Current Affairs 2013 ( from Januay 24 to January 28)

World’s first cloned buffalo delivers a calf

January 28th, 2013

Garima II which is world’s first cloned buffalo has delivered a healthy and normal calf at the Karnal-based National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI).

The calf, named Mahima, was born through ‘hand-guided cloning technique’. It is the first calf born from a cloned buffalo in the world. Garima II was inseminated with frozen-thawed semen of a progeny tested bull of NDRI.

Canara Bank to launch e-Lounge services

January 28th, 2013

Canara Bank is about to unveil its e-Lounge services in Bangalore and Delhi.

What this service would offer?

e-Lounge will cater to the needs of corporate, IT and business professionals. It would offer Services of ATM, cash deposit kiosk, check deposit kiosk, pass book update, internet banking terminal, online trading terminal, corporate web site terminal to offer latest information of bank’s services all under one roof.

The bank would launch first e-Lounge at Koramangala Branch, Bangalore.

‘SKEWPY’ can address unemployment problem in J&K

January 28th, 2013

Minister for Labour and Employment, Planning and Development, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra has said that Sher-e-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for Youth (SKEWPY) is a right initiative to address the unemployment problem in Jammu and Kashmir.

What is SKEWPY?

In J&K the problem of unemployment is at alarming levels and is a matter of serious concern for the Central as well as State govt. To tackle this problem the state announced policy on Employment to simultaneously and comprehensively address all issues relating to the problem of unemployment in the state. The policy was launched on the 5th December, 2009, the 105th birthday of the great visionary of the state,the Sher-e-Kashmir, Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Sahib and hence named as ," The Sher-E-Kashmir Employment & Welfare Programme for the Youth" (SKEWPY).

SRK tops Forbes India Celebrity 100 chart

January 28th, 2013

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan stood at the pinnacle of inaugural Forbes India Celebrity 100 list.

The 2^nd spot was held by Salman Khan, while Indian cricket skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni stood at the 3^rd place in the list.

Top 3 earners during October 2011 to September 2012:

• Shah Rukh Khan- Rs 202.8 crore.
• Salman Khan – Rs 144.2 crore
• Dhoni – Rs 135.16 crore

The list considered factors such as celebrities’ income (from the business of entertainment) and fame (as measured by media mentions, online presence and social media followers) in the duration b/w October 1, 2011 and September 30, 2012. The celebrities were positioned across 8 categories — film actors, directors, sport stars, TV personalities, singers/musicians, authors, models and comedians.

India to test fire sub-sonic missile Nirbhay

January 28th, 2013

As per Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), India would test fire sub-sonic, medium range cruise missile Nirbhay in Feb 2013. The missile is being developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a DRDO lab.

Nirbhay:

• All-weather low-cost medium-range cruise missile with stealth and high accuracy.
• Range of 1,000 km.
• It will carry a ring laser gyroscope for high-accuracy navigation and a radio altimeter for the height determination.
• Capable of being launched from multiple platforms on land, sea and air and shall be inducted into Indian Navy, Army, and Air Force.
• Capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
• Capable of flying at different altitudes ranging from 500 m to 4 km above the ground.
• Good loitering capability, control and guidance with high degree of accuracy for maximum impact.
• Nirbhay will supplement the Brahmos cruise missile by carrying warheads beyond the 300-km range.

Ameet Shah appointed to US Dept committee on renewable energy

January 28th, 2013

The Co-Chairman of Astonfield Renewable Resources Ltd, Ameet Shah, has been appointed to the US Department of Commerce’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee (RE&EEAC).

Shah will represent project developers in the renewable energy sector. He will advice the Department’s top official on competitiveness issues facing the US renewable energy and energy efficiency exports, and help provide consensus advice on the development and administration of programmes and policies.

Astonfield’s 12.3 MW solar photovoltaic plant in Nayaka of Patan district of Gujarat, was sanctioned under the Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA).

DRDO begins AWACS programme

January 28th, 2013

India’s  Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has just taken up development of the Rs 6,000 crore Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS).

What is AWACS?

AWACS is acronym of Airborne Warning and Control System.

How is it different from indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C)?

AWACS is a heavier and high endurance system, which can give you in terms of coverage about 360 degrees as against AEW&C which is about270 degree coverage.

Besides this, (compared to AEW&C) AWACS flies at a higher altitude and it can penetrate into the enemy territory – not physically – (but) by way of radars and EW (electronic warfare) systems to longer distances and it can be in sky for larger durations, besides giving better visibility.

US Senators introduce Malala Yousufzai Scholarship Act

January 28th, 2013

A bill in the name of Pakistani peace activist MalalaYousafzai has been introduced by two top American Senators.

• The legislation named ‘Malala Yousufzai Scholarship Act’ is aimed at expanding scholarship opportunities for disadvantaged young women in Pakistan.

The bill would require a 30 % increase in the number of scholarships awarded under the program for the next four years, and that these additional scholarships be awarded solely to women.

The Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act would expand and enhance an existing United States Agency for International Development (USAID)scholarship program called the Merit and Needs-Based Scholarship Program.

The USAID program provides scholarships for university studies in agriculture or business administration to economically disadvantaged young men and women from rural areas of Pakistan.

Tata Starbucks launch two outlets in Delhi

January 27th, 2013

The joint venture of Starbucks Coffee Company and Tata Global Beverages, Tata Starbucks, expanded further by opening two outlets at Terminal III of Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) domestic and international terminals in Delhi.

• Starbucks Corporation is an American global coffee company and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world.

‘Vision Life Income’ launched by Birla Sun Life Insurance

January 26th, 2013

Birla Sun Life Insurance has launched its first participating plan ‘Vision Life Income’. It offers a perfect blend of income and financial protection for the customer’s family as it pays survival benefits every year from the end of the premium paying term till maturity and life insurance benefit. The plan offers guaranteed regular income for life post-premium paying term, a discount in premium on high sum assured and income-tax benefits.

Govt to infuse Rs 681 crore in UCO Bank

January 26th, 2013

As part of government’s plan to infuse Rs 12,517 crore in around 10 state-owned banks by March, 2013, UCO Bank will be infused with Rs 681 crore.

The bank will issue equity shares on preferential basis in favour of Government of India for an amount aggregating to the tune of Rs 681 crore.

India committed to implementing TAPI Project by 2017

January 26th, 2013

India has said that it is fully committed to implementing the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Project by August 2017. It was reiterated by President Pranab Mukherjee when he was interacting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

US military to remove ban on women serving in combat

January 26th, 2013

The US Defence department is expected to lift a ban on women serving in combat after a decade of war that saw female troops thrust onto the battlefield.

In Feb 2012, US lifted a ban on women for about 14,000 combat-related jobs in an incremental move that was criticized as timid by some activists.

SC prohibits tourists from entering Jarawa tribe habitat

January 26th, 2013

The apex court banned all tourist movements in the habitat of extremely endangered Jarawa tribe in Andaman and Nicobar and also sought to know from Andaman & Nicobar Island administration whether it intended to keep the tribe, which has a thin population of just over 300, in isolation or to be assimilated in the mainstream.

The court banned the movement of all tourist vehicles through the 46-kmAndaman Trunk Road that links North Andaman to its southern part passing through the tribe’s habitat till February 26, 2013.

What is the issue?

The matter dates back to January, 2012, when two British dailies had released outraging videos showing semi-naked Jarawa men and women dancing before tourists as part of alleged ‘human safari’. In the video, the tourists were seen throwing money, food and bananas at the tribal people. After this incidence, the government ordered inquiry.

In May 2012, the court had upheld the island administration’s decision to ban private tour operators from the 5-km buffer zone but sternly warned that no government operated tours would be permitted in the area either.

The notification had declared an area up to 5 km radius of Jarawa Tribal Reserve, from boundary line starting from Constance Bay in South Andaman to Lewis Inlet Bay in Middle Andaman, as buffer zone.

Where do Jarawas live and why they are being protected?

Jarawas are highly vulnerable to diseases and viruses carried by the urban population and they live in forests in the western coasts of South and Middle Andaman Islands.

RBI panel suggests banks to encourage long-tenor FD schemes

January 26th, 2013

A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) committee which studied the feasibility of introducing more long-term fixed rate loan products by banks, made following suggestions:

• Banks should popularize Fixed Deposit (FD) schemes with tenors of above 5 years as they are eligible for tax exemption. It would help banks in meeting their long-term funding requirements.
• Besides plain vanilla fixed rate loan products, banks can offer fixed rate long-term loan products with periodic interest reset provision (say every 7-10 years). However, the resetting of interest rate should be in line with the regulatory guidelines on base rate.
• Banks which have not fully exploited the sector of long-term bonds (minimum maturity of five years) to the infrastructure sector (minimum residual maturity of five years) could make use of the room available to issue more long-term bonds which would aid release resources for extending long-term fixed rate loan products.
• Banks can consider offering longer-tenor fixed rate loans, say up to 30 years, which would help reduce the EMIs of borrowers.
• Banks can also workout the option of take-out financing and can also explore promoting securitization market for better asset liability management.
• Banks should charge pre-payment penalty on fixed rate loan products on the outstanding amount only.

Cleaning drive of Railways target 100 main stations

January 26th, 2013

Railways has undertaken a cleanliness drive at about 100 important stations across the country and equip maximum number of coaches with bio-toilets. Aiming at providing hygienic condition at rail premises, the Railways has decided to undertake cleanliness drive at about

Railway has asked all zonal railways to ensure cleanliness at 100 stations with more than 10 lakh population and with religious and tourists significance.

British PM pledges referendum on EU membership if re-elected

January 26th, 2013

British people may have a choice of opting out of European Union or staying with it, as promised by British Prime Minister David Cameron. He has pledged to hold a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union if his party is re-elected in the next general election by 2017.

The move was made to pacify the Eurosceptic crescendos within his own Conservative Party and outside, with a promise to offer the British public a simple choice b/w staying in or leaving the European Union.

Indian author U.R.Ananthamurthy in race for the International Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2013

January 26th, 2013

Indian Kannada author U.R.Ananthamurthy (80) is one among the ten authors shortlisted for the prestigious International Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2013.  Ananthamurthy became famous with his novel“Samskara” launched in 1966.
The International Man Booker Prize is presented by UK to a living author of any nationality for a body of work published in English or generally available in English translation. It is a biennial event which awards an author for his lifetime work.

Previous Awardees:

• Philip Roth, 2011
• Alice Munro, 2009
• Chinua Achebe, 2007

India is part of World’s largest optical telescope project

January 26th, 2013

Indian scientists will render significant contribution in developing key components of the world’s largest optical telescope to be set up by a 5-nation consortium including India.

The Thirty Metre Telescope (TMT), also known as the world’s most advanced ground-based observatory, will be built at the summit of Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii at a cost of $1.2 billion.

Who are the partner countries?

There are five nations collaborating in the project:

1. India
2. China
3. Japan
4. Canada
5. United States

What is so special about TMT?

• 81 times more sensitive than the current telescopes of its kind and resolve objects by a factor of 3 times better than the largest ground-based telescopes that are available at present across the world.
• Will be the world’s most advanced ground-based observatory that will be operating in optical and mid-infrared wavelengths.

What will be the contribution of India?

In this project 15% of the 492 mirror segments, each 1.44 m in size, will be fabricated in India. The Indian companies will be supplying high-end components such as edge sensors, actuators, segment support assemblies and provide services such as polishing of the mirror segments, and software to control the operations of the telescope, the mirror, and telescope dome. India is making a contribution of 10% – 70 % of it in kind and 30% in cash. Currently, India has a status of an observer and it is in the process of becoming a permanent member.

Bhutan king igme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck to be Republic Day parade chief guest

January 24th, 2013

Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck will be the chief guest at India’s 64th Republic Day parade on Jan 26, 2013.

• Earlier, the ruler of Oman, Sultan Qaboos Said bin Said, was to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade, but he declined.
• The Bhutan king is also to be the chief guest at the Confederation of Indian Industry Partnership Summit-2013 to be held at Agra from Jan 27-29, 2013.
• The former king of Bhutan Jigme Singye Wangchuck was the chief guest at the Republic Day parade in 2005.

12 LPG cylinders to BPL households in Delhi

January 24th, 2013

The Delhi government has decided to raise the number of subsidized LPG cylinders from 9 to 12 for BPL families and other marginalized sections. The move is expected to benefit 4 lakh families. A few days before, Centre had increased the number of subsidized cylinders from 6 to 9.

This decision by Delhi government is part of its ‘kerosene-free Delhi scheme’ launched in August, 2012. The scheme was launched with free distribution of gas stoves, cylinder and regulator to all families covered under BPL, Antyodaya Anna Yojna and Jhuggi Ration Card.

Intel to make an interface to help Stephen Hawkins communicate faster

January 24th, 2013

Intel , the world’s largest and most valued chip maker, has revealed that it is working on an interface that will boost the scientist’s speech to up to 10 words per minute. Currently, Hawkins rate of communication is 1 word per minute.  Hawking has a motor neurone disease related toAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a condition that has progressed over the years. He is almost entirely paralysed and communicates through a speech generating device.

Virat Kohli becomes second fastest Indian to score 4000 runs in ODIs

January 24th, 2013

Indian cricket star Virat Kohli became the fastest Indian to score 4000 runs in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Virat Kohli played 96 ODI matches and 93 innings to reach this milestone. Before Sourav Ganguly was the fastest Indian to score 4000 runs in ODI who had played 105 inning.