Current Affairs of India

Close on the heels of the Common Wealth games Suresh Kalmadi and Manishanker Iyer are at logger heads. Thanks to murky IPL, Indian Cricket administration is seen by the cricket lovers across the country with suspicion and anguish. As the players raised the banner of virtual revolt, Indian hockey establishment was under the scanner. These controversies have damaged the reputation of Indian sports. The Asian Games three decades ago, the Afro-Asian Games and other extravagant sporting events have left behind elitist infrastructure which the administration find it difficult even to maintain. Now the Common Wealth Games may be yet an another demonstration of pomp and show. But the substance remains the same. India still lacks far behind in the world of sports. The time has come to talk about many things to make India a front line sporting nation.

Current Affairs Security Issues

There are no significant incidences of infiltration on Indo-Nepal, Indo-Bhutan, Indo-Myanmar and Indo-China borders.   Similarly, there are no reports to indicate the infiltration bids from sea into the coastal areas.  Although Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-Pakistan borders are prone to infiltration, number of apprehended infiltrators on these borders during the years 2008, 2009 and 2010 (upto June) indicate a decline as shown below :

Current Affairs Security Issues

Data on violent incidents in North Eastern States, State-wise, for the period January to June, 2010 and comparative data for the same period during previous two years, as given below do not show that there is an increase in militant activities. Government is aware that the normal life of common people do get affected due to activities of certain militant groups who indulge in various insurgent activities including kidnapping for ransom, extortion, etc.

Current Affairs Government

As per information maintained/received from Cadre Controlling Authority of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Foreign Services (IFS), the number and percentages of IAS, IPS & IFS officers in various categories are given below:-

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Current Affairs economy

In addition to seven Central Government Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and 12 State/Private Sector SEZs set up prior to the enactment of SEZ Act, 2005, formal approval has been accorded to 576 proposals out of which 358 SEZs have been notified.  A total of 114 SEZs are already exporting. Further details about these SEZs including sector, location etc. are available on the website www.sezindia.nic.in.

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Current Affairs heritage

The Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs Shri V.Narayanasamy has said that Ancient monuments of historical, archaeological or artistic interest and which have been in existence for not less than 100 years are protected by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958 and Rules, 1959.  So far 3675 such monuments/sites have been notified for Central-protection.  In addition, about 3500 monuments/sites are under the protection of the various State Governments under their respective legislations.  The Town and Country Planning Acts of the States empower their urban and rural local bodies to protect monuments/sites in their respective jurisdictions which are neither under Central nor under State protection.  In spite of these legal instruments, a large number of monuments/sites running over a lakh, are unprotected due to various constraints.

Current Affairs trade

India’s exports of apparel during 2009-10 was US$ 10046.89 million as against US$ 10383.26 million in the preceding financial year 2008-09. In terms of rupee, exports of apparel in 2009-10 was Rs.47524.78 crore as against Rs.47112.77 crore in 2008-09. The decline can be attributed to the general economic slowdown in EU and US markets leading to lower demand for apparel and other textiles products.

Current Affairs econamy

The 11th Five Year Plan envisages generation of 58 million new work opportunities. The actual achievement of employment generation with reference to the 11^th plan target would be known after the results of the next round of quinquennial survey of NSSO become available during 2011. Accordingly, the target set for employment generation may be re-visited on the basis of these results.

Current Affairs security issues

‘Self-reliance’ has been a significant goal in defence production. Towards this end the Government has so far taken the following steps:

(i)                    The defence manufacturing sector was earlier reserved for the public sector only. In May, 2001 the Central Government opened it for participation by the private sector to the extent of 100%, with Foreign Direct Investment permissible upto 26% both subject to licensing. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion has notified detailed guidelines for licensing production of arms and ammunition. So far 135 licenses have been issued to 75 companies in the private sector.

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Current Affairs diffence

Indian armed forces have been grappling with instances of fragging and suicide cases every year. The details of suicide and fratricide (fragging) cases for the last three years are as under:-

Current Affairs agriculture

The total cultivated land during the year 2007-08 was 155.7 million hectare (Mha) whereas the net irrigated area was 62.3 Mha and gross irrigated area was 87.2 Mha, as per information provided by the Ministry of Agriculture. The irrigation potential created up to 2007-08 has been reported as 104.4 Mha.

The total Plan expenditure for major, medium and minor irrigation projects and command area development works during the IX Plan X Plan were about Rs. 63,049 crores and Rs. 1,00,106 crores respectively and irrigation potential created during the IX Plan and X Plan were about 7.69 Mha and 8.82 Mha respectively.

Current affairs overseas Indians

Government is providing 15% supernumerary seats in All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) approved institutions/University Departments offering technical courses leading to Diploma, Degree and Post-Graduate Degree in Engineering & Technology, Architecture & Town Planning, Pharmacy, Applied Arts, MBA & MCA, Hotel Management & Catering Technology. These supernumerary seats, over and above the approved intake, are reserved for foreign Nationals / persons of Indian origin/children of workers in Gulf countries. One-third of these 15% supernumerary seats across different disciplines are reserved for the children of Indian workers in the Gulf Countries.

current affairs health

– Safe and clean drinking water and sanitation is a human right essential to the full enjoyment of life and all other human rights, the General Assembly declared, voicing deep concern that almost 900 million people worldwide do not have access to clean water.

The 192-member Assembly also called on United Nations Member States and international organizations to offer funding, technology and other resources to help poorer countries scale up their efforts to provide clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for everyone.

Current Affairs Health :

The UN General Assembly recognised access to clean water and sanitation as a human right. After more than 15 years of debate on the issue, 122 countries voted in favour of a compromise Bolivian resolution enshrining the right, while 41 abstained. The text “declares the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of the right to life.”

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Agriculture sector is vital for the food security of the country. It is the principal source of livelihood for more than 58% of the work-force. While the global economy had been reeling under recession and our farmers had been facing vagaries of weather, the average growth rate of agriculture sector was more than 4% during the four years preceding the last one. A record level of food-grain production of 234.47 million tonnes was achieved in the year 2008-09. The adverse impact of an unprecedented drought in Kharif, 2010 on food grain production was minimized due to timely action taken by the Central and State Governments. The severity of the drought last year can be gauged from the fact that in the last major drought during the year 2002-03, there was a deficit of 19% rainfall whereas during last year, rainfall was deficient by 23%. The corresponding production figures for wheat and rice were 71.82 (Rice) and 65.76 (Wheat) MT in 2002-03 and 89.31(Rice) and 80.98 (Wheat) in 2009-10 respectively.

India, which accounts for 2.5 per cent geographical area of the world, supports 17% of global population. The population of the country now stands at 1,198 million, and  likely to touch 1,613.8 million mark by 2050. In order to ensure food security for ever-increasing population of the country,  additional land needs to be brought under cultivation, the productivity of existing agricultural land to be enhanced, and  suitable measures need to be taken  up to prevent the fertile cultivated land from degradation. Wastelands which are currently lying either unutilized or partially utilized may contribute significantly to food security. Hence the need of  a National Wastelands Atlas to meet the needs of future generations.

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Sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives which are directly or indirectly rooted in the business of an organization were the key to promote equitable economic development of the country.

The role of CSR, especially from the point of view of IT Companies, was extremely important in bridging the digital divide prevalent in the country and help the local economy. “However, the challenge lay in making the efforts more sustainable in the longer run and keep the momentum going”, emphasized Mr Niraj Prakash, Director, Public Sector Marketing, Microsoft India.

Replacing traditional foods with imported, processed food has contributed to the high prevalence of obesity and related health problems in the Pacific islands. Jane Parry reports.

Scattered across the Pacific Ocean are thousands of islands which make up three regions known as Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Beyond the image of white sandy beaches and carefree lifestyles, the Pacific islands are facing serious health problems, the prime culprit being imported foods.

Dr Anil Kakodkar,

Former Chairman,

Atomic Energy Commission

The power sector, in India and globally, has tremendous opportunities to become a critical player in low cost nuclear power equipment manufacturing. This was the view of some key experts at the 3rd Annual Session of Visionary Leaders for Manufacturing Programme (VLFM) organized by CII, in joint cooperation with National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council of India, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Spurred by the recessionary environment of the last couple of years, the Indian IT bazaar is emerging out of its ‘Cinderellaesque’ existence and some wise men have estimated the overall market opportunity to be over $ 100 billion during the next few years. With India being home to over five million MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) that are by and large underinvested in IT, it is little wonder that this market segment is fast turning into the Holy Grail of the Indian IT industry.