Growth of GDP at factor cost by economic activity (at 2004-05 prices)
		Percentage share in GDP		Growth
	2008-09	2009-10 (QE)	2010-11 (AE)	2008-09	2009-10 (QE)	2010-11 (AE)
Agriculture, forestry & fishing	15.7	14.6	14.2	-0.1	0.4	5.4

QE-Quick Estimates

AE-Advance Estimates

UPSC GS Main Question 2011-Prediction

Indian Economy Predicted Questions for GS Main-2011 

1. What are the major objectives of 11th Five Year Plan? comment on the Midterm Appraisal of the 11th Five Year Plan? 
2. What are the factors responsible for the Inflation and How food inflation is calculated? 
3. Briefly mention the reason for failure of monsoon and its impact on the Indian Economy? 
4. How the poverty line is measured in India?Which factors can be taken to measure the poverty line?

INDIAN AGRICULTURE 2011

Agriculture is the backbone of Indian Economy. About 65% of Indian population depends directly on agriculture and it accounts for around 15.7% of the GDP in 2009–10. Agriculture derives its importance from the fact that it has vital supply and demand links with the manufacturing sector. During the past five years agriculture sector has witnessed spectacular advances in the production and productivity of food grains, oilseeds, commercial crops, fruits, vegetables, food grains, poultry and dairy. India has emerged as the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world in addition to being the largest overseas exporter of cashews and spices. Further, India is the highest producer of milk in the world.

Farm Size:
Indian Agriculture is characterized by small and marginal operational holdings. About 85% of total cultivated land has been fragmented into less than 10-hectare land. About 60% of farmland is less than 4 hectare in size.

Plantation:
Tea, Coffee, and Natural rubber are the main plantation crops in India that contribute in Indian export to a considerable extent. India is the largest producer and consumer of tea in the world. It contributes 4% to global coffee production and enjoys a niche market by producing both arabica and robusta coffee. In rubber also, it ranks third in production and fourth in consumption of natural rubber in the world.
India has a great potential in the production of horticultural crops, which includes fruits, vegetables, spices, floriculture, and plantations. Acreage under horticulture is around 20 million hectares. India is the second largest producer of both fruits and vegetables in the world. It occupies first position in the production of cauliflower, second in onion, and third in cabbage.

Dairy:
India ranks first in the world in milk production, which was around 100 million tones in 2006-07.Strong networks of Milk Cooperatives, have been instrumental in this phenomenal performance of dairy sector in India. Presently, 1.13 lakh village level co- operative societies spread over 265 districts in the country form part of the national Milk Grid. This Grid links milk producers throughout India and consumers in 700 towns and cities. De-licensing of dairy sector in 1991 has directed considerable amount of private funds both from inside and outside country in this sector especially in manufacturing facilities while investment in cooperative sector are concentrated largely in procurement and processing of milk.
Livestock: Livestock sector contributes about 27% of the G.D.P. from agriculture and allied activities. This sector has excellent forward and backward linkages, which p-promote many industries and increase the incomes of vulnerable groups of the society such as agricultural labourers and small and marginal farmers. India possesses the second largest livestock population in the world. Production and export of poultry products have shown considerable growth in the recent decades. Export of such products to countries including Bangladesh, Srilanka, Middle East, Japan, Denmark, USA, and Angola augers well for this industry.

Fishery:
Fishing, aquaculture and a host of allied activities are a source of livelihood to over 14 million people and a major source of foreign exchange earner. In 2005-06, this sector contributed about 1% of G.D.P. and 5.3% of G.D.P from agricultural sector.8,118 k.m. of coastline gives geographical basis for the development of marine fishery sector and cultural factor boosts the inland fishery sector in India.

Agriculture Credit:
Availability of adequate credit is vital for every sector and agriculture is not an exception. In India, Commercial Banks, Cooperative Banks, and Regional Rural Banks ( RRBs) are responsible for smooth flow of credit to agricultural sector. But a huge unorganized market exists for credit to agricultural sector in India, which provide timely fund to this sector but at the exorbitant rate of interest. Among organized credit disbursement to agriculture commercial banks play a vital role with a share of about 70% where as cooperative sector and RRBs contribute 20% and 10 % respectively.Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme was introduced to provide adequate and timely support from the banking system to the farmers for their cultivation needs. This scheme has made rapid progress and more than645 lakh cards issued up to October 2006.
The 'Farm Credit Package' announced by the Government of India in June 2004 stipulated doubling the flow of institutional credit for agriculture in ensuing three years. Annual targets for this package are being surpassed in the two consecutive years from its introduction and it is likely to surpass in the third year also.

Insurance:
Insurance is a prime necessity to mitigate uncertainty that persists in agriculture. In India, agriculture is still affected by such factors, which are beyond control of human being. So, there is a great need for agricultural insurance in India. Keeping this in mind, Government of India in coordination with the General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC), had introduced National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) from rabi 1999-2000 season. The main objective of this scheme is to protect the farmers against losses suffered by them due to crop failure on account of natural calamities. Agricultural Insurance Company of India (AICIL) which was incorporated in December 2002 took over the implementation of NAIS.
AICIL introduced Rainfall Insurance Scheme called 'Varsha Bima' during 2004 southwest monsoon period. Varsha Bima provided for five different options suiting varied requirements of farming community

Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF):
RIDF was announced by the Government of India in 1995-96 to boost public sector investment in agriculture and rural infrastructure. The Fund is raised from the commercial banks to the extent of their short fall in agricultural lending as priority sector. The activities, which have been made eligible for loans from RIDF, include rural roads and bridges, irrigation, mini and small hydel projects, community irrigation wells, soil conservation, watershed development and reclamation of waterlogged areas, flood protection, drainage, forest development, market yard, godowns, apna mandi, rural haats and other marketing infrastructure, cold storages, seed/agriculture/horticulture farms, plantation and horticulture, grading and certifying mechanisms such as testing and certifying laboratories, fishing harbors/jetties, reverine fisheries, animal husbandry, modern abattoir, drinking water supply, infrastructure for rural educational institutions, public health institutions, construction of toilet blocks in existing schools and 'pay and use' toilets in rural areas, village knowledge centers, desalination plants in coastal areas, infrastructure for information technology in rural areas, and construction of anganwari centers.

Micro Finance:
Micro finance scheme has been introduced by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), the apex bank for agriculture and rural development in India, to improve the access of the rural poor to formal institutional credit and other financial products. In all 547 banks, which include 47 commercial banks, 158 RRBs, 342 cooperative banks are now actively involved in the operation of Self Help Group (SHG)- Bank Linkage Programme to spread the facility of micro finance to the needy small and marginal farmers and tiny entrepreneurs. The programme has enabled nearly 329 lakh poor families in the country to gain access to micro finance facilities from the formal banking system.

Capital Formation in Agriculture:
The share of the agriculture sector's capital formation in G.D.P. declined from 2.2% in the late 1990s to 1.9% in 2005-06. Stagnation or fall in the public investment in irrigation is partly responsible for this fall. However there is indication of a reversal of this trend with public sector investment in agriculture accelerating since 2002-03.The share of public investment in gross investment in agriculture increased by 6.5 percentage points from 1999-2000 to reach 24.2% in 2005-06.

Marketing of Agricultural Products

Form of Markets exists in India: Agricultural markets in India are dominated by the existence of unorganized and unregulated agricultural mandies with the presence of a large number of middlemen and widespread prevalence of malpractices. Absence of proper warehousing facilities in the villages, lack of proper transportation facilities and infrastructure such as rails and good quality all weather roads and ignorance about the market prices of their products are some of the important factors for exploitation of farmers from middle men. They are forced to sell their products to these middlemen at the farm gate at throwaway prices.

Agricultural Market Reforms in India: Ministry of Agriculture had formulated a model law on agricultural marketing in consultation with State/Union territory Governments to bring about marketing reforms in line with emerging trends. This model act enables establishment of private markets/yards, direct purchase centers, consumers/farmers markets for direct sale, and promotion of public-private partnership (PPP) in the management and development of agricultural markets in the country. It also provides for exclusive markets for onion, fruits, vegetables, andflowers. Regulation and promotion of contract farming arrangement has also been made a part of this legislation. A provision has also been made for constitution of State Agricultural Produce Standard Bureau for promotion of grading, standardization, and quality certification of agricultural produce. So far, 15 States and 5 Union Territories have amended their Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act to derive the benefits of market

E-Chaupal:
E-Chaupal is a business platform consisting of a set of organizational subsystems and interfaces connecting farmers to global markets. It has been initiated by International Tobacco Company (ITC) who are quite active in agricultural sector in India.

Agricultural Commodities Exchanges:
To introduce future trading in agricultural commodities in India, two commodity exchanges have been introduced in 2003 for future trading. They are, National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX) and Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited (MCX). These exchanges are majorly dealing in agricultural commodities. They are involved in forward trading to mitigate price risks of the farmers.

International Trade & Indian Agriculture:

Agricultural Export: India's total exports of agricultural and allied products at $10.5 billion in 2005-06 constitute 10.2% of its export share. Developed country markets account for nearly 35% of India's agri-exports. In agricultural exports there are varied performances across commodities. Contribution of various agricultural commodities in world exports has been listed below.
Export of Marine products, which after a decline in 2003-04 had picked up in subsequent years, grew by 6.3% in April- October-2006.In terms of export earnings, among marine products, frozen shrimp contributed to be the largest export item, followed by frozen fish, cuttlefish, squid, and dried items. European Union accounted for the largest share of India's export of marine products, followed by US and Japan. This sector, however, faced a number of hurdles in the major export destinations. Indian shrimp imports to USA have been subject to anti dumping duty of 10.17% from August 2004. In European markets, India's marine products have been facing problem due to multiplicity of standards-in addition to the EU's own standards, the standards of each of the own member states.

Agricultural Imports:

Agricultural import contributes about 3% in total merchandise import to India. Major imports during April-October 2005 included vegetable oils (US$ 1237.3 million), raw cashew nut (US$ 287.8 million), pulses (US$ 281.8 million) and sugar (US$ 138.7 million). Vegetable oils and pulses are largely imported to augment domestic supplies and raw cashew is imported for processing and re-exports, as domestic production is not adequate to meet the demand of processing capacity installed in the country.

Agri Export Zones:
In the Export Import (EXIM) Policy 2001-02, the Government of India announced the proposal to set up Agri-Export Zones for the purpose of developing and sourcing raw materials and their processing/packaging leading to final exports. The concept essentially embodies a cluster approach of identifying the potential products and the geographical region in which such products are grown and adoption of an end to end approach of integration of the entire process, right from the stage of production to consumption.
Under the Scheme, the State Government identifies products with export potential, which have comparative advantage in local production. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Development Authority (APEDA) is the nodal agency of the Central Government to promote setting up of Agri Export Zones.
Till December 2005, 60 Agri Export Zones of different products had been set up in different parts of the country.

W.T.O. & Indian agriculture:
India, and other developing countries have been insisting that special and differential treatment for developing countries must be integral to all aspects, including to negotiated outcome, on agriculture under the Doha Round in the WTO.
Mitigating the risk facing the low income, resource poor, and subsistence farmers associated with price declines, price volatility, and predatory competition and other market imperfections, including the huge amount of production and trade-distorting subsidies provided by some developed countries to their agricultural sector, remains paramount.
Therefore, along with other developing countries, particularly it's alliance partners in the G- 20 and G-33, India has been emphasizing that the Doha agricultural outcome must include at its core:

1.Removal of distorting subsidies and protection by developed countries to level the playing field, and

2.Appropriate provisions designed to safeguard food and/or livelihood security, and to meet the rural development needs in developing countries.

India has also taken the stand that governments must able to foster stable and remunerative prices for domestic producers in order to increase productivity and gradually move away from dependence on low productivity agriculture. For these, meaningful and effective instruments i.e. Special Products and the Special Safeguards Mechanism is important for developing countries like India. At Hong Kong, where 6th ministerial meeting of the WTO took place it has been argued that Special Products and Special Safeguard Mechanism shall be an integral part of the modalities and the outcome of the negations in
agriculture. Moreover, developing countries shall have the right to self designate an appropriate number of special products, guided by indicators based on the three fundamental criteria of food security, livelihood security, and/or rural development needs. These designated products will attract more flexible treatment. Developing country members will also have the right to have recourse to a Special Safeguard Mechanism based on import quantity and price triggers, with precise arrangements to be further defined.

National Commission on Farmers:
To improve the condition of Indian farmers, National Commission on Farmers have been set up by the Government of India. It has been submitted five reports between December 2005 and October, 2006Key recommendations of the commission have been incorporated in the Revised Draft National Policy for farmers. These include: asset reforms covering land, livestock and bio reserves, farmer friendly support services covering extension, training and knowledge, connectivity, credit and insurance, assured and remunerative marketing, inputs and delivery systems, and curriculum reforms in the agricultural universities.

Agriculture and Employment:
About 65% of Indian population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. This sector has strong forward and backward linkages and its performance affects each and every sector of the country.

Sustainable Agriculture: Organic Farming:
In the recent decades, there is an increasing demand of organic foods in the developed world. Organic farming is an important pillar of sustainable agriculture, which is beneficial for producers and consumers both. India has a great potential for organic farming using traditional wisdoms prevailing in the villages of India. In fact, a large section of Indian agriculture uses more or less organic method of farming using minimum level of chemical inputs. Promotion of organic farming in India could prove beneficial to increase share of Indian agricultural export in the world export.

CARBON SEQUESTRATION or BIOSEQUESTRATION

Carbon sequestration is the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) and may refer specifically to:

"The process of removing carbon from the atmosphere and depositing it in a reservoir.

It is also referred to as carbon dioxide removal, which is a form of geoengineering.

The process of carbon capture and storage, where carbon dioxide is removed from flue gases, such as on power stations, before being stored in underground reservoirs.

Natural biogeochemical cycling of carbon between the atmosphere and reservoirs, such as by chemical weathering of rocks.

Carbon sequestration describes long-term storage of carbon dioxide or other forms of carbon to either mitigate or defer global warming. It has been proposed as a way to slow the atmospheric and marine accumulation of greenhouse gases, which are released by burning fossil fuels.


Carbon dioxide is naturally captured from the atmosphere through biological, chemical or physical processes. Some anthropogenic sequestration techniques exploit these natural processes,

Artificial processes.

Carbon dioxide may be captured as a pure by-product in processes related to petroleum refining or from flue gases from power generation.

CO2 sequestration includes the storage part of carbon capture and storage, which refers to large-scale, permanent artificial capture and sequestration of industrially produced CO2 using subsurface saline aquifers, reservoirs, ocean water, aging oil fields, or other carbon sinks.

DRDO's BIO-DIGESTORS

DRDO’s bio-digesters

DRDO has developed bio-digesters to solve human waste disposal problem.

Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE), has developed this technology wherein a special form of bacteria is used to treat human waste in zero discharge toilet

This technology developed by the premier defense research organization was used to decompose biological waste generated by soldiers deployed in high-altitude regions such as Siachen and Ladakh.

The specific requirements of passenger trains, Railways and DRDO signed a MoU to co-develop these bio-digesters to keep railway tracks clean. They modified the technology to deal with the problem of people throwing all kind of waste materials in train toilets.

The bacteria which is used in these bio-digesters is found in Antarctica and has been modified to suit the different projects of DRDO to make bio-digesters for different climatic region

CARBON CAPTURE & UTILISATION

Carbon capture and Utilisation technology may make economic sense

Carbon capture and utilisation (CCU)could be one of the best ways of combating climate change.

Passing carbon dioxide through slag left over from steel-making turns the waste product into a strong material that can be used for construction. Pumped into greenhouses, it provides a growing boost for crops. Put into tanks of algae, it can be used to make biofuels. Waste carbon dioxide can even be cleaned up to “food grade” and injected into fizzy drinks.

But these processes are rare — instead, carbon dioxide from power generation is normally simply vented into the atmosphere, where it contributes to global warming. When the gas is needed for an industrial process, it is manufactured from scratch.
The Carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) could be one of the best ways of combating climate change, by turning carbon dioxide from a waste gas into an integral part of industrial processes.

There are a few examples of the development of processes to use CO -2 to make synthetic diesel from carbon dioxide,  to manufacture cement using the carbon dioxide from power plants, and in several places around the world, algae is being cultivated that would absorb the gas and could itself then be used to make biofuels.

In  UK  where the carbon from power stations is liquefied and stored in depleted oilfields under the North Sea — but nothing into recycling carbon dioxide.

The group of researchers have developed a new class of catalysts for the conversion of CO -2 into commercially important cyclic carbonates, which can be used as electrolytes for lithium ion batteries; additives for petrol, diesel and aviation fuel; solvents; and in the production of polycarbonates and polyurethanes, and other commercial chemical processes.

Many of the processes envisaged for CCU require some energy input — but the report's authors note that this could be provided by renewable energy, especially when wind or solar plants are producing energy at times of low demand. In this way, producing fuels from CO -2 could effectively be a way of storing renewable energy in another form.

However, the costs are still high for many of the potential applications of waste CO -2— about 10 times too expensive in the case of algae, for example. Much more investment is needed to bring down the costs, and putting a sizeable price on carbon dioxide emissions would also help.

GSLV-12 Launch

GSAT-12 Launch

India notched another milestone in its space programme by successfully launching a heavy-duty rocket that placed a major communications satellite in space.

The PSLV blasted off successfully carrying the 1,410 kg GSAT-12 satellite from the spaceport. The satellite has a life span of about seven years.

With this, India added 12 more communication transponders to its space-based network.

The launch took place under a cloudy sky, with the Rs.95 crore rocket PSLV-C17 – measuring 44 metres in height and weighing 320 tonnes – soaring off into space with a roar.

It ferried the Rs.105 crore GSAT-12 having 12 extended C-band transponders – automatic receivers and transmitters for communication and broadcast of signals.

People perched atop of the nearby buildings too happily applauded as PSLV-C17 went up.

The GTO is an intermediate orbit from where normally communication satellites will be moved to its final geosynchronous orbit by firing the on-board motors.

The rocket’s navigation systems were powered by Indian-made advanced Vikram processors.

The GSAT-12 carries around 851 kg of fuel on-board to fire the motors. (A geosynchronous orbit is one directly above the earths’ equator. For an observer from the earth a satellite in geosynchronous orbit will seem motionless, stationary at one point in the sky).

The rocket placed the satellite in sub GTO with a 284 km perigee (nearest point to earth) and 22,020 km apogee (farthest point from the earth). The satellite was raised to 36,000 km apogee from 22,020 km.

The satellite will be useful for various communication services like tele-education, tele-medicine and for village resource centre.

The GSAT-12 satellite is also expected to serve the Very Small Aperture Terminal (V-SAT) sector. VSATs are used to transmit data like point of sale transactions or to provide satellite internet access.

The satellite will augment transponder capacity of Indian National Satellite (Insat) system which at present comprises of eight satellites — Insat-2E, Insat-3A, Insat-3C, Insat-3E, Insat-4A, Insat-4B (working at 50 percent capacity) Insat-4CR and GSAT-8 providing 175 transponders in the S, C, extend C and Ku bands.

The Indian space agency has leased 86 more transponders from various foreign satellites. It is estimated there is an unmet demand for 170 transponders.

ISRO used its third PSLV rocket variant – PSLV-XL – with longer strap-on motors with higher fuel capacity – to put the latest communication satellite in the space.

The other two rocket variants are the PSLV standard with 11.3 metres six strap-on motors and the PSLV Core Alone (CA) rocket without the six strap-on motors.

This is the second time ISRO has launched a rocket with this specification. The earlier one was for the Chandrayaan moon mission.

This is also only the second time ISRO is using a PSLV rocket for launching a satellite to be finally placed in geostationary orbit. The first satellite was Kalpana-1 (originally named as Metsat), a meteorological satellite launched in 2002.

The PSLV has an excellent success record since 1994, launching many Indian and foreign satellites.

ISRO planned to launch remote sensing satellite – Megha-Tropiques later this year.

CURRENT AFFAIRS 2011 NATIONAL

JANUARY 2010

C.R. Rao, statistician gets the Indian Science Award declared in connection with the 97th Indian Science Congress being held in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Lokmanya Tilak national journalism award is conferred on the Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu N. Ram in Pune

Ashok Leyland unveils ‘Hybus’ the nation’s first plug-in CNG hybrid bus at the 10th Auto Expo in New Delhi.

India and Bangladesh sign five pacts to add thrust to ties following talks between Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and Sheikh Hasina Wajed

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh calls for the creation of “solar valleys” in India launching the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission or ‘Solar India’, at the Solar Energy conclave 2010 in New Delhi.

President Pratibha Patil presents the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2009 to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

The millennium’s longest annular solar eclipse covers a swathe of 1,000 km and the 11-minute spectacle enthrals millions. In Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram, it began at 11-14 a.m. and ended a little after 3 p.m

India and Malaysia sign an extradition treaty, an MoU, on higher education after talks between Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and Mohammad Najib Tun Abdul Razak

Padma Vibhushan for former RBI Governor, Y.V. Reddy, Prathap C. Reddy, Nobel laureate Venkataraman Ramakrishnan, Umayalpuram Sivaraman, Ebrahim Alkazi and Zohra Segal. Padma Bhushan for Ilaiyaraja, A.R. Rahman, Aamir Khan, Bipan Chandra and 39 others. Resul Pookutty, Virender Sehwag, Venu Srinivasan, Saina Nehwal among 81 Padma Shri awardees.

Eight litterateurs are presented the first Tagore Literature Awards 2009 instituted by Sahitya Akademi and Samsung Electronics, in New Delhi.

President Pratibha Patil inaugurating the diamond jubilee fete of the Election Commission of India.

India, South Korea sign four pacts, including one on peaceful uses of outer space after talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Lee Myung-bak

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gives nod for National Tobacco Control Programme.

FEBUARY 2010

The government constitutes a five-member committee under Justice Srikrishna on the Telangana issue.

P. Sainath, Rural Affairs Editor of The Hindu is given the Bharat Asmita national award for using the mass media for public awakening at a function in Pune. He shares it with film and theatre director Jabbar Patel

Uttarakhand bans Bt Brinjal, the genetically modified crop.

Agni III, a long range surface-to-surface ballistic missile is successfully launched from the Wheeler Island off Orissa.

The Environment Ministry imposes moratorium on the release of the transgenic brinjal hybrid developed by Mayco, a subsidiary of global seed giant Monsanto.

Russian director Alexander Gutman’s 17 August wins the Golden Conch for the Best Documentary at the 11th Mumbai International Film Festival of Documentary, Animation and Short Films. Umesh Kulkarni’s The Spell is adjudged the best fiction film.

India and Turkey unveil a joint declaration accepting the need for a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. Issue joint declaration on S & T.

India signs a “declaration” on civilian nuclear cooperation with the U.K. in New Delhi.

Renowned Hindustani vocalist Pandit Jasraj, veteran film actor Shreeram Lagoo and danseuse Yamini Krishnamurti among six personalities to be awarded with Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship

India offers a 250-million line of credit to Nepal following talks between Nepalese President, Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh in New Delhi

The Supreme Court sets up a fire-member empowered committee to go into all issues concerning the Mullaiperiyar dam.

The Supreme Court appoints the former Chief Justice of India A.S. Anand as the Chairman of the Empowered ComShyam Saran, the Special Envoy of the Prime Minister on Climate Change quits.mittee on Mullaperiyar issue

The Union Cabinet gives nod for a new pact with the U.S. on Agriculture Cooperation and Food Security

Sanskriti Express a special train to mark Rabindranath Tagore’s 150th birth Anniversary; ‘Karmabhoomi trains’ and special tourist trains, ‘Bharat Tirth’ are among highlights.

Maqbool Fida Hussain, India’s most celebrated artist gets Qatar Nationality.

A sum of Rs.66,100 crore is provided for rural development and allocation for defence goes up to Rs.1,47,344 Crore in the Union Budget for 2010-11.

National Social Security fund for unorganised sector on the anvil

MARCH 2010

The 108th Constitution Amendment Bill (Women’s Reservation Bill) is tabled in the Rajya Sabha amid bedlam

The Permanent Residents (Women’s Disqualification) Bill is introduced in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council

The Rajya Sabha votes to amend the Constitution to reserve one-third of seats in Parliament and the State Assemblies for women, after three hours of debate. The RJD withdraw’s support to the government.

The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, inaugurates the world’s first green legislature building, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly-Secretariat Complex on the Omandurar Government Estate in Chennai

Cabinet nod for National Accreditation Regulatory Authority for Higher Educational Institutions Bill, 2010, and the Educational Tribunals Bill 2010.

Clearance for proposal to amend Anti-Hijacking Act of 1982 to include the death penalty.

Veteran cinematographer V.K. Murthy is presented the Dada Saheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award at the 55th National Film Awards 2008 in New Delhi. Upendra Limaye gets best actor award for role in Marathi film Jogva. Priyanka Chopra bags best female actor honours for role in Fashion.

The vertical launch of Brahmos Missile is carried out successfully off the Orissa coast

The Supreme Court stays mining by the Obulapuram Mining Company in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh owned by Karnataka Ministers G.Janardhan Reddy and G.Karunakara Redd

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan inaugurates the second phase of the Bandra-Worli sealink which becomes fully operational.

Nuclear – capable, ship based Dhanush and surface-to-surface Prithivi II are testfired successfully off the Orissa coastAgni-I ballistic missile is test-fired successfully from the Wheeler Island off the Orissa coast

APRIL 2010

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 comes into effect. For the first time, education will become a constitutional right.

India launches “Census 2011”, the biggest-ever census attempted in the history of mankind. The first-ever National Population Register will also be prepared to create a biometric national database.

Asko Parpola, Professor Emeritus of Indology in the University of Helsinki, Finland is chosen for the Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi Classical Tamil Award for 2009.

The Unique Identity Number project takes a baby step with the launch of a test phase named ‘Proof of Concept’ in Medak and Krishna districts of Andhra Pradesh.

The Centre halts the HPV (Human Papiloma Virus) vaccine programme meant to prevent cervical cancer among women.

The Union Cabinet gives nod for the big ticket disinvestment in Steel Authority of India Ltd.

Indian scientists announce the first-ever detailed mapping of mycobacterium tuberculosis

The Tamil Nadu Assembly passes a resolution seeking to revive the Legislative Council

At least 120 people are killed as Nor’wester, a violent tropical storm strikes Bihar, West Bengal

The mission to put communication satellite GSAT-4 in orbit ends in fiasco after India’s own cryogenic engine in the GSLV-D3 fails to ignite and the vehicle tumbles into the sea

The Country’s first Anti Submarine Warfare Corvette, ASWC Kamorta, is launched at the Garden Reach Ship Builders & Engineers Limited in Kolkata

The Unique Identification Authority of India unveils logo (AADHAR) — the halo of the sun on the imprint of a thumb — and brand name for the 16-digit unique identification number in New Delhi

India’s first stealth frigate INS Shivalik is commissioned at the Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai

The Lok Sabha adopts the National Green Tribunal Bill, 2009, which envisages the setting up of a national tribunal exclusively to deal with environmental law

MAY 2010

Gujarat celebrates golden jubilee of the Statehood. Chief Minister Narendra Modi administers “golden pledges’ to the youth

Rajya Sabha passes a Bill for setting up the 78-member Legislative Council in Tamil Nadu.

Nod for National Green Tribunal Bill. Parliament nod for rise in gratuity limit

The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010 is introduced in the Lok Sabha amid protests

India begins year-long celebrations of Rabindranath Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary with the inaugural of an exhibition of paintings by Gurudev

The government decides to set up a Pharma-copoeia Commission for developing indigenous medicines. Nod for national defence university

The Prototype Fast Breder Reactor under construction at Kalpakkam crosses milestone as the thermal baffle is placed inside main vessel.

Agni-II Surface-to-surface ballistic missile is successfully flight tested from the Wheeler Island off the Orissa coast

The first indigenously built Light Combat Helicopter makes its inaugural flight in Bangalore

ICICI Bank acquires Bank of Rajasthan through a no-cash merger deal valued at Rs. 3,000 crore

Dr. Anil Kakodkar, former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission is presented Goa’s highest civilian award – Gomant Vibhushan Award

JUNE 2010

A National Social Security Fund for workers in the unorganised sector on the anvil.

India unveils indigenous A (H1N1) Vaccine – Vaxiflu – s, the egg-based inactivated vaccine

India and South Africa sign three pacts after a summit-level meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma,

Bharti Airtel completes a deal to buy out and Kuwait-based Zain Telecom’s African business for $10.7 billion, in the largest-ever telecom takeover by an Indian firm

India and Sri Lanka sign seven pacts. Joint Declaration issued after talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Mahinda Rajapaksa

The first World Classical Tamil Conference is inaugurated by the President Pratibha Patil in Coimbatore. The Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi Classical Tamil Award is presented to renowned Indologist Asko Parpola

The Centre deregulates petrol and goes in the partial deregulation in the case of diesel

JULY 2010

India’s first indigenous Light Combat Aircraft designed specifically for the Navy, rolls out from the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in Bangalore

The Green Action for National Dandi Heritage Initiative project (GANDHI), a Rs.25 crore scheme is launched in Dandi, Gujarat.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gives nod for the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke

‘Soleckshaw’ (solar rickshaw) solar-powered postal delivery rickshaws launched in New Delhi.

ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C 15) puts in orbit five satellites, including the tiny Studsat a pico satellite built by engineering college students of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, after a successful liftoff from Sriharikota

A supersonic interceptor missile Advanced Air Defence successfully brings down an “enemy” ballistic missile at Wheeler Island in Orissa

Orissa begins the land acquisition process for the proposed Posco-India steel project in Jagatsinghpur district.

India and Myanmar sign five agreements in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Senior General Than Shwe in New Delhi.

A pact for the supply of 57 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft to the IAF and the Navy is signed in the presence of British Prime Minister David Cameron at the HAL centre in Bangalore

India and the U.K. decide to give impetus to their security and trade ties after Manmohan Singh-David Cameron talks in New Delhi. Pact on cultural cooperation inked.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi inaugurates South East Asia’s biggest desalination plant at Minjur in Tiruvallur district

AUGUST 2010

Two merchant vessels, MSC Chitra (laden with 26,000 tonnes of oil) and MV Khalijia III collide in the Arabian Sea off the Mumbai coast resulting in a massive oil spill. Mangroves near the Elephanta Island and those near Vashi in Navi Mumbai take the hit.

The 107-year-old heritage wing of the Taj Palace and Tower Hotel in Mumbai subjected to a terror attack on November 26, 2008 reopens

Amanjot Singh and Sahil Wadhwa, students of Ryan International in Rohini, New Delhi discover the main belt asteroid named 2010 P024.

Dialogue is the only option, be it with Pakistan, Kashmiri separatists or naxalites, says the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his address to the nation on the 64th Independence Day. Announces setting up of the Norman Borlaug Institute of South Asia

The Prime Minister Manmohan singh gives nod for setting up a 17-member National Innovation Council

The Centre clears for implementation the Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls known as ‘Sabla’

Commander Dilip Dhonde of Maharashtra is awarded Shaurya Chakra for becoming the first Indian to undertake a solo circumnavigation of the globe

The Loharinag Pala hydel project under construction on the Bhagirathi near Uttarkashi in Uttarkhand to be scrapped.

Rajya Sabha passes the Nalanda University Bill

A cloned buffalo, Garima II, is born at the Karnal-based National Dairy Research Institute

The Union Government says ‘no’ to Vedanta Alumina’s $1.7 billion plan to mine bauxite in the Niyamgiri Hills of Orissa

Parliament nod for Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Bill, 2010

A five-rupee commemorative coin on Mother Teresa to mark the birth centenary celebrations is presented to President Pratibha Patil in New Delhi

Parliament adopts the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, with the Rajya Sabha approving it

SEPTEMER 2010

Brahmos Cruise missile is successfully test-fired at supersonic speed in a steep-dive mode from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, off Orissa

Homi Nusserwanji Sethna (86), the former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, who played a key role in the May 18, 1974 Pokhran nuclear explosion dies at his home in Mumbai.

The biggest India-Pakistan transfer of 442 civilian prisoners (which began on Aug.31) is completed

Union Cabinet recommends the revocation of President’s rule in Jharkhand

Veteran filmmaker Daggubati Ramanaidu is chosen for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2009

The Union Sports Minister M.S.Gill, launches a song ‘Shera’ for the Common wealth Games, in New Delhi

Irom Sharmila on a fast-unto-death since November 4, 2000, demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Manipur is presented the Rabindranath Tagore Award 2010

The IAF’s gigabyte digital information grid — the AFNET (Air Force Network) is dedicated to the nation by the Defence Minister, A.K. Antony, in New Delhi

The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research to fund a Rs.2-crore proposal to build a prototype gravitational wave detector

Kutty Srank, a Malayalam drama bags the best feature film award at the National Film Awards Festival for 2009 in New Delhi. Amitabh Bachchan gets best Actor award for his role in Paa

An award in the name of the ‘queen of song’ The Hindu Saregama M.S. Subbulakshmi Award’ is instituted in Chennai

Divya Ajith Kumar of Chennai becomes the first woman in the history of the Indian Army to receive the “Sword of Honour’ for the best cadet passing out of the OTA, St. Thomas Mount

Malayalam litterateur O.N.V. Kurup and Urdu poet Aklaq Khan Shahryar are chosen for the Jnanpith Award for 2007 and 2008 respectively

One thousand artistes perform Bharatanatyam as part of the Millennium Celebrations of the Big Temple, Thanjavur.

The release of a special postal stamp and a five rupee coin mark the conclusion of the five-day-long celebration on the Thanjavur Big Temple Millennium

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee launches ‘Swavalamban,’ a pension scheme for unorganised sector workers, in Murshidabad district, West Bengal

Three women among nine scientists chosen for the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize 2010

Veteran actor Shreeram Logoo, danseuse Yamini Krishnamurti and musician Lalgudi G. Jayaraman are among a host of artistes honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi fellowships, awards for 2009

India offers $500 million credit line to Mozambique after talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the visiting President Armando Guebuza in New Delhi. Three pacts inked

OCTOBER 2010

Aruna Roy, political and social activist, is presented the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration, Academic and Management by the President Pratibha Patil, in New Delhi.

The Union Cabinet approves the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill.

Music director A.R. Rahman and the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, Chhattisgarh are jointly chosen for the 25th Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for the year 2009.

The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure gives nod for the proposal to build a Mega Container Terminal at the Chennai Port.

The biggest ever Commonwealth Games end on a dazzling note. India bags 101 medals.

Nod for Neutrino Observatory project in the Bodi West Hills in Theni district in Tamil Nadu.

Coal India’s initial public offer opens for public subscription.

India launches the National Green Tribunal to be headed by former Supreme Court Judge Lokeshwar Singh Panta.

The Union Cabinet gives nod for The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Second Bill, 2010

Nod for Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana, a monetary scheme for pregnant women and lactating mothers.

President Pratibha Patil presents the Dada Saheb Phalke Award to D. Ramanaidu at the 57th National Films Award 2009 function in New Delhi. Pasanga bags the Rajat Kama for the best Tamil film

The National Advisory Council reaches consensus on a universal food security system with legal guarantees

India and Bangaladesh sign a $ 1 billion Line of Credit agreement

Narmada Bachao Andolan completes 25 years. in New Delhi.

NOVEMBER 2010

Manu Joseph bags The Hindu Best Fiction Award for his debut novel Serious Men

The Union Cabinet gives nod for the Protection of Women against sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill, 2010

Mumbai a symbol of incredible energy and optimism that defines India, says the U.S. President Barack Obama commemorating the 26/11 terror attack at the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers.

The outgoing Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is chosen for the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2010

‘Sabla’ or Rajiv Gandhi’s Scheme for Adolescent Girls’ is launched in New Delhi

Huge oil spill as two cargo ships collide on the Hooghly river at Nurpur in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district

India launches the Mobile Number Portability service, with Union Minister Kapil Sibal making it available from Rohtak, Haryana.

The 9900 MWe Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project in Maharashtra gets environmental clearance

DECEMBER 2010

The Union Cabinet gives nod for India-Sri Lanka ferry service

The Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill is tabled in the Lok Sabha.

Bengali filmmaker Gautam Ghose’s “Moner Manush” (The Quest) bags the Golden Peacock Award for Best Film at the 41st IFFI 2010, in Panaji, Goa

India, France sign seven pacts, including five in the area of nuclear energy, presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Nicolas Sarkozy in New Delhi.

Actor Saroja Devi is selected for the NTR National Award for 2009. Media baron Ch. Ramoji Rao gets the Nagi Reddy and Chakrapani National Award.

The Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill, 2010 is introduced in Lok Sabha.

Satyanand Mishra is chosen the next Chief Information Commissioner

India and China sign 50 deals worth $16 billion in the presence of the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in New Delhi. China-India Friendship Award for nine persons

Sachin Tendulkar creates history by becoming the first batsman to score 50 Test centuries during his unbeaten knock at Centurion in South Africa

The former Union Minister M.P. Veerendra Kumar and Tamil writer Nanjil Nadan among this year’s Sahitya Akademi winners

India and Russia sign the contract for the preliminary design of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft after talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Dmitry Medvedev, in New Delhi. Twentynine other pacts inked

The launch of the GSLV-F06 from Sriharikota ends in a failure

‘Jal Hans,’ the nation’s first seaplane service is launched at the Juhu aerodrome in Mumbai.

The Srikrishna Committee on the Telangana issue submits report

The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal II grants highest share to Andhra Pradesh.