Kumar Malhotra, the Acting President of IOA at present.
With this appointment, the former Chief Justice would be heading the Election Commission of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Two other members of the election commission panel would be are Justice V.K. Bali (retd.) and Justice J.D. Kapur (retd.).
The Acting President of Indian Olympics Association, Vijay Kumar Malhotra in his communication with the International Olympics Committee (IOC) explained that in selecting the Chairperson for the IOA he followed the Court Directives that was against the Sports Code of the Government of India. Whereas, the IOC in its communication on 18 November 2012 asked the Election Commission members and Vijay Kumar Malhotra to follow the Olympic Charter and the constitution of Indian Olympic Association to conduct the elections.

President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf chosen for Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 2012

Liberian President and Nobel laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on 19 November 2012 was chosen for 2012 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for being an inspiration to women and ensuring return of peace and democracy in her country.
The award is set up by Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust with an international jury chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Indira Gandhi Prize is being awarded to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for serving as anexample and inspiration to women in Africa and beyond and for ensuring the return of peace, democracy, development, security and order in Liberia.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who is the 24th President of Liberia was commended by the jury for her strong interest in the consolidation and improvement of Liberia's relations with India. She was risen to the Presidency becoming the first elected female head of state of the African continent.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took over office as the President of Liberia in 2006 acquiring a legacy of distrust, disharmony and mismanagement. She had successfully restored financial health her country which was on the verge of fiscal breakdown.
About Indira Gandhi Peace Prize
The Indira Gandhi Peace Prize is the prominent award given annually by the Government of India to individuals or organizations in acknowledgment to resourceful efforts toward promoting international peace, development and a new international economic order; ensuring that scientific discoveries are used for the larger good of humanity, and enlarging the scope of freedom.
The prize carries a cash award of 25 lakh Indian rupees and a citation. To be eligible for consideration it is mandatory to have a written work published.
The 2011 recipient of Indira Gandhi Peace Prize was Ela Bhatt the Founder of Sewa, Self-Employed Women's Association of India.

Manipur Sangai festival 2012

 

* The ten day Manipur Sangai festival 2012 has been inaugurated by Manipur State Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam at Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT), Palace Compound in Imphal(Capital of Manipur) on Nov 21st.

* Every year the Government of Manipur, Spearheaded by the Tourism Department, celebrates the Manipur Sangai Festival from 21st to 30th of November.

* In 2010, The state “Tourism Festival” was renamed to “Manipur Sangai Festival,” as a tribute to showcase the uniqueness of the gentle and endangered Brow-Antlered Deer popularly known as the Sangai Deer which is found only in Manipur at the floating Keibul Lamjao National Park in Loktak Lake

* The Festival strives to showcase and promote the best of what the state has to offer to the world in terms of art and culture, handloom, handicrafts & fine arts, indigenous sports, cuisines & music, eco & adventure sports as well as the scenic natural beauty of the land.

* The tourism department is expecting footfalls of over 5 lakhs people to visit during the ongoing festival held from 21-30 November.

 

 

 

 

India Added 22 New Items to promote Indo-Myanmar Border Trade

Indian Government in the month of November added 22 commodities such as agricultural tools, bicycle, coal and garments in the list of items for border trade with Myanmar to boost the two-way commerce between the neighbours.
The new items added and revised in the list of 40 tradable items was confirmed in a public notice by Director General of Foreign Trade which now make the list of 62 Consolidated items.
The other new items included are edible oil, electrical appliances, steel products, medicines, tea, beverages, motor cycles and spare parts, semi precious stone, sewing machines and three wheelers/cars below 100 cc.
As per Industry led Organisation CII, the bilateral trade between India and Myanmar is expected to double by 2015 from the current level of USD 1.3 billion, on the back of free trade agreement between New Delhi and Asean region.Myanmar is a key member of the 10-nation bloc Asean.
About Indo-Myanmar Border Trade

It has been seen that bilateral relations between Myanmar and India is considerably improving since 1993, overcoming strains over drug trafficking the suppression of democracy and the rule of the military junta in Burma. The proximity of the People's Republic of China gives strategic importance to Indo-Burmese relations.
India is one of the largest market for Burmese exports, it is supported from the fact that India is Myanmar’s 4th largest trading partner after Thailand, China and Singapore, and second largest export market after Thailand, absorbing 25 percent of its total exports.
The Indian government had improved air, land and sea routes to strengthen trade links with Myanmar and establish a gas pipeline. The bilateral border trade agreement of 1994 provides for border trade to be carried out from three designated border points, one each in Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.

Super-Jupiter, the Largest Planet of Our Solar System Discovered

Astrophysicists at the University of Toronto in the third week of November 2012 discovered a new planet called Super-Jupiter which is thirteen times enormous than Jupiter. This is the largest planet discovered in the solar system.

Super-Jupiter orbits around the star known as Kappa Andromedae which is 2.5 times greater than the Sun’s mass and is situated at 170 light years farther than the Earth. The star is quite young, 30 million years old, while the sun is 5 billion years old.

The planet is called Super-Jupiter because it is larger than the Jupiter planet. According to the astrophysicists, Super-Jupiter could represent first newly discovered exoplanet system in the time duration of 4 years and it has mass which is at least thirteen times more than Jupiter. The orbit of the planet is a bit larger than that of Neptune.
Kappa Andromedae, which is said to be the host star of this newly discovered planet, is the highest mass star to host a planet which was directly observed.

Pranab Mukherjee Inaugurated the Mannam International Socio-Cultural & Charitable Centre

Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India on 20 November inaugurated the Mannam International Socio-Cultural and Charitable Center at Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Auditorium. At the inaugural ceremony, the Indian President described Mannath Padmanabhan, the founder of NSS (Nair Service Society) as a visionary and social reformer, who stood against the social evils and worked for economic upliftment for the people of Kerela.
The new centre would be providing care to the senior citizens, temporary shelter to the people on need, health care to the under-privileged and space for community functions. This center would also act as the center for research on the work and life of Mannam and would be reachable on the 24-hour helpline number.
Mannath Padmanabhan

Mannath Padmanabhan was a peerless leader of the Nair community and founder of the Nair Service Society and a social reformer. In Kerela, he participated in the Vaikom Satyagraha for opening of the streets of the Vaikom temple for socially underprivileged sections of Hindu Society. He also was a participant of the Guruvayur Satyagraha, which demanded entry of the underprivileged classes of society in the temples.

NAK Browne released a book Victory India-A Key to Quality Military Leadership

The Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne on 20 November 2012 released a book titled Victory India - A Key to Quality Military Leadership authored by Colonel Vinay B Dalvi (Retd) at the Air Headquarters. The book has tried to present the process of identification, selection and training of the youths for moulding them into effective and inspiring military leaders of the nation.
The book is a compilation of well written contributory articles by military experts that includes Admiral Arun Prakash, Lieutenant General Arun Chopra, Lieutenant General Gautam Banerjee, Air Marshal TS Randhawa and different technologists, professors, sports medicine specialists and psychologists.
Colonel Vinay B Dalvi (Retd)
In the 37 years of his distinguished service of the Indian Army, Colonel Vinay B Dalvi has served almost every sector and commands of the Indian Army which also includes National Defence Academy, Instructional Training at Indian Military Academy and Officers Training Academy.

Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab Hanged at Yerwada Jail, Pune

Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, the Pakistani National and the lone surviving terrorist of 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks, was hanged on 21 November 2012 at Pune’s Yerwada Jail at 7:30 am. The Home Minister of Maharashtra R.R. Patil confirmed that Kasab was hanged. The President of India Pranab Mukherjee rejected the mercy plea of Kasab.

He was hanged five days before the fourth anniversary of the brutal terror attack on Mumbai that claimed 166 lives and sieged Mumbai for continuous three days.

Execution of Kasab Second-Fastest in the History of India 

In the top-secret operation, the sole surviving terrorist of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab was hanged till death in Yerwada jail, Pune, on 21 November 2012. Kasab had killed 166 people on 26 November 2008 along with 9 other terrorists from Pakistan. 

 

Ajmal Kasab’s Execution Chronology 

•    26 November 2008- Kasab as well as 9 terrorists launched a commando raid in Mumbai
•    27 November 2008- Kasab caught and arrested 
•    30 November 2008- Kasab confessed before police
•    16 January 2009- Arthur Road Jail selected for trial of Kasab
•    20/21 February 2009- Kasab confessed before the magistrate
•    22 February 2009- Ujjwal Nikal appointed as the Special Public Prosecutor
•    20 April 2009- Prosecution charged Kasab on 312 counts
•    6 May 2009- Kasab was awarded death sentence by the trial court
•    21 February 2011- Bombay High Court upheld the decision of the trial court
•    March 2011- Kasab wrote to Supreme Court challenging high court’s decision
•    10 October 2011- Supreme Court stayed execution of the death sentence
•    25 April 2012- Supreme Court reserved its verdict after going through a lot of hearing over two and a half months
•    16 October 2012- Union Home Ministry recommended to president for rejecting mercy plea of Kasab
•    5 November 2012- President rejected mercy petition of Kasab
•    8 November 2012- Maharashtra Government was informed about the decision of President
•    21 November 2012- Kasab was hanged at 7.30 A.M. in Yerwada Jail, Pune 

Background of Kasab

Kasab was a Pakistani militant and belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist group. He was born on 13 July 1987 at Faridkot, Pakistan and is 25 years old. Kasab was found guilty in 80 offences which included murder, possession of explosives, waging a war against India and many more. The Supreme Court of India upheld the death sentence of Kasab on 29 August 2012. The defense lawyers on Kasab’s side are Defense lawyers Amin Solkar, Farhana Shah and Abbas Kazmi.

Kasab’s execution is second-fastest in the history

Kasab’s execution is said to be the second fastest in the history of India, only after Banswara-based Ramchandra a.k.a Raoji. Raoji was executed in just 3 years after murdering his family. Raoji was put to death on 4 May 1996. 

Comparing the two, Kasab’s execution is the second-fastest as he was hanged 4 years after his heinous terror attack in Mumbai. 

It is quite significant to note that the President Pranab Mukherjee decided to reject Kasab’s mercy plea while 14 other petitions till October 2012 were pending and this also included Parliament attack terrorist- Afzal Guru besides other important names.

Greenhouse Gases Level Reached Record High in 2011: WMO Survey Revealed

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on 20 November 2012 in the annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin revealed that the atmospheric volume of the greenhouse gases, which are often blamed for the change in atmosphere, had hit the record in 2011. 

The volume of the main greenhouse gas- carbon dioxide grew at almost identical rate in previous 10 years and it touched 390.9 parts per million (ppm) or 40 percent above the pre-industrial level, as per the survey. 

There had been an increase on an average by 2 ppm for last decade. Since the beginning of the industrial era from 1750, the fossil fuels had remained the main source of around 375 billion tonnes carbon which was released in atmosphere. 

According to the secretary of WMO- General Michel Jarraud, around a billion tonnes of extra carbon dioxide would be there in the environment for centuries causing warming of planet even more. The oceans are already becoming acidic because of uptake of carbon dioxide and the repercussions are being faced by coral reefs and underwater food chains. 

In past three years, the level of methane has also increased rapidly after leveling off for around 7 years. The third greenhouse gas- nitrous oxide had its volume increased in 2011. Nitrous Oxide has a long-term climatic impact which is 298 times larger than carbon dioxide.

India Voted Against UN General Assembly’s Resolution to Ban Death Penalties

India was one among the 39 other countries that voted on 20 November 2012 against the non-binding draft resolution of UN General Assembly that proposed for putting an end to death penalty. India voted on the grounds that each and every nation has its own sovereign right in order to determine the legal system. 110 nations voted in the favour, while 36 members withdrew.
The non-binding UN resolution called for suspension on the capital punishment with a view to put an end to the death penalty. This was adopted at Third Committee of the General Assembly on 20 November 2012 along with the deals with humanitarian as well as social issues.
The resolution of the draft expressed deep concerns over continued applications of death penalties, which is why it calls for establishment of cessation on capital punishment, viewing that the practice would be abolished completely. The resolution called the nations to gradually hamper the use of death penalty and not to impose them for offences which are committed by pregnant women or people below 18 years of age.  The nations were also called to decrease the offences for which capital punishment is imposed.
In the explanation of the non-agreeing vote, India said that every state has its autonomous right for determination of the legal system. Apart from India, other nations that voted against the resolution include China, Korea, Bangladesh, Japan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Libya, Kuwait and US.
Over 2/3rd countries of the world have completely abolished death penalty. 97 countries of the world have abolished death penalty for all the crimes.

Tongariro Volcano erupted in the North Island region of New Zealand

The Tongariro Volcano in Mount Tongariro at Tongariro National Park, New Zealand erupted on 21 November 2012. This volcano left behind massive plume of ash billows up to 3 kilometers in the skies of Tongariro National Park in the North Island of New Zealand. 

The volcano erupted with a grumble at 1:25 pm about 300 kilometers away from Wellington City of New Zealand.  The volcano was used as the backdrop in many scenes and sequences of the Hollywood movie, Lord of the Rings film Trilogy. 

Mount Tongariro Volcano
Mount Tongariro Volcano, located in Tongariro National Park of the Taupo Volcanic Zone of the North Island of New Zealand is a compound volcano. Located in the south western part of Lake Taupo, the volcano is the northernmost volcano of the three active volcanoes of the central North Island region.  This Volcano consists of 12 cones and has erupted more than 70 times since 1839. 

The Tongariro National Park is a dual World Heritage site and first park to win the recognition of National Park in New Zealand, because of its natural beauty, peaks like peaks of Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu. 

What Causes Volcanoes?
The Earth is comprised of three different layers, which includes crust, mantle and core. The crust on which we live on is made of hard solid rocks and its thickness varies from place to place. Its thickness is about 60 kilometer in the Himlayas and Alps, whereas it remains about 5 kilometer under Oceans and Seas. The Mantle comprises thick molten rock also called as Magma and the core that is solid at the center is covered with the liquid layer on the outerside, with a temperature of more than 5000 ° C. The eruption takes place, when the temperature of the earth rises and the magma inside it tries to find a way to move out, under such condition it rises up and finds a way forming a crater or mouth to come out in form of lava and smoke of poisonous gases. The release of gases, magma, and other things happens with an explosion because of the energy with which these comes out from the earth’s inner core. The molten magma after being out of the earth is called as Lava. 

Types of Volcanoes
The exact nature of volcanic eruptions can be identified by the way they erupts, the type of lava that it spills out from the earth and the amount of lava and ash that comes out of the vent of the volcano. The volcanoes are also grouped following the way they erupt and the group includes Composite Volcanoes also called strato volcanoes, Shield Volcanoes also called shields, Cinder Cones, Spatter Cones, and Complex Volcanoes also called compound volcanoes.

Effects of the gases that comes out of the volcano
Gases that comes out from the volcano provides a potential threat to the people, animal and agriculture as well as property of the people residing in the nearby area of the volcano. The gases released from the volcano contains gases like sulphur dioxide, hydrogen fluoride and carbon dioxide in huge amount, which pollutes the air in the atmosphere. The released sulphur dioxide (SO2) can cause acid rains and harm the farm lands and its crops and pollute the water bodies of the world. SO2 the colourless gas with a pungent smell can impact the upper respiratory system of human being and can cause skin irritations on the mucous membrane and tissues of eyes, throat and nose. Whereas, the Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) that is a flammable gas can act as a depressant at low concentrations and can also irritate eyes, it can cause pulmonary edema to person long exposed to the gas. Many more gases that evolve from the volcano can impact the life on earth and its environment in several ways.

Lula da Silva awarded Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development

The former President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was awarded with Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development on 22 November 2012 at Rashtrapati Bhavan by President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. 

Lula was awarded for

Lula was conferred with the award for his contribution towards elimination of hunger. He has also brought inclusive growth in his country. He was awarded for advocating stronger ties among the developing economies as well as for the signal contribution for India-Brazil partnership.

Who is Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva?

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was appointed as the president of Brazil on 1 January 2003. Lula, the former President of the Federative Republic of Brazil is the transformative figure of the country. He contributed towards the cause of India-Brazil better relationship and partnership. 

Lula received number of medals, awards and recognition. He had received awards and medals like Brazilian Order of Merit, Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle, Naval and Aeronautical Merit,  Norwegian Order of Royal Merit and many more. Lula is the most renowned Brazilian President. In 2006, President A.P.J Abdul Kalam conferred him with Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding. 

Lula left the office on 1 January 2011 after serving two terms as the president. 

About the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development

Every year, Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development is awarded to person or an organisation that works towards enlargement of scope of freedom as well as enrichment of human spirit. The award is conferred upon the person or an organisation irrespective of race, religion, nationality or other aspects. It consist of award worth 2.5 million Rupees as well as trophy alongwith citation.