IES Academy: United Nation Agencies

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Acronyms Agency
FAO IAEA ICAO IFAD Food and Agriculture Organization International Atomic Energy Agency International Civil Aviation Organization International Fund for Agricultural Development International Labour Organization International Maritime Organization International Monetary Fund International Telecommunication Union United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization United Nations Industrial Development Organization Universal Postal Union World Bank World Food Programme World Health Organization World Intellectual Property Organization World Meteorological Organization World Tourism Organization
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United Nation Agencies

Headquarters
Rome, Italy Vienna, Austria Montreal, Canada Rome, Italy
Head
Jacques Diouf Yukiya Amano Raymond Benjamin Kanayo F. Nwanze Juan Somava Efthimios E. Mitropoulos Dominique StraussKahn Hamadoun Tour Irina Bokova
Established in
1945 1957 1947 1977
ILO IMO IMF
Geneva, Switzerland London, United Kingdom Washington, D.C., USA Geneva, Switzerland Paris, France
1946 1948 1945
ITU
1947
UNESCO
1946
UNIDO
Vienna, Austria
Kandeh Yumkella
1967
UPU WB WFP WHO WIPO WMO UNWTO
Berne, Switzerland Edouard Dayan Washington, D.C, USA Rome, Italy Geneva, Switzerland Geneva, Switzerland Geneva, Switzerland Madrid, Spain Robert B. Zoellick Josette Sheeran Margaret Chan Francis Gurry Alexander Bedritsky Taleb Rifai
1947 1945 1963 1948 1974 1950 1974
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(IIR); Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA); Issy-les-Moulineaux; Office International des Epizooties (OIE); Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Riga: Baltic Assembly. Riyadh: Arab Satellite Communications Organization (ARABSAT). Roma: Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO); International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT); World Food Programme (WFP). Safat (Kuwait): Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC). San Antonio, TX: North American Development Bank. Singapore: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Strasbourg: Council of Europe; European Court of Human Rights (ECHR); European Union. Suva (Fiji Islands): South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC); South Pacific Forum Secretariat. The Hague: International Court of Justice (ICJ); International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY); Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Tokyo: Asian Productivity Organization (APO). Toronto: G8 Information Centre. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE); Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Wallingford (UK): CAB International. Washington, DC: Arctic Council; Commission for Labor Cooperation (NAFTA Agency) Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR); Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest (CGAP) (World Bank Group); Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC); International Development Association (IDA) (World Bank Group); International Finance Corporation (IFC) (World Bank Group); International Joint Commission (IJC) (United States Section); International Monetary Fund (IMF); International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT); Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) (World Bank Group); North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Secretariat (United States Section); Organization of American States (OAS); Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO); World Bank Group.
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NATO forces carried out Marjah operation (dubbed Moshtarak) against Taliban forces in Afghanistan. European Union summit was held in Brussels. EU & IMF decided to give support to Greece in its struggle to bring its ballooning budget deficit under control. EU President is Herman Van Rompuy.
vii) Irans President Mahmood Ahmedinejad declared that Iran had produced first batch of 20% enriched uranium and now Iran became a nuclear state. viii) Iran launched Kavoshger3 rocket capable of carrying a satellite. It carried a mouse, worms and two turtles.
National Current Affairs

i) Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visit India in Jan., 2010. She belongs to Awami League Party. The two countries signed five agreements on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, on transfer of sentenced persons and on combating international terrorism, organized crime and illicit drug trafficking besides MOU on cooperation in the power sector and on cultural exchanges. India gives Bangladesh a $ 1 billion line of credit, the biggest it has given to any country so far. South Korea President Lee Myung Bak visit India in Jan., 2010. The two countries decided to double the bilateral trade to $ 30 billion by 2014. Four facts were signed between two countries cooperation in peaceful use of outer space, IT, science and technology for the year 201012 and transfer of sentenced persons. South Korean President was also the chief guest at 2010 Republic Day Parade. Gujarat Local Authorities Law (Amendment) Bill 2009: The Bill makes it the duty of a qualified voter to vote during elections to local bodies. Voting is compulsory, but the Bill allows voters to cast their vote in favour of none of the candidates. Election officers will declare those who fail to vote defaulter, and serve them a notice. India and China has decided to start joint military exercise from 2011. Najib Razak, Malaysia Prime Minister visit India in Jan., 2010. Govt. launched Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission. Key highlights of the mission are: a) b) c) d) e) To create an enabling policy framework for the deployment of 20,000 MW of solar power by 2020. To create favourable conditions for solar manufacturing capability for indigenous production and market leadership. To promote programmes for off grid applications, reaching 1000 MW by 2017 and 2000 MW by 2022. To achieve 15 million sq. meters solar thermal collector area by 2017 and 20 million by 2022. To deploy 20 million solar lighting systems for rural areas by 2022.
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vii) New Governors appointed: a) M.K. Narayanan West Bengal b) c) Shivraj Patil Punjab Mohsina Kidwai Jharkhand
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There are three strains of wild Polio virus namely P1, P2 & P3. Type 2 wild Polio virus (P2) was eliminated from the world in 1999. First public hearing on the introduction of Bt Brinjal (First Genetically Modified Food Crop in India) was held in Kolkatta. Seven such public hearing is being organized by Centre for Environment Education, for opinion of public in respect of introduction of Bt Brinjal. 2nd hearing was held at Hyderabad. 50th anniversary of creation of Laser is being celebrated in 2010. Theodore Maiman constructed the first Laser in May, 1960. Laser stands for Light Amplification for Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Charles H. Townes was father of Maser. USA Space agency NASA launched Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) to discover the causes of extreme solar activity such as sun spots and solar winds and flares. GANGES: Global Advisory Network Group on environmental sciences. It was created by Govt. for environment research work. Agni-III ballistic missile with a range of 3500 km was successfully launched from Wheeler Island, Orissa. Ht Cotton: Herbicide Tolerant Cotton. The variety of Ht Cotton in MON 1445. The variety can withstand herbicides (weed killers) for better productivity and is under trail. Cervical Cancer is caused by HPV: Human Papilloma Virus. South Korea has worlds highest average connection speed at 14.6 Mbpd in Internet links. Japan has 2nd highest average speed. Scientist deciphered the genetic blueprint of South Africas Archbishop Desmond Titu. Persons in News (Feb., 2010) Horst Kochler, Germany President visit India in Feb., 2010. Abdullah Gul, Turkey President visit India in Feb., 2010. Economist Kokkadan Nandanath Raj, who made a significant contribution in the preparation of first Five Year Plan (195156) died. Sharad Chandra Sinha is appointed as Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA).
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xviii) Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President visit India in Feb., 2010. xix) xx) xxi) Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob International Atomic Energy Agency. of Malaysia appointed Chairman,
Govt. appointed R.S. Pandey as its mediator for talk with NSCN(IM) in Nagaland to carry forward the peace process. Former Justice P.V. Reddy will be appointed as Chairman, Law Commission of India.
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Ranjit Kumar Bhatia appointed as Director General of ITBP (Indo Tibetan Border Police). Rajan Bharti Mittal appointed President FICCI. Major Dimple Singla became first women army officer in the country who has been sentenced to imprisonment for corruption. Bhubneshwar Kalita has been choosen as the Chef de Mission of the Indian contingent at Commonwealth Games 2010. Cricketer Kapil Dev has been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. Former Supreme Court judge P.V. Reddy appointed as Chairman, Law Commission of India.
xvii) Lt Gen V.K. Singh appointed as new Army Chief. xviii) Sonia Gandhi appointed head of National Advisory Council. NAC advice the Govt. on policy matters, monitor flagship programmes and prepare the ground for other pro-poor legislatures. xix) Lyricist Javed Akhtar, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Dr. Ram Dayal Munda, Dr. Balchandra Mungekar and Kannada Actress B. Jayashree are among other persons nominated to Rajya Sabha. Austrian base jumper Felix Baumgartnar will became the first person to leaps from the edge of space at a height of 37 km above earths surface. He becomes the first man to break the speed of sound hitting a top speed of about 11000 km/hr. He will jump on 11 April, 2010. Katie Spotz became the youngest person to complete a solo journey across the Atlantic Ocean.
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xxii) Girija Prasad Koirala, Nepal Ex Prime Minister died. He was 5th time Nepal P.M.
Sports Current Affairs

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U-19 World Cup 2010 held in New Zealand from 1530 Jan., 2010. Javagal Srinath from India appointed as one of the match referee for the tournament. Australia won the U-19 World Cup for the third time defeating Pakistan. India is placed at 6th rank. Australia won the cup for the third time.
Rafael Nadal won the Capitala World Tennis Championsip, held at Abu Dhabi defeating Robin Soderling. Magnus Carlsen becomes the youngest World No.1 chess player at the age of 19 years breaking the Garry Kasparovs record when he became the worlds top ranked chess player at the age of 22 years in 1985. Magnus Carlsen is the 5th player after Kasparov, Kramnik, Topalov and V. Anand (India) to cross the 2800 ELO rating. In the Jan., 2010 FIDE ranking, Carlsen stood at 1st place, Topalov at 2nd place and V. Anand at 3rd place. Marin Cilic defeated Staniglas Wawrinka to won Mens singles title of Aircel Chennai Open.
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11th World Hockey Cup 2010: To be held in Delhi, India. This is 2nd WHC which India is hosting. India also hosted the WHC in 1982 at Mumbai. 12 countries participated in the tournament. WHC is held in the years between two summer Olympics. First WHC was held at Barcelona in 1971. Pakistan has won the cup four times, Netherland three times, Germany two times, India and Australia once each. India won the WHC in 1975. Sachin Tendulkar became first player in the world to score a double century in ODI (One Day International). He scored 200 (Not out) against South Africa.
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xxii) Commonwealth Shooting Championship was held in New Delhi in Feb., 2010. India stood at first place with 35 Gold, 25 Silver and 14 Bronze. England stood at 2nd place with 4 Gold and Wales stood at 3rd place.
Books and their Authors

i) ii) iii) iv) v) vi) All that you cant leave behind written by Soumya Bhattacharya. We Must Have No Price written by Arun Sourie. Train to India: Memories of another Bengal written by Maloy Kumar Dhar. Not by Reason alone: The Politics of Change, written by N.K. Singh. Five Point Someone written by Chetan Bhagat. Nehru: The invention of India, written by Shashi Tharoor.
vii) The Museum of Innocence written by Orhan Panuk. viii) Thoughts on Linguistic States written by B.R. Ambedkar.
Economics
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Planning Commission grant special category status to the Bundelkhand region comprising 9 Distt. of Uttar Pradesh and 15 Distt. of Madhya Pradesh for the irrigation projects. Under special category status, state Govt. can seek 90% grant assistance from the centre and 10% as loan. Govt. revises base year for the calculation of National Income from 19992000 to 20042005. The GDP for 200910 will be Rs. 55,74,449 crore and the fiscal deficit for the corresponding period will be 6.4%. Capital Control: Foreign capital inflows in the form of loans and equity that are allowed in a restricted form are said to be controlled. The capital inflows include foreign borrowings by Indian corporate and businesses, NRI deposits and portfolio flow from institutional investors into the stock market. Loans to Govt. and short term trade credit are also included. India had control on both capital account transactions as well as on current account with the local currency fixed by the Central Bank. In 1991, rupee was first made convertible on the current account. In 1994, Govt. allows foreign portfolio investments. Govt. will replace Benchmark Prime Lending System (BPLR) with Base rate system from 1 April, 2010 to make bank lending more transparent. It provided for minimum rate for all types of loans for banks.
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1000 faces for 1000 tigers campaign was launched in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The campaign aims to help double the number of wild tigers in Malaysia by 2022. Sachin Tendulkar features in BMCs Save Water Campaign.
xviii) Indian Navy inducted Russian built MiG 29 K fighters planes. xix) Basic Capabilities Index 2009: India received 68 points. The index was published by Social Watchs. The highest BCI points was given to Iran having 97 points and lowest points 44 was given to Chad. K.R. Sridhar, an US based Indian scientist invented Bloom Box: Which convert air and virtually any other fuel source into clean electricity. The box uses solid oxide fuel cells and can generate 100 KW of power. Present life expectancy of life at birth in India is 63.4 yrs. The highest expectancy of life is in Australia of 81.4 yrs, 81 yrs for France and 79.3 yrs for England. World Cancer Day 04 Feb.
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xxiii) International Condom Day 14 Feb. xxiv) Brahan Natyanjali 2010 festival was organized to celebrate 1000 years of Tanjavur temple in Tamil Nadu which was built by Chola emperor Rajaraja Chola in 1010 AD. xxv) 192 year old Presidency College of Kolkatta (Indias oldest college) converted into Presidency University. It became 18th state university in West Bengal.
xxvi) Railways started Maharajas Express from Kolkatta to Delhi. It is a tourist train having stoppage at Gaya, Varanasi, Bandhavgarh, Gwalior, Khajuraho and Agra. xxvii) The book Way to go written by Upamanyu Chatterjee. xxviii) The book Wide Angle written by cricketer Anil Kumble. xxix) The book El Sari Rojo written by Javier Moro, is on the life of Sonia Gandhi. xxx) World TB Day celebrated on 24 March.
xxxi) Constitution 112th Amendment Bill 2009 seeks to amend following clauses of Article 243T of the Constitution that provides for reservation of seats for SC & ST and also for women in Urban Local bodies: a) In clause (2) for the word one third, the word one half shall be substituted. b) In clause (3) the word one third, the word one half shall be substituted.
General Fact 2009 International Current Affairs 2009

Climate Conference in Copenhagen 6 to 18 December, 2009 (16th Dec., 2009) In 2012 the Kyoto Protocol to prevent climate changes and global warming runs out. To keep the process on the line there is an urgent need for a new climate protocol. At the
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China Celebrates its 60th Anniversary (1st October, 2009) A confident China on Thursday marked 60 years of Communist rule as it unveiled its military might parading new generation battle tanks and long-range cruise missiles, with President Hu Jintao asserting that only socialism can save the country. Afghan Presidential Election (18th September, 2009) President Hamid Karzai won an absolute majority in Afghanistan's presidential election, according to a final preliminary result released by the election commission. Incumbent Karzai won 54.6% of the vote in the Aug. 20 poll, nearly double the 27.8% of his nearest rival, former foreign minister Abdullah, the commission said. Voter turnout was 38%, which accounts for more than 5.5 million votes cast on the election day. Of that percentage, 42% were men and 38% were women, Daoud Ali Najafi, chief electoral officer said. US Largest Supplier of Arms in 2008 (7th September, 2009) Defying the trends of global recession, the United States has emerged as the largest supplier of arms, accounting for more than two-third of the USD 55.2 billion of arms sales in the year 2008. The United States has not only supplied arms and weapons to its traditional market, but also begun creating a pie for itself in the traditional Russian supplier markets like that of India, says a latest Congressional report. The increase in American weapons sales around the world was attributable not only to major new orders from clients in the Near East and in Asia, but also to the continuation of significant equipment and support services contracts with a broad-based number of US clients globally. Powerful Earthquake Kills 57 in Indonesia (3rd September) At least 57 killed, another 400 injured, says disaster agency Tsunami watch quickly expires, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says Older buildings damaged in Tasikmalaya in Indonesian island of Java, witness says Series of quakes hit Indonesia's Sumatra Island three weeks ago. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited Cianjur, and vowed to free up nearly $500,000 (5 billion rupiahs) for emergency response efforts. Miss Venezuala Win Miss Universe 2009 Title (24th August, 2009) Impressing 12 judges and beating 84 contestants Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez crowned the Miss Universe 2009 from Dayana Mendoza. 18-year-old Stefania is the sixth Venezuelan to win the crown. Michael Jackson is Dead (25th June, 2009) Michael Jackson, the King of pop died because of cardiac arrest at the age of 50 at Los Angeles. The only man who neither needs any introduction nor any eulogy died leaving millions of fans grieving. Keeping aside the controversies he stirred in the last few years, Michael Jackson was definitely an extraordinary artist, musician and a performer. Jackson left behind some heart touching songs like 'Earth Song'. LTTE Chief Prabhakaran's Body Found (18th May, 2009) The Tigers of Tamil Eelam Velupillai Prabhakaran has been shot dead and his body has also been found by the Lankan army. His son Charles Antony has also been shot dead. Prabhakarans top aides came out of their last hiding place in a small convoy of van and an ambulance and tried to drive out of the war zone, but were gunned down. The Tiger chief was killed with two others, who are believed to be his closest associates LTTE intelligence chief Pottu Amman and Sea Tigers' chief Soosoi. The deaths of the top LTTE leaders came a day after Tamil Tigers conceded defeat saying the decades-old battle has reached its bitter end and they have decided to silence their guns.
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K.R. Narayanan Award for the Hindu Chief Editor N. Ram (13th Nov., 2009) N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief of Hindu has been chosen for this years K.R. Narayanan Award for his outstanding contribution to journalism in India. Instituted by the K.R. Narayanan Foundation in memory of the late President, the award is to honor individuals who have excelled in various fields. It carries a statuette, citation and a ponnada. Radhakrishnan Takes Over as New ISRO Chief (31st October, 2009) Radhakrishnan, one of the key persons behind Indias Chandrayaan-1 mission, on Saturday took over as the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation. Dr. Radhakrishnan, also director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, succeeds Dr. G. Madhavan Nair. Dr. K. Radhakrishnan is an accomplished technocrat with a distinguished career of more than 38 years in the fields of space technology, applications and space programme management. Dorjee Khandu became New Chief Minister of A.P. (25th October, 2009) Dorjee Khandu, who led the Congress to a two-thirds majority in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections, was sworn in as the fifth Chief Minister of the state. All the newlyelected MLAs were present at the oath-taking ceremony. Khandu, a former army intelligence officer rewarded for his exploits during the Bangladesh war, had turned a social activist before joining politics in 1980. A.R. Rahman Wins Ghent Award (23rd October 2009) Oscar winner musician A.R. Rahman's Jai ho has again won laurels at prestigious World Soundtrack Academy awards in Ghent (Belgium). This song from Slumdog Millionaire won best original song written for film category at the ninth World Soundtrack Awards announced at Ghent. Test Fires Nuclear-capable Prithvi-II Missile (12th October, 2009) India successfully test fired the nuclear-capable surface-to-surface Prithvi-II missile twice from a test range in Orissa, officials said. The missiles were fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Balasore district, some 230 km from state capital Bhubaneswar first at 10.28 a.m. and then again five minutes later at 10.33 a.m. The tests were described as part of a user trial. Two naval ships tracked and monitored both the missiles hitting the targets accurately. All the radars and other sensors along the east coast monitored the missiles' trajectory parameters. The missiles have a striking range of about 350 km. Prithvi is India's first indigenously built ballistic missile. It is one of five missiles being developed under India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).Two versions of the missiles have already been deployed with the Army and the Air Force. According to defence officials in the national capital, Prithvi missile has the capability to carry 500-kg of warhead. India can Hold 2010 Games: CWG Officials (10th October, 2009) The Commonwealth Games Federation officials have expressed buoyancy over India's capability to host the 2010 event, after completing the second day of inspection. Visiting shooting range in Tughlaqabad, Jamia Milia complex, the Rugby 7s facility in Delhi University and Siri Fort Complex where the badminton event is scheduled to take place, the delegates were convinced that the country could hold 'great' Games in 2010. In the press release released by the committee, Australia's Don Stockins has been quoted as saying So far it's good. The block that we visited in the Games Village was good; if all end up like that it will be great. Delhi will be a great host and it is a very pretty city. Jamaican Olympic Association Vice-President Donald Anderson has also expressed confidence in India's facility to host the games next year.
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They grieved the fact that the only person who really cared about their grievances had passed away. The Queen was cremated with State Honours and the event was graced by the presence of the Rajasthan Governor Shailendra Kumar Singh and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, along with several members of the State Cabinet. Class X Girl Selected for NASA Training (26th July, 2009) Palak Agarwal, is one of the two school girls selected from India for NASA training in space shuttle designing. She is a student of 10th class in a school in remote Karnal dist. She was selected under a student programme under which a few students across the globe get an opportunity to get training in NASA. PM Launches India's First Nuclear Submarine (26th July, 2009) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur launched the country's first nuclear powered attack submarine, INS Arihant in Vishakhapatnam. The INS Arihant will be commissioned in the Indian Navy after extensive outfitting and sea trials. It is the first of three such vessels to be built in the country. Its length is 112-metre-long. India has achieved a 'historic milestone in the country's defence preparedness' with the launch of the submarine. Bill Gates to Receive Indira Gandhi Peace Prize (23th July, 2009) Bill Gates has received the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development on behalf of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2003, the foundation launched Avahan, a 10-year initiative to support India's efforts to reduce the spread of HIV. India's First Sea Bridge (30th June, 2009) The Congress president Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the Bandra Worli sea link in Mumbai. The 5.6 kilometers long cable-stayed bridge has been designed to allow for speedy road travel between Bandra and Worli. It costs Rs. 50 to take a trip on the link, and will cost Rs. 75 for a round trip. It would be nothing compared to the Rs 100 crore per year that the link will save in the vehicle operating cost alone. The link is equipped for traffic monitoring, emergency support and an automated toll system. The construction of the sea link would save people's time.
Sports 2009
Golden whistle for Indian Hockey umpire (10th Nov., 2009) Satinder Kumar has become the first Indian umpire to get the golden whistle from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for officiating in 100 matches. Satinder is the 29th international umpire to get the honor, Hockey India said in a statement. Satinder umpired in his 100th match at the ongoing World Cup Qualifiers in Invercargill, New Zealand yesterday.
Indoor Asian Games

India Win 2 Gold on Final Day, End at 7th Place (7th Nov., 2009): India claimed four medals, including 2 gold, on the final day of the competition to end the third Asian Indoor Games on a high. India ended the continental event on seventh position with 40 medals six gold, nine silver and 25 bronze. M.C Mary Kom and Kavita Goyat won gold for India in the Asian Indoor Games on Wednesday. The other Indians in the final, Sarita Devi and N. Usha lost their respective bouts and had to contend with silver medals. Australia Wins Champions Trophy 2009 (6th October, 2009) Australia claimed their second successive Champions Trophy title in beating New Zealand by six wickets in the final at Super Sport Park in Centurion, South Africa. Australia had a huge fight on their hands at 26 against some inspired bowling, but
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of a poll carried out among chess journalists and experts. The Oscar comes in the form of a statuette also called the Fascinated Wanderer. Brasa appointed Indian men's hockey coach (1st May, 2009) Spain's master coach Jose Brasa has been appointed as the new chief coach of the Indian men's hockey team. Pravir Krishna, the Joint Secretary of Union Ministry of Sports said Brasa will soon join the Indian men's hockey team as the chief coach". He also informed that Brasa was handed a two-year contract, but didn't rule out the chances of his agreement being extended till the 2012 London Olympics. The Spaniard put forth a list of demands, including a free hand in running the team, the need for technology and a good physiotherapist, and a support staff of 14 people, including two from Spain. The Sports Ministry accepted his demands. The official also informed that Brasa would be coming to India early next week to formally take charge of his duties. BCCI Nominates Gambhir, Jhulan for Arjuna Award (30th April, 2009) The Board of Control for Cricket in India has recommended batman Gautam Gambhir and women's team captain Jhulan Gosawmi for the esteemed sports award, the Arjuna Award.Gambhir, opener has scored 1,579 test runs at an average of 75.19, and 1,494 runs at 46.38 in ODIs. Jhulan won the ICC Women Cricketer of the Year Award in 2007. India Seals Historic Win in New Zealand after 41yrs (7th April, 2009) Though rain stopped India from winning the third and final test against New Zealand at Basin Reserve in Wellington, it sealed the historic 10 series victory on April 7 after 41 years. The last time India won a series in New Zealand was under the captaincy of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi in 196768. India had won the first Test in Hamilton by 10 wickets and drew the second Test in Napier. India Win Hamilton Test, a Win in NZ after 33 years (21st March, 2009) Dominant India defeated New Zealand by 10 wickets in the 1st Test to take 10 lead. This is India's first Test win in New Zealand since 1976. India wrapped up New Zealand's second innings on 279 with the hosts giving a 38-run lead in the 1st Test. Harbhajan Singh took six wickets for his side. India Thrash New Zealand to Seal ODI Series (Feb., 2009) India won the One day series against new zeland soil at first time.
Science and Technology 2009

NASA Signs Agreement with ISRO for Use of Indian S.O.2 (19th Nov., 2009) US space agency NASA has signed an agreement with ISRO to use data from Indian Satellite Oceansat (S.O.)2, for various American agencies for research activities, including weather forecasting. Launched on September 23, 2009 using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from Sriharikota, Oceansat2 is designed to provide service continuity for operational users of the Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) instrument on Oceansat1. Scientists Create Bacteria that Light Up Around Landmines (16th Nov., 2009) A stunning 87 countries around the world are still littered with undetonated landmines, and their impact is devastating. Thousands of people are killed or injured by mines every year, and they pose a grave threat to ecosystems and wildlife. But an unexpected solution may be on the way--scientists have developed a special kind of bacteria that actually begins to glow in the presence of landmines. Scientists produced the bacteria using a new technique called BioBricking, which manipulates packages of DNA. The bacteria are then mixed into a colorless solution, which forms green patches when sprayed onto ground where mines are buried. The bacterial stew can also be dropped via airplane in extremely sensitive areas. Then, only a few hours after it's sprayed or dropped, the bacteria begins to glow green if it's next to an undetonated explosive. This, of course, would be an
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Largest Ever Telescope Launched from French Guiana (15th May, 2009) Ariane 5 rocket, the world's largest telescope was launched on May 15 from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana to investigate the origins of the universe. The Herschel telescope was developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) at a cost of 1.1 billion euros ($1.49 billion). The main objective of the telescope is to determine how the stars and galaxies are formed in the universe. The Physicist Albrecht Poglitsch, of the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, worked on the development of Herschel's instruments. The stars are comprised of gas and dust, a mix that makes it impossible to see into the star itself with light. Herschel's strength is to enable a look into the gas-dust clouds. The primary mirror of the Herschel telescope is 3.5 meters in diameter, more than four times larger than those of previous infrared space telescopes and almost one and a half times larger than the Hubble space telescope. Herschel will tap into previously unexplored wavelengths and examine phenomena that had been out of reach for other observatories. The telescope will begin to carry out its three-and-a-half-year mission in about a month. First Face Transplant Patient in US Shows Face (6th May, 2009) Five years ago, Connie Culp, 46-year-old woman in a shotgun blast left a ghastly hole in the middle of her face. Five months ago, she received a new face from a dead woman. She stepped forward to show off the results of the nation's first face transplant, and her new look was a far cry from the puckered, noseless sight that made children run away in horror. Culp's expressions are still a bit wooden, but she can talk, smile, smell and taste her food again. Her speech is at times a little tough to understand. Her face is bloated and squarish, and her skin droops in big folds that doctors plan to pare away as her circulation improves and her nerves grow, animating her new muscles. ISRO Launches RISAT-2 (20th April, 2009) The Indian Space Research Organisation successfully launched a revolutionary spy satellite RISAT-2. It is designed by the Israeli Aerospace Industries. It can take images through the thickest cloud cover, rain and snow or fog conditions during night and day or even of the hundreds of winding mountain valleys. It will be used extensively for purposes like mapping, managing natural disasters and surveying the seas, it can also see through camouflage like cloth or foliage used to conceal camps or vehicles. It will enable India to keep a watch on terror camps, military installations across boundaries, missile sites and suchlike. It should also help keep track of ships at sea that could pose a threat. The RISAT will reduce India's dependence on foreign suppliers like Ikonos for satellite imagery.
Obama to Restore Stem Cell Research Funding

US President Barack Obama on Monday signed an executive order reversing Bush administration restrictions on Federal funding for stem cell research. He said that he would ensure that all research on stem cells would be conducted ethically and with rigorous oversight. This move would be in line with Mr. Obama's campaign vow to restore funding to embryonic stem cell research.This development impressed scientists who have long campaigned for the Bush policy to be overturned, but will likely be condemned by conservative right-to-life groups. Mr. Bush barred Federal funding from supporting work on new lines of stem cells derived from human embryos in 2001, allowing research only on a small number of embryonic stem-cell lines which existed at that time.He argued that using human embryos for scientific research - which often involves their destruction - crossed a moral barrier and urged scientists to consider other alternatives. Embryonic stem cells are primitive cells from early-stage embryos capable of developing into almost every tissue of the body.
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NASA's Kepler Mission to Begin Quest to Find Planets Hosting Life/Indian Scientists Conduct Anti-warming Experiment in Antarctic Ocean
A group of scientists from India and Germany jointly conducted an anti-warming experiment in Antarctic Ocean. It is believed that the experiment may find out a possible solution to on-going global warming crisis. The scientists began their experiment by scattering iron powder on hundreds of square kilometres of the Antarctic Ocean. The iron powder will fertilize the growth of phytoplankton which will eventually remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and take it deep under the ocean surface. The technology of iron fertilization is likely to stop global warming at a very little cost. About six tonnes of iron are to be scattered on 300 sq km of sea. The group of scientists which left Cape Town on board the Polarstern on January 7 includes thirty Indian and 18 from other nations. The tiny organism called phytoplankton can eliminate carbon dioxide which is the main greenhouse gas contributing to global warming. The technology used by the Indian and German scientists can be path-breaking one in curbing global warming which stands out to be a major threat to mankind.
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1. Economy
India will liberalise its trade with South Korea and three key ASEAN countries Singapore. Thailand and Malaysia from January 2010 by slashing duties on several products like seafood, chemicals and apparel among others. The countrys market-opening pacts with three of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and South Korea will be operational from January 1. The remaining seven ASEAN members will take a few more months. Indian exports to Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia accounting for over 90 per cent of the India-ASEAN $44-billion trade would also be given easy access on about 4,000 tariff items
Open Trade with ASEAN, Korea to Begin
From Navratnas to Maharatnas

The government has decided to allow greater operational and financial freedom to the public sector companies that qualify as Maharatnas a new category that will have higher performance criteria than applicable to the existing Navratna. The process of speeding up decision-making in government-owned enterprises began in 1997 when nine companies were identified as eligible for the exalted status hence the appellation Navratnas. Subsequently nine more joined the group. Now the Maharatnas, to be picked from those companies according to more stringent norms, will get much greater freedom in making financial and managerial decisions such as top appointments and investments in joint ventured up to a ceiling of Rs.5,000crore. Indian Oil Corporation, one of the six PSUs chosen for the up gradation, will be accorded Maharatna status by the Central Government. Of the 18 existing Navratnas six are likely to be elevated to the Maharatna status. These are the three integrated petroleum companies - Indian Oil, hindusthan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum NTPC, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Steel Authority of India. S. Behuria: Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation.
The six-point eligibility criteria are:
An existing Navratna status. Listing on the stock exchanges with minimum public shareholding as prescribed by the SEBI Annual turnover of more than Rs.25, 000crore for the last three years. Average annual net worth of at least Rs.15,000crore Average annual net profit of more than Rs.5, 000crore for the last three years. A significant global presence.
Boost to Unique Identity Project
The Centre gave a major fillip to its ambitious unique Identity project for citizens, by proposing a Rs.1,900 or budgetary allocation for it, a nearly 16 fold increase. Part of this would be used to fund an incentive of Rs.100 for every enrolled person below poverty line. The project headed by Nandan Nilekani was allocated Rs.120crore in the last budget.
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Rs. 1,270 crore allocated for Rajiv Awas Yojana for slum dwellers, up from Rs.150 crore, an increase of 700 percent with the aim of creating a slum free India. Forty-six percent of plan allocations in 2010-11 will be for infrastructure development. Coal Regulatory Authority to be set up to benchmark standards of performance. Allocation for new and renewable energy sector increased 61 percent from Rs.620 crore to Rs.1,000 crore in 2010-11. National Clean Energy Fund to be established. Rs. 200 crore allocated as special package for Goa to prevent erosion and increase green cover. Government committed to growth of SEZs. Four-pronged strategy for growth of agricultural sector. Rs.200 crore to be provided in 2010-11 for climate-resilient agricultural initiative. Involvement of private sector in grain storage to continue for another two years. In view of drought and floods, debt repayment period extended to June 2010. Five more mega food processing projects in addition to 10 existing ones. FDI flows in April-December 2009 $20.9 billion. FDI policy to be made more user-friendly with one comprehensive document. Apex level financial stability council to be set up for banking sector. Indian Banking Association to give additional licences to private players. Provision for further capital for regional rural banks. Roadmap for reducing public debt in six months. Implementation of direct tax code from April 2011. Government actively engaged in finalising structure of general sales tax regime; hopes to implement it from April, 2011. New fertilizer policy from April, 2010; will lead to improved productively and more income for farmers. Economy stabilised in first quarter of 200910; strong rebound in second quarter overall growth at 7.2 and could be higher when Q3 and Q4 are taken into account. Export figures for January encouraging. Hope to breach 10 percent growth mark in not too distant future. Government set in motion steps to bring down food inflation. Need to review stimulus package; need to make growth more broad-based. India has weathered global economic crises well; Indian economy in far batter position than it was a year ago. In 2009 Indian economy faced grave uncertainty; delay in southwest monsoon had undermined agricultural production. First challenge now is to quickly revert to 9 percent growth and then aim for double digit growth need to make recovery more broadbased. Second challenge is to make growth more inclusive; have to strengthen food security. Third challenge is to overcome weakness in governments public delivery mechanism; a long way to go in this.
Energy
Manmohan Singh Launches Solar India
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called for creation of solar valleys in India, akin to the Silicon Valley, as a contribution to the national as well as global efforts at combating climate change. Launching the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission or Solar India Dr. Singh said its success could transform Indias energy prospects. The mission planned to create an installed capacity of 20,000 MW by the end of the 13th Plan.
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2. Nation Andamanese Tribes, Languages Die

The death of last surviving speakers of two Great Andamanese languages, Khora and Bo, has resulted in the extermination of their unique tribes on the lslands. Originally, the Great Andamanese were a group of 10 tribes with a total population of 5,000 when the British colonized the Andaman lslands. Over the years, most were killed or died of the diseases brought by settlers.
Quota for Muslims in West Bengal

The West Bengal government announced a 10% quota in jobs for the weaker sections among Muslims under the OBC category. It has decided to accept the recommendations of the Ranganath Mishra Commission.
West Bengal to Set-up Counter-insurgency Force

The West Bengal government is raising a counter insurgency force to be trained by the elite Greyhounds force based in Andhra Pradesh for specializing in counterguerrilla activities of Maoists active in certain parts of the State. Personnel selected from the State Armed Police will receive training at the Greyhounds Academy in Andhra Pradesh that specialises in preparing special commandoes to tackle anti-extremist activity. The Greyhounds force is an elite anti-naxal force that specializes in conducting jungle warfare applying guerrilla tactics to counter those of the Maoists. It has been highly successful in demolition of Maoists stronghold in Andhra Pradesh. Inspector General of the Greyhound Force: Anjani Kumar
Environment
Madhya Pradesh as Alternative Lion Habitat
The Madhya Pradesh government has spent over Rs. 14.53 core to relocate 1,543 families in the Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary being prepared as an alternative habitat for the king of the jungle. At present, Asiatic lions are found only in Gir forests in Gujarat and the Centre had plans to relocate some of them to Kuno Sanctuary to repopulate the endangered species there. There are around 800 lions in the Gir forests but experts feel that the concentration of the entire lion population at one place exposes it to the danger of being wiped out by disease or natural calamity. Kuno was identified as a best potential site by the Wildlife Institute of India among two other sites Darrah-Jawahar Sagar and Sitamata (both in Rajasthan) long back in 1993.
Copenhagen Accord not Legally Binding: UNFCC

Seeking to put at rest doubts over the status of the Copenhagen Accord agreed upon at the 15th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP) in the Danish capital last year, the United Nations Frame work Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has issued a clarification saying that the agreement was not a legally binding document but merely a political one.
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The Centre has addressed a communication to the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to take steps immediately to give the status to Telugu.
Polity and Administration

CJI Comes Under RTL Act: Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court has held that the office of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) is a public authority that comes within the ambit of the Right to information (RTI) Act and it is bound to provide information about the declaration of asset details by Supreme Court judges.
Honour for Army Chief

Chief of the Army Staff, General Deepak Kapoor was conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepal Army by President Ram Baran Yadav, Supreme Commander-InChief of Army.
High Courts can Order CBI Probe without States Nod

The Supreme Court and the High Courts have the power to order a CBI probe without a States consent into a cognizable offence allegedly committed within the States territory a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court held.
India Takes a Giant Leap for Womankind

In a giant leap for womankind of the sort few countries have attempted before, the Rajya Sabha voted to amend the Constitution to reserve one-third of seats in Parliament and the State Assemblies for women. The House recorded its vote of 191 for and 1. The Bill formally known as the 108th constitutional amendment, must now be passed by the Lok Sabha and ratified by at least half the States for becoming effective.
Nuclear Liability Bill Deferred at Last Minute

Amid stiff opposition from the political parties, particularly the Left, the government on Monday decided against introducing in the Lok Sabha the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010 that provides for compensation in the event of a nuclear accident. A key step in the operationalisation of the India-U.S. nuclear deal, the Bill was listed for introduction in the House, but just as it was about to be tabledm, Speaker Meira Kumar said she had received a request from the government that it did not intend to introduce the Bill. Under Rule 72 of the Rule of Procedures of the Lok Sabha, any government motion that is opposed at the time of introduction has to be put to vote. Since the government lacked the numbers in the House on that particular day, it decided to withdraw the Bill instead.
Foreign Universities Bill Cleared for Introduction

The Union Cabinet cleared the Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operation) Bill 2010, for introduction in Parliament. It seeks to allow foreign education providers to set up campuses in the country and offer degrees.
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3. International News China Set to Overtake India as Worlds Biggest Gold Consumer
China, the worlds largest producer of gold, is set to overtake India as the metals biggest consumer for the first time in history. Chinas gold consumption in 2009 has now been estimated at 450 tonnes. This exceeds estimates for Indias net consumption last year, which is forecast at around 380 tonnes. China has been the worlds largest gold producer since 2007, when the country overtook South Africa. China had an annual output of 282.5 tonnes in 2009, when production grew by 14.6%.
Russia to be First to Build Nuclear-powered Spacecraft

Russia will endeavour to become the worlds first nation to build a nuclear-powered spacecraft for interplanetary flights. The draft design of the spacecraft is slated to be ready by 2012, while the actual model is expected to be developed by 2018. The total cost of the project is estimated at about $600 million. Nuclear powered spacecraft are essential for space travels far from the sun, where getting power from solar energy becomes problematic and to planets like Mars.
Tin Oo Set Free, to Lead NLD

Octogenarian Tin Oo, now set free by Myanmars military rulers, will lead the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) as long as Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest.
Obama Calls for Global Fuel Bank

On the 40th anniversary of the birth of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) . President Obama reaffirmed the United States intention to push forward with dialogue on the three pillars of the non-proliferation question disarmament, non-proliferation and civil nuclear cooperation. Operation Moshtarak. Operation Moshtarak (Operation Together): NATO and Afghan National Army forces jointly started an operation to encounter fierce. Taliban resistance in Marjah, a town of 80,000 people in the southwestern province of Helmand. The province has the worlds largest opium output and Marjah alone yields the Taliban an estimated $2 million a month.
Iran, Pakistan Clinch Gas Pipeline Deal

Iran and Pakistan have signed in Turkey, the final agreement to launch the IranPakistan gas pipeline with a provision for Indias possible participation in the project at a later date.
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4. India and the World Dhaka, Delhi Conclude Water Talks

Bangladesh and India have agreed to resolve outstanding issues relating to water sharing and decided that they will jointly start work for the protection of banks of the common rivers. Dredging of the Isamati River would start on February 1. Sharing of the Teesta waters between India and Bangladesh should be concluded expeditiously.
Russia-India Fighter Makes Successful Maiden Test Flight

Russias new fifth-generation stealth fighter (FGFA), a joint project with India which is set to form the backbone of the two nations air power till the mid-21st century, made a successful maiden test flight. The flight marked a breakthrough for Russia, making it the second country in the world after the U.S. to have built a fifth-generation fighter plane. The FGFA will also be a quantum jump for India as the first joint project with Russia where the Indian aviation industry will be a full-fledged partner. Under a 2007 inter-governmental agreement the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) took a 50% investment stake in the $8-billion project and will contribute 25 per cent of design and development work.
Pakistan for New Measures to Energise Indus Treaty

Of the six rivers forming part of the IWT, Pakistan has most rights of usage on the three western rivers, while India enjoys similar rights on the three eastern rivers.
News Related to NRIs & PIOs

Jhumpa Lahiri Appointed to Obama Arts Committee
Indian-American Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri has been appointed a member of U.S. President Barack Obamas Committee on the Arts and Humanities, along with five others. Her novel: The Namesake Ms. Lahiris latest collection of stories. Unaccustomed Earth, won the Frank OConnor International Short Story Award and the Vallombrosa-Gregor von Rezzori Prize.
U.K. Indian Writer on Commonwealth Prize Shortlist

British Indian writer Rana Dasgupta and Pakistans Daniyal Mueenuddin have been shortlisted for the 2010 Commonwealth Writers Prize to be announced. Mr. Dasguptas novel Solo.
Indian-origin Student Wins Intel Honour

Akhil Mathew, 18, a student of Indian origin, has won the third place in Americas precollege science competition, the Intel Science Talent Search 2010.
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5. Awards C.R. Rao Bags Indian Science Award

The Indian Science Award declared in connection with the 97th has gone tc C.R. Rao. S statistician. The award instituted by the Department of Science and Technology of the Union government carrier Rs. 25 lakh in cash. Indian Science Congress was held at Thiruvananthapuram in January 2010.
Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development

President Pratibha Patil conferred the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2009 on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Murthy First Cinematographer to Win Phalke Award

My sore-born V.K.Murthy has become the first cinematographer to be chosen for the Dada Saheb Phalke Award.
Padma Awards
Padma Vibhushan
Former Reserve Bank of India Governor Y.V.Reddy, Nobel laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Apollo Hospitals group founder Prathap C. Reddy, theatre director Ebrahim Alkazi theatre actor Zohra Segal and percussionist and mridangam vidwen Umayalpuram K.Sivaraman have been honoured with Padma Vibhushan, the countrys second highest civilian award, on the occasion of Republic Day.
Padma Bhushan
Music composers A. R. Rahman and llaiyaraaja actor Aamir Khan, danseuse Mallika Sarabhai, tabla exponent Pandit Chhannulai Mishra Planning Commission member B.K. Chaturvedi, DLF chairman Kushal Pal Singh, cardiac surgeon Ramakant Madanmohan Panda and Newsweek columnist Fareed Zakaria are among the 43 pesons chosen for Padma Bhushan. Other Padma Bhushan awardees include historian Bipan Chandra, Planning Commission member Abhijit Senm Leela Hotel group chairman C.P.Krishnan Nair and eye surgeon Noshir M. Shroff. U.S. based hotelier Sant Singh Chatwals name also figures in the list, according to an official release.
Ashok Chakra for Havildar Rajesh Kumar

Havildar Rajesh Kumar of 11th Battalion, Rajputanna Rifles who laid down his life battling terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, has been awarded the Ashok Chakra, the highest peacetime gallantry award.
SEWAs Ela Bhatt Chosen for Niwano Peace Prize

Social worker Ela Bhatt has been chosen for the Niwano Peace Prize this year for her contribution to the uplift of poor women in India.
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6. Achievements of Indian Agencies

The GSLV-D3 will be powered by an indigenous cryogenic stage built for the first time by the Indian Space Research Organisation. It will put in orbit a communication satellite GSAT-4. It is a three-stage vehicle. The indigenous cryogenic stage, including its engine has been built by the ISROs Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre at Mahendragiri near Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu. Cryogenic engines use liquid hydrogen at minus 265 degrees Celsius as fuel and liquid oxygen at minus 240 degrees Celsius as oxidizer. A cryogenic stage includes the motor propellant tanks, control devices, electronic instruments, plumbing and motor casing. From 2001 to 2007 there have been five GSLV flights and these rockets used Russian cryogenic engines. The sixth GSLV flight and it will use an indigenous cryogenic stage.
Second Research Centre of BARC

A second research centre of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre would be set up in Visakhapatnam. First research center of BARC is located in Trombay.
Towards Self-reliance in Launch Vehicle Tech.

The GSLV Mk-III will make India totally self reliant in launch vehicle technology for launching NSAT class of communication satellites which are now being put in orbit for India by the European launcher Ariane-5. If everything goes on schedule, the first flight of the GSLV Mk-III will take place by the end of 2011. It is the most powerful rocket to be built by the ISRO weighing 630 tonnes and 43.5 metres tall. It can put a satellite weighing four tonnes in a geo-synchronous transfer orbit with a perigee of about 200 km and an apogee of 36,000 km. It can out a satellite weighing 10 tonnes in a near earth orbit at an altitude or about 300 km. It has three stages. The two boosters S-200 form the first stage. The boosters hug the core/second liquid stage. Above this liquid stage is the cryogenic stage. S-200 is the third largest booster after the NASA Space Shuttle and Arianespace Ariane-5s boosters. N. Narayana Moorthy: Project Director GSLV Mk-III
K-15 Missile
The coming weeks/months will be hectic for the DRDO with one more launch of K-15 missile from a submerged pontoon off the coast of Visakhapatnam. The pontoon will simulate the conditions of a submarine K-15 had been launched earlier from submerged pontoons but this is a different version. The first version called Mark-1, is being fitted into the indigenously built nuclearpowered submarine named Arihant. After the K-15 missile clears the water medium it climbs 20 km into the air and can destroy targets 700km away.
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An outspoken critic of those who try to abridge free speech, he faced imprisonment in 2005 in his own country on this account. His eight novels which include several international best sellers such as my Name is Red Snow, Istanbul and now the Museum of Innocence, are a testament to his profound ingenuity as a writer as well as to his humanity.
Committees and Reports

Justice Sirpurkar Heads three-member Dinakaran Impeachment Panel
Supreme Court judge V.S. Sirpurkar will head a three-member committee that will investigate the grounds for impeachment of Karnataka Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran whose removal from office has been sought jointly by 75 Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha on corruption and land grabing charges.
No Foul Play in YSR Chopper Crash: RK Tyagi Panel Report

Foul play is learnt to have been ruled out in former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddys chopper crash. The independent probe panel set up about three months back to examine the crash submitted its final report to the government. The probe panel, headed by Pawan Hans chief R.K. Tyagi, submitted the report to the aviation secretarys office.
Srikrishna Heads Telangana Issue
Five-member
Committee
on
Nearly a month after holding consultations with eight recognized political parties on the Telangana issue, the government constituted a five-member committee to hold wideranging consultations with all sections of the people and all political parties and groups in Andhra Pradesh. The committee will be headed by the former Supreme Court judge, justice B.N. Srikrishna. The other members of the committee are Ranbir Singh. Dr. Abusaleh Shariff, Dr. (Ms.) Ravinder Kaur, and Vinod K. Duggal.
Report may be Ready in 23 Months: Nanavati Panel

The G.T. Nanavati-Akshay Mehta judicial commission probing the Godhra train carnage and post-Godhra riots, informed the Gujarat High Court that it was in the process of recording its findings and was expected to complete the report in the next three or four months.
Supreme Court Constitutes Empowered Committee to go into Mullaperiyar Issues

The Mullaperiyar dam case took a new twist with the Supreme Court constituting a highlevel empowered committee to go into all issues including the safety aspects of the dam, raising the water level beyond 136 ft as also Keralas demand for a new dam. A five-member committee headed by former Chief Justice of India A.S. Anand to go into the safety of the Mullaperiyar dam
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7. Places in News
At over 800 metres or 2,625 feet (the exact height is a secret), Burj Dubai will become the tallest free standing structure in the world with the highest number of stories, the highest occupied floor, highest outdoor observation deck besides having the elevator with the longest travel distance.
Burj Dubai, Worlds Tallest Building
Indias Seed Vault

It is Indias doomsday vault Nestled 17, 500m high on a cliff top in the Himalayas, Chang-La (75 km east of Leh) has the sub zero temperatures and low humidity necessary to suspend seed life for future generations. Chang-La. Opened last December currently holds 5,000 seeds from the Ministry of Defence, prioritized for qualities such yield of resistance to temperature pests or humidity. The facility in India aims to rival that at Svalbard in Norway, which can hold up to 3 million seed varieties, by opening up its vaults to the international community.
Indias First Open Jail for Women Opened in Pune

Indias first open jail for women was inaugurated at the Yerawade Central Prison Pune on March 8.
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V.K. Singh is Next Chief of Army Staff

Lieutenant General V.K. Singh will be new Chief of the Army Staff. He will assume office on March 31, the day the current Chief General Deepak Kapoor, retires from service the Defence Ministry announced.
Former Malaysian Monarch Passes Away

Sultan Iskandar of konor who was the eighth constitution at monarch of Malaysia, passed away.
Film icon Jean Simmons is dead Indian to Head Amnesty International

Amnesty International, has appointed Salil Shetty, an Indian who headed the U.N. Millennium Campaign, as its next secretary general.
M.F. Husain Gets Qatar Nationality

M.F. Husain Indias greatest and most celebrated artist, has been conferred Qatar nationality something that is very rarely given.
Yukiya Amano
New Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
S.C. Sinha NIA Chief

S.C. Sinha has been appointed Director-General of the National Investigation Agency. He succeeds the First chief of the agency, Radha Vinod Raju.
Subhash Chandra
Chairman of the Nepal Constituent Assembly.
Carlos Slim Richest Person in the World

Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has emerged the richest person in the world with $53.5 billion in assets, while Indian industrialist Mukesh Ambani, chief of Reliance Industries, ranks fourth with $29 billion in U.S. magazine Forbes annual list of the worlds top billionaires. Mr. Slim is followed by William Gates III (popularly known as Bill Gates). NRI billionaire Lakshmi Mittal ranks fifth.
Marathi Poet Vinda Karandikar Passes Away

Noted Marathi poet and Jnanpith award winner Vinda Karandikar (91) passed away.
Shortest Man Dead

He Pingping, of China, who was 2 feet, 5.37 inches (74.6 cm) tall, had become a recognized figure across the world.
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9. Women Personalities Women Scale New Heights, Enter ITBP Ranks Now
The first contingent of 209 women passed out after completing rigorous training of 44 weekd from ITBPs Basic Training Centre (BTC) Bhanu near Panchkula. These recruits will be the first women to be deployed along the international border with China by the ITBP. The ITBP mans the internal border between India and China.
Preity in UNAIDS Ambassador

Bollywood actor Preity Zinta is all set to don a new hat. She has been officially appointed goodwill ambassador of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS in India.
Gyan Sudha Misra

The Supreme Court will very soon have a woman Judge, after more than three years. The Supreme Court collegium, headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, has recommended the elevation of Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court Gyan Sudha Misra as a Supreme Court judge. Justice Misra will be the fourth woman judge of the Supreme Court, after Fatima Beevi, Sujata Manohar, and Ruma Paul. With these elevations, the strength of judges will go up to 29, as against the sanctioned strength of 31.
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Pune, Kochi Join IPL
CurrentAffairs2010
Pune and Kochi joined the Indian Premier League (IPL) after the auction for the new teams held. The IPL will feature 10 sides from 2011. The Sahara Group won Pune with a $370 Million bid for 10 years. Rendezvous Sports World, a consortium of five companies, won Kochi with a bid of $333.3 million.
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Do you know?
The second Ministerial-level meeting of the BASIC group of countries is held at New Delhi in January 2010.
The National Institute of Climate and Environmental Studies (NICES) is coming up at Gadanki with the collaboration of the Ministries of Environment and Earth Sciences and the Departments of Space and Science and Technology. National Atmospheric Research Laboratory is in Gadanki near Tirupati The States Reorganisation Commission 1955 consisted of Hon. Fazal Ali K.M.Panikker and H.M.Kunzru. Girija Vyas Chairperson of National Commission for Women Childrens Science Congress organized as part of the 97th Indian Science Congress on the Kerala University Campus at Kariavattom. Shashi Tharoors book: Nehru: The Invention of India Yukiya Amano: Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Anders Fogh Rasmussen. NATO Secretary-General. Big Defence Deals Inked since Kargil war US: C- 130 J Super Hercules aircraft Israel: Phalcon AWACS France: Scorpene submarines Russia: Admiral Gorshkov and MiG-29Ks UK: Hawk AJTs Manmohan Singh is only the third Indian Prime Minister to have paid a visit to Saudi Arabia, after Jawaharlal Nehru in 1955 and Indira Gandhi in 1982. Bikaneri Nerma: A Bt-cotton variety. World Economic Outlook is published by IMF Indira Gandhi Bio-diversity Institute at Silent Valley is to be inaugurated in May or June. Cartagena Protocol is related to Biosafety Rio Declaration on Environment and Development 1992 Codex Alimentarius is a collection of internationally recognized standards, codes of practice, guidelines and other recommendations relating to foods, food production and food safety. Ranganath Misra-headed National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities. The NPT come into force on 5 March 1970 and currently there are 189 ststes party to the treaty, five of which are recognized as nuclear weapon states the United States. Russia the United Kingdom. France, and China (also the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council). Four non-parties to the treaty are known or believed to possess nuclear weapons India Pakistan and North Korea have openly tested and declared that they possess nuclear weapons, while Israel has had a policy of opacity regarding its own nuclear weapons program north Korea acceded to the treaty, violated it, and withdrew from it in 2003. The Constitution of India does not allow holding Indian citizenship and citizenship of a foreign country simultaneously. Based on the recommendation of the High Level committee on Indian Diaspora the Government of India decided to grant Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) commonly known as dual citizenship. Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who migrated from India and acquired citizenship of a foreign country other than Pakistan and Bangladesh are eligible for grant of OCI as long as their home countries allow dual citizenship. International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology: New Delhi
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United Nation Agencies

ILO IMO IMF

1946 1948 1945

UPU WB WFP WHO WIPO WMO UNWTO

1947 1945 1963 1948 1974 1950 1974

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National Current Affairs

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vi) vii) viii) ix)

x) xi) xii) xiii) xiv) xv) xvi) xvii)

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Sports Current Affairs

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Books and their Authors

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General Fact 2009 International Current Affairs 2009

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Indoor Asian Games

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Science and Technology 2009

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Obama to Restore Stem Cell Research Funding

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Open Trade with ASEAN, Korea to Begin

From Navratnas to Maharatnas

The six-point eligibility criteria are:

Boost to Unique Identity Project

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2. Nation Andamanese Tribes, Languages Die

Quota for Muslims in West Bengal

West Bengal to Set-up Counter-insurgency Force

Copenhagen Accord not Legally Binding: UNFCC

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Polity and Administration

Honour for Army Chief

High Courts can Order CBI Probe without States Nod

India Takes a Giant Leap for Womankind

Nuclear Liability Bill Deferred at Last Minute

Foreign Universities Bill Cleared for Introduction

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Russia to be First to Build Nuclear-powered Spacecraft

Tin Oo Set Free, to Lead NLD

Obama Calls for Global Fuel Bank

Iran, Pakistan Clinch Gas Pipeline Deal

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4. India and the World Dhaka, Delhi Conclude Water Talks

Russia-India Fighter Makes Successful Maiden Test Flight

Pakistan for New Measures to Energise Indus Treaty

News Related to NRIs & PIOs

U.K. Indian Writer on Commonwealth Prize Shortlist

Indian-origin Student Wins Intel Honour

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5. Awards C.R. Rao Bags Indian Science Award

Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development

Murthy First Cinematographer to Win Phalke Award

Ashok Chakra for Havildar Rajesh Kumar

SEWAs Ela Bhatt Chosen for Niwano Peace Prize