United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki Moon visited India from 26 April to 29 April

2012. The UN Secretary General as accompanied !y a hi"h#le$el dele"ation. %&rin" his three#day
$isit' (an held tal)s ith *rime +inister +anmohan Sin"h and other senior leaders. The to
leaders disc&ssed "lo!al and re"ional iss&es. The UN Secretary General also la&ded ,ndia-s
economic pro"ress and noted that ,ndia' "i$en its lar"er o&tloo)' re.&ired to play e$en more
si"nificant role in the !etterment of the orld economy. (an in the co&rse of his $isit also met
!&siness and social leaders to disc&ss ays and means to achie$e the health#related UN +illenni&m
%e$elopment Goals (+%Gs).6/#year #old (an also recei$ed an honorary %octor of 0etters from
1amia +illia ,slamia Uni$ersity in %elhi. A So&th 2orean !y nationality' (an 2i +oon started his
diplomatic career from ,ndia in 19/2. ,t as (an-s third $isit to ,ndia e$er since he ass&me the
char"e of UN Secretary General in 2010.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and his Maharashtra
counterpart, Prithviraj Chavan, on 5 May sined an areement in Ne! "e#hi to set up
an inter$%tate &oard for speedy e'ecution of the Rs.(),*))$crore Pranahita$Cheve##a
irriation project that ill ser$e !oth States. The a"reement as si"ned in the presence of Union
3ater 4eso&rces +inister *aan 2&mar (ansal. The %r. (.4. Am!ed)ar *ranahita#5he$ella S&6ala
Sra$anthi pro6ect' hich Andhra *radesh ants to !e declared as a national pro6ect' en$isa"es
di$ersion of 160 tmc of ater !y constr&ctin" a !arra"e across the *ranahita ri$er' hich is a ma6or
tri!&tary of the Goda$ari. ,t f&rther &tilises 20 tmc of ater from the Goda$ari at the Sripada
7ellampally pro6ect. This pro6ect ill irri"ate 16'80'000 acres in dro&"ht#prone Adila!ad'
Ni9ama!ad' 2arimna"ar' +eda)' 3aran"al' 4an"areddy and Nal"onda districts of the Telan"ana
re"ion. As per the a"reement' a 6oint inter#State committee ill !e formed to ens&re efficient'
speedy and economical in$esti"ation and e:ec&tion of the pro6ect. To pre$ent any differences
!eteen A.*. and +aharashtra o$er the pro6ect' the 6oint committee ill decide on the location of
the !arra"e and the share of the e:pendit&re in$ol$ed for the to States.
The %upreme Court of India on ; +ay 2012 directed the +nion ,overnment to e#iminate
the -aj su&sidy comp#ete#y !y red&cin" it "rad&ally o$er the ne:t ten years. The co&rt f&rther
r&led that the amo&nt of <a6 s&!sidy sho&ld !e &sed for the &plift of the comm&nity.A S&preme
5o&rt !ench of 1&stices Afta! Alam and 4an6ana *ra)ash %esai o!ser$ed that the <a6 s&!sidy is
pro$ided !y the "o$ernment is contin&o&sly increasin" "i$en the risin" air fare and pil"rims.
T=o&"h a"ree to the fact that s&!sidy is constit&tionally $alid' the co&rt did not find any
rationali9ation in char"in" the pil"rims a m&ch lesser price. The Ape: 5o&rt also instr&cted the
"o$ernment to end the practice of sendin" a "oodill <a6 dele"ation.
To !oats carryin" nearly >?0 people capsi9ed in the Brahmaputra River in Assam.s "hu&ri
and /a#es!ar district on *) Apri# 0)10. +ore than 100 people ere )illed in this tra"edy. The
!odies of 10> $ictims' incl&din" omen and children' ere reco$ered !y the (S@ and the N%4@
personnel near 1alesar. As many as 120 people are missin" and !elie$ed to ha$e droned.
The %upreme Court of India on 2/ April 2012 held that 2armers hose land is ac.&ired for a
p&!lic p&rpose are entit#ed to the hihest mar3et va#ue as compensation. The S&preme
5o&rt-s r&lin" came folloin" a case of land ac.&isition in *&n6a!-s @arid)ot district here the land
oner as aarded a compensation of 1 la)h r&pees per acre despite the land as located in
commercially important area.
5) #eaders from different po#itica# parties too3 the oath as the Rajya %a&ha mem&ers
on 0( Apri# 0)10. 0eader of the Apposition Ar&n 1aitley' (S* head +ayaati' Union ministers
Bilasrao %eshm&)h and 4a6ee$ Sh&)la' and Tel&"& s&perstar 5hiran6ee$i and actor 1aya (achchan
ere amon" the leaders ho too) oath in the 4a6ya Sa!ha. @ormer %ep&ty 5hairman of 4a6ya
Sa!ha 2 4ahman 2han' former Union minister 4en&)a 5ha&dhary' *etrole&m +inister S 1aipal
4eddy and (1* leader + Ben)aiah Naid& also too) the oath.
Maoists re#eased 4rissa M5A /hina -i3a3a on 26 April 2012' after )eepin" him in capti$ity
for more than >0 days. <i)a)a' ho as a!d&cted !y the +aoists on 28 +arch 2012 as handed
o$er to layer Nihar 4an6an *atnai) at (alipeta $illa"e in Narayanpatna forests. The decision a!o&t
the release of the le"islator as ta)en in a peopleCs co&rt. The +0A as released after the state
"o$ernment conceded to the +aoists- demand to li!erate more than to do9en +aoist cadres and
sympathisers. <i)a)a as a!d&cted !y the Andhra Arissa (order Special Donal 5ommittee of
5*,(+aoist).The +aoists had also a!d&cted to ,talian to&rists *aolo (os&sco and 5la&dio
5olan"elo ho ere released s&!se.&ently !y them folloin" a tal) !eteen the +aoist leaders and
the "o$ernment appointed interloc&tors. 5olan"elo as released on 2? +arch 2012 hile (os&sco
as freed on 12 April 2012.
3est (en"al 5hief +inister Mamata Banerjee has &een named amon the 1)) most
inf#uentia# peop#e in the !or#d &y the prestiious 6ime maa7ine in its 0)10 list. The list
also incl&des US *resident (arac) A!ama' Secretary of State <illary 5linton and !illionaire
in$estor 3arren (&ffet. Apart from +amatha (aner6ee' advocate Anja#i ,opa#an, ho or)s
for the ri"hts of "ays and the trans"endered in ,ndia' is the only other ,ndian in the list released !y
the ma"a9ine. The 2012 list is topped &y American &as3et&a## sensation /eremy 5in.
President Prati&ha Pati# on 1; April 2012 re#eased a commemorative postae stamp to
mar3 the &irth centenary of President R. 8en3ataraman at 4ashtrapati (ha$an in Ne
%elhi. The release of the stamp mar)ed the end of year#lon" centenary cele!rations or"anised from
%ecem!er 2010 onard to cele!rate the life of ,ndiaCs ei"hth *resident' 4. Ben)ataraman.
The Union 5a!inet on 12 April 2012 "a$e its appro$al to the introd&ction of a Bi## see3in an
amendment in the Reistration of Births and "eaths Act, 19:9 to incl&de re"istration of
marria"es as ell' so that the e:istin" administrati$e mechanisms ill !e a!le to carry o&t s&ch
re"istration of marria"es in accordance ith the specified proced&res and !e a!le to maintain
necessary records and statistics for re"istration of marria"es also.
6he %upreme Court of India on 12 April 2012 uphe#d the constitutiona# va#idity of the
Riht to ;ducation Act, 0))9, !hich mandates 05 per cent free seats to the poor in
overnment and private unaided schoo#s &niformly across the co&ntry. The ape: co&rt
clarified that its 6&d"ment ill come into force from 12 April 2012. <oe$er' the act ill apply
&niformly to "o$ernment and &naided pri$ate schools e:cept &naided pri$ate minority schools. A
three#6&d"e !ench of 5hief 1&stice S < 2apadia and 6&stices 2 S 4adha)rishnan and Santanter
2&mar "a$e the r&lin".
,ndia-s Atomic Ener"y 4e"&latory (oard as admitted as the 11th mem&er of M";P
(+&ltinational %esi"n E$al&ation *ro"ramme) on 8 April 2012. The other mem!ers of this !ody are
5hina' @inland' 1apan' 2orea' So&th Africa' USA' U2' 5anada' @rance and 4&ssia. +%E* is a
m&ltinational initiati$e ta)en !y national safety a&thorities to de$elop inno$ati$e approaches to
le$era"e the reso&rces and )noled"e of the national re"&latory a&thorities ho are c&rrently
tas)ed ith the re$ie of ne reactor poer plant desi"ns. The N&clear 4e"&latory 5ommission
(N45) of the United States and the @rench N&clear Safety A&thority la&nched it in 2006.
Banya +ishra of 5handi"arh croned as the *antaloons @emina +iss ,ndia 3orld 2012 in the
"rand finale of the 89th edition of the !ea&ty pa"eant on >0 +arch 2012 in +&m!ai. *rachi +ishra'
28 of *&ne on the +iss ,ndia Earth title hile 5hennai "irl 4ochelle +aria 4ao as croned as
the +iss ,ndia ,nternational. 19#year#old Banya ill represent ,ndia at the +iss 3orld 2012
*a"eant. *rachi and 4ochelle are to represent the co&ntry at +iss Earth 2012 *a"eant and +iss
,nternational 2012 *a"eant' respecti$ely. @emina ill not send the !ea&ties to the +iss Uni$erse
pa"eant as it had decided in 2010 to a!stain from the e$ent.
The Union 5a!inet of ,ndia on 2> +arch 2012 appro$ed the redrafted +arria"e las (Amendment)
(ill' 2010. The !ill see)s to "i$e a oman share in her h&s!and-s property in case of a di$orce !&t
the .&ant&m of share ill !e decided !y the co&rts on case !y case !asis. ,t also aims at "i$in" ri"hts
to adopted children on par ith !iolo"ical off#sprin"s. Accordin" to the redrafted !ill' adopted
children ill ha$e ri"hts on par ith !iolo"ical off#sprin"s of a co&ple in case the parents "o for a
di$orce. ,t is important to note that all these chan"es in the !ill ere !ased on the
recommendations made !y the *arliamentary Standin" 5ommittee on 0a and 1&stice and
*ersonnel.
+nion Minister Mu3u# Roy as on 20 +arch 2012' sorn in as the Union ca!inet +inister !y
*resident *rati!ha *atil in Ne %elhi. <e is to head to Union 4ailay +inistry folloin" the
resi"nation of his predecessor %inesh Tri$edi. <e replaced %inesh Tri$edi' ho as forced to resi"n
after he raised rail passen"er fares in Union rail (&d"et 2012#1> and th&s an"ered Trinamool
5on"ress partic&larly +amata (aner6ee. 3est (en"al 5hief +inister +amata (aner6ee as opposed
to his proposal to increase fares in the railay !&d"et.
Accordin" to comptroller and a&ditor "eneral-s draft report titled F*erformance A&dit Af 5oal (loc)
Allocations-' the overnment #ost Rs 1).:< #a3h crore !y not a&ctionin" coal !loc)s !eteen
2008 and 2009.1?? coal !loc)s ere "i$en to commercial entities itho&t a&ction !eteen 2008
and 2009 there!y ca&sin" the e:che.&er a loss of 4s 10.6/ la)h crore at >1 +arch 2011 prices . The
estimated loss is si: times hi"her than the loss fi"&re of 4s 1./6 la)h crore s&ffered for the 2G scam.
The !eneficiaries incl&de some 100 pri$ate companies' as ell as some p&!lic sector &nits' in
ind&stries s&ch as poer' steel and cement.
Union Go$ernment of ,ndia on > @e!r&ary 2012 notified the settin" &p of the anti#terror !ody called
Nationa# Counter 6errorism Centre (N5T5).N5T5 ill ha$e the poer to carry o&t operations
incl&din" arrest' search and sei9&re. ,t ill dra its f&nctional poer of search and sei9&res &nder
the pro$isions of the UA*A (Unlaf&l Acti$ities (*re$ention) Act. ,t ill or) as an inte"ral part of
,ntelli"ence !&rea&.
+nion Rai# Minister "inesh 6rivedi, tendered his resination on 1; +arch 2012 to the
*rime +inister +anmohan Sin"h. Tri$adi as instr&cted to resi"n !y his party Trinmool 5on"ress
as the decision of increasin" the rail fares did not "o ell ith the party. Trinmool 5on"ress chief'
+amta (anar6ee had $ocifero&sly demanded the roll!ac) of fare hi)es.Tri$edi proposed a hi)e in
passen"er fares ran"in" !eteen 2 paise to >0 paise per )ilometre. The decision as ta)en to
impro$e the ailin" condition of ,ndian 4ailays. Tri$edi' a 0o)sa!ha +* from (arrac)pore in 3est
(en"al' too) o$er as the Union 4ail +inister on 1> 1&ly 2011. Tri$edi as slated to !e the Union
4ail +inister !y his party Trinmool 5on"ress' after +amta (anar6ee .&it the 6o!. It is for the first
time in the history of independent ,ndia that a 4ailays +inister has !een made to resi"n 6&st
after fi$e days of presentin" the !&d"et in the parliament.
Kota#a ,ram panchayat of 5handra"iri mandal '5hittoor dist of A.*' has on the central
"o$ernment-s ,ram Ratna A!ard. ,t has on the aard for shoin" the !est res&lts in the
de$elopment of panchayat.
As per UN,5E@-s State of the 3orld-s 5hildren 4eport 2012' some dar) facts are re$ealed. 1; per
cent of those !elo 1? years and (< per cent of those &e#o! 1= years are married in ,ndia.
Thirty percent of ,ndian "irls a"ed !eteen 1? and 19 are married.
,n the ne $ersion of +ahatma Gandhi National 4&ral Employment G&arantee Act' M,NR;,A,
Go$ernment incl&ded more than 05 aricu#ture and a##ied activities from 1 April 2012. The
ne $ersion of act as prepared after recei$in" a report on re$ised Aperational G&idelines for
+GN4EGA. The 4eport as prepared !y a committee headed !y *lannin" 5ommission +em!er
+ihir Shah.
Union <ome +inister P. Chidam&aram inauurated the fourth and fina# reiona# hu& of
the National Sec&rity G&ard >N%,? in Maro#, Mum&ai on 2> @e!r&ary 2012. The re"ional h&!s
at 2ol)ata' <ydera!ad' 5hennai and +&m!ai ere set &p to red&ce the response time and reach the
area of operation as .&ic)ly as possi!le. The state#of#the#art trainin" facility at ,!rahimpatnam'
<ydera!ad ill train commandos for so&thern and estern States.
*resident *rati!ha %e$i Sin"h *atil on 9 @e!r&ary 2012 released a specia# commemorative
stamp to mar) the Golden 1&!ilee of the India Internationa# Centre >IIC? in Ne %elhi. This
centre plays a ma6or role in promotin" aareness and creatin" p&!lic opinion.The Stamp priced at
fi$e r&pees promotes the nations ima"e and depicts the rich di$erse c&lt&re of the co&ntry.
The Union "o$ernment decided to operationa#ise the Nationa# Counter 6errorism Centre
(N5T5) from 1 +arch 2012. The N5T5 is to !e located in the ,ntelli"ence (&rea& and headed !y a
%irector ho ill !e an officer in the ran) of Additional %irector' ,(. ,t is ha$in" three &nits'
"atherin" intelli"ence' analysis of intelli"ence and carryin" o&t operations.
Union ca!inet of ,ndia on 9 @e!r&ary 2012 approved the Nationa# "ata %harin and
Accessi&i#ity Po#icy >N"%AP$0)10? to facilitate access to central "o$ernment oned sharea!le
data and information. The N%SA* policy is desi"ned to promote data sharin" and ena!le access to
central "o$ernment oned data for national plannin" and de$elopment.
The ,ndian 5oast G&ard ship ,5GS Rani A&&a33a, the 1st of a series of five inshore patro#
vesse#s >IP8? !&ilt at <ind&stan Shipyard 0td' as commissioned at 8isa3hapatnam on 20
6an&ary. The ship' incidentally' is named after A!!a))a +ahade$i' the le"endary .&een of
T&l&nad&' 2arnata)a ho fo&"ht the *ort&"&ese in the latter half of the 16th 5ent&ry.
The Internationa# Conference on Nanoscience and 6echno#oy >IC4N%A6 $ 0)10? ill
!e held from 1an&ary 20 to 2>' 2012 at -ydera&ad, ,ndia. The conference is !ein" or"ani9ed !y
,nternational Ad$anced 4esearch 5enter for *oder +etall&r"y and Ne +aterials (A45,)'
<ydera!ad. The %epartment of Science and Technolo"y (%ST)' Go$ernment of ,ndia is the official
sponsor of this conference and the a!o$e e$ent is a re"&lar !iennial feat&re &nder its Nano +ission
initiati$e.
The first &atch of RICs >Resident Identity Cards? as la&nched &y the home ministry at
Porthrapur vi##ae in Andaman and Nico&ar Is#ands on 21 1an&ary 2012. The 4,5 cards
ere distri!&ted to all persons a!o$e the a"e of 1; residin" in the nine coastal states and fo&r &nion
territories &nder the National *op&lation 4e"ister (N*4) scheme. The N*4 scheme is aimed to
pro$ide $alid identity to all people in these areas to stren"then the sec&rity alon" the co&ntryCs
coastline.
The ,overnment of India and the @or#d Ban3 on 20 1an&ary 2012 si"ned an ,%A credit of
1>0 million US dollars to finance the project N;R5P (North East 4&ral 0i$elihoods *ro6ect)' to
empoer r&ral comm&nities in the North East re"ion to impro$e their li$elihood opport&nities.The
NE40* ill enhance the li$elihoods of the r&ral poor' especially omen' &nemployed yo&th of the
fo&r participatin" states of +i9oram' Na"aland'Si))im and Trip&ra.
The 15th @or#d %ans3rit conference as held from ? to 10 1an&ary 2012 in Ne! "e#hi. ,t as
or"ani9ed !y 4ashtriya Sans)rit Sansthan and ,nternational Association of Sans)rit St&dies.
Scholars and dele"ates attended the si:#day e$ent from >2 co&ntries. The 18th 3orld Sans)rit
conference as held in 2yoto' 1apan.
The 5a!inet 5ommittee on Sec&rity appro$ed the settin up of a Nationa# Counter 6errorism
Centre >NC6C? to co&nter terrorism effecti$ely. The +inistry of <ome Affairs proposed the
N5T5. ,t ill !e a sin"le indo or"anisation that ill "ather and disseminate intelli"ence to
central and state sec&rity or"anisations.
The *rime +inister' +anmohan Sin"h ina&"&rated the 1)th Pravasi Bhartiya "ivas e$ent that
as held on /#9 1an&ary 2012 in /aipur. The *rime +inister of Trinidad and To!a"o' 2amla
*ersad (issessar as the 5hief G&est of the e$ent. GThe Glo!al ,ndianH ,ncl&si$e GrothI as the
theme of the e$ent. *rime +inister anno&nced a ne *ension and 0ife ,ns&rance @&nd for o$erseas
,ndian or)ers in this e$ent. +inister of A$erseas ,ndian Affairs anno&nced that ne:t 4e"ional
*ra$asi (haratiya %i$as#2012 ill !e held in %&!ai for the G&lf re"ion.
A +nited Nations Resource Centre for the North$;ast !as set up at ,u!ahati, Assam
on 2 1an&ary 2012. The centre happens to !e the first of its )ind in the co&ntry. The centre as
formally ina&"&rated !y the State 5hief +inister Tar&n Go"oi.
India anno&nced that it &ecame free from &ird f#u, -5N1 virus. The "o$ernment made a
declaration to this effect on 8 1an&ary 2012.
The Competition Commission of India >CCI? formed an ;minent Persons Advisory
,roup (E*AG) on / +ay 2012. The "ro&p is constit&ted to "i$e ad$ice to 55,' on iss&es impactin"
mar)ets and competition. The "ro&p comprise ,nfosys fo&nder N.4. Narayana +&rthy' former
5omptroller and A&ditor General B.N. 2a&l' former %ep&ty Go$ernor of 4eser$e (an) of ,ndia
4a)esh +ohan' (iocon 5hairman and +% 2iran +a9&mdar#Sha' former %irector' of ,,+#
Ahmeda!ad (a)&l %hola)ia' former 5hairman of 5E45 S.0 4ao' former Bice#5hancellor of N0S,U'
(an"alore N.0 +itra. The Gro&p ill ha$e interactionJmeetin"s ith the 5ommission to to three
times a year.
,oa ained top ran3 !ith hihest per capita income in the co&ntry ith a total per capita
income of 1926?2 r&pees in 2011#12. The national a$era"e as estimated at >;00? r&pees in 2011#
12 a"ainst >?99> r&pees in 2010#11.%elhi has the second position ith a total per capita income of
1./? la)h r&pees. <aryana ith per capita income of 10922/ r&pees positioned third. The estimates
ere prepared as per methodolo"y prescri!ed !y the 5entral Statistical Ar"anisation !ased on
pro$isional data pro$ided !y it.
6he Internationa# Monetary 2und >IM2? on 2/ April 2012 #o!ered IndiaAs ro!th
projection to :.9 per cent for 0)10. The m&ltilateral a"ency in 1an&ary pro6ected ,ndian
economy to "ro to !y / per cent for 2012. The slashed "roth pro6ection is !roadly attri!&ted to
the co&ntry-s poor performance on the front of economic reforms and sloin" in$estment.
%tandard B Poor.s do!nraded credit ratin out#oo3 for India to neative from sta&#e
on 2? April 2012. The c&t in credit ratin" is the reflection of ,ndiaCs idenin" fiscal and c&rrent
acco&nt deficits. ,ndia-s fiscal deficit idened to ?.9K of "ross domestic prod&ct in the fiscal year
2011#12' hich is hi"her than the "o$ernmentCs tar"et of 8.6K. The co&ntry is performin" e.&ally
!ad on the front of forei"n instit&tional in$estment as it itnessed a sharp decline in the @,, o$er
the past fe months. ,ndia has dran nearly 1/1.; million dollar @,, so far in April 2012 a"ainst
more than ? !illion dollar in @e!r&ary 2012.The credit ratin" don"radin" indicates that the
"o$ernment ill no ha$e to contemplate serio&sly o$er the lon"#pendin" economic reforms and
p&sh them thro&"h as soon as possi!le.
Reserve Ban3 of India, the ape: ,ndian (an)' on 1/ April 2012' cut the 3ey po#icy rates for
the first time in the past three years. 3hile the repo rate as c&t don !y ?0 !asis points
from ;.?0 per cent to ;.00 per cent' the re$erse repo rate as red&ced to /.0 per cent. The mar"inal
standin" facility rate' hich has a spread of 100 !asis points a!o$e the repo rate' no stands at 9.0
per cent. The mo$e in6ected ;0000 crore r&pees into the system. The 4(, also !ro&"ht in a!o&t 1.>
la)h crore r&pees into the system thro&"h open mar)et operations. The 4(,-s mo$e to c&t don )ey
policy rates came in the a)e of sl&mpin" "roth hich as red&ced to 6.1 per cent in the third
.&arter of fiscal year 2011#12.
6he Internationa# Monetary 2und (,+@) in its 3orld Economic A&tloo) (3EA)' released
ahead of the ,+@#3orld (an) Sprin" +eetin"s' mar"inally loered IndiaAs economic ro!th
forecast to :.9C in 2012' from /K pro6ected earlier. The ,+@ pro6ected orld economic "roth
rate to sl&mp to >.?K in 2012 from >.9K in 2011. ,t pe""ed ,ndia-s "roth d&rin" the 201> calendar
year at /.>K. Accordin" to the estimates of ,ndia-s 5entral Statistical Ar"anisation (5SA)' the
"roth rate d&rin" the financial year 2011#12 slipped to a >#year lo of 6.9K. The Union
"o$ernment pro6ected a "roth rate of /.6K for 2012#1> fiscal year. The 4eser$e (an) of ,ndia
hoe$er e:pects it to !e /.>K.
The +nion overnment on 12 April 2012 approved Rs *)))) crore &ai#out for Air India.
,n this re"ard' 4s 6/?0 crore o&ld !e inf&sed immediately to meet the airlineCs or)in" capital
re.&irement. The 4s >0000 crore#!ailo&t pac)a"e as appro$ed in addition to the e.&ity inf&sion
of 4s >200 crore already in place.
6he +nion Ca&inet on 12 April 2012 approved a proposa# to set up a %pecia# Purpose
8ehic#e >%P8? for ,oods and %ervices 6a' Net!or3 >,%6N? to help facilitate the smooth
introd&ction of the ne indirect ta: re"ime. GSTN S*B is to !e incorporated as Section 2? not#for#
profit pri$ate limited company in hich strate"ic control o&ld !e held !y the 5entre. ,t ill
pro$ide ,T infrastr&ct&re and ser$ices to $ario&s sta)eholders incl&din" the 5entre and states.
The Union 5a!inet on 12 April 2012 appro$ed the e:tension of f&ndin" s&pport for implementin"
the %!ava#am&an %cheme under the Ne *ension System (N*S) from three years to fi$e years
for all s&!scri!ers enrolled d&rin" 2010#11' 2011#12 and 2012#1>. The decision ill !enefit /0 la)h
or)ers in the unoranised sector. The 5a!inet decided to pro$ide an additional f&ndin"
s&pport of 4s 206? crore to the scheme &ntil 2016#1/.
The 4 ( , on 26 +arch 2012 restr&ct&red the fair practices code (@*5) to !e adopted !y non#
!an)in" finance companies (N(@5s) hile doin" lendin" !&siness. The "&idelines iss&ed !y the
central !an) co$ered "eneral principles on ade.&ate disclos&res on the terms and conditions of a
loan and also adoptin" a non#coerci$e reco$ery method. The modified @*5 is re.&ired to !e p&t in
place !y all N(@5s ith the appro$al of their !oards ithin one month from the date of iss&e of this
circ&lar (26 +arch 2012). Also 4(, directed that the @*5 sho&ld !e p&!lished on the e!#site of the
company for p&!lic information. The N(@5s ere directed not to resort to &nd&e harassment s&ch
as persistently !otherin" the !orroers at odd ho&rs and &se of m&scle poer ith respect to loan
reco$ery. ,n 2006' the 4(, had iss&ed @*5 norms for all N(@5s to !e adopted !y them hile doin"
the lendin" !&siness
@o&r States namely /har3hand, Mi7oram, %i33im and 5a3shad!eep on 1: +arch 2012
si"ned +oU ith the +inistry of Statistics and *ro"ramme ,mplementation &nder the ,ndian
Statistical Stren"thenin" *ro6ect (,SS*) for the States and Union Territories. ,SS* is aimed at
stren"thenin" State Statistical Systems !y ay of pro$idin" ade.&ate technical and financial
s&pport to impro$e their statistical capacity and infrastr&ct&re. ,SS* is a $ery important and a
comprehensi$e pro6ect of +inistry of Statistics L *ro"ramme ,mplementation' ith an appro$ed
o&tlay of a!o&t 6?0 crore r&pees' o&t of hich ;0K has !een f&nded thro&"h 3orld (an) 0oan and
20 percent is !ein" !orne !y the Go$ernment of ,ndia.
Union 4ailay +inister +&)&l 4oy ro##ed &ac3 the rai#!ay fare hi3e as proposed !y %inesh
Tri$edi in the first Union 4ail (&d"et 2012#1> presented on 18 +arch 2012. 4oy also str&c) don
the plan to restr&ct&re 4ailay (oard. The hi)e anno&nced !y 4oy-s predecessor Tri$edi as the
first instance in 9 years hen the fares had !een raised. All railay reform meas&res s&""ested !y
Tri$edi s&ch as settin" &p of an independent tariff re"&lator' restr&ct&rin" of 4ailay (oard on
professional lines' and creation of posts of +em!er *** and +em!er Safety as also i"nored in the
latest !&d"et ta!led !y 4oy.
@inance +inister *rana! +&)her6ee presented the ;conomy %urvey report 0)11$10 in 0o)
Sa!ha on 1? +arch. @olloin" are the hih#ihts of the economic survey$
o The co&ntryCs economic "roth estimated at 6.9 per cent in the c&rrent fiscalM "roth
moment&m to pic) &p in ne:t to fiscals to /.6 per cent in 2012#1> and ;.6 per cent in
201>#18.
o 4(, e:pected to loer policy interest rates' as inflationary press&res e:pected to ease in
comin" monthsM A lo interest rate re"ime to enco&ra"e in$estment acti$ity and p&sh
forard economic "roth.
o Steps re.&ired for deepenin" of domestic financial mar)ets' especially corporate !ond
mar)et and attractin" lon"er#term inflos from a!roadM Efforts at attractin" dedicated
infrastr&ct&re f&nds ha$e !e"&n.
o The "roth rate of in$estment in the economy is estimated to ha$e declined si"nificantlyM
!orroin" costs &p d&e to a sharp increase in interest rates.
o Slodon in ,ndian economy lar"ely d&e to "lo!al factors' as also !eca&se of domestic
factors li)e ti"htenin" of monetary policy' hi"h inflation and sloer in$estment and
ind&strial acti$ities.
o ,nflation hi"h' !&t shoin" clear si"ns of slodon !y the year#endM 3hole#sale food
inflation don to 1.6 per cent in 1an&ary 2012 from 20.2 per cent in @e!r&ary 2010.
o ,ndia remains one of the fastest "roin" economies of the orldM 5o&ntryCs so$erei"n
credit ratin" rose !y a s&!stantial 2.9; per cent 200/#12
o @arm sector "roth pe""ed at 2.? percent for 2011#12.
o Ser$ices sector to "ro at 9.8 percent.
o Ser$ices sector share in G%* to "o &p to ?9 percent in the fiscal endin" +arch >1.
o ,nd&strial "roth pe""ed at 8#? percent' e:pected to impro$e as economic reco$ery
res&mes.
o 5ali!rated steps initiated to rein#in inflation on top priority.
o @iscal consolidation on trac) # sa$in"s and capital formation e:pected to rise.
o E:ports "re !y 80.? percent in the first half of this fiscal and imports "re !y >0.8
percent.
o @orei"n trade performance to remain a )ey dri$er of "roth.
o @ore: reser$es enhanced # co$erin" nearly the entire e:ternal de!t stoc).
o 5entral spendin" on social ser$ices "oes &p to 1;.? percent this fiscal from 1>.8 percent in
2006#0/.
@olloin" are some more )ey hih#ihts of the +nion Budet 0)10$1*, presented !y @inance
+inister *rana! +&)her6ee in the *arliament on 16 +arch.
o Ta: !&rden for indi$id&als to come donH ,ncome ta: e:emption limit raised from 4s.
1';0'000 to 4s. 2'00'000M 10 per cent ta: for 2#? la)h incomeM 20 per cent for ?#10 la)h
and >0 per cent !eyond 4s. 10 la)hM Sa$in"s !an) acco&nt interest &p to 4s. 10'000
e:empted from ta:.
o +any ser$ices and "oods to cost moreH No chan"e in corporate ta: rate' !&t standard rate
of e:cise d&ty' as also ser$ice ta: rates' raised from 10 per cent to 12 per centM No chan"e in
pea) c&stoms d&ty of 10 per cent on non#a"ri "oods.
o 0ar"e cars' imported !icycles' ci"arettes' !idis and some imported 6eellery to cost moreM
!randed sil$er 6eellery may "et cheaper.
o (oost for capital mar)etsH Sec&rities Transaction Ta: on cash deli$ery red&ced !y 2? per
cent to 0.1 per centM A ne 4a6i$ Gandhi E.&ity Sa$in" Scheme to allo income ta:
ded&ction to retail in$estors in stoc)s.
o Economy e:pected to "ain "ro&ndH G%* "roth rate pe""ed at /.6 per cent in 2012#1>M
S&!sidy E:pendit&re to !e chec)ed and hi"her ta: re$en&es tar"etedM 4s. >0'000 crore to
!e raised from disin$estment.
o 5apital !oost to financial and infrastr&ct&re sectorsH 4s. 1?';;; crore to !e pro$ided for
capitalisation of p&!lic sector !an)s and financial instit&tionsM ,nfrastr&ct&re in$estment
of 4s. ?0 la)h crore in 12th period' ith half from pri$ate sectorM Ta: free !onds of 4s.
60'000 crore to !e alloed for financial infrastr&ct&re pro6ects.
o @i"ht a"ainst !lac) moneyH 3hite paper on !lac) money in c&rrent session of *arliamentM
,ntrod&ction of comp&lsory reportin" re.&irement for assets held a!roadM ta: collection at
so&rce on hi"h#$al&e cash p&rchase of !&llion' 6eellery' immo$a!le property and tradin"
in coal' li"nite and iron ore.
o Greater scr&tiny of closely#held companies for f&ndsM Ta:ation of &ne:plained money'
credits' in$estments' e:penses at hi"hest rate of >0 per cent irrespecti$e of income sla!.
o Ta: reformsH %irect Ta:es 5ode (%T5) at earliestM GST netor) to !e operational !y
A&"&st 2012M 5entral E:cise and Ser$ice Ta: !ein" harmoni9ed. A General Anti#A$oidance
4&le (GAA4) to !e introd&ced to co&nter a""ressi$e ta: a$oidance.
o Attractin" forei"n f&ndsH Efforts on to allo @%, in m&lti#!rand retail and permittin"
forei"n airlines in$est in domestic playersM E:ternal !orroin"s to the e:tent of US% one
!illion for a$iation companiesM N&alified @orei"n ,n$estors to "et access to corporate !ond
mar)et.
o Ta: relief for stressed sectorsH Sectors li)e a"ric&lt&re' infrastr&ct&re' minin"' railays'
roads' ci$il a$iation' man&fact&rin"' health and n&trition' and en$ironment to "et d&ty
reliefM T&rno$er limit for comp&lsory ta: a&dit for S+Es raised from 4s 60 la)h to 4s 1
crore.
o @armin" for "rothH Tar"et for a"ric&lt&ral credit raised to 4s ?'/?'000 croreM ,nterest
s&!$ention for short#term crop loans to farmers at / per cent interest contin&esM additional
> per cent for prompt payin" farmers.
2inancia# -ih#ihts of Budet 0)10$10D
o %irect proposals to "i$e in net re$en&e loss of 4s. 8'?00 crore and net "ain of 4s. 8?'980
crore from indirect ta:es' res&ltin" into a net "ain of 4s. 81'880 crore.
o @iscal deficit tar"eted at ?.1 per cent of G%* in 2012#1>' don from ?.9 per cent in 2011#
12M 5entral Go$ernment de!t at 8?.? per cent of G%*.
o %efence ser$ices "et 4s. 1'9>'80/ croreM any f&rther re.&irement to !e met.
o Total e:pendit&re !&d"eted at 4s. 18'90'92? croreM plan e:pendit&re at 4s. ?'21'02? crore'
1; per cent hi"her than 2011#12 !&d"etM non#plan e:pendit&re at 4s. 9'69'900 crore.
o Gross Ta: 4eceipts estimated at 4s. 10'//'612 crore' 1?.6 per cent hi"her than ori"inal
!&d"et estimates and 19.? per cent o$er the re$ised estimates for 2011#12.
o Net ta: to the 5entre in 2012#1> estimated at 4s. /'/1'0/1 croreM Non#Ta: 4e$en&e
4eceipts estimated at 4s. 1'68'618 crore and Non#de!t 5apital 4eceipts at 4s. 81'6?0
crore.
Rai#!ay Minister "inesh 6rivedi *resented the ann&al Rai#!ay Budet for the financial year
0)10$1* in *arliament on 18 +arch. <e made the folloin" )ey proposalsH
o *assen"er fares to !e hi)ed !y 2 paise per )m for s&!&r!an and ordinary second class
tra$elM > paise per )m for mailJ e:press second classM ? paise per )m for sleeper classM 10
paise per )m for A5 chair carJA5 >#tier and @irst 5lassM 1? paise per )m for A5 2#tier and
>0 paise per )m for A5 1#tier.
o +inim&m fare and platform tic)ets to cost 4s ?.
o /? ne E:press trains to !e introd&ced' alon" ith 21 ne passen"er ser$ices' nine %E+U
ser$ices and ; +E+U ser$ices trains.
o 4ailays to hire more than one la)h employees in 2012#1>M ;0'000 persons hired last
year.
o ,ndian 4ailays Stations %e$elopment 5orp to !e set &p to re#de$elop stations and
maintain them li)e airports.
o To set &p an independent 4ailay Safety A&thority as a stat&tory !ody.
o The open dischar"e toilets on trains to !e replaced ith "reen (!io) toilets.
o All &nmanned le$el crossin"s to !e a!olished in ne:t fi$e yearsM To tar"et 9ero deaths d&e
to rail accidents.
o To pro$ide rail connecti$ity to nei"h!o&rin" co&ntries' a ne line from A"artala to A)&ra
in (an"ladesh to !e set &p.
o %o&!le#dec)er container trains to !e introd&ced.
o To ne mem!ers' one for mar)etin"' and other for safety' to !e ind&cted into 4ailay
(oard.
o Specially desi"ned coaches for differently#a!led persons to !e pro$ided in each
+ailJE:press trains.
o 4ailay Tariff 4e"&latory A&thority to !e considered.
o National <i"h Speed 4ail A&thority to !e set &pM *re#feasi!ility st&dies on si: hi"h speed
corridors completedM st&dy on %elhi#1aip&r#A6mer#1odhp&r to !e ta)en &p in 2012#1>.
o ,nstit&tion of F4ail 2hel 4atna- Aard for 10 rail sportspersons e$ery year.
o A a"on factory at Sitapali' Adisha' rail coach factory at *ala))ad' to additional ne
coach man&fact&rin" &nits in 2&tch (G&6arat) and 2olar (2arnata)a)M component factory
at Shyamna"ar (3est (en"al)M ne coachin" terminal at Naihati' the !irth place of
(an)im 5handra 5hattopadhyay.
o @rei"ht loadin" of 1'02? +T tar"etedM ?? +T more than 2011O12M *assen"er "roth
tar"eted at ?.8 per cent.
o *assen"er earnin"s to increase to 4s >6'200 crore.
o The &nion "o$ernment decided to increase p&!lic spendin" in the health sector to 0.5 per
cent of ,"P from the current 1.8 per cent in the 12th @i$e 7ear *lan period !e"innin"
2012.The *rime +inister-s Affice (*+A) directed the *lannin" 5ommission to allocate
f&nds d&rin" the 12th @i$e#7ear *lan. The decision to increase the f&nds in this sector as
in t&ne ith the recommendations of the %rinath Reddy$#ed committee on &ni$ersal
healthcare co$era"e set &p !y the plan panel.
The &nion "o$ernment decided to increase p&!lic spendin" in the health sector to 0.5 per cent of
,"P from the current 1.8 per cent in the 12th @i$e 7ear *lan period !e"innin" 2012.The *rime
+inister-s Affice (*+A) directed the *lannin" 5ommission to allocate f&nds d&rin" the 12th @i$e#
7ear *lan. The decision to increase the f&nds in this sector as in t&ne ith the recommendations
of the %rinath Reddy$#ed committee on &ni$ersal healthcare co$era"e set &p !y the plan panel.
The 4eser$e (an) of ,ndia >RBI? pane# on priority sector #endin headed !y +. B. Nair'
5hairman' Union (an) of ,ndia 'on 21 @e!r&ary 2012 proposed increment in the tar"et (priority
sector) for forei"n !an)s to 80K of net !an) credit from the c&rrent le$el of >2 per cent ith s&!#
tar"ets of 1? per cent for e:ports and 1? per cent for the +SE sector. The tar"et of domestic
sched&led commercial !an)s for lendin" to the priority sector is to !e retained at 80 per cent of net
!an) credit.
As per the first nation!ide retai# inf#ation data released !y the 5entre of Statistical Affice on
21 @e!r&ary 2012' inf#ation &ased on the a## India Consumer Price Inde' stood at /.6? per
cent in 1an&ary 2012. The ann&al cons&mer price inde: (5*,) data released for the first time
meas&res retail prices in ma6or food "ro&ps' f&el' clothin"' ho&sin" and ed&cation across r&ral and
&r!an ,ndia.5ons&mer price inflation for r&ral ,ndia (5*,#4) as recorded at /.>;K' for &r!an
,ndia (5*,#U)' it stood at ;.2?K.,nflation as meas&red !y the 3*, eased to a 26#month lo of
6.??K in 1an&ary 2012.(e"innin" 21 @e!r&ary 2012' the &nion "o$ernment ill release the nation#
ide 5ons&mer *rice ,nde: (5*,) on a monthly !asis for !etter reflection of retail price mo$ement
as ell as help the 4eser$e (an) ta)e effecti$e monetary policy steps to tac)le inflation. The ne
5*, ill e$ent&ally replace the 3holesale *rice ,nde: (3*,) for policy actions to deal ith the price
sit&ation.
The *rime +inisterCs Economic Ad$isory *anel (*+EA5) on 22 @e!r&ary 2012 pro6ected /.? # ; per
cent "roth rate for the fiscal 2012#1>. The economy recorded a "roth rate of ;.8 per cent in 2010#
11' hich accordin" to the 5SA estimates is e:pected to moderate to 6./ per cent in the c&rrent
fiscal 2011#12.
The Ne! 6e#ecom Po#icy !as announced !y comm&nications minister 2apil Si!al on 1?
@e!r&ary 2012.The )ey policy meas&res are aimed at reass&rin" inc&m!ent operators ho had !een
see)in" clarity in r&les at a time hen the "o$ernment is ma)in" e$ery possi!le effort to p&t the
scam#tainted telecom sector !ac) on trac). Telcome companies operatin" in the same re"ion ill !e
alloed to share 2G spectr&m. All f&t&re allocation of aira$es ill only !e thro&"h a&ctions. Also'
f&t&re licences ill !e delin)ed from spectr&m and companies m&st !&y !andidth at mar)et rates.
The Empoered Gro&p of +inisters (EGo+) headed !y @inance +inister *rana! +&)her6ee on 1?
@e!r&ary 2012 approved the auction route for se##in 5 per cent sta3e in state$run oi#
major 4N,C !efore the end of the c&rrent fiscal 2011#12.
The "o$ernment of ,ndia on 9 @e!r&ary 2012 approved settin up of a Nationa# Centre for
Co#d Chain "eve#opment, NCC", as a society &nder the Societies 4e"istration Act' 1;60. The
N55% ill !e ha$in" a Go$ernin" 5o&ncil &nder the 5hairmanship of Secretary ith 22 mem!ers'
co$erin" "o$ernment officials' 5onfederation of ,ndian ,nd&stry' @ederation of ,ndian 5ham!ers of
5ommerce and ,nd&stry' @,55, and other sta)e holders. The mo$e comes in the a)e of post
har$est losses to the t&ne of ?0000 crore r&pees ann&ally in a!sence of proper stora"e facilities.
The 5entral Empoered 5ommittee >C;C? set up &y the %upreme Court to in$esti"ate ille"al
minin" in 2arnata)a s&!mitted its final report on 8 @e!r&ary 2012. The committee
recommended the cance##ation of #eases of (9 mines that ha$e $iolated the terms of their
licence. ,t also recommended the a&ction of these leases.
The Union Go$ernment of ,ndia on 1 @e!r&ary 2012 "a$e its approva# for settin up a Nationa#
Counci# for %enior Citi7ens. ,t ill !e headed !y the +inister of Social 1&stice and
Empoerment. The 5o&ncil ill comprise of 20 mem!ers incl&din" the +inister of State for Social
1&stice and Empoerment alon" ith the oldest mem!ers from !oth the <o&ses of *arliament and
distin"&ished personalities from different fields. ,t ill ad$ice the 5entral and State Go$ernments
on iss&es related to elfare of senior citi9ens. The 5o&ncil ill s&""est special policies and
pro"rammes for the physical and financial sec&rity of the senior citi9ens in the co&ntry.
As per the latest Sample 4e"istration System (S4S) !&lletin' %ecem!er 2011 it is re$ealed that'
Infant Morta#ity Rate >IMR? has dropped further &y * points from 5) to (< infants
deaths per 1))) #ive &irths durin 0)1). The ,+4 for r&ral areas has dropped !y 8 points
from ?? to ?1 infant deaths per 1000 li$e !irths hile the Ur!an rate no stands at >1 from the
pre$io&s >8J1000. State of Goa still has the loest ,+4 of 10 infant deaths folloed !y 2erala ith
1> infant deaths per 1000 li$e !irths. (ihar' 5handi"arh' <aryana' 4a6asthan' +e"halaya still ha$e
,+4s more than the national a$era"e of 8/.
The S&preme 5o&rt o!ser$ed that the allocation of 2G spectr&m &nder former telecom minister A.
4a6a as holly ar!itrary and contrary to p&!lic interest apart from !ein" $iolati$e of the doctrine
of e.&ality fa$o&r some companies at the cost of the p&!lic e:che.&er. 6he %upreme Court
cance##ed a## the 100 0, #icenses. Accordin" to the $erdict' telecom re"&lator T4A, is to ma)e
fresh recommendations on the "rant of licenses.
The Union "o$ernment on >1 1an&ary 2012 revised the economic ro!th rate for 0)1)$0)11
financial year to =.( percent in comparison to the pre$io&s estimate of ;.? percent.The ,ndian
economy' Asia-s third#lar"est sloed in recent .&arters d&e to the impact of the "lo!al slodon'
hi"h inflation and hi"h interest rates.
The 4eser$e (an) of ,ndia (4(,) on 28 1an&ary 2012 c&t the cash reser$e ratio (544) !y ?0 !asis
points from 6 per cent to 5.5 percent ith effect from 2; 1an&ary 2012. 4(, th&s released 4s
>2000 crore to !an)s. The 4(, )ept the repo rate &nchan"ed at ;.?0 per cent for the second
consec&ti$e time after raisin" it 1> times !eteen +arch 2010 and Acto!er 2011. ,t also )ept
4e$erse 4epo 4ate &nchan"ed.
The %epartment of ,nd&strial *olicy and *romotion (%,**) notified the r&les alloin" 1))C
forein direct investment >2"I? in sin#e$&rand retai#. 5&rrently ?1K @%, is permitted in
this se"ment of retailin" hich as opened to forei"n players almost si: years a"o.
Andhra *radesh *oer Generation 5orporation 0td (A*GEN5A) anno&nced the commissionin" of
a 1#+3 photo$oltaic#cell#!ased solar poer plant at Priyadharsini /ura#a -ydro$;#ectric
Project. 6his is AP ,enco.s maiden entry into so#ar po!er eneration. The ,ndian
4enea!le Ener"y %e$elopment A"ency (,4E%A)' a p&!lic limited company &nder the control of
the +inistry of Ne and 4enea!le Ener"y' allocated this poer pro6ect to A* Genco &nder phase#
1 of the 1aaharlal Nehr& National Solar +ission (1NNS+).
The %upreme Court of India on 10 +ay 2012 directed the &nion "o$ernment to put off its
decision to reintroduce the cheetah in India. The cheetahs faced e:tinction in the s&!#
continent nearly a decade a"o. The "o$ernment as plannin" to import 5heetah from Africa' hile
the plan as not disc&ssed ith the National (oard for 3ildlife' a stat&tory !ody for the
enforcement of ildlife las in ,ndia. The co&rt' hile prono&ncin" its order' too) note of the
scientific st&dies' hich shoed that the Asian cheetahs and African cheetahs are completely
different' !oth "enetically and also in their characteristics.
The ,ndian na$y ind&cted ne!#y &ui#t IN% 6e in its fleet at the 7antar shipyard in 4&ssiaCs
2alinin"rad on 2/ April 2012. The So&thern Na$al 5ommand chief Bice Admiral 2.N. S&shil at a
ceremony in 2alinin"rad commissioned the arship. ,NS Te" is a modern and contemporary
arship ith ad$anced technolo"ies. IN% 6e is the first of the second !atch of 6a#!ar$C#ass
!arships to ha$e completed.
India on 26 April 2012 #aunched its first indienous a##$!eather Radar Imain %ate##ite
>RI%A6$1?. The satellite' hose ima"es ill facilitate a"ric&lt&re and disaster mana"ement' as
la&nched s&ccessf&lly on !oard the *S0B#519 from Srihari)ota in Andhra *radesh. The nely
la&nched satellite can capt&re ima"es of the earth d&rin" day and ni"ht as ell as in clo&dy
conditions. (esides &se in the a"ric&lt&re sector' 4,SAT#1 co&ld also !e &sed to )eep ro&nd#the#
cloc) $i"il on the co&ntryCs !orders' !&t this satellite o&ld not !e &sed for defence applications as
4,SAT#2' primarily a spy spacecraft' is already doin" that 6o!. The 4,SAT P 1 0a&nch is the 20th
s&ccessi$e s&ccessf&l fli"ht of *S0B. ,ndia in April 2009 had la&nched an imported 4adar ,ma"in"
Satellite (4,SAT#2) ith all eather capa!ility. The satellite as !o&"ht from ,srael for 110 million
dollar lar"ely for s&r$eillance p&rposes.
G&6arat has emer"ed as ,ndiaCs lar"est solar poer destination. The 5hief +inister' Mr Narendra
Modi, dedicated :)) M@ of so#ar po!er projects to the nation on 19 April. 5&rrently'
,ndiaCs total solar poer prod&ction is nearly 900 +3' to#thirds of hich ill !e prod&ced !y
G&6arat alone. +r +odi la&nched ,ndia-s first %o#ar Po!er Par3 !ith eneration capacity of
5)) M@ in *,))) acres Charan3a vi##ae, Randhanpur ta#u3a, in Patan district.
5&rrently' it has an a""re"ated operational capacity of 218 +3 of solar poer pro6ects
commissioned at a sin"le location.
,ndia on 19 April 2012 successfu##y test$fired its maiden n&clear inter#continental !allistic
missile ( ,5(+) Ani$8. The missile s&ccessf&lly str&c) its tar"et ranin more than 5)))
3ms aay from its la&nchin" point. ,t as test#fired from a mo!ile la&ncher at the 3heeler ,sland
off the Arissa coast in the (ay of (en"al. 3ith the s&ccessf&l la&nch of A"ni#B' ,ndia has entered
into an elite "ro&p of nations (USA' 4&ssia' 5hina' U2 and @rance) hich has s&ch technolo"y.
,ndia no has ac.&ired the capa!ility to hit tar"ets in 5hina' incl&din" (ei6in"' Eastern E&rope'
east Africa and the A&stralian coast. ,ndi"eno&sly !&ilt A"ni#B is 1/.?m tall' solid#f&elled' s&rface to
s&rface' three#sta"e missile ith a la&nch ei"ht of ?0 tons' hich incl&des a 1.? tonne
arhead.The %4%A Scientists !e"an to or) on the pro6ect of A"ni#B three years a"o. This as the
first testin" of the missile. A"ni#B has m&ltiple independently tar"eted re#entry >MIR8?
capa&i#ity. ,ts ran"e is o$er ?000 2ms. +,4B ena!les a missile to hit se$eral tar"ets in an area.
6he +nion Ministry of ;nvironment and 2orests >Mo;2? on 16 April 2012 &anned the
use of #ive anima#s in dissection and other e'periments in educationa# and research
institutions. <oe$er' the !an on-t !e applica!le on scientists cond&ctin" ne molec&lar
research. The !an is !ased on the pre$ention of cr&elty to Animals Act (1960). +inistry iss&ed
"&idelines to ministry of health and family elfare' *harmacy co&ncil of ,ndia and the +edical
5o&ncil of ,ndia and the Uni$ersity Grants 5ommission. The "&idelines as)ed colle"es' hospitals'
la!oratories and research instit&tes to &se alternati$e li)e comp&ter sim&lation instead of animal
dissection.
A NASA spacecraft' +essen"er in the last ee) of +arch 2012 disco$ered f&rther e$idence for the
e:istence of ater ice at +erc&ryCs poles. NASA-s pre$io&s or) re$ealed patches near +erc&ryCs
poles that stron"ly reflect radar' a characteristic of ice. +essen"er is only the second spacecraft'
after +ariner 10 in the 19/0s' to ha$e $isited the +erc&ry' hich is the innermost planet in Solar
system.
The National Green Tri!&nal on >0 +arch 2012 s&spended the en$ironmental clearance "ranted to
*oscoCs me"a steel pro6ect in Arissa in 1an&ary 2011. The tri!&nal comprisin" 1&stice 5 B 4am&l&
and %. 2. A"aral held that the clearance "i$en to *oscoCs me"a steel pro6ect in 1a"atsin"hp&r
district of Arissa ill remain s&spended till the en$ironment ministry re$ies it afresh.
The Go$ernment of Nier, in the first ee) of +arch 2012' declared the hole area of the 6ermit
Massif and 6in 6oumma desert, to !e a national nat&re and c&lt&re reser$e. Si"nificantly' the
area is home to some critically endan"ered species. ,t is no the #arest sin#e protected area
in Africa. ,t has an area of 100000 s.&are )ilometers.
The %epartment of Atomic Ener"y plans to set up three more nuc#ear fue# comp#e'es to
meet the re.&irements arisin" o&t of the proposed massi$e e:pansion plan to increase the capacity
of n&clear poer plants to 6>'000 +3 !y 20>2' from the c&rrent le$el of 8'/;0 +3. *resently' the
%epartment has only one s&ch comple: at <ydera!ad. ,t prod&ces f&el !&ndles and other
components for all the 20 reactors in operation in the co&ntry. The first of the three additional
plants o&ld come &p at 2ota in 4a6asthan and o&ld !e &sed to s&pply f&el to the fo&r /00 +3
*ress&rised <ea$y 3ater 4eactors !ein" !&ilt at nei"h!o&rin" 4aat!hata and 2a)rapar in
G&6arat. The sites for the other to are yet to !e finalised.
To pro$ide easily accessi!le and hi"h#.&ality Science and En"ineerin" ed&cation thro&"h
information and comm&nication tools' the <&man 4eso&rce %e$elopment +inistry on 2> fe!
la&nched a series of $irt&al la!oratories that ill aid st&dies in nine disciplines. The 91 virtua#
#a&oratories ill ena!le h&ndreds of e:periments in nine disciplines of Science and En"ineerin".
Researchers at the -arvard %mithsonian centre for Astrophysics disco$ered that the
p#anet ,/101(& !as #are#y covered in !ater. They &sed <&!!le Space Telescope to disco$er
the ater on planet. G11218! as disco$ered in 2009 !y the "ro&nd#!ased +Earth *ro6ect.
G11218! as descri!ed as a s&per#Earth.
,ndiaCs indienous#y deve#oped micro$#iht pi#ot$#ess taret aircraft>P6A? 5a3shya$1
as successfu##y test f#o!n from the ,nte"rated Test 4an"e at 5handip&r near (alasore on ;
@e!r&ary 2012. 0a)shya ' a s&!#sonic' re#&sa!le aerial tar"et system is remote controlled from the
"ro&nd and desi"ned to impart trainin" to !oth air !orne and air defence pilots. The *TA has !een
de$eloped !y ,ndia-s Aerona&tic %e$elopment Esta!lishment (A%E)' (an"alore to perform discreet
aerial reconnaissance of !attle field and tar"et ac.&isition.
A ne st&dy claimed that the theory proposed !y 5harles %arin on lifeCs ori"in as correct.
%arin proposed that the life ori"inated on land in a pond and not in the oceans. The st&dy held !y
the researchers at the Asna!r&c) &ni$ersity in Germany fo&nd that the first primiti$e cells mi"ht
ha$e ori"inated in pools of condensed $apo&r. This as ca&sed !y &nder"ro&nd hot ater.The
scientists disco$ered that the oceans did not contain the !est !alance of in"redients to s&pport life.
%4%A on 10 @e!r&ary 2012 cond&cted a successfu# test #aunch of the interceptor missi#e.
%4%A-s Air %efence +issile AA"$)5 s&ccessf&lly hit the !allistic missile and destroyed it at a
hei"ht of 1? )ms off the 5oast of Arissa near the 3heelers ,sland.
Astronomers fo&nd the fourth ha&ita&#e p#anet outside our so#ar system ca##ed ,/::<C.
The planet is 22 li"ht years from Earth. The nely fo&nd planet is roc)y in nat&re. ,t or!its its star
e$ery 2;.1? days.
The presti"io&s 99th Indian %cience Conress as ina&"&rated !y *rime +inister +anmohan
Sin"h at 2,,T Uni$ersity (h&anesar' Adisa. Noted scientist Geetha (ali' $ice chancellor of
2arnata)a State 3omenCs Uni$ersity' ill preside o$er the e$ent' !ein" held on the theme of
.%cience and 6echno#oy for Inc#usive Innovation $ Ro#e of @omen.. 2,,T Uni$ersity and
National ,nstit&te of Science Ed&cation and 4esearch (N,SE4) are 6ointly hostin" the e$ent' hich
ill also feat&re the 5hildren-s Science 5on"ress and 3omen Science 5on"ress. @ormer president
A*1 A!d&l 2alam ill ina&"&rate the 5hildren-s Science 5on"ress' hile Nir&pama 4ao' ,ndia-s
am!assador to United States of America' ill ina&"&rate the 3omen-s Science 5on"ress. *rime
+inister anno&nced that 0)1)$0) decade o&ld !e declared as E"ecade of InnovationF.
*resident *rati!ha *atil $isited the Satish %haan Space 5entre at Srihari)ota on 2 1an&ary 2012
and inauurated the ne! Mission Contro# Centre. The ne centre has !een de$eloped ith
state#of#the#art facilities to meet the re.&irements for the la&nch of the Geo#Synchrono&s Satellite
0a&nch Behicle +ar)#,,, and f&t&re missions of the ,ndian Space 4esearch Ar"anisation
(,S4A).The *resident on this occasion also presented ,S4A aards for the year 200; and 2009.
6he #ifetime achievement a!ard for contri!&tion to the ,ndian space pro"ramme as
conferred on former ,S4A chairman K Kasturiranan.
*rime +inister +anmohan Sin"h declared the &irthday of the reat mathematician Srini$asa
4aman&6an' 00 "ecem&er as Nationa# Mathematics "ay. Sin"h also declared 2012 as the
National +athematical 7ear as a tri!&te to the "reat mathematician Srini$asa 4aman&6an. *rime
+inister +anmohan Sin"h ina&"&rated the year#lon" cele!rations at the +adras Uni$ersity to
mar) the 12?th !irth anni$ersary of 4aman&6an.
6he @est Bena# ,overnment dec#ared its decision to ta3e over Indira Bhavan' hich
as the official residence of former 5hief +inister 1yoti (as& at Salt 0a)e. 3est (en"al 5+ +amata
(aner6ee declared that ,ndira (ha$an o&ld !e t&rned into a m&se&m and a research centre
de$oted to 2a$i Na9r&l ,slam' a contemporary of 4a!indranath Ta"ore. Na9r&l ,slam as a "reat
re!el poet and contri!&ted to the freedom str&""le.
The country.s first cooperative university !i## &e set up in %i&saar>Assam?. ,t ill !e
called as the 4a6i$ Gandhi Uni$ersity of 5ooperati$e +ana"ement.
,ndia-s infant mortality rate (,+4) dropped from ?0 deaths per 1'000 li$e !irths to 8/' as per
"o$ernment data released on 2; %ecem!er 2011. Th&s' ,ndia mo$ed closer to achie$e the
+illenni&m %e$elopment Goals (+%G) tar"et of >0. The ,+4 national a$era"e is 8/' hile it stands
at ?1 in the r&ral areas and >1 in the &r!an re"ions.
6he 5o3 %a&ha approved the 5o3pa# and 5o3ayu3ta Bi##, 0)11 ith the "o$ernment
ma)in" it clear that settin" &p of 0o)ay&)tas !y the states o&ld not !e mandatory. <oe$er' the
5onstit&tional Amendment (ill' desi"ned to confer constit&tional stat&s to the 0o)pal fell thro&"h'
as the "o$ernment failed to "et to#thirds s&pport for it.
Thirty#three persons ere )illed as storm G6-AN;A !atters c&ddalore in Tamil Nad& and
*ondicherry.
Controversia# fi#m, "am999 directed !y Sohan 4oy made it to a short#ist for the Ascars
&nder the (est *ict&re cate"ory. The film' !ased on a catastrophe ca&sed !y a 100#year#old dam in
,ndia "i$in" ay' is amon" the 26? films in contention for the (est *ict&re. Tamil Nad& "o$ernment
imposed a !an citin" that it may ca&se animosity !eteen 2erala and TN people as the film as
dealin" ith the s&!6ect of the 116#year#old +&llaperiyar dam on the 2erala#TN !order. %irected !y
2erala#!ased na$al architect Sohan 4oy' %am999 is an En"lish film that feat&res ,ndian actors
4a6it 2ap&r' Bimala 4aman' Binai 4ai and Ashish Bidhyarthi. ,t has !een d&!!ed in Tel&"&' Tamil'
<indi and +alayalam.
Rashtriya 5o3 "a# >R5"? #eader Ajit %inh !as inducted into the +nion Ca&inet as ci$il
a$iation minister on 1; %ecem!er 2011. The 1at leader ill face the challen"e of re$i$in" the
a$iation sector in "eneral and the "o$ernment#oned Air ,ndia in partic&lar as the ne 5i$il
A$iation minister. The 5i$il A$iation +inistry as held !y A$erseas ,ndian Affairs +inister Bayalar
4a$i after the ele$ation of *raf&l *atel as 5a!inet +inister.
6he +nion Ca&inet of India approved a draft Nationa# 2ood %ecurity Bi## that see)s to
"i$e le"al entitlement of cheaper food#"rains to 62.? per cent of the co&ntryCs pop&lation. The total
financial lia!ility to implement the la o&ld !e >.? la)h crore r&pees' as f&nds ill !e re.&ired to
raise a"ric&lt&re prod&ction' create stora"e space and p&!licity amon" others. The !ill aims to
pro$ide ,ndian citi9ens access to n&tritional food at afforda!le prices. This !ill proposes to "i$e a
le"al entitlement to food to /? percent of o&r r&ral pop&lation and ?0 percent of o&r &r!an
pop&lation. The !ill also pro$ides for / )" of rice' heat and coarse "rains per person per month to
priority ho&seholds at > 4&pees' 2 r&pees and 1 r&pee per )" respecti$ely.
6he 5o3pa# and 5o3ayu3tas Bi## !as introduced in 5o3 %a&ha. The !ill as aimed at
settin" &p the !ody of 0o)pal at the 5entre and 0o)ay&)tas at the le$el of the States. Go$ernment
also introd&ced a (ill for amendin" the 5onstit&tion for conferment of 5onstit&tional stat&s on !oth
!odies. Go$ernment also ithdre earlier 0o)pal (ill' 2011 and decided to introd&ce a ne
comprehensi$e 0o)pal and 0o)ay&)tas (ill' 2011 (ill after consideration of the s&""estions made !y
the *arliamentary 5ommittee' hich recommended si"nificant chan"es in the scope and content of
the earlier (ill.
6he +nion ca&inet of India on 22 %ecem!er 2011 approved (.5 percent share for
minorities !ithin the 0<C 4BC Huota in 6o!s and &ni$ersity seats. The appro$al ill come in
force from 1 1an&ary 2012. ,t s&""ests that minorities can "et 8.? 6o!s o&t of e$ery 100 "o$ernment
6o!s and &ni$ersity seats. As per the data released !y the National 5ommission for 4eli"io&s and
0in"&istic +inorities' the A(5 pop&lation as ?2 percent of ,ndia-s pop&lation' of hich minorities
constit&te ;.8 percent. 1&stice 4a6inder Sachar 5ommittee 4eport#released in No$em!er 2006# had
fo&nd the minority comm&nity &nder#represented in all spheres of professional and p&!lic life.
A &ench of the %upreme Court incl&din" 1&stices (S 5ha&han and TS Tha)&r r&led that even
anima#s are entit#ed to accident compensation. The co&rt &pheld an aard of 1>.8; la)h
r&pees for the death of a temple elephant. A 2S4T5 (2erala State Transport 5orporation) !&s hit
the animal. The co&rt ref&sed to accept the contention that the +otor Behicles Act o&ld !e
applica!le to h&man !ein"s and not to animals. ,t clarified that the definition of property in the
+otor Behicles Act is $ery incl&si$e and ide. Therefore' animal sho&ld !e incl&ded &nder this act.
The co&rt added that the elephant as oned !y the temple and it as God-s property.
The S&preme 5o&rt of ,ndia on 20 %ecem!er 2011 r&led that courts can interfere in the case
of contractua# jo& if the decision ta3en &y the manaement is ar&itrary. A !ench of the
ape: co&rt' hoe$er' said that scope of s&ch 6&dicial re$ie is not all per$asi$e. ,t said a rit 5o&rt
is entitled to 6&dicially re$ie of the action and determine hether there as any ille"ality'
per$ersity' &nreasona!leness' &nfairness or irrationality that o&ld $itiate the action. The co&rt
passed the order on a petition filed !y Grid 5orporation of Arissa 0td challen"in" the Arissa <i"h
5o&rtCs order. ,n its order Arissa hi"h co&rt as)ed the "rid corporation to reinstate one of its
employee hose contract&al 6o! as terminated.
Union <ome +inister * 5hidam!aram ina&"&rated a ne administrati$e !loc) and trainin"
facilities e:cl&si$ely desi"ned for Nationa# %ecurity ,uardAs >N%,? Chennai hu&. National
Sec&rity G&ard-s (NSG) 5hennai h&! as formed in 2009. After the No$em!er 26' 200; +&m!ai
terror stri)es' a decision to set &p re"ional NSG h&!s at +&m!ai' 2ol)ata' <ydera!ad and 5hennai
as ta)en on >0 1&ne 2009. Af these' the 2ol)ata and <ydera!ad h&!s ill !e &p"raded into !i""er
facilities to cater to the eastern and so&thern re"ions. A re"ional centre is also to !e esta!lished at
-ydera&ad from here commandos can !e mo$ed for co&nter#terror operations in So&th ,ndia.
The <ydera!ad centre ill !e on the lines of the N%,.s Manesar faci#ity in "e#hi.
6he ,overnment decided to set up a vi##ae !ater and sanitation committee in each
,ram Panchayat' $illa"e and ard to ens&re safe drin)in" ater s&pply. The committee ill !e
set &p as a standin" committee in each Gram *anchayat for plannin"' monitorin"' implementation
and maintenance of ater s&pply schemes in the area ith acti$e participation of the $illa"ers. The
mem!ership of the committee ill consist of 6 to 12 persons comprisin" elected *anchayat
mem!ers and at least ?0 percent omen ith d&e representation to Sched&led castes and Tri!es.
The committee ill !e an inte"ral part of the $illa"e panchayat. This initiati$e has !een ta)en &nder
the National 4&ral %rin)in" 3ater *ro"ramme to decentrali9e poer and responsi!ilities and to
"i$e "reater foc&s on ater and sanitation iss&es.
The S&preme 5o&rt directed state "o$ernments to &ui#d adeHuate num&er of niht she#ter to
ens&re that no homeless person has to sleep &nder s)y this inter. A !ench of 6&stices %al$eer
(handari and 1&stice %ipa) +isra as)ed the "o$ernments to file their detailed report !y > 1an&ary
2012 on the stat&s of ni"ht shelters' hich are operatin" in their states. The !ench' hich passed
separate orders for different states' as)ed the 5hief Secretaries to ens&re constr&ction of s&fficient
n&m!er of shelters for the homeless and poor people.
-ydera&ad city ran3ed as no. si'th &est to #ive in the co&ntry as per the s&r$ey cond&cted !y
Times of ,ndia # ,+4( mar)et research firm. Ahmeda!ad "ra!s the first place' *&ne "ets second'
%elhi "ets third and +&m!ai stood at fo&rth place.
The 0o) Sa!ha passed the Ca&#e 6e#evision Net!or3s >Reu#ation? Amendment Bi## 2011.
The 5a!le (ill is aimed at controllin" the ca!le TB operators and con$ertin" the analo" ca!le to
di"ital ca!le.
The ,ndian "o$ernment appro$ed the settin up of an Independent ;va#uation 4ffice >I;4?
to !e f&lly f&nded !y the "o$ernment of ,ndia. The ,EA ill e$al&ate the impact of fla"ship
pro"rammes. Also it ill !e alloed to en"a"e the ser$ices of leadin" instit&tions or)in" in the
field of social science research and other fields for the p&rpose. The %ep&ty 5hairman of the
*lannin" 5ommission ill !e the chair of the "o$ernin" !ody of the ,EA. ,EA ill !e an
independent !ody ith f&ll f&nctional a&tonomy to dischar"e its f&nctions.
The ;mpo!ered Committee in its meetin" on ? %ecem!er 2011 decided to send to technical
mem!ers to inspect the Mu##aperiyar dam !efore finalisin" its report folloin" apprehensions
raised !y 2erala a!o&t the safety of the dam after mild tremors occ&rred in the area. The
Empoered 5ommittee is headed !y former 5hief 1&stice of ,ndia' A.%. Anand. The other
mem!ers of the committee incl&de 1&stice 2.T. Thomas' a retired S&preme 5o&rt 6&d"e
representin" 2eralaM 1&stice A.4. 0a)shmanan' a retired S&preme 5o&rt 1&d"e representin" Tamil
Nad&M 5.%. Thatte' former Secretary to the +inistry of 3ater 4eso&rces and %.2. +ehta retired
5hief En"ineer' 5entral 3ater 5ommission. The committee had cond&cted a spot inspection of the
dam in %ecem!er 2010.
6hree$day @or#d 6e#uu Conference !as inauurated at Phoeni' in Mauritius.
+inisters from Andhra *radesh Batti Basanth 2&mar and S Saila6anath 6oined the cele!rations ith
+a&riti&s +inister %e$a Beera Samy ho has roots in Andhra *radesh.
The Ca&inet Committee on ;conomic Affairs >CC;A? on 1 %ecem!er 2011 appro$ed 16?6
crore r&pees scheme for phase$* of Iamuna Action p#an. Under this pro6ect' the sea"e
treatment plants sit&ated in 2ondli' 4ithala and A)hla ill !e reha!ilitated. At present' the pro6ect
is operational in 21 cities of Uttar *radesh' %elhi and <aryana. The ,ndian "o$ernment ill e:ec&te
the phase#> of 7am&na Action *lan ith help from 1apan ,nternational 5ooperation A"ency (1,5A).
1,5A is pro$idin" financial help since 199>.
6he +nited Naa Counci# >+NC? decided to #ift the economic &#oc3ade from Manipur
folloin" ass&rance from Union home affairs minister * 5hidam!aram. The UN5 as spearheadin"
the !loc)ade on the to national hi"hays since 21A&" 2011 to co&nter the economic !loc)ade
la&nched !y the Sadar <ills %istrict %emand 5ommittee (S<%%5) on A&" 1. S<%%5 is demandin"
con$ersion of the 2&)i tri!al ma6ority Sadar <ills area into a district. The S<%%5 lifted the
!loc)ade on to hi"haysM ,mphalP%imap&r#G&ahati (N<>9) and ,mphal#1iri!am#Silchar
(N<?>) on the 92nd day after the +anip&r state "o$ernment a"reed to their demand of creatin" a
district. The Na"as are a"ainst this mo$e.
The S&preme 5o&rt r&led on 2; No$em!er 2011 that a!ards passed &y the 5o3 Ada#at either
in criminal or ci$il matters are !o&nd to !e imp#emented throuh a court decree if parties
after reachin" a compromise fail to stic) to it. The co&rt added that any aard passed !y the 0o)
Adalat is deemed a decree and ill !e e:ec&ted !y a co&rt if either parties to the disp&te retracts on
the a"reement reached !efore the 0o) adalats.
The train trave##in the #onest distance in India, the "i&ruarh$Kanya3umari 8ive3
;'press, as fla""ed off at %i!r&"arh !y Union +inister of %e$elopment of North Eastern 4e"ion
*a!an Sin"h Ghatoar on No$em!er 19. The ne train that connects Assam ith the so&thernmost
tip of Tamil Nad& !rin"s ith it "ood tidin"s for the to&rism ind&stry. An its ay' it co$ered 8'2;6
)m in ;2.>0 ho&rs. Bi$e) E:press replaces <imsa"ar E:press (1amm& Tai to 2anya)&mari) as
,ndiaCs lon"est train ser$ice.
The UNA,%S <,B A,%S report 2011 released on 21 No$em!er 2011 re$ealed a dramatic decrease
of 5: per cent &et!een 199: and 0)1) in the num&er of ne! -I8 infections in India.
,ndia o$ershot treatment tar"ets for 2012 ith 8.8; la)h <,B positi$e patients on the lifesa$in"
anti#retro$iral therapy at present' a"ainst the tar"et of >.8 la)h. 3orldide' ith 2./ million ne
<,B infections in 2010' the n&m!er of ne infections ent don !y 21 per cent compared to
199/.Accordin" to the ne estimates' 8/K (6.6 million) of the estimated 18.2 million people eli"i!le
for treatment in lo# and middle#income co&ntries ere accessin" A4T in 2010' an increase of 1.>?
million since 2009.The year 2010 sa 2./ million ne <,B infections hile 1.; million people died
of A,%S#related illnesses. A massi$e scale &p in access to <,B treatment had a dramatic effect on
the li$es of people e$eryhere.
The ,ndian "o$ernment si"ned a path$&rea3in tripartite peace areement ith a prominent
ins&r"ent "ro&p of Assam' +nited Peop#eAs "emocratic %o#idarity >+P"%? on 2? No$em!er
2011 after to#year#lon" peace ne"otiations. As per the terms of the +emorand&m of Settlement
(+oS)' the 2ar!i An"lon" hill ill "et more poer and a 4s >?0#crore special financial pac)a"e
spread o$er fi$e years. The U*%S had spearheaded a $iolent ins&r"ent mo$ement in Assam-s 2ar!i
An"lon" district since its formation in 1999 till 2> +ay 2002 hen it entered into a ceasefire
a"reement ith the "o$ernment.
6ami# Nadu overnment on 0( Novem&er 0)11 &anned the screenin" of <ollyood film
"am 999 ith immediate effect. The mo$ie directed !y Sohan 4oy is !elie$ed to !e !ased on
disputed Mu##aperiyar "am &et!een 6ami#nadu and Kera#a. Tamil Nad& "o$ernment
imposed a !an citin" that it may ca&se animosity !eteen 2erala and TN people as the film as
dealin" ith the s&!6ect of the 116#year#old +&llaperiyar dam on the 2erala#TN !order. The film
centres on a dam and ho it collapses and ra$a"es the s&rro&ndin" areas. The En"lish film'
released !y 3arner (ros as sched&led for release on 2? No$em!er.
To commemorate 5hildrenCs %ay cele!rations the "epartment of Post re#eased t!o specia#
postae stamps on c#oth desined &y schoo# chi#dren on the theme E%ave the 6ierA on
18 No$em!er 2011. The to stamps ere priced at 4s ? and 4s 20' respecti$ely. ,ndia *ost held
desi"n a stamp contest on FSa$e the Ti"er- theme at ,ndipe: 2011' to spread aareness on ti"ersM
and on 18 No$em!er 2011' the stamps ere released. 6his !as the first time the %epartment of
*ost !ro&"ht o&t a stamp on cloth.
1<th Ko#3ata 2i#m 2estiva# ina&"&ral f&nction as held at Neta6i ,ndoor Stadi&m in 2ol)ata
No$em!er 9. 3est (en"al 5hief +inister +amata (aner6ee' @ilm stars Sha 4&)h 2han and
Sharmila Ta"ore attended the @esti$al.
The second annua# Push3ar internationa# &a##oon festiva# as held from / to 9 No$em!er
2011 in *&sh)ar near A6mer' 4a6asthan. *articipants from ten co&ntries displayed their !alloonin"
s)ills d&rin" the e$ent. 5olo&rf&l hot air !alloons ith !ea&tif&l motifs presented a spectac&lar $ie
to to&rists and participants. A$er fi$e la)h people $isited *&sh)ar' some 1? )m from A6mer to
attend the festi$al. *&sh)ar (alloon @esti$al is held in the !ac)drop of orld famo&s *&sh)ar @air.
A UN st&dy ran)ed India at 1*( out of 1=< countries in terms of -uman "eve#opment
Inde'. The st&dy hoe$er o!ser$ed that life e:pectancy at !irth in ,ndia has increased !y 10.1 per
cent a year o$er the last to decades. ,n the 2010 <&man %e$elopment 4eport' prepared !y UN%*'
,ndia had !een ran)ed at 119 o&t of 169 co&ntries. <oe$er' accordin" to the ne report for 2011' it
is misleadin" to compare $al&es and ran)in"s ith those of pre$io&sly p&!lished reports as the
&nderlyin" data and methods ha$e chan"ed' as ell as the n&m!er of co&ntries incl&ded in the
<&man %e$elopment ,nde:. The report hi"hli"hted ,ndiaCs <&man %e$elopment ,nde: (<%,)
$al&e for 2011 as 0.?8/ positionin" the co&ntry in the medi&m h&man de$elopment cate"ory.
(eteen 19;0 and 2011' ,ndiaCs <%, $al&e increased from 0.>88 to 0.?8/' an increase of ?9 per cent
or an a$era"e ann&al increase of a!o&t 1.? per cent.
6he state overnment of ,oa ave its approva# to :) non$operationa# mines in the
Netrava#i @i#d#ife %anctuary &nder the 4e"ional *lan 2021. The sanct&ary is located 60 )ms
from *ana6i. The Sanct&ary is one of the fi$e sanct&aries' hich are located in Goa. ,t is home to
animals li)e slender loris' deer' (lac) *anther and leopard. The en$ironmentalists e:pressed their
concern o$er the state "o$ernment-s decision as the minin" acti$ities can ha$e harmf&l effects on
the animals in the sanct&ary.
A report on child ri"hts' India.s Chi#d Rihts Inde'' a first#of#its#)ind report as released on 9
No$em!er 2011 !y the <AN#5entre for 5hild 4i"hts. Kera#a topped the nationa# chi#d rihts
inde', folloed !y 2arnata)a. Ar&nachal *radesh as fo&nd to !e the orst performer in
protectin" the ri"hts of children. The ran)in"s of fe other states are as follosH +aharashtra (>)'
Tamil Nad& (8) and Andhra *radesh (?)' G&6arat (6)' 4a6asthan (/). 0i)e the <&man %e$elopment
,nde:' ed&cation inde:' h&n"er inde: and health inde: no' the 5hild 4i"hts ,nde: attempts assess
ho different states and &nion territories fare in pro$idin" child friendly policies and here they
stand in terms of sec&rin" the ri"hts of children. ,n the 5hild 4i"hts ,nde:' the states ha$e !een
ran)ed on 10 ma6or indicators# !irth re"istration' se: ratio' early childhood care' child marria"e'
child la!o&r' ed&cation' health' incidence of crime a"ainst children' $ictims of crime a"ainst
children and crimes !y children. The inde: loo)ed into all aspects of child ell!ein" in all sectors
and indicators for realisation of child ri"hts as a hole.
+nion Rura# "eve#opment Ministry announced on ( Novem&er 0)11 that Comptro##er
and Auditor$,enera# of India >CA,? !i## audit performance of a## schemes &nder the
+inistries of 4&ral %e$elopment and %rin)in" 3ater and Sanitation. 5AG is to cond&ct an a&dit on
e:pendit&re inc&rred o$er a period spannin" the past fi$e years in 12 States. ,n the first phase' the
5AG ill a&dit the e:pendit&res &nder the +ahatma Gandhi National 4&ral Employment
G&arantee Scheme (+GN4EGS).
The Union +inistry of <ealth and @amily 3elfare #aunched anti$meas#es vaccination drive,
+easles 5atch#&p 5ampai"n. The $accination pro"ramme as la&nched in colla!oration ith the
+inistry of <&man 4eso&rce %e$elopment (<4%) to tar"et children a"ed &p to 10 years'
partic&larly in 18 States here the ro&tine imm&nisation co$era"e is less than ;0 per cent. +ore
than 1> crore children are e:pected to !e co$ered &nder the +easles 5atch#&p 5ampai"n'
irrespecti$e of their pre$io&s measles $accination stat&s. The State Ed&cation %epartments in the
states are to set &p a State Steerin" 5ommittee for implementin" the campai"n. A nodal officer ill
colla!orate ith the principals and "&ardians of pri$ate and "o$ernment schools for implementin"
the campai"n. They ill pro$ide a list of the schools and of st&dents enrolled in these schools. @or
each school' the $accination pro"ramme ill !e completed in one day ith the least disr&ption to
academic ro&tine.
6he overnment !aived a&out Rs *501 crore #oan of hand#oom !eavers in ,ndia to help
re$i$e the sector. +inister of State for Te:tiles *ana!a)a 0a)shmi declared that the loan ai$er is
one of the components of the scheme of 4e$i$al' 4eform and 4estr&ct&rin" *ac)a"e for <andloom
Sector. The "o$ernment-s initiati$e is li)ely to !enefit 1?000#handloom ea$erCs cooperati$e
societies and appro:imately > la)h indi$id&al handloom ea$ers across ,ndia. 2erala topped the
list ith 4s ??/.16 crore loan ai$er' folloed !y Tamil Nad& ith 4s ?8;.>? crore' Andhra *radesh
4s ?06.68 crore and 3est (en"al 4s 820.66 crore.
@inance +inister *rana! +&)her6ee has ina&"&rated a three$day #o&a# conference on E6a'
and IneHua#ity., in Chennai. A$er 2?0 forei"n dele"ates from o$er 100 co&ntries participated in
the conference !ein" hosted !y ,ndia as the 8th Internationa# 6a' "ia#oue >I6"?. GThe ,T%
conference ill pro$ide a &ni.&e and timely opport&nity to address an important .&estion facin"
each co&ntry' that is' to hat e:tent ta:ation can !e seen as part of the sol&tion to "roin"
ine.&alities in income and ealth'I the @inance +inistry said in a statement.
5ontainer 5orporation of ,ndia has started second &iest domestic rai#!ay container
termina# at Na"&lapally near *athancher& in <ydera!ad. The !i""est container as in
Ahmada!ad.
The 4eser$e (an) of ,ndiaCs inter$ention p&t a hold to the a## time #o! of rupee at 5(.* aainst
the +% do##ar in the forei"n e:chan"e mar)et.
Accordin" to the %efence Sec&rity 5ooperation A"ency (%S5A) report' India emered as the
third #arest purchaser of +% arms ith contracts orth Q8.? !illion in the year ended >0
Septem!er 2011 as US eapons sales rose to Q>8.; !illion in fiscal 2011. American arms sales to
,ndia incl&de Na$al 4econnaissance planes' "iant transporters' sea#s)immin" missiles and other
eapon systems. Af"hanistan' Taian' ,ndia' A&stralia and Sa&di Ara!ia emer"ed the top !&yers of
US arms.
The first state$of$the$art A6"C$%MAR6 (S)ill for +an&fact&rin" Apparels thro&"h 4esearch
and Trainin") as ina&"&rated in ;more, Chennai and the ,nte"rated S)ill %e$elopment
Scheme (,S%5) for the te:tile and apparel sector as la&nched !y the +inistry of Te:tiles. The
+inistry la&nched the pro6ect in association ith the Apparel Trainin" L %esi"n 5entre (AT%5)'
hich as selected as a nodal a"ency for the pro6ect. The pro6ect aims to impart trainin" to a
or)force of a!o&t 2?6000 in the ne:t to years. The AT%5#S+A4T pro6ect orth 4s 2> !illion
foc&ses on the core or)force re.&irements of the "arment ind&stry located across ,ndia. The
importance of the Scheme can !e 6&d"ed from the fact that the apparel ind&stry is the second
lar"est employment pro$ider in the co&ntry after a"ric&lt&re.
State#oned Ail and Nat&ral Gas 5orp (ANG5) anno&nced to si"nificant oil disco$eries. ANG5
disco$ered oil in North Kadi area of ,ujaratAs Mehsana district, hich is the company-s
ma6or prod&ction centre. ANG5 also made another stri)e in the Panna area, () )m from its
+&m!ai offshore field.
The 4eser$e (an) of ,ndia (RBI? approved the creation of a separate cateory of non$
&an3in financia# companies for the microfinance institution >M2I? sector. The central
!an) also specified that s&ch instit&tions need to ha$e a minim&m net oned f&nd of 4s ? crore. An
4(,#appointed panel headed !y 7< +ale"am had earlier recommended settin" &p of a special
cate"ory of N(@5s operatin" in the micro finance sector. The panel had s&""ested a minim&m net
orth of 1? crore for an entity to .&alify as an N(@5#+@,. The 4(, hi"hli"hted that the N(@5#+@,s
sho&ld ha$e a minim&m net orth of 4s ? crore. <oe$er' for those operatin" in the Northeastern
states' the sla! as )ept at 4s 2 crore.
The Union ca!inet on 28 No$em!er 2011 appro$ed 51 per cent forein direct investment
>2"I? in mu#ti$&rand retai#. The 5a!inet also decided to raise the cap on forei"n in$estment in
sin"le#!rand retailin" to 100 per cent from ?1 per cent. An estimated 4s >0#la)h#crore retail sector
as th&s opened to forei"n in$estors !y clearin" a !ill that allos ?1 per cent in$estment in m&lti#
!rand retail. ,ndia c&rrently allos ?1 percent forei"n in$estment in sin"le#!rand retailers and 100
percent for holesale operations !&t no @%, in m&lti#!rand retail.
The Union 5a!inet a"reed to partia##y a##o! forein direct investment >2"I? to enter the
pension sector to the e'tent of 0: per cent. The ca!inet hoe$er ref&sed to mention any
sectoral cap in the proposed le"islation. ,n its appro$al to amendments in the *@4%A (ill' 2011' the
5a!inet t&rned don the *arliamentary Standin" 5ommitteeCs s&""estion of pro$idin" a "&arantee
on ass&red ret&rns on pension f&nd schemes. Tho&"h the "o$ernment is of the $ie that the @%,
cap in the pension (sector) sho&ld !e at 26 per cent' on a par ith the ins&rance sector' it o&ld li)e
to retain the fle:i!ility of chan"in" the cap of @%, as and hen re.&ired.
6he Reserve Ban3 of India >RBI? on 8 No$em!er 2011 anno&nced that transfer of shares
!eteen ,ndians and non#resident ,ndians (N4,s) o&ld not re.&ire its permission in se$eral )ey
areas s&ch as financial ser$ices. 4(, initiated measures to ease forein direct investment
>2"I? procedures ith an o!6ecti$e to oo "lo!al in$estors. The central !an) Amended the
@orei"n E:chan"e +ana"ement 4e"&lations. ,t mentioned that prior permission o&ld not !e
necessary here the company hose shares ere !ein" transferred as en"a"ed in any financial
ser$ice. The 4(, permission had also !een done aay ith for transfer of shares !eteen residents
and non#residents in cases here the @orei"n ,n$estment *romotion (oard (@,*() had already
"i$en its clearances and the SE(, "&idelines ere met.
1oint st&dy !y ind&stry association @,55, and Ernst L 7o&n" predicted Indian mo&i#e devices
mar3et to reach *5) mi##ion a year &y 0)0). The handset companies c&rrently sell a!o&t 1?0
million mo!ile phones ann&ally in ,ndia. Accordin" to this st&dy' r&ral mar)et ill pro$ide the ne:t
phase of "roth for handset players. The st&dy also stated that a!o&t ?00 million handsets ill !e
man&fact&red in ,ndia !y 2020. <oe$er' this ill !e possi!le only if the co&ntry ere to create a
man&fact&rin" ecosystem to prod&ce handsets. India is the !or#d.s second$#arest te#ecom
mar3et after China' ith the total ireless s&!scri!er !ase crossin" ;?0 million at the end of
1&ne' 2011.
,#o&a# ratins firm Moody.s on 9 Novem&er 0)11 do!nraded the entire Indian
&an3in system.s ratin o&tloo) from sta!le to ne"ati$e indicatin" a deterioration in asset
.&ality in the months ahead. ,n Septem!er 2011' Standard L *oorCs (SL*) don"raded the
co&ntryCs lar"est lender' the State (an) of ,ndia' !y one notch. The +oodyCs decision as
anno&nced at a time hen the E&ro9one financial system is in t&rmoil and a lar"e n&m!er of
E&ropean !an)s are in a crisis. The "o$ernment re6ected it claimin" that the co&ntryCs lendin"
instit&tions are m&ch healthier than their "lo!al co&nterparts. ,ndian !an)ers termed the mo$e
&narranted and premat&re at this point of time.
Union +inistry of 5ommerce' ,nd&stry and Te:tiles sanctioned 01 ne! 6e'ti#es Par3s &nder the
Scheme for ,nte"rated Te:tiles *ar)s ith a pro6ect cost of 2100 crores r&pees to !e implemented
o$er a period of >6 months. The appro$al came in the 8th ee) of Acto!er 2011. Amon" these 21
ne Te:tiles *ar)s' 6 ere sanctioned in +aharashtra' 8 in 4a6asthan' 2 each in Tamil Nad& and
Andhra *radesh' 1 each in Uttar *radesh' G&6arat' Trip&ra' <imachal *radesh' 2arnata)a' 1amm&
L 2ashmir and 3est (en"al. The Scheme for ,nte"rated Te:tiles *ar)s see)s "reen field
in$estments in te:tiles sector on a p&!lic pri$ate partnership !asis ith the o!6ecti$e of settin" &p
e:cellent infrastr&ct&re for Te:tiles ind&stry.
6he "irector ,enera# of 2orein 6rade >",26) on 1> Acto!er 2011 anno&nced introd&ction
of a ne Niryat Bandhu scheme for internationa# &usiness mentorin for youn tur3s
in internationa# &usiness enterprises. Under the scheme' officers of %G@T ill !e in$estin"
time and )noled"e to mentor the interested indi$id&als ho ant to cond&ct the !&siness in a
le"al ay. The %G@T also anno&nced that it !ecame ,ndiaCs first di"ital si"nat&re ena!led
department. Accordin" to the ne @orei"n Trade *olicy (@T*) &n$eiled' a hi"her le$el of encrypted
208;#!it %i"ital Si"nat&re has !een introd&ced. %i"ital certificate pro$ides a hi"h le$el of sec&rity
for online comm&nication s&ch that only intended recipient can read it.
6he finance ministry on 2/ Septem!er 2011 re#eased the draft nationa# pu&#ic$private
partnership >PPP? po#icy aimed at creatin" a frameor) for implementin" infrastr&ct&re
pro6ects across sectors. The draft of *** policy as released in p&rs&ance of "o$ernmentCs
commitment to impro$e the le$el and .&ality of economic and social infrastr&ct&re ser$ice. The
policy addresses the iss&es concernin" definition of $ario&s terms and processes so that
sta)eholders' incl&din" centre' states and pri$ate in$estors' can adopt a clear and consistent
position. The policy as desi"ned to ens&re that a $al&e#for#money rationale is adopted ith
optimal ris) allocation in pro6ect str&ct&rin" ith life cycle approach. ,t aims to de$elop "o$ernance
str&ct&res to facilitate competiti$eness' fairness and transparency in proc&rement and attainin"
appropriate p&!lic o$ersi"ht and monitorin" of *** pro6ects. The "o$ernment aims to !rin" more
transparency in the *** pro6ects that are mainly &nderta)en to pro$ide p&!lic ser$ice !y pri$ate
players. The "o$ernment is en$isa"in" an in$estment of US% 1 trillion in infrastr&ct&re sector
d&rin" the 12th @i$e#7ear *lan (2012#1/)' &p from US% ?00 million in the c&rrent *lan.
The Union "o$ernment on >0 Septem!er 2011 increased the forein direct investment #imit
for 2M radio from 0) per cent to 0: per cent. The "o$ernment also e:empted the ed&cation
sector and old a"e homes from the conditions imposed in the constr&ction sector.The @%, limit in
terrestrial !roadcastin" and the 5a!inet appro$ed @+ radio in 1&ly 2011. T4A, in 2010 had made
necessary recommendations ar"&in" that increasin" the limit ill help the third#phase for @+
radio' hich ill see ;06 @+ stations across 21/ cities.
AsiaAs o#dest stoc) e:chan"e ' Bom&ay %toc3 ;'chane >B%;? on 2; Septem!er 2011 "ot an
appro$al to set &p an e'chane for sma## and medium enterprises >%M;s? from the capital
mar)ets re"&lator Sec&rities and E:chan"e (oard of ,ndia (SE(,). The permission from SE(, is
li)ely to !oost (SE-s efforts in offerin" m&ltiple asset classes to ,ndian in$estors. The permission to
set &p S+E ill ena!le (SE to contri!&te toards the "o$ernmental a"enda of "reater financial
incl&sion and alloin" promisin" enterprises of the f&t&re to access retail capital. The ne
e:chan"e set &p !y (SE ill allo small#&nlisted domestic companies' ith less than 4s 10 crore
capital !ase' to raise money from the primary mar)et.
6he +nion ,overnment on 0: %eptem&er 0)11 announced the reconstitution of the
Nationa# Manufacturin Competitiveness Counci# >NMCC? under the chair of 8.
Krishnamurthy. The N+55 as restr&ct&red $ide a Go$ernment Ga9ette Notification dated 1/
A&"&st 2011.The co&ncil is to ener"ise and s&stain the "roth of man&fact&rin" ind&stries and help
in the implementation of strate"ies !y the "o$ernment.
6!enty$%econd @or#d Minin Conress and E:po as held at Istan&u#, T&r)ey !eteen 11#
16 Septem!er 2011. 3orld +inin" 5on"ress L E:po is a &ni.&e opport&nity for companies and
man&fact&res to display their latest achie$ements and e.&ipment technolo"ies to a ide a&dience
especially to those officials and specialists from all o$er the orld.
,n a mo$e to contain persistin" inflationary press&re' the 4eser$e (an) of ,ndia >RBI? hi3ed the
short#term policy rate (repo rate) !y 2? !asis points from ; per cent to ;.2? per cent on 16
Septem!er 2011. The reverse repo rate as a res&lt "ot a&tomatically ad6&sted to /.2? per cent and
the mar"inal standin" facility (+S@) rate to 9.2? per cent. 4epo rate is the rate at hich !an)s
!orro from the central !an) and re$erse repo is the rate at hich !an)s par) their f&nds ith the
4(,. The central !an) raised rates for the 12th time since +arch 2010.
The Union Go$ernment on 1? Septem!er 2011 approved the Approach Paper for the 10th
P#an >0)10$1<? hich see)s to attain second "eneration economic reforms' impro$in" "o$ernance
and raise ann&al economic "roth rate to 9 per cent d&rin" impendin" fi$e#year period. The *aper
o&ld !e placed !efore the National %e$elopment 5o&ncil (N%5) for its final appro$al in Acto!er
2011. The theme of the Approach *aper to the 12th @i$e 7ear *lan is faster, sustaina&#e and
more inc#usive ro!th. <ealth' ed&cation and s)ill de$elopment' en$ironment and nat&ral
reso&rces and infrastr&ct&re de$elopment as pointed to !e foc&sin" areas in the ne:t *lan. The
paper lay emphasis on incl&si$e "roth. 2or the first time in the history of the @i$e 7ear *lans
the Approach *aper has a chapter on overnance and corruption. The paper s&""ests terms
meas&res to !e ta)en to set &p ne instit&tions li)e the 0o)pal and 0o)ay&)ta.
+NC6A".s 6rade and "eve#opment Report 0)11 as la&nched in Ne %elhi on 6 Septem!er
2011. The report mentioned that "lo!al economy o&ld itness a slo don to >.1 per cent in 2011
from 8 per cent in 2010. The slo don o&ld impact de$elopin" economies hich o&ld "et
affected !y recession in the de$eloped orld.The So&th Asia re"ion as li)ely to !e amon" the !est
performers "lo!ally' ith a "roth of se$en per cent in 2011. An the other hand' "roth in the U.S.
as to remain lo !eca&se of lo domestic demand' sta"natin" a"es. The E&ropean de!t crisis is
e:pected to act as a dra" on the "lo!al "roth. UN5TA% pro6ected an economic "roth of ;.1 per
cent for ,ndia' the fastest rate of e:pansion in the orld after 5hina.
The fi$e#day <1st Internationa# Conress of 2IP (,nternational *harmace&tical @ederation)
as ina&"&rated !y *resident *rati!ha *atil on 8 Septem!er 2011 in -ydera&ad. The 3orld
<ealth Ar"anisation and the ,nternational *harmace&tical @ederation (@,*) si"ned a 6oint#
statement on the role of pharmacists in t&!erc&losis care and control on the ina&"&ral day of the
conference.
%&rin" the conference' the Pharmacy Counci# of India >PCI? &r"ed the Union "o$ernment not
to permit the openin" of ne colle"es in the co&ntry' e:cept in the northeast' (ihar' 1har)hand and
5hhattis"arh. The *5, pointed o&t that the m&shroomin" of pharmacy colle"es in ,ndia created an
im!alance. The $ast n&m!er of instit&tions in the co&ntry posed a ma6or challen"e to the foremost
challen"e in pharmacy ed&cation. 5&rrently ,ndia has /00 pharmacy de"ree colle"es. Andhra
*radesh has >00 pharmace&tical colle"es# the hi"hest n&m!er in the co&ntry.
N6PC and 5eylon Electricity (oard ha$e sealed a deal for 6ointly settin" &p a coal#fired poer plant
in %ri 5an3a at an in$estment of &p to /00 million dollars. NT*5 chairman Ar&p 4oy 5ho&dh&ry
and 5E( chief 3imaladharma A!eyic)reme si"ned the final a"reement in 5olom!o on 6
Septem!er 2011 for settin" &p the ?00 m poer plant at Samp&r in Trincomalee.The pro6ect ill
!e a ma6or milestone in !ilateral relations and f&rther cement the economic !onds !eteen ,ndia
and Sri lan)a. ,t ill also mar) NT*5-s o$erseas de!&t.
The 5a!inet 5ommittee on Economic Affairs on >0 A&"&st 2011 appro$ed disinvestment of 5
per cent of "o$ernmentCs sta)e in poer e.&ipment ma)er B-;5 hich is li)ely to fetch 4s. 8>20
crore. After this disin$estment Go$ernment of ,ndia shareholdin" in the company o&ld come
don to 62./2K.
A par#iamentary %tandin Committee on 2inance headed &y Iash!ant %inha in its
recommendations on the Pension 2und Reu#atory and "eve#opment Authority
>P2R"A? Bi##, 0)11, recommended that s&!scri!ers to the Ne *ension System (N*S) sho&ld "et
an ass&red ret&rn on their in$estments. The committee also s&""ested imposin" a 26 per cent cap
on forei"n direct in$estment (@%,) in pension pro"rammes. The *@4%A (ill introd&ced in the 0o)
Sa!ha in +arch' 2011 incl&des no pro$isions pertainin" to @%,. The committee s&""ested that the
"o$ernment sho&ld de$ise a mechanism so that s&!scri!ers of the N*S "et "&aranteed ret&rns on
their pension' so that they are not at any disad$anta"e $ia#a#$is other pensioners.
India Post on 2 Septem!er 2011 sined a Memorandum of +nderstandin >Mo+? !ith
82% ,#o&a# to pro$ide visa re#ated services for different co&ntries thro&"h post offices. The
+oU set o&t !road &nderstandin" and intention of !oth the parties to pro$ide $isa related ser$ices
at places here they are not c&rrently a$aila!le. *ost Affice co&nters ill !e &sed for fee collection'
pro$idin" $isa application forms' dissemination of $isa information' !iometric enrollment and
other $isa application process related ser$ices.B@S Glo!al is in the !&siness of $isa application
ser$ices and is c&rrently or)in" ith >? "o$ernments across the orld.
6he report on Customer %ervice in Ban3s &y a committee chaired &y M. "amodaran,
former 5hairman of the Sec&rities and E:chan"e (oard of ,ndia (SE(,) as released. The 4eser$e
(an) of ,ndia panel recommended an increased deposit ins&rance co$er of 4s.? la)h to enco&ra"e
indi$id&als to )eep all their deposits in !an)s. The %amodaran panel mentioned that in case of sic)
!an)s' a possi!ility to ena!le c&stomers immediately a$ail themsel$es of a part of their ins&red
deposits !efore the final fate of sic) !an)s is decided sho&ld !e e:plored.
The 5a!inet 5ommittee on Economic Affairs (CC;A) on 8 A&"&st 2011 appro$ed eHuity infusion
of Rs.10)) crore into the nationa# carrier Air India that is passin" thro&"h critical financial
cr&nch. Air ,ndia had so far recei$ed financial assistance amo&ntin" to 4s 2000 crore in the last
to financial years hile its c&m&lati$e loss and de!t !&rden is aro&nd 4s 6/000 crore. The airline
has a de!t of 4s.869? crore on an e.&ity !ase of 4s.218? crore.
The Union 5a!inet of ,ndia on 2; 1&ly 2011 "a$e its approva# for settin up a national le$el
sec&rity f&nd (NSS@) for &nor"ani9ed sectors named as Nationa# %ocia# %ecurity 2und. The
f&nd is li)ely to !enefit 8>.> crore or)ers in the &nor"ani9ed sector. The National Social Sec&rity
(oard ill administer the f&nd. The Union @inance minister *rana! +&)her6ee anno&nced the f&nd
d&rin" the !&d"et 2010#11. The +inistry of 0a!o&r L Employment ill !e the nodal +inistry for the
operation of the @&nd.Accordin" to an estimate done !y the National Sample S&r$ey Ar"anisation
total &nemployment in !oth or"anised and &nor"ani9ed sector is 8?.9 crore or)ers. A&t of them'
8>.> crore or)ers !elon" to &nor"ani9ed sector. A lar"e n&m!er of &nor"ani9ed or)ers ere
ha$in" occ&pations li)e a"ar!atti#ma)in"' em!roidery or)' papad ma)in" and !idi ma)in".
6he RBI hi3ed short$term #endin and &orro!in rates sharp#y &y 5) &asis points for
the third time in three months to control hi"h inflation' a mo$e that o&ld ma)e all personal and
corporate loans more e:pensi$e. The 4(, has also re$ised its fiscal#end inflation pro6ection to / per
cent from 6 per cent earlier. 3ith 1&ly 26 increase of 0.?0 per cent' the short#term lendin" (repo)
rate has !een hi)ed to ; per cent and the short#term !orroin" (re$erse repo) rate has also !een
increased !y a similar mar"in to / per cent. ,t' hoe$er' has retained the cash reser$e ratio (544) at
6 per cent. This is the 11th time since +arch' 2010' that the 4(, has raised the interest rate to chec)
inflation' hich is c&rrently r&lin" at o$er 9 per cent.
Accordin" to the fourth advance estimates released !y the A"ric&lt&re +inistry' India is set
for a record food rains production in the 0)1)$11 crop year at 0(1.5: mi##ion tonnes.
3heat and p&lses o&tp&t are estimated to to&ch an all time hi"h of ;?.9> million tonnes and 1;.09
million tonnes respecti$ely. The record prod&ction as attri!&ted to "ood monsoon' hi"her
minim&m s&pport price to farmers and foc&ssed policy approach' partic&larly to enhance
prod&ction of p&lses and oilseeds. 3heat o&tp&t as estimated to !e hi"her !y ?.1> million tonnes
in 2010#11. *&lses prod&ction enhanced !y >.8> million tonnes ith "ram at ;.2? million tones'
&rad at 1./8 million tonnes and moon" 1.;2 million tonnes recordin" si"nificant increases. 4ice
o&tp&t as estimated at 9?.>2 million tonnes as a"ainst ;9.09 million tonnes har$ested in 2009#10.
Ailseeds prod&ction as estimated at >1.1 million tonnes a"ainst 28.; million tonnes in the
pre$io&s crop year ith a record soya!ean o&tp&t of 12.66 million tonnes. Total food"rains o&tp&t
for ra!i and )harif in 2009#10 as 21;.11 million tonnes. The hi"hest prod&ction in recent years
as 2>8.8/ million tonnes in 200;#09.
The 5a!inet 5ommittee on Economic Affairs >CC;A? on 00 /u#y 0)11 approved BPAs
purchase of *)C sta3e in 01 out of 0* oi# &#oc3s &e#onin to Re#iance Industries in the
2rishna Goda$ari !asin for Q/.2 !illion. The deal ill "i$e 4eliance access to (*Cs e:pertise in deep#
ater drillin" and accelerate de$elopment and prod&ction at its fields' partic&larly the &nder#
performin" eastern offshore 2G#%6. (* on the other hand ill "ain entry into the oil mar)et here
ener"y demand is "roin" at ?#; per cent.
Accordin to a latest 3orld Trade or"ani9ation >@64? report India achieved tenth ran3 in
e'port of services !or#d!ide and emer"ed as the 20th !i""est merchandise e:porter in 2010.
,ndia stood 12th and 22nd position "lo!ally in ser$ices and "oods e:ports' respecti$ely in 2009.
,ndiaCs "oods e:ports ent &p !y >1 per cent in 2010' helpin" the co&ntry to e:pand its mar)et
share to 1.8 per cent from 1.2 per cent in 2009. En"ineerin" and petrole&m e:ports contri!&te
a!o&t 80K of ,ndia-s total e:ports.The report ran)ed 5hina first in terms of merchandise e:ports
folloed !y the U.S. and Germany. ,n ser$ices e:port' the U.S. is on the top slot folloed !y
Germany and the U.2.
Ei"ht ,ndian companies' incl&din" ,ndian Ail 5orporation (,A5) and +&)esh Am!ani#led 4eliance
,nd&stries 0imited (4,0) feat&red in the list of the !or#d.s 5)) #arest companies compiled
and released !y @ort&ne ma"a9ine on 11 1&ly 2011. The other ,ndian companies on the list areH S(,
(2;2)' (*50 (>0/)' <*50 (>?8)' Tata Steel (810)' ANG5 (81>) and Tata +otors (882).,ndian Ail is
at the 9;th spot' &p from 12?th place last year. +&)esh Am!ani#led 4eliance ,nd&stries also
impro$ed its ran)in" from pre$io&s yearCs 1/? to 1>8th position. ,ndian Ail ra)ed in ann&al
re$en&es of US% 6;';>/ million hile that of 4eliance ,nd&stries stood at US% ?;'900 million. A&t
of the ei"ht ,ndian companies in the list' fi$e are state#r&n entities.
The oil ministry !loc)ed Cairn IndiaAs plans to !e"in oil prod&ction from the Bhayam oi#fie#d
!hich is the second &iest find in the Rajasthan &#oc3. 5airn had planned to p&t the
(ha"yam oilfield into prod&ction !y Acto!er to ta)e total o&tp&t from the 4a6asthan !loc) to
1/?'000 !arrels per day. The ministry insisted that it ill not appro$e f&rther pro"ramme on
(ha"yam &nless 5airn calc&lates profits to !e di$ided amon" sta)eholders and the "o$ernment
after addin" royalty to the cost.
The Union "o$ernment on / 1&ly 2011 cleared "&idelines of the 2M Radio Phase III e'pansion.
The @+ 4adio *hase ,,, e:pansion ill allo pri$ate radio channels to &roadcast ne!s of A##
India Radio and ena!le re$en&e "eneration of 4s 1/>> crore from the a&ction of license for
ser$ices in 22/ cities in the co&ntry. A meetin" of the 5a!inet chaired !y *rime +inister +anmohan
Sin"h also appro$ed hi3in of forein investment #imit in pri$ate @+ radio !roadcastin"
company to 0:C from the current 0)C. The @+ *hase#,,, policy ill e:tend @+ radio ser$ices
to a!o&t 22/ ne cities' in addition to the present ;6 cities ith a total of ;>9 ne @+ radio
channels. The @+ phase ,,, policy ill res&lt in co$era"e of all cities ith a pop&lation of one la)h
and a!o$e thro&"h pri$ate @+ channels.
India dropped !y one position to &ecome the fourth #arest stee# producer in the orld in
2010 ith 6;.> million tonnes (+T) prod&ction' accordin" to 3orld Steel Association (3SA). The
US !ecame the third lar"est prod&cer of the alloy ith ;0.? +T o&tp&t in 2010. ,t as the fifth
lar"est steel ma)er in 2009.<oe$erM there as no chan"e in the first to slots. 3ith 626./ +T
prod&ction' China remained on top hile ith 109.6 +T o&tp&t' 1apan as the second hi"hest
prod&cer in 2010. 4&ssia !ecame the fifth hi"hest ma)er of the alloy in the orld. ,t prod&ced 66.9
+T steel in 2010.
China #aunched a hih$speed &u##et train in N&in"dao' Shandon" pro$ince. ,ts speed can
reach &p to 5)) 3mph. The train as la&nched !y 5hina-s lar"est rail $ehicle ma)er' 5S4 5orp.
0td. China has the #arest net!or3 of &u##et$train trac3 in the !or#d, ith ;000 miles of
trac).
NASACs Kep#er mission on 20 %ecem!er 2011 discovered the first ;arth$si7e p#anets
or!itin" a s&n#li)e star o&tside o&r solar system. The planets' called 2epler#20e and 2epler#20f' are
too close to their star to !e in the so#called ha!ita!le 9one here li.&id ater co&ld e:ist on a
planetCs s&rface' !&t they are the smallest e:oplanets e$er confirmed aro&nd a star li)e o&r s&n. The
disco$ery mar)s the ne:t important milestone in the &ltimate search for planets li)e Earth. (oth
planets reside in a fi$e#planet system called 2epler#20' appro:imately 1000 li"ht#years aay in the
constellation 0yra.
The indi"eno&sly desi"ned and de$eloped Rustom$1 >medium a#titude #on endurance
unmanned com&at aeria# vehic#e? completed its ;th s&ccessf&l fli"ht. ,t fle at an altit&de of
6'000 ft and at a speed of 90 )nots d&rin" its >0 min&tes fli"ht near <os&r' said a %efence
4esearch and %e$elopment Ar"ansiation release. 4&stom#1 ei"hs 661 )".
A team of researchers from NASA-s 2epler +ission disco$ered a ha!ita!le earth$#i3e p#anet,
called Kep#er$00&. This nely disco$ered planet or!its aro&nd a s&n#li)e star 600 li"ht years aay
from the planet earth. The star is located near the constellations of 0yra and 5y"n&s. The planet is
$ery m&ch similar to earth in )ey aspects. ,t has a s&rface temperat&re of a!o&t /2 de"rees
@ahrenheit and it is li)ely to ha$e ater and land.
The star as cate"ori9ed as a G? star. ,t has a mass and radi&s smaller than that that of the S&n. ,t
ma)es the star 2? percent less l&mino&s than the S&n. NASACs 2epler mission confirmed its first
planet in the ha!ita!le 9one' the re"ion here li.&id ater co&ld e:ist on a planet-s s&rface. The
ne e:oplanet has the smallest radi&s amon"st all the planets so far disco$ered.
6he theme of @or#d AI"% "ay 0)11 !as ,ettin to Jero. (ac)ed !y the United Nations the
Gettin" to Dero campai"n ill r&n &ntil 201?. The Gettin" to Dero campai"n dras hea$ily from
s&ccessf&l 2010 3orld A,%S %ay-s 0i"ht for 4i"hts initiati$e encompassin" a ran"e of $ital iss&es
identified !y )ey affected pop&lations. ,n 2011 the "lo!al comm&nity committed to foc&sin" on
achie$in" > tar"etsH Dero ne <,B infections' Dero discrimination and Dero A,%S#related deaths.
,reen 2i#m 2estiva# !as he#d in "e#hi from 6 %ecem!er to 10 %ecem!er 2011. 0eadin"
en$ironment and ildlife films from across the orld ere screened as part of the 5+S Bata$aran
film festi$al. Biodiversity Conservation !as the theme of the festiva#. 118 films ere
screened' ta)in" $ieers into the di$erse "eo"raphical realms of planet Earth thro&"h the lens of
the finest en$ironment and ildlife film#ma)ers. ,t as a s&mmit for Asian film#ma)ers' special
pro"rammes for children thro&"ho&t the e$ent and disc&ssions on the en$ironment ith more than
?0 spea)ers and >00 dele"ates from 1? different co&ntries.
India successfu##y test$fired its nuc#ear capa&#e Ani$I strateic &a##istic missi#e on 1
%ecem!er 2011 from the test ran"e at 3heeler ,sland off Adisha coast' as part of the ,ndian ArmyCs
&ser trial. The tra6ectory of the missile' hich had an operational stri)e rane of <)) 3m' as
trac)ed !y sophisticated radars and electro#optic telemetry stations located alon" the sea coast and
ships positioned near the impact point in the donran"e area. A"ni#, as de$eloped !y Ad$anced
Systems 0a!oratory (AS0)' the premier missile de$elopment la!oratory of the %4%A in
colla!oration ith %efence 4esearch %e$elopment 0a!oratory (%4%0) and 4esearch 5entre ,marat
(45,) and inte"rated !y (harat %ynamics 0imited ((%0)' <ydera!ad. A"ni#, strate"ic !allistic
missile is an indi"eno&sly de$eloped s&rface#to#s&rface missile. A"ni#, can carry payloads &p to
1000 )". ,t 3ei"hed 12 tonnes.
6he first ;#dAs deer !as &orn via in vitro ferti#i7ation in 6hai#and. The researchers at the
Smithsonian 5onser$ation (iolo"y ,nstit&te (S5(,) collected e""s' inseminated in $itro ith thaed
semen to prod&ce em!ryos and transferred the em!ryos to a s&rro"ate mother. As a res&lt' a fan
as !orn on 1/ Acto!er 2011 at the 2hao 2heo Apen Doo in Thailand. EldCs %eer is also )non as
the Thamin or (ro#antlered %eer. ,t is an endan"ered species of deer indi"eno&s to so&theastern
Asia.
NA%A on 26 No$em!er 2011, #aunched Rover, nic3named Curiosity to e'p#ore the p#anet
Mars. The ro$er as la&nched from @lorida on an Atlas ? roc)et. The 4o$er ill ta)e ei"ht and a
half months to reach the 4ed *lanet (+ars). The 4o$er ill then sco&r +artian soils and roc)s for
any si"ns that co&ld ha$e s&pported micro!ial life on the planet.
India.s most advanced #on$rane missi#e, Ani$I8 as test fired s&ccessf&lly on 1?
No$em!er 2011 from a road#mo!ile la&ncher from the ,nte"rated Test 4an"e (,T4) at 3heelers
,sland' off the coast of Arissa. The missi#e covered a rane of more than *,))) 3m in 20
min&tes of fl&ent fli"ht. The indi"eno&s rin" 0aser Gyros !ased hi"h acc&racy ,NS (4,NS) and
+icro Na$i"ation System (+,NGS) as &sed in the la&nch for the first time. So far' this as ,ndia-s
lon"est#ran"e mission flon !y the %efence 4esearch and %e$elopment Ar"anisation (%4%A).
A"ni#,B opened a ne era for ,ndia in the class of lon"#ran"e missiles to carry strate"ic n&clear
arheads for the armed forces. ,t is capa!le of pro$idin" deterrenceM strate"ically A"ni#,B is capa!le
of co$erin" the hole area of ,ndia-s !order ith 5hina. Ani$I8 is a t!o$stae missi#e. Ani$
I8 is capa!le of carryin" n&clear arheads. Ani$I8 !as ear#ier ca##ed Ani$II Prime. The
first fli"ht of A"ni#,, *rime in %ecem!er 2010 as a fail&re.
A team of si' scientists at the Indian Institute of Petro#eum >IIP? deve#oped a ne!
techno#oy to convert p#astic into petro#eum products. After a decade lon" e:periments'
the scientists led !y director +adh&)ar Am)arnath Gar" mana"ed to de$elop a com!ination of
catalysts' hich con$ert the plastic into either "asoline or diesel or aromatics alon" ith 0*G as a
common !yprod&ct.
4&ssia s&ccessf&lly la&nched a manned spacecraft on 18 No$em!er in 2011. A %oyu7 6MA$00
spaceship ith to 4&ssians cosmona&ts and a US astrona&t !lasted off from (ai)on&r
5osmodrome in 2a9a)hstan. This la&nch as the first manned fli"ht to the ,SS after the NASA sh&t
don its space sh&ttle pro"ramme' lea$in" 4&ssia responsi!le for the maintenance and s&pply of
the space station. 16 nations are in$estin" in the space station that relies solely on 4&ssia to ferry
cres. 5res rotate e$ery si: months.
%cientists discovered t!o sun3en is#ands est of A&stralia' in the ,ndian Acean' !hich
once formed part of the #ast #in3 &et!een India and Austra#ia. The to islands ere a!o&t
the si9e of Tasmania. They ere once part of the s&percontinent Gondana and more than 1.?
)ilometres &nderater. The islands' called micro continents' ere formed hen ,ndia mo$ed aay
from A&stralia' 1>0 million years a"o d&rin" the 5retaceo&s period (hen dinosa&rs roamed the
Earth).
Indian scientists succeeded in decodin the enome of the arhar da#' hich is also
)non as pi"eon pea. This ill help not only in de$elopin" ne $arieties !&t also in increasin" the
prod&cti$ity. ,ndian 5o&ncil of A"ric&lt&re 4esearch and (anaras <ind& Uni$ersity ((<U) carried
o&t the research. *rofessor Na"endra 2&mar Sin"h spearheaded the pro6ect. ,n fact' ;? per cent of
the orldCs arhar dal is prod&ced and cons&med in ,ndia. Therefore' this disco$ery ill help
decrease the inflated cost of p&lses in ,ndia.
China #aunched its unmanned spacecraft, %hen7hou$= on 1 Novem&er 0)11. 0on"
+arch#2@ roc)et propelled the &nmanned spacecraft into or!it in the ne:t step toards 5hinaCs
am!itio&s plans for a manned space station !y 2020. Shen9ho&#; carried an e:perimental facility
de$eloped !y German and 5hinese scientists. Shen9ho& ; as la&nched from North Go!i desert in
5hina that entered into the or!it s&ccessf&lly. The mission as considered 5hinaCs most important
since its first manned space fli"ht in 200>. ,n Septem!er 200;' the Shen9ho& /' piloted !y three
astrona&ts' carried o&t 5hinaCs first spaceal).
Austra#ian senate on ; No$em!er 2011 passed #eis#ation that !ou#d impose a car&on
ta' on the nationAs 5)) #arest po##uters. The "o$ernment reasoned that it as necessary to
control climate chan"e. A&straliaCs lar"est poll&ters ill no pay 2> A&stralian dollars for e$ery
metric ton of car!on "ases they prod&ce. A&stralia is one of the orldCs orst "reenho&se "as
emitters per capita !eca&se of its hea$y dependence on a!&ndant reser$es of coal to "enerate
electricity.
Scientists identified a ne! &iochemica# mechanism, !hich a##o!s &rain tumours to
s&r$i$e and "ro. This findin" ill pa$e the ay for ne and effecti$e treatments for some of the
most a""ressi$e t&mo&rs. An international team' led !y the +niversity -ospita# of -eide#&er
made the disco$ery. Scientists identified the ma6or role played !y )yn&renine' in fa$o&rin" the
!rain t&mo&r "roth and at the same time s&ppressin" anti#t&mo&r imm&ne response.
Kynurenine is a !y#prod&ct of meta!olism of essential amino acid tryptophan.
Astronomers discovered a mysterious #itt#e d!arf p#anet hich is !elie$ed to !e co$ered in
ice. The planet as nic)named %no! @hite. ,t or!its the S&n as part of the 2&iper !elt (the rin"
of the icy !ody that or!it the S&n !eyond Nept&ne). The planet is located o&tside Nept&ne.
4fficia##y 3no!n as 0))< 4R1)' it is act&ally red' half of its s&rface is co$ered !y ater ice that
pro!a!ly emitted from ancient cryo$olcanoes. The planet is red !eca&se of the thin layer of the
methane. Sno 3hite had !ro)en off lon" a"o from another darf planet' called <a&mea.
The union overnment of India decided to &an the use of inferti#ity dru 5etro7o#e that
is mainly recommended for treatin" 5ancer patients. The +inistry of <ealth and @amily 3elfare
iss&ed a directi$e to !an the &se of 0etro9ole completely ith immediate effect. 3hile !annin" the
dr&"' the +inistry stated that harmf&l effects ere fo&nd in the &se of 0etro9ole. 0etro9ole is &sed
orldide for cancer patients !&t it as !ein" &sed in ,ndia as an infertility dr&" for a lon" time.
A&stralian Scientists created the orld-s first dru that can prevent &#indness from
cataracts. At present' the only treatment a$aila!le to pre$ent the !lindness from cataracts is to
remo$e s&r"ically the affected eye lens and replace it ith a synthetic lens. 5ataracts are formed
hen a protein' )non as calpain' clo&ds the eye lens and impairs $ision. This is for the first time
that a non#s&r"ical c&re for the de!ilitatin" condition as disco$ered.
A st&dy cond&cted 6ointly !y the ,nstit&te for <ealth +etrics and E$al&ation' Uni$ersity of
3ashin"ton' Uni$ersity of <on" 2on" and the *&!lic <ealth @o&ndation of ,ndia (*<@,) fo&nd
that Avahan successfu##y s#o!ed the transmission of -I8 amon the enera#
popu#ation. A$ahan mana"ed to slo don transmission of <,B !y raisin" the co$era"e of
pre$ention inter$entions in hi"h#ris) "ro&ps li)e female se: or)ers' their clients and partners'
men ho ha$e se: ith men (+S+)' intra$eno&s dr&" &sers and tr&c) dri$ers. A!o&t 100' 000
fresh <,B cases amon" the "eneral pop&lation ere a$erted in ,ndia in fi$e years !y tar"etin" the
most $&lnera!le section. A$ahan as la&nched in 200> and recei$ed Q2?; million from the (ill and
+elinda Gates @o&ndation. ,t complemented the "o$ernment-s on efforts on <,B pre$ention. The
pro"ramme as implemented in fo&r lar"e states O Andhra *radesh' 2arnata)a' +aharashtra and
Tamil Nad& and 2 small northeastern states of +anip&r and Na"aland. These si: states ere
estimated to ha$e the hi"hest <,B pre$alence in ,ndia in 200>' and a total pop&lation of >00
million.
The @or#d.s cheapest ta&#et, Aa3ash !as #aunched on ? Acto!er 2011. Aa)ash is a part of
the ,ndian Go$ernmentCs National +ission on Ed&cationCs Sa)shat *ro6ect. ,t is one of the main
a"endas of the +ission that aimed to lin) all hi"her ed&cation instit&tions in ,ndia. ,t is desi"ned to
re$ol&tioni9e the ed&cation system in the co&ntry. Apen so&rce materials from ,,Ts are to !e
created !y Aa)ash. The "o$ernmentCs endea$o&r is to ens&re that e$ery st&dent in any part ,ndia
has access to technolo"y and they can access lect&res. The ,ndian ,nstit&te of Technolo"y'
4a6asthan' de$eloped the softare for the ta!let indi"eno&sly. The de$ice is se$en#inch to&ch
screen' e.&ipped ith 3i#@i ,nternet' media player' > ho&rs !attery poer and se$eral other
m&ltimedia applications. This de$ice is to !e sold only thro&"h colle"es and &ni$ersities.
IN% %ha3ti, the second of the t!o f#eet tan3ers &ui#t &y 2incantieri %hipyard of Ita#y
for the ,ndian na$y' as commissioned on ; Acto!er. 5hief of ,ndian na$al staff' Admiral Nirmal
Berma' commissioned the $essel. ,NS Sha)ti is the third tan)er !y the same name' ith the earlier
to ha$in" ser$ed the nation ith pride. The ind&ction of Sha)ti into na$al ser$ice o&ld enhance
the reach of the na$y ell !eyond the limits of the ,ndian Acean and pro$ides s&pport to the
e:pandin" fleet of the ,ndian Na$y. The ship is one of the lar"est in the ,ndian Na$y as it is 1/?
metres in len"th and >2 metres in idth. The $essel displaces o$er 2/'000 tonnes and is capa!le of
carryin" o$er 1?'000 tonnes of li.&id car"o incl&din" f&els for ships and aircraft of the na$y as ell
as fresh ater.
The !or#dAs hihest !e&cam !as insta##ed on Ka#a Patthar, a sma##er mountain facin
the ;verest. ,t is a solar#poered camera and set at 1;61; feet (?6/? metres). The 3e! cam ill
send li$e ima"es of +o&nt E$erest !ac) to scientists st&dyin" the effect of climate chan"e on the
planet-s tallest pea). Earlier' scientists had set &p a e!cam at the !ase camp of +o&nt Aconca"&aR
in Ar"entina. The German s&r$eillance firm +o!oti: de$eloped the de$ice and the mo&ntain
research "ro&p' Giampietro 2ohl of EB# 22#5N4' installed it.
The 3orld <ealth Ar"ani9ation says the Ahva7, Iran is the !or#d.s most po##uted city. ,n a
ne st&dy' 3<A says Ah$a9 has the hi"hest meas&red le$el of air!orne particles small eno&"h to
ca&se serio&s health pro!lems in h&mans. Ah$a9 is a hea$ily ind&striali9ed city )non for oil fields.
3<A says cities in ,ndia' *a)istan' and (ostana are also hi"h on the list # and Mono#ia is the
!or#d.s most po##uted country o$erall. The city !ith the !or#d.s c#eanest air, accordin" to
the 3<A' is @hitehorseK the capita# of Canada.s Iu3on province. 3<A says air poll&tion
is responsi!le for a!o&t 1.> million premat&re deaths orldide e$ery year.