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Yojana Magazine: Issue June 2015

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Yojana Magazine: Issue June 2015

Long ago, Charles Darwin gave the theory of evolution which propagated that species with useful adaptations to the environment are more likely to survive than those with less useful adaptations. This competition and urge to survive has always forced mankind to come up with newer inventions and innovate sustainable ways of living. Today, no one can ignore the impact and usefulness of modernisation in our daily life especially on how these innovations have made day to day life hassle-free. This is particularly true about faster means of communication and travelling as well as the field of medicine that is conquering new frontiers. State-of-the-art diagnostic techniques and treatment facilities have added an altogether different dimension to the profession of saving precious lives. The other side of the coin however, is too much of human interference with the nature and unhealthy lifestyle resulting in greater sufferings in terms of severe and untreatable diseases. While modern technology has tried to find newer ways of treating diseases, it has not been able to stop or reverse the process. It is in this scenario that mankind has started looking back to the Nature and that is exactly where the role of alternative medicine and therapies come into play. They work on the principle of restoring natural balance and bringing human life back in harmony with the Nature. Indian traditional medicine system has been based on this principle focusing on holistic health rather than treating a disease. Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Naturopathy, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, all these alternative therapies advocate a lifestyle which provides a healthy body, mind and overall happiness. Ayurveda and Yoga started their journey more than 5000 years ago as ancient Indian sciences. While Sidha is one of the ancient systems of medicines popular in South India, Unani, the traditional system of medicine has its genesis in ancient Greece. Homoeopathy was developed in the early 1800s by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann. These systems have enjoyed continued patronage of people over the years. However, in recent times all alternative systems of medicine have gained global acceptance and popularity.

(Written Result) UPSC CDS Examination (I), 2015

UPSC

Union Public Service Commission

(Written Result) UPSC CDS Examination (I), 2015

1. On the basis of the results of the Combined Defence Services Examination (I)-2015 held by the Union Public Service Commission on 15th February, 2015, 8488 candidates with the following Roll Numbers have qualified for being interviewed by the Service Selection Board of the Ministry of Defence, for admission to (i) Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, 140th Course commencing in January, 2016 (ii) Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Course commencing in January, 2016 (iii) Air Force Academy, Hyderabad (PreFlying) Training Course commencing in January, 2016 i.e. No. 199/16F/PC (iv) Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai, 103rd SSC Course (for Men) commencing in April, 2016 and (v) Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai, 17th SSC Women (Non-Technical) Course commencing in April, 2016.

2. The ratio of candidates shortlisted for the examination per vacancy is 1:18.29

3. The candidature of all the candidates, whose Roll Numbers are shown in the lists below, is provisional. In accordance with the conditions of the admission to the examination, they are required to submit the original certificates in support of age (date of birth), educational qualifications, NCC (C) (Army Wing/Senior Division Air Wing/Naval Wing) etc. claimed by them, alongwith attested copies of thereof, to Army Headquarters,
A.G.’s Branch/Rtg./CDSE Entry, West Block 3, Ground Floor, Wing No.I, R.K. Puram, New Delhi-110066. In case of IMA/SSC first choice candidates and IHQ of MoD NAV ( OI & R Section), Room No. 204, C-Wing, Sena Bhawan, New Delhi-110011 in case of Naval first choice candidates and PO3 (A) Air Headquarters, ‘J’ Block, Room No. 17, Opp. Vayu Bhawan, Moti Lal Nehru Marg, New Delhi-110011 in case of Air Force as their first choice. The original Certificates are to be submitted within two weeks of completion of the SSB Interview and not later than 13th November, 2015 (1st February, 2016 in case of SSC only). The candidates must not send the original certificates to the Union Public Service Commission.

3. In case, there is any change of address, the candidates are advised to promptly intimate directly to the Army Headquarters/Naval Headquarters/Air Headquarters as the case may be.

(Final Result) UPSC NDA & NA Exam. (II), 2014

UPSC

Union Public Service Commission

(Final Result) UPSC National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Exam. (II), 2014

1. The following is the list, in order of merit of 453 candidates, who have qualified on the basis of the results of the Written Examination held by the Union Public Service Commission in 28th September, 2014 and the subsequent Interviews held by the Services Selection Board of the Ministry of Defence for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of National Defence Academy for the 134th Course and Naval Academy for the 96th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) commencing from July, 2015. For detailed information regarding the actual date of commencement of the above courses, please visit the websites of Ministry of Defence i.e www.joinindianarmy. nic.in or indianarmy .gov.in.

2. The results of Medical Examination have not been taken into account in preparing these lists.

3. The candidature of all the candidates is provisional, subject to their submitting the requisite certificates in support of date of birth and educational qualifications etc. claimed by them directly to the Additional Directorate General of Recruiting, Adjutant General’s Branch, Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Army), West Block No. III, Wing-1, R. K. Puram, New Delhi- 110066 wherever this has not already been done, and NOT to U.P.S.C.

The Gist of Science Reporter: May 2015

The Gist of Science Reporter: May 2015

  • NEW STATE OF MATTER FOR NEXT GENERATION QUANTUM COMPUTERS (Free Available)
  • Scientists Discover How Birds Localize Sound Sources (Free Available)
  • The Importance of being “Stupid” (Free Available)
  • Questioning in Science: Implications and Consequences (Only For The Subscribed Members)
  • Greatest Discovery of Nineteenth Century (Only For The Subscribed Members)

NEW STATE OF MATTER FOR NEXT GENERATION QUANTUM COMPUTERS

A research team in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts University of Michigan, has reported in Science [2014;346 (6214): 1208 DOl: 10.1126/science.1250366] confirming several properties of the compound called Samarium Hexaboride, an iridescent material whose properties had puzzled scientists since the 1960s.

The material turns out to be an exotic state of matter that may be used to create next generation electronics like quantum computers. Their results confirm how to classify the material and provide the first direct evidence that samarium hexaboride, 5mB., is a ‘topological insulator’. Topological insulators are a class of solids that conduct electricity like a metal across their surface, but block the flow of current like rubber through their interior. The University of Michigan scientists used a technique called ‘torque magnetometry’ to resolve the ‘Fermi surface topology’ by observing the material’s oscillations in a magnetic field when an electric current moved through it. They found that Samarium Hexaboride had a two dimensional conducting surface. Their technique also showed that the surface of samarium hexaboride holds rare Dirac electrons, particles that may be useful to Samarium Hexaboride help researchers overcome one of the biggest hurdles in quantum computing. Electrons in SmB6. interact more closely with one another than most solids. This helps its interior maintain electricity-blocking behavior. Engineers might one day route the flow of electric current in Samarium Hexaboride, a strongly ‘co-related material’, so it could be used in quantum computers much like silicon in conventional electronics. In quantum computers, “qubits” stand for the 0s and 1s of conventional computers’ binary code. While a conventional bit can be either a 0 or 1, a qubit can be both at the same time. However when you measure the quantum system it forces it to choose one state, 0 or 1 eliminating its main advantage. They now hope to overcome this flaw by using Samarium Hexaboride to create quantum transistors.

Scientists Discover How Birds Localize Sound Sources

Because birds have no external ears, it has long been believed that they are unable to differentiate between sounds coming from different elevations. By studying three avian species - crow, duck and chicken - Schnyder discovered that birds are also able to identify sounds from different elevation angles. It seems that their slightly oval-shaped head transforms sound waves in a similar way to external ears.

(Current Affairs) Sports | May - 2015

Sports

Kidambi Kidabi clinches swis grand prix gold 2015

  • Indian Shuttler Kidambi brought fruitful movement for India as he clinched the badminton prestigious $ 120000 Swiss Grand Prix Gold championship title after defeating a strong Denmark’s Viktor Alexson in men’s singles final.

  • In the final world No. 4 Srikanth showed nerves of steel to prevail over his opponent, ranked sixth in the world, 21-15 12-21 21-14 in the thrilling summit clash of the event as the contest lasted 47 minutes.

Services wins 69th Santosh trophy

  • Services has clinched 69th Santosh Trophy Nationals after deafiting hosts Punjab 5-4 via tie-breaker in a nail-biting clash at Guru Nanak Stadium. Services dominated possession in the first half and also created number of scoring opportunities but failed to convert.
  • Services sealed the title for the fourth time besides finishing runners up on five occasions.

Karnataka wins Ranji Trophy 2015

  • Defending champions Karnataka has won their eighth Ranji Trophy title as they defeated their southern opponents Tamil Nadu by an innings and 217 runs on the last day of the Ranji Trophy cricket tournament final at the Wankhede stadium.

  • The man of the match was Karnataka’s Karun Nair who had scored 338 runs. The captain of Karnataka team was R Vinay Kumar and of Tamil Nadu team was Abhinav Mukund.

  • Earlier Karnataka has won 7th Ranji Tile, which are- 1973-74 - Vs Rajasthan, 1977-78 - Vs Uttar Pradesh, 1982-83 - Vs Bombay, 1995-96 - Vs Tamil Nadu, 1997-98 - Vs Uttar Pradesh, 1998-99 - Vs Madhya Pradesh, 2013-14 - Vs Maharashtra .

Snagakara hits record four consecutive ODI centuary

  • Sri Lanka cricket team wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara has become the first player to hit four successive one-day international centuries after notching up a ton in his side’s 148-run win against Scotland in the world cup. Sangakkara now has a total of 14,189 career ODI runs and five World Cup centuries, only one behind record holder Sachin Tendulkar.

  • Sangakara century against Scotland followed an unbeaten 105 against Bangladesh, 117 not out against England and 104 against Australia. Previously, six other players had scored three ODI hundreds in a row.
    AB Deviler hits

Fastest 150 in ODI

  • South African batsman AB de Villiers hit the fastest 150 in one-day internationals during a match between South Africa & West Indies. De Villiers took 64 deliveries to reach 150, beating the previous best, set by Australia’s Shane Watson, by 19 balls.

  • He finished 162 not out from 66 balls as South Africa made 408-5, the second-highest total in World Cups. Only last month, De Villiers hit the fastest-ever ODI hundred against the same team in Johannesburg, from 31 balls. In that same innings, South Africa’s captain also set the record for the fastest fifty in ODIs, from 16 balls.

Ranchi Ray wins Hero Hockey India League 2015

  • Indian Cricket team captain Mahaendra Singh Dhoni owned Ranchi Rays have been crowned Hero Hockey India League champions for 2015 following a dramatic penalty shoot-out triumph over Jaypee Punjab Warriors in a high quality tournament final at New Delhi’s Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. Jaypee Punjab Warriors lead the final on two occasions, with Lovell’s 2014 World Cup winning team-mates Kieran Govers and Chris Ciriello finding the net while Stanli Minz and Barry Middleton twice pulled the Rays level as the match finished with the scores locked at 2-2.

  • Lovell, who had made numerous breathtaking saves in normal time, produced a goalkeeping master-class in the shoot-out, keeping out efforts from Simon Orchard, SV Sunil and Robert Hammond to give Ranchi a 3-2 win.

  • Lovell’s performance deservedly earned him the Hero Man of the Match Award, while team-mate and Rays’ captain Ashley Jackson was named Hero Most Valuable Player of the Tournament thanks to a series of wonderful displays during this season’s HHIL.

  • Delhi Waveriders claimed a third place finish in this year’s Hero Hockey India League, with Rupinder Pal Singh and Yuvraj Walmiki both on target in their team’s 2-1 triumph over Uttar Pradesh Wizards.

(Current Affairs) Person in News | May: 2015

Person in News

Meira Kumar

  • Former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar’s book entitled “Indian Parliamentary Diplomacy – Speaker’s Perspective” has been recenlty released by the present Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.

  • The book features an account of the parliamentary diplomacy and its role in furthering foreign policy and strengthening international relations.
  • Meira Kumar was the first unopposed elected woman Speaker of Lok Sabha and served from 2009 to 2014. Kumar was also 5 time Member of Parliament and was elected to 8th, 11th, 12th, 14th and 15th Lok Sabha.

Venkatraman to head Royal Society of UK

  • India-born Nobel laureate Sir Venkatraman Ramakrishnan has been confirmed as president elect of Britain’s prestigious Royal Society.
  • Dr. Ramakrishnan is the first India-born scientist to be elected President of the Royal Society. Dr. Ramakrishnan will take over his new appointment on December 1, 2015, replacing the eminent geneticist Sir Paul Nurse.
  • Earlier in the year 2009 he won Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on the structure and function of the ribosome, the molecular machine that synthesises proteins inside cell; and on the action of antibiotics on the process.
  • The Royal Society is a self-governing fellowship of many of the world’s most distinguished scientists drawn from all areas of science, engineering, and medicine, set up to support excellence in science, and to encourage its use for the benefit of humanity.

The Gist of Press Information Bureau (PIB): May 2015

The Gist of Press Information Bureau: May 2015

Youth Policy

The National Youth Policy 2014 defines the age of youth as persons between the age 15-29 years. The National Youth Policy 2014 seeks to define the vision of the Government of India for the youth of the country and identify the key areas in which action is required to enable youth development and to provide a framework for action for all stakeholders. The Policy identifies eleven specific priority areas for action, as under:

  • Education.
  • Employment and Skill Development.
  • Entrepreneurship.
  • Health and Healthy Lifestyle.
  • Sports.
  • Promotion of Social Values.
  • Community Engagement.
  • Participation in Politics and Governance.
  • Youth Engagement.
  • Inclusion.
  • Social Justice.

The action for implementation of the Policy is required to be taken by concerned Ministries/Departments from their own budgetary allocations. No separate funds have been allocated for implementation of the Policy.

14th Finance Commission (FFC) Report

Article 280 of the Constitution of India requires the Constitution of a Finance Commission every five years, or earlier. For the period from 1st April, 2015 to 31st March, 2020, the 14th Finance Commission (FFC) was constituted by the orders of President on 2nd January, 2013 and submitted its report on 15th December, 2014. The Finance Commission is required to recommend the distribution of the net proceeds of taxes of the Union between the Union and the States (commonly referred to as vertical devolution); and the allocation between the States of the respective shares of such proceeds (commonly known as horizontal devolution).

With regard to vertical distribution, FFC has recommended by majority decision that the the States’ share in the net proceeds of the Union tax revenues be 42%. The recommendation of tax devolution at 42% is a huge jump from the 32% recommended by the 13th Finance Commission. The transfers to the States will see a quantum jump. This is the largest ever change in the percentage of devolution. In the past, when Finance Commissions have recommended an increase, it has been in the range of 1-2% increase. As compared to the total devolutions in 2014-15 the total devolution of the States in 2015-16 will increase by over 45%. FFC has taken the view that tax devolution should be primary route of transfer of resources to States. It may be noted that in reckoning the requirements of the States, the FFC has ignored the Plan and Non-Plan distinction; it sees the enhanced devolution of the divisible pool of taxes as a “compositional shift in transfers from grants to tax devolution”.

Keeping in mind the spirit of cooperative federalism that has underpinned the creation of National Institution for Transforming India (NITI), the Government has accepted the recommendation of the FFC to keep the States’ share of Union Tax proceeds (net) at 42%. In recommending horizontal distribution, the FFC has used broad parameters of population (1971) and changes of population since, income distance, forest cover and area. The Finance Commission is also required to recommend on ‘the measures needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of a State to supplement the resources of the Panchayats and Municipalities in the State on the basis of the recommendations made by the Finance Commission of the State’.

FFC has recommended distribution of grants to States for local bodies using 2011 population data with weight of 90% and area with weight of 10%. The grants to States will be divided into two, a grant to duly constituted Gram Panchayats and a grant to duly constituted Municipal bodies, on the basis of rural and urban population. FFC has recommended grants in two parts; a basic grant, and a performance grant, for duly constituted Gram Panchayats and municipalities. The ratio of basic to performance grant is 90:10 with respect to Panchayats and 80:20 with respect to Municipalities.

(Article) For IAS develop positive thinking and respect for the pillars of democracy

(Article) For IAS develop positive thinking and respect for the pillars of democracy

https://iasexamportal.com/sites/default/files/UPSC.jpg(1) It’s the most perplexing time for the recently passed out college graduates.

While it is gratifying to have a degree most youngsters are not content with being ‘just a graduate’.

Some want to go for higher studies, some plan to take up a vocation and scour the job market, while some others are as yet undecided about what they want to do in life.

Even as the students chalk out their career paths, an interesting feature that has caught Metrolife’s interest is the new-found interest amongst youngsters for a ‘secure government job with decent work timings’.

Apart from the obvious reason of job security, most students aim at clearing IAS because it is assures a well paid job which comes tagged with respect, a smart designation, the convenient government facilities and good salary.

But people tend to forget the hard work and dedication that is involved in reaching that pedestal.

Most of the students only want to feel and be the ‘power’ of being in the administration. But only those who are ready to accept the responsibility that is complementary to that power, end up clearing the exams.

(2) While in the not too distant past government jobs had lost favour with the youngsters, looking for savvied placements with multi-nationals, the trend seems to be slowly and surely reversing.

Suddenly, there seems to be a wave of civil service aspirants in the country, with a whopping number of students from Arts courses enrolling with coaching institutes that train all the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) aspirants.

So, what propels these students to choose civil services as a career option?

Is it the job security or the fact that it’s a well paid government job with retirement benefits?

(3) Mostly, students from the humanities background opt for IAS because the structure of our courses covers a vast amount of syllabus for UPSC.

The humanities background students are already well versed with the General Studies part of the exam and Maths and Science are the only subjects that are to be prepared.

(Current Affairs) Awards and Prizes | May: 2015

Awards and Prizes

Sarabhai award for SHAR director M.Y.S. Prasad

  • M.Y.S. Prasad, director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota Range (SHAR), has been selected for the Vikram Sarabhai memorial award to be presented by the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) at a function to be held soon.

  • Dr. Prasad is selected for his outstanding contribution to R&D in the field of space science in his long and chequered career at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Prior to Dr. Prasad, those who received this award were former ISRO chairmen Dr. Satish Dhawan, Dr. K. Kasturi Rangan, Dr. G. Madhavan Nair and Dr. K. Radhakrishnan.

  • The ISCA, which is a premier scientific organization of the country established in 1914 in Kolkata, has been giving this award in alternate years.

(Current Affairs) Science & Technology, Defence, Environment | May: 2015

Science & Technology, Defense, Environment

INS Alleppey decommissioned

  • INS Alleppey , one of the six Ponchicherry class coastal minesweepers purchased from the erstwhile USSR in the 1970s, decommissioned at sunset after nearly 35 years of service under the Western Naval Command.
  • After INS Alleppey ’s decommissioning, the Indian Navy will be left with six other operational minesweeper vessels.
  • The ship was decommissioned by Rear Admiral MS Pawar, Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area at Mumbai Naval Dockyard.

ISRO’s launcher assembly unit gets Rs. 120 crore

  • ISRO’s proposal for having a second facility to assemble launchers at Sriharikota has got a Rs. 120-crore Budget boost.
  • The amount is the first big allocation for additional infrastructure since it was approved in late 2013.
  • Estimated at Rs. 360 crore, the second Vehicle Assembly Building (SVAB) was conceived to increase the number of satellite launches from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikota.
  • M.Y.S. Prasad, Director of SDSC, said the project was going through a multiple tendering process to choose agencies that would build it over the next two years.
  • The SDSC has got a separate allocation of Rs. 559 crores.

NASA launches 4 spacecraft to solve magnetic mystery

  • NASA has launched four identical spacecraft on a billion-dollar mission to study the explosive give-and-take of the Earth and sun’s magnetic fields.
  • The unmanned Atlas rocket, and NASA’s Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft, soared into a clear late-night sky, right on time. Within two hours, all four observatories were flying free.
  • The quartet of observatories is being placed into an oblong orbit stretching tens of thousands of miles into the magnetosphere, nearly halfway to the moon at one point.
  • They will fly in pyramid formation, between 6 miles (10 kilometres) and 250 miles (402 kilometres) apart, to provide 3-D views of magnetic reconnection on the smallest of scales.
  • Magnetic reconnection is what happens when magnetic fields like those around Earth and the sun come together, break apart, then come together again, releasing vast energy.
  • This repeated process drives the aurora, as well as solar storms that can disrupt communications and power on Earth.
  • Data from this two-year mission should help scientists better understand so-called space weather.
  • Each observatory resembles a giant octagonal wheel, stretching more than 11 feet (3.35 meters) across and 4 feet (1.22 meters) high, and weighing 3,000 pounds (1,360.79 kilogrammes) apiece.
  • Numbered and stacked like tires on top of the rocket for launch, No 4 popped free first more than an hour after liftoff, followed every five minutes by another.
  • “They’re all healthy and turned on. Essentially, we’re all green and headed into our mission,” said NASA project manager Craig Tooley.
  • Once the long, sensor-laden booms are extended in a few days, each spacecraft could span a baseball field.
  • Principal investigator Jim Burch from the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio said measurements will be made down to the electron scale, significantly smaller than previous heliophysics missions.
  • In all, there are 100 science sensors. Primary science-gathering will begin this summer, following a five-month checkout.
  • The findings from the USD 1.1 billion mission will be useful in understanding magnetic reconnection throughout the universe.
  • Closer to home, space weather scientists along with everyone on Earth hopefully will benefit.

The Gist of Kurukshetra: May 2015

The Gist of Kurukshetra: May 2015

Rural-Urban Linkages and Socio- Economic Development

Rural-urban linkages are both a cause and a consequence of socio-economic development. It includes flow of agricultural and other commodities from rural based producers to urban markets. These commodities for local consumers and for forwarding to regional, national and international markets on one hand and on the opposite side flow of manufactured and imported goods from urban centres to rural settlements. It is now widely recognised that there exists an economic, social and environmental interdependence between urban and rural areas and a need for balanced and mutually supportive approach to development of the two areas. Agriculture is an important part of rural economy and change in agriculture can influence the non-farm activity, mainly in three ways: through production, consumption and labour market linkages.

Production, a growing agricultural sector needs technical inputs of fertiliser, seeds, herbicides, equipment and repair services either produced or distributed by non- farm enterprises.

Consumption linkages arise when increasing farmer income, as a result of growing agriculture, boosts the demand for basic consumer goods. Such a demand typically increases over time as the rising per capita income induces the diversification of consumption into non-food items.

Rising agricultural wages in the rural areas have raised the opportunity cost of labour in the non-farm activities. This has induced a shift in the composition of non-farm activities from labour intensive, low-return ones to those that require more skilled labour and higher investment and produce higher returns.

They also include flow of people moving between rural and urban settlements, either commuting on a regular basis, for occasional visits to urban-based services and administrative centres, or migrating temporarily or permanently. Flow of information between rural and urban areas include information on employment opportunities for potential migrants. Financial flow include, primarily, remittances from migrants to relatives and communities in sending areas and transfers such as pensions to migrants returning to their rural homes and also investments and credit from urban-based institutions.

Infrastructure plays the key role in promoting agricultural and rural development which is the basis of rural economy of a developing country like India where, infrastructural facilities are generally weak and inadequate and many people, especially the rural poor do not have access to even minimum infrastructure services. Good infrastructural facility not only ensures smooth flow of inputs and outputs but also facilitates higher accessibility to knowledge, market, remunerative prices and savings from wastages. Exchange of goods between urban and rural areas are an essential element of rural-urban linkages. The ‘virtuous circle’ model of rural-urban local economic development emphasises on efficient economic linkages and physical infrastructure connecting farmers and other rural producers with both domestic and external markets. This involves three phases:

  • Phase I: Rural households earn higher incomes from production of agricultural goods for non-local markets and increase their demand for consumer goods
  • Phase II: Increasing demand leads to the creation of of non-farm jobs and employment diversification.
  • Phase III: Employment diversification in turn absorbs surplus rural labour, raises demand for agricultural produce and again boosts agricultural productivity and rural incomes.

(Current Affairs) India and The World | May: 2015

India & The World

India & Sri Lanka Signs four Agreement

  • India signs four agreement with Sri Lankan government during recent PM Modi visit to Island nation. This was the first bilateral tour by any Indian premier in 28 years.
  • During this visit the both country has singned four agreements on visa, customs, youth development and building Rabindranath Tagore memorial in Sri Lanka.

  • PM here announced that, India is ready to help develop Trincomalee as petrolium hub for this the Indian government would provide a fresh Line of Credit of up to US $318 million for the railways sector in Lanka.

  • Prime Minister also announced that the apex bank of both the country i.e. reserve Bank of India and Central Bank of Sri Lanka have agreed to enter into a Currency Swap Agreement of US $ 1.5 billion to help keep the Sri Lankan rupee stable
  • PM Modi here urged Sri Lankan Government to fully implement the 13th Amendment as early.

(Current Affairs) Economy & Energy | May: 2015

Economy

Good response for residential properties at SBI’s e-auction

  • State Bank of India (SBI), successfully completed the e-auction of around Rs.1,200-crore worth of stressed assets with a good number of bids for residential properties, said a senior official.
  • The bank had put on auction a mix of offices/shops/apartments/factory buildings and others numbering 300 properties.
  • Mr. Malhotra said the number of hits was large on the two websites where the properties were auctioned and the speed got slowed down.
  • “We had extended the auction time to compensate for the slow speed,” he said.
  • According to him, the bank had saved sizable outgo in terms of advertisement spend for auctioning the stressed assets.
  • As per the norms, advertisements should be given in two newspapers for every property auction but this time, the bank had consolidated all the properties to be auctioned and hence saved good sum, he said.
  • Agreeing that not all the 300 properties got sold, he said based on the feedback and the data collated, the bank would decide on going for next round of e-auction.
  • He said the banking major had taken a first step in this arena and could be the trend setter for others.

Facebook buys The Find

  • Facebook has waded further into e-commerce with the acquisition of shopping search engine TheFind.com. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
  • Members of TheFind team are joining Facebook, where they plan to put their technology to work making ads at the leading social network ‘more relevant’, according to the post.
  • The acquisition will result in TheFind.com shutting down in the next few weeks.
  • Facebook has been playing catch-up regarding searching for information at the social network and becoming a middle-man of sorts for online commerce. “Together, we believe we can make the Facebook ads experience even more relevant and better for consumers,’’ the social network said in statement.
  • TheFind — “Everything you need when shopping to quickly decide what to buy and where to buy it’’ — will shutter the Silicon Valley base it has operated from since launching in 2006 and move team members to Facebook’s campus in Menlo Park, California.

(Current Affairs) International Events | May: 2015

International Events

Democracy jailed for 13 years: Nasheed’s party

  • Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in prison on a terrorism charge after what rights groups said was a “flawed” trial, sparking international concern.

  • Mr. Nasheed called on his supporters to take to the streets to protest against the sentence after a trial his party said was “blatantly politicised”.

  • “I appeal to all of you today to stay courageous and strong, to confront the dictatorial power of this regime,” his office quoted him as saying.

  • Mr. Nasheed, the Indian Ocean archipelago’s first democratically elected leader, had been arrested on February 22. He was convicted under the country’s Anti-Terrorism Act for ordering the arrest of a chief judge, Abdullah Mohamed, when he was President in January 2012.

  • “The Anti-Terrorism Act, inter alia, classifies an act of terrorism to include kidnapping, holding as hostage or apprehending someone against their will or attempts to kidnap, hold hostage or apprehend someone without their will, for the extra judicial enforced disappearance of the sitting Chief Judge of Criminal Court,” sources told PTI, quoting the court judgement.

  • The 47-year-old was then taken to Dhoonidhoo prison on an island near the capital Male.

  • Mr. Nasheed’s lawyers resigned before the end of his brief trial, saying it was biased and aimed at destroying his political career.

  • The conviction came amid growing opposition to the government of President Abdulla Yameen and will effectively prevent Mr. Nasheed from running for President at the 2018 elections.

  • Mr. Nasheed’s Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said the verdict dealt a blow to the young democracy seven years after it embraced multi-party elections following three decades of rule by former strongman Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

  • “Democracy jailed for 13 years on March 13, 2015,” said MDP spokeswoman Shauna Aminath. “Nothing good will come out of this.

  • It’s a sad, sad, sad day for the Maldives,” she added. The MDP said its lawyers would appeal Nasheed’s conviction in the high court.

(Current Affairs) National Events | May: 2015

National Events

PwC man Involved in Spying: CBI

  • The Central Bureau of Investigation, which has arrested five suspects in the corporate espionage racket, said that the investigation had revealed the alleged role of a representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers India in obtaining information from the Department of Economic Affairs.

  • The agency produced accused Paresh Chimanlal Buddhadev, a partner in Chitale & Associates, before a Mumbai court that granted his transit remand for being brought to Delhi. Another accused, Ram Niwas, Assistant in the Finance Ministry, was also sent to five days’ CBI custody.

  • The agency earlier arrested Mumbai-based accused Chartered Accountant Khemchand Gandhi, who had allegedly been procuring the documents, Ashok Kumar Singh, Under Secretary in the Department of Disinvestment; and Lala Ram Sharma, Section Officer in the Department of Economic Affairs. The three are in CBI custody.

SC gives one last chance to Sahara

  • The Supreme Court granted the Sahara group a last opportunity to raise bail money to its chief Subrata Roy and two directors in jail since March 2014.

  • A Special Bench of Justices T.S. Thakur, Anil R. Dave and A.K. Sikri, at one point, said the court had lost its patience with Sahara’s repeated assurances that they would sell their assets soon to pay security for
    securing bail.

  • The Bench stopped short of going ahead and appointing ‘court receivers’ to take over from Sahara and initiate sale deals in a “transparent” manner.

  • But Sahara’s counsel and senior advocate Kapil Sibal prevailed over the court and requested to give his client “one last chance” to sell their assets and collect Rs. 6000 crore more required for bail security.

  • Earlier the court had asked 65-year-old Roy to pay a total Rs 10,000 crore to get bail.

  • During the hearing, the Sahara group blamed Mirach Capital for the failure of the second proposed deal for selling of offshore properties.

(Videos) Life at LBSNAA, Mussoorie : Training Center for IAS Probationers

Life at LBSNAA - Mussoorie

The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, India's premier research and training institute on administration and public policy, is located in Mussoorie, 2000 meters above sea level, in the foothills of Himalayas. It is 300 road kilometers from the national capital, New Delhi. The LBSNAA represents an interesting confluence of academic rigour and intellectual freedom. The campus is a virtual melting pot where people across generations,from every part of our country and beyond, come in contact with each other. It is a place where participants from every state of our diverse country, speaking different languages, with diverse qualifications and socio-educational backgrounds meet, interact and learn from each other.

A few videos on the life of officer Trainees at LBSNAA, Mussoorie:

(News) UPSC Civil Services Exam Application expected to grow to 13 Lacs for Year 2015

UPSC

UPSC Civil Services Exam Application expected to grow to 13 Lacs for Year 2015

Citing increase in the number of IAS and IPS aspirants, the UPSC has sought from the Centre services of about 5,000 invigilators for this year's civil services examination.

The civil services preliminary examination 2015 is scheduled to be held on August 23.

There has been a steep rise recorded in the number of candidates for civil services preliminary examination during the past few years. In 2014, the number of candidates who applied for civil services preliminary examination exceeded 9.45 lakh, it said.

It is estimated that this year, the number of applicants for the preliminary examination would increase to approximately 13 lakh.

This examination will be held in 71 centres at about 3000 venues across the country, UPSC Secretary Ashim Khurana said in a letter to Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

Out of the 13 lakh candidates, about 1.20 lakh candidates are anticipated to opt for Delhi as their centre of examination, and they have to be accommodated in about 260 venues. The examination would be supervised by the principals of the institutions, Khurana said.

(Info) Educationist Pradeep Kumar Joshi appointed UPSC member

Educationist Pradeep Kumar Joshi appointed UPSC member

https://iasexamportal.com/sites/default/files/Pradeep-Kumar-Joshi.jpgEducationist Pradeep Kumar Joshi was today appointed as member of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which conducts prestigious civil services examination.

With Joshi’s appointment, the Commission is in its full strength of ten members. Deepak Gupta is presently working as UPSC chairman.

Joshi is presently Chairman of Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission.

The tenure of Joshi will commence from the date he enters the office of member, UPSC, an order issued by Department of Personnel and Training said.

(Final Result) UPSC: CISF ACs (Executive) LDCE, 2015

UPSC

(Final Result) UPSC: CISF ACs (Executive) LDCE, 2015

Central Industrial Security Force Assistant Commandants (Executive) Limited Departmental Competitive Examination, 2015

1. Based on the result of the written part of the Central Industrial Security Force Assistant Commandants (Executive) Limited Departmental Competitive Examination, 2015 held on 01.03.2015 and the interviews for Personality Test held from 11.05.2015 to 13.05.2015, following is the list, in order of merit, of candidates who have been recommended for appointment to the post of Assistant Commandants (Executive) in the Central Industrial Security Force.

2. A total number of 13 candidates have been recommended for appointment as per the following break-up:

General SC ST
11 02 NIL

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