24th - 25th DECEMBER

24^th DECEMBER

AVOID THE WORD ‘RAPE’IN REPORTS, DOCTORS TOLD: WOMEN RIGHTS ISSUE

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RESEARCH: NOT TO REFUSE TREATMENT TO VICTIMS AND RAPE WORD SHOULD NOT BE USED

BAN THE FINGER TEST AND MENTIONING THAT VICTIM IS USED TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE: GOES AGT THE PRIVACY OF THE VICTIM

THERE SHOULD BE A MANUAL TO GUIDE THE DOCTOR FOR TREATMENT AND COLLECTION OF EVIDENCE AND DOCUMENTATION

ISSUE OF INFORMED CONSENT OF THE VICTIM BEFORE STARTING THE TREATMENT AND INFORMING THE POLICE; IN CASE THAT CONSENT IS NOT POSSIBLE: CONSENT OF GUARDIANS NEEDED

OPINION OF DOCTORS SHOULD BE EVIDENCE BASED

AGNI III

3000 KMS; SURFACE TO SURFACE; 2 STAGE

PRITHVI: TACTICAL MISSILE: NAVY VERSIONàDHANUSHàSAGARIKA

HELINA: HELICOPTER VERSION OF NAG MISSLE

NIRBHAY: SUB SONIC MISSILE

NATIONAL CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY: DECEMBER 24

RAJIV GANDHI: COPRA’86: CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT

DEC 1: WORLD AIDS DAY

DEC 10: INT HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

COPRA: PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND CORPORATE

SETUP: CONSUMER PROTECTION COUNCIL, CONSUMER DISPUTE REDRESSAL MECHANISM AT CENTRE, STATE AND DISTRICT LEVELàDECENTRALISED LEVEL

CONSUMER RIGHTS

1.      RIGHT TO BE INFORMED

2.      TO SEEK REDRESSAL

3.      TO CHOOSE

4.      TO BE HEARD

5.      TO SAFETY

6.      TO CONSUMER EDUCATION

OTHER ISSUES:

1.      JAAGO GHARAK JAGO: EMPOWERMENT AND EDUCATION OF CONSUMER

2.      AWARENESS ABOUT QUALITY BENCHMARK

3.      STANDARD PACKAGING

SPATIAL COMPONENT OF WASTE MANAGEMENT

EVERY ZONE SHOULD HAVE WASTE DISPOSAL MECHANISM; NEW MASTER PLANS OF CITIES SHOULD INCORPORATE THIS IN THE PLANNING PROCESS

COLLECTàSTOREàDISPOSAL OF WASTE

ISSUES OF OLD AGE

1.      RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IS MISSING

2.      MAINTENANCE AND WELFARE OF SENIOR CITIZENS ACT

3.      AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEM

4.      EMPOWERING THE LOCAL BODIES

5.      PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANISATIONS TO PROMOTE THE WELL BEING OF SENIOR CITIZENS

BIDAR AND GULBARGA TO GET MANUFACTURING ZONES

NEW MANUFACTURING POLICY 2011 (NATIONAL INVESTMENT AND MANUFACTURING POLICY)

1.      INDIAN ECONOMY HAS MISSED A CRUCIAL PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT WHEREBY IT HAS SKIPPED THE PHASE OF INDUSTRIALISATION: WE HAVE MOVED FROM BEING AN AGRARIAN ECONOMY TO SERVICE ORIENTED

2.      AGRICULTURE EMPLOYS ARND 50% POPULATION WHILE THE SERVICE SECTOR CONTRIBUTES TO MORE THAN 60% OF THE GDP

3.      THIS KIND OF ECONOMIC SYSTEM IS NOT SUSTAINABLE: HENCE WE SEE THAT NOW OUR COUNTRY IS DEPENDENT ON FOREIGN INFLOWS TO SUSTAIN OUR GROWTHàAS OUR OWN EXPORTS ARE POOR, WHILE IMPORTS ARE INELASTIC: LEADING TO RAISE IN CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT

4.      THE RECESSION IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMIES EXPOSED OUR VULNERABILITY WITH BURGEONING CAD AND FISCAL DEFICIT

5.      THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE FACT THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A MANUFACTURING POLICY FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS

6.      THE DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN INFLOWS FOR FINANCING OUR CAD HAS EXERBATED THE SITUATION: WITH RE DEPRECIATION WORSENING THE SITUATION IN INDIAN ECONOMY

7.      HENCE WE INTRODUCED THE NEW MANUFACTURING POLICY 2011

FEATURES

1.      INCREASE THE SHARE OF MANUFACTURING IN GDP FROM 16% TO 25% BY 2020

2.      OPENING OF NEW MANUFACTURING INVESTMENT ZONES (NMIZ) WITH MINIMUM 30% TO PROCESSING AREA: ECO CITIES CONCEPT

3.      SEAMLESS  INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD BE PROVIDED TO THESE ZONES

4.      RELAXATION OF LABOUR NORMS UNDER THESE AREAS

5.      SKILL DEVELOPMENT AIM ALSO INTERTWINED WITH NMP: 100 MILLION BY 2022

6.      PROMOTING THE MSMEs : REMOVING ALL HURDLES: PROMOTION OF CLUSTERS

7.      IMPROVING REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

8.      IMPROVING TECHNOLOGY AND VALUE ADDED IN MANUFACTURING

9.      DMIC: JAPAN: INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR;BANGLORE MUMBAI INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR:UK

FLAWED PREFERENCE

CHILD SEX RATIO: PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY: PREFERENCE FOR MALE CHILD

FAILURE OF THE SOCIAL RELIGIOUS REFORMS: NOT JUST A RECENT PHENOMENON: EGs OF RAJA RAM MOHAN ROY, ISHWAR CHAND VIDYASAGAR

NEGATIVE USE OF SCIENCE: ULTRA SOUND: DETERMINATION OF SEX: FOETICIDE

LACK OF EDUCATION AND AWARENESS: THEREFORE ITS NOT JUST A SOCIAL PROBLEMàITS SOCIO-ECONOMIC-RELIGIOUS PHENOMENON: DOCUMENTARY JAL PARI

FAILURE OF PCPNDT ACT: PRE CONCEPTION PRE NATAL DIAGNOSTIC TEST

DISCRIMINATION FACED BY WOMEN IN DAILY LIVES:

1.      BOY PREFERENCE: UNFPA REPORTà LEGAL, JUDICIAL AND POLICE REFORMS ARE NEEDED

2.      CHILD SEX RATIO: 962à945à927à919: DISTURBING OUR DEMOGRAGHIC PROFILE

3.      SOUTH KOREA: IMPROVEMENT: AWARENESS AND APPEAL

4.      PREVALENCE OF CHILD MARRIAGE: 30% OF GIRLS BTW 15 TO 19 YEARS: IN RURAL AREAS THIS FIGURE GOES UP TO 56%

5.      WE SHOULD BE GUIDED BY CEDAW AND BEIJING PLATFORM

INDIA PAKISTAN DGMOs MEET

DIRECTOR GENERAL OF MILITARTY OPERATIONS MEET: IRON OUT TENSIONS ON LoC

UN MILITARY OPERATION GROUP IN INDIA AND PAKISTAN (UNMOG)

POORNA SHAKTI KENDRAS TO EMPOWER THE WOMEN

RURAL WOMEN DO NOT KNOW HOW TO AVAIL FACILITIES THAT THE GOVT OFFERS THEM: FULL EMPOWERMENT CENTRE: AS PART OF NRLM

NATIONAL MISSION FOR EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN/: OFFERING SERVICES TO WOMEN AT GRASSROOT LEVEL

SAMANVAYAKS: WILL HELP THE WOMEN: PENSION SCHEMES, AADHAR CARD AND VOTER ID

CHINA DEFENDS NUCLEAR COOPERATION WITH PAKISTAN

WASSENAR GROUP

AUSTRALIAN GROUP

MISSILE TECHNOLOGY CONTROL REGIME

NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP

COUNTRIES WHICH REGULATE THE TRADE OF NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY AND FUELS IN THE WORLD. HOWEVER RUSSIA CONTINUED TO SUPPORT INDIA (GRAND FATHERING CLAUSE).

CHINA GOT ADDMISSION IN NSGà AND NOW SUPPORTING PAKISTAN UNDER THIS CLAUSE; NSG FORBIDS ITS MEMBERS TO TRANSFER TECHNOLOGY TO COUNTRIES WHO HAVE NOT SIGNED NON PROLIFERATION TREATY

25^th DECEMBER

INDIA PAKISTAN RESOLVE TO PROTECT LoC TRUCE

DGMOs: PEACE, TRANQUILITY, CEASE FIRE: AFTER 14 YEARS

THREATENING THE 2004 CEASE FIRE: 267 ATTEMPTS OF INFILTRATION

UNMOGIP COULD BE CALLED : PAKISTANàINDIA REJECTED

HOTLINE

HALF OF ODISHA’S IRON ORE MINES LACK CLEARANCE: PANEL

MAPPING DETAILS

1.      BALASUR: WHEELER ISLAND: DRDO

2.      SUBERNREKHA RIVER: ESTUARIES: KNICK POINT: REJUVENATION OF RIVER PROLIFE

3.      RISHI KULYA RIVER: ESTUARIES

COASTAL PLAINS

4.      BADAM PAHAR AND GURU MEHSANI: IRON ORE

5.      COAL: DAMODAR (JHAR, WB); MAHANADI: MP; CHATTISGARH; ODISHA; GODAVARI: ODISHA, AP

6.      MAHANADI : BHITTARKANIKA AND TIKRAPARA: NATURAL CROCODILE RESERVES (IN SITU)

7.      MANGROVES: MAHANADI: MAN EATER CROCODILES

8.      KENDUUIHARGARH TO KORAPUT: MANGANESE AND CROMITE (90%)

9.      NAYAGARH RANGES: EASTERN GHATS AMD NIMGIRI: BAUXITE

10.  GANJIM: ESTUARY OF RISHIKULYA: OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLE: GOPALPUR AND GHARIMATA PORT: BREEDING GRD IS NATURAL ESTUARIES

11.  OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES: KERELA; ODISHA; A&N

GOND AND SANTHALS: THE MOST EXPLOITED PEOPLE: MINERAL EXPLOITATION AND SECURITY OF LIVELIHOOD AND NO SHARE OF THE LOCALS: DEVELOPMENT VERSUS CONSERVATION

M P SHAH COMMISSION ON MINING

1.      LOOPHOLES IN MINE RULES USED TO RUN MINES

2.      ENVIRONMENT CLEARANCES MISSING

3.      OVER EXPLOITATION

4.      STATE AND CENTRE GOVT OFFICIALS COMPLICIT

5.      INFORMATION SUPPRESSED ABOUT IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT

6.      ILLEGAL MINERS LET OFF: NO CRIMINAL ACTION TAKEN

7.      POLLUTED THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE WATER BODIES

HAVE TO TAKE PERMISSION FROM NATIONAL WILDLIFE BOARD OF INDIA: CLOSE TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AREAS: IF WITHIN 10 KMS VICINITY OF WILDFIRE SANCTUARY

RESTRUCTURING A SAVINGS SCHEME

INFLATION INDEX BONDS

1.      SAVING THE PEOPLE FROM THE SURGE IN ILATION

2.      INCREASING THE SAVINGS RATE AND INVESTMENT RATE

3.      IINNS-C: LAUNCHED BY RBI

4.      RETURN OF 1.5% ABOVE CPI

5.      MOST SAVINGS CHANNEL DO NOT OFFSET INFLATIONARY FACTOR

6.      DIVERSIFY THE PORTFOLIO FROM GOLD, BANK DEPOSIT, FD, REAL ESTATE AND OTHER FIXED ASSETS

CRITICISM

1.      NO TAX BENEFIT

2.      LOCK IN PERIOD OF 1 YR AND 3 YRS

3.      10 YEAR TENURE

4.      POOR DEFN OF OLD AGE

5.      INTEREST RATE AFTER 10 YEARS MATURITY: COMPOUNDING 6 MONTHLY

6.      MAXIMUM INVESTMENT LIMIT IS 5 LACS IS LOW

7.      PENALTY OF 50% OF PREVIOUS YEARS INTEREST FOR FORECLOSURE

8.      NOT QUARTERLY OR YEARLY INTEREST PAYMENT

BREACHING THE VIENNA CONVENTION

ILO CONVENTION 189

THE DEFN OF DOMESTIC WORKER AND TRAFFICKING: COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE SIGNED ILO CONVENTION

INDIA HAS NOT RATIFIED THE ILO CONVENTION 189: IT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROTECT THE WORKER IT HAS NOT RATIFIED IT

LINKING INDIA’S FINANCIAL SECTOR WITH IT HUB: INDIA –UK TIES, INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR AND INFRASTRUCTURE

PROBLEM OF INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

1.      PATTERN OF POLITICAL GOVERNANCE: POLITICAL AGENDA: CIVIL NUCLEAR AGREEMENT

2.      LAND IS FINITE: ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE: POSCO

3.      LAND ACQUISITION: TATA NANO

4.      CENTRE AND STATE DISPUTE

5.      TRIBAL ISSUES: RESETTLEMENT AND REHABILITATION: NARMADA BACHAHO MOVT

6.      REAL ESTATE RISE: BUBBLE

7.      WHITE ELEPHANT APPROACH: DCIM 2007: STILL NOT COMPLETED: TIME AND COST OVER RUNS

8.      INFLATIONARY EXPECTATIONS: HIGH ROI

9.      RELUCTANCE OF THE BANKING SYSTEM: RISING NPAs AND HUGE GESTATION TIME

10.  ACCESS TO FUNDS DRYING UP

BANGLORE – MUMBAI ECONOMIC CORRIDOR: TAKING INDIA UK TIES TO THE NEXT LEVEL

1000 KM CORRIDOR: ECO GREEN CITIES ALONG WITH IT: CREATING JOBS: MANUFACTURING HUB: SOLVE REGIONAL PLANNING

THE CORRIDOR WILL START FROM BANGLOREàTUMKURàCHITARDURGAàHUBLIàDHARWADàBELGUAMàKOHLAPURàSANGLIàSATARAàKARADàPUNEàMUMBAI

NEPAL IMPASSE COMES TO END AS POLITICAL PARTIES REACH ACCORD

4 POINT AGREEMENT BTW 8 POLITICAL PARTIES

1.      PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE SUGGESTIONS ON QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT CA ELECTION

2.      DRAFT OF CONSTITUTION ACC TO 12 POINT MECHANISM AND TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN 6 MONTHS

3.      TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMM AND COMM ON ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES

MYANMAR SEALS BORDER, TRADE HIT

ICE LAND: LAND OF FIRE AND ICE

LAVA POURS CONTINUOUSLY: BASIC LAVA: DIVERGENT PLATES

GEO THERMAL ENERGY:

PART OF ARCTIC COUNCIL

AFFECTED BY CC: TRADITIONAL PPL: ELFS COMMUNITY

BIT COIN

VIRTUAL COIN: NOT REGULATED BY RBI: LAXMI COIN

RBI: NOT USE BIT COIN: CYBER INSECURITY

NOT ASSISTED BY LEGAL TENDER

USED IN MONEY LAUNDERING, TERRORISM, BLACK MONEY

RESERVE BANK WARNS AGAINST BIT COIN USE

1.      POTENTIAL: FINANCIAL, LEGAL AND SECURITY RELATED RISK

2.      BORDERLESS DIGITAL CURRENCY

3.      NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CENTRAL BANK: NO CONSUMER RECOURSE

4.      CAN BE TRADED ON NET AND ON EXCHGES

ONE EIGHTH OF INDIA’S URBAN POPULATION LIVES IN SLUMS: NSSO

THE NO IS LOWER THAN THE CENSUS DATA:14 MILLION; NSSO: 9 MILLION

NOTIFICATION OF SLUMS: LOCAL BODIES AND STATE BODIES

NSSO :ANY CROWDED SETTLEMENT WITH POOR SANITATION AND AT LEAST 20 HOUSEHOLDS

CENSUS:  AT LEAST 60-70 HOUSEHOLDS

1400 SLUMS VS 3700 SLUMS

MAHARASTRA (23)>.AP> WB

69^TH ROUND OF NSSO: BETTER LEVELS OF ACCESS TO DRINKING WATER

DRAWING TOURISTS TO A SANCTUARY OF ENDANGERED BAT SPECIES

ENDEMIC SPECIES: BELONG TO GEOGRAPHIC REGION

BAT IS A MAMMAL, IT HAS NO RODS (SONAR), WINGS AND NECK (HAIR)—POLLINATION

HABITAT LOSS IN INDIAà POLLUTION IS DECREASING: WROUGHTON FREE TAILED BAT; OTHER CATEGORY: TOM BAT

29TH-31ST JANUARY: EXCERPTS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES

India Ranks Among Top Investment Destinations and benefits of FDI

India has received total foreign investment of USD 306.88 billion since 2000 and 94% of this amount has been received during last 9 years. India’s Foreign Direct Investment policy has been progressively liberalised to make the investment regime more investor friendly. In a recent review of the policy the government has amended the sectoral caps and/or entry routes in some sectors viz. petroleum & natural gas; commodity exchanges; power exchanges; stock exchanges, depositories and clearing corporations; asset reconstruction companies; credit information companies; tea sector including tea plantations; single brand product retail trading; test marketing; telecom services; courier services and defence. The review of FDI policy is done with a view to boost investor confidence thereby stimulating FDI inflows and contributing to accelerated economic growth. 

The government approved liberalisation of FDI norms in a number of sectors, including 100 percent in telecom and higher caps in insurance and defence sectors. FDI in multi-brand retail has been allowed up to 51%. The minimum foreign investment requirement is US$ 100 million, at least 50% which shall be invested in 'backend infrastructure' within three years of the induction of FDI. The FDI limit in Single Brand Retail has been enhanced to 100%. It was also decided to allow 49 percent FDI in single brand retail under the automatic route and beyond through the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) route. While the FDI cap in defence sector remained unchanged at 26 percent, it was decided that higher limits of foreign investments in 'state-of-the-art' technology manufacturing would be considered by the Cabinet Committee on Security. 

The result of the liberal foreign investment policies is that India has been consistently rated amongst the top three investment destinations globally by all international bodies including World Bank, UNCTAD. This is also mirrored in the foreign investment data. Between 1999- 2004, India received US$ 19.52 billion of foreign investment which increased to US$ 114.55 billion between 2004-09, and increased further to US$ 172.82 billion between 2009- September 2013. 

FDI inflows have a positive impact by supplementing domestic capital, technology and skills of existing companies including in the aviation sector, as well as through establishment of new companies. It has indirect multiplier effect on other related sectors also, and thereby stimulates economic growth. FDI inflows also have a positive impact on the current account balance. 

When it comes to the impact of FDI in retail trading towards the consumers, it is beyond doubt that they have gained a lot from organised retail on multiple counts. Studies in comparable situations have revealed that lower income consumers saved more. Farmers too have benefited significantly from the option of direct sales to organised retailers.

Small manufacturers will benefit from the safeguard pertaining to a minimum of 30% procurement from Indian small industries. This would provide the necessary scales for these entities to expand capacities in manufacturing, thereby creating more employment and also strengthening the manufacturing base of the country. They will also derive the benefits of technology upgradation, which will provide a fillip to productivity and local value-addition, thereby raising the profitability and earnings of the small manufacturer. The sourcing condition will also enable the small enterprises to get integrated with global retail chains, thereby enhancing their capacity to export products from India. Small retailers would continue to be able to source high quality produce, at significantly lower prices, from wholesale cash and carry points. The young population joining the workforce will benefit from the creation of employment opportunities, in the entire range of activities from the backend to the frontend retail business, as also from the skills imparted to them by the prospective investors. 

Price stabilisation and inflation control could be achieved through direct buying from farmers, improving supply chain inefficiencies to lower transit losses, improved storage capabilities to control supply/demand imbalances, better quality and safety standards through farmer development and increased processing of produce. FDI in retail may thus be an efficient means of addressing this issue as this would bring in large investments required for the back end infrastructure & value chain and requisite technical &management know-how.

Prime Minister Launchs National Waqf Development Corporation 

for the protection and promotion of the interests of minorities National Waqf Development Corporation Limited (NAWADCO), a new Central Public Sector Enterprise under Ministry of Minority Affairs has been established.

establishment of NAWADCO is first step towards creating Shariah–compliant infrastructure building institution. As in Islam, giving interest is a sin and a Quranic injunction, Muslims keep themselves away from normal banking channel. They look forward to the Government to facilitate establishment of certain Shariah compliant financial institutions, where the savings of Muslims can be deposited and used for their educational and economic development. The NAWADCO may also be an institution which can facilitate issuing of Shariah–compliant bonds to channelize savings of Muslims for community welfare. 

the Waqf means a dedication by any person of any movable or immovable property for any purpose recognized by the Muslim law as pious, religious and charitable. Auqaf is considered as a Trust Asset and the role of the Trustee is to look after the assets and to ensure its perpetuity for the beneficiaries. There is a virtual collapse of institutions of Auqaf in India because of legislative lacuna; administrative lapses; lack of political Will; indifferent attitude of management of the Auqaf; and lack of integrity. 

This Corporation has been established with Authorized Share Capital of Rs.500 Crore with a paid up capital of Rs.100 crore. In this Corporation, the National Minority Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) has 49% shares. 

This Corporation will prove an important institution for the development of Waqf properties for the community welfare particularly for Muslims in India. The establishment of NAWADCO is a follow up of Sachchar Committee recommendation. India has the largest number of Waqf properties in the world.  Sachar Committee has estimated that such properties, if properly developed, with a minimum return of 10%, would be capable of generating an income of Rs.12000 crore per annum. 

NAWADCO will facilitate and mobilize financial resources for the development of Waqf properties for community development purposes in a joint venture with the State / Union Territory Waqf Boards and the Mutawallis. The Waqf Boards and the Muthawallis were not having the financial resources to develop the properties leading to encroachments. The total area under waqf properties all over India is estimated at about 6 lakh acres, the market value of which is about Rs.1.20 lakh crores. Many of these properties are on prime land and they have the potential of generating considerable returns, which in turn may be used for socio-economic development of deprived sections of Muslim community. 

Government of India has recently enacted the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2013.This will make administration of waqf properties transparent and will provide an enabling environment for development and utilization of waqf lands for welfare of minorities. 

NRLM AND DIGITAL GREEN

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the National Rural Livelihoods Mission and Digital Green — a Microsoft Research Project .

Digital Green aims to exchange livelihood practices among rural communities using locally produced videos and mediated dissemination. Its innovative ICT-based approach focusses on low-cost and effective, peer-to-peer learning processes which seek to empower poor households for increasing productivity and incomes sustainably. new direction was being given to the NRLM to include sanitation as part of the scheme.

CAD COMES DOWN

For the first time in three years, the current account deficit is expected to fall below the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) comfort zone, as the central bank now predicts the deficit to narrow to 2.5% of GDP for 2013-14.

The CAD was record high last fiscal when it touched 4.8%.Current account deficit below 3% is seen as the comfort zone of RBI.The current account deficit fell to 1.2% in the second quarter following various import restrictions, particularly on non-essential items like gold.

Another silver lining is the significant narrowing of the trade deficit on the back of resilient export growth. The recent resumption of capital inflows should help finance the current account deficit comfortably.

National Mission on Libraries 

 the National Mission on Libraries (NML), an initiative of the Ministry of Culture to modernise and digitally link public libraries across the country. Nine important constituents of the NML include upgradation of infrastructure, digitization and modernisation, census of libraries and their development as knowledge centres and transformation of libraries into empowering and inclusive institutions. 

 NML was set up in pursuance of a report of the National Knowledge Commission, which recommended a total revamp of the Library and Information Service sector to serve the changing needs and expectations of the users and give a fillip to the library movement in the country. 

NML also intends to create a National Virtual Library of India (NVLI) to facilitate a comprehensive database on digital resources, carry out a census on the resources available in the libraries and conduct a study on the reading habits in different regions of the country. 

The chief objectives of NML are to create a world class library system, foster reading habits facilitate research work and provide information to people in a timely and convenient manner which is also universal and equitable. Kolkata-based Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF) is the nodal agency for the implementation of NML, a 10-member body headed by Prof. Deepak Pental, former Vice Chancellor of Delhi University. 

Who will pay for a skilled workforce?

The National Skill Development Mission is an ambitious project of skilling 500 million youth and making them employable by 2022. The recent STAR scheme launched by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under the Union Government has earmarked ₹10,000 as the expected cost of a single skill intervention. If we juxtapose these facts, India needs to find and invest ₹5 lakh crore to meet the skill needs of its economy and fulfil the aspirations of its youth. Where will this massive investment come from? Who will foot the bill?

 if ₹5 lakh crore must be spent to train 500 million youth, there is no reason why it should be the burden of the State alone. Smart market segmentation suggests that job-seekers and academic institutions will readily pay for skill development that leads to high-end, aspirational jobs, and they should be actively encouraged to do so.the State must play an active role in creating a skill-rich ecosystem at the bottom-end of the job spectrum, a space that neither excites job seekers nor attracts enlightened employers today. 

Uniform tax rate for foreign portfolio investors

In a major boost for overseas entities, the government has said that foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) will attract uniform tax rate across categories. FPIs bring together all the three investment categories — foreign institutional investors (FIIs), their sub-accounts and qualified foreign investors (QFIs).

Besides, the tax rate for FPIs would be the same as that extended to FIIs. The new system would be especially beneficial for QFIs, who were subjected to higher tax rate earlier.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India notified the FPI norms on January 7, replacing the regulations for FIIs.Under the new norms, FPIs have been divided into three categories as per their risk profile and the KYC (Know Your Client) requirements, and other registration procedures would be much simpler for FPIs compared to the current practices.

Category I FPIs, classified as entities with lowest risk, would include foreign governments and government related foreign investors.

Category II would cover appropriately regulated broad based funds, appropriately regulated entities, broad-based funds whose investment manager is appropriately regulated, university funds and pension funds, among others. Those who are not eligible to be in the first and second set of classifications would be considered under Category III.

UREA PRICING AND FERTILIZER SUBSIDIES IN INDIA

A Group of Ministers (GoM) was set up last year to suggest a suitable hike in urea price to neutralise increase in energy cost, so that subsidy can be reined in. The Government, however, has categorically ruled out any increase until general elections.

The maximum selling price (or MRP) of urea has been under control since 1957. Until the late 70s — a period of low inflation and low feedstock price — the MRP was higher than the cost of production and distribution. Hence, there was no subsidy.

Since 1977, equation was reversed, with cost exceeding selling price. The Government had to give subsidy to manufacturers. From ₹266 crore in 1977-78, subsidy rose to ₹5,796 crore in 1992-93 and further to ₹35,398 crore in 2012-13.

Between 1981 and 2012, urea price increased from ₹2,350 to ₹5360 per tonne, or 2.2 times. In contrast, price of gas (main feedstock in urea production) went up from ₹0.32 per cubic metre to ₹8.4 per cubic metre, or 26 times.

The price of naphtha went up from around ₹600 per tonne to ₹50,000 per tonne, or 83 times. This led to a ‘widening’ gulf between cost of production and realisation from sales, and a skyrocketing subsidy. 

CCI clears three hydel projects

Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI) has cleared threehydro power projects, which were stuck due to environmental bottlenecks.the three hydel projects -- Tawang (800 MW), Tato (700 MW) and Teesta(520 MW) -- which were awaiting approvals for a long time have been cleared by CCI.

These projects in Arunachal Pradesh (Tawang and Tato) and (Teesta) Sikkim were sent to CCI from the power ministry in December, last year.Teesta Stage-IV Hydroelectric Project, which was awarded to state-run NHPC in 2009, is a run of the river scheme proposed along river Teesta. Teesta is likely to supply electricity to Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand.The Tawang Hydroelectric Project is proposed on Tawangchu river.  

The 700-MW Tato hydro power project in Arunachal Pradesh is being set up by Tato Hydro Power Private Ltd, a subsidiary of Reliance Power.

Setting up of Rail Tariff Authority 

The Union Cabinet  gave its approval for setting up of a Rail Tariff Authority, as an advisory body, through a Government Resolution, pending amendment of the Railway Act, 1989. The setting up of such an authority will institutionalize a regulatory mechanism at arms length for pricing of passenger and freight services. 

The Rail Tariff Authority shall comprise a Chairperson and four Members at the apex level and will be vested with the function to develop an integrated, transparent and dynamic pricing mechanism for the passenger and freight segments of the Indian Railway's business. It will also advise the Central Government on fixation of tariff, based on cost of operations and factors impinging it, to help generate requisite surpluses for healthy growth in the future.

NUHM

The ambitious National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), aimed at providing adequate and efficient urban public health delivery system for the urban poor, was  formally launched the nationwide scheme,  it would cover 779 urban areas with over 50,000 population by March 2015 across the country. The central government will share 80 per cent of the cost to implement the programme.  Primary Health Centres, sub-centres and referral units would be strengthened in urban areas and be manned by Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANMs).These centres will be visited by mobile health check-up vans which will have two doctors, two nurses and a pharmacist.

It is estimated that the NUHM will cover a population of over 220 million people, of which an estimated 77.5 million are poor and vulnerable, the minister said. The scheme also aims at giving more thrust to sanitation, clean drinking water, vector control and other related issues. the scheme would benefit migrant labourers, slum-dwellers, rag pickers and other marginalised sections of society.

Inclusion of Jains as a minority community under Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Act, 1992 

The Union Cabinet  gave its approval for inclusion of Jains as a minority under Section 2 (c ) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 and the Attorney General through the Ministry of Law and Justice has opined that this would be neither be illegal nor unconstitutional. The Cabinet approved the inclusion of Jains in the list of notified minority communities under Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 pending the outcome of court cases in addition to the five communities already notified as minorities under Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.These communities are Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs and Zoroastrians (Parsis).

The community, which comprises only a fraction of India’s population, now stands at a par with five other minority communities —  Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Parsis. It will avail of exclusive schemes run by the ministry of minority affairs.

Some of the schemes for minorities

Multi-Sectoral Development Programme   Scholarship scheme Post-matric scholarship scheme   Merit-cum-means based scholarship Free coaching and allied scheme Maulana Azad National Fellowship Handshake with the East  The symbolism of a new age of Indo-Japanese co-operation is notable. But this was more than just a ceremonial visit. The various agreements that were signed - eight in total - and the two prime ministers' joint statement revealed a bilateral relationship that is inexorably growing stronger. Japan was at "the heart" of India's Look East policy,  But it might be equally accurate to say that China lay at the heart of what was said and unsaid about this meeting. The joint declaration emphasised security co-operation for stability in "the region", given "changes in the strategic environment". the fact that China's rise forced India and Japan closer, Recent aggressiveness from China on the disputed border with India and in the disputed sea off its coast will have underlined the need for a closer partnership. The two prime ministers spoke specifically about the path-breaking agreement to move towards joint manufacturing of the Utility Seaplane-2 aircraft - which, while it has peacetime uses, is also capable of military use, which is a major departure for Japanese trade. Most intriguingly, the new national security architecture that Mr Abe is putting in place was given special mention, with the two prime ministers saying that India's national security advisor would henceforth regularly meet his newly established counterpart in Japan. And that the two countries' naval forces will exercise together again next year, this time in the Pacific, is a clear signal to Beijing, as well. Nuclear co-operation has not gone as far as it should. Both prime ministers may need to intervene with their bureaucracies to ensure that the agreement happens. The second rung of the Indo-Japanese relationship, after security policy, is infrastructure. Japan has made vast contributions to India's urban and transport infrastructure, and that appears set to continue. The Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor are indicatives. The DMIC, if it becomes reality, will be the first real government-driven urbanisation plan in India's recent history; and it will only deepen the relationship between India and Japan.