management.
India Tops ‘Born to Die same Day’ List
On
7 May According to the humanitarian organization Save the Children
charity in an annual report entitled “State of the World’s Mothers
,India tops the list of babies that die on the day they are born.India
has the dubious distinction of recording the most first-day deaths of
children.Every year, 3,09,000 children die on the day they are born in
India. It accounts for 29% of all the first-day deaths globally, the
highest for any country.India is followed on this grim list by Nigeria
(89,700 deaths, or 9 percent); Pakistan (59,800, or 6 percent); China
(50,600, or 5 percent); and Democratic Republic of Congo (48,400, or 5
percent).
Finland Top Ranked in World To Be a Mother
On
8 May According to the annual report called ‘State of World’s Mothers
2013′ was issued by an international NGO “Save the Children” , Finland
has topped the list of countries where mothers enjoy the best conditions
in the world, while India ranks a low 142nd, below China and
Pakistan.The US places 30th this year while Pakistan was 139th on the
list. China ranked at the 68th place.The top ten countries attained very
high scores for mothers’ and children’s health, educational, economic
and political status.The report was featured by a ranking list of
Mothers’ index, showing the conditions of mothers in 176 countries
.Among the reviewed countries, Finland was ranked the best country for
being mothers followed by Sweden, Norway, Iceland while Democratic
Republic of Congo was considered to be the toughest place.
Karnataka, Israel Signed Bilateral Agreement
On
8 May Israel and the Indian state of Karnataka have signed an R&D
cooperation agreement. This is the first-ever such agreement between
Israel and an Indian state. The agreement aims to further bilateral
business, technology, and economic relations and sees Israel benefiting
from Karnataka’s human resources and the Indian state benefitting from
Israel’s innovations.
India Tops Cervical Cancer Deaths
On
10 May According to the Cervical Cancer Global Crisis Card report
released by the Cervical Cancer-Free Coalition, with nearly 73,000 women
dying every year, India now tops the world in cervical cancer deaths
.India represents 26.4 per cent of all women dying of cervical cancer
globally, with China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia and Thailand also
showing high death incidence.The cervical cancer kills an estimated
275,000 women every year .Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) report in
2009 the number of cervical cancer cases were 101938 which has increased
to 107690 in 2012.It is being estimated that the number of cervical
cancer cases and deaths are estimated to increase by 2025 to 203,757 and
115,171, respectively.
Britain launched Super Priority Visa Service for Travellers from India
On
12 May 2013, Britain launched super priority same-day visa service for
urgent travellers from India. Britain launched this kind of service
first time for India only . The super priority visa service was
announced by British Prime Minister David Cameron during his visit to
India in February 2013.
Google signs MoU to train engineering students in Andhra Pradesh
On
May 14,Google India Private Limited signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Andhra Pradesh government to train
engineering students of Jawahar Knowledge Centres (JKC) in latest
technologies like mobile and cloud computing.The MoU was signed between
the IT minister and Nelson Mattos, vice president (Europe & Emerging
Markets), Google Hyderabad. Google will also train the trainers/mentors
of AP Society for Knowledge Networks (APSFKNW) and provide required
software, services and training material free of cost.
India and Netherlands Signed MoU on Urban Planning
On
14 May India and Netherlands signed on a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) for Technical Cooperation in the field of Spatial Planning, Water
Management, and Mobility Management .The agreement was signed by Kamal
Nath, Minister for Urban Development & Parliamentary Affairs, and Ms
Melanie Schultz van Haegen, Minister for Infrastructure and
Environment, Netherlands
UN General Assembly Approved Syria Resolution
On
15 May The U.N. General Assembly approved an Arab-backed resolution
calling for a political transition in Syria and condemning President
Bashar al-Assad Government for its increasing use of heavy weapons. A
majority of 107 states voted to adopt the resolution. There were 12
votes against and 59 abstentions.Russia was fiercely opposed to the
resolution, termed it as unbalanced and inadequate to address adequately
atrocities allegedly committed by rebel groups.The resolution was
drafted by Arab states who have supported the rebels.India abstained
from voting on the non-binding resolution on Syria.Pakistan voted in
favour of the resolution.
India Granted Observer Status in Arctic Council
On
15 May India granted observer status in the Arctic Council was
successful along with that of five other countries, China, Italy, Japan,
South Korea and Singapore at a meeting in Kiruna, Sweden.The council is
made up of the eight Arctic nations are Canada, Denmark, Finland,
Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States.This membership
will give India chances of navigation and oil and gas exploration.The
European Union also applied as an observer, but its final status
remained unresolved pending resolution of a dispute with Canada over
trade in seal products.
India, UK Signed Agreement on Health Sector
On
19 May India and Britain have signed an agreement for cooperation in
the health sector with specific focus on strengthening primary health
care and technological development.The agreement was signed by Union
Minister of Health & Family Welfare India, Ghulam Nabi Azad and
Secretary of State for Health, UK, Jeremy Richard Hunt.
Indians Largest Foreign Born Group in London
On
20 May According to the Oxford University’s Migration Observatory
latest study report , Indians have become the largest foreign-born group
in London, followed by residents born in Poland and Ireland.Migration
Observatory, 262,247 persons born in India were living in London in
2011, which represents 8.8 per cent of all foreign-born residents in
London.This accounts for 37.8 per cent of all residents that had been
born in India resident in England and Wales in 2011.Other important
foreign-born groups in London, with more than 100,000 residents, include
those born in Ireland (129,807), Nigeria (114,718), Pakistan (112,457)
and Bangladesh (109,948).
India – China Signed 8 Agreements
On
20 May India and Chine signed eight important agreements covering a
wide range of issues like trade, culture and water resources. The
agreements were finalised after delegation-level talks between Indian
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese counterpart Le Keqiang.
The list of eight agreements/memoranda of undrstanding (MoUs):-
(i)
Protocol between India’s external affairs ministry and China’s foreign
affairs ministry on Indian Official Pilgrimage (the Kailash Mansoarovar
Yatra) to the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
(ii)
Work Programmes of the Three Working Groups under Joint Economic Group
(JEG) between India’s commerce and industry ministry and China’s
commerce ministry.
(iii)
MoU on Buffalo meat, fishery products and Agreement on feed and feed
ingredients between Indis’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products
Export Development Authority and The Marine Products Export Development
Authority and Export Inspection Council and China’s General
Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine
(AQSIQ).
(iv) MoU between
India’s urban development ministry and China’s National Development and
Reform Commission (NDRC) on cooperation in sewage treatment.
(v) MoU between India’s water resources ministry and NDRC on cooperation in water-efficient irrigation.
(vi)
MoU between the external affairs ministry and China’s State
Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television
(SAPPRFT) on cooperation in mutual translation and publication of works,
both classic and contemporary.
(vii)
MoU between the water resources ministries of both countries for
provision of hydrological information by China to india on the
Yaluzangbu/Brahmaputra River during the flood season.
(viii)
MoU between the foreign ministries of both countries to promote
cooperation and linkages between the cities and states/provinces of the
two countries.
Visa on Arrival facility to passengers travelling through RGIA
The
central government has extended Visa-On-Arrival facility to
international passengers travelling through Rajiv Gandhi International
Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad managed by the GMR Group.Visitors from 11
countries will be eligible to get a VoA from May 31 at RGIA.The Centre
had introduced an Indian tourist VoA scheme on January 1, 2010 at
certain airports which was initiated for citizens of five countries.
Subsequently, a year later, the facility was extended to a total of 11
countries viz Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Singapore,
Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia.
US Senate Committee Approves Immigration Reform Bill
On
22 May The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a massive
immigration reform bill that grants 11 million undocumented immigrants
currently living in the country an earned path to citizenship.The
legislation was passed by a vote of 13 to 5 with three Republicans
joining 10 Democrats to approve it.The bill, which requires major
advances in border security and expansion of a comprehensive e-verify
system for employers before any undocumented worker is allowed to pursue
citizenship, will need 60 votes to pass the 100-seat Senate.
US and India Pledge To Collaborate on Combating Terrorism
On
22 May The US has pledged to collaborate with India on developing
global approach to combat increasing terror threats and asked
international community to take effective steps to eliminate sanctuaries
and infrastructure that support terrorism.After talks between Home
Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet
Napolitano, a joint communique said the two countries also agreed to
enhance bilateral co-operation to combat terror financing and currency
counterfeiting.
India, Japan to speed up talks on civil nuclear deal
On
29 May 2013,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Japanese counterpart,
Shinzo Abe decided to speed up talks on a civil nuclear deal to allow
Japan to export nuclear reactors to India and to bolster maritime
security cooperation at a time when China’s postures in the seas of the
regional have caused concerns.A joint statement issued at the end of
exhaustive talks between Singh and Abe said the two Prime Ministers
reaffirmed the importance of civil nuclear cooperation between the two
countries, while recognising that nuclear safety is a priority for both
governments.In this context, they directed their officials to accelerate
the negotiations of an Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses
of Nuclear Energy towards an early conclusion
India and Thailand sign extradition treaty
On
30 May 2013,in a major boost to bilateral security cooperation, India
and Thailand signed the much awaited extradition treaty after 20 years
of negotiations.The MoU was signed by External Affairs Minister Salman
Khurshid and Thai Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Surapong
Tovichakchaikul.The treaty was signed in the presence of Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh and his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra.The treaty
provides the legal framework for seeking extradition of fugitive
offenders, including those involved in terrorism, transnational crimes
and economic offences among others.The two countries totally signed on
seven pacts. They are extradition, education,financial intelligence
mapping , geospatial technology applications , investigation of persons
suspected of money laundering and criminal activity related to money
laundering and terrorism financing.
UNESCO Declares Nicobar Islands as World Biosphere Reserve
On
31 May The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation (UNESCO) has declared and designated the Nicobar Islands in
India as a world biosphere reserve .The International Coordinating
Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme added the Nicobar
Islands to the list of eleven other sites which are designated as world
biosphere reserves.Great Nicobar now 9th Indian reserve in Unesco world
network.Member countries establish such reserves. UNESCO recognizes them
under the programme to promote sustainable development based on local
community efforts and sound science.
NATIONAL
National Urban Health Mission Approved By Cabinet
On
1 May The Union Cabinet approved the launch of the National Urban
Health Mission (NUHM) to reduce rates of infant mortality, maternal
mortality and for universal access to reproductive health care.The cost
of the National Urban Health Mission for 5 years is 22507 crore rupees
and the Central government will share 16955 crore rupees.The mission
will be implemented in 779 cities and towns each with the population of
more than 50,000 has expected to cover about 7.75 crore people.The
Cabinet also gave its nod to a bill which provides for confiscating
property illegally acquired by corrupt public servants.
19.57 lakh Hectares of Forest Land Encroached
On
1 May According to the latest figures compiled by the Ministry of
Environment and Forests reveal that unchecked encroachment on forest
land is on the rise.According to the figures, over 19.57 lakh hectares
of forest land is under encroachment in various parts of the
country.Madhya Pradesh tops the list with 4.87 lakh hectares under
encroachment. Followed by Assam (3.30 lakh ha), Andhra Pradesh (2.57
lakh ha) and Maharashtra (1.83 lakh ha).
Mobile subscribers largest in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
The
country’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, accounts for the largest
number of mobile subscribers in the country followed by Tamil Nadu,
Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, which together account for almost
half of the total wireless connections.India, which is the world’s
second largest mobile phone market in terms of subscribers, had a total
of 861.66 million mobile connections as on February 2013, data from
telecom regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
showed.Uttar Pradesh has a total of 121.60 million mobile phone
connections, while, Tamil Nadu has 71.81 million subscribers, according
to the TRAI data.Maharashtra is at the third position, with a subscriber
base of 67.73 million followed by Andhra Pradesh and Bihar at 64.12
million and 60.73 million, respectively.
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant got Approval for Operations by the Supreme Court of India
On
06 May, the Supreme Court of India directed that the Kudankulam nuclear
plant situated in Tamil Nadu could start its operations now. A bench of
Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra issued the directions to the
government on safety as well as security of the plant, along with its
operations.
Govt Sets Up 39 Special NIA Courts Across The Country
On
7 May Minister of State for Home R P N Singh announced in the
Parliament that under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, the
central government has set up the 39 special courts to take up
terror-related cases.
Cabinet Approved Gandhi Heritage Sites Mission
On
16 May The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of the Gandhi
Heritage Sites Mission with the objective of conserving and restoring
the heritage sites associated with ‘Father of the Nation’.Gandhi
Heritage Sites Mission will be assigned with the identification,
collation and assessment of the information on Gandhi Heritage material,
its management and deployment.
India’s First Yoga University in Gujarat
On
23 May Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the country’s
first yoga university in Ahmedabad.Lakulish Yoga University, established
by Life Mission Trust of Gujarat, is claimed to be the first ever such
private sector self-financed institution in the country.
STATES
Congress Won in Karnataka Assembly Elections
On
8 May Congress has won 121 seats of the 223 seats on which polls were
contested in Karnataka Assembly Elections , the elections were held on 5
May 2013. The ruling BJP and the JD-S won 40 seats each.The Karnataka
Janata Party led by former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa bagged a mere
six seats.The assembly has 224 elected and one nominated members. The
election took place for 223 seats.
Tamil Nadu Bans Gutka Products
On
8 May The Tamil Nadu government banned the production, possession,
distribution and sale of tobacco products such as pan masala and gutka
in the state.Tamilnadu Government had constituted a separate department
‘Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Medical Administration,’ after the Centre
announced the Food Safety and Standards Act.
Cabinet Approved 2 Major Ports in West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh
On
9 May the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the proposal
of the Ministry of Shipping for setting up of two major ports.The ports
will come up in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh each, through a
Public-Private-Partnership mode. As per the proposal, one port will be
developed at Dugarajapatnam, Nellore district, in Andhra Pradesh and
second port will come up at Sagar Island in West Bengal.
CONFERENCES
ADB’s 46th Annual Meeting Held in New Delhi
46th
Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Governors,
held in Delhi, India, from 2 to 5 May 2013.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and ADB member board of directors and
related financial institutions were attended the meeting.Asian
Development Bank (ADB) announced that it is going to provide about 6
billion dollars loan to India over the next three years which was
decided at the concluding day of the 46th annual meeting of the funding
agency.
AWARDS & HONOURS
Indian Wildlife Biologist Aparajita Datta Honoured with the Whitley Award 2013
On
2 May An Indian wildlife biologist Dr. Aparajita Datta was honoured
with the Whitley award, also known as Green Oscar, in London . Aparajita
Datta, the Indian wildlife biologist was conferred with the award by
Princess Anne, daughter of Queen Elizabeth, at the Royal Geographical
Society in London for her efforts in order to save the endangered
hornbills in Eastern Himalayas.Aparajita Datta is the head of the
program for conservation of the hornbills in dense tropical forests of
Arunachal Pradesh, at Nature Conservation Foundation. The tropical
forests of Arunachal Pradesh are an abode to five hornbill species.
Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi Awarded with ‘ Judy Wilkenfeld ‘
On
2 May An Indian doctor of Mumbai’s Tata Memorial Hospital has been
awarded with the prestigious Judy Wilkenfeld Award for International
Tobacco Control Excellence for his innovative efforts in reducing
tobacco consumption in India.He received the award by the ‘Campaign for
Tobacco Free Kids’ on at a function in Washington.
Indian Police Unit in Congo Gets UN medal
On
17 May An Indian police unit in the Democratic Republic of Congo has
received the United Nations Peacekeeping Medal.The 135 Indian Formed
Police Unit-2 (FPU) was honoured with the medal as an appreciation for
their service in Goma/North Kivu.
Malala Yousufzai Selected For Prestigious Global Leadership Award
On
20 May Teenager Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, who was shot at
last year by the Taliban for advocating education of girls, has been
selected for the prestigious Global Leadership Award this year.Malala
will receive the award for her role as a global activist in advocating
for educating and empowering girls worldwide.She was targeted for her
outspoken views and advocacy on behalf of girls’ education.
Indian-American Girl Won America’s Top Young Scientist Award
On
20 May An Indian-American girl has invented a super-capacitor device
that could potentially charge a cellphone in less than 20 seconds. The
California teen has attracted the attention of tech giants Google for
her potentially revolutionary invention which charges a phone in 20
seconds flat.The super-fast charging device has been dubbed a
supercapacitor by 18-year-old Esha Khare, of Saratoga – as she took home
$50,000 from the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.
American Writer Lydia Davis won ” 2013 Man Booker International Prize “
On
22 May American writer Lydia Davis won 2013 Man Booker International
Prize for her innovative and influential writing.This was the fifth Man
Booker International Prize.Lydia Davis is a professor of creative
writing at the University of Albany. She is also an accomplished
translator. Her works include ‘The End of the Story’ and ‘Varieties of
Disturbance’.The Man Booker International Prize recognises one writer
for his or her achievement in fiction.Worth 60000 ponds, the prize is
awarded every two years to a living author who has published fiction
either originally in English or whose work is generally available in
translation in the English language.
Carole King Became the First Woman to Receive Gershwin Prize
US
singer-songwriter Carole King became the first woman to receive the
Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.The President of
America, Barack Obama conferred upon her, the Gershwin Prize that is
given as a lifetime achievement in popular music.
APJ Abdul Kalam Received “Wernher Von Braun” Memorial Award
On
24 May United States based National Space Society’s (NSS) has conferred
“Wrenher von Braun” Memorial Award upon former president APJ Abdul
Kalam in San Diego .The award was conferred upon Kalam at International
Space Development Conference. It was instituted by NSS, a non-profit
organization and is dedicated to the creation of spacefaring
civilization.The honour is given to recognize excellence in management
and leadership in a space-related project, where the project holds
significance.
Biological clock scientists share Shaw Prize
On
28 May ,three scientists whose groundbreaking studies using fruit flies
helped to uncover the workings of the human biological clock were named
the winners of the $1 million Shaw Prize .US scientists Jeffrey Hall,
Michael Rosbash and Michael Young received the award “for their
discovery of molecular mechanisms underlying circadian
rhythms”.Biological rhythms govern behaviour in plants, animals and
humans, from flowers opening during the day and closing at night, to
sleep patterns and the effect of jet lag.
SPORTS & GAMES
PV Sindhu won Malaysian Badminton Grand Prix Title
On
4 May,India’s shuttler PV Sindhu won Malaysian Badminton Grand Prix
title after winning Malaysia Open women’s final match.In the final, top
seed Sindhu defeated lower seed, Gu Juan of Singapore.This is the first
Grand Prix title in her Career.
Aamir Won Asian Squash Championship Title
On
5 May Pakistan`s top seeded player, Aamir Atlas Khan won the Asian
Squash individual championship for the first time in 14 years after he
defeated Kuwait`s Abdullah Al Mezayan in straight sets in
Islamabad.Pakistan had last won the Asian individual title in 1998, but
since then has only been able to win the Asian team title in the last
Asiad.
Ronnie O’Sullivan Won World Snooker Championship
On
7 May Ronnie O’Sullivan claimed his fifth World Snooker Championship
crown after defeated Barry Hawkins at the Crucible in
Sheffield.O’Sullivan is now a five-time Crucible champion after his wins
in 2001, 2004, 2008 and 2012 to move within one of Steve Davis and Ray
Reardon and two behind Stephen Hendry in the all-time list.
India Bagged 2 Silver and 7 Bronze Medals in Commonwealth Championship
India
on 10 May 2013 finished their candidature in the tournament with a
record haul of 2 Silver and 7 Bronze in the 19th Commonwealth Table
Tennis Championships that concluded in New Delhi.
Men’s Singles :- Zhan Jian (Singapore) won the title after defeated Li Hu from Singapore in the final at New Delhi
Women’s Singles :- Mo Zhang (Canada) won the Women’s Singles title after defeated Yu Mengyu (Singapore) in the final.
Alonso Won Spanish Grand Prix Title
On
12 May Fernando Alonso of Spain won the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona
.Kimi Raikkonen second, Felipe Massa secured third position.It was
Alonso’s second win in Barcelona ,the first coming in 2006 and his
seventh career podium on the Circuit de Catalunya.
Madrid Open Tennis Tournament 2013 Winners
Women’s
Singles :- On 12 May Serena Williams of the United States bagged her
50th career Singles title.In the final She defeated Russian Maria
Sharapova and got the title .
Men’s Singles :-Rafael Nadal from Spain won the Men’s Singles title after defeated Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in the final.
Women’s Doubles:-Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova ,Lucie Safarova won the Women’s Doubles title.
Men’s
Doubles : Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan won their fifth Mutua Madrid Open
doubles title . It was their 87th career trophy and fifth crown of the
2013 ATP World Tour season.
Barcelona Won Spanish League Title
On
12 May Barcelona won the Spanish league title (football) for the 22nd
time after closest rivals Real Madrid could only manage a 1-1 draw with
Espanyol.The title is Barca’s fourth in five seasons and the 22nd of
their history. The last team other than Barcelona or Madrid to win the
title was Valencia in 2004.Barcelona’s Lionel Messi finished the Spanish
League as the top-scorer.He has already 46 goals, 12 clear of Cristiano
Ronaldo, who finished second.
Rome Masters Tennis Tournament 2013 Winners
Women’s
Singles :- On 19 May Serena Williams (USA) won her fourth consecutive
title of the year after defeated Victoria Azarenka from Belarus in the
Rome Masters final.This is the second Rome Open title won by Serena,
before this Serena won the Rome title 11 years ago in 2002.
Men’s
Singles :- Rafael Nadal from spain claimed his seventh Rome Masters
title after defeated Roger Federar (Switzerland ) in the final
Mumbai Indians Won 2013 IPL Title
On
26 May Mumbai Indians won the Indian Premier League title for the first
time , after defeated Chennai Super Kings by 23 runs in the final at
Eden Gardens.
* Man-of-the-Match – Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians)
* Most Valuable Player – Shane Watson (Rajasthan Royals)
* Orange Cap ( (Highest Run Getters) – Michael Hussey (Chennai) : 733 Runs
* Purple Cap (Highest Wicket Takers) – Dwayne Bravo (Chennai) : 32 Wickets
* Best Youngest Player – Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals)
* Fair Play Award – Chennai Super Kings
* Best catch of the season – Gurkeerat Mann Singh (Kings Eleven Punjab)
Rosberg Won Monaco Grand Prix Title
On
26 May The Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg won the Monaco Grand Prix
title.Rosberg’s team-mate Lewis Hamilton dropped from second to fourth
after losing out through the safety car.Force India’s Adrian Sutil took
fifth from McLaren’s Jenson Button.
China Won Sudirman Cup In Badminton
On
26 May China won their fifth consecutive Sudirman Cup and ninth
overall, after defeated South Korea.At the Putra Stadium China’s World
No. 1 Xu Chen and Ma Jin defeated their South Korean opponents Ko Sung
Hyun and Kim Ha Na in straight games in the mixed doubles.In men’s
singles, China’s Chen Long defeated South Korean Lee Dong Keun .In men’s
doubles Chinese Liu Xiaolong and Qiu Zihan defeated South Korean
players Ko Sung Hyun and Lee Yong Dae.Huser Ayla, of Switzerland won
the Women’s Singles after defeated Rankin Anna, from New Zealand
Sudirman Cup is the world mixed team badminton championship which takes
place every two years.
ECONOMY
RBI Cuts Repo Rate By 25 Basis Points
On
3 May The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced the policy repo rate
under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) by 25 basis points, from
7.5 percent to 7.25 per cent with immediate effect as part of its annual
monetary policy statement 2013-14.The reverse repo rate under the LAF
also stands adjusted to 6.25 per cent. The RBI took this step to boost
flagging economic growth.The cash reserve ratio (CRR) of scheduled banks
has however been retained at 4 per cent of their net demand and time
liabilities.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide about 6 billion dollars loan to India
Asian
Development Bank (ADB) on 5 May 2013 announced that it is going to
provide about 6 billion dollars loan to India over the next three years
which was decided at the concluding day of the 46th annual meeting of
the funding agency. The bank is working on partnership strategy and is
planning to maintain the level of lending to India.It is important here
to note that India is the biggest borrower of ADB and ADB had extended a
2.4 billion dollars loan to India in 2012 across sectors like
transport, energy, commerce, industry, trade and finance.
Delhi Tops in the Creative Index Report 2013
On
6 May According to the Creative Index Report 2013 report ,Delhi has
been ranked as the most creative state in India with the greatest
potential for success in today’s creative economy. The ranking is based
on the population of creative class. This class is of individuals are
often engaged in either complex problem solving or in the generation of
new ideas, new technology, and new creative content.Chandigarh, Punjab,
Kerala, Goa, Mizoram, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, and
Maharashtra round out the top nine.
Mobile Phones To Out Number Human Population By 2014
On
12 May According to the International Telecoms Union’s (ITU) report
,The number of mobile phone subscriptions are set to outnumber the
world’s population by the end of 2014.Mobile phone subscriptions will
pass a whopping seven billion early in 2014.Currently, there are 6.8
billion mobile phone subscriptions while the world’s population is 7.1
billion. More than a third of the global population are online, the ITU
World in 2013 report also found. The Commonwealth of Independent States,
the alliance of countries formerly in the Soviet Union, is believed to
have the highest mobile penetration with 1.7 subscriptions for every
person.Africa has the least, with 63 subscriptions per 100 people.The
report also found that 2.7 billion people, almost 40 per cent of the
world’s population, are online.
Government Raises OBC Creamy Layer Income Limit to Rs 6 Lakh
On
16 May The Union Cabinet gave its approval for increase in the present
income criterion of Rs. 4.5 lakh per annum for applying the Creamy Layer
restriction throughout the country, to avail benefits of reservations
in government jobs and admissions to central educational
institutions.The decision came up in a view to increase the income
limits in tune with the increase of the consumer price index. This would
enable more people to take an advantage of reservation benefits that
are extended to OBCs. Creamy layer is the income limit beyond which OBCs
are not eligible for quotas
Gujarat Tops in Port Development Projects
On
24 May According to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of
India (Assocham) “”Ports Development in India “” report ,While 21 PPP
projects in the port sector worth over Rs.43,000 crore are under
construction, eight projects worth about Rs.14,000 crore are under
bidding.Gujarat gets first place , accounting for more than 50 per cent
of the port projects completed in India during the last Plan. It has
wrapped up 12 projects valued at Rs 12,453 crore, consolidating its
presence in the Indian maritime map.Gujarat is followed by Odisha (2nd
place) and Maharashtra (3rd place ), which account for a share of 16.9
per cent and 15.3 per cent respectively in the completed projects.Odisha
saw two projects worth Rs 4,169 crore getting completed, while
Maharashtra finished five projects worth Rs 3,772 crore.Andhra Pradesh
(4th place) and Tamil Nadu (5th place) each with three projects under
operation have garnered a share between 5-6 percent followed by Kerala
(2.8 percent).
Biocon Chief Kiran Mazumdar Shaw in Forbes Philanthropy List
On
30 May According to the Forbes Asia magazine’s list of Asia-Pacific’s
most remarkable “”givers”" , Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, P N C
Menon, Vineet Nayar and Ronnie Screwvala named in 2013 year list of
Asia-Pacific’s most remarkable givers.The annual list of Heroes of
Philanthropy is compiled by Forbes Asia magazine. It features a total of
48 persons from the Asia-Pacific region which includes countries like
China, Singapore, Hong Kong and Indonesia.Keeping into view Kiran
Mazumdar’s work on improving cancer care and her pledge to give away 75
per cent of wealth she was listed as one of the major Philanthropist.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
China Launched Zhongxing-11 Satellite
On
2 May China successfully launched a communications satellite called
Zhongxing-11 from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest Sichuan
province. The satellite was launched into its present orbit from Long
March-3B rocket.
World’s First 3D Printed Gun Successfully Fired
On
4 May The world’s first gun made with 3D printer technology has been
successfully fired in the US.The anti-gun campaigners criticised this
project, while the law enforcement of Europe is monitoring the
developments of this project.All 16 parts of the controversial gun,
called the Liberator, are made from a tough, heat-resistant plastic used
in products such as musical instruments, kitchen appliances and vehicle
bumper bars.
The new Navy patrol ship Rani Avantibayi
Indian
Coast Guard Ship ‘Rani Avantibai’, the second Inshore Patrol Vessel
(IPV) built by the Hindustan Shipyard Ltd for the Coast Guard. This was
commissioned into Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam on 9 May 2013 by Minister
of State for Defence Jitendra Singh in the presence of Director-General
of Indian Coast Guard Vice-Admiral Anurag G. ”Viranari Rani
Avantibayi” is the inshore patrol vessels (IPV) in Madhya Pradesh for
Ramgadh Coast Guard.This is used in Tracking thieves, coastal
conservation, marine disaster relief efforts.This is the first in the
series of five inshore patrol vessels (IPV) built by the Hindustan
Shipyard Limited for the Coast Guard.
MiG-29K fighter planes commissions into Navy
On
May 11,Defence Minister AK Antony commissioned warfare aircraft
MiG-29K Black Panther squadron into the Indian Navy.The commissioning
was held at INS Hansa which would be the base for Black Panther squadron
along with other fighter aircraft squadrons of Indian Navy. The
squadron initially comprising 16 aircraft would be known as IANS 303.
U.S. Launched First Unmanned Aircraft From Carrier Flight Deck
The
United States Navy launched an unmanned aircraft from a modern carrier
flight deck for the first time ever on 14 May.The unmanned aircraft was
the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator, and its first-ever
launch from a modern aircraft carrier represents how manned and unmanned
aircraft on carrier flight decks will be merged in the future.A mission
operator aboard the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) controlled X-47B,
showing off how well it works within a carrier environment. It landed
back at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland.
Rotavirus Vaccine Developed in India
India
developed a Rotavac Vaccine to eradicate the Rotavirus diarrhoea in
infants.The Government of India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and
Bharat Biotech announced positive results from a Phase III clinical
trial of a rotavirus vaccine.
First Boeing P-8I Aircraft joins Indian Navy
Indian
Naval Aviation received a major fillip with the arrival of the first of
eight Boeing P-8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti Submarine
Warfare aircraft at Naval Air Station Rajali, Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu on
15 May 13. The P-8I aircraft, based on the Boeing 737-800(NG) airframe,
is the Indian Naval variant of the P-8A Poseidon of the US Navy. The
aircraft is equipped with both foreign as well as indigenous sensors for
Maritime Reconnaissance, Anti Submarine operations and for Electronic
Intelligence missions.
Scientists Converted Human Skin Cells Into Embryonic Stem Cells
On
15 May In a major medical breakthrough, researchers at the Oregon
National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) have for the first time ever
successfully converted human skin cells into embryonic stem cells , via a
technique called nuclear transfer.Scientists for the first time
converted human skin cells into embryonic stem cells.These embryonic
stem cells are capable of transforming into any other cell type in the
human body.This technique involves transplanting the nucleus of one
cell, containing an individual’s DNA, into an egg cell that has had its
genetic material removed.
BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile Successfully Test Fired
On
22 May India successfully test fired the 290-km range BrahMos
supersonic cruise missile from Russian-built INS Tarkash off the coast
of Goa.The launch was carried out by the Navy as part of Acceptance Test
Firing (ATF) of the ship.INS Tarkash, which is an advanced Talwar Class
frigate, was commissioned on 9th November, last year.The BrahMos
missile jointly developed by India and Russia.
Indian Air Force Inducted Trainer AirCraft Pilatus PC-7
On
31 May Pilatus, PC 7 Mk II aircraft was formally inducted into the IAF
by Jitendra Singh MoS, Defence at IAF’s premier Academy located at
Dundigal, Hyderabad.This marked the first formal flight of the Basic
Trainer Aircraft over the skies at the Air Force Academy in
Hyderabad.The induction of PC-7Mk II as Basic Trainer Aircraft in Indian
Air Force is a very important landmark in our nation’s quest to
modernise its Armed Forces.
PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
Sheikh Salman is New AFC President
On
2 May Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman Ebrahim Al-Khalifa was elected as the new
president of Asian Football Confederation (AFC). He replaced disgraced
ex-leader Mohamed Hammam.
Najib sworn in Malaysia’s PM
Najib
Razak was sworn in as Malaysia’s Prime Minister for a second term on 06
May 2013 after his Barisan Nasional (BN, National Front) coalition won
133 of the 222 Parliament seats in 2013 election.Najib Razak became the
sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia in year 2009.
Roberto Azevedo Appointed as WTO new Director General
On
8 May Brazil’s Roberto Azevedo has been named as the new Director
General of the World Trade Organisation, the first Latin American to
hold the post.He will take charge of his office from Pascal Lamy of
France in the Geneva-based Body in September 2013.
Siddaramaiah Sworn in as Chief Minister of Karnataka
On
13 May Congress leader Siddaramaiah was sworn in as the 22nd chief
minister of Karnataka by the Governor H R Bharadwaj.In year 1992
Siddaramaiah was appointed as Secretary General of Janata Dal.In Year
1994 became the Minister for Finance in the Janata Dal government headed
by Deve Gowda.He served as a Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka twice,
first in 1996 when JH Patel became Chief Minister and again in 2004 when
JDS formed a coalition government with Dharam Singh.
Nirbhay Sharma Appointed Governor of Arunachal Pradesh
On
16 May Lieutenant General (retd) Nirbhay Sharma has been appointed as
Governor of Arunachal Pradesh as the term of present incumbent Gen
(retd) J J Singh ended in January 2013. He was appointed as Member of
UPSC in May 2008 and after completion of his five year stint .He was
also a part of the Airborne Assault Group, the first Indian Army Unit to
enter Dacca (Dhaka) during 1971 war.
Shashi Kant Sharma is the new CAG
On
21 May Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma was appointed as the new
Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) ,replaced outgoing Vinod
Rai.Sharma, an IAS officer from 1976 batch of Bihar cadre, has earlier
assumed various important offices during his tenure as Secretary in the
Department of Financial Services and has spent over 10 years in the
Defence Ministry in various capacities.The CAG is appointed for a term
of six years or till the incumbent attains the age of 65 years,
whichever is earlier.
Indian Origin Srinivasan Appointed as Top US Court Judge
On
23 May The United States Senate voted 97-0 to appoint Srikanth
Srinivasan as a Judge of the prestigious US Court of Appeals.It is the
highest judicial appointment to an Indian -American . Srinivasan has
become the first Indian-American to be appointed to the court.He is the
Principle Deputy Solicitor General and defends the policies of US
President Barack Obama before the Supreme Court
Radha Krishna Mathur is new Defence Secretary
On
25 May Senior IAS officer Radha Krishna Mathur has been appointed as
new Defence Secretary.He succeeds Shashikant Sharma who has taken over
as Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). A 1977-batch IAS officer of
Manipur-Tripura cadre, Mathur was serving as Secretary (Defence
Production) in the Defence Ministry.
Justice Raveendran is new NBSA Chief
On
25 May Former Supreme Court judge Justice R V Raveendran has been
appointed as the new Chairman of the News Broadcasting Standards
Authority (NBSA) , the self regulatory initiative of the News
Broadcasters Association (NBA).He succeeds justice (Retd.) J.S. Verma,
chairperson of the NBSA, who passed away on 2013 April.NBSA is an
independent redressal body set up by the News Broadcasters Association
(NBA) and has leading TV news channels as its members.
Kushal Singh Appointed as the Chairperson of NCPCR
On
27 May Mrs. Kushal Singh has been appointed as the Chairperson of
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), by the
Ministry of Women and Child Development.Mrs. Kushal Singh has held
several high level posts in the Government of Rajasthan and the Central
Government.She was the Chief Secretary, Government of Rajasthan.
PM Manmohan Singh elected to Rajya Sabha
On
30 May 2013 ,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was elected to Rajya Sabha
from Assam for fifth consecutive term.Dr Singh got 49 first preference
votes, while the second Congress candidate bagged 45 votes and All India
United Democratic Front (AIUDF)’s Aminul Islam, who polled 18 votes,
lost in the 126-member state Assembly.
B)RESIGNS
Union Railway Minister and Law Minister of India Resigned
On
10 May Union Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and Union Law Minister
of India Ashwani Kumar resigned from their posts.Railway Minister PK
Bansal resigned from his office since his nephew Vijay Singla was
arrested for his alleged involvement of bribery of 90 lakh rupees from
the Railway Board Member, with a promise of promotion. Ashwani Kumar the
Union Law Minister submitted his resignation after being into attack by
the opposition and the CBI affidavit submitted to Supreme Court for
vetting up the CBI report in the Coal Block allocation scam.
C)DEATHS
ATP chairman Brad Drewett died
Brad
Drewett(54), the former tour player who led the ATP as executive
chairman and president since January 2012 died on 3 May 2013 . He helped
in increasing the prize money at Grand Slam tournaments.
Giulio Andreotti, the former Italian Prime Minister died
On
6th May, the former Italian Prime Minister ,Giulio Andreott(94) was
dies in Rome.He was one of the most powerful figures in the politics of
the country after World War II.
Islamic scholar Asghar Ali Engineer Died
On
May 14,Leading Islamic scholar, author and activist Asghar Ali
Engineer, 74, died at his Santacruz home in Mumbai. He was born in 1940
and completed his BSc in civil engineering from Vikram University.From
1980, he edited the journal named the Islamic Perspective and during
1980s he published a series of books on Islam and communal violence in
India. His books were based on his investigations in the
post-independent India. The USA International Student Assembly and the
USA Indian Student Assembly honoured him with Distinguished Service
Award in 1987.
Bengali filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh dead
On
30 May 2013,Award-winning Indian film director Rituparno Ghosh was died
from a heart attack in the city of Calcutta.Ghosh directed 18 films in
that 12 films got national awards.Ghosh began his remarkable journey by
directing a children’s film “Hirer Angti” (“Diamond Ring”) in 1994,
which won him an immediate recognition. He shot to fame after his next
film “Unishe April” (“19 April”) won the national award in 1995.His
other award-winning films include “Dahan”, “Asukh”, “Chokher Bali”,
“Raincoat”, “Bariwali”, “Antarmahal”, “Noukadubi”, “Abohoman”,
“Chitrangada” and Amitabh Bachchan starrer “The Last Lear”.
Academic Vina Mazumdar Dead
On
30 May 2013,Noted academic and a leading figure of India’s women’s
movement, Dr Vina Mazumdar, died in New Delhi.Born in 1927 in a
middle-class Bengali household in Kolkata, she did her schooling in the
city and studied in Banaras Hindu University and Calcutta University,
before going to Oxford in 1947, soon after independence. She went back
to Oxford University later and received her D.Phil in 1962.
D)VISITORS
China Prime Minister Li Keqiang Visited India
China’s
new Prime Minister Li Keqiang’s visited India on his first foreign trip
to India from 19th to 21st May 2013 since taking his office in March
2013. During the visit he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and
discussed India-China border issues , bilateral, regional and global
issues of common interest.After the both countries signed on 8
agreements.The Chinese have also agreed to provide greater facilitation
to Indian pilgrims on the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra.
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai Visited India
Hamid
Karzai , President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan visited India
from 20-22 May, 2013.During the visit Hamid Karzai was on 20 May
conferred an honorary doctorate degree by President Pranab Mukherjee at a
professional university in Phagwara.He met Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh at New Delhi and discussed on various key bilateral and regional
issues , the situation in the region in the backdrop of Afghanistan’s
keenness to enhance defence cooperation with India and get supply of
lethal and non-lethal weapons.
E)MISCELLANEOUS
First Woman Named To FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List
On
3 May Joanne Chesimard (also known as Assata Shakur), a member of the
Black Liberation Army who killed a New Jersey state trooper 40 years ago
and has since fled to Cuba,has been named as one of the FBI’s most
wanted terrorists, making her the first woman ever to make the
list.Chesimard was convicted for killing Foerster and sentenced to life
in prison. In 1979 she escaped with the help of the Black Army
Liberation and has been on the run ever since.The U.S. Justice
Department announced a doubling of the reward for her capture to $2
million.
Ritankar Das is Century’s Youngest California University Topper
On
10 May An 18-year-old Indian-American has become the youngest graduate
topper of the prestigious University of California in more than a
century.Kolkata-born Ritankar Das, has been named as the University
Medalist, the prize which is given to the year’s top graduating
senior.Das has taken just three years to complete his studies with a
double major in bioengineering and chemical biology and a minor in
creative writing from the University of California, Berkeley.Further he
is the first student from the College of Chemistry in 58 years, and the
first ever from the Department of Bioengineering.
Sreesanth,Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were arrested
S
Sreesanth and two of his Rajasthan Royals teammates Ajit Chandila and
Ankeet Chavan were arrested by the Delhi police on charges of spot
fixing in the ongoing Indian Premier League.
First Saudi Woman Ever Climbs Mount Everest
On
18 May Raha Moharrak has become the first Saudi Arabian woman to climb
Mount Everest. Moharrak also became the youngest Arab to reach the
8,850-meter peak (29,035 feet). She was part of a group that included
the first Qatari man and the first Palestinian man to reach the summit.
Indian Sisters First Twins To Climb Mount Everest
On
19 May Two Indian girls have scripted history by becoming the first
twins ever to climb Mount Everest together.Tashi and Nancy Malik from
Dehra Dun achieved this feat by successfully reaching the world’s
highest mountain peak at 8,848 meters.The duo were among other
record-makers including the first women from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan
who climbed the Everest on 18 May.
Arunima Becomes First Indian Amputee To Scale Mt Everest
On
21 May Arunima Sinha, a former national level volleyball player who had
lost one of her legs after being thrown off a moving train by, created
history by becoming the first Indian amputee to conquer Mount Everest.
Sinha reached the 8,848 metre-high summit of the world’s highest peak as
a member of the Eco Everest Expedition from the Tata Group.Sinha, a
resident of Ambedkar Nagar in Uttar Pradesh.Arunima successfully scaled
the 6,622-metre-high Mount Chhamser Kangri of Ladakh last year, but her
ultimate goal was to climb Mount Everest.
Yuichiro Miura, Became Oldest Man to Climb Mount Everest
Yuichiro
Miura, the 80-year old mountaineer from Japan reached Mount Everest’s
summit on 23 May 2013. With this, he became the oldest man to climb the
highest mountain peak of the world. Yuichiro Miura climbed the Everest
at the age of 70 and 75 as well.
Indian-origin Boy Won National Geographic Bee Contest
On
23 May Sathwik Karnik, a 12-year-old Indian-American boy, has won the
prestigious National Geographic Bee 2013 after gruelling rounds testing
his geographic knowledge about lions in Botswana, mountain ranges in
Asia and port cities in England.To clinch the title, Karnik, 12,
correctly named Chimborazo as the mountain in Ecuador that represents
the farthest point from the Earth’s center.US.Karnik took home the
spoils of the Bee prize that include a USD 25,000 college scholarship,
an all-expenses paid trip to the Galapagos Islands, and a lifetime
membership to the National Geographic Society.
Jiroemon Kimura Becomes ‘Last Living Man Born in 19th Century’
The
oldest person in the world, Japanese Jiroemon Kimura,116 years Japanese
man became the last male of the 19th century in the world. Jiroemon
Kimura was given the title of last male alive to be born in the 19th
century after the death of Barbados in the month of May 2013 at the age
of 113 years and 90 days.Gerontolgy Research Group at University of
California, Los Angeles found out that as far as female were concerned,
there are in all 21 women born before 1 January 1901 and they are still
alive.But amongst the male, Jiroemon Kimura is the only alive person of
19th century.Jiroemon Kimura was born on 19 April 1897.
Premlata becomes the first Indian woman to complete seven summits
Asian
woman mountaineer Premlata Agrawal has become the first Indian woman
mountaineer to scale the seven continental peaks after climbing Alaska’s
McKinley Peak.With this, she became the first Indian woman mountaineer
to step on the highest peak of North America.
Arvind Mahankali Won National Spelling Bee 2013
On
31 May Arvind Mahankali, a 13-year old Indian-American won the Scripps
National Spelling Bee contest, as children from the community scripted
history by dominating the prestigious competition for the sixth year in a
row, grabbing top three slots this year.Arvind, from New York, won the
contest by correctly spelling the German word ‘knaidel’ which means a
small mass of leavened dough, overcoming his fear of German-derived
words during his past four appearances at the contest.This is the sixth
consecutive year that an Indian-American has won the contest, which was
watched live by millions of people in the United States.
PLACES IN NEWS
Cyclonic Storm ‘Mahasen’ Hits Bangladesh
On
16 May The cyclonic storm ‘Mahasen’ hit Bangladesh’s southern
Patuakhali coast with wind speed up to 90 kilometers per hour.More than
48 persons were killed as inflated waters coupled with gusts started
ravaging parts of Patuakhali alongside the other areas adjacent to the
Bay of Bengal in the region.The system is now located in the
west-central bay and is likely to intensify further, move in northeast
direction and cross the Bangladesh coast close to Chittagong.
ABBREVIATIONS
NESAC ——- North Eastern Space Applications Centre
ACTO ——– Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization
ILO ——– International Labour Organization
CNEN ——— National Commission for Nuclear Energy
CNEA ———- National Commission of Atomic Energy
IPV ———– Inshore Patrol Vessel
BWF ———- Badminton World Federation
BOOKS IN NEWS
Understanding Bhagat Singh ” by Prof. Chamanlal released
Understanding
Bhagat Singh a book by Prof. Chamanlal was released in the on 3 May
2013.Professor Randhir Singh, Eminent Thinker released the book at
School of Social Sciences (SSS- I) Auditorium, JNU in New Delhi.The book
Understanding Bhagat Singh has tried to explain the soul or spirit of
Bhagat Singh like his principle of achieving objectives with dignity,
honesty and fearlessness.
Gandhi’s Outstanding Leadership’ Book Released
On
27 May “Gandhi’s Outstanding Leadership “, written by former Indian
diplomat-turned-Gandhian Pascal Alan Nazareth, was released at the
Peking University’s Centre.Prof Shang Quanyu, a history professor with
the South China Normal University, translated the book into Madarin.
COMMITTEES
G Padmanabhan Committee on Services for the Exporters
On
6 May A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) committee recommended setting up of
the Indian Bill Payment System (IBPS) in the country.The committee
chaired by G. Padmanabhan, Executive Director, RBI, has recommended a
cap on interest margins charged by banks lending to exporters.The
committee also recommended that export credit be allowed to be a part of
priority sector lending (PSL) for all commercial banks, including
foreign banks, for a period of three to five years.
IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES
National Technology Day was Observed on 11 May 2013
National
Technology Day was celebrated on 11 May 2013 as a symbol of quest for
scientific inquiry, technological creativity and the translation of that
quest in the integration of Science, Society and Industry. This day is
also celebrated to honour technological innovations and their successful
commercialization which makes fruits of research reach people at large.
