Showing posts with label GENERAL KNOWLEDGE - CURRENT AFFAIRS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GENERAL KNOWLEDGE - CURRENT AFFAIRS. Show all posts
Friday, October 7, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Jan Lokpal Bill - Videos from India Against Corruption
Janlokpal (Described by Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal & Manish Sisodia)
Janlokpal & CBI CVC
Janlokpal & Public_Grievances
Janlokpal & CBI CVC
Janlokpal & Public_Grievances
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Now, file RTIs online on MCD’s website
New Delhi: Now, file RTIs online on MCD’s website
NEW DELHI: Now, you can file an RTI with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) sitting at home. What's more, you could also track its progress online.
Last week, the civic agency activated the RTI link on its website, making the RTI filing process less cumbersome. It also provided for online payment through credit card. Ever since, 60 applications have been received.
"One has to only select the department, give his/her details like email-id or telephone number and type the questions. The application will be sent directly to the concerned PIO. And since all our departments are now online, the replies could be processed in less time," said Deep Mathur, director, press and information, MCD.
Every RTI applicant will be given a unique ID and password through which he/she can track the RTI. The reply will be emailed to the applicant.
Source: Times of India
DoPT to train over 100 officials on handling RTI pleas
DoPT to train over 100 officials on handling RTI pleas
NEW DELHI: In order to deal better with growing intra-departmental RTI queries, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has decided to train its over 100 officials on different matters related to Right to Information Act.
DoPT, which acts as a nodal agency to oversee implementation of the transparency law, has decided to train a total of 104 Central Public Information Officers and Appellate Authorities.
The decision was taken after some of its CPIOs complained of difficulties in dealing with RTI applications. Officials said that some of its information officers were reprimanded by Central Information Commission for improperly disposing of certain pleas.
"We have called special trainers for a day-long workshop on July 6. They will answer all the queries related to RTI," a DoPT official said.
He said that 52 CPIOs and their appellate authorities have been chosen for the training and they have been asked to send their queries in advance to save time and ensure proper resolution.
According to official data, about 370 complaints related to Ministry of Personnel , Public Grievances and Pensions are pending with the CIC.
DoPT is also planning to conduct such training for CPIOs of other central government departments too.
Source: Economic Times
Inclusion of CBI, NATGRID and NIA in Second Schedule of RTI Act
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (Department of Personnel and Training)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 9th June, 2011
G.S.R. 442(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of Section 24 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 (22 of 2005), the Central Government hereby makes the following further amendments in the Second Schedule to the said Act, namely :—
In the Second Schedule to the Right to Information Act, 2005, after serial number 22 and the entry relating thereto, the following serial numbers and entries shall be added, namely
“23. Central Bureau of Investigation,24. National Investigation Agency,
25. National Intelligence Grid.”.
[F.No.1/3/2011-IR]
RAJEEV KAPOOR, Jt.Secy.
RAJEEV KAPOOR, Jt.Secy.
Source: www.persmin.nic.in
[http://persmin.gov.in/
For your information, as on 28th March 2008, the following is the list in the Second Schedule:
1. Intelligence Bureau.
2. Research and Analysis Wing of the Cabinet Secretariat.
3. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.
4. Central Economic Intelligence Bureau.
5. Directorate of Enforcement.
6. Narcotics Control Bureau.
7. Aviation Research Centre.
8. Special Frontier Force.
9. Border Security Force.
10. Central Reserve Police Force.
11. Indo-Tibetan Border Police.
12. Central Industrial Security Force.
13. National Security Guards.
14. Assam Rifles.
15. Sashastra Seema Bal.
16. Directorate General of Income-tax (Investigation) .
17. National Technical Research Organisation.
18. Financial Intelligence Unit, India.
19. Special Protection Group.
20. Defence Research and Development Organisation.
21. Border Road Development Board.
22. National Security Council Secretariat
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Salaried tax payers with an annual income of up to Rs 5 lakh will not have to file income-tax return from now onwards
| New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) As many as 85 lakh salaried tax payers with an annual income of up to Rs 5 lakh will not have to file income-tax return from now onwards, a finance ministry official said. "No income-tax returns would be required for salaried persons earning up to Rs 5 lakh per annum. We would notify this in first week of June," outgoing Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes Sudhir Chandra told reporters here. The scheme would be applicable from assessment year 2011-12 onwards. This means that the salaried persons eligible under the scheme would not have to file returns for the financial year 2010-11 in 2011-12 (assessment year). However, such tax payers would have to file return if they want to claim refunds, Chandra said. Source : PTI |
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
India and Pakistan - The world's most dangerous border
THE late Richard Holbrooke, the Obama administration’s envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, had many virtues as a diplomat, but tact was not among them. His description of his theatre of operations as “AfPak” infuriated the Pakistanis, who wanted the Americans to regard their country as a sophisticated, powerful ally worthy of attention in itself, not just as a suffix to the feuding tribesmen next door. But that was not the only reason the coinage was unwise. It encouraged the understandable American tendency—shaped by the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, the war against the Taliban and now the death of Osama bin Laden—to see Pakistan in the context of the fighting on its north-west frontier, and thus to ignore the source of most of the country’s problems, including terrorism: the troubled state of relations to its east.
The border between India and Pakistan has seen a bloody partition in 1947 that killed hundreds of thousands; more than 15,000 dead in three wars and 25 years spent fighting over a glacier; 40,000-100,000 dead (depending on whom you believe) in the insurgency in the disputed province of Kashmir. And now both countries are armed with nuclear weapons.
Bloodshed over the border is not the only measure of the damage this poisoned relationship does. In India it exacerbates feuds between Muslims and Hindus. But Pakistan has been worse affected. Fear and hatred of India have distorted its world view and politics. Ignoring this—as the West seems to be doing again—is a terrible mistake, especially because a settlement is not beyond reach.
Pakistan’s obsession with India has damaged it in three ways. First, it has given its generals too much power. Pakistan’s army, at 550,000 men, is too small to match India’s 1.1m, but too big for Pakistan. The armed forces eat up 16% of the government’s budget, whereas education gets 1.2%. Because the armed forces are powerful, the government is weak; and the soldiers’ frequent interventions in Pakistani politics exacerbate this imbalance and undermine democracy.
Second, it has shaped Pakistan’s dealings in Afghanistan. In the 1990s Pakistan helped create the Taliban partly in order to undermine India’s allies in northern Afghanistan. Although it signed up to fight the Taliban after September 11th 2001, Pakistan has continued to protect some of the Taliban in order to counter India’s influence in Afghanistan.
Third, it has led Pakistan to foster Islamist terrorism—especially the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Punjab-based outfit whose purpose is to attack India. After the LeT attacked the Indian parliament in December 2001 Pakistan banned it, but it has survived—either (as the Pakistanis claim) because it has grown too successful to crush or (as the Indians suspect) because the Pakistani armed forces continue to help it covertly. Either way, India is not the only victim of this murderously stupid policy: terrorism within Pakistan is being fuelled by splinter groups from the LeT—and is going global.
As India grows in wealth and power, so do fear and obsession in Pakistan. Yet India, too, would benefit from a solution. The tension with the minnow to its west distracts it from the rise of the giant to its north, and China will surely dominate its security horizon in the 21st century. America also has much to gain from a saner subcontinent. If Pakistan’s world view were not distorted by India, it might be able to see straight on terror.
Six and a half decades of bloodshed suggest that the problem may be intractable. The hostility springs from a potent mix of religion, history and territory. Although the fighting has subsided in Kashmir, the issue remains hypersensitive: the Indian government censors publications, including The Economist, that print maps showing the current effective border. Politicians in both countries find it hard to be sensible: even those who would like a resolution are susceptible to domestic pressure—the Indians from Hindu nationalists, and the Pakistanis not just from Muslim militants but also from the generals, who regard India as a military, not a political, problem.
Nervous subcontinentals used to reassure themselves that neither side could use a nuclear weapon because the aggressor would suffer from the fallout. That may no longer hold. Since America destabilised things in 2008 by agreeing to give India civil nuclear technology, Pakistan’s determination to build up its nuclear arsenal has increased. Last month it announced that it had tested a new mobile missile with a miniaturised nuclear warhead designed to destroy invading tanks with little radiation beyond the battlefield, thus increasing the risk that a border incursion could escalate into something much more dangerous. On May 13th the head of Pakistan’s powerful Inter-Services Intelligence told parliament that he had already picked targets in India, and rehearsed attacks. He did not specify nuclear attacks, but did not exclude them. This is a dangerous time: Pakistan’s militants are evidently keen to show that Islamist terror will survive bin Laden’s death, and—unlike the cold war—there is scope for terrorists either to provoke a nuclear conflict or to explode a dirty nuclear device.
But while the soldiers growl, the politicians have made progress. In 2004-07 quiet talks established the framework for a settlement over Kashmir, under which Pakistan would in effect give up its claim to Indian Kashmir and India would agree to a “soft” border (one allowing a lot of freedom of movement). That deal was scuppered by the attack on Mumbai by the LeT in 2008 that killed 170 people. But both governments have shown they are willing to get back to the table, and talks are now resuming. India’s prime minister, Manmohan Singh, met Pakistan’s, Yusuf Raza Gilani, at a cricket match in March; and their foreign ministers are due to meet in July.
The below given interactive map demonstrates how the territorial claims of India, Pakistan and China would change the shape of South Asia
The ingredients needed for progress are clear. Pakistan has to make more effort to stop a terror group scuppering talks for a second time; India, to help Pakistan give up its claim to Indian-held Kashmir, needs to pull its army out, grant plenty of autonomy and stop shooting schoolboys who lob stones at its soldiers. (Last summer 120 died in this way.) Yet the risks—for instance from another terrorist attack—are immense. After Mumbai, India’s politicians showed great restraint. It would be difficult for them to do so again.
America can help. The nuclear deal gives it extra clout with India, which it should lean on to show restraint in and flexibility on Kashmir. It should also change its approach to Pakistan. America plies Pakistan’s soldiers with military aid, and tends to talk to them rather than the politicians. Last year it pressed the government to give General Ashfaq Kayani an extension of his term as chief of army staff; and it informed Pakistan’s generals of the death of bin Laden before President Obama called President Zardari. Boosting the soldiers’ clout diminishes the chances of a political settlement with India.
By itself, a settlement with India will not make Pakistan a safe place. But it would encourage a series of changes—reining in the generals, building up democratic institutions, spending more on health and education, rejecting Islamist terrorism, rethinking its approach to Afghanistan—which could start to transform the country. Until that happens, Pakistan will remain a disappointment to itself and a danger to the world.
Source: economist
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Now, banks face threat from Postal Dept ATMs
K. Ram Kumar
Mumbai, June 20 Banks had better be prepared for some serious competition from a formidable ‘non-bank’ rival. The good old Department of Posts, also called India Post, which has an on-the-ground presence at 1,55,000 locations across the country, is taking baby steps to invade their turf by establishing ATMs. To begin with, the Department plans to provide the convenience of on-site ATMs to its savings bank (SB) account holders at select Head Post Offices across various States. This move will save post office (PO) SB account holders, including pensioners, the bother of standing in long queues for withdrawing/ depositing money, making routine enquiries regarding outstanding balance, request for a cheque-book, transfer money to another PO SB account, etc. Further, once the Department completes its ambitious networking exercise, SB account holders could walk into any ATM attached to a PO to access their accounts. At a later stage, the Department may also consider linking up its ATMs with the National Financial Switch to which all banks’ ATMs are hooked up.
While ATMs may be passé in the case of banks, for the 150-year old Department of Posts, which embarked on computerisation not too long ago, it is a giant leap in providing value addition to its customers. Clearly, the Department has woken up to the fact that the only way to retain its existing customers and attract new ones is to embrace the information technology paradigm of the 21st century. As on March-end 2009, the Department of Posts had 22.89 crore savings bank accounts and the aggregate outstanding amount in these accounts was Rs 22,217 crore.
A PO SB account (individual/joint and group) currently earns 3.5 per cent interest. The minimum balance to be maintained in an SB account is Rs 50 for a non-cheque account and Rs 500 for a cheque account. The maximum balance in the case of an individual account is Rs 1 lakh and Rs 2 lakh for joint account. There is no limit on group/institutional or official capacity accounts. Interest earned is completely tax free under section 10 of Income Tax Act.
“As part of the information technology revamp of our department, we will be gradually moving the operations of our extensive network of post offices on to a core banking platform. With the Post Office emerging as a focal point for the delivery of all social security schemes such as National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and Old Age Pension, establishing ATMs at select head post offices will follow as a natural corollary,” said Mr M.S. Bali, Chief Postmaster General (Maharashtra & Goa).
Besides providing a comprehensive gamut of financial services including postal savings, sourcing small loans for banks, selling insurance products, etc, Mr Bali said his Department can help other financial services providers sell their products and services through the vast postal network.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Current Affairs
Awards:
Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar 2008 - Isha Foundation
Isha Foundation is an NGO, founded by Sadhguru J Vasudev, whose "Project Green Hands" is a movement to raise the green cover of Tamil Nadu by 10 per cent. In the last 5 years, over 300,000 Isha volunteers across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have raised 8.2 million trees for plantation. The foundation has been selected for prestigious 'Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar' 2008.
Instituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in 1987, the award called 'Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar' is given to those who make or has the potentialto make measurable and major impact in the protection of environment.
National Updates:
Air Marshal (Retd.) Bhushan Nilkanth Gokhale Court of Inquiry
Government of India has appointed Court of Inquiry into air crash of the Air India Express Boeing 737-800 aircraft VT-AXV which occurred near the Bajpe Airport, Mangalore on 22 May, 2010 while operating a scheduled flight IX-812 from Dubai to Mangalore resulting in the death of 158 passengers. For this purpose the government appoints Air Marshal (Retd.) Bhushan Nilkanth Gokhale to hold the investigation. Headquarters of this court will be at New Delhi. The Court will complete its investigation and submit the report to the Government by 31 August 2010.
Civil Aviation Safety Advisory Council (CASAC) -First meeting
Praful Patel, Minister of Civil Aviation inaugurated the first meeting of the Civil Aviation Safety Advisory Council (CASAC)
Civil Aviation Safety Advisory Council (CASAC) was set up under the Chairmanship of Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on May 29, 2010. It consists of 28 members drawn from various aviation sub-sectors such as airlines (both public and private), flight operations, air worthiness, operations etc has been constituted for a period of one year. The Council is advisory in nature and will advise DGCA in areas of operations of aircraft – (commercial and general aviation), aerodromes and Heliports, air-navigation services, air operator certification, airworthiness of aircraft including maintenance, certification of aeronautical products, and human performance and training.
The council will review the existing regulatory framework and give recommendations to further strengthen the aviation safety. It will also develop, examine and recommend incorporation of best regulatory practices, recommend short, medium and long term measures for safety enhancement and reflect public views on aviation safety matters.
In the first meeting the DGCA was directed to institutionalize the CASAC, organize regular meetings of the Council and act upon all its suggestions to increase its effectiveness. He also called upon all airlines, airport operators and others associated in the sector to be equally responsible for the safety of the sector.
Kerala: Goodwill Ambassador of khadi- Mohan Lal
Malayalam matinee idol ''Padmasri'' Mohanlal was honored by the state government with the ''Goodwill Ambassador'' title for the promotion of handloom-khadi industry in the State.
Mizoram: 26th Sainik School
Ministry of DONER (development of North Eastern Region) has sanctioned Rs. Rs.8,289 lakh for construction of a Sainik School at Chhingchhip in Serchhip district of Mizoram. This is first of Mizoram, fourth of North East India and 26th of India's Sainik Schools.
Sainik Schools
Sainik Schools were conceived in 1961 by then defence minister V.K. Krishna Menon to rectify the regional and class imbalance amongst the officer cadre of the military and prepare students for entry into the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the Indian Naval Academy.
Kerala : Forest Development Agency
To co-ordinate activities of Participatory Forest Management (PFM) institutions -- Vana Samrakshana Smithies (VSS) and Eco-development Committees(EDC) -- at Forest Division level, the Kerala Government inaugurates the State Forest Development Agency on June 3, 2010. Participatory Forest Management (PFM) institutions seek to improve the livelihood of forest-dependent communities (Adivasis) and as a strategy for ensuring their participation in forest conservation efforts.
Business & Economy:
Reserve Bank of India: Application Tracking System
The Reserve Bank of India has launched the application tracking system to track applications made to the various departments of the RBI. The applicant can then submit an online application, attach related documents, view it and track its movement. The system can not be used for complaints made under Banking Ombudsman Scheme.
Reserve Bank of India: Damodaran Committee
Reserve Bank of India has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of M. Damodaran, former chairman of SEBI, to look into banking services rendered to retail and small customers, including pensioners. This is a 7 member committee and will look into the grievance redressal mechanism prevalent in banks, its structure and efficacy and suggest measures for expeditious resolution of complaints.
India-South Africa CEOs Forum
India-South Africa CEOs Forum was launched by South African President Jacob Zuma and India's Minister of Commerce & Industry Anand Sharma. The forum is headed by Ratan Tata from the Indian side and Mr. Patrice Motsepe, Executive Chairman, Africa Rainbow Minerals from the South African side.
India South Africa Trade
India is South Africa’s largest trading partner in South and South-East Asia and one of South Africa’s top ten trading partners globally. Bilateral trade which was valued at only US $ 1.3 billion in 2000-01 crossed US $ 7 billion mark in 2008-09. It is expected to touch US $ 10 billion by 2012.
Wipro- hydraulic cylinders facility in China
Wipro Infrastructure Engineering (WIE) which is a part of Wipro Ltd announces that it has signed an agreement with Chinese Wujin Hi-tech Industrial Zone (WIZ) to set up a facility to manufacture hydraulic cylinders at Changzhou. This is Wipro's first global manufacturing location in China and 9th in the world.
World Bank: Microfinance Project Loan for India
The world bank has approved a loan of $300 million for the Scaling up Sustainable and Responsible Microfinance project. This funding for the microfinance project will be used by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for on-lending to Indian microfinance institutions and to support responsible finance initiatives such as the establishment of a microfinance information platform and promotion of adherence to a code of conduct for MFIs (microfinance institutions)
World Bank : Loan to strengthen the statistical sector
The world Bank has also approved a loan of $ 107 million to support Indian government's plan for institutional and policy-based reform of state statistical systems within a national policy framework. The project will enable states to work towards "common national standards relating to key statistical activities and to improve the credibility, timeliness and accuracy of these and other statistics at both central and the state level.
Latest WTO stats on World Exports
In the first quarter of 2010 (January -March) , the global merchandise exports grew by a healthy 27 per cent as per the latest international trade statistics report by WTO. This growth was driven by significant increase in exports from China, Japan, India and other Asian countries. India's exports during the period increased by a robust 33 per cent while that of Japan and China surged 48 per cent and 29 per cent.
On Michael Jackson Museum
Gary, Indiana, United states is the place where the Michael Jackson museum is coming up. Father of the pop legend, Joe has signed a deal to create a $300 million worth museum dedicated to his late son. (Femalefirst.co.uk)
Current Affairs
International Congress of Mathematicians
International Congress of Mathematicians will be held in India in Hyderabad from august 19-27, 2010. This will be for the first time that ICM will be held in India and only third time in an Asian Country. The 1990 Congress was held in Kyoto and the 2002 Congress in Beijing.
First Official peace Talks: Centre and NSCN-IM
Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) faction held the first official peace talks in the last 13 years of ceasefire in New Delhi.
Israeli attack in Gaza
Gaza Freedom Flotilla was an aid flotilla of six ships carrying 663 activists from 37 nation and the activists were planning to break through the Israeli Egyptian blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian supplies. The Israel had said that the flotilla has to change the course to the port of Ashdod where the Israeli Government would inspect the aid and deliver the items that were not banned by Israel in Gaza. The activists refused. In the Israeli raid about 16 people were reportedly killed and more than 30 injured when Israeli commandos stormed a six-ship flotilla carrying about 10,000 tonnes of aid and 600 human rights activists to the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. The United Nations demanded a full explanation for the attack while the EU and Russia demanded an inquiry. Israeli Ambassadors to many countries were summoned to the Foreign Ministries in those countries and demanded explanation for the attack. India also joins the protests.
Seychelles President in India:
Seychelles President James Alix Michel arrives in India on a three-day visit to hold delegation -level talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on several matters of bilateral, regional and global concern. It is a very important country of the Indian Ocean threatened by piracy...They want wider collaboration (with India) against piracy
NHRC Chairman: Justice K G Balakrishnan
Former Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission.He was the first Dalit Chief Justice of India and will be the first Dalit heading NHRC.NHRC was headless for over a year.
President's Rule in Jharkhand:
Union Cabinet today recommended the president to clamp President's rule in Jharkhand and keep the state assembly under suspended animation. Prior to this, Chief Minister Shibu Soren resigned without facing the trust vote in the state assembly. Soren Government was reduced to minority on May 24 when BJP with 18 MLAs and JD(U) with 2 MLAs withdrew support to the Soren's government whose party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha had 18 MLAs and was also enjoying the support of seven other legislators in the 82-member House. The BJP was cut up with Mr Soren ever since he voted with UPA in the Lok Sabha during voting on cut motions on April 27.
Burkina Faso's First Call center: Courtsey India
India's Export-Import (Exim) Bank has given a loan of $5 million to Burkina Faso to start its first call center with 400 positions. Burkina Faso is also part of India's flagship project - Pan African e-network project. Previously, India also approved the setting up of a tomato processing factory through a line of credit of $15 million in Burkina Faso.
Maruti Suzuki: Highest Monthly sales
Maruti Suzuki Tuesday reports a 27.9 % jump in sales for May at 102,175 units compared to 79,872 vehicles it sold in the year-ago period. For the first time the company has ever sold over 100,000 units in a month, its previous highest monthly sale figure being 96,650 units in February 2010. Domestic sales for Hyundai Motor India sped up 13% to more than 27,000. And Tata Motors sold 38% more vehicles this May, a total of nearly 53,000 cars, trucks and other vehicles.
Two-wheeler sales stayed on the fast lane as well. Hero Honda’s increased to 436,000 units, an increase of 14%. And Bajaj Auto’s India sales accelerated 63% to nearly 270,000 two-wheelers.
UAE's airline Emirates has earned $1.1 billion net profit in 2009-10 despite the global slowdown and largest chunk of this profit comes from India. India and West Asia contributed to the 12.6% of the total revenues.
What is Trafigura?
Trafigura is a Swiss-based multinational company, which was named in the Iraq Oil-for-Food Scandal. Oil-for-Food Programme, which was established by the United Nations in 1995 and was terminated in late 2003. It was established with the stated intent to allow Iraq to sell oil on the world market in exchange for food, medicine, and other humanitarian needs for ordinary Iraqi citizens without allowing Iraq to boost its military capabilities. The company was reported to be behind the Côte d'Ivoire toxic waste dump in 2006. The dump was a health crisis in Côte d'Ivoire in which a ship registered in Panama, the Probo Koala, chartered Trafigura Beheer BV, disposed of toxic waste in the Ivorian port of Abidjan.It was more than 500 tonnes of a mixture of fuel, caustic soda, and hydrogen sulfide transported from Europe as toxic waste. The Dutch prosecutors haveaccused Trafigura of illegally exporting hazardous waste to Ivory Coast in 2006. the prosecuters say that "the waste is thrown over the fence, dumped in a third world country". On June 1, 2010, The trial of Trafigura for illegally exporting hazardous waste to Ivory Coast in 2006 begins in Amsterdam. (BBC)
Kohinoor & Sultanganj Buddha:
Kohinoor diamond and the Sultanganj Buddha are only a few examples of our priceless artifacts taken away during British rule. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Director-General Gautam Sengupta says that there is a need for a "diplomatic and legal campaign" for their restitution from institutions, including the British Museum, the Royal Collection and the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. In this context, India looks for joining a campaign with the support of UNESCO, and other countries with longstanding complaints about the foreign ownership of their artistic riches, including Egypt and Greece. (Times of India)
Waverock
Waverock is an IT park located in the Nanakramguda IT special economic zone (SEZ) in Andhra Pardesh being developed by New York-based real estate developer Tishman Speyer. The state government had entered an MOU in 2006 with the company. The park is being inaugurated on June 2, 2010. The park will be completed in 5 years.
Number of Poors:
India’s Planning Commission estimates the country’s BPL population at 62.5 million. But the rural development ministry says that number is more like 107 million. The ministry set up a panel to resolve the conflicting numbers. Now the government is coming up with a process to start the process of identifying families below the poverty line. Pilot projects are going to start next month in 260 villages across the country. Results of the pilot projects expected to come by March of next year. Its full-scale survey of below the poverty line families will then begin in April 2011.
Current Affairs Notes: 01.06.2010
•India's First Smoke Free State
On May 31, 2010, (World No Tobacco Day) Sikkim has become India's First state to be declared as "Smoke Free State" in India.
•New DGP of Maharastra?
D. Sivanandan takes charge as Maharashtra's new Director General of Police (DGP), taking over from A.N. Roy, who was retired.
•New Chairman of Railway Board:
Vivek Sahai has been appointed as new Railway Board Chairman, he replaced SS Khurana.
•Updates on National Advisory Council:
Ms Rita Sharma, IAS has been appointed as Secretary, National Advisory Council (NAC).
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appoints 14 members to the National Advisory Council in consulation with its chairman Sonia Gandhi. The members are Aruna Roy, Jean Dreze, N C Saxena, A K Shiva Kumar, M S Swaminathan, V Krishnamurthy, Narendra Jadhav, Mirai Chatterjee,Farah Naqvi,Pramod Tandon,Harsh Mander, Ram Dayal Munda,, Anu Aga, Madhav Gadgil,
•Sahara retains Indian Cricket Team Sponsoship
As per a BCCI announcement, Sahara India has retained the sponsorship rights of the Indian cricket team for a whopping Rs.30.34 million per match (ODI and Twenty20 matches) for the next three years till 2013.
•Fastest Super Computer of China:
"Xingyun" is the name of the fastest super computer of China which runs at more than one quadrillion (one thousand million million) calculations per second. Tianhe-1" was the previous fastest machine in China. and Xingyun works at a speed double than its speed.
•India Food Bank:
India Food Bank is a new project of Sam Pitroda, the current advisor to the prime minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations. It may be put in place by end of this year in collaboration with Chicago-based international organization, Global Food banking Network, a Stanford University think-tank that provides food aid to 30 nations
•Revised GDP
The revised GDP data have been released by the CSO and Indian Economy has grown 7.4% for 2009-10. Indian Economy grew by 8.6% during the quarter ended March 31, 2010. The economy had registered a 6.1 percent growth in the first quarter, 7.9 percent in the second, but dropped to a modest 6 percent in the third.
•IAEA votes sanctions against Iran
In the International Atomic Energy Agency's report before the United Nations Security Council votes on sanctions against Iran, international nuclear inspectors state that Iran has now produced a stockpile of nuclear fuel that would be enough, with further enrichment, to make two nuclear weapons, and it appears to bolster the Obama administration’s case for a fourth round of economic sanctions against Iran.
•25th EU Russia Summit:
The 25th EU-Russia summit begins in Rostov-on-Don with talks on industrial and trade links, human rights and a visa-free regime.
•Pakistan: Ban of Facebook Lifted:
A court in Pakistan lifts a ban on Facebook imposed two weeks ago after an "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day" group appeared on the site
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