Daily News Notes: 1st to 4th June, 2012

· Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar (39 yrs) began the new innings as a member of Parliament after the Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Mr. Hamid Ansari administered the oath to him as member of Rajya Sabha. Tendulkar said he got this opportunity because of his 22 years of International Cricket Career but he wanted to help not only cricket but all other sports also. Two others - actor Rekha and industrialist Anu Aga - who were nominated to Rajya Sabha along with Tendulkar had taken oath last month when the House was in session. Tendulkar was busy with the IPL season, which ended on May 27. He had created history by scoring 100 international centuries in March this year.
· Government has invited nominations from the State Governments for Kabir Puraskar Awards. The Puraskar is given for the conspicuous acts of physical and moral courage displayed under circumstances of danger to the life of the rescuer in saving the lives and properties of members of another community and caste during communal riots and caste conflicts.
· India’s Foreign exchange reserve plunged by $1.74 billion to $290 billion. The drop in forex reserve mainly attributed to sale of dollar by the RBI to rescue continuously falling rupee. The Indian rupee marked a record low in recent weeks and stood at 55.54 against the dollar on June 1, 2012
· The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has decided for creation of a Common Facilitation Centre in each district (at DM’s office) from the MPLADS funds for the convenience of Members of Parliament. The main function of this facilitation centre would be to provide to the Members of Parliament all the information at one place relevant for the effective implementation of the scheme. Apart from this, the facilitation centre should also display details of on-going MPLADS works and should also maintain details of shelf of projects.
· Central govt is looking forward to integrate National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) workforce for anti-tobacco programmes. It also suggests involving workforce under other Non-communicable Disease Programmes for prevention of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and strokes, in the tobacco control programme. The plan is under consideration as tobacco has been identified as the reason behind several communicable and non-communicable diseases.
· In a big push to concretize the operational contours of the National Manufacturing Policy (NMP), the Government has established a Manufacturing Industry Promotion Board (MIPB) for matters pertaining to the implementation of the NMP with the Commerce and Industry Minister in the Chair. The Board has been tasked to periodically review the overall situation of the manufacturing sector in the country. This will include review of State-wise/sector-wise performance of the manufacturing sector. The Board will also review the implementation of the National Manufacturing Policy in general and the development of NIMZs (National Investment and Manufacturing Zones). Presently, Kerala and Karnataka have identified the area for setting up NIMZs in their States. Further, along with the MIPB the Government has also notified Board of Approval, Green Manufacturing Committee and High Level Committee. A Green Manufacturing Committee (GMAC) will prescribe objective criteria for categorizing a technology as “clean and green”. The criteria will be consistent with the objective of the national action plan on climate change and the strategy for inclusive sustainable development. Also, Board of Approval (BOA) will examine applications for establishment of NIMZs and recommend such proposals for consideration to the High Level Committee (HLC) as are found to be meeting the requirements of the National Manufacturing Policy. Earlier, the Government of India had announced the NMP with the objective of enhancing the share of manufacturing in GDP to 25% within a decade and creating 100 million jobs. The policy aims to create world class industrial infrastructure, a conducive business environment, an ecosystem for technological innovation – especially in the domain of green manufacturing, institutions for industry relevant skill upgradation, and mechanisms for easy access to finance for entrepreneurs.
· Bihar Government prohibited the sale and manufacturing of all the tobacco products for next one year. The decision came on the occasion of 'World No-Tobacco Day'. This move makes Bihar the 3rd state in the country after Madhya Pradesh and Kerala to ban tobacco. The decision is based on Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Regulation number 2.3.4 which seeks to ban tobacco or nicotine products. The regulation was issued by the Union Government of India on 1 August 2011.
· As per the latest data released by Ministry of Statistics of India, Bihar has the highest economic growth rate (13.1% growth in 2011-12, Topped the list for 2nd consecutive year) in the country. Bihar is followed by Delhi and Puducherry with 11.3 % and 11 % respectively. Chhattisgarh with its 10.8%and Goa 10.7 % are at 4th and 5th position respectively. Tamil Nadu and Gujarat registered growth of 9.4% and 9.1% respectively. Punjab, AP, Karnataka and UP registered growth rate lower than India’s GDP of 6.5% for 2011-12.
· The Air India has introduced a new Crew Management System after the release of the Roadmap for the implementation of Justice Dharmadhikari Committee Report taken yesterday. The new system will replace the old manual system ruling out the scope of any subjectivity and favoritism in the deployment and management of Crew and other staff. The new System will ensure high levels of safety of operation, meet regulatory requirements, optimized crew utilization and achieve crew satisfaction. The Crew Management System is an integrated tool for crew planning (long, medium & short term) depending on the network plan and commercial schedule of the airline. After implementation of this system Air India will be able to: [1.] Enhance Safety of operation by meeting all regulatory requirements related to duty and rest; [2.] Establish accurate crew requirement for its current and future plan of operation; [3.] Real-time monitoring and tracking of crew from a single, central location; [4.] Efectively monitor crew attributes such as licencing, medicals, refreshers, route checks etc.
· The Union Science and Technology Ministry sanctioned a biotechnology park for Sikkim at Pakyong. It will be endowed with all facilities including research centre at regional level for NE States. The current decade (2011-2020) has been declared as the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity and United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification. With India hosting the Eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP-11) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), from 8- 19 October 2012 in Hyderabad, it is considered an opportune time to showcase the wide array of biodiversity in the country, the threats to the rich biodiversity and the conservation measures adopted thereof. This CBD COP 11 assumes immense importance considering that it is being held in the 40th anniversary year of Stockholm Conference held in 1972, 20th anniversary year of Rio Earth Summit held in 1992, and 10th anniversary year of World Sustainable Summit held in 2002. In an effort to create widespread awareness on the unique biodiversity of the country, Indian Government will be running the train ‘Science Express – Biodiversity Special (SEBS)’ flagged off on 5 June 2012, World Envirnoment Day.
· India is recognised as one of the megadiverse countries, rich in biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge. With just 2.4% of the land area, India accounts for nearly 7% of the recorded species even while supporting almost 18% of human population.
· An Investment Tracking System (ITS) has been approved to ensure speedy execution of major investment projects getting delayed for a number of reasons. National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC) will track all Public Sector projects with an investment of Rs 1000 crore and above. The decision has come at a time when projects are getting delayed on multiple fronts - environmental clearances, security clearances, other clearances, land related matters etc.
· Andhra Pradesh High Court quashes Central Government’s decision of the creation of 4.5 % sub-quota for religious minorities including Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Parsis, within the 27% OBC quota.
· As per latest India State of Forest Report 2011, amongst all the Indian states, MP has the maximum Forest Cover Area followed by AP and CG in country. The Geographical area of the country under Forest and Tree cover: 23.81% i.e. 78.29 million hectare. Madhya Pradesh has 11.24% of the total forest land in the country. As compared to the data of 2009 there is a decline of 367 sq km in country’s forest cover. In terms of % of forest cover in compared to total geographical area, Mizoram tops the chart with 90.68% followed by Lakshadweep with 84.56%.
· The Government has planned to up a Film Cmmission to aid speedy clearance of all film shooting-related permissions. The commission will help to make the country an attractive shooting destination to the foreign as well as local film makers. Rs 500 crore planned under the National Heritage Mission in the 12th Plan to preserve the classic Indian films. Government has decided to introduce an award to celebrate the centenary of Indian cinema.
· As per the Government, India is expected to become the 2nd largest producer of crude steel in the world by 2015. This sector contributes over 2% to the GDP.
· Shouryya Ray, 16-year-old, Indian-origin student from Germany has solved a 350-year old mathematics problem. The solutions he has given will now help scientists to calculate the flight path of a thrown ball and then predict how it will hit and bounce off a wall.
· The SAARC countries unanimously adopted the South Asia Call for Action on Ending Violence against Children at SAIEVAC (South Asian Initiative to End Violence Against Children) meeting. The Colombo declaration signed by the member countries take stock of progress made since the Regional Consultation on Violence Against Children in South Asia, Islamabad, Pakistan, 19-21 May 2005 and the endorsement of the UN Study on Violence against Children by the General Assembly in 2006, in order to strengthen measures and processes aimed at ending violence against all children in all settings. The representatives from SAARC countries called for the following major actions: [1.] Develop and strengthen equitable national and local child protection systems including laws, policies and standards; that prevent, mitigate and respond timely and appropriately to all forms of violence and to ensure that mechanisms and services are accessible to all children in all settings, including home and family, schools and educational settings, care and justice systems, work settings and the community; [2.] Address social norms and practices that are harmful to children by promoting social change to end violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect of children; [3.] Review/adopt and implement a national plan of action to integrate the recommendations of the UN Study on Violence against Children and SAIEVAC work plan and develop a baseline to be able to measure progress; [4.] Cooperate through structure, processes and resources in the best interest of children to address cross-border issues, such as trafficking, missing children, HIV and AIDS and drug abuse and repatriation; [5.] Share lessons and good practices and explore new opportunities for Cooperation to advance the protection of children through establishing a SAIEVAC centre of excellence on violence against children.
· The Government lifts the ban on exports of Skimmed Milk Powder (SMP). Export of SMP was banned in February 2011 to control rise in domestic milk prices. Commerce Ministry is analyzing the possibility of imposing import duty on SMP.
· Sports Ministry approved the participation of Indian Tennis Team in the 2012 Euro Africa Circuit, Swedish Open and Brazil Open tournament. The Euro Africa Circuit and Swedish Open will be organized at Helsingborg, Sweden. Brazil Open will be held at Santos of Brazil.
· India inked an Agreement for Exchange of Information with Bahrain to tackle issues related to tax evasion and avoidance.
· In Japan, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's Cabinet Ministers resigned in a move to prepare for a minor reshuffle, the second one following a January reshuffle.
· The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID, at Vienna in Austria) is to provide a loan assistance of twenty million dollars to Nepal for the implementation of the Rural Connectivity and Community Development Project. The rural connectivity project co- financed by the Asian Development Bank aims at improving the connectivity of rural communities, enhancing economic and employment opportunities and increasing access to market and social sectors and is expected to be completed by December 2016.
· Former President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt sentenced to life imprisonment for allegedly killing over 900 protesters protesters during the revolt against his regime in 2011. Mubarak is the first Arab leader to be sentenced after the Arab Spring.
· British Queen's Diamond Jubilee will be marked with a star-studded BBC concert in front of Buckingham Palace. At the end of the show, the Queen will light one of the last of around 4,500 beacons across the globe - in celebration of her 60-year reign.
· The United Nations nuclear agency, the IAEA begins a week of discussions in Vienna over Iran's Parchin military base near Tehran where IAEA scientists suspect Iran may have conducted secret weapon's test. Iran has repeatedly denied western accusations that it is seeking to develop a nuclear bomb.
· Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai removed by Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav. The Parliament was dissolved over its inability to deliver a new constitution by the 27 May 2012 deadline. Thus, the PM was directed by the president to resign as he was no longer a member of the House.
· Pakistan successfully test-fired a short-range Hatf 9 (Nasr) missile with range of 60 km. It is capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Pakistan already has nuclear-capable Hatf-IV with a range of 1000 km, nuclear-capable Hatf-III, with a range of 290 km.
· To mark the first successful climb to the world’s highest peak Mount Everest, 5th International Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) Day was celebrated in Nepal. Mount Everest is locally known as Sagarmatha in Nepal. On May 29, 1953 Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa Tenzing reached the zenith of the mountain.
· Indian Grand Master Viswanatan Anand retained the FIDE (Federation Internationale des Echec) World Chess Title for the record 5th time. He defeated Boris Gelfand of Israel after 2nd round of tie breaker game in Moscow.