Jan Lokpal Bill is a draft anti-corruption law that would create an ombudsman called the Jan Lokpal; this would be an independent body similar to the Election Commission with the power to prosecute politicians and bureaucrats without prior government permission. Drafted by Shanti Bhushan, retired Indian Police Service officer Kiran Bedi, Justice N. Santosh Hegde, advocate Prashant Bhushan, former chief election commissioner J. M. Lyngdoh in consultation with the leaders of the India Against Corruption movement and civil society, the bill proposes the institution of the office of Lokpal (Ombudsman) at the center and local Lokayukta at the state level. The bill is designed to create an effective anti-corruption and grievance redressal system that effectively deters corruption while providing effective protection to whistleblowers.
For 42 years, the government- drafted bill has failed to pass through the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India.
The first Lokpal Bill was passed in the 4th Lok Sabha in 1969 but stalled in the Rajya Sabha. Subsequent Lokpal bills were introduced in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2008 but all failed to pass. Following the four day Anna Hazare fasting struggle, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stated that the Lokpal Bill would be introduced in the 2011 monsoon session of parliament. Jan Lokpal Bill drafted prepared by Justice Santosh Hegde (former Supreme Court Judge and present Lokayukta of Karnataka), Prashant Bhushan (Supreme Court Lawyer) and Arvind Kejriwal (RTI activist), the draft Bill envisages a system where a corrupt person found guilty would go to jail within two years of the complaint being made and his ill-gotten wealth being confiscated. It also seeks power to the Jan Lokpal to prosecute politicians and bureaucrats without government permission. Retired IPS officer Kiran Bedi and other known people like Swami Agnivesh, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Anna Hazare and Mallika Sarabhai are also part of the movement, called India Against Corruption. Its website describes the movement as "an expression of collective anger of people of India against corruption. We have all come together to force/ request/persuade/ pressurize the Government to enact the Jan Lokpal Bill. We feel that if this Bill were enacted it would create an effective deterrence against corruption." Anna Hazare, anticorruption crusader, began a fast-unto-death, demanding that
this bill, drafted by the civil society, be adopted. The website of the India Against Corruption movement calls the Lokpal Bill of the government an "eyewash" and has on it a critique of that government Bill. It also lists the difference between the Bills drafted by the government and civil society.
Major features of Jan Lokpal Bill given below:
Lokpal will have powers to initiate suo moto action or receive complaints of corruption from the general public. To establish a central government anti-corruption institution called Lokpal, supported by Lokayukta at the state level. Lokpal will be much more than an Advisory Body and have the power to initiate prosecution of anyone found guilty. The existing anti-corruption agencies (CVC, departmental vigilance and the anti-corruption branch of the CBI) will be merged into Lokpal which will have complete power and authority
to independently investigate and prosecute any officer, judge or politician. Whistleblowers who alert the agency to potential corruption cases will also be provided with protection by it. Lokpal will have police powers as well as the ability to register FIRs. As in the case of the Supreme Court and Cabinet Secretariat, the Lokpal will be supervised by the Cabinet Secretary and the Election Commission. As a result, it will be completely independent of the government and free from ministerial influence in its investigations. Members will be appointed by judges, Indian Administrative Service officers with a clean record, private citizens and constitutional authorities through a transparent and participatory process. A selection committee will invite shortlisted candidates for interviews, videorecordings of which will thereafter be made public. Every month on its website, the Lokayukta will publish a list of cases dealt with, brief details of each, their outcome and any action taken or proposed. It will also publish lists of all cases received by the Lokayukta during the previous month, cases dealt with and those which are pending. Investigations of each case must be completedin one year. Any resulting trials should be concluded in the following year, giving a total maximum process time of two years. Lokpal and the anti corruption wing of the CBI will be one independent body. Losses caused to the government by a corrupt individual will be recovered at the time of conviction. Government officework required by a citizen that is not completed within a prescribed time period will result in Lokpal imposing financial penalties on those responsible, which will then be given as compensation to the complainant. Complaints against any officer of Lokpal will be investigated and completed within a month and, if found to be substantive, will result in the officer being dismissed within two months. Punishments will be a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of up to life imprison.
Difference between Draft Lokpal Bill 2010 and Jan Lokpal Bill:
Lokpal will have no power to initiate suomotu action or receive complaints of corruption from the general public. It can only probe complaints forwarded by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the
Rajya Sabha. Lokpal will only be an Advisory Body with a role limited to forwarding reports to a "Competent
Authority". Lokpal will have no police powers and no ability to register an FIR or proceed with criminal
investigations. The CBI and Lokpal will be unconnected. Punishment for corruption will be a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of up to 7 years.
Monday, May 30, 2011
United Nations Convention against Corruption
Corruption is a complex social, political and economic phenomenon that affects all countries. Corruption undermines democratic institutions, slows economic development and contributes to governmental instability. Corruption attacks the foundation of democratic institutions by distorting electoral processes, perverting the rule of law and creating bureaucratic quagmires whose only reason for existing is the soliciting of bribes. Economic development is stunted because foreign direct investment is discouraged and small businesses within the country often find it impossible to overcome the "start-up costs" required because of corruption.
In its resolution 55/61 of December 4, 2000, the UN General Assembly recognized that an effective international legal instrument against corruption, independent of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (resolution 55/25, annex I), was desirable and decided to establish an ad hoc committee for the negotiation of such an instrument in Vienna at the headquarters of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The Convention was adopted by the General Assembly by resolution 58/4 of October 31, 2003. In accordance with article 68 (1) of resolution 58/4, the United Nations Convention against Corruption entered into force on December 14, 2005. For each new State or regional economic integration organization becoming a party to the Convention, the Convention enters into force on the thirtieth day after the date of deposit by such State or organization of the relevant instrument.
However, India stands out as one of the few countries in the world that have not acceded to the UN convention against corruption. This convention, which came into force in 2005, has 140 countries on its list. India, which regularly battles corruption of mammoth proportions, is not.
India signed the convention in 2005 but the UPA government, particularly the department of personnel and training (DoPT), has steadfastly refused to ratify it. Over the years, MEA (which is the nodal ministry for international treaties), has been pushing the government to ratify the convention. The official reason is that India has not yet brought its domestic laws in line with the international convention. But it's been six years and there has been little interest by the government in making India less prone to corruption. India's stand is particularly strange since many Indian diplomats helped to pilot the convention through the UN.
Acceding to the convention could make it easier for India to repatriate the billions of dollars in ill-gotten wealth that have been stashed overseas. Under the convention, asset recovery is a fundamental principle, Article 51 provides for the return of assets to countries of origin as a fundamental principle of this convention.
The convention requires signatories to put in place certain preventive measures—like enhanced transparency in funding election campaigns and political parties—which certainly in India is at the root of a lot of government corruption.
The convention criminalises not only basic corruption such as bribery and the embezzlement of public funds but also trading in influence and the concealment and laundering of the proceeds of corruption. According to UN literature, "offences committed in support of corruption, including money-laundering and obstructing justice, are also dealt with. Convention offences also deal with the problematic areas of private sector corruption."
The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is the only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument. The Convention's far-reaching approach and the mandatory character of many of its provisions make it a unique tool for developing a comprehensive response to a global problem.
The UNCAC covers five main areas: prevention, criminalization and law enforcement measures, international cooperation, asset recovery, and technical assistance and information exchange.
The UNCAC also covers many different forms of corruption, such as trading in influence, abuse of power, and various acts of corruption in the private sector. A further significant development was the inclusion of a specific chapter of the Convention dealing with the recovery of assets, a major concern for countries that pursue the assets of former leaders and other officials accused or found to have engaged in corruption. The rapidly growing number of States that have become parties to the Convention is further proof of its universal nature and reach.
Prevention
Corruption can be prosecuted after the fact, but first and foremost, it requires prevention. An entire chapter of the Convention is dedicated to prevention, with measures directed at both the public and private sectors. These include model preventive policies, such as the establishment of anti-corruption bodies and enhanced transparency in the financing of election campaigns and political parties. States must endeavour to ensure that their public services are subject to safeguards that promote efficiency, transparency and recruitment based on merit. Once recruited, public servants should be subject to codes of conduct, requirements for financial and other disclosures, and appropriate disciplinary measures. Transparency and accountability in matters of public finance must also be promoted, and specific requirements are established for the prevention of corruption, in the particularly critical areas of the public sector, such as the judiciary and public procurement.
Preventing public corruption also requires an effort from all members of society at large. For these reasons, the Convention calls on countries to promote actively the involvement of non-governmental and community-based organizations, as well as other elements of civil society, and to raise public awareness of corruption and what can be done about it. Article 5 of the Convention enjoins each State Party to establish and promote effective practices aimed at the prevention of corruption.
Criminalization
The Convention requires countries to establish criminal and other offences to cover a wide range of acts of corruption, if these are not already crimes under domestic law. In some cases, States are legally obliged to establish offences; in other cases, in order to take into account differences in domestic law, they are required to consider doing so. The Convention goes beyond previous instruments of this kind, criminalizing not only basic forms of corruption such as bribery and the embezzlement of public funds, but also trading in influence and the concealment and laundering of the proceeds of corruption. Offences committed in support of corruption, including money-laundering and obstructing justice, are also dealt with. Convention offences also deal with the problematic areas of private-sector corruption.
International Cooperation
Countries agreed to cooperate with one another in every aspect of the fight against corruption, including prevention, investigation, and the prosecution of offenders. Countries are bound by the Convention to render specific forms of mutual legal assistance in gathering and transferring evidence for use in court, to extradite offenders. Countries are also required to undertake measures that will support the tracing, freezing, seizure and confiscation of the proceeds of corruption.
Asset Recovery
In a major breakthrough, countries agreed on asset-recovery, which is stated explicitly as a fundamental principle of the Convention. This is a particularly important issue for many developing countries where high-level corruption has plundered the national wealth, and where resources are badly needed for reconstruction and the rehabilitation of societies under new governments. Reaching agreement on this chapter has involved intensive negotiations, as the needs of countries seeking the illicit assets had to be reconciled with the legal and procedural safeguards of the countries whose assistance is sought.
Article 51 provides for the return of assets to countries of origin as a fundamental principle of this Convention. Article 43 obliges State parties to extend the widest possible cooperation to each other in the investigation and prosecution of offences defined in the Convention. With regard to asset recovery in particular, the article provides inter alia that "In matters of international cooperation, whenever dual criminality is considered a requirement, it shall be deemed fulfilled irrespective of whether the laws of the requested State Party place the offence within the same category of offence or denominate the offence by the same terminology as the requesting State Party, if the conduct underlying the offence for which assistance is sought is a criminal offence under the laws of both States Parties".
Criminalization and law enforcement
As per the convention, each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, when committed intentionally, the promise, offering or giving to a foreign public official or an official of a public international organization, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage, for the official himself or herself or another person or entity, in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties, in order to obtain or retain business or other undue advantage in relation to the conduct of international business.
Bribery in the private sector: Each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally in the course of economic, financial or commercial activities: (a) The promise, offering or giving, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage to any person who directs or works, in any capacity, for a private sector entity, for the person himself or herself or for another person, in order that he or she, in breach of his or her duties, act or refrain from acting; (b) The solicitation or acceptance, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage by any person who directs or works, in any capacity, for a private sector entity, for the person himself or herself or for another person, in order that he or she, in breach of his or her duties, act or refrain from acting.
Protection of witnesses, experts and victims: The Convention also provides for appropriate measures in accordance with a State’s domestic legal system and within its means to provide effective protection from potential retaliation or intimidation for witnesses and experts who give testimony concerning offences established in accordance with this Convention and, as appropriate, for their relatives and other persons close to them.
Each State Party also has to take appropriate measures to provide protection against any unjustified treatment for any person who reports in good faith and on reasonable grounds to the competent authorities any facts concerning offences established in accordance with this Convention.
In its resolution 55/61 of December 4, 2000, the UN General Assembly recognized that an effective international legal instrument against corruption, independent of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (resolution 55/25, annex I), was desirable and decided to establish an ad hoc committee for the negotiation of such an instrument in Vienna at the headquarters of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The Convention was adopted by the General Assembly by resolution 58/4 of October 31, 2003. In accordance with article 68 (1) of resolution 58/4, the United Nations Convention against Corruption entered into force on December 14, 2005. For each new State or regional economic integration organization becoming a party to the Convention, the Convention enters into force on the thirtieth day after the date of deposit by such State or organization of the relevant instrument.
However, India stands out as one of the few countries in the world that have not acceded to the UN convention against corruption. This convention, which came into force in 2005, has 140 countries on its list. India, which regularly battles corruption of mammoth proportions, is not.
India signed the convention in 2005 but the UPA government, particularly the department of personnel and training (DoPT), has steadfastly refused to ratify it. Over the years, MEA (which is the nodal ministry for international treaties), has been pushing the government to ratify the convention. The official reason is that India has not yet brought its domestic laws in line with the international convention. But it's been six years and there has been little interest by the government in making India less prone to corruption. India's stand is particularly strange since many Indian diplomats helped to pilot the convention through the UN.
Acceding to the convention could make it easier for India to repatriate the billions of dollars in ill-gotten wealth that have been stashed overseas. Under the convention, asset recovery is a fundamental principle, Article 51 provides for the return of assets to countries of origin as a fundamental principle of this convention.
The convention requires signatories to put in place certain preventive measures—like enhanced transparency in funding election campaigns and political parties—which certainly in India is at the root of a lot of government corruption.
The convention criminalises not only basic corruption such as bribery and the embezzlement of public funds but also trading in influence and the concealment and laundering of the proceeds of corruption. According to UN literature, "offences committed in support of corruption, including money-laundering and obstructing justice, are also dealt with. Convention offences also deal with the problematic areas of private sector corruption."
The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is the only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument. The Convention's far-reaching approach and the mandatory character of many of its provisions make it a unique tool for developing a comprehensive response to a global problem.
The UNCAC covers five main areas: prevention, criminalization and law enforcement measures, international cooperation, asset recovery, and technical assistance and information exchange.
The UNCAC also covers many different forms of corruption, such as trading in influence, abuse of power, and various acts of corruption in the private sector. A further significant development was the inclusion of a specific chapter of the Convention dealing with the recovery of assets, a major concern for countries that pursue the assets of former leaders and other officials accused or found to have engaged in corruption. The rapidly growing number of States that have become parties to the Convention is further proof of its universal nature and reach.
Prevention
Corruption can be prosecuted after the fact, but first and foremost, it requires prevention. An entire chapter of the Convention is dedicated to prevention, with measures directed at both the public and private sectors. These include model preventive policies, such as the establishment of anti-corruption bodies and enhanced transparency in the financing of election campaigns and political parties. States must endeavour to ensure that their public services are subject to safeguards that promote efficiency, transparency and recruitment based on merit. Once recruited, public servants should be subject to codes of conduct, requirements for financial and other disclosures, and appropriate disciplinary measures. Transparency and accountability in matters of public finance must also be promoted, and specific requirements are established for the prevention of corruption, in the particularly critical areas of the public sector, such as the judiciary and public procurement.
Preventing public corruption also requires an effort from all members of society at large. For these reasons, the Convention calls on countries to promote actively the involvement of non-governmental and community-based organizations, as well as other elements of civil society, and to raise public awareness of corruption and what can be done about it. Article 5 of the Convention enjoins each State Party to establish and promote effective practices aimed at the prevention of corruption.
Criminalization
The Convention requires countries to establish criminal and other offences to cover a wide range of acts of corruption, if these are not already crimes under domestic law. In some cases, States are legally obliged to establish offences; in other cases, in order to take into account differences in domestic law, they are required to consider doing so. The Convention goes beyond previous instruments of this kind, criminalizing not only basic forms of corruption such as bribery and the embezzlement of public funds, but also trading in influence and the concealment and laundering of the proceeds of corruption. Offences committed in support of corruption, including money-laundering and obstructing justice, are also dealt with. Convention offences also deal with the problematic areas of private-sector corruption.
International Cooperation
Countries agreed to cooperate with one another in every aspect of the fight against corruption, including prevention, investigation, and the prosecution of offenders. Countries are bound by the Convention to render specific forms of mutual legal assistance in gathering and transferring evidence for use in court, to extradite offenders. Countries are also required to undertake measures that will support the tracing, freezing, seizure and confiscation of the proceeds of corruption.
Asset Recovery
In a major breakthrough, countries agreed on asset-recovery, which is stated explicitly as a fundamental principle of the Convention. This is a particularly important issue for many developing countries where high-level corruption has plundered the national wealth, and where resources are badly needed for reconstruction and the rehabilitation of societies under new governments. Reaching agreement on this chapter has involved intensive negotiations, as the needs of countries seeking the illicit assets had to be reconciled with the legal and procedural safeguards of the countries whose assistance is sought.
Article 51 provides for the return of assets to countries of origin as a fundamental principle of this Convention. Article 43 obliges State parties to extend the widest possible cooperation to each other in the investigation and prosecution of offences defined in the Convention. With regard to asset recovery in particular, the article provides inter alia that "In matters of international cooperation, whenever dual criminality is considered a requirement, it shall be deemed fulfilled irrespective of whether the laws of the requested State Party place the offence within the same category of offence or denominate the offence by the same terminology as the requesting State Party, if the conduct underlying the offence for which assistance is sought is a criminal offence under the laws of both States Parties".
Criminalization and law enforcement
As per the convention, each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, when committed intentionally, the promise, offering or giving to a foreign public official or an official of a public international organization, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage, for the official himself or herself or another person or entity, in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties, in order to obtain or retain business or other undue advantage in relation to the conduct of international business.
Bribery in the private sector: Each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally in the course of economic, financial or commercial activities: (a) The promise, offering or giving, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage to any person who directs or works, in any capacity, for a private sector entity, for the person himself or herself or for another person, in order that he or she, in breach of his or her duties, act or refrain from acting; (b) The solicitation or acceptance, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage by any person who directs or works, in any capacity, for a private sector entity, for the person himself or herself or for another person, in order that he or she, in breach of his or her duties, act or refrain from acting.
Protection of witnesses, experts and victims: The Convention also provides for appropriate measures in accordance with a State’s domestic legal system and within its means to provide effective protection from potential retaliation or intimidation for witnesses and experts who give testimony concerning offences established in accordance with this Convention and, as appropriate, for their relatives and other persons close to them.
Each State Party also has to take appropriate measures to provide protection against any unjustified treatment for any person who reports in good faith and on reasonable grounds to the competent authorities any facts concerning offences established in accordance with this Convention.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
IPL-4 (2011) Winner Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 58 runs to become DLF Indian Premiere League champions for the second time in a row at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai at May 28. Bangalore could make only 147 runs in reply of Chennai's huge total of 205 runs. Earlier a record 159-run partnership between openers Murali Vijay (95, 52b, 6 x 6, 4 x 4) and Michael Hussey (63, 54b, 3 x 6, 3 x 4) powered the Chennai Super Kings to 205 for five in 20 overs against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
It was the highest partnership for the Super Kings for any wicket in the IPL, but the Super Kings were reined in at the finish with left-arm seamer Sreenath Aravind and off-spinner Chris Gayle picking up two wickets apiece in one over.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, the Super Kings openers put the Royal Challengers attack to the sword with some brilliant batting. Murali Vijay and Michael Hussey complemented each other to make up for an otherwise dismal season that had seen them in just two half-century partnerships until the night of the IPL final.
The home team owed their win to Vijay whose record 159-run stand for the first wicket with Australian Michael Hussey (63) set the platform for a winning total after captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni elected to bat first.
Opener Murali Vijay cracked 95 runs off just 52 balls to help the defending champions pile up 205-5 before Ravichandran Ashwin removed Bangalore's openers early, ensuring a fine win for the hosts at a packed Chidambaram Stadium.
League-toppers Bangalore, who were seeking their maiden IPL title, folded up at 147-8 off 20 overs.
The home team owed their win to Vijay whose record 159-run stand for the first wicket with Australian Michael Hussey (63) set the platform for a winning total after captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni elected to bat first.
Their stand surpassed the 155-run partnership between Adam Gilchrist and Venkatsai Laxman against Mumbai in the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008.
Bangalore's chase was derailed early with off-spinner Ashwin (3-16) getting rid of the dangerous Chris Gayle for a duck in the very first over.
Gayle, who still finished as the highest run-getter with 608 runs from 12 innings, offered an outside edge which was snapped up by Dhoni behind the wickets.
Gayle's dismissal triggered a collapse with Bangalore losing their next six wickets inside 11 overs to be reduced to 70-6, a situation from which they could never really recover.
Awards of IPL 2011:
Just after the IPL ended with Chennai Super Kings winning the tournament in a row. Some action was held to be in the post match presentation and it was some awards for the great moments we encountered in IPL 2011. Here are the list of awards :Golden Player of the tournament award : Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore/West Indies)
Gayle was the undoubtly most entertaining player in this year's format of IPL T20. He came to the team and placed RCB in the top of points table from nowhere they were around. Gayle scored 608 runs and also picked up 8 wickets in 12 matches of IPL 2011.
Most Run-scorer (Orange Cap) : Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore/West Indies)
Chris Gayle came up as the surprised player for every one in this IPL, included in RCB side after 6th match. Chris Gayle made 511 runs in 9 group-stage matches and 608 runs in total 12 matches (including 3 play-off matches).
Most-Wicket Taker (Purple Cap) : Lasith Malinga (Mmbai Indians/ Sri Lanka)
Malinga took 27 wickets in 14 group-stage matches and total of 28 wickets in 16 matches including 2 play-off matches. Malinga was really unplayable and had best average as well as economy rate in his IPL.
The rising star award : Iqbal Abdulla (Kolkata Knight Riders / India)
The man from small-town from Inia really impressed the people around him with his slow-left arm orthodox bowling. The 21 years old youngster picked-up 16 wickets at the economy of 6.1 in 15 matches.
Best Individual Performance : Paul Valthaty (Kings XI Punjab / India)
Paul Valthaty scored 120* off 63 balls when they were chasing the score of 189 runs in the match against the Chennai Super Kings.
Karbonn Kamaal Catcher of the tournament : Keiron Pollard (Mumbai Indians / West Indies)
Saturday, May 28, 2011
World Bank Report 2010
The World Bank classifies countries into four income groups. These are set each year on July 1. Economies were divided according to 2010 GNI per capita using the following ranges of income:
- Low income countries had GNI per capita of US$975 or less.
- Lower middle income countries had GNI per capita between US$976 and US$3,855.
- Upper middle income countries had GNI per capita between US$3,856 and US$11,905.
- High income countries had GNI above US$11,906.
2012-12 declared as Year of Science in India
The Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, urged Indian scientists to "think big, think out of the box, think ahead of the times" during his opening address at the 98th Indian Science Congress in Chennai . Singh said that as the Indian Science Congress moves towards its 100th year, in 2013, the Indian government plans to designate 2012–13 as the year of science in India.
Countries Independence Days
January
Burundi - July 1
Canada - July 1
Rwanda - July 1
Somalia - July 1
United States of America - July 4
Venezuela - July 5
Malawi - July 6
Argentina - July 9
Bahamas - July 10
Mongolia - July 11
Sao Tome and Principe - July 12
France - July 14
Iraq - July 14
South Korea - July 17
Colombia - July 20
Belgium - July 21
Poland - July 22
Egypt - July 23
Ethiopia - July 23
Liberia - July 26
Maldive Islands - July 26
Peru - July 28
August
Camaroon - January 1February
Haiti - January 1
Western Samoa - January 1
Sudan - January 1
Burma - January 4
Chad - January 11
Australia - January 26
Nauru - January 31
Ceylon/Sri Lanka - February 4March
New Zealand - February 6
Grenada - February 7
Iran - February 11
Gambia - February 18
Saint Lucia - February 22
Dominican Republic - February 27
Wales - March 1April
Morocco - March 3
Mauritius - March 12
Ireland - March 17
Liechtenstein - March 19
Pakistan - March 23
Greece - March 25
Bangladesh - March 26
Hungary - April 4May
Senegal - April 4
Denmark - April 16
Syria - April 17
Zimbabwe - April 18
Austria - April 27
Sierra Leone - April 27
Togo - April 27
Japan - April 29
The Netherlands - April 30
Israel - April or May
Czechoslovakia - May 9June
Laos - May 11
Paraguay - May 14
Israel - May 15
Norway - May 17
Cuba - May 20
Argentina - May 25
Jordan - May 25
Guyana - May 26
Tunisia - June 1July
Italy - June 2
Seychelles - June 5
Sweden - June 6
Portugal - June 10
Philippines - Independence Day June 12
Iceland - June 17
Kuwait - June 19
Luxembourg - June 23
Croatia - June 25
Mozambique - June 25
Madagascar - June 26
Djibouti - June 27
Republic of Congo - June 30
Zaire - June 30
Burundi - July 1
Canada - July 1
Rwanda - July 1
Somalia - July 1
United States of America - July 4
Venezuela - July 5
Malawi - July 6
Argentina - July 9
Bahamas - July 10
Mongolia - July 11
Sao Tome and Principe - July 12
France - July 14
Iraq - July 14
South Korea - July 17
Colombia - July 20
Belgium - July 21
Poland - July 22
Egypt - July 23
Ethiopia - July 23
Liberia - July 26
Maldive Islands - July 26
Peru - July 28
August
Dahomey - August 1September
Switzerland - August 1
Upper Volta - August 5
Bolivia - August 6
Jamaica - First Monday in August
Ivory Coast - August 7
Singapore - August 9
Ecuador - August 10
Pakistan - August 14
Republic of Congo - August 15
India - August 15
Cyprus - August 16
Gabon - August 17
Indonesia - August 17
Afghanistan - August 18
Rumania - August 23
Uruguay - August 25
Trinidad and Tobago - August 31
Malaysia - August 31
Libya - September 1October
Vietnam - September 2
Qatar - September 3
San Marino - September 3
Swaziland - September 6
Brazil - September 7
Andorra - September 8
North Korea - September 9
Bulgaria - September 9
Costa Rica - September 15
El Salvador - September 15
Guatemala - September 15
Honduras - September 15
Nicaragua - September 15
Mexico - September 16
Papua New Guinea - September 16
Chile - September 18
Belize - September 21
Malta - September 21
Mali - September 22
Saudi Arabia - September 23
Yemen - September 26
Botswana - September 30
People's Republic of China - October 1-2November
Nigeria - October 1
Guinea - October 2
Lesotho October 4
Fiji - October 7
Germany - October 3 1990
Uganda - October 9
Republic of China/Taiwan - October 10
Spain - October 12
Zambia - October 24
Iran - October 26
South Vietnam - October 26
St Vincent and Grenadines - October 27
Turkey - October 29
Algeria - November 1December
Panama - November 3
Dominica - November 3
Soviet Union - November 7
Cambodia - November 9
Angola - November 11
Rhodesia - November 11
Saudi Arabia - November 12
Comoros - November 12
Monaco - November 19
Lebanon - November 22
Suriname - November 25
Albania - November 28
Mauritania - November 28
Southern Yemen - November 29
Yugoslavia - November 29-30
Barbados - November 30
Central African Republic - December 1
Thailand - December 5
Finland - December 6
Tanzania - December 9
Upper Volta - December 11
Kenya - December 12
Niger - December 18
Nepal - December 21
Mondays to be observed as ‘Grievance-Redressal Day'
The government hereafter will observe every Monday as ‘Grievance-Redressal Day' when the administration down to mandal-level will attend to complaints and petitions and provide solutions by on-the-spot decisions.
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Ministers and senior officials make themselves available in the Secretariat on that day whereas district Collectors and Mandal Revenue officers will do the same at the Collectorates and MRO offices.
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Ministers and senior officials make themselves available in the Secretariat on that day whereas district Collectors and Mandal Revenue officers will do the same at the Collectorates and MRO offices.
Rachel Chatterjee is APPSC new Chairperson
Rachel Chatterjee, retired IAS officer, has been appointed chairperson of the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC). The government issued orders to this effect on May 27 making her the first woman to be appointed to the prestigious post. The APPSC did not have a long-term chairman after the retirement of Y. Venkatarami Reddy in February. Ms. Chatterjee, who retired in the rank of Special Chief Secretary, Agriculture, in December, 2010, on attaining superannuation, was empanelled for posting as Secretary in Government of India in July 2008. The Government gave priority to fill the post as the important Group I and Group II examinations were slated in the next four months. Ms. Chatterjee who made a mark in various posts she held , served as Special Officer and Commissioner of MCH, Principal Secretary of the Medical and Health Department, CMD of APTransco among other posts.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
CURRENT AFFAIRS 100 MCQs
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| CURRENT AFFAIRS |
1. Which among the following body promoted securities Trading Corporation of India Limited (STCI) jointly with the Public sector Banks?
(a) SEBI
(b) Reserve bank Of India
(c) IDBI Ltd.
(d) ICICI Ltd
2. The state bank of India (Amendment) Bill-2010, which was passed in the parliament in the latter half of 2010, apart from other things, reduces the statutory minimum shareholding of the Central Government in the bank from ________ to ______ %, which among the following set of figures fills the blank correctly?
(a) 59, 52
(b) 55, 51
(c) 59, 55
(d) 62, 51
3. What do we call an agreement whereby an issuing Bank at the request of the Importer (Buyer) undertakes to take payment to the exporter (Beneficiary) against stipulated documents?
(a) Bill of exchange
(b) Letter of Exchange
(c) Letter of Credit
(d) Bill of entry
4. Mutual funds are regulated in India by which among the following?
(a) RBI
(b) SEBI
(c) Stock exchanges
(d) RBI and SEBI both
5. Which of the following country was the host of First Asian Yoga Championship held recently?
(a) Thailand
(b) Cambodia
(c) Vietnam
(d) Laos
6. Which among the following body authorizes the credit limit to the National Co-operative Marketing Federation?
(a) RBI
(b) Department of Agriculture
(c) NABARD
(d) Department of Finance
7. Which among the following duties is applied by a government to control the exports of a commodity, so that the commodity can be used by the local markets than in foreign countries?
(a) Custom duty
(b) Excise Duty
(c) Anti dumping duty
(d) Dumping Duty
8. We read in the newspapers that the foreign direct Investments are preferred over the Capital Inflow. In this context, please consider the following.
1. FDI brings in latest technology
2. FDI does not involve large outflow
3. FDI improves efficiency of the economy
Which among the above is/are most suitable reason/reasons for the given statement?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 1 & 3
(c) Only 1 & 2
(d) All 1, 2 & 3
9. Which among the following body finalizes the market-borrowing programmers of State Governments in India?
(a) State Governments
(b) RBI
(Union Ministry of Finance
(d) Planning Commission
10. Which among the following is the only correct statement?
(a) Money market meets long term financing needs
(b) Recession in industrial sector in India is normally due to fall in exports
(c) Ways and means advances is given by RBI are nowhere related to state’s revenue
(d) Exchange rate is fixed by RBI
11. Which among the following is the top dividend paying company of India, as per a study done by economic Times?
(a) ONGC
(b)TCS
(c) ITC
(d) IOC
12. Many a times we read in the newspapers hat the Government of India signs DTAA to broaden the scope of article of exchange of information to include exchange of banking information. What does the DTSS refers to here?
(a) DTAA taxation article agreement
(b) Double taxation avoidance agreement
(c) Double taxation avoidance arrangements
(d) Dual tax agreement arrangement
13. What does the Canada India Research U.S. refer to?
(a) A business forum
(b) A nuclear reactor
(c) A scientific research group
(d) A proposed space research organization.
14. Which among the following decides the oil Prices in India?
(a) Government of India
(b) Government of Respective states
(c) Ministry of Petroleum
(d) Oil Companies
15. Consider the following statements in context with Treasury Bulls?
1. They are issued by Government of India on behalf of RBI
2. They are mostly for short term borrowings
3. Treasury Bills cannot be purchased by any person resident of India
Which among the above is/are correct?
(a) All are correct
(b) 2 & 3 are correct
(c) Only 2 is correct
(d) Only 3 is correct
16. Which among the following is India’s largest indigenous Research and Production Nuclear Reactor?
(a) Apsara
(b) Dhurva
(c) Kamini
(d) CIRUS
17. Bring out the only incorrect statement:
(a) Reserve Repo operation by RBI aims are injecting/increasing liquidity
(b) SDR refers to special drawing
(c) Rupee appreciation results in decrease in imports
(d) Increase in inflation rate leads to decline in real interest rate
18. Which among the following is headed by Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta?
(a) Arms forces Tribunal
(b) National Green Tribunal
(c) Debt Recovery tribunal
(d) Central Administrative tribunal
19. Christine Lagarde, who recently headed the G-20 meeting of Finance Ministers and Governors of Central Banks, Is the Finance minister of which among the following countries?
(a) Australia
(b) France
(c) Italy
(d) Germany
20. Consider the following statements:
1. Increase in deposit rate results in higher savings
2. Increase in deposit rate results in fall in credit off takes
3. Increase in deposit rate results in increase in investment which among the above statement/statements is /are correct?
(a) 1 &2
(b) 1 & 3
(c) 1, 2, 3
(d) Only 1
21. Which among the following is not a feature of the proposed Companies Bill 2009?
(a) Limit on the number of the subsidiary companies
(b) Rotation of the auditors
(c) Reduction in the types of the companies’ categories
(d) Proposal Of national company law tribunal;
22. The universal service obligation fund (USOF) has been established under which among the following departments of Government of India?
(a) Department of Consumer Affairs
(b) Department of Industrial policy and Promotion
(c) Department of Telecommunication
(d) Department of Economic Affairs
23. Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary, which is being proposed as a new home for some relocated Gir lions from Gujarat, is located in which among the following states.
(a) Maharashtra
(b) Madhya Pradesh
(c) Orissa
(d) Rajasthan
24. Which among the following sports is NOT a part of the London Olympics?
(a) Tackwondo
(b) Baseball
(c) Table Tennis
(d) Triathlon
25. We read the various newspapers that during the period from June, 2009 to September 2010, the Ministry of Road transport and Highways have achieved a target of constructing on an average 12.01 km of National Highways per day. However, this achievement if shorter compared to the target of constructing 20 km of Highways per day. To achieve this target, it is time approximately ________ of works are under way. Which among the following fills the blank correctly?
(a) 10000 km
(b) 15000 km
(c) 20000 km
(d) 25000 km
26. Who among the following has been defeated by Saina Nehwal, who has won the Swiss open grand Prix Gold title recently, becoming the First Indian to do so?
(a) Ji Hyun Sung
(b) Wang Lin
(c) Kamila Rytter Juhl
(d) Shinta Mulia Juhl
27. Which among the following correctly defines the Net Interest Income?
(a) Interest earned on advances
(b) Interest earned on investments
(c) Total interest earned on advances on advances and investment
(d) Difference between interest earned and interest paid
28. Where is going to be established the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of education fro Peace and Sustainable development (MGIEP), the latest & first category-I institute of UNECO in South Asia?
(a) New Delhi
(b) Ahmadabad
(c) Mumbai
(d) Pune
29. Anant Pai, better known as ‘Uncle Pai’, who recently died was the creator of which among the following comic series?
(a) Chacha Choudhary
(b) Amar Chitra katha
(c) Chandamama
(d) Indrajaal
30. Which among the following is not a Nonpermanent member of United Nations Security Council for the Period of 1 January 2011 -31 December 2012?
(a) Nigeria
(b) Germany
(c) Portugal
(d) Columbia
31. In which among the following types comes the Interest Rate Risk?
(a) Credit risk
(b) Market risk
(c) Operational risk
(d) All the above categories
32. Where was held the 98th Indian Science Congress in early 2011?
(a) Hyderabad
(b) Chennai
(c) Kochi
(d) Kolkata
33. Which among the following international sports body had unveiled an anti-corruption committee to enhance credibility and increase transparency?
(a) International Cricket Council
(b) International Olympic Committee
(c) FIFA
(d) Commonwealth Games Federation.
34. E.S. L. Narasimhan is the Governor of which among the following states?
(a) Karnataka
(b) Andhra Pradesh
(c) Tamil Nadu
(d) Kerala
35. When there is an inflationary trend in the economy what would be trend in the pricing of the Bank products?
(a) Increasing trend
(b) Decreasing trend
(c) Constant trend
(d) There is no relevance of the inflation in pricing of the Banking Products
36. In which among the following courts, Chennai open is played?
(a) Clay court
(b) Grass court
(c) Hard court
(d) Carpet court
37. Which of the following countries is located the temple of Preah Vihear, one of the famous world Heritage sites?
(a) Thailand
(b) Myanmar
(c) Cambodia
(d) Vietnam
38. Which among the following body gives the Pritzker Prize, the Nobel of Architecture every year?
(a) Wolf foundation
(b) Hyatt Foundation
(c) Royal Institute of British architects
(d) Leading European Architects Forum
39. Which among the following is the correct character of the Foreign Exchange Markets?
(a) Foreign Exchange markets are localized markets
(b) Foreign exchange markets operate within a country’s time zone
(c) Foreign exchange markets are dynamic and round the clock markets
(d) Foreign exchange markets are used only for trade related transactions
40. Who among the following headed the forest Rights Act review Committee that submitted its report in the first half of 2010?
(a) Syeda hameed
(b) Narender Jadhav
(c) Arun Maira
(d) N C Saxena
41. Who among the following is the chairman of National Knowledge Commission?
(a) Sam Pitroda
(b) Deepak Nayyar
(c) Nandan Nilkeni
(d) Dr. Pushp Bhargav
42. Suchitra Mitra, who died recently, was an artist of which among the following types of Music?
(a) Hindustani classical
(b) Carnatric Music
(c) Rabindra sangeet
(d) Pakistani Classical
43. After Uttar Pradesh, which among the following states has the maximum share in the total Route Km of Indian Railways?
(a) Rajasthan
(b) Maharashtra
(c) Andhra Pradesh
(d) Gujrat
44. In which of the following states of India is located a tiger reserve, which is also a World Heritage site?
(a) Rajasthan
(b) Asom
(c) Madhya Pradesh
(d) Uttar Pradesh
45. Which among the following Industrial Policy resolution/ statement was based upon the Mahalanobis Model of growth?
(a) Industrial Policy resolution – 1956
(b) Industry Policy statement – 1973
(c) Industrial Policy statement -1977
(d) Banking Policy 1969
46. in which of the following states, maximum Coast Guard stations have been established in India?
(a) Foreign Trade promotion Board
(b) Department of Commerce
(c) RBI
(d) SEBI
48. In which of the following states of India, world’s first Global Center for Nuclear energy Partnership was started a few months back?
(a) Rajasthan
(b) Kerala
(c) Haryana
(d) Uttar Pradesh
49. In which of the following states of India, there is no petroleum chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment region (PCPIR)?
(a) Asom
(b) Andhra Pradesh
(c) Gujrat
(d) West Bengal
50. Which among the following is correct about the Vostro Account?
(a) It is an account maintained by a foreign bank with a bank in India in Indian Rupees.
(b) It is an account maintained by an Indian bank with a bank in foreign country in foreign currency
(c) It is an account maintained by a Indian Bank Branch with a Foreign Bank in Foreign currency.
(d) It is an account maintained by a Foreign bank Branch with a Indian bank in foreign currency.
51. The term ‘round-tripping’ often appears in financial news these days. What does it mean?
(a) Importing products that are not easily available in the domestic markets
(b) Indian companies re-exporting imported products without any value addition
(c) Bringing back illicit money hidden abroad by Indian s under a different name
(d) Imposing high customs duty to discourage dumping of goods in Indian market
52. Infant Mortality rate (IMR) data for high focus states (states where IMR is above national average) is collected once every five years. The union Health Ministry has now decided to collect such data __________.
(a) half-yearly
(b) Annually
(c) Once every two years
(d) Once every three years
53. The government has tasked three institutions to conduct studies to estimate the quantum of illicit funds generated by Indian citizens recently. Which of the following is not among one of the three institutions selected?
(a) National Institute of Public Finance and Policy
(b) National Institute of Bank Management
(c) National institute of Finance Management
(d) National Council of Applied Economic Research
54. Which of the following statements is/are correct about ‘gender-critical’ districts on the basis of the census 2001 data?
1. There are 262 gender critical districts or cities in the country
2. Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of gender critical districts or cities
3. Kerala is the only state which does not have any gender critical district or city
(a) I only
(b) 1 &2 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 3 and 1 only
55. India announced that it was taking steps to reduce the” sensitive lists” of items for trade with SAARC countries recently. Which of the following is correct about items in “sensitive lists”?
(a) Items which are costlier to produce in India
(b) Items whose import leads to lower prices for Indian consumer
(c) Items whose import reduces the market share of domestic producers
(d) Items which are injurious to health such as tobacco and alcohol
56. Which country’s gold output of 30.88 tonnes was the highest in the world in 2010?
(a) Canada
(b) South Africa
(c) China
(d) USA
57. Government of India has launched a publicity campaign for census 2011 in association with which of the following UN organization?
(a) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
(b) World Health Organization (WHO)
(c) Untied Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
(d) United Nations Population Fund (UNPF)
8. Which of the following pairs of multinational retailing companies and the countries where they are headquartered is/are correctly matched?
I. Mero-germany
II. Walmart- USA
III. Tesco- United Kingdom
IV. Carrefour – France
(a) I and III only
(b) I, II and III
(c) IV, I and II
(d) I, II, III and IV
59. Which advertising agency was in news recently fro creating the “Enumerator’ mascot fro Census 2011?
(a) Bates 141
(b) DDB India
(c) JWT India
(d) Reinfusion – Y & R
60. Which of the following statements about Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is/are correct as per the data released by the Register-General of India (RGI) recently?
I. IMR has declined from 53 in 2008 to 50 in 2009
II. Decline in IMR in urban areas is more than in rural areas
III. IMR is the lowest in Kerala
(a) I only
(b) I and II only
(c) II only
(d) I, II and III
61. Which of the following statements about Indent Mortality rate (IMR) is/are correct as per the data released by the Register-General of India (RGI) recently?
I. IMR is highest in Madhya Pradesh
II. Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target is to reduce IMR to 30 by 2015
III. Nine states have IMR above the national average
(a) I only
(b) I and II only
(c) II only
(d) I,II and III
62. S. Sundar Committee was in news recently for its report on which of the following?
(a) Land Acquisition Act, 1894
(b) Copyright Act, 1957
(c) Right to Information Act, 2005
(d) Motor vehicles Act, 1988
63. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVOA) scheme introduced to promote foreign tourist arrivals in India recently?
1. The TVOA is allowed for a maximum validity of 30 days with single entry facility at metros
2. TVOA is allowed for a maximum of two times in a calendar year
3. There should be a minimum gap of six months between each visit
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 3 and 1 only
64. Global Employment Trends 2011 report of the International Labour Organization (ILO) was released recently. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
I. The number of unemployed increased in 2010.
II. The global unemployment rate declined in 2010
III. Labour productivity improved in 2010
(a) I only
(b) I and II only
(c) II and III only
(d) III and I only
65. ‘Committed to Improving the state of the world’ is the motto of which of the following?
(a) Transparency International
(b) World bank
(c) Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
(d) World Economic Forum
66. Which of the following statements about economic growth forecast made by the IMF in January 2011 is/are correct?
I. Global growth forecast for 2011 is below 4%
II. Growth forecast for India 2011 is 8.4%
III. Growth forecast for china is higher than for India in 2011
(a) I only
(b) I and II only
(c) II and III only
(d) III and I only
67. Global Employment Trends 2011 report of the international Labour Organization (ILO) was released recently. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
I. The number of people employed in industry declined while the number of those employed in agriculture increased in 2009
II. The number of unemployed youth (aged 15-24) declined in 2010
III. Global youth unemployment rate increased in 2010
(a) I only
(b) I and II only
(c) III and I only
(d) I, II and III
68. Which of the following is/are correctly matched after RBI’s ‘Third Quarter Review of Monetary Policy 2010-11’ on January 26, 2011?
I. Repo rate – 6.5%
II. Reserve Repo rate – 5.5%
III. Cash Reserve Ratio – 6%
(a) I only
(b) I and II only
(c) II and III only
(d) I, II and III
69. The union finance Ministry raised the tax collection target for 2010-11 to _________ recently.
(a) Rs 782000 crore
(b) Rs 834000 crore
(c) Rs 871000 crore
(d) Rs 902000 crore
70. Which of the following statements is/are correct according to UNCTAD Global Investment Trend Monitor report unveiled recently?
I. Global flows of FDI exceeded $1 trillion in 2010
II. FDI flows to developed economics was lower than to developing economics in 2010
III. FDI flow to India declined in 2010
(a) I only
(b) I and II only
(c) II and III only
(d) III and I only
71. Which of the following became the first oil & Gas Company to find shale gas deposits in India recently?
(a) Reliance Industries Ltd.
(b) Carin India
(c) Essar Oil
(d) ONGC
72. ‘Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Ltd’ was incorporated as a joint venture between Nuclear power Corporation of India Ltd and which of the following recently?
(a) NMDC
(b) NHPC
(c) BHEL
(d) NTPC
73. Which of the following statements about India’s urban population is/are correct as per the Census of India, 2001?
I. The Census of India, 2001 estimates that 47.81 percent of total population lives in urban areas of the country
II. The projected urban population in India as on March 1, 2011 is at 357 million.
III. Among the four meters, Greater Mumbai has the highest percentage of its population living in slums
(a) I only
(b) I and II only
(c) I and III only
(d) II and III only
74. Consider the following pairs of coffee retailing companies having presence in India and their countries of origin are correctly matched?
I. Costa Coffee – Spain
II. Gloria Jean’s –USA
III. Barista – India
IV. Starbucks – USA
(a) I and III only
(b) I, II and III
(c) II, III and IV
(d) IV, I and II
75. Which of the following pairs of Large banks and their countries of origin is/are correctly matched?
I. Mizuho Holdings – Japan
II. Grupo Santander – Belgium
III. BNP Paribhas – France
(a) I only
(b) I and II only
(c) II and III only
(d) III and I only
76. Which of the following companies belonging to the Tata Group has not been acquired from abroad?
(a) Corus
(b) Hispano Carrocera
(c) Jaguar Land Rover
(d) Trent
77. Software made by which company will be used in scanning and processing of Census 2011 data?
(a) NetApp, Inc
(b) Juniper Networks
(c) Top image Systems
(d) Atos Origin
78. Match list I with II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:
List I List II
(Tablet PC) (Company)
A. Playbook 1. Dell
B. Galaxy Tab 2. Research in Motion
C. Streak 3. Life book
D. Fujitsu 4. Samsung
Code: ABC
(a) 1 2 3 4
(b) 4 1 3 2
(c) 2 4 1 3
(d) 2 4 3 2
79. Which of the following is a sufficient condition of identification of a district as ‘gender critical’ district according to Census of India?
I. Women participation in work is less than 20 percent.
II. Female literacy is less than 30 percent
III. Sex ratio is less than 900
(a) I and II only
(b) II and III only
(c) II only
(d) III and I only
80. Which of the following was founded in 1956 by the Government of India with funding from the Ford Foundation?
(a) National Institute of Public Finance and Policy
(b) National Institute of Bank Management
(c) National institute Of Financial Management
(d) National Council of Applied Economic research
81. What was the theme of the annual world economic Forum (WEF) meeting organized in Davos, Switzerland recently?
(a) Shaping the Post-Crisis World.
(b) Improve the state of the world: rethink, Redesign, rebuild
(c) Shared Norms for a New Reality
(d) The power of collaborative Innovation
82. Which of the following has a 51:49 joint venture with Japanese automobile company Nissan for manufacturing light commercial vehicles in India?
(a) Tata Motors
(b) Ashok Leyland
(c) Mahindra & Mahindra
(d) Bajaj Auto
83. Which of the following is not a pharmaceutical company?
(a) Novartis
(b) Eli Lilly
(c) Diageo
(d) Sanofi Aventis
84. Which of the following has decided to dins satya Elementary schools fro underprivileged children in rural India?
(a) Apple
(b) Google
(c) Microsoft
(d) Oracle
85. Which of the following are consulting firms in the real estate sector?
I. Jones Lang Lasalle
II. C B Richard Ellis
III. Forrester
IV. Cushman & Wakefield
(a) I and II only
(b) I, II and III only
(c) I, II and IV only
(d) II, III and IV only
86. Which of the following is the densest city in Asia as per the Asian Green City Index unveiled recently?
(a) Mumbai
(b) Chennai
(c) Delhi
(d) Kolkata
87. Which of the following started production at India’s largest naphtha cracker project recently?
(a) ONGC
(b) Essar Oil
(c) Indian Oil
(d) Reliance Industries Ltd
88. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) released the Quick estimate of national income, consumption expenditure, saving and capital formation for the financial year 2009-10 recently. Which of the following figures [at the factor cost at constant (2004-05) Prices] is/are correct?
I. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2009-10 exceeded Rs 50, 00,000 crore
II. Gross National Income (GNI) in 2009-10 was less than GDP
III. Per Capita National Income in 2009-10 was more than Rs 30,000
(a) I only
(b) I and II only
(c) I and III only
(d) II and III only
89. China emerged as the world’s second largest economy in 2010 overtaking_________
(a) France
(b) Britain
(c) Germany
(d) Japan
90. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) completed has many years of operation recently?
(a) 3 years
(b) 4 years
(c) 5 years
(d) 6 years
91. Which of the following has made the largest inbound foreign direct investment in India till date?
(a) BP Plc
(b) Vodafone
(c) Dailchi Sankyo
(d) Vedanta Resources
92. Which core sector industry has the highest weight in the index of Industrial Production (IIP)?
(a) Crude Oil
(b) Petroleum refinery Products
(c) Coal
(d) Electricity
93. An International Advisory Panel (IAP) reviewed the functioning of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) recently. A number of districts have been identified on basis of poor health indicators for focused attention. Which of the following statements is/ are correct?
I. the number of beneficiaries under the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) was more than 15 million during 2009-10
II. The number of districts identified is 264
III. The districts identified for focused attention account for nearly 70% of the infant and material deaths in the country
(a) I only
(b) I and II only
(c) II only
(d) II and III only
94 . Which of the following statements about South Korean steel company POSCO’s $12 billion project in India is/are correct?
I. The project received conditional clearance from the Union Environment Ministry recently
II. It sit he single largest FDI in India approved till date.
III. The project involves construction of 14 million tone steel plant in Sinhbhum district of Jharkhand
(a) I only
(b) I and II only
(c) II only
(d) III and I only
95. Which of the following statements about the 11th Delhi Sustainable Development summit organized recently is/are correct?
I. “Tapping Local Initiatives and Tackling Global Inertia” was the them of the summit
II. The summit organized by the National Environmental Engineering research Institute
III. Jairam Ramesh was conferred with the sustainable development Leadership Award
(a) I only
(b) I and II only
(c) II only
(d) II and III only
96. The District Information System for Education (DISE) report on Universal Elementary Education (UEE) was released recently. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
I. Average Number of Instructional Days in 2009-10 was less than 200
II. Average number of classrooms in ALL schools was more than 4 in 2009-10
III. Average Number of classrooms in Primary Schools was more than 3 in 2009-10
(a) I only
(b) I and II only
(c) II only
(d) II and III only
97. The district Information System for education (DISE) report on Universal Elementary Education (UEE) was released recently. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
I. Average Number of Classrooms in All Government Schools was less than 4 in 2009-10
II. Average Number of Classrooms in All Private Schools was less tan 7 in 2009-10
III. Average Student-Classroom Ration (SCR) for all schools was less than 35 in 2009-10
(a) I only
(b) I and II only
(c) II only
(d) I and III only
98. ASBA (application Supported by Blocked Amounts) is a term used in which of the following sectors?
(a) Aviation
(b) Real Estate
(c) Insurance
(d) Capital Markets
99. Logo and website of National Knowledge Network (NKN) was Launched recently. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
I. NKN was launched in 2009
II. NKN will facilitate technology transfer from research institutions to industry
III. NKN is jointly funded by Ministry of Science and Technology and the CII
(a) I only
(b) I and II only
(c) II only
(d) II and III only
100. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) released the Quick estimates of national income, consumption expenditure, saving and capital formation for the financial year 2009-10 recently. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
I. Gross Domestic Savings in 2009-10 were 33% of GDP
II. Gross Domestic Savings in 2009-10 grew 22.7% over 2008-09
III. Private Corporate Sector Savings in 2009-10
(a) I only
(b) I and II only
(c) I and III only
(d) I, II and III only
Answers:
1. (b) 2. (b) 3. (c) 4. (b) 5. (a) 6. (c) 7. (a) 8. (a) 9. (d) 10. (c) 11. (a) 12. (b) 13. (d) 14. (d) 15. (c) 16. (b) 17. (c) 18. (b) 19. (b) 20. (b) 21. (c) 22. (c) 23. (b) 24. (b) 25. (c) 26. (a) 27. (d) 28. (a) 29. (b) 30. (a)
31. (b) 32. (b) 33. (c) 34. (b) 35. (a) 36. (c) 37. (c) 38. (b) 39. (c) 40. (d) 41. (a) 42. (a) 43. (a) 44. (b)
45. (a) 46. (c) 47. (c) 48. (c) 49. (a) 50. (a) 51. (c) 52. (b) 53. (b) 54. (a) 55. (c) 56. (c) 57. (c) 58. (d)
59. (b) 60. (a) 61. (d) 62. (d) 63. (d) 64. (c) 65. (d) 66. (c) 67. (d) 68. (d) 69. (a) 70. (d) 71. (d) 72. (d) 73. (d) 74. (c) 75. (d) 76. (d) 77. (c) 78. (c) 79. (d) 80. (d) 81. (c) 82. (d) 83. (c) 84. (d) 85. (c) 86. (a)
87. (c) 88 (d). 89. (d) 90.(c) 91. (b) 92. (d) 93. (d) 94. (b) 95. (a) 96. (d) 97. (d) 98. (d) 99. (a) 100. (b)
CURRENT AFFAIRS MCQs
1. According to a ranking compiled by IMD (International Institute for Management Development), India was ranked at the _ position in terms of world competitiveness.
a) 34th
b) 32nd
c) 35th
d) 36th
Answer: (a) 32nd
2. India on 13 May 2011 signed a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with which one of the following countries?
a) Colombia
b) Pakistan
c) Afghanistan
d) New Zealand
Answer: (a) Colombia
3. India and Uzbekistan signed an action plan__ in New Delhi on 16 May 2011.
a) Tourism Cooperation
b) Defence Cooperation
c) Trade Cooperation
d) Science and Technology Cooperation
Answer: (a)Tourism Cooperation
4. India among six nations to dominate growth by 2025 according to a report released on 17 May 2011. The report was released by which one of the following international bodies?
a) World Bank
b) ADB
c) IMF
d) World Trade Organisation
Answer: (a) World Bank
5. Name the head of the International monetary Fund (IMF) arrested in New York on 15 May 2011 on allegations that he forced or attempted to force a maid at the Sofitel hotel in Manhattan to perform oral sex on him.
a. Dominique Strauss-Kahn
b. Rodrigo de Rato
c. Michel Camdessus
d. Horst Köhler
Answer: (a)
6. Who is the farmer leader who and head of the Bharatiya Kisan Union who passed away in Sisauli village of UP's Muzaffarnagar district on 15 May 2011?
a. Mahendra Singh Tikait
b. Charan Singh
c. Ajay Pal Pradhan
d. Dattopant Bapurao Thengadi
Answer: (a)
7. Which Bollywood actress was detained by customs officials at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on 18 May 2011 for not declaring diamond jewellery she was allegedly carrying in her luggage?
a. Aishwarya Rai Bachhan
b. Minisha Lamba
c. Bipasha Basu
d. Sonam Kappor
Answer: (b)
8. Which State-run equipment maker announced on 19 May 2011 the successful manufacture and testing of India's first turbo generator of 600 MW rating?
a. Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL)
b. National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
c. Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML)
d. Suzlon Energy
Answer: (a)
9. International Museum Day (IMD) was observed on 18 May 2011. What was the theme for International Museum Day 2011?
a. Museum and Memory
b. Museums for social harmony
c. Museums as agents of social change and development
d. Museums and Universal Heritage
Answer: (a)
10. A Special Court on 18 May 2011 acquitted Punjab Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon and former deputy director of Rural Development and Panchayats department J P Singla in a nine-year-old alleged recruitment scam. To which party does Kahlon belong to?
a. Punjab People’s Party
b. Shiromani Akali Dal
c. Adarsh Lok Dal
d. Rashtriya Lok Dal
Answer: (a)
11. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh on 19 May 2011 dedicated the world-class, 6-MMTPA Bina Refinery. In which state is the refinery located?
a. Gujarat
b. Madhya radish
c. Maharashtra
d. Andhra Pradesh
Answer: (b)
12. Who was elected the new president of the prestigious Supreme Court Bar Association in an election held on 11 May 2011?
a. Ram Jethmalani
b. Adish C. Aggarwala
c. K C Kaushik
d. P H Parekh
Answer: (d)
13. Who was on 17 May 2011 elected as the new state youth Congress chief of Uttarakhand?
a. Anand Singh Rawat
b. Jyoti Rautela
c. Harak Singh Rawat
d. Sangram Singh Paudir
Answer: (a)
14. Name the from the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader who was sworn in Assam Chief Minister for the third consecutive term on 18 May 2011 by Governor Janaki Ballav Patnaik. To which party does he belong to?
a. Tarun Gagoi
b. Bhumidar Barman
c. GC Langthasa
d. Chandan Sarkar
Answer: (a)
15. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry announced the list of awardees for the 58th National Film Awards on 19 May 2011. Which film was judged the best feature film?
a. Adaminte Makan Abu
b. Baboo Band Baaja
c. Ishqiya
d. Aadukulam
Answer: (a)
16. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the North Eastern State Roads Investment Programme (NESRIP). The project is being financially assisted by which of the following monetary organisations?
a. Reserve Bank of India
b. Asian Development Bank
c. International Monetary Fund
d. World Bank
Answer: (b)
17. State annual Plan for Maharashtra was finalised at__ during the meeting between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Maharshtra Chief Minister Prithviaraj Chavan.
a) 42000 crore rupees
b) 43000 crore rupees
c) 41000 crore rupees
d) 44000 crore rupees
Answer: (a) 42000 crore rupees
18. Which one of the following parties won the state assembly elections in West Bengal?
a) Trinamool Congress
b) Congress
c) CPI (M)
d) BJP
Answer: (a) Trinamool Congress
19. Which one of the following political parties won the assembly elections in Assam?
a) Congress
b) AGP
c) BJP
d) Trinamool Congress
Answer: (a) Congress
20. J. Jayalalithaa was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 16 May 2011 by Governor SS Barnala along with 33 cabinet ministers at the Madras University. Name the constituency in TN from which she contested the election and won.
a. North Chennai Assembly Constituency
b. Cuddalore Assembly Constituency
c. Thiruvallur Assembly Constituency
d. Srirangam Assembly Constituency
Answer: (d)
21. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) launched space shuttle, Endeavour on 16 May 2011 from the Kennedy Space Centre for its final mission. Kennedy Space Centre is located in which one of the following US states?
a) Florida
b) Texas
c) California
d) Washington
Answer: (a)
22. India on 20 May 2011 carried out the ballistic flight test of Astra form the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Balasore, Orissa. Consider the following statements regarding Astra.
i) Astra is beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.
ii) It is envisaged to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft at supersonic speeds at a range of 80 km.
Choose the right option.
a) Both i and ii are correct.
b) Neither i nor ii are correct.
c) Only i is correct.
d) Only ii is correct.
Answer: (a) Both i and ii are correct.
23. A flexible solar sheet has been developed that captures more than 90 percent of available light. Consider the following statements on that.
i) The solar Sheet can harvest the heat from industrial processes and convert it into usable electricity.
ii) It is better than today’s solar panels; they can collect about 20 percent of available light.
Please choose the right option:
a) Both i and ii are correct.
b) Neither i nor ii are correct.
c) Only i is correct.
d) Only ii is correct.
Answer: (a) Both i and ii are correct.
24. According to a recent discovery by researchers from the University of Toronto, 47 million-year-old fossil of a lizard provides the first evidence that the body shapes of snakes and limbless lizards evolved independently. What is the name of the lizard?
a) Cryptolacerta hassiaca
b) Acanthocerus atricollis
c) Acris gryllus
d) Acris gryllus dorsalis
Answer: (a)
25. A major astronomical survey confirmed the existence of mysterious dark energy. The Survey was based on studies of more than 200000 galaxies. Dark energy makes up __ of the Universe and its existence.
a) 74 percent
b) 65 percent
c) 50 percent
d) 55 percent
Answer: (a) 74 percent
26. Name India's first pistol shooter to make the Olympic Grade on 17 May 2011.
a. Abha Dhillon
b. Heena Sidhu
c. Olena
d. Ammu Raj Singh
Answer: (d)
27. Who is the Asian Games bronze medallist who put up an impressive show at the 54th Malaysia open swimming championship by bagging eight medals, including three gold medals?
a. Virdhawal Khade
b. Sandeep Sejwal
c. Aaron D'Souza
d. Rehan Poncha
Answer: (a)
28. Swuro siblings, Thupovoyi and Chekrovolu made the Indian recurve squad for the Archery World Cup stage II to scheduled to be held in from 6-11 June 2011 in which of the following places?
a. Antalya (Turkey)
b. New Delhi (India)
c. Sparta (Greece)
d. Strasbourg (France)
Answer: (a)
29. Women team of which Indian state defeated three-time champions Bengal 5-0 to clinch their maiden title in the 19th edition of the Senior National women's football championship at Pant Stadium on 18 May 2011?
a. Orissa
b. Jharkhand
c. Chhattisgarh
d. Punjab
Answer: (a)
30. Which team defeated Karnataka XI 4-3 in the quarterfinal match of the Aga Khan hockey tournament 2011 at the Bombay Gymkhana ground on 17 May 2011?
a. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC)
b. Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala
c. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
d. South Central Railway
Answer: (a)
Monday, May 23, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Ariane 5 launches GSAT-8 from French Guiana
At exactly 02.08 a.m. Indian time on May 21, the 800-tonne Ariane 5 launcher carrying two communications satellites weighing over 9000 kilos in its nose fairing, blasted off into space. India’s GSAT-8, the largest and heaviest satellite built by ISRO and its partners, was one of the two "co-passengers" on the flight. The other, an even heavier satellite weighing 5 tonnes was from Singapore and Taiwan.
Although the launch window was 90 minutes long, the countdown began on the dot at 17.38 local time and on the word "top" from the Jupiter Control Room, the cryogenic main engine was ignited. Just 7.05 seconds later the booster rockets roared into life, each containing 250 tonnes of dry powder that gave a thrust of 13,000 tonnes. As the launcher rose vertically, emitting a deafening roar with a blinding orange-red tail flame, there was palpable tension in the control room. For a full six seconds Ariane 5 climbed vertically then turned East, its flame appearing smaller until it disappeared from view amid the thick cumulus clouds hanging low over the equator.
But all was not over for the team of Indian scientists led by ISRO Chairman Dr. K. Radhakrishnan and Dr. T.K. Alex, Director of the ISRO Satellite Centre in Bangalore. It was only 31 minutes and 17 minutes later when GSAT-8 successfully separated from the final stage at an altitude of 249 kilometres above the equator, that a round of applause broke out.
Minutes later Dr. Radhakrishnan announced that ISRO’s Master Control Facility at Hassan near Bangalore had confirmed the reception of signals from GSAT-8. "They have taken charge of the command and control of GSAT-8 immediately after its injection into the geo-stationary transfer orbit."GSAT-8:
GSAT-8, India’s advanced communication satellite, is a high power communication satellite being inducted in the INSAT system. Weighing about 3100 Kg at lift-off, GSAT-8 is configured to carry 24 high power transponders in Ku-band and a two-channel GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) payload operating in L1 and L5 bands. The 24 Ku band transponders will augment the capacity in the INSAT system. The GAGAN payload provides the Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS), through which the accuracy of the positioning information obtained from the GPS Satellite is improved by a network of ground based receivers and made available to the users in the country through the geostationary satellites. | ||
| Mission | Communication |
| Weight | 3093 kg (Mass at Lift – off) 1426 kg (Dry Mass) |
| Power | Solar array providing 6242 watts three 100 Ah Lithium Ion batteries |
| Physical Dimensions | 2.0 x 1.77 x 3.1m cuboid |
| Propulsion | 440 Newton Liquid Apogee Motors (LAM) with mono Methyl Hydrazine (MMH) as fuel and Mixed oxides of Nitrogen (MON-3) as oxidizer for orbit raising. |
| Stabilisation | 3-axis body stabilised in orbit using Earth Sensors, Sun Sensors, Momentum and Reaction Wheels, Magnetic Torquers and eight 10 Newton and eight 22 Newton bipropellant thrusters |
| Antennas | Two indigenously developed 2.2 m diameter transmit/receive polarisation sensitive dual grid shaped beam deployable reflectors with offset-fed feeds illumination for Ku-band; 0.6 m C-band and 0.8x0.8 sq m L-band helix antenna for GAGAN |
| Launch date | May 21, 2011 |
| Launch site | Kourou, French Guiana |
| Launch vehicle | Ariane-5 VA-202 |
| Orbit | Geosynchronous (55° E) |
| Mission life | More Than 12 Years |
Saturday, May 21, 2011
INDIAN GOVT. SCHEMES/POLICIES
Swavalamban scheme
· It is a pension scheme for workers in the unorganised sector who do not have access to the social security net.
· Under the scheme subscribers would get Rs.1,000 from the government each year for a subscription amount of Rs.12,000 per year New Pension System (NP)S account.
· The scheme will remain valid for this financial year and for the next three consecutive fiscals.
· A subscriber can enter the scheme at the age of 18 years and will be eligible for pension after turning 60.
· On turning 60, the pensioner can withdraw 60 per cent of his contribution, while the balance will be given as a monthly annuity by the LIC.
· The LIC has been appointed one of the many aggregators who will collect subscription amounts from subscribers.
· The Scheme shall be managed by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) and Government will release its contribution to PFRDA for crediting the same to the NPS accounts of eligible subscribers.
· Launch Date:26 September( 78th birthday of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh)
National water policy and climate change
Spurred by the need to look at climate change impact on water resources, the Centre is formulating a
revised National Water Policy in consultation with the States and other stakeholders to ensure basinlevel
management strategies. This would deal with variability in rainfall and river flows due to climate
change.
Integrated Children Protection Scheme
The Government of India, Ministry of Women & Child Development has formulated a new Centrally
Sponsored Scheme – “Integrated Child Protection Scheme” (ICPS) with the objective to provide a safe
and secure environment to the children in the country who are in need of care and protection as well as children in conflict with law. The intervention includes, inter-alia, financial support for setting up and / or maintenance of Homes for children in need of care and protection and those in conflict with law, setting up of child protection structure – state child protection society, capacity building, advocacy etc.
Specific Objectives:
· To institutionalize essential services and strengthen structures.
· To enhance capacities at all levels.
· To create database and knowledge base for child protection services.
· To strengthen child protection at family and community level.
· To ensure appropriate inter-sectoral response at all levels.
· To raise public awareness.
Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra
· To be developed at a cost of Rs. 25 lakhs, The Panchayat Ghars have been envisaged as the mini secretariat.
· It will have services of seven computer operators to update the records.
· Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra will act as the village knowledge resource centre and help in ensuring that the benefits of development reach out to the needy and the poor in rural areas. It would be a forum for the village people to interact and exchange their experiences and would provide logistic support and record keeping facility.
· It shall be a single window for providing the information on the MGNREGS and will also help in efficient implementation of MGNREGA at Panchayat and Block level and in providing space for greater and more transparent interaction with the local people.
Funding: The source of funding for the construction of Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendras will
come from BRGF, MGNREGA and other relevant schemes.
Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission
· One of the eight National Missions outlined in National Action Plan on Climate Change, the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) specifically focuses on solar energy and its role in minimizing future emissions.
· The Government has launched JNNSM in January, 2010 with a target of 20,000 MW grid solar power (based on solar thermal power generating systems and solar photovoltaic (SPV) technologies), 2000 MW of off-grid capacity by 2022 (i.e. 22000 MW by 2022).
· The Mission will be implemented in three phases. The first phase will be of three years (upto March, 2013, target-1,100 MW grid connected+200 MW off- grid=1300 MW), the second till March 2017 and the third phase will continue till March, 2022.
· National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education has been set up at IIT-Bombay.
Pradhanmantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)
· The Government has launched a new scheme called Pradhanmantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) for the integrated development of scheduled castes dominated villages in the country.
· There are about 44,000 villages in which the population of scheduled castes is above 50 per cent.
· The new scheme PMAGY will be launched on a pilot basis in 1000 such villages.
· Under this Scheme, each village would be able to avail gap funding of Rs.10 lakh over and above the allocations under Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation Schemes. On successful implementation of the pilot phase, the PMAGY would be extended in coming years.
Status:
PMAGY was launched at Village 18 BB, Block Padampur, District Sriganganagar, Rajasthan.
· The pilot scheme has been taken up for implementation in five States of which four are Bihar, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu (225 villages in each state) and Assam (100 villages)
· Fifth state U.P. is yet to respond to the government's invitation.
· [note: PMAGY is speculated as a replica of U.P.'s Ambedkar Village scheme]
National Commission on Human Resource for Health (NCHRH)
NCHRH is the proposed council aimed at ensuring propriety, increasing efficiency, and providing greater
synergy among health professionals and improving the quality of health infrastructure in India.
Status:
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has asked the Ministries of Human Resource Development and Health and Family Welfare to identify linkages between the two proposed regulatory bodies — National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER) and the National Commission on Human Resource for Health (NCHRH) — being promoted by them respectively to speed up the process of setting up the two authorities.
PURA
· The Government has approved the Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) Scheme on 21st January 2010 for implementation on a pilot basis during 11th Five Year Plan.
· The scheme aims at holistic and accelerated development of compact areas around a potential growth centre in a Gram Panchayat (s) through Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework for providing livelihood opportunities and urban amenities to improve the quality of life in rural areas.
· The Ministry of Rural Development had initially implemented the PURA scheme from 2004-05 to 2006-07 on a pilot basis.
· However, only seven pilot projects were implemented for drawing an experience for preparing a restructuring scheme in future. One pilot project each was implemented in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh during the initial pilot phase of PURA scheme.
Background:
· PURA is a brainchild of former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
· PURA mission based on the principle of connectivity — physical, electronic, knowledge and economic.
· Physical connectivity is envisaged as circular roads connecting a group of villages.
Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls [RGSEAG](SABLA)
· Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls [RGSEAG] –SABLA is a scheme proposed by the Ministry for women and child development for Adolescent Girls of 11 – 18 Years, whereby the Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls (NPAG) and Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY) would be merged with content enrichment. The scheme is proposed to be implemented using the platform of Integrated Child Development Services Scheme.
· It's a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to be implemented through the State Governments/UTs with 100% financial assistance from the Central Government for all inputs, except supplementary nutrition for which Government of India and States would share on 50: 50 basis.
· The scheme aims at empowering adolescent girls (AGs) of 11-18 years with focus on out-ofschool girls by improvement in their nutritional and health status and upgrading various skills like home skills, life skills and vocational skills. The scheme also aims at equipping the girls on family welfare, health hygiene etc.
Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY)
Objective: The objectives of the scheme are to improve the health and nutrition status of pregnant, lactating women and infants.
Eligibility:
All pregnant and lactating women except Govt and PSU employees. The beneficiaries would be pregnant women of 19 years of age and above for first two live births (benefit for still births will be as per the norms of scheme).
Fund Sharing:
The Scheme will be centrally sponsored with 100% assistance from the Centre.
Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development
Implementation:
· On pilot basis in selected 52 districts during the remaining period of XI Five Year Plan at a total cost of Rs.1000 crore.
· There will be Steering and Monitoring Committees at all levels to oversee implementation and monitor the progress.
· An IGMSY Cell within the Ministry of Women and Child Development will also be set up
Inception: approved by CECA in Oct 2010.
National Initiative on Climate resilient agriculture
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the implementation of a new plan scheme
‘National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture’ to address climate change impact on agriculture and allied sectors.
Objective:
The main objective of the Scheme is to assess the impact of climate change on agriculture
and allied sectors in the country and evolve cost effective adaptation and mitigation strategies.
The components of the scheme are:
1. Detailed vulnerability assessment of agro-climate regions and production systems, and the relative vulnerability of different crops, livestock and fishery sectors.
2. Initiate strategic research on adaptation and mitigation at seven major research institutes of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) on natural resources, major food crops, livestock, marine and freshwater fisheries.
3. Demonstrate available climate resilient practices on farmers' fields in 100 most vulnerable districts of the country.
4. Strengthen research infrastructure to state of the art and capacity building of scientists for
undertaking long term research on climate change adaptation.
· It is a pension scheme for workers in the unorganised sector who do not have access to the social security net.
· Under the scheme subscribers would get Rs.1,000 from the government each year for a subscription amount of Rs.12,000 per year New Pension System (NP)S account.
· The scheme will remain valid for this financial year and for the next three consecutive fiscals.
· A subscriber can enter the scheme at the age of 18 years and will be eligible for pension after turning 60.
· On turning 60, the pensioner can withdraw 60 per cent of his contribution, while the balance will be given as a monthly annuity by the LIC.
· The LIC has been appointed one of the many aggregators who will collect subscription amounts from subscribers.
· The Scheme shall be managed by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) and Government will release its contribution to PFRDA for crediting the same to the NPS accounts of eligible subscribers.
· Launch Date:26 September( 78th birthday of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh)
National water policy and climate change
Spurred by the need to look at climate change impact on water resources, the Centre is formulating a
revised National Water Policy in consultation with the States and other stakeholders to ensure basinlevel
management strategies. This would deal with variability in rainfall and river flows due to climate
change.
Integrated Children Protection Scheme
The Government of India, Ministry of Women & Child Development has formulated a new Centrally
Sponsored Scheme – “Integrated Child Protection Scheme” (ICPS) with the objective to provide a safe
and secure environment to the children in the country who are in need of care and protection as well as children in conflict with law. The intervention includes, inter-alia, financial support for setting up and / or maintenance of Homes for children in need of care and protection and those in conflict with law, setting up of child protection structure – state child protection society, capacity building, advocacy etc.
Specific Objectives:
· To institutionalize essential services and strengthen structures.
· To enhance capacities at all levels.
· To create database and knowledge base for child protection services.
· To strengthen child protection at family and community level.
· To ensure appropriate inter-sectoral response at all levels.
· To raise public awareness.
Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra
· To be developed at a cost of Rs. 25 lakhs, The Panchayat Ghars have been envisaged as the mini secretariat.
· It will have services of seven computer operators to update the records.
· Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra will act as the village knowledge resource centre and help in ensuring that the benefits of development reach out to the needy and the poor in rural areas. It would be a forum for the village people to interact and exchange their experiences and would provide logistic support and record keeping facility.
· It shall be a single window for providing the information on the MGNREGS and will also help in efficient implementation of MGNREGA at Panchayat and Block level and in providing space for greater and more transparent interaction with the local people.
Funding: The source of funding for the construction of Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendras will
come from BRGF, MGNREGA and other relevant schemes.
Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission
· One of the eight National Missions outlined in National Action Plan on Climate Change, the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) specifically focuses on solar energy and its role in minimizing future emissions.
· The Government has launched JNNSM in January, 2010 with a target of 20,000 MW grid solar power (based on solar thermal power generating systems and solar photovoltaic (SPV) technologies), 2000 MW of off-grid capacity by 2022 (i.e. 22000 MW by 2022).
· The Mission will be implemented in three phases. The first phase will be of three years (upto March, 2013, target-1,100 MW grid connected+200 MW off- grid=1300 MW), the second till March 2017 and the third phase will continue till March, 2022.
· National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education has been set up at IIT-Bombay.
Pradhanmantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)
· The Government has launched a new scheme called Pradhanmantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) for the integrated development of scheduled castes dominated villages in the country.
· There are about 44,000 villages in which the population of scheduled castes is above 50 per cent.
· The new scheme PMAGY will be launched on a pilot basis in 1000 such villages.
· Under this Scheme, each village would be able to avail gap funding of Rs.10 lakh over and above the allocations under Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation Schemes. On successful implementation of the pilot phase, the PMAGY would be extended in coming years.
Status:
PMAGY was launched at Village 18 BB, Block Padampur, District Sriganganagar, Rajasthan.
· The pilot scheme has been taken up for implementation in five States of which four are Bihar, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu (225 villages in each state) and Assam (100 villages)
· Fifth state U.P. is yet to respond to the government's invitation.
· [note: PMAGY is speculated as a replica of U.P.'s Ambedkar Village scheme]
National Commission on Human Resource for Health (NCHRH)
NCHRH is the proposed council aimed at ensuring propriety, increasing efficiency, and providing greater
synergy among health professionals and improving the quality of health infrastructure in India.
Status:
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has asked the Ministries of Human Resource Development and Health and Family Welfare to identify linkages between the two proposed regulatory bodies — National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER) and the National Commission on Human Resource for Health (NCHRH) — being promoted by them respectively to speed up the process of setting up the two authorities.
PURA
· The Government has approved the Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) Scheme on 21st January 2010 for implementation on a pilot basis during 11th Five Year Plan.
· The scheme aims at holistic and accelerated development of compact areas around a potential growth centre in a Gram Panchayat (s) through Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework for providing livelihood opportunities and urban amenities to improve the quality of life in rural areas.
· The Ministry of Rural Development had initially implemented the PURA scheme from 2004-05 to 2006-07 on a pilot basis.
· However, only seven pilot projects were implemented for drawing an experience for preparing a restructuring scheme in future. One pilot project each was implemented in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh during the initial pilot phase of PURA scheme.
Background:
· PURA is a brainchild of former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
· PURA mission based on the principle of connectivity — physical, electronic, knowledge and economic.
· Physical connectivity is envisaged as circular roads connecting a group of villages.
Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls [RGSEAG](SABLA)
· Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls [RGSEAG] –SABLA is a scheme proposed by the Ministry for women and child development for Adolescent Girls of 11 – 18 Years, whereby the Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls (NPAG) and Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY) would be merged with content enrichment. The scheme is proposed to be implemented using the platform of Integrated Child Development Services Scheme.
· It's a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to be implemented through the State Governments/UTs with 100% financial assistance from the Central Government for all inputs, except supplementary nutrition for which Government of India and States would share on 50: 50 basis.
· The scheme aims at empowering adolescent girls (AGs) of 11-18 years with focus on out-ofschool girls by improvement in their nutritional and health status and upgrading various skills like home skills, life skills and vocational skills. The scheme also aims at equipping the girls on family welfare, health hygiene etc.
Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY)
Objective: The objectives of the scheme are to improve the health and nutrition status of pregnant, lactating women and infants.
Eligibility:
All pregnant and lactating women except Govt and PSU employees. The beneficiaries would be pregnant women of 19 years of age and above for first two live births (benefit for still births will be as per the norms of scheme).
Benefits:
Each pregnant and lactating woman will receive a total cash incentive of ` 4000/- in three installments between the period from the second trimester of pregnancy to the child attaining the age of 6 months.Fund Sharing:
The Scheme will be centrally sponsored with 100% assistance from the Centre.
Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development
Implementation:
· On pilot basis in selected 52 districts during the remaining period of XI Five Year Plan at a total cost of Rs.1000 crore.
· There will be Steering and Monitoring Committees at all levels to oversee implementation and monitor the progress.
· An IGMSY Cell within the Ministry of Women and Child Development will also be set up
Inception: approved by CECA in Oct 2010.
National Initiative on Climate resilient agriculture
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the implementation of a new plan scheme
‘National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture’ to address climate change impact on agriculture and allied sectors.
Objective:
The main objective of the Scheme is to assess the impact of climate change on agriculture
and allied sectors in the country and evolve cost effective adaptation and mitigation strategies.
The components of the scheme are:
1. Detailed vulnerability assessment of agro-climate regions and production systems, and the relative vulnerability of different crops, livestock and fishery sectors.
2. Initiate strategic research on adaptation and mitigation at seven major research institutes of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) on natural resources, major food crops, livestock, marine and freshwater fisheries.
3. Demonstrate available climate resilient practices on farmers' fields in 100 most vulnerable districts of the country.
4. Strengthen research infrastructure to state of the art and capacity building of scientists for
undertaking long term research on climate change adaptation.
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