MGNREGA work days raised to 150, crop loans cut to 7%-"11-09-2012"

11 September 2012 Current Affairs

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MGNREGA work days raised to 150, crop loans cut to 7%

Empowered Group of Ministers(EGoM) on drought headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar  decided to increase the number of guaranteed work days under MGNREGA to 150 days and cut interest rates on crop loans to 7 percent for one year for the farmers in drought-affected states. 

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Punjab government amends Canal and Drainage Act

The offence of “theft of canal water” can now attract both fine and 6 months imprisonment after an amendment in the law relating to canals and drainage.Punjab Irrigation Minister, Janmeja Singh Sekhon informed  that the Punjab government has amended section 70 of the Act for this.

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Indian writer Jeet Thayil on Man Booker shortlist

Indian writer Jeet Thayil’s first novel ‘Narcopolis’, described as a compelling tale of Mumbai’s hazy world of opium addiction, has made it to the six-author short list for the Man Booker Prize 2012 announced on 11th September 2012.

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India pledges $10-million for Palestine

The Prime Minister Manmohan Tuesday announced to an assistance of $10 million to Palestine’s budget for this year to help address its financial requirements.Prime Minister made this announcement after signing three bilateral pacts – the areas of information and communication technology, vocational training and education with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is at present in New Delhi for his three-day long state visit.

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Vice President Releases the Book ‘Muslims in Indian Cities’

Vice President after releasing  the book entitled “Muslims in Indian Cities” edited by Laurent Gayer and Christoph Jafferlot on 10th September 2012 at New Delhi,  Shri Ansari has said that Muslims have lived in India’s religiously plural society for over a thousand years, at times as rulers, at others as subjects and now as citizens. They are not homogenous in racial or linguistic terms and bear the impact of local cultural surroundings, in manners and customs, in varying degrees.

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Japan to buy disputed East China Sea islands

The uninhabited islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, have long been a source of friction. Japan and China have competing territorial claims to the islets and surrounding fishing areas and potentially rich gas deposits.The Japanese government will buy the islets for 2.05 billion yen ($26.15 million) and the owners will sign a contract soon.

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Five Indian firms in Forbes list of world’s most innovative companies-"07-09-2012"

7 September 2012 Current Affairs

Five Indian firms in Forbes list of world’s most innovative companies

Five Indian companies including Larsen & Toubro, Hindustan Unilever and Infosys are ranked on Forbes magazine’s list of “The World’s Most Innovative Companies” topped by four US companies.Larsen & Toubro got the ninth rank,Hindustan Unilever  got the 12th rank, Infosys got 19th rank,Tata Consultancy Services got 29th rank and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries  got 38th rank.Four US companies- Cloud computing king Salesforce.com, drug major Alexion Pharmaceuticals, internet retail giant Amazon.com and open source software leader Red Hat took the top four places.

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Two Same magnitude earthquake in China  at Yunnan and Guizhou

80 people were died , more than 730 people were injured,twenty thousand homes were destroyed  and nearly one hundred thousand persons have been evacuated after the two earthquakes at a magnitude of 5.6  hit Yunnan and Guizhou provinces in China on 07th September 2012.

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U.S. designates Haqqani network a terrorist group

The United States said on 7th September 2012 it is designating the Pakistan-based Haqqani network a terrorist organization, triggering sanctions against a group American officials blame for high-profile attacks in Afghanistan, and which they say has ties to the Pakistani state.

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Bill for special status for six districts in Hyderabad-Karnataka region introduced

In the Lok Sabha on 7th September 2012 ,Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde introduced a Bill to amend the Constitution and thus provide a special status to the Hyderabad-Karnataka region , under a new Article 371(J).Once it is approved by Parliament the Hyderabad-Karnataka region covering six backwards districts – Bidar, Gulbarga, Koppal, Yadgir, Raichur and Bellary – will get more central funds for development and will be on par with the Telananga region of Andhra Pradesh. Besides, there will be reservation in jobs and education for the locals.

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Deveshwar appointed on RBI board-"04-09-2012"

4 September 2012 Current Affairs

Deveshwar appointed on RBI board

The government has appointed ITC chairman Y.C. Deveshwar as a director on the central board of directors of the Reserve Bank of India.

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Andhra pradesh HC(High Court) fixes quota in local bodies at 50 percent

The AP High Court on 04 September 2012 ruled that the combined reservations for Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Panchayat Raj local bodies should not exceed the upper ceiling of 50 per cent.The court directed the state to cut the quota for BCs and bring the cumulative figure down to 50 per cent.

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India, Pakistan to ink 3 pacts to boost economic activity

Hoping that the forthcoming visit of External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna would lead to a liberal visa regime agreement, Commerce and Industry Minister, Anand Sharma, on 04th September 2012, said India and Pakistan would soon ink three agreements in the areas of customs co-operation, mutual recognition of standards and redressal of trade issues to give a fillip to economic activity.

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India’s Girisha Hosanagara Nagarajegowda wins silver in London Paralympics

The Girisha Hosanagaara Nagarajegowda won India’s first medal at the London 2012 paraolympic Games.The Karnataka athlete bagged the silver with a 1.74m effort in the men’s high jump F42 event on 03 September 2012.

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India, China to resume joint military exercises

India and China announced on 04th September 2012  they would resume joint military exercises after a four-year gap, a move designed to build trust in the often prickly relationship between the world’s two most populous nations.

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No mobile connection for more than 3 months to any foreign tourist: Government-"02/09/2012"

2 September 2012 Current Affairs

No mobile connection for more than 3 months to any foreign tourist: Government

To avoid misuse of SIM cards, the government told to the Telecom Service Providers not to provide mobile connection for more than three months to any foreign tourist visiting India.According to the fresh guidelines, which have come into effect recently, the Department of Telecom (DoT) has told the service providers that the proof for issuance of a mobile connection to any foreigner would be the passport having a valid visa.

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India beat Cameroon to lift Nehru Cup for the third consecutive time

India beat Cameroon in  the Nehru Cup 2012 football tournament. This is India’s third consecutive Nehru Cup title, infact they have just won the three.

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China to shut hundreds of coal mines this year

The State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) said the country(China) aims to close  625 small coal mines this year in an attempt to reduce the number of deadly accidents, coal mine explosions and raise the safety in coal mines.

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Sebi plans investor website in 13 Indian languages

Market regulator Sebi is planning to soon offer its investor website in as many as 13 Indian languages, besides the existing one in English, to spread awareness among investors and to help resolve their grievances.

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India’s GDP to remain below 6% for 2012-13

CII(Confederation of Indian Industry) survey indicated that the GDP growth during 2012-13 is expected to remain below 6 percent

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China developing new class of guided missile destroyer-"01/09/2012"

1 September 2012 Current Affairs

China developing new class of guided missile destroyer’

The Chinese Navy is developing a brand new class of guided-missile destroyer, a “new type” of naval warship with upgraded air-defence missiles, anti-ship and anti-submarine missiles.The new destroyers are equipped with two 32-unit vertical launch systems capable of launching HQ-9B air-defence missiles, anti-ship and anti-submarine missiles.The new destroyer is comparable to the “Aegis” equipped destroyers of the US Navy which use powerful computers and radars to track and guide weapons to destroy enemy targets.

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America Court Summons to Parkash Singh Badal

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who was served summons by a US court last month in a case of alleged custodial torture and extra judicial killings of Sikhs, has sought dismissal of the motion against him or additional time of 90 days to defend the charges.The US District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin had issued Summons against Badal on August 8 when he was in Wisconsin on a private visit to attend a marriage ceremony.

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St Andrews shines new light on vital medical procedures

Dr Tomas Cizmar, Research Fellow in the School of Medicine and Professor Kishan Dholakia of the School of Physics  at the University of St Andrews have made a breakthrough in fibre optic research which could allow doctors to see inside some of the hardest to reach parts of the human body with imaging devices no thicker than a human hair.

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Obama appoints IIT graduate to admin post

U.S. President Barack Obama has announced to appoint eminent Indian-American, Romesh Wadhwani, to a key administration post by making him board of trustees of the prestigious John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

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China Military test fires 14,000km range missile"28/08/2012"

28 August 2012 Current Affairs

China Military test fires 14,000km range missile

The china central television(CCTV) reported that the china’s military had successfully tested the new 14,000km rang Dong feng-41 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). It have the capacity to carry 10 nuclear war heads. 

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Ban on employment of Children aged up to 14
The Union cabinet on 28 Aug 2012 approved a proposal for amending the child labour(Prohibition and Regulation)act,1986 to ban employment of children aged up to 14 in any form of industry. employment of such children’s not only seen in Industries, but also in homes or on farms. Quoting the national sample survey organization’s figures, official sources said the amendment would benefit 46 lakh, who have been working in various industries now.

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Southern Naval Command gets new chief Staff

Rear Admiral G.Ashok Kumar has taken over as the chief of staff of the southern Naval command, kochi, specialist in navigation and direction, he commanded INS Kulish and INS Ranvir.

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SBI cards Launched ‘Click2card’ online application service

 ’Make life simple’ by fulfilling the quote SBI cards launched a new online application sevice’click2card’,aimed at netting about 3,000 customer in the next 4 months. click2card is another innovation service offering and is in line with our digital road map.

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SL Committee pulled up for diluting civil nuclear Liability Rules

The subordinate legislation committee of the lok sabha has pulled up the department of atomic energy for ‘diluting’ the civil. liability for clear Damage(CLND)Act. The committee monitors whether the rules tabled in parliament are in tune with the act passed by parliament. This is 15 member panel has represented from all parties.

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New Chancellor for AMET University

Admiral Efthimios E. Mitropoulous, former secretary-general of the International maritime Organization, has joined the Chennai – based AMET as is chancellor.

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Hashim Amla Fastest Player to score 3,000 ODI runs

South Africa’s Hashim Amla became the fastest player to get 3,000 one day International runs during the course of his 150 that set up the protea’s 80-run win over England. Amla’s brilliant 124-ball knock on 28 Aug 2012, featuring 16 fours, saw him reach the land mark in 57 innings.

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SBI cards Launched ‘Click2card’ online application service-"27/08/2012"

SBI cards Launched ‘Click2card’ online application service

 ’Make life simple’ by fulfilling the quote SBI cards launched a new online application sevice’click2card’,aimed at netting about 3,000 customer in the next 4 months. click2card is another innovation service offering and is in line with our digital road map.

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China Military test fires 14,000km range missile

The china central television(CCTV) reported that the china’s military had successfully tested the new 14,000km rang Dong feng-41 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). It have the capacity to carry 10 nuclear war heads.Simultaneously, the state media also announced that China's first Aircraft carrier, Varyag has set out for 10th sea trials. The retrofit carrier, whose hull was bought from Ukraine is capable of carrying 30 fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.  It was expected to become operational later this year.

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Southern Naval Command gets new chief Staff

Rear Admiral G.Ashok Kumar has taken over as the chief of staff of the southern Naval command, kochi, specialist in navigation and direction, he commanded INS Kulish and INS Ranvir.Rear Admiral Kumar was the defence adviser of India in Singapore, Chief Staff Officer (Operations) at the Western Naval Command and head of Naval Training at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington.

Rear Admiral Kumar, who hails from Ponnani in Malappuram district, was commissioned into the Navy in 1982.He is a recipient of the Vishisht Seva Medal.

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Ban on employment of Children aged up to 14

The Union cabinet on 28 Aug 2012 approved a proposal for amending the child labour(Prohibition and Regulation)act,1986 to ban employment of children aged up to 14 in any form of industry. employment of such children’s not only seen in Industries, but also in homes or on farms. Quoting the national sample survey organization’s figures, official sources said the amendment would benefit 46 lakh, who have been working in various industries now.

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SL Committee pulled up for diluting civil nuclear Liability Rules

The subordinate legislation committee of the lok sabha has pulled up the department of atomic energy for ‘diluting’ the civil. liability for clear Damage(CLND)Act. The committee monitors whether the rules tabled in parliament are in tune with the act passed by parliament. This is 15 member panel has represented from all parties.The panel’s report added that the Rules framed by the executives should be consistent with the substantial provisions of the Act and should not contain any limitations or excesses not contemplated under the Act.

The entire Opposition and a section of the UPA and its supporters had acted together to put stringent liability provisions in the CLND Act in 2010.

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New Chancellor for AMET University

Admiral Efthimios E. Mitropoulous, former secretary-general of the International maritime Organization, has joined the Chennai – based AMET as is chancellor.

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Hashim Amla Fastest Player to score 3,000 ODI runs

South Africa’s Hashim Amla became the fastest player to get 3,000 one day International runs during the course of his 150 that set up the protea’s 80-run win over England. Amla’s brilliant 124-ball knock on 28 Aug 2012, featuring 16 fours, saw him reach the land mark in 57 innings.

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India & China Joint Working Group to Look Over trade related Issues-"27/08/2012"

27 August 2012 Current Affairs

India & China Joint Working Group to Look Over trade related Issues

India & china on 27 August agreed to set up a joint working group(JWG) to look into not only trade related issues but also investments. The working group is expected to come out with a  report  with in 90 days.Both countries commerce Ministers Anand Sharma of India and Chen Deming of china at the 9th session of India-china Joint group on economic  relations,trade,science and technology meeting in New Delhi on 27 Aug.

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Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi Quit as Iraq communication Minister

Iraqi Communications minister Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi quit his post in 27 Aug accusing Prime Minister Nuri – Maliki of “Political Interference” in his ministry. Allawi’s resignation is the first by a cabinet member since Iraq’s national unity government was formed in December 2010.

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Lydia Ko won CN Canadian Women’s Open LPGA Golf  

Lydia Ko Won CN Canadian Women’s Open LPGA Golf  on 26 Aug to become the youngest winner in LPGA Tour History and only the fifth amateur championship. she is 15-year-old .

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‘Jaane Apna Rajasthan’ scheme for NRIs

The Rajasthan Government on 27 Aug launched a scheme aimed at making the young non-resident Indians(NRIs) familiar, with the culture and traditions of the state under the ‘ Jaane Apna Rajasthan’(Know your Rjasthan)scheme announced by the chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. According to this scheme the NRIs who visit Rajasthan will be taken around” historical places, tourist attractions,sanctuaries,famous educational institutions, ancestral villages and major Industrial projects” .

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China’s millionaire number crosses million mark- "1/08/2012"

1 August 2012 Current Affairs

Contrarian Author Gore Vidal Dies

Writer Gore Vidal, who filler his novels and essays with acerbic observation on politics,sex and American culture. While carrying on feuds with big-name literary rivals,died on 1 August 2012 at home in Los angels of complications from pneumonia,age 86. His historical novels was ‘Burr’, ’1876′.’Lincoln’,'The Golden Age’.

The novelist, essayist, wit and contrarian Gore Vidal, one of the towering figures of American cultural and political life for more than six decades, has died of complications from pneumonia.Vidal died at his home in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angels at about 6.45pm on Tuesday, his nephew Burr Steers said. Vidal had been living alone in the home and had been sick for "quite a while", Steers said.

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China’s millionaire number crosses million mark

The number of millionaires in China crossed a million mark for the first in the Communist nation, putting it in the elite club of the wealthy nations like US and Japan. The elite millionaires group includes 63,500 billionaires, according to Hurun Report, a Chinese event and publishing group which compiled the China’s list of the rich.The number of Chinese worth more than 10 million yuan (USD 1.6 million) broke the million mark in 2011 for the first time, with 1.02 million people now in this elite group. Of these million-plus wealthy individuals, 84 per cent are concentrated in the eastern, northern and southern regions of China, with Beijing home to the greatest number, at 1.79 lakh millionaires.

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“Yuri Miller Fundamental Physics Award’ For Theoretical  Indian Scientist Ashok sen

9 physicists worldwide were given the Fundamental Physics Prize. Ashok sen is one in the Nine physicians.This Fundamental Physics prize has been established by Russian Business man Yuri Miller and the most money spinning academic prize in the world. Ashok sen, who is working as the scienctist in ‘ Harichandra Research Centre’ at Allahabad. He has been recognised for his “String Theory”. The winners will receive 3 million dollar as the prize amount it is more then the Noble cash prize. Noble’s cash prize  is at present 1.2 million dollars. fundamnetal physics prize which is  three times more than Noble prize.

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