Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 21 November 2014

National

PM Modi urges naxalites to join mainstream

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Naxalites to drop their guns and participate in nation-building, stressing that violence has no place in the country of Gautam Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi.
• “There is no place for violence, which does no good to anyone. I appeal to those who have picked up the gun to shun it and pick up the plough. This is your country and work shoulder to shoulder in developing it,” he said addressing a poll meeting at Chandua in Naxalite—hit Latehar district, where the rebels laid siege to a train a few years ago.
• The Prime Minister urged the people to preserve democracy without letting anything to stain it.
• Referring to Jharkhand, he said,”If the Almighty has given any State abundance of wealth, then it is Jharkhand” and lamented how it was being left poor by the “sin” committed by previous regimes.
• The Centre, he said, was determined to take Jharkhand to new heights if the BJP was voted to power in the assembly elections.
• AJSU president and former deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Mahto was present on the dais along with Modi. His party is contesting the elections in alliance with the BJP.
• The first phase of polling in Jharkhand is scheduled on November 25 and the rest of the four phases will be held till December 20.

Science & technology

Internet users in India expected to cross 300 mn by December: Report

• The number of Internet users in India is expected to cross the 300 million mark by the end of this year, overtaking the US as world’s second-largest Internet market.
• According to a report by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and IMRB International, the number of Internet users in India is expected to grow 32 per cent to 302 million this year from 213 million at the end of December 2013.
• Presently, India has the third-largest Internet user base in the world. While China leads with more than 600 million Internet users, the US has an estimated 279 million users. It is estimated, the report said, that by December 2014, India will overtake the US as the second largest Internet users’ base in the world.
• The user base in India is further estimated to grow to 354 million by June 2015.
• “The Internet in India took more than a decade to move from 10 million to 100 million and 3 years from 100 million to 200 million.
• However, it took only a year to move from 200 to 300 million users. Clearly, Internet is mainstream in India today,” IAMAI-IMRB said in a statement.
• The report said of the 278 million users Indian had in October this year, 177 million are in urban India, higher by 29 per cent from last year. In rural India, the number of Internet users increased by 39 per cent to reach 101 million in October 2014.
• About 119 million users access the Internet on mobile devices in urban India, while rural mobile Internet user base stood at 40 million in October this year. This is further estimated to touch 128 million (urban) and 45 million (rural) by December-end, it said

Leopards often reside in human habitats: study

• Outside their protected areas, leopards often reside in human habitats, but avoid encounters with people, a new study shows.
• Some researchers radio—collared five leopards in Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh, for the first time in India, and recorded their movement patterns in human—dominated areas outside their protected habitat.
• It was found that they are not ‘stray’ or ‘conflict’ animals, but residents in human-dominated areas, said Vidya Athreya of Wildlife Conservation Society.
• Moreover, two of the females even gave birth to cubs during the course of the study, confirming their residence.
• A number of cases of man—animal conflict involving leopards, hit by habitat loss, have been reported from all over the country.
• The study, however, found that the big cats applied tactics to avoid encountering people, despite dependence on their resources.
• Firstly, the animals mostly moved at night, which timed perfectly with low human activity. They also spent more time closer to homes, less than 25 metre in many location recordings, at night, than during the day.
• “This gave them an access to people’s livestock, and yet kept them safe from people,” Athreya explained.
• Scientists from Norway, Asian Nature Conservation Foundation and experts from the forest departments of Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra took part in this study.

Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary a critical habitat for conservation: study (Register and Login to read Full News..)

Business & economy

ING Vysya Bank decided to merge with Kotak Mahindra Bank

• In an all stock amalgamation, ING Vysya Bank decided to merge with Kotak Mahindra Bank, creating the fourth largest private sector bank in the country.
• ING Vysya shareholders will receive 725 shares in Kotak for 1,000 shares of ING Vysya. “The share exchange ratio is considered fair and reasonable given the underlying value of ING Vysya, as also giving shareholders the ability to benefit from the potential that can be realised upon merging into Kotak,” a press release issued jointly by Kotak Mahindra Bank and ING Vysya Bank stated.
• “This exchange ratio indicates an implied price of Rs.790 for each ING Vysya share based on the average closing price of Kotak shares during one month to November 19, 2014, which is a 16 per cent premium to a like measure of ING Vysya market price,” it added.
• The proposed merger would result in issuance of approximately 15.2 per cent of the equity share capital of the merged Kotak.
• One of ING Vysya’s directors will be joining the Board of Directors of Kotak.
• The merger decision was taken at their respective board meetings of Kotak Mahindra Bank and the ING Vysya Bank.
• The amalgamation is subject to the approval of the shareholders of Kotak and ING Vysya respectively, Reserve Bank of India under the Banking Regulation Act, the Competition Commission of India and such other regulatory approvals as may be required.
• Upon obtaining all approvals, when the merger becomes effective, “all ING Vysya branches and employees will become Kotak branches and employees. ING Vysya’s CEO designate, Uday Sareen, will be inducted into the top management of Kotak reporting directly to Uday Kotak, Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Kotak.”

Sports

Panel of Indian officials announced for HIL 2015

• With the third edition of the Hero Hockey India League (HIL) fast approaching, the organisers announced the panel of Indian officials for the tournament scheduled from January 22 to February 22.
• The panel boasts of esteemed and experienced names such as umpire Javed Shaikh, who has recently conducted his 100th match. The most experienced umpire, Shaikh has been officiating in major tournaments like the FIH World Cup, the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games since 2003.
• Raghu Prasad RV, who has conducted 90 matches till now, will be seen on field during the league. He has been officiating since 2004 and conducted matches in the FIH World Cup and the Commonwealth Games. He also officiated in the 2012 London Olympics.
• The officials’ panel also include Gurinder Singh Sangha (37 matches), Ripudaman Sharma (15 matches), Anil Kumar (6 matches) and a new name to the list Gurbaj Singh, who will make his debut. The panel consists of judges — Anjali Sharma, Milind Narwekar and Sonia Bathla.
• The technical officials in the panel include Claudius de Sales, Moghul Mohammed Muneer and Ashutosh Verma.
• Speaking on the appointment, Hockey India League’s CEO, Elena Norman said, “The League is in its third year and hence, it is necessary we take it a notch higher in all fronts. The entire panel of umpires and officials coming on board are known for their work towards the game and they have vast experience in officiating international-level matches around the world.
• “Hero Hockey India League welcomes each one on board and will look forward to their contribution in this season.”