Daily News Notes: 4th to 6th September, 2012

· The Rajya Sabha has paid rich tributes to Dr. S Radhakrishnan the first Chairman of the Upper House and former President on his birth anniversary, which is also observed as Teachers Day. Further, the President Mr.Pranabh Mukherjee has also conferred National Teachers Awards to 330 teachers. He said that the empowerment of teachers is the key for the educational reform process.
· The proposed Constitution (117th Amendment) Bill, 2012 to provide quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in promotions as it existed in 1995, which would require certain changes in the Constitution, was introduced in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill seeks to remove the term inadequate representation, mentioned in Article 16(4) to justify reservation in promotion and appointments, and also delink the term efficiency of administration from the claims of SCs/STs for jobs and promotions, mentioned in Article 335. Changes are also likely to be made in articles 341 and 342 of the Constitution. Thus the proposed Bill seeks to amend these four articles of the Constitution.
· Health Minister has informed that the total number of HIV cases detected in the country has declined from 0.41 per cent in 2000 to 0.31 per cent in 2009. The estimated number of new annual HIV infections has also declined by around 56 per cent over the past decade from 2.7 lakh new infections in 2000 to 1.2 lakh in 2009.
· The President has flagged off India’s first passenger solar electric vehicle from Rashtrapati Bhawan. Some Highlights: [1.] Manufactured by the students of Delhi Technological University; [2.] The body is made of special grade Matt Fibre making weight of solar electric vehicle is around 340 kg against 1100 kg normal petrol car of 800 CC; [3.] Capable of breaking the speed barrier of 100 km/h; [4.] It is zero emission and completely Eco-friendly; [5.] Seating capacity of 2 and option of adding 3 seats more; [6.] Flexible modules of Mono crystalline solar silicon cells of 21.4% efficiency have been pasted all over the top of the body; [7.] In all, 800 W is generated from the solar modules; [8.] The innovations in the area of Solar Car began with the University team designing the first Solar Car of India to participate in the World Solar Challenge organized in 2011 in Australia.
· Health Minister has informed that Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in the country is 212 per 100,000 live births for the period 2007-09 which translates into an approximate number of 56,000 maternal deaths in one year. Major causes of maternal deaths in the country are Haemorrhage (38%), Sepsis (11%), Hypertensive Disorders (5%), Obstructed Labour (5%), Abortion (8%) and “Others” (34%) which includes Anaemia. Further, Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is 47 per 1000 live births which translates into approximately 12.5 lakh children dying before they reach their first birthday. The main reasons for Infant Mortality in India are perinatal conditions (46%), Respiratory infections (22%), Diarrhoeal diseases (10%), other infectious and parasitic diseases (8%) and Congenital anomalies (3.1%). The key measures taken by the Government of India to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the country include: [1.] Promotion of institutional deliveries through Janani Suraksha Yojana; [2.] Operationalization of sub-centres, Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres and District Hospitals for providing 24x7 basic and comprehensive obstetric, newborn and infant care; [3.] Web enabled Name Based Tracking of all pregnant women and children to ensure antenatal, intra-natal and postnatal care and immunization services; [4.] Engagement of 8.66 lakh Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) to generate demand and facilitate accessing of health care services by the community; [5.] Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHNDs) in rural areas as an outreach activity, for provision of maternal and child health services; [6.] Home based new born care (HBNC) through ASHA to improve new born care practices at the community level and early detection of sickness and referral of sick new born babies; [7.] Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) has been launched on 1st June 2011 which entitles all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions to absolutely free and no expense delivery including Caesarean section. Free entitlements have also been put in place for all sick newborns accessing public health institutions for treatment till 30 days after birth.
· Health Minister has informed that as per available medical literature, fast food high on salt and sugar content are not good for health and hence may indirectly contribute to hypertension and obesity. To discourage the consumption of junk and fast foods including carbonated drinks, the states have been requested to issue instructions to concerned authorities for withdrawal of these items from the canteens of educational institutes. n addition to above, Government of India has launched the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) in 100 selected districts in 21 States during the 11th Five Year Plan to combat the rising trend of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). The ‘2008-2013 Action Plan for the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable diseases’ calls for promoting healthy diet through establishment and implementation of food-based dietary guidelines and supporting the healthier composition of food by reducing salt levels, limiting free sugars etc.
· The Government has informed that the share of livestock in the agricultural GDP has improved from 15% in 1981-82 to 26% in 2010-11. The Ministry of Rural Development is implementing Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) which has been reconstituted as National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), a major programme for the self employment of the rural poor. The basic objective of the SGSY is to bring the assisted poor families above the poverty line by providing them income generating assets which include livestock assets through a mix of bank credit and subsidy.
· HRD Minister has informed that India's literacy rate as per the provisional data of Census 2011 is a little over 74%, which is lower than the World Literacy Rate (84%). The main causes are poverty, gender and social inequities and inadequate access to schooling. He mentioned the Saakshar Bharat programme which is being implemented country-wide since 2009-10 to provide literacy and educate persons in the age group of 15 and above.
· Minister of State of Commerce and Industry has informed that National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NIMZs) envisages leveraging the existing incentives/schemes of the Government of India and introducing new mechanisms to promote green technologies. These include setting up of a Technology Acquisition and Development Fund (TADF) to support the creation of a patent pool; domestic manufacturing of equipments inter-alia for controlling pollution and reducing energy consumption, environmental audit and green buildings. Also, relief from Capital Gains Tax will encourage investment of the income generated from the disposal of unproductive assets like residential properties into manufacturing activity. The Minister further informed that 8 Investment Regions under the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) have been announced as NIMZs: [1.] Ahmedabad-Dholera investment Region, Gujarat; [2.] Shendra-Bidkin Industrial Park city near Aurangabad, Maharashtra; [3.] Dighi-Port Industrial Area, Maharashtra; [4.] Jodhpur-Pali-Marwar region in Rajasthan; [5.] Khushkhera-Bhiwadi-Neemrana Investment Region, Rajasthan; [6.] Manesar-Bawal investment Region Haryana; [7.] Pithampur-Dhar-Mhow Investment Region, Madhya Pradesh; [8.] Dadri-Noida-Ghaziabad Investment Region, Uttar Pradesh; [9.] One NIMZ, outside the DMIC region, at Nagpur in Maharashtra has also been given in principle approval.
· A sub-committee, set up by the Planning Commission, has recommended rationalising of the existing 147 Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) into 59 schemes. An amount of over 1 lakh 80 thousand crore rupees was spent on these schemes in the last financial year. However, the committee has not recommended discontinuing any scheme.
· The government has informed that it has taken various steps for creation of ample employment opportunities to the growing labour force in the country. Specific initiatives like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna, Swarna Jayanti Shahri Rozgar Yojna and Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme have been implemented for the purpose. Also, for improving the employability of the growing labour force, the government laid emphasis on promoting Skill Development during the Eleventh Five Year Plan.
· Minister of State for Minority Affairs has informed that minority communities are those communities which are declared by the Central Government as minority under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. The Central Government has notified Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Parsis (Zoroastrians) as minorities under this Act.
· The Minister of Steel has said that Steel is a de-regulated sector. As such no permission is required from the Ministry of Steel for installation of private steel plants in the country. Main private sector steel companies include TATA Steel, Essar Steel, Jindal Steel & Power, JSW Steel, Bhushan Power & Steel, Bhushan Steel etc.
· The Government has informed that Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is planning to launch a meteorological satellite, INSAT-3D to monitor atmospheric characteristics viz. cloud motion winds, vertical profiles of humidity and temperature, total precipitable water, sea surface temperature over Indian Ocean, outgoing radiation etc. The satellite is scheduled for launch during 2013. The data obtained from this satellite along with ground based observations would help to derive information about climatic conditions, including rain.
· The Reserve Bank has fixed the reference rate of the rupee for the US dollar at 55.8950 and the Euro at 70.0250. The exchange rates for the pound and yen against the rupee were quoted at 88.6271 a pound and 71.33 per 100 yen, based on reference rates for the US dollar and cross-currency quotes at noon. (A reference rate is a rate that determines pay-offs in a financial contract and that is outside the control of the parties to the contract. It is often some form of LIBOR rate, but it can take many forms, such as a consumer price index, a house price index or an unemployment rate.)
· Finance Minister has informed that the Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPAs) of Nationalized Banks were around Rs.74,000 crore which amount to ~3% of Gross Advances. Banks are required to monitor their NPAs and take steps to bring them down through recovery/other channels. The channels of recovery available to banks include recourse to Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, Debt Recovery Tribunals, Lok Adalats etc. The Government has advised Public Sector Banks to take a number of new initiatives to increase the pace of recovery and manage NPAs, which include appointment of Nodal officers for recovery, to conduct special drives for recovery of loss assets, to put in place early warning system, to replace system of post dated cheques with Electronic Clearance System (ECS) and to proactively pursue the loan issues with State Governments.
· Minister of State of Home Affairs has informed that funds have been released to all the State/UTs under the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) project in various heads ranging from System Integrator, Project Management, Capacity Building to Networking as well. As of now, pilot testing for Core Application Software is going on at few chosen locations in the States of Assam, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh. However, no cities have so far been connected with CCTNS. Thus, CCTNS project is yet to be implemented (full fledged) across the country. Further, CCTNS aims at creating a comprehensive and integrated system for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of policing at the Police Station level through adoption of principles of e-Governance, and creation of a nationwide networked infrastructure for evolution of IT-enabled state-of-the-art tracking system around “investigation of crime and detection of criminals” in the real time, which is a critical requirement in the context of the present day internal security scenario.
· Defence Minister has informed that India and China have agreed to resume military exercises, stalled since 2010. He said that it will take place in China next year and then in India in 2014. Military exercises between the two countries had started in 2007 but were put on hold in 2010 after a series of hiccups in the defence ties between the two sides. The first exercise was held in Kunming, China in 2007 and the second in Belgaum in India in 2008. After the denial of visa to the then Northern Army Commander, Lt. Gen. B S Jaswal by the Chinese in 2010, New Delhi had frozen all bilateral defence exchanges with Beijing.
· Aggriculture Minister has informed that the Government had constituted a Central team to study the problems of arecanut growers of Karnataka under the Chairmanship of Dr. Gorakh Singh. Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod is also undertaking various research and extension activities to promote alternative uses of arecanut and for effective control of Yellow Leaf Disease of arecanut.
· Home Affairs Minister has informed that Manipur Legislative Assembly passed a resolution to “extend and adopt the Bengal Frontier Regulation, 1873 with necessary changes” However, Inner Line Permit System under Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 is applicable only to the three North-Eastern States of Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland which cannot be extended to the State of Manipur as per extant regulation. Inner Line Permit is an official travel document issued by the government of India to allow inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected/restricted area for a limited period. It is obligatory for Indian citizens from outside those States to obtain permit for entering into the protected State. The document is an effort by the government to regulate movement to certain areas located near the international border of India.
· Minister of State for Finance has informed that India has announced a contribution of 10 billion USD to International Monetary Fund, IMF. It is in line with commitments made by other G 20 member countries towards enhancement of IMF resources for crisis prevention and resolution.
· In a foretaste of “water wars”, Pakistani insurgents last week attacked J&K government’s ambitious upcoming Rs 50 crore irrigation project at Navtour in Bandipora in north Kashmir marking a rare departure from the usual civilian and security targets. The project, to improve flood protection and conservation of Wullar Lake, is intended to provide increase water levels in the lake. But the target is seen to be significant in view of Pakistan steadily ramping water as a new area of contention, alleging upstream projects on the Indus system are intended to deny it the natural resource. Although the Indus treaty has worked well and there is no depletion of water to Pakistan, the alleged Indian “conspiracy” has whipped up sentiments there. A local contractor said about seven heavily armed militants lobbed grenades at the project site and assaulted engineers and workers there.
· Indian and Chinese Defence Minister have agreed that expanding bilateral cooperation between the Defence Ministries and Armed Forces of India and China helps enhance mutual trust, deepens friendship and promotes comprehensive development of the India-China Strategic and Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity. Both Ministers reached the following consensus on defence and military exchanges: [1.] Promote exchange of visits by personnel at different levels and in various fields; [2.] Conduct the next round of joint military exercises at the earliest; [3.] Strengthen border security cooperation between the border troops of the two sides so as to enhance and maintain peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas; [4.] Strengthen exchanges in personnel training, academic research and between educational institutions of the Armed Forces of both sides; [5.] Promote port calls by naval ships of the two sides and conduct joint maritime search and rescue exercises; [6.] Further enhance and strengthen cooperation between the Naval forces of both sides, in counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia.
· Finance Minister has informed that the India-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC was notified in 1983), is to be reviewed to incorporate appropriate changes to prevent the abuse of the treaty. Elaborating the proposed measure, he said capital gains is fully exempt from taxation in Mauritius under their existing law. Thus an investor routing his investments through Mauritius into India does not pay capital gains tax either in India or in Mauritius. As a result, Mauritius has become an attractive route for investment by third country residents into India through treaty abuse.
· Strongly condemning the terrorist acts that continue to be perpetrated in Syria against state institutions and public infrastructure, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri said the Syrian conflict has become increasingly more militarised, which is being exploited by well-known terrorist groups. He expressed concern that the Syrian parties have pursued a military approach to realise their objectives instead of seriously commencing a Syrian-led political process. Further, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that the countries who are supplying weapons to the Syrian conflict are adding to the miseries of the Syrian people. He appealed to the leaders and a divided UN Security Council to stand behind the new UN Special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.
· Eleven countries in WHO’s South-East Asia Region are now on track to declaring the Region Polio free, this was recognized during an event at the WHO’s Regional Committee Meeting in Yogyakarta, today. The last case of wild poliovirus in the Region was reported on 13 January 2011 in India making a regional polio free certification possible in early 2014. The recent outbreaks in Asia (Tajikistan in 2010 and China in 2011) have provided important lessons in maintaining high population immunity as protection against importations. India had been the largest endemic reservoir of polio in the world and suffered the greatest burden of paralytic polio. At times as many as 250 000 cases of paralytic polio occurred in India each year. India launched its fight to eradicate polio in 1995. One of the lessons learnt in India was the importance of maintaining political commitment, robust national and international partnerships, availability of quality data, its analysis and use, and evidence-based accountability at all levels of the programme.
· Switzerland pipped Singapore and ranked as the world’s most competitive economy for the fourth year running, while the United States continued a four-year slide down the table to 5th position because of political and economic problems that detracted from its status as a global powerhouse of innovation, the World Economic Forum (WEF) said in its annual survey at the ski resort of Davos, ranks 144 countries by examining 113 indicators. The lowest ranked EU country was Greece, at 96th. But it was rock bottom — 144th out of 144 — for its macroeconomic environment. BRIC: Brazile 48th, Russia 67th, India 59th, China 29th. On several scores Russia was ranked among the 10 lowest achievers globally, including its low rates of technological adoption, lack of trust in its financial system, weak level of competition and inefficient markets for goods.
· The International donors have pledged loan of 6.4 billion USD to aid Yemen to meet the humanitarian needs in the Arab world’s most impoverished nation. Nearly 54 percent of its population living below the poverty line.
· Girisha Hosanagara Nagarajegowda gave India its first medal at the London Paralympic Games as he bagged a silver medal in the Men's High Jump F-42 event. Iliesa Delana of Fiji won the gold, while Lukasz Mamczarz of Poland settled for bronze.