Person in News :Bandya Kakade dead

Bandya Kakade, former India football goalkeeper, passed away here on Wednesday evening. A close family friend said 67-year-old  Kakade died of a heart attack.

GoM clears final draft of land acquisition Bill

The group of ministers (GoM) headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has cleared the much-delayed Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (LARR) Bill, after approving some relaxations which addressed the concerns expressed by several ministries.

SPV recommended to implement environment conservation plan

The Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has recommended the formation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to implement the Environment Conservation Plan (ECP) in the three mining districts of Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur.

Following the directive issued by the Supreme Court on September 28, the CEC recommended the setting up of a SPV. The term of the project is 30 years and the total cost envisaged is Rs. 30,000 crore.

Public Private Partnership (PPP) is Important for the Country’s Infrastructure Development: Dr. C. P. Joshi

Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Railways, Dr. C. P. Joshi has said that Public Private Partnership (PPP) is important for the fast development of country’s infrastructure network. He said that Central Government has adopted policies which are leading the nation to fast economic growth. He emphasised that a country cannot be economically stronger unless its infrastructure is developed. Dr. Joshi was speaking while laying the foundation stone for the commencement of work of four-laning of Gomati ka chauraha-Udaipur Section of National Highway-8 (NH-8) in the State of Rajasthan at Rajasamand district of Rajasthan. 

Islanding Scheme for Delhi during Grid Disturbance

To safeguard Delhi and its surrounding areas from electricity supply disruption during grid failure, The Minister for Power Sh. Veerappa Moily and Chief Minister of Delhi Smt. Sheila Dixit announced the ‘Islanding Scheme for Delhi. At the joint press conference, Sh.Veerappa Moily said that Delhi is the first state to formulate such a scheme to overcome grid disturbance problem. The main objective of the initiative is to isolate our generating stations so that supply of power does not get affected even if the Northern grid collapses.

Person in News :Smt. Kanwaljit Deol

Smt. Kanwaljit Deol, IPS (AGMU:77) has been appointed as Director General (Investigation), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Her appointment will be on deputation basis from the date of assumption of charge of the post or till the date of her superannuation or until further orders, whichever is earlier. 

Person in News :Pranay Sahay

Shri Pranay Sahay, IPS presently working as DG, SSB and holding additional charge of Director General, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been appointed DG, CRPF on regular basis with effect from the date of his taking over the charge of the post and till his superannuation or till furthers orders, whichever is earlier. he will hold the charge of DG,SSB in addition to his regular charge of DG,CRPF till a new incumbent takes over the charge of the post of DG,SSB or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

[Essay]Impact of Modernization and Westernization on Indian society

Indian society is very old and surviving even after many ups and down and social issues. This article involves a brief about the Indian society and impact of the social process of modernization and westernization on it. How the Indian society has implemented these both processes and to what extent.

Society is a platform that gives a shape to the people's livings, demands, aspirations, needs and all kinds of growths. When numerous people having diverse mindsets, aspirations and demands yet live together for a common cause is what we understand by the society. A society may either include people of the same interests or people of diverse interests but there always lies a commonality among all the people who composite the society.

SC green signal to resumption of tourism in Tiger reserves

With the Centre formally notifying fresh guidelines on tiger conservation, the Supreme Court today cleared the decks for resumption of tourism activities in the areas reserved for the wild cat.
A bench of justices A K Patnaik and Swatanter Kumar gave the green signal for resumption of tourism activities, modifying its July 24 order by which it had earlier halted all tourism related activities in Tiger reserve areas.

President of Mauritius to be the Chief Guest of 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

The President of Mauritius, Shri Rajkeshwur Purryag will be the Chief Guest of the 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention, which will be held from 7 to 9 January, 2013 in Kochi. Addressing a press conference here today, Shri Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs said that since the centenary of the Gadar Movement is being celebrated in 2013, the PBD Oration will be on the Gadar Movement and an exhibition on this will also be organized during PBD-2013. He said that PBD has become a significant forum to connect the overseas Indians from all over the world and the PBD-2013 will be focusing on more connectivity with overseas Indians. He further said that Kerala will be the partner State of the 11th PBD, which would provide the Diaspora an opportunity to understand the vibrant culture and potential of the State. Kerala has been chosen as the host for the convention since Keralites constitute one of the largest expatriate communities of India. He expressed the hope that more than 2000 delegates would participate in PBD-2013 from all over the world.

Iran denies U.S. allegation of cyber attack

Iran has denied any role in cyber-attacks against two major oil and gas companies in the Persian Gulf, amid statements from the United States that alluded to the possible rise in Tehran’s capability to launch massive cyber-strikes against Washington and its allies.

The director of Iran’s National Center of Cyberspace, Mehdi Akhavan Beh-Abadi, on Sunday dismissed U.S. claims that Tehran was behind the recent cyber- attacks against a number of Persian Gulf oil and gas companies. Addressing a press conference in Tehran, Mr. Beh-Abadi said that US claims were bereft of any “technical basis”. “We interpret this issue politically and in light of domestic issues and election in the United States,” he said referring to the upcoming November 6 presidential polls. The Iranian official said he sympathised with the two companies, Saudi Arabia’s Aramco and Qatar’s Ras gas, which had been attacked by the Shamoon virus.

Person in News :First woman chief of AU takes charge

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma waved an African Union flag, tapped a wooden gavel and became the first woman to take office as the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) at the A.U. headquarters in Addis Ababa on Monday.

Upon taking office, Dr. Dlamini-Zuma shall be confronted by simmering conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea Bissau; chronic instability in Somalia; and an insurgency in northern Mali where fighters affiliated with al-Qaeda have taken control of large swathes of land.

[Essay] Modernization and Westernization are not Identical Concepts

Introduction

The battle between the east and the west still continues as each try to preserve its culture and assert its powers. Just as the fight to be superpowers continues, the west and east continue to outdo each other in other aspects. The concept of modernization means an evolution from traditional society practices to modern social status. Modernization has brought about transformation of societies which has been experienced since time in history. The term modernization however, has been mistakably been taken to mean the adoption of policies that favor other societies. The changes have been witnessed in the political, economic production and social systems. In addition, it has also been reflected in the way of thinking and behavior of the people.

National Security Advisor Releases Joint Working Group Report on Cyber Security

India’s National Security Advisor Sh Shivshankar Menon released a report on the “Recommendations of Joint Working Group on Engagement with Private Sector on Cyber Security”, in New Delhi today.

Making public the report, Sh Menon said facing the challenges from cyber space requires both the government and industry to work together; the government cannot do this alone nor can the private sector do it on its own. He said it is a delicate act, how to balance social media responsibility with democratic freedom. Sh Menon pointed out that the Report has been readied in a record time; work started on it only in July this year. He hoped that India would set new benchmarks for the world in cyber security.

EC seeks changes in law on funding of political parties

The Election Commission has written to the government suggesting amendments to the election law to make it mandatory for political parties to declare monetary contributions received from foreign companies and government bodies.

Official sources said the EC wrote to the Law Ministry recently to revise the format of reporting of monetary contributions that are declared by political parties in ‘Form 24 A’ under section 29 of the Representation of People Act.

Person in News :Nobel prize winners 2012

Physics:

Serge Haroche: Serge Haroche (born 11 September 1944) is a French physicist who was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize for Physics jointly with David J. Wineland for "ground-breaking experimental methods that enable measuring and manipulation of individual quantum systems", a study about the light particles, the photons. Since 2001, Haroche is a Professor at the Collège de France and holds the Chair of Quantum Physics.

David J. Wineland : David Jeffrey Wineland (born February 24, 1944) is an American Nobel Prize-winning physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) physics laboratory and the University of Colorado at Boulder. His work has included advances in optics, specifically laser cooling of ions in Paul traps and use of trapped ions to implement quantum computing operations. He was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize for Physics, jointly with Serge Haroche, for “ground-breaking experimental methods that enable measuring and manipulation of individual quantum systems”, a study about the light particles, the photons.

Recognition to NSFs

The Government has introduced annual recognition procedure for the National Sports Federations (NSFs) from the year 2010. The NSFs which complied with the Government guidelines and furnished complete information/documents sought by the Government have been granted annual recognition. 51 NSFs have been granted recognition by the government for the year 2011. This was stated by Shri Ajay Maken, Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs & Sports, in the Lok Sabha today, in a written reply to a question by Dr. Nilesh N. Rane & Dr. M. Jagannath. The Government does not deal with the State level Federations/ Associations.

Punchhi Commission

The Punchhi Commission on Centre – State relation was constituted on April 28, 2007 by the UPA government, under the chairmanship of former Chief Justice of India Justice Madan Mohan Punchhi, which submitted its report on April 20, 2010. The Punchhi commission made very pertinent observations regarding the qualifications, appointment and removal of governors. As for qualifications pertaining to governor, the Punchhi Commission was forthright in suggesting that the nominee should not have participated in active politics at even local level for at least a couple of years prior to his appointment.

[Essay] Is Gandhian Mode of Protest (Satyagraha) still relevant?

Satyagraha is the method of resistance and mass movement developed by Gandhi during his days in South Africa and later epitomised in India during its freedom struggle against British Empire. Satyagraha was developed as a broad term for techniques of civil disobedience, non cooperation, hunger strike and protest. Satyagraha is a portmanteau of the Sanskrit words Satya (meaning "truth") and Agraha ("insistence", or "holding firmly to"). For Gandhi, Satyagraha went far beyond mere "passive resistance" and became strength in practising non-violent methods. Later on Satyagraha went to become the most successful resistance technique and inspired many other great leaders like Martin Luther King Junior, Nelson Mandela and others. Not only it led to freedom of our country but also created a cadre of thousands of activists for whom it became a mode of life and they were there to shape India's future in right form to ensure not just independence but also to the face challenges that a newly developed nation face.

SASS moves Apex Court against NTCA move to restrict pilgrim movement in PTR

The Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajom (SASS) has moved the Supreme Court of India against the proposal of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to restrict pilgrim movement through Tiger Reserves, including the Periyar Tiger Reserve that houses Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple, by introducing new guidelines for Project Tiger and tourism.

India Signs Loan Agreement with World Bank for US$ 500 Million for Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan

An agreement between Government of India and the World Bank for loan of US$ 500 million (equivalent) from World Bank for the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) was signed recently . The agreement was signed by Shri Prabodh Saxena,Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance on behalf of the Government of India and Mr. Onno Ruhl, Country Director, World Bank (India) on behalf of the World Bank. Representative(s) from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of School Education & Literacy and officials from the World Bank were present among others.

Brief overview of Green Building Ratings.

Everybody is talking of energy conservation and green buildings, but did you know that India has only 267 certified green buildings so far? To promote sustainable architecture, a system of green ratings has now been evolved specifically for India, that closely mirrors global environmental standards.

What does green mean?

A ‘green building’ is one that has minimum impact on its immediate and global environment. Its construction and subsequent operations do minimum or no harm to the ecology.

Minister for Environment and Forests Surveys Kaziranga National Park Announces Measures for Relief

The Minister for Environment and Forests, Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan visited the Kaziranga Reserve, Assam on 10 October, 2012, for an appraisal of the flood situation and the relief measures undertaken.

Besides making an aerial survey of the landscape, the Minister visited the reserve along with the Chief Minister and the Forest Minister of Assam, accompanied by officials of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, Wildlife Division of the Ministry, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and State Chief Wildlife Warden, Field Director-Kaziranga and other officials.

Seventh Annual Convention of Central Information Commission on “RTI: Lessons Learnt”

Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India has inaugurate the 7th Annual Convention of Central Information Commission on “RTI:Lessons Learnt” at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi . The Central Information Commission (CIC) had been organizing a Convention every year on 12-13 October to appraise the implementation of the RTI Act, 2005. The Commission in the past six conventions organized so far, has deliberated and discussed a wide range of issues relating to the Act and its implementation with a view to learning from experiences as well as to chart the future road map for greater transparency and accountability.

RTI Act can't violate personal privacy

Raising concern about the possible infringement of personal privacy while providing information under the Right to Information Act, prime minister Manmohan Singh said a fine balance should be maintained between the Right to Information and the Right to Privacy, which stems out of the Fundamental Right to Life and Liberty.