News Feed for December

As per WCS, tiger population in India has increased in Nagerhole and Bandipur tiger reserves.

National Green Tribunal

Set up under the provisions of National Green Tribunal Bill, 2009

With his, India became the third such country after Australia and NZ to have a specialized court for environmental purposes.

The aim of this tribunal to

• uphold environmental laws (air and water pollution acts, EPA, Forest conservation act, BD act)
• provide citizens a right to environment

Main bench is at Bhopal with four circuit benches elsewhere.

2nd ARC

President set up this commission of inquiry to prepare a roadmap to reform the public administration system.

What is Ethics/ Ethical Behaviour?

What is Corruption?
from Latin word 'corruptus' meaning 'to break or destroy'
Ethics is from Greek work 'ethikos' meaning 'arising from habit'

Why fight against corruption is necessary?
Increasing public cynicism bodes ill for the whole democratic setup.

How to fight Corruption?
Two approaches -

1. Emphasis on values and character
2. Reward good elements and punish bad elements

Three factors for increased corruption in our society

1. Colonial mindset
2. Inequality
3. pre economic liberalization era (over centralization)

Political Funding system fuels corruption.

2 types of corruption - 

1. Extortionary Corruption (declining since liberalization)
2. Collusive Corruption (on a rise since liberalization) 

Initiatives at the global level 

-- UN efforts

Initiatives in India 

-- RTI

-- other initiatives

Much needs to be done

Ethics in business and citizen behaviour also

Corruption in Politics and Political System

• Criminalization of Politics
• Lure of Power
• Extravagant Expenditure

Foreign Trade

Foreign Trade (FY 2012-13)

Export Target : $ 360 bn

The 2% Interest Subsidy Scheme, which was to end in March 2013, has been extended for one more year. Also more sectors have been brought under this scheme.

SARFAESI Act

Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2012

http://mrunal.org/2012/12/economy-sarfaesi-asset-reconstruction-company-arc-security-receipt-sr-qib-drt.html

KC Chakrabarty Committee on RRBs, 2009

RRBs are functioning poorly. Making loss

Recommendations - 

1. RRBs need capital infusion of Rs. 2200 crores by 2011-12.
2. Performance of RRBs need to be monitored by state level committees headed by finance secretaries of state governments along with NABARD officials.

The Banking Laws Amendment Bill, 2011

What is it ?
It governs all public sector and private sector banks. Important features of this amendment -
RBI Related

• RBI can remove the entire board of a bank (instead of CEO or one-two directors) in the event of not obeying rules and regulations
• RBI will be able to prevent Connected Lending by inspecting other business arms of the bank
• Unclaimed Accounts - Depositor Education and Awareness Fund - Committee to look after this
• If anyone wants to buy more than 5% of shares of any bank, then he or she needs to acquire a license from RBI subject to some conditions
• If primary cooperative societies want to continue with banking activities, they need to obtain a license from RBI
• RBI will be able to conduct special audits of cooperative banks as they are more prone to collapse and frauds
• If a bank fails to maintain a minimum prescribed CRR, then it has to pay penalty to RBI

Public Sector Banks (PSBs) Related

• Consolidation of Banks should be encouraged by simplifying the procedures in Banking Companies Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings Act
• M&As will only need approval from RBI (no scrutiny from Competition Commission of India (CCI) anymore)
• PSBs can issue shares worth more than Rs. 3000 crores (current limit) with Bonus Shares and Rights Issue bu with approval from RBI and Union Govt.
• Voting rights of shareholders will 

Aadhar Enabled Direct Cash Transfer (DCT) System

Govt. Plans to deliver the benefits accruing from the various schemes to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries directly. It can be MNREGS wages or the cash substitution for the subsidized products.
Beneficiaries will be identified through Aadhar.


It will be launched in 43 districts on Jan 1st (originally 51- but 8 districts are not prepared due to assembly elections in Gujarat and HP)
As of now, pension and scholarship benefits will be transferred.

Aadhar and Bank account is a mandatory prerequisite for it.

PM has constituted a high powered National Committee on Direct Cash Transfers. This committee is expected to facilitate the whole process of identifying the beneficiaries and enabling them to avail benefits through this scheme. It will

• provide an overreaching vision and direction
• provide broad policy objectives and strategies
• suggest the extent and scope of this for various Govt programs and schemes
• coordinate activities of various ministries and agencies involved
• ensure the timely and efficient rollout of the scheme
• Review the progress during implementation 
• provide guidance for mid-course correction 
• Three mission-mode committees on 
• Technology
• Financial Inclusion
• Implementation

Issues -

1. Low penetration of Aadhar and financial inclusion issues.
2. Several logistical, technological and operational issues as seen during pilot projects in Jharkhand.
3. Money can be diverted to other consumptions.

Further Reading - 

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-siren-song-of-cash-transfers/article1504114.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/no-need-for-hype-but-certainly-a-hope/article4185360.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-promise-of-unconditional-money/article4167818.ece

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

Investment can be in domestic currency or in foreign currency (will be converted into domestic currency ultimately).

Investment in foreign currency -

1. Direct Investment (FDI)
2. Indirect Investment (FII)

Sector	FDI Allowed
Asset Reconstruction Company	74%(FDI+FII)
Wholesale	100% (FDI)
Single Brand Retail	100% (FDI)
Multi-brand Retail	51% (FDI)

Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) under Ministry of Commerce and Industry is the nodal agency regarding FDI.
Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) can clear investment applications up to Rs. 1200 crores after which it has to be CCEA. Govt. set up this to speed of FDI clearance.
Govt. had relaxed the mandatory 30% local sourcing clause in September.

Top sources for FDI

1. Mauritius
2. Singapore
3. UK
4. The Nederlands

Top sectors receiving FDI

1. Services 
2. Automobiles
3. Pharma
4. Construction Development

Public Distribution System (PDS)

What is it ?

It is a scheme by Central Govt.

What it does ?

Central Govt, through Fair Price Shops(FPS) provides subsidized food-grains to beneficiaries every month. For this purpose, beneficiaries are divided into APL, BPL, and Antodaya Anna Yojna groups.

Issues plaguing PDS

1. Targeting errors
2. Leakage and diversion

Recents Events

National Transparency Portal for PDS 

• It is launched by Ministry of Consumer Affairs
• It will be a single platform for all PDS related information
• It will help in bringing transparency and efficiency

Chhattisgarh Example

National Food Security Bill

• Proposes food-grain entitlements up to 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population.
• At least 46% of the rural and 25% of the urban population will be designated as priority household.
• Priority households will be entitled to 7 kgs of food-grains per person per month. General household will get at least 3 kgs.
• Central Govt. will determine the %age of households at state level and state will identify those households
• Grievance redressal mechanism will be set up at district, state and central level.
• Proposes reform to TPDS

Issues 

• The bill classifies beneficiaries into 3 groups. The process of identifying and placing the beneficiaries into their respective groups may lead to inclusion or exclusion errors.
• 
  

Public Procurement Bill, 2012

CBD : COP-11

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-openpage/beware-the-loss-of-biodiversity/article3928218.ece

Anti-Corruption

Constitutional & Legal Provisions (Static part from M Laxmikanth)

Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)

Intro : Agency to prevent corruption at the central govt level. Created by an executive resolution in 1964 on the recommendations of K Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption (1962-64)

It was given legal status in 2003.

Composition : CVC + not more than 2 VCs

Appointment : By President on recommendation of a committee consisting of PM, FM and leader of the opposition in the LS.

Tenure : 4 years or till the age of 65.  Not eligible for reappointment under state and central govt

Removal : By President How?

Salary, Allowances and Conditions of Service : For CVC, it is like UPSC chairman; For VC, it is like other members of UPSC

Functions :

Jurisdiction : 

Working :

Similarly State Vigilance Commissions

Central Information Commission (CIC)

Intro : Created by the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005

Composition : CIC + not more than 10 ICs

Appointment : By President on recommendation of a committee consisting of PM, leader of the opposition in the LS and a Union cabinet minister nominated by the PM.

Tenure : 5 years or till the age of 65. Not eligible for reappointment under state and central govt

Removal : By President How?

Salary, Allowances and Conditions of Service : For CIC, it is like UPSC chairman; For IC, it is like other members of UPSC

Functions :

State Information Commission (CIC)

Intro : Created by the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005

Composition : CIC + not more than 10 ICs

Appointment : By President on recommendation of a committee consisting of PM, leader of the opposition in the LS and a Union cabinet minister nominated by the PM.

Tenure : 5 years or till the age of 65. Not eligible for reappointment under state and central govt

Removal : By President How?

Salary, Allowances and Conditions of Service : For CVC, it is like UPSC chairman; For VC, it is like other members of UPSC

Functions :

Lokpal & Lokayuktas

Anti-Defection Law

The 52nd Amendment Act of 1985 made provisions for disqualifying members of Parliament or state legislature in case of they defecting to another political party.

It has made changes to Art. 100, 101, 190 & 191 and inserted 10th schedule.

Provisions

Disqualification : 

Exception :

Deciding Authority : 

Rule Making Power :

Evaluation :

Advantages :

Criticism : 

91st Amendment :

Relevant Bills (Dynamic part)

The Whistle Blower Protection Bill, 2011

The bill seeks to -

• Establish a mechanism so that complaint can be registered (by making a public interest disclosure to the central or state vigilance commission) against a public servant on allegations of corruption, willful misuse of power or any criminal offence.
• Safeguard the person who makes the complaint against victimisation.
• The Bill penalizes for knowingly making false complaints.
• Every complaint has to include the identity of the complainant.
• The vigilance commissioner cam disclose the identity to the head of the Department, if he deems it necessary. Any other disclosure is prohibited.

Issues - 

• The bill seeks to balance the victimisation of the complainant and undue harassment of a public official. It imposes penalty for false complaint. But there is no penalty for victimisation of the complainant.
• Through a Govt. resolution, CVC is designated to receive public interest disclosures. But there has been only few hundred complaints per year since then. The provisions of the bill is similar to that resolution. So, it remains to be seen the amount of change that the bill is envisioned to bring in.
• CVC can only make recommendations. He cannot impose any penalty unlike Karnataka or Delhi Lokayukta.
• The bill does not define victimization and has limited definition of disclosure unlike that in other countries such as USA, UK or Canada.
• The bill differs on many issues with the proposed bill of the Law Commission and 2nd ARC report.
• These include non-admission of anonymous complaints and lack of penalties for officials who victimize whistleblowers.

The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Bill, 2011

Introduced by MoF in Aug, 2011 to replace the existing bill of 1988. The bill seeks to -

• prohibit benami transactions
• the bill defines benami transaction
• Committee has submitted its report

The Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Officials and Officials of Public International Organizations Bill, 2011

Introduced in LS by Ministor of State for Personnel, Public Grievance and Pensions, Mr. V. Narayansamy. The bill is necessitated by India's signing of UN convention against corruption.

The bill empowers central govt to enter into agreement with other countries for enforcing this law and exchange of investigative information.

The Right of Citizens to time bound delivery of goods and services and redressal of their grievances bill, 2011 

The Electronic Delivery of Services Bill, 2011

The bill requires - 

• Public authorities will have to provide all public services (except a) that cannot be provided electronically and b) that the authority decide to keep out of electronic medium after consultation with the commission) electronically within 8 years from the commencement of this bill.
•   Establishment of Central and State Electronic Service Delivery Commission to monitor compliance of govt departments, and hear representations.
• Public Authorities have to establish a mechanism to redress complaints.

Issues - 

• Information will be needed to be stored electronically. the bill is mute regarding the security of these information.

The Prevention of Money Laundering(Amendment) Bill, 2011

Introduced by MoF, this bill seeks to amend the 2002 bill on this subject matter.

The national Identification Authority of India Bill, 2010

More discussed here

The Public Procurement Bill, 2012

Introduced by MoF in LS. The bill seeks to 

• Regulate and ensure transparency in the procurement process.
• A public servant can be imprisoned up to 5 years for accepting bribe and vitiating the bidding process.
• The bill shall not apply to procurements less than 50 lakhs or procurements made for disaster management or procurements made for national security.
• Currently, there is no overreaching legislation covering public procurement. The General Financial Rules, 2005 govern the procurements at the center.
• The bill is based on the recommendations by the committee on public procurement headed by former bureaucrat Vinod Dhall.
• The bill is aimed at fair and equitable treatment of the bidders, competitive environment, enhancing efficiency and economy, and maintaining integrity and public confidence. 

New Urea Investment Policy

CCEA approved a Urea Investment policy.
Objective of this policy -

• India currently imports 30% of its Urea requirement
• Govt. wants to reduce this import dependency by incentivizing investments in setting up new plants and expanding existing capacity. 

Under this policy, Govt. will provide 10-12 percent of post tax return on fresh capital infused.

To ensure this return, Govt. will bear the whole cose of Natural Gas, the main raw material and which accounts around 80% of the total input cost.

Govt. currently controls the urea pricing.

National Investment Board

Prelude : Big investments in infra and industries were getting delayed after being stuck up in different ministries for clearance and approval. --> Project delayed and escalation in project cost --> Slowdown in Economy (all cascading effects)

So, Finance ministry came up with the idea of NIB. The idea was if all the matters related to approvals and clearances will be handed over to a separate authority (set up with the sole purpose of expediting things), things will move faster.

But, it was opposed vehemently by other ministries, especially the MoEF, because the NIB was taking away some of the environmental approvals.
Also, it feared that, if approving a project is going to be the sole motive of NIB, then other aspects will be compromised.

So, as a toned down measure, the cabinet has decided in favor of a CCI (Cabinet Committee on Investments) rather than setting up an NIB.

CCI will be a cabinet sub-committee having all the concerned ministries on the same table.
It will also subsume Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure.

Facebook Arrest, Police over-activism

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/unfriend-the-thought-police/article4117651.ece
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/minimum-proof-maximum-sentence/article4128785.ece

Gasohol

What is it?
Gasohol = Gasoline (Petrol etc.) + Ethanol

What are the advantages in shifting to Gasohol?

1. Reduce our dependency on Petrol etc. --> Less import --> Forex -> Diplomacy etc.
2. Much cleaner fuel (emits 30% less CO) -> Clean air -> Reduced health issues etc.
3. use of sugarcane by-product --> increased profitability of sugarcane --> Rural Prosperity
4. can be used with no modifications to the vehicles' engine (if ethanol is less than 10% in composition)
5. cheaper to manufacture and India is also 4th largest producer of ethanol
6. cleans car engine time to time by dissolving harmful dirt and deposites from chambers and pipes.

What are the disadvantages in shifting to Gasohol?

1. Shift the cultivation pattern towards cash crops --> Food security etc [2 counter arguments to this]
2. not exactly eco-friendly [why?]

What are the problems in shifting to Ethanol blended petrol then?

1. Ethanol is produced from Molasses, a by-product of sugarcane.
2. At present, govt has mandated that oil companies should not charge more than 27 per liter for ethanol in order to mix that with petrol.
3. Sale of Molasses to breweries is more profitable than to sale to oil companies.
4. So, oil companies might have to import ethanol if 5% blending will become mandatory, making petrol dearer in the retail trade.

Land Acquisition

Land is a scarce resource in India. The gravity of the situation can be understood from the fact that though India has only 2.4% of total land area of the world, it houses around 17% of the total population. Additionally, India primarily being an agricultural country, depends on land to much larger extent.

Land Use in India

Out of total 329 lakh hectares of land, 43% land is used for agricultural purposes.

Land Acquisition 

Land is required for undertaking various developmental activities such as setting up school, constructing roads or railway lines etc. Govt. can undertake this measure against the will of the land owner by the help of Land Acquisition Act, 1894.

What are the problems with the old law ? 

Why a new one required now?


So, Union minister for Rural Development introduced the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011 in LS (then got referred to Parliamentary Standing committee on Rural Development), which will replace Land Acquisition Act, 1894, when passed.

[Land is a subject in state list but acquisition and requisition of property is in concurrent list]

Features -

• Applicable to acquisition of land by Govt. for its own use or to transfer to private sector
• Applicable to purchase or acquisition of land by private companies (100 acres or more in case of rural areas and 50 acres or more in case of urban areas)
• Compensation should be 4 times the market value in case of rural areas and 2 times of market value in case of urban areas.
• In case of land being acquired by govt for use by private companies or for use n PPPs, conset of at lease 80% of the displaced people is mandatory.
• This law will not be applicable to land acquisition under 16 existing laws (SEZ Act, 2005, Atomic Energy Act, 1962, Railway Act,1989 etc). and also to scheduled areas and state of J&K.
• Process for acquisition : Social Impact Assessment Survey -> Preliminary notification of the intent -> Notice for acquisition -> Compensation

Key Issues -

• It is not clear whether Parliament has jurisdiction to impose resettlement and rehabilitation requirements when Private companies are purchasing land.  
• No 'consent by 80% of people' clause for PSUs.
• As per the clauses of this bill, Govt can temporarily hold land fr 3 years period without providing for the compensation.
• Possibility of inaccurate assessment of market price of land.

2015 

24th Feb : NDA govt. introduced the refurbished bill in Lok Sabha. Uproar in the house.

Space Inc.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/another-step-towards-space-inc/article3976049.ece

Subsidy

What is it?

Sometimes, production units sell the goods and services less than the factor cost. The difference is borne by the Govt. and this is known as Subsidy.

Govt currently provides subsidy on food, fertilizer, fuel (petrol, diesel, PDS kerosene, Domestic LPG).

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-business/cooking-gas-diversion-still-a-live-threat/article3976020.ece

Fastest Computer at IIT-M

IIT-M has the fastest computer which is the fastest among all educational institutes in the country.

TOP500, a global project that details the most powerful known computer systems in the world, has ranked the new IBM Virgo Super Cluster at IIT-Madras as the 224th in the top 500.

River Water Disputes

Water (Use, Control & Distribution) is a state subject (Entry 17).
Some Exceptions -
Art. 262 in Part XII deals with dispute resolution w.r.t an inter-state river. Constitution makes below provisions in this regard.
1. Parliament can provide mechanism to resolve disputes regarding regulate use, distribution or control of any inter-stare river water or valley by enacting a law
2. Parliament can also declare that SC or any other court do not have any jurisdiction on the above subject.

With these provisions, the Parliament has enacted -
1. River Boards Act (1956) -> River Boards
2. Inter-State Water Disputes Act (1956)

Govt. has set up 6 inter-state water dispute tribunal till date.

1. Krishna Tribunal (1969)
2. Godavari Tribunal (1969)
3. Narmada Tribunal (1969)
4. Ravi and Beas Tribunal (1986)
5. Cauvery Tribunal (1990)
6. Second Krishna Tribunal (2004)
7. Mahadayi/Mandovi Tribunal (2010)
8. Vanshadhara Tribunal (2010)

Other River Disputes : 

1. Mullaperiyar issue - http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/mullaperiyar-final-hearing-date-to-be-fixed-on-nov-5/article3970786.ece
2. 
   

Illegal Mining

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/supreme-court-halts-mining-in-goa/article3970618.ece

Advancement of clock by 1 hour for Eastern India

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/not-in-their-comfort-zone/article3937089.ece

Economic Indicators

Fiscal Deficit for the FY 2011-12 was 5.7% of GDP. Govt. hopes to bring it down to 5.1%.
CAD deficit is at 4.2% in last fiscal.
GDP growth was 6.5% in FY 2011-2012

Sudanese Conflict

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/final-solution-eludes-the-two-sudans/article3933618.ece

Recent Economic Reforms

Includes -
1. Raise in price of diesel by INR 5.
2. capping of subsidized domestic LPG cylinder to 6 per annum.
3. 51% FDI in multi brand retail.
4. ____ in single brand retail
5. ____ in civil aviation

Aftermath -

• TMC with 19 MPs pulled out of the govt.
• Bharat Bandh
• Delhi state govt. will provide additional 3 subsidized cylinders for domestic purposes.
• Excise and custom duty cut on domestic non-subsidized LPG cylinders.
• FM P. Chidambaram has approved the operational features of Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme (RGESS) to attract first time investors to stock market through a tax savings scheme. This will also act as an alternative to investment in gold.
• FM also approved foreign borrowings through loan and long term infrastructure bonds. So, no case-by-case approval is reqd.

Salient Features of RGESS :

-- It will provide tax deduction of 50% for investments up to 50000 for investors whose annual taxable income in below 10 lakhs.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-business/article3924675.ece
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/old-arguments-warmed-up/article3930494.ece

Insurance Sector (09/30/2012) :
FM Chidambaram announced a revival package for the life insurance sector.
Package includes -
1. Banks can act as insurance broker as they can sell products from multiple insurance companies. At present, they can sell only one company's under Bancassurance policy.
2. 49% FDI in insurance sector was approved by cabinet on 22nd Aug.

Next Wave of Reforms (10/05/2012) : http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/upaii-gambles-with-another-round-of-big-bang-reforms/article3966789.ece
Cabinet approved
   -  49% FDI in Insurance sector & Insurance Laws (Amendments) Bill, 2008 (http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-business/fdi-in-insurance-hiked-to-49/article3966757.ece)
(http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-business/playing-brinksmanship-to-promote-infrastructure/article3976022.ece)
   - Opening of Pension sector to Foreign Investment
   - Clearing Companies Bill, 2011
   - Amendments to the Competition Act, 2002
   - Foreign Contracts (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2012

118th Constitutional Amendment Bill

It seeks to insert a new article 371-J to Part XXI of Indian constitution.
Objective : To provide special provision/status to 6 backward districts in Hyderabad-Karnataka region.
Detailed Provisions -
1. A separate Development Board to see more funds are allocated to this region among other things.
2. Local reservation in education and govt. jobs

Part XXI (Temporary, Transitional & Special Provisions) [Art 371-A to 371-I]
It contains special provisions for 10 states.

371 : Mah & Guj
371-A : Nagaland
371-B : Assam
371-C : Manipur
371-D, 371-E : Andhra Pradesh
371-F : Sikkim
371-G : Mizoram
371-H : Arunachal Pradesh
371-I : Goa

CAG

CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India)

What is it ?
It is an independent constitutional (Art. 148) authority/ position.
Head of Indian Audit & Accounts Department (estd. 1753). In short, he is the guardian of entire financial system, both at centre and state level.
A bulwark of Indian Democracy. Others being -
SC
EC
UPSC

Appointed by the President [Administrative Power of the President]
Oath before the President    [Administrative Power of the President]
Appointed for a period of 6 years till the age of 65.
Removal :
-- Can resign addressing to the President.
-- Can be removed by the President in the same manner as a SC judge only on grounds of proven misbehavior or incapacity.

Constitutional Provisions for independent functioning of CAG :
6 points

Duties & Powers
Art 149 authorizes parliament to lay down powers. So, CAG's (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971 (amended in 1976) specifies 13 powers.
1. All Consolidated Funds (center, states, UTs having lgislature)
2. All Contingency funds and Public Accounts.
3. All accounts of all departments of central and state govt.
4. receipts also
5.

Responsible only to the Parliament.
In practice, CAG functions only as an auditor, unlike that in Britain.
CAG does two types of audit.
1. Audit from legal and regulatory perspective.
2. Audit from propriety perspective. This is not discretionary. e.g. In case of coal block allocation report, PAC had asked CAG to look into this 3-4 yrs. back.

Secret service expenditure is a limitation on audit functionality of CAG. It will only get a certificate  from competent administrative authority.

Why in News ?
Recently published its report on allocation of coal blocks and augmentation of coal production.
The report states that col ministry's failure to introduce competitive bidding process while allocating coal blocks between 2004 and 2009 has led to a loss of 1.6 lakh crores to the exchequer.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-business/rilcag-row-goes-to-pmo/article4132065.ece
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/cag-seeks-right-to-audit-clause-included-in-oil-and-blocks-auction-contracts/article4113504.ece

Right To Education

Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 provides for free and compulsory education to children within age group of 6 to 14 years and mandates government/ aided/ non-aided non-minority schools to reserve 25% of seats for them.
In April this year, SC had upheld the validity of this act.

Now, SC has refused to admit any more petition on this.

First indigenous AEW&C

India's first indigenously developed Air Borne Early warning & Control system will be unveiled by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne.

Flown on an aircraft — a modified Embraer EMB 1451 — the system provides early warning to the military about enemy aircraft.

ISRO's 100th Mission

Recently ISRO conducted its 100th space mission

What happened in this 100th mission ?

ISRO launched two satellites using PSLV C-21 rocket.
Where : Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, AP.
1. SPOT 6 : A french satellite
2. Proiteres : A japanese micro satellite

India's Defence preparedness

DRDO is the main developer of India's defence arsenals.

Nirbhay
- Sub-sonic (less than the speed of sound) terrain-hugging cruise missile
- India's equivalent of Tomahawk
- Range : 1000 kms
- Launched from : any surface

A top DRDO official said the advantage with the “fast-reaction” Nirbhay was that it would be difficult for enemy radars to detect it.

The missile was highly manoeuvrable and could change the trajectory mid-course because of “waypoint navigation.”

Astra
- Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM)
- Currently under development
- The 3.8 m long Astra is the smallest of the missiles developed by DRDO.

Nag
- Fire and forget anti tank missile with a range of 4 kms.
- NAMICA : The vehicle to launch Nag
- HELINA  : Version of Nag to be launched from helicopter

Agni and Prithvi variants are surface-to-surface missiles.
Dhanush is a naval variant of Prithvi.

Prithvi
- India's
Prithvi II : Personnel of Strategic Forces Command successfully test fired this surface-to-surface nuclear warhead capable, 350 kms range missile from a road mobile launcher.
It is a single stage liquid propellant missile.
Agni
- India's long range missile system
Agni III : Personnel of Strategic Forces Command will conduct a test- firing of this missile on Sep 21.

• 3000 kms range, surface-to-surface nuclear capable missile
• 2 stage solid propelled missile that can carry warhead of 1.5 tonnes.

- Agni IV : final developmental test flight on Sep 20. If successful, commercial induction into the services early next year.

• Two stage solid propellant
• Can carry payload of 1000 kgs till 4000 kms.
• Its re-entry vehicle is equipped with heat shield to enable the payload withstand searing temperatures of more than 3,000 degrees Celsius. 
The missile’s advanced ring-laser gyro-based INS ensures a high degree of accuracy.

- Agni V :

• 5000 kms. range.

Wind Energy

Ministry of Renewable Energy (MRES)

Wind Mill - When attached to an agricultural Mill (converts kinetic energy to mechanical energy)
Wind Turbine - When converts kinetic energy to electric energy

Leading States in India -
TN, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra

Installed capacity in India - 17000 MW by close to 17000 wind mills/ turbines

Center for Wind Energy Technology (CWET), Chennai

Right To Education

Became a FR (Art. 21A) by 86th Amendement, 2002
RTE Act, 2009
In a 2:1 judgement SC upheld the validity of this act on Apr 12.
Salient Features of this Act -
1. Free and compulsory Education to Children between age of 8 and 14
2. Reservation of 25% of seats for these children in Govt., aided and non-minority unaided schools.

It will come into effect from academic year 2012-13.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) keeps an eye on RTE's implementation



Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 provides for free and compulsory education to children within age group of 6 to 14 years and mandates government/ aided/ non-aided non-minority schools to reserve 25% of seats for them.
In April this year, SC had upheld the validity of this act.

Now, SC has refused to admit any more petition on this.

Word Power

Tenacious : Holding or tending to hold persistently to something, such as a point of view.


2. Holding together firmly; cohesive: a tenacious material.
3. Clinging to another object or surface; adhesive: tenacious lint.
4. Tending to retain; retentive: a tenacious memory.


Conceal : To keep Secret

Kakodkar Committee on Railway Safety

Anil Kakodkar was previously chairman of AEC.
The plans in this committee report will require investment to the tune of 1 lakh crore.
It was set up in the aftermath of derailment of Kalka mail in July, 2011.


Key Recommendations - 

1. zero tolerance towards accidents
2. Doing away with the open discharge system
3. Doing away with level crossings in the next 5 years as Advance Warning safety equipments earlier tried at level crossings have failed due to thefts. Nearly 15000 people die every year while crossing 64000 kms. strong India's rail network(6000 in Mumbai alone).
4. Doing away with the coaches manufactured at ICF and switching over to LHB coaches completely.
5. Adoption of an advanced signaling system based on continuous track circuiting and cab signaling similar to European train control system Level-II on the entire trunk routes of about 19,000 route kilometres at an estimated cost of Rs 20,000 crore within five years

A similar Committee headed by H R Khanna was also set up in Sep, 1997 after another major derailment.
2 key actions on the recommendations of khanna Committee - 
1. Special Railway Protection Fund (SRPF) of 17,000 crore.
2. Corporate Safety Plan (CSP) 2003-13.


Rakesh Mohan Committee report, 2011