*Who is the new prime minister of North Korea ?
Choe Yong-Rim
*Who has won the Orange Prize for 2010 ?
Barbara Kingsolver
*To which sport is Lin Dan related ?
Badminton
*New chairman of Railway Board :
Vivek Sahai
*Chairman of National Human Rights Commission : K.G.Balakrishnan
*Who has been chosen for the Lokmanya Tilak Award,2010 recently ?
Ms Shiela Dikshit,the Delhi chief minister.
*Ramnath Goenka Excellence Award is given in the field of Journalism
*Who has been chosen for Journalist of the year award in the Print Category for the 4th Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award.
*Who has been chosen for the Journalist of the year Award in the Broadcast Category ?
Arnab Goswami,the editor-in-chief of the Times Now.
*Which Asian country has recently surpassed the USA to become the world's biggest energy consumer ?
China
*Who was David Warren who recently passed away ?
He was a noted Australian scientist who invented the Black Box.
*Name the India's first ministry to have an account on twitter ?
Ministry of External Affairs
*Which State has topped in implementing NREGA for the year 2009-2010 ?
Tripura
*Which is the first Indian State to launch a cancer screening campaign for its entire population ?
Meghalaya
*New chairman of Indian Banks Association for 2010-11 : OP Bhatt
*New chairman of SAIL : Chandra Shekhar Verma
*Recently the book 'El Sari Rajo' was in news. Who is the author of this book ?
Javier Moro
*How many RRBs are working in the Indian economy ?
84
*What is the capital of Wcuador ?
Quito
*In which date the IT department observes the '''Income Tax Day''' ?
24 July
*How many biosphere reserves are there in India ?
16
*Who has been appointed as the president of the UN General Assembly ?
Joseph Deiss
*Who is the first hat-trick goal scorer in the 2010 FIFA World Cup ?
Gonzalo Higuain
*What is the slogan of Census 2011 ?
Our Census,Our Future
*Who won the Singapore Open Super Series title ?
Saina Nehwal
*What is the full form of NBFC : Non Banking Financial Company
*Which is the biggest enterprise of the Government of India ?
Railways
*How many teams has participated in the 2010 FIFA World Cup ?
32
*Which country will host the 2014 FIFA World Cup ?
Brazil
*Which country has hosted the G-20 Summit ?
Canada
*Which country will host the 2014 Winter Olympics ?
Russia
*What ia the position of Pakistan in Global Peace Index 2010 ?
145th
*Which state has opened its first cyber crime investigations unit ?
Bihar
*Who is the 1st Indian to circumnavigate the world on a sail boat ?
Dilip Donde
*In which state 'India Smart Grid Forum' has been launched by Power Ministry ?
New Delhi
*In which year India will induct Agni 5 missile ?
2011
*In which country ,India has builded Indian-styled Buddhist temple ?
China
*For which scheme Central Government has launched Biometric Cards ?
MNREGA
*Recently in which state President's rule has imposed ?
Jharkhand
*Which country will host International Congress of Mathematicians ?
India
*In which city of India the world's tallest residential building ''World One Project'' will be built ?
Mumbai
*In which state world's tallest railway bridge is being constructed ?
Jammu and Kashmir
*At present how many Zonal Cultural Centres are in the country ?
7
*With which country India has signed an agreement on co-operation labour related areas ?
Afganistan
*Which country will have nuke submarine reactor by 2014 ?
Brazil
*Which country has finfished all its ties with South Korea ?
North Korea
*Which airforce has test-fired hypersonic cruize missile ?
US Airforce
*Which country citizens has been topped in acquiring British Citizenship in 2009 ?
India
*Which country recently permitted India to export Basmati rice to it ?
China
*Which country had unveiled the world largest radiotelescope ?
Netherland
*What is the name of Saudi Arabia's first indigenously made car ?
Ghazal
*In which country India will establish a trade centre ?
Trinidad and Tobago
*According to Industry Consultancy Syntrax, which Airline is the best airline in India ?
Kingfisher Airlines
*In which place IDBI Bank has opened its first foreign branch?
Dubai
*With which country Pakistan has signed a new gas pipeline agreement ?
Iran
*With which country Russia will make new electric train ?
Germany
*Miss Mexico crowned 2010 Miss Universe: A 22-year-old Mexican beauty Jimena Navarrete, who highlighted how important it is to teach children about family values, has been crowned as the Miss Universe 2010.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
*Pakistan accepted India's offer of USD five million in aid for flood relief in the country and appreciated its "very positive" gesture
*GOM clears inclusion of caste in census
*PM unveils call centre 'Udyami Helpline' for MSMEs: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday inaugurated a call centre 'Udyami Helpline', which will provide information about business possibilities and loan facilities to entrepreneurs keen on setting up small units.
*Mercedes pips BMW to top spot in India in Jan-Jul
*Fake Rs 10 coins being minted abroad: Delhi Police sources
*Rahman gives sneak preview of CWG theme song
*RJD- LJP announce seat sharing arrangement for Bihar polls
*Dasmunshi, Mohan Singh, Joshi conferred best Parliamentarian award
*Intl Congress of Mathematicians begins tomorrow at Hyderabad : India will host the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM), the largest congregation of mathematicians from across the globe, for the first time in Hyderabad, beginning on Thursday.
*GOM clears inclusion of caste in census
*PM unveils call centre 'Udyami Helpline' for MSMEs: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday inaugurated a call centre 'Udyami Helpline', which will provide information about business possibilities and loan facilities to entrepreneurs keen on setting up small units.
*Mercedes pips BMW to top spot in India in Jan-Jul
*Fake Rs 10 coins being minted abroad: Delhi Police sources
*Rahman gives sneak preview of CWG theme song
*RJD- LJP announce seat sharing arrangement for Bihar polls
*Dasmunshi, Mohan Singh, Joshi conferred best Parliamentarian award
*Intl Congress of Mathematicians begins tomorrow at Hyderabad : India will host the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM), the largest congregation of mathematicians from across the globe, for the first time in Hyderabad, beginning on Thursday.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Khel Ratna Award & Arjun Award 2010
The National Sports AwardâE™s committee, headed by legendary athlete PT Usha, has announced this yearâE™s awardees.
Khel Ratna 2010: Saina Nehwal
Saina Nehwal, the top shuttler in India has been selected for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for the year 2010. The world number 2 has been honoured with  the countryâE™s highest sports award after performing exceptionally in international arena. She won the Indian Open Grand Prix, the Singapore Open and the Indonesian Open back to back.
Saina, who won the Padma Awards last year, was the first Indian girl to reach the singles quarterfinals at the Olympics in Beijing. She is also the first Indian to win the World Junior Badminton Championships.
Arjuna Awards 2010
Krishna Punia (athletics), Joseph Abraham (athletics), Dinesh Kumar (boxing), Parimarjan Negi (chess), Jhulan Goswami (cricket), Deepak Mondal (football), Sunil Chettri (football), Rajiv Tomar (wrestling), Sandeep Singh (hockey), Jasjit Kaur (hockey), Jajseer Singh (paralympics), Dinesh (kabaddi), Kapil Dev (volleyball), Rehan Poncha (swimming), Sanjeev Rajput (shooting)
Khel Ratna 2010: Saina Nehwal
Saina Nehwal, the top shuttler in India has been selected for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for the year 2010. The world number 2 has been honoured with  the countryâE™s highest sports award after performing exceptionally in international arena. She won the Indian Open Grand Prix, the Singapore Open and the Indonesian Open back to back.
Saina, who won the Padma Awards last year, was the first Indian girl to reach the singles quarterfinals at the Olympics in Beijing. She is also the first Indian to win the World Junior Badminton Championships.
Arjuna Awards 2010
Krishna Punia (athletics), Joseph Abraham (athletics), Dinesh Kumar (boxing), Parimarjan Negi (chess), Jhulan Goswami (cricket), Deepak Mondal (football), Sunil Chettri (football), Rajiv Tomar (wrestling), Sandeep Singh (hockey), Jasjit Kaur (hockey), Jajseer Singh (paralympics), Dinesh (kabaddi), Kapil Dev (volleyball), Rehan Poncha (swimming), Sanjeev Rajput (shooting)
Improve ur english
Tips on how to read English text to improve your English.
Reading is the best way to learn a language, however we need to make sure that we use the correct technique. Normally when we read, we try to go very fast. So the result is that we skip many common words and only pick some words which give a meaning to the sentences. We need to change this approach if we want to improve our English
Lets see what are the challenges.
Challenge 1:
Common Words are ignored.
We do not read the common grammar words like to, a, an, the etc. The result is when we talk or write in English we tend to skip these words. That is the major reason for most of us not using articles like a/an/the in our speech and writing.
Solution 1:
Read slowly when you are learning English. Try to understand how the words are arranged to form a meaningful sentence. You should look for words which are used most often and try to see if you can use them yourself.
Challenge 2:
Difficult Words are ignored.
When we encounter a difficult while reading we just skip that. Most of the times we can judge the meaning of a sentence by considering the context of the word used even if we do not know the word. This way we seldom learn anything new from what we read.
Solution 2:
Use a dictionary. I think the best way to learn new words is to find their meaning as and when you encounter them. This way, you have a sentence right in front of you which tells you how to use the word when you need.
A quick tip for people who are online for most part of the day. Just open "www.google.com" and type "define: your-word" to find the meaning of word. Just replace your-word with the word that you want the meaning for. Neat!! Ehh!!
Challenge 3:
Spellings are ignored.
We don't really care for spellings when we read text. Our eyes can make sense of completely jumbled words as long as the beginning and end letters are same. So how do we improve our sepllings? I mean spellings :).
Solution 3:
Be careful while reading. Read quality books/magazines and newspaper. This will reduce the chances that you are reading something that has not gone through proper proof-reading. You will amazed to find words which are very similar in spellings but have very different meaning.
Challenge 4:
Lack of Interest and Will Power.
I know that its very difficult to maintain your interest when you are reading some text written in a foreign language. The key here is patience and persistence.
Solution 4:
Try and generate interest in what you are reading. Read about stuff you like. If you are love painting, read about painters and their work. If you love poetry then read about your favourite poet. Just make sure that you don't feel that you are forced to read something.
Challenge 5:
Learn and Forget.
Some of you must be thinking that you have done all this in past and still see no improvement. It might be true, but remember what we started with, "techniques". You need to plan and find a way that works for you.
Solution 5:
The toughest challenges sometimes have the easiest solutions. The best way to remmeber things you learn is to repeat and revise them. Keep a small pocket notepad with you. Write down things you learn and go back to them when you have time. You will definitely see a great difference.
Reading is the best way to learn a language, however we need to make sure that we use the correct technique. Normally when we read, we try to go very fast. So the result is that we skip many common words and only pick some words which give a meaning to the sentences. We need to change this approach if we want to improve our English
Lets see what are the challenges.
Challenge 1:
Common Words are ignored.
We do not read the common grammar words like to, a, an, the etc. The result is when we talk or write in English we tend to skip these words. That is the major reason for most of us not using articles like a/an/the in our speech and writing.
Solution 1:
Read slowly when you are learning English. Try to understand how the words are arranged to form a meaningful sentence. You should look for words which are used most often and try to see if you can use them yourself.
Challenge 2:
Difficult Words are ignored.
When we encounter a difficult while reading we just skip that. Most of the times we can judge the meaning of a sentence by considering the context of the word used even if we do not know the word. This way we seldom learn anything new from what we read.
Solution 2:
Use a dictionary. I think the best way to learn new words is to find their meaning as and when you encounter them. This way, you have a sentence right in front of you which tells you how to use the word when you need.
A quick tip for people who are online for most part of the day. Just open "www.google.com" and type "define: your-word" to find the meaning of word. Just replace your-word with the word that you want the meaning for. Neat!! Ehh!!
Challenge 3:
Spellings are ignored.
We don't really care for spellings when we read text. Our eyes can make sense of completely jumbled words as long as the beginning and end letters are same. So how do we improve our sepllings? I mean spellings :).
Solution 3:
Be careful while reading. Read quality books/magazines and newspaper. This will reduce the chances that you are reading something that has not gone through proper proof-reading. You will amazed to find words which are very similar in spellings but have very different meaning.
Challenge 4:
Lack of Interest and Will Power.
I know that its very difficult to maintain your interest when you are reading some text written in a foreign language. The key here is patience and persistence.
Solution 4:
Try and generate interest in what you are reading. Read about stuff you like. If you are love painting, read about painters and their work. If you love poetry then read about your favourite poet. Just make sure that you don't feel that you are forced to read something.
Challenge 5:
Learn and Forget.
Some of you must be thinking that you have done all this in past and still see no improvement. It might be true, but remember what we started with, "techniques". You need to plan and find a way that works for you.
Solution 5:
The toughest challenges sometimes have the easiest solutions. The best way to remmeber things you learn is to repeat and revise them. Keep a small pocket notepad with you. Write down things you learn and go back to them when you have time. You will definitely see a great difference.
Debate : Is Justice Available only to the Rich?
Is Justice Available only to the Rich?
It is often said that the one who has the riches has the power too and can call the shots whenever and wherever he pleases to. In todayâE™s world, it is not hard to find instances where those wielding the clout can go scot-free even after having their hands muddied in cases of the worst natureâE"it is either a word from the authorities or one of the many loopholes that exist in the judicial system are exploited. However, one cannot generalize the impression for there are instances where verdicts are delivered in favour of the âE~not so rich and powerfulâE™.
Even though it is endeavoured to a great extent that the judicial system be kept immune from all possible pressures from several quarters, there is no guarantee of success in this attempt, for greed does not have an antidote but for a live conscience. Does this point to the fact that current system of delivering justice is a mere farce, that is now only interested in jingle of the coins, or is there still some substance to it? Are the judgements up for sale or can the average man take recourse to this route without the fear of truth getting mauled somewhere in midst of the process? Is justice available only for the rich and the powerful or can the commoners still be sure about the truth always triumphing?
Mr A In my opinion, the term justice itself has changed in its meaning greatly. What was once the right of one and all, irrespective of clout, has now come to be doled out in a measure equal to moolah laid down in the other scale. Justice is fashioned on the terms dictated by the rich and powerful. It is no more in favour of the right. Evidences can be easily doctored to suit the needs. The dictum, survival of the fittest, conventionally implied that only those who could endure all troubles, and were equipped to beat all odds would be the survivors. And now âEśfittestâEť has come to mean âEśrichestâEť in this context. Riches command power and power commands riches. All that remains necessary to emerge as winner in all situations, irrespective of being on the right or wrong side of it, is the power of money.
Miss B It is not as if the rot has overtaken the system, but merely a case of a few bad eggs. I feel that it greatly depends on the integrity of men, whether they help in delivering justice or become instrumental in derailing it. If a man is not corrupt, it will be difficult to keep him from fighting tooth and nail to do an honest job. There are still good men left who do not buckle under pressure and neither do they have a conscience beaten dead. It really helps, especially if the person occupies a position of authority in the officialdom.
Mr C It does appear that the feeling of justice being meted out to the rich and powerful sections of the society is gaining ground. It is not as if the idea is based on a few odd judgements, but on the premise of questionable uprightness of the men sitting on judgement and their support structure/auxiliaries. The old maxim that âEśthere is enough for manâE™s need but not for his greedâEť is only so true. Let us not forget that even those sitting to deliver justice are humans and very much susceptible to falling under the spell of the Mammon.
Miss D I would not agree with such a view. Let us not look at the situation as if all is lost and that the concept of justice has deteriorated beyond redemption. Let me ask you a simple questionâE"how do you think that the system is functioning still, if the bell tolls only for the rich and powerful? If every part of the machinery has gone defunct, why are the courts still doing business as usual? People would not resort to the legal redressal at all if they perceived the extent of fall to such great levels. In that scenario, only two things would have resultedâE"either jungle law would have prevailed or people would have figured out an alternative mechanism of arriving at a fair solution. Both are not in operation. A tree trunk that has been eaten up hollow by termites cannot stand for long. Similarly, if the system has been, say, sold out, it cannot appeal to the public any more. I think that there is still much to the judicial system and that a biased judiciary can have a very short life span, if at all. If there are faults, then the entire system of policing that supports the judiciary in carrying out its tasks by doing the basic works should be re-examined.
Mr A I hope, my friend, that you will agree with the time tested saying that, "justice delayed is justice denied". There are countless instances of decades going by with people waiting for succour in form of a correct judgement. Cases are left hanging fire for one reason or the other. Even the dates for hearing are allocated after months, making the exercise futile and frustrating. What good is a compensation a decade after a person lost a job or suffered gravely in a large-scale accident? A victim can be helped only if there is immediate relief. And delays only amount to further victimisation. It only means that even if corruption and wrong doing exists at the upper echelons, it can be gotten away with, for they know that even if their devious activities are spotted, they are as good as safe. It is not only the judicial system and laws to be held responsible, but also the law enforcing systemâE"the policeâE"that aids its work.
Miss B I have some reservations about my friendâE™s argument. It is not true that justice works only for the rich and powerful. Let me tell you that there are concerted efforts on part of the authorities to make the system better. Let it also be clear to one and all that any court of law, or any able judge will only evaluate the case in light of evidences presented. If the evidence collection is faulty and does not reflect the level of competence required in the handling of the job, then the judicial system is not to be blamed. If a strict eye is kept on the law-enforcing authorities, then pure and unadulterated justice is what you will get. After all, the media does keep a check by reporting what it perceives as something not falling in line.
Mr C I would like to take you back to what my friend has stated earlier. I still feel that despite reporting by the media, there is hardly anything good that happens. Most of the celebrity and big name crimes do make news and create a short-lived furore, but what ultimately happens is the miscarriage of justice. The fire dies down after everyone has had their share of the peeps into the lives of the rich and powerful. What happened in the Jessica LallâE™s case is also known to all. It is the clout of the powerful section that makes either mediocrity/incompetence take charge in their cases or merely prompt a lack of willingness by the abler ones in collecting evidences against them.
Miss D Well, I think that the system does need a double look into its functioning. The rot of corruption has set in and it is courtesy the people who promote it by buying out whoever they desire to achieve their ends. A proper accountability needs to be introduced for the judiciary to rule out corruption on personal level, and for the law enforcers too. It is also true that nothing can keep a good man down, but if the number of this species is dwindling then
something needs to be done and quickly!
It is often said that the one who has the riches has the power too and can call the shots whenever and wherever he pleases to. In todayâE™s world, it is not hard to find instances where those wielding the clout can go scot-free even after having their hands muddied in cases of the worst natureâE"it is either a word from the authorities or one of the many loopholes that exist in the judicial system are exploited. However, one cannot generalize the impression for there are instances where verdicts are delivered in favour of the âE~not so rich and powerfulâE™.
Even though it is endeavoured to a great extent that the judicial system be kept immune from all possible pressures from several quarters, there is no guarantee of success in this attempt, for greed does not have an antidote but for a live conscience. Does this point to the fact that current system of delivering justice is a mere farce, that is now only interested in jingle of the coins, or is there still some substance to it? Are the judgements up for sale or can the average man take recourse to this route without the fear of truth getting mauled somewhere in midst of the process? Is justice available only for the rich and the powerful or can the commoners still be sure about the truth always triumphing?
Mr A In my opinion, the term justice itself has changed in its meaning greatly. What was once the right of one and all, irrespective of clout, has now come to be doled out in a measure equal to moolah laid down in the other scale. Justice is fashioned on the terms dictated by the rich and powerful. It is no more in favour of the right. Evidences can be easily doctored to suit the needs. The dictum, survival of the fittest, conventionally implied that only those who could endure all troubles, and were equipped to beat all odds would be the survivors. And now âEśfittestâEť has come to mean âEśrichestâEť in this context. Riches command power and power commands riches. All that remains necessary to emerge as winner in all situations, irrespective of being on the right or wrong side of it, is the power of money.
Miss B It is not as if the rot has overtaken the system, but merely a case of a few bad eggs. I feel that it greatly depends on the integrity of men, whether they help in delivering justice or become instrumental in derailing it. If a man is not corrupt, it will be difficult to keep him from fighting tooth and nail to do an honest job. There are still good men left who do not buckle under pressure and neither do they have a conscience beaten dead. It really helps, especially if the person occupies a position of authority in the officialdom.
Mr C It does appear that the feeling of justice being meted out to the rich and powerful sections of the society is gaining ground. It is not as if the idea is based on a few odd judgements, but on the premise of questionable uprightness of the men sitting on judgement and their support structure/auxiliaries. The old maxim that âEśthere is enough for manâE™s need but not for his greedâEť is only so true. Let us not forget that even those sitting to deliver justice are humans and very much susceptible to falling under the spell of the Mammon.
Miss D I would not agree with such a view. Let us not look at the situation as if all is lost and that the concept of justice has deteriorated beyond redemption. Let me ask you a simple questionâE"how do you think that the system is functioning still, if the bell tolls only for the rich and powerful? If every part of the machinery has gone defunct, why are the courts still doing business as usual? People would not resort to the legal redressal at all if they perceived the extent of fall to such great levels. In that scenario, only two things would have resultedâE"either jungle law would have prevailed or people would have figured out an alternative mechanism of arriving at a fair solution. Both are not in operation. A tree trunk that has been eaten up hollow by termites cannot stand for long. Similarly, if the system has been, say, sold out, it cannot appeal to the public any more. I think that there is still much to the judicial system and that a biased judiciary can have a very short life span, if at all. If there are faults, then the entire system of policing that supports the judiciary in carrying out its tasks by doing the basic works should be re-examined.
Mr A I hope, my friend, that you will agree with the time tested saying that, "justice delayed is justice denied". There are countless instances of decades going by with people waiting for succour in form of a correct judgement. Cases are left hanging fire for one reason or the other. Even the dates for hearing are allocated after months, making the exercise futile and frustrating. What good is a compensation a decade after a person lost a job or suffered gravely in a large-scale accident? A victim can be helped only if there is immediate relief. And delays only amount to further victimisation. It only means that even if corruption and wrong doing exists at the upper echelons, it can be gotten away with, for they know that even if their devious activities are spotted, they are as good as safe. It is not only the judicial system and laws to be held responsible, but also the law enforcing systemâE"the policeâE"that aids its work.
Miss B I have some reservations about my friendâE™s argument. It is not true that justice works only for the rich and powerful. Let me tell you that there are concerted efforts on part of the authorities to make the system better. Let it also be clear to one and all that any court of law, or any able judge will only evaluate the case in light of evidences presented. If the evidence collection is faulty and does not reflect the level of competence required in the handling of the job, then the judicial system is not to be blamed. If a strict eye is kept on the law-enforcing authorities, then pure and unadulterated justice is what you will get. After all, the media does keep a check by reporting what it perceives as something not falling in line.
Mr C I would like to take you back to what my friend has stated earlier. I still feel that despite reporting by the media, there is hardly anything good that happens. Most of the celebrity and big name crimes do make news and create a short-lived furore, but what ultimately happens is the miscarriage of justice. The fire dies down after everyone has had their share of the peeps into the lives of the rich and powerful. What happened in the Jessica LallâE™s case is also known to all. It is the clout of the powerful section that makes either mediocrity/incompetence take charge in their cases or merely prompt a lack of willingness by the abler ones in collecting evidences against them.
Miss D Well, I think that the system does need a double look into its functioning. The rot of corruption has set in and it is courtesy the people who promote it by buying out whoever they desire to achieve their ends. A proper accountability needs to be introduced for the judiciary to rule out corruption on personal level, and for the law enforcers too. It is also true that nothing can keep a good man down, but if the number of this species is dwindling then
something needs to be done and quickly!
Education for All
The gains achieved since the Education for All and Millennium Development Goals were adopted in 2000 are undeniable: great strides have been made towards universal primary education, increased participation in secondary and tertiary education and, in many countries, gender equality. More widely, there have been improvements in overcoming hunger, poverty, and child and maternal mortality.The global financial crisis could radically change all this. Reaching the marginalized demonstrates that declining government revenue and rising unemployment now pose a serious threat to progress in all areas of human development. Government budgets are under even greater pressure and funding for education is especially vulnerable. So are poor households. Rising poverty levels mean that the challenge of meeting basic human needs is a daily struggle. Lessons from the past teach us that children are often the first to sufferâE"as is their chance to go to school.
Global Monitoring Report, 2010, underscores that there is a long way to travel. There are still at least 72 million children worldwide who are missing out on their right to education because of the simple fact of where they are born or who their family is. Millions of youths leave school without the skills they need to succeed in the workforce and one in six adults is denied the right to literacy.
The 2010 Report is a call to action. We must reach the marginalized. Only inclusive education systems have the potential to harness the skills needed to build the knowledge societies of the twenty-first century.
The international community needs to identify the threat to education posed by the economic crisis and the rise in global food prices. Human development indicators are deteriorating. An estimated 125 million additional people could be pushed into malnutrition and 90 million into poverty in 2010.
With poverty rising, unemployment growing and remittances diminishing, many poor and vulnerable households are being forced to cut back on education spending or withdraw their children from school. National budgets in poor countries are under pressure. Sub-Saharan Africa faces a potential loss of around US$4.6 billion annually in financing for education in 2009 and 2010, equivalent to a 10% reduction in spending per primary-school pupil.
As part of an effective response, it is need of the hour to provide sustained and predictable aid to counteract revenue losses, protect priority social spending and support progress in education.
The situation is not hopeless everywhere, though. Some countries have achieved extraordinary advances. Benin started out in 1999 with one of the worldâE™s lowest net enrolment ratios but may now be on track for universal primary education by 2015. The share of girls out of school has declined from 58% to 54%, and the gender gap in primary education is narrowing in many countries. Between 1985âE"1994 and 2000âE"2007, the adult literacy rate increased by 10%, to its current level of 84%. The number of adult female literates has increased at a faster pace than that of males.
However, much need to be done. Malnutrition affects around 175 million young children each year and is a health and an education emergency. There were 72 million children out of school in 2007. Business as usual would leave 56 million children out of school in 2015.
Around 54% of children out of school are girls. In sub-Saharan Africa, almost 12 million girls may never enrol. In Yemen, nearly 80% of girls out of school are unlikely ever to enrol, compared with 36% of boys. Literacy remains among the most neglected of all education goals, with about 759 million adults lacking literacy skills today. Two-thirds are women.
Millions of children are leaving school without having acquired basic skills. In some countries in sub-Saharan Africa, young adults with five years of education had a 40% probability of being illiterate. In the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Guatemala, fewer than half of grade 3 students had more than very basic reading skills. Some 1.9 million new teacher posts will be required to meet universal primary education by 2015.
The urgent international measures required include: increased concessional financial support through bilateral aid and the World BankâE™s International Development Association (IDA), with a commitment to increase IDA replenishment from US$42 billion to US$60 billion; a review of the implications of the global economic downturn for the financing of development targets in advance of the 2010 Millennium Development Goals summit; an emergency pledging conference during 2010 to mobilize additional aid for education; budget monitoring to pick up early warning signs of fiscal adjustments that threaten education financing, with UNESCO coordinating an international programme to these ends; revision of the IMFâE™s loan conditions to ensure consistency with national poverty reduction and Education for All priorities.
Education Quality
The ultimate measure of any education system is not how many children are in school, but what âE" and how well âE" they learn. There is growing evidence that the world is moving more quickly to get children into school than to improve the quality of the education offered.
Learning achievement deficits are evident at many levels. International assessment exercises point consistently towards severe global disparities. The 2007 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) found that average students in several developing countries, including Ghana, Indonesia and Morocco, performed below the poorest-performing students in countries such as Japan and the Republic of Korea. Inequalities within countries, linked to household disadvantage and the learning environment, are also marked. The problem is not just one of relative achievement. Absolute levels of learning are desperately low in many countries.
Evidence from South and West Asia and from sub-Saharan Africa suggests that many children are failing to master basic literacy and numeracy skills, even when they complete a full cycle of primary education. Low learning achievement stems from many factors. Schools in many developing countries are in a poor state and teachers are in short supply. By 2015, the poorest countries will need to recruit some 1.9 million additional primary school teachers, including 1.2 million in sub-Saharan Africa, to create a good learning environment for all children. More equitable teacher deployment is also vital: all too often, the poorest regions and most disadvantaged schools have the fewest and least-qualified teachers. Several countries, including Brazil and Mexico, have introduced programmes targeting schools serving disadvantaged communities. Governments can also raise standards by spotting problems early, using constant monitoring and early-grade reading assessments.
Education for all Development Index (EDI)
While each of the six Education for All goals adopted in 2000 matters in its own right, the commitment undertaken by governments at the World Education Forum in Dakar was to sustain advances on all fronts. The Education for All Development Index (EDI) provides a composite measure of progress, encompassing access, equity and quality. Because of data availability constraints, it includes only the four most easily quantifiable goals, attaching an equal weight to each: (1) universal primary education, measured by the primary adjusted net enrolment ratio (ANER); (2) adult literacy, measured by the literacy rate for those aged 15 and above; (3) gender parity and equality, measured by the gender-specific EFA index (GEI), an average of the gender parity indexes of the primary and secondary gross enrolment ratios and of the adult literacy rate; (4) quality of education, measured by the survival rate to grade 5.
The EDI value for a given country is the arithmetic mean of the four proxy indicators. It falls between 0 and 1, with 1 representing full EFA achievement.
India is ranked 105 on the EDI index. On top of the list is Norway, followed by Japan and Germany.
Education Scenario of India
Literacy in India has made remarkable strides since Independence. This has been further confirmed by the results of the Census 2001. The literacy rate has increased from 18.33% in 1951 to 64.84% in 2001. This is despite the fact that during the major part of the last five decades there has been exponential growth of the population at nearly 2% per annum.
The Indian Constitution resolves to provide quality education to all and, in an effort to fulfil the educational needs of the country, specifically for the diverse societies and cultures of the country, the government has chalked out different educational categories: elementary education, secondary education, higher education, adult education, technical and vocational education. Free and compulsory education to all children up to the age of fourteen years is now a constitutional commitment in India. Despite serious handicaps of means and resources, the country has built up during the last 50 years a very large system of education, and has created a vast body of men and women equipped with a high order of scientific and technological capabilities, robust humanist and philosophical thought and creativity.
The government of India has initiated a number of programmes to achieve the goal of Universalisation of Elementary Education (UEE), from among which the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), launched in 2001, is the most recent one. It aimed at achieving universal elementary education of satisfactory quality by 2010. The SSA is expected to generate demand for secondary education in view of which the government of India has recently launched the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) to improve universal access and quality at the Secondary and Higher Secondary stages of education.
For successful implementation of any educational programme, effective monitoring and an efficient information system are essential. While the monitoring framework for the SSA is developed separately, concerted efforts have been made towards strengthening the Educational Management Information System (EMIS) for the elementary level of education. The District Elementary Education Plans (DEEP) across the country are being developed primarily based on the data generated though the information system developed for the SSA, i.e. the District Information System for Education (DISE).
The elementary education system of India has expanded into one of the largest in the world. Number of primary schools increased from 2.15 lakhs in 1950-51 to 6.1 lakhs in 1997-98; the corresponding increase in upper primary schools was from 0.14 lakhs to 1.85 lakhs. These 8.17 lakh schools together enrolled 1,110 lakh children as compared to 192 lakh in 1951.
Universal provision of education has been substantially achieved at the primary stage (classes I-V). An estimated 95 percent of the rural population living in 8,26,000 habitations has a primary school within a walking distance of one km and about 85 percent of the rural population has an upper primary school within a walking distance of three km. More than 150 million children are currently enrolled covering around 90 percent of the children in the age group of 6-14 years. Recent surveys on literacy rates indicate a phenomenal progress in the nineties and indicate a significant rise in the literacy level.
Despite such significant achievements in the recent years, it is realized that there are serious problems of gender, regional, sectional and caste disparities in UEE. A significant proportion of children continue to drop out due to socioeconomic and cultural factors as also due to lack of adequate infrastructure, shortage of teachers and unsatisfactory quality of education provided.
The country has the dubious distinction of having the largest number of illiterates and out of school children in the worldâE"30% of the worldâE™s adult illiterates (300 million) and 21.87 percent of out-of-school children. At least 24 million children in the age group 6-14 are out of school of whom about 60% are girls; about 121.3 million are adult illiterates in the age group 15.35 of whom about 62 percent are women. Given the demographic pressures the numbers are likely to increase further. Universalisation of elementary education thus, poses a formidable challenge to India: the numbers of children dropping out, not attending school regularly and never enrolled are immense. Quality of education is poor; teachers are inadequately trained and have lack of motivation.
A major concern is to improve the skills and motivation of teachers, promoting the participation of communities in the running of schools and enrolling/retaining girls/working children of urban poor and children with special needs in schools. Also, in India, a large universe of working children exists such as the street children, neglected and destitute children, children of sex workers and children practising as sex workers. Many of these have been targeted through non-formal initiatives but never main-streamed. Besides, along with access and retention, the quality of education provided to them is questionable.
India has significant requirements and goals set for it, which will enable it to possess self-equipped citizens holding a key to the progress and development in all spheres. This implies that all the provisions stated in the NPE must be realized by 2025. To begin with, it is important to understand the quantitative requirements of the sector concerning issues of enrolment, school infrastructure, and teacher availability etc. Thereafter, it will be logical to analyse the scenario that will exist in the year 2025, with respect to the attainment of the requirements.
Given the requirements in purely quantitative terms it is important to understand the non-negotiables for their achievement by 2025. It will be critical to have at least a growth rate of 9-10 per cent per year in the economic sphere, necessitating the requirement for human skills, especially the research skills. There will have to be no compromise with respect to enrolment and retention of children in schools. For this there has to be 100 per cent literacy and 100 per cent enrolment at primary, secondary and technical levels. The problem of drop-outs will need to be main-streamed together with the quality of education at the primary, secondary and technical levels and for this the rural sector will have to be mobilized and encouraged in the cause of education.
Economic development of our country is built around educational development. There is considerable data which shows that education is based on economic development and vice versa. This aspect has also been realised by the community at large and education is now being considered important. This is even highlighted by the analysis of household income versus expenditure, which shows that investment in education in even the poorest households is high. People have understood the economic value of education and are now ready to invest. This is also seen in the fact that many youths are opting out of labour force and are spending larger period on education.
However, the governmentâE™s capacity to pay for education is limited. Thus, there is a need to explore private and other investments. It has been established beyond doubt that besides its social and cultural dimensions, education is also an economic and political investment yielding long-term benefits. It is not only justifiable but also desirable to focus on this investment in order to gain maximum benefit.
In terms of allocation for education, it needs to be underlined that the present 3.6 percent of GNP is less than: (a) the requirement of the education system to provide reasonable levels of quality education to all the students enrolled presently; (b) the requirements of the system to provide universal elementary education of eight years for every child of the age-group 6-14, and consequent growth in secondary and higher education, as universalisation of elementary education in a comprehensive sense, includes universal provision of resources. This implies that it will be important to raise money from private sources in order to ease pressure on public spending. This, of course, is not meant to release the State from its financial commitments, which have been substantial in India.
Along with the issue of investment, the quality issue also demands attention at all levels of education. In this context, the Research and Development area, which is extremely weak, has to be focused. This area is critical as it provides base to the planning process, links it up to the implementation and subsequently highlights areas for reform. A weak system endangers the life of the intervention, its sustainability and impact.
Linked to the overall issue of education is the sub-issue of value education. It is feared that the more we industrialize, greater will be the need for value education at all levels. Although, we have been led to believe that IndiaâE™s values are the best, the western values are associated with progress, development, quick achievement, and hence are being readily imbibed by the students. It has to be understood that there is no particular set of values which guarantees success and that the societal values must match with the organizational values and hence, values such as wisdom, humility, rationality, intellectualism etc. will have to be inculcated in education at all levels. In this context, IndiaâE™s cultural values will need to be integrated with education.
Global Monitoring Report, 2010, underscores that there is a long way to travel. There are still at least 72 million children worldwide who are missing out on their right to education because of the simple fact of where they are born or who their family is. Millions of youths leave school without the skills they need to succeed in the workforce and one in six adults is denied the right to literacy.
The 2010 Report is a call to action. We must reach the marginalized. Only inclusive education systems have the potential to harness the skills needed to build the knowledge societies of the twenty-first century.
The international community needs to identify the threat to education posed by the economic crisis and the rise in global food prices. Human development indicators are deteriorating. An estimated 125 million additional people could be pushed into malnutrition and 90 million into poverty in 2010.
With poverty rising, unemployment growing and remittances diminishing, many poor and vulnerable households are being forced to cut back on education spending or withdraw their children from school. National budgets in poor countries are under pressure. Sub-Saharan Africa faces a potential loss of around US$4.6 billion annually in financing for education in 2009 and 2010, equivalent to a 10% reduction in spending per primary-school pupil.
As part of an effective response, it is need of the hour to provide sustained and predictable aid to counteract revenue losses, protect priority social spending and support progress in education.
The situation is not hopeless everywhere, though. Some countries have achieved extraordinary advances. Benin started out in 1999 with one of the worldâE™s lowest net enrolment ratios but may now be on track for universal primary education by 2015. The share of girls out of school has declined from 58% to 54%, and the gender gap in primary education is narrowing in many countries. Between 1985âE"1994 and 2000âE"2007, the adult literacy rate increased by 10%, to its current level of 84%. The number of adult female literates has increased at a faster pace than that of males.
However, much need to be done. Malnutrition affects around 175 million young children each year and is a health and an education emergency. There were 72 million children out of school in 2007. Business as usual would leave 56 million children out of school in 2015.
Around 54% of children out of school are girls. In sub-Saharan Africa, almost 12 million girls may never enrol. In Yemen, nearly 80% of girls out of school are unlikely ever to enrol, compared with 36% of boys. Literacy remains among the most neglected of all education goals, with about 759 million adults lacking literacy skills today. Two-thirds are women.
Millions of children are leaving school without having acquired basic skills. In some countries in sub-Saharan Africa, young adults with five years of education had a 40% probability of being illiterate. In the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Guatemala, fewer than half of grade 3 students had more than very basic reading skills. Some 1.9 million new teacher posts will be required to meet universal primary education by 2015.
The urgent international measures required include: increased concessional financial support through bilateral aid and the World BankâE™s International Development Association (IDA), with a commitment to increase IDA replenishment from US$42 billion to US$60 billion; a review of the implications of the global economic downturn for the financing of development targets in advance of the 2010 Millennium Development Goals summit; an emergency pledging conference during 2010 to mobilize additional aid for education; budget monitoring to pick up early warning signs of fiscal adjustments that threaten education financing, with UNESCO coordinating an international programme to these ends; revision of the IMFâE™s loan conditions to ensure consistency with national poverty reduction and Education for All priorities.
Education Quality
The ultimate measure of any education system is not how many children are in school, but what âE" and how well âE" they learn. There is growing evidence that the world is moving more quickly to get children into school than to improve the quality of the education offered.
Learning achievement deficits are evident at many levels. International assessment exercises point consistently towards severe global disparities. The 2007 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) found that average students in several developing countries, including Ghana, Indonesia and Morocco, performed below the poorest-performing students in countries such as Japan and the Republic of Korea. Inequalities within countries, linked to household disadvantage and the learning environment, are also marked. The problem is not just one of relative achievement. Absolute levels of learning are desperately low in many countries.
Evidence from South and West Asia and from sub-Saharan Africa suggests that many children are failing to master basic literacy and numeracy skills, even when they complete a full cycle of primary education. Low learning achievement stems from many factors. Schools in many developing countries are in a poor state and teachers are in short supply. By 2015, the poorest countries will need to recruit some 1.9 million additional primary school teachers, including 1.2 million in sub-Saharan Africa, to create a good learning environment for all children. More equitable teacher deployment is also vital: all too often, the poorest regions and most disadvantaged schools have the fewest and least-qualified teachers. Several countries, including Brazil and Mexico, have introduced programmes targeting schools serving disadvantaged communities. Governments can also raise standards by spotting problems early, using constant monitoring and early-grade reading assessments.
Education for all Development Index (EDI)
While each of the six Education for All goals adopted in 2000 matters in its own right, the commitment undertaken by governments at the World Education Forum in Dakar was to sustain advances on all fronts. The Education for All Development Index (EDI) provides a composite measure of progress, encompassing access, equity and quality. Because of data availability constraints, it includes only the four most easily quantifiable goals, attaching an equal weight to each: (1) universal primary education, measured by the primary adjusted net enrolment ratio (ANER); (2) adult literacy, measured by the literacy rate for those aged 15 and above; (3) gender parity and equality, measured by the gender-specific EFA index (GEI), an average of the gender parity indexes of the primary and secondary gross enrolment ratios and of the adult literacy rate; (4) quality of education, measured by the survival rate to grade 5.
The EDI value for a given country is the arithmetic mean of the four proxy indicators. It falls between 0 and 1, with 1 representing full EFA achievement.
India is ranked 105 on the EDI index. On top of the list is Norway, followed by Japan and Germany.
Education Scenario of India
Literacy in India has made remarkable strides since Independence. This has been further confirmed by the results of the Census 2001. The literacy rate has increased from 18.33% in 1951 to 64.84% in 2001. This is despite the fact that during the major part of the last five decades there has been exponential growth of the population at nearly 2% per annum.
The Indian Constitution resolves to provide quality education to all and, in an effort to fulfil the educational needs of the country, specifically for the diverse societies and cultures of the country, the government has chalked out different educational categories: elementary education, secondary education, higher education, adult education, technical and vocational education. Free and compulsory education to all children up to the age of fourteen years is now a constitutional commitment in India. Despite serious handicaps of means and resources, the country has built up during the last 50 years a very large system of education, and has created a vast body of men and women equipped with a high order of scientific and technological capabilities, robust humanist and philosophical thought and creativity.
The government of India has initiated a number of programmes to achieve the goal of Universalisation of Elementary Education (UEE), from among which the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), launched in 2001, is the most recent one. It aimed at achieving universal elementary education of satisfactory quality by 2010. The SSA is expected to generate demand for secondary education in view of which the government of India has recently launched the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) to improve universal access and quality at the Secondary and Higher Secondary stages of education.
For successful implementation of any educational programme, effective monitoring and an efficient information system are essential. While the monitoring framework for the SSA is developed separately, concerted efforts have been made towards strengthening the Educational Management Information System (EMIS) for the elementary level of education. The District Elementary Education Plans (DEEP) across the country are being developed primarily based on the data generated though the information system developed for the SSA, i.e. the District Information System for Education (DISE).
The elementary education system of India has expanded into one of the largest in the world. Number of primary schools increased from 2.15 lakhs in 1950-51 to 6.1 lakhs in 1997-98; the corresponding increase in upper primary schools was from 0.14 lakhs to 1.85 lakhs. These 8.17 lakh schools together enrolled 1,110 lakh children as compared to 192 lakh in 1951.
Universal provision of education has been substantially achieved at the primary stage (classes I-V). An estimated 95 percent of the rural population living in 8,26,000 habitations has a primary school within a walking distance of one km and about 85 percent of the rural population has an upper primary school within a walking distance of three km. More than 150 million children are currently enrolled covering around 90 percent of the children in the age group of 6-14 years. Recent surveys on literacy rates indicate a phenomenal progress in the nineties and indicate a significant rise in the literacy level.
Despite such significant achievements in the recent years, it is realized that there are serious problems of gender, regional, sectional and caste disparities in UEE. A significant proportion of children continue to drop out due to socioeconomic and cultural factors as also due to lack of adequate infrastructure, shortage of teachers and unsatisfactory quality of education provided.
The country has the dubious distinction of having the largest number of illiterates and out of school children in the worldâE"30% of the worldâE™s adult illiterates (300 million) and 21.87 percent of out-of-school children. At least 24 million children in the age group 6-14 are out of school of whom about 60% are girls; about 121.3 million are adult illiterates in the age group 15.35 of whom about 62 percent are women. Given the demographic pressures the numbers are likely to increase further. Universalisation of elementary education thus, poses a formidable challenge to India: the numbers of children dropping out, not attending school regularly and never enrolled are immense. Quality of education is poor; teachers are inadequately trained and have lack of motivation.
A major concern is to improve the skills and motivation of teachers, promoting the participation of communities in the running of schools and enrolling/retaining girls/working children of urban poor and children with special needs in schools. Also, in India, a large universe of working children exists such as the street children, neglected and destitute children, children of sex workers and children practising as sex workers. Many of these have been targeted through non-formal initiatives but never main-streamed. Besides, along with access and retention, the quality of education provided to them is questionable.
India has significant requirements and goals set for it, which will enable it to possess self-equipped citizens holding a key to the progress and development in all spheres. This implies that all the provisions stated in the NPE must be realized by 2025. To begin with, it is important to understand the quantitative requirements of the sector concerning issues of enrolment, school infrastructure, and teacher availability etc. Thereafter, it will be logical to analyse the scenario that will exist in the year 2025, with respect to the attainment of the requirements.
Given the requirements in purely quantitative terms it is important to understand the non-negotiables for their achievement by 2025. It will be critical to have at least a growth rate of 9-10 per cent per year in the economic sphere, necessitating the requirement for human skills, especially the research skills. There will have to be no compromise with respect to enrolment and retention of children in schools. For this there has to be 100 per cent literacy and 100 per cent enrolment at primary, secondary and technical levels. The problem of drop-outs will need to be main-streamed together with the quality of education at the primary, secondary and technical levels and for this the rural sector will have to be mobilized and encouraged in the cause of education.
Economic development of our country is built around educational development. There is considerable data which shows that education is based on economic development and vice versa. This aspect has also been realised by the community at large and education is now being considered important. This is even highlighted by the analysis of household income versus expenditure, which shows that investment in education in even the poorest households is high. People have understood the economic value of education and are now ready to invest. This is also seen in the fact that many youths are opting out of labour force and are spending larger period on education.
However, the governmentâE™s capacity to pay for education is limited. Thus, there is a need to explore private and other investments. It has been established beyond doubt that besides its social and cultural dimensions, education is also an economic and political investment yielding long-term benefits. It is not only justifiable but also desirable to focus on this investment in order to gain maximum benefit.
In terms of allocation for education, it needs to be underlined that the present 3.6 percent of GNP is less than: (a) the requirement of the education system to provide reasonable levels of quality education to all the students enrolled presently; (b) the requirements of the system to provide universal elementary education of eight years for every child of the age-group 6-14, and consequent growth in secondary and higher education, as universalisation of elementary education in a comprehensive sense, includes universal provision of resources. This implies that it will be important to raise money from private sources in order to ease pressure on public spending. This, of course, is not meant to release the State from its financial commitments, which have been substantial in India.
Along with the issue of investment, the quality issue also demands attention at all levels of education. In this context, the Research and Development area, which is extremely weak, has to be focused. This area is critical as it provides base to the planning process, links it up to the implementation and subsequently highlights areas for reform. A weak system endangers the life of the intervention, its sustainability and impact.
Linked to the overall issue of education is the sub-issue of value education. It is feared that the more we industrialize, greater will be the need for value education at all levels. Although, we have been led to believe that IndiaâE™s values are the best, the western values are associated with progress, development, quick achievement, and hence are being readily imbibed by the students. It has to be understood that there is no particular set of values which guarantees success and that the societal values must match with the organizational values and hence, values such as wisdom, humility, rationality, intellectualism etc. will have to be inculcated in education at all levels. In this context, IndiaâE™s cultural values will need to be integrated with education.
Essay : Tradition and Modernity: Friends or Foes?
Modernity in the Indian sense is, in any case, a command from the West. India did not get enough time to develop an indigenous idea of modernity because of the intervention of colonialism. At the time of Independence, urban India had inherited a rather basic problem: this was a contradiction between imposed modernity and age-old traditional values. There were, as a consequence, three options for the average Indian urban man: whether to embrace the Western model of modernity; or to go back, if possible, to her traditional roots; or to try to create a synthesis between the two. It was colonial education that brought to us a historicalunderstanding of our culture. Western education gained currency which taught us to value our past and it became fashionable to talk about our heritageâE"Jyotindra Jain, Former Director of Crafts Museum, New Delhi.
Jean Baudrillard, a major theoretician of the European present, characterizes the present state of affairs, at least in the Western context, as âEśafter the orgyâEť: the âEśorgyâEť, according to him, was the moment when modernity exploded upon us, the moment of liberation in every sphereâE"political liberation, sexual liberation, liberation of the forces of production, liberation of the forces of destruction, womenâE™s liberation, liberation of unconscious drives, liberation of art. It was an orgy of the real, the rational, of criticism and of anti-criticism, of development and of the crisis of development. There has been an over-production nowof objects, signs, messages, ideologies and satisfactions. When everything has been liberated, one can only simulate (reproduce) liberation, simulate the orgy, pretending to carry on in the same direction; accelerating without knowing we are accelerating in a void.
The impact of technology is fast changing our everyday too: the major difference may be that we are not in the age âEśafter the orgyâEť, for, our revolutions have not succeeded, but have aborted, got stopped midway, our utopia has taken an atavistic (reappearance of characteristic or quality not seen for many generations) turn, our Janus now has both its faces turned towards the past. Our struggles for emancipationâE"social, sexual, aestheticâE"seem to have left us half-way, having failed to bring about a transformation that embraces all the layers of society.
Nevertheless, tradition gives a sense of identity. There is an element of security in it; yet innovation is necessary to preventstagnation and rot. Society must and will continue to innovate. Cultural exchange is the stuff out of which social processes are made. Traditional medicine, for example, was humane and modern medicine is merciless; traditional science had built in correctives, but modern science and technology is aggressively domineering; in tradition there was respect for plurality, but modern societies are self-consciously homogenising. Modern societies may breed fascists, but traditional ones had their share of Changez Khans too.
True, modernity has got many emancipatory possibilities. But then, modernity is not free from its discontentâE"dislocation of the individual from the protective context of family-kinship ties, alienation from the communitarian ideal and loss of collective memory.
Perhaps, in matters of faith and fashions, it is neither the hard stands taken by both, nor the rigidity of their arguments thatbrings them nearer to each other. Just as all that meets the eye may not be the only reality, in the same vein, to assert with authority that tradition and modernity are incompatible is to rush in where even the angels would pause and ponder to tread. Seemingly, both tradition and modernisation look to be at loggerheads with each other, but on deeper analysis, one finds that even the most traditional/orthodox societies have prepared themselves, though reluctantly, to accept new realities which modernity has unfolded with an unprecedented speed. It is almost hypocritical to disown the advantages of modernisation in our daily perceptions and practices.
Since no age or generation is fully static in thought and action, there are always some prudent persons who take on the untenable and anachronistic spell of traditions and prefer new ideas and concepts (that) are born out of the existing realities. For analytical/inquisitive minds, tradition is stagnant in nature and nuance and modernisation is consistent with change and challenge of times. If some knowledgeable persons opine that tradition and modernity are not friends, they are not much off the mark. To them tradition is a morass of beliefs and customs that refuse to liberate human minds from its stranglehold. On the contrary, modernisation is a process that tries to update men, minds and machines. Since the trio holds key to all material progress and prosperity, it is not unnatural that both tradition and modernity should live in a âE~love-hateâE™ relationship with each other.
Jean Baudrillard, a major theoretician of the European present, characterizes the present state of affairs, at least in the Western context, as âEśafter the orgyâEť: the âEśorgyâEť, according to him, was the moment when modernity exploded upon us, the moment of liberation in every sphereâE"political liberation, sexual liberation, liberation of the forces of production, liberation of the forces of destruction, womenâE™s liberation, liberation of unconscious drives, liberation of art. It was an orgy of the real, the rational, of criticism and of anti-criticism, of development and of the crisis of development. There has been an over-production nowof objects, signs, messages, ideologies and satisfactions. When everything has been liberated, one can only simulate (reproduce) liberation, simulate the orgy, pretending to carry on in the same direction; accelerating without knowing we are accelerating in a void.
The impact of technology is fast changing our everyday too: the major difference may be that we are not in the age âEśafter the orgyâEť, for, our revolutions have not succeeded, but have aborted, got stopped midway, our utopia has taken an atavistic (reappearance of characteristic or quality not seen for many generations) turn, our Janus now has both its faces turned towards the past. Our struggles for emancipationâE"social, sexual, aestheticâE"seem to have left us half-way, having failed to bring about a transformation that embraces all the layers of society.
Nevertheless, tradition gives a sense of identity. There is an element of security in it; yet innovation is necessary to preventstagnation and rot. Society must and will continue to innovate. Cultural exchange is the stuff out of which social processes are made. Traditional medicine, for example, was humane and modern medicine is merciless; traditional science had built in correctives, but modern science and technology is aggressively domineering; in tradition there was respect for plurality, but modern societies are self-consciously homogenising. Modern societies may breed fascists, but traditional ones had their share of Changez Khans too.
True, modernity has got many emancipatory possibilities. But then, modernity is not free from its discontentâE"dislocation of the individual from the protective context of family-kinship ties, alienation from the communitarian ideal and loss of collective memory.
Perhaps, in matters of faith and fashions, it is neither the hard stands taken by both, nor the rigidity of their arguments thatbrings them nearer to each other. Just as all that meets the eye may not be the only reality, in the same vein, to assert with authority that tradition and modernity are incompatible is to rush in where even the angels would pause and ponder to tread. Seemingly, both tradition and modernisation look to be at loggerheads with each other, but on deeper analysis, one finds that even the most traditional/orthodox societies have prepared themselves, though reluctantly, to accept new realities which modernity has unfolded with an unprecedented speed. It is almost hypocritical to disown the advantages of modernisation in our daily perceptions and practices.
Since no age or generation is fully static in thought and action, there are always some prudent persons who take on the untenable and anachronistic spell of traditions and prefer new ideas and concepts (that) are born out of the existing realities. For analytical/inquisitive minds, tradition is stagnant in nature and nuance and modernisation is consistent with change and challenge of times. If some knowledgeable persons opine that tradition and modernity are not friends, they are not much off the mark. To them tradition is a morass of beliefs and customs that refuse to liberate human minds from its stranglehold. On the contrary, modernisation is a process that tries to update men, minds and machines. Since the trio holds key to all material progress and prosperity, it is not unnatural that both tradition and modernity should live in a âE~love-hateâE™ relationship with each other.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
1. First Country in Latin America to legalize same sex marriage Argentina .
2. With which country India held the first ever 2+2 dialogue to intensify counter terrorism and anti-piracy cooperation Japan .
3. Which country has agreed to supply Hawk pilot-trainer aircraft to India valued a about 700 million pounds($1.1 billion) Britain .
4. The most popular Asian Destination Taj Mahal.
5. According to the new International Multi Dimensional poverty Index (MPI), about _______ of India population are poor 645 million people.
6. Which state has banned the use of plastic carry bags all over the state Rajasthan.
7. Who is the only cricketer to take 800 wickets in the history Test matches Muttiah Muralitharan.
8. The fourth Pakistani to be inducted formally into the ICC Cricket hall of fame Imran Khan.
9. Which team has regained the 63 rd Rangaswamy Cup Senior National Men Hockey Championship Mumbai.
10. In the Q1 Review of Monetary Policy 2010-11, RBI has revised the GDP growth for 2010-11 from 8% to ____ - 8.5%.
11. With which Organization India signed the loan and credit agreement worth of $268.15 million World Bank.
12. The Best Public Sector Bank Award Punjab National Bank.
13. To Whom the Lokmanya Tilak Award 2010 has been given for the contribution of Politics Sheila Dikshit.
14. Who is the new President of Poland Bronislaw Komorowski.
15. Who has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of Slovakia - Iveta Radicova.
16. Roza Otunbayeva has became the first ever woman head of which country in Central Asia Kyrgyzstan .
17. Who has been sworn in as Germany youngest and the tenth President Christian Wulff.
18. Who is the the New Chief Election Commissioner Qureshi S Y.
19. Which country has became the World Number One in Latest FIFA Rankings Spain .
20. Who is the new President of International Cricket Council Sharad Pawar.
2. With which country India held the first ever 2+2 dialogue to intensify counter terrorism and anti-piracy cooperation Japan .
3. Which country has agreed to supply Hawk pilot-trainer aircraft to India valued a about 700 million pounds($1.1 billion) Britain .
4. The most popular Asian Destination Taj Mahal.
5. According to the new International Multi Dimensional poverty Index (MPI), about _______ of India population are poor 645 million people.
6. Which state has banned the use of plastic carry bags all over the state Rajasthan.
7. Who is the only cricketer to take 800 wickets in the history Test matches Muttiah Muralitharan.
8. The fourth Pakistani to be inducted formally into the ICC Cricket hall of fame Imran Khan.
9. Which team has regained the 63 rd Rangaswamy Cup Senior National Men Hockey Championship Mumbai.
10. In the Q1 Review of Monetary Policy 2010-11, RBI has revised the GDP growth for 2010-11 from 8% to ____ - 8.5%.
11. With which Organization India signed the loan and credit agreement worth of $268.15 million World Bank.
12. The Best Public Sector Bank Award Punjab National Bank.
13. To Whom the Lokmanya Tilak Award 2010 has been given for the contribution of Politics Sheila Dikshit.
14. Who is the new President of Poland Bronislaw Komorowski.
15. Who has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of Slovakia - Iveta Radicova.
16. Roza Otunbayeva has became the first ever woman head of which country in Central Asia Kyrgyzstan .
17. Who has been sworn in as Germany youngest and the tenth President Christian Wulff.
18. Who is the the New Chief Election Commissioner Qureshi S Y.
19. Which country has became the World Number One in Latest FIFA Rankings Spain .
20. Who is the new President of International Cricket Council Sharad Pawar.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Major who died fighting terrorist inKabulgets Ashok Chakra
Major Laishram Jyotin Singh, who fought bare-handed with a heavily-armed terrorist and saved 10 colleagues during an attack on Indians in Kabul in February, has been posthumously given the Ashok Chakra, the highest peacetime gallantry award.
Singh, from the Army Medical Corps, engaged the terrorist who struck on 26th February at a hotel which housed members of Indian Medical Mission.
The 37-year-old from Manipur showed exemplary courage when a heavily-armed terrorist, after detonating an explosives-laden vehicle and killing three guards, entered the hotel building to kill any survivors.
As the terrorist was firing from his AK rifle and lobbing grenades, Singh charged at him with bare hands and pinned him down to ensure that he no longer could do so.
The Major continued to grapple with armed terrorist and did not let him go till the terrorist panicked and detonated his suicidevest, resulting in the instantaneous death of the terrorist and martyrdom of the officer.
In the process, he saved the lives of 10 colleagues.
Kirti Chakra, the second highest peacetime gallantry award, has been given to Captain Davinder Singh Jass (posthumously) and Chhattisgarh Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar Choubey.
Jass was given the award for counter-terrorist operations inJammu and Kashmirwhile Chaubey will receive it for anti-naxal operations in Chhattisgarh.
Besides the Ashok Chakra and two Kirti Chakras, 112 gallantry awards, including two Bar to Shaurya Chakras, nineteen Shaurya Chakras, two Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 80 Sena Medals (Gallantry), three Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and five Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) have been given to armed forces and police personnel.
Major Laishram Jyotin Singh, who fought bare-handed with a heavily-armed terrorist and saved 10 colleagues during an attack on Indians in Kabul in February, has been posthumously given the Ashok Chakra, the highest peacetime gallantry award.
Singh, from the Army Medical Corps, engaged the terrorist who struck on 26th February at a hotel which housed members of Indian Medical Mission.
The 37-year-old from Manipur showed exemplary courage when a heavily-armed terrorist, after detonating an explosives-laden vehicle and killing three guards, entered the hotel building to kill any survivors.
As the terrorist was firing from his AK rifle and lobbing grenades, Singh charged at him with bare hands and pinned him down to ensure that he no longer could do so.
The Major continued to grapple with armed terrorist and did not let him go till the terrorist panicked and detonated his suicidevest, resulting in the instantaneous death of the terrorist and martyrdom of the officer.
In the process, he saved the lives of 10 colleagues.
Kirti Chakra, the second highest peacetime gallantry award, has been given to Captain Davinder Singh Jass (posthumously) and Chhattisgarh Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar Choubey.
Jass was given the award for counter-terrorist operations inJammu and Kashmirwhile Chaubey will receive it for anti-naxal operations in Chhattisgarh.
Besides the Ashok Chakra and two Kirti Chakras, 112 gallantry awards, including two Bar to Shaurya Chakras, nineteen Shaurya Chakras, two Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 80 Sena Medals (Gallantry), three Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and five Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) have been given to armed forces and police personnel.
* maximum retail price of urea raised from Rs.4830/- per MT to Rs.5310/- per MT with effect from 1st April, 2010.
* 'doing business' report published by 'WORLD BANK' india ranks 133 position in world. Singapore sands 1st. Within india " ludiyana' ranks first in doing business in india.
* world economic forum held at deavos
* eight countries signed in civil nuclear act with india.
russia, france, usa, kazakhstan, mongolia, argentia, nambia. recently uk made pact with india
* india and hungary inked pact for oil and gas exploration at 1 billion usd by 2012.
* mootridevi award for creative work. Law minister 'veerapamoliy' bagged the award.
* jnanpith award for literary.
* kirith parikh committe - decontrol of pertol and diesel price.
* india and russia pacts in defence and energy and fertilizer
* chief justice of india - K.G. bala krihnana
* C.rangarajan - chairman, Economic advisory council of PM
*Ashok chawla - Fin. sec.
* Dr. Kausik basu, - Chief economic adviser
* p.v.reddy - law commission chairman.
* 15,000 cr to psb - 8 pc tier 1 capital by mar 31, 2010 - data a/c to press india.
*chief justice -----S. H. Kapadia
* Net demand and time liabilty NDTL extented to july 16, 2010
*CCEA - prohibits FDI in manufacturing of cigrates in india
*K G Balakrishnan has been made new chief of NHRC (National Human Rights Commission).
*Bharat nirman yojana - business plan for rural infrastructure
0 roads - 23,000 villages
0 Irrigation - 6.5 mill. ha
0 Electrica - 1.7 cr. household. telcom, water etc
* Rajiv awaz yojana - slum free india includes urban poor people to provide water, drainage, housing etc.
* aam admi bima yojana - insurance to landless people
* pradhan mandri gram sadak yojana - provide connectivity by road, rails, communication etc
* Antyodaya yojana - School children programe
* antyodaya anna yojana - provide antyodaya card Rs. 2/kg - wheat - 35 kg
rs. 3/kg - rice - 35 kg
* sampoorna grameen rozagar yojana - additional wages employeementa and food security
* Rashtriya krishi vikas yojana - 4 pc annual growth in agri sector.
* kasturiba gandhi balika vidyalaya - access to quality education to girls by seeting up residential school with boarding at elementry level
* rajiv gandhi udyami mitra yojana - provide financial assistance to first generation entrepreneurs who finished ITI.
pls provide ur inputs also.... lets attempt 50 ques in GA section...
* The department of govt. of India which is helping banks in disbursement of rural credit by the banks is ---- Post & Telegraph
* Which agency has established a fund known as "Investor Protection Fund"? - BSE
* The stock market index of London stock market is referred as - Footsie
* Financial term GDR means- Global Depository Receipt
* IDR means- Indian Depository receipt
* ADR means- American Depository receipt
* Grameen Bank known as the bank of poors as an organization is based in - Bangladesh
* Chairman of INter State Trade Council - Manmohan Singh
* No. of members in OIC ( Organization of Islamic Countries) n- 57
* Before opening a new branch of a bank, banks are required to take mandatory license from - RBI
* 'doing business' report published by 'WORLD BANK' india ranks 133 position in world. Singapore sands 1st. Within india " ludiyana' ranks first in doing business in india.
* world economic forum held at deavos
* eight countries signed in civil nuclear act with india.
russia, france, usa, kazakhstan, mongolia, argentia, nambia. recently uk made pact with india
* india and hungary inked pact for oil and gas exploration at 1 billion usd by 2012.
* mootridevi award for creative work. Law minister 'veerapamoliy' bagged the award.
* jnanpith award for literary.
* kirith parikh committe - decontrol of pertol and diesel price.
* india and russia pacts in defence and energy and fertilizer
* chief justice of india - K.G. bala krihnana
* C.rangarajan - chairman, Economic advisory council of PM
*Ashok chawla - Fin. sec.
* Dr. Kausik basu, - Chief economic adviser
* p.v.reddy - law commission chairman.
* 15,000 cr to psb - 8 pc tier 1 capital by mar 31, 2010 - data a/c to press india.
*chief justice -----S. H. Kapadia
* Net demand and time liabilty NDTL extented to july 16, 2010
*CCEA - prohibits FDI in manufacturing of cigrates in india
*K G Balakrishnan has been made new chief of NHRC (National Human Rights Commission).
*Bharat nirman yojana - business plan for rural infrastructure
0 roads - 23,000 villages
0 Irrigation - 6.5 mill. ha
0 Electrica - 1.7 cr. household. telcom, water etc
* Rajiv awaz yojana - slum free india includes urban poor people to provide water, drainage, housing etc.
* aam admi bima yojana - insurance to landless people
* pradhan mandri gram sadak yojana - provide connectivity by road, rails, communication etc
* Antyodaya yojana - School children programe
* antyodaya anna yojana - provide antyodaya card Rs. 2/kg - wheat - 35 kg
rs. 3/kg - rice - 35 kg
* sampoorna grameen rozagar yojana - additional wages employeementa and food security
* Rashtriya krishi vikas yojana - 4 pc annual growth in agri sector.
* kasturiba gandhi balika vidyalaya - access to quality education to girls by seeting up residential school with boarding at elementry level
* rajiv gandhi udyami mitra yojana - provide financial assistance to first generation entrepreneurs who finished ITI.
pls provide ur inputs also.... lets attempt 50 ques in GA section...
* The department of govt. of India which is helping banks in disbursement of rural credit by the banks is ---- Post & Telegraph
* Which agency has established a fund known as "Investor Protection Fund"? - BSE
* The stock market index of London stock market is referred as - Footsie
* Financial term GDR means- Global Depository Receipt
* IDR means- Indian Depository receipt
* ADR means- American Depository receipt
* Grameen Bank known as the bank of poors as an organization is based in - Bangladesh
* Chairman of INter State Trade Council - Manmohan Singh
* No. of members in OIC ( Organization of Islamic Countries) n- 57
* Before opening a new branch of a bank, banks are required to take mandatory license from - RBI
Thursday, August 12, 2010
*Who is the newly elected president of Colombia?
Ans: Yuan Manual Santos
2. Which country has the lowest position in the rate of wages provided to the workers according to ILU?
Ans: Bangladesh
3.Sachin Tendulkar has been honoured with a post in Indian Air Force. Name the honourary position.Ans: Group Captain
4.A former minister for centre has been under heart treatment and his condition is critical. Doctors understanding his penchant to football are doing a football therapy currently. Name this person who is a great fan of Brazil?
Ans: Priyaranjan Das Munshi.
5.Who is the president of South Korea?
Ans: Lee Mung Bac
*1.Saina Nehwal ascended to third rank in the world badminton federation rating.Who stands top?
2.Which day is observed as Anti-drugs day?
3.Who is the new and only woman prime minister of Australia?
4.The Kazakhstan president was honoured as the leader of the nation. Name him.
5.Who is the newly elected chairman of UN General Assembly?
Answers1.Yihan Wang(China)
2.June 26 3.Julia Gillard 4.Noor Sultan Nairbayev 5.Joseph Dais, former Switzerland president
Ans: Yuan Manual Santos
2. Which country has the lowest position in the rate of wages provided to the workers according to ILU?
Ans: Bangladesh
3.Sachin Tendulkar has been honoured with a post in Indian Air Force. Name the honourary position.Ans: Group Captain
4.A former minister for centre has been under heart treatment and his condition is critical. Doctors understanding his penchant to football are doing a football therapy currently. Name this person who is a great fan of Brazil?
Ans: Priyaranjan Das Munshi.
5.Who is the president of South Korea?
Ans: Lee Mung Bac
*1.Saina Nehwal ascended to third rank in the world badminton federation rating.Who stands top?
2.Which day is observed as Anti-drugs day?
3.Who is the new and only woman prime minister of Australia?
4.The Kazakhstan president was honoured as the leader of the nation. Name him.
5.Who is the newly elected chairman of UN General Assembly?
Answers1.Yihan Wang(China)
2.June 26 3.Julia Gillard 4.Noor Sultan Nairbayev 5.Joseph Dais, former Switzerland president
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
*Cabinet approves bill to protect whistleblowers :
A proposed legislation to protect whistleblowers and provide for severe punishment to those exposing the identity of people disclosing information was approved by the Government on Monday.
*PM calls for report on Mumbai oil spill :
Concerned over the oil spill following collision of two cargo ships off Mumbai coast, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday called for a report from the Shipping Ministry on the incident.
*In the largest-ever loan it has given to any foreign country, India has signed an agreement with Bangladesh to extend a USD 1 billion credit line to Dhaka for developing 14 infrastructure projects, mostly in the communications sector.
*The Japanese city ofNagasakiwill commemorate Monday the 65th anniversary of its atomic bombing amid a mounting momentum to seek a world without nuclear arms.Nagasakiwas destroyed in an atomic inferno three days afterHiroshima, in twin nuclear attacks that madeJapanthe only country that has ever been hit with atomic weapons.
A proposed legislation to protect whistleblowers and provide for severe punishment to those exposing the identity of people disclosing information was approved by the Government on Monday.
*PM calls for report on Mumbai oil spill :
Concerned over the oil spill following collision of two cargo ships off Mumbai coast, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday called for a report from the Shipping Ministry on the incident.
*In the largest-ever loan it has given to any foreign country, India has signed an agreement with Bangladesh to extend a USD 1 billion credit line to Dhaka for developing 14 infrastructure projects, mostly in the communications sector.
*The Japanese city ofNagasakiwill commemorate Monday the 65th anniversary of its atomic bombing amid a mounting momentum to seek a world without nuclear arms.Nagasakiwas destroyed in an atomic inferno three days afterHiroshima, in twin nuclear attacks that madeJapanthe only country that has ever been hit with atomic weapons.
*US attendsHiroshimamemorial ceremony for first time
*Leh flood toll rises to 145, over 500 still missing
*Oil spill off Mumbai coast: anti-pollution operations on
*Curfew lifted from Kashmir Valley, life returns to normal
*South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak on Sunday appointed former provincial governor Kim Tae ho as the country’s new prime minister, as part of the biggest government reshuffle the country has seen since Mr. Lee became president two-and-a-half years ago.Mr. Kim, 47, is to replace outgoing prime minister Chung Un Chan, 64, who resigned at the end of July.
*Aditya Patel wins race in Scirocco CupThe 22-year-old from Chennai, in his sport coupe powered by bio-natural gas, achieved a start-finish victory, ahead of the leader of the standings Maciek Steinhof (Poland) and Olaf Manthey (Germany).»
*Ratan Tata selected 'Businessman of the decade'
*Over 80 killed, 2,000 missing inChinalandslides
*Leh cloudburst: Rescuers search for missing, toll up to 130
*Sawant shoots historic gold at World ChampionshipsTejaswini Sawant scripted history on Sunday by becoming the first Indian woman shooter to clinch a gold medal at the World Championships with a world-record equalling score in the 50m Rifle Prone event inMunich,Germany.
*NRIs can operate bank accounts in home country8 Aug 2010, 1900 hrs IST, Ashish GuptaNRIs have the option to maintain accounts not only in rupees but also in foreign currencies. They can open various types of accounts in India.
*ICICI awaiting approval from RBI for merger of BoR: Kochhar
*Leh flood toll rises to 145, over 500 still missing
*Oil spill off Mumbai coast: anti-pollution operations on
*Curfew lifted from Kashmir Valley, life returns to normal
*South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak on Sunday appointed former provincial governor Kim Tae ho as the country’s new prime minister, as part of the biggest government reshuffle the country has seen since Mr. Lee became president two-and-a-half years ago.Mr. Kim, 47, is to replace outgoing prime minister Chung Un Chan, 64, who resigned at the end of July.
*Aditya Patel wins race in Scirocco CupThe 22-year-old from Chennai, in his sport coupe powered by bio-natural gas, achieved a start-finish victory, ahead of the leader of the standings Maciek Steinhof (Poland) and Olaf Manthey (Germany).»
*Ratan Tata selected 'Businessman of the decade'
*Over 80 killed, 2,000 missing inChinalandslides
*Leh cloudburst: Rescuers search for missing, toll up to 130
*Sawant shoots historic gold at World ChampionshipsTejaswini Sawant scripted history on Sunday by becoming the first Indian woman shooter to clinch a gold medal at the World Championships with a world-record equalling score in the 50m Rifle Prone event inMunich,Germany.
*NRIs can operate bank accounts in home country8 Aug 2010, 1900 hrs IST, Ashish GuptaNRIs have the option to maintain accounts not only in rupees but also in foreign currencies. They can open various types of accounts in India.
*ICICI awaiting approval from RBI for merger of BoR: Kochhar
Friday, August 6, 2010
*Somdev cracks top-100 in ATP rankings, rises to 96th
*Narang shoots bronze in World C'ship, qualifies for 2012 Oly
*Chennai student wins Cambridge scholarship
*US,India sign agreement on reprocessing of Nuclear spent fuel.
*Who is the chairman of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee? Suresh kalmadi
*SEWA is an organisation to provide full employment and self reliance to the womenfolk in India.
*US,S Korea begins joint naval exercise in Japan Sea;N Korea threatens 'N' response.
*Sayeeda Hussain Warsi become the first Muslim Cabinet Minister in Britain.
*Britney Spears become the 1st person to have 5million followers on the social networking website Twitter
*West Indian Deandra Dottin became the 1st woman cricketer to hit a Twenty 20 International century.
*6th Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission: Justice Balakrishnan
*Cloudbursts claim 59 lives in Leh, many missing
*Narang shoots bronze in World C'ship, qualifies for 2012 Oly
*Chennai student wins Cambridge scholarship
*US,India sign agreement on reprocessing of Nuclear spent fuel.
*Who is the chairman of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee? Suresh kalmadi
*SEWA is an organisation to provide full employment and self reliance to the womenfolk in India.
*US,S Korea begins joint naval exercise in Japan Sea;N Korea threatens 'N' response.
*Sayeeda Hussain Warsi become the first Muslim Cabinet Minister in Britain.
*Britney Spears become the 1st person to have 5million followers on the social networking website Twitter
*West Indian Deandra Dottin became the 1st woman cricketer to hit a Twenty 20 International century.
*6th Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission: Justice Balakrishnan
*Cloudbursts claim 59 lives in Leh, many missing
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Delhi is set to get the country's first commercial waste-to-power plant of 16 MW capacity that will convert one third of Capital's garbage into much-needed electricity for six lakh homes.
· Finland has emerged as the most prosperous country in the world after an extensive survey conducted by the Legatum Prosperity Index, which claims to be the world's only global assessment of wealth and wellbeing. Switzerland , one of the world's most popular tourist spots, grabbed the second slot in the index. Among 104 countries, India is ranked at no. 45.
· Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal continued her rampaging form as she completed a spectacular hat-trick of titles by clinching the Indonesia Open Super Series with a straight-game triumph over Japan 's Sayaka Sato in Jakarta . This was Saina's third successive title, having won the Indian Open Grand Prix at home and the Singapore Open Super Series Tournament.
· Russia launched the second of three stealth frigates for the Indian Navy under USD 1.6 billion deal inked in July 2006. The first of three Project 11356 (modified Krivak III) frigates, named the Teg (Sword), was launched in last November. The third frigate, Trikand (Bow) is due to be delivered in 2011-12. The new frigates, also known as Talwar class, will be armed with eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. They will be also equipped with a 100-mm gun, a Shtil surface-to-air missile system, two Kashtan air-defence gun/missile systems, two twin 533-mm torpedo launchers, and an antisubmarine warfare (ASW) helicopter. Earlier, Russia 's Baltiisky Zavod shipyard had built three stealth frigates of the same class - INS Talwar, INS Trishul and INS Tabar.
· India extended the ban on import of milk and milk products from China for another six months, according to the foreign trade office.
· The government restructured the existing 10-year-old village self-employment scheme on the recommendations of various committees to rectify shortcomings pointed out by studies. Under the new plan for the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), the scheme has been renamed as National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and it would aim at reducing poverty through promotion of diversified and gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities.
· An innovative programme of Gujarat government aimed at easy governance has won a prestigious award instituted by the United Nations. The statewide Attention on Grievances with Application of Technology (SWAGAT) programme has won the United Nations Public Service Award (UNPSA).
· A 15-year-old title drought came to an end as India won the Asia Cup cricket tournament after crushing defending champions Sri Lanka .
· American John Isner outlasted Frenchman Mahut to win 6-4 3-6 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (7-3) 70-68 in the longest match in history, taking 11 hours and five minutes over three days.
· The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has added island nation Tuvalu located in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Australia as its 187th member.
· India 's leading industrialist Ratan Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group, has been conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Law for his role in producing the world's cheapest car Nano.
· Sachin Tendulkar will be conferred Indian Air Force's honorary rank of Group Captain and the star cricketer said he is proud to be associated with the "dynamic" IAF.
· New Zealand has acquired the distinction of being the world's most peaceful nation for the second year running, according to the Global Peace Index.
· The G8 summit has agreed to provide a further $5bn (£3.3bn) over five years towards improving the health of mothers and young children in the developing world.
· The World Bank said its total lending to India will touch $9.3 billion for the fiscal ending June this year. The total expected lending this year includes $2.6 billion in interest-free credit and $6.7 billion in the form of a long-term, low interest loan.
· Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily has announced National Litigation Policy to reduce pendency and delay in cases which Central Government is a party. The policy aims at reducing government litigation in courts so that the valuable court time is spent on resolving other pending cases so as to achieve the goal in national legal mission to reduce average pendency time from 15 years to 3 years.
· Myanmar dissident political leader Aung San Suu Kyi has become the first recipient of the new Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Award for democracy instituted by the Pakistan People Party in the memory of the slain former premier.
· The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has assured banks it will keep agriculture loans outside the base rate ambit. The base rate guidelines, issued in April, had barred lending below base rate, except for three categories: loans to banks own employees, loans against deposits and small-ticket borrowers under the differential interest rate (DRI) scheme. The addition of the fourth category means agriculture loans can also be priced below the base rate.
· Freedom fighter and socialist leader Kanduri Charan Mallick died.3
· India on Friday expressed confidence to achieve trade target of 30 billion dollars with Republic of Korea (ROK) by 2014.
· Finland has emerged as the most prosperous country in the world after an extensive survey conducted by the Legatum Prosperity Index, which claims to be the world's only global assessment of wealth and wellbeing. Switzerland , one of the world's most popular tourist spots, grabbed the second slot in the index. Among 104 countries, India is ranked at no. 45.
· Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal continued her rampaging form as she completed a spectacular hat-trick of titles by clinching the Indonesia Open Super Series with a straight-game triumph over Japan 's Sayaka Sato in Jakarta . This was Saina's third successive title, having won the Indian Open Grand Prix at home and the Singapore Open Super Series Tournament.
· Russia launched the second of three stealth frigates for the Indian Navy under USD 1.6 billion deal inked in July 2006. The first of three Project 11356 (modified Krivak III) frigates, named the Teg (Sword), was launched in last November. The third frigate, Trikand (Bow) is due to be delivered in 2011-12. The new frigates, also known as Talwar class, will be armed with eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles. They will be also equipped with a 100-mm gun, a Shtil surface-to-air missile system, two Kashtan air-defence gun/missile systems, two twin 533-mm torpedo launchers, and an antisubmarine warfare (ASW) helicopter. Earlier, Russia 's Baltiisky Zavod shipyard had built three stealth frigates of the same class - INS Talwar, INS Trishul and INS Tabar.
· India extended the ban on import of milk and milk products from China for another six months, according to the foreign trade office.
· The government restructured the existing 10-year-old village self-employment scheme on the recommendations of various committees to rectify shortcomings pointed out by studies. Under the new plan for the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), the scheme has been renamed as National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and it would aim at reducing poverty through promotion of diversified and gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities.
· An innovative programme of Gujarat government aimed at easy governance has won a prestigious award instituted by the United Nations. The statewide Attention on Grievances with Application of Technology (SWAGAT) programme has won the United Nations Public Service Award (UNPSA).
· A 15-year-old title drought came to an end as India won the Asia Cup cricket tournament after crushing defending champions Sri Lanka .
· American John Isner outlasted Frenchman Mahut to win 6-4 3-6 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (7-3) 70-68 in the longest match in history, taking 11 hours and five minutes over three days.
· The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has added island nation Tuvalu located in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Australia as its 187th member.
· India 's leading industrialist Ratan Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group, has been conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Law for his role in producing the world's cheapest car Nano.
· Sachin Tendulkar will be conferred Indian Air Force's honorary rank of Group Captain and the star cricketer said he is proud to be associated with the "dynamic" IAF.
· New Zealand has acquired the distinction of being the world's most peaceful nation for the second year running, according to the Global Peace Index.
· The G8 summit has agreed to provide a further $5bn (£3.3bn) over five years towards improving the health of mothers and young children in the developing world.
· The World Bank said its total lending to India will touch $9.3 billion for the fiscal ending June this year. The total expected lending this year includes $2.6 billion in interest-free credit and $6.7 billion in the form of a long-term, low interest loan.
· Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily has announced National Litigation Policy to reduce pendency and delay in cases which Central Government is a party. The policy aims at reducing government litigation in courts so that the valuable court time is spent on resolving other pending cases so as to achieve the goal in national legal mission to reduce average pendency time from 15 years to 3 years.
· Myanmar dissident political leader Aung San Suu Kyi has become the first recipient of the new Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Award for democracy instituted by the Pakistan People Party in the memory of the slain former premier.
· The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has assured banks it will keep agriculture loans outside the base rate ambit. The base rate guidelines, issued in April, had barred lending below base rate, except for three categories: loans to banks own employees, loans against deposits and small-ticket borrowers under the differential interest rate (DRI) scheme. The addition of the fourth category means agriculture loans can also be priced below the base rate.
· Freedom fighter and socialist leader Kanduri Charan Mallick died.3
· India on Friday expressed confidence to achieve trade target of 30 billion dollars with Republic of Korea (ROK) by 2014.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Delhi 19th Commonwealth Games
Logo of 2010 Commonwealth GamesHost cityDelhi, IndiaMottoCome out and playNations participating72CommonwealthTeamsAthletes participatingTBAEvents260 events in 17 disciplinesOpening ceremony3rd OctoberClosing ceremony14th OctoberQueen's Baton Final Runner29 June 2010
Main StadiumJawaharlal Nehru StadiumWebsitehttp://www.cwgdelhi2010.org
Main StadiumJawaharlal Nehru StadiumWebsitehttp://www.cwgdelhi2010.org
*Bhutan issues stamps to honour Sikkim singers.
*Which country has recently banned Facebook,Twitter and You Tube? Pakistan.
*India successfully test-fired its indigenously developed interceptor missile,capable of destroying any in-coming hostile ballistic missile
*Chicago business school names Indian-American as dean.
*Vivek Sahai is the chairman of Indian Railway Board .
*Equador has adopted new constituition recently.
*Author of the Grass is Singing : Doris Lessing
*Britain is not a member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
*Quraishi assumes charge as new CEC
*Apple the world's most valuable brand in Forbes list.
*Two rare songs of Rafi released.
*BRA in the banking field means Banking Regulation Act.
*Srilankan,Hawaiian sites added to world heritage list.
*Ravindra Kelekar presented Jnannith award.
*HTC-Rcom tie up to launch 'Android' smartphone
*Malayala Manorama Chief Editor K M Mathew passes away
*The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) Chairman, Mr J Hari Narayan
*ICICI names Sandeep Bakshi as ICICI Pru Life MD & CEO
*Which country has recently banned Facebook,Twitter and You Tube? Pakistan.
*India successfully test-fired its indigenously developed interceptor missile,capable of destroying any in-coming hostile ballistic missile
*Chicago business school names Indian-American as dean.
*Vivek Sahai is the chairman of Indian Railway Board .
*Equador has adopted new constituition recently.
*Author of the Grass is Singing : Doris Lessing
*Britain is not a member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
*Quraishi assumes charge as new CEC
*Apple the world's most valuable brand in Forbes list.
*Two rare songs of Rafi released.
*BRA in the banking field means Banking Regulation Act.
*Srilankan,Hawaiian sites added to world heritage list.
*Ravindra Kelekar presented Jnannith award.
*HTC-Rcom tie up to launch 'Android' smartphone
*Malayala Manorama Chief Editor K M Mathew passes away
*The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) Chairman, Mr J Hari Narayan
*ICICI names Sandeep Bakshi as ICICI Pru Life MD & CEO
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