Current Affairs

Weekly Current 13-19, January, 2014

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Table of Contents
Defence & Security ............................................................................................................................................... 3 Sahayog- Kaijin 2014 ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Science and Space ................................................................................................................................................ 3 India Launches GSLV-D5 .................................................................................................................................... 3 Climate change theatre of India ............................................................................................................................ 4 India and world..................................................................................................................................................... 5 India-US ............................................................................................................................................................... 5 India-South Korea ................................................................................................................................................. 5 INT. Affairs............................................................................................................................................................ 7 GOLDHEDGE ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 RBI and Bank of Japan ........................................................................................................................................... 8 Suresh Mathur Committee ................................................................................................................................... 8 Hong Kong and Macau in the sensitive list of countries ......................................................................................... 8 Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) ............................................................................................................ 9 Personalities ....................................................................................................................................................... 11 Ms Jamila Bayaz.................................................................................................................................................. 11 Suchitra Sen........................................................................................................................................................ 11 Namdeo Dhasal .................................................................................................................................................. 11 Awards/Prizes..................................................................................................................................................... 11 FIFA awards 2013 ............................................................................................................................................... 11 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards ...................................................................................................................... 12

National perspective Defence & Security

Sahayog- Kaijin 2014 Sahayog- Kaijin 2014 is the 13th edition of Indo-Japan Coast Guard joint exercise which was held off the Kochi coast as a part of the continuing bilateral cooperation between the two countries. JCG (Japan Coast Guard Ship) Mizuho and its integral helicopter, Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Samrat, Chetak helicopter, Dornier aircraft and ICGS C-404 took part in the exercise. The joint exercise held annually since 1999, focuses on anti-piracy procedures, pollution control measures and other areas of common professional interest.

Science and Space

India Launches GSLV-D5 Joining the club of US, Russia, France, Japan and china to have mastered the cryogenic engine technology, Indias Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D5), powered by an indigenous cryogenic engine put the 1,982-kg GSAT-14 communication satellite into perfect orbit. GSAT-14 will be used for telecasting, telecommunication, tele-medicine and tele-education. The flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D5) from Sriharikota is an acid test for India as it seeks to prove the design, realisation and sustained firing of its indigenously built cryogenic engine. The missions success means India now has the ability to put satellites weighing more than two tonnes in orbit. The cryogenic engine was built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Previous attempts Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was under to produce a success because of two back-to-back failures of the GSLV flights in 2010 the first, with an indigenous cryogenic engine, on April 15 and the next, with a Russian cryogenic engine, on December 25. ISROs next GSLV flight, with an indigenous cryogenic engine, on August 19, 2013, was called off 75 minutes before lift-off because the liquid fuel from the rockets second stage had leaked, wetting the first stage and the four strap -on boosters around it. So ISRO dismantled the 49-metre tall vehicle, weighing 415 tonnes and built a refurbished GSLV-D5, with new first and second stages and four new strap-on booster motors. It has used a new propellant tank in the second stage, made of an aluminum alloy different from the one used in August. Future Plans The Indian Space Research Organisation is getting ready for the next GSLV flight with its own cryogenic engine within a year. There would be a series of GSLV flights with indigenous cryogenic engines and they would put into orbit GSAT-6, 7A and 9, GISAT, Chandrayaan-2 and a few more communication satellites of the two-tonne class. The Chandrayaan-2 mission, scheduled for 2016, will use a GSLV with an indigenous cryogenic stage. ISRO has to produce two winners in a row with GSLVs with India-built cryogenic stages before it can confidently send up the Chandrayaan-2, which will deploy an India-made lander and rover on the moon. ISRO is also proceeding with the development of the GSLV-Mark III which will put a 4,000-kg satellite into orbit.

Why Cryogenic engines are so important? Cryogenic engines are essential for rockets to put communication satellites, weighing more than two tonnes, into orbit. The cryogenic rocket engine provides more thrust than conventional liquid rocket engines but the fuel and oxidizer needs to be super cooled in order to keep them in a liquid state. Cryogenic technology is extremely complex and difficult to master. It uses liquid oxygen at minus 183 degrees Centigrade and liquid hydrogen at minus 253 degrees Centigrade. The turbo-pump in the cryogenic engine should supply the fuel to the combustion chamber at high pressure. This injection should take place with the right proportion of the fuel and the oxidiser. Then the fuel has to be ignited. This is unlike the liquid engine where you mix the propellants and they ignite spontaneously. The combustion of the propellants in the cryogenic engine should be proper. Otherwise, liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen will explode. PSLV vs GSLV The PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) and GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) are two rocket launch systems developed by the Indian Space Research Organization, or ISRO, to launch satellites into orbit. The PSLV is the older of the two and the GSLV even inherits some of the technologies of the former in its design. The PSLV is older than the GSLV. The GSLV has a much greater load capacity than the PSLV The GSLV use cryogenic fuel while the PSLV doesnt The GSLV has three stages while the PSLV has four stages The GSLV has 4 liquid boosters while the PSLV has 6 solid boosters The PSLV is more reliable than the GSLV. GSLV is mostly used for launching GEO stationary satellites into orbits PSLV was developed to allow India to launch its Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites into sun synchronous orbits. PSLV can also launch small size satellites into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).

Environment and ecology

Climate change theatre of India India's first climate change theatre was opened at Pushpa Gujral Science City, Kapurthala, to educate people on one of the most pressing developmental issue in the world. This theatre is India's first and second in the world as only Canada has one such theatre. The theatre provides a unique experience showing videos on two screens - flat and dome shaped and illuminating the static and moving objects along with special light and sound effects, as the video displays storyline of the film.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

India and world

India-US India is set to move a resolution along with the United States to address violence, particularly against women and girls, at the Executive Board meeting of the World Health Organisation in Geneva. The resolution on The role of health sector in addressing violence, particularly against women and girls will be supported by Belgium, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway and Zambia. The resolution calls upon the WHO to develop a Global Plan of Action for addressing all forms of inter-personal violence, in particular against women and children, taking into account the unique role of the health sector in a multi-sectoral response. It calls for engaging men and boys as agents of change in promoting gender equality. India-South Korea India and South Korea signed nine pacts, during a meeting between Indian Prime Minister and visiting South Korean President Park Geun-hye (the countrys first woman president) , aimed at imparting new dynamism to their bilateral relations. Major outcomes of bilateral talks: India assured South Korea that work on the Posco steel plant in Odisha would start shortly. An agreement on the Protection of Classified Military Information signed to boost defence engagement. Nations are exploring the possibility of setting up a Korean Industrial Park in India. Leaders decided to establish an annual interaction between the "national security structures" of the two countries. Agreed to launch a Cyber Affairs Dialogue. Announced the conclusion of negotiations for revision of the existing Double Taxation Avoidance Convention. A MoU on Joint Applied Research. India conveyed her decision to extend a tourist visa on arrival facility to South Korean national s.

India South Korea in retrospection After ignoring each other for years, India and South Korea are also now beginning to recognise the importance of tighter ties. Despite pursuing a Look East policy since early 1990s, New Delhi failed to generate momentum in ties with South Korea. South Korea still remained focused on China as an economic partner and has only recently made India a major economic and political priority. There is now an annual dialogue on foreign policy and security, allowing the two nations to share their views on regional and global security issues. (a) Important visits: Visit of former Indian Prime Minister, PV Narasimha Rao in 1993 South Korean President Lee Myung-Baks state visit to New Delhi in January 2010, when he was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations. The Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh visited South Korea in 2012.

(b) Economic developments:

The visit of former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam to South Korea in 2006 led to the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement that came into force in January 2010. India-South Korea trade grew to more than $15 billion in 2012, with the two sides aiming to double it by 2014. During the Summit Meeting in March 2012, a new bilateral trade target of US$ 40 billion by 2015 was set. South Korean firms are increasing their brand presence in India, and the Indian Chamber of Commerce has also been established in Korea. South Korea is currently the fifth largest source of investment in India

(c) Defence cooperation In 2005, India and South Korea inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in Defence, Industry and Logistics, which was followed in 2006 by another MoU on cooperation between the two countries coast guards. Co-development and co-production of defence products (marine systems, electronics and intelligent systems) was identified as a priority task with Indian industry through the DRDO. After purchasing eight warships from South Korea in 2012, Indias Ministry of Defence has decided to award a US $1.2 billion contract to South Koreas Kangnam Corporation for eight mine countermeasure vessels. South Korea is one of the worlds leaders in naval ship -building technology, and India would like to tap into South Korean naval capabilities to augment its own. The two navies cooperating in anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean region and the Gulf of Aden.

(d) Nuclear energy and space As a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, South Korea supported the waiver granted to India at the 45-nation groupings September 2008 meeting. This then led to India signing a civilian nuclear energy cooperation agreement with South Korea in 2011. Space cooperation between the two States is also growing. India launched South Koreas KITSAT -3 satellite in 1999 and has now invited Seoul to join the Indian expedition to the moon Chandrayaan 2. The China factor in India-South Korea ties cannot be underestimated. At a time when Indias tensions with China have become more manifest, there are signs that South Korea, too, is reevaluating its ties with China. Chinas declaration in November 2013 of a new Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) has also raised tensions between Seoul and Beijing as Chinas new ADIZ also overlaps with about 3,000 square kilometres of South Koreas own ADIZ.

(e) China factor

As they carefully assess the evolving strategic environment in the Asia-Pacific region, New Delhi and Seoul need to advance their political ties so that a mutually beneficial and long-term partnership can evolve between the two sides. The resulting relationship could be as important for greater regional stability as it will for Indian and South Korean national interests.

INT. Affairs
Indonesia
In order to promote domestic processing industry a new law, which stipulates that only processed minerals may be shipped to other countries, has been passed by Indonesia. About 66 major mining companies are exempted from the ban for three years. Coal, the country's biggest mined export, is not included in the ban. This is good news for India, since Indonesia supplied 75 percent of Indian imports of thermal coal in 2013. The first effects of the export ban can already been seen on the world's commodity exchanges, with the price of nickel rising by more than six percent within a span of four days. Indonesia is the world's largest exporter of nickel ore, a material used in the production of stainless steel. Worst hit by the ban will probably be China. China imports close to a quarter of its bauxite a raw ingredient for the production of aluminium from Indonesia. Again, halting exports of nickel ore would hurt the Chinese stainless steel industry, which accounts for almost 50% of the global output. Thus far, about 90 percent of nickel exports are sent to China for processing. Nickel ore is an important raw material in China, where it is used to manufacture small electrical appliances. It is also used in the automotive industry and the construction sector.

ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE
GOLDHEDGE It is a new Gold Hedge futures contract launched by the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX). The new contract is an alternative to existing futures contracts and provides a more transparent hedging platform. Presently, disproportionate relation between spot and futures trade leads to an imperfect and inefficient hedge. The new hedge contract is directly linked to international prices thus eliminating such distortions in price. In such a scenario, monopolistic or big players will not have an opportunity to manipulate prices. Hedgers can offset their risks without diverting physical gold for delivery. This would be consistent with the spirit of the RBI Circular. It is a new way to discover the price of gold in India. It is innovative and it is the right benchmark for the Indian market where gold touches every household and every pocket. Salient features of the new contract Ticker Symbol: GOLDHEDGE Basis: Ahmedabad exclusive of Customs duty, local sales, VAT, Octroi Unit of trading: 1 kg Quotation/base value: Rs 10 gms. Quality: Gold bars of 995 fineness bearing a serial number and identifying stamp of a refiner approved by the exchange. The final settlement price (FSP) will be calculated based on international spot price at RBI reference rate.

What is futures contract? It is an agreement, generally made on the trading floor of a futures exchange, to buy or sell a particular commodity or financial instrument at a pre-determined price in the future. Futures contracts detail the

quality and quantity of the underlying asset; they are standardized to facilitate trading on a futures exchange. Some futures contracts may call for physical delivery of the asset, while others are settled in cash. RBI and Bank of Japan The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Bank of Japan (BOJ) signed agreement to enhance the maximum amount of the Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA) between the two countries to $50 billion. The agreement is aimed to address the possible short-term liquidity difficulties and supplement the existing international financial arrangements and is one of the efforts in strengthening mutual cooperation between India and Japan. Suresh Mathur Committee IRDA is considering allowing 100% FDI in insurance intermediaries and Third Party Administrators (TPAs). In order to achieve the same IRDA has formed a ten-member committee headed by Suresh Mathur, Senior Joint Director, IRDA, to look into the matter related to FDI in insurance broking, distribution, TPA etc. Terms of Reference of the Committee are: To explore the options of further increasing FDI limit for insurance intermediaries. To analyse possible impact of such increase on the industry and other related sectors. To review the related international practices. To examine to what extent, if possible, the FDI limit can be increased in intermediaries and study the international practices in this regard. Currently, IRDA has put a cap of 26% on FDI in insurance intermediaries and TPAs. However, the Insurance Act, 1938 does not stipulate any such limits for insurance intermediaries. Allowing 100% FDI in insurance intermediaries may bring technology and innovations in the financial distribution space, say experts. Hong Kong and Macau in the sensitive list of countries The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has included Hong Kong and Macau in the sensitive list of countries. With this the nationals of these countries will require RBIs prior approval to set up business or related activities in India. This is done because Macau and Hong Kong are two Special Administrative Regions controlled by China and China is already in the sensitive list. Businesses in these two regions are mostly owned by the Chinese. They could easily come to India through their firms registered in Hong Kong or Macau. According to the RBI, in Regulation 4 of the Foreign Exchange Management (Establishment in India of Branch or Office or Other Place of Business) Regulations, 2000, the words, Iran or China have been substituted by the words Iran, China, Hong Kong or Macau. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Iran are other countries in the sensitive list which means entities and residents of these countries will need prior RBI permission to establish a branch office or a liaison office or a project office in India. Entities from these countries are not allowed to acquire immovable property in India even for a branch office. They are allowed to lease property for a period not exceeding five years.

HEALTH&MEDICINE
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Polio free India

India has declared itself a polio-free country for the third consecutive year without a single new case of the disease paving the way for it to be declared free of the polio virus. Three years without any new cases means India can be declared polio-free. The WHO would officially declare India as polio-free by the end of March, when the legal process for certification is completed. The last case of the wild polio virus detected in India was on Jan 13, 2011, in a two-year-old girl in West Bengal. On February 24, 2012 WHO removed India from the list of countries with active, endemic, wild polio transmission. Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria are the only countries in the world where the disease remains endemic. There were 148 cases of polio in Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan in 2013, while 224 new cases were detected in non-endemic countries such as Somalia, Syria and Kenya. These countries face a range of challenges such as violent conflicts, weak health systems and poor sanitation. In Pakistan, gunmen frequently attack polio vaccination workers, accusing them of being Western spies and part of a plot to sterilise Muslims. With no polio case for three years, now the focus of GOI is to ensure that no cases come up in future. Therefore the government has put in place a new policy that requires every Pakistani travelling to India after January 30, 2014 to compulsorily receive oral polio vaccination at least six weeks prior to departure to India. The rule applies to both children and adults. The new policy is applicable to anyone who travels to India from all countries where polio is endemic or where polio cases have been reported. Pulse polio Immunisation Program In 1995, following the Polio Eradication Initiative of World Health Organization (1988), India launched Pulse Polio Immunisation Program along with Universal Immunisation Program which aimed at 100% coverage. The program is a shining example of successful partnership and collaborative work the strong technical support from WHO - National Polio Surveillance Project (NPSP), communication lead by UNICEF and advocacy by Rotary International. Oral polio vaccine vs Polio Injections Polio injection uses inactive (dead) polio virus as antigens, the oral polio vaccine uses live attenuated (weakened) virus. While it takes a longer time to boost immunity with polio injection, oral polio vaccine boosts the immunity very quickly. This is because each drop of the oral polio vaccine contains millions of viruses. Oral polio vaccine is also preferred as it is commonly used and is easy to administer. Contrary to common perception, adults can also get affected by polio. This typically happens when they have neither received polio vaccination nor been naturally infected with polio virus before. These are nave people whose immune system has never been exposed to the polio virus before, and as a result, the immune system has never been primed or boosted. Infected children are known to shed the virus for weeks, and infected immune adults shed for a shorter period of time.

REPORTS AND SURVEYS

Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) The ninth Annual Status of Education Report, ASER 2013 was released. ASER is the largest annual household survey of children in rural India that focuses on the status of schooling and basic learning. Facilitated by Pratham, in each rural district ASER is conducted by local organizations, and institutions. ASER 2013 reached 550 districts and close to 16,000 villages, 3.3 lakh households and 6 lakh children in the age group 3-16. Every year, ASER finds out whether children in rural India go to school, whether they can read simple text and whether they can do basic arithmetic. In 2005, 2007, and every year since 2009, ASER has also

included a visit to one government school in each sampled village. Since the implementation of the RTE Act in 2010, school visits in ASER have included indicators of compliance with those norms and standards specified in the Right to Education Act that are easy to measure. ASER 2013: KEY FINDINGS (a) High Enrollment in the 6-14 age group Enrollment in the 6-14 age groups continues to be very high, with more than 96% of children enrolled in school. The proportion of out of school girls in the 11 to 14 age group has declined since last year. At the All India level, the proportion of girls in the age group 11 to 14 who are not enrolled in school dropped from 6% in 2012 to 5.5% in 2013.

(b) Slight increase in private school enrollment Nationally, there is a slight increase over 2012 in private school enrollment. For the age group 6 to 14, there has been a steady increase in private school enrollment from 18.7% in 2006 to 29% in 2013. In Manipur and Kerala more than two thirds of all children in the 6 to 14 age group are enrolled in private schools. Less than 10% are in private school in Tripura (6.7%), West Bengal (7%), and Bihar (8.4%), although these numbers have grown substantially since 2006. As with private schooling, the incidence of private tuition varies across states. The proportion of children in Std. I-V who receive some form of private input into their schooling (private school, private tuition or both)has increased from 38.5% in 2010 to 42% in 2011, 44.2% in 2012 and to 45.1% in 2013.

(c) No significant improvement is visible in childrens abilit y to read At the All India level, for Std. III, the proportion of children able to read at least a Std. I level paragraph has risen slightly from 38.8% in 2012 to 40.2% in 2013. This increase is mainly coming from improvements among private school children. Among Std. III students in government schools the proportion of children able to read Std. I level text remains unchanged from 2012 at around 32%. States which show steady improvement in reading ability among Std. III students since 2009 are Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab. Nationally, the proportion of all children in Std.V who can read a Std. II level text remains virtually the same since 2012, at 47%. This proportion decreased each year from 2009 to 2012, dropping from 52.8% in 2009 to 46.9% in 2012. Among Std. V children enrolled in government schools, the percentage of children able to read Std. II level text decreased from 50.3% (2009) to 43.8% (2011) to 41.1% (2013

(d) Children are still struggling with basic arithmetic At the All India level, no change is observed since last year in the proportion of Std. III children who are able to solve a two-digit subtraction with borrowing. This level of arithmetic is part of the curriculum for Std. II in most states. In 2010, 33.2% children of Std. III in government schools could at least do subtraction, as compared to 47.8% in private schools. The gap between children in government and private schools has widened over time. In 2013, 18.9% of Std. III students in government schools were able to do basic

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subtraction or more, as compared to 44.6% of Std. III children in private schools. Despite these differences, overall levels across the board are worryingly low. Nationally, the proportion of all children in Std. V who could solve a three-digit by one-digit division problem increased slightly, from 24.9% in 2012 to 25.6% in 2013. Typically, this kind of division problem is part of the Std. III or Std. IV curriculum in most states. Among Std. V children in government schools, 20.8% children could do this level of division in 2013. The figure for private schools is 38.9%. In arithmetic, a large fraction of children are lagging several years behind where they are expected to be. In 2013, over 40% of government school children in Std. V in three states, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Mizoram could do three-digit by one-digit division problems.

MISCELLANEOUS Personalities
Ms Jamila Bayaz Ms Bayaz has been appointed as the first female police chief in Afghanistan. She will lead the District One of Kabul province in Afghanistan. Suchitra Sen Suchitra Sen was a Bengali actress passed away recently. She was the first Bengali actress to be honored at an international film festival (She received the Best Actress award for Saat Paake Bandha at the 1963 Moscow film festival). She received the Best Actress Award for the film Devdas (1955), which was her first Hindi movie and refused the Dadasaheb Phalke Award just to avoid travelling to New Delhi. Namdeo Dhasal Mr. Namdeo Dhasal was a Marathi poet-writer and leader of the Dalit Panthers movement, passed away recently. He was one of the founders of the militant Dalit Panther movement which started after the casteist riots in Worlis BDD chawls in the late 60s. He was recipient of Padma Shri award, Soviet Land Nehru Award, Maharashtra State Award and Golden Life Time Achievement.

Awards/Prizes
FIFA awards 2013 Ballon dOr (best male player): Cristiano Ronaldo (Portuguese) Womens world player: Nadine Angerer Male coach: Jupp Heynckes Female coach: Silvia Neid Ballon dOr Prix dHonneur: Pele Puskas goal award: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden v England) Fifa Presidential Award: Jacques Rogge Fair Play Award: Afghanistan Football Federation

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Cristiano Ronaldo was voted in ahead of Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich and Barcelona's Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, who was shortlisted to pick up the award for a fifth year in succession. 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards Ceremony was held at the Beverly Hills, California Best Motion Picture Drama: 12 Years a Slave Best Motion Picture Musical/Comedy: American Hustle Best Director in Motion Picture-Drama: Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity Best Actor in Motion Picture-Drama: Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club Best Actress in Motion Picture-Drama: Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine Best Actor in Motion Picture or Musical or Comedy: Leonardo DiCaprio for The Wolf of Wall Street Best Actress in Motion Picture Musical or Comedy: Amy Adams for American Hustle Best Actor in a Supporting role in Motion Picture: Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club Best Actress in a Supporting role in Motion Picture: Jennifer Lawrence for American Hustle Best Animated Film: Frozen Best foreign language film: The Great Beauty (Italy)

About Golden Globe Awards The Golden Globe Award is an American honour bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign. Instituted in 1943 the 1st Golden Globe Awards, honouring the best achievements in 1943 filmmaking, were held late in January 1944.

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