Friday, December 31, 2010
Top 3 countries in attracting tourists
Top 3 countries in attracting tourists:-
France, America, Spain
India is the ninth largest global economy
India is the ninth largest global economy. America, China, Japan, Germany, Republic of Korea, France, Italy, UK, India, Brazil are top ten countries as per UNIDO.
Andhra Pradesh to get Rs 1 lakh crore
Andhra Pradesh to get Rs 1 lakh crore as its share as per 13th Finance Commission recommendations. The state can get Rs 13,802 in grant-in-aid.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
farm suicides in Andhra Pradesh
In 2009 Andhra Pradesh recorded 2,414 farm suicides — 309 more than in 2008.
Friday, December 24, 2010
countdown for the launch of Geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle GSLV-FO6
The 30 hour countdown for the launch of Geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle GSLV-FO6 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Srihartikota began at 10.04 this morning. The launch is scheduled at 4.04 pm tomorrow. ISRO Spokesman Mr. Satish told that all the pre launch tests are proceeding satisfactorily. GSLV in its seventh flight will place India's advanced and heaviest communication satellite GSAT-5P in orbit. The fifth in the series G SAT 5 Prime will carry 24 C band and 12 extended C band transponders. It is an exclusive communication satellite aimed at further augmenting the communication services currently provided by the Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system. The launch of GSLV F06 was earlier scheduled for Monday last but was deferred after a leak was noticed during pre-countdown tests in one of the valves of the cryogenic engine.
This will be ISRO's first GSLV mission after the failure of the flight testing of the indigenous cryogenic stage in the GSLV-D3 mission in April this year. The 51 meter tall, 418 tonne GSLV, a three stage vehicle in its 7th flight is using the tested Russian cryogenic engine this time. The successful launch of the satellite will help augment television and modern communication facilities. It will also come as a big boost and will usher in a new era in telemedicine and tele-education besides boosting telephonic services. GSAT-5P is being planned as a replacement for INSAT-3E. The mission life of the spacecraft will be 12 years.
This will be ISRO's first GSLV mission after the failure of the flight testing of the indigenous cryogenic stage in the GSLV-D3 mission in April this year. The 51 meter tall, 418 tonne GSLV, a three stage vehicle in its 7th flight is using the tested Russian cryogenic engine this time. The successful launch of the satellite will help augment television and modern communication facilities. It will also come as a big boost and will usher in a new era in telemedicine and tele-education besides boosting telephonic services. GSAT-5P is being planned as a replacement for INSAT-3E. The mission life of the spacecraft will be 12 years.
More than 20,000 people to play Chess in Gujarat to create new world record
In Gujarat, as many as 20,000 people and 1,200 masters will play Chess at Ahmedabad GMDC ground Friday evening to create new world record.
Swarnim Gujarat Chess Mahotsav being organized by Sports Authority of Gujarat and Sports and Youth Departments of the State will break Mexico's Guinness world record of the largest number of people playing the game together at the same time., Mexico City's central square, had set the record when 13,446 players had assembled to play chess in 2006.
Former world champion Anatoly Karpov was the guest of honor in Mexico, while Ahmedabad will have current world champion Viswanathan Anand as Special Guest. Gujarat Chief Minister Mr. Narendra Modi will inaugurate the mega event.
20 thousand participants will play against the 1200 masters.
Swarnim Gujarat Chess Mahotsav being organized by Sports Authority of Gujarat and Sports and Youth Departments of the State will break Mexico's Guinness world record of the largest number of people playing the game together at the same time., Mexico City's central square, had set the record when 13,446 players had assembled to play chess in 2006.
Former world champion Anatoly Karpov was the guest of honor in Mexico, while Ahmedabad will have current world champion Viswanathan Anand as Special Guest. Gujarat Chief Minister Mr. Narendra Modi will inaugurate the mega event.
20 thousand participants will play against the 1200 masters.
There are 43.31 lakh handloom workers
Personal Digital Assistance (PDA) was used, for the first time, to interview 27.8 lakh handloom workers households in connection with this Census. The Minister also gave away the First series of Photo Identity Cards to handloom weavers, assembled from various States, viz., Tamil Nadu, Orissa, West Bengal, U.P., Haryana etc. during the function organized to release the Report.
Speaking on the occasion, Smt Lakshmi said, “Handloom Census is the second largest National Census next to Pzopulation Census. The Census report provides comprehensive information about handloom sector. It also provides opportunity to compare with Second Census Report.”
The Minister further added that issuance of Photo Identity Cards to handloom weavers will provide new data and information enabling the Government for targeted policy intervention and also Gender Budgeting for special component plan for women. She said that the weaverswould get, for the first time, an identity of themselves which will ensure that only genuine weavers get the benefits of the schemes implemented for them.
The major highlights of the Survey, as presented during the Release Function, are as under:-
Handloom households as per the third handloom census is 27.8 lakh – The majority (82%) are weaver households, nearly 14 per cent are allied worker households, 3 per cent are idle loom households and remaining are handloom household units having no adult handloom workers.
Handloom work is primarily a rural occupation – 87 per cent of the handloom households are located in rural areas and remaining 13 per cent in urban areas.
There are 43.31 lakh handloom workers – 36.33 lakh workers stay in rural areas and 6.98 lakh workers stay in urban areas. There are 38.46 lakh adult (aged 18 years and above) handloom workers.
Increase in full-time workers from 44 per cent of the adult handloom workforce as per second census to 64% as per the third census..
Increase in days of work per weaver household – the number of days worked by weaver households has increased from the second( 197 person days) to the third (234 person days) census.
Total of 23.77 lakh handlooms – Across household and non-household handloom units.
Most looms are frame looms – 58 per cent are frame looms, 26 per cent are pit looms, 13 per cent are loin looms, 1 per cent is pedal looms and 2 per cent are other kinds of looms.
Speaking on the occasion, Smt Lakshmi said, “Handloom Census is the second largest National Census next to Pzopulation Census. The Census report provides comprehensive information about handloom sector. It also provides opportunity to compare with Second Census Report.”
The Minister further added that issuance of Photo Identity Cards to handloom weavers will provide new data and information enabling the Government for targeted policy intervention and also Gender Budgeting for special component plan for women. She said that the weaverswould get, for the first time, an identity of themselves which will ensure that only genuine weavers get the benefits of the schemes implemented for them.
The major highlights of the Survey, as presented during the Release Function, are as under:-
Handloom households as per the third handloom census is 27.8 lakh – The majority (82%) are weaver households, nearly 14 per cent are allied worker households, 3 per cent are idle loom households and remaining are handloom household units having no adult handloom workers.
Handloom work is primarily a rural occupation – 87 per cent of the handloom households are located in rural areas and remaining 13 per cent in urban areas.
There are 43.31 lakh handloom workers – 36.33 lakh workers stay in rural areas and 6.98 lakh workers stay in urban areas. There are 38.46 lakh adult (aged 18 years and above) handloom workers.
Increase in full-time workers from 44 per cent of the adult handloom workforce as per second census to 64% as per the third census..
Increase in days of work per weaver household – the number of days worked by weaver households has increased from the second( 197 person days) to the third (234 person days) census.
Total of 23.77 lakh handlooms – Across household and non-household handloom units.
Most looms are frame looms – 58 per cent are frame looms, 26 per cent are pit looms, 13 per cent are loin looms, 1 per cent is pedal looms and 2 per cent are other kinds of looms.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
infrastructure development funds
"So far as the infrastructure development funds are concerned, myself and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission have detailed out our requirement would be about $600 billion. It is a substantial amount. There is a shortfall, but we are quite confident that in the remaining one-and-half-year of the 11th plan, we will be able to spend the money," said Pranab Mukherjee, at an important conclave on public-private partnership
Life and universe
The search for God particle
The year 2010 also saw the humankind’s search for the ‘The God particle’ which we now call ‘Higgs boson’. The term was coined by the physicist Leon Lederman in his 1993 popular science book with the same title. The Higgs boson is a particle believed to bestow mass on all other particles. First hypothesised in 1964, the Higgs boson, if discovered, would be a vital missing piece of the model that physicists use to describe elementary particles and their interactions: ‘The Standard Model’.
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, the giant laboratory just at the outskirts of Geneva, which was activated on 10 September 2008, is expected to provide experimental evidence that will confirm or reject the particle’s existence when it becomes fully operational. If the results are verified, the experiment will provide possible solution to one of the great outstanding problems in physics of the 20th century: the origin of all mass.
Earth like planets
In the year 2010, scientists discovered a ‘super-Earth’ codenamed GJ 1214b some 40 light years away and of the size 2.6 times bigger than Earth. The planet hugs its parent star at a distance of only two million kilometres -- 70 times closer than the Earth is to the Sun.
The planet travels across the disc of its parent star once every 38 hours as it orbits and the astronomers believe that conditions on its surface are hot.
Another newly discovered extra-solar planet, CoRoT-7b, is the closest physical match of the Earth with a mass of about five Earths and a radius of about 1.7 Earths. It is 500 light years distant and is very similar to our Sun.
The planet was discovered circling a star some 480 light years from Earth. It is, however, a threatening place and unlikely to harbour life as it is so close to its star that temperatures might be above 4,000 degrees F (2,200 C) on the surface lit by its star and as low as minus 350 F (minus 210 C) on its dark side.
Another form of life found on earth
Researchers have made a discovery that can further boost the search for other life on Earth and beyond. It is the finding of bacteria that can thrive on arsenic in place of phosphorus. The “extremophile” bacteria were found in a briny lake in eastern California in the US. Not only do the bacteria survive on arsenic, it also grows by incorporating the element into its DNA and cell membranes.
The discovery was made by Felisa Wolfe-Simon, a former postdoctoral scientist in Anbar’s research group at Arizona State University’s School of Earth and Space Exploration.
The year 2010 also saw the humankind’s search for the ‘The God particle’ which we now call ‘Higgs boson’. The term was coined by the physicist Leon Lederman in his 1993 popular science book with the same title. The Higgs boson is a particle believed to bestow mass on all other particles. First hypothesised in 1964, the Higgs boson, if discovered, would be a vital missing piece of the model that physicists use to describe elementary particles and their interactions: ‘The Standard Model’.
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, the giant laboratory just at the outskirts of Geneva, which was activated on 10 September 2008, is expected to provide experimental evidence that will confirm or reject the particle’s existence when it becomes fully operational. If the results are verified, the experiment will provide possible solution to one of the great outstanding problems in physics of the 20th century: the origin of all mass.
Earth like planets
In the year 2010, scientists discovered a ‘super-Earth’ codenamed GJ 1214b some 40 light years away and of the size 2.6 times bigger than Earth. The planet hugs its parent star at a distance of only two million kilometres -- 70 times closer than the Earth is to the Sun.
The planet travels across the disc of its parent star once every 38 hours as it orbits and the astronomers believe that conditions on its surface are hot.
Another newly discovered extra-solar planet, CoRoT-7b, is the closest physical match of the Earth with a mass of about five Earths and a radius of about 1.7 Earths. It is 500 light years distant and is very similar to our Sun.
The planet was discovered circling a star some 480 light years from Earth. It is, however, a threatening place and unlikely to harbour life as it is so close to its star that temperatures might be above 4,000 degrees F (2,200 C) on the surface lit by its star and as low as minus 350 F (minus 210 C) on its dark side.
Another form of life found on earth
Researchers have made a discovery that can further boost the search for other life on Earth and beyond. It is the finding of bacteria that can thrive on arsenic in place of phosphorus. The “extremophile” bacteria were found in a briny lake in eastern California in the US. Not only do the bacteria survive on arsenic, it also grows by incorporating the element into its DNA and cell membranes.
The discovery was made by Felisa Wolfe-Simon, a former postdoctoral scientist in Anbar’s research group at Arizona State University’s School of Earth and Space Exploration.
2010 Tech breakthroughs
Apple iPad crowned `Gadget of the Year`
Apple kicked off the craze in January when it unveiled its iPad. By the time the iPad went on sale in April, the device had racked up so much buzz that it became aptly clear that Apple had produced another smashing gadget. Designed to take on Apple`s innovative iPad, Samsung and Google launched their version of a tablet computer in September.
Thinnest laptop-Apple`s `MacBook Air`
In October, Apple unveiled `MacBook Air `, the thinnest, lightest laptop ever which combines features from the iPhone and iPad with traditional series of MacBook. The laptop that comes in two sizes, one with a screen that is 13.3 inches diagonally and another with a 11.6-inch screen.
Acer `Iconia` the dual-screen laptop
In November, Acer unveiled `Iconia`, a laptop-cum-tablet computer with two touch screens. The new dual-screen laptop has two 14 inch touch-screen displays protected by ultra-tough Gorilla glass, including one in place of a traditional keyboard.
World`s first tilting television `Monolithic`
Electronic giant Sony unveiled world`s first TV with tilting screen called “Monolithic”. This new generation TVs from Sony are available in state-of-the art 3D models and can either be set up vertically or slotted to a six-degree backwards lean.
China makes world’s fastest supercomputer
China -the fast emerging economic superpower- superseded rival America and created world’s fastest supercomputer in the year 2010. China’s supercomputer “Tianhe-1A” is capable of sustaining computation at 2.57 petaflop/s, which equals to a mind-numbing 2.57 quadrillion of calculations per second.
Apple kicked off the craze in January when it unveiled its iPad. By the time the iPad went on sale in April, the device had racked up so much buzz that it became aptly clear that Apple had produced another smashing gadget. Designed to take on Apple`s innovative iPad, Samsung and Google launched their version of a tablet computer in September.
Thinnest laptop-Apple`s `MacBook Air`
In October, Apple unveiled `MacBook Air `, the thinnest, lightest laptop ever which combines features from the iPhone and iPad with traditional series of MacBook. The laptop that comes in two sizes, one with a screen that is 13.3 inches diagonally and another with a 11.6-inch screen.
Acer `Iconia` the dual-screen laptop
In November, Acer unveiled `Iconia`, a laptop-cum-tablet computer with two touch screens. The new dual-screen laptop has two 14 inch touch-screen displays protected by ultra-tough Gorilla glass, including one in place of a traditional keyboard.
World`s first tilting television `Monolithic`
Electronic giant Sony unveiled world`s first TV with tilting screen called “Monolithic”. This new generation TVs from Sony are available in state-of-the art 3D models and can either be set up vertically or slotted to a six-degree backwards lean.
China makes world’s fastest supercomputer
China -the fast emerging economic superpower- superseded rival America and created world’s fastest supercomputer in the year 2010. China’s supercomputer “Tianhe-1A” is capable of sustaining computation at 2.57 petaflop/s, which equals to a mind-numbing 2.57 quadrillion of calculations per second.
Nitish Kumar: New mascot of development
Riding the wave of development, Nitish Kumar-led JD(U)-BJP coalition stormed back to Patna’s power centre with an overwhelming majority. Remember, Bihar was at crossroads when Nitish took over the reins of the improvised state five years back? He promised a naya Bihar and the state has surely changed for the better. Coupled with a drastic improvement in law and order situation -- kidnapping is no more an industry in Bihar and jails are not comfort zone for criminals -- massive investments in creating infrastructure has ensured an upward swing in the state’s economy, making it the fastest growing one in India.
The mechanical engineer in Nitish Kumar also did dabble in social engineering. By forming new a social group called ‘Maha Dalits’, he tried to bring into the fold all those classes and subclasses which had been hitherto left behind during the first wave of social change. Nitish Kumar has awakened the Bihari sub-nationalism and the Bihari asimta by providing good and clean governance.
But with this consecutive victory of his coalition has come the rising burden of expectations of people. Only time will tell, whether Nitish Kumar can meet those aspirations.
The mechanical engineer in Nitish Kumar also did dabble in social engineering. By forming new a social group called ‘Maha Dalits’, he tried to bring into the fold all those classes and subclasses which had been hitherto left behind during the first wave of social change. Nitish Kumar has awakened the Bihari sub-nationalism and the Bihari asimta by providing good and clean governance.
But with this consecutive victory of his coalition has come the rising burden of expectations of people. Only time will tell, whether Nitish Kumar can meet those aspirations.
A triumph of humans and nature
The year 2010 turned out to be a green year for Odisha, newly named so. The state saw the cancellation of two proposed mega projects -- $1.7 billion bauxite mining project in Niyamgiri and $3.5 billion university project on the Puri-Konark marine drive. Both the projects belong to the London listed Vedanta group, were nixed on grounds of serious violation of law.
Environment ministry canceled the Niyamgiri project following the NC Saxena Committee terming it illegal. The Committee in its report stated that Vedanta had flagrantly violated environmental and forest laws in active collusion with the state officials. The proposed project could hit the rights of two of the most endangered primitive tribal groups -- Dongria Kondh and Kutia Kondh.
In a second setback to Vedanta, Orissa High Court quashed the process of acquisition of 6,000 acre of agricultural land -- which includes 1,300 acre of arable land belonging to the Jagannath Temple -- for the Vedanta university project. The court made it clear that state government’s notifications made to award the land for the university project “illegal” and “bad in the eye of law”. The proposed project could hit at least 50,000 people across 22 villages of Puri district who depend primarily on agriculture. The project would have an extreme impact on eco-system.
The fate of Rs 54,000 crore POSCO project -- which happens to be the largest Foreign Direct Investment of the country -- hangs in balance on similar grounds. The majority view in Environment Ministry proposed for the cancellation of the project. At present the Supreme Court is looking into the case.
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik and his BJD are battling the allegations of selling the state’s riches to private firms at the cost of livelihood of the people. The Opposition knives are out with ugly scenes occurring in the state Assembly recently. A Congress lawmaker climbed onto the Speaker’s podium and lied down on it during an agitation in the well of the House.
Environment ministry canceled the Niyamgiri project following the NC Saxena Committee terming it illegal. The Committee in its report stated that Vedanta had flagrantly violated environmental and forest laws in active collusion with the state officials. The proposed project could hit the rights of two of the most endangered primitive tribal groups -- Dongria Kondh and Kutia Kondh.
In a second setback to Vedanta, Orissa High Court quashed the process of acquisition of 6,000 acre of agricultural land -- which includes 1,300 acre of arable land belonging to the Jagannath Temple -- for the Vedanta university project. The court made it clear that state government’s notifications made to award the land for the university project “illegal” and “bad in the eye of law”. The proposed project could hit at least 50,000 people across 22 villages of Puri district who depend primarily on agriculture. The project would have an extreme impact on eco-system.
The fate of Rs 54,000 crore POSCO project -- which happens to be the largest Foreign Direct Investment of the country -- hangs in balance on similar grounds. The majority view in Environment Ministry proposed for the cancellation of the project. At present the Supreme Court is looking into the case.
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik and his BJD are battling the allegations of selling the state’s riches to private firms at the cost of livelihood of the people. The Opposition knives are out with ugly scenes occurring in the state Assembly recently. A Congress lawmaker climbed onto the Speaker’s podium and lied down on it during an agitation in the well of the House.
Ayodhya Verdict
Sixty years after it first went to court, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court pronounced judgment in the Ayodhya title suit on September 30, saying Hindus and Muslims are joint title holders.
The three-judge bench - comprising Justice SU Khan, Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice DV Sharma - ruled in a majority judgment 2:1, that there be a three-way division of the disputed land - one-third for the Sunni Waqf Board, one-third for the Nirmohi Akhara and one-third to the party for `Ram Lalla`.
All the parties in the case have decided to move the Supreme Court of India against the verdict.
The three-judge bench - comprising Justice SU Khan, Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice DV Sharma - ruled in a majority judgment 2:1, that there be a three-way division of the disputed land - one-third for the Sunni Waqf Board, one-third for the Nirmohi Akhara and one-third to the party for `Ram Lalla`.
All the parties in the case have decided to move the Supreme Court of India against the verdict.
Obama In India
Dubbed as the biggest diplomatic event of the year, the Obama visit to India (November 6-9) had all the hype & hoopla which typically surrounds a US presidential visit.
And, the Obamas didn’t disappoint their hosts. On concrete terms, Obama made some big-ticket announcements: US’ support for New Delhi`s bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council and removal of Indian companies from the US sanctions` list. Besides, making the usual noises about the need for Pakistan to bring perpetrators of 26/11 attacks to justice.
But his benevolence came at a price as he also ensured billions of dollars of worth of business for US companies from India – to create jobs back home; 50,000 in the last count.
Michelle, on the other hand, charmed India with her softer side. From her impromptu dances to spending time with underprivileged children to her shopping spree, she surely played her part to perfection.
And, the Obamas didn’t disappoint their hosts. On concrete terms, Obama made some big-ticket announcements: US’ support for New Delhi`s bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council and removal of Indian companies from the US sanctions` list. Besides, making the usual noises about the need for Pakistan to bring perpetrators of 26/11 attacks to justice.
But his benevolence came at a price as he also ensured billions of dollars of worth of business for US companies from India – to create jobs back home; 50,000 in the last count.
Michelle, on the other hand, charmed India with her softer side. From her impromptu dances to spending time with underprivileged children to her shopping spree, she surely played her part to perfection.
INDIA 2010 A step ahead
Women Reservation: Women`s Reservation Bill or the The Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill, is a pending bill which proposes to provide `thirty three percent of all seats in the Lower house of Parliament of India the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies shall be reserved for women. The Upper House Rajya Sabha passed it on 9 Mar 2010.
Right to Education: The historic Right of children to Free and Compulsory Education Act came into force from April 1, 2010. Every child in the age group of 6-14 years will now be provided 8 years of elementary education.
Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage: In a significant step towards India being ready to carry out nuclear trade, both houses of Parliament, In August 2010, passed the Nuclear Liability Bill which aims to provide a civil liability for nuclear damage and prompt compensation to the victims of a nuclear incident through a nofault liability to the operator, appointment of Claims Commissioner, establishment of Nuclear Damage Claims Commission.
Right to Education: The historic Right of children to Free and Compulsory Education Act came into force from April 1, 2010. Every child in the age group of 6-14 years will now be provided 8 years of elementary education.
Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage: In a significant step towards India being ready to carry out nuclear trade, both houses of Parliament, In August 2010, passed the Nuclear Liability Bill which aims to provide a civil liability for nuclear damage and prompt compensation to the victims of a nuclear incident through a nofault liability to the operator, appointment of Claims Commissioner, establishment of Nuclear Damage Claims Commission.
2010 Judicial highlights
“Rotten” in Allahabad HC: "Something is rotten in the State of Denmark, said Shakespeare in Hamlet, and it can similarly be said that something is rotten in the Allahabad High Court," said a bench of Supreme Court of India on the state of state of affairs in the High Court. The HC moved the apex court against the remarks but the SC bench stood by its comments.
Justice Sen Impeachment: Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta High Court faces possible impeachment by Parliament following indictment by a judicial committee for “misappropriating funds”. He has denied the charges and has filed his reply in December to the Rajya Sabha.
Jessica Lall murder: Eleven years after Jessica Lall was shot dead at a crowded socialite party in Delhi; the Supreme Court on April 19, 2010 upheld the life sentence awarded to prime accused Manu Sharma, son of influential politician Venod Sharma.
Ruchika case: Accused of molesting 14-year-old Ruchika Girhotra in 1990, former Haryana top cop SPSingh Rathore, after being held guilty on December 22, 2009 - after 19 years, 40 adjournments, and more than 400 hearings - was on May 25 sentenced to one and a half years of rigorous imprisonment. However, on November 11, the Supreme Court granted bail him bail.
Rizwanur case: The Kolkata High Court, in May, declared the mysterious death of Rizwanur Rehman as one of murder, ordered the CBI to re-investigate it.
Priyadarshini Mattoo case: The Supreme Court of India on October 6 commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment given to Santosh Kumar Singh. Mattoo was found raped and murdered at her house in New Delhi on January 23, 1996.
Neera Yadav: Going by the trend of the fall of the mighty, controversial former UP chief secretary Neera Yadav and Flex Industries owner Ashok Chaturvedi were on December 7 convicted and sentenced to a four-year jail term by a special CBI court in a land scam case when she was NOIDA`s chief executive officer in 1992-94. However, within a week, both secured bails, and are out of prison.
Justice Sen Impeachment: Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta High Court faces possible impeachment by Parliament following indictment by a judicial committee for “misappropriating funds”. He has denied the charges and has filed his reply in December to the Rajya Sabha.
Jessica Lall murder: Eleven years after Jessica Lall was shot dead at a crowded socialite party in Delhi; the Supreme Court on April 19, 2010 upheld the life sentence awarded to prime accused Manu Sharma, son of influential politician Venod Sharma.
Ruchika case: Accused of molesting 14-year-old Ruchika Girhotra in 1990, former Haryana top cop SPSingh Rathore, after being held guilty on December 22, 2009 - after 19 years, 40 adjournments, and more than 400 hearings - was on May 25 sentenced to one and a half years of rigorous imprisonment. However, on November 11, the Supreme Court granted bail him bail.
Rizwanur case: The Kolkata High Court, in May, declared the mysterious death of Rizwanur Rehman as one of murder, ordered the CBI to re-investigate it.
Priyadarshini Mattoo case: The Supreme Court of India on October 6 commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment given to Santosh Kumar Singh. Mattoo was found raped and murdered at her house in New Delhi on January 23, 1996.
Neera Yadav: Going by the trend of the fall of the mighty, controversial former UP chief secretary Neera Yadav and Flex Industries owner Ashok Chaturvedi were on December 7 convicted and sentenced to a four-year jail term by a special CBI court in a land scam case when she was NOIDA`s chief executive officer in 1992-94. However, within a week, both secured bails, and are out of prison.
India's growth story
The Asian giant continued its forward march in the year 2010. With a strong GDP growth rate of 8.8% (Q1), 8.9% in Q2, the country showed its mettle to the world. However, the cause of concern was the high inflation rate (highest of 11% in April, and 8 % in Nov). The acknowledgement came from none other than US. In a report, the US said India will become the 3rd most powerful nation by 2025.
Exports registered good growth this year. Exports during August, 2010 were valued at USD 16644 million (Rs. 77509 crore) while Imports were valued at USD 29679 million. Cumulative value of exports for the period April-August 2010 was USD 85273 million (Rs 392811 crore) while that of import was USD 141894 million (Rs. 653828 crore).
Though high inflation continues to bother Indian policy makers, Indian economy performed well this year. Rising out strongly from the global recession, the economy is set to achieve nearly 9 per cent growth rate in the current fiscal 2010-11. After China, India’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth is highest among the rest.
Cumulatively, value of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) was at 10.3 per cent in the first seven months of the current fiscal (April to October, 2010) although it witnessed decline in August and September. However, it bounced back to double digit growth rate by jumping 10.8 per cent in October this year.
The economy has shown recovery with India’s GDP registering 8.9 per cent growth in the first half of the current fiscal. Hence, the government has now projected growth rate to be higher than 8.5 per cent. India’s growing importance was recognised when the IMF hiked India’s quota and the permanent members of United Nations Security Council inked deals upwards of USD 50bn.
Exports registered good growth this year. Exports during August, 2010 were valued at USD 16644 million (Rs. 77509 crore) while Imports were valued at USD 29679 million. Cumulative value of exports for the period April-August 2010 was USD 85273 million (Rs 392811 crore) while that of import was USD 141894 million (Rs. 653828 crore).
Though high inflation continues to bother Indian policy makers, Indian economy performed well this year. Rising out strongly from the global recession, the economy is set to achieve nearly 9 per cent growth rate in the current fiscal 2010-11. After China, India’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth is highest among the rest.
Cumulatively, value of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) was at 10.3 per cent in the first seven months of the current fiscal (April to October, 2010) although it witnessed decline in August and September. However, it bounced back to double digit growth rate by jumping 10.8 per cent in October this year.
The economy has shown recovery with India’s GDP registering 8.9 per cent growth in the first half of the current fiscal. Hence, the government has now projected growth rate to be higher than 8.5 per cent. India’s growing importance was recognised when the IMF hiked India’s quota and the permanent members of United Nations Security Council inked deals upwards of USD 50bn.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
The 10 Worst Predictions for 2010 - By Joshua E. Keating | Foreign Policy
The 10 Worst Predictions for 2010 - By Joshua E. Keating | Foreign Policy: "'More people are going to be put to work this summer.'
-Vice President Joe Biden, White House briefing, June 17, 2010
The 'recovery summer,' as the White House termed it, seemed like a good bet for the administration after more than 300,000 new jobs were added between March and May"
-Vice President Joe Biden, White House briefing, June 17, 2010
The 'recovery summer,' as the White House termed it, seemed like a good bet for the administration after more than 300,000 new jobs were added between March and May"
When did Sachin cry for not making century?
I cried so much when I was out, I could not see, Sachin Tendulkar said after which innings and why?
Ans:- After he scored 88 against New Zealand. If he had scored a hundred, he would have been the youngest century-maker in Test cricket
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
40 lakh tenant farmers in Andhra Pradesh
AP Kisan Sabha estimates there are 40 lakh tenant farmers across Andhra Pradesh
Monday, December 20, 2010
Unique Identification Authority of India
UNO declared year 2011 as International Year of Chemistry
Unique Identification Authority of India:-
- UIDAI has been created as n attached office under the Planning Commission
- Its role is to develop and implement the necessary institutional, technical and legal infrastructure to issue unique identity numbers to Indian residents.
- On June 25, 2009 the Cabinet also created and approved the position of the Chairperson of the UIDAI, and appointed Nandan Nilekani as the first chairperson in the rank and status of a cabinet minister. Ram Sewak Sharma has been appointed the Director General
- UIDAI renamed as Aadhaar as part of efforts to reach out to the common man.
gk:-
Unique Identification Authority of India:-
- UIDAI has been created as n attached office under the Planning Commission
- Its role is to develop and implement the necessary institutional, technical and legal infrastructure to issue unique identity numbers to Indian residents.
- On June 25, 2009 the Cabinet also created and approved the position of the Chairperson of the UIDAI, and appointed Nandan Nilekani as the first chairperson in the rank and status of a cabinet minister. Ram Sewak Sharma has been appointed the Director General
- UIDAI renamed as Aadhaar as part of efforts to reach out to the common man.
gk:-
* Nandaka Rajyam (1881) is first social drama in Telugu.
* Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) occupies first place in the list of top 500 Indian companies as per the first ever Fortune list of Indian entities by Fortune magazine.
* Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices advises minimum support prices (MSP) for major agricultural products to the Government of India.
* Korba coalfields is located in Chhattisgarh
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
The 10 Most Shocking CEO Departures Of 2010
The 10 Most Shocking CEO Departures Of 2010: "Some were more blindsided than others. Jeff Zucker was caught in the middle of an acquisition, while Tony Hayward's demotion was in the cards as soon as the rig blew up -- although he ruined a salvageable position with thoughtless comments and yacht race appearances. "
The Indian telecom sector
India started off with just 54.63 million telephones in 2003 and a very poor teledensity of barely5.11 percent now has the world's second largest telecommunications network. In 1999 the government had set itself a modest target of achieving 4 per cent rural teledensity by 2010. At a present figure of about 26.4 percent, we have far surpassed the target.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)