India Blue Won NKP Salve Challenger Trophy 2013-14

India Blue cricket squad won the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy by defeating Delhi by 50 runs in the final at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore on 29 September 2013.

Electing to bat first, the Indian blue posted a total of 274 for nine in their 50 overs before bowling out the strong Delhi batting line-up for 224 in 44.4 overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar selected for Man-of-the match for his four wickets.

Yuvraj singh captained the India Blue team, whereas Virat Kohli captained the Delhi team.

The teams which are participated in the tournament are India Blue, India Red and Delhi.  The 2012-13 edition of the tournament was won by India B Squad.

About N.K.P. Salve Challenger Trophy

The NKP Salve Challenger Trophy, commonly referred to as the Challenger Trophy, is an Indian List A cricket tournament organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Established in the 1994–1995 season, it is played with the purpose of showcasing the talent that the country has, as well as providing opportunities for younger players to make an impression.

Mythily Sivaraman Wrote A Book Haunted by Fire Essays On Caste, Class, Exploitation And Emancipation

Haunted by Fire: Essays on Caste, Class, Exploitation and Emancipation: Mythily  Sivaraman

The book titled Haunted by Fire: Essays on Caste, Class, Exploitation and Emancipation authored by Mythily Sivaraman released in International Centre in New Delhi on 1 October 2013.

The book focused on essays range from agrarian unrest, caste oppression, land, labour and wages, the centrality of class struggle, the early promise of change, the radical course of left struggles, the coercive apparatus of the state, issues of impunity and the way the Emergency worked out on the ground.

About Mythili Sivaraman

• Mythili Sivaraman is a Women Rights Activist.
• She is currently one of the Vice Presidents of the All India Democratic Women's Association (Women's wing of Communist Party of India (Marxist)).
• She worked as a Research Assistant in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN (July 1966 to mid-1968).

Jet-Etihad deal Approved by SEBI (Securities Exchange Board of India)

Jet-Etihad deal was approved by SEBI (Securities Exchange Board of India) on 1 October 2013. Jet Airways had proposed to sale 24 percent stake to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad. The Jet-Etihad deal was announced in April 2013 and because of objections from regulators the deal was stuck half-way. The proposal will now be considered by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) had also asked for changes in the original deal. The two parties had informed the fair trade regulator about the changes in the deal and approval from the CCI is expected soon.

SEBI informed the Finance Ministry about its decision on 25 September 2013.

With this deal in place, Jet eventually has a 51 per cent stake in the company, Etihad 24 per cent and the public the remaining 25 per cent.

First National Award for Senior Citizens- Vayoshreshtha Samman, 2013 Presented

The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee presented the First National Award for Senior Citizens - Vayoshreshtha Samman, 2013 on the occasion of International Day of Older Persons at a function in New Delhi on 1 October 2013. 

/>The First National Award For Senior Citizens - Vayoshreshtha Samman, 2013 were given in the following categories:

• National Award for Best Institution for providing services to senior citizens and Awareness Generation
• National Award for Best State in implementing the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (MWPSC) Act, 2007, & providing services and facilities to senior citizens
• National Award for Centenarian Senior Citizen
• National Award for Iconic Mother
• National Award for Lifetime Achievement
• National Award for Creative Art
• National Award for Sports & Adventure Award (Male)
• National Award for Sports and Adventure (Female)

Steps taken for senior citizens by the Government of India

• In context with the senior citizens of India, The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 was enacted. 
• Apart from this, Model Rules were also brought out by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. 
• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment explained that ageing posed two main challenges- the need to ensure care and protection of the elderly so that they live a healthy, dignified and productive life and secondly, the older people must be looked at as partners in progress rather than a burden on society. 
• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment announced National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP) in 1999 to ensure active and productive ageing by evolving a framework of providing financial, medical, social and emotional support.
• Another policy called National Policy for Senior Citizens 2011 was also introduced. 
• The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 essentially aims at creating an enabling mechanism to make the claim for maintenance simpler, speedier and affordable.
• The grant-in-aid scheme called the Integrated Programme for Older Persons extends grants to NGOs for supporting old age homes, day care centres and mobile medi-care units.
• The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment launched the Project ‘NICE’ (National Initiative on Care for Elderly). This is implemented through National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), an autonomous body of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in 2000.
• National programme for Health care of Elderly (NPHCE) has been formulated and implemented in the country through the ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The major objectives of the NPHCE include provision of dedicated health care facilities for elderly at various levels of State healthcare delivery system.

Union Cabinet Decided to Withdraw Ordinance and Bill Relating to Representation of People's Act

Union Cabinet on 2 October 2013 decided to withdraw the ordinance on convicted lawmakers, as well as the Bill that sought to amend the Representation of the People Act.

The Cabinet took the decision in a meeting which was chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on 2 October 2013. 

The Union Cabinet had approved on 24 September 2013 the Ordinance which sought to negate the Supreme Court order of 10 July 2013 which ruled that any lawmaker would stand immediately disqualified if convicted by a court. 

The Ordinance was not signed by President Pranab Mukherjee as he had reservations on it. Government had resorted to the Ordinance route after it failed to get a Bill in this regard passed by Parliament during the Monsoon session which ended in September 2013. 

The ordinance, once promulgated, will allow the convicted MPs or MLAs to continue in office if their appeal is admitted by a higher court within 90 days of conviction by the trial court. However, they will not be allowed to vote or draw salaries till the case is decided.

About the Ordinance

The Ordinance is the Legislative Power of President of India covered in Article 123 of Constitution of India. 

Article 123 of Constitution of India:
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 operate at 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 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.

The International Day of Non-Violence observed on 2 October

2 October- The International Day of Non-Violence

The International Day of Non-Violence was observed on 2 Octoberacross the world on the occasion of birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The International Day of Non-Violence is also known as Gandhi Jayanti in India. 

In the year 2004, Shirin Ebadi, the Iranian Nobel laureate took the proposal of International Day of Non-Violence to the World Social Forum in Bombay. On 15 June 2007 the United Nations General Assembly established 2 October as the International Day of Non-Violence. The resolution of the UN General Assembly asked the members of UN system to commemorate 2 October as the International Day of Non-Violence and disseminate the message of non-violence through public awareness and education.

How is International Day of Non-Violence observed or celebrated?

• People, NGOs as well as the Governments across the world observe this day through different activities as well as events. These activities and events include:
• Broadcast announcements as well as news articles for promotion of the day
• Discussions, seminars, press conferences as well as public lectures in context with the non-violence
• Photo exhibitions which highlight the issues and adverse effects related to violence
• Awareness campaigns
• Light ceremonies
• Prayer meetings

It is important to note that the International Day of Non-Violence is strongly associated with Mahatma Gandhi, also known as the Father of the Nation of India. He is also symbolised as the peace leader.

HRD Ministry Constituted Council of National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research

The Ministry of Human Resource Development of Government of India announced on 2 October 2013 to constitute a Council of National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR).

It will facilitate better coordination and synergy between the four NITTTRs located at Chandigarh, Bhopal, Calcutta and Chennai. The Council shall be chaired by the Minister of Human Resource Development (ex-officio) with Chairman and Directors of the four NITTTRs and other academicians as members. 

The Council will act as an advisory body to the Union Government on matters relating to Central policies, administration, development of plans and rules, curriculum and institutional resources for the NITTTRs. 

Functions of National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR)

• To train technical teachers
• To develop curriculum and institutional resources
• To assist Central and State Governments and technical institutes towards improving related process and products.
• Learning Resources Development
• Research and Development

About National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research

• National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR) institutes were established in Chandigarh, Bhopal, Chennai and Kolkata in 1965.
• They were established by the Department of Education, MHRD Government of India as fully centrally funded autonomous institutions for providing pre and in-service training to the teachers and staff of Degree and Diploma level training institutions and also for conducting various activities related to quality improvement of the technical education system of the country.

Sun Pharmaceutical Entered Into Joint Venture with Intrexon Corporation

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries India's biggest drug maker by market capital and USA based Intrexon Corporation, a leading player in synthetic biology announced on 2 October 2013 to establish a joint venture to develop controllable gene-based therapies for the treatment of eye diseases.

The joint venture will helpful for Sun Pharma's  to increase their global capabilities and experience in developing and manufacturing complex dosage forms .It will also enhance their specialty pharmaceuticals for niche therapy areas.

The partners will initially work on  age related macular degeneration ( AMD)(a medical condition that causes partial or full loss of vision among older adults), glaucoma(a kind of eye disease) and retinitis pigmentosa(an eye disease that causes severe vision loss and at times even blindness)

Critically Endangered Sumatran Tiger Cub Born At London Zoo

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) announced on 2 October 2013 that an endangered Sumatran tiger Melati gave birth to the cub on 30 September 2013. The rare species of the tiger cub was born born six months after the new Tiger Territory at London Zoo was opened. The new Tiger Territory at London Zoo is designed for encouraging the breeding of critically endangered sub-species of Tiger.

The birth of the critically endangered cub species was observed through the hidden cameras.  The zookeepers are yet not aware about the sex of the cub and the cub will also remain hidden from the public for a long time.

It is important to note that this is the first time in 17 years that a Sumatran tiger cub is born at the London Zoo.

About the Sumatran tiger

• The Sumatran tiger, also known as Panthera tigris sumatrae is the rare sub-species of Tiger which inhabits the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
• It is the critically endangered tiger sub-species and was declared so by the IUCN in the year 2008. In the year 2008, its population was estimated at 441 to 679 only and its subpopulation was not more than 50. 
• It is the only surviving member of Sunda Islands group of tigers, which also included the Bali tiger and Javan tiger, both of which are now extinct.

Net Oil Imports of Southeast Asia to Be More Than Double By 2035: IEA

The International Energy Agency (IEA) announced on 2 October 2013 that the net oil imports of Southeast Asia will be more than double by the year 2035, costing 240 billion US dollar. The oil imports of Southeast Asia will increase in order to fulfill the high energy demand growth. The role of IEA is co-ordination of the energy policy for the developed economies.

IEA announced that the net oil imports of Southeast Asia will increase to more than 5 million barrels per day (bpd), an increase from the current 1.9 million bpd. This is just behind European Union, India and China. 

It is important to note that the ten countries of ASEAN will also join India and China in making Asia the global energy demand growth centre of the world because the per-capita energy use of Southeast Asia is very low even now. This is just half of the global average.

IEA explained that Southeast Asia faces an increased dependence on the oil imports and therefore, it will impose increased costs, thus leaving it more open to the potential disruptions. In this region, Thailand and Indonesia will be leading and their net oil import bills will be tripled to around 70 billion US Dollar each by the year 2035. The fuel subsidies will remain the primary factor in distortion of the energy markets. 

The overall energy demand of Southeast Asia will increase by more than 80 percent by the year 2035 in order to support the tripling of the economy as well as population of Southeast Asian region. This also includes an increase in the oil consumption to 6.8 million bpd over 2011-2035 from the 4.4 million bpd at present. 

With an increase in the energy demand, Southeast Asia will export less coal and natural gas. The major gas producers in Southeast Asian region include Brunei, Malaysia, Myanmar and Indonesia. All these gas producers will bring down the net exports from 63 bcm at present to 14 bcm in 2035. 
The top exporter of thermal coal will be Indonesia, according to the forecast of IEA.

Government of India Appointed a Committee to Define FDI and FII

Government of India appointed on 2 October 2013 a four member committee headed by Arvind Mayaram, Economic Affairs Secretary .The committee was set up to clear the ambiguity between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Institutional Investment (FII).

The committee will look into the difference between them and it will also give definition of FDI and FII.

The other members of the committee were the Secretary of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), the Deputy Reserve Bank of India Governor and a whole time member of market regulator SEBI. 

Finance Minister of India in his Budget speech (2013-14) proposed to follow the international practice with regard to definitions of FDI and FII. He also gave definition of FDI and FII. If anyone investing in a company 10 percent or less is considered as FII and above 10 percent is considered as FDI.

Gambia Decided to Withdraw from the Commonwealth

The Gambian Government on 2 October 2013 announced that it is pulling out of the Commonwealth with immediate effect.  Gambian, a West African country joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1965

The Gambian also stated that it will never be a member of any neo-colonial institution and will never be a party to any institution that represents an extension of colonialism.

The decision came after the Government rejected a proposal by the Commonwealth in 2012 to create commissions in Banjul (capital of Gambia) to protect human rights, media rights and fight against corruption.

The last country to be withdrawn from the Commonwealth group was Zimbabwe in 2003.

About the Commonwealth 

The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 54 countries, many of them former territories of the British Empire. It was established in 1949.

Member countries

Fifty-four countries are members of the Commonwealth. These Countries are from Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific and are diverse – they are amongst the world’s largest, smallest, richest and poorest countries. Thirty-two of our members are classified as small states – countries with a population size of 1.5million people or less and larger member states that share similar characteristics with them. 

Leaders of member countries shape Commonwealth policies and priorities. Every two years, they meet to discuss issues affecting the Commonwealth and the wider world at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).  

All members have an equal say regardless of size or economic stature. This ensures even the smallest member countries have a voice in shaping the Commonwealth.

The last two countries to join The Commonwealth - Rwanda and Mozambique - have no historical ties to the British Empire.

About Gambia

The Republic of the Gambia, also commonly known as Gambia is a country in West Africa. It is surrounded by Senegal, apart from a short strip of Atlantic coastline at its western end. It is the smallest country on mainland Africa. Banjul is the Gambia’s capital. Gambia is a republic and its current President is Yahya Jammeh.

Tom Clancy, the US Thriller Author, Died At 66 in Baltimore

Tom Clancy, the writer known for thrillers, especially The Hunt for Red October and Patriot Games, died in Baltimore, US on 1 October 2013. He was 66 years old. He was credited with 17 New York Times bestsellers and had launched into the career of writing with the help of the then US president Ronald Reagan.

Life History of Tom Clancy

• Tom Clancy was born on 12 April 1947 in Baltimore, US.
• He was an American author who was best known for detailed espionage as well as military sciences stories set during and after the time period of the Cold War.
• His first novel was The Hunt for Red October. The novel included his most famous character named Jack Ryan, the CIA agent who eventually became the President.
• His initial few works focused on the cold war, but his works also included terrorism.
• In the year 1994, his novel entitled Debt of Honor was harshly psychic.
• Apart from the thrillers, his works also included Command Authority, the 13th Jack Ryan novel.
• His works also included non-fiction, a few which were co-authored too. His novel 1993 Submarine: A Guided Tour Inside a Nuclear Warship was co-authored.
• His novel entitled Clear and Present Danger was the Number 1 bestselling novel of the 1980s.

Awards and Achievements

• He was among only three authors who sold two million copies on a first printing in the 1990s. The other two included John Grisham and J. K. Rowling.
• Tom Clancy received an honorary doctorate in humane letters at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the year 1992.
• He was also honoured with the Yeoman Warder of The Tower of London and received the title Supernumerary Yeoman.
• In the year 1990, he received the Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary Achievement from the Navy League of the United States.

ASI and Google Signed Agreement for Launching 100 Heritage Sites Online

The Union Ministry of culture launched on 3 October 2013 a unique project to put 100 most important Indian heritage sites online. The sites include the Taj Mahal, Khajuraho , Ajanta and Ellora caves.
Under the project Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) signed an agreement with Google to create 360 degree online imagery of 100 of India’s most important heritage sites.

According to the agreement detailed imagery of the identified heritage sites will be placed over the Internet for public viewing.

The imagery of the heritage sites will be available on Google Maps and the World Wonders site within the Google Cultural Institute. This will facilitate people to virtually view and explore these areas.
The project will make the experience of visiting heritage sites online more enjoyable and also bring them to the notice of billions of people connected globally via the Internet.

About Archaeological Survey of India

• Archaeological Survey of India is the premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection of the cultural heritage of the India.
• Maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance is the prime concern of the ASI.
• It regulates all archaeological activities in the country as per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
• It also regulates Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972.
• For the maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance the entire country is divided into 27 Circles.
• There are 3678 Monuments are declared as protected by the ASI, out of which 20 are World Heritage sites.
• Recently 6 forts of Rajasthan have been declared as World Heritage site by UNESCO under serial nomination as Hill forts of Rajasthan

Polly Anthony, the Former Epic Records President Died At 59

Polly Anthony, the former Epic Records President died in the last week of September 2013. She was 59 years old. She led Epic Records from the year 1997 to 2003. She died because of pancreatic cancer in Beverly Hills, California.

Life History of Polly Anthony

• Polly Anthony worked along with Celine Dion, Michael Jackson and Rage against the Machine.
• She became the President of the Dreamworks and then Co-President of Geffen Records.
• She worked with Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Macy Gray and Pearl Jam.
• She also oversaw soundtracks to Chicago and Titanic and took them to great success. 
• Recently, she also worked in the movie projects and TV, which included HBO series Off the Record and CBS’ Jimmy Smits starrer Cane.

Indian Railways Signed Pact with RINL to Set up India's Biggest Forged Wheel Plant in UP

The Indian Railways on 3 October 2013 signed a pact with Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) to set up the country's biggest Forged Wheel plant at Lalganj, Raebarelli in Uttar Pradesh.

About the Forged Wheel Plant
• The Plant to be set with an investment of about 1100 crore Rupees will produce one lakh numbers of Forged Wheels per annum in the First phase for Locos and High speed trains. The capacity of the plant can be doubled in the Second phase for a production of over two lakh wheels per annum.

• The steel requirement for the plant located in 40 acres is to be supplied by the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL).

• The Factory expected to be operational in over three years, could provide employment to about 600 people.

• The Forged wheel plant will reduces India's dependence on imports of high speed forged wheels for trains.

• The quality of wheel manufactured in the plant will be tested and certified by International certifying agency TTCI, USA.

• Forged wheels are essentially required in the rolling stock for running longer trains at higher speed.

827 Million Undernourished People are Living in Developing Countries

The United Nations food agencies (Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP)) released a report on The State of Food Insecurity in the World on 1 October 2013.It highlighted that Some 842 million people or roughly one in eight suffered from chronic hunger in 2011-13 not getting enough food to lead active and healthy lives.

Highlights of the State of Food Insecurity in the World report

• A total of 842 million people in 2011–13 or around one in eight people in the world were estimated to be suffering from chronic hunger, regularly not getting enough food to conduct an active life. This ¬figure is lower than the 868 million reported with reference to 2010–12. The total number of undernourished has fallen by 17 percent since 1990–92.
• The vast majority of hungry people 827 million live in developing regions where the prevalence of undernourishment is now estimated at 14.3 percent where as 15.7 million people live in developed countries.
• While the estimated number of undernourished people has continued to decrease, the rate of progress appears insufficient to reach international goals for hunger reduction in developing regions the 1996 World Food Summit (WFS) target, which is to halve the number of hungry people by 2015, and the 2001 Millennium Development Goal (MDG) hunger target, which is to halve the proportion of hungry people in the total population by 2015.
• While at the global level there has been an overall reduction in the number of undernourished between 1990–92 and 2011–13, different rates of progress across regions have led to changes in the distribution of undernourished people in the world. Most of the world’s undernourished people are still to be found in Southern Asia, closely followed by sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Asia. The regional share has declined most in Eastern Asia and South-Eastern Asia. Meanwhile, the share has increased in Southern Asia, in sub-Saharan Africa and in Western Asia and Northern Africa.
• Africa remains the region with the highest prevalence of undernourishment with more than one live in people estimated to be undernourished.
• Both the number and proportion of people undernourished have decreased signifi¬cantly in most countries in Asia, particularly in South-Eastern Asia, but progress in Southern Asia has been slower, especially in terms of the number of people undernourished.
• The prevalence of undernourishment is lower in Western Asia than in other parts of the region but has risen steadily since 1990–92. With a decline in prevalence from 31.1 to 10.7 percent, the most rapid progress was recorded in South-Eastern Asia, followed by Eastern Asia.
• The Asia region as a whole is nearly on track to achieve the MDG hunger target. The target has already been reached in the Caucasus and Central Asia, East Asia and South-Eastern Asia, while it has nearly been reached in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Food security is a complex condition. Its dimensions – availability, access, utilization and stability are better understood when presented through a suite of indicators.