3rd Dec-4th Dec 2014

03-DEC-2014

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) was observed across the world on 3 December 2014. The theme - sustainable development: the promise of technology, with the aim of improving technology and making it more widely available to those living with disabilities.
The day will work to harness the power of technology to promote inclusion and accessibility to help realize the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in society and shape the future of sustainable development for all.
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities will focus on the role of technology in:
• Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Responses
• Creating Enabling Working Environments
• Disability-Inclusive Sustainable Development Goals
As a part of observation, Events like art exhibitions promoting artwork by people with disabilities and other events like protests to highlight the difficulties disabled people have in playing a full role in society.

About International Day of Persons with Disabilities

The International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly resolution in 1992. The day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
The day also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

World religious leaders signed joint declaration to end modern slavery

03-DEC-2014

The world religious leaders gathered and signed a joint declaration against modern slavery. The declaration was signed during the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery on 2 December 2014 in Vatican City.
Representatives of Anglican, Orthodox, Jewish, Shia and Sunni Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist gathered at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in Vatican and signed the declaration.
During the meeting, the Pope Francis addressed all the religious leaders that slavery is an absurd evil and a crime against humanity.
The declaration commits all the leaders and their communities to work together for the freedom of all people and to eradicate the terrible scourge of modern slavery in all its forms.
Besides, all religious leaders declared that modern slavery, in terms of human trafficking, forced labor and prostitution, and organ trafficking, is a crime against humanity.

Background

In November 2014, Walk Free Foundation released Global Slavery Index and announced that almost 36 million people around the globe are trapped in modern-day slavery. It also revealed that India, China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia are ranked high on the modern slavery list.
According to index, slavery was defined as controlling or possessing people in such a manner that their freedom is deprived with the intention of exploiting them for profit or sex, usually by violence, coercion, or deception.

Ashutosh Maharaj last rites should be performed within 15 days: Punjab & Haryana High Court

03-DEC-2014

Ashutosh Maharaj was in news because the Punjab and Haryana High Court on 1 December 2014 directed the Punjab government to perform last rites of him within 15 days. The direction led to protest and fortification of Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan (DJJS) by followers of Godman Ashutosh Maharaj.
Ashutosh, who headed the DJJS sect with its headquarters at Nurmahal near Jalandhar, was declared clinically dead by doctors on 29 January 2014. However, the sect management kept his body in a deep freezer claiming that the sect leader had gone into samadhi (deep meditation).

About Ashutosh Maharaj

Ashutosh Maharaj alias Mahesh Kumar Jha was born in 1946 in Bihar who later became a spiritual leader, preacher, and founder of Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan (DJJS). He preached that every individual can become an embodiment of truth, fraternity, and justice through the eternal science of self-realization – Brahm Gyan, uprooting in its wake all social evils and threat.
He was a controversial figure among Sikh community, who have alleged him to be hurting Sikh religious sentiments.

Astronomers for the first time measured transit of an Exoplanet 55 Cancri e using ground-base

03-DEC-2014

A team of astronomers for first time measured the transit of an exoplanet named 55 Cancri e (super-Earth) in front of a Sun-like star using a ground-based telescope. The exoplanet 55 Cancri e was measured by 2.5 meter Nordic Optical Telescope located on La Palma Island in Spain.
The study related to this was published in the December 2014 issue of The Astrophysical Journal Letters. Lead author of the study is Enst de Mooij of Queen’s University Belfast, in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
During its transit, the planet crosses its host star, 55 Cancri which is located just 40 light-years away from the Earth and visible to the naked eye. During the transit it blocked a tiny fraction of the starlight, dimming the star by 1/2000th (or 0.05 percent) for almost two hours.

Some facts of the 55 Cancri e (super-Earth)
• The planet 55 Cancri e is about twice as big and eight times as massive as the Earth with a period of 18 hours
• It is the innermost of five planets in the 55 Cancri System. The other four planets of the system are HD 75732, HIP 43587, HR 3522, and 55 Cnc
• Because of its proximity to the host star, the planet's dayside temperature reaches over 1700 Celsius - hot enough to melt metal - with conditions quite inhospitable to life.

Significance of the discovery

Discovery of 55 Cancri e using ground-based telescope is important because it raises the prospects of more such exoplanets in upcoming space missions such as Planetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO) and Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellites (TESS) can find many small planets around bright stars.

Planetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO)

Planetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO) will be launched by the European Space Agency in 2024. It will be launched with an aim to search for transiting terrestrial planets.

Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellites (TESS)

NASA’s 2017 Explorer Program that involves a space telescope named Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellites (TESS) will be launched exclusively for the purpose of searching exoplanets.

Bhopal gas tragedy remembered across the country on 3 December

03-DEC-2014

Nation on 3 December 2014 remembered the Bhopal gas tragedy that happened 30 years back on 3 December 1984. Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivaraj Singh Chouhan paid homage to victims and promised that efforts for rehabilitation of gas victims will continue.
Parliament also remembered the victims of Bhopal gas tragedy and extended the support to the victims. In Lok Sabha, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and in Rajya Sabha, Chairman Hamid Ansari expressed their houses support and commitment to the people affected by the gas leak.
On the occasion, a unique museum preserving the belongings and pictures of victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy was unveiled on the 30th anniversary of the disaster.
Event like religion prayer meeting was held in Barkatullah Bhawan of Bhopal to pay homage to the victims of gas tragedy. Non-government organizations organised rallies, meetings and effigy burning programme to mark the tragedy.

About Bhopal gas tragedy

The Bhopal gas tragedy was the worst industrial disaster in the World. The gas of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas and other chemicals leaked on the night of 2 December to 3 December 1984 from Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Due to leakage, almost five thousand people died in the incident and many victims are still facing problems like proper medical facilities, better living conditions including safe drinking water and employment after the 30 years of the tragedy. Toxic waste lying in the defunct plant of Union Carbide has yet to be disposed off.

Mission We Remember, a Motorcycle expedition by Navy concluded in Kerala

03-DEC-2014

Mission We Remember, the one month motor cycle expedition organized by the Southern Naval Command concluded on 2 December 2014 at Kochi in Kerala. The expedition was organised as part of the Navy Week Celebrations 2014
The motorcycle expedition was a part of Indian Navy’s efforts to strengthen relations with former Naval persons (who are no more). During the journey, the motorcyclers visited 768 naval widows residing in Kerala.
The expedition had 54 members which were divided into three teams and included Naval officials from Southern Naval Command, Kochi and Naval Academy, Ezhimala. These three teams visited all the 14 districts of Kerala as part of this novel expedition.
The expedition was flagged off at the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala on 7 November 2014 by Vice Admiral S.P.S. Cheema, Flag Officer Command-in-Chief.

Union Cabinet approved bill on coal block auctions to replace Coal Mines Ordinance 2014

03-DEC-2014

The Union Cabinet on 2 December 2014 approved a bill on coal block auctions to replace the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Ordinance, 2014. The decision on the bill was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Bill is expected to be introduced in Parliament in the winter session 2014.
The Ordinance was promulgated by the President in accordance with the Article 123 (1) of the Constitution to allow Union government to acquire the land of the 214 cancelled coal blocks and plants on it and e-auction them.
It also seeks to amend the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973 to effectively open up the coal mining sector to all companies in India including subsidiaries of foreign entities.

Main highlights of the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Ordinance, 2014
• It details the process the Union government will follow in taking over the mines that had been allocated to privately-owned and public-sector power, steel and cement companies between 1993 and 2010.
• It allows companies that had their coal block allocations for captive use cancelled by the Supreme Court to bid for the mines. However, it barred entities convicted of offences related to the allotment.
• It lays down the provisions for public auction of the mines by way of competitive bidding, which will require bidders to pay a fee not exceeding 5 crore rupees.
• It also allows a prior allottee to participate in the auction process subject to payment of the additional levy within such period as may be prescribed
• Any prior allottee who is convicted for an offence relating to coal block allocation and sentenced with imprisonment for more than three years, shall not be eligible to participate in the auction
• It classifies mines and their assets in three schedules.
• The first schedule contains all mines de-allocated by the Supreme Court on 24 September 2014, the coal bearing land acquired by previous allottees of these mines and the mining infrastructure.
• The second schedule comprises 42 mines mentioned in the first one but which are producing coal and for which the apex court has allowed a six-month grace period.
• The third schedule coal mines comprises of 32 Schedule I coal mines listed in Schedule III or any other Schedule I coal mine identified by the Union government for the purposes of specified end use.
• It provides for a nominated authority to ensure the transfer of the rights, interest and titles of these blocks, and the auction money will accrue to it. A Union government-appointed officer not below the rank of joint secretary shall be the nominated authority.
• It lays down a detailed procedure for reallocation of all prospecting licences or mining leases granted both by the central and state governments.
Background

Supreme Court in its order of 24 September 2014 had cancelled 214 coal block mines out of 218 allotted since 1993 saying they were given in an illegal and arbitrary manner.

After decision of Supreme Court, the Union Government through an Ordinance started the process of auctioning at least 74 operational or ready-to-operate blocks and has set a deadline to auction them by March 2014, the deadline set by the court for companies operating the mines to wind up operations.

Former Maharashtra CM Abdul Rahman Antulay passed away

03-DEC-2014

Former Chief Minister (CM) of Maharashtra and a veteran Congressman Abdul Rahman Antulay passed away on 2 December 2014 following a severe kidney ailment. He was 85.

Abdul Rahman Antulay

Born on 9 February 1929, Antulay was active in Congress since his younger days and rose from the district level to become MPCC general secretary, later he moved to All India Congress Committee.
Antulay was the first and only Muslim Chief Minister of Maharashtra during the years 1980 to 1982. However, his tenure as chief minister was cut short due to controversy popularly known as cement scandal that forced him to resign.
The leader again got elected in 1985 to the state assembly and remained there until 1989, when he was elected to the 9th Lok Sabha from Kolaba which later came to be known as Raigad.
From June 1995 to May 1996, he was Union minister of health and family welfare and from February to May 1996 he was given an additional charge of water resources.
He was also the Union minister for minority affairs in Manmohan Singh's UPA-I government.
In1996, he was re-elected to the 11th Lok Sabha and in 2004 he was elected to the 14th Lok Sabha.

 He fought his last election in 2009, which he lost to the Shiv Sena, after which he was out of the active politics.

Union Cabinet approved Regional Rural Banks (Amendment) Bill, 2013

03-DEC-2014

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2 December 2014 approved Regional Rural Banks (Amendment) Bill, 2013. The Bill seeks to amend the Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) Act, 1976.
The Bill will help enhance authorized and issued capital to strengthen their capital base and to bring flexibility in the shareholding between Union Government, State Government and Sponsor Bank.
Apart from this, the cabinet also decided that the term of the non-official directors appointed by the Union Government will be fixed and should not exceed three years.

Regional Rural Banks (Amendment) Bill, 2013
• The Regional Rural Banks (Amendment) Bill, 2013 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 22 April 2013. The Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Finance under the Chairmanship of Yashwant Sinha for examination.
• The Bill removes the five year upper limit mandated for Sponsor Banks to subscribe to the share capital of RRBs, train their personnel and provide managerial and financial assistance, thus allowing such assistance to continue beyond this duration.
• It increases the authorized capital of RRBs from 5 crore rupees to 500 crore rupees and the threshold limit from 25 lakh rupees to 1 crore rupees.
• It increases the ability of Union government to specify the capital issued by an RRB from earlier 25 lakh rupees – 1 crore rupees to 1 crore rupees and beyond.
• At present the shareholding pattern of RRB is 50 percent is subscribed to by the Union government, 15 percent by the concerned state government and 35 percent by the Sponsor Bank. The Bill permits an RRB to raise capital from other sources in addition to Union government, concerned State government and Sponsor Bank. In such case, however, the combined shareholding of the Union government and the Sponsor Bank shall not be less than 51 percent.
• It requires Union government to consult the concerned state government if the latter’s level of shareholding falls below 15 percent.
• The Bill provides for the appointment of Board of Directors by other entities also in addition to the nominations made by the Union government, the concerned state government, the Reserve Bank of India, NABARD and the Sponsor Bank. However, such nomination by other entities shall be in proportion to the share held by such entities.
• The Bill removes the specification that the term of a director shall not exceed two years and that he shall be eligible for re-nomination. However, this is only for directors other than those appointed by the central government.
• It retains the two year maximum term for directors appointed by the central government. Further, it states that such a director shall be eligible for re-nomination provided that he does not hold office for more than four years.
• As per the Act, the books of an RRB should be closed and balanced as on December 31 every year. The Bill changes the above date to March 31.

Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)

Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) were established in 1975 under the Ordinance promulgated on the 26 September 1975 and followed by Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976. It was established to create an alternative channel to the cooperative credit structure and to ensure sufficient institutional credit for the rural and agriculture sector.
The RBI in 2001 constituted a Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr V S Vyas on Flow of Credit to Agriculture and Related Activities from the Banking System which examined relevance of RRBs in the rural credit system and the alternatives for making it viable.
As a result of amalgamation, number of the RRBs has been reduced from 196 to 64 as on 31 March 2013. The number of branches of RRBs increased to 17856 as on 31 March 2013 covering 635 districts throughout the country.

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery observed on 2 December

03-DEC-2014

The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery was observed by the United Nations on 2 December 2014.The day is observed to focus on the elimination of human trafficking, child labour and other forms of modern-day slavery.
As a part of observation, the religious leaders across the world gathered in the Vatican for the eradication of modern slavery and signed a joint declaration against modern slavery. The religious leaders include Pope Francis joined Anglican, Orthodox, Jewish, Shia and Sunni Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist representatives in the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on world leaders, businesses and civil society alike to banish the barbaric practices of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, the worst forms of child labour, forced marriage and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has teamed up with prominent artists, athletes and advocated a new campaign to End Slavery Now. Many events took place on the day that people around the world share their perspective in writing through poetry, opinion pieces and short stories.
According to the data, 21 million women, men and children are trapped in slavery all over the world.

About International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery marks the date of adoption on 2 December 1929 by the United Nations General Assembly‘s Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others.
The day focuses on eradicating contemporary forms of slavery, such as trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, and the worst forms of child labour, forced marriage, and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict.

Rapid evolution of HIV slowing down its ability to cause AIDS: Study

03-DEC-2014

A new study has found that the rapid evolution of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is slowing down its ability to cause Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The findings of the study were published in the journal Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on 1 December 2014.
The study was conducted by Professor Philip Goulder and his team at the Nuffield Department of Medicine at Oxford University.

Apparatus of the Study

Goulder's team conducted their study in Botswana and South Africa, the two countries with high incidences of AIDS.
To start with, they first enrolled more than 2000 pregnant women with HIV and looked at whether the interaction between the body's natural immune response and HIV leads to the virus becoming less virulent or able to cause disease.
In the second part of the study, they examined the impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on HIV virulence.

Findings of the study
• The team demonstrated that the weakening of the immunodeficiency virus is due to its rapid evolution and ability to mutate over time.
• A gene known as HLA-B*57 in a person acted as a protection against the HIV virus. The study finds that the virus has adapted to the gene, which therefore no longer offers protection.
• However, the unforeseen result of this is that the mutation of the virus also weakens it and reduces its ability to replicate. One reason for this could be because of the growing use of HIV drugs.

Significance of the Study
• Factors that influence the virulence of HIV are of direct relevance to ongoing efforts to contain and eradicate the HIV epidemic.
• HIV is better adapted to HLA-B*57 gene which in Botswana has no protective effect, in contrast to its impact in South Africa.
• Modelling studies indicate that increasing antiretroviral therapy access may also contribute to accelerated declines in HIV virulence over the coming decades.

Chinese and Maldives Government signed MoU for preliminary study on bridge construction

03-DEC-2014

Chinese and Maldives government on 2 December 2014 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a preliminary study of a proposed bridge connecting the international airport to Maldives capital Male.
The MoU was signed by the Maldives Housing Minister Mohamed Muiz on behalf of the Maldivian government and the Chinese Principal of the Economic and Commercial Councilors Office Yung Vunzeong on behalf of the Chinese government.
The current research programs on building the bridge as well as future feasibility assessments and design work fall under the mandate of the MoU.
The preliminary study will be followed by a project feasibility study. Afterwards, a design plan will be determined and the two governments will explore options to finance the project.
The project underscores a deepening engagement between China and Maldives, which will help in the establishment of the 21st century Maritime Silk Route visualised by China.

Background

The construction of a bridge was first announced during former Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's reelection campaign in 2008.
Former President Mohamed Nasheed also pledged to link Maldives to its suburb islands Hulhumal, Hulhul, Villingili and Gulhifalhu via a bridge.
A 2011 feasibility study carried out by Ove Arup and Partners Hong Kong explored three options to link Maldives and Hulhul through Funadhoo Island on the north, or through two different paths on the southeastern side of Maldives over the surf point to the edge of the runway on Hulhul.

Union Cabinet approved Anti-Hijacking Bill 2014 giving death penalty to hijackers

03-DEC-2014

The Union cabinet on 2 December 2014 approved introduction of a comprehensive Anti-Hijacking Bill 2014. This Bill provides for stringent punishment including death penalty to hijackers in case of death of a hostage or security personnel.
It also provides imprisonment for life and the moveable and immoveable property of such persons shall also be liable to be confiscated.
The Bill is expected to be introduced in Parliament in the winter session 2014.
The cabinet also decided to repeal the Anti-Hijacking Act, 1982 (amended in 1994) and withdrawal of the Anti-Hijacking Amendment Bill, 2010. The decision was made during a Union Cabinet meet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Anti-Hijacking (Amendment) Bill, 2010

The Anti-Hijacking Amendment Bill, 2010 was brought after incident of hijack of Indian Airlines flight IC-814 in 1999 from Kathmandu. The amendment was made more necessary after the incident of 9/11 US attack in which aircrafts were used as weapons.
The Bill was pending in Rajya Sabha since it was introduced on 19 August 2010 by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Praful Patel. The Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture.

Main Features of Anti-Hijacking Amendment Bill, 2010

• The Bill wanted to amend the Anti-Hijacking Act, 1982. The Act states that any person (whether alone or in a group) who unlawfully, by force or intimidation seizes an aircraft commits the offence of hijacking is guilty of the offence
• The Bill enhances the penalty for hijacking to death or life imprisonment and fine as against the Act which stipulates a penalty of life imprisonment and fine for the offence of hijacking.
The Cabinet also gave approval for Ratification of the Beijing Protocol, 2010. India is a signatory of the Beijing Protocol that was signed at the global diplomatic Conference held at Beijing in August-September, 2010. This Protocol brought out new principal offences combined with ancillary offences, enlarged the scope of hijacking, expanded jurisdiction and strengthened extradition and mutual assistance regimes.

About December 1999 Indian Airlines flight IC-814 hijack

Indian Airlines (now Air India) flight IC-814 was hijacked on its way back to Delhi from Kathmandu on 24 December 1999. The flight was taken over by five Pakistani hijackers with 180 passengers and crew, the flight was forced to make a detour to Kandahar in Afghanistan.
The hijack drama that continued for several days ended after an agreement was reached between the Union Government and the terrorists. Under the agreement, India exchanged three jailed militants (Maulana Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and Mushtaq Zargar) for the release of passengers.

Anil Kumar Sinha appointed as new CBI director

03-DEC-2014

Senior IPS officer Anil Kumar Sinha was appointed as the new CBI Director on 2 December 2014. At the time of appointment as Director of CBI, Sinha, a 1979 batch IPS officer of Bihar cadre, was serving as a Special Director in CBI.
Anil Sinha will succeed Ranjit Sinha who retired on 2 December 2014. As per an official notification, term of Anil Sinha will be for two years from the date he takes charge.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the name of Anil Sinha who was among the 40 candidates shortlisted by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

About Anil Kumar Sinha
• Sinha has earlier held several important positions in his home cadre
• He has been a part of investigations of a number of disproportionate assets cases
• He has also served as DIG and IG in Special Protection Group, New Delhi, and Additional Secretary in Central Vigilance Commission

UP Government launched the Women Entrepreneurship Scheme 2014-15

03-DEC-2014

Uttar Pradesh (UP) government on 2 December 2014 launched the Women Entrepreneurship Scheme 2014-15 to empower women and ensure their participation in the process of industrialization.
Under the scheme, the state government is encouraging micro-level and individual traditional industries and handicraft units to form a special purpose vehicle (SPV).
The collection of 25 or more such units would qualify for benefits under a scheme that seeks to boost traditional Indian craft such as chikankari, terracotta, zari, zardozi and toys.

Highlights of the Women Entrepreneurship Scheme 2014-15
• The Central government will provide 70 percent of the 15 crore rupees under the scheme.
• The unemployed women are eligible for easy seed capital to start their own micro or small enterprise.
• The loan will be provided by nationalized banks, financial institutions or the State Financial Corporation for the purchase of plant and machinery.
• The beneficiaries are entitled to a loan of 50000 rupees per year at five percent interest subjected to a ceiling of 2.50 lakh rupees in five years.
• This scheme is applicable to both manufacturing and service sector units.

Japan launched asteroid explorer Hayabusa 2 to explore origin of earth

04-DEC-2014

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) along with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd on 3 December 2014 launched its second-generation asteroid explorer Hayabusa 2 from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan's southwestern Kagoshima prefecture.

The Hayabusa 2 was launched aboard the H-2A Launch Vehicle No.26 (H-2A F26) and it is the second mission of Japan after Hayabusa (MUSES-C) launched in 2003 to collect asteroid samples.

Hayabusa 2 will explore one of the C-type asteroids called 1999 JU3 in space, retrieve materials and bring them to Earth.

The Hayabusa2 is expected to reach the asteroid in mid-2018 and return to earth in late 2020. During its 18 month stay it will blow a crater in a remote asteroid and study it. It will bring back rock samples in hopes of gathering clues to the origin of Earth.

At the same time, it will attempt to obtain new technologies such as creation of artificial craters and high-speed communications in deep space.

Haybusa 2 weighs 600 kg and loaded with a set of spectrometers, cameras, variety of remote-sensing instruments and a small lander and a rover.

Remember Bhopal museum inaugurated

04-DEC-2014

Museum named Remember Bhopal was inaugurated on the eve of 30 years of Bhopal gas tragedy on 3 December 2014.

The museum portrays the trauma and 30 years of relentless struggle by the victims to get justice. It houses photographs and personal items of the victims, accompanied by audio clips recorded by relatives.

The museum has nearly 50 original audio recordings of the survivors cut into three minutes loops that can be heard by picking up phone receivers hung on the walls. Besides, survivors or families of the several victims have recorded their own testimonies for the museum.

The museum is split into five sections — Trauma Room, Health Room, Anderson Wall, Toxic Water Wall, Compensation Room and the Movement Room . Every section is a heart-wrenching reminder of the catastrophe and meticulously conserves the last tangible link with the dead and those who survived.

DIPP issued Press Note 10 to relax FDI norms for the construction development sector

04-DEC-2014

Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) on 3 December 2014 issued Press Note 10 of 2014 series to relax the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms for the construction development sector. DIPP is under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The eased norms include easy exit norms and reduced built-up area and capital needs.

Revised norms under Press Note 10
• 100 percent of FDI is allowed in construction development sector through the automatic route. However, 100 percent FDI is permitted only in completed projects for operation and management of townships, malls/ shopping complexes and business centres.
• FDI is not permitted in an entity which is engaged or proposes to engage in real estate business, construction of farm houses and trading in transferable development rights (TDRs).
• Foreign investor will be permitted to exit on completion of the project or after development of trunk infrastructure, that is, roads, water supply, street lighting, drainage and sewerage.
• The new norms has made exit easy and has done away with the three-year lock-in period for repatriation of investment. Earlier, investor investors were permitted to exit on completion of the project or after three years from the date of final investment in trunk infrastructure.
• There is no minimum land area required in case of developed service plots.
• In case of construction-development projects, the minimum floor area requirement has been reduced to 20000 square metres from 50000 square metres earlier.
• It permits an investee company to bring minium FDI of 5 million US dollars within six months of commencement of the project. Earlier it was 10 million US dollars.
• The investee company can bring the subsequent tranches of FDI till the period of 10 years from the commencement of the project or before the completion of the project, whichever expires earlier.
• The government may permit repatriation of FDI or transfer of stake by one non-resident investor to another non-resident investor, before the completion of project. These proposals will be considered by FIPB on case to case basis.
• The Indian investee company will be permitted to sell only developed plots. For the purposes of this policy developed plots will mean plots where trunk infrastructure has been made available.
• The government has exempted the conditions of minimum floor area and capital requirement if an investee or joint venture companies commit at least 30 percent of the total project cost for low-cost housing.

Comment
The new norms will attract foreign funds in construction of townships, hospitals and hotels and new measures will result in enhanced inflows into the construction development sector. It is also likely to result in creation of much needed low cost affordable housing and development of smart cities in India.

Now smaller projects can attract FDI with reduction in minimum built-up area requirement. Though 100 percent FDI was allowed in townships, housing and built-up infrastructure and construction developments since 2005, but the government had imposed certain conditions.

DNA test of skeleton of King Richard III raised questions over succession in British monarchy

04-DEC-2014

Scientists at University of Leicester in a DNA test conducted on skeleton of King Richard III found that the male line of descent was broken at one or more points. The lineage was broken between Richard III and Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort (1744-1803).

The study related to this was published in the latest issue of Nature Communications and the study was led by Turi King of Leicester University.

The researchers said that the study has provided scientific evidence for the first time of a possible question mark over medieval lines of succession in the monarchy.

In the study, the paternity tests on the DNA of a living male-line descendant of Richard III’s royal lineage have failed to match. Researchers said that this discovery points to some royal person being born on the wrong side.

The study found that there were 19 links in that chain, so there is an equal probability of any one of those 19 being broken.

However, the DNA test passed on exclusively through the maternal line, and matches precisely with two female-line descendants alive today. These two descendants are 14th cousins twice removed from Richard III.

About King Richard III

King Richard III born on 2 October 1452 was King of England from 1483 until his death on 22 August 1485. He died in the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty.

His defeat at Bosworth Field, the last decisive battle of the Wars of the Roses, marked the end of the Middle Ages in England.

East Zone won 2014-15 Deodhar Trophy of cricket

04-DEC-2014

East Zone won the 2014-15 Deodhar Trophy of cricket on 3 December 2014 by defeating West Zone by 24 runs. The final match was played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
This was the first Deodhar Trophy win for East Zone after 11 seasons.
East Zone won the toss and opted to bat first posted 269 for 8 in the stipulated 50 overs. In reply to the target, West Zone bundled out for 245 in 47.2 overs.

Pacer Ashok Dinda of East Zone who bagged 4 wickets was adjudged man of the match.
• Captain of East Zone: Manoj Tiwary
• Captain of West Zone: Yusuf Pathan
The 2013-14 Deodhar Trophy was won by West Zone. In the finals, it defeated North Zone by 133 runs on 27 March 2014 at Visakhapatnam.

Deodhar Trophy
Deodhar Trophy is a List A cricket competition in Indian domestic cricket. It is named after Prof. DB Deodhar who is known as the Grand Old Man of Indian cricket. It is a 50-over knockout competition played on an annual basis among the 5 zonal teams - North Zone, South Zone, East Zone, West Zone and Central Zone.
The competition was introduced in 1973-74 season with South Zone winning the trophy.

Sikh woman Preet Didbal elected as council member of California's Yuba City

04-DEC-2014

A Sikh woman Preet Didbal was on 3 December 2014 elected as a council member of California's Yuba City that has huge concentration of Sikhs in comparison to other cities. This is the first time that a Sikh Woman is elected to the council of Yuba City.
Preet Didbal was sworn in by her daughter as part of the Yuba City ceremony for new council members. As per the tradition of Yuba City, the new council members are sworn in by their children.

Preet Didbal
Currently Preet Didbal is a correctional health care services manager in the California Department of Correction. She has also served on the Yuba City Planning Commission for eight years.
Dibal holds an associate degree in nutrition, a bachelor's degree in physical education and a master's in public administration.
Yuba City
•   Yuba City in California has one of the largest concentration of Sikhs in the United States.
•   It is known nationwide for the annual Sikh Day parade, which is attended by the thousands of people from across the country.
•   In 2009, Kash Gill became the first Sikh American to be elected as Mayor of the Yuba City.

New India Assurance launched cheapest top-up health insurance plan

04-DEC-2014

Largest health insurance provider New India Assurance (NIA) on 1 December 2014 launched the cheapest top-up health insurance plan in the country.

It will be sold as an individual policy and also as a family floater plan where the sum insured is shared among all members of a family.

As per the plan,

• Hospitalization expenses ranging from 15 lakh rupees to 20 lakh rupees can be availed for 3500 rupees a year for someone up to 44 years.
• It covers person with a basic mediclaim policy and uninsured people who are in a position to bear expenses up to the threshold limit of 5 lakh rupees on their own.

• It provides for a sub-limit in respect of room charges. The room rental limit is 5000 rupees per day for someone with a 5 lakh rupees threshold and 8000 rupees if the person goes for an 8 lakh rupees threshold.
• It covers critical illness and small critical illness to take care of the non-hospitalisation expenses also.
• A unique aspect of NIA's cover is that for the threshold limit to be reached, all hospitalization expenses are taken into account irrespective of whether the expenses would qualify as an insurance claim.

This new top-up health plan of NIA has the potential to be disruptive given its pricing and the distribution reach of the country's largest non-life insurer.

SC constituted Social Justice Bench to deal with social issue

04-DEC-2014

Supreme Court on 3 December 2014 set up a Social Justice Bench to exclusively hear cases related to women, children and underprivileged. The apex court set up the special bench in lieu of the specialized approach needed for dealing with such social issues.
The newly constituted two-judge SC bench will be headed by Justice Madan B Lokur and comprises of Justice U U Lalit as member. The bench will assemble every Friday at 2 PM from 12 December 2014 onwards.

The Social Justice Bench is a brainchild of Chief Justice of India H L Dattu to ensure early disposal of the pending cases related to social justice so that the masses will realize the fruits of the rights provided to them by the Constitution.
The new bench will take up not only pending matters but also new ones in order to secure social justice as enshrined in the Preamble of Constitution of India.
Type of issues that will be heard by the Social Justice Bench include
• Issues related to the release of food grains lying in stock for use in drought-affected areas, framing of a fresh scheme for their public distribution
• Taking of steps to prevent the untimely death of women and children for want of nutritious food, hygienic mid-day meals in schools, clean drinking water, provision of safety and secured living conditions for women forced into prostitution
• Issues related to children to provide night shelter to destitute and homeless
• To provide medical facilities to all the citizens irrespective of their economic condition

In past, the Supreme Court has often set up dedicated benches; however, these were primarily set up to deal with economic issues like tax issues. The apex court has also set up dedicated bench to deal with environmental cases which was earlier called Forest Bench but was later renamed the Green Bench.
Similarly, the lower judiciary has courts dedicated to crimes against children and offences like sexual assault.

Oldest litigant of Babri Masjid case Hashim Ansari decided to withdraw his plea

04-DEC-2014

The main and oldest litigant in the Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, Mohammad Hashim Ansari (94) was in news recently as he decided to withdraw his plea on the case on 3 December 2014. He has been fighting the case since 1959.
His decision came three days before the 6 December, the anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition.
Exasperated over the politicization of the issue, Ansari said that he was ready for talks with the Prime Minister for peaceful negotiations in the matter if he promises to ensure punishment to the demolition accused.

Meanwhile, the legal experts say that Hashim Ansari’s withdrawal will not make any difference as several others still remain as the party in the matter.
About Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute
The original title suit was filed in the Faizabad court in 1959 and the petition contested the placement of Hindu idols inside the Masjid complex. But the dispute took an ugly turn on 6 December 1992, when the mosque was demolished-leading to large-scale rioting across the country.
In 2010, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court had ruled in a majority judgement that there be a three-way division of the land on which the Babri mosque stood — one part each for Ram Lalla (infant Ram), Nirmohi Akhada and Sunni Waqf Board.
That High Court verdict was subsequently stayed by the Supreme Court which admitted appeals by both Hindu and Muslim organisations.

Union Finance Ministry constituted High Level Committee to hear industry's tax issues

04-DEC-2014

The Union Finance Ministry on 3 December 2014 constituted a High Level Committee (HLC) to interact with trade and industry on tax-related issues on a regular basis. The high level committee will be headed by former Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) Ashok Lahiri.
Other two members of the committee are Sidhartha Pradhan, retired member of the Settlement Commission (Income Tax and Wealth Tax) and Gautam Ray, retired DG (Audit) of the Customs and Central Excise.

Terms of Reference (ToR) of the High Level Committee
• The High Level Committee will interact with trade and industry on regular basis and ascertain areas where clarity in tax laws is required.
• The HLC will give recommendations to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) for issuance of appropriate clarifications by way of circulars, instructions on tax issues.
• The CBDT/CBEC will issue the required clarifications, circulars, instructions within a period of 2 months from the date of receipt of recommendations of the HLC.
• The HLC will be assisted by two Nodal Officers not below the rank of Joint Secretary/Commissioner, one each from Income Tax and Customs & Central Excise. The choice of Nodal Officers will be recommended by CBDT and CBEC. The appointment of the Nodal Officers will be made with the approval of Revenue Secretary.
• The HLC shall set its own procedures for regulating its work.
• The HLC may consult experts and tax professionals from outside as it may consider appropriate. The HLC may also invite officers from Department of Revenue, including CBEC and CBDT and other Government Departments for interaction.
• The Chairman and two members of the Committee will function on part time basis.
• The term of the Committee shall be for one year from the date of its constitution, subject to further extensions as may be considered appropriate by the Department of Revenue, Union Ministry of Finance.
• The HLC will submit half-yearly reports to the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Background
In 2014-15 Budget speech, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced the government's intention to set up a high level committee to interact with trade and industry on a regular basis and ascertain areas where clarity in tax laws was required.
This was among several measures that the NDA government had unveiled to boost the confidence of tax payers and provide certainty and clarity in tax laws.
The government is dealing with several high profile tax disputes with multinationals and has taken steps to calm nerves of investors by promising a non-adversarial tax regime.

American saxophonist Bobby Keys died at 70

04-DEC-2014

American saxophonist Bobby Keys died in Franklin, Tennessee on 2 December 2014. He was 70. He played saxophone for the The Rolling Stones, English rock band formed in Kent in 1962.

Bobby was most famous for his work with the The Rolling Stones on the classic track Brown Sugar and album Exile On Main Street. He made a unique musical contribution to The Rolling Stones band since 1960s.

About Bobby Keys
• Bobby Keys was born in Texas in 1943.
• He was a self-taught musician and he was a rock 'n' roller in every sense of the term.
• He recorded with a Who's Who of rock, Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, John Lennon, George Harrison, Carly Simon, Country Joe and the Fish, Harry Nilsson, Joe Cocker and Sheryl Crow.
• He played saxophone for The Rolling Stones that includes the albums Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main St., Goats Head Soup, Emotional Rescue, Stripped and etc .,
• His other albums with other artists include Ringo, Goodnight Vienna, Gimme Some Neck, Mahoney's Last Stand, Barbra Joan Streisand, No Secrets and Hotcakes.

Archaeologists discovered 12th century royal palace hidden under prehistoric fortress at Old Sarum

04-DEC-2014

Archaeologists from the University of Southampton on 3 December 2014 revealed their discovery of one of the largest medieval royal palace of 12th Century buried under the ground inside a vast prehistoric fortress in Old Sarum.
The research team of students and academics carried out a geophysical survey of the ancient monument. Their investigations revealed the layout of a settlement including structures from the late 11th century, contemporary with the construction of a cathedral and castle.
The palace was discovered while mapping a long-vanished medieval city Old Sarum which has lain under grass on the site for more than 700 years.

Techniques used for archeological excavation
• The team used a variety of techniques to examine the outer and inner bailey of the site. These included the use of topographic survey methods and geophysical survey techniques.
• These techniques comprised of magnetometry, earth resistance, ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electric resistivity tomography (ERT) survey.
• The archaeologists also used geophysical ground-penetrating ‘x-ray’ technology to map the long-vanished medieval city.
Background
The city Old Sarum was inhabited for over 300 years, but declined in the 13th century with the rise of New Sarum (Salisbury). Old Sarum was originally an Iron Age fort established around 400 BC and occupied by the Romans after the conquest of Britain in AD 43.
A castle, originally built of timber and later stone, was built after the Norman Conquest. By 1092 a cathedral had been constructed with an extension added in 1130.
Eventually, a new cathedral was established during the 1220s in what is now modern day Salisbury marking the start of a gradual decline of Old Sarum.

20th edition of the Corruption Perceptions Index 2014 released

04-DEC-2014

The 20th edition of the Corruption Perceptions Index 2014 was released on 3 December 2014. The Index measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption in 175 countries and territories.
The 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index shows that economic growth is undermined and efforts to stop corruption fade when leaders and high level officials abuse power to appropriate public funds for personal gain.
It also highlighted that corporate secrecy and global money laundering is makes it harder for emerging economies to fight corruption.
India with a score of 38 was ranked 85th among 175 nations on the index, thus improving its position slightly compared to 96th position and a score of 36 in 2013. Its ranking though an improvement from 2013 is still lower than sub-Saharan countries such as Benin and Burkina Faso.
Highlights of the index

• No single country got a perfect score and more than two-third countries scored below 50, on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

• The index was topped by Denmark with a score of 92. It was followed by New Zealand and Finland with a score of 91 and 89 respectively. At fourth and fifth place lied Sweden and Norway with a score of 87 and 86 respectively.
• At the bottom of the list are South Sudan (171), Afghanistan (172), Sudan (173) and North Korea and Somalia shared the last place at 174 with a score of 8 each.
• Turkey, Angola, China, Malawi and Rwanda saw the biggest fall in their scores. These all countries noted a fall of – 4 in their scores compared to 2013 despite experiencing an average economic growth of more than 4 percent over the last four years.
• The biggest improvement in scores over 2013 were witnessed in Côte d´Ivoire, Egypt, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (+5), Afghanistan, Jordan, Mali and Swaziland (+4).
• It called on countries at the top of the index where public sector corruption is limited to stop encouraging it elsewhere by doing more to prevent money laundering and to stop secret companies from masking corruption.
• Countries at the bottom need to adopt radical anti-corruption measures in favour of their people. Countries at the top of the index should make sure they don’t export corrupt practices to underdeveloped countries.
Corruption Perception Index 2014 and India
• India with a score of 38 has been ranked 85 out of 175 nations once again highlighting that corruption still remains rampant in the country
• Corruption continues to be India's biggest challenge despite the engagement, innovation and participation of vibrant civil society, media and people at large.
• Corruption in India emanates from the inadequacy of structures of accountability and transparency to deter the corrupt and the access to such mechanisms by the people.
• To tackle corruption, the conversion of political commitment to concrete action at the highest level of government is needed. That is, it needs stronger law enforcement, corruption watchdogs and protection of whistleblowers.
• The low score of India at 38 along with low scores of other countries in the Asia-Pacific region indicate a general weak or ineffective leadership to counter corruption, posing threats for both sustainability of their economies and somewhat fragile democracies.
• The low score of India also sends a loud statement that leaders must create societies that are more systematically resistant to corruption. That means taking a more inclusive approach to fighting corruption.
BRICS economies
Corruption and money laundering are also problems for the other BRIC countries. South Africa is the highest ranked country in the BRICS. It is ranked 67 with a score of 44. Next among the BRICS is Brazil ranked 69 with a score of 43 followed by India ranked 85 with score 38, China ranked 100 with score 36 and Russia ranked 136 with a score of 27.
SAARC Countries

Among the SAARC countries, Bhutan is ranked highest and Afghanistan lies at the bottom. Bhutan is ranked 30 with a score of 65 whereas Afghanistan is ranked 172 with a score of 12. In between lies India and Sri Lanka at 85 with a score of 38, Pakistan and Nepal at 126 with a score of 29 and Bangladesh at 145 with a score of 25.
About Corruption Perceptions Index

The Corruption Perceptions Index is prepared by Transparency International (TI) which is a global coalition against corruption. The Index is based on expert opinions of public sector corruption and countries are ranked on the basis of corruption perception score measured on the scale of 0 – 100. A score of 0 means highly corrupt country whereas a score of 100 means very clean country.
Transparency International (TI) is based in Berlin Germany and its Managing Director is Cobus de Swardt.
At present, TI is running a campaign called Unmask the Corrupt, urging European Union, United States and G20 countries to follow Denmark’s lead and create public registers that would make clear who really controls, or is the beneficial owner, of every company.

Prince of Gujarat: The Extraordinary Story of Prince Gopaldas Desai released

04-DEC-2014

Prince of Gujarat: The Extraordinary Story of Prince Gopaldas Desai (1887-1951): Rajmohan Gandhi
Book titled Prince of Gujarat: The Extraordinary Story of Prince Gopaldas Desai (1887-1951) authored by Rajmohan Gandhi was released on 7 November 2014.
In this biography, author Rajmohan Gandhi has used letters, rare documents, personal accounts and historical narratives in the book and tried to recreate vivid and moving detail of life and times of a leader of supreme honesty and unalloyed patriotism who also battled against the hierarchies of Indian society.

The writer in the book has described the story of Gopaldas born in 1887 into a clan of princely Patels, Darbar (Prince) of the people of his tiny state in Saurashtra and his active and courageous participation in the struggle for India’s freedom and social justice. He also narrates the story of Gopaldas fight for minority Gujarat’s Muslims, dalit rights and women rights.

About Gopaldas Desai
• Gopaldas Ambaidas Desai also called Darbar Gopaldas Desai was born at Vaso in the present day Kheda district of Gujarat in 1887
• He was a former prince and later ruler of the State of Dhasa in Saurashtra and a noted Gandhian political and social activist
• He is remembered as the first prince in India who gave up his principality to become a freedom fighter against the British Raj
• He along with his wife Bhakti Lakshmidevi Desai better known as Bhaktiba became active freedom fighters from 1922 after which his state was confiscated.
• He was deposed as ruler by the British after he disobeyed the British Resident General's warnings against his involvement in the national movement and extending financial support to Gandhi
• The British then rejected the claims of Gopaldas other three sons and instead appointed Gopaldas brother Chaturbhai as the new ruler
• He died in 1951
About the Author
Rajmohan Gandhi born in 1935 is a biographer and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. He is a research professor at the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA. He is also a Scholar in residence at Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar.
His father was Devdas Gandhi, son of Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation.

Some of his books include
• Rajmohan Gandhi last book was Punjab: A History from Aurangzeb to Mountbatten, published in 2013
• In 2009 his study, A Tale of Two Revolts: India 1857 and the American Civil War was published in India, the UK and the US
• Ghaffar Khan: Nonviolent Badshah of the Pakhtuns published in 2004
• Revenge & Reconciliation: Understanding South Asian History published in 1999
• Patel: A Life, a biography of Vallabhbhai Patel (1875-1950), Deputy Prime Minister of India, 1947-50
• Eight Lives: A Study of the Hindu-Muslim Encounter (1987)
• The Good Boatman: A Portrait of Gandhi was published in 2009 in a Chinese translation in Beijing

Few books those were awarded
• Mahatma Gandhi, Mohandas: A True Story of a Man, His People and an Empire – it received the prestigious Biennial Award from the Indian History Congress in 2007
• Rajaji: A Life, a biography of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (1878-1972) – for the book in 2001 he received the Sahitya Akademi Award.

Meghalaya formed panel to expedite inclusion process of Khasi-language in Constitution

04-DEC-2014

State Government of Meghalaya on 3 December 2014 constituted a committee to speed up the process of getting the Khasi-language included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
The 15-member committee will be headed by Deputy Chief Minister RC Laloo.
The committee was formed after Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma in last week of November 2014 assured the assembly that the government will constitute a committee for the purpose.

About Khasi-language
• Khasi also known as as Khasia, Khassee, Cossyah or Kyin is a language of the Mon-Khmer linguistic branch
• Khasi language is recognized as the Associate Official Language of the state after the Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005 received the governor's assent on 1 May 2005
• The language is spoken by at least 1.5 million people in the Meghalaya, mainly by people of Khasi and Jaintia tribes
• The Khasi language has obtained credible status at the academic level and is included in the syllabus of graduate and post graduate studies of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) enabling students to do research work in Khasi leading to the MPhil and PhD degrees
• The Khasi authors have been awarded with Bhasha Samman by the Sahitya Akademi in 1996 and 2012.
• Since 1971, Khasi community has been struggling to accord constitutional recognition of Khasi-language
• UNESCO on 6 April 2012 said that Khasi-language is no longer in danger and withdrew Khasi from its Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger