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Indias Weather Satellite INSAT-3D, carrying advanced weather monitoring

payloads, was launched successfully on 26 July 2013 by Ariane-5 (VA214)

launch vehicle from Kourou, French Guiana. After a smooth countdown lasting

11 hours and 30 minutes, the Ariane-5 launchvehicle lifted off right on

schedule at the opening of the launch windowat 01:24 hours IST today. After

a flight of 32 minutes and 48 seconds, INSAT-3D was placed in an ellipticalGeosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO),very close to the intended one.

The orbital parameters of INSAT-3D, as recorded, are:

Parameter Targeted

Achieved

Perigee (km) 249.9249.9

Apogee (km) 35880

35923

Orbital Inclination with respect

to Equatorial plane 3.501

3.495

(deg)

Soon after the separation of INSAT-3D from the Ariane-5s upper cryogenic

stage, the satellites solar panel automatically got deployed. ISROs Master

Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka took over the control of INSAT-

3D immediately.

After placing the satellite at 82 deg East orbital slot, it is planned to turn on

the meteorological payloads of INSAT-3D in the second week of August 2013and to extensively test them.

With a lift-off mass of 2060 kg, INSAT-3D carries four payloads Imager,

Sounder, Data Relay Transponder and Satellite Aided Search & Rescue

payload. Among them, the six channel imager can take weather pictures of

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the Earth and has improved features compared to the payloads in KALPANA-1

and INSAT-3A, the two Indian Geostationary Satellites providing weather

services for the past one decade.

The 19 channel sounder payload of INSAT-3D adds a new dimension to

weather monitoring through its atmospheric sounding system, and provides

vertical profiles of temperature, humidity and integrated ozone.

Data relay transponder, the third payload carried by INSAT-3D, receives the

meteorological, hydrological, oceanographic parameters sent by Automatic

Data Collection platforms located at remote uninhabited locations and relays

them to a processing centre for generating accurate weather forecasts.

INSAT-3D is also equipped with a search and rescue payload that picks up and

relays alert signals originating from the distress beacons of maritime, aviation

and land based users and relays them to the mission control centre to

facilitate speedy search and rescue operations.

ISRO has taken up the responsibility of end-to-end reception and processing

of INSAT-3D data and the derivation of meteorological parameters with India

Meteorological Department (IMD), New Delhi. An indigenously designed anddeveloped INSAT-3D Meteorological Data Processing System (IMDPS) is

installed and commissioned at IMD, New Delhi with a mirror site at Space

Applications Centre, Bhopal and Ahmedabad.

Who: INSAT-3D

Where: Kourou, French Guiana.

What: was launched successfully.

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When: 26 July 2013.

The Supreme Court of India on 17 July 2013 refused to reduce the age of

Juvenile from 18 years to 16 years and dismissed the plea that said minors

involved in heinous crimes should not be protected under the law.

The decision of the Apex Court came from the Bench headed by Chief Justice

of India, Altamas Kabir. The bench dismissed all the PILs demanding reductionof Juveniles age filed after Delhi gang-rape in the moving bus and murder

case that happened on 16 December 2012 (a minor was also allegedly

involved in the case). The court in its decision said that interference in

Juvenile Justice Act was not necessary.

The minor involved in the gang-rape incident in the moving bus at present is

facing proceedings before the Juvenile Justice Board. The board has

scheduled to pronounce its decision on 25 July 2013.

Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000: was passed on 30

December 2000 as an act to consolidate and amend the law relating to

juveniles in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection, by

providing for proper care, protection and treatment by catering to their

development needs, and by adopting a child-friendly approach in the

adjudication and disposition of matters in the best interest of children and for

their ultimate rehabilitation through various institutions established under

this enactment.

Who: Supreme Court of India

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Where: New Delhi

What: refused to reduce the age of Juvenile

When: 17 July 2013

Why: for non interference in Juvenile Justice Act

The Government of India informed the Bangladesh regarding the ratification

of 1974 Indira-Mujib pact, during the home secretary-level talks on 19 July

2013.

Indian Government informed that it wanted to ratify the 1974 Indira-Mujib

pact for demarcation of boundaries and for exchange of 161 adversely heldenclaves with a population of about 50000 people.

For implementation of Indira-Mujib pact, Indian Government will have to

introduce a Constitutional Amendment Bill in parliament according to Indian

Constitution.

The Government of India is planning to bring a constitutional amendment Bill

during the forthcoming monsoon session, beginning August 5 2013, forimplementation of the Indo-Bangla land boundary agreement.

Bangladesh Parliament has already approved the land boundary deal, India

needs to introduce a constitutional amendment bill because its

implementation involves territory swap.

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Indira-Mujib Pact 1974

In 1974, India and Bangladesh entered into an agreement on borders.

Popularly known as Indira-Mujib Pact, the two signatories of the pact were the

Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the Bangladesh Prime Minister Mujib-

ur-Rehman.

This agreement sought to cover the demarcation of the land boundary

between the two countries and other related issues.

Article 5 of the Agreement stipulated that: This agreement shall be subject

to ratification by the Governments of India and Bangladesh and Instruments

of Ratification shall be exchanged as early as possible.

The Agreement shall take effect from the date of the exchange of the

Instruments of Ratification.

On 28 November 1974 Bangladesh Parliament had passed the Constitution

(Third Amendment) Act, 1974 ratifying the Indira Mujib Accord.

What: Indira-Mujib Pact 1974

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance on 19 July 2013 finalised

its report on Goods and Services Tax (GST) which will be tabled in Parliament

in the monsoon session beginning 5 August 2013.

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The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, was introduced in Parliament in 2010,

and is being scrutinized by the Standing Committee on Finance. It is now

decided that the states and the Centre would together going to finalise the

draft and will bring it back to Parliament.

The proposed GST is basically intended at bringing in a common tax regime

for goods and services by subsuming most indirect taxes. GST will directed

help in increasing the revenue collections.

It is important here to note that the GST roll-out has missed several deadlines

due to differences between the states and the Centre over contentious issue

of central sales tax, compensation to states and design of GST structure. The

Constitution Amendment Bill is being drafted. It is being placed before the

Council of Ministers on 22 July 2013.

Suggestion of the GST Panel

The panel has suggested that the government look into the issue of

revenue loss due to implementation of GST regime in case of higher resource

mobilising states.

The panel has also suggested that the Centre should prepare a framework

for the GST regime in which the revenue generating states should be

adequately compensated.

The panel will also look after the gas pricing issue.

Who: Parliamentary Standing Committee

What: finalised its report on Goods and Services Tax (GST).

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When: 19 July 2013

The Supreme Court of India on 19 July 2013 issued notice to Uttarakhand and

six other states for their alleged failure in implementing Disaster

Management Act in order to handle natural catastrophe. A bench headed by

Justice A K Patnaik sought response from the Union government, the states

and the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands on a PIL alleging that

governments have failed to implement in true spirit the Act which was passed

in 2005.

The six other states which have been issued notice are Tamil Nadu, Odisha,

Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Gujarat.

What is Disaster Management Act?

It is an Act to provide for the effective management of disasters and for

matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. It was enacted by

Parliament of India in the Fifty-sixth Year of the Republic of India (2005). The

major points related to Disaster Management Act are as following:

This Act is called the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

It extends to the whole of India.

It shall come into force on such date as the Union Government may, by

notification in the Official Gazette appoint; and different dates may be

appointed for different provisions of this Act and for different States, and any

reference to commencement in any provision of this Act in relation to any

State shall be construed as a reference to the commencement of thatprovision in that State.

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Who: Supreme Court of India.

What: issued notice to Uttarakhand and six other states.

When: 19 July 2013.

Why: for their alleged failure in implementing Disaster Management Act.

Union Cabinet on 17 July 2013 approved amendments to the marriage law

enabling a married woman to get a share of her husband's ancestral property

as reparation in case of a divorce.

The Bill is now expected to come up for channel in the Monsoon Session of

Parliament in August 2013. The decision was taken to make marriage lawmore women friendly and to decide how sufficient compensation can be

given to a woman from her husband's ancestral property in case of divorce on

the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage.

The Group of Ministers was asked to take a view on whether a judge can

exercise discretion in granting divorce if one of the partners does not move a

second joint application for divorce with mutual consent. The GoM also

discussed the issue of allowing courts to decide on doing away with the

mandatory six-month waiting period for couples seeking divorce through ajoint petition by mutual consent.

As per the bill the woman should get adequate compensation by calculating

the husband's share in the event that ancestral property cannot be divided.

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Who: Union Government

What: approved amendments to the marriage law

Why: to enable woman to get a share of her husband's ancestral property.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 17 July 2013 approved the

proposal of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to implement

the Plan Scheme -Development Communication and Information

Dissemination during the 12th Plan period with an outlay of 630 crore

Rupees.

The plan aims at making people aware of the benefits of different

Government schemes to help them realize the benefits of the schemes tomaximum possible extent.

To implement the scheme, various media units of the I&B Ministry will use

different routes like outdoor publicity, electronic and print media, Public

Information Campaigns, press tours, conducted tours, people to people

contact, special outreach programmes, live art and culture shows, the new

media and others.

Who: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs

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Where: New Delhi

What: Approved proposal of I&B Ministry

When: 17 July 2013

The Union government of India on 16 July 2013 proposed to make production

of Photo identity card mandatory for purchase of acid. The government filed

an affidavit in the Supreme Court in which it listed a number of measures to

curb the sale of acid in the open market.

The shopkeepers will also require licence to sell the acid. The move comes

after Supreme Court asked the government to submit guidelines to check

open sale of acid, thereby checking acid attacks on women.

It is estimated that one thousand acid attacks take place in India every year.The apex court order came on a PIL seeking framing of a new law or

amendment in the existing laws to deal with acid attack effectively.

Who: Union government.

What: proposed to make production of Photo identity card mandatory.

When: 16 July 2013.

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Why: to check acid attacks on women.

Advantages of the SMS Advisories

The SMS advisories and alerts is supposed to help farmers in taking

informed decisions relating to different aspects of farming including crop

production and marketing, animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries.

The farmers can opt to receive SMS messages customized to their specific

requirements.

Weather forecast SMS and alerts will enable farmers in planning, farming

operations effectively and taking the best suited action to deal with adverse

weather conditions.

Advisories on disease/pest outbreak will also help the farmers immensely to

take immediate actions to secure their crops and animals. Advisories on best

practices, such as selection of better suited crop variety/ animal breed, will

lead to better farm productivity and higher income to the farmers.

Timely market information will be provided through SMS ad will give the

farmer better bargaining power which in turn assist farmers in taking better

decisions about sale of his produce.

SMS advisories will also include soil test results, selection of fertilizer and its

dosage, and also information on various programmes so that farmers can

make the best use of assistance and know-how being made available by the

Government.

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Who: President Pranab Mukherjee

What: launched a Kisaan Portal

When: 16 July 2013

Why: For sending SMS to the farmers across the country.

The Supreme Court in its landmark Judgement on 11 July 2013 barred Persons

in Jail or Police Custody from contesting election for legislative bodies. The

Supreme Courts decision would help in bringing an end to the era of the

under trial politicians, who contest elections from behind the bars.

The Supreme Court ruled that only an elector can contest the polls and theelector ceases the right to cast vote due to confinement in prison or being in

custody of Police. The court, however, made it clear that disqualification will

not be applicable to person subjected to preventive detention, under any law.

The Supreme Court Bench that comprised Justice AK Patnaik and Justice SJ

Mukhopadhayay, while referring to the Representation of Peoples Act said

that the Act (Section 4 & 5) lays down the qualifications for membership of

the House of the People and Legislative Assembly and one of the

qualifications laid down is that he must be an elector.

The court passed the order on an appeal filed by the Chief Election

Commissioner and others challenging the order of Patna High Court that

barred people in Police custody from contesting polls. The Judgement of the

Supreme Court has confirmed 2004 ruling of the Patna High Court that said if

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- a jailed person cant vote, than a jailed person cant contest election.

The Apex Court supported the decision of Patna High Court by quoting We

do not find any infirmity in the findings of the High Court in the impugned

common order that a person, who has no right to vote by virtue of the

provisions of sub-section (5) of section 62 of the 1951 Act is not an elector

and is, therefore, not qualified to contest the election to the house of the

people or the legislative assembly of a state,.

The SC Bench in its Judgement cited Section 62(5) of the Representation of

People Act, 1951 (Acts of Parliament) that no person shall vote in any election

if he is confined in a prison, whether under a sentence of imprisonment or

transportation or otherwise, or is in the lawful custody of the police. Reading

sections 4, 5 and 62(5) together, the apex court came to the conclusion that

a person in jail or police custody cannot contest election.

Comment: This decision of the Supreme Court would bar the criminal

elements from entering the Parliament and State Assemblies and keep the

house clean. The judgement may change the future of Indian Politics in the

coming time.

Who: Supreme Court of India

Where: New Delhi

What: barred people in Jail or Police Custody from contesting Elcections

When: 11 July 2013

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The Union government on 11 July 2013 approved a proposal to replace DGCAwith a new aviation regulator with full operational and financial autonomy.

The new regulatory body would be named the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)

and is meant to replace the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The CAA is being established to meet the standards set by UNs International

Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and in line with aviation regulators in othercountries like the Federal Aviation Administration of the US and the UKs CAA.

The decision to come with new aviation regulator was taken considering that

that DGCA had some degree of limited delegation of financial powers and

therefore was quite unable of making adequate structural changes to meet

the demands of a dynamic civil aviation sector.

Function Civil Aviation Authority will Perform

CAA would deal with matters relating to financial stress on safety of air

operations, as witnessed in connection with the bankrupt Kingfisher Airlines

in October 2012.

They will also deal with Issues relating to consumer protection and

environment regulations in civil aviation sector as per the draft legislation.

The other major Function of Civil Aviation Authority will be to administer

and regulate civil aviation safety and manage safety error over air transport

operators, air service navigation operators and operators of other civil

aviation facilities.

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Who: Union government

What: approved a proposal to replace DGCA

When: 11 July 2013

Government on 8 July 2013 announced a 20 per cent cut in Haj quota, putting

the entire burden to be borne by private tour operators.

With the cutting down of Haj Quota, the private tour operator will now

observe their share going down to a meager 9995 from 45000.

The cutting down of haj quota was taken into consideration after the India-

Saudi Arabia Bilateral Agreement on Haj 2013 which was signed on 16 March

2013 in Jeddah. As per the agreement, the Haj 2013 quota for India was of

170025 seats, comprising 125025 seats for pilgrims facilitated by the Haj

Committee of India (HCOI), Mumbai and 45000 for pilgrims through private

tour operators (PTOs).

In June 2013, the Saudi authorities informed Ministry of External Affairs thatthey had imposed a 50 per cent reduction in the Hajj 2013 quota on local

(Saudi) applicants and 20 per cent on all foreign Haj pilgrims as to carry on

the smooth progress of the infrastructure work which is being carried out

around the Haram Sharif and to keep the area safe and secure for the

pilgrims.

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So, keeping it into consideration it was decided 20 per cent reduction (34005

seats) for Hajj 2013 by the Saudi Government out of the existing quota

(45000) of private tour operators.

It is worth mentioning here that cancellations by Haj Committee of India

(HCOI) pilgrims till date will be transferred to the eligible Hajj 2013 PTOs, to

the extent possible as the most Haj HCOI pilgrims of around 123511 are first

time pilgrims from this year. Haj through HCOI is restricted to only once in a

life time against the previous once in five years. The eligible Hajj 2013 PTOs,

are yet to be announced.

The government of India for the first time in Month of July 2013 has given its

nod for recruitment and commissioning of women officers in BSF, the border

guarding force.

As per the BSF, Young women under and up to the age of 25 years will be

recruited as direct entry officers in the rank of Assistant Commandants (ACs),

and these officers are expected to be posted to lead their troops along the

two most crucial borders the BSF guards at present-- Pakistan andBangladesh.

To the present time women could only get into the combat uniform in the

officer cadre in two other central security forces, the Central Reserve Police

Force (CRPF) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) which are tasked

to carry out a variety of duties in the internal security domain and not along

Indian frontiers as these forces are not mandated for border guarding duties.

It is important to mention here that, at a time when India has so many

women troops in these forces there were no women combat commanders.

Though, having male officers was not a problem but deputing women as

leaders surely sends the message that they are second to none and can do

any task given to them.

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This first batch of women officers will be on ground by late 2014 and their

recruitment will be completed by December 2013.

Two other border guarding forces, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and

the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) also do not have women officers in combat

roles although they have a good number of women personnel in their

constabulary.

Some Facts to Remember

The Border Security Force had first inducted women constables for regular

security duties in 2009 and at present it has about 700 such personnel.

The force is also the second largest paramilitary of the country with two

lakh personnel in its ranks.

The government will recruit a total of 110 fresh officers in BSF this year

while sanction has been given to induct 138 such ranks in the CRPF and 56 in

CISF.

There is no cap on the number of women taking up these posts as the

selection is based on merit under the recruitment exam conducted by theUPSC.

After being recruited and commissioned as ACs, these women officers can

rise and get promotions to become Deputy Commandants and Commandants

of an operational company (about 100 personnel) or a full battalion

(approximately 1000 personnel) in the BSF.

Union Government of India on 4 July 2013 announced to launch Mahatma

Gandhi Pravasi Surakhsa Yojna (MGPSY), a pension scheme for blue-collar

Indian workers in the Gulf. The Yojna would be launched in August 2013. The

Pension and Life Insurance fund scheme, is applicable for the Overseas Indian

workers having Emigration Check Required, ECR passports.

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The announcement was made by the Rajiv Mehrishi, Secretary of Ministry of

Overseas Indian Affairs in Riyadh. This pension and life insurance fund

scheme would benefit a large number of oversees Indian Workers. The MGPSY

is aimed towards helping the overseas Indian workers in saving money fortheir retirement, re-settlement in India after their return and a life insurance

that will cover them against natural death during the period of coverage.

Benefits of Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Surakhsa Yojna (MGPSY)

Government contribution of 1000 rupees per annum in line with

Swavalamban platform for all MGPSY subscriber who save between 1,000

rupees and 12000 rupees per year in NPS-Lite.

An additional government contribution of 1000 rupees per annum by MOIA

for the overseas Indian women workers who save between 1000 rupees to

12000 rupees per year in NPS-Lite.

The Indian overseas workers, who save 4000 rupees or more per annum,

will get an additional government contribution from the Ministry of Overseas

Indian Affairs of 900 rupees towards their Return and Resettlement

The objective of MGPSY is to encourage and enable the overseas Indian

workers by giving government contribution to:

Save for their Return and Resettlement (R&R)

Save for their old age

Obtain a Life Insurance cover against natural death during the period of

coverage

The government contribution available under the MGPSY is for a period of five

years or till the return of subscribed worker back to India, whichever is earlier.

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President Pranab Mukherjee signed the ordinance on food security on 5 July

2013 which seeks to give legal rights to 67 per cent of the population over

subsidised grains every month.

Now, with the presidential consent, the bill will be presented before the

Parliament when it convenes for the Monsoon Session.

The Government had issued the ordinance to give nation's two-third

population the right to get 5 kgs of foodgrains every month at highly

subsidised rates of 1-3 Rupees per kg amid political opposition.

The food security arrangements will be the largest in the world after

implementation, with the government spending estimated at one lakh 25

thousand crore rupees annually on supply of about 62 million tonnes of rice,

wheat and coarse cereals to 67 per cent of the population.

The Food Security Bill was tabled during the budget session of Parliament, but

was not taken up for discussion because of opposition-led disturbances of

proceedings arising out of scam-related allegations.

The Union Cabinet of India on 3 July 2013 approved the proposal to

promulgate an ordinance to implement National Food Security Bill in the

country. The bill seeks to give legal rights to get subsidized grains everymonth to 67 percent of overall population. As per the bill provisions, the

responsibility to identify the beneficiaries and implement the program under

the Targeted Public Distribution Scheme is the responsibility of the states.

The food security programme when implemented will be the biggest in the

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world with the government spending estimated at one lakh 25 thousand crore

rupees annually. The ordinance is being promulgated before the 2013

monsoon session of Parliament.

The ordinance guarantees 5 kg of rice, wheat and coarse cereals per month

per person at a highly subsidized rate of 1 to 3 rupees per kg. Rice will be

made available at 3 rupees a kg, wheat at 2 rupees a kg and coarse cereals

at 1 rupee a kg.

The ordinance has been sent to the President for his assent. Rules would be

framed to roll out the program as soon as the President signs the ordinance.

The Ordinance is the Legislative Power of President of India covered in Article

123 of Constitution of India.

Article 123-Power of President to promulgate Ordinances during recess of

Parliament:

(1) If at any time, except when both Houses of Parliament are in session, the

President is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary for

him to take immediate action, he may promulgate such Ordinances as the

circumstances appear to him to require.

(2) An Ordinance promulgated under this article shall have the same force

and effect as an Act of Parliament, but every such Ordinance-

(a) Shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament and shall cease to operateat the expiration of six weeks from the reassembly of Parliament, or, if before

the expiration of that period resolutions disapproving it are passed by both

Houses, upon the passing of the second of those resolutions; and

(b) May be withdrawn at any time by the President. Explanation.- Where the

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Houses of Parliament are summoned to reassemble on different dates, the

period of six weeks shall be reckoned from the later of those dates for the

purposes of this clause.

(3) If and so far as an Ordinance under this article makes any provision which

Parliament would not under this Constitution be competent to enact, it shall

be void.

Who: Union Cabinet

Where: New Delhi

What: National Food Security Bill Ordinance

When: 3 July 2013

The Supreme Court of India on 2 July 2013 expressing its concerns over the

sale of adulterated milk in the country ordered State Governments to curb

the practice of sale.

A Bench of Justice KS Radhakrishnan and Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose

directed the State Governments of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh,

Uttarakhand and Delhi to file their response stating what action they are

taking to put an end to the menace of milk adulteration. The Court said that it

would later expand the ambit of the PIL to include all the states in the country

on the issue.

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The Supreme Court in its order cleared that it will not grant any further time

to the states to file their submission after the next hearing date scheduled on

31 July 2013.

The decision of the court came after it heard a PIL filed by a group of citizens

led by Swami Achyutanand Tirth of Uttarakhand, who claimed use of urea,

detergent, refined oil, caustic soda and white paint in preparation of synthetic

and adulterated milk and milk products. The filed PIL has also demanded

constitution of a comprehensive policy on production, supply and sale of

hygienic, healthy and natural milk.

As per the data provided to the Supreme Court in 2012 by the UnionGovernment of India about 68 percent of milk in the country doesnt conform

to the set standards of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

The data was based upon the survey conducted by FSSAI in 2011 that

claimed non-conformation on standards of over 68 percent of milk in urban

area, with 66 percent available as loose milk.

FSSAI in its survey claimed that the most common process of adulteration

was addition of water in milk and addition of glucose, skimmed milk powder

and detergent were noted as the basic reason for deviation from thestandards. The affidavit filed by the Union Government claimed that more

than 83 percent of milk in rural areas was found to be loose were of non-

conforming standards. The Union Government filed this affidavit as a reply of

the notice issued to the center on May 2012.

Who: Supreme Court of India

Where: new delhi

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What: ordered State to curb practice of sale of Adulterated Milk

When: 2 July 2013

Why: after hearing a PIL from grp. of citizens

The Madras High Court on1 July 2013 upheld the ban imposed by the Uniongovernment of India on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2010. A

Division Bench comprising Justices Elipe Dharma Rao and M Venugopal

dismissed writ petitions filed by MDMK founder-leader Vaiko and Prisoners

Rights Forum, who challenged the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal's

order on 12 November 2010.

The Tribunal had confirmed the notification issued by the Home Ministry

banning the LTTE on 14 May 2010. Dismissing the petitions, the bench

observed that the petitioners did not have any locus standi to challenge thenotification as they were neither office bearers nor members of the LTTE.

Who: The Madras High Court.

What: upheld the ban imposed by the government on LTTE in 2010.

When: 1 July 2013.

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Indian Government in the Month of June 2013 has banned the testing ofCosmetic product on animals and thus became the first country in South Asia

to end such tests.

Now, with the ban on testing and as per the Drug Controller General of India

(DCGI) any cosmetic product made in India will be free of animal testing.

The decision of banning the testing was taken in order to prevent cruelty toanimals, especially after seeing the available simulation alternatives.

The Final norms on the decision will be coming out shortly which is being

chaired Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) sectoral-committee.

It has been decided that the last two animal-related tests will be dropped

from the regulatory standards and any new cosmetic ingredient or product

will have to comply with the non-animal standards of BIS.

It is worth mentioning here that Israel and the 27 countries of the European

Union have implemented both testing and sales ban to bring an end to

cosmetics animal suffering in their respective jurisdictions.

Now the government will examine the Import of animal-testing free products

and labelling of local products to indicate that they are free of these tests.

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The Union Cabinet of India on 28 June 2013 gave its approval to the proposal

of signing of a headquarters agreement between the Ministry of External

Affairs and Nalanda University. This agreement would confer on the University

and members of its academic staff privileges and immunities considered

necessary to provide an overall framework for the efficient functioning and

operation of the University, and allow it to obtain talent from across theglobe. The Agreement will come into force immediately upon signing and

notification.

The signing of the headquarters agreement will facilitate hiring of the best

academicians from across the world, well before the commencement of the

first academic session. Recruitment of the Universitys faculty cannot take

place without fixing their terms and conditions, for which the conclusion of

the headquarters agreement is essential.

The University will serve as an international centre of excellence in higher

learning. It would integrate modern, scientific and technological knowledge

and skills with basic human values and promote universal friendship, peace

and prosperity through the spiritual awakening of the individual and society.

The detailed Project Report prepared by EdCIL in July, 2012 has estimated

funding requirements of approximately 3532.62 crore rupees between 2010-

11 and 2021-22. The Government of India will meet the Universitys

expenditure to the extent required. Signing of the headquarters agreement

does not involve any additional expenditure.

The following are the major features of the agreement:-

The host country shall take necessary steps to protect the University

premises against any intrusion or damage and facilitate the work of the

University.

The University, its assets, its income and other property shall be exempt

from all direct taxes, customs duties and prohibitions and restrictions on

imports and exports for articles imported/exported for its official use.

The Vice-Chancellor and academic staff of the University, who are not from

the host country shall be granted exemption from taxation in respect of their

salaries, honoraria, allowances and other emoluments; the right to get the

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appropriate visa; the freedom to maintain moveable and immoveable

property while in the employment of the University in the host country, and

the right to import free of customs duties, taxes and other levies.

The Vice-Chancellor and academic staff of the host country that is India

shall be granted exemption from taxation in respect of salaries, honoraria,allowances and other emoluments in connection with the services provided to

the University.

At the 4th East Asia Summit (EAS) held in Thailand in October, 2009, member

States issued a Joint Press Statement which supported the establishment of

Nalanda University as a non-State, non-profit, secular and self-governing

international institution with a continental focus, that would bring together

the brightest and most dedicated students from all countries of Asia.

Who: The Ministry of External Affairs and Nalanda University.

What: signed a headquarter agreement.

When: 28 June 2013.

The Union government on 26 June 2013 has banned three major medicines

the widely prescribed anti-diabetes drug pioglitazone, painkiller analgin and

anti-depressant deanxit.

The decision to ban the drug was taken in wake of health risks associated

with them. It was taken after strong stand by the government on suspending

marketing of all drugs prohibited for sale in other countries like the US, the

UK, EU and Australia.

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Ill-Effects of the Drug Banned

Pioglitazone- It is widely believed that pioglitazone can cause heart failureand increases the risk of bladder cancer, analgin has been discarded the

world over on grounds of patient safety.

Deanxit- This Drug is made up of harmful combination, which has been long

banned even in Denmark, its country of origin.

Analgin- It is known to cause a steep decrease in the count of white bloodcells, which can lead to a potentially fatal state. The drug was thus taken off

the shelves in many countries including Sweden, Japan, France, Australia,

Canada and New Zealand.

Earlier in year 2010-11 Drug Controller General had banned various drugs

which include painkiller Nimesulide, anti-diabetes medicine Rosiglitazone and

antibiotic Gaifloxacin.

As per the Drugs and Cosmetic Rule 30-B, a drug cannot be marketed in India

unless it is approved in its country of origin. The drug is banned in other

countries as well as its user experienced cardiovascular effects, dizziness,

fatigue, insomnia and vomiting.

The government on 25 June 2013 floated a draft Bill demanding setting up of

12 river basin authorities in the country to settle discordances and preventdeluge and pollution in inter-state rivers.

The bill named as Draft River Basin Management Bill, basically demands to

amend the River Boards Act, 1956. It was put in public domain by the Water

Resources Ministry.

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A mechanism for integrated planning, development and management of

water resources of a river basin is planned to be created under the ambit of

the bill as the River Boards do not have such a provision.

It has been found that there is not any single River Board which has been

constituted under the present Act as not any request was made by any of the

state of the country under the provisions of the legislation.

Some Provisions laid under the Bill

The Bill proposes a two-tier structure for each of the 12 river basin

authorities.

Every river basin authority is supposed to be consisting of an upper layer

called the governing council and a lower layer described as the executive

board charged with the technical and implementation powers for the council

decisions.

The governing council has extensive membership and representation

including chief ministers of the co-basin states, ministers in charge of water

resources, one Lok Sabha member, one MLA among others.

The executive board will also be given a broad base membership under the

Bill.

The governing council will approve the river basin master plan to ensure

sustainable river basin development, management and regulation. It will also

take steps to enable the basin states to come to an agreement for

implementation of river basin master plan.

The council will also settle inter-state water disputes.

The executive board will prepare schemes for irrigation, water supply,hydropower, flood control, pollution control and soil erosion.

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Who: Union Government

What: Draft River Basin Management Bill,

When: 25 June 2013

Why: To settle discordances and prevent deluge and pollution in inter-state

rivers.

Rajasthan government on 13 June 2013 signed MoU with the Indian Railway

Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Ltd for a scheme as per which it will

bear all the expenses for senior citizens to go on select pilgrimages. The

scheme was already announced by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in the 2013-

14 budget.

The First of the Scheme is open to 25000 applicants wherein elevenpilgrimage centres has been selected. The last date for submission of

Application 1 July 2013 and the Applicants have to fill up a form available at

all divisional headquarters in the state. The pilgrim destination which are

covered under the scheme are Puri, Gaya, Rameswaram, Vaishno Devi,

Tirupati, Varanasi, Amritsar, Dwarkapuri, Bihar Sharif, Shirdi.

There will be a lottery system to identify the final beneficiaries in case the

number of applicants exceeds 25000.

The trip duration will be of five to eight days and persons selected can visit

any one pilgrimage centre out of those designated as part of the scheme.

At every divisional headquarters special trains will be available to carry

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thousand people at a time. The arrangement of meals, accommodation and

road travel would be made by the IRCTC for those availing the scheme.

There is also a provision to take attendant for people above 65 years of while

an attendant will be provided by the state government for every group of 25

people.

Union Government on 12 June 2013 decided to discontinue the Telegraph

Services in India from 15 July 2013. Telegram in India was also known as Taar.

The decision of ceasing the services of Telegraph came up after more than160 years of its being into operations. The last time Telegraph would be used

to send a telegram on 14 July 2013.

A circular was issued by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) Corporate office on

12 June 2013 and sent to different telegraph circle and district offices with an

order to discontinue the telegraph services from 15 July 2013 onwards. As per

the issued circular, the telegraph offices under BSNL have been directed to

stop booking telegraph from 15 July 2013 onwards.

The decision came up in consultation with the Department of Posts because

the service was not commercially viable. To maintain the losses and declining

revenue, the telegram charges for inland services were hiked in May 2011.

BSNL has suffered an annual loss of 300 - 400 crore rupees from telegraph

service alone. Before this, the telegram services for overseas communication

were withdrawn by BSNL in April 2013.

The telecom offices has been directed to maintain log books, service

messages, delivery slips for six months from the date of booking. The

telecom offices will also have to maintain the press reports, complaints and

other messages from different consumer forums of one year.

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The telegraph staff members will be deployed to mobile services, broadband

services, landline telephony.

Difference between telegraph and telegram

Telegraph is the means via which a telegram is sent, whereas, telegram is the

message itself.

Telegraph is a communication system that is used to transmit and receive the

unmodulated electric impulses via radio or wire. The telegraphs are the

messages send by the telegram and are transmitted as a series of short and

long electric impulses.

Whereas, telegram can be defined as the message that is encoded, decoded

or telegraphed in form of the original message.

Different Kinds of Telegraphy technology in series of development:

Optical Telegraph: for the first time, telegraph came in form of optical

telegraph

Electrical Telegraphs: One of the earliest electromagnetic telegraph designs

was created by Pavel Schilling in 1832.

Morse Telegraph: An electrical telegraph was independently developed and

patented in the United States in 1837 by Samuel Morse. His assistant, Alfred

Vail, developed the Morse code signalling alphabet with Morse. The first

telegram in the United States was sent by Morse on 11 January 1838, across

two miles (3 km) of wire at Speedwell Ironworks near Morristown, New Jersey.

Oceanic Telegraph Cables: The first commercially successful transatlantic

telegraph cable was successfully completed on 18 July 1866. The lasting

connections were achieved by the ship SS Great Eastern, captained by Sir

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James Anderson. The telegraph across the Pacific was completed in 1902,

finally encircling the world.

Wireless telegraphy: Nikola Tesla and other scientists and inventors showed

the usefulness of wireless telegraphy, radiotelegraphy, or radio, beginning in

the 1890s. Alexander Stepanovich Popov demonstrated to the public his

wireless radio receiver, which was also used as a lightning detector, on 7 May

1895.

Telex: In 1935, message routing was the last great barrier to full automation.

Systems that used telephone-like rotary dialing to connect teletypewriters

were developed by many service providers of telegraphy. These systems

(machines) were called "Telex" (TELegraph EXchange). Telex machines first

performed rotary-telephone-style pulse dialing for circuit switching, and then

sent data by Baudot code.

History of Telegraph Services in India

Telegraph services was introduced in India by William O Shaughnessy, a

British doctor and inventor, who for the first time used different codes to send

a message on 1850. The first experimental electric telegraph line was started

between Calcutta and Diamond Harbour in 1950. In 1851 the services were

opened for the use of British East India Company and it was opened to thepublic in 1854. Since then the service was prevalent across India although it

faced threats on many occasions like, after invention of Radio Transmission

by Guglielmo Marconi, the Italian inventor, than with the advent of the digital

computers in the 1960s, followed by Fax, email and SMSs.

BSNL (the Indian telecommunication company), took over the charge of

countrys telegraph system from the Indian Postal Services. Telegraph that

faced threats from the new technology prevalent in the market suffered

financial losses and thus the charges of telegram saw its first price rise in 60years from four rupees for 50 words to 27 rupees for 50 words.

Telegraph and the World

Telegraphs have been into existence in Europe, since 1792. Initially it was

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available in form of semaphore lines also called optical telegraphs. In this

process of telegraphy, line of sight signals were sent in form of messages to a

distant observer. The first successful experiment with electrical recording of

telegraph was done by Samuel F. B. Morse in 1837.

The Ministry of Rural Development on 7 June 2013 launched a new skill

development scheme designed to offer employment to tribal youth in 24

Naxal -affected districts.

The scheme, which is named Roshni is supposed to provide training andemployment to an anticipated 50000 youth in the 10-35 years age group, for

a period of three years.

As per the Ministry 50 per cent of the beneficiaries of the scheme will be

women only.

The scheme is designed in light of the Himayat project model, which was

launched in Jammu and Kashmir has been implemented in Sukma,

Chhattisgarh, and West Singhbhum, Jharkand, on a pilot basis over the last 18months.

Implementation of the Scheme Roshni

The Scheme Roshni which is a 100-crore Rupees project that will be

mutually funded by the Union and State Governments, with the Centre

providing 75 per cent of the funding.

The scheme will be implemented on a public-private basis, with private

agencies providing job training and employment.

It is worth mentioning here that the scheme has achieved success in the

two districts where it was implemented on a pilot basis.

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Union government of India set up a National Skill Development Agency

(NSDA) to meet the growing need for skilled work force in both the public and

private sectors. The NSDA will coordinate and harmonize the efforts of public

and private sector to achieve the targets of the 12th Plan and beyond. Under

the 12th plan 82 lakh skilled workforce is to be created while the National

Policy on Skill Development aims at producing a 500 million skilled workforce

by the year 2022.

The NSDA has been formed by integrating the Prime Ministers National

Council on Skill Development, the National Skill Development Coordination

Board and the Office of the Adviser to the PM on Skill Development.

The NSDA will endeavour to bridge the social, regional, gender and economic

divide by ensuring that the skilling needs of the disadvantaged and

marginalised groups like SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities, women and differently-

abled persons are taken care of through the various skill development

programmes. It will also develop and monitor an overarching framework for

skill development, anchor the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF)

and facilitate the setting-up of professional certifying bodies in addition to the

existing ones. The NSDA will be an autonomous body chaired by a person of

the rank and status of a Cabinet Minister supported by a Director General and

other staff. The office of the NSDA is located in the Ministry of Finance.

The Central Information Commission (CIC) in a landmark judgement on 3 June2013 held that political parties are answerable to citizens under the Right to

Information Act (RTI Act). The ruling means that these parties will now have

to disclose sources of funding as well as details of expenditure if asked to do

so.

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It also directed the Presidents and General Secretaries of the political parties

to designate Central Public Information Officers and Appellate Authorities at

their headquarters within six weeks.

The bench comprising Chief Information Commissioner Satyananda Mishra

and Information Commissioners M. L. Sharma and Annapurna Dixit in their

judgement held that political parties should fulfill the criteria of being public

authorities under the RTI Act. Since they perform public functions they have

the character of public authorities and therefore come within the ambit of RTI

Act.

The order came after activists Subhash Chandra Aggarwal and Anil Bairwal of

the Association of Democratic Reforms requested CIC to declare political

parties as public authorities. The political parties, except CPI, however,

refused to disclose information, arguing that they do not come under the RTI

Act.

The Supreme Court of India held that a life convict cannot claim to have a

right to be released after spending 14 years behind the bars. A bench of P

Sathasivam and J S Khehar ruled that life imprisonment means imprisonment

for whole life and only the President and the Governors can remit the

sentence and allow the convict to be released. The bench, however, stated

that in those cases the government should take into account the gravity of

offence while remitting the sentence.

The court passed the order on a plea of a convict, who was awarded deathsentence by trial court but was commuted into life imprisonment by Gauhati

High Court, seeking direction to release him on the ground that he spent 14

years behind the bars. He was convicted in the rape-cum-murder case of a

22-year-old girl in 2000.

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The Supreme Court of India on 19 May 2013 held that the two-finger test on arape victim violates her right to privacy. It also directed the government to

provide better medical procedures to confirm sexual assault. A bench of

Justices BSChauhan and FMI Kalifulla gave the ruling. The court stated that

even if the report of the two-finger test is affirmative, the consent on part of a

rape victim cannot be proved. The court held that rape survivors are entitled

to legal recourse that does not violate their physical or mental integrity and

dignity.

Medical procedures should not be conducted in a way that includes inhumanor degrading treatment and health should be given topmost consideration

while dealing with gender-based violence. The State is responsible to make

such services available to survivors of sexual violence. The Supreme Court

gave this ruling keeping in mind the International Covenant on Economic,

Social, and Cultural Rights 1966 and the UN Declaration of Basic Principles of

Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power 1985.

The Minister for Women & Child Development, Krishna Tirath on 9 May 2013

launched the World Bank assisted ICDS Systems Strengthening and Nutrition

Improvement Project (ISSNIP). The aim of the programme is improvement of

child development and nutritional outcomes for children in selected districts

having higher proportional of child under nutrition.

The project is worth 2893 crore Rupees with 70 percent IDA share of2025

crore Rupees over the time duration of 7 years. The cost of phase 1 of the

project is estimated to be around 682 crore Rupees. The project received an

initial support of 106 million US dollar by World Bank, which is payable over

the time of 25 years. This will be followed by the support for second phase of

344 million US dollar, which will be subject to assessment of phase 1.

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First phase of this project will support the efforts of Union Government to

strengthen policy measures and institutional capacity and will also finance

innovative pilots and programmers in 162 high malnutrition-burden districts

across eight States. Apart from this, the project will also support the urbanand sub-urban pilots in NCR of Delhi and convergent nutrition action pilots in

Odisha and Uttarakhand.

The Minister for Women & Child Development took various other measures

for strengthening the programme management, planning and monitoring of

ICDS with introduction of revised MIS, and the 5-tier monitoring and

supervision committee with representation of Peoples representatives to

review the progress in ICDS at different levels.

The ISSNIP project will support the governments efforts in building the

necessary institutional capacity and systems needed to improve nutrition in

the targeted groups of mothers and children.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the implementation of

the International Development Association (IDA) assisted ICDS Systems

Strengthening and Nutrition Improvement Project (ISSNIP) in October 2012.

Features of ICDS Systems Strengthening and Nutrition Improvement Project

(ISSNIP):

ISSNIP is designed to supplement and provide value addition on the existing

ICDS programme, through systems strengthening for better service delivery,

as well as to allow the selected States and Districts to experiment, innovate

and conduct pilots of potentially more effective approaches for ICDS in order

to achieve early childhood education and nutrition outcomes.

The additional support through the project is catalytic and is an important

dimension of MWCDs overall efforts to strengthen and restructure the ICDS

programme.

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Four major components under the project are: (i) Institutional and systems

strengthening in ICDS (ii) Community mobilization and behaviour change

communication (iii) piloting multi-sectoral nutrition actions, and (iv) Project

Management, Technical Assistance and Monitoring & Evaluation.

Ministry for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution introduced

amendments in the National Food Security Bill in the Lok Sabha on 9 May

2013 and placed the amended Bill for consideration and passing by the

House. Based on the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Food,

Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, the Government decided to move

certain amendments to the Bill. These amendments seek to make the

framework of the proposed legislation simpler, provide more flexibility to

States/UTs in its implementation and to address some of the concerns raised

by them.

Main amendments to the Bill are as under:

Coverage and entitlement under Targeted Public Distribution System

(TPDS): Instead of coverage of upto 75 percent of the rural population andupto 50 percent of the urban population under two categories of priority and

general households with different entitlements and issue prices provided in

the original Bill, there would be only one category of beneficiaries with

uniform entitlement of 5 kg per person per month.

Protection of entitlements under Targeted Public Distribution System:The

entitlement of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, which constitute

poorest of the poor will, however, be protected at 35 kg per household per

month. It is also proposed to accept the recommendation of the Committee

to protect the existing allocation of foodgrains to the States/UTs, subject to it

being restricted to average annual offtake during last three years (2009-10 to2011-12).

State-wise coverage and identification of beneficiaries: Corresponding to

coverage of 75 percent/50 percent of the rural/urban population at the all

India level, State-wise coverage will be determined by the Planning

Commission. The work of identification of eligible households is proposed to

be left to the States/UTs, which may frame their own criteria or use the Social

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Economic and Caste Census (SECC) data.

Subsidized Prices under TDPS and their revision: Uniform prices of 3/2/1

rupees per kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains will be applicable to all eligible

beneficiaries. It is proposed to fix these prices for the first three years of

implementation of the Act, and thereafter link the same suitably to MSP.

Cost of intra-State transportation & handling of foodgrains and FPS Dealers

margin: In order to address the concerns of States/UTs regarding additional

financial burden, it is proposed that Central Government may provide

assistance to States towards cost of intra-State transportation, handling of

foodgrains and FPS Dealers margin, for which norms will be devised.

Maternity benefit: It is proposed to allow States/UTs to use the existing

machinery of District Grievance Redressal Officer (DGRO), State Food

Commission, if they so desire, to save expenditure on establishment of new

set up.

The National Food Security Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 22

December 2011 to addresses the issue of food security in a comprehensive

manner, by adopting a life cycle approach. The Bill was introduced after a

wide-ranging consultation with various stakeholders.

After introduction, the Bill was referred to Standing Committee on Food,

Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, who interacted with other Central

Ministries, various other organizations and individuals and visited States

before submitting its report to the Speaker, Lok Sabha on 17 January 2013.

The recommendations of the Standing Committee were examined in

consultation with concerned Central Ministries and also with the Food

Ministers and Food Secretaries of States/UT.

At the coverage and entitlement now proposed, total estimated annual

foodgrains requirement is 612.3 lakh tons and the corresponding estimated

food subsidy for implementation of NFSB, at 2013-14 costs, is about 124747

crore rupees. When compared to the estimated food subsidy requirement

under existing TDPS and Other Welfare Schemes, the additional food subsidy

implication is about 23800 crore rupees per annum. Requirement for

assistance to States for meeting the expenditure on Transportation, Handling

and FPS Dealers margin, etc., would be additional.

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Who: Ministry for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution

Where: Lok Sabha

What: Introduced amendments in the National Food Security Bill in the Lok

Sabha

The Union Government of India on 8 May 2013 approved a National Cyber

Security Policy with an aim to create a secured computing environment

across the country. The Policy also aims towards building the capacities to

strengthen the current set-up and increase the focus on manpower training.

The policy was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) that

lays stress on augmentation of the Indias indigenous capabilities in terms of

developing the cyber security set-up.

The policy also caters to every spectrum of ICT users and service providers as

it includes home as well as small users, medium and large enterprises and

government and non-government entities. The policy also aims at the

creation of the cyber security framework to address all related issues pending

over a long period. The set framework will also enhance the security postureof the countries cyber space via specific actions and programmes.

Cyber Security Policy will also help in enhancing the intelligence as its

integral component and help in anticipating attacks and adopt, counter

measures.

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A Delhi court on 11 April 2013 ruled that a surrogate mother and her husband

cannot have any right over a child conceived and delivered through artificial

means. The court ruled that definition of term surrogacy in guidelines laid

down by Indian Council of Medical Research itself recognizes that the

intended parents are parents genetically related to the child and not the

surrogate mother or her husband.

Additional Senior Civil Judge Sonu Agnihotri's remarks came while declaring asingle woman from the UK as the biological mother of a boy delivered by an

Indian woman acting as a surrogate mother. The court passed the order on a

suit initiated by the UK national who, after having received the custody of the

child from the surrogate mother, moved the court praying for a decree

declaring her as the biological mother of baby boy to put to rest her

apprehension that in future, the surrogate mother or her husband might

claim custody of the boy.

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in April 2013 formulated National

Urban Health Mission (NUHM) as a Sub-Mission under National Health Mission

(NHM) which is supposed to be launched during the 12th Five Year Plan.

The basic purpose to launch National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) is to

address healthcare needs of urban population, particularly urban poor.

It is important here to note that launch National Urban Health Mission was a

listed scheme under 11th Five Year Plan with an approved outlay of 4500

crores Rupees and Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) also approved the

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Clause 2: Every Judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the

President by warrant under his hand and seal after consultation with such of

the Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Courts in the States as the

President may deem necessary for the purpose and shall hold office until he

attains the age of sixty-five years.

The Government of India on 27 February 2013 announced constitution of Joint

Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe into the allegations in the VVIP

helicopter deal from Agusta Westland and to identify the role of the

middlemen in the purchase of the 12 helicopters.

The motion was moved by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath. The

proposed JPC will constitute of 20 members from Lok Sabha and 10 from

Rajya Sabha and submit the report of its findings within three months from

the day of its constitution. The motion was adopted in the Rajya Sabha by

Voice Vote.

Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)

Joint Parliamentary Committee is an ad hoc Parliamentary Committee that

is constituted by the Indian parliament.

The JPC is constituted only after a motion is adopted in one house of the

Parliament and accepted by the other house.

A Joint Parliamentary committee can also be formed when the presiding

chiefs of both houses communicates with each other in writing for the

formation of the joint parliamentary committee.

The strength of JPC can be different every time it is constituted but the

number of members from the Lok Sabha is always double to the members

from Rajya Sabha in the committee formed.

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strictly implemented. The SC called all such structures as unauthorised and

ordered the state governments to find out about such constructions as well

as file the status report in eight weeks.

The order of the Supreme Court came as the Solicitor General Gopal

Subramanian informed that the Central Government and the State

Governments had worked together on the agreement on 17 September 2012,

to not permit such religious structures on the public land.

The order passed by the Supreme Court will now grant power to the

government bodies and the municipal bodies from preventing unauthorised

constructions.

Apart from the religious structures, the Apex Courts order was also

applicable on the installation of statues.

His Royal Highness, the new Prince of Britain, also called the Royal Baby was

named George Alexander Louis on 24 July 2013. The announcement was

made from the Kensington Palace. It was declared that the third-in-line

successor to the throne will be known as His Royal Highness Prince George of

Cambridge.

Significance of the name- George

The meaning of the name George is earth worker or farmer.

It is important to note that the name George was highly speculated because

this was also the name of six previous British kings. The queen's father,

George VI rallied Britain during the World War II.

George was also the 12th most popular name for boys in England as well as

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Wales in 2011.

St. George, a 4th-century Christian martyr, is also the patron saint of

England.

Significance of the name- Louis

Louis is attributed to Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was the Duke of

Edinburgh's uncle as well as the last British Viceroy of India before 1947.

It is important to note that Prince Charles, the father of Prince Williams, was

closely related with Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was then assassinated by

Irish Republican Army in 1979.

It is said that as per the royal standards, the announcement of the name of

His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge was too quick. Queen

Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh had taken one month for naming

Prince Charles.

Prince William and Kate Middleton will soon choose a picture for the first

official portrait of the baby.

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton Gave Birth to a Baby Boy

Who: Prince William and Kate Middleton

Where: Kensington Palace

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What: named the Royal Baby as George Alexander Louis

When: 24 July 2013

Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who exposed the widest US

global surveillance operations, was on 25 July 2013 awarded German

Whistleblower Prize 2013 worth 3900 Dollars in absentia.

Snowden has exposed the substantial and unsuspecting monitoring and

storage of communication data by US and other western intelligence

agencies, which cannot be accepted in democratic societies.

It was the top secret National Security Agency documents that were leaked

by Snowden since the beginning of June 2013 which in turn made it possible

and unavoidable intensive investigations to establish whether the operations

of domestic and foreign intelligence services have violated the existing rulesapplicable to them.

Snowden has undertaken great personal risks in leaking the documents on

the operations of the US and other western intelligence agencies, aware of

the current criminal prosecution of whistleblowers in security areas.

Even after proving that the espionage operations partly or to a large extentwere protected by the law, Snowden has helped in exposing such a

dangerous situation, which cannot be accepted in democratic societies.

About Whistleblower Prize

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The whistleblower prize which was instituted in year 1999 by German section

of the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA)

and the Association of German Scientists is awarded once in two years to

honour persons, who expose in public interest grave social injustices and

dangerous developments for individuals and the society, democracy, peace

and environment.

German chapter of the global anti-corruption organisation Transparency

International joined the prize for the first time this year.

Who: Edward Snowden

What: awarded German Whistleblower Prize 2013.

When: 24 July 2013

Indian American author Jhumpa Lahiris The Lowland has been listed among

13 novels longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2013.

The longlist for the prize, one of the English language's top fiction awards,names 13 writers from seven countries. The "Man Booker dozen" 2013

comprises an diverse list of 13 novels that will astonish and intrigue in equal

measure.

There are 13 outstanding novels range from the traditional to the

experimental, from the first century AD to the present day, from 100 pages to

1000 and from Shanghai to Hendon.

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The Lowland, is story set in India and America, which is going to be published

in September 2013 and is one of the highly anticipated books of the fall. It is

being pitched as an easy frontrunner in Londons literary circles.

Longlist 2013 Include:

Five Star Billionaire Tash Aw (Fourth Estate)

We Need New Names NoViolet Bulawayo (Chatto & Windus)

The Luminaries Eleanor Catton (Granta)

Harvest Jim Crace (Picador)

The Marrying of Chani Kaufman Eve Harris (Sandstone Press)

The Kills Richard House (Picador)

The Lowland Jhumpa Lahiri (Bloomsbury)

Unexploded Alison MacLeod ( Hamish Hamilton)

Trans Atlantic Colum McCann (Bloomsbury)

Almost English Charlotte Mendelson (Mantle)

A Tale for the Time Being Ruth Ozeki (Canongate)

The Spinning Heart Donal Ryan (Doubleday Ireland)

The Testament of Mary Colm Tibn (Viking)

About Jhumpa Lahiri

Jhumpa Lahiri, was born in 1967 in London and based in New York. She is the

daughter of Indian immigrants from West Bengal.

She had won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction with her debut short story

collection Interpreter of Maladies (1999). Her first novel The Namesake

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(2003) was adapted into a popular film of the same name by director.

About Man Booker Prize 2013

The Man Booker Prize promotes the finest in fiction by rewarding the verybest book of the year. The prize is the world's most important literary award

and has the power to transform the fortunes of authors and publishers.

Who: Jhumpa Lahiri

What: has been listed among 13 novels longlisted for the Man Booker Prize

2013.

When: July 2013