MINERVACIVIL SERCIVIL SERCIVIL SERCIVIL SERCIVIL SERVICESVICESVICESVICESVICES
SAMANYA ADHYAYANYEAR 8; Issue 5; May 2013 Price - 50/-
Roberto Azevedo, a Brazilian trade diplomat, has been chosen as the
next head of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), ending a long se-
lection process that began in December. Azevdo, who has been Brazil's
ambassador to the WTO since 2008, saw off nine rival candidates for
the role. When he takes up his new post on 1 September, he will be-
come the WTO's first Latin American director general, and the sec-
ond to hail from the global south.
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Meet RoboBee, a bug-
sized, bio-inspired flying
robotHarvard scientists have introduced what
may be the cutest flying robots ever: a bio-
inspired insect-sized aircraft dubbed
RoboBee that pushes flight-worthy craft
into their smallest wings yet.
To our knowledge this is the smallest fly-
ing robot so far, said Pakpong
Chirarattananon, co-lead of the paper in
Science describing the 80-milligram robot
with a 3-centimeter wingspan thats
hardly bigger than a penny.
Building such a tiny flying robot required
marshaling an enormous amount of in-
genuity -- and several engineering break-
throughs -- to overcome the challenges
of working on the sub-millimeter level.
Nuts and bolts prove unmanageable, and
turbulence becomes a much bigger issue
on such a small scale.
The researchers came up with a way to
build the robots by tracing out patterns
in flat sheets and then folding them into
the desired shape. This approach allowed
them to use different materials in sheets
that they could glue together with rela-
tive ease. The method is a bit like the
approach you use with origami,
Chirarattananon said. And that enables us to
create something thats small and precise.
2014 G8 Summit to Be
Held in SochiRussia will hold the 2014 Group of Eight
(G8) summit in its southern Black Sea re-
sort of Sochi, the city that will also host
the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, the
Kremlin said on Monday. In connection
with Russias G8 presidency in 2014, I have
resolved to make the city of Sochi the
venue for the 2014 G8 meeting of the
heads of state and government, the rel-
evant decree signed by President Vladimir
Putin said.
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Roberto Azevedo, a Brazilian trade diplomat, has been chosen as the next head of
the World Trade Organisation (WTO), ending a long selection process that began in
December. Azevdo, who has been Brazil's
ambassador to the WTO since 2008, saw off
nine rival candidates for the role.
When he takes up his new post on 1 Septem-
ber, he will become the WTO's first Latin
American director general, and the second to
hail from the global south.
Reuters leaked the news of his selection on
Tuesday evening, citing diplomatic sources.
The WTO is due to make an official announcement on Wednesday.
A respected figure in Geneva, Azevdo, 55, was widely seen as the insider's candi-
date, and was the preferred choice of developing countries and emerging econo-
mies.
The US, Japan, South Korea, and all 27 EU member states reportedly backed Azevdo's
Mexican opponent, Herminio Blanco, in the final round of the selection process.
Blanco, who holds a PhD in economics from the University of Chicago, served as his
country's trade minister from 1994 to 2000. He is widely known as an aggressive
and committed free trader, with a strong personality to match.
Those qualities earned Blanco the support of rich countries, but they may have scared
off some of the WTO's developing country members, says Simon Evenett, a profes-
sor of economics and trade at the University of St Gallen in Switzerland. Ultimately,
Azevdo won the backing of a majority of the WTO's 159 members, despite a lack of
support from many rich countries.
"Had Blanco won with transatlantic support behind him, plus the support of Japan
and Korea it would have looked like another rich-country stitch-up of an interna-
tional [organisation] job, and that would have been very unhelpful in terms of get-
ting progress at the WTO," says Evenett. "In that sense, the outcome that we have is
good for the organisation."
Nine candidates three women, and six contenders from non-OECD countries
were nominated for the post.
With his intimate knowledge of the ins and outs of the WTO, Azevdo should have a
fairly smooth transition into his new job, taking over from Pascal Lamy of France.
Lamy is coming to the end of his second term as director general, having taken up
the post in 2005.
The first item on Azevdo's agenda will be to prepare for the WTO's next ministerial
meeting, which will take place in Bali in December. Trade observers say the Bali
meeting will need to register some sort of progress in the WTO's Doha round trade
talks, which were launched in 2001 but have been at an impasse for years. Azevdo
agrees. The selection of a new director general "is a bit like a fireworks display", says
Evenett. "There's a lot of excitement and drumroll on the evening, and then the
next day, life goes on. We may be at that sort of moment with the WTO."
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ew 17-million-digit
monster is largest
known primeThe largest known prime number has just
shot up to 257,885,161 - 1, breaking a
four-year dry spell in the search for new,
ever-larger primes. Curtis Cooper at the
University of Central Missouri in
Warrensburg made the find as part of the
Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search
(GIMPS), a distributed computing project
designed to hunt for a particular kind of
prime number first identified in the 17th
century.
All prime numbers can only be divided by
themselves and 1. The rare Mersenne
primes all have the form 2p - 1, where p
is itself a prime number.
The new prime, which has over 17 mil-
lion digits, is only the 48th Mersenne
prime ever found and the 14th discovered
by GIMPS. The previous record holder,
243,112,609 - 1, which was also found by
GIMPS in 2008, has just under 13 million
digits. All of the top 10 largest known
primes are Mersenne primes discovered
by GIMPS. Until today, the most recent
addition to the list was found in 2009, but
it was smaller than the 2008 discovery.
Volunteer sifters
Though there are an infinite number of
primes, there is no formula for generat-
ing these numbers, so discovering them
requires intensive computation. GIMPS
uses volunteers' computers to sift through
each prime-number candidate in turn,
until eventually one lucky user discovers
a new prime.
Cooper runs GIMPS software on around
a thousand university computers, one of
which spent 39 days straight proving that
the number was prime. This was then
independently verified by other researchers.
Though there is little mathematical value
to finding a single new prime, these rare
numbers are prized in their own right by
some. "It's sort of like finding a diamond,"
says Chris Caldwell at the University of
Tennessee, Martin, who keeps a record of
the largest known primes. "For some rea-
son people decide they like diamonds and
so they have a value. People like these
large primes and so they also have a
value."
Prime-hunting isn't a completely esoteric
pastime though, as these numbers under-
pin the cryptographic techniques used to
make online transactions secure.
Prizes for primes
The Electronic Frontier Foundation, an
internet civil liberties group, is offering
prizes of $150,000 and $250,000 to the
discovery of the first prime with at least
100 million and a billion digits, respec-
tively. Previous prizes for primes 1 million
and 10 million digits long have already
been awarded.
Cooper will receive a $3000 prize from
GIMPS for making the discovery. Don't
expect to see the next largest prime any
time soon though. The problem becomes
harder over time, as larger primes are
both more rare and harder to check.
"Those two things work together to
spread them out as time goes on," says
Caldwell.
Azerbaijani President
and his spouse watch
Azerspace-1 satellite
orbit launchFebruary 8 marked one of the most re-
markable events in Azerbaijan's indepen-
dence history as the country successfully
launched its first communications satel-
lite, Azerspace-1, into orbit. Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev and the First Lady
Mehriban Aliyeva watched the launch live
from the new headquarters of
Azercosmos that the Head of State inau-
gurated earlier the same day. Prior to the
launch of the satellite President Ilham
Aliyev viewed the new headquarters of
Azercosmos, a first satellite operator in
Azerbaijan and the Caucasus.
Minister of Information and Communica-
tion Technologies Ali Abbasov told the
Head of State that Azercosmos provided
highly reliable and satellite-delivered
communication services and platforms to
broadcasting, broadband and govern-
ment customers.
In 2008, a presidential decree set up a
national space program. In the meantime,
the Ministry of Information and Commu-
nication Technologies came to an agree-
ment with Measat Satellite Systems, the
leading satellite operator in Malaysia, to
lease the GEO position at 46E orbital slot
and jointly operate the Azerspace/
Africasat-1A.
2009 saw several tenders and as a result
the US-based Orbital Sciences Corporation
was opted to construct the satellite along
with the French Arianespace to launch it.
The minister told President Ilham Aliyev
that Azercosmos planned to launch a low-
Earth orbit satellite in 2015, and
Azerspace-2 satellite in 2016.
The spacecraft was put into orbit from
Guiana Space Center near Kourou in
French Guiana at 01.36 Baku time.
Azerspace-1 blasted off aboard Ariane 5
rocket made by French Arianespace com-
pany.
Arianespace was founded in 1980 as the
world's first commercial satellite launch
company. Its shareholders include the
French space agency CNES, Astrium and
all European space companies, represent-
ing 10 European countries.
As of October 1, 2012, the company had
315 employees, at its corporate headquar-
ters in Evry, at the Guiana Space Center
(CSG) - launch site for Ariane 5, Soyuz and
Vega - and at local offices in Washington,
D.C., Singapore and Tokyo.
Since its creation, Arianespace has signed
contracts with 80 customers worldwide
carrying out 211 Ariane launches, 29
Soyuz launches (four at CSG and 25 at
Baikonur via its subsidiary, Starsem) and
the first launch of Vega. More than half
of the commercial satellites in service to-
day were launched by Arianespace.
Based on impressive launch performance
and a large backlog of orders, Arianespace
is the world's leading launch company,
capturing much more than 50 percent of
the commercial satellite launch market
year after year.
With an anticipated service life of 15
years, Azerspace/Africasat-1a is based on
Orbital`s flight-proven GEOStar-2 plat-
form.
The hybrid C- and Ku-band satellite will
generate approximately five kilowatts of
payload power and carry 36 active tran-
sponders, providing communications ser-
vices to Azerbaijan, Europe, Africa, Middle
East and Central Asia.
Azerspace/Africasat-1a will operate from
an orbital location at 46 degrees East lon-
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gitude through an arrangement between
Azercosmos and MEASAT Satellite Sys-
tems of Malaysia, which owns the rights
to the orbital slot.
Azerspace-1 satellite will offer telecom-
munication services to Eastern Europe,
the Caucasus, Central Asia and North Af-
rica, providing digital broadcasting,
Internet access, data transmission, cre-
ation of VSAT multiservice networks and
communications. Some 20 percent of the
satellite`s resources will be used for
Azerbaijan`s needs, and the remaining 80
percent will be available for commercial
purposes.
The launch of the spacecraft means that
all of the territory of Azerbaijan will be
covered with quality TV and radio broad-
casting, high-speed IP services, enabling
a stable and quality platform for programs
such as distance education and e-health,
eliminating communication problems.
The satellite separated from the carrier
rocket 33 minutes after the launch. It
placed itself into a geostationary orbit at
46 degrees East longitude 34.56 minutes
after blasting off.
President Ilham Aliyev congratulated the
people of Azerbaijan on the launch of the
country`s first communications satellite.
AHMADINEJAD WANTS
TO BE FIRST IRAN
ASTRONAUTPresident Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has
said he is ready to take the risk of becom-
ing the first human being sent into space
by Iran, national media reports. "I'm ready
to be the first Iranian to sacrifice myself
for our country's scientists," the official
IRNA news agency quoted him as saying
on the sidelines of an exhibition of space
achievements in Tehran on Monday. Iran
said it sent a monkey into space one week
ago, describing the launch as a successful
step towards Tehran's plan to send an as-
tronaut into space within the next five to
six years. The monkey named "Pishgam",
which means pioneer in Farsi, reportedly
travelled 120km and safely returned to
Earth. The launch added to Western con-
cerns about Iran's space programme be-
cause the same rocket technology could
potentially be used to deliver a nuclear
warhead on a ballistic missile. In 2010,
Iran said it launched an Explorer rocket
into space carrying a mouse, a turtle and
worms. Iran's space officials say Iran will
launch a bigger rocket carrying a larger
animal to obtain greater safety assurances
before sending a man into space. Space
tourist Anousheh Ansari was the first Ira-
nian to make a journey into space aboard
a Soyuz TMA-9 capsule from Baikonur,
Kazakhstan, in 2006. The 40-year-old tele-
communications entrepreneur paid a re-
ported $20m for a space station visit.
Sixty-seventh session of
the United Nations
General AssemblyThe sixty-seventh session of the United
Nations General Assembly, opened on 18
September 2012. The President of the
United Nations General Assemblywas
chosen from the EEG (the smallest re-
gional grouping) with Serbia's then for-
eign minister Vuk Jeremi? beating out
Lithuania's Dalius ?ekuolis in an election.
Notably, the session led to United Nations
General Assembly resolution 67/19 which
granted Palestine non-member observer
state status.
The general debate of the sixty-seventh
session of the United Nations General
Assembly speaking schedule in the Gen-
eral Assembly Chamber from 25 Septem-
ber, 2012 were as follows:
Organisation and subjects
The order of speakers is given first to
member states, then observer states and
supranational bodies. Any other observ-
ers entities will have a change to speak at
the end of the debate, if they so choose.
Speakers will be put on the list in the or-
der of their request, with special consid-
eration for ministers and other govern-
ment officials of similar or higher rank.
According to the rules in place for the
General Debate, the statements should be
on of the United Nations official languages
of Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Rus-
sian or Spanish, and will be translated by
the United Nations translators. Each
speaker is requested to provide 20 ad-
vance copies of their statements to the
conference officers to faciltate translation
and to be presented at the podium.
Though there is no time limit for
speeches, a voluntary guideline of 15 min-
utes is requested.
In addition to commenting on issues of
individual national and wider interna-
tional relevance, the President of the Gen-
eral Assembly Vuk Jeremic chose the
theme: "Adjustment or settlement of in-
ternational disputes or situations by
peaceful means." Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon also said: "This year's General
Debate will be among [st] our busiest
ever. This reflects the tumultuous time in
which we live -- a time of turmoil and tran-
sition." The General Debate will com-
mence with the opening of the session on
25 September and continue until 1 October.
A multitude of issues, including adminis-
trative affais for the UN, are on the
broader preliminary agenda for the ses-
sion. There is also a day-by-day schedule.
2013 Grammy Awards
Winners
The 55th Annual Grammy Awards are be-
ing handed out this afternoon, and many
of them before this evening's telecast
from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
We're updating all the winners here as
they're announced:
Rihanna will premiere "Stay" on E! News
Album of the Year: Babel, Mumford &
Sons
Song of the Year: "We Are Young," fun.
featuring Janelle Mone
Best New Artist: fun.
Best Pop Solo Performance: "Set Fire to
the Rain," Adele
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw talk their Ve-
gas show
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
"Somebody That I Used to Know," Gotye
featuring Kimbra
Best Pop Instrumental Album: Impres-
sions, Chris Botti
Best Pop Vocal Album: Stronger, Kelly
Clarkson
Best Dance Recording: Bangarang, Skrillex
featuring Sirah
Best Dance/Electronica Album:
Bangarang, Skrillex
Best Rock Performance: Lonely Boy, The
Black Keys
Best Rock Song: "Lonely Boy," The Black
Keys
Best Rock Album: El Camino, The Black
Keys
Best Alternative Music Album: Making
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Mirrors, Gotye
Best R&B Performance: "Climax," Usher
Best Traditional R&B Performance: "Love
on Top," Beyonc
Best R&B Song: "Adorn," Miguel
Best Urban Contemporary Album: Chan-
nel Orange, Frank Ocean
Taylor Swift talks opening the Grammys
Best R&B Album: Black Radio, Robert
Glasper Experiment
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: "No Church
In The Wild," Jay-Z and Kanye West fea-
turing Frank Ocean and The Dream
Best Rap Album: Take Care, Drake
Best Country Duo/Group Performance:
Pontoon, Little Big Town
Best Country Song: "Blown Away," Carrie
Underwood
Best Country Album: Uncaged, Zac Brown
Band
Padma Awardees 2013Noted scientists Yashpal and Roddam
Narasimha, cricketer Rahul Dravid, actor
Rajesh Khanna and comedian Jaspal Bhatti
(both posthumous), and boxer Mary Kom,
are among the 108 eminent and illustri-
ous personalities named for India's high-
est civilian honours, Padma awards, this
year. According to a release from the
home ministry Jan 25, 2013, President
Pranab Mukherjee approved the names
of the 108 awardees, who include 4
Padma Vibhushan, 24 Padma Bhushan
and 80 Padma Shri. As many as 24 of the
awardees are women.
Among the Padma Vibhushan awardees
are Yashpal, Roddam Narasimha and art-
ist S. Haider Ali Raza. Among the Padma
Bhushan awardees are actors Rajesh
Khanna and Sharmila Tagore, Bhatti, in-
dustrialist Adi Godrej, as well as Dravid
and Mary Kom. Actor Nana Patekar, Urdu
poet Nida Fazli, wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt,
boxer Dingko Singh, filmmaker Ramesh
Sippy, Magsaysay Award winner Nileema
Mishra, Olympic medallist Vijay Kumar are
among the Padma Shri awardees. The
country's top civilian awards are given
under various disciplines like arts, litera-
ture, social work, public affairs, medicine,
and sports. Padma Vibhushan is given for
exceptional and distinguished service,
Padma Bhushan for distinguished service
of high order and Padma Shri for distin-
guished service in any field.
President has approved the conferment
of 108 Padma Awards. These comprise
04 Padma Vibhushan, 24 Padma Bhushan
and 80 Padma Shri Awards. 24 of the
awardees are women and the list also in-
cludes 11 persons in the category of For-
eigners, NRIs, PIOs and Posthumous
awardees. Padma Awards, the countrys
highest civilian awards, are conferred in
three categories, namely, Padma
Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma
Shri. The Awards are given in various dis-
ciplines/ fields of activities, viz- art, social
work, public affairs, science and engineer-
ing, trade and industry, medicine, litera-
ture and education, sports, civil service,
etc. Padma Vibhushan is awarded for
exceptional and distinguished service;
Padma Bhushan for distinguished service
of high order and Padma Shri for distin-
guished service in any field. The awards
are announced on the occasion of Repub-
lic Day every year. The awards are con-
ferred by the President of India at a func-
tion held at Rashtrapati Bhawan some-
time around March/ April.
Padma Vibhushan
SN Name Discipline
State/ Domicile
1. Raghunath Mohapatra Art
Orissa
2. S. Haider Raza Art
Delhi
3. Prof. Yash Pal S & T
U.P
4. Prof. Roddam Narasimha S & T
Karnataka
Padma Bhushan
SN Name Discipline
State/ Domicile
1. Dr. Ramanaidu Daggubati Art
AP
2. Smt. Sreeramamurthy Janaki Art
Tamil Nadu
3. Dr. (Smt.) Kanak Rele Art
Maharashtra
4. Smt. Sharmila Tagore Art
Delhi
5. Dr. (Smt.) Saroja Vaidyanathan Art
Delhi
6. Abdul Rashid Khan Art
West Bengal
7. Late Rajesh Khanna Art
Maharashtra #
8. Late Jaspal Singh Bhatti Art
Punjab #
9. Shivajirao Girdhar Patil Public Af-
fairs Maharashtra
10.Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai S c i e n c e
&Engineering Delhi
11.Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat S & T
Delhi
12.Dr. Ashoke Sen S & T
UP
13.Dr. B.N. Suresh S & T
Karnataka
14.Prof. Satya N. Atluri S & T
USA *
15.Prof. Jogesh Chandra Pati S & T
USA *
16. Ramamurthy ThyagarajanTrade and
Industry Tamil Nadu
17. Adi Burjor Godrej Trade and
Industry
Maharashtra
18.Dr. N. Shamrao Laud Medicine
Maharashtra
19. Mangesh Padgaonkar Literature
& Edu.
Maharashtra
20.Prof. G. Ch. Spivak Literature
& Education USA*
21. Hemendra Singh Panwar Civil Ser-
vice M.P.
22.Dr. Maharaj Kishan Bhan Civil Ser-
vice Delhi
23. Rahul Dravid Sports
Karnataka
24.Ms. H. M. Chungneijang Mary Kom
Sports Manipur
Padma Sri
SN Name Discipline
State/ Domicile
1. Gajam Anjaiah Art
AP
2. Swami G.C.D. Bharti Art
Chhattisgarh
3. Ms. B. Jayashree Art
Karnataka
4. Smt. Sridevi Kapoor Art
Maharashtra
5. Kailash Chandra Meher Art
Orissa
6. Brahmdeo Ram Pandit Art
Maharashtra
7. S. Vishwanath D. Patekar /Nana
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Patekar Art
Maharashtra
8. R. N.Rao / Surabhi Babji Art
AP
9. Lakshmi N. Sathiraju Art
Tamil Nadu
10.Smt. Jaymala Shiledar Art
Maharashtra
11. Suresh D. Talwalkar Art
Maharashtra
12. P. M. Nair alias Madhu Art
Kerala
13. Apurba Kishore Bir Art
Maharashtra
14. Ghanakanta B. Borbayan Art
Assam
15.Smt. Hilda Mit Lepcha Art
Sikkim
16.Smt. Sudha Malhotra Art
Maharashtra
17. Ghulam M.Saznawaz Art
Jammu and Kashmir
18. Ramesh Gopaldas Sippy Art
Maharashtra
19.Ms. Mahrukh Tarapor Art
Maharashtra
20. Balwant Thakur Art
Jammu & Kashmir
21. Puran Das Baul Art
West Bengal
22. Rajendra Tikku Art
Jammu & Kashmir
23. Pablo Bartholomew Art
Delhi
24. S. Shakir Ali Art
Rajasthan
25.Sh. S.K.M Maeilanandhan S o c i a l
WorkTamil Nadu
26.Ms. Nileema Mishra S o c i a l
WorkMaharashtra
27.Ms. Reema Nanavati S o c i a l
WorkGujarat
28.Ms. Jharna D. Chowdhury S o c i a l
WorkBangladesh *
29.Late Dr. Ram Krishan S o c i a l
WorkUP #
30.Late Manju Bharat Ram S o c i a l
WorkDelhi #
31.Prof. Mustansir Barma S & T
Maharashtra
32. Avinash Chander S & T
Delhi
33.Prof. Sanjay G.Dhande S & T
UP
34.Prof. (Dr.) Sankar K. Pal S & T
West Bengal
35.Prof. Deepak B. Phatak S & T
Maharashtra
36.Dr. Mudundi R. Raju S & T
AP
37.Prof. Ajay K. Sood S & T
Karnataka
38.Prof. K. Vijayraghavan S & T
Karnataka
39.Dr. Manindra Agrawal S & T
UP
40.Dr. J. Gowrishankar S & T
AP
41.Prof. S. Pandurang Kale S & T
Maharashtra
42.Smt. Vandana Luthra Trade and
Industry Delhi
43.Ms. Rajshree Pathy Trade and
Industry Tamil Nadu
44. Hemendra P. Barooah Trade and
Industry Assam
45. Milind Kamble Trade and
Industry
Maharashtra
46.Ms. Kalpana Saroj Trade and
Industry
Maharashtra
47.Dr. Sudarshan K. AggarwalMedicine
Delhi
48.Dr. C. V. S. Ram Medicine
AP
49.Dr. Rajendra A. Badwe Medicine
Maharashtra
50.Dr. Taraprasad Das Medicine
Orissa
51.Prof. (Dr.) T.V. Devarajan Medicine
Tamil Nadu
52.Prof. (Dr.) Saroj C. Gopal Medicine
UP
53.Dr. Pramod Kumar Julka Medicine
Delhi
54.Dr. Gulshan Rai Khatri Medicine
Delhi
55.Dr. Ganesh Kumar Mani Medicine
Delhi
56.Dr. Amit P. Maydeo Medicine
Maharashtra
57.Dr. Sundaram Natarajan Medicine
Maharashtra
58.Prof. Krishna C.Chunekar Medicine
UP
59.Dr. Vishwa Kumar Gupta Medicine
Delhi
60.Prof. (Capt.) M.Sharaf-e-Alam Litera-
ture & Education Bihar
61.Dr. Radhika Herzberger Literature
& Education AP
62. J. Malsawma Literature
& Education Mizoram
63. Devendra Patel Literature
& Education Gujarat
64.Dr. Rama Kant Shukla Literature
& Education Delhi
65.Prof. Akhtarul Wasey Literature
& Education Delhi
66.Prof. Anvita Abbi Literature
& Education Delhi
67. Nida Fazli Literature
& Education M.P.
68. Surender Kumar Sharma Literature
& Education Delhi
69.Dr. Jagdish Prasad Singh Literature
& Education Bihar
70.Late S. R. Kapoor Literature
& Edu. West Ben-
gal #
71.Prof. Noboru Karashima Literature
& Education Japan *
72. Christopher Pinney Literature
& Education UK *
73.Smt. Premlata Agrawal Sports
Jharkhand
74. Yogeshwar Dutt Sports
Haryana
75. Hosanagara N.Girisha Sports
Karnataka
76.Subedar M. Vijay Kumar Sports
Himachal Pradesh
77. Ngangom Dingko Singh Sports
Maharashtra
78.Naib S. B. Lal Takhar Sports
Rajasthan
79.Ms. Ritu Kumar F a s h i o n
Designing Delhi
80.Dr. Ravindra Singh Bisht Archaeol-
ogy UP
Note: * - indicates awardees in the category of
Foreigners / NRIs/ PIOs.
# - indicates awardees in the post-
humous category.
64th Republic DayIndia celebrated its 64th Republic Day on
26 January 2013. Unfurling of National
flag, the rich cultural heritage, and
nation's achievements in various fields
were the highlights of Republic Day Pa-
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rade at Rajpath in Delhi. The well-turned
out and synchronised military and police
formations led by General Officer Com-
manding (Delhi) Lt General Subroto Mitra
marched proudly to the tunes of bands
through the Rajpath where President
Pranab Mukherjee, the Supreme Com-
mander of Armed Forces, took salute for
the first time after assuming office in July
2012. The impressive march-past was
watched by Chief Guest, King of Bhutan
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk.
Bhutan King to be the Chief
Guest at Indias Republic
Day for the Year 2013
Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel
Wangchuck is to be the chief guest at the
Republic Day parade for the year 2013.
The Bhutan King is also to be the chief
guest at the Confederation of Indian In-
dustry Partnership Summit-2013 to be
held at Agra from 27th to 29 January 2013.
Bhutan King's visit will contribute to fur-
ther strengthening and expanding the
close bilateral relations between India and
Bhutan. The unique and special relations
between the two neighbouring countries
are characterized by everlasting friend-
ship, deep understanding and mutual
trust.
11th Pravasi Bharatiya
DivasThe three-day 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Di-
vas (PBD) kicked off in Kochi on 7 January
2013. The event saw delightful response
from the people with more than 2000
registrations. The distinctive feature of
this year's Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is that
this is the first time that there is going to
be an exclusive session on Middle East.
The organizing partner of this year sum-
mit is Indo-Canada Chamber of Com-
merce (ICCC).
Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs
Vayalar Ravi is leading the day-long
Middle-East session along with Chief Min-
ister of Kerala Oommen Chandy and Jo-
seph. The whole day event of 7th January
2013 would see discussions on problems
that people from Kerala face in the region.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will in-
augurate the annual flagship event on 8
January2013 and President Pranab
Mukherjee will deliver the valedictory
address on 9 January 2013and also con-
fer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated
on 9th January every year to mark the
contribution of Overseas Indian commu-
nity in the development of India. January
9 was chosen as the day to celebrate this
occasion since it was on this day in 1915
that Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest
Pravasi, returned to India from South Af-
rica, led Indias freedom struggle and
changed the lives of Indians forever.
PBD conventions are being held every
year since 2003. These conventions pro-
vide a platform to the overseas Indian
community to engage with the govern-
ment and people of the land of their an-
cestors for mutually beneficial activities.
These conventions are also very useful in
networking among the overseas Indian
community residing in various parts of the
world and enable them to share their ex-
periences in various fields.
During the event, individuals of excep-
tional merit are honoured with the pres-
tigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award
to appreciate their role in Indias growth.
The event also provides a forum for dis-
cussing key issues concerning the Indian
Diaspora.
National Development
Council (NDC)
approves 12th Five Year
PlanCountrys apex policy making body NDC
has approved the strategy to achieve av-
erage growth rate of 8 pc during the 12th
Five Year Plan (2012-17), generate 50 mil-
lion new jobs and increase investments
in infrastructure sector. I am very happy
that NDC (National Development Coun-
cil) has approved the 12th Five Year Plan.
We have marginally reduced the average
annual growth rate to 8 per cent (from
8.2 per cent). We expect with the growth
rate of 5.8 per cent this fiscal and little
over 7 per cent next fiscal, and with extra
effort in the remaining three more years
we can reach 8 per cent, Planning Com-
mission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh
Ahluwalia said in New Delhi on Thursday.
The voluminous document, containing
detailed policy strategy for the 12th Plan,
was approved at the full meeting of the
NDC chaired by Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh. The document has
pegged the aggregate Plan resources at
Rs 37.16 lakh crore during the five year
period starting 2012-13. Singh assured all
Chief Ministers that Centre has taken note
of the points raised by them, including
those in the written speeches. All these
points will be carefully considered by the
Planning Commission, he said, adding,
the Plan is not a rigid blue print.
It is a broad directional and
aspirational document, which must al-
low for modification on the basis of ex-
perience... We must now devote all our
energies to implementing the Plan, the
Prime Minister said. Moving away from
previous practice of presenting single
growth projection, the Planning Commis-
sion has come out with three different
economic scenarios for 12th Five-Year
Plan. As per the aspirational scenario
one of strong inclusive growth
Indias economic growth will be average
8 percent in the five years. The document
also cautions that in scenario of policy
logjam, the GDP growth could slow down
to 5-5.5 percent. The document proposes
to bring down poverty by 10 percentage
points by the end of the 12th Plan and
generate five crore new jobs in non-farm
sector. As regard the infrastructure sec-
tor, it says that efforts should be made to
increase investment in this sector to 9
percent of the GDP by the end of the Plan
period. The other targets include increas-
ing green cover by one million hectare
every year and adding 30,000 MW of re-
newable energy generation capacity in
the Plan period. It also seeks to reduce
emission intensity of the GDP in line with
the target of 20-25 reduction by 2020
over 2005 levels. Although the docu-
ment envisages 6.7 percent growth rate
in the current fiscal, it has been projected
at 5.7-5.9 percent in 2012-13 by the Fi-
nance Ministry. The strategy for the full
Plan would aim at raising agriculture out-
put to 4 percent and manufacturing sec-
tor growth to 10 percent. It also wants all
the states to set higher targets of growth
than what was achieved in the 11th Five
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Year Plan.
Govt postpones GAAR
implementation by 2
years to 2016Giving a big relief to overseas investors,
the government has postponed imple-
mentation of controversial GAAR provi-
sions by two years to April 1, 2016. Hav-
ing considered all the circumstances and
relevant factors, the government has
...decided that provisions of Chapter 10A
of the Income Tax Act (dealing with GAAR)
will come into force from April 1, 2016 as
against April 1, 2014, Finance Minister P
Chidambaram said in New Delhi on Mon-
day. The General Anti Avoidance Rules
(GAAR) provisions, introduced by the then
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the
Budget 2012-13, were aimed at checking
tax avoidance by overseas investors. The
proposal, however, generated contro-
versy, with investors expressing apprehen-
sions that it would result in unnecessary
harassment by tax authorities. The deci-
sion to postpone the implementation,
Chidambaram said, follows the recom-
mendations of the Shome Committee
which was set up by Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh in July last year to look
into investor concerns. The government,
Chidambaram further said, has accepted
major recommendations of the panel
with some modifications.
The GAAR provisions, the Minister also
clarified, would override the double taxa-
tion avoidance agreement (DTAA) benefits
if the arrangements were intended solely
to evade taxes. GAAR abbreviation stands
for general-anti-avoidance rules and it has
been introduced in India due to
VODAFONE case ruling in favour of this
company by the Supreme Court. The new
rules will come into effect from 01 April,
2012.
GAAR Implications in India
Indian Government is trying to give
powers to income tax authorities as
implementation of GAAR provides tre-
mendous powers to deny tax benefit to
an entity if a transaction has been carried
with the sole intention of tax avoidance.
Due to powers in the hand of taxmen, now
innocents may be harassed by them.
FII & FDI money coming to India
through Mauritius route will now become
taxable.
Increased litigations.
Golden Globe Awards
2013The 70th annual Golden Globes took over
Hollywood on Sunday evening (January
13), with hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler
hilariously at the helm. Argo was the
nights biggest surprise, as director Ben
Affleck bounced back from an Oscar snub
earlier in the week to accept Globe wins
for director and Motion Picture - Drama.
The triumphs for Les Miserables were
easier to predict: the film took home stat-
ues for actor (Hugh Jackman), supporting
actress (Anne Hathaway) and Motion Pic-
ture - Musical or Comedy.
On the TV side of things, Homeland had
an even more impressive night than the
Showtime series did last year, adding a
Best Actor (Damien Lewis) win to its re-
peats for Best Drama Series and Best Ac-
tress in a Drama Series (Claire Danes). On
the same night that its second season
debuted on HBO, Girls and creator Lena
Dunham notched wins for best comedic
actress and Best Television Series - Musi-
cal or Comedy. Check out the full list of
Golden Globe winners below!
Best Motion Picture - Drama: Argo
Best Actress - Drama: Jessica Chastain,
Zero Dark Thirty
Best Actor - Drama: Daniel Day-Lewis,
Lincoln
Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Mu-
sical: Les Miserables
Best Actress - Comedy or Musical: Jen-
nifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Best Actor - Comedy or Musical: Hugh
Jackman, Les Miserables
Best Supporting Actress: Anne
Hathaway, Les Miserables
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz,
Django Unchained
Best Director: Ben Affleck, Argo
Best Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino,
Django Unchained
Best Animated Feature Film: Brave
Best Foreign Language Film: Amour
Best Original Score: Mychael Danna,
Life Of Pi (Indian Film)
Best Original Song: Skyfall, Adele
from Skyfall
Best TV Series - Drama: Homeland
Best Actress TV Series - Drama: Claire
Danes, Homeland
Best Actor TV Series - Drama: Damien
Lewis, Homeland
Best TV Series - Comedy or Musical:
Girls
Best Actress TV Series - Comedy or Musi-
cal: Lena Dunham, Girls
Best Actor TV Series - Comedy or Musi-
cal: Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Best TV Miniseries or Movie: Game
Change
Best Actress - TV Miniseries or Movie:
Julianne Moore, Game Change
Best Actor - TV Miniseries or Movie:
Kevin Costner, Hatfields & McCoys
Best Supporting Actress - TV Series,
Miniseries, Movie: Maggie Smith,
Downton Abbey
Cecil B. Demille Award: Jodie Foster
Usha Mehra
CommissionThe Government has set up a Commission
of Inquiry to identify lapses and fix respon-
sibility in the gang rape of a 23 year-old
girl in a moving bus in Delhi on Decem-
ber 16. According to a decision taken by
the Cabinet in its meeting, the one-per-
son Commission will be headed by former
Delhi High Court judge, Justice Usha
Mehra. The commission will suggest mea-
sures to make Delhi and NCR safer for
women. It will submit its report within
three months, which will be tabled in Par-
liament along with action taken by the
Government.
The Commission has been set up to en-
quire into various aspect of the shocking
incident of rape and brutal assault of a
young woman in Delhi on 16.12.2012,
identify the lapses, if any, on the part of
the police or any other Authority or per-
son that contributed to the occurrence;
and fix responsibility for the lapses and/
or negligence on the part of the police or
any other Authority or person. The Com-
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mission shall suggest measures to improve the safety and secu-
rity of women, particularly in NCT of Delhi and NCR.
Chairman of the 20th Law
Commission AppointedJustice D. K. Jain, Judge, Supreme Court of India, will be the
Chairman of the Twentieth Law Commission of India. Accord-
ing to the Notification issued here today, the appointment of
Justice Jain will be effective from any day after 24th January
2013 on his retirement from the Supreme Court. The Twenti-
eth Law Commission was constituted through a Government
Order with effect from 1st September, 2012. It has a three-year
term ending on 31st August, 2015.
Justice JS Verma Panel ReportThe Justice Verma panel, which is a 3-member commission cre-
ated to review the laws for sexual crimes submitted the report
to the Government of India on 23 January 2013. Justice Verma
panel was created after the brutal gang rape of the Para-medi-
cal student on 16 December 2012. Former Chief Justice of In-
dia, Justice JS Verma headed the commission and reviewed the
laws on sexual crimes which exist already.
The report was prepared by the panel in its 30-day deadline.
The former CJI described that there were more than 80000 sug-
gestions from the length and breadth of India as well as abroad
after 5 January 2013 was declared as the deadline for receiving
comments from common man in order to refurbish the present
legislation that deals with the sex offenders.
Malala YousafzaiThe Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by the
Taliban for campaigning for education for girls, was discharged
yesterday from the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham,
England after success in the first stage of her medical treatment.
Yousafzai was shot in October by Taliban forces on a school bus
in Mingora, in the Swat Valley in Pakistan. She was given emer-
gency treatment in Pakistan and then flown to Britain for treat-
ment at a specialist unit which deals with injured soldiers.
Ami Bera and Tulsi GabbardTulsi Gabbard from Hawaii has created history by not only be-
coming the first Hindu ever to be sworn in as a member of the
US House of Representatives, but also being the first ever US
lawmaker to have taken oath of office on the sacred Bhagavad
Gita. Currently, she was a Company Commander with the Ha-
waii Army National Guard.
Ami Bera and Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu ever elected to the
US House of Representatives
Ami Bera, an Indian-American physician from California and Tulsi
Gabbard, the first Hindu ever elected to the US House of Repre-
sentatives, created history as they were sworn in as members
of the 113th Congress. Raised by a Hindu mother and a Catholic
father in a multiracial, multicultural, multi faith family,
Gabbard, 31, the first American Samoan and one of the first
female combat veterans in US Congress, took her oath of office
Thursday on the Bhagavad Gita, the Hindu scripture. Democrat
Gabbard, who represents Hawaii in the Congress previously
served on the Honolulu City Council and as a Hawaii state rep-
resentative. She was the youngest woman in the United States
to be elected to a state legislature.
Fiscal cliff in usIn the United States, the fiscal cliff is the sharp decline in the
budget deficit that could have occurred beginning in 2013 due
to increased taxes and reduced spending as required by previ-
ously enacted laws. The deficit-the amount by which govern-
ment spending exceeds its revenue-was projected to be reduced
by roughly half in 2013. TheCongressional Budget Office (CBO)
had estimated that the sharp decrease in the deficit would have
likely led to a mild recession in 2013 with the unemployment
rate rising to roughly 9 percent in the second half of the year.
The fiscal cliff was largely eliminated by the eleventh-hour pas-
sage of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.
100th Indian Science CongressThe theme selected for the centenary session is Science for
shaping the future of India. Annual Session of Indian Science
Congress has emerged as a major national event. The cente-
nary session held on 3rd 7th January, 2013.
Childrens Science Congress (Rashtriya
Kishore Vaigyanik Sammelan)
As a part of the Indian Science Congress, the Children Science
Congress is organized simultaneously to provide a unique op-
portunity to children to use their Scientific temperament and
knowledge and to quench their thirst for creativity by conduct-
ing scientific experiments. It generally comprises of a three days
event which encourages children to visualize science and stimu-
late their scientific temperament by giving the school children
a unique platform to showcase their innovation and creativity
in scientific projects. You are cordially invited to be a part of
Children Science Congress to be hosted by University of Calcutta
on January 4th, 5th and 6th, 2013 at Satyendra Nath Bose Na-
tional Centre for Basic Sciences, Salt Lake.
Womens Science Congress
The 100th Indian Science Congress is organizing a special
programme Women empowerment for the development of
the country. This programme is intended to showcase the con-
tribution of women in science and technology. Renowned
women scientists will be delivering lectures in this session. The
session will also deliberate on the role of Science and Technol-
ogy in empowering women and ways and means of tapping their
potential as innovators, implementers of innovations in addi-
tion to being beneficiaries of innovations.
14th Finance CommissionFormer RBI Governor Y. V. Reddy will be the Chairman of 14th
Finance Commission; the 13th Finance Commission was headed
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by former Finance Secretary Vijay Kelkar.
The Finance Commission has been asked
to submit its report by 31st October, 2014.
Finance Commission, a constitutional
body, is set up every five years. Besides
other things, the Commission lays down
principles governing the grants-in-aid to
states and other local bodies for a five-
year period beginning 1st April 2014.
As mandated by the Article 280 of the
Constitution, the Government has consti-
tuted the Fourteenth Finance Commission
consisting of Dr. Y.V.Reddy, former Gover-
nor Reserve Bank of India, as the Chair-
man and the following four other mem-
bers, namely: -
1. Prof Abhijit Sen
Member, Planning Commission (Member)
(Part Time)
2. Ms. Sushma Nath
Former Union Finance Secretary (Mem-
ber)
3. Dr. M.Govinda Rao
Director, National Institute for Public Fi-
nance and Policy, New Delhi
Member
4. Dr. Sudipto Mundle
Former Acting Chairman,
National Statistical Commission (Mem-
ber)
Ajay Narayan Jha shall be the Secretary
to the Commission. The Commission shall
make its report available by the 31st Oc-
tober, 2014, covering a period of five years
commencing on the 1st April, 2015.
Khap panchayats diktat
on women dress code
and mobile unlawful : SCThe Supreme Court today ruled that Khap
panchayats diktat on dress code for
women and asking them not to carry
mobile is unlawful. A bench of justices
Aftab Alam and Ranjana Prakash Desai
said such diktates are against the funda-
mental right to life and asked Khap
Panchayats , which are caste-based coun-
cils, to file their replies on the issue.
Burma military targeting
Kachin rebelsMilitary aircraft have been targeting rebel
areas in Burmas northern Kachin state
over the last five days. The footage, shot
by the humanitarian group Free Burma
Rangers, shows attack helicopters firing
on the ground and jets flying close to the
trenches of the rebel Kachin Indepen-
dence Army.
Higgs boson discovery
biggest scientific
breakthrough of 2012The capture of the most wanted sub-
atomic particle in physics - Higgs boson -
has topped the chart of the years ten big-
gest scientific breakthroughs. Scientists
had been chasing the Higgs boson, nick-
named the God particle for more than
four decades. In July the team from the
European nuclear research facility at
CERN in Geneva announced the detection
of a particle that fitted the description of
the elusive Higgs. The boson is believed
to give matter mass via an associated
Higgs field that permeates space. With-
out the property of mass, the universe we
live in could not exist.
Scientists used the worlds biggest atom
smashing machine, the Large Hadron
Collider on the Swiss-French border, to
track down the missing particle.
Year End Review for the
Department of
Communications &
Information TechnologyThe Telecom sector has witnessed expo-
nential growth, especially in the wireless
segment, in the last few years. With
937.70 million telephone connections at
the end of September 2012, the Indian
telecom network is the second largest in
the world, only after China. Tele-density,
which shows the number of telephones
per 100 population in the country, was
77.04% at the end of September 2012.
The number of internet subscribers in-
creased from 22.39 million (including
13.35 million broadband subscribers) to
23.01 million (including 14.57 million
broadband subscribers) during the period
from January to June 2012. At the end of
September 2012, there were 15.08 mil-
lion broadband subscribers in the coun-
try.
Telecom has evolved as a basic infrastruc-
ture like electricity, roads, water etc. and
has also emerged as one of the critical
components of economic growth required
for overall socio economic development
of the country. A study conducted recently
has found that, in India, 10% increase in
internet subscribers delivers, on an aver-
age, 1.08% increase in GDP. In the 10
states which had higher penetration of
Internet, the increase in growth was
higher at 2.36% on a average, for 10% in-
crease in Internet penetration. In the year
2009-10, these 10 states, referred to as
relatively developed States had internet
penetration rate of 2.76% compared to
the set of 9 Developing States having av-
erage internet penetration rate of only
0.61%. The study has also found that a
10% increase in mobile penetration de-
livers, on an average, 1.5% increase in
GDP.
National Telecom Policy - 2012 (NTP-
2010) : The government approved Na-
tional Telecom Policy-2012 (NTP-2012) on
31st May 2012 which addresses the Vi-
sion, Strategic direction and the various
medium term and long term issues re-
lated to telecom sector. The primary ob-
jective of NTP-2012 is maximizing public
good by making available affordable, re-
liable and secure telecommunication and
broadband services across the entire
country. The main thrust of the Policy is
on the multiplier effect and transforma-
tional impact of such services on the over-
all economy. It recognizes the role of such
services in furthering the national devel-
opment agenda while enhancing equity
and inclusiveness. Availability of afford-
able and effective communications for the
citizens is at the core of the vision and
goal of the NTP-2012. NTP-2012 also rec-
ognizes the predominant role of the pri-
vate sector in this field and the conse-
quent policy imperative of ensuring con-
tinued viability of service providers in a
competitive environment. Pursuant to
NTP-2012, these principles would guide
decisions needed to strike a balance be-
tween the interests of users/consumers,
service providers and government rev-
enue.
Largest Kuchipudi
dance performance in
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Hbad enters Guinness
bookIn Hyderabad, a performance by 5,974
Kuchipudi dancers has found its way into
the Guinness Book of World Records for
being the largest Kuchipudi dance. The
artists of different ages performed to dif-
ferent songs at a time to set the record as
part of the 3rd International Kuchipudi
Dance Convention in Hyderabad last
night. The event was organised by Silicon
Andhra, a cultural organisation run by US-
based Telugus, at the GMC Balayogi sta-
dium. A representative of the Guinness
Book, who observed the event said it was
the largest Kuchipudi dance. Union Min-
ister D Purandeswari, who was present on
the occasion, appreciated the efforts of
the organisers and the dancers.
Rashtriya Gaurav Gram
Sabha AwardsThe Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha
Purskar, 2012 was awarded to 16 best
performing Gram Panchayats and 170
Panchayats were felicitated representa-
tives of with Panchayat Sashaktikaran
Puraskar on the occasion of 3rdNational
Panchayati Raj Day. Four awards were
given to Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra
and Sikkim for cumulative raking and four
awards were given to Maharashtra,
Haryana, Rajasthan and Karnataka for in-
cremental raking. Approximately 1500
delegates such as State Ministers for
Panchayati Raj, Senior officials from State
Government Panchayati Raj Departments,
States elected representatives (ERs) from
the three tiers of PRIs, the national award
winning Panchayats as well as represen-
tatives from SCs/STs and Women attended
the function.
16th Summit of the Non-
Aligned Movement
(NAM) Summit16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Move-
ment in Tehran closed with accepting a
600-page final document that mainly fo-
cuses on the Palestinian issue as well as
on Irans nuclear energy program, but
makes no mention of the Syrian civil war.
A Chinese state commentary qualifies the
summit as an important diplomatic ac-
complishment from Iran, having hosted
leaders and delegates of over 100 coun-
tries. 16th Summit of the Non-Aligned
Movement was held from 26 to 31 Au-
gust 2012 in Tehran, Iran.
Hizb ut-TahrirThree hundred Hizb ut-Tahrir supporters
protest in Jakarta ahead of Secretary of
State Hillary Clintons visit to Indonesia.
Hizb ut-Tahrir is an international Sunni
pan-Islamic political organisation. They
are commonly associated with the goal of
all Muslim countries unifying as an Islamic
state or caliphate ruled by Islamic law and
with a caliph head of state elected by
Muslims. The organization was founded
in 1953 in Jerusalem by Taqiuddin al-
Nabhani, an Islamic scholar and appeals
court judge (Qadi) from the Palestinian
village of Ijzim. Since then Hizb ut-Tahrir
has spread to more than 40 countries, and
by one estimate has about one million
members. Hizb ut-Tahrir is very active in
the west, particularly in the United King-
dom, and is also active in several Arab and
Central Asian countries, despite being
banned by some governments. The group
also has a growing presence in North
America, known as Hizb ut-tahrir America,
or HTA.
Oriya Novelist and
Academician Pratibha
Ray selected for 2011
Jnanpith AwardRenowned Oriya novelist, Pratibha Ray on
27 December 2012 selected for the pres-
tigious Jnanpith award for the year 2011
for her contribution to the field of Indian
literature. Pratibha Ray is the first Oriya
woman and fourth Oriya writer to get the
coveted award. Earlier Gopinath Mohanty
(1973), Sachidananda Routray (1986) and
Sitakant Mohapatra (1993) were con-
ferred the honour. The award carries a
cash prize of 7 lakh rupees, a citation and
a bronze statuette of Godess Saraswati.
Pratibha Ray was born in Alabol, a village
in Jagatsingpur district of Odisha.
ISRO scores on 100th
mission, PSLV rocket
launch successfulISROs PSLV C21 rocket successfully
blasted off into space on its 100th mis-
sion on a cloudy on September 9, 2012.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was
among the cheering congregation of offi-
cials, scientists and media persons at the
Satish Dhawan Space Centre in
Sriharikota, AP. On this journey, the PSLV
C21 rocket ferried two dollar-paying for-
eign passengers a French Earth obser-
vation satellite Spot 6 and a Japanese mi-
cro satellite Proiteres into polar orbit.
The PSLV C21 was on its way to deliver
Spot 6 and Proiteres into a 655km polar
orbit inclined at an angle of 98.23 degrees
to the equator. SPOT and Indian remote
sensing satellites (launched earlier) are
the two leading earth observation satel-
lite series. SPOT 6 is the heaviest foreign
satellite ever to have been launched by
the ISRO, which has made launching sat-
ellites as a significant business activity
earning precious foreign exchange to the
country.
The PSLV C21 cost Rs. 75 crore. away from
earth.More important, it has established
the country as a major player in the satel-
lite launching business, which started in
1999 as an additional baggage when ISRO
launched Indias own satellite. So far, ISRO
has launched 27 foreign satellites and the
two of this time total up its tally to 29.
India is also a major player in the space
with a the largest number of remote sens-
ing satellites that send back imagery in a
variety of spatial resolutions from more
than meter ranging up to 500 meters. This
rich collection of data also makes India an
important player in the data market. In-
dia has 12 remote sensing/earth obser-
vation satellites circling the earth which
makes it a leader in remote sensind data
market. The 12 satellites are :TES,
Resourcesat 1, Cartosat 1, 2, 2A and 2B,
IMS 1, Risat-2, Oceansat 2, Resourcesat-2,
Megha-Tropiques and Risat-1.
China has officially
opened the worlds
longest high-speed rail
routeChina has officially opened the worlds
longest high-speed rail route, linking the
capital Beijing with the southern commer-
cial hub of Guangzhou. The first bullet
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train left Beijing on Wednesday morning.
Trains will initially travel at 300km/h
(187mph), more than halving travel time.
A Chinese official has described the route
- parts of which were already in opera-
tion - as one of the most technically ad-
vanced in the world. The 2,298km route
will have 35 stops. They include such
major cities as Wuhan and Changsha. The
previously 22-hour journey will now take
less than 10 hours.
Nagaland enters
Guinness World Record
of Largest Electric
Guitar EnsembleNagaland today entered the Guinness
World Record of the Largest Electric Gui-
tar Ensemble surpassing England, with
368 musicians performing at Agri-Expo in
Dimapur today. England made the record
of 250 musicians in 2012 at Ricoh Arena.
The music was played on the song
Knockin on Heavens Door by Guns and
Roses. The result was announced by Ad-
judicator, India Nikhil Shukla. The event
was organized by Sky Entertainment in as-
sociation with the Government of
Nagaland Music Task Force.
Deathbed theory dreamt
by an Indian maths
genius is finally proved
correct - almost 100
years after he diedTheory came to Srinivasa Ramanujan in a
dream on his deathbed in 1920 - but has
never been proved & Discovery could now
be used to explain the behaviour of parts
of a black hole. Researchers have finally
solved the cryptic deathbed puzzle re-
nowned Indian mathematician Srinivasa
Ramanujan claimed came to him in
dreams. While on his death-bed in 1920,
Ramanujan wrote a letter to his mentor,
English mathematician G. H. Hardy, out-
lining several new mathematical functions
never before heard of, along with a hunch
about how they worked, Decades years
later, researchers say theyve proved he
was right - and that the formula could
explain the behaviour of black holes.
Weve solved the problems from his last
mysterious letters, Emory University
mathematician Ken Ono said. For people
who work in this area of math, the prob-
lem has been open for 90 years,
Ramanujan, a self-taught mathematician
born in a rural village in South India, spent
so much time thinking about math that
he flunked out of college in India twice,
Ono said.
Aaron Swartz, internet
freedom activist, dies
aged 26Aaron Swartz, a celebrated internet free-
dom activist and early developer of the
website Reddit, has died at 26. The activ-
ist and programmer took his life in his
New York apartment, a relative and the
state medical examiner said. His body was
found. Mr Swartz began computer pro-
gramming as a child, and at 14 co-
authored an early version of the RSS speci-
fication.
Messi wins record fourth
Ballon dOrLionel Messi added yet another record to
his stellar list of achievements over the
past 12 months on Monday when he won
an unprecedented fourth consecutive
Ballon dOr at a FIFA gala in Zurich. The
accolade seals Messis status as the great-
est player of his generation after he saw
off Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo
and Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta
for the prize.
Central African
Republic ceasefire
signedRebels fighting the government in the
Central African Republic have signed a
formal ceasefire following talks in Gabon.
The rebels and president agreed to the
formation of a unity government, which
will reportedly be formed on Saturday.
The Seleka rebel alliance took control of
northern and eastern CAR in a four-week
offensive starting on 10 December. It has
accused President Francois Bozize of
breaking previous peace deals. Fridays
ceasefire agreement was signed in
Gabons capital Libreville after three days
of talks mediated by neighbouring coun-
tries.
22 children to get
bravery awards15-year-old Ramdinthara from Mizoram,
who sacrificed his life while trying to save
his friend from drowning, is the only child
to get the National Bravery Award post-
humously this year. Twenty-one others,
including four girls, will receive their
awards from Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh ahead of 63rd Republic Day. The
youngest among them is seven-year-old
Koroungamba Kuman from Manipur, who
showed outstanding bravery and saved his
younger sister from devastating fire which
broke out in his house.
The names of 22 bravehearts were an-
nounced by Indian Council for Child Wel-
fare (ICCW) in New Delhi on Friday. The
award is given every year to children who
show exemplary courage in difficult situ-
ations.
This year, 17-year-old Tarang Atulbhai
Mistry from Gujarat has been chosen for
the coveted Bharat Award for saving the
lives of four people who were drowning
in the 20-25 feet deep waters of Narmada
river after being swept away in the cur-
rent while taking bath on the occasion of
Dhuelti.
The prestigious Geeta Chopra award has
been conferred on a 17-year-old girl who
was instrumental in exposing the physi-
cal and sexual abuse of the inmates of a
childrens home in Delhi by the owner and
staff.
Unable to take on more abuse, she man-
aged to escape and approached an NGO,
who presented her before the Child Wel-
fare Committee.
Her plight forced the National Commis-
sion for Protection of Child Rights to send
a team which learnt of the physical, psy-
chological and sexual abuse of children,
selling of babies, forced labour and other
inhumane acts inflicted upon the hapless
destitute children.
11-year-old Gajendra Ram from
Chhattisgarh is being felicitated with
Sanjay Chopra award, for saving a child
from drowning in a 22-feet deep well.
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Vijay Kumar Saini (17) of UP, Akanksha
Gaute (16.5) of Chhattisgarh and Hali
Raghunath Baraf (16.5) of Maharashtra
have been given the Bapu Gaidhani
Award.
Saini saved three persons from drowning
in the Ganges. Gaute, a black belt holder
in Karate with nine years of martial arts
training, valiantly fought three of the four
miscreants who attacked her and her fa-
ther when they were returning home,
while Baraf saved her sister from the jaws
of a tiger by attacking it with an iron rod
when they had gone in jungle to collect
firewood.
Sapna Kumari Meena (14) from Rajasthan
is being felicitated for protesting against
her father, who was forcing her to get
married like her minor sisters.
She wrote to District Magistrate and ap-
pealed him to stop her wedding. Taking
prompt action, the District Magistrate di-
rected the Sub Divisional Magistrate to
stop her family members and prevent her
marriage.
The other awardees include Devansh
Tiwari and Mukesh Nishad (Chhattisgarh),
Lalrinhlua (Mizoram), E Suganthan (Tamil
Nadu), Ramith K, Mebin Cyriac and Vishnu
M V (Kerala), Koroungamba Kuman
(Manipur), Samip Anil Pandit
(Maharashtra), Vishwendra Lohkna,
Satendra Lohkna and Pawan Kumar
Kanaujiya (UP), Stripleaseman Mylliem
(Meghalaya) and Suhai K M (Karnataka).
Kasturi Mohapatra, Secretary General of
ICCW while introducing the children to
media, said they were selected by a high
powered committee comprising repre-
sentatives of various Ministries and De-
partments, non-governmental
organisations as well as members of ICCW.
U R Rao joins Satellite
Hall of FameFormer ISRO Chairman Prof U R Rao is
joining the highly prestigious Satellite Hall
of Fame in Washington. The rare honour
of Space Scientists was bestowed on him
by the Society of Satellite Professionals
International. It has also extended its
membership to him. An ISRO Press release
issued in Bangalore says that the Hall of
Fame recognises the invaluable contribu-
tion of the visionaries who have trans-
formed life for the better on planet earth
through satellite technology.
Election Commission of
India nominated Saina
Nehwal and Mary Kom
as the National IconsThe Election Commission (EC) of India on
22 January 2013 announced Saina Nehwal
and Mary Kom as the National Icons to
help promote, voter participation in In-
dia. Saina Nehwal and Mary Kom, both
are Olympic Bronze Medalists in the Lon-
don Olympics 2012, in Badminton and
Boxing respectively.
Apart from these two, Mahendra Singh
Dhoni, the Captain of the Indian National
Cricket Team and former President of In-
dia, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam are the existing
National Icons of the Board and they will
continue to be at the position.
The duo, Nehwal and Mary Kom are roped
in to be the National Icons to attract youth
voters in the age group of 18 to 19 years
in age. In its drive to revise the voters list
in 2012 by the poll panel they added 2.32
crore citizens to the national Voter List out
of which 93 lakh were the first time vot-
ers.
The third National Voters Day would be
observed by the Poll Panel on 25 January
2013 and some of the first-time voters
would be given their photo identity cards
on this day. The National Voters day is
celebrated on the foundation day of the
Election Commission.
Chinas Territorial
DisputesIn recent years, China has become em-
broiled in a series of disputes over rights
to islands and seabeds in the South China
and East China seas. The areas are rich in
oil, gas, fishing and mineral resources. But
the conflicts are also driven by hard feel-
ings over the past, particularly Japans
decades of imperial conquest, and by
fears over the future, as the region ad-
justs to Chinas rise to superpower status.
Other nations in the region and the United
States have pushed for multilateral discus-
sions to ease tensions and resolve con-
flicts. But China has refused anything
other than bilateral talks on each issue
separately.
In November 2012, Beijing teamed up
with Cambodia, a close ally, to frustrate
plans by Southeast Asian nations to de-
velop a system for resolving such disputes.
In the summer and fall of 2012, tensions
ran highest between China and Japan over
a group of uninhabited islands in the East
Asian Sea that both countries claim. The
islands are known as the Diaoyu in China
and the Senkaku in Japan.
The trouble began on Aug. 15, when Japa-
nese authorities arrested 14 Chinese citi-
zens from a Hong Kong-based vessel af-
ter some of them staged a protest by land-
ing on one of the islands. The landing of
Japanese activists on one of the disputed
islands further intensified tensions. In re-
sponse, anti-Japanese protests, some vio-
lent, spread across China, apparently
chaperoned and approved by the police.
The governor of Tokyo, a well-known na-
tionalist, further angered Chinese activ-
ists by announcing that he wanted to buy
three of the disputed islands from their
owner, a Japanese citizen. He said he be-
lieved that Japans central government
was not doing enough to defend them.
The next week, the Japanese government
announced that it had bought all of the
islands from their private Japanese own-
ers for nearly $30 million. It said it acted
in the hope of forestalling further conflict,
but China accused Tokyo of stealing the
islands and dispatched two maritime en-
forcement ships in a show of force.
In late September, the Japanese Coast
Guard used water cannons to disperse
fishing boats from Taiwan near the islands,
which are also claimed by Taipei.
In October, China announced that it would
not send its finance minister or central
bank chief to the annual meetings of the
International Monetary Fund and the
World Bank in Tokyo. The decision was a
clear sign of Chinas displeasure with
Japans handling of the dispute over the
islands.
The last-minute cancellation, confirmed
by Japanese officials on Oct. 10, came as
a Japanese news agency reported that To-
kyo may try to defuse the standoff by of-
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ficially acknowledging for the first time
that China also claims the islands.
On Oct. 11, a senior Chinese diplomat
made a secret visit to Tokyo to hold talks
aimed at defusing tensions between the
two countries, according to a Japanese
government spokesman. The spokesman,
Osamu Fujimura, said Luo Zhaohui, who
leads the Chinese Foreign Ministrys Asian
Affairs Department, met with Shinsuke
Sugiyama, the director general of the
Asian and Oceanic Affairs Bureau at
Japans Foreign Ministry.
According to a statement from the Japa-
nese ministry, the diplomats exchanged
opinions on the dispute and held prepa-
ratory talks for a higher-level meeting
between the two nations to take place at
an unspecified date.
In December, a Chinese military surveil-
lance plane entered what Japan consid-
ers its airspace near the disputed islands,
the Japanese Defense Ministry said. Japan
scrambled fighter jets in response, but the
Chinese plane left before they arrived, ac-
cording to Japanese authorities. The min-
istry said the planes incursion was the
first known violation of Japanese airspace
by a Chinese plane since they began keep-
ing records some 50 years ago. China con-
siders the airspace its own, because it is
laying claim to the islands that Japan has
controlled for decades. Tokyo lodged a
formal protest with Beijing, which swiftly
retorted that it was the Japanese who had
encroached.
Deepak Parekh panel
ReportSuggesting big-ticket reforms to attract
investment in the infrastructure sector, a
high-level committee, recommended in-
creasing electricity charges and rail fares.
The high-level committee on financing of
infrastructure, which is headed by HDFC
Chairman Deepak Parekh, also pitched for
100 per cent foreign direct investment
(FDI) in the telecom sector. The limit at
present is 74 per cent. The panel also sug-
gested raising prices of natural gas. These
recommendations are aimed at attracting
Rs.51.46 lakh crore for funding the infra-
structure sector during the XII Plan (2012-
17), according to the report, which was
presented to Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh. Suggesting a slew of reforms in
various sectors, including rail, power, coal,
gas supply and telecom highways, the re-
port says that the projected investment
of about Rs.51 lakh crore during the XII
Plan should not be taken for granted.
Naina Lal Kidwai
becomes first woman
President of FICCINaina Lal Kidwai on Saturday took over
as President of FICCI, becoming the first
woman to head the leading industry body.
FICCI said in a statement at the conclu-
sion of its Annual General Meeting in New
Delhi Kidwai, 55, is the first woman and
professional manager to be elected as
President of the chamber. Kidwai suc-
ceeds R V Kanoria of Kanoria Chemicals
& Industries Ltd. Chairman of Xpro India
Ltd and Digjam Ltd,Sidharth Birla, also has
been elected as Senior Vice-President of
FICCI.
Rangarajan Panel
ReportThe Rangarajan committee, set up to ex-
amine issues related to sugar decontrol,
has recommended complete decontrol of
the sugar industry. In its report, the com-
mittee has asked the government to re-
move levy sugar obligation (sugar for ra-
tion shops) and to do away with the regu-
lated release mechanism besides freeing
up the commodity's export and import.
The committee has recommended the
abolition of state advised price (SAP) - the
selling price of cane as fixed by state gov-
ernments - and the introduction of a
profit-sharing mechanism to arrive at a
uniform pricing for cane farmers. It has
suggested a dynamic two stage payment.
Mills would have to pay farmers the fair
and remunerative price fixed by the cen-
tral government at the onset of every crop
season. The report also advocates free-
dom for farmers to sell cane to any mill
irrespective of distance.
Whistleblowers BillThe identity of whistle blowers is confi-
dential as per Department of Personnel
and Trainings Resolution dated 21st April,
2004. Therefore, data relating to whistle
blowers killed is not maintained centrally.
However, the Government has introduced
a Bill for protection of whistle blowers
which has been passed by the Lok Sabha
on 27th December, 2011 as the Whistle
Blowers Protection Bill, 2011 and is pres-
ently pending in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill
provides for adequate safeguards against
victimization of the person making disclo-
sure on any allegation of corruption or
willful misuse of power or willful misuse
of discretion against any public servant.
It is also provided that if the Competent
Authority is of the opinion that either the
complainant or public servant or the wit-
nesses, etc. need protection, the Compe-
tent Authority shall issue appropriate di-
rections to the concerned Government
authorities (including police) which shall
take necessary steps, through its agencies,
to protect such complainant or public ser-
vant or persons concerned.
India bags Kabaddi
World Cup in both
Men's, Women's
categoryIndia has won the 3rd World Cup Kabaddi
Tournament for the third consecutive
time in Mens category and second
consective time in Womens category. In-
dian men thrahsed its arch rival Pakistan
with a decisive margin of 59-22 points
whereas, Indian eves out scored Malay-
sia by 72-12. Both the finals were played
at Guru Nanak Dev Stadium in Ludhiana.
Indian men won the prize money of Two
crore rupees and women won 51 lakh ru-
pees. However, the prize money for
women has been increased to One crore
rupees from the next year.
AIR Jalandhar Correspondent reports that
with these wins by India, the curtains
were drawn on this 15-daya kabaddi ex-
travaganza played all over Punjab.
Indian men registered a hat trick by dash-
ing Pakistan to the ground in every aspect.
At the end of the first half, Indian men
squad was leading with a point difference
of 34-9. Indias raider and stoppers
showed an extraordinary sport in collect-
ing points for their country. Whereas,
some of the Pakistan palyers tried their
best but could not break the Chakravyuh
BookBookBookBookBooksssssPublished By
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of Indians and lost.
Womens final was virtually a one sided
show as Malaysian team was no match
against Indian eves. In men categories,
second and third prizes went to Pakistan
and Canada and in women category, it
went to Malaysia and Denmark, respec-
tively. The cultural show having bollywood
stars mesmerized the audience.
Hilary Mantel wins 2012
Man Booker PrizeThe whittling has finished. The judges of
this years Man Booker Prize started with
a daunting 145 novels and have win-
nowed, sifted, culled, and in some cases
hurled, until there was only one left: Hi-
lary Mantels Bring up the Bodies. Hers is
a story unique in Man Booker history. She
becomes only the third author, after Pe-
ter Carey and J.M. Coetzee, to win the
prize twice, which puts her in the empy-
rean. But she is also the first to win with
a sequel (Wolf Hall won in 2009) and the
first to win with such a brief interlude
between books. Her resuscitation of Tho-
mas Cromwell and with him the histori-
cal novel is one of the great achieve-
ments of modern literature. There is the
last volume of her trilogy still to come so
her Man Booker tale may yet have a fur-
ther chapter.
The writing will have to wait a bit though.
She may have won before but the torrent
of media interest will still knock her back
as if shes been hit by a wave. In 2009 she
confessed to feeling as though she were
flying through the air, well, shes soar-
ing again. When she lands she wont have
time to think and she will talk into micro-
phones until her throat is sore. It comes
with the territory: everyone wants a bit
of the Man Booker winner.
The Man Booker International Prize rec-
ognizes one writer for his or her achieve-
ment in fiction. Worth 60,000, the prize
is awarded every two years to a living au-
thor who has published fiction either
originally in English or whose work is
generally available in translation in the
English language. The winner is chosen
solely at the discretion of the judging
panel and there are no submissions from
publishers. The Man Booker International
Prize is significantly different from the
annual Man Booker Prize for Fiction. In
seeking out literary excellence, the judges
consider a writers body of work rather
than a single novel.
2012 Nobel Prizes
WinnersTHE NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSICS 2012
Serge Haroch David J. Wineland
The Nobel Prize in Physics 2012 was
awarded jointly to Serge Haroche and
David J. Wineland for ground-breaking
experimental methods that enable mea-
suring and manipulation of individual
quantum systems
NOBEL PRIZE IN CHEMISTRY 2012
Robert J. Lefkowitz & Brian K. Kobilka
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2012 was
awarded jointly to Robert J. Lefkowitz and
Brian K. Kobilka for studies of G-protein-
coupled receptors
THE NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSIOLOGY OR
MEDICINE 2012
Sir John B. Gurdon S h i n y a
Yamanaka
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
2012 was awarded jointly to Sir John B.
Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka for the dis-
covery that mature cells can be repro-
grammed to become pluripotent
THE NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE 2