Weekly Current Affairs (04th March to 10th March, 2013)

NATIONAL

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Compost Plant in New Delhi is first in India to get carbon credits from UNFCCC The composting plant in Okhla, New Delhi has become the first in India to receive the carbon credits from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The plant has received Rs 25 lakh as an advance against the Carbon Emission Reduction (CER) earnings from this plant. What are carbon credits? Carbon credit is a generic term for any tradable certificate or permit representing the right to emit One Tonne of Carbon dioxide or the mass of another greenhouse gas with a carbon dioxide equivalent equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide. The concept of carbon credits came into existence as a result of increasing awareness of the need for controlling emissions. The mechanism was formalized in the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement between more than 170 countries, and the market mechanisms were agreed through the subsequent Marrakesh Accords. Carbon credit facility has been introduced with an aim to allow market mechanisms to drive industrial and commercial processes in the direction of low emissions or less carbon intensive approaches than those used when there is no cost to emitting carbon dioxide and other Green House Gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere. Since GHG mitigation projects generate credits, this approach can be used to finance carbon reduction schemes between trading partners and around the world. The carbon credits can also be traded on exchanges like Carbon Trade Exchange, which is like a stock exchange for carbon credits. If it is traded internationally then each transfer is validated by the UNFCCC. Exchanges trading Carbon Credits: 1. Currently there are 5 exchanges trading in carbon allowances: 2. The European Climate Exchange 3. NASDAQ OMX Commodities Europe 4. Power Next 5. Commodity Exchange Bratislava 6. The European Energy Exchange

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Indias BARC developing worlds largest magnet Bhabha Atomic Research Centre which is Indias state-owned research establishment has claimed to be developing the worlds largest magnet, weighing 50,000 tons. It would be bigger than the one at the Compact Muon Solenoid detector at CERN in Geneva. Why is it being developed? It will play a significant role in the India-based Neutrino Observatory coming up 4,300 feet below a cave in a mountain in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. New format of civil services exams declared The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has notified fresh changes in the format of countrys prestigious exam- the Civil Services Exam conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The decision had come in the wake of recommendations of a committee headed by Prof Arun S. Nigavekar, former Chairman, UGC. India Ranked Third on the List of Spam Spewing Nation in the World India ranked third on list of countries which distribute spam all over the world, after US and China, as per the new report of SophosLabs. SophosLabs is the Sophoss global network of threat analysis centres. In the study, US was single highest ranking country, but Asia ranked at number 1 position in the list of the continents with 36.6 percent of overall spam of the world. US sent 18.3 percent of the junk emails overall in

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Weekly Current Affairs (04th March to 10th March, 2013)

the world. In last few months of 2012, India topped the spam spewing nations list, but eventually fell back to the third position. Second position was held by China. 5. Arun Jaitley, Karan Singh and Sharad Yadav Selected For Outstanding Parliamentarian Award The Parliamentary Award Committee selected BJP leader Arun Jaitley, Congress MP Karan Singh and JD(U) MP Sharad Yadav for Outstanding Parliamentarian Award for 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively. Arun Jaitley and Karan Singh are the members of Rajya Sabha from Gujarat and Delhi respectively. Sharad Yadav, on the other hand is a member of Lok Sabha from Madhepura, Bihar. The Award Committee which was headed by the Speaker of Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar, recommended these names, which were accepted by executive committee of the Indian Parliamentary Group on 6 March 2013. Outstanding Parliamentarian Award Outstanding Parliamentarian Award was instituted by the Indian Parliamentary Group in 1994. This award is conferred every year on the outstanding parliamentarian, who is recommended by award committee as well as approved by executive committee of the Indian Parliamentary Group.

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President of India Released the Commemorative Postage Stamp on Sahir Ludhianvi The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee on 8 March 2013 released the Commemorative Postage Stamp on Sahir Ludhianvi on occasion of his birth anniversary at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Sahir Ludhianvi died on 25 October 1980 and was a renowned Urdu poet. He was known among the young for his poetry on beauty and love. Sahir Ludhianvi had converged Urdu poetry into the film songs as well. Also, he fought for recognition of lyric writers through the Film Writers Association. Mukesh Ambani titled Indias richest person for 6th year in a row As per an annual ranking released by business magazine Forbes, Mukesh Ambani with a networth of $21.5 billion has retained his title as Indias richest person for sixth year in a row. Mexican business mogul Carlos Slim, with a networth of $73 billion, has been ranked as wealthiest in the world for the fourth consecutive year. On the global rankings, Mukesh Ambani is placed 22nd, while the second-richest Indian Lakshmi Mittal is at 41st rank with a networth of $16.5 billion. Top 5 richest people: 1. Bill Gates 2. Amanacio Ortega 3. Warren Buffet 4. Larry Ellison Minister-Technology-citizens To bring the Union budget to people, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram took questions in an online video conference on Google+ Hangout. It was first time any Cabinet Minister used the Internet to interact with citizens and to answer queries on the Union budget. Microsoft launched Office 365 Microsoft launched its Office 365 for businesses in India. This will provide seamless sharing of data across PCs and mobiles through cloud computing technology. Congress replaces Amrinder Singh The Congress removed Amarinder Singh as its Punjab unit chief in the backdrop of the partys dismal show in State Assembly elections last year and appointed Pratap Singh Bajwa, MP, in his place. India proposes hydrocarbon pipeline from Kazakhstan

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India has broached the idea of a hydrocarbon pipeline with Kazakhstan that would bring fuel through a fivenation route. India unveiled the concept of the pipeline, which in future could be extended to Russia, during a meeting between External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and his visiting Kazakh counterpart Erlan Idrissov in New Delhi. The two Ministers will revisit the idea when they will meet twice in the coming months first on the sidelines of the Istanbul process meeting on Afghanistan in Almaty and later during a stand-alone visit by Mr. Khurshid to the Kazakh capital of Astana. 12. Sharmila back in hospital-jail Anti-AFSPA champion Irom Sharmila has been confined in a hospital room converted to a sub-jail. She had been charged with attempting to commit suicide by launching a fast unto death at Jantar Mantar in 2006. CAG audit reveals lapses in ICDS implementation India has registered higher infant and child mortality rates than Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Also, the countrys position on the measure of the percentage of underweight and severely underweight children during the period 2006-10 was more than twice than that in the Sub-Saharan African region. This was revealed in the Comptroller and Auditor General of Indias performance audit of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme Union Ministry of Women and Child Developments flagship programme that was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday. The report contains results of performance audit conducted between 2006-07 and 2010-11. Ocean forecast services launched for Maldives Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) in Hyderabad launched three new products, including Ocean State Forecast services for 22 atolls of Maldives. The forecasts would be routed through Bangkok-based Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) and also posted on INCOIS website. Besides this, the other two products -- Web Map Services of Ocean State Forecast and Real-time Global Ocean Analysis Product were inaugurated during the Third User Interaction workshop held at INCOIS. New governors for Nagaland and Odisha President Pranab Mukherjee appointed former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Ashwani Kumar and senior Congress leader S.C. Jamir as Governors of Nagaland and Odisha respectively. Mr. Ashwani Kumar, who led the CBI from August 2008 to November 2010, is the first head of the premier investigating agency to be appointed as Governor. Mr. Jamir, who has been Chief Minister of Nagaland four times, has earlier served as Governor of Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat. New Manual for Forensic Medical Examination Report of Sexual Assault The latest Instruction Manual for Forensic Medical Examination Report of Sexual Assault (Victim) is brought out by the Indian Council of Medical Research under the Department of Health Research (DHR). The recommendations are open to public opinion. The victim must not be refused treatment and examination for want of police papers. The manual suggests that doctors should not identify a victim as habituated to sexual intercourse on the basis of a finger test. As normal examination findings neither refute nor confirm forcible sexual intercourse, circumstantial and other evidence may be taken into consideration. A victim may come to the hospital only for treatment of the effects of the assault. Under Section 39 of the Cr.PC, the doctor is not bound to inform the police of such cases. Informed refusal to inform the police should be documented. Neither the court nor the police can force the victim to undergo medical examination. It has to be done with her/parents/guardians

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informed consent (depending on age). The consent form will be signed by the person herself if she is above 12, the manual recommends. The manuals are meant, not to replace the standard textbooks, but to supplement them in such a way that these guidelines can be adapted easily to most healthcare provider situations in the country. A ToolKit for Psychological Support for Women Survivors of Sexual Assault shall be provided. The toolkit is meant to help nurses, doctors and counsellors give psychosocial support to survivors of rape, help them with the consequences of the experience and through recovery from trauma.

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Indian Financial Regulators signed pact to Monitor Conglomerates The country's top four financial regulators on 8 March 2013 signed an agreement among each other for cooperation on consolidated supervision and monitoring of financial groups identified as financial conglomerates- large banks and other key players. The decisivenesses were taken at a sub-committee meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) held in the Reserve Bank. The regulators who signed the pact were the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority. The FSDC (Financial Stability and Development Council) meeting, chaired by RBI Governor D Subbarao also approved formulating a national strategy for financial education by incorporating the feedback received from public consultations and from a global peer review, RBI said without providing details.

INTERNATIONAL 1. International Women of Courage Award to Delhi victim United States to honor the 23-year-old Delhi braveheart with the International Women of Courage Award. The first lady Michelle Obama and the secretary of state John Kerry will present the award. The secretary of states International Women of Courage Award annually recognizes women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for womens rights and empowerment, often at great personal risk. India and Republic of Portugal Signed a Social Security Agreement A Social Security Agreement (SSA) was signed between India and Republic of Portugal at New Delhi. The agreement was signed by Vayalar Ravi, the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs and Paulo Sacadura Cabral Portas, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs of Portugal. The bilateral social security agreement would help in taking advantage of the emerging employment opportunities and strengthening the trade and investments between the two countries. At present about 75000 Indians are living in Portugal and it includes self-employed people as well as working professionals. Nicolas Maduro sworn in as the Interim President of Venezuela Venezuelan Vice- President Nicolas Maduro on 8 March 2013 was sworn in as Venezuelas acting president, despite the Opposition resistance as it is being considered to the violation of the countrys constitution. Late President Hugo Chavez who died on 5 March 2013 after two year long fight against cancer named Maduro as his successor before undergoing the latest surgery in December 2012. He picked Nicolas Maduro as the presidential candidate of Chavezs socialist party. As per the country's 1999 constitution, the National Assembly speaker becomes interim president in the event of a president-elect's death or inability to be sworn in. The constitution also says new elections should be called within 30 days. Leader of opposition Angel Medina boycotted the swearing-in ceremony, with the vast majority of opposition legislators who havent attended the ceremony.

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Weekly Current Affairs (04th March to 10th March, 2013)

The earlier interim president of Venezuela was Ramn Jos Velsquez who served as acting president of Venezuela between 1993 and 1994 as a result of the crisis produced by the impeachment of president Carlos Andrs Prez. 4. Kenyatta wins Kenya presidency Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of Kenyas first Prime Minister and President Jomo Kenyatta, has won the presidential election. Mr. Kenyatta won just over 50 per cent of the vote compared to approximately 43 per cent polled by his rival, incumbent Prime Minister, Raila Odinga. Pakistan Parliament passed Counter Terrorism Authority Bill Pakistans parliament on 9 March 2013 passed a bill for the setting up of a new organisation that is supposed to integrate counter-terrorism efforts by different bodies in the wake of criticism of civilian law enforcement agencies by the powerful army. The bill for establishing the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) was passed by the National Assembly or lower house of parliament after incorporating some amendments suggested by lawmakers. Roles and Functions of National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) NACTA will be headed by the Prime Minister and will unify and coordinate national counter terrorism and counter-extremism measures by several existing organisations. It would present strategic policy options to the government to be considered and implemented by stakeholders. The board of NACTA will include the Interior, Finance and Defence Ministers, the Chief Ministers of all provinces and the chiefs of the Inter-Services Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau, Military Intelligence and Federal Investigation Agency. The authority will be assisted by an executive committee headed by the Interior Minister, and a national coordinator and a deputy will execute the boards policies and the governments instructions NACTA will also be responsible for conducting scientific studies on extremism and terrorism. It will coordinate with law enforcement agencies for taking action against elements involved in terrorism and extremism and play a key role in preparing national counter-terrorism and extremism strategies. The authority will receive information and intelligence and disseminate the data to relevant stakeholders to formulate threat assessments with periodical reviews to be presented to the federal government for making adequate and timely efforts to counter terrorism and extremism. The bill must be passed by the Senate or upper house of parliament to become law. NACTA will be established within 90 days of the bill receiving presidential assent. ECONOMY 1. SEBI enables two-way fungibility of IDRs Holders of Indian Depository Receipts (IDRs) will now have an option to convert it into shares of the issuing company. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued detailed guidelines which will allow shareholders to convert their depository receipts into equity shares of the issuer company and viceversa. The issuer could provide exchangeability to IDR holders by converting IDRs into underlying shares; or converting IDRs into underlying shares and selling the underlying shares in the foreign market where the shares of the issuer are listed and providing the sale proceeds to the IDR holders. Existing IDR issuers can follow the new framework, and have to provide the option of redemption/conversion within three months from the date of completing a year of listing. What are IDRs?

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IDRs are generally instruments denominated in rupees and allow overseas companies to raise funds from the Indian market. How this step would help Indias capital market? This move of allowing for two-way fungibility of IDRs will encourage greater foreign participation in the Indian capital market. So far only the UK-based banking major Standard Chartered PLC was listed as an IDR. 2. World Bank bans L&T for forgery The World Bank has barred Larsen & Toubro (L&T) from doing any business with it or the projects funded by it for six months, after finding that a senior executive of the conglomerate has indulged in fraud. RBI eases norms for ECBs The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has relaxed rules for corporates to access ECB (external commercial borrowings) route to raise funds. The apex bank has now permitted companies which are under investigation by assorted law-enforcing authorities to raise funds through the ECB window under the automatic route. Till now, such companies are not allowed to access ECB under the automatic route. Any request by such corporates for ECB was usually examined by the RBI under the approval route.

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PERSONS 1. Rajasthani writer Hariram Meena chosen for Bihari Puraskar Famous Rajasthani author Hariram Meena will be conferred with the Bihari Puraskar for 2012 for his Hindi novel Dhooni Tape Teer. The novel is based on sacrifices of scores of tribal people at Mangarh mountains near Banswara in Rajasthan on November 17, 1913 when British forces had resorted to gunfire to contain their revolt. About Bihari Puraskar Bihari Puraskar was instituted by the K K Birla Foundation in 1991 and is given annually to Rajasthani writers for outstanding literary works in Hindi or Rajasthani published in the past 10 years. The award carries a citation and a cash purse of Rs 1 lakh. The Foundation also gives other prestigious awards Saraswati Samman and Vyas Samman for extraordinary literary works.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 1. Breakthrough in the treatment of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Weekly Current Affairs (04th March to 10th March, 2013)

SPORTS 1. Novak Djokovic clinches ATP Dubai Open 2013 World No.1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia defeated Czech Republics Tomas Berdych to win the ATP Dubai Open Tennis title 2013. Indian-French win doubles title The duo of Indias Mahesh Bhupathi and French partner Michael Lloldra defeated Serbian-Swedish pair of Nenad Zimonjic and Robert Lindstedt to win the doubles title. Smriti Mehra Won Second Title in Hero Womens Pro Golf Tour 2013 Smriti Mehra, the veteran golfer, on 6 March 2013 won her second title in the fourth leg of Hero Women`s pro golf tour 2013 in Mumbai. Smriti played a round of one under 64 and finished with an overall score of 194 at the Willingdon Sports Club. At the second position was Neha Tripathi who completed with the final round score of one over 66 and an overall score of 200. Sharmila Nicollet achieved third position with lowly six over 71 and a total score of 202. Akshayraj Kore achieved the Grandmaster title Akshayraj Kore became the latest Indian chess player to achieve the Grandmaster title after he came up with a career-best rating performance to win the A category of the Cannes Festival that concluded in the French city famous for its film carnival.

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