Geeta Chandran, Bharatnatyam exponent honoured with Guru Debaprasad Award

Renowned Bharatnatyam exponent Geeta Chandran was on 29 October 2013 honoured with the prestigious Guru Debaprasad Award for outstanding contribution in the field of dance. The award was presented to Geeta Chandran and three others by Odisha Governor S C Jamir at in Bhubaneswar. 

The others Awardees are

• Dr. Anita Ratnam (Contemporary Dance)

• Guru Shashadhar Acharya (Chhau Dance)

• Guru Sudhakar Sahu (Odissi)

Guru Debaprasad Award is an annual award, instituted in memory of eminent Odissi exponent Guru Debaprasad Das. The award was constituted by Tridhara dance institute in the year 2007. 

About Geetha chandran

• Geetha chandran is India’s renowned Bharatanatyam dancer. She was recipient of Padmashri and a celebrated artist, Geetha Chandran is virtually synonymous with the Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam.
• She is Founder-President of Natya-Vriksha, where she teaches and promotes Bharatanatyam.
• She is also Artistic Director of the Natya Vriksha Dance Company, which has travelled all over the world with its dance presentations.

Bollywood Actress Kareena Kapoor honoured in the House of Commons

Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor on 29 October 2013 was honoured in the House of Commons, London for her contribution to the global entertainment industry. The 33-year old actress was presented a framed golden coloured plaque by NRI MP Keith Vaz, Chairman of Britain’s Home Affairs Committee. Kareena was also honoured by the Asian Sunday Newspaper.
Besides Kareena, singer Kimberley Walsh and magician Dynamo (Aka Steven Frayne) were honoured by the Asian Sunday Newspaper for their contributions to the global entertainment-industry.

Kareena has several blockbuster films to her credit which includes Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Omkara, Jab We Met, 3 Idiots, Golmaal 3 and Bodyguard.

Kareena is the only Bollywood artist to be honoured at British Parliament after Amitabh Bachchan and she is the first Bollywood actress to be honoured by UK Parliament.

United Nations General Assembly Voted against US Embargo on Cuba

For the 22nd consecutive year at the United Nations, the United Nations General Assembly on 29 October 2013 adopted a resolution calling for an end to the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba.

One hundred and eighty-eight countries voted for the non-binding resolution and only the United States and Israel voted against the resolution. Three countries abstained (Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau).

The US imposed the embargo on Cuba in 1960, shortly after Fidel Castro took power and seized US-owned assets on the island.

About the United Nations General Assembly

• It the deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations.
• It has all 193 Members of the United Nations.
• It provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter.

All India Football Federation signed Agreement with Australia for its Grass-root Programme

All India Football Federation (AIFF) on 30 October 2013 signed an agreement under Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP) with Football Federation of Australia (FFA) to support AIFF's Grassroots Programme. The agreement includes financial, administrative and technical support (from FFA) in the form of capacity building within the State Associations who at present are involved in the Grassroots Programme, Grassroots Courses and Grassroots Festivals.

The ASOP India is an Australian government initiative implemented by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) with a commitment of 5 million Australian dollars over five years (2009-14).

The AIFF Grassroots Programme is aimed at for boys and girls between 6 to 12 years of age. It is executed through the State Football Associations and incorporates all stakeholders such as clubs, schools and community football initiators.

CCEA approved the launch of the IPDS for Textiles Industry

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 30 October 2013 approved the launch of the new Integrated Processing Development Scheme (IPDS) during the 12th five year plan with an investment of 500 crore rupees. The IPDS was approved for establishment of four to six brown field projects and three to five green field projects that addresses the environmental issues that is faced by the Textile Processing Units. 

The projects are eligible under the scheme that cover following things: 

• Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP)
• Captive power generation on technology preferably renewable/green technology
• Infrastructure such as storm water management, necessary roads and pipelines for water & wastewater 
• Facility for testing and R&D centers

The scheme would make possible for the textiles industry to become the globally competitive by using the processing standards and technology, which are environment friendly and by creating the new processing parks. It will also help in upgradation of the processing clusters/centers in existence, specifically in the areas of the water and waste water management. The scheme will also encourage the research and development work in the textiles processing sector.

Subhas Goswami Appointed as the Director General of ITBP

Subhas Goswami, director of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy appointed as the Director General (DG) of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on 30 October 2013. He will succeed Ajay Chadha, IPS.

About Subhas Goswami

• Subhas Goswami is an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre.
• He served in Assam in various capacities as SP NC Hills and Morigaon; Commandant of Battalions in Assam Police; DIG (Central Western Range), Guwahati; DIG, Western Range, Kokrajhar; DIG (Security); DIG (Border) and Director, Assam State Forensic Science Organisation, Guwahati; and IGP (Bureau of Investigation and Economic Offences).
• He served as IGP of CRPF from February 2001 to February 2008. 
• He served the Assam Police Housing Corporation Ltd., as its Chairman-cum-Managing Director from November 2009 to February 2013. 
• He was decorated with the Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2001 and the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Services in 2007.

About Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
• The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is an Indian force conceived on 24 October 1962 for security along the India's border with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
• ITBP is a specialized mountain force.

Pharmaceuticals Purchase Policy approved by the Union Cabinet

The Union Cabinet on 30 October 2013 approved the five years Pharmaceuticals Purchase Policy (PPP). The PPP renewal has been approved to ensure finest utilization of the installed capacity of pharma of the Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).  

As per the policy, 103 medicines were validated for five years from the date of the issue of the orders by the Department of Pharmaceuticals. The pricing of the products would be done by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) following the cost based formulae, as per the Drugs Price Control Order. Uniform discount of 16 percent on all products would be available. 

The policy extended only to the Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) under the administrative control of Department of Pharmaceuticals, like the Hindustan Antibiotics, Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals, Rajasthan Drugs and Pharmaceuticals and Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals along with and their subsidiaries, where Governments holds minimum of 51 percent or more shares. 

In the year 2006, the Cabinet approved the same type of policy for 102 medicines which are manufactured by the PSUs that expired in the year 2011.

World's First Bitcoin ATM Launched in Vancouver, Canada

The world’s first Bitcoin ATM machine which can exchange digital currency - Bitcoins -for any official currency has launched in Vancouver, Canada on 29 October 2013.

The ATM machine, named Robocoin, installed at Waves Coffee Shop at Howe and Smithe, allows users to buy or sell the digital currency known as bitcoins. The ATM in Vancouver is operated by Las Vegas-basedRobocoin and Vancouver-based Bitcoiniacs.

About Bitcoins

• Bitcoin is a virtual currency that is unregulated by any central bank or government, but still works for purchasing goods and services from retailers willing to accept it.
• Bitcoins, which are created when they are "mined" or generated by a super computer, also trade on an open market that fluctuates much like a stock market.

How Bitcoin ATM works?

• Customers will need to have their palms scanned in order to exchange up to 3000 US dollars  worth of bitcoins per day.
• The bitcoins will then be transferred to and from the customer's on-line bitcoin wallet.
• Users will have the option to receive a paper voucher representing the transaction.

Bitcoin, which came into existence in 2009, is not controlled by any authority such as a central bank. The concept was introduced in 2008 by a pseudonymous developer known only as "Satoshi Nakamoto." The currency has reportedly gained notoriety for its use to buy illicit goods such as drugs on websites. However, bitcoins are increasingly being accepted by legitimate businesses around the world.

Bhubaneswar and Imphal airports were Declared as International Airports

The Union Cabinet of India on 30 October 2013 gave its approval for declaring the Bhubaneswar and Imphal airports as international airports to fulfill the long pending demand of people as well as the State Governments of Odisha and Manipur. Declaration of these airports as international airports will offer improved connectivity, wider choice of services at competitive cost to the air travelers resulting in boosting international tourism and economic development of the region and the country.

Bhubaneswar Airport

Biju Patnaik Airport or Bhubaneswar Airport belongs to Airport Authority of India and is suitable for operation of Code `D` aircraft of type B-767-400. The airport is also equipped with facilities for night operations, runway 14/32 of dimension 2743m X 45m, apron to park six aircrafts and navigational aids. A new domestic terminal building with all modern amenities for handling 400 arriving and 400 departing passengers has been constructed and inaugurated in March 2013. The modification/renovation of the existing domestic terminal building into international terminal building with an area of 6264 sqm. suitable for handling international operations has been completed. Six check-in-counters, custom counters and immigration counters are being provided and the requisite facilities of customs, immigration, health services and animal and plant quarantine at the airport have also completed.

Imphal Airport

Imphal Airport belongs to Airports Authority of India and is suitable for `C` type (A-320/321) of aircrafts operations in all weather conditions. Major facilities including night operations, runway of dimension 2746m X 45m, Apron to park 3 nos. A-320 and 1 No. ATR-72 at a time, terminal building having an area of 6592 sqm. modified to integrated terminal building, navigational aids, nineteen check-in-counters, custom counters, immigration and sufficient space for health services and animal and plant quarantine are being provided at the airport.

India and Cuba signed MoU for cooperation in broadcasting between Prasar Bharati and ICRT

India and Cuba on 30 October 2013 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in broadcasting between Prasar Bharati and Cuban Radio and Television Institute (ICRT).

The MoU was signed by India's ambassador to Cuba Chinthapalli Rajasekhar and vice-president of the ICRT Emillio Moises Garcia Borroto.

Under the agreement both countries will explore co-production opportunites on matters of mutual interest. The pact would facilitate exchange programmes in fields of cultural entertainment, education, science, sports and news. It also opens up avenues for co-production of broadcast content for creative ventures including films and coverage of events. 

The MoU was signed during the official visit of India’s vice President Hamid Ansari to Cuba.

Pankaj Razdan Appointed as the CEO and MD of the Birla Sun Life Insurance

Pankaj Razdan was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Birla Sun Life Insurance (BSLI), life insurance arm of Aditya Birla Group on 30 October 2013.

About Pankaj Razdan

• He has 20 years of financial services industry experience across various functions and multiple lines of business.
• He acted as the managing director of ICICI Prudential.
• He joined in Aditya Birla Financial Services Group in 2007.

Srishti Rana of India Was Crowned Miss Asia Pacific World 2013

Srishti Rana of India on 30 October 2013 was crowned Miss Asia Pacific World 2013 in Busan, South Korea.

Srishti Rana, 21, is the second Indian in a row to win the oldest Miss Asia Pacific World 2013.

Earlier, Zeenat Aman (1970), Tara Anne Fonseca (1973), Dia Mirza(2000) and Himangini Singh Yadu(2012) won Miss Asia Pacific World titles.

About Srishti Rana

• Srishti Rana is born in Haryana.
• Srishti Rana also won the National Costume Award in an outfit depicting the national Bird of India – Peacock.
• She was among the winners of Indian Diva Delhi 2013 along with Yashna Khurana.
• She was Finalist of Femina Miss India 2013 on 24 March 2013. 
• She was also crowned Femina Miss Fashion Icon.

Integrated Processing Development Scheme (IPDS) approved by CCEA

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 30 October 2013 approved the launching of a new Integrated Processing Development Scheme (IPDS) with a total cost of 500 crore rupees during the 12th Five Year Plan and to establish four to six brown field projects and three to five green field projects addressing the environmental issues faced by Textile Processing Units.

The eligible projects under the scheme would cover the following:
(i)Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP),
(ii)Captive power generation on technology preferably renewable/green technology,
(iii)Infrastructure such as storm water management, necessary roads and pipelines for water & wastewater and
(iv)Facility for testing and R&D centres.

The Scheme will facilitate the textiles industry become globally competitive using environmentally friendly processing standards and technology and create new processing parks. This scheme will support the upgradation of existing processing clusters/centres specifically in the area of water and waste water management and also encourage research and development work in the textiles processing sector.

India developed Surface-to-Surface Missile Pragati

India developed a new tactical surface-to-surface missile Pragati which has a range between 60-170 km. The missile is on offer to India’s friendly countries. The Pragati missile is based on the Prahaar missile and it has been developed by the DRDO for the Army. It was put on display at a defence exhibition at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (ADEX 2013).

Besides 'Pragati' tactical missile, DRDO showcased, 'Akash' missile system and 'Tejas' LCA and its variants.

The LCA is a DRDO project which remains to be completed and the aircraft has not been inducted by the IAF so far. ADEX 2013 hosted more than 300 companies from 33 nations. DRDO's participation in ADX 2013 commemorates the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and South Korea.

Indian Firms Performed Best In the BRICS Countries: Transparency International

Highlights of the report

• Indian firms perform best in the BRICS countries
• Russian firms occupied second place in the score.
• China got the lowest rating of the BRICS economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).
• Eight of the 10 worst-performing companies were Chinese, such as state-owned Chery Automobile Co Ltd.
• 50 percent of the companies with the lowest scores are privately owned.
• Companies from India like Tata Communications, Tata Global Beverages, Tata Steel and Vedanta Resources scored 92 percent and topped in the score.
• 79 companies published a statement that they are committed to complying with all laws, including anti-corruption laws. But almost half did not have an unequivocal statement of zero tolerance of corruption.

Transparency International (TI) used following three metrics in the report 

1. Reporting on anti-corruption programmes (ACP): covering inter alia bribery, facilitation payments, whistleblower protection and political contributions
2. Organisational transparency (OT): including information about corporate holdings
3. Country-by-country reporting (CBC): including revenues, capital expenditure and tax payments

Delhi HC refused to stay the Launch of Air Asia India

A Delhi high court bench on 30 October 2013 declined to put stay on the launch of AirAsia India in response to a PIL filed against it. The government recently granted a no-objection certificate to AirAsia India to start an airline in India. It seeks an airline licence from regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

Malaysia’s AirAsia owns a 49 percent stake in AirAsia India while Tata Sons Ltd owns 30 percent, and Arun Bhatia’s Telestra Tradeplace Pvt. Ltd has the rest. The PIL also sought a stay on the government’s approval and regulatory approvals to Air Asia. The court is yet to take the decision on the issue of stay.

Gurdeep Singh Pall Appointed as the Corporate VP of Skype

Microsoft appointed on 30 October 2013 Gurdeep Singh Pall as the corporate vice president of Skype, a popular and free international voiceover and messaging service and Lync communications product. He will replace the Mark Gillett.

About Gurdeep Singh Pall

• Gurdeep Singh Pall, 46, born in Chandigarh.
• He completed his engineering degree in computer science from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani.
• He also holds a master's degree in computer science from the University of Oregon. 
• He has more than 20 patents (in process or approved) in networking, VoIP and collaboration areas.
• He is on the board of trustees of Ashesi University, Ghana. 
• He joined in Microsoft Company in January 1990 as a software design engineer. 
• He worked on many breakthrough products in his tenure, starting with LAN Manager Remote Access Service.
• He was part of the Windows NT development team and led design and implementation of core networking technologies. 
• He was named one of the "15 Innovators & Influencers Who Will Make A Difference" in 2008 by Information Week.
• He co-authored "Institutional Memory Goes Digital", which was published by Harvard Business Review as part of Breakthrough Ideas for 2009 and subsequently presented at the World Economic Forum 2009 in Davos.

Gujarat CM Laid the Foundation Stone of the Statute of Unity

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on 31 October 2013 laid the foundation stone of the Statute of Unity-a 182-metre tall statue (World’s largest statue) of iron man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 138th birth anniversary at Sardar Sarovar Dam site in Bharuch district in Gujarat.

 The Statue of Unity will be double of the height of the Statue of Liberty (93 metres) in the USA. 

About Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
• Vallabhbhai Patel was born on 31 October 1875 in Nadiad, a small village in Gujarat.
• Sardar Vallabhai Patel was an Indian freedom fighter and one of the great social leaders of India. 
• He is one of the leaders of the Indian National Congress and one of the founding fathers of the Republic of India. 
• After India's independence, he became the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India. 
• He was the man behind the consolidation of 565 semi-autonomous princely states to form a united India.

Joint Parliamentary Committee Submitted Report on 2G Spectrum to Lok Sabha Speaker

Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on allocation and pricing of telecom licences and 2G Spectrum during 1998-2009 was submitted its report to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on 29 October 2013.

Joint Parliamentary Committee Recommendations

• The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on 2G spectrum has recommended a comprehensive audit of spectrum to ensure greater transparency in its allocations. It also suggested quantification of available spectrum for maximum utilization. 

• In its report the Committee also underlined the need for amending the TRAI Act for harmonious balance between the Regulator and the Licensor.

• The Committee also recommended the review of policy and formation of stringent guidelines on allocation of additional spectrum.

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) constituted on 4 March, 2011 to examine matters relating to Allocation and Pricing of Telecom Licences and Spectrum. The Joint Parliamentary Committee was headed by PC Chako and consists of 30 memebers ( 20 Loka Sabha MPs and 10 Rajya Sabha MPs). 

Joint Parliamentary committee is an Ad hoc committee of the Indian parliament. The chairperson and the members of the committee will be appointed by Lok Sabha Speaker.

Kirit Parikh Panel Recommended Hike in Diesel, Kerosene, LPG Prices

Kirit Parikh Panel on advising Pricing Methodology for Diesel, Domestic LPG and PDS Kerosene submitted report to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry on 30 October 2013.

The panel in its report recommended a price increase of 5 Rupees per litre in diesel, 4 Rupees per litre in kerosene, and 250 Rupees in LPG cylinder with immediate effect.

Kirit Parikh Panel Recommendations

•The Panel recommended that the subsidised LPG cylinders be reduced from the present nine to six cylinders per annum to each household.

•Panel suggested capping the subsidy on diesel sales at 6 rupees a litre.

•Panel called for the elimination of subsidy on diesel within one year, which could save the exchequer 72000 crore Rupees in fuel subsidy.

•The panel has stated that the Government should take steps to pass on the impact of rise in price of diesel to consumers, and move rapidly towards making the price of diesel market-determined.

•The panel favoured continuation of existing pricing principles for controlled petroleum products.

Oil firms currently sell diesel at a discount of 10.52 Rupees per litre, kerosene at 38.32 Rupees and LPG at 532.86 rupees per cylinder.

About Kirit Parikh Panel
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on 12 June 2013 constituted an Expert Group to advice on Pricing Methodology for Diesel, Domestic LPG and PDS Kerosene. The panel was headed by planning commission member Dr. Kirit S. Parikh. The members of the panel are P.K. Singh, Dr. Saurabh Garg, Prof. S.K. Barua, R.K. Singh (Member secretary).