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India crossed milestones in space (Courtesy: http://www.mea.gov.in)

The Indian space agency had a good week both in its maiden inter-planetary venture and in its efforts to provide the country its very own satellite based navigation system. An important milestone was notched in India's mission to Mars lovingly as it crossed the halfway mark of its arduous journey on April 9, 2014 morning at 9.50 am. Launched on November 5, 2013 it has travelled some 337.5 million kilometres till now and is expected to rendezvous with the Red Planet on September 24, 2014 becoming the farthest any Indian object has ever travelled. Called `Mangalyaan it was made at a mere cost of Rs 4500 million (about USD 70 million) and it is the cheapest inter planetary mission ever to be conceived by humans. The main objective is to look for signatures of life on mars and to fulfil India's deep desire to beat its regional rival China in reaching Mars. The latter seems on track as really nothing can really stop it from reaching near Mars thanks to the nature of planetary forces and the precise orbit injection by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

Some 500 scientists toiled day and night to ready this craft in a record 15 months. The journey to Mars is tough to say the least. Till date 51 missions have been launched and 27 have failed. If India reaches Mars it would be the first 'country' to achieve it on its maiden flight. Till date only USA, Russia and the European Space Agency have successfully reached the Red Planet. India today invests just about $ 1 billion annually in the ISRO which is the custodian of all space technology for the country. It was set up in 1969 and today employs about 16,000 people. A little earlier in the week on April 4, 2014, ISRO created history with 25 successful launches in a row. The Indian space agency made history by launching the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle or PSLV successfully 25 times in a row, bringing India one step closer to its very global positioning system or what some call the `desi GPS. The 44 meter, 320 ton, PSLV rocket successfully lifted off into the clear blue sky at 5.14 PM from Sriharikota and 19 minutes later accurately placed India's second navigation satellite in space. A jubilant K. Radhakrishnan, Chairman, ISRO said `PSLV in its 25 th successive successful flight precisely injected Indias second regional navigation satellite. This latest launch brings the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) one step closer to start the Indian version of a satellite navigation system. Similar, in functionality to the American Global Positioning System (GPS), but it is regional in coverage. India will be the sixth country in the world to have this system. This is vitally important in times of war since most modern precision bombs and missiles depend on accurate positioning. Some may naturally ask if this satellite navigation system by India were working would it have been possible to locate the lost Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, unfortunately the simple answer is no. Today if you are tech savvy then getting lost may soon become very difficult. India is progressing to install its own satellite navigation system; a fleet of 7 satellites that help provide precise locations better than 20

Ministry of External affairs

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meters. Till now most of us have relied on the American GPS or the Global Positioning System, very popular on smart phones but not good enough for military applications. India becomes the 6 nation to embark on this after America, Russia, Europe, China and Japan.

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POVERTY ESTIMATES FOR SOCIAL GROUPS (Courtesy: http://planningcommission.nic.in)

1. The Planning Commission estimates poverty ratios for the years for which Large Sample Surveys on Household Consumer Expenditure have been conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. These surveys are normally conducted on quinquennial basis.

2. The methodology for estimation of poverty followed by the Planning Commission has been based on the recommendations made by experts in the field from time to time.

In December, 2005, Planning Commission constituted an Expert Group under the Chairmanship of Prof. Suresh D. Tendulkar to review the methodology for estimation of poverty. The Tendulkar Committee submitted its report in December 2009 and computed poverty lines and poverty ratios for 2004-05 which was accepted by Planning Commission in 2011. Presently, Planning Commission is following Tendulkar Committee methodology for estimation of poverty.

3. The latest data on household consumer expenditure survey is available for the year 2011-12. Following the Tendulkar Committee methodology, Planning Commission made estimates of poverty for 2011-12 .

Poverty Estimates for Social Groups 2004-05 and 2011-12

In the process of collection of consumption expenditure data from households, NSSO records the social group of the household. In the sampling design for household consumer expenditure surveys no arrangement of sampling units, either first stage units or second stage units (households), is made before selection of samples for capturing representative samples across social groups. As a result the sampling design adopted for household consumer expenditure survey does not ensure representative samples across social groups for all States. Therefore, following Tendulkar Committee methodology, the percentage of persons living below the poverty line among social groups at all India level for the years 2004-05 and 2011-12 have been estimated and are given below.

Estimates of Poverty Ratio among Social Groups

Social Group Rural(2004-05) Rural(2011-12) Urban(2004-05) Urban(2011-12) Scheduled Tribes

62.3 45.3 35.5 24.1

Scheduled Castes

53.5 31.5 40.6 21.7

Other Backward Classes

39.8 22.6 30.6 15.4

Others 27.1 15.5 16.1 8.2 All Population 41.8 25.7 25.7 13.7

Planning Commission of India

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Conservation of Biodiversity (Courtesy-PIB) Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity have been an integral part of Indian ethos. The varied eco-climatic conditions coupled with unique geological and cultural features have contributed to an astounding diversity of habitats, which harbor and sustain immense biological diversity at all levels. With only 2.4% of world's land area, India accounts for 7-8% of recorded species of the world. In terms of species richness, India ranks seventh in mammals, ninth in birds and fifth in reptiles. In terms of endemism of vertebrate groups, India's position is tenth in birds with 69 species, fifth in reptiles with 156 species and seventh in amphibians with 110 species. India's share of crops is 44% as compared to the world average of 11%. India also has 23.39% of its geographical area under forest and tree cover. Of the 34 globally identified biodiversity hotspots, India harbor 3 hotspots, i.e., Himalaya, Indo Burma, Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. Western Ghats are recently included in World Heritage list. It is very rich in flora and fauna and serves as cradle of biodiversity. One of the most pressing environmental issues today is the conservation of biodiversity. Many factors threaten the world's biological heritage. The challenge is for nations, government agencies, organisations and individuals to protect and enhance biological diversity, while continuing to meet people's needs for natural resources. Efforts have been initiated to save biodiversity both by ex-situ and in-situ conservation. International Biodiversity day is celebrated across the globe on 22nd May every year.

BIODIVERSITY ACT 2002 The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 is a federal legislation enacted by the Parliament of India for preservation of biological diversity in India, and provides mechanism for equitable sharing of benefits arising out of use of traditional biological resources and knowledge. The Act was enacted to meet the obligations under Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), to which India is a party. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) was established in 2003 to implement Indias Biological Diversity Act (2002). The NBA is a Statutory, Autonomous Body and it performs facilitative, regulatory and advisory function for the Government of India on issues of conservation, sustainable use of biological resources and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of biological resources.

BIOSPHERES AND BIODIVERSITY RESERVES The Indian government has established 18 Biosphere Reserves in India, which protect larger areas of natural habitat and often include one or more National Parks and Reserves, along buffer zones that are open to some economic uses. Protection is granted not only to the flora and fauna of the protected region, but also to the human communities who inhabit these regions, and their ways of life. Animals are protected and saved here.

HOTSPOTS

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A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is under threat from humans. Around the world, 25 areas qualify under definition of hotspots. These sites support nearly 60% of the world's plant, bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species, with a very high share of endemic species. The biodiversity hotspots hold especially high numbers of endemic species, yet their combined area of remaining habitat covers only 2.3 percent of the Earth's land surface. Each hotspot faces extreme threats and has already lost at least 70 percent of its original natural vegetation. Over 50 percent of the worlds plant species and 42 percent of all terrestrial vertebrate species are endemic to the 34 biodiversity hotspots.

UNO EFFORTS FOR CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed in Washington, DC, on 3 March 1973. In August 2000, 152 States were parties to this Convention. The aim of CITES is to put a ban on international trade in wildlife. The World Conservation Union IUCN brings together States, government agencies and a diverse range of non-governmental organizations in a unique world partnership. IUCN seeks to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and sustainable use of natural resources. The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 1992 known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is a multilateral treaty. The Convention has three main goals like conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity); sustainable use of its components; and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. The most significant feature of 1972 World heritage Convention is that it links together in a single document the concepts of nature conservation and preservation of cultural properties. The Convention recognises the way in which people interact with nature and fundamental need to preserve the balance between the two. The law of sea 1982, envisaged by UNO aims at protecting marine biodiversity and to control marine pollution.

ROLE OF WILDLIFE CORRIDORS IN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION A habitat corridor, wildlife corridor or green corridor is an area of habitat connecting wildlife populations separated by human activities such as roads, development, or logging. This allows an exchange of individuals between populations, which may help prevent the negative effects of inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity that often occur within isolated populations.

WETLANDS REPOSITORIES OF BIODIVERSITY Wetlands are complex ecosystems and encompass a wide range of inland, coastal and marine habitats. They include flood plains, swamps, marshes, fishponds, tidal marshes natural and man-made wetlands. The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

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BENEFITS OF BIODIVERSITY Biodiversity provides food from crops, livestock, forestry and fish. Biodiversity is of use to modern agriculture as a source of new crops, as a source material for breeding improved varieties and as a source of new biodegradable pesticides. Biodiversity is a rich source of substances with therapeutic properties. Several important pharmaceuticals have originated as plant-based substances, which are of incalculable value to human health. The industrial products like timber, oils, lubricants, food flavours, industrial enzymes, cosmetics, perfumes, fragrances, dyes, paper, waxes, rubber, latexes, resins, poisons and cork can all be derived from various plant species. Biodiversity is a source of economical wealth for many areas, such as many parks and forests, where wild nature and animals are a source of beauty and joy, attract many visitors. Ecotourism in particular, is a growing outdoor recreational activity. Biodiversity has also greataesthetic value. Examples of aesthetic rewards include ecotourism, bird watching, wildlife, pet keeping, gardening, etc. Biodiversity is also essential for the maintenance and sustainable utilization of goods and services from ecological systems as well as from the individual species. These services include maintenance of gaseous composition of the atmosphere, climate control by forests and oceanic systems, natural pest control, pollination of plants by insects and birds, formation and protection of soil.

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY The destruction of habitats is the primary reason for the loss of biodiversity in terrestrial and coastal ecosystems. Habitat loss could be attributed to conversion, habitat degradation and fragmentation. When people cut down trees, fill a wetland, plough grassland or burn a forest, the natural habitat of a species is changed or destroyed. Introduction of invasive species may cause disappearance of native species through biotic interactions. Invasive species are considered second only to habitat destruction as a major cause of extinction of species. Communities are affected by natural disturbances, such as fire, tree fall, and defoliation by insects. Man-made disturbances differ from natural disturbances in intensity, rate and spatial extent. For example, man by using fire more frequently may change species richness of a community. Exploitation, including hunting, collecting, fisheries and fisheries by-catch, and the impacts of trade in species and species parts, constitute a major threat for globally threatened birds (30% of all), mammals (33% of all), amphibians (6% of those assessed), reptiles and marine fishes (Baillie et al. 2004). Trade affects 13% of both threatened birds and mammals. Extinction is a natural process. Species have disappeared and new ones have evolved to take their place over the long geological history of the earth. It is useful to distinguish three types of extinction processes. Over-fishing, habitat destruction, widespread marine pollution and human induced climate change threaten the survival of marine biodiversity. Pollution, oil and gas drilling and oil spills may increase the risks of extinction by increasing mortality of marine organisms. The Silent Valley Project in Kerala was abandoned because it was considered as a threat to biodiversity in the region.

BIODIVERSITY AND FOOD SECURITY

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In a recent estimate it was speculated that over 25 per cent of the worlds plant species might be lost by the year 2025 AD, if the current rate of plant genetic erosion continues. Preserving this germ pool is an integral part of food security. It is evident that preservation of wide range of germ pool is an integral part of breeding programme. If we are unable to combat the problems of genetic erosion, it may lead to losing sources of resistance to pests, diseases and climatic stress and, finally, leading to crop failure in future. It is well-known that out of over 20,000 edible species only a few dozen of plants are domesticated and now feed most of the people. All types of protected area constitute over 12% of the total forest area of the country. This network of protected areas covers most of the representative habitat types in the country and affords protection both to the wild flora and fauna.

International Biodiversity day is celebrated across the globe on 22nd May every year.

Road Safety in India on Priority (Courtesy-PIB) The UN General Assembly has adopted 2011-2020 as the Decade of Action for Road Safety and set a goal for reducing fatalities from road accidents by 50 percent during the period recognizing the severe impact of road accidents on global health. Every year about 1.2 million people die and 50 million get affected in road accidents globally losing 1.2 trillion US Dollars in these accidents, says Mr. K K Kapila, Chairman, International Road Federation. According to the World Health Organization unless concerted action is taken, road traffic injuries are predicted to become the fifth leading cause of death in the world by 2030.

With the growing urbanization and vehicular traffic, the issue of safety on roads also keep growing in terms of concerns and solutions. The concern becomes all the more relevant in view of the fact that number of persons killed in road accidents in India is the highest in the world. More than 4.97 lakh road accidents in 2011 are reported to have claimed over 1.42 lakh lives. These numbers translate into roughly one road accident per minute and one road accident death every four minutes for India.

Though the data for the year 2012 shows a declining trend with over 4.90 lakh accidents claiming 1.38 lakh lives, still the number is too high to give reason to breathe easy. The analysis of road accidents in terms of causal factors reveals that drivers fault accounts for 78.7 per cent (3,85,934 accidents) of total road accidents. The reason behind fault may vary from alcohol/drugs to mobile addiction, overloading/overcrowding of vehicles, exceeding lawful speed and tiredness etc. Since drivers fault has been found responsible for about 80% road accidents, it is important to make them aware and realize that they are the killers on roads when they violate the laws/measures.

The Ministry of RTH has taken steps to minimize road accidents in the country. The Government has approved a National Road Safety Policy. This Policy outlines various policy measures such as promoting awareness, establishing road safety information data base, encouraging safer road infrastructure including application of intelligent transport, enforcement of safety laws etc. The Government has constituted National Road Safety Council as the apex body to take policy decisions in matters of road safety. The Ministry has requested all States/UTs for setting up of State Road Safety Council and District Road Safety Committees.

The Ministry has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to address the issue of road safety based on four Es of Road Safety that is Education, Enforcement, Engineering (roads as well as vehicles) and Emergency care.

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Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at the planning stage. Road Safety Audit of selected stretches of National Highways/Expressways adopted. Driving training institutes being established, Tightening of safety standards of vehicles like helmets, seat belts, power-steering, rear view mirror and Publicity campaigns on road safety awareness.

These include efforts for inclusion of a chapter on road safety in the

Text books of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) syllabus in Class VI to Class XII. State Governments have also been advised to include Road Safety education in the curriculum of the schools administered by the State Education Board.

Providing cashless treatment to road accident victims for 48 hours at expenditure up to a limit of Rs. 30,000/-a pilot project launched on Gurgaon-Jaipur section of NH 8.

Identification of top 25 black spots in 13 States which account for 90% of road accidents in India. The short term remedial measures have been completed for most of the black spots identified.

Finalisation of National Ambulance Code based on the recommendations of the Working Group on Emergency care.This Code puts in place minimum standards and guidelines regarding the constructional and functional requirements of road ambulances in India.

Notifying Consignments protruding beyond the body of goods carrier as illegal.

The States have been advised to prepare action plan on road safety for their States. The States annual action plan on road safety needs to set ambitious but realistic targets for at least five years. All the States/UTs have been asked to identify a lead agency in the State and also set up Road Safety Fund at the State level by earmarking 50% of the funds generated from fines on account of violation of traffic rules.

Though UN decade of action plan to reduce road fatalities by 50% started in 2011, after three years much needs to be done. In India, budget for Road Safety needs to be enhanced and proper road safety plans/ mechanism to be in place in all the States. It needs to be ensured that orders relating to Road Safety that exist are followed strictly and violation punished.

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New PM appointed

Narendra Modi who steered the BJP-led NDA to a stunning victory will be sworn in as Prime Minister on May 26 at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Mr. Modi was appointed as the Prime Minister by the President and was asked to advise the names of others to be appointed Members of the Council of Ministers.

Stepping out after his meeting with the President, he addressed the media briefly and held-up the formal letter of appointment as Prime Minister.

Mr Modis call on the President came after he was unanimously elected leader of the BJP

Parliamentary Party and later at a combined meeting of the BJP and its allies constituting the NDA as leader of the coalition.

Later, a Rashtrapati Bhawan communique said as Mr Modi has been elected leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party and BJP has majority support in the House of the People, the President appointed him the Prime Minister of India and requested him to advise the names of members of the council of ministers.

Gujarat's First Woman Chief Minister Anandiben Patel will be sworn in as Gujarat's first woman chief minister in a ceremony attended by

her predecessor Narendra Modi who will be the country's next prime minister.

After Mr Modi resigned as chief minister, a position he had held for 13 years, his party's legislators elected Ms Patel to be their leader. Mr Modi's close aide Amit Shah, who does not share the warmest vibes with Ms Patel, was among those who endorsed her name for the chief minister's post.

In Gujarat, Mr Shah and Ms Patel have often been described as Mr Modi's "left and right arms." Like Mr Shah, Anandiben Patel, 72, is said to enjoy Mr Modi's complete trust. During his long election campaign, while Amit Shah helped Mr Modi script his massive victory, Ms Patel, the revenue minister, held fort in Gujarat as the head of a group of ministers set up to run the state government.

Gender gap among voters According to data ,the rising tide of female voters in 2014 might have had a concrete impact on the

outcome of these elections.

Despite the Election Commissions efforts to get more women registered to vote, the number of female electors (those registered to vote) grew much slower than the number of male electors, between 2009 and 2014.

NATIONAL EVENTS

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Men registered to vote outnumber women by over 40 million, giving the electorate a sex ratio of 908 female electors for every 1,000 male electors. This is even more adverse than the sex ratio of the general population, which stood at 943 in the 2011 Census.

Yet female turnouts (the number of women who actually voted, as a proportion of all those registered) have grown much faster than for men; the female turnout grew by nearly ten percentage points between the last election and this election,. As a result, male voters outnumber female voters by just 32 million, and the gender gap in voting is the closest it has ever been.

P-8I maritime patrol aircraft Boeing has delivered the fourth P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to India, which the aviation company

described as a milestone.

In all India has placed orders for eight P-8I maritime aircraft.

The latest state-of-the-art maritime patrol aircraft departed from Boeing Field in Seattle and arrived May 21 at Naval Air Station Rajali.

Based on the companys Next-Generation 737 commercial airplane, the P-8I is the Indian Navy variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing has developed for the US Navy.

The Indian Navy is putting the first three P-8Is through their paces operationally, and the P-8I delivered today will begin flight trials in the coming months.

The P-8I incorporates not only India-unique design features, but also India-built subsystems that are tailored to the countrys maritime patrol requirements.

Only witnesses in VVIP chopper case The Central Bureau of Investigation, in response to a query from the Union Law Ministry on the

ongoing probe into AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, has reiterated that the agency would examine Governors M.K. Narayanan and B.V. Wanchoo as witnesses.

The Law Ministry had earlier denied permission to the CBI on the grounds that West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan and Goa Governor B.V. Wanchoo enjoyed Constitutional immunity. The agency then wrote to the President Secretariat seeking opinion, citing that the Secretariat would be in the know of the set procedures.

Mr. Narayanan, as the then National Security Advisor and Mr. Wanchoo, as the Special Protection Group chief, had allegedly attended a meeting in 2005 in which the tender specifications for procurement of VVIP helicopters were tweaked.

The CBI has alleged that during his tenure, former IAF chief S.P. Tyagi had approved reduction of the service ceiling of VVIP helicopters from 6,000 metres to 4,500 metres, a relaxation that allowed AgustaWestland to qualify for the tender.

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Alleging that middlemen were hired and bribes paid on the pretext of engineering contracts to swing the deal in the companys favour, the agency has named the retired Air Chief Marshal, his three cousins and several others in the case.

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War on Boko Haram African leaders at a summit in Paris have agreed on a regional plan of action to combat Boko Haram,

the Islamist group that has abducted more than 200 girls and threatened to sell them into slavery.

In a rare show of unity, the leaders of Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin pledged cooperation including joint border patrols and sharing intelligence to find the girls, snatched from Nigeria more than a month ago.

Nigeria has faced criticism for not having done enough to protect its people, particularly the girls, and for its slow response to the kidnappings.

The countrys President, Goodluck Jonathan, described Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation and said it was part of an al-Qaeda operation.

Nigeria and its neighbours pledged to reinforce security measures for those living in areas targeted by Boko Haram, carry out bilateral patrols and share operational intelligence to find the kidnapped girls and other snatched by the Islamist group.

A second summit at ministerial level will be held in London next to report on what progress has been made.

Spouses of H-1B visa-holders to work A U.S government website that is currently inviting public comments on whether to allow the

spouses of H-1B visa-holders to work has provided a glimpse at the trials and tribulations of Indians who go abroad to work onsite at various IT firms.

The Department of Homeland Security, a U.S government body, had, a few months ago, decided to allow spouses of H-1B visa-holders, who are seeking green cards, to get work authorisation.

The U.S government is, therefore, interested in collecting comments through its Regulations.gov comment board, which allows feedback to rise and fall on its own merit.

Sino-Russia strategy Russia is intensifying its shift towards China as Russias relations with the West have sunk to their

post-Cold War low over the Ukraine crisis.

China has refused to condemn Russias takeover of Ukraines Crimea and has adopted what experts called positive neutrality over the conflict.

INTERNATIONAL

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The two countries are expected to sign a fantastic package of more than 40 agreements when President Vladimir Putin travelled to Shanghai recently for a two-day state visit and participation in a regional security summit.

Mr. Putin and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, will oversee the start of joint war games in a sign of closer defence ties between the two countries. At least 16 Russian and Chinese warships will train together in the East China Sea, where China is locked in a bitter territorial dispute with Japan.

Russia and China will undertake eight strategic projects in space, rocket engines, aviation and infrastructure.

Manila forum Hundreds of government, business and academic leaders gathered in the Philippines to discuss East

Asias economic prospects amid tensions in the South China Sea and political instability in some countries in the region.

The 23rd World Economic Forum on East Asia was being held for the first time in Manila, allowing the Philippines to showcase its recent economic turnaround.

The meetings would discuss how to address rising inequality amid the regions robust growth.

The income gap in the Philippines is larger than in other regional economies, such as Indonesia and Thailand, with the top 10 per cent of the population earning about 20 times as much as the poorest 10 per cent.

Another notable danger for the region is political instability both within and between countries.

The meeting was being held amid increasing tensions over territorial disputes in the South China Sea between Vietnam, the Philippines and China, as well as concerns over the impact of anti-Chinese protests and martial law in Thailand.

Syria referred to international court Russia and China vetoed a resolution to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal

Court for possible prosecution of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the countrys three-year civil war.

This was the fourth time Russia - a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assads government - and China have blocked UN Security Council action on Syria during the three-year civil war that has killed more than 150,000 people.

US Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, said the victims of the conflict deserve to have history record those who stood with them and those who were willing to raise their hands to deny them a chance at justice.

There were more than 60 co-sponsors of the French-drafted resolution, diplomats said. The resolution was put to a vote with the knowledge that it would be vetoed. The remaining 13 members of the council voted in favour of the resolution.

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The ICC prosecutor cannot investigate the situation in Syria without a referral from the 15-member Security Council because Damascus is not a member of the Rome Statute that established The Hague-based court a decade ago. The Security Council has previously referred Libya and Darfur, Sudan to the ICC.

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SAARC leaders invited for Modis swearing-in Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi has invited the heads of the governments of all South Asian

states to attend his swearing-in in a gesture, which diplomats and experts said was without precedent. Though foreign envoys stationed in New Delhi have attended past swearings-in, Ministry of External Affairs sources said, no world leader has been invited to attend what has traditionally been seen as a domestic event.

The move startled regional diplomats-but also caused surprise in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which was not consulted on the decision, Bharatiya Janata Party sources said.

Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, the Ministry of External Affairs said, despatched formal invitations afternoon to the Presidents or Prime Ministers of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Hamid Karzai, Afghanistans President, has accepted the invitation but there was no immediate word on which other leaders would attend.

Mr. Modis surprise outreach was intended to allay regional fears that his rise to power would herald a new hawkishness in Indian foreign policy. The Prime Minister-elect had ruffled feathers in Bangladesh by threatening to expel migrants from Indias north-east, while Sri Lanka was concerned over the influence ethnic nationalists in Tamil Nadu might have over his foreign policy.

Safety of Indians in Thailand India has advised its nationals in Thailand to take precautions for their safety after the military

imposed martial law in the troubled South East Asian nation.

The Embassy advised Indian nationals staying in Thailand and tourists to avoid certain areas where protesters were camping like around government buildings, parliament building, Royal Thai Police HQ, Interior Ministry, Defence Ministry in Bangkok.

Tourists were advised by the Embassy to avoid places of demonstrations, political gatherings and marches. They were also advised to regularly monitor the situation through the local media, hotels and tour operators.

Martial law was invoked by Thailand Army in a surprise pre-dawn move to maintain order after six months of anti-government protests that left the country paralysed. A Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) has been set up for public safety and maintenance of peace and order in the country.

Afghanistan's Indian Consulate attacked Indian Consulate in Afghanistans Herat province was recently attacked by heavily armed gunmen,

who were also carrying rocket-propelled grenades.

INDIA AND THE WORLD

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Afghan police officials said that three gunmen armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades opened fire on the consulate from a nearby home. Police killed two of them, though one continued to fire on security forces.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

India has invested in some major infrastructure projects in Afghanistan like Salma hydroelectric dam in Herat province and the Afghan parliament building in Kabul.

Indias development assistance programme for Afghanistan currently stands at $two billion, making it the leading donor nation among all regional countries.

Afghanistan has experienced a rise in the Taliban attacks as foreign troops plan to withdraw from the war-torn country by the end of the year.

In August last year, a failed bombing against the Indian Consulate in Jalalabad city near the border with Pakistan killed nine people, including six children. No Indian officials were hurt.

The Indian Embassy in Kabul was attacked twice in 2008 and 2009 that left 75 people dead.

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The main features of the Essay course would be-

Get articles on how to write a good essay, and how to improve your writing skills.

2 Essays per Month.

Each Essay topic would be communicated, along with a suggested framework, to help you to get started.

Thorough Evaluation of each essay by an expert team, along with the Grade-sheet for your essay, to let you know about the marks breakup.

Communication about the quality and other aspects of the essay through mail and phone.

Guidelines for each essay before you start writing.

Automatic registration in monthly open essay competition.

And, of course, attractive prizes for the top entries.

The cost of the course has been low so as to help every section of the student community. Buying only a book costs you Rs. 300+, without any guidance and support. But the UPSCPORTAL gives you the opportunity to prepare for the essay paper in just Rs.599 Rs. 399, with all guidance and support, and prizes for the toppers.

The Best Performers of the Essay Course would be awarded with a Certificate of Appreciation from UPSCPORTAL, to decorate your Resume.

For More Information Click below Link http://www.upscportal.com/civilservices/courses/ias-mains-essay

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Myntra acquired by Flipkart Flipkart India Pvt Ltd, the countrys largest e-commerce firm, has acquired rival Myntra.com in the

largest-ever deal in the countrys e-commerce market.

The current policy does not allow FDI in business-to-consumer e-commerce even as 100 per cent FDI is allowed in business-to-business e-commerce.

Myntra co-founder and chief executive Mukesh Bansal will head the fashion business of both Myntra and Flipkart, and Myntra will operate as an independent entity and retain its website, while Flipkart will continue selling apparel on its site.

The Flipkart-Myntra deal comes amid a strong revival of interest in the Indian e-commerce market, but the trigger clearly is the need for consolidation to fight global majors Amazon and eBay Inc.

NaMo factor and digital economy Most recently, Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi made a bold pitch for IT becoming the

face of India, and, in the process, coined the Twitter-friendly phrase India Talent (IT) + Information Technology (IT) is equal to India Tomorrow (IT).

The Indian political class, after the fall of the Rajiv Gandhi administration, has certainly enjoyed talking about using technology and IT to boost economic growth and bring about development.

The greatest failures of the outgoing dispensation, with regard to IT and the digital economy, were most certainly its inability to bring broadband penetration to a respectable level, and its borderline negligent behaviour towards the start-up ecosystem.

Sadly, the e-commerce industry has grown only on the back of foreign capital. Sadder still is the fact that some of the biggest e-tailers such as Flipkart and Snapdeal cannot deliver to Congress scion Rahul Gandhis constituency Amethi due to a combination of poor physical infrastructure and concern over security.

There is little doubt that the UPA-led government viewed technology-aided economic growth through the narrow prisms of technological solutionism implementing technology for the sake of looking technology-savvy and hoping that growth will follow and fear.

Import curbs on Gold The high import duty and supply curbs on gold had a telling effect on demand for the yellow metal

gold in the first quarter of calendar 2014 when demand slid 26 per cent to 190.3 tonnes. Figures released by World Gold Councils (WGC) India demand statistics showed that in value terms, it slid 33 per cent to Rs. 48,853 crore and 41 per cent in dollar terms to $7.9 billion.

ECONOMY

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Of this, jewellery demand declined 9 per cent to 159.5 tonnes and 18 per cent in value terms to Rs. 37,377.8 crore while investment demand declined 54 per cent in volume terms to 44.7 tonnes and 59 per cent in value terms to Rs. 11,475.2 crore.

With the election of the BJP and its declared pro-business approach, there is an expectation that the short-term curbs on gold will be removed. Another factor is the hope that there will be relaxation of the curbs which will lead to a reduction in the prevailing premium.

FDI from India in Ireland Plagued by rising unemployment, Ireland has stepped up efforts to attract investment from emerging

countries, including India, by projecting itself as the gateway for the European Union (EU) market.

The Investment and Development Agency (IDA), Ireland, responsible for inward investments, is targeting a five-fold jump in foreign direct investment (FDI) from India by 2020. IDA Ireland officials are reaching out to Indian companies and leading business groups to promote Ireland as a preferred investment destination to do business with Europe.

About 30 Indian companies, including 19 through IDAs initiatives, have already set up base in Ireland.

Ireland is targeting companies in the area of life sciences, medical technologies, electronics, software, financial services, digital media and high-end manufacturing.

In 2013, Indian companies accounted for 2.4 per cent of all FDI projects into Ireland and IDA Ireland plans to double FDI from India by 2016 and five-fold by 2020.

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Newborn mortality

Globally, about 5.5 million babies nearly three million neonates and about 2.6 million stillbirths die every year. In other words, every day, about 8,000 neonates are dying and the number of stillbirths is about 7,000. Stillbirths happen at about 28 weeks of gestation and also during labour. Babies who die during labour just five minutes before birth account for nearly half of all stillbirths.

Half of all the newborn deaths across the world occur in five countries. With 7,79,000 deaths, India accounts for the highest number of newborn mortality in the world. The other four countries are Nigeria (2,76,000), Pakistan (2,02,400), China (1,57,000), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (1,18,000). According to the journal, preterm babies are less likely to be counted, even in rich countries, especially where they are not expected to survive.

But about three million deaths 54 per cent of maternal deaths, 33 per cent of stillbirths, and 71 per cent of newborn deaths can be easily prevented if achievable interventions are scaled up to nearly universal coverage at all stages before conception, as well as before, during and after pregnancy.

Preterm birth is the biggest risk factor in both 0-6 days and 7-27 days periods. While in the case of the early neonatal period (0-6 days), the intrapartum conditions that occur during childbirth or delivery play a significant role, infections become the predominating factor in the later neonatal period.

Worlds biggest dinosaur Scientists have recently discovered in Argentina the bones of the worlds biggest dinosaur, as heavy

as 14 African elephants and as tall as a seven-storey building.

The 65-foot-tall new species of titanosaur, 130 feet in length and weighing 77 tonnes, is much heavier than the previous record holder Argentinosaurus.

The remains of the enormous herbivore dating from the Late Cretaceous period were first discovered by a local farm worker in the desert near La Flecha, about 250km west of Patagonia.

The giant herbivore lived in the forests of Patagonia between 95 and 100 million years ago, based on the age of the rocks in which its bones were found.

However it does not yet have a name.

Suspension of radioactive water treatment system in Japan Tokyo Electric Power Co. said it had suspended a radioactive water treatment system at its

Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant recently.

SCIENCE AND TECH

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The operator halted the Advanced Liquid Processing System after it found higher calcium levels than normal in water in one of the systems three lines.

The system is a key component in the effort to deal with the massive amounts of toxic water at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, as the operator keep injecting water into three of its six reactors to keep them cool.

The plant suffered meltdowns at the three units after it was hit by an earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

World's smallest, fastest nanomotor Researchers have built the smallest, fastest and longest-running tiny synthetic motor to date.

The team's nanomotor is an important step toward developing miniature machines that could one day

move through the body to administer insulin for diabetics when needed, or target and treat cancer cells without harming good cells.

With the goal of powering these yet-to-be invented devices, UT Austin engineers focused on building a reliable, ultra-high-speed nanomotor that can convert electrical energy into mechanical motion on a scale 500 times smaller than a grain of salt.

The team's three-part nanomotor can rapidly mix and pump biochemicals and move through liquids, which is important for future applications.

With all its dimensions under 1 micrometer in size, the nanomotor could fit inside a human cell and is capable of rotating for 15 continuous hours at a speed of 18,000 RPMs, the speed of a motor in a jet airplane engine. Comparable nanomotors run significantly more slowly, from 14 RPMs to 500 RPMs, and have only rotated for a few seconds up to a few minutes.

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Civil Services is the dream of many students. No wonder, there is a great competition for this examination, given the prestige and power linked to the profile of a civil servant. However, a large majority of students are struggling without any proper guidance. Thus, at UPSCPortal we have come up with an initiative to guide the aspirants, in their journey through the IAS, IPS exam.

We have started with a series called- Getting Started with Civil Services Examinations, to guide you in your preparations. Every other day, we would come up with motivational and informative articles, discussing the various aspects of the civil services examination, and the possible strategies, that a candidate might choose to get success.

The Vision Our aim is to guide the candidate, in making different decisions while facing the UPSC. We welcome the aspirants to discuss, with us, their problems and confusions, anytime. Any aspirant may subscribe to the Getting Started Series, and enjoy our support free of cost. You may, later, take our other products and services, if you so like.

We wish the candidates All the Best for the their preparations!!

Civil Services Exam: What, Why and How ?

How to Read A Newspaper for IAS Exam

Two more attempts in UPSC Exams: all boon and no bane!!

How to Study? The Ultimate Dilemma

Preparing for Civil Services without Coaching

IAS Preparation for Rural/Remote Areas Students

Why do Online Test Series?

NCERT and NIOS Books for IAS Preparations

Strategy for IAS Exam for Working Professionals

Getting Started with IAS Exam Preparations - FAQ for New Aspirants

For More Important Articles Click below Link http://upscportal.com/civilservices/getting-started

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2 medals for Indian archers

Indian men's recurve archers went down fighting against Korea in the final of the World Cup Stage II at Medellin, Columbia recently.

The Indian team of Atanu Das, Thupuvoyi Swuro and Sanjay Boro fought gallantly to go down in the tiebreak and claim the silver medal.

The Indian mixed team of Das and Laishram Bombayla Devi won the bronze medal by beating their Mexican rivals. The Korean side began strongly winning the first two sets to go 4-0 up.

India's oldest Test cricketer India's oldest Test cricketer Madhav Mantri, the maternal uncle of the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, due

to old age complications. He was 92 and died a bachelor.

Mantri was a wicket-keeper-batsman who played only four Test matches, one in India (1951), two in England (1952) and his last in Dhaka (1954-55 in the then East Pakistan), compiling 63 runs and accounting for 8 catches and a stumping.

His most impressive performance with the bat in Tests was a 75-run partnership. He made 39 and also put on as opener with Pankaj Roy in the first Test in England on the disastrous 1952 tour in which India lost all four games.

Mantri was incidentally one of four batsmen dismissed for 0 by fiery Fred Truman against India on the same tour in the second innings of the Leeds Test, when the visitors were tottering at 0 for 4 before captain Vijay Hazare and all rounder Dattu Phadkar scored half centuries and took the score to 165 and forced England to bat again. But he was a consistent performer in Ranji Trophy and a mentor for the likes of Polly Umrigar and Bapu Nadkarni.

Monaco GP Nico Rosberg led from pole position to win the Monaco Grand Prix ahead of teammate Lewis

Hamilton.

It was Rosbergs second win of the season to put him back on top of the Formula One standings by four points, ending a run of four straight wins by Hamilton and giving Mercedes a fifth straight one-two.

The Monaco Grand Prix had been won from pole in nine of the last 10 years. The exception was when Hamilton claimed his first and only victory in Monaco in 2008.

SPORTS

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Narendra Modi

Narendra Modi who steered the BJP-led NDA to a stunning victory will be sworn in as Prime Minister on May 26 at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Mr. Modi was appointed as the Prime Minister by the President and was asked to advise the names of others to be appointed Members of the Council of Ministers.

Stepping out after his meeting with the President, he addressed the media briefly and held-up the formal letter of appointment as Prime Minister.

Naveen Patnaik Biju Janata Dal president Naveen Patnaik was sworn-in as Chief Minister of Odisha for the fourth

consecutive term in Bhubaneswar recently.

As many as 21 other Members of the new Council of Ministers headed by Mr. Patnaik were also sworn-in at a well-attended ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan premises.

Mr. Patnaik had become the Chief Minister for the first time on March 5, 2000 when the BJD-BJP alliance came to power when the people ousted the Congress.

Anandiben Patel Anandiben Patel will be sworn in as Gujarat's first woman chief minister in a ceremony attended by

her predecessor Narendra Modi who will be the country's next prime minister.

After Mr Modi resigned as chief minister, a position he had held for 13 years, his party's legislators elected Ms Patel to be their leader. Mr Modi's close aide Amit Shah, who does not share the warmest vibes with Ms Patel, was among those who endorsed her name for the chief minister's post.

Vineet Taneja Stepping up the battle in the Indian mobile handset market, homegrown firm Micromax has roped in

Samsung Indias mobile and IT business chief Vineet Taneja as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Micromax, the countrys second-largest smartphone manufacturer, expects the move to help it further strengthen its position in the segment, which is witnessing explosive growth.

With over 25 years of experience, Mr. Taneja has worked with consumer brands like Hindustan Lever, Nokia and Bharti Airtel, prior to Samsung. He holds a degree in engineering from IIT-Roorkee and is an alumnus of IIM-Kolkata.

IN THE NEWS (PERSONS)

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An emphatic rejection (Courtesy- The Hindu) The Grand Old Partys imminent rout was a given in this general election. Even so, the Congress managed to surpass the worst predictions, embracing defeat on a scale too shocking to behold. The outgoing ruling party not merely crashed to a historic low of Lok Sabha seats and votes (44 seats for 19.3 per cent), it rendered itself ineligible to claim the position of Leader of the Opposition in the lower House, having secured less than 10 per cent of the total of 543 seats. The dubious records do not end there. The Congress did not touch the two-digit figure anywhere, not even in States that previously held up its honour in the face of calamity elsewhere. Through the Congresss defeats of 1977, 1989, 1998 and 1999, it was saved from going over the edge by either the southern States, or Maharashtra and Assam.

This time, the Congress fared abysmally even in its strongholds, picking up 19 of 129 seats on offer in the South, two of 48 in Maharashtra and three of 14 in Assam. The disgrace doubles when compared to the superlative performance of the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party, which swept its own bastions even as it broke new ground in the South and the East. The Congress, on the other hand, was left with no straw to clutch; in the family pocket borough of Amethi, Rahul Gandhi trailed for several rounds before finally edging past the BJPs Smriti Irani.

It does not help the Congress that during every crisis its leadership speaks of introspection without really turning the mirror inward. It has become a habit with the party to attribute triumphs to the Nehru-Gandhi family while placing the blame for failures on a mythical collective leadership. In a candid interview to Karan Thapar, senior Congress leader Kamal Nath admitted that his party had fallen behind the times and not realised India had become aspirational. Nonetheless, he fiercely defended the Congress vice-president, arguing instead that as Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh should have been more effective in publicising the governments achievements.

Not without states (Courtesy- The Indian Express)

Former head of the empowered committee of state finance ministers on the GST, Sushil Modi, has delivered a sobering reminder about the difficulty of seeing economic reform through, amid vaulting expectations from the new government, especially when several stakeholders, including state governments, are involved. According to Modi, a BJP-led government at the Centre would have to contend with the Centre-state tensions that have been touched off by the issue of tax reform. The new Union government which may or may not have a more sympathetic disposition towards the concerns of state administrations will have to take them into confidence and convince them of the desirability of the GST. It wont be easy. The main points of contention have to do with the inclusion of petroleum products, liquor and entry taxes in the GST framework. But there is a consensus among economists that there should be no exemptions in the regime because these lead to a cascading of taxes, which, among other things, is particularly harmful for export growth, and a loss of information because of the breakup of the input tax credit chain.

Selected Editorials of Importance

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But from the states point of view, these taxes are an easy source of funds petroleum tax receipts add up to nearly 20 per cent of the states own tax revenues. In order to get over these stumbling blocks, the Centre needs to assure the states that it will make good any shortfall in revenue (based on projections of tax receipt growth), just as it did when the states switched over to VAT. And just as then, tax revenues are expected to grow tremendously, but there may be initial teething troubles, which is why the Centres guarantee is so important. Further, the Union government must allow states to levy sin taxes on top of the GST tax rate to protect their revenue. There are genuine fears about dual control over the tax base. With common threshold taxation, the Centre would start taxing firms that were out of its net earlier. The harmonisation of the Central and state-level tax machinery is of utmost importance to ensure ease of compliance and minimum harassment.

Invitation to South Asian countries indicates constructive politics (Courtesy- The Economic Times) Narendra Modi's invitation to South Asian countries to send their heads of government or their representatives to be present at his swearing-in is much more than a gesture of good neighbourliness. Of course, to love thy neighbour is a virtue in itself and is entirely welcome. But given the nature of the neighbours and given the context in which the invitation is being extended, this show of friendship goes a little further. The most significant invitation is, of course, to Pakistan. That to Bangladesh comes next in import and importance. It is only BJP ally from Tamil Nadu Vaiko who makes the invitation to Sri Lanka anything more than routine, because of his protest against 'war criminal' Rajapaksa being honoured. After having won the election, Modi is now signalling a change of tack. By inviting the leader of Pakistan to his swearing-in, Modi signals cessation of hostilities within and willingness to cooperate with Islamabad. Both are unequivocally welcome. Bashing Bangladeshi migrants during the election campaign, Modi had raised hackles in Dhaka. Now, by reaching out to Dhaka, he signals peace. This, too, is welcome. This single act of political astuteness will not banish the apprehensions that India's minorities have about the country's new prime minister. But it certainly works to take the edge off their wariness. Kashmir is one place where Modi's gesture has gone down particularly well. War, said Clausewitz, is continuation of politics by other means. It would appear the obverse is true, too: peace and friendship, too, are other means to continue politics.

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:: National ::

Q. 1 1. Boeing has delivered the fourth P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to India, which the aviation company

described as a milestone.

2. Based on the companys Next-Generation 737 commercial airplane, the P-8I is the Indian Navy variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing has developed for the US Navy.

Which of the above statement/statements is /are true?

a) Only 1

b) Only 2

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

:: International ::

Q. 2

1. Russia is intensifying its shift towards China as Russias relations with the West have sunk to their post-Cold War low over the Ukraine crisis.

2. Russia and China will undertake eight strategic projects in space, rocket engines, aviation and infrastructure.


a) Only 1

b) Only 2

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

MCQs

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:: Economy ::

Q. 3

1. Flipkart India Pvt Ltd, the countrys largest e-commerce firm, has acquired rival Myntra.com in the largest-ever deal in the countrys e-commerce market.

2. The current policy does not allow FDI in business-to-consumer e-commerce even as 90 percent FDI is allowed in business-to-business e-commerce.


a) Only 1

b) Only 2

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

:: Science and Tech ::

Q. 4

1. Scientists have recently discovered in Argentina the bones of the worlds biggest dinosaur, as heavy as 14 African elephants and as tall as a seven-storey building.

2. The giant herbivore lived in the forests of Patagonia between 95 and 100 million years ago, based on the age of the rocks in which its bones were found.


a) Only 1

b) Only 2

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

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Ans 1 - c

Ans 2 - c

Ans 3 - a

Ans 4- c

MCQs Answers

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You will be provided current affairs on various important topics on a weekly basis. Important national and international news from various sources at a single platform for your

convenience. Each and every topic will be given point wise , making it easier to grasp. Very handy when it comes to various competitive exams..

Planning Commission Ministry of External Affairs National Portal of India National International Economy India And The World Sports In The News Science and Technology Burning Issues (Editorials From Different Newspapers)

You will get (52 Issues) PDF Only no Hard Copy

http://upscportal.com/civilservices/current-affairs/weekly-update

http://upscportal.com/civilservices/current-affairs/weekly-update

Documents

HWeekly-Current-Affairs-Update-for-IAS-Exam-Vol-25-19th-May-2014-TO-25th-May-2014