Current Affairs e Book English Dec 2013-1-1

PREFACE
15
PICK OF THE MONTH
16
The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013
16
Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa died at 95
21
9th WTO Ministerial Conference concluded at Bali, Indonesia
23
Israel, Jordan, Palestine signed Red Sea-to-Dead Sea Water sharing Deal
25
Mid-day meal scheme ranked 12th among lower-middle-income countries
26
First indigenous Thalassaemia testing kit unveiled by ICMR in association with NIIH
28
Scientists discovered a new greenhouse gas 7000 times more potent than CO2
29
Cabinet approved the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2011
33
Red Beacons are allowed for Constitutional posts : Supreme Court
34
South Korea expanded its defence zone in disputed area with China
34
Afghanistan-Iran agreed on long term friendship and cooperation Pact
35
CCEA allowed RIL to sell gas at higher price with bank guarantee
36
Repo Rate kept unchanged by RBI in Mid-Quarter Monetary Policy Review
38
First human artificial heart implanted in France
39
Oxford Scientists Developed Malaria Vaccine
40
Kapil Dev selected for Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement award 2013
41
Star India replaced Sahara India as the new Official Sponsor of Indian Cricket
42
Maharashtra Legislative Assembly passed the Anti-Superstition Bill
43
Bihar government announced New Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy for Maoists
43
Devyani Khobragade transferred to Indias Permanent Mission in United Nations
44
Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed approved as Prime Minister by Somalian Parliament
46
Michiaki Takahashi who developed Chickenpox vaccine died
47
Fourth Generation LCA Tejas received operational clearanceII
48
Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio joined hands on telecom infrastructure
49
Tesco Plc and Tata Group agreed to roll out retail chains in India
50
INTERNATIONAL
52
Current Affairs eBook December 2013
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China banned officials from smoking in public places
52
Indonesian Government announced to build new sanctuary to save Worlds rarest Javan
Rhinos
53
32 killed in Bus accident in Phetachbun, Thailand
53
Five new ministers took oath of the office in Afghanistan cabinet
54
Colorado and Washington legalized Marijuana recreational pot
54
US launched an inter-agency review in Devyani Khobragades case
55
Iran has installed 1000 Second Generation IR-2m centrifuges
56
China opened its Satellite System completely for Asian neighbours
56
Barack Obama signed two year cross-party budget Bill to avert Government shutdown 57
China formally eased one-child policy and abolished labour camps
58
UN to reduce its staffs and cut budget
59
India and Pakistan DGMOs meet at Wagah-Attari border
59
UK to overtake Germany as Europes largest economy by 2030: CEBR report
60
Okinawa Governor approved the relocation of US airbase in Japan
61
Court of Sri Lanka extended remand of 111 Indian fishermen
62
India and Nepal agreed to reduce Trade Barriers and Check Illegal Trade
66
India evacuated all its oil employees from strife-torn South Sudan
66
First Ministerial Level Talk held for BCIM Trade Corridor
67
India and Venezuela Signed Programme on Cultural Exchange
69
Mexican President signed a law that allows foreign companies to drill for Oil and Gas
71
India and the Arab League inked MoU to elevate political, trade and cultural relations 71
Japan decided to increase defence spending by 5% over the next 5 years
72
Michelle Bachelet won Chile Presidential Elections
74
Yemen Parliament Banned use of US Drones
75
National referendum in Egypt on new draft of Constitution to take place on 14-15 January

76
Bangladesh Islamist Abdul Kader Mullah hanged for 1971 war crimes
76
European Union granted GSP-Plus status to Pakistan
77
India and UAE signed Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement
79
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Uruguay became the First Country to Legalize Marijuana Trade
79
Thailand opposition party resigned en masse from the Parliament
80
All unfilled munitions by Syrian Government have been destroyed: OPCW
81
South Korea and US agreed to join hands to denuclearise North Korea
82
Jordan elected to UN Security Council as a Non-Permanent Member
82
Sri Lanka to set up 8 economic zones across country
83
OPEC Decided to maintain the same oil output for 2014
84
Egypt Panel approved New Draft Constitution
85
China successfully launched unmanned Lunar Probe- Change-3
86
WORLD DAIRY
88
NATIONAL
94
Government issued food safety guidelines for Integrated Child Development Services
scheme
94
Urban life quality improved by JNNURM said NSSO
96
AAI centre received ICAD Accreditation and Membership
97
Centre approved National Cancer Institute at Jhajjar campus of AIIMS
98
Cabinet approved the Constitutional Status to Judicial Appointments Commission
99
CCEA approved the change in National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen in the 12th Plan

101
National Sample Survey Office released survey on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene

102
Union Government launched e-inclusion project to spread e-literacy
104
Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways added Quadricycle as new category 105
National Skills Qualifications Framework approved by Cabinet Committee on Skill Development
106
SC ruled Government sanction not required to probe public servants in court monitored
cases
107
Union Cabinet approved the Prevention of Communal Violence Bill 2013
107
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Union Ministry of Finance Approved Three Proposals to utilise Nirbhaya Fund
108
CCEA approved Panchayati Raj Ministry proposal on BRGF
111
Union Cabinet Approved Changes in Code of Conduct for Ministers to Check Misuse of
Bureaucrats
112
Homosexuality is offence: Supreme Court
112
Supreme Court ordered Centre and States to make 22 CBI courts functional across India

114
BJP won Assembly Elections 2013 in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh 114
Election Commission to recognise Aam Aadmi Party as State Party in Delhi
115
Prime Minister dedicated GAIL India Ltds 1000 km Dabhol-Bangalore Natural Gas Pipeline
to Nation
117
Express Parcel and Business Parcel Services launched by Department of Post
118
INDIA DAIRY
119
ECONOMY
126
8TH Financial Stability Report released by RBI
126
CIIs Business Confidence Index revealed signs of economic turnaround
127
PPPAC-a high level committee has appraised five Port Projects
128
CCEA nod for guidelines to provide aid to sugar industry for payment of cane price arrears

129
RBI launched Inflation Indexed Saving Bonds
129
Government decided to launch Direct transfer of Cash subsidy on kerosene
130
Fiscal deficit to touch 5.2% in FY14: CRISIL
132
Net Direct Tax Collection increased by 13.7% till 20 December of FY 2013-14
133
Cabinet approved Free Trade Agreement with ASEAN
134
SEBI exempted Government from making open offer to IOB shareholders
134
RBI and Bank of Japan agreed to triple the currency swap agreement to 50 billion dollar

135
CCEA allowed CIL to pump gas from CBM mines
136
SEBI laid out the Deposit Requirements for members of the Debt Segment
138
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CCEA approved 6600 crore rupees free loan to Sugar Industry
138
Wholesale Inflation increased to 7.52 percent in November 2013
139
Indias trade deficit with China touched 11-month high of 29.5 billion dollar
140
Inflation soared up to 11.24%, industrial production shrank to 1.8%
141
The Ragarajan Panel recommended the guidelines for Highway sector
142
The Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India met in Kolkata
143
Mauritius-India agreed to include Limitation of Benefits clause in revised Tax Treaty
144
India exports grew by 5.86 percent and imports dip by 16.3 percent in November 2013

145
Reserve price for Spectrum Auction in 1800 MHz and 900 MHz Bands got Union Cabinet
approval
145
Ministerial Panel recommended bailout package to Sugar Industry
146
Government of India Modified FDI Policy for unlisted Companies
146
RBI eased Companies Foreign Funding Norms for Infra Projects
147
EGoM approved Merger and Acquisition Guidelines for Telecom
148
Current Account Deficit falls to $5.2 billion in the July-September Quarter of 2013-14 149
ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT
150
150 stretches of river identified as polluted by CPCB
150
Ministry of Environment issued fresh order on Kasturirangan recommendation
151
Taishan, fourth research station of China, opened in Antarctica
152
Kimberlite rocks containing diamonds discovered in East Antarctica
153
First-ever Environment Gender Index (EGI) launched by IUCN at COP-19, Warsaw
154
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
157
Scientists found Phosphorus in supernova Cassiopeia A
157
Unique cancer called histiocytosis operated by team of doctors at Chennai
158
ISROs SDSC to be shifted for oil exploration in Bay of Bengal
158
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To Combat Obesity And Diabetes, Australia opened worlds first standing classroom 159
Bolivia launched countrys first telecommunications Satellite Tupak Katari
160
Mars rover got Software Upgrade
161
Indian Scientists developed Insulin Pill for diabetics
162
Europe launched Gaia satellite from French Guiana
163
Iran sent second monkey into the Space
163
Chinas first lunar rover named Jade Rabbit landed on Moon
164
Scientists created sperm-based biobots in Germany
165
ISRO successfully performed first Trajectory Correction Manoeuvre of Mangalyaan
166
Scientists decoded the oldest known human DNA
166
Mars Orbiter Spacecraft successfully placed in Mars transfer trajectory
167
CORPORATE

169
FIPB approved Vodafones proposal to acquire shares of Stake Holders
169
Oil India and IRMA has inked a pact for study on dairy development
170
National Aluminium Company Limited got excellent rating for 2012-13
171
Microsoft India launched safety application, Guardian
172
Cabinet approved pension proposal for MTNL employees
173
Axis Bank proposal to increase foreign investment to 62 percent approved
174
CCI approved Acquisition of Cement Plants of Jaypee in Gujarat by UltraTech
174
Apple signed iPhone deal with China Mobile
175
Canara Bank got license to open branch in New York
175
Saab, the Swedish manufacturer won 4.5 billion dollar contract for fighter jet from Brazil

176
Sri City in Andhra Pradesh to have PepsiCos largest beverage plant in India
177
Alstom bagged 125 million euro contract from BHEL for Neyveli New Thermal Power Project
177
USFDA disapproved a product of Sun Pharma in its present form
178
Torrent Pharmaceuticals signed agreement with Elder Pharma for 2004 crore Rupees 179
Tech Mahindra launched a Global Center of Excellence with Hewlett Packard
179
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ONGC Videsh signed an MoU to evaluate E&P opportunities in Ecuador
180
Alstom T&D bagged two contracts of 151 crore rupees from GETCO
181
Biyani sold entire 44% stake in Capital Foods to Artal Group of Europe
182
SPORTS
184
Sushil got land to set up wrestling academy at Motilal Nehru School
184
Bomb Blast rocked Russian City, Volgograd ahead of Olympic Games
185
Serena Williams and LeBron James won APs Athlete of the year award
186
Durban Test: South Africa defeated India by 10 wickets to clinch the series 1-0
186
Ace Tennis Star Stefan Edberg to join Roger Federers coaching team
187
Deepika Kumari won 34th National Archery Championship
188
Athletics Federation of India banned six states and 14 athletes
189
Jacques Kallis announced retirement after Durban Test
189
Vernon Philander of South Africa topped Test bowler ranking of ICC
190
Sindhu and Shrikant won singles titles in National Badminton Championship
191
Zaheer fourth Indian bowler to claim 300 wickets in Test cricket
192
Englands Graeme Swann announced retirement from International Cricket
193
India won Asia-Pacific Junior Golf Team Titles
194
Cheteshwar Pujara slipped to 7th position in ICC Test rankings
194
South Indias 1st high altitude cricket stadium inaugurated in Kerala
195
ICC suspended Shane Shillingford for illegal Bowling action
196
Mahesh Mangaonkar won IMET Squash Open 2013
197
Ethiopian Runner Atsedu Tsegay won Delhi Half Marathon 2013
197
Germany won Mens Junior Hockey World Cup 2013
198
Indian Judokas won Silver and 4 bronze medals in Asian Youth & Junior Championships

199
India retained the World Kabaddi Cup for fourth consecutive time
200
India won Womens Kabaddi World Cup 2013
200
Prakash, Malaika struck Gold at 57th National Shooting Championship
201
India retained its top position in latest ICC ODI rankings
202
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Sergio Perez joined Sahara Force India with multi-year deal for 2014 F1 season
207
ICC Annual Awards: Pujara bagged Emerging Cricketer of the Year trophy
207
South East Asian Games kicked off in Naypyitaw, Myanmar
208
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) debars charge-sheeted from contesting elections
209
Chitra won bronze at IBSF World Snooker Championships
210
Kerala topped the 29th Junior National Athletics Championships
211
BRAZUCA, The official 2014 FIFA World Cup Match Ball was unveiled
212
Mahendra Singh Dhoni won ICC Peoples Choice Award 2013
213
Gaganjeet Bhullar won Indonesia Open Golf Tournament 2013
213
Ethiopian Runners won both Mens and Womens titles at Pune International Marathon214
India retained Top-spot in ICC ODI Rankings
214
PV Sindhu won Macau Open Badminton Singles title
215
STATE
216
Gujarats Cheeranjavi Yojana failed to reduce MMR and IMR significantly: Duke University

216
Tamil Nadu Government launched free CFL bulb scheme for hut-dwellers
217
Arvind Kejriwal sworn-in as the youngest Chief Minister of Delhi
218
Tamil Nadu Court granted conditional bail to crew of US ship
219
Fatwa issued by Jammu & Kashmir scholars allows half-widows to remarry
220
Himachal Pradesh High Court banned plastic packing of junk food
221
High Court asked two Telugu actors to return the Padma Awards
221
Assam Government announced 100 crore rupees package for tea garden communities

222
United Nations felicitated Odisha Government for effectively handling Cyclone Phailin 223
Chief Minister of Odisha in Bhubaneswar.
223
Odisha Administrative Tribunal quashed 27% SEBC quota
223
Cabinet Panel in Karnataka formed to demarcate eco-sensitive zones around national parks
and sanctuaries
224
Darmar Murugesan to be the chairman of the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission
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225
Rann Utsav 2013 Began in Kutch, Gujarat
225
Shivraj Singh Chouhan sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
227
UP Government constituted a high-level committee to look into the issue of death in relief
camps
228
Vasundhara Raje sworn in as Chief Minister of Rajasthan
228
State cant withdraw cases against terror accused without Centres consent: High Court

230
West Bengal Assembly adopted a fresh Bill to tackle illegal activities of Chit Funds
230
Congress won the Mizoram Assembly Election by two-third majority
231
Cabinet Committee sanctioned 7346 crore rupees for flood-hit Uttrakhand
232
AIADMK won Yercaud Assembly Seat: Tamil Nadu by-election
232
Maharashtra Cabinet approved for setting up Sugarcane Control Board
233
Tripura Introduced PVC-Electoral Photo Identity Cards for the First Time in the Country

234
NEWS CAPSULE
236
Person in news
236
Sashi Tharoor named PETAs Person of the Year for taking steps to advance animal protection
236
Anurag Bhushan took charge as the Dubai Consul General of India
237
Tyler Armstrong became the youngest person to reach the Summit of Aconcagua
237
Hisham Qandil, the former Prime Minister of Egypt has been arrested
238
Angela Merkel elected as German Chancellor for third term
238
Ranjan Mathai took over as the Indias High Commissioner to UK
239
Ali Osman Taha resigned as Vice President of Sudan
240
Miss Venezuela, Alyz Henrich became Miss Earth 2013
241
Person Appointed
242
Devendra Kumar Pathak appointed as Special DG, BSF
242
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Ashraf Jehan, first female judge in Paks National Sharia Court
242
Pradeep Kumar appointed as MD Corporate Banking of State Bank of India
242
J.N.Chaudhary appointed New Head of NSG
243
CISF got new chief Arvind Ranjan
244
Ashok Lavasa, appointed the New Civil Aviation Secretary
244
Vinod Kumar Duggal, the former Home Secretary appointed as the Governor of Manipur

245
M. Veerappa Moily appointed as the new Environment and Forests Minister
245
Siddarth Birla took charges as President of FICCI
246
Usha Sangwan appointed first woman managing director of LIC
247
P.H. Parekh elected as the President of Supreme Court Bar Association
248
S.B. Nayar appointed CMD of IIFCL
248
Puneet Kumar appointed as the new secretary general of AEPC
249
Harsh Kumar Bhanwala appointed Chairman of NABARD
249
CVR Rajendran appointed CMD of Andhra Bank
250
Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag designated as the Vice Chief of Army Staff
251
Shivakumar appointed as the CEO of PepsiCo India
252
Ahmet Uzumcu re-appointed as OPCW Director General
253
Person Resigned
254
Chandra Kant Birla resigned from Hindustan Motors Limited
255
Jayanthi Natarajan resignation accepted by President
255
Shivraj Singh Chouhan resigned from Vidisha Assembly seat
256
Panruti Ramachandran retired from active Politics
256
Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit resigned
257
Person Died
258
Farooq Sheikh, the Bollywood Veteran actor died at 65
258
Atul Sarpotdar leader of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena died
258
Mikhail Kalashnikov the inventor of AK47 died
259
Renowned Kannada poet Shivarudrappa died
260
Veteran journalist Pran Chopra died
260
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Ronnie Biggs, the man behind the Britains Great Train Robbery died
261
Paul Torday, the British author died at 67
262
Marthanda Varma, head of Travancore royal family died at 92
262
Peter O Toole, the Lawrence of Arabias star dead
263
Former footballer, Babul Phukan died in Guwahati
263
Union Labour Minister, Sis Ram Ola died
264
The Last King of Mysore Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar Died
265
US Actor Paul Walker Died in Car Accident
266
Places in News
267
Hoquiam, a small town of Washington to celebrate Nirvana Day
267
Super Volcano beneath Yellowstone National Park in US is larger than estimates: Scientists

267
Awards | Honours
269
Mammen Mathew chosen for prestigious journalism Lokmanya Tilak National Award 269
Two Indian American researchers got US Presidential Early Career award
269
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport of Hyderabad received Sword of Honour award
270
IRCON won the India Pride Award for Excellence in Central PSUs in India Image Enhancement
270
Sahitya Academy Awards announced for the year 2013
271
Bipan Chandra awarded Itihas Ratna
273
103-year old Park Mansion of Kolkata awarded KMC-INTACH Heritage Award 2013 274
Dubai International Film Festival: Irrfan Khan won best actor award
275
Wipro Chairman Azim Premji received ET Lifetime Achievement Award 2013
276
e-BRC Project won 2013 e-ASIA Award
278
East Timor film Beatrizs War won Golden Peacock Award at IFFI 2013
279
Report | Survey
280
Kolkata ranked top in public transport among Indian cities: UTIP Study
280
With expanding Urbanisation, Villages thinning out revealed by Census 2011
280
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UP emerged as the biggest exporter of Buffalo meat
282
India Ranked 94th on Global Corruption Perception Index 2013
283
Exhibition | Fare
286
India-Afghan Innovation Partnership Fair opened in Kabul
286
Defence | Security
287
TEJAS Team Set New Record of 500 Flights in 2013
287
Defence Acquisition Council DAC approved the procurement of Israeli Barak-I missile 288
AGNI-III missile test fired successfully from Wheeler Island
289
India successfully test-fired indigenously developed MBLR Pinaka at Chandipur
290
Chinese troops detained Indian porters at Chumar in eastern Ladakh
291
India successfully test fired Nuclear Capable Prithvi -2 Missile
292
Books & Author
294
Remembering Nirbhaya: Mumbai University released book
294
Mary Kom Autobiography titled Unbreakable unveiled
294
Art | Culture
296
President inaugurated Nagalands Hornbill festival
296
Science | Space
297
ISRO successfully raised Mars Orbiter Spacecrafts Orbit
297
Scientists discovered a Black Hole in Ophiuchus Star Constellation
298
Day | Week | Year
299
National Consumers Right Day observed across India on 24 December
299
Kisan Diwas observed across India on 23 December
300
Minorities Rights Day observed on 18 December
300
International Migrants Day observed across the world on 18 December
301
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Vijay Diwas observed on 16 December
302
Human Rights Day observed across the World on 10 December
302
International Anti-Corruption Day observed on 9 December
303
Armed Forces Flag Day Observed Throughout the Country
304
International Civil Aviation Day observed on 7 December
305
International Volunteer Day Observed on 5 December
305
International Day of People with Disability was observed on 3 December
306
International Day for Abolition of Slavery observed on 2 December
307
World AIDS Day observed on 1 December
307
Miscellaneous
309
BJP Organised Run for Unity Across the Country
309
ONE LINERS
310
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PREFACE
E CAF E R P
The Current Affairs December 2013 eBook covers the current events that happened in the month of
December. Current Affairs is a crucial component of any competitive exams including IAS|PCS, SSC,
Banking, MBA. The lack of preparation for current affairs by the aspirants and candidates often is a
main cause of their failure. Even though the candidates know it but they are often confused about
how to prepare the current affairs section of the different competitive exams. It is to clear such
doubts and confusion, Jagranjosh.com has come up with eBook concept. Although current affairs
section per se is very wide to be covered, yet we have tried to cover all the possible current affairs
for the month of December 2013.
The December 2013 eBook is divided into different section keeping in mind the need of various
exams. The sections covered namely are International, National, Economy, Ecology and Environment,
Science & Technology, Corporate, Sports, States, and News Capsule. Every news item in each
section is arranged date wise with the most recent news being covered first and so on. Although
there might be some deviations but that is solely to give priority to the most important current affairs
in each section.
Presentation of the given current affairs has been planned meticulously. It has been planned in such
a way that it remains in the minds of readers for a longer duration. Wherever necessary each news
item is presented along with a background and analysis so as to help candidates contemplate all the
important current events at the time of exam in an effective way.
The eBook has been prepared keeping in mind the requirements of various competitive exams and
utmost care has been taken to make the content accurate and informative. All the contents given
in the book has been thoroughly cross-checked from various news websites and government and
non-government websites. Our experts have tried to put in their best efforts to make sure that the
content provided remains in the mind of the candidate for a longer period of time and is perceived
with its true meaning.
Copyright Jagranjosh.com
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responsibilities lie as well in case of the advertisements, advertorials, and external contents.
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PICK OF THE MONTH
The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013

The President Pranab Mukherjee gave his
assent to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill,
2013 on 1 January 2014, thus making it an
Act. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act seeks
to establish an anti-corruption watchdog
that will have in its purview even the office
of Prime Minister.
The Act was passed by the Lok Sabha on
18 December 2013 by voice vote amid the
opposition from the members Seemandhra
region who were protesting against division
of Andhra Pradesh to create Telangana
state. The Rajya Sabha had passed it on 17
December 2013 with some amendements.
Among the amendments accepted by the government are delinking of the mandatory creation of
lokayuktas by the state governments, one of the provisions which had stalled the passage of the
bill in December 2011.
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Important features of Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013:

Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta at the States.
The Lokpal consists of a Chairperson and a maximum of eight members of which 50% shall be
judicial members.
50 per cent of members of Lokpal and Lokayuktas shall be from SC/ST/OBCs, minorities and
women.
The Lokpal Chairperson or member shall not be connected with any political party and one
member will be an eminent jurist nominated by the President.
The selection of Chairperson and members of Lokpal shall be through a Selection committee
consisting of
1. Prime Minister
2. Speaker of Lok Sabha
3. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha
4. Chief Justice of India or sitting Supreme Court judge nominated by CJI
5. Eminent jurist to be nominated by the President of India on the basis of recommendations of the
four members of the Selection Committee.
The Act makes it mandatory for the Selection Committee to constitute a search committee of at
least seven members. At least 50% of the members shall be from among SC, ST, OBC, women
or minority communities. The Selection Committee may consider a candidate other than one
recommended by the Search Committee.
All ministers including Prime Minister with some safeguards and senior public servants are
covered by the ombudsman, excluding the public servants under Army, Navy and Coastal guard.
Inquiry initiated by the Lokpal shall be completed within 60 days and investigation to be
completed within 6 months.
However, inquiry against PM has to be held in-camera and approved by two-thirds of full bench
of Lokpal
All entities receiving donations from foreign source in the context of the Foreign Contribution
Regulation Act (FCRA) in excess of 10 lakh rupees per year are brought under the jurisdiction
of Lokpal.
Provides adequate protection for honest and upright Public Servants.
Lokpal will have power of superintendence and direction over any investigation agency including
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CBI for cases referred to them by Lokpal.

The CBI may, with the consent of the Lokpal, appoint a panel of Advocates, other than the
Government Advocates, for conducting the cases referred to it by the Lokpal.
The Central Government may from time to time make available such funds as may be required
by the Director of the CBI for conducting effective investigation into the matters referred to it
by the Lokpal and the Director shall be responsible for the expenditure incurred in conducting
such investigation.
A high powered Committee chaired by the Prime Minister will recommend selection of the
Director, CBI.
A Directorate of Prosecution will be created in the CBI which will be headed by a Director
who shall be an officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India, for
conducting prosecution of cases under this Act.
The appointment of the Director of Prosecution, CBI will be made on the recommendation of the
Central Vigilance Commission.
The Director of Prosecution shall notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the rules
relating to his conditions of service, continue to hold office for a period of not less than two
years from the date on which he assumes office.
Transfer of officers of CBI investigating cases referred by Lokpal with the approval of Lokpal.
The Act also incorporates provisions for attachment and confiscation of property acquired by
corrupt means, even while prosecution is pending.
The Act lays down clear time lines for Preliminary enquiry & investigation and trial and towards
this end, the Bill provides for setting up of Special Courts.
A mandate for setting up of the institution of Lokayukta through enactment of a law by the State
Legislature within a period of 365 days from the date of commencement of the Act.
All expenses to be charged to the Consolidated Fund of India (Funds available to the Lokpal will
not be dependent on the annual budget voted by Lok Sabha)
Imprisonment up to one year and a fine up to Rs. 1 lakh for false and frivolous complaints.

Public servants can face imprisonment up to 7 years.
Criminal misconduct and habitually abetting corruption can attract jail terms up to 10 years.
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An Analysis
The Indian Lokpal is synonymous to the institution of Ombudsman existing in the Scandinavian
countries. Ombudsman a Swedish word stands for an officer appointed by the legislature to
handle complaints against administrative and judicial action.
The institution of Ombudsman first came into being in 1713 in Sweden followed by Finland,
Denmark, New Zealand and the UK. Since 1960s constitution of Omudsman has become a
worldwide phenomenon to tackle maladministration and corruption.
Why Lokpal in India?

The Lokpal is necessary and desirable. There is no truly autonomous or empowered body at present
to deal with corruption cases involving the political class and the bureaucracy. The corruption in
India though has a long history but it has become more remarkable since the initiation of the
developmental and welfare programmes after the attainment of independence which swelled the
administrative machinery. More the administrative machinery swelled more the avenues for misuse
of authority led to corruption. For example, the license-permit raj and the simultaneous existence
of politico-bureau-business nexus in the eighties.
To tackle corruption in the past government had enacted the Prevention of Corruption Act,
1988 along with the existing Indian Penal Code, 1860. However, these measures were found to
be ineffective. Therefore, the need for an agency independent of the executive, legislative and
judiciary, to look into citizens grievances and cases of corruption have been widely felt and the
central government have at several times considered the introduction of a Lokpal Bill to put it in
place as a mechanism to tackle corruption.
In India, the term Lokpal was first used by the then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1963. In
1966 a Lokpal for the Centre and Lokayukta for each State were proposed by the First Administrative
Reform Commission (ARC) headed by Moraji Desai. As a result, Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill was first
introduced in the Fourth Lok Sabha in 1968. The Bill was re-introduced in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989,
1996, 1998, 2001 but was never passed.
All these attempts by the government had only been half-hearted measures. It reflected the
government lack of seriousness in tackling the hydra-headed corruption. The issue of corruption
was slowly becoming a plague for the Indian polity, society and the economy.
However, in the year 2010-2011 the corruption had reached to great heights. It witnessed various
scandals being blown apart by the media, whistle-blowers, civil society activists and government
investigation agencies alike. Scams like 2G Spectrum Scam, Adarsh Housing Society Scam,
Commonwealth Games scam and many more brought about name of various Cabinet Ministers,
Chief Ministers and even members of the Armed Forces. The result was the outburst of the
accumulating anger and the unhappiness of the citizens with the prevailing governance system in
India.
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Jan Lokpal Bill

Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizens Ombudsman Bill) is an Indian draft anti-corruption bill that would create the
Jan Lokpal, an independent body similar to the Election Commission with the power to prosecute
politicians and bureaucrats without prior government permission.
The bill drafted by civil society organization led by Anna Hazare proposes the institution of the office
of Lokpal (Ombudsman) at the center and local Lokayukta at the state level. The bill is designed to
create an effective anti-corruption and grievance redress system that effectively deters corruption
while providing effective protection to whistleblowers. The bill is a first step towards anti-corruption
measures and will not be complete without addressing certain major reformations like bringing
back black money.
Main Features of the Jan Lokpal Bill

1. To establish a central government anti-corruption institution called Lokpal, supported by
Lokayukta at the state level.
2. As in the case of the Supreme Court and Cabinet Secretariat, the Lokpal will be supervised by the
Cabinet Secretary and the Election Commission. As a result, it will be completely independent
of the government and free from ministerial influence in its investigations.
3. Members will be appointed by judges, Indian Administrative Service officers with a clean record,
private citizens and constitutional authorities through a transparent and participatory process.
4. A selection committee will invite short listed candidates for interviews, video recordings of which
will thereafter be made public.
5. Every month on its website, the Lokayukta will publish a list of cases dealt with, brief details
of each, their outcome and any action taken or proposed. It will also publish lists of all cases
received by the Lokayukta during the previous month, cases dealt with and those which are
pending.
6. Investigations of each case must be completed in one year. Any resulting trials should be
concluded in the following year, giving a total maximum process time of two years.
7. Losses caused to the government by a corrupt individual will be recovered at the time of
conviction.
8. Government office work required by a citizen that is not completed within a prescribed time
period will result in Lokpal imposing financial penalties on those responsible, which will then be
given as compensation to the complainant.
9. Complaints against any officer of Lokpal will be investigated and completed within a month and,
if found to be substantive, will result in the officer being dismissed within two months.
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10. The existing anti-corruption agencies (CVC, departmental vigilance and the anti-corruption
branch of the CBI) will be merged into Lokpal which will have complete power and authority to
independently investigate and prosecute any officer, judge or politician.
11. Whistleblowers who alert the agency to potential corruption cases will also be provided with
protection by it.
The journey of the Lokpal Act has been arduous and since 1966 it has undergone a metamorphosis.
The emphasis has shifted from complaints and grievances of mal-administration against public
servants to allegations of corruption against public functionaries. Yet it is better that WE the
People of India keep the government on the toe to fight corruption so that the faith of the very
people of India and the global community is restored in the worlds largest democracy. Remember
it is better late than never.
Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa died at 95
Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid revolutionary of South Africa died on 5 November 2013. He
was 95 years old. He died at his house in Johannesburg following a long illness. He was also known
as Madiba in South Africa. He was receiving intensive medical care at home for a lung infection
after spending three months in hospital.
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His death was announced by the South African President, Jacob Zuma. He announced that Mandela
will receive a full state funeral and the flags would be flown at half-mast until the state funeral. Nelson
Mandela was one of the worlds most revered statesman for preaching reconciliation despite being
imprisoned for 27 years.
He was the first black South African to hold the office of President from 1994 to 1999, and the first
elected President in a fully representative multiracial election.
About Nelson Mandela

He was born in 1918 in Cape Province of South Africa.
He joined the African National Congress in 1943
In 1962, he was arrested and was convicted of incitement and leaving country without a
passport. He was sentenced to five years in prison
In 1964, he was charged with sabotage, sentenced to life
He was freed from the prison in 1990
In 1999, he stepped down as the President
In 2001, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer
Awards received by Nelson Mandela

Mandela has received more than two hundred and fifty awards over four decades, some of the
awards are:
He was the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993
He was the recipient of Bharat Ratna and Mahatma Gandhi peace award
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 18 July, Mandelas birthday, as Mandela Day,
for his contribution to the anti-apartheid struggle
In 1973 a nuclear particle discovered by scientists at the University of Leeds was named
Mandela Nelson
In 1979 he recieved the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding given by the
Indian Council for Cultural Relations New Delhi, India
In 1981, a panel of International Judges, Vienna, Austria, chose him for the Bruno Kreisky Award
for merit in the field of human rights.
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9th WTO Ministerial Conference concluded at Bali, Indonesia

The 9th WTO Ministerial Conference concluded on 6 December 2013 at Bali, Indonesia. The 159
member nations of the WTO agreed on the revised draft of Bali Package.
Bali Package
During the conference, the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreed to allow countries to provide
subsidy on staple food crops without any threat of punitive action.
In this regard, the WTO has issued a revised draft of the Bali Package which addresses Indias
concerns on food security. The draft proposes an interim mechanism to safeguard minimum
support prices to farmers against WTO caps till a permanent solution is adopted.
The deal allows nations such as India to fix a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farm produce
and to sell staple grains to the poor at subsidised rates.
It also permits countries to store food grains to meet contingency requirements.
Trade Facilitation Agreement

The 159-member nations of WTO also agreed on the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), which
is aimed at making international trade much easier by simplifying and streamlining custom
procedures across the globe.
The pact is billed to bring in gains worth 1 trillion Dollars for global trade. The TFA would help
countries cut transaction costs.
The trade facilitation will also help developing countries including India to reduce transaction
cost and improve competitiveness of domestic industry
India Point of view

1. Food Security Law may push Indias Minimum Support Prices (MSP) above WTO limits, but
interim mechanism provides safeguards till WTO rules are corrected.
2. WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation could boost Indias exports
3. India gains global leadership by getting a crucial poor-rich country imbalance corrected on a
multilateral forum
4. Support subsidies to poor farmers across all developing countries get safeguards against WTO
rule.
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About Ministerial Conferences

Ministerial Conference is- the topmost decision-making body of the WTO. The Ministerial
Conference, usually meets every two years. It brings together all members of the WTO, all of which
are countries or customs unions. The Ministerial Conference can take decisions on all matters
under any of the multilateral trade agreement.
About World Trade Organization

WTO was established on 1 January 1995 with the signing of the Marrakesh Agreement/ Marrakesh
Declaration at Marrakesh, Morrocco in 1994. WTO came up as a replacement of the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). GATT was overseeing the rules of commerce since 1948.
GATT covered trade in goods, whereas WTO deals with trade of inventions, designs and services
too. The World Trade Organization (WTO) deals with the global rules of trade between nations. Its
main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible
Fact File of WTO

Location
Geneva, Switzerland
Established
1 January 1995
Created by
Uruguay Round negotiations (1986-94)
Membership
159 countries on 2 March 2013
Budget
196 million Swiss francs for 2011
Secretariat staff
640
Head
Azevdo (Director-General)
Functions:
Administering WTO trade agreements
Forum for trade negotiations
Handling trade disputes
Monitoring national trade policies
Technical assistance and training for developing countries
Cooperation with other international organizations
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Past WTO Conferences

Year
Place
Main Highlights
1996
Singapore
Singapore Issues: Transparency in government procurement,

Trade Facilitation (customs issues), Trade and Investment,
and Trade and Competition.
1998
Geneva, Switzerland
1999
Seattle, USA
Massive protests by Civil societies drawing worldwide

attention. It casted doubt over the future of WTO.
2001
Doha, Qatar
Doha Development Agenda. China became the 143rd

member of WTO.
Cancun, Mexico
Rise of G-20 led by India, China and Brazil. The Conference

ended into a stalemate over Singapore issues and
agricultural subsidies.
2005
Hong Kong
Countries agreed to phase out all their agricultural export

subsidies by the end of 2013. Terminate any cotton export
subsidies by the end of 2006. Agreement to introduce duty
free, tariff free access for goods from the Least Developed
Countries, following the Everything But Arms initiative of
the European Union. Other major issues were left for further
negotiation to be completed by the end of 2006.
2009
Geneva, Switzerland
2011
Geneva, Switzerland
2003
Russia, Samoa and Montenegro admitted to WTO.
Israel, Jordan, Palestine signed Red Sea-to-Dead Sea Water

sharing Deal
Israel, Jordan and the Palestine on 9 December 2013 signed a historic Red Sea-to-Dead Sea
water-sharing initiative of the World Bank in Washington that could protect the Dead Sea from
rising demand for water in the region. The agreement was signed by Israeli Energy Minister Silvan
Shalom, Shaddad Attili, head of the Palestinian water authority, and Hazim el-Naser, head of the
Jordanian water ministry.
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According to the agreement- a pipeline will be built on the Jordanian side of the Aqaba Gulf to carry
brine (sea water) from a desalination plant at the Red Sea to the Dead Sea, while providing drinking
water to the region. The project is expected to cost 250m-400m Dollars.
The Dead Sea water Depleting Issue

The Dead Sea is dropping by as much as 1m (3.3ft) a year as the River Jordan is depleted for use
in irrigation.
The Dead Sea is so rich in salt and other minerals that humans float naturally on the surface. The
area around the sea has an established tourism and health industry because of the waters unique
properties.But the Dead Sea is losing water rapidly, with some fearing the Dead Sea could dry up
entirely by 2050.
The scheme will pipe water from the Gulf of Aqaba off the Red Sea through a desalination plant in
Jordan, sending brine to the southern-most edge of the Dead Sea. The sea water will be used to
test the impact of Red Sea water being transported to the Dead Sea.
It will involve the construction of a desalination plant in Jordan, projected to yield 80 million-100
million cu m of water annually. A water transfer deal will also see Israel supply water to Jordan and
the Palestinian territories. The project also expected to yield hydroelectric power for use in the
desalination process.
Mid-day meal scheme ranked 12th among lower-middle-income

countries
The State of School Feeding Worldwide
2013 Report released on 10 December
2013 by the World Food Project (WFP) for
169 countries has said that Indias midday
meal programme stands 12th among 35
lower middle income countries. However
it noted that India has the largest school
feeding programme in the world, catering
to over 114 million children. It covers
almost 79 per cent of its total number of
school-going children.
The report has based its conclusions on a global survey conducted by the World Food Programme
in 2012. The report shows praise for Indias mid-day meal scheme as a good example of a mixed
implementation approach.
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It observes the two procurement processes in Indias Midday Meal scheme one for food grains,
which are subsidized by the Centre through Food Corporation of India (FCI), and one for other
items like fresh fruits or vegetables, procured at the State level.
According to the Report the Midday Meal Scheme is the primary reason behind increase in gross
primary enrolment between 2001-02 and 2007-08. The link is more pronounced in case of Scheduled
Castes and Tribes.
Further the Report notes that school feeding schemes are not a sufficient condition for increase
in enrolments. They have to be complemented with curriculum, textbooks, teachers and an
environment conducive to learning. It also states that teachers should not be deployed in cooking
since it would disrupt the teaching process in schools.
However the Report does not say anything about the nutritional impact of the scheme. Nevertheless
it adds that the scheme needs to be fine-tuned with better coordination between sectors involved;
government needs to allocate more and quickly delivered funds for food transportation and
infrastructure.
In a landmark recommendation it states that the Mead day Meal Scheme can be connected with
the local agricultural sector. Food could be purchased locally to feed the children and provide the
agricultural economy boost by providing it a guaranteed local market. The Report points to the
examples of Brazil, Scotland and Chile which already such local purchases to fund their school
feeding programmes.
About Mid Day Meal Scheme

In 1925 a midday meal scheme was launched for disadvantaged groups in Madras Municipal
Corporation. By the first half of 1980s three states (Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala) and the Union
Territory of Puducherry had universalized a cooked school feeding programme for children up to
the primary level (1-5 standards).
For enhancing the enrolment, retention and attendance as well as the nutritional status of children,
the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) was launched on
15 August 1995 only in 2405 blocks of the country as a centrally sponsored scheme. In 2001 the
scheme was expanded to all over India after a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of India.
In October 2007 the scheme was extended to the upper primary level too (6 to 8 standards) first
in 3479 blocks. From 1 April 2008 the scheme has been covering Government, Local Body and
Government-aided primary and upper primary schools and the EGS/AIE (Education Guarantee
Scheme/Alternative & Innovating Education) centres including Madarsa and Maqtabs supported
under SSA (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan) of all areas across the country.
In 2009 food norms were revised for upper primary children, allocation for Pulses are now increased
from 25 to 30 grams, vegetables from 65 to 75 grams. The allocation for oil and fat contents are
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decreased from 10 grams to 7.5 grams.

The Budget 2013 has allocated 13215 crore rupees for the school feeding programme. It is 80%
of total elementary education budget. Significantly, allocation to the Mead Day Meal Scheme has
gone up by 55 % during the period of Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012). While it was 6678 crore
rupees in 2007-08, it has gone up to 10380 crore rupees in 2011-12.
First indigenous Thalassaemia testing kit unveiled by ICMR in

association with NIIH
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on 17 December 2013 unveiled the first indigenously
developed thalassaemia and sickle cell anaemia testing kit. The testing kit was developed by the
National Institute of Immuno Haematology (NIIH) in Mumbai.
The testing kit is a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based test that screens for eight genetic
mutations, six of which can cause thalassaemia and two sickle cell anaemia.
The kit would bring down the cost of screening for both the genetic diseases to a tenth of the 15000
rupees to 20000 rupees in the private sector. The test costs 4000 rupees in All India Institute of
Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
The testing kit would be of immense help for premarital and post-pregnancy counselling. This is
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because two carriers of a defective gene have a 25 per cent chance of having a baby born with
thalassaemia.
There are 3-4% (30-40 million) beta thalassaemia carriers in India and 10000-12000 thalassaemic
babies are born every year and 5000 with sickle cell anaemia.
The prevalence is between 5 and 15 per cent among Sindhis, Kutchis, Punjabis, Bhanushalis, Jains
and Muslims.
Scientists who developed the kit, meanwhile, rued the fact that a PCR machine which costs
about Rs 1 lakh was available in only 10 per cent of medical colleges.
About Thalassaemia
Thalassaemia is a group of inherited blood disorders that affect the bodys ability to create red
blood cells. In case of thalassaemia bone marrow does not produce the haemoglobin causing
anaemia and reducing the oxygen carrying capacity.
There are two types of thalassaemia that is alpha thalassaemia and beta thalassaemia.
Scientists discovered a new greenhouse gas 7000 times more

potent than CO2
Scientists at University of Toronto discovered a long-lived manmade greenhouse gas (GHG) called
Perfluorotributylamine (PFTBA) that is 7100 times more potent than carbon dioxide at warming the
Earth over a 100-year time span. The new discovered gas PFTBA which does not occur naturally
has been in use in the electrical industry such as transistors and capacitors since the mid-20th
century. It belongs to an entire class of chemicals used for industrial applications whose effects on
the atmosphere remain unknown.
Concentrations of PFTBA in the atmosphere are low 0.18 parts per trillion in the Toronto area
compared to 400 parts per million for carbon dioxide. So PFTBA does not in any way displace the
burning of fossil fuels such as oil and coal as the main drivers of climate change.
From a climate change perspective, individually, PFTBAs atmospheric concentration does not significantly alert the phenomenon of climate change, still the biggest culprit is CO2 from fossil fuel
emissions. Further, it has the highest radiative efficiency of any molecule detected in the atmosphere to date.
But PFTBA is long-lived. The Toronto researchers estimated that PFTBA remains in the atmosphere
for about 500 years. Unlike carbon dioxide which is taken up by forests and oceans, there are no
known natural sinks on Earth to absorb it.
The discovery of PFTBA and its warming potential raises questions about the climate impacts of
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other chemicals used in industrial processes.
Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

Earths atmosphere works something
like a giant glass greenhouse. As the
suns rays enter our atmosphere, most
continue on down to the planets surface. When they hit the soil or surface
waters, those rays release much of their
energy as heat. Some of this heat then
radiates back into space.
However, several gases in Earths atmosphere such as carbon dioxide,
methane and water vapor work like a
blanket to retain much of this heat. That
helps to warm our atmosphere. The gases do this by absorbing the heat and radiating it back to
Earths surface. Such gases are nicknamed greenhouse gases because of their heat-trapping
effect.
Due in part to the warming effects of the greenhouse gases, the global average temperature is
about 15C (59F). Without the greenhouse gases the global average temperature would be much
colder, about -18C (0F).
Why Global Warming?

Since the industrial revolution got into full swing in the 19th century we have been burning ever
increasing amounts of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gasoline, natural gas) in electric generating plants,
manufacturing plants, trains, automobiles, airplanes, etc.
Burning releases CO2 into the atmosphere (much the same as respiration does). These fossil fuels
may have formed tens or hundreds of millions of years ago from the buried and preserved remains
of plant and animal matter whose carbon originated via photosynthesis. Photosynthesis and respiration in plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, etc. leads to exchange of carbon between the CO2 in
the atmosphere and carbon compounds in the organisms. But humans are now putting this natural
carbon cycle out of balance.
Due to the emission of CO2, long-stored in fossil fuels, the percentage of CO2 in the atmosphere
has increased very much. It has increased from about 289 parts per million before the industrial
revolution to over 360 parts per million and still rising. Sometime during the 21st century the concentration of CO2 will be twice what it was before the industrial revolution.
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With higher CO2 concentrations the greenhouse effect also becomes stronger and as a result
global temperatures are expected to increase. This was originally proposed by a chemist named
Arrhenius about a century ago.
Global average temperatures have risen by a small, but measurable amount in the past 100 years,
apparently in large part because of the higher level of atmospheric CO2. Global average temperatures are expected to be on the order of 2-5C (3.6-9F) higher by the time CO2 doubles the preindustrial concentration. The temperature rise will be small in the tropics but much greater at high
latitudes.
Effects of Global Warming

A whole host of
consequences
will result. Some
are probably already occurring.
Te m p e r a t u r e
measurements
of the sea surface and deep
oceans indicate
that the oceans
are
warming.
Rising
ocean
temperature
causes
rising
sea level from thermal expansion of the water. Rising temperature also means melting glaciers and
rising sea level through addition of melt water to the oceans.
Sea levels have risen by about 1 foot during the last century, mostly from thermal expansion of the
oceans. Sea level is expected to rise closer to 3 feet during the coming century. Rising sea level will
cause increasing coastal erosion, flooding, and property damage during coastal storms. Besides,
it will also lead to loss of life from storms in low-lying coastal countries like Bangladesh and island
nations in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Warmer sea surface temperatures will result in more and stronger tropical storms (hurricanes and
typhoons). Coastlines already ravaged by these storms will expect to see more strong storms than
before, increasing the loss of life and damage to infrastructure.
It is much more difficult to predict how regional and local weather patterns will change but there
will certainly be changes. While higher temperatures will produce more rainfall across the globe,
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the regional rainfall patterns will likely change. Some areas will get more, some areas will get less.
The timing of wet and dry periods may change. But higher temperatures will also mean more evaporation. Higher temperatures may also mean stronger storms with damaging winds. All of these
mean new risks and changing conditions for agriculture. Centuries old farming practices will have
to change. Some areas may go from being marginal to becoming a breadbasket region, while other
regions may go from major agricultural production to marginal.
Higher CO2 allows plants to grow faster (more CO2 enhances photosynthesis). That would sound
good for agriculture. However, weed species tend to grow even better than crop plants under enhanced CO2 conditions so improved crop growth may be nullified by weed competition.
Natural ecosystems will be hard pressed to keep up with the changing climate because the rate
of change will be faster than typical long-term natural climate change. Many species, especially
plant species, will not be able to migrate to cooler areas fast enough to keep up with the warming
of their habitats. And Arctic species will have no place to go and may not be able to adapt to the
new conditions.
Severe summer heat in areas not used to it can lead to deaths. Higher heat and expansion of tropical areas may lead to increased incidence of malaria.
What can be done to slow Global Warming?

We cant realistically stop the rise of CO2 in the near term, but we can slow it and therefore reduce
the consequences that will occur.
Reducing our energy needs: More fuel-efficient cars, less frivolous driving, more use of mass transit, improved insulation to decrease the fuel burned to heat and cool our homes, more efficient appliances, use of fluorescent rather than incandescent light bulbs, and careful monitoring of home
electricity usage (turn off the lights and TV when not using them) can reduce our energy needs.
Conversion to alternatives like wind and solar power which dont burn fossil fuels and emit CO2
into the atmosphere
Planting large areas with trees will consume CO2 as the trees grow, until the forests mature.
Deforestation in the tropical forests around the world, especially in the Amazon and Indonesian rain
forests should be stopped. This will keep that carbon in the forest rather than sending it back into
the atmosphere as the trees are burned or decay and are not replaced by more.
Other techniques have also been proposed such as the chemical removal of CO2 from smokestacks and burial in deep underground reservoirs, though only certain areas can benefit from this.
Disposal in the deep ocean can be tried, where they will form a semi-stable compound under the
cold temperatures and high pressures, though the CO2 could too easily come bubbling back up.
These latter solutions are not well studied and wouldnt be especially cheap.
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Moreover, leaders, societies, communities, local planners, farmers, health organizations, need to
recognize the changing climate and rising sea level as they make plans for the future. Our citizens
need to be educated as to likely changes and how best to deal with the changing conditions.
Cabinet approved the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill,

2011
The Union Cabinet on 12 December 2013 approved the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill,
2011. The Bill is a comprehensive measure that covers a whole spectrum of problems from physical
disabilities to mental illness and multiple disabilities. It will replace the Persons with Disabilities
(Equal Opportunity Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act of 1995.
The Bill has been prepared on the basis of recommendations made by Sudha Kaul Committee. The
Committee was appointed in 2010 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Main highlights of the Bill

Provides for 5% reservation in public sector jobs and makes the private sector more accountable
for creating a disabled-friendly environment. It provides incentives for the private sector to take
such measures.
To ensure political participation, the Bill says that every person with disability who fulfils eligibility
requirements is entitled to be registered as a voter. He/she should not be disqualified from exercising
the voting right on the grounds of disability, irrespective of any stipulation to the contrary in any law
for the time being in force.
Further, it says that any person who is unable to vote in person due to disability or because of
admission to hospital for treatment is entitled to opt for postal ballot. It requires the Election
Commission to ensure that all polling stations are accessible to persons with disabilities.
It allows mentally unsound women the right to fertility and prescribes punishment for forced abortion
or hysterectomy on them.
The Bill is based on the premise of all rights for all disabled. The Bill has been described as historic
by the social activists as it has provided the definition of disability in very expansive terms to cover
all kinds of disability whether physical or mental.
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Red Beacons are allowed for Constitutional posts : Supreme

Court
The Supreme Court of India on 10
December 2013 ordered red beacons
are allowed to be used by persons
holding Constitutional posts and high
dignitaries. The decision came to
prevent the misuse of red beacons by
local politicians as a symbol of status.
The Supreme Court bench was headed
by Justice G S Singhvi has asked the
centre to issue a fresh list of people
eligible to use red beacons on their
vehicles. The apex court has also asked
the Government to amend the rule within
three months. It has also said that the State Governments cannot enlarge the list of VIPs eligible
for the red beacons.
The Courts order came on a PIL filled by a resident of Uttar Pradesh, Abhay Singh on misuse of the
beacons. Earlier, the bench had said that misuse of red beacon and siren, granted by government
to VIPs, was a menace to society and it must be stopped.
The Supreme Court also said that the red light has become a status symbol and police personnel,
who are put on duty for giving security cover to VIPs, should be deployed for better purposes like
making the roads safe for women.
South Korea expanded its defence zone in disputed area with

China
On 8 December 2013 South Korea expanded its defense zone in the East China Sea, also called Air
Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). This is the first time South Korea took such a step in response
to the decision taken by China to set a defense zone of its own in the disputed area of East China
Sea on 23 November 2013.
This has increased regional tensions; as now South Korea has expanded its defense zone beyond
the southern edge of its present zone. On 23 November 2013 China took a unilateral decision
to establish East China Sea Air Defence Identification Zone. It changed the status quo creating
apprehensions of frictions and tensions among the littoral countries that include Japan, South Korea
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and Taiwan. The ADIZ when expanded will overlap with the areas of Chinas Defence Identification
Zone.
The 23 November decision had displeased South Korea as well as Japan because it included the
disputed Diaoyu or Senkaku islands. These are claimed by both Japan and China. Moreover the
Chinese Defence Zone includes the submerged Leodo reef which is currently owned by South
Korea. Both Japan and South Korea have contested the Chinese zone as China claimed that it had
reported at least 12 aircrafts of Japan and the US.
Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ)

It is a defined area in international space either on water or land, within which aircrafts reaching
the territorial space of the related nation are tracked and observed for national security. They go
beyond a countrys airspace so that a country can respond to foreign aircrafts and events like
hijackings in time.
The first Air Defence Zone was established by the US immediately after the Second World War.
Now several countries have such zones including India.
Afghanistan-Iran agreed on long term friendship and cooperation

Pact
Afghanistans President, Hamid Karzai, signed a comprehensive pact of friendship with the president
of Iran, Hassan Rouhani, on 10 December in Iran. This would cover the significant issue of regional
security since the US forces are set to withdraw from Afghanistan from 2014.
The pact will be for long term political, security, economic and cultural cooperation. Karzai sought
Rouhanis help in countering the US pressure on Bilateral Security Agreement between the US
and Afghanistan. Iran has already voiced its opposition to the Agreement opposing any further
presence of US forces in Afghanistan.
About The Bilateral Security Act

It would put in place a legal regime that would apply to American troops in Afghanistan, who would
be earmarked to stay beyond 2014, when most of the U.S. forces are to withdraw.
The security pact which would allow the staying back of 8,000 to 12,000 US troops has led
to a heated debate inside and outside Afghanistan.
Analysts point to the fact that the presence of US forces might risk the security and stability of not
only Afghanistan but neighbouring countries too (like India, China, Iran).It might increase extremism
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in Afghanistan beyond limits.

International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF), led by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO),
have been carrying out security operations in Afghanistan besides training the Afghan National
Security Forces (ANSF). They have shown their unwillingness to stay back in Afghanistan beyond
2014 in the absence of an agreement on the Bilateral Security Act.
CCEA allowed RIL to sell gas at higher price with bank guarantee
The
Cabinet
Committee
on
Economic Affairs
(CCEA)
resolved
the
issue
of
Reliance Industries
(RIL) to sell KG-D6
block gas at a
higher price with
effect from April
2014.
RIL has been asked
to provide bank
guarantees that would be in force till an international court of arbitration gives its final ruling on
whether RIL has willfully violated contractual obligations on 80 per cent of committed gas output
or resorted to hoarding.
The government said that details of the bank guarantee including its periodicity would be worked
out by January 2014, taking into account the law ministrys views. According to the government,
the short-supply of gas at KG-D6 so far has been around 1 trillion cubic feet.
About New pricing Formula

The new pricing is based on the Rangarajan committee formula. The new formula will be valid for
five years and applies only to new contracts or renewals when existing ones expire. It does not
apply to contracts which contain a specific formula for natural gas price indexation or fixing.
As per the Rangarajan formula, beginning 1 April 2014, all domestic gas will be priced at an average
of international hub prices and the cost of LNG imported into India.
The increased domestically produced gas price in the country would hover around 7-8/mmBtu
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dollar at the current rate. This would be almost double that of the current rate.
This would also result in higher subsidy outgo, as the input costs for fertiliser and gas-based power
plants will go up.
Benchmarks
There are two broad elements which are used for an average which will be used as an unbiased
arms length price.
These are
1. A price obtained by taking the cost of liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports into India under longterm contracts and removing charges such as transportation to obtain a theoretical price at the
point of production in exporting countries. This is known as the netback price. The government
decided not to include spot import costs. It will be a weighted average.
2. The weighted average of prices at three major gas trading points - the hub price at Henry Hub
in the United States, the price at the National Balancing Point of the UK and the netback price
at sources of supply for Japan.
Review date
The main departure from the Rangarajan proposals was to review prices quarterly, rather than
monthly, in an attempt to smooth volatility and allow better planning of investments.
For both pricing elements, the formula will take the average prices for the four quarters preceding
the quarter before the review.
So for the quarter starting 1 April 2014, the formula will be based on the four quarters ending 31
December 2012.
KG- D6 block
Krishna-Godavari Basin is a river basin in India. It is spread across more than 50,000 square
kilometers in the Krishna River and Godavari River basins in Andhra Pradesh. The site is known
for the D-6 block where Reliance Industries discovered the biggest natural gas reserves in India in
2002. It was also the worlds largest gas discovery of 2002.
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Repo Rate kept unchanged by RBI in Mid-Quarter Monetary

Policy Review
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced its mid-quarter
Monetary Policy Review on 18 December 2013. It has kept the
policy rate unchanged at 7.75%. The move was unexpected in
light of the recent spike in inflation, especially food inflation.
This has come as welcome relief for the industry which already
is battling gloomy economic environment as indicated 1.8%
growth in industrial output in November 2013.
The RBIs policy decision to keep the policy rate unchanged
is based on the assessment that there exists great deal of
uncertainty with respect to the short-term path of inflation
from its high current levels. Besides, given the weak state of
the economy, RBI felt that it would be unwise to adopt an overtly reactive policy action. It would be
more prudent to determine the lag-effect of monetary policy.
Thus, on the basis of an assessment of the current and evolving macroeconomic

situation, the RBI decided to:
Keep the policy Repo Rate under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) unchanged at 7.75%,
and
Keep the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) of scheduled banks unchanged at 4.0% of the Net Demand
and Time Liability (NDTL).
As a result, the reverse repo rate under the LAF will remain unchanged at 6.75%, and the Marginal
Standing Facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate at 8.75%.
About Policy Rates

Basis points: It is the increase in interest rates in percentage terms. For instance, if the interest rate
increases by 50 basis points (bsp), then it means that interest rate has been increase by 50%. One
percentage point is broken down into 100 basis points. Therefore, an increase from 2% to 3% is an
increase of one percentage point or 100 basis points.
Repo rate: Repo rate is the policy rate and is part of RBIs Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF). It
is the rate at which commercial banks borrow from the RBI by selling their securities or financial
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assets to the RBI for a short-period of time. It comes with an agreement that the sold securities will
be repurchased by the commercial banks from the RBI at a future date at predetermined price. The
repo rate is used by the central bank to increase liquidity in the system.
Reverse repo rate: Reverse Repo Rate is also a part of LAF. It is the rate of interest at which the
central bank borrows funds from other banks for a short duration. The banks deposit their short
term excess funds with the central bank and earn interest on it. This rate is used by the central
bank to absorb liquidity from the economy. Generally it is one percentage less than the Repo rate.
Bank rate: The only way the bank rate is different from the repo rate is that the bank rate is the rate
at which banks borrow money from the central bank without any sale of securities. It is generally
for a longer period of time.
Cash reserve ratio: CRR is the minimum percentage of cash deposits that banks must keep with
the central bank. The current rate is 4%, which means for a cash deposit of Rs. 100, the bank has
to park 4 rupee with the central bank.
Marginal Standing Facility: The Reserve Bank of India in its monetary policy for 2011-12 introduced
the marginal standing facility under which banks could borrow funds from RBI when there is a
considerable shortfall of liquidity. This measure has been introduced by RBI to regulate short-term
asset liability mismatches more effectively. Under this facility, banks can borrow up to 1% of their
net demand.
Liquidity Adjustment Facility: Under this facility, banks borrow from the central bank by pledging
government securities.
Statutory Liquidity Ratio: This is the percentage of deposits that banks must mandatorily hold in the
form of government bonds. SLR bonds are liquid assets that can be sold at a short notice to meet
any unexpected demand from depositors.
First human artificial heart implanted in France

The first human artificial heart
implantation performed in Georges
Pompidou Hospital, Paris on 18
December 2013 was successful.
The artificial heart was designed by
the French biomedical firm Carmat
and developed by the Dutch based
European Aeronautic Defence and
Space Company (EADS).
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The artificial heart can give patients up to five years of extra life, which replaces the real heart. The
previous heart assistance devices are created mainly for temporary use.
The artificial heart uses biomaterials including bovine tissue and an array of sensors to mimic the
contractions of the heart. The patient has to wear a belt of lithium batteries to power the heart.
Inside the heart, surfaces that come into contact with human blood are made partly from bovine
tissue instead of synthetic materials which can cause blood clots.
The artificial heart weighs as little as less than a kilogram (900grams), almost three times heavier
than an average healthy human heart.
Oxford Scientists Developed Malaria Vaccine

Oxford scientists recently developed a novel new Malaria Vaccine which can protect against the
deadly mosquito-borne disease.
The vaccine has shown promising results in the first clinical trial to test whether it can protect
people against the disease.
The trial was carried out by researchers led by Professor Adrian Hill of the Jenner Institute at Oxford
University, along with researchers from the biotechnology company Okairos. Its the first time that
a vaccine has been shown to have a protective effect through a sufficiently high immune response
involving cells called CD8 T cells. It is CD8 immune cells that are seen to mount a protective
response against malaria in similar studies in mice.
Every existing vaccine in use - bar one - generates antibodies. But there are two arms to the bodys
immune system for fighting infection: antibodies and T cells.This new vaccine aims to stimulate an
immune response involving T cells. CD8 T cells are important because they are the primary killer
cells in the immune system.
They can attack nearly all types of infected cells in this case liver cells infected with the malaria
parasite. But this first demonstration of a large CD8 response from a vaccine could be relevant for
tackling other diseases too.
About Malaria
Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is
transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. In the
human body, the parasites multiply in the liver, and then
infect red blood cells.
Symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, and vomiting,
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and usually appear between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito bite. If not treated, malaria can
quickly become life-threatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs. In many parts of the
world, the parasites have developed resistance to a number of malaria medicines.
Kapil Dev selected for Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement

award 2013
Kapil Dev, the Former Captain and legendary
All-rounder of Indian Cricket Team on 18
December 2013 selected for the BCCIs
prestigious Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime
Achievement award for the year 2013. Kapil
Dev had played 131 Tests for India taking
434 wickets. He was the first player to
complete 5000 runs and 400 wickets in
Tests.
He played 225 ODIs, in which he took 253
wickets and scored 3783 runs. His most
memorable contribution to Indian cricket
was the victory in the 1983 World Cup.
Sunil Gavaskar won this award for the year 2012. Other cricketers to have bagged the coveted
award include, Mohinder Amarnath, Ajit Wadekar, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, Lala Amarnath, Syed
Mushtaq Ali and Capt. Vijay Hazare.
About Col. CK Nayudu and the Lifetime Achievement Award

Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, comprises a trophy, a citation and a cheque of 25 lakh
Rupees. This award, named after Indias first Test captain, is given to individuals for contribution to
Indian cricket on and off the field by BCCI.
Col. CK Nayudu or Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu was the first captain of Indian Cricket Team in Test
Matches, and he played the first class cricket for India till 1958. The ruler of Holkar in 1923 conferred
him with the honour of Colonel in Holkars Army at Indore. Nayudu was appointed as the first
captain of Indian team for its first test tour of England in 1932 after the previously appointed captain
and vice-captain of the team, Maharaja of Porbandar and Ghanshyamsinhji of Limbdi respectively
were out of the series due to health problems.
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Star India replaced Sahara India as the new Official Sponsor of

Indian Cricket
Star India replaced Sahara India as the new Official Sponsor of Indian cricket team. This was
declared by the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) at a meeting held in Chennai on 9 December
2013.
Star India Private Limited was awarded with the Team Sponsorship Rights that will cover BCCI
Events, ICC Events and ACC Events. The sponsorship rights will be for a period of three years
starting from 1 January 2014 to 31 March 2017.
According to the Boards Marketing Committee, Rights include the right to be called the `Official
Team Sponsor` and to display a commercial logo on the team clothing of the Senior Men`s Cricket
Team, the U-19 Men`s Cricket Team, the Men`s A-Team and the Women`s Team.
Although the BCCI has slashed the base price to Rs 1.5 crore from Rs 2.5 crore three years ago, the
Star India will have to shell out Rs. 1.92 crore per match organized by the Board. The total amount
bid by Star India stood at Rs. 203 crore.
Star India is the Title Sponsor for BCCI international and domestic matches for the period October
2013 to 31 March 2014, as well as the Holder of the Broadcast, Internet and Mobile Rights of
cricket in India, for the period July 2012-March 2018.
Background
Subroto Roy led Sahara India had been Indian cricket teams Official Sponsor for the last 12 years.
The company had outbid Airtel in 2010 to extend its sponsorship of the Indian team.
Sahara secured the rights by paying Rs 3.34 crore to Airtel`s Rs 2.89 crore per international game.
But their relations with the BCCI turned sour and in October 2013. The Board terminated Saharasponsored Indian Premier League team Pune Warriors over franchise fees. Sahara, in turn, decided
to sever all links with BCCI.
As a result, this time despite Saharas higher bid of Rs 2.35 crore per match, Sahara Indias bid was
rejected by the BCCI.
About BCCI
The BCCI was established in 1928 in Mumbai.
The first President of the BCCI was Govan and De Mello was the first Secretary.
The current President is N. Srinivasan and Sanjay Patel is the Secretary.
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In 1929, India was admitted as a Full Member of International Cricket Council (ICC).
Maharashtra Legislative Assembly passed the Anti-Superstition

Bill
The Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra on 13 December 2013 passed the much-awaited AntiSuperstition Bill. The Bill seeks to curb black magic and other inhuman practices arising out of
superstition.
It came after four months of the murder of the noted rationalist Dr. Narendra Dabholkar on 20 August
2013 in Pune, who fought for such a law for more than for one and a half decade. Earlier, the State
Government of Maharashtra on 21 August 2013 adopted an Anti-Black Magic and Superstition
Ordinance.
The Lower House adopted the Bill by a voice vote with certain amendments. The Bill was introduced
in the Lower House on 10 December 2013 by the Social Justice Minister Shivajirao Moghe.
Resentment and dismay was expressed by the opposition members, over the passage of the Bill in
undue haste even after development of consensus on the Bill.
Now the Bill will be taken to the Legislative Council for consideration and passage, after which it
will be enforced as a law. The state Government had promulgated an ordinance in this regard after
the assassination of the Anti-Superstition campaigner Dr. Dabholkar and introduced the revised Bill
to get it converted into the law.
Bihar government announced New Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy for Maoists
The Bihar government on 3 December 2013 approved a new surrender and rehabilitation policy for
Maoists in the state. The policy was approved in a Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister
Nitish Kumar.
The new surrender policy aimed to convince the Naxals to put down arms and lead a normal life
and bring youths to the mainstream of society.
The move comes after seven policemen were killed in a land mine blast by the Maoists in Aurangabad
district of the state on 3 December 2013.
New Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy

According to the new policy 2.5 lakh rupees would be given for state, regional, central committees
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and to politbureau members of Maoists who surrender under the new policy. The amount would
be deposited in bank and would be given after three years of surrender.
An additional amount would be provided to those surrendering with arms and explosives, based
on their weight.
Under the earlier 2001 policy, 10000 Rupees was given as immediate assistance for surrender
and 3000 rupees per month for rehabilitation.
Devyani Khobragade transferred to Indias Permanent Mission

in United Nations
Indias deputy consul in New York,
Devyani
Khobragade
was
transferred to Indias Permanent
Mission in United Nations in New
York on 18 December 2013. This
was done by India to boost her
diplomatic
immunity.
Earlier,
Devyani Khobragade was charged
with criminal offences by US.
Devyani, the IFS officer was
transferred to the post of the
deputy consul-general in New York. The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations is located
in New York.
She was moved to UN because of the fear that she might be detained again, as she was arrested
in the second week of December 2013 by US. She will have a complete diplomatic immunity as an
official of UN, which was not available to her as an official consulate.
At present, India wants the US to apologize and drop the criminal charges against Devyani
Khobragade and allow her to return home.
John Kerry, the US Secretary of State on 18 December 2013 called to the National Security Adviser,
Shivshankar Menon to express his regret over the episode.
Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963

Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations was inked in 1961 and is an international accord and
defines a framework for diplomatic relations between independent countries. It governs the conduct
of diplomats and defines the immunities they enjoy when serving in foreign countries. Three articles
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of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations fall significant and they are:
Article 40 Protection of Consular Officers

The receiving State shall treat consular officers with due respect and shall take all appropriate steps
to prevent any attack on their person, freedom or dignity
Article 41 Personal Inviolability of Consular Officers

1. Consular officers shall not be liable to arrest or detention pending trial, except in the case of a
grave crime and pursuant to a decision by the competent judicial authority
2. Except in the case specified in paragraph 1 of this article, consular officers shall not be committed
to prison or be liable to any other form of restriction on their personal freedom save in execution
of a judicial decision of final effect.
3. If criminal proceedings are instituted against a consular officer, he must appear before the
competent authorities. Nevertheless, the proceedings shall be conducted with the respect due
to him by reason of his official position and, except in the case specified in paragraph 1 of this
article, in a manner which will hamper the exercise of consular functions as little as possible.
When, in the circumstances mentioned in paragraph 1 of this article, it has become necessary
to detain a consular officer, the proceedings against him shall be instituted with the minimum
of delay.
Article 43 Immunity from Jurisdiction

1. Consular officers and consular employees shall not be amenable to the jurisdiction of the judicial
or administrative authorities of the receiving State in respect of acts performed in the exercise
of consular functions.
2. The provisions of paragraph 1 of this article shall not, however, apply in respect of a civil action
either:
Arising out of a contract concluded by a consular officer or a consular employee in which he did
not contract expressly or impliedly as an agent of the sending State
By a third party for damage arising from an accident in the receiving State caused by a vehicle,
vessel or aircraft
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Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed approved as Prime Minister by Somalian Parliament

Abdiweli replaced outgoing Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon. Abdi was ousted in November 2013
by the Parliament following a rift with the Somali President over policy differences.
In the voting held for the endorsement of the new Prime Minister in the Parliament, 239 votes out
of total 243 were put in favour of Abdiweli. The result was announced by the Somali Parliament
Speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari on 21 December 2013.The endorsement of Abdiweli
Sheikh Ahmed as Prime Minister was welcomed by the head of the UN Assistance Mission in
Somalia (UNSOM) Nicholas Kay.
About Somalia
Somalia is a country located in the Horn of Africa and its capital is Mogadishu.
It is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, the Gulf of Aden to the north, the
Indian Ocean to the east, and Kenya to the southwest. Somalia has the longest coastline on the
mainland.
Somalias Political System:

Somalia was renamed as Federal Republic of Somalia on 20 August 2012 following the end of
interim mandate provided by the Transitional Federal Government (TGF).
The TGF was formed in November 2004 as part of Roadmap for the End of Transition, which was
a political process that provided clear benchmarks leading toward the establishment of permanent
democratic institutions in Somalia by late August 2012.
Concurrent with the end of the TFGs interim mandate on 20 August 2012, the Federal Parliament
of Somalia was inaugurated, ushering in the Federal Government of Somalia, the first permanent
central government in the country since the start of the civil war in 1991.
Federal Parliament:
Federal Parliament of Somalia is 225-member bicameral parliament comprising of an upper house
seating 54 Senators as well as a lower house.
30% of the total seats in the Parliament are earmarked for women.
The President is appointed via a constitutional election.
The President selects a Prime Minister, who then appoints a Cabinet.
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United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM)

The UNSOM was formed on 3 June 2013 by a resolution adopted by United Nation Security Council
on 2 May 2013.The UNSOM is formed for an initial period of 12 months during which it is mandated
to provide policy advice to the Federal Government and the African Union Mission in Somalia
(AMISOM) on peace building and state-building in the areas of: governance, security sector reform
and rule of law (including the disengagement of combatants), development of a federal system
(including preparations for elections in 2016), and coordination of international donor supAbdiweli
Sheikh Ahmed appointed as Prime Minister by the President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud last week
was approved overwhelmingly by the Somalian Parliament.
Michiaki Takahashi who developed Chickenpox vaccine died

Dr. Michiaki Takahashi who developed a vaccine for the chicken pox virus died at the age of 85 due
to heart failure on 23 December 2013 in Osaka, Japan.
Takahashi developed the vaccine for the chicken pox in 1972, within few years Japan and some
other countries had begun vaccination programs. The vaccine did not treat the disease, but it
prompted immune systems to produce antibodies.
About Michiaki Takahashi:

Dr.Takahashi was born in Osaka, Japan and
received his medical degree from Osaka
University in 1954.
In 1964 Takahashi had spent several years
in studying the measles and polio viruses as
research fellowship at Baylor Medical College in
Houston, US.
In 1972 he developed the early version of the
chicken pox vaccine in Japan. The Food and
Drug Administration, United Stated approved
the first chickenpox vaccine in 1995.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommended a second dose of the vaccine in
2001.
The C.D.C. recommends that children receive
their first dose when they are 12 to 15 months old and a second dose when they are 4 to 6
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years old.
He also served on the board of directors of the Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of
Osaka University.
About Chicken Pox:

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus which is a form of herpes.
Chickenpox is highly contagious disease that is spread via contact with infected person.
Chickenpox symptoms are rashes in the body, fever, loss of appetite, headache and tiredness.
Fourth Generation LCA Tejas received operational clearanceII

The fourth generation Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas received its second operational clearance
on 20 December 2013 in Bangalore. A k Anthony and Chief Air Marshal Browne attended the
occasion.
Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) II of Tejas is to replace the Mig21 fleet of IAF, which was
decommissioned on 11 December 2013. The attainment of initial operational clearance is an
important milestone towards indigenization through self-reliance and several programs like inclusion
of fifth generation of fighter aircrafts.
The Production of Tejas was taken up by Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) and it would be
ready for battle by December 2014.
The salient features of IOC-II include Safe flying up to High angle of Attack as mandated and
enhance the combat performance of the aircraft.
The Initial Operational Clearance-I of Tejas was achieved on 10 Jan 2011.
About Tejas
India indigenously designed and
developed frontline fighter Light Combat
Aircraft (LCA) was christened Tejas.
Tejas is the smallest, light weight, single
engine, single seat and supersonic,
multirole, combat aircraft. LCA Tejas is
capable of flying non-stop to destinations
over 1700 km away.
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The advanced Glass cockpit open architecture system complements piloting. Four variants
of Tejas aircraft (Combat variant, Trainer and Naval variants) are being developed for land and
carrier borne operations.
Tejas has multi mode weapon multirole capability that is Air to Ground and Air to Air missions
are demonstrated by dropping Laser Guided Bombs and R735E firing in single pass.
Tejas has quadruplex digital fly-by-wire flight system which ensures adequate safety and
advanced Glass cockpit open architecture complements piloting
Extensive use of advanced composites in the airframe gives a high strength to weight ratio,
long fatigue life and low radar signatures. Helmet Mounted Display Sight (HMDS) has been fully
integrated in Tejas and R73E missile firing has been successfully demonstrated using HMDS
Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio joined hands on telecom infrastructure

On 10 December 2013 Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, owned by Mukesh Ambani, signed a telecom
infrastructure-sharing accord with Bharti Airtel Ltd led by Sunil Mittal, Indias biggest mobile phone
services provider. Thus was ended the rivalry between two of Indias biggest business groups. The
significant tie up may lead to cost savings to a large extent.
Ambani is venturing into the telecom business through Reliance Jio, a unit of Reliance Industries
Ltd (RIL). The venture is expected to lead to the formation of the nations largest 4G-based wireless
communications service next year.
The agreement aims to avoid duplication of infrastructure and will permit Bharti Airtel and Reliance
Jio to utilize each others infrastructure including their optic fiber network, under-sea cables, wireless
towers and Internet broadband services.
About 4G
It is the fourth generation of mobile communication technology which is also called International
Mobile Telecommunication Advanced (IMT-A).
A 4G mobile communication technology, as defined by International

Telecommunication Union (ITU), must fulfill following conditions:
The cellular technology must be based on an all-IP packet switched network.
It should have peak data rates of up to approximately 100 Megabit per seconds for high mobility
such as mobile access and up to approximately 1 Gigabit per seconds for low mobility such as
nomadic/local wireless access.
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It should be able to dynamically share and use the network resources to support more
simultaneous users per cell.
It should be using scalable channel bandwidths of 520 MHz, optionally up to 40 MHz.
The ability to offer high quality of service for next generation multimedia support.
4G services provide data speeds that are 10 times faster than currently available 3G. This makes
it the fastest wireless internet service. Besides, it can solve the problem of last mile connectivity.
Since 4G data can move faster, it can reach more people. Thus even the rural areas at the last leg
of providing telecommunication services can be reached.
Airtel was the first to launch 4G services in India in Kolkata circle on 10 April 2012.
Tesco Plc and Tata Group agreed to roll out retail chains in India
Britains Tesco Plc is set to become the first global retailer to set up multi-brand outlets in India
under the liberalised foreign direct investment (FDI) policy. It has agreed to set up a partnership with
the Tata Groups Trent Hypermarket Ltd (THL), with an initial investment of 110 million dollar (about
675 crore rupee).
Tesco proposed to set up a 50-50 joint venture with its existing Indian partner Trent, a Tata group
firm, to open retail stores in Bangalore (Karnataka) and Kolhapur (Maharashtra).
The proposed venture between Tesco and THL will sell products including food products, wine and
liquor, textiles and garments, footwear, crockery, furniture, electronic equipments, jewellery and
books and magazines.
Tesco and THL have applied to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) the nodal agency
to vet overseas investment proposals.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

An investment made by a company or entity based in
one country into a company or entity based in another
country.
It is an investment made to acquire lasting or longterm interest in enterprises operating outside of the
economy of the investor.
The investment is direct because the investor, which
could be a foreign person, company or group of
entities, is seeking to control, manage, or have
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significant influence over the foreign enterprise

Foreign direct investments differ substantially from indirect investments such as portfolio flows,
wherein overseas institutions invest in equities listed on a nations stock exchange.
An Indian company may receive Foreign Direct Investment under the as given two routes under
Automatic Route:
FDI is allowed under the automatic route without prior approval either of the Government or the
Reserve Bank of India in all activities/sectors as specified in the consolidated FDI Policy, issued by
the Government of India from time to time.
Government Route:
FDI in activities not covered under the automatic route requires prior approval of the Government
which are considered by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), Department of Economic
Affairs, Ministry of Finance.
The Indian company having received FDI either under the Automatic route or the Government route
is required to comply with provisions of the FDI policy including reporting the FDI to the Reserve
Bank.
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INTERNATIONAL
LANOITANRETNI
China banned officials from smoking in public places
According to the Chinas official Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Government on 30 December 2013
banned its officials from smoking in public places.
Public places include schools, offices, and hospitals, sports venues, on Public transport or any
other places where smoking is banned or to smoke or offer cigarettes hen performing official duties.
Also, officials cannot use public funds to buy cigarettes, and within Communist Party or in
government office tobacco products cannot be sold.
The smoking ban must be displayed in meeting rooms, reception offices, passageways, cafeterias
and rest rooms. The Officials have been asked to take the lead in implementing government ban
on smoking in public places.
China with a population of 1.35 billion has about 300 million smokers. China is the Worlds largest
cigarette producer and consumer.
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Though Chinas health authorities already banned people from smoking in indoor public places in
2011, the rule is not seriously enforced or obeyed in the country.
India also banned smoking in public places which covers offices, hotels, restaurants, hospitals,
college campuses, bars and discos with effect from 2 October 2008.
In Asia, India, Hong Kong and China have banned smoking in public places.
Indonesian Government announced to build new sanctuary to

save Worlds rarest Javan Rhinos
Indonesian Government announced to build a new sanctuary to save Worlds rarest Javan rhinos.
The new sanctuary will be carved out of the Ujung Kulon National Park.
Ujung Kulon National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is situated on the western tip of
Indonesias main island of Java.
It will encompass 12,600 acres of lush rainforest, freshwater streams and mud holes in the park.
In Indonesia Javan rhinos are locally termed as Abah Gede or the Great Father.
As per the latest report of the International Union For Conservation of Nature (IUCN), decline in the
strength of rhinos had reached to the level of extinction. There are thought to be only around 50 of
the rhinos in existence.
Poaching in particular represents a severe threat, with rhino horns used in traditional Asian medicine.
It fetches higher prices in the black market despite a lack of scientific evidence showing horn has
any medicinal value.
Recently, Asia has stepped up efforts to save the regions dwindling rhino populations. There was
a conference held in October 2013 with representatives from several countries on the issue in the
western Indonesian island of Sumatra. Countries including Indonesia, Nepal and India, pledged to
take steps to increase their rhino populations by three percent annually.
32 killed in Bus accident in Phetachbun, Thailand

32 peoples were killed when a bus fell down in a 50 meter deep ravine in Phetachbun in Thailand
on 29 December 2013. The incident happened when the bus carrying passengers crashed into the
guard rail of a bridge. The bridge has the tallest supporting pillars in Thailand.
The bus from Khon Kaen was heading to Chiang Rai province.
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As per the latest report of World Health Organisation (WHO), Thailand saw some 38.1 road deaths
per 100000 of population. As against this, South-east Asian countries have an average of 18.5 as
a whole.
Five new ministers took oath of the office in Afghanistan cabinet

Five new ministers took the path of the office in the Cabinet of the Afghan President Hamid Karzai
on 30 December 2013. These ministerial posts fell vacant for various reasons, including resignation
of some ministers.
People who took the oath of the office are

Foreign Minister Zarar Ahmad Osmani
Commerce and Industries Minister Mohammad Shakir Kargar
Energy and Water Minister Mohammad Arif Noorzai
Minister of Mines and Petroleum Mohammad Akbar Barekzai
Counter-narcotics Minister Din Mohammad Mubariz
Colorado and Washington legalized Marijuana recreational pot

The two states of United States, Colorado and Washington, became the first to legalize Marijuana
recreational pot. The legalisation of Marijuana as a recreational pot in these two US States will
become effective from 1 January 2014.
Voters in Colorado and Washington approved recreational pot in 2012. Medical marijuana is legal
and regulated in 19 United States and in most of them private consumption of cannabis is not
classified as a crime.
Outside the US, Uruguay also legalized the marijuana recreational pot in 2013.
The market for medical marijuana was huge in 2013 and it is projected to grow in 2014 with
recreational pot added in Colorado and Washington.
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About Marijuana
Marijuana is a plant containing a psychoactive chemical,
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in its leaves, buds and
flowers.
Cannabis is also major type of psychoactive chemical,
THC. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug
by American adults. Marijuanas effect is less harmful
than those of most drugs like alcohol and tobacco.
US marijuana policy is unique among American criminal
laws in being enforced so widely and harshly.
US launched an inter-agency review in Devyani Khobragades

case
United States on
29
December
2013 initiated an
inter-agency
review to look at
the lapses that
happened in the
D e v y a n i
Khobragade case
that
triggered
uproar in India and
strained bilateral
ties. The decision
on the review was
taken following a tough stand of India on the arrest of Devyani Khobragade.
The US departments involved in the review include the National Security Council of the White House,
the State Department and the Justice Department. The matter of the diplomat has now landed up
in the judiciary and it mainly depends on the judges for which the two bodies are engaged actively.
There was a judgmental error in handling the case and an inter agency team that is led by the State
Department is working 24x7 to get resolved the issue as quickly it is possible.
Devyani Khobragade a 1999-batch IFS officer is the Indias Deputy Consul General in New York
was arrested on alleged visa fraud charges. Devyani, the 39-year-old diplomat was strip searched
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and held with the criminals on the charges of making false declarations in the visa application of
her maid Sangeeta Richard. In respond to it India reacted strongly by downgrading the privileges
of certain category of US diplomats among other steps.
Iran has installed 1000 Second Generation IR-2m centrifuges

Iran installed a one thousand second generation IR-2m centrifuges at one of its nuclear enrichment
sites. This was announced by Ali-Akbar Salehi, the Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran
(AEOI) on 29 December 2013. Salehi is also a Vice President of Iran.
As per Salehi, at present Iran have 19000 centrifuges and is developing a new generation of
centrifuges, which will need all kind of tests before being into operation.
As per the report of ISNA, UF6 gas has not been injected into the centrifuges in view of the ongoing
talks of Iran with the six world powers on its nuclear issue. Earlier in November 2013, Iran and the
six world powers together signed an interim deal under which Iran agreed to not operate its new
centrifuges for next six months. But the deal doesnt stopped Iran from developing new centrifuges.
Fereidoon Abbasi, the chief of AEOI in August 2013 announced that 18000 centrifuges were
available with Iran of which 10000 were operating. Salehi also said that Tehran and Moscow are
discussing on the construction of four nuclear power plants in Iran.
China opened its Satellite System completely for Asian neighbours

China on 27 December 2013 welcomed the Asian countries to use its home grown BeiDou Navigation
System for navigation system for free.
China is intended to widen the use of its home grown BeiDou Navigation System, which already
has 16 satellites. China is keen to develop BeiDou satellite as an alternative to the American Global
Positioning System (GPS) and Russian GLONASS.
GPS has been active since the 1970s and has satellites in orbit. The satellites have been operating
for more than two decades. BeiDou launched the first of its current generation satellites only five
years ago.
GPS (Global Positioning System) comprises 30 satellites, while BeiDou already has over sixteen
and is going to have another forty in orbit by the time the network is complete in 2020, at a cost of
another 6 billion dollar.
The greater the number of satellites, the easier it is for the system to calculate location, time and
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velocity of moving objects.

In this scenario, China offers the use of its satellite for free to its neighbouring countries on the lines
of American GPS. The focus will be on countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and particularly in South
and Southeast Asia, where the satellites has offered the highest accuracy.
China is developing Stations in Pakistan to improve the service there.
By January 2014, Thailand will become the first country in 2014 to build a satellite station based on
BeiDou, with both countries signing a 319 million dollar deal.
The successful deployment of BeiDou means the increasingly potent Chinese armed forces will
have an accurate, independent navigation system. It has a vital technology for guiding the missiles,
warships and attack aircraft that allow Beijing to claim great power status.
The system, which was first launched in 2011 for use only by the government and military, has over
the past year begun to be widely deployed for civilian uses domestically.
Currently, 80 per cent of passenger buses and trucks in China are using the system. The Chinese
State Council, or Cabinet, said in a September report that the domestic satellite navigation industry
would be valued at 400 billion Yuan i.e. 4 lakh crore rupees by 2020.
BeiDou is the only satellite navigation system that offers telecommunication services. That means
that, apart from giving users location and time information, BeiDou can also send users information
to other people and communicate with users via text messages.
China launched the first satellite for the BeiDou system in 2000 and a preliminary version of the
system has been used in traffic control, weather forecasting and disaster relief work on a trial basis,
since 2003.
More than 1000 BeiDou terminals were used after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake to provide
information from the disaster area. The system was also used during the 2008 Olympic Games in
Beijing and the 2010 Shanghai Expo to pinpoint traffic congestion and supervise venues.
The global satellite navigation segment has become a crowded marketplace over the past decade,
and looks to become even more so. Russia recently completed its constellation of Glonass satellites
(though it has since lost one). Europe is unrolling its Galileo system, while other countries such as
India and Japan plan to develop at least regional navigation networks.
Barack Obama signed two year cross-party budget Bill to avert

Government shutdown
Barack Obama, the President of US on 27 December 2013 signed a two year bipartisan federal
budget bill to avert the risk of shutdown of the Government in January 2014.
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This legislation was passed by both the Senate and the

House of Representatives earlier this month. The Bill
was drafted by a cross-party budget committee, which
was set up after 16-day government shutdown in
October. The bipartisan Bill has been crafted by
Congressman Paul Ryan and Snator Patty Murray.
He also signed a defense spending bill that includes
the ways of altering the way of the sexual assault in
the military. The bill has made it easier to transfer the
detainees out of Guantanamo Bay detention facility
in Cuba. He has also signed six other Bills. With this
signing 52nd National Defense Authorization Act has
been converted into a law.
The US Congress now has time till 15 January 2014 to pass the fiscal spending bill of 1.012 trillion
dollar for 2014. Top four Republicans in the Senate, who are in the minority in the upper chamber
has voted to block the consideration of the budget Bill.
The bill aims to shave up to 23 billion dollars from the nations 642 billion dollars annual budget
deficit. It also rolls back 63 billion dollars in military and domestic spending cuts automatically
imposed in January when Democrats and Republicans failed to reach a budget compromise.
China formally eased one-child policy and abolished labour

camps
China on 28 December 2013 adopted a
resolution that eases the one child policy
of the country. The resolution was passed
by the standing committee of the National
Peoples Congress (NPC).
The resolution has allowed the couples
of China to have two children if either
parentis an only child. Earlier, a couple
generally had a second child only if
both parents were only children. It also
approved proposal that abolishes re-education through labour camps. The policy had an exception,
which included the ethnic minorities and couples who both lacked siblings.
The policy changes were announced following a meeting of top Communist Party officials in
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November 2013. These reforms came at the end of the six day meet of the congress after this was
tested in parts of the country. To be put into effect, it just needed a approval by the legislature.
The one-child policy was introduced in 1979 in China. The decision was taken to curb the rapid
population growth. The policy restricted the couples in urban areas to only one child, whereas in
rural areas families were allowed to have two children only in case the first one was a girl.
As per the policy about one-third of the total population of 1.3 billion citizens of China couldnt have
a second child without incurring a fine. This led to a gender imbalance occurred in China because
of the preference for a boy child.
The policy has become increasingly unpopular and leaders fear the countrys ageing population will
both reduce the labour pool and exacerbate elderly care issues. By 2050, more than a quarter of
the population will be over 65.
UN to reduce its staffs and cut budget

United Nations on 27 December 2013 ordered to cut staff and budget under the pressure from
United States and other austerity-stricken industrialized powers. This is the first time since 1945
United Nations has taken the decision to cut the staff and budget. The decision was taken because
the governments of members suffer from financial crisis.
After protracted negotiations, the 193-nation Assembly agreed to cut 221 staff or 2 percent at the
UN headquarters and ordered a one-year pay freeze for the more than 10000 workers in New York.
A two-year freeze on benefits allowance was also mentioned. The staff cut is part of the 2014-2015
UN budgets.
The members of UN have also voted to cut its budget to 5.5 billion dollars for 2014-15, which is 50
million dollars below the final spending in past two years.
United States provides about 22 percent of UN budget. Apart from US, other countries like France,
Britain, Germany and Japan are among the top contributors in the budget of UN. The general
budget does not include UN peacekeeping activities that cost more than 7.5 billion dollars a year
or to operate several major UN agencies, such as UNICEF and the World Food Programme, which
are funded by voluntary contributions.
India and Pakistan DGMOs meet at Wagah-Attari border

Director Generals Military Operations (DGMO) of India and Pakistan meet took place on 24
December 2013 along the Wagah-Attari border. The meeting was held to work out a mechanism to
ease tension between the two sides and to ensure peace at the Line of Control (LoC).
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Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia led the Indian side, whereas,

Major General Aamer Riaz headed the Pakistani side. A brigadier
and three lieutenant colonels also participated in the talks from
both each side.
The DGMO-level talks of the two nations have been held after 14
years. Last time the key army commaders of India and Pakistan
met in July 1999 after the Kargil war.
The decision of holding the meet between India and Pakistan
DGMOs was taken at political level. The DGMOs of the two
country discussed major issues that pertains to tension on
the LoC. They also discussed issues on the working boundary
with a focus to maintain ceasefire and bring normalcy. The two
sides met, three months before the proposed meeting of Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz
Sharif to defuse tensions. Initially Pakistan proposed to include the Foreign Ministry officials in the
meet of the military officers, which was rejected by India.
In 1949, United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) was established.
It was established under the resolution passed by the world bodys council to supervise ceasefire
along the LoC.
UK to overtake Germany as Europes largest economy by 2030:

CEBR report
Centre for Economic and Business Research (CERB) study released in December 2013 has predicted
that UK will overtake Germany as Europes largest economy by 2030. At present Germany is at the
top spot in Europe. It cites the UKs population growth as an aid to economic acceleration.
CERB has also predicted that strong growth by emerging economies like India, Russia and Brazil
will make UK to slip down on the global ranking over the next two decades. It said that UK would
be the second most successful western economy after US. Germany will slip in the position of the
European economy to UK in 2030 because of its faster population growth and its less dependence
on other European economies.
The report has echoed the recent confidence of other business groups such as the British Chambers
of Commerce, BCC.
The CERB released its annual World Economic League Table in which the future ranking of the
economic is done depending upon the ups and downs of the global economies. CERB in its release
has also said that China will take over the US economy in 2028 and India will be in the third place.
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CERB compiled the forecasts of growth, inflation and currency values in its league tables to the
size of economies, which was measured in US dollars in 2013, 2018, 2023 and 2028. In its release
CERB has said that its prediction should be treated as a caution because of the unpredictable
fluctuations in currencies.
As per the released report, India will overtake Japan as the third biggest economy in next 15 years
with Brazil as the fifth biggest economy. The anti-deflation strategy would lead to the weaken of
Yen for the future and would affect the value of dollar of its national output.
However, as far as Germany, the group said that should the euro break up, that Germanys outlook
would be much better. As for France, the CEBR said it will be one of the worst performing of the
Western economies, and will be overtaken by the UK by 2018. This is because of slow growth due
to high taxation in addition to the general issues of eurozone economies.
Okinawa Governor approved the relocation of US airbase in

Japan
Japan on 27 December
2013
approved
the
relocation of the US military
airbase Futenma on its
southern
island
of
Okinawa. The relocation
was accepted by the
Governor of Okinawa,
Hirokazu Nakaima. He
agreed to landfill work to
develop a new base in a
less densely populated
part of the island.
A document was signed to give a green light to the Governor of the landfill. It has paved a way to
the construction of the new base on the coast. The relocation of the airbase was accepted after the
Prime Minister of Japan, Shino Abe pledged an annual injection of 300 billion yen (about 2.9 billion
dollar) into the islands economic stimulate budget until 2021 fiscal.
The Governors nod is a breakthrough to the 1996 agreement to shut down the Futenma airbase
that is located in a densely populated urban area of the island. The agreement searched for a new
site for placing the new US base. The US has around 26,000 troops on Okinawa under a longstanding security alliance with Japan.
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Court of Sri Lanka extended remand of 111 Indian fishermen

Sri Lankan court on
26 December 2013
extended the remand
of
111
Indian
fishermen, who were
caught by the Navy of
the
country
in
December 2013. The
Tr i n c o m a l e e
magistrates
court
has extended the
remand
on
the
charges of violating
the
international
maritime boundary.
The court has held 6 January 2013 to review the case. The same court, earlier also extended the
remand of two groups of 30 fishermen each.
Rajitha Senaratne, the Fisheries Minister of Sri Lanka has said that none of the boats or the fishermen
of India will be released until the 200 Sri Lankan fishermen, who are in the custody of the India were
released.
As per the Fisheries Minister of Sri Lanka, the two countries will held a meeting of the representative
of the fishermens associations of the two countries in January 2013. Also the Senaratne will visit
New Delhi in January 2013 to discuss the issue with Sharad Pawar, the Union Agriculture Minister,
who also holds the charge of the Indian fisheries department.
Maritime Boundaries: India and Sri Lanka

The Government of the Republic of India and the Republic of Sri Lanka signed an agreement on
23 March 1976, establishing maritime boundaries in the Gulf of Manaar and the Bay of Bengal.
Ratifications were exchanged and the agreement entered into force on 10 May 1976, two years
after the two countries negotiated a boundary in the Palk Strait.
Article V of the signed agreement mentions

1. Each Party shall have sovereignty over the historic waters and territorial sea, as well as over the
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islands, falling on its side of the aforesaid boundary.

2. Each Party shall have sovereign rights and exclusive jurisdiction over the continental shelf and
the exclusive economic zone as well as over their resources, whether living or non-living, falling
on its side of the aforesaid boundary.
3. Each Party shall respect rights of navigation through its territorial sea and exclusive economic
zone in accordance with its laws and regulations and the rules of international law.
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also called the Law of the Sea
Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty is the international agreement that resulted from the third
United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III), which took place between 1973
and 1982. The Law of the Sea Convention defines the rights and responsibilities of nations in
their use of the worlds oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the
management of marine natural resources. The Convention, concluded in 1982, replaced four 1958
treaties. UNCLOS came into force in 1994, a year after Guyana became the 60th nation to sign the
treaty. As of August 2013, 165 countries and the European Union have joined in the Convention.
However, it is uncertain as to what extent the Convention codifies customary international law.
While the Secretary General of the United Nations receives instruments of ratification and accession
and the UN provides support for meetings of states party to the Convention, the UN has no direct
operational role in the implementation of the Convention. There is, however, a role played by
organizations such as the International Maritime Organization, the International Whaling Commission
and the International Seabed Authority (the latter being established by the UN Convention).
UNCLOS I
In 1956, the United Nations held its first Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS I) at Geneva,
Switzerland. UNCLOS I resulted in four treaties concluded in 1958:
Convention on the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone, entry into force: 10 September 1964
Convention on the Continental Shelf, entry into force: 10 June 1964
Convention on the High Seas, entry into force: 30 September 1962
Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas, entry into force:
20 March 1966
Although UNCLOS I was considered a success, it left open the important issue of breadth of
territorial waters.
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UNCLOS II
In 1960, the United Nations held the second Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS II);
however, the six-week Geneva conference did not result in any new agreements. Generally speaking,
developing nations and third world countries participated only as clients, allies, or dependents of
United States or the Soviet Union, with no significant voice of their own.
UNCLOS III
The issue of varying claims of territorial waters was raised in the UN in 1967 by Arvid Pardo, of
Malta, and in 1973 the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea was convened
in New York. In an attempt to reduce the possibility of groups of nation-states dominating the
negotiations, the conference used a consensus process rather than majority vote. With more than
160 nations participating, the conference lasted until 1982. The resulting convention came into
force on 16 November 1994, one year after the sixtieth state, Guyana, ratified the treaty.
The convention introduced a number of provisions. The most significant issues covered were
setting limits, navigation, archipelagic status and transit regimes, exclusive economic zones (EEZs),
continental shelf jurisdiction, deep seabed mining, the exploitation regime, protection of the marine
environment, scientific research, and settlement of disputes.
The convention set the limit of various areas, measured from a carefully defined baseline. (Normally,
a sea baseline follows the low-water line, but when the coastline is deeply indented, has fringing
islands or is highly unstable, straight baselines may be used.) The areas are as follows:
Internal waters
Covers all water and waterways on the landward side of baseline. The coastal state is free to set
laws, regulate use, and use any resource. Foreign vessels have no right of passage within internal
waters.
Territorial waters
Out to 12 nautical miles (22 kilometres; 14 miles) from the baseline, the coastal state is free to set
laws, regulate use, and use any resource. Vessels were given the right of innocent passage through
any territorial waters, with strategic straits allowing the passage of military craft as transit passage,
in that naval vessels are allowed to maintain postures that would be illegal in territorial waters.
Innocent passage is defined by the convention as passing through waters in an expeditious and
continuous manner, which is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or the security of the coastal
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state. Fishing, polluting, weapons practice, and spying are not innocent, and submarines and
other underwater vehicles are required to navigate on the surface and to show their flag. Nations
can also temporarily suspend innocent passage in specific areas of their territorial seas, if doing so
is essential for the protection of its security.
Archipelagic waters
The convention set the definition of Archipelagic States in Part IV, which also defines how the
state can draw its territorial borders. A baseline is drawn between the outermost points of the
outermost islands, subject to these points being sufficiently close to one another. All waters inside
this baseline are designated Archipelagic Waters. The state has full sovereignty over these waters
(like internal waters), but foreign vessels have right of innocent passage through archipelagic waters
(like territorial waters).
Contiguous zone
Beyond the 12-nautical-mile (22 km) limit, there is a further 12 nautical miles (22 km) from the
territorial sea baseline limit, the contiguous zone, in which a state can continue to enforce laws in
four specific areas: customs, taxation, immigration and pollution, if the infringement started within
the states territory or territorial waters, or if this infringement is about to occur within the states
territory or territorial waters. This makes the contiguous zone a hot pursuit area.
Exclusive economic zones (EEZs)

These extend from the edge of the territorial sea out to 200 nautical miles (370 kilometer; 230 miles)
from the baseline. Within this area, the coastal nation has sole exploitation rights over all natural
resources. In casual use, the term may include the territorial sea and even the continental shelf. The
EEZs were introduced to halt the increasingly heated clashes over fishing rights, although oil was
also becoming important. The success of an offshore oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico in 1947 was
soon repeated elsewhere in the world, and by 1970 it was technically feasible to operate in waters
4000 meters deep. Foreign nations have the freedom of navigation and over flight, subject to the
regulation of the coastal states. Foreign states may also lay submarine pipes and cables.
Continental shelf
The continental shelf is defined as the natural prolongation of the land territory to the continental
margins outer edge, or 200 nautical miles (370 km) from the coastal states baseline, whichever
is greater. A states continental shelf may exceed 200 nautical miles (370 km) until the natural
prolongation ends. However, it may never exceed 350 nautical miles (650 kilometer; 400 miles)
from the baseline; or it may never exceed 100 nautical miles (190 kilometer; 120 miles) beyond the
2500 meter isobath (the line connecting the depth of 2,500 meters). Coastal states have the right
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to harvest mineral and non-living material in the subsoil of its continental shelf, to the exclusion of
others. Coastal states also have exclusive control over living resources attached to the continental
shelf, but not to creatures living in the water column beyond the exclusive economic zone.
Landlocked states are given a right of access to and from the sea, without taxation of traffic through
transit states.
India and Nepal agreed to reduce Trade Barriers and Check Illegal Trade
India and Nepal on 22 December 2013 agreed to
address each others concerns on commerce and
transit, including reduction of tariff barriers and
checking illegal trade along the border. The decision
was made during the two-day Inter-Governmental
Committee meeting that concluded in Kathmandu.
The delegations of the two sides were led by the
Commerce Secretaries of the two countries namely
SR Rao of India and Madhav Prasad Regmi of
Nepal.
India and Nepal has agreed on a 14-point agenda
to enhance trade, promote co-operation and
address concerns of the private sector of both the
countries. Institutional arrangements will be made
to facilitate the third country import and export to build infrastructure in newly identified customs
points. India has also agreed to provide 10000 cows to Nepal in response to the demand of milk
and dairy products of the country.
India has recognized the necessity of balancing trade to make it sustainable for both the countries.
Both sides looked towards trade in goods to increase trade in services and investments for balancing
trade. Both the sides were able to sort out important bilateral issues. India will also help Nepal to
reduce its trade deficit.
India evacuated all its oil employees from strife-torn South Sudan
India on 23 December 2013 evacuated all its employees from the strife torn South Sudan. It has
also shut down all its oilfields amid escalating violence in the country. The 11 employees deputed
by ONGC Videsh Ltd. at the Greater Nile Oil Project and Block 5A in Sudan working on 40000
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barrels per day have been airlifted.

Evacuation has happened in two batches and the airlifted employees have arrived safely to India.
The company made all arrangements to evacuate its personnel as rebel forces loyal to deposed
South Sudanese Vice President Riek Machar captured Unity state in which most of the oil fields are
operating.
ONGC Videsh Ltd. is the overseas arm of the state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
Earlier, United Kingdom sent an aircraft to Juba in South Sudan to evacuate Britons amid fighting
that followed a reported coup attempt.
Background
At present, South Sudan is facing an ethnic violence, which is led by the former Vice President of
South Sudan, Riek Machar. The fighting in South Sudan broke on 15 December 2013 and by now
it has claimed about 500 lives, which include a life of an Indian Soldier, who was working as United
Nations peacekeeper.
President Kiir, who is a member of the majority Dinka ethnic group, sacked the Vice President
Machar, who belongs to Nuer community in July 2013. He was sacked on accuse of coup attempt.
As per Machar, the President is carrying out the trying to clean of his rivals.
Ethnic Nuer is the second largest group in South Sudan. Riek Machar was appointed as the Vice
president in 2005 and has retained the post even after independence of South Sudan in 2011, till
the time he was sacked by the President.
First Ministerial Level Talk held for BCIM Trade Corridor

India, China, Bangladesh and Myanmar in the third week of December 2013 held the first ever
official-level discussions on the ambitious corridor to link India and China with Bangladesh and
Myanmar.
The BCIM corridor faced a rapid boost for the first time after it was discussed with ministerial level
talk. The four member countries namely, Bangladesh, India, China, and Myanmar proposed the
establishment of the BCIM Forum for regional cooperation.
Over the next six months, each country will come up with a joint study report proposing concrete
projects and financing modalities, before the next meeting of the four nations in June 2014.
The next meeting would be hosted by Bangladesh.
Presently, the four countries come up with an ambitious proposal that included developing
multi-modal transport, such as road, rail, waterways and airways, joint power projects and
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telecommunication networks.
As a first step, the four countries will identify realistic and achievable infrastructure projects to
boost physical connectivity.
The linking of all four countries by road has further strengthen the notion that this corridor would
subsequently open up the whole of the northeastern region of India to Southeast Asia and China
and turn it into a significant channel of trade.
About BCIM
The corridor would cover 1.65 million square kilometers encompassing an estimated 440 million
people in the regions of Yunnan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, West Bengal, Bihar and states in Northern
India.
The establishment of a trade corridor by the BangladeshChinaIndiaMyanmar Forum for Regional
Cooperation (BCIM) was an idea originally developed by Chinese scholars in Kunming at the end of
the 1990s, and then it is called the Kunming Initiative.
The Kunming Initiative evolved into the BCIM Forum for Regional Cooperation during its first
meeting in 1999.
Benefits of the Trade Corridor

The economic advantages of the BCIM trade corridor are considerable, most notably
Access to numerous markets in Southeast Asia,
Improvement of transportation infrastructure and
Creation of industrial zones
The construction of industrial zones will have a twofold benefit

Firstly, it will lead to industrial transfer boosting industries such as processing, manufacturing
and commerce logistics.
Secondly, as labor costs rise in China, labor-intensive industries such as textile and agroprocessing will eventually be shifted out of China. These industries will need to be transferred
to new regions with lower labor costs.
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India and Venezuela Signed Programme on Cultural Exchange
India and Venezuela on 20 December 2013 signed a Programme on Cultural Exchange. The
programme was signed by the Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Ravindra Singh
and Minister of State for the Promotion of Cultural Economy, Ministry of Peoples Power for Culture,
Venezuela Javier Sarabia after delegation level talks between the two countries.
Programme on Cultural Exchange shall be valid for three years. Thereafter, it shall be renewed
automatically for a term of three years at a time unless either Party gives in writing an advance
notice of its intention to terminate.
According to the Programme of Cultural Exchange both the countries have decided to
To promote the exchange of bilingual publications (traditional and contemporary stories)
On a reciprocal basis, participation of India in the Venezuelas International Book Fair
To provide the customs and tax condition in accordance with their domestic legislation, in order
to provide assistance to the International Book Fairs in their respective countries
To encourage the participation of Venezuelan and Indian poets and writers in the literature
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festivals organized by both countries

To encourage the participation of India in the Venezuelas World Festival of Poetry
Make an issue of the magazine Actualidades (a CELARG publication) on India or on Indian
writers
In the field of Film and Media according to the Programme of Cultural Exchange,
both the countries have to undertake
Indian will have to promoted participation of Venezuelan film works at international movie
exhibitions organized by India
To encourage the participation of Indian movies in the National Film Library and community
rooms of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
The diplomatic/consular/missions of both the countries will organize movie exhibitions
Fora should be organized with the purpose of exchange in the expertise between the film makers
and representatives from both countries
Invite personalities and new film makers to give lectures at the National Lab of Film and Media
in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Encourage the institutional links between the Autonomous National Center of Film Making of
Venezuela and the Institute of Cinema and Television of India.
Encourage the acquisition of Distribution Rights of Indian film works by the film distributor
Amazonia Films
To promote the participation of Venezuelan film works at Indian international film festivals and
vice versa
In the field of Image and Space Arts, both the countries have to undertake
To increase the exchange of knowledge with specialists in the field of drawing techniques with
natural pigments, specialists in dying with natural inks and the use of enzymes
Six specialist will have to organize workshops together with the local specialist in the Venezuelan
communities as per the interest of the Institute of Image and Space Arts
Participation of two artists, lecturers and/ or specialists to the events organized by the Institute
of Image and Space Arts
Knowledge exchange with the purpose of training in the two states of the Venezuela with the
help of a photographer or specialist from India, a group of thirty people consisting of students,
artists, and members of the community in general
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For the purpose of encouraging the photographic creation, the community management of
photography, the curatorial and museum experience, the use of new means and technologies
for the promotion of photography, its preservation or creation of data bank and photo files
Fundacin Centro Nacional de la Fotografa de Venezuela- FUNDACENAF ( Foundation National
Center of Photography in Venezuela), will organize an event and invite one photographer and /
or specialist in photography for the purpose to participate in the event
In the field of Stage and Music Arts, both the countries undertake to
Participation of a Venezuelan theatre company in the New Delhis Festival to diffuse the
Venezuelan theatre in India
Exchange of six specialists belonging to a Kathakali theatre group for the purpose of organizing
workshops and presentations in the Venezuela for one week
Participation of one dancer or couple of dancers from India at the International Dance Festivals
Solos y Duetos (Solos & Duets)
Mexican President signed a law that allows foreign companies

to drill for Oil and Gas
Enrique Pena Nieto, the Mexican President on 20 December 2013 signed a controversial law that
allows foreign companies to drill for oil. The law was signed for the first time since nationalization
of the sector in 1938.
The Mexican Congress passed the legislation on 13 December 2013 and was ratified by the majority
of Mexican states. This legislation has changed three articles in the Constitution of the country. It
allows foreign investment in oil, gas and electricity. To drill oil and gas, private companies have
been allowed to sign contracts with state controlled Pemex. Pemex will get a share of the profits.
The law was signed to attract investment to Mexico that will attract the investment needed to boost
the falling oil output of the country. The Mexican oil production has fallen from 3.4 million barrels
per day in 2004 to the current rate of 2.5 million barrels per day.
India and the Arab League inked MoU to elevate political, trade
and cultural relations
India and Arab League on 17 December 2013 inked an MoU to elevate the political, trade and
cultural relations. The MoU was signed by Salman Khurshid, External Affairs Minister of India and
Nabil Elaraby, Secretary General of the League of Arab States during his visit to India.
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List of documents signed are:
Sr.No
Title
Details
1.
Memorandum of Cooperation The new Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC)

has replaced the existing MOC signed in
between the League of Arab
December 2008. The new MOC provides for
States and the Republic of
replacing the High Level Joint Committee of
India
the existing MOC with new formats for future
meetings, namely Ministerial and Senior
Officials meeting, involving all the member
states and the Arab League Secretariat. It
also provides for setting up of an Executive
Programme, which will be renewed every two
years.
The Executive Program of

the Arab-Indian Cooperation
Forum between the League
of Arab States and the
Republic of India for 20142015
The Executive Programme is much more

specific in terms of the cooperation envisaged
in diverse areas like trade & investment,
energy, small and medium enterprises,
culture, capacity building, etc. and attempts
to specify the modality for each major activity.
As per the EP, the League of Arab States
Mission in New Delhi and the Indian Embassy
in Cairo have been designated as the nodal
points for coordination.
Japan decided to increase defence spending by 5% over the next

5 years
Japan under the hawkish Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has decided on 17 December 2013 to increase
its spending on defence by about 5% over a period of 5 years (2014 2019). This is the biggest
increase in defence spending in 22 years, although much of the growth reflects higher import costs
due to a weaker yen.
Abes government also decided to review Japans ban on weapons exports. This means that Japan
could revive struggling defence contractors like Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd and Mitsubishi
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Heavy Industries Ltd.

The decision to increase defence spending to 24.6
trillion yen (239 billion dollar) was in response to
Chinas ever increasing military budget. Besides,
the decision has come at a time when the tensions
between Japan and China have soared over the
ownership of tiny islands in East China Sea. The
tiny islands in Japan are known as Senkaku and in
China as Diaoyu.
The increase in defence spending would include
an additional purchase of F-35 fighters, made by
Lockheed Martin Corp, as well as two more Aegis
warships, bringing the total to eight. Japan will also
be buying the tilt-rotor Osprey surveillance aircraft,
built by Boeing Co and Textron Incs Bell Helicopter
unit, and drones including Northrop Grumman Corps Global Hawk.
Japans defence plan included a five-year military buildup plan and a 10-year defence guideline.
According to the plan, there is a need for stronger air and maritime surveillance capabilities. It
also improved ability to defend far-flung islands through setting up a marine unit, buying unarmed
surveillance drones and putting a unit of E-2C early-warning aircraft on Okinawa Islands in the
south.
Japans 10-year guidelines also mark a shift from its Cold War posture of defending against a
Russian attack from the north, toward a potential conflict with China to the west and south.
The defence plan cuts Japans tanks by 400 to 300 over 10 years, while adding some faster, more
maneuverable combat vehicles that could be flown in, say, to retake islands.
The new policy outline also calls for Japan to beef up its ability to defend against ballistic missile
attacks, such as from unpredictable neighbor North Korea.
An Analysis
The new defence plan of Japan is an update of the defence posture that was last reviewed in 2010
under the Yoshihiko Noda government. Until 2010, past governments had stretched the limits of a
post-war Pacifist Constitution that renounced war and said Japan will never have an army or navy.
Pacifist Constitution of Japan put a limit on the participation of Japan in defence related matters.
Under the current interpretation of Japans pacifist constitution, Japans armed forces are not
permitted to fight on behalf of friends or allies unless the Japanese themselves come under direct
attack.
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Prime Minister Shizo Abe wants to change this policy which constraints Japan from involving in
collective self-defence. The change in the stance of Japan should be seen in the light of Chinas
increasing military strength and assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region. This has led to increasing
calls for Japan to participate in international peace and security operations.
In the two decades through last year, Japan remained the sixth-biggest military spender, just behind
Britain, with outlays rising 13 percent in constant 2011 dollar terms, according to the Stockholm
International Peace Research Institute. By contrast, Chinas defence spending exploded more than
five-fold, vaulting the country to second place from seventh.
Still, given Chinas annual double-digit increases in defence spending, Japan will have to rely heavily
on cooperation with its close ally, the United States, and others in the region just to maintain the
status quo.
Indeed, Abes national security strategy calls for Japan not only to upgrade its cooperation with
the United States but strengthen ties with strategic partners including South Korea, Australia,
Southeast Asian countries and India.
Abe and leaders of Southeast Asian countries called at a Tokyo summit in the second week of
December 2013 for freedom of the air and sea. This was a veiled reference to China, which has
territorial disputes with several countries in the Association of South East Asian Nations.
Michelle Bachelet won Chile Presidential Elections

Left-wing candidate Michelle Bachelet on 15 December 2013 elected as the Chile President for a
second time by a wide margin.
Michelle Bachelet got 62 percent votes against 38 percent votes for Evelyn Matthei, a former
minister from the governing centre-right coalition.
Michelle Bachelet, candidate for a centre-left coalition of parties known as Nueva Mayoria, she
first served from 2006 to 2010, but under Chiles constitution she could not stand for a second
consecutive term.
The major contenders in the presidential election are Evelyn Matthei of conservative Alianza party
and Franco Parisi, an independent candidate.
Michelle Bachelet will succeed the present president Sebastin Piera.The General elections were
held in Chile on 17 November 2013 for the president post. The term of the president is for four
years.
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About Michelle Bachelet

Michelle Bachelet, candidate for a centre-left coalition of
parties known as Nueva Mayoria: 61-year old Bachelet
served as Chiles president between 2006 and 2010.
She is the daughter of a high-ranking air force officer
who died from the effects of torture while a prisoner of
the military junta led by Gen Augusto Pinochet.
Michelle Bachelet was herself tortured and spent some
years in exile before being allowed to return and finish
her medical studies. Bachelet held the post of health
minister in Ricardo Lagos government and was Chiles
first female defence minister.
She became Chiles first female president in 2006, and she had a stunning 84 per cent approval
rating when she left office in 2010. In 2010, she was appointed the first director of the newlycreated agency UN Women.
About Chile
Chile officially the Republic of Chile is a South American country occupying a long, narrow strip of
land between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Chile stretches
over 4300 km (2670 miles) north to south, but only 350 km (217 miles) at its widest point east to
west. It is bounded on the north by Peru and Bolivia, on its long eastern border by Argentina, and
on the west by the Pacific Ocean. The capital of Chile is Santiago.

The Yemen Parliament on 15 December 2013 banned the use of US drones in the country after
dozens of civilians were killed by the unmanned aircraft.
In this regard an anti-drone motion was passed by Yemens parliament on 15 December 2013. The
Parliament also stressed the importance of protecting innocent citizens from any airstrike as well
as preserving Yemens sovereignty.
The decision by the Yemeni parliament to ban the use of US drones comes after one of the unmanned
aircrafts mistakenly hit a wedding convey in Al - Bayda province, killing 17 Yemeni civilians and
wounding about 21 others on 12 December 2013. It was the second airstrike mistake in a week
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after a US drone killed at least four people traveling on a road in the eastern province of Hadramout
on 9 December 2013.
The United States has stepped up drone strikes in Yemen as part of a campaign against Al Qaeda
in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The Yemen-based al-Qaida offshoot has carried out a series
of attacks in Yemen targeting state institutions, the military and foreign missions in the country.
However, the US drone strikes have mistakenly hit civilian targets several times in the past two
years. The Yemeni people staged several rallies this year to demand an end to the US drone strikes
in the country.
National referendum in Egypt on new draft of Constitution to

take place on 14-15 January
The Interim President of Egypt, Adly Mansour on 14 December 2013 announced 14-15 January
2014 as the date for national referendum on the new draft of the constitution. The 2012 Constitution,
which was approved by the Islamist dominated Parliament, under the ousted President Mohamed
Morsi will be replaced by the new draft Constitution.
The Islamist drafted constitution in existence was approved by a referendum in December 2012,
with 64 percent of the votes.
Amr Moussa, the head of the constitution drafting panel said that the draft constitution is a balanced
constitution that provides freedoms, rights and separation of powers. As the new Constitution of
Egypt protects the freedom of belief, opinion and creation, which preserves intellectual property
rights, and provides gender equality. It bans the political parties on religious lines and provides for
equality of citizens.
The amended draft was submitted to Mansour on 3 December 2013 by the drafting committee. The
draft of the new constitution was prepared by a 50 member panel. Under the transitional roadmap
after the ouster of Mohamed Morsi, the former President of Egypt in July 2013, the amended
Constitution needs to be approved by a national referendum. A successful referendum vote would
be followed by elections.
The constitutional drafting committee, during the amendment process decided to leave the decision
on President Mansour that whether to hold presidential or parliamentary elections first.
Bangladesh Islamist Abdul Kader Mullah hanged for 1971 war

crimes
Islamist leader Abdul Kader Mullah of Bangladesh was executed on 12 December 2013. His
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execution was done at the Dhaka Central Jail at

22:01 local time. He was executed for genocides
done during the Bangladeshs 1971 liberation
war with Pakistan. He was the first person
convicted by Bangladeshs International Crimes
Tribunal (ICT) and the first politician to be
hanged for such crimes. He was the senior
leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) was set
up in Bangladesh in 2010 to investigate on the
abuses committed during the 1971 conflict.
The prosecutors during his trial described him
as the Butcher of Mirpur, the suburb of Dhaka where he has been alleged to carry out the crimes.
He massacred unarmed civilians and killed intellectuals, who were supporting the independence
from Pakistan.
Apart from Abdul Kader Mullah, four other leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami have been convicted by the
ICT and will face the death penalty.
42 years ago in 1971 Bangladesh broke away from Pakistan after a war after the military intervention
by India, in which many were killed and about 10 million people migrated as refugees.
Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is a war crimes tribunal in Bangladesh, which was set up
by the Government in 2009. The ICT was formed to investigate and prosecute the suspects for
the genocide committed in 1971 by the Pakistan Army and their local collaborators, during the
Bangladesh Liberation War. During the 2008 general election, the Awami League (AL) when won
the election with more than two-thirds majority in Parliament set up the tribunal. The first indictment
was issued in 2010.

The European Union on 12 December 2013 granted GSP-Plus status to Pakistan. This move will
boost the textile and other industries of Pakistan as it has given exporters a duty free access to 27
European Countries.
406 members of the European Parliament supported the move of the Union at a session in Brussels.
Under this deal 75 Pakistani products would have duty-free access to European markets.
The Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif governments top priority was to gain an access into the European
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market as part of its economic agenda. As this status will enable Pakistan to export products of 1
billion dollars to international markets and help the textile industry of the country to earn profits of
more than 1 trillion rupees. Overall, the increase in the exports will also facilitate economic growth
and generate millions of additional jobs.
As per the analysts, the trade concession to Pakistan from European Union will benefit the textile
and clothing industry of the country and also enable its products to compete with the products
of rivals like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the two countries that have duty-free access to the bloc
markets of European Union.
At present the textile and clothing exports of Pakistan to the European Union constitutes of its total
exports to the bloc of 9.5 billion dollars. The GSP-Plus status will provide duty free or preferential
duty rate access for total 3500 products to Pakistan. Currently, the Pakistani textile exports to
European Union an 11 percent duty.
To get the status, Pakistan lobbied with several countries of the European Union. To get the deal
done, it has held the death penalty.
About GSP-Plus status of European Union

The European Unions GSP (Generalised Scheme of Preferences) allows developing country
exporters to pay lower duties on their exports to the European Union. This gives them vital access
to European Union markets and contributes to their economic growth. The reformed GSP, which
will apply as from 2014, will further focus support on countries most in need.
The EU has adopted a reformed GSP law on 31 October 2012. In order to allow ample time for
economic operators to adapt to the new scheme, the new preferences will be applied from 1
January 2014.
There are three main variants (arrangements) of the scheme

The standard GSP scheme, which offers generous tariff reductions to developing countries.
Practically, this means partial or entire removal of tariffs on two thirds of all product categories.
The GSP+ enhanced preferences mean full removal of tariffs on essentially the same product
categories as those covered by the general arrangement. These are granted to countries which
ratify and implement international conventions relating to human and labour rights, environment
and good governance
Everything but Arms (EBA) scheme for least developed countries (LDCs), which grant duty-free
quota-free access to all products, except for arms and ammunitions
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India and United Arab Emirates on 12 December 2013 signed a Bilateral Investment Promotion and
Protection Agreement (BIPPA) that would accelerate fresh capital investments of UAE in India.
The BIPPA agreement was signed by Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, the Minister of State for Financial
Affairs of UAE and Namo Narain Meena, the Minister of State for Finance of India. At present the
Foreign Minister of UAE, Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan is on a visit to India.
The BIPPA has been worked on as an exception to the norm of India to freeze all BIPPA agreements
until a new template is in place. UAE wants to explore major infrastructure projects in India but was
waiting till the signature of the BIPPA.
India and UAE are the largest trading partners of each other with the total bilateral trade of 75 billion
dollars. At present, the UAE invests in India about 3 billion dollar. UAE controls the second largest
Sovereign Wealth Fund in the world under the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
At present, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) wants to invest 700 million dollars in
Himachal Pradesh in the electricity sector, whereas the DP World Operations is aimed at expansion
of their footprint in the port sector in India.
In February 2013, India-UAE High Level Task Force on Investments that was set up to speed up
investment opportunities met but before proceeding UAE wanted to conclude the BIPPA. This
signing of the agreement has opened the possibilities of High Level Task Force meetings in January
2014 to explore investment opportunities.
With the signing of the India-UAE BIPPA, India now has such agreements with all GCC countries,
which also opened the possibilities of pursuing India-GCC Free Trade Agreement, which has been
on the backburner so far.

Uruguay on 10 December 2013 became the first country in the world to legalise marijuana for
recreational use with the state taking control of the trade. In this regard Uruguay senators gave the
approval for government-sponsored bill.
According to the new law-Registered Uruguayans over the age of 18 will be allowed to buy up
to 40 grams of the drug a month. Tourists will be excluded. The government hopes it will help
tackle drug cartels, but critics say it will expose more people to drugs. With introducing new law,
Uruguay became the first country in the world to have a system regulating legal production, sale
and consumption of the drug.
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Uruguay Marijuana Law

State controls the production, distribution, commerce and consumption of marijuana
Consumers have to be over 18 and registered
Marijuana to be sold at licensed pharmacies
Sales are limited to 40g (1.4oz) per month
Registered users can grow up to six plants at home
Buyers and growers have to be over 18
Tourists are excluded
Advertising is forbidden
Prices will be fixed by the government
About Marijuana
Marijuana, the most often used illegal drug in many countries, is a product of the hemp plantCannabis sativa. Its main psychoactive chemical is delta-9-tetrahydro-cannabinol, or THC. Due to
the variety of effects it can produce, marijuana can be categorized as a stimulant, depressant, or
hallucinogen.

The members of the opposition party (Democrat Party) of Thailand resigned en masse from the
Parliament on 8 December 2013 to protest a Government claimed by them as illegitimate. The
opposition party of Thailand cant work in the legislature anymore because the government is no
longer accepted by the people. This will bring in a political crisis in the country.
The opposition party has aligned with the anti-government protesters, who have staged the biggest
rally of the country in the years. These demonstrations began in November 2013 and aims to oust
Prime Minister of Thailand, Yingluck Shinawatra from the office.
Yingluck Shinawatra won the elections in 2011. The opposition party Democrats has not won an
election, since 1992. Democrat Party has won most of the seats on the Parliament in 1948, 1976
and 1992 but has never won an outright Parliamentary majority.
Earlier, in 2006, Thaksin Shinawatra, the brother of the Yingluck was overthrown in a military coup.
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All unfilled munitions by Syrian Government have been destroyed:

OPCW

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on 6 November 2013 said that
the unfilled (Category 3) munitions declared by the Syrian Government have been destroyed.
The international chemical weapons watchdog (OPCW) has completed the key stage towards
destroying, the chemicals weapons of Syria. The OPCW has also verified the destruction of some
chemical weapons production facilities, which has been rendered inoperable during the first phase
of the mission.
These activities were conducted at the Homs cluster of sites that had remained inaccessible for
some time due to security reasons.
The joint United Nations-OPCW team is aimed to remove toxic chemicals from Syria by the end of
the year for destruction at sea and destroy the entire program by mid-2014.
The Convention contains four key provisions

Destroying all existing chemical weapons under international verification by the OPCW
Monitoring chemical industry to prevent new weapons from re-emerging
Providing assistance and protection to States Parties against chemical threats
Fostering international cooperation to strengthen implementation of the Convention and
promote the peaceful use of chemistry
UN-OPCW relationship agreement

The Relationship Agreement between the United Nations and the OPCW was concluded with the
United Nations in 2000 and entered into force in 2001. This was the first such agreement.
The Relationship Agreement was approved by the OPCW Conference of the States Parties in
decision on 17 May 2001 and by the United Nations General Assembly in resolution on 7 September
2001.
Non-Member Countries of OPCW

Signatory Countries, which have not yet ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention, are Israel
and Myanmar.
The countries that have neither signed nor acceded to the Chemical Weapons Convention are
Angola, Egypt, North Korea and South Sudan.
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Organisation for the Prohibition of

Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
The Organisation for the Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons is the implementing body
of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC),
which entered into force in 1997. As of today
the OPCW has 190 Member States, who are
working together to achieve a world free from
chemical weapons. They share the collective
goal of preventing chemistry from ever again
being used for warfare, thereby strengthening
international security.
South Korea and US agreed to join hands to denuclearise North

Korea
Vice President of US, Joseph Biden and Park Geun-hye, the President of South Korea on 6 December
2013 agreed to join hands to denuclearize North Korea (DPRK). The two countries have agreed to
make effort to achieve a substantive progress in dismantling Pyongyangs nuclear programme
based on the close bilateral cooperation and firm deterrence against possible nuclear and missile
threats from North Korea. As the principle of Pyongyangs, nuclear weapons are unacceptable.
North Korea is officially known as Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Jordan elected to UN Security Council as a Non-Permanent

Member
UN General Assembly elected Jordan to the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member on
6 December 2013 to replace Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia was elected in October 2013 to the Security Council as a non permanent member but
it has rejected its seat in protest at the UN councils failure to end the war in Syria and act on other
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Middle East issues.

With 179 members of the 193-member General Assembly
voting by secret ballot, Jordan received 178 votes while
Saudi Arabia got one vote.
Jordan will now join with Lithuania, Chile, Nigeria
and Chad as new members of the council, replacing
Azerbaijan, Guatemala, Pakistan, Morocco and Togo.
The other five temporary council members that will
remain next year are Argentina, Australia, Luxembourg,
South Korea and Rwanda.
About UN Security Council

Article 23 of chapter V of United Nations Charter
provides for the composition of United Nations
Security Council.
The council is composed of 15 members. There are
5 permanent members of Security Council and 10 non permanent members. Five permanent
members are: China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States
of America.
Ten non-permanent members are elected for 2 years term by General Assembly and these
members can not be immediately re-elected.
Objective of the UN Security Council

The Objective of UNSC is to maintain peacekeeping operations, the establishments of
international sanctions and the authorization of military action.
The powers of UNSC are exercised through United Nations Security Council resolutions.
All Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions. In some cases, the Security
Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or
restore international peace and security.
Sri Lanka to set up 8 economic zones across country

Sri Lankas Board of Investment on 5 December 2013 announced plans to start eight export
processing and industrial zones across the country. These economic zones will begin operations
in 2014.
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As per the Investment Promotion Minister of Sri Lanka, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana these zones
will attract foreign investment and will provide economic development to the rural areas. The largest
of the eight zones will be in Vavuniya in the North, which will revive the economic activities after the
civil war.
The three of the economic zones will be at Hambantota in the south. The Government of Sri Lanka
has invested heavily to develop the region as a commercial and industrial hub.
OPEC Decided to maintain the same oil output for 2014

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC) on 4 December 2013
decided to maintain the same oil output at
30 million barrel per day for the year 2014.
The decision was taken at the 164th
meeting of OPEC Oil Ministers in Vienna,
Austria on 4 December 2013. They have
also agreed to meet again on 11 June
2014 to assess the status of oil production
target.
The OPEC meeting came in the backdrop
of a modest relief in sanctions for Iran,
global slowdown in crude oil demand and
unrest in Libya. The crude demand has slowed down with open supply lanes, boom in the gas
output and Shale gas and oil discoveries. Libyas output has plunged to around 250000 barrels
per day from 1.5 million due to the fighting between radical Islamists and the army. Fresh from the
nuclear deal, Iran will be looking at boosting its oil output and the exports.
About Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

OPEC is an organisation of twelve oil-exporting countries consisting of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Angola, Venezuela, Libya, Algeria and Ecuador.
The organisation has its headquarters in Vienna, Austria. Vienna hosts regular meetings among the
oil ministers of its member nations. OPEC supplies nearly 35 percent of worlds oil.
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Egypt Panel approved New Draft Constitution

An Egyptian Constitutional panel on 1 December 2013 approved a new draft Constitution for Egypt
Government.
50-member Constitution drafting panel headed by Amre Moussa approved draft Constitution, which
contains 247 Articles. According to the countrys officials, the referendum on the draft Constitution
is to be held in January 2014.
Key provisions in the new draft Constitution

Presidential powers
President to only serve two four-year terms
Candidates must be at least 40 years old
President to appoint Prime Minister
President can dismiss the government with the approval of
the majority of the Parliament.
Military Powers
It gives more power to military, including an article that allows trial of civilians in martial courts.
Military budget to be discussed by a national defence council.
The defense minister must be appointed in agreement with the military.
Religion
Islamic law, or sharia, the main source of legislation
Political parties may not be formed on the basis of religion
Freedom and rights

Political parties cannot be formed on the basis of gender, race, sect or geography.
Parties must not have military or paramilitary components.
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Citizens have the right to organise public meetings and demonstrations and all forms of peaceful
protests.
Background
1. Egypt is witnessing a political crisis since the resignation of the long-serving leader Hosni
Mubarak in February 2011 that saw the rise of Arab spring.
2. The country is deeply divided between Islamist and secular groups, while the Egyptian military
remains the countrys chief decision-maker.
3. The first democratic elections held for Egypt in December 2011, and won by the Islamist-Muslim
Brotherhood group. But Egypts first democratically elected parliament was dissolved in June
2012.
4. The Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi won the presidential elections in June
2012.
5. In July 2013, Egyptian army ousted the Morsi government, suspended the constitution and
dissolved the Parliament and appointed Mansour as the new interim president.
6. The interim authorities suspended the previous constitution written under the Morsi government
and appointed new panel for drafting a new Constitution in September 2013.
China successfully launched unmanned Lunar Probe- Change-3

China on 2 December 2013
successfully
sent
an
unmanned lunar probe with
a robotic rover to soft land
on the Moon, and to
explore moons surface.
The probe Change-3 was
launched into orbit aboard
an enhanced Long March3B carrier rocket from the
Xichang Satellite Launch
Centre.
The mission was the 25th launch of the Long March-3B, which is the most powerful launch vehicle
in the Long March fleet. Change-3 comprises a lander and a Moon rover called Yutu (Jade
Rabbit).
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The Change-3 mission is the second phase of Chinas lunar program, which includes orbiting,
landing and returning to Earth. It follows the success of the Change-1 and Change-2 missions in
2007 and 2010.
The lunar probe will land on the Moon in mid-December 2013 according to the plan. So far, only the
United States and the former Soviet Union have soft-landed on the Moon. Indias Chandrayaan-1,
which was credited to have discovered water in the lunar surface made a hard landing on the Moon.
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WORLD DAIRY
December 2013
2 December 2013

China successfully sent an unmanned lunar probe- Change-3-with a robotic rover to soft
land on the Moon, and to explore moons surface.
International Day for Abolition of Slavery was observed across the world to create awareness
about abolition of slavery.
3 December 2013

The 9th WTO Ministerial Conference is scheduled from 3 December to 6 December 2013 at
Bali, Indonesia.
The 8th Asia Gas Partnership Summit (AGPS) is scheduled from 3 to 4 December 2013 at
New Delhi.
Transparency International released the Global Corruption Perceptions Index 2013 at Berlin,
Germany.
4 December 2013

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has decided to maintain the same oil output
at 30 million barrel per day for the year 2014.
5 December 2013

Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid revolutionary of South Africa passed away. He was of 95
years old.
Sri Lankas Board of Investment has announced the plans to start eight export processing
and industrial zones across the country.
The International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development was observed across
the world.
6 December 2013

UN General Assembly elected Jordan to the UN Security Council as a non-permanent

member on to replace Saudi Arabia.
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WORLD DAIRY
December 2013
The World Trade Organization on agreed to allow countries to provide subsidy on staple
food crops without any threat of punitive action.
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on 6 November 2013
said that the unfilled (Category 3) munitions declared by the Syrian Government have been
destroyed
7 December 2013

International Civil Aviation Day was observed on 7 December 2013 to highlight the importance
of civil aviation for social and economic development.
Miss Venezuela Alyz Henrich was crowned with the pageant of Miss Earth 2013 at the
Versailles Palace, Philippines.
Ali Osman Taha, the Vice President of Sudan resigned to pave way for the new Government.
8 December 2013

South Korea stated that it had expanded its Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) for the
first time in six decades over East China Sea.
Democrat Party- the Thailands main opposition party resigned from Parliament.
9 December 2013

South Korea expanded its defence zone in disputed area with China
Israel, Jordan, Palestinians signed Red Sea-to-Dead Sea Water sharing Deal
10 December 2013

Afghanistan-Iran agreed on long term friendship and cooperation Pact
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WORLD DAIRY
December 2013
11 December 2013

Pope Francis named as the TIMEs Person of the Year
12 December 2013

13 December 2013

Bangladesh Islamist Abdul Kader Mullah hanged for 1971 war crimes
14 December 2013

Egypt: National referendum on new draft of Constitution to take place on 14-15 January
15 December 2013

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WORLD DAIRY
December 2013
16 December

The International Cricket Council (ICC) suspends Shane Shillingford, the West Indies
offspinner, from bowling in international cricket after his action was found illegal.
17 December

India and Arab League inks an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to elevate the political,
trade and cultural relations.
Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe decides to increase its spending on defence by about
5% over a period of 5 years (2014 2019).
Angela Merkel elected as the German Chancellor for third term by the German ParliamentBundestag.
18 December

Ronnie Biggs who took part in the Great Train Robbery in Britain in 1963 died due to multiple
strokes. He was 84.
19 December

Paul Torday, the British businessman who turned an author died. He was 67. His debut novel
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen was his comic best seller.
20 December

Enrique Pena Nieto, the Mexican President, signs a controversial law that allows foreign
companies to drill for oil.
India and Venezuela signs a Programme on Cultural Exchange
21 December

Somalias Federal Parliament approves Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed as the new Prime Minister
of Somalia.
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WORLD DAIRY
December 2013
22 December

India and Nepal agrees to address each others concerns on commerce and transit, including
reduction of tariff barriers and checking illegal trade along the border.
India, China, Bangladesh and Myanmar holds the first ever official-level discussions on the
ambitious corridor to link India and China with Bangladesh and Myanmar.
England spinner Graeme Swann announces his retirement from international and first-class
cricket
23 December

India evacuates all its employees from the strife torn South Sudan.
Mikhail Kalashnikov, who invented the AK47 machine gun, dies due to ill-health in Izhevsk,
Udmurtia province of Russian Republic. He was 94.
24 December

Director Generals Military Operations (DGMO) of India and Pakistan meet along the WagahAttari border to work out a mechanism to ease tension between the two sides and to ensure
peace at the Line of Control (LoC).
Hisham Qandil, the former Prime Minister of Egypt was arrested by Egyptian police.
25 December

Egypts ruling Government declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group.
Cricketer Jacques Kallis, the South African all-rounder, announces his retirement from test
and first class cricket after the second Test against India in Durban.
26 December

Japan approves the relocation of the US military airbase Futenma on its southern island of
Okinawa.
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WORLD DAIRY
December 2013
Serena Williams won the Female Athlete of the Year award and LeBron James won the Male
Athlete of the Year award of the Associated Press.
27 December

China opens its home grown BeiDou Navigation System for Asian countries for free.
The US President Barack Obama signs a two year bipartisan federal budget bill to avert the
risk of shutdown of the Government in January 2014.
United Nations orders to cut staff and budget under the pressure from United States and
other austerity-stricken industrialized powers.
28 December

The Chinese government adopts a resolution that eases the one child policy of the country.
Roger Federer announces that Stefan Edberg, the former Swedish tennis player, will join his
coaching team in 2014.
29 December

32 peoples were killed when a bus fell down in a 50 meter deep ravine in Phetachbun in
Thailand.
Bomb Blast rocks Russian City of Volgograd ahead of Winter Olympic Games killing 18
persons.
30 December

Chinese Government banned its officials from smoking in public places.
Indonesian Government announced to build a new sanctuary to save Worlds rarest Javan
rhinos. The new sanctuary will be carved out of the Ujung Kulon National Park.
Ashraf Jehan becomes the first female judge to be sworn-in at Pakistans national sharia
court which hears cases under the Islamic legislation.
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NATIONAL
LANOITAN
Government issued food safety guidelines for Integrated Child

Development Services scheme
The Government of India on 31 December 2013 issued food safety and hygiene guidelines to
prevent contamination of supplementary nutrition provided to pregnant women and children. The
guidelines were issued under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme. The
guidelines were issued by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.
The issued guidelines have barred the anganwadi workers and helpers from wearing nail polish,
and artificial nails. The anganwadi workers and helpers have been asked to trim their nails and
should keep them clean while washing the hands. It has also banned them from wearing wrist
watches and rings and bangles or any type of jewellery item, while cooking and serving food. These
have been banned as these jewellery items may carry foreign bodied and compromise with the
hygiene standard.
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The Operational Guidelines for Food Safety and Hygiene of ICDS has also mentions that the workers
and helpers should tie their hairs neatly and it should be covered. It also mentions that any type of
glass should not be allowed in the cooking areas.
As per the issued guidelines, an adequate precaution for cleanliness has been issued for the staffs
to prevent the food from getting contaminated during cleaning of rooms, utensils or any other
equipment. It has also mentioned that before using any equipment, while cooking food should be
washed with water.
It has also mentioned that toilets should be cleaned all the times to make safe disposal of stool and
wastes. It has said that the activity rooms, should be well ventilated and also be spacious, which
should be cleaned every day before the start of the functions in the morning.
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme

Integrated Child Development Services scheme was launched on 2nd October 1975. ICDS
Scheme represents one of the worlds largest and most unique programmes for early childhood
development. ICDS is the foremost symbol of Indias commitment to her children Indias response
to the challenge of providing pre-school education on one hand and breaking the vicious cycle of
malnutrition, morbidity, reduced learning capacity and mortality, on the other.
Objectives: The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme was launched in 1975 with
the following objectives:
To improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years;
To lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child;
To reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout;
To achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments
to promote child development; and
To enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of
the child through proper nutrition and health education
Services: The above objectives are sought to be achieved through a package of services comprising:
Supplementary nutrition
Immunization
Health check-up
Referral services
Pre-school non-formal education
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Nutrition & health education
The concept of providing a package of services is based primarily on the consideration that the
overall impact will be much larger if the different services develop in an integrated manner as the
efficacy of a particular service depends upon the support it receives from related services.
Urban life quality improved by JNNURM said NSSO

The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) data showed that JNNURM scheme improved key
indicators of urban life in India and it reached the poorest of poor.
The Government spent over 46000 crore rupees on infrastructure augmentation under JNNURM
scheme.
The NSSO data showed that

Over 90 percent of slumdwellers feel water drainage, sewerage and garbage collection and
disposal have improved.
24 percent of slums have benefited from welfare schemes such as JNNURM and Rajiv Awas
Yojana.
95.3 percent people living in urban areas felt significant improvement in water supply.
About 76 percent improved their access to some sort of garbage disposal system in cities and
towns.
According to the Urban Development Ministrys data, among 539 projects sanctioned between
2005 and 2012, at least 217 projects are completed and 322 are in a stage of completion. Out of
806 UIDSSM projects 413 projects are completed.
About JNNURM
Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) was officially inaugurated on 3
December 2005 to improve the quality of life and infrastructure in the cities.
The JNNURM has two major schemes:

Urban Infrastructure and Governance (UIG):
The main focus of UIG is on infrastructure projects relating to water supply, sanitation, sewerage,
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solid waste management, road network and urban transport.

It also focuses on redevelopment of old city areas, shifting industrial and commercial establishments
to confirming areas.
Urban Infrastructure Development for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT):
UIDSSMT focus is integrated development of slums and achieved through various projects for
shelter, basic services and other related civic amenities which provide utilities to the urban poor.
AAI centre received ICAD Accreditation and Membership

irports Authority of India (AAI) has received TRAINAIR PLUS accreditation certificate and membership
plaque by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). ICAO is a United Nations (UN) agency
and is headquartered at Montreal, Canada.
These certificates are given for facilities to enhance airport safety. By joining the TRAINAIR PLUS
programme, the Fire Training Centre will have access to a global sourcing of training package. The
Certificate and membership plaque were handed over to V.P. Agrawal, Chairman, AAI and G.K.
Chaukiyal, Member (Operations), AAI by the General Manager (Fire Service), Md Hanif.
Herve Touron from ICAO Air Navigation Bureau had visited the Fire Training Centre (FTC) of Airports
Authority of India in October 2013 for an inspection of the facilities before granting ICAOs TRAINAIR
PLUS membership.
CATC, Allahabad and AAI, New Delhi has received TRAINAIR PLUS accreditation earlier for its
training facilities.
About Airports Authority of India

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) under the Ministry of Civil
Aviation is responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining
and managing civil aviation infrastructure in India. It provides
Air traffic management (ATM) services over Indian airspace
and adjoining oceanic areas.
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a
specialized agency of the United Nations. It was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly
development of international civil aviation throughout the world. It sets standards and regulations
necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency and regularity, as well as for aviation environmental
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protection. The Organization serves as the forum for cooperation in all fields of civil aviation among
its 191 Member States.
Centre approved National Cancer Institute at Jhajjar campus of

AIIMS
The Centre approved the proposal to set up National Cancer Institute at the Jhajjar campus of All
India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi on 26 December 2013.
The Health Ministry proposed to set up Cancer Institute in Haryana. The Cancer Institute costs
2035 crore rupees and will be completed in a period of 45 months.
The National Cancer Institute will operate on the line of National Cancer Institute in USA and
Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) in Germany. The institute will have Tissue Repository
which is the first of its kind in India.
The institute will broadly have clinical division, research division and disease management groups
(DMGs). DMGs will maintain details of all issues pertaining to management of various cancers, site
wise and other facilities.
The National Cancer Institute will operate as a nodal center for indigenous research, promotive,
preventive and curative aspects of care and human resource development.
The institute aims to plan, conduct and coordinate research on cancers which are more specific to
India like tobacco related cancers, cancer of uterine cervix, gall bladder cancer and liver cancers.
HSSC (India) Ltd a public sector enterprise under Union Health & Family Welfare Ministry has been
Item
11th Plan
Cost of construction of house 50000 rupees per house
12th Plan
75000 rupees per house
30000 rupees for all States 40000 rupees for all States and
Union Territories
Cost of construction of Tube and Union Territories
well
35000 rupees for North 45000 rupees for North Eastern
Eastern States
Cost of construction
Community Hall
Relief under Saving
Relief component
of
cum
States
175000 rupees per hall
200000 rupees per hall
1800 rupees (600 rupees per

2700 rupees (900 rupees per month
month for three months ban
for three months ban period)
period)
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50000 rupees in case of

Compensation under Group partial permanent disability
Accident Personal Insurance and 100000 rupees in case of
death/total disability
100000 rupees in case of partial

permanent disability and 200000
rupees in case of death / total
disability
Stipend at 125 rupees per

day subject to maximum of
1875 rupees per participants
for maximum of 15 days of
honorarium to authors of
handbook 15000 rupees
Training and Extension
Honorarium for experts for

preparation of manual: 5000 No Change
rupees
Workshops/seminars: 50000
rupees
Construction
of
training
centre 30 lakh rupees
Grant in Aid to FISHCOPFED 50 Lakh rupees
No Change
appointed as the Project Consultant. As a Project Consultant, HSSC (India) Ltd will be responsible for
concept, detailed design & engineering, contracting, project management and medical equipment
procurement, installations and the commissioning of the institute.
Cancer is emerging as a major public health concern in India where eleven lakh new cases are
diagnosed every year and the mortality rate is 5.5 lakh per year.
The National Cancer Control Programme was launched in 1975-76 with the objectives of primary
prevention, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation.
Cabinet approved the Constitutional Status to Judicial

Appointments Commission
The Union Cabinet on 26 December 2013 approved the constitutional status to a proposed Judicial
Appointments Commission (JAC) for appointment and transfer of judges to the higher judiciary.
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The constitutional status would ensure that

composition of the commission cannot be
altered through an ordinary legislation. A
Parliamentary standing committee which
examined
the
Judicial
Appointments
Commission Bill, 2013 had also made a similar
recommendation.
There were demands that the composition
as well as the functions of the proposed JAC
should be mentioned in the Constitution as a safeguard against future changes.
As per the Constitutional amendment two articles will be inserted in the Constitution, viz., Article
124A and Article 124B. Article 124 A of the Constitution of India will define the composition of JAC
and Article 124 B will define its functions.
The decision to make Judicial Appointments Commission was taken to do away the Collegiums
System of Appointment of Judges that allows Judges to make their own appointments. As per
the proposed Bill inclusion of two eminent persons in the six-member Judicial Appointments
Commission is to happen instead of the two jurists. The decision was made to create a balance
and avoid the extra weightage to judiciary in the body.
As per the new proposal the six members Judicial Appointments Commission would comprise of
the Chief Justice of India, two Supreme Court judges, Union Law Minister and two eminent persons,
instead of two jurists. To appoint the two eminent persons for the appointments commission would
be done by the collegium that will include the Prime Minister of India, the Leader of Opposition and
the Chief Justice of India. The secretary of the Law Ministry will act as the convenor of the Judicial
Appointment Commissions but not the member of the commission.
Main Points of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) Bill 2013 are
The JAC on creation will do away the collegium system of appointments to the High Courts and
Supreme Courts
The Article 124 (2) of the Constitution of India will be amended to give power to the President of
India to appoint the Judges on the recommendation of the JAC
The JAC will be determined as per the Constitution (120th Amendment) Bill 2013 introduced in
the Parliament by UPA government
Constitutional Amendment for establishing JACs term will require two-third majority for
modification in the Parliament. The ordinary law requires a simple majority
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Article 124(2) of the Constitution of India

In appointing the Judges of the Supreme Court, the President shall consult the Chief Justice of India
and such other Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Courts as he may deem necessary.
CCEA approved the change in National Scheme of Welfare of

Fishermen in the 12th Plan
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 26 December 2013 approved the central
sector scheme National Scheme of Welfare of Fishermen during the 12th Plan. The Department of
Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture has formulated the scheme.
The objectives of the scheme are:

1. Provision of basic amenities like drinking water and sanitation in fishers` villages
2. Better living standards for fishers and their families,
3. Social security for active fishers and their dependants, and
4. Economic Security
Following benefits have been targeted during the twelfth plan period for the fishermen across India:
1. Additional 4600 houses per year
2. Coverage of 3.5 lakh fishers under Saving-cum-Relief every year
3. An additional coverage of 3 lakh fishermen under Group Accident Insurance has been set
4. Covering 6400 fishermen per year under Training and Extension
The outlay to implement the scheme is 640 crore rupees, which involves the central outlay of 320
crore for remaining part of the 12th Plan.
Components of the scheme are:

1. Group Accident Insurance for active fishermen
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2. Development of model fishermen village

3. Saving-cum-Relief, and
4. iTraining and Extension
Legal wing of CBI now under control of agencys Director

The Government of India in a major step to allow more autonomy to CBI placed the agencys
legal wing under the command of the CBI Director, making his word final in investigations on 25
December 2013. Earlier, the legal wing of the agency reported to the Law Ministry.
The Directorate of Prosecution has been now placed under the stewardship of the agency director,
who will not only see the promotions and postings but will also write the annual confidential reports,
which was earlier done by the Law Minister.
In CBI, the Directorate of Prosecution is responsible for conducting and supervising cases pending
trial, appeal and revision in courts. It also supervises and monitors the conduct of prosecution in
the courts and gives advice to the CBI officers on all legal matters of general or specific issues,
which arose during trial or investigation.
The Director of Prosecution was the chief functionary of the Prosecution Wing of CBI and was
vested with powers of direction and control over prosecuting officers. Those powers have now
passed to the CBI Director.
The new arrangement gives the power to a final view on investigations and subsequently the charge
sheets to the CBI Director, which earlier was overturned by the Directorate of Prosecution.
The Lokpal Bill recently passed by the Parliament provides that the DoP should be placed under the
CBI Director. The Lokpal Bill also provides that the DoP headed by the Director of Prosecution to
be placed under the CBI director. The Lokpal Bill that the Director of Prosecution will be appointed
in consultation with the Lokpal and CVC. A new Directorate of Prosecution (DoP), O P Verma has
joined the agency on 24 December 2013.
National Sample Survey Office released survey on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene
The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) released the survey of the key indicators of drinking
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water, sanitation, hygiene and housing condition in India on 24 December 2013.

The Survey conducted from July 2012 to December 2012 by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)
under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
The objective of the NSS survey was to collect information on the different aspects of living
conditions of Indian population necessary for decent and healthy living and to develop suitable
indicators to assess the situation.
The improved sources of drinking water include bottled water, piped water into dwelling, piped
water to yard, public tap, standpipe, tube well or bore well, protected well, protected spring and
rain water collection.
Salient features of the NSSO Survey

Drinking water:
Nearly 88.5 percent households in rural India and 95.3 percent households in urban India
improved source of drinking water.
In Kerala rural household are the worst hit with only 29.5 percent having access to safe drinking
water whereas in Tamil Nadu it was 94 percent.
Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are above national average, people having access to safe
drinking water.
Bihar with 97.6 percent of rural households and 99.7 percent of urban households improved
source of drinking water and in Uttar Pradesh with 96.6 percent and 99.2 percent respectively.
The availability of drinking water from the principal source was considered sufficient throughout
the year if in each of the calendar months the availability of drinking water was sufficient.
85.8 percent of rural households and 89.6 percent of urban households in India had sufficient
drinking water.
16 percent of Nagaland rural households have sufficient drinking water throughout year.
Sanitation & Housing Condition:

Nearly 62.3 percent of rural household and 16.7 percent of urban households did not have any
bathroom facility.
59.4 percent and 8.8 percent households in rural India and urban India respectively had no
latrine facilities.
The households having latrine facilities, 31.9 percent and 63.9 percent households in rural India
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and urban India respectively had access to its exclusive use.

About 38.8 percent and 89.6 percent households in rural and urban India respectively had
access to improved type of latrine.
80.0 percent of rural households and 97.9 percent of urban households had electricity for
domestic use.
94.2 percent households in rural India and 71.3 percent in urban India had secured tenure in
their dwelling.
65.8 percent of rural households and 93.6 percent of urban households lived in a house with
pucca structure whereas 24.6 percent of rural households and 5.0 percent of urban households
lived in a house with semi-pucca structure during 2012.
Only 26.3 percent and 47.1 percent households in rural India and urban India respectively had
dwelling units with good ventilation.
31.7 percent of rural households and 82.5 percent of urban households had improved drainage
facility in the environment of their dwelling units
32 percent of rural households and 75.8 percent in urban households areas had some garbage
disposal arrangement.
Only 10.8 percent of urban dwelling units were situated in slum.
The households living in slums/squatter settlements, percentage of households who tried to
move out of slums/squatter settlements were 8.5 percent, 4.9 percent and 6.9 percent in case
of notified slums, non-notified slums and squatter settlements respectively.
At all-India level 70.8 percent of households had cited better accommodation as the main
reason for which they thought to move out of the slum/squatter settlement whereas 11.7 percent
households had identified proximity to place of work as the main reason.
Union Government launched e-inclusion project to spread e-literacy

The Union Government on 24 December 2013 launched e-inclusion project to make people
e-literate. The project is an initiative to make at least one individual in every household e-literate.
Union minister of Communications and Information Technology, Kapil Sibal also launched the book
on e-inclusion after launching e-inclusion and e-literacy through Common Services Centres in New
Delhi.
IT training will be provided to the economically weaker sections of the society including rural SC,
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ST and women under this project. The project will help people to participate in the knowledge
based activities and access the financial, social and government services by the use of internet.
Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways added Quadricycle as new category
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways cleared quadricycle as a new
category of vehicle on 23 December 2013.
The Ministry suggested that the
quadricycles should be registered under
the commercial transport category for
intra-city movement.
Quadricycles are seen as safer than
three-wheelers as they will have four
wheels with fully enclosed body structure
with hard top and door.
These battery-powered or electric fourwheelers will come under quadricycle category.
These vehicles will be allowed to ply only on city roads as transport vehicles and not as personal
vehicles.
These vehicles should have dual car-type braking system since there is no provision for crash
test of these vehicles.
The quadricycle have a substantial upgrade over the three-wheeler auto and will be bigger than
an auto-rickshaw and smaller than a normal car. No change in weight, size, body and emission
norms of the vehicle.
The vehicle meant for carrying passengers will be of 450 kg and for carrying goods will be of
550 kg. The length will be 3 metre for passenger version and 3.7 metre for goods version.
Quadricycles can carry a maximum of four passengers and goods vehicles can carry 500 kg
which excluded the weight of battery from total vehicle weight.
As per the Ministry the final notification will be released in less than a month and these vehicles will
be allowed to ply after six months of the notification.
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Inclusion of battery operated four-wheelers as quadricycle will bring more players in competition
including Mahindras, Bajaj Auto, TVS, Tata Motors, Maruti.
National Skills Qualifications Framework approved by Cabinet

Committee on Skill Development
The Cabinet Committee on Skill Development on 19 December 2013 approved the National Skills
Qualifications Framework (NSQF). It is a quality assurance framework, which organizes qualifications
according to a series of levels of knowledge, skills and aptitude.
NSQF levels can be defined as the learning outcomes that a learner must possess regardless
how they have acquired it may be through a formal means of learning or a non-formal or informal
learning.
It will help in shifting the emphasis to outcome, which is based learning both in the general and
vocational space. The lack in uniformity in qualifications across institutions leads to a problem
in establishment of equivalence of certificates/ diplomas/degrees in different parts of India turn
impacts in the employment and mobility to the students. NSQF would help in tackling the challenge.
This often leads to problems in establishing equivalence of certificates/diplomas/degrees in different
parts of the country, which in turn impacts the employability and mobility of students. By shifting
the focus from inputs to learning outcomes, the NSQF would aim to tackle this challenge.
NSQF will also facilitate Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) that is largely lacking in the present
education and training scenario. It would help alignment of Indian qualifications to international
qualifications. The NSQF will allow people to move between education, vocational training and
work at different stages in lives and help them in credit accumulation and transfer system as per
the needs and convenience.
The National Skill Development Agency (NSDA), an autonomous body attached to the Ministry
of Finance will anchor and operationalise the framework. NSDA is mandated to coordinate and
harmonize skill development efforts of the Government of India and the private sector.
National Skills Qualifications Framework is a nationally integrated education and competency
based skill framework which will provide multiple pathways, horizontal as well as vertical, both
within vocational education and vocational training and among vocational education, vocational
training, general education and technical education, thus linking one level of learning to another
higher level. There are 10 levels in the framework, with the entry level being 1, and the highest level
being 10. This will enable a person to acquire desired competency levels, transit to the job market
and, at an opportune time, return for acquiring additional skills to further upgrade competencies.
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SC ruled Government sanction not required to probe public

servants in court monitored cases
Supreme
Court
ruled
on
17
December 2013 that
governments prior
sanction
is
not
required to probe a
public servant. This
will apply to the
cases where the
probe
is
being
conducted by the
Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI)
under
the
surveillance of the Court.
A three-judge bench of Justice RM Lodha, Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Madan B. Lokur
ruled that Section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DPSE) Act does not apply to the
corruption cases being monitored by the Court. Section 6A of the DPSE Act requires prior consent
of the Central Government to investigate top babus.
Thus, it gave the CBI power to investigate officers of the rank of joint secretary and above without
the Centres prior permission in cases where court is monitoring the probe.
The Judgement was delivered while hearing the plea filed by the CBI contending that there was
no need for prior government sanction to inquire a public servant in court-monitored cases. As
a result, the deck has been cleared for the CBI to prosecute bureaucrats allegedly involved in
coalgate scam without waiting for governments sanction.
Union Cabinet approved the Prevention of Communal Violence

Bill 2013
The Union Cabinet on 16 December 2013 approved the Prevention of Communal Violence Bill
2013. The bill aimed to prevent and tackle the communal violence in the country and punish the
perpetrators of the violence.
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The Bill has been named as The Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice
and Reparations) Bill, 2013.
The Bill has the provision of creating an institutional arrangement for speedy investigation, disposal
of cases and for providing relief and rehabilitation to victims of communal violence. It also seeks
imposition of enhanced punishment on persons involved in communal violence.
The highlights of the Bill

The Bill defines communal violence to include any act of series of acts, whether spontaneous
or planned, resulting in injury or harm to the person or property knowingly directed against any
person by virtue of his or her religious or linguistic identity.
The Bill has proposed to punish organized communal violence with life imprisonment. Hate
propaganda will be punished with up to three years imprisonment or fine or both. Funding of
communal violence will be punished with up to three years or fine or both.
Dereliction of duty will invite a punishment with imprisonment ranging from two years to five
years and breach of command with imprisonment of up to 10 years.
Earlier the power of intervention of the Centre in event of riots was unilateral, that is, central could
send paramilitary forces without consulting the state governments. This has been amended
and now the State governments will have discretion in deciding whether the assistance of the
Centre is needed or not.
The new bill makes bureaucrats and public servants accountable for any acts of commission
and omission while handling communal violence. However bureaucrats who refuse to obey
unlawful orders of their superiors during communal situations cannot be held responsible for
willful neglect of duty.
The Bill provide compensation of 7 lakh rupees to the next kin of those killed in communal
violence, 5 lakh rupees for rape, 3 lakh rupees to 5 lakh rupees for disability and 2 lakh rupees
for grievous injury.
Union Ministry of Finance Approved Three Proposals to utilise

Nirbhaya Fund
The Union Ministry of Finance on 16 December 2013 approved the three proposals of different
Ministries to utilise the Resources in the Nirbhaya Fund to Enhance the Safety and Security of
Women in the country.
In the Union Budget speech on 28 Februry 2013, the Union Finance Minister P.Chidambaram had
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announced that the Government will set-up a Fund called the Nirbhaya Fund and contribute 1000
crore rupees to the Fund.
Three Proposals
(I) Proposal of the Union Ministry
of Home Affairs designed in
consultation with Ministry of
Information
Technology:
Integration
of
the
police
administration with the mobile
phone network to trace and
respond to distress calls with
minimum response time.
Instructions will be issued by
the Ministry of Information
Technology to all mobile phone
manufacturers to introduce,
mandatorily, an SOS alert
button in all the handsets.
Manufacturers will also be instructed to launch SOS alert system in the existing handsets
through free downloading of suitable software.
The scheme will be launched in 157 cities in two phases (55 in phase I and 102 in phase II). The
expected outlay is 1000 crore rupees.
Department of IT has already initiated two projects in this context. The first project A Pilot
Deployment of an Electronic Personal Safety System(ePSS) by C-DAC (Trivandrum), that
provides a complete eco-system for assisting women in distress, is being implemented at
Jaipur Police Control Room.
Another project called Design and Development of an affordable Electronic Personal Safety
Device is being implemented by IIT, Delhi for development of personal security device in the
form of a wrist watch.
(II) Proposal of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: A scheme for security of women in
road transport in the country covering 32 towns each with a population of over one million to be
implemented over a period of two years. The scheme would have following features:
Public Transport Vehicles to compulsorily have Global Position System(GPS) for tracking and
enforcement. On-board unit should be a necessary condition for giving permit.
Control room in every city having more than one million population to track public transport
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vehicles.
Public Transport Buses to have CCTVs to record the events.
Passenger Information Systems through smart phones, display on bus stops etc.
IVR, Text and E-mail based complaint system for transport.
Scrutiny and constant review of every public transport vehicle and driver.
Women enforcement wing in transport department.
More women drivers and conductors Training and Licensing.
Awareness campaign.
The expected outlay is about 1700 crore rupees for this proposal.
(III) Proposal of Ministry of Railways: A pilot scheme of setting up an SOS alert system in trains in
select zones. The railway helpline system will have the following features:
The facility will cover all the service providers from all the telecom circles of mobile and landline
networks.
Call recording i.e. recording of the conversations between passengers and Call Centre Agents.
Upgradability/compatibility for SMS service.
To start with, the proposed call centre will support English and Hindi as languages of
communication. However the system is flexible to be upgraded to a distributed mode wherein
calls from a centralized call centre can be transferred to regional call centers.
Rolling out of the scheme on All India basis would require an estimated amount of 25.17 crore
rupees.
Besides the above three schemes, Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) have reported
that they are formulating a scheme for vulnerability mapping, opening of response centres and
creating awareness for enhancement of safety and security of women in the selected 32 towns.
About Nirbhaya Incident

The 23-year old para-medical student (also known as Damini or Nirbhaya) was gang raped in New
Delhi on 16 December 2012. She passed away in Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on 29
December 2012. She was raped in the moving bus by six men, one of which included a minor.
The 16 December gang rape led to massive protests across the country. Government of India
also promised strict punishment to the criminals of the crime, new rules for safety and security of
women in the country. so that Government announced the Nirbhaya Fund for women safety.
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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 12 December 2013 approved the proposal of the
Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj to continue district component of Backward Region Grants Fund
(BRGF) in the current financial year (2013-14).
The district component of BRGF covers 272 backward districts in 27 states and the entitlement
of each district is one crore rupees. The amount is used primarily to build capacity for elected
representatives and functionaries of Panchayati Raj institutions.
The BRGF will have budgetary estimate of 6500 rupees during 2013-14. The fund will contribute
towards poverty alleviation in backward districts and promote accountable and responsible
panchayats and municipalities.
About Backward Region Grants Fund (BRGF)

The Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF), launched by the Prime Minister at Barpeta
in Assam on 19th February 2007, signifies a new approach to addressing persistent regional
imbalances in development. The programme subsumes the Rashtriya Sama Vikas Yojana (RSVY),
a scheme earlier being administered by the Planning Commission.
Objectives of BRGF
The Backward Regions Grant Fund is designed to redress regional imbalances in development by
way of providing financial resources for supplementing and converging existing developmental
inflows into the identified backward districts, so as to:
Bridge critical gaps in local infrastructure and other development requirements that are not
being adequately met through existing inflows,
Strengthen, to this end, Panchayat and Municipality level governance with more appropriate
capacity building, to facilitate participatory planning, decision making, implementation and
monitoring, to reflect local felt needs,
Provide professional support to local bodies for planning, implementation and monitoring their
plans,
Improve the performance and delivery of critical functions assigned to Panchayats, and counter
possible efficiency and equity losses on account of inadequate local capacity.
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Union Cabinet Approved Changes in Code of Conduct for

Ministers to Check Misuse of Bureaucrats
The Union Cabinet on 12 December 2013 approved fresh amendments to a 50-year-old Code of
Conduct for the Ministers to check the misuse of bureaucrats by ministers for political purposes,
both at the Centre and in the states.
In this regard cabinet added a new clause which aims at checking the political executive from
misusing bureaucrats for political purposes and will also help check civil servants from cultivating
political patronage.
While the fresh clause will come into effect at the Centre immediately, it will be sent to the state
governments for their adoption.
This is the second amendment to the Code of Conduct which came into being in 1964.
The Code of Conduct will now include the proposed paragraph to Section 2, which reads:
Section 2-After taking office, and so long as he/he remains in office, the Minister shall :- (f) Uphold
the political impartiality of the civil services and not ask the civil servants to act in any way, which
would conflict with the duties and responsibilities of the civil servants.
The revised Code of Conduct for Ministers will become effective immediately from the date of issue
with regard to the Ministers of the Union Government. The revised Code will be forwarded to the
Chief Ministers of the states for adoption in regard of the Ministers of State Governments and the
Union Territory Administrations.

The Supreme Court of India on 11 December 2013 upheld the constitutional validity of Section 377
of the Indian Penal Code making gay sex an offence punishable with upto life imprisonment.
A bench of justices G S Singhvi and S J Mukhopadhaya set aside the Delhi High Courts verdict
which had in 2009 decriminalised gay sex among consenting adults in private.
The Supreme Court bench allowed the appeals filed by various social and religious organisations
challenging the Delhi high court verdict on the ground that gay sex is against the cultural and
religious values of the country.
The Supreme Court ruled that there is no constitutional infirmity in section 377 of the Indian Penal
Code, IPC which makes gay sex an offence punishable with upto life imprisonment.
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With the apex court verdict, the operation of penal provision against gay sex has come into force.
The bench stated Parliament is authorised to delete section 377 of IPC but till the time this penal
provision is there, the court cannot legalise this kind of sexual relationship.
The court passed the order on a batch of petitions of anti-gay right activists and social and religious
organisations against the Delhi High Courts verdict decriminalising gay sex.
The Delhi High Court had on 2 July 2009 decriminalised gay sex as provided in Section 377 of the
IPC and had ruled that sex between two consenting adults in private would not be an offence.
Section 377 in the Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 377: Unnatural offences; Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order
of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with
imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable
to fine.
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Supreme Court ordered Centre and States to make 22 CBI courts

functional across India
The Supreme Court of India on 10 December 2013 set a fresh four month deadline for the centre
and states to make functional all the 22 CBI courts across the country for trying corruption cases
that involves politicians and public servant. The Court has also warned the chief secretaries that
failure to comply with its order will invite contempt action against them.
The bench of Supreme Court that comprised Justice GS Singhvi and C Nagappan also observed
that these CBI Courts are necessary for speedy and expeditious disposal of corruption cases.
The Supreme Court had on 30 January directed the Centre to set up 22 special CBI courts within
two months across the country. The Supreme Court also brought in notice the letter written by
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the Chief Ministers for creation of additional special courts, in
July 2009. The Government in 2009 took a decision to set up 71 additional special courts for trial
of CBI cases in various states.
The Apex Court has been passing orders for creation of the courts since 2011, but the Government
failed in creation of the court.
BJP won Assembly Elections 2013 in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh

and Chhattisgarh
Total Seats in Chhattisgarh
90
Total Seats in Madhya

Pradesh
230
Total Seats in Rajasthan
199
Total Seats in Delhi
70
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on 8 December 2013

won the state assembly election in Madhya Pradesh,
Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. In Delhi assembly
elections BJP emerged as the largest party and
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in its debut emerged as the
second largest party pushing the ruling party
Congress as the third party. In Chhattisgarh, BJP

won 49 seats and the opposition party Congress won 39 seats. In Madhya Pradesh the party won
161 seats, whereas the main opposition party Congress was able to secure 58 seats. In Rajasthan,
BJP won on 162 seats by reducing the ruling party Congress government to 21 seats only.
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Election Commission to recognise Aam Aadmi Party as State

Party in Delhi
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with winning over 28 of the 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly elections on 8
December 2013 met the eligibility criteria of Election Commssion to become a State Party.
The Aam Aadmi Party registered as a political party by the Election Commission in March 2013.
What are the criteria for recognition of a Party?
1. Under the existing provisions of the Symbol Order, a registered party has to fulfill any of the
following conditions for recognition as a State Party:
2. A political party should secure at least six percent of the total valid votes polled during general
election to a State Legislative Assembly and should, in addition, win at least two seats in that
Assembly, or the party should win at least three percent of the total number of seats or three
seats in the Legislative Assembly, whichever is more;
3. Alternatively, a political party should secure at least six percent of the total valid votes polled in
a State during a general election to Lok Sabha and win at least one seat in the Lok Sabha from
that State, or the party should win at least one seat in the Lok Sabha for every 25 seats or any
fraction thereof allotted to that State.
4. Under the liberalized criteria, one more clause has been added to provide that even if a Party
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fails to win any seat in a State in a general election to the Lok Sabha or Legislative Assembly
of the State, the party will still be eligible for recognition as State Party if it secures 8 percent or
more of the total valid votes polled in the State.
5. If a political party is recognised as a State Party in four or more States then it will automatically
become a national party.
6. Recognition is given only based on the poll results of Assembly/Lok Sabha general elections
and by-elections are not taken into account for considering this.
7. A party, which is recognised as a State or National party, loses its recognition if it performs
poorly in the subsequent polls.
Benefits under recognized state Party

The AAP, which was allotted broomstick as the election symbol by the Commission from among
the common symbols following a request in this regard from AAP, will now have the choice of
retaining broomstick as its permanent election symbol or it can design its own poll symbol
provided it fits within the rules and regulations of the Commission.
EC recognition will entail the parties to participate in the all-party meetings convened by the EC/the
State/Central governments, get a permanent common symbol for all their contestants, privilege to
address the voters through the All India Radio and Doordarshan during poll.
About Aam Aadmi Party

The Aam Admi Party was launched by Aravind Kejriwal, a former member of India against
Corrpution (IAC) movement on 26 November 2012 in Delhi.
AAP has a 23-member national executive committee and Aravind Kejriwal is national convener
of the Party.
Aam Admi Party has won 28 of the 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly elections on 8 December
2013.
The election symbol of AAP is Broomstick.
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Prime Minister dedicated GAIL India Ltds 1000 km DabholBangalore Natural Gas Pipeline to Nation
Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh on 3 December 2013 dedicated GAIL India Ltds 1000
km Dabhol-Bangalore natural gas pipeline to the Nation.
Prime Minister dedicated it to the nation during the inauguration of the 8th Asia Gas Partnership
Summit (AGPS) Bengalore.
About Dabhol-Bangalore Natural Gas Pipeline

The Dabhol Bangaluru pipeline
connects South India to the
national gas grid for the first
time.
Pipeline has been constructed
at an investment of 4500 crore
rupees with a design capacity
of 16 MMSCMD of natural gas
which can produce 3000 MW of
clean energy.
The pipeline starts at Dabhol in
Maharashtra and passes through Belgaum, Dharwad, Gadag, Bellary, Devanagere, Chitradurga,
Tumkur, Ramanagaram, Bengaluru Rural and Bengaluru Urban districts.
It traverses through 18 National Highways, 382 other road crossings, 20 railway crossings, 83
cased crossings, 11 major river crossings and 276 water body crossings including Asias largest
river crossing in rocky terrain at Ghatprabha.
The construction operations which continued for 19 months involved pipeline laying in some
of the worlds steepest slopes of 60 to 70 degrees and sharp elevations of upto700 metres in a
3.5 km stretch.
About Gas Authority India Ltd

GAIL (India) Ltd was incorporated in August 1984 as a Central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU)
under the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Gas Authority of India Limited is the largest state-owned natural gas processing and distribution
company.
GAIL is a Maharatna Company.
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Express Parcel and Business Parcel Services launched by

Department of Post
Department of Posts under the Union Ministry of Communications & IT on 2 December 2013
launched an Express Parcel service and Business Parcel service for speedy delivery of parcels
across the country.
The services were launched by Smt. P. Gopinath, Secretary, Department of Posts, at a function
organized at New Delhi G.P.O.
About the Parcel Services

Express Parcel service is a premium
parcel service for retail as well as
bulk customers. It offers timebound, safe and secure home
delivery of parcels. To have minimal
transit time these parcels will be
given airlift wherever needed.
Business Parcel service is an
economical parcel service for bulk
customers wherein parcels will be
transported through surface roads.
The Business Parcel service will
have a nationwide coverage whereas the Express Parcel service will initially be available between
20 identified cities: Agra, Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Delhi (NCR), Patna, Guwahati,
Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Jammu, Kolkata, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Pune, Parwanoo,
Shillong, Surat and Thiruvanthapuram. This service will be expanded nationwide in phased manner.
These two new parcel service aim to promote the e-commerce market in India by offering reliable
and cost efficient delivery solutions. These services will have Cash on Delivery facility which has
become a pre-requisite today for e-commerce parcels.
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INDIA DAIRY
December 2013
2 December 2013

Department of Posts has launched an Express Parcel service and Business Parcel Services
for speedy delivery of parcels across the country.
India cricket team has retained its top position in the latest ICC ODI rankings and second
position in the ICC Test cricket rankings.
3 December 2013

Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh has dedicated the GAIL India Ltds 1000 km
Dabhol-Bangalore natural gas pipeline to the Nation.
The 8th Asia Gas Partnership Summit (AGPS) was held from 3 to 4 December 2013 at New
Delhi.
India was ranked 94th on Global Corruption Perception Index 2013, which was released by
Transparency International.
India successfully test fired its surface to surface ballistic missile Prithvi-ll from Chandipur in
the Balesore District of Odisha.
4 December 2013

Indias Current Account Deficit narrowed sharply to 5.2 billion dollars or 1.2 percent of GDP
in the July-September quarter of 2013-14.
The Union Government rejected the demand for introduction of Inner Line Permit (ILP)
system in Meghalaya.
5 December 2013

The Union Cabinet has approved the Telangana Draft Bill 2013 for the creation of a 10-district
Telangana state from the present Andhra Pradesh state.
The Supreme Court of India favoured punishment of life imprisonment to people indulging
in production and marketing of adulterated milk.
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INDIA DAIRY
December 2013
6 December 2013

Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013 came
into force on 6 December 2013 across India except Jammu and Kashmir.
The Government of India modified the FDI policy allowing unlisted companies to directly list
on stock exchanges abroad.
A Union Ministerial panel has recommended a bailout of 7200 crore rupees to sugar mills.
The loan will be provided to pay off the arrears of cane growers.
The Junior Hockey world Cup is scheduled from 6-15 December in New Delhi, India. A total
of 16 teams are participating in this tournament.
7 December 2013

Armed Forces Flag Day was observed across India on 7 December 2013.
8 December 2013

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won the state assembly election in Madhya Pradesh,
Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.
In Delhi assembly elections BJP emerged as the largest party and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
in its debut emerged as the second largest party pushing the ruling party Congress as the
third party.
9 December 2013

BJP won Assembly Elections 2013 in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
Election Commission to recognize Aam Aadmi Party as State Party in Delhi
10 December 2013

Red Beacons are allowed for Constitutional posts and high dignitaries: Supreme Court
The Last King of Mysore Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar Died
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INDIA DAIRY
December 2013
Wipro Chairman Azim Premji received ET Lifetime Achievement Award 2013
11 December 2013

Supreme Court ordered Centre and States to make 22 CBI courts functional across India
Supreme Court Judge Justice GS Singhvi retired
IIT alumnus in top ten list of US startup Founders
Fortune 500 Indian companies list released
12 December 2013

Union Cabinet Approved Changes in Code of Conduct for Ministers to Check Misuse of
Bureaucrats
Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag designated as the Vice Chief of Army Staff
13 December 2013

The Code of Conduct for Ministers for Union and State Governments has been revised
Cabinet approved the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2011
Inflation soared up to 11.24%, industrial production shrank to 1.8%
Torrent Pharmaceuticals signed agreement with Elder Pharma for 2004 crore Rupees
14 December 2013

Krishna Iyer appointed CEO of Wal-Mart India
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INDIA DAIRY
December 2013
Lal Thanhawla sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Mizoram for second successive term
15 December 2013

16 December

The Union Cabinet approves the Prevention of Communal Violence Bill 2013. The bill aims
to prevent and tackle communal violence in the country.
Squash player Mahesh Mangaonkar wins the IMET Open 2013 in the Slovakian capital
Bratislava. He is the first Indian squash player to win the IMET Open.
17 December

Supreme Court rules that governments prior sanction is not required to probe a public
servant in the corruption cases monitored by the court.
The Inflation in India reaches 7.52 percent, the highest in 14 months since September 2012.
India wins the boys and girls team titles in the Asia-Pacific junior golf championship at the
Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC). It was Indias first ever victory in the Asia Pacific Junior
Golf Championship.
18 December

Lok Sabha passes the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2013 with voice vote.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Japans Central bank, Bank of Japan, decides to enhance
the bilateral currency swap arrangement from 15 billion dollars to 50 billion dollars.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its mid-quarter Monetary Policy Review has kept the repo rate
unchanged at 7.75%.
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INDIA DAIRY
December 2013
Cricketer Kapil Dev, the Former Captain and legendary All-rounder, selected for the BCCIs
prestigious Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement award for the year 2013.
19 December

The Cabinet Committee on Skill Development approves the National Skills Qualifications
Framework (NSQF).
The Cabinet approves free trade agreement between India and the Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) allows state-owned Coal India Ltd
(CIL) to pump methane gas trapped in coal seams of its existing mines.
The Election Commission recognizes Aam Aadmi Party as a State Party and reserved symbol
of broom.
20 December

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approves the sale of Natural Gas from
D1 and D3 Gas fields at revised prices on the basis of Bank Guarantee.
IRCON International Limited receives the prestigious India Pride Awards for Excellence in
Central PSUs in India Image Enhancement.
United Nations felicitates Odisha Government for effectively handling Cyclone Phailin.
21 December

Sri City in Andhra Pradesh to have PepsiCos largest beverage plant in India.
22 December

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar takes charge as the Ambassador of the US. He succeeds

Nirupama Rao.
Pran Chopra, the veteran journalist and first editor of The Statesman, died. He was 92.
Zaheer Khan becomes the fourth Indian bowler to claim 300 wickets in Test Cricket. Jacques
Kallis was his 300th wicket.
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INDIA DAIRY
December 2013
23 December

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways cleared quadricycle as a new category
of vehicle.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched an inflation indexed saving bonds. The indexed
savings bonds offer protection to retail investors from price rise.
The renowned Kannada, Rashtrakavi G. S. Shivarudrappa, poet died in Bangalore. He was

87.
24 December

The Union Government launched e-inclusion project to make people e-literate. The project
is an initiative to make at least one individual in every household e-literate.
Marpadi Veerappa Moily , the petroleum and natural gas Minister took an additional charge
of the Environment and Forests Ministry after the exit of Jayanthi Natarajan.
Sidharth Birla, Chairman of Xpro India Limited took charge as the President of Federation of
Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
25 December

Deepika Kumari wins her sixth consecutive title at the 34th National Archery Championships
at JRD Tata Stadium of PSPB, Jamshedpur.
The Government of India decides to place the legal wing of CBI under the command of the
CBI Director, making his word final in investigations. Earlier, the legal wing of the agency
reported to the Law Ministry.
26 December

The Centre approved the proposal to set up National Cancer Institute at the Jhajjar campus
of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Haryana.
The Union Cabinet approved the constitutional status to a proposed Judicial Appointments
Commission (JAC) for appointment and transfer of judges to the higher judiciary.
Arvind Ranjan appointed the full time chief of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
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INDIA DAIRY
December 2013
Microsoft India introduced Guardian, a new safety application that enables friends and family
of Windows phone users to track them in real time in Hyderabad.
27 December

Airports Authority of India (AAI) received TRAINAIR PLUS accreditation certificate and
membership plaque by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
J.N.Chaudhary appointed New Head of National Security Guards (NSG).
28 December

Veteran Bollywood actor Farooq Sheikh died due to heart attack in Dubai. He was 65.
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), a public sector undertaking recieves Excellent
Memorandum of Understanding score of 1.5 by the Department of Public Enterprises for its
outstanding performance in 2012-13.
29 December

P Pradeep Kumar appointed as the Managing Director (Corporate Banking) of State Bank of
India (SBI), the biggest lender of the country.
Energy major, the Oil India Limited (OIL) signed an agreement with the Institute of Rural
Management, Anand (IRMA) to carry out a feasibility study on dairy production in two
districts of Assam.
30 December

According to the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban
Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme has improved key indicators of urban life in India and
it reached the poorest of poor.
Sashi Tharoor, the Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development named as the
Person of the Year by the animal rights body PETA India for taking steps to advance animal
protection.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its 8th Financial Stability Report (FSR) highlighting the
spectre of rising Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) and its consequences.
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ECONOMY
YMONOCE
8TH Financial Stability Report released by RBI
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its 8th Financial Stability Report (FSR) on 30 December 2013.
The FSR was released against the backdrop of a mild positive market reaction to the announcement
of tapering in the US Federal Reserve bond purchase plan from January 2014.
Major Highlights of the report are:

Indias external sector has improved with reduction in Current Account Deficit (CAD). CAD is
expected to be less than 3 per cent of the GDP during the current financial year 2013-14.
Report revealed that the banking system is facing rising tide of bad loans. The gross non-performing
assets (NPAs) in the system will rise to 4.6 per cent by September 2014 from 4.2 per cent in
September 2013.
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The amount of recast loans touched an all-time high of 10.2 per cent of the overall advances as of
September 2013.
The state-run banks will be the worst-affected, the report said, pegging the gross NPAs for public
sector banks at 4.9 per cent by March 2015. It projected the gross NPAs for private banks at 2.7
per cent in the same period.
Asset quality continues to be a major concern for Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs). The Gross
Non-performing Assets ratio of SCBs as well as their restructured standard advances ratio has
increased.
Five sectors infrastructure, iron & steel, textiles, aviation and mining have a high level of
stressed advances. At system level, these five sectors together account for around 24 per cent of
total advances of commercial banks and around 51 per cent of their total stressed advances.
Due to the interconnectedness with banks, liquidity pressure is felt by the money market mutual
funds (MMMFs) whenever redemption requirements of banks are large and simultaneous. Regulatory
measures are taken to reduce the degree of interconnectedness seem to have been successful in
reducing the liquidity risk in the system.
However, macro-economic adjustment is far from complete, with persistence of high inflation
amidst growth slowdown. Fall in domestic savings and high fiscal deficit are other major concerns
for India.
Macro stress tests on credit risk suggest that if the adverse macroeconomic conditions persist, the
credit quality of commercial banks could deteriorate further. However, under improved conditions,
the present trend in credit quality may reverse during the second half of 2014.
CIIs Business Confidence Index revealed signs of economic

turnaround
Business Confidence Index (BCI) was released by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for
the period October-December 2013-14 on 29 December 2013. The Index indicated pick-up in the
economic activity in the Quarter 4 of 2013-14.
BCI rose sharply to 54.9 during the Q4 of 2013 -14 from 45.7 in the Q3 of 2013-14 indicating that
there are signs of economic turnaround in the fiscal year 2013-14.
This improvement in BCI happened because of improvement in export performance, said the CII
Director-General Chandrajit Banerjee.
he growth in BCI for the Q4 came as a major relief for the Indian economy which has braved the
onslaught of the slowdown for the last several quarters and been awaiting the return of growth.
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However, the BCI also revealed downside risks to the economy. These include: domestic economic
and political instability, slackening consumer demand, high level of corruption, persistent high
inflation and risk from exchange rate volatility.
HSBC Business Confidence Index

HSBC Bank Middle East Limited has teamed up with Middle East Economic Digest and YouGov to
create a unique index of business sentiment in the Middle East.
The first edition of the HSBC - MEED Middle East Business Confidence Index was published in the
Middle East Economic Digest magazine on 18 June.
HSBC Trade Confidence Index for India stood at the highest -- 142 points, followed by UAE (132
points) and Indonesia (127 points).
PPPAC-a high level committee has appraised five Port Projects

The Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC-a high level committee of the
Government of India) on 30 December 2013 appraised five proposals in the Port Sector. These
projects will now be recommended for grant of final approval by the Cabinet Committee on
Economic Affairs (CCEA).
For this purpose of approval of the CCEA, a Cabinet Note will be submitted by the Ministry of
Shipping. The five projects are
Development of 4th Container Terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) on DBFOTDesign, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer basis
Development of Container Terminal at Ennore Port Limited (EPL) on DBFOT
Development of Multipurpose Cargo at Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) on DBFOT
Development of Mega Container Terminal at Tuna Tekra at Kandla Port (KPT) on BOT
Development of Container Terminal at Diamond Harbour at Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) on BOT
These projects are proposed to be awarded in the current financial year by various Major Ports for
implementation under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The proposed projects are to create
an additional capacity of 150 MMTPA with an investment of about 17630 Crores rupees.
In the year 2013, the Ministry of Shipping has so far conveyed approval for 16 projects against a
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target of 30 and the major ports have already awarded these projects. Of the 16 projects that has
been granted an approval includes six under PPP and 10 projects are under non-PPP mode. It is
expected that these projects will add a capacity of 89 MMTPA with an investment of 4200 crore
rupees.
CCEA nod for guidelines to provide aid to sugar industry for payment of cane price arrears
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on
26 December 2013 approved the guidelines for
providing financial assistance to the sugar industry for
payment of cane price arrears. The expenditure for the
scheme will be met fully from the Sugar Development
Fund (SDF).
The Central Government will provide an interest
subvention up to 12 percent at a simple rate of interest
for the additional working capital loans to the sugar
undertakings. Banks will provide the additional working capital loan that is equal to last three sugar
seasons excise duty, cess and surcharge on sugar.
Sugar undertakings with loan classified Non Performing Assests (NPA) by the banks are also eligible
for the loans only if the concerned state government will give a guarantee for their new loans.
The interest subvention on the total loan has been provided for five year, which includes moratorium
period of two years. In the principal repayments, no interest subvention will be provided for the
period of defaults. The loans would be meant exclusively for effecting cane price payments by the
sugar mills.
RBI launched Inflation Indexed Saving Bonds

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched an inflation indexed saving bonds on 23 December 2013.
The newly launched indexed savings bonds offer protection to retail investors from price rise. It will
be open for subscription between 23 to 31 December.
These securities were launched in the backdrop of announcement made in the Union Budget 201314 to introduce instruments that will protect savings from inflation, especially the savings of the
poor and middle classes.
The minimum limit for investment on the indexed saving bonds is 5000 rupees and maximum is 5
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lakh rupees per annum. Interest rate on these

securities would be linked to final combined Consumer
Price Index (CPI) Interest rate would comprise two
parts - fixed rate (1.5%) and inflation rate based on
CPI and the same will be compounded in the principal
on half-yearly basis and paid at the time of maturity.
Early redemptions would be allowed after one year
from the date of issue for senior citizens (i.e. above
65 years of age) and 3 years for all others, subject to
penalty charges at the rate of 50% of the last coupon
payable for early redemption. Early redemptions,
however, will be made only on coupon dates.
These securities will be issued in the form of Bond to
be held in the Bond Ledger Account (BLA) and all the
provisions of Government Securities Act, 2006 shall
be applicable.
The eligible investors for these bonds would include individuals, Hindu Undivided Family (HUF),
charitable institutions registered under section 25 of the Indian Companies Act and Universities
incorporated by Central, State or Provincial Act or declared to be a university under section 3 of the
University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956).
The eligible investors can approach three private sector banks -- HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis
Bank -- and Stock Holding Corporation of India.
Government decided to launch Direct transfer of Cash subsidy

on kerosene
The government of India puts a way ahead
to launched Cash subsidy on kerosene
after the successful implementation of
cash subsidy on LPG for BPL (below
poverty line) families.
The scheme would be known as DTCK
(direct transfer of cash subsidy on PDS
kerosene). This would be on the lines of
DBTL( direct benefit transfer of subsidy
on LPG (cooking gas).
What is direct transfer of cash subsidy

The price of the commodity remain same as that
of the market price , government itself decide
the subsidized price and pay the difference
between market price and subsidized price
directly to the family of the BPL in their account.
Instead of paying subsidy to the manufacturer
, government directly pay cash to the poor
people.
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The mode of implementation would be covered under two phases , In the first phase seven districts
of three states would be covered under the subsidy.
In Maharashtra , the scheme would be lunched in Nandurbar , Wardha and Amrawati . while in
Rajasthan , Alwar , Ajmer and Udaipur would be covered. Similarly, the initiative would be covered
in north Goa.
So far , Centre had grant a subsidy of around 1700 crore rupees for DBTL , but now the exchequer
would be expected to face a subsidy bill of 30000 crore rupees for providing fuel to BPL families.
A pilot DTCK scheme has been running in Kotkasim tehsil of Rajasthans Alwar district since
December 2011. The results have been encouraging.
The change in the subsidy policy able to tackle the following shortcomings of the
system :
Dual pricing
Black Marketing
Unresponsiveness to customer needs
Poor targeting of BPL population
Diversion and leakages
Under recoveries for Oil Manufacturing companies ( OMCs) .
Bolsa Famlia Program (BFP):

The largest and the most successful conditional cash transfer program is the Bolsa Famlia Program
(BFP) in Brazil that covered close to 100 percent of Brazils poor in 2007.
Under the programme, the government transfers cash straight to a family subject to conditions such
as school attendance, nutritional monitoring, pre-natal and post-natal tests. The entire system is
managed through efficient targeting, disbursement and regular monitoring of the disbursed funds.
Impact on government
The new system is expected to reduce this cost and subsidy bill through better targeting
In the Union Budget 2012-13, target is to keep 2012-13 subsidies under 2 percent of GDP and
under 1.75 percent of GDP in the next 3 years .
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Fiscal deficit to touch 5.2% in FY14: CRISIL

Ratings agency CRISIL (Credit Rating Information
Services of India Limited) on 24 december 2013
said governments fiscal deficit would touch 5.2%
during current Fiscal , above the target by 0.40%.
In the Union Budget 2013-14 , government had set
the target to curb the fiscal deficit by 4.8%.
The Centre can reduce its fiscal deficit by as much
as 20000 crore rupees this fiscal by using cash
reserves of public sector units.
The top 20 public sector undertakings will have
a cash reserve of 160000 crore rupees by March
2014 and are comfortably placed to pay a special
dividend.
About Crisil
CRISIL - Credit Rating Information
Services of India Limited.CRISIL is a
global analytical company providing
ratings, research, and risk and policy
advisory services.CRISILs majority
shareholder is Standard & Poors, a
division of McGraw-Hill Financial and
provider of financial market intelligence.
Its rating capabilities span the entire
range of debt instruments and it has
worked across the corporate strata,
from large corporates in the country to
the SMEs.
The public sector undertakings considered for this

report include Bharat Electronics, Bharat Heavy
Electronics, Bharat Petroleum Corp, Coal India, Container Corporation, Engineers India, Gail,
MMTC, MOIL, Nalco, Neyveli Lignite Corp, NHPC, NMDC, NTPC Ltd, Oil India, Oil and Natural Gas
Corporation, Power Grid Corporation, Shipping Corporation, SJVNL, and Sail.
What is fiscal deficit

Fiscal deficit is the difference between the governments expenditures and its revenues (excluding
the money its borrowed). A countrys fiscal deficit is usually communicated as a percentage of its
gross domestic product (GDP).
What are the causes of fiscal deficit

Government spending
inflation
lower revenue
Slow economic growth
Sluggish economic activities
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How fiscal deficit can be bad for India

A large fiscal deficit is an indication that the economy is in trouble and will have reasons to worry.
A high fiscal deficit could pose an inflation risk, minimize the growth of the economy, doubt the
governments abilities; it could affect the countrys sovereign rating, which in turn will limit foreign
investors from looking at India as one of the investment hubs.
Net Direct Tax Collection increased by 13.7% till 20 December

of FY 2013-14
The net direct tax collection increased by 13.7% to
reach 4.12 lakh crore rupees till December 20, 2013 of
the current fiscal year 2013-14. During the same period
in 2012-13, the net direct tax collections had totalled
3.63 lakh crore rupee.
The increase in net direct tax collection has come
despite a slowdown in the economy, according to
data released by Ministry of Finance on 21 December
2013.
The government in Union Budget 2013-14 had fixed
a target of over 6.68 lakh crore rupees for the current
fiscal as against 5.65 lakh crore rupees in 2012-13.
That is the government envisaged a growth of 19 per cent in direct tax collection in the fiscal year
2013-14.
Out of above net collection, contribution by way of advance tax increased by 8.8% to 202626 crore
rupees.
The collection of corporate taxes increased 10.2% to 260752 crore rupee against 236580 crore
rupee in the same period last year.
Advance tax collection from corporates rose by 8.4 per cent to 176935 crore rupee as compared
to the same period last year.
Personal income tax collection was up by 20.5 per cent to 147987 crore rupee from 122818 crore
rupee in the corresponding period last year.
Securities Transaction Tax (STT) mop-up stood at 3427 crore rupee. STT is levied on every purchase
or sale of securities that are listed on the Indian stock exchanges.
Wealth tax collection up to stood at 752 crore rupee.
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Cabinet approved Free Trade Agreement with ASEAN

The Cabinet approved free trade agreement between
India and the Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) on 19 December 2013.
The Agreement of Trade in Services and Agreement
was signed under the Comprehensive Economic
Cooperation (CECA) between and the ASEAN.
The CECA between India and ASEAN was signed
in 2003. The Cabinet approved the Agreement on
Trade Goods under the CECA with the ASEAN in
2009.
About ASEAN
The Association of South East
Asian (ASEAN) was established in
1967 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The member of ASEAN countries
are Brunei Darussalam, Burma,
Cambodia,
Indonesia,
Laos,
Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam.
The agreement will help to boost the movement of

Indian professionals in the ASEAN region and also facilitate more investments in the services sector.
In 2011, the implementation of the free trade pact in goods, made both sides engaged in widening
the base of the pact by including services and investment sectors. Trade between India and ASEAN
countries was of about 76 billion dollar in 2012-13. Both the sides aim to increase it to 100 billion
by 2015.
SEBI exempted Government from making open offer to IOB

shareholders
The Securities and Exchange Board of India
(SEBI) on 18 December 2013 exempted the
Government of India from making an offer to
public shareholders for acquiring the shares of
the Indian Overseas Bank (IOB). The order was
issued after the Government planned to raise its
stake in Indian Overseas Bank by five percent by
infusion of 1200 crore rupees to 79 percent.
The order was issued by the SEBI after
Government proposed to acquire nearly 23
crore additional shares of the bank by way of
preferential allotment against the Rs 1200 crore
infusion
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The governments stake will rise by little over 5 percent to 79.01 percent after the government
purchases these shares.
As per the rules the entities that holds 25 percent or more stake in the company acquire 5 percent
or more stake in the firm are required to make open offer to provide an exit opportunity to the Public
shareholders.
SEBI in its order has said that the minimum public shareholder level in IOB, which is 10 percent for
public sector units, would be maintained even after the proposed hike in Government hike in the
bank. It has also said that there will be no change in the management control at the bank.
The bank filed an application on 8 November 2013 to SEBI seeking the exemption on behalf of the
government. The exemption was allowed by the SEBI on a condition that the proposed acquisition
will be in accordance to the provisions of the Companies law and government.
RBI and Bank of Japan agreed to triple the currency swap agreement to 50 billion dollar
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Japans Central bank, Bank of Japan, decided on 18 December
2013 to enhance the bilateral currency swap arrangement from 15 billion dollars to 50 billion dollars.
The agreement would help bring stability in the financial markets in both the countries.
The deal is basically aimed at lifting sentiments and allaying any fears that India has insufficient
cushion to finance its current account deficit (CAD) if the situation worsens drastically.
The arrangement implies that, the Bank of Japan will accept rupees and give dollars to the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI). Similarly, Indias central bank will take yen and send dollars to the Bank of
Japan.
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The arrangement will help stabilise the currencies of the two nations in time of contingencies. It
can be put into operation whenever there is depletion of foreign exchange reserves or speculators
hammer the currencies.
Further, this will help reduce the demand for dollars in the short-term and boost exports and could
be effective hedge against the volatility in the foreign exchange market. India should only enter into
such agreements with countries with which it does not have a big trade imbalance.
The currency swap arrangement was first signed in 2008 and was limited to 3 billion dollars. In
2011, the deal was renewed and the size was increased to 15 billion dollars.
About Currency Swap

A currency swap is defined as the exchange of principal and interest in one currency for the same
in another currency. It is considered to be a foreign exchange transaction and is not required by law
to be shown on a companys balance sheet.
For example, suppose a U.S.-based company needs to acquire Swiss francs and a Swiss-based
company needs to acquire U.S. dollars. These two companies could arrange to swap currencies
by establishing an interest rate, an agreed upon amount and a common maturity date for the
exchange.
Currency swap maturities are negotiable for at least 10 years, making them a very flexible method
of foreign exchange.
CCEA allowed CIL to pump gas from CBM mines

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
(CCEA) allowed state-owned Coal India Ltd
(CIL) to pump methane gas trapped in coal
seams of its existing mines.
The decision by the CCEA would open a
new revenue stream for the worlds largest
coal miner CIL. Further it would help unlock
several mines that have remained out of
bounds because of the presence of the
explosive gas that make mining unsafe.
Currently, rules and regulations prohibit
mining firms from extracting CBM during
mining as the policy does not allow for
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simultaneous extraction of methane (CBM) and coal.

CBM extracted by CIL will be priced and marketed as per the governments gas pricing and
utilization policy.
At present, only those companies that successfully bid for mines with CBM are allowed to explore
and produce such gas. The government has auctioned 33 CBM blocks since 2001.
CIL holds at least 20% of the estimated 60 billion tonnes of coal resources in India. It has several
coal mines in eight States, which are estimated to have CBM reserves of 3.5-4 trillion cubic feet.
Coalbed methane
Coal bed methane (CBM), coalbed gas, or coal mine
methane (CMM) is a form of natural gas extracted from
coal beds.
It is an unconventional source of energy because methane
gas is contained in the coal and does not migrate to other
rock strata.
In recent decades it has become an important source of
energy in United States, Canada, and other countries.
Australia has rich deposits where it is known as coal seam
gas
Coal Bed Methane Policy in India

CBM Policy was the Government of India on 19 July 1997 with an aim to offer the block for the
exploration of CBM through open competitive bidding system.
It provides infrastructure status to the exploration and exploitation of CBM.
It asks the contractor to pay royalty at a flat rate of 10% ad valorem as is applicable to natural gas.
These amounts will accrue to the State Governments concerned.
The duration of the CBM contract will be for 38 years for blocks located in a normal area and 40
years for blocks in a frontier area.
Government will not have any participating interest. Foreign/Indian companies could have 100%
participating interest.
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SEBI laid out the Deposit Requirements for members of the Debt
Segment
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on 19 December 2013 laid out the minimum deposit
requirements for members in debt segment of the stock exchanges.
SEBI on 20 January 2013 announced a separate debt segment on bourses and had amended
norms to enable registration of the stock broker, proprietary trading member, clearing member and
the self clearing member on platform.
In the newly issued circular, SEBI has said that the minimum capital requirements as per the norms
for stock brokers and proprietary trading members will be applicable for the debt segment as well.
As per the market regulator, SEBI for a member seeking registration in the debt segment, no deposit
will be required if they are already member if some another segment on the stock exchange. It also
said that the Clearing Member (CM)/Self Clearing Member (SCM) will have to deposit 10 lacks
rupees.
No exposure shall be granted against such deposit requirement of the Clearing Member/ Self
Clearing Member. The circular also said that no deposit shall be payable in case a CM/SCM clears
and settles trades only on gross basis for both securities and funds, and where no settlement
guarantee is provided by the clearing corporation.
This circular was issued in exercise of powers conferred under Section 11 (1) of the Securities and
Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote
the development of and to regulate the securities market.
CCEA approved 6600 crore rupees free loan to Sugar Industry

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved 6600 crore rupees interest-free
loans to cash starved sugar industry on 19 December 2013. The loans will be provided by banks to
sugar mills exclusively for making payments to sugarcane farmers, including arrears. The loans are
equivalent to the excise duty paid by the mills in the past three years.
The Interest subvention will be 12 percent which will be borne by the Centre and Sugar Development
Fund. Mills have to repay the loans in five years and can avail of a moratorium on repayment for the
first two years. The loans will help the industry reduce around 500 crore rupees annually of interest
burden in the next 5 years.
The informal Group of Ministers (GoM) set up by the Prime Minister under the chairmanship of
Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar recommended the proposal to address the cash crunch
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of the sugar industry.

The sugar industry is facing financial problems due to higher cost of production and lower sugar
prices in the wake of surplus production in the last few years.
About CCEA
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs is one of the standing committees constituted by the
Government of India.
Some of the major functions of CCEA

CCEA review the economic trends on continuous basis.
CCEA directs and coordinates all polices and activities in the economic field including foreign
investment, which require policy decisions at higher level.
Matters regarding fixation prices of agriculture and reviewing the prices of rural development
including the small and marginal farmers are in CCEAs competence.
Prices of industrial raw materials and products, industrial licensing polices including establishment
of joint sector undertakings, reviewing of public sector undertakings (structural and financial)
under purview of CCEA.
CCEA facilitates finalization of factual reports on the accomplishments of ministers, Agencies
and public sector undertaking involved in implementation prioritized schemes or projects
evolved by the Prime Minister.
Wholesale Inflation increased to 7.52 percent in November 2013

The Inflation in India reached 7.52 percent, the highes
t in 14 months since September 2012. The official
data based on wholesale price index showed high
inflation in November 2013 as compared to October
2013.
The overall inflation in the food segment comprising
wheat, pulses, vegetables and milk among others
was 19.93 percent in November 2013. This was
higher than the 18.19 percent rise in October 2013.
Vegetables price especially the prices of Onion and
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Potatoes has sustained inflation at such high levels. Besides, protein rich items such as egg, meat
and fish also became costlier by 15.19 percent.
Inflation in fuel and power segment was at 11.08 percent and in manufactured products inflation
rose to 2.64 from 2.50 percent.
This is the last data before the RBIs monetary policy review on 18 December 2013.
About Inflation
Wholesale Price Indexes (WPIs) is an index that measures and tracks the changes in price of
goods before the retail level.
WPI is measured on the monthly basis.
Consumer Price Index is a measure that examines the weighted average of prices of a basket
of consumer goods and service such as transportation, food and medical care etc.,
This is also called head line inflation. CPI is released monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Indias trade deficit with China touched 11-month high of 29.5

billion dollar
According to the data released by the Chinas General Administration of Customs on 13 December
2013, Indias trade deficit with China reached a record $29.5 billion in the period January-November
2013. The trade deficit with China in 2013 was higher than the trade deficit in 2012.
The numbers underline the sharp decline in once-burgeoning trade, which reached 74 billion dollar
in 2011 when China became Indias biggest trading partner.
In 2012, Indias the trade deficit with China registered a 10% decline to reach 66.50 billion dollar,
even as both the countries announced an ambitious 100 billion trade target to be achieved by 2015.
The decline was partly the result of 20% slump in Indias exports, largely on account of iron ore
mining bans by China and partly on account of global slowdown.
The latest figures have casted doubt on whether that target may be achieved. During the period
January-November 2013, even as Chinas trade with the rest of Asia as well as with its major
Western trading partners has picked up, trade with India has remained in a slump. This suggests
that causes were more structural rather than a reflection of global trends.
After 11 months of this year, Indias exports to China reached only 14.87 billion dollar out of total
bilateral trade of 59.24 billion dollar. Trade between the two countries was down by 2.7% year-onyear, even as Chinas overall global trade rose 7.7%. This was driven by an export sector that has
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continued to show signs of revival, growing 12.7% and marking the second straight month of rising
exports.
Trade has grown more than 50 times since 2006, when the Nathu La pass between Sikkim and the
Shigatse prefecture in Tibet was reopened. Most of the trade is made up of imports of Indian goods
into Tibet, which reached 12 million dollar in 2012. Authorities said the border market is open for
only six months of the year opening on May 1 and closing on November 30.
Inflation soared up to 11.24%, industrial production shrank to

1.8%
In a double whammy for the UPA government, retail inflation soared to a nine-month high of 11.24%
and output shrank to 1.8%. These developments may prompt the Reserve Bank to further increase
a key interest rate.
Official data released on 12 December 2013 showed retail inflation, as measured by the consumer
price index (CPI), touched a nine-month high of 11.24% in November 2013 on account of costlier
vegetables and fruits such as onions and tomatoes.
Inflation which was in double digits for several months until March 2013 declined to 9.39% in April
2013 and came back to double digits in October 2013. As per the revised data, CPI based inflation
for October 2013 moved upward to 10.17% as compared to preliminary estimate of 10.09%.
The data also showed that the provisional inflation rates for rural and urban areas for November
2013 were 11.74% and 10.5%, respectively.
For CPI inflation, price data are collected from select towns by the National Sample Survey
Organization (NSSO) and from certain villages by the department of posts.
The index of industrial production (IIP) contracted in October 2013 after three months, mainly due to
poor performances in manufacturing, mining and consumer durables. Factory output, as measured
in terms of the IIP, grew by 8.4 per cent in October 2012.
Meanwhile, IIP growth for September 2013 was revised marginally upwards to 1.96% from the
provisional estimate of 2%.
IIP dipped by 1.8% in June 2013. According to data released by the government, industrial output
for April-October 2013 period remained flat as compared to 1.2% in the same period of 2012-13.
The manufacturing sector comprising over 75% of the IIP, declined by 2% in the month of October
2013 as compared to the growth of 9.9% in 2012. During April-October 2013, the sectors output
contracted 0.3% compared to a growth of 1.1% in the same period in 2012.
The mining sector, with a weight of about 14% in IIP, also saw a contraction of 3.5% in October
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2013 as against a dip of 0.2% in the same period in 2012. During April-October 2013, the mining
output shrank by 2.7% as against a contraction of 1% in the same period in 2012.
Power generation, however, posted a growth of 1.3% in October 2013 as compared to 5.5% in
October 2012. Expansion in power generation was at 5.3% in April-October 2013 as compared to
4.7% in April-October 2012.
In terms of industries, 10 out of 22 industry groups in the manufacturing sector have shown negative
growth during the month of October 2013.
The Indian economy, Asias third-largest, faces a difficult situation where growth has slowed to a
decade low but price pressures have remained stubborn. It has one of the highest inflation rates
in the world, and the highest in Asia. Weak growth and high inflation also complicated the policy
choice for the central bank.
The Ragarajan Panel recommended the guidelines for Highway

sector
The C Rangarajan panel recommended the guidelines prescribing bailout packages for developers
of highway projects and the task of implementation lie with the National Highway Authority of India
(NHAI.
The panel recommended that 75% of the premium amount payable to the government will be
restricted in the first three years of the contract.
Further it recommended that the road developers should submit the entire premium amount three
years before the completion of full contract. At present companies pay some amount of premium
to the government in the first year of the project which keeps increasing in the subsequent years.
The panels recommendations, if accepted, will lead to huge reduction in the premium payment in
the first years. As a result, it will provide relief to the developers like GMR Infrastructure Ltd and
GVK Power and Infrastructure Ltd and 23 other road developers.
Background
The panel was appointed by the Government in October 2013 o fine-tune and decide all terms and
conditions of the bailout policy for the road developer who were pulling out of road projects due to
the premium burdens.
The six-member panel is headed by the Prime Ministers Economic Advisory Council Chairman C
Rangarajan. The other members of the panel include Secretary Planning Commission Sindhushree
Khullar, Expenditure Secretary R.S. Gujral, Secretary, Economic Advisory Council Alok Sheel,
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Roads Secretary Vijay Chhibber, Joint Secretary Road Transport and Highways Rohit Kumar Singh
and Chairman National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) R.P. Singh.
Earlier in October 2013, the Cabinet note, which included suggestions of the finance ministry,
planning commission and law ministry, had suggested that developers pay a discount rate of 12%
on the premium payment and also pay a penalty of up to 0.5% of the total project cost in case
default was on their part.
The proposal says if toll revenues turn out to be more than projected, the money left after servicing
debt and other necessary costs would go to NHAI as advance payment.
Further the concessionaire cannot claim return to equity till premium equals or exceeds what was
originally quoted for that particular year.
The highways sector has seen a drastic reversal of fortune since 2012-13 with developers and
financiers steering clear of the sector even while multiple projects have failed to take-off.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) managed to award only 479-km till now as against
target of 3000 kms by September 2013. In the previous financial year, only 1,116-km was awarded
against the target of 9,500-km.

The Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) met on 12 December 2013 at Kolkata. The
Governor of Reserve Bank of India Raghuram G. Rajan chaired the meeting. The Board reviewed
the current economic situation, global and domestic challenges and policy responses.
The Central Board meets at least once every quarter. Apart from holding meetings in Mumbai,
Chennai, Kolkata and one in New Delhi after the Union Budget, which is addressed by the Finance
Minister, the rest of the meetings are held in other state capitals by rotation. The main function of
the Central Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank is to provide overall direction to the Reserve
Banks affairs.
Earlier, on December 11, 2013, Raghuram Rajan said the financial system will be improved on the
Reserve Banks developmental measures over the next few quarters on five pillars.
These five pillars are:

Clarifying and strengthening the monetary policy framework
Strengthening banking structure through new entry, branch expansion, encouraging new
varieties of banks, and moving foreign banks into better regulated organisational forms
Broadening and deepening financial markets and increasing their liquidity and resilience so that
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they can help allocate and absorb the risks entailed in financing Indias growth
Expanding access to finance for small and medium enterprises, the unorganised sector, the
poor, and remote and underserved areas
Improving the systems ability to deal with corporate distress and financial institution distress by
strengthening real and financial restructuring as well as debt recovery
Mauritius-India agreed to include Limitation of Benefits clause

in revised Tax Treaty
Mauritius and India agreed on 9 December 2013
to include Limitation of Benefit (LoB) clause in the
revised tax treaty. This was revealed by the
Mauritius Financial Services Commission (FSC)
Chairman Marc Hein. He was in Mumbai to
participate in an international taxation conference.
While details of this clause in the India-Mauritius
tax treaty are being worked out, LoB clauses aim
to prevent treaty shopping or inappropriate use of
tax agreements by third-country investors.
Financial Services Commission

(FSC)
The FSC is Mauritius integrated
regulator
for
global
business
companies and non-banking financial
services sector. Marc Hein is its present
chairman.
Treaty benefits are limited by this clause to those who meet certain conditions, including those
concerned with business, residency and investment commitments of anyone seeking benefit of a
Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).
Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA)

It is a tax agreement that
India has with 65 nations. It
means those Non-resident
Indians (NRIs) who are the
residents of the country in
which they stay and pay
income taxes in that country
are eligible to pay a lower
tax on their incomes earned
in India in the same financial
year.
For example many Indian
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companies have offices in Mauritius and they route their investments to India through that country
because the general taxation rates are lower than compared to India. This means India gets to
lose tax revenue as DTAA ensures that these investments are taxed at much lower rates than
investments of the same quantity but not routed through Mauritius or any other nation with which
India has a DTAA. This is called Round tripping.
This also leads to conditions conducive to money laundering. Money laundering is when the sources
of money are not known. So it may be money earned through corrupt means and money meant for
funding terrorist activities. Such money is called dirty money.
India exports grew by 5.86 percent and imports dip by 16.3

percent in November 2013
Exports of India in November 2013 grew by 5.86 percent and reached 24.6 billion dollars against
23.25 billion dollars in November 2012. Apart from exports, the imports fell by 16.37 percent to
33.83 billion dollars. This dip in imports is the lowest level in since March 2011. This helps in
narrowing the trade deficit.
The trade deficit in November 2013 under the review stood at 9.22 billion dollars as against 17.2
billion dollars in November 2012. Even the gold and silver imports dipped to 1.05 billion dollars
in November 2013 as compared to 5.4 billion dollars in November 2012. During April-November
period this fiscal, the imports aggregated at 25.5 billion dollars.
Reserve price for Spectrum Auction in 1800 MHz and 900 MHz
Bands got Union Cabinet approval
The Union Cabinet on 9 December 2013 approved the finalization of the reserve price for the
auction of spectrum in 1800 MHz band for all service areas. It also finalized the reserve price for
auction of spectrum for 900 MHz band in metro in service areas of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
The cabinet has approved the following points on the recommendation of the Empowered Group
of Ministers:
1. The reserve price for 1800 MHz band of 1765 crore rupees per MHz Pan India, which works out
to be 8825 crore rupees for 5 MHz Pan India
2. The reserve price for 900 MHz band of 360 crore rupees, 328 crore rupees and 125 crore rupees
per MHz in Metro service areas of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata respectively.
The decisions will help in further efficient utilization of the scarce natural resource of spectrum
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facilitating expansion of telecom services in the country.
Ministerial Panel recommended bailout package to Sugar

Industry
An informal Group of Ministers
(GoM) headed by the Union
Agriculture Minister, Sharad
Pawar on 6 December 2013
recommended
a
bailout
package to the Sugar Industry.
The bailout includes 7200
crore rupees at 12 percent
interest rate to sugar mills by
the banks to pay off the
arrears of the sugarcane
growers.
The 12 percent interest on the financial support on the loan will be paid by Government of India
(GoI) and Sugar Development Fund (SDF). The GoI will pay 5 percent of the loan, while the 7
percent will be paid by the SDF. This makes the loan amount free of interest for the sugar mills.
The ministerial panel was constituted by the Prime Minister. The panel has also recommended loan
recasting for the mills as per the Reserve Bank norms, incentives for production for the raw sugar of
up to 4 million tonnes and to set up the buffer stock besides doubling ethanol-blending in petrol to
10 percent. The government will set up an inter-departmental committee to implement the proposal
of ethanol blending. Ethanol is derived by processing sugarcane.
The panel has ruled out an immediate hike in sugar import duty.
The sugar industry at present is facing a financial crisis due to higher cost of production and fall
in the prices of sugar. This has led to 3400 crore rupees cane arrears from 2012-13 during the
marketing year that ended in September 2013.
India is the second biggest sugar producer in the world after Brazil. Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh
are the top sugar producing state of India.
Government of India Modified FDI Policy for unlisted Companies

The Government of India on 6 December 2013 modified the FDI policy allowing unlisted companies
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to directly list on stock exchanges abroad. The move will facilitate raising of funds for acquisitions
or clearing overseas debts. It may help India in containing its high Current Account Deficit (CAD).
Presently, unlisted companies are not allowed to directly list in overseas markets without prior or
subsequent listing in the Indian market.
According to the Revised FDI Policy;

1. Unlisted companies shall be allowed to
raise capital abroad without the
requirement of prior or subsequent listing
in India initially for a period of two years.
2. The capital raised abroad may be utilised
for retiring outstanding overseas debt
or for operations abroad including for
acquisitions.
3. In case the funds raised are not utilised
abroad, the company should repatriate
the funds to India within 15 days and
park it with a scheduled bank and may be used domestically.
4. While raising funds abroad, the listing companies would have to be fully compliant with the FDI
policy.
5. The listing company would also have to comply with the instructions on downstream investment
and the criteria of eligibility of who can raise funds through American depositary receipts (ADR)
or global depository receipts (GDR) would be as prescribed by the government.
6. The new scheme will be implemented on a pilot basis for a period of two years.
Unlisted Company: a company whose shares are not traded on a stock exchange. Its shares are
therefore not available for trade to the general public.
Listed company: a company whose shares are bought and sold on a particular stock market. The
share price of a listed company is quoted and traded on a stock exchange.
RBI eased Companies Foreign Funding Norms for Infra Projects

The Reserve Bank of India on 3 December 2013 eased norms for companies raising foreign funds
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for infrastructure projects. The new norms will help

Companies to raise funds through the External
Commercial Borrowing (ECB) route for their
infrastructure projects through their holding firms
or core investment firms. This will enable them to
arrange finances for their projects faster and
strengthen the flow of resources in the sector.
The RBI also stated that such funds should be used
in special purpose vehicles (SPVs) for a specific
project. Presently, the SPVs are allowed to bring in
ECB funds for infrastructure projects, while there
were restrictions for parent firms in doing so. The
Reserve bank, however, has listed a series of conditions to avail this facility.
What is External Commercial Borrowing?

External Commercial Borrowing is an instrument used in India to facilitate the access to foreign
money by Indian corporations and PSUs.
External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) refers to commercial loans in the form of bank loans,
buyers credit, suppliers credit, securitized instruments (e.g. floating rate notes and fixed rate
bonds, non-convertible, optionally convertible or partially convertible preference shares) availed of
from non-resident lenders with a minimum average maturity of 3 years.
EGoM approved Merger and Acquisition Guidelines for Telecom

The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) headed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram, approved
the guidelines on telecom merger and acquisition on 3 December 2013.
In addition to this EGoM cleared the sale of over 400 MHz of 2G spectrum (1800 MHz band), which
are to be auctioned in January 2014.
EGoM also approved payment of market rates for spectrum above 4.4 MHz allotted to the acquired
entity.
The EGoM also cleared the sale of 403 MHz of 2G spectrum, which is valued at about 36000 crore
Rupees, as per the reserve price recommended by the Telecom Commission.
The Telecom Commission has already approved the draft M&A guidelines, which says that the
market share of a merged entity should not exceed 50 per cent of the subscriber base.
The much-awaited mergers and acquisitions guidelines would pave way for consolidation of mobile
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market which presently has 12 mobile operators. All these decision would now be forwarded to the
Union Cabinet for final approval.
Current Account Deficit falls to $5.2 billion in the July-September

Quarter of 2013-14
Indias Current Account Deficit (CAD) narrowed sharply to $5.2 billion or 1.2 percent of Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) in the July-September Quarter of 2013-14 on the back of turnaround in
exports and decline in gold imports.
The Reserve Bank of India stated in a statement in Mumbai that the CAD (the difference between
outflow and inflow of foreign exchange) was $21 billion or 5 percent of GDP in the July-September
Quarter of financial year 2012-13.
Both the government and RBI are expecting the CAD to be below $56 billion in the current financial
year compared to the record high of $88.2 billion during last financial year.
Indias CAD increased to 4.8 percent of GDP in 2012-13 which was much above the governments
comfort level of 2.5-3 percent of GDP.
What is Current Account Deficit?

Current Account Deficit is a measure of difference between a countrys foreign exchange earnings
and payments. In India gold and crude oil imports have accounted for the largest components of
dollar outflow.
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ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT

150 stretches of river identified as polluted by CPCB
The Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB)
has identified 150 polluted river stretches
in the country with Maharashtra and
Gujarat topping the list of having maximum
of them.
Based on the level of BOD (bio chemical
oxygen demand) in water, CPCB
identified polluted river stretches across
293 rivers. The contaminants like utensils
of daily use, according to the CPCB, were
affecting aquatic environments.
The open drainage of sewage into various
rivers across the country had polluted the
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rivers. These stretches are located in almost all parts of the country except Jammu & Kashmir and
couple of Union Territories and northeastern states, including Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.
The Central pollution control board (CPCB) had first compiled its report on polluted river stretches
in December 2009, after testing water samples taken between 1995 and 2008. These stretches are
being monitored constantly since then through a network of 1429 water quality monitoring stations
in States and UTs.
About BOD
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) refers to the amount of oxygen that would be consumed if all
the organics in one liter of water were oxidized by bacteria and protozoa.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is a statutory organisation under the Ministry of
Environment and Forests (MoEF).
It was established in 1974 under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
It is an apex organization in country in the field of pollution control and works as the technical wing
of MoEF.
Ministry of Environment issued fresh order on Kasturirangan

recommendation
The Union Environment Ministry issued a fresh order, following the in principle acceptance of
the Ksatrurirangan committee report on 20 December 2013 and withdrawn 16 November 2013
notification.
The Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) order clarified that the recommendations made by
the Kasturirangan led High-Level Working Group (HLWG) has not put any fresh restrictions on land
use in the ESA. And the order does not impact the continued occupation of land in possession of
the local people or affect their day to day activities or normal livelihood.
The HLWG report however maintains the bans on the following

Mining, quarrying, sand mining, thermal power plants
Building construction projects on areas that are 20000 sq m or more, township and area
development projects with an area of 50ha and above and red category of industries in ESA.
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The HLWG defines 37 percent of the Western Ghats landscape as ecologically sensitive.
Ministry said that a high-level committee of the Environment Ministry will be set up to monitor the
implementation of the recommendations of the HLWG in a time-bound manner.
The Ministry accepted all the other major recommendations made by the HLWG like financial
arrangements to incentivise green growth in Western Ghats, participation of and involvement of
local communities in decision making, data monitoring systems especially the establishment of
Decision support and Monitoring Centre for Western Ghats are accepted.
The Ministry of Environments order dated December 20, issued to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka,
Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Taishan, fourth research station of China, opened in Antarctica

China built a new research station in Antarctica called Taishan. It
was Chinas fourth research station in the southern pole.
Base Stations of
India at Antarctica:
The aim of the research station would be to provide a base for

research on bio-ecology and remote satellite sensing.
Dakshin Gangotri
The Taishan camp will be used from December to March every

year and is located near the United States McMurdo Station,
Italys Zucchelli Station and a recently built South Korean station.
Maitri
Bharathi
The other three research stations of China in Antarctica are Great Wall, Zhongshan and Kunlun.
Chinas first research station, Great Wall Station was opened in 1985.
About Antarctica:
The Antarctica comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters, and island
territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctica Convergence.
It is the fifth-largest continent in area after Asia, Africa, North America, and South America.
For comparison, Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia.
About 98 of Antarctica are covered by ice that averages at least 1 mile in thickness.
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Kimberlite rocks containing diamonds discovered in East Antarctica

A new type of Kimberlite rocks that are believed to be containing diamonds was discovered by
the researchers in Antarctica. Kimberlite deposits were discovered around Mount Meredith in the
Prince Charles Mountains in East Antarctica.
The discovery was reported in the journal Nature Communications by an Australian-led team on 18
December 2013.
The kimberlites deposits discovered lie near the margins of the Lambert rift, an enormous,
transcontinental rift that crosses much of Antarctica.
Researchers, however, believe that the commercialization of such find would not be possible. The
reason cited by the geologists among others includes Antarcticas remoteness, cold and winter
darkness. Further, less than 10 percent of deposits of similar kimberlite were economically viable.
Despite the possibility of Antarctic diamonds, the search for Antarctica diamonds would have to be
put off due to the existence of an environment accord signed in 1991 under the Antarctica Treaty
of 1963.
The environment accord of 1991 bans mining in Antarctica region for at least 50 years so as to
achieve the objective of Antarctica Treaty.
The Antarctica Treaty signed by 50 nations serves to protect its wildlife, from its native seals.
The kimberlite deposit was also the confirmation of how continents drift. The region of East
Antarctica was once part of a continent known as Gondwana connected to what is now Africa and
India, which also have kimberlite.
About Kimberlite Rocks

The blue-tinged Kimberlite rocks are a rare type of rock named after the South African town of
Kimberley.
These rocks are supposed to be rich in diamond deposits.
Diamonds are formed under immense heat and pressure around 160-km below the Earths
surface in the mantle layer. Mantle layer of the planet is sandwiched between the outer crust
and the core.
Diamonds are natures hardest material. However, two other rare natural substances are harder
wurtzite boron nitride, which is formed during intense volcanic eruptions, and lonsdaleite,
which is sometimes created when meteorites hit Earth.
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First-ever Environment Gender Index (EGI) launched by IUCN at

COP-19, Warsaw
At the COP-19 Conference on Climate Change held in Warsaw, the Global Gender Office of
the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) launched the first-ever Environment
and Gender Index (EGI) on 19 November 2013. The EGI monitors gender equality and womens
empowerment in the environmental arena.
The Index has ranked 72 countries on the basis of how each country has succeeded in translating
gender and environment mandates into national policy and planning.
The strongest performers were Iceland, Netherlands and Norway. The lowest rankings went to
Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen and Mauritania.
The United States was ranked 14 out of 72 whereas India was ranked 46 out of 72 countries.
The major findings of the EGI Report were:

Information about womens roles and access in environment-related sectors is not widely
collected and reported. The discovery of this lack of information is significant because it shows
we do not know the full story behind human dependence on the natural world, and women are
virtually invisible.
Implementation of global international agreements on gender and environment is lacking in
most countries.
The global average for womens participation in inter-governmental negotiations on climate
change, biodiversity, and desertification has peaked at 36 percent.
Iceland is the top performer in most categories, but scored lower in performance on women
in COP delegations, female managers, senior officials, and legislators; and country-reporting
on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Convention to Eliminate all Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Poland ranks highest worldwide in ecosystem category, and lowest in livelihood category for
OECD countries.
Costa Rica ranked highest for governance in Latin America and Caribbean region, lowest on
women in COP delegations, and lowest for country-reported activities.
Mongolia was a top performer in Asia region, but low on women in policy-making and protection
of property rights.
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Liberia scored in the top tier of access to credit, land, and property (equivalent to same legal
rights as men.)
The USA had the highest performance on percentage of women without anemia, and lower
performance equal to Greece and Bangladesh on women in policy-making positions.
Lebanon had the highest percentage of women in COP delegations, and low performance for
women as legislators, managers, and senior officials.
Benin ranks highest in the ecosystem category in Africa, and lowest in gender-based education
and assets category worldwide.
Mozambique, the first country in the world to establish a national climate change and gender
action plan, was the highest performer globally on women delegates to the CBD COP11 in
2012.
Dimensions of EGI
The Environment and Gender Index (EGI) brings together environment and gender variables in a
composite index. The EGI scores and ranks 72 countries worldwide along 27 dimensions divided
into six categories. These are listed below:
Ecosystem
1. Biodiversity
Preservation
2. Critical
Habitat
Preservation
3. HigherQuality
Forests
Genderbased
GovernEducation + ance
Assets
1. Women
with bank
accounts
2. Access to
agricultural
land
3. Female
post
primary
education
4. Access to
credit
5. Access to
property
6. Female
literacy
1. Civil
liberties
2. Political
stability
3. Property
rights
Country Reported Activi- Livelihood

ties
1. Inclusion of
gender in
UNFCCC
Reports
2. Inclusion
of gender
in UNCCD
Reports
3. Inclusion of
gender in
CBD Reports
1. Less
poverty
Gender-based
Rights + Participation
1. Equal legal
rights
2. Women
2. Food
in COP
adequacy
delegation
3. Improved
3. Women in
water
policy-making
4. Fewer
position
women
4. CEDAW
with
ratification
anemia
5. Improved 5. Women
4. Inclusion of
managers
sanitation
sustainable
development 6. Less solid
topics in
fuel use
CEDAW
Reports
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PERFORMANCE OF 72 COUNTRIES
STRONGEST PERFORMERS MODERATE PERFORMERS
WEAKEST PERFORMERS
1. Iceland (0.84)
19. Costa Rica (0.69)
45. Jordan (0.49)
2. Netherlands (0.83)
20. Argentina (0.68)
46. India (0.49)
3. Norway (0.81)
21. Mexico (0.67)
47. Burkina Faso (0.48)
4. Sweden (0.81)
22. Romania (0.66)
5. France (0.80)
23. Jamaica (0.66)
6. Finland (0.80)
24. Brazil (0.66)
7. Canada (0.79)
25. Mongolia (0.66)
8. Spain (0.79)
26. Philippines (0.60)
9. Denmark (0.78)
27. Georgia (0.60)
54. Liberia (0.47)
10. Australia (0.78)
28. Viet Nam (0.59)
55. Mozambique (0.45)
11. Switzerland (0.77)
29. Thailand (0.59)
56. Saudi Arabia (0.45)
12. Poland (0.77)
30. Turkey (0.58)
57. Benin (0.44)
13. Portugal (0.75)
31. Moldova (0.58)
58. Madagascar (0.44)
14. USA (0.73)
32. Dominican Republic (0.57) 59. Algeria (0.44)

60. Bangladesh (0.43)
33. Indonesia (0.56)
61. Gambia (0.42)
34. China (0.55)
62. Uganda (0.41)
35. Kyrgyzstan (0.54)
63. Cameroon (0.40)
36. Malawi (0.54)
64. Mali (0.40)
37. Armenia (0.54)
65. Congo (0.39)
15. Greece (0.73)

16. Italy (0.72)
17. Panama (0.70)
18. South Africa (0.70)
48. Tajikistan (0.48)

49. Morocco (0.47)
50. Kenya (0.47)
51. Laos (0.47)
52. Egypt (0.47)
53. Nepal (0.47)
38. Sri Lanka (0.53)
66. Ethiopia (0.38)
39. Uzbekistan (0.51)
67. Pakistan (0.38)
40. Fiji (0.51)
68. Burundi (0.37)
41. Ghana (0.51)
69. Syria (0.37)
42. Lebanon (0.50)

43. Gabon (0.50)
44. Tanzania (0.50)
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70. Mauritania (0.37)

71. Yemen (0.31)
72. Dem Rep Congo (0.27)
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Scientists found Phosphorus in supernova Cassiopeia A
Scientists discovered Phosphorus for the first time in the cosmic leftovers from the supernova Cassiopeia A explosion. The study was published in a science journal on 13 December 2013.
The discovery of Phosphorus confirmed that massive exploding stars are crucibles in which the
element is created. Phosphorus is 100 times more abundant in the remains of a supernova than
elsewhere in the galaxy.
Abundance of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur has been measured in supernova remnants
before. Now supernova remnant Cassiopeia A revealed the first measurement of the relatively
scarce phosphorus.
These five elements are essential to life and can only be created in massive stars. They are scattered
throughout our galaxy when the star explodes and become part of other stars, planets and humans.
The observations of the object were made with a spectrograph mounted on a telescope at Palomar
Observatory at the California Institute of Technology.
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Scientist said that Cassiopeia A exploded 300 years ago.
About Phosphorus:
Phosphorus is an essential component of living systems and it is found in nervous tissue, bones
and cell protoplasm.
Phosphorus used in the manufacture of safety matches, pyrotechnics, incendiary shells, smoke
bombs.
Phosphorus used in pesticides and also in the production of special glasses.
Na3PO4 is important as a cleaning agent, water softener and for preventing boiler scale and
corrosion of pipes and boiler tubes
Phosphorus found in food items are pumpkin, soya foods, cheese, nuts like badam and fish.
Unique cancer called histiocytosis operated by team of doctors

at Chennai
Team of Doctors at Chennai performed a surgery on unique cancer called Histiocytosis found in
the patients food pipe and stomach and removed it on the third week of December 2013. The
Histiocytosis is generally believed to affect the blood cells and is found in the nasal region of the
person.
The cancer escaped several endoscopic and laparoscopic biopsies and finally team of doctors
from the surgical gastroenterology department at the Government General Hospital, Chennai
operated the patient and put the tissues under the microscope, it showed up as Histiocytosis of
the esophagus and stomach.
ISROs SDSC to be shifted for oil exploration in Bay of Bengal

Satish Dhawan Space Centre(SDSC) , Sriharikota , the satellite launching centre of ISRO would be
shift its northern boundary to make a way for the oil exploration.
The consortium of Cairn India , Tata , ONGC (Oil & Natural Gas Corp ) had to explore oil and Gas
in Bay of Bengal.
ISRO would shift the boundary of the prohibited zone seven kilometers south to permit exploration
drilling by operator Cairn. The consortium had put in $31 million in exploring block PR-0SN-2004/1
in Palar basin.
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As the consortium claims that a site in the zone has best chance of establishing petroleum system.
It was held for huge potential to attract investors in the future.
ISRO had stopped effective exploration in last two years as DoS(Department Of Space) refused to
give drilling permission as the site was within 10-km radius of Satish Dhawan Space Centre a
strategic zone in terms of national security.
The DoS had maintained for years that there was a vulnerability of radio frequency interference as
well as the risk of space debris falling on any installations that come up for exploration.
Satish Dhawan Space Centre

The Satish Dhawan Space Centre
is the launch centre for the
Indian
Space
Research
Organisation (ISRO). It is located
in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh,
80 km north of Chennai.
Originally called Sriharikota
High Altitude Range (SHAR) and
then Sriharikota Launching
Range, the centre was renamed
in 2002 after the death of ISROs
former chairman Satish Dhawan.
To Combat Obesity And Diabetes, Australia opened worlds first

standing classroom
In an effort to know the effects of long sitting , scientists had started a new initiative in Australia.
Mont Albert Primary School had launched the worlds first standing classroom as part of the
Experiment by Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute Researchers.
Since the desks were introduced more than two months ago, most students have taken the
opportunity to stand.
A grade six class at Primary School was fitted with height-adjustable desks to allow the pupils to
sit or stand, as part of an experiment.
Previous studies have shown students spent two-thirds of a school day sitting, and prolonged
childhood sitting can contribute to the onset of such diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular
disease and obesity.
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Bolivia launched countrys first telecommunications Satellite

Tupak Katari
Bolivia on 20 December 2013 launched the countrys first telecommunication satellite Tupak Katari.
The satellite has been named upon an indigenous national hero, who fought the 18th century
Spanish colonial rule.
The rocket carrying the satellite blast off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China. Bolivia is
one of the last countries in South America to have its own satellite.
Ivan Zambrana is the Director of the Bolivian Space Agency. He said that the satellite should be
fully operational by March 2014 and help to bring down communication cost and improve television
and Internet services for people living in rural areas.
Telecommunications satellite
Satellite telecommunication is the most mature of space applications. Starting 50 years ago with
the launch of Telstar in 1962 and Syncom in 1963, satcom has continued to grow ever since.
At first, satellite performance was very limited. The use of satellites was limited to long distance
telephony and to the transport of television signals between studios.
Use of Telecommunication satellites

While listening to the radio and watching T.V.
the signals, we receive is distributed from the
satellite
Most news agencies use satellites to distribute
text, audio and video to their affiliates
Access to the Internet is possible only by
satellite communication
Satellites are being used for tele-education,
telemedicine or videoconference systems
Internet service providers often link their
servers to the core of the Internet network by
satellite
With the emergence of very powerful broadband satellites, users equipped with their own
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broadband interactive satellite terminals get access to the Internet regardless of their distance
from the nearest terrestrial node
In most remote and some not-so-remote parts of the world, satellite communications continue
to play a fundamental role in the infrastructure of telephone and other services
Mars rover got Software Upgrade

NASA engineers have upgraded the
Software of the NASAs Mars rover
Curiosity 20 December 2013. The NASA
team is now planning to check the wear
and tear on the wheels of the rover.
As per Jim Erickson of NASAs jet
Propulsion Laboratory project manager
for the NASA Mars Science Laboratory
Project, Curiosity is now operating on
version 11 of its flight software. Since
16 month of landing of Curiosity on
Mars, this is the third upgrade version.
Completing the switch from Version 10
took about a week NASA said.
An earlier switch to version 11 prompted
an unintended reboot on 7 November
and a return to version 10, but the latest
transition went smoothly. The upgrades
in Curiosity have allowed advances in its capabilities like version 11 has expanded the capabilities
of robotic arm of Curiosity at the time, when it is at slope. It has also improved its flexibility to store
the information overnight to use in resuming autonomous driving on a second day.
An upcoming activity would be driven to a relatively smooth patch of ground to take a set of images
of Curiositys aluminum wheels, by the use of Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera at the end
of the rovers arm.
NASAs Mars Science Laboratory Project is using Curiosity inside Gale Crater to assess ancient
habitable environments and major changes in Martian environmental conditions. JPL, a division
of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, built the rover and manages the project for
NASAs Science Mission Directorate in Washington.
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Indian Scientists developed Insulin Pill for diabetics

The Indian Scientists, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)
developed insulin pill for diabetics in third week of December 2013.
The Scientists developed a long-sought insulin pill that could spare millions of diabetics and
soughed a way the delivery of insulin therapy from a jab to a pill.
The experiments with rats, the pill lowered blood glucose levels almost as much as injected insulin
and the effects of the pill lasted longer than injected insulin.
The bodys digestive enzymes in the body are so good at breaking down food also break down
insulin before it can get to work. In addition, insulin does not get easily absorbed through the gut
into bloodstream.
To solve these problem researchers from National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and
Research (NIPER) in Punjab combined two approaches to shield insulin from the digestive enzymes
and then get it into the blood.
The team of researchers Ashish Kumar Agrawal, Harshad Harde, Kaushik Thanki and Sanyog Jain,
packaged insulin in tiny sacs made of lipids or fats called liposome.Then wrapped the liposomes in
layers of protective molecules called polyelectrolytes.
To get absorbed and to transport the layersome across the intestinal wall into the blood stream they
attached folic acid and a kind of vitamin B.
This was published in American Chemical Society journal biomacromolecules, Washington.
About Diabetics:
Diabetics also called as diabetic mellitus, describes a
group of metabolic diseases in which the person has high
blood glucose (blood sugar) either because insulin
production is inadequate or because the bodys cells do
not respond properly to insulin or both.
There are three types of diabetics that is Type1 diabetics,
Type2 diabetics and Gestational Diabetes
An estimated 347 million people globally are living with
diabetes. Diabetics must test their blood sugar several
times and need insulin jabs for the rest of their lives in
order to maintain adequate levels of the hormone.
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Europe launched Gaia satellite from French Guiana

Europe on 19 December 2013 launched the Gaia
satellite one of the most ambitious space missions
in the history. Gaia lifted on a Soyuz rocket from
Europes Spaceport from the Kourou in French
Guiana at 6:12 local time. It will map the precise
positions and distances to more than a billion stars.
This will give the first realistic picture of how the Milky
Galaxy has been constructed and will also detect
thousands of unseen objects like asteroids and new
planets.
The satellite is carrying two telescopes that will
throw light on to a huge, one billion-pixel camera
detector connected to a trio of instruments. It has
been developed to sample the ultra-stable and
supersensitive optical equipment to pinpoint.
Gaias journey will take about a month as it will travel about one and half kilometers to the observatory
station from the earth.
About Gaia
Gaia has been developed in more than 20 years. Then Gaia is on a five-year science mission
Gaia is now en route towards an orbit around a gravitationally-stable virtual point in space
called L2, some 1.5 million kilometers beyond Earth as seen from the Sun
Gaia will observe each of the billion stars an average of 70 times each over the five years and will
measure the position and key physical properties of each star, like its brightness, temperature
and chemical composition
It has a sunshield that will block heat and light from the Sun and Earth and this blocking will
provide the stable environment that is needed by its sophisticated instruments to make an
extraordinarily sensitive and precise census of the Milky Ways stars

Scientists and experts of Iran have successfully launched a research rocket that took the second
monkey into the space on 14 December 2013. The rocket named Pajohesh (research) was launched
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on the first day of the national Research Week of Iran and carried out the second monkey named
Fargam and safely it returned to Earth after 15 minutes.
The liquid fueled rocket was sent to 120 kilometer into the space. This process will help the Iranian
Scientists in developing Irans Space Research works with necessary information, which would
enrich their space technology knowhow.
During the 15 mission, the Iranian Scientists were successful in measurement of signals that comes
from the rocket including its gas combination and vital signs of the space monkey.
The first rocket carrying a monkey named Pishgam (pioneer) in the space was launched by Iran on
28 January 2013.
The first lunar rover of China, which was carried by an unmanned remotely piloted spacecraft
Change-3 was deployed successfully on moon on 14 December 2013. The lunar rover has been
named Jade Rabbit (called Yutu in Chinese). Change-3 was blasted off on a Long March-3B carrier
rocket.
The Chinese moon exploration has made it one of the only three nations that have soft landed on
the surface of moon after United States and the Soviet Union. In past three decades, China is the
first country to do so. Earlier, Luna 24 Probe of Soviet Union was the last space mission to land on
moon in August 1976. It landed after four years after the launch of the manned Apollo 17 mission
by United States.
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About the lunar rover - Jade Rabbit

It is a six-wheeled lunar rover
It is equipped with four cameras and two mechanical legs, which can dig the soil samples, up
to a depth of 30 meters
For at least for next three months, the solar-powered rover will patrol the moons surface to
study the structure of lunar crust, soil and rocks
It weighs 140 kilograms and carries an optical telescope for astronomical observations
It also have a powerful ultraviolet camera to monitor the effects of solar activity on various layers
of Earths atmosphere namely troposphere, stratosphere and ionosphere
Radioisotope heater units of the rover will help it to be functional during cold lunar nights, the
time when the temperature of moon goes down up to -180C
As per the Shanghai Aerospace Systems Engineering Research Institute, the rover can climb
the slopes up to 30 degrees and it can travel at 200 meters per hour
China has been increasingly ambitious in developing its space programmes, for military, commercial
and scientific purposes.

Scientists led by Oliver Schmidt created the biological robots or biobots powered by sperm in the
Institute for Integrative Nanosciences in Dresden, Germany on December 2013.
It is also called as biohybrid micro-robot.
The researchers created magnetic nanotubes that were 50 microns long by 5 to 8 microns in
diameter and dropped these into a fluid containing bull sperm.
The tubes were narrower at one end to stop the sperm from escaping and can be rotated by using
magnetic fields.
The tail-like flagellum of the sperm cell sticks outside the end of the tube and power the bibot like
a propeller
Benefits
These biobots can be used to guide individual sperm or to deliver targeted doses of drugs or
fertilizing an egg. Schmidt Said that sperm cells are an attractive option because they are harmless
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to the human body, do not require an external power source and swam through viscous liquids.
Till now researchers has only managed to persuade groups of cells to cooperate with the help of
chemical gradients and magnetic fields.
ISRO successfully performed first Trajectory Correction

Manoeuvre of Mangalyaan
The first Trajectory Correction
Manoeuvre (TCM) of Spacecraft of
Indias
maiden
interplanetary
mission to Mars was carried out
successfully at 06:30 hrs (IST) on 11
December 2013. The TCM was fired
by the 22 Newton Thrusters for
duration of 40.5 seconds. The
spacecraft at present is travelling at
a distance of about 29 lakh (2.9
million) km away from Earth.
The correction has been done to fine tune the trajectory path of the spacecraft to keep it travelling
in the intended track towards Mars (red planet). To place the spacecraft on a right path the Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has planned four Trajectory Correction Manoeuvres for
Manglayan for its journey to Mars. They oeuvres are needed to keep the spacecraft on the required
path. It is also essential for maintaining the required velocity.
Mangalyaan is on a 680 million km voyage to Mars. The Spacecraft moved out from the orbit of
Earth on 1 December 2013.
The 1350 kilogram Mars Craft was successfully injected into the orbit around earth from the national
space agencys PSLV C 25 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota. It was launched
on the 5 November 2013 and it is expected that the spacecraft will reach to the Martian orbit by 24
September 2014.
Scientists decoded the oldest known human DNA

The scientists on 4 December 2013 decoded the oldest DNA from ever found 400000 year old
thigh bone of human family. This research has expanded the knowledge of the human genetics by
300000 years and also suggests the journey of man evolution.
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The thigh bone was found at a burial site Sima de los Huesos (Bone Pit) that was preserved in
Spains northern Sierra de Atapuerca highlands. The researchers have found that the mitochondrial
genome of Denisovans belongs to the extinct relatives of Neanderthals in Asia.
The researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany,
have determined an almost complete mitochondrial genome sequence of a 400000 year old
representative of the genus Homo.
The researchers sampled two grams of bone powder extracted from a femur and sequenced the
genome of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is passed down along the maternal line. Further,
they compared the code with the modern humans, apes, Neanderthals and their sister group,
Denisovans. In the result they found that the Spanish hominins were more closely related to the
geographically more distant Denisovans than to Neanderthals.
The bone pit (Sima de los Huesos) is a cave site in Northern Spain that has given the largest
assembly of Middle Pleistocene hominin fossils of the world, which consist of 28 skeletons.
Mars Orbiter Spacecraft successfully placed in Mars transfer

trajectory
Indias Mars Orbiter Spacecraft
successfully placed in Mars
transfer trajectory on 1 December
2013 by ISRO scientists.
Now, the Mars spacecraft will
travel 780 million kilometers (485
million miles) over 300 days (ten
months) to reach an orbit around
Mars planet in September 2014.
With this achievement the journey
towards Mars, Mangalyaan has
reached the next phase of its
journey.
The team of scientists at ISRO telemetry, Tracking and Command network, Bangalore will monitor
every minute detail of the movement of the orbiter. It was raised in six stages until it reached 1.92
lakh kilometres as it circled earth several times.
PSLV C25 carrying the orbiter was placed in the earths orbit on the 5th November 2013 and
is expected to reach the Mars orbit in September 2014. This landmark technological mission of
ISRO will fulfill the objective of deep space communication, navigation, mission planning and
management.
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The flight path of the vehicle will be monitored by ground stations at Canberra in Australia, Goldstone
in the US and Madrid in Spain. The Indian Space Science data centre will receive and disseminate
the payload data of the Mangalyaan.
One of the payloads in the spacecraft the Mars Colour Camera is already in operation. The
other payloads are Lyman alpha photometer, Methane sensor for mars, Mars exospheric neutral
composition analyser and Thermal infrared imaging spectrometer to understand the soil features
and minerals available in the red planet- the Mars.
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CORPORATE
FIPB approved Vodafones proposal to acquire shares of Stake
Holders
The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) on 30 December 2013 approved the proposal of
Vodafone to acquire the shares from Ajay Piramal and Analjit Singh for over 10000 crore rupees.
This will make Vodafone a company with 100 percent shares in the venture and make Vodafone,
the British telecom company among the largest foreign investors in India.
Apart from this, FIPB also allowed Tesco to set up the countrys first multi-brand retail chain with
overseas funds. This was also the proposal of Vodafone to partnership the Tata group in Retain
sector. Vodafone is buying 50 percent stakes in the Tata Groups Trent Hypermarkets. It is also
intends to open its stores In Maharashtra and Karnataka and thus it is ready to invest 110 million
dollar (about 680 crore rupee).
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In Vodafone, Pirmal holds about 11 percent stake in India and Analjit Singh, who is also the non
executive Chairman of Vodafones India holds 24.65 percent stakes. After the approval of FIPB,
Vodafone have will pay 1241 crore rupees to Ayanjit Singh and 8900 crore rupees to Parimal
Enterprises for their stakes to convert Vodafone as a wholly owned entity.
Vodafone had first spent 11.1 billion dollar (about 49000 crore rupees) in 2007 to acquire a 67
percent economic interest in Hutch Essar.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs nod is only awaited by Vodafone on the proposal that has
been approved by FIPB before the transaction takes place. CCEA approval is need in every foreign
investment proposal over 1200 crore rupees.
Vodafones investment in retail market comes after the WALMART has postponed its plan to enter
India following the strict and rigid rules required by a foreign company to invest in India. As the
norms of investment in India mentions investment in creation of a back-end infrastructure and a
company will have to source 30 percent goods from the local companies.
FIPB has also approved the proposal of Johnson & Johnson for foreign investment. FIPB has
postponed the proposal of HDFC Bank to raise equity from FIIs.
Oil India and IRMA has inked a pact for study on dairy development
Energy major, the Oil India Limited (OIL) on 29 December 2013 signed an agreement with the
Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA) to carry out a feasibility study on dairy production in
two districts of Assam. Oil India as a CSR initiative has decided to step into dairy sector.
Oil India has a significant presence in Assam and IRMA will prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR)
after the study in the two districts Dibrugarh and Tinsukia of Assam. It is expected that the study
would pave a way for a roadmap for the plan for development of a cooperative dairy project in the
two districts.
OIL has planned to develop the project on the lines of the Amul model. Oil India, to implement the
companys Dairy Project aims to formulate the DPR on the basis of the baseline survey. The study is
funded by Oil India and is focused on the prospects of development of a cooperative dairy project
in the state.
Oil India Limited

Oil India Private Limited was incorporated to expand and develop the newly discovered oil fields of
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Naharkatiya and Moran in the Indian North East

on 18 February 1959. In 1961, it became a
joint venture company between the Indian
Government and Burmah Oil Company
Limited, UK.
It became a wholly-owned Government of
India enterprise in 1981. At present the OIL
is a premier Indian National Oil Company
engaged in the business of exploration,
development and production of crude oil
and natural gas, transportation of crude oil
and production of LPG. OIL also provides
various E&P related services and holds
26 percent equity in Numaligarh Refinery
Limited.
At present, the Government of India, the Promoter of the Company is holding 68.43% of the total
Issued & Paid-up Capital of the Company.
Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA)

Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA) is Indias leading school in rural management and is
committed to act as a catalyst and facilitator of rural prosperity. IRMA educates those inspired to
work with organisations serving the rural sector and engaging directly with rural communities.
National Aluminium Company Limited got excellent rating for

2012-13
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), a public sector undertaking has got Excellent
Memorandum of Understanding score of 1.5 by the Department of Public Enterprises for its
outstanding performance in 2012-13.
During the 2012-13, NALCO has been rated as Excellent with a score of 97.5 for compliance with
guidelines on Corporate Governance for Central Public Service Enterprises.
NALCO already had last achieved the Excellent MoU score in 2006-07 and it got navratna status
in 2008.
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During the financial year 2012-13

NALCO has reported a highest ever net sale of 7247 crore rupees against a target of 7073 crore
rupees. This represents an increase of 2.46 percent against the MoU target.
NALCO reported a net profit of 593 crore rupees with metal sale of 403102 tonnes and alumina
sale of 984722 tonnes in the financial year 2012-13.
NALCO also produced highest-ever bauxite of 54.19 lakh tonnes and highest-ever alumina of
18.02 lakh tonnes in 2012-13.
During this financial year the company generated 6076 units of power from its Captive Power
Plant.
NALCOs significant achievements and activities towards CSR, Sustainable Development and R&D
also contributed towards companys excellent ratings.
NALCO has entered into a wind power generation with commissioning of 50.4 MW wind power
plant at Gandikota in Andhra Pradesh on December 2012 and sale of power has been commenced.
Department of Public Enterprises under Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises resents
annually to the Parliament an overview of the financial and physical performance of central PSEs.
About MoU
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as applicable to PSEs is a negotiated document
between the government and the management of the enterprise specifying clearly the objectives of
the agreement and the obligations of both the parties.
MoU system in India was introduced in 1986 as result of the recommendations of the Arjun Sengupta
Committee Report.
Microsoft India launched safety application, Guardian

Microsoft India introduced Guardian, a new safety application that enables friends and family of
Windows phone users to track them in real time on 26 December 2013 in Hyderabad.
Guardian enables users to switch on a track me feature in the application, which lets friends and
family to track them. It is available exclusively for Windows phone users in India.
Guardian users can call for help through an SOS alert button and also connect to security agencies,
police and hospitals easily in times of distress. SOS is an international code signal of extreme
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distress. For the effective use of Guardian,

users need to add the names of friends,
family members and security groups to the
settings and then the application can be
used to alert them in emergency situation
via the SOS button.
The users has to tap the SOS button then
phone sends a distress SMS to friends
and family mobiles and notify the location
details. At the same time the SOS button
also sends emails and posts to private Face
book groups to registered members.
Cabinet approved pension proposal for MTNL employees

The Union Cabinet on 26 December 2013 approved the pension proposal for 43000 MTNL
(Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd) employees, who joined the public sector company from the
Department of Telecom (DoT). The pension plan will cost about 500 crore rupees annually to the
Government of India.
The Cabinet approved plan mentions that the employees of the government of all categories (Group
A, B, C & D) absorbed in MTNL and who have opted for the combined service will be given a similar
treatment in the matter of payment of pensionary benefits as available to the absorbed employees
of BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd).
Within three months the necessary amendments will be done in the Rule 37-A of CCS (Pension)
Rules 1972 to include MTNL along with BSNL in respect to Government pension liability, which was
previously discharged by MTNL. This amendment would help in resolving the long-pending MTNL
pension issue.
The Government approved the pension plan as a part of plan to revive BSNL and MTNL. To review
the two PSUs, a multi-pronged strategy was presented by the Department of Telecom to the
EGoM. The strategy involves refunding the payment for buying the broadband spectrum by two
companies. Last time, the PSUs took a broadband spectrum in 2009 without participation in the
auction and were asked to pay the bid price quoted by private players. But the two firms failed to
make the payment of the auction.
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Axis Bank proposal to increase foreign investment to 62 percent approved

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on
26 December 2013 approved the proposal of Axis Bank
Limited to increase its foreign investment from 49
percent to 62 percent. The approval is subject to the
aggregate foreign institutional investors that hold not
exceeding 49 percent of the paid up equity share capital
of the bank.
The approval would result in foreign investment of 7250
crore (approximately) rupees in the country. The CCEA
that gave a green signal to the proposal of the bank was
chaired by Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India.
About Axis Bank

Axis Bank is the third largest private sector bank in India. Axis Bank offers the entire spectrum
of financial services to customer segments, which covers the large and mid-corporate, MSME,
agriculture and retail businesses. Axis Bank is one of the first new generation private sector banks
to have begun operations in 1994.
The Bank has a large footprint of 1947 domestic branches (including extension counters) and
11245 ATMs spread across the country as on 31 March 2013. The Bank also has overseas offices
in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Colombo, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
CCI approved Acquisition of Cement Plants of Jaypee in Gujarat

by UltraTech
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on 23 December 2013 approved the proposed
acquisition of the cement plants of Jaypee Cement Corporation Limited in Gujarat by Ultratech
Cement Limited (Ultratech). As per the order, UltraTech will make acquisition of an integrated
cement unit at Sewagram and grinding unit at Wanakbori in Gujarat.
UltraTech has done a deal of 3800 crore rupees with the Jaypee Cement Corporation group to
acquire its facilities in Gujarat.
Jaypee Cement Corporation Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jaiprakash Associates Limited
(Jaypee). UltraTech Cement is part of the US 40 billion dollar Aditya Birla Group. The company has
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22 cement plants in India with an installed capacity of 50.9 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA).
Ultratech and Jaypee both are engaged in manufacture and marketing of different varieties of
cement across India. The combined capacity of sewagram and wanakbori plants is 4.8 MTPA.
The commission made an opinion with reference to its order passed on 20 December 2013 that
the proposed combination will not have an appreciable adverse effect on the competition in India.
Thus it approved the proposed combination under the sub-section (1) of the Section 31 of the Act.
Top 10 Test Bowlers
Apple signed iPhone deal with China Mobile

Apple and China Mobile
on 22 December 2013
announced that they
have entered into a
multi-year agreement to
bring iPhone to the
worlds largest mobile
network. As part of the
agreement, iPhone 5s
and iPhone 5c will be
available from China
Mobiles
expansive
network of retail stores
as well as Apple retail
stores across China from 17 January 2014.
iPhone on China Mobile will support 4G/TD-LTE and 3G/TD-SCDMA networks and will provide
high-speed mobile service to customers. At present, the China Mobile has 760 million customers
and became one of the three networks to be awarded the first 4G licenses of China.
The deal will help Apple to boost its sales in China.
Canara Bank got license to open branch in New York

Canara Bank on 19 December 2013 announced that it has received a license from the Board of
Governors of the US Federal Reserve System to open a branch in New York. Canara Bank wants
to expand its global presence. RK Dubey, the Chairman and Managing Director of the bank said
that the Board of Governors of the Federal System of US approved the proposal of the bank to
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open a branch in New York. The license was

announced on 13 December 2013. The
approval came in 20 months after the bank
filed its application. This is the first time that
an Indian bank has secured an approval of
the US regulators.
About Canara Bank

Canara Bank was founded by Ammembal
Subba Rao Pai in July 1906, at Mangalore,
then a small port town in Karnataka. The
Bank has gone through the various phases
of its growth trajectory over hundred years
of its existence. It was nationalized in the year 1969. In June 2006, the Bank completed a century
of operation in the Indian banking industry. Today, Canara Bank occupies a premier position in the
comity of Indian banks.
Saab, the Swedish manufacturer won 4.5 billion dollar contract

for fighter jet from Brazil
Saab, the Swedish manufacturer on 18 December 2013 won a 4.5 billion dollar contract to supply
36 Gripen NG fighter jets to Brazil by 2020.
The offer presented to the Brazilian Government by Saab includes Gripen NG, sub-systems for
Gripen NG, an extensive technology transfer package, a financing package as well as long term
bi-lateral collaboration between the Brazilian and Swedish Governments.
In the race of the contract, Saab defeated Boeing of US and Dassault Aviation of France to secure,
one of the emerging defence deals. Might be possible, the recent allegations of spying by United
States could be the reason for the loss of the Boeing. The allegations of spying were made by a
journalist, Glenn Greenwald, who obtained the secret files from NSA contractor Edward Snowden.
Gripen has been exported to other countries like South Africa, Thailand and Switzerland (the
advanced version of Gripen). Czech Republic and Hungary have leased the Gripen from Sweden.
About Saab
Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions ranging
from military defence to civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents and
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constantly develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers changing needs.
If you have any Question/Point on the above information, please ask/discuss it in the Current
Affairs
Sri City in Andhra Pradesh to have PepsiCos largest beverage

plant in India
Beverages and snacks major PepsiCo
India planned to invest over 1200 crore
rupees to build a new beverage
manufacturing facility in Sri City of
Andhra Pradesh. The new beverage
manufacturing plant will be the largest
in India.
The plant will manufacture a range of
beverages, including fruit juice based
drinks, carbonated soft drinks and
sports drinks.
The 1200 crore rupees investment in the new beverage plant is part of the recently announced
plans by PepsiCo to invest 33,000 crore rupee in India by 2020.
The company also announced plans to substantially increase sourcing of mango pulp from Andhra
Pradesh in the next six years.
PepsiCo Indian already has a beverage manufacturing plant at Sangareddy in Andhra Pradesh.
With seven production lines, the plant manufactures and supplies PepsiCo products to the entire
Andhra Pradesh region and parts of Karnataka.
Alstom bagged 125 million euro contract from BHEL for Neyveli
New Thermal Power Project
Alstom on 18 December 2013 bagged a contract of 125 million euro (over 1000 crore rupees) from
the Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL). The contract is to supply components and services for
the 1000 MW Neyveli New Thermal Power Project (NNTPP) of Neyveli Lignite Corporation located
in Tamil Nadu.
The Alstom as per the scope of the contract will co-operate with BHEL in conceptualising, designing,
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engineering and supplying two tower boilers, the complete lignite milling and firing equipment, and
critical components. The equipment will be engineered and manufactured at the facility of Alstom
in Stuttgart (Germany) as well as in India at the Durgapur and Shahabad facilities.
The 1000 MW greenfield Neyveli New Thermal Power Project (NNTPP), being developed by Neyveli
Lignite Corporation Limited, will be the first lignitefired 2X500 MW power plant in the country and
major source of power to the southern states.
About Alstom
Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure.
It has set a benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies.
Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world. It also
provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of
energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind. It also offers a wide range of solutions
for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids.
USFDA disapproved a product of Sun Pharma in its present form

US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) in the third week of December 2013 disapproved Sun
Pharma Advanced Research Companys new drug application for an anti-depressant product, in
its present form.
As per the Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company, the USFDA has sent a letter to them seeking
additional studies related to the efficacy and safety of its Venlafaxine extended release 300 mg
tablets. The USFDA cant approve the application of the drug in its present form.
About Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company

The Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company was formed in 2007 as a pharma research and
drug discovery company. It was separated out from the Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd as its
active projects in drug discovery and innovation into a new company.
About US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA)

The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) is an agency of the United States Department of
Health and Human Services. It is responsible to protect and promote the public health, through the
regulation and supervision of different products. As per Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act
and associated regulations it enforces other laws, which are not directly related to food or drugs.
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President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 signed Food and Drug Act into a law. The Act was also
known as Wiley Act after the name of the Harvey Washington Wiley, the chief advocate, who
brought the attention of congress towards public hygiene demonstration. The act was originally
named as the Food, Drug and Insecticide Organization and was shortened to Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) after some years.
Torrent Pharmaceuticals signed agreement with Elder Pharma

for 2004 crore Rupees
Ahmedabad-based Torrent Pharmaceuticals on 13 December 2013 agreed to buy Mumbai-based
Elder Pharmaceuticals branded domestic formulations business in India and Nepal for 2004 crore
rupees. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both the companies, and
was expected to close in the first half of 2014.
Elders India business comprises a portfolio of 30 brands, including market leading brands in the
womens healthcare, pain management, wound care and nutraceuticals therapeutic segments. The
brands include Shelcal, Chymoral, Eldervit, Formic and Carnisure.
Torrent, with a turnover 3200 crore rupees, will fund the acquisition through a mix of internal accruals
and bank borrowings.
Under the proposed transaction, Elder, which has six manufacturing facilities, will continue to
manufacture and supply the products at its existing facilities for Torrent for three years. Torrents
plants at Indrad, Baddi and Sikkim make formulations and bulk drugs.
The deal would help Elder Pharmaceuticals address its recent challenges and will significantly help
Elder de-leverage its balance sheet. Moreover it will allow Elder reorient its focus and grow its inlicensing, anti-infectives and exports business.
Torrent Pharmaceuticals was founded in late 1960s in Ahmedabad by U N Mehta. Its Chairman and
CEO is Sudhir Mehta.
Elder Pharmaceuticals was founded in 1989 in Mumbai. Its Chairman and Managing Director is
Jagdish Saxena.
Tech Mahindra launched a Global Center of Excellence with

Hewlett Packard
Tech Mahindra Ltd on 10 December 2013 launched its Global Center of Excellence (CoE) with
Hewlett Packard (HP) in Bangalore. This Center will focus on IT Application and IT Infrastructure
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Performance Management solutions that transform

customers IT Operations landscape through
automation and unification of key services.
The company at CoE is in the process of creating
innovative service offerings in areas such as
tools consulting and implementations to an
integrated managed services delivery platform. It
has an emphasis on automation and unification
of key services. The solutions provided will
facilitate complete and dynamic alignment of IT
infrastructure with organizations strategic goals
while deriving significant return on investment due
to newer levels of productivity and efficiency.
ONGC Videsh signed an MoU to evaluate E&P opportunities in

Ecuador
ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) the overseas arm of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) on
9 December 2013 signed an agreement to evaluate E&P opportunities in Ecuador.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Co-ordinating Ministry for
Strategic Sectors (MICSE) of the Republic of Ecuador and ONGC Videsh Limited in New Delhi.
It was signed by Minister Rafael Poveda Bonilla on behalf of MICSE and D. K. Sarraf, Managing
Director & CEO, ONGC Videsh. It was signed in the presence of Jorge David Glas Espinel, the Vice
President of Ecuador, who at present is on the visit of India.
Since last one year, the OVL has been evaluating the E&P opportunities in Ecuador. For OVL Latin
America is the focus area and it has a presence in Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia. About 30
percent of the oil production of OVL is contributed by these countries.
As per the signed MoU, the MICSE will provide information to OVL regarding the oil and gas
projects in Ecuador. As per the information, OVL will evaluate to identify the projects of its interest
and it will propose participation in such projects through specific definitive agreements.
Ecuador is an oil producing and exporting country, a member of OPEC and has a daily production
of about 500,000 barrels of crude oil.
Earlier, ONGC Videsh on 20 November 2013 signed MoU with Petrovietnam (PVN) to promote the
joint cooperation in hydrocarbon sector in Vietnam, India and other countries.
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About ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL)

ONGC Videsh Limited is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
Limited (ONGC), the National Oil Company of
India and is Indias largest international oil and
gas E&P Company. he primary business of
OVL is to prospect for oil and gas acreages
outside
India,
including
exploration,
development and production of oil and gas. At
present OVL has participation in 32 projects in
16 countries that include Russia, South Sudan,
Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Vietnam, Azerbaijan,
Brazil, Colombia, Libya, Iraq, Kazakhstan and
Myanmar. It contributed 12 percent and 7
percent of oil and natural gas production of
India. OVL is currently producing 160 thousand barrels of oil and oil equivalent gas per day.
Alstom T&D bagged two contracts of 151 crore rupees from

GETCO
Alstom T&D India on 9 December 2013 bagged two contracts of 151 crore rupees from Gujarat
Energy Transmission Company Ltd (GETCO). The contracts are for supply of 400 KV, 220KV and
66KV AIS substations located at Charanka and Sankhari on turnkey basis to evacuate power from
Solar Park of the state.
The substation at Charanka and Sankari will play an important role in strengthening transmission
network in Gujarat by acting as the evacuation and nodal grid substations. It will also improve the
energy flow in the western region of India.
The order involves manufacture, supply, erection, testing and commissioning of the 400 KV
substations with the key products like 400kV, 220 KV & 66 KV air insulated switchgear and related
equipment Alstoms and the SCADA automation system along with the civil works. The equipment
will be manufactured at Alstoms world-class manufacturing facilities in India.
The project is being developed under ADB Solar Energy schemes to catalyse 3,000 MW of solar
power generation projects in ADB developing member countries. As the solar energy will play an
essential role, thus these projects will be significant in increasing the share of the renewable energy
and green energy mix in India.
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About Alstom T&D India

Alstom T&D India (globally known as Alstom Grid), is a market leader in the Indian power transmission
sector. It has over 100 years of expertise in building the transmission infrastructure for the country.
About Alstom
Basically, Alstom is a global leader of power generation, power
transmission and rail infrastructure. It has set benchmark for
innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom
builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated
metro in the world. It provides turnkey integrated power plant
solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy
sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and it
offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a
focus on smart grids. The Group is in around 100 countries.
Biyani sold entire 44% stake in Capital Foods to Artal Group of

Europe
Kishore Biyani led Future Consumer Enterprises (FCEL) on 9 December 2013 sold its entire 44
percent stake in Capital Foods to a European private equity fund Artal Group for 180 crore rupees.
This marks the end of Biyanis seven year old investment in Capital Foods.
As a result, the value of Capital Foods has increased to 400 crore rupees. Capital Foods is a
domestic food company that makes a range of products under the brands Chings Secret and
Smith & Jones. The rest of the stake in Mumbai-based Capital Foods is held by the founderchairman Ajay Gupta.
Biyani entered the Capital Foods through Future Ventures and had pumped in 13 crore rupees in
2006. Last week, the group announced it has exited its investment in apparel brand Biba having
sold its 28% to Warburg Pincus and Faering Capital for 300 crore rupees.
While Biyani is paving his way out of non-core businesses, FCEL aims to become 10000 crore
rupees FMCG player in another five-six years. To achieve this gargantuan size, Biyani has signed
a long-term agreement to launch food and beverage brand Sunkist in India through a long-term
licensing agreement. The 1.4 billion dollar, California-based Sunkist Growers licenses its brand
across more than 80 countries and is widely known for its presence in the citrus category.
Artals entry into India follows the interest of several large European investors and family offices like
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Verlinvest that have chased F&B deals in India.

Artal is part of the New York-based Invus Group, which manages 4 billion dollar in funds, and is
headed by a low-key investor Raymond Debbane.
The Invus Group manages money for wealthy European families through its vertical Artal and is
famous for its investment in American weight loss company Weight Watchers International.
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SPORTS
Sushil got land to set up wrestling academy at Motilal Nehru
School
Sushil Kumar, the two time medal winner wrestler in Olympics has received eight acres of land
by the Haryana Government on 31 December 2013. Haryana Government gave him the land as it
promised him to grant a land for setting up his academy at the Motilal Nehru School of Sports in
Sonepat.
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About Sushil Kumar

1. Sushil Kumar is a wrestler of India who has won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
and silver during the London edition last year
2. He is the only Indian to win individual medal back to back in the Olympics. His Olympics bronze
was the second Olympics medal in wrestling after KD Jadhavs bronze medal in Helsinki Olympic
Games in 1952
3. He has won gold in the freestyle competition at the FILA 2010 World Wrestling Championship
in 66 kg freestyle competition
4. He was the final baton bearer to hand over the Queens Baton to Prince Charles in the Queens
Baton Relay for the 2010 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony
5. He has been awarded with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award (joint), the highest Indias sporting
honour and Arjuna Award in 2005
Bomb Blast rocked Russian City, Volgograd ahead of Olympic

Games
A bomb blast took place at the busy railway station of Volgograd on 29 December 2013. 18 people
were reported dead and more than 50 were critically injured in the attack. City was rocked by an
explosion detonated by a suicide bomber.
A suicide bomber blew herself up in a train station in the Russian city of Volgograd. Russian
government had launched an inquiry into a suspected act of terror.
Volgograd is located 400 miles northeast of Sochi, a Black Sea resort in the North Caucasus
Mountains. Sochi is scheduled to hold Winter Olympics in February 2014.
Volgograd:
The city of Volgograd was known as Stalingrad in the Soviet era. The city of Stalingrad is famous for
the Battle of Stalingrad which took place in 1942-43 and was a turning point of the World War II.
The Battle of Stalingrad is one of the most ferocious and decisive battle fought in the World War-II.
The Battle led to destruction of German 6th Army and led to the decline of Axis Forces in the
Eastern Front.
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Serena Williams and LeBron James won APs Athlete of the year
award
Serena Williams won the Female Athlete of the Year award and LeBron James won the Male Athlete
of the Year award announced by the Associated Press on 26 December 2013.
About Serena Williams

For this season Serena Williams is at the number 1 in the world ranking. Williams won 11 titles
and reached 13 finals in 2013 season.
She also conquered the clay court season after winning 5 titles.
Williams has the most winning percentage of 95.1 percent.
Williams has been honoured 3 times with this award, previously she won in 2002 and 2009
seasons.
About LeBRon James

James is an American Basket ball player and he had done good job in 2013 season.
He received his fourth Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
He led the team to the finals and won the Championship title.
Durban Test: South Africa defeated India by 10 wickets to clinch

the series 1-0
South Africa on 30 December 2013 clinched the two match series with India in Durban 1-0. It
defeated India by 10 wickets in the second cricket test to win the series.
In the second inning of the match, India gave a 58 runs target to chase on the fifth day. It was all
out on 223 runs in the second innings in which Ajinkya Rahane scored 96 runs.
For South Africa, Robin Peterson claimed four wickets while Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander took
three each.
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Brief Scores
India: 334 and 223 all out

South Africa: 500 and 59 for no
loss
Man of the Match: Dale Steyn
Man of the Series: AB De Villers
Jacques Kallis, who was playing

his last Test hit a superb 115 runs in
the first innings. With this knock he
surpassed Rahul Dravid of India as
the third highest run-getter 13289
runs in the longest format in his
farewell match. Now, he is behind Sachin Tendulkar (15921) and Ricky Ponting (13378) in the alltime list.
Retiring South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis was given a guard of honour by the Indian players
as he walked out to bat in the second and final Test at Kingsmead on 29 December 2013.
Ace Tennis Star Stefan Edberg to join Roger Federers coaching

team
Roger Federer on 28 December 2013 announced that Stefan Edberg, the former Swedish tennis
player will join his coaching team in 2014.
Stefan Edberg will join the long-time coach Severin Luthi as part of his team before the start of first
grand slam (Australian Open) in 2014. Edberg will train to Federer for a short period of time across
the year and Luthi the person who is training Federer for past 7 years will coach him for the most
time.
Edberg who will coach Rogar Federer in January 2014 has been his childhood hero. Federer, who
is the 17 times major winner ranks at sixth position at present.
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Stefan Edberg
Stefan Bengt Edberg was born on 19 January 1966
He is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player in both singles and doubles from Sweden
From 1985 to 1996, Edberg had won six grand slam singles title and three grand slams in
double titles, which includes Australian Open in 1985 and 1987, Wimbledon in 1988 and 1990
and US Opens in 1991 and 1992
He was a part of the Swedish Davis Cup winning team for four times
He has won the Masters Grand Prix
He has won four Masters Series titles and four Championship Series titles
Deepika Kumari won 34th National Archery Championship

Deepika Kumari won the 34th
National Archery Championships
at JRD Tata Stadium of PSPB,
Jamshedpur on 25 December
2013.
Deepika by winning the sixth
National title consecutively has
set the record of winning the most
individual titles at the national
meet. Earlier it was Dola Banerjee
who won five national titles.
Archer Krishna Ghatak with seven consecutive individual titles has the record of winning most
individual titles. He won the National titles between 1975 and 1982.
Deepika Kumari won her sixth consecutive title at the 34th National Archery Championships at JRD
Tata Stadium of PSPB, Jamshedpur on 25 December 2013.
Deepika by winning the sixth National title consecutively has set the record of winning the most
individual titles at the national meet. Earlier it was Dola Banerjee who won five national titles.
Archer Krishna Ghatak with seven consecutive individual titles has the record of winning most
individual titles. He won the National titles between 1975 and 1982.
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Athletics Federation of India banned six states and 14 athletes

The Athletics Federation Of India (AFI) on 23 December 2013 banned six states and 14 athletes for
one year.
The decision was taken in order to curb the fielding of overaged athletics.
Overall 44 overaged athletes were found in six states and was suspended for one year.
The six states namely Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar , Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh was
banned for next season . Although, these states can take part in national events under the banner
of AFI.
14 Athletes were suspended on the charge of doping for two years.
As per provision of constitution of AFI, if the president or secretary desire, the athletes may be
allowed to participate under the banner of AFI.
Athletics Federation of India

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is the apex body
in Athletics in India and is responsible for conducting
Competitions in the country. It was earlier called as
Amateur Athletic Federation of India (AAFI). It is
associated with both Asian Athletics Association
(AAA) and International Association of Athletics
Federations (IAAF).
Doping
The use of drugs by athletes, which can aid
performance and give competitors an unfair
advantage is considered unethical by most international sports organizations, including the
International Olympic Committee.
Doping test was conducted by NADA in India under the supervision of WADA.
Jacques Kallis announced retirement after Durban Test

Jacques Kallis the South African all rounder of cricket announced retirement from test and first class
cricket after the second Test against India in Durban. The decision of retirement was announced on
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25 December 2013.
As per the South Africa Cricket Board, Kallis will play the game in the limited over formats. But
Kallis will play in the 2015 World Cup for South Africa.
About Jacques Kallis

Kallis made his debut in December 1995 against
England
He has played 165 tests and scored 13174 runs at
an average of 55.12, which includes 44 centuries
and 58 half-centuries
At present he is the fourth top run-getters in
Test cricket and second on the list of batsmen
with most centuries in Test cricket after Sachin
Tendulkar of India, who retired in November 2013
He has taken 292 wickets in test matches at an
average of 32.53
As a fielder, in test cricket he has taken 199 catches and stands only behind Rahul Dravid in
test matches
Boxing Day test match

A test match that starts on 26 December is termed as the Boxing Day test match. Basically, this
match is hosted in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and involves cricket team and an opposing national
team that is on a tour of Australia. It begins annually on Boxing Day (26 December) and is played
at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Boxing Day Test forms part of the 5 match ashes series with
England in every four years.
Vernon Philander of South Africa topped Test bowler ranking of

ICC
South Africa fast bowler Vernon Philander declared on the No. 1 position in the latest ICC Test
rankings in bowling and batting released on 24 December 2013.
Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, had moved in the right direction on rankings for Test batsmen.
Philander recorded figures of four for 61 and three for 68, Steyn managed just one wicket. The
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contrasting performances resulted in Philander

gaining 13 ratings points and Steyn conceding 13
ratings points. Steyn was on this position from july
2009.
Philander is now the seventh South Africa bowler
to claim the number-one rank after Aubrey Faulkner
(1914-1921), Hugh Tayfield (1955-1958), Peter
Pollock (1969), Allan Donald (1998-1999), Shaun
Pollock (1999-2003) and Dale Steyn (2008-2013).
Kohli, who stroked 119 and 96, has jumped nine
places to a career-best 11th position, du Plessiss
134 in the second innings has helped him rocket 16
places to a best-ever 28th position.
Of the other two century-makers in the Test, numberone ranked AB de Villiers and Indias Cheteshwar
Pujara have consolidated their number-one and
number-seven spots, respectively.
Team Rankings
Rank
Team
Rating
1.
South Africa
131
2.
India
119
3.
England
116
4.
Pakistan
102
5.
Australia
101
6.
Sri Lanka
88
7.
West Indies
87
8.
New Zealand
82
9.
Zimbabwe
34
10.
Bangladesh
18
The ICC Player Rankings are a widely followed system of rankings for international cricketers based
on their recent performances.
Sindhu and Shrikant won singles titles in National Badminton

Championship
Kidambi Srikanth and PV Sindhu won the mens and womens titles respectively at the 78th Senior
National Badminton Championship in Siri Fort Sports Complex at New Delhi on 23 December 2013.
Srikanth won the mens singles crown of the Senior National Badminton Championship by defeating
M V Guru Sai Dutt 21-13, 22-20 in the finals. In the Womens singles, PV Sindhu defeated the Junior
National Champion Rituparna Das 21-17, 21-11 in the finals to win the title.
In the mens doubles the second seeded Pranav Chopra and Akshay Devalkar beat the top seeds
Munnu Atri and Sumit Reddy 21-19, 21-17 to lift the title. Womens doubles title was won by Jwala
Gutta and Ashwani Punnappa. Jwala and Punnappa regained the womens doubles crown for the
first time, since 2009.
Defending mixed doubles champions Aparna Balan and Arun Vishnu retained their title by defeating
Tarun Kona and Ashwini Ponnappa 21-10 21-17. The second seeded pair of Jwala and Ashwini
prevailed over top seeds Pradnya Gadre and Siki Reddy N 21-17 21-16.
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78th Senior National Badminton Championship-2013 was held from 16 December 2013 to 23
December 2013 in New Delhi. It held five types of events namely Mens Singles, Mens Doubles,
Womens Single, Womens Doubles and Mixed Doubles.
About Badminton Association of India (BAI)

Badminton Association of India (BAI) is the governing body for Badminton in India. Based in
Lucknow, BAI is an association registered under the societies act. It was formed in 1934 and has
been holding national-level tournaments in India since 1936. BAI has 33 State Associations and
4 other organizations as its members that conduct Badminton tournaments and have a 2x voting
power compared to the 8 affiliate members, who do not conduct tournaments and have a single
vote each in the association.
Zaheer fourth Indian bowler to claim 300 wickets in Test cricket

Zaheer Khan on 22
December 2013 became
the fourth Indian bowler
to claim 300 wickets in
Test Cricket. Jacques
Kallis was his 300th
wicket in international
test cricket on the fifth
day of the first cricket
test match against South
Africa in Johannesburg at
the Wanderers Stadium.
With the 300 wickets, Zaheer joined the club of bowlers of India, who has taken 300 wickets namely
Kapil Dev (434 wickets), Anil Kumble (619 wickets) and Harbhajan Singh (413 wickets). He also
became the most successful left arm fast bowler after Wasim Akram of Pakistan (414 wickets) and
Chaminda Vaas of Sri Lanka (355 Wickets).
About Zaheer Khan

Zaheer has taken 282 wickets in 200 one day international matches
17 wickets in Twenty20 Internationals
Zaheer was the highest wicket-taker for India in the 2011 World Cup
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In 2011, he was conferred with the Arjuna Award, the second highest sporting award of India
In 2008, he was selected as the Wisden Cricketer of the Year
He debuted in the International one days and test matches in 2000
He has played for Worcestershire in County Cricket
He plays for Mumbai in Indian domestic cricket
Englands Graeme Swann announced retirement from International Cricket

England spinner
announced
his
international and
midway through the
December 2013.
Graeme Swann
retirement
from
first-class cricket
Ashes Series on 22
The surprise announcement came days

after England lost the coveted Ashes in
the third Test in Perth to fall 3-0 behind
in the five-test series.Swann had long
been Australias Ashes tormentor. He
played a key role in Englands run of
three successive series wins against
their arch-rivals Australia.
He topped the bowling table with 26 wickets in the Ashes Test series held in 2012 in England.
England won the series by 3-0 margin. In the process, he became the first English spinner since
Hedley Verity in 1934 to take five wickets in an Ashes Test innings at Lords.
Englands highest Test wickettakers
About Swann
Swann made his test debut against India at Chennai in
2008 wherein he took four wickets.
383
Ian Botham
329
James Anderson
He retired as the sixth highest Test wicket-takers of

England. He took 255 wickets from his 60 matches at
an average of 29.96.
325
Bob Willis
307
Fred Trueman
297
Derek Underwood
255
Graeme Swann
252
Brian Statham
He has taken more wickets since his debut in December

2008 than any other bowler in Test cricket, including
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Dale Steyn and James Anderson.

He also took 104 wickets in 79 one-day internationals at an average of 27.76 after making his debut
against South Africa in Bloemfontein in 2000 at the age of 20.
He took 51 T20 wickets in 39 T20 matches at an average of 16.84.
In addition, he helped England clinch their first major global world title at the 2010 World Twenty20
in the Caribbean.
India won Asia-Pacific Junior Golf Team Titles

India won the boys and girls team titles in the Asia-Pacific junior golf championship at the
Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC). It was Indias first ever victory in the Asia Pacific Junior Golf
Championship.
In the boys category, the team of Viraj Madappa and Manu Gandas took India A to win the team
title. On the other hand, in the girls category, the team of Aditi and Ridhima Dilawari fashioned India
B to win the team title.
In the individual category, Aditi Ashok lifted the individual title in the girls category after a thrilling
play-off with second-placed Min-Jou Chen of Chinese Taipei.
Team Boys
India A (Manu Gandas, Viraj Madappa)
Results
Girls
India B (Ridhima Dilawari, Aditi Ashok)
Thailand B (Ekthumrong Luanganuruk, Suradit Chinese Taipei A (Yu-Hsin Chang, Min-Jou

Yongcharoenchai)
Chen)
Chinese Taipei A (Sung I Yu, Chun An Yu)
Chinese Taipei B (Hsin-En Tsai, Cih-Hui Chen)
Cheteshwar Pujara slipped to 7th position in ICC Test rankings

Cheteshwar Pujara the batsman of Indian Cricket team
slipped to seventh position in the batting list of the test
matches that was released by ICC on 19 December
2013. Among the bowlers, R Ashwin retained his fifth
position in the bowling chart.
Virat Kohli, who struck a century in the opening day
of the first test against South Africa in the only other
Indian cricketer to be in the latest chart released. He is
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unchanged at 20th position. Pragyan Ojha has moved up to the eighth spot. R Ashwin also holds
the top position in the list of all-rounder.
South African batsman, AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla continue to head the rankings for Test
batsmen.
Top 10 Batsmen in Test

ID
Rat.
Name
Top 10 Bowlers in Test

ID
Rat.
Name
909
A.B. de Villiers
903
D.W. Steyn
898
H.M. Amla
899
V.D. Philander
868
M.J. Clarke
831
H.M.R.K.B. Herath
866
K.C. Sangakkara
824
Saeed Ajmal
854
S. Chanderpaul
808
R. Ashwin
835
R.L. Taylor
796
R.J. Harris
801
C.A. Pujara
786
P.M. Siddle
783
Misbah-ul-Haq
756
P.P. Ojha
771
G.C. Smith
745
S.C.J. Broad
10
769
Younus Khan
10
719
T.A. Boult
Earlier, Cheteshwar Pujara on 13 December 2013 bagged the Emerging Cricketer of the Year trophy
at the ICC Annual awards announced in Dubai.
South Indias 1st high altitude cricket stadium inaugurated in

Kerala
South Indias first high altitude cricket stadium was inaugurated on
17 December 2013 at Krishnagiri in Waynad district of Kerala.
The stadium was inaugurated by Kerala Governor Nikhil Kumar.
This is the second cricket ground in India after Dharamsala
stadium to be located as such height. The stadium spreads
over 4.4 hectares area and is situated at about 2800 feet above
the sea level. The Kerala Cricket Association had invested 6.5
crore rupees for construction of the stadium.
The stadium has all amenities on par with international
standards and can accommodate about 10,000 spectators.
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ICC suspended Shane Shillingford for illegal Bowling action

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on 16
December
2013
suspended
Shane
Shillingford, the West Indies offspinner, from
bowling in international cricket after his
action was found illegal.
Another West Indies cricketer Marlon
Samuels, who is a part-time offspinner, also
has been prohibited from bowling quicker
deliveries in international cricket. Both the
players were reported for suspect action on
16 November 2013, during the second Test
against India in Mumbai. They underwent
biomechanical analysis in Perth on 29
November 2013.
An ICC statement stated that an independent biomechanical analysis had revealed that for both
Shillingfords standard off-break delivery and his doosra, the amount of elbow extension in his
bowling action exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the ICC regulations.
Shane Shillingford will remain suspended until he submits a fresh analysis that proves his action
has been corrected.
Shane Shillingford had earlier been suspended from bowling in international cricket in December
2010, a month after being reported for a suspect bowling action on West Indies tour of Sri Lanka.
He underwent remedial action on his bowling and was cleared by the ICC in June 2011.
Shane Shillingford, (born 22 February 1983) is a West Indian cricketer who plays first-class and List
A cricket for the West Indies cricket team. He played 14 Tests (debut 2010, 65 wickets).
About International Cricket Council (ICC)

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the global governing body for international cricket,
encompassing mens, womens and youth participation and competition.
ICC was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England,
Australia and South Africa.
ICC is responsible for the administration of mens and womens cricket including the management
of playing conditions and officials for Test Match and One-Day International (ODI) cricket and
the staging of international cricket events for men, women and juniors.
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Mahesh Mangaonkar won IMET Squash Open 2013

Indian squash player Mahesh Mangaonkar has won the IMET Open 2013 in the Slovakian capital
Bratislava on 16 December 2013.
Mahesh, the 19-year-old World No.98 from Mumbai downed defending champion Greg Lobban,
the No.2 seed from Scotland 7-11, 11-8, 11-4, 6-11, 11-7 to take the title.
With this victory Mahesh Mangaonkar also became the first Indian squash player to win the IMET
Open.
About IMET Squash Open

The IMET Open is the PSA World Tour Challenger 5 event. The IMET Open 2013 was held from 12
to 15 December 2013 at the IMET Squash Centrum in the Slovakia capital Bratislava. The prize
money for the title winner is 5000 Dollars. This is the sixth edition of the tournament
Ethiopian Runner Atsedu Tsegay won Delhi Half Marathon 2013

Ethiopian runner Atsedu Tsegay on 15 December 2013 won the Mens Delhi Half Marathon (21.097
km) by creating a new race record. Tsegay clocked 59 minutes 10 seconds beating the previous
record of 59 minutes 15 seconds held by Deriba Merga since 2008.
Former junior world champion Geoffrey Kipsang of Kenya came second, while his compatriot
Wilson Kiprop finished third. G. Laxman was the top finisher for India, with a timing of 1 hour 04
minutes and 44 seconds.
Womens category
In womens category Kenyan athlete Florence Kiplagat finished on top with a timing of 1 hour 07
minutes and 58 seconds. Gladys Cherono came second, while Lucy Kabuu finished third. Among
the Indian athletes, Preeja Sreedharan was the top finisher. She clocked 1 hour 20 minutes 04
seconds.
The winners of the both men and women category won the prize money of 25000, 18000, and
12000 US Dollars respectively according to their top three positions.
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About Airtel Delhi Half Marathon

The Airtel Delhi Half Marathon is an annual half marathon event held in New Delhi, India. Established
in 2005, it is both an elite runner and mass participation event. Indian telecommunications services
company Airtel took the title ownership of the marathon in 2008. Prior to this, telecom provider
Vodafone had the title sponsorship. A total of 31000 plus runners participated in the 2013 Delhi
half marathon.
Germany won Mens Junior Hockey World Cup 2013

Germany on 15 December 2013 lifted the Mens Junior Hockey
World Cup for a record sixth time. In the title clash at New Delhi,
defending champions Germany defeated France, 5-2 to retain
the title.
Final Positions
1.
Germany
2.
France
3.
The Netherlands
4.
Malaysia
5.
Australia
6.
Belgium
7.
New Zealand
8.
Korea
9.
Pakistan
10.
India
11.
Argentina
Goal-keeper of the Tournament: Edgar Reynaud (France)
12.
South Africa
Top Scorer: Christopher Rhr (Germany), 9 goals
13.
Spain
Goal of the Tournament: Jean-Laurent Kieffer (France), Argentina

vs. France, 3rd French goal (48th minute)
14.
England
15.
Egypt
The Junior Hockey world Cup 2013 was held in New Delhi, India
from 6-15 December 2013. A total of 16 teams were participated
in this tournament.
16.
Canada
For the Germans, Nilkas Wellen scored the hat-trick goals with
Jonas Gomoll and Christopher Ruhr being the other goal scorers.
For France, Gaspard Baumgarten scored both the goals.
In another match, the Netherlands beat Malaysia, 7-2 to finish
third in the tournament. The Indian team finished at the 10th
spot, after losing to Pakistan in penalties in the 9th-10th position
match on 14 December 2013.
Individual Awards:
Player of the final: Niklas Wellen (Germany).
Player of the Tournament: Christopher Rhr (Germany)
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About Mens Junior Hockey World Cup

The Mens Junior Hockey World Cup also known as the Roger Danet Trophy is an international field
hockey competition organised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
The tournament was first held at France in 1979. Since 1985 it has been held every four years.
Competitors must be under the age of 21 as of December 31 in the year before the tournament is
held.
Indian Judokas won Silver and 4 bronze medals in Asian Youth &
Junior Championships
Indian Judokas in second week of December 2013 won silver and four bronze medals in the Asian
Youth and Junior Championships, which concluded in Hainan, China. The junior Indian team
comprised of seven boys and seven girls. The youth team also comprised of seven girls and boys.
The championship was held from 11 to 13 December 2013.
The Indian youth team won Silver and two bronze medals and the junior team won two bronze
medal. Obaid Al-Anzi, the President Judo Union of Asia (JUA) opened the 7th Asian Youth & 14th
Asian Junior Judo Championships 2013 at Hainan, China.
7th Asian Youth Judo Championships 2013

As per the schedule the 7th Asian Youth Judo Championships 2013 concluded on 11 December
2013 at Hainan, China. 17 Nations participated in this Youth Championships.
The host country China won overall Championship by winning 5 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze, and
South Korea placed runner-up by winning 3 Gold and 3 Bronze, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan placed
third and fourth places.
14th Asian Junior Judo Championships 2013

The 14th Asian Junior Judo Championships 2013 concluded on 13 December 2013 at Hainan,
China. 95 Men and 60 Women from 19 Nations participated in this Championship.
Japan won overall Championship by winning 10 Gold and 1 Silver medal, however South Korea
placed runner-up by winning 2 Gold, 2 Silver and 5 Bronze medals, and Mongolia won 2 Gold and
Silver placed third.
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About Judo Union of Asia

Judo Union of Asia came into existence in the year 1956 with 7 National Judo Federations as its
members. Chinese Taipei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Philippines and Thailand were the
Founding Members of JUA. The 1st Asian Judo Championships (Men) was held in the year 1966
in Manila, Philippines, and teams from 8 Member National Judo Federations participated in the
Championships.
JUA Membership has been increasing year by year. By the end of the year 1970, National Judo
Federations from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Vietnam, DPR Korea, Burma
(Myammar, at present), Singapore, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Iran and Syria also joined
JUA, thus expanding the membership to 23.
India retained the World Kabaddi Cup for fourth consecutive

time
India defeated Pakistan 48-39 in the World Kabaddi Cup in the finals played at Guru Nanak Dev
Stadium in Ludhiana, Punjab on 14 December 2013. With this win, India retained the title for fourth
consecutive time.
Hardavinder Singh Dulla and Balbir Singh from India were named as the Best Raider and Best
Stopper of the tournament, respectively. In the semi-finals, hosts India crushed England 63-32
while Pakistan beat USA 51-33.
After the end of the final game, the winning team India was presented with a cash reward of two
crore rupees and the runner-up team, Pakistan won a cash prize of one crore rupees. The awards
were given by the Chief Guest of the match, Shahbaz Shrief along with Chief Minister of Punjab
Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister.
When the World Kabaddi Cup concluded, the Chief Minister of Pakistans Punjab Mian Shahbaz
Shrief promised that the fifth edition of the Kabaddi Cup would be held jointly at Lahore and
Ludhiana.
Earlier on 13 December 2013, the Indian women Kabbadi team defeated New Zealand by 49-21
and received 51 lakh rupees as winning amount. The last three editions of the Kabaddi World Cup
have been won by India by defeating Canada once and Pakistan twice.
India won Womens Kabaddi World Cup 2013

India on 12 December 2013 won the womens Kabaddi World Cup championship for the third time
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in a row, defeating New Zealand 49-21 in the summit clash in Jalandhar, Punjab.
The Indian womens team led their New Zealand counterparts for most part of the match and held
out a strong challenge by the visitors in the second half, on course to a resounding win.
The Indian team took home a first-place prize of 1 crore rupees. Anu Rani was adjudged the best
stopper while Ram Bateri was declared the best raider. Both received a Maruti Alto car each.
In Earlier matches, India defeated Pakistan and New Zealand defeated Denmark respectively in the
semi-finals. In third place match, Denmark took the third place by 34-33 points, while Pakistan took
the fourth place.
About Womens Kabaddi World Cup 2013

The 4th Pearls Kabaddi World Cup - 2013 was held from 30 November to 12 December 2013 in
the state of Punjab, India.
The women teams which were participated in the tournament are India and the United States,
England, Denmark, Iran, Mexico, Kenya and Pakistan.
The Kabaddi world cup 2013 was organised state Government of Punjab.
Indian womens team has won 2011, 2012, and 2013 editions of World cups.
This tournament is annual event, with popularising the rural sport at the international level, aims
to promote people-to-people contact.
For the first team a womens team from Pakistan participated in the tournament.
Prakash, Malaika struck Gold at 57th National Shooting Championship

Malaika Goel of Punjab and Prakash Nanjappa of Karnataka won Gold at the 57th National Shooting
Championship held at Tughlakabad on 14 December 2013.
Malaika won the Gold in womens 10-meter air pistol whereas Prakash won Gold in 50-meter free
pistol. The 16-year-old Malaika beat seasoned Harveen Srao by 5.3 points in the final to win the
gold. Earlier she beat Olympians Heena Sidhu and Annu Raj Singh to make the final.
Malaika also swept the junior and youth Gold medals as well, on the basis of her qualification score
of 385 that had placed her second in qualification for the womens final.
The 37-year-old Prakash battling Bells Palsy disease (dryness of eye) scored a total of 550 to win
the Gold medal in the final.
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The Results:
EVENTS
POSITION
1. Prakash Nanjappa
50-METER FREE PISTOL
2. Kapil Kumar
3. Gurpal Singh
MEN
1. Sukhwinder Singh
2. Kapil Kumar
JUNIORS
3. Prashant Malik
1. Malaika Goel
10-METER AIR PISTOL
2. Harveen Srao
3. Shreya Gawande
1. Malaika Goel
WOMEN
2. Nayani Bhardwaj
JUNIORS
3. Shreya Gawande
1. Malaika Goel
2. Nayani Bhardwaj
YOUTH
3. Gauri Sheoran
India retained its top position in latest ICC ODI rankings

India on 12 December 2013 retained its top position in the latest ICC ODI rankings. India topped
the rankings table with 120 points, which is followed by Australia with 114 rating points. The latest
ICC ranking was released in Dubai.
Even after, the dismal performance against South Africa, the Indian team was able to stick on the
number one position because of the games played by it on the home ground.
Apart from this, in the player rankings released A.B. Devilliers of South Africa moved ahead of Virat
Kohli as the Worlds number one Batsman. The Indian Cricket captain, M.S. Dhoni was placed at
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number six and the Shikhar Dhawan was placed at tenth position in the rankings chart.
In the bowlers rankings, Indian bowler Ravindra Jadeja was pushed on the seventh place in the
ranking chart. Saeed Ajmal, the Pakistan spinner was placed at number 1 and is followed by the
South African pace man, Dale Steyn.
In the category of All Rounders, Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh retained his number one position
and was followed by Shane Watson of Australia. Ravindra Jadeja of India was placed at fifth position
in the rankings.
ICC One Day International team Rankings

Rank
Team
Matches
Points
Rating
India
58
6967
120
Australia
42
4808
114
England
42
4671
111
Sri Lanka
51
5605
110
South Africa
44
4825
110
Pakistan
53
5279
100
West Indies
44
3958
90
New Zealand
34
2899
85
Bangladesh
26
2165
83
10
Zimbabwe
26
1439
55
11
Ireland
11
423
38
12
Netherlands
88
13
13
Kenya
40
10
ICC Test team Rankings

Rank
Team
Matches
Points
Rating
South Africa
27
3531
131
India
33
3920
119
England
38
4407
116
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Pakistan
25
2538
102
Australia
33
3318
101
West Indies
25
2366
95
Sri Lanka
26
2295
88
New Zealand
30
2243
75
Zimbabwe
11
372
34
10
Bangladesh
16
285
18
ICC T20 team Rankings

Rank
Team
Matches
Qfy Matches
Points
Rating
Sri Lanka
20
24
2570
129
India
15
19
1843
123
South Africa
23
29
2818
123
Pakistan
30
40
3638
121
West Indies
17
22
2041
120
England
21
28
2357
112
Australia
20
26
2047
102
New Zealand
21
27
2139
102
Ireland
14
783
87
10
Bangladesh
11
15
791
72
11
Afghanistan
13
14
908
70
12
Netherlands
12
508
56
13
Scotland
11
13
545
50
14
Zimbabwe
12
16
553
46
15
Kenya
15
17
633
42
16
Canada
11
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Top 10 batsmen in Test Cricket

ID
Rat.
Name
909
A.B. de Villiers
898
H.M. Amla
884
M.J. Clarke
866
K.C. Sangakkara
863
S. Chanderpaul
801
C.A. Pujara
794
R.L. Taylor
783
Misbah-ul-Haq
771
G.C. Smith
10
769
Younus Khan
ID
Rat.
Name
903
D.W. Steyn
899
V.D. Philander
831
H.M.R.K.B. Herath
824
Saeed Ajmal
808
R. Ashwin
792
R.J. Harris
781
P.M. Siddle
764
S.C.J. Broad
756
P.P. Ojha
10
710
J.M. Anderson
Top 10 Bowlers in Test Cricket
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Top 10 Batsmen in One Day International Cricket

ID
Rat.
Name
872
A.B. de Villiers
859
V. Kohli
839
H.M. Amla
835
G.J. Bailey
830
K.C. Sangakkara
789
M.S. Dhoni
766
T.M. Dilshan
754
I.J.L. Trott
722
Misbah-ul-Haq
10
717
S Dhawan
Top 10 Bowlers in One Day International Cricket

ID
Name
763
Saeed Ajmal
742
D.W. Steyn
730
S.P. Narine
708
S.T. Finn
696
J.M. Anderson
695
H.M.R.K.B. Herath
692
R.A. Jadeja
674
L.L. Tsotsobe
673
M. Morkel
10
Rat.
670
M.G. Johnson
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Sergio Perez joined Sahara Force India with multi-year deal for
2014 F1 season
British-based Sahara Force India on 12 December 2013 signed Sergio Perez as race driver for the
team in 2014 and beyond. He has signed a multi-year contract with the Force India team. Earlier,
he dropped England based McLaren at the end of the 2013 Formula one season.
About Sergio Perez

Perez was a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy
until 2012 and took his first Formula One podium
at the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix
Perez joined McLaren for the 2013 season by
replacing Lewis Hamilton
Sergio Perez along with the German Nico

Hulkenberg will be the race drivers of Force India
for the team in 2014 and beyond. The two have
finished at 11th and 10th in the 2013 F1 Drivers
standings, respectively.
ICC Annual Awards: Pujara bagged Emerging Cricketer of the

Year trophy
The Indian cricketer and a Rising Test batsman, Cheteshwar Pujara on 13 December 2013 bagged
the Emerging Cricketer of the Year trophy at the ICC Annual awards announced in Dubai. This is
the first ever ICC Award for Pujara.
He became the second fastest Indian to score 1000 Test runs during the course of his double
hundred against Australia on March at Hyderabad. He put on the board 370-run record second
wicket partnership with Murali Vijay. Pujara, the 25 year old cricketer has scored 1310 runs in 15
tests with an average of 65.50.
Apart from Pujara, the Captain of Indian cricket team Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the Indian to win
ICC Annual award and he got LG Peoples Choice Award.
Australian captain Michael Clarke was the winner of the Sir Garfield Sobers trophy for ICC Cricketer
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of the Year and was also named as the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year. In total, there were eleven
individual awards. The full list of winners is:
ICC Cricketer of the Year (Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy) Michael Clarke (Australia)
ICC Test Cricketer of the Year Michael Clarke (Australia)
ICC Womens ODI Cricketer of the Year Suzie Bates (New Zealand)
ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)
ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year Cheteshwar Pujara (India)
ICC Associate and Affiliate Cricketer of the Year Kevin OBrien (Ireland)
ICC Twenty20 International Performance of the Year Umar Gul (Pakistan)
ICC T20I Womens Cricketer of the Year Sarah Taylor (England)
ICC Spirit of Cricket Award Mahela Jayawardena (Sri Lanka)
ICC Umpire of the Year (winning the David Shepherd Trophy) Richard Kettleborough
LG Peoples Choice MS Dhoni
The award function was hosted by Ricky Ponting, the former Australian Captain. Ponting is the
winner of the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy in 2006 and 2007 and was the ICC Test Cricketer of the
Year in 2006. Apart from this he was also appointed captain of ICCs ODI Team of the Year in 2007,
2008 and 2010.
South East Asian Games kicked off in Naypyitaw, Myanmar

The 27th edition of South East Asian Games kicked off in Naypyitaw, the new state capital of
Myanmar on 11 December 2013.
This is the biggest sporting event in South East Asia. The games involve 34 events with participation
from 11 Countries. More than 1500 medals are to be given to the winners. The 27th edition of SEA
Games is scheduled from 11 to 22 December 2013.
Myanmar is hosting the South East Asian Games after 40 years. Myanmar was the host for 1961,
2nd SEAP Game and 1969, 5th Southeast Asian Peninsular Games (SEAP).
The Theme for this year SEA Game is: Green, Clean and Friendship
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About Southeast Asian Games

The Southeast Asian Games is a biannual multi-sport event involving participants from the current
11 countries of Southeast Asia. The games are under regulation of the Southeast Asian Games
Federation with supervision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council
of Asia.
In order to participate, all athletes must be entered by their National Olympic Committee. The
previous edition- the 26th South East Asian Games were held in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2011.
The first edition of SEA games were held in Bangkok, Thailand in 1959.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) debars charge-sheeted from

contesting elections
On 8 December 2013 the Indian
Olympic Association amended
its constitution debarring framed
and charged people from
contesting elections to the
governing body of Olympic
sports in India, Indian Olympic
Association, IOA.
IN a special meeting of its general
body headed by S. Reghunathan
the association decided to fix 9
February as the date for fresh
elections to the IOA after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had given it the ultimatum to
reduce external influence on the India Olympic Association and corruption within it and if it did not
do so, it risked being removed from the Olympic mission.
The amendments would disallow charge-sheeted administrators like Lalit Bhanot from contesting
elections to the governing body of the Association. The International Olympic Committee (IOC)
is now expected to go through the amendments and revoke the suspension of IOA so that India
could return back to the Olympic movement. IOA was suspended from the IOC for government
interference putting at risk the recognition of IOA by the IOC.
Shri Jitendra nSingh, the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, had taken a delegation to IOC to
help end the suspension of IOA in the early part of this year. He expressed happiness at the step
taken by the IOA. It would clean up the sports administration in India; thus helping it to meet the
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IOC commitments on corruption and non interference of government within sports bodies and
federations.
About International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Pierre Baron de Coubertin, the father of Modern Olympics, founded the body with Demetrios
Vikelas as the first president on 23 June 1894. It organizes the Olympic games, the winter Olympic
games and promotes ethical values in Olympic sports. It acts as the collaborator between the
various Olympic Associations in holding the world events like the Asian Games. Thomas Bach is
the present head of the body.
About Indian Olympic Association (IOA)

It has the responsibility of preparing the players for the Olympics, the Asian Games, the
Commonwealth Games and other regional events as well ensuring their participation in their
respective disciplines. Sir Dorabji Tata did the early work in establishing a National level body in
India to encourage Olympics in 1919. He established the Indian Olympic Association with the help
of Dr A. G. Noehren who the director of Youth Missionary Christian Association (YMCA).Its current
president is Abhay Singh Chautala.
Chitra won bronze at IBSF World Snooker Championships

Chitra Magimairajan won the bronze at the IBSF World Snooker Championship held at Daugvapils,
Latvia. She lost to Wendy Jans of Belgium 1-4 in the semifinals.
In the final, Wendy Jans successfully defended her title by defeating Chunxia Shi of China 5-3.
In the mens final, Zhou Yuelong of China defeated compatriot Zhao Xintong 8-3 to win the IBSF
title.
The next edition of the IBSF World Snooker Championship will be held at Bangalore in November
2014. The last edition was held at Sofia, Bulgaria in 2012.
About IBSF
The International Billiards & Snooker Federation (IBSF) is an organisation that governs nonprofessional snooker and English billiards around the world and was formed in 1971.

The IBSF is made up of seventy three affiliated countries all of which belong to one of the five
Olympic Regions: Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
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The aims and objectives of the IBSF are to co-ordinate, promote and develop the sports of
billiards and snooker on a non-professional level.
The events that is organized and coordinated by the IBSF are: World Snooker Championships;
World Team Snooker Cup; World Under-21 Snooker Championships; World Ladies Snooker
Championships; and World Billiards Championships.
The current President is James Leacy.
The IBSF is the snooker division of the World Confederation of Billiard Sports (WCBS).
The WCBS is an organisation that promotes cue sports in the form of carom, pool and snooker.
The aim of the WCBS is to gain the acceptance of these three cue sports disciplines into the
Olympic Games
Kerala topped the 29th Junior National Athletics Championships

Kerala emerged as the champion state in the 29th Junior National Athletics Championships which
concluded on 7 December 2013. The championship was held at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in
Bengaluru.
Kerala ended the competition with a 585 score, way ahead of the second placed Tamil Nadu.
Haryana was placed third. Significantly Kerala has been the champion for 19th time in the 29 year
old history of the event.
At the championship many national records were broken. The list of athletes who broke national
records in various events is given below:
NAME
STATE
EVENT
RECORD
Swapan Burman
West Bengal
Girls High Jump (U-18)
1.71 M
Gayathri Shivakumar
Kerala
Girls High Jump (U-14)
1.55 M
Chandan Bauri
West Bengal
Boys 400 m (U-16)
48.24 sec
Sahil Mahabali
Haryana
Boys Long Jump (U-16)
7.27 M
Mahashri Baloda
Delhi
Boys 3-kg Iron Ball Throw
11.63 M
Athira Suchendran
Kerala
Youth Girls Triple Jump
12.86 M
Chandan Bauri
West Bengal
Boys 200-m (U-16)
22.11 sec
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Best athletes of the 29th National Junior Youth Athletic Championship

BOYS
GIRLS
U-20: Sumit Malik (Himachal Pradesh 400m)
U-20: Archana Suseendran (Tamil Nadu 100m)
U-18: Nirbhay Singh (Haryana Discus Throw) U-18: G. Karthika (Tamil Nadu Long Jump)
U-16: Mankirat Singh (Punjab Shot Put)
U-16: Tiasha Samadder (West Bengal 400m)
U-14: Sourav (Haryna Shot Put)
U-14: Maharshi Baloda (Delhi Shot Put).
BRAZUCA, The official 2014 FIFA World Cup Match Ball was
unveiled
Brazuka, the official 2014 FIFA World Cup
match ball was unveiled on 3 December
2013 by manufacturers Adidas in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil.
The ball is called the Brazuca after a public
vote by more than one million football fans
in the host nation Brazil. Brazuca is an
informal local term which means Brazilian,
or relating to a Brazilian way of life.
The ball was named Brazuca in September
2012 following a public vote in Brazil involving one million football fans. The colours of the ball
reflect those of the Brazilian flag and tournament logo, while the design is a representation of the
colourful wristbands that Brazilians often wear.
The ball, the successor to the Adidas Jabulani used at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, has
already been tested in competitive international matches, at the Under-20s World Cup, with a
different print design, and in the friendly between Sweden and Argentina in February 2014.
The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be the 20th FIFA World Cup, an international mens football tournament,
tournament is scheduled to be held in Brazil from 12 June to 13 July 2014.
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Mahendra Singh Dhoni won ICC Peoples Choice Award 2013

India Cricket team captain
Mahendra Singh Dhoni on 3
December 2013 won the
International Cricket Council
(ICC) Peoples Choice Award
for the year 2013.
Dhoni also became the
second Indian cricketer after
SachinTendulkar to get this
award.
Sri
Lanka
cricketer
Kumar
Sangarkara won this award for two times in 2011 and 2012.
Other nominees for this years LG Peoples Choice Award were Michael Clarke, Alastair Cook, Virat
Kohli, and AB de Villiers
The International Cricket Council (ICC) Peoples Choice award introduced in the year 2010 and
Sachin Tendulkar won inaugural Award.
Gaganjeet Bhullar won Indonesia Open Golf Tournament 2013

Indian Golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar on 1 December
2013 won the 2013 edition of the Indonesia
Open at Jakarta. Bhullar finished 72 holes on
the Pantai Indah Kapuk Course at Damai Indah
Golf at 16-under-par 268.
Bhullar, who led the tournament from the
outset with a 64 in his opening round, finished
at 16-under, three shots ahead of Malaysian
Nicholas Fung and Thailands Chapchai Nirat at 13-under.
Malaysias Nicholas Fung (66) finished tied second alongside Thailands Chapchai Nirat (66).
Bhullars victory also credited him with $135,000 in prize money to be placed fourth in Asias Order
of Merit with total earnings of $462,378. This is Bhullars fifth Asian Tour title.
The 2013 edition of Indonesia Open is one of the tournaments in the Asian Tour, scheduled from 28
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November to 1 December at the Pantai Indah Kapuk course at Damai Indah Golf, Jakata.
Ethiopian Runners won both Mens and Womens titles at Pune

International Marathon
Runners from Ethiopia have won the both the mens and womens
events in the 28th edition of the Pune International Marathon on 1
December 2013.
Belachew Endale Abayneh won the mens 42.195 km race in 2
hours, 17 minutes and 52 seconds, while Aberu Zewude Tesema
claimed the top spot in the womens half-distance race clocking 1
hour, 16 minute and 54 seconds.
Category
First
Country
Second
Country
Third
Country
Belachew
Mens full
marathon (42 Endale
Abayneh
km)
Ethopia
Ezekiel Cherop Kenya
Edisa Merga
Eiigu
Ethiopia
Habtamu
Mens halfmarathon (21 Arga Wegi
km)
Ethopia
YEgon Daniel
Cheruiyot
Kenya
Melaku
Belachew
Bizuneh
Ethiopia
Womens
halfmarathon
Aberu
Zewude
Tesema
Ethopia
Mestawot
Tradesse
Shankutie
Ethopia
Romeha
AleneWoldu
Ethiopia
Mens 10 km
Man Singh
India
Arjun Pradhan
India
Ankit Malik
India
Womens 10
km
Nilam
Sachin
Rajput
India
Kavit Raut
India
Lalita Babar
India
India retained Top-spot in ICC ODI Rankings

India cricket team has retained its top position in the latest ICC ODI rankings and second position
in the Test cricket rankings. Both the lists were released by the International Cricket Council in
Dubai on 1 December 2013.
Virat Kohli is the top batsman in ODI list while R. Ashwin is the top all-rounder in the Test rankings.
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Pakistans spin-maestro Saeed Ajmal has topped the ODI bowlers ranking.
In test rankings, Cheteshwar Pujara is the best-placed Indian batsman at sixth with Virat Kohli
following him at a distant 20th spot. In the bowlers list, R Ashwin is fifth, followed by Pragyan Ojha
at ninth.
TOP TEN TEAMS (Dated: 1 December 2013)

TEST
ODI
South Africa
India
India
Australia
England
England
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Australia
South Africa
West Indies
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
West indies
New Zealand
New Zealand
Zimbabwe
Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Zimbabwe
PV Sindhu won Macau Open Badminton Singles title

Indian shuttler P V Sindhu on 1 December 2013 won the Womens
Singles trophy at the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton
Tournament.
In the title clash, Sindhu, defeated seventh seed Li Michelle of
Canada in straight games, 21-15, 21-12. With this victory, Sindhu
has bagged yet another Tier-III title this season, after her triumph at
the Malaysia Open Grand Prix in May 2013.
Besides the Malaysia Open triumph, she also became Indias
first woman to win the Bronze medal at the World Championship
in August 2013. This was Indias first singles medal at the World
Championships since Prakash Padukone won a Bronze in the 1983 edition.
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STATE
E TAT S
Gujarats Cheeranjavi Yojana failed to reduce MMR and IMR

significantly: Duke University
A study conducted by the Duke University showed that Chiranjeevi Yojana of Gujarat failed to
reduce the maternal mortality rate (MMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR) significantly.
The study was published by the international public health, Bulletin of the World Health Organisation
(WHO) in the last week of December 2013.
The Cheeranjavi Yojana launched in 2006 to reduce the MMR and IMR, according to the study, did
not lead to increased probability of institutional child-delivery or maternal health outcomes. Also,
the Yojana did not led to any fall in the household expenditure on private-sector deliveries.
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The reasons for the failure cited by the study are as follows:
The inaccurate BPL classification of the population is a contributing factor. That is, 40 percent
of above BPL have BPL cards and 45 percent BPL do not have BPL cards. This shows a clear
case of leakage and benefits not reaching the targeted population.
The providers were charging extra for other services and also lot of empanelled hospitals were
in the urban areas that led to huge cost of access to these services.
It also did not address self-selection of women into institutional delivery or reported inaccuracies
by hospitals
About Chiranjeevi Yojana

Gujarat government launched Chiranjeevi Yojana in 2005-06 to reduce maternal and infant mortality
rate in the state and increase the institutional delivery rates.
It covers the cost of deliveries at designated private sector hospitals for women from Below poverty
Line households.
It pays 1600 rupees per delivery to the hospitals to provide free deliveries and reimburses at least
some of the womens travel costs.
In 2006, the programme received the Asian Innovations Award and considered this scheme should
be replicated in other states.
Tamil Nadu Government launched free CFL bulb scheme for hutdwellers
Tamil Nadu government on 30 December 2013 launched the first phase of providing free compact
fluorescent light bulbs to over 14 lakh hut-dwellers in the state. This is an energy-saving measure
aimed at saving 40 mw of power.
In the first phase of the project that has been launched, the Chief Minister gave away one nine-watt
CFL bulb to seven persons to seven persons each marking its roll out. The first phase of the project
will cost 8.77 crore rupees to the state.
Of the 14.62 lakh domestic consumers, who comes under the hut-dwellers category of the state will
be benefitted with the project. In the first phase of the project, seven lakh people will be covered.
Apart from this, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa has also launched projects of 500
crore rupees under the Energy Department through video conferencing from her camp office
Kodanadu in the Nilgiris district. Under this sub-station in capacity of 230 kv, 110 kv and 33 kv
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were inaugurated. The Chief Minister has also inaugurated a 60 kw solar power generating system
at the head office of TANFEDCO. The system will generate up to one lakh units per year and this
will help the state to meet a part of the daily electricity demands.
Arvind Kejriwal sworn-in as the youngest Chief Minister of Delhi

Arvind Kejriwal, the
convener of the newly
launched Aam Aadmi
Party sworn in as the
seventh (as a person)
Chief Minister of Delhi
on 28 December 2013
at a function in Ramlila
Maidan.
Lieutenant
Governor Najeeb Jung
administered the oath
of office and secrecy to
Kejriwal. He has sworn
in as the youngest Chief
Minister of Delhi. He is of 45 years in age.
Since 1956 when Delhi was given the status of UT and since 1991 when Delhi was designated as
NCT, Arvind Kejriwal is the youngest CM of Delhi State.
Apart from Kejriwal, six other MLAs namely Manish Sisodia, Somnath Bharti, Saurabh Bhrdwaj,
Rakhi Birla, Satyendra Kumar Jain and Girish Soni also took oath as Cabinet Ministers.
Aam Aadmi Party that won 28 seats in the election held on 4 December 2013 has formed the state
Government with the support of Congress party, which won from eight seats. Most seats were
wined by BJP, which failed to get a majority and decided not to try to form a Government.
The place of sworn in, the Ramlila Maidan is the same venue, where he rallied the historic anticorruption movement that was led by the activist Anna Hazare in 2012.
Arvind Kejriwal will handle Power, Finance, Home and Planning departments
Manish Sisodia will handle Education and PWD
Somnath Bharti will handle tourism and Law departments
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Saurabh Bhardwaj will handle Food, Supply and Transport

Satendra Jain will handle Health
Rakhi Birla will handle Women and Child Development Minister
Girish Soni will handle the charge of Development and Employment departments
Chief Minister of Delhi

Name
Time as the CM
Chaudhary Brahm Prakash
1952 to 1955
GN Singh
1955 to 1956
President Rule
1956 to 1993
Madan Lal Khurana
1993 to 1996
Sahib Singh Verma
1996 to 1998
Sushma Swaraj
1998 to 1998
Sheila Dikshit
1998 to 2003
Sheila Dikshit
2003 to 2008
Sheila Dikshit
2008 to 2013
Arvind Kejriwal
2013
Arvind Kejriwal is only the second Chief Minister to be an IITian after his Goa counterpart Manohar
Parrikar. He is a product of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Khargapur studied Mechanical
Engineering and passed out in 1989.
Tamil Nadu Court granted conditional bail to crew of US ship

US ship MV Seeman Ohio with 35 crew members was granted a conditional bail by a local court of
Titicorin in Tamil Nadu on 27 December 2013. The ship along with the crew members was arrested
on 18 October 2013 by the Tamil Nadu on the charges of illegally carrying weapons in board
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the vessel and straying into Indian waters. They were booked under the Arms Act and Essential
Commodities Act.
K Venkatasamy, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) passed the order on the criminal revision
petition filed by the Q branch of Tamil Nadu Police that challenged the conditional bail granted
to the crew by Tuticorin Judicial Magistrate I, C. Kathiravan. As per the CJM the incident poses a
challenge to the national security and the conditional bail granted was against the orders of the
higher courts, which includes the Supreme Court.
The CJM observed that the order of granting bail was shocking as it involved the security of the
nation. It also said that the bail would be granted after obtaining an assurance from the respective
embassies that they will be available during the investigation. He also said that it was a failure of
the Judicial Magistrate to find out that weather the investigation was over or the charge sheet was
ready.
The conditional bail was granted by the I C Kathiravan, the Judicial Magistrate on 26 December
2013 after the crew argued in its bail plea that the Q branch of the state police failed to file a charge
sheet even after 60 days of their arrest.
Earlier, their bail pleas had been rejected by a court in Tuticorin and the Madurai Bench of the
Madras High Court. Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court dismissed the bail petitions filed as
the probe was in the initial state and their bail would have been affected the investigation.
Fatwa issued by Jammu & Kashmir scholars allows half-widows

to remarry
Group of Islamic Scholars in Kashmir issued a fatwa on 26 December 2013 that women, whose
husbands are missing for the past four years, can remarry.
The religious scholars of Jammu & Kashmir concluded that half-widows whose husbands have
disappeared in custody or otherwise over the past 20 years can remarry four years after the
disappearance.
Under the Dissolution of Muslim Marriage Act 1939, a woman married under Muslim law is entitled
to obtain a decree for the dissolution of marriage, if the whereabouts of her husband have not been
known for a period of four years.
Human rights groups said that the number of people, who have disappeared in the past 20 years
is more than 8000 and one fourth of them were married.
The Islamic scholars held three rounds of consultations for the remarriage of Kashmiri women and
then issued the fatwa and a detailed edict will be issued soon.
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Fatwa is a legal pronouncement in Islam issued by religious law scholars on specific issue.
Himachal Pradesh High Court banned plastic packing of junk

food
The Himachal Pradesh High Court on 26 December 2013 banned the junk food items in plastic
packing and directed to implement the ban in the state from 26 January 2014.
The High Court cleared stay on the Himachal Pradesh governments notification issued on 26 June
2013 imposing ban on sale, storage, entry, supply and manufacture of 25 junk items.
A division bench of Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice V.K. Sharma directed the
State Government
To implement the banning of the storage, supply, sale and entry of non-essential food items
packaged in plastic or non-biodegradable material. It excludes drinking water both packaged
and mineral.
To ensure that no foodstuff, including primary and essential food, is manufactured, transported,
sold, packaged and distributed without conforming to the Food Safety and Standards Act of
2006 and Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulation of 2011
Eatables like potato chips, cookies, candy, chewing-gum, ice-cream, chocolates and noodles
would not be available in polythene packets
To appoint a food commissioner, if not already appointed within four weeks should be appointed
To ensure that no person is permitted to commence or carry on any food business without
obtaining a license.
All the municipal authorities in the state to manage the plastic waste by undertaking Waste audit
from beginning of the year.
The Order will be passed by the High Court further to ensure that edible oils shall not be sold in
plastic bottles or pouches and shall be packed in tin containers from 31 March 2014.
High Court asked two Telugu actors to return the Padma Awards
Andhra Pradesh High Court on December 2013 asked the Telugu film actor cum producer Mohan
Babu and actor Brahmanandam to return their Padma Awards to the Government of India.
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Both the recipients carried the Padma

Shri as prefix in the title cards of the
movie Denikina Ready violating the
article 18 of the Indian constitution.
According to the article 18(1) of the
constitution the award does not carry
any monetary grant and the award
cannot be used as a prefix or suffix to
the recipients name.
Assam Government announced 100 crore rupees package for

tea garden communities
Assam Government on 22 December 2013 announced special package of 100 crore rupees for the
upliftment of the tea garden communities. Package amount would be used for the expansion of the
education and for increasing the employment opportunities among the tea tribes.
The Chief Minister also announced to donate 20 lakh rupees to publish different books related to the
tea tribes. Special schemes will be launched soon for the upgradation of employment opportunities.
Under the expansion of education, government announced to provide bicycles to students and to
connect the rural areas through electricity.
The Tea-tribes are tribes that were brought by the British colonial planters as indentured labourers
from the Chhota Nagpur Plateau region. They are found mainly in the districts of Darrang, Sonitpur,
Nagaon, Jorhat, Golaghat, Dibrugarh, Cachar, Hailakandi, Karimganj Tinsukia and almost all the
districts of Assam in India.
India produces and consumes more tea than any other country in the world, except for China,
including the famous Assam tea and Darjeeling tea. Tea was officially recognized as the National
Drink in 2013.
According to the ASSOCHAM report released in December 2011, India, as the worlds largest
consumer of tea uses nearly 30 per cent of the global output. India is also the second largest
producer of tea. Despite the production, India is also the largest exporter of tea after China.
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United Nations felicitated Odisha Government for effectively

handling Cyclone Phailin
Odisha Government on 20 December 2013 was felicitated by United Nations for effectively handling the Cyclone Phalin in October 2013. Margaret Wahlstrom, the UN Special Representative of
the Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction presented a citation to the Naveen Patnaik, the
Chief Minister of Odisha in Bhubaneswar.
Odisha Government was felicitated for its efforts to keep human casualties to a minimum at the
time of cyclone. After the citation, Wahlstrom invited Naveen Patnaik to participate in the global
conference on disaster management that will be organised in 2015 by United Nations.
With this felicitation, Odisha became the first South East Asian state to be felicitated for disaster
management.
Odisha Administrative Tribunal quashed 27% SEBC quota

Odisha Administrative Tribunal on 19 December 2013 quashed the provision of 27 percent
reservation under Odisha Reservation of Posts and Service (Socially and Educationally Backward
Classes) Act, 2008 for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) candidates in public
employment.
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The decision was taken by the tribunal that comprised Chairman Justice, Nityananda Prusty and
the administrative member, SN Das. The tribunal has directed the Odisha government and Odisha
Public Service Commission to abide by the stipulation of the Supreme Court not to exceed 50 per
cent ceiling in respect of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and SEBCs in public employment.
Orissa Administrative Tribunal

The Orissa Administrative Tribunal was set up during 1986 for quick re-dressal of grievances of
State Government employees regarding their service matters.
Besides the Principal Bench at Bhubaneswar, one regular Bench of O.A.T. at Cuttack and two
Circuit Benches at Sambalpur and Berhampur are functioning. The Tribunal deals with original
applications, transferred applications and miscellaneous petitions.
Cabinet Panel in Karnataka formed to demarcate eco-sensitive

zones around national parks and sanctuaries
A Cabinet subcommittee has been set up to demarcate eco-sensitive zones around the national
parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Karnataka. B Ramanath Rai, the Minister of Forest of Karnataka
will head the Cabinet subcommittee set. The state cabinet decided to constitute the panel as per
the direction of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).
In its direction the Supreme Court has ordered the centre and states to demarcate 10 kilometer
zone in parks as the buffer zone. 2 kilometers of the zone around the Bandipur Tiger Reserve has
been demarcated by the authorities. This demarcation has led to a total ban on quarrying within
the zone and other activities.
The states have five national parks and 27 wildlife sanctuaries and the subcommittee will study and
prepare a report on demarcating the eco-sensitive zones around other national parks and wildlife
sanctuaries. As per the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra, the report of the
study would be sent to the Centre for demarcation of the boundaries.
He also said that as per the guidelines of centre, commercial mining, seeting up of the industries
that causes pollution, establishment of hydroelectric projects, commercial use of firewood, tourism
and others are prohibited in the eco-sensitive zones.
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Darmar Murugesan to be the chairman of the Karnataka State

Human Rights Commission
Darmar Murugensan, the former Chief Justice of the Delhi
High Court will be the next Chairman of the Karnataka State
Human Rights Commission (KSHRC). The post was vacant
for last 18 months, since the retirement of the former
Karnataka High Court Judge SR Nayak. At present he is a
member of the National Human Rights Commissions.
The decision of appointment was taken on 17 December
2013 during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister of Karnataka,
Siddaramaiah.
Justice Darmar Murugesan was a Judge of the Madras High
Court from March 2000 before his elevation as Chief Justice of Delhi High Court in 2012. He retired
in 2013.
About Justice Darmar Murugesan

He was born in Cumbum, Pudupatti district Theni of Tamil Nadu on 10 June 1951.
He did Bachelor of General Law Course from Madras University in 1974 and was a Gold Medalist.
Justice Darmar Murugesan had served as Special Government Pleader in the Madras High
Court during 1994-96 and Special Government Pleader from October 1997 and Government
Pleader on 8 December 1998.
As a Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, he was instrumental in setting up the fast track court
in Saket for trying the Delhi gang rape case as well as the special court for trying the Italian
marines case.
Rann Utsav 2013 Began in Kutch, Gujarat

The Rann Utsav, a cultural festival of Gujarat state was inaugurated by Gujarat Tourism Minister
Saurabh Patel on 17 December 2013 at Kutch, Gujarat.
The two-month long cultural festival that attracts huge number of domestic and international
tourists is celebrated from 17 December to 14 February 2014.
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The Rann Utsav started in 2005, and it was initially held for three days, which later extended to a
span of two months due to overwhelming response from the people.
This year, the Rann Utsav will be held on the public-private partnership model. For the first time,
online photography competition has been organised during the two-month festival for the amateur
and professional photographers, who will take pictures of the natural beauty of Kutch and share
them on the social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.
Other major attractions for the event will be folklore such as camel safari, local art, folk music
besides sport such as desert biking, para-motoring, hang glider and paraceiling.
About Rann of Kutch

The Rann of Kutch is a seasonal salt marsh
located in the Thar Desert in the Kutch District
of Gujarat. Kutch is one of the Gujarat largest
districts. It is surrounded by the Arabian Sea
and the salt encrusted desert. This district is
the last frontier of many crafts and traditions
that have changed little over the centuries.
Best described as a cradle of craftsmanship,

Kutch is the land of weaving, block-printing,
bandhini tie- and dye, Rogan-painting and
various styles of embroidery, pottery, wood
carving, metal-crafts, shell-work and other
handicrafts.
The district also has a long history dating
from the Harappan civilization that thrived at
cities like Dholavira in the 3rd and 2nd millennia BC to the Jadeja Rajput rulers Who reigned from
the 1540s to the merger of states in the 1940s and endowed their Princely state with forts, palaces,
temples and other monuments of historic and religious Importance..
For those interested in natural history, Kutch is the habitat of the endangered and Interesting wildlife
species like the Indian wild ass. This district is widely reputated As a paradise for birdwatchers.
Besides the reservoirs in the state that are important Habitats for water and waterside birds, and
flyways for migrating birds, Kutch is also The breeding ground for critically endangered birds like
the Indian bustard and the lesser florican.
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Shivraj Singh Chouhan sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh

The BJP leader, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, was sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh on
14 December 2013. The Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Ram Naresh Yadav administered the oath
of office and secrecy to him in Jamboori Maidan of Bhopal.
He has sworn in as the Chief Minister for the third consecutive time. After Narendra Modi and
Raman Singh, he became the third person to become a states Chief Minister in a row from BJP.
Chouhan, who is known for maintaining a low-profile, has led BJP to win in the state of 230 member
legislative assembly with 165 seats. In the 2013 assembly election, Congress was reduced to 58
seats from 78 seats won in 2008 election.
About Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Shivraj Singh Chouhan (54) is the 18th and current Chief
Minister of Madhya Pradesh
He replaced Babulal Gaur as Chief Minister of the state on
29 November 2005
He has served as leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, as its
general secretary and as president of its Madhya Pradesh
state unit.
In 1972, he joined the RSS as a 13-year-old
Since 1991, he has been a five-time Member of Parliament,
representing Vidisha in the Lok Sabha
At present he represent Budhni constituency, a tehsil in
Sehore district in Madhya Pradesh assembly
To focus on the prevention of female infanticide in Madhya
Pradesh, he introduced schemes named as Ladli Lakshmi
Yojna, Kanyadhan Yojna and Janani Suraksha Yojna in 2007
Shivraj Singh Chouhans sworn-in ceremony was attended by Senior BJP leaders including L.K.
Advani, Party President-Rajnath Singh, Chief Minister of Gujrat-Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of
Rajasthan-Vasundhara Raje Scindia and Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh-Raman Singh.
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UP Government constituted a high-level committee to look into

the issue of death in relief camps
The Uttar Pradesh Government on 13 December 2013 set up a high-level committee to look into
the issue of deaths of children in relief camps set after the Muzaffarnagar riots. The committee
will be headed by the Commissioner of Meerut and have district magistrates of Muzaffarnagar and
Shamli, and Chief Medical officers of these districts as members.
The commissioner would be free to nominate any other person as the member of the committee.
The committee has been asked to submit its report by 18 December 2013.
The main objective of the committee is to prove the facts about the number of relief camps in
existence in the district and the number of people staying in them. The Committee will also probe
the facts related to the deaths of the children.
As per the writs filed, a list of 39 names of deceased people has been given to check them. He
committee will also find out the shortcomings in the relief works and arrangements made in the
camps to fight with the chilling winters. IT will also review the medical services, which are provided
in the camps in Muzaffarnagar and provide aids in case it is required.
The Supreme Court of India has taken a serious note of over 40 children as per reported in the relief
camps and has directed the Government of Uttar Pradesh to immediately take remedial measures.
Vasundhara Raje sworn in as Chief Minister of Rajasthan

BJP leader Vasundhara Raje was on 13 December
2013 sworn in as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan
for the second time.
Vasundhara Raje was administered the oath of
office and secrecy by Governor Margaret Alva
during a grand swearing-in ceremony inside the
Assembly building premises in Jaipur.
In 2013 Rajasthan Assembly elections Baratiya
Jananta Party has won 162 out of 199 seats.
Vasundhara Raje is elected from Jhalrapatan
(Jhalawar) constituency.
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About Vasundhara Raje

Vasundhara Raje was born on 8 March 1953 in Mumbai, Maharastra, She is daughter of Vijayaraje
Scindia and Jivajirao Scindia, Maharaja of Gwalior, members of the prominent Scindia royal
Maratha family.
She graduated with Economics and Political Science degrees (Hons.) from Sophia College,
affiliated to Mumbai University, Mumbai.
She has been elected to the Rajasthan state assembly thrice and five times to Lok Sabha.
She is the first woman chief minister of Rajasthan state in 2003. In her first term as chief minister
she served from 8 December 2003 to 13 December 2008.
She is the 22nd Chief Minister of Rajasthan state.
About Rajasthan
Rajasthan, the largest state of India is located in the north-western part of the subcontinent. It is
bounded to the north and north-east by the states of Punjab and Haryana, to the east and southeast by the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, to the south-west by the state of Gujarat,
and to the west and north-west by Pakistan. The southern part of the state is about 225km from
the Gulf of Kutch and about 400 km from the Arabian Sea. Jaipur is the capital city of Rajasthan.
Facts about Rajasthan

Date of formation
1 November 1956
Size
342239 sq km
Population
68621012 (census 2011)
Capital
Jaipur
Legislature
Unicameral
Population density
165/sq km
No. of districts
33
Lok Sabha seats
25
Judicature
Jodhpur High Court
Languages
Hindi and Rajasthani
Rivers
Beas, Chambal, Banas, Luni
Minerals
Zinc, mica, copper, gypsum, silver, magnesite, petroleum
Industries
Textiles, woollen, sugar, cement, glass, zinc smelters
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Airports
Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur
Forests and national parks
Sariska Tiger Reserve, Keoladeo Ghana NP, Ranthambore NP,

Dhawa WS
Neighbouring states
East: Madhya Pradesh; North-east: Uttar Pradesh; North: Haryana

and Punjab; West: Pakistan, South: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh
State animal
Chinkara
Main crops
Mustard, jowar, bajra, maize, gram, wheat, cotton, millet
State cant withdraw cases against terror accused without Centres consent: High Court
The Allahabad High Court on 12 December 2013 ruled that the Uttar Pradesh government cannot
withdraw prosecution in terror cases under the central acts without the permission of the Centre.
The ruling was given by the High Courts Lucknow bench of justices Devi Prasad Singh, Ajai Lamba
and Ashok Pal Singh on questions raised by a two-judge division bench on a PIL filed by Ranjana
Agnihotri and five other local lawyers.
The PIL had sought a direction for quashing the order of the UP government for withdrawal of
cases against people accused of terrorist activities and serial blasts.
The bench stated that since most of the accused were booked under the Central Acts the State
government could not withdraw the cases without the Central governments permission.
Bench stated that: for offences under unlawful activities (prevention) act, explosive substances act
and arms act and the offences falling in chapter vi of ipc or alike offences the executive power of the
union of india extends, hence the permission of the central government with regard to withdrawal
of prosecution shall be necessary.
The Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh had in its 2012 election manifesto promised to release
innocent Muslims implicated in terror cases.
West Bengal Assembly adopted a fresh Bill to tackle illegal activities of Chit Funds
The West Bengal Assembly on 12 December 2013 adopted a fresh Bill to tackle illegal activities
of Chit Funds in the State. Amit Mitra, the Finance Minister of the state moved the West Bengal
Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments Bill, 2013 in the House.
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Amit Mitra moved the new Bill in the house after including everything that was possible to incorporate
in it for protection of the interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments.
The new Bill includes the provisions like personal properties of a person, who has borrowed money
from defaulting Chit Fund Company will be attached besides, the properties of the owner, partners,
directors and employees of the Financial Institutions will also be confiscated.
Apart from this, the state Government has returned the money of 2 Lakhs 87 thousand people by
now, who were dupred by the Sardha Group. The Government has spent 165 crore rupees for this
purpose by now.
Earlier, the Bill related to the same was withdrawn by the House following recommendations from
the Union Home Ministry to the State Government that asked to pass a fresh Bill in the Assembly
incorporating some suggestions. A Bill on the same subject was adopted by the states Assembly
in April 2013 after the Sardha Chit Fund Scam.
Congress won the Mizoram Assembly Election by two-third majority

Indian National Congress on 9 December 2013 emerged as the winner in the Mizoram Assembly
election by winning 33 seats in the 40 member house. The result was declared by the Election
Commission of India.
The ruling party congress has secured two third of majority in the state, whereas the opposition
party, Mizoram Democratic Alliance secured six seats. Other parties like Zoram Nationalist Party
(ZNP), BJP, NCP and Jai Mahabharat (JMB) failed to win any seat.
The Chief Minister of Mizoram Lal Thanhawla won from both Serchhip and Hrangturzo seats. While
the Finance Minister Liansailova and Tourism Minister S Hiato lost the elections.
The results of 39 seats were declared and re-poll will be done on 11 December 2013 for the
Lawngtlai East Constituency in Southern Mizoram. It was necessitated due to a defect in an EVM.
Result of Mizoram in the 44 member house

Party
Seats won
Indian National Congress
33
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
Mizoram Democratic Alliance (MDA)
Others (Independent party)
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Over 81 percent voters exercised their franchise during the elections on the 25 November 2013.
Congress for the fifth time came to the power in Mizoram, which shares borders with Myanmar and
Bangladesh. In 2008, Congress won 32 seats of the 40 seats in the Assembly election.
Cabinet Committee sanctioned 7346 crore rupees for flood-hit

Uttrakhand
The Cabinet Committee on Uttrakhand, headed by Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh on 9
December 2013 sanctioned 7346 crore rupees for the relief and rehabilitation of flood-hit Uttarakhand.
Of the total amount of 7346 crore rupees sanctioned, 18885 crore rupees will be
given for center-aided schemes and
1200 crore rupees for the National
Disaster Relief Fund.
As per the State Government of
Uttrakhand, the decision was taken
during a meeting held at the Prime
Ministers official residence in New
Delhi.
The State Government of Uttrakhand
has issued 3180 death certificates by
now against 4025 people, who went
missing during the floods. As per the Chief Minister of Uttrakhand, Vijay Bahuguna, the remaining
death certificates will be issued by 15 December 2013.
AIADMK won Yercaud Assembly Seat: Tamil Nadu by-election

All India Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhagams
(AIADMK) candidate P. Saroja on 8 December 2013
won the assembly by-election from Yercaud, Tamil
Nadu by 78116 votes. AIADMK secured 142771
votes, whereas her rival from Dravida Munnetra
Kazhagams (DMK) V. Maran secured 64655 votes.
AIADMK has won from Yercaud Constituency for
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seventh time, since 1957. Saroja became the 11th member of the Yercaud Constituency. In 1957,
the Yercaud Constituency was formed a reserve constituency for Scheduled Tribe candidates.
For the first time, NOTA (None of the Above) was introduced in Tamil Nadu elections and 4433
voters opted for it. The by-election was held on 4 December 2013, during which the turnout was
90 percent.
Overall, 11 candidates contested in the election which included AIADMKs Saroja, DMKs Maran
and nine independents. The by-election was necessitated by the demise of AIADMK MLA Perumal
on 18 July 2013. Perumal won the seat of Yercaud constituency in 2011.
Maharashtra Cabinet approved for setting up Sugarcane Control Board

The
Maharashtra
state cabinet on 4
December
2013
approved the setting
up of a Sugarcane
Control Board in the
state.
The decision came in
the wake of the recent
violent agitation by
farmers, demanding
increased price for
sugarcane.
The
board would function
on the lines of state
electricity regulatory commission.
The cabinet also approved the draft Maharashtra Sugarcane (Purchase and Supply) Bill 2013,
expected to be tabled in the winter session of the state legislature. Maharashtra has 202 registered
co-operative sugar factories and over 65 private ones.
Sugar Production in Maharastra
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Maharashtra is the highest sugar producing state of India. Its sugarcane yield in 2011-12 was 80.1
tonne/hectars, compared to the yield of 59.6 t/ha for the second highest sugar producing state
Uttar Pradesh and national average of 70.3 t/ha. The average sugar recovery rate in Maharashtra
was 11.32 percent in 2011-12, way above that of UP at 9.16 percent and all India rate of 10.2
percent. The total sugarcane area in the state is 936498 hectares.
Tripura Introduced PVC-Electoral Photo Identity Cards for the

First Time in the Country
Tripura on 30 November 2013 introduced for the first time in the country PVC Electoral Photo
Identity Card (PVC EPIC) as mandated by the Election Commission of India.
About PVC Electoral Photo Identity Card (PVC EPIC)

The new PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride- or Plastic) EPIC has many scientific security features to prevent
duplication, forging and tampering. Unlike the present paper voters card, the PVC-EPIC has
inserted coded information of the elector. The information and government logos of the new EPIC
would be visible only in ultraviolet light.
The new card will be issued through the Common Service Centre of the central governments
Information Technology department. The card was simultaneously introduced in 23 sub-divisions
of all the eight districts of the State.
What is PVC?
Plastics are also called synthetic resins and are broadly classified into two categories: thermosetting
resins and thermoplastic resins.
The thermosetting resins include phenolic resin and melamine resin, which are thermally hardened
and never become soft again. Thermoplastic resins include Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC), polyethylene
(PE), polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP), which can be re-softened by heating.
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NEWS
CAPSULE
Person in news
Sashi Tharoor named PETAs Person of the Year for taking steps
to advance animal protection
Sashi Tharoor, the Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development was named as the
Person of the Year by the animal rights body PETA India for taking steps to advance animal
protection.
The director of National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) was encouraged
by Tharoor to examine PETAs Central Board of Secondary Education approved programme for
incorporation into its textbooks.
He also wrote a letter to Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad urging him to implement non-animal
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methods of teaching in medical courses. In 2012, the Ministry of Environment and Forests issued
a directive instructing all the institutes or establishments associated with teaching of medical,
pharmacy and other courses in life sciences to follow UGC guidelines for discontinuation of
dissection and animal experimentation in universities and colleges and introduce use of alternatives
to animal experimentation.
Past recipients of the award are Hema Malini and R Madhavan.
Anurag Bhushan took charge as the Dubai Consul General of

India
Anurag Bhushan, a career diplomat on 30 December 2013 took charge as the Consul General of
India in Dubai and Northern Emirates in the UAE. Before taking the charge as the Consul General,
he was serving as the head of the Regional passport office in New Delhi.
He is the 14th Consul General of India in Dubai, since 1973 and he is the successor of Sanjay
Verma, who has been appointed as the ambassador of India to Ethiopia.
He joined the Indian Foreign services in 1995. Apart from being the Consul General of India in Dubai,
his other overseas assignments have included economic, commercial, visa and administration
responsibilities in Dhaka, political, information and cultural work in Tokyo and administration wings
in the Indian Embassy in Berlin.
While being at the Foreign Service Instituted in New Delhi, he was responsible for training the
foreign diplomats as well as Indian Foreign officers.
He is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and holds a Post Graduate Diploma degree in Executive Management
from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
Tyler Armstrong became the youngest person to reach the Summit of Aconcagua
Tyler Armstrong on 27 December 2013 became the youngest person to reach the summit of
Aconcagua, the highest mountain of America. The nine year old boy of United States climbed the
mountain in the Argentine Andes with his father and Tibetan Sherpa, Lhawang Dhondup.
In 2012, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro - Africas highest peak. More than 100 people have died
attempting to conquer Aconcagua, which rises 6962 metres above the sea level. Before Tyler,
Matthew Moniz from the United States was the youngest person to climb the mountain at the age
of 10 in the year 2008.
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Hisham Qandil, the former Prime Minister of Egypt has been arrested
Hisham Qandil, the former Prime Minister of Egypt was arrested by Egyptian police on 24 December
2013. He served under the ousted President Mohammed Morsi. As per the interior ministry, Qandil
was caught in a mountainous area with smugglers, while he was trying to flee to Sudan.
He was arrested on the order of the Court that was issued against him. He was sentenced for a
year in prison, while he was in office for failing to carry out the ruling of the court to re-nationalise
a company Tanta Flax and Oil Company, which was privatized in 1996. The lawsuit was instigated
against the former Prime Minister by a number of companys workers.
The sentence was upheld by a Cairo appeals Court in September 2013 after two months when
Morsi, the then President was overthrown. He
Qandil in July 2012 became the youngest Prime Minister of Egypt since 1954. He won the first truly
democratic elections of Egypt, which was followed the fall of Hosni Mubarak, the autocrat President
in 2011. He is not a member of Muslim Brotherhood or any other Islamist political organization. He
represented an alliance of pro-Morsi Islamist groups in meets with the mediators of Europe, who
tried to defuse tensions with the military installed government.
Angela Merkel elected as German Chancellor for third term

Angela Merkel was on 17 December 2013 elected as the
German Chancellor for third term by the German ParliamentBundestag.
Angela Merkels conservative Union bloc - the Christian
Democratic Union (CDU) had secured a stunning hat-trick
win in the 22 September 2013 elections but failed to grab an
outright majority, forcing them to enter into coalition with the
rival Social Democrats (SPD).
With a whopping 504 of the 631 seats, Angela Merkels centreright Christian Democrats Union (CDU) bloc and the SPD now
hold a comfortable majority in the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament.
Angela Merkel was confirmed by 462 votes on 17 December 2013, with nine abstentions. For the
vote, 621 members of parliament were present, of whom 150 voted against Merkel.
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Angela Merkel is the third chancellor to win a third four-year term after Helmut Kohl (1982-1998)
and Konrad Adenauer (1949-1963).
Germany, as the EUs most industrialised and populous state, with its biggest economy, it dominates
decision-making for the Eurozone.
About Angela Merkel

Angela Dorothea Kasner, better known as Angela Merkel, was born in Hamburg, West Germany, on
17 July 1954. Trained as a physicist, Merkel entered politics after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall.
Rising to the position of Chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union party, Merkel became
Germanys first female chancellor, and one of the leading figures of the European Union, following
the 2005 national elections.
Ranjan Mathai took over as the Indias High Commissioner to

UK
Ranjan Mathai, the former Foreign Secretary of India on 9 December 2013 took over as the Indias
High Commissioner to the UK. He has succeeded Jaimini Bhagwati, who retired recently from the
post.
About Ranjan Mathai

Born on 24 May 1952, t
he 61-year old Mathai
joined the Indian
Foreign Service in
1974
On 31 July 2013, he
demitted the office
of Foreign Secretary
and was replaced
by Sujata Singh as
the new Foreign
Secretary
He has served as the Ambassador of India to France in January 2007
From August 2005 to January 2007, he held the post of the Deputy High Commissioner of India
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to the UK in London
From August 2001 to July 2005, he served as the Ambassador of India to Qatar
From February 1998 to June 2001, he has served as the Ambassador of India to Israel
From January 1995 to February 1998, he was the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External
Affairs (BSM) in New Delhi
He has headed the division that dealt the Indias relations with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar
and Maldives
He has served in Indian Missions in Vienna, Colombo, Washington, Tehran and Brussels
Ali Osman Taha resigned as Vice President of Sudan

Ali Osman Taha, the Vice President of Sudan resigned to pave way for the new Government. His
resignation was announced by the Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir in Khartoum on 7 December
2013. He resigned and vacated his office at the presidency ahead of his cabinet reshuffle.
Taha has been replaced by Lieutenant General Bakri Hassan Saleh. The second Vice President
selected is Hasbo Mohamed Abdulrahman and the parliament head is Alfateh Ezziddin.
Taha has been the first Vice President of Sudan, the second highest political party. He was the main
negotiator of Sudans Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, which led to the end of Sudanese
Civil War.
About Ali Osman Taha

Taha led the National Islamic Front Party that backed the coup of 1989, which installed Bashir
and since he has been a member of the National Congress Party (NCP)
He stepped down from the position of Vice President for rebel leader John Garang in 2005. But
Garang died in a helicopter crash a month later. After his death Taha continued as the second
Vice-President
From 1995 to 1998 he was Minister of Foreign Affairs
From 1998 to August 2005, he served as the first Vice President and Second Vice President
from 2005 August to July 2011
He entered politics as a member of Sudans parliament in the 1980s
From 2003 to 2004 he was responsible for handling the Darfur crisis
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Miss Venezuela, Alyz Henrich became Miss Earth 2013

Miss Venezuela Alyz Henrich on 7 December 2013 was crowned with the pageant of Miss Earth
2013 at the Versailles Palace, Philippines. She was crowned with the pageant of Miss World by
Tereza Fajksova, the Miss Earth 2012 from Czech Republic. This was the 13th edition of the annual
Miss Earth.
With this winning, Alyz Henrich has joined the roster of beauty queens and will be an ambassador
for environmental preservation.
Other winners are:

Miss Earth Fire: Miss Korea Catharina Choi
Miss Earth Water: Miss Thailand Punika
Kulsoontornrut
Miss Earth Air: Miss Austria Katia Wagner
Indias participant for the pageant was Sobhita

Dhulipala, who failed to make it in the list of top
16. arlier, she won the Miss Photogenic and the
Miss Eco Beauty Title contests.
For the crown of the Miss Earth, 88 beauties competed from across the earth. The show was
presented by popular television show host, Oli Pettigrew and Singapore-based fashion model,
Linda Black.
The contest began in 2001 to promote the preservation of the environment. Nicole Faria is the first
Indian contestant to have won the title in 2010.
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Person Appointed
Devendra Kumar Pathak appointed as Special DG, BSF
Devendra Kumar Pathak has been appointed as the Special DG, Border Security Force (BSF) on 30
December 2013. At the time of his appointment in BSF, he was serving as the Special DG, Central
Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
His appointment as the Special DG, BSF started with immediate effect and will continue till the date
of superannuation in March 2016 or until any further orders.
Pathak is an (Indian Police Service) IPS of 1989-batch of Assam-Meghalaya cadres. He has been
serving Central Reserve Police Force since 11 November 2011.
Ashraf Jehan, first female judge in Paks National Sharia Court

Ashraf Jehan a female judge on 30 December 2013 sworn-in at Pakistans national sharia court
which hears cases under the Islamic legislation.
Ashraf Jehan took oath and became the first female judge to be appointed in the courts history.
She was serving as an additional judge at the Sindh High Court.
The Court was established during the rule of military dictator Ziaul Haq as part of his policy towards
Islamisation of Pakistans institutions. The law is also known as the Hudood Laws, which run parallel
to the penal code.
Pathak is an (Indian Police Service) IPS of 1989-batch of Assam-Meghalaya cadres. He has been
serving Central Reserve Police Force since 11 November 2011.
Pradeep Kumar appointed as MD Corporate Banking of State

Bank of India
P Pradeep Kumar on 29 December 2013 was appointed as the Managing Director (Corporate
Banking) of State Bank of India (SBI), the biggest lender of the country. As one of the four managing
Directors, he will look after the corporate banking portfolio of the bank. As per a Government of
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Indias notification P Pradeep Kumar will be the

Managing Director and Group Executive
(Corporate Banking) of SBI with effect from
27 December 2013. The position will be
occupied by him till the end of October 2015.
Pradeep Kumar is a post graduate in
Statistics and he joined SBI in 1976 as a
probationary officer. He has held several
key assignments, which includes banks US
operations. He has served State Bank of
Travancore as its managing Director. At the
time of his appointment at this position, he
served as the deputy managing director and
group executive of the corporate banking
group that looks after the corporate accounts and project finance of the bank.
The other three managing directors are K Krishna Kumar holds the national banking, Hemant
Contractor holds the global banking and A Vishwanathan holds subsidiaries and associates. The
deputy Managing Director, RK Saraf will continue to hold the charge of Chief Financial Officer
(CFO). The position of MD and CFO was vacant since Arundhati Bhattarcharya was elevated as the
Chairperson of SBI in October 2013.
The top management of State Bank of India includes a Chairman, four managing directors, more
than twelve deputy managing directors and about 35 chief general managers.
J.N.Chaudhary appointed New Head of NSG

J.N.Chaudhary was appointed as new head of NSG (National Security Guard) on 26 December
2013.He is a 1978 batch IPS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre. J.N.Chaudhary got his name clear
from the Union Home Ministry.
He will take his charge from incumbent Arvind Ranjan.
He had also served in Intelligence Bureau. He is due to retire in may 2015.
National Security Guard

The National Security Guard (NSG) is a special force in India that has primarily been utilised for
counter-terrorism activities.
The NSG operates under the oversight of the Ministry of Home Affairs and is headed by the Director
General of the Indian Police Service (IPS).The NSG members are also known as Black Cats because
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of the black drill cotton coveralls and balaclavas or helmets they wear.
CISF got new chief Arvind Ranjan

Arvind Ranjan was appointed the full time chief of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on
26 December 2013.
Ranjans name for the post was cleared by Union Home Ministry.
He is a 1977 batch kerala cadre IPS officer. Ranjan took over his charge from January. He will take
his charge from incumbent Director General Rajiv.
Central Industrial Security Force :

The Central Industrial Security Force is a Central Armed Police Force in India. CISF was established
in 1983 in the present form.
CISF is the largest industrial security force in the world. It is directly under the federal Ministry of
Home Affairs and its headquarters are at New Delhi.
The CISF guards vital government installations including airports and nuclear and aerospace
facilities in the country.
Ashok Lavasa, appointed the New Civil Aviation Secretary

The ministry of civil aviation on 26 December 2013 appointed Ashok Lavasa , a Haryana cadre IAS
officer of 1980 batch as new Civil Aviation Secretary .
He would take his new post on 1 January 2014.He will take charge from incumbent K.N.Srivastava.
About Ministry Of Civil Aviation

The Ministry of Civil Aviation of the Government of India is the nodal Ministry responsible for the
formulation of national policies and programmes for development and regulation of Civil Aviation
and for devising and implementing schemes for the orderly growth and expansion of civil air
transport. Its functions also extend to overseeing airport facilities, air traffic services and carriage
of passengers and goods by air.
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Vinod Kumar Duggal, the former Home Secretary appointed as

the Governor of Manipur
Vinod Kumar Duggal, the former Home Secretary has been appointed the new Governor of Manipur
on 23 December 2013. His appointment will come into effect from the date on which, he will assume
the charge of the office. He will replace the present Governor of the state, Ashwani Kumar, who was
given an additional charge of Manipur, while being a Governor of Nagaland.
The post of Manipur Governor had fallen vacant in July 2013, when former Jammu and Kashmir
Police Chief Gurbachan Singh Jagats tenure of five years had ended. Ashwani Kumar was given
the additional charge till Duggal appointment.
At the time of appointment, he was serving as a member of the National Disaster Management
Authority and was the in charge of the relief operations after the natural disaster that struck
Uttarakhand and Odisha in 2013.
Since his retirement in March 2007 as the Union Home Secretary, he has been a Member of other
commissions and committees in the rank and status of Minister of State. He is the first IAS officer
from Union Territory cadre of 1968 batch.
During his tenure in the government services, he has served in different capacities which include
Municipal Commissioner of Delhi from 19996 to 2000, Special Secretary in the Ministry of
Environment and Forests and Secretary in Water Resources Ministry.
M. Veerappa Moily appointed as the new Environment and Forests Minister

Marpadi Veerappa Moily , the petroleum and
natural gas Minister on 24 December 2013 took
an additional charge of the Environment and
Forests Ministry after the exit of Jayanthi
Natarajan.
The last Environment minister from congress was
Jayanthi Natarajan. Marpadi Veerappa Moily
(born 12 January 1940) is a congress MP from
the state of Karnataka, and the current Minister
of Petroleum and Natural Gas. He was the former
Minister of Corporate Affairs and Minister of
Power in the Indian government.
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Moily was elected as MP of the Chickballapur district. Moily was the former Chief Minister (and
the first ethnic Tuluva CM) of the Indian state of Karnataka (19 Nov 1992 - 11 Dec 1994). He was
elected to Karnataka state legislative assembly from Karkala constituency of Udupi district.
He is also currently serving as the All India Congress Committee General Secretary in charge of
Andhra Pradesh.
Process of allocating the ministry/appointment of a minister:

Under article 75 (1) - Prime Minister of India is selected by the President and the ministers are
appointed by the president on advice of the Prime Minister. The portfolio allocation to different
ministers is also done by him.
About Ministry of Environment & Forests ( MoEF)

The Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) is the nodal agency in the administrative structure of the
Central Government for the planning, promotion, co-ordination and overseeing the implementation
of Indias environmental and forestry policies and programmes.
The primary concerns of the Ministry are implementation of policies and programmes relating to
conservation of the countrys natural resources including its lakes and rivers, its biodiversity, forests
and wildlife, ensuring the welfare of animals, and the prevention and abatement of pollution. While
implementing these policies and programmes, the Ministry is guided by the principle of sustainable
development and enhancement of human well-being.
Siddarth Birla took charges as President of FICCI

Sidharth
Birla,
Chairman of Xpro India
Limited took the charge
as the President of
Federation of Indian
Chambers
of
Commerce
and
Industry (FICCI) on 21
December 2013.
Sidharth
Birla
succeeded the HSBC
India Country Head
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Naina Lal Kidwai.

Chairperson and Managing Director of Bharat Hotels, Joytsna Suri elected as Senior Vice-President
of FICCI and Chairman of Ambuja Neotia group, Harshavardhan Neotia as Vice-President of FICCI.
About Sidharth Birla:

Birla did Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 1980 from International Institute for Management
Development (now known as IMD), Switzerland.
Sidharth Birla has a wide-ranging experience in areas of corporate governance, acquisitions &
divestments, company law, corporate & financial structuring, operating financial management and
industrial and business operations etc.
About FICCI:
FICCI is the largest and oldest apex business organization in India and established in 1927.
FICCI is a non-government, non-profit organization and the voice of Indias business and industry.
FICCI draws its membership from the corporate sector, both private and public, including SMEs
and MNCs.
Usha Sangwan appointed first woman managing director of LIC

Usha Sangwan was appointed as the first woman managing director of the Life Insurance
Corporation of India (LIC) by the Government.
She is the first woman director of LIC in its near six decades of existence.
With this appointment, LIC is set to function at its full strength of four MDs after almost two years.
These would be S B Mainak, Sushobhan Sarkar, Sangwan and V K Sharma.
About Usha Sangwan:

Sangwan joined LIC in 1981 as a direct recruit. She holds a masters
degree in economics and a post-graduate diploma in human
resource management.
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About LIC:
LIC is Indias largest insurer, with 83 per cent market share in terms of the number of policies, and
71 per cent in premium.
P.H. Parekh elected as the President of Supreme Court Bar Association

Senior advocate P.H. Parekh has been
appointed as the President of the Supreme
Court Bar Association (SCBA) for 2013-14.
This is Mr. Parekhs sixth term as SCBA
President.
V. Shekar as the Vice-President
Supreme Court Bar Association
Vikas Bansal as treasurer
The Bar Council of India is a statutory body

that regulates and represents the Indian
bar. It was created by Parliament under the
Advocates Act, 1961.
Rajesh Pathak the assistant treasurer

of the SCBA
Other appointments include

Aishwarya Bhati as secretary
Sandeep Singh as assistant secretary
It provides the code of conduct in professional manner , etiquettes and exercises disciplinary
jurisdiction over the bar. It also sets standards for legal education and grants recognition to
Universities whose degree in law will serve as a qualification for students to enroll themselves as
advocates upon graduation.
From its very inception, the Supreme Court Bar Association has been in the association of the
movement for upholding, maintaining and consolidation of the constitutional values of democracy,
rule of law and independence of Judiciary.
S.B. Nayar appointed CMD of IIFCL

S.B. Nayar was appointed as chairman and managing director (CMD) of India Infrastructure Finance
Co. Ltd (IIFCL). IIFCL is a state-owned firm that funds infrastructure projects.
Nayar will have a term of three years. He presently works as head of Industrial Finance Corporation
of India Limited (IFCIL), another state-owned financier.
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About IIFCL:
India Infrastructure Finance Corporation Ltd (IIFCL) was incorporated in 2006 as a wholly-owned
Government of India company.
It was set up as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to provide long term finance to viable infrastructure
projects.
A SPV is a legal entity formed to direct the resources for a single, well defined and narrow purpose.
In India, the genesis of SPV is found in the Union Budget 2005-06.
Puneet Kumar appointed as the new secretary general of AEPC

Puneet Kumar, a Kerela cadre IAS officer has been appointed as the Secretary General of Apparel
Export Promotion Council (AEPC). Apparel Export Promotion Council is the apex body for apparel
exports in the country. The post was vacant since April 2012. Amarendra Sahoo was the last
secretary general.
About Puneet Kumar

He is a 1993 batch officer and a graduate in mechanical engineering
He has worked in different capacities in departments like revenue, technical education, excise
and agriculture in Kerala
Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC)

Apparel Export Promotion Council was incorporated in 1978. It is the official body of apparel
exporters in India, which provides invaluable assistance to Indian exporters as well as importers/
international buyers, who choose India as their preferred sourcing destination for garments.

The Union Government on 13 December 2013 appointed Harsh Kumar Bhanwala as the Chairman
of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for a period of five years.
Prior to this appointment, Bhanwala was an Executive Director at India Infrastructure Finance
Company Ltd (IIFCL), a state-owned infrastructure lender. Bhanwala succeeds Prakash Bakshi,
who retired as NABARD Chairman in September 2013.
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Before joining IIFCL, Bhanwala was senior vice president in IL&FS Water Ltd, which was involved in
development work in water and waste water projects. He has also worked in various capacities as
an officer in NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development) and was the Managing
Director of Delhi State Cooperative Bank Ltd (DSCB) during its turning around (2000 to 2005).
About National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

NABARD is set up as an apex Development
Bank (Est. in 12 July 1982) with a mandate
for facilitating credit flow for promotion and
development of agriculture, small-scale
industries, cottage and village industries,
handicrafts and other rural crafts.
It also has the mandate to support all other
allied economic activities in rural areas,
promote integrated and sustainable rural
development and secure prosperity of rural
areas. In discharging its role as a facilitator
for rural prosperity NABARD is entrusted
with
Providing refinance to lending institutions in rural areas

Bringing about or promoting institutional development and
Evaluating, monitoring and inspecting the client banks.
If you have any Question/Point on the above issue, please ask/discuss it in the Current Affairs
Group

CVR Rajendran was on 13 December 2013 appointed
as the Chairman and Managing Director of Andhra
Bank.
He was appointed by Union Ministry of Finance,
Government of India. Rajendran is appointed
for a period of five years or until superannuation,
whichever is earlier. He is due to superannuate in
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April 2015. Prior to this post, Rajendran was Executive Director of Bank of Maharashtra. Rajendran
started his career in Corporation Bank, and has experience in international banking and investment
banking, among other divisions. He also held the post of general manager of the treasury and
information technology division of Corporation Bank.
About Andhra Bank

Andhra Bank is one of the Public Sector Banks in India. The Banks operating segments include
Treasury, Corporate/Wholesale Banking, Retail Banking and Other Banking Operations.
Andhra Bank was founded by the eminent freedom fighter Dr. Bhogaraju Pattabhi Sitaramayya. The
Bank was registered on 20th November 1923 and commenced business on 28th November 1923.
The bank is headquartered in Hyderabad, India.
Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag designated as the Vice Chief of Army

Staff
Eastern Army Command, Lieutenant General Dalbir Singh Suhag on 12 December 2013 was
designated as the Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCoAS). He will take over from Lieutenant General SK
Singh as the Vice Chief of Army Staff retires on 31 December 2013.
He will be replaced by Lieutenant General MMS Rai at the Kolkata based Eastern Army Command.
Lieutenant General Arun Kumar Sahni will head the Jaipur-based Southwestern Army Command.
It is expected that, Lieutenant General Suhag by seniority after the post of Vice Chief of Army Staff
would succeed as the Chief of the Indian Army Staff, after the retirement of General Bikram Singh
on 31 July 2014.
Earlier, the former Army Chief V K Singh in 2012 imposed a promotion ban on him for disciplinary
reasons. The ban was later lifted by Gen Bikram Singh.
About Lieutenant General Dalbir Singh Suhag

He joined the National Defence Academy in 1970 and in June 1974 he was commissioned into
the 4/5 GR (FF)
In Op Pawan in Sri Lanka, he has served as the company commander
He has commanded the 53 Infantry Brigade that was involved in the counter insurgency
operations in the Kashmir Valley
He also commanded the 8 Mountain Divisions in Jammu & Kashmir
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In plains, he has also commanded the armoured engineer regiment

He has also commanded the mountain brigade in Northeast and also the Rashtriya Rifles Force
in Jammu and Kashmir
Shivakumar appointed as the CEO of PepsiCo India

D Shivakumar was appointed as the Chairman a
nd CEO of PepsiCo India. The post was lying
vacant since Manu Anand quit the US food and
beverage maker PepsiCo India in June 2013 to
join foods company Cadbury Kraft.
He will now be responsible for the strategic
deployment of the Rs 33,000-crore investment
in the country announced by the company in
November 2013.
In his new role, Shivakumar will oversee all
aspects of PepsiCos India business, which
includes food and beverage brands such as Pepsi, Frito Lays potato chips, Slice mango beverage,
Kurkure snacks, Tropicana juices and Quaker oats.
Besides, he will also oversee the business of NourishCo a joint venture with Tata Global Beverage
and franchise businesses in Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
Shivakumar will report to Sanjeev Chadha, CEO - PepsiCo Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA).
Shivakumar is PepsiCo Indias first outsider CEO since Rajeev Bakshi, who led the firm from 2001
to 2006.
D Shivakumar is an engineer from IIT-Chennai and an MBA from IIM-Calcutta and has worked at
Hindustan Unilever, Philips and Nokia.
About Pepsi Co
PepsiCo, Inc. was established in 1965 through the merger of Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay.
Pepsi-Cola was created in the late 1898 by Caleb Bradham.
Frito-Lay, Inc. was formed by the 1961 merger of the Frito Company, founded by Elmer Doolin
in 1932, and the H. W. Lay Company, founded by Herman W. Lay, also in 1932.
Indira K Nooyi is the Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo since 2006.
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Its net revenue is more than $65 billion and has 22 brands under its name.
PepsiCo entered India in 1989 and is now one of the leaders in food and beverages segment.
Ahmet Uzumcu re-appointed as OPCW Director General

Ambassador Ahmet Uzumcu on 4 December 2013 was re-appointed as the OPCW Director General
at the 18th Session of the Conference of State Parties. This will be his second term in the office.
The Director-General called 2013 a truly historical year in his statement during the opening of the
conference as the year has witnessed an unprecedented challenge for the OPCW in the form of
eliminating Syrias chemical weapons in the midst of an active war.
About Ambassador Ahmet Uzumcu

Ambassador Ahmet Uzumcu has served as OPCW Director-General, since 25 July 2010. He
was appointed to the position in December 2009 by the 14th Session of the Conference of the
States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention
He has represented Turkey at the United Nations
Office in 2006 and Conference on Disarmament
in Geneva and the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) Council between 2002
and 2004
He is a career diplomat with vast experience in
multilateral diplomacy
Ambassador Uzumcu has a thorough
understanding of political-military affairs and

disarmament and proliferation issues
He graduated from Foreign Relations

Department of the Faculty of Political Science, Ankara University.
He was consul at the Consulate General in Aleppo, Syria and ambassador to Israel from 28 July
1999 to 30 June 2002
In 2008, he became chair of the Conference on Disarmament
The Nobel Committee in recognition of 16 years of achievement of the OPCW has awarded it the
2013 Nobel Peace Prize.
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summit confrence
International Petroleum Conference 2014 to be held in New
Delhi
International Petroleum Conference 2014
(PETROTECH-2014) will be held in New
Delhi from 12th 15th January 2014. It is
being organized under the aegis of the
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Oil
and Natural gas Corporation Limited and
PETROTECH.
PETROTECH-2014 will offer world-class
facilities to showcase the entire gamut of
opportunities in the hydrocarbon industry
at one place.
The Theme of the PETROTECH 2014 will
be- Vision 2030: Emerging Global Energy
Basket - Challenges and Opportunities.
PETROTECH-2014 is planned as a Carbon Neutral event.
The Conference will aim for tangible contributions to the issues of -Shaping an Equitable and
Sustainable Energy Basket, Diversifying the Global Energy Basket, Creating Capacity to Service the
Emerging Energy Basket, Aligning Policy with the Emerging Energy Basket and Global partnerships
for a Sustainable Energy Basket.
The PETROTECH series of International Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibitions is a biennial platform
for national and international experts in the oil & gas industry to exchange views and share
knowledge, expertise and experiences.
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Person Resigned
Chandra Kant Birla resigned from Hindustan Motors Limited
Chandra Kant Birla, Chairman of Hindustan Motors Limited resigned from the board on 29 December
2013. He also stepped down from the post of director of Hindustan Motors (HM).
During the 18- month period, that is April 2012 September 2013, company incurred a huge loss
of 71 crore rupees as compared to a loss of 29 crore rupees in 2011-12.
The slowdown in the economy has affected HM. HM faced some additional challenges in term of
cash flow problems for the company.
Hindustan Motors Limited

Hindustan Motors is an Indian automaker based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It is part of the Birla
Technical Services industrial group. The company was the largest car manufacturer in India before
the rise of Maruti Udyog.
It is the producer of the Ambassador car, widely used as a taxicab and as a government limousine.
This car is based on the Morris Oxford, a British car that dates back to 1954.
One of the original three car manufacturers in India, the Hindustan Motors was founded in 1942 by
Mr. B. M. Birla. It was a leader in car sales until the 1980s, when the industry was opened up from
protection.
Jayanthi Natarajan resignation accepted by President

Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan resigned as the minister
of state for environment and forest from the
Council of Ministers (COM) on 21 December 2013.
The President of India, as advised by the Prime
Minister, accepted the resignation of Jayanthi
Natarajan from the Council of Ministers.
The Prime Minister advised the President of India
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that M. Veerappa Moily, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas shall be given additional charge of the
work of Ministry of Environment & Forests.
Jayanthi Natarajan expected to return to party work which is relating to manifesto and other election
matters of the Congress Party.
About Jayanthi Natarajan:

Jayanthi Natarajan is a lawyer and politician of Congress Party.
Jayanthi Natarajan, a senior member of Rajya Sabha for the third term from Tamil Nadu and served
in Environment ministry for two years .
Shivraj Singh Chouhan resigned from Vidisha Assembly seat

Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh resigned from the Vidisha assembly
seat on 20 December 2013 and retained the Budhni seat. Earlier, he was elected from Budhni and
Vidisha assembly segments in the recently concluded state assembly elections.
As per the rules, if a person is elected from two constituencies, he/she has to tender resignation
from one segment within 14 days of the constitution of the new Assembly.
He submitted his resignation from Vidisha seat to
Vidhan Sabha Secretariat on 20 December 2013,
which was accepted. In the recent concluded election,
Chouhan declared that he will retain the seat that will
give him the highest victory margin. From Budhni
seat, he won by 84805 votes, which was the second
highest margin in Madhya Pradesh, whereas from
Vidisha seat, he won by 16996 votes gap against
Shashank Bhargava of Congress.
Earlier, in the last assembly elections the Vidisha seat
was represented by a former leader of BJP Raghavji.
In July 2013, Raghavji resigned from the seat over the
allegations of sexually harassing his domestic help and was later expelled from BJP and arrested.

Panruti S. Ramachandran, the Chairman of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) on
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10 December 2013 announced his retirement from active politics. Ramachandran of 76 year has
handed over his resignation to the Assembly Speaker, P Dhanpal. He has retired on the health
grounds.
He has also decided to quit from the post of Member of Legislative Assembly from Alandur
constituency from where he was elected in 2011 Assembly elections.
About Panruti Ramachandran

From 2011 he served as the Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Tamil
Nadu
In 1967, he entered the Assembly on DMK ticket from Panruti constituency. Six times, he has
been elected from the constituency, twice on DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) ticket in 1967
and 1971, thrice on the ticket of AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) in 1977,
1980 and 1984 and one time in 1991 as the candidate of PMK (Pattali Makkal Katchi)
He has served a Minister for 15 years at portfolios of Transport, Local Administration, Electricity
and Food
He joined DMDK as the Chiarman in 2005
He headed Peoples Liberal Party from 1996 to 2005
Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit resigned

Sheila Dikshit, the Chief Minister of Delhi resigned from her post
on 8 December 2013 after Congress party faced a defeat
in the Delhi Assembly polls. She sent her resignation to the
Lt Governor. Sheila Dikshit was defeated in her constituency
in New Delhi from Arvind Kejriwal of Aam Aadmi Party by
over 5000 votes. She has been the Chief Minister of Delhi
three times. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with 28 seats has
emerged as the second largest party in New Delhi in its
debut elections after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
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Person Died
Farooq Sheikh, the Bollywood Veteran actor died at 65
Veteran Bollywood actor Farooq Sheikh died on 28
December 2013 due to heart attack in Dubai. He
died at the age of 65 and was born on 25 March
1948. He is survived by wife Rupa and daughters
Shaista and Sanaa.
He was best known for roles in films like Garam
Hawa (1973), Shatranj Ke Khiladi (1977), Noorie
(1979), Chashme Baddoor (1981), Umrao Jaan
(1981), Bazaar (1982) and Kissi Se Na Kehna
(1983). He won 2010 National Film Award for best
supporting actor in Lahore (a sports film).
He started his Bollywood career in 1973 with
Garam Hawa and his last performance was inClub
60. Earlier he was seen in the film Yeh Jawaani Hai
Deewani in 2013. He was a theatre personality. He
was the host of the popular show Jeena Issi Ka Naam Hai on television, in which he interviewed
the celebrities of Bollywood. Sheikh worked with Directors like Satyajit Ray, Hrishikesh Mukherjee
and Muzaffar Ali.
He started his Bollywood career in 1973 with Garam Hawa and his last performance was in Club
60. Earlier, he was seen in the film Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani in 2013. He was a theatre personality.
He was the host of the popular show Jeena Issi Ka Naam Hai on television, in which he interviewed
the celebrities of Bollywood. Sheikh worked with Directors like Satyajit Ray, Hrishikesh Mukherjee
and Muzaffar Ali.
Atul Sarpotdar leader of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena died

Atul Sarpotdar, the leader of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) died on 26 December 2013
after a brief illness. He was of 51. Due to illness he was admitted to Leelavati Hospital in suburban
Bandra on 25 December 2013 due to blood sugar-related problems.
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He is now survived by his wife and a son. Raj broke away from Shiv Sena to join Raj Thackeray.
Sarpotdar was an old associate of MNS chief Raj Thackeray, when Thackeray was leading Bhartiya
Vidyarthi Sena, the students wing of Shiv Sena. He was the General Secretary and Chief Coordinator
of Marathwada in MNS.
His father Madhukar Sarpotdar, who was the two time MP and close aid of Bal Thackeray, the late
chief of Shiv Sena was indicted by the Sri Krishna Commission that probed into the communal riots
of Mumbai of 1992-93.
Mikhail Kalashnikov the inventor of AK47 died

Mikhail Kalashnikov, who invented the AK47 weapon died at the age of 94 due to ill-health on 23
December 2013 in Izhevsk, Udmurtia province of Russian Republic.
Kalashnikov worked as weapon designer for the Soviet Unions Red Army during World War II. He
designed the AK47 (Avtomat Kalashnikov), which was officially accepted by the Soviet in 1947.
Kalashnikov was decorated with numerous honors including the Hero of Socialist Labour and Order
of Lenin and Stalin Prize.
About AK47:
The AK first used in East Berlin riots in 1953 and the Hungarian
Revolution of 1956.
AK47 is the worlds most popular firearm favored by guerrillas,
terrorists and the soldiers of many armies. The weapon was
simple, easy to use and maintain. It was reliable in any extreme
conditions (hot, cold, wet or sandy).
Russia stopped producing AK-47 models in the late 1960s but
production of variants such as AK-74M and AK-200 continued
which is more efficient than AK47.
The weapon, recognizable by its banana-shaped ammunition
magazine, became known for its simple effectiveness. It was easy to use and maintain, and it was
reliable in extreme conditions, be they hot, cold, wet or sandy.
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Renowned Kannada poet Shivarudrappa died

The renowned Kannada, Rashtrakavi G. S. Shivarudrappa, poet died on 23 December 2013 in
Bangalore. He was 87.
He is known as the new age poet of Kannada in literary circles and his poems are acclaimed for
balancing images and emotions.
About G.S. Shivarudrappa

He is a writer and researcher, who was awarded
with the title of Rashtrakavi by the Government
of Karnataka in November 2006
Central Sahitya Akademi Award in 1984 for
his literary contribution Kavyartha Chintana
He has also received the Karnataka State
Sahitya Academy in 1982
He received the Soviet Land Nehru Award in
1973
He was conferred with the Rajyotsava Award
in 1984
In 1998, he received the Pampa Prashasti
He was born on 7 February 1926 in Shikaripura in Shimoga district
Veteran journalist Pran Chopra died

Pran Chopra, the veteran journalist and first editor of
The Statesman died on 22 December 2013 at the
age of 92. He is survived by his wife and two
daughters.
Born in 1921 in Lahore, Pran began his journalism
in 1941 in civil and military gazette. In 1940s he
served All India Radio as a War Correspondent in
China and Vietnam. He wrote the foreword of the
book If Im Assassinated a book of former Pakistan
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Prime Minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
He wrote and edited several books namely

Studies in Indian Democracy in 1965
Indias Second Liberation in 1973
Contemporary Pakistan: New Aims & Images in 1983
India: The Way Ahead in 1988
Scene Changes in Kashmir, India and Pakistan in 2003
Political Parties and Party Systems in 2003
The Indian Parliament: A Comparative Perspective in 2003
The Editors Guild of India has condoled the death of Chopra, who was the former executive
member of the body.
Ronnie Biggs, the man behind the Britains Great Train Robbery
died
Ronnie Biggs who took part in the Great Train Robbery in Britain in 1963 died at the Carlton Court
Care Home in East Barnet, north London on 18 December 2013 due to multiple strokes. He was
84 years old.
The Great Train Robbery was called the Crime of the Century. The gang, of which Biggs was a
part, escaped with 2.6 million pound (equivalent to 40 million pounds today) from the Glasgow to
London mail train on 8 August 1963.
He was given a 30-year sentence in 1964, but he escaped after 15 months by fleeing over the walls
of Londons Wandsworth prison in April 1965. He was again jailed in 2001 after being on the run for
36 years, mainly in Australia and Brazil.
He was finally freed in 2009 on compassionate grounds by then Justice Secretary Jack Straw
who said he was not expected to recover.
Christopher Pickard was the ghost writer of Biggs autobiography titled Odd Man Out. It was
published in 1994.
He was generally referred as the tea-boy or The Brain.
The BBC would be releasing two film dramas made on Biggs. The name of films are A Robbers
Tale and A Coppers Tale.
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Paul Torday, the British author died at 67

Paul Torday, the British businessman who turned an author died on 19 December 2013 at the age
of 67 in Northumberland. His debut novel Salmon Fishing in the Yemen was his comic best seller.
Publisher, Weidenfeld and Nicolson announced about his death.
His novel, Salmon Fishing won the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize in 2007 and went on to be
filmed in 2011 and starred Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt. It also won the Waverton Good Read
Award in 2008 and has been sold over 500000 copies in the UK. Light Shining in the Forest was his
most recent novel and was published in 2013
About Paul Torday

He was born in Croxdale, County Durham in 1946
He read English Literature at Pembroke College, Oxford
He spent 30 years working in engineering and in industry before turning his hand to writing
Novels of Paul Torday

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen published in 2006
The Irresistible Inheritance of Wilberforce published in 2008
The Girl on the Landing published in 2009
The Hopeless Life of Charlie Summers published in 2010
More Than You Can Say published in 2011
The Legacy of Hartlepool Hall published in 2012
Marthanda Varma, head of Travancore royal family died at 92

Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma, head of Travancore royal family
who ruled south Kerala before Independence died on 16 December
2013 due to cardiac arrest. He was 92 years of age.
Varma was the younger brother of the last ruler of Travancore, Chithira
Tirunal Balarama Varma. He assumed as the head of the royal family
after the death of Balarama Varma.
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Varma was the chairman of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, recently where a treasure worth
of 1 lakh crore rupees was discovered.

Peter O Toole, the Lawrence of Asia star, died on 14
December 2013 at the Wellington Hospital in London
after a prolong illness. He was 81 years.
He began his acting career in 1955 with Bristol Old Vic
theater and played notable role in Hamlet and Shylock
in the Merchant of Venice. These stage plays were
critically acclaimed. He moved to films with a small role
in Walt Disneys family adventure Kidnapped in 1960.
He shot to stardom with the title role of Lawrence of
Arabia, which earned seven Oscars, including best
picture and director for David Lean. Peter OTooles
grand performance as British adventurer T.E. Lawrence
brought him his first best-actor nomination but set him
on an unenviable path of Oscar futility. His eight losses
without a win is a record among actors.
OToole earned best-actor Oscar nominations for Becket (1964), The Lion in Winter (1968), Goodbye,
Mr. Chips (1969), The Ruling Class (1972), The Stunt Man (1980) and My Favorite Year (1982).
Seamus Peter OToole was born Aug. 2, 1932, the son of Irish bookie Patrick Spats Peter OToole
and his wife Constance. There is some question about whether Peter was born in Connemara,
Ireland, or in Leeds, northern England, where he grew up.
A Book titled Hellraisers: The Life and Times of Burton, Harris, OToole & Reed written by Robert
Seller talks about the life of three Hollywood actors who were contemporaries of each other.

The former footballer of India, Babul Phukan on 14 December 2013 died at a hospital in Guwahati,
Assam after a prolong illness. The footballer was of 49 years in age. He is survived by his wife and
a minor daughter.
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About Babul Phukan

He represented Assam nine times in the Santosh trophy
Babul played for Assam sub junior, junior and Santosh Trophy teams on several occasions He
has played several, international matches in England, Germany and Italy
As a member of the SAI team, Babul played against a Russian team in Guwahati and Shillong
in 1988
He represented the Maharana Club, one of the oldest clubs of North East and played for the
Mohammedan Sporting Club in 1989
He was a SBI officer
He was born at Chakalibhoria village near Panitola in Tinsukia district
The Union Labour Minister, Sis Ram Ola died on 15 December 2013 after a prolonged illness in
Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon, Haryana. He was of 83 years in age.
About Sis Ram Ola

He took over as the Labour Minister in June 2013 after Mallikarjun Kharge was shifted to
Railways.
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Under the UPA 1 Government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he served as the as
Labour Minister and Union Cabinet Minister of Mines
He was a member of the 15th Lok Sabha of India and elected in 2009
He was a Senior Rajasthan Congress leader and represented, the Juunjhunu constituency of
the state
He served as a member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from 1957 to 1990
He remained a cabinet minister in the Government of Rajasthan from 1980 to 1990
He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan from 1993 to 1996
In the 11th Lok Sabha in 1996, he was elected and served as an Union Minister of State for
Chemicals and Fertilizers (Independent Charge) from 1996 to 1997
From 1997 to 1998, he served as a Union Minister of State for Water Resources (Independent
Charge)
In 1968, he became a recipient of Padma Shri award for social work
He was born on 30 July 1927
The Last King of Mysore Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar

Died
The last King of the erstwhile Mysore royal family, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar passed
away in Bangalore on 10 December 2013 due to heart attack
Maharaja Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar Bahadur also known as Srikanta Wadeyar was the
last prince of Mysore Kingdom under Wodeyar dynasty. Wodeyar Dynasty ruled the Kingdom of
Mysore between 1399 and 1950.
About Narasimharaja Wodeyar

Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar was
born in 1953. He was the only son of
Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wodiyar,
the last ruling Maharaja of Mysore and his
second wife Maharani Tripura Sundari
Ammani Avaru.
Maharaja Srikanta Narasimharaja Wodiyar
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has no sons.
He studied Masters in Political Science from a college of Mysore University. He succeeded his
father as the head of the Wodeyar dynasty in 1974.
He was elected as a Member of Parliament representing the Mysore Parliamentary Constituency
four times as a candidate of Indian National Congress.
Besides politics, he also had keen interest is fashion designing and was a regular at fashion
shows. He used to design for his own brand of silk sarees - Royal Silk.
Maharaja Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar Bahadur was the last link with the Mysore citys
royal past. He played a key role in conducting the ten-day Dasara celebrations each year in
Mysore city. Every year the famous Mysore Dasara festival draws lakhs of tourists from across
the world.
US Actor Paul Walker Died in Car Accident

US
actor
Paul
Walker died in a car
accident in Southern
California on 30
November 2013. He
was 40. The incident
occurred while he
was coming back
from
his
o r g a n i z a t i o n s
charity event.
Paul Walker was working on the latest Fast & Furious movie at the time of his death. He also
starred in the suspense drama, Hours, a movie that is set for release in December 2013.
The actor, who is best known for playing Brian OConner in the Fast & Furious film series, has
also done films like Into the Blue, Shes All That Eight Below and Takers among others. Paul
William Walker IV was born on 12 September 1973. He became famous in 1999 after his role in the
hit film Varsity Blues.
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Places in News
Hoquiam, a small town of Washington to celebrate Nirvana Day
Nirvana Day will be celebrated in Hoquiam, a small town of US on 10 April 2014. Nirvana Day will
be celebrated as the bands Nirvana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the same
day. This is the first time that the day will be celebrated by Hoquiam.
The day will be celebrated to pay a tribute to the bands late frontman, Kurt Cobain. He was born
and raised just four miles away from Hoquiam in Aberdeen and he lived in Hoquiam, Washington
for a very short time.
As per Jack Durney, the Mayor of the city, Nirvana will bring great honour to the entire community
of the town.
Nirvana was a band formed by Cobain and Krist Novoselic in 1987 and a drummer Dave Grohl joined
it in 1990. The debut album of Nirvana band was each was launched in 1989. Cobain committed
suicide at the age of 27.
Yellowstone National Park in US have super volcano than previously estimated
Scientists in the first week of December 2013 in their report claimed that the super volcano lying
beneath Yellowstone National Park in US is much larger than it was thought previously. As per the
study, the magma chamber is 2.5 times bigger than previous estimations and the carven stretches
for more than 90 Kilometers and contain 200 to 600 cubic kilometer of molten rock.
The findings were presented at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in San Francisco. In
case the Yellowstone Super Volcano is blown now than it would bring in catastrophic consequences.
The major volcanic eruption happened 640000 years ago, which sent ash across North America
and affected the climate of earth.
To map the magma chamber, the team of scientists used a network of Seismometers situated
around the park. They recorded the earthquakes in and around Yellowstone to measure the seismic
waves as they travel through ground. The waves from the hot and molten material travel slower and
this helps the scientists to measure, what is beneath the earth over there.
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As per the findings the scientists found a colossal, magma chamber that reach depths from 2
kilometer and 15 kilometer. They also identified that the carven was 90 kilometers long and 30
kilometer wide.
BY now, there have been only three major eruptions so far, the first happened around 2.1 million
years ago, the second one happened around 1.3 million years ago and the third one happened
640000 years ago.
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Awards | Honours
Mammen Mathew chosen for prestigious journalism Lokmanya
Tilak National Award
Mammen Mathew, the Chief Editor and Managing Director of Malayala Manorma has been chosen
for prestigious journalism award instituted by a trust founded by Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak
on 31 December 2013.
The Lokmanya Tilak National Award instituted by the Kesari Mahratta Trust for excellence in
journalism consist a memento and a cash of 1 lakh rupees. It will be given on the day of celebrations
of the trusts 133rd foundation day at Tilakwada, Pune on 4 January 2013.
About Mammen Mathew

Mammen Mathew is a senior journalist with an experience of 44 years of working in reputed
publications in India and abroad.
He served as the President of the Editors Guild of India
He has been a President of Indian Newspaper Society; it is an association of newspaper owners
He has also been a member of the National Security Advisory Board
He was the first Indian, Director Trustee of the Thomson Reuters Founders Share Company
Two Indian American researchers got US Presidential Early Career award

Two Indian Americans are among 102 scientists who received the Presidential Early Career Awards
for Scientists and Engineers.
The awards were given by President Barack Obama on 23 December 2013.
The Indian American who received the award are Dr. Karunesh Ganguly of San Francisco and Dr.
Hardeep Singh of Houston.
They will receive their awards at a Washington, DC, ceremony in the coming year.
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The award is categorized as the highest US honour for young professionals in these fields.
Dr. Karunesh Gangulys research was aimed towards the development of novel therapies for patients
with chronic neurological deficits following stroke or other forms of brain injury.
Dr. Hardeep Singhs research involved detecting, understanding and reducing missed and delayed
diagnosis in the outpatient setting, as well as in using health information technology to achieve safe
and effective health care.
Presidential Early Career Award

Initiated by President Clinton in 1996 and coordinated by the Office of Science and Technology
Policy, the awards are the highest honors given by the U.S. on young scientists, researchers and
engineers.
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport of Hyderabad received Sword

of Honour award
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), Hyderabad awarded the Sword of Honour for safety
management in London in the second week of December 2013.
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Ltd is operated by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd
(GHIAL) and it is first airport in India to receive this award.
The airport received award in recognition of its effective implementation of occupational health
and safety management systems from the British Safety Council for health and safety works at the
airport.
The Sword of Honour is considered to be Oscar of the Safety World. The Organization has achieved
5-star certification in the British Safety Councils audit Programme.
IRCON won the India Pride Award for Excellence in Central PSUs
in India Image Enhancement
IRCON International Limited on 20 December 2013 has been awarded the prestigious India Pride
Awards for Excellence in Central PSUs in India Image Enhancement. The award was received by
Mohan Tiwari, the CMD of IRCON from M.M. Pallam Raju, the Union Minister for Human Resources
Development.
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About IRCON
IRCON International Limited is a government company that was incorporated by the Central
Government (Ministry of Railways) under the Companies Act, 1956 on 28 April 1976 originally
under the name Indian Railway Construction Company Limited. It is a leading turnkey construction
company in the public sector known for its quality, commitment and consistency in terms of
Performance. IRCON has widespread operations in several States in India and in other countries
like Malaysia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, U.K. Algeria, Sri Lanka and
others.
The Company has earned total foreign exchange of 2117 crore rupees in the last five years. IRCON
has so far completed over 100 projects in more than 20 countries.
Sahitya Academy Awards announced for the year 2013

The Sahitya Akademi Awards 2013 was announced on
18 December 2013 by Sahitya Akademi. Poetry writers
have dominated the awards announced in 2013. Eight
books of poetry, four of essays, three of novels, two
each of short stories and travelogues, one each of
autobiography, memoirs and play have won the Sahitya
Akademi Award 2013.
The awards were recommended by jury members,
who represent 22 Indian languages and approved by
the Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi that met
under the Chairmanship of Dr. Vishwanath Prasad
Tiwari, President of the Sahitya Akademi. Assamese and Gujarati language awards will be declared
later on.
The books were selected on the basis of recommendations made by a Jury of three members in
the concerned languages in accordance with the procedure laid down for the purpose. According
to the procedure, the Executive Board declared the Awards on the basis of unanimous selections
made by the Jurors or selection made on the basis of majority vote. The Awards relate to books first
published during the three years immediately preceding the year of Award (i.e., between 1 January
2009 and 31 December 2011).
The Award in the form of a casket containing an engraved copper-plaque, a shawl and a cheque of
100000 rupees will be presented to the authors of these books at a special function to be held on
11 March 2014 at New Delhi during the Festival of Letters organized by Sahitya Akademi.
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Sahitya Akademi Awards 2013

Language
Title and Genre
Author
Bengali
Dwaipayan Hrader Dhare

(Poetry)
Subodh Sarkar
Bodo
Delphini Onthai Mwdai Arw

Gubun Gubun Khonthai
Anil Boro
(Poetry)
Dogri
Doha Satsai (Poetry)
Sitaram Sapolia
English
Laburnum For My Head

(Short Stories)
Temsula Ao
Hindi
Miljul Man (Novel)
Mridula Garg
Kannada
Akyana-Vyakyana (Essays)
C.N. Ramachandran
Kashmiri
Aina Aatash (Short Stories)
Mohi-ud-Din Reshi
Konkani
Manmotayam (Essays)
Tukaram Rama Shet
Maithili
Sangharsh Aa Sehanta
(Memoirs)
Sureshwar Jha
Malayalam
Kathayillathavante Katha
(Autobiography)
M.N. Paloor
Manipuri
Chinglon Amadagi Amada

(Travelogue)
Makhonmani Mongsaba
Marathi
Vachanaryachi Rojanishee
(Essays)
Satish Kalasekar
Nepali
Manka Lahar Ra Raharharu

(Travelogue)
Man Bahadur Pradhan
Odia
Banaprastha (Play)
Bijoy Misra
Punjabi
Nirvaan (Novel)
Manmohan
Rajasthani
Aanthyoi Nahi Din Hal

(Poetry)
Ambika Dutt
Sanskrit
Chaladuravani (Poetry)
Radhakant Thakur
Santali
Chanda Bonga (Poetry)
Arjun Charan Hembram
Sindhi
Mansh-Nagari (Poetry)
Namdev Tarachandani
Tamil
Korkai (Novel)
R.N. Joe D Cruz
Telugu
Sahityaakashmlo Sagam
(Essays)
Katyayani Vidmahe
Urdu
Lava (Poetry)
Javed Akhtar
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Winning poets of these awards were:

Javed Akhtar for poetry Lava in Urdu language
Namdev Tarachandani in Sindhi language for poetry Mansh-Nagari
Arjun Charan Hembram for poetry Chanda Bonga in Santali language
Radhakant Thakur for poetry Chaladuravani in Sanskrit
Ambika Dutt for poetry Aanthyoi Nahi Din Hal in Rajasthani
Sitaram Sapolia for poetry Doha Satsai in Dogri
Anil Boro for poetry Delphini Onthai Mwdai Arg Gubun Gubun Khonthai in Bodo
Subodh Sarkar for poetry Dwaipayan Hrader Dhare in Bengali
Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi was formally inaugurated by the Government of India on 12 March 1954. As
a national organization it is responsible to work for the development of Indian letters and to set the
literary standards in all the Indian languages. It functions as an autonomous organization. It was
registered as a society on 7 January 1956, under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
Bipan Chandra awarded Itihas Ratna

Eminent historian Bipan Chandra on 17 December 2013 was awarded Itihas Ratna from Asiatic
Society Bihar. The award was given to Bipan Chandra on his 86th birthday. He was honoured by
O.P. Jaiswal, the Secretary of the Asiatic Society of Bihar in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
Campus, New Delhi.
Bipan Chandra is the fourth historian to be honoured with the Itihas Ratna by the society. The three
others, who have been honoured with the Itihas Ratna are:
Ram Sharan Sharma, who was awarded on 19 November 2010
Irfan Habib was awarded on 9 September 2011
J S Grewal awarded on 9 September 2012
About Bipan Chandra

The Rise and Growth of Economic Nationalism, is one of his known and one of the earliest
books
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He served the Indian History Congress as its Sectional President and then as the General
President in 1985
He has been a Chairperson of the centre for historical studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in
New Delhi
In 1993, he became a member of the University Grants Commission
From 2004-2012, he has served National Book Trust, New Delhi as its Chairperson
He was at the forefront of the communist struggle in India since independence
He is an Indian historian and has specialized in economic and political history of modern India
He was born in 1928 in Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh
Some of his books are:

India after Independence
In the Name of Democracy: JP Movement and Emergency
Essays on Colonialism
Nationalism and Colonialism in Modern India
Communalism and the Writing of Indian History
History of Modern India
The Epic Struggle
Essays on Indian Nationalism
103-year old Park Mansion of Kolkata awarded KMC-INTACH

Heritage Award 2013
The 103-year-old Park Mansions on Kolkatas upscale Park Street was given the prestigious heritage
award for the restoration of its colonial era structure. The KMC-INTACH Heritage Award 2013 was
given to the Park Mansions by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Indian National Trust for Art
and Cultural Heritage.
The heritage property was restored at a cost of more than 10 crore rupees to its original glory in
2010, the centennial year of the building. It is owned by the Karan Paul led Apeejay Surendra Group.
The building was constructed in 1910 for both residential and commercial use and it is spread
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over more than 5 bighas. The architecture is a mixture of Victorian and Indo-Saracen styles with
a bulbous dome on the roof, British-style interiors with a touch of Indian architectural style on the
facade.
The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is a non-profit organization set up
in 1984 to involve its members in protecting and conserving Indias vast natural, built and cultural
heritage.
Dubai International Film Festival: Irrfan Khan won best actor

award
Irrfan Khan on 13 December 2013 won the best actor
award for his brilliant performance in his film The
Lunchbox at the 10th edition of Dubai International Film
Festival (DIFF). Ritesh Batra, the Writer-Director of the
film The Lunchbox, got a special mention for screenplay
for the film in the same category. Irrfan won the award
in the Muhr Asia Africa Feature Category.
Dubai International Film Festival was held from 6
December to 14 December 2013. The jury at the DIFF
was headed by renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur.
The 2013 other Award winners were

Apart from this, Ilo Ilo the story of a Filipina maid from Singapore bagged the Best Picture
Prize, whereas its star, Yeo Yann Yann won the Best Actress Award.
Sandeep Ray won the best director award for his Bengali language film Shirno Bahu or the
Thin Arms, which revolves around an ailing octogenarian woman in the Muhr Asia Africa shorts
category
The Palestinian work, Omar, won the top Muhr Arab Feature Prize. Omar, which was opened
in the current 10th edition of the Festival, but also played at Cannes in May and Toronto in
September. Omar is also Palestines submission for the Foreign Language Oscar. The movie
is a thriller and talks about the relationship between a young Palestinian and a hardcore Israeli
agent. Its director Hany Abu Assad was adjudged the best helmer
In the Muhr Arab Feature Prize category, Yasmine Raees won Best Actress Award for the buzzworthy Egyptian movie, Factory Girl a work about the nations stifling social mores.
Hassan Badid was declared the Best Actor for his performance in Moroccos They are the Dogs
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Among the documentaries, Salma El Tarzi, a Egyptian filmmaker bagged the Best Director
trophy for Underground on the Surface, while the Best Documentary spot was filled by Karim
Amers The Square
Emirates NBD Peoples Choice Award: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee for American film Frozen and
Amal
Wipro Chairman Azim Premji received ET Lifetime Achievement

Award 2013
Wipro Chairman Azim Premji, 68, won the Economic
Times Lifetime Achievement Award 2013 for his role in
creating Indias third-largest software exporter and also
for the impressive scale of his philanthropy.
The 2013 ET Awards for Corporate Excellence were
given in Mumbai on 9 December 2013. The ET Awards
were decided by a jury headed by Anshu Jain, co-CEO of
Deutsche Bank.
The theme of the awards was Governance.
The list of the 2013 ET Award winners

NAME
CATEGORY
CONTRIBUTION
Chairman of the 40 billion dollar
commodities-to-telecom Aditya Birla
Group was chosen for his feat in
transforming a traditional Indian family
enterprise - which he inherited in 1995
after the sudden death of his father into a globalised conglomerate, with
51% of its revenues coming from
abroad.
Kumar Mangalam Birla
Business Leader of the Year
P Chidambram
Finance Minister of India was chosen

Business Reformer of the Year for his Herculean efforts in turning
around the fortunes of the economy.
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Vinod Khosla
Sachin Bansal
Azim Premji
Larsen & Toubro
Bookmyshow
Sun Pharma
Global Indian of the Year
A storied venture capitalist, Khosla

was one of the founders of Sun
Microsystems, where he pioneered
open systems. He then went on an
equally stellar career in venture capital
at Kleiner, Perkins Caufield & Byers
(KPCB), which he joined in 1986. In
2004, he set up Khosla ventures,
which has a bent for startups in the
clean energy space and microfinance.
Entrepreneur of the Year
The founder of Flipkart, was picked

for creating an e-commerce company
valued at over $1 billion that showed
the appetite for risk-taking by Bansal.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Chairman of Wipro was recognised by

the jury not only for his role in creating
India's third-largest software exporter
but also for the impressive scale of his
philanthropy.
Corporate Citizen of the Year
A M Naik led L & T got the award for

its contribution to public good through
commitment to critical social causes
that influence the lives of thousands of
needy Indians.
Start-up of the Year
Ashish Hemrajani led Bookmyshow

is the Indias most popular ticketing
website and the jury recognized it
for its potential to rapidly establish
itself as an innovative and financially
successful company
Company of the Year
The jury recognised Dilip Shangavi

led Sun Pharma for its considerable
achievements: the number one Indian
pharma company by sales, net profit
and market capitalisation. The latter
was an eye-popping Rs 1.18 lakh
crore at the Wednesday close, up 54%
in 2013.
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ET Awards 2012
Business Leader of the year: Anil Agarwal
Corporate Citizen of the year: Aditya Birla Group
Entrepreneur of the year: Devi Prasad Shetty
Global Indian of the year: Anshu Jain
Policy Change Agent of the year: Sam Pitroda
Company of the year: HDFC Bank
Emerging Company of the year: Jubilant FoodWorks
Lifetime Achievement Award: PRS Oberoi
About ET Awards
The Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence (also referred as ET Awards) are the awards
conferred by The Economic Times in the field of business, corporate and government policies,
economies in India.
It is an annual award conferred in various categories and is being given since 1998.
e-BRC Project won 2013 e-ASIA Award

Directorate General of Foreign Trades e-BRC project has won the 2013 e-ASIA Award under the
Trade Facilitation category. The award was announced by Asia-Pacific Council for Trade Facilitation
and Electronic Business (AFACT) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on 29 November 2013.
About e-BRC Project

e-BRC is the acronym for electronic Bank Realization Certificate (e-BRC) project which was
launched on 5 June 2012 to electronically transmit foreign exchange realization details on exports
from the respective banks to Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
The project has created an integrated platform for receipt, processing and subsequent use of all
bank realization related information by exporters, banks, central and state government departments.
It was made mandatory with effect from 17 August 2012.
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The Bank Realization Certificate is required for discharge of export obligation and to claim incentives
under Foreign Trade Policy. Earlier, this certificate was issued by banks manually. BRC is also used
by state government departments for refund of VAT.
About the Award

e-Asia award is administered by Asia-Pacific Council for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business
(AFACT). Its principal focus is to facilitate international transactions, through the simplification and
harmonization of procedures and information flows, and so contribute to the growth of global
commerce.
East Timor film Beatrizs War won Golden Peacock Award at IFFI
2013
East Timor film Beatrizs War bagged Golden Peacock award for Best
Film at the 44th International Film Festival of India at Panaji, Goa on 30
November 2013.
The film, directed by Bety Reis and Luigi Acquisto, is a passionate story
of one womans conviction to remain true to the man she loves. The
award carries a Golden Peacock, a certificate and a Cash Prize of 40
lakh Rupees.
Indian Director Kaushik Ganguli bagged the award for Best Director for
his Bengali film Apur Panchali. The award carries a Silver Peacock, a
certificate and a cash prize of 15 lakh Rupees.
Special Jury Award went to Turkish film Thou Gildst The Even, directed
by Onur Unlu. The award carries a Silver Peacock, a certificate and a cash prize of 15 lakh rupees.
Best Actor (Male) award went to Alon Moni Aboutboul for his performance in Israeli movie A Place
in Heaven. The award carries a Silver Peacock, a certificate and a cash prize of 10 lakh rupees.
Best Actor (Female) award was presented to Boczarska Magdalena for her excellent performance
in Polish film In Hiding. The Award carries a Silver Peacock, a certificate and a cash prize of 10
lakh Rupees.
The Special Centenary Award was given to Bengali film Meghe Dhaka Tara, directed by Kamaleshwar
Mukherjee. The award carries a Silver Peacock, a certificate and a cash prize of 10 lakh Rupees.
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Report | Survey
Kolkata ranked top in public transport among Indian cities: UTIP
Study
Kolkata was ranked top in public transport among Indian cities, according to a study of the
International Association of Public Transport (UTIP) released on 16 December 2013. Kolkata was
ranked 31st which was the highest among the six cities studied in India.
The study was made by the IAPT in association with Arthur D Little, a management consultant
based in Boston, for 84 cities across the world. The study was titled Future of Urban Mobility 2.0.
According to the study, although Kolkata had the slowest mode of commuting but in public transport
it was regarded as the most progressive city in the country. The other cities studied by the IAPT are
Mumbai (41), Chennai (54), Hyderabad (55), Bangalore (65) and Delhi (79).
Moreover, Kolkata fared better than several cities in developed countries including New York (35),
Toronto (38) and Melbourne.
The Study has placed Hong Kong as the best city in public transport followed by Stockholm and
Amsterdam. The cities with the worst mode of public transport were Baghdad, Hanoi and Atlanta.
The parameters that were taken into account included share of trips made in public transport,
smart card penetration, road density, frequency of public transport and initiatives taken in the
public sector.
With expanding Urbanisation, Villages thinning out revealed by

Census 2011
According to the rural data of the Census 2011 released on 10 December 2013, the rural population
is increasingly getting concentrated in a narrow band of villages ranging from the size of 2000
population to the size of 10000 population. The Census further revealed that close to 50% of the
rural population now lives in just 1.2 lakh villages. The remaining 50% lives in 4.8 lakh villages.
According to the Census 2011, out of 640930 villages 597483 villages were inhabited whereas
43447 villages were deserted. In the previous Census held in 2001, there were 5.93 lakh villages
with inhabitants and there were 44865 deserted villages.
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Between 2001 and 2011, the share of rural population living in villages with less than 2000 population
went down from 46 percent to 41 percent. To the contrary the share of population living in the
biggest villages (with over 10000 population size) went up marginally from 8.55 percent to 8.68
percent between the two census counts.
There were 670 more big villages in 2011 than in 2001. Uttar Pradesh has the most number of
10000+ villages. Kerala stands next in having bigger villages.
Village size
Census 2001 Census 2011
Less than 2000
46%
41.8%
Between 2000 and 9999
45.4
49.5
Above 10000
8.6
8.7
Some Statistics related to Rural-Urban data: Census 2011

Population in Crores
2001
2011
Difference
India
102.9
121.0
18.1
Rural
74.3
83.3
9.0
Urban
28.6
37.7
9.1
For the first time since Independence, the absolute increase in population is more in urban
areas that in rural areas
RuralUrban distribution: 68.84% & 31.16%
Level of urbanization increased from 27.81% in 2001 Census to 31.16% in 2011 Census
The proportion of rural population declined from 72.19% to 68.84%
State wise data on level of urbanization and rural population

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal are respectively the states with the highest rural population
in India.
In percentage terms Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Orissa, Meghalaya are the most rural
states.
Sikkim, Mizoram and Goa are the states with least rural populations.
Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are the states with highest absolute (total) urban
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population.
The bottom three states with least urban population are Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.
Meghalaya (27%) & Bihar (24%) witnessed the highest growth of rural population among States
in 2001-11.
Four States saw decline in Rural Population during 2001-11.These are Kerala (by 26%), Goa
(19%), Nagaland (15%) &Sikkim (5%).
UP emerged as the biggest exporter of Buffalo meat

Uttar Pradesh (UP) with a share of 67% has emerged as the biggest exporter of buffalo meat from
the country followed by Punjab and Maharashtra, said a recent FICCI report.
The report also noted that apart from having the countrys largest buffalo population, UP also has
the highest number of abattoirs-cum-meat processing export units.
Buffalo meat production in the state has been increasing gradually since 2007-08 but since 2010
it increased by 40%.
UP ranks third in meat production and the state has a large livestock population, representing 10%
of the cattle and over 25% of the buffalos in India.
About Buffalo Meat

Indias livestock population includes, 88 million buffaloes, which is 58 per cent of the worlds
buffalo population.
Buffalo contributes about 30% of total meat production in the country.
The major areas for Buffalo Meat production are Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra
and Punjab.
The country has exported 1106.96 thousand MT of buffalo meat products to the world for the
worth of 17,400.59 crores Rupee.
Major Export Destinations in 2012-13 are: Vietnam Social Republic, Malaysia, Thailand, Egypt
Arab Republic, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
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India Ranked 94th on Global Corruption Perception Index 2013

India was ranked 94th out of 177 countries on Global Corruption Perception Index 2013, which was
released by Transparency International on 3 December 2013.
In the Corruption Perceptions Index 2013, Denmark and New Zealand tied for first place with scores
of 91. Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia this year make up the worst performers, scoring just
8 points each.
Transparency International has released its 19th annual Corruption Perceptions Index on 3
December 2013 at Berlin, Germany. The Index, which ranks the public sector of 177 countries
across the world according to perception of corruption.
Indias Performance
Indias rank (94th) has remained unchanged from the last year, it has emerged as more corrupt than
three of its BRICS countries China (80th), South Africa and Brazil (both ranked 72nd) -- but better
than Pakistan and Russia (both are ranked at 127th).
According to the 2013 list, India has scored 36 points on a scale of 0-100, where 0 means that a
country is perceived as highly corrupt and 100 means it is perceived as very clean. None of the
countries have managed to get the perfect 100 score.
India has done better than countries like Thailand (102nd), Mexico (106th), Egypt (114th), Nepal
(116th), Vietnam (116th), Bangladesh (136th) and Iran (144th).
Top 10 Least Corrupt Countries
Top 10 Most Corrupt Countries

Rank
Country Name
Score
Rank
Country Name
Score
175
Somalia
Denmark
91
175
North Korea
New Zealand
91
175
Afghanistan
Finland
89
174
Sudan
11
Sweden
89
173
South Sudan
14
Norway
86
172
Libya
15
Singapore
86
171
Iraq
16
Switzerland
85
168
Uzbekistan
17
Netherlands
83
168
Turkmenistan
17
Australia
81
168
Syria
17
10
Canada
81
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About Corruption Perception Index 2013

The index, the leading global indicator of public sector corruption, scores countries on a scale
from 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be very clean). The results of the 2013
index serve as a warning that more must be done to enable people to live their lives free from the
damaging effects of corruption.
About Transparency International

Transparency International is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation dedicated to fighting
corruption. It is best known for its Corruption Perceptions Index. Its secretariat is located in Berlin,
Germany. The organization is present in more than 100 countries. It came into existence in 1993.
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Exhibition | Fare
India-Afghan Innovation Partnership Fair opened in Kabul
The first ever India-Afghanistan Innovation Partnership Fair opened in Kabul, Afghanistan on 3
December 2013. Indias Ambassador to Afghanistan, Amar Sinha, has inaugurated the IndiaAfghanistan Innovation Partnership Fair.
The two day fair has been jointly organized by the Indian Embassy in Kabul in collaboration with the
US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Kabul Chamber of Commerce and Industry
and the Federation of Indian Chambers of commerce and Industries (FICCI). Nearly 20 Indian and
25 Afghan participants are showcasing their innovations in the fair.
India - Afghanistan Relations

India and Afghanistan have a strong relationship based
on historical and cultural links. India has played a
significant role in the reconstruction and rehabilitation
of Afghanistan.
Recently, Strategic Partnership Agreement, signed
between Afghanistan and India during Afghan
President Hamid Karzais visit to India in October 2011,
which reinforced the strong, vibrant and multi-faceted
relations between the two countries and at the same
time formalized a framework for cooperation in various
areas between the two countries: political & security
cooperation; trade & economic cooperation; capacity development and education; and social,
cultural, civil society & people-to-people relations.
This agreement is a strong signal of Indias abiding commitment to peace, stability and prosperity
in Afghanistan during this critical period of security and governance transition.
The commitment is also reflected in Indias extensive developmental assistance programme, which
now stands at around US 2 billion Dollars, making India the 5th largest bilateral donor in Afghanistan
after the US, UK, Japan and Germany.
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Defence | Security
TEJAS Team Set New Record of 500 Flights in 2013
Tejas, Indias Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) set a new record on 27 December 2013 of flying 500
sorties in 2013. This is the highest sorties achieved in a calendar year so far.
The previous record stood at 300 sorties.In 2013, the team participated in seven detachments
across the country and carried out tests like shutting off and reignition of the engine, high energy
brake testing, flight envelope expansion, missile firing with radar guidance, air-to-ground weapon
testing and wet runway trials, the DRDO said.
About Tejas
Indias indigenously
designed
and
developed frontline
fighter
Light
Combat
Aircraft
(LCA) started in
1983 to replace
the ageing MiG-21
fighter aircrafts.
It was christened
as Tejas by the then
Prime Minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee in
2003 when Tejas
crossed the sonic
barrier for the first
time.
Tejas is the smallest, light weight, single engine, single seat and supersonic, multirole, combat
aircraft. LCA Tejas is capable of flying non-stop to destinations over 1700 km away.
Four variants of Tejas aircraft (Combat variant, Trainer and Naval variants) are being developed
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for land and carrier borne operations.

Tejas has multi mode weapon multirole capability in the form of Air to Ground and Air to Air
missions
Tejas has quadruplex digital fly-by-wire flight system which ensures adequate safety and
advanced Glass cockpit open architecture complements piloting.
Extensive use of advanced composites in the airframe gives a high strength to weight ratio, long
fatigue life and low radar signatures.
Helmet Mounted Display Sight (HMDS) has been fully integrated in Tejas and R73E missile firing
has been successfully demonstrated using HMD.
Defence Acquisition Council DAC approved the procurement of

Israeli Barak-I missile
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by the Defence Minister, A K Antony, lifted restrictions
on the further procurements of Israeli Barak missiles on 22 December 2013.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the proposals for procurement
which includes
Additional 226 Israeli Barak Surface-to-air precision-guided missiles
Two naval projects for 16 Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) warships which is capable of operating
in shallow waters, worth of 13440 crore rupees
Two diving support vessels meant for rescuing sailors from disabled submarines, worth of 1500
crore rupees.
41 Dhruv Advanced light Helicopters (ALH) worth of 300 crore rupees being manufactured by
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) was cleared.
The diving support vessels or deep-submergence rescue vessels (DSRVs) will be acquired through
floating global tender and the ASW boats will be built with foreign collaboration for torpedoes.
Final nod from the Cabinet Committee on Security is required to go-ahead with the acquisition of
Barak-I missiles.
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Barak Missiles
The Barak deal was originally signed in 2000 by India during the National Democratic Alliance
(NDA) regime.
The Barak missiles are effective missile interceptors used as the last layer of defence to destroy
advancing missiles within a 10 km range.
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC):

Defence Acquisition Council is the highest body headed by the Defence Minister which oversees
the entire acquisition process for the Armed Forces.
DAC approves the long-term perspective plans and accords the acceptance of necessity which
involves categorization of items into Buy, Buy & Make and Make in capital acquisition.
DACs decisions are implemented under the overall supervision of DAC by the Defence Procurement
Board, Defence Production Board and the Defence R&D Board.
AGNI-III missile test fired successfully from Wheeler Island

Agni-III the nuclear capable ballistic missile
was successfully test-fired by India on 23
December 2013. It was test-fired for its full
range of 3000 kilometer from the Wheeler
Island of Odisha Coast.
The test fire of the surface-to-surface
missile was conducted by Strategic Forces
Command (SFC) of the Indian Army with the
logistic support from the Defence Research
and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The missile was flight-tested from a mobile
launcher at launch complex number 4 of the
Integrated Test Range. The Agni-III missile
is powered by a two-stage solid propellant
system.
The entire trajectory of the trial was monitored
through various telemetry stations, electro-optic systems and sophisticated radars located along
the coast and by naval ships anchored near the impact point for data analysis.
It has a length of 17 metres, 2 metres diameter and launch weight is around 50 tonnes. It can carry
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a warhead of 1.5 tonne, which is protected by carbon all composite heat shield.
The missile has already been inducted into the armed forces is equipped with the hybrid navigation,
guidance and control systems along with advanced on-board computer. The electronic systems
are hardened for higher vibration, thermal and acoustic effects.
Agni-IIIs first user successful trial was carried out on 21 September 2012 from the same base.
India successfully test-fired indigenously developed MBLR Pinaka at Chandipur

India on 19 December 2013 successfully
test-fired the indigenously developed
Pinaka from a base at Chandipur-on-sea
near Balasore, off the Odisha coast. Pinaka
is a multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL).
Six rounds of Pinaka were successfully
tested from the proof and experimental
establishment at Chandipur. The tests were
conducted by personnel from Armament
Research and Development Establishment
(ARDE), Pune unit.
Since 1995, the Pinaka has undergone
several tests has been inducted in the armed forces and the present trials were conducted with
some improvements in the system. To supplement the artillery guns, rockets with a range of 40
kilometer capable as a force multiplier has been developed. The quick reaction time and high rate
of fire of the system gave an edge to the Army during a low-intensity conflict situation.
Earlier in July 2013, more advanced second generation Pinaka Mark II Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher
System had undergone successful firing trials at Chandhan area in Pokhran field firing ranges in
western Rajasthan.
The Main Features of Pinaka

Pinaka is an area weapon system with a range of 40 km.
The quick reaction time and high rate of fire of Pinaka will give an edge to the Army during a
minor conflict situation.
Pinaka system can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds. The battery of six launchers can
neutralise at a time a target area of 3.9 sq km.
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Pinaka is capable to incorporate several types of warheads, which make the weapon deadly for
the enemy as it can even destroy solid structures and bunkers
Chinese troops detained Indian porters at Chumar in eastern

Ladakh
Chinese troops once again detained five Indian porters and their mules at Chumar area along
the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. According to the Sources, the porters were
released by the People Liberation Army (PLA) troops only after the Indian Army intervened through
the hotline and a flag meeting between local commanders to demand their return.
Both Indian and Chinese armies have been conducting aggressive patrolling along all the three
sectors of the 4,057-km long unresolved LAC - western (Ladakh), middle (Uttarakhand, Himachal)
and eastern (Sikkim, Arunachal) - to strengthen their claims to disputed territories. India, for instance,
has recorded close to 700 transgressions by the PLA troops across the LAC in the last three years.
In the latest incident, the Indian porters were detained in the Chumar area in first week of December
by the PLA troops, who were apparently patrolling to their claim line but which India considers as
its own territory.
Chumar post, the bone of contention

The Indian post at Chumar on the Ladakh-Himachal Pradesh border, in particular, has for long
irritated the PLA because it looks into Chinese territory and track troops movements there. Chumar,
in fact, is one out of the handful of sectors in eastern Ladakh where Indian positions and supply
lines are far superior to PLA ones.
Chumar has witnessed several tense incidents and face-offs between the two forces in recent
years. China already was irked about Indias re-activation of the Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO), Fukche and
Nyoma advanced landing grounds and construction of some posts along the LAC in Ladakh over
the last five to six years to match the massive infrastructure build-up by PLA in the region.
April-May 2013 face-off between Indian Army and PLA

Chumar was also the bone of contention during the 21-day military face-off in April-May 2013 that
saw the two rival armies pitching tents and indulging in banner drills after PLA troops intruded 19
km into Indian Territory in the Depsang Bulge area of the DBO sector.
The main pre-condition laid down by the PLA to withdraw from Depsang during the face-off was
that India should dismantle the temporary bunkers it had constructed in Chumar, which incidentally
is some 250 km south of DBO. The crisis was finally defused on May 5, 2013 after India dismantled
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what it called ``a tin shed at Chumar and the PLA troops simultaneously withdrew from Depsang.
Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA)

The BDCA was inked between India and China on October 23, 2013 during PM Manmohan Singhs
trip to Beijing. It was to provide a more robust protocol for defusing such confrontations and ``build
trust between the two rival armies along the LAC, till the political leadership can actually resolve
the larger and vexed boundary problem.
The BDCA basically consolidates earlier such pacts inked in 1993, 1996 and 2005 to reinforce
various de-escalatory steps while reaffirming that ``neither side shall use force or threaten to use
force or seek unilateral superiority to alter the status-quo along the LAC.
It then goes beyond them to outline new CBMs like a hotline between the two military headquarters,
no tailing of each others patrols, additional border personnel meeting (BPM) points and ``small
scale tactical exercises - apart from the Hand-in-Hand joint exercise - along the LAC.
The pact holds that both armies will exercise maximum self-restraint if a face-to-face situation
develops, as also have the right to seek a clarification from the other side if a doubtful situation
arises where there is no common understanding of the LAC.
India successfully test fired Nuclear Capable Prithvi -2 Missile
India on 3 December 2013 successfully test fired its surface-to-surface ballistic missile Prithvill from Chandipur in the Balasore district of Odisha. The test which is a part of the user training
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exercise of the Indian Army was conducted from lunch complex 3 of the ITR in Chandipur along
the Odisha coast.
The last user trial of Prithvi-II was successfully carried out from the same base on 7 October 2013.
Prithvi-II Missile features

1. Inducted into Indias Strategic Forces Command in 2003, the Prithvi II missile is the first missile
to be developed by DRDO under Indias Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme
(IGMDP).
2. It is capable of carrying 1000 kg of warheads and thrusted by liquid propulsion twine engines,
uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory.
3. The nine-meter long Prithvi-II missile is equipped with advanced high accuracy navigation
system and guided by an innovative guidance scheme.
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Books & Author

Remembering Nirbhaya: Mumbai University released book
Book: Nirbhaya: Ek Atmachintan :Published by Mumbai University
Mumbai University on 16 December 2013 launched a book titled Nirbhaya: Ek Atmachintan to
mark a year since the brutal gangrape of a Delhi paramedic student.
The books prologue is written by Justice Chandrashekhar Dharamadhikari and is edited by the
vice-chancellor of the Mumbai University, Rajan Welukar. Several notable writers and thinkers,
such as, Nirja Dhulekar, Kumar Ketkar, Asha Bage, Vijaya Wad, Judge Mrudula Bhatkar, etc have
contributed to the book.
The topics that these writers have covered include women empowerment in the fields of economic,
social and political spheres, the rights which are given to them and their safety.
The 23-year old para-medical student (also known as Damini or Nirbhaya) was gang raped in New
Delhi on 16 December 2012. She passed away in Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on 29
December 2012. She was raped in the moving bus by six men, one of which included a minor. The
16 December gang rape led to massive protests across the country.

Olympic medal-winning boxer M C Koms autobiography, titled Unbreakable was unveiled by the
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan on 9 December 2013.
Mary said that her struggle has been one that many in country face, especially women. The reason
behind to pen down her story was so that others could read it and feel that if she could achieve
what she had, so can they.
Mary kom was born on 1 March 1983 in Kangathei, Manipur, India. Mary Kom turned professional
boxer after her victory in the Manipur state womens boxing championship in 2000.
Mary made her international debut at the first AIBA Womens World Boxing Championship held in
the United States, where she bagged a silver medal in the 48 kg weight category. Subsequently,
she won a gold medal in the 45 kg class at the second AIBA Womens World Boxing Championship
in Turkey in 2002. Kom has total 5 world boxing championship titles in her name.
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The government of India had awarded her with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2009,
which is the countrys highest award given to a sportsman.
She also received the Arjuna Award in 2003 and Padma Shree Award in 2006.
She was also appointed the International Boxing Associations Ambassador for Womens Boxing
in 2009.
She won bronze at Summer Olympics held in London in 2012.
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Art | Culture
President inaugurated Nagalands Hornbill festival
President of India Pranab Mukherjee on 1
December 2013 inaugurated the Nagalands
traditional Hornbill Festival in Nagaland.
The 10-day festival began with sounding of
the gong by the President. The President
was also presented with traditional Naga
gear like Dao (a small sword), among
others. He wore Tsula (traditional head
gear) and posed with the Dao to portray a
ferocious Naga warrior.
About Hornbill Festival

Hornbill (name of a bird) Festival, considered one of the biggest events in the state, showcases the
rich tradition and cultural heritage of the Naga people. In the festival, music and dance make for an
enchanting display of their ethnicity and diversity. To revive, protect and preserve this heritage and
to enable visitors to understand it, the Hornbill Festival is celebrated through a collaborative effort
of all Naga tribes.
The Hornbill festival for the first time was inaugurated by the former President Dr. S Radhakrishnan
on 1 December 1963.
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Science | Space
ISRO successfully raised Mars Orbiter Spacecrafts Orbit
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 7 November 2013 performed the first orbit raising
manoeuvre of the Mars Orbiter spacecraft. The spacecraft was fired for 416 seconds by the
command from the Spacecraft Control Centre (SCC) at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command
Network (ISTRAC) at Peenya, Bangalore from the 440 Newton Liquid Engine of the spacecraft.
With this engine firing, the spacecraft`s apogee (the farthest point to Earth) was raised to 28825
km, while its perigee (nearest point to Earth) was at 252 km. Earlier, Mars Orbiter Spacecraft was
launched on 5 November 2013.
A series of five orbit raising operations during the Mars mission will be performed, of which the
second and third raising operations would be performed on 8 November 2013 to apogee 40000
and 71650. The fourth and fifth raising to apogee of one lakh km and 1.92 lakh km will be performed
on November 11 and 16 November 2013. After the operations will be completed, the mission is
expected to take on the crucial event of the trans-mars injection on 1 December 2013.
The Mangalayaan, the Mars orbiter of 1350 kilogram was successfully injected by ISROs PSLV-C25
into the orbit around Earth in 44 minutes after launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at
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Sriharikota on 7 November 2013.

The International Designator or the NSSDC ID of Indias Mars mission is 2013-060A.
International Designator
The International Designator is the international naming convention for satellites. The name consists
of launch year, a 3-digit incrementing launch number of the year and up to 3 letter code that
represents the sequential identifier of a piece in a launch. Its also known as COSPAR designation
and in the United States as NSSDC ID.
Scientists discovered a Black Hole in Ophiuchus Star Constellation
Scientists discovered a black hole in a collection of stars in the constellation Ophiuchus, which is
about 22000 light years from Earth. The globular cluster in which black hole was spotted is known
as M62. The globular cluster M62 is located in the constellation Ophiuchus.
The discovery was done by the team of astronomers led by a Michigan State University professor.
Black holes are stars that have died, collapsed into themselves and possess such a strong
gravitational field that even light cannot escape from them.
Prior to this discovery, astronomers had assumptions that the black holes did not exist in globular
clusters- some of the oldest and densest collections of stars in the universe.
There are numerous stars in such a condensed area that they often interact with one another.
Massive black holes will have most violent encounters.
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Day | Week | Year

National Consumers Right Day observed across India on 24 December
National Consumers Right Day 24 December
National Consumers Right Day was observed across India on 24 December 2013. The day is being
observed on 24 December, since the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was enacted on this day in
1986.
The Consumer Protection Act was enacted in 1986 with the objective of providing better protection
of consumers interest. Effective safeguards are provided to the consumer, against various types
of exploitations and unfair dealings, relying mainly on compensatory rather than a disciplinary or
preventive approach under the Act. It applies to all goods and services unless specifically exempted,
which covers the private, public and cooperative sectors. It also provides speedy and inexpensive
adjudication.
Consumer Protection Act, 1986

The rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 flow from the rights enshrined in Articles 14 to
19 of the Constitution of India. The Right to Information Act (RTI), which has opened up governance
processes of our country to the common public, also has far-reaching implications for consumer
protection.
The Act envisages the promotion and protection of following rights for the consumers:
Right to Safety
Right to be informed
Right to Choose
Right to be heard
The World Consumer Rights Day is observed on 15 March.
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Kisan Diwas observed across India on 23 December

23 December: Kisan Diwas
Kisan Diwas was observed across the country on 23 December 2013 to celebrate the birthday of
Chaudhary Charan Singh.
On this occasion, farmer seminars were organised at the divisional, district and block levels.
Political leaders cutting across party lines paid tributes to fifth PM of India on his 11th birth
anniversary. Leaders visited the former PMs samadhi at Kisan Ghat in New Delhi.
Government in 2001 had decided to observe 23 December every year as Kisan Diwas (Farmers
Day).
About Chaudhary Charan Singh

Chaudhary Charan Singh (23 Dec 1902 - 29 May 1987) was the fifth Prime Minister of India. He
served as the Prime Minister from 28 July 1979 to 14 January 1980.
Chaudhary Charan Singh holds the record of being the only Prime Minister of India who did not
face the Parliamentary floor for a single day after assuming the office.
Minorities Rights Day observed on 18 December

18 December: Minorities Rights Day
Minorities Rights Day was observed on 18 December 2013 across the Nation to create awareness
on rights of minorities.
Minorities Rights Day is celebrated on 18th December every year. The day is celebrated to protect
rights of the minority communities as well as bringing the better understanding among religious
minorities in India.
Background
On 18th December 1992 the United Nations promulgated the Declaration on the Rights of Persons
belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities to strengthen the cause of the
minorities. Since then, International Minority Rights Day is observed to create awareness on rights
of minorities.
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The UN had declared that

States shall protect the existence of the national or ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic identity
of minorities within their respective territories and encourage conditions for the promotion of that
identity.
This declaration was a huge step in protecting minorities group all over the world. It is a very
important day in India because of frequent discussion and disagreements on majority-minority
issues. The National Commission for Minorities celebrates the Minority Rights Day every year
on 18 December. The commission has played a major role in protecting the rights of the minority
communities and in bringing about better understanding among the various religious minority
communities in India.
International Migrants Day observed across the world on 18 December

International Migrants Day: 18 December
International Migrants Day was observed across the world on 18 December 2013. The number if
international migrant worldwide has reached 232 million in 2013.
The Secretary General of UN put forward an ambitious eight point agenda in his report to the
General Assembly to make migration work for all: for all: migrants, societies of origin and societies
of destination alike.
About International Migrants Day

The UN General Assembly on 4 December 2000 took into account the large and increasing number
of migrants in the world and proclaimed 18 December as the International Migrants Day. The
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of
Their Families was adopted by the General Assembly on 18 December 1990.
The Member States of UN, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations observe
the international Migrants Day through dissemination of information on the human rights and
fundamental freedoms of migrants, through sharing the experiences and the design of actions to
ensure the protection of the migrants.
The member states unanimously adopted a declaration on October 2013 recognizing the contribution
of migration to development at the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development.
They have also called on for cooperation to address the challenged of irregular migration and to
facilitate safe, order and regular migration. A need to respect the human rights of migrants and to
promote international labour standards was emphasized in the declaration.
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Vijay Diwas observed on 16 December

Vijay Diwas was observed on 16
December 2013 across the Nation
to celebrate the Indias military
victory over Pakistan in the 1971
war.
Vijay Diwas commemorates the
victory of the Indian Armed Forces
and the Mukti Bahini in the IndoPak war which culminated in the
liberation of Bangladesh, then East
Pakistan, on 16 December 1971
and the historic surrender of over
93000 Pakistani soldiers.
After the Indias victory, Lt. Gen. A K Niazi, Pakistani Army Comander in the Eastern Command was
surrendered to the Indian Armed Forces, which led by the then General Officer Commanding-inChief Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora and also signed the Instrument of Surrender that resulted in the
birth of Bangladesh. The day is also observed across the country by paying tributes to the martyrs
who laid down their lives for the nation.
This year is the 42nd anniversary of the War. Union Defence Minister A K Antony accompanied by
three Services Chiefs laid wreathes at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate in the National Capital -New
Delhi.

Human Rights Day: 10 December
Human Rights Day was observed across the
world on 10 December 2013 to bring to light
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
2013 Theme of the day is 20 Years Working
for Your Rights.
NHRC in India organized a programme in
New Delhi on this Day.
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Human Rights Day

The UN General Assembly proclaimed 10 December as Human Rights Day in 1950, to bring to the
attention of the peoples of the world the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common
standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. The United Nations General Assembly in
December 1993 created the mandate of High Commissioner for the promotion and protection of all
human rights. This year, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights marks 20 years
since its establishment.
The General Assembly was acting on a recommendation from delegates to the World Conference
on Human Rights held in Vienna in 1993. The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted
by the World Conference, marked the beginning of a renewed effort in the protection and promotion
of human rights and it is regarded as one of the most significant human rights documents of the
past quarter century.
United Nations Human Rights Prize

The UN Human Rights Prize is given on 10 December to the individuals and organizations in
recognition of outstanding achievement in human rights.

International Anti-Corruption Day is
observed across the world on 9 December
2013 to raise awareness about the menace
of Corruption and what people can do to
fight it.
The theme for the year 2013 is: Act against
Corruption Today.
The day is observed on December 9 each
year to raise awareness about the corruption.
The UN General Assembly by resolution of 58/4 of 31 October 2003 designated 9 December as
International Anti-Corruption Day. This decision aimed to raise peoples awareness of corruption
and of the role of the United Nations Convention against Corruption in combating and preventing it.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is the secretariat for the Conventions
Conference of States Parties. The Convention entered into force in December 2005.
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About the Corruption

Corruption is a complex social, political and economic phenomenon that affects all countries.
Corruption undermines democratic institutions, slows economic development and contributes to
governmental instability. Corruption attacks the foundation of democratic institutions by distorting
electoral processes, perverting the rule of law and creating bureaucratic quagmires whose only
reason for existing is the soliciting of bribes. Economic development is stunted because foreign
direct investment is discouraged and small businesses within the country often find it impossible
to overcome the start-up costs required because of corruption.
Armed Forces Flag Day Observed Throughout the Country

7 December: Armed Forces Flag Day
Armed Forces Flag Day was observed across India on 7 December 2013. The day is observed
to remember the sacrifices made by gallant servicemen of India in defending the integrity of our
borders and to salute the martyrs, honour the brave and express solidarity and support towards
welfare of widows, children, disabled and sick ex-servicemen.
The day is observed on 7 December every year in India, since 1949.
The officials of Kendriya Sainik pinned Armed Forces Flag Day (AFFD) Lapels on Dignitaries and
collected donations from the public which goes into the AFFD corpus. The fund collected with the
donation is utilized to give grants to various ESM welfare institutions and relief to ex-servicemen
and their dependents besides host of other welfare measures.
Significance and Purpose of the Flag Day

The Flag Day is observed to serve three basic purposes
Rehabilitation of battle casualties
Welfare of serving personnel and their families
Resettlement and welfare of ex-servicemen and their
families
On Armed Forces Flag Day funds are collected from the Indians by distribution of flags. This process
gives Indians a chance to express gratitude and appreciation to the military personnel of India.
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International Civil Aviation Day observed on 7 December

International Civil Aviation Day was observed on 7 December 2013 to highlight the importance of
civil aviation for social and economic development around the world.
The International Civil Aviation Day is aimed at promoting the safety and efficiency of air transportation
and to create awareness about the role of International Civil Aviation Organization in air transport.
International Civil Aviation organization (ICAO) is a UN body responsible for developing international
standards for aviation safety. International Civil Aviation Day is annually observed on December.
The date marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation at
Chicago on same date in 1944.
About International Civil Aviation organization (ICAO)

ICAO was established on 7 December 1944 to secure international cooperation and uniformity in
civil aviation matters.
This observance aims to generate and reinforce global awareness of the importance of international
civil aviation in the social and economic development. The day also commemorates the ICAOs role
in promoting the safety, efficiency and regularity of international air transport.
In 1996 the UN General Assembly proclaimed December 7 as International Civil Aviation Day, in
accordance with an ICAO initiative and with the Canadian Governments assistance. The assembly
urged governments and organizations to observe the day. This day is now an official UN day.
ICAO is a UN body that works closely with other United Nations members including the World
Meteorological Organization, the International Telecommunication Union, the Universal Postal
Union, the World Health Organization and the International Maritime Organization.
International Volunteer Day Observed on 5 December

Day: 5 December: International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development
The International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development was observed across the
world on 5 December 2013.
The day, which is also known as International Volunteer Day (IVD), gives volunteers a chance to
work together on projects and campaigns promoting their contributions to economic and social
development at local, national and international levels.
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Theme for the year 2013 is: YOUNG.GLOBAL.ACTIVE

The International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development was adopted by the United
Nations General Assembly through Resolution 40/212 on 17 December 1985. Since then, the day
is celebrated each year on 5 December across the world.
Importance of International Volunteer Day

International Volunteer Day (IVD) offers an opportunity for
volunteer organizations and individual volunteers to make
visible their contributions - at local, national and international
levels - to the achievement of the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs).
Apart from mobilising thousands of volunteers every year, the
United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme works closely
with partners and governments to establish national volunteer
programmes to create structures that foster and sustain local
volunteerism in countries. Through the Online Volunteering
service volunteers can take action for sustainable human
development by supporting the activities of development organizations over the Internet.
Every day thousands of people are volunteering, online or on-site, contributing to peace and
development and working to achieve the MDGs.
International Day of People with Disability was observed on 3

December
Day: 3 December :International Day of People with Disability
International Day of People with Disability was observed across the world on 3 December 2013.
This is the 21st anniversary of International Day of People with Disability.
The theme of the year is Break Barriers, Open Doors: for an inclusive society and development for
all.
This day is observed annually to focus on the issues that affect people with disabilities worldwide.
On this day, the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee presented the National Awards for the
Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The awards were instituted
by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, are given to outstanding achievers
among persons with disabilities, as well as to individuals and institutions which do outstanding
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work for the empowerment of such persons.

International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is a United Nations sanctioned day that aims to
promote an understanding of people with disability and encourage support for their dignity, rights
and well-being.
International Day for Abolition of Slavery observed on 2 December

DAY: 2 December: International Day for Abolition of Slavery
International Day for Abolition of Slavery was observed on 2 December 2013 across the world to
create awareness about the prevention of human trafficking and the exploitation of human being.
The focus of this day is on eradicating contemporary forms of slavery, such as trafficking in persons,
sexual exploitation, and the worst forms of child labour, forced marriage, and the forced recruitment
of children for use in armed conflict.
The day marks the date of the adoption, by the General Assembly, of the United Nations Convention
for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others
(resolution 317(IV) of 2 December 1949).
According to the UN data- 21 million women, men and children are trapped in slavery all over the
world.
Global Initiatives to End slavery

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has teamed up with prominent artists, athletes and
advocates in its new campaign to End Slavery Now.
In 2007 the UN marked the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
on 25 March.
In 2008 the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic
Slave Trade became an annual observance on 23 August.
World AIDS Day observed on 1 December

World AIDS Day was observed on 1 December 2013 across the globe to raise awareness about the
HIV/ AIDS.
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The theme for the year 2013 is: Getting to Zero

HIV/AIDS remains a major global issue, having claimed more than 36 million lives so far since
the discovery of the virus more than 20 years ago.
According to the World Health Organisation, there were approximately 35.3 million people living
with HIV in 2012.
Since the inception of World AIDS Day in
1988, it has been observed on 1st
December every year with different
themes.
The theme for this year is Getting to
Zero- means zero new infections, zero
discrimination and zero AIDS-related
deaths.
The theme will be repeated until
2015, focusing on Zero AIDS Related
Deaths as well as pushing towards
better access to treatment for all.
World AIDS Day is celebrated around the world on December 1st each year. It has become one of the
most recognized international health days and a key opportunity to raise awareness, commemorate
those who have passed on, and celebrate victories, such as increased access to treatment and
prevention services.
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Miscellaneous
The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) organised runs in Kolkata, Patna, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chandigarh,
Jammu and Jharkhand on 15 December 2013. The race was organized as part of its nationwide
programme to drum up support for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modis Statue of Unity project
on the 63rd death anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Gujarat government is building a gigantic statue of Sardar Patel, christened Statue of Unity, which
it claimed would be the worlds tallest statue on Sadhu Bet in Narmada River.
A campaign was also organised along with the run for collection of iron from all over the country
for the statue. 565 places were chosen by BJP for the race as Patel had integrated this number of
princely states into the Union of India at the time of Independence.
The theme for the race was good governance and national integration.
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ONE LINERS
December 2013
Name the person who on 4 December 2013 was re-appointed as the OPCW Director-General
at the 18th Session of the Conference of State Parties - Ambassador Ahmet Uzumcu
Name the body that on 6 November 2013 declared that the Category 3 (unfilled) munitions
of Syrian Government have been destroyed was named - Organization for the Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
Park Geun-hye, the President of South Korea on 6 December 2013 agreed to join hands to
denuclearize North Korea (DPRK) with - the Vice President of US, Joseph Biden
An informal Group of Ministers headed by the Union Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar on
6 December 2013 recommended a bailout package to - Sugar Industry
Sri Lankas Board of Investment on 5 December 2013 announced plans to start how many
export processing and industrial zones across the country eight
Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid revolutionary of South Africa died on 5 November 2013.
He was also known - as Madiba in South Africa
The Union Cabinet on 5 December 2013 approved the Telangana draft Bill. Telangana will
have - 10 districts
Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013 came
into force on - 6 December 2013
The Supreme Court of India has favoured punishment of life imprisonment to people indulging
in production and marketing of - adulterated milk
The country that was elected as a non-permanent member of United Nation Security Council
(UNSC) - Jordan
Armed Forces Flag Day was observed across India on - 7 December 2013
Who was crowned with the pageant of Miss Earth 2013 at the Versailles Palace, Philippines
-Miss Venezuela Alyz Henrich
The government has modified the FDI policy allowing unlisted companies to directly list on
- stock exchanges abroad
Indian freestyle grapplers bagged seven gold, four silver and three bronze medals and has
won the team title in the category in the 2013 Commonwealth Wrestling Championships in
Johannesburg
World Trade Organization (WTO) today issued a revised draft of the Bali package that would
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address Indias concerns on food security and take through the - Trade Facilitation Agreement

The Supreme Court of India on 5 December 2013 said that politicians and businessmen
heading sports bodies are causing harm to the games and should leave their running to Sport persons
Committee to formulate a Policy document on Corporate Governance on 6 December 2013

submitted its report to the Union Government of India. The Committee was constituted on 7
March 2012 under - the Chairmanship of Adi Godrej.
Name of the Vice President of Sudan, who resigned to pave way for the new Government Ali Osman Taha
Insurance giant Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has decided to stop selling as many as - 34
policies
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on 8 December 2013 won the state assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.
The members of the opposition party (Democrat Party) of a country resigned en masse from
the Parliament on 8 December 2013 to protest a Government claimed by them as illegitimate
Thailand
The scientists has decoded the oldest DNA from ever found 400000 year old thigh bone
of human family found at - a burial site Sima de los Huesos in Spains northern Sierra de
Atapuerca highlands

His Imperial Majesty Akihito, Emperor of Japan and Imperial Majesty Michiko, Empress of
Japan were on a visit to India after 1989
7346 crore rupees for the relief and rehabilitation of flood-hit Uttarakhand was sanctioned
by the Cabinet Committee on Uttrakhand that was headed by Prime Minister of India,
Manmohan Singh
Indian National Congress on 9 December 2013 emerged as the winner in the Mizoram
Assembly election by winning - 33 seats in the 40 member house
Human Rights Day was observed across the world on 10 December 2013 to bring to light
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with a theme - 20 Years Working for Your Rights
The Union Cabinet on 9 December 2013 approved the finalization of the reserve price for the
auction of spectrum in - 1800 MHz band for all service areas
Ranjan Mathai, the former Foreign Secretary of India on 9 December 2013 took over as the
- Indias High Commissioner to UK
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The Supreme Court of India on 10 December 2013 ordered red beacons to be provided only
on the vehicles of high dignitaries and the people, who hold - Constitutional posts
Alstom T&D India on 9 December 2013 bagged two contracts of 151 crore rupees from Gujarat Energy Transmission Company Ltd (GETCO).
Jayanthi Natarajan, Minister of State for Environment & Forests inaugurated a workshop to
discuss the Role of Bamboo and Rattan in Pro-Poor Green Development - Asia Regional
Workshop on Bamboo and Rattan at New Delhi
The International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) is an intergovernmental

organization established in 1997 with its headquarters - Beijing, China.
A US commission has asked Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel to explain the exclusion of
Sikhs from the American armed forces for adhering to their religious beliefs, the name of the
person who asked this is - Martin R Castro, he is the Chairman of the Commission on Civil
Rights
India has welcomed the inking of the first disarmament treaty at the - Biological Weapons
Convention in Geneva
President of India, Pranab Mukherjee visited South Africa in Memorial service of its - antiapartheid icon and former South African President Nelson Mandela
The US has called on China to release the jailed Nobel Peace prize winner five years after he
was first detained - Liu Xiaobo
US Senate on 9 December 2013 approved the 10 years extension of ban on plastic guns,
because it is - invisible to metal detectors
The Supreme Court of India on 10 December 2013 set a fresh four month deadline to make
functional all the 22 CBI courts across the country for the Centre and States
ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) the overseas arm of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp
(ONGC) on 9 December 2013 signed an agreement to evaluate - E&P opportunities in
Ecuador
Scientists in the first week of December 2013 in their report claimed that the super volcano
lying beneath - Yellowstone National Park in US
The first Trajectory Correction Manoeuvre (TCM) of Spacecraft of Indias maiden interplanetary
mission to Mars was carried out successfully on 10 December 2013 and the TCM was fired
by - 22 Newton Thrusters
The Chairman of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) on 10 December 2013
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announced his retirement from active politics - Panruti S. Ramachandran

Tech Mahindra Ltd on 10 December 2013 launched its Global Center of Excellence (CoE)
with - Hewlett Packard (HP) in Bangalore
The World Innovation Summit for Health-2013 (WISH-2013) began in Doha, Qatar on 11
December 2013 with an aim of - practical, innovative and sustainable health solutions
The High Level Committee to Review the SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations,
1992 was constituted under the Chairmanship of - Justice N.K. Sodhi
Person who in December 2013 was named as the Person of the Year 2013 by Time Magazine
- Pope Francis
Waqar Younis, the former captain of Pakistan cricket team was inducted into the - ICC
Crickets Hall of Fame
A Bank that has been granted the license to start its banking operations in India Doha Bank
The West Bengal Assembly on 12 December 2013 adopted a fresh Bill to tackle illegal
activities of - Chit Funds in the State
India and UAE has signed a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement that
would accelerate - fresh capital investments of UAE in India
The European Union has granted GSP-Plus status to Pakistan.
British-based Sahara Force India on 12 December 2013 signed - Sergio Perez as race driver
for the team in 2014 and beyond
Islamist leader Abdul Kader Mullah of Bangladesh was executed on 12 December 2013. His
execution was done at - Dhaka Central Jail
The Indian cricketer and a Rising Test batsman on 13 December 2013 bagged the Emerging
Cricketer of the Year trophy at the ICC Annual awards announced in Dubai was Cheteshwar
Pujara
The Uttar Pradesh Government on 13 December 2013 set-up a high-level committee to look
into the issue of deaths of children in relief camps set after the Muzaffarnagar riots
The Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra on 13 December 2013 passed the much-awaited

Anti Superstition Bill.
A person has sworn in as the Chief Minister of Mizoram for the second successive term on
14 December 2013 is - Lal Thanhawla of Congress party
Darmar Murugensan, the former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court will be the next
313
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Chairman of the - Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC)

The former footballer of India, who died on 14 December 2013 died at a hospital in Guwahati,
Assam after a prolong illness was - Babul Phukan
An Indian actor, who won the best actor award for his brilliant performance in his film The
Lunchbox at the 10th edition of Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) is - Irrfan Khan
The Interim President of Egypt, Adly Mansour on 14 December 2013 announced 14-15
January 2014 as the date for national referendum on the new draft of the constitution
The first lunar rover of China which was carried by an unmanned remotely piloted spacecraft
Change-3 was deployed successfully on moon on 14 December 2013. The lunar rover that
landed on mood was named - Jade Rabbit (called Yutu in Chinese)
India defeated Pakistan 48-39 on 14 December 2013 in the World Kabaddi Cup in the finals
played at - Guru Nanak Dev Stadium in Ludhiana, Punjab
The Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) met on 12 December 2013 at Kolkata.
International Migrants Day observed on - 18 December 2013 across the world
Eminent historian Bipan Chandra on 17 December 2013 was awarded Itihas Ratna from Asiatic Society Bihar.
Proposals of Irans President Hassan Rouhani on fight against extremism and violence were
put on the agenda of the - United Nations General Assembly to be ratified as a UN resolution
The International Cricket Council today inducted Australias legendary wicketkeeperbatsman Adam Gilchrist into its - Hall of Fame during the ongoing third Ashes Test
Iranian negotiators halted the ongoing nuclear talks in Vienna with P5+1 group of nations
Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany - the move came after
Washington blacklisted a dozen companies and individuals for evading US sanctions.
Russia is to increase its arms exports worth 50 billion dollars - by 2020
India has rejected to the reference made on Jammu and Kashmir by the Organisation of the
Islamic Conference (OIC) in its recently held - session in Guinea
The Bengaluru International Airport will be renamed after - Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda, who
founded Bengaluru in 16th century
South Indias first high altitude cricket stadium was inaugurated at - Krishnagiri in Waynad
district of Kerala
President Vladimir Putin announced a plan to buy 15 billion dollar of Ukrainian bonds and -
314
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slashed Kievs bill for Russian gas imports

The US has appealed to India to uphold the Vienna Convention principles and ensure safety and security of its diplomats stationed in the country
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations was inked in 1961 and is an international accord
and defines - a framework for diplomatic relations between independent countries
Indias deputy consul in New York, Devyani Khobragade was transferred to Indias Permanent
Mission in United Nations in New York - to boost her diplomatic immunity
Saab, the Swedish manufacturer won a 4.5 billion dollar contract to supply 36 Gripen NG
fighter jets to - Brazil by 2020
The Sahitya Akademi Awards 2013 was announced by Sahitya Akademi and - poetry writers
have dominated the awards announced in 2013
Odisha Administrative Tribunal quashed the provision of 27 percent reservation under Odisha
Reservation of Posts and Service (Socially and Educationally Backward Classes) Act, 2008
for - Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) candidates in public employment
Kuwait will host the Second edition of the Syria Donors conference in the capital Kuwait city
in January and it will be chaired by - UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon
Indias first World Cup winning captain, Kapil Dev will be conferred with the - Col. CK Nayudu
Lifetime Achievement award for the year 2013
The Ariyalur plant of Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited in Tamil Nadu has been honoured with
the National Energy Conservation Award for the year 2012-13 by the Ministry of Power,
Government of India
Europe on 19 December 2013 launched the Gaia satellite one of the most ambitious space
missions in the history
315
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PREFACE

PICK OF THE MONTH

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013

Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa died at 95

9th WTO Ministerial Conference concluded at Bali, Indonesia 

Mid-day meal scheme ranked 12th among lower-middle-income countries

Cabinet approved the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2011

Red Beacons are allowed for Constitutional posts : Supreme Court

Afghanistan-Iran agreed on long term friendship and cooperation Pact

Repo Rate kept unchanged by RBI in Mid-Quarter Monetary Policy Review

First human artificial heart implanted in France

Oxford Scientists Developed Malaria Vaccine 

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly passed the Anti-Superstition Bill

Devyani Khobragade transferred to Indias Permanent Mission in United Nations 

Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed approved as Prime Minister by Somalian Parliament

Michiaki Takahashi who developed Chickenpox vaccine died

Fourth Generation LCA Tejas received operational clearanceII

Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio joined hands on telecom infrastructure

Current Affairs eBook December 2013

China banned officials from smoking in public places

32 killed in Bus accident in Phetachbun, Thailand

Five new ministers took oath of the office in Afghanistan cabinet

Colorado and Washington legalized Marijuana recreational pot

US launched an inter-agency review in Devyani Khobragades case

Iran has installed 1000 Second Generation IR-2m centrifuges

China opened its Satellite System completely for Asian neighbours

UN to reduce its staffs and cut budget

India and Pakistan DGMOs meet at Wagah-Attari border

UK to overtake Germany as Europes largest economy by 2030: CEBR report

Okinawa Governor approved the relocation of US airbase in Japan 

Court of Sri Lanka extended remand of 111 Indian fishermen

First Ministerial Level Talk held for BCIM Trade Corridor

India and Venezuela Signed Programme on Cultural Exchange 

Michelle Bachelet won Chile Presidential Elections

Yemen Parliament Banned use of US Drones

European Union granted GSP-Plus status to Pakistan

Current Affairs eBook December 2013

Uruguay became the First Country to Legalize Marijuana Trade

Thailand opposition party resigned en masse from the Parliament 

All unfilled munitions by Syrian Government have been destroyed: OPCW 

South Korea and US agreed to join hands to denuclearise North Korea 

Jordan elected to UN Security Council as a Non-Permanent Member 

Sri Lanka to set up 8 economic zones across country 

OPEC Decided to maintain the same oil output for 2014

Egypt Panel approved New Draft Constitution

China successfully launched unmanned Lunar Probe- Change-3

Urban life quality improved by JNNURM said NSSO

AAI centre received ICAD Accreditation and Membership 

Centre approved National Cancer Institute at Jhajjar campus of AIIMS 

Cabinet approved the Constitutional Status to Judicial Appointments Commission 

Union Government launched e-inclusion project to spread e-literacy

Union Cabinet approved the Prevention of Communal Violence Bill 2013 

Current Affairs eBook December 2013

Union Ministry of Finance Approved Three Proposals to utilise Nirbhaya Fund 

CCEA approved Panchayati Raj Ministry proposal on BRGF

Homosexuality is offence: Supreme Court

Express Parcel and Business Parcel Services launched by Department of Post

8TH Financial Stability Report released by RBI

CIIs Business Confidence Index revealed signs of economic turnaround

PPPAC-a high level committee has appraised five Port Projects

RBI launched Inflation Indexed Saving Bonds

Government decided to launch Direct transfer of Cash subsidy on kerosene

Fiscal deficit to touch 5.2% in FY14: CRISIL

Net Direct Tax Collection increased by 13.7% till 20 December of FY 2013-14

PREFACE

PICK OF THE MONTH

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013

Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa died at 95

9th WTO Ministerial Conference concluded at Bali, Indonesia

Mid-day meal scheme ranked 12th among lower-middle-income countries

Cabinet approved the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2011

Red Beacons are allowed for Constitutional posts : Supreme Court

Afghanistan-Iran agreed on long term friendship and cooperation Pact

Repo Rate kept unchanged by RBI in Mid-Quarter Monetary Policy Review

First human artificial heart implanted in France

Oxford Scientists Developed Malaria Vaccine

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly passed the Anti-Superstition Bill

Devyani Khobragade transferred to Indias Permanent Mission in United Nations

Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed approved as Prime Minister by Somalian Parliament

Michiaki Takahashi who developed Chickenpox vaccine died

Fourth Generation LCA Tejas received operational clearanceII

Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio joined hands on telecom infrastructure

China banned officials from smoking in public places

32 killed in Bus accident in Phetachbun, Thailand

Five new ministers took oath of the office in Afghanistan cabinet

Colorado and Washington legalized Marijuana recreational pot

US launched an inter-agency review in Devyani Khobragades case

Iran has installed 1000 Second Generation IR-2m centrifuges

China opened its Satellite System completely for Asian neighbours

UN to reduce its staffs and cut budget

India and Pakistan DGMOs meet at Wagah-Attari border

UK to overtake Germany as Europes largest economy by 2030: CEBR report

Okinawa Governor approved the relocation of US airbase in Japan

Court of Sri Lanka extended remand of 111 Indian fishermen

First Ministerial Level Talk held for BCIM Trade Corridor

India and Venezuela Signed Programme on Cultural Exchange

Michelle Bachelet won Chile Presidential Elections

Yemen Parliament Banned use of US Drones

European Union granted GSP-Plus status to Pakistan

Uruguay became the First Country to Legalize Marijuana Trade

Thailand opposition party resigned en masse from the Parliament

All unfilled munitions by Syrian Government have been destroyed: OPCW

South Korea and US agreed to join hands to denuclearise North Korea

Jordan elected to UN Security Council as a Non-Permanent Member

Sri Lanka to set up 8 economic zones across country

OPEC Decided to maintain the same oil output for 2014

Egypt Panel approved New Draft Constitution

China successfully launched unmanned Lunar Probe- Change-3

Urban life quality improved by JNNURM said NSSO

AAI centre received ICAD Accreditation and Membership

Centre approved National Cancer Institute at Jhajjar campus of AIIMS

Cabinet approved the Constitutional Status to Judicial Appointments Commission

Union Government launched e-inclusion project to spread e-literacy

Union Cabinet approved the Prevention of Communal Violence Bill 2013

Union Ministry of Finance Approved Three Proposals to utilise Nirbhaya Fund

CCEA approved Panchayati Raj Ministry proposal on BRGF

Homosexuality is offence: Supreme Court

Express Parcel and Business Parcel Services launched by Department of Post

8TH Financial Stability Report released by RBI

CIIs Business Confidence Index revealed signs of economic turnaround

PPPAC-a high level committee has appraised five Port Projects

RBI launched Inflation Indexed Saving Bonds

Government decided to launch Direct transfer of Cash subsidy on kerosene

Fiscal deficit to touch 5.2% in FY14: CRISIL

Net Direct Tax Collection increased by 13.7% till 20 December of FY 2013-14

Cabinet approved Free Trade Agreement with ASEAN

SEBI exempted Government from making open offer to IOB shareholders

CCEA allowed CIL to pump gas from CBM mines

CCEA approved 6600 crore rupees free loan to Sugar Industry

Wholesale Inflation increased to 7.52 percent in November 2013

Inflation soared up to 11.24%, industrial production shrank to 1.8%

The Ragarajan Panel recommended the guidelines for Highway sector

The Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India met in Kolkata

Mauritius-India agreed to include Limitation of Benefits clause in revised Tax Treaty

Ministerial Panel recommended bailout package to Sugar Industry

Government of India Modified FDI Policy for unlisted Companies

RBI eased Companies Foreign Funding Norms for Infra Projects

EGoM approved Merger and Acquisition Guidelines for Telecom

150 stretches of river identified as polluted by CPCB

Ministry of Environment issued fresh order on Kasturirangan recommendation

Taishan, fourth research station of China, opened in Antarctica

Kimberlite rocks containing diamonds discovered in East Antarctica

First-ever Environment Gender Index (EGI) launched by IUCN at COP-19, Warsaw

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY