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Thursday 27 November 2008

Mumbai Terror: Five terrorists killed, one captured

Security forces today prepared to launch an assault to flush out terrorists from two luxury hotels - Taj and Trident - where a couple of 100 people are believed to be either held hostage or trapped in the most audacious terror attacks that have claimed over 100 lives and left over 300 injured in India's financial capital
Latest reports indicate that terrorists, about 10-12 in number in Trident, formerly Oberoi, alone, have made some ransom demands but Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil said no demands have come from them.

He said five of the dozen terrorists in Trident have been killed, while one has been captured and was being interrogated.

Claiming to have some "vital leads", the minister expressed confidence of breakthrough soon.

An unspecified number of foreigners, including Americans, Israelis and Canadians are believed to be among those trapped in the two hotels and in Nariman House, a residential complex with an old Jewish prayer hall, where also a hostage situation prevailed.

As the day broke, gunbattles raged between terrorists, believed to have come in a boat to the Gateway of India, opposite Taj hotel, and commandoes and fresh explosions rocked the two hotels after the night of terror targeting ten places.

Source: BS

India Won Again...

India won the another one against England in on going series It's Now 5 - 0 Two More to go...

Score Board...
England:

Ravi Bopara c Yuvraj b Zaheer 24

Alistair Cook c Tendulkar b Zaheer 11

Kevin Pietersen not out 111

Paul Collingwood c Zaheer b Harbhajan 40

Andrew Flintoff c Tendulkar b Ishant 0

Owais Shah not out 66

Extras (lb 14, w 4) 18

Total (for four wickets in 50 overs) 270

Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Cook, 5.5 overs), 2-68 (Bopara, 9.5), 3-157 (Collingwood, 29.6), 4-158 (Flintoff, 30.4)

Bowling:

Irfan Pathan 10 1 57 0

Zaheer Khan 10 1 60 2 (3w)

Ishant Sharma 10 0 54 1

Harbhajan Singh 10 0 47 1 (1w)

Yuvraj Singh 10 0 38 0

India:

Virender Sehwag lbw b Broad 91

Sachin Tendulkar b Harmison 50

Yuvraj Singh c & b Bopara 6

Mahendra Singh Dhoni lbw b Swann 50

Suresh Raina not out 53

Rohit Sharma not out 8

Extras (lb 5, w 8, nb 2) 15

Total (for four wickets in 43.4 overs) 273

Fall of wickets 1-136 (Tendulkar, 19.5 overs), 2-156 (Yuvraj Singh, 22.6), 3-156 (Sehwag, 23.1), 4-250 (Dhoni, 40.6)

Bowling:

Steve Harmison 10 1 50 1 (2w)

Stuart Broad 8.4 0 54 1 (2w)

Andrew Flintoff 9 0 43 0

Samit Patel 3 0 23 0 (1w)

Graeme Swann 7 0 56 1 (2w)

Ravi Bopara 6 1 42 1 (1nb, 1w)

Toss: India, chose to field first

Man of the Match: Virender Sehwag

Umpires: Daryl Harper (Australia) and Ameish Saheba (India)

TV umpire: S.K. Tarapore (India)

Match Referee: Roshan Mahanama (Sri Lanka)

Employment News -29.11.08 [Indian Govt]

State Bank of India and Associate Banks requires 1340 Customer Relationship Executives.
Public Service Commission Uttar Pradesh invites applications for recruitment of more than 1200 various posts.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited invites applications for 312 Non-Executive and Executive posts.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited requires 300 Management Trainees.
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry invites applications to recruit around 300 Senior and Junior Residents.
Forensic Science Laboratory, Govt. of NCT of Delhi requires 55 Dy. Director, Asst. Director, Sr. Scientific Officer and Scientific Assistants.
Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha requires 40 Sr. Research Fellow.
Life Insurance Corporation of India needs Engineers and Architects.
Union Public Service Commission requires Labour Enforcement Officer (Central).
HSCC (India) Limited invites applications for various posts.
Govt. of National Capital Territory of Delhi invites applications for the posts of Dy. Director, Asst. Director, Sr. Scientific Officer, Scientific Assistant etc.
Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi invites applications for recruitment of Dy. Registrar, Sr. Technical Asst., Technical Assistant etc.
Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board declares the results of various Faculties.
Ministry of Communications & Information Technology invites applications for the posts of Section Officer, Assistant, Sr. Hindi Translator, Security Supervisor etc.
NMDC Limited needs Junior Officer, Junior Stenographer, Junior Assistants etc.
Corporation Bank declares the results of written examination held on 20.07.2008 for the posts of Probationary Officers.
Source :

http://www.employmentnews.gov.in/

Monday 24 November 2008

62 per cent polling in JAMMU AND KASHMIR

GANDERBAL/KANGAN: Defying the boycott call given by separatists, a large number of people turned up for the second phase of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. Ganderbal district recorded 62 per cent polling.

The overall polling percentage in Rajouri and Ganderbal districts was put at 59.09 per cent.

Briefing journalists, Divisional Commissioner Masaud Samoon said elections in the two districts went off smoothly. He said 60.02 per cent exercised their franchise in Kangan constituency while 44 per cent voted in Ganderbal constituency.

It was much higher than the turnout in the 2002 elections which recorded 52 per cent and 35 per cent in Kangan and Ganderbal respectively. Rajouri district, he said, recorded a poll percentage of 70.50 per cent.

The fate of many candidates including that of National Conference president Omar Abdullah was sealed in Sunday’s election held under the shadow of a boycott and strike call given by the separatist-sponsored Coordination Committee, and killing of two youths in Baramulla on Saturday.

The atmosphere in Ganderbal and Kangan constituencies was far more relaxed than it was in the 2002 elections. Several places witnessed anti-election and pro-freedom protests. Police dispersed the protesters.

The polling was low key in the morning but picked up later. Duderhama and Beehama areas in the main Ganderbal town, however, did not witness much rush. Groups pelted stones at the vehicles of contesting candidates.

At around 2 p.m. only 27 out of 658 votes had been polled at Beehama polling station and 53 out of 663 had been cast at Beehama A. “The response is slow” said the polling officer. Duderhama also saw less polling and 220 votes out of 1147 had been polled by 1 p.m. At certain places the polling stations wore a deserted look with only security forces present.

However, the scene was different in other parts of Ganderbal and Barsoo. There were long queues outside polling stations. “We came out to choose our MLA who can solve our day-to-day problems” Zahoor Ahmad, voting for the first time told The Hindu.

Lar area too witnessed brisk polling. At polling station Lar “A” 454 out of 1,104 votes had been polled at 2 p.m. and the queues were long. The People’s Democratic Party ’s Qazi Afzal and the Congress’ Sheikh Ashfaq hail from the area.

The neighbouring Kangan constituency also witnessed brisk polling. Here National Conference’s Mian Altaf is pitted against PDP’s Bashir Ahmad Mir.

At Mirgund polling station 265 out of 1,144 had been polled at 11.30 a.m. and in Vailoo 119 out of 711 had been cast at noon.

Scores of youths tried to take out pro-freedom processions at Kirhama, Badergund, Beehama, Duderhama, Barusa and Yangoora. Many raising anti-election slogans marched through the streets and tried to attack the polling booths but police foiled their attempts.

Source : The Hindu

India Won the Series against England [ 4-0]

Bangalore: The rains threw up an abridged game high on adrenaline and the Indians were equal to the task.

After the skies opened up twice and robbed 306 minutes of play, umpires Daryl Harper and Amish Saheba deemed that a 22-overs-a-side game would fit into a damp night and M.S. Dhoni’s men found warmth in a 19-run victory over England in the fourth ODI of the seven-match series at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Sunday night.

India won the series with an unassailable 4-0 lead. Virender Sehwag was chosen Man-of-the-Match.

Early stumble
Chasing India’s 166 that was revised to 198 as the target, thanks to the rain-influenced Duckworth Lewis equation, England slumped to 178 for eight in 22 overs.The chase stumbled as Ravi Bopara got out to a tumbling catch by Ishant Sharma and Ian Bell lost his timber to Harbhajan Singh.

However Owais Shah had other ideas as his power-packed 72 (48b, 9x4, 3x6) in tandem with Andrew Flintoff’s (41) lusty hits, almost took the game away from the Indians.

However, the Indians were always in with a sniff after Pietersen dragged Ishant onto his stumps. At 52 for three in 8.5 overs, the match was at its tipping point and it was India that surged ahead despite Shah and Flintoff’s 82-run fourth-wicket partnership off 48deliveries.

Shah hammered sixes off Yusuf Pathan, Yuvraj Singh and Munaf Patel while Flintoff dented the roof over the mid-wicket stand off Harbhajan Singh. The batting power-play taken by England in the 17th and 18th overs proved fatal as two wickets fell while only 14 runs were gained with an incisive Zaheer Khan forcing a steepler from Shah and Ishant scalping Flintoff.

The contest was over at that moment.

Audacious display
Earlier Dhoni’s men smiled despite the grim weather as Sehwag’s 69 (57b, 9x4, 3x6) that had audacity and disdain written all over it, helped India finish with 166 for four in 22 overs.

Sehwag’s knock also found apt reflections in the stunning shots essayed by Gautam Gambhir (40) and Yuvraj Singh (25 n.o.) as the Indians got into Twenty20 mode when play resumed past nine after 17 overs were bowled in the earlier two rain-affected sessions.

The afternoon began with a rumble as the crowd’s collective cheer reached its highest decibel level as Sachin Tendulkar emerged with Sehwag. Kevin Pietersen had elected to field on winning the toss with an eye on the clouds and the Duckworth/Lewis equation cropping up in the chase.

Sehwag slashed James Anderson’s first ball for four and at the other end, Tendulkar worked Stuart Broad off his hips for four. Sehwag then slammed Anderson straight down in a stroke that resembled a tennis forehand.

An unexpected seven-minute break due to the soft turf on the bowler’s landing spot from the BEML End helped England recoup and on resumption, Tendulkar failed to cover the gap as Broad darted one into the stumps.

Silence reigned before next man Gautam Gambhir flicked his first delivery for four. Sehwag then toyed with Anderson as a pull heralded his 6000th ODI run and then he celebrated with a clout for six.

Gambhir’s role
Gambhir, meanwhile effectively countered the England seamers’ ploy of operating around the wicket as they tried to cramp the southpaw. Gambhir and Sehwag shared a 79-run second-wicket partnership marred by two rain breaks of 120 and 186 minutes each.

In the Indian innings’ final session, Sehwag struck left-arm spinner Samit Patel high but later perished in the deep. Gambhir too fell in a similar manner before Yuvraj carted Pietersen and slog-swept off-spinner Graeme Swann.

As the overs ran out, Dhoni got yorked but Yusuf Pathan struck a last ball six as India posted a challengingtotal.

Source : The Hindu

Friday 21 November 2008

New experimental research facility to identify the weakest points of wind turbine blades

On 25 November a new research facility at Risø DTU will be inaugurated. Here, scientists will be able to experiment with different physical loads on wind turbine blades, corresponding exactly to what the wind does to the blades during a lifetime. The advanced measurements will make it possible to work more focused on design and structure, thus contributing to the development of larger and stronger blades.

With the explosive growth within wind energy and several turbines with blades of 60 meters or more, there is a greater need for research into the design and structure of blades. If you just upgrade the blades without simultaneously optimizing them, the weight will increase faster than the wind turbine performance. The huge blades get relatively very heavy and therefore uneconomic if you only improve their strength by adding more material. Therefore the scientists are now working with other forms of reinforcement, for example, change of structure and support of the blade precisely where it is weakest.

"By using the latest knowledge and reinforcing the blades, we expect that the weight of tomorrow's blades can be reduced substantially," says Find Mølholt Jensen who is head of the new research test facility. Find Mølholt's PhD thesis focused on this issue, and based on his inventions Risø DTU has patented several reinforcements. One of the inventions, for instance, has proved to increase buckling strength by 30-40 percent. The implementation in the manufacturing process still remains, but Risø DTU hopes that this can be solved together with the manufactures.

Experimental Research Facility for Blade Structure
There is room for a 30-40 meter wind turbine blade in the big hall which now opens with the name Experimental Research Facility for Blade Structure. SSP Technology A/S has donated a 34m blade and the blade has been mounted with different kinds of measuring equipment, which differ significantly from the way traditionally commercial tests are performed today. 3D measuring equipment is funded by DTU globalization funds based on a joint application from Risø DTU, DTU Mechanical Engineering and DTU Civil Engineering.

The many tests and measurements are going to be used to validate seven patents on various structural reinforcements which have been taken out by Risø DTU during the past 3-5 years. They will also make it possible to evaluate and improve the methods which are being used to approve wind turbine blades

The official inauguration will be the festive end of Wind Day 2008 held by the Danish Research Consortium for Wind Energy. Director Henrik Bindslev will be present and there will be lectures on research into blade design.

Source : RISO

Tuesday 18 November 2008

Suzlon Energy to make foray into solar power

Sites identified in Rajasthan and Gujarat
Current order book at Rs. 15,000 crore
=====================================================
Drops plans to invest in tower manufacturing
=====================================================



NEW DELHI: Leading wind power equipment maker Suzlon Energy on Monday announced its plans to venture into the solar energy sector.

Talking to newsmen on the sidelines of the ongoing India Economic Summit here, Suzlon Energy chairman and Managing Director, Tulsi R. Tanti said this would be in addition to the plans for tapping the wind power potential in the country.

The company, he said, had already identified sites in Rajasthan and Gujarat for setting up solar energy power plants stating that only 10 acres of land was required for one MW of solar power generation.

However, Mr. Tanti refused to spell out any financial details of the company for investment in this sector.

The current order book of Suzlon Energy stands at Rs. 15,000 crore for projects worth 2,500 MW. In the current scenario, Suzlon Energy is the biggest player in the wind turbine business in Asia and the fifth-largest worldwide.

With headquarters in Pune, it has several manufacturing sites in India including Puducherry, Daman, Bhuj and Gandhidham and abroad in mainland China, Germany and Belgium.

In view of the global economic slowdown and anticipated cuts in investments and expansion plans, the company could defer its recruitment plans till the end of the current fiscal.

The company had dropped plans to invest in new tower manufacturing facility and accordingly the total capex plan would stand reduced by Rs. 669 crore.


Source : The Hindu

Monday 17 November 2008

Obama appoints 4th Indian into his 15-member transition team

WASHINGTON: Indian-American management expert Anjan Mukherjee has been roped in by US President-elect Barack Obama into his transition team, the
fourth person from the community to be part of the 15-member high-profile group.

Mukherjee, a Managing Director of Corporate Private Equity group at Blackstone, has been appointed as one of the team leads in Economics and International Trade.

His appointment has been the latest one as three other Indian-Americans - Sonal Shah, Preeta Bansal and Nicholas Rathod - have already been inducted into Obama's team.

Mukherjee has been involved in the execution of a number of investments in a wide range of industries.

He has received a BA from Harvard University where he graduated magna cum laude as a Harry S. Truman Scholar and an MBA from Harvard Business school.

Before joining Blackstone, he worked with Thomas H. Lee Company and Morgan Stanley & Co.

He has also worked at the Department of Education (in the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education) as well as the Brookings Institution.

Obama is the first African-American to win the US presidential elections. He will take over as the 44th president of the US on January 20, 2009.

The Indian-American community overwhelmingly supported Obama in the November 4 elections and are said to have voted for him by more than a two to one margin.

Source : ET

India win second ODI by 54 runs

INDORE:

India today beat England by 54 runs in the second one-dayer here to take a 2-0 lead in the seven-match cricket series.

Brief Scores: India: 292/9 in 50 overs England: 238 all out in 47 overs (Owais Shah 58, Andrew Flintoff 43, Yuvraj Singh 4/28, Virender Sehwag 3/28).

Source : ET

Sunday 16 November 2008

Opening in Leitner Shri Ram EPC- Manager - Urgent

This is regarding a job opportunity with Leitner Shri Ram EPC opening is for -Manager/ Senior Manager.

Interested candidates, please forward your profile to this e-mail id: info@spiderindia.org

Job location: Gummidipoondi (Chennai)

Eligibility: B.E/ Any discipline

Experience: 6 years of experience in Especially in the wind sector(Wind Resource)

Job Responsibility will be

· Identifying sites for wind farm and estimating wind electric generation using software WIND PRO/ WIND FARMER/ WASP
· MET MAST INSTALLATION, Commissioning and Data Collection Through GSM technique
· Statistical Analysis and Quality Control of Wind Resource Data
· Designing of Wind Project Layout and Optimization of Wind farm
· Handling of Nomad 2 Data Logger and met mast Instrumentation.

Source : www.spiderindia.org

Friday 14 November 2008

Day after clash, top cop shifted [Quick Reaction... But late Action]

Even the government shown it's (re)action just after the bad incident at Dr Ambedkar Law College, Chennai.... it's too late...
=================================


CHENNAI: The city police commissioner was shunted out, and a joint commissioner and a deputy commissioner were transferred as heads rolled on Thursday when the DMK government moved into damage control mode after televised evidence exposed shocking police inaction during a group clash in the Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law College in the city on Wednesday.

R Sekar, who took charge as city police commissioner only on May 31, will now head the civil supplies-CID in place of K Radhakrishnan, additional director general of police, who has been named the new police chief. Joint commissioner (north zone) Abhay Kumar Singh and Flower Bazaar deputy commissioner N Asiammal, under whose jurisdiction the law college falls, were also transferred.

Radhakrishnan told TOI he came to know about the violence only through the media. “I am studying the case and will take the right measures,” he said.

As the opposition took the government to task in the assembly and sought the chief minister’s resignation, law minister Durai Murugan rejected the demand, but said a judicial inquiry, headed by retired high court judge P Shanmugam, would be ordered. College principal KK Sridev was suspended, as were the assistant police commissioner (high court) Narayana Murthi and Esplanade police inspector Sekar Babu.

Images of students being mercilessly beaten up, even as policemen stood watching, were greeted with shock and revulsion across the state. Replying on behalf of the government in the absence of chief minister M Karunanidhi, Durai Murugan admitted that no one would ever accept the premise that the police should remain mute spectators until they received orders to take action.

There was no mention of the impending change in the top echelons of the city police when the matter came up in the Assembly in the forenoon. But as the day wore on, the government could no more be seen as not taking action, as TV channels kept repeating footage of policemen watching the spectacle. That Sekar failed to visit the trouble spot or give instructions to stop the violence did not go unnoticed.

7 students booked for attempt to murder

TNN

CHENNAI: Official sources said the chief minister’s office asked for a list of senior officers who could be appointed to the city police commissioner’s post. The decision to transfer Sekar was made after home secretary S Malathi met Karunanidhi in the evening. Police sources said only the name of K Radhakrishnan, additional director general of police, was considered.

Four sub-inspectors of police, who were also witness to the violence, have been transferred out of the city. Seven law students were booked under various criminal charges, including Sec 307 of IPC (attempt to murder), and sent to jail, Durai Murugan said.
The four students who were injured in the clash were being given round-the-clock medical attention, he said. Apprehensive about the violence spreading, the government closed all law colleges in the state indefinitely and postponed the ongoing semester exams. The law college hostel in Kellys here was also closed.

Tension filled the air in other law colleges with students staging protests and boycotting the semester exams. At the Coimbatore government law college, students entered examinations halls and smashed furniture, window panes and electrical fittings. The frenzied students went on a rampage for nearly an hour, but surrendered as the police prepared to charge them.

Source : TOI

Thursday 13 November 2008

Obama talks to PM, says Indo-US ties 'very important'

NEW DELHI: US President-elect Barack Obama on Wednesday telephoned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and said the US-India strategic relationship is
a "very important partnership" and the administration wants to work together with India on all important global issues.

The call was placed this morning as earlier attempts to establish contact between the two sides failed to materialise because the Prime Minister was travelling abroad.

Singh congratulated Obama on his historic victory and said his success would be an inspiration for the oppressed people all over the world, according to PMO sources.

The Prime Minister said that the relationship between India and the US was "very good" but "we should not be satisfied with the status quo".

Singh conveyed his best wishes for the success of the Obama administration in meeting challenges that face the world.

The Prime Minister also invited Obama and his wife Mitchelle to visit India, the sources said. Obama praised Singh's contribution to the progress of India as Finance Minister earlier and the Prime Minister now.

Source : ET

Hate your job? Why quit when you can fix it?

Everybody gets the blues sometimes, and that’s as true at one’s job as it is outside the office. When the ennui sets in, it gets harder to retain the spring in your step as you head out to work each morning. The stress begins to show. You start coming up with reasons why your job is not right for you. But at a time when employees are being handed pink slips, it has become harder to assume that the “right job” is waiting for you just around the corner. So don’t rush to type up that resignation—give your job one more chance. Here are some tips on changing your job from “boring” to “interesting”.

Be the vehicle of change

This really is the first step to any change. List the problems you’re having, and the possible solutions to them. Think about them, and you’ll find there are many small and big changes that could improve your situation. List those changes and start working to implement them—that effort will have to come from you.

Change your perspective

It’s all in the mind, say psychologists. Recall the reasons why, during your first few months on the job, you thought it was a great one. Unless your work situation has changed drastically, some of those reasons probably still hold true. For instance, Ritu, an operator in a call centre back office, hated the extended working hours at her workplace, yet spent a good five years at it simply because her colleagues were like an extended family.

Bring about real changes

Go back to that list of the positive changes you can make. Now is the time to bring them about. Often, the reason an employee wants to quit her job is that she feels she hasn’t got what she deserves from her seniors. If you think you’ve been denied the promotion you deserve, for instance, consider talking it out with your seniors. But before marching into your boss’s office waving your list of demands, review your own work critically—from the boss’s point of view. Of course, keep in mind that talking it out is best done only when you are on a strong footing.

Reinvent your work

A good way to bring freshness to the same old job is to find new ways to do it better than before. It is this innovative outlook that has resulted in newer and improved versions of products and services in the market. Besides, at a personal level, being creatively involved will keep away the negative thoughts.

Advertise subtly

A good number of people have quit their well-paying jobs simply because they feel their hard work is appreciated. Often, this gives some people reason to blame their boss. But there’s always the possibility that the oversight was not deliberate. Too often, employees keep rather low profiles, and thus remain unnoticed. If you’re feeling overlooked, consider that it may be time to get out of the shadows. There’s no call to brag about yourself ; you can handle the situation in a subtle manner. When the opportunitysay , a regular feedback session—presents itself, take it to ensure that your boss is well aware of the efforts you’ve been putting in.

Tackle difficult colleagues

Often, the real reason people lose interest in their job is not the work itself, but the people at work. If there isn’t a single person in your office with whom you can get along professionally, it’s possible that the problem is yours, and not theirs. In today’s corporate scenario, the inability to work in a team is considered a weakness.

But assuming the problem is not with you, and a problem colleague really is proving detrimental to your work, consider asking your supervisor to move you to another department, where you can meet new people, although you would also have to be ready to possibly do somewhat different work. Looking for a change within your existing corporate environment maybe easier, if minor irritations are the issue.

Giving in to the impulse to quit may seem the easy way out, but life may actually be easier if the problem can be reduced or fixed without giving up the job. Quitting is for smokers!

Source : ET

Dr.Abdul Kalam Address at Jaipur on 12.11.08 [International Conference on Peace and Non-violent Action (ICPNA)]

Dynamics of Peace
We have made thee neither of
heaven nor of earth, neither mortal
nor immortal, so that with freedom
of choice and with honour, as though
the maker and moulder of thyself,
thou mayest fashion thyself in
whatever shape, thou shall prefer.
----Giovanni Pico della Mirandola
========================================================================
I am delighted to participate in the Valedictory session of 7th International Conference on Peace and Non-violent Action (ICPNA) at Jaipur. My greetings to all the distinguished invitees assembled here. I am happy that seven international conferences on such an important subject of peace and non-violent action has been discussed by the international community in the presence of experts. This indeed is an important action for promoting world peace. I congratulate Anuvrat Global Organisation for organizing this important conference on peace and non-violent action. When I am with you, I would like to talk on the topic “Dynamics of Peace”. When we think about peace and non-violence, following aspects come to our mind: (i) birth of Ahimsa (ii) fight against injustice (iii) cycle of violence, freedom and peace (iv) human evolution (v) origins of life (vi) challenges of modern society and (vii) protection against man made violence.
Birth of Ahimsa Doctrine
Friends, when I see you all, I look into Indian history 2300 years back, I am reminded of Emperor Asoka, who led two lives, one as a ruthless conqueror and the other as a compassionate ruler. A scene emerges. Asoka had just returned from conquest. But victory had been obtained at heavy cost: the battle of Kalinga claimed the lives of at least 100,000 people and an equal number were wounded. Asoka fell on his knees and removed his armor and crown. His face was pale, reflecting the death surrounding him. He looked at the sky. He saw the bright cool moon shining and God’s grace pouring down on mother earth. And he looked down at the horror the emperor had created, making blood flow everywhere. In that moment of horror and the suffering and the pain on the ground, the Nature, itself seemed to speak out against what he had wrought. In that tragic scene, the Ahimsa Dharma was born through Emperor Asoka. Emperor Asoka embraced God’s command to propagate love for human beings through this doctrine.
Fight against injustice
At this point of time, I would like to recall my traveling on 16 September 2004 in a train powered by steam engine in a first class compartment of 1900’s vintage organized by Durban state of South Africa. When the train was moving from one station to another, Mahatma Gandhi’s struggle against apartheid system in South Africa was flashing in my mind. The train halted at Pietermartizburg, the station where Gandhiji was evicted on a cold winter night from a first class compartment and became a victim of apartheid. When I alighted at the Pietermartizburg railway station, I saw a plaque in the railway station, which reads like this:
In the Vicinity of this plaque
M.K. GANDHI was evicted
from a first class
compartment on the night of
7 June 1893.
This incident changed
the course of his life.
He took up the fight
against racial oppression.
His active non-violence
started from that date.

This changed the course of his life. Gandhiji even said: "my active non-violence began from that date (7th June, 1893). The path of ahimsa is great innovation of the human mind and it was a very powerful non-violent tool that was instrumental in achieving our country’s freedom. Now, Acharya Mahapragyaji and his team are promoting the Ahimsa Dharma that is very vital for creating and nurturing world peace.
Cycle of violence, freedom and peace
The Second World War led to the deployment of atomic weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki killing lakhs of people and injecting radiation induced diseases for generations. The disaster awakened the conscience of the world too. The birth of United Nations in 1945, with a mission of preventing conflicts among nations getting transformed into battles and wars was a good development for the humanity.
All these events remind us of a cycle of violence, freedom and peace. If you look at any war, there are losses, a continuing feeling of hatred and animosity, a negative impact on development and several decades are wasted before ideas of peace get negotiated to bring semblance of normalcy of relations. Can we avoid this distress to human beings?
Human Evolution
When I am with you, I am reminded of the work of Phillips Tobias on human evolution and analysis of early hominid fossils. His work on the evolution of the human brain and the origin of spoken languages has been internationally recognized. The major contribution of Prof. Tobias in genetics is the determination of evolutionary links between primates and early humans.
Traditionally there have been two distinct and different approaches in understanding human evolution. Prof Thobias has contributed in both. First is the archeological evidence. The lessons that we have learnt in India from Mohan-jodaro and Harappa and many similar excavations the world over, have been seminal and many a civilization’s way of living, its culture and its origins have become evident.
The second and more recent approach is propelled by advances in our understanding of the human genome. While the major part of the human genome sequence is common between human beings and even with mice, the small portions that differ, control and contribute to the diversity that we find in the evolution of humans. This makes research in genetic engineering, using human genome sequences to understand the evolution of humans, very fascinating for scientists. From his vast experience in genetics and Paleo-anthropology, Prof. Tobias has been able to present to the world in an understandable capsule form, the whole process of human evolution over 600 million years. The simplicity of the outcome of his complex research has also stimulated many scientists the world over to look at the challenges posed in our understanding of human evolution. Today, the world talks about convergence of many technologies. Prof. Tobias and others have shown us that all our origins converge to a single point both in space and time.
Origins of Life
Ancient human history has been revealed beautifully by Paleo-anthropology. Life originated 600 million years ago and continental drift occurred 200 million years ago creating five continents. Mammals evolved 140 million years ago, Hominids that is the human type, evolved 26 million years ago but modern man only arrived on the scene some 200,000 years ago. He migrated and colonized the world only in the last 50,000 years. The spoken language is some 10,000 years old while writing evolved only a few thousand years ago. All this phenomenal progress has been achieved only within the short span of 200 to 400 generations, that is in just 5,000 to 10,000 years.
Ancient human history has been revealed beautifully by Paleo-anthropology. Life originated 600 million years ago and continental drift occurred 200 million years ago creating five continents. Mammals evolved 140 million years ago, Hominids that is the human type, evolved 26 million years ago but modern man only arrived on the scene some 200,000 years ago. He migrated and colonized the world only in the last 50,000 years. The spoken language is some 10,000 years old while writing evolved only a few thousand years ago. All this phenomenal progress has been achieved only within the short span of 200 to 400 generations, that is in just 5,000 to 10,000 years.
Thus the ‘Nature – Nurture’ philosophy holds good even in this Genomic Era: ‘Genes’. While what we inherit from our parents is the basis, a beautiful ‘building’ can be built over it, with the environment playing a crucial role in shaping the destiny of the individual and leading to excellence or otherwise.
Challenges of Modern Society
Advances in genetics demonstrating great similarity in the genome of man and animals shows that the limbic brain perhaps is the cause for all conflicts within and outside. So far human society, from origin until now has always been at war within and between groups and has led to two World Wars. Presently, terrorism and low intensity warfare are affecting many parts of the world. Simultaneously the brain is intelligent to understand the price, the humanity has paid because of such conflicts and if only this attention is diverted to development, the human civilization would have taken a shape leading to peaceful co-existence.
We have to analyze why wars have occurred so far in the human history and see how do we, avoid future conflicts. Paucity of resources, inequitable growth within countries and different parts of the world, deprivation, depleting resources, ego are among the reasons for conflicts along with remnants of hatred from historical fights. So it becomes necessary to analyze potential sources of conflicts in the 21st century for us to spot problem zones and avoid conflicts, as far as possible. Man is fighting a war on all fronts - environmental degradation and diseases on one side and terrorism on the other side.
Protection against man made violence
I would like to put forth to this important gathering, a methodology for evolving a happy, prosperous and peaceful society in our planet, which I call as “Evolution of Enlightened society”. How do we create such an enlightened society, which will have three components (a) Education with value system (b) Religion transforming into spirituality and (c) Economic development for societal transformation.
This doctrine of evolution of enlightened citizenship, I have presented to both houses of our Parliament, European Union Parliament on special invitation, Pan African Parliament and many other heads of countries and received constructive feed back. Let me present.
a. Education with value system:
We have seen that the seeds of peace in the world have their origin in the righteousness in the heart of every individual. Such righteous citizens lead to the evolution of enlightened society. Education with value system has to be so designed that the righteousness in the heart is developed in young minds. That should be the mission of education. The prime learning environment is five to seventeen years of age. This reminds me of an ancient Greek teacher's saying, "Give me a child for seven years; afterwards, let God or devil take the child. They cannot change the child". This indicates the power of great teachers and what they can inculcate in the young minds. Parents and teachers must inculcate moral leadership amongst children. It requires the ability to have insights into the uniqueness and universality of human consciousness. True education is the acquisition of enlightened feelings and enlightened powers to understand daily events and to understand the permanent truth linking man, to his environment, human and planetary.
While I was in college, I remember the lectures given by the highest authority of a Jesuit institution Rev Father Rector Kalathil of St. Joshep’s college, Tiruchirappalli, Southern India. Every week on Monday, he will take a class for an hour. He used to talk about good human beings present and past and what makes a good human being. In this class, he used to give lectures on personalities such as Buddha, Confucius, St. Augustine, Califa Omar, Mahatma Gandhi, Einstein, Abraham Lincoln and moral stories linked to our civilizational heritage. In the moral science class, Father Kalathil used to highlight the best aspect of, how the great personalities have been evolved as good human beings through parental care, teaching and companionship of great books. Even though these lessons were given to me in 1950’s during my college days, they inspire me even today. It is essential that in the schools and colleges, lectures are given by great teachers of the institution once in a week for one hour on civilizational heritage and derived value system. This may be called as Moral Science Class that will elevate the young minds to love the country, to love the other human beings and elevate them to higher planes.
Now, let me take up the area that is transforming religion into spiritual force. Many in the world believe, it is a difficult mission. I would like to share an experience that I have witnessed which has convinced me that it is possible.
b. Religion Transforming into Spirituality: Universal Mind
Religion has two components, theology and spirituality. Even though theology is unique to every religion, the spiritual component spreads the value to be inculcated by human beings for promoting a good human life and welfare of the society, while pursuing the material life. I would like to share an experience how the religion and science came together in a big mission.
It was during early 1960’s, the founder of Indian Space Research Programme Prof. Vikram Sarabhai with his team, had located a place technically most suited for space research after considering many alternatives. The place called Thumba in Kerala, was selected for space research as it was near the magnetic equator, ideally suited for ionospheric and electrojet research in upper atmosphere. I was fortunate to work with Prof Vikram Sarabhai for about eight years.
The major challenge for Prof Vikram Sarabhai was to get the place in a specific area. As was normal, Prof. Vikram Sarabhai approached the Kerala Government administrators first. After seeing the profile of the land and the sea coast, the view expressed was that, thousands of fishing folks lived there, the place had an ancient St Mary Magdalene Church, Bishop's House and a school. Hence it would be very difficult to give this land and they were willing to provide land in an alternative area. Similarly the political system also opined that it would be a difficult situation due to the existence of important institutions and the concern for people who were to be relocated. However there was a suggestion to approach the only person who could advise and help. That was the Bishop “Rev Father Peter Bernard Pereira”.
Prof Vikram Sarabhai, approached the Bishop on a Saturday evening, I still remember. The meeting between the two turned out to be historical. Many of us witnessed the event. Rev Father exclaimed, “Oh Vikram, you are asking my children’s abode, my abode and God’s abode. How is it possible?” Both had a unique quality that they could smile even in difficult situations. Rev Father Peter Bernard Pereira asked Prof. Vikram Sarabhai to come to church on Sunday morning at 9.00 AM. Prof. Vikram Sarabhai went to the church again on Sunday with his team. At that time the prayer was progressing with the recitation of Bible by Father Pereira. After the prayer was over, the Bishop invited Prof. Vikram Sarabhai to come to the dais. The Rev Father introduced Prof Vikram Sarabhai to the mass, “Dear children, here is a scientist, Prof. Vikram Sarabhai. What do sciences do? All of us experience, including this church, the light from electricity. I am able to talk to you through the mike which is made possible by technology. The treatment to patients by doctors comes from medical sciences. Science through technology enhances the comfort and quality of human life. What do, I do, as a preacher? I pray for you, for your well being, for your peace. In short, what Vikram is doing and what I am doing, are the same - both science and spirituality seek the Almighty’s blessings for human prosperity in body and mind. Dear Children, Prof Vikram says, he would build within a year, near the sea-coast, alternative facilities to what we are having. Now dear children, can we give our abode, can we give my abode, can we give the God’s abode for a great scientific mission?” There was a total silence, a pin drop silence. Then all of them got up and said ‘Amen’ which made the whole church reverberate.
That was the church where we had our design centre, where we started rocket assembly and the Bishop’s house was our scientists’ working place. Later the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) led to the establishment of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and the space activities transformed into multiple space centers throughout the country. Now this church has become an important centre of learning, where thousands of people learn about the dynamic history of the space programme of India and the great minds of a scientist and spiritual leader. Of course, the Thumba citizens got the well equipped facilities, worshiping place and educational centre in an alternate place at the right time.
When I think of this event, I can see how enlightened spiritual and scientific leaders can converge towards giving reverence to the human life. Of course the birth of TERLS and then VSSC gave the country the capability for launch vehicles, spacecraft and space applications that have accelerated social and economic development in India to unprecedented levels.
Today, among us, Prof Vikram Sarabhai is not there, Rev Peter Bernard Pereira is not there, but those who are responsible for creation and making flowers blossom will themselves be a different kind of flower as described in the Bhagwat Gita: "See the flower, how generously it distributes perfume and honey. It gives to all, gives freely of its love. When its work is done, it falls away quietly. Try to be like the flower, unassuming despite all its qualities". What a beautiful message, to the humanity on the purpose of life reflected the spiritual component. Can we bridge the spiritual component of the religions to bring peace to nations and to the world?
Now let us discuss the third important component of enlightened society which is to achieve economic development for societal transformation with our country’s example.
c. Economic development for societal transformation.
Indian Economy is in an ascent phase. There is considerable growth in the manufacturing and service sectors. We have a mission of spreading this economic growth throughout the country including the rural sector. Nearly 220 million people have to be lifted by upgrading their quality of life in both rural and urban areas. Even though the GDP growth indicates our economic growth, people’s participation is essential for achieving the required targets. It is essential to ensure that the citizens are empowered with good quality of life encompassing nutritious food, good habitat, clean environment, affordable healthcare, quality education and productive employment, integrated with our value system drawn from civilizational heritage leading to the comprehensive development of the nation that will bring smiles in one billion people. These are indicators for the growth of the National Prosperity Index.
To achieve that growth rate, we have identified five areas where India has a core competence for integrated action: (1) Agriculture and food processing (2) Education and Healthcare (3) Information and Communication Technology (4) Infrastructure development such as power, transportation, communication and including Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) and (5) Self reliance in critical technologies. Peace is an essential ingredient for accelerating development. We propose to realize the vision of transforming India into a developed nation before 2020 by energizing and igniting the minds of all the 540 million youth of the nation. It is not adequate if India alone is prosperous. India should also facilitate other countries in the region to become prosperous. That is what will lead to regional peace and prosperity.
Conclusion
Prosperity of nations is important for the prosperity of the world and promotion of a peaceful, happy and non-violent society. The centuries of learning from different civilizations should enable us to formulate ideas and systems to bring prosperity and reduce disparities. Convergence of the civilization has to be the focus of the world rather than projection of conflicts of civilizations. One of the main drivers would be human values bridged by spirituality of religions. We also need to find ways and means of rooting out the fundamental causes of extremism. We have to find solutions for equitable distribution of essential requirements such as water, energy and preservation of the environment. I believe that humanity as a whole has to work with focused national, regional and international missions as projected evolution of enlightened citizenship which itself will be a major unifying factor and pave the way for peaceful, happy and non-violent society.
My greetings to all the participants of 7th International Conference on Peace and Non-violent Action. I wish you all success in the mission of promoting a peaceful and non-violent society in the planet earth.

May God bless you.

APJ Abdul Kalam,
12.11.2008

Source : www.abdulkalam.com

THE EMPLOYMENT NEWS ISSUE DATED 15.11.08.[job vacancies of more than 66 Govt. Departments.]

Railway Recruitment Board, Patna and Muzaffarpur invite applications for approximately 3200 vacancies of Stenographer, Assistant Station Master, Jr. Engineer etc.
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan invites applications for more than 1100 posts of PGT, TGT, PRT and Miscellaneous Posts.
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre requires 546 posts of Stipendiary Trainees.
The Oriental Insurance Company Limited requires 150 Administrative Officers.
Delhi Development Authority needs 83 Stenographer (English).
ESI Scheme Directorate (Medical), Delhi invites applications for 44 posts of Technical Assistant-II.
Central Tibetan School Administration invites application for various posts.
Indian Institute of Technology notifies Joint Entrance Examination, 2009 (JEE-2009).
Railway Recruitment Board, Chandigarh declares the results of written examination for the post of Assistant Loco Pilot.
Office of the Medical Superintendent Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi invites applications for the posts of ECG Technician, Jr. Perfusionist, Medical Illustrator, Technician etc.
Staff Selection Commission declares the final result of Statistical Investigators Grade-III & Compiler Examination, 2008.
Oil India Limited invites applications for the posts of Sr. Accounts Officer, Accounts Officer and Executive Trainees.
Indian Space Research Organisation requires applications for various posts.
Food Corporation of India invites applications for 125 posts of Management Trainees (Movement).
The Apparel Training & Design Centre offers admission to various Technical & Non-Technical Courses.
National Council of Educational Research and Training invites applications for various posts of Faculties.
Director General of Medical Services (Army) invites applications for admission to B.Sc. (Nursing)/General Nursing & Midwifery (GNM), Course, 2009.
Steel Authority of India Limited needs Nursing Staff, Pharmacist, Technician etc.
All India Institute of Medical Sciences invites applications for various posts of Faculties.

Source : The Enployment News

Face Of Our Future Law Makers

"Even it's for good cause... I'm completely against violence" I read somewhere in my school days... I hope you too... but the happenings shows what kind of culture we are developing in our nation... I think, we cannot say, we don't want this fruit... because by knowing we sowed for this.

One of my sister asked the question... that
Anna(brother)You people did like this in your college days (about 6 years ago)?

My mother asked me... (After seen this in news)
How these boys' parents live anymore?



I asked myself....

Can I continue my life peacefully in this part of the world at least for next few years? Can this society assure me the same? Can each individual think about this? Can everyone contribute their part to the peaceful world?



CHENNAI: Four students were injured, one of them seriously, when two groups of students clashed on the Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College campus here on Wednesday.

According to police sources, a group armed with deadly weapons, including iron rods and clubs, attacked some students at the main gate in full public view. Police entered the campus after obtaining a complaint from the college Principal. An altercation over printing of a pamphlet to mark the Thevar Jayanthi celebrations on October 30 led to the clash. When some students were coming out of the college after writing the semester examinations at about 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the attack started. For about half an hour, armed youths went on the rampage.

Even as a large number of police personnel were watching from a distance, the students attacked one another. The four third year students were taken to city Government hospitals.

The condition of Arumugham, who suffered a head injury, was said to be critical. He is on life-support system, say doctors. Three students have been arrested.

ADGP (Law and Order) T. Rajendran said a State-wide alert was issued following the incident.

Source : The Hindu.

Chandrayaan-1 - Reach it's home - where it's going to stay another 2 years

CHENNAI: Chandrayaan-1 has reached its destination. The Indian spacecraft is now orbiting the moon over its poles at an altitude of about 100 km.

M. Annadurai, Project Director, said on Wednesday evening: “The entire team is very happy that in three weeks from the launch on October 22, we could safely send Chandrayaan-1 to the moon without any hiccups.” The Moon is 3,84,000 km from the Earth.

S.K. Shivakumar, Director, ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC), Bangalore, called it “a fulfilling mission.” “We were given the job of sending a spacecraft to the moon. We have realised the mission.”

The spacecraft reached its final home after commands were radioed at 6.33 p.m. from the Spacecraft Control Centre (SCC), nerve-centre of the current operations at ISTRAC, to Chandrayaan-1’s engine, Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM), to fire.

The engine fired for 58 seconds and Chandrayaan-1’s aposelene (the farthest distance from the moon) was reduced from 255 km to about 100 km. On Tuesday, its periselene was reduced from 187 to about 100 km. Thus, after the last orbit reduction on Wednesday evening, Chandrayaan-1 was truly home.

11 instruments
Chandrayaan-1 has 11 scientific instruments — five from India and six from abroad. Since Chandrayaan-1 is a remote-sensing spacecraft, it will help in identifying minerals and chemicals on the Moon. It will also look for the possible presence of water ice in the Moon’s Polar Regions. Its Terrain Mapping Camera (TMC), built by India, will help in preparing a three-dimensional atlas of the entire surface of the Moon.

As the spacecraft has reached its destination now, Mr. Annadurai said: “All activities lined up to commission the scientific instruments will start one after another.” One of them, Moon Impact Probe (MIP), will be commanded on Friday to eject from the mother-spacecraft Chandrayaan-1 and it will crash on the Moon’s surface. Of the remaining 10 instruments, the TMC has already been switched on and it has taken pictures of both the Earth and the Moon. Radiation Dose Monitor, an instrument from Bulgaria, to measure the radiation in the Moon’s atmosphere, has also been activated.

“By the end of this month, we will be able to commission all the instruments,” Mr. Annadurai said.

Source : The Hindu

Industrial growth slips to 4.8%

NEW DELHI: It was a poor show by the manufacturing sector yet again that pulled down the industrial growth rate to 4.8 per cent in September from a much healthier seven per cent growth notched up in the same month last year.


Surprisingly, however, while experts tended to analyse the index of industrial production (IIP) data released here on Wednesday as a clear signal of an economic slowdown to correct, which would require a fiscal stimulus along with a further cut in key rates by the Reserve Bank of India, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram dubbed the growth figures as ‘encouraging,’ especially when compared to the dismal performance in August.

As for the first six months of the current fiscal, the industrial growth rate stands halved at 4.9 per cent as compared to 9.5 per cent during April-September 2007-08.

In a statement, Mr. Chidambaram viewed that the IIP data for September were encouraging, mainly because the overall growth for the month was significantly higher than the provisional estimate of 1.3 per cent and the subsequently revised figure of 1.42 per cent.

Source : The Hindu

Shourya test-fired successfully - T.S. Subramanian



It can carry nuclear and conventional warheads
— Photo: drdo

PERFECT OPERATION: Surface-to-surface missile ‘Shourya’ roars into the sky from the Integrated Test Range at Balasore, Orissa, on Wednesday.
CHENNAI: India on Wednesday successfully test-fired a new surface-to-surface missile called “Shourya” from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Balasore in Orissa.

The two-stage missile took off from a silo at 11.25 a.m. and reached its targeted site 600 km away in the Bay of Bengal. Shourya can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads.

It is the land version of the underwater-launched missile called K-15 (Sagarika), which was fired in February 2008 from an underwater pontoon.

Shourya is a product of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and its Programme Director is A.K. Chakrabarti. M. Natarajan, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, was at Balasore to watch the launch.

‘Significant milestone’
W. Selvamurthy, Chief Controller (R and D), DRDO, said, “Today’s flight-test of Shourya is a significant milestone in building capability for the nation in the field of missiles both for strategic and tactical applications.” Just as the K-15 (Sagarika) missile could rise from the water and knife into the air, Shourya could lift off from a silo on the ground and pierce the sky. “Since the missile is fired from underground, it cannot be detected by conventional satellite imaging,” Dr. Selvamurthy said.

‘Totally new missile’
As Shourya was canisterised it was easy to transport, maintain and operate. Both its stages were powered by solid propellants. The Chief Controller called Shourya “a totally new missile.”

While the K-15 missile has an underwater booster and an air booster, Shourya has a booster underground and an air booster.

Shourya could get through the air defence of an adversary country because it was highly manoeuvrable, Dr. Selvamurthy said.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony has congratulated the DRDO on the successful test-firing of the Shourya.

Source : The Hindu

Fund crunch hits green energy projects globally

More than a fourth of the proposed green energy capacity investments planned worldwide have been either stalled or suspended due to lack of funds as a result of the ongoing global financial crisis, according to Remi Erikssen, chief executive officer of DNV Energy, part of Norway-based DNV, a global risk-management solutions provider for various industries.

India has emerged as a beneficiary of green energy projects and has 30 per cent of the world’s clean development mechanism (CDM) projects — where companies in developed world can earn carbon credits by investing in green projects in developing countries like India.

"At present, green energy projects are facing severe fund crunch and I reckon the ongoing crisis may deepen in near future for pipeline projects,” said Erikssen, whose company has validated 40 per cent of CDM projects in India. “Projects planned under CDM have also been impacted by the crisis," he added.

Around 1,200 projects are being implemented under the CDM at an estimated investment of Euro 3.6-4 billion. Of this, 360 projects are in India.

"Delay in projects mean cost-escalation and they should meet the timelines," he told Business Standard in Mumbai on Monday.

China accounts for 35 per cent of the carbon credits, followed by India with 24 per cent. India has another 200 projects in the pipeline, and at this point of time it is clear how many of these projects may run into rough weather, said N R Krishnakumar, director of operations, India and West Asia, DNV.

CDM is an arrangement under the Kyoto Protocol, which allows industrialised countries to invest in developing countries to reduce emissions in developing countries, as an alternative to more expensive emission reductions in their own countries. It is supervised by an executive board and is under the guidance of the Conference of the Parties (COP/MOP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Under CDM, Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) or carbon credits are issued which can be traded by those who earn the credits.

Source : BS

Wednesday 12 November 2008

Two Risø participants in parliamentary hearing on climate change and developing countries

What will be the consequences of climate change for developing countries, and what are the challenges for Denmark in this connection? Kirsten Halsnæs and John Christensen from the UNEP Risø Center will be taking part in a debate on this subject at a hearing in the Folketing on 13 November. The hearing has been arranged by the Danish Board of Technology on behalf of the Folketing’s Environment and Regional Planning Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Chairman of the Environment and Regional Planning Committee, Steen Gade (SF) will open the hearing and Kirsten Halsnæs will begin the debate. She is member of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and head of DTU Climate Centre. Kirsten Halsnæs will describe how climate change is affecting developing countries, point out problems, challenges and the opportunities it gives us as a Western donor country. The presentation will include examples from countries which Kirsten Halsnæs has visited with the IPPC.

The following debate is divided into three topics:

1. The impact of climate change on developing countries and their populations 2. Climate, environmental technology and development aid and 3. The developing countries and the UN climate summit in Copenhagen (COP15).

In connection with the third topic, Head of the UNEP Risø Centre, John Christensen, will address critical issues regarding a financing plan for adjustment and reduction of CO2 emissions He will also give an insight into Denmark’s current strategy in this field and into the ongoing discussions in the international Commission on Climate Change and Development.

Source : RISO

Monday 10 November 2008

India lift Border-Gavaskar Trophy as Aussies bite dust again





Nagpur (PTI): India on Monday gave ample proof of its status as a dominant force in world cricket as they thrashed Australia by 172 runs in the fourth and final cricket Test to regain the coveted Border-Gavaskar trophy after a gap of four years here.

After settting the visitors a daunting target of 382 for victory, the Indians exploited a turning fifth day track to skittle out the Aussies for 209 just before the tea break to wrap up the four-match series with a 2-0 margin. It turned out to be a perfect gift for Sourav Ganguly by his teammates in his farewell Test as they knocked out the Aussies in just about two sessions of play on the last day.

Only Matthew Hayden stood bravely amidst the ruins with a 93-ball 77 as the Indian bowlers ripped through the batting line-up to bring an end to the Australian innings rather quickly. Leg spinner Amit Mishra (4/64) and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh (3/27) were the main destructors for the hosts who made amends for losing the home series 1-2 in the 2004-05 series.

Opener Hayden, let off twice in his 30s, showed the most defiance from the tourists' ranks and top-scored with 77 off 93 balls with eight fours and a six before being fifth out and the end came swiftly after the departure of the Queenslander midway into the second session.

Fast bowler Ishant Sharma took the first two of three Australian wickets to set India on their way to a deserving victory after, which the spin duo of Harbhajan and Mishra spun a web of deceit to skittle the rest. The end came when last man Mitchell was declared out leg before offering no shot to Harbhajan Singh before tea.

Australia lost their wickets at regular intervals after a fighting partnership between Hayden and Hussey was broken by young Mishra who had the latter caught at slip by Rahul Dravid who had a forgettable match with the bat and as a slip fielder too.

India, thus, finished on a victorious note to give a fitting send-off to Sourav Ganguly who had announced before the commencement of the series in Bangalore on October 9 that he will quit the game after this series.

The former India skipper, who missed the chance to score a century in his farewell appearance after having started his Test career with a bang a debut ton at Lord's in 1996 faded from the limelight with the happiness that he was part of a victorious team at the end.

He was chaired off the ground after being hugged by all his teammates and the Australian players and was also greeted by retired captain Anil Kumble who has returned here from Bangalore to see the finale.

The opening Test was drawn before India thumped the world's highest-ranked team by a huge 320 runs in the second Test at Mohali to take a 1-0 lead, which they maintained coming into this Test following the drawn third encounter at Delhi.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who took over the reins from Kumble who retired after the third match of the series at the Ferozshah Kotla, thus continued his golden run at the helm to lead the team to a third straight win in as many matches. He had led India to wins over South Africa, earlier this year, and at Mohali as stand-in captain for Kumble.

Harbhajan and Mishra, introduced late after lunch, tied the Australian batsmen in knots. Barring the hard-hitting but chancy half-century by Hayden, the rest of the batsmen caved in meekly.

The gangling Ishant sent back first innings centurion Simon Katich (16) and Michael Clarke, promoted in the order to score quickly despite being unwell, and Ponting got run-out by Mishra's superb pick-up and throw from mid-off. The spin duo then got into the act and delivered the goods for India.

It was Mishra who gave the important breakthrough in his very first over to send back Michael Hussey for 19 when he and Hayden had taken the visitors to 150 from 82 for three. Mishra added the wickets of Brad Haddin, caught by Sachin Tendulkar (his 100th Test catch), and Jason Krejza (4), who got stumped by Dhoni.

Harbhajan struck the most important blow in the context of the run-chase by having Hayden leg before with a faster ball as the batsman tried to cart him to the on-side as he had done before with impunity.

The fiesty off spinner also accounted for Brett Lee (0), caught at short leg by Murali Vijay, before trapping Johnson leg before after the last wicket added 18 runs to bring down curtains on the match.


Source : The Hindu

Friday 7 November 2008

China's wind installation capacity expected to cross 10,000MW in this year ('08)

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA) jointly announced that China's total installed wind power generation capacity would beat 10,000MW by the end of 2008, two years ahead of schedule.

China is expected to sharply lift this figure to 30,000MW and 80,000MW in 2011 and 2020, respectively.

Up to CNY 34 billion or EUR 3.4 billion was invested into the Chinese wind power sector last year, and this industry entered into the super-fast growing development stage, by virtue of a series of favorable policies and a large amount of money, according to the WWF and CREIA.

In the entire 2007, the nation's new increment of installed wind power generation capacity reached 3,400MW, exceeding the accumulative capacity for the ten years before. China had aggregately had installed wind power generation capacity of 6,040MW as of last yearend, growing to the world's fifth biggest wind power generation country.

Source: Energy Central

Thursday 6 November 2008

Job vacancies of more than 74 Govt. Departments.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS OF ISSUE DATED 08.11.08


Department of Posts, India, Mumbai requires 436 Postmen.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (Culcutta, Assam, Bhopal & Himachal Pradesh) requires 308 Telecom Technical Assistants.
Damodar Valley Corporation requires 108 PGT, TGT and Primary Teachers.
Naval Academy Ezhimala, Kannur invites applications for more than 100 various posts.
Sashastra Seema Bal requires 99 Skilled and Un-Skilled followers.
Tripura Public Service Commission needs 38 posts of Principal, Professor and Assistant Professor.
Bharat Electronics Limited needs Sr. Assistant Engineers.
Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (Andhra Pradesh, New Delhi) needs Specialists Grade-II.
Union Public Service Commission invites applications for various posts.
Indian Institute of Technology notifies Joint Entrance Examination, 2009 (JEE-2009) and Joint Admission Test for M.Sc. (JAM-2009).
Railway Recruitment Board, Chandigarh declares the result of Main (2nd Stage) written examination held on 12.10.2008.
State Farms Corporation of India Limited invites applications for the posts of Chief Agriculture, Financial Advisor & Chief Accounts Officer, Manager etc.
National Council for Cement and Building Materials requires Engineers, Geologists and Chartered Accountant.
Software Technology Parks of India invites applications for the posts of technical Officer, Member Technical Support Staff, Admin Support Staff etc.
Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) invites applications for recruitment of Technical Officer, Chief Administration Officer, Sr. Administration Officer etc.
Instrumentation Limited, Kota-5 requires Sr. Engineers and Engineers.
National Institute of Miners Health invites applications for the posts of Sr. Scientific Assistant, Science Assistant and Jr. Accounts Officer.
National Brain Research Centre needs Scientists, Sr. Technical Officer, Assistant Engineer, Technician etc.

For more details visit Employment News

Wednesday 5 November 2008

Consumer Rights and Welfare - India

Consumer is the real deciding factor for all economic activities. It is now universally accepted that the extent of consumer protection is a true indicator of the level of progress in a nation. The growing size and complexity of production and distribution systems, the high level of sophistication in marketing and selling practices and forms of promotion like advertising, etc has contributed to the increased need for consumer protection. Recognising this, a well placed organisational set up has been created both at the Central and State level. At the central, Department of Consumer Affairs, under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution is the nodal organisation for the protection of rights of consumers, redressal of consumer grievances and promotion of standards of goods and services, etc.
The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 is the most important legislation enacted to provide for effective safeguards to consumers against various types of exploitations and unfair dealings, relying on mainly compensatory rather than a punitive or preventive approach. The Act has set up a three-tier quasi-judicial consumer disputes redressal machinery at the National, State and District levels, for expeditious and inexpensive settlement of consumer disputes. It also postulates establishment of Consumer Protection Councils at the Central and State levels for the purpose of spreading consumer awareness.

The Weights and Measures Unit, under the Department of Consumer Affairs has been set up to promote use of exact and correct weighing and measuring instruments. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has been set up under Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 as the National Standards Body of India. It is engaged in formulation of quality standards of goods or services as well as their certification through Quality Certification Schemes.

Further, Consumer Welfare Fund has been set up to provide financial assistance for promoting and protecting the welfare of the consumers. As a part of the initiative of the fund, the Centre for Consumer Studies (CCS) at the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) has been set up to facilitate in-depth action research in the area of consumer protection and education.

The success of spreading consumer movement in the country would depend upon the level of consumer vigilance about their rights and responsibilities.

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Innovations in Rural Development Management - APJA Address @ Bangalore 01.11.08

“Innovation is the key
for non-linear growth”
I am delighted to be with the Students and Faculty Members of University of Agricultural Sciences and the citizens of Karnataka. I am happy to be in your midst on the occasion of Karnataka Rajyotsawa.
You have been serving the cause of agriculture through education, training and research for more than 4 decades. I visited your website which is quite interesting and informative. I would suggest that you add a separate section for interaction with farmers, so that you can build some case studies for education and research for syllabus enrichment. Whenever I interact with people of any age group and particularly the youth, I find a fair proportion of the questions are on agriculture, rural development, increasing earning capacity and above all how to make the 600,000 villages of our country where 70% of our people live prosperous.
You are blessed with the prospects of contributing significantly to these areas and my best wishes to you. While I am with you, I would like to discuss the topic “Innovation in Rural Development Management”.
Farmers’ problems and solutions
During the last few years, based on my several visits to all the states and union territories and my individual interactions with farmers at Rashtrapathi Bhavan and different villages, I would summarize some of the problems faced by the farmers as follows:
o Indian agricultural productivity has remained stagnant.
o Land holdings per farmer have come down.
o Farmers are not keen to encourage their children into taking agriculture.
o Large scale migration from the rural area to town and cities.
o Severe scarcity of knowledge personnel in the rural sector.
o Difficulty in getting assured quality inputs.
o Farmers are under the clutches of money lenders.
o High technology has not percolated to the grassroot level.
I have been propagating the following Solutions.
o Schemes for providing the thrust to the agriculture to be sanctioned with a mission mode programme and management structure.
o Embed periodic review for mid-course corrections if required. Banks have to become farmer friendly.
o Co-operatives to supply certified quality unadulterated inputs like quality seeds, fertilizer and pesticides.
o Marketing systems for the farmer without middleman. Scientists to become partners to farmers for realizing higher productivity.
o ICT has to enable the farmers to enhance productivity, value addition and better marketing.
I would like you form small working groups on each of the problems, deliberate the solutions suggested and send me emails on your considered recommendations.
Economic development: Transforming India into a developed nation
As you are aware that large part of the growth of our GDP comes from manufacturing and services sector and the agriculture has been growing at a much lower rate. If we have to uplift the 220 million people living below poverty line and provide improved quality of life, we have to ensure that the agriculture sector grows at least at 4% per annum. For providing this growth, we have to spread the development process to the rural sector. What is meant by that? It means that
1. The villages must be connected within themselves and with main towns and metros through by good roads and wherever needed by railway lines. They must have other infrastructure like schools, colleges, hospitals and other amenities for the local population and the visitors. Let us call this physical connectivity.
2. In the emerging knowledge era, the native knowledge has to be preserved and enhanced with latest tools of technology, training and research. The villages have to have access to good education from best teachers wherever they are, must have the benefit of good medical treatment, must have latest information on their pursuits like agriculture, fishery, horticulture and food processing. That means they have to have electronic connectivity.
3. Once the Physical and Electronic connectivity are enabled, the knowledge connectivity is enabled. That can facilitate the ability increase the productivity, the utilization of spare time, awareness of health welfare, ensuring a market for products, increasing quality conscience, interacting with partners, getting the best equipment, increasing transparency and so in general knowledge connectivity
4. Once the three connectivities viz Physical, Electronic and knowledge connectivity are ensured, they facilitate earning capacity. How can we summarize this? When we Provide Urban Amenities to Rural Areas (PURA), we can lead to upliftment of rural areas, we can increase agricultural productivity, we can increase value additions, we can increase earning capacity, we can attract investors, we can introduce effectively useful systems like Rural BPOs, Micro Finance.
Thus if we take up PURA as a mission, we can make villages as prosperous knowledge accumulation centers and villagers as entrepreneurs. Is this possible? Can we make PURA as an enterprise?
7000 PURA Clusters encompassing over 600,000 villages are required for the entire country. The theme of PURA, apart from concentrating on reinforcing agriculture, will emphasize on agro processing, development of Rural Craftsmanship, dairy, fishing, poultry, silk production, so that the non-farm revenue for the rural sector is enhanced, based on the core competence of the region. Also the rural economy will be driven by renewable energy such as solar, wind, bio-fuel and conversion of municipal waste into power. In this approach, the aim is to make sustainable development using the core competence of the rural sector.
PURA cluster in Karnataka
Each PURA cluster will connect about 20 villages depending upon the region and population and will cost about Rs.100 crore. After initial short-term employment during construction etc., we have to plan for initiating actions for providing regular employment and self employment opportunities in nationally competitive small enterprises in agro processing, manufacturing and services sectors for about 3000 people. If the industrial/business parks are marketed well, they can generate employment opportunities in support sector for about 10,000 people in that cluster. This will provide sustainable economy for the rural sector. In this national mission, bankers can promote entrepreneurship in the rural areas. This will lead to the removal of urban-rural divide.
In Karnataka, I had launched the Suvarna Gramodaya – Rural Development Initiative at Gulbarga on 25 February 2007. I am sure, the programme can be implemented in such a way that the thousand villages can be grouped into 20 to 30 villages each with a population of 50,000 to one lakh. Can University of Agricultural sciences consider development of PURA cluster in each of the location of its colleges?
PURA as an Enterprise: Professionals from University of Agricultural Sciences are promising candidates for becoming the chief executives for managing the PURA complexes in an integrated way. PURA enterprises can also undertake management of schools, health care units, vocational training centres, chilling plants, silos and building a market, banking system and the regional business or industrial units. A new mission mode management style has to emerge for PURA enterprises. It should not be looking for protective legislations to support them. Rather they should be efficient to compete with others. This new PURA enterprise needs partnership from the bank, from the Government and also from the private entrepreneurs. University of Agricultural Sciences can train the entrepreneur for managing the PURA as a part of their course and work with the banks for getting loans for creating and running PURAs as a business proposition. Think of public-private-civil society partnerships in these efforts.
Now let us turn to the topic of achieving 4% growth in GDP in the Agriculture sector? In our country, there are few models, and I would like to share with you one of them.
Doubling the food production – an Experience
I would like to narrate a success story which has taken place in Bihar. An experiment has been carried out by the TIFAC team in Bihar, in the RP Channel 5 and Majholi distributory and later extended to Paliganj and other 5 distributaries on the request of farmers. Today they are working systems. The productivity of paddy has increased in these villages from 2 tons per hectare to 4 – 5.8 tons per hectare and in respect of wheat productivity; it has increased from around 2 tonnes per hectare to around 4 - 5 tonnes per hectare. Presently, paddy and wheat crops are spread in an area greater than 2500 hectares involving 3000 farmers. This project has been carried out by the TIFAC, in collaboration with a farmer’s co-operative society, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and the agricultural university in Pusa, Bihar.
Using scientific method of farming involving soil characterization, matching the right seed to soil, seeding in time, fertilizer and pesticide selection, water management, pre and post harvesting methodology productivity has been more than doubled. I am explaining this model to bring out the feasibility of transferring the knowledge from the laboratory to the farm through a cooperative venture between a dedicated team of scientists and the farmers. Moving up the value chain in agriculture through food processing is essential in the country to increase the contribution of the agriculture work force to GDP. This will result in doubling the earning capacity of the farm workers in any region of the country.
Partnership between scientists and farmers for higher productivity and income
For realizing the enhanced productivity thereby earning capacity, what is needed is the creation of a core team of agriculture scientists, veterinary scientists and commerce graduates in all the rural locations, who can provide the knowledge inputs to the farmers as has been done through the TIFAC project. This team can be linked to an educational institution in the rural sector, an active DRDA, Joint Director Agriculture available in the districts. For enhancing the productivity to over 100 million hectares in the country, we would need deployment of 50,000 young Agriculture Scientists (B.Sc Agri graduates) to double the food production, at the grass root level in the Agricultural Service Centers who will be responsible for identifying the technology gap, technology diffusion, bridging the technology gap and increasing the productivity of at least 2,000 hectares per agricultural service centre. The higher knowledge inputs for the grass root level scientists can be provided by M.Sc’s and Ph.D in agriculture sciences numbering around 2500. At the APEX level we can deploy 500 retired Agricultural executives at the rate of one scientist per district. This team should be entrusted with the responsibility of doubling the agricultural productivity of 100 million hectares within the next 3 to 5 years.
This national team has to work on a target of doubling the productivity in a time bound manner for providing knowledge inputs to the farmers for adopting the organic farming methods, correct use of quality fertilizer and pesticides, selection of seed and matching with the soil, drip irrigation, pre and post harvesting techniques, enhanced use of solar energy. The team has also got to ensure that the grain is processed into food and value added products, so that the farmers get the right revenue for their produce. The important point is that the agricultural scientists have to become partners of the farmers as done by Prof. S.K. Sinha in Bihar. Let me now talk to you another experience where seed cotton productivity has been doubled.
Reaching the Technology to the user
I am sure many of you may be aware of the Kisan Call Centre which is being operated by TCIL for Ministry of Agriculture and provides three levels of support to the farmer using the toll-free number 1551. I would think it will be useful to get a feedback from the user about this facility. Recently, I launched a national consultation on Technology Bank being established by National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD). They will be placing all the rural technologies on a website. I had suggested working out of a systematic method by which the availability of the technology is made known to the rural citizens and they are helped to adopt that technology in their field, so that they can reap the benefits of technology for enhancing the output.
While on this point of technology, I am reminded of the outreach by SEWA, an NGO in Gujarat. Working in conjunction with Indian Space Research Organisation, SEWA have six operational Gyan-Vigyan Kendra or Village Resource Centres covering 130 villages in Gujarat. These Village Resource Centres are linked up via satellite with teacher nodes such as Apollo hospital in Ahmedabad or the Anand Agricultural University. Many villagers after attending these sessions have been benefited in improving the yield of milk from cattle or delivering healthy calf or finding solutions to skin diseases through expert advice. During a recent outbreak of chickenguniya, a session presenting the symptoms, treatment and prevention techniques were orchestrated.
Conclusion
When I am with you, I would like to suggest the students and faculty members of the University of Agricultural Sciences to create two or three complexes in Bangalore rural district or Kolar district in partnership with Krishi Vigyan Kendras. This will give hands on experience for the graduates in Agricultural Sciences, Horticulture and Horticultural Management expert to develop sustainable rural complexes for enhancing the economic growth of Karnataka.
One of the most challenging task before us is how to double food production with reduced land, reduced water and reduced manpower. Technology is the only way to combat the situation. Specialists like you should work hand in hand with farmers to enable them to increase the yield per unit area.
One of the most challenging task before us is how to double food production with reduced land, reduced water and reduced manpower. Technology is the only way to combat the situation. Specialists like you should work hand in hand with farmers to enable them to increase the yield per unit area.
My best wishes to all the students and members of the faculty of University of Agricultural Sciences for success in their mission of accelerated rural development through innovative application of technology and management in agriculture, agro-food processing and non-farm value added product development.

May God bless you.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam,
01.11.2008


Source : abdulkalam.com

Current State of the Indian Economy

The current scenario of Indian economy has been characterised by optimistic growth and strong macro-economic fundamentals, particularly with tangible progress towards fiscal consolidation and a strong balance of payments position. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), at current market prices, is projected at Rs. 46,93,602 crore in 2007-08 by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) in its advance estimates (AE) of GDP. While, the GDP at factor cost, at constant 1999-2000 prices, is projected to grow at 8.7 per cent in 2007-08.

The industrial sector has witnessed a moderate slowdown in the growth during the first eight months of the current fiscal, till November 2007. The growth achieved, during April-November 2007, by the industrial sectors has been 9.2 per cent. The capital goods have grown at an accelerated pace, over a high base attained in the previous years, which augurs well for the required industrial capacity addition. While, the consumer durables showed a negative growth during the period, thereby forcing a visible decline in the growth of the total consumer goods basket, despite reasonable growth in the non-durables.


India's telecom sector has been one of the biggest success stories of market oriented reforms. With more than 270 million connections, India's telecommunication network is the third largest in the world and the second largest among the emerging economies of Asia. The total number of telephones has increased from 76.53 million on March 31, 2004 to 272.88 million on December 31, 2007. While 63.8 million telephone connections were added during the 12 months of 2006-07, more than 7 million telephone connections are being added every month during the current year. The tele-density has also increased from 12.7 per cent in March 2006 to 23.9 per cent in December 2007. Further, the share of wireless phones has also increased from 24.3 per cent in March 2003 to 85.6 per cent in December 2007.

The infrastructure sector has been expanding on a massive scale. The Index of Six core-infrastructure industries, having a direct bearing on infrastructure, stood at 243.0 (provisional) in December 2007 and registered a growth of 4.0 per cent (provisional) compared to a growth of 9.0 per cent in December 2006. During April-December 2007-08, six core-infrastructure industries registered a growth of 5.7 per cent (provisional) as against 8.9 per cent during the corresponding period of the previous year. Coal production grew by 4.9 per cent (provisional) as compared to an increase of 4.6 per cent during the same period of 2006-07. While, electricity generation grew by 6.6 per cent (provisional) as compared to 7.5 per cent during the same period of 2006-07.

In terms of the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), inflation was 3.9 per cent as on January 19, 2008, as compared to 6.3 per cent a year ago. In primary articles, there was a sharp deceleration in inflation to 3.8 per cent as on January 19, 2008, as compared to 10.2 per cent a year ago. They contributed 22 per cent to overall inflation as against 35.4 per cent in the previous year. Similarly, in case of manufactured products, year-on-year inflation as on January 19, 2008, was 3.9 per cent compared to 5.9 per cent in the corresponding period of 2006-07. They contributed 55.2 per cent of the year-on-year inflation. Further, fuel, power, light and lubricants, with a inflation rate of 4.5 per cent, contributed 30.4 per cent, which is more than twice its weight of 14.2 per cent in the index.

The monetary sector also continues to be growing at a sustainable rate during 2007-08 to serve the twin objectives of managing the transition to a higher growth path and containing inflationary pressures. The cumulative increase in the stock of M3 in 2007-08 has remained above the cumulative growth in 2006-07 and was 13.3 per cent on January 4, 2008, as compared to 12.2 per cent on January 5, 2006. Similarly, net foreign exchange assets (NFA) of the RBI, on year-on-year basis as on January 4, 2008, expanded by 39.1 per cent as against 26.1 per cent on the corresponding date of the previous year.

In the secondary market segment, the market activity expanded further during 2007-08 with BSE and NSE indices scaling new peaks of 21,000 and 6,300, respectively, in January 2008. The main reasons being the larger inflows from Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) and wider participation of domestic investors, particularly the institutional investors. During 2007, on a point-to-point basis, Sensex and Nifty Indices rose by 47.1 and 54.8 per cent, respectively. While the climb of BSE Sensex during
2007-08 so far was the fastest ever, the journey of BSE Sensex from 18,000 to 19,000 mark was achieved in just four trading sessions during October 2007. It further crossed the 20,000 mark in December 2007 and 21,000 in an intra-day trading in January 2008.

Progress in fiscal consolidation has been satisfactory in the post-Fiscal Reforms and Budget Management Act (FRBMA) period. The fiscal deficit of the Centre, as a proportion of GDP, came down from 5.9 per cent in 2002-03 to 3.4 per cent in 2006-07 and is estimated to further decline to 3.3 per cent in 2007-08 [Budget Estimate (BE)] (3.2 per cent based on revised GDP estimates). Similarly, the revenue deficit declined from 4.4 per cent in 2002-03 to 1.9 per cent in 2006-07 and is estimated to further decline to 1.5 per cent in 2007-08 (BE).

India's external economic environment continued to be supportive with the invisible account remaining strong and stable capital flows. As a proportion of total capital flows and on a net basis, foreign investment has shown a mixed trend in the current year. In 2006-07, the proportion stood at 33.5 per cent, while it rose to 43.4 per cent in the first half of 2007-08. Foreign direct investment (FDI) grew appreciably on both gross and net basis. On a gross basis, FDI inflows into India was at US$ 11.2 billion in the first six months of 2007-08. FDI inflows were broad-based and spread across a range of economic activities like financial services, manufacturing, banking services, information technology services and construction. While, net portfolio investment inflow was US$ 18.3 billion in April-September 2007, more than double the inflow during 2006-07.

There are various economic indicators reflecting the current state of the economy.

Industrial Growth
Agriculture and Monsoon
Stock Market Trends
Core Infrastructure Industries
Trends in Inflation
Fiscal Management
Telecom
Monetary Indicators
Capital Inflows

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