Weekly Current Affairs Bulletin: 1 April 2013 To 7 APRIL, 2013

WEEKLY CURRENT AFFAIRS BULLETIN
1ST APRIL 2013 TO 7TH APRIL, 2013
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Weekly Current Affairs 1st April to 7th April, 2013
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2nd December: Infrastructure & Resources 1. Transportation infrastructure: Road and Highway Networks, Mass Transit Systems, Railways, Waterways, Ports.... 2. Energy infrastructure:- Thermal Power Generation, Natural Gas Pipelines & Petroleum Pipelines, Nuclear Energy, Renewable Energy...... 3. Water management infrastructure:- Drinking water supply, Sewage Collection and Disposal of Waste water, Flood Control, Water Harwesting..... 4. Communications infrastructure:- Television and Radio Transmission, Internet, Social Network, Search Engines, Communications Satellites...... 5. Solid Waste Management 6. Economic Infrastructure: Manufacturing Infrastructure, including Industrial Parks and Special Economic zones, Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Infrastructure.... 7. Resources: Water Resources, Forest Resources, Land Resources, Energy Resources, Minerals, Resource Management..... 9th December: Demography : Population Composition, Density, Literacy, Sex Ratio... 16th December: Environmental Problems & Global Environmental Governance : Deforestation, Pollution: Air, Water, Land, Noise, Desertification, Biodiversity Depletion, Global Warming, SD.......
Production and productivity, Microirrigation, Urbanization, Government Initiatives...... 6th January: Indian Economy Basics, Planning & Trade 1. Industry Services, Agriculture, Energy..... 2. Balance of Payments. Foreign Direct Investment....... 3. Growth, Development and Other Issues......... 4. Poverty Estimates, Impact of Poverty........ 5. Exchange rate. Role of RBI..... 6. Nature of Planning - Five Year Plan, Planning after 1991 (LPG), Inflation..... 13th January: Governance and Contemporary Political Developments : Development Politics, Political and Administrative Institutions, Good Governance, Internal Security....
23rd December: Human Development, Social Sector Initiatives and Programmes & Policies 1. Concept of Human Development, Development vs. Growth, Human Development Index, MPI, Innovation..... 2. Social Inclusion, Child Welfare, Women Welfare.... 30th December: Agriculture, Urbanisation, Health : Agriculture and GDP, Agricultural Regionalization,
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20th January ... 27th January ... 3rd February .. 10th February . 31st March ...... 7th April ......... 21st April ........ 28th April .......
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NATIONAL
Armed Forces Tribunal must have civil contempt powers: Parliamentary panel The Armed Forces Tribunal Act was enacted in 2007 to provide for adjudication or trial by the Armed Forces Tribunal of disputes and complaints with respect to commission, appointments, enrolment and conditions of service in respect of persons subject to the Army Act, 1950, the Navy Act, 1957 and the Air Force Act, 1950 and also to provide for appeals arising out of orders, findings or sentences of court martial held under the said Acts and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Section 19 of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act enables the Tribunal to punish for criminal contempt only and not for civil contempt. The aforesaid Act in its present form does not contain any provision for the execution of the orders finally passed by the Tribunal. As a result of which cases involving serious questions of law of public importance are to be taken to the Supreme Court for appropriate directions. It is, therefore, proposed to confer powers of civil contempt to the said Tribunal in addition to the existing powers of criminal contempt. The proposed amendment would give the same jurisdiction, powers and authority to the said Tribunal in respect of contempt of itself as a High Court has and may exercise and, for this purpose, the provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, shall have effect subject to certain modifications mentioned in the Bill. In the face of stiff resistance from the armed forces, the Parliamentary Committee on Defence has finally recommended that the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) be given powers of civil contempt as many of its orders are not being implemented despite its having the status of a High Court. raised objections on the grounds that it might become difficult to implement some orders of the tribunal which are against the settled policy of the government. The aggrieved party could always appeal against non-implementation of the order before the Supreme Court, it said. In another step, aimed at making the ATF a strong and independent institution, and to avoid conflict of interest, the panel has recommended that the administrative control of the tribunal should be with the Ministry of Law and Justice Ministry rather than the Ministry of Defence (MoD). While approving shifting of administrative control of the AFT to the Law Ministry, the committee noted that eventually it would come under the Central Tribunal Division proposed to be set up by the Ministry on the advice of the Supreme Court, for control of all tribunals. The Punjab and Haryana High Court, in its decision in the public interest litigation, 'Maj Navdeep Singh vs. Union of India', has already directed that the AFT be placed under the Law Ministry, and not the MoD, to ensure its independence and that keeping in view the separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution, the government should have a minimal say in its functioning. Cash transfer of subsidy could save 60k cr: Study
The committee has recommended civil contempt powers to the AFT in cases involving retired defence personnel but refrained from giving such powers with regard to serving personnel so as to avoid disturbing the high disciplinary standards of the forces. The forces apprehend that civil contempt would impinge on operational requirements. Though the MoD was in favour of conferring these powers, the committee noted that within the Ministry, the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare
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A study conducted by CACP revealed that Direct Transfer of benefits in cash to targeted beneficiaries of food and fertilizer subsidies could save an estimated Rs 60,000 crore and help trim the fiscal deficit which, in turn, may calm stubbornly high food inflation, a study by a government wing has shown. The project was undertaken to identify the causes for high food inflation and suggest possible remedies. The report identified three factors which have contributed to sticky food inflation. It included the ballooning fiscal deficit, rising farm wages and transmission of the impact of global food inflation. The study said the three factors accounted for 98% of the variations in Indian food inflation over the period 1995-96 to December 2012.
Suggestions: The study showed that policies to rein in food inflation would require winding down of the fiscal deficit, which has gone above 8% of GDP for Centre and states combined and way beyond the guidelines laid out in FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) Act, 2003. The CACP advises the government on price policy for major farm commodities to help maintain the interest of producers and consumers. This would require political courage as well as innovative ways to implement direct cash transfers to targeted beneficiaries through Aadhaar. The study also recommended mechanization of farms to raise labour productivity, and dovetailing of MGNREGA with farm operations through panchayats. This will help in containing 'costpush' inflationary pressure. And, in order to ensure that small farms are not overcapitalized, raising their costs of production, land lease markets should be freed to let economically viable size of the holdings to emerge. Also, custom hiring of capital farm machinery will have to be developed to contain capital costs. The study also called for boosting supply response in agriculture and save on large wastages in the supply chains.
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DBT will be expanded to include Post Offices and schemes run through Post Office accounts from 1 October 2013. By this time, the Post Offices will have the core banking system in 51 districts. They will accelerate CBS in other districts as well.
Prime Minister approves expansion of Direct Benefits Transfers (DBT)
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has approved the extension of the Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) scheme to 78 more districts taking the total number of districts to be covered under the scheme to 121 since January one. The scheme will now cover one fifth of the country. The scheme was launched in 43 districts on January one this year. Phase II of the scheme will include: a) DBT will now be expanded to NPR states where biometrics are being collected under the National Population Register. These include Odisha, West Bengal, UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Chhattisgarh. The collection biometrics in selected districts here will be accelerated to have a coverage of 70-80% by June 2013 and DBT will be rolled out from 1.7.2013. b) DBT now covers 26 schemes. The three Pension Schemes managed by MoRD (old age, disability and widows) will now be covered under DBT in all the covered districts. DBT for pension schemes would be introduced from 1.7.2013 along with the rollout of Phase-II.
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d) The government has decided to transfer cash subsidy to domestic cooking gas (LPG) consumers under its ambitious Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme from next month. LPG consumers will get about Rs 4,000 per annum in cash from the government, and they will have to then buy LPG at a market price of Rs 901.50 per 14.2-kg cylinder. Currently, each consumer is entitled to get 9 cylinders of 14.2-kg each at subsidised price of Rs 410.50. On each of these cylinders, the government bears a subsidy Rs 435. Beginning next month, consumers in select districts will get this subsidy amount transferred into their bank accounts. Once they get the subsidy, they will have to buy LPG at market price. e) Departments will start the process of digitisation in all districts, irrespective of the rollout of DBT as this is a critical activity which need not wait and can be done in parallel. A full fledged DBT Mission Directorate consisting of a Mission Director assisted by other officers is being created to have an institutionalized administrative arrangement to enable smooth rollout, early identification of bottlenecks, and resolution of bottlenecks and handholding of Ministries / departments wherever necessary. To facilitate a nationwide rollout of DBT, the Prime Minister has approved the creation of a post of Mission Director for DBT. National Higher Education Qualification Framework for Mobility of Students in Higher Education
The government has proposed a National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF) to address the issue of compatibility and seamless recognition of qualification across all higher education institutions. With the present system being unique to the country with range of complexities and divergences across levels, the framework would seek to provide a comprehensive definition of a single system of levels for all qualifications offered by a variety of higher educational institutions across discipline.
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The final decision will be taken by Central Advisory Board on Education (CABE). The Central Advisory Board on Education stated that a CABE Committee will be constituted to examine the formulation of a National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF). It will submit its recommendations within a period of six months. The CABE has appreciated the proposal to develop a National Higher Education Qualification Framework which would facilitate the mobility of students in higher education. The essential purpose of the NHEQF is to provide the broad framework within which universities and other degree-awarding educational institutions could develop the syllabi that they consider relevant thereby using their academic autonomy to the fullest extent in a responsible manner and without adversely affecting the horizontal and vertical mobility of students. The NHEQF may provide a comprehensive indicator of all learning achievements within and across different disciplines and shall represent a consensus of views of all stakeholders. Accordingly, it shall provide a basis for monitoring and regulating the quality and compatibility of higher education across institutions. It may thus become a single system of levels for all qualifications offered by higher educational institutions across all disciplines thereby making higher education qualification comparable nationally and internationally.
The CRPF camps are located in the remotest areas, hundreds of miles away from the district headquarters. Reaching these areas is difficult mainly because of lack of motorable roads and a geographically hostile terrain. Thus to address this issue a panel of specialist doctors of the AIIMS shall hold teleconferencing twice a week with the CRPF locations. The conferencing shall be done on Skype or on the phone wherever these are available, and through digital satellite phone terminals where neither phone nor the Internet works. The CRPF will inform the villagers of the place designated for teleconferencing with doctors. On the basis of medical advice, the CRPF paramedics will hand out medicines to the villagers from their stock and shift the patients [to a proper hospital], if required." Furthermore, the doctors will visit the camps, initially in accessible areas, and "soon the remote locations." Centre proposes measures to strengthen SC/ ST Act
Another distinctive feature of the NHEQF is making the programmes of studies modular, thereby permitting accreditation or certification of a component, part of the larger qualification. Thus, the NHEQF would serve as an unequivocal description of higher education qualification at the national level with the aim that the higher education system of the country is internationally understood. CRPF launches a soft offensive to win over villagers
The CRPF's Chhattisgarh Operations Sector and the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have launched a "telemedicine facility for more than 100 locations." The initiative will cover personnel posted in remote areas and "hundreds of villages located near the camps". Twenty thousand CRPF personnel are stationed in seven districts of south Chhattisgarh, where Maoists run eight divisions with several area committees and at least 10 companies of People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA).
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Imposing a social or economic boycott on persons from a reserved caste or tribe, parading them naked, preventing them from entering a place of worship or employing them as manual scavengers - such offences will now be dealt with more severely and in a time-bound manner, as the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has recommended measures to strengthen the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and Rules 1995. The recommendations include newer forms of offences and bring within the purview of the Act relevant IPC Offences that attract penalties of less than 10 years. The Ministry is also keen on having dedicated special courts and a 30-day trial to deal with complaints. The time taken to file a complaint and then to address it is a crucial aspect of the complaint redress. There are designated courts and special public prosecutors appointed to ensure speedy trial, but a review of trials under the Act has shown that all witnesses are not given adequate notice, not briefed appropriately, and not apprised of time, place and status of the case. In all, there is undue delay in disposing of these cases, leading to loss of confidence among the victims in the criminal justice system," the official said.
Now, the Ministry has recommended that the Act include provisions like appointment of special public prosecutors to try cases exclusively, all cases be disposed of within three months from the date of filing of charge sheet and cases under the Act be given priority in appeals. Offences that are well documented, but not within the ambit of the Act, such as obstructing the use of common property resources, causing physical harm or death on the allegation of practising witchcraft or abetment should be brought within the purview of the Act, the Ministry has said. "Another important recommendation is expanding the scope of presumption whether the perpetrator had knowledge of the (SC/ST) identity of the victim while committing the offence. We found a shortcoming in the reading of the Act: the emphasis on establishing that the offence was committed on ground that the victim was SC or ST. There are numerous cases of the police refusing to register complaints under the Act unless the complainant could establish that the identity of the victim was in fact the ground for committing the offence; in some cases, the police refuse to register a case because the perpetrator did not overtly use the terms of caste abuse while committing the offence. We have called for tweaking the Act in such a way that the police and the judiciary do not place the onus on the complainant or the prosecution to prove that the accused acted on the basis of caste or tribal identity," the official said.
CCI providing Environment clearance for projects worth Rs. 45,000 crore
The Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI) seems to be helping to pass infrastructure projects which are awaiting environment clearances, till now more than Rs. 45,000 crore worth of projects has been passed in its first two months of existence. In the next few months, the CCI expects to spur revisions in clearance provisions for high-rises, SEZs and roads, and form a new panel to appraise applicants from the mining sector. Since it was set up by the Union Cabinet last December, the CCI has successfully prodded the Ministry of Environment and Forests to implement a slew of measures aimed at streamlining clearance procedures. Those include such controversial moves as the delinking of environment and forest clearances for linear projects like roads, railways and transmission lines, and the exemption of such projects from getting gram sabha consent, which face vociferous opposition from forest and tribal rights activists. The CCI was set up after Ms. Natarajan's strong objections to the initial proposal of a National Investment Board which could have over-ruled her Ministry's clearance decisions. The revised proposal approved by Cabinet said the CCI, chaired by the Prime Minister and including administrative Ministries, would only prescribe time limits for clearance decisions and facilitate the removal of bottlenecks and delays.
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INTERNATIONAL
UN General Assembly approves global arms trade treaty The United Nations General Assembly has approved a global arms trade treaty. Its adoption implies a major step forward in controlling the $70billion flow of arms across borders, particularly restricting its movement to and from areas where groups are suspected of violation of human rights. It was passed in the General Assembly with 154 members voting 'Yes'; three - Iran, Syria and North Korea - voting no; and 23, including India, abstaining. The treaty's passage came after negotiations failed last July when the U.S. pulled out abruptly. In addition to India, the nations that abstained included China, Egypt, Myanmar, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka. Pakistan voted in favour of the treaty though its representative expressed concerns over the imbalance in obligations between arms exporters and importers. The treaty regulates all conventional arms within the following categories: battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large-calibre artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles and missile launchers, and small arms and light weapons. The treaty prohibits countries that ratify it from exporting conventional weapons if they violate arms embargoes, or if they promote acts of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, or if they could be used in attacks against civilians or schools and hospitals. According to the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, the treaty will not do any of the following: interfere with domestic arms commerce or the right to bear arms in Member States; ban the export of any type of weapon; harm States' legitimate right to self-defence; or undermine national arms regulation standards already in place. The adoption of the treaty was welcomed by several UN officials, including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who hailed it as a powerful new tool in efforts to prevent grave human rights abuses, and added that it will provide much-needed momentum for other global disarmament and nonproliferation efforts. The text draws a link with the presence of weapons across the developing world, especially in conflict-affected areas, with the challenge of sustainable development and safeguarding human rights.
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The treaty will be open for signature on June 3 and will enter into force 90 days after the 50th signatory ratifies it. Developed world refuses to commit for climate fund
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More than 190 countries decided it would build up to a $100 billion kitty by 2020 to fight climate change globally but the Green Climate Fund looks set to remain an empty pot as the US and other developed countries have refused to commit the needed money or even set timelines for contributions. In a meeting of the UN fund held in Berlin, the US and other developed countries refused to discuss a burden-sharing formula for contributions or set any calendar to schedule the initial funding. By December 2012, only $5.7 million was committed by the rich world to the fund. India was represented at the meeting by Dipak Dasgupta, principle economic advisor to the finance ministry. During the meet Indian representative stated that the fund was not a donor programme or a charity but a commitment made under the UN climate change convention. He warned that there could not be a voluntary approach to contributions. But the developed countries preferred to not be bound by a time-table or a target, suggesting that at present the fund should depend upon only ad hoc pledges. They demanded that the business model of the fund be developed before monies are committed. The purpose of the fund is to fight climate change globally and help developing countries cut greenhouse gas emissions
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a fund within the framework of the UNFCCC founded as a mechanism to transfer money from the developed to the developing world, in order to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.
New Zealand troops begin withdrawal from Afghanistan
New Zealand troops began their withdrawal from their base in Bamiyan at Afghanistan to mark the end of a 10-year involvement in the war.
The government announced the early withdrawal last year, with the New Zealand contingent originally scheduled to remain until September 2014. 145 New Zealand troops working on provincial reconstruction had a significant impact on the region. The hospital has been rebuilt and new health centres have opened in all seven districts. Mortality rates for children have plummeted, and the same has happened to maternal death rates. New Zealand will continue to station 27 planning and intelligence personnel in Kabul. Ten New Zealand soldiers have died in Afghanistan over the past decade eight in Bamiyan and two in Kabul. UK eases immigration rules for elite overseas graduates
Britain eased immigration rules for a section of foreign students, including Indians, who wish to stay and work in the country, in a bid to attract the "brightest and the best" global talent. Changes to the "Graduate Entrepreneur Programme" will allow up to 1,000 international graduates with masters degrees in business administration to stay on in Britain to work for 12 months after they finish their course. The new rules follow ongoing criticism over tougher student visa norms putting off foreign students from applying to study in Britain. The number of students coming from India to study at UK universities registered a fall of nearly 23.5 per cent last year, including a 28 per cent drop at post-graduate level. US issues fresh waiver to Pakistan
For the second time in six months, the US has issued a waiver for sale of major defence equipment to Pakistan likely to be worth over USD 2 billion, citing national security interests. In September last year, the US had waived conditions that would have halted USD 2 billion in aid to Pakistan, which was slammed for not making progress in fighting terrorism. Pakistan has received USD 7.9 billion worth of military equipment from the US since 2001. "Major Defence Equipment," means any US manufactured defence article whose export is controlled by US Munitions List which has a nonrecurring research and development cost of more
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than USD 50,000,000 or a total production cost of more than USD 200,000,000. These items require Congressional notification. Under the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill the US can't approve sale of major defence equipment to Pakistan unless the Secretary of State either gives a waiver under national security interests or certifies that Pakistan is continuing to cooperate US to dismantle supplier networks relating to the acquisition of nuclear weapons-related materials, and has demonstrated a sustained commitment to and is making significant efforts towards combating terrorist groups. The bill requires the Secretary of State to certify that Pakistan is taking steps to prevent al-Qaeda, the Taliban and associated terrorist groups, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, from operating on its soil, including carrying out crossborder attacks into neighboring countries. Private dailies allowed in Myanmar
Privately owned daily newspapers hit Myanmar's streets for the first time in decades under freedoms that represent a revolution for a media shackled under military rule. Four Burmese-language titles - The Voice , The Golden Fresh Land , The Union and The Standard Time - made the transition from weekly as new rules came into effect that swept away state media's long monopoly on daily printing. The country's military rulers seized control of private daily papers in 1964. Myanmar's quasicivilian government took power in early 2011 after the military dictatorship relinquished a half-century stranglehold on the former Burma. It embarked on media reforms as part of its democratisation programme in August 2012, when it relaxed draconian censorship. A total of 16 weekly news journals were allowed to become dailies under the new rules but logistical challenges such as distribution, poor infrastructure, outmoded printing equipment and staffing issues are some of the stumbling blocks for media organisations wanting to expand into dailies.. Myanmar jumped to 151st out of 179 in Reporters Without Borders' 2013 World Press Freedom Index because of "dramatic changes" that included scrapping harsh pre-publication scrutiny regime until last year imposed on everything from newspapers to fairytales.
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ECONOMY
Novartis loses patent battle in SC The Supreme Court has dismissed Novartis AG's appeal for patent protection of its anti-cancer drug, Glivec, putting an end to a seven-year battle between the Swiss drug maker, several domestic generic manufacturers, as well as patient groups fighting for affordable medicines. At the heart of the dispute was the Indian government's contention that Glivec, which treats myeloid leukaemia and some gastrointestinal cancers, is simply a retooled avatar of a pre-existing drug - Imatinib. However, Novartis argued Imatinib Mesylate was a new salt form of an older medicine, Imatinib, and the new version represented a 30 per cent increase in the bioavailability of the medicine. company also lost the case at the Intellectual Property Appellate Board, which rejected the company's appeal in 2009. Novartis then decided to take the case to the country's highest court. With this landmark judgment coming through in favour of generics, many are also concerned that it might shunt multinationals from making further investments and launching innovative medicines in the country. Foreign investment in Government Securities and Corporate Bonds Rationalized
A Bench of judges Aftab Alam and Ranjana Desai ruled out that the Novartis version of the drug was not "an invention as understood in the law of patent in India" and, therefore, not entitled to get patent for the improved version of its cancer drug, Glivec. The court clarified in this judgment that it did not apply to all improvements in products. It said it had not barred patent protection "for all incremental inventions of chemical and pharmaceutical substances." It would be a "grave mistake" to read this judgment to mean that it prohibited all fundamental changes in a product, the verdict said.
While the verdict might make multinationals like Novartis more wary of the Indian market, it could boost prospects of domestic companies, such as Natco, Cipla and Ranbaxy, manufacturing generic versions of the medicine.
According to the Novartis about 16,000 patients in India use Glivec, a vast majority of whom receive it for free. By contrast, according to industry reports, the generic Glivec is used by a little more than 300,000 patients. Its generic version of the drug is priced at Rs 9,600 for a month's therapy as against Rs 1,10,000 for Novartis' Glivec. The case has an acrimonious history. Novartis had filed for a patent in 1998, which was denied in 2006. Then, in 2007, the Madras High Court also rejected Novartis' plea against the 2006 order. The
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The Central Government in consultation with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and SEBI has been progressively liberalizing/rationalizing the scheme for foreign investment in G-Secs and Corporate bonds keeping in view the evolving macroeconomic scenario and financing needs of the economy. Till now FIIs were permitted to invest USD 25 billion in G-Secs (Comprising of two sub-limits of USD 10 billion and USD 15 billion), USD 26 billion in General Corporate bonds (comprising of USD 25 billion limit for FIIs and USD 1 billion limit for QFIs) and USD 25 billion in Long-term infra bonds (comprising of USD 10 billion limit for IDFs, USD 12 billion limit for FII investment in long-term infra bonds and USD 3 billion limit for QFI investment in Mutual Fund Debt schemes which invest in Infrastructure sector). The various sub-limits stated above were subject to different sets of conditions in terms of original maturity, lock-in period and residual maturity restrictions. On review, it was observed that the existing framework of various debt sub-limits and associated conditions with respect to each sub-limit led to complexity and inflexibility for investors and hampered investment in debt securities. Therefore, in order to encourage greater foreign investments in INR denominated debt instrument, it was decided in consultation with RBI and SEBI to simplify the framework of FII debt limits, the allocation mechanism of these debt limits and also lay down a perspective plan for enhancement of these debt limits in the future. The new policy has been put in place with effect from 1st April 2013.
The salient features of the new approach are as follows: a) The existing debt limits will be merged into following two broad categories: I. Government securities of US$ 25 billion (by merging Government Securities old and Government Securities long term) and, II. Corporate bonds of US $ 51 billion dollars (by merging US $ one billion for QFIs, US $ 25 billion dollars for FIIs in corporate bonds and US $ 25 billion for FIIs in long term infra bonds). b) The entire limit in both the Government securities and Corporate bonds categories will be made available to all eligible classes of foreign investors, including FIIs, QFIs, and long term investors such as Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs), Pension Funds, Foreign Central Banks etc. c) Out of USD 25 billion limit for Government Securities, a sub limit of US $ 5.5 billion has been provided for investment in short term papers such as treasury bills. d) Similarly in case of USD 51 billion limit for corporate bonds, a sub limit of US $ 3.5 billion has been provided for investment in short term papers such as commercial papers. e) These sub-limits have been carved out based on the current holdings of such short term instruments by FIIs and have been provided so that existing investments are not adversely affected. f) Because of the room created by unifying categories, the current SEBI auction mechanism allocating debt limits for corporate bonds will be replaced by the 'on tap system' currently in place for infrastructure bonds. g) In order to allow large investors to plan their investments, the Government will review the foreign investor limit in corporate bonds when 80% of the current limit is taken up. Further, it will also enhance the limit on government bonds as and when needed, based on utlilisation levels, demand from foreign investors, macro-economic requirements and a prudent off shore: on shore balance. h) To provide a guide to investors, it has been decided that the annual enhancement of the Government bond limit will remain within 5% of the gross annual borrowing of the Central Government excluding buy backs. These measures will simplify the norms for foreign investment and are likely to encourage greater capital inflows, enhance the flow of resources to the Indian economy and encourage development of the debt market in India.
GOI formed 2k cr pool to cover Iran oil
The government is setting up an Indian Energy Insurance Pool of Rs 2,000-cror, to back Indian firms that insure domestic refineries processing Iranian crude oil. Indian insurance firms depend on large European counterparts to reinsure their risks as they would otherwise end up in deep financial trouble in case of large payout. The problem has arisen since under the US and the European Union (EU) sanctions, global insurers have added a "sanctions clause" in their contract that limits the amount to be paid in case of a claim. That is why domestic insurance companies have refused cover to refineries processing Iranian oil as they could not get reinsurance from their European counterparts. Reinsurance makes up for 90% of the insurance cover. Because of these criteria's refining at Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd and Essar Oil Ltd were under threat as the two buy 1,00,000 barrels of oil a day from Iran. The Department of Financial Services will create the fund within a month, with INR10 billion of its fund to come from the reinsurance premium paid to Indian insurers by the refiners and an equal amount from the Oil Industry Development Board, which collects taxes on crude oil. For claims beyond Rs 2,000 crore, the Central government would extend sovereign guarantee up to Rs 10,000 crore. These contributions are proposed to run for the next three years to eventually build a corpus of INR60 billion. State-run Oriental Insurance and New India Assurance will be the initial contributors as they underwrite risks of government-run MRPL and private Essar Oil. Private insurers will also have the option to participate in the EIP fund. The proposal is an outcome of a meeting chaired by the National Security Advisor to establish a mechanism so that Indian insurers would no longer require reinsurance coverage from much larger European counterparts. Unsecured Exposure Norms for UCBs released by RBI
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In order to promote lending to priority sectors and to provide impetus to the objective of financial inclusion it has been decided that urban co-operative banks (UCBs) fulfilling the following conditions may, with the prior approval of the Reserve Bank, grant unsecured loans (with or without surety) upto 25% of their total assets.
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The UCBs need to fulfill criterion such as, coverage of the entire loan portfolio of the bank under priority sector and that all loans to be sanctioned as small value loans of up to Rs 20,000 in a single amount. Besides, they should have assessed CRAR (Capital to Risk Assets Ratio) of 9 percent and have assessed gross NPAs at less than 10 percent of gross advances. Financial parameters for the above purposes may be considered as on March 31 of the previous year. Assessed CRAR and gross NPAs would be as assessed by the latest inspection carried out by the RBI. Further UCBs desiring to grant unsecured loans in excess of 10 percent of total assets may approach the Regional Office of UBD (Urban Banks Department) for permission. The term Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) refers to primary cooperative banks located in urban and semi-urban areas. These banks, until 1996, could only lend for non-agricultural purposes.
sugar mills, leaving the call on cane area reservation, minimum distance criteria and adoption of the cane price formula to state governments. The levy-sugar mechanism mandates mills to sell 10 per cent of their annual produce to the government at cheap rates for sale through ration shops whereas the regulated release mechanism gave the Centre the power to fix the amount that sugar mill owners could release in open market. Now, consumers could face a greater fluctuation in sugar prices through the year with the government deciding to partially decontrol the Rs 80,000 crore sugar trade. The move is also going to lead to an additional subsidy burden on the government of Rs 3,100 crore, leading to an overall bill of Rs 5,300 crore annually at present rates and volumes of supply. The government will bear the difference between the exmill price of Rs 32 per kg and retail sugar price of PDS at Rs 13.50 per kg. The government has decided that the state governments will be asked to purchase their requirement of sugar for the PDS from open market and would be reimbursed by the centre for the difference in prices based on their existing share in the levy sugar supply. The government's decision comes after a committee under C Rangarajan, chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, submitted its report recommending that sugar trade be put completely to market forces. Government releases latest edition of consolidated FDI policy
However, today this limitation is no longer prevalent. While the co-operative banks in rural areas mainly finance agricultural based activities including farming, cattle, milk, hatchery, personal finance, et cetera, along with some small scale industries and self-employment driven activities, the co-operative banks in urban areas mainly finance various categories of people for self-employment, industries, small scale units and home finance. Co operative Banks in India are registered under the Co-operative Societies Act. The cooperative bank is also regulated by the RBI. They are governed by the Banking Regulations Act 1949 and Banking Laws (Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965.
These banks provide most services such as savings and current accounts, safe deposit lockers, loan or mortgages to private and business customers. For middle class users, for whom a bank is where they can save their money, facilities like Internet banking or phone banking is not very important. Cabinet gives approval to decontrolling sugar sector
The cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) has decided to do away with the regulated release mechanism and the obligation of levy on
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The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) released the latest edition of consolidated FDI policy incorporating the changes made in the regulations over the past one year. The DIPP is the nodal agency on FDI related matters. With a view to make Indias FDI regime simple and easy to under stand for investors, the department had compiled all the related policies into a single document. This is the sixth edition of consolidated FDI policy and will be effective from April 5. The guidelines incorporated changes with regard to inflows in multi brand retail and allowing Pakistan nationals and companies to invest in the country. Besides, it has included policy changes in sectors like single brand retail, asset reconstruction companies (ARCs), power exchanges, civil aviation, broadcasting and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).
Last year, amid opposition from some of its key allies and state governments, the Centre permitted 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail sector. The government also allowed foreign airlines to pick 49 per cent stake in the cash-strapped domestic carriers. Similarly, it has raised FDI cap to 74 per cent in various services of the broadcasting sector. The foreign investment ceiling in ARCs has also been increased to 74 per cent from 49 per cent, a move aimed at bringing more foreign expertise in the segment. It has said that the total shareholding of an individual FII in an ARC shall not exceed 10 per cent of the total paid-up capital. Further, it has incorporated the changes made with regard to FDI from Pakistan. Now, a Pakistani citizen or an entity can invest in the country under the government approval route.
cent to USD 21 billion against USD 31 billion in the same period last year due to the global economic uncertainties. Core sector output contracts 2.5 % in Feb
With regard to issue price of shares, a new paragraph has been added. Under this, where a non-residents including NRIs are making investments in an Indian firm in compliance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956, by way of subscription to its Memorandum of Association, "such investments may be made at face value subject to their eligibility to invest under the FDI scheme". The government has permitted foreign investment of up to 49 per cent in the power trading exchanges in the country.
The policy has also listed as many as eight mandatory conditions and one optional clause with regard to conversion of a company with FDI into a Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) firm.
In the first 10 months of current financial year, foreign direct investment (FDI) contracted by 33 per
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The output of eight core sector industries contracted 2.5 per cent in February, against a growth of 3.1 per cent in January and 7.7 per cent growth in February 2012. This is the weakest performance for the eight core industries - that have a 37.9 per cent weightage in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) - since the new series started in April 2005. The January 2013 output figure has also been sharply revised downwards to 3.1 per cent, from 3.9 per cent earlier. On a cumulative basis, the eight core industries' output grew 2.6 per cent in April-February 2013, lower than the 5.2 per cent growth recorded in same period last year. All this is a pointer to weak industrial growth for February 2013, official data for which is expected to be released on April 12. The February performance of eight core industries was hit by contraction in as many as five of the eight industries. The five sectors that saw a decline in output are coal (8 per cent), crude oil (4 per cent), natural gas (20 per cent), fertilisers (4 per cent) and electricity (4.1 per cent). The other three core industries cement (3.9 per cent), steel (0.5 per cent) and refinery products (4.3 per cent) recorded growth in output during February 2013. The weak core sector performance for February coupled with the sharp fall in India's manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for March (from 54.2 to 52) is a signal that growth recovery may be further delayed economy.
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INDIA AND THE WORLD

India and Azerbaijan Sign Treaty on Legal and Judicial Cooperation in Civil and Commercial Matters India and Singapore Sign MoU on Air Services India and Singapore signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral air services arrangement in the presence of Civil Aviation Minister, Shri Ajit Singh and Minister of Transport of Singapore, Mr Lui Tuck Yew. It rationalizes the capacity entitlements of both countries in terms of seats per week in each direction with a route specific cap for Singapore on each route. The MoU also enhances, by 10%, the capacity entitlement with India now entitled to operate 29,400 weekly passenger seats from India to Singapore and the designated airlines of Singapore entitled to operate 28,700 weekly passenger seats from Singapore to India. No additional point of call has been given to Singapore. India also did not agree to the demand of Singapore for additional point of calls from Pune and Madurai. The common pool rights to the extent of 5160 seats earlier available to Singapore, which provided greater operational flexibility to Singapore carriers at major metro centres viz Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai, have now been withdrawn. The designated airlines of Singapore can operate with any aircraft type except A-380. Both the sides, while expressing satisfaction on growing trade and economic co-operation, felt that there was a need to foster greater co-operation in the area of airport development and airport management. Besides, institutional- level cooperation is needed in the areas of training in aviation skill development, maintenance repairs and overhaul services, aviation safety and exchange of technology transfer in air space management and air navigation services. They have agreed to review and update the air services agreement and meet every two years to discuss various air services matters. Steel Minister Strengthens Ties with Tanzania
India and Azerbaijan has signed a treaty to cooperate with each other in dealing with various crimes, including terrorism. The treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters was signed by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde with Azerbaijan Minister of Justice Fikrat Mammadov.
The pact is one of the significant legal instruments to improve and facilitate effectiveness of the contracting states in investigation and prosecution of transnational crime including terrorism by providing the necessary legal framework for rendering or receiving legal assistance in criminal matters. Further Dr. Ashwani Kumar, Union Minister of Law & Justice and Shri Fikrat Mammadov, Minister of Justice of Republic of Azerbaijan has signed a Treaty on Legal and Judicial Cooperation in Civil and Commercial Matters.
The Treaty between the two countries in Civil matters is a comprehensive agreement for reciprocal arrangement with foreign countries for service of summons, for issuing Letters of Request, for taking of evidence, for execution of civil decrees and for enforcement of arbitral awards. As per provisions of the Treaty, requests for legal assistance shall be made through the Central Authorities of the Contracting Parties. In India, the Central Authority is the Ministry of Law and Justice and in the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Central Authority is the Ministry of Justice. The Treaty aims to benefit the citizens of the respective States seeking Legal Assistance in Civil and Commercial Matters in the requested State irrespective of any gender, class or income bias. This Treaty will open the avenues of cooperation between both the countries in other sectors/spheres also.
Similar Treaties on Civil and Commercial Matters have already been signed with France, U.A.E., Russia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Mongolia, Bulgaria and Kazakhstan.
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A Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed between Government of India and the Government of Tanzania for cooperation in the field of steel. The LoI was signed in the presence of the Union Minister of Steel, Shri Beni Prasad Verma and Prof. Sospeter Muhongo, the Minister of Energy and Minerals, United Republic of Tanzania.
India to set up Food processing units in African countries
Ministry of Food Processing Industries has decided to establish Food Testing Labs (FTL) and Food Processing Business Incubation Centres (FPBIC) in the African Union countries. Each FTL will be established at an estimated cost of Rs. 10 crore in Zimbabwe, Gambia, The Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Nigeria. Similarly, the FPBICs would be established in Uganda, Cameroon, Ghana, Mali and Angola at an estimated cost of Rs. 7.3 crore. Medak-based International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has already initiated the feasibility study and preparation of business plans towards the establishment of FTLs. ICRISAT has also been selected by the Government of India as the implementation agency for FPBICs. A food processing cluster can process about 2.5 lakh tonnes of raw material per year will come up in one of the AU nations at an estimated cost of Rs. 117 crore. The project would be completed in three years after selection of location. FTLs would play key role in maintaining the quality of food. Further the training programme would be helpful in addressing poverty, hunger, malnutrition and environmental degradation in dry land tropics. Indian, Chinese varsities sign agreement
The Beijing Institute of Technology, a government-run research university known for its work on China's space programme, on Wednesday
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The LoI aims to promote and expand bilateral relations between the two countries in the mineral sector with focus on strengthening supply chain for growth of the steel industry in both the countries. It aims to encourage investment opportunities in India and Tanzania in the iron & steel related businesses, facilitates exchange of technical know-how in developing iron and steel production and other steel related raw materials, including pelletisation plants and other associated industries. LoI aims that both the Governments jointly work for developing the steel industry and exchange technically qualified manpower for sustainable growth of iron & steel industry. The visit will not only strengthen relations between India and Tanzania. It will also give added thrust to the possibility of exploration and development of mineral assets in the country.
signed a first of its kind Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Karnataka-based Manipal University paving the way for closer collaboration on joint research projects. The MoU says both universities will take forward exchanges of students and faculty, and issue dual degrees. They will also undertake cooperative research and development activities. "This shows that China, under the new leadership, has understood the importance of India as a high technology partner," said Madhav Das Nalapat, Honorary Director of Department of Geopolitics, Manipal University, who signed the MoU with Wang Ying, director, International Student Centre of BIT. Manipal University also signed an MoU with BIT's sister university, the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in southern Jiangsu province. Both universities have ties to China's space programme, and also run research and development programmes related to defence projects. BIT has a research budget in the range of $500 million, and is among the top five Chinese universities in terms of allocations it receives. Unlike other universities, it is run by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and not the Education Ministry. Visa-on-arrival for senior Pakistanis
India has started the 'visa on arrival' facility for senior citizens from Pakistan. The facility, which was supposed to start on January 15 as part of the new liberalised visa pact between the two neighbours, was suspended following the killing of two Indian soldiers along the Line of Control (LoC) and subsequent heightened tensions in bilateral relations. The visas are valid for Pakistani citizens who are above the age of 65. However, no decision has been taken on the stalled group tourist visa facility to Pakistani nationals. The two countries had agreed to operationalise the group tourist visa facility to be offered to each other's citizens from March 15. The new visa agreement was signed last September to ease cross-border travel as part of a number of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs). Some clauses of the relaxed visa regime like multipleentry and reporting-free visas for businessmen and allowing them to travel to five cities instead of the earlier three were operationalised when Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik visited New Delhi in December.
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

India calls for major scaling up of response to Non-communicable diseases Government of India called for a major scaling up of attention to address the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancers in India. High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease; in 2008, 24% of all deaths in India were from cardiovascular diseases. The need is to address the major risk factors such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco intake, harmful use of alcohol by creating awareness on promotion of healthy lifestyle and habits among the community. The theme of the World Health Day 2013 is stronger focus on high blood pressure, as part of a comprehensive approach to NCDs. Thus the Government is planning to scale up the response to the NCDs epidemic by expanding the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) from 100 districts at present to cover all districts in the country during the 12th Five Year Plan. Under the NPCDCS, about 1.76 crores persons aged 30 years and above have been screened for diabetes and hypertension, out of which 7.22% were suspected of having diabetes and 6.59% hypertension. The goal of World Health Day 2013 is to reduce heart attacks and strokes. Specific objectives of the campaign are to: Raise awareness of the causes and consequences of high blood pressure; Encourage people to change behaviours that can lead to hypertension; Persuade adults to have their blood pressure checked regularly; Increase the number of health facilities offering blood pressure checks; and Encourage national and local authorities to create enabling environments for healthy behaviours.
Coordination between the health sector, food and agriculture sector and other relevant stakeholders for the reduction of salt intake in food was cited as one of the best buys for the reduction of hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases.
It may be mentioned that the Government of India has been a key player in WHO processes towards the production of draft global and regional action plans for 2013-2020 to address NCDs, as well as the creation of a draft global monitoring framework for the prevention and control of NCDs. The monitoring framework has the overarching goal of a 25% reduction in premature mortality from NCDs by 2025. All countries are being encouraged by WHO to create national monitoring frameworks, drawing from the global one, which is expected to be approved by the World Health Assembly in May 2013.
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All about H7N9 bird flu
Influenza A H7 viruses are a group of influenza viruses that normally circulate among birds. The influenza A(H7N9) virus is one subgroup among the larger group of H7 viruses. Although some H7 viruses (H7N2, H7N3 and H7N7) have occasionally been found to infect humans, no human infections with H7N9 viruses have been reported until recent reports from China. Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. However, information is still limited about the full spectrum of disease that infection with influenza A(H7N9) virus might cause. Although both the source of infection and the mode of transmission are uncertain, it is prudent to follow basic hygienic practices to prevent infection. They include hand and respiratory hygiene and food safety measures. Hand hygiene: Wash your hands before, during, and after you prepare food; before you eat; after you use the toilet; after handling animals or animal waste; when your hands are dirty; and when providing care when someone in your home is sick. Hand hygiene will also prevent the transmission of infections to yourself (from touching contaminated surfaces) and in hospitals to patients, health care workers and others. Wash your hands with soap and running water when visibly dirty; if not visibly
dirty, wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand cleanser. Respiratory hygiene: Cover your mouth and nose with a medical mask, tissue, or a sleeve or flexed elbow when coughing or sneezing; throw the used tissue into a closed bin immediately after use; perform hand hygiene after contact with respiratory secretions. Currently, no vaccine exists for H7N9, but antigenic and genome sequencing suggests that H7N9 is sensitive to neuraminidase inhibitors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has begun sequencing and development of a vaccine as routine procedure for any new transgenic virus.The CDC and vaccine manufacturers are developing a candidate virus to be used in vaccine manufacturing if there is widespread transmission.
Preliminary tests have shown the virus would react to existing antiviral drugs like Tamiflu, according to the WHO.
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New Radiation therapy developed to cure cancer Scientists have developed a new form of radiation therapy that successfully put cancer into remission in mice, without producing harmful sideeffects of conventional chemo and radiation cancer therapies. Scientists from the University of Missouri found that mice treated with the radiation therapy showed no signs of cancer afterwards. Cancer cells grow faster than normal cells and in the process absorb more materials than normal cells. Hawthorne's team took advantage of that fact by getting cancer cells to take in and store a boron chemical designed by Hawthorne. When those boron-infused cancer cells were exposed to neutrons, a subatomic particle, the boron atom shattered and selectively tore apart the cancer cells, sparing neighbouring healthy cells. The physical properties of boron made Hawthorne's technique possible. A particular form of boron will split when it captures a neutron and release lithium, helium and energy. The helium and lithium atoms penetrate the cancer cell and destroy it from the inside without harming surrounding tissues.
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2 - MARKERS
ICSI National Awards for Excellence in Corporate Governance - 2012 Indian Oil Corporation Limited; and HCL Technologies Limited have received the National Award for Excellence in Corporate Governance 2012 of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) for excellence in corporate governance. ICSI bestows this award every year to those it considers the two best governed companies in India, underlining its commitment to good corporate governance. This is considered among the most prestigious corporate governance awards in India. ICSI Life Time Achievement Award for the year 2012 was presented to Shri Deepak S. Parekh, Chairman, Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd. for translating excellence in Corporate Governance into reality. Tagore Centre for Global Thought set up in London in art, music, education and traditional literature, but focus on studies of Indian intellectual traditions in global perspective. Central Press Accreditation Committee reconstituted
The Tagore Centre for Global Thought has been officially inaugurated at King's College London.
It has been established to engage audiences with India's intellectual traditions whilst addressing a number of contemporary global questions and dilemmas. The Centre was founded in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India as part of celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of Tagore's birth, taking inspiration from his work to enhance academic, intellectual and philosophical work globally.
The Tagore Centre at King's will provide two PhD scholarships for students from India over the next three years. It will host a series of public lectures, discussions and film screenings based on Tagore's writing and a number of high-profile Tagore Fellows, the first of which is Gopalkrishna Gandhi - former Governor of West Bengal and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. The Tagore Centre is expected to become a vibrant intellectual hub in the field of arts and culture and build on King's extensive cultural links in the capital and beyond. It will not only promote and support research studies inspired by Tagore's work
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The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has reconstituted the Central Press Accreditation Committee (CPAC). The CPAC functions as a body to approve applications for accreditation from the media, both Indian as well as foreign. The tenure of the committee shall be two years from its first meeting. IAF gears up for US combat exercise
The IAF will send eight Sukhoi-30MKIs, two C130J Super Hercules tactical airlift planes, two IL-78 mid-air refuelling tankers and one IL-76 heavy-lift aircraft, along with over 150 personnel, for the mother of all air combat exercises: the Red Flag exercise held at the Nellis US Air Force (USAF) base in Nevada, northwest of Las Vegas. The network-centric exercise will not only provide an opportunity for IAF pilots to match their combat skills with the USAF and its allies, but also serve to establish the force's capability to project air power by deploying a trans-continental task force across the globe. This will be the second time IAF will take part in the complex air combat manoeuvres of the Red Flag. Kris Gopalakrishnan
Kris Gopalakrishnan, Co-Founder and Executive Co-Chairman of Infosys, has been elected as the President of the industry body CII for the year 2013-14. He succeeds Adi Godrej, Chairman of the Godrej Group. Gopalakrishnan was recently voted as the top CEO (IT services category) in Institutional Investor's inaugural ranking of Asia's Top Executives, and selected as one of the winners of the second Asian Corporate Director Recognition Awards by Corporate Governance Asia.
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, the German-born screenwriter and novelist who, as the writing member of the Merchant Ivory filmmaking team, won two Academy Awards for adaptations of genteel, class-conscious E. M. Forster novels, died at
the age of 85. Jhabvala wrote a dozen novels, 23 screenplays and eight collections of short stories and was made a CBE in 1998 and granted a joint fellowship by BAFTA in 2002 with Ivory and Merchant. She is the only person to ever have won both a Booker Prize and an Oscar.
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EDITORIALS
India must look North-East The reason why the legendary freedom-fighter from Meghalaya, U Kiang Nanbah, is an unknown figure for the rest of the country is that we are so poorly informed about the history and culture of the Seven Sisters. At the first instance, the name struck as perhaps one of some South East Asian political leader. It was later one realised that he was one of the greatest freedom-fighters this country has produced. Unfortunately, not only in the rest of the country but even in his own native Meghalaya, U Kiang Nanbah is not a well-known figure, thanks to a policy of sheer indifference successive Central Governments have adopted towards the history and culture of the people of the North-East, Remembering Nanbah now assumes all the more significance as 2013 marks 150 years of his execution at the hands of the British rulers. Not much is known about his early days except that he was a child when the British annexed the Jaintia kingdom in 1835. He had no royal lineage whatsoever and was born in an ordinary peasant family, but what ignited the spirit of patriotism in the young Nanbah was the high-handedness of the alien rulers and the daredevil exploits of his maternal uncle U Ksan Sajar Nangbah, who fought against the invaders at a place called Chanmyrsiang. Like in other places, the British initially adopted a policy of least interference in the internal affairs of the newly annexed kingdom, but gradually started imposing taxes and restrictions on the religious beliefs and cultural practices of the locals, which was resisted by Nanbah and his many compatriots. The movement against the aliens intensified after they set up a police station at Jwai in 1855 to establish "Government authority" over the hills. The establishment of the military outpost near the cremation grounds of the Dkar clan and orders restricting the burning of the dead was seen as interference in religious beliefs and fuelled popular resistance against the British. The establishment of a missionary school, the destruction of weapons ahead of a traditional ceremony and attempts by British-supported missionaries to slam the beliefs of the locals as superstitions added fuel to fire. U Kiang emerged
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as the leader of the resistance movement and led the attacks on the Jwai Police Station, which was totally destroyed. Subsequently, the group burnt down the Christian settlement and besieged the military post. The resistance was so fierce that the British had to rush in reinforcements and launch full-scale military operations against U Kiang and his men. Unfortunately, U Kiang fell ill and was finally nabbed after stiff resistance, with the help of informers. This revolutionary leader was put on mock trial and was sentenced to death within three days of his capture, before the very eyes of the locals, to send across a tough message that any resistance to the British rule would not be tolerated and would be suppressed with an iron hand. However, as he was being taken to the gallows on the evening of December 30, 1862, U Kiang said something prophetic, "Brothers and sisters, please look carefully on my face when I die on the gallows. If my face turns towards the east, my country will be free from foreign yoke in the next 100 years and if it turns west, it will remain in bondage for good." In less than a century, India became independent. Like the native American Indians, U Kiang fought for the rights of the people in the face of imposition of an alien way of life and values. People of Khasi and Jaintia Hills have since lost much of their traditional culture. In fact, not many in the younger generation even remember U Kiang Nanbah. The ignorance about U Kiang Nanbah is a reflection on the Government's education policy, which has totally neglected the history of the NorthEast. Forget Nanbah, most history textbooks prescribed by the Central Board of Secondary Education do not have any reference to the history, culture or traditions of the region. It seems as if their history begins with the British annexation of their territories. A serious attempt was made in this direction under the leadership of the then National Council of Educational Research and Training Director, JS Rajput, during the NDA regime, but hundreds of textbooks prepared during the time were later thrown into the dustbin under the garb of preventing 'saffronisation' of education. Even 65 years after independence, people from the North-East continue to be clubbed together and
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singled out, and that too for their racial features. Often, they are mistaken as Chinese, Nepalese or from South East Asia, and referred to even by the educated as 'Chinkies' because of their Mongoloid features. Forced to migrate from their idyllic but underdeveloped States for education and job opportunities, these people, mostly women and youngsters, are not only discriminated against but also have often been victims of eve teasing, molestation and rape. What's more, they also find themselves at the receiving end of the utterly insensitive law enforcement agencies. This has led to a sense of alienation among these people, many of whom have become susceptible and vulnerable to propaganda by the separatists. While sociologists, politicians and commentators have been attributing it to factors including the insensitivity and conservatism of the North to the lack of infrastructure and employment opportunities as also massive corruption in the North-East, resulting in migration, the fact remains that the wide communication gap between the peoples of the region and the rest of India, as well as ignorance about each other, have significantly contributed to this crisis. Not that have there not been efforts to build bridges of understanding between the North-East and the other parts of the country, but the few attempts that have been made are few and far between. Few Gandhians, some Hindi activists, initiatives such as Ekal Vidyalaya, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Ramakrishna Mission, cultural centres of the Union Government and even State-controlled media, have been contributing their bit in this direction. There have been some citizen-driven initiatives such as My Home India, run by Mumbai-based social activist Sunil Deodhar, which seeks to bridge the chasm by helping students and others from North Eastern region in metropolises such as Mumbai and Delhi, in their hour of need. "We not only strive to help the people from the North-East but also sensitise locals about the beautiful region", says Deodhar. Nevertheless, this sensitisation has to begin from the school level itself, and that can be made possible only by incorporating the history, culture and traditions of the North-East in social studies textbooks taught across the country. There cannot be a greater and better opportunity to reach out to the people of the North-East than by observing the 150th anniversary of U Kiang Nanbah's martyrdom. This can be done with the active involvement of the people of the region and by educating the rest of the country about the contributions made by the freedom-fighters, intellectuals, artists and sportspersons from the North-East towards the building of a modern India. Source: The Poineer
Implement guidelines to curb moneylaundering
Recent media reports outlining the scale of moneylaundering activity have jolted the financial services industry. Many observers believe that organised crime is of sufficient scale and power not only to influence financial institutions but also to exert control over large sections of the economy. If left unchecked or dealt with ineffectively, the ramifications for the Indian society are potentially severe. Indeed, some commentators estimate that money-laundering accounts for about 4- 5% of the global domestic product. India is a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) - an intergovernmental body that seeks to combat moneylaundering and terrorist-financing. In February 2012, the FAFT issued a revised set of international standards to combat moneylaundering and the financing of terrorism. The revised recommendations merged nine previously iterated special recommendations relating to terrorist-financing with more general recommendations and an extended coverage to include proliferation-financing. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 (PMLA), which became effective on July 1, 2005, was amended last year to make it more robust and comprehensive. Section 3 of the PMLA clearly states that anyone who, directly or indirectly, is involved in any process/activity connected with the proceeds of crime, including its concealment, possession, acquisition or use and projecting it as untainted property, is guilty of money-laundering. "Proceeds of crime" encompasses any property obtained, directly or indirectly, by any person as a result of criminal activity relating to a scheduled offence or the value of any such property. Importantly, "directly" and "indirectly" widen the scope of moneylaundering to include, for example, back-office employees who knowingly process illicit transactions. One might think that it is a privilege to work in the financial sector but it comes with responsibility and accountability. It requires extra caution as the punishment for money-laundering is also high where the terms of imprisonment shall not be less than three years but which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to a fine. Burden of proof is on the accused under section 24 of the Act. Regulators, namely, the Reserve Bank of India, the Securities Exchange Board of India, and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority have all issued detailed KYC/AML/CFT guidelines covering the areas of customer acceptance, customer identification, monitoring of transactions and risk
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Of course, it is a Herculean task to implement standard procedures at more than 81,000 bank branches across India. However, the FIU-IND and other regulators have had significant success. These days, RBI is also taking stern action by penalising banks for non-adherence to the AML/KYC norms. With a robust legal framework in place, it is the responsibility of the management of financial entities to ensure integrity at the grassroot level. Financial organisations should take a zero tolerance approach when it comes to executives who act without integrity. Source: Economic Times
Food inflation: Blame the fisc, not private trade
The fiscal deficit is the single biggest cause of food inflation. To rein in food inflation, generally, policy makers and governments supplement the supply side. This is because attempts at demand compression could either be difficult or politically unpopular. Traditional interventionist steps include release of buffer stocks, more imports, banning or restricting exports, imposing stock limits on private trade, subsidising domestic and imported goods, blaming or banning future exchanges in order to curb speculation, and providing doles or increasing wages.
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management. Rigorous implementation of these guidelines by the reporting entities creates deterrence to the use of legitimate channels for illegal money. Entities with reporting obligations under the PMLA include: banks; financial institutions like insurance companies, housing finance companies, non-banking finance companies, chit fund companies, payment system operators, authorised money changers; casinos and intermediaries of the securities markets. The number of entities operating in the financial sector in India is huge and it is a real challenge to engage them and make them comply with the reporting obligations. The "train the trainer" programme conducted once a year by Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) has enhanced AML/KYC awareness. Data suggests that those persons who underwent training, in turn, imported training to a large number of employees in their respective organisations. The phenomenon is evidenced by a sharp increase in Suspicious Transaction Reporting (STR). STR increased by 1,470% from 4,409 between 2008 and 2009 to 69,224 in 2011 and 2012. Similarly, public sector banks account for 67% of all large Cash Transaction Reporting (CTR). Unfortunately, a meager 8% contribution comes from co-operative banks, which are more vulnerable to be exploited by money launderers.
All these steps - except offloading inventories and increasing imports - prove counterproductive and distort markets. They collectively create a parallel, covert market, because official interventions and notifications end up confirming that "shortages" are around the corner. This stimulates hidden or benami stocking, buying subsidised food and selling in the open market at a premium; vayda (futures) and hazr (spot) markets go underground. Free supply of food or cash militates against national work culture and spirit of human dignity. Indeed, all these actions are exercises in futility in India. According to a recent discussion paper, Taming food inflation in India, by Ashok Gulati and Shewata Saini of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), the nuisance lies elsewhere. The paper states that "Three factors stand out in this regard: the ballooning/monetised fiscal deficit, rising farm wages, and transmission of the global food inflation; together they explain 98 per cent of the variations in Indian food inflation over the period 1995-96 to December, 2012". The prescription given is "Policies to rein-in food inflation will foremost require winding-down fiscal deficit, which has gone (at above 5 per cent of GDP) way beyond the guidelines laid out in FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003". All "market interventionist" measures have little or no relevance, when the malaise is financial mismanagement. With the Centre's fiscal deficit alone at around 5 per cent of GDP (against a 3 per cent ceiling under FRBM), a 10 per cent average rate of food inflation should not come as a surprise. Why harass and blame private trade for food inflation? The fiscal deficit is set to increase, once the Food Security Bill (FSB) approved by the Cabinet, comes into effect. It will enhance the fiscal deficit (by about Rs 30,000 crore), which will bloat annually when MSP is hiked. This running FSB expenses exclude extra storage and distribution cost, amounting to 25-30 per cent of acquisition cost, and additional outlay on infrastructure. So, the foundation of higher inflation in food items is being laid by FSB, even as official promises are being made to lower them! Prudent suggestions by the Agriculture and Finance Ministers were also ignored by the majority in the Cabinet. RISING FARM WAGES On farm wages - the report notes that "during 2007-08 to 2011-12, nominal wages increased at a much faster rate, by close to 17.5 per cent per annum.
For the period since the 1990s, on an average, the money supply (measured by M3) has increased by 18 per cent, and this is combined by an agriculture GDP growth rate of 3 per cent". Open-ended procurement for rice and wheat continues at a higher MSP each year, despite surplus inventory, that will touch around 95 million tonnes by July 2013. Too much money chasing too few goods will continue to push up farm prices. A consistent long-term OGL import/export policy (rather than the ad-hocism of the past), which might be regulated with 5-10 per cent duty in exceptional circumstances, is suggested in this document. Neither is there any need to interfere with trade in cotton, sugar, edible oil and pulses. Exports of rice, maize and soyameal handled by private trade have touched, respectively, 10 million tonnes, 3.5 million tonnes and 4 million tonnes last year - totalling Rs. 55,000 crore ($10 billion). This is likely to be repeated this year with a 1015 per cent variation either way.
Gujarat has the lowest taxes, hardly any State procurement and yet has shown 10 per cent growth in agriculture over the last 10 years. Source: Business Line Time to revisit the Vienna Convention
However, wheat exports from FCI stocks are tightly regulated by PSUs and Government committees. Shipments were limited to 3 million tonnes in 2012-13, while shipments of 10 million tonnes in 2013-14 will be desirable. With larger exports, the trade deficit, current account deficit and fiscal deficit can be contained. REPORT PRESCRIPTION
The report finally recommends:
Prune the fiscal deficit by cutting down fuel, fertiliser and food subsidies at the Centre and power subsidies at the State level. An estimated Rs 60,000 crore ($11 billion) will be saved. Liquidate excessive grain stocks in the local market or through exports to recover sunk cost and carrying cost, by slashing government inventory to a maximum of 40 million tonnes, instead of 90-95 million tonnes in July 2013.
A revenue of Rs 100,000 crore ($18 billion) - can be realised, and a saving of Rs 20,000/tonne by reducing inventory to 50 million tonnes. These two proactive policy measures will cut fiscal deficit by Rs 160,000 crore ($29 billion). Stop or review open-ended grain procurement, especially in States that impose high taxes (like Punjab Haryana) or give an extra bonus - like Chhattisgarh's Rs 270 per quintal on paddy and Madhya Pradesh's Rs 150 per quintal on wheat, crowding out private trade.
Unilateral changes by the West are increasingly affecting diplomats from the developing world The Italian Ambassador's matter before the Supreme Court is over but problems with the Vienna Convention will not go away. This is because the past three decades have witnessed an increasing effort on the part of western countries to unilaterally introduce changes in the application of the Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations to the detriment of diplomats of developing countries. They say that this aggressive approach is in keeping with new standards of humanitarian and labour laws. However, its selective, self-serving and at times unscrupulous application belies these tall claims. These countries are also taking care to ensure that the functioning or personal situations of diplomats working in their embassies are not impaired while considerable difficulties are experienced by those of developing countries. Some years ago the domestic help who had accompanied a senior Indian diplomat to his post in a Western country sued him for maltreatment in a local court. Along with the diplomat, the Indian government was also sued. The country concerned took the position that its courts had jurisdiction as it was a civil law matter. As the case was going on, authentic documentary evidence emerged that established the involvement of the officials of the host country in a virtual conspiracy to instigate the domestic help to leave his employer. They had also created circumstances that had enabled him to take legal action. Under sustained pressure from South Block, the country cleared up the matter within its own system, including its courts, but requested the Indian authorities that the issue be kept confidential. That request was accepted for diplomats prefer to deal with all matters relating to privileges, immunities and protocol discreetly, outside the public gaze. They especially try to avoid entanglements with the courts. That is one reason why the Italian Ambassador's affidavit to the Supreme Court was, per se, so extraordinary. Safety net The Convention codifies traditional immunities and privileges given to diplomats to enable predictable diplomatic interaction between states. Immunities are essential for diplomatic interaction.
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Defining family
There was certainly no attempt at intervening with home based personnel including domestic help. Now this is being done regularly as in the Indian domestic help's case. Court action is being allowed even though they are Indian nationals, are recruited in India and always travel on official passports. Another emerging problematic area is the definition of family itself. The Convention prescribes that members of a diplomat's household also enjoy immunity. It does not define household but it is accepted that household means family. The official definition of family differs from country to country. In the past, a relaxed attitude was taken and dependent children irrespective of their age or dependent parents were accepted as family and given the protection of the Convention. Now, western countries and some others are applying their official definition of family. Consequently many diplomats from developing countries with elderly single parents or dependent university going children face problems. On the other hand western countries are urging that live-in partners of their diplomats be accepted as family members under the Convention.
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They also provide a safety net for intelligence officers posted under cover in Embassies. The identity of such officers is known or discovered by host countries. Whenever their activities cross the acceptable line, they are declared persona non grata and are publicly expelled. Reciprocal action is taken in such cases by the other country. Diplomats caught in unbecoming acts including criminal acts such as smuggling or bribing are withdrawn quietly at the demand of the host country or suo moto. Reciprocal action is seldom taken in such cases. Till about four decades ago, a laissez-faire approach was taken in the working of Missions. Issues relating to commercial disputes of embassies or differences between embassies and local employees were almost always resolved quietly between the embassies and foreign ministries. They were not allowed to reach the courts. It was generally felt that local staff were outside the jurisdiction of the application of local labour laws even if their work contracts were more generous than the contracts between embassies and local staff. Western countries took the lead in asserting that their labour laws would cover employees recruited locally by embassies and disputes between them would, if necessary, have to go to the courts whose decisions would be executed. Bank accounts of some embassies have been frozen on orders of Italian courts or payments made from them in commercial or labour disputes.
Inherent to the Vienna Convention is the practice of reciprocity. Reciprocity can be applied if a diplomatic privilege is restricted or denied by one country, even if it is applied uniformly to all diplomats stationed there. The problem lies in uneven situations where on account of their power and economic clout some countries can get a better deal for their diplomats. There is no absolute freedom of movement for diplomats. Many countries require that diplomats seek the clearance of the Foreign Ministries before leaving the capital city. In any event, sensitive areas are out of bounds for them. The European Union mildly and indirectly protested against the Supreme Court's decision that the Italian Ambassador should not leave the country till it heard the matter on April 2. In view of the sui generis circumstances of the case, this writer feels that it was not unwarranted. The Vienna Convention is now 50 years old. In these decades, the world, including that of diplomacy, has changed in fundamental ways. A review of the Convention will be timely. Source: The Hindu New and improved
SC ruling sets a higher bar for what the pharmaceutical industry can declare a patentable innovation The Supreme Court has rejected the plea of Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis for a patent on its leukaemia drug Glivec, in a ruling that could ripple through the developing world and affect the fundamentals of the pharmaceutical revenue model. Upholding earlier decisions of the Intellectual Property Appellate Board and the Madras High Court, the court fortified Section 3 (d) of the Patents Act, which requires companies to prove "therapeutic efficacy" when they tweak a molecule or put a known substance to a new end. In the Glivec case, it ruled that better bio-availability by itself was not reason enough for a patent, unless it contributed to more effective treatment. This ruling helps those who would have otherwise been priced out of life-saving care (Glivec costs about Rs 1,42,000, compared to Rs 9,500 for generic versions). It appears to be in line with the public health imperative recognised by the Doha Declaration of the TRIPs agreement. Novartis, though, has argued that Glivec is patented in 40 countries, and that India's seeming disregard for intellectual property could freeze investment here. Other pharma majors like Roche and Pfizer are also locked in patent disputes in the courts. They argue that if patents are eroded, then the resulting chill on innovation would end up slowing the production of
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new drugs, hurting the public interest. Of course, access must be balanced with the incentive to create. Pharmaceutical companies invest a great deal of money and effort to produce new drugs, and if generic companies could simply reverse-engineer them, it could discourage invention. The court's ruling in this case, though, only sets a higher bar for patentable creation. Innovation will have to be a solid leap forward for companies, not just sitting back after a single blockbuster drug and fiddling with its composition for decades afterwards. This ruling could be a bracing force for the industry, making it chase after genuine breakthroughs. It could be argued that modifications to minor ends also deserve their own rewards, but that must be separately worked out - patents are a 20-year monopoly, a take-it-or-leave-it proposition that
leaves much of the public underserved in times of desperate need. The Supreme Court ruling has clarified that it does not mean no minor variations are patentable that assessment depends on the test of therapeutic efficacy. Glivec does not pass that test, at least based on the evidence presented by Novartis. However, the judgment has left key questions open. For instance, would reduced toxicity be considered a factor in measuring efficacy, and if so, does the lower dosage required due to better bio-availability contribute to this? These ambiguities should be resolved to the extent possible, if India is to have a balanced and clear policy on pharmaceutical innovation. Source: Indian Express
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08TH APRIL 2013 TO 14TH APRIL, 2013
Call: 09582948810, 09953007628 Visit:ias100.in

Current Affairs Notes for IAS PT 2013

UPSC: The central recruiting agency in India, nowadays emphasizing more on applicable part of knowledge. GS syllabus has undergone an overhaul from the past few years and requires multidimensional approach to handle this. The paper concentrates more on concepts related to general awareness i.e. what we see around us. Its recruiting pattern wants an IAS aspirant to have grip on socio-economic problem-solvingskills; applicable knowledge of science; ability to logically analyse the situations and interpret the outcomes accordingly.
This will provide a "trustworthy and time saving guide" for all IAS aspirants preparing for Prelims. Topics Covered :1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION SUMMITS Bills in Parliament Biotechnology-1
Constitutional news
Environmental news Health News
Important Reports 2012-13 INDIA - HDR 2011
International News
Science and Technology Prelims Special Part-1 Prelims Special Part-2 Prelims special Part- 3 Package Fee
Current Affairs Notes for PT 2013 for Weekly E-Magazine Subscriber (Printed) ........... 2000.00 Current Affairs Notes for PT 2013 (Printed) ............................................................................ 2500.00
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Thus CHRONICLE IAS ACADEMY is launching a comprehensive material which includes: Important Bills; Committees; Reports; Current affairs of the past one year.
Weekly Current Affairs 08th April to 14th April, 2013
TOPICAL TESTS
Infrastructure & Resources 1. Transportation infrastructure: Road and Highway Networks, Mass Transit Systems, Railways, Waterways, Ports.... 2. Energy infrastructure:- Thermal Power Generation, Natural Gas Pipelines & Petroleum Pipelines, Nuclear Energy, Renewable Energy...... 3. Water management infrastructure:- Drinking water supply, Sewage Collection and Disposal of Waste water, Flood Control, Water Harwesting..... 4. Communications infrastructure:- Television and Radio Transmission, Internet, Social Network, Search Engines, Communications Satellites...... 5. Solid Waste Management 6. Economic Infrastructure: Manufacturing Infrastructure, including Industrial Parks and Special Economic zones, Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Infrastructure.... 7. Resources: Water Resources, Forest Resources, Land Resources, Energy Resources, Minerals, Resource Management..... Demography : Population Composition, Density, Literacy, Sex Ratio... Environmental Problems & Global Environmental Governance : Deforestation, Pollution: Air, Water, Land, Noise, Desertification, Biodiversity Depletion, Global Warming, SD.......
productivity, Microirrigation, Government Initiatives......
Urbanization,
Human Development, Social Sector Initiatives and Programmes & Policies 1. Concept of Human Development, Development vs. Growth, Human Development Index, MPI, Innovation..... 2. Social Inclusion, Child Welfare, Women Welfare.... Agriculture, Urbanisation, Health : Agriculture and GDP, Agricultural Regionalization, Production and
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1. 2. 3. 4. 31st March ...... 7th April ......... 21st April ........ 28th April .......
Indian Economy Basics, Planning & Trade 1. Industry Services, Agriculture, Energy..... 2. Balance of Payments. Foreign Direct Investment....... 3. Growth, Development and Other Issues......... 4. Poverty Estimates, Impact of Poverty........ 5. Exchange rate. Role of RBI..... 6. Nature of Planning - Five Year Plan, Planning after 1991 (LPG), Inflation.....
Governance and Contemporary Political Developments: Development Politics, Political and Administrative Institutions, Good Governance, Internal Security....
SECTIONAL TESTS (PAPER I & II)
Ecology and environment Comprehension Polity and Governance English Language Comprehension + Logical Reasoning 5. Geography 6. Decision Making and Problem Solving 7. General Science and Science and Technology 8. Mental Ability, Basic Numeracy, Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency 9. History 10. Indian Economy
FULL MOCK SCHEDULE

40
Fee Structure : All India Complete Test Online ......................................6000/All India Complete Test Postal .......................................4000/All India Mock Test Online .............................................3000/-
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NATIONAL
GoM curbs system of 'inviolate' mining areas A Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has restricted the environment ministry from executing the system of 'inviolate' mining areas. The proposed inviolate mechanism would deal a blow to the country's power, steel and cement plants, which are still reeling under the impact of the earlier system of 'go', 'no-go' zones imposed by Natarajan's predecessor Jairam Ramesh, which had rendered about 660 million tonne of coal reserves unmineable. The necessity of propelling economic growth at 8 per cent has emerged as a pressing concern for the UPA government, thus it is fast tracking the passage of infrastructure projects. This is seen as a setback for environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan's efforts to secure her ministry's control on implementing stricter green norms. should be in laboratories that meet international standards of biosafety. To achieve this, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has set up a National Task Force for Containment of Wild Poliovirus. Chaired by the Director-General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), it will identify laboratories that could store wild poliovirus or potentially infectious material. Wild poliovirus could be present in certain types of clinical samples stored at or below minus 20 degrees Celsius. These could have been collected for investigations not related to wild poliovirus detections. There are several medical colleges/ universities, colleges and research institutions that work on infectious material and, therefore, have clinical samples collected over several decades. Information from these institutions will be collected and compiled for preparing a national inventory. The process has to be completed by December and failure to do so will delay the certification process. A pre-tested form has been sent to all laboratories and institutions to elicit information on wild poliovirus. The WHO's Global Action Plan for containment of wild polioviruses advises that when polio cases are decreasing, national health authorities must alert laboratories, encourage destruction of all unneeded wild poliovirus material and compile an inventory of all laboratories retaining such materials. Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease, which mainly affects young children. The virus is transmitted through contaminated food and water, and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system. Many infected people have no symptoms, but do excrete the virus in their faeces, hence transmitting infection to others. Initial symptoms of polio include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, and pain in the limbs. In a small proportion of cases, the disease causes paralysis, which is often permanent. Polio can only be prevented by immunization.
Wildlife sanctuaries, tiger reserves, national parks - as well as a buffer zone of one km around such protected areas - compact patches of very dense forest, the last remnant of a forest type and forests very near perennial rivers will all be automatically placed within the inviolate zone. Further there will be six measurable parameters for identification of inviolate areas - forest type, biological richness, wildlife value, forest cover, landscape integrity and hydrological value. All parameters will be scored on a 0-100 scale. The inter-ministerial panel observed that the scientific basis of such parameters need to be analysed further before taking a decision. Thus until finalisation of new norms, the existing framework will continue. India taking new steps to get WHO's polio eradication certificate
Having successfully completed two polio-free years, India is preparing to receive the crucial polio eradication certificate from the World Health Organisation (WHO). The certificate is issued on completion of incident-free three years. This primarily involves the destruction or safe storage of all laboratory sources of wild poliovirus. The storage
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India's vaccine regulatory system meets international standards: WHO
India is a major vaccine producer that has 12 major vaccine manufacturing facilities. These vaccines are used for the national and international market (150 countries), which makes India a major vaccine supplier across the globe. More than 70% of all measles vaccines used globally are produced in India. Recently a WHO-led team of international experts from eight countries has granted clean chit to the National Regulatory Authority of India (NRA) and affiliated institutions as they meet WHO published indicators for a functional vaccine regulatory system.
The Government of India has undertaken committed efforts to ensure that the regulatory oversight of the NRA for vaccines continues to meet international standards. It has decided to further strengthen the Central as well as the State Drugs Regulatory Systems during the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17). India leads the world in dengue burden
One of the requirements to become eligible and retaining the prequalification status is to have a National Regulatory Authority (NRA) assessed as functional against the WHO published NRA indicators. The regulatory functions of the Indian NRA (Central Drugs Standards Control Organization) and its affiliated institutions were assessed for compliance against the revised WHO NRA indicators endorsed by the international consultation of experts in 2011. In addition to the general framework for the system, the following regulatory functions were evaluated: marketing authorization and licensing; post-marketing surveillance, including for adverse events following immunization; lot release by the national regulatory authority; laboratory access; regulatory inspections of manufacturing sites and distribution channels; and authorization and monitoring of clinical trials. With a regulatory system for vaccines assessed as functional by WHO, vaccine manufacturers in India continue to remain eligible to apply for prequalification of specific products. WHO prequalification, which is a guarantee that a specific vaccine meets international standards of quality, safety and efficacy, is a prerequisite for manufacturers to supply to countries through United Nations procuring agencies. WHO had scaled up its technical support to the Indian NRA over the past several months in the context of this assessment. This status will help in re-affirming the joint mutual strategic priority under the WHO's new Country Cooperation Strategy with India (2012-17), of supporting an improved role of India in global health, including strengthening the pharmaceutical sector and drug regulatory capacity.
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Dengue, the world's most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease, is taking a far bigger human toll than was believed. As many as 390 million people across the globe could be falling victim to the virus each year. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), incidence of dengue has shot up 30 fold in the past 50 years. Its estimate has been that globally there were 50-100 million dengue infections taking place annually. A map-based approach to model how many dengue cases were occurring in various parts of the world has been used to capture its global distribution. According to the report worldwide, 96 million people suffered each year from 'apparent infections' where the disease was severe enough to disrupt an individual's regular routine. In addition, there were 294 million asymptomatic infections. With "large swathes of densely populated regions coinciding with very high suitability for disease transmission," Asia bore 70 per cent of the apparent infections that took place. Africa contributed about 16 per cent of the global dengue infections and the Americas 14 per cent. India emerges in the analysis as the country with the world's highest dengue burden, with about 34 per cent of all such cases occurring here. World Bank to support seven low-income States
The new World Bank Group strategy for India shifts support significantly to low-income states, where most of the poor live, and is the institution's first country strategy to set specific goals on reducing poverty and increasing prosperity. The World Bank proposes a lending programme of $3 billion-5 billion every year over the next four years. The Bank's objective is to bring down poverty levels in the seven low-income States to just 5.5 per cent in 2030 from 29.8 per cent in 2010. The States identified for the focused support are Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
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According to a World Bank, 60 per cent of the financing will go to State government-backed projects and 30 per cent will go to low-income or special category States where public services face high delivery costs. Under the Bank's previous support strategy plan, 18 per cent of its lending went to these States. In the next five years the strategy will focus on three key areas: integration, transformation, and inclusion. A common theme across these areas will be improved governance, environmental sustainability, and gender equality. a) Integration - The focus will be on improving infrastructure needs both through public and private investments. Reforms are needed in the power sector to rationalize energy pricing and improve the capacity and reliability of the generation, transmission and distribution system. A vibrant manufacturing sector especially small and medium size enterprises require reforming labor laws, and improving access to land and finance. Better integration would result in more-balanced growth among Indian states, helping low-income states converge more quickly with their faster-growing neighbors.
to improve access to finance and to enhance social protection coverage for more than 90% of the labor force, which currently works in the informal sector. Centre formed new action plan to develop naxal-affected areas
b) Transformation - By 2031, it is projected that 600 million people will live in India's cities. The World Bank Group's engagement on the ruralurban transformation and particularly on urbanization is expected to intensify over the strategy period and beyond and represents a significant shift in the World Bank Group's strategy. It will focus on supporting the efforts of national, state, and city governments to improve the management and livability of medium-sized cities. c) Inclusion - Economic integration and ruralurban transformation can benefit a large share of India's population only if there is a stronger focus on human development and on policies that help make growth inclusive. India's weak health care system and poor nutritional outcomes undermine its competitiveness. The World Bank Group will support the national government and states in strengthening the nutrition policy as well as systems and capacities to improve nutrition. It will support government efforts to improve education mainly at the secondary and tertiary levels, with a more pronounced focus on quality. It will also work
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Integrated Action Plan was formulated as an additional central assistance scheme on 100% grant basis in November 2010. The funds were to be placed at the disposal of the Committee headed by the District Collector and consisting of the Superintendent of Police of the district and the District Forest Officer. The Committee drawn up a Plan consisting of concrete proposals for public infrastructure and services such as School Buildings, Anganwadi Centres, Primary Health Centres, Drinking Water Supply, Village Roads, Electric Lights in public places such as PHCs and Schools etc. The concerned Development Commissioner/ equivalent officer in charge of development in the State shall be responsible for scrutiny of expenditure and monitoring of IAP. Concerned over the extreme left groups' penetration into tribal territories and their ability to win over the hearts and minds of people deprived of basic necessities of life, the government has drawnup a nine point action plan to deal with a host of development challenges. The action plan is an outcome of series of meeting of a specially constituted Review Group of LWE (Left-Wing Extremism) under the aegis of the Cabinet Secretariat. According to the Planning Commission Secretary, there was no incentive in IAP to motivate the machinery to reduce the incidence of left-wing extremism and hence it was felt that there was a need to advance from the ad hoc criteria of selecting districts to a more outcome oriented criterion. Taking note of the gap and requirement of large residential schools, the Director of School Education and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs are looking to establish such institutions with a minimum of 1000-2000 students in the LWE areas. The government had also decided to expedite the "recognition of forest rights," as well as review the definition of backward districts under the Integrated Action Plan/Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) as part of the action plan. To improve the communication infrastructure Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) will install 2199 low cost mobile towers in those areas. The Telecom Commission is also exploring energy efficient alternate fuels such as solar energy.
A special window, too, has been introduced under the Forest Conservation Act to expedite the laying of transmission lines under the Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojna (RGGVY). The Ministry of Environment and Forests has given a notification to cover all the 82 IAP districts granting general approval under the Forest Conservation Act for diversion of forest land up to 5 acres. The Ministry of Power will review pending works in 1776 villages to ascertain the ones which
can be "cleared with the issuance of the new notification." The Mobile Health Units will address the LWE districts "endemically affected" by malaria. Additionally, an increase in Mobile Health Units is likely to be introduced in the 12th Plan. To address the absence of post offices and banks in the LWE affected areas, there has been "a proposal to open post offices in 12898 gram panchayats in 82 identified LWE affected districts."
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INTERNATIONAL
Asian Development Outlook 2013: ADB The Manila-based lender's 2013 Asian Development Outlook revealed that Economic growth in developing Asia is picking up, underpinned by China's rebound and strength in countries such as Indonesia, but political disputes pose an increased threat to growth. Political disputes are "calling into question the ability of authorities to find compromise solutions to nagging fiscal problems in the US, deepening austerity fatigue in the euro area and simmering border disputes in Asia." Over the past year, several Asia nations have been roiled by territorial disputes, including a highprofile row between China and Japan over disputed islands in the East China Sea. The report also stated that Southeast Asia will maintain its growth rate as robust private consumption and investment outweigh softer demand for exports. Indonesia will expand about 6.5 percent in each of the next two years while the Philippines will grow about 6 percent. India, the region's other giant, will expand 6 percent this year and 6.5 percent next year but warned that the country risks being held back by structural and policy issues that hamper investment. The slowing growth has been paired with persistently high inflation. High prices, especially for food, limit the central bank's scope to reduce interest rates, although the Reserve Bank of India last month made its second cut this year to a key lending rate. In contrast, the developed economies of the US, Japan and the 17 nations the use the euro will eke out a 1 percent expansion this year, rising to 1.9 percent in 2014. The ADB also warned that Asia needs to secure enough clean and cheap energy to support longterm growth. With developing Asia's share of global energy use forecast to grow from barely a third in 2010 to more than half by 2035, the region, which has plenty of coal but relatively little oil and natural gas, may be hard pressed to meet its demands. Land desertification and drought causes billions of losses: UN
Further the report stated that developing Asia, which includes giant emerging economies such as China, India and Indonesia, will expand 6.6 percent this year, unchanged from its previous forecast in December. Growth is forecast to inch higher to 6.7 percent in 2014. The region grew 6.1 percent in 2012. Developing Asia includes 45 developing or newly industrialized countries in Asia and the Pacific but excludes Japan.
The ADB also stated that inflation would tick higher but would be kept in check, with consumer prices rising by 4 percent this year and 4.2 percent in 2014, up from 3.7 percent in 2012. The report warned policymakers to keep an eye on rising prices because as growing factory output eliminates slack in production capacity, "loose monetary policy risks reigniting inflation."
China's economy, the world's second biggest, will expand 8.2 percent this year after growing 7.8 percent in 2012, driven by strong domestic consumption and investment. The forecasts are both 0.1 percentage point higher than the ADB's December prediction. China is rebounding from its deepest slump since the 2008 global crisis though analysts warn recovery will be shaky. China's growth rate will ease to 8 percent in 2014 as authorities bring in policies aimed at reducing pollution and reducing the gap between rich and poor.
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Some 600 scientists, government officials and representatives of civil society organizations are gathered in Bonn to carry out the first ever comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of desertification, land degradation and drought. The study titled, 'The Economics of Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought: Methodologies and Analysis for Decision-Making, has revealed that loss of land through desertification and drought costs up to five percent of world agricultural gross domestic product (AGDP), or some $450 billion (340 billion euros), every year. The report - the first economic evaluation of its kind in over twenty years - shows that up to 12 per
cent of Africa's agricultural GDP is being lost due to environmental degradation while the levels in individual countries vary widely, from six per cent in Paraguay to 24 per cent in Guatemala. The social costs of land degradation are even more staggering with nearly 870 million people suffering from chronic hunger globally. The UN agency reports that in Uzbekistan, food yields have declined by 20 to 30 per cent while in East Africa nearly 3.7 million people still require food assistance following the drought of 2011. The report, which looks at the costs and benefits of addressing desertification, land degradation and drought, finds that the existing scientific research mostly focuses on the direct economic costs of these phenomena, but overlooks the unintended consequences, including indirect and off-site costs. Scientific understanding of all land degradation and drought is need to be strengthened especially in the context of the changing climate.
investment -- major parts of the Luxembourg financial sector -- which are also supposed to be covered from 2015. In addition, the exchange of information will be based strictly on the EU's 2003 directive on savings accounts. Further there would also be no change for residents in Luxembourg, who pay a 10-percent withholding tax and who will enjoy bank secrecy as it exists today. Accounts held by US citizens or residents will be covered by a separate agreement with Washington. The US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) passed in 2010 requires US depositors to declare their overseas accounts and foreign financial institutions to report on the balance and activities of its US account-holders to American tax authorities. Britain France, Germany, Italy and Spain also agreed to work on setting up a multilateral exchange facility modelled on FATCA which "will not only help in catching and deterring tax evaders but it will also provide a template as to the wider multilateral agreement we hope to see in due course." G8 inks historic agreement against rape in war zones
The last such economic valuation of desertification was made in 1992 by UNEP. At that time, the direct cost was estimated at USD42 billion every year.
Luxembourg to ease bank secrecy norms from 2015
Last month's 10bn euro (8.5bn) bailout of Cyprus, whose banking system was swollen by foreign deposits attracted by low taxes and easy regulation, has put the spotlight on tax havens.
Austria and Luxembourg are the only European Union states that do not share with other EU members the identities of EU residents with crossborder bank accounts. Thus faced with growing international pressure over tax evasion, Luxembourg confirmed to implement rules on the automatic exchange of bank account information with its EU partners from 2015.
Luxembourg is reviewing the current system which levies a withholding tax on the interest earned on bank saving accounts. While the withholding tax, levied at 35 percent, was "a most effective instrument to ensure tax compliance and guarantee data protection," the government had to adapt to the times. But now it would report "all interest payments made" to individuals resident in another EU member state so as to ensure they paid the proper tax due there. Significantly, the statement did not mention other accounts such as for life insurance or property
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Foreign Ministers of the world's eight most advanced countries (G8) adopted a declaration committing the international community to tackle sexual violence in conflict zones. G8 members have announced a new fund which amounts to nearly $35.5 million or 23 million. It includes over 10 million from the United Kingdom: 5million from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to support grassroots and human rights projects on sexual violence against women and girls and wider projects on violence against women and girls. The other 5million is from the Department for International Development, to look at what drives violence against women and girls in conflict settings. Finally, the Declaration emphasises that protection efforts against sexual violence should be included in the first phase of all responses to conflict and humanitarian emergencies. And it includes vital commitments on women and children's rights, the protection of women human rights defenders, and the need for a comprehensive approach to health, psychological, legal and economic support for survivors of sexual violence.
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UN launched new plans to save children from pneumonia, diarrhoea
Thus the United Nations has launched a global plan to combat two of the leading killers of children under five, potentially saving two million youngsters each year who would otherwise die from pneumonia and diarrhoea in low- and middle-income countries. The GAPPD aims to provide a framework by which to protect children, prevent diseases and enable treatment using proven interventions. It calls on national governments to prioritise the fight against pneumonia and diarrhoea and is designed to inform country policies and practices.
The achievable goals set by the GAPPD for 2025 are: to reduce mortality from pneumonia in children less than 5 years of age to fewer than 3 per 1,000 live births; reduce mortality from diarrhoea in children less than 5 years of age to fewer than 1 per 1,000 live births; and reduce the incidence of severe pneumonia by 75 per cent in children less than 5 years of age compared to 2010 levels.
It also seeks to reduce the incidence of severe diarrhoea by 75 per cent in children less than 5 years of age, compared to 2010 levels, and bring down, by 40 per cent, the global number of children under 5 years of age who are stunted, compared to 2010 levels. To achieve these targets, full immunisation coverage will need to be reached by the end of 2025, with 90 per cent of full-dose coverage of each relevant vaccine, 90-per-cent access to appropriate pneumonia and diarrhoea case management and at least 50-per-cent coverage of exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life.
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Pneumonia and diarrhoea account for 23 and 12 per cent of deaths respectively in children below the age of five in India. They remain major killers of young children globally too, accounting for 29 per cent of all child deaths - a loss of 2 million lives each year. Children are dying because services are being provided piecemeal and those at the highest risk are not being reached. Use of effective interventions is too low - for instance, only 39 per cent of infants are exclusively breast-fed, while only 60 per cent of children with suspected pneumonia are able to access appropriate care. Moreover, children are not receiving life-saving treatment - only 31 per cent of children with suspected pneumonia receive antibiotics and only 35 per cent of those with diarrhoea receive oral rehydration therapy.
By the end of 2030, there must be universal access to basic drinking-water in healthcare facilities and homes; universal access to adequate sanitation in healthcare facilities by 2030 and in homes by 2040. The MDGs, adopted at the UN Millennium Summit in 2000, also seek to slash a host of social ills, including global poverty and hunger, disease, and lack of access to health and education, all by 2015. Serbia rejects E.U. brokered Kosovo deal
Serbia has rejected a European Union-brokered deal on normalising ties with its breakaway province of Kosovo. The government of Serbia stated that it cannot accept principles verbally presented to its negotiating team in Brussels, since they do not guarantee full security and protection of human rights to the Serb people in Kosovo. Kosovo had unilaterally declared independence in 2008. While many countries recognise it as an independent country, Serbia does not. The EU had given ultimatum to Serbia to relinquish its effective control over northern Kosovo in return for the start of EU membership talks. The Membership talks would mark a major milestone in Serbia's recovery from a decade of war and isolation under late strongman Slobodan Milosevic and provide a much-needed boost for its ailing economy, still the biggest in the former Yugoslavia. Australia, China push defence ties
Australia and China have agreed to considerably expand defence ties following the visit of Prime Minister Julia Gillard to Beijing, which also saw both countries elevate their relationship to a "strategic partnership" - a level of engagement Australia shares with few countries, including India and Indonesia. Australia proposed holding three-way defence exercises with the United States and China. Both countries has signed a landmark agreement to directly trade in their currencies - China has similar arrangements only with the U.S. and Japan - and agreed $3 billion worth of investment deals, which are set to further boost the sizeable $120 billion bilateral trade that has propelled resource-hungry China to become Australia's biggest trading partner. Gun control bill clears in Senate
Congress' gun-control effort has cleared its first hurdle as the Senate pushed past conservatives' attempted blockade.
Proposed Congressional Actions a) Requiring criminal background checks for all gun sales, including those by private sellers that currently are exempt. b) Reinstating and strengthening the ban on assault weapons that was in place from 1994 to 2004. c) Limiting ammunition magazines to 10 rounds. d) Banning the possession of armor-piercing bullets by anyone other than members of the military and law enforcement. e) Increasing criminal penalties for "straw purchasers," people who pass the required background check to buy a gun on behalf of someone else.
f)
Acting on a $4 billion administration proposal to help keep 15,000 police officers on the street.
g) Financing programs to train more police officers, first responders and school officials on how to respond to active armed attacks. h) Provide additional $20 million to help expand the a system that tracks violent deaths across the nation from 18 states to 50 states. i) j) Providing $30 million in grants to states to help schools develop emergency response plans. Providing financing to expand mental health programs for young people.
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ECONOMY
WTO cuts 2013 trade growth forecast The World Trade Organization has slashed its forecast for trade growth in 2013. It cut its forecast for global trade growth in 2013 to 3.3 percent from 4.5 percent and said trade grew only 2.0 percent in 2012. That was the smallest annual rise since records began in 1981 and the second weakest figure on record after 2009, when trade shrank. Trade in commercial services also grew by only 2 percent in 2012, to $4.3 trillion. Improved economic prospects for the United States in 2013 will only partly offset the continued weakness in the European Union whose economy is expected to remain flat or even contract slightly this year according to consensus estimates. China's growth would continue to outpace other leading economies, cushioning the slowdown, but exports will still be constrained by weak demand in Europe. As a result, this year looks set to be a "near repeat" of 2012, with both trade and output expanding slowly. GIC to manage fund to cover oil from Iran Development Board (OIDB) under the Petroleum Ministry. The move to form the insurance fund will come as a relief to Indian refiners, especially Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), whose current insurance cover is coming to an end in May. It has so far not found any insurer willing to cover risks. Following U.S. and EU pressure and uncertainty over the implications of the sanctions imposed by them, India reduced Iranian crude purchases to less than 13 million tonnes in the previous financial year from 18.1 million tonnes in the year before that. The U.S., last December, renewed a waiver for India and eight other nations from a law that cuts institutions off from its banking system if they process payments for Iranian oil. FinMin instructed government banks to reduce NPA
The government has decided to set up an Indian Energy Insurance Pool of Rs 2,000-cror, to back Indian firms that insure domestic refineries processing Iranian crude oil. Indian insurance firms depend on large European counterparts to reinsure their risks as they would otherwise end up in deep financial trouble in case of large payout. The fund, which would cover oil imports from Iran, would be managed by General Insurance Company (GIC) and would have contributions from both insurance and oil industry companies.
The problem has arisen since under the US and the European Union (EU) sanctions, global insurers have added a "sanctions clause" in their contract that limits the amount to be paid in case of a claim. That is why domestic insurance companies have refused cover to refineries processing Iranian oil as they could not get reinsurance from their European counterparts. Reinsurance makes up for 90% of the insurance cover. The contributions to the fund will be done by the insurance companies and Oil Industry
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The Finance Ministry has asked all public sector banks to reduce their bad loans, or non-performing assets, to one per cent of their total advances by the end of the current financial year (March 31, 2014). With the economy registering the lowest growth in a decade, public sector banks have seen their NPAs go up significantly. According to data collected for a meeting between Finance Ministry and public sector bank officials last month, bad loans with respect to the priority sector, which include agriculture and medium and small enterprises, had gone up during the quarter ended December 31 vis-vis the previous quarter. Interestingly, however, the NPA position in relation to retail and real estate loans improved during the period. The gross NPAs of public sector banks rose to 4.18 per cent of advances by the end of December 2012, compared to 3.22 per cent a year ago. Net NPAs, which are arrived at after making provisions from the gross amount, has increased to 2.12 per cent in December 2012. In absolute term, gross NPA of PSU banks jumped to Rs 1,84,193 crore in December 2012 compared to Rs 1,37,102 crore in March 2012, an increase of Rs 47,091 crore in the nine months period.
The gross NPA in corporate lending rose to Rs 98,884 crore in December, as against Rs 68,221 crore in March. In the case of farm loans, the gross NPA rose to Rs 30,800 crore in December as against Rs 24,827 crore in March. Another highlight is that the top 30 nonperforming accounts made up close to half (around 44 per cent) the bad loans of the 19 nationalised banks. While for the SBI group, this was around 19.3 per cent, for public sector banks as a whole they were around 34 per cent. Banks have been advised to adopt a multipronged strategy for loan recovery. The multipronged strategy includes constitution of a boardlevel committee for monitoring recovery, review of NPA accounts of Rs 1 crore and above by the board of directors, and the top 300 NPA accounts by the management committee of the boards, and guidelines for NPA management as part of an early-
warning system. Apart from restructuring, banks have been advised to initiate penal measures against wilful defaulters. These include not granting them additional facilities and debarring the entrepreneurs/promoters of defaulting companies from getting institutional finance for floating new ventures for a period of five years. Banks have also been asked to lodge a formal complaint against the auditors of the borrowers with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, if it is observed that there was negligence or deficiency in the conduct of audit. NPAs are a debt obligation where the borrower has not paid any previously agreed upon interest and principal repayments to the designated lender for an extended period of time. The nonperforming asset is therefore not yielding any income to the lender in the form of principal and interest payments.
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INDIA AND THE WORLD

India has begun process of group tourist visa for Pakistanis After launching 'visa on arrival' facility for Pakistani senior citizens, India has initiated the process to provide the 'group tourist visa' on reciprocal basis. The 'group tourist' visa was to be launched from March 15, but it was put on hold after tension along the border following the brutal killing of two Indian soldiers. Besides, Pakistan has also failed to send a list of authorized tour operators to India. Germany is the only country with which India has such a high-level format of discussion as the Intergovernmental Consultations. The first round of Consultations was held when Merkel visited India in May 2011. Germany is India's largest trading partner in Europe and fifth largest trading partner in the world. Bilateral trade between the two nations stood at 18.3 billion Euros in 2011. However, due to global economic slowdown, bilateral trade saw a dip of 5.5 percent last year. During the meet India and Germany has inked six key MoUs including that for putting together Euro seven million for next four years towards joint research in the field of higher education and a pact for a soft loan of Euro one billion for strengthening the green energy corridor. The lists of documents signed are as follows: a) Joint Declaration of Intent regarding promotion of German as a foreign language in India: The declaration will include introduction of B.Ed programmes for German language. Also scholarships would be awarded for Masters degree programs and for short stays in Germany with the goal of improving mutual trust and intercultural relations.
India has already identified 18 such tour and travel operators on its side and shared it with Pakistann.
According to the new liberalized visa pact between the two countries, group tourist visa would be offered for a period of 30 days to tourists travelling in groups with not less than 10 members and not more than 50 members, organized by approved tour operators or travel agents.
Though the visa pact was signed in September last year, it could not be operationalised until December 14 when Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik had formally launched the process. Some clauses of the relaxed visa regime like multiple-entry and police reporting-free visas for businessmen and allowing them to travel to five cities instead of the earlier three had come into force in December last year.
Later, on April 1, both the countries had started visa- on-arrival facility for each other's senior citizens (more than 65 years of age). This is a single-entry visa, granted for a maximum of 45 days. The facility was started at the Attari Integrated Check Post (ICP) on reciprocal basis. 2nd India-Germany Consultations held Intergovernmental
India and Germany held 2nd round of InterGovernmental Consultations during which crucial bilateral, international and regional issues like the long pending India-EU Free Trade Agreement and the situation in Afghanistan had been discussed.
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c)
b) Intergovernmental MoU between India & Germany on Cooperation in the field of Higher Education: The MoU intends to facilitate people-to-people exchanges. This includes students, academics, and project collaborators.
Joint Declaration of Intent in the area of Civil Security Research: The Indo-German research cooperation in this new area intends to fund 5 pilot projects in 2013 with the identified priorities being natural disaster management, biological risk situations, urban security, protection & rescue of people and social aspects of civil security research.
d) Joint Declaration for cooperation in Agriculture sector: Aims at strengthening cooperation in: plant variety protection; conservation of plant genetic resources;
cooperation between Indian and German agricultural research institutions and seed companies. e) Joint Declaration of Intent for Cooperation in Standardisation, Conformity Assessment and Product Safety: The declaration aims at strengthening bilateral cooperation in standardization, conformity assessment and product safety through bilateral economic and technical cooperation, intensifying dialogue and promoting coordinated activities in international organizations. Also provides for establishing and Indo-German Working Group Quality Infrastructure. f) Joint Declaration of Intent for Establishment of Green Energy Corridors
skills and experiences between the two institutions for mutual benefit. Election Commissioner, Mr. Brahma offered the available expertise and facilities in India for strengthening the electoral system in Mauritius. Election Commission of India has so far signed seventeen MOUs with Election Management Bodies and international organizations across the world. Some of the MoU signed recently are with Egypt, Venezuela, Republic of Korea and UNDP. Scientific Declaration on Polio Eradication
It aims at fostering increased use of renewable energy in India through technical and fanatical cooperation by way of integrating additional renewable energy generation capacity with the national grid. The Technical cooperation would be implemented through the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and KfW intends to provide concessional loans of up to Euro one billion over the next six years. Under pacts signed, both Germany and India have committed to Euro 3.5 million each towards working on joint research and innovation programmes. India and Mauritius Sign MoU on Electoral Cooperation
India and Mauritius have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi, for cooperation in the field of election management and administration. The MoU was signed by the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Shri V.S. Sampath and the Electoral Commissioner of Mauritius, Mr. Mohammad Irfan Abdool Rahman. The major aims of MoU are: promotion of exchanges of knowledge and experience in electoral processes; exchange of information, materials, expertise and training of personnel; production and distribution of materials pertaining to electoral systems, voting technology, voters' education and awareness, and participation of women and minorities in electoral process. The MoU will help in strengthening and deepening mutual collaboration between ECI and the Electoral Commissioner's Office of Mauritius. Further it would facilitate sharing of best practices,
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Hundreds of scientists, doctors and other experts from around the world has launched the Scientific Declaration on Polio Eradication, emphasising that an end to the paralyzing disease was achievable, and endorsed a comprehensive new strategy to secure a lasting polio-free world by 2018. The more than 400 signatories urged governments, international organisations and civil society to seize the historic and unique opportunity to end polio and protect the world's most vulnerable children and future generations from this debilitating but preventable disease. The declaration calls for full funding and implementation of the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018, developed by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). The declaration notes that vaccines have already protected hundreds of millions of children, and eliminated one of the three types of wild poliovirus, proving that eradication is scientifically feasible. It calls on the international community to meet the goals in the GPEI plan for delivering vaccines to more children at risk, particularly in Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan, where polio remains endemic and emergency action plans launched over the past year have resulted in significant improvements in vaccine coverage. The GPEI estimates that it can be completely ended by 2018 at a cost of $5.5 billion. The declaration notes that only 223 new cases due to wild poliovirus were recorded in 2012, a historic low and more than 99 per cent decrease from the estimated 350,000 cases in 1988. This year, just 16 new cases were reported as of April 9. India, long regarded as the most difficult place to eliminate polio, has not recorded a case in more than two years. The signatories from 80 countries include Nobel laureates, vaccine and infectious disease experts, public health school deans and paediatricians. More than 40 leading universities and schools of public health and medicine are promoting the declaration
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on their websites, including Aga Khan University, the Harvard School of Public Health, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Al Azhar University (Egypt), the University of Cape Town, Redeemers University (Nigeria) and Christian Medical College, Vellore (India). India and Russia economic ties
Bilateral trade between India and Russia in 2012 has increased to around US$ 6.7 billion mark, registering growth of around 14% as compared to previous year. Exports touched USD 2.15 billion in 2012 compared to USD 1.89 Billion in 2011 and exports stood at USD 4.5 billion as compared to 4.05 billion previous year. India, Bangladesh to produce mega film on 1971 War of Liberation
Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma during his recent two-day visit to Moscow met his Russian counterpart Denis Manturov and Russian Minister of Economic Development Andrey Belousov and briefed them about emerging opportunities for investment in India. During the meet the Indian minister outlined immense investment opportunities available in India in sectors like energy & energy resources, pharmaceuticals, IT & ITES, minerals & metals, infrastructure development, aviation, power generation, shipbuilding, bio and nano- technologies, fertilizers, chemicals, agricultural and foods items, automobile industry and diamond. He also sought investment partnership in the fields of mining, steel and energy. On IT sector, Minister Sharma asked Russian Authorities to expedite details on their IT innovation policy containing Management, Development of Software, Commercial Terms, and Tax benefits in Russia, etc. It would facilitate Indian Industries to take decision for their participation in the Russian Technology platform on IT innovation. Salient possibilities for cooperation with Russia in the IT sector are BPO/KPO, business software, setting-up of Techno-Park, e-governance, tele-medicines, and IT training and education. However, so far, no concerted effort has been made by Indian companies to tap or even assess this potential in the Russian IT market. Russia has also decided to participate in the government's initiative of setting up world-class mega industrial zones under the New Manufacturing Policy (NMP) in various states. The New National Manufacturing Policy (NMP) provides for the National Manufacturing Investment Zones (NMIZs) with world-class supporting infrastructure across the states. The government is offering a host of incentives like exemption from capital gains tax and a liberalised labour and environment norms to promote these zones.
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During the meeting between Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari and his Bangladeshi counterpart Hasanul Haq Inu, India and Bangladesh has agreed to consider a joint collaboration for production of a mega film depicting the "War of Liberation". On the context mega film, it was agreed to work towards a roadmap to finalize the proposal shortly. Bangladesh Minister also requested that the Government of India could consider providing the names of the soldiers who had laid down their lives during the War of Liberation. During the discussions, both the Ministers also agreed to explore the possibility of setting up of a Joint Working Group on the critical sectors of the Information and Broadcasting domain. The Working Group would provide a roadmap for future collaborations between the two countries. The Bangladesh Minister also requested India to facilitate the downlinking of Bangladesh TV Channels through the private distribution network. Both Ministers also agreed to intensify the collaboration between Prasar Bharti and Bangladesh State Television in view of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two entities in 2011. The MoU had focused on mutual cooperation in the broadcast of television programmes between the two broadcasters. It was also mentioned that both countries could consider exchange of programmes and also explore the possibility of executive TV coproduction. Both Ministers also agreed to facilitate the exchange of archival material between the two countries and discussed on the possibility of strengthening collaboration as far as training and capacity building was concerned between institutions of mutual interests.

Coral reef colonies declining in Palk Bay: Study A recent study taken up by a team of researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Chennai, brought to light the serious threat of extinction the coral reef colonies and mangrove forests in the Palk Bay are facing. At present, only two per cent of the coral reefs survive in the area. A decade ago, the Palk Bay area used to be rich in biodiversity consisting of coral colonies, sea weed and grass, besides mangrove forests. The drone is solar powered and equipped with both still and video cameras. It is capable of transmitting pictures, while doing the sorties, to a control base where it can be downloaded and analysed or stored for analysis. Poachers have killed and dehorned 12 rhinos at the Kaziranga National Park since January 1. In the recent Census, the park authorities counted 2329 rhinos - a net increase of 39 even after losing about 125 to poaching, high flood and natural death since January 2012. The 2012 census had put the count at 2290. The national park also has 106 tigers, 1163 elephants, 1937 buffalos and 1165 swamp deer. Assam government recently sought a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the spurt in rhino poaching. New device to detect GI cancers coming soon
Global warming, siltation, release of untreated raw sewage into the water bodies and overgrowth of algae were stated to be the three important reasons for the possible disappearance of coral colonies and its associated organisms from the Palk Bay area. Silt coming from developmental projects, as well as due to east-flowing rivers do not allow the new colonies to be formed and, similarly, not allow the corals to re-colonise in the Palk Bay region.
The study showed that release of untreated raw sewage from the nearby areas into the water bodies, which ultimately drained into the sea, led to diseases in coral colonies. There is an increased growth of algae. This also led to the disappearance of corals. Apart from these problems, the conflicts of interest between the traditional fishermen and the trawler operators also took a toll on the biodiversity of the Palk region.
In an attempt to restore the dying coral colonies, the ZSI researchers are attempting to transplant live coral colonies from other parts of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve and plant them at Palk Bay. This work is done with support and assistance from various funding agencies. More than transplanting the corals from other areas into the Palk Bay, conservation efforts have to be taken up by various agencies to preserve the species. Drone to keep tabs on Kaziranga animals
Taking a step towards deployment of an unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly known as drone, to keep tabs on the animals in the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) and protect them from poachers, a test flight of a remote-controlled hobby flying model of the drone was conducted.
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Gastrointestinal cancer (GI) occurs when certain cells within the gastrointestinal tract grow in an uncontrolled, abnormal, manner. (GI) cancers occur anywhere along the long twisting tube that includes the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine (which includes the colon), rectum and anus. A prototype of an advanced multi-bending cholangioscope (which allows visual diagnosis) has been developed jointly by Indian and Japanese healthcare researchers to detect cancer at an early age. All these years, most patients used to consult a physician when the disease was in an advanced stage. But with this new equipment peroral direct cholangioscope (PDCS), which has a video camera and can bend easily, cancers of bile duct, liver and pancreas could be detected early. The multi-bending PDCS cannot be inserted freehand into the bile duct. However, a high success rate of direct insertion can be achieved when the endoscope is passed over a guide-wire and an anchoring balloon. Barren Island volcano in Andaman Sea could be at least 1.8 million years old
A group of scientists at Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) and the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay have determined that Barren Island volcano in Andaman Sea would be at least 1.8 million years old.
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It became active in 1991 after a dormancy of 159 years. It has since remained active with almost continuous tephra eruptions or ejection of solid material into the air. The experts stated that, being a stratovolcano, it had in the past and would be likely to have in the future massive eruptions that could seriously affect life in the Andaman Sea, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the neighbouring south-east Asian countries. Tsunamis generated by sub-marine landslides on the flanks of the volcano can compound the scale of devastation. Thus the determination of the age is important to elucidate the history of volcanism in the country and the evolution of the island arc in the Andaman subduction zone.
Barren Island. The core was studied with the help of the Argon dating facility established at IITBombay a few years ago. The new finding follows an earlier study by a team led by Neeraj Awasthi of IIT- Bombay, which showed that the volcano, which raises about twokm above the seafloor with an average height of about 300-m above sea level, has had seven major lava eruptions over the past 70,000 years. The Barren Island stands in the midst of a volcanic belt on the edge of the Indian and Burmese tectonic plates. It is the northern-most active system of the Indonesian volcanic arc. Though forming part of the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar, it is totally uninhabited. It is accessible only to the Coast Guard and naval ships which monitor the island on a regular basis for any eruption. The eruption in 1991 lasted for about six months.
The scientists has determined its age by studying a 400-cm-long core of marine sediments collected from the Andaman Sea about 30-km away from the
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2 - MARKERS
Agni-II successfully tested The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Army successfully test-fired Agni-II ballistic missile from Wheeler Island, off the Odisha coast. The medium-range missile with a range of over 2,000 km has already been inducted into the Army, and is part of the Strategic Forces arsenal for nuclear deterrence. The Agni-II is part of India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. Other missiles in series include 700-km range Agni-I, 3000km range Agni-III, 3500-km range Agni-IV and 5000km range Agni-V. museum with exhibits on maritime heritage and marine technology and facilities such as food courts, audio-visual studio, souvenir shops and aquarium on Build, Own, Operate and Transfer model. eCoins
The two-stage surface-to-surface missile, equipped with an advanced high-accuracy navigation system and guided by a novel state-ofthe-art command and control system, is powered by a solid rocket propellant system. The missile weighs 17 tonnes and its range can be increased to 3,000 km by reducing the payload. It can be fired from both rail and road mobile launchers. It takes only 15 minutes for the missile to be readied for firing. The Defence Research and Development Organisation first tested Agni-II in 1999. Amazon Olympics
The Amazon Olympics is an annual sporting event for indigenous tribes along the Columbian, Brazilian and Peruvian borders.
The aim of these dangerous games is to test the skills and disciplines of which are essential for survival in the jungle. Rather than well-known sports such as badminton, football and boxing taking precedence, disciplines such as tree-felling, canoe-racing, archery and blow-pipe shooting are prominent amongst the games. Teams from two-dozen villages and towns fight for a cash prize of 1,000. INS Vagli to be turned into museum by 2015
INS Vagli, the decommissioned submarine, will be converted into Tamil Nadu Maritime Heritage Museum in Mamallapuram by March 2015. Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) will be the nodal agency for setting up the
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eCoins is an integrated, user-friendly, fullyelectronic and over-the-counter platform for trading in gold bars, solely aimed at jewellers. eCoins will provide its retailers/customers with live transparent benchmark prices along with instant trade and rate confirmations. The bars will be available on the terminal in widest range of denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 grams in .999 purity. Dada Sahab Phalke Award
Pran has been awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2012), the nation's top cine honour. In 2010, he was listed by CNN as one of the top 25 Asian actors of all time.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in cinema given annually by the Government of India. The Award is given to a prominent personality from the Indian film industry, noted and respected for significant contributions to Indian cinema. NTR National Film Award
Film star Amitabh Bachchan was presented the NTR National Film Award for 2011. The award carried Rs.5 lakh cash prize, a citation and a memento. Dr Hilary Koprowski
Hilary Koprowski was a Polish virologist and immunologist, and inventor of the world's first effective live polio vaccine. Koprowski created the world's first polio vaccine, based on oral administration of attenuated polio virus. In researching a potential polio vaccine, he had focused on live viruses that were attenuated (rendered nonvirulent) rather than on killed viruses (the latter became the basis for the injected vaccine that was subsequently created by Jonas Salk). Koprowski viewed the live vaccine as more powerful, since it entered the intestinal tract directly
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and could provide lifelong immunity, whereas the Salk vaccine required booster shots. Also, administering a vaccine by mouth is easy, whereas an injection requires medical facilities and is more expensive. Koprowski's vaccine was taken by the first child on February 27, 1950, and within 10 years was being used on four continents. Albert Sabin's attenuated-live-virus polio vaccine was developed from attenuated polio virus that Sabin had received from Koprowski. Margaret Thatcher
flexible labour markets, the privatisation of stateowned companies, and reducing the power and influence of trade unions. Thatcher was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour awarded by the US. Robert Geoffrey Edwards
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Margaret Thatcher, Britain's first woman Prime Minister who led the Conservative party for more than a decade through one of the most tumultuous periods in modern British history and became a deeply divisive political figure, died. Her political philosophy and economic policies emphasised deregulation (particularly of the financial sector),
He was a British physiologist and pioneer in reproductive medicine and in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) in particular. Edwards successfully pioneered conception through IVF, which led to the birth of the first test-tube baby, Louise Brown, on 25 July 1978. He was awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for the development of in vitro fertilization". In 2011, Edwards was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II "for services to human reproductive biology."
EDITORIALS
We need a unified financial regulator Our experience with regulators has been rather mixed, on account of poor legal design. A set of regulatory provisions for all areas of finance would make a difference. The report of the Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC) has generated lots of comments and reactions. This article looks at the recommendations on the subject of regulatory governance, in general, and, regulator-government interface, in particular. If acted upon, these can significantly impact overall governance in India and not merely in finance. The recommendations of the FSLRC are mainly contained in chapters 3, 4, 14 &16 of the report. The idea of an independent regulator is relatively new. Modern regulators of this kind at a country level go back to the Inter-state Commerce Commission (ICC) of the US created in 1887. In India, though a law created the RBI in 1934, it was not designed to be an independent regulator. The original RBI Act of 1934 was amended many times to convert a private commercial entity into a regulator. Post-independence, in 1953, the Forward Markets Commission (FMC) was created by a parliamentary law but in the mould of a traditional government department. Therefore, it perhaps cannot be characterised as an independent regulator, though it was and is statutory. The first really modern regulator in India is the SEBI, created by an executive order in 1988 and sanctified by a parliamentary law in 1992. Subsequently, India has created many regulators in the financial and other sectors, which have come up in many states. The FSLRC has presented this unified set of provisions and made detailed recommendations on the structure of the regulatory agency, composition of its board, selection of board members, functioning of the board, resource allocation of the regulator, including powers to levy fees, principles of levying fees, and performance assessment and reporting. Another chapter describes in detail what ought to be the functions and powers of the regulator. There is a good case for extending these principles to sectors beyond finance to all statutory regulators. The practical importance of these recommendations will be apparent if one looks at the actual practice in one just area of government-regulator interface appointment of regulators. Systemic problem
Poor legal design As a general proposition, it would be fair to say that the Indian experience with regulators is rather mixed. A few have been reasonably successful, but most have been less than optimal in their outcomes. One is of the opinion that much of this is on account of poor legislative design. The major recommendation of FSLRC in this area is that there should be a unified set of provisions on regulatory governance for all areas of finance.
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As a rule, most present legal provisions in this regard are vague and do not follow any standard principle. The many variations in the terms and processes of the appointments clearly point to a systemic problem. For example, in the last decade or so, there have been governors of the RBI who were varyingly given a three-year term extended by three years, a single five-year term, and a three-year term extended by two years. There have been Deputy Governors who were given terms of over five years, exactly five years, three years, three+two years and two years and 3 months, extended by nine months! A major part of the problem is the RBI Act, which prescribes no age limit for Deputy Governor or Governor, no process for appointment and no limits on terms. Similar is the story with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). One chairman was appointed for five years, and extended for another two years, when the law then provided for a threeyear term. The term of another was not extended beyond three years when the law provided for a five-year term. While recently whole time members (WTM) have been given five-year terms, the chairman was given only a three-year term. One WTM was appointed for three years, completed this, demitted office and was then given a fresh term, while the terms of two identically placed WTMs were not renewed.
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If all this points to confusion and mindlessness, it also translates into the effective lack of operational autonomy for the regulators, given the uncertainty of tenure and the ability of the government to pick and choose individuals in the regulatory agency who are "fit" for extension and who are "not". Lack of autonomy Contrast this with fixed terms prescribed in the Constitution for election commissioners and the CAG of India and the obvious consequences in terms of institutional effectiveness. Likewise, there are board members of some regulatory agencies who have been on these boards for over a decade and some who have been given three years. Boards of some regulatory agencies have no regulatory powers at all with regulatory functions, including the drafting of regulations being done entirely by the staff of the agency without any clearance of the board. In the case of some other agencies, board-level clearance is mandatory for issuing regulations. Auditing a regulator
Orders passed by some regulatory agencies have no appeal/recourse of any kind. In the financial sector, all regulators are free from resource constraints, but some have been accused of charging excess fees as the law confers powers to levy fees without any guidance or principle. The CAG of India mandatorily audits some financial sector regulatory agencies in accordance with their statute whereas firms of chartered accountants audit some regulators. Given the enormous powers of the regulators, it will be a brave chartered accountant who actually does a tough audit of a regulator. It is these and many similar aspects of regulatory governance and accountability that need to be legislatively reformed in India. The FSLRC recommendations directly address these and will go a long way in remedying this governance deficit in regulatory structure and design. Source: Business Line Why Indian cities lag behind global metropolises
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cities are planned, their capacity to raise resources, empowerment of political representatives and people's participation. A missing component that can be incorporated in future surveys is how efficient cities are in energy use, given that they need to lower energy consumption in transport, water supply and waste management. Rightly, the survey offers prescriptions to reform governance. It says cities should set up metropolitan planning committees (MPC) to prepare a draft plan for the area. The Constitution does mandate MPCs and lists out their functions. There is no excuse for noncompliance. Kolkata's MPC and its sectoral and executive panels are examples for other cities. Greater financial autonomy for municipal entities, too, makes eminent sense. They should be able to raise debt and access new forms of financing through public-private partnership. It is also imperative to revive and develop a flourishing municipal bond market to finance and create new cities. A robust institutional framework to levy and collect user charges by municipal bodies would help, provided more services are brought under pricing. The survey found mayors and city councils weak. They must be empowered to bring about change in civic affairs. The larger point is that the pace of urbanisation will surge as the economy grows. So, urban renewal and development should be top-ofthe-mind issues for policymakers now, before it becomes too late. Source: Economic Times
Why India is right on Sri Lanka
The results of an ET-Janaagraha survey assessing India's top 11 cities against two global metropolises are disheartening. These cities scored in the range of 0.7 to 4.5 across four categories on a scale of 0 to 10 against New York and London, which scored between 8.1 and 9.9. The comparisons included how
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Unless Colombo treats its Tamil citizens with dignity and respect, New Delhi will continue to have limited options Contemporary developments in India's foreign policy are often based on perceptions and not facts, views divorced from reality and political advocacy based on make-believe. India's approach to the Sri Lankan issue and the vote in the Human Rights Council (HRC) is a case in point. Variously described as a "new low" in our foreign policy and a departure from our principled stand of not supporting countryspecific resolutions, this line of reasoning suggests that New Delhi should ignore and overrule regional sentiment, and refrain from meddling in the affairs of a small neighbour. But first the perceptions. One, in 1956, Solomon West Ridgeway Dias (SWRD) Bandaranaike enacted the Sinhala-Only Act. Sections of the political class in New Delhi welcomed it as a consolidation of antiimperialist sentiment. Years later, Tamils were
Resolution was minimalist
What the international community is questioning is not Colombo's military operation against the LTTE or human rights violations but specific allegations of war crimes during the last 100 days of military operations. Visual documentation, including by triumphant victors on mobile phones has contributed to Sri Lanka's discomfort. The U.S. resolution at the 19th session of the HRC in March 2012 was a minimalist attempt. It invited Sri Lanka to act on the recommendations of its own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. Even the assistance to be made available to Colombo would have been provided only with its consent. Instead, Colombo chose to prevaricate. With additional visual documentation being made available, the demand for accountability gained momentum. Having voted in favour of the resolution in March 2012, it was next to impossible for India to change its vote in March 2013, especially in the absence of any credible steps by Sri Lanka towards reconciliation and devolution. It is both in India's and Sri Lanka's interest to get a full and final closure on these allegations. Not to do so will allow the wounds to fester. Sovereignty has never succeeded in providing a cover against genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against humanity. To suggest that India does not support country-specific resolutions is absurd. Even more, that we have a principled position on this. In any perceived clash between principle and national interest, it is invariably the latter that is invoked and reigns supreme. Following the anti-Tamil riots in Colombo in 1983, New Delhi mustered sufficient courage to spearhead a resolution
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13th Amendment
reduced to second-class citizens and discrimination against them became systemic and entrenched. The anti-Tamil riots in Colombo following the killing of the Mayor of Jaffna, Alfred Duriappa, by a young Prabhakaran led to the rise of Tamil militancy. Perception two, Most Sinhalese believe, with good reason, that Tamil militancy, rightly viewed by them as terrorism, would not have succeeded in tearing apart Sri Lanka's social fabric but for support from across the Palk Straits. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi sought course correction. He committed India to Sri Lanka's unity and territorial integrity. This fundamental turnaround meant India would not support the break-up of Sri Lanka and would also cooperate in ending support for terrorism. There was, however, one caveat. The Tamil minority should be treated with dignity and as equal citizens of a multicultural, multiple-ethnic and multilingual Sri Lanka.
against Sri Lanka in the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities. We vote in favour of similar resolutions against Israel only because they deal with gross and systematic violations of human rights of Palestinian people in the occupied territories. We have never hesitated to take a position on country-specific resolutions whether on DPRK or Iran, whenever our national interest so demanded. To dismiss popular sentiment in Tamil Nadu as the machinations of politicians is both a misreading of the situation and a recipe for disaster. Why should Sri Lanka not be held to account for not respecting understandings given bilaterally to India, such as those of April-May 2009?
India can be against the LTTE but cannot afford to be against the Tamils. The problem both amongst the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka and large sections of the Tamil population in India, is that the LTTE successfully manipulated Tamil opinion by projecting itself as the only physical shield against Sinhala repression. We cannot wish away this sentiment. The only safeguard for the Tamils in Sri Lanka is delivery of the promised devolution based on the 13th Amendment. Both the AIADMK and the DMK, along with the smaller parties in Tamil Nadu are on the same page on the Sri Lanka issue. The problem will continue to fester till Colombo has a genuine change of heart. Recent signals are anything but encouraging. Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said on March 27, 2013: "Could we afford to have a provincial administration here, which pointed a gun at the national leadership at the drop of a hat? We don't want to be at the mercy of scheming provincial administrations." Let alone the 13th Amendment, the Defence Secretary seems to be suggesting the winding up of provincial councils altogether! Notwithstanding assurances to India, the "Brothers" running Sri Lanka appear to have no intention to move on political reconciliation and devolution. This "majoritarianism" in total disregard of respecting and protecting the rights of minorities is a narrow and calibrated political strategy designed to safeguard Sinhalese parliamentary strength. The recent attacks on the Muslim trading community in the heart of Colombo by fanatic Sinhalese, allegedly led by Buddhist monks are manifestations of similar callous and cynical disregard for the rights of linguistic, religious and cultural minorities. India did the right thing by supporting the resolution on war crimes.
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Changing course in Africa
The continent is experiencing rising rates of growth. But will growth be translated into development? Africans know a thing or two about herd instinct. Like wildebeest and zebra migration across the Serengeti, investment managers and consultants too have a habit of running together and, every now and then, changing direction. Right now, herd instinct is taking every investment, fund and private equity manager on an African safari. If, a decade ago, The Economist ran a cover story dubbing Africa "The hopeless continent", it caught up with a changing reality by the end of 2011 with a cover on "Africa rising." More recently, it acknowledged the emergence of an "Aspiring Africa". What has fuelled this journey of the so-called dark continent into the bright new world of economic growth and political stability? What are the new business opportunities and political risks? How diverse is the experience of different regions of this vast continent? To what extent is this new growth process driven by enduring change, rather than fleeting opportunity? Do countries blessed by oil and gas have the capacity to use their new-found wealth to fuel long-term growth and development, or will they fall victim to the infamous "resource curse"? Does Africa have the political leadership it requires to resolve intra-country and inter-country conflict and deal with new security challenges like drug and arms trafficking, terrorism and Islamic radicalism?
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Exaggerated projections of Chinese inroads and influence are a bogey which many of our smaller neighbours periodically try on us. Apart from being practical, the Chinese are also hard headed. They will pursue economic and commercial opportunity irrespective of the way India votes. Support for Sri Lanka up to 2012 did not prevent them from looking for commercial projects there. Many Chinese successes have something to do with our own inability to deliver commercial projects on time. Sri Lanka is not only India's closest neighbour but in many respects, culturally and emotionally, closest to us as well. We need to reach out to Colombo and drive home the point that it takes two to tango. Relations between countries are assiduously built, step by step. Unless Colombo treats its Tamil citizens with dignity and respect, New Delhi will continue to have limited options. If New Delhi continues to base its choices on misplaced "perceptions" and does not effectively articulate the reasons for the choices so made, only brickbats will be in the offing. Source: The Hindu
Such were the questions that an international conference on the geo-economics of resources and conflict in Africa sought to address earlier this week at the Bahrain Centre of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). The verdict was clear. The "rising" and "aspiring" Africa story is well founded. However, not all of the 54 countries of the continent are rising at the same pace and, worryingly, there are still many pockets of "hopelessness" and sources of potential conflict that require urgent attention. Fred Swaniker, founder and CEO of the Africa Leadership Academy, identified five long-term trends that are driving the African growth story, and the four risks it faces. The five drivers are: improving political governance, young and bettereducated population, urbanisation, skilled workforce and a more hospitable global geopolitical environment. With access to education and urbanisation, several pre-requisites for sustained growth are now in place, like physical, social and financial infrastructure. The rise of China, followed by India and other emerging economies, has had beneficial geo-economic consequences for the continent. Africans are pleased to find themselves being courted by erstwhile colonisers even as they exude confidence in being able to deal with rising powers. So what are the risks? As in India, the so-called demographic dividend can only be a driver of growth if the young are educated and better skilled. If not, a restive youth would become a liability. Africa is experiencing rising rates of growth, but will growth get translated into development? Urbanisation is a positive force, but the lack of rural opportunities? Does Africa not require a green revolution that enriches the peasantry, creates a bigger home market and ensures food security? Unplanned urbanisation can create urban chaos and trigger urban violence. With rapid growth comes social and regional inequality. This, too, needs managing. Finally, Africa's new political leadership has to manage the fluid geopolitics of an increasingly multi-polar world, benefiting from the global race for resources, rather than getting unduly exploited. Emmanuel Kwesi Aning of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre drew attention to another downside risk - the debilitating impact of the dangerous cocktail of drugs and arms trafficking, al-Qaeda, terrorism and Islamic radicalism both on Africa's west coast and along the northeastern coast, the Horn of Africa. Economic growth alone cannot address the demands of an aspiring Africa. Many countries need modern institutions that are accountable, transparent, just and efficient. Africa's security challenge was brought
out starkly by the fact that if the single biggest employer in China is Sinopec, a petrochemical company, and in India it is the railways, across Africa it is G4S, a private security firm. The continent's major powers, like South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya, will be required to provide leadership in their respective regions to ensure regional peace and security. If not, outside powers will step in, as France has done in Mali. With new oil and gas discoveries, Africa's energy exporters will have to invest in defence capability and work with other Indian Ocean powers to ensure security of sea lanes. As in the case of any continental entity, Africa is also characterised by wide diversity. While negatives dominate western Africa and the Sahel region, many positives define eastern and east coastal Africa, led by Kenya, and southern Africa, led by South Africa. New oil and gas discoveries in Kenya and Mozambique are attracting global oil majors, including from China and India. How these resources are utilised is key. Will they be afflicted by the resource curse - falling victim to a combination of cronyism, authoritarianism, inequality and lack of incentives for growth of manufacturing - or will they be able to use these resources wisely to build the foundations for sustainable development? The key to Africa's rise lies in the answer to these questions. Today's youth see new hope in the new opportunities that a new world offers. What was striking, however, was the contrast between the confident optimism of younger Africans and the more cautious, even worried, outlook of the older generation. As in India so in Africa, the older generation has lived through an earlier phase of optimism fuelled by the promise of decolonisation. That hope never materialised. This time, Africa is determined to succeed. Source: Indian Express Colonising riverbeds
Green activists root for a monitoring commission to ensure that our rivers are effectively protected Green activists are elated that the National Green Tribunal has issued notices to Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana, and Union Ministry of Water Resources with regard to the land mafia's reckless encroachment on the floodplains of Yamuna and Hindon. This was in response to an application filed by environmentalists. The plea states: "The river beds, considered highly eco-fragile, have been usurped by land mafia in connivance with administration
officials. Colonies have come up on the riverbeds". The petition cites a media report about an estimated 1,618 hectares of the Yamuna flood plain having been grabbed by the land mafia, along 30 km of the river as it flows through Noida. Encroachments include farmhouses, homes, schools, crusher and hot-mix plants, concrete ready-mix and quartz-washing plants, etc. Thousands of hectares have similarly been encroached upon in cities along the Yamuna: Delhi, Faridabad, Mathura and Agra. The petition singles out the Delhi Government for foisting encroachments via Commonwealth Games Village and DTC Bus Depot "on the eco-sensitive Yamuna banks". Illegal plots in the flood plains areas are being sold with the connivance of Government functionaries, with registration and mutation being undertaken. Though concerned agencies at the Centre and in States have not granted environmental clearance, which clearly has not even been sought, such land grab continues to occur with impunity. Encroachments by colonisers in Faridabad, Agra and Mathura have increased the toxic pollution load. As a result, aquatic species have almost been decimated. The petitioners want a monitoring commission to be set up, to ensure that provisions under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 for protecting rivers be implemented in a transparent way as per the deadline. Applications or appeals are to be disposed of within six months of filing. This is one side of the issue of development. The other side has bankers and tycoons meeting Union Minister for Finance P Chidambaram with their litany of complaints concerning environmental hurdles, land acquisition, coal linkage and banks' reluctance to restructure loans, thereby stalling projects. The high-powered meet was attended by the Minister and Financial Services secretary Ravi Takru, the business sector was represented by Mr Anil Ambani, Mr Ajit Gulabchand, Mr Prashant Ruia, Mr Kumar Managalam Birla, Mr Madhu Kannan and heads of public-sector banks. There are almost 350 such projects facing impediments. Environmental clearance is seen to be the main obstruction. Mr Chidambaram will now coordinate with different Ministries to get road blocks removed. So, on the one hand, the Green Tribunal, set up on October 18, 2010, under National Green Tribunal Act, as well as law courts are intervening in support of conservation causes; on the other, corporates, realtors, land mafia and a chain of beneficiaries cite the need for high growth as the rationale for pummelling the Government into submission. So long as population continues to explode, with India's numbers in 2011 totalling 1,241,491,960, as
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per World Bank estimates, high growth gains will be out-paced by the astronomical increase in people. The Congress-led UPA Government has completely failed to address this problem during its two successive tenures, since 2004. It is a colossal failure, but quite understandable in view of obsession with high economic growth trajectories and policies, and freebies for select vote banks. These formulae for disaster, vesting in the unlikely reconciliation of the capitalist module of development with the socialist welfare state, do not seem to have factored in family planning programmes, to be implemented on an emergency basis. India is reported to harbour over 17.5 per cent of the entire population of the world. The 2001 census findings indicate that 72.2 per cent of the people are found in an estimated 6,38,000 villages, which figure very low on policymakers' list of priorities in planning since metropolises seem to have first right over funds and resources.
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Mark the disproportionate amount of finance allotted to Delhi for upgradation of infrastructure and creation of amenities, geared to hosting of the CWG in October 2010. As per census data, 27.8 per cent comprises urban dwellers. Since policymakers and enforcers are not serious about curbing population growth, India is expected to beat its giant neighbour China, which has enforced the 'one child rule', as the world's most populous country by 2025. Electoral compulsions ensure that the small family unit, projected as the ideal by the slogans "Hum do, hamaare do" and "Hum do hamaara ek", has been shelved. The more the better appears to be the current norm since that translates into larger votebanks and recipients of Government largesse. China's policy dates back to 1979. It generally applies to urban Han Chinese, and is credited with reducing population by about 300 million in the first two decades. However, after the Congress's aborted sterilisation programme in the 1970s, the subject is taboo for politicos. Source: The Pioneer
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15TH APRIL 2013 TO 21ST APRIL, 2013
Call: 09582948810, 09953007628 Visit:ias100.in


Constitutional news
International News
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Weekly Current Affairs 15th April to 21st April, 2013
TOPICAL TESTS
Infrastructure & Resources 1. Transportation infrastructure: Road and Highway Networks, Mass Transit Systems, Railways, Waterways, Ports.... 2. Energy infrastructure:- Thermal Power Generation, Natural Gas Pipelines & Petroleum Pipelines, Nuclear Energy, Renewable Energy...... 3. Water management infrastructure:- Drinking water supply, Sewage Collection and Disposal of Waste water, Flood Control, Water Harwesting..... 4. Communications infrastructure:- Television and Radio Transmission, Internet, Social Network, Search Engines, Communications Satellites...... 5. Solid Waste Management 6. Economic Infrastructure: Manufacturing Infrastructure, including Industrial Parks and Special Economic zones, Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Infrastructure.... 7. Resources: Water Resources, Forest Resources, Land Resources, Energy Resources, Minerals, Resource Management.....
Urbanization,
Demography : Population Composition, Density, Literacy, Sex Ratio...
Environmental Problems & Global Environmental Governance : Deforestation, Pollution: Air, Water, Land, Noise, Desertification, Biodiversity Depletion, Global Warming, SD....... Human Development, Social Sector Initiatives and Programmes & Policies 1. Concept of Human Development, Development vs. Growth, Human Development Index, MPI, Innovation..... 2. Social Inclusion, Child Welfare, Women Welfare....
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Indian Economy Basics, Planning & Trade 1. Industry Services, Agriculture, Energy..... 2. Balance of Payments. Foreign Direct Investment....... 3. Growth, Development and Other Issues......... 4. Poverty Estimates, Impact of Poverty........ 5. Exchange rate. Role of RBI..... 6. Nature of Planning - Five Year Plan, Planning after 1991 (LPG), Inflation..... Governance and Contemporary Political Developments: Development Politics, Political and Administrative Institutions, Good Governance, Internal Security....
FULL MOCK SCHEDULE

Agriculture, Urbanisation, Health : Agriculture and GDP, Agricultural Regionalization, Production and
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NATIONAL
Supreme Court allows shifting of Asiatic lions from Gujarat to MP Asiatic lions will now have a second home in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno wildlife sanctuary as the apex court permitted their relocation in limited numbers from Gujarat's Gir forest. A bench of Justices KS Radhakrishnan and CK Prasad has given six months time to the wildlife authorities concerned for translocating the lions from Gir sanctuary to Kuno Palpur reserve. The two State governments have been in a tug of war for several years. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi claimed Gujarati asmita (pride) is in its lions, which could not be shared with any other State. Even an offer to translocate tigers to Gujarat in return could not move him. Gujarat claimed that Madhya Pradesh had been unable to protect its own tigers in the Panna reserve, and could not be trusted to host the lion as well. Whereas according to the wildlife experts Gujarat's lions come from a very narrow genetic base of about 25 animals at the turn of the last century, and that makes them a very vulnerable population. In case there is an epidemic, they could even be wiped out, and hence it's important that they have a second home. The court has also constituted an expert body to decide the number of lions to be relocated and closely monitor their translocation in Madhya Pradesh. The court, however, has ruled against the introduction of African cheetahs in India, saying preservation of critically endangered native species, like the wild buffalo and the Great Indian Bustard, should be given primacy. Under its Rs 300 crore Cheetah Reintroduction Programme, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) had proposed the introduction of the African Cheetahs in the country. The National Policy for Children, 2012 approved The Union Cabinet has given its approval to the National Policy for Children, 2012. The Policy reaffirms the government`s commitment to the realization of the rights of all children in the country. It recognizes every person below the age of eighteen years as a child and that childhood is an integral part of life with a value of its own, and a long term, sustainable, multi-sectoral, integrated and inclusive approach is necessary for the harmonious development and protection of children. The policy lays down the guiding principles that must be respected by national, state and local governments in their actions and initiatives affecting children. Some of the key guiding principles are: the right of every child to life, survival, development, education, protection and participation; equal rights for all children without discrimination; the best interest of the child as a primary concern in all actions and decisions affecting children; and family environment as the most conducive for all-round development of children. The policy has identified survival, health, nutrition, education, development, protection and participation as the undeniable rights of every child, and has also declared these as key priority areas. As children`s needs are multi-sectoral, interconnected and require collective action, the policy aims at purposeful convergence and strong coordination across different sectors and levels of governance; active engagement and partnerships with all stakeholders; setting up of a comprehensive and reliable knowledge base; provision of adequate resources; and sensitization and capacity development of all those who work for and with children. A National Plan of Action will be developed to give effect to the policy and a National Coordination and Action Group (NCAG) will be constituted to monitor the progress of implementation. Similar plans and coordination and action groups will be constituted at the state and district levels. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights are to ensure that the principles of the policy are respected in all sectors at all levels. There is a provision for review of the policy every five years. The Ministry of Women and Child Development will be the nodal ministry for overseeing and coordinating the implementation of the policy and will lead the review process. Political parties reach consensus on Land Acquisition Bill A consensus on the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill 2011 was
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GOI planning to launch E-Pathsala programme soon
The ambitious e-Pathshala programme of the government, seeking to create quality content across disciplines at the post-graduate level, is set to kick off with UGC asking universities throughout the country to contribute to the exercise. The initiative was approved by the HRD Ministry in 2011, under its National Mission on Education through ICT, proposes to develop e-content in 77 subjects across disciplines and the material will be made available to both teachers and students in the form of open online courses. The HRD Ministry has also sanctioned grant-inaid to UGC for production of the e-content in subjects at postgraduate level.
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achieved after the government accepted key demands of the BJP regarding leasing of land and compensation reaching the original farmer-owners, and that of the left regarding rights of tenants. The Bill proposes the payment of compensation that is up to four times the market value in rural areas and two times the market value in urban areas. BJP wanted 50 per cent compensation to the original farmers whose land has been purchased after the introduction of the bill in Lok Sabha in September 5, 2011. It has raised the issue that the "land mafia" was in land buying spree in many parts of the country after the introduction of the bill anticipating that the measure will be passed soon and they can reap benefits. If it happens, the farmers who have sold land at a lesser price will not be benefitted from the Land Acquisition Act. Tus BJP has asked the Government to have a provision specifying that there will be sharing of 50 per cent benefit with the original farmers. Government also agreed to another demand of the BJP, which had suggested that instead of acquisition, land could be leased to developers so that its ownership will remain with the farmers and would provide them with regular annual income. The government agreed to amend the bill to provide for an enabling provision for states to enact laws in this regard as leasing of land is a state subject. The meeting also agreed to CPI-M's demand that a provision of the bill that gives powers to the Government to amend the schedule should not be misused to "dilute the compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement package. Government has also agreed to look into another demand by the CPI-M that tenants should also to get the benefit of compensation. Now, land owners get the compensation. Tenants only get the benefit of R and R.
The content will be developed in subjects' ranges from adult education and women studies, architecture and bio-informatics to nano science and nano technology, geology and genetics. Materials would also be developed on defence and strategic studies as also on music, French, German, Russian, Spanish and Urdu languages under the initiative. UGC has constituted a Standing Committee - ePG Pathshala on e-content creation to monitor and coordinate the activity of content creation in a most effective and efficient manner. The Academic Content Advisory Committee constituted by UGC comprises a panel of subject experts, technical experts and media professionals which will monitor and review the progress of implementation of the econtent scheme assigned to the institute and agency. LPG direct cash transfer scheme likely from July 1
The government is gearing up for the next big leap under the Direct Cash Transfer (DCT) scheme to bring a huge number of nearly 14 crore LPG consumers under its ambit. The scheme, which is likely to be launched from July 1, is aimed at directly putting the subsidy component of the domestic cylinder into the bank account of the consumers to eliminate the leakages in the system and address the problem of diversion of domestic cylinders for commercial market. The scheme will be introduced around the middle of next month in 20 districts and later will be extended to a bigger chunk of consumers and practically cover over 14 crore consumers by the year end. The consumers are likely to get around Rs.4,000 per annum from the government, and they will have to then buy LPG at the market price of Rs. 901.50 per 14.2-kg cylinder. Currently, each consumer is entitled to 9 cylinders of 14.2-kg each at the subsidised price of Rs.410.50. The government bears a subsidy Rs.435 per cylinder. Under the scheme, subsidies and other benefits will be transferred directly into the Aadhaar-linked bank account of beneficiary. It has been decided by the government that the beneficiaries would approach the banks with documents of their Aadhaar number. The banks would seed the Aadhaar into the beneficiaries' bank account. Seeding of Aadhaar number to the bank account is essential for the government to identify beneficiaries. On the other hand, the OMCs have been asked to provide data and details of the consumers to ensure that the benefits of the scheme percolate to the beneficiaries.
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India is set to become the youngest country by 2020
The State of the Urban Youth India 2012: Employment, Livelihoods, Skills published by IRIS Knowledge Foundation (IKF), Mumbai in collaboration of UN-HABITAT states that every third person in an Indian city today is a youth. In about seven years the median age in India will be 29 years, very likely of a city-dweller, making it the youngest country in the world. It is a first attempt to pull together a data and knowledge base on and of youth in urban India. The focus of the Report is youth employment and youth livelihoods in urban India. Through a threecity survey the Report incorporates a youth perspective on the situation of urban youth that is revealed by data and literature.
While India is undergoing a demographic transition, regional disparities in education mean the benefits will not be evenly spread across the country. The report says the southern and western States will be the first to experience a growth dividend as they accounted for 63 per cent of all formally trained people. The largest share of youth with formal skills was found in Kerala, followed by Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. Among those undergoing training, Maharashtra had the highest share, Bihar the lowest. The unequal access to opportunity and the lack of emphasis on education remains a persistent problem. The report finds that a person in an urban area has a 93 per cent greater chance of acquiring training than someone in a rural area. The advantage of schooling is unbounded as a person with a high school degree has a 300 per cent greater chance of acquiring training than an illiterate person. GOI launches high tech network for effective implementation of core programmes
The report traces the incredible rise - and the eventual decline - of this cohort in India. The population in the age-group of 15-34 increased from 353 million in 2001 to 430 million in 2011. Current predictions suggest a steady increase in the youth population to 464 million by 2021 and finally a decline to 458 million by 2026.
By 2020, India is set to become the world's youngest country with 64 per cent of its population in the working age group. With the West, Japan and even China aging, this demographic potential offers India and its growing economy an unprecedented edge that economists believe could add a significant 2 per cent to the GDP growth rate. A closer analysis of the urban youth suggests that greater political participation, engagement at a policy level and urgent attention to improving their quality of life can ensure that India enjoys the benefits of this dividend. But the report suggests urban spaces have not necessarily aided the quality of life enjoyed by Indian youth. A telling sign: one-fifth of the Indian urban population lives on less than a dollar a day. Additionally, the report finds that while income levels in cities may appear to be higher, the cost of living is also constantly increasing, resulting in shrinking savings, inadequate access to health care and lack of quality education. Maternal mortality remains the 'top cause of death among young women.' Further, more than half of young urban women are anaemic, pointing to inadequate food and nutrition. The report's findings indicate that the problem is not urbanisation per se but the inequalities that it seems to accentuate.
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The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, today launched the India Backbone Implementation Network (IBIN). The purpose of IBIN is to improve implementation of policies, programs, and projects, which the 12th Five Year Plan has located as the critical necessity for accelerating more inclusive and faster growth. An analysis of projects and schemes has revealed that the major causes of bottlenecks in implementation are contention amongst stakeholders, and poor coordination amongst agencies. These bottlenecks are at many levels in the system, at the center, in the states, and in districts and cities too. They cannot be relieved top down by the Planning Commission. They require collaborative action by stakeholders and agencies at multiple points. IBIN has been modeled on the very successful Total Quality Movement in Japan which in the 1960s and 70s transformed the capability of Japanese organizations in the private and public sectors to deliver results. The TQM movement provided to teams within organizations, and to inter-organization teams, techniques and tools with which they could make rapid improvements of processes thereby
transforming Japan into the hallmark of quality internationally. The Planning Commission has studied best practices for coordination and implementation in other countries also, such as Korea, Malaysia, Brazil, and Germany. The IBIN movement will disseminate techniques and skills for collaboration, coordination, and better
planning through a network of agencies in the country. The partners in the expanding network already include more than two dozen institutions such as the Administrative Staff College of India, the Indian School of Business, SEWA, WISCOMP, UNDP, GIZ, the World Bank, FISME and other business associations.
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INTERNATIONAL
UNICEF report on nutrition The UNICEF report, 'Improving Child Nutrition: The achievable imperative for global progress' shows that progress has been made in recent years in addressing stunting in children, and calls for increased efforts to accelerate a response to a condition that affects some 165 million children across the world. integrated nutrition with other programmes. It also focused on the most disadvantaged children and women and decentralized government structures. Ethiopia cut stunting from 57 per cent to 44 per cent and under-5 mortality from 139 deaths per 1,000 live births to 77 per 1,000 between 2000 and 2011. Key steps included a national nutrition programme, providing a safety net in the poorest areas and boosting nutrition assistance through communities. The report says that existing solutions and the work of new partnerships represent an unprecedented opportunity to address child undernutrition through countries accelerating progress through national projects coordinated with donor support and measurable targets. UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2013: Report
One in four of all children less than five years of age is stunted because of chronic under-nutrition in crucial periods of growth. The damage done to a child's body and brain by stunting is irreversible. It drags down performance at school and later at work, and puts children at a higher risk of dying from infectious diseases. Thus a key to success against stunting is focusing attention on pregnancy and the first two years of a child's life. An estimated 80 per cent of the world's stunted children live in just 14 countries. The report highlights successes in scaling up nutrition and improving policies in 11 countries: Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Nepal, Peru, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan, the United Republic of Tanzania and Viet Nam. Stunting is reduced through a series of simple and proven steps such as improving women's nutrition, early and exclusive breastfeeding, providing additional vitamins and minerals as well as appropriate food - especially in pregnancy and the first two years of a child's life. Some examples: In the Maharashtra state in India, the percentage of stunted children dropped from 39 per cent in 2005 to 23 per cent in 2012 largely because of support to frontline workers who focus on improving child nutrition. In Peru, stunting fell by a third between 2006 and 2011 following a Child Malnutrition Initiative that lobbied political candidates to sign a '5 by 5 by 5' commitment to reduce stunting in children under 5 by 5 per cent in 5 years and to lessen inequities between urban and rural areas. Peru drew on its experience of successful smaller projects and
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The report, the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2013: Forward-looking macroeconomic policies for inclusive and sustainable development stated that the growth in Asia-Pacific will remain subdued due to the impact of persistent weaknesses and uncertainties in the developed economies, thus urged Governments to implement macroeconomic policies that focus more on inclusivity and sustainable development. It has projected a recovery of sorts in India's growth to 6.4 per cent in 2013-14 from the previous year's low of 5 per cent, even as China's growth trajectory is estimated to post a moderate increase from 7.8 per cent in 2012 to 8 per cent. The mild optimism in growth outlook, expressed in ESCAP's 2013 Survey, stems from the
expected improvement in global demand arising from steady growth in the United States and the limited rebound in major emerging economies which is projected to help raise the developing Asia-Pacific region's growth to 6 per cent in 2013 from 5.6 per cent last year. According to other figures in the Survey, oil and gas exporting North and Central Asia will continue to benefit from high global energy prices, maintaining steady growth. In South and South-West Asia, the economies of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka are projected to grow 6 per cent or more in 2013. The export-led economies in East and North-East Asia as well as South-East Asia are expected to gain from "improved, although still tepid, global trade."
Kuwait has already announced that it would cut down and send away 1,00,000 expat workers who are considered marginal in order to replace them with local labour. US House of Representatives passes CISPA cybersecurity bill
In Indonesia, ESCAP noted that domestic demand will drive the economy to a growth rate of 6.6 per cent. Strong private consumption will support growth in the Philippines at 6.2 per cent and 5.3 per cent in Thailand, while Viet Nam's economy is expected to pick up in the second half of 2013 to 5.5 per cent. Meanwhile, growth is expected to decelerate in Pacific island developing economies in 2013 due to a sharp, energy sector-led slowdown in Papua New Guinea, the largest Pacific island economy.
According to the Survey long-term structural issues, such as rising inequality, energy and infrastructure shortages are compounding the regional slowdown and the structural solution to invigorating the domestic drivers of growth will lie in making the development process more inclusive and sustainable. New law to regulate foreign labour in Gulf
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will soon pass a law regulating foreign labour in its member countries, amid concerns in India and other nations over a similar law passed by Saudi Arabia that seeks to reserve jobs for locals. The new law being mulled by the GCC would include returning 'marginal' and unskilled foreign workers to their home countries. The GCC is a six-member group with Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) as its members. The council will also attempt to eliminate workers who claim skills that they do not possess.
The new regulation would minimise unused labour who had no clear contracts with employers.
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About the Bill
The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) is a proposed law in the United States which would allow for the sharing of Internet traffic information between the U.S. government and technology and manufacturing companies. The stated aim of the bill is to help the U.S government investigate cyber threats and ensure the security of networks against cyberattacks. The legislation was introduced on November 30, 2011 by U.S. Representative Michael Rogers (. It was passed in the House of Representatives on April 26, 2012, but was not passed by the U.S. Senate. President Obama's advisers have argued that the bill lacks confidentiality and civil liberties safeguards and they advised him to veto it. In February 2013 the House reintroduced the bill and passed it on April 18, 2013. Companies like Mozilla and Reddit, along with advocacy organizations ACLU and EFF warn about CISPA being used as a pre-text for corporations to share private information about their users with the government. This would put the privacy of users at risk.
CISPA is an amendment to the National Security Act of 1947, which does not currently contain provisions pertaining to cybercrime. It adds provisions to the Act describing cyber threat intelligence as "information in the possession of an element of the intelligence community directly pertaining to a vulnerability of, or threat to, a system or network of a government or private entity, including information pertaining to the protection of a system or network from either 'efforts to degrade, disrupt, or destroy such system or network'; or 'theft or misappropriation of private or government information, intellectual property, or personally identifiable information.'" In addition, CISPA requires the Director of National Intelligence to establish procedures to allow intelligence community elements to share cyber threat intelligence with private-sector entities and encourage the sharing of such intelligence.
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Falkland vote to stay under British rule
Residents of the Falkland Islands voted almost unanimously to stay under British rule in a referendum aimed at winning global sympathy as Argentina intensifies its sovereignty claim. The official count showed 99.8 per cent of islanders voted in favour of remaining a British Overseas Territory in the two-day referendum, which was rejected by Argentina as a meaningless publicity stunt. Only three "no" votes were cast.
Three decades since Argentina and Britain went to war over the far-flung South Atlantic archipelago, residents have been perturbed by Argentina's increasingly vocal claim over the Malvinas - as the islands are called in Spanish. Local politicians hope the resounding "yes" vote will help them lobby international support, for example in the US, which has a neutral position on the sovereignty issue. Argentina has claimed the islands since 1833, saying it inherited them from the Spanish on independence and that Britain expelled an Argentine population.
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ECONOMY
GOI announces host of incentives to boost declining exports Faced with declining exports, the government has announced a slew of measures including extension of the popular EPCG scheme to all sectors and sops for Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to boost shipments. The initiatives announced by Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma as part of the annual supplement to the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) are aimed at pushing exports which declined by 1.76 per cent to USD 300.6 billion during 2012-13 and pushed up the trade deficit to USD 190.91 billion. The incentives are: g) Handicrafts, Handlooms, Carpets, Readymade Garments, Processed Agricultural Products, Sports Goods and Toys. The scheme had been further widened to include 134 sub-sectors of engineering sector. Government had also announced that the benefit of this scheme of 2% interest subvention could be available upto 31.03.2014.
a) The Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme, which allows exporters to import capital goods at zero duty, would be extended beyond March 2013 and would be applicable to all sectors.
b) Under the SEZ scheme the minimum land area requirement for setting up such zones has been reduced to half and there would be no ceiling for IT and ITeS SEZs. For Multi-product SEZ from 1000 hectares to 500 hectares and for Sectorspecific SEZ from existing 100 hectares to 50 hectares. c)
To provide greater flexibility in utilizing land tracts falling between 50-450 hectares, it has been decided to introduce a Graded Scale for Minimum Land Criteria which would permit a SEZ an additional sector for each contiguous 50 hectare parcel of land. This will also bring about more efficient use of the infrastructure facilities created in such an SEZ.
d) On exit policy for the SEZs, it has been decided to allow transfer of ownership and sale of SEZs units. e) The government will set up the 2nd Task Force to suggest measures for reducing transaction costs and added it will submit its report in six months. At present, 2% interest subvention scheme is available to certain specific sectors like
f)
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Duty Credit Scrips issued under Focus Market Schemes, Focus Product Scheme and Vishesh Krishi Gramin Udyog Yojana (VKGUY) can be used for payment of service tax on procurement of services within the legal framework of service tax exemption notifications under the Finance Act, 1994. Holder of the scrip shall be entitled to avail drawback or CENVAT credit of the service tax debited in the scrips as per Department of Revenue rules. h) Norway has been added under Focus Market Scheme and Venezuela has been added under Special Focus Market Scheme. The total number of countries under Focus Market Scheme and Special Focus Market Scheme becomes 125 and 50 respectively. i) Approximately, 126 new products have been added under Focus Product Scheme. These products include items from engineering, electronics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and textiles sector. j) About 47 new products have been added under Market Linked Focus Product Scheme (MLFPS). These products are from engineering, auto components and textiles sector. 2 new countries i.e., Brunei and Yemen have been added as new markets under MLFPS. k) System for online issuance of Registration Certificate for export of Cotton, Cotton Yarn, Non-Basmati Rice, Wheat and Sugar has been introduced. This will allow quick issuance of Registration Certificates and easy monitoring. GOI planning to set up Telecom Security Directorate to tackle threat from Chinese equipment
In response to the perception within the intelligence and defence community of the growing threat to national security from imported Chinese
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telecom equipment, the Centre is planning to set up a 'Telecom Security Directorate.' This is part of the government's broader strategy to set up an institutional framework of technical manpower to handle telecom security-related issues linked to the use of telecom gear manufactured by Chinese giants Huawei and ZTE. The Department of Telecommunications is also setting up the Centralised Monitoring System (CMS) for lawful interception and monitoring of telephone and Internet services, besides establishing the Centre for Telecom Equipment and Security Certification, for which a pilot laboratory has been set up at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc)-Bangalore that will carry out R&D activities to develop test tools. Earlier the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the U.S. Congress on 'issues posed by Chinese telecom companies Huawei and ZTE' reported that "Huawei could not establish beyond doubt that it is not a company functioning under the direct control of the Chinese army and [that its] decision making is not influenced by the same." Indian intelligence agencies have highlighted other crucial elements in the U.S. Committee report, which has asked for "a detailed accounting of foreign made hardware/software on the service provider's network along with the information related to security incidence such as discovery of unauthorised electronic hardware or suspicious equipment capable of duplication for redirecting data." Chinese telecom equipment are banned from deployment in "sensitive regions" that are "defined as States having international borders with China, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan," whereas, DoT was yet to carry out a systematic study to gauge the threat being posed by imported telecom gear, a majority of which comes from China. Duet to lack of resources the DoT's R&D spending on security programmes, which was just Rs. 67 crore in entire 11th Plan period (2007-12). However, in the 12th Plan period (2013-18) Rs. 550 crore has been proposed for security projects due to increasing threat from imported equipments. While Rs. 300 crore would be spent on operation and maintenance of security projects like the Centralised Monitoring System, Rs.100 crore would be given for setting up the Centre for Telecom Equipment Testing and Security Certification. The CMS would have a central and regional database which would help Central and State-level law enforcement agencies in interception, monitoring and call data analysis.
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FinMin instructed government banks to reduce NPA
The Finance Ministry has asked all public sector banks to reduce their bad loans, or non-performing assets, to one per cent of their total advances by the end of the current financial year (March 31, 2014). With the economy registering the lowest growth in a decade, public sector banks have seen their NPAs go up significantly. According to data collected for a meeting between Finance Ministry and public sector bank officials last month, bad loans with respect to the priority sector, which include agriculture and medium and small enterprises, had gone up during the quarter ended December 31 vis-vis the previous quarter. Interestingly, however, the NPA position in relation to retail and real estate loans improved during the period. The gross NPAs of public sector banks rose to 4.18 per cent of advances by the end of December 2012, compared to 3.22 per cent a year ago. Net NPAs, which are arrived at after making provisions from the gross amount, has increased to 2.12 per cent in December 2012. In absolute term, gross NPA of PSU banks jumped to Rs 1,84,193 crore in December 2012 compared to Rs 1,37,102 crore in March 2012, an increase of Rs 47,091 crore in the nine months period. The gross NPA in corporate lending rose to Rs 98,884 crore in December, as against Rs 68,221 crore in March. In the case of farm loans, the gross NPA rose to Rs 30,800 crore in December as against Rs 24,827 crore in March. Another highlight is that the top 30 nonperforming accounts made up close to half (around 44 per cent) the bad loans of the 19 nationalised banks. While for the SBI group, this was around 19.3 per cent, for public sector banks as a whole they were around 34 per cent. Banks have been advised to adopt a multipronged strategy for loan recovery. The multipronged strategy includes constitution of a boardlevel committee for monitoring recovery, review of NPA accounts of Rs 1 crore and above by the board of directors, and the top 300 NPA accounts by the management committee of the boards, and guidelines for NPA management as part of an earlywarning system. Apart from restructuring, banks have been advised to initiate penal measures against wilful defaulters. These include not granting them additional facilities and debarring the entrepreneurs/promoters of defaulting companies
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from getting institutional finance for floating new ventures for a period of five years. Banks have also been asked to lodge a formal complaint against the auditors of the borrowers with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, if it is observed that there was negligence or deficiency in the conduct of audit. NPAs are a debt obligation where the borrower has not paid any previously agreed upon interest and principal repayments to the designated lender for an extended period of time. The nonperforming asset is therefore not yielding any income to the lender in the form of principal and interest payments. Airlines may get direct subsidy for small towns
What are RDGs? According to Route Dispersal Guidelines formulated in 1994 by DGCA, all routes were divided into three categories viz. Category - I, II and III. Route categorization was based on traditionally surplus generating routes (Category - I), loss making routes (Category - II) and the remaining routes (Category - III). The Category I routes were largely inter-metro routes and generated surplus that cross subsidized losses largely on Category - II routes that served regions of difficult terrain and destination in remote areas. Category - II routes included routes connecting airports in North-Eastern region, Jammu and Kashmir, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep. Category - III routes were routes other than those included in Category - I and Category - II. The guidelines also mandated a category within Category - II, referred to as Category - IIA region, Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep. It was obligatory on the part of scheduled airlines to deploy on Category - II, IIA and III routes, a specified percentage of capacity deployed in Category - I routes as per the following: On Category - II routes, at least 10% of the capacity deployed on routes in Category - I.
In a bid to boost regional connectivity from 89 small towns that either have small airports or airstrips, the aviation ministry is planning to give upfront subsidies to airlines to put them on their networks. For this, the existing route dispersal guidelines (RDG) that mandate that airlines fly a certain percentage of their flights to the northeast, Kashmir and some other areas may be phased out in the next two to three years. The ministry has decided not to force airlines but 'nudge' them to provide regional connectivity through this route. As a result, it will not be made mandatory for airlines to have small turboprops but the subsidy for flying to small town India will automatically make it lucrative for airlines to have the right fleet to do so. Facilities such as:
a) More land to develop, modernize or operationalize an airport will be given free of cost by the state; b) States will lower taxes on jet fuel, c) States will not charge property tax and ensure all infrastructure at the airports.
d) The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will not to charge navigation charges from these airports, etc. will be given to the airlines to increase air connectivity among small towns in India. The existing RDGs could be abolished. Some airports that airlines are supposed to mandatorily fly to under those rules like Guwahati, Bagdogra and state capitals have already become viable for airlines.
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i)
ii) On Category - IIA routes, at least 10% of the capacity deployed on routes in Category - II. iii) On Category - III routes, at least 50% of the capacity deployed on routes in Category - I. Adopt global gas pricing regime: Planning Commission
The Planning Commission has recommended switching to an international pricing formula for natural gas - which now works out to $14.5 per mBtu, almost three times more than the present price of $4.2 mBtu (per million British thermal unit) - by the beginning of the 13th Plan (2017-22). This is in line with the demand made by Reliance Industries Limited (RIL). The Planning Commission has also sought that coal bed methane (CBM) gas and the yet-to-be discovered shale gas be freed from any price control or approvals without any further delay. The Commission feels the Rangarajan panel's formula for natural gas price at $8.5 mBtu should be viewed as an interim or transitional solution valid up to the 12th Plan (March 31, 2017) and applicable for all existing contracts. Post the latter date, the Empowered Group of Ministers may review the
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price formula towards alignment with international prices. For the new contracts, which go into production after March 2017, the producer should be free to market gas to any domestic buyer at a market-determined price. Further the existing New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) contracts could be allowed to market 10 per cent of production freely to willing buyers, with the percentage increasing by 5 percentage points each year. On this basis, gas produced from the existing contracts would be 50 per cent free after 8 years. A mechanism for sharing risk in the event of excessively high or excessively low prices can be built into future contracts. The note further states that new NELP contracts (as well as those signed after the sixth NELP round) entered into from now onwards will begin commercial production only by the beginning of the 13th Plan. Thus they should be assured market-based pricing. If the government wishes to subsidise any particular use, it should do it from their profit share. The policy has faced strong opposition from the Fertilizer and Power Ministries as well as power producers who fear that switching to international pricing would lead to a massive hike in power tariffs and hefty rise in fertilizer prices and subsequently put a huge financial burden on the government in the form of fertilizer subsidy. Horticulture gets high priority in XII Plan
quality planting material through accredited nurseries and tissue culture units. Importance will be given for covering more area under vegetable hybrids and export-oriented varieties of crops such as ginger, turmeric and chillies. High density planting and tree canopy management of orchards, right from establishment stage, will be given focus to derive better yields. An integrated approach will be encouraged for taking up drip irrigation/mulching and other support systems required for cultivation of fruit and plantation crops. Rejuvenation of old and unproductive orchards will continue to be a focus area for enhancing productivity, profitability and sustainability. Major thrust will be on protected cultivation, particularly of high value crops, in green houses, shade net houses, plastic mulching, etc. Creation of infrastructure for post-harvest managements is another thrust area. Value addition will also continue to be a high priority area with focus on creating cold chain networks. Setting up of markets infrastructure will be linked with reforms in APMC Act, for permitting direct marketing of horticulture produce. Mobilization of farmers into producer groups/ organizations is another priority area aimed at strengthening their negotiating power, besides functioning as viable farmer groups involved in production and marketing of horticulture produce. For better implementation of various developmental programmes on horticulture, the existing schemes of NHM, HMNEH, NHB, Coconut Development Board, Central Institute of Horticulture and National Bamboo Mission are being subsumed in the NHM. These interventions will lead to productivity enhancement, availability of quality planting material of improved high yielding varieties, reducing post-harvest losses of perishable commodities, particularly fruits and vegetables, creation of effective supply chain good prices to the farmer and overall high growth of the horticulture sector.
Horticulture sector, which has shown high growth in the XI Plan, and yet more potential for growth, is being given special focus in the XII Plan.
Production and supply of quality planting material will continue to be a high priority area for horticulture development during the XII Plan. Emphasis will be laid on establishment of hi-tech nurseries of improved varieties, good quality rootstock banks and hi-tech green houses. Besides, States will be encouraged to set up crop-based Centre of Excellence to serve as a hub for supply of planting material and dissemination of technology to farmers. Area expansion under the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) will be linked to availability of
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INDIA AND THE WORLD

Indo-EU Policy Dialogue on Culture Indo-EU Policy Dialogue on Culture was cochaired by Smt. Sangita Gairola, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India and Mr. Jan Truszczynski, Director General, Education and Culture in the European Commission. The Policy Dialogue was set up under the Joint Declaration of the European Commission and the Government of India on Culture, issued on 10th December, 2010. A unique feature of this Ministerial was the Innovation Showcase Pavilion, hosted by the Government of India. The Pavilion featured 45 companies from around the world that are at the forefront of the clean energy revolution in technology sectors such as solar, smart and mini- grid, energy storage, lighting, electric vehicles, and energy efficiency and finance. The Super-efficient Appliance and Equipment Deployment (SEAD) initiative recognized the winners of the SEAD Global Efficiency Medal competition for most energy efficient flat-panel televisions. The global awards program encourages the production and sale of super-efficient equipment, appliances, and electronics. The winning models are 33 to 44 percent more energy efficient than TVs with similar technology. The competition is already spurring the adoption of increased energy efficient policies and standards that will help consumers and businesses save thousands of dollars on electricity. The sixteen governments participating in the SEAD initiative also announced the launch of the SEAD Global Efficiency Medal competition for electric motors. Electric motors, which are ubiquitous in everything from small appliances to large industrial equipment, account for a staggering 43% ofworld electricity consumption. Winners will be recognized at CEM5 in Korea. The Government of India announced the firstever database featuring national and state clean energy and energy efficiency policies and incentives in India. The Indian Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy Database (IREEED) will disseminate renewable energy and energy efficiency policies, regulations, and incentive programs for the benefit of project developers, businesses, and consumers. Developed through support from the Clean Energy Solutions Center, IREEED will be a featured resource on the site. The World Bank announced the launch of a South-South-North Knowledge Exchange (SSNKE) facility. The SSNKE Facility will enable the exchange of ideas and experiences in clean energy among the members of the CEM and will function within the 21st Century Power Partnership, a CEM initiative led by India and the United States. The SSNKE Facility will support learning networks and
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The Indo-EU Policy Dialogue on Culture interalia focused on the following -
a) Development and support for cultural and creative industries, including the Audio Visual (AV) Sector. b) Sharing of professional expertise on the preservation of cultural, natural and historical heritage, including conservation techniques. c)
Sharing of technical expertise and experiences of 'Europeana' for development of National Virtual Library.
The Policy Dialogue was very fruitful and some concrete suggestions were agreed to by both sides for exchange of expertise in areas of their strengths. World Energy Leaders Take Action on Clean Energy
India hosted the fourth Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM4) in New Delhi on 17-18 April 2013. The Clean Energy Ministerial is the annual forum for energy ministers from 23 major economy governments to come together and collaborate to drive accelerated clean energy market development, via 13 technology and policy-focused initiatives. The discussions focused on identifying smart policies, programs, and innovative strategies to increase energy efficiency, enhance clean energy supply, and expand energy access.
Since its launch in 2010, the CEM has leveraged a unique distributed leadership approach. Countries choose to participate in those initiatives that are of interest to them and important to their citizens. This approach is driving faster implementation and boosting the enthusiasm of each participating country in the various initiatives.
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Changes in H1B visas to affect Indian IT firms
A framework for comprehensive immigration reform proposed by a group of influential U.S. Senators has sent shockwaves through the Indian business community after it was revealed that it included measures to significantly hike the employer fees payable for H-1B visa applications and will put a curb on use of H-1B visa for those companies which have a higher ratio of work force under this category. Most of the Indian companies will fall under this classification. The 'Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernisation Act of 2013', aims at cracking down on abusers of the H-1B system by requiring the dependent employers to pay significantly higher wages and fees than normal users of the programme. If the employer has 50 or more employees, and more than 30 per cent but less than 50 per cent are H-1B or L-1 employees (who do not have a green card petition pending), the employer will need to pay a USD 5,000 fee per additional worker in either of these two statuses. In case the employer has 50 or more employees and more than 50 per cent of these workers are H1B or L-1 employees who do not have a green card petition pending, then the companies will have to
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communities of practice, study tours and field visits, policy dialogues, peer-to-peer interactions, and formal training programs. Some of these activities will be piloted during 2013-2014. The World Bank sees the Facility as an important instrument to bring policy-makers, private sector and civil society actors together in sharing and learning from each other. The government of India announced that it has joined the Electric Vehicle Initiative. The government of the United Kingdom announced it will join the Global Lighting and Energy Access Partnership (Global LEAP) initiative. Global LEAP also announced the launch of a new competition that will help transform the global market for products designed for use in an off-grid context (i.e., with home-scale power systems) by recognizing the most efficient, high-quality and affordable DC-powered appliances. The Global LEAP Outstanding Off-Grid Product Awards competition builds on the success of the IFC`s Lighting Global programawards for integrated solar lanterns and the first rounds of competition will be for DC-powered LED lighting and color televisions. Looking ahead, the Government of Mexico announced that it will host the sixth Clean Energy Ministerial in Mexico City in 2015.
pay a USD 10,000 fee per additional worker in either of these two statuses. As such, large Indian IT companies like TCS, Wipro and Infosys will have to pay USD 10,000 for each additional H-1B employee they would be hiring. Such a thing will not be for companies like IBM, Intel or Microsoft who are based in the US and majority of their employee are American nationals. In case of companies like TCS, Wipro and Infosys, which are headquartered in India having large off-site offices back home and depend on a small strength in the US, will be affected by such a provision. The bill proposes that in the fiscal year 2014, companies will be banned from bringing in any additional workers if more than 75 per cent of their workers are H-1B or L-1 employees. This provision is in accordance with the US plan to crack down on use of H-1B and L visas to outsource American jobs by prohibiting companies, whose US workforce largely consists of foreign guest workers, from obtaining additional H-1B and L visas. Under the bill, the Secretary of Labour must establish a searchable website for posting H1B positions. The site must be operational and online within 90 days of the passage of the new law. It requires employers to post a detailed job opening on the Department of Labour's website for at least 30 calendar days before hiring an H1B applicant to fill that position. The bill also restrains employers from recruiting or giving preference to H-1B or OPT workers over American workers. It also proposes to establish significant new authorities and penalties to prevent, detect, and deter fraud and abuse of the H-1B and L-1 visa systems by fraudulent employers. However on the positive side, the reform outline demarcates steps for undocumented immigrants residing within the U.S. on or before December 31, 2011, to apply for "legalisation," if they meet a number of eligibility criteria. Extrapolating from Department of Homeland Security estimates, 240,000 out of the nearly 11.5 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. are from India. India tops global remittances list
According to the latest edition of the World Bank's Migration and Development Brief, officially recorded remittance flows to developing countries grew by 5.3 per cent to reach an estimated USD 401 billion in 2012.
India topped the list of countries receiving remittances, followed by China (USD60 billion), the Philippines (USD24 billion), Mexico (USD23 billion) and Nigeria and Egypt (USD21 billion each). Other large recipients include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Lebanon. Remittances to developing countries are expected to grow by an annual average of 8.8 per cent for the next three years and are forecast to reach USD 515 billion in 2015. Migration and remittances offer a vital lifeline for millions of people and can play a major role in an economy's take-off. The World Bank has also established the Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development (KNOMAD), envisioned becoming a global hub of knowledge and policy expertise on migration issues. KNOMAD was initiated in response to the rapid growth in migration and remittances over the last decade. Nearly one billion people - that is, one out of every seven persons on the planet - have migrated internally and across international borders in search of better opportunities and living conditions, with profound implications for development. Established with the support of Switzerland and Germany, KNOMAD aims to generate and synthesize knowledge on migration issues for countries; generate a menu of policy choices based on multidisciplinary knowledge and evidence; and provide technical assistance and capacity building to sending and receiving countries for the implementation of pilot projects, evaluation of migration policies, and data collection. The program will focus on a number of key thematic areas: improving data on migration and remittance flows; skilled and low-skilled labor migration; integration issues in host communities; policy and institutional coherence; migration, security and development; migrant rights and social aspects of migration; demographic changes and migration; remittances, including access to finance and capital markets; mobilizing diaspora resources; environmental change and migration; and internal
migration and urbanization. It will also address several cross-cutting themes, such as gender, monitoring and evaluation, capacity building, and public perceptions and communication. India, Tajikistan bilateral meet
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India and Tajikistan discussed mutual cooperation on security issues and countering crossborder terrorism during a "very productive meeting" here between visiting Vice President Hamid Ansari and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. India and Tajikistan agreed to elevate their strategic partnership to a new level by expanding cooperation in several key areas, including Information Technology (IT), energy, health, education, trade and commerce, mining and agriculture. Tajikistan President stressed the need for a joint consultative effort before the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan next year.. He urged India to work for the economic rehabilitation of Afghanistan's people. As part of "Connect Central Asia Policy", India had begun the process of setting up a Central Asia e-Network, with its hub in New Delhi and spokes in the five Central Asian capitals. Plans were also under way to establish a Central Asian University. Further India sought Tajik help in gaining expertise on better management of cotton crop, it also agreed to set up an Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Tajikistan. Tajikistan has a porous 1400-km long border with Afghanistan which it finds difficult to manage. It also shares a border with Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China and a strip of its border is in proximity to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). It can play an important role in maintaining peace along the Afghanistan border and fighting jihadis, drug traffickers and Taliban elements. The infiltration of extremist forces into Tajikistan can have serious security implications for India also because of its proximity to PoK. India has assisted Tajikistan in becoming the 159th member of the World Trade Organisation.
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High Level Working Group Report on Western Ghats The Western Ghats is a biological treasure trove that is endangered, and it needs to be "protected and regenerated, indeed celebrated for its enormous wealth of endemic species and natural beauty" - says the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest's High Level Working Group which has submitted report on the Western Ghats to Ms. Jayanthi Natarajan, Minister of State (IC) for Environment & Forests. Ghats. Its conclusion, based on this methodology, is that roughly 37 per cent of the total area defined as the boundary of the Western Ghats is ecologically sensitive. Over this area of some 60,000 sq km, spread over the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the HLWG has recommended a blanket ban on mining, quarrying, sand mining, setting up thermal power projects, townships and area development projects in the 60,000 sq km area. The Working Group makes a range of recommendations to "incentivize green growth in the Western Ghats". These include managing forests and improving their productivity to ensure inclusive growth and economic benefits for local communities; integrating forest accounts into state and national economic assessments; initiating an ecosystem service fund to help villages around the forests; promoting sustainable agriculture and; encouraging ecotourism for local benefits. As part of the governance of ecologically sensitive areas, the Working Group has proposed to set up a Decision Support and Monitoring Centre for Geospatial Analysis and Policy Support in the Western Ghats, which will monitor changes and advise state government on policy reform. But it has made it clear that all these reports must be in the public domain. It has also recommended that the highresolution map, which demarcates ecologically sensitive areas, down to each village settlement, must be put in the public domain so that people can be involved in taking decisions about environment, which is first and foremost their concern. Lab-made kidney holds out hope
The Working Group headed by Dr. K. Kasturirangan was constituted to advise the Government on the recommendations of an earlier report - that of the eminent ecologist Madhav Gadgilled Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP). The WGEEP had recommended that the entire Western Ghats should be declared as an ecologically sensitive area; had suggested three levels of categorization where regulatory measures for protection would be imposed and had recommended the establishment of the Western Ghats Ecology Authority for management. The HLWG report draws upon the basic framework suggested by WGEEP to use remote sensing technologies to demarcate the ecologically sensitive areas of the Western Ghats but with two key differences. First; it used satellite data, down to 24 m resolution, as against 9 km used by WGEEP. This finer resolution, was possible because of the collaboration with NRSC/ISRO, which used datasets to distinguish vegetation types over the landscape of the entire Western Ghats. Second, it distinguishes between the cultural and the natural landscape of the region. Using remote sensing technology, it has found that the cultural landscape - which includes human settlements, agricultural fields and plantations -- covers 58.44 per cent of the region. The natural landscape ranges over the remaining 41.56 per cent. The methodology adopted by NRSC/ISRO has then combined spatial information generated on vegetation types with species level information; biological richness and disturbance regimes - to identify the biologically diverse and contiguous regions of the Western
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Researchers in the United States had bioengineered a kidney and transplanted it into rats, marking a step forward in a quest to help patients suffering from kidney failure. The prototype proves that a "bio-kidney" can work, emulating breakthroughs elsewhere to build replacement structures for livers, hearts and lungs. The work entailed taking a rat kidney and stripping out its living cells using a detergent solution, leaving behind a shell made of collagen.
The next step was to repopulate this empty structure with living cells, comprising human endothelial cells, which line the walls of blood vessels in the kidney, and kidney cells taken from newborn rats. The trick was then to "seed" these cells in the correct part of the kidney, using a muscle duct called the ureter as a tube. The team transplanted the organ into living rats from which a kidney had been removed. The new kidney started filtering blood and producing urine through the ureter as soon as the bloody supply was restored, and there was no evidence of bleeding or clots. Antarctic summer ice melting ten times faster
The research is only the second reconstruction of past ice melts on the Antarctic continent. It helped scientists gain more accurate projections about direct and indirect contribution of Antarctica's ice shelves and glaciers to global sea level rise. Russia launches bio-satellite
Russia has launched an 'orbital Noah's Ark' to space - a bio-satellite packed with an array of 45 mice, eight Mongolian gerbils, 15 geckos, snails, fish eggs, micro-organisms and plants blasted off aboard the modernized Soyuz 2 rocket from the Baikonur launch pad in Kazakhstan to study the effects of long flights on living organisms. The bio capsule carried by the powerful Soyuz 2 rocket is the world's only returnable satellite. Bion-M1 scheduled to orbit space for 30 days will conduct various physiological, biological and genetic experiments regarding the future possibility of flights to Mars and other planets. The bacteria and fungi were attached to a heat resistant material with tiny holes on the outer skin of the capsule. The microbes will be subjected to extreme temperatures and space vacuum. The satellite is also carrying smaller satellites from US, Germany, Korea which will be released in the coming days for their respective missions. BION-M1's advanced solar panels, larger fuel tanks and better life support techniques allows it to survive in space for three months. The biological satellite is slated to return earth on 18 May following the completion of 70 experiments. BION-M1 is Russia second biological satellite to be sent to space after a gap of 15 years.
A joint Australian-British study has showed that summer ice in the Antarctic is melting 10 times quicker than it was 600 years ago, with the most rapid melt occurring in the last 50 years. A research team from the Australian National University and the British Antarctic Survey drilled a 364-metre long ice core from James Ross Island in the continent's north to measure past temperatures. Visible layers in the ice core indicated periods when summer snow on the ice cap thawed and then refroze. By measuring the thickness of these melt layers; the scientists were able to examine how the history of melting compared with changes in temperature at the ice core site over the last 1,000 years. Scientists have found that the coolest conditions on the Antarctic Peninsula and the lowest amount of summer melt occurred around 600 years ago. At that time, temperatures were around 1.6 Celsius lower than those recorded in the late 20th century and the amount of annual snowfall that melted and refroze was about 0.5 per cent. Today, 10 times of the annual snowfall is melting each year.
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2 - MARKERS
Maduro sworn in as Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has been sworn in as Venezuelan president, succeeding the late Hugo Chavez who died of cancer in March after governing for 14 years. He has defeated Henrique Capriles with just 1.5% of the vote separating the two candidates. Capriles immediately demanded a recount, refusing to recognize the outcome as valid. Maduro was later formally inaugurated as President on 19 April, after the election commission had promised a full audit of the election results Armed women security squads introduced Bihar Cabinet nod for quota for women in police The Bihar Cabinet has passed a proposal of the Home Department to grant 35 per cent reservation for women in recruitment of constables and subinspectors in reserved and as well as unreserved categories. Pulitzer Prize
To ensure women's safety in the state, the Punjab government has introduced the Women Armed Special Protection Squad (WASPS). The new WASPS unit will serve six districts of Bathinda zone in southwest Punjab. These include Muktsar Sahib, Bathinda, Faridkot, Mansa, Ferozepur and Fazilka districts. 10 teams of WASPS would be deployed in every district. The women squad would have a uniform, revolvers, handcuffs, batons, chilli powder, wireless systems and a complete sound system to send an alert. WASPS would deployed near educational institutions, markets and other busy places. Single-window for film producers
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has set up an inter-ministerial committee for promoting and facilitating film production. It would serve as a 'single-window' for clearance for filmmakers who would otherwise have to seek permission from as many as 30 different agencies to shoot feature films, short films and television programmes. The committee would be chaired by the secretary in the I&B Ministry and include joint-secretary level officers from the Ministries of Home, Tourism, External Affairs, Culture, Railways, Civil Aviation and Defence. The committee's mandate would be two-fold: facilitate granting of permission for both foreign and domestic producers from relevant authorities of the Central and State governments; and meet regularly to 'monitor' the facilitation process and issue directions to the authorities concerned.
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The New York Times newspaper has won four Pulitzer Prizes for journalism, including a story that exposed corruption in high levels of China's government. The newspaper also won prizes for reporting on the business practices of Apple and Wal-Mart and an avalanche in Washington State. The Denver Post won in the breaking news category for its coverage of the mass shooting in a movie theater last year in Aurora, Colorado. In addition to 14 journalism categories, Pulitzer Prizes are also given in seven arts categories. The fiction prize went to a novel set in North Korea, Adam Johnson's The Orphan Master's Son. The novel was one of several works with Asian themes to win Pulitzers in the arts categories. The drama prize went to Ayad Akhtar's Disgraced, about a successful Pakistani-American lawyer and the history prize went to Fredrik Logevall's Embers of War: The Fall of an Empire and the Making of America's Vietnam. Caroline Shaw won the music award, for her a cappella work Partita for 8 Voices. Prizes were also awarded in the categories of biography, poetry and general non-fiction. Pulitzer Prizes, named for newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer, have been awarded annually since 1917. The prizes are awarded by New York's Columbia University and each winner receives $10,000. Goldman Environmental Prize
The Goldman Environmental Prize, the most prestigious award for grassroots environmental work, has been awarded in San Francisco to six activists who struggled against the odds to protect the world ecosystem. The prize honors grass-roots
leaders from Africa, Asia, Europe, islands and island nations, North America, as well as South and Central America. Each winner receives $150,000. The winners are: a) Kimberly Wasserman of USA battle to shut down two coal power plants, that were sickening her community. b) Azzam Alwash helped in restoring the Mesopotamian marshlands that had been turned into dust bowls by Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who was executed in 2006. c) Aleta Baun, a mother from West Timor, Indonesia, led hundreds of village women in a four-year-long "weaving occupation." Sitting on rocks at mining sites, they weaved their traditional cloth to protest marble-mining operations, which threatened their territory and way of life.
He has also contributed profusely to children's literature. Paakudu Raallu, a graphic account of life behind the screen in film industry, is considered his magnum opus. Jeevana Samaram is another of his popular works. He was earlier chosen for Lok Nayak Foundation's Literary Award in 2009 and he was the first recipient of the Raja-Lakshmi Literary Award by Sri RajaLakshmi Foundation in the year 1987. EC to launch new voter identity card
d) Jonathan Deal helped protect the Karoo, a semidesert region in South Africa. e) Rossano Ercolini, a fourth-grade teacher in Italy, helped raise the recycling rate in his small town of Capannori from 11% to 82%. Dozens of other municipalities have joined Capannori in adopting a goal of zero waste.
f)
Nohra Padilla organized recyclers, pejoratively called "waste pickers," into unions despite political opponents and a culture of violence. She won a court ruling that prohibits waste management contracts that do not provide job opportunities for informal recyclers. Jnanpith Award
Telugu writer Ravuri Bharadwaja was selected for the prestigious Jnanpith award for the year 2012. He has written 37 collections of short stories, seventeen novels, four play-lets, and five radio plays.
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The laminated voter identity card made of paper with black and white photograph is all set to undergo a change with the Election Commission planning to replace it with a driving licence-like hard plastic card which is more durable. The new voter card will be first issued in Assam and Nagaland and it will be done free of cost there. Nearly 95 per cent of India's over 700 million voters are covered by EPIC except in Assam and Nagaland. However, the Commission will charge a fee, which will be less than Rs 50, from the voters holding the present EPIC to convert them into hard plastic cards. The choice to opt for the new version will be that of the voter. RBI to start plastic money project on trial basis
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to start the introduction of plastic notes on a trial basis, according to K. C. Chakrabarty, Deputy Governor, RBI. It would first start with notes of Rs.10 denomination and continue with other small denominations. Plastic notes are said to withstand more wearand-tear than their paper counterparts and have a longer life than the latter. The plastic notes will be more difficult to fake and could therefore be a means of countering counterfeiting.
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EDITORIALS
Food Security Bill is affordable The additional allocation in grain and money terms will neither distort the grain market nor place a burden on the fisc. Many recent commentators have portrayed the National Food Security Bill (NFSB) as an "unbearable burden" on the exchequer. The facts, however, do no substantiate the claim. The NFSB has been trashed from time to time in the English dailies. For instance, Business Line (March 21, 2013) published an article titled "Food Security Bill will torpedo Budget". Another national daily claims that the Bill has a "fundamental flaw" that places "an unbearable burden" and "distorts agriculture" (Indian Express, March 19, 2013). Quite often, the claims are partly due to a misconception that the government is making new financial and grain commitments under the NFSB. In fact, the NFSB does little more than turning into legal entitlements pre-existing food security schemes such as the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Scheme, Public Distribution System (PDS) and maternity entitlements. UNJUSTIFIED FEARS Thus, the NFSB implies an increase of just over Rs 30,000 crores in financial terms and 4 million tonnes in real (grain) terms. Can India afford this? Speaking at a panel discussion at IIT Delhi in February, Deputy Chairperson of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, said "it would be dishonest" to say that we cannot afford the Food Bill, and that the subsidies that we need to target are those enjoyed by the middle classes (e.g., fuel). Speaking at the same discussion, Amartya Sen made a pertinent point - that the reason why it is more difficult to reduce subsidies enjoyed by the middle classes (fuels such as LPG, petrol and diesel) is that the beneficiaries of those are more vocal than the rural poor or children under six who benefit from the food subsidies. DOUBLE STANDARDS This point is well illustrated by the events following last year's Budget. The Budget 2012-13 announced a 1 per cent excise duty on unbranded jewellery and doubled custom duty on gold to 4 per cent. Gold is the country's second biggest import, after crude oil. This burden on the current account deficit was an important reason for doubling the customs duty. Following this, the All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation and others initiated a strike which went on for 21 days. They argued that the industry, including the "large" number of people it employs, and buyers of gold, would suffer. A massive media campaign was launched, following which the Finance Minister withdrew the excise duty. According to the revenue foregone statement presented along with the Budget 2013-14, the revenue foregone from the gold and diamond industry for the previous financial year was Rs. 65,000 crore. Such tax breaks are often justified on the grounds of the employment potential of the gems and jewellery industry. According to Invest India, a website of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, "The sector provides employment to around 1.8 million people. In the next five years, the sector is expected to create additional employment for around 1.1 million people."
Some commentators have said that it is precisely the legal commitment that will lead to problems in the future - for example, the fear of the emergence of a government monopoly in the grain market. This fear is not borne out by the facts. Under the PDS, ICDS and MDM, the government currently allocates about 58 million tonnes of grain. To meet this commitment, the government currently procures about 30 per cent of grain. The NFSB commits 62 million tonnes, i.e., an additional 4 million tonnes. The Budget of 2013-14 allocates Rs. 31,000 crore for two children's food schemes - school meals and the ICDS which reaches children under six. The Budget allocation for the food subsidy in 2013-14 is Rs 90,000 crore. According to our estimates, the food subsidy will increase from Rs 80,000 crore (in 2012-13) to Rs 1,11,221 crore, under the NFSB.
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According to the National Sample Survey Organisation, 2009-10, the size of the Indian workforce is between 430-471 million persons. If the gems and jewellery industry employs 3 million people as per the Ministry's target, this would be 0.7 per cent of the workforce. An industry that employs less than one per cent of the Indian workforce is currently enjoying tax benefits amounting to Rs 65,000 crore (nearly 20 per cent of all revenue foregone). The Food Bill will benefit 67 per cent of the population at an additional cost of Rs 30,000 crore, yet it is said that it will "torpedo" the Budget. NOT ENOUGH If anything, the NFSB does not go far enough. The NFSB tabled in Parliament in December 2011 included special provisions for the destitute and other vulnerable groups (e.g., community kitchens and social security pensions). These have been discarded in the version cleared by Cabinet on March 19, 2013. In many rural areas, the Block is already too far to go to complain, yet for violations of rights under the NFSB, grievance redressal only begins at the District level. Viewed in this comparative perspective (for example, it is approximately 1 per cent of the GDP), few can question the affordability or desirability of the NFSB. In absolute terms it is not a small amount. One might argue whether such expenditure is worth it, given the "fact" that the programmes in its ambit, for example, the PDS, are "dysfunctional" (Indian Express, March 19, 2013). However, recent data from the National Sample Survey of 2004-05 and 2009-10 suggest that while the functioning of the PDS is far from perfect, we do need to update our "facts". In joint research with Jean Drze, we show that the implicit subsidy from the PDS eliminates 18 per cent (14 per cent) of the "poverty gap" - or the difference between the poverty line level of income and the median income (or monthly per capita consumption expenditure) of poor households - among poor rural (urban) households. Again, there are marked inter-State contrasts in Tamil Nadu the corresponding figure is 60 per cent and in Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh it is nearly 40 per cent. The real question then is not whether India can afford to have a right to food but as the Food Minister said in a recent interview, "Can we afford not to?" Source: Business Line Tensions in Korea PERIODICALLY, the barely contained hostility between North and South Korea breaks out in
renewed tension and threat. The Korean war of more than 60 years ago has never been brought to a formal conclusion, so technically the two parts of the divided Korean peninsula remain at war, with nothing more than an armistice agreement to restrain them. Every now and then armed incidents take place in the seas between the two countries, or along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) which is their land frontier, so a real risk of escalation and of more general hostilities can never be put to rest. When circumstances have permitted, efforts have been made to increase contact and cooperation, especially in economic activities. Thus, after much negotiation, limited crossings of the DMZ were permitted, to the great satisfaction of aging citizens of both sides who were thereby given an opportunity of renewing practically forgotten family bonds, albeit briefly and under watchful supervision. Such travails of divided populations will not be unfamiliar in India and Pakistan, but between these two countries a trickle of contact and communication has never been cut off in a manner comparable to what has occurred between the two Koreas. Since their parting of ways, North and South Korea have followed very different paths. Securely entrenched within the Western alliance, the South has chosen the course of political and economic liberalism, and has made a remarkable transition from a less developed country to one of the global economic leaders. In contrast, the North has consolidated itself as a one-party, centrally directed state whose autarkic economic management has held it back and made it the back marker in a rapidly growing part of Asia. This was not always so, for Korea's major mineral reserves are in the North and that is where the early industrial advance was concentrated, but that period of relative advantage is now hardly to be recalled. Economically laggard, the North has sought security through building up its military muscle. It has a vast conventional army, one of the largest anywhere, well-equipped to defend its part of the Korean peninsula. In the setting of the Cold War it enjoyed active military support from the Eastern bloc and though Russia has moved away, China remains the main bulwark of the North. China has never been ready to see a powerful external power established on its doorstep and prefers to give its support to a long-standing ally. Notwithstanding the fierce legacy of the Korean war, the current situation would be of only limited international concern were it not for the sustained, and ultimately successful, effort of North Korea to develop nuclear weapons. This is certainly a major achievement by a country otherwise struggling and
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dependent on neighbouring China for the food and fuel that it seems unable fully to provide for itself. On occasion, the North has tried to develop relations with foreign countries, but only on its own terms, and not at the cost of what it would consider even the remotest threat to its security interest. Nuclear weapons give it a sense of safety in a hostile environment and stave off the fear of attack from beyond its borders. These fears may be illusionary, for no other state is currently threatening the North, but they are nevertheless deeply felt and are at the core of the defence doctrine. To emphasise the seriousness of its military concerns, North Korea has invested heavily in developing its rocketry, and recent tests of longrange rockets have projected to the world that North Korea is not helpless against foreign aggression but can retaliate effectively even against the mightiest superpower. A parallel of sorts may be found in Pakistan, which is a notable collaborator of the North in advanced weaponry like rockets and gives priority to defence requirements above all else. Not surprisingly, ties between the North and Pakistan go deep and Pakistan's notorious AQ Khan network has been identified as a key source of the North Korean nuclear programme. The regional risks emanating from its military programme have been used more than once by the North to bear down on others and squeeze out concessions from them. In earlier days when the North was advancing towards but yet to cross the nuclear threshold, a real sense of alarm was invoked by its nuclear programme, for the Asian East and North-East has several well-developed industrialised countries capable of taking the same path, and it was feared that what happened in the North could set in motion a whole chain of proliferation along the Pacific littoral. It did not come to that, of course, and the major powers were able to combine to maintain nuclear restraint notwithstanding the actions of the North. Subsequent crises around Korea, despite occasional naval and other confrontations, did not have comparably unsettling effects on regional nuclear issues. The inexorable rearming of the North and its steady advance towards nuclear status did not keep Asia perpetually on tenterhooks and it began to seem that the situation was more or less contained ~ not put to rest, to be sure, but unlikely to flare up without warning. Until now. In the last few weeks, there has been a notable raising of political temperature and some threatening gestures from the North have triggered renewed alarm. It is not clear why this should be so, and the secretive regime of the North has given few clues. However, tests of long-range missiles with
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claimed intercontinental reach and the announcement that more tests are being planned have induced a flurry of diplomatic activity. The UN Secretary-General, himself Korean though from the South, has asked the North to desist from actions that could become uncontrollable, and he has been backed by a chorus of similar admonitions from major countries across the world. Many have the concern that there is a relatively new and untested leader in Pyongyang who may feel compelled to show his mettle and hence become unpredictable in his actions. The USA has reacted strongly and has been insistent that the situation must not be allowed to deteriorate, and that the North must be suitably curbed. Secretary of State Kerry has been crisscrossing the region to convey the message and to gain adherents for US policy. Most significantly, he appears to have obtained support from North Korea's historic patron, China. Even before Mr Kerry reached there, China had made a statement that conveyed guarded disapproval for the unsettling actions being threatened by the North. After his meetings with Chinese leaders Mr Kerry was able to indicate that the USA and China had taken a largely common approach to the situation. This will help defuse tension. It will also be a sobering development so far as the North is concerned, for it is a rare instance of China seeking to impose restraint on its actions. Source: The Statesman Making space for the tiger a reality Promoters of development projects in forest areas can be made to compensate by creating buffer zones around sanctuaries through minor modifications to the Forest Conservation Act guidelines The contentious issue of notifying buffer areas around tiger reserves came under sharp debate when the Supreme Court issued interim directions to stop tourism in core or Critical Tiger Habitats (CTHs) and notify buffer areas. However, after the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) filed comprehensive guidelines on tiger conservation and tourism on October 15, 2012, the Supreme Court permitted the reopening of tourism strictly in accordance with the guidelines. Visitation is now permissible in existing tourism zones subject to a maximum of 20 per cent of core areas being used. But the important issue of creating viable buffers around a core area lost focus even though the NTCA guidelines harp on its importance to sustain tiger populations. In most tiger reserves, core areas comprise notified sanctuaries and/or national parks, which
are to be managed as areas free of incompatible human activity. Reserved forests, deemed forests and other unencumbered government land with some vegetation immediately abutting the CTHs are to be notified as buffer areas, which can act as "shock absorbers" for core areas. Viable buffers While notifying such contiguous forests as buffer areas may be relatively easy, the real challenge is in creating viable buffers wherever private agricultural lands abut core areas. Merely notifying such areas as buffer or peripheral areas without any viable habitat, as is being done now, may not only fail to deliver the imagined benefits for tiger conservation but also lead to hostility and loss of support from the local community. Yet, acquiring large extent of private land abutting tiger reserves, to insulate the entire core area with a complete "wrap around" buffer that can support wildlife might be impractical. So is there a way forward to resolve this important issue? An innovative mechanism can be created within the current legal framework with some very minor modifications to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 Guidelines. This could greatly contribute to creating additional areas as viable forested buffers around tiger reserves. Presently, most development project promoters seeking diversion of forest land for a non-forestry purpose have to identify an equivalent area of nonforest land. This has to be transferred and mutated in favour of the forest department for declaration as reserved forest/Protected Forest (PF). The project must also deposit funds for taking up compensatory afforestation in such lands. Stage II clearance under the Forest Act is to be granted only after compliance of this important condition. As far as possible, such areas should be contiguous with reserved forests for effective management. This is mandated under Chapter 3 of the Act's guidelines. Legal loophole Unfortunately, in most cases, this important condition is relaxed based on certification by the State that sufficient/appropriate non-forest land is not available. In such cases a simpler condition of compensatory afforestation in degraded forest land twice the area diverted is insisted upon. This legal loophole has meant the loss of an excellent opportunity to create viable buffer areas as State governments routinely provide this exemption to most projects. To facilitate the creation of viable forested buffers, the Ministry of Environment and Forests
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(MoEF) must first revise the current guidelines appropriately to plug this loophole. A new mechanism must then be created whereby the Tiger Reserve Authority in each tiger reserve State identifies private (non-forest) land immediately abutting a reserve, based on scientific and objective criteria, to be developed as ecologically viable buffers. Private enclosures within contiguous reserve forests can also be identified. This data must be shared with development project promoters to explore the possibility of them privately acquiring the lands to comply with the Forest Act guidelines. There could be two possible scenarios under which this idea could be enabled: 1. The owner(s) of such identified farm land may be willing to sell the land at prevailing market prices (which the project proponent /owner mutually agree upon as in any private land transaction). The project promoter has to then transfer and mutate the land in favour of the Forest Department for notification as a reserve forest/PF, as mandated by existing guidelines or even as a conservation reserve under Section 36-A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 under the proposed new mechanism or; 2. The owner(s) may not be willing to sell but may be agreeable - with suitable benefits - to develop it as a private/community reserve based on an appropriate management plan. There are enabling provisions in the Wildlife Act, which allow for any individual/group of individuals or community volunteering to conserve wildlife and its habitat to approach the government for a notification. While the land will continue to be owned by the individual/community, the land use will be agreed upon jointly with the Forest Department based on a management plan. Participatory plan This will enable appropriate development of the private/community reserve or the land mutated in favour of the Forest Department, by creating suitable vegetation with mixed plantation/bamboo/grassy patches/salt licks, etc to attract wildlife. The funding for this can come from money deposited by the project promoter for compensatory afforestation. The individual or community could then be encouraged and assisted to develop a participatory communitybased tourism plan with benefit sharing as envisaged in the new NTCA guidelines. The tourism pressure on core areas can thus be reduced progressively. All that is required are some minor modifications in the Forest Act Guidelines to include the terms "Core or Critical Tiger Habitat," "Protected Area" and
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"Community Reserve" to enable identification and transfer of lands adjacent to these areas to the Forest Department by the project promoter. But for this idea to work, the MoEF must issue a proper clarification to States that, henceforth, transfer of non-forest land will not ordinarily be condoned. This innovative mechanism, which is within the framework of existing laws, could open up tremendous opportunities for increasing viable buffers and creating additional habitats for wildlife where it is most needed - around tiger reserves/ protected areas. It will not only help in achieving the true objective of compensatory afforestation, but also deliver benefits to local communities from the increasing economic opportunities of nonconsumptive tourism outside core areas. Source: The Hindu Addressing Dhaka
hollow objections to speedy resolution of the issue. It is not beyond comprehension, therefore, that in Bangladesh there is a widespread feeling that India's attitude to rationalising the border is a measure of its neighbourly goodwill in improving bilateral relations. Any policy position by the BJP that is based on considerations other than the national interest would amount to high irresponsibility. Bangladesh's politics is currently in a crucial, possibly game-changing phase, with the faultline deepening between those who embrace secularism and the rule of law and those who are ambivalent. India must do what it can, and magnanimously so, to reduce sources of xenophobia there. In the case of the enclaves, it would also be the humane thing to do. Source: Indian Express
At a time when Bangladesh is in turmoil, Delhi must reach out, do the right thing In a remarkable illustration of how easily a commonsensical policy position is allowed to be upturned by a narrow reading of regional politics, consider the timetable of the BJP's utterances on Bangladesh. On Thursday, in the course of an Idea Exchange at The Indian Express, BJP president Rajnath Singh endorsed the need to resolve the boundary dispute with Bangladesh. Within hours, however, a meeting of party leaders with representatives of its Bengal and Assam units rolled back the spirit of accommodation in Singh's comments. They did not exactly oppose moves to operationalise a bilateral agreement to exchange 162 tiny enclaves of one country's territory in the other's. But caution was counselled against any urgency in resolving the matter once and for all, given pockets of potential discontent in the two states against cooperation with Bangladesh. Just a glance at what is at stake in the lives of 50,000 or so residents of these enclaves calls out the irresponsibility in any hesitation to act upon the 2011 agreement with Bangladesh for the longpending territorial exchange - 111 enclaves are to be transferred from India to Bangladesh and 51 the other way. Having the residents live in territory contiguous with the country of their citizenship is vital to extract them from poverty and provide them rightful access to social and economic infrastructure. In fact, some of these enclaves are not even simple enclaves. They are what are called counter-enclaves - that is, a country's enclave located within the other's enclave in the former's territory. If the mind boggles to imagine what callousness has allowed this state of affairs to persist, it must also turn
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Cheaper oil, coal, gold can reignite foreign investment on right signals from govt.
Global commodity prices are down and are likely to decline at least for the next two years, even as world growth and trade improve. This gives governments around the world more policy space for manoeuvre. The real question is what to do with that extra elbowroom. The softening of commodity prices offers relief on three counts. One, inflation: food and energy prices have been the main culprits in the persistent rise in wholesale prices. Two, the fiscal deficit: when fertiliser and energy subsidies fall, as their global prices come down, the government's borrowing requirement would fall. A lower fiscal deficit brings down excess demand in the system and narrow the savings-investment gap, lowering inflation and the current account deficit (CAD). Three, lower commodity prices bring down CAD directly as well. Oil, gold, coal and edible oil together account for about half of country's total imports. When their prices come down, so would India's import bill, and that would narrow the CAD. The World Economic Outlook expects commodity prices to fall 2% in 2013 and even more in 2014, even as world growth picks up to 3.3% in 2013 and 4% in 2014, accompanied by a pick up in export growth. A lower CAD would ease the downward pressure on the rupee. Improved macroeconomic prospects, along with consistent progress on containing the fiscal deficit, would avert any rash downgrade by the rating agencies, whose imprimatur still matters for a variety of global funds. Greater confidence in economic revival would reverse the flight to safety performed by global
investment funds, and stock and bond markets in emerging markets, including India, would receive greater inflow of foreign capital. The Prince & the Princess If all this makes you begin to look around for the prince and the princess needed to complete what looks like a fairy-tale, please note that absence of tragedy does not quite mean happily-ever-after. For that, we need a fairy godmother who acts with dispatch, sense and a whole lot of imagination. And only the government can step into those dainty shoes. India is poised for a quantum leap in its growth rates thanks to four ongoing changes. One, huge advances in power generation capacity (54,000 MW added over 2007-12) and rural electrification (power lines have been laid to 5,60,000 villages); two, broadband connectivity reaching 2,50,000 rural localities; three, the political economy changing with voters putting a premium on growth and governance; and four, the wherewithals of electronic banking accessible by all are being put in place, thanks to a combination of telecom, banking and the unique identity project. The power story is compelling. If power flows through those lines that now connect 5.6 lakh villages, the effect on rural prosperity would be, well, electrifying. For the first time, climate-controlled storage and agroprocessing industry would be possible in rural areas. This would raise farm yields and farm incomes, diversify the rural production structure, reduce food inflation across the land and generate new demand for consumer goods. But for this virtuous cycle to begin, the nearly 50,000 MW of generation capacity lying idle for want of fuel must begin to produce power. For that, the UPA government must have the courage to scrap an outdated, idiotic, anti-people state monopoly on coal that makes India import $20 billion worth of coal in spite of having the fifth-largest reserves of coal in the world. Convert Coal India's subsidiaries into independent companies that compete with one another, let in new private players and watch the fun. The Rajya Sabha already has for consideration a Bill introduced during the NDA years to allow merchant mining in coal. Grab this Opportunity The London interbank offered rate is down to 0.5%. Blue-chip companies can borrow money cheaper than most European governments can. This should be leveraged to finance infrastructure, which is estimated to require $1 trillion over the next five years. Let suppliers of mining equipment form special purpose vehicles with Indian miners, let
foreign rolling stock and signalling equipment makers form joint ventures with Indian Railways to add to and modernise rail capacity, offer annuities from the Centre's budget for building new ports and roads. To Realise Dream, Wake Up Let the ministry of environment do a U-turn from obstruction and formulate a plan to utilise a chunk of the promised climate-change funds from developed countries to upgrade thermal efficiencies at the country's power plants from the lowly 33% at present to whatever is technologically possible, so that the developed world's power equipment-makers would find a new market. Arrange for market-based risk mitigation, ultimately underwritten by government guarantee. Sure, contingent liabilities would go up, but huge investments would materialise, riding on cheap credit and developed-country companies' desperate need for new markets. Of course, fairy godmother has to snap out of her slumber. Source: Economic Times Behind the current account gap
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EXCESS DEMAND
Rising CAD levels are linked to sustained inflation, which eroded financial savings by more than the fall in investment. India's current account deficit (CAD) rose to a record 6.7 percent of GDP in the last quarter of 2012. That clearly is unsustainable. But an effective cure must address the roots of the problem, for which a correct diagnosis is essential. Let us look at the various possible explanations for such a rise in the CAD.
Excess demand cannot be responsible for the higher CAD, when GDP growth has fallen to subsix per cent levels and industry is actually faced with a problem of excess capacity. At the same time, there is the issue of high fiscal deficit (FD), which could be raising demand. But then, the Government, pushed by fears of rating downgrades, has also made a serious effort to reduce the FD. In the last quarter of 2012, growth in government consumption fell to 1.9 per cent, from 8 per cent in the preceding quarter, while that for community, social and personal services as a whole fell from 7.5 to 5.4 per cent. If the fall in the FD reduced growth but not the CAD, it implies government expenditure creates demand largely for non-tradable goods, not for
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imported goods. Excess demand may be a problem only in agriculture, where supply rigidities prevent expansion to keep up with rising demand for food. There is also speculation-based argument, which says that if interest rates do not adequately compensate for or are even set below inflation rates, the resulting low/negative real interest rates encourage borrowings and imports. It, then, leads to a higher CAD. But that argument is not credible either, given that credit growth has been low in the recent period. In any case, India's CAD has never been high in high-growth periods, when one would expect higher domestic demand raising net imports. If domestic absorption or aggregate demand is not responsible for the CAD, the problem could perhaps, then, lie in imports being cheap and exports not profitable enough. In that case, shouldn't a depreciation in the rupee help? EXCHANGE RATES
EXTERNAL SHOCKS A more promising explanation for rising CAD levels could be linked to supply shocks that have sustained high inflation over 2007-13, alongside lower growth. These, by impacting real incomes and generating low real returns, reduced financial savings in the economy. The multiple cost shocks began with the spiralling of global food and oil prices in 2008. Their slow release through the system, given dysfunctional administered price regimes, kept inflation high. Capital outflows-driven rupee depreciation sustained these shocks, even when international commodity prices softened. The CAD, by definition, equals domestic investment minus savings. While investments fall during slowdowns, if savings fall even more, the CAD widens. Savings are the sum of financial savings that largely fund investments involving goods that are tradable, as opposed to physical savings that are invested more in non-traded goods, such as in real estate. So a fall in financial savings would have a greater impact on the CAD. The estimates of physical savings in the household sector are identical to those of investment in the unorganised sector. The latter is measured as a residual, after deducting the respective shares of the corporate sector and of the Government. It follows, then, that if the rest of investment exceeds financial savings, it will have to be financed by foreign savings that is, by running a CAD. In 2011-12, the CAD rose to 4.2 per cent of GDP, from 2.7 per cent the previous year - i.e. by 1.5 percentage points. Investment fell from 36.8 to 35 per cent, or by 1.8 percentage points, while savings fell more, from 34 to 30.8 per cent, or by 3.2 percentage points. The widening of the CAD has to equal the excess of the fall in savings over the fall in investment - which is what it works out here. Within savings itself, the largest fall was in the household financial savings component, by 2.4 percentage points. This, together with a 0.7 percentage points fall in the corporate savings-GDP ratio, almost covers the rise in CAD and fall in investment. The increase in household physical savings by 1.2 percentage points, in fact, almost made up for the fall in public sector savings of 1.3 percentage points - both of which largely impact non-traded goods. These financial aspects were reflected on the trade side. Inelastic demand for oil, in the absence of local price pass-through, and for gold, given the
This argument, again, has limits. The CAD was only around one per cent of GDP during India's high growth period in the mid-2000s, when the rupee was actually appreciating. After the steep depreciation following the 2008 global financial crisis, the CAD rose to about 3 percent of GDP and stayed there until 2011.
Then, as the rupee fell against the dollar, from Rs 44 in July 2011 to Rs 54-55 levels, the CAD went up to over 3 percent. Despite substantial real depreciation, export growth slowed more than import growth. To that extent, the cheaper rupee only worsened the CAD, implying that import and export demand are largely inelastic to exchange rate movements. CAPITAL FLOWS
Another explanation points to capital flows, wherein it is said that higher capital flows lead to higher CADs, since the balance of payments must add up to zero. But this argument falls into the classic Immaculate Transfer doctrine trap. True, the capital and the current account must equal the change in reserves, but that does not mean one is directly causing the other. CAD outcomes are the result of various other macroeconomic adjustments, including in foreign exchange reserves, output, exchange and interest rates. But whatever these adjustments were, capital inflows definitely did not cause the current widening of the CAD. On the contrary, just when the CAD widened in 2011, there were capital outflows that made it difficult to finance the CAD.
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absence of other inflation hedges, widened the CAD. If imports of oil and gold are subtracted from the trade deficit, the country actually recorded a trade surplus. POLICY ACTION What all this highlights is the inadequacies of the policy of freer import competition without building export capacity, leading to import growth exceeding that of exports. An example of this is India's per container trade costs, which are more than twice the East Asia average. The intensification of the European crisis lowered export demand, just as domestic supply bottlenecks raised coal imports.It
follows, the real story is sectoral. Aggregate policy instruments such as interest and exchange rates are constrained by their opposite effects on savings and investment in the case of the first, and export demand and import costs in respect of the second. The correct policy response requires concerted supply-side action to reduce costs, along with a dismantling of the administered pricing regime. Lower inflation and a better menu of savings instruments can revive financial savings. Better export capacity must be matched by a diversification of export destinations. Source: Business Line
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22ND APRIL 2013 TO 28TH APRIL, 2013
Call: 09582948810, 09953007628 Visit:ias100.in


Constitutional news
International News
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Weekly Current Affairs 22nd April to 28th April, 2013
TOPICAL TESTS
Infrastructure & Resources 1. Transportation infrastructure: Road and Highway Networks, Mass Transit Systems, Railways, Waterways, Ports.... 2. Energy infrastructure:- Thermal Power Generation, Natural Gas Pipelines & Petroleum Pipelines, Nuclear Energy, Renewable Energy...... 3. Water management infrastructure:- Drinking water supply, Sewage Collection and Disposal of Waste water, Flood Control, Water Harwesting..... 4. Communications infrastructure:- Television and Radio Transmission, Internet, Social Network, Search Engines, Communications Satellites...... 5. Solid Waste Management 6. Economic Infrastructure: Manufacturing Infrastructure, including Industrial Parks and Special Economic zones, Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Infrastructure.... 7. Resources: Water Resources, Forest Resources, Land Resources, Energy Resources, Minerals, Resource Management.....
Urbanization,
Demography : Population Composition, Density, Literacy, Sex Ratio...
Environmental Problems & Global Environmental Governance : Deforestation, Pollution: Air, Water, Land, Noise, Desertification, Biodiversity Depletion, Global Warming, SD....... Human Development, Social Sector Initiatives and Programmes & Policies 1. Concept of Human Development, Development vs. Growth, Human Development Index, MPI, Innovation..... 2. Social Inclusion, Child Welfare, Women Welfare....
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Indian Economy Basics, Planning & Trade 1. Industry Services, Agriculture, Energy..... 2. Balance of Payments. Foreign Direct Investment....... 3. Growth, Development and Other Issues......... 4. Poverty Estimates, Impact of Poverty........ 5. Exchange rate. Role of RBI..... 6. Nature of Planning - Five Year Plan, Planning after 1991 (LPG), Inflation..... Governance and Contemporary Political Developments: Development Politics, Political and Administrative Institutions, Good Governance, Internal Security....
FULL MOCK SCHEDULE

Agriculture, Urbanisation, Health : Agriculture and GDP, Agricultural Regionalization, Production and
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NATIONAL
Foreign tourists in groups to get collective landing permits With a view to encourage foreign tourist arrivals the Government has decided to provide collective landing permits. According to the revised procedure, foreign tourists in groups of four or more arriving by air or sea and sponsored by Indian travel agencies approved by the Ministry of Tourism and with a pre-drawn itinerary may be granted collective landing permit for a period not exceeding 60 days, with multiple entry facilities to enable them to visit neighbouring countries. In order to avail of this facility the tourists or travel agencies shall mandatorily fill in an application online. A complete list of members along with printed visa application and their itinerary whould be submitted by the tourists or travel agencies to the Foreigner's Regional Registration Office/Foreigner's Registration office at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkatta, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Calicut, Goa and Lucknow concerned 72 hours in advance. The tourists or travel agencies shall also give an undertaking to conduct the group as per the itinerary and extend a further assurance that no individual would be allowed to drop out from the group at any place. government's contention that the Screening Committee - with representative of the coal, state where a mine being allotted was located and the administrative ministry of the industry for which a mine was being allotted - acted fairly while distributing blocks between 2004 and 2009. The panel also noted only 30 of the 195 blocks allotted by the government had come into production and sought a list of companies to which blocks were allotted without end-use projects. It said the small number of operational blocks puts a question mark on the performance and efficiency of allocatee companies, especially private companies, which have a major share in allocation. Coal block allottees failed to start production so far which raises apprehension that they were considered without taking into account the techno-economic feasibility of the end-use projects, past track record, of the developers in execution of projects and their technical and financial capabilities The report pointed out a bias in favour of the private sector to bolster its argument. Sector-wise allocations show that out of a total of 81 blocks allocated to power sector, 27 were given to private firms, 12 to UMPPs (Centre's showcase ultra-mega power projects) and 42 to government entities. Similarly for steel sector, only two blocks were allotted to state-run companies against 61 blocks to private entities. The report did not quantify the loss, saying no information was made available either on the quantity or value of the mined coal. Last year, the federal auditor had said that the government extended windfall gains of Rs 1.86 lakh crore to private entities by allotting blocks to them without bidding. Parliamentary panel opposes automatic promotion under RTE Opposing the provision of automatic promotions till Class VIII under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Act, 2009, a Parliamentary committee has asked the Ministry of Human Resource Development to "rethink" the policy as a student may not be motivated to work hard if promotion was guaranteed.
This will help in boosting group travel to India, and would also give a boost to the tourism industry in the country. Government abused powers in coal block allotments, says panel Parliament's Standing Committee on Coal and Steel under the chairmanship of Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee has indicted the government for "totally abusing its powers" in allotting coal mines between 1993 and 2010 through the "most non-transparent procedure" to "few fortunate ones for their own benefit".
The report recommended that allotment of all blocks where production was yet to start should be scrapped on the ground that the "entire procedure was unauthorized" and "no one should be allowed to enjoy the benefit of illegal auctions". Raising the pitch on crony capitalism through subsequent regimes, the report rejected the
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Expressing concern over the quality of education under the RTE regime and the learning outcome, the panel has asked the Ministry to ensure a minimum set of cognitive skills among students. A sub-committee set up under the Central Advisory Board of Education is already examining the issue after academics and parents expressed reservations over the clause. The major drawback of the policy will be that a child may not be mature enough to understand the implication of being required to sit for formal examination from class IX onwards and obtain the minimum benchmark. CAG report on MGNREGA An audit report of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has slammed the State government for non-performance and poor maintenance of records in implementing the scheme from 2007 to 2012. The performance audit report of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has shown significant decline in per rural household employment generation in the last two years. CAG conducted door-to-door survey to identify persons willing to register under the MGNREGS was not conducted in 39 grama panchayats and tampering with muster rolls was noticed in all grama panchayats in Thiruvananthapuram. Delay in wage payment from 23 to 138 days was reported in all grama panchayats. Besides, payment of Rs.12.86 lakh was made without measuring the works and wage slips were not generated in 37 of the 39 grama panchayats. Details of the wages paid were not recorded on the job card at most of the grama panchayats,. Significant irregularities are: a) The per rural household employment has declined from 54 days in 2009-10 to 43 days in 2011-12. b) There is a substantial decline in the proportion of works completed in 2011-12. The works amounting to around Rs 4,070 crore were incomplete even after one to five years of launching. It points to impermissible works undertaken to the tune of about Rs 2,252 crore. c) The audit report also observes that Bihar, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh which constituted 46 per cent of the rural poor utilised only 20 per cent of the total funds released under the Scheme. This indicated that the correlation between poverty levels and implementation of MGNREGA was not very high, the report states.
d) The CAG audit blames the ministry for relaxing all conditionalities and releasing a sum of Rs 1,960.45 crore in March, 2011 to the states, contravening norms of financial accountability. An amount of Rs 4,072.99 crore was released by the ministry during 2008-12 to states for use in the subsequent financial year, in contravention of budgetary provisions and General Financial Rules, the report states. MGNREGA was enacted with the objective of enhancing livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year, to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. The Act initially came into force in 200 districts with effect from 2 February 2006 and was extended to cover all the rural districts by 1 April 2008. House panel wants shield for netas against phone tap
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Amid a growing unease among politicians who accuse the Centre of misusing its power of monitoring phones of individuals, a parliamentary panel has suggested that phones of MPs should be tapped by security agencies only after taking permission from presiding officers of the House concerned. And, in case of other political leaders, their respective party chiefs have to be informed. In its report, tabled in Parliament, the panel also took note of incidents of illegal phone tapping and obtaining call data records (CDRs) of some prominent individuals, including politicians, for "ulterior motives", and said such incidents should not occur in future. Visa-on-arrival in 5 more airports
In order to promote tourism, Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVOA) scheme was introduced for the nationals of five countries, namely, Japan, Singapore, Finland, Luxembourg and New Zealand with effect from 01.01.2010 for one year. The scheme has been found to be useful by the foreign nationals. The Government of India has extended the Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVOA) scheme for the nationals of above mentioned five countries. Further, TVOA scheme has been introduced for the nationals of Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Philippines with effect from 01.01.2011; and for the nationals of Myanmar and Indonesia with effect from 28.01.2011. The TVOA is allowed for a maximum validity of 30 days with single entry facility by the Immigration Officers at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata
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Airports on payment of a fee of US $ 60/- or equivalent amount in Indian rupees per passenger (including children). TVOA is allowed for a maximum of two times in a calendar year to a foreigner with a minimum gap of two months between each visit. TVOA shall be non-extendable and non-convertible. The government has extended the visa-on-arrival (VoA) facility for tourists at five more international airports, besides Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. The new ports are: Goa, Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore, Hyderabad and the Kochi airports. Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation has proposed NULM
used for imparting training on basic skills such as life skills, language skills and computer skills. Further, they can be used as demonstration/sale outlets for products manufactured by the selfemployed urban poor. The beneficiaries registered with Aadhar Kendras for offering services to citizens will be issued Identity Cards by the Urban Local Body at the time of registration. The number of Aadhar Kendras in a city will depend on demand. NULM envisages that one Aadhar Kendra be set up at zonal/city level to cater to a population of about 100,000 persons. To start with, Aadhar Kendras may be established in cities with a population more than 300,000 as per the 2011 Census. The central support for each centre would be limited to Rs. 5 lakhs subject to State/Urban Local Body making building available. This amount can be used for rent (where building is not available), furniture, basic training facilities and equipment like computers, product demonstration outlets, telephone and other operational expenses, including staffing support on contract basis for 2 years. The Aadhar Kendras will be run on PPP mode or through partnerships of federations of the poor with NGOs/ CBOs/resource institutions. They may eventually operate on a revenue-generating and self-sustaining model. Urban Local Bodies may consider additional support to these centres from their own resources. Proposals for Aadhar Kendras will be approved by the State Urban Livelihoods Mission Management Unit. New health mission for urban areas to be launched
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation has proposed to launch a "National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM)" in 12th Five Year Plan, which will replace the existing Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY). NULM would focus on the primary issues pertaining to urban poverty such as imparting skill training, enabling entrepreneurship development, providing wage employment and self-employment opportunities to the urban poor.
About NULM: According to the concept note NULM will establish Service Centres or Aadhar Kendras, which will act as "one-stop shop" for those seeking services from the informal sector as well as for the urban poor promoting their services and products or seeking information relating to employment and training. Aadhar Kendras can also act as information, facilitation and counselling centres, where the poor can access information on market demand/ placement opportunities and skills training programmes offered by reputed institutions, including IITs, NITs, industry associations, engineering colleges, management institutes, foundations and other reputed agencies run by the Government, private or voluntary organisations and industry associations to secure salaried employment with enhanced remuneration. For those seeking to establish and sustain self-employment ventures, the Aadhar Kendras can also facilitate necessary guidance and counselling support. They can also be
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The government would soon launch a National Urban Health Mission to address healthcare needs of the urban population. The new scheme has been formulated by the ministry of health and family welfare as a sub-mission under an overarching National Health Mission (NHM) to be launched during the 12th Five Year Plan. The proposed scheme aims to improve the health status of the urban population, particularly slum dwellers and other vulnerable sections by facilitating equitable access to quality healthcare with the active involvement of the urban local bodies (ULBs).It proposes to cover 779 cities and towns, including 7 metros with population of 50,000 and above.
INTERNATIONAL
Israel to end white phosphorous use The Israeli army claimed that it used white phosphorus inside smoke bombs used to create smokescreens as cover for the movements of the Israeli army during the war and denied that it used incendiary bombs against civilian targets. As Article III of the Geneva Convention on the use of non-conventional weapons prohibits the use of incendiary weapons against civilian targets, Israel's army has announced that it will stop using munitions containing white phosphorus, for which it was internationally condemned during a military operation against Gaza in 2008-2009. On January 15, 2009 the military fired white phosphorous shells in the vicinity of a compound of the United Nations' (U.N.) agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza City to obscure Israeli troop positions from Hamas fighters in the area. The Israeli artillery has developed a new munition which can create smoke screens and that uses only gas. This will replace the current munitions which contain small amounts of phosphorus. ordered ministries to implement it that would give Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leadership authority over rebel Kosovo Serbs. In return, the minority Serbs would get wide autonomy within Kosovo. The agreement could end years of tensions and put the Balkan rivals on a path to EU membership. Kosovo, which is considered by nationalists to be the medieval cradle of the Serbian state and religion, declared independence in 2008. Serbia has vowed never to recognise it, and Serbian officials insist that the latest agreement does not mean Belgrade has de-facto recognised Kosovo's statehood. It is not clear how the deal will be implemented on the ground in northern Kosovo where hardline Serb leaders vehemently reject any authority coming from Pristina's ethnic Albanians and consider the region a part of Serbia. After the Serbian approval, the EU's executive Commission recommended that the bloc should start membership negotiations with Serbia. The Commission said in a report that "Serbia has taken very significant steps towards visible and sustainable improvement in relations with Kosovo." Ending the partition of Kosovo between the Albanian majority and the Serb-controlled north about a fifth of the country - is a key condition of Serbia's further progress toward EU membership. EU ended sanctions against Myanmar
International law prohibits the use of white phosphorous shells in heavily populated civilian areas, but allows them in open spaces to be used as cover for troops. A Human Rights Watch report claimed Israel committed war crimes in its use of air-burst white phosphorus artillery shells Israel launched a 22-day offensive on the Gaza Strip on December 27, 2008 in response to rocket fire from the Islamist Hamas-run territory. The war killed 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis, and it sparked widespread international criticism of Israel for using disproportionate force. Serbian government approves deal with Kosovo
The Serbian government has approved a potentially landmark agreement to normalise relations with breakaway Kosovo that could end years of tensions and put the Balkan rivals on a path to European Union membership but thousands of Kosovo Serb demonstrators has rejected the deal. The Serbian government approved the deal unanimously at an extraordinary session and
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Foreign ministers from the 27 nations in the European Union agreed in Luxembourg to lift trade and economic sanctions against Myanmar in recognition of the country's ongoing democratic reforms, but arms embargo would stay in place. Earlier hundreds of people were targeted by a travel ban and asset freeze, while on the economic front the EU had barred investments and banned imports of the country's lucrative timber, metals and gems. Whereas In April last year, the European Union began easing sanctions against Myanmar as the military, in power for decades, progressively ceded power to civilians and implemented reforms of the economy. The Foreign ministers had agreed to a oneyear suspension of measures targeting almost 500 individuals and more than 800 firms.
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Now after removing the sanctions - the EU will also look at the feasibility of a bilateral investment agreement, as well as more development assistance to assist Myanmar's economy. But still there were significant challenges to be addressed," in particular an end to hostilities in Kachin state and improving the plight of the Rohingya people. HRW has in a new report accused authorities in Myanmar, including Buddhist monks, of fomenting an organised campaign of ethnic cleansing against the country's Rohingya Muslim minority that killed hundreds of people and forced 125,000 from their homes. While state security forces sometimes intervened to protect fleeing Muslims, more often they fuelled the unrest either by standing by idle or directly participating in atrocities. In western Myanmar, the crisis goes back decades and is rooted in a highly controversial dispute over where the region's Muslim inhabitants are really from. Although many Rohingya have lived in Myanmar for generations, they are widely denigrated by majority Buddhists as foreign intruders who came from neighbouring Bangladesh to steal scarce land. The U.N. estimates their number at 800,000. The government does not count them as one of the country's 135 ethnic groups, and like Bangladesh denies them citizenship. Thus to help Myanmar in dealing with intercommunal violence, the EU is studying the possibility of assisting reform of the police service, in partnership with its Parliament. S Korea, US extend nuclear pact
The issue of allowing South Korea to produce its own nuclear fuel has become more vexed in the light of North Korea's advancing nuclear weapons programme. This has led to growing calls from an influential minority in South Korea for the country to have its own deterrent, rather than to keep relying on the US nuclear umbrella. The extension was agreed to allow more negotiations on the heated topic of allowing the South to reprocess spent fuel rods. UK bans caste bias
The U.S. and South Korea are extending for two years their current civilian nuclear agreement and postponing a contentious decision on whether Seoul will be allowed to reprocess spent fuel as it seeks to expand its atomic energy industry. The current pact, signed in 1974, had been due to expire next year. South Korea is the world's fifth-largest nuclear energy producer and is planning to expand domestic use of nuclear power and exports of nuclear reactors. South Korea argues that it needs to produce its own nuclear fuel to feed the 23 reactors that provide onethird of its energy needs and to deplete stockpiles of spent fuel rods which it says are reaching full capacity. The United States has refused on proliferation grounds, as reprocessing creates stockpiles of separated plutonium that can then be enriched to weapons-grade. South Korea has proposed pyroprocessing, a new technique which is considered less conducive to proliferation as it leaves separated plutonium mixed with safer fissile materials.
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Dalits in the United Kingdom have recorded a landmark victory after the British parliament finally agreed to outlaw caste discrimination. The House of Commons, which had earlier trashed an amendment to include caste among other forms of discrimination, finally voted for legal protection for the four lakh dalits living in the UK. This makes the UK the first country outside South Asia to legislate against caste discrimination. The amendment is part of the Equality Act 2010. Till now, the Act prohibited race discrimination, harassment and victimisation in the workplace. The definition of "race" within the Act includes colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin but does not specifically refer to caste. Campaigners had said legislation will uplift thousands of people, who has suffered abuse and prejudice because they were considered low caste. The issue has divided the Indian diaspora in the UK. While groups like Caste Watch UK had been rallying to urge MPs to introduce legal protection for those from traditionally lower-caste backgrounds, the Hindu Alliance has called for a boycott of the amendment. According to the 2011 census, there are 816,633 Hindus based in the UK. Security Council approves peacekeeping mission in Mali new UN
The Security Council approved a 12,600-strong United Nations peacekeeping operation to take over from the African-led mission in Mali on 1 July and authorized the blue helmets "to use all necessary means" to carry out security-related stabilization tasks, protect civilians, UN staff and cultural artefacts, and create the conditions for the provision of humanitarian aid. MINUSMA's core task is to support the political process in Mali, in close coordination with the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The mission will
help the Malian authorities to implement the transitional roadmap towards the full restoration of constitutional order, democratic governance and national unity. This includes the holding of elections in July, confidence building and facilitation of reconciliation at the national and local levels. MINUSMA troops will not be on the ground until 1 July, when they will take over from the African-led force (AFISMA) and begin an initial 12month mandate. That start date is subject to review and could be delayed in the event of a major international military operation or a continued threat from terrorist forces on the civilian population or international personnel, according to the resolution. However, as of today, MINUSMA will assume responsibility for the mandated tasks being carried out by the UN Office in Mali (UNOM), which deployed in January and provides good offices aimed at facilitating contacts between the Government and those groups that wish to take part in the search for a political solution to the crisis.
It also requested Mr. Ban to appoint expeditiously a Special Representative for Mali who would also head MINUSMA. This envoy would also be responsible for coordinating the activities of the UN agencies, funds and programmes in Mali, as well as use his or her good offices and coordinate the activities of the international community in support of the mission's mandate. Acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the Council authorized the UN's newest peacekeeping mission to "use all necessary force" to "stabilize the key population centres, especially in the north of Mali to deter threats and take active steps to prevent the return of armed elements to those areas," as well as to support the transitional authorities to extend and re-establish State administration throughout the country. On the humanitarian front, the UN troops have the right to use force "to create a secure environment for the safe, civilian-led delivery of humanitarian assistance, in accordance with humanitarian principles, and the voluntary return of internally displaced persons and refugees in close coordination with humanitarian actors." The Council also authorized the use of force to assist the transitional authorities in protecting from attack the cultural and historical sites, in coordination with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Northern Mali was occupied by radical Islamists after fighting broke out in January 2012 between Government forces and Tuareg rebels. The conflict uprooted hundreds of thousands of people and prompted the Malian Government to request assistance from France to stop the military advance of extremist groups.
In the resolution, the Security Council called on Member States to provide troops and police with adequate capabilities and equipment in order to enhance the capacity of MINUSMA to operate, and discharge its responsibilities effectively.
The Council also authorized Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to approve inter-mission cooperation between MINUSMA and the UN Missions in Liberia (UNMIL) and Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) for temporary sharing of troops, assets, and logistic and administrative support without endangering the operational capabilities of those missions and also to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the missions in West Africa.
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ECONOMY
Centre orders SFIO probe into chit fund firms In the wake of an alleged fraud involving thousands of crores by Kolkata-based Saradha group, the Centre ordered a SFIO (Serious Fraud Investigation Office) probe into suspected misuse of the public money by various chit fund companies. However State governments are the appropriate authorities for regulation of such chit fund companies and schemes under the Chit Fund Act, 1982. A Special Task Force has been set up under the SFIO to carry out all investigations into such companies. Rangarajan's growth estimate is nearly in line with the government's forecast of 6.1% to 6.7% growth in 2013-14. Growth is estimated to have slowed to a decade low of 5% in 2012-13 due to the impact of the global economic slowdown, high interest rates and policy delays. But Rangarajn said the reform measures begun in the second half of last year and the union budget have improved the situation and strengthened expectations. But he cautioned that much ground still remains to be covered. The PMEAC said inflation continues to remain high but there are definite signs that the headline WPI inflation is coming down. "As inflation comes down, it will create more space for monetary policy to support growth. Inflation in 2013-14 would be around 6%. The report further stated that the government has shown its determination to contain the fiscal deficit but the current account deficit remains a concern. The council also identified vital reforms needed to sustain high growth. It called for speedy project clearances, reducing the current account deficit, managing the capital account, improving net energy availability, containing inflation, reforms in agricultural marketing and supply chains, more attractive saving products. New procurement policy unveiled by Defence Ministry With the twin objective of infusing greater efficiency in the procurement process and strengthening the defence manufacturing base in the country, the Defence Acquisition Council, the apex decision making body of the MoD, amended Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP). The salient features of new policy are: a) Preference for indigenous procurement in the Defence Production Policy 2011 has now been made a part of DPP through an amendment that provides for a preferred order of categorisation, with global cases being a choice of last resort. The order of preference, in decreasing order, shall be: (1) "Buy (Indian)"; (2) "Buy & Make (Indian)"; (3) "Make"; (4) "Buy & Make with ToT"; and (5) "Buy (Global)". Any proposal to select a
The decision was taken in view of a larger public interest involved in these cases, and concerns regarding misuse/laundering by such companies of the ill-gotten wealth and the possibility that the promoters of these companies may strip these companies.
The Task Force would also co-ordinate with other law enforcement agencies and regulators wherever required in its investigations. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has already passed an order against one group entity, Saradha Realty India, asking it to wind up all collective investment schemes and refund the money collected from investors. Besides, SEBI is probing at least ten other Saradha entities for raising funds without the regulator's approval. The Income Tax Department would also soon start its investigations into the activities of this group. PMEAC sees 6.4% growth in 2013-14
The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (PMEAC), headed by former Reserve Bank of India governor C Rangarajan stated that the economy is expected to grow 6.4% in the current fiscal powered by an improvement in the farm, industry and services sectors but sustained reforms in critical areas is needed to accelerate expansion. Further according to PMEAC controlling the current account deficit (CAD) remains the main concern now although he estimated it to narrow to 4.7% of gross domestic product in 2013-14 compared with 5.1% of GDP in the previous year.
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particular category must now state reasons for excluding the higher preferred category/ categories. b) The armed forces will have to explain to the Ministry when they do not prefer to buy from Indian sources or are excluding the higher category. c) The financial powers of the Services chiefs and the chief of the Coast Guard have been enhanced from Rs. 50 crore to Rs. 150 crore for capital acquisition cases.
manufacturing of defence products, SIDBI has decided to earmark an amount of Rs. 500 crore for providing loans. SEBI, RBI and ED to join forces against investment frauds
e) PSUs and ordnance factories in the defence sector will not be automatically nominated for maintenance and repair of systems procured from abroad, private firms will be allowed to take part in these contracts. f)
Private and public sector firms can tie up with foreign vendors and produce the equipment required by the armed forces within the country.
g) The DAC approved release of a public version of its 15-year perspective document (LTIPP), for 2012-2027 outlining the 'Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap' (TPCR). "The TPCR will provide useful guidance to the Indian defence industry for boosting its infrastructural capabilities and directing its R&D and technology investments. h) The DAC also approved an amendment mandating consultations to begin sufficiently in advance of actual procurement by Services, so that capital acquisition plans can be translated into national defence Research and Development and production plans. i) A high-level Committee has also been constituted for simplification of 'Make' procedures, with a view to unleash the full potential of this important category Ministry has also approved draft security guidelines for the private sector firms to adopt under which they will have to maintain a minimum-required security perimeter for their facilities.
j)
k) In order to ensure regular supply of funds to Medium and Small Enterprises involved in
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d) To avoid scams such as the AgustaWestland chopper deal and enhance transparency, the Ministry also approved a proposal under which Services headquarters would be required to freeze specifications of the desired products before they are approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC).
A large number of fraudulent schemes have come to the fore in recent months, wherein gullible investors are promised huge returns of up to 100 per cent in a year or two through 'bizarre and innovative' methods. The investors being taken for a ride include the poor daily-wage earners trying to save a few hundred rupees a month, the middleclass seeking to invest their hard-earned income for decent returns, as also the rich and sophisticated HNIs looking to grow their wealth by investing in property, artworks and the financial markets. Investigations of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) have also found that many of these schemes are being used for the purpose of money laundering and to channelise illicit funds into the financial system. Many cases have come up in the eastern states of West Bengal and Assam, wherein huge returns are being promised on real estate and hospitality investments. Besides, many such schemes are there in the northern states of Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. SEBI on its own lacks full-fledged powers to act against all kinds of 'money-pooling' frauds, although a proposal to strengthen its arsenal is awaiting government's clearance. Thus SEBI is joining forces with other agencies, including RBI, SFIO, Enforcement Directorate and state police departments, to tackle the menace. SEBI at present is also investigating a case wherein an organised syndicate of fraudsters is suspected to have defrauded a large number of people in the name of investments made by their deceased family members. The syndicate typically calls up the target investors to inform about a mutual fund or insurance product purchased by his or her deceased relatives and promises impressive returns if some fresh investments are made. In the process, fraudsters earn fat commissions for sale of mutual fund or insurance products. Thus SEBI has sent a proposal seeking greater powers from the government for handling various investment frauds and misdoings. SEBI is also facing challenges in recovery of penalties, regulation of pooling of monies from public by various schemes. Besides, SEBI has also listed the lack of direct powers for attachment of assets, to conduct search and seizure and to call for information from any person
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in relation to its inquiry and investigations. As of now, SEBI mostly needs to seek relevant judicial or executive orders on case-to-case basis for such powers. Consequently, SEBI has proposed that any pooling of funds under an 'investment contract' involving a corpus of Rs 100 crore and above should be deemed as Collective Investment Scheme under the SEBI Act. Besides, it has also sought powers to specify the parameters for determining as to what constitutes pooling of funds from public for the purpose of treating such schemes as Collective Investment Scheme. It is necessary to enhance SEBI's powers to make it better equipped to deal with 'innovative' collective schemes that are designed to avoid regulation. Finance Ministry suggested new formula for gas pricing
across the country, rise in cost of fertilizers to the farmers and a possible further hike in prices of LPG cylinders. The Finance Ministry has asked the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry to place before the Empowered Group of Ministers (EgoM) an alternative formula based on wellhead prices of suppliers in the region, including the Gulf countries for long-term contracts. Review of the Economy 2012-13 - Highlights Dr. C. Rangarajan, Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister released the document 'Review of the Economy 2012-13'. Following are the highlights of the document: a) The Advance Estimates of CSO have pegged the growth of Agriculture at 1.8% in 2012-13. In expectation of normal or mostly normal monsoon, the farm sector growth is likely to improve and is projected to grow at 3.5% in 2013 14. b) The Advance Estimates of CSO have pegged the growth of Industry (including manufacturing, mining and quarrying, electricity, gas, water supply and construction) at 3.1% in 2012-13. It is projected to grow at 4.9% in 2013-14. Manufacturing sector is projected to grow at 4% in 2013-14. c) The Advance Estimates of CSO have pegged the growth of Services at 6.6% in 2012-13. It is projected to grow at 7.7% in 2013-14.
The Finance Ministry has rejected the natural gas pricing formula suggested by the Rangarajan Committee and has instead suggested an alternative formula based on wellhead prices charged by suppliers in the region (Oman, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Malaysia) for long-term contracts. Experts say that the prices calculated as per the alternative formula may be lower than the Rangarajan Committee figure. Wellhead prices do not take into account transportation costs - a significant price escalator in the case of Liquified Natural Gas. The ministry will send its suggestions for the consideration of the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM), deciding the road map for gas pricing.
The Finance Ministry's stand of rejecting the report got support from others in the government, with the Ministry of Power and Ministry of Fertilizers outrightly rejecting the linking of domestic natural gas prices with international prices, a demand made by Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) (seeking international prices of around $12.5 mbtu for domestic natural gas, which is currently priced at $4.2 mbtu )and supported by the Planning Commission recently. The Rangarajan Committee had called for freeing of gas pricing and indexing it with international prices, which may result in the pricing coming close to the RIL figure.
The rejection of the report comes close on the heels of strong resistance by the Association of Power Producers (APP) who have argued that any massive hike in gas prices will lead to rise in costs of transportation run on CNG mode, hike in tariffs for power produced by number of gas power plants
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f)
d) Global growth although projected to pick up in 2013 would continue to remain at modest levels. In such a scenario India's projected growth rate of 6.4% is relatively high and respectable. e) Domestic savings rate is estimated to be around 30.8 % of GDP 2012-13. The decline in the domestic savings rate over the past few years is owing to the increase in the negative savings by the Government, the decline in profitability of private corporates, and decline in net financial savings of households. Current Account Deficit is estimated to be $94 billion (5.1% of GDP) in 2012-13 and is projected to be $100 billion (4.7% of GDP) in 2013-14.
g) It is estimated that for 2012-13 the net inflow of FDI was $18 billion ($26 billion inbound and $ 8 billion outbound). For 2013-14 EAC has projected higher inbound flows of the order of $36 billion. Outbound FDI is also expected to increase, resulting in net FDI inflow of $24 billion.
h) In 2013-14, the headline WPI inflation is expected to be around 6.0 %, with primary food inflation around 8%, fuel at about 11% and manufactured goods at around 4%. The provisional figure for inflation at the end of 2012-13 is 5.96%. i) The fiscal deficit of the Centre for 2012-13 is estimated to be 5.2% of GDP. It was Rs 520,924 crores in 2012-13 as per revised estimates, and is expected to be Rs 542,499 crores in 2013-14 as per budget estimates. The total Central subsidies stood at Rs. 257,654 crores (2.6% of GDP) in 2012-13 but, are expected to go down to Rs 231,084 crores in 2013-14 largely owing to the pruning down of petroleum subsidies which have been the major cause of missing our fiscal deficit targets in the past.
The conditions for exploration and production of hydrocarbons must be improved to increase domestic supply. e) Containing inflation: Both supply side management and the approach to administered pricing have to be informed about the urgency in regard to stabilizing primary food inflation at a lower level. f) Reforms in Agricultural Marketing and Supply Chains: The Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee Act (APMC Act) prevailing in a number of states limits the freedom of farmers to sell, and this has prevented the modernization of the supply chain and also contributes to primary food inflation. Regulatory obstacles in the way need to be cleared.
j)
Issues need to be addressed:
a) Speedy project clearances: While the Constitution of the Cabinet Committee on Investment has helped in speeding up project clearances, more needs to be done in the coming months so that new investment can be facilitated. In the current context, achieving the production and capacity creation targets in the key infrastructure sectors such as coal, power, roads, railways and ports, which are largely in the public sector or public-private partnership (PPP) domain, will act as a great stimulus to private investment and faster growth.
b) Reducing CAD: Net oil imports and gold, account for bulk of the increase in merchandise trade deficit. Price and subsidy reforms in petroleum products need to be completed to control our oil import bill. It is also vitally necessary to encourage exports of both merchandise and services. As inflation is brought under control, peoples' appetite for gold will also diminish. Maintaining an attractive return in financial assets will also help in bringing down the demand of gold. c) Managing the capital account: To ensure that the CAD is comfortably financed, capital inflows will need to be encouraged and, where necessary, procedures streamlined.
d) Improving Net Energy Availability: There is a close link between our dependence on imports of oil and natural gas and our external payments situation. Hence, steps should be taken to improve the energy economy in all aspectsproduction, transformation and final use. Facilitating an increase in domestic coal production will make a substantial difference.
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Coal Production Touches 557 MT
The total production of raw coal in the country during 2012-13 was 557.5 MT which was 97% of the target production and exhibited a growth rate of 3.3% over the previous year (2011-12) when the growth rate was 1.4% over 2010-11. On the recommendation of the Review Committee and the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG), the Government has so far de-allocated 47 coal blocks mainly an account of lack of progress of development of the blocks. Out of the 47 de-allocated bocks, 2 blocks were allocated again, 3 blocks were assigned to Coal India Limited and in respect of 5 blocks deallocation letters were withdrawn. The Government has taken various steps to increase the production of coal during the 12th Plan in order to meet the growing demand as also to reduce dependency on import. These steps include emphasis on implementation of new projects and expansion of existing projects, improving coal evacuation and movement, involvement of private sector and achieving close coordination with various line agencies for clearances of projects. However, despite these measures, it is expected that there will remain a gap between domestic demand and production by the terminal year of 12th plan (201617) which will need to be met through imports. The Union Government has envisaged that one of the ways forward to reduce the dependence on imports is to devise a Public Private Partnership (PPP) policy framework with CIL as one of the partners in order to increase the production of coal for supply to power producers and other consumers. Pursuant to the aforesaid policy, the Ministry of Coal has set up a Committee to devise a PPP Policy
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framework with CIL as one of the partners in order to increase production of coal. Finance Minister Launches Medi Claim Facility for Farmers
India is one of the most under insured country in the world as non life insurance sector has a penetration of only 0.7 percent in the country. Thus to increase the penetration and coverage of the non life insurance in the country Finance Minister has launched Medi Claim Facility for Farmers.
This facility will be available to KCC holder of Dena Bank and his/her spouse and two children under tie up with UIIC under Group Health insurance cover. The cashless facility will be available at around 4200 hospitals all over the country. Dena Bank, celebrating its Platinum Jubilee year, has as an initiative under CSR launched a Nobel scheme for its 2,25,000 KCC holder farmer customers covering their family members under Mediclaim with maximum cover up to Rupees Thirty Thousand.
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INDIA AND THE WORLD

India asks China to revert to status quo in Ladakh During the flag meeting in Daulat Beg Oldi sector India has asked China to revert to the status quo position in Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector in Ladakh where troops of both countries were in a face-toface situation after Chinese forces intruded nearly 10 km inside Indian Territory eight days ago. This is the second meeting since the incursion. The first one was held on 18th April. According to the protocol if the border personnel of the two sides come in a face-to-face situation due to differences on the alignment of the line of actual control or any other reason, they shall exercise selfrestraint and take all necessary steps to avoid an escalation of the situation. Further both sides shall also enter into immediate consultations through diplomatic and/or other available channels to review the situation and prevent any escalation of tension. The term "face-to-face" is referred in 2005 Protocol for implementation of CBMs in military field in the LAC in India-China border areas. India and UAE Sign MoU on Air Services agreed to allocate an additional entitlement of 36,670 seats per week spread over a period of 3yrs; 11,000 seats per week in year 2013, 12,800 seats per week up to winter schedule 2014 and 12,870 seats per week up to winter schedule 2015. Both sides have also agreed to extend 3rd country and domestic code share facility. However Indian side has not agreed to the request of UAE for any additional point of call and removal of cap in terms seats/frequency from each point of call. The additional 2% flexibility on total entitlement has been removed. Both sides have agreed to extend 3rd country code share and domestic code share of designated airlines of either side. The UAE have agreed to Indian request of change of gauge facility and both sides have agreed to allow designated airlines of each side to have the option to change the aircraft in the territory of the other party. The enhancement in the present capacity spread over 3yrs would allow the carriers of both the countries to plan their future operations. The change of gauge facility will provide operational/commercial flexibility to Indian carriers to enable deploy equipment corresponding to market demand. This will help in enhancing international connectivity for Indian passengers and also facilitate local and international route networking. (In air transport change of gauge for a passenger or cargo means a change of aircraft without the change of flight number). India ranks 8 among 27 most powerful nations in world The study, conducted by the New Delhi-based Foundation for National Security Research(FSNR) have placed India at the eighth position among a group of 27 most powerful countries in the world. It has judged "national power" by various indices, including energy security, population, technological capability etc. The index of national power was also judged by "foreign affairs capability", which includes selfreliance in defence, membership of multilateral groupings, and role in global rule-making and soft
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India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) HAS signed an MoU on Air Services, following the twoday bilateral negotiation at Abu Dhabi.
The UAE had urged India to allocate additional 40,000 seats per week, grant Goa, Pune, Amritsar and Lucknow as additional points of calls, remove the maximum cap prescribed from each point of call in-term of seats/ frequency per week and allow 3rd country /domestic code share facility. India was looking at the negotiations in overall economic interest of India and Government's policy of liberalization for attracting foreign investment in India, including civil aviation sector. The Indian side had requested the UAE side to grant change of gauge facility at Abu Dhabi to Indian carriers in addition to ensuring full 5th freedom rights from UAE. As per the present Air Service Agreement, the designated carriers of both sides have existing entitlement of 13,330 + 2% flexibility (total 13,600) Seats per week with eleven points of call available to UAE . After present negotiations both sides have
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power. Interestingly, though China comes out as the second most powerful nation in the world after the US, Chinese foreign affairs' capability is comparable to India's, even though in terms of total power New Delhi comes way below Beijing. The Group of Experts evolved a criterion consisting of the following elements for the selection of countries which could be regarded as actually or potentially the most powerful: (i) Population above 50 million; (ii) GDP above US$ 500 billion; and (iii) defence expenditure above US$ 5 billion. The US is by far the world's most powerful nation, several notches ahead of its nearest competitor, China. The study observes, "China is still much lower than the US in energy security, technological capability and foreign affairs capability. Even in economic and military fields, the indexed value of China's capabilities is much lower than that of US. Therefore, any notion that China will pose a threat to the supremacy of the US in the near future has to be tempered with caution."
doctrinal orientation", lending credence to the general criticism against India for a lack of strategic culture. India's Foreign Minister attends conference on security and cooperation in Kazakhstan
India's Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid attended the Third Ministerial Conference on the Istanbul Process on regional security and cooperation and met Kazakhstan President, Nursultan Nazarbayev. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev invited India to integrate into this region's politics of oil, gas and communication links. These ideas are enjoying resurgence with plans to roll back western military presence in Afghanistan and Iran planning to let its territory become a transport corridor to landlocked Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. During the meet India and Kazakhstan discussed the concept of an ambitious pipeline that would bring hydrocarbons to the country via several countries. The two sides had first broached the subject during Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov's India visit last month. The 1,500 km-long pipeline was described by Mr. Idrissov as a "philosophical concept" will be longer than TAPI which will serve as the role model. The Kazakh pipeline, proposed by India, will originate from the former Silk Road caravanserai city of Shymkent, an oil refining hub, and head into Uzbekistan. From there it will snake its way to Afghanistan and then follow the route to be taken by TAPI pipeline into India. This pipeline will, like TAPI, be on a north-south axis, providing a new route to South Asia for hydrocarbons extracted from Central Asia. During his 48 hours stay here, Mr. Khurshid has also interacted with the U.S., Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Swedish, Latvia and the United Kingdom, all with different perspectives on the shape of geopolitics in the region and bound by the common desire to improve on the existing but tenuous connections in energy, trade, security and transportation links. Though the focus during his first engagement (along with Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Afghanistan Satinder Lamba) with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State William Burns was on Afghanistan, the interaction provided a snapshot of the work-in-progress to develop communication links with South Asia.
According to the study, "India's economic capability stands at the eighth position and military capability at the seventh position. In technological capability, it ranks low, at the 17th position, and in energy security still lower at 20th position." Despite boasting a formidable array of foreign policy experts, the study found that in foreign affairs capability, India holds the 11th position and has a long way to go "(to) be able to discharge responsibilities commensurate with its large size and geopolitical importance." India ranks very low in "military equipment, power projection, cyber and space security, as well as in its capability pertaining to doctrinal issues. Again, with regard to technological capability, particularly in the area of control over critical technology, India ranks extremely low."
The study gives India high marks for population capabilities, but does not specify that the nation's so-called "demographic dividend" could turn out to be a liability if India does not invest in its people. In the "manpower index" China scores much higher than India - 100 to India's 87.5 - while on the equipment index, India scores a pathetic 50. China scores a full 100 on being able to create an educated labour force, while India stands at 16. Certainly by this measure, India's position as one of the more powerful countries can be contested. On deterrence and power projection, China scores 75, while India stands way behind at 60. China also invests a lot more than India on "strategic and
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Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are planning to inaugurate a new rail link in mid-May, which in turn will be linked to Afghanistan's rail system. Turkmenistan is also developing a link to Afghanistan and then through Afghanistan to Tajikistan. There is also progress in projects such as the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan- India Gas Pipeline. Parallel to this is the North-South Corridor project being backed mainly by Russia, India and Iran for supplementary links that from New Delhi's perspective will bypass Pakistan and parts of Afghanistan. The 'Heart of Asia' meeting is the third ministerial-level meeting of the Istanbul Process and around 14 countries in the neighbourhood and 16 others participated in the conference. India's requests for Web censorship increase
Google did not comply with all the requests it received. The report noted that there was also a spike in requests from the Brazilian and the Russian governments. In Brazil, the requests coincided with the municipal elections where the government noted that several contents had to be removed because they were violating the electoral code. In Russia, the requests for removal of content followed the enactment of a new Internet blacklist law that allowed authorities to take down content without trial. India-Saudi Arabia Joint Group to Resolve Labour Issues
The seventh transparency report of Google accounts for a 90 per cent rise. Further the Indian government nearly doubled its requests to Google for removal of content in the second half of 2012 as compared to the first six months.
The report noted that governments around the world are seeking censorship on the Web more than ever before. Between July and December 2012, Google had received more than 2,285 government requests to delete 24,149 pieces of information. In the first half of 2012, Google received 1,811 requests to remove 18,070 pieces of information. The number of requests in the second half of 2012 went up by over 90 per cent compared to the first half of the year.
The Indian government was among 20 countries to request for the removal of the controversial film Innocence of Muslims from YouTube. (The video though listed is not available for streaming in India). Google also revealed that during the "period of disturbance in the North-East region" last year, it received five requests from the Computer Emergency Response Team to remove content from Google+, a Blogger post, 64 YouTube videos, and 1,759 comments associated with some YouTube videos, that cited laws covering disruption of public order and ethnic offence laws.
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India and Saudi Arabia have agreed to set up a joint working group to address "all immediate problems" facing the Indian community including issues related to overstaying Indian workers and the Kingdom's new labour policy. The two sides agreed that the first meeting of this joint group will held on May 1. The visit is aimed at exchanging views with the Saudi leadership on the welfare of the Indian community in the context of its Nitaqat programme. The visit also aimed at briefing the Indian community in Saudi Arabia on the specific steps that the Indian government has taken for the rehabilitation of the returning Indians and addressing their concern in this regard. The Saudi government was implementing the Nitaqat law to cut unemployment in the country. The 'Nitaqat' law makes it mandatory for local companies to hire one Saudi national for every 10 migrant workers. There has been widespread perception that the new policy will lead to denial of job opportunities for a large number of Indians working there. The India-Saudi Arabia Joint Working Group on Labour has been constituted to discuss the MoU and other related issues. Both India and Saudi Arabia would work closely to make the process of recruitment of workers more transparent which is in the interest of both the workers and the employers.
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Toxins leading to genital abnormality in newborns A medical study conducted among 1,000 children born in a Navi Mumbai hospital could be an indicator of the growing effect of environmental toxins on the human reproductive system. The study showed there is a growing incidence of genital abnormality among boys possibly because of the increasing exposure to endocrine disruptor chemicals. Known as phthalates and bisphenol-A, these chemicals are used in plastic bottles, food wraps, cosmetics, toys, etc. Experts say chemicals in pesticides, painkillers and cigarettes too can disrupt the hormone system. The study was conducted by Dr Arbinder Singal, a paediatric urologist with MGM Hospital in Vashi. His team checked 1,154 children on first or second day of birth for genital abnormalities, but 1,148 were included in the study. An increase in incidence of male reproductive disorders has been noted all over the world. Such disorders are thought to be the result of chemical exposure that interfere with the sex hormones during development and sex differentiation which happens during 8 to 12 weeks of foetal development. In 70% of the cases, testes descend within the first few months of life. But what is worrying is that 30% will need surgical correction. An extrapolation of the result suggests that about 7 lakh babies would be born in India with undescended testes. Even if there is natural correction in 70% of the children by 6 months of age, there would still be 2.1 lakh babies every year who will need surgery in India. If this condition is not treated, it could lead to fertility problems, torsion and cancer formation. Indigenous GSLV to be moved to Sriharikota by May 15 GSLV-F06, launched in December 2010 and powered by a Russian cryogenic stage engine, failed. Before that, the GSLV-D3, flown with a home-grown cryogenic stage engine, also failed in April 2010. Since then, ISRO has made many modifications and corrections in the engine. It has conducted 35 ground tests and a simulated high-altitude test till as recently as March. An Indian GSLV that can lift communication satellites weighing up to two tonnes into orbit is badly needed to keep up the satellite capacity for different users and the country's self-reliance in launching its own communication satellites. After a review next week, the spacecraft would be moved to Sriharikota. This would be followed by launch of meteorology satellite INSAT-3D and advanced communication spacecraft GSAT-7 - from Kourou, French Guiana. NASA launches smartphone satellites
Ahead of its crucial and long-awaited launch in July or August, fully indigenous satellite launch vehicle GSLV-D5 is being readied to be shifted to the Sriharikota launch port by May 15, according to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K. Radhakrishnan. GSLV-D5, powered by indigenous cryogenic upper stage, is being given final touches at the Mahendragiri centre in Tamil Nadu.
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NASA has successfully launched three smartphones into space by the maiden flight of Orbital Science Corporation's Antares rocket from NASA's Wallops Island Flight Facility in Virginia to snap images of Earth. The handsets may prove to be the lowest-cost satellites ever flown into space. NASA engineers has kept the total cost of the components for the three prototype satellites in the PhoneSat project between USD 3,500 and USD 7,000 by using primarily commercial hardware and keeping the design and mission objectives to a minimum. Each smartphone is housed in a standard cubesat structure, measuring about 4 inches square. The smartphone acts as the satellite's onboard computer. Its sensors are used for attitude determination and its camera for Earth observation. The goal of NASA's PhoneSat mission is to determine whether a consumer-grade smartphone can be used as the main flight avionics of a capable, yet very inexpensive, satellite. Transmissions from all three PhoneSats have been received at multiple ground stations on Earth, indicating they are operating normally. The PhoneSat
team at the Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, will continue to monitor the satellites in the coming days. The satellites are expected to remain in orbit for as long as two weeks. Satellites consisting mainly of the smartphones will send information about their health via radio back to Earth in an effort to demonstrate they can work as satellites in space. The spacecraft also will attempt to take pictures of Earth using their cameras. Amateur radio operators around the world can participate in the mission by monitoring transmissions and retrieving image data from the three satellites. NASA's off-the-shelf PhoneSats already have many of the systems needed for a satellite, including fast processors, versatile operating systems, multiple miniature sensors, high-resolution cameras, GPS receivers and several radios.
The hardware for this mission is the GoogleHTC Nexus One smartphone running the Android operating system. NASA added items a satellite needs that the smartphones do not have - a larger, external lithium-ion battery bank and a more powerful radio for messages it sends from space. The smartphone's ability to send and receive calls and text messages has been disabled. Scientists want Higgs boson to be renamed
Some leading scientists want the elusive God particle, called Higgs boson after its discoverer Peter Higgs, to be renamed to also credit the other researchers involved in its discovery.
Scientists argue that Higgs, the genial but reclusive Edinburgh University physicist who predicted the existence of the 'God particle' in a 1964 paper, was just one of six researchers involved. The others should also be credited. A variety of names have been suggested as replacements.
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One is to call it the Brout-Englert-Higgs, or BEH, particle, to reflect the roles of Belgian physicists Robert Brout and Francois Englert, whose paper on the topic came out just before that of Higgs. Another is to rename it the BEHGHK (pronounced Berk) particle, with the extra letters representing Gerald Guralnik, Carl Hagen and Tom Kibble, based at Imperial College London, whose joint paper followed Higgs's by a few weeks. The debate has raised tensions within the physics community. Last month, at a conference organised by The European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern), speakers were told not to use that name but refer to the BEH boson. The programme for the meeting in France also referred to it as the SM Scalar boson. New wild banana species found
A team of researchers from the University of Calicut has reported the discovery of a new subspecies of wild banana that could be developed as an ornamental plant for tropical gardens. The plant Musa velutina subsp. markkuana was discovered from the forests of Arunachal Pradesh and is characterised by smooth skinned fruits, purple pseudostems, erect maroon-coloured inflorescence and pink fruit. It has been named after Markku Hakkinen, an international expert on wild banana, attached to the Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Finland. The plant grows in the forests as undergrowth in marshy areas. The plant could be promoted as an ornamental variety. It also held commercial value for the cut flower industry. Further the plant could be crossed with other species to improve the ornamental value. The seedproducing nature of the tropical species made it easy to propagate.
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2 - MARKERS
ICGS Rajdoot Commissioned in Kolkata Indian Coast Guard Ship 'Rajdoot', designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata was commissioned at Kolkata. The fifty-mtr 'Rajdoot', the sixth in the series of eight Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) displaces 300 tons and can achieve a maximum speed of 34 Knots. It is capable of undertaking multifarious tasks such as surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue and medical evacuation. The ship is fitted with state-ofthe art communication and navigation equipment like Integrated Bridge Management System and 30 mm CRN-91 gun as main armament. drinking water, public utilities; provision rural infrastructure in the Panchayat jurisdiction. India gets first English lifestyle magazine in Braille
ICGS "Rajdoot", literally meaning"Royal Messenger" will be based at New Mangalore under Coast Guard Region (West). The ship will enhance the Indian Coast Guard's capability to undertake operations to further Maritime and Coastal Security on the Western Seaboard. Best Performing States and Panchayats Awarded
On the occasion of the National Panchayati Raj Day, "Panchayat Empowerment and Accountability Incentive Scheme" (PEAIS) and "Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar" (RGGSP)) were conferred upon the best performing States and Panchayats. 18 top ranking Gram Panchayats were awarded with "Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Purskar. 193 Panchayats were also received awards for best performance.
The Panchayat Strengthening Index Awards (PSI) were given to States this year. Under the Cumulative PSI Awards 1st Prize is won by Maharashtra, while 2nd Prize is bagged by Karnataka, 3rd Prize Kerala and 4th Prize Tripura. Under the Incremental PSI Awards 1st Prize is won by Karnataka, 2nd Prize Rajasthan, 3rd Prize Maharashtra and 4th Prize is won by Odisha. The prize money for "Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar" award is Rs. 10 lakhs. The Award money will be utilized by the Panchayats for public purposes such as augmentation of civic services like primary education, primary health care, safe
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Justice J.S. Verma
India's first lifestyle magazine in English 'White Print', will have sections on food, travel, gadgetry, even politics-everything that sighted people take for granted in the multiple publications that serve them. Where other periodicals have book reviews, this one will review audio books instead. The monthly will be printed at the Braille press of the National Association for Blind (NAB) in Worli as NAB has software to translate English into Braille. Singer Shamshad Begum passes away
Shamshad Begum was one of the first playback singers in the Hindi film industry. She had a distinctive voice and was a versatile artist, singing over 6000 songs in Hindi and the Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil and Punjabi languages. Horacio Cartes (56) won Paraguay's presidential race
A powerful businessman accused of drug trafficking and cigarette smuggling was elected Paraguay's new president. Horacio Cartes (56) was declared winner after taking almost 46 per cent of the poll, beating the ruling Liberal Party candidate by 10 points. The victory marks the return to power of the populist Colorado Party, which ruled the poor landlocked country for six decades before being defeated by former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo in 2008 elections. Paraguay, population 6.5 million and with 40 percent of the population living in poverty, is plagued by drug trafficking, smuggling and pirating of copyrighted materials like music and movies.
Justice J.S. Verma was the 27th Chief Justice of India, holding the position from March 25, 1997, until his retirement on January 18, 1998. Thereafter, he remained the chairman of National Human Rights Commission, from 1999 to 2003, and became the face of judicial activism in India.
Ajay Devgn, Runa Laila Sharmeen ObaidChinoy: new SAARC ambassadors for HIV/ AIDS
Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn, Bangladeshi singer Runa Laila and Oscar-winning Pakistani filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy have been named as SAARC Goodwill Ambassadors for HIV/ AIDS.
The selections were based on criteria of regional stature and eminence; appeal to the target audience; relevance in delivery of message; likely commitment of the candidate and innovative ways that could be utilised in promoting advocacy and awareness in combating HIV/AIDS. The SAARC goodwill ambassador for HIV/ AIDS programme was commenced in January 2009 with actress Shabana Azmi as its first mascot.
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EDITORIALS
Can legal measures root out chit fund frauds? YES Chit funds, one of India's oldest indigenous financial institutions, are regulated by the Chit Funds Act, 1982, a central statute, and various State-specific regulations. Further, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) regulates the operation of 'collective investment schemes' (Collective Investment Schemes) through the SEBI 1999 Regulations (CIS Regulations). However, Section 11 AA of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 specifically excludes a chit fund business (as defined under Section 2 (d) of the above Chit Fund Act) from the purview of the CIS Regulations. The chit fund scheme, floated by the West Bengal-based Saradha Group, has been in the news recently for allegedly mopping up close to Rs 1,200 crore through its bogus operations, duping gullible investors. SEBI, on April 23, issued an order against Saradha Realty India Ltd. directing the latter and its Managing Director, Sudipta Sen, to wind up the collective investment schemes, refund the money collected by it under the schemes with returns which are due to the investors, and submit a winding-up and repayment report to SEBI in accordance with the CIS regulations. However, as chit funds do not form part of collective investment schemes, SEBI cannot systematically regulate such activities in accordance with the CIS Regulations. There also appears to be a need to bring such schemes under one principal regulator that will oversee all cases where pooling of money is involved and investments are being made. From time to time, the financial world has been rocked by stings involving multi-level marketing companies, art funds, time-sharing schemes and, maybe one day, a Bernard Madoff-inspired Ponzi scheme. Such schemes will not always come under the express domain of any regulatory authority or statute. Given the popularity of such money-making schemes, our legal framework must keep pace with such hybrid investment arrangements and methods of raising funds from the public. NO There can be no denying the need for a legal framework to ensure that the likes of Saradha do not take the entire financial system for a ride. But that said, there will always be greedy investors, willing to be taken in by the tall promises of unscrupulous operators. The latter's task is made easier by loopholes in the law. Hence, Ponzi operators used the legal loopholes governing investments in time shares, gold or bullion deposits, and, to an extent, even commodity trading. They were able to outwit the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) by running unauthorised collective investment schemes. To sidestep SEBI, they used the complex judicial procedures to their benefit, getting stay orders whenever it suited them. These loopholes certainly need to be plugged. But would that rule out future scams? Now, for some sobering truths. First, there is no escaping the fact that the regulatory mechanism is up against a large cash economy. A money trail, therefore, becomes hard to establish. Ponzi scheme operators, encouraging transactions in cash, use this fact to their advantage. Second, the poor penetration of the authorised financial services sector and low bankability of large sections of people open the doors to unscrupulous operators. But the bigger concern lies somewhere else: Lack of will to implement existing provisions in the law.
In the present case, we can reasonably conclude that Saradha Group ran a 'collective investment scheme' in the guise of a chit fund to circumvent the more stringent CIS Regulations.
The order examines and concludes that the 'activities of the noticee' company fall within the ambit of 'collective investment schemes' and as such the scheme must mandatorily comply (including obtaining requisite registration) with the terms of the CIS Regulations. The present case drives home the point that while we have a robust legal and regulatory machinery for administering CIS or, for that matter, chit funds, we must ensure that the powers given to appropriate authorities have the necessary 'bite' to ensure enforcement and prosecution under applicable laws.
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A close scrutiny of the Saradha Group fiasco would suggest that the culprits could have been brought to book even within the existing framework. The group, operating through 160 companies, became a household name in West Bengal in just a couple of years. Saradha's rise was, in fact, more marked since 2010, when, ironically, both the economic offences wing of the then Left Front government in West Bengal and the capital market regulator expressed misgivings about its source of funds. In the next two years, Saradha pumped money into the media, a high cost sector that takes a long time to generate returns. It splurged money on advertisements and in sponsoring events, including those organised by the West Bengal Government. It even acquired a lossmaking two-wheeler factory with a Rs 180-crore bank loan. The automobile factory has not produced a single two-wheeler. The loan amount turned bad as early as in 2011. In the two years since 2010, its disclosures with regulatory authorities did not match the high spends. There were discrepancies in the income-tax filings too. Isn't all this enough for Saradha to be booked under the existing laws? This only goes to show that the best laws can fall by the wayside in the absence of political will to implement them. That political personages lend legitimacy to dubious activities only makes implementation of the law that much more difficult. Source: Business Line
Three nations & the Ganga
A TRIPARTITE agreement between India, Nepal and Bangladesh has been announced in the last few days, aiming at joint exploitation of the hydropower potential of the Ganga, with the three countries expressing readiness to cooperate with each other in developing and financing projects in the waters they share between them. India has already set up a working group to act together with counterpart bodies in the other two countries, and an elaborate structure of experts and officials is to be established, with the respective ministers at the top, to identify the goals and procedures to be adopted by the new inter-governmental body. Important objectives include augmentation of water and power supplies, and their equitable distribution. This tripartite initiative represents a significant new development in an area that has been plagued
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with suspicion and disagreement. Historically, India has always sought to deal with its neighbours bilaterally rather than in a multilateral forum like that now established. From the point of view of the smaller countries on India's periphery, bilateralism can look like a means of denying a collective effort by them to push India towards a softer line on matters of interest to them, such as a more liberal transit regime across Indian territory. For India, there are security considerations to deal with as well as the perpetual apprehension that smaller countries may group together to embarrass it internationally. These are long-standing problems that have overshadowed the benefits that would flow from the agreement now concluded, but until now there were many inhibitions to prevent closer cooperation. This was not for want of trying. At one stage, when the sharing of the Ganga waters at Farakka had become a major South Asian issue, Bangladesh had pressed India to bring Nepal into the process, with the aim of building storages in that country to stabilise lean season flows in the great river. Rajiv Gandhi in the course of a meeting with Bangladesh leaders had even shown inclination to look favourably at the idea, to the discomfiture of his officials. But in the end it came to nothing, not least because Nepal demurred at the building of storages on its territory for the primary benefit of third parties. On another occasion, there was a regional meeting under the auspices of SAARC to look at the augmentation issue, which brought together Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, together with India, at a conference in Kathmandu ~ this, too, reached nowhere, in this case because other members of SAARC were loath to see a smaller group of its members become a functional body that was not explicitly under the close direction of the entire membership. Yet, despite the problems, various collective steps were taken in pursuit of common regional causes. In 1996 the dispute over the sharing of the Ganga waters at Farakka was finally settled; this had endured for over half a century and at times had seemed virtually impossible to resolve. India also reached agreement with Nepal on the shared exploitation of the Mahakali river, which marks the border between them. These were both bilateral arrangements, in line with India's established approach, and had a salutary impact on India's relations with Bangladesh and Nepal respectively, though the treaty on the Mahakali has remained only on paper.
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Perhaps the most striking success is to be seen in the many India-Bhutan arrangements for power generation, as a result of which both countries have greatly benefited, and the latter has gained access to very substantial resources that are transforming its economic and social development. In addition to these, there are several other useful agreements for cooperation in water and power, though they have not embodied the kind of conceptual change now promised under the new agreement. This agreement comes at a time when concerns about the environment and the river flows in South Asia are on the increase. This is especially so in Pakistan where the water stress seems to be most marked, and while the situation in that country is not affected by the implications of the recent IndiaBangladesh-Nepal agreement, there may be lessons to be shared among all the countries of the region. One of the new concerns within the region is to evaluate the impact of cascading run-of-the-river schemes along the length of a single river. Under the authorisation of the Indus Waters Treaty, India is planning some such structures on the western rivers of the Punjab in their upper reaches as they flow through Kashmir. Legal sanction apart, there is growing realisation that river management works should take due account of ecological factors, so that flows are maintained at a level that does not adversely affect the life of the river itself. These complex technical matters are the domain of the expert but they now come up more frequently in international negotiations on environmental issues. For India, there is a new edge to the discourse owing to the recent revelations about Chinese plans to construct more than one hydropower scheme on the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra. The official briefing on the tripartite agreement makes a mention of a coordinated approach by India, Bangladesh and Bhutan to obtain optimum benefit from the Brahmaputra basin. This is indeed something innovative, for while sporadic efforts have been made for collaborative exploitation in the Ganga basin, nothing of this sort has been mooted for the Brahmaputra. It could thus represent an important step towards an integrated approach to the Himalayan waters that sustain life in South Asia.
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transform the area but even the agreements that have been achieved after hard effort, like that relating to the Mahakali, have languished in the absence of sustained political commitment. Nor has it been possible to make progress on some projects that cannot be undertaken except on a multilateral basis, such as the damming of the Kosi in Nepal ~ Indian engineers have long looked for means to tame the Kosi, 'Bihar's sorrow', which is subject to devastating floods that cannot be controlled without upstream storages in Nepal. If such joint projects can come into being, they may bring with them more flexible arrangements for the regional trade in electric power, which is what the producers seek. These are only some of the many potential benefits that can flow from the removal of the bilateral straitjacket on water and power, and the newly announced agreement merits welcome for removing conceptual barriers and thereby opening the way to concerted utilisation of the area's most important natural resources. Source: The Statesman
Land acquisition Bill will work for industry, farmers if leases are preferred over acquisitions
Many fear that the proposed land acquisition Bill will greatly harm economic progress through skyrocketing land prices, rewarding speculators while eroding India's global competitiveness. Fortunately, the government has now accepted an opposition suggestion to make long land leases an alternative to outright acquisition. This is a huge improvement, and must become the preferred route. The Bill aims to ensure "fair" compensation to farmers. Land prices are typically understated in sale deeds to evade stamp duty. Most state governments fix a minimum price for each area to limit undervaluation, but actual prices often exceed this minimum. In the past, the local collector typically fixed the acquisition price at 30% above what he judged was the market rate. Farmers complained that this was often less than the true market rate. Besides, land prices typically shot up after acquisition and development, and farmers wanted part of the appreciation that accrued with development. To meet these grievances, the new Bill provides for compensation at double the market price in urban areas and four times the price in rural areas. However, this threatens to convert a problem of undervaluation into gross overvaluation. Already, every politician and rural grandee is into land speculation in a big way, getting insider knowledge of future projects and then buying up all the land in
For the immediate, the attention of the participating governments will no doubt be directed principally towards the Ganga basin where the major population centres are to be found. It is also a region of poverty where lack of sufficient cooperation between the riparian states has inhibited growth and progress. The hydropower potential is sufficient to
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the proposed development area. So, land prices often shoot up well before acquisition. Paying four times this already inflated price will be crazy. To reduce speculative purchases, the new Bill proposes that in the case of recent purchases, half the appreciation on acquisition will go to the original owner. This will help at the margin. But it won't reverse prices already at stratospheric levels that bear no relationship to the land's productive value. Land that rents for 30,000 per acre in Punjab is being sold or acquired for 50 lakh to 1 crore per acre, representing an annual rental return of a pathetic 0.6% to 0.3%. That is a measure of how ridiculously inflated land prices have become, thanks to rampant speculation. UNREALISTIC LAND PRICES The multiple-payment principle of the Bill promises to reward speculation even more, further inflating land prices. In Punjab, for instance, land acquisition has already been done at Rs 1 crore per acre. If the government now has to pay Rs 4 crore per acre for future acquisitions, this will become totally unaffordable by any industry.
will become his tenant. Having Tata or Ambani as his tenant will bestow status on a farmer, whereas outright acquisition will reduce his status to that of the landless. We need to create a new climate in which farmers are stakeholders in industrialisation. This cannot be achieved by acquisition, but through long leases for, say, 30 years, renewable on mutually-agreed terms. CHEAPER LAND FOR INDUSTRY A farmer who has leased his land to industry still owns it, can sell it and can bequeath it. He remains a man of property, and richer than before. He or his children will get another lump sum and higher rent after 30 years. If the rent is fixed at, say, double the typical farm income, this should be welcome to the farmer. In the bargain, this will make land much more affordable to industry, improving its global competitiveness. Companies will not have to make large upfront payments for land, paying just a reasonable rent. They will happily renegotiate leases every 30 years. It will be a win-win situation. Whatever legislation may emerge from New Delhi, the states will ultimately decide how to implement it. They need to enact their own legislation facilitating long leases, and then go wholesale for the lease option. Source: Economic Times
India today suffers from a record current account deficit, reflecting a loss of competitiveness. Instead of restoring the old competitive edge, high costs of land acquisition will permanently blunt that edge. There is no earthly reason why land in India should be far more costly than in competing neighbours like Thailand or Indonesia, which have a higher percapita income than India.
Besides, it has commonly been observed that when farmers get a large lump sum for their acquired land, they often blow it up in conspicuous consumption, and can soon be left with almost nothing. Having already lost their main asset and livelihood, this puts them in a sorry state. Only a few invest their money wisely in other assets and investments yielding a regular income.
Finally, owning land in rural areas bestows social status on the owner. The landless have no status. A farmer whose land is acquired loses not just his land but also status (save for the few who buy land with compensation money). This is an important reason for resistance to acquisition. LANDLESS TO RICH LANDLORD Compulsory leasing, instead of acquisition, will solve most of these problems. The farmer will get a lump sum upfront, followed by steady rental income in years to follow, ensuring he does not blow up his cash gains. Instead of becoming landless, he will be a landlord, and the company that leases his plot
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SOCIAL DISTORTIONS MUST BE TACKLED
Commoditification of women as objects of pleasure and commercialisation of the female body in the media, facilitate heinous crimes such as rapes It is hardly surprising that the demonstrations convulsing Delhi over the rape of a five-year-old child a few days ago have targeted Delhi Police; the latter is directly responsible for preventing and detecting crime and successfully prosecuting criminals. Anger against it for the alarming rise in the incidence of rape in the most savage form in the national capital, is all the more understandable because one had expected the police to become more alert and serious in responding to crimes against women following last December's gang rape of a young woman and the explosion of public fury that followed. Its utterly callous reaction to the child's rape and the vicious slapping of a young woman protester by a uniformed officer, suggests that nothing of the sort has happened. A police force, however, is one of the several agents, albeit a very important one, active in a country's criminal landscape. While good policing
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has a critical deterrent role in crime prevention, social and cultural conditions which conduce to criminality in individuals also constitute a vital factor. It is time that people both in Government and the civil society gave serious thought to the matter, bearing in mind that no uniform causative pattern can hold good for an extremely diverse country like India. In the case of rape, the causes accounting for it are often very different in rural and urban areas. In urban areas, an important source of crime, including rape, are the increasingly large floating populations of rural migrants in search of livelihood. This is because the fear of familial and societal disapprobation that inhibit delinquent behaviour in villages is often absent in urban areas. Even when a migrant becomes a part of a group from his own area, members of the latter are often too preoccupied with their own very considerable problems of coping with life's many challenges to keep an eye on new arrivals. Often, older migrants themselves have succumbed to the temptations that urban life offers and to which they, sans the restraining factors at home, are vulnerable. In such cases, they initiate new arrivals into less inhibited city life and even crime where they themselves are involved in it.
growth of advertising, the cutting edge of the market economy, which not only stokes the desire for possession and consumption but makes both measures of a person's worth. One must, therefore, give a cold, hard look at the forms of entertainment flooding big and small screens and of advertisements flooding media. The argument that any curb would be contrary to the norms of sexual and creative freedom will not wash. Sexual freedom and commercial exploitation of sex are totally different things. The former is essentially a question of choice within the ambit of personal morality and consensual relationships. If anything, mass commercialisation of sex distorts the social context in the midst of which that choice is exercised. Source: The Pioneer
In the cases of migrants, anonymity is an important contributing factor to crime. The chances of being identified while committing a crime are relatively fewer in the city where they are not recognised in most parts of its vast sprawl, than in their villages where they are known by their faces and names. The realisation emboldens some people. Besides, there are the questions of recognition and identity. By instinct humans are gregarious, seek relationships with others and abhor loneliness. An identity not only gives one a sense of worth but it is also the basis of recognition which, in turn, is the starting point of relationships. Unfulfilled desire for human relationships and recognition can sometimes lead to sub-conscious efforts to extract recognition in the form of violent criminal action and the ephemeral sado-masochistic relationship it establishes with the victims. Rape is one of the most savage forms of sadistic domination.
The commoditification of women as objects of pleasure and the commercialisation of female body in advertisements, films and television serials, facilitate rape. It is robbery of a woman's inviolability as an individual human being. In the sense of its being the most horrific form of robbery, rape is an extension of robbery whose incidence, along with that of theft, has been constantly rising with the
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Not Nuanced
Succumbing to the bogey of fear
In the Bhullar case, the Supreme Court has created a category of 'terrorists' among those sentenced to death without providing a constitutional basis for it Writing on extra-judicial killings in the Economic and Political Weekly in March 1996, K.G. Kannabiran narrated a very interesting anecdote from his experience on the Civil Rights Committee appointed by Jayaprakash Narayan to investigate fake encounters orchestrated during the Emergency against naxalites. While interacting with people in Giraypalli village (where some of the killings had taken place), Kannabiran suggested to them that the killing of four naxalites by the police was perhaps justified by the fact that the naxalites had killed a local moneylender. Kannabiran recollected an "undernourished, half-naked shepherd" replying, "sir, what are the courts there for?" Kannabiran contrasted the nuanced response of the shepherd to a question posed by four young advocates in the Bar Association at the Andhra Pradesh High Court the very same day. In response to their question why naxalites should be given the protection of the very Constitution whose legitimacy they deny, Kannabiran's reply was "their parents had wasted hard-earned money on educating them." Unfortunately, the argument of the four young advocates also lies at the heart of the decision by a two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court in Devender Pal Singh Bhullar v. State of N.C.T of Delhi. The Supreme Court in Bhullar was asked to decide whether a delay in deciding a mercy petition under Articles 72 or 161 of the Constitution would, by itself,
A belief in the values protected in the Indian Constitution is not a condition precedent to invoking the protections contained therein. Nor is an active denial of the legitimacy of the Constitution a ground for denying constitutional guarantees. It is the very basis for a rule of law society and a Constitution would be meaningless if it were to be otherwise. In that context, it is surprising that Justices Singhvi and Mukhopadhaya view mercy petitions and the claim for commutation due to delay as a paradox when filed by 'terrorists.' The only reason the judgment provides for viewing it as a paradox is the nature of the acts committed by the 'terrorists.' In the judgment there is no critical engagement with problematic trends in prosecutions under various anti-terror laws and the abuse of such legislation. What seems to be in play is the rather un-nuanced assumption that all those who are sentenced to death under anti-terror legislation are these evil individuals who planned, plotted and executed mass murder. Even a cursory glance at the convictions under antiterror legislation will show that the sentence of death is imposed for far less. The judgment invokes the imagery of terrorists killing hundreds of innocent civilians, police personnel and soldiers losing their lives, waging war against the state, using bullets, bombs and other weapons for mass murder, demonstrating complete
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be a sufficient ground for commuting a sentence of death to life imprisonment. There were many ways in which the Court could have decided that central question but what is on display in its judgment is certainly not a rigorous and nuanced constitutional reasoning. In paragraph 40 of the judgment the Court holds the jurisprudence developed by earlier judicial decisions, that undue delay could be one of the factors that leads to commutation, to be inapplicable for those sentenced to death under TADA and similar anti-terror legislation. In effect, the holding of the Court is that undue delay in execution has no impact on the death sentence for 'terrorists' but has constitutional relevance for everyone else sentenced to death. The Court sees a paradox in 'terrorists' seeking mercy under the Constitution when they showed no mercy themselves. The Court of course offers no reasons for viewing that as a paradox while adjudicating constitutional rights or why that very same consideration does not apply to non-terrorists sentenced to death. Apart from invoking rhetoric that is familiar to us from shallow television debates, the Supreme Court's decision in Bhullar raises significant constitutional concerns and is difficult to reconcile with its earlier decisions.
lack of respect for human life and utter disregard for the extremely tragic consequences for the kin of the people they kill. All of those images are true of India's struggle against terrorism but none of that justifies the conclusion of the Supreme Court that undue delay in execution has no constitutional significance for 'terrorists' sentenced to death. The Supreme Court does admit that undue delay in execution is a relevant factor for commutation in all cases other than terrorism. What the judgment fails to do is show us the constitutional basis for such a distinction. For large sections of our society, acts of terrorism might come attached with a much higher degree of moral abhorrence than other crimes that attract the death penalty, but the judgment provides no reason why this popular sentiment must find its way into constitutional reasoning. A rather obvious constitutional concern is the basis on which the Court has drawn a distinction within the category of individuals who have been sentenced to death. In reaching the conclusion that undue delay in execution is irrelevant while considering commutation of death sentences of 'terrorists,' the Court had the obligation to demonstrate why 'terrorists' must be placed in a worse-off position compared to other death row prisoners. The larger issue is the impact of the undue delay in execution on death row prisoners as such. The Court needed to do at least one of two things to establish the distinction that it has ended up making: i) show that the 'terrorists' on death row are not in the same category as others on death row and by virtue of that are entitled to lesser constitutional protection in the context of undue delay, or ii) show that the physical and mental effects arising from undue delay in execution impacts 'terrorists' differently when compared to others on death row. Clearly, the Court has not chosen to go with the second option because that is an impossible argument to make. That argument would take us very close to the dangerous argument that 'terrorists are not human beings' and the Court is not willing to bite that bullet. It chooses to base its reasoning on the first option and does so without sufficient constitutional rigour. It lacks constitutional rigour because the Court ends up creating a super-category of 'terrorist' death row prisoners within the larger category of all death row prisoners. It is a category unknown to Indian constitutional law and criminal jurisprudence. Indian death penalty jurisprudence and the judicial decisions on the effects of undue delay on death row prisoners do not recognise any such different category within death row prisoners.
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All death row prisoners, irrespective of whether they are 'terrorists' or not, are deemed to have committed 'rarest of rare' crimes. And once that is established, they are subject to the same deprivation of liberties and protection of the Constitution as everyone else on death row. Three cases decided by the Supreme Court before Bhullar are relevant to the discussion on the impact of undue delay in execution for commutation. In T.V. Vatheeswaran v. State of Tamil Nadu (February 1983), Justices O. Chinnappa Reddy and R.B Misra held that a delay in execution of the death sentence beyond two years would entitle the death row prisoner to a commutation under Article 21. However, in March 1983, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court in Sher Singh v. State of Punjab overruledVatheeswaran on the limited point that it was not possible to lay down a rigid time period after which undue delay in execution would entitle a death row prisoner to commutation. The judgment in Sher Singh was clear that undue delay in execution would continue to be one of the important factors and along with that the Court would also look into the nature of the offence, impact on contemporary society, motivation of the crime, etc., before finally deciding the issue of commutation. A five-judge bench in Triveniben v. State of Gujarat (February 1989) confirmed the ruling in Sher Singh and held that undue delay in execution would not, by itself, entitle a death row prisoner to commutation. Precedent Misapplied
involved in gruesome killing and mass murder of innocent civilians and raise the bogey of human rights." The extremely strong suggestion that the cause of protecting the constitutional rights of 'terrorists' must not be espoused is unbecoming of the Supreme Court of the world's largest democracy. Irrespective of whether one subscribes to the extremely conservative opinion of the Justices on protecting the human rights of 'terrorists', the above analysis demonstrates the constitutional infirmities with the opinion in Bhullar. Source: The Hindu Power of the rurban
The judgment in Bhullar misapplies these precedents because the ruling in the cases is used to come to the conclusion that undue delay in execution cannot be taken into consideration for those convicted under anti-terror legislation. The judgments in Sher Singh and Triveniben require that every claim for commutation is considered in its particular context and within the framework of the relevant considerations. It strongly reinforces the need for individualised consideration and certainly does not support the conclusion that undue delay in execution is an irrelevant factor for a certain category of death row prisoners. The Court found the two-year rule in Vatheeswaran to be problematic because it did not allow for individualised consideration and the judgment in Bhullar commits the same error by taking away undue delay as a relevant factor for all 'terrorists' sentenced to death. If one were to go by what Justices Singhvi and Mukhopadhaya state in the last line of paragraph 40 of the judgment, this article might well be joining "the bandwagon to espouse the cause of terrorists
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An expanding segment of the population is voting and consuming robustly The fast expanding grey area between India's urban and rural segments - you could call it semirural or rurban - is increasingly determining the shape of India's democracy as well as market economy. This aspirational segment has grown faster than you could imagine and the people here are consuming and voting robustly. The 2009 National Election Study by CSDS found that the much touted "urban voter apathy" was a misnomer in the semirural areas with urban characteristics. This segment not only recorded, on average, 10 per cent higher voting than metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore, it also saw higher voting than the rural constituencies. So the rurban voter, who is participating in a dynamic market economy, is voting with a lot more passion than seen before. The outcome of the 2014 general elections will be shaped in some ways by this growing segment. To get an idea of how this rurban segment has grown over the past decade, one has to just see the increase in the number of census towns that do not have a municipal set-up and are administered by panchayats. India's population census shows that in 2001, there were a little over 5,000 towns, of which about 1,200 were census towns with a rurban character. A decade later, in 2011, the total number of towns was 8,000, of which 4,000 were census towns. So, 90 per cent of the increase in urbanisation over this decade happened in the form of census towns under panchayat administration. This is the most fascinating and unique aspect of India's rurbanisation. An extensive study of this phenomenon by the global investment firm, Credit Suisse, says "a meaningful part of urbanisation in India is just villages growing larger, merging together, moving
Instead, we seem to have a growing number of village clusters coming together to create viable
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away from agriculture, and thus being classified as towns". These new rurban entities appear to have evolved organically and have assumed a life of their own. In some ways, they may approximate the Gandhian notion of a highly decentralised village economy. In contrast, Karl Marx had envisaged that the forces of capitalism would herd together scattered village populations into dense and optimal production and consumption centres. India doesn't seem to be strictly following this pattern, witnessed in the West through the spread of 20th century capitalism. It may be partly because in the mid-20th century you could naturally build a brand new town with half a million population just around a big steel mill that employed over 1,50,000 workers. Today, technology advances ensure that the same steel mill can be run by less than 10,000 workers. So, massive technology change itself could be resulting in India not creating more steel townships like Bhilai or Bokaro, which Nehru had conceptualised.
production and consumption units, moving away from agriculture, into services and small manufacturing. Some economists may be tempted to dismiss this as a highly unviable and low equilibrium economy caused by lack of policy planning. But this is not just about pure economics and there are deeper tendencies - social and cultural - that need to be studied before rejecting India's growing "rurban" base out of hand. And mind you, the complexity of this tendency may vary from state to state. Gujarat may have a very different framework from Uttar Pradesh or Orissa. Gujarat may be less complex in this regard and probably that is what gives so much confidence to Narendra Modi when he speaks of development with such clarity. Modi, perhaps, believes that such clarity on economic development can be easily brought to states like UP and Bihar. As a purely hypothetical exercise, it might be interesting to imagine Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar switching jobs for a full five-year term.
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Also, a decade ago, agriculture was about a half of the rural GDP. Today it is just 25 per cent of the rural GDP. This also reflects the organic rurbanisation happening in the countryside. A small example at the micro level might illustrate the macro tendency better. I spoke to a taxi driver, Ashok Kumar, who has a 3.5 acre piece of farmland near Bulandshahr in western UP. He earns about
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On a more serious note, rurban markets in India have shown a very interesting pattern of transformation. Village clusters begin to have urban characteristics when a large number of people start moving away from agriculture. One definition of urban is places where less than 25 per cent of the population is engaged in agriculture. Another criterion is a minimum density of 400 persons per square kilometre in a population of 5,000. If one goes by these two parameters, the transition away from agriculture has accelerated over the past five years. According to the Credit Suisse study "the drop in male employment in agriculture over the last five years is equal to the shift away over the previous 27 years. Further, over 75 per cent of new factories during the last decade came up in rural India, contributing to 70 per cent of new manufacturing jobs. Manufacturing in rural India is now 55 per cent of India's manufacturing GDP. Growth in services is equally robust in rural India".
Rs. 10,000 a month, working for the taxi service, and sends about Rs 6,000 home for his wife and two kids. He spends about Rs 900 a month on the schooling of both children, including their daily pocket money of Rs 10. Grain and vegetables largely come from the farm. Interestingly, much of the farm activity is outsourced. How? Ashok's younger brother hires a tractor and the required labour for the sowing and harvesting. Ashok says farmers in the nearby villages have begun to aggregate their small farms to collectively outsource the hard work of sowing and harvesting through mechanised means. This is the big change. Earlier, they would physically do the back-breaking work and have no leisure time. Now Ashok's brother, after outsourcing the farm work, has enough time to study at a technical training institute. Soon, the family becomes a multiple income earning entity, instead of just depending on agriculture. There is a new division of labour happening in rural India. This is what is being captured as the new aspiration emerging from the highest-voting rurban segment as framed by the CSDS national election study. It is this class - largely made up of non-upper castes - that will also decide how future governments are voted into power. Source: Indian Express
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Weekly Current Affairs Bulletin: 1 April 2013 To 7 APRIL, 2013

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