Wi Fi Direct

Wi-Fi Direct

Wi-Fi Direct, formerly known as Wi-Fi Peer-to-Peer, is a set of software protocols that allow Wi-Fi devices to talk to each other without the need for wireless access points (hot spots). Wi-Fi Direct is developed and supported by the Wi-Fi Alliance, the industry group that develops the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED standards suite and owns the "Wi-Fi" trademark.

Conventional Wi-Fi networks are typically based on the presence of controller devices known as wireless access points, "base stations" or "hot spots". These devices normally combine three primary functions; physical support for wireless and wired networking, bridging and routing between devices on the network, and service provisioning to add and remove devices from the network.

A typical Wi-Fi home network includes a wired connection to a broadband provider, the access point, computers connected by wired and wireless connections, and sometimes other devices on the network. The majority of Wi-Fi networks are set up in "infrastructure mode", where the access point acts as a central hub to which Wi-Fi capable devices are connected. The devices do not communicate directly, but they go through the access point.

All Wi-Fi Direct devices are able to operate as either a device or an access point.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is an open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances (using short wavelength radio transmissions) from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks (PANs) with high levels of security. Created by telecoms vendor Ericsson in 1994. It can connect several devices, overcoming problems of synchronization.

List of applications

* A typical Bluetooth mobile phone headset. Wireless control of and communication between a mobile phone and a hands free headset. This was one of the earliest applications to become popular.
* Wireless networking between PCs in a confined space and where little bandwidth is required.
* Wireless communication with PC input and output devices, the most common being the mouse, keyboard and printer.
* Transfer of files, contact details, calendar appointments, and reminders between devices with OBEX.
* Replacement of traditional wired serial communications in test equipment, GPS receivers, medical equipment, bar code scanners, and traffic control devices.
* For controls where infrared was traditionally used.
* For low bandwidth applications where higher USB bandwidth is not required and cable-free connection desired.
* Sending small advertisements from Bluetooth-enabled advertising hoardings to other, discoverable, Bluetooth devices.
* Wireless bridge between two Industrial Ethernet (e.g., PROFINET) networks.
* Dial-up internet access on personal computers or PDAs using a data-capable mobile phone as a wireless modem like Novatel mifi.
* Short range transmission of health sensor data from medical devices to mobile phone, set-top box or dedicated telehealth devices.
* Allowing a DECT phone to ring and answer calls on behalf of a nearby cell phone
* Real-time location systems (RTLS), are used to track and identify the location of objects in real-time using “Nodes” or “tags” attached to, or embedded in the objects tracked, and “Readers” that receive and process the wireless signals from these tags to determine their locations.

BLUETOOTH VS Wi-Fi

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi have many applications: setting up networks, printing, or transferring files.

Wi-Fi is intended for resident equipment and its applications. The category of applications is outlined as WLAN, the wireless local area networks. Wi-Fi is intended as a replacement for cabling for general local area network access in work areas.

Bluetooth is intended for non-resident equipment and its applications. The category of applications is outlined as the wireless personal area network (WPAN). Bluetooth is a replacement for cabling in a variety of personally carried applications in any ambience and can also support fixed location applications such as smart energy functionality in the home (thermostats, etc.).

Wi-Fi is wireless version of a traditional Ethernet network, and requires configuration to set up shared resources, transmit files, and to set up audio links (for example, headsets and hands-free devices). Wi-Fi uses the same radio frequencies as Bluetooth, but with higher power, resulting in a faster connection and better range from the base station. The nearest equivalents in Bluetooth are the DUN profile, which allows devices to act as modem interfaces, and the PAN profile, which allows for ad-hoc networking.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

‘Nagoya Protocol a big victory for India’ - In a hard-fought triumph for India and other developing nations, a new international treaty to ensure that the benefits of natural resources and their commercial derivatives are shared with local communities was signed in the Japanese city of Nagoya on Saturday. However, the flip side is that the U.S. — one of the largest users of such resources — is not among the nearly 200 signatories of the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) rules of the Nagoya Protocol. Getting the Americans into the net will be a key aim of the next U.N. summit on bio-diversity to be held in New Delhi in 2012.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and entering into force in December 1993, the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of the benefits from utilization of genetic resources. With 193 Parties, the Convention has near universal participation among countries committed to preserving life on Earth. The Convention seeks to address all threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services, including threats from climate change, through scientific assessments, the development of tools, incentives and processes, the transfer of technologies and good practices and the full and active involvement of relevant stakeholders including indigenous and local communities, youth, NGOs, women and the business community. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety a supplementary treaty to the Convention seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology. To date, 156 countries and the European Community are party to the Protocol. The Secretariat of the Convention and its Cartagena Protocol is located in Montreal.

The Convention on Biological Diversity recognizes the sovereign rights of States over their natural resources in areas within their jurisdiction. Parties to the Convention therefore have the authority to determine access to genetic resources in areas within their jurisdiction. Parties also have the obligation to take appropriate measures with the aim of sharing the benefits derived from their use. Genetic resources, whether from plants, animals or micro-organisms, may be used for different purposes. Users of genetic resources can include research institutes, universities and private companies operating in various sectors such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture, horticulture and biotechnology. Benefits derived from genetic resources may include the result of research and development carried out on genetic resources, the transfer of technologies which make use of those resources, participation in biotechnological research activities, or monetary benefits arising from the commercialization of products based on genetic resources.

2010 International Year of Biodiversity

The United Nations declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) to raise awareness about the crucial importance of biodiversity, to communicate the human costs of biodiversity loss, and to engage people, particularly youth, throughout the world in the fight to protect all life on Earth. Initiatives will be organized throughout the year to disseminate information, promote the protection of biodiversity and encourage countries, organizations, and individuals to take direct action to reduce biodiversity loss. The focal point for the year is the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Association of Southeast Asian Nations

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a geo-political and economic organization of 10 countries located in Southeast Asia. It was established on 8 August1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Brunei Darussalam then joined on 8 January 1984, Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999, making up what is today the ten Member States of ASEAN.

ASEAN spans over an area of 4.46 million km2 with a population of approximately 580 million people, 8.7% of the world population.

In 2009, its combined nominal GDP had grown to more than USD $1.5 trillion.

Seat of Secretariat -Jakarta (Indonesia).

AIMS AND PURPOSES

As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the aims and purposes of ASEAN are:

* To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavours in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations;
* To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter;
* To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields;
* To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities in the educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres;
* To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilisation of their agriculture and industries, the expansion of their trade, including the study of the problems of international commodity trade, the improvement of their transportation and communications facilities and the raising of the living standards of their peoples;
* To promote Southeast Asian studies; and
* To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organisations with similar aims and purposes, and explore all avenues for even closer cooperation among themselves.

East Asia Summit (EAS)

The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a forum for dialogue on broad strategic, political and economic issues of common interest and concern with the aim of promoting peace, stability and economic prosperity in East Asia. It is an open, inclusive, transparent and outward-looking forum, which strives to strengthen global norms and universally recognised values with ASEAN as the driving force working in partnership with the other participants of the East Asia Summit.

The First East Asia Summit was held on 14 December 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was attended by the Heads of State/Government of the Member Countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Australia, People’s Republic of China, Republic of India, Japan, Republic of Korea and New Zealand.

The Second East Asia Summit was held on 15 January 2007 in Cebu City, the Republic of the Philippines.

The Third East Asia Summit (EAS) was held on 21 November 2007 in Singapore.

The Fourth East Asia Summit was rescheduled several times, had its venue changed and one attempt to hold it was cancelled due to the 2008–2009 Thai political crisis. It was ultimately held on 25 October 2009 in Cha-am and Hua Hin, Thailand.

The Fifth East Asia Summit will be chaired by Vietnam on 30 October 2010.

The Subansari Dam

SUBANSIRI DAM

The Subansari Dam is a 2,000 Mega-Watt under construction hydroelectric power project of NHPC limited. The 116 m concrete gravity dam is on the river Subansari, a tributary of Brahmaputra, in India. When constructed it will be the largest hydroelectric project in India. The project is located near North Lakhimpur on the border of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. It is scheduled to be completed by approx 2012.

CONCERN

These projects have given rise to widespread concern and anxiety in Assam. It is apprehended that once these projects are completed, there would be flash floods in the downstream areas when there is sudden and excessive discharge of waters after heavy rainfall. Besides, there are apprehensions that these projects would have adverse impact on erosion situation, bio-diversity and ecology of the region

National Commission for Scheduled Castes

National Commission for Scheduled Castes

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has been constituted under Article 338 of the Constitution of India as amended by the Constitution (Eighty-Ninth Amendment)Act, 2003.

The statutory National Commission for SCs & STs came into being on 12-3-92 (after the Constitution (65^th )Amendment); Act 1990. Notified on 8-6-1990), it was headed by Sh. Ram Dhan as Chairperson.

Consequent upon implementation of the provision of the Constitution (89^th) Amendment Act.2003, as per notification dated 19-2-2004, the Erstwhile National Commission for SC & ST was replaced by two Commissions viz; National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).

According to article 338 of the Indian Constitution -

1.There shall be a Commission for the Scheduled Castes to be known as the National Commission for the Scheduled Castes.

2.Subject to the provisions of any law made in this behalf by Parliament, the Commission shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and three other Members and the conditions of service and tenure of office of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members so appointed shall be such as the President may by rule determine.

3.The Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.

4.The Commission shall have the power to regulate its own procedure.

5.It shall be the duty of the Commission -

1. to investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes under this Constitution or under any other law for the time being in force or under any order of the Government and to evaluate the working of such safeguards;
2. to inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Scheduled Castes;
3. to participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union and any State;
4. to present to the President, annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards;
5. to make in such reports recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the Union or any State for the effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes; and
6. to discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare and development and advancement of the Scheduled Castes as the President may, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, by rule specify.
7. to make in such reports recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the Union or any State for the effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes; and
8. to discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare and development and advancement of the Scheduled Castes as the President may, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, by rule specify.

6.The President shall cause all such reports to be laid before each House of Parliament along with a memorandum explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations relating to the Union and the reasons for the non-acceptance, if any, of any of such recommendations.

7. Where any such report, or any part thereof, relates to any matter with which any State Government is concerned, a copy of such report shall be forwarded to the Governor of the State who shall cause it to be laid before the Legislature of the State along with a memorandum explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations relating to the State and the reasons for the non-acceptance, if any, of any of such recommendations.

8. The Commission shall, while investigating any matter referred to in sub-clause (a) or inquiring into any complaint referred to in sub-clause (b) of clause (5), have all the powers of a civil court trying a suit and in particular in respect of the following matters, namely:-

1. summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of India and examining him on oath;
2. requiring the discovery and production of any documents;
3. receiving evidence on affidavits;
4. requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office;
5. issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents;
6. any other matter which the President may, by rule, determine.

9. The Union and every State Government shall consult the Commission on all major policy matters affecting Scheduled Castes.

10. In this article, references to the Scheduled Castes shall be construed as including references to such other backward classes as the President may, on receipt of the report of a Commission appointed under clause (1) of article 340 by order specify and also to the Anglo-Indian community.

3G Mobile Services

3G SPECTRUM

International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT--2000), better known as 3G or 3rd Generation, is a generation of standards for mobile phones and mobile telecommunications services fulfilling specifications by the International Telecommunication Union. Application services include wide-area wireless voice telephone, mobile Internet access, video calls and mobile TV, all in a mobile environment.

Compared to the older 2G and 2.5G standards, a 3G system must allow simultaneous use of speech and data services, and provide peak data rates of at least 200 kbit/s according to the IMT-2000 specification.

APPLICATIONS

The bandwidth and location information available to 3G devices gives rise to applications not previously available to mobile phone users. Some of the applications are:

• Mobile TV – a provider redirects a TV channel directly to the subscriber's phone where it can be watched.
• Video on demand – a provider sends a movie to the subscriber's phone.
• Video conferencing – subscribers can see as well as talk to each other.
• Tele-medicine – a medical provider monitors or provides advice to the potentially isolated subscriber.
• Location-based services – a provider sends localized weather or traffic conditions to the phone, or the phone allows the subscriber to find nearby businesses or friends.

Nuclear Liability Treaty

Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (csc)

At a Diplomatic Conference at International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Headquarters in Vienna, 8-12 September 1997, delegates from over 80 States adopted a Protocol to Amend the 1963 Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage and also adopted a Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage.

The CSC also allows for compensating civil damage occurring within a State's exclusive economic zone, including loss of tourism or fisheries related income. It also sets parameters on a nuclear operator’s financial liability, time limits governing possible legal action, requires that nuclear operators maintain insurance or other financial security measures and provides for a single competent court to hear claims.

The IAEA is the “depository” of the CSC, which has so far been signed by 14 countries and ratified by four, including the U.S. At the moment four States have signed and ratified the Convention - Argentina, Morocco, Romania and the United States. India's signing brings a total of 14 States as current signatories to the Convention. The Convention is set to enter into force on the ninetieth day after date of ratification by at least five States who have a minimum of 400,000 units of installed nuclear capacity.

Nuclear Liability Act

To facilitate nuclear commerce and attract U.S. private companies involved in nuclear commerce, it is necessary to pass the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill also known as Nuclear Liability Bill. Nuclear Liability Bill will thus define the financial and legal liabilities upon the involved groups, manufacturers, operators and government in case a nuclear accident occurs. In this case the suppliers and builders will be the U.S. private companies and the operator will be the Indian government controlled Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).

Why is it necessary ?

India has an ambitious and indigenous nuclear power program to achieve the goal of 20,000 MWe electricity produced through nuclear energy by 2020 which will be further increased to 60,000 MWe by 2032. In this way, India will produce 25 percent of its electricity from nuclear power plants by 2050. Presently, India is producing 3981 MWe of electricity through nuclear power. The share of nuclear power can be increased with the involvement of foreign private involvement in manufacturing and supply of nuclear reactors.

India needed cooperation with the international community in the nuclear field as its own uranium resources are not adequately exploited, preventing adequate utilisation of atomic plants. The country has 1,47,000 tonnes of known uranium resources but in certain areas like those in Meghalaya and Andhra Pradesh, mining is yet to begin because of "local" and environmental reasons.

To reap the benefits of Indo-U.S. Civilian Nuclear Deal of nuclear commerce and attract the U.S. companies involved in nuclear commerce like General Electric and Westinghouse, it was necessary to bring a liability act which would help these private companies in getting insurance cover in their home state. Thus, the act will help in the realization of the Indo-U.S. Nuclear deal.

There is no international obligation as such for the act. Some countries of the Nuclear Supplier’s Group (NSG) like France and Russia do not require any kind of liability act for nuclear trade. Both of these countries have shown interest in nuclear collaboration with India. Still, there are some countries in the group like U.S. which require the host country to have a liability act for a possible nuclear accident.

After the enactment of the Nuclear Liability Bill, India will join the international convention on liability in the civil nuclear arena. India will thus be benefited by the nuclear trade with the participating countries in the nuclear arena. The act shall necessitate suitable amendments in the Atomic Energy Act 1962 which will pave way for private investment in the Indian nuclear power program.

The motive behind the act is also to legally and financially bind the operator and the government to provide relief to the affected population in the case of a nuclear accident. But the amount of financial assistance and legal relief is a point of debate as it is being considered insufficient and unsatisfactory.

Project Tiger

PROJECT TIGER

Project Tiger Scheme has been under implementation since 1973 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Government of India.

Objective

The main objective of Project Tiger is to ensure a viable population of tiger in India for scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural and ecological values and to preserve for all time, areas of biological importance as a natural heritage for the benefit, education and enjoyment of the people.

Main objectives under the scheme include wildlife management, protection measures and site specific ecodevelopment to reduce the dependency of local communities on tiger reserve resources.

Initially, the Project started with 9 tiger reserves, covering an area of 16,339 sq.km., with a population of 268 tigers.

At present there are more than 40 tiger reserves covering an area of 37761 sq.km., with a population of 1411 tigers.

This amounts to almost 1.14% of the total geographical area of the country.

LIST OF TIGER RESERVES

Assam Kaziranga Tiger Reserve

Assam Manas Tiger Reserve

Assam Nameri Tiger Reserve

Arunachal Pradesh Namdapha Tiger Reserve

Arunachal Pradesh Pakhui Tiger Reserve

Andhra Pradesh Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve

Bihar Valmiki Tiger Reserve

Chhattisgarh Indravati Tiger Reserve

Chhattisgarh Guru Ghasidas National Park

Jharkhand Palamau Tiger Reserve

Karnataka Bandipur Tiger Reserve

Karnataka Nagarhole (extension) Tiger Reserve

Karnataka Bhadra Tiger Reserve

Kerala Periyar Tiger Reserve

Kerala/Tamil Nadu Annamalai-Parambikulam Tiger Reserve

Madhya Pradesh Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

Madhya Pradesh Bori-Satpura Tiger Reserve

Madhya Pradesh Kanha Tiger Reserve

Madhya Pradesh Panna Tiger Reserve

Madhya Pradesh Pench Tiger Reserve

Madhya Pradesh Ratapani Tiger Reserve

Maharashtra Melghat Tiger Reserve

Maharashtra Pench Tiger Reserve

Maharashtra Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve

Maharashtra Sahyadri Tiger Reserve - Chandoli National Park

Mizoram Dampa Tiger Reserve

Orissa Simlipal Tiger Reserve

Orissa Sunabeda Tiger Reserve

Rajasthan Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve

Rajasthan Sariska Tiger Reserve

Tamil Nadu Kalakad-Mundathurai Tiger Reserve

Tamil Nadu Mudumalai National Park

Tamil Nadu/Kerala Annamalai-Parambikulam Tiger Reserve

Uttar Pradesh Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

Uttar Pradesh Pilibhit Tiger Reserve

Uttaranchal Corbett Tiger Reserve

West Bengal Buxa Tiger Reserve

West Bengal Sunderbans Tiger Reserve

Chattisgarh Udanti & Sitanadi Tiger Reserve

Orissa Satkosia Tiger Reserve

Chattisgarh Achanakmar Tiger Reserve

Karnataka Dandeli-Anashi Tiger Reserve

Madhya Pradesh Sanjay National Park & Sanjay Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary

The Millennium Development Goal

The Millennium Development declaration was a visionary document, which sought partnership between rich and poor nations to make globalisation a force for good. Its signatories agreed to explicit goals on a specific timeline. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set ambitious targets for reducing hunger, poverty, infant and maternal mortality, for reversing the spread of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and giving children basic education by 2015. These also included gender equality, environmental sustainability and multisectoral and international partnerships.

The 10th anniversary of the declaration was used to review progress and suggest course corrections to meet the 2015 deadline. The glittering banquets, the power lunches and the rhetoric at the formal meetings, attended by many celebrities, ambassadors of different nations, international charities and the media, in New York belied the stark reality in many poor countries. While the declaration and the MDGs were a clarion call and mobilised many governments into concerted action, a review of the achievements to date and projections for 2015 suggest some success and much failure. Most rich nations failed to meet the targets on promised aid. While progress has been made, much more needs to be done.

Government's claims

The Government of India claims that the country is on track to meet the MDG targets by 2015. It argues that the number of people living below the poverty line has reduced. It claims that child and maternal mortality rates are reducing at a pace commensurate with its plans. It maintains that many government-sponsored schemes have increased public resources in several key sectors. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has increased rural employment. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, a national policy to universalise primary education, has increased enrolment in schools. The Reproductive and Child Health Programme II, the Integrated Child Development Services and the National Rural Health Mission have resulted in massive inputs in the health sector. It states HIV rates are low and that deaths due to tuberculosis and malaria show downward trends. It asserts that the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission and the Total Sanitation Campaign address crucial MDGs.

It is, however, difficult to endorse the government's confidence and optimism. Experts argue that the poverty reduction claims are the result of a sleight of hand, which employs debatable measurements and methods for assessment. The existing rates of malnutrition, affecting half of all children under 5, do not support the claims of hunger reduction.

While many agree with the figures for reduction in maternal mortality, they feel the target set is unachievable, as are those for reduction of child mortality and for universal primary education. Gender equality remains elusive. The emergence of an extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis and the high incidence of malaria in certain regions are worrying.

The impressive growth and the creation of wealth with economic liberalisation have not resulted in social development, what with stagnation in key social indicators, particularly among the disadvantaged. There has been an uneven expansion of social and economic opportunities with growing disparities across regions, castes and gender. While India's Gross Domestic Product argues for its middle-income nation status, it also hides massive poverty and much inequity. The challenge to convert India's commitments and resources into measurable results for all its citizens, especially those belonging to socially disadvantaged and marginalised communities, remains gigantic and unmet.

Illusory measurements

The Millennium Declaration, unlike many other documents, set out measurable aims instead of the usual vague platitudes of many international agreements. The MDGs focus on specific and measurable outcomes. However, employing proxy and surrogate variables to measure the country's success may not reflect actual progress. The focus on the massive inputs related to the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) while discussing child and maternal mortality, for instance. Most NRHM documents describe in detail particulars of the increased funding, new infrastructure, additional health personnel and the many new initiatives. However, they are silent on their impact on the health of people. The Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), a conditional cash transfer scheme for safe motherhood, is operative and is part of the drive to increase institutional deliveries. The impressive number of women who have given birth to children in hospitals and the amounts utilised under the scheme measure its success. However, the system does not collect and collate data on the number of safe deliveries, the number of live births and measures of the health of mothers and babies. Data on the person who actually conducted the delivery, post-delivery complications, duration of stay at health centres and the status of the mother and child are not available. System failures related to transport, functioning of facilities, referral and emergency obstetric care are not rare but go undocumented.

While there is no doubt that the NRHM has made a positive impact on primary and secondary health systems, we need proof of improved functioning in addition to evidence of enhanced infrastructure and increased personnel. Specific measurements of outcomes will allow for course corrections and targeted inputs.

Similarly, while enrolment rates have improved, the question of retention of girls in primary education is yet to be established, posing a threat to meeting the targets for universal education. While the figures for hunger reduction look better, those for malnutrition in children suggest otherwise. The figures for poverty reduction are contested. Patriarchy is firmly established and shows little signs of change, especially in rural India, making gender equality and justice elusive. Many reports suggest that environmental sustainability of many development projects is not adequately evaluated.

While there are many gains, the question to be answered is: “Is India on track to meet the MDGs in 2015?” Its vast population, its diversity, the variability of services and the differing baselines across regions complicate the achievement of the MDGs. There is evidence that while some States are on track, many others lag behind and will lower the country's overall achievement. This demands a more detailed assessment of the impact of the many schemes introduced rather than the use of only input variables to predict MDG outputs.

Rhetoric-reality divide

India's vast geography and its diversity are major reasons for significant variations across regions. They mandate the need for separate targets, governance, a focus on public health and changes in social structures. The variability across regions mandates dedicated goals and specific targets tailored to regional baseline rates, for both specific regions and marginalised populations. Periodic assessments of specific outputs required to meet the MDGs are necessary rather than highlighting of new inputs. The many new schemes need to audit their actual, rather than their presumed, impact.

Any survey of regional data clearly documents that poor outcomes are in regions with poor governance. While the NRHM divides the country into high-focus and non-high focus States, the inputs to improve the situation are not directed at improving governance. The federal structure means that improving local governance is the responsibility of individual States. Many States have not fully exploited the increased funding and the newer schemes. Good governance is an effect multiplier and will have a much greater impact on the country's MDGs than just increases in finance, infrastructure and health personnel. Corruption is a deadlier disease which needs urgent attention than most of the medical conditions affecting the people.

The focus on improvement in health continues to employ perspectives of curative medicine rather than concentrate on public health approaches. Clean water, sanitation, nutrition, housing, education, employment and social determinants seem to receive a lower priority despite their known impact on the health of populations.

Feudal social structures continue to oppress millions of people. Health and economic indices of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes show much lower rates of health and greater poverty. Patriarchal society places much burden on girls and women, especially in rural India. Without changes in social structures, improvements in health and economic status will remain a distant dream for the many millions who live on the margins of a resurgent India.

The 10th anniversary assessment of the MDGs and its rhetoric left many wondering if they were just warm words, business as usual. Millions live in poverty, hunger is common, half the children under-five are malnourished, maternal mortality is unacceptably high, and a significant number of girls will not receive primary education. The sense of urgency, born of the moral conviction that extreme poverty is unacceptable in our inter-connected world, should not be lost. The time for action is now.

Law Commission of India

The Law Commission of India goes back a long way and has a very distinguished history. The first Law Commission, set up in 1834 under none other than Thomas Macaulay, recommended among others things codification of the Indian Penal Code. But in independent India the Law Commission hasn't had such a great time. This might change if the latest proposal by the law ministry is implemented. The ministry has recommended providing greater autonomy to the panel by giving it statutory status. A Bill is likely to be moved in Parliament soon. This would go some way in making the panel, which currently gets reconstituted every three years, more effective. Like the law panels of England and Canada, the Indian Law Commission will have greater independence and continuity.

However, statutory powers won't change things completely by themselves. The Law Commission will still submit reports which will be tabled in Parliament. It will then be up to the government to accept the panel's advice and act on it. The law panel, first set up in 1955 and headed by eminent jurists, has made several good recommendations in the 234 reports it has submitted so far. But unfortunately these have been ignored in many instances. For example, the Law Commission had in 2000 recommended a provision recognising and punishing child abuse with a longer prison term. But there was no movement until the high-profile case involving former Haryana inspector-general of police S P S Rathore. The terms of reference of the current Law Commission, the 19th in independent India, include review and repeal of obsolete laws. We can only hope more teeth to the panel will make the government heed its recommendations and speed up the process of reform of law.

Currency War

What is meant by currency war?

The term ‘currency war’ was used in recent times by Brazil’s finance minister Guido Mantega in the first week of October this year reacting to China’s attempt to protect the yuan from rising too quickly against the dollar. It comprises competitive measures by governments to improve their trade by maneuvering exchange rates. A cheap currency, vis-àvis the dollar, adds to the competitive advantage to the exporter. Countries such as China, Brazil, South Korea and Japan have taken measures to devaluate their currencies which would help them boost exports and create jobs. An attempt by the government to prevent its currency from appreciating too steeply and too fast against competing nation is what is seen as currency war between different countries . The history of currency wars dates back to the Great Depression era when major economies devalued their currencies as a part of a measure to give preference to local goods over imported ones.

What is its impact on Indian economy?

When competitors devalue their respective currencies, domestic exporters tend to lose out on the price advantage on their exportables as buyers prefer to buy from a cheaper currency. This in turn hurts income as well as the jobs in the export sector and the prospects for the economy. The central bank at such times tries to intervene — buy dollars and create an artificial demand for the dollar, devaluing the value of the rupee in the process and retain some price advantage for the exporter . But buying dollars involves a fiscal cost as the central bank has to pump in equivalent amount of rupees and again mop it up by selling bonds. These bonds need to be serviced by the government. This would in turn worsen the fiscal position .

How does currency war impact global recovery?

Currency wars are a part of what is described as a ‘beggar thy neighbour’ policy — attempts by a country to solve its economic problems by causing worse difficulties in other markets. When all countries engage in such policies, it turns out to be a race to the bottom. As countries compete to devalue their currencies to save the interest of their exporters, it collectively reduces demand for foreign goods, something that world economies cannot afford at a time when the process of global recovery from the after affects of the crisis of 2008-09 is still underway. Also , competitive currency devaluation is happening at a time, when some of the developed economies have a soft money situation, wherein monetary regulators are on a quantitative easing spree, lowering their interest rates, which is making emerging economies trying to regulate their inflation an arduous task, as direction of the capital flows has turned towards them. There is also the fear of a bubble, which will burst once developed economies are back on track and the flow of capital shrinks. This shrinking is expected to be first reflected in the currency markets.

What is the current international thinking on the matter?

The United States is looking for global support at forums such as the G20 to the IMF, so that there can be collective pressure on China to ease up on the Yuan. IMF feels that it is the right place to make progress on the currency question . Emerging nations are not very keen to range themselves in this battle. Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee has said he urged countries to work towards a consensus as the way forward.

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Threat of Currency War:

It may not really be a currency war, but even I was surprised by the aggressive language being used by senior American and Chinese officials in Washington last week. Not to mention the head of the IMF. It's been a long time since economic relations between the major powers have been this bad-tempered.

I reported from the "frontline" last Thursday, but here's an "idiot's guide" to the debate over global currencies, which I've just done for the World Service.

Coming out of the financial crisis, every country wants to grow as fast it can. That's not the problem. The problem is how.

The United States and Britain have the largest budget deficits in the G20 - which means they're looking at years of cuts. They're looking for exports to pick up the slack, and the best way to boost exports is through a weaker currency.

The problem is that the eurozone wants the same thing. So does Japan. And so does China - even though America and the eurozone think it's time that the Chinese consumer stepped up to the plate.

It sounds like a global price war, with each country fighting to under-bid the other. But when companies have price wars - don't we consumers usually win?

The trouble is that exchange rates aren't the same as prices - if the dollar is going down, then other currencies have to go up. And governments aren't companies: if they don't like where their currency is going they can intervene. The rest of the world is left fighting the price war on its own.

That is exactly what China and other Asian exporting countries have been doing for the last few years - they've spent hundreds of billions of dollars fixing the market to keep their exports cheap. More than a trillion, in the case of China, which now sits on a mountain of dollar reserves.

At the start of the summer, China promised to let its exchange rate go up - but since then it has strengthened against the dollar by just 2%. The yuan has fallen about 10% against the euro and the yen. You can see why the US and other governments gathered in Washington last week were less than thrilled.

China says the focus on the exchange rate misses the point - policy-makers should focus on the why the US saves too little as a nation, and Asian economies save too much. Long term, that IS what re-balancing the global economy must be about.

But, as the director of the International Monetary Fund said last week, you can't go many steps along that road without a substantial change in exchange rates.

That's why you should worry about where talk of currency wars will lead. Because if the world's leaders cannot agree on the role that currencies will play in this global economy - they're not going to agree on very much else.

Right of recourse to Foreign Countries

Right of recourse to foreign countries

The accident insurance institutions have the right to claim compensation (recourse) for granted benefits of those who have caused the damage or their insurers by legally transferring the claims for damages to them. As a rule, damage or recourse can also be claimed if the insured person has suffered a damage (or if the damage was caused on the national territory by a person residing in a foreign country).


Especially in the case of damages caused in a foreign country, the damage claim principles prevailing in the particular country, that often differ from the national handling, have to be observed which then impedes the enforcement of claims (e.g. low maximum damage claims, short periods of application and prescription, refusal to accept the legal transfer of claims for damages).





Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC)

Over the past two decades, the international community has taken a number of actions to foster the use of nuclear power in a safe and secure manner. One of the most important actions was adoption of the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC) to serve as the basis for a global nuclear liability regime. Such a regime is vital to promoting international cooperation in designing, constructing and operating nuclear power plants and in ensuring the safety and security of these plants.

The CSC achieves legal certainty by requiring each member country to have national law on nuclear liability that is based on the Paris Convention,3 the Vienna Convention4 or the Annex to the CSC56 and that incorporates the provisions in the CSC on jurisdiction, compensation and the definition of nuclear damage.

The CSC reaffirms the principle that jurisdiction over a nuclear incident lies only with the courts of the country where the incident occurs. The CSC assures the availability of a meaningful amount of compensation for nuclear damage in member countries by providing for two tiers of compensation. The CSC assures meaningful compensation for nuclear damage promptly with a minimum of litigation.

Both generating States and non-generating States have a strong interest in assuring that, in the unlikely event of a nuclear incident, their citizens receive meaningful compensation for nuclear damage promptly with a minimum of litigation and other burdens. The CSC has been developed specifically to achieve this objective.

Establishment of a global nuclear liability regime based on the CSC is essential to fully realising the potential benefits from nuclear power with respect to economic development, living standards, energy prices and supplies, and the environment. Since the adoption of the CSC in 1997, considerable effort has been expended to provide a better understanding of the CSC and to clarify how its provisions operate to establish a legal framework that achieves the complementary objectives of facilitating commercial development of nuclear power and assuring, in the unlikely event of a nuclear incident, the prompt availability of meaningful compensation with a minimum of litigation and other burdens. This effort has provided a sound basis on which both generating States and non-generating States can now give serious consideration to adhering to the CSC and thereby establish a global nuclear liability regime.

MINIMUM SUPPORT PRICE

MINIMUM SUPPORT PRICE

In recognition of the importance of assuring reasonable produce prices to the farmers, motivating them to adopt improved technology and to promote investment by them in farm enterprises, the Agricultural Prices Commission (Currently known as the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices) was established in 1965 for advising the Government on agricultural prices policy on a continuing basis. The thrust of the policy in 1965 was to evolve a balanced and integrated structure to meet the overall needs of the economy and with due regard to the interests of the producers and the consumers.

The minimum support prices are announced by the Govt. of India with a view to ensuring remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce on the basis of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) recommendations. The minimum support prices are perceived by the farmers as a guarantee price for their produce from the Government. These prices are announced by the Government at the commencement of the season to enable them to pursue their efforts with the assurance that the prices would not be allowed to fall below the level fixed by the Govt. Such minimum support prices are fixed at incentive level, so as to induce the farmers to make capital investment for the improvement of their farm and to motivate them to adopt improved crop production technologies to step up their production and thereby their net income.

Recently GOI announced a marginal increase of Rs.20 a quintal in the minimum support price of wheat to Rs.1,120

BIPA The Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement

The Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPA) between India and Sudan came into effect from Monday with the exchange of instruments of ratification (IoR) between the two countries.

BIPA seeks to promote and protect investments from one country in the other country. Such agreements facilitate bilateral investment flows and grant benefits of national treatment (NT) and most favoured nation (MFN). So far, India has inked BIPA with 79 countries of which 68 are already in force. Sudan is the 69th nation with which the provisions of the agreement have now come in to effect.

Convention on Biological Diversity Meeting

The 193 members of the U.N.'s Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) held n the central city of Nagoya in Japan to try to work out strategies to head off a manmade mass extinction.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty. The Convention has three main goals:

1. conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity);
2. sustainable use of its components; and
3. fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources

2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity.
International Biodiversity Day: 22 May

India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO)

The INO will be a major underground experimental facility to study the elusive and nearly mass-less fundamental particles of nature called neutrinos,
The Singara site which, according to scientists, is the best spot to locate the INO, was rejected by the MoEF on the grounds that it was not cleared by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department (TNFD). It was stated to fall in the buffer zone of the Mudhumalai Tiger Reserve. The site being close to the elephant corridor between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats was also a consideration.

Two-km tunnel

The proposed massive neutrino detector will be built in a cavern set in massive charnockite rock (group of igneous rocks found in South India with those in Tamil Nadu known to be the hardest). The cavern will be excavated by drilling a tunnel of 1.9-2 km in length under the peak designated as 1589 so that there is vertical overburden of about 1,300 m. For a good neutrino detection facility, a vertical cover of at least 1,000 m is required so that the observed neutrino events are not contaminated by unwanted particles that will be absorbed by the overburden.

The INO includes nearly 90 scientists from 25 institutions, with the TIFR as the nodal institution.

Neutrino:

Is an elementary particle that usually travels close to the speed of light, is electrically neutral, and is able to pass through ordinary matter almost undisturbed. This makes neutrinos extremely difficult to detect. Neutrinos have a very small, but nonzero mass. They are denoted by the Greek letter ν (nu).

Right To Property

Though the ‘right to property' was deleted by the 44th Constitution Amendment in 1978, it was challenged only in 2007 in the context of acquisition of large extents of land for Special Economic Zones, and the court issued notice to the Centre.

It was contended in the PIL petition that nowadays, further inroads into the right to property were evident in the newly formed policy on SEZs, “which has as its goal the taking over of the property of individuals, small peasants and farmers under the Land Acquisition Act without reference to their reasonableness.”

SC rejected petition filed by Sanjiv Kumar Agarwal, founder of the Kolkata-based Good Governance India Foundation.

The petition challenged the deletion of Article 19 (1) (f) from the Fundamental Rights chapter of the Constitution by the 44th Amendment. According to the object of this Amendment, “In view of the special position sought to be given to fundamental rights, the right to property, which has been the occasion for more than one amendment of the Constitution, would cease to be a fundamental right and become only a legal right. Necessary amendments for this purpose are being made to Article 19 and Article 31 [compulsory acquisition of property] is being deleted.”

Global Hunger Index 2010

1. GHI 2010 released by the International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington DC
2. hungry people in the world hovers around the one-billion mark
3. A year ago Food and Agriculture Organisation place the figure at 925 million
5. glittering economic growth rates do not mean a hunger-free nation
6. Brazil has improved its performance by more than 50 per cent between 1990 and 2010, thanks to effective state intervention.

GHI:
Is a multidimensional statistical tool used to describe the state of countries’ hunger situation. The GHI measures progress and failures in the global fight against hunger.^[1] The GHI is updated once a year.

Calculation:

The Index ranks countries on a 100 point scale, with 0 being the best score ("no hunger") and 100 being the wors0- No hunger

4 .9 - Low hunger

5 to 9.9 - moderate hunger

10 to 19.9 - alarming hunger

above 30: extremely alarming hunger

100- Worst Hunger situtation

Rank of India is 18th: with score of 24,1(2010) 23,9(2009) 31,7(2008)

The GHI combines three equally weighted indicators:
1) the proportion of the undernourished as a percentage of the population
2) the prevalence of underweight children under the age of five; and
3) the mortality rate of children under the age of five.

India's UAV: Rustom

Rustom 1, a medium-altitude and long-endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), developed by the Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), was successfully test-flown

Two other UAVs developed by the ADE — Lakshya and Nishant.

Lakshya — a drone that is remotely piloted by a ground control station — provides aerial sub-targets for live-fire training

Nishant is a surveillance aircraft primarily tasked with intelligence gathering over enemy territory.

Rustom 1-

Unlike the other UAVs, which used to have a free fall with parachutes after executing their tasks, Rustom will carry out copybook style landing,

Mullaiperiyar Dam Controversy:Issues And Concerns

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Mullaperiyar Dam is constructed over the headwaters of the Periyar River in Kerala, India. The Periyar National Park, Thekkady is located around the Periyar reservoir formed by the backwaters of this dam. It is operated by the Government of Tamil Nadu according to a 999-year lease agreement made during erstwhile British colonial rule.

Periyar river is a west-flowing river of Kerala State. The river flows its full course entirely through Kerala, and derives its water almost exclusively from catchment area (Drainage basin) inside the State. The dam stops the west flowing river to form a reservoir, which is also exclusively located in Kerala. From the reservoir, Tamil Nadu collects water to the eastern side of Western Ghats via a tunnel.

The government of Tamil Nadu has proposed an increase in the storage level of the dam from the currently maintained 136 feet (41 m) to 142 feet (43 m). The Kerala government has opposed this move, citing safety concerns for the more than hundred year old brid
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Interestingly, Mullaiperiyar dam controversy is not about sharing water as in the case of Cauvery. Kerala, any way, cannot use the dam water as most of it is going to the sea and the Kerala is least bothered about use of water that flows through the dam. It is also not a case of rehabilitation, at least as on date, as in the case of Narmada. Vast areas that would be submerged if reservoir level were increased are the Periyar Tiger Reserve and it is a different matter of concern altogether of protecting forest species. It is not even the question of increasing height of the dam because the original storage level was 152 ft, which was reduced to 136 ft in the backdrop of mild tremor to the magnitude of 2 on Richter scale in the region in 1979. Still, the tempers are running high on both states, if not to the level of confrontations and clashes. Because, it is a matter of providing livelihood to several lakhs of people and of increasing agricultural productivity in the rain shadow districts of Tamil Nadu that would benefit out of water flow, which otherwise goes waste, by increasing the reservoir level. On the other hand, it is a matter of environmental concern for Kerala that would like to avoid ‘bursting’ or ‘breaking’ of the 110 years old, 175 ft high, 5704 ft long lime and brick dam in question. Kerala, being a land-locked state, appears to be over cautious. The state being land hungry, any environmental imbalance snowballing into imbalance in and destabilization of irrigation and, in turn, agrarian economy also cannot be ruled out. Kerala appears to be more concerned about the consequences inland than about the Mullaiperiyar dam as such.Tamil Nadu went to the Supreme Court and succeeded in convincing the Court to pass an order, in February 2006, in its favour to increase the height of the reservoir level of the dam to 142 ft from the present 136 ft. Kerala countered it by moving swiftly to the extent of holding a special two-day assembly session in March to discuss the issue and unanimously passed a legislation, Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2006 in order to steal away the basis of the Supreme Court order. The amended act has empowered the Kerala Dam Safety Authority to fix maximum reservoir level for scheduled dams and to instruct custodians of the dam accordingly. In this case, Mullaiperiyar is a scheduled dam and custodian is the Tamil Nadu state government. When the Kerala government approached the Court for revision of its order, the Supreme Court rejected it and has advised talks between the two governments. Talks that have been on for last few months appear not to have yielded desired results and it is only a matter of time for the Tamil Nadu State Government to approach the court to enforce the verdict.The Kerala government is coming up with the issue of safety of the 110-year-old dam and the consequent issues that are expected to affect more than 35 lakh people living in downstream in the districts of Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Pathananmthitta and Alappuzha. Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, is raising the issues of irrigation and drinking water in the rain shadow districts of Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram which would otherwise have no access to any water facilities. Tamil Nadu claimed to have lost 45000 crores in the last 25 years because more than 8000 hectares of land went dry by way of reduction in the original reservoir level of 152 ft.As the Kerala government said that the dam is so weak that it cannot withstand storage level of more than 136 ft, an Experts Committee was formed to study the technical feasibility and ways to strengthen the ailing dam. After some modification, renovation and repair works were carried out; the Experts Committee inspected the dam and has certified that the dam can withstand a reservoir level of 142 ft initially. But, the Kerala government is not ready to buy the argument and insists that the reservoir level should not be increased at any cost.The Centre for Earth Science Studies in Kerala says that the dam cannot withstand an earthquake of the magnitude of 6 or more on the Richter scale if the epicentre is near the dam. The institute also assessed that tremor of such a magnitude is not too far as the region has been experiencing several tremors on lesser degrees for quite sometime now, i.e., in the last two decades. The chances of occurrence of such tremors are also high due to the presence of lineaments and fault zones in the region.The Mullaiperiyar controversy has opened up newer and newer issues for discussion. Strangely, the dam is located in the lands of Kerala while the maintenance of dam and the operation of sluice gate are undertaken by the Tamil Nadu government. The land was taken on lease by Tamil Nadu for 999 years in 1886 through an agreement between the then Maharaja of State of Travancore and the Madras Presidency. The project was conceived in 1895. Again, a new agreement was signed around 1970 when the old one was about to expire. The lease amount was increased from Rs.5/ to Rs.30 per acre and the Tamil Nadu government was allowed to produce electricity at a price. The whole problem started only in 1979 when the region faced mild tremors. Now, there are also debates on annexing dam areas bordering the state to Tamil Nadu. The State Reorganisation Commission had also suggested including Devikulam and Peermedu areas (dam areas) in the state. Tamil Nadu is concerned because the new amended law empowers Kerala Dam Safety Authority even to decommission dams, if found unsafe. Such an eventuality will affect more than 80000 acres of land that is under irrigation and will be a body blow to the state of Tamil Nadu. It has also opened debates on water policies of both governments, diverting west-flowing rivers (from Kerala to Arabian Sea) towards east (Tamil Nadu) so as to avoid wastage of water, the rationale of allowing privatization and commercialization of water in this water starved era, policies that makes people to pay for every drop of water they use while encouraging multinationals to go scot-free in exploiting all our water resources (like Coca-Cola company at Tirunelveli and Bechtel at Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu), scientific approach to water conservation and watershed management, etc. Electricity generation and distribution policies are also being debated anew.Tamil Nadu is heading for a water crisis. Irrigation systems are being handed over to various multinational agencies including World Bank and companies from European countries. The people are being forced to pay for it. Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD), a government agency, has been turned into a nodal agency for brokering deals with multinationals and for spearheading privatization and commercialization of water. The government is shirking off its responsibility on water issues and TWAD being restructured to become a self-sustainable, profit-based organization is only an indication.In this backdrop, the issue involved is the livelihood of millions of people on both sides. Court verdicts and emergency legislations may not solve the real crisis. Water going waste is of no concern for Kerala and the same being used by Tamil Nadu also should not be a problem for them. Increasing agricultural productivity and saving livelihood of lakhs of people in Tamil Nadu, particularly in those dry and rain shadow districts in the region, is very important. Likewise, the safety and security of lakhs of people of Kerala are also equally important. Conflicting views on the stress and strength analysis and technical feasibility of increasing reservoir level of the dam should be thrashed out first. Instead of depending on courts and legislations, negotiations and talks should be the main modus operandi to settle the dispute. Taking over of irrigation subject by the Central Government may not be a real solution in a multi-national, multi-ethnic society. Rather, the central government should play the role of an efficient and effective facilitator to find an amicable solution to the dispute. There is a need for evolving an effective inter-state water dispute redressal mechanism. Any attempt, on both sides, to incite passions of regional chauvinism should be condemned in unequivocal terms. But, unfortunately political parties in both states are inclined mainly to incite passions rather than finding an amicable and workable solution to the dispute. The ruling party in Kerala is behaving more as a regionalist party than a communist party. DMK and other parties in Tamil Nadu are also eyeing for an opportunity to flare up feelings of regional chauvinism in order to revive their own declining influences among masses. Arriving at a mutually acceptable, mutually beneficial solution should be the point of departure for any framework for solution. Alternatives should also be given serious thought. Constructing a new dam can also be considered if it is established that Mullaiperiyar dam cannot withstand the pressure of increasing the reservoir level. Adopting an integrated approach of river diversions, utilization of all possible water ways, innovative water management policies, putting kanmoys (tanks and lakes) and rivers (Vaigai) to a coordinated use, etc., can also be considered. There is also an opinion expressed by Kambam Basin Farmers’ Association that water can be effectively put to use through an integrated use of Vaigai river system and its kanmoys (tanks) where water can be stored after it is released from Mullaiperiyar dam and constructing a small dam near Varusanadu, if necessary, to feed Vaigai river. This proposal, if actually feasible, is potent enough to make other proposals of increasing reservoir level of Mullaiperiyar dam and constructing a new dam redundant.

The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI)

The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) (Hindi: भारतीय नौवहन निगम) (BSE: 523598) is a company owned by the Government of India based in Mumbai[1] that operates and manages vessels that services both national and international lines.

SCI was established on October 2, 1961 by the amalgamation of Eastern Shipping Corporation and Western Shipping Corporation. Two more shipping companies, Jayanti Shipping Company and Mogul Lines Limited were merged with SCI in 1973 and 1986 respectively.

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In News:

The Centre on Tuesday embarked on a two-pronged strategy, allowing disinvestment of 10 per cent of its stake in Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) and allowing it to raise additional equity of like quantum. The disinvestment in this Navratna company is expected to generate about Rs.1,300 crore. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has allowed a discount of 5 per cent to retail investors on the issue price and allowed reservation of shares of 0.50 per cent of the issue size along with discount of 5 per cent on the offer price for employees of the largest shipping company in the country owning 75 vessels. The ownership of the government in SCI will come down to 63.75 per cent from the current 80.12 per cent after the sale and further issue of shares. The government hopes to develop a road map for higher public participation in the company while ensuring that government equity did not fall below 51 per cent.

Judicial accountability bill

Public can lodge complaints against judges with a national oversight committee
The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved a bill providing for a mechanism to deal with complaints against judges of the High Courts and the Supreme Court.
The Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill sets judicial standards and makes judges accountable for their lapses. It will also mandate the judges of the High Courts and the Supreme Court to declare their assets and liabilities, including those of their spouses and dependents.
The bill to replace the Judges Inquiry Act retains its basic features, contemplates setting up of a national oversight committee with which the public can lodge complaints against erring judges, including the Chief Justice of India and the Chief Justices of the High Courts.
At present, there is no legal mechanism for dealing with complaints against judges, who are governed by ‘Restatement of Values of Judicial Life,' adopted by the judiciary as a code of conduct without any statutory sanction.
The five-member committee will be headed by a retired Chief Justice of India, appointed by the President, and have a serving Judge of the Supreme Court and a serving High Court Judge, both nominated by the Chief Justice of India; the Attorney-General; and an eminent person nominated by the President. This marks a change from the earlier proposal, in which the committee was to be headed by the Vice-President and to have the Chief Justice of India, a High Court judge and two distinguished jurists not involved in regular practice of law.
On receiving a complaint, the committee will forward it to a system of scrutiny panels. In the case of a complaint against a Supreme Court Judge, the scrutiny panel will consist of a former Chief Justice of India and two sitting Supreme Court judges, and in the case of a complaint against a High Court judge, the panel will have a former Chief Justice of the High Court and two of its sitting judges. The members of the Supreme Court panel will be nominated by the Chief Justice of India, and that of the High Court panels by the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned.
The scrutiny panels will have the powers of a civil court. For instance, they can call for witnesses and evidences. They will be required to give their report within three months to the oversight committee. In the case of a complaint against a Chief Justice, the oversight committee itself will conduct the scrutiny.
On receiving the report from the scrutiny panels, the oversight committee will set up a committee to further investigate the case. Like the scrutiny panels, the investigation committee will have the powers of a civil court; it will have the power to frame definite charges.
If the charges are not proved, the investigation committee can dismiss the case. Otherwise, it will give a report to the oversight committee, which can issue an advisory or warning if the charges are not too serious. If the charges are serious, the committee can request the judge concerned to resign. If the judge does not do so, the oversight committee will forward the case to the President with an advisory for his removal.
In such an event, copies of all relevant documents will be laid in Parliament and an impeachment motion moved. In the Lok Sabha, not less than 100 members will be required to move the motion, and in the Rajya Sabha not less than 50 members will be needed.
Official sources said that besides declaring their assets, judges would be required to file an annual return of assets and liabilities. All the details would be put up on the websites of the Supreme Court and the High Courts.
The bill will also require the judges not to have close association with any member of the Bar, especially those who practise in the same court.

Goods and Service Tax(GST) in India

1. Goods and Service Tax (GST) is going to be applicable from 01.04.2011 in India.
2. With the Implication GST all the other taxes like CST, VAT, Service Tax and Excised Duty will be abolished and only in type of tax as GST will be quoted in the Invoice.

GST : Goods and Sevice Tax

GST, also known as Goods and Services Tax, is slated to be a landmark reform of indirect taxes in India. All central and state taxes will come be merged into GST once it comes into effect.

Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a part of the proposed tax reforms that center round evolving an efficient and harmonized consumption tax system in the country. Presently, there are parallel systems of indirect taxation at the central and state levels. Each of the systems needs to be reformed to eventually harmonize them.

Implementation Phase

For the first year of implementation, the finance minister proposed 3 rates – a maximum rate of 20% and a lower rate of 12% for for goods, and 16% for services. According to him, in the 2nd year the rates should be 18%, 12% and 16%. By the third year, the finance minister said GST should move towards a single rate of 16%.

The revenue from GST will be shared equally by the states and centre.

Which Country introduced GST first?

In 1954, GST was introduced for the first time in France. Today this tax has spread across 140 countries.

How GST will have its impact in the revenue for producing States?

GST is a consumer based tax and not origin based. Under this structure of GST, the tax will be collected by the states where the goods or services actually consumed.

Who would be impacted by the implementation of GST?

All Business whether engaged in the sales or supply of services would be impacted by GST. If you are dealing Goods covered under GST or if you are rendering any service you will be covered under GST.

What are the various types of GST?

There are two types of GST

1. Unified or Single GST and
2. Dual GST.

What type of GST is expected to be applied in India?

In India, dual GST is expected to be proposed wherein Centre and State will be levying on the transactions of the value of Goods or Service. In India, due to federal structure, there is a proposal to introduce dual GST system.

What is dual GST?

Under dual GST, it is levied by both the Central Goods and Service Tax (CGST) and State Goods and Service tax (SGST) will be levied on the taxable value of the transaction.

What will be the expected rate of GST?

The rate is expected to be in the range of 14 to 16%. Once the total GST is determined, the central and states have to agree on Central GST and State GST rates.

Will there be different rates for Goods and for Services?

There will be single rate of GST for Services and however for Goods there would be few rates as under:

• Revenue Neutral rates
• Merit Rates
• Special rates for gold, silver, precious metals around 1%
• Zero rate for goods of social importance.

Whether Inter State supply of services will be subjected to GST?

Yes. Whereas detailed study regarding place of supply rules is being designed and it will be a major challenge to the policy makers.

Nobel Prize

1. Dr. Robert G. Edwards' in vitro fertilization (IVF) technique marks a paradigm shift in the way many types of infertility are treated. The development of IVF, recognised by this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, has touched the life of millions of infertile people, giving them an opportunity to have children.
2. After the discovery of one form of carbon — fullerenes — was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996, this year's Nobel Prize for Physics was awarded to Andre K. Geim and Konstantin S. Novoselov, both at the University of Manchester, U.K., for succeeding in producing, isolating, identifying and characterizing another form of carbon — graphene.
   

United Nations Security Council

1. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military action. Its powers are exercised through United Nations
2. The Security Council held its first session on 17 January 1946 at Church House, London.
   
3. There are 15 members of the Security Council, consisting of 5 veto-wielding permanent members and 10 elected non-permanent members with two-year terms.
   
4. Security Council members must always be present at UN headquarters in New York so that the Security Council can meet at any time.
5. The Security Council's five permanent members have the power to veto any substantive resolution: * China * France * Russia * United Kingdom * United States The five permanent members (also known as the P5 or Big 5) were drawn from the victorious powers of World War II. The five permanent members of the Security Council are also the only countries recognized as nuclear-weapon states (NWS) under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.( Since they tested nuclear weapon before 1967)
6. For the 2-year term which begins on the first day of 2011, India has been elected with a record vote of 187 out of 192 countries voting. The other elected non-permanent members for this 2-year period will be South Africa, Colombia, Germany and Portugal.
   

Nobel Prize

1. Literature Nobel for Mario Vargas Llosaj, Spanish Author
   

Anti-Defection Law

The Tenth Schedule — popularly known as the Anti-Defection Act — was included in the Constitution in 1985 by the Rajiv Gandhi ministry and sets the provisions for disqualification of elected members on the grounds of defection to another political party. The law was added via the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985

Ground for disqualification:
a) If an elected member voluntarily gives up his membership of a political party.
b) If he votes or abstains from voting in such House contrary to any direction issued by his political party or anyone authorised to do so, without obtaining prior permission. As a pre-condition for his disqualification, his abstention from voting should not be condoned by his party or the authorised person within 15 days of such incident.

Loopholes:
a) As per the 1985 Act, a ‘defection’ by one-third of the elected members of a political party was considered a ‘merger’.
Finally the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, changed this. So now at least two-thirds of the members of a party have to be in favour of a "merger" for it to have validity in the eyes of the law.
b)Court has no jurisdiction on this matter. Speakers decides it

The Man Bookers Prize

1. British writer and journalist Howard Jacobson's novel The Finkler Question, a semi-autobiographical comic take on Jewish identity

2. The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe.

Military Exercise

India-Russia: Indra 2010
In the picturesque setting of Uttarakhand's Ranikhet district, home of the highly-decorated Kumaon Regiment as well as elements of the Gorkha and Naga Regiments.(exercise after gap of 3 years)

Electronic Voting Matchine

1. BJP demanded certain modifications in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to enable voters to get paper acknowledgments of their votes cast.
2. So EC has created expert commit. The committee is likely to be headed by former IIT Madras director Prof P V Indiresan.
   
3. All EVM should have paper trail and paper votes acknowledgement should be given to voter to put this in the in separate safe box. This way voter too is happy that his vote has gone to right person. This box should be also sealed like it was done in earlier days. Box should be opened only if one of the contestant challenged the result. This should be allowed on payment of fee, subtantial amount to deter frivolous challenge, which should be refunded if he is proved right. This way, we shall have the oonvenience of the EVM and proof that this was not tampered with.
   
4. Voter verified paper trail (VVPAT) refers to a system wherein a printer attached with the voting machine produces a paper printout of every vote cast just as an ATM produces a slip after every transaction. The voter verifies it for its accuracy and then deposits it into a ballot box.
5. The EVMs were devised and designed by Election Commission of India in collaboration with two Public Sector undertakings viz., Bharat Electronics Limited, Bangalore and Electronics Corporation of India Limited, Hyderabad.
6. First EVM was used in Kerala Election

____________________
Against:

The Election Commission of India has decided to refer to a technical expert committee the suggestion of some political parties to have a voter verifiable paper trail for the EVM. Opposition parties had earlier expressed fears over the possible tamperability of EVMs after an Indian and two foreign technologists accessed it; though they found the software not hackable, they showed tamperability, but only after changing components. With the software found to be untamperable, the demand for jettisoning EVMs has now given way to its continued use, but with a suggestion to provide a paper trail. This is not a new innovation. But its introduction will have humongous implications. Hence, a careful appraisal of costs and benefits is required before the plunge. ECI and stakeholders will have to ponder over mind-boggling logistics of a million polling stations having EVM and paper ballots. Further, a physically accessible piece of paper can become a source for bribery and intimidation. Unless carefully watched, and that too without compromising the secrecy of a vote, voters can disappear with the receipt, causing confusion and disruption. Printers are mechanical devices prone to failures and there are consequent hold-ups. Design problems, like a powersource for the printer, safekeeping of printing paper and sealed storage bin for printed paper — and the need for all these to be light-weight and easy to carry over long distances — have to be addressed. Present EVMs can only print a candidate’s number, but the receipt without a party symbol will be meaningless to a majority of voters. So, while paper trail seems to be an attractive step, it will be an arduous trek. If there are lingering doubts about EVM software, it can be tested. But if a paper trail is just to clear political parties' doubts over software or validate failure-prone opinion and exit polls, it is an absurd and avoidable exercise. Better then to go back to ballots instead of the duality of paper and machine, which is sure to cause confusion and disputes at the counting table. Let attention not be diverted from the far more serious issues confronting the poll scenario like criminals in politics, money power and paid news, lest it becomes a case of missing the wood for the trees.

For:
Our EVMs function as ‘black boxes’ and have rendered the entire voting process non-transparent, unverifiable and unauditable. Consequently, this has led to nagging doubts among voters and parties about their reliability. For the same limitations, after spending millions of euros, many European countries, including Germany, Netherlands, Ireland, etc., have banned electronic voting and returned to paper ballots. In the US, too, most states have now banned paperless voting systems. Admittedly, India has unique needs and situations. Thus, we need not follow western democracies. But we should not overlook the limitations of electronic voting setups either. Following concerns raised by many parties, the ECI has now agreed to review the possibility of providing paper trail for the EVMs. Voter verified paper trail (VVPAT) refers to a system wherein a printer attached with the voting machine produces a paper printout of every vote cast just as an ATM produces a slip after every transaction. The voter verifies it for its accuracy and then deposits it into a ballot box. There are many misconceptions about VVPAT regarding the secrecy of vote. You can address them by having a VVPAT solution in which the printed ballot becomes visible behind a glass screen and gets dropped into a ballot box after the voter verifies it for accuracy. Chandrababu Naidu made such a proposal and all parties backed it at the all-party meeting. The other reservations for adopting VVPAT are costs involved and the unreliability of printers. In my opinion, the cost involved is well worth it, given that there is nothing more valuable than a well-preserved democracy. Unreliability of printers would warrant more printers to be kept in reserve for replacement. VVPAT is what we need if we must continue with electronic voting. The only alternative to this is returning to paper ballots. Significantly, prominent EVM critics worldwide are top-ranked computer scientists, while most of those supporting the EVMs are people with no such expertise. Thus, the ECI’s decision to refer the matter to an experts committee is unexceptionable and indeed appreciable.