First Space Weather Reading Centre of India Scheduled to be opened by mid 2013

The centre of excellence which specialises in reading the weather conditions of the space and helps the air traffic on their polar routes is scheduled to come up in Kolkata by the middle of 2013. The space weather reading centre in Kolkata will be first of its kind and is approved by Union HRD Ministry. This centre would be coming up at Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER) campus. The Union HRD Ministry sanctioned 4 crore Rupees for the centre. 

With the help of this centre, there will be an availability of the prior information about these storms which originate in the space or the solar system. This information can eventually be passed on to the civil aviation department, which in turn can inform the airlines regarding the adverse effects of flying in Polar Regions or high altitudes. 

In case the weather in solar system is not up to the mark, it would have an adverse effect on the functioning of the satellites as well, which eventually also affects the mobile networks and the GPS systems. The information about the poor weather conditions in the space can also be communicated to the telecommunication department. This would allow them to safeguard the satellites in the space. 

This centre would initially offer the readings free of cost to the telecommunication department and the civil aviation, but later this data would be available commercially. 

Kamal Nath Elected As the Leader of Indian Delegation for World Economic Forum 2013

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh elected Kamal Nath, the Union Minister for Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs, as a leader of Indian delegation for annual meetings for World Economic Forum which will be held in Davos from 23 to 27 January 2013.  

There will be other three members in the delegation and these involve Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Heavy Industry Minister Praful Patel and Commerce & Industry Minister Anand Sharma. 

Kamal Nath being chosen as the leader of the delegation surprised the government because this is the first time when someone not from the ministries of finance or commerce is leading the delegation. Back in 2006 as well, when the economy was at its boom, Kamal Nath launched India Everywhere campaign, depicting India as a lucrative destination for the investment purpose and for placing it in the top most table at the global level.

Recruitment scam: Chautala convicted, sent to judicial custody

Former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, his MLA-son Ajay Chautala and 54 others were on Wednesday convicted by a Delhi court for the illegal recruitment of over 3000 junior basic trained (JBT) teachers in the state. The court has fixed January 22 for pronouncing the quantum of sentence, all the convicts were taken into judicial custody. 

Apart from the Chautalas, Sanjiv Kumar, the then Director of Primary Education, Chautala's former Officer on Special Duty Vidya Dhar and Sher Singh Badshami, political advisor to the then Haryana CM were convicted by the court in the case.  The court had framed charges against them under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery), 468 (forgery for cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) of the IPC and and provisions of the PCA.  

India records 57 percent drop in fresh HIV cases

Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said India has recorded a 57 percent drop in fresh HIV cases and the govt is making all efforts to sensitize people especially the youth of the country.

Asserting that creating awareness is not an easy task, the Minister said, the Red Ribbon Express train, which concluded its third phase yesterday reached one crore 14 lakh people with an awareness message on HIV and AIDS and on other health issues.

Punjab’s First Shariat Panchayat to be inaugurated in March 2013

The first Shariat panchayat of Punjab scheduled to be inaugurated on 3 March 2013 will be first of its kind in the state.This will allow the Muslim community to deal with the cases.The first Shariat panchayat of the state would be inaugurated in Malerkotla, which is the Muslim town in Sangrur district.

The panchayat would deal with three main types of the disputes and these are inheritance, marriage and divorce.

The Punjab Wakf Board chairman Mohd. Izhar Alam explained that the panchayat would ensure speedy and inexpensive settlement of these kinds of disputes in the Muslim community in Punjab. In case the litigants were unsatisfied with verdict of the panchayat, they would be free to move to civil court.

Shariat panchayats were already opened in states like Karnataka, Orissa, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh.

Haryana bags ‘Krishi Karman Award’ for highest wheat production

Haryana State has bagged the ‘Krishi Karman Award’ for Best Performing State in Wheat Category for the year 2011-12. It is for the consecutive second year that Haryana has been chosen for this Award.

Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda received the ‘Krishi Karman Award’ for the State from the President of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, at an Award Ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The award consists of Rs one crore in cash, a trophy and citation. Haryana has been given this award for highest wheat production of 130.69 lakh tonnes with productivity of 5182 Kg. per hectare during 2011-12.

Two farmers of Haryana have also been given award of one lakh rupees each along with citation for highest production of wheat per hectare

Postage Stamp on Silk Letter Movement released by President

The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee on 11 January 2013 released a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Silk Letter Movement at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

What is The Silk Letter Movement:

The Silk Letter Movement refers to the golden history of India’s freedom struggle in which, the Deobandi leaders tried to generate a pan-Islamic revolt in British-India against the British Empire by gaining support of Afghanistan and Turkey Governments. Obaidullah Sindhui and Maulana Mahmood Hasan were the two main leaders of the movement.

Assembly polls in Tripura on 14th Feb; Meg’laya, Nagaland on 23rd Feb

Assembly elections in Tripura will be held on 14th Feb and in Meghalaya and Nagaland on 23rd Feb and their results will be out on 28th Feb, the Election Commission announced on Friday.

The EC also announced bye-elections to nine assembly constituencies in Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Punjab on 23^rd February and in Assam, Bihar and Maharashtra on 24^th February, but their results will be out together on 28^th February.

Electronic voting machines will be used in elections to the three north-eastern states as well as in bye- elections in the seven states.

Union Cabinet approved Higher Funds for Indira Awaas Yojana

The Union Cabinet on 10 January 2013 approved the Ministry of Rural Development’s proposal to increase the unit cost under Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), keeping under consideration the sharp increase in the cost of materials.

As per the approved cost, unit assistance under the scheme in plain areas had been increased from 45000 to 70000 rupees and for the hilly and difficult areas it had been increase from 48500 to 75000 rupees.

The enhancement of unit assistance provided for homestead site to rural below poverty line (BPL) had been increased from 10000 rupees to 20000 rupees. The unit assistance is provided to those households who have neither agricultural land nor a house site.

Nalco Commissioned its First Wind Power Project

National Aluminium Co Ltd commissioned its first wind power project at Gandikota in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh.Nalco which is the Government-owned manufacturer and distributor of aluminum products had invested around 275 crore rupees for the 50-MW Suzlon-erected project.

Nalco signed a power purchase agreement with the State’s power transmission utility Transco and has begun inoculation of power to the State grid.

Also, setting up of the second wind power is on the line which is supposed to be of 50 MW, and will be situated in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. The cost of this project is estimated to be around 190 crore rupees.

11th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas begins in Kochi

The eleventh Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention, a three event will begin from Monday in Kochi. The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will formally inaugurate the event on 8th January. Over 2000 delegates from different parts of the world are expected to participate in the three day event.

The convention will see a series of seminars on subjects ranging from tourism, pure sciences, skill development, India's growth, greater opportunties, engaging young overseas Indians, investment opportunities in states, innovation and technology and India's growing soft power.

President Pranab Mukherjee will deliver the valedictory address on Wednesday and give away the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards.
Important Points:

The theme of the Convention is 'Engaging diaspora: The Indian growth story'.

The President of Mauritius, Rajkeshwur Purryag will be the Chief Guest of the convention.

P.A. Sangma launches NPP, forms alliance with NDA:

P.A. Sangma, who broke away with the NCP last year to contest the Presidential elections, on Saturday launched National People’s Party (NPP) and joined hands with the BJP-led NDA. Launching the NPP at the “national level”, Mr. Sangma said it has been active for long as a recognised party from Manipur. He announced that former Union Minister Arvind Netam will be the Working president of the party. On the corruption issue, NPP supported a strong Lokpal bill and “total independence” of CBI and CVC.

Delhi gang-rape victim passes away !

The 23-year-old girl, who was gang-raped and brutally assaulted in a Delhi bus nearly a fortnight ago, died at a hospital in Singapore early Saturday. Victim died due to multiple organ failure and severe injuries to her brain and body at Mount Elizabeth hospital in Singapore at 2:15am (IST). The hospital chief executive officer Dr Kelvin Loh said: “We are very sad to report that the patient passed away peacefully, her family and officials from the High Commission of India were by her side. Indian High Commissioner in Singapore T.C.A. Raghavan told that the parents of the girl have requested to make arrangements for sending her body to India. He said the final few hours were a trying time for the girl's family and they bore the entire process with a great deal of fortitude and courage.

NDC approves 12th Five Year Plan

Country's apex policy making body NDC has approved the strategy to achieve Average Growth Rate of 8% during the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17), generate 50 million new jobs and increase investments in infrastructure sector. Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said: "We expect with the growth rate of 5.8 per cent this fiscal and little over 7 per cent next fiscal, and with extra effort in the remaining three more years we can reach 8 per cent.

Bihar became the Fastest Growing Indian State between 2006 and 2010

As per the data released by the Planning Commission of India, after Bihar became the fastest growing state in India at 10.9 per cent between 2006 and 2010 while Gujarat’s growth rate declined to 9.3 per cent and it lagged behind Bihar and other four states- Orissa, Maharashtra, Haryana, Chhattisgarh in terms of growth rate. Bihar was the slowest growing state during 2001-05 period with GDP figure of 2.9 percent whereas Gujarat was the fastest growing state between 2001 and 2005 with figure of 11 percent.

Justice Verma committee begins work; seeks public comments

Justice Verma Committee which has been constituted to look into the need for reviewing present law for speedier justice and enhanced punishment in cases of aggravated sexual assaulted has asked for suggestion from the public, eminent jurists, legal professionals, NGOs, women groups and civil society members through advertisement in newspapers. Suggestions can be sent on email at justice.verma@nic.inand through fax at 011-23092675 latest by 5th January, 2013. The Committee has to submit its report within one month from today.

Virbhadra Singh sworn in as Himachal Pradesh's Chief Minister for 6th time

Former Union Minister Virbhadra Singh was sworn-in as Himachal Pradesh's chief minister for a record sixth term in Shimla on Tuesday. Governor Urmila Singh administered the oath of office and secrecy to Singh on the historic Ridge of Shimla town.

The 78-year-old took oath at 10.40 am as the hill state's 13th Chief Minister in the presence of thousands of his supporters at the historic Ridge.

Chhattisgarh became the first state to pass legislation on food security

Chhattisgarh became the first state in the country to bring legislation on food security. The state legislative assembly passed the Food Security Bill 2012 that confers legal rights to the beneficiaries to receive food grains and food items at highly subsidized prices.

Moving the Bill, Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh said, the legislation has got the most unique features that covers all sections of the society, including poor families, children, women and other vulnerable groups.

Gujrat Assemble Elections:Narendra Modi scores a hat-trick in Gujarat

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) registered its 5th consecutive victory in Gujarat Assembly elections.

Modi scored a hat-trick of electoral victories in the results declared on Thursday with the BJP winning 115 seats in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly, which is just two short of the 2007 tally, thereby bolstering his chances of becoming a major player in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Sonia launched much-awaited Delhi Annshree Yojana

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi launched a major food security programme of Delhi Government "Delhi Annshri Yojna".

Congress president Sonia Gandhi today strongly backed the Centre's New Direct Benefit Transfer system that will ensure cash transfer directly in the hands of beneficiaries of various schemes, saying it is in line with many other "revolutionary" measures taken by the UPA.

On the occasion, Gandhi presented bank passbooks, Annshree enrolment certificates to the 12 women beneficiaries coming from the slums and resettlement colonies across Delhi. She also witnessed the process of transferring assistance amount to their accounts and withdrawal by them with the help of a micro ATM, assisted by bank correspondents.