India & World 3rd India - Republic of Korea Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue Held in Seoul

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INDIA & WORLD
3rd India Republic of Korea Foreign Policy and
Security Dialogue Held In Seoul
The 3rd India Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Policy
and Security Dialogue (FPSD) was held in Seoul on 2
September .The Indian side was led by Mr. Ashok K.
Kantha, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs
(MEA) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) side was led by
First Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Kim Kyou-
hyun.Both nations discussed ways to further expand and
deepen their Strategic Partnership. They undertook a
comprehensive review of bilateral ties, including in the
fields of economic collaboration, defense and security
cooperation, cultural exchanges and people-to-people
contacts.They agreed to step up cooperation in the
spheres of maritime and cyber security.It was agreed that
the 4th India-ROK Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue
will be held at New Delhi at a mutually convenient time
in 2014.
Government Approves India-Abu Dhabi Air Services
Agreement
The India-Abu Dhabi bilateral air services agreement,
which ran into controversy following the Jet-Etihad deal,
was approved by the Government of India on 2
September enabling their airlines to fly 50,000 seats each
week, up from the current level of 13,700.The agreement
received post-facto approval of the Union Cabinet at a
meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in
NewDelhi
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7th India-Laos Joint Commission Meeting Held In
Vientiane
The 7th India-Lao Joint Commission Meeting on bilateral
cooperation was held in Vientiane on 9 September.In the
meeting Indian side was led by External Affairs Minister
Salman Khurshid and the Laos side was led by Dr.
Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
of Foreign Affairs.An Agreement under Line of Credit for
four Irrigation Projects in three provinces in the Lao PDR
for 30.94 million US dollars was signed and conversion of
another Line of Credit to substitute the Nam Boun-2
hydro power plant by the extension of transmission lines
to Thasala-Laksao amounting to 35.25 million US dollars
was approved. The projects will contribute to socio-
economic development in Lao PDR.The two nations
identified agriculture, defence, ICT, culture, education,
health, trade and investment promotion, mining as
priority areas of cooperation between the two countries
that would give further impetus to bilateral relations.
India, Japan Signed Statement To Study LNG Pricing
India and Japan on 9 September signed a statement on
conducting a joint study on the pricing of Liquefied
Natural Gas (LNG) with an aim to form a transparent and
globally competitive LNG price in the Asia Pacific
market.Indias Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas,
Veerappa Moily and Japanese Minister for Economy,
Trade and Industry Toshimitsu Motegi signed the joint
statement in Tokyo.
India China Agreed To Enhance Cooperation In
Media Sector
India and China on 16 September have agreed to initiate
steps to include media cooperation as part of 2014
celebrations being observed to commemorate Friendly

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Exchanges between the two countries.The agreement
was a part of the first meeting of the India-China Media
Forum being held in New Delhi. The meeting took place
between Manish Tewari, Minister for Information &
Broadcasting of India and Cai Ming Zhao, Minister of
State Council Information Office of China.
India and US signed First Commercial Agreement
Under Nuclear Deal
Five years after India and the US signed a landmark civil
nuclear deal, the two countries have clinched the first
commercial agreement on civilian nuclear power
cooperation.President Barack Obama announced the
agreement on 27 September after his meeting with Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh at the White House Oval
Office.Indias nuclear operator NPCIL (Nuclear Power
Corporation of India Limited) and US firm Westinghouse
have signed an agreement that will pave the way for
setting up an atomic plant in India.

INTERNATIONAL
Tony Abbott is Australias new Prime Minister
Tony Abbott , Leader of the Liberal Party elected as the
Prime Minister of Australia on 8 October.Liberal Party
won the 44th Parliamentary elections. Liberal Party
defeated the in-power Labor Party in the general elections
held on 7 September 2013 to return back in power as the
Liberal-National coalition for the first time in six
years.With this win, Tony Abbott the leader of the
Liberal-National Coalition will become the Prime Minister
of the Country and successor of Kevin Rudd of the Labor
Party.The coalition won 88 seats in the 150 seat

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Parliament. The ruling Labor Party was successful in
winning 57 seats.
US and Russia Agreement on Removing Chemical
Weapons on Syria
The United States and Russia have on 14 September
agreed on a framework for removing chemical weapons
from Syria .The break- through was announced after
three day talks between the US Secretary of State John
Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in
Geneva.The USA and Russia have agreed that Syrias
chemical weapons must be destroyed or removed by mid-
2014. USA outlined a six-point framework under which
Syria must hand over a full list of its stockpile within a
week.
European Union Pledges 650 million euros To
Somalia
The European Union has pledged 650 million euros
($868 million) in aid to Somalia to back a three-year
reconstruction plan aimed at building on fragile security
gains in the country.International donors met in
Brussels on 16 September to approve Somalias New
Deal.International donors pledged 1.8 billion euros for
Somalia.
232 Million Global Migrants Living Abroad World Wide
On 12 September According to the new figures from the
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-
DESA) showed that 232 million people, or 3.2 percent of
the worlds population, live abroad worldwide, compared
with 175 million in 2000 and 154 million in 1990.With
more people than ever living abroad, Asia sees the largest
increase of international migrants in the past decade,

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and the US remains the most popular destination.New
figures from the UN Department of Economic and Social
Affairs (UN-DESA) showed that 232 million people, or 3.2
percent of the worlds population, live abroad worldwide,
compared with 175 million in 2000 and 154 million in
1990.The new estimates include breakdowns by region
and country of destination and origin, and by sex and
age. The north, or developed countries, is home to 136
million international migrants, compared with 96 million
in the south, or developing countries.
Egyptian Court Bans Muslim Brotherhood
The Egypt court on 23 September has banned the
Muslim Brotherhood from carrying out any activities in
the country.The court also ordered the seizure of any
assets held by the Brotherhood, estimated by the interim
military-backed government to have more than a million
members.The administrative court gave the ruling after a
lawsuit was filed by the leftist Tagammu Party to review
the Islamist groups status as a non-governmental
organisation.

NATIONAL
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Launched Gandhi
Heritage Portal In NewDelhi
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 2 September
launched the Gandhi Heritage Portal in New Delhi.The
Gandhi heritage Portal is set up to preserve, protect and
disseminate original writings of Gandhiji.The Gandhi
Heritage Portal is a technology-driven initiative aimed at
making Gandhiji accessible all over the world on an

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electronic platform. It would be one of the most authentic
open source archives on the life and work and thought of
Mahatma Gandhi.
3rd All India Survey on Higher Education Launched
On 3 September Minister of State for Human Resource
Development Jitin Prasada launched the third All India
Survey on Higher Education (AISHE)-2012-13 .The
survey was initiated in the year 2011 to prepare a robust
data-base on higher education.Data for the year 2010-11
was collected during the first year of the survey.Keeping
in view the usefulness of data collected during the very
first year, Ministry has decided to make this survey an
annual exercise of data collection in higher education
sector. The survey covers all the Higher Education (HE)
Institutions of the country including Universities,
Colleges, and Stand-Alone Institutions.The main items of
data collection under survey are Basic details,
Programme details, Teaching & Non-Teaching Staff,
Student Enrolment, Examination Results and
Scholarships.
Judicial Appointments Commission Bill Passed In
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha on 5 September passed the Judicial
Appointments Commission Bill, which seeks to scrap the
collegium system of appointing judges to higher
courts.The bill, which entails Constitutional amendment,
seeks to set up a Judicial Appointments Commission
(JAC) to recommend appointment and transfer of
Supreme Court and High Court judges.
Lok Sabha Passed Bill To Set Up First National
Aviation University

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Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University Bill, 2013 was
passed by the Lok Sabha on 6 September.The purpose of
the bill is to establish the first-ever national aviation
university in India, called Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation
University, which is named after Rajiv Gandhi. The
University would train the cabin crew, pilots as well as
aircraft engineers.The proposed university would come
up at Sonia Gandhis constituency of Rae Bareli in Uttar
Pradesh.
Cabinet Committee On Economic Affairs Approved
Proposal For Restructuring SJSRY
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 3
September approved the proposal for restructuring of the
centrally sponsored Scheme of Swarna Jayanti Shahari
Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) in the 12th Plan and as the
National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) with an
allocation of approximately Rs. 6,405 crore.The mission
of National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) is
reduction of poverty and vulnerability of the urban poor
households by enabling them to access gainful self-
employment and skilled wage employment
opportunities.The mission will also aim at providing
shelter equipped with essential services to the urban
homeless in a phased manner.
President Gave Assent To Land Acquisition Bill
The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in
Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill
2013,has received the assent of the President of India on
27 Septmeber.The bill has now become law.The Lok
Sabha passed the bill on 29 August 2013 and Rajya
Sabha passed the bill on 4 September 2013.The Right to
Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land
Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Law, 2013,

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replaces a British-era law of 1894. It provides for fair
compensation to owners whose land is taken over, brings
transparency to the process and lays down measures for
rehabilitation of those displaced.

STATES
Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Launched
New Health Initiatives For Assam
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Ghulam
Nabi Azad on 1 September launched several new health
initiatives worth Rs.500 crores under the National Rural
Health Mission (NRHM) for the strengthening of
healthcare services in Assam.The new initiatives are
Free Generic Drug Service, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya
karyakram (RBSK), National Iron Plus Initiative, Fleet of
359 New Ambulances for National Ambulance
Service.Ghulam Nabi Azad also inaugurated Mother and
Child Tracking System Call Centre and Tele-Radiology
Project under NRHM.
Himachal Pradesh Scrapped Palchan-Rohtang
Ropeway Project
Himachal Pradesh cabinet on 4 September decided to
cancel construction of Palchan-Rohtang ropeway project
in Kullu district. The proposed project was planned to
transport around 9000 visitors between Palchan and
Rohtang daily to decongest the Manali-Leh road. There is
a huge rush of tourists between May and July every year.
Kerala Government Launched E-Payment Facility
The Kerala Government has launched on 5 September an
e-payment facility system enabling people to pay

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various utility bills and access Government department
services online.The payment of Utility bills of Kerala
State Electricity Board, Kerala Water Authority, BSNL
and university fees could be done through the gateway
using credit and debit cards of 66 banks identified for the
scheme.One can avail the service at all Akshaya e-
centers of the government which would act as
decentralized information hubs and service delivery
points.
MP Government Decided To Constitute State Disaster
Emergency Response Force
The Madhya Pradesh Government on 10 September
decided to constitute a State Disaster Emergency
Response Force to deal with any calamity more effectively
and provide immediate relief to affected persons.Initially,
the State Disaster Emergency Response Force will be set
up in Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior and Jabalpur districts.100
jawans will be deployed in each of these districts.
Union Government Approved 1000 crore Proposal To
Develop J&K sports
The Union Government of India on 16 September
approved a special package 1000 crore Rupees to
strengthen sports infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir
.The objective of the special package is construction of
new stadiums and sports fields across the state.The
Jammu and Kashmir Government made a policy under
which every block in the state will be provided with both
indoor and outdoor sports complexes. Every panchayat
in the state will be provided with a sports field, and the
government will also upgrade the already available sports
equipments.

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Prime Minister Manmohan Laid The Foundation
Stone For New Airport In Rajasthan
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 21 September laid
the foundation stone for a new airport at Kishangarh
town in Ajmer District, Rajasthan.Prime Minister Dr.
Manmohan Singhon also announced that small
destinations in the country will have air connectivity with
a network of more than 100 airports, planned to meet the
expected passenger load capacity of 30 crore, by
2020.The first such airport will come up in Kishangarh
town in Rajasthans Ajmer district, the airport which is
scheduled to get operational by 2016.

CONFERENCES
8th G-20 Summit Held In Saint Petersburg
The eighth G20 Summit was held at St. Petersburg ,
Russia on 5 6 September 2013.The G20 nations
discussed ways to ensure economic growth and financial
stability, create jobs and combat unemployment,
stimulate investment and promote multilateral trade,
international development and anti-corruption. The
members of the Group of Twenty (G-20) are: Australia,
Argentina, Brazil, Great Britain, Germany, European
Union, India, Indonesia, Italy, Canada, China, Mexico,
Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, USA, Turkey, France,
South Africa, Republic of Korea, and Japan. The
presidency of the G20 rotates annually among its
members.During the summit, Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh focused on the ongoing economic crisis
and urged the G-20 nations to pay more attention to
their monetary policies.The 2014 G-20 Australia summit
will be the ninth meeting of the G-20 heads of

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government.It will be held in Brisbane, the capital city of
Queensland, Australia, on 15-16 November 2014 .In a
27-page declaration adopted at the end of the two-day
Summit , the group of 20 industrialised and major
emerging economies also reaffirmed its commitment to
roll back new protectionist measures.
Important Points of G-20 Leaders Declaration :-
* Recognising the risk of economic slowdown and
weakening trade posed by protectionism, the G20 has
decided to extend until the end of 2016 its standstill
commitment to further progress in removing barriers and
impediments to global trade and investment.
* G-20 Leaders endorsed an ambitious action plan to
change national tax rules that encourage multinational
companies to shift their profits to low- or no-tax
jurisdictions, allowing them not to pay tax on much of
their income.
* The declaration committed itself to cooperate to ensure
that policies implemented to support domestic growth
also support global growth and financial stability and to
manage their spillovers other countries.
* It noted that the most urgent need is to increase the
momentum of the global recovery, generate higher
growth and better jobs while strengthening the
foundations for long term growth and avoiding policies
that could cause the recovery to falter or promote growth
at other countries expense.
* Agreeing on the Action Plan, the leaders said cross-
border tax evasion and avoidance undermine public
finances and trust in the fairness of the tax system.
* The Summit also shared Prime Minister Manmohan
Singhs views on the need for orderly exit from the
monetary stimulus undertaken in the context of 2008
economic crisis.

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AWARDS & HONOURS
Zubin Mehta Received Tagore Award
World acclaimed orchestra conductor Zubin Mehta was
conferred the prestigious Tagore Award for Cultural
Harmony on 6 September by President Pranab
Mukherjee in New Delhi.The award carries an amount of
One Crore Rupees, a citation in a scroll, a plaque as well
as an exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item.He
is the second recipient after sitar maestro Pandit Ravi
Shankar.
Amitabh Bachchan Honoured With 2013 Global
Diversity Award
Veteran Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan was
conferred with the 2013 Global Diversity Award at the
House of Commons in the Palace of Westminster, Britain
on 11 September.Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt
Hon John Bercow MP, presented the award to Amitabh
Bachchan.Bachchan, who has acted in more than 180
films, was voted the greatest star of the millennium in a
1999 BBC poll.Frances highest civilian honour, the
Knight of the Legion of Honour, was conferred upon him
by the French Government in 2007 for his exceptional
career in the world of cinema and beyond.
Indian Freedom Fighter Gets House of Commons
Award
On 11 September An Indian freedom fighter was
posthumously conferred a Lifetime Achievement Award
at UKs House of Commons for his contribution during
Indias independence movement and its journey
afterwards.Britains Minister for Business Engagement

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with India Gregory Barker and Virendra Sharma, Chair
of the Indo-British All Party Parliamentary Group jointly
presented the award to late Jawaharlal Dardas son,
Vijay Jawaharlal Darda, MP and Chairman and Editor-
in-Chief of Lokmat, the most widely circulated Marathi
language newspaper.
John Abraham Honoured With Pride of the Nation
Award
Bollywood actor John Abraham has been conferred with
the Pride of the Nation award on 16 September for his
attempt to raise the sensitive issue of former prime
minister Rajiv Gandhis assassination through his role as
a RAW agent in Madras Cafe.The award was presented
by Anti-Terrorist Front chairman Maninderjeet Singh in
New Delhi. All-India Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF) is an
anti-terrorist organisation led by Maninderjeet Singh
Bitta.In Madras Cafe film John Abraham made a
courageous attempt to unravel the conspiracy behind the
assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. The film Madras Cafe is
set in the late 80s and early 1990s, during the time of Sri
Lankan civil war and the assassination of then Prime
Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Malala Yousafzai Received Amnesty International
Award
Pakistani education rights activist, Malala Yousafzai has
been named as the recipient of 2013 Amnesty
Internationals highest award.Malala received Amnesty
Internationals Ambassador of Conscience Award along
with American singer and human rights activist Harry
Belafonte at ceremony on 17 September in Dublin,
Ireland.The Ambassador of Conscience Award is the
human rights groups highest honour, recognizing
individuals who have promoted and enhanced the cause

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of human rights through their life and by example.She
made her first public appearance on 12 July 2013, her
16th birthday, when she delivered a speech at the United
Nations General Assembly in New York.
President of India Presented National Communal
Harmony Awards For The Year 2011 & 2012
The President of India Pranab Mukherjee presented the
National Communal Harmony Awards for the year 2011
and 2012 at a function in New Delhi.

National Communal Harmony Award for 2011: -
Odishas MD Janab Haji Abdul Bari and Mizorams
Khamliana jointly awarded for the year 2011 individual
category. Both are social activists.
National Communal Harmony Award for 2012:-
The Foundation for Amity and National Solidarity, Delhi
awarded for Organisational category. The foundation
formed in 1984.The Foundation works for spreading
amity and communal harmony.
Bunker Roy and Malala Yousafzai Received Clinton
Global Citizens Awards
India environmentalist Bunker Roy and Pakistans
teenage education activist Malala Yousafzai on 23
September 2013 declared as winners of the Clinton
Global Citizens Awards for the year 2013. Roy is the
founder of the Barefoot College, which has been
providing solutions to problems in rural communities for
more than 40 years.Malala Yousufzai has co-founded
Malala Fund with the intension to continue support for
universal access to education.They received these awards
during Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting on 24

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September in New York City.The Clinton Global Citizen
Awards were launched in 2007 to honour outstanding
individuals for their visionary leadership, demonstrated
impact, and sustainable and scalable work in solving
global issues.

SPORTS & GAMES
US Open Tennis Tournament 2013 Winners
Womens Singles :-
n 8 September Serena Williams (U.S) won the US Open
Tennis Tournament 2013 Womens singles title after
defeated Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the final at
Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.With this win Serena
Williams secured her fifth US Open title and 17th Grand
Slam title of the overall career.
Mens Singles :-
afael Nadal (Spain) won the 2013 mens singles U.S.
Open title after defeated Novak Djokovic (Serbia) in the
final.It is Nadals second US Open title, and his 13th
Grand Slam.
Womens Doubles :-
Czech duo Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka won
the U.S. Open womens doubles title after defeated
Australias Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua in the
final.
Mens Doubles :- The pair of Leander Paes of India and
Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic won the doubles
title after defeated Alexander Peya of Austria, and Bruno
Soares of Brazil in the final .Leander Paes has earlier
won the US open title two times .Now Paes has 14 major

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titles in his cupboard, including six mixed doubles
trophies.
Tokyo To Host 2020 Summer Olympics
On 7 September Tokyo has been chosen to host the 2020
summer Olympic Games by the events organising
committee, beating out Istanbul and Madrid in the final
vote tally.Japan won the right to host Olympic Games for
the second time. It had previously hosted the Games in
1964.
Wrestling Selected for 2020 Olympic Games
Wrestling regained entry into the Olympic Games
program on 8 September after the International Olympic
Committee selected the sport for inclusion in the 2020
and 2024 Games over bids from squash, baseball and
softball.IOC at its 125th session held in Buenos Aires,
Argentina decided to include wrestling in the 2020
Olympics in addition to the 25 core sports.Wrestling,
squash and baseball/softball were in contention for
being included as an additional sport in the 2020
Olympics.
Afghanistan Won SAFF Championship 2013
Afghanistan, for the first time in its history, won the
trophy of South Asian Football Federation (SAFF)
Championship 2013 defeated India 2-0 in the final held
at Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on 11 September.
India has won the championship six times (1993, 1997,
1999, 2005, 2009, 2011).The next edition of the SAFF
Championship will be held in India in 2015.
Mohameddan Sporting Won Durand Foot Ball Cup

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Kolkatas Mohammedan Sporting club won the 126th
Durand Foot ball tournament on 19 September as it
defeated ONGC 2-1 in the final at the Ambedkar Stadium
in New Delhi.They have lifted the cup after 73 years
having won it back in 1940.The Durand Football
Tournament was started at Simla in the year 1888 by Sir
Henry Mortimer Durand, who was then, the Foreign
Secretary to Government of India. Durand is the third
oldest football tournament in the world and oldest in
Asia and India.
Sania Mirza Wins Pan Pacific Open Doubles Title
Sania Mirza of India and Cara Black of Zimbabwe won
the Toray Pan Pacific Open tennis championship
womens doubles title after defeated Hao-Ching Chan
(Chinese Taipei) and Liezel Huber (USA) in the final at
Tokyo on 28 September .This was Sanias fourth title of
the season.
India Won Sultan of Johor Cup Hockey Tournament
2013
India defeated Malaysia 3-0 to win 3rd Under-21 Sultan
of Johor Cup hockey tournament in Johor Bahru on 29
September .The goals from the Indian side were scored
by Amon Mirash Tirkey (22nd), Affan Yousuf (52nd) and
Manpreet Singh (64th).

ECONOMY
Microsoft Decided To Buy Nokias Mobile Phone Unit
and Services
Microsoft Corporation and Nokia Corporation on 3
September announced that both companies have decided

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to enter into a transaction whereby Microsoft will
purchase substantially all of Nokias Devices & Services
business, license Nokias patents, and license and use
Nokias mapping services.Under the terms of the
agreement, Microsoft will pay 3.79 billion Euros to
purchase substantially all of Nokias Devices & Services
business, and 1.65 billion Euros to license Nokias
patents, for a total transaction price of 5.44 billion Euros
in cash.Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational
communications and information technology corporation
(originally a paper production plant) that is
headquartered in Espoo, Finland.Its principal products
are mobile telephones and portable IT devices.Nokia
owns a company named Nokia Solutions and Networks,
which provides telecommunications network equipment
and services.
India Now Has 7850 Ultra Wealthy Individuals
On 11 September According to the 2013 Wealth-X
report , India has 7850 UHNW (Ultra-High-Net-Worth)
individuals in 2013 compared to 7730 in 2012 an
increased of 1.6 percent. Out of these, 103 individuals
have wealth of over USD 1 Billion dollars. The billionaire
club has shrunk from 109 people in 2012 to 103 in
2013.Total combined wealth of billionaires also fell by 5.3
per cent $180 billion ($190 bn in 2012).A city-wise
analysis shows that more than 90 per cent of Indias
UHNW population live in top 10 cities including Mumbai,
Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai,
Ahmedabad, Pune, Gurgaon and Jaipur.Mumbai and
Delhi, however, dominate with more than 50 per cent of
the countrys UHNW population based in one of these
two cities.
Cabinet Approved Buying $ 4.3 billion World Bank
Bonds

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The Union Cabinet on 12 September gave the go-ahead
to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to invest $4.3 billion in
special bonds of the World Bank as it would help in
securing additional funding from the multilateral lending
agency for infrastructure development projects.Under the
arrangement, the Reserve Bank of India will subscribe to
special private placement of bonds by the IBRD, a
lending arm of the World Bank.
Indian Economy To Grow At 5.3% In 2013-14
The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (of
India) on 13 September 2013 released the report
Economic Outlook 2013-14 in New Delhi.The economic
growth forecast of India for the current fiscal 2013-14
was lowered to 5.3 percent from 6.4 percent projected
earlier. The PMEAC had in April 2013 projected 6.4
percent growth for Indian economy for current financial
year.RBI too had earlier lowered its growth projection for
this fiscal to 5.5 percent from 5.7 percent.
Highlights of the of Economic Outlook India are as
following : -
* The PMEAC expects the agriculture sector to grow by
4.8 percent in the current fiscal up from 1.9 percent,
while the industrial growth has been pegged at 2.7
percent as against 2.1 percent in 2012-13.
* Services projected to grow at 6.6%in 2013-14 as
against 7.1% in 2012-13.
* Referring to the external sector, the advisory council
expressed hope that the Current Account Deficit (CAD) in
2013-14 will come down to 70 billion US dollars or 3.8
percent of GDP, from 88.2 billion US dollars or 4.8
percent a year ago.
* The trade deficit ,would come down to around USD 185
billion in 2013-14, against an estimated USD 195.7

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billion in 2012-13.
* Between 2010-11 and 2012-13, the combined impact of
higher net oil and net gold imports on the CAD (Current
Account Deficit) was almost 57 billion US dollars or 3
percent of GDP.
* The CAD may go even below $ 70 billion in 2013-14 if
the recent trends in exports and imports are maintained
through the year.
* Net Capital flows are projected to fall to USD 61.4
billion in 2013-14 against an estimated USD 89.4 billion
in 2012-13 putting pressure on the countrys forex
reserves.
RBI Increases Repo Rate By 25 Basis Points
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 20 September
increased the repo rate or the short term lending rate by
25 basis points to 7.5 per cent from 7.25 per cent with
immediate effect. This means that the Repo rate has been
increased by 0.25 percent.The cash reserve ratio (CRR)
remained unchanged at 4 percent.The RBI previously
raised the repo rate in October 2011 by 0.25 per cent to
8.5 per cent.
India Entertainment & Media Outlook 2013 Report
Released
According to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) s latest report titled,
India Entertainment & Media Outlook 2013 was
released on 13 September in New Delhi.
Highlights of the India Entertainment & Media
Outlook 2013 Report :-
* Indias entertainment and media industry to clock over
INR 224, 500 crore by 2017: CII-PwC study forecast
CAGR of 18% over 2012-17

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* Now the size of the Indian M&E sector increased from
about 805 billion INR in 2011 to almost 965 billion INR
in 2012 representing an year-on-year growth of 20%.
* The television and print sectors dominate the industry
with about 40% and 22% contribution to industry
revenues respectively in 2012.
* Internet access now commands about 18% share and
films 12% of industry revenues.
* Internet access now commands about 18% share and
films 12% of industry revenues.
* The print sector revenues are expected to increase at
over 9% CAGR to reach 331 billion INR in 2017 from 212
billion INR in 2012.
* Year-on-year sectors such as internet access (30%),
internet advertising (29%), gaming (19%), and music
(15%) are expected to continue on their high growth
trajectory.
* The radio sector is also expected to receive a fillip with
the successful conclusion of Phase III licence auctions
and it is expected to grow at a robust CAGR of about
16%.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Indian Air Force inducts its Biggest Transport
Aircraft C-17 Globemaster III
Union Defence Minister AK Antony on 2 September
formally inducted IAFs biggest 70-tonne heavy-lift
transport aircraft C-17 Globemaster III into service at
the Hindon Air Base near Delhi.The C-17 Globemaster III
aircraft has been procured from the US under a deal
expected to be over Rs.20,000 crore.The C-17, with a
capability to carry around 70 tonnes of load and around
150 fully geared troops, will replace the Russian Il-76 as

Page 22

the biggest aircraft in the IAF inventory till now.The IL-76
has the capability to carry loads upto around 40
tonnes.The IAF has placed orders with the US for ten C-
17 aircraft under the deal signed in 2011 and three of
them have already been delivered.The US Air Force is
scheduled to complete the delivery of all the 10 planes by
the end of 2014.
NASA Launches Spacecraft To Study Moon
Atmosphere
NASAs Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment
Explorer (LADEE) mission was successfully launched by
a Minotaur 5 (spin stabilised delivery version) rocket on 7
September from NASAs Wallops Flight Facility in
Virginia.LADEE is a robotic mission that will orbit the
moon to gather detailed information about the lunar
atmosphere, conditions near the surface, and
environmental influences on lunar dust.
Worlds Largest Volcano Discovered Under Pacific
Ocean
The worlds largest volcano has been discovered on 5
September by University of Houston researchers on the
floor of the Pacific Ocean. The volcano, 1,600 kilometres
east of Japan and called the Tamu Massif, is the size of
the British Isles.At 310,000 sq km (119,000 sq mi) Tamu
Massif is comparable in size to Mars vast Olympus Mons
volcano the largest in the solar system..The volcano
consists of a vast single rounded dome in the shape of a
shield, which is believed to have been formed 144 million
years ago when it last erupted.Its top lies about 6,500
feet below the ocean surface.
Japan Launches New Epsilon Rocket

Page 23

Japans Epsilon-1 rocket the first in a new generation
of space rockets and the countrys first rocket in 12 years
lifted off on 14 September from a space center on
Japans southern main island of Kyushu.The rocket, 24
meters in height and 90 tons in weight, placed the
Spectroscopic Planet Observatory for Recognition of
Interaction of Atmosphere, or SPRINT-A, into its orbit
about an hour after the launch. The telescope will be
used to observe planets including Venus, Mars and
Jupiter from its Earth orbit.The Epsilon is the first new
rocket design for Japan since the H2A was introduced in
2001. The H2A remains Japans primary rocket but
officials hope the Epsilon will lead to improvements in
the more costly H2A program. Japan hopes to be more
competitive in the international rocket-launching
business.
India Successfully Test Fired Nuclear Capable Agni
V Long Range Missile
Indias most deterrent nuclear capable ballistic missile,
Agni-5 was successfully test fired on 15 September from
Chandipur Test Range in Balasore district off Odisha
coast.Developed by the Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO), the Agni-5 can carry
a single nuclear warhead of over 1000 kg and can strike
with precision targets in China and Europe.The
indigenously developed missile Agni-V is capable of
striking a range of more than 5000 km. It is about 17
meter long and 2 metres wide with launch weight of
around 50 tonnes.The first test flight of the Agni-5 on 19
April 2012 was a phenomenal success after which India
joined the select club of the United States, Russia,
France, Britain and China who have such capabilities.
Agni-5 will give India the ability hit back or have second-
strike capability even after a nuclear attack. The missile

Page 24

is Indias fastest-travelling object and the first one to
cross the Equator when launched from India.In the Agni
series, India at present has Agni-1 with 700 km range,
Agni-2 with 2000 km range, Agni-3 and Agni-4 with 2500
km to more than 3500 range.
US Launches Unmanned Cygnus Cargo Ship To ISS
Orbital Sciences Corp launched the first flight of its
unmanned Cygnus cargo ship on 18 September to the
International Space Station, as NASA forges ahead with
its plan to privatise US space missions.The Cygnus
capsule, hitched to Orbital Sciences Antares rocket,
blasted off from NASAs Wallops Flight Facility off
Virginias eastern coast.Cygnus will ferry about 1,300
pounds (590 kilograms) of food, clothing and other cargo
for the crew aboard the space station.
Iran Displays 30 Missiles With 2000 km Range
Iran paraded 30 missiles with a nominal range of 2,000
km on 22 September, the first time it had displayed so
many with a stated capacity to hit Israeli targets.Iran
displayed 12 Sejil and 18 Ghadr missiles at the annual
parade marking the anniversary of the outbreak of the
1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.The stated range of both missiles
would put not only Israel but also US bases in the Gulf
within reach.

PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
Rakesh Sood Appointed as PMs Special Envoy on
Disarment and Non-Proliferation

Page 25

On 1 September Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has
appointed Rakesh Sood, Indias former Ambassador to
Nepal, Afghanistan and France and the countrys first
Ambassador in charge of Disarmament in Geneva, as his
new Special Envoy for Disarmament and Non-
Proliferation.Rakesh Sood is a recognised expert in his
field and will be able to make a valuable contribution to
the countrys foreign policy on security, non-proliferation
and disarmament issues.
Deepak Sandhu Becomes The First Woman Chief
Information Commissioner
On 5 September Deepak Sandhu became the first woman
Chief Information Commissioner of the country.She was
administered the oath of the office by the President of
India, Pranab Mukherjee.Sandhu served in many key
positions like Principal Director General (Media and
Communications) in the Press Information Bureau,
Director General of DD (News), Director General (News)
All India Radio before taking over as Information
Commissioner in 2009.
Kulkarni Becomes First Indian American State Judge
In Northern California
On 6 September A leading Indian American lawyer, Sunil
R Kulkarni, has become the first South Asian American
state judge in Northern California with his appointment
to Santa Clara County Superior Court.In 2010, Indian
American Paul Singh Grewal was appointed a magistrate
judge in US District Court for the Northern District of
California.
Thomas Bach is new IOC president

Page 26

Thomas Bach of Germany on 10 September has been
elected as the new president of the International Olympic
Committee (IOC).Bach succeeds Jacques Rogge, the
Belgian who is stepping down after 12 years.Bach is also
the first gold medalist to become IOC president. He won
gold in team fencing for West Germany in the 1976
Montreal Olympics.
Justice Prafulla Chandra Pant Appointed First Chief
Justice of Meghalaya High Court
On 19 September Justice Prafulla Chandra Pant has
been appointed as the first Chief Justice of the newly
established Meghalaya High Court.Justice Pant will
succeed Justice T Meena Kumari whose term as the
Meghalaya Chief Justice was over two months
ago.Justice Pant is a judge of the Uttarakhand High
Court.Born in Pithoragarh district of then undivided
Uttar Pradesh, he joined the UP Judicial Service in 1976
and held different posts. After the creation of
Uttarakhand, he was the first Secretary, Judicial, of the
state.
Srinivasan Re-Elected As BCCI President For The
Third Term
Narayanaswamy Srinivasan has been re-elected as the
President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India
(BCCI) for a third term at its 84th annual general
meeting (AGM) held at Chennai on 29 September. He was
unanimously re-elected as the president of BCCI for the
term of 2013-14.
Ranjib Biswal Appointed as new IPL chairman
Former national selector Ranjib Biswal on 29 September
has been appointed as chairman of the Indian Premier

Page 27

League (IPL) during the Annual General Meeting of the
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at
Chennai.Prior to this appointment Ranjib Biswal was
manager of the Indian Cricket team during the ICC World
Cup 2011 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2013. He is
also the head of Orissa Cricket Association.
B)RESIGNS
Rajasthan Minister Babulal Nagar Resigned
Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Babulal
Nagar on 19 September resigned from the Rajasthan
cabinet after being accused of raping a woman.
C)DEATHS
Audio Pioneer Ray Dolby of famed Sound System
Died
Ray Dolby, the engineer who pioneered the noise
reduction in audio recordings that produced clearer
sound for music and cinema, died on 12 September in
San Francisco.He was the founder of Dolby
Laboratories.His works in noise reduction and surround
sound has been appreciated across the world and have
won recognitions too.Dolby moved his company to San
Francisco in 1976 and in 1989 was awarded an Oscar for
his contributions to cinema, which he shared with Dolby
executive Ioan Allen.Dolby also was given musics
Grammy award 1995 and televisions Emmys in 1989
and 2005.
Worlds Oldest Man Salustiano Sanchez-Blazquez Died
The worlds oldest man, a former musician and coal
miner, Salustiano Sanchez-Blazquez has died at the age
of 112 in Grand Island, New York on 13
September.Salustiano Sanchez-Blazquez was officially

Page 28

certified by Guinness World Records as the worlds oldest
man.He was born on 8 June 1901 in Spain.
D)VISITORS
Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Visited India
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of
Liberia, visited India from 9 13 September 2013
.During this visit,President Sirleaf met Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh in NewDelhi and held delegation level
discussions on bilateral, regional and international
issues.Both sides noted that there still remained
considerable potential for cooperation and agreed to
enhance the partnership between the two countries in all
areas of mutual interest.On 12 September 2013, the
Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and
Development for the year 2012 was conferred upon
President Sirleaf.
E)MISCELLANEOUS
Malala Yousafzai Inaugurates Europes Largest
Library In UK
Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl shot in the
head in a failed assassination attempt by the Taliban, on
3 September inaugurated Europes biggest public library
in her newly adopted home of Birmingham in UK.The
library of Brimingham was built with cost of 189-million
pound ,while it has more than 200 public access
computers,theatres ,an exhibition gallery and music
rooms.
Zardari Becomes First Pakistani President To Serve
Full Term

Page 29

Pakistans president stepped down on 8 September 2013,
after finishing his five-year term .Asif Ali Zardari is the
first president in the history of Pakistani democracy to be
democratically elected, serve his full term, and then step
down.He served as the 11th President of Pakistan from
2008 to 2013.
Diana Became First Woman to Swim Across Florida
Straits without Shark Cage
Diana Nyad, 64-year old American long-distance
swimmer became the first person to cross Florida Straits
from Cuba without any shark cage on 2 September 2013.
This was her fifth attempt to cross the 110-mile (177-km)
distance.Diana Nyad completed the 110-mile or 177-km
distance.
Nina Davuluri Wins Miss America 2014 Title
Nina Davuluri, Miss New York, was crowned the new
Miss America on 15 September in Atlantic City, New
Jersey.Miss New York, Nina Davuluri, became the first
contestant of Indian heritage and the second consecutive
contestant from New York to win the Miss America
pageant.She succeeds another Miss New York, Mallory
Hagan, whose tenure was cut short when the pageant
moved back to Atlantic City after a six-year stint in Las
Vegas, where winners were chosen in January.Nina
Davuluri from Syracuse, sashayed off with the tiara and
the $50,000 scholarship cash.She is the first Miss
America winner of Indian descent.
Megan Young Crowned Miss World 2013
Megan Young of Philippines was crowned Miss World
2013 at the Bali Nasa Dua Convention Center in Bali,
Indonesia on 28 September.Miss France, Marine

Page 30

Lorphelin took second place, while Miss Ghana,
Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter ,came in third. Miss India
World Navneet Kaur Dhillon finished among the top 20
finalists but couldnt reach final ten. She won the title of
Miss Multimedia.

PLACES IN NEWS
China Inaugurated Worlds Highest Daocheng Yading
Civilian Airport
China has opened the worlds highest civilian airport
named Daocheng Yading on 16 September in a restive
and remote Tibetan region of southwestern Sichuan
province.The Daocheng Yading airport in Ganzi
prefecture in southwestern China is the worlds highest
civilian airport.The region is a gateway to Tibet.Daocheng
airport in Garzi, a heavily ethnic Tibetan part of Sichuan,
is 4411 metres above sea level, and overtakes Qamdo
airport in Tibet, which sits at 4334 metres above sea
level, for the title of worlds highest.
Strong Earthquake Hits Pakistan
A major 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit southwestern
Pakistan on 24 September, killed more than 350 people
and damaged several houses near the epicentre in a
remote part of Balochistan province. The quake, with its
epicentre 69 km from Awaran, was originally measured
at 7.4 on the Richter Scale by the US Geological Survey
which later it revised to 7.8. Pakistans meteorological
office gave the magnitude as 7.7.The 7.6 magnitude
quake in 2005 killed at least 73,000 people and left
several million homeless in one of the worst natural
disasters to hit Pakistan.

Page 31

ABBREVIATIONS
NCRB National Crime Records Bureau
AISHE All India Survey on Higher Education
MNIC - Multi-purpose National Identity Card
IBRD - International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development
ICAO International Civil Aviation Organisation
HDI - Human Development Index
ESMA Essential Services Maintenance Act
DRDO Defence Research and Development
Organisation
CTBT Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

BOOKS IN NEWS
India and Malaysia : intertwined Strands Book
Released By Vice President of India
The Vice President of India M. Hamid Ansari on 9
September released a book entitled India and Malaysia:
Intertwined Strands at New Delhi . The book is authored
by former Diplomat Veena Sikri. The book is written for
the Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISEAS),
Singapore. It is a comprehensive book on a very useful
subject of relationship between India and Malaysia.


Page 32

COMMITTEES
Nachiket Mor Committee To Frame Vision For
Financial Inclusion
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 23 September
announced a 13-member committee, including former
Citibank CEO Vikram Pandit and Axis Bank chief Shikha
Sharma, to frame a clear and detailed vision for financial
inclusion/deepening across the country. The Committee
is headed by Nachiket Mor, Member on the RBIs Central
Board of Directors. The committee, which will submit its
final report by December 31.Committee is to lay down a
set of design principles that will guide the development of
institutional frameworks and regulation for achieving
financial inclusion and financial deepening in India.

IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES
International Day of Peace Observed on 21 September
International Day of Peace observed on 21 September
2013 across the world to recognise the efforts of those
who have worked hard to end conflict and promote
peace. The International Day of Peace is also a day of
ceasefire. The theme for the year 2013 is Education for
Peace. Each year the International Day of Peace is
observed around the world on 21 September. The UN
General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to
strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among
all nations and peoples. The International Day of Peace
was established in 1981 by resolution 36/67 of the
United Nations General Assembly to coincide with its
opening session, which was held annually on the third
Tuesday of September.

Page 33

World Rabies Day Observed on 28 September
World Rabies Day observed on 28 September 2013
across the world to raise awareness about the impact of
rabies disease and to deliver the message that rabies is
preventable. The theme for the year 2013 is Rabies:
Understand it to defeat it. World Rabies Day is an
initiative of Global Alliance for Rabies Control and the
day started it in 2007 to create a global opportunity for
people to focus on rabies prevention. The World Rabies
Day is observed each year on 28 September- on the
death anniversary of Louis Pasteur who developed the
first efficacious rabies vaccine with his colleagues.

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