11th Nov- 12th Nov 2014

Bombay High Court ruled in favour of Vodafone in 3200 crore rupees tax case

11-OCT-2014

Bombay High Court on 10 October 2014 ruled in favour of Vodafone in 3200 crore rupees tax dispute case. The ruling was given by the division bench of the Bombay High Court, headed by Chief Justice Mohit Shah.
In its ruling the court held that there was no question of imposing tax to the tune of 3200 crore rupees on Vodafone India Services Pvt. Ltd. (VISPL) as the case does not relate to transfer pricing.
The court further ruled that there is no taxable income arising out of the issue of shares. Share premium received on the issue of shares is not taxable. Hence, VISPL was not liable to pay the additional tax amount of over 3200 crore rupees.

About the Case

The order stems from a case in which the Income Tax department imposed tax on VISPL to the tune of 3200 crore rupees. It imposed the tax on the ground that, VISPL issued the shares to its foreign holding company for fiscal year 2009-10 at a premium which was under-priced.
Since, the under-pricing of shares by the VISPL was covered by transfer pricing and hence it was liable to pay tax on the shortfall of premium. As a result IT department issued a show-cause notice to Vodafone India on 17 January 2014.
VISPL challenged the Income Tax Department, and argued that the share premium received on the issue of shares was never taxable as there was no income from the transaction.

Comment

The ruling will bring a big relief to other dozens of companies who have been fighting similar transfer pricing related tax cases with IT department and will help improve business and foreign investor’s sentiments in the country.
Apart from Vodafone India, Shell India Markets Pvt. Ltd and Leighton India Contractors Pvt. Ltd have also moved the court against similar show-cause notices and so-called transfer pricing orders by the IT Department.

About Transfer Pricing
Transfer pricing refers to the practice of arm’s length pricing for transactions between group companies based in different countries to ensure that a fair price—one that would have been charged to an unrelated party—is levied.

Karnataka government prohibited strike at Bosch plant in Bangalore

11-OCT-2014

Karnataka government on 10 October 2014 prohibited the ongoing strike at the auto component maker Bosch’s plant in Bangalore. The workers are on strike since 16 September 2014 in support of their demands pertaining to wages, benefits and regularisation of temporary workers.
The release from German automaker Bosch Ltd said prior to the order, the Labour Department had convened conciliatory meetings between the management and workers. However, the proceedings did not result in a mutually agreeable resolution.
It further said that it will continue to adopt a fair, but firm approach, and asked the workers to call off the strike, report to work and restore normalcy.
On the other hand, President of the employee union of Bosch Limited - MEA (MICO Employee’s Association) S. Prasanna Kumar declared that the strike will continue.
He also said that the Association also filed a writ petition in the Karnataka High Court challenging the conciliation being declared a failure by the government. The hearing is scheduled to take place on 13 October 2014.

About Bosch Ltd

Founded in 1951, Bosch Limited is India’s largest automotive component manufacturer and also one of the largest Indo – German companies in India.
Bosch Limited is also the flagship of the Bosch Group companies in India. The Bosch Group holds 71.18% stake in Bosch Limited.
The company is headquartered in Bangalore with manufacturing facilities at Bangalore, Naganathapura (near Bangalore), Nashik, Jaipur and Goa

GGSS School of Hisar won the U-17 Girls title of 55th Subroto Cup Football tournament

11-OCT-2014

Government Girls Senior Secondary (GGSS) School of Hisar, Haryana on 10 October 2014 won the Under-17 title of the 55th Subroto Cup football tournament.
In the final held at Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi, it defeated Assam's Kiyang Kasiya Memorial Tribal School 3-0.
With this win, GGSS School claimed the purse of 3.5 lakh rupees while the Kiyang Kasiya Memorial Tribal School claimed 2 lakh rupees.
Haryana girls won the tournament on their very first debut and remained the only team not to have conceded a goal in the competition.
The coach of the GGSS School was Ashwini Kumar and the Best player of the tournament went to Renu of GGSS School who topped the goal chart with 12 goals.
In the year 2013, the U-17 title 54th Subroto Cup was won by RMSM Vidyalaya, Nambol Phoijing, Bishnupur,Nambol, Manipur.
Earlier on 30 September 2014, Greenwood High School of Dimapur, Nagaland won the U-14 (Sub-Junior) Boys title of the 55th Subroto Cup football tournament. They defeated Government Model High School, Sector 36, Chandigarh 5-4.
About Subroto Cup Football Tournament
Subroto Cup Football Tournament is an All India Inter School Football Tournament, organized by Subroto Mukerjee Sports Education Society.
This tournament was the brainchild of (late) Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee. He conceived the idea of launching a football tournament, at junior level, in 1958, the year when he was the Chief of the Air Staff.

Third International Day of the Girl Child observed across the world

11-OCT-2014

Third International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC) was observed across the world on 11 October 2014. The theme was Empowering Adolescent Girls: Ending the Cycle of Violence.
The theme of IDGC was selected in recognition of the importance of investing in and empowering girls during adolescence and preventing and eliminating the various forms of violence they experience.
On this day, Governments, the UN system, civil society, and public and private institutions were called on to join forces and reaffirm their commitment to end the scourge of violence against adolescent girls and to promote their empowerment by
• Investing in adolescent girls to equip them with skills, confidence, and life options: through family, schools, technical and vocational education and training, and health, social and economic support systems
• Making infrastructure, services, and technology accessible to girls and effective in meeting their needs for safety, connectivity and mobility
• Facilitating adolescent girls engagement in civic, economic and political life
• Continuing to advocate for making violence against girls and women visible and unacceptable both in private and public domains
• Strengthening data, measurement and the evidence base in relation to the empowerment of and violence against adolescent girls
In India, as a part of IDGC, PM Narendra Modi invited ideas on Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, exhorted the people of India to pledge to create an atmosphere for equality for the girl child and to end gender-based discrimination in India.

About International Day of the Girl Child
The United Nations adopted a resolution in 2011 and designated 11 October as International Day of the Girl Child for promoting the rights of girls and addressing the unique challenges they face.
• IDGC is intended to draw attention to the uncontested fact that everywhere in the world girls face some sort of discrimination.
• The first IDGC was observed in 2012 with the theme Ending Child Marriage and the second IDGC was observed in 2013 with the theme Innovating for Girl’s Education.

Union Ministry of S&T launched The Maithreyi International Visiting Professorship

11-OCT-2014

Union Ministry of Science & Technology on 11 October 2014 launched The Maithreyi International Visiting Professorship in New Delhi. The programme will be jointly supported by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the Union government.
Under the scheme, India will invite 12 leading international science scholars from across the world to visit India as Visiting Professors. Every year the visiting professors will deliver three talks, one each in a school, a college and a research institution.
The video version of the talks will be recorded in Hindi & English and possibly in several other Indian languages. A live web-interaction session with the Visiting Professor on Rajya Sabha Television is also envisaged. All these talks will be made available worldwide on the Internet.
The programme will be beneficial in the sense that through it 36 talks and 12 TV/Radio interactions every year with world’s best professors will bring the greatest in the scientific world face-to-face to all of India.
The globally accessible recordings of the talks will also take science back to the whole world. Sharing knowledge worldwide will inculcate Maithreyi’s desire for knowledge amongst the young and make knowledge the agent of change.

Background
The name Maithreyi has been derived from the epical story of saige Yajnavalkya who had two wives-Maithreyi and Katyaayanee. When Yajnavalkya wished to leave for the forest and thus divide his property amongst his wives, Maithreyi asked him whether she could become immortal through this wealth. Yajnavalkya replied that through wealth one merely became one amongst the many wealthy but it was knowledge which made one immortal. Maithreyi, then declined her share of his property and asked Yajnavalkya to teach her the way of attaining knowledge and, through that, immortality.

International edition of Encyclopedia of Hinduism by India Heritage Research Foundation released

11-OCT-2014

International edition of Encyclopedia of Hinduism by India Heritage Research Foundation was released in New Delhi on 10 October 2014. The encyclopedia was released by Vice-President of India Hamid Ansari. It consists of 11-volumes and approximately 7000 entries.
The aim of Encyclopedia is to show the richness of ancient India and timelessness of Hindu culture and heritage to the entire world, in a way that is authentic, academic, comprehensive and illuminating.
The entries of the Encyclopedia are conveniently prepared under the following areas, viz., art, Hinduism in global context, Women’s issues, scholarships in Hindu studies, Spiritual disciplines, social institutions & movements, sciences, religion & spirituality, polity, philosophy, language & literature, history, historiography & geography.
Subject Areas of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism are presented lucidly and authentically covers the vast panorama of Hinduism, giving a faithful record of the world’s oldest living spiritual tradition.
The project is founded, guided, inspired and led by spiritual leaders, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswat and it is a colossal product of more than 1000 esteemed scholars from around the world.
The Encyclopedia was published by Mandala Earth Publications, an esteemed publisher of California, USA. The Encyclopedia was compiled and edited at the University of South Carolina for many years.
The first Encyclopedia was Encyclopedia Britannica and some of the others Encyclopedia are French and German, Jewish Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics, Encyclopedia of Social Sciences which is replaced by International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Researchers developed a technology that makes visible the movements of HIV virus

11-OCT-2014

A team of researchers developed a technology that makes visible the dance or movements of HIV proteins on the virus' surface. The development may contribute to study how HIV virus infects human immune cells and devise an approach to prevent HIV infection.
The technology was developed by a team of researchers led by Dr. Scott Blanchard of Weill Cornell Medical College of New York, US. The study related to this was published in the Journal Nature in the first week of October 2014.
Development of the Technology
To prevent the HIV infection, one need to prevent the entry of the HIV virus into the immune cells and this could only be possible when one can track the movement of HIV virus on real time basis.
To do this Blanchard and his team adapted an imaging technique that uses fluorescence to measure distance on molecular scale, single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) imaging, to study viral particles.
Then his group developed fluorescent molecules (fluorophores), which they dubbed beacons, and inserted them into the virus's outer covering, known as the envelope.
With two of these special beacons in place, they demonstrated that smFRET imaging technology can be used to visualize how the molecules move over time, when the virus proteins change conformation.
Equipped with smFRET imaging technology, the team studied the movement of proteins on the surface of the HIV virus called envelope proteins. Envelope proteins are key to the virus's ability to infect human immune cells carrying CD4 receptor proteins which help HIV bind to a cell.
The envelope protein consists of three gp120 and gp41 proteins positioned close together, and referred to as trimers that open up like a flower in the presence of CD4, exposing the gp41 subunit that is essential for subsequent aspects of the mechanism that causes infection.

Prime Minister launched Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana to realise Gram Swaraj

11-OCT-2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) on the birth anniversary of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan on 11 October 2014. SAGY will be implemented under the overall supervision of Union Ministry of Rural Development.
The programme is an ambitious village development project under which each Member of Parliament will take the responsibility for developing physical and institutional infrastructure in three villages by 2019.
The primary goal is to develop three Adarsh Grams or model villages by March 2019, of which one would be achieved by 2016. Thereafter, five such Adarsh Grams (one per year) will be selected and developed by 2024.

Objective of the SAGY

The main objectives of SAGY are:

To trigger processes which lead to holistic development of the identified Gram Panchayats
To substantially improve the standard of living and quality of life of all sections of the population through: a) Improved basic amenities; b) Higher productivity; c) Enhanced human development; d) Better livelihood opportunities; e) Reduced disparities; f) Access to rights and entitlements; g) Wider social mobilization; and h) Enriched social capital
To generate models of local level development and effective local governance which can motivate and inspire neighbouring Gram Panchayats to learn and adapt
To nurture the identified Adarsh Grams as schools of local development to train other Gram Panchayats

Main highlights of the SAGY

It aims to keep the soul of rural India alive while providing its people with quality access to basic amenities and opportunities to enable them to shape their own destiny.
It places equal stress on nurturing values of national pride, patriotism, community spirit, self-confidence and on developing infrastructure.
It is unique and transformative as it has a holistic approach towards development.
It envisages integrated development of the selected village across multiple areas such as agriculture, health, education, sanitation, environment, livelihoods etc.
SAGY aims at instilling certain values, such as people's participation, Antyodaya, gender equality, dignity of women, social justice, spirit of community service and etc in the villages and their people so that they get transformed into models for others.
The gram panchayat would be the basic unit for development. It will have a population of 3000-5000 in plain areas and 1000-3000 in hilly, tribal and difficult areas.
In districts where this unit size is not available, the gram panchayats approximating the desirable population size may be chosen.
The MP would be free to identify a suitable gram panchayat for being developed as Adarsh Gram, other than his/her own village or that of his/her spouse.
The scheme will be implemented through a Village Development Plan that would be prepared for every identified gram panchayat with special focus on enabling every poor household to come out of poverty.
The constituency fund, MPLADS, would be available to fill critical financing gaps.
SAGY gives focus to community participation.
The participation of women in the decision-making process will be encouraged. The scheme envisages holding Mahila Sabhas and Bal Sabhas to discuss women and children specific issues and concerns.
Ensuring universal access to education facilities, adult literacy, e-literacy are also important goals of SAGY.
Adoption and adaptation of technology and introduction of innovations are critical to this programme. This will include use of space application and remote sensing for planning, mobile based technology for monitoring, agriculture technology for increasing productivity etc.
At the national level, a separate, real time web based monitoring system will be put in place for the scheme covering all aspects and components.

Monitoring of SAGY

The Union Ministry of Rural Development will put in place a specially designed capacity building programme for government functionaries at different levels including gram panchayats.
At the state level, there will be an Empowered Committee headed by the Chief Secretary consisting of the relevant departments and including experts, as required with at least two civil society representatives.
The District Collector will be the nodal officer for implementing the SAGY. He will conduct a monthly review meeting with representatives of the participating Line Departments. The Members of Parliament concerned will chair the review meetings.

Conclusion
The announcement for launching the SAGY was made by PM Narendra Modi from the rampart of Red Fort while delivering the Independence Day speech on 15 August 2014. SAGY intends to translate the Mahatma Gandhi's concept of Gram Swaraj wherein Adarsh Grams will be the nucleus of health, cleanliness, greenery and cordiality within the community.

India and UK government launched UK-India Financial Partnership

11-OCT-2014

India and the UK government launched UK-India Financial Partnership to strengthen Links Between the Financial Services Industries on 10 October 2014 in New Delhi.
The decision to launch the Partnership was taken by the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne at the seventh UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue in New Delhi in July 2014.
The Partnership will strengthen links between the Financial Services industries of both countries and deepen cooperation between London and Mumbai.
Financial Services industry of the two countries will be represented by Uday Kotak, Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Bank and Sir Gerry Grimstone, Chairman of Standard Life and The City.
Both the industry leaders will summon working groups of professionals to examine key areas of common interest and will report the progress.
They will make recommendations to the Minister of Finance of India and the Chancellor of the Exchequer of UK at the eighth UK–India Economic and Financial Dialogue, which will be held in 2015.
The Partnership will initially focus on the following work-streams
• Collaboration to develop the corporate bond market
• Mutual sharing of expertise on banking regulation and capitalisation
• Enhancing financial training and qualification
• Financial inclusion
• Developing programme around the opportunities to improve cross border provision of financial and insurance services

Union MoUD constituted 17-member Committee on decongesting roads of New Delhi

11-OCT-2014

Union Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) on 10 October 2014 constituted a 17-member Committee to suggest ways to decongest roads of New Delhi.
The 17-member committee will be chaired by the Secretary of Union MoUD. The committee will seek corrective interventions on priority.
The committee will also take into account all the technical, financial and administrative aspects of the project.
The committee has been directed to submit its report along with a proposed action plan by the first week of November 2014.
The committee was formed after media reports highlighted traffic congestion on the roads of the national capital.

The problem of congestion of roads in New Delhi

In a survey undertaken in 2012 by the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and the Railway Infrastructure Technical & Economic Services (RITES), it was predicted that by 2020, the top speed in Delhi would be 5 km per hour, that is, to cover a distance of 15 km, it will take three hours!!
Even though Delhi has the most extensive road network at 21 per cent of its geographical area but it is saturated and choked with vehicles.
The problem surfaces from the fact that Delhi has six million vehicles with 1200 more added daily. But road space isn't increasing at the same pace. The problem is further compounded by the fact that about 12 lakh vehicles pass through the capital daily, clogging its nine highways.
Moreover, half of the woes on city roads are because of congestion spillover from the NCR, where several road and flyover projects are still incomplete.
The consequence of this can be gauged from the fact that six years of Delhiites' careers are spent in snarls and 7 million man hours and 100 crore rupees in productivity are lost to gridlocks, making the capital the worst congested city in India.

Month-long Akashdeep ritual started in Varanasi to honour fallen soldiers

11-OCT-2014

The month-long ritual Akashdeep (skylight) started in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on 10 October 2014 to honour the soldiers who laid down their lives for the motherland since Independence in 1947.
The month-long ritual is observed by lighting up the lanterns dedicated to fallen soldiers on the banks of River Ganges in Varanasi. The ritual is observed in the Hindu month of Karthik every year by peoples from all walks of life.
The ritual dates back to the ancient rimes, when it was observed to honour the sacrifices of the dead soldiers in the epic Mahabharata war. But it was rekindled in Varanasi after Kargil war in 1999 with Pakistan.

ATSB released Flight Path Analysis Update on lost Malaysian plane MH370

11-OCT-2014

Australian Transportation Safety Board (ATSB) on 8 October 2014 released Flight Path Analysis Update on lost Malaysian Boeing plane MH370.
The update is the first official account of the last minutes of the aircraft and is based on flight simulations that recreated its final moments.
It revealed that Malaysian plane MH370 went into a shallow left turn at 35000 feet above the Indian Ocean before rapidly spiralling down into the sea after its fuel ran out.
According to ATSB, the right-hand engine of the Boeing 777 aircraft was likely to have cut out first after its fuel ran out and the left engine stopped seconds later.
The latest report was based on the assumption that the flight flew on autopilot hours before it ran out of fuel and went down into the ocean.
Flight MH370 went missing since the early hours of 8 March 2014, when it left Kuala Lumpur for Beijing with 239 passengers and crew on board.
About Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is Australia's national transport safety investigator. It was given the responsibility for leading the search for MH370 by the Malaysian government after analysis of radar data and subsequent satellite communication (SATCOM) system signalling messages placed the aircraft in the Australian search and rescue zone in the southern part of the Indian Ocean.
Other Coordinating Agencies involved in the search of MH370 are:

•   Air Accidents Investigation Branch (UK)
•   Boeing (US)
•   Defence Science and Technology Organisation (Australia)
•   Department of Civil Aviation (Malaysia)
•   Inmarsat (UK)
•   National Transportation Safety Board (US)
•   Thales (UK)

Gujarat government set up SPV to promote Vadodara as Cultural capital

11-OCT-2014

Gujarat government on 10 October 2014 set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to promote Vadodara as the cultural capital of Gujarat and encourage tourism in Vododara.
The SPV set up will be known as Vadodara International Art and Culture Festival Authority and it will be headed by State Tourism and Finance Minister Saurabh Patel.
Thus, Gujarat became the first state in India to set up the authority for promoting tourism.
Gujarat government also decided to hold a bi-annual Vadodara International Art and Culture Festival (VADFEST) in January 2015 to promote tourism.
Vadodara International Art and Culture Festival (VADFEST)
The festival will comprise of celebration of art, dance, drama, culture, food, films, and also there will be a special children's theatre festival.
Popular artistes in various fields from across the country will participate in the festival, especially actress Hema Malini, veteran playback singer Asha Bhosale, and musicians Pt Hariprasad Chaursia and AR Rehman.
The festival will give a boost to tourism, hotel industry, real estate and also open doors for investment in industries, education and IT for the Vadodara.
Comment
Vadodara has the potential of becoming cultural capital of India as it has World Heritage Sites like Champaner, Pavagadh hills among others and also has site Lakshmi Vilas Palace belonging to the royal Gaekwad dynasty of the Marathas.
Besides, world’s tallest Statue of Unity is going to be built in the memory of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel near Sardar Sarovar dam, about 100 kms from Vadodara.

Union Health Minister launched National Mental Health Policy of India

11-OCT-2014

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on 10 October 2014 launched the National Mental Health Policy of India. It was the first ever Mental Health Policy of India which was launched on the occasion of first ever National Mental Health Day organised by the Union government.
The National Mental Health Policy has been prepared on the basis of the recommendations made by the Policy Group on Mental Health constituted by the Union Government in April 2011.
The Policy is in consonance with the intent of Resolution WHA 65.4 adopted at the 65th World Health Assembly held in Geneva in 2012 to which India also was a party. The Resolution WHA 65.4 highlights the global burden of mental disorders and the need for a comprehensive, co-ordinated response from the health and social sectors at the community level.
Vision of the Policy
The vision of the National Mental Health Policy is to promote mental health, prevent mental illness, enable recovery from mental illness, promote destigmatization and desegregation, and ensure socio-economic inclusion of persons affected by mental illness by providing accessible, affordable and quality health and social care to all persons through their life-span within a right based frame work.
Goals of the Policy
To reduce distress, disability, exclusion morbidity and premature mortality associated with mental health problems across life span of the person.
To enhance understanding of the mental health in the country
To strengthen the leadership in the mental health sector at the national, state and district levels.
Objectives of the Policy
To provide universal access to mental health care
To increase access to and utilisation of comprehensive mental health services by persons with mental health problems.
To increase access to mental health care especially to vulnerable groups including homeless persons, persons in remote areas, educationally, socially and deprived sections.
To reduce prevalence and impact of risk factors associated with mental health problems
To reduce risk and incidence of suicide and attempted suicide
To ensure respect for rights and protection from harm of persons with mental health problems
To reduce stigma associated with mental health problems
To enhance availability and equitable distribution of skilled human resources for mental health
To progressively enhance financial allocation and improve utilisation for mental health promotion and care
To identify and address the social, biological and psychological determinants of mental health problems and to provide appropriate interventions
Past attempt in framing a National Mental Health Policy
Earlier in 1987, effort was made to frame a national mental health policy. It resulted into the enactment of Mental Health Act, 1987. But the Act never came into force any of the States and Union territories due to a number of defects.
The Mental Health Act, 1987sought to replace earlier laws governing the mentally ill, the Indian Lunatic Asylum Act, 1858, and Indian Lunacy Act, 1912. These Acts largely ignored the human rights aspect and were concerned only with custodial issues.
Comment
According to World Health Organisation, about 20 percent of India's population would suffer from some form of mental illness by 2020. However, the country has only about 3500 psychiatrists. Therefore, the government is confronted with the problem of lowering this gap significantly over the next decade.
Further, there exists a bi-directional relationship between mental ill health and poverty which is evident in many reports, including the World Disability Report, 2010. This alerts us to what could become a health crisis with damaging consequences for society.

Act East Policy: the new buzzword in Indian Foreign Policy

12-NOV-2014

Act East Policy was recently in news due to the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Myanmar to attend the India-ASEAN Summit and the 18-nation East Asia Summit.
Act East Policy builds upon the Look East Policy that was envisioned in the era of 1990’s under the then Prime Minister of India P V Narsimha Rao.
The need for an Act East Policy was articulated by External Affairs Minister in August 2014 during her visit to Vietnam as slogan Look East is no longer adequate.
The new Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a new dimension to the Look East Policy. It tries to make the initiatives taken under Look East Policy more pro-active and hence it has been termed Look East Policy 2.0 by some defence analysts.
The Act East policy envisages accelerated across-the-board engagement between the two growth poles of a vibrant Asia, that is, India and ASEAN countries.
It also articulates India’s effort aimed at bolstering extensive strategic and economic ties with Southeast Asian countries so as to tap them for greater investment. The investment especially aimed in the infrastructure sector and also to connect trade points in the region.
Commerce, Culture and Connectivity would be the three pillars of India’s robust engagement with ASEAN.

The policy will bring greater economic benefit to the northeastern region in India and would possibly act a counterweight to the influence of China in the region.

Indian-American Aditi Hardikar appointed as new White house LGBT liaison

12-NOV-2014

Indian-American Aditi Hardikar was on 11 November 2014 appointed to a key White House position as liaison with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community as well as the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.
She replaced Indian-American Gautam Raghavan who has now joined the Gill Foundation. Presently, Hardikar served as the director of the LGBT Leadership Council at Democratic National Committee.

Aditi Hardikar

A graduate of the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Aditi Hardikar earned her BA in Economics and Political Science.
Prior to joining the White House, she served as Director of the LGBT Leadership Council and Director of the AAPI Leadership Council for the Democratic National Committee.
She also served as a White House intern in the Office of Public Engagement, where she worked on LGBT issues.
She also served as the LGBT Finance Director for the Presidential Inaugural Committee in 2013 and the Deputy Director of LGBT Voter Outreach and LGBT Finance for the 2012 Obama-Biden President Campaign.

National Education Day observed on 11 November

12-NOV-2014

National Education Day (NED) was observed on 11 November 2014 to mark of the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. This NED was 125th birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
During the celebration, President Pranab Mukherjee and other ministers paid floral tributes to Azad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi saluted Azad and described him as scholar, freedom fighter and a man who devoted his life towards nation building.
Ministry of Human Resource Development launched the following new initiatives to mark the National Education Day.
• Saksham initiative is a college level scholarship for differently abled, needy and meritorious children.
• Pragati initiative is a scholarship for girl students who are pursuing technical education at college level.
• Skill Assessment Matrix for Vocational Advancement of Youth (SAMAVAY) allows multiple pathways between Vocational education - skills, education and job markets. Skill Credit Framework document provides the SAMAVAY which will facilitate India to harness the potential of young India.
• Know your College Portal is an application developed for helping a prospective student make a valued judgment of the college student wishes to join by providing them the necessary information about the college.
• Unnat Bharat Abhiyan involves higher educational institutions to work with the people of rural India in identifying development challenges and evolving appropriate solutions for accelerating sustainable growth.
About National Education Day
• National Educational Day was observed on the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, first Education minister of Independent India.
• In 2008, Government of India declared that Azad’s birth anniversary will be celebrated as the National Education Day.

Former IPS Officer K C Reddy appointed as the member of UN probe panel on Gaza

12-NOV-2014

Former Indian Police Service (IPS) Officer K C Reddy was on 11 November 2014 appointed as the member of United Nations (UN) probe panel on Gaza. Earlier, KC Reddy served as a UN security advisor for Syria.
Reddy was named to the internal and independent United Nations Headquarters Board of Inquiry that will be chaired by Patrick Cammaert of The Netherlands.
The other members of the panel are Patrick Cammaert, Maria Vicien-Milburn of Argentina, Lee O’Brien of the United States and Pierre Lemelin of Canada.
Background
The UN probe panel was set up by UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki-moon to probe the presence of arms on UN premises in the Gaza strip and the damage to its facilities during the conflict between Israel and Palestinian factions.
The panel is aimed at reviewing certain incidents that occurred in the Gaza Strip between 8 July 2014 and 26 August 2014. The fighting raged in this time period saw entire neighbourhoods in the Gaza strip flattened and almost one-third of the area’s population uprooted. The violence killed more than 2100 Palestinians and destroyed over 100000 homes.

UN Chief Ban Ki Moon constituted a Gaza war inquiry headed by Patrick Cammaert

12-NOV-2014

United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon on 11 November 2014 appointed a five-member panel to investigate Israeli attacks on UN shelters during the Gaza war and the discovery of Hamas weapons at UN sites. During its investigation, the panel will focus on incidents from 8 July to 26 August 2014.
The inquiry will be led by retired Dutch general Patrick Cammaert. Other members of the panel include Maria Vicien-Milburn of Argentina, Lee O'Brien of America, Pierre Lemelin of Canada and K.C. Reddy of India.
Earlier in October 2014, Moon during his visit to the site of damaged UN shelters in Gaza described the three Israeli shelling of UN-run schools as a moral outrage. He announced plans to set up a probe during this visit.
However, Israel maintains that Palestinian Hamas fighters were using the schools to store weapons. It also denied that it had deliberately targeted the schools, which were being used as shelters by Palestinians during the 50-day Israeli offensive.
According to UN refugee agency UNRWA, at least five UN facilities were hit during the conflict, killing scores of Palestinians including children. As per UN and Palestinian estimates, during the 50-days fight more than 2100 Palestinians were killed of which maximum were civilians. At least 223 Gaza schools either run by the UN refugee agency or the Hamas government were destroyed in the fighting.
Apart from this panel, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva separately has set up a commission of inquiry into the Gaza offensive, led by Canadian lawyer William Schabas.

Yahoo Inc acquired digital video advertising service BrightRol

12-NOV-2014

Technology giant Yahoo Inc on 11 November 2014 acquired digital video advertising service BrightRoll for about 640 million US dollars.
The move will allow Yahoo to grow its video advertising platform by selling video ads in real-time to marketers. It will make Yahoo's video advertising platform the largest in the United States.
BrightRoll
BrightRoll, based in San Francisco, is an independent and unified video advertising platform for reaching audiences across web, mobile and connected TV.
Since its inception in 2006 by its CEO Tod Sacerdoti, it has built relationships with most of the biggest advertisers in the US.
BrightRoll technology collects and analyzes hundreds of billions of data points monthly enabling real-time decisions that drive Return On Investment (ROI) for advertisers.

Kerala became first state with bank accounts for all families

12-NOV-2014

Kerala became the first state in the country to have bank accounts for all families under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna (PMJDY). A formal declaration to this effect was made by Kerala Finance Minister KM Mani at the State-Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on 11 November 2014.
Under the PMJDY, Kerala has opened about 13 lakh new accounts and has mobilised 326 crore rupees through intensive financial literacy campaigns launched under the aegis of the State Level Banker’s Committee (SLBC).
At present, Kerala have Financial Literacy Centres in all the 152 blocks of Kerala has helped it to achieve the target of PMJDY ahead of schedule. 5.25 lakh rupees debit cards have been issued by all banks.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna is a mega financial inclusion plan aimed at bringing poor financially excluded people into the banking system by providing them bank accounts and debit cards.It was launched on 15 August 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Under the Yojana bank accounts and RuPay debit cards with inbuilt insurance cover of 1 lakh rupees is provided to crores of persons with no access to formal banking facilities.

Sixth World Ayurveda Congress held in New Delhi

11-NOV-2014

Sixth World Ayurveda Congress (WAC) was held in New Delhi from 6 to 9 November 2014. Theme of the sixth WAC was Health Challenges and Ayurveda.
Aim of WAC is to develop a vision and strategy for public action to realize the potential of Ayurveda and improve health care in India and serve as a model for public health globally.
The events at sixth WAC included Seminar on Medicinal Plants, business meets coordinated by Pharmexil, an Editors Conclave, and international Delegates Assembly and a Guru shishya meet.
The WAC showcased how Ayurveda can provide safe, cost-efficient and effective health-care for all, especially in the important areas such as Food and Nutrition, Self-Reliance in Primary Health Care, Mother and Child Care, Prevention, Ayurvedic Management of Chronic Lifestyle Diseases, Veterinary and Plant Medicine, Ageing, Ethics and Moral values.
It was attended by number of delegates and visitors such as heads of nations, Nobel Laureates, renowned spiritual leaders, policy makers, heads of manufacturing companies and world eminent academicians.

Microsoft launched Lumia 535 with 5-Megapixel Front Camera

11-NOV-2014

Microsoft on 11 November 2014 launched Microsoft Lumia 535 with 5-megapixel front camera. Lumia 535 is the first smartphone launched by Microsoft with its own branding since it completed the acquisition of Nokia in April 2014.
The Microsoft Lumia 535 will be available in two variants - single SIM and dual-SIM, called the Lumia 535 Dual SIM. It is priced at an estimated retail price of 8400 rupees approx before taxes and subsidies.
The Microsoft Lumia 535 will first be made available in countries such as China, Hong Kong and Bangladesh, with other countries to follow.
Specifications
It has a 5-inch IPS LCD display screen with a qHD (540x960 pixels) resolution and a pixel density of 220ppi.
It dons 5-megapixel front- and rear-facing camera with an LED flash
It runs Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim update and has 8GB of built-in storage that is further expandable via microSD card (up to 128GB).
It runs on a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor, with 1GB of RAM and a 1,905mAh battery.
It also sports Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection.
It also gets 15GB of free OneDrive cloud storage.
It also supports Bluetooth LE and can connect to accessories such as the Portable Wireless Speaker and Coloud Bang among others.
It will be available in Cyan, Bright Green, Bright Orange, White, Dark Grey, and Black colours.

Salgaocar FC won Durand Cup 2014

11-NOV-2014

Salgaocar FC won Durand Cup on 8 November 2014 and emerged as Durand Cup champion for the third time. It defeated Pune FC by 1-0.
127th Durand Cup played at the Raia Sports Complex, Goa.
Salgaocar scored the all-important goal in the 21st minute through Thangjam Saran Singh. Earlier, the Salgaocar won the title in 1999 and 2003.
The winner got 25 lakh rupees while Pune FC got 15 lakh rupees.
The 2013 Durand Cup won by Mohammedan Sporting Club. It defeated ONGC by 2-1 to win the cup after 40 yea
About Durand Cup
The Durand Cup is a football competition in India. It is co-hosted by the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS) and Osians.
It was first held in 1888, making it the third oldest football tournament in the world.

International Cricket Council raised World Cup prize money by 20 percent

11-NOV-2014

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on 10 November 2014 announced to raise World Cup prize money by 20 percent. The increase will be implemented from the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The decision was taken at a two-day ICC Board meeting in Dubai.
The winners will take home 4.3 million US dollar but if a team remains unbeaten that would rise to more than 4.6 million US dollar.
The new norms provides that a total of 11.5 million US dollar will be available.
The team which loses the final at Melbourne will pocket 2 million US dollar while the two losing semi-finalists will each get 692000 US dollar.
The four losing quarter-finalists will receive 346000 US dollar each while the winners of each group match will get 52000 US dollar.
All six teams eliminated from the first stage will get 40000 US dollar apiece.
other decisions
Playing conditions were also finalised for the World Cup which will be held from 14 February 2015 to 29 March 2015.
The ICC also announced that the Decision Review System (DRS) would be used in all 49 matches and that there would only be reserve days in the knock-out phase.
It also added that there would be no super over in tied matches in the knock-out phase.
In case of a tied quarter-final and semi-final, the side finishing in the higher position in the group stage would progress.

If the final is tied or if the match is a no-result, then the teams will be declared joint winners.
The ICC Board approved cut-off dates for qualification to the 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2019 World Cup.

Times Internet acquired Cricbuzz.com

11-NOV-2014

Times Internet Ltd acquired Cricbuzz com on 11 November 2014. Cricbuzz.com is a leading cricket news and information destination on web and mobile.
Now Cricbuzz and GoCricket, news portal of Times Internet, will be merged to create the largest cricket news destination on digital platforms.
About Time Internet
Times Internet is a largest digital network in India and it is a digital arm of Bharat Corporate Cricket League (BCCL). It has already acquired Moneysights, CouponDunia, DineOut, and MusicFellas in 2014.
GoCricket was started by Times Internet in May 2014 and their services include live streaming IPL (Indian Premier League) matches across devices.
About Cricbuzz
Cricbuzz was founded in 2004 by Akuate Internet Services Pvt Ltd in Bangalore. It is known for its speedy cricket updates especially for mobile user base.

Union Government raised 10000 crore rupees through Cash Management Bills

11-NOV-2014

Cash Management Bills: Union Government raised 10000 crore rupees

Union Government on 10 November 2014 raised 10000 crore rupees from the market through cash management bills (CMBs).
On behalf of the government, RBI conducted the 42 day CMB auction and saved 1.75 percentage points on interest for the exchequer.
CMB is a rarely used instrument that was resorted to only when the exchequer faced a short-term liquidity mismatch.
Why government used CMB
Under the Ways and Means Advance (WMA) facility of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the government can borrow up to 20000 crore rupees till March 2015 to meet such short-term frictional cash shortfall at the repo rate.
If the government borrows anything above that limit, it will have to pay an interest of two percentage points above the repo rate i.e 10% given the current repo rate. However, if the government mobilizes funds through CMB, it usually pays a lower rate of interest.
About CMB
The Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, decided to issue a new short-term instrument, known as Cash Management Bills, to meet the temporary cash flow mismatches of the Government.
The Cash Management Bills will be non-standard, discounted instruments issued for maturities less than 91 days.
The Cash Management Bills will have the generic character of Treasury Bills.
The Cash Management Bills will have the following features:
a) The tenure, notified amount and date of issue of the proposed Cash Management Bills will depend upon the temporary cash requirement of the Government. However, the tenure of the proposed Bills will be less than 91 days.
b) The proposed Bills will be issued at discount to the face value through auctions, as in the case of the Treasury Bills.

c) The announcement of the auction of the proposed Bills will be made by the Reserve Bank of India through separate Press Release to be issued one day prior to the date of auction.
d) The settlement of the auction will be on T+1 basis.
e) The Non-Competitive Bidding Scheme for Treasury Bills will not be extended to the Cash Management Bills.
f) The proposed Bills will be tradable and qualify for ready forward facility. Investment in the proposed Bills will be reckoned as an eligible investment in Government Securities by banks for SLR purpose under Section 24 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

India-Israel joint venture missile LRSAM successfully test fired in Israel

11-NOV-2014

Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM), the missile co-developed by India and Israel, was successfully test-fired on 10 November 2014 from a range in Israel. LRSAM is called Barak 8 missile in Israel.
The missile successfully intercepted a manoeuvring air-breathing target mimicking an attacking combat aircraft. The test also validated all the elements related to the naval and land-based variants of the missile including the phased array radar, battle management system, communications and the interceptor.
The test fire was carried by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in the presence of DRDO scientists and officials of the Indian Armed Forces. DRDO chief and Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister Dr Avinash Chander witnessed the test along with IAI President Joseph Weiss and other top officials of the Israel Defence Forces.
The successful test marked a milestone in bilateral cooperation of the two countries in developing advanced weapon systems.
According to the DRDO sources, LRSAM will be deployed on the newly commissioned INS Kolkata, which had to be inducted without the weapon system due to delays in testing. It would also be deployed on other naval ships including recently commissioned INS Kamrota.
Background
India and Israel in January 2007 signed a 330 million US dollar deal to co-develop an all new generation of the Barak SAM, known as the Barak II. The venture is a tripartite one, between the DRDO, the Indian Navy, and Israel Aerospace Industry (IAI). The missile is referred to as the LRSAM in Indian Government literature.
It has been designed to counter a wide variety of air-borne threats, such as anti-ship missiles, aircraft, UAVs and drones as well as supersonic cruise missiles.

China lifted ban on Social networking websites at APEC Summit

11-NOV-2014

China on 6 November 2014 lifted ban on social networking websites like Face book, Twitter for reporters. This is the first time China has loosened its internet restrictions for a major international event.
China announced to lift the ban on the social networking sites at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Beijing.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum media centre allowed reporters to access social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and video-sharing website YouTube.
It allowed even web search of the Dalai Lama at the conference venue of APEC summit which otherwise is totally banned on the internet. The journalists were also provided with high- speed internet.
The access to such sites is available to only in Beijing and in rest of the places access is essentially restricted by the Government of China.
Scribes can easily log into Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Google which cannot be accessed in China without the help of VPN (Virtual Private Network) connection to be procured from outside.

RBI tightened NBFC norms by requiring them to have stronger capital base

11-NOV-2014

Reserve Bank of India on 10 November 2014 tightened its norms for Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) by requiring them to have a much stronger capital base. Failing to which, the NBFCs would lose their CoR (Certificate of Registration). NBFCs have been given time till March 2017 to comply with the norms.
The step was taken in the wake of public investors increasingly being defrauded in the name of non-banking financial services. Its objective is to mitigate risks in the sector.
Revised norms for NBFCs
The NBFCs in operation before April 1999 have been mandated to increase their minimum Net Owned Fund (NOF) requirement from 25 lakh rupees to 2 crore rupees by 2017 in a phased manner. By March 2016, the NBFCs will have to raise the NOF to 1 crore rupees.
The core capital adequacy ratio for all non-deposit taking NBFCs with an asset size of 500 crore rupees has been streamlined. Such NBFCs will now have to maintain a core capital ratio of 10 percent, compared with a range of 7.5 percent to 12 percent currently.
The criteria for directors of NBFCs have also been brought on par with banks.
Classification of loan NPAs for NBFCs has also been brought in line with banks. All NBFCs have to classify loans overdue for 90 days as NPAs. However, this new rule will be applied in a phased manner starting in March 2016 till March 2018.
Provisions for standard assets have also been increased from 0.25 percent of the loans outstanding to 0.40 percent of loans in a phased manner starting from March 2016 and to be complied by March 2018.
For deposit-taking NBFCs, it has been mandated that unrated asset-financing NBFCs that accept deposits must get an investment grade rating by March 2016 or stop accepting deposits.
Also between now and March 2016, unrated asset finance companies which are sub-investment grade can only renew deposits on maturity and not accept fresh deposits till they get an investment-grade rating.
All asset financing NBFCs will now be allowed to accept deposits up to 1.5 times of their net owned funds, down from four times their net owned funds earlier. NBFCs above this threshold have been asked not to renew deposits.

Background
The norms were tightened taking into account important recommendations made by the Working Group on Issues and Concerns in the NBFC Sector chaired by Usha Thorat and the Committee on Comprehensive Financial Services for Small Businesses and Low Income Households chaired by Dr. Nachiket Mor.

UN's Syria mediator proposed UN truce plan for Aleppo

11-NOV-2014

The UN's Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura proposed a UN truce plan for Aleppo in Syria. The truce plan called for creating freeze zones in local areas.
The creation of freeze zones will help 'freeze' fighting in local areas so as to allow for aid deliveries and to lay the groundwork for peace talks.
The proposal was conveyed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during talks in the Syrian capital, Damascus, in the envoy's second visit to the country since his appointment in July 2014.
Mistura’s proposal for local ceasefires in the war-ravaged northern city of Aleppo was accepted by the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on 10 November 2014. His office said the proposal was worth studying to return security to Aleppo.
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and is the most populous Syrian governorate. It is located in northwestern Syria. It is also one of the largest cities in the Levant and for centuries it was the Syria's largest city and the Ottoman Empire's third, after Constantinople and Cairo.
It is also among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, since 6th millennium BC. It has been a strategic trading point midway between the Mediterranean Sea and Mesopotamia (i.e. modern Iraq).
Aleppo, the Old City is also enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Comment
Syria’s civil war has affected Aleppo the hardest. Since start of civil war in July 2012, Aleppo has witnessed deaths of more than two lakh people. The place is suffering from fights between the government and rebel groups such as the Nusra Front and ISIS. At present, the city is split into rebel and government controlled areas.

Jawed Usmani appointed as State Chief Information Commissioner in UP

11-NOV-2014

Jawed Usmani appointed as State Chief Information Commissioner (SCIC) in Uttar Pradesh (UP). Governor of UP Ram Naik on 10 November 2014 approved appointment of Jawed Usmani as CIC.
A three-member committee, headed by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav selected the name of Usmani and forwarded it to the Governor. Leader of Opposition in Assembly Swami Prasad Maurya and Leader of the House in Council Ahmad Hasan are other members of the committee.
At present, he is the chairman of Uttar Pradesh Board of Revenue. Under Right to Information Act, any person can be appointed on the constitutional post while he/she is in government service.
About Jawed Usmani
• Usmani is a 1978 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.
• He holds MBA degree from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and MSc degree in Social Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics.
• He has served as secretary in Union coal ministry and also as joint secretary to the Prime Minister.
• He was a senior advisor to the Executive Director at the World Bank in Washington DC.
• He has been a Minister of Economic Cooperation at the Embassy of India in Nepal.
• In 2012, he has served as Chief Secretary in Uttar Pradesh.

The US and China agreed to extend visa validity for ten years

11-NOV-2014

The US and China agreed to grant visas valid for up to ten years to visitors between the two countries. The decision was announced by US President Barack Obama on 10 November 2014 at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Beijing.
The new visa rules will come into effect from 12 November 2014. At present, visas between the US and China were valid for only one year.
Under the new visa rules, student visas will be valid for five years whereas business and tourist visas will be valid for ten years.
However, the new visa rule will not change how long a traveler will be allowed to stay in the US or China and how long the visas are valid for entry. The US will also continue to require an in-person interview as part of the application for a visa.
The visa extension will facilitate people-to-people exchanges and benefit cooperation in all areas between the two countries.
Comment
The move to extend visa validity for Chinese people comes at a time when China-US relations have been rocky due to increased US presence in the Pacific and concerns over cyber espionage. The move will benefit both the nations.

Bomb attack in GTS College in Potiskum of Nigeria

11-NOV-2014

A suicide bomb attack in Potiskum, Yobe state of Nigeria on 10 November 2014 killed many people and injured students. The explosion took place when students had gathered for the weekly assembly at the Government Technical Science (GTS) College in Potiskum.
Potiskum has been repeatedly targeted by Boko Haram. Boko Haram is a millitant group which wants to create a hardline Islamic state in Nigeria. Earlier in November 2014 at least 15 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack targeting a Shia religious ceremony in Potiskum.
Potiskum is the commercial hub of Yobe state and is one of three north-eastern states that have been under a state of emergency since May 2013 to try to quell the bloody insurgency.

Council of EU extended ban on deep-sea shark fishing

11-NOV-2014

Council of European Union (EU) on 10 November 2014 reached a political agreement to extend ban on deep-sea shark fishing for the European fleet for at least another 2 years. Only Spain and Portugal voted against the ban.
The decision to ban shark-fishing was taken at the meeting of Council of EU on Agriculture and Fisheries in Brussels, Belgium.
Outcomes of the Meeting of Council of EU
• The ban on shark fishing applies to ban in EU and international waters of the north-east Atlantic Ocean.
• The ban was extended as a part of recently reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) that provides for fishing opportunities for deep sea stocks for EU nations for the year 2015 and 2016 taking into account available scientific advice and maximum sustainable yield (MSY).
• The Council also approved catch reductions for species like black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo), roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris) and roughhead grenadier (Macrorous berglax), alfonsinos (Beryx spp.), red sea bream (Pagellus bogaraveo) and greater forkbeard (Phycis blennoides).
• The reductions were less than what was recommended by the European Commission to address overfishing and protect vulnerable species.
• Reductions of red sea bream catch for each of the next two years was agreed at five percent, 52 percent and 25 percent, depending on the zone question. The Commission had proposed a catch of 20 per cent, 62 per cent and 34 per cent.
• The total reduction in catch for black scabbardfish was agreed at limiting to eight percent for 2015 and 2016 despite cuts of 20 percent and 14 percent proposed by the European Commission. The biggest beneficiary of this limitation on black scabbardfish is France which is one of Europe's biggest fishing nations.
• Besides, the Council also laid down new rules to facilitate damage claims by victims of anti-trust violations. The Council today also adopted a regulation aimed at improving market transparency for retail investors.
Comment
The ban on shark-fishing is a welcome news in protecting vulnerable marine species and it comes few days after the private Indian airline Jet Airways decided to ban shipment of shark fins on the request of Human Society International India.

Noted scholar and JNU professor Mathias Samuel Soundra Pandian died

11-NOV-2014

Noted scholar and JNU professor Mathias Samuel Soundra Pandian died on 10 November 2014 following a sudden heart attack. He was 57.
He was working with the School of Social Sciences’ Centre for Historical Studies in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
Mathias Samuel Soundra Pandian
Mathias Samuel Soundra Pandian completed his Ph.D in Madras University in 1987.
Before joining JNU, he was an associate professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS), Chennai from 1989 to 2009.
His publications were many including Brahmin and Non -Brahmin: Genealogies of the Tamil Political Present and The Image Trap: M G Ramachandran in Films and Politics.
Pandian wrote extensively on the Dravidian Movement, south Indian politics, cinema, caste, identity and several other socially relevant issues.
Pandian wrote for national newspapers and for the Economic and Political Weekly for several years and was known for his incisive articles on Tamil Nadu and Dravidian politics in particular.

Mannan Kumar Mishra and S. Prabakaran re-elected to Bar Council of India

11-NOV-2014

Mannan Kumar Mishra and S. Prabakaran were on 10 November 2014 re-elected to the Bar Council of India (BCI). Mannan Kumar Mishra was appointed as Chairman and S. Prabakaran as Co-Chairman of Bar Council of India.
The BCI also elected Bhoje Gowda SL as vice-chairman, T.S. Ajith as chairman of the executive committee, and Nilesh Kumar as the vice-chairman of the executive committee. The office-bearers will hold office till April 2016.
Mannan Kumar Mishra
Mannan Kumar Mishra is the Bihar state council’s representative in the Bar Council of India. Mishra is a senior advocate practising in the Supreme Court and Patna High Court.
Mishra had retired as chairman of Bar Council of India in April 2014 after serving two years in the job but continued to serve as a BCI member.
S. Prabakaran
Prabakaran is practising in the Madras High Court and Supreme Court. He is a member of various committees set up by the BCI including the legal education panel.
He is the spokesperson of the BCI and a member of the Academic and General Councils of the National Law School, Bangalore and Director of International Council of Jurists.

Ministry of Railways and MoRT&H signed MoU to construct ROB/RUBs on National Highways

11-NOV-2014

Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRT&H) on 10 November 2014 signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Policy Related to Constructions of Road Over Bridges/Road Under Bridges (Robs/Rubs) on National Highway corridors.
Highlights of the agreement
Online tracking of various proposals under approval will be possible.
Authorized representatives of Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Road Transport & highways can track the status of new proposals under approval, the proposals which have already been approved, the stage of approval of the proposal, delay in approval of proposals and reasons thereof.
Through this MoU, there will be speedy clearances of various design & drawings for construction of ROB/RUB on National Highway Corridors.
Clear cut defined responsibility for construction of ROB/RUB on National Highway Corridors
This MoU will improve safety of road users on National Highway and improve train operations.
This will also give a big boost towards infrastructural development in the country and will generate lot of employment.
Other Initiatives taken by Ministries
Moreover, Ministry of Railway in consultation with Ministry of Road Transport & Highways have evolved a procedure for speedy clearance for Road Over Bridges /Road Under Bridges, Private Sidings and various Track Crossings.

Ministry of Railways has developed a web-based programme for online submission of application for getting expeditious approval of various drawings related to ROBs/RUBs within 60 days. This programme includes all the standard span drawing developed by Railways, check list to be followed for preparation of General Arrangement Drawing and standard MOU.

China-Japan held talks for the first time in two years during APEC Summit in Beijing

11-NOV-2014

President of China Xi Jinping and Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe held talks on 10 November 2014 on the sidelines of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Beijing, China.
This was the first meeting in two years between the leaders of the two countries and it was also the first meeting of Xi and Abe since they assumed office. Last time the leaders of the two countries met in 2011.
During their meeting, Abe and Xi agreed to start work on maritime crisis management, to prevent clashes in the East China Sea.
Besides, Japanese Prime Minister also asked for the early installation of a hotline that could help defuse possible clashes between Chinese and Japanese vessels in waters around the islands.
Comment
The meeting of two Asian giants comes at a time when patrol ships and fighter jets from both countries shadow each other regularly near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea that are controlled by Japan, but also claimed by Beijing.
The meeting also is significant as it may help defuse the strained relationship between China and Japan which has nosedived in the past two years.
This was the first meeting in two years between the leaders of the two countries and it was also the first meeting of Xi and Abe since they assumed office. Last time the leaders of the two countries met in 2011.
During their meeting, Abe and Xi agreed to start work on maritime crisis management, to prevent clashes in the East China Sea.
Besides, Japanese Prime Minister also asked for the early installation of a hotline that could help defuse possible clashes between Chinese and Japanese vessels in waters around the islands.
Comment
The meeting of two Asian giants comes at a time when patrol ships and fighter jets from both countries shadow each other regularly near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea that are controlled by Japan, but also claimed by Beijing.
The meeting also is significant as it may help defuse the strained relationship between China and Japan which has nosedived in the past two years.

Operation Neptune Spear

11-NOV-2014

Operation Neptune Spear – a nighttime raid on Laden’s Abbottabad home made by SEAL Team Six
Operation Neptune Spear was in news recently after the US Navy SEAL commando Robert O'Neill claimed that he is the one who shot Osama bin Laden at his Pakistan hideout in Abbottobad on 2 May 2011.

Revealing his identity he claimed that he shot three bullets into the head of al Qaeda's kingpin.
Operation Neptune Spear
Operation Neptune Spear was led by the Navy SEALs of the US Naval Special Warfare Development Group also known as DEVGRU or SEAL Team Six. The operation was carried out in a Central Intelligence Agency-led operation. In addition to DEVGRU, participating units included the U.S. Army Special Operations Command's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) and CIA operatives.

The raid on bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, was launched from Afghanistan and after the raid Laden's body was taken to Afghanistan for identification by the US forces. The body was then buried at sea within 24 hours of his death.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Jeevan Pramaan-Digital Life Certificate for Pensioners

11-NOV-2014

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 10 November 2014 launched the Jeevan Pramaan- an Aadhar based Digital Life Certificate for pensioners. This digital life certificate will benefit over a crore pensioners who have to produce Life Certificates each year to receive pension.
By obtaining this proposed digital certification, pensioners need not submit a physical Life Certificate in November each year in order to ensure continuity of pension being credited into their account.
The Department of Electronics and IT has developed a software application which will enable the recording of the pensioner`s Aadhar number and biometric details from his mobile device or computer by plugging in a biometric reading device.
Key details of the pensioner including date, time and biometric information will be uploaded to a central database on real-time basis which will enable the Pension Disbursing Agency to access a Digital Life Certificate. This will conclusively establish that the pensioner was alive at the time of authentication.
This software application system will be made available to pensioners and other stakeholders on a large scale at no extra cost. It can be operated on a personal computer or a smartphone along with an inexpensive biometric reading device.
This facility will also be made available at Common Service Centres being operated under the National e-Governance Plan for the benefit of pensioners residing in remote and inaccessible areas.
Earlier, pensioner either personally presented himself before the Pension Disbursing Agency or used to submit a Life Certificate issued by authorities specified by the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO)

Union Government imposed fresh restrictions on overseas travels by bureaucrats

11-NOV-2014

The Union Government on 10 November 2014 imposed fresh restrictions on foreign tours by bureaucrats. The government restricted their official overseas visits to four in a year.
Restrictions imposed on overseas travels by bureaucrats
If the officer exceeds four visits, he will need to furnish detailed justification and such visits will be allowed only in exceptional cases depending on functional need.
The order further stipulated that travel expenses for officials for participating in conferences, study tours and presentation of papers will be borne by the sponsors.
Foreign travel by the officers at the expense of Public Sector Units (PSUs) shall be discouraged, unless the journey is undertaken specifically in connection with the affairs of the concerned PSU.
The size of the delegation and the duration of the visit shall be kept at absolute minimum.
Secretary-level officers shall not go abroad unless their presence is essential and the officers of the level of additional secretary or joint secretary cannot be substituted for them.

Jnanpith award 2013 conferred on Hindi poet Kedarnath Singh

11-NOV-2014

President Pranab Mukherjee on 10 November 2014 conferred the 49th Jnanpith Award on eminent Hindi poet Kedarnath Singh at a function at Balyogi Auditorium, Parliament Library Building in New Delhi.
Kedarnath Singh was conferred with the country's highest literary award for his outstanding contribution towards Indian literature. As a poet, he has offered a rare assimilation of rhymes and lyrical prose, exploring both the realms of reality and fantasy with equal felicity. His poetry presents a collage of meaning, colours and acceptance.
He is the 10th Hindi writer to receive the award. Other Hindi writers to be conferred with the prestigious award includes
• Sumitra Nandan Pant (1968 for Chidambara)
• Ramdhari Singh Dinkar (1972 for Urvashi)
• Sachidananda Vatsyayan (1978 for Kitni Navon Men Kitni Bar)
• Mahadevi Varma (1982 for Yama)
• Naresh Mehta (1992)
• Niirmal Verma (1999)
• Kunwar Narayan (2005)
• Amar Kant (2009)
• Sri Lal Sukla (2009)
Prior to 1982, the awards were given for a single work by a writer; since then, the award has been given for a lifetime contribution to Indian literature.
About Kedarnath Singh
• Singh is a celebrated teacher who has taught at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
• Kedarnath Singh (80-year-old) was born in Balia of Uttar Pradesh and is known for his work Abhi bilkul abhi and Yahan se dekho
• He became famous with a book entitled teesra saptak edited by Sachchidananda Hirananda Vatsyayan whose pen name was Agyeya
About Jnanpith Award
The Jnanpith award was institutionalised by philanthropist couple Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain and Late Rama Jain to recognise and award Indian authors for their contribution to Indian literature.
The award is given to any Indian citizen who writes in any official languages of India mentioned in VIII Schedule of Constitution of India. It is presented by Bharatiya Jnanpith, a trust founded by the Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain family. The award includes 11 lakh rupees and a citation.

The name of award is taken from Sanskrit words, Jnana and Pitha (knowledge-seat). The first Jnanpith Award was given in the year 1965 and the first recipient was G Sankara Kurup for his work Odakkuzhal (Flute) in Malyalam language. In 2012, the award was conferred on a Telugu writer Ravuri Bharadhwaja.

Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil elected as Maharashtra CLP leader

11-NOV-2014

Former state minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil was on 10 November 2014 elected as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP ) leader in Maharashtra.
Patil was nominated as the CLP leader by Congress Party chief Sonia Gandhi.
Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil
Patil hails from Ahmednagar district and has been a legislator for long time.
He is the son of Balasaheb Vikhe Patil who had been a minister in the Vajpayee government and had earlier been a Congress MP for several terms.
He was Agriculture Minister in the Prithviraj Chavan Ministry and was also a minister during the Shiv Sena-BJP government.
Vikhe Patil was elected to the Shirdi Vidhan Sabha constituency in 2009.

Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil elected as Maharashtra CLP leader

11-NOV-2014

Former state minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil was on 10 November 2014 elected as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP ) leader in Maharashtra.
Patil was nominated as the CLP leader by Congress Party chief Sonia Gandhi.
Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil

Patil hails from Ahmednagar district and has been a legislator for long time.
He is the son of Balasaheb Vikhe Patil who had been a minister in the Vajpayee government and had earlier been a Congress MP for several terms.
He was Agriculture Minister in the Prithviraj Chavan Ministry and was also a minister during the Shiv Sena-BJP government.
Vikhe Patil was elected to the Shirdi Vidhan Sabha constituency in 2009.